"Duel!" - Regular Speech
'What next?' - Thoughts
"Black Rose Blizzard!' - Duel Monster Attack/Special Ability Activation/Summoning Chant
Beta'd by BigCC
Chapter 2: RWBY vs. CRDL Part 1
Duelling Arena #4, Beacon Academy
"Heh, looks like we got lucky and earned some easy marks!" Cardin Winchester sneered as he spotted the four girls of Team RWBY entering the arena. Two were little girls in skirts for crying out loud, one was a blonde bimbo and the last was just some goth chick. Against himself and his boys, who'd been lucky enough to pull together and form their team after that Bullshit 'Exam' started, this was already over bar the kicking before a single Duel Disk was deployed, as far as he was concerned.
"Alright, Freshmen! All eyes on me!" an older girl strode out into the middle of the field set between the two teams. One that both teams easily recognized, to Cardin's great displeasure. It was that fucking bitch who'd given him a swirly the previous day. Wearing a cocoa shirt, black trousers, a pair of heeled boots, a beret on her head, and a host of small accessories, as well as a pair of fashionable aviator sunglasses, Coco Adel was very attractive force of nature that no sane or smart man wanted to piss off.
Looking between both sets of first years, Coco was honestly conflicted. On one hand, she wanted nothing more that to see the team of racists thugs be used to wipe the floors, but on the other hand, she had to be an unbiased referee. The top ranking team of the third exam of the Entrance Exam got to be referees for the four arenas in the next Entrance Exams. It was a big honour and show of trust, and not one Coco wanted to screw up for her team, even if she was sure Fox and Yats at least would understand.
Unfortunately, it would also make Vel feel all guilty and pouty. Her little bunbun would find some way to blame herself for any trouble they got in if Coco stepped outta line to teach the pricks a lesson.
'Ah, screw it. It there's any such thing as Karma in this world, these girls will whip Team Thug easily.' the leader of Team CFVY decided before speaking aloud. "I'm Coco Adel, and I'm the acting ref for this arena. The matches have been chosen in advance by the teachers, so no use complaining to me. For this arena, each match will occur one-at-a-time, so without further ado our first match will be…Cardin Winchester versus Ruby Rose. Both Duellists, step up!"
"Pheh, let's get this farce over with. Time to teach the little girl why she shouldn't try playing in the big leagues." Cardin spat out, purposefully doing his best to ignore the ref as he walked forward, his boys stepping back off the field to wait their turn. Extending his arm, his Duel Disk, a Standard Academy Model, deployed itself, the field area automatically separating and lowering away from the Disk's main body while extending an additional section to add to more fields, creating the standard five.
"Make it hurt, Rubes!" the blonde one (Yang, Coco managed to remember after a moment's thought) cheered out for her sister as the three other members of Team RWBY left the field.
Ruby didn't reply with words, simply nodding back with a bright smile toward her sister as she strode forward, opening up her deck box and pulling out her cards. With a single motion she quickly inserted them into her custom Duel Disk before bringing it up and activating it.
Nearly the entirety of the witnesses were shocked to watch the five 'petals' of the circular Duel Disk begin to rotate around the inner potion of the device before deploying at the bottom edge in the standard five-field layout of a regular Duel Disk.
"Stylin' little piece of tech you got there, red." Coco nodded appreciatively.
Cardin quickly shook off his surprise. "Pheh." He spat out with a glare, "Nothing but a kid and her pretty little toys. Let's get this started, ref!"
Coco ignored the blustering thug, instead pulling out her Scroll and pressing a couple of buttons on it, causing the large screen set into the wall behind her to light up and display a picture of each Duellist and their current Life Points as both quickly drew their starting hands.
Cardin – 4000 (Five Cards in Hand)
Ruby – 4000 (Five Cards in Hand)
Pressing another button, Coco silently cursed as Cardin's picture remained lit and Ruby's greyed out. "Cardin has the first turn."
"Aright, let's get busy! Draw!" the armoured teen growled out, glaring down at an utterly unconcerned Ruby. "First off, I'll play a classic, [Pot of Greed], which lets me draw two more cards."
Drawing his cards, the smug smirk on his face grew into a feral grin. "Heh, nice. To start this slaughter, I'll play the Magic Card [Cost Down]. At the cost of discarding a card from my hand, the level of every monster in my hand is reduced by two! Then I'll activate another Magic Card, [Double Summon]! With that I can Normal Summon two monsters this turn instead of just one, and I'll summon up [Swamp Battleguard] and [Lava Battleguard], both in Attack Mode!
