Episode 21
Akiza Izinski – Third Event: Tag Duel! Fighting off the Cursed!
My emotions remain trapped inside
Like a bomb, ready to explode
…
"What do you mean 'end it all'?" Yusei asked.
"It's none of your business," DBG replied.
"I beg to differ," Halldor stated. "Given your powers and the impending crisis, what you might be planning has the potential to be our business."
DBG remained silent as he turned towards the garage.
"Please…" Luna said. "We want to help you. At least let us know what you're doing."
DBG continued to refrain from speaking for a moment. "I said… 'to end it all'. That includes getting rid of this stupid curse."
"You can't mean dealing with all of the Cursed Hearts on your own, can you?" Crow said.
"That's a bit absurd, even for me," Jack commented. "Taking on six individuals with the same power as you?"
"You're not stopping me!" DBG shouted as he ran inside to board his Duel Runner.
"Wait!" Yusei exclaimed.
DBG drove off into the distance.
"I'm going after him," Akiza stated.
"Akiza?" Yusei responded, turning towards her.
"I've been to that place before. I know I can reach him."
Yusei continued to glance into Akiza's eyes and nodded upon seeing her resolve. "I understand."
Akiza quickly ran towards the garage.
"Are you going to Duel him again?" Leo asked.
"It's a possibility," Akiza answered.
"But what if you lose? We don't want to lose you again," Luna added, worried.
Akiza smiled. "Don't worry. I'll see what I can do. If push comes to shove… I won't lose."
"Be careful," Yusei cautioned.
Akiza glanced back into Yusei's eyes. "I will." She then started up her Duel Runner and drove after DBG.
"Yusei," Halldor said.
"What is it, Halldor?" Yusei asked as he turned towards him.
"You have to stop him."
"Why?"
"The more the curse stays with him, the higher the chance of it overwhelming him. And he'll use that card."
"The 'Cursed Emotion' card?"
"Yes. You know very well that we can't let that happen."
"Right. But what about you guys?"
"We're nothing to worry about," Dragan answered.
"Yeah, we're fine. We won't be overtaken by some curse," Broder added.
"But—" Yusei started.
"We may not have been victorious, but we are being watched by the Nordic Gods. And, with the power of our Rune Eyes, we won't be swayed by our negative emotions so easily," Halldor stated.
"But what about us?" Leo asked. "Things weren't exactly normal after I lost to him, and we're all Signers!"
"I can't imagine that was more than simply being caught off-guard by the power. I'm sure that, if you knew how strong the curse was and countered it with the power of the Crimson Dragon, you would not have been overtaken by the emotions you may have felt."
"I understand," Yusei said, as he ran into the garage. "I'll pass it along to Akiza."
"Watch your back, Yusei," Crow said.
"Right."
…
DBG continued down the streets, glancing at the buildings. "I can feel when they're near… where are they?" he wondered. He placed his fist on his chest over his heart, attempting to feel their presence through the mark. "Where… are they?"
"DBG!" a female voice behind him called.
"Give me a break already…" he thought.
"Wait!" Akiza called out again as she nears DBG's side.
"Can't you people take a hint already?"
"But…"
"I get it. You want to help me. I know. You and those other Signers have only said that a hundred times now. What do I have to say to get you off my back? I don't want your help."
Akiza was speechless.
"It's only because of this dumb curse power. That's the only reason why you and the others are giving me any attention at all and want to take me in."
"That's right! It should be us taking him in!" shouted a female voice behind them.
Akiza and DBG turned their heads to see a male and female on black Duel Runners. The male had a "復讐" mark on his chest while the female had a "恐怖" on hers.
"They must be… the Cursed Hearts!" Akiza exclaimed.
"That's right!" said Ultio. "It's time for some payback."
"How interesting to encounter you here, Akiza Izinski," Metus said.
"How do you know my name?" Akiza asked.
"One doesn't simply forget her students. Besides, we're here to take you both back."
"If you think I'll be losing to that power again, you're mistaken!"
"You think so? You didn't fare so well last time."
"Enough talk," Ultio interjected. "We'll take you both on and bring you to Morsus!"
