"Sagi! Stop holding on so tight!"
"I can't, I'm scared, Sol!"
"I know, I am too, but I can't walk with you choking me out!"
"S-sorry. There. Is that better?"
"Phew. Thank you. Huh? I see a light up ahead."
"Oh, you're right. Do you think it's coming from another room?"
"I think so. That light's just like the one from the room Matt's dueling in."
"Then let's go, Sol!"
"Wait, Sagi! It could be dangerous!"
"Aaaaaaaaah!" Both of the twins covered their eyes to shield them from the bright light of the chandeliers above them.
"Just as predicted. It appears we're dueling the runts." A girl with long grape hair and ocean-blue eyes spoke.
"How unfortunate that we won't be receiving a true challenge, but either way we'll be playing our role in the world's destruction." A boy with spiky black hair and ice-blue eyes lamented.
The twins opened their eyes in response to the voices that greeted them.
"Huh? Wait, I remember you two. Let me see, your names were... I don't remember."
"Come on, that's rude, Sagi! Don't you remember... actually, I forgot too."
"Hehe. You forgot too, rude-pants!"
"Hey! Don't-"
"I'm Stella! And don't you forget it this time, runts!"
"It's completely understandable that you forgot about her, but how could you forget me? I'm the incredible Reese!"
"Heh, heh. Sorry about that." Sol apologized as Sagi bowed.
"Whatever. Let's get this duel started so we can wrap it up already."
"You shouldn't be in such a hurry. After all, this is our only entertainment until the destruction begins. We might as well enjoy ourselves a little. So what do you say? Want to tag duel? Just as a little handicap." Reese suggested.
"A tag duel?"
"We accept! Come on, Sagi! Let's show them our teamwork!"
"Y-yeah."
"Perfect. Now then-"
"Let's duel!"
"If you don't mind, amigo, I'll make move numero uno- I draw! I'll kick things off by summoning the Royal Magical Library in defense mode!" Duane made his first move.
Royal Magical Library
Level 4, spellcaster type, light attribute
0atk/2000def
"I activate the spell card- Broken Bamboo Sword, and equip it onto my Royal Magical Library. And since I used a spell card, Royal Magical Library gains a spell counter." Royal Magical Library Spell Counter(0-1)
"I end my turn with one card facedown." That's all I can do for now, but hopefully next turn, I'll draw a spell I can use to really get things going.
"My turn." The masked man spoke, his soft voice again echoing throughout the entire room. "I draw!"
?: Lp(4000)CIH: 6 Duane: Lp(4000)CIH: 3
"I summon Breaker the Magical Warrior."
Breaker the Magical Warrior
Level 4, spellcaster type, dark attribute
1600atk/1000def
"And now Breaker's effect activates. Now Breaker gains one spell counter. And when Breaker has a spell counter, it gains three hundred attack points." Breaker the Magical Warrior SC(0-1) atk(1600-1900)
"Next, I'll play the field spell, Magical Citadel of Endymion." The room that Duane and his opponent were dueling in morphed into the streets of a city, and a distance away from them, Duane could see a massive Citadel that stretched into the sky.
"Now, whenever I play a spell card, I can place a spell counter on my Citadel."
"Well, since you activated a spell card, I can place a spell counter on Royal Magical Library." Library SC(1-2)
"Next, I'll activate Breaker's special ability, destroying your facedown card."
"Well, then I better activate it! I play my Threatening Roar trap card! Now you can't declare an attack this turn."
"Since I used Breaker's special ability, it loses its spell counter." Breaker SC(1-0) atk(1900-1600)
"Now I activate my Spell Power Grasp spell card. This card places a spell counter on my Breaker the Magical Warrior, therefore increasing its attack points." Breaker SC(0-1) atk(1600-1900), Magical Citadel of Endymion SC(0-1)
"Then Spell Power Grasp allows me to add another Spell Power Grasp from my deck to my hand."
