Chapter Thirteen
"Well, what exactly are you looking for?" Saburo asked as they arrived at their location, the lakeside of Old Central Park, "no one goes here anymore since the train stopped serving the station."
"I think that's the point. The run down school wasn't frequented that much either," Hatsuko answered, "I suppose we just wait until the second champion shows up."
"You think someone will actually come here now that we're here?"
"That's my theory. The Crosspoint wants to awake so it will draw someone to this point, either willingly or unwillingly."
"Sounds hard to believe."
"This entire thing is really hard to believe Saburo," she replied, "have some faith in me."
"Remember the last time I had faith in you?" Saburo asked.
"Nooo," Hatsuko said, desperately trying to not break into laughter, "don't remind me of the swimming pool thing, that was hilarious."
"May I quote you? 'It's just a little baggy, I'm sure it'll hold.'" the boy imitated her voice, "Spoiler alert, it did not hold. I was the laughing stock of the entire school for like a month."
"Yeah, that was totally because of the swimsuit."
"In retrospect, I admit it was kinda funny," Saburo replied.
"Besides, you embarrassed me in front of the entire school even before I did," Hatsuko retorted, "do I need to remind you about the prom dress thing?"
"Oh come on, that wasn't embarrassing."
"Then the yogurt thing maybe?"
"See, that was embarrassing."
"Not my point."
"What, you want me to apologize?" Saburo said, "I'm sure I apologize a lot back then."
"That was a 'we're in a relationship so I'm supposed to do this' sorry," Hatsuko replied, "not the real deal."
"You're not gonna get anything better than that, sweetie," he replied, "but come on, we had a nice time together too."
"Occasionally."
"So we just wait? Did you at least bring a board game or something to pass the time?"
"Of course," Hatsuko replied sarcastically, "I have a backgammon board in my handbag, just right next to the bowling pins."
"I have no idea how to play backgammon. I was banking on checkers or something," Saburo replied, "though, I have one question. Where does all this love for the occult suddenly come from? You never talk about it that much."
"You never asked," Hatsuko said, "besides, I've always liked these books my dad read me and after dating back that this entire Crosspoint thing would be happening this year, I researched it out of curiosity. And now I'm somewhat entangled into this entire thing."
"We're you really into that thing back when we dated?"
"On today's episode of 'Why did we break up?!': You never cared for my hobbies."
"Wow, I was a horrible boyfriend," Saburo exclaimed.
"On the list of adjectives I had for you, horrible ranks rather high."
"If only I could make that up somehow."
"Now you're just being sarcastic."
"Well, fifty-fifty. I actually got something for you," Saburo said, pulling an envelope from his back pocket, "for old times sake."
"If these are kissing coupons, keep them," Hatsuko said, taking the envelope.
As she tore open the paper and took out the contents she forgot what to say for a few seconds before she went on: "You've got to be kidding me."
"No, this one time I'm not."
"No you're certainly kidding me," she said, while still staring at the two Xyz Monsters in her hand. Psydame Madeleine and Psydame Veronique, her missing two Psydame monsters, "these two cost a fortune, I should know I've been saving up for them."
"My dad had these lying around in the store for weeks, I'm sure he doesn't even notice they're gone," Saburo replied, "take it as the one time I didn't get you something for Valentine."
"You forgot one Valentine and two of my birthdays, to be exact," Hatsuko said, "but I'd be willing to forget the yogurt incident for this."
"That works for me. I have no intention of returning these either way."
"I hope you don't get into trouble for this."
"Nah. My dad allows me to take some cards from the shop occasionally, these two more or less won't hurt."
"Are you sure? Do you have any idea how long I was waiting on getting these?"
"Probably ever since you were playing that Deck. What I understand, since it has an interesting play style to it. Not that I would, but it suits you."
"It's okay, that's the nicest you'll go," Hatsuko replied, pulling Saburo into a hug, "thank you, friend."
"That's not a nickname I approve of. I preferred sweetheart."
"Sorry to interrupt this public display of affection," the two of them darted apart, as they heard a man talk to them, "but I ask you, this isn't really a romantic location anymore, what got you here?"