"'Morsus'…? Who is that?" Akiza wondered. "Fine. Let's go!"
"I activate the Field Spell Speed World 2!" Ultio declared, pressing a button on his Duel Runner.
"DUEL MODE ENGAGED," said a computer voice.
"I can't believe I'm doing this again…" DBG thought, as he and the other three drew five cards while turning onto a Duel Lane.
DUEL!
Akiza & DBG (LP 8000) VS Ultio & Metus (LP 8000)
…
Morsus stared at the video image that displayed the Duel about to occur.
"Still trying to retrieve him, my love?" Saevio asked as she walked in.
"We need him to unlock the power only he possesses. After that's done, it doesn't matter what happens to him," he replied.
"But wouldn't it be ideal for him to be with us rather than discarded?"
"It would, but he's been resisting ever since we found him."
"Perhaps I should go down there, just in case Ultio and Metus fail to take him back or get him to use the power of his Cursed Emotion. If that doesn't work, then…"
"He's coming for us."
"Pardon?"
"He seems to want to come back to us, but he wants to find us without being taken by force."
"Interesting. Well, that's how it's going to be if we want to get to him before the Signers take him back."
"Speaking of…"
"Sadly, with that dimwit of a Director clown in power, I couldn't shut down the Ener-D reactor project. At least… not completely."
"It'll have to be enough," Morsus sighed. "We now have to face all the Signers once more. And I'm disturbed by our inability to defeat them at this point… and by the fact that Contemno hasn't used the power of the Cursed Emotion cards."
"We haven't unleashed our full power on them yet, either," Maero said, entering the room.
"But why can't I be the one to retrieve Contemno?" Avaritia asked, standing next to Maero.
"You're too filled with lust and greed to keep a straight head."
"Hey!"
"You almost used up your power too early, remember?"
Avaritia groaned. "And least I'm not a pouty-face!"
"Enough," Saevio interrupted. "You can do whatever you want once we complete our objective. Until then… we have to worry about crushing the Signers once and for all."
Morsus stared the three in the room with him then back at the table. "We must succeed… although… if the Signers prove to be too formidable, we do have the other option…"
…
"I'll go first!" Metus declared, drawing a card. "I Summon Fabled Raven!"
Fabled Raven
LV: 2
ATK: 1300
"Fabled Raven's effect activates! Once per turn, I can discard any number of cards in my hand and increase its Level by 1 and ATK by 400 for each card! I'll discard Latinum and Ceruli!"
2 * 1 = 2
2 * 400 = 800
Fabled Raven
LV: 2 + 2 = 4
ATK: 1300 + 800 = 2100
"At this moment, the effects of Latinum and Ceruli activate! When discarded by an effect, Latinum is Special Summoned to my field and Ceruli to yours!"
"What?!" Akiza exclaimed as a monster appeared on both sides of the field.
Latinum, Exarch of Dark World
LV: 6
DEF: 2400
Ceruli, Guru of Dark World
LV: 1
DEF: 300
"Ceruli's monster effect activates!" Metus continued. "When it's Special Summoned by the effect of a "Dark World" card, the opponent discards one card from their hand. In this situation, I am the opponent since Ceruli is on your field. So I discard the Broww in my hand, activating its effect! When it's discarded by the opponent's effect, I draw two cards!"
"What a fearsome Deck…" Akiza mumbled.
"I now tune Level 4 Fabled Raven with Level 6 Latinum!"
4 + 6 = 10
"Great beings of light and shadow, combine and call forth the being with terrifying strength! Synchro Summon! Descend, Fabled Leviathan!"
Fabled Leviathan
LV: 10
ATK: 3000
"Summoning a Level 10 Synchro Monster… with 3000 ATK… on the first turn?!" Akiza exclaimed.
"Don't be scared," Maero replied. "I'll place two cards face-down and end my turn."
"It's my turn!" Akiza declared.
Akiza & DBG
LP: 8000
SPC: 1
Ultio & Metus
LP: 8000
SPC: 1
"I Summon the Tuner Monster Twilight Rose Knight!"