With a dual roar, a pair of heavily muscled, twin-horned ogre-like warriors appeared on the field. One was red, with a black loincloth and a club, while the other was green, with a purple loincloth and a club.
Lava Battleguard - Attack: 1550, Defence: 1800
Swamp Battleguard - Attack: 1800, Defence: 1500
"Well now, he managed to summon up two Level 5 monsters on his first turn. That's…not bad." Weiss offered neutrally, her eyes sharp as she studied both Duellists. Cardin and his band of thugs hadn't impressed her with their behaviour, but they had managed to somehow earn their way into Beacon. That meant there was likely more than simply thuggish ego backing their attitudes.
She was also wanted to see just what her 'Leader' was capable of on the duelling field. Ruby had been…surprisingly effective in the Emerald Forest despite her outlandish weapon. Now was as good a chance as any to see just what her 'partner' had to offer on the other half of their duties as Duelling Huntresses.
"Heh, and that's not all. Thanks to their effects, my beasts are only getting stronger! For every [Lava Battleguard] on the field, my [Swamp Battleguard] gains an extra 500 Attack Points, while every [Swamp Battleguard] nets my [Lava Battleguard] the same boost!" Cardin boasted.
Lava Battleguard - Attack: 1550 » 2050
Swamp Battleguard - Attack: 1800 » 2300
"Well, that's certainly a decent beatstick he's waving around." Blake offered blandly, "I wonder if he's got anything more than brute force up his sleeve."
"Somehow, I doubt it." Yang muttered.
"To wrap things up for now, I'll set one card face down and end my turn. Your move girlie; make it count, 'cause you're not going to get many of them." Cardin taunted the smaller duellist as a card appeared behind one of his Battleguard.
"I don't think I'll need a lot to beat you. Draw!" Ruby replied smugly as she added her own draw to her hand. "I'll start off by summoning [Blue Rose Dragon] in Attack Mode!"
In a flash, a small, plant-like dragon with a tail resembling a stem of thorns, its main body a blue rose in full bloom and with wings made of blue rose petals and a several small leaves extending from the back of its head appeared on the field. It let out a small roar before looking at the enemy monsters with a determined look in its red eyes.
Blue Rose Dragon - Attack: 1600, Defence: 1200
Cardin let out a deep belly laugh as he caught sight of the monster. "And what's that pipsqueak supposed to do? Give me allergies!?" he called out mockingly.
"You never know, you might be surprised when this duel is over. I'll set two cards face down and end my turn." Ruby stated coolly, not the least bit bothered by Cardin's mockery, as two cards shimmered into existence behind her dragon.
"Heh, hiding behind face downs. This is going to be easier than I thought. Draw!" Cardin smirked as he added his new card to his hand. "I'll start by activating my face-down, [Riryoku]!
The face-down on Cardin's side flipped up, revealing a man being drained of his energy by some faceless dark entity on the card's face.
"Here's how this one work kid. Until my End Phase, I select two face-up monsters on the field. One of those monster's get their Attack Points cut in half and added onto the other monster." the redhead informed Ruby arrogantly. "So your [Blue Rose Dragon] looses 800 Attack points, which are all going straight to my [Swamp Battleguard]!"
A sickly green light quickly engulfed both targeted monster's, visibly shrinking the dragon while the green-skinned ogre's muscles noticeably swelled.
Blue Rose Dragon - Attack: 1600 ÷ 2 = 800
Swamp Battleguard - Attack: 2300 + 800 = 3100
"Well, this certainly isn't good. If this keeps going, Ruby will lose the duel in a single turn." Weiss muttered. To have their team leader beaten like that would not be good for their team's image going forward.
"I wouldn't worry too much about that, Weiss-cream; Rubes hasn't even started to show what she's got. Cardigan doesn't stand a chance." Yang replied confidently.
Blake simply remained silent and observed. She could hear the confidence in her partner's voice when she spoke of her little sister, so she would wait and see for herself whether or not the younger girl deserved it or not.
"[Lava Battleguard], wreck that oversized weed with Battle Club Smash!" Cardin ordered.
