If you've followed Arc-VRAINS, you'll know that some of the characters have a different deck. This will feature two of them facing off against their original Version.
L1 Emma's POV (N/A whether Canon or Arc-VRAINS)
"A new virus?", I asked.
"Yes, it seems a Hanoi member is planting one in a rarely visited location in Link VRAINS.", Akira Zaizen said.
"But why would they specifically choose an uncommon Location. Surely they must have ways to do in more crowded Areas.", I wondered.
"It's very suspicious and might be a trap, but at the same time, it's not something we should just ignore."
"And I'm gonna be the one taking care of that, I suppose. But how much? Since this is, as you said, most likely a trap…."
It could just as easily be an unexperienced new member, and that's not exactly far off, but that wouldn't be a profitable Scenario, so I'll ignore that possibility in this little negotiation
"It will be more than double the usual payment.", well that was easy, "I doubt they would make a critical error at this stage."
Well, if Zaizen wants to be very cautious, I'll let him. After gaining the exact coordinates from him, I appeared at what seemed to be an abandoned old bar, with a cherry tree in front of it.
Something is off. They could detect the virus, but it is unnoticable when simply standing next to it? Whether their plans are complex or stupid, they're even moreso than I would initially have assumed if the detectability of the Virus is so erratic.
I stepped into the bar and saw a man with a White suit with yellow outlines and black stripes on his chest.
"I assume you are the Knight of Hanoi that is setting up a virus here?", I asked sarcastically.
"Indeed, and I am afraid you fell right into our trap.", he chuckled, "Honestly, your own suspicions winded up backfiring-"
"Are you sure it isn't yours?", I asked.
"What do you mean?", he asked.
"I used a simple instant deactivation program. And it seems that your Virus is destroyed now.", I did say that it could have been a simple inexperienced member, but he didn't look like an inexperienced goon, still I couldn't pass the chance to exploit this tiny gloating session.
"Oh, were this virus is going, a simple activation of an instant counter program won't suffice.", he said.
L2 Spectre Arc-VRAINS
I stood in the same area, except that it had been turned into a plain white Battlefield and my duel disk had already been activated.
Spectre (4000lp) vs Spectre clone vs (4000lp) vs Ghost Girl (4000lp) vs Ghost Girl clone (4000lp)
and the cloning part of the Virus also seemed to work magnificently!
"What is this?", I heard someone with my own voice say.
"So this was the virus' purpose.", one of the Ghost Girls muttered, "But do you really think I was allowing this to happen out of mistake?"
"Oh, so did you need to see what my Virus did in Person? Did your curiosity prevent you from enacting a better plan? Or was that just now, a bad bluff?", I asked her mockingly.
"Whatever happened just now.", the other Ghost Girl said, "and whatever brought me to this place, I won't let you get away with this!"
Ts, as if I couldn't see she only acts for the money, if it didn't get her a load of cash, she wouldn't try to stop or punish me.
"Well, I for one am NOT taking part in this Business!", my fake version insisted, "I know everything there is to know about Master Revolver and he never ordered me to use some kind of cloning virus!"
"I would not leave, if I was you.", I said.
"I would do the same in your place.", one of the Ghost Girls warned him, "Do you want to let a clone run around freely? He might try to replace you, or you could claim the Virus for yourself and steal it, after you finished this duel."
"I know you're trying to trick me, but I realize my short moment of stupidity.", my fake admitted, "Well, if you aren't a pale imitation of mine, you know that Master Revolver has ways to silence other duelists."
"So, my fake gets hostile and will not join me, well it's still in the Research stage. But you and the Ghost Girls should know one thing. There won't be an escape if you loose.",I revealed.
Part of the experimentation with this new Virus is to increase the roster of Hanoi without just relying on people with a hatred for SOL tech, but the reason for luring in SOL's Bounty hunters is to erase them, so get a Little Bonus apart from the experiment's data.
"But what if I can offer you a deal? I will team up against your clone and the clone that knows about this situation. If we win, then you will get of scot-free.", the Ghost Girl said.
"A tag duel? Fine then, this will make thing simpler.", I answered, but of course I am not stupid enough to take this offer seriously and she probably knows as well, this'll be a game of who betrays the other one first.
after dispatching the initial enemy?
or maybe even before that?
"I don't mind this team-up either.", the Ghost Girl that I met before activating the Virus said.
"You're saying that because you believe that fake over here and prefer to let what you presume the actual fake survive? But I will agree to these terms. But don't assume that I will let you escape afterwards. There is no need for any false pretenses, we will simply defeat our common enemies first and then duel each other", my copy insisted.
"Well then, let me add that none of us can attack in our first turns, but we are free to attack each other should we want to break this temporary team-up. And our fields will connect to our clones instead of our Partners, just to make it fair."
