Inevitable Collision
Avice's POV
So, I and Oni have been following the signal that my Duel Disk was leading us to. We walked through some… unsafe areas, fortunately without getting into any trouble. The Commoners' area looked as bad a ghetto (not a surprise if you know your lore) but at least there were a lot of Security Officers patrolling the streets and keeping people safe. And by people, I mean myself and Oni, since we were the only ones who didn't wear clothes stolen from a dumpster.
But I know, I know. We aren't here to talk about how the poor ones dress, are we? After about half an hour of walking, we reached the place where the signal was originating from – an abandoned church! But no, no, no. It's not just in the church. No, it's on top of the Bell tower – the tallest part of the building. Why must the McGuffins always be located on places where you have to actively question your own sanity for trying to get your hands on some time you don't even know what you need it for?
Usually, I wouldn't have a problem doing dangerous stuns like this, as an anime character, I should be able to save myself, right? But no. After I saw what happened to Oni because of me, I can't risk putting her through any more dangerous situations. Even if I could save myself, I'm no longer sure how well I can protect Oni. Maybe I should ask someone from around here to help me get that thing down? But what am I going to tell them? Something like: 'Excuse me mister, but my McGuffin got stuck on top of the Bell tower of that church, would you please get it for me'? What an idiotic situation I got myself into.
"What are we going to do now, Nee-chan?" Oni looked at me with a curious expression.
"I'm not sure," I shrugged. "If I knew where the off button of this thing was, I would just shut it off and mark the location to visit it later."
"Do you think that Nee-chan and Nii-chan are going to come here as well?" I wanted to facepalm for not thinking about this.
Since all three of our Duel Disks were Tracers edition (yes, that's what I'm calling them), if Evan and Elizabeth were nearby, they must have gotten the same annoying alarm and should be heading toward this location. Hopefully. I didn't have anything else to do, so I took Oni by the hand and went to an old bench. We were going to sit down here and wait for about half an hour, if no one showed up, we would continue moving on our own.
"You've gotten way more cautious that you used to be." I heard Sola's voice telling me. "Such behavior isn't fitting for my companion."
I shook my head, ignoring her voice. It wasn't like she cared all that much about me or Oni. But wasn't the same true about the rest of my cards? I always felt some sort of special bond between me and them, but it wasn't until that incident in Standard, when my body started to transform, that I felt their true feelings. I sensed such an intense urge for destruction radiating from my deck and it scared me. Yeah, it scared me, the person who would sit down and watch this fake world burn without flinching; so you could probably imagine how strong that urge for destruction must have been.
"Ignoring me now, are you?" I could see Sola's spirit floating next to me with her arms crossed. "Fine, but I'm not going to reduce myself to your level, and instead, I'm going to tell you that I can sense my sister's presence within the vicinity. She's approaching from the East."
She had to be referring to Sina, which meant that Elizabeth was coming. That confirms that at least she was within proximity of the McGuffin and you got no idea how reassuring that was for me. I never thought that it would happen, but being away from Elizabeth for just two days had made me miss her so much.
As I thought that, I saw her approaching the church. She had her back turned to us and didn't seem to notice our presence, but she wasn't alone either. Yuzu and Yugo were with her, the former was without his D-Wheel either, which was a surprise.
"You won't find a safe route to the top," I told them.
"Avice! Oni!" Elizabeth shouted, running over to us and hugging us. Heh, it seemed that she had missed me as well. "I was hoping to find you two here. Where's your brother?"
"He… hasn't shown up." I rubbed the back of my neck. "I actually haven't seen him since we departed. He might not even be within the signal's radius."
"I swear, if I get my hands on Reiji," Elizabeth muttered.
She had a point. Reiji could have at least warned us that our Duel Disks didn't have exact locations placed in and that we could appear at random locations. That way we could have prepared ourselves better and things wouldn't have gone as badly as they did.
"I'm happy to see you, sis." I smiled. "You don't know how happy I'm to see you again."
Elizabeth looked at me almost shocked, and I can't blame her. I'm aware that I've treated her badly, not just as my older sister, but as a human being in general. Maybe more shocking is that now when I think about it, she never retaliated. I could insult her, ignore her, and she would always be there to help me out when I needed a hand, without asking for even a 'Thank you'.
"I know." She just smiled at me.
"Great family reunion and all, but is that all we came here for?" Yugo asked.
"Don't say that!" Yuzu hit him in the stomach and Elizabeth chuckled.
"So, the signal is coming from the top of the church?" Elizabeth looked at me, and I nodded. "I'm surprised that you haven't tried to climb it yet."
"I… Let's say that in the last two days I learned that my actions have consequences and that I had to be a lot more responsible," I responded.
"You are under arrest!" Are you fucking kidding me?
I turned around and saw two guys in black uniforms with helmets covering their heads, and activated Duel Disks running toward us.
"Shit!" Yugo cursed. "We have to run!"
I didn't even try to ask what was going on, we all just turned in a random direction to try and get out of this mess, but suddenly three more of these officers jumped in front of us and activated their Duel Disks. The church was behind our backs, and these men had us surrounded all sides.
"I knew that this was a trap." Yuzu sighed. "But how did they find us?"
"It doesn't matter." Yugo gritted his teeth. "These guys aren't like the rest. They are the Special Force Unit. There are rumors that they answer directly to the head of Security. No one has seen them, or at least no one who has managed to escape."
"Then how do you know that this is them?" I asked him.
"They match the description in the rumors," Yugo replied. "They are the best of the best, I don't think that even I could stand a chance against them."
"Silence!" One of the officers shouted. "We have orders to arrest you! Come peacefully, or we'll be required to use force."
I looked toward Elizabeth to see what she was thinking about this. She did the same, looking me in the eyes for a moment, then gave me a nod.
"If we fight, we might have some chance to get out of here," I whispered to Yuzu and Yugo.
"I don't want to stir trouble, but this seems to be our only course of action." Yuzu nodded. "We can't allow ourselves to be arrested now."
"We're so dead." Yugo gulped before taking out his own Duel Disk.
"Sorry, but it seems that we won't be coming peacefully after all," Elizabeth replied, activating her Duel Disk, with the rest of us following after her.
"Field Spell: Cross-Over!" An automatic voice spoke out as blue sphere-shaped platforms formed around us. So that was what the portable Action Field looked like, huh?
"DUEL!" We all shouted, drawing our first five cards.
『Elizabeth, LP: 4000 Hand: 5 & Yuzu, LP: 4000 Hand: 5 & Yugo, LP: 4000 Hand: 5 & Oni, LP: 4000 Hand: 5 & Avice, LP: 4000 Hand: 5 (VS) Special Force Unit 1 - 5 LP: 4000 Hand: 5』
"I'll take the first turn!" One of these clowns stepped forward. "I activate the Field Spell, Spider's Web!"
The Special Ops guy raised his Duel Disk and a small glowing orb shot out of it. The orb fell on the ground and then exploded, shooting web all over the place I head the others screaming and covered my face with both hands as the web flew at me and got stuck to my legs.
"What the hell?" I tried to raise my leg, but it wouldn't budge.
"What's going on?" "I can't move!" I heard Yuzu and Elizabeth shout out respectively while Yugo just glared at the Special Ops.
"That's going to make sure that you don't get the funny idea to try and run away." The guy told us. "I'll now Normal Summon Recon Spider (Lv.3, ATK: 0) and activate its effect! By sending Spider Carrier from my Deck to the Graveyard, I can change Recon Spider to Defense Position."
A Spider deck? I have never heard of that before, but since his first monster's ability was to change itself to Defense Position, and it didn't have any attack power, I'll take it that this is a defensive deck.
"I'll then activate Insect Imitation! This Spell lets me tribute Recon Spider to Special Summon an Insect Monster that's one level higher from my Deck! Come out, Ground Spider (Lv.4, DEF: 1500)!" The little spider disappeared and on its place appeared a greyish spider with a single eye. "I'll then activate the Continuous Spell – Spiders' Lair! I choose Ground Spider for its effect, and now, whenever one of your monsters battles Ground Spider, it will be changed to Defense Position after the battle, without the ability to change back to attack position!"
Due to Spider Web, any monster that attacks will be changed to Defense Position and due to Spiders' Lair, the same will happen when a monster battles with the targeted monster. In other words, even if we somehow got rid of one card, the other's effect will still apply the same effect on our monsters. The best that could be done is for someone to destroy Spiders' Lair since its effect will keep our monsters down permanently.
"I'll then set a card face-down and end my turn." The officer finished. "It's your turn now!"
"If it's not a problem for the rest of you, I want to be the first one to fight." Elizabeth looked toward the rest of us.
"Of course!" Yuzu nodded. "We're counting on you!"
