Chapter Three
"And this is how I found you," Alessia finished her explanation. She had basically tracked them by locating the one who uploaded the video of Yuito defeating Carter, who then vaguely told them where Yuito came from and how his friend had looked like. After asking around a little and getting mugged twice, she eventually encountered Keiji. She told it with some more pathos though, putting emphasis on how she almost died looking for them.
"So you want to offer me… what?" Yuito asked. He tried to act calm, but Keiji could see that he could barely sit still.
"I'm offering you a limited contract as a Combat Duelist for Sonjun Agency," Alessia returned to a more professional attitude, after she let herself go a little emotional, "It will have a duration time of three months at first but if you perform well we will be free to either extend or renegotiate it."
"And all I have to do is to duel?"
"To increase your rank, ideally. When we get to the agency, we will use the data from your first duel to rank you in. Your ranking will be rather low at first, but it will gradually increase over time."
"What's in the deal for him?" Keiji interrupted the two.
"Well," Alessia continued, "aside from a payment, from which he cannot expect much due to his low rank and the other conditions I'm offering, he'll receive free housing and catering during the time of his engagement with Sonjun Agency. It would tremendously increase the current circumstances he's living under, if I might say. No offence though."
Yuito saw that Keiji was about to say something in retort, so he spoke up faster: "Does this only count for me or can my friend come to?"
"You'll get an apartment, even though a small one. Who you'll let on your couch is at your own discretion."
"Amazing!" Yuito exclaimed, "so do we have a deal?"
"We have a deal," the woman answered, "all we need to do now is get to the agency, sign the paperwork and rank you in, then we can start booking you for Combat Duels."
Despite Yuitos and Keijis thoughts they would have to walk to the agency, Alessia actually possessed a car, even though she didn't want to take it into the outer districts with her.
The streets on the districts that were closer to the centre were actually pretty lively by this time of the day, and the streets had less holes than Yuito was used to.
"What's this rank system you mentioned earlier?" Keiji asked during the drive.
"It's actually pretty easy," Alessia explained, "each active Combat Duelist is assigned a rank in the system. It's dependant on your win/lose ratio, but also on the rank of your opponents, the LP gap with which you win, and so on. It's actually a rather complex algorithm."
"That doesn't really answer my question, but I'll take it."
"It determines your placing. The higher you are, the more famous you are. The top three duelists are like the greatest celebrities in the entire city."
"What's the odds of becoming one of those top three?" Keiji continued to dig.
"For your friend or generally? Well it doesn't really matter, as in both cases the chances are nearing to zero. The top three duelists are all still rather young but at the pinnacle of their abilities. Anybody who tried to dethrone them failed miserably."
"But it is possible."
"Why yes. Should you be able to match or even defeat one of them, your ranking would skyrocket. But that doesn't mean you'd immediately replace them. They won many duels against many powerful opponents and every duel they win just puts them further out of everybodies reach. They could overthrow each other, if only that. For someone outside of the top three, or hell, the top ten to take them down it would mean they'd have to defeat each one multiple times."
"Heard that Ito? You've got quite the competition!" Keiji addressed his friend.
"Yeah. I'm kinda exited, to say the least. I mean, I'm going to-"
"And there we are!" Alessia interrupted Yuito, stopping the car in front of a twenty stores building, that looked slightly run down but still solid. "This is Sonjun Agency, the home of all future shining stars."
The woman lead them into a small lobby that opened up behind the glass doors of the apartment building. It appeared rather official, a large conference room behind a small reception, offices to the left and right, all just separated by fancy walls varying between glass and one-way mirrors. The lobby itself seemed to be large enough to form a duel field, possibly for evaluation processes.
The logo of the agency was draped everywhere, three stars, white, black and purple overlaying with each other, the name Sonjun Agency written over it in lavender letters.
"Now, here I'd like to introduce you to my boss," Alessia interrupted the thunderstruck boys, directing their attention to a grey haired man in business attire, leaning over the reception, "this is Mr. Sonjun."
