Ichika and Houki have done well. They dueled together and have won together. They've made it all the way to the finals, but now the time has come where they must duel each other. They weren't looking forward to this, but this is just something that needs to be done. The two of them facing each other should have been expected, but this was just one of those things that you weren't ready for no matter how much you expected it.
"We will now begin the final match to determine who will face Peggrin and determine the winner of the tournament." Crone said. "The final match will be between Ichika Orimura and Houki Shinonono." Both of them stood facing each other and were anxious for this. Houki wished she didn't had to fight Ichika because of this.
"I can't believe this is happening." Charlotte said.
"You can't? You should have expected this." Laura said.
"Laura's got a point." Rin said. "We all knew something like this was going to happen when Houki decided to take part in the tournament. There was always the chance that Houki and Ichik would have to face each other. However, I didn't really think it would be in the final match."
"Maybe, but I can see that neither of them wants to do this." Charlotte said. "If a decision must be made, why not flip a coin?"
"It doesn't work like that Charlotte." Cecilia said.
"Why doesn't it work?" Charlotte said. "Ichika and Houki have been friends for a long time. They shouldn't have to fight each other. Not like this given the circumstances."
"We understand what you're saying, Charlotte." Ryu said. "However, they're duelists. This is just something that needs to be done. Either way, it's in their hands. I just wish there's a way for them both to get what they want."
'Wishful thinking, but I'll be the one to win it all in the end.' Peggrin thought as he didn't think it made much of a difference in who wins this duel.
'I can't believe this is really happening.' Ichika thought. 'I'm really dueling against Houki, one of my closest friends, but I need to win if I'm going to put a stop to Peggrin.'
'It doesn't look like Houki wants to do this either.' The spirit told Ichika. Ichika looked at Houki and he could tell she doesn't want to do this either. They've both been friends for a long time, but there doesn't appear to be anything they can do. The spirit decided to take over as he switched places with Ichika and got himself ready for this duel.
"Well, this is it, Houki? Are you ready?" Ichika said.
"Well... If I'm being honest, Ichika, I rather not do this." Houki said. "I only joined this tournament to help you out. I didn't think we would have to face each other like this. Since we're both in the finals, I don't think it really matters at this point anymore. Winning this is more important to you than it is to me anyhow. I think... I think I'm going to forfeit."
"Forfeit?!" Ichika said as all of them were shocked she was going to suggest such a thing.
"There's not much reason for me to duel you." Houki said. "I only came to help you, but you and I are the only ones left. Why do I need to duel you? You now have a clear shot to face Peggrin and..." "Don't you dare!" Ichika interrupted for he didn't want to hear anymore.
"Don't think about quitting, Houki." Ichika said. "If I can't face whatever challenge comes my way, I don't have the strength to take on Peggrin. each challenge we face, whether we win or lose, helps become stronger and better people. You owe it to yourself and I to see this through to the end. That's the kind of person I thought you were, Houki. Don't prove me wrong." Houki was shocked at what Ichika said, but she understands.
"Okay, Ichika. If that's what you really want." Houki said as she didn't want to prove Ichika wrong. She might hold strong feelings for him, but she isn't going to let him win so easily.
"If both duelists can show their qualification cards, we may begin." Crone said. Both of them held out their cards. Houki had the star card and Ichika had the blank card, and it was clear that they were both in. "Good. Give the cards you are showing, if Miss Shinonono wins, she will be granted any one wish within our power. As for Mr. Orimura, his card is for if he actually duels Mr. Peggrin."
"So, Houki gets a cool prize, but Ichika won't? That doesn't seem fair." Cecilia said.
"It doesn't matter. All Ichika wants is to save Chifuyu, Conner, and Mila. He wouldn't care for the wish at all." Charlotte said.
"Whenever you're ready." Crone said.
"No matter what, let's give it our all." Houki said.
"That's what I like to hear." Ichika said. 'I'll give it my best, Houki. Sure hope there is no hard feelings.' He hoped.
'Ichika, I won't insult you. I'll give it my all and live up to your expectations of this duel.' Houki thought. The two of them might be old friends, but they're opponents now. No matter what, they aren't backing down.
"Let's duel!" Both of them said. There's no turning back now.
"Ladies first!" Houki said as she was going to make the first move. "I'm going to start by summoning Mishen the Silent Wind to the field!" She made the first move as she summoned out her samurai with him having 1500atk points. "I'm also going to place two cards facedown! That's all I'm going to do for this turn."
"That's it? I thought Houki would have a stronger start than that." Rin said.
"The duel is just starting. I'm sure Houki has something planned. Especially with all her talk about how they aren't going to give it less than their all." Ryu said.