"Show them what you got, Sis." I smiled at her.
"Thanks!" Elizabeth faced the officers and placed her fingers on the top of her deck. "It's my turn now! I draw!"
『Turn 2 [Elizabeth] LP: 4000, Hand: 6』
"I Normal Summon Grand Garden Weeny Berry!" A young girl with dark blue hair and pink eyes appeared on Elizabeth's field. The monster was wearing a red dress, which would curve at her waist to make the bottom half that covered her legs look like a sphere. Something that resembled a coat of arms was tattooed on her left cheek, while a pair of daggers with red orbs on the end of their handles acted as her weapons of choice.
Grand Garden Weeny Berry
Level: 2/Attribute: EARTH/Type: Spellcaster/Effect
ATK: 100/DEF: 100
Effect: You can discard up to 2 cards: Special Summon "Grand Garden Weeny Berry" from your hand and/or Deck up to the number of cards discarded, and if you do, for the rest of this turn you cannot Special Summon monsters, except Spellcaster-Type monsters. Once per turn, you can reduce the ATK of all monsters your opponent control by 200 for every "Grand Garden Weeny Berry" on the field. Those changes last until the end of the next turn.
"I activate Weeny Berry's effect to discard one card and Special Summon one Weeny Berry from my Deck!" The second copy of Elizabeth's monster appeared on the field, crossing its wand with the first one. "And then I activate the Continuous Spell – Grand Garden Planter!" The card showed a group of hooded spellcasters around a magical circle, chanting, as the roots of the nearby trees wrapped around them.
Grand Garden Planter (Spell) Continuous
Once per turn: You can target 2 monsters you control with the same Name and Level; Special Summon 1 "Grand Garden" monster from your Deck, whose Level is less than, or equal to the level of the monsters targeted. Monsters you control with the same name cannot be targeted by your opponent's card effects.
"I activate Grand Garden Planter's effect! I target my two Weeny Berry to Special Summon one monster from my Deck, whose Level is less than or equal to theirs! I choose to Special Summon Grand Garden Autumn Lutea!"
A girl with long light yellow hair and light blue eyes appeared on the field wearing a short yellow that was designed to look like an upside-down flower that reached just above her knees. The same symbol that was tattooed on the previous monster's cheek was present on the back of this one's dress as well. A small bow was present in her left arm and an arrow with a yellow ball in place of the usual sharp tip was held in the other.
Grand Garden Autumn Lutea
Level: 2/Attribute: LIGHT/Type: Spellcaster/Tuner/Effect
ATK: 400/DEF: 500
Effect: If this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can target 1 monster on the field; add 1 monster from your Deck to your hand with the same name. If you control 2 or more monsters with the same name, all damage you would take is inflicted to your opponent instead.
"Grand Garden Autumn Lutea's effect! When it's summoned, I can target a monster on the field and add a monster with the same name from my Deck to the hand; I choose to target Lutea herself." I watched in amazement as Elizabeth played out her cards. So that's Elizabeth's new deck, Grand Garden?
"I'll now tune my Level Two Autumn Lutea to my two Level Two Weeny Berry!" The little girl in yellow jumped over the other two monsters and turned into a pair of green rings, surrounding them.
"Sorceress with blazing pride, master of the ancient craft, merge soul and mind into the iron hammer that crushes all opposition! Synchro Summon! Grand Garden Sage Salvia!"
A beautiful lady with purple hair and crimson eyes appeared from within the beam of light, landing before Elizabeth. The monster wore a lavender dress with green leaf patterns covering her chest and extending to her back, sticking out like wings. A pair of sleeves that resembled flowers covered most of her arms, except for her shoulders, which were left exposed as the sleeves weren't connected to the actual dress. In her right arm, the spellcaster carried a hammer that resembled a green plant stem with a dark purple flower hanging from the end.
Grand Garden Sage Salvia
Level: 6/Attribute: FIRE/Type: Spellcaster/Synchro/Effect
ATK: 2000/DEF: 1500
1 "Grand Garden" Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
Effect: If this card is Synchro Summoned: You can target 1 Spellcaster-Type monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon that target, and if you do, this card's name becomes the same as that monster's. While this card is on the field, other monsters with this card's name cannot be destroyed by your opponent's card effects.
"I activate Grand Garden Sage Salvia's effect! When she's is Synchro Summoned, I can bring one of my Spellcasters back to the field! I choose the card that I discarded for Weeny Berry's effect! My pride, my most trusted companion, Tempest Sina the Pendulum Sorcerer (Lv.6, ATK: 2400)!" Salvia smashed the ground with her hammer, as flames burst from underneath it and flew high in the air before Tempest Sina came flying out of the fire and landed next to the other Spellcaster.
"When I Special Summon a monster through Sage Salvia's effect, her name changes to match the summoned monster's name." So now she had two Tempest Sinas… "Additionally, monsters with the same name as Sage Salvia can't be destroyed by card effects and Tempest Sina protects all of my monsters from card destruction once per turn!"
"In other words, your monsters protect each other!" Yuzu shouted as Elizabeth's Spellcasters crossed their wands, or in Salvia's case, hammer.
"Now, let's see how durable that spider of yours really is," Elizabeth said, pointing toward Ground Spider. "Sage Salvia, attack it with Grand Smite!"
Sage Salvia charged at the spider and smacked it across the head with her hammer, knocking the insect on its back. That didn't destroy it, but instead left a mark burned into its forehead. After hitting her target once, Sage Salvia turned her back to the spider just as a bolt of lightning fell from the ground and hit Ground Spider, setting it on fire.
"How useless." The officer shook his head. "Because of the Field Spell Spider Web, your monster is turned to Defense Position."
Elizabeth glanced at her monster as it knelt down, holding the hammer in front of its chest. "That doesn't matter. You're wide open for an attack now! Battle! Tempest Sina, attack the opponent directly with Vortex Arrow!" Elizabeth's monster fired a ball of magical energy toward the officer.
"Trap Activate! King's Consonance!" The card flipped face-up, dispersing the incoming attack. "With this card's effect, I negate your attack, but that's not all! After your attack is negated, I banish Ground Spider and Spider Carrier from my Graveyard to Synchro Summon!"
The spirits of the officer's two monsters appeared on the field for a moment before Spider Carrier turned into two green rings and Ground Spider flew through them.
"When dark overlaps with dark, the doors of the underworld will be opened to the world without light! Synchro Summon! Show yourself, Underground Arachnid (Lv.6, ATK: 2400)!"
Wait, isn't that the Dark Synchro monster that got used, like once, and was never brought up again? Actually that could be said about almost all of the Dark Synchro monsters, but I remember that it could use its effect only during the controller's turn.
"Since my attack didn't go through, your Field Spell's effect won't activate." Elizabeth pointed out. "I'll set a card and end my turn."
"That… was a surprisingly good turn, sis," I commented, turning her attention toward me.
"I wanted to know if they were planning to leave their set cards for the next player to use," Elizabeth told me. "But they used it to stop a direct attack that wouldn't have even harmed them."
"It seems that they are playing for themselves," I told her.
"That's the Special Ops for you," Yugo interjected. "They aren't like the standard Sector Security officer, their strategies are different, and they exceed at dueling solo."
"Then why did six of them show up to arrest us?" Yuzu raised an eyebrow. "None of this makes any sense!"
"You can continue this chat after we bring you to the Facility." One of the officers stepped forward. "It's not going to be a long trip either. My turn, I draw!"
『Turn 3 [Special Force Unit 2] LP: 4000, Hand: 6』
"I Normal Summon Vigilante Zeni (Lv.4, ATK: 1600)!" a little man with an eyepatch over his left eye appeared on the field. "I activate Zeni's effect! I reduce its attack points to zero in order to Vigilante Gata (Lv.3, ATK: 800) from my hand!" A robot with police lights on the sides of its head appeared next.
"Of course, these monsters won't stay here for long! I tune Level Three Vigilante Gata to the Level Four Vigilante Zeni!" The little robot jumped and turned into three rings that processed to surround Zeni, who turned into four glowing orbs.
"Tear apart the dark fog of twisted doubt and unravel the truth! Synchro Summon! Come forth! Level Seven! Sniping Heiji Type-0 (LV: 7, ATK: 2400)!"
Ok, now that's something I haven't seen before. It was a giant metallic warrior whose attack power was equal to that of Sina. If Elizabeth lost her monster here, all of the protection that it offered would be…
"I activate Mystical Space Typhoon!" the Special Force unit shouted, discarding a card from his hand. "With it, I can target and destroy one of your Spell or Trap, and I choose your Grand Garden Planter!"
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes as a cyclone hit her Spell Card, destroying it.
