Lise shook her head to clear it. "It's my turn, and I draw!" What the hell is wrong with him? I thought we were just dueling…Oh well. We ARE dueling and THAT'S what I need to focus on! "I summon Smoke Raven!"
(Smoke Raven: Atk: 800 Def: 1000)
A small black, smoky bird drifted onto the field. Its foggy body blew in synch with the breeze. "Since you don't have any monsters, I don't have to halve my Raven's attack points to attack you directly! Go, Smoke Raven, attack with Smog Strike!" The raven croaked dangerously and dived for Yusei. He gritted his teeth and let Lise's Raven pass through him.
Yusei: 3200
Lise: 4000
"Now, Flame Alchemist, attack! Burn up his lifepoints!"
Like a baseball pitcher, the Alchemist wound up to throw some serious fireball action at Yusei.
"I don't think so! I play Scrap Iron Scarecrow! This negates your attack and I get to lay it facedown to use at another turn!" Yusei countered.
"Will you look at that!" Fish's voice emerged from the speakers. "It's the card with vaguely-worded instructions! Such strategy! Very talent!"
Lise gritted her teeth. "Fine! I end my turn with a face-down!"
Get the hell out Yusei! What are you trying to do, cheat?
God no. I need to understand something.
There's nothing to understand! Get out and duel fairly!
If you say so.
"I summon Junk Synchron, and I'll use his special ability right now! This means I get to summon a level two or below monster from my graveyard, and who better than Quillbolt Hedgehog! I think you know what happens next, Lise. I tune my Hedgehog with my Junk Synchron to Synchro Summon Junk Warrior! Let's rev it up!" The familiar purple junk monster dominated the field.
(Junk Warrior: Atk: 2300 Def: 1300)
"Junk Warrior, attack!"
Lise gritted her teeth. She refused to wince as her lifepoints dropped.
Yusei: 3200
Lise: 2500
Your move, Lise.
"Why don't you talk to me like a normal person, instead of messing with my head?!" Lise growled furiously. A slightly more aggressive wind blew around her body. "It's my turn, and I draw! I summon my Implosion Salamander!"
(Implosion Salamander: Atk: 200 Def: 200)
In a large display of sparks the little red and gold salamander exploded.
"Lise, what are you talking about?" Yusei asked. "Messing with your head...?"
"Whoa! What's she doing? I've never seen that card before! Looks like Yusei's being a little shit, and Lise is finally fed up with him!" Fish shouted into the microphone.
Yusei studied Lise's thunderous expression and the strengthening winds swirling around her. The air was charging with electricity and the hair on the back of his neck was standing up. Why would she summon a monster that is automatically destroyed when it's summoned? And her power is getting a little out of hand. Why is she so defensive?
"I now activate my Salamander's ability! When he's summoned, he's automatically destroyed, but I get to summon a monster that's level four or below from my graveyard! Come back onto the field Smoke Raven!" Once again, Lise's two monsters stood before her. The raven croaked while the alchemist calmly stared down his controller's opponent.
"It seems the plan is working, Director Goodwin," Lazar said. "Her temper has elevated quite a bit, for no good reason."
"Yes, as long as we keep projecting these messages into her head, we have a good chance of awakening the Dragon."
Jack narrowed his eyes. They keep manipulating these duels...as much as I want to duel Yusei, this just feels wrong.
"Next I'll play one of two face-down cards! Call of the Haunted brings back my Salamander from the grave!" Lise now had three monsters, however, none of them were powerful enough to take down Yusei's Junk Warrior.
Up in the stands, Yanagi, Dex, Tanner and the Twins watched curiously.
"I don't understand…" Yanagi said. "Why would she summon those three monsters? They don't stand a chance against Junk Warrior."
"Maybe for their abilities?" Dexter suggested, adjusting his glasses.
"No," Luna realized.
"She's going to Synchro Summon, you morons," Tanner explained with a nod.
"I now tune my three monsters together! Let the flames engulf everything in their path! Light purify the darkness! I Synchro Summon Crimson Starburst Dragon!" The familiar red, white and gold dragon emerged in a flash of white light. Its roar vibrated through the arena. "You've been wasting your time trying to find a secret I've never told anyone! Get out of my head, Yusei, and stay out! Starburst, attack Yusei's Junk Warrior! Blazing Inferno!"
"Did you forget my Scrap Iron Scarecrow?" Yusei said, activating his trap. If I know her, she definitely didn't forget…and what the hell is this about secrets? I'm not even in her head!