With another roar, the red ogre-like monster charged forward, club raised to quickly squash its opponent. Before it could even reach it though…
"I activate my Trap Card, [Wall of Disruption]!" Ruby declared, pressing a button on her Duel Disk. One of her face down flipped up, revealing an image of a pair of monsters straining to stay upright against a transparent barrier while standing next to each other. "When one of your monsters declares an attack, I can activate this card and instantly reduce the Attack Points of all opposing monsters in Attack Position by 800 points for every monster you control!"
"Wait what!?" Cardin shouted as both his monsters were suddenly engulf in shimmering fields of energy which seemed to cause both Battleguards to buckle under the sudden force, [Lava Battleguard]'s charge coming to sudden and abrupt halt.
Swamp Battleguard - 3100 - 1600 = 1500
Lava Battleguard - 2050 - 1600 = 450
"That means your [Lava Battleguard] just picked a fight it can't handle. I'm sure you're familiar with that feeling." Ruby offered with a wicked little smile, which caused Coco to grin smugly and Cardin to grit his teeth in impotent fury at the reminder. "Now, [Blue Rose Dragon] counterattack with Blue Rose Flare!" the red-cloaked duellist ordered.
Lava Battleguard (Attack: 450) versus Blue Rose Dragon (Attack: 800)
The small dragon opened its mouth and unleashed a stream of blue petal-like flames that slammed into the ogre, engulfing and shattering it in an instant.
Cardin: 4000 - 350 = 3650
"Oh, and with your [Lava Battleguard] gone, your [Swamp Battleguard] loses its Attack Boost, becoming even weaker as a result." Ruby added as an afterthought as the sparkles of the destroyed monster faded away
Swamp Battleguard - Attack: 1500 - 500 = 1000
"You little…!" Cardin growled out. It seriously looked like he wanted to try his luck with his remaining Battleguard, but after a moment he shook his head and spat out. "I end the Battle Phase."
"After that little display, he couldn't risk that Ruby's other face-down was something that would further bolster [Blue Rose Dragon] or weaken his Battleguard. 200 points of damage just wasn't worth risking his last remaining monster, not when it could leave him open for Ruby's next turn." Blake pointed out, honestly impressed by Ruby's sudden turnaround. "You were right Yang; it appears your sister is far fiercer than she first appears."
"Heh, you ain't seen nothing yet, Blakie." Yang stated proudly.
"I'm not done yet, twerp!" the larger teen growled out darkly. "I summon [Granite Battleguard] in Attack Mode!"
Another ogre-like monster, this one blue-skinned, wearing a crimson loincloth and carrying in a far larger, spiked club, appeared on Cardin's side of the field with a roar.
Granite Battleguard - Attack: 1000, Defence: 800
"And when [Granite Battleguard] is summoned, I can Special Summon [Boulder Battleguard] from my hand to the field!" Cardin continued, placing another monster onto the field.
A fourth ogre-like monster appeared, this one slightly larger and far stouter than its previous kin. Orange-skinned. wearing a rough, blue toga and wielding a large, spiked club in one hand, it certainly looked intimidating.
Boulder Battleguard - Attack: 1200, Defence: 1500
"I'll end my turn." Cardin admitted begrudgingly. "With that, [Blue Rose Dragon] and [Swamp Battleguard] have their Attack Points restored to normal."
Blue Rose Dragon - Attack: 800 X 2 = 1600
Swamp Battleguard - Attack: 1000 » 1800
"OK then, my turn! Draw!" Ruby agreed chirpily, adding her new card to her hand. "First off, I activate the Continuous Magic Card, [The World Tree]. Then I'll reveal my facedown card, [Seed of Deception], which allows me to Special Summon a Level 2 or Lower Plant-type monster to the field from my hand. Come on out, [Rose Lover]!"
In a burst of light, a female human with long blonde hair and wearing a ruby-red dress with rose-like decorations appeared on the field.
Rose Lover - Attack/Defence: 800
"Hah! What's she going to do, invite me on a date?!" Cardin scowled at the, admittedly pretty, weak monster.
"She has far better taste." Ruby deadpanned back, making Coco suppress a chortle, while Weiss and Yang were openly giggling, with even Blake smirking at the burn. Cardin just glared back at her. "Don't worry though, she won't be here for long; I sacrifice her in order to activate the special ability of a card in my hand! By sacrificing one Plant-type monster on the field, [Rose Lover] in this case, I can summon [Queen Angel of Roses], in Attack Mode!"
