Hi all! Hiyuusha here with another chapter of Yu-Gi-Oh: Tag Force! Bit of a smaller chapter, and no extra, but can't have em all the time right? Anyway, hope you enjoy!
Last time...
"Well Red Hat, can you still see the ending?" Akiza asked solemnly, "I will admit that this truly was a close Duel. However, I'm afraid there can only be one victor, and it won't be you."
Konami grimaced, glaring at the girl from across the Field as she spoke. "Darn it, Exodius!"
"Yes, you may have lasted another turn, if not for your inexplicable need to play that one card." Akiza smirked, "But why should I complain? After all, its presence is what allows me to end this Duel right here, right now!"
Konami's eyes went wide as his Duel Disk changed to the End Phase, "C-Crap!"
"Now, what was it you always like to say?" Akiza smirked, "Oh yes… Final Turn!"
She glanced at the card, Thorn of Malice.
"Heh, now then!" the woman began, pointing at Konami's Exodius, "It's time we burn his overgrown Forbidden Lord to ashes! Go my Black Rose Dragon! End it all, with your Black Rose Flare!"
"H-Huh?" Enzo asked quickly, surprised at the sudden question, "Well, no, those Securities keep announcing that they haven't been able to get in close enough to take in the situation as much as they'd like to, and they're a bit wary about tossing out their resources for just two people… not to mention, they seem to be a bit preoccupied with something else as well."
"So you noticed that as well." Yusei nodded in approval, "Earlier I saw several Securities rush up towards Goodwin's office, but I didn't think much of it at the time. Maybe I should've gone after them…"
Enzo turned back to look at the window. It seemed the cloud was finally beginning to settle, whatever reason it had for staying around for so long seemed to be reaching its conclusion.
Yusei turned, as if preparing to head back the direction from which he came.
"H-Hey!" Enzo shouted, "Where ya going?!"
"Back to my seat to prepare," Yusei explained, "This is still a tournament after all. Whoever comes out of that dust cloud victorious is going to be my next opponent."
"So, just like that, you're walking off?" Enzo asked, "But, what about Konami? What if something happened?"
Yusei smiled at the teen, "You should have a little more faith in your friends. From what I've seen of him, Red Hat knows how to handle himself."
Akiza watched the scene with a darkened frown. Slowly, she turned, heading back to her initial position on the Field before regarding her fallen foe one last time.
"If… If it's any consolation…" she sighed, "I am sorry."
Outside, the dust cloud settled and the power to the Dueling monitor was restored, revealing the Duel's outcome to all still present.
"L-Ladies and Gentlemen…." The MC began, "It seems that we have our winner…"
The crowd murmured in silence, looking down at the scene before them. Red Hat, sprawled out helpless on the floor with his eyes closed, and the Black Rose Witch, standing victoriously across him. It didn't paint a pretty picture. Nonetheless, the MC continued.
"Without a further ado," the man gulped, "I give to you all, Akiza Izinski!"
And Now…
-Chapter Thirty Seven-
Radiance
Yusei Fudo was confused, to say the least.
On one hand, there was Red Hat Konami, the teen youth lying unconscious in the Stadium's Medical Ward recovering from the outcome of his last Duel.
On the other, there was Akiza Izinski, the Black Rose Witch… and Yusei's next opponent.
Yusei didn't know where he stood with the vicious teen, having seen her hatred in full swing back at the slums. But regardless of what others said about her, he couldn't help but sense something deeper churning within her. Some hidden emotion the girl kept under lock and key.
His hope was that Konami would overcome the girl, and perhaps provide some insight into just what that emotion was, but with his defeat, that plan was all but ruined.
The crab-haired hero winced subconsciously as he gazed at the teen's sleeping body through the doorway. He had sounded like Goodwin there, if only for a moment.
"But- But- I just don't see how he could lose!" Yusei heard a feminine voice hiss beside him, turning to face a pink-haired girl deep in discussion with several others.
"Aw come on," Enzo, Yusei recalled from his previous meetings with the teen and Red Hat himself, sighed, "You can't expect the guy to win all the time can ya? Everyone gets a bad draw every once and a while… maybe this was just his."
