Legal Disclaimer: This story follows the same rules as "Rise of the Deckmasters".
Battle Between The Sexes
Chapter 37: Defensive Dueling
Tristan and Kitamori stood up and headed toward the stage. Within minutes, they arrived on opposite sides of the stage.
"Ready to duel?" asked Lily.
"I'm ready, " said Tristan.
"Me, too, " said Kitamori.
"Choose your deckmaster, and you may begin, " said Lily as Tristan and Kitamori pulled their decks out of their Duel Disks.
They searched through their decks and found their monsters.
"I choose Cyber Commander as my deckmaster, " said Tristan.
"I choose Flash Assailant as my deckmaster, " said Kitamori.
Tristan and Kitamori exchanged, shuffled, and cut their decks. They quickly gave their decks back to each other and placed them back into their Duel Disks.
"Let's duel!" they both exclaimed.
Their Duel Disks activated and moved into position. Tristan and Kitamori pressed the blue buttons on their Duel Disks. The left edge slots immediately opened up. Tristan placed Cyber Commander on his slot while Kitamori placed Flash Assailant on her slot. Afterwards, they both closed up. First, Cyber Commander appeared next to Tristan. (750/700) Next, a tan-skinned man with green tattoos on its head and shoulders, whom was wearing a black eye patch on his left eye, pale green pants, golden armbands, and a red scarp draped around his chest and was wielding a dagger with a golden hilt, appeared next to Kitamori. (2,000/2,000) They both drew five cards.
Tristan: 8,000
Kitamori: 8,000
"I'll go first, " said Kitamori as she drew a sixth card. "I summon Mystic Tomato in attack mode."
Kitamori placed it on top of her Duel Disk. Mystic Tomato appeared on Kitamori's side of the field. (1,400/1,100)
"I end my turn, " said Kitamori.
"My move, " said Tristan as he drew a sixth card. "I play Cost Down so I can summon Thunder Dragon in attack mode."
Tristan discarded Machine Duplication to his Graveyard and placed Thunder Dragon on top of his Duel Disk. Thunder Dragon appeared on Tristan's side of the field. (1,600/1,500)
"Thunder Dragon, attack Mystic Tomato with Lightning Flare Attack!" exclaimed Tristan.
Thunder Dragon used its attack to electrocute Mystic Tomato, shattering it into pixels. Kitamori moved Mystic Tomato from the top of her Duel Disk to her Graveyard.
Tristan: 8,000
Kitamori: 7,800
"Thanks to Mystic Tomato, I can summon Metal Guardian from my deck, " said Kitamori as she pulled her deck out of his Duel Disk.
Kitamori searched through her deck, found and placed Metal Guardian on top of her Duel Disk, and returned her deck to her Duel Disk. Metal Guardian appeared on Kitamori's side of the field. (1,150/2,150)
"I end my turn, " said Tristan.
"My move, " said Kitamori as she drew a card. "I set one monster in defense mode and place one card facedown."
Kitamori placed one card facedown and sideways on top of her Duel Disk. A set card appeared next to Metal Guardian while a facedown card appeared behind it.
"Next, I play Shield & Sword, " said Kitamori.
Thunder Dragon's stats changed. (1,500/1,600) Metal Guardian's stats changed. (2,150/1,150)
"Metal Guardian, attack Thunder Dragon with Rolling Iron Crush!" exclaimed Kitamori.
Metal Guardian used its attack to flatten Thunder Dragon, shattering it into pixels. Tristan moved Thunder Dragon from the top of his Duel Disk to his Graveyard.
Tristan: 7,450
Kitamori: 7,800
"I end my turn, " said Kitamori as Metal Guardian's stats returned to normal.
"My move, " said Tristan as he drew a card. "I place one card facedown as well."
A facedown card appeared on Tristan's side of the field.
"Next, I summon Flame Ruler in attack mode, " said Tristan as he placed him on top of his Duel Disk.
Flame Ruler appeared on Tristan's side of the field. (1,500/1,600)
"Flame Ruler, attack Metal Guardian with Royal Inferno Blast!" exclaimed Tristan.
"Not so fast. I activate my facedown card, Ordeal of a Traveler, " said Kitamori as a facedown card flipped up.
"I know that card. You pick a card at random from your hand, forcing me to guess whether it's a Monster, Magic, or Trap card. If I guess wrong, my monster goes back to my hand, " said Tristan.
Kitamori picked one card and showed it to Tristan.
"Is this a Monster, Magic, or Trap card?" asked Kitamori.
"I believe that card is a Monster card, " said Tristan.
