ARC-V – Roar of the Dragons: Standard Season

by SurvivorTierEXO

Book 1: People say everyone can smile. Of course, that is not the case or easy for Yasuko Yukihana, the new transfer student from Tokyo. What's her problem? She doesn't smile. Yasuko is an introverted girl who doesn't smile. That looks like a task Yuya Sakaki can handle, right? Well, he's going have to do a lot more than just his friendship and his Dueltainment to make her smile.

49. Chapter 49: Academia's Apex Predator

Disclaimer: I do not own the properties of Yu-Gi-Oh franchise or the work of the cards; I only own the OCs that could or may be involved in this series. I own nothing of the real OCG cards, just the formal OC character.

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Arc League Championship — Chapter 49: Academia's Apex Predator: Yasuko Yukihana vs. Yuri

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When the morning sun strikes through the clouds and shines upon the girls, Yasuko was the first one to wake. She flutters her eyes open and saw that morning has come to the iceberg zone. The air was still cold, but at least it was better than the night's cold. She can hardly feel her toes after sleeping in the ice cave for who knows how long she was in. She notices that Zuzu is sleeping beside her.

Yasuko moves away from Zuzu gently, and she gets up to stretch her arms. She stumbles outside the cave to take in the bright sunlight beaming down on her skin. She adjusts her vision. The iceberg zone looked exactly clearer than yesterday. Still, she felt no better than yesterday. The ice floor was the worst thing that she ever slept on.

Her stomach makes a low growl, giving her a groan from staying underneath the ice cap all night. Yasuko checks the time on her duel disk. It is about another three and a half hours left until noon where she can finally go home, get cleaned up, and have a big meal. She cannot wait for the battle royal to end and be back at her own comfortable bed.

She exits out of the cave and proceeds to walk outside under the cold morning with the sunlight beaming down on her sweaty skin. "Damn? How long was I asleep?" Yasuko wondered. "I hope I can find something to drink in this hellhole." As the cynical girl comes into the open, she saw someone in front of her.

Yasuko gets into the clearing to take the view of the person in front of her. She comes to a halt, frozen in shock that she confronts someone that she does not understand. It does not make any sense to who Yuya is anymore.

The person in front of her resembles Yuya Sakaki, but his features and clothes are different from Yuto, Yugo, or Yuya. The person has the face of Yuya, but his iris color in his eyes is dark purple, and he has nearly slit pupils. He also has short but thick, pink eyebrows. His hair is violet and pink, with two violet ahoges pointing upwards like antennas.

Yasuko has a bad feeling in her gut. The person standing in front of her is wearing a purple violet military uniform with thick cuffs and gold shoulder bands and a light blue waistcoat, pink cravat, and a red cape.

Based on what he is wearing, the cynical girl had to assume that he is from Academia. Again, that idea comes second. She wants to know who or what Yuya is right now. "Oh crap. You from Academia?" Yasuko asked.

The male stranger makes a small hum in surprise. "Well, this is the first time I've met anyone who knows where I am from," he said, giving a slight sarcasm.

Yasuko confirms her suspicions about the strange male in front of her. Whatever the case was, she cannot take another moment to even process the idea if Yuya has counterparts. The thought of Yuya's counterparts is making her head spin. She pinched her eyes. "Oh my god. Please tell me that you are Yuya's twin brother or his clone, cuz I am not having a good day right now," she asked, clearly fed up with the identity crisis from Yuya.

The stranger raises an eyebrow. "Yuya? No, I have no brother," he answered. "But what makes you think that I have a clone?"

"I don't know, and I don't care," said Yasuko, narrowing her eyes at the stranger in front of her. "I had to deal with Yugo the other day, but you…you are the new perspective of how much crap I have to deal with in this tournament."

Since Academia is a major threat in her books, she knows not to underestimate the duelists affiliated with Academia. Yasuko looks at him from head to toe. There was no mistake that he does have the face and the body figure of Yuya, but the stranger isn't Yuya and his split personality disorder.

"Yes, we do have a resemblance, but I am not Yuya," he said. "My name is Yuri."

The girl felt her eyebrows tightening at Yuri. She is not having a very good day. "I don't care," she rebuked. "You are Academia, so you better be ready for the world of hurt 'cuz I'm going to kick your ass for what you did to the people in Heartland City."

Yuri was mused of how feisty that the cynical duelist is being. "Oh? You sure you want to take me on?" he asked. He looked ready to decline Yasuko, but then again, he had other thoughts in mind "Well, I suppose it would be fun to make you be my warm-up. After all, I am here for the girl you have over there." He points at the ice cave that is right behind her.

Yasuko finds it surprising that someone from Academia would be coming after Zuzu. "What? What about her?" she asked.

"That is none of your concern," said Yuri. "I only have one job to do, and if you stand in my way, then so beat it. You'll be joining the others soon enough."

"Others?" Yasuko inquired.

To answer Yasuko's question, Yuri picks something in his coat pocket. He takes out three cards and looks at them. "Others who dare to interfere with my work," said Yuri. He throws the three cards over to Yasuko's feet.

What Yasuko saw is unbelievably appalling. The two cards below her feet are somewhat resemblance to two LDS students that she does not know. They had a face of screaming horror pictures in them. One, on the other hand, was familiar. The card looked like David Pietro. Yasuko could not believe what she is seeing until Yuri threw them over to her.

"What the—? What the hell is this?" Yasuko asked.

"This is you. You being turned into a card like those three you see before me," Yuri replied.

Yasuko picks up three of them. She looked at their terrifying faces. The girl thought that people turning into cards was just a made-up story, but if everything Yuto said about his people being turned into cards and the demonstration in front of her is true, then being turned into a card is real. The sight of the three duelists she does not know in their card forms makes her blood boil red hot like water in a pot. She does not even care much for David or the other contestants in those cards, but they didn't deserve to become cards themselves. Her eyes are now hardening. The glare turns to a sharp dagger that looks ready to stab at Yuri's casual look with her gaze.

"You bastard," Yasuko growled. "You did this? You turned them into cards?" She channeled all her anger and hatred down to put everything in beating Yuri, like how she beat Serena. "I'm going to kick your ass."

Yuri is intrigued to see someone like Yasuko to give off a feisty attitude. "So fierce, I like that," he commented. "That is a trait worthy of hunting."

The more Yuri gives off his despicable smile, the narrower her eyes get. Yasuko is not going to underestimate Yuri. She takes out her forest green duel disk from her drop-leg holster and attaches it to her left arm with the blue blade emerging out from it.

Yuri takes an interest to see how fast the girl made her decision. "You want to duel? Alright then, I'll give you what you want." Yuri pulls out his left arm to show the same design duel disk that Serena has. His black-trimmed duel disk emits a violet sword duel blade. "I'm going to enjoy this," said Yuri.

"You won't," Yasuko reprimanded. She turns on her forest-green duel disk to pop out a glowing blue blade.

With both duel disks out and their glowing blades activated, Yasuko and Yuri begin their duel.

"Duel!" They shouted altogether to start the duel.

DUEL:

Yasuko Yukihana (LP 4000)

VS.

Yuri (LP 4000)

Both duelists have five cards in their hands and take up a battle stance to begin their duel.

Yasuko has to keep her guard up because Yuri is probably unlike Serena and her deck. The individual deck is unknown to Yasuko, with only being related to Fusion.

Turn 1: Yuri (5x cards)

Yuri's slit eyes prowl on Yasuko. "I'll take the lead," he said coolly.

Yuri takes out a card from his hand and activates the Field Spell Card: Fusion Recycling Plant. "I activate the Field Spell, Fusion Recycling Plant," he said. "This card lets me discard one card to add one Polymerization or any card that has a "Fusion" in its name to my hand." Yuri discards his monster card: Predaplant Flytrap, to add himself one Polymerization Spell Card to his hand. "I discard my Predaplant Flytrap to add one Polymerization, but I'm activating it as well!" Yuri plays the spell to begin his Fusion Summon. "I activate Polymerization to fuse Predaplant Sarraceniant and Cordyceps from my hand." As Yuri plays the spell, the two monsters that appear beside him are plant-like creatures that Yasuko has never seen before. One of them is an actual cordyceps but with a red face, and the other is a sarracenia plant creature taking the form of an ant.

"Vicious red leaf, merge with the greenish ant of the pinchers to form a monstrous plant that will devour anything! I Fusion Summon! The Level 7! Predaplant Chimerafflesia!" Yuri uses his Predaplant Cordyceps and Predaplant Sarraceniant to Fusion Summon Predaplant Chimerafflesia (ATK 2500/DEF 2000) in Attack Position. The two plant creatures swirled themselves into the vortex of red and blue to bring out a monster that is a chimera that has two vines with jaws and a red rafflesia flower on the body.

Yasuko cannot tell if the monster is either a plant or an animal, but one thing she does know is that Yuri's another Fusion specialist like Serena. The real question is, what kind of individual abilities does Yuri possess. "That's one hell of a flower right there," she said.

Yuri makes a smirk while taking out his last card in his hand. "Oh, you'll find surprises from me sooner than you think," he said. "I Set one card face-down, and I end my turn. Fusion Recycling Plant's effect activates. During the End Phase, I can add one monster that was used as a Fusion Material." Yuri Sets a face-down and takes out one card from his graveyard to add Predaplant Sarranceniant back to his hand. "And I think I'll add back my Sarranceniant to my hand."

Turn 2: Yasuko (5x cards)

Yasuko cannot let herself lower her guard against Yuri. There may be something that she must know. Yuri is from Academia, but why he wants to get Zuzu is another question that is starting to plague her. "Yuri said that he came to this dimension for Zuzu," she thought. "Why her? Why Zuzu? Is this who Yugo may be referring to?" She thinks back to how Yugo and Yuto met. Yugo said that Yuto stole someone named Rin, but if this person who looked like Yuya is the one who kidnapped Rin, then there can only be one thing for sure.

