Chapter 25 – Preliminary Rounds End
Author Note : It took quite a while, but finally last 32 Duelists have been chosen! This chapter will be a bit longer than usually.
Astral would be floating across the town, looking around. "Yuma was taken out from the tournament..." He would think. "I doubt he did get carried away. I should be ready for anything..." That is when he heard footsteps from behind him. Turning around, he see a man with long, black jacket and long white hair, with yellow mark on his face. "...You are a duelist, aren't you?" He would ask. Astral turns around fully. "Indeed." Smiling a bit, man would draw from his belt a duel disk shaped like a revolver and place it on his arm. "You should then be ready to duel." Astral peers at the man, but activates his D-Pad. "What is your name?" Astral asks. "Kalin. Kalin Kessler", Man replies.
"DUEL!"
"I start", man says, looking his hand. "I activate Continuous Spell Card known as Infernity Launcher. This card allows me send once per turn a Infernity Monster from my hand to Graveyard", Kalin explains. "I send Infernity Knight to my Graveyard", He then says, sending monster from his hand to the Grave. "Next, I set a monster to Defense Position and place a card face-down... Your turn."
"Draw", Astral says, looking his hand, and then his opponent's field. "Best play it safe", he thinks. "I summon Gagaga Caesar", he says, summoning a magician with white long coat to the field. "Unfortunately, Gagaga Caesar cannot attack unless I control another Gagaga monster, so I simply set card face-down", Astral says. "I end my turn."
"Draw", Kalin says, looking his hand. "I will just place card face-down and end my turn."
"I draw", Astral says, looking his hand. "I summon Gagaga Gardna", he says, summoning his warrior with a shield. "Now, since I control a Gagaga monster, Gagaga Caesar can attack your monster!" Gagaga Caesar rushes at Kalin's monster ,but is quickly blasted back and Astral takes damage, his Life Points dropping to 3800. "I see. Your monster had high defense", he summarizes. Kalin nods. "Infernity Necromancer of mine has 2000 Defense Points", Kalin states. "I end my turn", Astral says in turn.
"I draw", Kalin says, looking his hand. "I activate trap card Infernity Inferno. With this, I can discard up to two cards, then send same number of Infernity monsters from deck to the Graveyard", He says. He looks his deck for a moment. "Ones I choose are Infernity General and Infernity Guardian", he then says, after thinking a while. "Next, I activate special ability of Infernity General", He continues. "By banishing him from my Graveyard, I can special summon up to two Infernity monsters with level 3 or lower from my graveyard", he says. "I summon Infernity Avenger and Infernity Knight", he says, summoning a gunslinger and a black knight. "Next, I activate effect of Infernity Launcher. By destroying it, I can special summon up to two Infernity monsters from Graveyard", Kalin explains. "However, I will only summon one. Appear, Infernity Guardian", Kalin says, summoning to the field a burning shield. Astral observes this. "He summoned many monsters in one turn... Level two, two level threes and level four one in the field already..." He thinks. "Is he going to Xyz Summon Rank 3 monster?" He thinks. "I tune my Level 3 Infernity Knight and Level 4 Infernity Guardian with my level 1 Infernity Avenger!" Kalin calls out. Infernity Knight and Guardian turn into seven glowing spheres, while Avenger turns into a single glowing circle. "Synchro Summon, Level 8!" Kalin calls out. A black clouds would cover the arena. Astral narrows his eyes a bit. "Between Heaven and Hell... This being appears from Purgatory... Come forth, Void Ogre Dragon!" Kalin calls out, summoning almost pitch-black dragon to the field. "Next, I activate effect of Infernity Necromancer", Kalin says. "As I have no cards in my hand, I can Special Summon Infernity Monster from my Graveyard... I choose Infernity Guardian to Defense Position". Once more, burning shield appears to the field. "Now, Void Ogre Dragon, attack his Gagaga Gardna with Infernity Chaos Burst!" Void Ogre Dragon takes a deep breath, before blasting Gagaga Gardna with black flames. "I activate Trap Card, Half Unbreak!" Astral calls out. "I don't think you do", Kalin replies. Astral narrows his eyes briefly. "What?" "When I have no cards in my hand, Void Ogre Dragon can once per turn negate activation of spell or trap and destroy them", Kalin explains. Void Ogres eyes glow bright red for a moment as Half-Unbreak is shattered and Gagaga Gardna is consumed by the flames, destroying it and lowering life points of Astral to 2300. "That ends my turn."
