A/N: Hey everyone, Master of Death and Darkness here again and welcome to chapter 10 of Death Rising! This one was crazy with not one, not two, but three duels! Also, I want to make a note that I made spelling errors in all of my past chapters. Lycrois is actually supposed to be Lycoris, named after the breed of flower (and Lycoris is also a Greek word meaning "Twilight") so the proper edits have been made to the previous chapters. And one more thing. In this chapter we meet the last permanent OC for this story courtesy of Fenikkusumaru himself! Now then, let's get on with the story!
Disclaimer: I do NOT own the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise! I DO, however, own my Self-Insert Misaki Ryou and the Epitaph/Phase/Avatar archetypes! Yamato Shiru belongs to PurpleNinjaTempy, Raven Hardy belongs to The Duelist Of Dawn, and now introducing Kururugi Kurogasa and the Haos archetype which are both owned by Fenikkusumaru!
The day of the Fortune Cup tournament was at hand and I, along with Yusei, Shiru, Himuro, Tanner, Rua and his sister Ruka, arrived at the Duel Stadium and waited in the corridor for the tournament to start. However, Rua had gotten changed into Ruka's clothes and even added make-up while Ruka wore an orange jacket and matching hat.
"Okay! How do I look? Spitting image of Ruka, am I right?" Rua asked.
"No less from twins. I can't tell a bit of difference," Yanagi laughed.
"You have to be joking…" I spoke up. "You really don't think they'll notice?"
"What are you talking about? They look exactly the same," Shiru said.
"I think I'll have to agree with Ryou," Yusei said. "I haven't seen Ruka's deck, but I'm sure it isn't the same as Rua's. And they don't have the same personality."
"You really think they'll notice something like that? I mean, unless they've actually met the kids, I don't think they'd know," Himuro pointed out.
"Trust me, they'd know. The personalities and mannerisms between guys and girls are vastly different. Ruka should just suck it up and get over this dueling anxiety," I said.
"That was a little harsh, sonny," Yanagi said.
"Maybe so, but it's the truth. She'll have to get over it at some point, so the sooner the better," I replied.
"I think…" Ruka suddenly spoke up, earning our attentions. "I think Ryou-san has a point. I can't keep hiding from it…"
"You see? All the kid needed was a push," I said smugly.
"Then why don't you go out there with her?" Shiru suggested, causing me to glare at the Magician duelist.
"And why should I?" I asked.
"You are the one who said she should get over her anxiety, so why not?" Shiru said.
"No thanks, I don't do well with kids. Yusei knows them, he should do it," I said.
"If I go out there with Ruka they might start resenting her because of my marker," Yusei said as he pointed to his face.
"And like they won't with mine?" I argued.
"To be honest, your marker doesn't look like one with that color. If anything people might think it's some kind of tattoo," Himuro said, causing me to let out an irritated sigh.
"Fine, I'll do it. But only for the first match. I'm not going to play her babysitter for the entire tournament," I said.
"Then it's settled. Good luck you three," Shiru said as Yusei, Ruka and I walked down the corridor to the stadium while the others went to their seats.
When the three of us got to where we're supposed to wait, I noticed there were another 13 people.
'16 duelists? Twice as much as in the anime,' I mentally noted.
"Everybody, listen!" we heard the MC shout into his microphone. "The Duel of Fortune Cup is finally getting started!"
From the entrance I saw a small tornado appear and the slowly dissipate, revealing Red Demon's Dragon.
"Making its appearance is Red Demon's Dragon!" the MC continued as the Dragon flew around the stadium and soon the sound of a D-Wheel engine could be heard. "And, are those noises from a D-Wheel I hear?"
Blasting through one of the entrances was Jack Atlas on his D-Wheel. Red Demon's Dragon flew with its duelist before landing on a nearby platform while Jack drove around the stadium before launching himself from the fortified glass and landed smoothly on the same platform as his Dragon. Cheers for the King filled the arena.
"There's only one King! That being me! Who dares to duel again me?" Jack Atlas shouted as he raised his arm and pointed to the sky.
"Duelists with the golden tickets, competing for their dream match with the King! Front and center!" the MC called out as the roof above us opened, the floor we stood on raising us to the center of the stadium in front of the platform Jack Atlas stood on.
Hologram screens showed all of our faces, the spectators cheering for every duelist. But once Yusei's face was shown, the audience quieted down and began to chatter amongst themselves about why Yusei was in the tournament.
"Yusei…" Ruka said quietly to the Satellite D-Wheeler.
"Pay it no mind," Yusei replied.
"Let people think what they want. Don't let it get to you and you'll always be able to do your best," I stated.
As the MC was wondering what to do, a large dark-skinned man walked passed the MC while grabbing the microphone.
"Ladies and gentlemen in attendance!" the man spoke into the microphone, quieting the spectators. "My name is Bommer. As a duelist up here, I would like to ask exactly what it is you all see."
The man, Bommer, turned his attention to Yusei and pointed at the Satellite resident.
"This man is undoubtedly a duelist, selected under the same conditions as we were!" Bommer continued. "If one had cards, marker or no marker, they are the same as everyone else! The people standing here now should be ashamed of nothing! Rather, it is all of you, looking at him through your trivial rose-colored glasses, who are nothing short of vicious!"
With his speech finished, Bommer turned his back to the audience and walked back to his spot while returning the microphone to the MC. Rex Godwin soon began to clap, to which the MC and the entire audience started to clap as well.
"Looks like that Bommer person changed everyone's outlook. He's incredible," Lycoris said with admiration.
'Yeah, let's just see how long this lasts,' I thought to myself as I narrowed my eyes.
"Thank you for those empowering words, Bommer-kun. (1) The reason I provided such an opportunity was indeed for all the reasons you have spoken," Rex said as he rose from his seat. "I am Rex Godwin, the man in charge of Neo Domino City Public Security Maintenance Bureau. And, I am the man who planned this grand dueling festival in appreciation for the maintenance of daily public security. To duelists, neither social status nor the gap between rich and poor matter. True equality rests right here."
The audience cheered once more for Rex Godwin's speech. A holographic image then appeared above the stadium showing the tournament bracket with pictures of the 16 duelists being randomized.
"Now, here are your match-ups for the first round!" the MC shouted into his microphone.
As the pictures started to slow down, I temporarily glanced at some of the pairings. I was a little surprised to see that Enjo Mukuro was participating, but seeing him paired against Yusei told me what the outcome was going to be. I then noticed that Ruka was being paired with Professor Frank for her first match. When I looked at the last pairing, I noticed I had been selected to duel Shira in the very first match.
'This should be interesting since his deck was never revealed,' I thought to myself as a small grin crept onto my face.
After the match pairings were announced, all 16 of us were led to a waiting room. Yusei and Ruka sat on couches across from each other. Bommer sat by himself while Shira sat with some guy wearing gold-colored knight's armor. One person who piqued my interest was a young man in his late teens sitting by himself with brown hair styled in a fashion that reminded me of Kira Yamato from the Gundam Seed anime. From what I saw as I walked by he wore a silverish-white trenchcoat. He had to be wearing something underneath the trenchcoat though since the gold shirt-like collar around his neck didn't match with his coat. He also wore black fingerless gloves and was currently looking through his deck. On the table sat a unique Duel Disk. The color was white with a bit of gold around the edges. However, the board of the Duel Disk wasn't visible so I assumed it was tucked into the machine when offline. I then sat alone as I pulled out my deck and made quick scans through it.
"What are you doing, Ryou?" Lycoris asked.
'Fixing up my deck. I need everything to be perfect for this tournament so I don't lose,' I replied through my mind as I flipped through my cards and stopped at one specific Trap card. 'And I think this card will help me immensely.'
"What about the old man's card?" Lycoris asked, to which I flipped through some more cards and stopped at Totem Pole.
'I'll definitely keep it. It's a useful card. But whether or not I use it will depend on if I draw it or if the situation calls for it,' I answered the deity as I finished going through my deck and putting it in my deck holder on my waist as rose to my feet. 'Let the fun begin.'
As I headed for the doors leading out, I saw Shira stand up and follow me out of the room. We then went down separate pathways to head to the garages for our D-Wheels. As I climbed onto Shadow's seat, I pulled out my deck and pushed it into the deck slot and started up the engine while Lycoris sat behind me.
"Everybody, listen! This first duel will be a Riding Duel!" I heard the MC shout into his microphone as I slowly drove to the base of the ramp that led to the arena. "The first D-Wheeler chosen for this prestigious Fortune Cup is the Shinigami Reborn, Shira!"
I heard a small explosion coming from far across the arena followed by the sound of a D-Wheel racing around the track until it skid to a halt.
"And the D-Wheeler he faces is the self-proclaimed Shi no Kyōfu, (2) Misaki Ryou!" the MC shouted, making me wonder just how he knew about my proclamation, but I shrugged it off as I revved my D-Wheel and shot up the ramp, launching myself into the air and landing on the track.
I revved my D-Wheel once more for a little extra speed before slowing down and stopping beside Shira.
"Shi no Kyōfu… I'll show you true terror," Shira taunted.
"And I'll show you a true shinigami, (3)" I said with a grin on my face.
"It's almost time to duel! Set the Field Magic, Speed World, on!" the MC shouted as the Field Magic appeared on my monitor.
"Duel Mode— Auto Pilot, standby."
"The field has been dominated by Speed World," the MC announced as the field effect of the Field Magic changed the color of the stadium. "This means Magics other than a Speed Spell can't be activated!"
Shira and I revved our D-Wheels as a holographic starter appeared in front of us.
"The fated starter appears and gives the countdown!" the MC continued as the starter began lighting the marks. "Ready! Riding Duel! Acceleration!"
As soon as the green light flashed, Shira and I sped down the track at full speed.
Shira: 4000
Ryou: 4000
"Since you're so intent on showing me this 'true terror' then I'll let you have the first move!" I offered my opponent as I drew my first five cards and put them in a hand holder.
"As you wish! Ore no tān!" Shira shouted as he drew his sixth card. "First I'll summon Wight in Defense mode!"
As Shira played his card, the monster that appeared was a skeleton with yellow bones wearing a tattered purple cloak. (1/300/200)
"Why did he summon something that weak?" Lycoris asked.
