"Who are you?"
That is a question that we all must ask ourselves at one time or another. However, when that time comes is different for everyone.
I guess that time for me is right now.
As I stand in front of this Other Me, or as I'll call her, Lyra Musician, I can't help but feel that she does know me very well. After all, she's been able to counter my moves rather easily, but I can't help but feel like she's somewhat different…
This is strange…
And yet, I can't really say that this event is stranger than any other that I've had to deal with since I've been here.
But at this point in time… I can't say much, but I know what needs to be said…
DRAW!
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Chapter 54
… Persona…
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"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…
Time seemed to slow down as Rena placed her hands onto her dueling deck, taking a moment to look at the field in front of her. Currently, Rena held four cards in her hands, while the only thing she had on the field was her currently defending Neo Dragon (2000/1100). In life points, Rena was a head greatly… (RLP: 6000)
… But for field advantage, that went to Lyra Musician. With her two face down cards laying in front of her, Lyra Musician had her two Arch Elves, the Ranger (1800/2400) and the Soldier (1000/0 + 200/0), along with two Spell Counters on her Arch Elf Ranger. (LMLP: 4200)
But there was another twist to this duel… as their life points would disappear both duelists' would disappear as well. Thankfully, Rena only had to experience this up to her shins… but Lyra Musician had this up to her waist.
"Are you going to make a move?" Lyra asked crossing her arms over her chest. "Or should I consider this a forfeit?"
"Uh, no," Rena stated clicking the next card into her hand, as she held the card up to her eyes, the card's art making her eyes lit up. '… Hey… it's…'
This didn't go unnoticed by Lyra, 'Hmm… I wonder what she drew?'
"Now then, I switch Neo Dragon to attack mode!" Rena announced as the dragon awoke suddenly, a mad look appearing on its face as it slammed its tail into the ground. "And now… I may not be able to get past your Ranger, but I can take down your soldier! Neo Dragon!"
Just as the dragon was charging energy, Lyra snapped her fingers up, "Sorry to interrupt, but I activate the trap card, Aegis Guard!"
A single card popped out of Lyra's deck, making her spin it around to reveal a young orange haired elf, "My trap card allows me to discard one elf monster from my deck. And during the turn this card is activated, neither of us can declare an attack!"
A large shield crashed down in between both duelists, its main body blue with a red phoenix on it, its metallic sheen glowing brightly in the sun set's light. Both Rena and the Neo Dragon couldn't help but sweatdrop at the large shield. "F-Fine… I'll set a monster and end my turn!"
The shield almost practically dissolved into nothing as Lyra drew her next card, "So then, we will continue… Real 'Me'."
"Can you stop it with the 'Real Me' stuff?" Rena asked with a sweatdrop rolling down the side of her head.
"Nope!" Lyra simply replied looking at the newest card she drew, but then spun it around to reveal the card. "I activate the spell card, Coins from Heaven! Now, we draw till we hold six cards! And I get another Spell Counter to boot!"
Rena grimaced as both duelists began to draw their cards, mostly at the fact that another orb of light appeared around the Arch Elf Ranger, powering up the Arch Elf Soldier (1200/0 + 100/0). "And now… let's make this more interesting shall we? I'll release my Arch Elf Soldier…"
The small red headed elf just waved goodbye before transforming into a large orb of light that flew a little higher into the air. "Allowing me to advance summon the Arch Elf Sword Master in attack mode!"
The orb of light exploded in a fury of flames, flying about the air as a vicious form slowly stepped from the fire. As the flames died down, the form was revealed as a young vicious looking elf girl, her fiery red hair falling over the black and red armored dress, a heavy, thick, two-handed sword with many bolts popping from it was strapped on her back (2000/800).
"O-Okay," Rena muttered, knowing not to bring up the point that this elf warrior was weaker than her dragon… after all, she was proven wrong before.
"I know what you're thinking," Lyra giggled, shaking her head to make her brown hair fall in front of her visor for a few seconds. "For a tribute monster, she's not that strong..."
That got Lyra a large glare from the Sword Master, making the elf warrior draw her sword immediately (2000/800 + 600/0), "B-But, for each Spell Counter on the field, she gets two hundred attack points! Making her stronger than your dragon, so… without further ado!"
"Sword Master! Attack the Neo Dragon!"
Spinning the large blade over her head, the red haired Arch Elf leapt into the air with a loud battle cry shattering the silence that floated in the air. The Neo Dragon lifted its head up, only to receive a powerful slash through the dragon's head, making it screech out in pain before it shattered into millions of pixels. (RLP: 5400)
"Um…" Rena muttered fitting the Neo Dragon card into her duel disk's graveyard.
"And as much as I would love to use my Ranger's effect," Lyra admitted holding up two more of her five card hand, sliding them into her duel disk. "I have to use it during the main phase… so you're safe for now."
'I'm willing to bet that won't last long…' Rena thought slowly clicking the top card from her deck, giving her a full seven cards. "… So, I'll start off by releasing my own face down monster, in order to summon…"
The face down monster shattered into a million shards, flying high into the air as many branches began to snap and break, allowing a slightly muscular elf his sleek silver hair combed back as his black armored clothes clanked when he landed on the ground. And as the warrior stood up, he drew the two swords that were strapped to his back (2450/1600), "The Magical Swords Elf! And he may not be able to tackle your sword master… but your Arch Elf Ranger… She's another matter! And if she's gone, so will her three Spell Counters!"
