「Shishima Chronicles Arc: Daiyoukai Spawns. 010 - The Girl Who Could Be Queen!」
Scientiae Bonietmali: this berry is native to the Twilight Kingdom and is distinguished by its lumpy shape and purple hue. Its only magical quality doth lie in its unique taste and resistance to any method of growth or replication. Coupled with the fact the plant is very difficult to grow, it makes this species exceptionally rare.
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When Queen Koushishi fell pregnant for the first time many aristocrat families rushed to do the same. Despite remarkably long lifespans family sizes were kept customarily small. For this reason an influx of pregnancies among nobles all at once couldn't be seen as mere coincidence, but was obviously known for what it was: families hoping to elevate their status further by marrying into the royal bloodline.
Inbreeding was how the royal family kept their genes pure, but historically it wasn't uncommon for princes and princesses to meet untimely ends before they could take the throne. So maybe the precious heir would instead find favour in a cousin? Maybe two, three or several times removed, so long as there was some tenuous genetic link then the more ambitious families were willing to give it a shot.
Imagine the immense disappointment that rippled through the higher echelons of daiyoukai society when Koushishi's firstborn died of sickness soon after birth. Followed by her second, and then third… As the misfortune continued swaths of rich families began to awkwardly raise children they'd put high hopes into. Children that were now pointless. Their entire lives had hinged on a contingency. On a lottery chance that among better choices a future king or queen may find themself charmed by their little rascal, and that events could possibly transpire to enable the blessing of a marriage. As a century went by the stillbirths and infant deaths continued, and when her total reached seven many families lost hope, now stuck with kids they didn't want.
Hyouma was a panther daiyoukai and the closest thing to an heir's cousin, considering King Akushishi's other siblings had all died before siring children of their own. Hyouma's great grandfather had been a former king who perished, aeons ago decomposing into ash on the battlefield as he became one with the abyss. But unlike the other rich children, Hyouma's competition, she had a real chance. Not an arbitrary miniscule gamble, but a decent chance of becoming Queen one day so long as no direct siblings stood in her way. Within a year of Hyouma's birth her parents conceived her brother, so now they had both genders ready in the wings.
From her earliest memories Hyouma's true reason for existing wasn't kept secret from her. She was taught etiquette and charm in equal measures to a basic curriculum: fighting, magic and everything else a high society noble was to learn. She received more training and attention than her brother, since there was much less chance of an indirect descendent being accepted as king. But Hyouma's brother was a fool anyway, trifling away all his time on fun and misbehaviour. Hyouma read their history and analyzed their society. If one wanted to climb it, then reputation was everything and it was all about who you know.
After two centuries when it was revealed a single heir survived, a tike named Prince Shishima, the formerly diminished hope burned anew. Parents once again loved their offspring. Prince Shishima was the daiyoukai who would one day be king. Prince Shishima must become Hyouma's husband.
One night, when she was on the cusp of womanhood Hyouma pleaded with her father to be added to the guest list of a fancy ball. She would shine her pitch-black fur, wear her most beautiful adornments and be on her absolute best behaviour, and he agreed. Hyouma brought her two closest allies with her, other aristocrat children who were lower on the social ladder. Such calculated arrangements were commonplace in high society. They would obey and collaborate with her schemes, and in exchange their social standing was lifted by association. At being just over two millennia old they were the youngest patrons in the room, standing as a trio in the corner and forcing smiles at all who looked their way. Trying their best to not look anything but pleasant.
"What about a senator?" Rasenkara spoke up from her right with that wobbly voice. She pointed a slimy tendril toward a yellow salamander who was drinking wine and entertaining a crowd of guests. "That's Sazansho, he's head of cultural arts and the sealing corps."
"So what then? We just walk over?" Senhari responded from the left. Her voice was prickly, much like the long brown spikes that jutted everywhere off her echidna body. "Walk over to him and just rave on about his shows? Hey maybe that will work! Or maybe he'll see through it, ask us difficult questions to embarrass us."