"Gracias, amigo, since you activated another spell card, I can place the last spell counter I need on Royal Magical Library." Library SC(2-3)
"I activate the spell- Shield Crush. Now I can destroy your Royal Magical Library that's in defense mode." Magical Citadel SC(1-2)
"Aw man! My monster! And just when I got three spell counters on it, too." Duane complained as a laser beam shot through Duane's Library, destroying it.
"I end my turn."
"It's my turn, then. Let's see what Lady Luck has in store for me!"
?: Lp(4000)CIH: 3 Duane: Lp(4000)CIH: 4
"I activate the Cards of Consonance spell card! By discarding my Flamvell Guard, I can draw two cards. Next I'll activate Pot of Greed, which lets me draw two cards. Now I activate Graceful Charity, drawing three cards and then discarding two. I'll place two cards facedown and end my turn." Magical Citadel SC(2-5)
The masked figure drew his card silently.
?: Lp(4000)CIH: 4 Duane: Lp(4000)CIH: 3
"I activate Breaker the Magical Warrior's special ability. Destroying your facedown." Breaker SC(1-0) atk(1900-1600)
"Next, I'll activate Spell Power Grasp." Magical Citadel SC(5-6) Breaker SC(0-1) atk(1600-1900)
"Spell Power Grasp lets me add another one to my hand. I use Breaker's special ability to destroy your other facedown." Breaker SC(1-0) atk(1900-1600)
"Now both of them are gone? Oh boy, I'm in danger."
"Now I activate Spell Power Grasp once again." Breaker SC(0-1) atk(1600-1900) Magical Citadel SC(6-7)
"Breaker, attack directly."
"I activate Kuriboh's special ability! By discarding it from my hand, I can negate any battle damage." Breaker swung its sword at Duane, but it was met by a wall of Kuriboh that exploded as they were hit.
"I end my turn."
"That was close. I need to wrap this up quickly, or I might actually lose this duel."
"I draw!" Sagi declared, claiming the first move before anyone else could.
"I summon Shining Angel!"
Shining Angel
Level 4, fairy type, light attribute
1400atk/800def
"I end my turn."
"Then I'm up! I draw!" Stella drew her card.
Sol: Lp(4000)CIH: 5 Sagi: Lp(4000)CIH: 5 Reese: Lp(4000)CIH: 5 Stella: Lp(4000)CIH: 6
"I summon Battlewasp- Sting the Poison!"
Battlewasp- Sting the Poison
Level 2, insect type, wind attribute
400atk/800def
"And now I use Sting the Poison's effect to add Pin the Bullseye from my deck to my hand. And since I control Sting the Poison, I can summon out Battlewasp- Pin the Bullseye!"
Battlewasp- Pin the Bullseye
Level 1, insect type, wind attribute
200atk/300def
"Now I use Pin the Bullseye's special ability! She deals two hundred points of damage to the boy!"
"Ah!" Sol cried as Pin's stinger hit him. "That really, really hurt!" Sol Lp(4000-3800)
"Of course it did, you brat!"
"Did you not know? This is a shadow duel. Meaning... all damage in this duel is real!" Reese explained.
"And when you lose, you'll be sent to the Netherworld to wait for the destruction of the world."
"Are you trying to scare us? Well, it won't work! We already knew about the stakes when we started!" Sol replied. We just didn't know about the whole 'damage being real' part.
"Well, if you really want to continue, then have it your way! I end my turn with a facedown."
"It's my turn, I draw!"
Sol: Lp(3800)CIH: 6 Sagi: Lp(4000)CIH: 5 Reese: Lp(4000)CIH: 5 Stella: Lp(4000)CIH: 4
"I play Neo Flamvell Sabre in attack mode!"
Neo Flamvell Sabre
Level 4, pyro type, fire attribute
1500atk/200def
"And now I activate his effect! Since you have less than five cards in your graveyard, Neo Flamvell Sabre gains six hundred attack points!" Neo Flamvell Sabre atk(1500-2100)
"And now I end my turn with a facedown."
