Skraku: Well, not being strangled is certainly nice. Helps me develop chapters faster. And candy makes my fingers move more fleetingly across the keyboard. Must encourage such behavior...
Monica: Hmm, perhaps you should cut down on the intake. Not pouring entire cups of it over your cereal, for example. *wink* Worry not, Monica isn't broken. And meanwhile, I'm glad my wit counts for something in helping you with yours.
Ankhutenshi: I wonder what makes Monica's deck exciting. Perhaps it's because Kyle duels so often, comparatively speaking, but doesn't have the no-nonsense power that riddles hers? Anyway, glad you like it... and yeah, Kyle and Theoris have come a long way as a team. I foresee them doing even better for each other. As for Kyle vs. Madison... well, take a look!
Pheonica: *waves to new reviewer* The detailed duels are tough. But I think they're rewarding. Glad you like them!
Eusine: Just goes to show, a suspense writer makes all sorts of twists and turns, doesn't he? And I noticed, you were right about the chapter title. Yeah, I was a bit eager. Then again, I'll bet you were eager to see the chapter despite the misspelling. *grin* I've tried to do better on this one.
Wolfwings: Uh-oh, I'm becoming predictable... we'll just have to see what happens next!
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"Ladies first," Madison advised, and she drew her first six cards. She inspected her hand a moment, then frowned in slight disappointment at what she'd drawn – nevertheless, she said nothing, because Kyle couldn't see her, much less her hand, and she'd be damned if she was going to hint at her displeasure by saying anything. "Firstly, I play Graceful Charity."
She drew three cards into her hand, then nodded approvingly. "And I discard Penguin Soldier and my Physical Double trap card. Now I place two magic/trap cards face-down and summon Kabazauls (1700/1500) in attack mode."
The monster that appeared on the field was gigantic, possessed of a scaly red outer shell. It was reminiscent of a dinosaur.
"That ends my turn, for now."
Kyle frowned at the field. Okay... I don't have too many low-level monsters that can take that monster on, so I'd best play it safe for a while. He drew his sixth card, then said, "I place two magic/trap cards on the field, as well, and then one monster in defense mode."
All three cards manifested as holograms about a hundred times larger than life on the field plates below.
Madison's next draw gave her craggy face cause to split into a wide grin. "I sacrifice Kabazauls," she said, "in order to summon Giga Gagagigo (2450/1500) in attack mode!"
Her dinosaur disappeared in favor of an upright reptile that seemed to have been outfitted with cybernetic armor and a plethora of menacing futuristic weaponry. Kyle, for his part, tried not to chuckle. Boy, that name's a mouthful.
"Giga Gagagigo, attack his face-down monster!"
The creature lumbered across the dueling field and let fly with both metal-clawed hands. They ripped the holographic face-down to shreds – and then the shreds revealed a pair of demon-possessed high heels that screeched indignantly before vanishing.
"There go my Bite Shoes (500/300)," Kyle commented. "Giga Gagagigo goes to defense mode."
At this, Madison's brow developed a new crease. "Very well," she said, "my turn is ended."
Kyle's next card made him smirk. All right, this is exactly what I need! "I play Change of Heart to take control of Giga Gagagigo."
Kyle couldn't see it, but Madison was now scowling. Her monster again lumbered across the field and took up residence on one of Kyle's monster field plates.
"Much better," he said. "Now, Giga Gagagigo, attack your former master's Life Points!"
This time, the huge cyber-enhanced reptilian got a running start, claws swiping as it moved. It struck the base of Madison's control booth, which was where her Life Point counter was located.
Its strike went unchecked, and within an instant, her Life Points had descended from 4000 to 1550.
"You sure you're as good as you claim?" Kyle asked, as the monster returned to his field. "I'd have thought you'd have at least a trap like Waboku to stop something like that from happening. If I had even a single low-level monster in my hand with an attack power of at least 1600..."
"I know very well what would have happened, thank you," she snapped. "Will that be all?"
"Not quite. Since your monster would otherwise go back to your side of the field at the end of the turn, I'm going to sacrifice it in order to play one monster face-down."
And with that, Giga Gagagigo vanished from existence, replaced by a new face-down monster card.
Madison scowled across the field at Kyle. "Are you quite finished now?"
"Yeah, I'm done, make your move."
