Disclaimer: I do not own the properties of the 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.
Arc League Championship — Chapter 50: Sweet Payback; Yasuko Yukihana vs. Sora Perse
The only thing Yasuko remembered is being left behind for who knows how long after dueling Yuri to the point where she is completely exhausted. She is like floating in the abyss of darkness. There is no way that she cannot continue being in the tournament any longer. She just wants to go home and sleep the whole day.
Of course, there was a faint noise echoing in her head. It sounded like she was being carried on something. That's when she opened her eyes to realize Gongenzaka is carrying her on his back. She woke up to see Yuya and Gongenzaka running toward Ruin Zone while being carried over. She had to admit that Gongenzaka was strong enough to carry her. It took her a while for Yasuko to regain her senses.
"Wh-what the hell?" Yasuko asked.
Yuya and Gongenzaka stopped running, hearing Yasuko's voice after they were carrying her for who knows how long when they found her. Gongenzaka lets Yasuko slide off his back. She seems to regain some of the strength, but not entirely.
"Yasuko!" Yuya called. "Are you okay?"
Yasuko nodded. "Yeah…" She takes a look around to find out that she is in the Lava Sector of the battle royal. "How long was I passed out?" she asked.
"Well, Yuya and I found you by the location where Zuzu was supposed to be," said Gongenzaka. "And we just left the ruin zone about ten minutes ago."
Yuya gets right into her face, asking questions out of the blue without leaving Yasuko a breather to answer back. "Yasuko, what happened? Did you see Zuzu? What happened to her? Dennis said that she was with you just a minute ago."
"Whoa, whoa, hold on, Yuya." Yasuko takes a step back from Yuya and Gongenzaka. "I'm a little confused," she said. "I was exhausted, okay. I was taking a short breather, but I seemed to pass out, and now you're telling me that Zuzu was gone? What the hell's going on?"
Yuya and Gongenzaka were both looking at each other, seemingly bewildered that Yasuko may not know what is going on. She wonders if it has to do something with Academia. After her previous encounter with Yuya's evil twin brother, she wanted to tell Yuya that she met another version of himself. Still, they were telling her the situation that's been occurring throughout the battle royal.
"Yasuko," said Yuya. "Sora's back."
It was like getting kicked to the face with a soccer ball for Yasuko. She could not believe what she is hearing. The revelation of Sora returning to the tournament is a bewilderment to her. "What? Sora's back? Since when?" she asked.
"Since yesterday," Yuya answered. "I saw him duel Shun at the Ruin Zone, and we were just there about ten minutes ago. Gong was carrying you all the way." He had a sense of urgency to get the girl to know everything. "Yasuko, there are duelists from Academia. They're already here."
The news from Yuya did not surprise Yasuko by the slightest; in fact, it was all coming true. If Yuri and Serena came to the Standard Dimension from Academia that resides in the Fusion Dimension, it would be understandable that other duelists. "Figures," she sighed. "My day just can't get any worse." She makes no surprising comments regarding Fusion duelists' presence, much to Yuya and Gongenzaka's surprise.
"What? You mean you've met one of them?" Yuya questioned.
Yasuko was about to tell Yuya that she met his Fusion doppelganger, but she bets that it would only startle him even further. She can only hope to tell him soon if Gongenzaka is not close to their proximity.
"Yuya, we have no time. Let's just go," said Yasuko.
"Can you still run?" Gongenzaka asked the girl, who turned to look at him with a dull glare.
"What do you mean? Of course, I can run," Yasuko stated. "I'm not spending time for parkour training on nothing but flips and tricks." She breaks away from the boys to start running ahead of them. She can hear the heavy clunks of Gongenzaka's metal sandals and Yuya's shoes behind her.
The three of them run into the scorching hot lava sector. Sweat was starting to drip from their bodies. They don't know what they will find once they get further inside the lava zone. The heating terrain will exhaust them even further. Yasuko has to keep herself in check because she was unconscious for however long since Zuzu has last seen. It was getting annoying for Yasuko herself. There are more questions than answers. First, there was Yugo; second, it was Serena; then Yuri; and lastly, both Zuzu and Yugo were gone in a split second. Where did Zuzu and Yugo had gone to? She cannot tell. All she knows is that the moment she blinked, there was only herself until she passed out.
"Hey, do you guys have anything to eat? I'm starving," Yasuko called to the boys behind her.
"Oh, that reminds me," said Yuya. He digs into his cargo pocket to take out a small sandwich. "Here, I've been saving this for you after Michio cooked us some meal this morning." He throws the small sandwich in the bag to Yasuko, who catches it.
"Thank god," Yasuko sighed. She cannot remember the last time she ate before the battle royal began. Regardless of the sandwich being too small or something she does not like, Yasuko needs the energy. She rips open the bag and eats the sandwich faster than drawing a card.
The moment she finished, Yasuko stopped at the lava river along with Yuya and Gongenzaka. Both of them panted from running for about several minutes, but they found what they were expecting.
Across the lava river, two people were dueling against each other, but only one of them was a contender from the battle royal. The first person Yasuko recognized was Sun Shadow, Moon Shadow's ninja brother. The second person is the one she never hoped to return. Sora Perse. It was clear to her that Sora is dueling Sun Shadow.
There was no doubt about it; Sora is here, and he's dueling against Sun Shadow. However, the boy is not the same person who was dueling Shun a while ago. Yasuko knows that the people from Academia would only be interested in hunting the Xyz people, including Shun.
"Sora!" Yuya called.
Sora heard his voice, turning his head over across the lava river to take a good look at Yasuko, Yuya, and Gongenzaka. At first, he was surprised, but then, his expression turned to annoyance. He focuses back on the duel against Sun Shadow.
It was clear to Yasuko that Sora has forgotten everything about them. She doesn't care. All she knows is that Sun Shadow is going to lose his match against Sora. There was no way someone like Sun Shadow would stand a chance against Sora, who was trained as a duel warrior for Academia.
"Sora!" Yuya called.
"Hey, Sora!" Gongenzaka shouted.
No matter how many times Yuya and Gongenzaka tried to catch Sora's attention, he would always ignore them as if they don't exist to him. The boy was so contented with Sun Shadow as if he wants to destroy him. Slowly, Sora approaches Sun Shadow like a lion stalking its prey.
"What's wrong with you?" Yuya called. "What are you doing? I know you can hear me!" Sora did not reply anything back to Yuya. "Why are you turning those you defeated into cards?" he questioned.
"Gong heard you were turning people into cards," said Gongenzaka. "What you're doing is unforgivable!"
Yasuko was the only person who never said anything to Sora. There is no way she cannot forgive Academia for turning people into cards, especially since Sora happens to be one of them.
"Say something! Look over here!"
The more Yuya persisted, the angrier Sora becomes. He was looking sick and tired of seeing Yuya. Finally, he turned to Yuya and said, "Will you wait until I defeat him?"
Yasuko could not let Yuya get his way. Why couldn't Yuya understand that Sora is the enemy? She is clearly annoyed with the whole fiasco. The entire battle royale has been nothing but a pain for her.
"Stop messing around!" Yuya exclaimed. He was about to make a run over the lava river, but Gongenzaka got right behind him to stop Yuya from getting over the molten hot lava river. "Hey, wait!" he exclaimed. "Stop, Yuya!"
"Let go of me!" Yuya yelled, struggling to get away, but Gongenzaka's muscular arms prevent him from breaking free.
Yasuko was about to say something to Yuya when another thin caught her eyes. On her right, she saw about three more duelists; and all of them happened to be Shun, Serena in Zuzu's uniform outfit, and Moon Shadow with two monsters on a highway bridge. They appear to be dueling not just one but three other duelists that she does not recognize. They were all wearing masks with red, green, and yellow jewel orbs on their forehead. And on top of that, she saw their uniforms resembling military.
"Hey, look! It's Shun and Moon Shadow!" She left out Serena's name from Yuya and Gongenzaka because they do not know who the girl is.
"It's Zuzu!" Gongenzaka exclaimed. "Zuzu is over there!"
Yuya stopped struggling and refocus his attention toward the highway bridge, and he spotted Serena with Moon Shadow and Shun. "Zuzu!"
Based on the uniforms that the three other duelists are wearing, Yasuko can guess that they are from Academia. It was a battle between the three remaining duelists in the tournament and Academia's best warriors. Then, another two more duelists appeared on the field, joining the duel.
"Who are they?" Yasuko asked.
"It's Michio and Trout!" Yuya called.
Trout and Michio joined the duel, aiding the three remaining duelists, but they were no match for the Fusion warriors. Yasuko has seen it all and all of the atrocity that happened right before her eyes. Both duelists put up a valiant fight, but in the end, they fell just like a domino.
Micho was the first to be defeated by the three Fusion duelists, and to Yasuko's shock, one of the duelists brought up his duel disk. A strange dark purple beam zaps Michio's body, disintegrating the boy into nothing but a card.
Yuya, Gongenzaka, and Yasuko were flabbergasted. They saw one of the tournament duelists being turned into a card right before their very eyes.
"Michio…" Yuya said, saddened over the defeat of the cooking duelist.