"But I'm not done yet." The officer shook his finger. "I use Underground Arachnid's effect to equip Tempest Sola to it as an Equip Card."
"What!?" Both I and my sister screamed almost simultaneously as the Synchro Monster opened its mouth and fired a web that wrapped around Tempest Sola, pulling her over to their side of the field. "Now your monsters no longer have anything to protect them! I discard two cards to destroy Grand Garden Sage Salvia and one of your Grand Garden Autumn Lutea!"
"Now your protection is gone." The officer stated, discarding a card from his hand. "I activate Sniping Heiji's effect to destroy your Synchro Monster."
"Then I'm going to activate my own trap card!" Elizabeth raised her arm. "Activate – Grand Garden Rapid Blooming! When this card is activated, I get to Special Summon a monster from both my hand and Graveyard, as long as they have the same name! Come out, Grand Garden Autumn Lutea (Lv.2, DEF: 500)!"
Grand Garden Rapid Blooming (Trap) Continuous
Activate this card by targeting 1 monster in your GY: Special Summon both that target and 1 monster from your hand with the same name as that target. While this card remains face-up on the field, all damage you take is halved. You must control at least 2 monsters with the same name for this effect to apply.
Both copies of Elizabeth's monsters appeared next to her already present spellcasters just as Sniping Heiji fired four electrified rings at her Synchro Monster, destroying it.
『Elizabeth, LP: 4000 – 200 → 3800, Hand: 2』
"Only two hundred?" The Special Force officer asked.
"Rapid Blooming's effect." Elizabeth shrugged, smirking a little bit. "While there are two monsters with the same name on my field all damage I take is halved."
"How annoying! I discard two cards to destroy your remaining monsters" The Synchro monster fired another barrage at Elizabeth's cards, obliterating the remaining of the bodies she had to defend her from attacks.
『Elizabeth, LP: 3800 – 200 → 3600 – 400 → 3200, Hand: 2』
Elizabeth took a step back, gritting her teeth. "B-but now you're all out of cards now!"
"And why does that matter? Now you're wide open!" the officer exclaimed, throwing his first forward. "Sniping Heiji attack the opponent directly!"
"Sis!" I screamed, but it was useless. I couldn't move or do anything but watch as Sniping Heiji fired a series of electrified metal rings at Elizabeth. The force of the impact almost sent her flying, but because of the webs holding her legs, she instead fell on her back with the webs wrapping around her body.
『Elizabeth, LP: 3200 – 2400 → 800, Hand: 2』
"Elizabeth!" Yuzu placed a hand over her mouth in shock.
"That should be enough for now!" the Special Force officer chuckled. "Thanks to Spider Web, my monster will now move into defense position. I end my turn."
These bastards. If Elizabeth's deck wasn't so defensive in nature, they would have been able to One Turn Kill her. Worse, next turn Sniping Heiji would be under the control of a new officer with a full hand. I have to get rid of that monster as soon as possible.
"It's my-"
"It's my turn!" Yugo yelled, drawing his sixth card before I could.
『Turn 4 [Yugo] LP: 4000, Hand: 6』
"What are you doing?" I shouted at him.
"Trust me, I've lived in this city all of my life, I know all of the tricks to get out of a tight spot." That wasn't calming me down. "Just watch. I Normal Summon Speedroid Horse Stilts (Lv.4, ATK: 1100)!" A white, blue and green horse toy appeared before the new guy. "When Horse Stilts is Normal Summon, I can Special Summon a Speedroid from my hand! Come out, Speedroid Den-Den Daiko Duke (LV.3, ATK: 1200)!"
"And now, I tune the Level Four, Horse Stilts to the Level Three, Den-Den Daiko Duke!" a beam of light fell behind Yugo as his monsters vanished.
"Spread those wondrous and beautiful wings, and strike down your enemies at the speed of light! Synchro Summon! Appear now! Clear Wing Synchro Dragon (Lv.7, ATK: 2500)!"
A gasp escaped my lips. Something deep inside my chest reacted to Clear Wing's appearance. I couldn't tell what it was, nor if it was me that was reacting, or the Astral Angels' that lived within my soul, but it was hurting. It was burning, turning my heart into a furnace.
"Neechan!" I could hear Oni's voice and turned to her, but my vision was blurry, I couldn't see her clearly.
All I could make out about her was the pendant, the same as the ones that both me and my brother had, was glowing brightly. No one else seemed to notice that, I didn't know why, but my mind couldn't focus on that thought. It was all blurry, I couldn't breathe, couldn't see, my grip on reality was slowly slipping away. All I know was… collect it.
Collect it. I had to collect it. It's power. Our past. Their future. For the Destruction Angel!
"Don't let it take over you," Sola whispered into my ear. "The Pendulum of Faith contains memories of its previous wielders, including memories bind to the Four Heavenly Dragons."
'What does that have to do with this pain?' I thought. My entire body felt like it was going to catch on fire.
"Clear Wing's presence is amplifying the fragments' resonance. The Pendulum of Faith's call toward its pieces becomes stronger and it tries to control you in order to collect its missing pieces." Sola told me. "Don't let its influence win over you. Push past the pain. Focus on keeping control until your turn comes."
Focus on keeping control until my turn comes, she said. It was easy to say that when she wasn't the one going through this pain. It was multiplying with each second. I never had a high pain tolerance, it was taking all of my will power to just stay standing.
"Battle!" Yugo shouted, pumping his fist forward. "Clear Wing Synchro Dragon attack Sniping Heiji Type-0! Helldive Slasher of Whirlwind!"
Clear Wing growled, its wings glowing bright green as the monster charged toward Heiji.
"I activate the effect of Vigilante Hachifrom my Graveyard." The Officer declared. "By banishing this card during the battle, I can reduce your monster's attack by a thousand!"
Vigilante Hachi
Level: 3/Attribute: EARTH/Type: Warrior/Tuner/Effect
ATK: 400/DEF: 400
Effect: If a "Heiji" Synchro Monster you control battles an opponent's monster, during the damage step, you can banish this card from your Graveyard: The opponent's monster loses 1000 ATK.
"You what?" Yugo shouted. The glow in Clear Wing's wings faded, but since an attack was already declared, the monster had no choice but to charge.
Clear Wing Synchro Dragon, ATK: 2500 – 1000 → 1500
Sniping Heiji raised on its feet and swung its jutte at Clear Wing, pushing the dragon back before raising its arm and firing several coins that exploded on contact, knocking Clear Wing back.
『Yugo, LP: 4000 – 500 → 3500, Hand: 4』
"Damn, you bastards haven't been discarding cards blindly," Yugo said irritated.
"Because of Spider Web, your dragon gets turned to Defense Position at the end of the battle." the officer pointed out as web shot out from the ground and tied Clear Wing's tail and arms.
"I knew that." Yugo rubbed his hair. "But I'm not done yet! I equip Supreme King's Storm Wings to Clear Wing Synchro Dragon! Now just try to activate the effect of your Synchro Monster! Because of the Equip Spell, my dragon's destructive effect is amplified to cover all of your monsters!"
Supreme King's Storm Wings (Spell) Equip
Equip only to a Dragon-Type monster that was Special Summoned from the Extra Deck. Any effect of the equipped monster that destroys exactly 1 monster on the opponent's field (and no other cards) becomes an effect that affects all monsters currently on its controller's opponent's field, instead.
"I'll then set a card face-down and end my turn." Yugo finished. "Now bring it on!"
"He wasn't able to destroy the Synchro Monster, but managed to build a strong defense to protect our monsters from Heiji's effect." Yuzu commented. "As reckless as he may look, Yugo does put some thought in his moves."
"Your resistance is futile." One of the Special Ops Officers stepped forward and draw a card. "I'll destroy your defenses in one turn!"
『Turn 5 [Special Force Unit 3] LP: 4000, Hand: 6』
"Not so fast!" Yugo shouted, pressing a button on his Duel Disk. "At this moment I activate my Continuous Trap - Follow Wing! This card is activated by targeting a monster I control and while Follow Wing remains on the field, the target can't be destroyed by battle! I choose Clear Wing!"
"Your monster is still going to be destroyed this turn!" the Special Ops Officer pointed at Yugo. "I activate the effect of Heiji to discard a card and destroy your dragon!"
"If he does that, Clear Wing will destroy all of their monsters." Yuzu shouted.
"That's right!" Yugo exclaimed. "I activate Clear Wing's effect! When a Level Five or higher monster activates its effect, Clear Wing negates that effect and destroys your monster! Dichroic Mirror!"
"Your monster's effect won't resolve!" the Special Ops Officer laughed.
