And here we are with Chapter 30 and the final part of the Team Guardians vs Team Ragnarok Duel. I hope you all enjoy the finale of this team battle and look forward to the finals of the Friendship Cup.
Now, let's get on with the chapter.
Chapter 30: Vs Ragnarok! The Rose's Final Bloom
Dimension Highway
Aki LP: 4000, Hand: 3, SC: 5
Field: Black Rose Psychic Dragon (ATK: 2400, LV: 7), Queen of Rose (ATK: 2400, LV: 7), Entermage Supreme Ringmaster (ATK: 3000, LV: 12), Scale 3 Abyss Actor – Extras, Scale 8 Abyss Actor – Comic Relief, Continuous Magic: Abyss Confetti Launcher, 3 set cards.
Harald LP: 4000, Hand: 3, SC: 6
Field: Polar God Emperor Loki (ATK: 3300, LV: 10), Polar God Emperor Thor (ATK: 3500, LV: 10), Polar God Sacred Emperor Odin (ATK: 4000, LV: 10), 1 set card.
"What a beautiful sight! All three of the gods have been assembled together!" Melissa announced as Odin, Thor and Loki towered over the city. "Harald has been able to call back even the banished Thor and Loki and assembled all three of the gods together! How will Team Guardian's Aki Izayoi battle against these powerful enemies?"
"It's not over! Aki still has my Abyss Prop Confetti Launcher! She just has to destroy them once and they're banished again!" Sawatari declared.
"And my Entermage Supreme Ringmaster can at least defeat two of them thanks to Entermage Trapeze Force Witch's effect." Dennis added.
"But the gods still have their effects." Bruno said. "Thor can negate and use other monster's effects; Loki can negate Trap cards during the Battle Phase. And Odin is the strongest of the gods, so he has to have an effect just as good or better than Thor and Loki."
"Aki Izayoi, I will admit that your teammates are strong. They were able to banish both Thor and Loki with their own power. However, I was able to come up with a countermeasure if such an event ever did occur." Harald spoke.
"Now feel the wrath of all three of the gods! Battle! Loki, attack Queen of Roses! Vanity Bullet!" Loki fired the bullet at Queen of Roses.
"I activate the Trap Card: Thorn Wall! When a Plant-type monster is targeted for an attack, I can destroy all Attack Position monsters on the opponent's field!" Aki played her set card.
"Useless! Loki's effect activates! Once per turn, when he attacks, he can negate the activation of a card in the Magic/Trap Zone and destroy it!" Loki destroyed Aki's card.
"But that only works once, I activate my other Trap Card: Synchro Defense Formation! When a Synchro Monster on my field, all monsters are switched to Defense Position, and the Synchro Monster, for the rest of this turn, cannot be destroyed in battle or card effects!" Aki used her other card and all of her monsters switched to Defense Position.
Black Rose Psychic Dragon (DEF: 1800)
Queen of Rose (DEF: 1300)
Entermage Supreme Ringmaster (DEF: 3000)
Loki's attack continued and destroyed Queen of Rose, but since it was in Defense Position, Aki didn't take any damage.
"Keep going! Thor, attack Entermage Supreme Ringmaster! Thunder Pyle!" Thor attacked and destroyed the ringmaster that Dennis left Aki.
"Finally, Odin, attack Black Rose Psychic Dragon!" Harald ordered.
"But Black Rose isn't gonna be destroyed! There's no point in attacking!" Aki shouted.
"Heaven's Judgement!" Odin attacked Black Rose, but it was protected by Aki's Trap. However, Odin's attack still created a shockwave and Aki almost lost control.
"What power…" Aki was surprised.
"Aki Izayoi, you're Black Rose isn't strong enough to defeat all three of the gods! No matter what moves you make, you can't defeat us!" Harald declared.
"This is bad. Aki only has her ace on the field." Bruno observed the field.
"Not only that, she has to be careful on which cards to use and that causes a mental strain." Dennis said.
"If she can just destroy them one more time, she can use the Abyss Prop Confetti Launcher combo and get rid of them for good." Sawatari looked at his card.
"Magics and Traps won't work, if there's a way, we don't know it." Bruno observed the field. "Odin's effect is that it prevents Magic or Traps from targeting the gods."
"There is a way." Yuya spoke, getting everyone's attention. "There's one card that can get Aki out of this."