"Which means it's time for you to lose! Because now it's my move! Draw!"
Sol: Lp(3800)CIH: 4 Sagi: Lp(4000)CIH: 5 Reese: Lp(4000)CIH: 6 Stella: Lp(4000)CIH: 4
"I summon Hydrogeddon!"
Hydrogeddon
Level 4, dinosaur type, water attribute
1600atk/1000def
"Now Hydrogeddon attacks your Shining Angel!"
"Aaaagh!" Sagi cried out as Hydrogeddon's body poured water onto Shining Angel, some of it flooding past and hitting Sagi. Sagi Lp(4000-3800)
"Since Hydrogeddon destroyed a monster, I can summon another Hydrogeddon from my deck."
"Well, since your monster destroyed my Shining Angel, I can summon another one from my deck in attack mode!"
"Heh. Well then, Hydrogeddon, attack her Shining Angel!"
"Aaagh!" Sagi Lp(3800-3600) "Ow, ow, ow."
"And since Hydrogeddon destroyed your monster, I can special summon another one."
"Me-me too!" Sagi countered as another Hydrogeddon and Shining Angel appeared on the field.
"Fine, then Hydrogeddon attacks your Shining Angel again!"
"Owwwwwww! That really hurts." Sagi whined as she was hit by a third attack. Sagi Lp(3600-3400)
"But since you destroyed my Shining Angel, I can play Nova Summoner from my deck."
Nova Summoner
Level 4, fairy type, light attribute
1400atk/800def
"No matter. I end my turn with a facedown."
"It's my turn then. Here I... go!"
Sol: Lp(3800)CIH: 4 Sagi: Lp(3400)CIH: 6 Reese: Lp(4000)CIH: 4 Stella: Lp(4000)CIH: 4
"I switch Nova Summoner to defense mode. Next, by removing from play two Shining Angels, I can play the Soul of Purity and Light."
Soul of Purity and Light
Level 6, fairy type, light attribute
2000atk/1800def
"And now I'll attack Pin the Bullseye! With my Soul of Purity, of course."
"Wait, Sagi! Don't-"
"Hah. You've activated my trap card, you runt! I activate Battlewasp- Nest! Now I can summon out another Pin the Bullseye from my deck, and then the battle phase is over! And my trap stays around to be used again."
"Aw, what? That's no fair. I end my turn."
"Perfect. I draw!"
Sol: Lp(3800)CIH: 4 Sagi: Lp(3400)CIH: 5 Reese: Lp(4000)CIH: 4 Stella: Lp(4000)CIH: 5
"Since I control a Battlewasp, you can say hello to a third Pin the Bullseye!"
"Not another one!" Sol exclaimed.
"Aw, come on, they're cute!"
"Maybe, Sagi, but their stingers hurt!"
"Shut it, runts! Next, I use the special ability of Battlewasp- Twinbow the Attacker to summon it from my hand!"
Battlewasp- Twinbow the Attacker
Level 3, insect type, wind attribute
1000atk/500def
"Now I tune level two Sting the Poison with level three Twinbow the Attacker!"
"That's not good! I think I know what's coming." Sol told Sagi.
"The sting of the wasp will strike again and again! I synchro summon- Battlewasp- Azusa the Ghost Bow!"
Battlewasp- Azusa the Ghost Bow
Level 5, insect type, wind attribute
2200atk/1600def
Perfect. If Stella uses all her monsters' abilities on the girl, and then attacks her, she'll hardly have any life points left. We'll be able to reduce the number of opponents quickly.
"I activate Pin the Bullseye's special ability! Now, boy, Pin the Bullseye's going to sting you with two hundred points of damage!"
"Moron! Can't you see that it's clearly better to use the ability on the girl right now?"
"What are you talking about? The boy's the bigger threat, it seems. Also, he has more life points left to take down."