Mustering the new arrival, a blonde man in a business suit, Hatsuko replied: "How's that your concern?"
"Maybe I'm a mugger?" the man answered with a smirk.
"You look like you're worse than a mugger," she replied, "I'll have you know I carry a taser and that my friend has an unregistered gun."
"Wait I know this guy," Saburo said.
"Should I feel honored?" the man asked, with Hatsuko just exclaiming her surprise: "You do?"
"Didn't you watch Yuitos duel videos before your match with him?" Saburo asked Hatsuko.
"Of course, I knew there was something," she said, internally scolding herself for not seeing it earlier, "you're Carter."
"I guess Yuito is this Ritual kid who stole my Duel Disk a while ago?" the man continued, "I would've gone after him but my employer thought it was a bad idea to go this deep into the slums."
"Please, I've seen the video," Saburo said, "stop pretending you're an actual scout, or an actual manager because you're not."
"If you think you know, certainly," Carter replied.
"Okay, okay, wait for a second," Hatsuko interrupted the two, "now we know who you are, but what are you doing here?"
"I asked you first," Carter replied cockily.
"Exactly," Saburo said, "but we're two. But let's just deduce this. You're going to Old Central Park in the evening when no train or bus goes here anymore and the only people you find are junkies. Yet you say you're too scared to go into the poorer areas of town to retrieve your property. Alas, you're either here because you are a junkie yourself or for something that has even more worth to you than a Duel Disk."
"You're here for the Crosspoint," Hatsuko concluded.
"So it is here, otherwise you wouldn't be," Carter confirmed their suspicions, "I wasn't sure this was the right place."
"Why is someone like you after the Crosspoints?" Hatsuko asked, "if you don't even bother fetching a stolen Duel Disk."
"One free wish isn't something I'd pass up on," Carter said.
As they spoke, the ground in between them started to emit a faint red light.
"Looks like it caught on to our presence," Carter said, "are you ready to gift me a Crosspoint girl?"
"I don't intend to, I'd rather have you give me one. I'm the girl here after all," Hatsuko smiled, starting up her Duel Disk, as a red force field formed around them, separating her and Carter from Saburo.
"The fuck is this," the boy said, staring at the barrier that separated him from his friend, "are you seeing this."
"It catches you off-guard the first time, does it?" Hatsuko turned around, while her opponent also readied his Duel Disk.
"I'm happy you're also going with this way of conducing a Contest of Champions. I was afraid I had to whip out my taser and my unregistered gun also," Carter joked, before he drew his starting hand, with Hatsuko doing the same.
Hatsuko: 4000 LP
Carter: 4000 LP
"I'd say ladies first," Carter said, with Hatsuko happily obliging.
"Don't mind if I do," she said, playing her first card from her hand, "I Normal Summon Psydame Daniela." A pink-skinned girl appeared on Hatsukos side of the field, pirouetting as four rings of light appeared around her.
Psydame Daniela: LIGHT / Psychic / Effect / Level 4 / 1900 ATK / 0 DEF
"Next I activate my Spell Card Psycharm Double Tiara!" Hatsuko said as she slotted her card into her Duel Disk, "by paying 800 LP it allows me to Xyz Summon a Psychic monster using only a single material, after which it will attach itself to that monster also."
Hatsuko: 4000 LP → 3200 LP
Her single monster and her Spell card both turned yellow, spiraling into a galaxy-shaped portal. "Level 4 Daniela and Double Tiara, overlay! This magical girl will dance me to victory! Xyz Summon, Rank 4, Psydame Angelique!" The portal combusted, revealing Hatsukos Xyz ace, a blue-skinned dancing girl in a golden dress. Whenever she moved, a trail of afterimages followed her body.
Psydame Angelique: LIGHT / Psychic / Xyz / Effect / Rank 4 / 2100 ATK / 2000 DEF / 2 Xyz Materials
"Furthermore, I use the second effect of Double Tiara," Hatsuko went on, "It's all in the name. It doubled my monster, and now it will double my monster again. By paying 800 more Life Points, Double Tiara will allow me to Summon another Psydame Xyz Monster from my Extra Deck, attaching Double Tiara to it as material."