The Ranger's normally calm eyes widened in shock as the Magical Swords Elf charged forward, spinning both swords in his hands as he came closer and closer to the Arch Elf.
"You'd think that wouldn't you?" Lyra asked pushing a button on her duel disk, "But I still have my three face down cards! I activate my trap card, Elf's Pure Magic!"
A large barrier appeared before the Arch Elf Ranger, catching the two powerful blades before they managed to strike her, however, two of the Spell Counter orbs shattered around her, making the Arch Elf Sword Master growl in protest (2600/800 – 400/0). "By removing two Spell Counters from my field, I can negate any attack against an elf monster!"
"Well… that makes an interesting trap card," Rena admitted rubbing the back of her head. "I'll just set a card face down, and end my turn."
'At least I managed to weaken her strongest monster so far…' Rena thought with a sweatdrop rolling down the side of her head.
"Now then," Lyra giggled pulling up the top card from her deck, and spinning it around a few times before she lifted up the newest card. "I think its time that we continued with our little match… I activate the spell card, Enemy Controller!"
Rena gasped as a large game controller appeared in front of Lyra, and immediately shot out to her Magical Swords Elf, surprising the magical warrior. However, that was when two orbs of magic, one around the Ranger and the other around the Sword Master (2200/800 + 400/0). "Not only does my spell make your monster take a knee in defense mode, but, thanks to my monsters' effects, they both gain a Spell Counter!"
"… Great…" Rena sighed loudly, lowering her head slightly.
"But now, I activate another trap card!" Lyra announced as three orbs of dark energy appeared around her. "My Pitch-Black Power Stone gives me three more Spell Counters… and you know what that means!"
With a powerful battle cry, the Arch Elf Sword Master drew her sword, ready to charge at a moment's notice (2600/800 + 600/0). Rena stepped back slightly from the sight of the powerful monster, "Y-Yikes!"
"So, I'll switch Ranger to attack mode," Lyra stated as the bow wielding elf stood up tall, her bow ready and aiming at the Magical Swords Elf, her eyes gleaming with revenge teaming from them. And that was when the Ranger unleashed a large arrow of light towards the Magical Swords Elf, "And now… Attack her Magical Swords Elf!"
"No!" Rena shouted snapping her duel disk to the side, causing a large barrier of light to appear in front of her. "I activate the trap card, Mirror Force!"
Lyra's eyes narrowed as the arrow struck the wall of light, her smile disappearing with a nasty scowl, "… You think putting up a barrier will help? Too bad that won't help! I activate my spell card, Spell Guard!"
Lyra's final face down card flipped up, revealing a young spellcaster kneeling behind a large glass-like barrier, "By removing three Spell Counters from my field, to negate your trap card and destroy it!"
Cracks began to web through the Mirror Force, making Rena step back just before the arrow shattered the glass barrier and flew directly into the surprise Magical Swords Elf's chest. After a few seconds, the sword wielding elf merely fell face first into the ground before he shattered into millions of pixels.
"Of course, since I played a spell card, both of my elves gain another Spell Counter," Lyra explained as the Arch Elf Sword Master growled (3000/800) since there was one less Spell Counter out on the field. "Of course… This isn't the time to say that… This is the time for the Arch Elf Sword Master to attack you directly!"
A large joyful smirk appeared on the sword wielding elf before she charged at Rena, spinning the large sword over her head. And with a loud battle cry, the Sword Master began to bring down the sword on Rena…
Until countless brown puffballs appeared in front of her, all of them with large dark blue eyes and green claws, taking the slash from a confused looking Arch Elf Sword Master. Even Lyra Musician was confused slightly, "W-What the heck?"
"I discarded my Kuriboh," Rena sighed lowering her head slightly. "Thank goodness I didn't update my deck since that incident."
"… So, you dodged the bullet… again," Lyra snarled with a nasty glare being shot at Rena. "Typical."
"Hey! I resent that!" Rena yelped clapping her hands together slightly. "When have I ever dodged the bullet?"
"Heh," Lyra snickered pushing up her light blue visor. "I'm so glad you asked that question… after all, isn't that the reason why you're here in the first place?"
That statement echoed through Rena's head.
And since Rena wasn't talking, Lyra merely continued with her little speech, "What's the matter? I thought I didn't know what I was talking about… But, here's the truth, you came to this school in hopes of getting a regular high school life, trying to actually become a regular high school student.
"But that didn't come to pass now did it?"
"S-Shut up…" Rena muttered taking a step back.
"Oh? But this is where it gets good," Lyra continued lifting her arms up slightly. "During your first year of high school, you were treated by dirt by everyone, just because you expressed yourself in a different manner. It's a story that can be seen in any high school teen drama now-a-days, everyday you hoped that it would get better…
"Too bad those hopes died in the long-run…"
"P-Please stop," Rena stuttered slowly sliding to her knees.
"And what do you do?" Lyra Musician asked as her two elves shrugged her shoulders in confusion. "Oh, that's right, you ran away from the problem, begging your father to give you the chance to come to the Duel Academia… and so when the time came, you were given that chance.