I was taking deep breaths, trying to calm down my senses, but I looked toward the Special Ops to see what they were going to do. Suddenly, the officer jumped up, grabbing onto one of the platforms and climbed up before moving to another one. It couldn't be…
"I activate the Action Card- Detour!" They knew about Action Cards!? "This card negates your monster's effect and inflicts five hundred points of damage to you!"
Clear Wing roared as a bolt of lightning suddenly shocked the dragon, causing its wings to crack just before another series of coins, or rings, hit it, destroying the dragon while also knocking Yugo down.
『Yugo, LP: 3500 – 500 → 3000 – 400 → 2600, Hand: 2』
"Clear Wing!" Yugo cried out.
I was shocked. They knew how to use Action Cards, so they must have encountered Duelists that use them before. They also had an unfair advantage because the Spider Web kept us trapped and unable to move or take any Action Cards.
"Your dragon is history." The officer chuckled. "I Normal Summon Jutte Lord (Lv.4, ATK: 1600) and activate its effect to Special Summon Jutte Fighter (Lv.2, ATK: 700) from my hand!" Two warriors armed with juttes appeared on the officer's field one after the other.
"This monster should get rid of you." The officer raised his arm up. "I Tune the Level Four Jutte Lord to the Level Two Jutte Fighter! Synchro Summon! Goyo Guardian (Lv.6, ATK: 2800)!"
I recognized the monster. A pretty good card for most Synchro Decks with a decent body and powerful effect. Yugo was in trouble.
"Battle! Goyo Guardian attack them directly!" The monster charged toward Yugo, but the latter's expression didn't appear to show any worry.
"I activate the effect of Speedroid Menko!" Yugo took a card from his hand and placed it on his Duel Disk, summoning a monster that blocked Goyo Guardian's attack. "When your monster declares an attack, I can Special Summon this card and change all of your monsters to Defense Position!"
Goyo Guardian stopped in its tracks. The Level 6 Synchro stepped back and knelt down with a blue aura surrounding it. Whenever the attack had hit or not, Goyo Guardian would have gone to Defense Position because of its own effect, but Yugo was at least able to keep himself in the game.
"Then I'm going to use Heiji's effect once more." The officer discarded another card, sending his Synchro to fire a barrage of coins at Speedroid Menko, destroying Yugo's last defense.
『Yugo, LP: 2600 – 400 → 2200, Hand: 1』
"I set a card and that's all I need to do." The officer stated. "I end my turn." Finally, it was my turn.
"I draw!" Yuzu shouted. Well, fine then. Guess I'm just going to stand aside and slowly die and go mad from the pain then.
『Turn 6 [Yuzu] LP: 4000, Hand: 6』
"I activate 1st Movement Solo! When I control no monsters, this card lets me Special Summon one Level Four or lower Melodious monster from my hand. I Summon Serenade the Melodious Diva (Lv.4, ATK: 400)!" A pink fairy appeared on Yuzu's field.
"During the turn in which Serenade the Melodious Diva is Special Summoned, I can Normal Summon twice." Yuzu explained. "I tribute Serenade, counting her as two Tributes by her own effect to Tribute Summon Mozarta the Melodious Maestra (Lv.8, ATK: 2600)! Mozarta's effect! I Special Summon Soprano the Melodious Songstress (Lv.4, ATK: 1400) from my hand. And lastly, I Special Summon Sonata the Melodious Diva (Lv.3, ATK: 1200), who can be Special Summoned if I control a Melodious monster!"
That made a total of three monsters, but only Mozarta was strong enough to take down either Goyo Guardian or Heiji. If she went for the latter, Goyo Guardian could be turned to Attack Position on the next turn and steal one of her monsters, but if she let Heiji on the field, all three Melodious monsters would be destroyed by its effect.
"I activate the effect of Soprano! I Fusion Summon using her and Sonata the Melodious Diva as Fusion Materials!" Yuzu exclaimed, crossing her arms over her chest as both monsters fell into a whirlwind of colors.
"Angel's song! Flowing melody! With the guidance of the baton, gather your power! Fusion Summon! Now on stage, sing the song of serenity! Blood Descant the Melodious Choir!"
A young girl appeared on the field, smiling. Her eyes were green with a red and green star tattooed on her right cheek next to each other. Her hair was a light shade of green and was tied into three buns on the side and back of her head. The monster wore a pink dress with a bit of black covering the area around her abdomen, along with four gems, one pink, blue, green and purple arranged in a kite shape around her abdomen.
A white belt was tied around her waist with four long leaves being produced from underneath it. One pair was wrapping around her waist and her back, as they moved upward and came back to the front from her shoulders, from where they descended toward the gems on the monster's abdomen, stopping just above them. The second pair of leaves just floated freely behind the monster's waist.
Bloom Descant the Melodious Choir
Level: 6/Attribute: LIGHT/Type: Fairy/Fusion/Effect
ATK: 1800/DEF: 2000
2 "Melodious" monsters
Effect: You can return 1 card with "Melodious" in its card text you control to the hand; destroy 1 card your opponent controls. If a "Melodious" monster(s) you control would be destroyed by a card effect: You can return 1 "Melodious" monster from your Graveyard to the hand; negate the destruction. You can only use each effect of "Bloom Descant the Melodious Choir" once per turn.
"This one uses Fusion Summon as well." One of the officers commented. So they have faced other duelists from the Lancers before!
"I activate the Continuous Spell – Fortissimo!" Yuzu continued. "I target Blood Descant for its effect, increasing Bloom Descant's attack by six hundred until my next Standby Phase!"
Bloom Descant the Melodious Choir, ATK: 1800 + 600 → 2400
"And now, Bloom Descant the Melodious Choir's effect!" Yuzu raised her arm. "I return Fortissimo to the hand in order to destroy one of your cards! I choose Sniping Heiji!"
"That's not going to happen!" An officer shouted. "I activate the effect of Vigilante Goro from my Graveyard. When a card or effect that would destroy a Synchro Monster I control is activated, I can banish this card from my Graveyard to negate the effect and destroy your monster instead!"
Vigilante Goro
Level: 3/Attribute: EARTH/Type: Warrior/Tuner/Effect
ATK: 400/DEF: 400
Effect: If a Synchro Monster you control by a card or effect that would destroy it: You can banish this card from your Graveyard; negate the activation, and if you do, destroy it.
"I activate Bloom Descant's other effect!" Yuzu quickly raised countered. "When a Melodious monster would be destroyed by a card effect, I can return a Melodious monster from my Graveyard to the hand instead! I return Soprano the Melodious Songstress!"
Bloom Descant's wings were covered by a bright golden light, protecting her from destruction.
"And don't forget, thanks to Serenade, I can Normal Summon a second time! I Summon Soprano the Melodious Songstress and activate her effect to Fusion Summon once more using her and Mozarta the Melodious Maestra as materials!"
"A second Fusion Summon in the same turn!?" one of the officers shouted.
"Angel's son! The flutter of angel wings! By the guidance of the baton, assemble your power. Fusion Summon! Now on stage, the song of passion! Bloom Prima the Melodious Choir (Lv.7, ATK: 1900)!"
And a second one appeared as well. This time her monster had blue hair and large flowers on the sides of its dress. I looked at my Duel Disk for its effect, it was more offensive than the previous Fusion. She was going to try to get rid of the monsters through force, wasn't she?
"Bloom Prima gains three hundred points of attack for each of her materials." Yuzu stated as her monster's attack rose to 2500. "And now I activate the Continuous Spell – Fortissimo a second time, targeting Bloom Prima for its effect this time!"
Bloom Prima the Melodious Choir, ATK: 2500 + 600 → 3100
"Your Bloom Prima can attack twice per turn." One of the officers stated. "But because of Spider's Web, your monster will be turned to Defense Position after its first attack. You won't be able to destroy all of my monsters in a single turn!"
"I won't have to." Yuzu smiled. "As long as I manage to destroy at least one of them, my friends will take care of the rest! Bloom Prima the Melodious Choir, attack Sniping Heiji!"
The fairy turned toward its target, but something wasn't right. The set card on the officer's field slowly raised… After a moment of staring at Sniping Heiji, Yuzu's monster turned toward Underground Arachnid instead and fired two soundwaves from her flowers, which the insect defended from using Tempest Sina as a meat shield.
『Special Force Unit 1, LP: 4000 – 700 → 3300, Hand: 0』
Yuzu gasped "W-what happened? That's not what I ordered my monster to do."
"Yuzu-neechan's Bloom Prima changed targets on her own?" Oni tilted her head to the side.
"No, that's not right." I shook my head. "It was the set card."
"Shift." The officer cut me off and pointed at the card before his feet. "When your monster declared its attack, I could use this trap to change the attack target to another monster."
"Underground Arachnid's Special Effect allows my monster to protect itself from the battle by destroying a card equipped to it instead of itself." The first officer explained. "And also, because of Spider Web's effect, your monster is changed to Defense Position."