"Well, he could've at least tried to get the timing a little better…" a chubby man broke in, "against an opponent like that a bad draw's the last thing you need. Any news on when he'll get up?"
"No…" the girl grimaced, leading the group deeper into the stadium, "All… was still… leave."
Yusei frowned. They were too far away to hear. He took a step forward, intending to join the group so he could learn the status of his… acquaintance, friend even, but as usual, Leo had other plans.
"Yusei!" the green haired boy shouted, skidding to a halt as he turned the corner leading to the crabby-headed protagonist's location. "Did you see that last Duel? Didya?!"
The man closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the briefest surge of irritation and amusement at the boy's timing. If it could've just been a minute later…
"Yes Leo," he replied lightly, "I was sitting beside you in the stands, remember? You asked Jack for his autograph so many times that he decided to leave."
The boy had the grace to look shameful for a moment, but it was gone before anyone could notice, "O-Oh yeah… sorry, I forgot about that! But anyway, that's not the point! You saw the way it ended right?! What do you think? Are you gonna be able to take her? The Black Rose Witch I mean!"
Yusei frowned, setting a hand on his hip warily as he always did when he was in deep thought, "To be honest I'm not all that sure… she seemed pretty strong to me…"
Leo's eyes went wide in shock. Yusei had to be one of the strongest Duelists the boy had ever seen, and he was saying that he might not have what it takes to beat the Witch?! "N-No way…"
Yusei's hand suddenly clenched, as if sensing the boy's wariness. "But it doesn't matter how strong she is," the Satellite continued encouragingly, "I'm not going down without a fight."
"Y-Yeah!" Leo brightened instantly, pumping his fist, "That's the spirit!"
"So," Yusei continued with a light smile to make the boy feel more at ease, "Was there something else you needed or was that all?"
Leo frowned, folding his arms in front of him cautiously as he tried to remember, "Hold on… I think there was something… Oh! Luna wanted to wish you luck! She wanted to see you off but she got caught up in some deep conversation with that Yanagi guy… he's still a little creepy if you ask me. You're going down to the Stadium now right?"
Yusei blinked at the boy's fast speech, frowning as he glanced back towards the hall where Red Hat's friends had disappeared. He doubted he'd be able to catch up now.
"Yeah," the man sighed, "I suppose I am."
"Cool! You'll do great! I'm sure of it!" Leo cheered, "You'll be beating that Witch lady back and forth in no time!"
"Maybe," Yusei nodded, "but you can't be sure how a Duel is going to go until you're already there. I'll just have to trust my Deck, and hope it brings me the luck I'll need."
Leo laughed, not really having anything to say to that.
"Yusei!"
"Yusei!"
Yusei's eyes widened in confusion. Glancing behind Leo, the man blinked, spotting the approaching figures of Luna and Yanagi.
"Luna, Yanagi?" Yusei asked, "I thought you were "deep in conversation?""
"Is that what he said?" Luna asked with a frown, staring pointedly at Leo, "Leo ran off without us, even though I'd told him to wait for us!"
"I see…" Yusei said slowly, gazing at the Leo's blushing figure.
"Oh come on Luna!" the boy chirped, "You guys were just taking so long!"
"Ah, youth…" Yanagi spoke soothingly, "What I wouldn't give to be back in my childhood days… so Yusei!"
"Hm?"
"All geared up and ready to go for your Duel with the Big Bad Witch?" Yanagi asked, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"As much as I will be," Yusei shrugged, "my Deck's carried me this far, I can't expect it to let me down now."
"Hm… is that so?" Yanagi thought aloud, leaning in close to the Satellite, "So, what about that other card of yours? You stick that in too?"
"No." Yusei responded, shaking his head once, "I'm saving that card for my Duel with Jack."
"I don't know…" the elderly man grimaced, "Seems to me like you'll need all the help you can get with this one! You might wanna rethink that choice of yours…"
Yusei frowned, glancing at the card in question.
Stardust Dragon.
If what Yanagi had been telling him was true, the dragon was a Signer Dragon, a creature that had fought alongside the Crimson Dragon against the Earthbound Immortals long ago. It too would be bound to the marks he and Akiza shared, and if his suspicions were correct, so was the Black Rose Dragon.
