A/N: I had very little time to write these past 2 weeks, but since I finally have some time, I'm cranking out two chapters this weekend for the season finale. I hope you enjoy, and I apologize for the late posting.
"If you insist on being so impatient, I'll end my turn here. There's nothing you can do, anyway.", Viviana boasted.
She had her Tragic HERO - Requiem and Gurren on the field. Requiem could take control of any monster on my field until the end phase, and Gurren could Special Summon any monster Banished during her turn. She also had my Paladin, but since he was out of Xyz Materials, he was just a 2600 Beatstick. She had Dimensional Fissure on the field, making sure any of my monsters destroyed would be banished, and Sanctuary of the War-torn which only allowed me to Special Summon Warrior-type monsters...
She had a pretty formidable defense against my Pendulums...but for Kaiba's sake...I wouldn't back down. I had to believe in myself. I had to believe in my deck. Most of all...I had remember everything I was taught.
When I joined, there were about 50 people in the Rebellion. But, more and more joined every single day. I had never seen so many people flock to a cause like this. As far as I knew, there wasn't any sort of advertising for our Rebellion. It was just through word of mouth. We were always careful about our contacts as well, and anybody who wanted to join was thoroughly investigated before being let in. Our numbers just grew and grew. Our only weakness was the wasteland entrance, and we had been attacked by the Dominion a few times through there. Back then...we didn't have as many skilled Duelists as we do now. Kaiba was the one who protected and led us through those battles. He did most of the work himself.
He was like a messiah performing miracles. We would be attacked by hundreds of soldiers, yet we would wipe them out with minimal losses if any. It was because of times like these that we learned to trust Kaiba, even though he never showed us his face. I realize now why he couldn't show us. He may not have really been the son of Ryotaro Tachibana, but as far as anyone who was alive knew, he was. Ryotaro Tachibana was the head of Tachibana Corp which supplied weapons and armaments for the Dominion. It was because of his corporation that the Dominion was strong enough to take over the world. If the people in the Dominion learned that Kaiba was his son...it would be catastrophic. It wouldn't change anything he had done for us, but I doubt anyone would be willing to trust him any further.
No matter what, I would stay by his side, and I imagine Latch would as well. We've always been the closest to Kaiba. But...the Rebellion would fall apart. It was through his skill and command that he earned the trust of his followers, though he could never show his face.
When I was first being taught Duel Monsters, Latch was my teacher. Apparently, Kaiba was his teacher. I was being taught by the best, through extension.
"You need a sort of balance in your deck. Not too many monsters, not too many spells and traps. It's usually best to have somewhere around forty cards, as well. It means that you'll draw what you really want more often than not.", Latch told me.
"What kind of deck do you use?", I asked him.
"I use a lockdown deck.", he said, "I prevent my enemy from doing anything, while I hammer them with attacks."
"How are you supposed to fight back against something like that?"
"Well, I hope that they don't, for my sake. But, there's always a way out. Even in a totally hopeless situation, there's a chance that you can make it out. It's all a matter of luck, really. I mean...it's all a matter of luck if I can even lock someone down. You just gotta believe that your deck will be true to you and deal you the cards you need.", he explained.
"Believe in my deck?", I echoed, puzzled by his words.
"Yeah, but you gotta believe in yourself, too.", he continued, "No matter how bleak the situation gets, never give up. It's not over till it's over. Remember that."
He was right. It isn't over yet.
Right now, I had Radiant-Eyes Twin-Headed Dragon on my field and "Radiant-Eyes Werewolf" in my hand. I couldn't do anything with my Werewolf at the moment. He was a level six, but I couldn't Special Summon anything that wasn't a Warrior-type. My Dragon couldn't be targeted by card effects, and he had 3500 ATK. I could technically destroy her Requiem and my Dragon, but that would leave me wide open. My best choice right now was to leave him on the field and try my luck. It was up to my next draw to get things moving along.
"...Draw!", I called out, after a moment of hesitation. I closed my eyes tightly for a moment, then opened them and looked at the card. It was exactly what I needed.
