Chapter Fifteen
Compared to Dynasty Hall, the Royal Stadium was one hell of an upgrade to Yuito. It could hold roughly twice as many people, and the Duel Field was enormous and you could see part of the Royal Palace from it.
Just like during his duel against Noro, the crowd seemed to have a clear favorite, nearly everyone was dressed in white and a lot of them wore cosplay, or at least masks that resembled Ever White. When Yuito arrived at the scene, he couldn't tell which one of all the Ever Whites was the real one, but then Alessia told him the real one arrived with a secured car from the back of the arena.
Yuito wondered if he'd ever get treated like that too.
He assumed he was on the right way. There was a small faction of his own fans in the stadium, wearing all blue, two of them even wearing blue face paint. Blue for Ritual Monsters, according to Alessia that quickly became Yuitos trademark.
He also gave some autographs this day, something he had never imagined he would do.
As soon as he had stepped out in the arena, he knew however that his fans were still in the minority as he heard the booing from the stands. Apparently Ever White had a much less polite fan base than Noro.
His opponent didn't have him waiting for long as they entered through the other side, applause coming from all sides of the stadium. They were flanked by two man in business suits, one who carried Ever Whites Duel Disk, the other one carrying a tablet. Ever White themselves just waved hello to the spectators, encouraging Yuito to do so to his few fans in the stands too.
"Ladies and Gentleman!" the MC shouted over the microphone, having no hard time to rally the crowd, "welcome, to our beloved Ever Whites third exhibition duel this year! For their opponent, they picked a new rising star among the Combat Dueling community, the Master of Rituals, Yuito!"
The boos in the stands were clearly overtaking the cheers, but the MC didn't care.
"Let's start up the Duel sequence and then spin the wheel, for whoever goes first!" the MC declared, as Ever White and Yuito put on their Duel Disks and started them up.
Yuito: 4000 LP
Ever White: 4000 LP
Usually the color gradient on the spinning wheel was blue and red, but whenever Ever White dueled, they changed it to white and red, with Ever White always taking the white field – like this time, as the spinning wheel landed on the blank space.
"Ever White will take the first turn!" the man with the tablet declared, as both duelists drew their first cards.
Ever White, however, just took all five cards from their starting hand and slotted them in their Spell and Trap Zone.
"Ever White," the man said, visibly bewildered, "places five cards face-down and ends their turn."
"My turn then," Yuito said, taken aback by their opponents defensive move, "I draw."
Right as he did that, Ever White snapped one finger and one face-down card flipped up.
The man next to them went over the card text that appeared on the tablet, before he explained: "Ever White activates the Trap Card Fading White. It allows them to send a Normal Trap Card from their deck to the Graveyard to apply its effects. They pick Drop Off, which will force you to discard the card you just drew."
Ever White slotted the card they just drew into the Graveyard, as Yuito sent his Stone Crypt Rune Sorcerer to the Graveyard as well.
"After the effect of Fading White resolves, Ever White can Set the resolved Trap Card to their field, granted there are no other Traps with that name and no other copies of Fading White in Ever Whites Graveyard."
Yuito was increasingly bothered by this sudden shift of strategy. From the duels he had seen from them so far, Ever White was usually playing very aggressive, if you were going first against him you had to be careful they didn't perform a One Turn Kill on you with their White Knights. Running this many Traps with that strategy sounded… unlikely.
"I Normal Summon Manju of the Ten-Thousand Hands," Yuito went on, "and use it to add Memphys Scribestone from my Deck to my hand."
Manju of the Ten-Thousand Hands: LIGHT / Fairy / Level 4 / 1400 ATK / 1000 DEF
Just on command, a second Trap Card on Ever Whites field flipped up, with the man once again explaining the move: "Ever White activates Ring of Destruction. It will destroy one monster you control and inflict Damage to both players equal to its ATK. Ever White targets Manju."
A metal ring with grenades attached itself to Manjus neck, before it exploded and violently tore the many armed monster apart.
Yuito: 4000 LP → 2600 LP
Ever White: 4000 LP → 2600 LP
The man in the suit continued as another of Ever Whites Traps flipped up: "Ever White activates Billow White. After taking damage from a card effect, Ever White can Set any Normal Trap Card directly from their deck and if there are no Trap Cards with the same name in Ever Whites Graveyard, they will not take further damage this turn."
Ever White revealed another Trap Card, Choking White and placed it in an empty slot in their Duel Disk.
"So no further damage, huh." Yuito mused to himself, "so I should better be banking on the Defense."