"This match is ours." Brave declared.
"No Duelist can oppose the three gods together." Dragan added.
Roget smiled as he saw the Duel. "No matter which team wins, the winner has already been determined. Me."
"I set one card and end my turn!" Harald finished his turn. "Aki, I've lived for this battle. I was destined to inherit the power of Odin. By following my destiny, I traveled around the world on a Duel pilgrimage. During my journey, I learned firsthand what was really happening in the world."
"Struggles enveloped the people of the world. The people were powerless. By improving myself, I could now see the truth. I found friends who would battle alongside me, and I won the trust of the gods. So that I can battle against the true enemy during the Friendship Cup! Aki, we can't let you or Yuya Sakaki interfere in our mission!" Harald shouted.
"You may have been able to defeat the gods on their own, but now they are all together! Together, they can support each other and unleash even more power! The difference in our powers is evident! Surrender! It's for your own good! If all three of them attack you, you won't escape unharmed!"
"I will admit that your team is strong, but…there's something important that I have to do in this tournament!" Aki looked back.
"Something you must do?" Harald asked.
"I'm fighting for more than the Dimension Guardians! I'm fighting for my family, for the people of this city!" Aki declared. "Including those that hate me!"
"Those that hate you?" Harald perked up.
"It's true, my powers caused trouble to both Tops and Commons, I was separated from my parents and was prepared to live alone for the rest of my life. But one boy…no, one man gave me a chance to do something about it!" Aki and Harald passed the pits and Aki and Yuya looked at each other.
"You said that Yuya was the cause of all this suffering! That him and the others coming here was the result of Zero Reverse! Well, you're wrong! It was thanks to them that I could finally see what my papa envisioned! I was able to see a future where Tops and Commons live in harmony!" Aki said.
"If it's your destiny to defeat Roget, then it's my destiny as well! And I'm not alone, I have incredible friends! Even if you have the power of all three gods, don't underestimate the strength of our bonds! In this Duel, I'll prove to you that our bond can overpower those of the gods!" Aki's mark glowed.
The marks on Yuya, Rin, Rua, Crow and Jack also glowed as well, surprising them and the marks disappeared. "Aki…" The marks all went to Aki and the mark of the Crimson Dragon appeared on her back.
"The mark of the Crimson Dragon…" Harald's eyes widened as he saw the mark on Aki's back.
Aki saw the top card of her deck glowed and she grabbed it. "My turn! Draw!" Aki drew the card.
Aki LP: 4000, Hand: 4, SC: 5→6
Harald LP: 4000, Hand: 2 SC: 6→7
"I use a Speed Counter the Magic Card: Scale Draw! By sending both cards in my Pendulum Zone to the Graveyard, I can draw two cards! But, I can't Pendulum Summon from the Extra Deck!" Aki destroyed the Pendulum scale and drew two cards.
Aki SC: 6→5
"Using the Scale 1 Clear Rose Dragon and the Scale 8 Mystic Rose Dragon, I set the Pendulum Scale!" Aki set the scale once more and two rose dragons appeared. One had clear petals and white skin and the other was navy blue with a purple rose. "With this, I can simultaneously summon monsters from Levels 2 to 7!"
"Flowers that bloom from the soil of the earth, let the wind carry your petals into the future! Pendulum Summon! Come forth! My monsters!" Two monsters came out of the portal.
"The Tuner Monster, Red Rose Dragon (ATK: 1000, LV: 3)! And Blue Rose Dragon (ATK: 1600, LV: 4)!" Aki summoned two rose dragons.
"Another Tuner…" Harald saw Red Rose Dragon.
"I'm Tuning my Level 7 Black Rose Psychic Dragon with my Level 3 Red Rose Dragon!" Red Rose Dragon turned into three green rings and Black Rose Psychic Dragon flew through them and became seven stars.
"Red petals that dance in the wind, unleash your beauty and clear away all evil! Synchro Summon! Come forth! Level 10! Blood Rose Dragon (ATK: 3200, LV: 10)!" Aki summoned her evolved version of Black Rose Psychic Dragon.
"Oh crap!" Brave panicked.
"She summoned that monster…" Dragan narrowed his eyes.
"Blood Rose Dragon…" Harald saw the dragon roar at the gods. Its petals danced all over the city.