After my fake's nonsensical rambling, let's rephrase the match-up in a way that you, as readers can understand.
Spectre Arc-VRAINS (4000lp) and Ghost Girl (4000lp) Arc-VRAINS vs Canon Spectre (4000lp) and Canon Ghost Girl (4000lp)
Not that I am incredibly familiar with why you would call us that.
"I will not leave things up to chance and begin this!", my copy declared, "I activate Unexpected Dai to special summon Sunseed Genius Loci from my deck! (ATK: 0)"
"I am suprised you play a deck that's 10 years old.", the Ghost Girl partnered with me remarked.
"Pah! I have long discarded this deck! And besides, none of the cards in the archetype actually require a sunseed Monster, only normal plant-type monsters, so I would use Angel Trumpeter in this deck!", Still, this Virus shouldn't give the copies the original's older decks.
And how can the Virus do something like that by accident?
"No Sunseeds? You don't use this deck at all?", my copy said with disgust, "Now I know you're not a copy of me. You're just a stranger that Looks like me!"
"So the clone believes that this is real appearance out of VRAINS?", I said, "The clone virus definetly needs to be improved. Go on with your outdated dueling! And I assume Clone Girl will use the 10-years ago deck of the real one?"
"That would mean Altergeists. But even with 10 years between them, I wouldn't take this lightly.", my partner warned me.
"The same goes for Sunavalon, and you will find out now, why! I normal summon the second Loci from my hand and now appear, circuit that lights our paths! Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning condition is one plant-type normal monster! I set Sunseed Genius Loci in the Link Marker! Circuit Combine! Come forth, Link 1, Sunavalon Dryas! (ATK:0 Marker: Down)"
Both of his monsters are perfectly within the same column, but I know he won't just leave them there, even if he is unaware of Mekk-Knights.
"And now, once more! The summoning conditions are two plant-type monsters, one of them being a Link Monster! I set, Sunavalon Dryas and Sunseed Genius Loci in the Link Markers! Come forth, Link 2, Sunavalon Dryades! (ATK: 0 Markers: Bottom-left, Bottom-right)
I set two cards and activate Backup Squard and end my turn."
"Oh, that was a card I never used. So while outdated, I guess you're not a complete failure. Well, then let me see how well you fare in comparison to these cards!
Since you have two cards in the column of Dryades, I Special summon Mekk-Knight Indigo Eclipse into it. (ATK:2400)
But he won't stay there for long, by which I mean, I use his effect to move himself to the opposite end of the board.
Now that the column is empty, I will follow up by summoning Mekk Knight Blue Sky!"
"So, we really are not one and the same.", my clone concluded.
"Well, as 2 of us are just copies, that is to be expected.", the Ghost Girl on the opposing side said sarcastically, "but how different the decks between you are is beyond strange, even if this virus failed, there shouldn't be such a drastical difference in decks between us all"
"I'm as suprised as you are, but we will only solve this with the duel, so allow me to continue with this! Blue Sky's effect allows me to add one Mekk-Knight for every card in the same column to my hand, which will be 2 in this case.", I continued, "Then I will summon Vylon Tetra! (ATK: 900)"
"That's preposterous!", My fake gasped.
"Didn't you already see that your look-alike is not playing with the same deck, despite being an alleged clone?", the Ghost Girl on my side wondered.
"It's more than that! Not only have you forsaken-", my clone began.
"We only share appearance. The clone Virus didn't work out. Get over it.", geez, I didn't think my clone would be this crazy and annoying, "I use Tetra and Blue Sky to Link Summon Code Talker. (ATK: 1300 Markers: Up, Down)
Now, I bet you are suprised about me owning a Cyberse Monster, aren't you?"
"You're not wrong.", the opposing Ghost Girl said, "I have seen Revolver using them, but they shouldn't be common possesions amongst you."
"According to my knowledge the cyberse cards should be next to erased.", my Partner said, "But it seems there are surviving cards. And you took them for yourself."
"I hope you will not bother needlessly pointing out how your Revolver obviously has a different stance on the cyberse cards?, I said to my counterpart.
"There is no need to. We barely have cyberse cards, but the ones that we do, are used to intentionally fight poison with poison.", it responded.
" I will then summon Purple Nightfall, (ATK: 2500) who lets me banish my shifting Knight to add a different one from my deck to the Hand, and I instantly summon Orange Sunset! (DEF: 3000)
I discard a Level 3 Vylon monster to use Overdone Burial to revive Tetra. I will tune Tetra and Orange Sunset to Synchro summon Psy-Framelord Omega (ATK: 2800) Now Code Talker gains 500 ATK (ATK: 1300-1800) and cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects. I also pay 500 (Spectre Arc-VRAINS LP: 4000-3500) life Points and equip Tetra to Purple Nightfall. Then I will set two cards and end my turn.", I said.