"We cannot make a single mistake here." Hyouma said through a fake smile, raising a drink to her lips. This was her life. They could not trip here, nor drop anything, nor spill anything, nor displease anyone, nor laugh too loudly, not at all or when they're not supposed to.
Rasenkara's spiral shell was waxed to a gleam atop the snail youkai's back. So was Senhari's long bill, as all three girls were looking their best. The two faced their leader who was studying the room with red-dotted eyes. Hyouma's parents were in another corner, socializing. Chatter and mild classical music filled the ballroom along with the clink of goblets picked up and set down on silver trays carried by well-dressed imp butlers. There was the sound of scooping and pouring punch, some munching on appetizers. Gold chandeliers and silk wreaths adorned the walls over long tables and a shimmering floor. The red moon peeked from between the entry to the balcony.
Hyouma's eyes rested on the middle of the floor, where the guest of honour stood surrounded by the most people. Hyouma's whiskers twitched and she raised her glass with a clawed hand to speak discretely "...anyone else would be besides the point. If I really want to better my chances at becoming Queen one day I have to impress the majesty herself."
It was decided. But that in itself led to a huge complication. How does one impress the queen? By sucking up to her? Everyone in their whole kingdom does that. No, if Hyouma wanted to befriend the queen she would need something more. After all, why would her majesty want to talk to some random brat? Hyouma needed something to offer. But what can you give to someone who already owns the kingdom and could take anything she wanted?
At that moment the Queen looked away and her gaze swept the room. Hyouma quickly straightened and put on her best pick-me smile. She watched those eyes pass over her unseeingly. As expected, it was like she wasn't even there.
In the end the trio of girls lost their nerve and didn't approach anyone. The people attending this ball were the biggest names, renowned in their whole society. The richest of the rich, the most famous of all with the exception of some soldiers out warring for Purgatory. They would cause no offense by standing and smiling. Everyone would know their age, know who's daughter Hyouma was, and just assume she'd come on her best behaviour to experience adult events.
She could show up at the next ball, and maybe she'd be recognized and a diplomat would drift over curiously to start conversation. So this wasn't a total waste, the three kept telling themselves. But for all her training on how to act graciously, Hyouma didn't even have the nerve to start.
Then the queen exclaimed and slowly the whole room turned to look. The musicians hesitated and stopped.
She was holding a small tart in her hand and wiping crumbs from her lips "...this flavour! I haven't tasted this flavour for millenia! The way it shifts on my tongue. I remember having this when I was a girl. What is this?" Koushishi was pleased and everyone took notice.
"Thank you, my queen." A goat daiyoukai bowed. "They're made from an exceptionally rare berry native to our kingdom's forests. By some fortune a traveller came across a lone plant and it was sold between commoners before I paid a large sum for it."
Koushishi took another bite from the violet-topped pastry and savoured "...it was never my favourite, but it was a flavour I missed. Well done, governor!"
At her praise he bowed once more. The music started back up.
While Hyouma's friends watched idly with everyone else, the panther youkai felt her face go blank. That was it. That was something she could give to a woman who has everything. It wasn't something Koushishi wanted badly enough to send servants hunting for, nor was it something she'd force the governor to relinquish. But it was something she liked just enough to please her, to surprise her. And that was when Hyouma's plan started to fall into motion.
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Weeks later…
Screams of distress woke everyone sleeping in Hyouma's household. Guards with spears ran to her bedchambers and burst in the unlocked door. There on the four poster bed, behind the coverings of transparent fabric was the young panther clenching her sheets in fear. The bedroom window was open, curtains blowing. Crouching on the corner of her bed was a white bear daiyoukai whose face was frozen in shock.
"What's the meaning of this?" Pushing through as the man of the house, the tall black panther barred his fangs.
"Daddy!" Hyouma cried and jumped out of bed, running into her father's arms.
"Hey isn't that Hikumi?" One of the guards said with his spear aimed at the intruder. "That daiyoukai lord's son?" They all looked at each other.
Hikumi could only clench his jaw and say nothing, such was his own shock at getting caught.
