Skraku: You want a duel, huh? Well, here, I'll give you a duel. Plus the idea about Theoris isn't all that bad... I may try that. Kudos!
Wolf: What's that? You wanted a full duel? Well, if you mean neither of them should surrender halfway through, you won't see that, no sir. This is quite a full duel. Full of action and suspense. At least, I hope. And they're coming, they're coming!
Eusine: As a suspense writer, it's my job to make sure people want the next chapter so badly they can't see straight. *wink* And you caught on to the "suspense would be lost" bit, did you? Kudos for that. Here's the next chapter for ya!
Mira: *shrugs* I guess most suspense writers are evil, then... except this one doesn't produce entire books in a stint, only chapters. Does that make me more evil? Anyway, yep, the sacrifice rules are crucial. I hope the duel lives up to your expectations!
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Kyle's LP - 4000
Monica's LP - 4000
--
Kyle drew his first six cards, and then shut his eyes tight for a moment. Okay. This isn't any different from my other duels. Monica, right now, is just another opponent. I have to treat her like one. But this time, make sure my tactics are successful. I have to be careful.
Do you require my assistance? I have become just as experienced as you have through watching you duel. If you wish it, I am able to help.
Thanks, but no thanks. I need to do this on my own. But you can spectate.
In that, I have not much choice.
True, that. He took a deep breath, released half of it, and announced his move. "First I place one magic/trap card face-down, and then one monster in defense mode. That ends my turn."
The appropriate holograms appeared on the dueling field.
Kyle could see Monica's smirk as she drew her sixth card. "I also place one magic/trap face-down," she answered, "and then I play the magic card Reasoning."
He blinked. "I'm not familiar with that card."
"Then allow me to explain. You call a number, from one to eleven. Then I draw cards until I come across a monster. If the number you called is the level of the monster I drew, the monster goes to the graveyard. If it isn't, it's special summoned to the field. Either way, any other cards I draw will go to the graveyard."
Kyle frowned. So what level would be prevalent among her cards? Probably "Level 4."
Upon his pronouncement, she drew her next card – and then frowned. "Huh. Well, that's annoying." She flipped the card around for him to see. "My Luster Dragon #1 (1900/1600), level 4. To the graveyard it goes, I guess."
Kyle felt a small surge of victory. Hey, that wasn't so bad. Might have been better if she'd lost a few more cards in the transit, but
"In that case, I'll also place a monster face-down and end my turn."
Even fields now. Kyle drew his next card. I want to be careful, but I know she has a Blue-Eyes in her deck. Who knows, she might have more than one. She's definitely got more tricks up her sleeve than just that but first she has to sacrifice monsters for it, and I can't let that happen. "I sacrifice my face-down Sangan (1000/600) in order to play Firewing Pegasus (2250/1800) in attack mode."
The holographic Sangan appeared only for a moment before disappearing in a plume of smoke, giving rise to the more powerful creature. Kyle picked up his deck and searched for a monster with an attack power of 1500 or less, as per Sangan's effect, then re-shuffled his deck before ordering, "Firewing Pegasus, attack her face-down monster!"
A stream of red flame burst across the dueling field and blasted the holographic face-down card. The card flipped over and revealed a woman in dark robes, cowering in the attack before vanishing in a hail of sparks.
"You destroyed my Witch of the Black Forest (1100/1200)," said Monica, and she again smirked as she took up her deck and chose a monster out of it, just as Kyle had.
Fine by me, he thought. If it's a goody, that just means it'll be fodder for my face-down. "End turn."
She drew, then announced, "I play Goblin Attack Force (2300/0) in attack mode."
A swarm of goblins appeared on one of her monster spaces. They looked uncomfortably crammed, and eager to attack. However, Monica surprised Kyle by saying, "I'll end my turn there."
Why did she not attack? Her monster is stronger than yours.
She probably figures my face-down is a trap. And she's right. But maybe I can get her to think it's not going to prevent her from attacking. He drew. "I place one monster face-down and switch Firewing Pegasus to defense mode."
The flame-winged horse knelt down then, and a face-down card appeared on its right.
Kyle, that is a dangerous maneuver. If she were to draw another monster with an attack power above 1800, your trap would not save Firewing Pegasus.
I know.
Monica drew, then grinned. "All right. I play Change of Heart to take control of Firewing Pegasus for one turn."
Accordingly, the Pegasus hologram flew across the arena and landed next to Goblin Attack Force.
"Now I'm switching it back to attack mode, where it belongs." She shook her finger at Kyle. "Never leave yourself open like that. Much better to leave it in attack mode."