"I draw", Astral says. "Everything has been gathered", he then says. "I summon Zexal Weapon – Sleipnir Mail", he says, summoning a horse-like weapon to the field. "Next, I activate effect of Gagaga Caesar; By banishing Gagaga Gardna from my Graveyard, levels of all Gagaga monsters become that of Gardnas: 4", Astral explains. Kalin just observes in silence. "Next, I use Sleipnir Mail and Gagaga Caesar to build a Overlay Network!" Astral calls out, as two monsters turn to the spheres and enter in the black hole appearing in the sky which proceeds to collapse. "Appear, Numbers 39. My battle starts here. I entrust my wishes upon your white wings. Messenger of light, Utopia!" From the black hole, a white and golden warrior appears. Kalin peers at the warrior. "That is powerful monster, but it is no match to Void Ogre Dragon..." He then says. "I am aware", Astral says, raising his hand to the sky as another black hole opens. "I use Utopia as Xyz Material to perform Xyz Change by using Number 39: Utopia as Xyz Material and discarding Rank-Up-Magic Astral Force!" Utopia flies inside the hole, causing it to explode. "Come forth, Numbers 99! The memories of my soul were scattered! Now, they become a single star, they become the resounding thunder that is the will of God! This is the apex and end of the Numbers! Utopic Dragon!" From the black hole, a massive dragon appears. Kalin looks surprised. "4000 Attack Points" he thinks. "Now, Utopic Dragon, attack Void Ogre Dragon! Prime Solar Burst!" Utopic Dragon incinerates Void Ogre Dragon soon enough with burst of light, destroying it and lowering Life Points of Kalin to 3000. "Effect of Infernity Avenger activates. When a monster I control is destroyed, I can special summon it from my graveyard if I have no card in hands, with same level as destroyed monsters", Kalin says, summoning a gunslinger once more to the field. "I place a card face-down, and end my turn", Astral says as he finishes his turn.
"I draw", Kalin says, looking his hand. "I start by summoning Infernity Beast" he says, summoning a hellhound to the field. "Next, I activate trap, Infernity Break. By banishing Infernity card while i have no cards in my hand, I can destroy one card you control", Kalin says. "Card I banish is Infernity Inferno", he says, as trap glows, destroying Utopic Dragon. Astral covers his face a bit as the dragon explodes. "Now, Infernity Beast, attack directly." Hellhound attacks, lunging at Astral and biting this in arm, life points lowered to 700. "That ends my turn", Kalin says. "When you end your turn, I activate a Trap, Xyz Reborn; This card allows me to resurrect one of my Xyz Monsters", Astral explains. "I choose Number 39: Utopia". From Graveyard, familiar warrior appears. Kalin looks surprised. "Why you did not choose Dragon?" He asks. "You'll see soon enough", Astral says.
"Instead of drawing this turn, I use effect of Rank-Up-Magic Astral Force, and add it to my hand", Astral says, adding Astral Force to his hand. "Next I activate it. Now I can Xyz Summon a monster that has type and attribute match with that of Utopia but are two ranks higher... In other words, Rank 6 Light-attribute Warrior-type monster. I reconstruct Overlay Network!" Utopia begins to glow. "Smash through the limits, King of Wishes - Utopia! Reveal yourself, Numbers 39! When a person embraces a dream that exists beyond hope, a new future appears far off in the distance! Go beyond the limits and seize that future in your own hands! Chaos Numbers 39: Utopia Beyond!" As light vanishes, Utopia would had changed its form a bit. "Now, Utopia Beyonds ability activates, lowering ATK of all monsters on your side of the field to 0!" Utopia glows for a moment, blinding Kalins monsters. "Now, Utopia Beyond, attack Infernity Beast – Rising Sun Beyond Slash!" Utopia Beyond attacks and slashes Beast, dropping Kalins Life Points to 0 in progress.