"So, you came to kidnap Zuzu, right?" Yasuko asked. "Does this mean you've kidnapped Rin as well?"

Yuri raised one eyebrow of interest. "Oh, so you know? How'd you figure that it was me?" he questioned.

"Let's just say…I've got an inside source," Yasuko answered. "And right now, I am royally pissed at you." She places two fingers on top of her deck. "My turn! I draw!" She draws a card from her deck. Looking at it, Yasuko activates the Spell Card: Spell Power Mastery. "I activate the spell; Spell Power Mastery!" she stated. "This card allows me to add one Endymion card from my deck to my hand." A single card pops out, allows Yasuko to add Servant of Endymion. "I add Servant of Endymion to my hand, and I am going to Set my Pendulum Scale with my Scale 2 Servant of Endymion!" The girl activates her Servant of Endymion (Scale 2) at the left Pendulum Scale. At one, the blonde endymion servant flows upward to the sky with her respective Pendulum Scale number underneath her.

Yuri lets a small gape form from his mouth. He looked curious about what Yasuko has done. "A Pendulum Scale, you say? How interesting," he inquired.

"I activate Spell Power Grasp." She then takes out another card from her hand to activate the Spell Power Grasp Spell Card. "It lets me target one face-up card on the field that I can place one Spell Counter on and then add a second Spell Power Grasp from my deck to my hand." She raises her hand over to her endymion servant. "I target my Servant of Endymion, which will activate her Pendulum Effect! Each time we activate a spell card, she gains a spell counter." The endymion servant glows in a yellow aura around her body to gain two counters.

(Servant of Endymion: Spell Counter 0 → 2)

Another card pops out of Yasuko's deck to let her add a second Spell Power Grasp. "Now I activate this! The Spell, Pendulum Call!" Yasuko activates the Spell Card: Pendulum Call. "By discarding one card, I can add two different "Magician" monsters from my deck to my hand," she explained. Two cards popped out of her deck, allowing Yasuko to add her two magicians: Dragonpit Magician and Dragonpulse Magician. "I add Dragonpit and Dragonpulse Magician! Which means my Servant's Pendulum effect activates!" The endymion servant glows in a yellow aura to gain another spell counter.

(Servant of Endymion: Spell Counter 2 → 3)

"I activate Servant's pendulum effect! By removing three spell counters from herself, I can Special Summon Servant from the Pendulum Zone and one monster from my deck that I can place a spell counter on!" Yasuko declared, removing all three of the counters that the endymion servant has.

(Servant of Endymion: Spell Counter 3 → 0)

"I remove three spell counters to summon Servant of Endyimon from my Pendulum Zone and Endymion, the Mighty Master of Magic from my deck, and then place one spell counter on each one of them!" Using her monster's pendulum effect, Yasuko can Special Summon Servant of Endymion (ATK 900/DEF 1500) in Defense Position from her Pendulum Zone and the Endymion, the Mighty Master of Magic (ATK 2800/DEF 1700) from her deck in Attack Position.

(Servant of Endymion: Spell Counter 0 → 1)

(Endymion, the Mighty Master of Magic: Spell Counter 0 → 1)

The endymion servant disappears from the Pendulum Zone before returning to the Main Monster Zone with the endymion master.

"Now, I Normal Summon the tuner monster, Magicialibra!" Yasuko Normal Summons Magicalibra (ATK 1000/DEF 1000). The magical libra scale of justice appears on the field with its pink glowing eyes.

Yuri makes a satisfying smirk of interest. "Oh, a tuner monster?" he queried.

"Level 4 Magicalibra tunes with my level 3 Servant," said Yasuko. The magical scale transforms itself into four green rings that scan the endymion servant, turning the monster into nothing but three glowing white orbs at the center of the formation. The rings create a chain reaction to burst a white stream of light.

"Wonderous white dragon, spread those beautiful circuit wings to soar into the sky as fast as the winds can take you! I Synchro Summon! Arise! Level 7! Clear Wing Fast Dragon!" Yasuko Synchro Summons Clear Wing Fast Dragon (ATK 2500/DEF 2000) in Attack Position.

Clear Wing Fast flew out of the light with its crystal panel wings circulating from the inside, the morning sun reflecting its shiny white armor, and the gold eyes illuminating under the clouds.

The moment Clear Wing Fast appears on the field, Yuri was taken in by the dragon's sudden appearance. The monster made him believe there is something ominous about the girl he is dueling with. "Clear Wing Fast Dragon? Never heard of that before," he said.

"You're going to find out more about it soon," Yasuko replied. "I activate Clear Wing Fast Dragon's special effect! I can target one monster you control that was Special Summoned from the Extra Deck and change its ATK points to 0 and negate its effect!" She points at the rafflesia chimera. "I target Chimerafflesia!" Clear Wing Fast flies up in the air above the rafflesia chimera and activates its own circuit wings. "Cryptographic Reflection!" Clear Wing Fast blasts the rafflesia chimera with a wave of circuits to nullify its effect and reduce its attack power down to nothing.

(Predaplant Chimerafflesia; ATK 2500 → 0)

Yuri isn't going to like what's coming for him. He thought that someone would be foolish enough to attack his rafflesia chimera, but the girl knows what she is doing. "Oh, so you've managed to negate my monster's effect, huh? Interesting," he said, giving Yasuko a satisfying smirk. "You know, I've had tons of opponents who attack me recklessly, and they ended up losing life points and their monsters instead of me."

Yasuko narrows her eyes at Yuri. "I can't be too careless when dealing with someone from Academia," she said. "I will make you pay for what you did to those people." The more she looks at Yuri and his sneering face, the angrier she becomes. She thinks of Yuto's words and Shun's story, and the thought of the same thing happening to her home is making her blood boil with rage.

"I equip Power of the Guardians to Clear Wing Fast Dragon!" Yasuko equips Clear Wing Fast with the Equip Spell Card: Power of the Guardians. "This card gains a spell counter when an attack is declared involving the monster that's equipped with it!" Clear Wing Fast's circuit wings glow in response to the equip spell that appeared on the field.

"Battle! Clear Wing Fast Dragon, attach Chimerafflesia!" Yasuko declared. "And at the moment, Power of the Guardian's effect activates!" Clear Wing Fast rose in the air at the speed of a jet fighter. It flies up before it loops back to start diving at the rafflesia chimera. "When this spell gains a spell counter, the monster equipped to it gains 500 ATK points!"

(Power of the Guardians: Spell Counter 0 → 1)

(Clear Wing Fast Dragon: ATK 2500 → 3000)

Yuri does not seem bothered by the attack power; in fact, he was calmer than Yasuko. "Well then, I can activate this, the trap: Predaplanning." Yuri flips up his Trap Card: Predaplanning. "By sending one Predaplant monster from my deck to the graveyard, I can place one Predator Counter on each face-up monster on the field, and if they are a level 2 or higher, they become level 1." Yuri takes out Predaplant Drosophyllum Hydra from his deck and sends it to the graveyard. "I sent my Predaplant Drosophyllum Hydra from my deck to the graveyard and place one Predator Counter on each monster." The trap card sprouts three vine mouths as they attach themselves to all the monsters on the field.

(Clear Wing Fast Dragon: Predator Counter 0 → 1)

(Endymion, the Mighty Master of Magic: Predator Counter 0 → 1)

(Predaplant Chimerafflesia: Predator Counter 0 → 1)

In addition to the counters, those with the counter have their levels reduced down to one.

(Clear Wing Fast Dragon: Level 7 → 1)

(Endymion, the Mighty Master of Magic: Level 7 → 1)

(Predaplant Chimerafflesia: Level 7 → 1)

Yasuko can see that the counter has latched onto the crystal wing of Clear Wing Fast. "Yeah, but you are about to feel the hurt!" she exclaimed. "Whirlwind Raiser Dash Slice!" Clear Wing Fast slices the rafflesia chimera like a pair of scissors cutting through paper and destroying it with one swoop. The explosion caused Yuri to skid across the ice with his boots still implanted at the ground while taking in significant damage to himself.

(Yuri: LP 4000 → 1000)

Yuri stops sliding but remains standing. His arms crossed his face. The moment he stops, Yuri makes a satisfying smile. He dusts some of the ice off his coat. "Well, that was quite a punch," he said.

Yasuko does not like it. There was something different about her opponent. Not one person would risk their life points and then take on the full-frontal attack like before. Even his face shows no worries. It's like he wanted her to attack him. "This is strange?" she thought. "How'd come he can still smile when I dealt so much damage on my turn?" Her eyes narrow further, thinking of Yuri being on a different league. "Is he underestimating me? Or was that all part of his plan?" She looks down at the only monster left that can end the duel. "Either way, I'm ending this." She raises her hand to start commanding her endymion master. "Endymion, attack Yuri directly!" The endymion master raises his scepter device in the air. He conjures a magical blast that beams down to finish off Yuri. However, the boy anticipated that Yasuko would attack him.

"Now, Predaplant Sarraceniant's special effect activates from my hand!" Yuri declared. "When a monster declares a direct attack, I can Special Summon this card!" Yuri manages to Special Summon Predaplant Sarraceniant (ATK 100/DEF 600) in Defense Position. Yuri summons a monster in his hand that is a combination of a green fire ant with sarracenia plants sprouting out of its back.

"Fine, then I'll attack Sarraceniant!" The endymion master turns toward the sarracenia ant and fires a purple laser that vaporizes the monster into dust.

"Sarraceniant's special effect activates! When this monster battled my opponent's monster this turn, it is destroyed, and if it is destroyed by battle or sent to the graveyard by a card effect, I can add one "Predap" card from my deck to my hand." The dust used to be the sarracenia ant before it reforms itself back to its ant form and spits green acid at the endymion master.