"And risk my Life Points? No, thank you," he sniffed.
"If you say so. Firewing Pegasus, attack his face-down monster!"
Now would be a perfect time to employ your trap.
I'm not going to use it until I really need it. This is just a softening tactic; she's biding her time until she can get the giants on the field. Red-Eyes, Blue-Eyes, Hyozanryu, Luster Dragon #2, Summoned Skull
All the more reason to prevent her from using your own monsters as sacrifice fodder. If she has Blue-Eyes in her hand, she could very well summon it this turn.
She's not going to sacrifice anything until she feels she can risk it. And even if she were to bring it out this turn I'm not going to worry about her Blue-Eyes attacking, because she only gets one Battle Phase.
The burst of fire washed over his face-down monster card, which flipped over and revealed a pair of demon-possessed high heels squawking in protest before vanishing. "You've attacked my Bite Shoes (500/300)," Kyle announced, "and when flipped, they allow me to force one of your monsters to defense mode. And I don't much feel like suffering a direct attack because of Goblin Attack Force, so that's the one I choose."
"Suit yourself," she shrugged, reaching out to her dueling board and turning the card sideways. A moment later, the holographic goblins abruptly switched from their eagerness to attack to an extremely relaxed state. Some of them laid down on the field and started to doze.
Kyle rolled his eyes. Crazy goblins.
"Before I end my turn, I'm going to sacrifice Firewing Pegasus for a face-down monster," Monica declared. Pegasus vanished in a column of blue light, and was replaced by a face-down card.
Kyle groaned and discarded his monster. Great. Now I've got nothing and she's still got two.
You said it yourself, she would not sacrifice unless she felt the risk was justified.
Let's just hope I can make a comeback before I start losing Life Points.
"My turn's done," she cheerfully declared.
He drew his next card silently, then chewed his lip. Risky. But it could work. "I play Muka Muka (600/300) in attack mode."
A chittering insectoid creature appeared on his field where Firewing Pegasus had been moments before. "With four cards in my hand, he gains a bonus of 1200 attack and defense points, which makes him rather above average for a level 2 monster."
"That it does," Monica agreed. "Gonna put him to use, or keep me waiting?"
"Nah, I'll use him. Muka Muka, attack Goblin Attack Force!"
The small Rock-type creature skittered across the field and slashed through the defensive goblins with its oversized pincers. They bellowed and argued, but nonetheless vanished under the swipes of the creature's claws.
"And end turn," Kyle said.
"Hrm." Monica drew, then grinned again. "I play Dimensional Warrior (1200/1000) in attack mode."
A red-headed humanoid wearing silver armor shimmered into existence next to Monica's face-down card.
Kyle frowned. I know that card's effect. When it's involved in battle, no matter what the outcome is, both it and the monster it's battling are removed from the game.
And she is undoubtedly intending to use it on your monster.
"Dimensional Warrior, attack Muka Muka!"
Kyle ground his teeth. I have to keep a monster on my field – at this point, I don't have much choice. He flipped over his trap card. "Activate Widespread Ruin!"
The Widespread Ruin card on the holo-field flipped face-up, and a cloud of red and orange fire burst from the picture and engulfed Monica's Dimensional Warrior. Monica only smirked. "You should have waited on that card, Kyle. I would have lost Life Points as well as a monster."
"You're going to lose Life Points anyway," Kyle retorted. "It'll just take a while longer."
She laughed. "If you say so. It's your turn."
He drew his next card. Paydirt. On the other hand, now that I've got five cards in my hand, Muka Muka's attack strength is 2100 but I can't afford not to have other monsters on my field in case she gains the offensive. "I play Mechanicalchaser (1850/800) in attack mode."
On the field, there appeared a machine comprised of a central golden orb and several spindly limbs. Compliments of Cody "Chubs" Smith. Not only this one, but Firewing Pegasus, too. I probably wouldn't have gotten as far as I have without Chubs helping me out. I'll have to make sure to send some of my earnings his way. "Mechanicalchaser, attack her face-down monster!"
The Machine-type monster bolted across the field and stabbed into the face-down card – but was repelled by a stream of fire.
"You're not the only one who can play with matches," Monica giggled. "Say hello to my Meteor Dragon (1800/2000). You might have wanted to hang on to that monster and used Muka Muka to attack."
"It's a bit late for that, now, isn't it?"
"Which is why I'm saying it now," she said sweetly. "And you've lost Life Points for that attack."
"150? Big deal."
"First rule of Duel Monsters, Kyle you need all the Life Points you can get."