Her next card drew out another scowl – which, fortunately for her, Kyle couldn't see. With her monster's attack on her Life Points, she was becoming annoyed, and the cameras weren't helping matters any by showing her getting defeated so easily. "I place one monster in defense mode," she said, "and end my turn."
Kyle drew. "I place one monster face-down, as well," he announced, "and then reveal my Millennium Golem (2000/2200) in attack mode."
Once more, his golem of brick rose up from the field plates below – though this time it was larger than it had been in his duel with Monica.
"Millennium Golem, attack her face-down monster!"
The golem tread across the field, its step as steady as its composition, and brought its huge fists to bear on the face-down, which then flipped over and revealed a huge snake-like creature – Giant Red Seasnake (1800/800), Kyle thought – that hissed in protest as it was obliterated.
"End turn."
Madison's scowl was growing steadily deeper. Some people watching the duel from their homes in Los Angeles couldn't help but wonder if those wrinkles were going to become permanent, alongside the many others already etched there by time. She drew her next card, then promptly said, "I again place one monster in defense mode and end my turn."
Kyle drew, then just as promptly ordered, "Golem, attack her face-down."
Again, Golem stepped across the field and punched down into the card. This time its target was a winged, orange reptile.
"The destruction of my Gale Lizard (1400/700) forces you to return one monster on your field to its owner's hand," Madison responded, "and I choose Millennium Golem."
"Fair enough," Kyle answered, "but since I haven't played a monster yet this turn, I'll sacrifice my face-down Mystical Elf (800/2000) to place a stronger monster face-down. Back to you."
Madison drew her next card. "Once more, I shall place one monster in defense mode and end my turn."
Kyle drew. That's the standard tactic, to defend even though the opponent has no attacking monsters. I don't have any appropriate monsters to play right now, and I don't want to attack when I've only got one monster to do it with. Too many things can go wrong. I need a backup first. "I place one magic/trap card face-down and end my turn."
Madison's next turn was much the same: "Yet another monster face-down, and I end my turn."
Kyle drew again, this time with better results than the last. "All right. I place one monster face-down, and then reveal my Millennium Golem again."
Once more, Golem rose up, ready for battle.
"Golem, you know the drill, attack her face-down!"
This time, Golem's victim was a large gray bear that growled menacingly – but nevertheless was crushed under the blow.
"You've destroyed my Mother Grizzly (1400/1000)," said Madison. This time, there was amusement in her voice. "And because of that, I can now special summon one Water-attribute monster directly from my deck... provided, of course, this monster has an attack power of 1500 or less and is played in attack mode."
Kyle frowned slightly. Putting it in attack mode won't help her any...
It will, however, put another monster on her field to make sufficient tribute fodder. And if that monster has a special effect, as well, who knows what advantage she might suddenly gain?
We're about to find out.
"Cure Mermaid (1500/800)!" Madison declared. On the field, there appeared a blonde mermaid, strikingly beautiful and flapping its red tail about. "As long as this monster remains face-up on my field, I gain a bonus of 800 Life Points for every one of my turns. This should be a tremendous help."
"Only for as long as it's there," Kyle responded. "And it's a real shame I can't attack again. End turn."
Madison ignored Kyle's comments and drew her next card. Her Life Points obligingly rose to 2350. "Fortunately for me," she said, "Cure Mermaid will still be here for a while. I play Tribe-Infecting Virus (1600/1000) in attack mode!"
The holographic card appeared on the field face-up, but no monster was to be found. Kyle frowned. "I can't see anything."
"You're not supposed to. The virus is airborne, and can prove extremely hazardous, should I choose it to be," she tittered. "Its special effect allows me to destroy any one type of monster on both sides of the field for the paltry price of one card from my hand. So I'll dismiss my Spell Absorbing Life trap card in order to infect all face-up Rock-type monsters on the field with my virus."
As soon as she discarded her trap, Millennium Golem began to crumble and topple. Kyle frowned as it fell forward and shattered in a pile of brick and mortar.
"Now, let's see what else my virus can do," she said. "Tribe-Infecting Virus, attack his face-down monster!"
This time, a visible cloud of indigo floated up from the card and wafted toward Kyle's face-down. It flipped over and revealed a green-skinned, red-eyed monster with yellow runes all over its body. It grimaced at the attack, but held its ground.