He thought back to what Yanagi had just said. The Black Rose was a formidable opponent to have, and Yusei wasn't sure if his Deck would be able to win as it was.
For a moment, Yusei sighed, slipping the card on the top of his Deck. He had a feeling that Yanagi may be right.
-5D's-
"Well done Akiza," Sayer praised, "your spectacular Duel with Red Hat provided the perfect distraction for me. While you had the audience preoccupied with your "treachery", I was able to go after our true goal."
The man paused, pulling the severed arm from his cloak.
Akiza grimaced, staring at the hand with a great degree of disgust. "An arm? That's what all this was for? And here I thought it might have actually been something important, Sayer."
The girl glared at the man who bared such an uncanny resemblance to her beloved Divine, but even she could tell it was not the same person. Where Divine had class, this person was more… rough around the edges, for lack of better words.
"Ah," Sayer corrected, "but this is important my dear, dear Akiza." The man grinned, turning the arm slightly as it began to release a pale, ethereal red glow.
"The Mark of the Dragon!" Akiza hissed, grabbing her own forearm where a similar glow was burning, "Why Sayer?! Why?! Why would bring one of those Wretched Marks in my presence?!"
"Oh do settle down Akiza," Sayer joked, "This Mark will be out of your hair soon enough, as will I."
Akiza looked at the man pointedly, "What do you mean?"
"Why I must make plans to secure this item of course," Sayer revealed, "I have no delusions that Goodwin will be quite forceful when trying to find it. I daresay that even blackmail won't stop the man from turning the Arcadia Movement inside out trying to find it."
"The Arcadia Movement…?" Akiza's eyes narrowed, "Do you mean to say this arm you've stolen will bring danger to the Movement? If that's true Sayer-"
"It is for that precise reason that I have no plans to hide it on the Arcadia Movement premises." The man continued, "I may be cold Akiza, but I'm not heartless. This arm will be kept somewhere secure, perhaps in one of our many offshore bases, until such a time that I require its abilities once more."
"It's abilities?" Akiza asked curiously, her hand subconsciously tightening around her arm.
"Oh yes, you saw it for yourself did you not? The sudden dust cloud… the swift movement… surely you didn't think those where creations of mine alone?"
Akiza scowled, turning her head from the man and revealing that she actually had thought it was all his doing.
Sayer chuckled, "Oh my, I do apologize my dear, for destroying any beliefs you held about my power. Nonetheless, it is nice to know you hold my skills in such high regard."
Akiza grimaced at the words, but held her tongue.
"Now then, I need to prepare the Arcadia Movement for Goodwin's inevitable arrival…." Sayer paused, looking the girl over, "Your next opponent is that marked fellow, Yusei correct?"
Akiza nodded once, not bothering to address the man with words.
"Good, good…" Sayer mused, running a hand along the girl's cheek for the briefest of moments, "Then do me a favor and put on a good show. I'll need as much time as possible to get things ready for our Security friends."
"Very well, Sayer." Akiza agreed submissively, "I'll do my best."
The man smirked, taking two steps back as the arm began to glow once more. Akiza turned to glance at the man one last time, but he was already gone.
"Sayer…" she spoke sharply, "Just who are you?"
The sound of the MC's voice broke her thoughts. As she listened to the man roar out in response to the crowd's cheers and jeers, her expression grew ever darker.
Sayer, Red Hat… all the events that had been surrounding her as of late were growing far too much for her to bear. Her frustrations were rising far beyond their manageable amount, and she didn't know how much longer she'd be able to take it.
"And now, his opponent!" the MC's voice roared through the speakers, "The prickling flower that bloomed in the dark, the thunderous witch who's ripped her opponents apart, the one and only, Akiza Izinski!"
The girl grimaced, stepping out into the stadium as she stared down her crab-haired opponent. Finally, someone she could vent towards.
As Akiza prepared for her match, halfway across the city a blinding light erupted in the empty alleys behind the Arcadia Movement.