"But, even then you screwed up by showing up late for the academy entrance exams! Heck, if it wasn't for Ganryu being there, you wouldn't even be standing here at this moment!"
From his hiding spot, Ganryu couldn't help but lower his head slightly, knowing full well that this 'Lyra' character was right. '… From the way this is going, it looks like Big Boss made a big mistake here…'
"… You're right," Rena admitted with her hair covering her eyes. "… I due owe a lot to Ganryu… And maybe I did run away from everything…"
Tears began to fall from Rena's eyes, but as she snapped her head back up, her eyes only narrowed down with determination, "But! That's why I'm here now! After all I've been through… I, I know I can take anything!"
"… Big talk from someone on their knees," Lyra pointed out fanning another card up. "I'll set a card face down… and call it a turn."
Slowly Rena got to her feet, her hands reaching for her deck before she snapped off the top card, "… I'll show you! I won't kneel anymore!"
"It's easy to say that," Lyra chuckled darkly. "Doing it is another matter."
"I know… but that's why I'm trying!" Rena announced pulling up her next card. "And I'll show you by setting a monster face down on the field… and that's that!"
"Oh, you just keep making this so much, much more interesting!" Lyra shouted pulling up the next card into her hand. "And speaking of interesting, let's make this duel more interesting! I summon myself, Lyra Musician in attack mode!"
Lyra Musician smirked greatly as she stepped forward a guitar popping on her back (1400/1350, making Rena's eyes bug out slightly, "W-What the?!? You're a duel monster card?!"
"Not just any duel monster card!" Lyra corrected wagging her finger at Rena, a large smirk appearing on her face. "As you can see, I'm a unique monster that can combine with the duelist… But that's not important, now… Ranger! Attack her defense monster!"
With a quick pull, the Ranger unleashed a powerful arrow that flew directly into the face down monster, making it flip up into a small emerald half beast with cute large black eyes and pointy ears. As the arrow made the creature cry out before it shattered into millions of sparkling jewels (200/300).
"Now then… 'Real Me', its time we make this end so much faster," Lyra Musician mused as the Arch Elf Sword Master lifted her sword up into the air and Lyra drew her guitar. "Sword Master and I shall attack you directly!"
With two loud shouts, both Lyra Musician and the Arch Elf Sword Master leapt high into the air, both of them holding their weapons up high into the air…
… Not noticing that Rena had a large grin on her face, "I activate the effect of a monster you just destroyed! I remove Reflect Carbuncle from my graveyard…"
That's when the same emerald furred beast appeared on Rena's shoulder, rubbing up against her cheek making the red duelist blush slightly. Then both Rena and the Reflect Carbuncle turned towards the surprised Sword Master and Lyra Musician, "And since I have done so… all monsters on your field in attack mode get destroyed!"
"W-WHAT!?!" Lyra Musician shouted before the Reflect Carbuncle leapt high into the air, shattering like glass to unleash a powerful bolt of green light charging through the air, crashing into the Arch Elf Ranger, the Arch Elf Sword Master and Lyra Musician herself. "A-AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
The two elves shattered into millions of pixels as their duelist fell to the ground, her body surging with electricity with cackles popping all around her. Rena couldn't help but giggle at Lyra Musician splashing about on the ground, "Hee… Ha! Ha! Ha! I-I guess you shouldn't have summoned yourself! Ha!"
"S-Stop laughing at me…" Lyra growled, her body slightly smoking from the electrical trap she ran into.
"Hmm… you rank on me for being weak," Rena snickered slowly lifting up her next card up, her eyes turning at the card she had just drawn. "And when I get the advantage, you start to complain… And here I thought you were the 'Other Me'?"
Ganryu couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
"Well, I think its time I prove that there's only one of me!" Rena announced slapping the card she just drew onto her duel disk. "I summon Sylvarant Elf Swordsman in attack mode!"
As Rena called out his name, the light blonde haired elf appeared in front of her, his purple and black clothes billowing in the wind as he drew his sword (1000/1000) in front of him with a large smirk appearing on his face. "And I'll outfit him with a personal favorite weapon… Excalibur!"
A bright light erupted in front of the Sylvarant Elf Swordsman, making the young swordsman step backwards before he threw his sword to the side and reached into the light, pulling out the legendary sword and lifting it over his head, light raining over the field as his body began to bask in the same light (1000/1000 + 1000/0). "Attack Lyra Musician directly!"
Lyra's eyes widened from behind her visor when the elf appeared directly in front of her, and before the musical themed monster could comment, the legendary sword swept through her midsection, making Lyra scream out in pain as her body slowly began to disappear up to the heart emblem on her chest. (LMLP: 2200)
And with a satisfied grin, the Sylvarant Elf leapt back to Rena's field, spinning the legendary sword in his hand before he stabbed it into the ground in front of him. "Heh… How do you like me now?"
"… How could I have been careless…" Lyra spat out, narrowing her eyes at Rena. "Don't think for a second you've won this!"
"Well, I'll try anyway," Rena replied holding up two more cards from her hand, and immediately slid them into her duel disk. "Because like this duel, time will change everything, whether it's a building, a continent or even a person!"