As [Rose Lover] vanished from the field, an explosion of red rose petals appeared on the field, fading away to reveal in her place a female warrior wearing a rich-red battledress that somewhat resembled a rose's. Wearing a white mask on her face, with a pair of red rose petal wings blooming from her back and a sword in her hand with a red rose for a guard, she lived up to her title of angel.
Queen Angel of Roses - Attack: 2400, Defence: 1700
"…crap!" Cardin squeaked out.
"[Queen Angel of Roses], attack his [Swamp Battleguard] with Rose Trimmer!" Ruby ordered.
"Dammit, she's trying to end this too quickly." Yang muttered in annoyance, making Weiss and Blade look at her in surprise.
"I activate the special ability of [Boulder Battleguard]!" Cardin shouted quickly. "Once per Battle Phase, I can negate one attack if the target is a 'Battleguard' monster! Go, Brotherhood Bond!"
[Boulder Battleguard] slammed his club to the ground, sending out a shockwave that forced [Queen Angel of Roses] to abort her attack and retreat.
"That still leaves [Blue Rose Dragon]!" Ruby scowled. "Attack [Granite Battleguard]!"
Blue Rose Dragon (Attack: 1600) versus Granite Battleguard (Attack: 1000)
The burst of blue rose petal flames slammed into the blue-skinned ogre, utterly destroying it.
Cardin: 3650 - 600 = 3050
"And that'll do it for my turn." Ruby said with a grin.
"And it'll be your last turn if I have any say in it!" Cardin growled. "Draw!"
He grinned when he saw what card he'd drawn. "Awright! I activate [Card of Sanctity]! This lets both of us draw until we both have six cards in our hands!"
Both of them did so.
When he looked at his new hand, he laughed. "Hah, it's all over for you now, girlie! First, I play [Wonders of Nature]! This lets me Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Fairy, Spellcaster, Winged-Beast or Beast Warrior monster from my hand, then equip this card to that monster! And I Special Summon [Battle Ox], in Attack Mode!"
With a bovine bellow, a red and brass armoured bull beastman appeared on the field, wielding a one-handed curved axe. Blake flinched at the appearance of the monster, a certain bull Faunus coming to mind at the sight of it.
Battle Ox – Attack: 1700, Defence: 1000
Weiss scoffed. "I can't believe someone could use [Card of Sanctity] without having a way to enhance yourself or hurt the opponent with the act of playing it, like [Multiple Destruction] or [Appropriate]."
"He's desperate, princess." Yang rolled her eyes. "Now let's watch and see what he does."
"Now I sacrifice [Swamp Battleguard] and [Battle Ox] in order to summon [Battleguard King] in Attack Mode!" the armoured bully declared
As both of the weaker monsters vanished, a larger figure appeared in their place. Red-skinned, wearing dark metal armour and carrying a truly massive club taller than he was, the Eight-Star monster was truly impressive to look at.
Battleguard King - Attack: 3000, Defence: 1100
"Three thousand attack points?!" Weiss gasped.
"Not good." Blake agreed.
Yang simply frowned, knowing what Ruby would have to do to beat that kind of monster.
"I'll start with that damned dragon! It's been bugging me since I first saw it!" Cardin declared. "[Battleguard King], attack [Blue Rose Dragon] with Battle Frenzied Great Club!"
Battleguard King (Attack: 3000) versus Blue Rose Dragon (Attack: 1600)
With a roar, the ogre king smashed the smaller dragon out of existence, making Ruby flinch at the vicious blow.
Ruby: 4000 - 1400 = 2600
"Shit." Yang cursed before putting her game face on. "It's over now though. Ruby won't be able to keep playing nice with the ass after a hit like that."
"She's had a solid lead up till now and you're saying she's been holding back?!" Weiss snapped at her with a startled glare.
"After all that craziness in the forest she's already tired, Ice Queen." the blonde snorted back. "With Rubes in that state, playing her big guns will leave her totally exhausted, but now she doesn't have much of a choice."
"I activate the special ability of [Blue Rose Dragon]! When sent to the graveyard as a result of battle, I can special summon any 'Rose Dragon' or Plant-type monster in my graveyard to the field!" the cloaked girl stated stoically. "Be reborn, [Rose Lover]! In Defence Mode!"
In a flash, the blond monster returned, on her knees and with her arms crossed across her chest.
