Aurasoul hugging Ai tightly: Hello everyone and welcome to Vrains! I give a shout out to 0713MM for helping me type this story along with letting me use his OC Glacies and I don't own Vrains just my OCs.
Ai: You're on a roll!
Miho: Is this the depression from the ending acting up?
Aurasoul: Most likely so everyone enjoy!
Chapter 11
"DUEL!"
"Now before we start, I'd like to explain the modifications I mentioned earlier." Spectre spoke. "Since this is a 2 vs. 1 duel situation, I shall have 8000 LP while you 2 each have 4000 LP. You both get your own fields and Graveyards. However, since I've set the turn order to me, then you 2, then back to me, I am permitted to draw 2 cards from my Deck during each of my Draw Phases after my first turn. Also, none of us can attack on the first turn. Except for the player that goes last." He then glanced between the 2 females. "Any objections?"
"Fine by me!" Ice Queen retorted. "We'll beat you all the same!"
"And what of you, Flare?" Spectre questioned. "Do you have any objections to these rules?"
"None whatsoever." Flare retorted.
"Good!" Spectre grinned. "I shall start us off with this! I Normal Summon Sunsed Genius Loci!" A dried up plant appeared onto Spectre's field. (Sunseed Genius Loci, Level 1 EARTH Plant-type monster, ATK/DEF: 0/600. Spectre's hand: 4 cards. Flare's hand: 5 cards. Ice Queen's hand: 5 cards. Spectre's LP: 8000. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 4000.)
"A Plant Normal monster with no ATK…" Ice Queen muttered. "He's going to Link Summon." Spectre raised his right arm upwards.
"Appear the circuit that lights up my path!" Spectre announced as the dark blue circuit appeared. "The Summoning Condition is 1 Normal Plant monster! Link Summon! Appear Link 1! Sunavalon Dryas!" The Bottom Link Marker glowed red as a tree appeared behind Spectre. (Sunavalon Dryas, attribute: EARTH, type: Plant/Link, Link Rating: 1, Link Arrow(s): B. ATK: 0. (Spectre's hand: 4 cards. Flare's hand: 5 cards. Ice Queen's hand: 5 cards. Spectre's LP: 8000. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 4000.)
"That's a big tree." Flare muttered.
"I can't use Dryas as Link Material the turn it's Link Summoned." Spectre explained.
"Something tells me it won't matter. But let me ask you something." Flare spoke.
"Hoh? What is it?" Spectre questioned.
"Why do you fight? What was your reason to join the Knights of Hanoi?" Flare questioned.
"Heh… Such a simplistic question." Spectre remarked as he pressed his right hand to his chest. "Isn't it obvious? I fight for Revolver-sama."
"Yet don't you realize what Revolver is planning?" Flare questioned.
"Oh I do." Spectre replied nonchalantly. "And I will fight until the bitter end. Even if I get absorbed by the tower."
"So basically you're kamikazing." Ice Queen frowned.
"I suppose you could consider me one of those." Spectre agreed.
"But if that tower is finished, the worldwide network will be destroyed. And there will be many casualties, including the ones that were absorbed within the tower and the one powering its core." Flare frowned.
"So what?" Spectre retorted, his lips forming a sick smile. "So long as the goal is completed, who cares what happens to those that have been absorbed by the tower? They are noble sacrifices to save the world from the Ignis."
"Yet you don't know what the Knights of Hanoi have done. The incident 10 years ago, the kidnapping 5 years ago!" Flare scowled.
"Oh…...but I do know." Spectre smirked. "In fact, I was there. At both of those events."
"What?!" Flare gasped.
"So then that means-!" Playmaker began.
"Yes Playmaker." Spectre replied as he spread his arms out. "I'm one of the six children!"
"Seriously?! Then why is he a Knight of Hanoi?" Ai questioned, shocked.
"I willingly joined the Knights of Hanoi, Dark Ignis." Spectre told him. He then glanced at Ice Queen and he frowned. "I'm not sure why you have an old modeled duel disk like Playmaker's, but I suppose it doesn't matter."
"But I don't understand. If you experienced the same hell like Playmaker-" Flare began.
"Hell?" Spectre repeated before he laughed. "Silly girl. The Lost Incident wasn't "Hell" to me. In fact…...it was quite fun!"
"Fun?!" Playmaker growled. "You call getting shocked and barely getting food and water because you failed to win inside that hellhole and not knowing what was going on "fun"?!" Playmaker clenched his fists and they began to turn white. "HOW DARE YOU!"
"C-Calm down Playmaker!" Ai cried out, slightly panicking.
"It's fine, Dark Ignis." Spectre remarked. "He can be as angry as he wants. It won't change my viewpoint on the Lost Incident. And I don't intend to change his viewpoint on the incident either."
"And that includes the kidnapping 5 years ago? When you stole Yukiko?" Flare demanded angrily.
"Ah Yukiko. A kindred spirit such as I." Spectre smiled.
"What?" Flare said, shocked.
"Oh never mind about that. Back to the duel!" Spectre remarked. "I activate the Field Spell Sunavalon Forest!" Upon activation, a forest began to grow around them. "How fitting for a Plant user like myself." He then swiped his right arm from left to right. "I then set 3 cards face-down and end my turn." (Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 5 cards. Ice Queen's hand: 5 cards. Spectre's LP: 8000. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 4000.) He then gestured to both females. "Now, decide which one of you is going first. Not like it matters, because you'll both get to go."
"Ice Queen, you go." Flare said. Ice Queen glanced at Flare and nodded.
"Right.' She replied. She then turned back to face Spectre, who bore a dark smile.
"So...Blue Angel's sister is going first?" Spectre questioned as he crossed his arms. "Fine by me!"
"I can assure you that you'll regret ever facing me." Ice Queen warned him in a cold tone.
"Hoh?" Ice Queened placed her right hand on top of her Deck. "My turn! Draw!" (Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 5 cards. Ice Queen's hand: 6 cards. Spectre's LP: 8000. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 4000.)
"Upon your Draw Phase, I activate the Trap card, Sunseedlings!" Spectre revealed as one of his face-downs revealed itself. "With this, I can Special Summon Seed Tokens up to the Link Rating of 1 Link monster. Then immediately after, I can Link Summon using the Token and any other monsters I control!"
'What?!" Ice Queen gaped. "Link Summoning on my turn?!"
"Appear the circuit that lights up my path!" Spectre spoke after the Token appeared. "The Summoning Conditions are 2 Plant monsters! I set Dryas and the Seed Token into the Link Markers! Link Summon! Appear Link 2! Sunavalon Dryades!" The Bottom-Left and Bottom-Right Link Markers on the circuit glowed red; thus the tree grew bigger. (Sunavalon Dryades, attribute: EARTH, type: Plant/Link, Link Rating: 2, Link Arrows: BL/BR. ATK: 0. Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 5 cards. Ice Queen's hand: 6 cards. Spectre's LP: 9000. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 4000.) Afterwards, Spectre's body glowed yellow and his LP increased by 1000.
"Hey, how come your LP rose?" Ice Queen questioned.
