A Black Rose by Any Other Name
Chapter Thirty-Five: King of Death
Sorry this took so long folks.
The sun shone over the stadium as the group plus Josh waited in the lounge before the semi-finals were due to begin. It would all be Ground Duels this round and the finals would be a Turbo Duel.
Zeke, Reina and Josh looked at their Deck confident in the changes they had made. Zeke sighed, his father had talked to him the previous night, he didn't sound too angry but he had told Zeke he couldn't use Hundred-Eyes Wyrm unless he had no choice.
"Well hello losers," a familiar female voice laughed. Talia stood by the door with an evil grin on her face. "So your highness are you ready for a beat down just like you pathetic little girlfriend suffered."
Josh snarled and stomped over to Talia. He stood in front of her glaring down at her. "No Talia I'm going to beat you, because in the end all you are is a bully."
Talia hissed and was about to snap back with something but she got cut off the second she opened her mouth. "Don't interrupt me," Josh snarled. "Listen well Talia, you are a bully, no calling you a bully is somehow not a good enough insult because you're probably proud you're a bully. No I can't really think of something except maybe calling you a worthless pawn, but really even pawns have worth, I'd call you garbage but at least garbage has some uses, no you're just nothing, no one likes you, your boss is just using you, your simply pitiful. That scar fits you because you're as ugly on the outside as you are on the inside. Oh and Alexandria had the upper hand in that duel for a while so shut your trap!"
Josh walked away and sat down on the couch. Reina's group looked shocked and Talia was just stood there stuttering and turning red in the face. "Y…y…you!" she stuttered before walking away.
The group looked at Josh with a mixture of respect and terror. Reina walked over to him. "Thanks for shutting her up," she whispered to the blond boy.
"I didn't do it for you," he muttered. "I did it because I hate her, I just dislike you."
Reina grinned. "Sure Josh you can keep telling yourself that," she chuckled before walking away.
Josh rolled his eyes but smiled a bit. "Hmph I will then," he muttered.
"Will Reina Fudo and Zeke Kessler please proceed to the dueling stage!" a voice over the intercom shouted.
The two looked at each other and nodded before walking out. "This should be good," Rob grinned munching on some popcorn.
"Where did you get that?" Josh asked.
"I brought it from home and there's a microwave over there." Rob said pointing to a smaller table next to the table with the food where there was indeed a microwave.
"Alright," the Dragon duelist muttered.
The dueling stage
"Hello everyone, welcome to the second day of the finals of this fine tournament, today the final two duelists will be choose and tomorrow they'll square off!" Archer announced before handing the mike to the M.C.
"Presenting the first two semi-finalists!" he shouted. "Reina Fudo and Zeke Kessler!" two bursts of smoke appeared on either end of the stage and the two teens were appeared ready to duel.
"Begin!" the M.C. cried and the pair pulled five cards off the top of their Decks.
"I'll let you make the first move Zeke," Reina said.
"Thank you Reina," Zeke said drawing his sixth card.
"Duel!" the both shouted.
(Zeke: 8000) - (Reina: 8000)
"I'll start it off with a monster face down in defense mode and a card face down," he said as the two cards appeared in front of him. "And with that my turn is over."
"Alright I'll summon Gigantic Cephalotus!" from behind Reina the massive pitcher Plant burst out of the ground and onto her side of the field. (LV4/ATK 1850/DEF 700)
"Attack his face down monster!" the massive Plant charged forward intending to devour Zeke's face down monster only to be repelled by a typical looking Fiend except it was robotic. (LV4/ATK 1000/DEF 2000)
(Zeke: 8000) - (Reina: 7850)
"That's my Cyber Archfiend and its defense is just a little too strong to crack," Zeke said.
"Well first blood to you," Reina muttered. "I'll just set two face down cards and end my turn."
"I'm about to draw even more," the Fiend duelist said slapping a card onto his Duel Disk. "I release my Cyber Archfiend for Skull Archfiend of Lightning!" a bolt of lightning struck the robotic Fiend blowing it to scrap. In its place appeared the wicked version of the Summoned Skull. (LV6/ATK 2500/DEF 1200)
"Destroy her Cephalotus with Dark Lightning!" the Fiend hissed and blasted Reina's monster with a burst of electricity.