"Now they're gonna pay!" Gongenzaka exclaimed, showing his emotional fury. "Zuzu's in trouble! I'll go!" And so, Gongenzaka sprints off to the highway bridge to support the other duelists.
Yasuko has nothing to say, too stunned to see what happened. If Michio was turned into a card, then it's a possibility that Gongenzaka will also be turned into a card too. And to think that being turned into a card is an even worse fate than dying horrifies the girl. Yasuko has no words to express what had occurred. And just when things might get worse, Trout was defeated as well, and he was turned into a card.
"Sora! Please stop!" Yuya begged. "What you are doing is horrible! You are the leader of this team, aren't you? You have to stop this!"
"Be quiet!" Sora snapped. "I don't have to stop nothing!"
Somehow, deep inside of Yasuko, her heart is burning with uncontrollable rage. It was too much to understand and see. Her blood is starting to burn really hot. Her thoughts and feeling regarding Sora are absent, only to be replaced with vengeance and hatred. There is only one enemy she considers, and that enemy is Sora Perse and all of the people from the Fusion Dimension. First, Serena, then Yuri, and now, Sora. All of them were from Academia, and all of those from Academia is her enemy. She felt her jaws tightened, watching Sora pushing Sun Shadow to a corner of the lava river.
Now trapped, she and Yuya can only watch as Sora beats Sun Shadow and turns him into a card. It was inevitable Sun Shadow would be defeated. It should not be a surprise for Yuya and Yasuko, but it only infuriated them.
Her fists are clenching so hard that Yasuko can feel her nails digging into her palms. She wants to make them pay. She wants everyone in Academia to pay for everything they've done to the Heartland City and for all the duelists who've made it to the battle royale.
Trout and Michio is one thing, but to turn Sun Shadow into a card is the last straw. Yasuko's eyes are burning with fire, ready to scorch Sora to oblivion in a fit of outrage. She looks around to find a better way to get across the lava river without having to jump very high. She cannot deal with going overboard, especially with the last duel. She spots what appears to be a small path of rock formations that leads to the other side.
Yasuko cannot let Sora be off the hook after what he has done. She cannot allow Sora to roam free without getting a dose of payback. She gets the adrenaline rushing into her skin, forcing herself to move according to her desire. She jumps over and lands her feet on the first set of rock formations, but she does not stop there. She continues to stride herself across the lava river on the rock formations, never stopping until her feet land back to the other side where Sora is located.
"Sora!" Yasuko yelled, earning the casual gaze of her former dueling school classmate.
Sora had a bored expression, but then it turns into an anticipated feeling. He seemed eager to confront Yasuko. "Well, well, well, if it isn't the perfect duelist, Yasuko herself," he said.
"Sora," said Yasuko, glaring at the boy with the same animosity toward any duelists that are from Academia. "You are going to pay. Now duel me." It wasn't a request; it was a demand. Yasuko is demanding Sora to duel her. "Duel me, Sora Perse," she repeated.
"Fine," Sora agreed. "But only because I hate the thought of losing to someone like you." He walks over to a small cavern nearby. "Let's go to a place where no one will interfere with us." And so, he enters the cave.
"Yasuko!"
The girl turns around, spotting Yuya behind her, who somehow managed to get himself across the lava river in a similar pathway that she took. "I'm dueling Sora. Please let me duel him," he requested.
Yasuko narrows her eyes at the boy. "No," she denied. "I'm dueling him, and you stay right there."
Yuya was taken back by Yasuko's rebuke. "What? Why are you doing this?" he asked.
The girl faces back to the cave with full hostile intentions. "Because Sora turned Sun Shadow into a card," she answered harshly. "That he's crossed the line." Yasuko has no intentions to let Yuya take on someone from Academia; in fact, she has no intentions to let Yuya handle Sora at all. She is going to be the one who duels him.
"Yasuko," Yuya called from behind. "You are in no condition to duel him. You looked like you are about to fall asleep anytime soon."
Yasuko darkened her gaze at the boy behind her. "I'm not that frail!" she shouted. "I just want to punch someone right now." She turns back to the cave. "And I know who's going to get it."
Despite Yuya's protest, the girl is full-on set for a confrontation with Sora. She cannot be careless if Sora is still the same person. She knows who Sora is. He was a psychopath—a monster. The Sora Perse was long gone after he vanished. She cannot take her chances with arguing with Yuya.
Yasuko walks into the cave as the scorching heat from the lava river down below the cavern makes her back sweat. Even the bangs from her low pigtails were sticking to the back neck. And there he was, Sora standing at the other side of the formation, having to cross over a rock bridge.
After witnessing everything from Sora to Serena to Yuri, the girl realizes that she is out of their league in physical endurance. So, she needs to play smarter, not harder, in her duels against someone from Academia.
"Sora," Yasuko began. "Why do you have to go this far? To think you were turning people into cards right before my eyes." There is nothing more for Yasuko to say. All she cared about was making Academia pay for turning people into cards. Yasuko takes out her duel disk from her holster and throws it in the air before catching it with her left wrist. The device activates, turning on the glowing blue blade.
Sora brings up his own duel disk. It was a different design from before, but it was shaped like the one Serena has, except yellow with a blue coloring design. The duel disk emits a blue sword blade that is just like Serena's.
The girl thinks Sora's loyalty is bound to Academia. It's like Sora does not care about her or anyone he's met before Shun. Sora is a whole different person. He is bound to be in league with Academia. Yasuko should see it, but one thought that came to her mind is payback.
"I've been looking forward to this," said Sora. "Ever since I saw you duel back there, I was dying to duel you myself. You and that Pendulum Summon of yours." Sora sticks out the lollipop from his mouth at her. "I've always wanted a challenger, and you, girl, are the one." Sticking the lollipop back to his mouth, Sora stands ready with his duel disk as well as Yasuko.
Duel:
Yasuko Yukihana (LP 4000)
VS.
Sora Perse (LP 4000)
"DUEL!" they shouted all together. With five cards in their hand, duel disks ready, the two former classmates are about to begin their match.
Turn 1: Sora (5x cards)
"My turn." Sora takes the lead and activates the Continuous Spell Card: Toy Vendor. "I activate the Continuous Spell, Toy Vendor." A giant toy vending machine appears behind Sora. "Once per turn, I send one card from my hand to the graveyard to draw one card from my deck," he said. "And if the card that I draw is a Fluffal monster, I can Special Summon it. If not, then it goes to the graveyard." Sora takes a monster card: Fluffal Wings, and discards it. "I send my Fluffal Wings to the graveyard." After he discarded one card from his hand, a magical coin appears before entering through the coin slot. The handle cranes down, allowing a small toy egg to roll out from the vending hole, mimicking Sora drawing one card from his deck.
Sora takes a peek over and saw that he has drawn a monster. "I draw Fluffal Bear, so I Special Summon it!" Due to his spell's effect, Sora Special Summons Fluffal Bear (ATK 1200/DEF 1000) in Attack Position. The toy egg pops out a pink teddy bear with angel wings. "I activate the spell, Polymerization!" Sora announced, activating the Polymerization Spell Card. "I fuse Fluffal Bear on my field and Edge Imp Sabres from my hand!"
The pink teddy bear and the scissors demon emerge on the field before being consumed by a swirling vortex of red and blue. Yasuko knows what's coming next. It does not surprise her, considering that she's seen Sora dueled before. It's no brainer that she knows what will happen next for Sora.
"I Fusion Summon! Appear, the hair-raising beast that slashes everything! Frightfur Bear!" Sora fuses Fluffal Bear and Edge Imp Sabres to Fusion Summon Frightfur Bear (ATK 2100/DEF 1800) in Attack Position.
A giant pair of scissors pierced through the pink teddy bear's stomach, transforming the small paws into claws. The pink teddy bear becomes the monstrous version of itself with the giant scissor at the stomach and limps like scissors with googly eyeballs over the pink glowing eyes in the mouthpiece.
Sora takes out one more card from his hand and Sets it on his field. "I Set a card face-down and end my turn," he concluded.
Turn 2: Yasuko (5x cards)
"Bring it on, Yasuko," Sora sneered. "You never should have challenged me, Yasuko, because losing to me isn't going to be pretty." He sticks out his lollipop to her. "But then, you are the one who's been very persistent to the end, so I'll show you my true power."
Yasuko hardens her gaze, staring at Sora's field. "Well, it's a good thing I've got improvements since you left," she said. "My turn." She draws a card. She takes a look at it, and it was Odd-Eyes Mirage Dragon. "I Set the Pendulum Scale with Scale 1 Odd-Eyes Persona Dragon, and Scale 8 Odd-Eyes Mirage Dragon!" Yasuko activates and places Odd-Eyes Persona Dragon (Scale 1) and Odd-Eyes Mirage Dragon (Scale 8) at both the edge of her blue blade, forming the rainbow "Pendulum" word on the disk.
The red bone armored dragon with red and green heterochromia eyes and the green bone armored dragon with dichromatic red and green eyes hover up inside the pillar of lights with their respective Pendulum Scales numbers. "With these two monsters, I can Pendulum Summon monsters between levels 2 and 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 monster!" A portal rips open in the sky, allowing Yasuko to Pendulum Summon Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon (ATK 2500/DEF 2000) in Attack Position.