Twilight Rose Knight
LV: 3
ATK: 1000
"When Twilight Rose Knight is Normal Summoned, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or below Plant-Type monster from my head! I Special Summon Botanical Lion!"
Botanical Lion
LV: 4
ATK: 1600
"Botanical Lion's effect increases its ATK by 300 for every face-up Plant-Type monster I control."
Botanical Lion
LV: 4
ATK: 1600 + 300 = 1900
"I activate a Trap!" Metus declared.
"What the?!" Akiza responded.
"Cursed Emotion – Heart of Fear! I Tribute a Level 8 monster on my field, my Fabled Leviathan! Then, I discard every card in my hand and add one Trap Card from my Deck to my hand. And I choose Call of the Haunted!"
"But why would you—"
"Get rid of my own monster? Please. Let me show you what I can do! I activate the effect of the Grapha and Sillva I just discarded! When Sillva is discarded by an effect, it gets Special Summoned to my side of the field!"
Sillva, Warlord of Dark World
LV: 5
ATK: 2300
"Then, since Grapha was discarded by an effect, I destroy one card on your field! So I'll destroy Botanical Lion!" Metus continued.
Akiza watched as her plant-lion hybrid was vanquished.
"Next, I Tribute Sillva to activate the Trap Deck Devastation Virus! All monsters that are currently on your field and in your hand… and those you and Contemno draw for the next three turns that have 1500 ATK or less are destroyed!"
"This can't be!" Akiza's monsters, including Ceruli, were destroyed along with two cards in her hand. "I'll place one card face-down and end my tur—"
"From my hand, I activate the Continuous Trap Call of the Haunted!" Metus interrupted again.
"From your hand?!"
"Indeed. The card that is added to my hand by the effect of Heart of Fear can be activated on the same turn. Call of the Haunted's effect allows me to Special Summon a monster from my Graveyard in Attack Position! Revive, Fabled Leviathan!"
Fabled Leviathan
LV: 10
ATK: 3000
"In addition, during this End Phase… normally, I'd take damage equal to the ATK of the face-up monster with the highest ATK. But that's only if you don't control any cards. Since you do, you will be taking the damage instead!" Metus stated.
"No way!" Akiza replied.
"Take this!"
Akiza screamed as she was struck by a blast from Metus's card.
Akiza & DBG
LP: 8000 – 3000 = 5000
SPC: 1
"I end my turn…" Akiza concluded. "This is bad… most of our monsters have been sealed away for three turns… and they have a monster with 3000 ATK while our field has no monsters."
"It's my turn!" Ultio declared.
Akiza & DBG
LP: 5000
SPC: 2
Ultio & Metus
LP: 8000
SPC: 2
"I Summon Gladiator Beast Bestiari!"
Gladiator Beast Bestiari
LV: 4
ATK: 1500
"Leviathan, direct attack!" he commanded. Metus's monster charged forward and struck Akiza.
Akiza & DBG
LP: 5000 – 3000 = 2000
SPC: 2
"Now, Bestiari, it's your turn!"
Akiza & DBG
LP: 2000 – 1500 = 500
SPC: 2
Ultio and Metus sped past Akiza and DBG.
"And now, at the end of the Battle Phase when Bestiari battles, I can return it to the Deck to Summon another "Gladiator Beast"! Come, Gladiator Beast Retiari!"
Gladiator Beast Retiari
LV: 3
ATK: 1200
"At this moment, I activate Retiari's monster effect! When it's Special Summoned by the effect of a "Gladiator Beast", I can banish a card from your Graveyard! Let's banish that Glow-Up Bulb!"
Akiza watched the image of her monster get sucked into a wormhole and scoffed.
"I'll place two cards face-down and end my turn!" Ultio concluded.
"It's only our second turn and it's already 500 Life Points to 8000…" she thought.
"My turn," DBG declared.
"Due to the effect of Deck Devastation Virus, you have to destroy the card you draw if it's a monster with 1500 ATK or less!" Ultio stated.
DBG immediately sent the drawn card to his Graveyard after revealing that it was Dragunity Phalanx.