"You menace." The male panther sneered. "Climbing through my daughter's window to catch her asleep? Wait until your parents hear about this! This will ruin you, Hikumi!"
As he was grabbed fiercely by the arms and led out he could only blubber without words. For a young noble to lust over her when he has his own harem must mean he's greedy. To attempt sneaking into her chambers must mean he lacks respect and is spoiled enough to think he's invincible. His bewilderment at getting caught must mean he didn't even consider the risks. He must be delusional, a bad egg, a monster even in the eyes of other monsters. This was how it would look.
As Hyouma cried into her father's fur coat the only fear she felt was that they might all see through her. That instead it would be her reputation ruined, and so she cried as if it was and the tears came easily and convincingly.
One week prior…
"Here ya go, thank my Uncle." Senhari opened her prickly hand and then turned hers over. In hers, Hyouma's and Rasenkara's slippery tendril were matching gold earrings. "These are enchanted, so put them on like this…" She used long claws to get them by the earholes of her small head. Their snail friend slipped them by invisible orifices near her shell. Their leader attached them to the edges of her feline ears and smiled in a mirror, turning her face to examine her looks.
Senhari explained "touch the right one and whisper, then we'll be able to hear each other. Should work perfectly for your date tonight, Hyouma."
"I don't know about this, guys…" Rasenkara was predictably nervous. Spineless in more ways than one. Her tendrils retracted back under her shell. "This is awfully risky…"
"This is completely normal." Hyouma said to her. "Cunning and betrayal is just the way of our society. And we do want to stop being tutored and join society one day, as adults. My brother and his friends came up with a plan to impersonate some mid-level Earl to sell his property and make their sliding slope longer. And do you know what my father said when he was caught?"
"What did he say?" Senhari dryly answered the cue.
"It's just kid stuff." She faced back to the mirror and picked up a grooming tool. "Learning how to scheme is just part of maturing for a youkai. Cubs make little plans for childish goals, usually stuff up and get caught, and it prepares them for the real world when scheming is necessary and a lot more dangerous."
"I guess…" Rasenkara answered.
"Either way, I need you guys to follow us to keep Unagi's servants off my back."
Unagi was an eel daiyoukai and one of their classmates. He made it his hobby to know things about everyone - a common trope, usually every demon class has one such person. Unagi was personable and eager to chat with everyone, but the truth was his character was just as slippery as his body. He called himself an informant, but really he was a gossipmonger. Regardless he'd managed to come in handy, because in exchange for information on their parents' work he told them things about a certain young daiyoukai and his friends. Particularly Hikumi, who was a Polar Bear daiyoukai who Hyouma was already on speaking terms with.
Apparently Hikumi wanted to be a soldier but refused to climb the ranks with his own efforts. He would only join the army if they accepted him as a colonel right away. A goal that was unlikely to be fulfilled.
So Hyouma used this information. She began to get friendlier and seduce him, putting on a front of naivety and weakness. If there was something their kind couldn't resist it was weakness. But even sex as a promise wouldn't be enough to tempt noble children with their own harems. So Hyouma appealed to his interests, like the best of their kind do, and told him lies about being close to and betrothed to General Rufu.
Having the ear of a daiyoukai of his standing would be enough for any opportunistic youkai to see a friendship with you as a great asset. Let alone the fact that Hyouma could become Hikumi's way to accomplish his goal of entering the military as a colonel. It seemed too good to be true. So while he aimed to manipulate her, she would manipulate him.
When rumours of their involvement started as whispers the girls realised that Unagi was ordering succubi from his harem to regularly trail classmates of interest. Another way for him to gather valuable gossip as trade for leverage. This too wasn't uncommon and Hyouma was certain that every young noble had at some point ordered their servants to spy for them, just a daily occurrence in their Machievellian world. But if people began to suspect Hyouma's true intentions then her reputation could be at stake. But this was where strategic alliances came in handy. Rasenkara and Senhari would follow them secretly, be on the lookout for hooded spies trailing them in crowds and corner them. Then Hyouma would have Hikumi all to herself.
