Tell me something…
Have you ever thought there were another you?
I'm not talking about a clone or an evil twin, what I'm referring to is a 'second self'. Like what Eternity Angelo was referring to earlier, about how everyone wears a mask over his or her face.
In psychology it's known as a persona, the appearance that one presents to the world. It isn't a pose or some intentional misrepresentation… but, it is the true self that someone has a mask over his or her face…
I don't know why I'm talking about this… but, I – I feel like…
I guess I'm just thinking about what happened with Eternity Angelo… I can't even remember what happened by I know that I defeated him. The same thing happened when I faced off against Dias…
W-What in the world is happening?
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"… So, what now?"
"Heh… from what I expect, that little missy is going to have a little trouble… but what I've given ya…you should be able to help her out."
"… Ugh, do I really have to help her?"
"Are you going to stop listening to me?"
"… I'm just asking."
"Heh, I didn't think you a curious mind."
"Curiosity has nothing to do with it. My story was stolen… by her. She'd be the last person I want to help."
"Ironic since you were the very reason she got into the academy."
"…"
"Cat got your tongue? I guess that was a little over the top. My apologies."
"…Whatever. What do you need me to do?"
"Remember, before Luke left, I entrusted something to you. After you do the deed, you're more than allowed to use it on yourself… that way, you'll be just as strong."
"Alright… what do I need to do?"
"Heh… you must…"
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Chapter 53
The Ultimate Foe
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"... Ah… Ah…"
Rena's eyes shot wide open… making her sit up straight up.
However, she couldn't help but notice that she wasn't in her room… she was sitting in a dark room that was lit up slightly with hundreds of candles… but that didn't starve the darkness away from Rena's body. Slowly standing up, Rena turned her head around to only see the darkness and candles.
"W-Where am I?" Rena asked taking a few steps forward through the darkness, her footsteps echoing through the dark room.
That's when a loud note echoed through the room, as if there was a song about to be played…
"Welcomes and salutations around…"
That's when all of the candles blew out, leaving Rena in the darkness. However, it only lasted for a mere second as a bright ring of light appeared in front of her, revealing that she wasn't alone in the room. "… So, welcome Rena-chan…"
Rena couldn't help but sweatdrop at the girl who stood in front of her, with a blue visor covering her eyes, and her brown hair pulled back into a small tail, the girl spun around with her outfit flowing slightly, which consisted of a light red sleeveless shirt and skirt with a small metallic heart covering her chest. She had long black sleeves and leggings that ended in red matching gloves and boots, while in her hands she held a light blue guitar… but it didn't have any strings on it, and yet she was able to play a few notes.
'… Nice style…' Rena thought raising an eyebrow. "Who in the world are you?"
The outrageously dressed girl stopped playing the music and smirked at Rena, "You don't remember? After all, I was the reason that you were able to defeat that masked freak, Eternity Angelo."
"… Huh?" Rena questioned with a few question marks appearing over her head. "You were? But I don't remember seeing someone dressed like that…"
With a slap to her head, the outrageously dressed girl groaned loudly, "… I suppose that's to be expected… after all, people don't tend to remember their dreams unless they are really memorable."
Rena Akira…
The outrageously dressed girl slowly walked towards Rena, her guitar slung over her back, "I wonder… are you even able to comprehend this sort of thing? What I am… what you are?"
Rena Akira…
"What… I am?" Rena questioned blinking a few times.
Rena Akira!
"Soon, the two of us will…" The outrageously dressed girl started…
"RENA AKIRA! PAY ATTENTION!"
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"AH!" Rena shouted, her head snapping upwards from her desk.
Professor Kryancelo sighed loudly as he stood over the now awake Rena, "… Good to have you join us Miss Akira," Walking away from a greatly embarrassed Rena, Kryancelo coughed loudly, "And since you're wide awake, I think its time we get back to class."
Walking back the front of the classroom, Kryancelo lifted up the book he had placed on the front desk, holding it in front of his face, "As for where we were on the Mask Deck strategy…"
BAM!
Kryancelo turned his head towards the door… or at least where the door was, and with a slap to his head, Kryancelo had all of his will power to make sure that he wouldn't strangle the headache that had caused the door to fly off the hinges.
"Good afternoon class!" Alan announced lowering his arms in the air while making all of the students who were seated in the room sweatdrop at the sight of their principal acting like this.
Sighing loudly, Kryancelo rolled his eyes at the principal, "… And what do we owe this honor to, Principal Wright?"
"Ah Prof. K," Alan mused tilting his head to the side. "… What are you doing here?"
"I TEACH THIS CLASS!" Kryancelo shouted with his eyes narrowed down at the whacky principal.
"Oh right," Alan chuckled rubbing the back of his head with his eyes closed. "Sorry about that… anyway, I'm here to tell you that your classes are canceled for the next two weeks…"
"YAY!!!"
Kryancelo's left eye couldn't help but twitch from the numerous cheers from his students, "And may I ask why you're cancelling my classes for two weeks?"
"Festival time!" Alan announced, getting even more cheers from students. "That's right, the festival is only a week away, and our academy was lucky enough to be chosen for this year!"
'…Oh joy…' Kryancelo thought with a slap to his forehead.