'Trust me, it's not as weak as it looks,' I assured the deity. 'Damn, I didn't think he'd have this deck.'
"Then I'll set one card face-down!" Shira announced as a reversed card appeared behind his monster. "Tān endo!"
Shira's hand: 4
"Boku no tān!" I shouted as I pulled my next card.
Shira's SPC: 1
Ryou's SPC: 1
"Activate Trap card, Lost Next!" Shira announced as his reversed card rose up showing two Angel-type Monsters flying in the air, one of them being grabbed by a green arm and pulled into a portal. "With this card I select one Monster I control and send one Monster with the same name from my deck to my Cemetery!"
"Wight is the only Monster you have, so go ahead!" I told my opponent as I saw him pull a card from his deck and push it into his Cemetery slot. "I summon Epitaph 03 – Kuhn in Attack mode!"
As I placed my card, the blue-haired rifleman materialized onto the field.
"If my opponent controls at least one Monster, Kuhn can attack my opponent directly to inflict damage equal to half his ATK!" I explained. "Kuhn, attack the player directly! Plectra Bullet!"
Kuhn steadied his steam-powered bayonet and took aim at Shira before pulling the trigger and letting the bullet fly.
Shira: 3200
Ryou: 4000
"And an amazing start by Misaki Ryou!" the MC shouted into his microphone. "By using his Monster's effect he manages to bypass Shira's Monster to inflict damage!"
"I set one card face-down!" I announced as a reversed card appeared beside me. "Tān endo!"
Ryou's hand: 4
"Ore no tān!" Shira said as he pulled his next card.
Shira's SPC: 2
Ryou's SPC: 2
"I summon Horsehead Demon in Attack mode!" Shira announced as he played his card, summoning a Monster with a tanned human body but the head and legs of a horse while carrying a large axe. (4/1700/800) "Horsehead Demon, attack his Monster!"
'Alright Jī-san, time for your card,' I thought to myself as I pressed a button on my D-Wheel. "Activate Permanent Trap, Totem Pole!"
As Shira and I went around the track, I took a glance into the audience and saw Yanagi dancing around like a giddy idiot.
"With this card I can negate three attacks during the course of this duel!" I explained. "So I negate the attack of your Horsehead Demon!"
One of the pillars shot off from the Totem Pole and smashed into the Horsehead Demon, forcing it back to Shira's field.
"And another amazing play by Misaki Ryou!" the MC continued to shout with unequaled enthusiasm. "With Totem Pole he's able to negate not just one, but three attacks this duel!"
"I activate the Speed Spell - High Speed Crash!" Shira announced as he played his next card, showing a racetrack with one car crashing into the barrier wall. "When I have two or more Speed Counters, I can destroy one card I control and one other card on the field! I destroy my Wight and your Epitaph 03 – Kuhn!"
Shira's skeletal Monster dashed across the field and rammed right into Kuhn, causing both Monsters to shatter.
"Tān endo!" Shira declared.
Shira's hand: 3
"Boku no tān!" I said as I drew my next card and glanced at it, a grin now on my face. 'Now things get interesting.'
Shira's SPC: 3
Ryou's SPC: 3
"I summon Epitaph 07 – Pi in Attack mode!" I announced as I played my card, playing the pink-haired, scantily clad woman. (4/1900/200) "Pi, attack his Horsehead Demon! Palm Blast!"
Pi dashed across the field and stopped in front of Shira's Undead Monster before holding out her right hand and releasing a burst of energy, causing the Monster to explode.
Shira: 3000
Ryou: 4000
Shira's SPC: 2
Ryou's SPC: 3
"And when Pi destroys an opponent's Monster by battle, her ATK permanently increases by 200!" I announced as Pi returned to my field, becoming stronger from her victory. (4/1900-2100/200) "Then I'll set one card face-down!"
I took one last glance at the card with a grin on my face as I push it into my Duel Disk, causing a reversed card to temporarily appear beside me.
"Tān endo!" I declared.
Ryou's hand: 3
"Ore no tān!" Shira announced as he drew his next card.
Shira's SPC: 3
Ryou's SPC: 4
"I'll set one Monster in Defense mode!" Shira announced as he placed his next card on the field, a reversed card materializing onto the field. "Tān endo."
Shira's hand: 3
"Nanda? (4) Could this play mean that Shira, the SHinigami Reborn, has been backed into a corner?" the MC shouted into his microphone.
'That's it? He's not going to play anything else?' I thought to myself as I placed my hand on my deck. "Boku no tān!"
Shira's SPC: 4
Ryou's SPC: 5
'Now's a good a time as any to show my secret weapon,' I thought to myself with a dark grin on my face. "Activate Permanent Trap, Damaged Data!"
As my reversed card slowly rose, its artwork depicted the silhouette of a humanoid figure wearing strange clothes with patches of their body replaced by familiar azure-colored data code.
"Damaged Data? What does that card do?" I heard my opponent ask.
"This Trap card is a very special card! With it, I can freely use Magic cards during a Riding Duel!" I explained loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Nanda? Misaki Ryou has a card that defies the rules of Riding Duels?" the MC shouted with both enthusiasm and shock. "Who knows what he'll play with that on the field!"
'Unfortunately I don't have anything I can use with it at the moment, but at least I'll be prepared,' I thought to myself. "Epitaph 07 – Pi, attack his Monster! Palm Blast!"
Once more my Monster dashed to Shira's field.
"Time for you to try my Monster's Piercing Damage!" I announced as Pi drove her fist into Shira's card, but didn't destroy it. "Nani?"
"You'll be the one taking damage for your foolish attack!" Shira announced as his set card disappeared to reveal another skeletal Monster with white hair and wearing a tattered brown dress. (3/0/2200) "By attacking Madame Wight, with its 2200 DEF, you take 100 damage!"
The Undead Monster grabbed Pi's wrist and threw her back to my field.
Shira: 3000
Ryou: 3900
'Damn, I don't have anything strong enough to destroy his Monster right now. If he could just summon something for me to destroy I could increase Pi's ATK to 2300. The only other way I can beat Madame Wight would be to Synchro Summon or summon Haseo,' I thought to myself. 'But at least I can still use Totem Pole two more times if he tries anything.' "Tān endo!"
Ryou's hand: 4
"Ore no tān!" Shira announced as he pulled the top card of his deck.
Shira's SPC: 5
Ryou's SPC: 6
"I summon the Wight King in Attack mode!" Shira announced as he played his card, summoning another skeletal Monster wearing a purple tattered cloak, only this one had white bones compared to Wight's yellow bones. (1/?/0)
"There it is! Shira's ace Monster, Wight King!" the MC shouted into his microphone. "Wight King's Monster Effect increases its ATK by 1000 for every Wight and Wight King in its controller's Cemetery!"
Wight King let out a ghostly moan as a thin black aura surrounded it. (1/?-2000/0)
"And just what do you plan to do with that? You only have two Wights in your Cemetery! Your Monster's no match for mine," I explained.
"Tān endo," Shira said.
Shira's hand: 3
"Quit fucking with me!" I shouted as I drew my next card. "Boku no tān!"
Shira's SPC: 6
Ryou's SPC: 7
'If I get rid of his Wight King then he shouldn't be able to fight me with anything else,' I thought to myself. "Pi, destroy his Wight King! Palm Blast!"
My Monster once again dashed across the field and stopped in front of the Wight King before releasing a burst of energy that shattered the skeleton.
Shira: 2900
Ryou: 3900
"Tān endo!" I shouted in annoyance as Pi returned to my field even stronger. (4/2100-2300/200)
Ryou's hand: 5
"Ore no tān!" Shira shouted as he drew his next card.
Shira's SPC: 7
Ryou's SPC: 8
"Now it's time!" Shira declared. "I summon Wight in Attack mode!"
As Shira played his card, the yellow skeleton reappeared on the field. (1/300/200)
"What good will that do you?" I mocked my opponent.
"I play the Speed Spell, Summon Speeder!" Shira announced as he played his card. "When I have four or more Speed Counters, I can Special Summon a Level-4 or lower Monster from my hand!"
'What else could he have to summon? He doesn't have anything stronger than Pi,' I thought to myself.
"I Special Summon the Tuner Monster, Zombie Carrier!" Shira announced as he played his next card.
The next Monster to appear probably disgusted everyone in the audience as it looked like a Frankenstein monster made of rotting body parts from various animals and other Monsters. (2/400/200) Lycoris screamed in fear and disgust at Shira's new Monster.
'Shit, he's going for a Synchro Monster!' I shouted in my head and realized what he was really up to when I looked through his field again. 'No! The only reason he's doing that is to get those two in his Cemetery! But he doesn't have anything to revive his Wight King!'
I then gasped as I remembered the other effect of Wight King.
'Damn it all, he lured me into that trap and I fell for it!' I shouted in my head.
"I tune my Level-1 Wight and my Level-3 Madame Wight with my Level-2 Zombie Carrier!" Shira announced as his three Monsters took to the sky to perform the Synchro Summon. "Akuma wa, taoreta akuma no okiniiri no musuko ga futatabi ikirudeshou! (5)"
A burst of light soon shot through the three Undead Monsters.
"Shinkuro Shoukan!" Shira shouted as the light began to fade. "Ribaibu, Andetto Sukaru Dēmon! (6)"
Emerging from the light was the rotting corpse of the Demon's Summon. (6/2500/1200)
"Next I activate Wight King's effect from my Cemetery! Since it was destroyed by way of battle, I can remove one Wight in my Cemetery from play to revive Wight King!" Shira announced as he pulled two cards out of his Cemetery slot. "Be reborn, Wight King!"
Appearing back on the field was the white-boned Undead Monster. (1/?/0)
"And since Madame Wight's name is treated as Wight while in my Cemetery, I now have a total of three Wight Monsters, increasing Wight King's ATK to 3000!" Shira explained as another black aura appeared around the Wight King, larger than the previous one. (1/?-3000/0) "Next I activate a Monster Effect from my hand!"
"Effect from your hand?" I wondered before it hit me. "Damn it!"
