"So… Konami." Syrus said softly. "I have a question."
Blinking, Konami leaned back in his chair, halting his investigation into Nightshroud to regard the young Truesdale. "What is it Syrus?"
"Well, it's just… didn't you tell Jaden and everyone else that you took Demise from Wisteria?"
"Yeah, so?" Konami asked.
"Well, if that's the really the case… then how come she had it during my Duel with her last chapter?!" Syrus complained.
"Well, that's rather simple Syrus." Konami explained. "I gave it back to her."
"WHAT?!" the shout came surprisingly not from Syrus, but the far heavier Chumley above him. "Why'd you go and do a stupid thing like that?! Syrus might've actually won the Duel if it weren't for that card!"
"Maybe, but Wisteria still had Ruin to use anyway, so the outcome probably would've been the same. Besides, it was very weakly implied that she took it back in Chapter Twenty Three, but we changed our mind about that so I only gave it back to her due to a certain… situation."
"And just what situation was that? Besides, you've been busy with the Duel Giant thing ever since you got here! When did you have the time to give it back to her?!" Syrus complained.
"Ahh… that was, after her duel with Alexis, see?" Konami said. "I mean, there was originally more to that hushed conversation than her threatening to kill me you know, but it got cut because of… well," Konami scratched his head sheepishly, "reasons."
"Reasons? What reasons?!" Syrus complained. "We deserve to know!"
Konami hummed, thinking back to the content that was cut due to reasons. He remembered it just like it was yesterday. It was just after Wisteria had tied Alexis, and had approached him with a rather sour expression…
WooshWooshWooshFlashbackTimeWooshWooshWoosh
"Oh, but Konami, if youevertell my enemies about my Deck list again… King or not, Better Duelist or not, I will kill you. Now, I do believe this Duel of mine has earned me a small respite,anda reward. I think I'll settle for taking back one of the cards you've taken from me, King, unless you want our classmates to know that you've been trying to sabotage our chances at victory."
"You think I care about that?" Konami asked, whispering back.
"Hardly. Like me, you don't seem to have any stake in just who wins this Inter-school Duel. Even so, North Academy has ways of making its life hard for the outcasts. You thought Duel Academy was bad? North Academy would have you crying by the end of the day. And if you think you'd be able to sleep peacefully well..." Wisteria smiled, shaking her head softly. "But none of that concerns you, no? Besides, what really matters is the safety of those friends of yours, worms they may be."
"If you think I'll let you hurt them-" Konami started, only to find himself cut off.
"Oh dear King," Wisteria laughed, patting a hand on his cheek softly, "I won't be doing anything. It's not in my nature to get physical, after all."
Konami thought a certain blue-haired Duelist would have a retort to that, but he said nothing, opting to glare at the girl instead.
"It'll be the rest of our classmates I'm afraid. Sure, some of them admire you and Chazz for taking over so quickly, but this is a dog eats dog world, "King". They wouldn't hesitate for a second if they thought they had something to hold over you, and if they think going after your Duel Academy pals will make you vulnerable… well…"
"They wouldn't dare go against their King." Konami grimaced.
Wisteria smiled. "They wouldn't dare go against their Queen, either."
Konami glared at Wisteria furiously, his frown deepening further when he saw her clap her hands eagerly.
"So, about my lovely Demise." Wisteria said happily.
Konami scowled. "..In the Faculty Lounge, bottommost drawer of the cabinet beside the coffee machine."
"So that's why I couldn't find it..." Wisteria whispered to herself, prompting a raised brow from Konami. "Never mind. Nonetheless, it seems you're capable of learning after all. But Konami dear, you're a hundred years too early to try and sabotage me."
"Maybe so, but one day you'll come across an opponent you can't beat with mere wit and trickery. And when that happens Wisteria, I can only hope I'll be there to see it."
"Perhaps such a day will come." Wisteria admitted softly, brushing a hand against Konami's face softly, "But it won't be today. Now, smile for the camera, our classmates are watching after all. Wouldn't want them to think their King and Queen are fighting, would we?"
She kissed him on the cheek mockingly, and stepped back.