"And I need you to help with the festival's preparation," Alan explained with his arms crossed over his chest. That's when several students began to pack up their things… However, this didn't go unnoticed by Alan. "However, all students will still be required to come to class… after all, the students themselves need to be able to participate in the festival. But a few students who I talked to already in here are going to be coming with me when I leave."
Groans erupted through the room as Kryancelo gathered his books with a smile, 'Serves ya right… ya damn punks…'
"I saw that smirk Goth boy," Alan chuckled wagging his finger at Kryancelo.
"Damn it! I'm not a goth!" Kryancelo shouted with his eyes narrowed towards Alan.
"Language!" Alan sighed backwards with his eyes narrowed towards the scurrying away professor. And with another loud sigh, Alan turned his attention towards the students. "Anyway, as for you guys, I've got a few of you stationed in another classroom… but I do have someone to lead this class."
Turning towards the door, Alan motioned towards the door, "You can come in now…"
"Thanks sir!"
Rena's eyes widened at the sound of the voice, and with a slap to her forehead, she began to mutter under her breath, "Oh please… please don't let that be who I think it is…"
"So students," Alan continued as the young girl slowly walked into the room, her Ra Yellow uniform clinging to her petite body. "I'd like you all to meet your festival committee foreman… or fore-girl as it seems, Miss Yukino Armada!"
Indeed, it was the glasses wearing student that Rena had encountered only a day ago, and her Black Feather monsters almost crushing her easily. Rena slowly lowered her head down to the desk; there was a good chance that maybe Yukino wouldn't see her…
"Since Miss Armada was in a previous festival," Alan explained to the class as a small smile appeared on Yukino's face. "Her experience with events would prove valuable, as would be her ideas. But since she hasn't been here for long, I'd like to ask someone else to show her how we do things at this academy. So Yukino… Do you have any idea who you'd like to help you?"
'Well… at least I don't have to worry about her picking me,' Rena thought with a sigh of relief leaving her mouth as she slowly sat up straight…
… Big mistake…
As soon as Rena had lifted her head up, Yukino had instantly spotted her and narrowed her eyes, "Rena Akira!"
The entire class stepped back from that exclamation… however Alan just smiled with his gaze turning to Rena and then back to Yukino, "Ah! I see, you two know each other then… that'll make things much easier!"
"Wait, you're not going to suggest," Yukino gasped as realization struck her.
"Oh great…" Rena already knew where this was going.
"So, Yukino Armada and Rena Akira," Alan chuckled with his grin getting bigger and bigger with each passing second. "I hereby appoint you two as the heads of this class's festival committee! Your jobs are to come up with a classroom festivity, something fun… something cool… something to get students to come visit your classroom! So, work hard you two! And you too students!"
Everyone couldn't help but sweatdrop as Alan walked out of the room, his laughter echoing through the halls as a few of the students who were informed ahead of time of this followed him out.
And what remaining students could feel the tension rising in the air… mostly from Yukino who was glaring at Rena. '… It's official… I'm doomed.'
After a little more tension, Rena and Yukino stood in front of the classroom, Rena could the glare seeping from Yukino's glasses covered eyes, "… I'm sill going to get a straight answer out of you about Lord Riko…"
A large sweatdrop rolled down the side of Rena's head from that proclamation, only to grow when Yukino turned her head to the side at the rest of the students in the classroom with a warm smile, "But now then, what should we do for our class for the festival? If anyone has any suggestions, please write them down and we'll review them…"
The students in the room began to whisper amongst themselves, some of them actually writing the ideas down until a few volunteers brought up the papers at the front desk. Since Yukino was shooting Rena a rusty glare, Rena took the papers and read a few of the common events out loud, "Uh, l-let's see here… a class play, game booths, movie marathon…"
"They had the same things at the mainland academy," Yukino sighed as she wrote the ideas on the board behind her and Rena for everyone to see. "Sure they were a hit, but…"
"… Well, there are a few others," Rena stated looking at a few other pieces of paper, a small grimace appearing on her face along with a small blush. "But…"
"Well, what are they?" Yukino stated taking a look at the papers. "… Date café? Romance Roulette? Who came up with these two?"
In the back of the room, Klein couldn't help but get a low five from Van and then Rukia, all three of them sporting a smile on their faces while Koji groaned softly to himself.
Writing the ideas on the board, Yukino turned back to the class, "Alright… I've seen some joke ideas, but those take the cake."
Truthfully, if Yukino could get Lord Riko to participate in either of these two events… then there might be a good chance that she could…
A large blush crept on her face…
"So… we've got five ideas…" Rena muttered, a little worried about where this might lead. "Do we vote for one of these?"
"Uh, yeah," Yukino muttered through her daze of what might happen between her and Lord Riko.
Rena lowered her head slightly, "… I have a really bad feeling about this…"
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Meanwhile in the blue dorm…
"Ah, the festival!" Tony sighed with relief as a grand grin appeared on his face as he threw his backpack onto the large bed in the room. "A time for fun! A time of relaxation! And…"
Tony couldn't help but blush as a picture of him and Rena hugging each other popped into his mind, his Obelisk Blue jacket around her shoulders as their faces grew closer and closer, "And a time of romance!"
"Wow, how pathetic is that?"
Tony's eyes shot wide open as he turned towards the opened door to see Luntina leaning up against the doorframe with a large grin on her face, "W-What the hell!? How'd you get in here?!?"
