I'm back with some Overdrive madness, people! Welcome back!
Thanks for all your reviews for the last chapters! Now, let's answer them.
- In response to SolanaLeonhart's review:
Jin wrote something with on a sheet of paper before revealing it. 'By that he simply meant Lightning stopping me from crushing his data trapped in that orb-thingy.'
He then balled the paper before throwing at Lighting, hitting the Ignis in the head. As Lightning turned around, he saw his partner/puppet and Windy in the distance, minding his business.
"Windy, your reason at throwing this paper at me?" the LIGHT Ignis inquired, holding up his evidence.
"Eh!? That wasn't me!" Windy shouted.
"HOW DARE YOU LOOK DOWN ON ME IN SUCH A WAY!" Lighting bellowed, thunders echoing in the back at the villain's anger.
- In response to D3lph0xL0v3r's review:
"The funny and sadistic little me was born from the Lost Incident when Dr. Kogami took the real Kioku's memories away!" Bloody Talker explained. "And when Erika gave them back, the real Kioku was 'reborn' in a way and we're now together!"
"Wait, so how do I know to who I'm talking at the moment?" Ai asked. "I mean, it could be any one of you!"
"Exactly, that's the point." Kioku said.
"Be confused by our grand masterpiece!" Bloody Talker laughed.
"Ai-chan confused by the high level of idiocy!" Ai cried out, his eyes spinning in confusion.
- In response to HunterHQ's review:
"Third time's the charm, they say." Kioku confirmed.
- In response to Lindia Fullmoon's review:
"Using this easy scheme that someone like me, who doesn't write Duels in one day and could forget quickly things, can efficiently use!" Sakushi Ryu declared.
-: Hand: 5x? / Field: / Spell-Trap: / GY: / BZ:
"Using this, I can easily keep track of the board!" the writer said. "I suggest whichever fellow writer is seeing this to use in any of their Duels. Keeping track of the cards in hand, GY, and so on can be a real pain in the ass."
"Another amazing idea I can take for myself and use to a better extent that any human could!" Lightning proudly declared, sitting on top of his elephant Link Monster thingy made of actual legos, because Sakushi Ryu laughed too much at Lindia's joke about the archetype's name. "Another idea I took for myself!" the evil Ignis revealed. "When my Monsters of legos are destroyed, inside of them are the actual Monsters!"
"...Soooooo technically they have two lives now?" Windy questioned.
"Exactly!" Lightning gloated.
- In response to ClearwingYuta's review:
"I originally thought that, but after re-checking the episodes and characters' backstories I realized that wasn't the case, so I dropped that theory a long time ago," Sakushi Ryu explained. "But damn, do you realize if that was the case, Kengo would be the oldest out of the Incident kids!?"
"Such stupid theories!" Windy's partner suddenly erupted from the ground like a zombie. "I have returned to save this story from its-..."
He stopped to think, and after a minute of doing so, he took out a sheet of paper from his pocket. "From its shame of not having me, Windy's partner in it!" he read awkwardly. "...Yeah, I have to train more before entering the story, don't I?"
- In response to Tiny Pink Kitten's review:
"Heh heh... heh heh... hahahahaHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Ryoken laughed in his badass-villain-way while holding Sakushi Ryu's personal notes and ideas on the story, with the said writer trapped in a blue sphere beside him. "I know everything, my dear! I have the entire plot in my hands!"
(Season 2)
Turn 17:
One's Objective (Part 2/2)
[A/N: This chapter's events take place during the same day as the last chapter.]
In the afternoon - IRL: At SOL Technologies
"King... you say?"
Were Akira's surprised words after hearing the SOL Technologies' CEO's name be spoken by Queen. After some hours between Kioku and Daimon Adrian's Duel, Queen requested Akira's presence in her personal bureau to talk about the mentioned Duel.
"That's correct." Queen confirmed with a nod. "King was deeply impressed by the seventh Charisma Duelist's strength and he urged me to add Daimon Adrian to our bounty hunter team. Since I've put you in charge of the team, I'd like you to hire him."
"I understand." Akira nodded. "I'll have you know by tonight Daimon's answer."
"Perfect. You are free to go, Zaizen."
With a slight bow, Akira took his exit from Queen's office. As he left, SOL Technologies' chairwoman stood up from her seat and walked to the window, staring out at the slowly setting sun.
"Having someone on our party that can hold their ground against a God card like the Overdrive Monsters..." she let out a sly smile. "It won't end well for you, Kaiba Seto."
At the same time - IRL: At the Azumaya Oprhanage
Kioku hastily ran down the street with an expression that looked like a fusion between concern and confusion. Not long ago, Jeanne wrote him a message, only saying she wanted to meet and talk with the youth about a very important topic, which left Bloody Talker troubled.
The old lady who was the orphanage's owner way before Bloody Talker even ended up there is a stoic person that doesn't smile many times and can be quite cold. However, she does all this for the kids who are under her wings, and at the end of the day, Jeanne's lectures always show people their errors and she smiles when they understand them.
Bloody Talker honestly can't count how often Jeanne lectured her, but he never complains, not now nor in the past. There's always something to learn from Jeanne's actions, and with the memories Kioku saw of his alter ego, he thinks the same way.
But the old lady has never done something like this: sending such a brusque message... There was a deeper meaning to this.
When Kioku finally arrived at the orphanage, he halted and caught his breath for a second, having ran a lot and quite quickly until here. After doing so, the youth stared at the structure before entering it.
Don't make much noise. Bloody Talker spoke up in their mind. Azumaya-san puts the children to sleep a little at this hour.
I already knew that. Kioku pointed out and wondered the orphanage quietly. He stopped in front of a room, peeking in to see the children sleeping peacefully there.
"Ah, Kioku-kun." a faint voice whispered, and a caretaker walked up to him with a smile. "Azumaya-san is already waiting for you upstairs in her room."
"Thank you." Kioku nodded. "Did she...?"
The caretaker shook her head, knowing his question. "No, she didn't explain anything... She politely requested me to watch over the kids while you two talk, and to not let anyone disturb you... Do you have any idea what's happening?"
"Beats me..." Bloody Talker whispered through him. "I hope it's nothing too grave..."
"Well, there's only one way to find out." the caretaker smiled more.
"Yes. I'll be going." Kioku told and did just that, leaving the room behind and going to the second floor where Jeanne's room was situated.
The door wasn't locked, so he entered it with a nock, letting Jeanne know someone was coming in. Closing the door after him, the youth saw the old lady sitting on a chair near a window, her walking stick left to stand beside her.
"Azumaya-san, you really spooked me this time." Bloody Talker laughed a little. "For you to write a message out of the blue-"
"It was an emergency," Jeanne explained, talking over him. "There are things I'd like to talk about."
"Oh... well, I'm here now." he said. "What's the problem? Is there a problem with the computers again-"
"It's a much more important matter." Jeanne told. "It's about your future, and this could very well be the last help I have to give you... before you take a clear path. I saw your Duel with Kismet today... and the level of determination you have is praiseworthy for an undeveloped goal."
"...O-Oi, Azumaya-san, what are you talking about?" Bloody Talker gave a confused chuckle with a raised eyebrow. "I think you got the wrong person here."
Jeanne gave a long exhale before speaking. "I knew for a long time now that you're Bloody Talker, Kioku."
3 years ago
"Kioku, what are you doing in front of that computer again?" was an annoyed Jeanne's question after seeing the said person in front of the computer screen, typing who-knows-what in the computer room.
"It's nothing, Azumaya-san." Kioku answered with a smile, which only made her narrow her eyes knowing it wasn't 'nothing'.
"Kioku-kun, the booster packs arrived!" a caretaker's shout came from the next room.
"Coming!" Kioku quickly sat up and ran to get his pack with an excited expression. However, he forgot to turn off the computer, and seizing this chance, Jeanne checked what was on the screen.
"Creeper Axout-C..." she narrowed her eyes at the card, which looked in the middle of being programmed. "Cyberse?" in all of the years she saw Duel Monster cards, this is the first time she heard that Type...
Jeanne was able to catch the Card Shop's delivery man before he left, asking about that Type.
"Cyberse?" his eyes widen a little.
"You know about this?" Jeanne asked next.
"Well, yes, I do..." the delivery man explained. "Although, I don't know much. The Cyberse are special kind of Monsters that are believed to be extinct because a terrorist organization hunted them down in these past years."
