(A/N: Sorry for the delay everyone. But with how stressful the post-election month has been caused by the orange gumball's never ending stupidity, I just didn't have the energy to finish the duel. But now I'm back. Let's do this!)
"All right, you whippersnapper. Let me show you that even us old folks still know how to play a good game," Solomon posted, placing his hand on top of his deck.
"Less talk, more action, old man," Byakuya said, tilting his head back and gazing down at the shorter man. "If you have something to show me, than show me it."
"Hmph, I see that attitude of yours hasn't changed. Very well then, my turn. Draw!"
Solomon began his turn with the usual drawing of his first card and looked at his hand of six. "I activate a field spell: Ancient City!"
A field spell right away? Byakuya thought curiously.
A giant Aztec like temple rose up behind Solomon.
"Grandpa never had that card before!" Yugi exclaimed, staring wide-eyed at the erected stone structure.
"It seems your grandfather built a brand new deck from scratch after gifting his old one to us," Yami replied mentally, smirking.
"Next, I activate another spell card, Ancient Key!"
A small, jade key inserted itself into the rusted over stone door on the center of the temple.
"And now that I've activated the key, I can immediately summon two monsters from my deck!"
Two monsters?! Byakuya was a little surprised to hear this. Sure, decks were getting faster, but this was just the first turn.
However, he calmed down the second he saw what monsters had been summoned. They were a pair of ordinary looking stone giants. They had 400 attack points and 2000 defense points. And they were standing upright.
"Ha. You're going senile old man. Those monsters have barely any attack points," Byakuya pointed out.
"Well, you're not wrong," Solomon said, stroking his beard, only to pull yet another spell card from his hand. "But that's where I have this magic card: Earthquake."
The whole arena began to shake, again, startling the sharply dressed heir. He watched as Solomon's monsters crouched down into defense position. Only then did the quaking stop. Byakuya noticed that the key on the stone door tilted 90 degrees.
"Well, I stand corrected. Two big walls on your first turn. It seems your skills have not only not waned since teaching me, they've improved."
"Heh heh heh," Solomon chortled, smiling, eyes closed. He then opened them. "Better watch yourself, Byakuya. I was the one who taught you most of what you know. And today will be," He said as he gave Byakuya a calm, competitive gaze, "A harsh lesson."
"We'll see about that," Byakuya pointed out.
"Indeed we will," Solomon stated. "I set one card face-down onto the field and end my turn."
Byakuya then watched Solomon's life points immediately tick down to 3,000 points. "Hmm?" Byakuya remarked, adjusting his glasses. "Your life points."
"Yes, well, you didn't think monsters this easy to summon wouldn't come with drawbacks did you? If they don't attack my opponent during my turn, I lose 500 life points."
"That sounds problematically inconvenient," Byakuya said.
"Perhaps," Solomon said with a straight face.
"Does this unusual strategy have anything to do with that key you have there?" Byakuya asked.
"Who can say?" Solomon replied.
He and Byakuya were quiet briefly. They locked competitive gazes, staring each other down, Byakuya's brow twitching.
"Well, whatever you're planning," he said, his gaze turning into a glare. "It makes no difference to me. I, Byakuya Togami, will reduce your plan to nothing. You'll see."
Heh, Solomon thought, lowering his head, that overconfidence is just what I expect from you, young Byakuya. And it will be your downfall.
Byakuya drew his first card. "I'll start off easy and play Flame Ruler in attack position!" Byakuya declared. He now had a man with outlandish and bright blue hair, dressed like a wizard standing before him. It had 1,500 attack points and 1,600 defense points.
"And now, I activate a spell card: Double Summon!" Byakuya declared.
"And in response, I activate a trap card: Solemn Judgment!" Solomon declared, revealing his face-down card.
"What?!" Byakuya exclaimed. Only an idiot would waste that card on something like this!
But use it Solomon did. His life points plummeted to 1,500 points and Byakuya's Double Summon was no more.
"Ho ho ho," Solomon laughed, stroking his beard. "I know you better than you think I do, Byakuya," Solomon stated. "Can't have you summoning one of your monarchs before the main event now, can I?"
"Why? Why would you use a card as powerful as Solemn Judgment this soon?" Byakuya asked, flabbergasted. "Answer me, old man!"