"Nice try," Lyra announced snapping the top card from her deck. "But nothing changes just like that! It hasn't even been a year since you came to this academy, and you say that changed? Ha! Nothing changes just like that!"
With that, Lyra's face down card flipped up, making the ground turn over to the side, allowing an enraged Arch Elf Sword Master (2000/800 + 600/0), her strength increasing due to the fact that the Pitch Black Power Stone was still on the field. "And I'm going to make sure you get that through your head! I activate my Call of the Haunted trap…"
Without waiting for her duelist's command, the Arch Elf Sword Master leapt forward, slicing the surprised Sylvarant Elf in two, making the elf shatter directly backwards into Rena, "A-AH!" (RLP: 4800)
Holding up another card from her hand, Lyra couldn't help but smirk as Rena began to disappear up to her waist, "See what I mean? Even though you managed to come up with the advantage, I can turn this back to a stalemate! Cause now, I activate the spell card, Mystic Wok! So, bye bye Arch Elf Sword Master… And hello twenty-six hundred life points!"
The surprised elf turned towards Lyra, ready to smack the musical themed duelist down… only to disappear in a red mist that flew around Lyra Musician, returning her body back to where she was before Rena's most recent attack, "Ah… so refreshing." (LMLP: 4800)
'N-No… after all that hard work…' Rena thought lowering her head slightly, tears starting to form back on her eyes.
"And to end my turn, I'll set a monster face down," Lyra announced as the set monster appeared in front of her face up two trap cards. "So, show me what you can do… 'Real Me.'"
Taking a deep breath, Rena released a stress filled sigh, "Well… if you want me to knock you down… I'll be more than willing to give a hand in that!"
A large sweatdrop rolled down the side of Lyra and Ganryu's heads, '… I hope she meant that in another manner…'
"First, I'll activate the spell, Pot of Avarice!" Rena announced as five cards slid out of her duel disk's graveyard. Taking the cards, Rena began to shuffle her cards furiously before she slammed her deck back into her duel disk. "So by shuffling five of my monsters back into my deck… I'm allowed to draw two more cards!"
"I know how the card works," Lyra pointed out pointing to her head. "Remember, I am you in a sense, so I know how your cards work."
"Um… R-Right," Rena muttered tilting her head to the side slightly before she drew off her next two cards. "S-Sorry about that, a-anyway, I summon Edge Elf in attack mode!"
A dark orb appeared in front of Rena, shattering to allow the sleek dark elf with the two katana blades in his hands (1700/1300). "And I select himself! But that's not important! What is important is the trap card I'm activating, one that you used! Call of the Haunted! So, I'll special summon Obnoxious Celtic Guard in attack mode!"
And once more, the sword wielding green armored elf appeared on the field (1400/1200), his emerald eyes piercing at Lyra. "And now… Obnoxious Celtic Guard! Attack her face down monster!"
Pulling his sword back over his shoulder, the Celtic Guard charged towards the face down monster, stabbing the blade directly through the face down monster's back. The card form shattered away, revealing a small chibi elf girl, her purple hair falling around her cute face (300/500). The young girl cried tears as her purple wand shattered, with the rest of her following. "Heh… Nice try, but that was my Arch Elf Mage. And when destroyed in battle, I can special summon an elf from my deck with one thousand or less attack points!"
A single card popped out of Lyra's dueling deck, allowing her to slap it onto her duel disk, making it form into an exact duplicate of the same Arch Elf Mage (300/500). "And since she counts for it… I might as well summon another one."
"Well… Edge Elf!" Rena announced.
The sleek dark elf looked at the cute elf monster, and then turned towards Rena with a look that seemed to say '… Are you serious? I can't attack something that cute.'
And with a sweatdrop, Rena rubbed the back of her head, "Since did my monsters give me looks like that?"
From his hiding place, Ganryu shook his head.
With a grumble, the Edge Elf stomped towards the now in tears Arch Elf Mage, and with a nasty glare, the Edge Elf forced the smaller elf to run off into the woods.
Rena couldn't help but blink at the weird attack, "Um… Whatever works I guess…"
"True, but I still get to special summon another elf from my deck," Lyra announced holding up her next card to summon. "And the monster I choose is Arch Forest Elf!"
A large amount of leaves began to fly around the field in front of Lyra, thickening and thickening until the leaves scattered about to reveal the newest elf. This one a rash looking elf boy with wild orange hair that was held back with the green headband with horns attached to it. His small body was covered with green and black clothes and resting on his shoulder was a large battle axe (950/400).
"Well, I don't have any more monsters to attack with," Rena stated looking down at her remaining face down card. 'And I shouldn't have to worry, I've still got a few tricks up my sleeve…'
"So that leaves me with this!" Lyra announced pulling up her next card, and with a gleam in her eyes, Lyra pulled up one of the cards in her hand. "And I've got just the card combo! I activate the spell card, Mystic Tag!"
This spell card revealed the Arch Forest Elf blushing with a pink haired elf clinging to his chest, the real Arch Forest Elf grinned greatly before he vanished in a roll of leaves, "By removing one of the Arch Elf Mages from my graveyard, I can send my Forest Elf to the graveyard…"
That's when a pink heart popped on the field in front of Lyra Musician, shattering to reveal the very pink haired elf that was on the Mystic Tag spell card, she was even cuter in person than on the spell card, with her hair tied up in twin tails with flowers holding them up, and her cute frame was shown thanks to the black dancing clothes she had on her body (0/0). "In order to special summon the Arch Elf Dancer in attack mode!"