"Heh, you left the door open," Luntina answered with an evil smirk as she closed the door behind her. "So, from that little speech, are you actually going to tell your feelings to her?"
"You better believe it!" Tony laughed sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his head with a blush creeping on his face. "And I've got a great idea as for how I'm going to proclaim it to the heavens and her!"
"Hmm… well, I don't know about that," Luntina stated with her hand on her chin. "I don't think that'll work."
"You haven't even heard what the plan is," Tony growled with a blood vessel appearing on his rugged face. "So what makes you think that it isn't going to work?"
"Because last time I checked," Luntina chuckled pushing some of her hair from her face. "Hell didn't freeze over."
Now that was just a rusty knife being plunged in Tony's back, and Luntina was slowly turning the blade.
"I'm just kidding," Luntina chuckled walking towards Tony. "Anyway, I'm here to get yours and Riko's help. We've got a couple of our guests arriving tonight… all the way from the Pacific Academy and I'd appreciate it if you and Riko would come greet them with me tonight."
"… The Pacific academy?" Tony questioned before he crossed his arms. "Oh! Is that one guy… that 'Die Hard Pain' in the ass coming?"
Luntina couldn't help but giggle slightly at the name, "Heh, yeah, you've got it… but he's not the only one to join us. He told me that he actually managed to talk one certain to join us for the festival. But because of some misfortune, not all of the Pacific Academy reps will be able to join."
"So they're just relying on two people from the Pacific?" Tony muttered raising an eyebrow.
"Pretty much," Luntina answered. "So, will you do it?"
"Hmm… Well, only if you can get this Die Hard guy to help me," Tony replied with his arms crossed. "From what you've told me… he's quite the romancer."
"… He wishes, but he knows how to smooth talk," Luntina admitted rubbing the back of her head. "So, I think he'd be willing to help you out Tony."
"Then I'm in," Tony replied with his arms crossed. "So, what time are we going to greet them?"
"… Midnight," Luntina answered bluntly.
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?" Tony shouted with his eyes widened. "Midnight?!? Why so late?!"
"Do you know how long it takes to get to get to here from the Pacific Academy?" Luntina asked with her eyes narrowed down towards Tony. "It always takes time to get here, and it's a nonstop trip. Besides, you said you'd join me… otherwise, you're on your own to get a certain brown haired Red student's affection."
"Grr… Fine!" Tony huffed with his arms crossed over his chest. "But, you have to promise he will help me!"
"No worries," Luntina replied before turning towards the door. "Now then… If you excuse me, I need go talk to Riko… he hasn't been himself for a while so I figured I'd see you first."
"… That's a nice thought," Tony sighed loudly lowering his head.
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Meanwhile, back with the classroom committee…
"… You've got to be kidding me," Rena muttered looking at the board where the votes had been tallied.
"Well, the people have spoken," Yukino replied with a grimace, although in her head, a small chibi version of herself began to pump her arms. 'First phase… Complete!'
The class had indeed spoken… and they all chose the Date Café!
'Yes!' Klein, Rukia and Van thought at the same time before slapping their hands together in victory.
"… So, how exactly are we supposed to do this?" Rena asked raising an eye at the Date Café idea. "Truth be told… I have no clue what a Date Café is…"
"Well… I don't either," Yukino replied with a few blinks. "Does anyone have any idea as to what we're supposed to do for a date café?"
"We do!" Rukia and Klein shouted at the same time, this time Van decided to stay out of this little scheme.
"Rukia, please tell me that this wasn't your idea…" Rena pleaded with a slap to her forehead.
BA-DUM!
It felt like Rena's head was splitting in two, making her rub her temples a few times, 'I… I really need to relax more…'
BA-DUM! BA-DUM!
"So then," Yukino announced with her arms crossed. "Since you two seem to have a grasp on what a 'Date Café' is, why don't you explain it to everyone else?"
"Not a problem!" Rukia and Klein announced jumping from their seats.
"You see," Klein stated holding up what appeared to be a thick manga book. "What we want to do is make a café that serves the regular drinks. However, we randomly pair up the guys and gals together at tables…"
"Oh, and the romance happens automatically?" Yukino continued, not noticing that Rena continued to hold her head, this time clutching it as if she was in pain.
"In a sense," Rukia responded rather quickly.
BA-DUM! BA-DUM! BA-DUM!
Rena's head felt like it had really split in two, and she couldn't take it any more…
… This was finally noticed by Yukino, who sent a suspicious look towards Rena, "Not that I care… but are you okay?"
"I… I…" Rena started…
Only to fall face first into the ground with a loud bam, making all of the students in the room stand up, even making Yukino step back slightly, "W-What the?!"
However, a certain gray haired student couldn't help but sigh and shake his head. He knew what he had to do… and he wasn't looking forward to it.
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When Rena opened her eyes, she realized she was back in that candle lit room, the darkness slowly starting to weed its way back around her body. "… Great… here I am again…"
Slowly the candles went out, the darkness sweeping over the room and around Rena's body…
"So, you've returned," a familiar musical voice sounded through the dark room as a large spotlight shone over the darkness, revealing the pink dressed girl from earlier. "Last time we were interrupted before we really got anywhere."
"Uh yeah," Rena muttered slowly standing up, dusting off her skirt slightly. "You really weren't making any sense last time."