Lise laughed. "Hardly! I play my second and last face-down! The quick play spell Sparks destroys one spell or trap on your field! You wanted a storm, Yusei? Well here it comes!"
Yusei: 3000
Lise: 2500
In a large cloud of smoke, Yusei's synchro monster departed for the graveyard. Now only Lise had a monster and two cards in her hand.
"Your turn," she glared at him, daring him to try something. Her blues eyes had turned red. Lise's markings began to steadily glow. She had either noticed and didn't care or too angry to realize her growing lack of control.
"Lise, what's gotten into you?" Yusei shouted, beginning his turn despite the strong winds around him. "I guess the only way to get through to you is to fight fire with fire! I play my other trap, Descending Lost Star! So come on back Junk Warrior! Next up, I summon Drill Synchron!"
(Drill Synchron: Atk: 800 Def: 300)
"Looks like a Clash of the Dragons…" Tanner speculated. "If he's doing what I think he's doing."
"Huh? Whattaya mean?" Yanagi asked.
Leo piped up. "Is he gonna Synchro Summon Stardust Dragon?"
"I think so," Luna said.
"Sorry, Lise, I really didn't wanna do this, but it looks like I have to! I synchro summon Stardust Dragon!"
Stardust swirled in the wind as the beautiful dragon spread its wings. Its white, purple and silver body clashed greatly with the deep red, gold, orange and yellow of Lise's beast.
(Stardust Dragon: Atk: 2500 Def: 2000)
Lise smirked. "Don't think an old friend is going to stop me, cuz it makes no difference. I will beat you."
"We'll see. I end with a face-down card!" Yusei announced.
"Seems like Yusei's got his rat dragon out on the field!" Fish said. "But I have to say, fire with fire? That's the worst cliche I've heard from Crabhair this entire tournament! Everyone knows you fight fire with water!" The next moment, a bubble of water splashed down over Yusei's head, drenching him.
"What?" Yusei did a double take. "Whattaya mean 'rat' dragon!"
Lise laughed. "Our MC has a favorite and it's not you. I draw! I set one card facedown, and then I'll use my dragon's special ability! By sending two cards in my hand to the graveyard, I can remove from play one monster on your field! And who better than your Stardust Dragon?"
"Sorry Lise, but I play my dragon's special ability! My dragon's ability removes your dragon from play!"
"Hold up there, Yusei!" Fish called. "Didn't you hear Lise? She's removing your dragon from play, not sending it to the graveyard! Your dragon's wings are well and truly clipped!"
Lise sent the two cards to the graveyard. "Engulfing Flames, get Stardust out of my sight!"
The white dragon roared as the red dragon blew a stream of flame at it with its large fiery wings. The flames completely absorbed Stardust and the dragon vanished.
At this rate, I'm a goner. I have to stay in this duel and get Lise to calm down before this wind gets any worse!
"Crimson Starburst Dragon, attack Yusei directly!" Lise commanded.
"Not quite!" Yusei's trap activated as the flames from Lise's dragon burned around him.
Lise crossed her arms victoriously. She then frowned in confusion. "Wait a minute! His life points didn't go down!"
"That's because I had Graceful Revival on the field! I brought back my Speed Warrior in defense mode to avoid taking damage!"
"Damnit!" Lise yelled, sending out another gust of wind in her fury. She glanced at her empty hand. Next turn then. "I'm done, so make your move."
Come on… Carefully, Yusei drew his card. "Okay, first since your turn is over, Stardust Dragon returns to my field! Now I play my spell Angel Baton! I draw two cards from my deck, but I have to send one card in my hand to the graveyard! I'll send Nitro Synchron to the graveyard."
"Not gonna help you!" Lise warned.
"I'm not interested in helping myself! I wanna help you!"
Lise shook her head. "You can't! Forget it! You can't force yourself to be the solution, but you are making yourself the problem!"
"I'm trying to tell you, I don't know what you mean! I'm just dueling you, like we've done countless times before! What makes this any different?"
"You're in my head!"
"No, I'm not! I promise you, I'm not trying to mess with you in any way!"
"Hate to take his side on this one," Fish chimed in, "but judging by the sound of Crabhair's voice, it's the truth."
"No it isn't! If you weren't so stubborn you could see that!"
"Rude!"
Yusei tried his best to ignore the arguing MC and duelist. "I summon Synchron Explorer!"