He took two cards out of his hand and slotted them into his Duel Disk: "I Set two cards face-down and then I end my turn."
"It's Ever Whites turn then," the man said, but Ever White simply drew and placed another face-down on the field, before they passed to Yuito again.
Unsure on how to go on, when even Ever Whites managers where increasingly distraught by this sudden change in attitude, Yuito just drew his card – Rosetta Scribestone – which was promptly sent to his grave when Ever White activated the Drop Off they re-Set last turn.
"I activate the Spell Card Stele of Necromancy," Yuito declared, "it allows me to revive my Stone Crypt Rune Sorcerer." A stone slap rose behind him, from which a tall man with a blindfold on his eyes appeared. He sported tattoos of runes all over his bald head and torso.
Stone Crypt Rune Sorcerer: EARTH / Spellcaster / Level 4 / 1200 ATK / 1800 DEF
"When Rune Sorcerer is Special Summoned, I can Special Summon any other Stone Crypt monster from my deck, but it cannot attack this turn," Yuito explained, as the runes on the monsters body start to glow and move, while the sorcerer Summoned a portal in front of itself.
In response, Ever White again just snapped their fingers and another Trap Card flipped up.
"Ever White activates Choking White," the man in the suit said, sweating, "when a monster effect is activated, Ever White can send a Trap Card from their deck to the Graveyard to negate that effect and reduce the monsters attack points to zero."
Ever White revealed the card Mirror Force from their deck and slotted it in the Graveyard, after which a blinding white light emerged from the Trap Card.
Yuito could see a girl sitting in a meadow somewhere, casually smelling some of the flowers growing there. She had white hair, red eyes and a pale skin – an albino, if he remembered the term correctly. All in all a rather peaceful scenery, if it wasn't for the fact that the girl carried a katana on her back.
It was soon disrupted, however, when the girl looked upwards to see a man walking towards her, dressed in battle gear and also carrying a katana. The girl got up and drew her weapon, readying herself for battle.
When the man was close enough, a yellow light flashed and both of them were engulfed by a force field.
Stone Crypt Rune Sorcerer: 1200 ATK → 0 ATK
Distraught, Yuito snapped back to reality. He didn't know how he just saw what he saw, but it felt so real it terrified him. It was obviously a Contest of Champions that took place, but considering this place was far from a city and they used katanas, this was maybe a showing of the past. Or the future? Or it was the present, since the yellow Crosspoint wasn't found yet? Or was it?
"Yuito, please continue with your turn," the MC snapped the boy out of his thoughts.
"From my hand," Yuito did as was asked of him, "I activate the Ritual Spell Card Memphys Scribestone. It allows me to perform a Ritual Summon from my hand, using only half the Level requirement!" A stele rose up behind Yuito, absorbing Rune Sorcerer into it.
"Ritual Summon!" he yelled, "Draw from the strength of the mysteries you unraveled and bring about destruction! Runecross End Wizard!" The stele behind him cracked from sheer energy and combusted, leaving behind a hooded wizard with a purple robe, glowing runes running all over its bare arms and chest. It clung to a staff with a purple jewel sitting on top, shaking and pulsating as if it was ready to combust any second now.
Runecross End Wizard: EARTH / Spellcaster / Ritual / Effect / Level 8 / 3000 ATK / 2500 DEF
"This is my strongest monster," Yuito declared, "and if this isn't gonna end you, then I don't know what does."
Ever White, whose emotions were impossible to read behind their mask, just flipped over another Trap Card.
"Ever White activates Deep Dark Trap Hole. It will banish any Level 5 or higher monster you just Special Summoned."
Distraught, Yuito watched as a hole opened up beneath End Wizard. He was not gonna let that happen: "I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card Contract Refinement! It returns one of my Ritual Monsters to the hand and then allows me to Special Summon any Ritual Monster from my hand."
The wizard disappeared into a blue orb of light and after the hole had disappeared, reappeared again at the same spot.
Runecross End Wizard: EARTH / Spellcaster / Ritual / Effect / Level 8 / 3000 ATK / 2500 DEF
"Granted," Yuito said, "I lose the effect it gained from Rune Wizard, but this is better than nothing."
Ever White again remained completely stoic at their Trap being evaded like this.
"Now for the finale, End Wizard, attack Ever White directly!"
The Wizard readied its staff, but before he could slam it into the ground, another of Ever Whites traps flipped up.
"They activate the Trap Card Burning White. At the start of the Battle Phase, if your monster's ATK is higher than Ever Whites Life Points, Ever White can use this to end the Battle Phase. Also, for each monster you control they can send a Trap Card from their deck to the Graveyard in order to inflict 1000 damage to you."