The great blue dragon covered in bone armor over its blue scales from head to tail with two massive horns sticking out from the head and red and green orbs glowing on the backbone appears on the field. The red and green eyes of Odd-Eyes Phantom glares like fire. The dragon makes an animalistic roar in the cavern.
"You should never have come back, Sora," said Yasuko. "So why were you here in the first place?"
"Because I can," Sora answered. "I have a mission to do, and I accepted it."
"Even if it means losing the people you've met?" Yasuko accused.
"Precisely," Sora confirmed. "That last act was just me fooling around back then, but this time, I won't be lame anymore."
"You were always lame back then," Yasuko replied. "Even now, you're still lame to me."
Sora raised an eyebrow, finding himself insulted by the girl. "Huh?"
"Yuya and the others trusted you, but I never did," Yasuko stated. "I never knew anything about you when we first met. I thought you were a reasonable person, but now I see that you were hiding behind a mask, trying to make everyone like you." She clenches her fist. "And you enjoyed that? You enjoy playing with people's emotions as if they are nothing but candy and sweets." Her eyes darkened. She is feeling very vengeful. "You make me sick." She throws her hand over to the nightmare bear. "Battle! Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon, attack Frightfur Bear!" Once the command is given, the dragon takes charge. Odd-Eyes Phantom jumps forward with its jaws open, ready to attack. Sora makes a front-flip over a floating rock platform in a split second before he flips over to another, swiping an Action Card at the instant. Odd-Eyes Phantom whips its tail to smack the nightmare bear, creating an explosion. It sends shockwaves to inflict battle damage to Sora.
(Sora: LP 4000 → 3700)
"Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon's special effect activates!" Yasuko shouted. "When this monster is Pendulum Summoned, and it successfully dealt battle damage, it can inflict damage for every Odd-Eyes in my Pendulum Zone times 1200!" Odd-Eyes Phantom opens its jaws and fires blue flames at Sora.
"I activate the Action Spell, Flame Guard!" Sora uses the Action Spell Card: Flame Guard, which he caught earlier before his nightmare bear was destroyed. "All effect damages become 0!" A rising wall of molten lava snuffed the blue flames.
Yasuko makes a growling noise, irritated that Sora blocked her effect damage. With no other moves left, she takes out two cards from her hand and Sets them. "I Set two cards face-down and end my turn," she concluded.
Turn 3: Sora (0x card)
"The first time we've met was right after Yuya and I dueled Sylvio and Yamabe at the Leo Stadium," Yasuko recalled. "You joined You Show because of Yuya. He was your inspiration. You called him "teacher" and joined the You Show in the first place. Now you're turning against them."
Sora turns his head away. "Ah, please," he drawled. "Now you just sound like Yuya." He faced the girl and said, "It was only because Yuya's interesting. That's what got my attention."
"Because of his Pendulum Summon, or was it because you wanted something out of him?" Yasuko questioned.
"Maybe a bit of the Pendulum Summoning side," said Sora. "And speaking of Summons, I happen to be interested in you as well." He was narrowing his eyes at her. "You seem to know everything about the Extra Deck. You talk about Fusion, Synchro, and Xyz like they were nothing but books to you. So, how'd you done them? Or did you just knew them before we met?"
Yasuko has no definite answer to Sora's question. It was not like she knew them; she just happened to know them because she was a natural in dueling. "Like that matters," she denied. "What really matters is you won't get to Shun or anyone for that matter."
"And why's that?" Sora sneered, making a similar evil smile.
Yasuko proves to Sora her resolve by jabbing a thumb at herself. "Because I'm the one who's going to kick your ass for what you did to Heartland City," Yasuko vowed. "And don't ever take me so lightly. Yuto failed to finish his work. This time, I'm not holding back against you."
Sora was intrigued by the girl's knowledge regarding Heartland City. "Oh really?" Sora place two fingers on his deck. "Well then, it's my turn." He draws a card. "Seems like you knew about Heartland City, too."
"I heard everything," Yasuko replied. "I heard everything about Heartland City and what you people are doing there. Turning all those people, even children, into cards." She recalls everything Shun and Yuto said about Heartland City being ablaze, destroyed by Academia's very people. "How can you live yourself with that?!"
Sora had nothing but a black face on. He doesn't seem to care about what happens to the people or the children of Heartland City. "I am Academia first and foremost, and Academia's goals are what keeps me from not looking back to the past," he said. "And talking to you makes me want to pummel and pound that face of yours!" Sora takes out a card from his hand to discard his second copy of Fluffal Wings. "I discard my second Fluffal Wings to activate my Toy Vendor." A second magical coin enters through the toy vending machine. "I draw one card from my deck, and if it's a Fluffal monster, I can Special Summon it." He looks down at the card that he drew. "Nice! I Special Summon Fluffal Mouse!" Since Sora drew a monster card, he can Special Summon Fluffal Mouse (ATK 100/DEF 100) in Attack Position.
A cute little mouse with angel wings holding a doughnut in its tiny little paws appears on the field. "When Toy Vendor is on my field, I can activate Fluffal Wings' effect from my graveyard! By banishing itself and one copy of Fluffal Wings, I can draw two cards!" The toy vending machine behind Sora disappears into dust, allowing the boy to draw two cards. "And I tribute Toy Vendor to draw one more card." Once Sora draws his third card, he can get to another move. "And then, Toy Vendor's effect activates. When it was sent to the graveyard, I can add one "Fluffal" monster or "Edge Imp Sabres" from my deck to my hand." Sora takes out one more card to add, and it was Fluffal Penguin.
Yasuko was not surprised. She knew Sora is an expert in Fusion Summon, so it's no doubt that he will try and make a Fusion Summon the second time around. "Four cards, huh? This might be a pain in the ass than I thought," she murmured.
"You'll find me full of other surprises, Yasuko," said Sora. He takes out another card and then activates the Spell Card: Frightfur Patchwork. "I activate Frightfur Patchwork to add Edge Imp Saw and a Polymerization to my hand." Once Sora has activated the spell, it was the exact moment that Yasuko needed to take advantage.
"And I activate my Quick-Play Spell, Shared Ride!" Yasuko flips up her Quick-Play Spell Card: Shared Ride. "For the rest of the turn, each time you add a card except by drawing, I can draw one card each."
Sora was surprised, making him feel astounded that Yasuko found a way to get herself more cards. "You Set that card from the start?" he asked.
Yasuko narrowed her eyes at Sora and replied, "There's a lot I've learned in this tournament, and I just have to roll with it." Since Yasuko managed to get the drop on Sora, the boy has no choice to add Edge Imp Saw and the second copy of Polymerization to his hand. Once that was done, Yasuko draws two cards from her deck.
The boy seemed agitated, but he remains his cool, keeping himself under the head to deal with Yasuko. "I activate Frightfur Repair spell," said Sora, activating the Spell Card: Frightfur Repair. "By returning Frightfur Bear to my Extra Deck, I'm allowed to Special Summon one Edge Imp monster from my graveyard!" Sora takes out his Fusion monster and shuffles it back to his Extra Deck to Special Summon Edge Imp Sabres (ATK 1200/DEF 1800) in Defense Position.
"Fluffal Mouse's special effect activates!" Sora added. "During my Main Phase, I can Special Summon up to two copies of Fluffal Mouse from my deck!" The doughnut mouse duplicates itself to Special Summon two more copies of Fluffal Mouse in Attack Position.
Yasuko is not worried by the slightest. The four monsters that Sora has aren't going to do much against her. She knows Sora is going all out against her, and he's seen her duels plenty of times, making it more complicated for her.
"Now, I activate the continuous spell, Frightfur Factory!" Sora activates the Continuous Spell Card: Frightfur Factory. "Once per turn, I can banish one Polymerization or one card that has a Fusion in its name to Fusion Summon one Frightfur monster using materials that are in my hand or field." Sora takes his first copy of Polymerization from his graveyard and banishes it. "I banish my Polymerization to fuse Edge Imp Sabres and all three of my Fluffal Mouse!" The scissor demon and three doughnut mice float into the swirling vortex of red and blue in the sky.
"Devil claws and three sharp fangs! Become one in the whirlpool of mystery! Show your new power and look! I Fusion Summon! Appear! The magical forest beast that tears through everything! Firghtfur Tiger!" Sora fuses Edge Imp Sabres and three copies of Fluffal Mouse to Fusion Summon Frightfur Tiger (ATK 1900/DEF 1200) in Attack Position.
Sora's new nightmare monster summoned is a turquoise and black striped stuffed tiger with scissor arms to the paw with a giant black scissor piercing through the chest and two glowing pink eyes in the jaws of the tiger head with green googly eyes.
No matter what monster Sora brings out, it does not bother Yasuko. Not one bit. She understands Sora's methods to use Fusion Summon and then steal his opponent's monsters to power his own.
"Is this you trying to be real with me, or are you just trying to beat me like how you beat Sun Shadow," she said, blank showing no sentiment.
"This is me trying to beat you," Sora replied. "The power I have now outweighed you."
Yasuko blinked once. "Are you certain?" she asked. "Because this is just another bluff."