"Ah, Sayer… you have returned then?" a cloaked figure asked from the shadows, regarding his psychic acquaintance coolly.
"Was there ever any doubt?" Sayer smirked.
The cloaked man didn't bother with a response, "Have you completed the task set before you?"
"Of course I have," the psychic scoffed, "did you really think I would come here if I had not?"
He pulled the severed arm from his cloak, its pale glow filling the alley softly. "One Mark of the Dragon, as requested." He made as if to give it to the man, only to pull back at the moment, "Before I hand this little… specimen over to you lot, I'd like to know that my own interests have-"
"Ah yes…" the cloaked man grimaced, "that… of course, you'd understand our hesitancy in using such a thing."
"Your fears are unfounded," Sayer smirked, "as I told you before, where you all see ruthlessness and unpredictability, I see glorious opportunity. Give me what I want, it's not like it's doing any good where it rests anyway."
"The power you seek is not to be taken lightly, Sayer. You know not what you are dealing with!"
"I could've sworn Goodwin said similar things when I took this arm from him," Sayer replied smoothly, "You're not going soft are you? If so… well, I'm sure the other members of your little club would jump at a sudden promotion."
"Was that your idea of threat?!" the cloaked man scowled, "Talking to me that way… I don't know if you're just brave or just plain stupid."
"To reach my level of genius you'll have to be a bit of both I'm afraid." Sayer admitted, "But back to business… our deal?" He held the arm out once more.
The cloaked man stared at the gesture of good faith, grimacing as he took the severed limb into his fold, "Very well. Tonight, at the edge of the Coastal District… don't be late."
Sayer chuckled, watching the man disappear back into the shadows.
Everything was set.
-5D's-
Yusei grimaced, feeling the weight of a devastating blow from Akiza's Black Rose Dragon attempt to tear through his defenses. The girl had been ruthless in her assault, taking no time at all to summon the Signer Dragon from her Deck through a combination of Evil Thorns and Twilight Rose Knight. Combined with her latest draw giving her the "Thorn of Malice" card, it was proving to be a difficult struggle for the young hero.
Yusei- 2300 LP
Akiza- 4000 LP
"Have you felt it yet…?" Akiza asked coolly, ending her turn, "Have you felt some of the pain I've tried to share with you?"
"Sorry to disappoint you Akiza," Yusei replied, raising his Duel Disk in preparation for his turn, "but a few cuts and bruises aren't enough to make me back down. Draw!"
Adding a card to his hand, Yusei quickly thought over his options.
Akiza's side of the Field was potent, if only due to her 3000 Attack Black Rose Dragon staring him down. All he had left were a few face-downs and his level 3 Shield Warrior. What could he do to turn things around…? With this Junk Synchron he just drew, he had a few ideas.
"To start things off I'll activate my Face-Down card!" Yusei announced, pointing towards the hologram as it rose on the Field. "Reinforce Truth! This allows me to Special Summon a Level 2 or lower Warrior Monster from my Deck, but I can't activate my Battle Phase this turn!"
"Hmph, what good will that do you?" Akiza sniffed, "I've taken the liberty of learning your Deck Yusei, and unless you suddenly decided to throw in a few new cards, there's no Level 2 monster you have that can get you out of this!"
"You may be right about that…" Yusei admitted, "but my monsters only show their true strength when they rely on others! Now, with Reinforce Truth's effect, I'll bring out my Speed Warrior!"
The metallic speedster grunted as he materialized onto the Field, his feet revving up smoke as he stared down Akiza's superior monster.
Speed Warrior-LV2-(900/400)
"Speed Warrior," Akiza repeated, "just as I thought, nothing to be afraid of."
"Maybe not right now…" Yusei agreed, "But you might want to rethink that when I bring out my next monster! Check it out, Junk Synchron!"
As he slapped the card down on his Duel Disk, Yusei turned to watch the orange Tuner appear on the Field. It revved its engines twice as if checking for leaks, before settling down besides Yusei's other monsters.
Junk Synchron-LV3-(1300/500)
"That monster!" Akiza grimaced, "A Tuner?!"