The old lady's eyes widen a little behind her glasses. A terrorist organization hunted them down? What in the world is Kioku getting himself into?
"I... see." Jeanne finally answered.
"Why? Does someone under your care have-"
"None of sorts." she interrupted him. "I just read something about them on the net, that's all."
"Ah, makes sense." the delivery man smiled. "Have a good day, Miss Azumaya."
"After one month, you've moved out and started living in your apartment," Jeanne continued her explanation. "That is when I decided to build up Dueling skills of my own, in case, someday, you would be in danger and I'd have to help you. Dueling wasn't my forte at that time, so I had to learn. I did so thanks to children's help."
"They helped you learn Duel Monsters..." Kioku put the puzzle together.
"Exactly. When a mysterious person who used a "Creeper" named Cyberse deck appeared, I knew it was you, Kioku." Jeanne added. "However, you were strong. My help wasn't needed to you when Dueling."
"To think you knew about my VR identity all along..." Bloody Talker smirked. "As expected of Azumaya-san... So the reason why you're telling me this is because I need your help? With my 'undeveloped goal' you mentioned earlier?"
"Will and choice are two sides of the same card. That's where your error hides." Jeanne pointed out. "Kioku, I will help you realize this error with the best way I could ever grasp: a Duel."
"Very well." Kioku raised his left arm, which was equipped with his Duel Disk. "On Bloody Talker's behalf, as well as mine, I accept this final challenge of yours, Azumaya Jeanne."
[Shall I prepare the battlefield?] Grim spoke up from his eye form. Kioku nodded and he went to work.
"You are... the real Kioku, right?" Jeanne asked. "The one I raised for eight years was Bloody Talker, wasn't it?"
"That's right." Kioku confirmed. "Before the Duel, I would like to thank you, Azumaya Jeanne... thank you for being the motherly figure Bloody Talker needed during these past years. I am grateful for everything you've done and are doing right now."
Jeanne gave a soft smile at that, happiness evident on her features. "The way you said it... I'm sure now. This will truly be the last help I can give to you two..." her face went back to its stoic one and she glared from behind her glasses. "But don't think that will lower my guard or make me go easy on you. That's not in my style."
"That's fine with us." Bloody Talker grinned. "We are always up for a challenge."
[I'm done.] Grim said. [You two will directly log into the private server.]
"Private, hm? That's OK... this is our fight, not a circus show." Jeanne raised her left arm, revealing a new model Duel Disk, colored primarily brown with some vanilla parts and having yellow glowing highlights.
"I concur." Kioku did the same.
"Into the VRAINS!"
The private server Bloody Talker created was a masterpiece he was proud to have: reminiscent of the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park that's in China, the world Windy created, and Star Relic - "Star Ark"'s artwork, this fictional world was composed of a canyon with large pillar-like formations of earth and rocks in them, forming a giant maze if you find yourself at the bottom.
Waterfalls emerged from the pillars' tops, falling down to the canyon's bottom and creating a network of rivers. On top of the pillars, on the other hand, amazing and breathtaking greenery decorated the location: rose trellises, trees, bushes, different types of flowers, and ponds with water leaves floating on them were present, but also artificial objects like small bridges that allowed a person to walk over the ponds or from one pillar to the other and small fountains further decorated the place.
Bees pollinating flowers, butterflies with vivid scales, and singing birds further made the server a fictional paradise, and in the distance, a sunrise illuminated everything. Jeanne had to admit, this private server was beyond beautiful; it was a God's work at hand.
Speaking of Jeanne, she wasn't the usual old lady with a walking stick and glasses, but a tall and slim woman, had grey eyes, and blonde curly hair whose ends are split into two long low-tails that reach her hips, tied together by black bows. She wore a slim dark red top with a ruffled black trip, a white crop jacket with a pink tie over her neck, dark red pants, and white long boots with black laces. She also wore white gloves on her hands and a black hat with a pink ribbon.
She was standing on the tallest pillar in the server, which consisted of a round and desolated top with grass at its edges, making it look like a field used for fighting.
"What's your opinion, Azumaya-san!?" Bloody Talker asked. "You're the first to see it, and I would like a comment."
Jeanne was about to reply when she caught sight of her opponent's new avatar!
Bloody Talker had a similar body structure as his real self, had a russet-colored right eye and an aqua-colored left eye, and his hair changed to a silver-grey color and was tied in a high ponytail with a thread, that had a blue and red crystal at each of its ends, and had black bangs spiking over his forehead and cheeks.
He wore a pitch-black jumpsuit that is grey on his knees, the sides of his torso, and underarms, and the same dark red tattoos Grim had on his chest and stomach were on Bloody Talker's suit, but it left his arms exposed and were instead covered by bandages. He wore gloves with the same black color as his suit, had dark red accents over them, and both of his middle fingers were adorned by silver talon-shaped ornaments that ended with different colored tips, the right one a brown, while the left one a green.
Tied around his waist, calves, and biceps were dark red belts, he wore dark red boots with black laces and soles, and emerging from his back were eight silver, bone-like appendages (which were similar to Grim's wings when in beast form), six of which attached themselves to his hips, while the remaining two on the gap between his neck and shoulders.
"This is the third time you change your avatar. You like to be flashy, don't you?"
"This time I went all out with it." Bloody Talker said with evident pride. "But I have to admit, your appearance isn't bad too, Miss Mousse, the eighth Charisma Duelist."
"Everybody looks good in their early days." she simply replied.
"Miss Mousse's carrier started two months after you moved away from the orphanage." Kioku pointed out to his alter ego. "That means her story is true... the masked one was unmasked even before its birth."
"Oi, cut me some slack...!" the other huffed.
[She is number 8, the one after Kismet.] Grim emerged from the Duel Disk. [That means her skills are as deadly as his but slightly less. You have to be very careful in this one, partner.]
"Yeah, I know." they said in unison. "Let's start!"
"DUEL!" the two shouted in unison.
Miss Mousse: LP 4000
VS
Bloody Talker: LP 4000
(The Duel is conducted as a Master Duel.)
"The first turn goes to the ladies. Atashi no turn!" Miss Mousse announced. "I normal summon Madolche Mewfeuille from my hand!"
Following Miss Mousse's words, a cute plush cat with drowsy blue eyes, pink and light pink fur, and wearing a purple jacket and hat reminiscent of a mille-feuille appeared on her field, rubbing its eyes to keep itself from falling asleep.
Madolche Mewfeuille: Earth/Beast/Effect/ATK: 500/DEF: 300/LV: 3
[Madolche, a deck which focuses on recycling its cards for repeated use and returning its Monsters to the hand or deck...] Grim narrowed his eyes. [Without a doubt, this won't be an easy one, just like the Duel with Kismet.]
"When Normal Summoned, Mewfeuille's effect activates." Miss Mousse stated. "I can Special Summon one "Madolche" Monster from my hand. Appear, Madolche Messengelato!"
A Monster reminiscent of a postman appeared next, him having turquoise-colored hair, fair skin, wearing a brown suit under a Bordeaux-colored jacket and having a green bag over his shoulder, filled with letters.
Madolche Messengelato: Earth/Warrior/Effect/ATK: 1600/DEF: 1000/LV: 4
"When Special Summoned while I control a Beast-type "Madolche" Monster, I can activate Messengelato's effect." Miss Mousse said. "I add one "Madolche" Spell or Trap card from my deck to my hand. I choose Madolche Ticket and activate it, but I'll use its effects later on. Now, be prepared! Atashi no sākitto!"
A Link Portal appeared above her.
"The summoning conditions are two "Madolche" Monsters!" she shouted. "I set Mewfeuille and Messengelato in the Link Markers!"
Her two monsters turned into twisters of various sweets and entered the Link Portal, causing its markers to lit up. "Link Summon! Appear, Madolche Fresh Sistart!"
Emerging from the Link Portal was a young girl wearing a dress reminiscent of a nun. She gave a gentle smile and a bow with her head, standing in the Extra Monster Zone on her user's right.
Madolche Fresh Sistart: Earth/Fairy/Effect/ATK: 1500/Link 2: Bottom-Left, Bottom-Right
"Then, I activate the Field Spell card, Madolche Chateau!"
The area behind her took the shape of her Field Spell's artwork, a giant castle made entirely of delicious and eye captivating sweets. Seconds later, the area returned to normal.