(Zeke: 8000) - (Reina: 7200)
"I'll end my turn by activating Pandemonium!" he announced as the stadium was transported to the demon's den.
"I hope you don't think you'll be holding your lead for very long," Reina said with a smirk.
"Nope I'm hoping to win this duel," Zeke answered.
"Maybe in your dreams," the Plant duelist countered.
"So then I should take a nap?" Zeke asked sarcastically.
"Ok enough witty banter and back to the duel," Reina said rolling her eyes. "I'll set a monster in defense mode and end my turn."
"I summon Shadowknight Archfiend!" from a powerful whirlwind emerged an Archfiend with long blue hair and a sword for an arm. (LV4ATK 2000/DEF 1600)
Zeke rubbed his chin and contemplated the situation. "Ok now what to attack with first?" he asked himself.
"Come Zeke if I knew your turns were going to take this long I would've brought something to read," Reina taunted.
"Be patient Reina the best moves in chess take time and will pay off for a smart player," Zeke said wagging his finger.
"This isn't chess," Reina said. "This is a duel, but I'll agree with you on that second point."
"Alright Skull Archfiend fry her face down monster!" the Fiend fired another bolt of lightning vaporizing a familiar three eyed Fiend.
"That was my Sangan and since it just bit the dust I get a weak monster from my Deck," Reina informed him before a card slipped out of her Deck.
"Alright so I messed up with that move," Zeke sighed. "Shadowknight attack her directly!" the armored Fiend flew forward and slashed Reina causing her to stumble back.
(Zeke: 8000) - (Reina: 6200)
"I'm glad your monster can only do half the damage he should," Reina grinned.
"Oh well," Zeke shrugged. "I'll end my turn by activating Field Barrier, so now you can't destroy or displace Pandemonium."
"Just great," Reina sighed.
"I'll start this turn off by activating Graceful Charity," the angel appeared and looked around nervously as the two Fiend's sneered. Reina handed her two cards and she vanished.
Zeke cocked an eyebrow, he'd never seen the two cards Reina just discarded in his life and that worried him.
"Now I'll summon the card I got with Sangan my Lonefire Blossom!" from the ground burst a small bulb with a glowing tip. (LV3/ATK 500/DEF 1400) "Now I release it to activate its effect and Special Summon from my Deck, my Gigaplant!" the ground behind Reina exploded and the mass of vines with a venus flytrap for a head burst out. (LV6/ATK 2400/DEF 1200)
"And before you mention that it's too weak to beat your Skull Archfiend I activate Plant Food Chain which gives Gigaplant a small boost," the Trap card fused with the monster causing it to glow green. (LV6/ATK 2400-2900/DEF 1200) "Gigaplant attack his Skull Archfiend!"
The giant Plant lumbered forward and Zeke smirked as his face down card flipped open. "Reveal face down card Bark of Dark Ruler and I'll pay 500 Life Points to weaken your monster," the Dark Ruler appeared and snarled at the Plant causing it to back down briefly. (LV6/ATK 2900-2400/DEF 1200)
(Zeke: 7500) - (Reina: 7200)
"I activate Rush Recklessly!" Reina shouted as Gigaplant started to glow red. (LV6/ATK 2400-3100/DEF 1200) The massive Plant monster roared and slashed Zeke's monster with one of its arms causing the Fiend to cry out and shatter.
(Zeke: 6900) - (Reina: 7200)
"I'll end my turn," Reina said. (LV6/ATK 3100-2900/DEF 1200)
"I'll move my Shadowknight into defense mode and then I'll play a card face down and end my turn," Zeke sighed.
"I'll summon my Bird of Roses," a large bird made of leaves flew out of the portal and screeched. (LV4/ATK 1800/DEF 1500)
"Bird attack his Shadowknight!" the bird flew into the air and then dove down towards with Fiend with its talons raised.
"Reverse card open!" Zeke cried. "I activate Negate Attack!" the bird slammed into the swirling vortex.
"Alright I'll set a card face down and end my turn," Reina said.