"Sunavalon Forest's effect." Spectre revealed. "You see, every time an EARTH Plant monster is Summoned, I gain 500 LP. Since 2 were Summoned, I gain 1000 LP."
"Tch….! Fine!" Ice Queen snapped. "Summon as many giant trees as you'd like! It won't matter in the end!"
"Oh…...I beg to differ girl." Spectre smirked. "My Mother Tree will protect me from anything you throw at me."
"Oh yeah?! Then let's see how she handles this!" Ice Queen shot back. "I Normal Polagerie Abyss to my field!" A small fish that bore a symbol similar to the Gishki monsters on its forehead. (Polagerie Abyss, attribute: WATER, type: Cyberse, Level 2, ATK/DEF: 800/500. Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 5 cards. Ice Queen's hand: 5 cards. Spectre's LP: 9000. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 4000.)
"A Cyberse?!" Flare gaped, shocked.
"That's impossible!" Spectre/Ai gaped.
"A Cyberse-type monster….." Playmaker spoke softly. His emerald green eyes widened. "Could she be…..?!"
"Ice Queen, are you… Are you just like Playmaker?" Flare questioned, shocked. "A victim of the Incident?" Ice Queen glanced over at Flare, but she didn't respond. After a few moments, she turned back to face Spectre. At this, Spectre's shocked expression vanished and he smirked.
"Not going to answer your teammate's question?"
"I have no reason to." Ice Queen remarked.
"So you're going to keep her guessing?" Spectre frowned. "That doesn't seem like a nice thing to do. Especially since she asked you a question."
"Shut up, Spectre." Ice Queen spoke dangerously. "I'm not in the mood for your fake socialness attitude you're trying to use against me. So cut that crap. Right now."
"Fine by me." Spectre remarked with a frown. "Heh….. But don't blame me if Flare presses for an answer out of you regarding her question."
"If she presses for an answer, then I'll answer her truthfully." Ice Queen replied. Flare glanced at Ice Queen for a moment and gave her a light smile.
"Don't worry. I won't press you about it. You have your reasons, so there's no need." She told her.
"Abyss's effect!" Ice Queen declared. "When he's Summoned, I can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower Polagerie monster from either my Deck or Graveyard! Come! Polagerie Shadow!" A monster similar to Gishki appeared onto the field. His scepter bore the same symbol that Abyss had on his forehead. (Polagerie Shadow, attribute: WATER, type; Cyberse, Level 4, ATK/DEF: 1200/1000. Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 5 cards. Ice Queen's hand: 5 cards. Spectre's LP: 9000. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 4000.) Ice Queen then raised her right arm upwards.
"Appear the circuit of the arctic!" Ice Queen announced as the dark blue circuit appeared. "Arrowheads confirmed! The Summoning Conditions are 2 Polagerie monsters! I Set Polagerie Shadow into the Link Markers!" Just as Shadow turned into a blue stream of energy, Spectre raised his hands up.
"Waitwaitwait!" Spectre interjected. "What are you doing?! You said you need 2 Polagerie monsters were the Summoning Conditions! So why only just Shadow?!" At Spectre's words, Ice Queen's lips formed an icy smile.
"That's because Polagerie Shadow can treat itself as the entire Link Material!" Ice Queen grinned. Spectre stepped back at that.
"Wh-What?!"
"Link Summon!" Ice Queen announced. "Appear Link 2! Polagerie Merrowgeist!" The large sea creature formed via data appeared out of the circuit and onto Ice Queen's field. (Polagerie Merrowgeist, attribute: WATER, type: Cyberse/Link, Link Rating: 2, Link Arrows: BL/B, ATK: 2100. Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 5 cards. Ice Queen's hand: 5 cards. Spectre's LP: 9000. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 4000.)
"Not bad." Flare hummed.
"Tch…..!" Spectre grunted. "She used just 1 card to get out the proper Link Materials…...then she goes and uses just 1 card to Link Summon….." He paused for a moment before adding. "Who are you really, Ice Queen? A duelist of your caliber should be one of those stupid Charisma Duelists. Like Go Onizuka or Lame Angel." Ice Queen grit her teeth at Spectre's words regarding her sister, but didn't say anything.
"Nothing to say?" Spectre smirked. "Good! Now continue your turn!"
"WATER Cyberse….." Ai muttered. "Even I'm not certain how she got such a deck, but it's quite strong."
"No joke." Playmaker agreed. "Even she'd could give me a run for my money if she really wanted to."
"Playmaker." Playmaker turned to look over at Ice Queen.
"Hmm?"
"You said that the Lost Incident was a Hell to you?" Ice Queen questioned. At her question, Playmaker nodded. She turned face Playmaker, a smile that bore some form of sympathy. "Well….I experienced my own version of "Hell", if you will." She clutched her fists as she turned back around to face Spectre. "I, like you, fought against all odds in the harsh and cold conditions of Antarctica. I survived because I had my polar bear family to guide me, teach me survival skills, etc." She paused again, much longer than the last. "Like you, I didn't know when I'd be eating again. All I focused on back then was surviving the below zero weather." At her words, Spectre rolled his eyes.
"Blah blah blah! Can you just continue your turn for crying out loud!" Spectre snapped.
"I'll continue when I want to, tree freak!" Ice Queen shot back. Spectre tsked at her words, but decided to go quiet.
"Hey, Playmaker." Ai spoke up. "Her words...is what Akira said to be true? His story?"
"Seems so." Playmaker agreed.
"Oh, so you know what happened in the end, yes?" Ice Queen spoke up.
"The bombing of the Arctic camp." Flare frowned sympathetically. Ice Queen glanced at Flare and nodded.
"Yes…" Ice Queen spoke softly. "I was within that Arctic camp that got bombed….."
"Hahahahaha!" Spectre put his right hand to his face. "Such a sob story! Am I supposed to suddenly care? Am I supposed to feel sorry for you?" His lips formed a dark smile. "Reality is cruel, Ice Queen! It's so unfortunate that you had to learn that the hard way! No one cared about some child in the middle of Antarctica! I'm not certain who would bomb a camp down there, but whoever did it must have had good reason to!"
"Shut up!" Ice Queen growled. "People may have viewed them as wild animals, but I viewed them as family!" Family I'll never see again because some sick and twisted people thought it'd be fun to blow shit up!"
"Ice Queen…" Playmaker spoke softly. Ice Queen pulled a card from her hand.
"I activate the Ritual Spell card, Polagerie Ice Mirror!" Ice Queen announced.
"Ritual?!" Spectre gaped. "So you have more than just Link Summoning at your disposal?!"
"Ritual Summon. Haven't seen that in a while." Flare blinked, surprised.
"I use Polagerie Mind Angus in my hand as Tribute!" Ice Queen continued as the symbol for the Polageries' appeared onto her field. "The contract has been made! Ritual Summon! Appear Level 6! Polagerie Tetrogre!" And out of the symbol came forth a sea data ogre. The symbol of Polagerie on its chest. (Polagerie Tetrogre, attribute: WATER, type: Cyberse/Ritual, Level 6, ATK/DEF: 2600/2100. Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 5 cards. Ice Queen's hand: 2 cards. Spectre's LP: 9000. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 4000.)