"My Kotodama (0/1600) survives your attack," Kyle announced.
"How annoying. But I don't much feel like discarding anything else, as much of a nuisance as that fairy down there may be. End turn."
It's only a nuisance because it's blocking your path to my Life Points. Kyle drew his next card. Well. This should do. Better clear my hand out as much as possible, though. "I place two magic/trap cards face-down and a monster in defense mode. Back to you."
Madison frowned. "You, sir, appear to have filled your magic/trap field."
"I have, indeed," Kyle conceded. "Scared yet?"
At that, Madison's frown turned into a scowl. "Pipe down, whippersnapper," she proclaimed, drawing. Her Cure Mermaid afforded her another 800 Life Points, to bring her total to 3150. "I place one magic/trap face-down, and then play the magic card Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy your central magic/trap card."
Kyle laughed out loud. "Well, in that case, I'll activate that face-down card, which just happens to be a Mystical Space Typhoon of my own – a legal move since it's quick-play. And I'll use it to destroy your remaining magic/trap before your Typhoon can destroy mine."
The play manifested as both Mystical Space Typhoons flipping upright on the field at once, each of them sending a thunderbolt in its intended target's direction. Dual explosions lit up the playing field, illuminating the deck of the boat.
Madison held a growl at bay, though it ran as an undercurrent to her tone as she said, "My Germ Infection equipment card is destroyed. How very unsatisfactory."
"Only for some of us," Kyle responded.
She glared. "Virus, attack his face-down monster!"
Another indigo cloud swept up from the attack-position card on Madison's field, but just as it was about to strike Kyle's face-down, a triplet of blue-robed spellcasters appeared in front of the cloud to block it as Kyle announced, "Activate Waboku, to reduce all battle damage my monsters take to zero. But you've revealed my monster, nonetheless."
The monster in question appeared on the field in a deep brown pot; all that could be seen of it was a single, glowing red eye and a devilish grin.
"My Morphing Jar (700/600) sure comes in handy when I'm needing some new cards," Kyle commented, "and not needing old ones. So discard your hand and draw five. All I'm losing is my Judge Man."
"And I, my Last Turn trap card," she responded, drawing her next five cards as she spoke. Her new cards apparently needed some mulling over, though, because just shortly after, she said, "End turn."
He drew his next card, then smirked. "Now we're getting somewhere. I play Mechanicalchaser (1850/800) in attack mode."
The spindly-limbed machine took to the field quickly, and by the way it was waving its limbs, it looked eager to battle.
"Mechanicalchaser, attack Cure Mermaid!"
The machine whose center was a golden orb bolted across the field and stabbed down into Cure Mermaid, who screeched briefly before shattering. Madison's Life Point counter scrolled down again, this time to 2800.
The counter's owner, by this point, had a face looking so cavernous with disapproval that it could rival the Grand Canyon for places to explore. "Is that quite all?"
"Yeah, go ahead."
She drew her next card. "You'll learn to respect your elders," she vowed, "and I'm just the person to teach you those well-needed manners. I place one magic/trap face-down and then call into play the magic of the field card A Legendary Ocean!"
At first, one might have been fooled into thinking that the ship was being overrun by the waters it sailed, but this was not truly the case; the holographic field plates simply had a projection of a blustering seaway atop them, the Duel Monsters cards hovering perilously close to the surface.
"This field card increases the attack and defense factors of all Water-attribute monsters on the field by 200 points," she informed him. "Not only that, but it also downgrades all Water-attribute monsters on the field and in our hands by one level... making certain monsters that much easier to summon. But it's so much better to show you, and I intend to do just that. So I sacrifice my Tribe-Infecting Virus in order to play Levia-Dragon - Daedalus (2600/1500) in attack mode!"
The holographic Virus card suddenly shone a bright white for a moment, and when the light faded, the card had been replaced by another – and this time there was a monster to match. It was a huge monster, at that, a blue-skinned sea snake that could have easily wrapped around the entire field at least once. Atop its head glinted a series of jewel-like structures, emerald and ruby, all incredibly beautiful.
The beauty stopped at its face, however, which was full of razor-sharp teeth ready to tear anything and everything to shreds.