(Synchron Explorer: Atk: 0000 Def: 700)
"With his ability I can summon Junk Synchron back from my graveyard! Junk Synchron, attack Lise's Dragon!"
"Are you crazy? There's no way it'll win!"
"Don't be so sure!" Yusei gritted his teeth as his lifepoints dropped.
Yusei: 1200
Lise: 2500
Why would he do that? It was pointless! Lise stared at her friend. He smiled at her.
"I now special summon Turbo Booster! With his ability, the monster that just battled with mine is destroyed along with Turbo Booster himself!"
"What!" Lise's eyes widened and watched helplessly as her dragon went up in yellow sparks. "Damn!"
"I now end my turn!"
Lise drew her next card. "I summon Solar Butterfly! When I successfully summon this card, I can draw two more cards! I set both of them facedown and end my turn!"
(Solar Butterfly: Atk: 300 Def: 0000)
"That was fast. Hoping to end things quickly?" Yusei remarked, eyeing Lise's fully glowing marks warily.
"Shut up and duel and you'll find out!"
"You asked for it! I'll set two cards facedown and attack Solar Butterfly with Junk Synchron and end my turn!"
Yusei: 1200
Lise: 1500
Lise scowled suspiciously. "What's wrong? Stardust Dragon can finish me off easily. Are you taking it easy on me?"
Yusei blinked. "So what if I am?"
"Stop trying to reach me, Yusei! By forcing yourself into my head, you're just as bad as the Professor!"
Yusei's jaw dropped open. "But-"
"I don't wanna hear it! I play my trap, Return from the Ashes! This card allows me to bring back a fire- or pyro-type monster from my graveyard, and guess what my dragon is?"
"Yeah! That's what I'm talking about! Beat the crap outta him, Lise, but save some for me!" Fish cheered through the microphone.
Lise smirked. "I equip my dragon with Starburst Soul. This spell gives my beast an extra 500 attack points, and neither it nor the monsters it battles are destroyed."
(Crimson Starburst Dragon: Atk: 2500 3000 Def: 3000)
"Unfortunately, I can't conduct battle on the turn I play Return from the Ashes, so you should make the most of your last turn, Yusei!"
She's right. Yusei gritted his teeth solemnly. If I don't get a powerful monster out soon, then she'll blast away my lifepoints. "I set one card facedown and end my turn!"
"You call that a turn? I'll show you a turn! I draw, and Starburst will attack Synchron Explorer! End this duel!"
"I don't think so! I play Draining Shield!"
Yusei: 4200
Lise: 1500
"No way!" Lise cried.
"Yes way! Are you ending there?"
Lise glared in response.
"Then it's my move! I switch Stardust Dragon into defense mode and play Prevention Star! With it I can freeze up Crimson Starburst Dragon as long as it's on the field. I end my turn."
This doesn't look good for me. I need something that can get me out of this right now! Lise bit her lip and drew her card. She inhaled. She exhaled. "Come on…" Lise peeked out of the corner of her eye. "Yes! I play Double Spell! Now I can take a look at your graveyard and take one of your spells and use it as my own."
Yusei's eyes widened. "From my graveyard?"
"That's right, so I think I'll be taking your Angel Baton. Now I draw two cards from my deck. I'll send one card to the graveyard and I set my other card face down. I end."
Yusei bit his lip and drew his next card. This is bad. She's full on glowing and it doesn't seem like she's going to stop any time soon. Time to step up my game. "Stardust Dragon, attack Crimson Starburst Dragon with Cosmic Flare!"
"You sure you want to do that, Yusei? Our dragons won't be destroyed, but yours will just get weaker!"
"If that's the price I have to pay!" Yusei winced as his lifepoints dropped.
Yusei: 3700
Lise: 1500
"What a waste," Lise glowered indifferently. "I thought I told you to shut up and duel, but I guess you need help getting the message. I play Spellbinding Circle! Now both our monsters can't attack or change their battle positions!"
"Nice try, Lise, but I'm playing Heavy Storm! All our spells and traps are destroyed!"
"What?"
"That means both of our dragons' attack points return to normal!"
"Well, I don't know about you guys," Fish said to the crowd at large, "but I'm having a hard time keeping this all straight. Starburst and Stardust, about to duke it out...but which Star dragon will win?"
"I'll end my turn with a facedown. Your move, Lise."
"Gladly! I draw and I'll play one facedown too."
"Running low on cards?"
"None of your business!"
"Lise, I just want to help you!"