"Worthless." Cardin spat out with a smug sneer. "Next turn I'll summon another [Granite Battleguard] and call up another [Boulder Battleguard]. Either one of them could squash your little rose girl and then my [Battleguard King] will squash your oversized rose bush, leaving you wide open. With your strongest card gone, you're going to be toast, shrimp. Might as well surrender now and get it over with."
"Sorry Cardin, but you're wrong on two counts there." Ruby shot back firmly. "First, I'm the one who is going to win next turn. Second, [Queen Angel of Roses] isn't my strongest monster, but I'll be glad to introduce you to her. So go ahead and end your turn. It's going to be your last."
Cardin gulped instinctively. Was he actually…intimidated…by this slip of a girl!? No way! Impossible! Shaking the feeling off by sheer force of stubborn pride, he glared back at her. "N-No one's going to believe a bluff like that girlie! I end my turn." his comeback was severely diminished by the slight shaking in his voice.
"Draw!" the red-tipped brunette announced simply. Looking at her draw, she smirked. "Due to her special ability, [Queen Angel of Roses] destroys the monster with the lowest attack points on the field. Goodbye again, [Rose Lover]. Rose Burial!"
The defence monster vanished from the field in a swirl of red rose petals.
"I now activate the Magic Card, [Magic Planter]! By sending one Continuous Magic Card on the Field to the Graveyard, I can draw a further two cards! [The World Tree], to the graveyard you must go as well, I'm afraid."
The magic card vanished from her field as she sent it to the graveyard, then drawing another two card. "I then activate the Magic Card [Fragrance Storm]! By sacrificing a Plant-type monster on my field, I can draw another card. If the monster is a Plant-type monster, I can reveal it to draw one further card. As she's the only Plant-type monster I have, I sacrifice [Queen Angel of Roses]!"
The rose angel exploded into flower petals that flowed backwards to wrap around Ruby and her Duel Disk.
"She sacrificed her most powerful monster?!" Weiss exclaimed in shock.
"Weren't you listening earlier Weiss-cream, that wasn't Ruby's strongest." Yang stated simply
'Interesting…I wonder what she has planned?' Coco mused as she watched the duel. Cardin's three teammates were smirking smugly, as if he'd already won.
Ruby drew and showed it to Cardin. "The card I drew was [Rose Girl], a Plant-type Monster, so I can draw another card."
Taking a deep breath after she drew, the young Huntress-in-Training looked over at her sister, who nodded grimly in both acknowledgement and encouragement. Returning her attention to Cardin, she focused and her Aura appeared faintly around her body.
"I summon [White Rose Dragon] to the field, in Attack Mode!" she declared, placing the card on the field.
In a flash of white rose petals, a new Rose Dragon appeared on Ruby's field. Unlike [Blue Rose Dragon], which was about the size of a terrier, [White Rose Dragon] was the size of a carthorse. It had a black body, with a white head, white, petal-like wings and a white rose blooming from its back and neck.
White Rose Dragon - Attack: 1200, Defence: 1000
"Hah!" Cardin couldn't help but laugh in relief. It had just been a bluff! "What's that supposed to be?!"
"The start of your downfall, Cardin." Ruby replied seriously. "I activate [White Rose Dragon]'s special ability! When Normal Summoned to the field, I can summon any 'Rose Dragon' monster from my hand! Come forth, [Red Rose Dragon]!"
In a burst of red petals, the third Rose Dragon made its appearance. Halfway between [Blue Rose Dragon] and [White Rose Dragon] in size, [Red Rose Dragon] was mostly black in colour, with a pair of red roses sprouting from its back, and with black, petal-like wings unfolding from beneath them.
Red Rose Dragon - Attack: 1000, Defence: 1800
"Again, so what? All you have are two weak monsters that can't even scratch my [Battleguard King] in Attack Points!" Cardin scoffed, some of his previous arrogance returning.
Weiss had to blink as she swore she saw a shadowy figure floating behind Ruby…a woman wearing a white hooded cloak that looked remarkably like Ruby's red one. When she blinked again, the figure was gone and the white-haired girl chastised herself for seeing things.
"Separately, perhaps they cannot defeat your monster." Ruby said softly. "But when they resonate as one, a miracle is born, Cardin! I Tune my Level Four [White Rose Dragon] with my Level Three Tuner, [Red Rose Dragon]!"