"That's right, and with all my monsters on the Field you should know what's coming!" Yusei exclaimed, "Clustering Hopes will become a new shining star! Become the path its light shines upon! Synchro Summon! Take flight, Stardust Dragon!"
The skies erupted into a pillar of green light as a slender dragon appeared on the Field, its body spreading dust across the arena as it settled behind Yusei and let loose an ear-piercing shriek.
Stardust Dragon-LV8-(2500/2000)
"Stardust Dragon?" Akiza asked incredulously, "That's a new one. Did you toss it in just now?"
Yusei frowned, standing his ground as he addressed Akiza while ending his turn, "This card is a symbol of all the bonds I share with my friends. It's not something to be taken light-"
"Oh please," Akiza cut in, subtly drawing her card as she stared pointedly at Yusei's ace monster, "I've had to hear the same thing several times now. If I didn't listen the first time, what makes you think that I'd listen the second or third?!"
Yusei opened his mouth to speak, but Akiza cut him off quickly, no doubt no longer wishing to hear any of his friendship speeches.
"Black Rose Dragon! Attack that dimwitted monster of his and show them just how weak these "bonds" of theirs are! Black Rose Gale!"
Akiza's Signer Dragon roared, spreading its rosy wings violently as its black tendrils lashed out at Stardust, whipping it several times as it curled to protect its master.
"Urk… Guah!" Yusei grunted, weathering the storm as piece of debris fell around him from the conflict.
Yusei- 1800 LP
Akiza- 4000 LP
"You may have lowered my Life Points," Yusei grimaced, "but don't forget! Thanks to your Thorn of Malice my Stardust Dragon isn't destroyed as a result of battle!"
"True," Akiza agreed, "but it does lose 600 Attack and Defense Points!"
Yusei scowled, watching his monster's stats drop in accordance to Akiza's words. 1900… now it wasn't strong enough to take on the Black Rose even if he managed to get rid of Thorn of Malice somehow! He needed a play… he wasn't sure he could take any more attacks like that without paying the price.
"My turn," he shouted, "Draw!"
He glanced quickly at the card.
Half shut.
As usual, his unnatural Dueling Power never ceased to amaze him.
"Alright!" he shouted, "I'm activating the card Half Shut!"
"Half Shut?" Akiza asked, grimacing as the card appeared on the Field. If anything, she didn't like what it implied.
"That's right," Yusei nodded, "It's a Spell Card that lets me halve the attack of one face-up monster on the Field, at the price of not being able to destroy it by battle this turn! Of course, the monster I'm choosing is none other than that Black Rose Dragon you seem to be so fond of!"
"No!" Akiza grimaced, watching a burst of red light erupt from the card and singe her monster's roses. "Black Rose Dragon!"
The dragon cooed softly, its head drooping in response to the Spell Card's effect.
Black Rose Dragon-LV7-(1500/1800)
"And now that it's a mere 1500 Attack Points," Yusei continued, "I can attack with my Stardust Dragon! Go, Cosmic Flare!"
Stardust screeched, reeling its head back as light from the cosmos seemed to fill its jaws to the brim. A mere second later, that light was expelled, flying forth in a bright pillar of blue light that overtook the Black Rose Dragon completely.
Akiza grimaced, her eyes narrowing as dirt and debris roared around her.
Yusei-1800 LP
Akiza-3600 LP
"Is that all you got?" she asked nastily, glaring at the crab-haired man.
"Afraid so," Yusei confirmed, "I'll set two cards and end my turn."
"Then it's my move, draw!" Akiza shouted, glancing at the cards in her hand quickly, "Thanks to your Half Shut, my Black Rose Dragon is back to 3000 Attack Points, and you know what that means," she continued, "Black Rose Dragon, continue your assault! Attack Yusei's Stardust Dragon with your Black Rose Gale!"
The dragon nodded in agreement, its head rearing back as black roots once again lashed out towards Yusei's Signer Dragon. Stardust screeched hideously, again curling defensively to protect its master as root after root tore at its body.
"Stardust…" Yusei frowned, "Hang in there!"
Yusei-700 LP
Akiza-3600 LP
"And don't forget Yusei," Akiza smirked, "Thanks to my Thorn of Malice, your Stardust loses another 600 Attack and Defense Points!"