"When activated, this card lets me shuffle all "Madolche" Monsters in my Graveyard into my deck," Miss Mousse explained, shuffling Mewfeuille and Messengelato from the GY into her deck. "At this moment, Ticket's effect activates! When a "Madolche" card or cards are returned from my field or Graveyard into my deck or hand, since I control a Fairy-type Madolche, I can Special Summon one Madolche from my deck in Attack Position! Appear, Madolche Cruffssant!"
Appearing next was a cute plush dog with small brown eyes, brown and vanilla fur, and wearing a small hat and bell around its neck appeared on her field, giving an adorable bark.
Madolche Cruffssant: Earth/Beast/Effect/ATK: 1500/DEF: 1200/LV: 3
"Her deck's specialty already, huh." Kioku clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Since I have no Monsters in my Graveyard, I can Special Summon this card! Appear, Madolche Petingcessoeur!"
Following her words, a young girl with fair skin, blonde hair, round eyes, and wearing an elegant dress appeared, twirling around with a hearty giggle.
Madolche Petingcessoeur: Earth/Fairy/Effect/ATK: 1400/DEF: 1400/LV: 4
"When Special Summoned, Petingcessoeur's effect activates!" Miss Mousse continued. "I can Special Summon another Madolche from my hand or deck and lower its Level by one! Appear, Madolche Puddingcess from the deck!"
A Monster which resembled a grown-up version of Petingcessoeur appeared with a smile.
Madolche Puddingcess: Earth/Fairy/Effect/ATK: 1000/DEF: 1000/LV: 5→4
"...Any idea when she'll end her turn?" Bloody Talker whispered.
[More than likely, not soon.] Grim remarked.
"I activate Cruffssant's effect!" Miss Mousse declared. "Once per turn, I can target one other "Madolche" card I control and return to my hand. By doing so, I raise Cruffssant's Level by one and its Attack by 300! Return, Petingcessoeur!"
The plush dog gave another bark, prompting the said Monster to pet it with an 'Aww...' before she vanished from the field.
(Madolche Cruffssant: Level 3→4, ATK 1500→1800)
[With that card back in her hand, she can Special Summon it again next turn...] Grim muttered.
"Now I Overlay the Level 4 Cruffssant and Puddingcess!" Miss Mouse told and a bolt of orange light erupted from her Duel Disk and shot behind her, conjuring an X-shaped portal with four red points at its sides.
"An Xyz Summon...?" Kioku narrowed his eyes.
"With these two Monsters, I build the Overlay Network!" she shouted as her Monsters exploded in orange particles and entered the red points on the left and right, causing them to glow. A red circle appeared behind the X, and it fired four beams from its edges that opened a swirling galaxy portal.
"Mind filled with great sapience! Appear before us as a holy guide! Xyz Summon!"
The galaxy exploded after the chant, and a stream of DNA appeared before breaking apart and taking the form of her Xyz Monster.
"Come, Rank 4! Madolche Teacher Glassoufle in defense mode!"
To reveal itself was a young woman with fair skin, tied up green hair, and wearing an elegant green dress. She gave a loud giggle upon entering the field under Fresh Sistart's Bottom-Left Marker, and two Overlay Units circled behind her.
Madolche Teacher Glassoufle: Earth/Fairy/Xyz/Effect/ATK: 1800/DEF: 2500/RK: 4
"Due to Fresh Sistart's effect, since there's a Madolche next to a zone it points to, "Madolche" Spell and Trap cards I control cannot be destroyed by card effects and neither player can target them with card effects." Miss Mousse revealed. "Moreover, due to Madolche Chateau, all Madolches I control gain 500 Attack and Defense!"
(Fresh Sistart: ATK 1500→2000; Teacher Glassoufle: ATK 1800→2300, DEF 2500→3000)
"I set one card face-down and end my turn!" Miss Mousse concluded. "Now, hit me with all your strength, Ketsueki Kioku and Bloody Talker!"
"That wish is like asking for a new day to come. Oretachi no turn!" Kioku yelled. "Draw! I normal summon Dragotron!"
The bipedal dragon with a muscular body, blue scales, and a light-blue jaw, neck, chest, and belly, having several cogs attached to its body, materialized on the field with a roar.
Dragotron: Normal/ATK 1800/DEF 200/LV: 4
"I activate Virus Handler's effect in my hand, targeting Dragotron with it!" Bloody Talker stated with a smirk. "By negating the targeted Cyberse's effects, if any, I can Special Summon this old friend from my hand! Come to me!"
Dragotron's body greyed as an evolved form of Virus Spreader appeared on the hacker's field. Its body stayed as the little, neon-purple cube with two glowing red eyes on one of its sides, but instead of having wires emerging from its back, it now had two silver rings floating on either side of its body, and in the middle of each was a blue crystal. The cute being gave a little "Vi-Vi" battle cry.
Virus Handler: Dark/Cyberse/Tuner/Effect/ATK: 200/DEF: 100/LV: 3
"Then I activate his effect!" Bloody Talker continued. "By targeting Dragotron, Virus Handler's Level becomes equal to the targeted Monster's, in this case four!"
The two rings detached from the Monster's body and positioned themselves above the stated Monsters' heads, and the crystals in them started glowing brightly.
(Virus Handler: Level 3→4)
Two Monsters of the same Level... Miss Mousse noted. An Xyz or Synchro Summon?
"I Overlay the Level 4 Dragotron and Virus Handler!" Kioku declared as the highlights on his jumpsuit started glowing a dark shade of blue and a bolt of blue light erupted from his Duel Disk and shot behind him, conjuring an X-shaped portal with four red points at its sides.
"With these two Monsters, I build the Overlay Network!" he shouted as his Monsters exploded in blue particles and entered the red points on the left and right, causing them to glow. A red circle appeared behind the X, and it fired four beams from its edges that opened a swirling galaxy portal.
"Magical being with superior intellect! Manifest here and now, by my side! Xyz Summon!"
The galaxy exploded after the chant, and a stream of DNA appeared before breaking apart and taking the form of his Xyz Monster.
"Rank 4! Steampunk Keyubi Fox!"
To reveal itself was the young woman with fair skin, long, black hair tied in two knotted rings with ribbons entwined in them, and wearing a Japanese fox mask, clothes that seemed a cross between steampunk-styled ones and a kimono. She gave a mischevious smirk upon entering the field on the Extra Monster Zone, and two Overlay Units circled behind her.
Steampunk Keyubi Fox: ATK 2400/DEF 2100/RK: 4
"I activate Keyubi Fox's effect!" Bloody Talker stated as one Overlay Unit vanished. "By detaching an Overlay Unit, I add one Level 4 or lower Cyberse Monster from my deck to my hand. I add Disk Driver, and now, I activate the Equip Spell Signal Disturbance, equipping it to Keyubi Fox!"
[When the equipped Cyberse battles an opponent's Link Monster, that Link Monster's effects are negated until the end of that battle, also, any of its effects cannot be activated after its destruction by that battle.] Grim stated for him.
"Battle!" Kioku exclaimed. "Keyubi Fox, attack Madolche Fresh Sistart! Due to Signal Disturbance's effect, your Link Monster's effects will be negated! Mystic Impact!"
The Xyz Monster waved her hands as two keyboard screens materialized in front of her. She started typing on both, summoning several spheres of energy around her that shot towards the Link Monster and hit her, making her vanish with Miss Mousse's avatar glitching a little.
Miss Mousse: LP 4000 - 400 = 3600
"With this, your Spell and Trap cards are defenseless, Azumaya-san!" Bloody Talker pointed out.
"Don't get too laid back!" she scolded him. "At this moment, I activate Teacher Glassoufle's effect! When a Madolche card or cards are sent to the Graveyard, only once a turn, I can shuffle up to two cards from the Graveyards into their owner's decks. I shuffle Fresh Sistart from mine and Dragotron, which was detached earlier, into yours!"
[Since some of our cards revolve around banishing Monsters from our Graveyard, that was a nice countermeasure and response.] Grim remarked.
"I set two cards face-down and end my turn." Kioku concluded with a frown.
"The change of an avatar means you're taking on a 'new' you, one that suffered adversity." Miss Mousse said. "After you lost at the Tower of Hanoi, you changed it, and after your Duel with Kismet, you did so again. That could be considered a symbol of your growth... however, it's a growth without a fruition!"
"Eh?" Bloody Talker raised an eyebrow, confused.