"I'll show you bluff!" Sora yelled. "Frightfur Tiger gains 300 ATK for every Fluffal and Frightfur monster that I control!" The nightmare tiger glows in bright yellow aura to gain a power boost.
(Frightfur Tiger: ATK 1900 → 2200)
"And that's not all! When Frightfur Tiger is Fusion Summoned, I can target and destroy cards on the field for every Fusion Material used this turn!" The nightmare tiger's belly scissors extend toward Odd-Eyes Phantom and two cards in the Pendulum Zone. "So it destroys three!" Just before the scissor blades can cut the cards Yasuko has, the girl sprints over to a floating rock platform and strides across the lava river before she jumps to swipe an Action Card that was on top of the higher floating platform.
"I activate my Action Spell, Protective Winds!" Yasuko activates the Action Spell Card: Protective Winds. "This card negates the monster's effect that destroys a card." The scissor about to cut all of Yasuko's cards, including Odd-Eyes Phantom, was blocked by a tornado of winds, acting like a rock being scissors.
Sora makes an angry growl from the corner of his mouth, frustrated that Yasuko's found a way to counter him. "Didn't think you still have any fight left," he said.
Yasuko glares at Sora. "I am no one's prey," she stated.
Sora's eyes are showing more seriousness, determined to finish off Yasuko in one single turn. "I Normal Summon Fluffal Penguin!" He Normal Summons Fluffal Penguin (ATK 1600/DEF 1100). A stuffed penguin with earmuffs and an angel wing bow-tie appears on the field, flapping its wings like a real penguin.
"I activate Polymerization to fuse Fluffal Penguin and Frightfur Tiger!" Once Sora activates the second Polymerization copy, the stuffed penguin and the nightmare tiger hover into the air before entering through the swirling vortex of red and blue. "I Fusion Summon! Come forth! The wicked wild beast that bites everything! Frightfur Sabre-Tooth!" Sora uses Fluffal Penguin and Firghtfur Tiger to Fusion Summon Frightfur Sabre Tooth (ATK 2400/DEF 2000) in Attack Position.
The second nightmare toy Sora had summoned is a giant stuffed sabertooth tiger with knives sticking out from the sides and the tail with pink glowing eyes inside the jaws.
"Fluffal Penguin's special effect activates, followed by Saber Tooth's special effect! When Frightfur Sabre Tooth is Fusion Summoned, I can target one Frightfur monster in my graveyard and Special Summon it!" Sora brings backs Frightfur Tiger in Attack Position. "I Special Summon Frightfur Tiger!" The nightmare tiger is resurrected back to the field with its canceled effect restored to normal.
"And when Fluffal Penguin was sent to the graveyard as a Fusion Material, I can draw two cards and then discard one card." Sora draws two cards and then discards his Edge Imp Saw from his hand. "While Saber Tooth is face-up, all Frightfur monsters gain 400 ATK points for every Fluffal and Frightfur monster I control, and while Tiger is face-up, its effect gives all Frightfur monsters 300 ATK for the same effect."
Since there are two nightmare monsters on the field with the same effect, both the tiger and the saber tooth gain power.
(Frightfur Tiger: ATK 1900 → 3300)
(Frightfur Saber Tooth: ATK 2400 → 3800)
Sora makes a smile and said, "Out of all the duelists I've met, I never take you so lightly." He gestures to the monsters that are on his field. "To beat you, I have to do the impossible and go all out." His eyes match the gaze of Yasuko's. "There is no way I would lose in the battle against you, Yasuko."
"And what happens until then?" A shout echoes in the cavern, earning both duelist's attention.
At the entrance of the cavern, Yuya stands behind Yasuko with a frown. He was looking furious at Sora. "Will you turn her into a card, too?" he questioned. "Sora, what you are doing is wrong. This can't be your true self."
Yasuko does not want Yuya to be talking to her opponent since it's clear that Sora's legion is with Academia and someone's crazy agendas. "Forget it, Yuya," she rebuked before turning back to her opponent. "Sora doesn't care about you. He doesn't care about anyone other than himself."
Despite Yasuko's refute to Sora's nature, Yuya tries to reason with his former friend. "Then why? Why did you teach Zuzu to Fusion Summon?" he asked, getting desperate for answers from Sora. "You were the one who taught Zuzu how to Fusion Summon because of friendship."
Sora turns his attention to Yuya. "I shouldn't have done that," he admitted. "Fusion Summon was too priceless." There was madness in his eyes, showing Yasuko and Yuya the true nature of his personality. "It's the power to unite the world into one!"
Yasuko can see Sora is also obsessed with the whole unity of the four dimensions concept. The philosophy makes her wonder if Sora's truly dedicated to following Academia's orders to bring harm and despair to the other worlds for one united dimension.
"And what power will cost you?" Yasuko asked. "All you've been doing is creating more harm than good."
"Yasuko's right," Yuya agreed. "Using power to unite the world is wrong." He sounded desperate to get Sora back on his side, hoping that the boy would snap out of the crazy idea from the other duelists from Academia.
"It's not wrong!" Sora denied, making a loud snap back to Yuya. "Fusion Summoning is used for crushing your enemies! And I'll prove it!"
"And I'll prove to you that you will not take me down!" Yasuko yelled. "I activate my Quick-Play Spell, Scapegoat! This card Special Summons up to four Sheep Tokens!" Yasuko flips up her face-down Quick-Play Spell Card: Scapegoat to summon four Sheep Tokens (Beast/EARTH/Level 1/ATK 0/DEF 0) in Defense Position. The four sheep: red, orange, pink, and blue, all stand in front of Yasuko, surrounding Odd-Eyes Phantom like a barrier.
Sora clenches his jaws. The more Yasuko makes a counter, the more annoyed he becomes. He comes to realize that the girl won't back down. He looks at the cards that are still in his hand and takes out one.
"I activate the spell, Frightfur Fusion!" Sora activates the Spell Card: Frightfur Fusion. "This card lets me Fusion Summon one Frightfur monster by banishing materials from the field or graveyard!" He raises his hand to demonstrate his resolve. "I banish Edge Imp Sabres and three copies of my Fluffal Mouse!" The demon scissors and three doughnut mice reveal themselves in the sky before they are banished into the swirling vortex of red and blue.
"Demon Scissors! Merge with the three hunter beasts! Become the hunter that will prey on the weak! I Fusion Summon! Come out! The canine beast that hunts with its razor teeth! Frightfur Wolf!" Sora banishes his Edge Imp Sabres and three copies of his Fluffal Mouse to Fusion Summon Frightfur Wolf (ATK 2000/DEF 1500) in Attack Position.
A stuffed dog that appears cute turns monstrous, transforming itself into a nightmare wolf with two scissor forearms and glowing pink eyes in the jaws.
"And because of Tiger and Saber Tooth's special effect, all other Frightfur monsters on my field gains ATK," Sora reminded.
With a third nightmare toy monster on the field, all three monsters' power has increased significantly.
(Frightfur Tiger: ATK 3300 → 4000)
(Frightfur Saber Tooth: ATK 3800 → 4500)
(Frightfur Wolf: ATK 2000 → 4100)
"Battle! Tiger, attack Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon!" The nightmare tiger extends its scissors to cut Odd-Eyes Phantom in half. Before the monster can do it, Yasuko jumps up and lands on the end of Odd-Eyes' tail. The dragon swings its tail upwards, allowing Yasuko to snatch an Action Card stuck to a stalagmite.
"I activate the Action Spell: Damage Banish!" Yasuko activates the Action Spell Card: Damage Banish. "I take zero battle damage this battle!" Despite saving her life points, Yasuko loses Odd-Eyes Phantom as the nightmare tiger cuts the dragon in halve, destroying it. Yasuko lands back safely on the other side of the lava river, making a stern glare at her opponent, which shows the fierce determination to win against Sora. Her eyes burn with immense hatred for anyone from Academia. "You will not bring me down!" Yasuko exclaimed.
"Let's see about that!" Sora snapped. "Frightfur Wolf can attack up to the number of every Fusion Materials used to Fusion Summon!" The nightmare wolf launches itself to attacks all four sheep. When it comes to the sheep and the wolf, the nightmare wolf slashes all four monsters, destroying them.
Yuya is taken back, seeing Yasuko's field is empty. "Oh no!" he gasped. "Yasuko's wide open for a direct attack!"
"And it's gonna hurt a lot for you, Yasuko," Sora smiled. "Frightfur Sabre Tooth attacks you directly!" The nightmare saber tooth bounces itself to land a swift blow to Yasuko with a headbutt attack, but the girl isn't going to give up. She has another trick on her sleeve.
"I activate my Anikuriboh's special effect!" Yasuko declared. "When a monster declares an attack, I can discard this card to target one monster from either graveyard, and the Special Summon it on my side of the field!" Yasuko takes her monster hand trap: Ankuriboh, and discards it to activate its unique abilities. "I Special Summon Fluffal Bear!" The monster Yasuko choose to Special Summon is Fluffal Bear in Defense Position. The pink stuffed bears remerge from the graveyard and back on the field, but only on Yasuko's side.
"Saber Tooth, attack Fluffal Bear!" The nightmare sabertooth jumped up and pounced the stuffed bear into nothing but dust, leaving Yasuko's field exposed once again.