"Why Byakuya, you're an intelligent young boy, surely you understand."
"Understand what?" Byakuya asked, snappy, sweating.
"I helped you build your new deck. I know everything there is to know about your playstyle and skills. And while my deck was not designed to counter you specifically, I know which cards in your deck are the best ones to use my best cards on to best further my own strategy."
Despite a gasp from some of his classmates up in the stands, Byakuya remained unfazed by this. "That's it? That's your angle. You're going to use your knowledge of me to beat me? Please. I am Byakuya Togami." He pointed his index finger rather rudely at Solomon. "Whatever your strategy is, I will crush it."
"Oh, by all means, I am eagerly anticipating your moves."
Byakuya folded his arms before giving Solomon a cool stare. "You have proven able to stop my attack this time, old man. I concede. I shall place one card face-down onto the field and end my turn."
"As I expected. Very well, my turn. Draw!" Solomon declared, and pulled the top card of his deck to his hand. "First, I shall switch my Stone Giants back into attack position."
Byakuya watched the stone monsters resume their standing pose. And then the key in the door turned another 90 degrees.
"And now, I activate the second effect of Ancient Key. Since I have two Stone Giants on the field and still control ancient key and since both of those Stone Giants have changed their battle positions twice, I can send all those cards to the graveyard in order to retrieve Ancient Gate from my deck and add it to my hand."
What's he planning? Byakuya thought. Ancient City. I've never heard of this strategy. Is it underused? Or is it considered so low-tier that only a truly mad duelist would ever build a deck around it? Or perhaps the components are so rare and the results are truly terrifying? This is the man that once held all five pieces of Exodia after all. I cannot underestimate him.
"And next, I shall activate the spell card Brain Control and take control of the only monster you have on the field."
Byakuya's eyes shook. How did he…? He gazed down at his face-down card. Even if I activate my trap now, it'll just make things even worse for me. He grit his teeth. How could I be so careless?
Flame Ruler was manipulated by the spell card and suddenly forced to serve Solomon, eyes glowing yellow.
"Now, with your monster under my control, I can sacrifice it to summon one of my own. Say hello to Ancient Giant!"
A massive stone giant appeared on Solomon's side of the field. It had 2,200 attack points and only 1,100 defense points.
"Byakuya's wide open!" Serenity cheered.
"You got it, gramps!" Tristan exclaimed. "Knock that smug know-it-all into next week, even if you gotta pay for his dry cleaning!"
"Well if you insist," Solomon stated and pointed at Byakuya. "Ancient Giant, attack Byakuya directly!"
A massive stone fist slammed towards Byakuya that impacted into his arm, knocking him back and causing him to slouch briefly. However, he quickly rose to his feet and threw back his head, hair flapping briefly in the breeze. He seemed relatively unfazed as his life points plummeted to 1,800, almost even with Solomon's.
"Well, seeing as how my hand is basically empty, except for one card, I suppose I'll end for now," Solomon said. "All right, Byakuya. It's your move."
The old man's put me in quite the predicament, Byakuya thought. In addition to putting me on the backfoot, he's given himself quite the advantage in terms of field presence. I know neither what his strategy is, or why he didn't play that Ancient Gate he worked so hard to get. Plus, he made sure to make my trap card effectively useless last turn. Byakuya drew the top card of his deck and gave it a thorough, if but bored glance. Then he put on his toughest glare at Yugi's grandpa. It won't happen again. "I'm setting a monster!" Byakuya declared. "And then I'm ending my turn."
Heh, look at Togami squirm, Kaiba thought, taking sick pleasure in Togami's struggle. For all his bluster, the old man has him caught in a bind pretty badly. To be honest, I'm rather impressed with the old man's performance compared to our duel. It's why I invited him in the first place. And if Togami can't even beat him, well…that just says a bit too much about his competition with me doesn't it?
Solomon drew the top card of his deck. He then smiled. "Well, Byakuya, the time has come for you to see what I've been planning this entire time."
"All right, show me," Byakuya stated.
"I activate Ancient Tome and Ancient Gate!" Solomon declared playing both of the cards in his hand. "And with this, I can now summon a mighty beast among beasts! I call upon the power of an almighty creature not seen since ancient times. By sending Ancient Gate, Ancient Tome and Ancient Giant to the graveyard, I can summon a powerful monster! Behold: Ancient Dragon of the City!"