Yusei grimaced, watching as Stardust grew weaker, allowing several of the Black Roses' tendrils to wrap themselves around its legs.
Stardust Dragon-LV8-(1300/800)
"Tch, my turn, Draw!" Yusei shouted, adding Defense Draw to his Hand. His eyes narrowed, "I'll set one card and end my turn."
"That's all?" Akiza asked, "This Duel is as good as mine! Draw! Black Rose, attack Stardust Dragon and end this Duel!"
"I don't think so!" Yusei cut in, "I'm activating Defense Draw!"
"?!" Akiza blinked in surprise, "Defense Draw, is it? Another one of those cards…."
"That's right," Yusei nodded, "so I'm not out of this Duel just yet! If you didn't know, Defense Draw lets me turn any and all Battle Damage I'd receive to 0, and then draw 1 card!"
"I know full well what it does!" Akiza snapped, "But my turn's not over just yet!" she continued, "That Defense Draw of yours may have stopped any damage from being taken, but it doesn't stop the effects of my Thorn of Malice! Your Stardust Dragon grows weaker by the second Yusei, even if you managed to hold me off this turn… it's only a matter of time before I win, and put you in your proper place!"
"You keep thinking that," Yusei frowned, "I've been wondering what this feeling I've been getting from you was… I guess now I finally see! Akiza, you're-"
"I told you I'm done speaking with you, or anyone else about this!" the girl scowled, "If you truly wish to understand me Yusei… then be prepared to withstand pain the likes of which you've never seen! I'm activating Wonder Clover!"
"Wonder Clover?" Yusei asked, staring at the card wide-eyed.
"Yes!" Akiza nodded once, "This card allows me to discard one Level 4 Plant-Type Monster from my hand, and allow one face-up monster I control to attack twice during the Battle Phase! So now, by sending Lord Poison to the Graveyard… my Black Rose Dragon can attack you once more!"
"!" Yusei grimaced, staring down the renewed dragon as it roared across the landscape angrily.
"Oh dear!" the MC shouted from the heavens above, "It looks like Yusei's truly gotten himself into a bind this time! Is this going to mark the end of this rising star?!"
"Go Black Rose!" Akiza snapped, "End this Duel! Black Rose Gale!"
"Sorry to disappoint you!" Yusei shouted suddenly, grimacing as the winds around he and Akiza picked up at the Black Rose's attack declaration. "But I have a trap card, Iron Resolve!"
"Iron… Resolve?!" Akiza grimaced.
"That's right! Let me explain how it works," Yusei began, "by paying half my Life Points, I can reduce the Battle Damage I'd take to 0!"
"But… you only have 700 Life Points!" Akiza snarled.
"That's still enough to cut in half!" Yusei replied smoothly, watching his Life Point counter drop.
Yusei- 350 LP
Akiza- 3600 LP
Akiza was growing frustrated. That was twice now he'd refused to go along with her plans. 350 Life Points… she was so close to victory that she could taste it! And still, it remained just out of reach…
"No matter," the girl grimaced, "Because I still have this! Doom Petal Countdown! Now, during each of my End Phases I can banish one Plant Type monster from my Graveyard to inflict 300 Damage to you, Yusei! And since this turn's all wrapped up… I'm removing my Evil Thorn from Play to send you a little parting gift!"
Yusei gripped his arm in pain as Doom Petal Countdown's effect took hold, reducing him to a mere 50 Life Points.
Yusei-50 LP
Akiza-3600 LP
"Still feeling confident?" the girl asked, loosening her stance as she handed the reins over to Yusei, "Still feel like this Duel's not out of reach?"
"Of course…" the man replied weakly, "I still have a few tricks up my sleeve after all."
Akiza grimaced at the words, "Impossible! I still have over half my Life Points while you carry a measly 3600! There's nothing you can do to turn things around at this point! Admit it Yusei, you've lost!"
"Not yet." Yusei denied, "Not when there's still a card left to draw."