It worked out as planned. Hyouma and Hikumi strolled arm-in-arm to a massive theatre production, the highest society ones arranged by Senator Sazansho himself.
Elsewhere Senhari caught sight of a hooded spy with skin like obsidian, following the pair at a distance. She sneakily closed the gap between them before grabbing the succubi's shoulder and spinnning her into the wall. She gasped and froze at the sight of all those needles aimed at her face. Senhari reached for her earring.
"Got her." The echidna's voice came through and Hyouma smiled. "I'll hold her here. Rasenkara, you keep following in case there's any more."
"U-understood!" The snail replied.
Following this was a garish performance in a great theater, a huge crowd all sitting around a stage with red curtains. There were bright lights and colourful costumes. Hyouma leaned her head against Hikumi's shoulder now she was confident they weren't being spied on.
Some of their classmates were yet to grow out of their adolescent brains, and she supposed Hikumi was one of them. He never saw it coming. He never asked if it was too good to be true. Instead he wanted to seduce her, seeing Hyouma as innocent and believing sex would grant him a strong foothold into her heart, and from there she would want to please him and be used for his ends. She felt certain he spent most of his days giddy over how smart he thought he was being. But Hyouma wouldn't have sex with him, she gave him a kiss and nothing more, played at being conflicted by her own lust and emotions. Guarded, which made him only want to prove his 'genuine' feelings all the more.
In the days that passed Hyouma would show signs of caving into her 'lust', pushing Hikumi further into believing he was the one playing her like a fiddle. In the end, maybe Hyouma was just the smarter of the two. She promised to leave her bedchamber window unlocked that night, the only safe place they could do it. Then not until he creeped onto the bed, inching close enough did she scream to alert the guards and land a lord's son in his current predicament.
"I want to know why you did it." Hikumi said when he caught Hyouma in the corridors.
After a lesson with the tutor he'd caught sight of her sitting alone and strolled over. He wasn't trying to look intimidating, he knew he couldn't touch her. And Hyouma was no longer trying to look shy, appearing cold and indifferent instead.
"Our involvement isn't over, I'm afraid." She said.
"My father paid yours a lot of money, so I'd say it is."
"Not if I tell my servants that you touched me under the sheets, that your fingers actually got inside my-"
"What do you want?" He crossed his arms impatiently, an animal roar leaking into his voice.
Hyouma leaned forward "you have an alliance with the governor's son. I want you to steal his father's Scientiae Bonietmali and give it to me. Then I will never speak to you again."
Hikumi stared for a while, reading her face.
She'd made an enemy, but it was worth it. And those past weeks learning cooking skills from her head chef was worth it too. Choking on clouds of baking flour. Getting egg yolk stuck in the fur of her arms. She'd practiced hard until she could make decent tarts, her two friends always snacking on the finished products after each day and giving their opinions.
And when the time came Hyouma carried a lidded tray in her arms, walking nervously toward the guards standing post outside the queen's chamber.
"Halt." An armored imp stepped forth and jostled his spear. "What business do you have here?"
"I come with a g-gift, for the queen." Hyouma swallowed then opened the tray.
The imps looked at the violet tarts and then each other. The taller one shrugged.
Word was sent and Hyouma lingered outside the great door before a guard returned and said the queen would receive her gift. Hyouma's breath caught in her throat, but she forced her legs to move and pushed through the double-doors.
Koushishi was as regal as ever, lounging back on a comfortable recliner, a book in hand while she leisurely snacked on grapes. She didn't look up nor address the visitor. Hyouma stared but when the queen just kept on reading she stepped closer with eyes lowered and set the tray on her little table. She'd lost her nerve, thinking of all the amazing and terrible things she'd heard about the great Koushishi. After a low bow she turned to leave with some disappointment.
When she was ready Koushishi turned the page, then looked over at the tray. She leaned up and reached over, lifting the lid to reveal three purple tarts.
"...Wait." The queen ordered.
Hyouma was almost at the door. She stopped and turned around "yes, my queen?"