"Good I'm going to summon my Dark Resonator!" the grinning Fiend floated out of the portal and cackled at Reina. (LV3/ATK 1300/DEF 300)
"Oh crap," Reina muttered her eyes widening in horror.
"Crap is right because I'm going to tune my level three, Dark Resonator with my level four, Shadowknight…," Zeke began.
"The true king of hell charges straight into battle, his very presence makes his enemies quake in terror! Synchro Summon and incinerate Chaos King Archfiend!"
Dark Resonator banged its tuning fork with its drumstick causing it to shatter into three green rings. The rings surrounded Shadowknight causing it to become see through.
From the burst of light descended the masked Archfiend king its eyes fixed on Reina's field. (LV7/ATK 2600/DEF 2600)
"Chaos King attack her Gigaplant with Chaotic Slash!" the masked ruler charged forward and for a moment everything seemed to freeze and Bird of Roses and Gigaplant started to weaken. (LV6/ATK 2900 = 1200/DEF 1200 = 2900) (LV4/ATK 1800 = 1500/DEF 1500 = 1800)
"As you might remember when my monster attacks any monsters you have that are face up have their attack and defense points switch bonuses go with them," Zeke explained.
"I know and I'm activating my face down card Scrap-Iron Scarecrow to block your attack!" one of Reina's face down cards flipped open and the junk scarecrow started to float out.
"I chain Trap Stun and it negates the effects of all Trap cards," a wave of electricity shot out of the Trap card causing Plant Food Chain and Scrap-Iron Scarecrow to turn grey. The masked Archfiend roared and slashed Gigaplant into pieces.
(Zeke: 6900) - (Reina: 5800)
"I'll end my turn with a face down card," Zeke said and Reina's Trap card shattered. (LV4/ATK 1500 = 1800/DEF 1800 = 1500)
Reina drew and grinned slightly. "Ok I'll set monster face down and move Bird of Roses to defense mode."
"I'll summon Archfiend General!" from the magma pit flew an Archfiend holding a sword made of bone and wearing a cape. (LV4/ATK 2100/DEF 800)
"Wait 2100 attack points on a four star what's the catch?" Reina asked.
"Simple if Pandemonium goes so does he," Zeke answered. "General destroy the bird and King destroy the face down monster!" the two monsters flew forward and cleaved both Reina's monsters in half.
"Thanks Zeke," Reina chuckled as her Graveyard started to glow.
"Huh what's going on?" Zeke asked pressing a button on his Disk. "Lord Poison crap!"
"Right and I'll use Lord Poison's effect to revive Gigaplant!" the living mass of vines burst out of the ground behind Reina. "
"I'll end my turn," Zeke grumbled.
"I'll activate the effect of one of my newest monsters in my Graveyard and all it requires is for me to discard the top card of from my Deck," she said.
Reina dropped the top card into the Graveyard and a much smaller at least compared to Gigaplant floated out of the ground. (LV1/ATK 100/DEF 100)
"Now reveal face down card Windstorm of Etaqua!" a powerful blast of wind shot out of the card forcing Zeke's monsters to crouch down and shield themselves. "This forces both your monsters into defense mode and now I'll tune my level one, Grow-Up Bulb and my level six, Gigaplant!"
"Clustering wishes will ignite to create a fiery new force! Become the path light is born upon! Synchro Summon! Appear now, Black Rose Dragon!"
Grow-Up Bulb became a single Synchro Gate that surrounded Gigaplant causing it to become wireframe. From the flames appeared Black Rose Dragon. (LV7/ATK 2400/DEF 1800) "Now I'll remove Grow-Up Bulb to activate Black Rose Dragon's effect on your Chaos King, go Rose Restriction!" the Signer Dragon's vines shot forward forcing the king to stand. (LV7/ATK 2600-0/DEF 2600)
"Black Rose Dragon destroy his Chaos King with Black Rose Flare!" Reina's one ace monster threw back her head and spewed a blast of flames incinerating the Fiendish ruler.
(Zeke: 4500) - (Reina: 5800)
"I'll end my turn with a face down card," Reina said.
