Duel 7 – Simone Says!
"Yeah," Tem remarked to himself quietly as he walked alone in the streets. "My third win…"
Tem lost track of how much time had passed since he and Johann had parted ways. People were dueling left and right of him, as should be expected, but that meant he had no one to challenge. Tem began to feel a bit of regret watching Johann's duel, thus robbing him of time to find an opponent.
"But I had to support my new friend…" Tem resolved himself quietly, taking a seat on a bench at another trolley station. He looked up into the sky; the blue tones were starting to blend into orange hues as the sun set. "To think," Tem smiled softly. "I'm actually in Japan…" Tem grasped the dog tags that hung around his neck. "Dad… mom. You came from a beautiful place. I just wish I got to come here with you…"
"So you are Japanese?" Tem vaulted off of the bench, stumbling over his own feet and falling to the ground. He looked at the person who caught him off guard; he was a thin, blond European man who didn't look much older than himself. He smiled softly, his blue eyes looking at Tem with a bit of amusement. "Is it a custom to sit on the ground outside? I thought that was only indoors. What an amazing place Japan is!"
Tem worked his way back onto the bench, clutching his chest and steading his breath. "Do you just go around sneaking up on people?"
The young man shook his head. "I was waving to you for a while, but you must not have noticed me. So I thought to come say hello, and I heard your comment." He extended his hand. "I am Simone."
"Simone?" Tem pondered, looking at his hand.
"Yes," he smiled harder as his accent picked up. "It is a common male name from where I come from."
"I just met a young girl with the same name…" Tem shook his hand. "I'm Tem."
"Such a fascinating world! Your name is common where you are from?"
"Uhh…" Tem took a moment to think. "No, I'm the only Tem I know."
"Wonderful!" Simone drew closer to Tem, his eyes sparkling. "Tem, I think we should be friends!"
"Friends?" Tem was taken aback. "I mean… sure, but most people don't ask so directly."
"Oh, I apologize." Simone bowed, clearly unaccustomed to the motion. "Is this what they call, coming on too strong in a relationship?"
"Huh?!" Tem took a step back.
"I am sorry," Simone laughed nervously. "English is my fourth language, and the phrases are a bit hard."
"Fourth?!" Tem's mouth hung ajar. "I can hardly speak Japanese…" Tem buried his hands in his face. "When I get back, I'm taking Matt's Japanese lessons way more seriously."
"You have two wins!" Simone's voice made Tem look up and follow his gaze to his duel bracelet. Simone showed Tem his own. "As do I! This was a dated meeting!"
"I think you meant fated." Tem clarified.
"Yes, fated! Tem, I challenge you to a duel!" Simone raised his duel disk. Tem's beeped in response along with his duel bracelet. "And the winner gets to go to the next stage of the tournament!"
"You're challenging me all of a sudden?" Tem braced himself as his deck was automatically shuffled. "This is happening quickly, but a duel is a.."
"Duel!" They shouted in tandem.
Tem LP: 4000
Simone LP: 4000
"I shall go first," Simone drew a card then smiled. "I set a monster and a facedown, and end my turn."
"Starting slow after speaking so quickly, huh?" Tem looked at the card he drew, grinning widely. "Then I'll have to start off strong and take the advantage. I normal summon my level three Marauding Captain (1200), and with his effect, I can special summon my level four tuner Rose Warrior(1600). Now I can Synchro summon my level seven, Seven Swords Warrior (2300)!" Tem's two monsters combined in the powerful white light of a Synchro summon, making way for his new monster. "And I equip my warrior with the spell card Fairy Meteor Crush, triggering his effect to deal damage directly to your life points!"
Simone LP: 4000 – 3200
"Now, it's time for battle! Seven Swords Warrior, take out his set monster!" The monster drew one of its massive swords and brought it down on the hologram. The card shattered, revealing the monster for a brief moment. "Thanks to my equip card, you'll still take damage even though your monster was in defense mode!"
Simone LP: 3200 – 1700
"That is quite the strong start, indeed!" Simone complimented as a card ejected from his deck. "With the effect of my Apprentice Magician (800) you destroyed, I can special summon one level two or lower Spellcaster straight from the deck, in facedown defense position. I select the Old Vindictive Magician (600)."
"That's the Man-eater Bug of Spellcaster monsters!" Tem glanced at his hand then at his field. "My warrior's going to be destroyed next turn…" He muttered to himself. "I set one card and end my-"
"I activate my set card; Dust Tornado to destroy the card you just set, and set one of my own." Simone interrupted Tem. "Now, it is time for me to respond to that strength of yours. I draw," Simone smiled. "And I flip summon my monster, activating its effect to destroy your Synchro monster!" Tem cringed as his monster exploded into pixels. "Next, I normal summon Kycoo The Ghost Destroyer (1800) and attack you directly!"