"Whoa!" Ai whistled. "Impressive!"
With my current field, I could go for my Mother Polar Bear right now. Ice Queen thought. But I won't do that. Instead…
"Polagerie Tetrogre effect!" Ice Queen announced. "Now once per turn, I can declare a card type. Then, all 3 of us must a card from our Decks to the Graveyard that correspond with that card type." She grinned, realizing Spectre had no cards in his hand. "Normally you'd be able to discard a card to negate this effect. But since you have no cards in your hand, you cannot stop it!"
"Fine! So go on and pick a card type!" Spectre snapped.
"But of course." Ice Queen remarked. "I choose Monster Card!"
"So each of them has to send a Monster from their Deck to their Graveyard." Ai spoke.
"I'll send Flame Truth Ember Healer from my Deck to the Graveyard." Flare said, pressing the card as it disappeared.
"I'll send Polagerie Vision from my Deck to the Graveyard." Ice Queen spoke as she pressed the card that appeared on her screen.
"And I'll send Sunavalon Saproling from my Deck to the Graveyard." Spectre as he pressed said card on the screen before him.
"Now that's done, I activate the effect of Ice Mirror in my Graveyard." Ice Queen spoke. "I shuffle it into my Deck to add Polagerie Mind Angus from my Graveyard to my hand." (Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 5 cards. Ice Queen's hand: 3 cards. Spectre's LP: 9000. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 4000.) Ice Queen swiped her right arm from left to right. "I set 2 cards to end my turn." (Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 5 cards. Ice Queen's hand: 1 card. Spectre's LP: 9000. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 4000.)
"My turn then; draw!" Flare spoke. (Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 6 cards. Ice Queen's hand: 1 card. Spectre's LP: 9000. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 4000.)
"I activate the Field Spell, Flame Spiral Tower! Form here flaming tower of the truth dragon!" Flare yelled, as flames spiraled around them. (Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 5 cards. Ice Queen's hand: 1 card. Spectre's LP: 9000. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 4000.) "FIRE attribute monsters gain 400 ATK with this Field Spell in place; and when once per turn, I can Special Summon a Flame Truth monster from either my hand or Graveyard."
"Tch…!" Spectre grunted. "You have your Healer in your Graveyard because of Ice Queen's Ritual monster...! So you can use your Tower to revive it…"
"You catch on." Flare smirked. "Come now! Flame Truth Ember Healer!" And her Healer elegantly appeared from within the flames. (Flame Truth Ember Healer Level: 3, Attribute: FIRE, Types: Spellcaster/Effect, ATK/DEF: 1800 (Originally 1400)/1700. Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 5 cards. Ice Queen's hand: 1 card. Spectre's LP: 9000. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 4000.)
"Next I Normal Summon Flame Truth Witch!" The Witch appeared in flames with a smirk on her face. (Flame Truth Witch Level: 4. Attribute: FIRE, Types: Spellcaster/Effect, ATK/DEF: 2000 (Originally: 1600)/1200. Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 4 cards. Ice Queen's hand: 1 card. Spectre's LP: 9000. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 4000.)
"Witch's effect! When she's Normal Summoned, I can see one of my opponent's Set Cards." Flare smirked.
"Tch...!" Spectre growled. "Fine! So, pick one!"
"Alright. I pick the one in the middle." Flare replied.
"I'm not sure what your plan is by seeing my Set card, but you'll see it….. On my terms!" Spectre grinned. "I activate the card you targeted! Sunvine Burial!" The set card flipped face-up to show Sunavalon being burnt by purple flames. "You say the truth can't be hidden from you, but I'm using your own idealism against you!"
"What?" Flare questioned.
"Now then…..let's see what Ice Queen is hiding, shall we?" Spectre grinned. He pointed at her middle face-down card. "Like you Flare, I choose Ice Queen's center set card!"
"The truth can hurt you know!" Ice Queen remarked. "And like you did against Flare, I activate the card you targeted! Polagerie Illusion!"
"Fine." Spectre's grin widened. "But since it's a Trap, it's banished! Along with any other copies of it from your hand and/or Deck!"
"That doesn't matter!" Ice Queen retorted. "I Special Summon Polagerie Mind Angus from my hand!" Polagerie Ariel appeared riding a sea-serpent-like creature. (Polagerie Mind Angus, attribute: WATER, type: Cyberse/Ritual, Level 6, ATK/DEF: 2500/2000. Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 4 cards. Ice Queen's hand: 0 cards. Spectre's LP: 9000. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 4000.)
"Humph! The chain order resolves backwards. Now Polagerie Illusion and all other copies of it are banished, followed up by my Sunvine Burial going to the Graveyard." Spectre concluded.
"Perhaps." Ice Queen admitted. "But now Mind Angus's effect activates! I shuffle up to 5 cards from any other our Graveyards into the Deck, then I draw 2 cards!"
"Tch...!" Spectre growled. "My Graveyard-!"
"Shall be emptied!" Ice Queen grinned. "I shuffle back your Burial, Genius Loci, Sunseedlings, Saproling, and Dryas back into your Deck!"
"Kuh...!" Spectre groaned in annoyance.
"Now I draw 2 cards!" Ice Queen spoke as she did so. (Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 4 cards. Ice Queen's hand: 2 cards. Spectre's LP: 9000. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 4000.) Ice Queen turned to Flare. "Sorry about that. Continue your turn Flare."
"Right." Flare nodded, facing Spectre. "Since you activated a Trap that was revealed by a Flame Truth's effect, I can Special Summon Flame Truth Seer from my hand!" And appearing in gold flames was a gold cloaked figure with a white veil covering their face soft gold flames in their crystal ball they held. (Flame Truth Seer, Level: 3, Attribute: FIRE, Types: Spellcaster/Effect, ATK/DEF: 1400 (Originally: 1000)/1600. Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 3 cards. Ice Queen's hand: 2 cards. Spectre's LP: 9000. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 4000.)
"You've got 3 monsters on your field." Spectre noted. "Are you going to Link Summon what I think you're going to Link Summon?"
"You tell me." Flare smirked, flames forming around her. "Appear! Circuit of the burning truth!" She shot the flames upward to form her circuit. "Arrowheads confirmed! The Summoning Conditions are at least 2 Effect Monsters! I set Flame Truth Witch, Healer, and Seer into the Link Markers!" She yelled, as the 3 monsters became three burning tornadoes and went in the Link Markers. "Circuit combine! The Yin dragon of truth burn the lies! Link Summon! Blaze up, Link 3! Flame Truth Dragon Hero, Reshira!" Bursting out of the circuit in flames was Reshira wielding her white flame sword. (Flame Truth Dragon Hero, Reshira Link Rating: 3, Attribute: FIRE, Types: Dragon/Link/Effect, Link Arrows: T/B/BL, ATK: 2800 (Originally: 2400. Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 3 cards. Ice Queen's hand: 2 cards. Spectre's LP: 9000. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 4000.)