"Heh Black Rose won't be staying around for long because I'll move my General to attack mode and then activate my Rush Recklessly!" the Fiend started to glow fiery red. (LV4/ATK 2100-2800/DEF 800) "Now attack her monster!"
"Nice try Zeke but I activate my face down card Synchro Deflector so your General is destroyed!" just as Zeke's monster was about to land the killing blow the Trap blocked it causing him to shatter.
"Alright I'll set a card face down and end my turn," Zeke grumbled.
"Black Rose Dragon attack him directly!" Reina's monster roared and fired another cone of flames.
"Reveal face down card Call of the Haunted and I'll bring back my Dark Resonator!" the grinning Fiend burst out of the ground and the flames vanished.
"Black Rose Dragon continue your attack!" Black Rose Dragon fired another blast of flames but Zeke grinned.
"Reverse card open!" he cried. "Go, Defense Draw and I doubt I have to explain this to you Reina," the flames bounced off Dark Resonator and Zeke drew a card.
"Alright I'll end my turn with a card face down," Reina sighed.
"Good because I'm going to activate Resonator Tag Out!" he said activating a Spell that showed Clock Resonator and Creation Resonator in a wrestling ring high fiving. "This card allows me to send a Resonator monster on my Field back to my Deck to Special Summon a Resonator monster of a different Attribute, like Flare Resonator!" Dark Resonator waved goodbye and was replaced by its fiery counterpart. (LV3/ATK 300/DEF 1300)
"Now I'll summon my Infernal Queen!" in a burst of dark flames appeared the female ruler of the Archfiends. (LV4/ATK 900/DEF 1500)
"Now I'll tune them together!" he announced.
"When the star of death reaches its peak in the sky the king of death will appear to judge the living! Descend forth to reap! The King of Divine Punishment, Black Highlander!"
Flare Resonator banged its tuning fork with its hammer becoming three rings. Infernal Queen flew high into the air and was surrounded by the rings which became a glowing sphere. The sphere was sliced to pieces and a large armored Fiend with a skull like face holding a huge scythe crashed into the ground. (LV7/ATK 2800/DEF 2300)
"First things first and that would be Highlander getting a 300 attack point boost thanks to Flare Resonator," a ghostly version of Flare Resonator appeared and fused with the armored Fiend. (LV7/ATK 2800-3100/DEF 2300) "And I'll explain one of Highlander's effects and that is as long as he is on the field neither of us can Synchro Summon."
"You're kidding me right?" Reina gulped.
"Nope there can be only one," Zeke chuckled and Reina sweatdropped.
"Fine I'll activate Threatening Roar!" Reina's face down card flipped open and a thunderous roared echoed throughout the Stadium. "So you're not allowed to attack this turn."
"Alright I'll just set two cards face down and call it a turn," he said.
"I'll activate Block Attack to force your King to kneel!" a bolt of energy struck the Fiend causing him to crouch down and shield himself with his scythe. "Now I'll remove my Cephalotus to activate Rose Restriction!" Black Rose Dragon forced The King to stand up. (LV7/ATK 3100-0/DEF 2300)
"Black Rose Dragon destroy his monster!" the petal covered Dragon roared and breathed another cone of purple flames.
"Reverse cards open!" Zeke shouted. "First Emergency Provisions and then I activate Book of Moon to force Black Rose Dragon into face down defense mode, and now Emergency Provisions' effect activates and I'll get rid of Call of the Haunted and Book of Moon."
Black Rose Dragon was replaced with a face down card and the two named cards dissolved into motes of light that surrounded Zeke.
(Zeke: 6500) - (Reina: 5800)
"Alright I'll end my turn," Reina sighed. (LV7/ATK 0-3100/DEF 2300)
"I activate Pot of Greed," the grinning jar appeared and Zeke tore two cards off the top of his Deck. "Now I'll summon Lancer Archfiend!" the monster that appeared wore purple and gold armor and in place of hands it hand well two lances its face was hidden from sight. (LV4/ATK 1600/DEF 1400)
"Highlander attack her Black Rose Dragon with Death Pola-Slay!" the armored Fiend jumped into the air its scythe held high. "And I'll activate Lancer Archfiend's effect which allows me to once per turn have one of my monsters inflict piercing damage like right now!" The armored King slashed the face down card revealing Black Rose Dragon who howled in pain before shattering.