"That's not good." Yuzu frowned. "Underground Arachnid was the one monster I didn't want to attack. But your trap works only once, so I can still attack Sniping Heiji with Bloom Descant the Melodious Choir!"
Bloom Descant opened her mouth, generating another soundwave that flew toward the Synchro Monster.
"Useless!" The officer shouted and raised his arm. Sniping Heiji fired an electrified coin at one of the platforms. The projectile, of course, exploded on contact, but the small shockwave sent a nearby Action Card flying and the officer grabbed it.
"I activate the Action Spell – Evasion! This card negates your attack!" Sniping Heiji jumped to the side, avoiding the incoming attack.
"Even that was…" Yuzu gulped. "They are good at working together. I got no cards left so I end my turn."
"It's my turn to clear the field of your monsters." The fourth officer stepped forward and drew his card.
『Turn 7 [Special Force Unit 4] LP: 4000, Hand: 6』
"First, I activate Underground Arachnid's effect to equip your Bloom Descant the Melodious Choir to it!" The large spider fired a web, trapping Bloom Descant in it, then pulled the Fusion to its side. "Next, I discard a card to use Sniping Heiji's effect and destroy your Bloom Prima the Melodious Choir!"
The coins, of course, hit Yuzu's monster and destroyed it. Even someone as experienced in Action Duels as Yuzu couldn't do much when her legs were stuck to the ground.
『Yuzu, LP: 4000 – 400 → 3600, Hand: 0』
"He got rid of two Fusions instantly." Oni gasped.
I wasn't as impressed since the Officers' entire decks appear to be control-oriented. Destroying the enemy monsters or using them against the enemy, never allowing for the opponent a moment to relax and think while making the summoning of powerful monsters just a waste of resources.
"I Normal Summon Black Salvo (Lv.3, ATK: 100) and activate its effect to revive the DARK Dimension Fortress Weapon (Lv.4, DEF: 200)!" So, a small black ball and a large robot appeared on the field. "I tune the Level Four Dimension Fortress Weapon to the Level Three Black Salvo! Synchro Summon! Samurai Destroyer (Lv.7, ATK: 2600)!"
A large robot whose appearance resembled that of a samurai in red armor appeared next on the field.
"Battle!" The officer shouted. "Samurai Destroyer attacks you directly!"
The robot pulled out its sword and swung it at Yuzu, the attack hitting her dead on. The force of the impact almost sent her flying back, but the web tied around her legs kept her touching the ground as she fell backward.
『Yuzu, LP: 3600 – 2600 → 1000, Hand: 0』
"Yuzu!" Yugo screamed, reaching out toward her.
"She's knocked out." I gritted my teeth as the pain inside my chest became worse than before. If that was possible. Collect… I had to collect it…
"Don't lose it now!" Sola screamed inside my head, snapping me back to the duel. I wouldn't be able to hold out for much more. I couldn't even feel my legs anymore.
"I set three cards and end my turn." The officer ended his turn, turning his back to us.
At last! I looked at Oni and raised my Duel Disk slightly. Of course, she realized what I meant to say and gave me a thumb up. I wasn't sure if what I was about to do would win us the Duel, but it was definitely going to ease the pain.
"My turn. I draw!" I shouted.
『Turn 8 [Avice] LP: 4000, Hand: 6』
"I activate One for One! By discarding a monster from my hand, this card lets me Special Summon Astral Angel Einplus (Lv.1, ATK: 200)! I release Einplus to Tribute Summon Sola Starlit the Preon Seraph (Lv.6, ATK: 2500)."
"You know what to do next." Sola turned toward me and spoke.
"I use Einplus' effect from my Graveyard!" I pointed toward the ground. "If this card is in the Graveyard, I can increase the Level of one monster by one to Special Summon it! I choose Sola Starlit the Preon Seraph!"
A tiny portal opened in the ground. My triangle flew out of it and positioned itself over Sola.
Sola Starlit the Preon Seraph, Lv. 6 → 7
"I tune my Level Seven Sola Starlit the Preon Seraph to my Level One Astral Angel Einplus!" The triangle rotated around Sola's waist and transformed into a single ring that engulfed Sola, erasing all but the outlines of her body.
"The supreme angel with the burning soul of a star. Spread your beautiful wings of destruction and erase our enemies with your blazing light! Synchro Summon! Level Eight! Sola Electra the Synchro Seraph (Lv.8, ATK: 3000)!"
My Synchro version of Sola flew through the sky before landing behind me.
"I activate Sola Electra's effect! I target Samurai Destroyer and halve its attack power, then my Sola Electra gains the lost attack power! Photon Link Conversion!" My monster's wings spread to the side and then fired several needles made of white energy toward Samurai Destroyer.
"Trap activate! Fiendish Chain!" Before Sola's effect could hit its target, several chains raised from the ground between our two monsters, blocking the needles, then flew toward Sola, wrapping around her. "Fiendish Chain's effect negates the effects of one monster you control, and also stops it from declaring an attack! Your Synchro Monster is now useless!"
"No, I don't think she is useless," I replied. "Not when I have this. Equip Spell - activate! Astral Code: Queen's Wings!" Sola's usual wings disappeared and a dark metal ring appeared on Sola's back with six blades floating behind it.
Astral Code: Queen's Wings (Spell) Equip
You can only equip this card to a "Sola" monster. A monster equipped with this card is unaffected by your opponent's cards and effects. You can reduce the equipped monster's ATK to 0, and if you do, activate this effect: Destroy as many Spell/Trap Cards on the field as possible, then inflict damage to your opponent equal to the total number of Spell/Trap Cards destroyed x300. Your opponent cannot activate Spell/Trap Cards in response to this effect, also you cannot Set Spell/Trap Cards for the rest of this turn.
I took a deep breath and looked at Sola. Astral Code's first effect makes Sola unaffected by cards and effects, including the Fiendish Chain, but the best I could do with it try to land an attack. On the other side, if I used its second effect I would inflict serious damage, but Sola would be left defenseless. Sola looked back at me. She didn't say anything, didn't need to. I understood what she meant without needing to hear it. I can't expect to win if I duel half-heartedly.
"I activate Astral Code: Queen's Wing's effect!" I declared. "By reducing Sola Electra's attack to zero, I can destroy every Spell and Trap card on the field!"
"All of them!?" The Officer from the previous turn turned around and yelled. "Like hell, I'll let you do that, you brat! I activate my Counter Trap-!"
"You can't!" I cut him off. "Queen's Wings' effect cannot be responded to with Spell or Trap Cards! You don't have anything to stop this from going through. Cypher Storm!"
Sola Electra the Synchro Seraph, ATK: 3000 → 0
The new wings on Sola's back began to crack with electricity. My monster flew up and spun around, her wings unleashing a barrage of lasers that fired in all directions. The ground, the cards on the field, even the buildings around us were hit by these lasers, destroying everything in their path, including the web, which was being burned. At the same time, the officer screamed as one of the blasts hit the ground in front of him and exploded, knocking him back.
『Special Force Unit 4, LP: 4000 – 2700 → 1300, Hand: 1』
But all of that was a cover-up. My real target wasn't their cards or even the web that was holding us trapped. No, it was the Bell Tower, which exploded after getting hit by just one well-placed shot. Though one wouldn't be able to tell from how wildly Sola spun when she unleashed the attack, she aimed her shot carefully to a land far enough from the energy signature to not damage it.
"Now Sola!" I ordered my monster and she flew toward the failing ruins. After a moment, something else came flying back toward me and I grabbed it. A small purple crystal. Collected.
"What was that?" Yugo asked me.
"I be damned if I knew," I replied, although the pain was starting to fade now that the crystal was within my reach. The green Pendulum I had, however, was starting to glow brighter in response to the crystal.
Sola flew back to my side and landed behind me. "Quickly! Place the crystal on your Pendulum; that will unlock its power for you!"
I nodded and did so. The moment my two crystals touched, they merged together and the purple one changed its color to green, matching the fragment that I had already collected. But that wasn't all. There was something more. Another light coming out of my Extra Deck.
"What's that?" I asked my ace.
"The Pendulum of Faith contains memories of its past users," Sola repeated. "But that's not all that's kept inside of it. Guardians. The previous users' monster powerful monsters were left behind to protect the Pendulum and each of its fragments."
"I see…" although I wasn't sure how she knew so much about it. "Then, I'll call upon this monster's power! First, I activate the effect of Astral Angel Equalizer from my Graveyard! I discard Astral Angel Enlightener to Special Summon Equalizer on my field with its Level now the same as Enlightener's!"