Hatsuko: 3200 LP → 2400 LP
Psydame Angelique: 2 Xyz Materials → 1 Xyz Material
One of Angeliques Xyz Materials went astray, flying into a new galaxy-shaped portal where the previous had disappeared just seconds ago.
"Another Xyz Summon! Listen as this beautiful maiden plays you the song of despair! Rank 4, Psydame Madeleine!" As the portal exploded, it revealed one of Hatsukos brand new Xyz Monsters, a woman with purple skin in a golden dress, sitting next to a large harp, playing a soothing melody.
Psydame Madeleine: LIGHT / Psychic / Xyz / Effect / Rank 4 / 1000 ATK / 2400 DEF / 1 Xyz Material
"While I don't like how lenient you're being with your Life Points," Saburo commented, "that card is pretty nice. Did you have it in your deck all the time?"
"What, you think I rebuilt my deck real quick while hugging you?" Hatsuko replied, "of course I did, just never used the second effect so far. Either way, I'll set one more card and end my turn."
"What an unimpressive field. I think I'll break this right now," Carter said as he drew his first card, "I activate my Advanced Ritual Art. It allows me to Ritual Summon a monster from my hand by using Normal Monsters from my deck as tributes!"
"Are you kidding me?" Hatsuko exclaimed, but her opponent just continued.
"I send two copies of my Level 4 Grand Tiki Elder from my deck to the graveyard in order to Ritual Summon! Level 8! My hellraiser born from the curse of the mask! The Masked Beast!" Carters Spell Card started to emit purple smoke as he sent the two Normal Monsters to the graveyard, which then reformed to reveal a Ritual Monster. While its torso looked faintly humanoid, it was more of a horribly disfigured beast on animalic legs, wielding a wooden staff with a mouth of some sorts.
The Masked Beast: DARK / Fiend / Ritual / Level 8 / 3200 ATK / 1800 DEF
"For real are you kidding me?" Hatsuko repeated, "you've been shitting on Yuito using Ritual throughout your whole duel and now you're using them yourself?"
"No idea what you're talking about," Carter said as he continued, "I activate my other Spell Card called Reverse Ritual Art. It allows me to tribute The Masked Beast, and revive monsters from my Grave who's total Levels equal the Ritual Monsters. It's a reverse Ritual Summon!" The Masked Beast turned into smoke again, after which two floating monsters wearing Tiki masks appeared on the field.
Grand Tiki Elder: DARK / Fiend / Level 4 / 1500 ATK / 800 DEF (2x)
"After this, Reverse Ritual Art will allow me to draw a card for every Normal Monster I Summoned with it. So I draw twice."
"Would you actually answer to me for damn once? What are you on about?" Hatsuko asked again, but her opponent just ignored her.
"I activate Expert Ritual Art. It allows me to Ritual Summon from my Deck using only Normal Monsters I control as the tributes. So goodbye my Tiki Elders. The monsters disappeared just seconds after taking to the field, black smoke once engulfing it.
"Ritual Summon! Hellraiser with unparalleled power over the cursing masks! Level 8, The Masked Doctor!" The smoke billowed together to form a being as distorted as the Masked Beast, its centaur-like body just vaguely clad in black garb, the face shrouded by a cape and a smiling mask, as it clutched to its staff, several different masks adorning it.
The Masked Doctor: DARK / Fiend / Ritual / Effect / Level 8 / 2800 ATK / 2000 DEF
"When The Masked Doctor is Ritual Summoned, I can target one non-Effect Ritual Monster in my Graveyard and revive it." The doctor shook its staff across the field, causing more smoke to appear which formed into The Masked Beast once more.
The Masked Beast: DARK / Fiend / Ritual / Level 8 / 3200 ATK / 1800 DEF
"But this isn't even the pinnacle of its power," Carter continued, "for each Normal Monster I banish from my grave, I can Special Summon one more non-Effect Ritual Monster from my Deck, with the same name as the one I just Summoned."
"You've got to be kidding me," Hatsuko said, what almost had become her catchphrase during this turn, as Carter took the two yellow cards out of his Graveyard.