"Tch… you and him are peas in a pod aren't you? Always denying me what is mine by right…" the girl continued, the shadow of death hanging over her words, "Well, I've already dealt with one of you… and you'll go the same way! Make your move, Yusei!"
"I intend to!" the man grimaced, "Draw! From my hand, I activate the card Silver Wing!"
"Silver Wing?" Akiza asked with a snarl, facing Yusei angrily.
"Yes, it's an equip card that allows me to prevent a monster I control from being destroyed by battle up to two times this turn! Also, if the monster would be destroyed by a card effect, I can destroy this card instead!"
"Well, what good will that do you?!" Akiza asked, "Once I take my next turn there won't be a need for battle… I'll simply need to end my turn and Doom Petal Countdown will do the rest for me!"
"That may be so," Yusei admitted, "but I'm intending to end things all right here! Behold, Double Cyclone!"
"What?!"
"Seems like you know this card…" Yusei smiled lightly, "Then you know that it allows me to destroy a Spell or Trap I control in exchange for destroying one of yours!"
"Ngh…!"
"Which means… that Thorn of Malice you've been controlling the Duel with is no more!" Yusei roared.
At his words, twin pillars of winds erupted from the card, sweeping away Silver Wing and Thorn of Malice in a brilliant haze of yellow and pink.
"No!" Akiza hissed, "Thorn of Malice-!"
"And since that's gone," Yusei continued, "Stardust and Black Rose both return to their original Attack Points!"
The two Dragons roared out in sync, their bodies strengthening and weakening respectively until they were once again in their prime.
Stardust Dragon-LV8-(2500/2000)
Black Rose Dragon-LV7-(2400/1800)
"Now!" Yusei shouted, "Go Stardust Dragon! Blow her Black Rose Dragon away! Cosmic Flare!"
"I don't think so!" Akiza hissed, "I'm activated an effect from my Hand! Hedge Guard!"
"?!"
"It may not stop me from taking damage," Akiza explained, "But it will stop my Black Rose Dragon from being destroyed, even if it means halving its attack points until the End Phase!"
Black Rose Dragon cried once more as its Attack Points were once again tampered with, reducing it to 1200 Attack Points.
Akiza-3500 LP
Yusei- 50 LP
"…" Yusei paused, "So my Stardust didn't destroy your Black Rose this time…" he confirmed, glancing at the last set card on his side of the Field, "That's just fine, because it allows me to activate this! Synchro Ring!"
"Synchro… Ring?" Akiza asked fearfully.
"It might seem a bit coincidental," Yusei explained, "But Synchro Ring allows me to select one Synchro Monster I control that attacked this turn and didn't destroy its target! Then, it doubles the chosen monster's Attack Points, and lets me attack again!"
"What?! Double?!" Akiza asked in shock, "But that means…"
"Yes," Yusei confirmed, "My Stardust Dragon now has 5000 Attack Points! And with your Black Rose Dragon only having 1200… this Duel's over!"
"Wait… no!"
"Go Stardust Dragon!" Yusei roared, "Destroy Black Rose Dragon with your Cosmic Flare!"
The audience watched in shock and glee as the dragon's jaws flew open, basking the audience in its brilliant white light before charging towards the hideous Black Rose.
The girl never stood a chance.
Akiza- 0 LP
Yusei- 50 LP
As his Duel Disk deactivated, Yusei couldn't help but look to see what was going on in his opponent's mind. He had wanted to help her, true, but she had seemed so cold to his attempts that he couldn't help but wonder if there was anything to help after all.
A single drop of water reconfirmed his suspicions.
If it wasn't for the sudden downpour of rain that followed, even the audience would have been able to see what was happening.
The girl, Akiza, was crying.
Yusei frowned, doubting that his Duel with the girl was enough to crack through that terrible outer shell she cherished so.
Why then, did she cry? Was that truly what he saw, or was it a trick of light, brought upon him by the Duel Disk's disappearing holograms.
He was just about to reach out to her when a sudden shout from the crowd broke his thoughts.
"Yeah! That's the way! How's it feel being the one on the ground now Witch?!" a voice from the crowd called.
That single statement. That one comment amongst the rain, ruined everything.
-Chapter Thirty Seven-
End