"By discarding Wightmare from my hand, I can either return a removed from play Wight or Wightmare to my Cemetery or Special Summon a removed from play Madame Wight or Wight King!" Shira explained as he pushed his last card into his Cemetery slot and as the only Monster he had that was removed from play was Wight, he placed that card back into his Cemetery. "And since Wightmare's Monster Effect treats him as Wight while in my Cemetery, I now have five Wight Monsters, increasing Wight King's ATK to 5000!" (1/3000-5000/0)
"Such raw power! Wight King's ATK has just reached 5000!" the MC shouted with enthusiasm. "And since the four Monsters of the Wight series are not on any prohibition, Wight King's ATK can max out at an astounding 11,000!"
'Damn it!' I shouted in my head as I looked through the cards in my hand and then at my Totem Pole Trap. 'If I don't draw a Monster that can hold them off next turn and he summons another Monster, I'll lose!'
"Wight King, attack his Monster!" Shira declared, to which the skeletal king materialized five white skulls before launching them at Pi, slamming into the female fighter.
Shira: 2900
Ryou: 1200
Shira's SPC: 7
Ryou's SPC: 6
"Undead Zombie Skull, attack the player directly! Hell Lightning!" Shira commanded, to which purple electricity coiled around the Monster and was soon fired from its horns.
"I activate Totem Pole's effect and negate your attack!" I announced as the second section of the pillar was fired into the lightning attack and blocked it, shattering in the process.
"Tān endo!" Shira shouted.
Shira's hand: 0
"Boku no tān!" I shouted as I drew my next card.
Shira's SPC: 8
Ryou's SPC: 7
I took a glance at the card I drew and my eyes widened a little.
'This card…' I thought to myself.
In the darkest corner of my mind, I saw three glowing red orbs, appearing as though to form a triangle.
"I HAVE FOUND YOU!" a deep, demonic voice bellowed.
'It's time,' I thought to myself as I looked through my hand once more and saw the perfect card to use, causing a dark grin to appear on my face. "I activate the effect of my Damaged Data Trap, allowing me to play the Magic card, Magic Book In The Pot! This card allows us both to draw three cards from our decks!"
"We finally see the effect of Misaki Ryou's Permnant Trap card, Damaged Data, in action! Will this give him an advantage or has the Shinigami Reborn, Shira, claimed the first match?" the MC shouted into his microphone as Shira and I drew our three cards, with myself drawing all three at once rather than separately.
I then fanned out my three cards and a wicked grin spread across my face.
"This is the end for you, Shira! Now you'll see why I'm called the Shi no Kyōfu and why I'm a true shinigami!" I declared. "First I summon Epitaph 01 – Haseo V1 in Attack mode!"
As I played my card, the white-haired teen appeared onto my field. (4/1800/1000)
"Next, I release Epitaph 01 – Haseo V1 to Special Summon Epitaph 01 – Haseo V2 from my hand!" I announced as I switched out my cards, causing Haseo's attire to change and the chainsaw sword to materialize in his hands. (5/2000/1400) "Next, with the effect of my Damaged Data Trap card, I play the Magic card, Dual Summon, to Normal Summon once more!"
As I grabbed my next card, I looked into my D-Wheel's monitor and saw red glowing horns fading in and out from around my head.
"I summon the Tuner Monster, Death Phase!" I shouted as I slapped the card onto my D-Wheel, summoning a new Monster with a body made of dark-red patterns, the most distinct part being the horns that curved around the sides of where the head should be, the same horn-like patterns flashing faster around my head. (3/0/0) "Now I tune my Level-5 Epitaph 01 – Haseo V2 with my Level-3 Death Phase!"
Like with my previous Synchro Summons, Death Phase overlapped itself with Haseo. However, instead of disappearing in a blinding flash of light, the two Monsters just disappeared, earning questioning gasps and murmurs from the audience. However, their attention was soon drawn skyward as the sound of someone smashing their fists against a wall resounded through the arena as well as the sound of cracking glass. As the pounding continued, a shard fell from the sky and crashed onto the arena track, shattering like glass. Everyone's attention, including my own, was focused entirely on the sky above us and what we saw was a giant crack in the sky with what looked like a small piece broken off. As the pounding continued, the crack steadily grew larger as more small shards fell to the ground.
(BGM Start: Terror Of Death - .hack/G.U. OST)
"Shi no kage ga sekaijū no shokki! (7)" I began the chant, still grinning wickedly as the crack in the sky grew larger and larger shards of the sky fell and shattered like glass. "Tasogare wa yoake mae ni kuraidesu! (8)"
Suddenly, a large black fist punched its way through the crack, sending multiple shards of various sizes falling to the ground.
"Shinkuro Shoukan!" I continued the chant as a second fist was soon to follow and both hands grabbed the edges of the cracks and appeared to be pulling the sky itself apart. "Ore wa koko ni iru! Abatā Ichi – Skeith V1! (9)"
The sky itself was soon split apart as glass-like shards fell to the arena floor and shattered. Then, from the tear in the sky, descended a Monster with a body of the deepest black known to man. Giant gold-colored spikes curved up from the Monster's knees, the tips nearly touching the creature's shoulders. Two more large gold spikes were curved under the Monster's armpits and a perfectly circular hole was placed in center of the creature's chest. On the sides of the Monster's head were thick black horns curving around its forehead to the back of its head and it had three eyes red as blood, both in the normal location of any human and the third in the middle of its forehead. Around the creature's waist and flowing down to the base of its feet-less legs was a glowing red cape. (8/3000/2000) As the Monster slowly descended to the stadium, the red horn-shaped patterns solidified around my head. The Monster, Skeith, let out a deep, demonic bellow the reverberated through the stadium before holding out its right arm and materializing what looked like a giant black staff with small red spikes of energy. However, all but three of those spikes soon converged to one point and formed a curved blade, turning the staff into a massive scythe.
"Nanda! It appears as though Misaki Ryou has just summoned a real shinigami!" the MC shouted in both enthusiasm and awe.
(3rd Person POV)
As the pitch-black Monster Ryou had just summoned descended to the field, a man with reddish-brown hair styled in a large cowlick wearing a thick brown trenchcoat over black pants and a black long-sleeved shirt with a green vest and white necktie looked on and noticed the red mark around Ryou's head. He then heard footsteps walking towards him.
"Divine-sama, (10) is something the matter?" the owner of the footsteps asked.
"Raven-kun," the first man greeted, to which the black-haired teen walked closer to the other man, now known as Divine. "Take a look at the one down there."
Raven looked out to the stadium's track and spotted Ryou dueling Shira.
"The one with the black D-Wheel?" Raven asked, to which Divine nodded.
"I believe he may be a servant of Yliaster and the Crimson Dragon," Divine stated.
"What?" Raven gasped in surprise. "How can you tell?"
"I felt an immense source of power as soon as that Monster appeared," Divine explained as he and Raven looked up to see the still-descending Skeith.
"A servant of the Crimson Dragon…" Raven said in shock before clenching his fists.
"That's right. Just like the one that killed your parents," Divine said, causing Raven to grit his teeth before Divine placed a hand on Raven's shoulder. "Don't let your anger cloud your mind, Raven-kun. When the time comes you will have your chance."
Raven took a deep breath and regained his composure, "As you wish, Divine-sama."
The two looked back out to the arena to watch the continuation of the duel.
(Ryou's POV)
"It's here…" Lycoris said in awe, her attention fixated on my most recent Avatar.
I thought of asking the girl what she meant, but decided against it as the tournament, and my victory, were far more important.
"Just like your Wight King is your ace Monster, Skeith is my ace Monster!" I shouted to Shira as Skeith finally finished his descent and flew above me, the sky returning the normal.
Although Skeith was far smaller than my previous Avatar Synchro Monsters, I knew his power more than made up for it.
"Skeith, attack Undead Zombie Skull! Death's Judgment!" I commanded.
Skeith responded by facing Shira's Monster and pulling back its scythe. Then, with one swift movement, Skeith cleaved the Undead Monster in two and destroyed it.
Shira: 2400
Ryou: 1200
"Tān endo!" I shouted.
Ryou's hand: 4
"Ore no tān!" Shira shouted as he drew.
Shira's SPC: 9
Ryou's SPC: 8
"You may have brought out your ace Monster, but it's still weaker than mine! Wight King, destroy his Monster!" Shira commanded, to which the skeleton king summoned five more skulls and launched them directly at Skeith.
"I think you've forgotten about my Trap card, Totem Pole!" I announced, causing Shira to gasp. "I use the last effect of Totem Pole to negate your attack!"
The final section of the ancient pillar shot outward and crashed itself into the five skulls, causing both to explode and my Trap card to shatter.
"Tān endo!" Shira said.
Shira's hand: 4
"It doesn't matter if you stopped my attack, my Wight King is still stronger than your Monster!" Shira pointed out.
"For now it is," I responded. "Boku no tān!"
Shira's SPC: 10
Ryou's SPC: 9
"I activate Skeith's Monster Effect!" I announced. "Once per turn I can destroy one card my opponent controls! If the destroyed card is a Monster, Skeith's ATK increases by half the destroyed Monster's original ATK until the End Phase!"
"Is this it? If this effect goes through, Misaki Ryou has just earned the first victory of the Fortune Cup!" the MC shouted enthusiastically.
"Skeith, destroy the Wight King!" I commanded, to which my Monster took to the sky, his scythe disappearing and a familiar data cannon formed around his right arm. "DATA DRAIN!"
Skeith took steady aim with the cannon before firing it down at the field, striking Shira's Wight King and causing it to explode, making Shira temporarily lose control of his D-Wheel.
"Unfortunately for you, Wight King's original ATK is treated as 0 while it's not on the field!" Shira explained.
"That doesn't matter, all I wanted was to get it off the field!" I told my opponent. "Skeith, attack the player directly! Death's Judgment!"
I watched as Skeith flew back down to the arena and stopped just in front of Shira, spooking my opponent. Skeith materialized its scythe back into its hands and pulled it back. When Skeith swung its weapon, I grinned darkly at hearing Shira's screams while the attack caused his D-Wheel to spin out of control and fall over.