A massive dragon came flying out the gate with a powerful roar. It towered over Yugi's grandpa with a whopping 2,800 attack points and 2,100 defense points.
"Hmph, all that bluster for something so mediocre," Byakuya replied, unimpressed. "I'm disappointed. All that buildup and this duel will be over soon. I activate my trap card," Byakuya declared calmly as it flipped face-up. "It's called Escalation of the Monarchs! With this card, upon its activation, I can, during your turn, tribute summon a monster. So, I shall sacrifice my face-down monster in order to summon a monster in my hand." Byakuya removed his face-down monster in order to bring out a giant to serve him. "Witness the power of a Togami! Come forth: Zaborg the Thunder Monarch!" Byakuya declared.
A mighty monster wearing silver armor stood on Byakuya's side of the field, lightning sparking in its fists. "And when Zaborg is summoned, I can immediately target one monster on the field and destroy it."
Solomon put his hand against his beard and nodded solemnly. "I see."
"Resigned to your fate I see," Byakuya said. "This is what happens when you cross paths with a Togami, you are destroyed! Go, Zaborg! Serve me well and rid that dragon from the field!"
With a powerful blast of lightning channeled through its palm, Zaborg electrocuted Solomon's monster and completely destroyed.
"Well then," Solomon said, stroking his beard. "I suppose I have no choice, but to end my turn." Solomon winked and Byakuya watched with surprise as Ancient Dragon came roaring out of Solomon's Ancient City one more time.
"What?!"
"Ho ho ho," Solomon laughed, stroking his beard, laughing. "You didn't honestly think that a monster so difficult to summon could be dealt with so easily, did you? Ancient Dragon immediately returns to the field at the end of the turn that it is destroyed." Solomon explained and then looked disappointed. "Byakuya? Have you learned nothing from what I taught you? You're so obsessed with power and control, that you are constantly caught off-guard by underestimating your opponent," Solomon told him.
"I underestimate nothing!" Byakuya shouted, making a fist. He folded his arms. "If that is the way you wish to play this duel, so be it! You only have 1,500 life points left. I'll end this quickly and send you scurrying into the stands with the rest of the 99 percent!"
Solomon sighed deeply. That arrogance is going to be the death of you one of these days, boy.
Byakuya drew the top card of his deck. He looked at the three cards in his hand. Monarchs don't have the power innately to overpower a dragon of that magnitude, only tie it. He grew frustrated. And none of the ones currently in my hand can clinch me the duel. The old man said at the end of the turn its destroyed, which would mean my turn as well. So, even if I summoned Thestalos and destroyed both of our monsters, I would end up losing the duel next turn. He plucked a four-star monster from his hand. I'll just have to hold out and hope I can turn this around sooner rather than later. "I'm setting a monster," Byakuya stated. "And that will end my turn."
"A valiant effort, my boy, but not quite good enough," Solomon said. He drew the top card of his deck. "Ancient Dragon, attack young Togami's face-down monster and destroy it."
Ancient Dragon unleashed a powerful earthy breath that utterly wrecked Byakuya's monster.
"And that's not all, when Ancient Dragon destroys a monster in battle, it destroys all monsters in defense position that my opponent controls."
What?! Byakuya hadn't been expecting that. He watched as his other line of defense was completely obliterated by residual energy from the dragon's breath. "Guh!" Byakuya growled, arm up to shield the glare off his eyeglasses.
"Yeah! So much for not underestimating him, am I right?"
"Tristan, you're the last person that should be celebrating," Téa told him, sighing.
Guh, I was careless! Byakuya exclaimed. "I draw!" Byakuya scanned his hand for a winning move. Something! Anything!
"Well, aren't you going to deplete the last of my life points and, in your own words, make me sit with the rest of the ninety-nine percent? Hmm?"
The world seemed to swirl in on Byakuya…for all of two seconds. After that, his pride and his ego propped him up and he calmly folded his arms. This was no time to be showing weakness.
I am Byakuya Togami, the chosen one, Byakuya thought.
"I am going to make you take a seat," Byakuya said, arm and index finger outstretched. "I will win this duel, for today I prove, once and for all, that I have exceeded everything you've taught me. I am a master duelist. Today I prove it!"
