Chapter 5: An Army Marches...
Saturday 3:14 P.M.
Nikki glanced at her necklace observing the three talismans that hung there. Fire, metal and light jingled at she half-skipped, half-walked down the street. Suddenly, she saw a duel-taking place between an adult in army fatigue and a youth wearing fiery red.
"Ok private now it's time to put you in your place," said the man drawing his card. "Now I sacrifice my face down monster to summon Gadget Soldier." 1800/2000. A mechanical soldier with a large rocket launcher stood facing his opponent's Flame Cerberus.
"Well your monster is still 300 attack point weaker," the younger boy pointed out.
"Well when I give him G.I. (Government Issue) equipment! Now I'll equip him with Machine Conversion Factory making their attack points equal. However, when I play Shield and Sword these stats switch and my monster's defense is higher than your monster's. Now destroy his monster and his life points!" The robot fired a rocket obliterating the three-headed beast. The younger duelist walked over and handed the man his talisman of water. "Who's next to challenge me, Sergeant Ryan?" The man asked.
"I will!" Nikki declared noticing his talismans of water and wood. "And if I win I'll get both of your talismans."
"Fair," the man said, "if I win I also get two of yours."
"All right let's duel!" Nikki shouted as she drew 5 cards.
Nikki 8000/Ryan 8000
"As is the best strategy I let my opponent make the first move," Ryan declared.
"Ok," Nikki said drawing yet another card. "I summon Harpie's Brother in attack mode and end my turn." 1800/600. A muscular winged man in brown clothes with dark red wings descended onto the field.
"A fair card private," Ryan said as he readied himself. "I'll summon Overdrive in attack mode!" 1600/800. A jeep with a gattling gun on its top sped onto the field. "Now I'll set one card and end my turn."
"Now it's my move," Nikki smiled. "I sacrifice Harpie's Brother to summon dark Magician Girl!" 2000/1800. The feminine spellcaster floated slowly to the ground. "Now attack Overdrive!" The wizard shot a blast of energy. However, it bounced off. Next, Overdrive's gun began to fire rapidly destroying Dark Magician Girl. "How?" Nikki asked.
"A good army always has backup," Ryan said sternly. "By activating Reinforcements I increased my monster's power 100 points above yours."
Nikki 7900/Ryan 8000
"I'll set one card and end my turn," Nikki sighed.
"Now I summon Science Soldier in attack mode." 800/800. A man wearing a metallic suit and holding a small laser blaster stood next to Overdrive. "Now both of you attack her directly!" The monster's weapons blazed as bullets hit Nikki in the chest.
Nikki 5500/Ryan 8000
"That wasn't so bad," Nikki smiled. "Now to get you back! I summon Dunames Dark Witch!" 1850/850. The young witch clad in red flew in front of her master. "Now attack and destroy Science Soldier with Spellbinding Crush!" A blast of magical energy engulfed the monster leaving no trace.
Nikki 5500/Ryan 6850
"No great loss," Ryan chuckled. "I switch Overdrive to defense mode and end my turn."
"Now it looks like you're retreating," Nikki commented. "Now I set one card and summon Gemini Elf in attack mode!" 1900/900. The twin elves stood side by side on the field. "Now destroy Overdrive, Dunames and attack directly Gemini Elf!" As the magical energy destroyed the vehicle, the elves punched Ryan in the face making him recoil slightly.
Nikki 5500/Ryan 4950
"Not to worry," Ryan muttered, "'cause now I summon Z-Metal Tank in attack mode!" 1500/1200. A yellow and blue tank with several guns drove onto the field. "Now I activate Shield and Sword switching the attack and defense points of our monsters. And thanks to that, my tank has more attack that your Elf. Now Z-Metal Tank attack Gemini Elf!" The guns blared away destroying the elves in a hail of bullets.
Nikki 5200/Ryan 4950
"And now I place two cards face down ending my turn." Ryan declared.
"Fine then," Nikki retorted. "I don't trust your card so I switch Dunames to defense mode and set one monster card."
"That won't defend you forever," Ryan replied. "I'll play Emergency Provisions. An army should always have some sort of backup plan" Suddenly, one of Ryan's set cards disappeared. "Now I summon X-Head Cannon in attack mode!" 1800/1500. A monster of similar color to the tank appeared. However, this monster resembled a mechanical torso with a cannon on each shoulder. "Now I equip X-Head Cannon with Machine Conversion Factory," several metal hooks on chains appeared and removed the two cannons. They returned and placed two larger cannons onto the monster's shoulders. 2100/1800. "Now Z- Metal Tank destroy her Witch!" A hail of bullets removed the witch from the field. "Now X-Head Cannon attack her set monster!" The cannons blared obliterating her monster.