Tem LP: 4000 – 2200
"And Kycoo allows me to banish two monsters from your graveyard each time it deals damage! I banish your Seven Swords Warrior and Rose Warrior! Now, my Old Vindictive Magician attacks you as well!"
Tem LP: 2200 – 1750
"And with that, I shall set one card end my turn." Simone grinned. "I would say I responded rather well, Tem. Do you not agree?"
Tem drew a card and glanced at the field. "You definitely did, Simone. So I can't back down; I summon Goblin Attack Force (2300) and attack Kycoo!"
"I activate my quick-play spell card Magical Dimension!"
"Oh no…" Tem uttered.
"I target my Old Vindictive Magician, and tribute him in order to special summon Neo Aqua Madoor (3000) in defense mode, and destroy your Goblin Attack Force!" Tem covered his face as the hologram of his monster exploded. "Will you back down now?"
Tem grit his teeth, looking at his hand. "I'll set my last two cards and call it a turn."
"Oh, is this a last hitched effort?"
"Last ditch effort, Simone." Tem cut in
"Right." Simone drew a card and took a moment to think. "Your eyes still have a glimmer of hope, Tem! I will have to change that." Simone changed his Madoor to attack position (1200). "Attack him directly!"
"I activate the trap card Reinforce Truth, allowing me to special summon the level two warrior tuner Jutte Fighter directly from my deck in defense mode (900)."
"Matadoor's attack will continue and defeat your new monster! And now Kycoo shall defeat you!"
"Spirit Force!" Tem pressed the button on his duel disk just as Kycoo drew near. "I take no damage from this battle and I can add a Warrior-type tuner from my graveyard to my hand, so long as its defense is fifteen hundred or less!" Jutte Fighter ejected from his graveyard, the hologram of Kycoo returned to Simone's side of the field.
"You have survived this time," Simone set a card. "But what shall you do on your next turn?"
Tem gulped. "I'll start off by drawing a card for my turn-"
"I think now's the perfect time for Hand Destruction, seeing how hard you tried to add that Jutte Fighter to your hand." Simone commented as he activated his quick-play spell card. "Now we both discard two cards, and draw two new cards." Simone watched Tem's face as they both drew two new cards. "You do not seem upset by this."
"You actually helped me out a bit." Tem smirked summoning a monster. "Zombyra the Dark! (2100) Attack his Madoor!"
Simone LP: 1700 – 800
Zombyra's Attack: 2100 – 1900
"You monster gets weaker every time it destroys one of my mine?" Simone observed. "Is that not risky?"
"That's all I can do for now," Tem sighed in relief. "But I've got the advantage back."
"For now, at least." Simone drew for his turn then grinned. "I discard one card from my hand in order to special summon The Tricky (2000) and attack Zombyra!"
"From my graveyard," Tem declared as Simone's monster clashed with his. "I activate the effect of Shield Warrior who was discarded on my last turn. By banishing it, my monster survives one battle!"
Tem LP: 1750 – 1650
"It would seem I caused you more help than harm with my spell card. I change Kycoo to defense position and end my turn."
"I'm forced to rely on whatever I pull from the top of my deck, and neither my monster or life points will make it past your next turn." Tem and Simone locked as Tem drew his card. "The duel just started, and we're already pushed to our limits."
"It is the way the cookie crumbles, no?" Simone seemed very proud of the phrase.
"Y-yeah, cookies." Tem cleared his throat. "I equip Zombyra with Divine Sword – Phoenix Blade, increasing its attack by three hundred points giving it enough power to take out The Tricky!"
Zombyra's Attack: 1900 – 2200
Simone's LP: 800 – 600
Zombyra's Attack: 2200 – 2000
"If your turn is done, I shall draw for my own!" Simone declared. "I call upon the Great Phantom Thief (1000) and shift Kycoo into attack position. I activate the equip spell card Book of Secret Arts and equip it to Kycoo!"
Kycoo's Attack: 1800 – 2100
"Now, Kycoo will destroy Zombyra! Once more, its effect activates, allowing me to banish your Goblin Attack Force and Jutte Fighter from your graveyard."
Tem's LP: 1650 – 1550
"And now that your field is clear, my Phantom Thief can steal your life points!"
Tem's LP: 1550 – 550
"And my Thief shall steal from you once more with its effect. I can declare a card name and if it is in your hand, you must discard it. I declare… Maurauding Captain."
