Spirit Caller
Chapter Nine
9
Bastion and Norika awaited Connar as she had finally got released from her phone call with her uncle that she had taken in the hall.
"So...how'd it go?" asked Norika.
"Well...they weren't psyched." said Connar.
I sure am off to a rocky start...
she thought to herself and sighed as she pressed the End Call button upon her return.
"I don't understand, how'd they even know?" asked Bastion, "It's not like we were late getting here-"
"Let's just say my dad has eyes and ears everywhere and leave it at that." said Connar.
"Wow...strict family." Bastion muttered.
You have no idea...
The girls each looked to each other when suddenly Professor Banner and the Chancellor made their way toward the small crowd.
"I hear you two have been off to a rocky start this morning, eh ladies?"
"Sorry, Chancellor Shepperd." they bowed apologetically.
"Well...I suppose these things happen." he said, "You're here now, just try to keep track of your class events."
"Thank you, sir." they chimed, and Chancellor Sheppers dmiling as he gave his nod of approval.
"The field exam, it's about dueling, right!?" Norika beamed, "I hope I get to Duel Misawa here." she stated, "Supposibly he's the best in the class, right?" she blinked, "So If I beat him, then it will be me-"
" Duel against me? Not likely." said Bastion.
"Say what!?" Norik huffed, "Why not!? You think you're better than me!?" she gave a dramatic gasp, "Are you sexist!?"
"Of course not-"
"Norika-" Connar chipped in, "That's not how these exams work." she stated.
"She's right, you know." said Bastion, "The field Test is about dueling," he stated, "But the way it's organized is that your duelist choices are limited to your own dorm."
"Come again?" Norika blinked.
"What he means, Norika, is that you won't be able to against him in these exams." Connar stated, "Not because he doesn't want to, but because he's in Ra Yellow, and we're Slifer Red Students." she explained, "As such, we can only duel students within our own dorm."
"That is correct." said Professor Banner, "With that, since you were almost late, we couldn't assign you other partners from your dorm early enough-" he stated, " I am afraid there is only one pairing we can do so that we can include you two in this field exam-and you're it!" he grinned.
"What!?" the girl's gasped and exchanged glances with each other. Connar could feel the lump in her throat as her heart sank a little.
I have to duel...against Norika!?
XXXXX
"What'd we miss!?" asked Syrus, as he slid his way into the seats with Jaden.
"Not much, yet." said Bastion, " and have been paired up for the field test." he explained, "They're about to begin, shortly."
"Sweet!" said Jaden, "We'll finally get a chance to see what kind of decks they're packing!"
"Always the game, with you..." said Syrus, "Has it not occured to you that those two are supposed to be best friends, and now they are forced to duel each other!?"
"No. Why should it?" said Jaden, "Friends make the best opponents! It makes the whole experience more fun!"
"Says you..." said Syrus as he looked upon them with concern, "However...Connie doesn't look so good..."
"She mentioned something about not feeling well, earlier." said Bastion, "But she insisted on dueling anyway."
"I see..." said Syrus, "I hope she'll be okay."
Each young woman stood on either side of the Duel Field. Norika seemed bound, ready, and determined as she shuffled her deck and slid it into her duel disk. Meanwhile the pit in Connar's stomach only grew. Chazz, sitting in the higher rows, propped his feet up and folded his arms with a scoff. Eyes leering down upon the two weomen about to bust out their decks.
Something doesn't seem right with Connar, today...
He thought to himself.
What's going on?
He blinked.
"Wow...Norika versus Connar, who'd thought we'd see the day." said Alexis as she leaned over the rainling.
"In the end, Alexis, friends or not, they are both still duelists." said Zane.
What is this...feeling?
Connar thought to herself. It was as though there was a hole inside, devouring her from within. This wasn't a nervous pit...
This felt more like...something missing.
"You ready for me Connie!?"
"Huh? Oh...right." she said and slid her deck inside, triggering the mechanism on on her arm.
"DUEL!"
