Jackson sighed softly as he walked around the North Academy campus, another layer of fresh powder deposited the night before was crunching under his boots as he marched along. One of the few pleasures about North Academy that he found was that the snow seemed to absorb the noise of the other people on campus, from students to professors, all went silent before the snow. Amid a population of around 50 students, it wasn't uncommon to walk around the campus and find it nearly vacant with most of the students either inside the main building with classes or studying or inside their cabins trying to stave off the cold of the Arctic.
Around campus there are only a few ways to keep the cold at bay, most either involve dueling or a warm meal, but Jackson wasn't really in the mood for either at the moment. Especially after he'd learned from Dr. Hesher that the fox he'd been taking care of had an infected wound from the poacher's trap. She'd been under closer observation since then, and her condition has improved greatly in the week. Dr. Hesher even said she would be back to full health in a matter of days, which certainly improved Jackson's mood.
Jackson, not even three days removed from his now-legendary Pipebomb, had still made his regular visits to the den to check on the pups and bring them food, and since the poachers had since been given fines totaling several hundred thousand dollars and a year in prison each there was little risk of their return. Though there was one small change to Jackson's daily routine as a result of the past week's events. Though, if one were to address the change directly as "small," she might have a few choice words in reply.
"You know, wrapping around my neck may keep you warm, but we're gonna have to do something about those claws of yours…" Jackson said to the small fox cub currently laying across his shoulders. The fox's only reply was a soft sigh that her current carrier felt on his neck. Jackson rolled his eyes, softly scratching under the cubs chin as he walked around. The cub seemed to purr in response making Jackson smile and softly scratch the cub's chin more. "... You're lucky you're cute."
Jackson didn't know the first thing about caring for a growing fox, except what they are and where they liked to sleep. This cub had been on a steady diet of fish and steamed herbs the past week since choosing to be Jackson's living scarf and furry friend. Not that Jackson would complain, though. Sometimes a little company of the four-legged and fluffy variety was exactly what was needed to keep morale high. The cub also functioned as an early warning system for incoming people, letting Jackson know he had a visitor on their way and closing quickly. Just like she was doing now.
"Jack Jack Jack!" Came Jesse's excited voice as Jackson's excitable friend sprinted past a nearby building, apparently coming from the academy's main concourse. "Jack you gotta come see! Someone's dueling!"
Jackson rolled his eyes, gently rubbing the fox cub's head to calm her down and thank her for the warning. "Jess, you know how I feel about random duels. They're not my thing unless someone poses a serious threat." Jackson kept walking until he heard Jesse's next three words.
"It's Rose Wilson."
"GO." Jackson barked, and he and Jesse turned and bolted in the direction Jesse came from, heading back toward the main concourse.
Rose Wilson was definitely a serious threat.
Jackson and Jesse skidded to a stop at the edge of a ring of other North Academy students, all eagerly watching the duel in progress. On one side stood Rose Wilson, a 17-year old female student with brown hair, a standard-issue brown and black winter North Academy uniform, and a small rose clip keeping her shoulder-length hair out of her eyes.
It was plain to see, however, that most of the students gathered were more interested in Rose's beauty rather than her dueling skills, as Jackson had heard at least one person comment on Rose having "curves in all the right places." While Jackson couldn't bring himself to argue her beauty, aside from wanting to shove his boot in the faces of the speakers for talking about her so rudely, he was currently more interested in the duel at hand, especially since Rose had been steadily rising through the ranks the past two weeks. When she started at North Academy about a year ago, she was ranked 43 out of the 50 duelist gauntlet. Now, in her second year at the academy, she had risen to the mid-teens, defeating one duelist after another as she climbed the ranks like a ladder.
Across from her stood the Russian brute Czar, currently ranked 4th in terms of power. He'd accepted Rose's challenge simply to humor her, not believing in the slightest that she would pose even the slightest challenge for his Metalmorph Zoa Deck. But here they were, six turns in and even Czar had to admit that Rose had some skill. But even so, he still had a point to prove…
CZAR: 3000 LP
ROSE: 1400 LP
"Even with all your flowery tricks, you still can't beat my Metalzoa!" Czar roared, chuckling to himself as he eyed his ace monster.
Metalzoa:
DARK / LEVEL 8 / FIEND / 3000 ATK / 2300 DEF
"And with my Limiter Removal and Trap of Darkness ready to go on my field," Czar thought with a smirk as he glanced at his face-down cards before looking back at his opponent, "and with a second Metalmorph in my Graveyard, this game is as good as mine. Hope you're ready to head back down the ranks like last week's garbage."
Rose looked at the four cards in her hand and smirked. She had two cards in her back row, and only a single monster on her field.
Rose Witch:
EARTH / LEVEL 4 / PLANT / 1600 ATK / 1000 DEF
"Flowery tricks? I don't need any tricks to take you down, Czar. It's not my fault you're so distracted by the scent of the Roses…" Rose retorted, combing her hair through her fingers as she smiles internally. "Even with my LP below half," she thought, "I've got this little promotion match in my pocket. Once Czar's turn ends, he's going down a peg."
"Enough of this," Czar growled and pointed aggressively at Rose's monster. "Metalzoa! Kill the witch and end this pathetic excuse for a duel!"
Czar's monster gave a mechanical roar before charging Rose Witch, only to be intercepted by a massive horizon tornado of petals emanating from behind Rose Witch. Rose Wilson had activated one of her Traps.
"Way to walk into that one, Czar! I activate Rose Blizzard!" Rose held out her hand, gesturing to her now-vertical Trap Card. "Rose Blizzard allows me to negate your attack, and then turn your Metalzoa into Defense Mode! So how about you take a knee you big creep! And you too, Metalzoa!"
Czar could only grumble in agitated Russian as he saw his ace monster be pushed back to its place on his field by Rose Blizzard, then drop to one knee with its arms crossed over its chest.