"Till next time, "King."" she said, and she tossed a hand through her hair and walked off, leaving the group in the smoldering remains of the Field.
She tossed her hair and walked off, leaving the group in the smoldering remains of the Field.
"And there she goes." Jaden said, watching her leave. "Soooo, what was all that about Konami? Something you want to tell the rest of us?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Konami asked, raising a brow at the Slifer's curiosity.
WooshWooshWooshFlashbackTimeOverWooshWooshWoosh
Forget it Syrus." Konami said, creasing his brow in annoyance at both Wisteria and Jaden. "You don't want to know."
Yu-Gi-Oh: Tag Force
Learning to Duel
"I see… so that's what happened."
It was late. Only the shine of the lighthouse illuminated the area, but still, the battle that had occurred earlier in the day sat fresh in Alexis' mind. Following Konami's departure from the scene, she'd been left to do damage control; namely, tending to the defeated Syrus and feeding the bottomless stomach that was one Chumley Huffington.
By the time the two Slifers had finally started to settle down, Jaden had already returned to their dorm, and the moon was shining high in the sky. As such, it was only natural for Alexis to go where she did – the lighthouse.
It was an odd habit of hers, but not one without reason. For it was at the lighthouse where she often ran into her current addressor; the cool, collected, incredibly hot Zane Truesdale.
"I thought it was strange. You don't usually miss our meetings, Alexis." the older member of the Truesdale brothers said, his arms folded calmly as he leaned against the lighthouse's outer walls. "To think a Shadow Rider would attack so soon… they certainly didn't waste any time."
"Yeah." Alexis agreed. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried. Konami may have intercepted the last attack, but even he was having a tough time against them."
"Konami, huh?" Zane asked. "While we're on the topic, did you find what you were looking for when you questioned him?"
Alexis glanced away, her eyes narrowing softly. "No. It's just like you said, Zane. Konami doesn't know anything about Atticus' disappearance. At least, nothing we already hadn't worked out ourselves. He did have an interesting theory."
"Theories are nothing without evidence to back them up." Zane said, cutting off that line of conversation. "The Shadow Rider who attacked you… did he have a name?"
"Huh? Yeah, he went around calling himself Nightshroud, whatever that means."
"Nightshroud huh?" Zane thought aloud. "Sounds like an interesting fellow."
"He is." Alexis agreed. "Plenty strong too. Then again, why wouldn't he be, when he's running around with a powerful monster like the Red-Eyes Black Dragon?"
The name of the legendary monster brought Zane pause. His back straightened, and his gaze seemed to cut through Alexis' very soul.
"Red-Eyes? This Nightshroud character owns that card?" he asked in a whisper, drawing Alexis' surprise.
"Uh… yeah." The girl nodded. "From the way he was dueling, it seemed like it was his ace card as well. Why, is there something you've thought of, Zane?"
"No… but, there's not too many duelists who still use the Red-Eyes series. I'd have thought you'd be more interested in it than anything Alexis," Zane explained, "after all, the last Red-Eyes user I saw… was your brother."
"Atticus…" Alexis whispered, clasping her hands together softly. "Zane, are you saying that-"
"I'm not saying anything." Zane clarified, effectively cutting the girl off. "It's too soon to say anything regarding Nightshroud, especially when I haven't laid eyes on him myself. But, I do feel comfortable saying this much; if he really is a skilled Red-Eyes user, then it was through no small degree of luck that you and Red Hat survived to talk about it. The next time you meet, Alexis, you should be careful; as he'll definitely be playing for keeps."
Alexis sighed. "I figured as much. It's part of why I came here, actually."
Zane glanced toward her curiously at the statement, wondering what she meant by that. "Oh? Mind enlightening me?"
Nodding, Alexis took a step toward Zane confidently.
"I remember when I first came here you offered to help me strengthen my Deck. I'd turned you down at the time, not wanting to rely on an older student to get through my classes, but…" she pressed a hand against her chest, showing her determination. "...after seeing how easily Konami was nearly defeated dueling Nightshroud, I think I've changed my mind. If the offer's still open, Zane, then please, help me make my Cyber Bladers stronger and more effective than before!"