Shira: 0000
Ryou: 1200 (winner)
"Amazing! Misaki Ryou managed to defeat the Shinigami Reborn, Shira!" the MC shouted into his microphone. "This victory earns Misaki Ryou the right to be called a shinigami!"
I slowed my D-Wheel to a stop and looked up at Skeith, the creature letting out another demonic bellow.
'This was exactly the Monster I was looking for. The true embodiment of my desire for power,' I thought to myself with a grin on my face.
(BGM End)
With my duel finished, I drove my D-Wheel back to the garage and cut the engine. I couldn't help but start laughing over my triumph and my ultimate Monster.
"With Skeith, I'll be able to easily win this tournament," I laughed to myself, or so I thought.
"But you still have other opponents to face. Aren't you worried they'll beat you?" Lycoris asked.
"I'm not worried about losing. I haven't lost once since I got here. The only ones who might give me trouble are Yusei and Jack," I explained to the goddess. "By the way, why were you admiring Skeith like that?"
Instead of an immediate answer, Lycoris averted her gaze, "I'm sorry, but I can't tell you."
"The fuck kind of answer is that? You tell me you need me to help you save this world but you won't tell me a damn thing otherwise?" I shouted at the deity, thankful no one else was within earshot.
"I'm sorry, but I can't. I was told not to—"
"Told by who?" I shouted at the goddess, though it made me curious now, wondering who a deity would have to take orders from.
"I can't tell you. All I can say is you'll find out on your own," Lycoris said with a depressed look in her eyes.
"Fine, let's get out of here," I sighed as I got off Shadow and walked back to the waiting room along with Lycoris and sat on one of the couches, noticing the teen with the white Duel Disk glancing at me briefly.
I ignored the next duel, as I'd rather have my opponents surprise me as much as they can before I knock them down. However, when Ruka's duel came up, the girl in question walked up to me.
"Um, Ryou-san?" Ruka said to earn my attention.
"Yeah, I know," I said with an irritated sigh, still not believing I agreed to babysit the girl during her duel.
I rose to my feet and followed Ruka towards the room that would lift us to the arena's center with Professor Frank following behind us and taking another room.
"Now, let's introduce the duelists for the third match!" the MC announced through his microphone. "Kids all over the world are probably envying this young girl! She's the youngest girl participating! The Dueling Angel from the Heavens! Ms. Ruka-chan!"
The lift raised us up as the ceiling separated, the lift stopping at the top, the audience cheering for the little girl.
"Um, excuse me," the MC said to me over his microphone. "You're prohibited from dueling alongside Ms. Ruka."
"I'm not dueling with her, she just has anxiety and she asked me to watch her," I explained to the MC.
"Oh, okay," the MC said.
"There sure are a lot of people…" Ruka said quietly.
"Just don't pay attention to them and you'll be fine," I told the girl as the other side of the field opened up and lifted Ruka's opponent, Professor Frank.
"And, opposite to her, the Duel Counselor-Professor Frank!" the MC announced.
The man in question wore some kind of black robe with orange trimmings and a black beret rested on his head.
"Pleased to make your acquaintance, Ruka-san," Professor Frank greeted softly with a bow.
"S-Same," Ruka returned the greeting.
"Now, what do you say we find the real 'you' hidden off in the inner depths of your consciousness?" the Professor asked.
"Be wary," I warned Ruka.
"Huh?" the girl wondered.
"This man isn't as he appears," I said as I glared at Ruka's opponent. "If you think anything's wrong, let me know."
I then turned around and walked off the dueling field and stood at the base to watch the duel.
"Now, we're about to get started!" the MC announced as Ruka put on her Duel Disk and activated it, Professor Frank doing the same. "Duel, start!"
"Duel!" Ruka and Frank said as they drew their opening hands.
Ruka: 4000
Frank: 4000
"Watashi no tān. Doro," Ruka said as she drew her sixth card. "I'll summon Sunny Pixie in Defense mode."
As Ruka played her card, the same Magician-type Tuner that Shiru had last used against me appeared. (1/300/400)
"Why would she play that?" Lycoris asked.
'Good question. It's not exactly a good card to start with. However, I already know how this duel will turn out. Unfortunately I can't walk out because the others dragged me into it,' I mentally told the deity.
"I'll end my turn," Ruka said, to which Frank merely nodded.
Ruka's hand: 5
"Watashi no tān. Doro," Frank said as he drew his sixth card. "I will summon Symmetry Rorschach."
As Frank played his card, the Monster that appeared looked like some kind of deformed butterfly made of a purple liquid. (3/1200/1200)
"Are you familiar with what's known as the Rorschach Test?" Frank asked. "This will be a psychological test to help acquire clues that will dispel any insecurities, worries, or doubts you have based on how you feel about this ambiguously-profiled Monster. Come now, Ruka-chan. What does this Monster look like to you?"
Unfortunately, Ruka appeared to be hypnotized by the Monster.
"Come now, answer. What is it?" Frank asked.
"'What'?" Ruka repeated.
"Come now…" Frank said, keeping a calm and gentle composure. "Come now, what is it?"
'This isn't good, he's already getting to her,' I thought to myself.
"Come now. Come now," Frank continued his little mantra, causing Ruka's attention to falter. "Come now. What does it look like?"
"Ruka! Focus!" I shouted to the girl. "Don't let him get inside your head!"
I had succeeded in snapping Ruka out of her trance. However, not in the way I hoped.
"A spirit?" Ruka answered her opponent.
Frank's Monster than transformed into a copy of Ruka's own Sunny Pixie, but coming out of the copy's mouth was a purple demonic face, getting a scare out of Ruka.
"Spiral Mind!" Frank commanded, the Monster releasing a force of dark energy across the field.
"No!" Ruka cried out as she braced herself, but her Monster was destroyed in the process.
When Ruka's regained herself, Frank's Monster returned to its original appearance.
"This test has revealed that, in the recesses of your consciousness, you are afraid," Frank concluded. "You are afraid of spirits and fairies, am I correct?"
"No, that's not-" Ruka tried to argue.
"All is fine. I shall clear any worries you have and set them free," Frank assured the girl. "To do so, you shall courageously venture to the whole other world within the inner depths of your consciousness, the world of the Duel Monsters Spirits."
"World of the Duel Monsters Spirits?" Ruka repeated.
"Why, I know. You are able to perceive the language of spirits," Frank said. "Therefore, there being a world of Duel Monsters Spirits isn't very strange at all."
"How could such a world exist?" Ruka asked, almost shocked to hear this information.
'Damn, I know where this is heading,' I thought to myself as I walked away from the dueling stage and towards a bench that was placed against the wall.
"Ryou, what are you doing? You said you weren't going to walk away," Lycoris reminded me.
'I'm not. Her opponent is going to do something and I need your help,' I told the goddess through my mind as I sat down on the bench, making sure I was facing the dueling field.
"My help? For what?" Lycoris asked.
'Are you able to send me to the world of Duel Monsters Spirits?' I asked the deity.
"The place that man was talking about?" Lycoris asked, to which I nodded. "I don't know, but I can try."
'I don't need my body to go, just my mind,' I explained to the girl.
Lycoris nodded once as I returned my attention to the field.
"Symmetry Rorschach's effect activates. When it destroys an opponent's Monster, it can flip the top card of my opponent's deck face-up," Frank explained as his Monster's body expanded and created a giant eyeball. "Peeping Mind!"
Ruka grabbed the top card of her deck and flipped it face-up.
"Kuribon," I managed to hear Ruka say.
"Such a cute Spirit card it is," Frank spoke up. "Would you happen to hear its voice as well?"
Ruka was unresponsive for a moment before she turned around and faced the audience, most likely looking at Rua.
"What was that just now?" Ruka gasped.
"I place two cards face-down to end my turn," Frank said as two reversed cards appeared in front of him.
Frank's hand: 3
"Ruka, get your attention back in the duel!" I shouted to the girl, causing Ruka to jump slightly.
"S-Sorry!" Ruka apologized to me before she turned back around to face Frank.
"It would be your turn," Frank said.
"Doro," Ruka said as she pulled her next card. "Kuribon, come."
As Ruka played her card, the Monster that appeared looked like a Kuriboh with no hands, combed fur and a rat-like tail with a red bow tied around its tail. (1/300/200)
"Now I open my reverse card, Guiding Light To The Inner Depths," Frank said as his set card rose, showing the duelist standing on a thin, curving path leading to a portal of light. "The opposing player sends five cards from the top of their deck to the Cemetery and adds the sixth card into their hand after both players check it. If they do not play the card during this turn, the opposing player will receive 2000 points of damage."
As I looked at the field, I saw a few flashes of light coming from both the card and Ruka. I wasn't sure if anyone else could see the light, but either way I knew things were about to head south.
'Get ready, Lycoris,' I warned the deity.
"Come now and turn over the cards from the top of your deck, if you please," Frank said, hypnotically. "Do it slowly."
Without a word, Ruka pulled the top cards of her deck as if her body was being controlled. Frank slowly counted with every card Ruka's body drew. Once the fifth card was pulled, Frank's Trap card shone once more.
"Come, come, come. What is your sixth card?" Frank asked.
Ruka pulled the next card and showed it to Frank. Unfortunately, since I was sitting so far from the field, I couldn't tell what card she drew, but I had a good feeling. Frank's words clarified it.
"Ah, that's the Field Magic, Ancient Forest," Frank said, seemingly impressed as Ruka played the card without saying a word. "All Monsters switch to Attack mode. One can neither summon anything in Defense mode nor switch anything to Defense mode. And, Monsters that attack are destroyed at the end of the Battle Phase."
'I had a feeling my Palace Arena Field Magic was similar to an existing card somehow. The initial effects are the same as Ancient Forest,' I mentally noted.
"A world which pulls all out into the open… and simply does not tolerate conflict," Frank went into a deeper explanation of the card.
'And that's where the similarities end. Mine promotes one-on-one conflict,' I noted further.
"Now, to the world of Duel Monsters Spirits!" Frank said hypnotically.
'Time to get started,' I thought myself as I began to concentrate, the glowing red pattern of Death Phase's horns appearing on my forehead.
Lycoris seemed to understand that it was time and appeared to be praying silently.