"I'll assume something in that little flurry of spoken Cyrillic text translates to 'Your Turn', so here I go," Rose said, smiling as she drew her next card. "Alright, up next I'll be summoning out Rose Paladin!" Before her, a small tornado of red flower petals swirled, then slowly dissipated, revealing a female warrior sporting a silver armored breastplate with gold trim, a matching armored combat skirt designed after an upturned rose blossom, and a spear large enough to impale at least three Metalzoas in one thrust.
Rose Paladin:
EARTH / LEVEL 4 / WARRIOR / 1800 ATK / 200 DEF
"Up next is the Trap card, Overdoom Line!" Rose snapped her fingers, flipping one of her face-down cards up. "Then, I'll play Monster Reborn! You removed this royal from the field without even giving her a proper send-off, so I think it's only fair you give her an apology. NOW, BLOOM BRILLIANTLY! TALAYA, PRINCESS OF CHERRY BLOSSOMS!" a massive Sakura flower blossom appeared at Rose's side, slowly opening and revealing the elegant dark-haired princess within. Talaya wore a purple kimono adorned with Sakura blossoms, and held a florally inspired fan in her right hand. She looked every part the princess she was.
Talaya, Princess of Cherry Blossoms:
WATER / LEVEL 8 / PLANT / 2800 ATK / 1200 DEF
"And, with the effect of Overdoom Line, my Talaya gains 1000 ATK seeing as she was resurrected from the Graveyard!" Rose smiles
Talaya, Princess of Cherry Blossoms:
2800 ATK + 1000 = 3800 ATK
Czar was evidently shaken. He knew this was his end. Especially when Rose snapped her fingers, signaling the beginning of her Battle Phase.
"Now, Talaya, attack Metalzoa! Rose Typhoon!" Rose declared, smiling as her monster raised her fan and pointed at Czar's mechanized beast, giving a slight grunt of disinterest as Metalzoa was suddenly engulfed in a tornado of red petals that imploded on Czar's monster and shattered it into a cloud of pixels. "Next, Rose Paladin and Rose Witch! Knock him back into his rocking chair!" Rose cried happily as her two monsters dashed across the snow toward their target, the paladin leaping and spinning counterclockwise before impaling Czar in his chest with her spear at the exact same moment that the witch materialized a thorned whip from her sleeve and snapped it on Czar's head.
Czar: 3000 LP - 3800 = 0 LP
Jackson whistled softly, watching Czar collapse backwards into the snow as Rose smiled brilliantly, putting her cards away and deactivating her Duel Disk. A come-from-behind victory, but it almost seemed like she'd set it up from the beginning. Jackson was impressed, something he could hardly say about the vast majority of Duelists in North Academy.
"Guess she's moved up a few pegs, huh Jess?" Jackson smirked at his friend, getting no response from him at all until he waved a hand before Jesse's eyes. "Earth to Jesse Anderson, you there bud?"
Jesse blushed slightly and cleared his throat, immediately looking away from the brunette Duelist as she turned and headed back toward her own cabin. "It... it was the flowers. They were pretty." Jesse murmured. Jackson only rolled his eyes.
Rose smiled happily, almost giggling as she looked at the interior of her new cabin. Defeating Czar and moving up a few pegs came with some serious perks, first of which was a residence in the Snow Caps. Her new abode was far and away better than her old housing unit. Bunking with three other young women wasn't the worst thing that could happen, but after a year with the same three people she began to crave a new living situation. That, and a few new choice cards from a recently released set were the spark that propelled her upward in the ranks.
"A place all to myself. Certainly makes the condos at Caribou Corridor look like sardine cans in comparison." She muttered inwardly, heading inside and getting herself settled in. After packing away her clothes in the oak dresser and small closet, she had some serious decorating to do. The previous resident, apparently preferring things to be a bit darker, had covered the windows with shades that blocked out so much sunlight that it made each winter's month-long polar night look like a halogen lamp in comparison.
After replacing the shades with their standard-issue models, Rose set about properly arranging her precious flowers around the cabin. She got no end of teases from just about all of her former roommates about her name and botanical inclinations, but to her they weren't worth paying any mind. It wasn't her fault that others couldn't comprehend the beauty of a flower that has been well cared for. Flowers were her passion, and she reflected that same passion in her deck and in the way she dueled.
With everything now exactly the way she liked it, she turned back to her bag and pulled out a small notebook and flopped onto her new couch, smiling to herself as she realized, yet again, just how much better a single cabin in the Snow Caps was compared to her former residence. The couch was actually comfortable. After taking a sniff of a nearby potted Lilly of the Valley, Rose opened her notebook and smiled.
Inside the book was a hierarchy chart, showing the ranks of everyone presently attending North Academy, each Duelist represented by a small name-tag and photo courtesy of North Academy's student ID system. Rose's smile only broadened as she removed two names, Czar Ivanov and her own, and changed their places on the hierarchy chart. After all, she was now the 4th strongest Duelist in the entire Academy, and she had her sights set on the pinnacle now. Her next target was the Duelist sitting at the top of the pyramid, the best of the best at North Academy. That Duelist was Jackson Corvus. At least, to anyone who had any sense. Ask Rose, however, and she'd say that everyone else had hopped onto the flavor-of-the-month bandwagon and started following the new kid on campus.
Ever since Chazz Princeton showed up and spiked Czar's head into the permafrost he's been parading himself around as if he were some kind of second coming of Yugi Muto. While some knew his bravado was a result of his own ego being fueled by Chancellor Foster's declaration that Chazz had earned the right to call himself the best, there were many who had bought the lie and began following Chazz around like his own little hyena entourage.
"The only reason Foster said that was because Jack and Jesse were elsewhere," Rose muttered, pulling a pen and doodling a mustache on Chazz's picture. "You're lucky, Chazzyboy. Lucky the REAL king of the campus hasn't snuffed you out. Yet..."