Akiza & DBG
LP: 500
SPC: 3
Ultio & Metus
LP: 8000
SPC: 3
"I activate the Speed Spell – Angel Baton!" DBG continued.
"You idiot. Even cards you draw by an effect are subject to Deck Devastation Virus!" Metus stated. DBG revealed the two cards he drew.
"A lucky one, aren't you?" Ultio scoffed. "Neither of the two cards you drew are monsters with 1500 or less ATK."
"I Summon Dragunity Dux!" DBG stated. "Dux's ATK increases by 200 for every "Dragunity" card on my field!"
Dragunity Dux
LV: 4
ATK: 1500 + 200 = 1700
"Dux's original ATK was 1500 in the hand. But because of the Tag Duel rules, he was unaffected when Deck Devastation Virus was activated because I was controlling the field," Akiza thought.
"I activate Dux's effect! When it's Normal Summoned, I can equip a Level 3 or below Dragon-Type "Dragunity" card to it!" DBG declared.
"Not so fast!" Ultio said. "I activate the Counter Trap Gladiator Beast War Chariot! Since I control a "Gladiator Beast", your monster's effect is negated and destroyed!"
DBG's monster was vanquished.
"Akiza!" a voice called from behind her and DBG. She turned her head to see Yusei.
"Yusei!" she called back.
"DBG!"
DBG was silent.
"Akiza, did he…"
"No, he hasn't," Akiza answered, knowing what he was going to ask.
"Well, well, look who showed up," Ultio said.
"As much fun as it is to have you join us, Yusei Fudo, we're in the middle of something," Metus stated.
"DBG, you can't…" Yusei started.
"Can it," DBG interrupted. "I activate the Speed Spell – Vision Wind. Since I have at least two Speed Counters, I can Special Summon a Level 2 or below monster from my Graveyard."
Dragunity Phalanx
LV: 2
DEF: 1100
"Then by sending Phalanx to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon Dragunity Arma Mystletainn from my hand!"
Dragunity Arma Mystletainn
LV: 6
ATK: 2100
"When Mystletainn is Special Summoned from the hand, I can equip Phalanx to it. Then, due to Phalanx's effect, it can be Special Summoned."
Dragunity Phalanx
LV: 2
DEF: 1100
"I tune Level 2 Phalanx with Level 6 Mystletainn!"
2 + 6 = 8
"Cold hearts become hard as steel with their lingering spirits rampaging together! Feel the might of its hate-filled roar! Synchro Summon! Come forth, Scrap Dragon!"
Scrap Dragon
LV: 8
ATK: 2800
The "嫌い" on DBG's chest began to glow, along with the Signers marks on Akiza's and DBG's arms.
"Scrap Dragon's effect activates," DBG continued. "Once per turn, I can destroy a card on both fields. I'll destroy a Set card on my field… and Call of the Haunted!" His dragon fired a blast at both cards; the destruction of Metus's Trap caused her monster to be destroyed.
"At this moment, Fabled Leviathan's effect activates," Ultio declared. "When it's destroyed, I can return up to 3 "Fabled" monsters from the Graveyard to the hand, but I'll only return Raven."
"Battle! Scrap Dragon, attack Gladiator Beast Retiari!" DBG commanded. "Scrap Rage!" His dragon fired yet another blast at Ultio's monster, vanquishing it.
2800 – 1200 = 1600
Ultio & Metus
LP: 8000 – 1600 = 6400
SPC: 3
"Big mistake!" Ultio stated. "I activate the Trap Cursed Emotion – Heart of Revenge!"
"Here it comes," Yusei thought.
"This card lets me bring back a monster from the Graveyard that was destroyed in battle this turn," Ultio continued. "In addition, you're allowed to bring back a monster as well."
Gladiator Beast Retiari
LV: 3
ATK: 1200
Dragunity Phalanx
LV: 2
DEF: 1100
"Should either of these monsters leave the field, any other monster Summoned by this effect is destroyed and then the attack of the Summoned monsters is dealt to you as damage! Additionally, these monsters are automatically destroyed during the End Phase!"