A sphere of white metal with a single green eye and a pair of long and slim arms appeared on the field next to Sola. The new monster then placed its arms on my ace's shoulders and a golden aura surrounded them as both monsters' eyes began to glow white.
Astral Angel Equalizer
Level: 1/Attribute: LIGHT WATER/Type: Machine/Effect
ATK: 400/DEF: 400
Effect: If this card is in your hand: You can target 1 "Astral Angel" monster on your field; discard this card, then add 1 "Astral Angel" or "Sola" monster from your Deck to your hand (except "Astral Angel Equalizer"), and if you do, the targeted monster's Level becomes the same as the Level of the monster added to your hand by this effect. If this card is in your GY and you control a monster: You can discard 1 LIGHT monster from your hand: Special Summon this card, and if you do, this card's Level becomes the same as the Level of the monster discarded for this effect. You can only use each effect of "Astral Angel Equalizer" once per turn.
"Two Level Eight monsters…" Oni muttered. "Nee-chan are you-"
"With the Level Eight Sola Electra the Synchro Seraph and Astral Angel Equalizer, I build the Overlay Network!" The cosmic portal appeared in the sky above me and both of my monsters flew into it.
A large machine made of white metal with golden accents on the edges appeared from the portal. The lower part of it was one big upside-down pyramid with golden wing patterns carved into the clean white metal and five blades rotating around the base of the pyramid, which connected to the slim waist of the monster. Its upper half resembled a human, or at least a human-like doll with a large red orb in the center of its chest and four arms, each at least five-meter long. A pair of wings was protected from the monster's back, but they didn't have any function.
Its head and face were white as well, with an unmoving mouth and two holes that acted as eyes with crimson light glowing from within them. The backside of the head was cut open, showing the small secondary orb and gears that kept the monster moving.
Destruction Angel Celestial War Master
RANK: 8/Attribute: LIGHT/Type: Fairy/Xyz/Effect
ATK: 0/DEF: 0
2 Level 8 LIGHT monsters
Effect: If this card is targeted for an attack: You can change the attack target to another monster on the field, including a monster your opponent controls. If a card or effect is activated that targets this card: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; change the target to another card on the field, treating it as a valid target for the effect. During the End Phase, if this card has no Xyz Materials: you can target 2 Level 8 monsters in your GY; return this card to your Extra Deck, and if you do, Special Summon those targets.
"With this, I end my turn," I stated.
I looked back at my new monster. It felt different from the Astral Angels, but also somewhat familiar. Its energy was, I didn't know how to put it, it felt like it was a natural part of my Deck, but also felt much stronger than any other card I had access to.
"I thought something troublesome was going to come out for a second." One of the Special Force units muttered.
"But it was just a bug." Another one added.
"I'll squish it!" a third one shouted, drawing his card.
『Turn 9 [Special Force Unit 5] LP: 4000, Hand: 6』
"I discard a card to use Sniping Heiji's effect and destroy your monster!" again with the same tactic as the others. But it wasn't going to work this time!
"I activate War Master's effect! I detach one Xyz Material from it to change your effect's target to Sniping Heiji itself! Echoes of Destruction!" My monster waved its arm and the coins flying toward it disappeared and reappeared behind Heiji, heading toward the Synchro.
"Shit!" The officer cursed.
"It won't work!" another officer shouted, jumping on a platform. "I activate the Action Card - Mirror Barrier! Sniping Heiji cannot be destroyed by card effects!" a dome of glass formed around Heiji, reflecting the coins away from the monster.
"That was a close one." The officer muttered.
"They are starting to counter Sniping Heiji." The original owner of said monster commented. "Time for a change of tactics."
"I activate Synchro Cracker!" The officer exclaimed. "I return Sniping Heiji to the Extra Deck and destroy all monsters you control with less attack power than itself!"
Sniping Heiji broke into seven rings that flew toward my monster. Crap, War Master could only defend from effects that target it!
"Action Card - Mirror Barrier activate!" Oni shouted, as a barrier formed around my monster, bouncing off the incoming rings.
"Annoying!" the officer shouted. "Sniping Heiji's other effect Special Summons the monsters used as Synchro Materials to my field! Come back, Vigilante Zeni (Lv.4, ATK: 1600) and Vigilante Gata (Lv.3, ATK: 800)! And I release Vigilante Zeni to Tribute Summon Taotie Shadow of the Yang Zing (Lv.5, ATK: 2200)!"
A large black dragon-like monster appeared. Five opponents, five different decks, I didn't expect to see that time of versatility in a bunch of cannon folder.
"I tune the Level Five Taotie Shadow of the Yang Zing to the Level Three Vigilante Zeni!" the little robot turned into three rings that surrounded the dragon. "Synchro Summon! Baxia, Brightness of the Yang Zing (Lv.8, ATK: 2300)!"
A large yellow dragon with brown fur landed on the field, roaring viciously.
"I set a card and then activate Baxia's effect! I return the card that I set to the hand and Special Summon Chiwen, Light of the Yang Zing (Lv.1, ATK: 0) from my graveyard!" another yellow dragon that I guess was discarded for the effect of Sniping Heiji appeared on the field. "Now I tune my monsters once more! Synchro Summon! Chaofeng, Phantom of the Yang Zing (Lv.9, ATK: 2800)!"
That was all sorts of bad. You see, I'm aware of how Yang Zing usually works and what monsters it has. Chaofeng was a counter for any monster that had the same Attribute as the monsters used for its Synchro Summoning. Since both materials were LIGHT and my entire Deck is based around LIGHT monsters…
"I activate the Continuous Spell – Yang Zing Prana! Since I have two or more Yang Zing monsters in my Graveyard, this card increases the attack of all my Yang Zing monsters by five hundred!" the officer shouted.
Chaofeng, Phantom of the Yang Zing, ATK: 2800 + 500 → 3300
"Chaofeng, Phantom of the Yang Zing destroy their monster!" the monster flew back and spun around firing a bolt of lightning from its mouth.
『Avice, LP: 4000 – 3300 → 700, Hand: 1』
Flying back, I felt like time was starting to slow down. Maybe it was from the adrenaline or something. I felt pain again, but it wasn't the same as before. No, this time it was physical pain. I did my best and yet, I wasn't able to hold off for a single turn. I failed, again. Is that how weak I truly am? Now when darkness is engulfing me, why must regret be the last thought on my mind?
I don't want to lose…
"Nee-chan!" Oni screamed.
The little girl ran over to the downed Duelist and knelt next to her. Even though she wasn't out of Life Points, Avice was knocked off from a single attack. Oni looked at her and bit her lower lip. She spent all this time with the Greysons, watched them emerge victorious from such situations, but ever since they came into Synchro, no, since Avice was left to take care of her, the Astral Angel's strength was dwindling while Elizabeth's was increasing.
"We're done for." Yugo clenched his fists. Three of them were already knocked out, there were no monsters on their field and the last Duelist left aside from himself was a literal child.
"No." Oni stood up. "Oni won't give up. Both Avi and Eli-neechan have been looking after me since I first joined them. It's Oni's turn to protect them!"
The Special Force officers looked at Oni, then turned to one another.
"Are we beating children?" one of them asked.
"It's our job to defeat anyone that challenges Security." Another one answered.
"So it's a yes." The third one shrugged. "Well then, I a card and end my turn. Now, show us how futile your resistance is, brat!"
"It's Oni's turn." The little girl said, placing a hand on the top card of her deck. "I draw!"
『Turn 10 [Oni] LP: 4000, Hand: 6』
Oni looked at the card she drew and smiled. "Using the Scale Oni, Performallusion Gate of Purgatory and the Scale Seven, Performallusion Gate of Bliss, I set the Pendulum scale!"
"Pendulum again…" one of the officers muttered.
"I use the Pendulum Effects of both Purgatory and Bliss! The first one lets me add a Ritual Monster from my Deck to the hand, I choose Hallow Perla the Pendulum Performer and the second one lets me add Pendulum Advent from my Deck to the hand." Oni showed the cards she added for everyone to see them, then placed one into her Duel Disk. "I activate the Ritual Spell – Pendulum Advent! This card, let's me Ritual Summon using Gate of Bliss and Gate of Purgatory that are in my Pendulum Zones as tributes!"
A dark blue pendulum appeared on the field as the two Pendulum Monsters turned into a ghost and flew inside of it, disappearing.
"As the last curtain of thy performance falls, the restless spirit raises over the cloak of depravity! Step beyond the veil and shake the boundaries between life and death! Ritual Summon, Level Six! Horror Perla the Ritual Performer (Lv.6, ATK: 2400)!"
The pendulum broke apart and a young woman with greyish-blue hair appeared out of it. The ritual monster landed behind Oni and crossed its arms over its chest while waiting for its orders.