What made matters worse was the upcoming School Duel between North Academy and Duel Academy. This happened every year, and the best Duelist from each academy were always selected to duke it out one on one. Unfortunately, this time it appeared that Foster had taken a particular shine to the new kid, and had selected him as the competitor to go against Duel Academy's best. It was absolutely obvious why, though. Foster only chose Chazz because Chazz was a former student at Duel Academy, and likely knew who would be chosen to represent the school. A dirty trick, basically using a double agent. It left a bad taste in the mouths of the few Duelists at North Academy who hadn't completely surrendered to the "any advantage, any extreme" motto that the academy seemed to push first and foremost.
Rose stood and set her notebook aside, resolving to challenge Jackson's reign tomorrow. She didn't care what Chazz said, in her book Jackson was still the top duelist.
Meanwhile, in the records room of North Academy's main building, a sudden chill ran up Jackson's spine. Jesse looked at his friend worriedly, looking up from his homework at Jackson's sudden shiver.
"What's up? Thought that black blazer of yours kept you warm..." Jesse said with a wry smirk.
"No idea, Jess. Just... had a chill out of nowhere. Usually means someone's thinking about you, right?"
"Yeah, but if they're thinking nice about you, your ears would be burning. A chill out of nowhere? That usually means someone's coming after you. Looks like someone's planning another run at your undefeated streak." Jesse smirked, turning his attention back to his assignment as Jackson sat across from him and got back to work on his own essay on Duel Monster Iconography.
"Jess, I'm not The Undertaker. My undefeated streak will never end." Jack retorted. He sighed softly, thinking to himself as he typed away on the keyboard before him.
"I won't be defeated, but at the very least I'd like a decent challenge."
The next day, Jackson and Jesse were making their way towards the Academy's main building. Not even a quarter of the way there, Jesse dropped a low-yield tactical infobomb on his friend...
"Chancellor Foster asked to see me?" Jackson asked as he scratched his fox friend's chin while she rested on his shoulders, a puzzled look on his face as Jesse walked beside him.
"Yup. Apparently Rose made an official request to duel you- Hey!" Jesse cut himself off as Jackson spun on his heel and headed back toward his cabin. "Oh no, you're not getting out of this title defense!" Jesse grabbed the back of Jackson's jacket and gave a tug, pulling his friend back and pushing him toward North Academy's main building.
"Jess, you know full well that I don't do well with all that rah rah rah pomp and circumstance that goes into these big promotion duels, or just about anything else here. Foster starts pontificating and people start yelling and cheering like drunken feverish cult members. It's all nonsensical grandeur for a Duel Monsters academy where seven out of the top ten best duelists play like they barely know what a Spell Card is. That ain't me, Jess. I'm not attached to this place like everyone else here." Jackson complained as Jesse pushed him along.
"Jack, you think I don't know this? You bring that up every time anything about this academy is mentioned, right down to what the mess hall is serving for breakfast!" Jesse fired back as the two friends made their way toward the academy's duel field.
"Come on, I'm not that bad!"
"Jack, I know your spiel so well I can recite it forwards, backwards, and in Spanish. And I'm not even bilingual."
"... Okay, point taken. But let the record show, I'm going in under protest!"
An arrogant voice broke the two friends from their march, the source of the taunt leaning on the wall near the entrance to the arena itself.
"Having cold feet, are we? Well, if you don't want to fight, just let the real top dog on campus take your place?"
"Chazz Princeton." Jackson groaned, rolling his eyes at Foster's chosen one. "Don't you have someone else to annoy? Friends? Family? A hungry polar bear?"
"Oh ha ha ha. Very funny coming from the former best. Seems like nothing but sour grapes to me. What's the matter, jealous of my success? Of course you are. Who in their right mind wouldn't be?" Chazz smiled and rubbed his knuckles on his black trench coat, letting his ego rear its head.
Jackson smirked softly and kept walking, shooting Chazz a harsh glare as he paused next to Foster's golden boy. "Tough words coming from someone who lost their last fight at Duel Academy. And, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't you get flattened with an OTK the match before that?"
Chazz huffed and shook his head. "I've no idea what you're talking abo-"
"Monsta Cardo." Jackson muttered, making Chazz instantly pale as the memory of being mercilessly obliterated at the hands of a certain other Dragon Duelist, and the second most vicious use of Berserker Soul in the history of Duel Monsters. Jackson smiled, seeing just how pale Chazz had gotten. "Huh, touched a nerve there, didn't I. You're decent with a deck, and maybe if you drop the attitude and get some friends you might even become a decent guy. But as things stand right now, I refuse to view you as anything other than a loudmouth braggart with a bad attitude and a trust fund bigger than his IQ. Calling you a Duelist would be an insult to anyone who's ever picked up a Duel Monsters card. Now, if you'll excuse me, the real king of the campus has someone who wants a chance at the throne. I'm not the type to keep a lady waiting, unlike you."
Jackson walked on, Jesse hot on his heels as Chazz wiped the cold sweat from his brow, grumbling to himself as flashbacks of his penultimate match at Duel Academy.
"Yuki Hyoudou. I'll get you back for that…"
"Ladies and Gentlemen! I bid you all a personal welcome to this Grand Promotion Match!" Chancellor Foster announced, having donned his yellow high-necked uniform for the ceremony. "This match is not only for the promotion of a young woman who has scratched and clawed her way to where she is now, but it is also for the crown of King of Kings of North Academy!"
Jackson couldn't help but roll his eyes and sigh, leaning against the wall of the so-called Red Tunnel leading to the arena. In the center of the indoor stadium stood Chancellor Foster, grandstanding in the center duel field, mic in hand, and pontificating to the ravenous Social Darwinian masses that made up North Academy.