"Just as I thought." Spectre remarked. "Heh...what will you do now, Flare? You are permitted to attack on your turn since you were the last one of us 3 to take a turn." Flare frowned at his words.
Sunavolon Dryades has 0 ATK. So it must have some sort of effect on protecting itself. Not only that, but Spectre has 1 face-down card remaining too. No doubt he could counter me with it. And he was able to defeat Blue Angel so fast despite her heavy effect damage strategy. She thought.
"Well?" Spectre pressed as he spread his arms out. "I'm waiting! Come at me with everything you've got Flare! In fact, I'll be so kind and let you borrow your partner's monsters to attack me!"
"Polagerie Mind Angus can't attack if it's Summoned via Polagerie Illusion's effect." Ice Queen frowned. "But, Flare can use my Polagerie Merrowgeist and Polagerie Abyss to attack you if she sho wishes."
Is he just baiting us? Flare thought with a frown. Looks like I'll have to go for broke. Flare glanced at Ice Queen.
"I'll be borrowing Merrowgeist and Abyss then." She said.
"Go for it." Ice Queen smiled. Flare smiled and nodded. "Battle! Polagerie Merrowgeist, attack Sunavalon Dryades!" Merrowgeist opened his mouth and fired a beam of water at that tree. However...the attack went right through Dryades and straight for Spectre! Spectre grunted as he took the damage. (Spectre's LP: 9000 - 2100 = 6900. Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 3 cards. Ice Queen's hand: 2 cards. Spectre's LP: 6900. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 4000.)
"Huh?!" Ice Queen gaped. "Dryades is still here?!"
"It went as a direct attack instead?!" Flare gasped, shocked.
"Hahahaha!" Spectre laughed darkly. "Oh man I got you 2 good!" He gestured to Dryades. "Dryades effect! Up to twice per turn, when I take battle or effect damage, I can Special Summon 1 Sunvine monster from my Extra Deck! Then! I regain LP equal to the damage I took! Come! Sunvine Gardna!" A yellow and brown plant warrior appeared onto Spectre's field in the Bottom-Left Link Marker to Dryades. (Sunvine Gardna, attribute: EARTH, type: Plant/Link, Link Rating: 1, Link Arrow(s): T. ATK: 600. Spectre's LP: 6900 + 2100 + 500 = 9500. Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 3 cards. Ice Queen's hand: 2 cards. Spectre's LP: 9500. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 4000.) Spectre's body got wrapped by the vines of Dryades as his LP got restored.
"So he regains LP equal to the damage." Flare frowned.
"On top of that, his Sunavalon Forest Field Spell is still active." Ice Queen frowned. "Meaning every time we attack him, he'll recover his LP, get a new Sunvine Link monster out, then gain an additional 500 LP on top of the damage he recovers. A very powerful defensive strategy."
"In other words, the only way to break it is to destroy his Field Spell and burn down that tree through other means." Flare remarked.
"What's wrong?" Spectre frowned. "Not going to keep attacking?" His lips formed a dark smile. "I thought you 2 said that you wanted to pummel me into the ground. Heh…..guess I was wrong…"
"Tch…. Even if I let Reshira attack, he'll only regain LP." Flare muttered. "I place 2 cards face-down and end my turn." Upon Flare ending her turn, Polagerie Mind Angus returned to Ice Queen's hand. (Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 1 card. Ice Queen's hand: 3 cards. Spectre's LP: 9500. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 4000.)
Yet there's something odd about that tree… Flare thought with a frown.
"My turn you 2, draw!" Spectre declared as he drew 2 cards. (Spectre's hand: 2 cards. Flare's hand: 1 card. Ice Queen's hand: 3 cards. Spectre's LP: 9500. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 4000.) Spectre looked at the cards in his hand and grinned.
"I Normal Summon Sunavalon Bud Ogre to my field." Spectre spoke. And with that, a rose bud that looked like an ogre appeared onto Spectre's field. (Sunavalon Bud Ogre, Level 4 EARTH Plant-type monster, ATK/DEF: 1900/800. Spectre's LP: 9500 + 500 = 10,000. Spectre's hand: 1 card. Flare's hand: 1 card. Ice Queen's hand: 3 cards. Spectre's LP: 10,000. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 4000.)
"10,000 LP?" Ice Queen questioned, surprised.
"Oh, but it gets worse you fools!" Spectre sneered. "Bud Ogre's effect! When he's Summoned, I can Special Summon 1 Normal Plant monster from my Deck! Come! Genius Loci!" And the dried up plant reappeared again. Once it did, Spectre's body glowed yellow and his LP rose to 10,500. (Spectre's hand: 1 card. Flare's hand: 1 card. Ice Queen's hand: 3 cards. Spectre's LP: 10,500. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 4000.)
"He keeps getting more and more LP!" Ai cried out. "This is crazy!"
"Not as crazy as this!" Spectre grinned as he raised his right arm upward. "Appear the circuit that lights up my path!" The circuit appeared again. "The Summoning Conditions are 2 Plant monsters! I set Genius Loci and Bud Ogre into the Link Markers! Link Summon! Appear Link 2! Sunavalon Daphne! The green plant lady appeared out of the circuit to be in the Bottom-Right Link Marker to Dryades. Spectre's LP rose once again. (Sunavalon Daphne, attribute: EARTH, type: Plant/Link, Link Rating: 2, Link Arrows: L/R. ATK: 0. Spectre's hand: 1 card. Flare's hand: 1 card. Ice Queen's hand: 3 cards. Spectre's LP: 11,000. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 4000.) Spectre thrusted his right hand forward. "Bud Ogre additional effect! When it's sent to the Graveyard for the Summon of a Sunavalon Link monster, I can Special Summon 2 Sunvine Tokens onto my field in Defense position!" 2 small sunflower-like monsters appeared onto Spectre's field. Once they did, Spectre's body glowed yellow again. (Sunvine Token x2, attribute: EARTH, type: Plant, Level 1, ATK/DEF: 0. Spectre's hand: 1 card. Flare's hand: 1 card. Ice Queen's hand: 3 cards. Spectre's LP: 12,000. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 4000.)
"Tch...!" He's still not done…..!" Ice Queen grit her teeth.
"No I'm not!" Spectre agreed. "Appear again the circuit that lights up my path!" The circuit appeared again. "Arrowheads confirmed! The Summoning Conditions are at least 2 Plant monsters! I set Sunavalon Dryades and Sunvine Token into the Link Markers!" The Bottom-Left, Bottom, and Bottom-Right Link Markers glowed red. "Link Summon! Appear Link 3! Sunavalon Dryanome!" Dryades grew even bigger, along with it gaining more fruits that changed to a red color. Once again, Spectre's body glowed yellow. (Sunavalon Dryanome, attribute: EARTH, type: Plant/Link, Link Rating: 3, Link Arrows: BL/B/BR. ATK: 0. Spectre's hand: 1 card. Flare's hand: 1 card. Ice Queen's hand: 3 cards. Spectre's LP: 12,500. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 4000.)
"12,500 LP…." Ice Queen spoke softly.