"Endymion cannot be destroyed by card effects if this monster has a spell counter on itself," Yasuko clarified. The endymion monster conjures a magical barrier to shield himself from being destroyed.

"So beat it," said Yuri. "Because of Sarraceniant, I add Predaplant Orphys Scorpio from my deck to my hand," Yuri adds Predaplant Orphys Scorpio to his hand.

Yasuko makes a small growl of annoyance. Since there is nothing that she can do, the girl takes out one card from her hand and Sets it on the field. "I Set a card face-down and end my turn," she concluded.

Turn 3: Yuri (1x cards)

"Well, you're a lot different than the ones that I've come across before," said Yuri. "I think I'm going to enjoy this." He places a finger on top of his deck. "Let's see how much I can squeeze out of you. My turn." He draws a card. "And now, Chimerafflesia's special effect activates! During my Standby Phase, after this card was sent to the graveyard on my last turn, I can add one "Polymerization" or "Fusion" spell card from my deck to my hand!" Yuri selects one card that he chooses to grab and adds Predaprime Fusion. "And I think I'll add Predaprime Fusion."

Yasuko could not believe that she fell into Yuri's trap. He knew that she would attack him and then manages to get himself more resources on his turn. "Damn it," she cursed. "You're toying with me, aren't you?"

The boy tilted his head, giving a small noise from his mouth. "Oh, you think so?" he asked.

"It was clear that you've been holding back against me, trying to see how I work," Yasuko replied. "And now, you're trying to go for the killing blow."

"Of course, I was," Yuri admitted. "I said that you will be my warm-up, nothing too serious, but the moment I saw that dragon of yours, I realize now. You are a different foe. So, I shouldn't be holding back." He makes an evil smile. "Now, the real hunt begins." He takes one card from his hand and then activates the Spell Card: Predapractice. "I activate the Predapractice Spell. It allows me to Special Summon Predaplant Orphys Scorpio from my hand, and then, add one "Preda" card from my deck to my hand." With the effect of his spell, Yuri Special Summons Predaplant Orphys Scorpio (ATK 1200/DEF 600) in Attack Position and then adds Predaplant Chylamsosundew to his hand. "Now, I add Predaplant Chylamdosundew." The first monster that Yuri summoned is a scorpion that is made of entirely ophrys apifera.

"Orphys Scorpio's special effect activates!" Yuri discards his Predaplant Chylamdosundew to activate its unique abilities. "By discarding one monster from my hand, I can Special Summon one Predaplant monster from my deck!" Yuri chooses to Special Summon Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra (ATK 1000/DEF 1500) in Defense Position. " Come out, Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra!" The second monster that Yuri summoned is a twin-headed cobra that is both a cobra and a darlingtonia californica plant. "Darlingtonia Cobra's special effect activates! When this card is Special Summoned by a Predaplant monster's effect, I can add one Polymerization or Fusion Spell from my deck to my hand." Another card pops out of his deck to let Yuri add the Fusion Substitute Spell Card. "I add Fusion Substitute."

Yasuko's eyebrows raised high, recognizing the spell in her deck. "Fusion Substitute? That's not possible," she whispered. Then, something snapped her out of the blue. Her Clear Wing Fast disappears from the field with a puff of dust in the air, stunning her. "What the—? What happened to Clear Wing Fast Dragon?" Yasuko questioned.

"My Predaplant Drosophyllum Hydra's special effect. That's what happened," Yuri announced, earning a glare from Yasuko. "If my opponent has a monster with a Predator Counter on it, I can tribute it to Special Summon this card from my hand or graveyard." Because Clear Wing Fast had a Predator Counter on itself, Yuri was able to Special Summon Predaplant Drosophyllum Hydra (ATK 800/DEF 2300) in Defense Position. The third monster that Yuri summoned is a hybrid of a carnivorous drosophyllum plant and a hydra with a single snake head that has a yellow underbelly neck and a second mouth at the chest.

"And, by banishing my Cordyceps from my graveyard, I can Special Summon two level 4 or lower "Predaplant" monsters from my graveyard, but I cannot Special Summon except Fusion monsters and I cannot Normal Summon or Set this turn." Once Yuri banishes his Predaplant Cordyceps from his graveyard, he can Special Summon Predaplant Chylamdosundew (ATK 600/DEF 100) and Predaplant Sarraceniant in Defense Position. "Appear, Predaplant Chylamdosundew and Predplant Sarraceniant!" The fourth monster Yuri resurrected is the sarracenia ant. The fifth monster Yuri summoned is a frilled-neck lizard that is both a hybrid of a drosera carnivorous plant.

Yasuko is getting more worried by the second. Yuri has got rid of Clear Wing Fast and was able to summon five monsters. He has all the resources he needs to finish her. "Five monsters in one turn? That's not good," she said.

"Yasuko!"

Both Yuri and Yasuko turn to whoever shouted the girl's name. They all saw Zuzu panting from exhaustion after running out of the cave. She was awake enough to see Yasuko dueling against someone who looked like Yuya.

"Stay back!" Yasuko ordered. "I got this!"

Zuzu turns to the person who looked like Yuya. She was confused. "Who are you?" she asked.

"Who am I, you asked? I am Yuri," Yuri introduced.

Zuzu raised an eyebrow. "Yuri?" she asked as if she's never heard of him from Yuto before.

"Of course I am, but I am not this Yuya she's spoken of," Yuri mentioned to Yasuko. "Now, you hold on right there; I'll be coming for you soon." He focuses back on the duel with Yasuko. "Right after I deal with her."

Yasuko prepares herself for what's to come. "Zuzu, he's from Academia," she informed.

"Academia?!" Zuzu gasped in shock. "He's from Academia?"

"Yeah, and not a good one, I can tell you that," Yasuko replied.

"Not good for you maybe," said Yuri. "Those three stooges that were turned into cards didn't even last this long, so let's see if you can survive against me." He raised his hand to the drosera lizard on his field. "I activate Chylamdosundew's special effect! I can Fusion Summon one monster using this card and other the Fusion Materials that are on my field and, or monsters that you control that has a Predator counter." He points at the endymion master that still has a counter clinging onto his shoulder. "And I think I'll borrow your Endymion." The drosera lizard sticks out his tongue to snatch the endymion monster, but Yasuko wasn't going to let it happen.

"I activate the Trap! Lost Wind!" Yasuko flips up her Trap Card: Lost Wind. "This card targets one monster that you control that was Special Summoned and negates its effect, and it loses half of its ATK!" The tongue was deflected by a strong wind barrier forming around the endymion monster, forcing the drosera lizard to withdraw it and losing its attack power.

(Predaplant Chylamdosundew: ATK 600 → 300)

"You've managed to block that effect, but it won't matter," said Yuri. "Because I activate the Spell, Predaprime Fusion!" Yuri activates the Quick-Play Spell Card: Predaprime Fusion. "This card can let me Fusion Summon one monster using materials that are either side of the field and two of my monsters. Looks like your endymion's mine after all."

Yasuko growls furiously, being outplayed by Yuri once again. She looks around and spots something that could help her. An Action Card. She rushes over to snatch it and activates the Action Spell Card: Ice Cancel. "I activate the Action Spell, Ice Cancel!" she announced. "It lets me target one monster that I control, and it is unaffected by spell and trap cards until the end of the turn!" The endymion master was encased by an ice barrier to prevent Yuri from using the monster.

Yuri was surprised. Yasuko had managed to block his attempt to take her monster with a spell card that was out in the opening. "Oh, so you've used a spell card, and even if it wasn't your turn?" he queried. The way how Yasuko managed to save her monster makes the duel very intriguing to him. "How interesting. Well then, I shall fuse both my Daringtonia, Sarraceniant, and Chylamdosundew!" The darlingtonia cobra, sarracenia ant, and the drosera lizard are hovering in the air before they entere a swirling vortex of red, blue, and orange.

"Beautiful creatures of mother nature! Join hand and merge together to become the ultimate creature who will defend the earth with its wrath! I Fusion Summon! Appear, the mighty guardian of terror! Predaplant Triphyovertum!" Using the three monsters that Yuri has on his field, he Fusion Summons Predaplant Tripyovertum (ATK 3000/DEF 3000) in Attack Position.

All three of Yuri's plate creatures have turned into a massive triphyovertum dragon-like creature with three heads, wings the size of a plane, and a long tail with a flower at the end of the tip.

"Now, Lost Wind's effect can activate!" Yasuko declared. "When my opponent Special Summons a monster from the Extra Deck, I can Set this card from my graveyard, but it is banished when it leaves the field!" Yasuko takes her Lost Wind Trap Card and Sets it back on the field.

"Don't think I'm done with this just yet," Yuri called. "Triphyovertum's ATK points are increased equal to the combined original ATK points of all monsters that you control if they have a Predator Counter." If that wasn't bad enough, the triphyovertum hydra gains a power boost because her endymion has a counter.

(Predaplant Triphyovertum: ATK 3000 → 5800)

The first time that Yasuko felt something was anger, but now, it's replaced with nervousness. If Yuri has this much left in his deck, who knows what else that he has instore. "Crap," she said. "You've been planning this from the start, having you?"

Yuri makes a noise. "So what if I did? The outcome of this match was already decided." He takes out his other card to activate it. "Because I activate Fusion Substitute. This card is always treated as a Polymerization; I can fuse both my Orphys Scorpio and Drosophyllum that are on my field." For the second time, Yuri takes his orphys scorpion and the drosophyllum hydra together into the swirling vortex of red and blue.