"I activate Wavering Eyes!", I called out. Wavering Eyes destroyed all Pendulum Monsters in either player's Pendulum Zone, and activated certain effects based on how many were destroyed. Since it destroyed my two, it would deal 500 direct damage to Viviana, and I would get to add a Pendulum Monster to my hand. Taking the chance, I grabbed my last Radiant-Eyes Ascendant Dragon from my deck and put him in my hand, then, my Knight and Magician were destroyed. But since they were in the Pendulum Zone, they weren't banished. They are treated as Spell Cards in the Pendulum Zone, so they were sent to my Extra Deck for later.
From the Pendulum Zones, a blast of energy shot at Viviana, dealing her 500 Damage.
"LP - 3500"
"Now, my Pendulum Monsters effects trigger!", I announced, "When my Magician and Knight are sent to my Extra Deck from my Pendulum Zone, I can add one 'Radiant Spell' card from my deck to my hand for each!" So, I added two to my hand, then got ready to continue.
This was perfect. I added 'Radiant Spell: Ascendant Flash' and 'Radiant Spell: Re-Materialize' to my hand, meaning this whole duel was about to be turned around. With this...I could win this. Just like Latch said. As long as I believe in my deck...anything was possible.
"I activate Radiant Spell: Ascendant Flash! As long as I have a Radiant-Eyes Monster on my field, this negates the effect of all face-up Spells and Traps on the field when I activate it!", I called. The card activated, and a shiny red stone launched over at her field, exploding into a bright red flash of light. After it faded, her Sanctuary and Dimensional Fissure were covered in red sparks, showing that they were negated.
"Now, I use Radiant Spell: Re-Materialize! This lets me target a Radiant-Eyes Fusion, Synchro, or Xyz monster I control, then Special Summon any of the materials used for its summon in my Graveyard! So, come back! Radiant-Eyes Ascendant Dragons!"
A ray of light shined onto my field, Special Summoning my dragons once again, atom by atom.
"Level 8 - 2900 ATK", they both appeared.
"Now, I use the effect of the other Radiant-Eyes Ascendent Dragon in my hand! If I control two other copies already, I can fuse all three of them!", I announced, taking all three of them and preparing for a Fusion Summon."Now, I use the effect of the other Radiant-Eyes Ascendent Dragon in my hand! If I control two other copies already, I can fuse all three of them!", I announced, taking all three of them and preparing for a Fusion Summon. My monsters rose into the air again, flying towards the twisting vortex.
"God-like Dragon, beyond the comprehension of man, strike the earth and lay waste to my foes!", I chanted, "Fusion Summon! Come forth! Level Twelve! Radiant-Eyes Transcendent Omni-Dragon!"
"Level 12 - 4800 ATK"
Glistening with radiant, gem-like streams of light, my dragon descended from the sky. A diamond-like snaking body with four sharp wings coming from it, showering the entire field in its glorious light. It's giant talons were held in front of it, ready to destroy anything that it came in contact with. This was my strongest monster. This was the monster that I've destroyed entire legions with! My greatest protector and friend!
"Forty-eight hundred attack?!", Viviana exclaimed. Yes! Seeing her so panicked was exactly what I needed to motivate me! She wasn't expecting this at all! It was time for me to shatter that ego of hers, and drag Kaiba back myself! I could do this!
"Omni-Dragon! Attack her Requiem! Radiant Burst Stream!", I ordered. My dragon flew up into the sky, higher and higher. Then, it spread it's wings out far, gathering the sunlight in its crystalline body. Then, with one fluid motion, it unleashed the light in a straight, concentrated beam, obliterating her Requiem into nothing. From her shocked expression, I could see that she wasn't expecting that at all. She still had her Gurren and my Paladin, but they were no match for my Omni-Dragon. He couldn't be targeted by card effects, either.
"LP = 2200"
Yes! I destroyed her ace monster! This felt so good! I felt so alive! No other duel gave me this much pleasure!
"I'm going to make you regret forcing your will on others! I'll make sure you never hurt anyone again!", I shouted, triumphantly. She seemed to be angered by that comment for a moment, but collected herself a few seconds later.
"I see...", she said, softly gathering herself, "I suppose I got lost in my enjoyment and forget to never underestimate my enemy..." When she said that, the same thing clicked within me. I...kind of went crazy just now, didn't I? I took joy in seeing her pain...that's exactly what I just said I hated about her...and seeing how she snapped out of her thrill, I tried to do the same myself. I was just as worked up as her, but it was never good to lose your head in a fight like this. I didn't want to become the kind of twisted person she was, either. Kaiba...wouldn't want that of me.