"Well, then allow me to put it in words you can understand," The outrageously dressed girl replied slinging the guitar over her shoulder, making it fit over her back. "I am you, and you are I. One in the same, and yet different… like the two halves to a coin."
"I am, Lyra Musician."
"… I don't know how to respond to that," Rena replied with a sweatdrop rolling down the side of her head.
Lyra Musician sighed with a slap to her head, "Don't you get it? We're one in the same! I am you, and you are me!"
Rena just eyed this 'Lyra Musician' with a raised eyebrow.
"… Heh…" Lyra Musician scoffed to the side. "I can see that you're as dull as ever… turning your eyes away from the truth, but, this time… there is no way that we can…"
… Hey, wake up!
"What the?" Lyra Musician yelped with a slap of her head. "Oh, not again!"
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"AH!" Rena shouted sitting up in what appeared to be a bed in the medical office, she knew where she was since she did spend a week in here after that Twilight fiasco. The falling sun outside the window informed Rena that the remainder of the school day had passed, but the exact time was a mystery to her at the moment.
That's when the pain in her head struck again, there so many questions racing through her head, and her headache wasn't helping too much either. "Ugh… it feels like someone bashed a rock against my head…"
"… That tends to happen when you fall face first into the hard ground."
Rena's eyes snapped wide open as she turned her gaze over to the side to see Ganryu sitting in the corner with a small book in his hands, his eyes focused on the book and not her. "G-Ganryu? W-What are you doing here?"
Pulling his book down slightly, Ganryu's glare turned to Rena, "… Someone had to make sure you didn't swallow your tongue."
Truth be told, it was actually Ganryu who lifted Rena in his arms to take to the medical office. Unfortunately, someone had to stay with Rena during that time and since the rest of the class was busy with the festival and since Ganryu didn't want to get involved in that sort of crap…
"Um… how long was I out?" Rena asked blinking slightly.
"… Two… three hours tops," Ganryu answered coldly flipping the next page in his book.
"WHAT?" Rena gasped with a large blush appearing on her face.
Snapping his book shut, Ganryu sighed loudly.
"Oh, uh, sorry," Rena sheepishly chuckled the blush growing with each second. "I-I know that I annoy you when I get like that."
Ganryu didn't speak, rather he just place his book at the window (which unfortunately was opened, and the book fell out the window) and began to search his pockets.
"Hey, Ganryu…" Rena started rubbing the back of her head, not noticing that Ganryu had found what he was looking for and stood up. "Can I ask you a question?"
That's when something happened that Rena didn't expect, "… What is it?"
A little taken back, Rena didn't expect Ganryu to actually respond to that, so it took a few seconds for her to register that. "Uh, I haven't really had a chance to ask this… and this has been bugging me for quite some time now…"
"… Get on with it," Ganryu sighed holding up a small crystal like card, crushing it in his large grip, with the sound of breaking glass lightly echoing through the room. A small light blue aura warped around Ganryu's body before disappearing. 'This better be worth it… Big Boss…'
"G-Ganryu, w-why did you help me into the academy?" Rena asked her gaze turned to the side, so she couldn't see that Ganryu was slowly getting closer and closer. "A-And then you help me with Dias… then you visit me while I'm getting better… I-I don't under…"
Before Rena could continue, Ganryu's firm grip had grasped her by the chin, turning the young Elf Duelist's face towards the Samurai duelist's. Their eyes met, and Rena couldn't help but notice that Ganryu's cold grey eyes seemed to soften slightly, with a small tint of cobalt surrounding his irises.
Time seemed to slow to a snail's crawl… and yet the blush grew on Rena's face, as a tint of red began to show itself on Ganryu's face. Rena tried to speak, however, all she could mumble, "G-Ganryu…"
The blood in Ganryu's face seemed to overflow, his entire face blushing greatly although his eyes just looked straight into the pools of emerald that were Rena's. And then, slowly, Ganryu's face began to close the gap between his and Rena's.
She could feel Ganryu's body next to hers, his weight on the bed drawing her closer to him… so close she could feel his increasing body heat against Rena's bare arms. The two's breaths danced in between each others', until they both held their breaths.
The ticks and tocks of the clock that pended on the nearby wall seemed to halt as only a centimeter seemed to be the only obstacle between the two red students' faces…
Too be continued…
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Yep…
To be continued…
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…right now.
Ganryu's grip fell limp on the jaw line of Rena's face, he didn't need the strength at the moment. And when he leaned forward, the two teens' lips met…
Rena made no move to fight, only her eyes flickered with surprise and then softened as she closed them.
It was almost as if a cool blue aura of serenity flowed around the two young teens, the moments that they shared in their kiss seemed to last an eternity, and the aura seemed to die around Ganryu's body… and yet, he still didn't pull away from Rena.
This felt like a moment that could've lasted forever…
CLICK!
Until both teens broke their kiss to see Klein standing in the door way with a small digital camera in his hands, "Well, well, well, Rukia asked me to check up on you Rena… But I guess Ganryu's got you covered! Ha!"
That's when the calm serenity that had momentarily appeared in Ganryu's eyes disappeared, replaced by his usual cold demeanor and eyes of hatred. "You little… get back here you bastard!"