"Wow." Sora looks pretty interested in Yasuko's decision to pay her life points. "All of those attacks, and not a scratch," he sneered. "I bet you must be proud, huh?"
The girl remains unfazed by Sora's comment. It was clear to her that Sora is dueling with everything he's got, not holding back against her. "Not even close," she responded. "I am dueling you because I want to make you Academia people pay for what you did to Heartland City."
While the girl and Sora are dueling, Yuya watched from the sidelines, seeing two of his dueling classmates battling each other like they were in a real battle. It reminds him of Sora's duel with Shun Obsidian. It may be affecting Yasuko as well. Yasuko wasn't the type to be provoked, but her rage seems like it mirrors Shun's.
"Why have you changed so much?" Yuya asked. "You weren't always this mean. You were always cheerful and innocent. What happened to you, Sora? What happened to the Sora that I knew?" He demands to know why Sora has forgotten everything about the You-Show's philosophy and turned into a crazed psychopath.
"Because he was a fake," Yasuko answered. "Sora was never innocent, and he was never this cheerful. He's always a soldier first."
"You got that right," Sora corrected. "This is my true self. I am the fiercest Fusion warrior that Academia's ever had." He takes out a card from his hand and Sets it face-down. "I Set a card face-down, and I end my turn."
Turn 4: Yasuko (2x cards)
Yasuko narrows her eyes. "You're not the fiercest warrior." Her voice does not hold back her tongue, making her spit everything she feels about Sora and Academia. "You're just a stupid little kid who has no idea what you're getting into," she stated. "All those people you invaded were like us. They live like us, and you turned their world upside down." Her glare seems to harden, forming a very infuriated scowl. "What makes you so different than us?" she asked.
"We're different because we are," Sora answered. "Fusion is the superior summoning method. It has the power to achieve anything."
"Fusion is never the superior summoning method, and neither is Pendulum, Synchro, or Xyz," said Yasuko. "All the summoning methods are equally strong in their own right, and everyone from the Xyz Dimension is not weak." She places two fingers on top of her deck. "And neither is the Standard." She draws a card from her deck. "My turn!" Once Yasuko looks at the card that she's drawn, it's the one she might use.
"You stomp over the people of Heartland City filled with the same passion everyone else in this town had, and you took it all away from them," Yasuko explained. "What was the point of all that carnage?"
"Stuff happens," Sora responded as if he does not care. "It couldn't be helped. It's to unite the world into one. That's the goal of Academia."
"You have no right to do that!" Yasuko exclaimed. "With the Scale 1 Odd-Eyes Persona Dragon and Scale 8 Odd-Eyes Mirage Dragon! I Pendulum Summon!" Yasuko Pendulum Summons Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon from her Extra Deck in Attack Position. "Revive from the Extra Deck, Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon!" Odd-Eyes Phantom rains down from the sky like a meteorite, crashing down next to the girl.
"Odd-Eyes is back again," said Sora. "When a Pendulum Monster is destroyed, it goes to the Extra Deck and not in the graveyard." The boy makes a smile. "Surely, this reminds me of the first time I dueled Yuya. My flaws against that kind of monster lead to my defeat."
"Well, I am not Yuya," Yasuko reminded. "And like I said before, I've got some improvements while you were gone away." She pulls out one card and plays one card to even up the playing field. "I activate the Spell, Pendulum Fusion!" Yasuko activates the Spell Card: Pendulum Fusion. "This card allows me to Fusion Summon a monster using materials that are on my field, and if there are two cards in my Pendulum Zones, I can use those cards as well!"
"What?!" Sora gasped, shocked by Yasuko's revelation.
"She's going to use the monsters in her Pendulum Zones to Fusion Summon?" Yuya questioned.
Yasuko wastes no room to make her move. "I fuse all three of my Odd-Eyes!" The persona dragon and the mirage dragon inside of the Pendulum Zones disappear before remerging with Odd-Eyes Phantom.
"Dragons with heterochromia eyes! Merge together 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 fuses Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon, Odd-Eyes Persona Dragon, and Odd-Eyes Mirage Dragon to Fusion Summon Starving Venemy Lethal Dose Dragon (ATK 2800/DEF 2000) in Attack Position.
Yasuko's three dragons have combined to become Starving Venemy, the dragon with four blue-green eyes with a red shell forehead with blue lines and its purple body towering over other monsters as the thick leaf bushes from the lower body as it's the hip tails whip around the field.
Yuya felt a sudden beat from his heart upon seeing Starving Venemy. The monster had some kind of aura that makes him jump in surprise. It's a lot different than the ones Yasuko has before.
"Starving Venemy Lethal Dose Dragon," said Yuya.
"Yuya!"
The boy heard his name being called and turns up to find the surviving duelists who have defeated the three blue Academia warriors on top of the ridge. Much to his relief, the two people that he was worried about are still standing before him.
"Gong! Zuzu!" Yuya called back.
"What's going on?" Gong asked.
"Yasuko is dueling Sora!" Yuya responded, turning back to see the monster Yasuko has. It was an extraordinary kind. He thought Yasuko has only Odd-Eyes Phantom and Dark Anthelion, but he never imagined the girl to have a different type.
Even Sora was getting hyped up from seeing Starving Venemy. A Pendulum monster was possible, but the sight of a Fusion-Pendulum monster makes him grin with such excitement that he hasn't been seen since he left.
"How fun, Yasuko!" Sora cheered. "This is turning out to be a real blast! A Fusion-Pendulum monster!" He was grinning like a child got his first toy. "To think that you've gone and beyond the scope and become a worthy opponent! This is what I like about you! You're so full of surprises! Your duels are so exciting!"
"That's right!" Yuya agreed. "Dueling is fun. That's why you've got to stop fighting!"
"This is never about fun," Yasuko stated. "This is about getting even with you punks for destroying Heartland City." She throws her hand over to the monsters Sora has. "Starving Venemy's special effect activates! Once per turn, I can negate all of your monsters until the end of the turn!" Starving Venemy's four backbone wings split open to reveal jaws and sprouts out a web of red electricity that shocks all of Sora's monsters, negating their special abilities, which, in turn, weakens them.
(Frightfur Tiger: ATK 4000 → 1900)
(Frightfur Saber Tooth: ATK 4500 → 2400)
(Frightfur Wolf: ATK 4100 → 2000)
Sora was shocked that Yasuko turned off all of his monster's power boost. "No way," he said.
Yasuko jumps over the lava river to let Starving Venemy catch her with its tail and whips her over to a stalagmite where Yasuko snatches an Action Card: Flame Chain. "Action Spell! Flame Chain!" She activates it. "This card targets one monster you control, and it loses 400 ATK points!" The action card flips up and blasts four fireballs to try and hit one of Sora's monsters. "I target Tiger!"
Sora was quick to make a response to the Action Card. "I activate the Counter Trap! Frightfur March!" Sora flips up his Counter Trap Card: Frightfur March. "When a Spell, Trap, or monster effect targets a Frightfur monster, I can negate and destroy it, and then send one of those targeted monsters to the graveyard to Special Summon one Level 8 or higher monster from my Extra Deck." The fireballs that were shot from the Action Card are extinguished from the air. "I send my Tiger and perform a Fusion Summon!" The nightmare tiger disappears from the field, allowing Sora to Fusion Summon Frightfur Cruel Whale (ATK 2600/DEF 2400) in Attack Position.
"I Fusion Summon! The mighty moby whale that slices through anything! Frightfur Cruel Whale!" When the tiger vanishes, another monster takes its place. A giant stuffed, cruel whale with scythe blades sticking out from the belly and scythe blades as the back fin appears on the field, glaring at Yasuko with its pink glowing eyes from underneath its mouth.
"He countered the Action Card, and Fusion Summoned during Yasuko's turn? This is getting really intense," said Yuya.
"When Cruel Whale is Fusion Summoned, I can destroy one card that I control and one that you control!" The boy turns toward his monster that is on the field. "I destroy my Wolf and your Starving Venemy!" The cruel whale makes a swing with both its scythe fin to destroy the nightmare wolf and Starving Venemy; however, Yasuko wasn't going to let Sora destroy her monster and pulls out a card to activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Forbidden Chalice. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell, Forbidden Chalice!" she declared. "This card targets one monster, and it gains 400 ATK, but its effects are negated until the end of the turn!" Despite Yasuko having to stop the cruel whale from destroying her monster, Sora still has its other ability.
"I activate Cruel Whale's other effect!" A card pops out from Sora's Extra Deck, and the boy sents Frightfur Bear to the graveyard. "By sending one Frightfur Fusion monster from my Extra Deck to the graveyard, I can target one Fusion monster that I control, and it gains half of its ATK point until the end of the turn!" Once the nightmare was sent to the graveyard, the nightmare wolf gains a power boost.
(Frightfur Wolf: ATK 2000 → 3100)
(Frightfur Cruel Whale: ATK 2600 → 3000)
"Too bad," Sora commented. "You may have stopped my monster from destroying your own monster, but you've only given it a boost to end your life points. It looks like your plan backfired on you."
Yasuko thinks otherwise. The girl realizes that Sora never comprehends her deck's evolution and makes it a good opportunity to use it. "Did it?" she inquired. "Because you just helped me activate Starving Venemy's other special effect."
