Chapter 77: A Sibling Rivalry

Akiza sighed wearily as she walked down the hall, her last duel having taken its toll. It was going to be hard work, but Sayer would be avenged.

"Well, well, well. what do we have here."

Akiza turned to see her fellow Psychic Divine leaning against the wall, his signature scowl plastered on his face.

"Divine. What do you want?"

"What? I can't congratulate my friend?"

"We are not friends. Goodbye."

Akiza moved to walk away, but Divine grabbed her, nearly crushing her arm in his vice grip.

"Let me go!"

"You can deny it all you want Akiza, but I know the truth. You enjoy hurting people, just like me."

"No, I don't! I don't want to hurt them, but I can't control my powers!"

"Do you mistake me for a fool? I saw your duel, how you viciously beat down on him. Don't be too hard on yourself, he had it coming, just like-"

With a mighty yank, Akiza pulled free, elbowing Divine in the gut before running away. Despite the pain, Divine smiled.

"You can run, but you can't hide. Not from me, and not from the truth."

After the shock over Akiza's freak display, the Friendship Cup could continue.

"Alright folks, lets get the final duel of round 1 underway! Our final two contestants are Leo vs Luna!"

Zuzu gasped in shock.

"What? How could they let two kids into this tournament?"

Leo and Luna drove their Duel Runners up to the starting line, neither one really wanting to do this. However, Roget had given them no choice.

It was the morning after their narrow escape from Sector Security. Leo and Luna were relaxing in the hideout, while Declan, Zuzu, and the ninja brothers were trying to defuse the situation. Just then, there was a knock at the door.

"Open up. I know you're in there!"

"Keep it down, maybe he'll go away."

"No I won't. It's alright, I just want to talk."

Realizing there was no other way out of this, Leo opened the door to reveal a clown in a bright red suit.

"Um, hi?"

"Good evening, my name is Lazar. Director Roget's right hand man. Are you Leo ad Luna Sanderson?"

"Yeah. Who wants to know?"

Lazar reached into his coat and pulled out two envelopes, handing one to each of them.

"Congratulations. You are hereby invited to participate in this year's Friendship Cup."

"Thanks, but I think we'll skip."

"I'm afraid that's not an option. We know you've been harboring a fugitive, which need I remind you is a serious felony. Either you play our game or you'll be spending your teen years in The Facility. We wouldn't want that, now would we?"

Realizing they were backed into the corner, Leo and Luna relented.

"Fine. We'll join your stupid tournament."

"Excellent. We look forward to seeing you."

As Melissa droned on with her introduction, Leo glanced over at his sister.

I won't let them take you, Luna. If it means sacrificing my life for yours, then so be it. But I can't just throw the match, they'd catch on to it. Better make this look good.

And although he couldn't know for sure, he had a feeling Luna was thinking the same thing.

"...Alright folks, this is the final match for round 1, so let's get started! I activate the field spell Crossover Acceleration! On your mark...get set...GO!"

Although it was neck and neck, Leo just barely managed to take the first corner, securing the first turn.

Leo: 4000

Luna: 4000

"Alright Luna, get ready because here I come! I summon Morphtronic Scopen in attack mode!"

"I know what you're planning Leo, but I have a plan of my own. When you normal summon a monster, I can summon Naturia Cosmobeet (1000/700) in defense mode."

"Well, don't forget Scopen's effect. I summon Morphtronic Datatron (1200/600) in defense mode! And once per turn while he's in defense mode, I can burn you for 300 points of damage!"

Luna ducked out of the way as the lighter shot a small fireball at her, singing her hair slightly.

Luna: 3700

"And you know what happens next, don't you? I tune level 3 Datatron with my level 3 Scopen to Synchro Summon Power Tool Wyvern (2200/1500) in attack mode! And when it's summoned, I can add one equip spell from my deck to my hand, and I choose Lucky Iron Axe, which I'll now equip to him (2200-2700). I'll set two cards face down and end my turn."

"Not bad Leo, but I'm not giving up yet! I'll start by summoning Naturia Fruitfly (800/1500). Now my level 2 Naturia Cosmobeet tunes with my level 3 Naturia Fruitfly to Synchro Summon my level 5 Naturia Beast (2200/1700) in attack mode. Next, I actiave Monster Reborn to bring back Fruitfly, and while he's out your monsters lose 300 attack and defense for each Naturia monster I have (2700-2100/1500-900). Now I activate my spell card Leodrake's mane, increasing Beast's attack to 3000 until the end phase, in exchange for losing its effect (2200-3000). Sorry Leo, but I can't afford to lose. Naturia Beast, take out his Wyvern!"

The mighty beast pounced on Leo's armless mechanical dragon, ripping to shreds.

Leo: 3100

"I activate my trap card, Time Machine, bringing back Wyvern good as new (2200-1600/1500-900). And since he was summoned, I can add Axe of Despair straight to my hand."

"I'll play the spell card Rarengold Armor and equip to my Beast. Now he's the only monster you can attack. With that I end my turn. Your move Leo."

"Alright, then I better make it good. I draw!"

Alright, her Beast makes it so I can't use Spell cards with any certainty, so I have to get rid of it first. But her Fruitfly makes it so all of my monsters will lose points for each of her monsters. Guess there's only one thing I can do.

"I banish Datatron from my graveyard to summon Morphtronic Smartfon (100-0/100-0) in attack mode. Next, he dials a random number, and I can excavate that many cards from my deck."

The dials on the smart phone's chest lit up with increasing speed before it landed on 4.

"Oh yeah! And it gets better, because I can add a Morphtronic from the excavated cards to my hand, and I choose Morphtronic Slingen, who I'll now summon (1200-600/800-200)!"

"Impressive line up, but none of them can take out my Beast!"

"Someone's forgetting Slingen's ability. I can tribute another Morphtronic to destroy 1 card on the field, so say goodbye to your Beast!"

Slingen loaded Smartfon into its slingshot and fired, blowing Luna's synchro monster to bits (1600-1900/900-1200) (600-900/200-500).

"Next, I activate my trap card, Limiter Reverse! This lets me bring back Scopen, who I'll now tune with Slingen to Synchro Summon Power Tool Advanced Dragon (2300-2000/2500-2200)!"

Leo's signature monster roared onto the field. He considered using its effect to add an equip spell to his hand, but decided against it.

"Wyvern, take out her Fruitfly!"

The armless dragon released bolts of lightning from its empty sockets, shocking the poor fly into submission (1900-2200/1200-1500) (2000-2300/2200-2500).

"Attack her directly, Advanced Dragon!"

Luna barely dodged as the massive dragon swung its shovel arm at her, barely managing to stay on the track.

Luna: 600

"Your move, Luna."

Leo, I know what you're trying to do, and for that I am grateful. But now I have to end this.

"I'll start by activating the field spell Naturia Forest! Next, I activate the trap card Descendant Lost Star, bringing back my Naturia Beast. Next, I summon Naturia Tulip, which I'll tune with my Beast to Synchro Summon Ancient Fairy Pixie Dragon (2100/3000)!"

Leo mocked a shocked gasp. He knew what was coming next.

"Sorry Leo, but when Ancient Fairy Pixie Dragon is summoned, I can cards on the field equal to the number of field spells on the field, so say goodbye to your dragons!"

Leo watched as his dragons exploded into chunks of scrap metal.

"And for each monster destroyed by this effect, you lose 500 life points!"

Leo: 2100

"Sorry Leo, but this is the end! Ancient Fairy Pixie Dragon, attack Leo directly!"

Leo closed his eyes and let the energy wave wash over him.

"Good luck, Luna."

Leo: 0000

Luna wins!