Zane stared at Alexis quietly.
"Zane…? Come on, say something." Alexis said softly, lowering her hand.
After a moment, the boy made to speak.
"Alexis, you're reason for doing this…"
Realizing what he was asking, Alexis straightened her back and answered immediately. "Last time, I was left on the sidelines to watch while Konami dueled for our souls. He… He wasn't even supposed to be there. Even so, out of all of us, he was the one to leap forward first, and as a result, I was left dangling about like a damsel in distress again. That's twice now it's happened, and I want to make sure it doesn't become a habit. I'm a Key Holder too, I should be able to hold my own just as much as anyone else! And… if there's any chance that this Nightshroud has something to do with Atticus, then there's no way I can just stand aside and do nothing."
"I see." Zane said, unfolding his arms and stepping away from the lighthouse walls. "In that case, tomorrow, meet me in front of the Ra Yellow Dorms."
"Huh? The Ra Yellow Dorms? Why there?" Alexis asked.
"We'll be rebuilding your Deck tonight," Zane clarified, "but it's too late to take it for a test drive. That's why, first thing tomorrow, we'll test it against the greatest possible opponent."
"…?"
"Yourself."
Zane started walking as he finished his words, leaving Alexis to wonder just what he meant.
Well, she thought, smiling softly before turning to follow him, at least he didn't say no.
The two left the docks side by side, unaware of the jealous gaze following their forms.
Arc Four – Chapter Six
A Dragon's Might
The following morning, Alexis awoke early, knowing she had a meeting with Zane in front of the Ra Yellow Dorms. Despite having spent several hours with the older student modifying her Deck, she never did quite understand what he meant by dueling herself, nor why they'd need to visit the Ra Yellows to do so. Had Bastion created some cloning device to help him study or something? Alexis wouldn't have put it past him.
"So, you made it." Zane's voice broke Alexis from her thoughts, prompting a smile to emerge on the girl's face.
"Yes. I still don't understand why you made us come here though…" Alexis admitted.
"Don't worry, you'll figure it out soon enough." Zane said, leading her inside.
Alexis sighed; traveling with Zane was always so strange. Students and faculty alike would often move out of the boy's way, or on some occasions, rush to him in hopes of receiving some form of signature – an autograph.
Though Zane did humor them at times, more often than not Alexis found that he thought the distractions were annoying and time consuming, and as such, cared little for indulging their desires. In his words, "the time they spent bothering him could be better spent strengthening their Decks."
Still, it wasn't all bad. For one, whenever she did accompany Zane, Mindy and Jasmine would usually abstain from their usual hobbies, only giving her idle an idle thumbs up or a few soft giggles whenever they passed. Of course, that didn't stop them from pestering her after the fact, but everything had a price.
"We're here." Zane said, stopping in front of a small yellow dorm room.
"We're visiting a student? And an undergrad at that! I wasn't aware you knew any, outside of me and your brother's friends." Alexis admitted.
"We had a few run-ins." Zane explained, knocking on the door and waiting for a response.
"Coming, coming! Seriously Bastion, just because I borrowed a few lines from your essay-" the door opened, revealing the spiky hair of one Dmitri. He blinked owlishly at his visitors several times, before sighing in relief. "Oh, it's just you Zane. I thought you were Bastion coming to yell at me."
"There won't be any yelling, this time." Zane explained, and Dmitri grinned.
"Hold on," Alexis said, "I remember you. Aren't you the guy who stole Zane's Deck Recipe to use on other students? If I remember, you were beaten pretty bad-"
"T-That was a fluke! I just didn't know how to use the Cyber-Style back then you see!" Dmitri said snobbishly. "If I ever see that Red Cap again, there's no way I'll lose!"
"It's Red Hat, and he's not why we're here." Zane said. "I need to see your Deck Recipe of Alexis Rhodes."
Dmitri's eyes went wide, and he glanced between Alexis and Zane several times.
"Oh… I see where this is going." Alexis sighed. "You plan on having him mimic me, is that it?"
"That's right. Dmitri here is skilled at mimicking other's decks. You might recall him being the one who stole Yugi Muto's Recipe as well?"