"See what I mean, Jess?" Jackson muttered to his friend. "Pomp, grandeur, and nonsense. I swear, Foster's dream job as a kid must've been an announcer for a wrestling promotion, assuming they even had pro wrestling back in the ice age…"
Jesse snorted softly as Foster continued, gesturing toward the side of the arena opposite from where Jackson stood.
"Introducing first, the challenger! A young woman who has fought with the strength of her very soul to get to this point! The Frosted Rose! Rose Wilson!"
The sound of a guitar filled the arena as an instrumental version of Welcome to the Jungle by Guns n Roses began playing. Seconds later, appearing through a shower of solid vision rose petals coming from a projector just above the entrance to the Blue Tunnel, came Rose Wilson in a red and black kimono with ornate rose petals decorating the entirety of its silk form. She smiled and waved to the thunderous applause and ovation she got from the students gathered in the stands. Making her way to the duel platform, she gave a soft bow to Chancellor Foster, a little thank-you for setting up this match, before taking her place on one side of the field.
Jackson glanced over at Jesse and smirked, seeing his friend dazed and almost enraptured by Rose's entrance. Jackson took the opportunity to wipe his hand in front of his friend's dazed face, making Jesse shake his head and sputter softly.
"Ey, what was that for?" Jesse blurted out, making Jackson chuckle softly.
"Oh, nothing. Just making you're you hadn't started considering wedding plans before your first date." Jackson snorted as Jesse fumbled for his words, the latter being cut off by Chancellor Foster's voice coming through the speakers again.
"And now introducing the Champion! A young man who has been undefeated since he walked into this academy, and seeks to continue that indomitable reign! Jackson Corvus!"
As Foster said his name, Jackson stepped toward the waterfall of sparks covering the tunnel, only now hearing the music that had been selected for him.
"I hear voices in my head
They council me
They understand
They talk to me"
Jackson groaned in frustration. He cast a glare at Foster as he made his way to the dueling platform as if it were any other duel, a mixed chorus of cheers and jeers coming from the students in the stands followed him with each step. He muttered a bit harshly at Foster as he passed.
"I told you not to use Voices for my theme anymore. I'm not the bad guy."
"I'm sorry, I must have missed that request. I have a lot of papers piling up on my desk," Foster responded, covering the microphone as he looked at his strongest student with mock concern. "Perhaps you should submit a new one?"
Jackson rolled his eyes and waved a dismissive hand in Foster's direction, heading towards the center of the platform as a small table rose from it. His opponent soon greeted him and placed her deck down on the elevated disk, prompting Jackson to do the same.
Neither one listened to Foster's hype-man routine, focussing solely on shuffling their opponent's deck.
"I've been anxiously waiting for this fight, Jackson." Rose muttered with a soft smile. "No offense, but I will be the one to dethrone the King of Kings."
Jackson smirked as he took his deck back, reinserting it into his Disk as Rose did the same with her own.
"Many have said that, Rose. Very few have been up to the task. I hope to see you at your best. Give me anything else for even a fraction of a moment, and you've already lost."
The two contenders nodded and backed to their sides of the duel platform, following Chancellor Foster's announcements.
"DUELISTS, DISKS AT THE READY! DRAW YOUR STARTING HANDS! FOR THE TITLE OF KING OF KINGS, BEGIN!"
"DUEL!"
Jackson Corvus: 4000 LP
Rose Wilson: 4000 LP
"The challenger takes the first move, though in this case it's easier just to say 'Ladies First'." Jackson smiled, deferring to rose
Rose nods in response, drawing her sixth card. "Jackson plays strong, so I've gotta start out strong!" She thought to herself, psyching up for what has to be one of the biggest duels she'll ever fight.
"Alright, I'll start by summoning Rose Witch!" Rose declared, placing the card on her disk as a woman in a dark pink and green jumpsuit with wide sleeves materialized with a flourish of the thorned whips she held in her hands.
Rose Witch:
EARTH / LEVEL 4 / PLANT / 1600 ATK / 1000 DEF
"Don't get too used to this pretty face, though, because I can return her to my hand to Special Summon another dazzling beauty!"
Rose traded the card on her field with one from her hand, smiling as Rose Witch backflipped and vanished, leaving the rose petals to circle in her wake. Jackson watched as those petals slowly turned darker and darker, eventually turning black and arcing downwards.
The crowd gasped and cheered as the petals slowly dissipated, revealing Fallen Angel of Roses. The monster looked every part of her name, a tight black corset armor covered her torso and black angelic wings spread from her back. Black knee-high boots and matching forearm braces completed the ensemble, and a black thorned whip gave even more reason not to mess with this dangerous beauty.
Fallen Angel of Roses:
EARTH / LEVEL 7 / PLANT / 2400 ATK / 1300 DEF
Rose smiled at her monster, then nodded and pulled another card from her hand.
"But don't think I'm stopping there! I activate Rose Bell of Revelation! With this, I can search my deck for one Plant-type monster with 2400 or more ATK, and add her to my hand!"
Rose smirked as she revealed the card she'd searched out, being one Queen Angel of Roses.
"You'll be heiling to this queen soon enough, Jackson. But for now I'll end my turn with a pair of face-down cards. You're up!"
Rose smiles as she slots the two cards into her disk, eyeing her field and hand.
"Solidified defenses, and I've got some backup power." Rose thought. "I left him no openings."
"Not bad, Rose." Jackson nodded as he saw Rose's field, smiling softly to himself. A serious threat she definitely was. But now it was time for his move.
"My turn! Draw!" Jackson scans his hand, smiling and popping open the Field slot of his disk. "How about we change the view around here? I activate the Field Spell Dragon's Ravine!"
Jackson looked around him as the arena slowly faded away, replaced by a large and deep canyon with Dragons roaring from far overhead as they circled their home. Jackson seemed more relaxed in this field, in the homeland of his Dragons. Jackson locked eyes with Rose as he continued.