Ruka's hand: 5
"It would appear that you have reached the Spirits' World locked within the inner depths of your consciousness," Frank noted before chuckling. "Doro. I activate the Permanent Trap, Gestalt Trap."
Frank's other reversed card rose up, showing some kind of clamp, the same one in the card's artwork materializing onto the field.
"This card will become an Equip card on an opponent's Monster," Frank said as the clamp was fired and locked itself around Kuribon, draining it of its power. (1/300-0/200-0) "I equip this card to Kuribon. The equipped Monster had its Monster Effect negated, and has both its ATK and DEF reduced to 0. Next, I equip the Equipment Magic, Immortal Homeostasis, to Kuribon from my hand."
As Frank played his next card, the artwork depicted Maha Vairo surrounded by a dark aura, the same aura appearing around Kuribon.
"The equipped Monster cannot be destroyed by battle. During your Standby Phase, if the equipped Monster's ATK differs from its original ATK, its owner receives 300 points of damage," Frank explained. "In summary, as long as Kuribon's ATK is 0, you shall take damage each and every turn. Then, I release Symmetry Rorschach…"
I watched as Frank pulled his card off his Duel Disk, the Monster itself turning into a black ball of purple ink before disappearing.
"…to Advance Summon Id The Supreme Demonic God," Frank said as he placed his next card onto the field, calling forth a large Monster outlined by yellow electricity and the rest of its body filled with a mix of blue and purple electricity. (6/2200/800) "During the End Phase in which Id is destroyed, it's Special Summoned to my side of the field. Also, as long as Id is on the field… I cannot summon any Monsters."
The audience suddenly started to shout out of concern, wondering what was wrong with Ruka.
"What is wrong with Ruka-chan? She's had a complete lapse in concentration!" the MC shouted into his microphone.
"I attack Kuribon with Id The Supreme Demonic God! Violent Egoism!" Frank commanded, to which the larger Monster leapt towards Kuribon and crushed the furry creature under its claws.
Ruka: 1800
Frank: 4000
"Due to the equipped Immortal Homeostasis, Kuribon will not be destroyed. However, it shall experience eternal pain in a world of its own immortality," Frank explained. "Come now, Ruka-chan. Try to remember. Your true mission, from the midst of pain, from the midst of fear. Come now. Come now. Come now, come. Come…"
However, Frank's Monster, Id, was instantly destroyed by the effect of Ancient Forest. But then the Supreme Demonic God regenerated itself.
"Id will be Special Summoned during the End Phase of the turn in which it was destroyed," Frank explained with a chuckle. "Tān endo."
Frank's hand: 2
"Come now, it's your turn," Frank said.
"Doro," Ruka's body said quickly as it pulled the top card of her deck.
"During the current Standby Phase, Immortal Homeostasis' effect will force 300 points of damage onto you," Frank explained.
Ruka: 1500
Frank: 4000
"I summon Sunlight Unicorn," Ruka's body spoke as it played the card, summoning a white horse with a single horn and a mane and tail of azure fire. (4/1800/1000) "I equip Horn Of The Unicorn onto Sunlight Unicorn."
The next card played changed Sunlight Unicorn's horn into a giant horn made of crystal. (4/1800-2500/1000) Without receiving any order, Sunlight Unicorn charged across the field and struck Id with its new horn, shattering the dark Monster. Frank's eyes seemed to widen in surprise, but only briefly.
"Well done," Frank said.
Ruka: 1500
Frank: 3700
A beam of light then shot downward and destroyed Sunlight Unicorn as Frank started to laugh.
"It's all clear. Your mind is currently in the world of the Duel Monsters Spirits, right?" Frank asked. "I'd like it if you told me what kind of world it is."
"When Horn Of The Unicorn is sent to the Cemetery, it returns to the top of my deck," Ruka's body said slowly as she placed the card on top of her deck. "Next, I activate the Magic card, Emergency Lifesaving, from my hand."
The card Ruka's body played showed three small fairies and a large black bird or Dragon, I wasn't sure which.
"It can Special Summon a Monster destroyed during this turn," Ruka's body spoke as Sunlight Unicorn appeared from the card. (4/1800/1000) "I revive Sunlight Unicorn."
"What? Sunlight Unicorn again?" Frank said with surprise in his voice.
"Due to Sunlight Unicorn's effect, if the top card of my deck is a Magic card, I can add it to my hand," Ruka's body said calmly as it pulled the top card from her deck.
"The top card of your deck is…" Frank said slowly.
"I equip Horn Of The Unicorn," Ruka's body said as it played the card, giving her Monster its crystal horn again. (4/1800-2500/1000) "I place two cards face-down to end my turn."
Ruka's hand: 2
However, Ruka's Monster wasn't the only one to return to the field as Id The Supreme Demonic God was also resurrected.
"Ryou, we're ready," Lycoris finally spoke up from her praying, to which I merely nodded in response before closing my eyes.
When I opened my eyes, I found myself standing within a dead and rotting forest.
"What is this place?" Lycoris asked.
"The world of Duel Monsters Spirits," I answered the girl. "Of course, this portion of it has been tainted."
"So then why did you want to come here?" Lycoris asked.
"To get Ruka's head back into her duel," I answered the deity as I began to walk through the forest of dead trees with Lycoris right behind me.
After a few minutes of walking, I heard a voice.
"Doro!" the voice practically shouted.
"Crap, he's here already," I cursed before I began to sprint through the dead forest in the direction of the voice, eventually stopping when I saw Id The Supreme Demonic God slowly fade with Frank appearing. "Fan-fucking-tastic."
"Ryou?" Ruka asked as she looked over to me. "What are you doing here? And who's that girl with you?"
I turned to face Lycoris, who seemed to have a surprised look on her face.
"She can see me?" Lycoris whispered.
'I should've known. This is a world of Spirits. In here you have a physical body for everyone to see and hear,' I told the goddess through my mind. "Nevermind about that now, Ruka! You just need to beat Frank!"
"So this is the world of the Duel Monsters Spirits. For you to pull me in like this…" Frank mused as he looked around, his face and voice changed to one showing his evil intentions. "You really are a Signer!"
"Signer?" Ruka asked.
"There are individuals who desire your powers," Frank explained. "Come now. Why not take a trip with this kind gentleman? To a world that will properly unleash your powers."
As Frank spoke, Id reappeared behind him.
"Come now," Frank said as, beneath his feet, a dar purple taint began to spread from beneath him.
"Why? I don't have any powers like that. So, why me?" Ruka asked.
As the taint spread, it began to climb up trees and make them crumble apart.
"Why must I protect this world? Why do you all need my power?" Ruka began to cry.
"Because it's your fate!" I shouted to the girl. "This is what you're supposed to do!"
"No… Please, no…" Ruka whimpered before she turned her attention skyward. "Rua, call out for me! Just like that one time! Bring me back home! Rua!"
"You won't be able to leave here until you defeat Frank, don't you understand that?" I shouted at Ruka, but then Rua's voice echoed through the air.
"Ruka… Ruka…" Rua's voice called out.
"Rua? Rua? I'm right here!" Ruka called out to her brother. "Please, bring me back home!"
"Ruka… Ruka…" Rua's voice continued to call out.
"Where are you, Rua?" Ruka asked, when a small spring of water began to leak through a crack in the dried riverbed.
"Ruka… Ruka…" Rua's voice kept calling, creating ripples in the water to which Ruka knelt down to look into the water's reflective surface.
"Rua, bring me back!" Ruka called out.
"I can't. I was watching," Rua's voice said. "You made a promise with them, didn't you?"
"Rua!" Ruka gasped.
"I want to be strong like Yusei. I'll protect you, so you have to protect that world, Ruka," Rua explained.
"Rua…" Ruka began to tear up.
The surrounding area had grown dark from the taint Frank released, creating storm clouds and lightning flashed across the sky. The rock holding the skeleton of a Dragon slowly started to break apart.
"Ruka! Listen to your brother! You have to fight in order to leave!" I shouted to the girl as her Monsters gathered around her.
"I will… I will…" Ruka spoke as she rose to her feet and turned around to face the fossil. "I will protect this world! I will protect Kuribon and everyone else!"
Ruka then turned back around to face Frank, who had a sinister grin on his face. Ruka then lifted her left arm and her Duel Disk materialized around her wrist.
"Reverse card, open! Gallitrap – Pixie's Circle!" Ruka said as her face-down card rose, showing three small fairies creating a ring around Cotton Pop. "If there are two or more Monsters on my side of the field, the opposing player cannot attack the Monster on my field with the lowest ATK! I won't let you attack Kuribon anymore!"
"In that case, I activate the Permanent Magic, Wave Of Evil Intent, from my hand!" Frank declared as he played his card, showing a rather disgusting close-up of someone's, or something's, face. "Whenever a Monster on my field is destroyed by battle, the opposing player receives 300 points of damage!"
Ruka gasped at hearing the card's effect.
"Id The Supreme Demonic God attacks Sunlight Unicorn!" Frank commanded. "Violent Egoism!"
Franks Monster thrust its claws forward, but Sunlight Unicorn countered by releasing a torrent of crystallized fire from its horn that engulfed the dark creature, a surge of electricity striking the psychotic duelist.
Ruka: 1500
Frank: 3400
"That hurt, little deary," Frank seethed. "But, you will be taking on this pain for yourself! Wave Of Evil Intent's effect activates!"
A burst of red energy shot out from Frank's card and slammed into Ruka.
Ruka: 1200
Frank: 3400
"I can take it…" Ruka assured herself.
"How much longer will your brave front hold?" Frank asked with the same psychotic look on his face. "I activate the Magic card, Mental Contamination! It's allowed to activate in the turn a Monster is destroyed. It can destroy one Magic or Trap card on my opponent's side of the field!"
A burst of energy shot across the field and shattered Ruka's Pixie's Circle, causing her Kuribon to scream in pain.
"Kuribon's guard was disabled!" Ruka gasped.
"During the End Phase, Id The Supreme Demonic God will be revived," Frank said as his Monster was indeed resurrected. "Tān endo."
Frank's hand: 1
"Watashi no tān. Doro!" Ruka said as she drew her next card.