"B-But why did you want to get a zero point monster?" Rena asked tilting her head to the side as her two elf warriors did the same… both of which were starring at the cute elf girl in front of them.
"Heh, ironic to hear you say something like that," Lyra admitted placing a hand on her hip. "You use weak monsters all the time, but they have awesome effects. And my dancer here empowers all spellcasters, warriors, and beast-warriors on my field by four hundred points… and she's a spellcaster herself!"
Blowing a few kisses towards the opposing elves, the Arch Elf Dancer couldn't help but giggle at the two elves' reaction to the kiss (0/0 + 400/0).
"Uh, I get that it's a good effect," Rena admitted rubbing the back of her head. "But it's still not…"
"But I'm not done," Lyra stated sliding her next card into her duel disk. "I activate the spell card, Monster Reborn! And now, come on back Arch Elf Sword Master!"
A bright light erupted in front of Lyra, shattering to form back into the snarling red haired elf, spinning her sword over her head (2000/800 + 600/0 + 400/0). "And now… it's time to battle! Destroy the Edge Elf!"
With a sadistic grin, the Sword Master slid in front of the surprised Edge Elf, bringing down the large blade down on the Edge Elf. The dark elf brought up his two blades in a defensive stance, only to have the weapons break from the powerful slash, the blade cutting right through him until he shattered back into Rena's body. "A-AH!" (RLP: 3500)
And with that last attack, Rena's body began to disappear just under her small chest, and Lyra couldn't help but cackle slightly, "And with that… I'll end my turn!"
"Huh?" Rena questioned raising an eyebrow as she pulled up her next card. 'Why did she do that? Sure she still has her Elf's Pure Magic, but why would she want to waste her Spell Counters?'
Shaking her head, Rena looked at her next card, her eyes widening at the card art on it, '… Hey…'
"What's the matter?" Lyra asked twiddling some of her hair in her fingers. "A little over powered and you fall to your knees?"
"N-No!" Rena announced slapping the card onto her duel disk, "I summon Berserker Elf in attack mode!"
With a loud roar, the large, muscular dark skinned elf crashed onto the ground, his eyes narrowed down at Lyra's two elves, making the Arch Elf Dancer hide behind the annoyed Arch Elf Sword Master (2000/0). "And next, I'll activate the spell card, Magical Stone Excavation!"
Holding up two cards from her hand, Rena narrowed her eyes as one spell counter appeared around the Arch Elf Sword Master (3000/800 + 400/0) and the Berserker Elf, but that didn't last long as Rena pulled out a single card from her graveyard, "And this allows me to take Excalibur from my graveyard and into my hand!"
"Oh joy…" Lyra sighed shaking her head, not really caring where this was going.
"And now, I'll play the card I drew last turn," Rena announced as she slid her next card into her duel disk. "I activate Pot of Greed! Allowing me two free cards!"
"Yeah, yeah," Lyra muttered wagging a finger as another Spell Counter appeared on the Arch Elf Sword Master (3400/800 + 400/0) and Berserker Elf. "I played that card earlier remember? No need to tell me what it does."
"Yes, well… uh," Rena stated looking at her newest cards. 'Yes!'
Ganryu crossed his arms, '… Unbelievable…'
"Now then, I activate the spell card, Excalibur!" Rena announced as the legendary sword appeared in the Celtic Guard's hands (1400/1200 + 1400/0).
"Big deal!" Lyra shouted throwing her hand to the side as a third Spell Counter began to float around the Arch Elf Sword Master (3800/800 + 400/0) and the Berserker Elf for the third time this turn. "You're just making this easier and easier!"
"You'd think that now wouldn't you?" Rena asked wagging one of the newest cards she had drawn.
"W-What?" Lyra stuttered raising an eyebrow.
"I activate another spell card!" Rena announced fitting the newest card into her duel disk. "GO! Magical Drain!"
The Berserker Elf roared loudly, all of the Spell Counters on the field (including the two new ones) being sucked into his large mouth. Both of the Arch Elves' eyes widened (4600/800 – 2200/0). That's when the Berserker's body began to glow a bright gold, increasing his muscle mass (2000/0 + 1500/0), ripping the black overcoat on his body.
Lyra's eyes widened greatly as she stumbled backwards. "W-What the hell?!?"
"This spell card can only be activated when I have a Spellcaster on the field," Rena explained fitting the card into her graveyard. "I get to destroy all Spell Counters on the field and for every two, one Spellcaster on the field gains three hundred attack points until the end of the turn!"
"N-Nice…" Lyra gulped.
"Berserker Elf! Attack the Dancer!" Rena commanded as the large Berserker pulled its larger fist back, making the Arch Elf Dancer cry rivers of tears from her eyes.
Just as the Berserker Elf threw his fist, the Arch Elf Sword Master leapt in front of the Dancer, taking the powerful fist before shattering back into Lyra. (LMLP: 4350)
"Wait a minute!" Rena shouted throwing her hand into the air. "I was attacking your dancer!"