(Zeke: 6500) - (Reina: 4800)
"Lancer Archfiend attack Reina directly!" the weapon armed Fiend lunged forward stabbing Reina in the stomach causing her to step back a bit.
(Zeke: 6500) - (Reina: 3200)
"I'll end my turn," Zeke said. "Let's see if you can make a come back now Reina."
Reina looked at her hand and scowled. "No but hopefully soon I will be able to," she muttered to herself. "I'll set a monster and another card face down."
"I'll activate Spellbook Inside the Pot!" Zeke shouted and the grinning jar appeared again and both duelists drew three cards.
"Highlander attack her face down monster!" the armored Fiend roared and leapt at the face down monster.
"Reverse card open!" Reina shouted. "I'll activate my Hallowed Life Barrier so I just have to discard a card from my hand and until the End Phase you can't damage me."
"I'll end my turn with a face down card," Zeke sighed.
"I activate Mark of the Rose and now all I have to do is remove a Plant monster in my Graveyard like say Lord Poison and then I gain control of one of your monsters like Dark Highlander!" a rose shaped mark appeared on the Fiend's armor and he jumped over to Reina's side of the field.
"Now I'll activate Battle Waltz!" the Spell card appeared behind Dark Highlander and it started to glow. After a second an exact duplicate of Dark Highlander hand appeared. (LV7/ATK 3100/DEF 2300) "Battle Waltz creates a Waltz Token that has the same level, Attribute, attack and defense points and type as a face up Synchro monster I control now attack his Lancer Archfiend, Waltz Token!" the fake Highlander slashed the Archfiend with his scythe cleaving it in two.
"Ok not that I'm complaining but why aren't my Life Points damaged?" Zeke asked.
"Simple really neither of us takes damage from battles involving the Waltz Token," the Plant duelist explained. "But this'll will damage you, Dark Highlander sick him!" the Fiend hesitated for a second but then flew at Zeke slashing him with his weapon.
(Zeke: 3400) - (Reina: 3200)
"And I'm not quiet done yet because I release your Highlander my Waltz Token to summon my Fallen Angel of Rose!" both monsters vanished and Mark of the Rose shattered. A storm of black rose petals kicked up. The monster that appeared looked human, she had wings that appeared to be made of black rose petals as well as long black hair, in her hand she held a thorn covered whip. (LV7/ATK 2400/DEF 1300)
"Now I'll end my turn," she said.
"I'll activate Tribute to the Doomed so say goodbye to your Fallen Angel!" Zeke threw a card into the Graveyard and then bandages burst out of the ground dragging the Plant monster down.
"Now I'll summon Archfiend Interceptor!" the monster that jumped out of the lava looked like a demonic football player with four skinny arms sticking out of his shoulders. (LV4/ATK 1400/DEF 1600) "Attack her directly!" the Archfiend created a football made of glowing energy and hurled it at Reina.
(Zeke: 3400) - (Reina: 1800)
"Looks like this duel will be coming to an end soon," Zeke said.
"Ya with me as the winner," Reina grinned.
"I'll end my turn," he said.
"I summon Cactus Fighter!" from the ground burst the green spiky Plant monster. He threw a few quick warm-up jabs. (LV4/ATK 1900/DEF 400)
"Now I'll activate Monster Reborn and I'll use it to Special Summon the other monster I ditched with Graceful Charity," the ankh appeared and from it jumped a Warrior dressed mostly in gold armor with a red cape, he held two large serrated knives. (LV3/ATK 1600/DEF 900) "Meet my newest addition, Zubaba Knight."
"Zubaba Knight what a weird name," Zeke muttered.
"Weird or not attack is Archfiend with Zubaba Slash!" the Warrior roared and jumped at the Archfiend his weapons raised.
"Reveal face down card Desert Sunlight so my Archfiend is switched into defense mode and thanks to his effect you take 500 points of damage," a blast of bright light shot out of the card causing the Archfiend to crouch down and shield himself. Moments later he fired a bolt of energy at Reina.