"Hahahaha! Yes!" Spectre grinned maliciously as he spread his arms out. "Can't you see that my Mother Tree is invincible? She cannot be beaten by you 2 impudent whelps! Just give up!"
"Give up after coming this far? Hmph. Your Mother Tree is just another blockage I have to burn down. Nothing more." Flare smirked. Spectre grit his teeth at Flare's words.
"How dare you….!" Spectre spoke dangerously low, then he humphed. "Heh...let's see if you can…. I end my turn there." He gestured to Ice Queen. "Your move, Ice Queen." (Spectre's hand: 1 card. Flare's hand: 1 card. Ice Queen's hand: 3 cards. Spectre's LP: 12,500. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 4000.) Ice Queen placed her right hand on top of her Deck.
"My turn; draw!" She declared as she drew her card. (Spectre's hand: 1 card. Flare's hand: 1 card. Ice Queen's hand: 4 cards. Spectre's LP: 12,500. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 4000.) She looked at her hand, then back at Spectre. "Time to freeze your tree, Spectre."
"Hoh?" Spectre wondered. "And how will you do that?"
"Just watch me." Ice Queen remarked. "I activate Polagerie Ice Mirror and use Mind Angus and Abyss from my hand as Tributes!" The Polagerie symbol appeared once again. "The contract has been made! Ritual Summon! Appear Level 8! Polagerie Soul Ogre!" The 2 monster vanished in blue data, then came forth the massive monster. The Polagerie symbol on its chest. (Polagerie Soul Ogre, attribute: WATER, type: Cyberse/Ritual, Level 8, ATK/DEF: 2800. Spectre's hand: 1 card. Flare's hand: 1 card. Ice Queen's hand: 1 card. Spectre's LP: 12,500. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 4000.)
"Tch…..! Another Ritual monster….." Spectre grunted.
"That's not where I finish however!" Ice Queen continued. "I activate Ice Mirror's effect! I shuffle it back into my Deck so I can add Abyss back to my hand!" The card ejected out of her duel disk so she could add it to her hand. She then gestured to Soul Ogre. "Polagerie Soul Ogre effect! I discard 1 Polagerie card from my hand to shuffle 2 of your cards on your field and/or hand back into your Deck!"
"What?!" Spectre gaped.
"I discard my Polagerie Snowstorm from my hand to shuffle away Dryanome and your set card!" Ice Queen grinned. "Freezing Soul!" Soul Ogre raised its staff and 2 icy waves went over Dryanome and Spectre's set card; thus freezing them both and they both vanished from his field.
"You….!" Spectre growled.
"With Dryanome gone, Sunvine Gardna is also gone!" Ice Queen added. "Now for Soul Ogre's additional effect! I pay 500 LP to shuffle away the 1 card in your hand back to your Deck!"
"No!" The 1 card in Spectre's hand turned icy blue before being reshuffled back into his Deck. (Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 1 card. Ice Queen's hand: 1 card. Spectre's LP: 12,500. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 3500.)
"You still have 1 Sunvine Token left and Daphne, but that's of no concern." Ice Queen grinned. "I Normal Summon Polagerie Abyss and use its effect to Special Summon Polagerie Beast from my Deck! A cyber-data beast creature that bore the Polagerie symbol on its forehead appeared next to Abyss. (Polagerie Beast, attribute: WATER, type: Cyberse, Level 4, ATK/DEF: 1500/1300. Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 1 card. Ice Queen's hand: 1 card. Spectre's LP: 12,500. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 3500.)
"Yus!" Ai remarked.
"Polagerie Beast's effect! I Special Summon Polagerie Shadow from my Graveyard!" Ice Queen announced. And the monster re-emerged onto the field.
"Tch…..! 5 monsters on your field total…" Spectre grunted. Ice Queen raised her right arm upwards.
"Appear the circuit of the arctic!" She called out. "Due to Shadow's effect, I shall treat him as the entire Link Material! Link Summon! Appear Link 3! Polagerie Arctic Killer Whale!" Out of the circuit came forth a massive whitish-blue whale. (Polagerie Arctic Killer Whale, attribute: WATER, type: Cyberse/Link, Link Rating: 3, Link Arrows: BL/B/BR, ATK: 2600. Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 1 card. Ice Queen's hand: 1 card. Spectre's LP: 12,500. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 3500.) "But not done yet! Appear for the 2nd time the circuit of the arctic!" The circuit appeared again. "The Summoning Conditions are at least 2 Polagerie monsters! I set Polagerie Arctic Killer Whale and Polagerie Merrowgeist into the Link Markers! Link Summon! Appear Link 3! Polagerie Arctic Necromancer!" Out of the circuit came forth a eskimo-wearing spellcaster. (Polagerie Arctic Necromancer, attribute: WATER, type: Cyberse/Link, Link Rating: 3, Link Arrows: T/BL/BR, ATK: 2800 (Originally 2300. Polagerie Soul Ogre's ATK: 3300. Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 1 card. Ice Queen's hand: 1 card. Spectre's LP: 12,500. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 3500.)
"Since my Necromancer is pointing to my Soul Ogre, both it and Necromancer gain 500 ATK." Ice Queen explained. "Furthermore, you cannot target Necromancer, nor Soul Ogre, with your card effects, Spectre!"
"Tch….!" Spectre clenched his fists, then he relaxed and his lips formed a dark smile.
"Necromancer effect!" Ice Queen revealed. "Once a turn, I can target 1 Link 3 or lower Cyberse Link monster in my Graveyard and Special Summon it!"
"Yus! She used Whale with Merrowgeist earlier!" Ai pointed out. "She can bring back either one!"
"Yeah." Playmaker agreed. "But considering she's being extremely aggressive, she'll bring back Merrowgeist, then link it away with Beast for another Link 3."
"Correct, Playmaker!" Ice Queen grinned. And with that, Merrowgeist revived, then it and Beast linked away for a 2nd Killer Whale, whose ATK was now 4100 due to Necromancer and Beast's effects.
"Quite impressive." Spectre noted. "However, the total amount of damage I'd take from all your attacks, that includes you using Reshira, equals 12,300 damage. So I'll still survive with 200 LP."
"No." Ice Queen remarked. "This ends now! And I'll give you 3 reasons why!"
"Hoh?" Spectre wondered. Ice Queen raised her right hand upward, along with her index finger.
"#1: The last card I possess in my hand shall give my monsters a power boost enough to defeat you this turn." She raised her right middle finger. "#2: For all that you've done, whether it be the past, present, or future, it sickens me. So I shall defeat you here and now to make you repent for your crimes." She raised her right ring finger up. "#3: To make you pay for what you did to Aoi!" Spectre felt himself take an involuntary step backwards after she said those 3 things.
"You…..!" He grit his teeth. "Fine! Come at me then!"
"I will!" Ice Queen shot back. "I activate the last card in my hand! The Field Spell Umiiruka!" Upon activation, a massive virtual wave of water washed over all of them that stood on the bridge. (Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 1 card. Ice Queen's hand: 0 cards. Spectre's LP: 12,500. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 3500.)