"With the effect of Dragon's Ravine, I can discard one card from my hand to send a Dragon from my deck to the Graveyard. So, I discard one card, and send Pandemic Dragon from my Deck to the Graveyard." Jackson set the two cards in the Graveyard, smiling as he felt a whisper of his Spirit Partner's voice in his mind.
"Up next, I'll summon Dragon Knight of Creation!" Jackson slots in the monster and holds his hand before him as a ring of light appears on the platform, a regal warrior in gold armor styled like a humanoid dragon.
Dragon Knight of Creation:
LIGHT / LEVEL 4 / DRAGON / 1800 ATK / 600 DEF
Starting out kneeling with his massive sword before him, the draconic knight bowed to Jackson as a recognition of his authority before standing and facing Rose.
"NOW, I'll be activating Dragon Knight's effect! By discarding one card from my hand, and sending Dragon Knight himself to the Graveyard, he can Special Summon one level seven or eight Dragon from my Graveyard! Dragon Knight of Creation, you're dismissed. Rise! Pandemic Dragon!"
The regal knight fades into the ground, the ring of white light expanding and turning black before a large serpentine dragon rises from it, its wings shaded in a purple hue and curling to form a biohazard warning symbol.
Pandemic Dragon:
DARK / LEVEL 7 / DRAGON / 2500 ATK / 1000 DEF
The dragon roared proudly as it stared downwards at its prey. Jackson responded with a raise of his hand.
"Battle! Pandemic Dragon! Attack Fallen Angel of Roses! Contagion Stream!"
The dragon's three wings glowed a dark violet before unleashing a tri-beam burst from each. Just as the three dark beams of energy were about to reach the botanical monster, Rose began to grin as she snapped her fingers. A card in her back row flipped up, generating a massive column of red petals that swarmed and intercepted the attack from Jackson's dragon.
"You flew right into that one, Jackson! I activate Rose Blizzard! With this, I can negate your Pandemic Dragon's attack, and then turn it into defense mode! Time for you to stop and smell the flowers, Pandemic Dragon!"
Rose laughed softly as Pandemic Dragon landed behind Jackson, the dragon's tail curling around its body to protect itself. Rose smiled at Jackson, who surprised her with a smile in return. Her opponent actually seemed to be enjoying himself.
"Not bad Rose. Not bad at all. I guess I'll set a face-down, and end my turn."
Rose couldn't help a slight blush. Being complimented by the best duelist in the school? How could she not feel a little self conscious?
"Keep it together, Rose." she thought as she drew her sixth card and smiled broadly. "Besides, my luck is finally kicking into effect."
"I play Fragrance Storm! With this, I can target and destroy one Plant-Type monster on my field to draw one card! Fallen Angel of Roses, I bid you farewell!"
At Rose's word, the Fallen Angel of Roses was engulfed in vines, only for a portal to open beneath her and for her to sink through it.
"If Fallen Angel of Roses is sent to the Graveyard after being summoned by her effect, she's banished instead." Rose explained as she drew a card by Fragrance Storm's effect. She smiled and jumped in excitement once she saw what card it was. "Now I can use Fragrance Storm's second effect! If I draw a Plant-Type monster, I can reveal it and draw another card! So take a look!" Rose grinned and turned her new card around for Jackson to see.
Jackson's jaw almost dropped at what was before him. "Rosearia, the Stately Fallen Angel? That's impossibly rare!" Jackson's look of surprise morphed into one of excited eagerness. Things were getting interesting.
"I know. It seems my luck is pretty good. Let's see if it'll hold up!" Rose smiles as she draws her second card per Fragrance Storm's effect. She grins and slots her new card into her disk. "Guess what! It's Pot of Greed! And since I'm sure everyone already knows what it does…" Rose draws her two cards to a soft chuckle from the crowd. As she looked at the cards, she smiled even more broadly and slotted one of them into her disk. "I play Twin Twisters!"
"You call your luck good?" Jackson grinned softly and chuckled. "I'd say you've got the devil's own luck!"
"Well, it hasn't been very good lately," Rose muttered as she scratched the back of her head. "But it's beginning to turn around. And this will help keep me in control! With Twin Twisters, I can discard one card from my hand and target up to two spell or trap cards on the field, and destroy them! And with this discard, I'll target your face-down card for elimination!"
"Sorry Rose, but I'm not gonna let that happen without a fight. Chain! Dragon's Rebirth!" Jackson shouted as his facedown card flipped up. "With Dragon's Rebirth, I can banish one Dragon I control, then Special Summon another Dragon from my hand or Graveyard! So long, Pandemic Dragon," Jackson muttered as his infectious beast faded into a black void between worlds. He then raised his hand as a bright white light shone from his graveyard. "Now! Take Flight, my White Night Dragon!"
An icy wind blew from behind Jackson as a small snowstorm brewed and swirled, slowly coalescing into a blue dragonic form made entirely of pure ice. The frozen dragon roared, making his presence known in a show of power aimed at chilling Rose to her core.
White Night Dragon:
WATER / LEVEL 8 / DRAGON / 3000 ATK / 2500 ATK
Rose only smiled, excited beyond belief. Not only was her opponent holding nothing back, she now had the chance to summon her own Super Ace monster.
"Pretty dragon you have there, Jackson. Unfortunately that glorified ice sculpture won't be sticking around for very long. You see, when I have two level seven or higher Plant-Type monsters, one in my hand and another in my Graveyard, I'm allowed to banish both of them to Special Summon out my Ultimate Ace! I banish Queen Angel of Roses from my hand, and Tytannial, Princess of Camellias from my Graveyard!"