Kalin sighs. "...Well, I guess that's it", he says, turning around as he is beamed away. Astral would in turn head towards arena.
Elsewhere, Julia Crystal, Student of Leo Duel Schools Fusion Course, would had made her way to the ruined city, looking around. "Just one more win, and I can get to the final rounds", she thinks, looking around. She would notice a girl with light blue hair, wearing a white coat and yellow undershirt, walking ahead, wielding a duel disk that seems to be from older model to hers. She would then run to her, raising attention of the girl who looks at her. "...Who are you?" She asks. Julia smiles. "If you insist to know, my name is Julia Crystal... Yours?" She asks in turn. Girl looks at her for a moment. "...Misaki", she replies. She then proceeds to activate her duel disk. "...Duel." Julia smirks, her modern duel disk activates and generates blade of light.
"DUEL!"
"I go first", girl says. "Setting monster. Setting card. Ending turn", she says.
Julia blinks for a moment. "...You don't speak a lot, do you?" She asks, as she draws. "I start by summoning Gem-Knight Alexandrite", she says, summoning a white Gem-Knight to the field. "Next, I use its Special Ability, tributing it to Special Summon from my deck a normal Gem-Knight monster. I choose Gem-Knight Crystal!" Alexandrite vanishes, and Crystal takes its place. "Next, I activate Gem-Knight Fusion, fusing together Gem-Knight Iolite and Gem-Knight Crystal to Fusion Summon Gem-Knight Zirconia!" She says. Two gems would be fuse together, forming Gem-Knight with large crystal fists. Misaki activates something. "Continuous Trap Wattcannon activated. Every Time level 4 or lower "Watt" monster summoned, you take 600 points damage", she says. Julia smirks. "Not that it does much to you", she then says. "Zirconia, attack her monster!" Zirconia attacks, a butterfly-like monster revealed for a moment. "...Effect of Wattdragonfly. When destroyed, can summon Watt monster from deck. Summoning Wattpheasant", Misaki says, summoning a multi-coloured pheasant to the field. Wattcannon takes aim at Julia and fires burst of electricity, lowering her life points to the 3400. "I summoned Level 4 or lower Watt-monster, so you take damage", she replies. Julia frowns a bit. "I set a card, and end my turn" she then says.
"Draw", Misaki says, looking her hand. "Summoning Wattkiwi", she says, summoning another multi-coloured bird. Once more, Wattcannon fires at Julia, her life points dropping to 2800. "Using level 3 Wattkiwi with Level 4 Wattpheasant", Misaki says, as Wattkiwi turns into three glowing rings, wich surround wattpheasant who turns into four stars. "Synchro Summon, Level 7 – Watthydra" she says. Multi-coloured Hydra appears to the field soon enough, roaring. Julia blinks a moment. "Attack points 1500 but level 7? That's weak..." She thinks. "Battle. Effect of Watthydra allows me attack directly", Misaki says. Julias eyes widen. "Wait what?" "Watthydra attack directly", she says, as he monster takes deep breath, blasting Julia with several blasts of pure electricity, lowering her life points to 1300. "Effect of Watthydra. When it does battle damage to opponent, I choose card from my deck and banish it for turn, then add it to my hand", Misaki explains, looking her deck. "Choosing Wattjustment" she then says. "Ending turn".