Sora was caught off guard after hearing her sentence, and Yasuko is about to explain why. "Each time a card was sent from the field to the graveyard, Starving Venemy Lethal Dose Dragon gains a counter, and for every Venemy Counter it has, all other monsters on the field except DARK Dragons lose 200 ATK," she clarified. "And the last time I counted, that was four."
Starving Venemy glows in the bright purple aura, gaining four counters on itself. The monsters on the field are now burning in pink atmospheres, weakening themselves.
(Starving Venemy Lethal Dose Dragon: Venemy Counter 0 → 4)
(Frightfur Wolf: ATK 3100 → 2300)
(Frightfur Cruel Whale: ATK 3000 → 2200)
(Firghtfur Saber Tooth: ATK 2400 → 1600)
Sora couldn't believe Yasuko baited him into using his counter trap and then sending his own monster to the graveyard, making all of his monsters weaker than Starving Venemy. "So that's what you've been doing," he said. "You've been making me sent cards to the graveyard, which weakens my monsters."
Yasuko raised an eyebrow. "Of course, dummy," she confessed. "I knew you were trying to beat me with the pride of a Fusion duelist, and I turned it against you. Zuzu has done this before, and now, you're the one who's my prey." Yasuko uses the last card in her hand to activate the Spell Card: Triple Tactics Talent. "Since you just activated a monster effect during my Main Phase, I can play the Spell, Triple Tactics Talent, and then draw two cards." Yasuko chooses the first effect to draw two cards from her deck. Due to the effect of Starving Venemy, it gains a counter and weakens all other monsters.
(Starving Venemy Lethal Dose Dragon: Venemy Counter 4 → 5)
(Frightfur Wolf: ATK 2300 → 2100)
(Frightfur Cruel Whale: ATK 2200 → 2000)
(Firghtfur Saber Tooth: ATK 1600 → 1400)
Yasuko points at the weakest monster. "And now that your monsters are weaker than mine, it's time to battle!" The jaws from Starving Venemy's back and shoulder bone rip open, absorbing the energy in the air.
"Starving Venemy, attack Saber Tooth!" Once enough energy is stored, Starving Venemy's chest opens up, revealing to be a jaw, and shoots a violet purple beam that vaporizes the nightmare saber tooth. The blast creates a huge explosion that sends Sora flying in the air until his back smacks the cave wall behind him.
(Sora: LP 3700 → 2300)
Sora fell to the ground, making rocks fall around him, much to Yuya's shock.
"Sora!" Yuya called. He turns to the girl dueling him. "Yasuko! What are you doing?"
"To make anyone from Academia understand the pain and suffering of Heartland City. To make them feel their rage," said Yasuko, never showing any concern for Sora. Her anger rose to the highest, showing no mercy to the boy who was once an ally. "I want everyone from Academia to pay. That's what I want." Since another card was sent from the field to the graveyard, Starving Venemy gains another counter, weakening the other monsters.
(Starving Venemy Lethal Dose Dragon: Venemy Counter 5 → 6)
(Frightfur Wolf: ATK 2100 → 1900)
(Frightfur Cruel Whale: ATK 1600 → 1400)
Yasuko takes out one card from her hand and Sets it on her field. "I Set a card face-down and end my turn," she concluded.
Sora brings himself back on his feet, panting from the impact. "And that means Wolf's ATK returns to normal," he croaked. The nightmare wolf that had its power boost returns to normal.
(Frightfur Wolf: ATK 1900 → 800)
Turn 5: Sora (0x cards)
Sora has scratches all over his cheeks and fingers. He is clearly showing frustration, seeing how much Yasuko's playing with him. It reminds him of how Shun underestimated him. It won't happen again.
"You think you can take me down so easily because you've seen me duel?" he asked. "Well, I'm not so weak like your other classmates, Yasuko!" He shows fierce determination to show Yasuko how much power he's got in his deck. "My turn!" He draws a card from his deck. By looking at it, Sora begins his move by activating the Trap Card: Necro Fusion. "I activate the Trap! Necro Fusion!" he announced. "This card lets me Fusion Summon one monster by banishing the materials that are in my graveyard!" By raising his hand to the sky, he chooses the monsters that will enter the swirling vortex of red and blue. "I banish my Edge Imp Saw, Fluffal Bear, and Fluffal Penguin!" The demon saw, stuffed bear, and stuffed penguin enters the swirling vortex of red and blue to perform a Fusion Summon.
"Demon blades! Combine with the wild beasts to unleash the hellspawn of the mechanical demon doll that will terrorize anyone who takes you! I Fusion Summon! The evil doll that will bring nightmares! Dangerous Frightfur Nightmary!" Sora banishes his Edge Imp Saw, Fuffal Bear, and Fluffal Penguin to Fusion Summon Dangerous Frightfur Nightmary (ATK 2000/DEF 3000) in Attack Position.
Yasuko may have seen the monster before or from a movie because the monster is a green porcelain doll with long blonde hair that goes down to the white gown dress and a red-violet shirt inside the dress.
"That's creepy," Yasuko commented.
"No, I think you'll like it," Sora replied. "Dangerous Frightfur Nightmary gains 300 ATK for every Fairy and Fiend monster in my graveyard during my turn."
"But you forget, as long as Starving Venemy is out on the field, all monsters lose 200 ATK for every counter it has," Yasuko reminded. She can see the dangerous nightmary glowing in a yellow aura after entering the field, significantly weakening it.
(Starving Venemy Lethal Dose Dragon: Venemy Counter 6 → 7)
(Frightfur Wolf: ATK 800 → 600)
(Frightfur Cruel Whale: ATK 1400 → 1200)
(Dangerous Frightfur Nightmary: ATK 2000 → 1500)
"I activate Cruel Whale's special effect!" Sora declared. "Once per turn, I can target one Fusion monster I control, send one Frightfur monster from my Extra Deck to the graveyard, and then it gains half of its ATK points until the end of the turn." Sora selects one card from the Extra Deck and then sent his Frightfur Daredevil to the graveyard. "By sending Frightfur Daredevil to the graveyard, Dangerous Frightfur Nightmary gains 1500 ATK points." Once the red plushy devil was sent to the grave, the dangerous nightmary gains a significant power boost over Starving Venemy.
(Dangerous Frightfur Nightmary: ATK 1500 → 3000)
"And since a Fiend monster was sent to the graveyard, Nightmary gains another 300 ATK points," Sora added.
(Dangerous Frightfur Nightmary: ATK 3000 → 3300)
Sora grins like a madman. "See this," he said. "This is the power of Fusion Summon. You can't defeat me or anyone from Academia because Fusion is the most powerful summoning method in the universe. That's why you're going to lose this duel."
Yasuko makes a twitch from her mouth. "You're going have to try even harder," she said as Yasuko flips up her Quick-Play Spell Card: Berserk Scales. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell, Berserk Scales!" she announced. "This card targets one monster that I control, and it gains 1000 ATK points!" Starving Venemy emits red electricity from the jaws on all four wings, and the shrubs are flowing with red veins, gaining more attack power than the dangerous nightmary.
(Starving Venemy Lethal Dose Dragon: ATK 2800 → 3800)
"And due to Starving Venemy's effect, all monsters lose another 200 ATK!" Yasuko added.
(Starving Venemy Lethal Dose Dragon: Venemy Counter 7 → 8)
(Frightfur Wolf: ATK 600 → 400)
(Frightfur Cruel Whale: ATK 1200 → 1000)
(Dangerous Frightfur Nightmary: ATK 3300 → 3100)
Sora glares at Yasuko with animosity, fed up with her defying him. "You are the biggest pain in my ass," he retorted.
"You are the biggest idiot in the game," Yasuko insulted. "You do realize that this "Professor" you are following is a madman." She strides across the floating platforms to get on the other side of the lava river, where she can face Sora. "Why is it important to unite the whole world into one? What good will that do?" she asked.
Sora pulls out one last card from his hand. "The good of all," he answered. "I Summon Edge Imp Frightfuloid!" Sora Normal Summons Edge Imp Frightfuloid (ATK 1300/DEF 1300). The monster that Sora summoned is a monster that is a plush doll that is made of school supplies such as paper, pencil tip erasers, and a paperclip. "While Edge Imp Frightfuloid is face-up on the field, it is treated as a "Frightfur monster," he said.
"I banish my Frightfur Fusion to activate my Frightfur Factory and fuse Frightfuloid, Wolf, and Cruel Whale!" Sora activates his continuous spell by banishing Frightfur Fusion. The nightmare wolf, cruel whale, and nightmare plush are floating into the air to enter through the swirling vortex of red and blue.
"The inanimate toy that that houses the devil, annihilate all those who oppose me! I Fusion Summon! Appear! The magical beast that's a combination of all toys! Frightfur Chimera!" Sora banishes his Frightfur Cruel Whale, Frightfur Wolf, and Edge Imp Frightfuloid to Fusion Summon Frightfur Chimera (ATK 2800/DEF 2000) in Attack Position.
Sora brings out his ultimate monster on the field, a monster with three heads: one of which is a teddy bear, an ugly leather puppet head, and a stuffed bunny that has tools sticking out.