"Everyone fights, searching for the correct way to live their lives. But right now you..." Miss Mousse glared at him. "I can't see a clear goal in your fight. Bloody Talker is fighting to protect his family, but you, Ketsueki Kioku, are fighting to defeat your sister, not to save her!"
Kioku's eyebrows furrowed. "I see no delusion in my actions," he explained. "Erika-nee hates the Cyberse and Ignis because they are the bloom of our pain, the pain we had to endure during the Lost Incident that separated us. I have to show her she's wrong by defeating her. Or are you implying there's another way?"
"There's no point asking when you know the answer already. Atashi no turn!" Miss Mousse drew her card. "I activate Teacher Glassoufle's effect to detach an Overlay Unit and target itself. Now, for the rest of this turn, the targeted Madolche is unaffected by Monster Effects that aren't its own! At this moment, I activate Teacher Glassoufle's other effect, shuffling the detached Madolche Puddingcess from my Graveyard into my deck!"
[Shuffling that card back means she only runs one copy of it.] Grim noted.
"That's right. Now that I have no Monsters in my Graveyard, I can Special Summon Madolche Petingcessoeur from my hand! And since I Special Summoned it, I can activate its other effect to Special Summon Puddingcess from my deck and lower its Level!"
Following her words, Petingcessoeur and Puddingcess reappeared and held hands.
(Madolche Puddingcess: Level 5→4)
"And with two Monsters of the same Level...!" Bloody Talker gritted his teeth.
"I Overlay the Level 4 Petingcessoeur and Puddingcess!" Miss Mouse declared, ignoring Bloody Talker's 'I knew it!' shout. After summoning the X-shaped portal and opening a swirling galaxy portal, she chanted. "Mind filled with great potential! Become our mighty ruler! Xyz Summon!"
The galaxy exploded after the chant, and a stream of DNA appeared before breaking apart and taking the form of her Xyz Monster.
"Appear, Rank 4! Madolche Queen Tiaramisu!"
To reveal itself was a young woman with fair skin, silver hair with a crown on the top of her head, and wearing a royal brown and orange dress. She held a scepter tightly in her left hand and stood in the Extra Monster Zone, and two Overlay Units circled behind her.
Madolche Queen Tiaramisu: Earth/Fairy/Xyz/Effect/ATK: 2200/DEF: 2100/RK: 4
[That card is the archetype's Ace.] Grim remarked.
"I told you," Miss Mousse pointed a finger at the Origin. "I won't lower my guard or go easy on you. That's not in my style!"
"Yeah, we too." Kioku replied, surprising her. "When a Monster or Monsters are summoned, I can activate this Trap card! Behold, Torrential Tribute!"
"What!?" Miss Mousse gasped.
"All Monsters on the field are history!" Bloody Talker grinned wide. "Destroy everything!"
As the Trap card revealed itself, a torrent of water exploded from it, washing over the entire field before flooding off of the pillar's sides, leaving together with the Monsters that were on the field.
[You activated it at a good timing.] Grim praised his partner.
"This Trap was in the box Erika-nee sent me..." Kioku whispered as he sent the card to his GY.
Erika's actions might not be the most irenic and kindhearted out there, but there's one feeling that all actions have in common and cannot be overlooked: the love for her brother. Making Siegfried reveal Grim's existence to him, sending Grangadez's card and the box with his old cards to him, and so on, were are actions Erika did for him.
Her ways and reasons aren't condonable, but at the end of the day, she is my sister. Kioku thought. She's trying to help me and create a better world... and I will respond to her feelings by showing Erika-nee my own ways and reasons.
Honestly, you and she are too similar in some aspects. Bloody Talker chuckled in thought. Out loud, he said. "When a Cyberse Monster or Monsters on my field are destroyed by battle or an effect, I can Special Summon Disk Driver from my hand!"
After swiping the card onto his Duel Disk's energy blade, a new Monster appeared on his Middle Main Monster Zone. It was a male humanoid Monster clad in a black jumpsuit with white-glowing circuits and wearing a helmet with a black visor, and it rode a futuristic bike reminiscent to the ones used in the Tron franchise, and it had white-glowing circuits as well.
Disk Driver: Dark/Cyberse/Effect/ATK: 1100/DEF: 1200/LV: 4
"And this turn, Disk Driver cannot be destroyed by battle." Bloody Talker added with a chuckle.
"You destroyed my Monsters and raised a stronghold..." Miss Mousse let out a snort. "Don't underestimate my deck! I activate my set card, Xyz Reborn! This Trap card lets me target one Xyz Monster in my Graveyard and Special Summon it!"
"I won't let you. Counter Trap open!" Kioku declared. "Fail Safe Shatter! This negates and destroys your Trap card since I have two or more Cyberse Monsters in my Graveyard!"
A Counter Trap depicting four, red-glowing Link Markers of a Link Portal being fired at Encode Talker like bullets, with the latter using its shield to protect itself and causing it to crack under the attack, appeared and caused Xyz Reborn to exploded in particles of light.
"Useless! I activate the Spell Card Madolche Invitation from my hand!" a card showing Messengelato walking through a scary forest made of sweets and in search for Madolche Magileine appeared. "Because I have Madolche Chateau active, I can target one "Madolche" Monster in my Graveyard and Special Summon it in Defense Position! Come back, Queen Tiaramisu! And because of Chateau, its stats go up by 500 points!"
A GY Portal opened in front of her as the mentioned Xyz Monster emerged from it.
(Queen Tiaramisu: ATK 2200→2700, DEF 2100→2600)
[She went through a lot to get that card back.] Grim noted.
"She must have a plan for it..." Kioku narrowed his eyes.
"I activate a Monster Effect from my Extra Deck, targeting the Rank 4 Madolche Queen Tiaramisu for it! Using that single target, I rebuild the Overlay Network!" Miss Mousse exclaimed, shocking her opponents. After summoning the X-shaped portal and opening a swirling galaxy portal, she chanted. "Mind filled with developed potential and newfound power! Become a roar that breaks your kingdom's sadness! Direct Xyz Change!"
The galaxy exploded after the chant, and a stream of DNA appeared before breaking apart and taking the form of her Xyz Monster.
"Appear, Rank 5! Madolche Tiaramisu Dragon!"
To reveal itself was a long-necked, four-pedal dragon with brown scales and long eyelashes, signaling it was a female, two wide wings decorated with tied ribbons, short silver hair, and wearing orange clothing over its back reminiscent of Madolche Queen Tiaramisu's dress. The dragon stood in the Extra Monster Zone with its head raised high and ready to battle.
Madolche Tiaramisu Dragon: Earth/Fairy/Xyz/Effect/ATK: 2500/DEF: 1800/RK: 5
"The queen evolved into a dragon!" Bloody Talker said in awe.
"When summoned by its own effect and using Queen Tiaramisu to Xyz Change, Tiaramisu Dragon's effect activates, letting me target up to two "Madolche" Monsters in my Graveyard and attach them to it as Overlay Materials," Miss Mousse explained. "I target Teacher Glassoufle and Petingcessoeur for this effect! Moreover, Chateau will power it up by 500 Attack and Defense!"
A GY Portal opened on the ground, from which two glowing orbs flew out and started circling behind the dragon.
(Tiaramisu Dragon: ATK 2500→3000, DEF 1800→2300)
"Then, I activate Tiaramisu Dragon's effect, detaching the Petingcessoeur Overlay Unit for it!" Miss Mousse stated. "I shuffle two "Madolche" cards from my Graveyard into the deck and shuffle one card from my opponent's field or Graveyard to their deck, or two if Tiaramisu Dragon has Queen Tiaramisu attached to it as an Overlay Unit!"
[That's why she went through all that trouble to revive Queen Tiaramisu...] Grim realized.
"I shuffle Petingcessoeur and Puddingcess into my deck to use my dragon's effect!" Miss Mousse exclaimed. "But I activate Madolche Chateau's other effect, returning Petingcessoeur to my hand instead of shuffling it into the deck. Begone, Disk Driver and Keyubi Fox from the Graveyard!"
"I chain Disk Driver's Quick Effect!" Kioku declared. "When the effect of a Monster my opponent controls would affect this card, only once while Driver is face-up on the field, I can negate it!"
Tiaramisu Dragon started gathering golden energy in its mouth, but Disk Driver's circuits started glowing and caused the energy to vanish.