"No not my Giant Soldier of Stone!" Groaned Nikki. She looked at her empty field and contemplated what to do. Yes she thought drawing her card. This just might be what I need to defeat him. From what I've heard he can combine those two monsters with another to create a very powerful creature. By playing this card I can destroy it and leave him wide open. "I set one card face down and place a monster in defense mode ending my turn."
"Now to unveil my ultimate troop!" Ryan roared. "I summon Y-Dragon!" 1500/1800 (I think). "Now I can combine my creatures!" Suddenly, the monsters rose into the sky. There, they fused into a humongous robot. X- Head Cannon formed the head and torso. Y-Dragon created the stomach while Z- Metal Tank became the treads. "Now meet XYZ Dragon Cannon!" 2800/2500. (Again I think that's the stats).
"Not so fast!" Nikki laughed. "I activate Trap Hole!" Suddenly, a huge chasm appeared under XYZ Dragon Cannon. However, thrusters on the bottom engaged and it avoided the trap. "But how?" Nikki said puzzled.
"Since making XYZ Dragon Cannon is a special summon, your Trap Hole can't affect it." Ryan laughed. "Now attack her puny monster!" The cannons fired a blast and destroyed the creature. "That will end my turn."
Darn it Nikki though my strongest monster is Dark Magician but even he's too weak. I don't have a De-Fusion or any cards like Raigeki. Damn...how will I beat him.
"Hurry it up private!" Ryan growled. "Haven't got all day."
"Ok...I will go. Now I place two cards face down and end my turn."
"Retreating eh?" Ryan chuckled. "I summon Cannon Soldier in attack mode!" 1400/1300. A purple and gold robot roughly the size of a man with a cannon on its back stood facing Nikki. "Now my monsters attack her directly!" As the cannons of both monsters fired, they were suddenly stopped and the monsters began to float into the sky.
"My Zero-Gravity trap card makes all your monsters change modes putting them both into defense mode." Nikki grinned. "Now it's my turn," she drew a looked happily at her card. "I activate Monster Reborn and revive Dark Magician Girl!" 2000/1800. The female wizard again rose to face her enemy. "And now I play Card Destruction making us both discard our hands." Suddenly, the Magician Girl's attack rose to 2300. "Because I discarded Dark Magician my monster's attack rises as long as he remains in the graveyard. Now by playing Horn of the Unicorn her attack will rise to 3000! Now attack and destroy XYZ Dragon Cannon!" The mage shot a powerful blast of dark magic that engulfed the machine, destroying it.
"Damn you," Ryan said as he drew. "However, you may have won the battle but the war is far from over. So now I play Scapegoat giving me four goat tokens." Suddenly, four small goats floated near Ryan. 0/0. "Now I sacrifice on goat to activate Cannon Soldiers effect!" The small creature floated into the cannon and was blasted at Nikki lowering her life points. "I'll set one card and end my turn."
Nikki 4700/Ryan 4950
"You aren't so great," Nikki said as she drew. "I set a monster in defense mode. Now attack his Cannon Soldier!" The magician girl obeyed. However, her attack hit a scapegoat.
"I activated my Shift card," Ryan replied. "It is smart to have weaker soldiers take the bullets so the stronger ones can defeat the enemy."
"You seem kind of deranged..." Nikki muttered. "But I can't do anything so it's your turn."
"Good," Ryan smiled. "I set a monster and sacrifice another Scapegoat so Cannon Soldier can fire another blast!" The second goat loaded itself into the cannon and flew hitting Nikki again.
Nikki 4200/Ryan 4950
"That wasn't so bad," Nikki said. "Now Magician Girl attack his Cannon Soldier!" The mage fired a blast that destroyed the monster. However, Ryan didn't seem to mind.
"Now for my turn," Ryan said as he drew. "I flip up my set Cyber Jar!" 900/900. A small ball of metal with a blue attachment floated above the field. Suddenly, a blast flew from the blue circle and destroyed all the monsters. "Now we each pick up five cards and summon or set any level 4 or lower monsters." Nikki drew but was appalled at what she saw.