"Two beautiful flowers, which use alluring fragrance to attract insects! Now become one, and from the hell beneath your petals, give birth to a new terror! I Fusion Summon! Appear! Poisonous dragon with hungry fangs! Level 8! Starving Venom Fusion Dragon!" Yuri Fusion Summons Starving Venom Fusion Dragon (ATK 2800/DEF 2000) in Attack Position.

The dragon is the most notorious thing that Yasuko has ever seen in her entire life. Starving Venom is a dragon with olive green scaled-body and purple armor around the shoulders, legs, elbows, four extra plant jaws with saberotooth pieces that sprout from the hip and the shoulders, two massive horns, and the second set of teeth that are attached to the lower jaw horn. Its hollow green eyes glow at Yasuko with such fear that she has never felt before from a particular monster as red lights glow from the neck to the red orb at the end of the tail.

Starving Venom makes a howling roar out of its jaws which sends shivers down to Yasuko's spine.

Yasuko has never been so paralyzed in all her life. For some reason, Starving Venom seems to strike a nerve in her. It's making her palms sweaty. Her breathing was getting short. She stare at Starving Venom with wide dead-fish eyes.

"Starving Venom Fusion Dragon," Yasuko uttered.

"Surprised? Bet you've never heard of this before, having you?" Yuri questioned. "Well, you're about love this. When Starving Venom Fusion Dragon is Fusion Summoned using only monsters on the field, its ATK points are increased equal to the combined ATK points of all your Special Summoned monsters this turn."

The red lights in Starving Venom glow like fire. The shoulder jaws opened and sparks pink and red electricity, giving the dragon more attack power.

(Starving Venom Fusion Dragon: ATK 2800 → 5600)

Zuzu was taken back from the two monsters that Yuri has on his field. They are both stronger than Yasuko's monster, and they could finish the girl once and for all. "5600 ATK points? This is not good," she said.

"No, it's not," Yasuko replied."

"Now, battle!" Yuri declared. "Triphyovertum, attack Endymion!" The three heads of the triphyovertum hydra open their jaws and flare a purple flame blast that seems to melt the ice around the area.

Yasuko brings herself back up to start running away. She looks left and right to find any more Action Cards that can withstand Yuri's attack. She looks at one that was near the boulder. She swipes the card, but it was too late; the attack scorched the endymion master to smithereens and the majority of Yasuko's life points.

(Yasuko: LP 4000 → 1000)

Yasuko screamed in pain. Her body crashes against an ice wall nearby, which avalanched large blocks of snow on her.

"Yasuko!" Zuzu yelled, running to help her friend. She kneels down to see if Yasuko is still fine. "Yasuko, are you okay?" She takes a closer look. The girl saw how Yasuko was cringing from the pain that impacted her back.

Yasuko forces herself back up despite the pain in her back. "Endymion's special effect activates," she croaked. "When this card was destroyed by battle with a Spell Counter, I can add one Normal Spell to my hand." Yasuko selects the one card that she can use against Yuri, and chooses to add her own Fusion Substitute. "I add Fusion Substitute."

"Oh, still holding on, I see," Yuri teased. "It's a shame that my Triphyovertum's ATK points return to normal." Without the endymion master that had a counter, the triphyovertum hydra is reverted back to normal.

(Predaplant Triphyovertum: ATK 5800 → 3000)

"It seems that you've lasted this long, but not enough for me. Ah well, beggers can't make a choice." With one satisfying evil smile, Yuri points at Yasuko. "Starving Venom, attack Yasuko directly!"

Starving Venom opens the shoulder jaws as sparks emit from the mouth. The jaws sprout forks of red and purple lightning, and green orbs appear in between them before the dragon blasts both the lightning and a stream of green energy at Yasuko and Zuzu.

Zuzu had no time to register what is going to happen. All she knows is that Yasuko's going to lose the match. However, the girl refuses to give up and submit to Yuri in anyway possible.

"I activate the Action Spell, Evasion!" Yasuko activates the Action Spell Card: Evasion. "This card negates your attack!" The red and purple lightning and the green energy beam were blocked by an invisible force field that shields both herself and Zuzu from the attack. Above Zuzu, the girl jumps forward and swipes another Action Card that was revealed to be stuck from within the ice wall she crashed into.

"Action Spell, Damage Draw!" Yasuko activates the Action Spell Card: Damage Draw. "If I took 2000 or more damage this turn, I draw two cards!" She draws two cards. Suddenly, Yasuko lurched, feeling the pain on her left side.

Yuri was showing some bit of annoyance that Yasuko managed to save herself with another Action Card. "Oh, so you survived because of thee so-called Action Cards, huh." He put some thought into what Yasko did. "If you are going to find these Action Cards, then I shall be a part of the game too," he said. "I end my turn, and Starving Venom's ATK points return to normal." Starving Venom loses all of its strength since it is Yuri's End Phase.

(Starving Venom Fusion Dragon: ATK 5600 → 2800)

"Now Fusion Recycling Plant's effect activates," Yuri added. "During the End Phase, I can add one Fusion Material that was used to Fusion Summon this turn." He selects Predaplant Chylamdosundew back to his hand. "I add Chylamdosundew.

Turn 4: Yasuko (5x cards)

Yasuko feels light-headed. She hasn't had a drink of water or anything to eat over the past twenty hours. It is like her body's telling her to stop.

Then, something else happened to her. Yasuko looked down at her hand and saw what is making her even more shocked: trembling hands. Her hands had never trembled before, not since the day she won her fifth match against Ayukawa. "My…my hand's shaking? Why is my hand shaking?" she pondered. Gritting her teeth, Yasuko grips onto her left hand to stop it from trembling. "Why is my hand shaking?" she wondered. Yasuko takes another look at Staving Venom. The dragon was causing something inside of her to resonate with its appearance. "Is it something to do with Starving Venom?"

Yasuko has no idea what to do. Yuri is a lot different than any of her opponents. He is undoubtedly different than Yuya, Yuto, and Yugo. "Just what are you?" she asked.

"A hunter," Yuri answered.

"Hunter?" Zuzu inquired.

"I am Academia's apex predator," Yuri claimed. "I stand on top of the food chain in Academia. No one would have the right mind to challenge me. And if you stand in my way, I will hunt you down myself."

There is uncertainty inside of Yasuko. She cannot decide the right course of action to deal with someone who has Starving Venom. She had to put every anxious feeling behind her and focus on the duel. "Starving Venom Fusion Dragon…" she interpreted in her head. "If Yuri's another of Yuya's twin brothers, then Starving Venom has to have something close to anything that is a level 5 or higher." Yasuko turns back to her deck. "What is there that can withstand Yuri?" She places two fingers on her deck. "My turn!" Yasuko draws a card.

At the moment, the crystal pendant on her keychain was starting to glow in resonance to her words. "I, using the Scale 1 Dragonpulse Magician and Scale 8 Dragonpit Magician, Set the Pendulum Scale!" she declared. "I'm gonna show you how I take control this duel right now!" Yasuko places Dragonpulse Magician (Scale 1) and Dragonpit Magician (Scale 8) at both Pendulum Zones, creating the rainbow "Pendulum" word on her blue blade.

At once, the dragonpulse sorcerer and the dragonpit sorcerer rose up to the field with their respective pendulum scale number beneath them.

Yuri was surprised by what Yasuko is going to do. "Oh, Pendulum, huh?" he inquired.

"With these two cards, I can Pendulum Summon any monsters between level 2 and level 7 simultaneously!" Yasuko stated. "Hear my soul roaring upon thy! I call forth upon the energy of my heart to unleash the flames of solemnity from within! I Pendulum Summon! Appear before me, my monsters!" The sky above Yasuko rips open to Pendulum Summon Magicalibra, Servant of Endymion, Clear Wing Fast Dragon, and Endymion, the Mighty Master of Magic from her Extra Deck in Attack Position.

Four lights beam down from the sky like meteorites as the magical justice scales, the endymion servant, the endymion master, and Clear Wing Fast appears before Yasuko.

The moment Yasuko brought out Clear Wing Fast Dragon, it was a fatal mistake. Clear Wing Fast senses the presence of Starving Venom and turns its head toward the dragon. Both dragons are locked in a staring contest. Clear Wing Fast started to roar, and Starving Venom follows suit. Their roars are growing louder to the point where ice was rattling around the people. They are so loud that Yasuko and Yuri cover their ears as the roars are making their ears hurt from the noise.

"Damn it," Yasuko grunted.

"What is happening?" Yuri inquired.

The roars of Clear Wing Fast and Starving Venom echoes throughout the city, bearing the same hostility intentions.

Yuri breaks through the noise that blaring into his ear. "So you've managed to summon all four monsters, but I'm afraid that will be your undoing! I activate Triphyovertum's special effect!" he declared. "When my opponent Special Summoned monsters while I control this Fusion Summoned card, I can negate and destroy them!"

Once Clear Wing Fast and Starving Venom stopped roaring at each other, the triphyovertums' heads open the jaws and blast a stream of green acid to disintegrate the monsters. Fortunately, Yasuko anticipates this and activates the Quick-Play Spell Card: Forbidden Chalice. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell, Forbidden Chalice!" The spell card opens on the field and creates an ice shield to fend off the acidic attack. "This card targets one monster that you control and negates its effect, but its ATK points are increased by 400!" The triphyovertum's effect has been nullified, but it gains a small power boost.

(Predaplant Triphyovertum: ATK 3000 → 3400)

Based on how Yuri duels and his playstyle, it was making send to her of Yuri's individual abilities. "He's a controller," she thought. "Yuri uses his opponent's monsters to Fusion Summon one of his own using monsters that are my field or his." Taking the new information from the duel, Yasuko must be very careful with Yuri. One misplay could be fatal to her.

"I tune my level 4 Magicalibra with my level 3 Servant!" The magical justice scale transform into four rings to scan the endymion servant until she was nothing but three glowing orbs in the center.