Jackson grinned as he watched a dimensional portal open behind Rose, the two monsters she named materializing and hopping through it a second later. "You discarded Tytannial with Twin Twisters, didn't you." Jackson thought to himself. "Clever girl. Let's see what you do next."
Rose smiled and raised a hand to the portal of flower petals, watching as one half turned black while the other half turned a vibrant red.
"COME FORTH! FROM THE SACRED LAND AT THE WORLD'S BEGINNING!" Rose yelled as two white hands gripped the portal from the inside. "DESCEND FROM THE HEAVENS! ROSARIA, THE STATELY FALLEN ANGEL!" At Rose's command, an ethereal being clothed entirely in white with gold bands on his wrists, knees, and ankles stepped through the portal and spread his wings. The wings on his right side were colored a dark violet, and the wings on his left were a vibrant red, identical to the portal he'd just stepped from. Rosaria shone brightly like a benevolent deity, palms open and a peaceful expression on his face. Rosaria had descended, and to a massive eruption of cheers from the students gathered.
Rosaria, the Stately Fallen Angel:
EARTH / LEVEL 8 / PLANT / 2900 ATK / 2400 DEF
Rose almost felt like kneeling in reverence to this divine presence, but she knew that would have to wait for another time. She caught a curious look from Jackson and smiled, answering his unspoken question with her second face-down card.
"I know what you're thinking, Jackson. 'Why would she summon a monster weaker than mine?' Well, right about now you should be thinking 'oh crap, that's why.' I activate Plant Food Chain! I can equip this Trap card to a Plant-Type monster on the field, and give that monster a 500 ATK boost! Rosaria! Please accept this gift!"
Rosaria began to glow a bright green as his newfound power invigorated him, and put him 400 points stronger than Jackson's Dragon.
Rosaria, the Stately Fallen Angel:
2900 ATK + 500 = 3400 ATK
"Battle Phase!" Rose smiled and pointed at Jackson's icicle dragon. "Rosaria! Unleash your divine power on that Dragon! VALHALLA HARVEST!" Rosaria rose into the air and held out his hands, his body glowing with a divine energy that eviscerated White Night Dragon, forcing Jackson to shield his eyes behind his duel disk.
Jackson Corvus: 4000 LP - 400 = 3600 LP
"You look pretty beat up there, Jackson. I think I'll let you off with a single set card before I do any more damage to your pride. You're up!" Rose smiled as she heard the crowd cheer for her. She'd just drawn first blood in this match, and she was determined to keep up her advantage.
When Jackson lowered his duel disk, he was smiling ear to ear. He had almost forgotten what it was like to be challenged, to have a worthy opponent. Rose Wilson appeared to be that and much more. He drew his next card and smiled. With only one card in his hand, he couldn't have drawn anything better.
"I play my own Pot of Greed! Let's see what the Fates have in store for me." Jackson drew his two cards, smiling as he heard a familiar series of high-pitched draconic chirps in his mind and a slight spectral pressure on his shoulder. His first card was his smaller Spirit Partner, Decoy Dragon. "Hello there, my little friend. You want in on this fight too?" Jackson asked the spirit, smiling as a soft series of happy chirps left the small Dragon's mouth. "Alright. Let's have some fun, partner."
Jackson looked up at the sky, smiling as Dragon's Ravine was still in play. "Since we're still in Dragon territory, I'll use Dragon's Ravine to discard a card from my hand to the Graveyard and send Tyrant Dragon to the Graveyard. Then, I'll kick out a face-down card, and summon Decoy Dragon in defense mode!"
Jackson's blue-scaled Spirit Partner chirped happily as he materialized in solid vision, flying around for a second before sitting on his card, the small dragon was barely bigger than Jackson's own forearm, but evidently adorable enough to elicit several gasps and awes from the female students in the arena, Rose included.
Decoy Dragon:
FIRE / LEVEL 2 / DRAGON / 300 ATK / 200 DEF
"Why would you bring something so cute to a fight?" Rose sputtered out as Decoy Dragon chirped and thumped his card with his tail. "The poor guy could be hurt!" Rose sighed, realizing that terrible duty was hers to bear as she drew her next card. As she scanned her hand, Jackson grinned and whistled softly to get her attention.
"Hey, Rose? Remember last turn I discarded something with Dragon's Ravine? Well, that something has a name, and a pretty cool effect. Arkbrave Dragon! Show her what you can do!" Jackson smiled as the faint, ghostly image of Arkbrave Dragon appeared above the field, gently spreading his wings and growling. "The turn after Arkbrave Dragon is sent to the Graveyard, he can resurrect one level seven or eight Dragon from the Graveyard! Now, rise and take flight! White Night Dragon!"
Arkbrave Dragon's ghost faded, his body scattering into fragments of light that came together as the Dragon made of pure blue ice.
White Night Dragon:
WATER / LEVEL 8 / DRAGON / 3000 ATK / 2500 ATK
The frozen dragon roared proudly before dropping to the ground and covering itself with its wings. Rose looked at the dragon curiously before nodding in understanding. Jackson had summoned his dragon in defense mode, giving himself a pretty heft wall to cross. Then again, given what she was about to do, that wall wouldn't be around much longer…
"Alright Jackson, now's where you see how sharp this rose's thorns are! I activate Return from the Different Dimension!" Rose called as she snapped her fingers, causing her only facedown card to rise and shine brightly. "With this, I can Special Summon as many of my banished monsters as possible. Yeah, I gotta pay half my LP, but that's a small price for what I'm getting. In return…"
Rose looked up and smiled as a crack started appearing in the sky. The crack slowly gave way to a full tear in spacetime, a wormhole to a different plane of existence. Through it, fell Queen Angel of Roses, Fallen Angel of Roses, and Tytannial, princess of Camellias. All three of her formerly banished monsters were back, and each looked eager to end this duel on behalf of their master.