"I only drew one monster...I'll set it."
"Ha! I drew three so I'll summon Goblin Attack Force (2300/0), Cyber Commander (750/700) and Mechanical Chaser (1850/800)!" A group of goblins, a man in armor with a rocket launcher and a robot with various weapons for arms appeared. "Now Goblins attack her set monster!" The goblins charged and smashed the monster which was Giant Soldier of Stone. "Now my other two monsters attack her directly!" The Cyber Commander fired a blast of rockets while the Mechanical Chaser slashed Nikki with its weapons.
Nikki 1600/Ryan 4950
"I'm not going to give up," Nikki said. "Yes! Now to beat you! I activate Change of Heart to control your Goblins."
"Yeah but they must stay in defense mode until next turn," Ryan pointed out.
"Not if I activate this! Stop Defense!" Suddenly, the Goblins switched into attack mode. "Now by activating Megamorph I can increase their power to 4600!" The goblins suddenly grew to twice their original size. "Next I'll play Germ Infection lowering Cyber Commander's attack by 300 every turn. So now he has 450. And finally I'll equip my Goblins with Stim-Pack it will increase their attack by 700 but next turn they lose 200! Now destroy Cyber Commander and the rest of his life points!" The goblins charged and smashed the monster lowering Ryan's life points to 0.
Nikki 1600/Ryan 0
"That was a good war," Ryan said handing over his two talismans. "I guess this means I'm out of the tournament."
"Don't worry," Nikki said placing the signs of water and wood alongside fire, metal and light. "I'll duel you again and next time we'll both be way better!"
"Sounds like a plan," Ryan remarked as he marched away.
Nikki looked off into the distance and saluted him.
HES: Thanks to all my loyal fans who are keeping up with my story! As promised, I wrote a chapter for this week. Sadly, I am going to Maine in two weeks so I won't have a new chapter then (. But if I have extra time I might write an extra chapter one week.
Next time on Amateur Duelist: Already with 5 talismans it looks like Nikki is going to be in the finals. She meets up with Sam, a younger boy who yearns to be a scientist. Though young, he unveils a master strategy making it impossible for Nikki to retaliate while he continually attacks her. Will she be able to defeat him? Find out next time on Amateur Duelist!
Saturday 3:14 P.M.
Nikki glanced at her necklace observing the three talismans that hung there. Fire, metal and light jingled at she half-skipped, half-walked down the street. Suddenly, she saw a duel-taking place between an adult in army fatigue and a youth wearing fiery red.
"Ok private now it's time to put you in your place," said the man drawing his card. "Now I sacrifice my face down monster to summon Gadget Soldier." 1800/2000. A mechanical soldier with a large rocket launcher stood facing his opponent's Flame Cerberus.
"Well your monster is still 300 attack point weaker," the younger boy pointed out.
"Well when I give him G.I. (Government Issue) equipment! Now I'll equip him with Machine Conversion Factory making their attack points equal. However, when I play Shield and Sword these stats switch and my monster's defense is higher than your monster's. Now destroy his monster and his life points!" The robot fired a rocket obliterating the three-headed beast. The younger duelist walked over and handed the man his talisman of water. "Who's next to challenge me, Sergeant Ryan?" The man asked.
"I will!" Nikki declared noticing his talismans of water and wood. "And if I win I'll get both of your talismans."
"Fair," the man said, "if I win I also get two of yours."
"All right let's duel!" Nikki shouted as she drew 5 cards.
Nikki 8000/Ryan 8000
"As is the best strategy I let my opponent make the first move," Ryan declared.
"Ok," Nikki said drawing yet another card. "I summon Harpie's Brother in attack mode and end my turn." 1800/600. A muscular winged man in brown clothes with dark red wings descended onto the field.
"A fair card private," Ryan said as he readied himself. "I'll summon Overdrive in attack mode!" 1600/800. A jeep with a gattling gun on its top sped onto the field. "Now I'll set one card and end my turn."
"Now it's my move," Nikki smiled. "I sacrifice Harpie's Brother to summon dark Magician Girl!" 2000/1800. The feminine spellcaster floated slowly to the ground. "Now attack Overdrive!" The wizard shot a blast of energy. However, it bounced off. Next, Overdrive's gun began to fire rapidly destroying Dark Magician Girl. "How?" Nikki asked.
"A good army always has backup," Ryan said sternly. "By activating Reinforcements I increased my monster's power 100 points above yours."