Norika Satsuna: 4000
Connar Rose K.: 4000
"If you don't mind- I think I'll go ahead and make this first move mine thanks!" Norika grinned as she drew her card and gave it a glance, "First- I'm gonna activate a Field Spell, known as Zombie World!" she grinned as she slapped her field spell in play and the entire field changed into something dark and dreary that smelled of decay...
"With The Zombie World Field spell in play, all monsters on the field and graveyards become Zombie types!" she explained, "And Neither player can tribute summon-except zombie type monsters!"
Connar whinced.
No tribute summons...
she thought to herself.
Looks like I'll have to take another approach to get more powerful monsters on the field...
"Woah! Zombie world!" Jaden beamed, "So she runs a Zombie deck-Nice!"
"Of course she does, Jay." said Syrus, "She mentioned that right at the beginning-"
"Well, sure, she said it..." said Jaden, "But saying it and seeing it are two TOTALLY different things, Sy!"
"Next I'll throw out The Armored Zombie, in attack mode!"
Armored Zombie ***
ATK: 1500
DEF: 0
"Now, I'll lay down a face down and end my turn."
"My turn then!" said Connar, "Draw!" as she swiped her arm back from her deck a wave of diziness washed over her, but she tried to shake it off and simply ignore it.
"I summon White Magician Pekeru, in attack mode!" she stated, "Next I'll place one card face down, and end my turn!"
White Magician Pekeru **
ATK: 1200
DEF: 0
"In attack mode?" Norika blinked.
My Armored Zombie is clearly stronger...
Why would she do that?
She smirked.
Oh well, I'm not one to let a mistake go easy!
She thought as she drew her card.
"I summon Dragon Zombie, in attack mode!" she stated.
Dragon Zombie ***
ATK: 1600
DEF: 0
"Prepare yourself girlie!" said Norika, "I'll teach you not to leave a child on the Duel Field un-attended!"
"Activate trap card!" said Connar, "Negate Attack!"
"What!?"
As Norika's monster charged in, she found her dragon stopped short by a wall of a swirling barrier.
"With this trap card, your attack is halted, and the battle phase ended."
"Grrh..." Norika let out a low growl and gritted her teeth, "Fine...I end my turn."
"Then it's my turn!" said Connar, "Draw-NGH!" She grunted as she suddenly felt her heart constrict and the sound of distant whispers filled her ears.
No...Not again...!
"Connar!?" Norika called out, "Are you okay!?"
"I'm fine!" she huffed with a quick swipe from her deck, trying to pack down the voices that screamed in her head... During the stand By Phase, a light took to her and suddenly her Life points increased by 400.
Connar Rose K: 4000- 4400
"What gives!?" Norika blinked, "What happened!? You didn't activate a spell!"
"It's Pekeru's Special Effect." Connar stated, "As long as Pekeru is on the field, during my stand by phase, my life points increase by 400 for every monster I have out...and that includes Pekeru!" Connar grinned,"Next...I summon Ebon Magician Curran, in attack mode!"
Ebon Magician Curran **
ATK: 1200
DEF: 0
"I'll place another card face down and end my turn." she said.
Things are laying out so far so good...
She thought to herself.
Now...we wait.
"Again!?" Norika blinked and huffed.
Whatever, she's not gonna get me twice!
"I DRAW!" said Norika, and a smirk curled on her lips.
"Now you're in for a real treat~" she beamed, "By sending Armored Zombie to the graveyard, I can tribute summon the ace of my deck~" She grinned, "Red Eyes Black Zombie Dragon!"
The crowd gasped as Norika's Altimate beast took to the field.
"But how!?" said Syrus, "That's a level seven monster! it should require two tributes!"
"It's thanks to His special effect, little man~" Norika grinned, "If the tribute I am using to summon him out is a zombie type, then I only need to sacrifice one~ and that's not ALL this bad boy is capable of either!" she smirked.
"Woah, talk about a primo card!" Jaden beamed, "Things are really getting rolling now."
"She didn't have that card last time we dueled..." said Syrus, "I'm not sure how Connie's gonna get out of this one..."
"Don't count her out yet, Sy!" said Jaden.
"He;s right, Syrus." said Bastion, "Remember still has a face down on the field...and failing to take account what's on the field could wind up being Norika's downfall if she's not careful."