"My turn, draw!", The opposing Ghost Girl declared, "I start by summoning Altergeist Marionetter (ATK: 1600) and use its effect to set one Altergeist trap from my deck-"
"I don't think so!", I interrupted, "I use Solemn Strike! For just 800 life Points I can negate that effect and destroy your card!"(Spectre Arc-VRAINS LP: 3500-2700)
And as soon as it hit the field, the green demon burst into pieces as it got struck by the divine lightning.
"I will follow up with my Twin Twister, I discard Altergeist Wisp to destroy the remaining cards in your backrow! I set two cards and end my turn.", she stated.
Why would she not use Twin Twister before doing anything? While These deck changes COULD have a positive effects, the Intelligence of the clones should not be any less than the original, no matter how small the difference. I guess we can ignore this particular Ghost Girl for the time being.
"I'll begin, draw!", my partner said, "I start by activating Dragonic Diagramm. It gives every True King and Draco 300 ATK allows me to destroy True King Bahrstos the Fathomer in my hand to add Metaltron XII to it! As Bahrstos has been destroyed I can also Special summon Agnimazud the Vanisher (ATK: 2700-3000) from my deck, as he is a Wyrm-type of different Attribute than Bahrstos. "
"Effects that get activated upon destruction.. A formidable opponent.", the opponent that isn't my Imitation analyzed, "though I assume most of them are correlated to a monter with a different Attribute, I doubt it will pose much of a hindrance to it. I could see myself using a deck with power this strong."
"Next, I activate True King Heritage and The Monarchs Stormforth, this allows me to Tribute Dryades for a Tribute summon, but my Monster requires three Tributes, which in turn can -apart from monsters- be Continous spells or traps!"
"What!? I need to see if cards like that really exist our there.", the opposing Ghost Girl gasped.
"I can see why Spectre is so dumbfounded at the differences between him and the clone, even his anger is exaggerated. I would never let my demeanor falter, even if I would duel against a much stronger deck.
The monster that I will summon is the searched Metaltron XII the true Draco combatant! (ATK: 3000)"
A golden dragonic Knight appeared, with wings made of something resembling spikes made of golden fire.
"And this Monster is now immune to spell and monster effects, furthermore, if you do overcome it, my 'partner' will get to special summon a monster from her extra deck, except for face-up pendulum monsters, Link Monsters and those with a light or dark Attribute.", I explained.
"Do you think I am intimidated now?", my counterpart asked, "For all I know, it just has a high amount of attack Points and is too protected too use the secondary effect reliably. And I am rarely one to use brute force, if you understand anything about our old deck."
"And I have my ways to play around this card, after all, you didn't manage to tribute a trap card for it.", the opposing Ghost Girl said.
"You shouldn't be so sure that you won't loose.", my partner chuckled, "I continue with another True Draco Heritage, now since both monsters and spell cards were sacrificed during this duel, I can draw two cards!
Heritage also can give me an additional normal summon! I sacrifice it to summon Dinomight Knight, the true Dracofighter! (ATK: 2500-2800) If you do even one thing outside of our turns, he allows me to put a spell or trap card from this archetype onto the field. Also, Heritage allows me to destroy a spell or trap card when it is released, in this case, my clone's backrow!
I set one card of my own and end my turn!"
"And my turn once more!", my counterpart declared.
"Excuse me, but I use Omega's ability to banish itselt and one random card from your Hand for one turn. Of course at the risk of Code Talker being weakened (Code Talker ATK: 1800-1300)", I interrupted.
"However, you did not banish the most important card. I activate Zereturn!", he said, revealing a card that depicted, Effect Veiler, a sheep token and Ojama Yellow amongst others escaping from the graveyard in call of the haunted, "This will allow me to revive both of my Genius Locis. I will Link Climb again into Dryades and Then use Sunbloom Doom on Metaltron to gain 3000 life Points! (Canon Spectre LP: 4000-7000)
Perhaps I was a little bit greedy to not use it earlier on a Mekk-Knight, but I won't make this mistake twice! Also, since both monsters summoned by Zereturn left the field, I can banish it to draw one card for every monster I initially summoned."
"However, now I place True King's return on my field and with it, I can revive Agnimazud.", my Ghost Girl countered.
"You won't break through my defenses as easily as you think. I set two cards and end my turn here.", my clone concluded.
"And it's the original's turn again. My dear column mover now Returns to the field as does Omega and the card he banished. I destroy one of your set cards with my Mystical Space Typhoon.
Now I set the Link markers with Code Talker and Indigo Eclipse to Link Summon, Mekk Knight of the Morning Star (ATK: 2000 Markers: Bottom-left, Bottom-right) His effect allows me to discard one Mekk-Knight and exchange it with another one or a World Legacy card. I exchange Orange Sunset for World Legacy Key! I place it in Dryades' column, which means the Trap Card in there will be negated as soon as you use it.