Nikki 7900/Ryan 8000
"I'll set one card and end my turn," Nikki sighed.
"Now I summon Science Soldier in attack mode." 800/800. A man wearing a metallic suit and holding a small laser blaster stood next to Overdrive. "Now both of you attack her directly!" The monster's weapons blazed as bullets hit Nikki in the chest.
Nikki 5500/Ryan 8000
"That wasn't so bad," Nikki smiled. "Now to get you back! I summon Dunames Dark Witch!" 1850/850. The young witch clad in red flew in front of her master. "Now attack and destroy Science Soldier with Spellbinding Crush!" A blast of magical energy engulfed the monster leaving no trace.
Nikki 5500/Ryan 6850
"No great loss," Ryan chuckled. "I switch Overdrive to defense mode and end my turn."
"Now it looks like you're retreating," Nikki commented. "Now I set one card and summon Gemini Elf in attack mode!" 1900/900. The twin elves stood side by side on the field. "Now destroy Overdrive, Dunames and attack directly Gemini Elf!" As the magical energy destroyed the vehicle, the elves punched Ryan in the face making him recoil slightly.
Nikki 5500/Ryan 4950
"Not to worry," Ryan muttered, "'cause now I summon Z-Metal Tank in attack mode!" 1500/1200. A yellow and blue tank with several guns drove onto the field. "Now I activate Shield and Sword switching the attack and defense points of our monsters. And thanks to that, my tank has more attack that your Elf. Now Z-Metal Tank attack Gemini Elf!" The guns blared away destroying the elves in a hail of bullets.
Nikki 5200/Ryan 4950
"And now I place two cards face down ending my turn." Ryan declared.
"Fine then," Nikki retorted. "I don't trust your card so I switch Dunames to defense mode and set one monster card."
"That won't defend you forever," Ryan replied. "I'll play Emergency Provisions. An army should always have some sort of backup plan" Suddenly, one of Ryan's set cards disappeared. "Now I summon X-Head Cannon in attack mode!" 1800/1500. A monster of similar color to the tank appeared. However, this monster resembled a mechanical torso with a cannon on each shoulder. "Now I equip X-Head Cannon with Machine Conversion Factory," several metal hooks on chains appeared and removed the two cannons. They returned and placed two larger cannons onto the monster's shoulders. 2100/1800. "Now Z- Metal Tank destroy her Witch!" A hail of bullets removed the witch from the field. "Now X-Head Cannon attack her set monster!" The cannons blared obliterating her monster.
"No not my Giant Soldier of Stone!" Groaned Nikki. She looked at her empty field and contemplated what to do. Yes she thought drawing her card. This just might be what I need to defeat him. From what I've heard he can combine those two monsters with another to create a very powerful creature. By playing this card I can destroy it and leave him wide open. "I set one card face down and place a monster in defense mode ending my turn."
"Now to unveil my ultimate troop!" Ryan roared. "I summon Y-Dragon!" 1500/1800 (I think). "Now I can combine my creatures!" Suddenly, the monsters rose into the sky. There, they fused into a humongous robot. X- Head Cannon formed the head and torso. Y-Dragon created the stomach while Z- Metal Tank became the treads. "Now meet XYZ Dragon Cannon!" 2800/2500. (Again I think that's the stats).
"Not so fast!" Nikki laughed. "I activate Trap Hole!" Suddenly, a huge chasm appeared under XYZ Dragon Cannon. However, thrusters on the bottom engaged and it avoided the trap. "But how?" Nikki said puzzled.
"Since making XYZ Dragon Cannon is a special summon, your Trap Hole can't affect it." Ryan laughed. "Now attack her puny monster!" The cannons fired a blast and destroyed the creature. "That will end my turn."
Darn it Nikki though my strongest monster is Dark Magician but even he's too weak. I don't have a De-Fusion or any cards like Raigeki. Damn...how will I beat him.
"Hurry it up private!" Ryan growled. "Haven't got all day."
"Ok...I will go. Now I place two cards face down and end my turn."
"Retreating eh?" Ryan chuckled. "I summon Cannon Soldier in attack mode!" 1400/1300. A purple and gold robot roughly the size of a man with a cannon on its back stood facing Nikki. "Now my monsters attack her directly!" As the cannons of both monsters fired, they were suddenly stopped and the monsters began to float into the sky.