"I banish my Grand Tiki Elders in order to call forth two more copies of The Masked Beast!" The smoke that was left from the Summon of the first beast increased in size until it was large enough to form two more monstrosities.
The Masked Beast: DARK / Fiend / Ritual / Level 8 / 3200 ATK / 1800 DEF (2x)
Breathless, Hatsuko and Saburo stared at the sheer amount of power their opponent was just able to put on the field.
"Okay something is not right here," Saburo said to his friend.
"No shit Sherlock," Hatsuko replied, "this guy was thrashing Rituals like Rituals killed his mother on that video, and look at it. He's the damn best Ritual player ever."
"So either he's a natural, or that video was just an act," Saburo said.
"Why would it?" Hatsuko mused, "it looked pretty real."
"Go figure."
"I'm dueling, don't bother me."
"This looks a lot like you losing right now."
"Wait for it," she said, as she flipped her face-down card face-up, "I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card Space Cyclone. It allows me to detach a Xyz Material from one of my monsters."
"Going all in here, aren't you girl," Carter joked, "did you wanna activate a card effect so badly?"
"I detach the last material of my Angelique, triggering its effect," Hatsuko went over him, "I can destroy one card you control and have you take 1000 damage! Let's get rid of one of those Masked Beasts!"
Psydame Angelique: 1 Xyz Material → 0 Xyz Materials
One of the afterimages Angelique produced while pirouetting darted off course and crashed into one of the three beasts.
Carter: 4000 LP → 3000 LP
"Not like those 1000 points are gonna make a difference," Carter said, "so by any means continue."
"Of course I will," Hatsuko said, "with the effect of my Madeleine. She allows me to transfer her materials to any other Psydames I control, so I'll just switch this one over to Angelique." The sole yellow orb orbiting the harpist broke off its trail and started circling the dancing monster instead.
Psydame Madeleine: 1 Xyz Material → 0 Xyz Materials
Psydame Angelique: 0 Xyz Materials → 1 Xyz Material
"And when Madeleines last Xyz Material is detached, she allows me to check the top card of my deck and either add it to my hand or attach it to her as Xyz Material," Hatsuko said. As the monster switched to a slightly more luring piece of music, Hatsuko examined the top card of her deck, Krebons, which she then added to her hand.
"Are you finished?"
"For now."
"Good," Carter said, "so now I'll go and demolish you. The Masked Beast, attack Angelique!" The beast leaped forward, trying to tear the female monster into pieces, but one of its afterimages took the fatal blow.
Hatsuko: 2400 LP → 1300 LP
Psydame Angelique: 1 Xyz Material → 0 Xyz Materials
"When my Angelique would be destroyed, I can detach one material from it to keep it save," she said, "and that in turn triggers my monsters second effect, to destroy that The Masked Beast that did not attack yet." The afterimage escaped from the one monsters grasp, to crash head first into another, turning it into dust.
Carter: 3000 LP → 2000 LP
"The Masked Doctor!" Carter continued unfazed, "attack Angelique again!" The centaur-like creature stormed towards the dancer and this time there were no Xyz materials left to stop it, causing it to be brutally maimed by the beast.
Hatsuko: 1300 LP → 600 LP
"So," Carter continued, "this is it for now. During the End Phase, all monsters that The Masked Doctor Summoned will be destroyed, so my field should look less threatening for your next turn. Before that, I'll just Set one more card and then I'll pass to you." After he had done that, as he said, his last remaining Masked Beast turned into smoke again.
"My turn!" Hatsuko yelled as she drew.
"Oh yes," she ecstatically said, "oh my god yes, so damn many duels full of dead cards were just leading up to this moment!"
"Did you just draw Sparks or what?" Carter joked, but his looks darkened quite a bit.
"Yeah, you be laughing. That's gonna be your last laugh. I don't know what kind of show you're pulling tonight, but this card is gonna be the curtain call."
"Might making it a little less dramatic?" Saburo threw in from outside of the force field, "and just win already?"
"As you wish," she replied, "I activate my Rank-Up-Magic Psycharm Force!"
Stunned Saburo tried to process her words: "You had this in your deck? A Rank-Up-Magic? When you had a single Xyz Monster? A single one?"