But it's not all, I use my banisher and Morning Star to Link summon, Spectrum Supreme! (ATK: 3000 Markers: Bottom-left, Down, Bottom-right)"
Images of all seven Mekk-Knights appeared, which turned themselves into the colors of the rainbow and from the rainbow, Spectrum Supreme emerged, made out of the armors off all previous Mekk-Knights.
"A monster named after yourself?", the opposing Ghost Girl questioned.
"Oh, I would appreciate a card like that, I'll admit it.", my clone said, "But while before I just 'disliked' that we are supposed to be 'clones' even though we're not identical at all or even just similar, I'm starting to despise you.
I remember all cards in my deck by name, yet you refer to them as 'banisher' and 'column mover'"
"Oh, I meant banish&search for the first one. And have you never heard of nicknames?", I sighed in exasperation, though of course I don't actually have such an attachment to the cards.
"Your remarks aren't as smart as you think they are. Just end your turn.", my clone said bitterly.
"I won't. I attack you directly with Spectrum Supreme, which he can do as long as his own column is empty!", I declared.
"WHAT?", everyone gasped.
"No need to denote the damage, as it will be recovered instantly. Also I can draw three cards from my backup squad. Oh, and Dryades lets me summon Sunvine Healer from my extra deck, which lets me recover 300 life Points for every of Dryades' Link Arrows (Canon Spectre LP: 7000-7600)"
"I would like to know about the purpose of that as well. Didn't you know what your old deck did earlier?", my Partner demanded.
"It's simple really. His extra deck isn't infinite and Sunvines don't have many offensife capabilities. And I just don't think it can compete with the newest kind of deck, so I don't see it as a huge risk.
Also, I repeat this with Psy-Framelord Omega!"
It may not do any lasting damage, but blasting this not even pale Imitation felt sooo good.
"And after nullifying the damage and drawring two cards, I sumon a second Healer! (Canon Spectre LP: 7600-8200)", he said, getting surrounded by a green glow, after being hit by the green lightning of Omega's attack, "And you will regret your reckless attacks now, as I activate Sunvine Revenge Growth! Since I took 4000 Points of damage this turn, it allows me to place any spell or trap from this archetype on the field. It even lets me shuffle back Supply Squad before doing so!, meaning that I can place an additional one! I choose Sunvine Shrine and three copies of Glorious Growth! What are your words now?
"Please!", I said, "It needs you to take 4000 Points of damage! A card isn't good if your opponent has to consider your deck incredibly weak and outdated to use it! I set one card and end my turn."
"But due to your anger at your badly created clone, we are now unable to attack it without dealing huge amounts of damage to ourselves.", my partner pointed out.
"You're overestimating him, if he doesn't magically draw into a card that makes us attack into him, we aren't in trouble and can just take out your clone, esides, it's not like those cards are invincible.", I argued.
"My turn, draw! I use Altergeist Manifestation-"
"And I place True King Apocalypse on the field, due to Dinomight's effect! Now I can revive Bahrstos!"
"-and I revive Altergeist Marionetter. Since I activated a trap card, I can special summon Multifaker from my Hand! And with his ability I call out Silqitous from my deck! Silquitous now Returns one Glorious Growth of the field as well as my Multifaker!"
"What the- that's my card! At least destroy the clones before you turn on me!", my clone protested.
"Or bounce back Shrine as that card has a debilitating discard cost.", I said.
Ignoring both of us, the other Ghost Girl continued: "And now I normal summon Multifaker again! Now I set the link markers with Altergeist Multifaker and Silqitous! Open before me, the circuit that connects the parallel universes! Link Summon! Altergeist Hextia (ATK: 1500 Markers: right, down)
Hextia gains ATK equal to the one of the Marionetter it Points to! (ATK: 1500-3100)"
"Then I'll use Omga's ability on you, before you use that last card in your Hand.", I countered.
"And now I'll attack Spectrum Supreme with Hextia! (Spectre Arc-VRAINS LP: 2700-2600) And with Marionetter directly. (Spectre Arc-VRAINS LP: 2600-1000)"
"You think that bothers me, but I removed Omega from the field intentionally, so you would non-lethally take out a huge chunk of my life points. I activate Vylon Creation! If I am reduced below 1000 life Points, I can summon any number of Vylon monsters from my deck! I choose one cube, one hept and three prisms!
See, this card doesn't need lethal damage and the life Point cost does aid in its activation!"
"I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but the same counts for your 'clones' Sunvine Revenge Growth. In fact, Vylon Creation is worse, since it doesn't let you shuffle back monsters that you don't need right now. I end my turn", the opposing Ghost Girl said.