Ever White showed Yuito the card Magic Cylinder which they discarded, before another blinding flash of light emerged from the card.
He found himself in a large hall, in the midst of a crowd of roughly a hundred onlookers, all focused on a large pedestal in front of them, on which two girls stood. One was the white haired one Yuito had previously seen, the other had black hair and reminded him of the woman he had seen when he claimed the purple Crosspoint – Ava. Only that she was much younger.
They were visibly injured, but those injuries appeared to at come from different, as they were bandaged, some more carefully, some hastily. Some were still leaking blood, the others were starting to heal.
Both of them wielded katanas against each other, three glowing jewels embed in each of them. Blue, Yellow and Orange for the white haired one, Purple, Red and Green for the other. He could feel a strange energy pulsing through the air as a rainbow-hued force field appeared, surrounding the two girls, as they dashed at each other, swords in hand and screaming.
Yuito: 2600 LP → 1600 LP
Again, Yuito snapped back to reality after experiencing another one of those visions. Was it Ever White who was giving him those? What were they?
Unwilling to let the MC scold him again for slow play, and also for him to end this turn without doing any damage to Ever White, Yuito decided on making a slightly risky move: "I activate my Trap Card Scribestone Bursting. After I took damage, this card can inflict damage to you equal to half the ATK of the strongest Ritual Monster I control."
End Wizard eyed the stele that arose next him, charging it with energy to the point where it was close to combustion.
"Ever White," the man in the suit said as another Trap on the opponents field flipped up, "activates Pikerus Circle of Enchantment. It nullifies any card effect damage Ever White takes."
The stone slab exploded, but the impact of the explosion was absorbed by a ring of pink energy around it.
Gritting his teeth on how Ever White evaded him again, he ended his turn.
"How about you do something on your turn for once?" he snapped at his opponent.
"If you insist," he heard a light, female voice answer. Much to his surprise, that voice came from behind the mask.
Even Ever Whites managers seemed to be shocked by her speaking in public, as the man with the tablet turned to her: "Eva, what are you doing? What are you doing in this duel in general?"
"From my hand," she continued, "I activate the Ritual Spell Card Ever White. It allows me to Ritual Summon my Deck, by banishing ten Normal Trap Cards with different names from my Graveyard."
"What a strange Summon method."
"Unlike any you've ever seen," Eva continued, as a large white orb of light appeared in the sky above them, shining in such intensity that it was near impossible to look at it, "the white light will cover the earth and destroy you while you're too blind to see. Ritual Summon, All-Devouring White!"
The light grew in intensity, until both Yuito and the spectators had to shield their eyes from it.
He was back in the chamber, with the two girls fighting in front of the crowd. Or rather, they were not fighting anymore. The black haired girl was towering over the other, both of them bleeding from several severe cut wounds.
The rainbow-hued force field wasn't wrapping back, however, an orb of multi-colored light started floating in its center, which the black haired girl approached, while the other was desperately trying to crawl towards it to.
Yuito could only speculate that this was the convergence and that the black haired girl was about to make a wish.
"I..." she muttered, visibly in pain from the injury, "I want all of your power."
The orb exploded after she had said that, covering everyone watching in light. The people around him were screaming, but not for long as the screams subsided one by one.
When it was completely silent around him, Yuito only heard Evas soft voice whispering in his ear: "My sister is closing in on you. Follow the blue light."
Yuito: 0 LP
When Yuito returned to his senses, he found himself on his knees, his Life Point counter signaling his loss in this duel. When he looked over to where his opponent should be, he noticed that Ever White – Eva – has vanished as well. Apparently her managers were equally confused as they looked around in dismay and so did the spectators.
Ever Whites last Summon had somehow blinded the entire arena and allowed her to make a stylish getaway.
"So Ever White is female?" Keiji asked, while they were in a waiting room in the stadium, Alessia on the phone since the duel had ended.
Apparently no one had any idea where Ever White went or what she did to win the duel. While her Traps were in the card database that last monster she Summoned, All-Devouring White, wasn't.
"Yes, and she's named Eva. I've told you that three times already," Yuito answered.
"I need to take out my phone battery for a few minutes," Alessia said as she entered the room, looking unnerved, "do you have any idea, what uproar this duel has caused? Conspiracy theorists even go as far as saying that this wasn't the real Ever White and that you made a deal with her management to kill her."
"That's utter nonsense," Keiji said.
"Yes it is, those are only the deranged fans," Alessia replied, "but the theories of what happened are going wild. I'm getting interview requests like crazy but all I can do is tell them that you don't know more than them."