"Mr. Sonjun, this is Yuito, the boy I've talked about with you this morning, and his friend Keiji."
"Wait what? You were actually serious about this video?" the man in the suit giggled, "I thought you showed it to me for a good laugh."
The confidence that Alessia had shown so far suffered a great deal from those two sentences: "But… you agreed I'd bring him in for a hearing!"
"'We should totally have a hearing with him!' is as much sarcasm as I can potentially muster."
"But he's showing so much potential! Give him a limited contract and you'll see that..."
"...he's going to demolish his apartment and then take off with the contents of the fridge, like the last of your guys that showed so much potential? Or the guy that was so promising, but got too drunk to even stand before he even started his first duel? That boy was fifteen! Somehow you have a talent of scouting the worst possible duelists in the entire city!"
"I see that you have a point there, but..." Alessia tried to speak up, but Mr. Sonjun continued unfazed.
"Remember the one girl that you said was a sixteen year old dueling genius, but then turned out 44 and lost every single duel we got her in? The best one was still the pregnant teenage girl you brought because she'd have a crowd bonus, only for us to find out that he was neither pregnant nor a girl."
Yuito would've laughed at all the examples the man lined up, if the essence of it wasn't that he wouldn't hire him.
"Is there a way my friend can prove himself to you?" Keiji eventually interrupted the managers rambling, much to Alessias pleasure.
"Pardon me?" Mr. Sonjun replied.
"You apparently have an issue with her talents, but that's not my friends fault. We came all the way here, the least you can do is let him show you that he's a good duelist."
"You have some nerve kid, I like that. Well I might as well let him, nothing better than a good show before lunch break," the man raised his arms to both Alessia and Yuito, "you two are going to duel right now. The winner can stay, the loser should leave."
"Wait, wait Mr. Sonjun, are you implying that if I lose..." Alessia spoke up.
"You're fired. Precisely Ms. Meiko."
Speechless, Alessia took her place at the lobbies duel field, all the while glaring daggers at Keiji, who seemed amused by this turn of events.
"Come on. This duel won't work unless the both of you have something to lose, does it?" Mr. Sonjun said, "this way, Yuito has a contract to lose, while you have a job to lose. It also makes sure you will not let the boy win on purpose. So start now, please."
Yuito: 4000 LP
Alessia: 4000 LP
"Do you want to start?" Yuito asked, but Alessia denied his request.
"No need for false courtesy. Do your thing, then I'll do mine."
"Very well," he said, "I'll start by Normal Summoning 'Stone Crypt Shield Sorcerer' into my Combat Zone. Then I end my turn." The blindfolded wizard with the diamond-shaped shield appeared in front of Yuito.
Stone Crypt Shield Sorcerer: EARTH / Spellcaster-Type / Level 4 / 1700 ATK / 1200 DEF
"Very well. You know that I saw your video, so I know what your monster does? You will not best me this easily," Alessia said while drawing her card.
"As you control a monster and I control none, I Special Summon 'Violent Needle Scar' from my hand to my Combat Zone." Alessias monster resembled a humanoid, female wasp, yellow and black in colour. One of its arms extended into a gun, which was designed to shoot needles.
Violent Needle Scar / WIND / Insect-Type / Effect / Level 1 / 100 ATK / 100 DEF
"I then activate the Spell Card 'Where Arf Thou!?' as I control a face-up Level 1 monster, enabling me to add another one from my deck to my hand. I choose 'Violent Needle Groza', but I must Normal Summon it during this turn or I'll lose 2000 LP. So I'll do so immediately." A second monster appeared next to her first one, this time her arm gun was slightly shorter, but she had to support it with her second hand.
Violent Needle Groza / WIND / Insect-Type / Effect / Level 1 / 100 ATK / 100 DEF
"If Groza is Summoned, I can Summon a Level 1 Insect Monster straight from my deck. I choose 'Bee List Soldier'." Alessias next monster was a male bee, carrying a trident.