Yasuko has seen its effects before, and anything she has cannot respond to anything when the nightmare chimera attacks her. It was only making her situation worse when Sora mentions something that she may have forgotten.
"When Chimera is Fusion Summoned using Saber Tooth as a Fusion Material, it cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects," Sora stated.
"Yeah, but that means you've only sent more cards to weaken your own monsters," Yasuko pointed out.
(Starving Venemy Lethal Dose Dragon: Venemy Counter 8 → 11)
(Dangerous Frightfur Nightmary: ATK 3100 → 2500)
(Frightfur Chimera: ATK 2800 → 600)
"Your monster's ATK points are still not higher than Starving Venemy's," Yasuko informed.
"I was counting on that," said Sora. "Because thanks to Nightmary's special effect, it gains 300 ATK for every Fairy and Fiend monster that are in my graveyard, and since I just sent three more to the grave, it gains another 900 ATK!" Yasuko is starting to hate the dangerous nightmary even more since it continues to get stronger.
(Dangerous Frightfur Nightmary: ATK 2500 → 3400)
The boy disperses in the air like a ninja, moving from side to side on the stalagmites before he swipes an Action Card from one of them. He lands on the other side of the lava river while standing up. "I target my Nightmary with the Action Spell, Flame Cross!" Sora activates the Action Spell Card: Flame Cross. "It targets one monster that I control, and it gains 500 ATK for every monster on the field, and since there are three on the field, my Nightmary gains 1500 ATK points!" The spell card sprouts a flame ball absorbed by the dangerous nightmary, increasing its attack power.
(Dangerous Frightfur Nightmary: ATK 3400 → 4900)
Despite being stronger than Starving Venemy, somehow, the girl isn't worried at all. In fact, she's even more level-headed than before. Despite the rage burning inside of her, she felt like Sora's falling right into her place. Starving Venemy gains another counter since Sora activates an Action Card.
(Starving Venemy Lethal Dose Dragon: Venemy Counter 11 → 12)
(Dangerous Frightfur Nightmary: ATK 4900 → 4700)
(Frightfur Chimera: ATK 600 → 400)
"Let's battle!" Sora declared. "Nightmary, attack Starving Venemy!" The dangerous nightmary opens its mouth, and a laser cannon emerges from it, which fires a sizeable purple beam that blasts Starving Venemy into nothing, damaging her life points.
(Yasuko: LP 4000 → 3100)
"Now that your Starving Venemy is gone, that means all my monsters' ATK points return to normal," said Sora.
(Dangerous Frightfur Nightmary: ATK 4700 → 7100)
(Frightfur Chimera: ATK 400 → 2800)
Yuya saw Yasuko's field being empty, making her vulnerable to a direct attack. "Oh no! Yasuko's wide open!" he gasped.
"Frightfur Chimera attacks you directly!" The teddy bear head of the nightmare chimera opens its jaws and fires a giant missile that blasts in front of Yasuko. She screamed, her body flying across the air until her back slams against the cave wall, which creates a huge crack, suffering major damage.
(Yasuko: LP 3100 → 300)
Yasuko fell on her stomach, and her body collapses from the brute force of the explosion. Her grunts make anyone uneasy, especially for Yuya.
"Yasuko!" Yuya called. When there was no response from the girl, Yuya turns to Sora. "Stop it! You have to stop this fighting!" he yelled.
"Yasuko's the one who challenged me," Sora replied. "Why not you ask her? If she wants to, that is."
Yuya faces back at the girl. Yasuko is still down until the hand that has a card slowly moves to help herself. The girl has bangs sticking in front of her. One of her low pigtails comes undone. She is looking furious. No matter how many times Sora pushes her, the girl will give a heavy dose of payback.
"You think you've beaten me like that?" Yasuko asked, prying herself back on her feet. She ties her undone hair back to her signature low pigtails. "As I said, I am no one's prey, and I am no one's bitch. Cuz I'm the one who's going to beat you." She plays the last card in her hand, and it was a monster card: Gorz the Emissary of Darkness. "Now that your Chimera has attacked, I can activate my monster's special effect! When I take damage, I can Special Summon this monster from my hand!" Yasuko Special Summons Gorz the Emissary of Darkness (ATK 2700/DEF 2500) in Attack Position. A heavy-metal fiend wearing black metal armor with a giant sword appears on the field.
"And since I took battle damage, I can Special Summon one Emissary of Darkness token to my side of the field with the ATK and DEF points of the same damage that I took." The emissary gorz swings his giant sword to slice open a portal on the ground, allowing Yasuko to Special Summon a Darkness (Fairy/LIGHT/Level 7/ATK ?/DEF ?) in Defense Position. A female version of the emissary appears on the field.
Sora was, by far, shocked. Yasuko had a card that can be summoned if she took battle damage, and she decided to choose and summon the monster right after he attacked her directly.
"Wait, you allowed me to attack you directly? Why would you let me attack you directly when you couldn've summoned it right after my Nightmary destroyed your Starving Venemy," Sora interrogated.
Yasuko removes some of the bangs from her forehead. "Because your Frightfur Chimera can steal any monster that it destroys and sent to the graveyard," she interjected. "I've been memorizing your duels, and I am not Yuya, and you don't know anything about my improvements."
Sora does not find her talk to be taken seriously. It would seem she's making another bluff. "Just because you've got two levels 7 monsters does not mean that you can still beat me," he rebuked. "I remember seeing you still have that rank 7 Odd-Eyes you've got. And I've got two strong monsters on my field, and you have only 300 life points remaining. One more attack, and it will be all over. I end my turn."
Turn 6: Yasuko (0x cards)
Yasuko has no other cards left on her field, and she knows Sora will try anything to get himself one Action Card in her surroundings, making it very difficult for her to stop Sora without any rest. The best thing she can do is draw a card that will change the outcome.
"My…" She places a finger on top of her deck. "Turn!" With one swipe, Yasuko draws a card that leaves a hand motion line. "Do you have any idea what Heartland City has been through," she said. "The people of Heartland City suffered, and they are still suffering because of your doings." The thought of the people who were turned into cards and the image of a burning city from Neo Heartland City makes her anger rise to the highest point. She is going all out against Sora, and with the card in her hand, she will make it possible. "Why don't you feel sorry or pity for them?"
"Why bother?" Sora inquired. "Those people in Heartland City is only the beginning, and soon, all the other dimensions are going to be one."
Yasuko has nothing to say for Sora. It was clear to her that Sora is never coming back. There is no point in convincing Sora to change. There is only one thing that she will do. "Then you're full of shit," she cursed. "You and Academia can burn in hell." Yasuko takes the last card she drew earlier and then activates the Spell Card: Pot of Desires. "I activate the Spell, Pot of Desires which allows me to banish ten cards from the top of my deck and then draw two cards!" Yasuko banishes the top ten cards to draw two more cards from her deck. By looking at the cards, she can use the monster Card: Fog King and the Spell Card: Raigeki. "I activate the Raigeki spell card!" she declared. "This spell card destroys all of the monsters you control!" The spell card flips up, and a giant lightning bolt zaps out of the card to strike both the dangerous nightmary and the nightmare chimera.
"When Frightfur Chimera is Fusion Summoned using Saber Tooth as a Fusion material, it cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects!" Sora stated. The nightmare chimera is shield by a blue forcefield that deflects the lightning bolt, but the dangerous nightmary was shocked and destroyed by the strike.
"Now, it's only your monster and mine," said Yasuko. "I can tribute one monster to Tribute Summon Fog King from my hand!" The emissary token that was on her field vanishes to be replaced when Yasuko Normal Summons Fog King (ATK 0/DEF 0). A white knight that has a long white cape that has a cloud cape and an Excalibur sword appears on the field.
"I use my Gorz and my Fog King to build the Overlay Network!" The emissary Gorz and the fog knight transform into purple and blue light before they rocket themselves in the air and then crash into the galaxy portal underneath Yasuko's feet.
"I Xyz Summon! Appear, Rank 7! Dark Anthelion Dragon!" Yasuko Xyz Summons Dark Anthelion Dragon (ATK 3000/DEF 2500) (OU: 2) in Attack Position.
The thick black armored dragon with purple scales mixed into its skin and the bone armor with two massive wings that carry four panels appear on the field. Two Overlay units rotate around the dragon, giving a mighty roar that seems to be heard by everyone present.
When Yasuko saw Sora being shocked, Shun Ranked up, but now, its Dark Anthelion makes the full marks. Sora had never known. Pendulum could extend toward Xyz as well.
"An Xyz Pendulum monster?!" Sora gasped. "You have an Xyz Pendulum monster too!"
"You've been gone for so long that you didn't even see me dueling," said Yasuko. "I detach one Overlay Unit to activate Dark Anthelion Dragon's special effect!" She throws her hand over to the nightmare chimera. "Once per turn, I can target one monster you control, cut its ATK points in halve, and Dark Anthelion gains those amount until the end of the turn!" On her command, one of the Overlay Units disperses like a bubble.
(Dark Anthelion Dragon: OU 2 → 1)
The two inner panels on the wings zip open, discharging purple electricity that zaps the nightmare chimera, weakening the monster.