"Gate of Bliss' monster effect now activates! Since the card was Tributed, I can banish one card you control! I choose Chaofeng!" the spirit of Bliss Gate appeared in front of Horror Perla and flew toward said monster.
"Action card, Invisibility!" An officer exclaimed. "This card makes one monster on the field unaffected by any cards or effects for the rest of this turn. I choose Chaofeng!"
The large beast roared before its body disappeared, leaving Bliss Gate to fade away with no target for its effect.
Chaofeng, Phantom of the Yang Zing, ATK: 3300 - 500 → 2800
"I chain Horror Perla's effect!" Oni interrupted. "When you activate a card or effect, and I have a card or effect in my Deck that could be chained, I can activate it in response!"
"I banish Breakthrough Skill from the Graveyard to activate its effect! This card negates your monster's effect for the turn!" A fog surrounded Horror Perla, causing the monster to drop on its knees.
"T-that too?!" Oni cried out. "B-but it's not over! I activate Ritual Weapon! This card can be equipped only to a Level Six or lower Ritual Monster and increases its attack and defense with fifteen hundred points each!"
Horror Perla the Ritual Performer, ATK: 2400 + 1500 → 3900, DEF: 1800 + 1500 → 3300
"Battle!" Oni cried out, throwing her first forward. "Perla the Ritual Performer, attack Chaofeng!"
The Ritual monster summoned a large staff made from bones and pointed it in the direction where Chaofeng was, causing the Synchro to reveal itself, then fired a bolt of black lightning toward it.
"Foolish!" The officer laughed. "Reverse card activate! Forbidden Lance! I reduce your monster's attack by eight hundred, and in return, it becomes unaffected by other Spell or Trap Cards for the rest of this turn."
"That means that the Equip Spell's effect is negated too!" Yugo exclaimed, shocked that even this move was countered.
Horror Perla the Ritual Performer, ATK: 3900 → 1600, DEF: 3300 → 1800
"Now your attack will continue! Chaofeng, counter it!" the officer laughed, as his monster fired a bolt of lightning on its own, piercing through Perla's and destroying Oni's monster.
『Oni, LP: 4000 – 1200 → 2800, Hand: 3』
"N-no." Oni dropped on her knees.
She looked at the cards in her hand. They were useless in this situation, there was nothing more that she could do. The little girl gritted her teeth, tears rolling down her cheeks as she slammed her fist into the ground, completely ignoring the pain that was stirring in her wrist. She couldn't do it. She was too weak.
"Let me guess, you don't have time to watch this ad." Yes, she didn't ha- Wait for a second.
Oni hastily turned around, seeing something that caused her eyes to widen in surprise. Evan was standing behind her, taping the 'Skip' button on his Duel Disk furiously, uninterested in sitting through another thirty-second long ad. Yuksel kept on telling him to pay for a new ad blocker, but Evan was ignoring the damn spirit. Like hell, he was going to give away his money for something as useless as that!
"Nii-chan!" Oni exclaimed, catching the boy's attention.
Evan took his eyes off the Duel Disk and stepped forward, placing a hand on Oni's head, giving her a soft pat.
"Hey there. Sorry that it took me so long to get here." He told her with a smile, then turned his crimson orbs toward his sisters lying on the ground. "And good grief, how can these two manage to get themselves in some sort of huge danger every time I take my eyes off them. What a lousy pair of women I got to deal with."
"It's that bastard again…" One of the Officers growled.
"I'm sorry Nii-chan." Oni lowered her head. "I wasn't strong enough to do anything."
"Don't say that I saw your last turn, you did the best that you could." Evan stepped past Oni and raised his Duel Disk. "This is going to be the real last turn! I draw!"
"Intrusion Penalty: Two Thousand Life Points." Evan gritted his teeth as he felt a shock course through his body.
『Evan, LP: 4000 – 2000 → 2000, Hand: 6』
『Turn 10 [Evan] LP: 2000, Hand: 6』
"Ouch." Evan winched. "And here I was hoping to win with all four thousand of my points intact. But it's what it is. More importantly, I figured something about you Special Force whatever you are." Evan waved his hand nonchalantly. "These helmets of yours, they aren't just to hide your identity. You use them for surveillance."
"What?" Yugo scratched his head.
"The fact they weren't surprised to see other Summoning methods and their reaction to seeing me pushed me to this conclusion," Evan explained. "You guys weren't the ones I beat and there's no way you learned about all that happened in such a short time frame. Nor is it possible for you to find us so easily while the rest of Sector Security has no idea where to even search. Your helmets have to be connected to the city's security cameras!"
The Special Force Officers looked at one another then back to Evan and shrugged. Even if he was right, they couldn't see how that would help him in the long run.
"No response, hmm?" Evan sighed. "And here I was expecting one of you to applaud me for my genius mind, but I must have been expecting too much from such lowlifes as you."
"Wait there for a second!" Yugo protested. "Didn't you just mention their lack of reaction to Fusion Summoning? Oni didn't use that method!"
"I know, Yuzu did."
"So you were-"
"Observing the duel from the beginning? Yes, that's right." Evan smirked. "I wanted to see how well these guys duel against a group that's capable of teamwork, but in the end, they just tore your fields apart before you could manage to do anything as a team."
"Y-you bastard just watched your sister get beaten!"
"Yes, and they will be as angry at me for doing that as you're, but can't this wait until I'm done. On wait, your opinion doesn't really matter." Evan grinned, taking a card from his hand. "I activate the Continuous Spell - Timeline Fortress! When this card is activated, I add a ChronoDevil monster from my deck to the hand. I choose ChronoDevil Wild Tamer Kitty!"
"Next, I activate Double Cyclone, targeting Timeline Fortress and Yang Zing Prana!" A yellow and red cyclones were generated from the card, blowing away the two Spell Cards.
"Without Yang Zing Prana, Chaofeng loses five hundred attack points." The officer muttered.
Chaofeng, Phantom of the Yang Zing, ATK: 3300 - 500 → 2800
"Timeline Fortress' additional effect!" Evan continued. "When this card is destroyed, I can Special Summon a ChronoDevil monster from my deck! I choose ChronoDevil Wild Tamer Beary (Lv. 1, DEF: 300)!" A small girl with bear-ears on her head and a small bear tail swinging behind her appeared on the field. "Wild Tamer Kitty's effect now activates! Since a card I control has been destroyed, I can Special Summon this card, and add one ChronoDevil or Timeline card to my hand!"
A second girl, this time with cat ears and tail appeared next to the first one, winking playfully.
"I add Timeline Fusion and now I activate it, fusing together Wild Tamer Kitty and Wild Tamer Beary on my field!" Kitty turned into a crimson flame while Beary turned into a purple one and both of them fell into a vortex behind Evan.
"The cat sleeping through time, become one with the bear of youth and give the roots of a new terror! Fusion Summon! The dragon with poisonous fangs! Starving Venemy Overdose Dragon!"
Purple, thorn-covered, vines stretched out of the blinding light and after then purple dragon flew out. The monster's legs were made from the same thorn-covered vines and roots with a long whip-like tail at the end of the body. Its main body was slim with a green chest whose sides were covered by purple orb-like ornaments, its waist had two giant mouths attached to it. Its 'arms' were made of dark vines wrapped around to form a structure that resembled an arm and had smaller orbs of the same purple color trapped in between the vines. Its shoulders had huge purple plates on them that could actually open up and reveal another pair of hidden mouths. The monster's lower chin was split into two pieces with sharp fangs covering the inside of its mouth with small doses of its purple poison dripping from it.
Starving Venemy Overdose Dragon
Level: 7/Attribute: DARK/Type: Dragon/Fusion/Effect
ATK: 2500/DEF: 2000
2 DARK Effect Monsters
Effect: Once per turn, during either player's turn: you can target 1 face-up monster on the field; negate its effects until the end of this turn, and if you do, this card gains that monster's effects. If this card battles during the turn this effect is activated it gains 700 ATK during the Damage Step only. If this Fusion Summoned card leaves the field because of a card effect: You can destroy as many Special Summoned monsters your opponent controls as possible, and if you do, inflict damage to your opponent(s) equal to the total ATK the destroyed monsters had on the field.
Yugo gripped his chest in pain. He could sense Clear Wing's desire to come out again. He didn't understand what was causing it, but his dragon wanted to fight against this new monster that appeared on the field.
The officers all took a step back. They could fell a murderous intent radiating from this monster.
"Action Cards and other cheap tricks that you are using won't save you from the wrath of my beast." Evan grinned in excitement. "Now let's end this, shall we? I activate the Continuous Spell – Timeline Storm! Once per turn, I can destroy a card I control to add one Chrono card from my deck to the hand! I choose to destroy Starving Venemy to add Chrono Phantomus the Phantasm Slayer!"