Queen Angel of Roses:
EARTH / LEVEL 7 / PLANT / 2400 ATK / 1300 DEF
Fallen Angel of Roses:
EARTH / LEVEL 7 / PLANT / 2400 ATK / 1300 DEF
Tytannial, Princess of Camellias:
WIND / LEVEL 8 / PLANT / 2800 ATK / 2600 DEF
Rose smiled at Jackson, eyeing his two defensive monsters as she stood proud with her four powerful botanical beasts.
"Alright, Battle Phase. Tytannial! Attack White Night Dragon with Petal Bullet Spiral!" Rose shouted, her monster spreading her arms wide. With a huff, Tytannial spread the large flower blossom she was sitting on and launched a machine gun volley of petals at the ice dragon, causing it to shatter into snow and pixels as it was destroyed. "Up next, Fallen Angel of Roses! Attack Decoy Dragon! Rose Thorn Whip!" Rose yelled excitedly as her Fallen Angel cracked her whip at the small adorable dragon. If this attack went through, the game was over. Rose had this duel, and she knew it.
She knew it right until Decoy Dragon's eyes went from dark brown to crimson red and he unleashed a powerful roar that sounded more like it was coming from one of Jackson's ace Dragons as opposed to this small creature. The roar froze Fallen Angel of Roses in her place, fear evident on the monster's face.
Jackson could only grin from ear to ear as Decoy Dragon's roar was echoed by one of the dragons circling high above in the ravine.
"Decoy Dragon is a guardian spirit of dragons," Jackson began, smiling more broadly with each second. "He doesn't like it when his friends have been killed, and he likes it even less when he's the target. And his friends don't like him being attacked either."
Decoy Dragon roared even louder as Jackson continued, flapping his wings and rising from his card to float eye-to-eye with Fallen Angel of Roses.
"Decoy Dragon's effect! When he's targeted for an attack, a level seven or higher Dragon is called back from the Graveyard! And the one that's being called up? Oh is she a doozy of a Dragon!"
Jackson grinned as a bright golden light shine from his Graveyard, forcing Rose and her monsters to cover their eyes as Jackson withdrew the card and spoke softly, his voice slowly gaining power as he spoke.
"Let the light of the heavens shine down on those who seek your mercy. The rays of judgement smite those who oppose your law! ROAR... ROAR AND TAKE FLIGHT! DIVINE DRAGON LORD FELGRAND!" At Jackson's borderline prayer, the golden light coalesced into a shimmering golden-scaled dragon, roaring with all the power and majesty befitting the true guardian deity of the dragon race.
Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand:
LIGHT / LEVEL 8 / DRAGON / 2800 ATK / 2800 DEF
The dragon leveled her stern gaze at the Fallen Angel of Roses, who had stumbled backwards and collapsed off her feet at the sight of the immensely powerful presence before her.
"You really shouldn't have made momma dragon angry." Jackson quips with a smile. "You wouldn't like her when she's angry. Especially now that she has to protect her family. LORD FELGRAND! COUNTERATTACK FALLEN ANGEL OF ROSES WITH DIVINE FELGRAND MEGATON CANNON!"
The ethereal dragon opened her maw as the Fallen Angel of Roses began to flee back towards Rose, only to be cut down by a harsh blast of golden energy.
Rose Wilson: 4000 LP - 400 = 3600 LP
"And now, since she destroyed a monster by battle, she can resurrect one level seven or eight Dragon from my Graveyard." Jackson said with a smile. "I'm not sure you've met this one yet, but I'm certain that you know his reputation. Now! Roar and Take Flight! Arkbrave Dragon!"
Another mighty roar sounded as another of Jackson's prized dragons soared from his Graveyard, the four wings of this radiant gilded dragon spread wide as he began flapping them strongly, kicking up a whirlwind that whipped around the arena like a cyclone that tore at Jackson's black jacket and Rose's kimono.
Arkbrave Dragon:
LIGHT / LEVEL 7 / DRAGON / 2800 ATK / 2000 DEF
"Arkbrave Dragon's effect! When he's Special Summoned from the Graveyard he can banish all face-up Spells and Traps you control, and he then gains 200 ATK for each one! Since you only have Plant Food Chain on the field it won't be much of a boost, but it still gets rid of something pesy, doesn't it…" Jackson grinned as Plant Food Chain exploded in a shower of pixels and Arkbrave Dragon roared as he powered up.
Arkbrave Dragon:
2800 ATK + (1 x 200) = 3000 ATK
Rose seemed completely unphased as she held up her recently destroyed Trap card.
"Since you destroyed my Plant Food Chain while it was equipped to a monster, I can Special Summon one Plant-Type monster from my Graveyard! I entreat you to bid a hearty welcome back to Fallen Angel of Roses!" Rose grinned as the dark angel arose from the ground in a black rose bloom.
Fallen Angel of Roses:
EARTH / LEVEL 7 / PLANT / 2400 ATK / 1300 DEF
Rose felt completely untouchable, especially when she clearly had the numbers advantage, and still held the power advantage. Until she saw Jackson smirk and snap his fingers, causing his face-down card to rise.
"The very fact that I draw breath means I'm going to win. I activate Burst Breath! With this, I can tribute one Dragon to destroy all monsters with a DEF less than that Dragon's ATK." Jackson smirked before looking puzzled as Rose chuckled softly.
"Yeah, shame that I can negate any effect that targets a card on the field so long as I have Tytannial on the field." Rose smirked, believing she had her flawless escape, only for Jackson to sigh and smile.
"Yeah, that would be a shame. If only Burst Breath's effect targeted anything. Sorry, but it doesn't." Jackson murmured as he held his hand out to Arkbrave Dragon. "Arkbrave, take a page out of a Hyoudou's handbook. BURN IT DOWN!"
Arkbrave responded with a massive roar, soaring skyward and unleashing a torrent of flame, obliterating every monster on the field in the scorching blaze. After his work was done, Arkbrave himself faded into a shower of sparks.