Kyle scowled. "End turn, in any case."
She drew her next card. "Now I play Different Dimension Capsule. This magic card lets me pick any one card from my deck and remove it from the game for two turns. On the standby phase of my second turn, that card comes to my hand. In the meantime, the capsule stays on the field."
A cybernetic orb appeared behind her Meteor Dragon and hovered there. "Two turns, Kyle. And now I sacrifice my Meteor Dragon to play Summoned Skull (2500/1200) in attack mode."
In a burst of electricity, her Meteor Dragon vanished and was replaced by a demonic skeletal creature.
"And before you decide to get cute and try to power your Muka Muka up high enough to withstand an attack Summoned Skull, attack Muka Muka!"
Her Summoned Skull growled, then sent a stream of lightning toward the small creature. It chattered as it was fried to a crisp, and then it vanished.
"Another 700 Life Points gone, Kyle." And it was true – Kyle's Life Points had by this time descended to 3150, as opposed to her untouched 4000.
"I'm not worried," he responded.
"You should be. End turn."
He drew, and scowled. This isn't going to do me any good. "I place one monster face-down and switch Mechanicalchaser to defense mode. End turn."
She chuckled. "Won't do you much good most monsters could destroy a defensive Mechanicalchaser." She drew. "I place one magic/trap card face-down, and then play The Dragon Dwelling in the Cave (1300/2000) in attack mode." A large green dragon appeared next to Summoned Skull; it lay on its belly, but its huge snout was emitting clouds of smoke and there was no doubt it had power to offer.
"What, to prove your point?"
"Somewhat. Dragon, attack his Mechanicalchaser."
A burst of green flame engulfed his Mechanicalchaser and rent it to ash and twisted metal before it exploded and vanished.
"Now, Summoned Skull, attack his face-down monster."
Another flare of electricity soared from Summoned Skull and wreathed Kyle's defensive Kotodama (0/1600). It squealed in protest and then vanished.
"End turn."
Kyle drew his next card, and tried his best not to gawk at it. This couldn't even protect me from an attack by her dragon, much less Summoned Skull!
It is the only option available to you right now, Kyle – Monica is not liable to attack "just to see what it is", so I believe she would have her Summoned Skull attack first. Which means you will not lose as many Life Points as you would if she knew what that card was.
Thanks for the advice "I place one monster in defense mode and end my turn."
She drew, then grinned. "Time for my Different Dimension Capsule to open up."
The orb opened up in the middle, and in the midst of the blinding light emanating from its center, Kyle could just make out a magic card. He squinted into it, trying to get a better look at it.
Then he paled. Oh, no
Monica's grin broadened. "It's my Polymerization magic card. I'm sure you, of all people, know what it does."
"Yeah I know."
"Good. Because I'm using it post-haste, and I'm fusing together Summoned Skull and the Red-Eyes Black Dragon in my hand to play Black Skull Dragon (3200/2500) in attack mode."
Kyle ground his teeth as the holograms of her Summoned Skull and Red-Eyes Black Dragon twisted around each other and merged to form an even larger beast that unquestionably dominated the dueling field. It had the same skeletal characteristics and body as Summoned Skull, but the bones had darkened and sharpened, augmented by the part of it that was Red-Eyes. Its head was also much more reminiscent of a Red-Eyes, and its massive, demonic wings beat slowly against the air. Kyle almost though he could detect a breeze – and a hot one at that.
If she attacks with her Dragon Dwelling first, I'm done for
"Black Skull Dragon, attack his face-down!"
He let out his held breath. Whew
A multitude of fireballs shot forth and blasted his Harpie's Brother (1800/600) to oblivion.
Monica frowned. "Huh. I should have attacked with my other dragon first. Goes to show what mistakes I can make, too. Dragon Dwelling in the Cave, attack his Life Points!"
Another stream of green flame flew across the arena, and it pressed against his dueling pedestal. Kyle squinted through the light as his Life Point counters descended to 1850.
"Next I place one magic/trap face-down and end my turn. Better make your next move a good one, Kyle, because I'm getting the feeling it's going to be your last one if it's anything but."
Kyle drew his next card – and grinned. "Then take a look, Monica, because this duel is still on. I play Dark Hole, to rid the field of all monsters."
Monica narrowed her eyes at her opponent as her creatures were swept away by the crushing pressures of a black hole in the center of the dueling field. "How annoying."
"Tell me about it. Now I play Dark Zebra (1800/400) in attack mode."
Kyle's Dark Zebra looked ready for battle, and it stamped its hoof impatiently.