Timeline Storm (Spell) Continuous
Your opponent cannot target DARK monsters you control with monster effects. Once per turn: You can destroy 1 card you control, and if you do, add 1 "Chrono" or "Timeline" card from your Deck to your hand. If this card you control is destroyed and sent to the GY; you can Set 1 "Timeline" Spell/Trap Card directly from your Deck, and if you do, it can be activated during this turn. You can only activate 1 "Timeline Storm" per turn.
Starving Venemy threw its head back and let out a loud, high pitched screeching as cracks began to form in its body and the beast slowly fell apart, leaving nothing but a purple cloud behind itself.
"At this moment, Starving Venemy's effect activates. Since it was destroyed by a card effect, I destroy all of your Special Summoned monsters and you take damage equal to their combined attack power. Let's see you Miracle Barrier your way through a mass destruction effect that activates in the Graveyard! Venemy Plague!"
The purple cloud flew toward the Synchro monsters on the other side of the field. What followed was loud coughing as the monsters who had arms grabbed their throats, while those without arms threw their bodies around, with purple spots forming on their skin. After a few seconds, these purple marks spread across the monsters' entire bodies, and after a few more seconds they turned from purple to black, causing all of the monsters to shatter.
『Special Ops 1-5, LP: Various – 10600 → 0, Hand: Various』
『Winner: Evan, Oni, Avice, Yuzu, Yugo, Elizabeth』
The five officers all collapsed on the ground. Whenever they were alive, or not unimportant to the ChronoDevil Duelist, who turned his back to them.
'Less than an hour ago you could barely fight three of them with help. And now you beat five with no effort.' Yuksel frowned.
'Eh. I always work better on my own than in a team.' Evan shrugged. 'It's either that or plot convenience, who knows for sure.'
Evan walked over to Elizabeth, slapping her twice, which was enough to make her eyes start to slowly open. After that, he moved silently to the rest of the knocked out duelists, waking each one of them in the same fashion, all while Yugo and Oni watched him.
"I take it that you're friends," Fujiko called out, walking toward the group.
"I don't think that I know you," Yugo replied, narrowing his eyes.
"She's an ally I found," Evan stated, gesturing toward the newcomer. "Everyone, meet Fujiko. Fujiko, these are my sisters, Avice, Elizabeth, and Oni." He said gesturing toward said, three individuals. "And the other two are just existing. You don't have to pay attention to them."
"Hey!" Yugo shouted.
"How did you find us?" Yuzu asked.
"The same way that you came to the decision of coming to this place." Evan pointed toward his Duel Disk. "But now isn't a good time to be chatting. It's possible that more Special Ops guys are going to come for us. We have to run."
"We should be safe at my place," Yugo stated. "But it's too small for everyone here to fit inside."
"Take Yuzu and go back to your hideout," Evan replied. "This isn't the first time I had to deal with these guys, I know how to protect my sisters. Once things are quiet, I'll look for you, ok?"
Yuzu looked at Elizabeth with concern. They had all been put through serious stress in the little time that they have spent in this dimension. She understood that the Greysons would want to get together after being separated for so long.
"We are living near a small foster home three streets down the road." Yuzu stated, pointing with a finger in the direction of their 'hideout'. "Once we're no longer hunted like wanted criminals-"
"We will gather to think of our next move." Evan cut her off. "Yes, I already said that same line. You should be moving now."
"Yeah, yeah, we got it!" Yugo waved his hand nonchalantly. "Let's go Yuzu!"
The two fourteen-year-old ran off, leaving Evan to take a sigh of relief as he ran a hand through his hair. Really, the only reason he intervened in that Duel was because Avice, Elizabeth, and Oni were also present. He had no interest in helping them out or keeping them around. All he needed of them was to hear where they were hiding, so he could give Roget their location without putting his own sisters in any form of danger.
"Is splitting now, really the best thing to do?" Elizabeth asked.
"I'm… sure that it's for the best." Evan told her, then turned toward Fujiko "You won't mind if I invite my sisters to stay with us, would you?"
"They are your family," Fujiko told him. "But I'll be lying if I say that providing food for everyone will be easy."
"You don't have to worry about that." Evan grinned. "I believe that I could provide a stable income to take care of everyone."
Previews!
Chapter 52: Prototype's First Test
Summary: While the Lancers are fighting in the Synchro Dimension, Academia dispatches Avon to the Standard Dimension in order to bring back Sora and find information on the current whereabouts of Yuzu and Serena. However, despite his successful infiltration of LDS, he is stopped by two of the initiatives for the Lancer Program - Masumi and Yaiba.
Chapter 53: A Phoenix with Heart of Ice
Summary: Avon successfully dispatches of the Lancer initiatives and launches a full-on attack against LDS. In the mids of all the chaos, Sora Shiunin decides that he wouldn't let any more people be harmed because of his betrayal and faces Avon. The former Academia soldier manages to drive his opponent into a corner with the help of Action Cards, but his strength isn't enough to defeat Avon's mechanical monsters.
Chapter 54: Secret of the Dragons
Summary: Secretly betrayed by the Greysons, Yuzu and Yugo are captured by Sector Security and sent to the Facility. After Yuzu's separation from her friend, Yugo is sent to Yuya and the other Lancers, all of which have been captured. At that moment, however, something happens, causing the two look-alikes to fall into a fit of uncontrollable rage. The rest of the Lancers choose to use the ensued chaos to escape, but Ventus declines to leave anyone behind and goes to face the two dimension counterparts on his own.
A/N: So, yeah. Apparently I'm back. Not that I was really gone now, was I? But seriously, at this rate, this story won't even be done by 2030, but at least I'll have something to put in my will. Right? Right?
Jokes aside. That was a chapter. It took me a bit... longer than I expected to make, but it was all worth it. Or so I hope. The chapter itself is just one huge duel, with the most important part being that the Greysons are now finally back together and I'll no longer have to scratch my head wondering how to write a whole chapter worth of interaction with only two characters. Interesting things that I would like to say about this chapter are... Hmmm...
Supreme King's Storm Wings was made as a reference to Supreme King's Wing (obviously), which was used by Yuya once... So basically like any other card that's not an Odd-Eyes Dragon or a shitty Pendulum Magician that no one really runs. The Yuya bashing aside, I really like the idea of giving each Zarc fragment a card that symbolizes their connection to Zarc. Which means that Yuya will get two since Yuto ded, lol.
Next, I have to say, writing Yuzu's turn was the second hardest after Elizabeth. Also fun detail, but while I was writing Eli's turn, I didn't have the file with Sina's retrain on my computer, which is why she used the old one in this chapter. But back to Yuzu, a good amount of the problems I got with her could be attributed to that I use the anime version of her cards and that her Extra Deck cards are... Ehhh... I'm disappointed in the state that Konami left the Melodious deck, to be honest. There is a good foundation on which they could have made a cool deck, but they left it half-done in order to give Lunalight extra support that I feel wasn't really needed.
Bloom Descant the Melodious Choir was my attempt to give the Melodious deck a way to recover and some protection to their monsters, but I'm really tempted to give her access to the generic fairy support that was shown in the anime to be part of her deck.
And lastly, Starving Venemy Overdose Dragon. First off, I had planned several different ways in which Evan could OTK everyone. The prime idea I was going with until the end was to use ChronoDevil Horology Magician, but that card already participated in enough duels. Also, Overdose Dragon was with Evan since his duel with Yuri. Like Odd-Eyes Primal Dragon, it was created as a result of Evan dueling AGAINST the original Dimension Dragon. So it was there, he just didn't have the chance to use its full power until now.
Moving on... Thanks to terrythor46, BlaiseCandell, and for both Following and Favoriting this story. Also thanks to Digital Christian and jcquelindefauchy for favoriting it.
Thanks to Insertname and BlaiseCandell for your reviews. I just... really don't know what else to say. I'm not great with words, so I don't want to screw this up. I'm just going to say that the Alastor reference isn't that strange when you consider the fact that characters, especially monsters in Evan's deck have been mentioning the existence of other Timelines.
Plus, I like SPRGMR27's stories so much that not even a Fourth Wall will stand in the way of my characters referencing them!
The last thing before I leave is a question I'd like to ask all of you and that's about the cards that are being used in this story. I promised myself to not use any cards that have been released after Arc-V, but there have been many interesting cards, such as Fusion Dispatch, the new Sacred Beasts support, Shark and Rose support as well as many interesting decks that don't require Master Rule 4, so would you like to see these new cards be used in this story, or should I use just cards from the Arc-V era?
And that's all!
Thanks to all for reading all of this and I'll see you next time!
Diabolic Tracer out!