"Born from the flames of meteor showers, the red dragon with heterochromia eyes of red and blue! Fall to the earth and blow away all of my enemies! I Synchro Summon! Rain down, Odd-Eyes Meteorburst Dragon!" Yasuko Synchro Summons Odd-Eyes Meteorburst Dragon (ATK 2500/DEF 2000). A meteorite falls from the sky and crashes on the ground, revealing the Synchro variant of Odd-Eyes with its red and blue heterochromia eyes and burning red hot armored scales.

"Odd-Eyes Meterorburst Dragon's special effect activates!" Yasuko called. "When this card is Special Summoned, I can target one monster in my Pendulum Zone and Special Summon it! I Special Summon Dragonpit Magician!" Once Yasuko Special Summons Dragonpit Magician (ATK 900/DEF 2700) in Defense Position, the dragonpit sorcerer disappears from the Pendulum Zone before reappearing on the field.

"I activate the Spell, Fusion Substitute!" Yasuko plays her own Fusion Substitute Spell Card. "I fuse both my Odd-Eyes Meterorburst Dragon and Endymion, the Mighty Master of Magic!" The meteorburst dragon and the endymion monster form up in the air and disappear inside the swirling vortex of red and blow.

"Master of Magical Arts. Dragon of flaming meteor! Merge together to bring out the new dragon who will bring the storms of venturing winds! I Fusion Summon! Come forth, Odd-Eyes Vortex Dragon!" Yasuko Fusion Summons Odd-Eyes Vortex Dragon (ATK 2500/DEF 3000) in Defense Position.

"Odd-Eyes Vortex Dragon's special effect activates! When this card is Special Summoned, I can target one Attack Positioned monster that you control and return it back to the hand!" Yasuko points at the triphyovertum. "I target Triphyovertum to return it back to the Extra Deck!" The vortex dragon unleashes a powerful hurricane that sends the triphyovertum away and back to the Extra Deck.

Despite everything that Yasuko is doing, her opponent does not give any slightest worrisome. He was perfectly calm. She hates that look on his face. "I'm starting to see you're getting more bored with me, aren't you?" she asked.

"I've met duelists like you before, but this is just another bug getting in the way of my mission," said Yuri, drawling. "I am staring to think that maybe you're not what I am expecting for a hunt."

Yasuko felt her eyebrows furrowed together, glaring at Yuri because he's underestimating her. "You underestimating your opponent," she said. "I hate that."

Yuri makes a teasing smirk. "Oh, then why don't you show me? Show me your power," he provoked. "I want to see if you have what it takes to beat me." Yuri was taunting Yasuuko so much that her anger is rising.

"I'll show you power," Yasuko retorted. "I take my Level 7 Odd-Eyes Vortex Dragon and Dragonpit Magician to build the Overlay Network!" The vortex dragon turns into a green light while the dragonpit sorcerer turns into blue energy. Both energies shoots up in the air before descending into the galaxy portal underneath her feet. Then a white beam of light appears in front of her.

"From the pall of black and darkness, the fangs of halo will rise up to stand and fight all those who oppose its stupefied power! Ascend now! I Xyz Summon! Rise! Dark Anthelion Dragon!" Yasuko Xyz Summons Dark Anthelion Dragon (ATK 3000/DEF 2500) (OU: 2) in Attack Position.

Dark Anthelion emerges from the galaxy portal. The shiny purple armor reflects the sunlight with black scales underneath its thick armor plating, bone-covered skin. Two purple Overlay Units rotate around the dragon.

Starving Venom turns toward Dark Anthelion, giving the dragon a very hostile roar. Clear Wing Fast and Dark Anthelion respond with the same resentment toward Starving Venom. The roars were becoming more unbearable to listen to. Its sound is not only hurting Yasuko and Yuri's eardrums but Zuzu's as well. She was definitely covering her ears to stop the noise.

"What is going on?" Zuzu called.

The noise was echoing the entire city into being awake. It could probably be heard from anyone closeby.

Yasuko has had enough and decides to end it once and for all. "I activate the Pot of Extravagance Spell!" She activates the Spell Card: Pot of Extravagance. "This card lets me banish three or six cards from my Extra Deck and then draw one card for each three banished cards." She banishes six to draw two more cards. "Next, I activate Clear Wing Fast Dragon's effect and target your Starving Venom to negate it and change its ATK points to 0!" Once she commands Clear Wing Fast Dragon, the monsters stop roaring, and the fight begins.

Clear Wing Fast activates its circuit board wings to flare a wave of circuit beams to cancel out Starving Venom's special ability and weaken it.

(Starving Venom Fusion Dragon: ATK 2800 → 0)

Yuri saw what is happening to his monster, making him grit his teeth, showing signs that he is getting annoyed.

"Battle! Clear Wing Fast Dragon, attack Starving Venom Fusion Dragon!" Clear Wing Fast flies up into the air before descending down with a whirlwind forming around the dragon. It dives down like a bomber, aiming for Starving Venom.

At the moment, Yuri suddenly zips past Yasuko and Zuzu. Both girls turn and saw him wall-running up the ice wall and snags an Action Card in his fingertips. "Action Spell, Attack and Defense Exchange!" Yuri activates the Action Spell Card: Attack and Defense Exchange. "This targets one monster and changes its ATK to its DEF points until the end of the turn!" Starving Venom roars to get back some of its strength.

(Starving Venom Fusion Dragon: ATK 0 → 2000)

Yasuko refuses to back down from her attack and makes some improvision. "I detach one Overlay Unit to activate Dark Anthelion Dragon's special effect!" she exclaimed. "Once per turn, this card can target one monster that you control and halve its ATK points and this card's ATK is increased by that amount until the end of the turn!" One of the Overlay Units detaches itself from Dark Anthelion.

(Dark Anthelion Dragon: OU 2 → 1)

"Treacherous Discharge!" The four panels on Dark Anthelion's wings opened and zaps Starving Venom with a volley of purple electricity, weakening it once again.

(Starving Venom Fusion Dragon: ATK 2000 → 1000)

(Dark Anthelion Dragon: ATK 3000 → 4000)

Yuri makes a small noise out of the corner of his mouth. He slides down on the ice wall before jumping off over Yasuko and Zuzu. They watched Yuri parkour-rolls behind them and swipes an Action Card. "Action Spell, Full Fairing!" Yuri activates the Action Spell Card: Full Fairing. "This halves all battle and effect damage this turn!"

Clear Wing Fast slices Starving Venom in half with one swoop, destroying it in the process but leaving Yuri with some room to counter. The winds were blowing his ahoge.

(Yuri: LP 1000 → 250)

Yasuko can see that Yuri is annoyed. "Looks like you're starting to show something," she said.
She points at the monster that is left on the field. "Once Dark Anthelion attacks, this battle is over."

Yasuko paused when she heard laughter coming from Yuri. She was surprised. What is making Yuri laugh? "What's so funny?" she questioned.

"What's so funny," Yuri laughed. "Is that you've only set your own doom from the moment you attacked." He makes an evil smile like always. "Starving Venom Fusion Dragon's special effect activates!" he exclaimed. "When Starving Venom is destroyed, it destroys all of your Special Summoned monsters, and you take damage equal to the total ATK points of all the monsters that were destroyed by this effect!"

"What?!" Yasuko and Zuzu gasped.

"You've been playing right into my hands from the very start," Yuri smiled. "I can't believe that someone this foolish would be stupid enough to fell for the oldest trick in the book!" He points at Yasuko. "And now, Yasuko, you're about to face your own demise!" Starving Venom reappears on the field before it self-destructs, sending a firey wave that vaporizes Clear Wing Fast and Dark Anthelion. The blast was approaching Yasuko to finish off the girl once and for all. Nevertheless, the duelist refuses to give in just yet.

"I activate Hanewata from my hand!" Yasuko declared. "By discarding this card, I take no effect damage this turn!" She discards Hanewata from her hand to let the fire wave hit an invisible force field that saved herself from being scorched. "And Dark Anthelion's special effect activates! When this card is destroyed, I can place this card on my Pendulum Zone! I Set the Pendulum Scale with my Scale 10 Dark Anthelion Dragon!" She places Dark Anthelion Dragon (Scale 10) at the Pendulum Zone where the dragonpit sorcerer used to be, reforming the "Pendulum" word on her blade.

Dark Anthelion rose up inside of the pillar of light with its respective pendulum scale underneath it.

Yuri growled with annoyance. "So, you still have tricks up your sleeves, huh?" he inquired. Yuri swipes some bangs off his forehead, recomposing himself. "Well, this is getting fun."

"And why's that?" Yasuko asked.

"Because I get to torture you in this duel," Yuri stated.

Yasuko looks down at her hand, and the only cards that she has are the Trap Cards: Half or Nothing and Defense Draw. She needs to buy herself more time to figure out how she is going to beat Yuri.

"I Set a card face-down and end my turn," Yasuko concluded as she Sets a card.

Turn 5: Yuri (1x card)

"My turn, I draw!" Yuri draws a card. Looking at the card that he's drawn, he smirked. "I target my Chimerafflesia with my Equip spell, Predaprunning!" he announced. "This card lets me target one Predaplant monster in my graveyard and Special Summons it to my field." Yuri uses the Equip Spell Card: Predaprunning to Special Summon Predaplant Chimerafflesia back from his graveyard in Attack Position. The rafflesia chimera is resurrected back to the field.

Zuzu shows heavy signs of anxiety. After everything that Yasuko's doing, it's still not enough to take down Yuri. "She can't do this alone; she needs my help," she said, almost to herself. "But what can I do?" After witnessing Yuri's comeback, it became clear that she may be outmatched if she intervenes to help Yasuko. Still, it would also make the situation worse if she does enter because of the intrusion penalty.