Bee List Soldier / WIND / Insect-Type / Effect / Level 1 / 500 ATK / 400 DEF
"I'll move to the Battle Phase now."
"What, now? I was at the very least expecting an Xyz Summon."
"Get your hopes up on that. Scar, attack Yuito directly!" The monster aimed its gun arm and fired a needle shot at Yuito, although it barely hurt.
Yuito: 4000 LP → 3900 LP
"So that's how you suppose getting past my Sorcerer? With direct attacks that barely do any damage?"
"Wait and see. When Scar inflicts Battle Damage, all Level 1 Monsters I control gain 100 ATK."
Scar: 100 ATK → 200 ATK
Groza: 100 ATK → 200 ATK
Bee List Soldier: 500 ATK → 600 ATK
"And rejoice, Scar is able to attack multiple times, based on the number of Level 1 monsters I control." At command, the monster reloaded and fired another needle at Yuito, before repeating the whole spiel once more.
Yuito: 3900 LP → 3700 LP
Scar: 200 ATK → 300 ATK
Groza: 200 ATK → 300 ATK
Bee List Soldier: 600 ATK → 700 ATK
Yuito: 3700 LP → 3400 LP
Scar: 300 ATK → 400 ATK
Groza: 300 ATK → 400 ATK
Bee List Soldier: 600 ATK → 700 ATK
"Is the whole duel going to play out like this? You're going to need lots of turns to get me to zero."
"Don't get so cocky, its my life on the line here. I'm not playing nice. Groza, use your effect and attack Yuito directly as well." The other wasp, who happily received power ups during the whole turn, also readied its gun and fired a sting and Yuito.
Yuito: 3400 LP → 3000 LP
"During my Main Phase 2, I use the effect of Bee List Soldier. I tribute both it and Groza in order to draw two cards." The insects disappeared from Alessias field while she drew a new set of cards. "I then Set two cards and end my turn."
"My turn," Yuito said while drawing. "Your offense isn't bad, hope your defence is as well. I Normal Summon Stone Crypt Force Sorcerer." In front of Yuito, a blindfolded magician carrying a staff appeared.
Stone Crypt Force Sorcerer: EARTH / Spellcaster / Level 4 / 1900 ATK / 0 DEF
Yuito eyed his hand suspiciously. It was one of the disadvantages of playing Ritual that it contained two blue cards but not the Spells needed to Summon one of them. But Alessias field was far from threatening enough to justify that being an issue.
"I move to Battle Phase! Shield Sorcerer, attack Violent Needle Scar!" The magician charged up his shield and fired a beam of light from it towards the wasp.
"You know this is supposed to be an entertaining duel, right? You're making a bad first impression here," Alessia said, before her face-down card revealed itself, "I activate 'Violent Defense'. It forces me to take any attacks on Level 1 monsters as direct hits, but rewards me with the Summon of a Violent Needle from my grave afterwards."
Her monster moved out of the way, allowing the blast to hit Yuitos opponent in a direct attack – where it was immediately absorbed by a misty barrier.
"Well, too bad I have a second face-down card: 'Spirit Barrier'. It prevents me from taking Battle Damage as long as I control a monster. And I mean, I still control Scar."
"So, let me run though this again. Your monsters can attack me directly and get stronger doing so, but when I try to attack you, nothing happens except the fact that you get another monster?"
"That's what it comes down to. I told you, I'm not playing nice. And as you're talking about it, 'Violent Needle Groza', come back. And as Groza is being Summoned, I also get 'Violent Needle' Awem' from my deck." The wasp she tributed last turn to draw returned to her field, alongside another one, who was more slender than the others and instead of having a gun attached to its arm, it wielded a sniper rifle.
Violent Needle Groza / WIND / Insect-Type / Effect / Level 1 / 100 ATK / 100 DEF
Violent Needle Awem: WIND / Insect-Type / Effect / Level 1 / 100 ATK / 100 DEF
This twist of events was unfortunate for Yuito. As he eyed his hand however, he started to think he might have a way to break it. "I set one card face-down, then I end my turn."