"Dark Zebra, attack her Life Points!"
"Not so fast. Activate Mirror Force!"
Dark Zebra charged across the field, but just as it was about to hit her dueling pedestal, her Mirror Force card flipped up and got in the way. The Duel Monster shattered in a hail of holographic glass.
"Mirror Force is especially effective if you're dealing with a bunch of opposing monsters, but it'll work in this case, too," she noted. "And now that that's overwith, I'm also activating my Jar of Greed, which allows me to draw one extra card."
"It also leaves you with an empty field."
"Your field isn't exactly full, either, and you've already summoned a monster this turn."
Kyle sighed. "True. End turn."
Monica drew another card. "I place one magic/trap face-down and end my turn."
Kyle drew. Hrm. This duel may take a while at this rate. "I place one monster in defense mode and end my turn."
"Wonder which of us will get the offensive," she noted as she drew. "But I suppose I'll give it a shot. I play Lord of Dragons (1200/1100) in attack mode."
A man wearing armor comprised of dragon bones wavered into being.
"Lord of Dragons, attack his face-down monster."
Kyle blinked. That's rather daring of her. But whatever she wants
Her Lord of Dragons conjured a dragon spirit and sent it shooting toward the face-down card. The monster card flipped over and revealed a disgusting worm-like creature that squealed once before jumping across the expanse and wrapping around its attacker.
Monica blanched. "Eww what is that?"
"It's my Kiseitai (300/800)," Kyle responded proudly. "When it's attacked while face-down, it equips to its attacker, and during each of your Standby Phases, I gain Life Points equal to half the equipped monster's attack points."
"So in other words, now you get 600 Life Points for every one of my turns."
"You've got it."
"Nasty thing." Monica shook her head. "Dunno why anyone would want such an ugly creature in their deck."
"The same could be said for your dragons," Kyle smirked.
She glowered. "Your move."
He drew his next card and sighed inwardly at his hand. I'll survive for another couple turns, maybe, but I really have to find a way to defend myself soon. "I place one magic/trap card face-down and end my turn."
Monica drew her next card, and in the process, Kyle's Life Points rose to 2450. She glared at the ascending numbers. "I hope you like the LP boost, Kyle, because you're not going to get one for very long. I play Wall of Illusion (1000/1850) in attack mode."
"I think you're a bit eager, there, Monica," he said conversationally, flipping his face-down card as he spoke. "Activate Trap Hole."
Just as soon as it appeared on the field, Monica's Wall of Illusion crumbled and vanished into an abyss that spontaneously appeared beneath it.
"Well, fine," she sniffed. "Lord of Dragons, attack his Life Points!"
Another dragon spirit bolted forth, and this time it struck Kyle's dueling pedestal. His Life Points descended to 1250.
"End turn."
His next card didn't do him any more justice than the last one, and he sighed again. "All right, one face-down magic/trap, and end turn."
She narrowed her eyes at him as she drew. "I think I'll ply it safe and place a monster face-down this time," she announced, as his Life Points rose back up to 1850. "Lord of Dragons, attack his Life Points again."
The next dragon spirit caused Kyle's Life Points to decline yet again, this time to 650. "End turn."
C'mon, deck, give me something to work with!
The next card Kyle drew caused him to smile in relief. "Whew," he said. "Okay, now we're getting somewhere. I play Graceful Charity."
"One would hope the next three cards you draw are better than two of whatever's in your hand, then," she said.
"Looks like they are, at that," he responded. "I'm discarding Launcher Spider and Judge Man, and then I place one monster in defense mode and end my turn."
"Your defenses aren't going to last forever," she responded, as his Life Points again ascended another 600 points. "And your Life Point gains stop here. I sacrifice Lord of Dragons and my face-down Spirit Reaper (300/200) in order to play Hyozanryu (2100/2800) in attack mode!"
Her Lord of Dragons and face-down monster, along with Kiseitai, vanished in a burst of light. In their place, Monica's favorite dragon appeared on the field amidst a shower of sparkles. It had a horn on its snout of pure topaz, and its wings were crystalline. Its eyes shone sapphire, and its razored teeth were diamond.
"Hyozanryu, attack his face-down monster!"
The massive dragon flew across the arena and gored the face-down with its huge horn. The card flipped and revealed a petite spellcaster that was futilely trying to shield herself from the attack.
"Thanks," said Kyle. "You've just destroyed my Magician of Faith (300/400), so I'll bring one magic card back from my graveyard."
She glowered. "I've got a pretty good idea of what that magic card is, too."