"And now, since Kuribon's ATK is still changed, you will take on Immortal Homeostasis' effect!" Frank stated. "300 points of damage!"
Ruka: 0900
Frank: 3400
"Poor Ruka…" Lycoris said as she watched the girl take the damage.
"You shouldn't be so concerned," I said calmly as I watched the duel with my arms folded.
"You don't care what happens to her?" Lycoris gasped.
"Of course not. Besides, I already know the outcome of this duel," I told the deity.
"Then why did you want me to bring you here?" the deity asked.
"To see if I could get Ruka to stop holding back," I answered.
"I place one card face-down, and then, activate the Magic card, Healing Winds, from my hand!" Ruka said as a reversed card appeared in front of her followed by a Magic card. "I regain 200 Life Points for each Monster on the field. I end my turn."
A gentle wind blew across the field as it restored Ruka's Life points.
Ruka: 1500
Frank: 3400
Ruka's hand: 1
"To tell the truth, your powers are of no concern to me," Frank said as he drew and the taint beneath him continued to spread. "I would be satisfied with just being able to defeat you! I would be satisfied with seeing the look on your-the spirits'-this world's face as it suffers!"
Frank then began to laugh like an idiot as his taint caused whole pieces of earth to crumble apart.
"This all… This man… he's a bad person!" Ruka gasped.
"No shit, you just figured that you?" I questioned.
"Ryou, you shouldn't be so rude to her!" Lycoris scolded me.
"And you shouldn't interfere with what I decide to make my business!" I shouted at the deity, causing her to flinch.
"I can't let him do this! I can't!" Ruka said.
"Id The Supreme Demonic God attacks Kuribon!" Frank commanded. "Suffer, Kuribon! Violent Egoism!"
Id let out a roar before leaping towards Ruka's tailed furball.
"I won't let you! Trap card, open! Fairy Winds!" Ruka announced as her face-down card rose. "It destroys all face-up Magic and Trap cards on the field, aside from this card!"
"What!" Frank gasped in shock as the two cards he had placed on Kuribon were destroyed as well as Horn Of The Unicorn and Ruka's Field Magic as Frank took a few steps back.
"Both players then take 300 points of damage for each card destroyed by this card's effect," Ruka explained.
Ruka: 0300
Frank: 2200
"Now that your Equipment Magic is gone, Kuribon's ATK returns to 300," Ruka said as her furball was restored of its strength. (1/0-300/0-200) "Battle resumes!"
"Is she crazy? She'll be defeated!" Lycoris gasped.
"No, she won't. Not with Kuribon's effect," I told the deity. 'Plus that face-down will end this duel.'
"It's back to 300, but what good is it? I will devour that spirit!" Frank threatened as Id resumed its attack.
"Kuribon's Monster Effect! By returning Kuribon to my hand when it's targeted with an attack, it reduces that Monster's Battle Damage to 0, and that Monster's player regains Life Points equal to the ATK of the Monster targeted by the effect," Ruka explained as her Monster turned into a ball of light and flew back to her hand just in time for Id to halt its attack while a dark blue aura surrounded her opponent.
Ruka: 0300
Frank: 4400
"You won't lay a hand on Kuribon or anybody in this world!" Ruka swore with determination while holding up Kuribon's card, but Frank just laughed.
"I'll just contaminate your little world, then!" Frank shouted as the rock holding the fossilized Dragon began to crumble apart even more, releasing the fossil from its prison and causing it to roar.
"Ancient fairy Dragon is angry!" Ruka said with worry as she looked at the fossil of the Dragon. "It's so angry at that man that it doesn't even realize that its being hurt!"
The fossilized Dragon then reached one arm out and grabbed Frank as the man continued to laugh like a psychotic idiot and draw him closer to its body.
"If I don't do something, that man will…" Ruka said as she tried to think of something.
"Leave him be, Ruka!" I called out to the girl, earning her attention. "This man deserves his fate."
"No one deserves something like this!" Ruka argued as she turned back to face the fossilized Dragon. "Please, Ancient Fairy Dragon! Settle your anger!"
The Dragon merely let out another roar as Frank continued to laugh, as if not noticing that he was about to be eaten alive.
"If I just end this duel…" Ruka thought aloud. "Reverse card, Mischief Of Oberon!"
The set card quickly sprang up and shot a green light at the laughing Frank.
"It negates any effects that recover Life Points and both players receive damage equal to that amount!" Ruka explained as a tornado suddenly dropped onto the field like a massive drill and snatched Frank out of the fossilized Dragon's grasp.
Ruka: 0000 (draw)
Frank: 0000 (draw)
"She saved him!" Lycoris gasped with both surprise and happiness.
"Tch. Such a childish act," I spat. "Lycoris, let's get out of here."
Lycoris merely nodded and started to silently pray again.
"The intent of the evil one who sealed me away… That…" a soft voice echoed through the ruined world.
"We're ready," Lycoris said.
"That was fast," I said, mentally noting that it might be because she had just done it once a few minutes ago and was now a little used to it as I closed my eyes.
When I opened my eyes again, I looked across the the stadium's dueling field and saw Frank taking a few steps back, a look of complete terror on his face, before he fell on his back. Ruka staggered around a bit, causing me to stand from the bench and walk up onto the field and catch Ruka before she passed out.
"You stupid girl, you should've just let him die," I said to the unconscious girl as I picked her up and carried her off the field, hearing the MC announce the ending of the duel as the audience cheered, whether if it was for the duel or because Ruka managed to hold her own so well was something I didn't really care to know.
"It appears the third match has ended in a tie! This means whoever wins the fourth match will go straight to the semi-final match!" the MC shouted into his microphone.
As I carried Ruka out of the arena however, I noticed a glowing claw mark on her arm begin to fade away.
'So she's been awakened as the Front Claw Signer. I can only imagine the kind of trouble this'll cause me in the future,' I thought to myself before I glanced at Lycoris to see her smiling happily. 'What are you so happy about?'
"Seeing you carry little Ruka would make such a cute picture I think," Lycoris said with a giggle.
'You'd better be joking,' I mentally warned the goddess. 'I don't like cute things. Besides, the others would be on my ass if I didn't help Ruka out of here.'
I proceeded to carry Ruka out of the arena and into the infirmary to find that Rua had also been brought in after falling unconscious during Ruka's duel by Himuro, Yanagi, Shiru and Tenpei. Not wanting to be asked about what happened in the duel, I took my leave and went back to the waiting room. I sat back down on one of the couches as the next duel was called. I earn my attention for a brief moment when the first duelist was announced.
"For the fourth match we have a dueling prodigy raised by none other than Director Rex Godwin himself, Kururugi Kurogasa!" the MC announced as the platform lifted the duelist up, revealing it to be the teen from before, wearing the same silverish-white trenchcoat and I also noticed he wore blue jeans and black shoes.
"Dueling prodigy raised by Rex Godwin," I quietly repeated to myself. "He should make an interesting opponent."
After the introduction however, I laid down on the couch and closed my eyes, only listening in to the surroundings.
"And that's the duel! The winner of the fourth match is Kururugi Kurogasa!" the MC's voice shouted. "And as the previous match ended in a draw, Kururugi Kurogasa will automatically advance to the semi-finals!"
A small grin appeared on my face, as I'd now have the chance to duel the so-called prodigy. I pretty much slept through the second half of the first round and ignored the duels that took place.
"Everybody, listen!" the MC shouted through his microphone. "The first round of the Fortune Cup has come to and end and now we move on to the quarterfinals!"
With the announcement of the second round, I rose to my feet from the couch and walked out the door and back towards the lift that would lead me to the dueling arena.
"For the first match of the quarterfinals, our first duelist is the self-proclaimed Terror Of Death and rightly-claimed shinigami, Misaki Ryou!" the MC announced as the platform lifted me to the stadium.
'Gotta win this one fast. I don't want to waste time when I have real opponents waiting,' I thought to myself, ignoring the name of my next opponent, but then noticed no one was coming up on the other side. "Hey, where's my opponent!"
I looked towards the MC who seemed to be speaking into an earpiece before he returned to his microphone.
"I apologize for the delay, but it would appear Misaki Ryou's opponent has forfeit the match!" the MC announced, earning various responses from the spectators.
'Tch. What a waste of my time," I said as the platform lowered me back down.
I walked back down the corridor and into the waiting room to sit on the couch again. When I returned to the waiting room though, I noticed Kurogasa wasn't in the room. I just shrugged my shoulders and went back to a my couch and sleep through the next two duels.
(3rd Person POV)
Kururugi Kurogasa had left the waiting room some time after Ryou had and made his way to the tower overlooking the arena. The guards let him through, to which Kurogasa walked up to the top floor to see Jack Atlas, Rex Godwin, and two others. One was a young woman with short blue hair wearing a formal business suit. The other looked like a short clown with pointed ears and light-purple hair.
"You asked for me, oji-san? (11)" Kurogasa asked, earning the attention of everyone in the room.
"Hai, Kurogasa-kun," Rex Godwin answered, to which the teen walked up to the tall man. "It would appear your opponent for the semi-finals has been decided."
"The one calling himself the Terror Of Death?" Kurogasa asked.
"That is correct," Rex answered. "It is my belief that he is connected to the Crimson Dragon."
"Connected?" Kurogasa and the others in the room repeated in unison.
"Hai," Godwin said. "As such I would like to request that you not hold back against this opponent."
"As you wish, oji-san," Kurogasa replied with a bow before turning around to leave the room.
(Ryou's POV)
"Everybody, listen!" the MC shouted. "The quarterfinals have come to an end and we now come upon the semi-finals of the Fortune Cup!"
The MC's announcement drew cheers from everyone in the audience.
"The pairings for the semi-finals are Misaki Ryou vs Kururugi Kurogasa and Izayoi Aki vs Fudo Yusei!" the MC announced as our pictures appeared on the screen.
With the announcement of the second match-up, I could hear the audience practically screaming for Yusei's victory and I remembered the reason why.
"Those idiots are scared of the power she wields. She's nothing to be scared of," I said to myself as I rose from my seat, noticing that Kurogasa had returned to the room and also rose from his seat.