"You can stay there and watch me tear him down, piece by piece," Yasuko called. "I've got this."

Yuri raises an eyebrow. "You got this?" he repeated. "Certainly, you must be mistaken; it is I who has got this." He takes out his last card and Normal Summons Predaplant Chylamdosundew. "I summon Chylamdosundew." The drosera frilled-neck lizard reappears back on the field. "Now, Chylamdosundew's effect activates, allowing me to Fusion Summon using itself and Chimerafflesia!" The drosera lizard and the rafflesia chimera floats upward before it was sucked into the vortex of red and blue again.

"Two beautiful creatures with alluring fragrance! Combine your powers and together form the dangerous of creatures! I Fusion Summon! Come forth, the level 7! Predaplant Dragostapelia!" Yuri uses his drosera lizard and the rafflesia chimera to Fusion Summon Predaplant Dragonstapelia (ATK 2700/DEF 1700) in Attack Position. The next fusion monster that Yuri brought out is another plant creature that is entirely a hybridized stapelia carrion flowers and dragon.

"You've managed to survive this long, Yasuko," said Yuri. "But I'm afraid that it's time for me to finish this once and for all." He points at her. "Now, let's battle! Dragostapelia, attack Yasuko directly!" The stapelia dragon unleashed a blast of purple smoke that will suffocate the girl, but she was prepared to intercept the attack.

"Not yet, it ain't!" Yasuko rebuked. "I activate the Defense Draw trap card!" Yasuko flips up the Trap Card: Defense Draw, and the smoke was blocked by another invisible force field.

Yuri starts to narrow his eyes at the girl. "You are so persistence, aren't you?" he questioned.

"Not until I beat you, then I'll keep going," Yasuko replied. "During the damage calculations, I can reduce that battle damage to 0, and then I draw one card." Once Yasuko is safe from the smoke, the girl draws one card. She looks at it, and it was the Spell Card: Odd-Eyes Fusion. Yasuko needs to consider her options limited. With Yuri pushing her to the brink, she's running out of plans to deal with her opponent.

"I banish Fusion Substitute to shuffle one Fusion monster in my graveyard back to my Extra Deck and then draw one card." Yuri chooses to shuffle Starving Venom Fusion Dragon. "So, by shuffling back my Starving Venom, I get to draw one card." Yuri draws one card, and by taking a peek at it, he Set it on his field. "I Set this card face-down and end my turn. Now, my field spell's effect activates to get my back my Chylamdosundew." Yuri adds Predaplant Chylamdosundew back to his hand. "You've managed to survive this long," he smirked. "Let's see if you can survive another round after this."

Turn 6: Yasuko (2x cards).

"My turn!" she declared. "I draw!" The card that she has drawn was the Pot of Desires Spell Card. "I activate the Pot of Desires spell! This card banishes ten cards from the top of my deck, and then I get to draw two cards." Once Yasuko has removed ten cards from play, she draws two cards. "And now, I banish Fusion Substitute to return Odd-Eyes Vortex Dragon back to my Extra Deck and then draw one card!" Yasuko shuffles her Odd-Eyes Vortex Dragon and draws one more card from her deck. Out of all the cards that she has drawn, it had to be the one that will bring the duel to the end.

The crystal pendant on her keychain was still glowing. It was starting to glow even bright than before. "Now, with my Scale 1 Dragonpulse Magician and my Scale 10 Dark Anthelion Dragon, I can Pendulum Summon monsters between levels 2 and 9 simultaneously! I Pendulum Summon! Appear before me, my monsters!" Yasuko is putting everything that she has and Pendulum Summons Endymion, the Mighty Master of Magic and Clear Wing Fast Dragon from her Extra Deck, and Mythical Beast Medusa (ATK 1500/DEF 1500) and Mythical Beast Garuda (ATK 1200/DEF 1600) from her hand. "Revive from the Extra Deck, Endymion, and Clear Wing Fast Dragon! And from my hand, Mythical Beast Medusa and Garuda!"

Four beams of light shoot down from the wormhole above Yasuko, resurrecting the endymion master and Clear Wing Fast from the Extra Deck, and the mythical medusa and the garuda that appeared on the field.

Yasuko can feel her body starting to strain. She's giving everything that she has against Yuri, and he's still too strong for her to handle. Even with Clear Wing Fast and Dark Anthelion, none of them stand a chance. "Damn it," she cursed mentally. "Yuri's not giving an inch. He's strong, alright. I just need something that can stand against him. At least another monster strong enough to take on Starving Venom. Something that can help me. Come on, something. Anything."

As if her answers were called, Clear Wing Fast bears its chest and roars to give an echo across the city. Yasuko felt a ping in the back of her head. She looks up to see Clear Wing Fast trying to call something. But what?

Then, something else happened. Her crystal keychain was glowing. It caught her attention. The bright was just like before she obtained Clear Wing Fast and Dark Anthelion. It wasn't just Yasuko's crystal keychain that was glowing.

Zuzu notices a strange phenomenon around her bracelet. The jewel was glowing in resonance with Yasuko's crystal keychain. "My bracelet, its glowing again?" she inquired.

The moment Yasuko saw her keychain glowing, a howling roar echoes in her ears. It sounded like Starving Venom, but it sounded more pitched than Starving Venom's. She notices that her Extra Deck slot was making a glow like her crystal pendant on her keychain. The pitched roaring was coming from her Extra Deck. It's like the roar was calling her. Yasuko felt it before. It was when she brought out Clear Wing Fast and Dark Anthelion for the first time.

She cannot wait any longer. The roar is promising her an equal standing against Yuri and his Starving Venom. Yasuko responds to the sound of the roar by activating her Odd-Eyes Fusion Spell Card. "I activate Odd-Eyes Fusion!" she declared. "This card lets me fuse one Dragon-type monster using the materials that are in my hand or field!" The endymion master, garuda, and the medusa all float up and enter the purple and red vortex. "I fuse Endymion, Garuda, and Medusa!" Once the monsters are gone, the new monster Yasuko responds to pops out of her Extra Deck.

"Master of the Magical Arts! Merge with the mythical creatures and become one to form a new terror of lethal poison and death! I Fusion Summon! Appear! Lethal dragon with poisonous dose! Level 8! Starving Venemy Lethal Dose Dragon!" Yasuko Fusion Summons Starving Venemy Lethal Dose Dragon (ATK 2800/DEF 2000) in Attack Position.

The final dragon that's been calling to her is a cousin variant of Starving Venom. The dragon has four blue-green eyes instead of two, like Starving Venom. The forehead has a red shell encased with blue lines across its face as the purple body is massive. It has thick leaf bushes that go down to the lower body as its two tails at the hips whip around with the longer one, each one had a horn at the tip, and two small legs outsized by its own tails. Instead of jaws like Starving Venom, the dragon has four backbone wings that sprout from the shoulders and the back.

Starving Venemy makes a screeching roar, stunning Yuri and Zuzu. They have never seen another dragon like Starving Venemy Lethal Dose Dragon before. The dragon features looked distinctively similar to Starving Venom, but not entirely the same dragon as the one Yuri has.

"Starving Venmy Lethal Dose Dragon?" Yuri inquired, looking up at the giant dragon that is right behind Yasuko. "What is that?"

To be honest with herself, Yasuko does not know what Starving Venemy is. The new dragon has some of Starving Venom's characteristics, but it is not the same one like Starving Venom. "I have no idea," she said. "But if this dragon can even the odds against you, then so beat it." She points her finger at the stapelia dragon. "I activate Clear Wing Fast's special effect! I target your Dragostapelia and negate its effects!" Clear Wing Fast flies up in the air and blasts a yellow-green laser beam down to the stapelia dragon.

However, Yuri was prepared. In just one blink of an eye, Yuri manages to move from the ground and up to a frozen building where he swipes an Action Card stuck in the window ledge. "I activate the Action Spell, Detour!" Yuri activates the Action Spell Card: Detour. "This card targets one monster and negates its effects, and then deals 500 damage to your LP!" The action card flips up and shot a purple laser that pierced through Clear Wing Fast's negation beam, canceling its abilities.

(Yasuko: LP 1000 → 500)

"Damn," Yasujko cursed. Despite losing Clear Wing Fast's special abilities, she can still go on the offensive. "I activate Dark Anthelion's Pendulum effect!" she declared. "Once per turn, I can target one monster that you control and halve its ATK points until the end of the turn!" In the Pendulum Zone, Dark Anthelion opens its four panels from the wings. It then zaps the stapelia dragon with a volley of purple electricity. "Parhelic Discharge!"

(Predaplant Dragostapelia: ATK 2700 → 1350)

Yuri makes a small noise of annoyance, clearly fed up with Yasuko's resistance. "You just won't give up, don't you?" he asked.

"Not until I make you pay for what you did to Heartland City," Yasuko replied.

Yuri seems to raise an eyebrow. "Heartland? You know Heartland?" he inquired.

Yasuko narrowed her eyes at Yuri. "What do you know about it?" she questioned.

"Why, I was there, of course."

Yasuko and Zuzu were surprised, hearing that Yuri being at Heartland City before. "What?"

Yuri makes his signature evil smile. "I was there to find someone who looked exactly like that girl over there." He points at Zuzu, clarifying the identity. "She put up a good fight, but alas, she never stands a chance against me. Come to think of it, she does remind me of Ruri and Rin."

Yasuko was the first to connect the pieces together. Yuto said that someone kidnapped Ruri, and Yugo mentions that someone who looked like him kidnapped Rin. There was no doubt who the culprit was for Yuto. "Ruri? That was you?" she asked. "You kidnapped Ruri?"

"Yeah, that's me," Yuri confirmed.

"Why did you do that?" Zuzu demanded.