"In that case, I'll build a stronghold of my own! I activate Madolche Ticket's effect!" Miss Mousse pointed at the said card. "I will Special Summon Madolche Chouxvalier from my deck in Attack Position, and Chateau will power it up as well!"
Appearing on her field was a knight riding a cute, white plush horse with green fur and hooves. The knight was wearing a white outfit under a black jacket with a piano motif on its trims, a pirate-like hat, spiky yellow hair, and violet eyes. As the horse gave a loud cry, Chouxvalier drew its candy cane sword, ready to strike.
Madolche Chouxvalier: Earth/Warrior/Effect/ATK: 1700/DEF: 1300/LV: 4
(Chouxvalier: ATK 1700→2200, DEF 1300→1800)
"Both of my current Monsters share the effect to stop my opponent from attacking Madolches I control, apart from themselves. Since I control two such Monsters... you can't attack either one of them, meaning your attacks are sealed off!"
Bloody Talker whistled at Miss Mousse's words. "Well, that's not nice..."
"I set one card face-down and end my turn." she concluded. "Show me if you can break this defense."
I can feel an intense desire to safeguard Azumaya Jeanne from her "Madolche" Monsters... Kioku thought with a narrow of his eyes. And this is something that kept my attention piqued from the beginning of the Duel.
Even if a user can't feel their cards' emotions, that doesn't mean their cards can't have the desire to protect their user. Bloody Talker pointed out.
That's not what I meant. Kioku pointed out. Her Madolches aren't Cyberse-type Monsters... how can we feel their emotions then? Our Link Sense only allows us to do that with the Cyberse.
...Damn, you're right. Bloody Talker was surprised. This phenomenon didn't happen to me before... that must mean your presence is the key factor to this problem.
"Yeah. In any case, we have a Duel to finish! Oretachi no turn!" Kioku announced. "Draw! Because I have less than three cards in my hand, counting the one I'm about to activate, and I have a Cyberse Monster in my Graveyard, I can activate the Spell Card Treasure Cards of Mishap to draw until I have five cards in my hand. Next, I normal summon Steampunk Slinger!"
The male teen with fair skin, short, white hair, purple eyes, and wearing a purple-colored steampunk-style clothing with a black hat that had gold highlights, gold, medieval armor boots, black gloves, and he held a golden gun in his left hand appeared.
Steampunk Slinger: ATK 1800/DEF 800/LV: 4
"I activate his effect to change his Level to any number between 1 and 8; I choose 2! Shift Down!" Kioku stated as Slinger's Level dropped to 2. "Now that I control a Level 2 or lower Cyberse, I can Special Summon Lost in Loving Dreams - Pixiel from my hand!"
The latest version of Pixiel that had wings glowing with zigzagged green highlights and a more feminine body, with no facial features only the usual purple-glowing grin, appeared with a giggle.
Lost in Loving Dreams - Pixiel: ATK 100/DEF 100/LV: 1
"Ideyo, kage ni kakurete iru sākitto!"
(Translation: Come out! The Circuit hiding in the shadows!)
Following Bloody Talker's words, the accents all over his costume glowed their natural color and conjured a Link Portal above him.
"The summoning conditions are two Cyberse Monsters!" he shouted. "I set Steampunk Slinger and Pixiel in the Link Markers!"
His two monsters turned into twisters of purple and green wind and entered the Link Markers. "Link Summon! Soar! Cyberse Griffin!"
Flying out of the portal was the griffin creature with a silver-grey-colored body, its head, chest, legs, and parts of its tail encased in dark grey armor, had a vigorous red mane that started from its head and arrived to the end of its neck, a silver beak, a black-colored lion's tail with a sharp, red-colored edge, talons and eyes of the same color, and turquoise-feathered wings. The creature gave a loud cry, flying on the Extra Monster Zone on its user's right.
Cyberse Griffin: ATK 2000/Link 2: Bottom-Left, Bottom-Right
"Cyberse Griffin no kōka hatsudō!" Kioku declared. "Once per turn, by releasing a card that it points to, I can target one card in my opponent's Spell and Trap Zone and destroy it! I release Disk Driver to destroy your Field Spell!"
[And with that out of the picture, "Madolche" Monsters lose 500 Attack and Defense.] Grim added.
Disk Driver's body faded a little bit, making it look like a ghost before Griffin snapped its mouth over it and made it vanish. Griffin beat its wings, creating a twister which destroyed Madolche Chateau.
(Tiaramisu Dragon: ATK 3000→2500, DEF 2300→1800; Chouxvalier: ATK 2200→1700, DEF 1800→1300)
"Next, I banish Fail Safe Shatter from my Graveyard, targeting the face-up Chouxvalier with it." Kioku told. "Until the end of this turn, the targeted Monster has its effects negated!"
"Which means we're free to attack!" Bloody Talker grinned. "Battle! Cyberse Griffin, attack Madolche Tiaramisu Dragon if you may!"
The Link Monster started flying towards its target, but Tiaramisu Dragon fired a beam of golden energy from its mouth, piercing Cyberse Griffin's body and making it explode, the smoke washing over its user and making him grunt.
Bloody Talker: LP 4000 - 500 = 3500
"He let his own Monster be destroyed in combat...?" Miss Mousse's eyes widen. Why? He had Keyubi Fox in his Graveyard that could've given Griffin 700 Attack! she thought.
"Since the Cyberse Monster that used Pixiel as material was destroyed, I can draw a card. Then, Cyberse Griffin's other effect activates!" Bloody Talker shouted as the smoke cleared. "When destroyed by battle or leaves the field by an opponent's effect, I can target two Level 4 or lower Cyberse Monsters in my Graveyard and Special Summon them!"
[However, for the rest of this turn, only Cyberse can be Special Summoned from the Extra Deck.] Grim added.
"Revive, Disk Driver, Steampunk Slinger!" Kioku cried out and a GY Portal appeared, out of which the said Monsters emerged. "Ideyo, kage ni kakurete iru sākitto!"
Following his words, a large Link Portal materialized with the X-shaped portal behind it, which usually appears during an Xyz Summon.
"During the Battle Phase!?" Miss Mousse gasped.
"The summoning conditions are two Level 4 Cyberse Monsters with the same Attribute!" Kioku shouted and accents glowed a dark shade of blue. "I Overlay the Level 4 Disk Driver and Steampunk Slinger in the Link Markers!"
The two Monsters exploded in blue particles and entered the Bottom-Left and Bottom-Right Markers, causing them to glow red. A red circle appeared behind the X as it glowed as well, firing four beams from its edges into the Link Portal, conjuring a swirling galaxy-like portal.
"Never-dying creature born from humanity's mind! Arise from your ashes and show us the way! Xyz-Link Mirage Summon!"
The galaxy exploded after the chant, and a stream of DNA emerged from the Link Portal before breaking apart and taking a new form.
"Manifest, Cyberse Avenir Phoenix!"
To reveal itself was the phoenix covered in silver armor, while its head, chest, legs, and parts of its tail were dyed dark grey, had a golden beak, from which two horns extended and ran across its head, a tail was composed of numerous long, feather-styled metal colored black with sharp, red-colored edges, talons and eyes of the same color, and two, large, metal-feathered wings colored black like its tails were attached to its arms.
It gave a loud cry upon entering the field in the Extra Monster Zone, and two Overlay Units circled behind it.
Cyberse Avenir Phoenix: ATK 2000/Link 2: Bottom-Left, Bottom-Right
[This Monster can be summoned even during the Battle Phase.] Grim revealed with a smile.
"When Special Summoned by its own effect, Avenir Phoenix's effect activates!" Bloody Talker smirked. "I target Cyberse Griffin in my Graveyard and equip it to Avenir Phoenix with a new effect!"
The ghostly image of Cyberse Griffin materialized on the field before Avenir Phoenix snapped its mouth over it and made it vanish. The phoenix's wings and tails ignited to life, burning with crimson flames.
"The Monster equipped with Cyberse Griffin gains 1000 Attack." Kioku said. "Then, I banish Steampunk Keyubi Fox from my Graveyard to activate her other effect, targeting Avenir Phoenix to activate an effect as if it was Avenir Phoenix's own: until the End Phase, it gains 700 Attack!"
(Cyberse Avenir Phoenix: ATK 2000→3000→3700)
"He sacrificed Griffin to get its evolved form that's much stronger..." Miss Mousse realized her opponent's plan. 3700 Attack... even if he attacks both my Monsters, it won't be enough to bring my Life Points to 0, which means he has a card in his hand he can use to end this Duel.