"I didn't ask for your help! It's your turn, now make it!" Her markings glowed brighter.
"If you say so," Yusei winced as he felt his arm burn. "I equip Stardust with Silver Contrails! Now because my mighty beast is a wind monster it gains a thousand attack points! Attack Crimson Starburst Dragon!"
"I interrupt this attack to bring you my facedown card Magic Cylinder! Your attack is negated and you take damage equal to Stardust's attack! It looks like your friendly gesture earlier is going to be more painful than you thought!"
Yusei: 200
Lise: 1500
Yusei's mark began to glow as his lifepoints dropped dangerously. "Lise, please listen to me!"
Lise, you can't keep this up forever. Why don't you just tell me what you're hiding?
Save it! "It's my turn, and I play Pot of Avarice! I select five monsters in my graveyard, return them to my deck, shuffle it, and draw two cards! I'll set both of them and end my turn!"
"Lise, I'm not trying to control you like the Professor!"
"Doesn't matter. Duel."
Yusei shook his head. "Lise, I'm telling you the truth. I'm not in your head. Whatever you're hearing, it isn't me!"
"Oh, really?" Lise turned towards the announcer's booth. "What do you think, Fish? Is he lying?"
The announcer's booth remained silent. Lise smirked. "Well, well, looks like I've lost my backup."
Of course you have. Lise, just let me help you.
No! I don't need your help! I'm not some damsel in distress!
Wrapped up in her mental conversation, Lise was taken by surprise when Stardust Dragon attacked,.
Yusei: 200
Lise: 500
"I play my Phoenix Flare's special ability! Since it's in my graveyard, I can remove it from play to keep my dragon on the field!"
You can't win like this, Lise. Just give-
HEY!
Lise blinked. Fish? Not you, too!
Gimme a sec, I'll be out in a jiffy. Hey, whatever or whoever you are in Lise's head, get out! I know you're not Yusei!
Fish, what are you-
Sorry to bother you, Lisie, but at this rate there won't be enough of Yusei left for me to pick on! Now, random voice in Lise's head, fuck off!
There was a popping noise in Lise's ears, as if some sort of built-up pressure had released itself; the terrified voices of the crowd seemed infinitely louder. Her vision cleared; she hadn't even realized it had clouded in the first place. Looking down, she noticed just how much her marks were glowing. "When did I...? Oh no!" She hugged her arms in close to her body. "Turn off, turn off! Stop glowing!" Her panic only made the light and wind worse.
Yusei stepped forward. "Lise, are you-"
"Don't! Don't come any closer! Don't touch me! I-I play m-my facedown quick play spell Sparks to destroy your facedown!" Whatever's happening, I don't think I can control it!
"In that case I'll activate Stardust Dragon's ability! I can sacrifice him in order to negate the effect of your spell!"
Lise was grinding her teeth together so hard she couldn't get out a word. Yusei felt a surge of pain in his mark just as Lise's markings reached the blinding setting. Her eyes became the color of fresh blood and her feet parted company with the Earth. Wind tore through the field and stands like a shredder out for paper.
"Lise!" Yusei shouted through the force of the gale. She's gone critical! There wasn't any going back and now she can't stop! "LISE!"
She didn't respond. Instead she rose slightly higher into the air.
"Damnit, she can't hear me. Looks like the only way to stop this is to finish up. I'm ending my turn, and, with the start of yours, I activate my trap Cosmic Blast! Now with the return of Stardust Dragon to my field Cosmic Blast deals out damage for all of Stardust Dragon's attack points!"
Yusei didn't hesitate any longer. He ran through the hard winds the best he could.
Yusei: 200
Lise: 0000
Lise's body jerked in a sudden motion as if she had registered the drop in her lifepoints. She drifted downwards slowly. Once she was safely on the ground, Yusei hurried to her side.
"It's okay," Yusei said softly, wrapping his arms around Lise. "It's over. I'm sorry."
The wind slowly died down. The fans in the audience collected themselves and Lise's marks steadily seized glowing. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes.
"Welcome back," Yusei smiled sheepishly at her, happy to see Lise's eyes were blue and not red.
"You freak!"
"She's dangerous! Send her away!"
"What is with this tournament and all the super-powered weirdoes?!"
"Not exactly the warmest of welcomes," Lise commented. "But I'm not mad at them." She raised a pointed eyebrow at Yusei. "Or you. I'm sorry..."
"It's fine. I don't know what happened, but I think I know why." And Yusei directed a glare at Goodwin.