"Now, while this attack did do more good than harm to me-", I said, ignoring my opponents foolish words, "We should focus each on our respective other self before we resolve our Dispute-"
"I'm sorry, but I don't care for your anger at not getting a perfect copy.", my partner said coldly, "I defeat your clone, then mine and after that we'll face offf against each other. My turn, draw! I activate the trap, True King's counterattack!
Since I control four different True King monsters I can banish all cards my opponent controls! I choose Spectre's clone!"
"I will survive regardless. the defense of Sunvine is much stronger than you think.", my clone warned us.
"Oh? We'll see about that. I activate my Supply squad. I sacrifice the traps and Supply Squad to summon an additional Metaltron XII. My traps also allow me to destroy Marionetter and my own Bahrstos who now will allow me to summon lythosagym. (ATK: 2500-2800) I enter the Battle Phase!"
"You have put your clone in a bad position, it would be smarter to strike-", I argued, but was interrupted.
"We never said how long or briedly we would work together, did we? Turns out, It is sooner rather than later. I attack the Sunvine Spectre directly with Lithosagym! (Canon Spectre LP: 8400-5300) Then with Agnimazud-"
"I discard my Sunseed Spore! In either Players turn, I can discard her, to summon up to three normal plant type monsters with the same name in defense Position! I choose my Genius Loci's of course!", he said and the three seeds sprouted out of the blank ground.
Didn't he say something about Genius Loci being needed after all? It seems he forgot he wanted to prove that to me.
"I destroy them with with Dinomight, Agnimazud and the first Metaltron and attack directly with the second!, she said and these pesky monsters got ripped into pieces as soon as they reappeared,"I'll attack him with the other dragons and leave Metaltron for the final direct attack! (Canon Spectre LP: 5300-2000)
Finally, I overlay Agnimazud and Bahrstos to summon True King of Calamity! (ATK: 2900-3200) I end my turn with that."
"Well, looks like I am the one better off after our partners decided to jump into our fight.", my clone said.
"Keep in mind that the duel isn't finished at all.", I said coldly, "Besides, your whole field got banished."
"But things will go against your favour soon. And I will put you to a test, to see if you really are me.", he claimed. Preposterous.
"The cloning virus needs a lot of polish, so of course we aren't the same. And I remember using it, so I am the real Spectre by Default.", I counterargued.
"Reality isn't as simple as you wish.", what a meaningless phrase, "My turn, draw! I use Pot of Avarice, I shuffle every Genius Loci, Dryas and Dryades into my deck and draw two cards!"
"I will use the effect of True King of Calamities! I detach an overlay Unit and turn all your Monsters into an Attribute of my choosing. Your Monsters will turn into it and all with that Attribute have their effects negated. I choose Earth."
"Really?", the other Ghost Girl wondered, "If he has an effect that needs Earth monsters on the field, he can still use them. And most of his effects were activated on the field."
"He only uses one attribute of monster. This is the lower risk.", I explained, "Besides, you clones should just be glad we aren't making the perfect plays."
"Oh, and I will make the most of any misplays.", my clone assured, "But first, I activate Seed of Deception to summon Genius Loci to the field, then I use Inferno Reckless summon, to bring out the rest!",
"Aren't you the one making an obvious misplay?", my partner wondered, "I am now allowed to bring out another Metaltron, even if he is just a beatstick now (ATK: 3000-3300)."
"Be patient. I use all of them to summon Sunavalon Dryanome! (ATK: 0 Markers: Down, Bottom-left, Bottom-right) Then I activate another Shrine and revive another Loci! And once more I use Reckless summon, but this time, you won't get any monsters off of it!
I use a Sunseed to summon Healer, and use Healer and Dryanome to summon Dryatrentiay! (ATK: 0 Markers: Down, Up, Bottom-left, Bottom-right)Pay Attention to this card. Now I use the leftover two seeds to simply summon Sunavalon Daphne ( ATK: 0 Markers: Left, right)
"Ok, pray tell, what this horrible move, even under the circumstance of being unable to use effects mean?", I asked, I may have been more than miffed at this clone, but he really seems to want to piss me off even more than he already did.
"You don't recognize her?", my fake asked back.
"It's the final Sunavalon with the ridiculous name. Nothing more, nothing less.", I answered.
"Does it not remind you of your mother?", my clone asked further.
"What.", everyone else said in succession.
"Don't you remember? We were young, we had nobody else, we were stranded in the woods, but that tree it protected us. Until it was cut down by those awful humans."
He can't be serious. He just can't. I'll tell Revolver to scrap this whole project. My clone somehow had my original past replaced with that of a deranged TREEHUGGER?! I will eradicate this mock-off with no restraint.