"Well too bad," Lyra growled as her Arch Elf Dancer stuck her tongue out at Rena. "As long as I have an Elf monster on the field, my Dancer can't be attacked…"
"… But you don't have any other elves out," Rena pointed out as the Obnoxious Celtic Guard lifted up Excalibur, making the Arch Elf Dancer cry tears again.
"Oh… R-Right," Lyra stated, realizing that her Elf's Pure Magic trap card was no longer of use with her Spell Counters now gone.
"Obnoxious Celtic Guard!" Rena shouted as the Guard stomped in front of the bawling Arch Elf Dancer.
However, instead of attacking, the Celtic Guard stabbed Excalibur into the ground, surprising the Arch Elf Dancer and Lyra at the same time. Even more surprising, the Celtic Guard knelt down in front of the cute young elf and took her small hand…
CAPU!
… and kissed her delicate hand, making a large blush appear on the Arch Elf Dancer's face, hearts appearing in her eyes until she ran off into the woods. Lyra couldn't help but sweatdrop at the weird way her monster was defeated… although, that still didn't stop her from disappearing up to her neck, leaving her head and arms floating in mid-air. (LMLP: 1950)
"And with that…" Rena stated as her Berserker Elf slowly began to turn back to normal (2000/0). "I end my turn!"
A few moments of silence filled the air as Lyra crossed her arms.
This made Rena blink a few times in confusion, "Um… you okay?"
Lyra didn't speak, instead, she did something that Rena didn't expect…
… She smiled…
And then silently, Lyra lifted up her duel disk and hand, slowly placing the latter on top of her deck, making both of the elves and cards on the forest field disappear.
"W-What?" Rena asked blinking as hers and Lyra Musician's bodies returned to normal. "You're giving up?"
Lyra Musician nodded, before a pink light engulfed her, "… That was a trial of the mind…" The light shattered, turning Lyra back into the 'Other Rena', her eyes now a calm green like the original's, "You see, everyday, people put on masks, whether its too much make up, wearing a style that a person isn't accustomed to, or even tries to become something they're not. You broke that mask…"
"I… I did?" Rena asked with a question mark as the 'Other Rena' slowly walked up to her.
"Yes…" The 'Other Rena' answered with a calm smile on her face, holding up a deck of duel monster cards, the very deck that she was using a few moments ago. "So congrats… You deserve this power and this skill… Use it wisely."
A little wary, Rena's hand reached for the deck… and then slowly took the cards from the smiling 'Other Rena', "I… I will…"
And with a soft smile, the 'Other Rena' began to disappear in soft pink light, leaving the slightly confused Rena standing in the woods with a puzzled look on her face, '… Well that was weird… but not any weirder than what I'm used to…'
From behind the tree, Ganryu started to walk away, pulling out a small cell phone from his pocket. And with a quick push of the button, Ganryu lifted the phone up to his ear. "… Yeah, it's me… And you were right."
"… I understand…"
0-0-0-0-0-0
Midnight…
The cold dead night swept over the small Atlantic Duel Academia Island, basking the island in darkness and a faint glow from the moon that pended perilously over the small body of land in the endless water. More specifically, at the port area, where the moon's light reflected off of the ocean's main body, a trio of shadowed figures stood tall on the docks, watching as a boat that was once in the distance slowly began to crept closer and closer on the surface of the salty water. Each one standing in silence with each second bringing the ship closer and closer…
"If the flame of the united souls points at your chest, is a resonance stronger than words being heard now?"
… Well, almost in silence…
"Tony! Turn off that racket!" Luntina hissed, her eyes glaring daggers at the Chess Loving duelist.
As the fast paced song continued onwards, Tony waved the source slightly in the air in front of him, revealing a small portable iPod that had a handsome gray haired man in a large white overcoat playing the tune on his dark purple guitar, "Look you said that since I agreed, I'd have to be here… but there's no reason to be bored for an entire hour."
"He's got a point there Luntina," Riko added tapping his foot along with the beat that was playing from the iPod's speakers. "It was a little boring to be out here."
"Yeesh, but did you have to play his music?" Luntina asked pointing towards the screen. "You know if Principal Wright hears that we'll have to deal with the family photos again and how this guy became such a success and how he's so proud of him…"
"I already checked," Tony replied before getting back to dancing to the music slightly. "The codger's already in dreamland. 'sides, what's wrong with listening to this guy?"
"Ugh… you have to ask that when we're about to meet the two reps from the Pacific Academy?" Luntina grumbled with a slap to her forehead, not noticing that the ship was a lot closer than it was a few moments ago. Luntina remembered what her contact from the Pacific Academy had told her about what had happened about roughly a year ago…
… Just before he became Kaiser of his academy…
"Forget it," Luntina sighed crossing her arms. "I need to tell you two a few things about these two guys."
"Like what?" Riko asked, raising an eyebrow as he tilted his head to the side. "Aren't they respectable duelists like us?"
"… I guess you could call them that," Luntina mumbled turning her head to the side slightly.
"Then there shouldn't be a problem," Riko stated.
"But these two aren't your typical duelists," Luntina stated getting an odd look from Tony.