"Draw!" Julia calls out, looking her hand. "Perfect", she thinks. "I activate Absorb Fusion to add Gem-Knight Emerald to my hand!" She then says. "Now, I normal summon it", she continues. "Gem-Knight Emerald, attack Watthydra!" She calls out, her green Gem-Knight attacking Misaki's Watthydra and destroying it, her life points falling to 3700. "Gem-Knight Zirconia, direct attack!" Massive Gem-Knight would deliver a powerful punch at Misaki, sending her flying to the ground. "That should suffice for now."
Misaki would stand back up, and clean her clothes a bit. "...Draw", she says then, drawing a card and looking it. "Normal Summon Wattgriaffe", she says, summoning really bright coloured Giraffe to the field. Wattcannon would blast once more Misaki with blast of electricity, her life points dropping to 700. Julia looks at the monster. "That is rather weak one, isn't it?" She asks. "Wattgiraffe can attack my opponent directly", she then says. This makes Julia's eyes widden. "IT has 1200 attack points..." She says, realizing. "...Wattgriaffe, attack directly", she then says, her giraffe trampling Julia and causing her to lose rest of her life points.
Julia sighs. "I was so close..." "...Good game", Misaki says, though her expression would be as stern as ever. "Well, true that", Julia says, as she is beamed back to the arena. Then, fireworks would play. "Final Finalists has been chosen", voice echoes. "All finalists have been instructed to arrive to the arena for the final duels. Misaki listens this, before looking around, assuming her android form and summoning Omega Hawk, riding towards the arena.
After reaching arena, Misaki would return to her usual form and enter the arena, looking around. At the audience, Toru blinks, before smiles. "Figures Misaki made it to the finals", he thinks. "Her deck is not exactly easy to deal with..."
At the middle of arena, several duelists would had gathered. Gorz himself would be standing on a floating platform. "Welcome back to the arena", Gorz begins. "With the Preliminary rounds completed, we have chosen 32 duelists... Now, we will be announcing duelists you are going to face in the final rounds!" Gorz would say, his voice echoing across the arena. "Final Rounds have been split in four wings, to make duels bit easier to keep track on", Gorz adds.
"First Duel of the Wing 1 will be Bakura against Shay Obsidian", Gorz beings. Shay glares at Yami Bakura, who smirks. "After that, we have Aigami against Mira from Fusion Dimension, followed by Aleister the Invoker against Kite Tenjo, and finally we have Yuri from Fusion Academy against Atem!" Gorz announces.
"For the second wings first duel, we have Odion Ishtar against Prometheus, also called King of the Shadows, followed by battle between Supreme King and Joey Wheeler, followed by duel between Declan Akaba and Astral, and lastly Yugo against Yugi Muto, King of Games!" Prometheus calls out. Yugi scratches bit his cheek.
"For third wing, we have first duel between Seto Kaiba against Fuji from MDS, followed by duel between Misaki and Sayer, followed by Yuto versus Tavara, and finally Celina against Mermail Abysstrite!" In audience, Pegasus would be looking at the duels of third wing. "Kaiba boy will be first in there, huh... This will be interesting", he thinks.
"And last but certainly not least, Duels of the fourth wing! First, we have duel between Yusei Fudo and Koyo Hibiki, followed by Zarc and Vector, followed by duel between duel between Yuya and Kain of Eterna Inc. And final duel of the fourth wing is something I am sure lot people will be looking for... Jack Atlas against Aporia!" Jack blinks, glaring at Aporia, who just glares back. "...Those two huh", Leo mutters in audience. "It will be interesting", Luna replies. She then looks around ."Have you seen Aki around?" She asks. "Nope", Crow and Leo reply. Luna looks worried. "I hope she is okey..."
"Now, we will take a short break before the tournament final rounds start..." Gorz says, as he and the platform disappear. Back at tower, Gorz takes deep breath. "Only Kain made it to the finals", he thinks. "Well, can't be helped", he says, sighing. "On plus side... Only four members of the Shadow Realm made it too, so this should not be too bad... But Zarc is a problem", he thinks, looking at the screen. "...I can only hope things don't end in chaos..."
Next Time : Duels of Wing 1 Begin!