The both of us walked out of the room and towards our separate platforms.
"Everybody, listen! It's time to begin the semi-finals of the Fortune Cup!" the MC shouted, earning cheers from the audience. "Our first duelist of the semi-finals has proclaimed himself to be the Terror Of Death, and by defeating Shira in his first match, has earned the right to be called a shinigami! Misaki Ryou!"
As my platform was raised, the stadium erupted with applause.
"And his opponent, the dueling prodigy raised by Director Rex Godwin himself, Kururugi Kurogasa!" the MC shouted, earning more cheers as the platform opposite me rose.
When the platform stopped, my opponent took some time to wave to the audience.
"Hey, we're here to duel, not put on a show," I told Kurogasa.
"I think a duel should be fun for both those participating and those watching," Kurogasa replied.
"A duel is only 'fun' when you win. Victory is everything," I said.
"With a mind like that then you'll certainly lose against me," Kurogasa said.
"Now, let's start the semi-finals!" the MC announced as Kurogasa and I started up our Duel Disks, to which I noticed the board of Kurogasa's Duel Disk looked to be shaped like angel wings, our decks shuffling automatically. "Duel, start!"
"Duel!" Kurogasa and I shouted as we drew out opening hands.
Ryou: 4000
Kurogasa: 4000
"I'll let you have the first turn if you think I'm wrong for thinking victory is the sole reason for winning a duel," I offered Kurogasa.
"Very well. Doro!" Kurogasa said as he drew his sixth card. "I summon the Tuner Monster, Haos Monarus, in Defense mode!"
As Kurogasa played his card, a small white ball shot out onto the field and rolled for a bit. Then, in an eruption of light, appearing a mechanical-looking creature that appeared to be a fusion between a human and a butterfly being white and gold in color. (3/1000/1200) If I were an anime character I'm damn certain I'd be facefaulting right now. But as that isn't the case, I settled for smacking myself in the face as I started to laugh to myself.
'Why… Oh why… Why in the hell do there have to be cards based off Bakugan of all things?' I mentally asked myself.
"You okay over there?" Kurogasa asked.
"Just get on with your turn," I answered.
"Then I'll activate Monarus' Monster Effect! When she's summoned I gain 500 Life Points for every card in my opponent's hand!" Kurogasa explained, causing me to stop laughing and grit my teeth as my five cards and Kurogasa's Monster started to glow, increasing his Life Points.
"Amazing! Only his first turn and Kururugi Kurogasa takes a huge lead!" the MC shouted into his microphone with enthusiasm.
Ryou: 4000
Kurogasa: 6500
"Then I place one card face-down!" Kurogasa said as a reversed card appeared behind his Monster. "Tān endo!"
Kurogasa's hand: 4
"Boku no tān! Doro!" I said as I drew my sixth card. "I summon Epitaph 06 – Endrance in Attack mode!"
As I played my card, the longhaired, slender-figured swordsman appeared onto my field. (4/1800/400)
"Attack his Haos Monarus! Disaster Sword!" I commanded, to which Endrance readied his sword and dashed across the field.
"Activate Trap, Attack Nullification!" Kurogasa announced as his set card rose and created an invisible barrier just as Endrance swung his sword, sending him flying back to my field. "This card negates my opponent's attack and end the Battle Phase!"
"Tān endo!" I said.
Ryou's hand: 5
"Ore no tān!" Kurogasa said as he drew. "I release Haos Monarus…"
As Kurogasa pulled his card off his Duel Disk, the butterfly Monster turned into the standard colorful vortex.
"…to Advance Summon Haos Tuskor in Attack mode!" Kurogasa announced as the vortex molded into a large white-and-gold elephant with four tusks and a spiked trunk. (5/2000/2000) "Haos Tuskor, attack Epitaph 06 – Endrance! Nose Slap!"
The elephant Monster responded by lifting its trunk and slamming it back down. However, the trunk grew several feet in length on the way down and crushed Endrance.
Ryou: 3800
Kurogasa: 6500
"Then I'll set one card face-down!" my opponent said as another reversed card appeared int front of him. "Tān endo!"
Kurogasa's hand: 3
"Boku no tān!" I said, drawing my next card. "I play the Magic card, Rip Maen!"
As I played my card, the artwork depicted Epitaph 02 – Atoli trying to cast a spell.
"With this card I can Special Summon one Epitaph Monster from my Cemetery! Return, Endrance!" I called out as the swordsman reappeared on my field. (4/1800/400) "Next I summon Epitaph 05 – Saku Bo in Attack mode!"
The next card I played called out the twin child Magician-type Monsters. (4/1700/1700)
"And since I control Endrance, Saku Bo gains 500 ATK!" I explained as the twins grew stronger. (4/1700-2200/1700) "Saku Bo, attack Haos Tuskor! Gan Bolg!"
In response, the twins began to chant. Then the ground began to shake just before large, sharp boulders shot up from the ground and impaled Haos Tuskor.
"I activate my Trap card, Guard Block! This reduces any Battle Damage I would receive from one instance of battle to 0 and allows me to draw one card!" Kurogasa explained as he pulled the top card from his deck.
"I still have one attack left! Endrance, attack the player directly! Disaster Sword!" I ordered, to which Endrance charged across the field once more and slashed his sword across Kurogasa's chest.
Ryou: 3800
Kurogasa: 4700
I then glanced through my hand and spotted my most advantageous card, "I'll place one card face-down! Tān endo!"
Ryou's hand: 3
"Ore no tān!" Kurogasa said as he drew his next card. "I activate the Field Magic, Haos Reactor!"
As Kurogasa played his card, the field began to shift until it one of those time-freeze battle areas from the Bakugan anime with the Haos symbol lighting up.
"With this card on the field, all Hikari-Attribute Monsters gain 500 ATK when summoned!" Kurogasa explained. "Next I'll summon Haos Siege in Attack mode!"
The next card Kurogasa played shot out another white ball that erupted in a pillar of light, summoning forth a typical knight in shining armor carrying a staff instead of the traditional sword. (4/1900/1400)
"And with my Field Magic, Haos Siege gains 500 ATK!" Kurogasa announced as Siege's ATK rose. (4/1900-2400/1400) "Next I play the Instant Magic card, Rapid Haos! This card allows me to Special Summon a Hikari-Attribute Monster while I already have at least one Hikari-Attribute Monster on the field! So I summon Haos Saurus!"
The next Monster to appear looked like a bipedal triceratops wearing white and gold armor. And as it was another Hikari-Attribute Monster, Kurogasa's Field Magic boosted its ATK. (4/1700-2200/1500)
"Haos Saurus, attack Epitaph 06 – Endrance!" Kurogasa commanded, to which his Monster roared before charging across the field and ramming right through Endrance.
Ryou: 3400
Kurogasa: 4700
And with the loss of Endrance, Saku Bo's ATK reverted to normal. (4/2200-1700/1700)
"Haos Siege, attack Epitaph 05 – Saku Bo!" Kurogasa declared.
The knight Monster acknowledged by raising its staff and launching bolts of lighting at the twins, destroying them both.
Ryou: 2700
Kurogasa: 4700
"Tān endo!" Kurogasa said.
Kurogasa's hand: 0
"Boku no tān! Doro!" I shouted as I drew my next card, my eyes widening a little when I looked at the card. 'Time to take advantage of his own card.' "I summon Epitaph 01 – Haseo V1 in Attack mode!"
As I played my card, the white-haired teen materialized onto the field holding his two gold daggers. (4/1800/1000)
"Next, since I control Haseo, I can Special Summon Epitaph 08 – Ovan in Attack mode!" I announced as I played my card.
Beside Haseo appeared a man with short blue hair and wearing orange glasses similar to the ones worn by Yata. His attire had a completely different color-scheme than Haseo, mostly consisting of white and blue with a bit of yellow. He wore long white pants and blue boots with matching gloves. He also wore a white shirt under a blue lightly-armored vest and a light-blue scarf around his neck. His left arm, however, was encased in a giant cylindrical lock. (7/2600/2300)
"And since Ovan is a Hikari-Attribute Monster, your Field Magic increases his ATK by 500!" I announced, causing Kurogasa to gasp in surprise. (7/2600-3100/2300) "But that's not all! Ovan, undo the seal!"
Responding to my command, Ovan moved his right hand over the giant yellow lock that held the cylinder closed. The lock began to glow and suddenly the straps that held the cylinder closed shot off, lighting pouring out of the metallic object. The lock itself started to shake until it broke apart and fell to the ground, the metal parts falling with it as a flash of light enveloped the field, causing Kurogasa and the audience to cover their eyes. When the light faded and everyone regained their sight, I could easily see the look of shock in their eyes. Ovan's left arm was completely wrapped in blue bandages and held a two-pronged blade in his hand. What shocked everyone the most though had to be the large, bubbling, red-and-black object protruding from Ovan's shoulder. The object looked organic and moved freely as the end took the shape of a serrated hook. Now in Ovan's right hand was a bayonet rifle similar to the one used by Epitaph 03 – Kuhn, only the barrel and blade were much thinner and were blue and white in color.
"Wh-What the?" Kurogasa managed to speak as I only smirked.
"Ovan, attack Haos Siege!" I commanded. "Sign Of AIDA!"
Ovan raised his left arm, the blade meeting his right shoulder, then raised his right arm, the blade meeting his left shoulder, as the clawed organic object moved itself down and across to his right leg. In one quick motion, all three arms were swung and launched a red triangular object at Kurogasa's Monster, slicing clean through and causing Haos Siege to explode.
Ryou: 3400
Kurogasa: 4000
However, what was left on Kurorgasa's field where Haos Siege used to be was a large, glowing, red triangular object, the same one Ovan just shot.
"What's this thing?" Kurorgasa asked.
"When Ovan destroys an opponent's Monster by battle, that Monster Zone can no longer be occupied so long as Ovan remains on the field!" I explained with a laugh. "Tān endo!" 'And with no hand, I'll just finish him off next turn.'
Ryou's hand: 2
"Ore no tān!" Kurogasa called as he drew his next card, but curiosity struck me when I saw a smile on his face. "I play the Magic card, Treasure From Heaven!"