Klein just ran out of the room, laughing loudly, Ganryu giving chase afterwards with Klein shouting something about blackmail or whatever.
That just left Rena alone with her stupor, Rena slowly touched her lips as the blush on her face glowed a little brighter. "A… ah…"
W-Whatever the case, Rena needed to leave… and since she was feeling better for some reason.
As Rena gathered her things (which she thought that Ganryu brought when she collapsed), she failed to notice that there was a faint blue aura around her body.
'Heh…'
"Huh?" Rena questioned looking around, but she was the only one left in the infirmary. But with a shrug, Rena brushed it to the side and hastily ran out of the medical office to make sure she wouldn't faint again… this time from the unexpected kiss.
Meanwhile in the Blue Dorm again…
"AARRGH!" A certain chess playing duelist screamed loudly in pain.
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The sun was slowly disappearing over the ocean's horizon, but Rena didn't get a chance to see that, she had to get back to her dorm and in order to make sure that she didn't run into anyone to see her blush and ask her what had happened. 'I just hope that Rukia is still at that meeting…'
BA-DUM!
"Urk!" Rena yelped holding her head once more, the pain struck her head once more, making her fall to her knees in pain. "W-What is going on?!"
"I am you… You are I… Accept it!"
Rena fell to her knees, her fingers running through her hair as she fell to her knees, "W-What the?!"
Although she couldn't see it, the bright light blue aura surged around her body, slowly forming into a familiar aura like figure, slowly transforming, "… I don't know why…"
Rena's eyes widened as she stumbled around, her irises shrinking at the sight in front of her. "W-W-What in the world?!"
Standing in front of Rena… was Rena herself?!? The only differences were that the Other Rena was the fact that her brown hair was now black and her emerald eyes were now red. "… Why am I always the one faced with this sort of thing?"
"W-What?" Rena questioned slowly standing up, eyeing the Other Rena.
"When I came to this island," The Other Rena mused with her hands clasped and tears began to form around her eyes. "I just wanted a regular high school experience! But I have to face against psychos and crazy people! Why me!?"
The Other Rena then began to chuckle evilly flicking some hair from her eyes, "How pathetic are you?"
"E-Excuse me?!" Rena gasped taking a step back.
"You always act like you are nothign more than a sweet and innocent girl," the Other Rena sneered with her eyes narrowed down at Rena. "But in reality, you're just afraid… just like a fox. And when cornered, you'll lash out… but that's against your façade now isn't it?"
"W-What are you talking about?" Rena snapped throwing her arm to the side. "I… I just don't like violence! I would never do that!"
"Oh… is that a fact?" The Other Rena asked with a large smirk on her face. "Don't you remember with Dias?"
"So…now do you see my reasoning?"
"…That's your reason?" Rena asked with her hair covering her eyes.
"A mere shot for survival," Dias commented with a smug look on his face. "It's basically primitive nature actually. Everyone wants to survive when faced with death, willing to take any path to live on. This was the one way for me to thrive…and it's working so far!
"I haven't coughed blood all night, I haven't stuttered, and I managed to get my new health along with it! As you could see from my muscular physique."
"And what happens to the people who have lost?" Rena asked not looking up.
"Hmm…what does it matter?" Dias retorted wagging his finger towards Rena. "But if you must know…if the losers' bodies were absorbed, then they're in a limbo. However, like your friend Ganryu there, he's still technically alive but his mind is in limbo leaving his body nothing more than a vegetable."
"You're willing to make these people suffer…along with their families, just to survive?" Rena asked, her shoulders starting to shake.
"Of course…I told you earlier, humans are weak," Dias sighed in anger rubbing his temples. "We'll do anything to survive…it's in our hearts."
"That's enough!"
Everyone blinked in confusion as Rena stood up, her hair still covering her eyes. "What gives you…what gives you the right to do this!? Do you think you're better than everyone else, so much so that you could use them as sacrifices to save yourself?"
"Okay, now we're just going around in circles," Dias chuckled snapping his fingers over his other face down card.
"Dias…with all you've done, do you honestly think that you deserve a new chance at life?" Rena asked raising her head up, to show that her eyes were narrowed…
…but that wasn't what made Dias take a step back, it was the fact that her eyes were glowing slightly red. "You have no right! And I'll make sure that you won't get away with this scheme!"
"Words are c-cheap!" Dias stammered taking his ground back. "Action is where it's at!"
"Telling a person to die," The Other Rena chuckled shaking her head. "Does that really sound what a normal girl would say to person? He was only trying to live…"
"B-But…" Rena stammered taking another step backwards. "He… He hurt so many people…"
"That's looking over the point," the Other Rena replied as a bright light slowly began to flow over her body. "You still essentially told him to give up on life. So forgive me if I don't really take to your ideals."
"W-What do you know about me?!" Rena shouted throwing her arm to the side. "You're just talking gibberish!"
"… Gibberish?" the Other Rena chuckled as a metallic pink heart popped over her chest, slowly creating a light pink aura around her body. "You're still acting like a little girl… You can't even face against your true self! Even when I helped you against that masked idiot Eternity Angelo, I was the one who managed to finish him off!"
"B-But… But…" Rena stuttered until a bright pink light engulfed the Other Rena.
"Don't even try to deny it," The Other Rena replied through the bright pink light. "You're just some kid who can't even see the clues in front of your face… always holding your hand out to have someone help you!"