"What?!" Akiza exclaimed.
"The combined ATK of Retiari and Phalanx are 1700… and Akiza's and DBG's remaining Life Points are 500…" Yusei commented. "This is bad."
"By banishing Scrap Dragon, I can Special Summon Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon from my hand!" DBG stated.
"What? Banishing Scrap Dragon?"
Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon
LV: 10
ATK: 2800
"I activate the effect of Red-Eyes. Once per turn, I can Special Summon a Dragon-Type Monster from my hand or Graveyard!" DBG continued. "Appear now, Prime Material Dragon!"
Prime Material Dragon
LV: 6
ATK: 2400
"I'll place one card face-down and end my turn," DBG concluded.
"Not just yet!" Ultio sneered. "Due to the effect of Heart of Revenge, Phalanx and Retiari are destroyed and their combined ATK is dealt to you as damage! Take this!"
The two Summoned monsters melted into an energy blast aimed at DBG.
"Look out!" Yusei shouted.
"Prime Material Dragon's effect!" DBG declared. "Any effect damage to a player instead increases their Life Points by that amount!"
"What?!" Ultio exclaimed.
500 + 1200 = 1700
Akiza & DBG
LP: 500 + 1700 = 2200
SPC: 3
"You lucky…" Ultio groaned.
"It doesn't matter," Metus replied. "It's my turn."
Akiza & DBG
LP: 2200
SPC: 4
Ultio & Metus
LP: 6400
SPC: 4
"I activate Angel Baton! I draw two cards and discard one. Since I just discarded Broww, its effect lets me draw one more card! Then I Summon Beiige, Vanguard of Dark World!"
Beiige, Vanguard of Dark World
LV: 4
ATK: 1600
"By returning a "Dark World" monster from my field to my hand, I can Special Summon Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World from my Graveyard!"
Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World
LV: 8
ATK: 2700
"Then I activate the Speed Spell – Speed Energy! Since I have at least two Speed Counters, for each one that I have, one monster I control gains 200 ATK until the End Phase!"
4 * 200 = 800
Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World
LV: 8
ATK: 2700 + 800 = 3500
"Grapha, attack Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon!" Metus commanded, her fiend slashing at DBG's dragon.
3500 – 2800 = 700
Akiza & DBG
LP: 2200 – 700 = 1500
SPC: 4
"I end my turn," she concluded.
Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World
LV: 8
ATK: 3500 – 800 = 2700
"Then it's my move!" Akiza declared.
Akiza & DBG
LP: 1500
SPC: 5
Ultio & Metus
LP: 6400
SPC: 5
"I activate Vision Wind! I Special Summon Copy Plant!"
Copy Plant
LV: 1
DEF: 0
"I tune Level 1 Copy Plant with Level 6 Prime Material Dragon!"
1 + 6 = 7
"Chilling flames engulf the entire world. Pitch-dark flower, set into bloom! Synchro Summon! Appear now, Black Rose Dragon!"
Black Rose Dragon
LV: 7
ATK: 2400
"Akiza's ace monster…" Ultio mumbled.
"Next I activate the Speed Spell – Speed Energy! Since I have five Speed Counters, Black Rose Dragon's ATK increases by 1000!" Akiza continued.
5 * 200 = 1000
Black Rose Dragon
LV: 7
ATK: 2400 + 1000 = 3400
"Black Rose Dragon, attack Grapha! Black Rose Flare!" Flames laced with rose petals shot out of the mouth of Akiza's dragon, scorching Metus's fiend.
3400 – 2700 = 700
Ultio & Metus
LP: 6400 – 700 = 5700
SPC: 5
"I end my turn…" Akiza concluded. "This was all I could do…"
Black Rose Dragon
LV: 7
ATK: 3400 – 1000 = 2400
"What's wrong, Akiza Izinski? Out of options?" Ultio sneered. "My turn!"
Akiza & DBG
LP: 1500
SPC: 6
Ultio & Metus
LP: 5700
SPC: 6
"I activate Angel Baton! Then I activate the Speed Spell – Summon Speeder! Since I have at least four Speed Counters, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or below monster from my hand! Appear now, Gladiator Beast Laquari!"