"Battle!" Kioku pointed forward. "Cyberse Avenir Phoenix, attack Tiaramisu Dragon! Ra's Flames!"
The Xyz-Link Monster flew into the sky and spun around, causing its body to be enveloped in a crimson fire and skydived into the opposing dragon. Tiaramisu Dragon roared in pain as it was destroyed, with Miss Mousse's body glitching in pain.
Miss Mousse: LP 3600 - 1200 = 2400
"I end my Battle Phase, and activate Avenir Phoenix's effect!" Bloody Talker snapped his fingers. "At the end of my Battle Phase, if Cyberse Griffin is equipped to it, by detaching two Overlay Units, I am allowed to repeat my Battle Phase, but only Avenir Phoenix can attack!"
"Battle!" he and Kioku shouted in unison. "Cyberse Avenir Phoenix, attack Madolche Chouxvalier and end this! Ra's Flames!"
"Trap hatsudō! The Choice of Destiny!" Miss Mousse revealed her set card, one that depicted Warrior Dai Grepher having to choose between two paths, one bathed in darkness and the other in light, at the end of which were Dark Grepher and Lightray Grepher respectively with their backs to the first Grepher. "This card gives two choices to my opponent, and they have to choose one to apply."
[A choice...?] Grim echoed.
"The first one makes it so both players take damage equal to double the Attack of the Monster which was attacked and both players' Monsters will be destroyed by this battle," Miss Mousse explained. "The second option, on the other hand, negates this attack and both players will gain Life Points equal to the attacked Monster."
[A card like that now is useless...] Grim was evidently confused. [If we choose the first option, Miss Mousse will lose. It's obvious the first path is the correct one.]
"Yeah, but not in this case." Bloody Talker said. "This choice is Azumaya-san's test."
"This choice epitomizes the delusion in my actions?" Kioku inquired.
"That's right." Miss Mousse confirmed his words. "You have two choices: in the first, you win this Duel and I lose, but in the second, the Duel will continue and the winner will continue to remain unknown. This about it, Kioku, what do you really want? To just defeat your sister and prove eminence, or for the two of you to continue fighting together for a better future?"
"What future is there if Erika-nee hates my alter ego's family?" Kioku remarked. "Unless I prove my point to her, there is no future to run towards!"
"And who told you winning is the only way to prove a point!?" Miss Mousse raised her voice. "The future isn't set on stone yet! You can still change and make it be what you really want! Through Dueling, you can also express your feelings to the people around you. Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding each other! If you siblings really love each other, there's no way you cannot find common grounds!"
Kioku's eyes widen a little. Is that really true? Is that really possible? For her sister who was tormented in the Lost Incident to forgive the things that were born by their shared pain and suffering, to see them as allies- or better yet, as a family, without having to defeat her?
I think Azumaya-san is right... Bloody Talker told him. Enemies or allies are mere fixations we ascribe to others... I was able to forgive Ryoken and his Lieutenants even though they were part of the Knights of Hanoi, the cause of my Monsters' suffering during the Lost Incident and constant desire of vengeance afterwards. If Playmaker and I were able to forgive Ryoken... Erika can surely come to her senses.
The memory he saw during his Duel with Kismet flashed in his mind again.
"Kioku-nii, why do you keep using Dark-attribute Monsters?" Erika asked during a Duel between them.
"Eh...? I don't really know..." Kioku scratched his cheek. "Maybe... because seeing you use Light Monsters makes me use them."
"Me?"
"Yeah," Kioku chuckled at her confused face. "You are a very cute light, Erika-nee. But every light has a shadow to keep it company... so I will be your shadow!"
"Aww, thanks Kioku-nii..." Erika blushed a little. "It's good to know I have a shadow with me all the time..."
That's a title he gave himself. It wasn't asked for him to do it, or others gave him it, but it was a title he willingly declared... Just the light isn't enough. Without a shadow, how can anyone discern the light? It's Kioku's job- the shadow- to return to Erika's side- the light- and make see all that anger towards the Cyberse and Ignis are just fixations!
"...The path I choose to take-" Kioku smiled. "Is the second. The attack is negated and we both gain Chouxvalier's Attack as Life Points!"
Avenir Phoenix suddenly halted its assault at that command, and both Duelists were surrounded by a green glow.
Bloody Talker: LP 3500 + 1700 = 5200
Miss Mousse: LP 2400 + 1700 = 4100
[Kioku...] Grim muttered in surprise.
"Hmph, it seems you completed my test." Miss Mousse let out a rare smile herself. "There's no reason to continue the Duel now that you understood."
"Wait, please." Kioku said. "Could we continue regardless?"
"Hm? Why?"
"Today's Duel with Kismet was a really fun one... but we were both fighting at stakes in it," Kioku explained. "If it's possible, I would like to have another fun Duel in which no loser would suffer afterwards."
"And honestly, when will I Duel you in these conditions again, Azumaya-san?" Bloody Talker chuckled. "So, what do you say? Are you up for this fun Duel!?"
Grim folded his arms with a chuckle, liking his partner's childish request to have some fun. But who's he to judge? This could be the last Duel before the harsh ones that are to come for all they know. And his partner deserves some fun after all that happened in these days.
Miss Mousse was also bearing in mind these points, and she couldn't help herself but nod. "Very well. I accept the challenge, Kioku, Bloody Talker."
"I'm in your debt, Azumaya Jeanne. I set three cards from my hand and end my turn." Kioku concluded. "The last card in my hand is the one drawn by Pixiel's effect, therefore, I don't have to discard it because of Treasure Cards of Mishap."
(Cyberse Avenir Phoenix: ATK 3700→3000)
"Atashi no turn!" Miss Mousse drew her card. "I normal summon Madolche Butlerusk!"
To appear beside her knight was a butler dressed in an elegant, black suit that had a monocle on his right eye. Butlerusk gave a small bow to his user upon entering the fray.
Madolche Butlerusk: Earth/Spellcaster/Effect/ATK: 1500/DEF: 800/LV: 4
"When this card is Normal Summoned and I control another face-up "Madolche" Monster, I can activate its effect!" Miss Mousse stated. "I can add one Field Spell from the deck to my hand, and I choose Madolche Chateau, which I'll activate immediately!"
Butlerusk extracted a notebook from its suit, which he opened to reveal the mentioned Field Spell. It glowed brightly and vanished, causing the area behind his user to took the card's art for some seconds.
"Due to Chateau's effect, when activated, I have to shuffle all "Madolche" Monsters from my Graveyard into the deck," Miss Mousse explained, doing just that. "And with its second effect, all Madolches I control gain 500 Attack and Defense!"
(Chouxvalier: ATK 1700→2200, DEF 1300→1800; Butlerusk: ATK 1500→2000, DEF 800→1300)
"Now that I have no Monsters in my Graveyard, I can Special Summon Madolche Petingcessoeur from my hand again! And since I Special Summoned it, I can activate its other effect to Special Summon Puddingcess from my deck and lower its Level!"
Following her words, Petingcessoeur and Puddingcess reappeared for the second time.
(Madolche Puddingcess: Level 5→4)
Bloody Talker smirked. "Well, that's not good for us..." he whispered.
"Now, be prepared! Atashi no sākitto!" Miss Mousse conjured her Link Portal. "The summoning conditions are two "Madolche" Monsters! I set Chouxvalier and Butlerusk in the Link Markers!"
Her two monsters turned into twisters of various sweets and entered the Link Portal. "Link Summon! Appear again, Madolche Fresh Sistart!"
Emerging from the Link Portal was Fresh Sistart, standing in the Extra Monster Zone on her user's right with its 1500 ATK, that thanks to Chateau, became 2000.
"Next, I Overlay the Level 4 Petingcessoeur and Puddingcess!" Miss Mouse declared. "Xyz Summon! Appear, Rank 4! Madolche Queen Tiaramisu!"
The mighty queen also reappeared, standing under Fresh Sistart's Bottom-Left Marker with two Overlay Units circled behind her and in Attack Position.
(Queen Tiaramisu: ATK 2200→2700, DEF 2100→2600)
"I activate Queen Tiaramisu's effect, detaching the Petingcessoeur Overlay Unit for it!" Miss Mousse said. "I return my second Madolche Chateau and Madolche Invitation from the Graveyard to my deck and return two cards you control to your hand, them being Cyberse Avenir Phoenix and one of your Set cards!"