"But that's the first card I played." Tem objected. "Why would it be in my hand?"
"I know that is not the card in your hand," Simone tapped his temple. "However, my monster effect forces you to reveal your hand nonetheless."
"So you can see what my card is and plan for it!" Tem sneered as he placed the card on his duel disk.
"Precisely." Simone looked at his duel disk. "The Immortal Bushi. So you do not rely solely on Synchro summoning strong monsters like you did earlier in the duel. And here I was, removing all of your tuner monsters and other materials. Who are you planning on tribute summoning?" Simone gestured for Tem to return the card to his hand. "I end my turn."
Tem drew a card then immediately summoned his monster. "No point in wasting anytime if you already know what my card is. Bushi (1200), take out his Phantom Thief!"
Simone LP: 600 – 300
"I'll set one card and end my turn."
"To attack me, rather than to protect yourself?" Simone drew a card. "You must have a lot of faith in your set card. Let us test that fate, Tem! I attack with Kycoo for my victory!"
"I activate the trap card Defense Draw! I take no damage from this battle and I get to draw a card."
"I see. And your Bushi will come back to the field on your standby phase. I set the last card in my hand, and end my turn."
"I draw for the start of my turn. And during my standby phase, since I only have Warrior-Type monsters in my graveyard and no monsters on the field, I can special summon Immortal Bushi from the graveyard. He'll be making way for my monster Freed The Matchless General-"
"I activate my trap card," Simone interrupted. "Dark Renewal!"
"One of the traps used by Yugi Muto?!" Tem gasped in awe before watching his monster turn into a black light along with Simone's monster and both entered the coffin. "That had to be a hard find!"
"It was hard to find, yes, but very worth it! It has saved me in a number of situations and it just won me this duel! Now, I can special summon directly from my deck by sacrificing our monsters and I choose…"
"Don't tell me, you actually own a copy of the-"
"Magical Marionette (2000) in attack position!" Simone triumphantly placed his hands on his hips. "Don't you like – oh, were you asking me something?" Simone questioned Tem, who simply shook his head. "Well, it is still your turn. Although, you have already used your normal summon for the turn, and Bushi's effect is only once per turn."
"I can still activate the spell card Monster Reborn and special summon Freed from my graveyard in attack position! (2300)"
"Since you activated a spell card, my Marionette gains a spell counter, and with it, two hundred attack points!"
"I banish Zombyra and…" Tem swallowed hard. "Marauding Captain from my graveyard, in order to add Divine Sword – Phoenix Blade to my hand, and equip it to Freed!"
"Another spell card means another spell counter!"
Freed's Attack: 2600
Marionette's Attack: 2400
"Freed is still strong enough to take down your puppet! Attack!" Tem pointed and Freed obliged, charging forward and destroying Simone's monster with a swing of his new sword.
Simone's LP: 300 – 100
"That's all I can do to stay in the game." Tem huffed. "I end my turn."
"To stay in the game?" Simone laughed. "Why, this duel has been my most entertaining by far! I am so glad to have come to Japan and meet so many strong duelists." Simone placed a hand on top of his deck, preparing to draw. "And to have made it this far, with no loses, is nothing short of miraculous."
"I know just what you mean, Simone." Tem couldn't help but laugh.
"However, one of us must lose, Tem, and it shall not be me. For I have a monster who will turn the tide in my favor for the last time," Simone smirked; Tem's eyes widened as the sun settled on the horizon just behind Simone as he drew, the sweat on his brow dripping down his face. Simone looked at the card he drew…
And his smirk vanished.
"I activate the spell card Hinotama, inflicting you with five hundred points of direct damage!" Tem shouted in surprise as virtual fireballs appeared above him, raining down around his feet. Tem clutched his chest; the sudden move by Simone and how passionately he announced his move nearly made Tem forget it was a hologram.
Tem's LP: 550 – 50
"And with that," Simone looked up to the sky as the last rays of the sun vanished. "I end my turn…"
Tem stared down at the bracelet on his wrist in equal parts awe and sadness. Had one of his moves been even slightly different, it would be Simone with all three blue lights of victory illuminated on his bracelet. He looked back up at Simone, waving at him from the top of the sloping street. "Just follow this street to the gold colored trolley, and you'll be on your way to the Second Stage, my new friend!"
"Thanks for giving me directions! I hope you make it into the next stage so we can duel again!"
"Let's duel again either way!" Simone vanished over the slope, prompting Tem to continue moving forward. Tem glanced at his bracelet again, headed toward what he hoped wasn't the end of his winning streak.