"Shut up!" Rena shouted stomping her foot into the ground. "You talk as though you are me! Well, I'll tell you something… I am myself… I am nothing like you!"
"Heh… Heh!" the Other Rena cackled as the pink aura shattered, this time revealing that her outfit had changed… forming into the very person that Rena saw in her dreams, Lyra Musician. "Yes, that's right! I'm not you… I've become something better, something stronger!"
That's when the guitar around Lyra Musician's back flew in front of her left arm, engulfed in a powerful light until it melded into a light blue duel disk, already loaded with a deck in it. "All that's left… is to erase the mistakes of the past." (LMLP: 8000)
"… You want to duel?" Rena asked reaching into her backpack, pulling out her own duel disk.
"This won't be like the other duels you've been in," Lyra Musician chuckled as she watched her deck shuffle itself in the deck slot. "I just hope your ready…"
A little scared, Rena shuffled her deck immediately into her duel disk, activating the device, "If I have to… I will!" (RLP: 8000)
"Duel!"
"I am the true self," Lyra Musician chuckled with her arms crossed over her chest. "For trying to think you're better than what you really are… you're pathetic!"
"Pathetic?!" Rena questioned before she snatched her sixth card. "You come out of no where in a weird outfit and you start talking me to that you're better than me!"
"Oh? You think you're strong?" Lyra Musician mused with a grin on her face. "Fine then… I'll just have to give you a good show."
"If I recall… It's my move!" Rena announced holding up her newly drawn card. "And I'll start by summoning Lunar Elf in attack mode!"
In a bright flash of purple light, the young green cloaked elf appeared on the field, her blond hair concealing the crescent moon mark on her forehead (1400/900), casting a glare towards Lyra Musician. "Next, I'll set a card face down… and leave it to you 'true self'!"
Lyra Musician couldn't help but smirk brightly at Rena, "Heh… you better be careful what you say to people… They might take offense…"
"Draw!"
Without even looking at the card, Lyra Musician slapped the card onto her duel disk, "And I'll show you my true strength… or, your true strength as it were. I summon Arch Elf Archer in attack mode!"
A green star appeared in front of Lyra Musician, popping into a young, chibi elf girl with shoulder length blond hair that was covered with a spiked bandana with a matching green tunic, armored gloves and boots. Lifting her hands up, a small green metallic bow appeared in her hands (500/300).
"Um… Okay?" Rena questioned, raising an eyebrow at the weird Elf.
"I can see you're unaware of this elf," Lyra Musician giggled wagging a finger. "They were added recently to the elf tribe… and there are more and more! But for now, I activate the spell card, Call to Arms!"
That's when the spell card appeared, revealing three Hero Kids leaping into action, making the Arch Elf Archer glow a bright green. "By selecting one warrior monster on my field with five hundred or less attack points, I can special summon all copies I have of my Arch Elf Archer to the field! But, I only have two in my deck total… so I get another Archer!"
A second green star popped over the field, transforming into a carbon copy of the original Arch Elf Archer appeared next to the original, making both elves wink at each other (500/300 x2).
"Unless you have Double Summon in your hand," Rena admitted rubbing the back of her head. "I don't get your move…"
"And here I thought you would at least pay attention in your classes," Lyra sighed shaking her head. "Otherwise, you would've at least waited till the move was over… you see, both of my elves can attack your life points directly!"
"W-What?!" Rena yelped as both of the Arch Elf Archers pulled back on their bows before taking two shots at Rena's feet, causing a surge of green energy to sweep over her body. "Ack!" (RLP: 7000)
"Hmm," Lyra Musician mused with her hand on her chin. "How does it feel?"
"T-That was weird," Rena admitted trying to catch her breath, it was like she just ran a ten mile jog.
"Well, going out of existence tends to do that," Lyra Musician pointed out with her finger gesturing towards Rena's feet.
"Huh?" Rena questioned lowering her gaze to her feet, her emerald eyes widening as she noticed that her feet had faded out of existence, how she was standing was a mystery to her. "WHAT THE!?!"
"I told you this duel would be one that you've never been in before," Lyra Musician explained wagging her finger before she fitted a card into her duel disk. "Every time you lose a thousand points, you'll slowly disappear… And when your life points drop to zero… well, I'll become you and have what remains of you as a small keepsake…"
"And… And does this apply to you as well?" Rena gulped raising her hands to her mouth in surprise.
"Of course," Lyra Musician replied pushing up the visor over her eyes. "But don't think that you'll even get a shot on my life points."
"We'll see about that," Rena stated pulling the top card from her deck slowly, turning the card over for her to see the card art. "I summon Mallet Elf in attack mode!"
Leaping from the trees above, the familiar hammer wielding elf appeared on the field (1200/900), spinning the large mallet over his head of red hair. "And since you left those two wide open…Mallet Elf! Attack…!"
"I activate my trap card!" Lyra Musician announced as her face down card flipped up, revealing several soldiers being lifted up into the air. "Zero Gravity activates and switches the modes of all monsters on the field!"
A powerful force of energy erupted over the field, making all four of the elves taking a knee to the ground. Rena couldn't help but blink at the monsters wondering if everyone was starting to use that card, "I… I end my turn."