"I chain the Quick-Play Spell Card, Perfect Coat." Kioku revealed a different Set card. "By targeting the Cyberse-type Avenir Phoenix, it gains 500 Attack and is unaffected by other card effects this turn, meaning Queen Tiaramisu's effect won't affect it."
"But it will affect your set card." Miss Mousse pointed out as the selected Set card vanished.
[Since it's unaffected by other card effects, the equipped Cyberse Griffin's effect won't apply anymore, meaning Phoenix's Attack is lowered by 1000.] Grim said.
(Cyberse Avenir Phoenix: ATK 3000→3500→2500)
"I'm far from being done! I activate Tiaramisu Dragon's effect from my Extra Deck again, targeting the Rank 4 Queen Tiaramisu for it! Using that single target, I rebuild the Overlay Network!" Miss Mousse exclaimed. "Direct Xyz Change! Appear, Rank 5! Madolche Tiaramisu Dragon!"
Her Ace's dragon form reappeared under Fresh Sistart's Bottom-Left Marker in Attack Position.
"I use my dragon's first effect to attach Chouxvalier and Butlerusk from the Graveyard to it." Miss Mousse stated as her dragon's OVUs rose to 3. "Moreover, Chateau will power it up by 500 Attack and Defense!"
(Tiaramisu Dragon: ATK 2500→3000, DEF 1800→2300)
"Then, I activate Tiaramisu Dragon's effect, detaching the Chouxvalier Overlay Unit for it!" Miss Mousse continued. "I shuffle Chouxvalier into my deck and return Petingcessoeur from the Graveyard to my hand via Chateau's effect and shuffle your remaining Set card and Virus Handler from your Graveyard into your deck!"
Tiaramisu Dragon blasted a ray of golden energy from its mouth, striking Bloody Talker's Duel Disk and making it glow as the mentioned cards flew into his deck before it auto-shuffled.
"And what comes next is..."
"Madolche Ticket's effect!" she finished for Kioku. "When a "Madolche" card or cards are returned from my field or Graveyard into my deck or hand, since I control a Fairy-type Madolche, I can Special Summon one Madolche from my deck in Attack Position! Appear again, Chouxvalier!"
The said Monster reappeared on the field with a battle cry and in Attack Position, under Fresh Sistart's Bottom-Right Marker.
(Chouxvalier: ATK 1700→2200, DEF 1300→1800)
"Great... now our attacks are sealed off again..." Bloody Talker groaned.
"Battle!" Miss Mousse threw her hand forward. "Tiaramisu Dragon, attack Avenir Phoenix! Sweet Puissance!"
Her dragon unleashed another ray of golden energy from its mouth, piercing Avenir Phoenix's body and causing it to explode, with Kioku grunted by the pain.
Bloody Talker: LP 5200 - 500 = 4700
"This phoenix wasn't immortal, it seems..." he mused.
"Battle!" Miss Mousse shouted. "Fresh Sistart and Chouxvalier, direct attack!"
The Link Monster gave a happy face as she extracted a tart from the back of her dress (who knows how) and threw it in Bloody Talker's face with a loud 'splat'. The youth blinked with a grumpy face before shaking his head, making the tart's leftovers fall off his face.
Bloody Talker: LP 4700 - 2000 = 2700
While he was doing that, Chouxvalier raced across the field and made his horse kick the youth in the chest, sending him skidding backwards.
Bloody Talker: LP 2700 - 2200 = 500
[If it wasn't for The Choice of Destiny's effect to regain Life Points, we would've lost.] Grim pointed out.
"Yeah, Azumaya-san really is something." Bloody Talker agreed.
"I end my turn." Miss Mousse concluded. "Now, show me what you got!"
"That was my intent. Oretachi no turn!" Kioku announced. "Draw! I activate the Spell Card Pre-Preparation of Rites! Through its effect, I add one Ritual Spell Card and the Ritual Monster that's listed on it from my deck to my hand."
"Next, I activate the Spell Card Treasure Cards of Twilight," Bloody Talker explained. "By banishing the Dark Cyberse Griffin and the Light Avenir Phoenix, I draw two new cards! I activate the Equip Spell Cybenet Defrag, targeting Steampunk Slinger in my Graveyard and Special Summon him by equipping Defrag to him!"
A GY Portal opened as the mentioned Monster emerged from it.
"I activate Slinger's effect, changing his Level to 7! Shift Up!" Kioku declared. "Now... I activate this: Scarlet Ritual!"
His jumpsuit's highlights started glowing blue after those words, and in the air, the scarlet circle materialized with letters appearing seconds later inside of it, glowing with an eerie red.
"Using its effect, I sacrifice the Level 7 Slinger on my field!" Bloody Talker shouted as his Monster exploded in particles of red light which were sucked into the magic circle. "The contract has been made! The witch who wields the dark arts of sorcery inherits this soul! Ritual Summon! Appear now, Scarlet Witch!"
Emerging from the portal with her arms crossed was the female human with fair skin, red eyes, and lipstick of the same color, wearing a dark-red colored jumpsuit with glowing red energy lines over it, a cloak of the same color, and a helmet from which black, branch-shaped spikes emerged.
Scarlet Witch: ATK 2500/DEF 2000/LV: 7
[Scarlet Ritual's additional effect activates.] Grim stated. [After my partner successfully Ritual Summons, he can choose to activate one of two effects.]
"I choose the first one." Kioku told. "I raise the Attack of all Monsters on the field by 1000 and inflicting 400 damage to my opponent for each Monster on the field!"
The hands of Scarlet Witch glowed as she unleashed four beams of light at the Charisma Duelist, causing her to hiss by the pain.
(Scarlet Witch: ATK 2500→3500; Tiaramisu Dragon: ATK 3000→4000; Chouxvalier: ATK 2200→3200; Fresh Sistart: ATK 2000→3000)
Miss Mousse: LP 4100 - 1600 = 2500
"I activate the effect of Scarlet Witch!" Bloody Talker pointed at his opponent's dragon. "Once per turn, by sealing her from attacking this turn, I can take control of one Monster my opponent controls until the End Phase! Heinous Betrayal!"
The witch's eyes started glowing red as she made bizarre gestures with her hands until Tiaramisu Dragon's eyes turned completely red. The dragon flew over to the hacker's side.
"My Monster...!" Miss Mousse's eyes widen. "Now his attacks aren't sealed anymore..."
"Which means I can win!" Bloody Talker grinned. "By paying half of my Life Points, I activate Cybenet Defrag's effect in my Graveyard, equipping it to Slinger and reviving it! Then, I normal summon Relativity Synchron from my hand!"
Steampunk Slinger reappeared on the field, accompanied by the staple Tuner Monster.
Relativity Synchron: ATK 200/DEF 600/LV: 2
[And with his effect, Slinger's Level is changed to 6. Shift Up!] Grim announced.
The area's colors suddenly turned greyish as the accents of Bloody Talker's costume glowed a neon green.
"The Level 2 Relativity Synchron tunes the Level 6 Slinger!" he cried out. His two Monsters turned into pieces of data and took the form of two rings, one that was divided into six segments, while the other into two. They glowed before uniting into one to vanish in a bright flash.
"Now here, a new legend is born!" he chanted. "Become the mighty power that drives me to victory and to the future!"
Eight miniature rings materialized where the two rings were seconds ago, surrounded by numerous green cards. A bright beam shot past the six rings, from which the outline of his Monster emerged.
"Synchro Summon! Manifest yourself, Level 8! Relativity Worldline Dragon!"
The outline was filled to reveal the mechanical dragon made of dark-sand colored gear wheels with purple armor over them and neon-green energy circuits, whose body had a centaur theme. Connected to the dragon's long tail were two intertwined cogs, and on its head, two horns made of neon green energy glowed brightly, the same light covering its claws.
The dragon gave a loud roar as it landed in the Extra Monster Zone.
Relativity Worldline Dragon: ATK 2500/DEF 1900/LV: 8
"This situation..." Miss Mousse muttered. I lost... she thought but smiled nonetheless.
"The effects of Relativity Synchron activates." Kioku declared. "When I use it to perform a Synchro Summon, until the End Phase of that turn, Cyberse-type Synchro Monsters I control are unaffected by my opponent's card effects. After that, I activate Relativity Worldline Dragon's effect to banish itself from the field! Space Shatter!"