(Frightfur Chimera: ATK 2800 → 1400)
(Dark Anthelion Dragon: ATK 3000 → 4400)
Sora realizes that Dark Anthelion has the same abilities as Dark Rebellion. "It has that same ability as Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon," he stated. It is strong enough to take out all of his life points in one blow. He turns around, looking for any Action Cards that are remaining. He happens to spot one that was stuck to one of the stalagmites on the ceiling.
"Battle! Dark Anthelion Dragon attacks Frightfur Chimera!" Yasuko ordered. The last two panels from Dark Anthelion splits open, discharging more electricity that sparks everywhere. Dark Anthelion rose before it flies over to shred the cave walls, bringing its chin bone down to strike the nightmare chimera.
Sora makes a wall-run on the cave walls, digging his boots to keep the momentum going, and in short, he jumps off and swipes an Action Card from the stalagmite and then activates the Action Spell Card: Restore. "Action Spell, Restore!" he exclaimed. "This card targets one monster that on the field, and if the monster has an ATK that is different than its original, its ATK points become it's original until the end of the turn." He points at Dark Anthelion. "Your Dark Anthelion's ATK becomes its original!" Dark Anthelion loses all of the attack power that it stole from the nightmare chimera.
(Dark Anthelion Dragon: ATK 4400 → 3000)
Yasuko cannot let it happen. She does not have the muscles left to get one more from above, so she looks down at the canyon where the lava river is down below. She notices that there is one Action Card that hangs onto an edge. It is going to be crazy, but Yasuko is going to take it.
Taking a deep breath, Yasuko jumps up and then dives down into the gorge where she can feel the heat of the lava river rising closer to her. She reaches out and snags the Action Card that was stuck to the side of the cliff. "I activate the Action Spell, Big Damage!" Yasuko activates the Action Spell Card: Big Damage. "This card adds 1000 points of damage during this battle!"
"What?!" Sora gasped, horrified at the outcome of their duel.
"If your monster cannot be destroyed, you still take the damage!" Yasuko called.
Dark Anthelion was shredding through the thick rocks, breaking through the walls around Sora to hit the nightmare chimera. Since it cannot be destroyed, Dark Anthelion was strong enough to knock the nightmare chimera back against the wall, dragging the monster against the wall and into the gorge.
Yasuko saw Dark Anthelion flying down with the nightmare chimera until it turns up and flies straight for her, leaving the nightmare chimera to the lava river. She reaches up, and the dragon catches her when she lands on the back. Yasuko takes command to ride her dragon and up into the sky, where she flies up. The sweat drips from the forehead as she rides her dragon to the cliffside where Sora is standing. He peeks over and saw Yasuko heading up to him.
By the time Sora's seen Yasuko, he had no time to react as Dark Anthelion destroys the cliffside, flinging the boy in the air screaming his lungs out after his life points are wiped out.
(Sora: LP 2300 → 0)
WINNER: Yasuko Yukihana
Just right after Yasuko dealt damage to Sora and his life points, a loud alarm blares off from anywhere in the city. At soon as the alarms blare off in the town, the entire lava arena starts to dissolve, replacing them with city streets and a highway, which conjures itself back.
"Time's up for the battle royale!" Nico Smiley announced from the loudspeakers.
All the heat conjured from the Action Field was gone, replacing it with a cool, windy breeze. When the Action Field disperse, so did Dark Anthelion Dragon, making Yasuko free fall until she lands hard and rolls to the other side. In contrast, on the other hand, Sora lands on the ground with his body skidding once before hitting his back, grunting with each impact.
Yasuko felt her knees buckled, exhausted even after eating the sandwich Yuya brought for her. She crouches with sweat dripping from her back and her neck. It was a long workout, even in dueling.
Yuya hurries on over and checks on Yasuko to see if the girl is okay. "Yasuko, are you okay?" he asked.
"Exhausting," Yasuko responded. "But I'll live." She stands back up and wipes the sweat from her forehead.
"Yuya! Yasuko!" Gongenzaka called to the both of them. "You guys alright?"
Yuya and Yasuko saw Gongenzaka and the other remaining duelists, or at least what's left of those in the tournament. The sight of Serena and Shun makes Yasuko snort with irritation, spreading her arms and giving the duelists on the highway bridge a scowl.
"Where the hell were you guys?" Yasuko accused.
"Well, nice to see Yasuko's still got the fire left." Much to her surprise, the first boy that she noticed was Sylvio Sawatari. The last time she saw him was right after Yuya beat him in the Arc League's first round.
"Sawatari?" Yasuko inquired. She points at the boy while looking over to Yuya. "I thought he was eliminated from the tournament."
Yuya shrugged. "I have no idea why he's here too," he said. The boy also notices that Serena is standing next to Gongenzaka. "Zuzu?" He was confused about how the girl who looked like Zuzu changed her hair color.
"Serena," Yasuko called. "Did you get your answers?"
Serena narrows her eyes at Yasuko. "I had no time. Those goon squads were chasing after me," she answered.
"Serena?" Yuya inquired.
"That girl you just saw there is not Zuzu," Yasuko answered. "That's Zuzu's evil clone, Serena."
"I'm not a clone!" Serena yelled. "How many times do I have to say this! I am not a clone!"
"Oh, shut up!" Yasuko exclaimed, still distrustful with Serena due to her legion with Academia. "You're lucky enough I cannot take you down again in my current situation." No matter who it was, Yasuko cannot let herself be unguarded with Serena.
"Yasuko, what is going on?" Yuya asked the girl. "Who is this girl, and where is Zuzu?"
Yasuko makes a heavy sigh. "She's…" The girl cannot explain what happened to Zuzu. She recalls Zuzu and Yugo being with her the minute later, and then, after she blinked, they were gone. "She's not here."
"I looked for Zuzu, but I only found this girl," Dennis answered, motioning to the little girl whom Yasuko cannot see because of the highway bridge.
The girl turns to face the one person who may be interested. Sora starts to sit up with scratches all over his face and fingers. Even his blue jacket seems to be covered in dirt. "Let's ask him instead," Yasuko suggested. She walks to Sora with the intent to interrogate him or punch him. Whatever the choice was, she needs to know everything about Academia and the invaders. "Sora, you lost. Now you're going to tell me everything about Academia."
Sora heard her the first time, and the first thing that he did was pressed a button on his duel disk, already on to what Yasuko might do to him if she gets her hands on the information that may be vital.
"Wait! You are not going anywhere!" Yasuko starts running to Sora in hopes of catching him before he can teleport away. Just before her hand can touch the boy, Sora vanished from the spot, leaving the girl baffled.
She makes a loud noise out of pure frustration. "Are you friggin' kidding me?" Yasuko retorted. "This is not my friggin day." She pinches between her eyes to calm her nerves. "Can't this day get anything worse?" As if her answer was called, somewhere announced to the surviving duelists who remain in the Arc League Championship.
"I watched your duels, and you've all dueled well."
Everyone turns to the highest bridge, where one young man is watching all of them. It was Declan Akaba.
"Declan Akaba!" Yasuko and Yuya called simultaneously.
"You've come right on time," said Sylvio. "Just like you wanted, I chased Academia away. That means I, therefore, am qualified to join the elite ranks of the Lancers."
What made Yasuko curious about Sylvio's talk is the curious one. She felt that Declan was planning on something from the beginning of the tournament, and when Sylvio mentions something of the Lancers, it means that everything was a setup.
"Lancers? What is that?" Gongenzaka asked.
"This battle royal was a test to select duel warriors," Sylvio revealed. "A test who can cut it as a Lancer."
"What?" Yasuko inquired.
"A test?" Yuya also questioned.
Yasuko and Yuya look at each other with uncertainty. Their eyes tell them that the Arc League was a setup from the start of the day to the end of the battle royal. It was not something neither one of them would want. Being a duel warrior is not their desire. And Declan just seems to make their situation a whole lot worse.
OC cards
Sora
Frightfur Saber-Tooth
Level 8/DARK
Fiend/Fusion/Effect
ATK 2400/DEF 2000
Effect:
1 Level 6 or higher "Frightfur" monster 1 or more "Fluffal" or "Edge Imp" monsters
If this card is Fusion Summoned: You can target 1 "Frightfur" monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon it, ignoring its Summoning conditions. All "Frightfur" monsters you control gain 400 ATK for each "Fluffal" and "Frightfur" monster you control. A Fusion monster that used this card as a Fusion Material cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects.
Action Cards
Flame Cross
Action Spell Card
Effect: Target one monster you control, and it gains 500 ATK for every monster on the field until the end of the turn.
Here is the latest update for the chapter. Sorry, it took this long, but I had midterms and it's taking time between studying and working on this story, but it's coming closer to the end. I can't wait for the next book coming soon when I am working on it. I have so many things to brainstorm about the second story. It's actually where I grew up, and I am excited that this first book would end and then the second book will come very soon.
Thank you readers for having the patience to wait and read this chapter through. I am trying the best of all the cards available, and use their abilities to the fullest. If you like what you have read so far, then don't forget to leave down a comment on what you're thoughts are, what needs to be improved, and what mistakes that need to be addressed.
Thanks for reading, and i will see you next time, readers!