Byakuya glanced his hand. I'm not out of options yet. "I set a monster!" Byakuya declared, the face-down hologram appearing before him. "Turn end."
"Hoho, you seem quite confident for such a basic move."
"Of course I'm confident, I've already beaten you," Byakuya boasted.
"Hmmm," Solomon mused, wondering if this was just more of Byakuya's bravado or if he actually meant it. Drawing the top card of his deck, he declared. "I'll set one monster face-down onto the field."
"In response, I activate my still continuous trap: Escalation of the Monarchs!"
"Summoning during my turn, hmm? All right, let's see what you've got."
"You'll regret that request," Byakuya stated. "For I offer up my face-down monster in order to summon Kuraz the Light Monarch!"
A giant encased in gold armor and shining brightly emerged onto the battlefield with 2,400 attack points and 1,000 defense points.
"And when Kuraz is summoned, I can destroy any two cards on the field."
"That doesn't sound good. He's gonna clear Gramps' field!" Tristan called out in alarm.
However, Serenity shook her head. "No. He can destroy any two cards," Serenity replied.
"I'm not sure I follow," Tristan said.
Serenity didn't have to explain though. Byakuya was already making his move.
"Kuraz! Destroy both Ancient Dragon and Ancient City!"
This shocked all of Yugi's friends and Yugi and Yami themselves, except for Serenity it seemed.
I…called it, She seemed rather surprised with herself. How did I…?
"Every time your dragon has returned to the battlefield, its come roaring out of those giant doors in the middle of the field spell's hologram. Logic would dictate that if I destroy the city, you lose immediate access to it."
Solomon smirked. "Clever deduction, Byakuya. I'm impressed."
"Then be even more impressed when I win!" Byakuya shouted. "Kuraz, go!"
Kuraz unleashed a blast of powerful light that utterly eradicated both Solomon's dragon and the city, leading the Ancient Dragon to bellow a death roar as it and the city vanished.
"Fortunately for you, using Kuraz's power, requires that my opponent draw a card for each card of theirs that was destroyed. So, go ahead and draw two cards."
Solomon smiled. "You might come to regret that action then, my boy."
"We'll see," Byakuya stated.
Solomon drew the top two cards of his deck. His smirk only grew.
"Hmm?" Byakuya seemed curious as to why.
"I activate a staple of any deck: Monster Reborn!"
"All right, grandpa!" Yugi exclaimed, happy to see his grandfather sticking in there.
"Using this, I will bring back my destroyed Ancient Dragon with the power of good old fashioned magic!"
"But it will be the last time now that Ancient City is destroyed."
"Perhaps," Solomon replied. "But I still haven't attacked this turn."
Byakuya's condescending stare turned into a frown.
Ancient Dragon returned as its hologram burst out from below with a loud roar.
"Ancient Dragon, destroy Kuraz the Light Monarch!"
Ancient Dragon's earthy breath obliterated Byakuya's monster, reducing his life points to 1,400.
The score now stood 1,400 to 1,500 with Solomon in the lead. "Heh, not bad for an old geezer, hmm?"
"To be honest, if you lacked the skills necessary to hang in this long," Byakuya stated. "I would be ashamed to call you my mentor in dueling." Byakuya drew the top card of his deck and looked at it. "Unfortunately, I've no intention of conceding the duel just yet. For you see, I have powerful resurrective magic of my own: the equip spell Restoration of the Monarchs!"
Byakuya slid the card in the reader after showing it off to Solomon and the card's artwork shone with light.
"This card allows me to target any monster in my graveyard with 2,400 attack points and 1,000 defense points or 2,800 attack points and 1,000 defense points and return it to the field in defense position, though it loses all of its abilities. However, since I'm only special summoning this turn, I can still summon normally! But first, I return Zaborg the Thunder Monarch back to the field!"
Byakuya's lightning giant returned to the field in defense position.
"And now I sacrifice him in order to summon my other monster: Thestalos the Mega Monarch!"