"I don't. Well, maybe I do, but that's as crazy as that murder theory," Yuito replied.
"Enlighten us," Alessia replied.
"Have you heard of the Crosspoints? Points of energy scattered all across the city, said to grant wishes?"
"Yes, someone told me that legend a few years ago," Alessia replied, "what about it?"
"Well," Yuito started, "because I have one of those Crosspoints and Hatsuko, if you remember her, has one too. And during my duel with Ever White I had… I don't want to call it visions, but visions concerning the Crosspoints."
"You should not tell that to the reporters," Alessia replied slightly dumbfounded.
"You don't believe me."
"It has become increasingly hard to believe you, to be fair," Keiji replied, "but I can say that he might be telling the truth about the Crosspoint thing. Saburo has been there when Hatsuko got hers, and he's one of the most skeptical people I know. So if he believes I can believe."
"What am I supposed to make of this now?" Alessia asked, "Like, what do I tell the reporters? Hell, Mister Sonjun has left fifteen voicemails already, I should probably answer him anytime soon."
"He knows nothing," Keiji says, "Ever White freaked out and used this duel as a very public opinion to throw everything. Or at least that's what I think. Don't want his boss to think he's insane."
"Sounds reasonable," Alessia replied, "I think he might even believe that."
Author-made cards:
Stone Crypt Rune Sorcerer / EARTH / Spellcaster-Type / Effect / Level 4 / 1200 ATK / 1800 DEF
If this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower "Stone Crypt" monster from your Deck. It cannot attack during this turns Battle Phase, also, you cannot Special Summon Monsters from the Extra Deck during the turn you activate this effect. A Ritual Monster that was Ritual Summoned using this card as a tribute gains the following effect: ● If this card is targeted by your opponents card effect: You can inflict damage to them equal to half of this cards ATK.
Runecross End Wizard / EARTH / Spellcaster-Type / Ritual / Effect / Level 8 / 3000 ATK / 2500 DEF
You can Ritual Summon this card with any "Scribestone" Ritual Spell Card. Once per turn: You can half the ATK of all face-up Special Summoned monsters your opponent controls and if you do, this card gains ATK equal to the total ATK lost by this effect. These changes last until the End Phase. If your opponent activates a Special Summoned monsters effect: You can negate the activation and if you do, destroy it, then, this card gains ATK equal to half the destroyed monsters ATK. You can only use this effect of "Runecross End Wizard" once per turn.
Stele of Necromancy / Normal Spell Card
Target 1 EARTH Spellcaster-Type Monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon it. You cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck for the rest of the turn.
Contract Refinement / Quick-Play Spell Card
Target 1 Ritual Monster you control; Return it to the hand and if you do, Special Summon 1 Ritual Monster from your hand. (This Special Summon is treated as a Ritual Summon.)
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.
Memphys 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 half the Level of the monster you are attempting to Ritual Summon. During your End Phase: The ATK and DEF of the monster Summoned by this effect becomes 0, also, change it to Defense Position.
Fading White / Normal Trap Card
Send 1 Normal Trap from your Deck to the GY whose activation timing is correct; For this cards resolution, follow the sent cards effect as if you activated it. If this card is sent to the GY after resolution and your GY does not contain two Traps with the same name: You can Set the Trap that was sent to the GY by this cards effect to your field. You can only activate 1 "Fading White" per turn.
Billow White / Normal Trap Card
If you take damage from a Trap card or effect: Set 1 Normal Trap from your Deck, except "Billow White", also, if your GY does not contain two Traps with the same name, you take no Battle or Effect Damage until the End Phase.
Choking White / Normal Trap Card
If your opponent activates a monster effect: You can send 1 Trap from your Deck to the GY, except a card with the same name as a card already in your GY; Negate that effect, also that monsters ATK becomes 0.
Burning White / Normal Trap Card
At the start of your opponents Battle Phase, if the combined ATK of all monster(s) they control is higher than your LP; You can end the Battle Phase. If you do: You can send any number of Normal Trap Cards from your Deck to the GY, except a card with the same name as a card already in your GY, up to the number of monsters your opponent controls; Inflict 1000 damage to your opponent for each.
Scribestone Bursting / Normal Trap Card
If you take damage (Battle or Effect Damage) while you control a Ritual Monster: Inflict Damage to your opponent equal to half the ATK of the face-up Ritual Monster you control with the highest ATK. If a face-up Ritual Monster(s) you control would be destroyed, you can banish this card from your GY instead.