So, I loosened up, took a deep breath, and closed my eyes...just contemplating. I needed to calm down and think things out instead of acting on impulse. When I acknowledged that, I realized that I had made a huge mistake. A mistake that could cost me the game.
I should have used my Omni-Dragon's effect before doing anything else. I would have been able to fill my field with more powerful monsters. I could have done much more damage...I could have possibly even reduced her field to 1 monster. Because I jumped straight into an attack, I skipped right from my Main Phase to my Battle Phase, losing the opportunity to summon more monsters and attack...
Because of Radiant Flash, I would still be able to Special Summon more monsters, but only as long as she didn't destroy it. Depending on what she drew, I might not get the chance to make up for this mistake. But...that's what I get for losing my head. In any case, I needed to continue on and do what I could. I wasn't out of this yet. I still had a chance, and I had a monster on my field that was more powerful than anything she's brought out yet, while also being unaffected by card effects. She would need to bring out a monster with 4800 attack or more to take my Omni-Dragon down, and chances are, she wouldn't be able to pull that off in one turn. I probably had some more time to work this out...
"I...lost my head, too.", I admitted. She glanced up at me, seeing my apologetic expression. I wasn't apologetic towards her, but I was more ashamed of my own actions. I guess I was repentant for going down the path that she did and lowering myself to her level.
"It's thrilling to make someone who you truly despise suffer.", she said, smiling at me with a strangely accepting expression, "I guess you and I are more alike than I initially thought."
"I'm not like you.", I said, defiantly but calmly, "I actually have remorse for taking joy in that. I don't think you should ever feel good about causing another human pain, no matter who they are. That's...inhuman." She laughed softly, replying with,
"That's very compassionate of you. But, I believe you simply haven't experienced enough hatred. If you truly despise someone, that compassion won't apply to them. I stole away your love interest, and from what I understand, he's the most important person to you. You had enough hatred for me to enjoy my suffering, if only for a moment."
"...I don't ever want to hate someone enough to enjoy their suffering...", I murmured, "Even though you took Kaiba away from me...I don't think you did it just to spite me. I mean...you love him too, don't you?" Her expression changed from a cynical smirk to a surprised and slightly confused stare.
"...Yes.", she agreed, "I do love him."
I realized my fault now. I realized what I didn't want to become. Instead of making her suffer and growing more hatred...I don't know. I wanted to come to an understanding. I wanted to be the kind of person that Kaiba would want to love. Someone sweet and understanding. Someone different from Viviana. If that meant coming to peace with her...
"Why did you take him away from us, then?", I asked, trying to understand. She paused, probably debating what she should say.
"...Your rebellion is too chaotic.", she told me, "It causes needless destruction, and I didn't want that to go on. I just wanted everyone to live in peace. I wanted Giorno to be happy and without worries, away from any more war. I just...I don't want any more senseless deaths."
"So...you weren't planning on killing me?"
"No. I already made a pledge with myself that I wouldn't kill another human.", she admitted.
"Well...I'm sorry. But, you're going to have to kill me to stop me from getting Kaiba back.", I told her, "I'd rather die than leave without him."
"I won't have to kill you.", she said, "And...you will be able to leave here without needing his guidance."
"...What...?", I asked, confused.
"It doesn't matter right now. This duel will decide what will happen. Let us continue."
"Right...", I agreed, feeling an odd sense of sympathy with her. She truly did love Kaiba...and it seemed like her intentions were pure. I understood where she was coming from and what she wanted to do, but I didn't agree with how she was going about it. The end result seemed to be the only thing that mattered to her. I knew what she wanted in the end was good...but...that wouldn't change my decision to stop her, though. Even though I respected her strength and I understood her intent, Kaiba was the most important thing in my life. There was no way I was letting her keep him.
"I guess...I end my turn.", I told her.
"My turn. I draw.", she said, calmly. She only had one card in her hand, so if it was nothing she could use, she would have to switch her monsters to Defense Position.
"I summon Tragic HERO – Shu from my hand.", she said, placing a monster on the field, "Using Shu and Gurren as Synchro Materials, I Synchro Summon Tragic HERO – Oedipus from my Extra Deck."
Her monsters flew up into the air, Shu becoming bright balls of light and circling around Gurren, forming into a new Synchro monster.