"When Blood Rose Dragon is Synchro Summoned, all cards in our Graveyard and banished, then, if this card used Black Rose as Synchro material, all cards on the field are destroyed!" Aki revealed.
"You're banishing the gods, again! But you'll lose the cards on your field as well!" Harald pointed out.
"I activate Clear Rose Dragon Pendulum Effect! Once per turn, cards on my field and Graveyard are unaffected by the effects of Magic, Trap and Monsters! Therefore, my Graveyard won't be damaged and all cards on my field won't be destroyed!" Aki revealed.
Clear Rose unleashed her petals and they made every card on Aki's field transparent allowing them to escape Blood Rose Dragon's effect, however, all cards on Harald's field were destroyed and his Graveyard was banished.
"Whoa! All of the gods have been destroyed and Aki Izayoi has protected her monsters from being destroyed. If she attacks with both Blood Rose Dragon and Blue Rose Dragon, she wins the Duel and Team Guardians advance to the finals!" Melissa shouted and the audience cheered.
"Battle! Blood Rose Dragon! Direct Attack! Blood Rose Gale!" Blood Rose Dragon unleashed a pure red breath attack towards Harald.
"Heh…Hahahahaha! HAHAHAHAHA!" Harald laughed loudly.
"What's so funny?" Aki asked.
"Unfortunately for you, Aki Izayoi, I even predicted you would defeat the gods a second time!" Harald smiled.
"What?!" Aki's eyes widened.
"From my Graveyard, I activate the Continuous Trap: Rise of Hel! When I have all three gods in my Graveyard, by banishing this card as well as Loki, Thor and Odin, I can Special Summon from my Extra Deck, the goddess of Hel, Hela, ignoring her summoning conditions!" Harald grabbed another card from his Extra Deck.
"Goddess of Hel?" Aki got worried.
"Queen of Hel that has been looked down by the gods, now is the time to rise from the depths and take over Valhalla and initiate Ragnarok! Appear! Level 12! Goddess of Hel, Hela (ATK: 5000, LV: 12)!" The entire sky turned into fire and appearing was a goddess dressed in black and had a large black crown and she summoned a million weapons around her and laughed maliciously.
"It's over for her." Brave smiled.
"When Harald summons Hela, no Duelist has ever survived." Dragan said.
"5-5000 Attack Points…" Rua was shocked.
"It's more powerful than Odin." Asuka trembled.
"Aki's strategy to use Blood Rose Dragon helped Team Ragnarok…" Yuzu moaned.
"Aki…" Yuya looked at her worriedly.
Aki looked at the card that she drew first. "Please, just wait a little longer." Aki looked back. "I cancel the battle and end my turn!"
"I can't believe it! Aki had the perfect counterattack, but Harald saw right through it and summoned a monster more powerful than all three of the gods!" Melissa shouted.
"Team Ragnarok is amazing!"
"They countered every move!"
"The match is already settled!"
The audience seemed to be giving up on the Guardians winning.
"My turn! Draw!" Harald drew his card.
Aki LP: 4000, Hand: 1, SC: 5→6
Harald LP: 4000, Hand: 3, SC: 7→8
"I activate Hela's effect! By discarding one card from my hand to the Graveyard, I can destroy one monster on the field and the opponent takes damage equal to the destroyed monster's Attack Points! I destroy Blood Rose Dragon!" Harald pointed at Aki's monster.
"I won't let you! Blood Rose Dragon's effect! When my opponent activates an effect that would destroy cards, I can release this card and negate that effect and Special Summon a Black Rose Dragon from my Extra Deck or Graveyard! Revive! Black Rose Psychic Dragon (DEF: 1800, LV: 7)!" Aki brought back her ace monster.
"Don't think that those tricks can protect you from Hela's power! Battle! Hela, attack Black Rose Psychic Dragon! Million Blade Chaos!" Hela fired all of her weapons at Black Rose Psychic Dragon. "When Hela attacks a monster in Defense Position, it deals piercing damage!"
Black Rose Psychic Dragon roared in pain as the blades cut her up and she was destroyed and Aki screamed as she felt the blades scratch up her body.
Aki LP: 4000→800
"Aki!" The Guardians called out in concern.
"When Hela destroys an opponent's monster in battle, all monsters on the opponent's field are also destroyed, and for each one destroyed, the opponent takes 500 points of damage!" Harald revealed as Blue Rose Dragon was destroyed as well and Aki took more damage.
