Some of the Crystal Beasts are in his graveyard. Kyo noted. He doesn't have all of them on the field, but with seven different monsters, you can't really. Still, he's played all of them. If they had to be on the field, he'd have done a better job of ensuring they were in the spell and trap card zone.
No, I'm pretty sure that as long as they're on the field or in his graveyard, the Rainbow Dragon still gets whatever benefit it gets from them. Her eyes narrowed. And if it's the kind of thing where this is the only way you can summon it…
She bit her lip. Kisara…
Jesse drew. He studied the card for a moment, then went to his hand. "Since I 'ave seven dif'rent Crystal Beasts on th' field or in my graveyard, that means I c'n summon Rainbow Dragon straight t' the field. Come on out, Rainbow Dragon!"
I was right. This is how you summon it. Her eyes narrowed. Which means it has to make up for such a difficult summon with power…
He raised his hand over his head, and each of the Crystal Beasts launched a beam of colored energy to meet at a point directly above his palm. There, the energy swirled for a moment, then shot up into the sky, snaking around to take the form of a winged serpent with silvery, iridescent scales.
Four thousand attack points? Kyo stiffened. That'll wipe her out!
"Rainbow Dragon, attack her Masked Dragon!" Jesse shouted.
"I activate Negate Attack!" Kisara said quickly, flipping the card over. "This not only negates your attack, it ends the battle phase."
Kyo let out a breath. That was close. She grimaced.
"Nex', I'll activate Crystal Conclave!" He continued, unruffled.
Kisara frowned. "I haven't destroyed any of your Crystal Beasts, though."
"Yeah, but it 'as a second effect. I c'n send it to the graveyard t' send one Crystal Beast an' one of your monsters back t' their owners' hands." He explained. "I'll take Ruby Carbuncle back, an' I'll send your Blue-Eyes back t' your hand."
Damn. She'll have to summon it again, and it's level eight. It'd need two tributes, and she's only got one monster on the field.
Kisara picked up the Blue-Eyes, looking nervous.
Kyo smiled wryly. She might actually have to use Kaibaman.
"I'll wrap up with one card facedown." Jesse finished.
Kyo's eyes narrowed. Rainbow Dragon is extremely powerful. There are only a handful of monsters more powerful than that. And its ability to be summoned instantly (provided you have all the Crystal Beasts out) means it can come suddenly and without cost. She shifted. It'd be extremely difficult to fight head-on. But Blue-Eyes Divine Dragon can still take it out with its special ability. So could Endymion and Black Luster Soldier, for that matter.
She hesitated. But something that powerful, with this much setup involved… it can't be that easy. And if he has more than one…
"I summon Maiden with Eyes of Blue in attack mode!" Kisara announced. "And I switch Masked Dragon to defense and end my turn."
Kyo mused. Sure, the Maiden had zero attack points and zero defense points. But her ability, which could negate an attack aimed at her, also switched her battle position. If she was in defense, she'd switch to attack, and vice versa. She could only use her negating ability once per turn, but that might just be enough to summon Blue-Eyes.
Still, much as it would have been embarrassing, you could've summoned Blue-Eyes now with Kaibaman… Kyo thought. And taken out Rainbow Dragon.
"Topaz Tiger! Attack her Maiden!" Jesse commanded.
"I activate Maiden's special ability!" Kisara returned. "She negates your attack and switches to defense mode. And when she does, I get to special summon Blue-Eyes Divine Dragon!"
Good, it's back on the– defense mode, Kisara! Kyo clapped a hand to her face. Rainbow Dragon's too strong!
"Rainbow Dragon, attack her Blue-Eyes Divine Dragon!" Jesse continued.
The dragon roared and charged up, the gems on its body lighting one by one until a prismatic beam of energy emitted from its mouth.
Kisara stiffened and braced herself against the blast, her head bowed.
"Las'ly, I set this monster in defense mode." Jesse finished. "Sorry 'bout yore Blue-Eyes, Kisara," He added apologetically. "Yore turn."
Kyo switched her gaze to her friend. Kisara looked a bit rattled and uneasy. She was down to five hundred life points, and Jesse still had thirty-five hundred. This could very well be her last play. Kyo sighed. Kisara…
She drew. She brightened a little, glancing at the field, then squared her shoulders. "I set one card facedown and switch Maiden with Eyes of Blue to attack mode. That ends my turn." She said.