"Sorry, but it's a Magic card, " said Kitamori as she flipped it over. "This means Flame Ruler returns to your hand."
Once Tristan moved Flame Ruler from the top of his Duel Disk to his hand, he vanished from the field.
"I end my turn, " said Tristan.
"My move, " said Kitamori as she drew a card. "I flip summon my set monster, which is Morphing Jar."
Kitamori turned her set monster upright on top of her Duel Disk. A gray jar with a ghost-like creature with one giant eye and huge yellow teeth emerging from inside of it appeared next to Metal Guardian. (700/600)
"Morphing Jar has a special ability. When it is Flip Summoned, we must send our hands to our Graveyards and draw five new cards from our deck, " said Kitamori.
They immediately performed the task.
"Next, I sacrifice Morphing Jar to summon Total Defense Shogun, " said Kitamori.
Once Kitamori moved Morphing Jar from the top of her Duel Disk to her Graveyard, it vanished from the field. Next, she placed Total Defense Shogun on top of her Duel Disk. Total Defense Shogun appeared next to Metal Guardian. (1,550/2,500)
"Since Total Defense Shogun was successfully Normal Summoned, I can switch him to defense mode, " said Kitamori as she turned him sideways on top of his Duel Disk.
Total Defense Shogun got on his knees and rested with his arms crossed.
"Metal Guardian, attack Tristan's Life Points directly with Rolling Iron Crush!" exclaimed Kitamori.
"Not so fast. I activate my facedown card, Call of the Haunted, to bring back Thunder Dragon, " said Tristan as a facedown card flipped up.
Tristan moved Thunder Dragon from his Graveyard to the top of his Duel Disk. Thunder Dragon reappeared on Tristan's side of the field, causing a replay. (1,600/1,500)
"I end my turn, " said Kitamori.
"My move, " said Tristan as he drew a card. "I set a monster in defense mode."
Tristan placed one card facedown and sideways on top of his Duel Disk. A set card appeared next to Thunder Dragon.
"Next, I play Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Ordeal of a Traveler, " said Tristan.
The Mystical Space Typhoon appeared and shattered Ordeal of a Traveler into pixels.
"Thunder Dragon, attack Metal Guardian with Lightning Flare Attack!" exclaimed Tristan.
Thunder Dragon used its attack to electrocute Metal Guardian, shattering it into pixels. Kitamori moved Metal Guardian from the top of her Duel Disk to her Graveyard.
Tristan: 7,450
Kitamori: 7,350
"I end my turn, " said Tristan.
"My move, " said Kitamori as she drew a card. "I play Pot of Greed."
Kitamori drew two cards.
"I summon Tribe – Infecting Virus in attack mode, " said Kitamori as she placed it on top of her Duel Disk.
Tribe – Infecting Virus appeared next to Total Defense Shogun. (1,600/1,000)
"Tribe – Infecting Virus, destroy all Thunder-type monsters with Bacterial Haze!" exclaimed Kitamori as she discarded Cold Wave to her Graveyard.
Tribe – Infecting Virus used its effect attack to dissolve Thunder Dragon, shattering it into pixels. Tristan moved Thunder Dragon from the top of his Duel Disk and sent it and Call of the Haunted to his Graveyard.
"Total Defense Shogun, attack that set monster with Defensive Blade Strike!" exclaimed Kitamori.
Total Defense Shogun got off his knees and used his attack to slice the set card. Sangan appeared on Tristan's side of the field and shattered into pixels. (1,000/600) Tristan moved Sangan from the top of his Duel Disk to his Graveyard.
"Sangan's special ability activates, " said Tristan as he pulled his deck out of his Duel Disk.
Tristan searched through his deck, found a monster, and shuffled and returned his deck to his Duel Disk.
"Tribe – Infecting Virus, attack Tristan's Life Points directly with Acid Rain Blast!" exclaimed Kitamori.
Tribe – Infecting Virus used its attack to blast Tristan, causing him to twitch.
Tristan: 5,850
Kitamori: 7,350
"I end my turn, " said Kitamori.
"My move, " said Tristan as he drew a card. "I play Garma Sword Oath, allowing me to sacrifice the Launcher Spider in my hand to summon Garma Sword."
Tristan discarded both cards to his Graveyard and placed Garma Sword on top of his Duel Disk. Garma Sword appeared on Tristan's side of the field. (2,550/2,150)
"Garma Sword, attack Tribe – Infecting Virus with Hexagonal Blade Strike!" exclaimed Tristan.
Garma Sword used its attack to swipe Tribe – Infecting Virus, shattering it into pixels. Kitamori moved Tribe – Infecting Virus from the top of her Duel Disk to her Graveyard.