"Oh right, that one guy… uh, wasn't he named after a car or something?" Tony asked turning the volume down on the iPod he had in his hands. "I forget… but didn't you say he was a little like me?"
"… Well… I'd say he's more like a perverted ladies man," Luntina sighed loudly lowering her head a bit lower. "He thinks he's god's gift to women… don't get me wrong he's a nice guy, but, not the sort of guy you'd want around girls for too long… trust me."
"Alright…" Riko muttered with a sweatdrop rolling down the side of his head, the boat slowly getting closer and closer to the dock. "Anything we should know about the other one?"
"… Don't… and I can't stress this enough," Luntina warned raising her hands up in a defensive stance, not noticing that the boat was quickly in the final docking procedures. "No matter what the situation… no matter what anyone might prompt… what ever you do, do not, and I repeat…
"DO NOT! CALL THE GUY…"
"YO!"
Luntina was interrupted, prompting both her and Tony to crane their heads up, both of them surprised to see that the boat was here so soon. But was more surprising was the fact that there was a young man leaning over the side of the boat, his slick black hair (with a few red highlights in it) billowed in the night's wind in perfect sync with the sky blue scarf he had wrapped around his neck. "LUNTINA!"
That's when the young man did something that Luntina and Tony didn't expect…
He jumped over the side of the boat!
"WHAT THE HELL!?!" Tony shouted watching the black and crimson haired young man glide though the air, his Obelisk Blue uniform flapping through the air as he got closer and closer to the concrete dock.
"Wait! What's going on?" Riko asked turning his head left and right.
"… Relax," Luntina sighed as the young man began to spin through the air, becoming nothing more than a blue and white blur in the midnight sky, dropping to the ground. "He always pulls crazy stunts like this."
Stopping his spin, the young man seemed to float in mid-air for a few seconds before he landed on the dock gracefully. "Have no fear! The Die Hard Kaiser, Mustang, is here!"
Tony couldn't help but have his jaw drop to the concrete, Riko had a few question marks popping over his head, and Luntina… well, she just had a large sweatdrop rolling down the side of her braided hair at this young duelist's proclamation. "… Still pulling the same stunts again Mustang?"
"Heh!" Mustang laughed loudly with a large goofy grin on his handsome face. "Admit it Luntina… you love me and my dramatic entrances, so stop denying it."
"… This guy is like me?" Tony questioned with a sad look on his face. "I am not this ridiculous!"
"Hey, hey, hey!" Mustang snarled with a pair of large flames appearing in his eyes as he glared at Tony. "Who ya calling ridiculous, Wooly?!"
Tony tugged on his wool cap slightly, before he narrowed his eyes right back at Mustang, "Well, if the bad styled scarf fits…"
"GRR!" Mustang and Tony snarled loudly at each other, both of them barring their sharp teeth at each other.
"Oh for the love of…" A rather rough yet strong voice snarled loudly, getting everyone's attentions. "Will you two please just shut up! My internal clock is already messed up, and I can't even get a decent nap on the ship!"
Everyone (save for Riko who only turned his head) turned their sights towards the ship, now having a staircase drawn to the dock. And on that staircase was a rather short, young man, his messy white hair slightly covering the top of his eyes while his short (yet sleek) body was covered with a large baggy blue uniform overcoat with longer sleeves that covered his hands.
The moment that he stepped off the staircase, the short young man crossed his arms at Mustang. "Besides… I agree with the wool capped guy, you're pretty ridiculous."
"This coming from a pip-squeak," Mustang cackled, getting a widened eyed look from Luntina.
A large blood vessel appeared on the side of the white haired teen's head, his dark eyes narrowing into pure white versions of themselves, "WHO ARE YOU CALLING AN ANT THAT YOU COULDN'T EVEN SEE WITH A MAGNIFYING GLASS?!?!"
"Um… Luntina…" Riko whispered leaning toward the Kaisaris, not knowing that the little guy was throwing a few punches at Mustang, only to have them miss only by an inch. "That Mustang guy didn't say anything like that…"
"Yeah… that was what I was going to warn you guys about," Rena sighed lowering her head slightly. "This guy, Cain Sonryu is a little, well… a little sensitive about his short height."
Cain's ears twitched slightly as he turned towards the three duelists, it was almost as if he could hear Luntina's comments from that distance. "HEY! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!? I'M NOT A MIDGET!"
"Cain… they didn't say anything of the sort," Mustang sighed shaking his head. "You're just being a little over dramatic…"
"DON'T… SAY… LITTLE!" Cain snarled loudly throwing his right arm to the side before he slammed his foot into the ground.
"Um… anyway, should we show these two to their rooms?" Riko suggested lifting his hand up to get some attention. "After all, it is midnight…"
"Good plan!" Mustang laughed loudly slapping Cain on the back, making the short duelist fall face first into the ground.
"URK!"
"I'll expect at least one of you to show us around the island tomorrow!" Mustang laughed noticing that some staff that was stationed at the dock began to take his and Cain's luggage. "After all… from the reports I heard, this islands supposed to have a mess of sweeties!"
Tony couldn't help but glare at the Die Hard Kaiser, and already his mind was thinking of ways to torture this duelist if he ever laid a hand on a certain Red, Elf Duelist…
"We would Mustang," Luntina chuckled helping the short duelist up to his feet. "But, Principal Wright would like it if you could help Tony, Riko, and myself greet the rest of the guests who are coming tomorrow…"
"… Someone mind explaining to me why we couldn't come until tomorrow?" Cain growled with a dulled look on his face.