Kyo tilted her head. What did you draw? She wondered, eyeing the facedown card. Could it turn things around?
"My move." Jesse drew. "I summon Ruby Carbuncle in attack mode!"
Attack mode? Kyo started. Her eyes switched to his facedown monster. I wonder if that's Emerald Tortoise, just in case he doesn't win this turn. He seems pretty confident he will, though…
"Ruby Carbuncle, attack her Maiden!" Jesse ordered, and the carbuncle bounded forward.
"I activate her special ability." Kisara said, switching her to defense mode. "Come forth, Blue-Eyes Divine Dragon!"
Kyo grumbled. Attack mode again, Kisara? What are you thinking?
"Then I activate Burst Breath." Kisara continued, flipping over her facedown card.
Kyo's eyes widened. Oh. She looked back at Rainbow Dragon. It has zero defense points. She noted. Very good, Kisara. By tributing Divine Dragon, you can destroy all monsters on the field with a defense less than its attack. It might roast your Maiden, but his Rainbow Dragon will be gone.
Still think you should've used Kaibaman, but I totally get why you didn't.
The fires engulfed the field, and all of the monsters on it shattered one by one. Jesse watched his Rainbow Dragon go with a sigh.
"Well," He said quietly. "I move Ruby Carbuncle t' my back row." He shifted the card. He smiled ruefully. "You played a good game, Kisara. An' that las' move might've ben the end 'f it."
She blinked, and Kyo stiffened.
"But I activate Rainbow Gravity." He said, flipping over his facedown. "S'long as I've got seven Crystal Beasts with different names on the field or in my graveyard, I c'n summon Rainbow Dragon from my graveyard. An' since it's a trap, it's still the battle phase, an' you've got no monsters left."
Kisara stiffened as the Rainbow Dragon burst up out of the ground, swirling around to face her.
"Rainbow Dragon," Jesse hesitated, then threw his arm forward. "Attack her directly with rainbow refraction!"
As it cleared, the monsters faded, and Jesse grinned shyly. "Shucks, that was an awesome duel, Kisara."
Kisara blinked, a bit startled, but she recovered and smiled. "Yeah. You were amazing, Jesse. Thanks."
Kyo relaxed. Well, at least they hadn't been dueling with an ante. She thought, walking over to Kisara's side as the duel ended. "Good job, Kis." She said. "What cards did you have left?"
"Oh," Kisara picked them off the top of her deck, as she'd already begun clearing them away.
Kyo stared at them, then sighed. "Kisara…"
She stopped. "What?"
Kyo just shook her head and held them out. "I would've used Return of the Dragon Lords instead of Burst Breath." She said. "That would've put it in the graveyard to protect your dragon. How long did you have Dragon's Fighting Spirit in your hand?"
Kisara started and looked at the cards again. "Oh…" She realized, and sighed.
"What's up?" Jesse asked.
Kyo turned. "Nothing." She said. "You dueled very well, Jesse." She smiled. "I've never actually seen Crystal Beasts in action before, and you handle that deck extremely well."
Jesse grinned. "Thanks. Well, like I said, these cards've always been there when I need 'em." He looked down at the Ruby Carbuncle, which was on top. "It's weird, but I feel like we've got this special bond, y'know? Like no matter what, they've got my back."
Kyo blinked. Hm. Maybe it wouldn't have been enough… She mused, looking down and pulling Dark Magician out of her pocket. Maybe his deck would have found a way regardless.
She looked back at Kisara. "Well, all this dueling's given me an appetite. Why don't we go grab something to eat?" She glanced over at Jesse in invitation.
"Sounds good to me!" He grinned. "I'll treat."
"You don't have to," Kisara said quickly, blushing. "You won."
"Nonsense." He said confidently. "It's the least I can do after beating yore Blue-Eyes." He held out his hand. "I really appreciate you lettin' me 'ave the chance t' duel you, Kisara."
She looked flustered, but took his hand. "Same to you." She mumbled.
So the infatuation's still there. Kyo thought, eyeing the two of them. And Kisara looks like she might be interested.
Guess that's okay. Jesse's a good guy, at least so far as we know. "All right." Kyo gestured. "We'll figure out what we want on the way back."