As the monster in his Combat Zone had already battled, there was no use in going in further.
"My turn then. I activate the Spell Card Polymerization! It allows me to fuse monsters in order to form a stronger one!" On her field, Groza and Awem morphed into masses of energy and spiralled together. "Insects with firepower and accuracy, become one and reveal a stronger weapon! Fusion Summon! Violent Swarm Awem!" Alessias new monster was similar to her previous ones, a humanoid, female wasp carrying a gun. The only mayor difference being larger wings and a large sniper rifle instead of the usual hand-guns.
Violent Swarm Awem: WIND / Insect-Type / Fusion / Effect / Level 1 / ? ATK / 100 DEF
"I've already been expecting something like this, even though I was betting on it being Xyz," Yuito said, "now tell me, what does it do?"
"It seals your defeat. Once per turn, Awem fills my field with Violent Swarm Tokens." Just on command, three more monsters appeared on the field, resembling smaller versions of Awem, filling the last remaining monster card slots Alessia had.
Violent Swarm Token: WIND / Insect-Type / Token / Level 1 / ? ATK / 100 DEF (3x)
"Both my Fusion Monster and my Swarm Tokens share the same remaining effects: They gain 100 ATK for each Level 1 monster I control, also, they can attack you directly."
Violent Swarm Awem: ? ATK → 500 ATK
Violent Swarm Tokens: ? ATK → 500 ATK (3x)
"Now if you're doing some quick math, add the five direct attacks from Scar and his boosts to the direct attacks from my Swarm, and you'll arrive on precisely 7000 damage. I thought that should be enough to have you out of this game. Violent Needle Scar, attack directly already!" The wasp lined up another shot, before it struck Yuito with it.
Yuito: 3000 LP → 2600 LP
Violent Needle Scar: 400 ATK → 500 ATK
Violent Swarm Awem: 500 ATK → 600 ATK
Violent Swarm Tokens: 500 ATK → 600 ATK (3x)
"I activate my face-down card!" Yuito interrupted Alessia as soon as her monsters ATK boost kicked in, "'Cracked Scribestone'! It activates when I took Battle Damage and immediately moves my Shield Sorcerer into my Spell and Trap Zone, as a Continuous Spell Card. At the same time, it prevents all instances of Battle Damage until the End Phase." The Trap Card spawned a stone stele, which sent out chains to bind Shield Sorcerer to itself, effectively locking it up.
As Scar was in the Combat Zone and thus forced to attack, it took four more shots at Yuito, which all were blocked off by the stele.
"To bad. Seems I foiled your plan."
"Delayed it, at best. Carry on with your turn, it won't do you any good."
"Don't worry, I will," Yuito said, happy to have held off her assault. Now, all he needed was a Ritual Spell Card. Glaring at the top card of his deck, he prayed for a little bit of luck and just drew.
And the result was even better.
"I activate the Spell Card 'Premature Sacrifice'. It allows me to tribute my Strike Sorcerer to add 'Rosetta Scribestone' from my deck to my hand." The lone monster that had remained on Yuitos side of the field faded away, as his deck spat out the one card that Yuito had needed.
"I immediately activate it from my hand! And by the effect of 'Cracked Scribestone', my Shield Sorcerer in my Spell and Trap Card Zone, can be used as the entire tribute!" A second stele appeared behind Yuito, absorbing the bound magician before it started to glow.
"Ritual Summon! To unravel humanities last mysteries, use your magic and cast a light upon the darkness. Level 7, 'Runecross Wizard'!" The monster that calmly stepped out of the stele was a human sorcerer dressed in dark blue garb, with brown letters and golden ornaments running all over it. It wore a hood shrouding all of his face other than its eyes, which were showing flashes of the same letters than it donned on its cloth. In one of his hands it held a wand that was as big as itself, with a simple, grey stone put on top of it.