Worldline Dragon roared as the circuits over its body started glowing, to the point of blinding whoever watched it. As the glow vanished, the dragon was nowhere to be seen.
"At this moment, Worldline Dragon's additional effect activates!" Bloody Talker continued. "When this card is banished from my field, I can Special Summon him back and double his Attack Points until the End Phase! Reality Distortion!"
The space above the hacker shattered once again as Worldline Dragon leaped out of the crack, landing on the field and roaring at their opponent.
(Relativity Worldline Dragon: ATK 2500→5000)
"5000 Attack..." Miss Mousse whispered, impressed.
"Battle!" Bloody Talker cried out. "Tiaramisu Dragon, attack Chouxvalier! Sweet Puissance!"
The knight was destroyed under the dragon's ray of golden energy.
Miss Mousse: LP 2500 - 800 = 1700
[Alright, one more to go!] Grim cheered with a nod.
"Last Battle!" Kioku exclaimed. "Worldline Dragon, attack Fresh Sistart!"
The dragon opened its mouth wide as a jet-black stream of darkness was unleashed, washing over the Link Monster and Miss Mousse, who did nothing as she was defeated. As the stream vanished, it revealed the Charisma Duelist smiling with a happy expression.
Miss Mousse: LP 1700 - 2000 = 0
Winner: Bloody Talker!
"You've grown a lot..." she admitted, the remaining cards on the field vanishing. "From the kid I saw on the first day you've been presented to me... to the one standing in front of me today."
Much to everyone's shock, the orphanage owner couldn't hold back some tears. However, much to her surprise as well, Bloody Talker ran over to hug her.
"Thank you, Azumaya-san." he said with a sincere smile. "For being there in these years."
"I'm happy I was able to meet you." she chuckled, patting the youth on his back.
Bloody Talker took a step back, and Miss Mousse stared at him from head to toe. "Strange... seeing you like this, knowing who's behind this avatar... it's almost unreal. I am very proud to know you'll be OK out there in the wild, Bloody Talker."
[I will be watching over him, too.] Grim spoke up.
"I will, too." Kioku added.
"Good." Miss Mousse nodded. "Now, go on. Save your sister and become the family you want to be."
"Right!" Bloody Talker and Kioku said in unison...
In the meantime - ?
[I should've expected such a surreptitious measure from someone like you, Star Ark.]
"Aw, thank you~!"
[...Do you even know what 'surreptitious' means?]
"Of course, I've got the dictionary right here!"
Were Almark's cheery words to an unknown person on the other side of their call. The "Star Relic" being raised the large dictionary he was holding in hands as emphasis to what he just said, but frowned when saw the call's video having 'VOICE ONLY' on it.
"In any case-" Almark cleared his throat before resuming. "It should've been obvious I'd be keeping an eye on Daimon Adrian after his astonishing skills at fighting Overdrive Monsters. However, unlike me, you looked down on him at the start, which gave me a head-start to create a Barrier around Adrian-kun."
[Humph, matters not.] the person scoffed. [Daimon Adrian would've been a stepping stone for me either case, be it on my side or no one's.]
"While I admit that would've made things much more interesting... I simply couldn't allow it." Almark said, tapping the dictionary in his hands and causing it to vanish in particles of data. "Master Mirg wouldn't be happy, for an instance."
[Following that deceased God of yours, how typical.] the person scowled. [Will you ever change, Star Ark? We've lived enough in the shadows of Mirg and Ylil, it's time we, the Star Relics, start the true meaning of our existence.]
"Nah, I think I'll pass." Almark chuckled. "That would be too much trouble and boredom. Now, I wish you a horrible day, King! Bye-bye!"
Before King- and yes, the CEO of SOL Technology- could've replied, Almark hang up on him. The young man sighed in exasperation and took a seat at his table beside the window. Moments later, Ninlil started materializing behind him from data.
"Do you honestly think your Barrier will be enough to keep Star Chalice away?"
"Please, Ninlil, refer to Star Chalice with the name he so greedily gave himself." Almark scolded her. "And of course I don't. Contact Kaiba-kun and report the situation, if you may."
"Understood." Ninlil nodded before vanishing.
"King has been dealt with... I've finished reading all my books for the hundredth of times... there aren't new episodes of animes to watch... what to do, what to do~?" Almark sang to himself. He raised his head to stare at the ceiling for some minutes- until an idea finally came. "Of course! It's time I pay another visit to the little Kioku!"
Fan-made Cards/Skills:
Bloody Talker:
Virus Handler (Dark/Cyberse/Tuner/Effect/ATK: 200/DEF: 100/LV: 3)
Target 1 Cyberse monster you control: Negate its effects (if any), and if you do, Special Summon this card (from your hand). Once per turn, you can target 1 other monster you control: This card's Level becomes equal to that target's until the end of this turn. You can only activate each effect of "Virus Handler" once per turn.
Disk Driver (Dark/Cyberse/Effect/ATK: 1100/DEF: 1200/LV: 4)
When a Cyberse monster(s) on your field is destroyed by battle or a card effect: You can Special Summon this card from your hand, and if you do, it cannot be destroyed by battle this turn. When an effect of a monster your opponent controls is activated that would affect this card you control (Quick Effect): You can negate it. This effect can only be used once while this card is face-up on the field.
[Trivia: this card's name is based on a hard disk drive.]
Fail Safe Shatter
Counter Trap
When your opponent activates a Trap card while you have 2 or more Cyberse monsters in your GY: Negate the activation, and if you do, destroy that card. If you control a Link-4 or higher Link Monster, you can activate this card the turn it was set. Banish this card from your GY and target 1 face-up monster your opponent controls: Negate its effect until the end of this turn. You can only use 1 "Fail Safe Shatter" effect per turn, and only once that turn.
Miss Mousse:
Madolche Invitation
Normal Spell
Target 1 "Madolche" monster in your GY: Special Summon it in Defense Position. There must be a face-up "Madolche Chateau" on your field to activate and to resolve this effect. You can only activate 1 "Madolche Invitation" per turn.
Madolche Tiaramisu Dragon (Earth/Fairy/Xyz/Effect/ATK: 2500/DEF: 1800/RK: 5)
2 Level 5 "Madolche" monsters
You can also Xyz Summon this card by using a Rank 4 or lower "Madolche" Xyz Monster you control as the Xyz Material. (Xyz Materials attached to that monster also become Xyz Materials on this card.) You can only Special Summon 1 "Madolche Tiaramisu Dragon" per turn. When summoned this way by using "Madolche Queen Tiaramisu", you can target up to 2 "Madolche" monsters in your GY: Attach them to this card as Xyz Materials. Once per turn, you can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card: Shuffle 2 "Madolche" cards from your GY into the deck, and if you do, shuffle 1 card your opponent controls or in their GY into the deck. If "Madolche Queen Tiaramisu" is attached to this card, shuffle 2 instead of 1. Your opponent cannot target face-up "Madolche" monsters you control for attacks, except this card.
The Choice of Destiny
Normal Trap
When a monster you control is attacked: Your opponent chooses which effect to apply. You can only activate 1 "The Choice of Destiny" per turn.
- Both players take damage equal to double the ATK of the attacked monster, and both monsters will be destroyed by that battle.
- Negate the attack and both players gain LP equal to the ATK of the attacked monster.
With Kioku fully back on track, he, Bloody Talker, and Grim are ready to fight Lighting and his group! I'm so happy I got the idea to involve Jeanne a little more into the story as the 8th Charisma Duelist and a Madolche user (another deck I'm very fond of) and have her help Kioku out. A quick thank you to HunterHQ who suggested Jeanne's VR name, and is a reference to the dessert Mousse!
It seems King is a "Star Relic" just like Almark, as stated by Nina, Star Chalice to be precise. More will be revealed about this character as the story proceeds, but rest assured he isn't a good fellow.
Next chapter, you readers will have the honor to read Ryoken, SOL, Lily and Earth all in action. (which means the next chapter will have some nice plot in it!)
Windy vs. Soulburner ended with the latter's victory, not much to say there. Nice to see him learn Xyz and Windy getting what he deserved for hitting his partner with a damn car! Like, the two had a (somewhat) similar hairstyle and that's how Windy reacts!?
With that said, I'll see you all next time!
QOTC: What old school cards would you suggest to Kioku?