Gladiator Beast Laquari
LV: 4
ATK: 1800
"Next comes the Speed Spell – Shift Down! By removing six Speed Counters, I can draw two cards from my Deck!"
Ultio & Metus
LP: 5700
SPC: 6 – 6 = 0
"I Normal Summon Gladiator Beast Murmillo!"
Gladiator Beast Murmillo
LV: 3
ATK: 800
"Then, since I control a "Gladiator Beast", I can Special Summon Test Tiger from my hand!"
Test Tiger
LV: 3
ATK: 600
"Test Tiger's monster effect activates! By Tributing this card, I can return a "Gladiator Beast" to my Deck and Special Summon another and treat as it if it was Summoned by the effect of a "Gladiator Beast" monster!"
"It's coming…" Akiza mumbled.
"I return Murmillo!" Ultio continued. "Appear now, Gladiator Beast Darius!"
Gladiator Beast Darius
LV: 4
ATK: 1700
"When Darius is Special Summoned by the effect of a "Gladiator Beast", I can Special Summon a "Gladiator Beast" from my Graveyard! Revive, Retiari!"
Gladiator Beast Retiari
LV: 3
ATK: 1200
"Now… I return Darius, Retiari, and Laquari to my Deck!"
"Returning them to your Deck?!" Akiza exclaimed.
"Vengeful creatures, combine into one, the ultimate creature that cannot be halted and will leave nothing in its wake! Triple Contact Fusion! Descend, Gladiator Beast Heraklinos!"
Gladiator Beast Heraklinos
LV: 8
ATK: 3000
"This monster… it must be his ace…" Yusei thought.
"Heraklinos! Attack Black Rose Dragon!" Ultio commanded. His beast-warrior swung its axe at Akiza's dragon.
3000 – 2400 = 600
Akiza & DBG
LP: 1500 – 600 = 900
SPC: 6
"I end my turn," Ultio concluded.
"My turn, then!" DBG declared.
Akiza & DBG
LP: 900
SPC: 7
Ultio & Metus
LP: 5700
SPC: 1
"I activate Angel Baton!"
"Are you sure about that?" Ultio asked. "This is the third turn you'll be affected by Deck Devastation Virus!"
DBG drew his cards and revealed them, then discarded a card. "I now activate my third Angel Baton!" he continued, revealing them as well before discarding another card.
"He drew four cards and not one of them was one that could be destroyed by Deck Devastation Virus?" Metus scoffed.
"I activate the effect of Speed World 2!" DBG continued. "By removing seven Speed Counters, I can draw one card."
Akiza & DBG
LP: 900
SPC: 7 – 7 = 0
DBG grabbed the two cards in his hand. "I place two cards face-down and, during the End Phase, I can banish the Red-Eyes Wyvern in my Graveyard to activate its effect! This monster lets me Special Summon a "Red-Eyes" monster on the turn I don't Normal Summon. Revive, Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon!"
Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon
LV: 10
ATK: 2800
"I end my turn!" DBG concluded.
"That's it? Ha!" Ultio chuckled. "Your dragon is nothing compared to Heraklinos."
"It's my turn!" Metus declared.
Akiza & DBG
LP: 900
SPC: 1
Ultio & Metus
LP: 5700
SPC: 2
"I Summon Beiige!"
Beiige, Vanguard of Dark World
LV: 4
ATK: 1600
"I activate the Trap Torrential Tribute!" DBG stated. "When a monster is Summoned, this card will destroy every monster on the field!"
"Clever," Metus commented, grabbing the remaining card in her hand. "However, Heraklinos has an effect. When the opponent activates a Spell or Trap Card, I can discard one card in my hand to negate its activation and destroy it! Then, by returning Beiige to my hand, I can Summon Grapha once more!"
Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World
LV: 8
ATK: 2700
"Heraklinos! Attack Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon!" Metus commanded. Ultio's beast swung its axe once more.
"I activate Mirror Force!" DBG declared. "When the opponent's monster attacks, I destroy every Attack Position monster you control!"