"Yeah, I remember." Alexis sighed, annoyed at the reminder. "Jaden put him down pretty hard too. You have a habit of losing to Slifers you underestimate, don't you?"
"That's pretty cold for you Alexis…" Dmitri muttered. "So, what's all this about Zane? Why do you want me mimicking Miss Rhodes here?"
"We were up all night revamping her Deck," Zane explained, "I thought the best way to test it out would be against an opponent who used all her old cards. If the new Deck is weaker than the old, then it's obvious that we need to go back to the Drawing Board. If not, well, we'll talk about that when we get there."
"Ho…? A new Deck huh?" Dmitri asked. "Alright, sounds interesting! I'm all for it! Besides, who knows what new kinds of cards I'll see! If Zane helped build that Deck, then they have to be pretty good!"
"You could say that." Alexis said, raising her Duel Disk. "So, shall we?"
"Certainly miss Rhodes." Dmitri laughed. "Let me just…" he whipped open his uniform, revealing layers upon layers of Decks that would put Bastion to shame. Trailing down each Deck swiftly, he grabbed the one labeled AR, and slid it into his Duel Disk. "Prepare myself."
Dmitri coughed several times, before opening his eyes wide and spinning in place.
"Ohayou! Super cute Alexis is here to like, totally take you out!" Dmitri exclaimed in what he thought was a cutesy voice, complete with starry eyes and a pointing tongue.
Alexis frowned. "Umm… is that supposed to be an interpretation of me?"
"What, you don't like it?" Dmitri asked. "Well, I suppose it does need a little work. After all, the only source I've had for information where those two groupies of yours, Mindy and Jasmine."
"That would explain that mockery of me." Alexis sighed. "Forget it. How about you worry less about the personality and more on the dueling skill?"
"Heh, if that's what you want!" Dmitri grinned. "Come, let's see how the great Alexis stacks up to her own Deck! It's time to Duel!"
DUEL
ALEXIS – 4000 LP
DMITRI – 4000 LP
"You know the saying," Dmitri said calmly, "ladies first. You're move, Alexis."
"Don't mind if I do." Alexis replied, reaching for her first card casually. "My Turn, Draw."
TURN ONE – ALEXIS
"To start things off, I'll activate Pot of Greed! Now I'll be able to draw two more cards!"
"Heh, trying to get as many strategies as you can huh? That's just like you Alexis." Dmitri said, much to the girl's ire.
While she didn't exactly despise Dmitri, Alexis wasn't quite sure she was comfortable around someone who could so easily pretend to be another. It was off-putting, something that she wasn't afraid to tell him.
"That may be so, but believe me when I say you have no idea what my new Deck is capable of." Glancing at her hand, Alexis smirked. "Like this for instance. I summon D.D. Warrior Lady to the Field in Attack Mode! Come on out!"
The room flashed with a golden light as the armored blonde rose on the Field, wielding a glowing saber of light in one hand. She knelt downward, examining the area carefully as if studying how to best attack.
D.D. Warrior Lady – (LIGHT/Warrior) – LV4 – (1500/1600)
"Oh? That's not a card you had in your Deck before!" Dmitri exclaimed. "And it's a pretty good one too, by the looks of it!"
"You're right about that, but my Deck has more than just new monsters!" Alexis explained. "I'll place one card face-down, and end my Turn!"
"Guess that makes it my move!" Dmitri grinned. "But even though you had Zane's help on this new Deck of yours Alexis, don't think that means I'll make it easy on you! As far as your Deck Recipe is concerned, I'd rather not have to send this one back to the Graveyard! So, in my opinion, it's out with the new, and in with the old! Boku no Turn, Draw!"
TURN TWO – DMITRI
"I summon Etoile Cyber in Attack Position!" Dmitri shouted, placing the monster on the Field upright.
In a flash, the red dancer appeared, spinning on her heels swiftly before turning to face Alexis' Warrior Lady with a cold expression.
Etoile Cyber – (EARTH/Warrior) – LV4 – (1200/1600)
"And now, I think I'll have her attack your Warrior Lady!" Dmitri shouted. "Of course, I won't bother explaining just why I did such a thing, since Etoile Cyber is your card after all!"