"I'm going to tell you what everyone thinks of this story.", I said, trying to contain my rage at this insanity, "You are insane. It could not possibly be true. You just had a bad Fever Dream. Or were stoned at a worringly young age, if you were real that is. And you think YOU are the real one of us? Please, I've seen fictional characters from the most non-sensical works that have a more credible backstory than your 'past'."
"Ever heard of 'truth is stranger than fiction'?", my clone said, staying calm, probably thinking that I am the mad one for not believing him.
"Yes. And you're proving that old adage more than wrong.", I said bitterly, "My turn, draw. I tune Hept and and Cube to summon Black rose Moonlight Dragon (ATK: 2400) into the zone that Dryatrentiay Points to and bounce it back to your Hand."
"I use the effect of Sunseed Pomegranate in my graveyard, I banish it face-down. Now I can gain life Points equal the damage I would take, before an attack would hit. And whenever a Sunvine Link Monster leaves the field, I can summon a Monster with one marker less from my extra deck. In this case another Dryanome!
As aggressive as you are against the Incredible, venting your frustrations will only be counterproductive."
"I overlay two other Vylon Hepts to summon Castel, the Skyblaster Musketeer. (ATK: 2000) I detach both overlay Units to shuffle back Dryanome.", I continued mercilessly.
"Then Dryades will take the place."
"I use Omega's ability to take a card of your Hand and then discard Wattkinetic Puppeteer to put Dryades into the zone that was below it. Then I use my remaining to monsters to Link summon Akashic Magician (ATK: 1700 Markers: Up, Down) which will bounce back your Dryades."
"Dryas will follow."
"And now I will attack directly with it. (Canon Spectre LP: 2600-4300)"
"Due to Pomegranate, Dryas will essentially heal me instead of just undoing damage. Also, I get to summon Sunvine Gardna.(ATK: 600 Marker: Up)"
Emma's POV (Arc-VRAINS) L3
"What was the point of all this?", I asked my "partner", "Even if we're just trying to get rid of these 'clones', and not actually working together, why did you pull that off?"
"You will know.", Spectre said calmly, "the duel isn't over yet. I end my turn."
"Then it's my turn, draw!", my counterpart said.
"However, you won't be doing much, since I detach Calamities other Overlay unit and declare dark!", I immediately countered, before she had a chance to summon a Monster.
"Then I'll just set a card.", she said.
"And it's my turn! I draw and use Forbidden Chalice on Sunvine Gardna! (ATK: 600-1000) and set one card.
Then I attack it with one Metaltron!" (Canon Spectre LP: 3900-1900)
"Is this really it?", the presumably cloned Spectre muttered, "Am I going to be erased? I'm sorry Master Revolver."
"The only one apologizing will be me, for how much of a failure this project was.", the presumably real Spectre scoffed.
"Before you take me out.", the cloned one said, turning to me, "let me tell my 'real version' one thing. While I may be the cloned one, you are not a true duelist. You mix two wholly different decks and more together, but I can't see them harmonize with each other.
If I were to ever make the Sunseeds, Avalons and Vines share a place with a different deck, I would make sure they are in perfect sync.
And I would treat each card with respect-"
"Enough, Sure the game's fun, but there's no need to get all sentimental about pieces of cardboard.", my partner spat, "Go finish him off, Ghost Girl."
"Fine. I attack you with the Metaltron that lacks Immunities!" (Canon Spectre LP: 1900-3300=0)
As his life points went to zero, the fake Spectre's Avatar turned into dust within a few seconds.
"That will be an easy decision. I attack my clone with Calamities!", I continued.
"I activate Dimensional Wall! During this turn, all damage you deal to me will be reflected back to you! (Ghost Girl Arc-VRAINS LP: 4000-800)"
"Perhaps we both have been underestimating you.", I muttered, "I end my turn."
"And my turn will be rather simple.", the remaining Spectre said, " Omega wil return to the field and I will use Soul Charge to revive the column shifting Mekk-Knight. (Spectre Arc-VRAINS LP: 1000-500) Then I will overlay both monsters to summon Number 38 Hope Harbinger Dragon Titani Galaxy! (ATK: 3000) That was it."
Despite being very close to loosing this duel, he didn't seem any less calm. I think I know why, but it shouldn't make him less of an important target.
"I will pass my turn.", my clone said.
"My turn, draw!", I said, "I use my Fiendish chain on Number 38. I also activate a second Supply Squad. I destory a Lythosagym in my Hand and Calamities on my field, to summon another Lyhtosagym. The destroyed one lets me revive Agnimazud.
Then I attack 38 with one of my immune Metaltrons."
"Is it that important to have me gone? You don't wanna take out your clone first?", Spectre asked.
"Yes, because now that a Tribute summoned Metaltron has been destroyed I can special summon Naturia Exterio (ATK: 2800) who can negate any spells or traps by banishing one card from my graveyard and sending another one from my deck there.