"What are you spreading your attacks for? We'd be better off trying to reduce the number of opponents!"
"Oh, whatever! I don't need to listen to you! I'll win this my way! Now, Pin the Bullseye, go!"
"Owwwwwwwww!" Sol cried as he was hit by Pin's stinger once again. Sol Lp(3800-3600)
"And now... Azusa the Ghost Bow's special ability activates! Since I dealt you damage with my Battlewasp, Azusa the Ghost Bow deals you that damage again." Azusa drew its bow and fired at Sol, hitting him square in his shoulder.
"Aaaaaah! Man, for only two hundred points of damage, that really hurts!" Sol Lp(3600-3400)
"Sol! Grrr, you'll pay for that, lady!"
"Lady?! Well, if it gets you that riled up, let's do it again! Or how about twice more?! I activate my two remaining Pin the Bullseyes' special abilities!"
"Grrrrr... I won't give up, no matter how much it hurts!" Sol Lp(3400-3000)
"Let's see if you're still talking tough after Azusa the Ghost Bow's special ability stings you for another four hundred points of damage!"
"Waaaaaaah!" Sol was sent flying back into the wall of the room as Azusa's arrow hit him. Sol Lp(3000-2600)
"Hahaha! How do you like that, runt?!"
"Don't..."
"Urgh... I'm okay Sagi. Don't worry about me, we got this, okay?"
"..." Sagi nodded. "Okay. We'll win together."
"Yeah! That's the spirit."
"It's nice to see you haven't lost your confidence yet. Let's see if I can fix that! Azusa the Ghost Bow attacks Flamvell Sabre!" Sabre dashed at Azusa the Ghost Bow, swinging its sword in an attempt to counter, but Azusa flew over the blade and fired an arrow down at Flamvell Sabre, destroying it.
"Aagh!" Sol Lp(2600-2500)
"Now Pin the Bullseye attacks you directly!"
"Owwww!" Sol Lp(2500-2300)
"Now my other two Pin the Bullseyes will attack!"
"Aaaaaaaaaagh!" Sol cried out as the two stingers ripped the sleeves of his shirt with their attack. Sol Lp(2300-1900)
"I end my turn."
"Urgh. I better make this next turn count, because if I let her keep all those Battlewasps out there, this duel will be a quick one. I draw!"
Sol: Lp(1900)CIH: 5 Sagi: Lp(3400)CIH: 5 Reese: Lp(4000)CIH: 4 Stella: Lp(4000)CIH: 3
"I activate my trap- Call of the Haunted! This lets me bring back my Sabre. Next, since I have a Flamvell monster out on the field, and you have less than four cards in your graveyard, I can use Neo Flamvell Origin's ability to special summon it." Neo Flamvell Sabre atk(1500-2100)
Neo Flamvell Origin
Level 2, pyro type, fire attribute
500atk/200def
"Next I summon Flamvell Firedog!"
Flamvell Firedog
Level 4, beast type, fire attribute
1900atk/200def
"Next, I'll activate the Mystical Space Typhoon spell card, in order to destroy your Battlewasp- Nest!"
"Argh! Not bad, for a runt!"
"Now I send Flamvell Baby from my hand to the graveyard in order to give Flamvell Sabre an additional four hundred attack points." Flamvell Sabre atk(2100-2500)
"Now Flamvell Sabre attacks Azusa the Ghost Bow!" Once again, Flamvell Sabre dashed towards Azusa and swung its sword, but this time, Azusa the Ghost Bow was too slow to evade it, instead being slashed to ribbons.
"Urgh! A lucky move, nothing more!" Stella Lp(4000-3700)
"Lucky, huh? Let's see if you're still saying that after Neo Flamvell Origin attacks your Pin the Bullseye!"
"Hmph. That didn't hurt, you got that?" Stella Lp(3700-3400)
"Good. Now hopefully that'll be the case when Flamvell Firedog takes a bite out of your life points! Attack the second Pin the Bullseye!"