Koushishi waved her back with a clawed hand. She examined the pastries with a sly grin, recalling the ball from weeks ago and imagining the lengths of scheming it must have took for her to get a hold of that berry plant. Hyouma stopped when close and Koushishi assessed her.
"You're quite young. Not much older than my son."
"Yes, my queen." Hyouma answered obediently.
"And to bring me such a thoughtful gesture. Was there anything you wanted to ask me for?"
Her voice was unbelievably persuasive. Hyouma knew that telling the truth - your son's hand in marriage - would be an outrageous and humiliating request to make, all for some desserts. She'd be laughed out of the chamber, Koushishi sending her off with a wave of her hand, and she would never have another opportunity to impress the queen again. Maybe this is what Koushishi wanted her to say. The urge to speak was so compelling that Hyouma said the first excuse that popped into her head.
"A duel."
"A duel?"
"Yes, your majesty."
Koushishi snapped her book shut, curiosity roused.
"Very well then. But first," she stood and lifted the tray, pulling back the lid and presenting the tarts before her. "After you, dear."
Without wanting to disobey the queen Hyouma took one and bit it. It was a little too crumbly to be perfect and she studied the unique taste of the berries, the way the flavour seemed to roll rhythmically against her tongue. Then Koushishi also picked one up and ate, pausing after the first bite.
"Did you make this yourself?"
"Yes, my queen."
"Very well… I shall humour your request for a duel." She devoured her tart then bit into the third. Koushishi walked to position herself and Hyouma did too. Tables rose up between them and after shuffling and setting their cards down shields appeared. Hyouma stuffed in the last of her tart. Koushishi swallowed her mouthful then set the confection down. They drew their hands.
The queen went first, of course, charging with the light-darkness of her Gekko Kingdom cards.
Hyouma scanned her hand and drew without haste. She was timing herself with calm breaths. Two slow breaths was the limit for her turn. Any longer may touch on the Queen's patience and cause her displeasure, which must be avoided at all costs.
Behind her pensive face her thoughts felt like rabid bees in her skull. Do I lose on purpose? I cannot possibly win. But I must not bore her either. The tarts were only a step through the door of her company. To be worth remembering Hyouma must inspire some degree of fascination in the queen. It wouldn't be enough to just give her a win, in the same way it wouldn't be enough to suck up to her like everyone else. Hyouma had to give Koushishi not just a win, but a win she would enjoy.
The Great Unknown Theme from Chicken Invaders III
On the exhale of the second breath Hyouma charged, the table shining green-blue.
"Team Wave, I see." Koushishi commented before charging again.
"Yes, my queen." When she was sure Koushishi was done with her turn she reached for her deck and drew. Charged nature mana then "I summon Tweeting Bluebird." A blue and white bird adorned with gold flapped in front of her. A blocker on 3000. Hyouma bowed her head. "Turn end."
Then passed another round of charging and Hyouma's decision was solidified: she would give the queen a slight challenge and then lose.
"I cast Mujun! Gekko MAX to destroy Bluebird and return a shield to my hand." From a gold sun leaked purple mist that rolled forth in spirals before choking Hyouma's bird. A shield dissolved and a card appeared in her hand. "Turn end."
"I summon Umakin Project!" It was a horse-being with sea-creature scales and a green underbelly. Blue and pink fire whisped as its mane and tail. "I get to look at my top two cards… one goes to my hand and the other to my mana. I keep this one and charge Rolemodeltiger." As Hyouma kept a careful eye on Koushishi she gave a quick nod. Hyouma blurted "It also gets 1000 for each mana card and powered breaker. Turn end." That was too much - worrying that the queen may forget her card's effects. She shut her mouth and dipped her head.
Koushishi drew and spoke sharply "I charge and end my turn."
As Hyouma drew she felt her heartbeat. She knew what she was planning to do this turn, but first "I summon a second Umakin Project and use Buzzrender 2." Her six cards tapped as her Cyber Command was joined by a twin. Hyouma moved a little faster this time "I use its effect twice. Draw two. I charge Geotajio. Draw two, again. I charge Faerie Life." And now… "Umakin Project attacks her highness's shields!" It reared up then trotted forth, headbutting through two middle panels. Hyouma couldn't believe she'd ordered an attack on the queen. Her eyes were wide as she carefully watched Koushishi's face. An unmoved expression and then the two cards appeared in her hand. A little frown. Hyouma felt her insides drop, the queen was displeased. Hyouma bowed "T-turn end!"