Tristan: 5,850
Kitamori: 6,400
"I place two cards facedown, ending my turn, " said Tristan as two facedown cards appeared behind Garma Sword.
"My move, " said Kitamori as she drew a card. "I set one monster in defense mode."
Kitamori placed one monster facedown and sideways on top of her Duel Disk. A set card appeared next to Total Defense Shogun.
"Next, I play Chorus of Sanctuary, " said Kitamori as she pressed the red button on her Duel Disk.
The Field Magic card slot opened up on the right edge of her Duel Disk. Kitamori placed the card onto it, which immediately closed up. Suddenly, the peaceful valley representing Chorus of Sanctuary appeared on the entire length of the field. Total Defense Shogun's defensive strength changed. (1,550/3,000)
"Finally, I activate Flash Assailant's deckmaster ability, which is called Energy Swipe, " said Kitamori. "For every card in my hand, I can decrease the stats of one monster on your side of the field by 400 points. Currently, I have three cards in my hand, which means Garma Sword's stats decrease by 1,200 points."
Garma Sword's stats changed. (1,350/950)
"Total Defense Shogun, attack Garma Sword with Defensive Blade Strike!" exclaimed Kitamori.
"Not so fast. I activate one of my facedown cards, Negate Attack, " said Tristan as a facedown card flipped up.
Total Defense Shogun got off his knees and attempted to use his attack to slice Garma Sword; however, Negate Attack's force field dissipated the attack.
"I end my turn, " said Kitamori.
"My move, " said Tristan as he drew a card. "I play Polymerization, combining the UFOroid from my hand and the Garma Sword on my side of the field to summon UFOroid Fighter."
Once Tristan moved Garma Sword from the top of his Duel Disk to his Graveyard, it vanished from his side of the field. Next, he discarded the two remaining cards to his Graveyard and placed UFOroid Fighter on top of his Duel Disk. UFOroid Fighter appeared on Tristan's side of the field. (3,750/3,750)
"UFOroid Fighter, attack Total Defense Shogun with Cosmic Flux Blast!" exclaimed Tristan.
UFOroid Fighter used his attack to blast Total Defense Shogun, shattering him into pixels. Kitamori moved Total Defense Shogun from the top of her Duel Disk to her Graveyard.
"I end my turn, " said Tristan.
"My move, " said Kitamori as she drew a card. "I flip summon my set monster, which is Cyber Jar."
"Nice move, but it triggered Cyber Commander's deckmaster ability, which is called Metallic Resistance, " said Tristan. "As long as he remains deckmaster, my Machine-type monsters can't be destroyed by your monster's effects, your Magic cards, or your Trap cards. Therefore, UFOroid Fighter is unaffected by Cyber Jar."
Kitamori turned her set monster upright on top of her Duel Disk. Cyber Jar appeared on Kitamori's side of the field and self-destructed. (900/900) Kitamori and Tristan picked up five cards from their respective decks and showed them to each other.
"I summon both Sage of Silence and Sage of Stillness in attack mode, " said Kitamori as she placed both cards on top of her Duel Disk.
Sage of Silence appeared on Kitamori's side of the field. (1,400/1,100) Sage of Stillness appeared next to Sage of Silence. (1,400/1,100)
"I set one monster in defense mode and summon Command Knight in attack mode, " said Tristan as he placed one card facedown and sideways and Command Knight on top of his Duel Disk.
A set monster appeared next to UFOroid Fighter. Command Knight appeared next to the set monster with her attack strength changed. (1,600/1,900)
"Next, I activate Energy Swipe on UFOroid Fighter, " said Kitamori. "This time I have seven cards in my hand."
UFOroid Fighter's stats changed. (950/950)
"Sage of Silence, attack UFOroid Fighter with Silence Magical Blast!" exclaimed Kitamori.
Sage of Silence used his attack to blast UFOroid Fighter, shattering him into pixels. Tristan moved UFOroid Fighter from the top of his Duel Disk to his Graveyard.
Tristan: 5,300
Kitamori: 6,400
"By the way, Sage of Silence has a special ability. When she destroys a monster in battle, you can't activate any Magic cards on your next turn, " said Kitamori. "I place one card facedown, ending my turn."
One facedown card appeared behind Sage of Silence.
"My move, " said Tristan as he drew a card. "I flip summon my set monster, which is Magician of Faith."
Tristan turned his set card upright on top of his Duel Disk. Magician of Faith appeared on Tristan's side of the field. (300/400)
"One Magic card returns to my hand from my Graveyard, " said Tristan. "Next, I sacrifice Magician of Faith to summon Lava Battleguard."