Kyle narrowed his eyes at it. A nice bonus of 200 attack and defense doesn't hurt it, either. He could make out the oversized holo-card and he inspected its level. Level 7. Normally she'd need to sacrifice two monsters for that thing, but with her field card, she only needed one. Great... how do I compete with that? The only high-level aquatic monster I have is Amphibian Beast, and that would need a sacrifice even after her field card.
It would appear that Sanga of the Thunder is going to become a priority in summoning in this battle, should you hope for victory.
But first I need to get the card and I need to keep two monsters on the field to summon it.
Madison wasn't finished. "Next, I flip my face-down monster to attack mode," she announced, and a moment later, the holo-field responded to her manipulations of the board by doing just that. It revealed a small submarine bearing a large ballast tube on either side.
"This is my Amphibious Bugroth Mark-3 (1500/1300). Like my dragon, it's also a Water-attribute monster, and it gains the 200 attack and defense points added by my field card. And now comes the fun part."
Kyle raised an eyebrow. "There's a fun part to all this?"
"Oh, of course. I couldn't just bring out normal monsters, Mr. McCraine. Surely you realize from the coloration of the holographic cards on the field, these are both effect monsters."
"So how do their effects apply here?"
"Not just yet. First, Levia-Dragon, destroy his Mechanicalchaser!"
Madison's Levia-Dragon dived underwater and snaked forward, rising up only to strike its foe. It put its powerful jaws to use in rending Mechanicalchaser to scrap metal.
Kyle's Life Points dropped from their previously unharmed 4000 to a more battle-scarred 3050.
"And now, Amphibious Bugroth, attack his Life Points directly!"
What?!
With that order, the aquatic machine likewise dove underwater and bolted straight for Kyle's Life Point counter. Much to his horror, neither of his monsters moved to intercept the attack, and when the attack hit, he could almost feel it – though within the control booth, he actually couldn't feel anything from the holograms outside.
His Life Points had dropped to 1350.
He stared across the field. "Was that even legal? I still have two monsters on the field!"
"That direct attack was thanks to Bugroth's effect, which allows it to attack my opponent's Life Points as long as either the field card Umi or A Legendary Ocean is in play," Madison clarified. "And that's the only reason I didn't use my Levia-Dragon's effect before its attack."
"Well, don't keep Levia-Dragon's effect to yourself, then," Kyle snorted. "Do tell me about it."
"Gladly. By its effect, I can send my own Umi or A Legendary Ocean to the graveyard, and when I do, all cards on the field go to the grave along with it – except for Levia-Dragon. And that's exactly what I intend to do next turn, so make this next turn a good one. I hereby end my turn."
Kyle drew his next card, suddenly desperate for something he could use. She could attack me with her Bugroth next turn and I'd be toast, but by her Levia-Dragon's effect, I'd have no chance at all!
But upon sight of his next card, he let out a breath of relief. Phew. Awesome. Good deck, very good deck. Treat for you later. "This should kill two birds with one stone. I play my other Mystical Space Typhoon to take out your Legendary Ocean card."
A single blast of lightning from the holographic representation of Kyle's card, and the waters on the dueling field immediately began to recede and ultimately fade away. Kyle grinned. "You can't use Levia-Dragon's effect to blow away my monsters and your Bugroth can't attack me directly. Plus they both lose their attack bonuses. That works out nicely."
"I'm so glad you approve," Madison scowled. "Impudent child."
"One of the worst," Kyle agreed. "Now I play one monster face-down. If you want to attack me directly, you're going to have to earn it." I just hope she doesn't have another field card like that last one readily available...
Madison scowled at the next card she drew, displeased that she wasn't getting another field card. "Very well," she ground out. "Then I summon the Sea Serpent Warrior of Darkness (1800/1500) in attack mode!"
The monster that appeared on her field didn't look much like a sea serpent and more like a humanoid, but it wore scaled armor that reminded Kyle somewhat of a seahorse.
"He may not get the power boost of my Ocean card, but he's still strong enough to take you on, I daresay," said Madison. "Warrior, destroy his Kotodama!"
The armor-clad undersea warrior took up his staff, then jumped across the distance and brought its weapon to bear on Kotodama. Kotodama let out an indignant screech as it was attacked; it vanished under the blow.
"Bugroth, attack Morphing Jar!"