"WHAT?!" Cardin, Weiss, Blake, Team RDL and Coco yelled at that. Yang was utterly unfazed as [Red Rose Dragon] flew up into the air and dissolved into three green rings, into which [White Rose Dragon] flew, adding four shining stars to the middle of the rings.
Ruby braced herself. It was this part that was tough. She unleashed all of her Aura at the rings and started to incant the summoning chant. If she failed here, she'd be knocked out by the backlash.
"Chilling rose flames engulf the world! Pitch-dark flower, set into bloom!" the crimson-caped girl incanted deliberately and with purpose, every word laced with the power of her soul. "Synchro Summon! Come forth now, [Black Rose Dragon]!"
The rings exploded into a tunnel of white light, from which a blizzard of black-edged red rose petals erupted. A pair of immense red wings appeared from within, followed by a long thorn-like tail and a pair of ruby-taloned legs. Last to emerge was the long sinuous neck, from which erupted a roar as the Synchro Monster emerged fully onto the battlefield.
"A…a…a…a Synchro Monster…?! Impossible!" Carding gaped. "Only professional Hunting Duellists can use them!"
"Yeah…well…I can…call them too…" Ruby panted out. "Impressed?"
"Yang…did you know this was what Ruby was going to try?" Weiss asked softly.
"Yup." the blonde replied neutrally, frowning at her sister's obvious exhaustion.
"Yang…this is so reckless! She's used up almost all of her Aura!" Blake said in disapproval. It was obvious to anyone looking that Ruby was nearly out of Aura, a stiff wind could likely shatter it now.
"That's why she was rushing earlier; she didn't want to use this." Yang retorted shortly. "Now shush, you two can gripe after Ruby finishes this bozo off!"
Black Rose Dragon - Attack: 2400, Defence: 1800
"He…Hehaha...it doesn't matter! Even after all that huffing and puffing your new monster's no stronger than that pathetic angel!" Cardin laughed in relief; he'd honestly been a bit worried there.
"I've already won, Cardin." Ruby stated grimly, having gotten her breath back. "I activate [Black Rose Dragon]'s special ability. When it's Synchro Summoned, I can destroy all of the cards on the field, monster, magic and trap."
Cardin froze. "Wait…no…that means…my monster is…!"
"History." the younger girl finished grimly. "Go, Black Rose Gale!"
Letting out an echoing roar, the great black dragon was enveloped in another massive tornado of black rose petals, but this time, it swept outward, engulfing the entire field. [Battleguard King] roared defiantly as it was engulfed by the petals but the higher-level monster was inexorably drawn into and torn apart by the Black Rose Gale, with the black dragon vanishing as well.
"My…my strongest monster…gone…!" Cardin croaked out in disbelief.
"I'm not done yet." Ruby continued with a grin. "I activate the special ability of the [Red Rose Dragon] in my graveyard. When used to Synchro Summon a monster, I can Special Summon a 'Rose Dragon' monster from my hand or deck, and I know just who to call on. Come forth, [Blue Rose Dragon]!"
Another [Blue Rose Dragon] appeared on the field, looking positively tiny after seeing its far larger fellow.
"Additionally, as [Red Rose Dragon] was used to Synchro Summon [Black Rose Dragon] specifically, I can add a Magic or Trap Card to my hand. Hmmm...I think [Frozen Rose] will suit me." Ruby said, idly adding the card to her hand. "Not that it matters. I play [Monster Reborn]! Revive on the field, [Black Rose Dragon]!"
With another roar, the black dragon reappeared, glaring down at Cardin, who could only gulp nervously across from his empty field.
"Now, [Blue Rose Dragon], attack Cardin's Life Points Directly with Blue Rose Flare!" Ruby continued, pointing at Cardin and his exposed field.
Cardin brought his guard up on pure trained instinct as the blue stream lanced out at him. It struck him right on his arms and he was driven back a couple of feet.
Cardin: 3050 - 1600 = 1450
"Ngh…!" the boy ground his teeth as he saw the next monster that would attack him looming menacingly on the other side of the field.
"Cardin, surrender." Ruby offered him gently. "You will be knocked out with Broken Aura if I attack your Life Points and reduce them to zero with [Black Rose Dragon]."
"I do not surrender!" Cardin snarled back, stubborn to the end.
"I tried." Ruby looked at Coco pleadingly, getting a nod in return, and sighed. "[Black Rose Dragon], attack Cardin's Life Points directly and end this duel! Black Rose Flare!"