As Kurogasa played his card, the artwork depicting two knights holding out their helmets with gold coins falling from the sky.
"With this card, both plays draw cards until they both hold six!" Kurogasa explained as he drew a full six while I drew four, the last card I drew causing my eyes to widen.
'Finally the last Avatar reveals itself,' I thought to myself with a grin.
"I summon the Tuner Monster Haos El Condor in Attack mode!" Kurogasa announced as he played his next card, summoning a Monster that looked almost like a totem pole with a skeletal face. (3/1300/1100) "And now El Condor's Monster Effect activates! When Haos El Condor is Normal Summoned, I can change the Level of any Monster on my field to a desired Level to perform a Synchro Summon!"
'Okay, that's just a little over-powered there,' I thought to myself.
"I change Haos Saurus' Level to 5!" Kurogasa said as Saurus' Level increased. (4-5/2200/1500) "And now I tune my Level-5 Haos Saurus with my Level-3 Haos El Condor!"
Kurogasa's two Monsters took to the air to perform the standard Synchro Summon.
"Shinzou no tamashii ga , piasu no hikari o kensaku to yami o uchikudaku! (12)" Kurogasa began to chant as a burst of light shot through his Monsters. "Shinkuro Shokan! Araware o! Haos Omega Leonidas! (13)"
As the light faded, the new Monster that appeared was a bipedal Dragonwith white, gold and blue scales. The blue scales covered the Dragon's chest and belly as the majority of its body was covered in white scales, gold scales covering only the Dragon's knees and wrists. The Monster also had large white-and-gold wings as well as a single horn protruding from its forehead and two other horns from the sides of its face. Spikes ran down the Monster's back and ended at its tail, making it look like a spiked club. (8/3000/2500)
"And now my Haos Reactor Field Magic will increase Haos Omega Leonidas' ATK by 500!" Kurogasa announced as his Dragon grew even stronger. (8/3000-3500/2500) "Next, I activate Omega Leonidas' Monster Effect! Once per turn I can select one Hikari-Attribute Monster in my Cemetery to increase Omega Leonidas' ATK by half the selected Monster's until the end of the Battle Phase! And I choose my Haos Tuskor, increasing Haos Omega Leonidas' ATK by 1000!"
Kurogasa's Dragon let out a mighty roar as a white aura surrounded it, increasing its power even further. (8/3500-4500/2500)
'Its effect is similar to Tarvos' and Skeith's,' I mentally noted.
"Now, Omega Leonidas! Attack Epitaph 01 – Haseo V1!" Kurogasa commanded. "Omega Eraser!"
Kurogasa's Dragon pulled its head back as a bright light generated in it mouth. The Monster then threw its head forward and launched a stream of white energy across the field, slamming into Haseo and engulfing him, causing him to explode into pixels.
Ryou: 0600
Kurogasa: 4000
"What power! Kururugi Kurogasa's Monster just reduced Misaki Ryou's Life Points to almost nothing! Can Misaki Ryou make a counterattack?" the MC shouted into his microphone with enthusiasm.
"Tān endo!" Kurogasa said as his Dragon's ATK decreased. (8/4500-3500/2500)
Kurogasa's hand: 5
"Boku no tān! Doro!" I called out as I drew my next card. "I summon the Tuner Monster, Rebirth Phase!"
The next Monster to appear on my field was the last of my Phase Monsters, it body made of similar patterns to the previous ones only this time made of a blue light that seemed to fit perfectly with Ovan. (1/0/0)
"Now I'll tune my Level-7 Epitaph 08 – Ovan with my Level-1 Rebirth Phase!" I called out as my Phase overlapped itself with Ovan en both were enveloped in a bright light. "Jinsei wa kesshite owaru koto no nai saikuru de nagarete iru! Tasogare wa yoake mae ni kuraidesu! (14)"
My two Monsters then vanished within the light as it extended across the field with blue patterns appearing over my chest from Rebirth Phase.
"Shinkuro Shoukan!" I shouted. "Hitarei saitan! Abatā Hachi – Corbenik! (15)"
As the light faded, the Monster that now appeared on the field was the monst humanoid of all my other Avatar Synchro Monsters. Its body appeared mostly metallic with its body colored white and blue. Covering its right forearm was a white shield while its left arm was extended and morphed into a large curved blade. The organic mass that protruded from Ovan's shoulder had also increased in size and the end now looked like a clawed hand. (8/3000/2800)
"And since Corbenik is also a Hikari-Attribute Monster, your Field Magic increases its ATK by 500!" I announced as Corbenik grew stronger, the red-and-black organic mass pulsating. (8/3000-3500/2800)
"Our Monsters have equal ATK! You won't destroy Omega Leonidas without having your Monster commit suicide!" Kurogasa pointed out, but I could only grin darkly.
"That's the idea!" I shouted, causing Kurogasa to gasp. "Corbenik, destroy Omega Leonidas! Devil's Verdict!"
"Leonidas, counterattack! Omega Eraser!" Kurogasa called out.
Kurogasa's Dragon was the first to respond as it started to charge its blast. Corbenik countered by having its clawed arm shoot forward and clamp the Dragon's mouth shut before driving its curved blade through Leonidas' neck. Omega Leonidas then managed to pull its mouth out of Corbenik's grasp and fire it blast right into my Monster's face, the close-range explosion destroying both Monsters and leaving the field bare and the patterns that covered my chest also vanished.
"Now you've just wasted your attack!" Kurogasa stated.
"That's what you think! Corbenik's true power lies within its own death! When Corbenik is removed from my side of the field, it's returned to my Extra Deck and I can Special Summon Ovan from my Cemetery!" I explained as Ovan reappeared onto my field and had his power increased by Kurogasa's Field Magic. (7/2600-3100/2300)"But that isn't all! I can also Special Summon one Monster from my Cemetery, as long as it isn't a Phase Monster! So I Special Summon Epitaph 01 – Haseo V1!"
Also appearing on my field was the white-haired teen. (4/1800/1000)
"Next, I activate my Trap card, Damaged Data!" I announced as my face-down card rose, the same card that aided me in defeating Shira.
"How can you play that? This isn't a Riding Duel!" Kurogasa explained.
"This card can also be used in a Standing Duel, in which it allows me to play any Speed Spell as an Instant Magic card, with the exception of Speed Spells that alter the number of Speed Counters!" I explained. "So I activate the effect of Damaged Data to play the Speed Spell, Summon Speeder, as an Instant Magic! And with Summon Speeder, I Special Summon Epitaph 02 – Atoli in Defense mode!"
As I played my three cards, my healing Magician appeared on the field, empowered by Kurogasa's Field. (4/300-800/2200)
"And with Atoli on my field, Haseo's ATK is increased by 500!" I announced as Haseo also grew stronger, causing Kurogasa to gasp. (4/1800-2300/1000) "Haseo, attack the player directly!"
Haseo rushed across the field, passing by Kurogasa and slashing my opponent with his blades before jumping back to my field.
Ryou: 0600
Kurogasa: 1700
"Ovan, attack the player directly and end this duel!" I commanded as Ovan took a stance and aimed his rifle right at Kurogasa. "Mercy Shot!"
Ovan fired his energy bullet, letting it fly across the field until it struck Kurogasa's chest, causing the bullet to erupt into a tornado of fire around my opponent.
Ryou: 0600 (winner)
Kurogasa: 0000
As the duel ended, the field returned to normal with my Monsters fading as well as the flaming tornado, revealing Kurogasa dropped to his knees.
"That's the duel! With a combination using the destruction of his own Synchro Monster, Misaki Ryou has defeated Rex Godwin's dueling prodigy, Kururugi Kurogasa!" the MC shouted with enthusiasm as I shut off the Duel Disk after letting it auto-shuffle my deck.
"Now you see that as long as you aim for victory, you'll always win," I told my opponent as I saw him rise to his feet.
"There's more to dueling than victory. I'm sure even someone like you will see that eventually," Kurogasa said before the platform lowered us both.
"He was a strong opponent, wasn't he," Lycoris said.
"I'll agree with you. If he got a strong enough Hikari-Attribute Monster in his grave, that Dragon of his would've beaten me," I said. "I wouldn't mind dueling him again to see what else he's got."
Once the platform stopped, I walked off towards the waiting room to await the finals.
(1) Kun (君【くん】) is used by persons of senior status in addressing or referring to those of junior status, or by anyone when addressing or referring to male children or male teenagers. It can also be used by females when addressing a male that they are emotionally attached to or have known for a long period of time. Although kun is generally used for boys, that is not a hard rule. For example, kun can be used to name a close personal friend or family member of either gender. Also, in business settings, young female employees may also be addressed as kun by older males of senior status. It can also be used by male teachers addressing their female students.
(2) "Terror Of Death"
(3) "God Of Death" (anyone who's seen Death Note should know this)
(4) "What is that?"/"What is this?"
(5) "A fiend fallen, but the devil's favorite son will live again!"
(6) "Revive, Undead Skull Demon!"
(7) "The shadows of death loom over all!"
(8) "The twilight is darkest before the dawn!"
(9) "I'm right here! Avatar 01 – Skeith V1!"
(10) Sama (様 【さま】) is a markedly more respectful version of san. It is used mainly to refer to people much higher in rank than oneself, toward one's customers, and sometimes toward people one greatly admires. When used to refer to oneself, sama expresses extreme arrogance (or self-effacing irony), as with ore-sama (俺様, "my esteemed self").
(11) Oji-san = Uncle (Rex is NOT Kurogasa's real uncle, but Kurogasa merely calls him as such because Rex has been like an uncle to Kurogasa)
(12) "Grinding light of the heart's soul, pierce and shatter thorugh the darkness!"
(13) "Appear now! Haos Omega Leonidas!"
(14) "Life flows in a never-ending cycle! The twilight is darkest before the dawn!"
(15) "Come, the rebirth! Avatar 08 – Corbenik!"
A/N: And that's the chapter! Damn, that was a long one, so I hope you all enjoyed it! Not much else to say here except, to those of you wondering about Ryou's connection to the Crimson Dragon and the Signers, it'll be revealed in the next chapter! So stay tuned!
Please R&R, everyone! And please leave detailed reviews!