"Aaagh! Grr..." Stella Lp(3400-1700) Flamvell Sabre atk(2500-1900) "Well, good for you, you did a bit of damage, but your turn is over now, kid."
"Not so fast. You see, when Flamvell Firedog destroys a monster in battle, I can summon another Flamvell monster from my deck! So say hello to one of my favorites- Flamvell Grunika!"
Flamvell Grunika
Level 4, dragon type, fire attribute
1700atk/200def
"Now Grunika attacks your last Pin the Bullseye!"
"Err...
"Not so fast! I activate my facedown- the Defense Draw trap card! Now my partner doesn't take any damage, and I get to draw a card!" Reese interrupted.
"... I didn't need your help!" Stella exclaimed.
"Yes, you did."
"No, I didn't!"
"Just watch."
"I activate Flamvell Grunika's special ability! Since it destroyed your monster, you take damage equal to its level times two hundred! Since Pin the Bullseye is level one, you take two hundred points of damage."
"Aah, that's hot!" Stella patted out the fire that had lit on her shoulder. Stella Lp(1700-1500)
"Are you okay?" Sagi questioned.
"Don't worry about your opponent, runt!"
"You see, you did need my help. That damage, combined with the battle damage, would have defeated you." Reese explained.
"Nuh-uh!" Stella denied. "I still have fifteen hundred life points, that attack would only have dealt... fifteen hundred points of damage."
"See? Honestly, I don't know why I even bothered saving you. It's not like you're much help."
"What was that?! I hope you don't expect any gratitude, you jerk!"
"I'm the jerk? At least I know how to utilize proper manners."
"Hey! I'm not done yet! Now I tune my level two Neo Flamvell Origin with my level four Flamvell Grunika!
"Burning flames! Grow and grow until you envelop everything with the heat of your spirit! I synchro summon- Flamvell Uruquizas!"
Flamvell Uruquizas
Level 6, pyro type, fire attribute
2100atk/200def
"Way to go, Sol! I can't believe how you can always say that name right, now."
"Heh, heh, Sagi..." Sol scratched the back of his head sheepishly, his face tinted red. "I end my turn with one card facedown."
"Very well then. Allow me to show you all how a true duelist duels. I draw!"
Sol: Lp(1900)CIH: 0 Sagi: Lp(3400)CIH: 5 Reese: Lp(4000)CIH: 6 Stella: Lp(1500)CIH: 3
"I summon Oxygeddon!"
Oxygeddon
Level 4, dinosaur type, wind attribute
1800atk/800def
"Now I activate the spell- Bonding H2O! By releasing my Oxygeddon, and two of my Hydrogeddons, I can summon Water Dragon from my hand."
Water Dragon
Level 8, sea serpent type, water attribute
2800atk/2600def
"And when Water Dragon is on the field, all your fire monsters' attack points become zero!"
"Urgh…"
"Oh no, Sol!" From Water Dragon's mouth released a flood of water that washed over each of Sol's monsters, putting out their flames. Flamvell Uruquizas atk(2100-0) Flamvell Firedog atk(1900-0) Neo Flamvell Sabre atk(1900-0)
"And now that you're defenseless, my last Hydrogeddon attacks your Flamvell Uruquizas!"
"Waaaaaaaaaaaah!" Sol cried as he was slammed into a wall by the torrent of water released by Hydrogeddon. Sol Lp(1900-300)
"Sol! Sol! You... I won't let you get away with that!" Sagi declared.
"We'll see. Water Dragon, attack Flamvell Firedog! With Dragon's Downpour!"
"I-I don't think so. I-I activate my trap, Defense D-draw!" Sol, still lying on the ground, barely managed to press the button on his duel disk before the blast from Water Dragon reached him.
"This l-lets me draw a card and negate any d-damage from your attack…"
As he drew his card, Sol's face plopped to the ground, and Sol spoke no more.