"Which means I know that when she attacks an opponent's monster, she gains 500 Attack Points during the Damage Step." Alexis said with a sigh, watching the red dancer strengthen in power.
Etoile Cyber – (EARTH/Warrior) – LV4 – (1700/1600)
"That's right, and you know what that means! She has more Attack than your Warrior Lady, which means your monster is toast!"
Etoile Cyber harrumphed at the words, bringing her foot down upon the Warrior Lady's face. The blonde cried out in pain before vanishing in a flash of light, leaving Alexis to take the damage born from the two monsters' collision.
ALEXIS – 3800 LP
DMITRI – 4000 LP
"That's all well and good, but by attacking my D.D. Warrior Lady you activated her effect." Alexis explained.
Dmitri's eyes widened at the revelation, and he clenched his hand warily. "What do you mean by that?!"
"That D.D. in her name doesn't stand for nothing you know," Alexis said with a smile. "It's short for Different Dimension, and the reason for that, is in her special ability! See, when she battles with an opponent's monster, after Damage Calculation I can remove her from play, along with the monster she was battling!"
"What?! But… I just had Etoile Cyber attack her and win!"
"That's right, which means the conditions have been met for her effect to be activated!" Alexis explained, throwing her hand forward. "Go, D.D. Warrior Lady! Drag Etoile Cyber to the Different Dimension!"
From beyond the grave Warrior Lady struck, appearing in a glowing blue portal to grab Etoile Cyber by the hair. With a loud cry, the red dancer was pulled back, sucked into the abyss leaving the Field clear once more.
"No! My monster!" Dmitri shouted. "Tsk… you'll pay for that! I'll set one card face-down, and end my Turn!"
"My Turn then, Draw!"
TURN THREE – ALEXIS
"I summon, Blade Skater in Attack Position!" Alexis shouted, summoning her next monster swiftly.
The bald pale woman skied about the room skillfully before settling in the center of the Field, allowing her arm blades to gleam from the morning light softly. She smiled softly, allowing an echoed giggle to fill the room.
Blade Skater – (EARTH/Warrior) – LV4 – (1400/1500)
"And, since my D.D. Warrior Lady cleared your side of the Field that means you're wide open for a Direct Attack! Go, Blade Skater! Hit him directly with your Skating Slash!"
The woman nodded, kneeling down in a starting position before gliding forth at an incredible pace. She raised her left arm for a deadly blow, only to find herself cut off by Dmitri's smirk.
"Not so fast, ice queen! I have a Trap Card! Hallowed Life Barrier! Using this, I can discard one card from my hand, and any effect or battle damage you deliver to me this Turn becomes zero!" he exclaimed, reaching for the Warrior Lady of the Wasteland in his hand and sending it to the Grave.
Blade Skater's attack then cleaved through him harmlessly, leaving him untouched due to the effect of his well-played Trap.
"…So he got around it huh?" Zane murmured from the sidelines, arms folded as usual.
Alexis' eyes narrowed seriously. "I'll place one card face-down and end my Turn."
"Guess that makes it my move." Dmitri chuckled. "Draw!"
TURN FOUR – DMITRI
"I'll start it off… with the Spell Card – The Warrior Returning Alive! It lets me add one Warrior-Type monster from my Graveyard to my hand, meaning the Warrior Lady of the Wasteland I just sent to the Graveyard is coming right back to me!" Dmitri shouted, grinning as he retrieved the object from the depths of the Graveyard.
"Of course, she's not staying here for long." Dmitri explained, "Because I'll be placing her in Defense Position!"
He set her on the Field face-down, having already realized it was useless attempting to hide the card's identity. His bringing her back from the Graveyard all but negated any mystery as to the monster's identity anyway.
"That'll do it for my Turn."
"On the run already huh?" Alexis smiled. "Sorry, but I'm not about to slow down anytime soon." she drew her next card, and smirked. "Especially not when I'm finally able to try out one of my new cards!"
TURN FIVE – ALEXIS
"I activate… Machine Angel Ritual!" Alexis shouted, revealing the green card in her hand.