Aki LP: 800→300
Aki's suit was now ripped and there were multiple scratches on her skin and some blood leaked out. "When Blue Rose Dragon is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard…I can Special Summon Black Rose Psychic Dragon (ATK: 2400, LV: 7) from the Graveyard." Aki brought back her ace.
"I end my turn. At the End Phase of my turn, Hela gains one Ragnarok Counter. Aki Izayoi, when Hela gains 3 Ragnarok Counters, her effect will allow me to automatically win the Duel!" Harald revealed.
Ragnarok Counter: 0→1
"An effect that lets him automatically win. That card is broken." Ruri said.
"So, this is the goddess of Hel, Hela…" Shun looked at the evil goddess.
"If Aki wants to win, she only has two turns left." Jonouchi said.
"Not only that, she also has to try and survive Hela's monster effect and attack." Dennis pointed out.
"Damn it…it can't end like this…" Sawatari cursed.
"Now begins the final countdown." Brave said.
"Let's see if she'll hold out until then." Dragan observed Aki's condition.
"My…" Aki moved her hand but winced as it was really hard to move. "My turn. Draw." Aki drew her card.
Aki LP: 300, Hand: 2, SC: 6→7
Harald LP: 4000, Hand: 2, SC: 8→9
"I activate Dimension Highway's effect! By removing 7 Speed Counters, I can draw one more card!" Aki drew another card and her vision started to blur.
Aki SC: 7→0
"I set two cards and end my turn." Aki panted.
"I see…your plan is to protect your Life Points by using those set cards. But I should tell you this. Hela cannot be destroyed in battle or card effects, furthermore, she is cannot be banished or returned to my hand. In other words, she can't leave the field no matter what." Harald revealed.
"But, next turn, I will have 10 Speed Counters! My turn! Draw!" Harald drew his card.
Aki LP: 300, Hand: 1, SC: 0→1
Harald LP: 4000, Hand: 3, SC: 9→10
"I activate Dimension Highway's effect! I remove 10 Speed Counters to destroy one card on the field! I destroy that set card!" Harald aimed for the card on the left and it revealed itself.
Harald SC: 10→0
"Nature's Reflection. That Trap allows for the remainder of this turn that any effect damage inflicted to you would be inflicted to your opponent. Too bad you won't be able to damage me with that." Harald smiled while Aki gritted her teeth.
"Next, I activate Hela's effect! I discard one card from my hand to the Graveyard to destroy Black Rose Psychic Dragon and have you take its Attack Points as damage!" Harald had Hela use her effect.
"I activate the Continuous Trap: Rose Veil! This card becomes a Equip Card for Black Rose Psychic Dragon! As long as this card is on the field, Black Rose Psychic Dragon cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects!" The rose veil protected Aki's dragon.
"Battle! Hela, attack Black Rose Psychic Dragon! Million Blade Chaos!" Hela attacked Psychic Dragon. "Even if you're monster won't be destroyed, you'll still take damage, begone, Black Rose Witch!" Harald shouted.
The attack created a large cloud of smoke. "Is it over?!" Melissa wondered as the audience cheered.
"Aki!" Sawatari and Dennis cried out.
"Oh no…" Yuzu got worried.
"Aki…" Yuya uttered.
The smoke began to clear and Aki emerged from it, with even more scratches and injuries but…
Aki LP: 700
"Wh-What's this?! Aki has survived and she has 300 extra Life Points!" Melissa commentated.
"I don't understand, that attack should have defeated you!" Harald was confused.
"I activated…Dennis's Trap from my Graveyard…" Aki panted.
"Dennis's Trap…" Harald repeated.
"The card destroyed by Blood Rose Dragon's effect. The Trap Card: The Show's Gotta Go All Over the Place or Something. By banishing an Entermage in my Graveyard, I gain Life Points equal to its Attack Points. I gained Entermage Supreme Ringmaster's 3000 Attack Points to my Life Points and took the 2600 points of damage.
Aki LP: 300→3300→700
"Next, I activate the Trap Card: Damage Draw. For every 1000 points of damage I take, I draw one card. I took 2600, so I draw two cards." Aki drew two more cards weakly.