"A wave of water?" Ai questioned. "Are we in the ocean now?"
"Umiiruka increases the ATK of all WATER monsters by 500, but reduces their DEF by 400." Ice Queen explained. "Not like the DEF decrease matters, because Links can only be in ATK mode. Plus, my other monsters are also in ATK mode. (Tetrogre's ATK: 2600 + 500 = 3100. Soul Ogre's ATK: 3300 + 500 = 3800. Arctic Killer Whale's ATK: 4100 + 500 = 4600. Necromancer's ATK: 2800 + 500 = 3300. Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 1 card. Ice Queen's hand: 0 cards. Spectre's LP: 12,500. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 3500.)
"Perfect. Once they attack Spectre, it's all over." Flare smirked.
"Kuh…..!" Spectre grunted.
"Battle!" Ice Queen declared as she thrusted her right hand forward. "Polagerie Arctic Killer Whale, attack the Sunvine Token!" The whale unleashed a blast of water from its spout; raining icy water down on the plant token.
"Fool! Since my Token is in DEF mode, I-!" Spectre began.
"No! It's you who is the fool!" Ice Queen shot back. "When Arctic Killer Whale attacks a monster in DEF mode, you take piercing battle damage!"
"What?!" Spectre gaped as his plant token shattered and he grunted as his body fizzled blue. (Spectre's LP: 12,500 - 4600 = 7900. Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 1 card. Ice Queen's hand: 0 cards. Spectre's LP: 7900. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 3500.)
"Tetrogre, direct attack!" Ice Queen declared. The water ogre obeyed and slashed Spectre, who grunted as his body fizzled blue again. (Spectre's LP: 7900 - 3100 = 4800. Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 1 card. Ice Queen's hand: 0 cards. Spectre's LP: 4800. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 3500.) She clenched her fists and thrusted her right fist forward. "Ekay Necromancer, direct attack!" The necromancer blasted an ice beam of magic at Spectre, which went right through his body. He shivered slightly from the attack. (Spectre's LP: 4800 - 3300 = 1500. Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 1 card. Ice Queen's hand: 0 cards. Spectre's LP: 1500. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 3500.) "That was for what you did to Aoi!"
"Urk…! Where is this power coming from?!" Spectre demanded. "How can you possibly be this strong?!"
"Isn't it obvious Spectre? She fights for her family. They gave her strength." Flare smirked.
"Tch…!" Spectre grunted.
"This is the end, Spectre!" Ice Queen declared. "Polagerie Soul Ogre, direct-!" Then she stopped, noticing Spectre's malicious smile.
"Her family gives her strength?" Spectre repeated before he laughed darkly. "How pathetic!"
"What?!"
"And now…...I shall use that "strength" against her!" Spectre sneered as he snapped his fingers; thus revealing a hologram with Akira within a cage of virtual thorns.
"Zaizen?!" Flare gasped.
"NII-SAN!" Ice Queen cried out.
"Now…...what will you do, Ice Queen?" Spectre questioned. "If you defeat me here, not only will I be absorbed into the Tower, but so will your precious brother!" He pointed his right index finger at Ice Queen. "Are you willing to go that far to defeat me?"
"Why you!" Flare snarled.
"How dare you…!" Ice Queen clenched her fists. "How dare you use Nii-san like that!"
"Leave Zaizen out of this, Spectre!" Playmaker demanded. "He has nothing to do with this!"
"I beg to differ, Playmaker." Spectre remarked. "He was dragged into this mess…..because of you!"
"Me?!" Playmaker repeated, surprised.
"Yes." Spectre replied. "In fact, you dragged so many people in this mess, that you didn't even know it!"
"Shut up Spectre! Playmaker did no such thing!" Flare snapped furiously.
"Oh?" Spectre turned to face Flare. "If that's true, then why is Ice Queen fighting me with you and not Playmaker fighting with you against me? That's because Playmaker unknowingly dragged all 3 Zaizen siblings into this!"
"Blue Angel wishing to fight was her decision. Such as it was Ice Queen's decision to fight as well." Flare frowned. "Playmaker had nothing to do with that."
"Oh? What of Ghost Girl? What of all the other innocent people that you lot didn't bother to save?" Spectre questioned. "They were all dragged into this because of your ignorance and only focusing on stopping us Knights of Hanoi. That's all you lot have focused on. You don't care about the lives of others, so long as you complete your goal."
"That is not true. With what happened to Ghost Girl… It was her choice to follow the lead that led to Revolver. We tried to have her turn back, but in the end she chose to go." Flare frowned, her face aching in sadness, clutching her fists tightly. "That's why we at least wanted to honor her last wishes. Which is also to defeat the Knights of Hanoi and stop the Tower."
"Heh heh heh heh….ha ha ha ha!" Spectre laughed as he placed his right hand to face. "How ignorant you are! If you truly cared about the lives lost, you would have tried harder to save them! But no….you, Sparks, and Playmaker don't seem to care…. It's as I said….you only care about stopping us." He gestured to Ice Queen. "Say for instance I beat her, then what? Will you care? I don't think so. Who cares if one more life is loss? So long as you lot stop us from killing the Ignis and activating the Tower, who cares about hundreds upon thousands of lives that'll be killed?" His then gestured to the caged hologram of Akira. "And what of Zaizen? Will you care if he goes so long as it means your goal is completed? You won't care."
"That's not true!" Flare yelled, clutching her arm tightly.
"Yes it is." Spectre smirked darkly. "Admit it Flare. You say you want to save people, but all you seem to care about is the Tower and saving your sister from us."
"That isn't it!" Flare countered, her face becoming pale.
"Stop lying to yourself." Spectre continued. "You're just pretending to care about others….. When really, you're self driven like Playmaker is in order to stop us." He then glanced to Ice Queen. "And you're no different, Ice Queen. If your siblings get hurt, you act out in anger towards the people responsible. I defeated your sister." He spread his arms out. "Now come on then! Attack me and kill your brother for petty vengeance against me for defeating Blue Angel!"
"...My vengeance towards you is personal. Nothing beyond you." Ice Queen remarked. "I'm only helping Playmaker and Flare because I want to. Because I know Aoi and Akira would support me in my decision to help my friends fight against you people."
"So you won't mind defeating me here?" Spectre smirked. "If you don't mind killing your brother to do so…...then do it! Continue your attack, Ice Queen!"
"Tch…..!" She hissed. "I…..end my turn…" (Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 1 card. Ice Queen's hand: 0 cards. Spectre's LP: 1500. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 3500.)
"Ice Queen…" Playmaker spoke softly.
"She can't do it." Ai's yellow eyes formed a deep frown. "She can't kill her brother just to satisfy her personal hatred for Spectre. She cares about Akira too much to go through with it."
"Hahahahaha!" Spectre laughed darkly. "Even after all your talk about defeating me, you end your turn leaving me with 1500 LP? Simply pathetic!" He turned to face Flare. "Now it's your turn. Do you have the guts to defeat me, costing Zaizen his life; thus allowing you to complete your goal?"