"Machine Angel…?" Dmitri asked wide-eyed, a bead of sweat trailing down his cheek.
"That's right. It's a Ritual Card, and you should know what that means." Alexis said, watching the burning altar appear in the center of the Field. "I get to send monsters from my side of the Field or hand to the Graveyard as Tribute for the summon of a Ritual Monster, and since the one I'm summoning is Level Eight, I'll send my Level Four Blade Skater on the Field, and the Level Four Etoile Cyber in my Hand!"
She placed the two monsters in the Graveyard, prompting the fire on the altar to heighten several inches. Dmitri took a wary step back in response.
"Uh oh… A Level Eight you say? That's not good!"
Alexis placed a hand on her chest and began to chant. "When beauty and technology becomes one, an angel of machines shall be born! Rise now, and usher in a new age! I call you here, Cyber Angel – Dakini!"
The Altar shattered as a four-armed woman with light blue skin appeared, her face pressed into a stoic gaze. Two blades lay softly in her upper arms, supported by a single spear grasped within the other two. Her body was garbed by strong orange armor, and on her head, a long headdress revealing her importance lay bare.
Cyber Angel Dakini – (LIGHT/Fairy/Ritual) – LV8 – (2700/2400)
"Wha…? 2700 Attack Points? No way!" Dmitri shouted.
Zane's lips tugged upward.
"Yeah, she's pretty strong, but that's not all! She has an effect as well!" Alexis explained. "When Cyber Angel – Dakini is Special Summoned, you have to destroy one of your monsters! And, since the only monster you have is that face-down Warrior Lady of yours, well, you see where I'm going with this don't you?"
"Oh man…" Dmitri frowned, averting his eyes from the Field. "Looks like it's back to the Graveyard with the "Beauty of the Wastes", but don't think this means I'm out yet!"
"Maybe not, but you are about to be in a world of hurt." Alexis said. "Go, Dakini! Attack him directly!"
The blue angel nodded, her swords swirling about in her hands as she walked toward Dmitri slowly. Then, suddenly, she swung her spear in a piercing manner, driving its tip through Dmitri's body forcefully.
The mimic cried out in pain as he felt the blow tear through him, and he gripped his chest in mock pain.
"Oh! My Goddess!" he exclaimed, spinning around dramatically. "Why must you cause me such pain?"
His eyes glanced at his falling Life Points, and upon seeing where they stopped, he sighed.
ALEXIS – 3800 LP
DMITRI – 1300 LP
"Are you done…?" Alexis asked warily, not quite sure how she was supposed to react to Dmitri's antics.
"Yeah," the boy chuckled, "are you?"
"..." Glancing at her hand one last time, Alexis nodded.
"Great! Then it's my Turn, Draw!" Dmitri shouted, grinning in delight.
TURN SIX – DMITRI
"And what do you know, looks like fate is still on my side! I activate, Polymerization!" Dmitri shouted, revealing the Fusion Spell in his hand.
"Polymerization? But there's only one Fusion monster in my Deck, and one of its Fusion Material Monsters are removed from play!" Alexis shouted.
"Hah! You don't think I'm like you and run one of each monster do you?" Dmitri asked. "I run three of each! So, come on Etoile Cyber, Blade Skater! It's time I brought you together to forge a new tale of victory for Dmitri!"
The Fusion Portal appeared overhead, and the two dancers disappeared into its swirling midst.
"Fusion!" Dmitri shouted, throwing his hand to the sky. "Come forth, Cyber Blader!"
The powerful skater cried out as she appeared in a flash, lowering herself onto the floor gently before facing her stronger Angel counterpart.
Cyber Blader – (EARTH/Warrior/Fusion) – LV7 – (2100/800)
"Cyber Blader huh…?" Alexis frowned. "Strong card, but it doesn't have the Attack Points to defeat my Cyber Angel Dakini. At most, it'll only prevent itself from being destroyed since I only control one monster!"
"Ah, but dear sweet Alexis, you forget!" Dmitri wagged his finger mockingly. "You have a certain card in your Deck that can change all that, and as it just so happens, it's the last card in my hand!"