"Soooooool!" Sagi cried out as she ran towards her brother. "Sol, Sol, wake up! Come on, speak to me! I can't lose you too!" Sagi kneeled down and shook Sol's body, but there was no response- the boy made no movement or noise. He was still.
"No, no... it can't be." Sagi gritted her teeth as she stood. The ring around her neck began to emanate a golden light, and her entire body was surrounded in a pure black aura that wafted off of her into the area around her.
"You'll PAAAAAAAAY!" A golden mark in the same shape as the eye on Sagi's ring appeared on her forehead as the entire room was enveloped in darkness.
"Come on, Lady Luck, don't fail me now! I draw!"
?: Lp(4000)CIH: 3 Duane: Lp(4000)CIH: 3
"I activate Broken Bamboo Sword, and equip it onto your Breaker! Next, I'll play Golden Bamboo Sword to draw two cards. And then I'll do it again." Argh. I can't win right now. I think I need to try and play Burial Wildebeest before it's too late. Magical Citadel SC(7-10)
"I end my turn."
Once again, the masked duelist drew his card without a word.
?: Lp(4000)CIH: 4 Duane: Lp(4000)CIH: 4
"I use Breaker's ability. Destroy Broken Bamboo Sword. Magical Citadel's effect lets me use its spell counters instead." Magical Citadel SC(10-9)
"I summon Defender, the Magical Knight in attack mode."
Defender, the Magical Knight
Level 4, spellcaster type, light attribute
1600atk/2000def
Defender, the Magical Knight SC(0-1)
"Defender attacks your life points directly."
"I activate the effect of Battle Fader from my hand! Now I can summon it out and end the battle phase." Battle Fader flew onto the field from Duane's hand, its metronome swinging with noise, causing Defender to halt its attack.
Battle Fader
Level 1, fiend type, dark type
0atk/0def
"I end my turn."
"Then I'm... up!"
?: Lp(4000)CIH: 3 Duane: Lp(4000)CIH: 4
"By discarding Necro Gardna, I can summon out The Tricky!"
The Tricky
Level 5, spellcaster type, wind attribute
2000atk/1200def
"Now I activate Monster Reborn to bring back my Flamvell Guard!" Magical Citadel SC(9-10)
Flamvell Guard
Level 1, dragon type, fire attribute
100atk/2000def
"I tune my level one Flamvell Guard with my level five Tricky and my level one Battle Fader!" Duane's right arm began to glow a golden glow, the source of the light being the golden mark of a dragon's claw on his right arm. It looked very similar to the Crimson Dragon's claw, but with a longer palm.
"Spirits of the weak, gather and become strong! I synchro summon! Bare your horns- Burial Wildebeest!"
Burial Wildebeest
Level 7, beast type, earth attribute
2600atk/1600def
*SNOOORT*
"What's happening?" Stella questioned as the darkness faded and light returned to the room.
"I don't know, but seeing as how we can see, I'm guessing that we're about to find out." Reese responded.
"Hehehe. I must thank you bumbling fools." A raspy and malevolent voice spoke from the opposite side of the room. "You filled this girl with so much rage that I get to play. Still I must say, I regret ever worrying that this so-called 'Great Evil' would be a threat to me or my plans. If they're relying on useless drones like you to get their work done, then I needn't worry about a thing! Hahahahaha ahahah!" As the darkness faded away completely, Reese and Stella could see that the raspy and malevolent voice was coming from Sagi. The imposter had returned. And around her neck, her ring, although it had stopped glowing, was floating in mid-air, the spikes pointing towards the door past Reese and Stella.
"What? You…"
"You insolent little runt! How dare you mock our master? The Great Evil is far more powerful than you."
"Great Evil? Heh. You know it's funny. This so-called 'Great Evil'?" Sagi stuck out her pinky finger. "I've got more evil in this pinky than the Great Evil does in its entire existence! Hahaha- HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
To be continued...