Then I use a Special summoned Metaltron to take out the rest of your life Points! (Spectre Arc-VRAINS LP: 500-3000=0)"
"Did you really think I would put myself at risk here?"
"Of course not. I knew The erasure virus wouldn't affect you.", my counterpart said.
"However the Virus will remain until the duel ends. And since we won't use digital clones unless they work at perfect efficiency, it hardly matters that one of you remains and has Knowledge of the project Still, it would have been nice to win."
"You-", I cursed, but he logged out before I could finish.
"I assume we can't simply both leave.", my clone said, "after all, one of us would have to remain trapped in Link VRAINS."
"Yes, I don't intend to let my clone remain. I attack you with Naturia Exterio!"
"Sorry, but I activate the effect of the Monster I discarded at the very beginning! Altergeist Wisp allows me, should I have at least 3 Altergeists in my GY, to use one trap card's effect from my deck, by banishing itself and that card. I choose Drowning Mirror Force!"
And with that, every card, but one Metaltron got swept of my field.
"I'll admit, I underestimated your deck beause of ist age and you because some of your earlier plays and draws didn't seem any good. But it seems that was your plan all along.", I said.
"That's why you should never think too lowly of yourself, even the you from 10 years ago.", she said.
"I have to ask one thing. What was your past? The surviving one could use that to find out who of us is the real self."
"Why don't you go first?"
I hesitated.
"I still don't trust this Situation. What if Spectre can check everything that happened between us? Besides, now that I think about it, I would notice if anything out of the ordinary if I was the unreal one. So, I call that deal off and attack with my last Metaltron!" (Canon Ghost Girl LP: 4000-1000)
"Ch, None of us even bothered to damage you.", I muttered, "Anyway I end my turn."
"I draw and I have to say… this was a strange duel. Not just because of Spectre, but to appear and duel a clone of myself that has a much stronger deck and a seemingly different past. But I will report that not everything has gone as planned to Akira Zaizen, but considering how every other mission went, I'm sure he will forgive me."
"So this will be the last turn?", I wondered. I should be scared right now, but there is no Point in being afraid of the inevitable.
"I summon Altergeist Meluseek (ATK: 500)and activate the spell Walpurgis gathering! This allows me to summon two more of them. But I only need a single one. I attack with both and end this duel!" (Ghost Girl Arc-VRAINS LP: 800-500=300; 300-500=0)
WINNER: Canon Ghost Girl
Canon Emma's POV
I don't know what my counterpart thought as she dissolved, but it happened too quickly to be much in the first place.
I usually don't have hang-ups regarding my strategy, but even though I don't want a clone to take my place, it didn't feel quite right afterwards.
But I kept my word and went to Akira Zaizen.
"What do you mean?", he asked, "I never gave you such a mission. And there is no deck named Sunvine or anything."
"That's more than odd. I do remember it vividly.", I said, just what happened in that duel?
"Please Emma, you've never been the type to make up strange stories.", he said.
Yes, usually they are more believable. But I'm no small child that would fervently insist that a strange and unprovable story is true.
"Well, then there's another strange thing I have to say.", I said, "Perhaps I should take a small break from the bounty hunts. You don't want a mission I dreamt up to be the last one, do you?"
So... I don't think I did that well with this one. If you liked this, please tell me what I actually did do wright, so I won't get too lost in my pessimism.
But here's the many stupid Things that I did and/or smart Things I didn't do and here's a list of it you can read while I am banging my head against the wall for making them in the first place:
-The fact that both Spectre's aren't too fond each other hogs way too much of the dialogue
-None of the Emma's take damage until the very end. Mayoi and Yuya vs Revolver only had Mayoi take damage very close to the end, but that duel had more 'story value', and it was a pyrrhic victory and since I intended for Canon Emma to be the undererstimated one going for the killsteal, her Arc-VRAINS Counterpart being just as untouched cheapens that effect
-Continuing from what prevent the aforementioned duel of Arc-VRAINS to fail it's the Setup for this Special. I should've made Things more ambiguous who is the 'real one', sure there's the Twist ending, but I could've made ALL of the duelists Aware of the cloning programm. What the fuck was I thinking?
-I don't know nearly enough about ANY of These decks. While Sun-whatever being anime only makes Things a Little bit more excuseable, I should've researched Altergeist, True King fun decks focused on Metaltron and Mekk Knight variants more, But nope, I was too stupid and lazy to even watch replays of them on Youtube
-I also feel like there would've been way more chances for Arc-VRAINS Emma to use Dragonic Diagramm.