A gigantic red-clad giant, wreathed in flames and a blue cape stormed onto the field, towering behind Byakuya. It had 2,800 attack points and 1,000 defense points. "You may have stopped me from summoning him when this duel first began, but now my Mega Monarch is here to destroy you!" Byakuya looked more confident than ever in his assured victory. "You drew two cards when I used Kuraz to destroy Ancient Dragon, which means I am able to activate Thestalos' special ability now that he's been summoned! So, for starters, show me your hand!"
Solomon showed Byakuya his hand, revealing Wandering Mummy.
"Discard that card," Byakuya told him, "Per Thestalos' special ability. And when you do, you'll take 200 points of damage for each of its level stars!"
Solomon solemnly put his monster into the graveyard, triggering Thestalos' ability and causing it to raise its arm. As the monarch's arm outstretched, it unleashed a torrent of holographic fire that burned against Solomon's body, causing him to fall over.
"Are you all right?!" Yami shouted on Yugi's behalf.
Solomon shook his head back and forth as his life points dwindled to only 700. He then put a hand on one knee and began to get back up. "I'm all right. Phew. Haven't taken a tumble that badly since my old archeology days. Hohoho. Not bad, Byakuya. I see your tactical ability is as functional as ever."
"Don't talk to me like I'm Joseph Wheeler," Byakuya stated. "I was a tactical genius when he was still learning the alphabet. Now then, I believe it's time I brought down that eyesore of a dragon once and for all! Thestalos! Attack!"
"A suicide run?!" Tristan exclaimed. Even Serenity was surprised.
"Awfully reckless of you," Solomon stated.
"It'll pay off," Byakuya stated.
Thestalos reared back its fist and charged, ready to punch Ancient Dragon of the City in the face with a massive fiery fist. The monster bit down into Thestalos' shoulder as it approached, causing Thestalos to repeatedly slam its fist into the dragon's neck before ultimately engulfing them both in a cataclysmic twister of flames that destroyed both monsters at no expense to Byakuya's or Solomon's life points.
"So, what are you going to do now, Old Man?" Byakuya asked. "The monster you spent nearly the entire duel trying to summon is now dead and completely buried."
"Hmm, perhaps it is, but you've also left yourself wide open."
"Hmph, if Battle City has taught me anything it's that it doesn't matter if you win by one life point or 1,000. A win is a win."
"I see you are learning a few things, Byakuya, but you still haven't learned the most important lesson of all."
"And what would that be?" Byakuya wanted to know.
"The power of your own heart," Solomon stated. "You stand there, looking down on the rest of the world. You even treat your own monsters as pawns and tools. You should have more respect for your cards."
"…I beg your pardon." That sounded like the biggest crock of nonsense Byakuya had ever heard.
"You lack compassion, youngster. Empathy too. Without that, you'll never be the duelist you're aiming to be."
"Compassion? Empathy? Are you kidding me?" Byakuya snapped. "Then what the hell have I been wasting my time on? Are you telling me I haven't learned a single thing since training with you?"
"No, not at all. You've improved greatly. I can tell it from the way you duel, but you still put so much distance between yourself and the world that at this rate you'll end up just like Kaiba."
"Hmm, is that so?" Byakuya asked calmly. If he had to be honest, getting compared to Kaiba in that regard wasn't the worst thing in the world.
"You can be better than Seto Kaiba, Byakuya. Not just as a duelist, but as a person. You just have to let go of what's holding you back."
"What's…holding me back?" Byakuya appeared confused.
"Well, telling you everything would be a waste. Let's finish our duel, shall we? I believe it's my turn."
"It is indeed," Byakuya stated. My options were limited. I had to destroy Ancient Dragon. If I hadn't, he could've destroyed Thestalos himself and I'd still be in the same position I am now. At least this way, I've prevented him from using any kind of spell card to increase Ancient Dragon's attack points. If I lose the duel now, I have no regrets.
Solomon drew the top card of his deck to his hand. What he had drawn would not help him win the duel. "I set another monster face-down into defense position," Solomon declared. "My turn is over."
Is he…letting me win? Byakuya thought. No. He would never do that. Then, by that logic, the sum total of his two face-down monsters must not exceed 1,400. Byakuya's eyes flashed behind his glasses as an almost audible glint reflected off of right rim of his spectacles. I can still win this. I will win this. He drew the top card of his deck, never happier to see the card artwork of a grinning pot in his hand. "I activate Pot of Greed, allowing me to draw 2 cards from my deck to my hand!" The two cards in Byakuya's hand were exactly the cards he needed to end this.