Bugroth performed its torpedo-like attack once more, this time without the benefit of water – but that made it no less devastating for Morphing Jar, and it emitted a maniacal laugh before also vanishing in the impact.
"Now, with that out of the way... Levia-Dragon, attack his face-down monster!"
Levia-Dragon's wrath was swift: it shot forward and speared through the remaining monster card on Kyle's field. But as the card was destroyed, its pictured monster was revealed – a small creature that seemed to be composed of a deformed face and two hands carrying a scythe.
"Attacking my Hane-Hane (450/500)? Shame on you," Kyle admonished. "Now I get to send one monster on the field back to its owner's hand, and for that... make yourself more acquainted with Levia-Dragon's picture."
A low growl rumbled at the base of Madison's throat as she returned Levia-Dragon to her hand. "End turn."
Hmph. If I have anything to say about it, she's not going to bring that menace back to the field. Kyle drew. This'll work. "I place one monster face-down, and follow up with a magic/trap face-down, as well. Your turn."
Madison drew. "Don't expect your defenses to hold out for long. I play 7-Colored Fish (1800/800) in attack mode!"
A brightly-colored fish appeared on the field, all scales and fins and razor-sharp teeth – that is, until it vanished into a spontaneous abyss below it. "Activate Trap Hole," Kyle said, slightly belatedly.
Madison harrumphed. "Fine, then. Warrior, attack his face-down!"
But as the warrior brought his staff to bear on Kyle's monster, he was repelled... by a wall of flesh and bone.
Kyle smirked. "Attacking my Wall of Illusion (1000/1850) automatically sends its attacker back to the owner's hand. If I can't destroy the monsters you bring out, I'm going to at least make sure you have a damned tough time keeping them on your field."
Madison ground her teeth and pulled her Sea Serpent Warrior back into her hand as her Life Points dropped to 2750. "My turn's finished, make your move."
Kyle drew his next card. "You know," he said conversationally, "you're fighting awfully hard for someone who, by all rights, should already have everything she wants."
"I would have everything I want, were we not wasting our resources on silly games," Madison retorted.
"What, you mean your company?"
"Yes, you thick-headed primate, my company!"
Kyle raised an eyebrow, but otherwise ignored the insult. "If the games are so silly, why are you playing one with me?"
"It's the simplest medium to get what I want at relatively little personal expense."
"And what is it you want? Surely the money's not a factor."
"Indeed. I want the cream of the rare card crop, and that's precisely what I'm going to get once I defeat you in this duel. And after that, I can see to putting the company back on track."
"How do you intend to do that, just by winning this tournament?"
"By taking the fight to Seto Kaiba and dueling him. With the rare cards in that lottery at my disposal, I can't lose. And I'm doing well enough without them against you; it's only a matter of time before you fall."
He chuckled. "At this point, madam, you're all talk. I place another monster face-down, along with one magic/trap, and it's your turn once again."
"All talk, am I? We'll see. I still have several excellent cards at my disposal; you simply have not had the privilege of being defeated by them yet." She drew her next card. "Case in point: I play Gagagigo (1850/1000) in attack mode."
This Gagagigo, unlike its larger counterpart, was not outfitted with any cybernetic enhancements, which probably explained its size. Nevertheless, it still looked like a formidable foe; it was tall and well-muscled, fists clenched, obviously ready for battle.
"Gagagigo, attack his face-down monster!"
The upright reptilian ran forward, fists ready to deliver their powerful blows to the victim monster, but about halfway through the transit, the card flipped over and revealed a dark-skinned woman wearing black robes – and she had a third, cat-like eye in the center of her forehead.
"You're attacking my Witch of the Black Forest (1100/1200)," Kyle advised, "but I feel like keeping her around a while, so I'm activating The Reliable Guardian, to boost her defense by 700 points."
At that, a massive silver shield appeared in front of Witch. Gagagigo's punch bounced harmlessly off it, and the monster recoiled, then retreated while its owner took another 50 points of LP damage.
"Hrm. Very well, I shall end my turn there."
Kyle drew his next card and inspected it. Great. I can start making my comeback. "I sacrifice my Witch of the Black Forest in order to play Firewing Pegasus (2250/1800) in attack mode," he announced, and as his monster appeared on the field in all its flaming glory, he retrieved an appropriate monster from his deck per Witch's effect and shuffled. Then he looked back up at the field. Bugroth's still in attack mode... I should go for that one to deal the most damage. "Firewing Pegasus, attack Amphibious Bugroth!"