Too bad Cain was ignored, mainly thanks to Mustang, "What?!? B-But… I wanted to meet that fan club for the hottest guys on the island that you told me about!"
Tony, Riko and Cain couldn't help but sweatdrop, none of them were aware of such a club's existence.
"Well too bad!" Luntina growled grabbing Mustang by the ear, making the young Kaiser howl in pain. "You're going to help, or lord help me I'll rip this ear right off!"
"N-NO!" Mustang shouted before Luntina began to pull the Die Hard Duelist away from the dock, making the sweatdrops on Riko, Tony and Cain's heads grow slightly bigger. "O-OW!"
Blinking at the short duelist, Tony lifted his hand up, "Uh, it's nice to meet you Mr. Sonryu… I'm Tony Havoc, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Cain raised an eyebrow, but then shook his head as he took the hand with his left hand, "Havoc, huh? Well, it's a pleasure to meet someone with some self-respect and decency to introduce themselves in a good manner."
"Right back at ya," Tony chuckled as Riko walked up.
"And I would also like to welcome you," Riko stated with a bow to Cain. "It's not everyday we get the Alchemic Duelist, winner of the Arch Isles tournament, to visit our island. I hope that I, Riko, can make your stay comfortable, just let me know."
"Heh, I get treated better here than at my home academy," Cain chuckled turning to the academy's main building. "… I think I might just enjoy my stay here for a while…"
0-0-0-0-0-0
Card Stats
Aegis Guard / Trap / Effect: Send one 'Elf' monster from your deck to the graveyard. During the turn this card is activated, neither player can declare an attack.
Image: Many shields guarding a small elf girl.
Arch Elf Sword Master / Fire / LV. 5 / ATK: 2000 / DEF: 800 / Warrior/Effect: Each time a spell card is activated, place one 'Spell Counter' on this card. For each 'Spell Counter' on the field, increase this card's attack and defense points by 200 points. When there are three or more 'Spell Counters' on this card, this card inflicts piercing damage
Description: A vicious red haired elf girl, with her long red hair falling over her armored black and red dress with a heavy, thick, two-handed sword with many bolts popping out from it.
Elf's Pure Magic / Continuous Trap / Effect: When your opponent declares an attack against a face up 'Elf' monster, by removing two 'Spell Counters' from your side of the field, you may negate that attack.
Image: A large barrier appearing around the Arch Elf Warlock.
Spell Guard / Instant Spell / Effect: This card can only be activated when your opponent activates a spell or trap card that would destroy a monster(s) on your side of the field. Remove three Spell Counters from your field to negate that card's activation and destroy it.
Image: A young spellcaster kneeling behind a large glass like barrier.
Lyra Musician / Wind / LV. 4 / ATK: 1400 / DEF: 1350 / Spellcaster/Effect: Once per turn, this card cannot be destroyed as a result of battle (Battle damage still applies).Description: A young girl with a blue visor covering her eyes, and her hair pulled back into a small tail, wearing 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
Arch Elf Mage /
Water / LV. 2 / ATK: 300 / DEF: 500 / Spellcaster/Effect: When
this card is destroyed as a result of battle, you may special summon
one 'Elf' monster from your deck with 1000 or less attack points
from your deck.
Description: A cute young purple haired elf
girl dressed in a lightly armored purple dress with a short wand in
her hands.
Arch Forest Elf / Earth / LV. 3 / ATK: 950 / DEF: 400 / Beast-Warrior/Effect: ???
Description: A rash looking young elf boy with wild orange hair wearing tight forest green clothes with horns popping out from his large green headband. At his back is a large green battle axe.
Mystic Tag / Instant Spell / Effect: This card can only be activated when you have a face up 'Arch Elf' monster on your field. Remove one 'Elf' or 'Celtic' monster from your graveyard. Send one face up 'Arch Elf' monster from your side of the field to your graveyard. You may special summon one level four or lower monster from your deck with the same attribute as the monster you sent to the graveyard.
Image: The Arch Forest Elf blushing with the Arch Elf Dancer clinging to his chest.
Arch Elf Dancer / Earth / LV. 3 / ATK: 0 / DEF: 0 / Spellcaster/Tuner: While there is a face up 'Elf' or 'Celtic' monster on the field, this card cannot be attacked. Increase the attack points of all Spellcaster, Warrior, and Beast-Warrior monsters on your side of the field by 400 points.
Description: A real cute pink haired elf girl, her hair tied up in twin tails with flowers on her hair and loose black clothing that shows her cute figure.
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Rena: Whoa…
Klein: I didn't think it was possible…
Leo: Hmm… interesting…
Ganryu: …
Yukiko: What in the world are you guys doing? We've got to work on the…
Cain: … Hmm…
Yukiko: Wow… who let the little kid in here?
Cain: -A large blood vessel appears on the side of his head-
Next time, with an elite here on the island, will this short-fused young duelist cause a stir?
Next time – Chapter 55: Big Things, Little Package
Cain: … That had better not be the title for next chapter… Grr…