"I summon to the battlefield Eidos the Underworld Squire!" A shadowy figure with 800 attack points and 1000 defense points appeared on Byakuya's side of the field. It wore dark gray, metallic armor and had a thick black aura around it. "When Eidos is summoned to the field, I can tribute summon an additional monster this turn! This allows me to tribute him in order to summon Caius the Shadow Monarch!" A large monster bathed in dark energy and wearing silver armor stood alongside Byakuya. "When Caius is summoned to the field, I can select any card on the field and remove it, banishing it from the duel. Caius, target his monster on the left," Byakuya commanded, pointing at the hologram with his index finger.
Caius generated a powerful purple orb of energy and then smashed it into the hologram, ejecting Sinister Serpent from the game.
"Hmm, how unfortunate for you," Byakuya said, tilting his head back, looking down on Solomon. "I removed the one monster from the game that would've been a safety net for you. You're lucky it wasn't a dark attribute monster. Otherwise, you would've immediately lost the duel. Now then, Caius, destroy his other monster with your attack."
Byakuya's monster brought down its powerful fist down onto Mystical Elf, annihilating it and causing it to sing out in pain as it was sent to the graveyard.
"Impressive as always, Byakuya. Perhaps you have learned a thing or two. You might lack compassion, but you certainly have come to trust your deck."
"Of course I trust my deck because I trust myself. How you could think anything less is beyond me. I am Byakuya Togami, the chosen one, the child prodigy destined to lead this world."
Yugi laughed nervously within the recesses of Yami's mind given the number of times his counterpart was considered a chosen one.
"Your move, old man. Make it count," Byakuya told him.
"All right, if you insist," Solomon said, stroking his beard. "Let's see what I can do." With Ancient Dragon of the City gone and Monster Reborn spent, Solomon was low on options for dealing with Byakuya's monarchs. However, he was far from finished. With two cards now in his hand, he could, at this point, put Byakuya in a huge bind.
"I activate the spell card Ancient Rules! This spell card allows me to special summon any normal monster from my hand that's level 5 or higher and I choose the illustrious Cosmo Queen!"
Byakuya froze. With no cards in his hand and a monster that powerful on the field, he lacked the resources to properly deal with her.
The magnificent mage elegantly graced the battlefield with her presence with her massive 2,900 attack points.
"Well, that doesn't look good for Togami," Mondo stated.
"Think he can still win?" Sayaka asked.
"It would be incredibly difficult. Nothing short of a miracle, honestly," Taka stated.
"Eh, it'd be funny to see him lose," Homura said. "All that Togami pride crushed despite his best efforts."
"Pretty sure it'd take more than a single duel to crush his pride," Hina stated.
Back on the battlefield, Byakuya was tense as Solomon declared, "Cosmo Queen, destroy Caius the Shadow Monarch with your ultimate attack: Cosmic Shadow Blast!"
An orange ball of energy was channeled above Cosmo Queen's head before she unleashed it into the center of mass of Caius' body, ripping him apart, and bringing Byakuya down to his last 900 life points. He still had the lead, but he definitely didn't have the board advantage anymore.
"Your move, Byakuya. Let's see if you have what it takes to win under these conditions."
Byakuya froze. He had no cards in his hand. He had already used Pot of Greed and his only active trap card was not going to help him under these circumstances.
Have ever been more backed into a corner than I am right now? Byakuya thought. He closed his eyes and pondered. Even when I clawed my way to become the heir to my father's family, nothing stood in my way. And yet now…at this juncture, I am left with nothing left to rely on but chance. Byakuya held up his arm and looked down at his deck. To pull this off, I need to draw the right card now. And even then, I would need to shuffle, without stacking the deck, in such a way that I draw the exact two cards I need in order to win the duel. Can I do it?
Byakuya was silent for a moment before he shook his head mentally.
No. Now is not the time for doubt. I haven't the luxury for that. It's not a question of whether I can or not. To simply do it is the only option. That's what they do. Byakuya placed his hand on top of his deck, ready to draw. His eyes flashed open. I absolutely…will not lose.