"It's my turn!" Ichika said as he drew his first card. "I'll start my turn by summoning Infinite Stratos Blue Tears to the field!" She summoned out Blue Tears as she flew out with 1600atk points. "With that, I can now activate her special ability! For every Infinite Stratos I have on the field, she is capable of dealing damage, up to 400LP for each one. Blue Tears fired a set of lasers and blasted Houki as her life points dropped to 3600. "I'm also going to activate Rocket Boost! This spell will give her an extra 500atk points!" Blue Tears were given boosters as her attack points increased to 2100. "Blue Tears, attack Mishen with Blue Pierce!" Blue Tears fired a laser and blasted Mishen with it as her life points dropped to 3000.
"That's just what I wanted." Houki said. "First, I activate the spell card called Warrior's Discipline!" She said as she activated one of her face-downs. "Since you just destroyed Mishen, another warrior is added to my hand. I'll add Hito the Blazing Fire." She took the card from her deck and added it to her hand. "There's also Mishen's ability. Since a spell card was activated while he's in my graveyard, I can add him to my deck." She took Mishen from her graveyard and placed it in her deck.
"But why would you do that now?" Ichika asked.
"You'll see. Is there anything else you like to try, Ichika?" Houki asked.
"No. I end my turn." Ichika said.
"My turn!" Houki said as she drew her next card. "I pay 500LP to activate Soldier's Promotion! This allows me to summon a warrior to the field. I'm summoning Hito the Blazing Fire to the field!" She summon out Hito as he had 1700atk points as her life points dropped to 2500. "Now, I can summon Swordsman of Mirage to the field." Her second swordsman came out with him having 1400atk points.
"What is Houki planning?" Cecilia said.
"I have a feeling we're about to find out." Ryu said.
"I now activate my second trap! It's called Equal Standards!" Houki said. "This trap card allows me to send one monster to your graveyard that has attack points that are equal or lower to mine, but I must have no monsters in my graveyard to do that."
"I see. That's why Houki played the way she did." Rin said. "She's hoping to get rid of one of Ichika's strongest monsters."
"I think I know which one of your monsters to get rid of. I choose Akatsubaki!" Houki said. Akatsubaki emerged out of Ichika's deck and had had to send it to the graveyard. "There's more. Every monster you have that has less attack points than the monster you just lost is destroyed!"
"That means Blue Tears is a goner!" Cecilia said. A powerful blast came at Blue Tears and destroyed her.
"That means both my warriors are free to attack you directly!" Houki said. Both if her swordsmen attacked as they slashed against him and his life points dropped all the way to 900.
"Houki's taken control of the duel." Charlotte said.
"She's doing just what Ichika wanted. She's not holding anything back." Cecilia said. "It has me curious as to who the better duelist is. What am I saying? Ichika is the better one of course."
"Maybe, but Houki is strong. She's not going to make it easy." Ryu said.
"It's my turn!" Ichika said as he drew his card. "I summon Infinite Stratos Uchigane!" Ichika summoned out another pilot with her having 900atk points. "I now activate her special ability. I send her to the graveyard to summon Infinite Stratos Schwarzer Regen!" Ichika released one monster and summoned another one as she flew out with 2100atk points. "Schwarzer Regen, attack Swordsman of Mirage!" Schwarzer Regen pulled out a cannon. She fired an energy blasted and blasted Houki's swordsman. It ended up destroyed with Houki's life points dropping to 1800. "I also activate Granted Kindness. This card actually works for both of us. It gives me 1500LP, but it also allows you to draw two cards."
"That is very kind of you." Houki said as she draws two cards while Ichika's life points increased to 2400.
"Ichika played a card that helped Houki?" Ryu said.
"Not surprising when you think about." Rin said.
"Indeed. This is shaping to be quite a duel." Cecilia said.
"I end my turn there." Ichika said.
"My turn!" Houki said as she drew her next card. "This is just what I needed. I activate Uncovered Secrets! This spell card allows me to take a monster from YOUR graveyard and add it to my hand. I know just the one I want: Akatsubaki!" Ichika was surprised by her choice, but he had to give it to her. He took his card and tossed it to Houki.
"Why do you want it?" Ichika questioned. He tried to think of a good reason and he soon got it. "Are you doing what I think you're doing?!"
"Maybe." Houki said. "Did you think I have this?! I activate Polymerization! I'm fusing Akatsubaki with Coronix! Yeah, our two mightiest monsters together!" This was a surprise to everyone as both of their strongest monsters, a powerful machine and a force of nature, came together. They molecularly split apart and the two of them began to fuse together. "I fusion summon Phoenix Warrior Shisara!" The female warrior appeared on the field. She had 2800atk points and looked ready to finish this duel.
"I can't believe this!" Charlotte said.
"That's the same monster the two of them used to beat those gate guardians." Cecilia said.
"But Houki somehow managed to summon it on her own." Ryu said. "Very clever. She must have been planning to take Akatsubaki and fusion summon from the beginning."
"And now Ichika has to fire out how he's going to beat that thing." Rin said.
"Are you ready, Ichika? Shisara is going to end this duel right here and now." Houki said.
"We'll see about that." Ichika said. Both sides are living up to the other's expectations. This might be a duel between friends with no hard feelings, but it's an intense one. It's only a matter of deciding the winner. Which one will it be?
To Be Continued...