Runecross Wizard: EARTH / Spellcaster-Type / Ritual / Level 7 / 2500 ATK / 2000 DEF
"You've seen the video, you know what my monster does."
"Yes I know and I think you just royally screwed yourself up now," Alessia replied. "Your monster is in your Combat Zone and thus forced to attack whenever it can, while also being able to attack all my Special Summoned monsters once."
"Indeed. And if you do not have a free Monster Card Zone to Summon a Monster into, your 'Violent Defense' won't redirect your attack. So I'm free to destroy them."
"You're free to destroy one of them. The second attack you're forced to make will force me to take it directly and revive one of my monsters. As I will not take any Battle Damage during the whole procedure, its a loop, a forced infinite one at that. I'm not sure if you're aware, but if you start such a loop, the game will disqualify you."
"I'm fully aware. But why don't you just wait for me to finish my turn?" Before Alessia could retort, Yuito continued, "I use the effect of 'Rosetta Scribestone' in my Graveyard. By banishing two EARTH monsters from there, I can bring out another Ritual Monster from my hand, although it will not be able to attack this turn."
"Traveller whose eyes have seen mysteries beyond human understanding, bring the calm that will win me this battle! 'Runecross Guru!" The stele that brought out Wizard re-emerged from the ground, with a new monster came out of it. This time, it was a humanoid figure floating in the air with its legs crossed, as if meditating. A hood covered its face aside from its eyes, with various glyphs dancing in them. It had then round orbs orbiting around it, each one engraved with a different glyph.
Runecross Guru: EARTH / Spellcaster-Type / Ritual / Level 6 / 2100 ATK / 2500 DEF
"I will now move to Battle Phase, which will play out how you so accurately described." Runecross Wizard drew its staff and launched its mandatory attack at 'Violent Swarm Awem', which shattered into pieces.
Runecross Wizard: 2500 ATK → 3200 ATK
"Now, see how I did not take damage? Looks like you actually forced yourself into an infinite..." Alessia immediately fell silent when she looked at the Life Point counter of her Duel Disk.
Alessia: 4000 LP → 3500 LP
"WHAT? I do not take Battle Damage while Spirit Barrier is face-up! How did this happen?"
"Unfortunately," Yuito said, with a cocky smile, "your card doesn't mention Effect Damage anywhere. And Guru just happens to deal 500 of which whenever a monster on the field is destroyed."
"WHAT?" Alessia yelled again, before Yuito continued.
"So, your right, its a loop of attack, destroy, attack, revive, repeat, but not an unlimited one, rather its limited by the amount of your LP!"
And so the game continued to play out, Alessia being forced to see her monster being revived and destroyed again and while her Trap Cards prevented her from taking any Battle or momentum damage, but Gurus effect slowly took down her Life Points.
Alessia: 3500 LP → 3000 LP → 2500 LP → 2000 LP → 1500 LP → 1000 LP → 500 LP → 0 LP
It took a few seconds for Alessia to process that she had just lost the duel in a single turn, due to what could've been a secure victory for her.
Likewise, Yuito was still thunderstruck that he had managed to turn this duel on the heels like that.
The first thing that broke the silence was clapping, first just from a single pair of hands, then by a couple more. The first one was actually Mr. Sonjun, followed shortly by Keiji and the other onlookers.
"This was actually quite interesting," the boss of the agency said, "we can negotiate a contract for an engagement as a Combat Duelist. Ms. Seiko, you'll be responsible for him."
"What?" Alessia jolted out, "I thought I was fired if I lose?"
"I'm not firing someone who brings me an interesting talent," he said, "if he disappoints me however, you're fired. You three can join me for lunch, we'll see over the details there."
Author-made cards:
Stone Crypt Shield Sorcerer / EARTH / Spellcaster-Type / Level 4 / 1700 ATK / 1200 DEF
Once per turn, if this card is targeted for an attack: You can negate that attack. If this card is the only monster you control, this effect can be used up to thrice per turn instead. A Ritual Monster that was Ritual Summoned using this card as tribute gains the following effect: ● This card can attack all Special Summoned monsters your opponent controls once each.