"Useless! I'll discard the card in my hand to have Heraklinos negate that effect!" Metus stated. Ultio's beast smashed through the barrier and hacked at DBG's dragon.
3000 – 2800 = 200
Akiza & DBG
LP: 900 – 200 = 700
SPC: 1
"This'll finish it! Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World, direct attack!"
"I activate the Continuous Trap Call of the Haunted! Appear now, Lightpulsar Dragon!" DBG stated.
Lightpulsar Dragon
LV: 6
ATK: 2500
Metus's fiend slashed at DBG's new monster, destroying it.
2700 – 2500 = 200
Akiza & DBG
LP: 700 – 200 = 500
SPC: 1
"When Lightpulsar Dragon is sent to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon a Level 5 or higher DARK Dragon-Type monster from my Graveyard! Return to the field, Red-Eyes!" DBG said.
Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon
LV: 10
ATK: 2800
"Have your dragon," Metus said. "I end my turn."
Akiza sighed in relief.
"Akiza!" Yusei called.
"Hm?" she responded.
"Fight back. You can do it!"
"Thanks, Yusei," she blushed. "It's my turn!"
Akiza & DBG
LP: 500
SPC: 2
Ultio & Metus
LP: 5700
SPC: 3
"I activate the effect of Red-Eyes. Once per turn, I can Summon a Dragon-Type monster from my hand or Graveyard. I'll bring back Dragunity Phalanx!" Akiza declared.
Dragunity Phalanx
LV: 2
ATK: 500
"Next I Summon Violet Witch!"
Violet Witch
LV: 4
ATK: 1100
"I tune Level 2 Dragunity Phalanx with Level 4 Violet Witch!"
2 + 4 = 6
"Splendid hunter and dweller of the sacred forest, with your whip of punishment in hand, come forth now! Synchro Summon! Appear now, Splendid Rose!"
Splendid Rose
LV: 6
ATK: 2200
"Splended Rose can, once per turn, banish a Plant-Type monster from my Graveyard, like my Copy Plant, to halve the ATK of one of your monsters!"
"What?" Metus responded.
Gladiator Beast Heraklinos
LV: 8
ATK: 3000 / 2 = 1500
"Red-Eyes! Attack Grapha!" she commanded. DBG's dragon shot flames at Metus's Grapha.
2800 – 2700 = 100
Ultio & Metus
LP: 5700 – 100 = 5600
SPC: 3
"Splendid Rose! Attack Gladiator Beast Heraklinos!" Her warrior leaped towards Ultio's beast, delivering a mighty kick.
2200 – 1500 = 700
Ultio & Metus
LP: 5600 – 700 = 4900
SPC: 3
"I'm not done yet! By banishing another Plant-Type monster, I can halve Splendid Rose's ATK until the End Phase and have it attack once more! I banish Botanical Lion!"
Splendid Rose
LV: 6
ATK: 2200 / 2 = 1100
"Go, Splendid Rose! Direct attack!" The warrior delivered another great kick and struck Metus.
Ultio & Metus
LP: 4900 – 1100 = 3800
SPC: 3
"I end my turn," Akiza concluded.
Splendid Rose
LV: 6
ATK: 1100 * 2 = 2200
"Not bad," Ultio said. "But it might as well be over. On my next turn, I'll have four Speed Counters. You know what that means, right?"
Akiza was in silent shock.
"You're far below the Speed World 2 safety line. If I draw a Speed Spell, I can remove four Speed Counters to inflict 800 damage to you, ending the game!" he added, placing his fingers on his Deck. "It's my turn!"
Akiza & DBG
LP: 500
SPC: 3
Ultio & Metus
LP: 3800
SPC: 4
"How lucky," Ultio scoffed. "I Summon Gladiator Beast Hoplomus!"
Gladiator Beast Hoplomus
LV: 4
ATK: 700
"Then I Special Summon Test Tiger and Tribute it to activate its effect! I return Hoplomus to my Deck to Summon Murmillo!"