"Because it was the professor's orders," Yuri answered. "I am currently following the Professor's orders." He points at Zuzu, who is behind Yasuko. "He ordered me to bring you with me."

Yasuko raises an eyebrow, glancing back to Zuzu over her shoulder before looking at Yuri. "Why her?" she asked.

"I don't know," Yuri replied. "I just obey."

There's no telling that Yasuko can't let Yuri kidnap Zuzu, just like Ruri and Rin. If Yuri has kidnapped Ruri and Rin, it could mean that he's probably after Serena. But the real question is, why Zuzu? What does Zuzu have in common with the girls? There are so many questions that are coming to her head. Regardless, she cannot afford to lose her match with Yuri.

"You're not getting Zuzu," Yasuko vowed. "If you want Zuzu, then you'll have to get by me first. I'm going to bring you down."

"So feisty. I like that," Yuri commented. "You may not look like them, but you've got spirit. That reminds me of both Ruri and Rin altogether." He seems to be getting excited about his match with her. "Now, come. Show me your ultimate power, Yasuko."

The girl knows that Yuri's taunting her into attacking him. He's always one step ahead of the game. "Yuri wants me to attack him, and if I do, then it would mean that I'm falling right into his hands again." She looks down at her two cards that are in her hand. "So if I'm going to get him, then I need him to play in my hands instead." She prepares herself for anything that Yuri might throw at her. "Battle! Clear Wing Fast, attack Dragostapelia!"

Clear Wing Fast opens its jaws wide and fires a powerful green beam at the stapelia dragon, obliterating it to smithereens. The smoke and debris were blocking any visual confirmation that the attack went through Yuri's life points.

Yasuko would come to realize that Yuri is the apex predator of Academia. She can find out why because Yuri appears intact with the Action Spell Card: Damage Banish. "Action Spell, Damage Banish. This card prevents that last battle damage to zero," he said, flipping up his Trap Card: Extra Shave Reborn. "And I activate Extra Shave Reborn. If a monster I control that was Special Summoned from the Extra Deck is destroyed, I can Special Summon another monster from my graveyard who was originally from the Extra Deck." The ground rips open a portal to let Yuri Special Summon Predaplant Chimerafflesia in Attack Position. "Revive once again, Predaplant Chimerafflesia!" The rafflesia chimera rose from the portal and on the ice ground.

Zuzu is getting more frightened by Yuri. No matter how many times Yasuko tries to hit Yuri, he always comes back strong. "He just won't quit," she said. "How can he keep up with Yasuko."

Yasuko wasn't worried. She needed to keep Yuri at bay. "Now, Starving Venemy's special effect activates," she stated. "Each time a card was sent from the field to the graveyard, it gains a Venemy Counter, and for each counter Starving Venemy has, all monsters on the field, except DARK Dragon monsters, lose 200 ATK for each one." She demonstrates this by giving Starving Venemy some counters.

(Starving Venemy Lethal Dose Dragon: Venemy Counter 0 → 3)

"Since three were sent to the graveyard, all other monsters on the field lose 600 ATK points." The red lights on Starving Venemy glow crimson as the dragon sprouts pollen all over the air, tainting the rafflesia chimera and Clear Wing Fast to weaken them.

(Clear Wing Fast Dragon: ATK 2500 → 1900)

(Predaplant Chimerafflesia: ATK 2500 → 1900)

Yasuko has the chimerafflesia pinned for now, but it would mean Clear Wing Fast's attack power is also decreased since it is a WIND monster. "With Clear Wing Fast Dragon incapacitated, I have only Starving Venemy to attack, but my options are coming down to this final move." Yasuko wants to attack the rafflesia chimera, but it would mean she's falling into Yuri's play again. She won't make the same mistake. "I've got no choice but to bet it all on this." Yasuko takes out her last two cards in her hand and Sets them. "I Set two cards face-down and end my turn."

Turn 7: Yuri (1x card)

Yuri was initially surprised. He would've expected Yasuko to even come and attack him, but the girl was hesitant to retaliate. "Oh, so giving up on trying to take me on, huh?" he teased. "Well then, let me finish this match here once and for all." He draws a card from his deck. "My turn! I draw!" He looks at it, and saw what he needed.

"I activate the Spell Card, Predaplast!" Yuri activates the Quick-Play Spell Card: Predaplast. "This card lets me reveal any number of Predaplant monsters in my hand, then target the same number of monsters that you control, and place one Predator Counter!" He reveals Predaplant Chylamdosundew that was still in his hand. "I reveal Chylamdosundew and target your Clear Wing Fast Dragon!" The spell card flips up to shoot a counter that bites onto one of Clear Wing Fast's circuit wings.

"Oh no!" Zuzu gasped. "That would mean he can use it to Fusion Summon again using Clear Wing Fast Dragon!"

"But that means you'll be giving Starving Venemy more Venemy Counters, and all non-DARK Dragon monsters lose 200 ATK," said Yasuko. Because Yuri had sent a card to the graveyard, Starving Venemy gains a counter.

(Starving Venemy Lethal Dose Dragon: Venemy Counter 3 → 4)

(Clear Wing Fast Dragon: ATK 1900 → 1700)

(Predaplant Chimerafflesia: ATK 1900 → 1700)

"That won't stop me. Next, I summon Chylamdosundew from my hand." Yuri Normal Summons Predaplant Chylamdosundew. The drosera frilled-neck lizard reappears back on the field. "I activate Chylamdosundew's special effect to Fusion Summon using itself and Clear Wing Fast Dragon since it has a Predator Counter and it is treated as a DARK monster." The drosera frilled-neck lizard sticks out its tongue to wrap itself around Clear Wing Fast, who disappears before reappearing on Yuri's field.

"Now, I've taken your precious dragon; I shall bring out the one that will be the end of this little fun match," said Yuri. "I Fusion Summon! Revive! Starving Venom Fusion Dragon!" He once again Fusion Summons Starving Venom Fusion Dragon in Attack Position. Since more cards were sent to the graveyard, Starving Venemy gains another counter, weakening the rafflesia chimera,

(Starving Venemy Lethal Dose Dragon: Venemy Counter 4 → 5)

(Predaplant Chimerafflesia: ATK 1700 → 1500)

Starving Venom rose from the ground, all fresh and new. It was another mistake for both Yuri and Yasuko. The moment Starving Venom reappears back on the field, Starving Venemy turns toward the slightly smaller yet different counterpart. The four blue-green eyes stare at the bright yellow-green ones on Starving Venom. And then comes the hostile roar again.

The roars of Starving Venom and Starving Venemy are even worse than the last time when it was just Clear Wing Fast and Dark Anthelion. Both dragons are drawing out so much noise from their jaws that it's hurting the three people at the iceberg region.

They were covering their ears, trying so miserably to block out the sound.

"Damn it," Yasuko grunted.

"What's happening?" Zuzu inquired.

"What is this?" Yuri groaned.

The roar wasn't the only thing happening. Yasuko's crystal pendant on her keychain and Zuzu's bracelet were acting up again. The bright glow from the two of them was vividly clear to catch both girl's attention.

"My bracelet's glowing again?" Zuzu watches her bracelet glow like a night light. "Does this mean…" At first, she thought that either Yuto would appear, but then there was something else too. Yasuko's crystal pendant on her keychain was reacting to the same glow as her bracelet. "What is going on?"

In pain, Yuri decided to end the match between him and Yasuko once and for all. "I activate Starving Venom Fusion Dragon's Special effect! When this card is Fusion Summoned, its ATK is increased by the combined total of all monsters that you control!"

The shoulder jaws on Starving Venom open, and pink electricity was being absorbed by the dragon, gaining a huge advantage over its other cousin.

(Starving Venom Fusion Dragon: ATK 2800 → 5600)

"Now, I activate its other effect! Once per turn, I can target one level 5 or higher monster on the field, negate its effect, and steal it until the end of the turn!"

Starving Venom and Starving Venemy stops roaring at each other to begin the battle. The sabretooth jaws on Starving Venom extend outwards and latch themselves onto Starving Venemy as if the dragon was sucking in its blood. "I target your Starving Venemy, and its effects become that target's!" Starving Venemy howls in anguish, making Yasuko cringe from its suffering.

"Now that your Starving Venemy's effect is negated, my Chimerafflesia's ATK points return to normal," said Yuri. The redbuds on rafflesia chimera blossoms like a flower, regaining back their original power.

(Predaplant Chimeraffesia: ATK 1500 → 2500)

"Since Starving Venemy's effect makes all monsters except DARK Dragon monsters lose their ATK points based on the number of counters, I guess that means Starving Venom is immune to its effects." The evil smile on Yuri's face started to creep up. "I admit, I enjoyed having you as my sparring partner, but now it all ends."

Yasuko gets herself ready, prepared to take Yuri down once and for all. "I never once did like sparring with you," she detested.

"Then let this be my final gift to you," Yuri replied. "Battle! Starving Venom, attack Starving Venemy Lethal Dose Dragon!" Starving Venom unleashes its fury by emitting branches of red and purple electricity at Starving Venemy. The dragon was trapped. Starving Venom then fires a giant green laser beam from the multiple orbs conjured from the lighting, beaming straight for Starving Venemy.

"Yasuko! You have to do something!" Zuzu called.

"Got it covered," Yasuko replied. "I activate the Trap, Half or Nothing!" Yasuko flips up her face-down Trap Card: Half or Nothing. "You have to choose either to end your battle phase or halve all of your monsters' ATK points until the end of the Battle Phase!"

"A last-ditch effort to stop me, huh?" Yuri implied. "Good, because even if you save your monster, you'll still lose life points. I choose to have all of my monsters lose half of their ATK points!" Starving Venom and the rafflesia chimera both lose half of their strengths.