"M-My turn! Draw!" Flare swallowed, drawing her card. (Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 2 cards. Ice Queen's hand: 0 cards. Spectre's LP: 1500. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 3500.)
"I…" Flare began, her hand shaking.
"Come on! Attack me!" Spectre taunted. "I can understand Ice Queen not attacking because I have her brother hostage. But you? Why should you care? It's just 1 more life you have to sacrifice to get closer to stopping us."
"No I…" Flare began, clutching her hand tightly. "I…I end my turn."
"Hahahahaha! How pathetic you are!" Spectre sneered. "You talk about revenge, but yet you can't even take Zaizen's life to ensure your goal is completed!"
"I would never take a life!" Flare snapped.
"And yet, you have taken several hundred, if not several thousand lives so you could reach this point." Spectre countered.
"No!" Flare yelled, hugging herself.
"You know what I say is true." Spectre told her. "But since you 2 fools won't deal the finishing blow. Then allow me to do this! I draw!" (Spectre's hand: 2 cards. Flare's hand: 2 cards. Ice Queen's hand: 0 cards. Spectre's LP: 1500. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 3500.) Spectre looked at the cards in his hand before his lips formed a dark smile.
"Time to get out my most powerful monster." Spectre grinned. "I activate the Spell card Heavy Storm to destroy all Spell/Trap cards on the field!"
"But why?!" Ice Queen demanded. "That'd destroy your Sunavalon Forest Field Spell too!"
"Exactly!" Spectre sneered. The massive winds blew from the spell card and towards Ice Queen and Flare's face-down cards, along with their Field Spells; thus destroying them
"Their cards were destroyed!" Ai panicked.
"That's not all I did." Spectre remarked. "Since my oh so beautiful forest left the field, I can Special Summon 1 EARTH Plant Link monster from my Extra Deck!"
"What?!" Ice Queen gaped.
"I bring forth my Mother Tree's true form! Link 4! Sunavalon Dryatrentiay!" Spectre grinned. The massive tree appeared onto Spectre's field with an earth tremoring sound; the bridge began to shake at its arrival. (Sunavalon Dryatrentiay, attribute: EARTH, type: Plant/Link, Link Rating: 4, Link Arrows; T/BL/B/BR. ATK: 0. Spectre's hand: 1 card. Flare's hand: 2 cards. Ice Queen's hand: 0 cards. Spectre's LP: 1500. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 3500.)
"Huge tree!" Ai gaped. Spectre then pressed the last card in his hand.
"I Normal Summon Genius Loci." He spoke. The dried up plant appeared again. "Now to show you 2 something cool. Appear the circuit that lights up my path!" The circuit portal appeared again. "Arrowhead confirmed! The Summoning Condition is 1 Normal Plant monster! Link Summon! Appear Link 1 Sunvine Thrasher!" The plant warrior appeared onto Spectre's field; swinging its blade. (Sunvine Thrasher, attribute: EARTH, type: Plant/Link, Link Rating: 1, Link Arrow(s): T. ATK: 800. Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 2 cards. Ice Queen's hand: 0 cards. Spectre's LP: 1500. Flare's LP: 4000. Ice Queen's LP: 3500.)
"A monster with just 800 ATK?" Ice Queen questioned.
"Heh heh heh….. This monster gave me the power to use many of Blue Angel's monsters against her." Spectre grinned maliciously. "It so glorious watching her squirm while I stole and used her precious monster friends to my own advantage." He then gestured to Thrasher. "Thrasher effect! When he's Special Summoned, I can target 1 Sunavalon Link monster that points to him, then he gains ATK equal to the targeted monsters Link Rating x800!"
"Dryatrentiay is Link 4, so Thrasher gains 3200 ATK." Playmaker noted.
"4000 ATK on a Link 1?!" Ai panicked. "That's too much!"
"Battle!" Spectre declared. "Thrasher, attack Reshira!" Thrasher leapt forward and towards Reshira.
"I activate the trap Flames Repetition from my Graveyard!" Flare yelled.
"Hoh?" Spectre questioned.
"By banishing this trap and a Flame Truth monster from my Graveyard, my Flame Truth monsters aren't destroyed in battle." Flare frowned. "I banish Flame Truth Seer and so Reshira isn't destroyed!"
"Fine!" Spectre snapped. "But you still take the damage!" Thrasher slashed the barrier that surrounded Reshira. (Flare's LP: 4000 - 1600 = 2400. Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 2 cards. Ice Queen's hand: 0 cards. Spectre's LP: 1500. Flare's LP: 2400. Ice Queen's LP: 3500.) After Thrasher went back to Spectre's side of the field, his lips curved into a malicious smile.
"How sad Flare." He spoke. "Your Trap Card wouldn't have worked had I decided to attack Ice Queen instead of you. You only saved yourself for selfish reasons."
"That's not true." Flare scowled.
"Yes it is." Spectre retorted. "If you're all about truth, then you should know you're lying to yourself. You wouldn't have defended Ice Queen had I chose to attack her instead of you."
"You don't know anything about me, so quit talking as if you do!" Flare snapped.
"Oh….but I do know about you….." Spectre smirked. "In fact….I know a lot more about you than you think I could possibly know."
"What?" Flare questioned with a glare.
"Let's just say that…..Revolver-sama speaks about you…." Spectre spoke.
"R-Revolver?" Flare blinked before glaring. "What does Revolver have anything to do with this?!"
"Everything!" Spectre spread his arms out. "You intend to stop his plans, I intend to stop you from stopping us." He placed his right hand to his right cheek. "Oh such glory…..you fighting get ol' Yukiko back from us…. It's so entertaining…"
"Damn you…!" Flare growled.
"Hahaha!" Spectre laughed. "If you thought that was fun, wait until you see this! I activate the Trap card from my Deck, Sunavalon's Twin Blade! I pay half my LP, then target 1 Sunvine or Sunavalon Link monster that already attacked. That monster can attack again this turn!"
"What?!" Ice Queen gaped.
"Goodbye Soul Ogre!" Spectre sneered. "Sunvine Thrasher, attack Polagerie Soul Ogre!" Sunvine Thrasher leapt forward and slashed through the ogre before it exploded. The explosion created a shock-wave that made Ice Queen slid backwards a bit. (Ice Queen's LP: 3500 - 700 -1000 (due to Twin Blade's additional effect.) = 1800. Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 2 cards. Ice Queen's hand: 0 cards. Spectre's LP: 750. Flare's LP: 2400. Ice Queen's LP: 1800.) Suddenly, Soul Ogre re-appeared on Spectre's field.
"My monster!" Ice Queen gaped.
"Oh... look at that." Spectre sneered. "I now have your Ritual monster! Now Soul Ogre, crush Tetrogre!" The soul ogre was forced to battle with Tetrogre; who destroyed Tetrogre. Ice Queen grunted as her avatar body fizzled blue for a moment. (Ice Queen's LP: 1800 - 200 - 1000 = 600. Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 2 cards. Ice Queen's hand: 0 cards. Spectre's LP: 750. Flare's LP: 2400. Ice Queen's LP: 600.) Ice Queen then fell down to her knees, red data spilled out of the injuries she received from Spectre's 2 attacks.