"Yeah, but Norika has a face down too." said Syrus, "And that could negate whatever Connar may have."
"It could~" said Jaden, "We'll find out!"
"Now! Red Eyes Black Zombie-ATTACK!"
"Activate trap!" said Connar, "Waboku!"
"What!?"
As Connar flipped her face down, three cloaked beings took to the fieled and absorbed the attack Norika's dragon had fired, before disappearing.
"With Waboku, all attack damage is reduced to zero!" she explained, "Better luck next time~" she stated.
"Dammit!" Norika huffed as she looked through her hand again.
"...I end my turn..." she muttered.
"My turn." said Connar, "Draw!"
Her eyes skimmed through her cards as she pondered her next move.
"Ahh!" Norika let out a cry as suddenly her lifpoints dropped by 600 while Connar's incressed by 800.
Norika Satsuna: 4000- 3400
Connar Rose K.: 4000- 4800
"Now what!?" Norika gasped as she searched around the field for any card effects she may have missed.
"That is thanks to Ebon Magician Curran!" said Connar, "Just like how Pekeru increases my life points by 400 for every monster on my field during each stand by phase, Curran will decrease YOURS by 300 for every monster on YOUR side!"
"Those pesky magician brats are really getting on my nerves!" Norika muttered.
I've got to find a way to get rid of them and SOON! Otherwise MY life points will only DECREASE while Connar's INCREASE!
Connar skimmed her hand carefully.
I still don't have what I need...
She thought to herself.
But there IS something I can do-
She whinced as she felt her heart constrict and bound against her as the voices tried to make themselves heard once again, continuing to pack them away she swiped two cards from her hand.
"I'll place a card face down! Then, I'll summon out Injection Fairy Lily!"
Injection Fairy Lily ***
ATK: 400
DEF: 1500
Again with these cutsey weaker cards!?
Norika thought to herself.
At this rate, my Bottomless trap Hole may as well be completely useless!
Just wasted card space at this point!
She huffed as she brought her Duel Disk up to look at the field lay out.
And why did she leave Lily in Attack mode!? 400 isn't gonna lay a scratch on me-
"It seems hasn't quite done all of her Duel Monster Homework..." said Bastion.
"Yeah if it's not a zombie she doesn't really pay much attention..." said Syrus, "Still...why did she play Lily in attack mode?" asked Syrus, "With 400 attack it's not like she can do anything...Connar would just hurt herself."
"You would think." said Jaden, "But Lily there actually has a special ability that can change all of that!"
"Really!?"
"That's right." said Bastion, "And with Connar's life point build up, if done wisely, she can activate that ability of Lily's a couple times!"
"I choose...to attack!" said Connar as she thrusted her arm forward and her life points dropped drasticaly from 4800 to 2800.
Connar Rose K.: 4800- 2800
Injection Fairy Lily ***
ATK: 400- 3400
DEF: 1500
"What!? 3400!?" Norika gasped.
"That's right!" said Connar, "By paying 2000 life points, I can increase Injection Fairy Lily's Attack by 3000 during the battle phase!" she stated, "And I'm gonna bring all her extra points in a smack down against the Zombie Dragon!"
"Ahhhh!" Norika cried out as Lily's syringe shot straight through her Zombie Dragon right against her chest, draining her life points by 1800 as her creature turned to dust.
Norika Satsuna: 3400-1600
Connar Rose K.: 2800
A long whistle sounded from Jaden's lips as before he laughed, "Talk about Big Damage!" he beamed, "This Duel is so Sweet!"
"That will do for my turn." said Connar while Norika heaved as she swiped a card from her deck.
"Well it's my turn now, Connar!" said Norika," And I'm gonna get rid of that injection Fairy Lily!"
"Not without paying the 300 point toll to Curran for your Stand By Phase!" said Connar as Norika's life points dropped to 1300.
"Whatever!" Norika huffed, "Attack, Red Eyes Black Zombie Dragon!"
Though it didn't do her much good. As Connar's life points took another 2000 point drop, Norika found her best beast destroyed with a toll of another 1000 life points.