"It's still your turn, Rose. Make something of it and show me that you are what I think you are." Jackson said calmly, studying her carefully.
Rose nodded softly, understanding him perfectly. She looked down at her hand, her backup ready to go. "For my second Main Phase, I Summon Lonefire Blossom!" Rose hollered, and a small bulb-like plant sprouted on her field, looking like a horticultural bomb with a lit fuse.
Lonefire Blossom:
FIRE / LEVEL 3 / PLANT / 500 ATK / 1400 DEF
"Now, I'll release Lonefire to activate its effect, and Special Summon one Plant-Type monster from my deck! Bloom brilliantly! Talaya, Princess of Cherry Blossoms"
A flurry of white Sakura cherry blossoms spun rapidly behind Rose, slowly dying down as a beautiful young woman in a purple kimono appeared behind her, standing in a larger blossom and wielding a proper lady's fan.
Talaya, Princess of Cherry Blossoms:
WATER / LEVEL 8 / PLANT / 2800 ATK / 1200 DEF
"So, am I what you hoped?" Rose taunted, passing the turn over to Jackson. He smiled in turn and nodded.
"That and more. It seems you're a true Duelist after all. That drive to keep fighting and the knowledge to play your cards right is the hallmark of a true Duelist. No matter what, never let that go, Rose. It's my turn. Draw." Jackson pulled his top card as his Graveyard began shining once again, the ghostly form of Arkbrave Dragon appearing above him. "Arkbrave Dragon's effect activates now. During my Standby Phase, if he's in the graveyard because he was sent there last turn, I can Special Summon one level seven or eight Dragon from my Graveyard. You fought beautifully, Rose. It's only fair that I respond in kind and give you a beautiful end."
Jackson pulled a card from his Graveyard, holding her to his forehead and speaking softly, his voice slowly rising as he held her aloft before placing his own Ultimate Ace on his field.
"Let the light of the heavens shine down on those who seek your mercy. The rays of judgement smite those who oppose your law! ROAR... ROAR AND TAKE FLIGHT! DIVINE DRAGON LORD FELGRAND!"
The ethereal Goddess of the Draconic race rose elegantly and roared in a passionate power that mirrored her partner's fervor. Lord Felgrand then leveled her gaze at Talaya, causing her to glow slightly.
Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand:
LIGHT / LEVEL 8 / DRAGON / 2800 ATK / 2800 DEF
"Lord Felgrand's ability activates now. When she's Special Summoned from the Graveyard, she can target and banish one monster you control or is in your Graveyard, and grow stronger by 100 points per level that monster had. Talaya, ascend to Valhalla! DIVINE LAW!" Jackson roared as Talaya shattered in a haze of shimmering sparks that were rapidly absorbed by Lord Felgrand, who roared with her newfound power.
Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand:
2800 ATK + (100 x 8) = 3,600 ATK
Jackson smiled as Rose looked at Lord Felgrand with a mixture of awe and mild fear.
"It's time, Rose. Game over. BATTLE PHASE! DIVINE DRAGON LORD FELGRAND! ATTACK ROSE DIRECTLY! DIVINE FELGRAND MEGATON CANNON!"
Lord Felgrand roared and reared her head back, charging and unleashing a bright beam of golden energy upon Rose, obliterating the remnants of her LP and ending the duel with a decisive victory for the still Undefeated Dragon Lord.
Rose Wilson: 3600 LP - 3600 = 0 LP
Rose stood still for a second before She slumped to her knees. She couldn't take him down, even though she'd fought maybe one of the best matches she would ever be a part of. She shuddered in frustration, beginning to wonder if her improvement over the last few weeks was worth it, if she'd even grown at all.
Rose's dark train of thought detailed the moment she felt a hand on her shoulder. Looking up, she saw Jackson's kind smile.
"I know what you're doing, and I need you to stop," he said softly as Chancellor Foster went through his post-match announcements. "Stop thinking that your progress was worthless because you couldn't beat me. You've come a long way since you walked in here with Gigaplant as your ace."
Rose was stunned. Everything she'd heard about the Undefeated Dragon Lord told her he was cold and distant from Duelists he beat, seeing then as not worthy for even a moment of his time. Her brain was scrambling for an answer as Jackson helped her to her feet.
"It hurts, doesn't it. That loss after you've come so far," Jackson mutters, and Rose nods softly in reply. "Good. It means you're alive as a Duelist."
Rose blushed softly at Jackson's compliment, but what happened next surprised her even more. Jackson raised her hand, and to a thunderous applause from the crowd. Rose froze for a second before smiling and welcoming the praise.
"Rose Wilson, I have high hopes for you. Even after I'm gone from here, I hope you'll never stop chasing that next challenge." Jackson smiled and headed back through the entrance tunnel.
Elsewhere in North Academy, in the Headmaster's office, Chazz Princeton sat across from Chancellor Foster, who was pulling a small ornate mahogany box from his desk and setting it before Chazz.
"You're going to be representing North Academy in the main event of the School Duel in three weeks, Chazz." Foster said with a smile and a touch of pride.
"Uh, tell me something I don't know. Like what's with the box?" Chazz responded with his usual holier than thou attitude, eyeing the small container.
"Well, I can't exactly have the duelist representing my academy fighting live in front of millions with a collection of cards he pilfered from the snow now can I?" Foster smiled and slid the box over towards Chazz.
"This deck was built specifically for someone like you. Someone hungry, someone powerful, someone with a score to settle. Take these cards, Chazz. Take them… and triumph."
Foster grinned as Chazz opened the box slowly, the former Duel Academy student grinning even more darkly as he held up one of the cards held within.
Chazz chuckled and eyed Foster with a nearly sadistic smile. "With this, Duel Academy is toast…"