That's when he saw it. In the audience, high in the stands, almost impossible to make out, was a teenage girl with brown hair and red rimmed glasses. She smiled at Byakuya.
Byakuya felt more confident than ever. Heh, to think you bothered to come support me. But, I suppose it was inevitable. Watch carefully, Shinobu. This is what Togami blood can really do. "I draw!" Byakuya declared louder than he had before. The card was promptly pulled to his hand. "I activate Pot of Avarice! This allows me to shuffle 5 monster cards from my graveyard into my deck, and then I'm allowed to draw two more cards! And I select Eidos the Underworld Squire, Caius the Shadow Monarch, Thestalos the Mega Monarch, Kuraz the Light Monarch and Flame Ruler!" Byakuya shuffled the five cards into his deck and then drew two new cards.
This is it. "I activate Monster Reborn, effectively bringing back your own Ancient Dragon of the City to my side of the field! Then, I sacrifice it in order to summon my own monster: Raiza the Storm Monarch!"
A monster encased in green armor appeared with a tornado swirling around its body. It had 2,400 attack points and 1,000 defense points.
"I don't get it. Isn't that basically downgrading?" Tristan asked.
"Of course you'd say that," Byakuya stated. "That's why I beat you so many times in a row."
Tristan growled.
"Raiza has a special ability. When it's tribute summoned, I can target one monster on my opponent's side of the field, and effectively return it to the top of the deck!"
"Welp, game over," Homura commented.
Silently, up in the stands, Shinobu smiled. I knew you could win.
"Raiza, send that pale imitation of your kind where it belongs!"
A powerful gale force rid Cosmo Queen from the field and forced Solomon to place it on top of his deck.
"Let's end this charade, shall we?" Byakuya asked. "This is Togami pride! Raiza! Attack! Monarch Gale!"
Raiza raised its arms and then blew a powerful gust of wind straight into Solomon, knocking him over and causing cards to fly out of his deck as he fell off the arena, reducing his life points to 0.
Byakuya smiled proudly as he bowed, crossing one arm over his body. "And that is what the sophisticated call the coup de grace."
Switching places with Yami, Yugi ran over to his grandpa. "Grandpa, are you okay?"
Solomon groaned as he sat up. "I think I might've thrown out my back a little." He saw Byakuya approach, looming over him, arms folded. Solomon forgot about his bad back and stood up. He laughed. "Hohoho. Most impressive, young Byakuya."
"As if there could have been any other outcome," Byakuya stated, patting himself on the back.
"No, there could have been. But I could sense it deep within you. For a brief moment, you and your deck were one. Whatever caused you to tap into it, you truly tapped into the heart of the cards." Solomon smiled, putting his hands behind his back. "I have nothing left to teach you. From now on, what you do to master the Heart of the Cards, will be as the master of your own fate."
Byakuya stopped smiling. "I see," he said, adjusting his glasses. "Very well. Then I suppose I'll be on my way." He then strode towards the break room.
"That boy," Solomon said, watching him go. "He might hide his feelings, but when it comes right down to it, he probably has a heart big enough for the world."
"Oh come on, gramps," Yugi chuckled, finding that hard to believe.
Solomon put his thumb and his index finger to his chin. "If only he would realize it and stop being so stubborn and arrogant, he could have a long, fulfilling life. He could even be a real challenge for you, Yugi."
"Wow, is Byakuya really that good?"
"Only if he tries to be," Solomon said. He pat his grandson on the head. "But you're still growing and learning too. And your heart is just as strong. Continue to make me proud, Yugi."
Yugi's eyes shook with joy as he smiled wide. "Thanks, gramps."
"Well, I hope your friends or Arthur saved me a seat, I could really use one."
"Over here, gramps!" Tristan called out, waving his arms.
"Guess you've got a place to sit," Yugi said.
"So I do," Solomon said and made his way over to Yugi's friends.
"Byakuya Togami," Yami thought aloud. "He's both a friend and a competitive rival."
Yugi nodded. "I hope Byakuya learns to master the heart of the cards. I want to duel him one day when he's at his best."
"Now that is something that we can both agree on," Yami replied.
Chiaki sat in the break room playing her Game Girl advance. The beeps and boops kept her distracted from basically everything until Hajime walked over and covered the screen with his hand.
Chiaki looked up at him.