"What…?"
"Behold!" Dmitri shouted in a flashy tone of voice. "The Equip Spell – Fusion Sword Murasame Blade! Of course, you know what this means. Cyber Blader will now gain 800 Attack Points, putting her well above your Cyber Angel Dakini!"
As he spoke, the glowing blade materialized in Cyber Blader's hands, prompting a gleeful smile to cross her face.
Cyber Blader – (EARTH/Warrior/Fusion) – LV7 – (2900/800)
"Now then, let's get right to it! Cyber Blader, attack that mechanical abomination with your Fusilier Slash!"
The skater nodded at the command, arching the blade swiftly for a fast, clean slash before dashing forward toward Alexis' monster.
"I don't think so!" Alexis shouted. "I have a Quick-Play, Enemy Controller! When I use it without Tributing a monster, I can change the battle position of one monster you control, meaning your attacking Cyber Blader is going straight into Defense Position, negating her attack!"
"What?!" Dmitri shouted. "You can do that?!"
"I just did." Alexis said, eyeing the Field carefully.
"Aw, man! But that was my last move!" Dmitri shouted. "Now I don't have anything to do but end my Turn! Still, since you only have one monster, my Cyber Blader is safe from being destroyed, meaning next turn, that Ritual Monster is history!"
"That's what you think," Alexis whispered with a small smile, "but the reality, is quite different! My Turn, Draw!"
TURN SEVEN – ALEXIS
"And right off the bat, it's time to end this Duel!"
"Huh?!" Dmitri exclaimed in surprise. "But didn't you hear what I just said?!"
"Oh I did, but the thing is, even if your Cyber Blader is immune to destruction… it won't matter." Alexis said. "Cyber Angel Dakini has another effect I forgot to tell you about. When she attacks a Defense Position monster, the difference in their Battle Points is inflicted on you as damage!"
"W-What?! But your Cyber Angel has 2700 Attack Points, and Cyber Blader only has 800 Defense Points! That means…"
"That you'll take 1900 Points of Damage, which is more than you have." Alexis said. "In other words, good game, Dmitri."
"W-Wait a second-! Hold on-!"
"Nope. Face it pal, you've lost! Go Cyber Angel Dakini! Attack the Cyber Blader with your Angel Flight Slash!"
The Ritual Monster harrumphed, and it charged the concerned ballerina swiftly, not giving her even a second to react. With a loud cry, Cyber Blader was pierced through by all of Dakini's weapons, ending the Duel abruptly and harshly.
ALEXIS – 3800 LP
DMITRI – 0 LP
"N-NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Dmitri cried, falling on all fours as his loss became official.
Alexis watched the boy slump to the floor quietly, before lowering her own Duel Disk with a sigh.
"That's it, I guess." she said softly. "I'm surprised. He did better using my Deck than I thought he would."
"Agreed. Even so, it's clear he's not suited toward your kind of strategies." Zane explained. "So, are you satisfied with the results?"
"Yeah, I think I am. I'm a bit sad I didn't get to make use of the other Cyber Angels, but I guess they'll have their time to shine eventually, right?" Alexis asked, smiling gratefully at the older Obelisk.
"Yeah." Zane agreed, and he turned to leave. "Thanks for the help, Dmitri. I'll expect your recipe on Alexis to be destroyed?"
"Y-Yeah!" Dmitri promised swiftly, sweat dripping profusely as he recalled what happened when Zane came to deal with his Deck Recipe. "Not a problem Zane, it'll be gone by morning!"
"Good. Have a nice day." Zane said, and he left the room.
Alexis glanced at Dmitri once more in mild confusion, before realizing that she too had no longer to stay there, leaving to return to her own duties.
Once they were gone, Dmitri slumped back to the floor.
"Now what am I supposed to do?" he asked, crying softly on the carpet.
A sudden shadow towered over him, and a small, muffled voice spoke out.
"Hey. Wanna do me a favor?"
Dmitri looked up, surprised to see a flurry of red overtake him. "Huh? What?"
"Tell me everything you know about Zane!"
And so the day continued, unimpeded.
Chapter Thirty Six
END