"I'm a girl with faith. Everything usually works out fine if you believe hard enough, no matter how many crude jokes you have to crack about it. I use my Rank-Up-Magic on Psydame Madeleine! Rank-Up Xyz Evolution!" The harpist turned into yellow energy once more, flying into the galaxy-shaped portal that opened up between the duelists. "The voice that heralds doom for everyone that's entranced by its sweet sound! Rank 5, Psydame Veronique!"
As the portal combusted, there was a single yellow-skinned female that emerged from it, clad in a flowing golden dress. As the figure started to sing a chant, however, more images of her, with various different skin colors both appeared and disappeared, rapidly changing the size and the vocal range of the choir.
Psydame Veronique: LIGHT / Psychic / Xyz / Effect / Rank 5 / 2800 ATK / 2500 DEF / 1 Xyz Material
"Veronique is usually the pinnacle of every Psydame deck, and I'm going to show you why that is," Hatsuko said, "I can detach one material from her in order to shuffle one card you control into the deck. And I'll be choosing your Doctor." As the one material orbiting it disappeared into light particles, the volume of the choir started to increase, to such intensity that The Masked Doctor was blown off the field by it.
Psydame Veronique: 1 Xyz Material → 0 Xyz Materials
"I predict your monster does also have an effect that activates when its last material is detached?" Carter inquired, but Hatsuko just shook her head.
"This one's a little different," she said, "but not like that's gonna matter. Veronique, attack him directly, Mystic Voice!" The choir's volume once again grew.
"Too bad for you I still have this," Carter said, flipping his face-down up, "I activate Urgent Ritual Art! It copies the effect of any Ritual Spell Card in my Graveyard and I choose my Advanced Ritual Art."
The Trap on his side of the field turned green as its text and picture changed.
"Using it, I Ritual Summon from my hand using the two Melchid the Four-Faced Beast from my deck as tributes!" He slotted two cards from his deck in the graveyard as the smoke started to reappear on the field. "Ritual Summon! Hellraiser that stalks those opposing the cursed masks! Level 8, The Masked Inquisitor!" The smoke formed another new monster, that this time didn't even look remotely human. On all fours, it looked like a rabid dog, masks placed all over its contorted body.
The Masked Inquisitor: DARK / Fiend / Ritual / Level 8 / 3100 ATK / 3000 DEF
"Get past this now, girl," Carter said confidently, but Hatsuko rebuffed him.
"Well, about Veronique's special effect," she said, barely containing her amusement, "when a monster is Special Summoned to your field while she has no Xyz Materials, I can attach that monster straight to her."
"You… what?" Carter exclaimed in disbelief, losing his cool as he tried to frantically find a way out in the cards in his hand.
Meanwhile, the choir just drew in the air in such a force it tore the beast apart, the remnants forming a small yellow orb that started orbiting them before they released the air in a sound wave so powerful it knocked Carter off his feet and sent him flying into the force field.
Psydame Veronique: 0 Xyz Materials → 1 Xyz Material
Carter: 2000 LP → 0 LP
Barely containing her excitement, Hatsuko awaited what was about to happen next. The force field shrunk in size until it was just a small red orb hovering above her Xyz Monster that was still resting on her Duel Disk. When the orb entered Veronique, Hatsuko watched as the cards name, picture, stats and effect texts all changed in front of her eyes. And what card that was. She'd need to give Saburo more than a hug if he had given her this.
Psydame Magi-Veronique.
Her Psydame Magi-Veronique.
A card that wasn't in the database. One that didn't exist until this very moment. It was only hers now.
When she was finished eying what rested on her Duel Disk, she noticed that Saburo was looking over her shoulder.
"Did you just see this," he asked, "or am I tripping?"
"Do you believe me now? In the Crosspoints?"
"I'd be the most ignorant jerk if I didn't," he replied, "when am I gonna get my chance?"
"When I locate the next one," Hatsuko said, "but now I still need to get some answers from..."
She wanted to turn to Carter, to ask him about him Ritual Summoning, about why he was after a Crosspoint, about Yuito, about this whole bunch of coincidences, but he was gone.
"He sure is fast," Saburo summed up her thoughts.