"Uh, they called you to the arena about two minutes ago. Didn't you hear the announcement?"
"Huh?" Chiaki stared at her husband.
"Were you so enwrapped in that game you didn't hear that loud PA go off?" Hajime asked.
Joey ran over to them. "She okay?"
"Yeah, classic case of too engrossed in her game for her own good."
"Well, she better hustle. Kaiba's threatenin ta DQ her if she doesn't show up."
Chiaki bolted to her feet. "Wait, it's really my turn?"
"Yeah, apparently. Bianca's already waiting for you."
Chiaki grabbed her deck from her bag and ran for the arena as fast as possible.
Up in his suite, Kaiba gazed down at the half-empty field. Don't disappoint me, Chiaki.
Chiaki finally showed up, hands on her knees, out of breath.
"Jeez, it's just a duel," her opponent said. "Not a marathon."
"Sorry about that. I didn't hear the announcement."
Bianca stared at her like she had two heads. "…It was kind of hard to miss."
Chiaki stopped breathing heavy and smiled at Bianca. "Sorry about that. Are you ready to duel?"
Bianca folded her arms and smirked confidently. "Been ready! Though, really, you should've just let me win by default. Cause you ran all this way just to lose!"
Chiaki was silent for a moment before remarking with a smile. "As far as taunts go, that was actually not half-bad." She then readied her duel disk and gave Bianca a competitive stare. "But I don't plan to lose."
From the audience, baby Izuru giggled and clenched and unclenched his fingers. Mahiru had to hold him carefully. "Uh, hey, quit wiggling. If I drop you, your mom and dad freaking out are the least of my problems."
"Awww, who's happy to see mommy dueling," Hiyoko said, rotating a finger around Izuru's cheek. "Yes you is. Yes you is." She then noticed everyone staring at her. She blinked and coughed. "Er, I mean, y-you smell." Shen then audibly stuck out her tongue. Mahiru laughed and laughed.
Chiaki waved up in the stands to Izuru who clapped his hands.
"Who's that your nephew or something?"
"No, that's my son," Chiaki said with a smile.
"Son?! Aren't you like, only 17?"
"I am," Chiaki nodded.
Nope. Bianca wasn't touching that with a 10-meter pole. Still, the baby was really cute. She cleared her throat. "D-don't think you can beat me just cause you have a baby boy to impress! Cuteness will not defeat me!"
Huh, déjà vu, Matsuda thought, turning the page.
"Well, I think we should get started. I think Kaiba and everyone have waited long enough."
"Damn right we have," Bianca said. "Let's do this!"
Up above, the big screen flipped between Chiaki and Bianca until, finally, it was determined Chiaki would go first.
"Bring the thunder, Chiaki!" Ibuki called from the stands. "Let her have it!"
"I'm not going to hold back against you," Chiaki said. "But I do hope you have fun."
"Bitch, please. I'm a big girl. I can handle myself."
Chiaki nodded as life points climbed to 4,000 per player and both drew their hands of six. "Let's duel!" Chiaki and Bianca declared.
The 14th match of the first round of the Kaiba Corp Grand Prix was about to begin!
(A/N: Phew. Done. Finally. Sorry for the wait, but not only did I want to see how the election turned out, but the moment I got interrupted was when Byakuya played Eidos and I forgot how many cards were in his hand so I wasn't sure if I should have him play Eidos or a different Vassal/Squire card. Then Age of Calamity came out so I started playing that a lot and then work got to be a bit ridiculous, but hey I start full time employment next month so that's good. But hey, if the top % doesn't win the presidential election, at least they can win a card game XD.
Also, I know Danganronpa: Togami is universally loathed, but I'm hoping to reinvent its main character in a way that's more of a morality pet for Byakuya that doesn't ruin this story. Let me know what you guys think about that. Like, I don't know just how hated she and the light novel are so if I should be crucified simply for breathing about her existence, lemme know.
But anyways, next time on DTF, Chiaki vs Bianca. Just what sort of surprises does the German duelist have for the Ultimate Gamer. You'll have to wait until next time to see. The first round is quickly wrapping up. Clench your butts, everyone. This arc is just getting started.
Until then, as always, from all of me, to all of you, let your hearts stay human, and your wrath draconic. Ja ne!)