(Zeke: 3400) - (Reina: 1300)
"So now my Life Points are safe for this….," Zeke began only to stop when Zubaba Knight sliced his monster in half. "What in the Hell just happened?"
"My monster's effect happened," Reina began to explain with a grin. "He destroys any monster he battles that's in face up defense mode without applying damage calculation oh and Cactus Fighter get him!" the Plant monster rushed forward punching Zeke in the stomach.
(Zeke: 1500) - (Reina: 1300)
"Alright I'll set a card face down and end my turn," she said.
"I'll set two cards face down and end my turn," Zeke said.
"Not a bad try but I'm going to call your bluff Zeke Zubaba Knight end this!" the Warrior was about to leap into the air when Zeke's face down card flipped open.
"It's not a bluff!" Zeke cried. "Reveal face down card my Threatening Roar!" another thunderous roar echoed throughout the Stadium.
"Fine I'll end my turn with a face down card," Reina sighed.
"Hold up to your ending your turn I chain Fires of Doomsday," two burst of flame flew out of the Spell card and transformed into two creatures with thin wispy bodies and one eye. (LV1/ATK 0/DEF 0) x2 "These two are level one Fiend types summoned in defense mode.
"Now I'll release them both to call forth the newest ruler of the Archfiends, the Archfiend Empress!" both Tokens fused together forming a large black bonfire. From the flames emerged a tall female form with two curved horns coming out of the side of her head and a red cape on her back. (LV9/ATK 2900/DEF 2100)
"Wow if your Deck is anything to judge by the Archfiend leaders have a major problem with getting stabbed in the back," Reina muttered.
"They're Fiends Reina it's how they get ahead just look at the artwork for Demotion," Zeke said. "But it's time to end this!"
"Or not!" the Plant duelist shouted pressing a button on her Duel Disk. "Reverse card open Taunt so now your Empress must attack my Cactus Fighter."
"Alright Empress attack her Fighter with Wicked Desolation!" the Empress held her staff up high and fired a bolt of energy that vaporized the Plant monster.
(Zeke: 1500) - (Reina: 300)
"I'll end my turn," Zeke said. "It's pretty much do or die time Reina."
Reina drew and sighed. "Too bad I was hoping to end this duel with a bang, oh well."
"What are you talking about?" Zeke asked cocking an eyebrow.
"I activate Enemy Controller and force your queen into defense mode!" the massive game controller appeared behind Reina, the cord shot forward plugging into the Empresses head and forcing her into defense mode. "Now I'll summon my second Lord Poison," a second hideous looking Plant monster appeared giving a low growl. (LV4/ATK 1500/DEF 1000)
"Zubaba Knight attack his Empress!" the armored Warrior rushed forward slicing the Fiend to pieces.
"Lord Poison end it!" the Plant monster roared and lunged at Zeke swiping at him with his claws.
(Zeke: 0) - (Reina: 300)
"The winner Reina Fudo!" the M.C. cried. "Now we'll be taking a ten minute break before our next duel, Joshua Atlas vs. Talia Yakushi."
The pair left the duel fields and walked back towards the waiting room. "That was fun," Reina said with a grin.
"It was I wish I could've won," Zeke sighed.
"Don't worry Zeke there will be other duels," Reina said reassuringly.
"I know, oh well the next duel should be good," he muttered.
"Heh, I know Josh will crush that bitch," Reina chuckled.
"Damn right I will," the blond boy said as he walked by.
Rob: Well the first round of the semi-finals is over.
Vincent: Now just Talia vs. Josh.
Reina: Josh will win I know it.
Zeke: Don't be so sure Talia is tough.
Josh: Don't miss Furious Darkness or you'll be sorry.
Talia: If you cheer for his majesty expect to be sorry anyway.
Original Cards
Resonator Tag Out
Image: Clock and Creation Resonator in a wrestling ring fiving each other.
| Spell | Select a face up 'Resonator' monster you control then select a 'Resonator' monster in your Deck with a different Attribute and send the first selected monster back to your Deck and Special Summon the second selected monster.