"The time for Plebian games is over. I cast Heaven's Gate!" The spell shone bright yellow in her clawed hand, bright enough to make Hyouma wince. "I summon two Moon, Destruction, Satan and Angels!" The King Master of the Gekko Kingdom emerged as a pair, reflecting Hyouma's twin creatures. It was a purple torso with cannon limbs and gold arches on its back. 11,500 power each. "So tell me child, I doubt you're in possession of Team Wave's leader. King Manifest?"
"No, my queen." The ruler of the nature-water kingdom like her resembled a lion.
"I didn't think so. It must be in your father's possession. Yoruma, right?"
"Yes, my queen." As Hyouma saw her opponent grinning at the field she knew she hadn't truly angered Koushishi by attacking, she'd only made her want to win even more.
"I regain four shields. Then as I end my turn each Satan and Angel breaks two of my own shields. This triggers Oshiokimoon and breaks two of your shields as well!" Four sapphire panels were built then two broke apart. The creature kings both raised cannons and gunned down two shields. One of the shields rewound into a blue card that Hyouma took.
"Shield trigger, ASAP Fryoris." A squirrel rode in on a surfboard with gills and an octopus tail. "I send back one Satan and Angel to your hand." As it arced around the wave kept moving, crashing against one of the giants and blowing it back into the queen's hand.
"Tch."
Hyouma drew her main finisher and stared at the battlezone. Her uncertainty almost broke into internal panic. She could begin to lose the duel here, but has it been enough? Was the duel so far enough to fascinate her highness? Hyouma didn't think so, she needed a little more. But the queen was not vapid. If Hyouma's self-sabotaging later became obvious the queen would know, and everyone knew Koushishi hated to lose duels. She was gambling a chance to earn the queen's favour with her very life. Hyouma decided to keep going.
Varcolac (Orchestral Version)
"I summon Rolemodeltiger!" The 14,000 giant tiger emerged in the chamber with a shaking roar. Its body was cyclonic, fur twirling like blue winds. It had digital honeycomb-pattern wings. Koushishi's eyes widened.
Even without Buzzrender, Hyouma could bring out another creature from her mana so long as it cost 9 or less. She then realised her mistake. If she called out a second Rolemodeltiger she could then bring out a third creature this turn, making her victory almost assured. I'm still young, I'm nervous about facing the queen… Hyouma was making internal excuses for her intentional misplay, pretending that choosing a different creature was merely an accident.
Saizoumist Dolge appeared between them, a blue giant on 7000. "I regain a shield then one goes to my mana next turn. Okay…" As she assessed the game there was no getting around it. "Rolemodeltiger has Mach Fighter so… I attack Satan and Angel!" The card turned and it pounced through the air, crashing down on the queen's most legendary creature. Now both were gone. "First Umakin double breaks!" It galloped through her left-most shields and there were no triggers. Hyouma's instincts were repeating in time with her racing heart: mistake, mistake, mistake. But in her head she was sticking to her plan. "Second Umakin double break!" The last panels were charged through.
"Shield trigger!" While Koushishi felt relief, her opponent felt much more. "Mujun! Gekko MAX rebuilds a shield."
"I-I end."
"Not daring to risk breaking my last one, eh? Fine! I summon Moon, Destruction, Satan and Angel!" The other copy of her Ten Kingdom's leader returned. "I gain two shields then lose one, and so do you!" As the queen ended her turn, bullets sprayed through Hyouma's third shield. The despot was frowning.
If there weren't triggers hidden in Koushishi's remaining shields then Hyouma would win, and for an aristocrat child to defeat their glorious ruler would be blasphemy. It didn't matter that nobody was here to see them. Hyouma would miss her chance and lose all hope of keeping favour with the queen.