But as the streak of flame from Pegasus' mouth boiled across the field, it was Madison's turn to smirk. "I'm afraid you're far too aggressively eager, young one, a common problem among today's youth. You must be patient. Activate Mirror Force!"
Madison's trap card flipped up and moved in the way of the blast, which was reflected right back at Pegasus. Its own flames engulfed it, and when the play was over, the monster was gone.
Damn. Good thing Wall's still in defense mode, else it'd have gone, too. "Fine, I still got something good out of the deal. My turn's finished."
"Something good? One extra monster in your hand with a low defense power, in the face of all my attackers? I would hardly call that a good thing, boy," she snickered, "but to each his own, I do suppose." She drew her next card, then announced, "I place one magic/trap face-down, and then play Star Boy (550/500) in attack mode!"
A reddish starfish with a demon-like face appeared between her Bugroth and Gagagigo.
Kyle frowned. Ouch. Normally that thing by itself wouldn't be a threat, but since it powers up all Water-attribute monsters' attack power by 500, that means Bugroth and Gagagigo are both strong enough to destroy Wall of Illusion now.
"Gagagigo, destroy his Wall of Illusion!"
Kyle reached out to his m/t field. "Not quite yet, Madison," he replied. "I activate Castle Walls, to increase Wall of Illusion's defense by 500. Just enough to block Gagagigo, and certainly enough to block the other two."
A quadruplet of castle turrets formed around Wall of Illusion, and between each turret a protective wall built into existence to protect Kyle's monster. Gagagigo's attack still pummeled through the castle walls, but Wall of Illusion stopped it in its tracks, and Gagagigo vanished from the field as a result.
Madison was not pleased. "End turn," she snarled.
Kyle, for his part, merely chuckled as he drew. The old sadism may not have helped in previous circumstances, but it works wonders here. She thought she could get me flustered in front of a bunch of TV cameras, and instead I'm giving her a boot in the rear both in attack and defense! "I place one magic/trap face-down and end my turn," he announced. And hope she's dumb enough to start sacrificing monsters...
"Hm." Madison drew her next card... and at this one, she laughed out loud. "You've fought well. But it all ends here. I flip my face-down Turtle Oath!"
On the field, there appeared a gigantic greenish egg in one of the m/t spaces. Kyle's brow furrowed. Ritual magic card. There are the easy ones and the hard ones... though the hard ones are more defunct these days because most of their products have now become normal monsters...
"In order to fulfill its conditions, I have to sacrifice monsters from my field or hand that total at least 8 level stars," she said, "and I have two monsters that make the cut – Island Turtle and Sea Serpent Warrior of Darkness, each level 4."
The images of her Island Turtle and Warrior appeared only momentarily, as if ghosts, and then vanished. As soon as they'd disappeared, the huge egg in the back row began to crack – the creature inside was hatching.
"And now that I've fulfilled the conditions of the ritual card," she continued, "I present to you the Crab Turtle (2550/2500) in attack mode!"
The monster that climbed out of the egg looked exactly as its name described – it was an amalgam of a crab and a turtle, both creatures merged together to form a hideous creature whose head was a single eyestalk. It stood on a pair of powerful shelled hind legs, and its arms bore a pair of vicious pincers. Its reddish exoskeleton was augmented by a dark shell on its back, and its single yellow eye stared dispassionately at Kyle's side of the field, where Wall of Illusion was his only defender.
"And I'll go even further than that," Madison continued. "Since that was a special summon, I can still summon another monster the conventional way this turn. And so I sacrifice Star Boy and Amphibious Bugroth Mark-3 in order to play Suijin (2500/2400) in attack mode!"
Kyle's eyes widened in shock. Suijin?! She has a Labyrinth Brother?!
Apparently, Kyle, she does.
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And now the pressure's on! Next up: while Madison continues to pummel Kyle's monsters and Life Points with her high-powered monsters and an unstoppable Labyrinth Brother of her own, Kyle races to mount a successful defense. Will Kyle turn the impossible odds around and take home the gold, or will he fall to a more experienced duelist and her superior deck and come away with silver instead? Stick around and find out in the explosive conclusion of the Madison Enterprises tournament!