Stone Crypt Force Sorcerer / EARTH / Spellcaster / Level 4 / 1900 ATK / 0 DEF
If this card is the only monster you control, it can make up to 3 attacks on monsters per turn. A Ritual Monster that was Ritual Summoned using this card as a tribute gains the following effect: ● Once per turn, during either players turn: You can target 1 card your opponent controls; Destroy it.
Runecross Wizard / EARTH / Spellcaster-Type / Ritual / Level 7 / 2500 ATK / 2000 DEF
You can Ritual Summon this card with any "Scribestone" Ritual Spell Card. If this card battles a face-up monster that was Special Summoned from the Extra Deck: Negate that monsters effects, if any, also, this card gains 700 ATK until the end of the Battle Phase.
Runecross Guru / EARTH / Spellcaster-Type / Ritual / Level 6 / 2100 ATK / 2500 DEF
You can Ritual Summon this card with any "Scribestone" Ritual Spell Card. If a monster your opponent controls is destroyed: Inflict 500 Damage to your opponent. Once per turn (Quick Effect): You can target 1 face-up monster; Apply one of the following effects depending on its controller. ● You: Halve all Battle Damage you take from battles involving it. ● Your opponent: Double all Battle Damage your opponent takes from battles involving it.
Violent Needle Scar /WIND / Insect-Type / Effect / Level 1 / 100 ATK / 100 DEF
If only your opponent control a monster, you can Special Summon this card (from your hand). Can attack your opponent directly. This cards maximum number of attacks per turn is the number of face-up Level 1 monsters you control. If this card inflict Battle Damage to your opponent: Face-up Level 1 monsters you control gain 100 ATK.
Violent Needle Groza / WIND / Insect-Type / Effect / Level 1 / 100 ATK / 100 DEF
Can attack your opponent directly. If this card is Normal or Special Summoned and you only control face-up Level 1 monsters: Special Summon 1 Level 1 Insect-Type Monster from your deck in face-up Attack Position. You can only use this effect of "Violent Needle Groza" once per turn.
Violent Swarm Awem / WIND / Insect-Type / Fusion / Level 1 / ? ATK / 100 DEF
"Violent Needle Awem" + 1 Insect-Type Monster
Can attack your opponent directly. This cards original ATK is equal to the number of face-up Level 1 monsters you control x 100. Once per turn: You can Special Summon as many "Violent Swarm Token" (WIND/Insect-Type/Level 1/? ATK/0 DEF) as possible to your side of the field in face-up Attack Position. The original ATK of all "Violent Swarm Token(s)" are equal to the number of face-up Level 1 monsters you control x 100, also, they can attack your opponent directly.
Rosetta Scribestone / Ritual Spell Card
You can use this card to Ritual Summon any "Runecross" Ritual Monsters. You must also tribute monsters from your hand or side of the field whose combined Level(s) equal or exceed the Level of the monster you are attempting to Ritual Summon. If this card is in your GY: You can banish 2 EARTH Monsters from your GY; Special Summon 1 EARTH Ritual Monster from your hand, but it cannot attack during this turn. (This Special Summon is treated as a Ritual Summon.) You can only use this effect of "Rosetta Scribestone" once per duel.
Cracked Scribestone / Trap Card
If an opponents monster inflicts Battle Damage to you: You can target 1 face-up "Stone Crypt" Monster you control; You take no Battle Damage until the End Phase, also, place the target in your Spell/Trap Card Zone as a Continuous Spell Card with the following effect: ● If you would Ritual Summon (exactly) 1 Ritual Monster with a card effect that requires use of monsters, you can tribute this card as the entire requirement.
Violent Defense / Continuous Trap Card
If you control a face-up monster that is not a Level 1 monster: Destroy this card. If a monster you control is targeted for an attack: That attack becomes a direct attack, then, Special Summon 1 Level 1 Insect-Type Monster from your GY. You can only control 1 face-up "Violent Defense".