Gladiator Beast Murmillo
LV: 3
DEF: 400
"When Murmillo is Summoned by the effect of a "Gladiator Beast", I can destroy one monster the opponent controls!" Ultio declared. His fish-like monster hurled a spear at DBG's dragon, piercing through it. The dragon fell and vanished. "I end my turn."
"This might be their chance for a counterattack," Yusei figured.
"As long as we can make it through the next turn," Ultio thought, "we still have a chance."
"If Metus draws a "Dark World" with a low enough Level, she'll be able to stage a comeback that we may not be able to recover from…" Akiza thought.
"It's my turn," DBG declared.
Akiza & DBG
LP: 500
SPC: 4
Ultio & Metus
LP: 3800
SPC: 5
"I Summon Dragunity Dux!"
Dragunity Dux
LV: 4
ATK: 1500 + 200 = 1700
"Of all the cards to draw, he gets Dux?!" Ultio exclaimed.
"When Dux is Normal Summoned, I can equip Phalanx to it!" DBG continued.
Dragunity Dux
LV: 4
ATK: 1700 + 200 = 1900
"Then, Phalanx's effect activates. When it's an equipped to a monster, I can Special Summon it!"
Dragunity Phalanx
LV: 2
DEF: 1100
"I tune Level 2 Phalanx with Level 4 Dux!"
2 + 4 = 6
"Take to the sky, bearing the power of the wind! Let the winds howl with your thundering roar! Synchro Summon! Appear now, Dragunity Knight - Vajrayana!"
Dragunity Knight – Vajrayana
LV: 6
ATK: 1900
"Vajrayana has the same effect as Dux when it's Synchro Summoned, allowing me to equip Phalanx once again. However… this time I'll activate Vajrayana's second effect!"
A brief silence came from the others.
"Wait a second… that means…" Ultio said.
"Once per turn, by sending an Equip Card equipped to it to the Graveyard… its ATK is doubled until the End Phase! I send Phalanx to the Graveyard!"
"This can't be!"
Dragunity Knight – Vajrayana
LV: 6
ATK: 1900 * 2 = 3800
"Splendid Rose, attack Murmillo," DBG commanded. Akiza's warrior struck Ultio's monster. "Vajrayana, direct attack!" His dragon hurled its spear into the sky. Several spears then rained down on Ultio and Metus.
An explosion took place.
Ultio & Metus
LP: 3800 – 3800 = 0
SPC: 5
The smoke cleared and the two were nowhere to be found. The glowing mark on DBG's chest as well as the Signer marks on Yusei's and Akiza's arms ceased to glow.
"Huh? Where'd they go?" Akiza asked. A beep signaling an incoming call was heard from Yusei's Duel Runner.
"This is Yusei," he answered. "…I understand. I'll let her know."
"What is it, Yusei?"
"Someone just made a threat against Senator Izinski's life."
"My father?" Akiza became wide-eyed.
"Right."
Akiza looked back at DBG.
"Akiza," Yusei said.
"Yes?" she replied.
"I'll take care of this. Go to your parents. I'm sure they're worried about you as well, after what happened."
"But…"
"Don't worry. I can handle this."
She nodded. "Thank you, Yusei." Akiza turned onto a different street.
Before long, a laugh was heard.
"Who's there?" Yusei said.
"Well done, Contemno," said a female voice. "It seems that the others are nowhere near strong enough to challenge you."
"Show yourself!"
"My, my, aren't we impatient?" Another black Duel Runner appeared in front of DBG. As she turned her upper body towards them, Yusei spotted the "激怒" mark on her chest.
"Wait. You're…"
"That's right. I'm Saevio."
"You're the one who turned Akiza against us!"
"Why are you blaming me? It was Contemno that cursed her. You should be angry at him."
Yusei scoffed.
"No matter. You seem so interested in coming back to us, Contemno. Why don't we ditch this Signer and we can be on our way?"
"You're not taking him!"
"You want to get in my way? Fine. I'll tear you apart."
"No," DBG said. "I'll be your opponent."
Saevio and Yusei were silent.
"I'll crush you… and all the others," DBG continued. "And I'll put an end to all this nonsense."
…
These feelings I have
Never to see the light of day, or the dark of night