"Aw… you're trying so hard," Lyra Musician cooed with a smile on her face as she drew her next card. "Tell you what… I'll make this next move go by fast, I summon Arch Elf Crossbowman!"
A large dark green star crashed in between the two Arch Elf Archers, forming into a fancily green dressed elf girl that resembled the Arch Elf Archers save that her clothing now consisted of a fancy emerald crown and cloak. Throwing her cloak up into the air, the newest elf revealed that she had a pair of green and gold crossbows in her hands (1200/600). "Next I'll switch my two Archers to attack mode… and have them attack you directly once more!"
Rena's eyes widened as she stepped to the side, barely dodging the other two arrow… but the rush of green energy that flowed from them crashed into her, making her moan in pain as her legs up to her knees disappeared. "N-No!" (RLP: 6000)
"And here's the real kicker," Lyra Musician giggled as the Arch Elf Crossbowman spun the two crossbows in her hand before taking aim. "My Arch Elf Crossbowman can attack twice! And guess where those attacks are going!"
Rena's eyes widened as the Arch Elf Crossbowman unleashed a furry of arrows directly into both of her elves, making them scream loudly before shattering into millions of pixels.
"How do you like that?" Lyra Musician asked with her arms thrown behind her back with a great smile on her face.
Rena slowly lifted her head up, her eyes slightly narrowed at Lyra Musician as her hand reached for her deck, "Actually… I do, since you destroyed my Lunar Elf, I can draw a card for every two stars on the monster that destroyed it! And since your monster was a level four, I can draw two cards!"
"Put on a good face if you want," Lyra Musician replied holding up two of the remaining four cards in her hand, and then slid them into her duel disk, making them appear behind her three small elves. "But you won't be able to keep that up for too much longer! Turn end!"
"Then you don't know me as much as you think you do!" Rena announced pulling up the seventh card into her hand. "And I'll start by activating my face down, L – Life Force!"
The face down card flipped up into a bright green L, transforming into the grinning Mallet Elf, slamming his mallet into the ground. "And he's back in action! But he won't be allow, I activate the effect of a monster card in my hand!"
Lyra Musician raised an eyebrow as Rena fitted another card into her hand. "By discarding one 'Elf' card from my hand I can special summon my Sonic Elf to the field!"
A powerful blast of wind erupted over the field as a beautiful black haired elf appeared on the field appeared, her black robe and dress flowing over her sleek body (800/200). "Since I special summoned her… I can now sacrifice both of my monsters in order to summon…"
Both elves nodded to each other before they leapt into the air, disappearing into a bright light. The light crashed down into the ground, transforming into a large and powerful silver armored dragon that roared loudly into the air as its body began to shine greatly (2000/1100). "Neo Dragon!"
"Uh…" Lyra Musician muttered with her gaze looking down at the two face down cards on her field. "That's a pretty impressive monster…"
"Well, I'm not going to risk attacking while you have those two face down cards," Rena stated before she held up another card from her four card hand. "I activate the spell card, Giant Trunade!"
Lyra's eyes widened as her two face down cards popped back into her hand, leaving her three elves to fend for themselves. 'Well, well, well… Let's see what you've really got, 'Real' Me.'
"And you're not the only one with a few special monster effects," Rena replied throwing her hand up towards the three Arch Elves. "My dragon has the ability to attack all monsters on your field!"
Lyra's eyes widened greatly, but before she could protest, the Neo Dragon unleashed a powerful surge of silver energy crashed into all three of her Arch Elves, making them scream loudly until they disappeared in the light. (LMLP: 4200)
After the dragon roared loudly, Rena couldn't help but notice that Lyra Musician's legs had disappeared up to her waist… how she was standing was beyond Rena. "Heh… Not a bad shot… 'Real' Me…"
"I may not have any clue what might be going on," Rena stated holding up a single card up before she slid it into her duel disk. "But, if you intend to make me disappear… I won't go down without a fight!"
"Well, at least you're putting up a decent fight," Lyra admitted reaching for her deck. "Draw!"
However just before Lyra drew her next card the Neo Dragon slammed its head to the ground… and began to sleep? Lyra raised an eyebrow and was about to ask, before Rena raised her hand up, "Um, yeah, my Dragon shifts to defense mode after he attacks…"
Lyra admitted with a sweatdrop rolling down the side of her head as a few 'Z's began to float over the Neo Dragon's head. "I-I see…"
Unknown to the two dueling, a familiar silver haired young man watched the duel from behind his perch in the trees besides the two girls.
"Heh, too bad this duel is about to get even harder!" Lyra announced snapping up another card into her hand. "Because, thanks to you, I can activate the spell card Elemental Life!"
Lyra's newest spell card appeared on the field, forming into a picture of a large elf with a large ax slung over his shoulder, standing guard in front of a tree. "You see, this spell card makes it so by removing two Elf cards in my graveyard with the same Attribute, I can normal summon another monster from my hand with the same attribute. So, I'll remove my Arch Elf Archer and Arch Elf Crossbowman from my graveyard."
As the two cards popped out of her graveyard slot, Lyra slapped another one of her four cards onto her duel disk. "And that allows me to summon out Arch Elf Ranger!"