"Let's see what the other two were up to while this happened," Hatsuko eventually said, dialing Yuitos number on her Duel Disk.
Author-made cards:
Psydame Daniela / LIGHT / Psychic-Type / Effect / Level 4 / 1900 ATK / 0 DEF
Once per turn: You can target 1 face-up Psychic monster you control that has a Level; Its Level becomes 4. If you control a face-up Xyz Monster that has no materials: You can attach this face-up card to that monster as material.
Psydame Angelique / LIGHT / Psychic-Type / Xyz / Effect / Rank 4 / 2100 ATK / 2000 DEF
2 Level 4 Psychic Monsters
If this card would be destroyed (by battle or by a card effect): You can detach 1 Xyz Material from it instead. If this card detached its last Xyz Material: You can target 1 card your opponent controls; Destroy it and if you do, inflict 1000 LP Damage to your opponent. This card cannot attack directly during the turn you activate this effect.
Psydame Madeleine / LIGHT / Psychic / Xyz / Effect / Rank 4 / 1000 ATK / 2400 DEF
2 Level 4 monsters
Once per turn (Quick Effect): You can detach 1 material from this card and target 1 other Psychic Xyz Monster you control, except "Psydame Madeleine"; Attach that material to that monster. If this card detached its last material: You can reveal the top card of your Deck and either add it to your hand or attach it to this card as Xyz Material. You can only use this effect of "Psydame Madeleine" once per turn.
Psydame Veronique / LIGHT / Psychic / Xyz / Effect / Rank 5 / 2800 ATK / 2500 DEF
3 Level 5 LIGHT Monsters
Must first be Xyz Summoned. (Quick Effect): You can detach 1 material from this card, then target 1 card your opponent controls; Shuffle it into the deck. If your opponent Special Summons a monster while you control this face-up card with no materials: You can attach that monster to this card as material. You can only use each effect of "Psydame Veronique" once per turn.
Psycharm Double Tiara / Normal Spell Card
Pay 800 LP and target 1 face-up "Psydame" monster you control with a Level; Special Summon, from your Extra Deck, 1 Psychic Xyz Monster with a Rank equal to the target's Level, using only the target as material, then attach this card to the Summoned Monster as material. If you do: You can pay 800 LP; Special Summon, from your Extra Deck, 1 "Psydame" Xyz Monster with the same Rank as the Summoned monster but a different name, then attach this card to that monster as material. (These Special Summons are treated as Xyz Summons.)
The Masked Doctor / DARK / Fiend-Type / Ritual / Effect / Level 8 / 2800 ATK / 2000 DEF
You can Ritual Summon this card with any "Ritual Art" Ritual Spell. If this card is Ritual Summoned: You can target 1 non-Effect Ritual Monster in your GY; Special Summon it. If you do: You can banish any number of Normal Monsters from your GY; You cannot Special Summon Monsters from your Extra Deck until the End Phase, also, Special Summon, from your hand or Deck, as many monsters with the same name as the Special Summoned monster as possible, up to the number of Normal Monsters banished, but destroy them during the End Phase. (This Special Summon is treated as a Ritual Summon.) You can only activate this effect of "The Masked Doctor" once per turn.
The Masked Inquisitor / DARK / Fiend-Type / Ritual / Level 8 / 3100 ATK / 3000 DEF
You can Ritual Summon this card with any "Ritual Art" Ritual Spell.
Reverse Ritual Art / Normal Spell Card
Tribute 1 face-up Ritual Monster you control: Target 2 or more monsters in your GY whose total Level equals the tributed Ritual Monsters Level; Special Summon them, but their effects are negated. If you Special Summoned a Normal Monster(s) with this cards effect: Draw 1 card for each. You cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck during the turn you activate this cards effect.
Expert Ritual Art / Ritual Spell Card
This card can be used to Ritual Summon any Ritual Monster from your Deck. You must also tribute face-up Normal Monsters you control whose total Levels equal or exceed the Level of the monster you are attempting to Ritual Summon. If this card is in your GY, except during the turn it was sent there: You can banish this card, then target 1 "Ritual Art" Spell Card in your GY; Add it to your hand.