Once Tristan moved Magician of Faith from the top of his Duel Disk to his Graveyard, she vanished from Tristan's side of the field. Next, he placed Lava Battleguard on top of his Duel Disk. Lava Battleguard appeared next to Command Knight with its attack strength changed. (1,950/1,800)
"Lava Battleguard, attack Sage of Silence with Magma Mace Crush!" exclaimed Tristan.
"Not so fast. I activate my facedown card, Negate Attack, " said Kitamori as a facedown card flipped up on her side of the field.
"Sorry, but I counter that with my facedown card, Dust Tornado, " said Tristan as a facedown card flipped up on his side of the field.
Dust Tornado shattered Negate Attack into pixels. A facedown card appeared where Dust Tornado was originally. Lava Battleguard used its attack to smash Sage of Silence, shattering her into pixels. Kitamori moved Sage of Silence from the top of her Duel Disk to her Graveyard.
Tristan: 5,300
Kitamori: 5,900
"Command Knight, attack Sage of Stillness with Inferno Blade Slash!" exclaimed Tristan.
Command Knight used her attack to swipe Sage of Stillness, shattering him into pixels. Kitamori moved Sage of Stillness from the top of her Duel Disk to her Graveyard.
Tristan: 5,300
Kitamori: 5,700
"I end my turn, " said Tristan.
"My move, " said Kitamori as she drew a card. "I play Monster Reborn to summon Tribe – Infecting Virus."
Kitamori moved Tribe – Infecting Virus from her Graveyard to the top of her Duel Disk. Tribe – Infecting Virus reappeared on Kitamori's side of the field. (1,600/1,000)
"Tribe – Infecting Virus, destroy all Warrior-type monsters with Bacterial Haze!" exclaimed Kitamori as she discarded Needle Worm to her Graveyard.
Tribe – Infecting Virus used its effect attack to blast both Command Knight and Lava Battleguard, shattering them into pixels. Tristan moved both Command Knight and Lava Battleguard from the top of his Duel Disk to his Graveyard.
"Tribe – Infecting Virus, attack Tristan's Life Points directly with Acid Rain Blast!" exclaimed Kitamori.
"It won't be that easy. I activate my facedown card, Magic Cylinder, " said Tristan as a facedown card flipped up.
Tribe – Infecting Virus used its attack to blast Tristan; however, Magic Cylinder absorbed the attack and released it toward Kitamori as blue energy, causing her to twitch.
Tristan: 5,300
Kitamori: 4,600
"I place two cards facedown, ending my turn, " said Kitamori as two facedown cards appeared behind Tribe – Infecting Virus.
"My move, " said Tristan as he drew a card. "I summon Kinetic Soldier in attack mode and equip it with 7 Completed to increase its attack strength."
Tristan placed Kinetic Soldier on top of his Duel Disk. Kinetic Soldier, with a yellow 7 on its chest, appeared on Tristan's side of the field with its attack strength changed. (2,050/1,800)
"Kinetic Soldier, attack Tribe – Infecting Virus with Energized Static Laser!" exclaimed Tristan.
Kinetic Soldier used its attack to blast Tribe – Infecting Virus, shattering it into pixels. Kitamori moved Tribe – Infecting Virus from the top of her Duel Disk to her Graveyard.
Tristan: 5,300
Kitamori: 4,250
"I place one card facedown, ending my turn, " said Tristan as a facedown card appeared behind Kinetic Soldier.
"My move, " said Kitamori as she drew a card. "I play Giant Trunade to remove all Magic and Trap cards from the field."
The facedown cards, Chorus of Sanctuary, and 7 Completed vanished from the field and returned to Kitamori's and Tristan's hands. Kinetic Soldier's attack strength returned to normal.
"Next, I discard Electric Virus to take control of Kinetic Soldier, " said Kitamori.
Tristan immediately took Kinetic Soldier from the top of his Duel Disk and gave it to Kitamori, whom placed it on top of her Duel Disk. Kinetic Soldier quickly moved to Kitamori's side of the field.
"Then, I sacrifice Kinetic Soldier to summon Ryu Kokki, " said Kitamori.
Once Kitamori took Kinetic Soldier from the top of her Duel Disk and gave it back to Tristan, whom placed it in his Graveyard, it vanished from the field. Next, she placed Ryu Kokki on top of her Duel Disk. Ryu Kokki appeared on Kitamori's side of the field. (2,400/2,000)
"Ryu Kokki, attack Tristan's Life Points directly with Skeletal Claw Assault!" exclaimed Kitamori.