Rearing its head back, the black dragon opened its mouth and then unleashed a truly massive beam of black flames shaped like rose petals right at Cardin, who flared his Aura Shield to as high as it would go, for all the good it did him. After less than ten seconds, the armoured boy was flung back, the telltale flickering of Broken Aura covering his body before he crashed into the ground and rolling until he stopped.
Cardin: 1450 - 2400 = -950
Winner: Ruby Rose
"The winner is Ruby Rose!" Coco managed to recover herself. A girl, who couldn't be older than sixteen, had just Synchro Summoned without knocking herself out! Unbelievable.
As the holograms faded away, Ruby put her deck together again, then watched softly as the [Black Rose Dragon] card on her Duel Disk's Field Area faded away. Fusion, Synchro and XYZ Monster Cards were temporary creations of Aura and Dust that had no physical forms. They existed so long as the duel went on, no longer.
Pressing a button on her Duel Disk, Ruby then watched as Blooming Rose's field reverted back to petals and spun around to form a rose shape again. Then she staggered a bit before standing tall and walking over to her team, while Coco checked over Cardin, who, just as Ruby had predicted, was out cold.
"Stretcher to Arena #4." the Second Year Student said into her Scroll. "One Cardin Winchester, Aura Break and minor concussion. No danger."
"No danger?! That little brat just sent him flying half across the arena!" Dove Bronzewing snapped back in clear outrage.
"Ruby Rose went above and beyond usual Duelling Etiquette by offering him a chance to surrender peacefully, an offer which he rejected." Coco stated firmly. "His current state is no one's fault but his own."
Over with Team RWBY, Yang was hugging her sister enthusiastically. "Way to go, sis! You showed that jerk just why roses have their thorns!"
"Yang…air…!" Ruby wheezed out, eyes crossing. As her sister freed her from the Crushing Sisterly Hug of Doom©, the brunette gulped in sweet air.
"Does that happen a lot?" Blake asked in amusement.
"Yup." Ruby answered sourly. "You'll get one eventually too. Yang is a very…huggy person."
"Great." both Weiss and Blake muttered in unison. The SDC Heiress then looked squarely at Ruby.
"How long have you been able to use Synchro Summoning?" she asked sharply.
"Uh…a bit less than a year now, I think?" Ruby offered after a moment's thought. "I've only been able to do it consistently in the last six months though; Uncle Qrow taught me how to do it and walked me through how to resonate my Aura specifically to Synchro Summon [Black Rose Dragon]…"
"Wait, what?" Blake blinked. "That's actually a thing? You have to...to tune your Aura in a pattern specific to the Synchro Monster? I thought that was just a myth!"
"Nah, just a really old method that takes time and practice for every Synchro Monster you want to use. Most people instead simply brute force it instead. It's a hell of a lot easier but it also takes a lot more aura." Yang explained. "Once you manage to do it once though…if you feel the Aura of the Synchro Monster, you can memorize its frequency and learn how to tune and modulate your Aura into the right frequency during the Synchro Summon, cutting the Aura cost to less than half the brute force method. Sometimes, the Synchro Monsters even take a liking to your family line. Uncle Qrow has [Black Winged Dragon], and [Black Rose Dragon's] been the Synchro Monster of the Rose family for years. I have a different one for the moment, but Dad's refusing to teach me how to summon his until my Second Year. I'll have to totally change my Deck then."
"What Synchro Monster does he have?" Blake asked curiously, quite intrigued by the idea of being able to use such an advanced technique far more easily.
"[Red Dragon Archfiend]." Yang replied. "I kinda agree with him about it too; that's dragon has got an even worse temper than me, and that is saying something. I need way more seasoning before I can summon that bad boy."
Given that Yang had gone ballistic over an Ursa slicing off a small amount of her hair, Blake could very much agree that a Synchro Monster with an even WORSE temper than her would definitely be something that should be approached with caution.
"Looks as if the next match is gonna be announced." Ruby said, nodding at Coco, who was waving a pair of nursing staff members, with Cardin on a stretcher between them, out of the large room
"OK, so after that little fiasco, if someone's about to use a Synchro Monster to wipe out your Life Points, be sensible and surrender!" Coco looked severely between both teams. "I do not want to have to call another stretcher here, OK? Now then...next match is Weiss Schnee versus Russel Thrush!"
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Next Chapter: RWBY versus CRDL Part 2
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