(Starving Venom Fusion Dragon: ATK 5600 → 2800)

(Predaplant CHimerafflesia: ATK 2500 → 1250)

The four optical eyes of Starving Venemy glow like a night light as the red orbs around the dragon illuminate to spark electrical flashes from itself. Starving Venemy retaliates against Starving Venemy by firing a red laser beam. The four backbones reveal their inner jaws that are not like Starving Venom's. Each has four sabertooths at the top and bottom. The jaws were absorbing the electricity emitting from the red orbs, powering up the red beam to the point where the green laser of Starving Venom was evenly matched with its power. Both dragons were so strong that the beams created a huge explosion that vaporized both of them to oblivion.

Yasuko and Yuri cover their faces as the smoke and debris fly everywhere in their direction. Once the blast was done, they saw that it was just rafflesia chimera standing.

"Looks like this is the end of our fun little match," said Yuri. "I enjoy having another, but I'm afraid that I have my orders, so this is nothing personal, Yasuko."

The girl isn't worried. It had to come down to this decision either way. Yuri was a formidable opponent. She had no choice but to resort to doing this. "Yeah, we are ending this," she said. "And I'm taking you down with me!"

Yuri was surprised when Yasuko proclaims her words. She flips up her Trap Card: Fairy Wind. "I activate the Trap! Fairy Wind!" she declared. "This card destroys all face-up Spell and Trap cards on the field, and we both take 300 damage for each card destroyed!"

"What?!" Yuri gasped.

The trap card conjures a powerful tornado that destroys Yuri's field spell and the two pendulum monsters in Yasuko's Pendulum Zone. The tornado was strong enough to suck in Yasuko and Yuri in the process. They screamed as they were twirled around, flying everywhere in the air before they stopped.

Yuri crashes against a boulder while Yasuko lands hard on an ice wall. Their bodies are bruised and battered. They could not move because all of their life points were out.

(Yuri: LP 250 → 0)

(Yasuko: LP 500 → 0)

DRAW

Yasuko feels like her muscles are telling her to stop and rest. Her stomach makes another growl. She is hungry, thirsty, and tired. She cannot wait for the battle royal to end. Yasuko cannot hear anything other than the deaf noise. Her eyes rove to Zuzu, who was running to help her. She cannot hear what Zuzu is saying, but based on the worried expression, she tells her that she is hoping that she will be fine.

That's when her hearing comes back to the frantic shouting of Zuzu Hiiragi. "Yasuko!" Zuzu called. "Yasuko! Are you alright?"

The girl groans tirelessly from her empty stomach. She can hardly register what occurred. Still, she can see Zuzu trying to help her get up. "Come on, Yasuko," she said. "You've got to get up." Zuzu pushes her to sit up.

Sharp pain from her back makes Yasuko cringe from the sensation. "Ow, watch it," she hissed. "I'm alright."

Zuzu makes a sigh, relieved that Yasuko did not suffer any further damage. "You're crazy, you know," she said. "Alright, let's get out of here." The girl throws Yasuko's arm over her shoulder to get her away from Yuri. Yasuko glances at the boy from over her shoulder, watching him pry himself back to his feet.

"Wait," said Yuri. "Hold on there just a minute."

Zuzu and Yasuko stopped, turning around to see Yuri getting back up. He was looking angry. There was no way that Yuri can still fight in the conditions that he is in. "Normally, I don't take things personally, but…" His eyes were focused on Yasuko. "You. You've just made this a journey for me. To think that I would have a draw with someone like you." He gets his duel disk ready. "I say we duel again."

Yasuko could not believe Yuri is still going strong despite making a draw. "Oh, come on," she complained.

"You won't duel Yasuko!" Zuzu protested. "This match is already decided!"

"How pathetic," Yuri rebuked. "A duel such as this cannot be decided with a draw. I, on the other hand, don't care. If you want to stop me, then you'll have to duel me yourself." He makes a smile. "And because we both lost, that means you're the tie-breaker. So, if you don't want your friend to be turned into a card, then come at me." He activates his duel disk, the purple blade emitting from the device.

Yasuko can barely stand, let alone dueling Yuri again. That's when she saw Zuzu putting her down on the ground and standing firm with her duel disk ready. "I won't let you hurt Yasuko," she stated.

Yuri smiles at Zuzu with evil intentions. "That's a good girl," he said.

Before any one of them can start the duel, something phenomenal happened again with Yasuko's keychain. Once the crystal pendant was glowing, the object was causing Zuzu's bracelet to react similarly. Both items seem to create a powerful energy beam that shoots from each other and zaps Yuri without hurting him.

Yuri's last words were, "What's this," before he turned into particles and vanish like the winds blowing the dust away. The jewel on Zuzu's bracelet and the glow from Yasuko's crystal keychain seized from the moment Yuri disappeared.

"It's glowing again?" Zuzu inquired.

"What's this supposed to mean?" Yasuko asked.

"It means that Yuto's got to be close," Zuzu assumed. "Or maybe Yuya's here right now."

Yasuko can't be sure what is going on. As the girls were confused about their strange phenomenon, something else happened. Out of the blue, a loud motorcycle zooms past above the girls.

They both turn up and saw a white motorcycle flying in the air. Yasuko recognizes the motorcycle to be a duel runner, which belonged to Yugo. If the duel runner is here, then it could mean that Yugo is here as well.

"Yugo!" Yasuko shouted.

Yugo was riding his duel runner when he heard his name being called. Looking down, he saw Yasuko and Zuzu. The boy seems to be shocked when he saw Zuzu. "Rin!" he shouted. Once the duel runner lands, Yugo skids the vehicle to a halt. "Rin!" He gets off and runs toward Zuzu, giving her a big welcoming hug. "Rin! I'm so glad that you're safe! I wanted to see you!"

Zuzu was practically blushing from Yugo hugging her so close. "Wait! Sorry, wrong girl! I'm not Rin!" she confessed.

"Yugo, she's right," Yasuko stated. "She's not Rin. This is Zuzu."

Yugo heard Yasuko, making him face her with a surprise. He looked at Zuzu with confusion before back to her. "Yasuko? When did you get here?" he asked.

The only response that Yasuko give was a raised eyebrow. "Uh, dude. I've been here all night," she said. "Where were you?"

"Oh." Yugo lets go of Zuzu. "I was in this lava area, and then there were these three blue guys who were attacking the other duelists, so I helped out, but the last guy ran away screaming in fright," he explained.

"Three blue guys?" Yasuko questioned. "What are you talking about?"

"These guys, they were attacking duelists who appeared in the field, and I helped out. They were turning people into those cards."

That's when it hit her. Yasuko realizes that there must be more of the duel warriors that Moon Shadow spoke about. If what Yugo said is true, then it could mean that the Academia soldiers are already here in Maiami City.

"You mean…" Yasuko digs into her pocket to show Yugo the three cards Yuri threw at her. "Like these?"

Yugo saw the cards with wide eyes, shocked at how Yasuko got them. "Yeah! Exactly like those!" he exclaimed. "They were turning those other people into cards!"

Zuzu takes a good look at the cards that Yasuko has. She gasps when she recognizes two of them. "Olga and Halil!" She takes the two cards from Yasuko. "Oh no. These two…"

"You know them?" Yasuko asked.

Zuzu nodded and said, "Yeah. I dueled them with Gong a while ago." She then had a sad look on her face. "I can't believe these are Olga and Halil, and they're both cards." The three of them were all depressed when they saw the cards. The duelists from Academia are turning random people into cards. All following the same order from the so-called Professor.

Yasuko couldn't believe this was happening. She never thought that being turned into a card is a real thing, not a sci-fi thing. She cannot let the thought of the other contenders in the Battle Royal being turned into cards happen.

"Yugo. Zuzu. Come on, we have to go find the others," said Yasuko. "We need to tell them what's going on."

Yugo and Zuzu turn to the girl with raised eyebrows. "You mean, they don't know?" Zuzu asked.

"I'm not sure, but they could be in danger if they don't find out," Yasuko replied. She turns to start walking, but then, her knees buckled, and she falls down, which shocks Yugo and Zuzu.

"Yasuko!" They exclaimed.

The girl felt her body was shutting down. All the dueling and running to find Action Cards is exhausting for her. Yasuko doesn't even know what time it is. She cannot even move a muscle. She sees Yugo and Zuzu helping her to settle down against the ice wall. The girl looked wrecked. There was no way she can even last another hour left in the battle royal.

"Hey, Yasuko," Yugo called. "Hey, are you okay?"

Just when things couldn't get worse, her crystal keychain pendant started to glow again, only this time, it's doing something to both Zuzu and Yugo. Yasuko was blinded by the brightness of her crystal pendant on her keychain.

"What the—?"

"Now what?!"

And when the bright glowing stops, Yasuko finds herself sitting against the ice wall with no one but herself. Alone, the girl was left baffled at the whereabouts of Zuzu and Yugo. It looked like they vanished from the moment she blinked. She cannot find herself moving again because exhaustion has kicked in and leaves her in the realm of unconsciousness.

---

OC cards

Action Cards:

Ice Cancel

Action Spell Card

Effect: Target one monster you control, and it is unaffected by spell and trap cards until the end of this turn.

---

Okay, so instead of Starving Venemy Dragon, I decided to went in and use Starving Venemy Lethal Dose Dragon because it has more information than Starving Venemy Dragon in the manga, and I needed to make sure that the character is handicapped throughout the series. I think it might fit in as long as I can make them work well. And because Lethal Dose has a cooler design than Starving Venemy Dragon.

Anyways, here's the updated chapter. I hoped you readers are enjoying this so far. We are getting closer to the end of the first book. So, if you like what you are reading, then don't forget to favorite, follow, and leave down a comment on what you are thoughts on this story so far.