"My Zero-Gravity trap card makes all your monsters change modes putting them both into defense mode." Nikki grinned. "Now it's my turn," she drew a looked happily at her card. "I activate Monster Reborn and revive Dark Magician Girl!" 2000/1800. The female wizard again rose to face her enemy. "And now I play Card Destruction making us both discard our hands." Suddenly, the Magician Girl's attack rose to 2300. "Because I discarded Dark Magician my monster's attack rises as long as he remains in the graveyard. Now by playing Horn of the Unicorn her attack will rise to 3000! Now attack and destroy XYZ Dragon Cannon!" The mage shot a powerful blast of dark magic that engulfed the machine, destroying it.
"Damn you," Ryan said as he drew. "However, you may have won the battle but the war is far from over. So now I play Scapegoat giving me four goat tokens." Suddenly, four small goats floated near Ryan. 0/0. "Now I sacrifice on goat to activate Cannon Soldiers effect!" The small creature floated into the cannon and was blasted at Nikki lowering her life points. "I'll set one card and end my turn."
Nikki 4700/Ryan 4950
"You aren't so great," Nikki said as she drew. "I set a monster in defense mode. Now attack his Cannon Soldier!" The magician girl obeyed. However, her attack hit a scapegoat.
"I activated my Shift card," Ryan replied. "It is smart to have weaker soldiers take the bullets so the stronger ones can defeat the enemy."
"You seem kind of deranged..." Nikki muttered. "But I can't do anything so it's your turn."
"Good," Ryan smiled. "I set a monster and sacrifice another Scapegoat so Cannon Soldier can fire another blast!" The second goat loaded itself into the cannon and flew hitting Nikki again.
Nikki 4200/Ryan 4950
"That wasn't so bad," Nikki said. "Now Magician Girl attack his Cannon Soldier!" The mage fired a blast that destroyed the monster. However, Ryan didn't seem to mind.
"Now for my turn," Ryan said as he drew. "I flip up my set Cyber Jar!" 900/900. A small ball of metal with a blue attachment floated above the field. Suddenly, a blast flew from the blue circle and destroyed all the monsters. "Now we each pick up five cards and summon or set any level 4 or lower monsters." Nikki drew but was appalled at what she saw.
"I only drew one monster...I'll set it."
"Ha! I drew three so I'll summon Goblin Attack Force (2300/0), Cyber Commander (750/700) and Mechanical Chaser (1850/800)!" A group of goblins, a man in armor with a rocket launcher and a robot with various weapons for arms appeared. "Now Goblins attack her set monster!" The goblins charged and smashed the monster which was Giant Soldier of Stone. "Now my other two monsters attack her directly!" The Cyber Commander fired a blast of rockets while the Mechanical Chaser slashed Nikki with its weapons.
Nikki 1600/Ryan 4950
"I'm not going to give up," Nikki said. "Yes! Now to beat you! I activate Change of Heart to control your Goblins."
"Yeah but they must stay in defense mode until next turn," Ryan pointed out.
"Not if I activate this! Stop Defense!" Suddenly, the Goblins switched into attack mode. "Now by activating Megamorph I can increase their power to 4600!" The goblins suddenly grew to twice their original size. "Next I'll play Germ Infection lowering Cyber Commander's attack by 300 every turn. So now he has 450. And finally I'll equip my Goblins with Stim-Pack it will increase their attack by 700 but next turn they lose 200! Now destroy Cyber Commander and the rest of his life points!" The goblins charged and smashed the monster lowering Ryan's life points to 0.
Nikki 1600/Ryan 0
"That was a good war," Ryan said handing over his two talismans. "I guess this means I'm out of the tournament."
"Don't worry," Nikki said placing the signs of water and wood alongside fire, metal and light. "I'll duel you again and next time we'll both be way better!"
"Sounds like a plan," Ryan remarked as he marched away.
Nikki looked off into the distance and saluted him.
HES: Thanks to all my loyal fans who are keeping up with my story! As promised, I wrote a chapter for this week. Sadly, I am going to Maine in two weeks so I won't have a new chapter then (. But if I have extra time I might write an extra chapter one week.
Next time on Amateur Duelist: Already with 5 talismans it looks like Nikki is going to be in the finals. She meets up with Sam, a younger boy who yearns to be a scientist. Though young, he unveils a master strategy making it impossible for Nikki to retaliate while he continually attacks her. Will she be able to defeat him? Find out next time on Amateur Duelist!