"Then I guess we'll see if you're as clairvoyant as you claim."
"Yeah, I guess we will. I place one magic/trap face-down and my turn's finished here."
Kyle smirked as he drew his next card. "That won't do you any good. I play Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy the card you just placed."
Her eyes narrowed further as she disposed of her Trap Hole.
"Good. Now I play Dark Hole once more. Bye-bye, Hyozanryu."
The crystalline dragon vanished into the black vortex at the center of the field, as had two other dragons before it.
"With that out of the way, I play Robotic Knight (1600/1800) in attack mode."
Now on Kyle's field there existed another Machine-type monster bearing a long sword in its only hand – the other arm bore a Gatling gun for a hand.
"Robotic Knight, attack her Life Points!"
Kyle's Robotic Knight took careful aim with its gun-arm and fired several rounds into Monica's dueling pedestal.
In response, her Life Point counters descended to 2400.
"Now this is a duel," Kyle grinned. "End turn."
She glared as she drew her next card. "I play my own Graceful Charity," she responded, and after only a moment, she continued, "I'll discard Fusion Sage and Light of Intervention. Then I place one monster face-down and end my turn."
As Kyle drew his next card, however, it was evident that Monica wasn't finished speaking. "Before you move on to your Main Phase, I'm activating my Thunder of Ruler trap card. This keeps you from attacking my monster this turn."
Thunder of Ruler while all I've got is Robotic Knight? Her monster must be pretty weak guess that means I'll have to push to destroy it. He looked at the card he'd drawn. Or maybe she was anticipating this. Whatever. "Fine, then. In any event, I sacrifice my Robotic Knight to play Amphibian Beast (2400/2000) in attack mode. But since I can't attack, I'll end my turn there."
Kyle's Amphibian Beast certainly looked imposing on the dueling field, and even more so when considering Monica had used Thunder of Ruler to defend against his Robotic Knight. Nevertheless, she drew her next card without hesitation and declared, "I place one magic/trap face-down and end my turn."
Kyle frowned. What's she up to? Probably trying to defend her face-down He drew his next card. I should have a contingency, and I need monsters. "I place one monster in defense mode. Amphibian Beast, attack her face-down monster!"
The creature's swiping claws slashed through the face-down card, which revealed a minuscule, spear-bearing lizard for just a moment before it vanished.
"You've destroyed my Troop Dragon (700/800)," she said. "And its special effect allows me to special summon another one just like it straight from my deck. Then I get to shuffle, which gives me a chance to turn the duel around."
"Or lose it."
"That, too, but I'll take my chances." After a moment, another Troop Dragon appeared in defense mode on Monica's field. "You done?"
"Yeah, your turn."
Monica drew her next card, frowned for a moment, then said, "I'll refrain from playing a card this turn. Back to you."
Kyle blinked, but drew in silence. She must not be getting anything worth using. Push harder, Kyle. "I play Pot of Greed to draw two new cards."
"By all means."
"Then I place one magic/trap face-down, along with another monster face-down. Amphibian Beast, attack!"
His creature's slashing claws cut through the Troop Dragon easily, but yet a third one appeared on her field a moment later.
"I should have known you'd have three of them," he muttered. Luckily for me, three's the max you can have in a deck. "End turn."
She drew
Then laughed.
"Oh, this has been a great duel, Kyle," she said, beaming. "Better than any you've ever given me. The new rules do wonders for you."
"You make it sound like it's over."
"It may as well be. I play Soul Exchange, which lets me tribute one of your monsters in the absence of the second one I need. And the sacrifice I want is Amphibian Beast."
Kyle frowned. There've been cards for sacrifice rules all along?
If you consider it, sacrifices are required in order for the effects of other cards. It may very well be that Soul Exchange was made with that purpose in mind.
True, but what's–?
"And I'm also sacrificing my Troop Dragon," she continued, "in order to play this!"
She slapped a card in the center of her dueling pedestal.
And from the vanishing light of Troop Dragon's flashy disappearance rose a monster that was absolutely unmistakable.
Its spiked, armor-like shell was ivory. Its blazing eyes glowed an even brighter sapphire than those of Hyozanryu. Its huge wings spanned her entire side of the holographic field.
"Come forth, Blue-Eyes White Dragon (3000/2500)!"
--
Coming up next: Kyle could barely defend himself before, and Monica doesn't look too merciful now! Will Kyle conjure a successful defense against Monica's rampage, or will Monica overrun Kyle to take on the opposing finalist? Find out next time! (*insert feedback here*)