"Level 9 – 3200 ATK"
"Now, I'll use Oedipus's effect. I can permanently halve his attack, then reveal the top three cards of my deck and Special Summon any Tragic HERO monsters among them.", she continued. That was an interesting effect, but it all relied on the luck of the draw. She had a random chance of it even working. So, I watched and hoped for my sake that she didn't get any. But, she pulled one off, and it was a Tragic HERO. Another...it was a Tragic HERO. The last...was another Tragic HERO. She was able to pull three right off the top. The worst possible scenario...
"I Special Summon 'Tragic HERO – Sorrowful Widow, 'Tragic HERO – Unfortunate Son', and 'Tragic HERO – Desperate Warrior'."
"Level 4 - 1000 ATK"
"Level 4 - 1100 ATK"
"Level 4 - 1200 ATK"
All three monsters appeared to be normal humans. The Sorrowful Widow had no weapon at all and only a fancy fur coat, while the Unfortunate Son had armor and a shortsword. The Desperate Warrior had full body armor with fur lining, along with a large greatsword.
"When all three of these monsters are on the field, I can Tribute one monster and Special Summon 'Tragic HERO – Baratheon' from my deck.", she continued, tributing my Paladin. A card was ejected from her deck, and she grabbed it proudly, setting it on the field and summoning a sufficiently powerful monster.
"Level 9 – 3100 ATK"
Baratheon was a large man in heavy armor, wearing a furry cape and wielding a gigantic sword. He looked incredibly intimidating. So in one turn, she was able to summon two monsters with over 3000 attack, but neither were strong enough to take on my dragon. I had a feeling she wasn't done, though. I had no idea what kind of monsters she had in her deck, but it was very possible she had a back up plan.
"Now, I'll use my Widow's effect to raise Oedipus and Baratheons' levels by one.", she added. Her Widow floated over to both Baratheon and Oedipus and gave them both a soft kiss on the forehead, raising both of their level by one.
"Level 10 – 3200 ATK"
"Level 10 – 3100 ATK"
"Since they're both level ten, I'll continue by overlaying my Baratheon and Oedipus.", she told me. A starry portal opened up beneath her, swirling together like the Milky Way. Both of her most powerful monsters transformed into rays of light and quickly flew into the center, causing a blast of lightning to emerge and bring forth a new monster.
"Misguided and misunderstood, with grand power and command, step forward and enforce your royal will!", she called, "Evocazione Xyz! Venire! 'Tragic HERO – Fateful King'!"
"Rank 10 – 4000 ATK"
"Four thousand...impressive. But, that's not enough to take on my Dragon.", I said to her.
"I'm not finished.", she replied, "For my last Summon, I'll overlay my three level fours." Her monsters flew into the portal once more, causing another eruption and bringing out yet another monster.
"Evocazione Xyz! Venire! 'Tragic HERO - Utena'!", she called.
"Rank 4 - 500 ATK"
"Only five hundred attack?", I asked.
"Utena's ability allows me to detach up to three Xyz Materials from her, then have another monster I control gain attack equal to hers times the amount of Materials I detached.", she told me.
"What?!", I called out.
"I detach three Xyz Materials to give my Fateful King fifteen hundred attack!"
"Rank 10 - 5500 ATK"
"Fifty-five...hundred...", I muttered in utter disbelief.
"This stays in effect as long as I control a Tragic HERO, including my Fateful King.", she explained, "My Fateful King can detach a material to negate all other card effects until the end of the turn. Unless you have a way to top five thousand five hundred attack on your next turn, this duel will soon be over."
Five thousand...five hundred...attack...? I was still floored by this turn around. I was able to bring out my strongest monster...yet...she just overthrew him in one turn...how was I supposed to compete with this? I only had one monster powerful enough to get close, but I would need something more to power him up or else he wouldn't breach 5000...that's assuming I could even summon him at this point.
"Now, Fateful King! Attack her Omni-Dragon!", she called out. Her monster readied his blade, then charged head on towards my dragon. I was almost too slow to react, but I caught myself just in time.
"I activate my Omni-Dragon's effect! Once per turn, it can't be destroyed by battle!", I called out.
"It's useless! I detach an Xyz Material to negate your card effect! Continue your attack, Fateful King!", she countered.