"Ice Queen!" Flare gasped.
"I'm okay…" Ice Queen spoke softly as she stood up.
"You won't be for long…" Spectre grinned. "With Soul Ogre under my control and Tetrogre gone, what will you do now?"
"Trap card activate…" Ice Queen gestured shakily. "Torrential Reborn…!"
"What?" Spectre frowned.
"Since you destroyed Tetrogre, I can revive it! Then! You take 500 points of damage! Return, Tetrogre!" The monster returned to Ice Queen's field, then the trap blasted a water beam at Spectre.
"Tch…..!" Spectre's avatar body glowed blue as he took the damage. (Spectre's LP: 750 - 500 = 250. Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 2 cards. Ice Queen's hand: 0 cards. Spectre's LP: 250. Flare's LP: 2400. Ice Queen's LP: 600.) Ice Queen placed her right hand on top of her Deck.
"My turn, draw!" She declared. (Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 2 cards. Ice Queen's hand: 1 card. Spectre's LP: 250. Flare's LP: 2400. Ice Queen's LP: 600.) She looked at the card she drew, then back at her field.
I could go for my Link 4 and use it to end Spectre, but… Ice Queen thought as she glanced at the hologram of her trapped brother. I don't want Nii-san to be hurt because of me…. She closed her eyes. What should I do?...
Either me or Ice Queen can end this. But if we do, Zaizen will… Flare thought, clutching her hand tightly. I don't want any more people going like this!
"Flare! Glacies!" The 2 gasped, looking at Akira, who had yelled at them.
"Nii-san…" Ice Queen spoke softly.
"If you 2 are stuck in doubt, it'll only lead to more victims. Or else Aoi did everything for nothing." Akira told them. "Have conviction you 2! Don't lose track of the big picture! Even if sacrifices must be made along the way, carry that burden and keep going!" Flare grew wide eyed, a distant memory sparked in her mind as Akira went on. "Go! Transform that conviction into strength!" Ice Queen gasped, her whitish-blue eyes widening. Her lips then formed a small smile.
"Thank you, Nii-san….." Ice Queen spoke softly.
"How touching." Spectre noted as he shrugged. "But it's whatevers. You aren't going to win in the-"
"No." Ice Queen interjected. "It's you who's not going to win in the end! This duel ends now! For real this time!"
"Hoh?" Spectre questioned. Then it hit him. "No! You can't be-!"
"I am!" Ice Queen finished as she raised her right arm upwards. "Appear the circuit of the arctic!" The dark blue circuit appeared. "Arrowheads confirmed! The Summoning Conditions are at least 2 Polagerie monsters, including a Polagerie Ritual monster! I set Polagerie Arctic Killer Whale and Polagerie Tetrogre into the Link Markers!" The Top, Bottom, Left, and Right Link Markers glowed red. "Come forth the mother polar bear that protects it arctic children! Link Summon! Descend now my Mother Polar Bear! Link 4! Polagerie Arctic Polar Bear!" Out of the circuit came forth a polar bear that growled in Spectre's direction. (Polagerie Arctic Polar Bear, attribute: WATER, type: Cyberse/Link, Link Rating: 4, Link Arrows: T/B/L/R, ATK: 3500 (originally 3000). Spectre's hand: 0 cards. Flare's hand: 2 cards. Ice Queen's hand: 1 card. Spectre's LP: 250. Flare's LP: 2400. Ice Queen's LP: 600.)
"Big polar bear!" Ai yelped.
"Necromancer effect!" Ice Queen continued. "I revive my Arctic Killer Whale!" The massive whale returned to the field. Ice Queen then gestured to her Polagerie Arctic Polar Bear. "Arctic Polar Bear effect! I shuffle away the 1 card in my hand, along with Killer Whale to my Deck!" The card vanished and went back to the Deck. Ice Queen thrusted her right hand forward. "Now an equal number of cards on your field return to your Deck! I choose Dyratrentiay and Daphne!"
"You…!" Spectre growled as the 2 chosen cards vanished.
"And now since no Sunavalon Link monster points to it, Thrasher is also destroyed!" Ice Queen added as Thrasher shattered. She then gestured to Arctic Polar Bear. "Arctic Polar Bear additional effect! I pay 500 LP to shuffle away Soul Ogre back to the Deck! Which would be my Deck!" Soul Ogre vanished from Spectre's field; thus he clenched his fists in anger as Ice Queen's LP dropped to 100.
"Ice Queen…!" He growled.
"Now Spectre has no cards on his field or hand." Playmaker spoke. "If Ice Queen attacks, she and Flare will win."
"Yeah!" Ai pumped his fists.
"Battle!" Ice Queen declared. "Polagerie Arctic Polar Bear, direct attack!" The polar bear leapt forward and clawed Spectre's face; thus making him slid backwards and he landed on his back. (Spectre's LP: 250 - 3500 = 0.)
"They did it!" Ai cheered.
"Nice work Ice Queen." Flare said with a small smile. Ice Queen glanced to Flare and nodded.
"Thanks Flare." Ice Queen smiled. Spectre began to get up slowly from the ground.
"I can't believe I lost…" Spectre muttered. Flare frowned, walking to Spectre. "You lost Spectre, this is your end." She stated. "Release Zaizen."
"Heh….. Didn't I already tell you?" Spectre retorted as he stood up fully. "The moment I lost, the tower absorbed him." He looked up to the tower, then back to the 2, along with Playmaker. "And you 3 shall be joining the others within the tower soon."
"We won't hesitate. We'll stop Revolver and the Tower before any innocent people will get hurt." Flare frowned.
"Heh heh heh….I suppose you're right….." Spectre spoke as he began to turn into red data. "But I'm certain that you won't succeed in the end!" After he spoke, he vanished and got absorbed by the tower. Once he was however, the bridge began to shake violently.
"We gotta move!" Flare yelled.
"There's no time!" Ai panicked as the bridge crumbled before their feet. They all screamed as they began to fall, but suddenly a Data Storm formed from under them to their shock as it pushed them to the other side.
"Huh?" Flare gaped, shocked.
"Did you do this?" Playmaker questioned Ai.
"Huh? Of course not." Ai replied.
"Ice Queen you ok?" Flare questioned.
"Yeah." Ice Queen nodded as she brushed any excess data debris off her whitish-blue dress.
"Well the bridge is gone. Sparks will have to find another way across." Flare muttered, before frowning deeply thinking back to Spectre's words.
"Let's just say that…..Revolver-sama speaks about you…."
I shouldn't let that bother me. I mean we are his enemies so of course he would discuss about me and even Sparks and Playmaker. She thought, rubbing her temple. I'm just being paranoid…
"Anyway look!" Ai yelled, pointing at the tower. "The third level is complete!"
"3 hours left." Flare remarked. "Come on let's get moving!"
"Yeah." Playmaker nodded. The 3 quickly began to run heading for the tower.
Aurasoul: And its done!
Miho: Ugh... Im not going to like where this is going. Am I?
Aurasoul: Nope! Please read and review!