This time a powerful green light crashed into the ground, forming into a serious looking white haired elf woman, her sleek body dressed in a short leaf green dress with her hair falling past her thighs with a large armored bow in her hands (1800/2400). The young elf woman couched down with her bow covering her chest. "When summoned, my elf goes to defense mode. And she has other abilities…"
Rena couldn't help but look at the new elf… she had to admit that these elves were pretty cool and seemed to have unique abilities so far. But her train of thought was interrupted as Lyra lifted up another card from her hand, "But that'll soon be revealed! I activate the card I just drew, Pot of Greed!"
As the giggling green pot appeared on the field, Lyra pulled off the top two cards from her deck… but Rena was more concerned with the green orb that was slowly floating around the Arch Elf Ranger's body. "Uh… What is that?"
"Heh, it's a Spell Counter," Lyra explained with a grin as she looked at her two newest cards. "Whenever a spell card is activated, my Elf gets one. And she'll get another because I'm activating the spell card, Double Summon!"
Indeed, a second Spell Counter floated around the Arch Elf Ranger as Lyra's spell card emerged on the field. "And now, I can normal summon a second time this turn! And I summon… Arch Elf Soldier!"
A red flame popped onto the field, shattering to form into a young, chibi elf girl with her tied back red hair dressed in rather revealing yellow and iron armor. With a battle cry, the elf girl spun a large bladed spear in her hands (1000/0 + 200/0). "And my soldier has a powerful ability, for each Spell Counter on the field, she gains one hundred attack points!"
Rena lifted up her duel disk in a defensive manner, "W-Well…"
"Meaning it'll be easier for her to beat your dragon!" Lyra announced throwing her hand to the side, prompting the fiery chibi elf girl to charge towards the sleeping dragon.
"Or it would if I didn't activate my trap card!" Rena announced as her face down card flipped up, creating a powerful vortex between the chibi elf girl and the Neo Dragon, forcing the elf girl skidding backwards. "Negate Attack… well… that just explains what it does right there…"
"Hmm…" Lyra growled under her breath as she fitted the last two cards into her duel disk, making them appear behind her two elves. "… Turn end! Show me… 'Real Me'! Show me that I'm wrong!"
"V-Very well," Rena muttered slowly reaching for her deck…
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Card Stats
Arch Elf Archer / Wind / LV. 2 / ATK: 500 / DEF: 300 / Warrior/Effect: This card is considered as a Spellcaster monster in addition to a Warrior type monster. This card can attack your opponent's life points directly.
Description: A young, chibi, elf girl with shoulder length blond hair covered with a green spiked bandana with a matching green tunic, armored gloves and boots. In her hands is a metallic, green bow with an arrow armed on it.
Arch Elf Crossbowman / Wind / LV. 4 / ATK: 1200 / DEF: 600 / Spellcaster/Effect: This card can attack twice during the battle phase.
Description: A fancily green, dressed elf girl wearing a fancy emerald crown with a large green cloak while wielding dual green crossbows with yellow armor on it.
Sonic Elf / Wind / LV. 3 / ATK: 800 / DEF: 200 / Spellcaster/Effect: By discarding one card from your hand with 'Elf' or 'Half-Elf' in its name from your hand, you may special summon this card from your hand. When this card is normal or special summoned, double the amount of Spell Counters on all cards on the field.
Description: A young elf girl with long black hair that goes past her black robes with a beautiful white dress underneath
Neo Dragon / Dark / LV. 7 / ATK: 2000 / DEF: 1100 / Dragon/Effect: This card may attack all of your opponent's monsters (this monster cannot attack your opponent directly after doing this). During the end phase this monster attacks, switch this monster to defense mode.
Description: A large black dragon in silver armor covering it's body with a pointed horn on it's head.
Elemental Life / Spell / Effect: Remove two 'Elf' monsters from your graveyard with the same attribute. You may then normal summon one monster from your hand with an attribute that is the same as the two removed monsters.
Image: A large elf with a large axe on his shoulder standing guard in front of a tree.
Arch Elf Ranger / Wind / LV. 6 / ATK: 1800 / DEF: 2400 / Spellcaster/Effect: When this card is summoned, switch this card to defense mode. Each time a spell card is activated, place one 'Spell Counter' on this card. While this card is in defense mode, during your main phase, by removing two 'Spell Counters' from your side of the field, this card can attack your opponent's life points directly this turn (all battle damage done by this effect is cut in half.)
Description: A serious looking white haired elf woman wearing a short leaf green dress with her hair falling past her thighs with a large armored bow in her hands.
Arch Elf Soldier / Fire / LV. 2 / ATK: 1000 / DEF: 0 / Warrior/Effect: For each 'Spell Counter' on the field, increase this card's attack points by 100 points.
Description: A young, chibi elf girl with tied back red hair dressed in rather revealing yellow and iron armor with a large bladed spear.
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Rena: Man, this is one weird duel…
Lyra Musician: Well, when you face against yourself, what do you expect?
Rena: Why exactly are you doing this?
(From the Shadows) Ganryu: 'Is this what you had in mind…?'
Rena: W-Well… Bring it on!
Luntina: Let's get away from that… We actually get to meet the two reps from the Pacific tonight!
Rena: W-What?! But I'm in a crisis here!
Luntina: The world doesn't revolve around you…
Tony: My world does Rena…
Watch out for the next chapter!
Chapter 54: … Persona…
Rena: … Why is it named that?