Hyouma drew and decided she couldn't play another creature if she had any hope of losing. Luckily she could charge Faerie Life then "I cast Mana Has Become Haywire! I use Buzzrender an additional two times and charge three mana." She dropped Wald Bracchio, Bainaradonden and another copy of that spell onto her table.
"So now with 12 mana your Umakins both have 12,000 power. Stronger than Satan and Angel. Impressive, child."
Hyouma hesitated with her mouth open. In all her worrying about doing whatever she could to convincingly miss the win she hadn't realised that move could be strategic. Regardless of her somewhat stern tone the queen still praised her, which while likely an act at least meant she wasn't enraged by the situation.
Hyouma closed her mouth then started again "Umakin, double break her last shields!"
"Oshiokimoon. Satan and Angel breaks your final shields as well!" Chaos erupted on the battlefield between them. Hyouma turned away and as the cards appeared in Hyouma's hand she received no triggers. She quickly spun back to face the Queen.
"Unfortunately you were too hasty…" Koushishi smirked with another brightly glowing card in hand. "Heaven's Gate! I bring out Death King, Destruction King of Darkness and Welkius, Assault Gate Elemental!" The first was a statue wrapped in yellow tape surrounded by floating hands of light and darkness. The second was a mecha dragon with glowing purple swords. "When I play Welkius I draw, then I can bring out another blocker. I choose Emeralda, Pitch Dragon Elemental and regain a shield!" The smaller musical dragon joined her other creatures.
It took a great deal of effort to mask her joy with disappointment. It may not have even been convincing, but the queen was busy setting up her field anyway.
Once she was done Hyouma continued "Rolemodeltiger, final break!" Her favourite card stomped over and swung a torpedo-spinning paw.
"Oshiokimoon!" Koushishi declared while barring herself from the glass. "Death King taps your second Umakin and it doesn't untap next turn!"
With just ASAP Fryoris on 2000 power all Hyouma could do was end her turn.
Koushishi gave a fanged grin of satisfaction. The turnaround, all the more satisfying because she had to fight for it. "I cast Kenzan Charger and take Kaiserbarra, War Dragon Elemental to my hand. I cast another Mujun! Gekko MAX to destroy Rolemodeltiger and regain a shield. Satan and Angel, todomeda!"
"Ninja Strike! Basilisk, Blue Dragon stops Welkius from attacking and blocks Satan and Angel!" The amphibious dragon threw kunai that embedded into the machine angel before folding up and taking the spray of bullets.
"It's pointless! Death King todomeda!"
"Ninja Strike! Hayabusamaru, Lightfang Ninja blocks the attack!" A gold flyer arced in the way, getting zapped by the magic from her statue's floating hands before exploding.
Koushishi was losing patience again "Emeralda, todomeda!"
This time Hyouma scrunched her eyes shut, getting a hard whack from the musical dragon's keyboard staff. Her cards scattered and as she slid back on the tiled floor there were spots in her vision. She blinked across at a neighbouring pillar before Koushishi's laughter echoed about the chamber. There was a touch of insanity to it.
"My queen...?"
"Thank you, that was most fun and you've proven yourself to be a surprising visitor." Koushishi wiped under her eyes. "I recognized you from our extended family. You were... Hiyoma was it?"
"Hyouma..." She answered while getting back to her feet, giving another bow.
"Hyouma, yes. Well I will relieve you now, child and get back to my book. I hope you do come back to entertain me again soon. Farewell." With an elegant wave Koushishi stepped back to her recliner, popping the last of her second tart into her mouth.
Hyouma gave a deep bow that was ignored, then made for the double-doors. She was still in too much shock to process. The groundwork had been laid. Her plan, a success?
⟨author's note⟩
Acumashindorballomu made Chronicles of Shishima. This is my first arc here about his story, which I know he's very excited for. He also helped with making the duel earlier today as well. Seeing as this is already my longest ever Duel Masters chapter, I won't say much. Here's hoping I've got this right and minimal changes will be necessary. See you in the next one!
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