-I overused the 'fanfic-effect/effect-retcon' in regards to the Sun-whatever deck
Now to something else important, because I decided to change some 'rules' regarding the Specials (and I hope they are better changes than to Canon Spectre's deck) Should I before Publishing a 10000 view Special reach the next Milestone, that one will be ignored.
While my views don't grow fast enought yet, I want to take precautionary measures, to prevent These Specials from piling on, since they aren't supposed to make me go "Really? Another 10000 views before I finished this Special."
They should be a fun Little break from my usual writing, while also celebrating how far I got and If I just have to crank out one Special after another, not only will that put a serious damper on Arc-VRAINS' update shedule, but If I end up with resentment of having to do it, they are going to end up worse than this ever was.
And I don't want to even come close to that Scenario.
However, something will change for follow and favorite Specials!
If I see that I have passed a Milestone, but then someone unfollows/-favorites, I will keep writing the Special, and make the next one at 100+ the number of favs/follows I have shortly before Publishing, since having to stop and continue writing because of a fluctuating audience size isn't gonna have the best effect on the special's quality either.
Now to some simple "behind the desk" trivia about the writing of this chapter:
1. I did not know who would win this duel until turn 4, where I decided to randomize the Outcome
2. Actually, Arc-VRAINS Emma was supposed to lose 2nd, but I swapped her with Arc-VRAINS Spectre, since that worked better with the script. But Canon Emma was always gonna win.
3. I somehow assumed that all Dracos had 2900 ATK, but I did not have to rewrite the duels, since the resulting stat difference didn't result in a battle going differently or causing someone to loose earlier.
And last, but not least, before the announcement of the 30000 view Special, the three QOTCs!
QOTC1: What are your thoughts on these deck changes and how I am utilizing them in Story?
QOTC2: Should I give this 'behind the desk'-trivia more often or leave them out.
QOTC3: This is going to feel silly compared to the rest, but what about a potential Mayoi vs Earth (as in that Ignis' Canon portrayal and NOT my Version of the orange and bulky AI) Special?
The silly part is the reason, You know, in Mayoi's introduction I had her bluntly state "I'm weird" and ya know, Earth bluntly stated "I'm socially akward."
However, even if you think this it is good idea, inspite of or because of this silly Connection between them, this might not be the very next special that I announce.
As for the Special at 30000 views:
Hajime Hinata from Danganronpa and Seto Kaiba using their portrayals from the fanfic Dueling Trigger Finger (and SakushiRyu's OC cards for Kaiba from Overdrive) vs Futaba Miyabino and Aoi Zaizen
Yep, you read that right, also, when it's released this stories category will change. I thought I'd do something very unusual for the next one. Let's hope having to use someone else's (and a non-yugioh character) cards and characters will make me more determinded to portray the decks and characters correctly
OC Card
Zereturn
Normal Spell
Choose one Monster with 0 ATK in your GY, Special summon it and all other monsters in your GY with the same name. When all of them have left the field, banish this card and draw one for every Monster summoned
Sunvine Revenge Growth
Quick-Play Spell
If you've taken 4000 or more damage this turn, you can place any number of Sunvine spell or trap cards from your deck face-up on the field, but before that you can shuffle any number of other spell and trap cards you Control back to your deck.
Vylon Creation
Normal Trap
If you have 1000 life Points or less, you can Special summon as many Vylon Monsters from your deck as possible. You can only use this cards name once per duel.
True King counterattack
Counter Trap
If you Control at least 4 True King monsters with different names, banish all cards your opponent controls
Sunseed Spore
Level 1, Earth, Plant, Effect
ATK/DEF: 0
If you Control no monsters; discard this card and special summon as many normal plant-type monsters from you GY as possible.
Sunseed Pomegranate
Level 1, Earth, Plant, Effect
ATK/DEF: 0
You can banish this card from your GY face-down, this turn, before you take damage, gain as much lifepoints as you would take, before it is inflicted to yourself and whenever a Sunvine or Sunavalon Link Monster you Control leaves the field, place one with one link less on your field. You can only use this effect once per duel.
Altergeist Wisp
Level 3, Dark, Spellcaster, Effect
ATK: 100
DEF: 700
If you have this card and at least 3 other Altergeist cards in your GY, you can banish this card and one trap card from your deck, to use that trap cards effect as this cards effect. You can only use this effect once per turn.
Walpurgis Gathering
Target one Spellcaster Monster you Control with 500 or less ATK, Special summon any number of Monsters with the same name from your deck.
Cards with changed effects:
Solemn Strike
Only costs 800 lp.
Sunavalon Dryas
Can be used as Link material in the turn it is summoned, same goes for all other Links of the archetype.
Drytrentiay
only Needs one link Monster as material
Dimensional Wall
Reflects inflicted damage for one turn, not just from one single attack
Sunvine Gardna
Ends battle Phase after battling.
Soul Charge
Uses Anime effect