Norika Satsuna: 1300-300
Connar Rose K.: 2800-800
"What!? How!?" said Norika, "I thought that effect only lasted temporarily during your battle phase!?"
"Correction..." said Connar, "This is an effect I can activate that lasts tmporarily during the Battle Phase!" said Connar, "No matter who's turn it is."
Norika let out a low growl.
"Well...at least since I have no more monsters on my side of the field...Curran's Effect can't touch me anymore" she sighed, " I end my turn..."
"My turn then!" said Connar, "Draw-" Suddenly she froze up as a ringing in her ears chimed like a bell, followed by a familiar teetering sing song voice-
"Let's do it!" it said, and Connar's blue eyes shifted to the card she now held in her hand and smiled.
Yes! A Lucky Draw!
she thought to herself and smiled as her life points healed up with Pekeru's effect.
Connar Rose K.: 800- 2000
"I activate the spell card, Pot Of Greed!" she said as she then swiped two cards from her deck, "Next I'll activate two very special equip spell cards known as Trial of The Princesses!" she beamed and slid them into their slots, "One for Pekeru, and One for Curran!" she stated.
White Magician Pekeru
ATK: 1200-2000
DEF: 0
Ebon Magician Curran
ATK: 1200-2000
DEF: 0
"Check that out!" said Alexis from the high ground where she watched the duel with Zane, "It's amazing how she managed to utilize weaker monsters into power houses like that."
"Connar has always been known to duel rather simply." said Zane, "But it's the way she uses that simplicity to her gain, that makes her such a reckonable Duelist."
"No kidding." said Alexis, " The way she used the effects of Pekeru and Curran to her advantage by protecting them from being destroyed was uncanny." she blinked, "Not to mention thanks to Pekeru's extra Life boosts, She was also able to turn Injection Fairy Lily into a power house to her advantage without much risk to her life points because Pekeru can just heal them back up."
"Exactly." said Zane, "That's always been Connar's strategy base..." he blinked, "She uses weaker monsters and protects them, allowing her to make the weak strong."
"HaHa...it's kinda funny." said Alexis, "In a way...Connar's deck...is a lot like her personality."
Now by placing my Magician's Circle trap card face dowm, I can be ready even if Norika's trap saves her from this and she aims to attack Lily next turn~
Connar thought to smiled as the Image of Dark Magician Girl came to mind.
But if I'm lucky...I'll end this duel before we get that far-
!?
She suddenly froze up as she was about to call her attack. Norika, who had braced herself for impact blinked in confusion when she saw Connar make no move.
"Connie?" she blinked, "You gonna win this or what?"
Norika'ss eyes widened as she saw all color leave Connar's face and her bright blue eyes fade into a dark blank state.
"...Connar?" she called.
Chazz twitched from his seat and sat up quickly eyes wide.
"...What's going on with Connar?" asked Syrus, "She can win this why isn't she doing anything?"
"This doesn't look good..." said Jaden, as he rose to his feet quickly and stumbled his way out of the row to try to findsome way to reach her.
"hey, Jay!?" Syus called, "Awwe, Wait up!"
Connar's body swayed, and suddenly the weight og ravity seemed much heavier, aiming to pull her down. Reacting with thought, Zane gripped the railings and placed one foot on the middle bar before Alexis pulled him back to the situation.
"Zane, Are you crazy!?" said Alexis, "Come on- we can see if she's okay by taking the stairs!"
"Ah...right." he said quickly stepping away and leading the way down the corridor with Alexis in tow just as Connar's body began to fall.
Jaden rushed to try and reach her in time but was outshined by Chazz, who had gotten there first, just in time to catch her body before it had hit the floor.
"he must have just jumped over the rows..." Jaden said softly, surprised at how quick Princeton had reacted, "Guess he can't be all that bad if he'd rush in to help her like this."
"Wh...What's going on...!?" Norika asked with a trembling voice as she watched students and faculty quickly gather around the unconscious Connar in Chazz's arms as he handed her pver to the infirmary assistants.
"...Connar...?"
To be Continued