Ryu Kokki used its attack to swipe Tristan, causing him to twitch.
Tristan: 2,900
Kitamori: 4,250
"I place two cards facedown, ending my turn, " said Kitamori as two facedown cards appeared behind Ryu Kokki.
"My move, " said Tristan as he drew a card. "I summon Robotic Knight in attack mode."
Tristan placed Robotic Knight on top of his Duel Disk. Robotic Knight appeared on Tristan's side of the field. (1.600/1,800)
"Next, I play Monster Reborn to bring back Launcher Spider, " said Tristan as he moved it from his Graveyard to the top of his Duel Disk.
Launcher Spider appeared next to Robotic Knight. (2,200/2,500)
"Finally, I equip Launcher Spider with 7 Completed, increasing its attack strength, " said Tristan.
This time, the yellow seven appeared on Launcher Spider's abdomen, changing its attack strength. (2,900/2,500)
"Launcher Spider, attack Ryu Kokki with Shock Rocket Attack!" exclaimed Tristan.
Launcher Spider used its attack to blast Ryu Kokki, shattering it into pixels.
Tristan: 2,900
Kitamori: 3,750
"I activate one of my facedown cards, Rope of Life, to bring back a stronger Ryu Kokki, " said Kitamori as a facedown card flipped up.
Kitamori discarded her entire hand. Ryu Kokki reappeared on Kitamori's side of the field with its attack strength changed. (3,200/2,000)
"I place one card facedown, ending my turn, " said Tristan as a facedown card appeared behind Robotic Knight.
"My move, " said Kitamori as she drew a card. "I set one card in defense mode."
Kitamori placed one card facedown and sideways on top of her Duel Disk. A set monster appeared next to Ryu Kokki.
"Ryu Kokki, attack Robotic Knight with Skeletal Claw Assault!" exclaimed Kitamori.
"I activate my facedown card, Book of Moon, " said Tristan as a facedown card flipped up on his side of the field.
"Sorry, but I counter with my facedown card, Mystical Space Typhoon, " said Kitamori as a facedown card flipped up on her side of the field.
Book of Moon shattered into pixels. Ryu Kokki used its attack to slice Robotic Knight, shattering it into pixels. Tristan moved Robotic Knight from the top of his Duel Disk to his Graveyard.
Tristan: 1,300
Kitamori: 3,750
"I end my turn, " said Kitamori.
"My move, " said Tristan as he drew a card. "I play Raigeki."
Lightning bolts appeared in the sky and struck Ryu Kokki and Kitamori's set monster. Kitamori moved both cards from the top of her Duel Disk to her Graveyard.
"Now, I summon Roboyarou in attack mode, " said Tristan as he placed him on top of his Duel Disk.
Roboyarou appeared next to Launcher Spider. (900/450)
"Launcher Spider, attack Kitamori's Life Points directly with Shock Rocket Attack!" exclaimed Tristan.
Launcher Spider used its attack to blast Kitamori, causing her to twitch.
Tristan: 1,300
Kitamori: 0850
"Roboyarou, end this duel and attack Kitamori's Life Points directly with Cobalt Punch!" exclaimed Tristan.
Roboyarou punched Kitamori in the face, causing her to fall to her knees.
Tristan: 1,300
Kitamori: 0000
The monsters and the field instantly vanished. Every card remaining on the Duel Disks were removed and were placed back into Kitamori's and Tristan's decks.
"Proceeding to the next round, we have Mr. Tristan Taylor, " said Lily as the crowd applauded and cheered. "I'm sorry to say that Kitamori Reiko has been eliminated."
"Your defensive strategies kept me on my toes, " said Tristan as he shook Kitamori's hand.
"True, but you found clever ways around them, " said Kitamori as she shook Tristan's hand.
They immediately headed offstage. Jasmine reappeared onstage.
"May I have everyone's attention please?" asked Jasmine.
The crowd quieted down and turned toward the stage.
"We only have two competitors left in our second chance stage of our tournament. Tristan Taylor and Casey Harrison, one of you will have a rematch with Tea in the finals, " said Jasmine.
Deckmaster Abilities
Flash Assailant – [Energy Swipe]: Choose one monster on your opponent's side of the field. Permanently decrease the stats of that monster on your opponent's side of the field by 400 points times the number of cards in your hand.
Cyber Commander – [Metallic Resistance]: As long as this monster remains in the deckmaster position, your Machine-type monsters can't be destroyed by the effects of your opponent's monsters, Magic cards, or Trap cards.