"You were able to survive another of Hela's assaults. Aki Izayoi, your resilience scares me. Then I better take insurance. I Special Summon Polar Star Wicked Dragon Jörmungandr (DEF: 3000, LV: 8) to your field!" Harald summoned a dragon to Aki's field and it surrounded her and Black Rose.
"What's this?" Aki looked worried.
"When I have a god on my field, I can Special Summon this monster to my opponent's field in Defense Position! And when it switches to Attack Position, the opponent takes 3000 points of damage!" Harald revealed.
"Next, I Special Summon Polar Star Wicked Wolf Fenrir (DEF: 4000, LV: 10) to your side of the field in Defense Position!" A wolf appeared on Aki's field.
"When it becomes the Battle Phase, this card switches all your monsters in Defense Position to Attack Position! And when this card battles, both players take battle damage!" Harald added. "I end my turn! At the End Phase, Hela gains one Ragnarok Counter.
Ragnarok Counter: 1→2
"What a combo…if she doesn't do something about those monsters, then she'll lose on her Battle Phase." Jonouchi said.
"Not only that, Hela has two Ragnarok Counters. All Harald has to do is simply end his next turn and he's won the Duel." Serena pointed out.
"My…turn…" Aki moved her hand to her deck but she yelped as she felt all her wounds burn her body. "I can't focus…I can't…use my Psychic Power to heal…"
"Aki Izayoi, you have fought gallantly. You and your team did all you could, but unfortunately, even your bonds could not overpower the gods. This is as far as you go, leave Roget and Academia to us." Harald said.
"We've…lost…" Dennis lowered his head in defeat.
"Damn it!" Sawatari cursed. "We can't lose! Not after everything we went through!"
"There's no need to keep fighting a losing battle. There's no shame in surrendering." Harald spoke.
"It seems the match is settled." Melissa commentated. "The finals will be Team Ragnarok and Team Security."
"Too bad for the Guardians."
"Yeah, I really thought they had a shot."
"But those gods are too strong."
"There's no point in even continuing the match, she's gonna lose either way."
"She better surrender."
Aki sniffled as she closed her eyes in frustration as tears fell down her cheeks. "Everyone…I'm…I'm sorry…I failed…" Aki lowered her head. Despite the pain, she moved her hand over her deck.
"Aki…" Yuya uttered.
Aki and Harald had entered the arena once more as the crowd was ready to accept the result. Aki was about to place her hand on top of her deck to surrender…
"GO FOR IT, AKI! DON'T GIVE UP!"
Aki gasped and stopped her hand. She turned her head to look at the audience and standing in the very front was…
"YOU CAN DO IT, AKI!" Hideo, Aki's father, was waving a large flag with Izayoi printed on it.
"SHOW US HOW YOU BLOSSOM ON THE FIELD, AKI!" Setsuko, Aki's mother played some drums.
"Mama…Papa…" Aki uttered.
"Aki's parents…" Crow recognized them.
"S-Senator, I know she's your daughter but please have some dignity…" Melissa advised.
"You heard your parents, Aki! Blossom!" Sawatari shouted loudly.
"The spotlight's on you! Give everyone a show that they'll never forget!" Dennis joined in as well.
"Sawatari…Dennis…" Aki looked at her teammates.
"Don't give up, Aki!"
"You got this!"
"Win this with an epic comeback!"
Everyone in the Guardians pit cheered for Aki and she smiled. She then saw Yuya and he held something up to her and her eyes widened. It was the rose that she gave him the first time they met. After everything that had happened, he still took care of it.
"Everyone…that's right. I can't give up." Aki revved up her engine and moved faster. "Harald, this is my last turn! In this turn, I'll show you how beautiful I can blossom!" The card in Aki's hand that glowed early now transformed into a new card.
"My turn! Draw!" Aki drew her last card and the mark of the Crimson Dragon on her back glowed brighter.
Aki LP: 700, Hand: 4, SC: 1→2
Harald LP: 4000, Hand: 0, SC: 0→1
"With my current Pendulum Scale, Pendulum Summon!" The portal opened and one monster came out. "Violet Witch (ATK: 1100, LV: 4)!" Aki summoned a witch wearing leaves.
"Next, by banishing two monsters on my field, I can Special Summon this monster from my hand! I Special Summon Aurora Rose (ATK: 0, LV: 10, PS: 5)!" Aki banished both Fenrir and Jörmungandr.
"She used the monsters to help her out!" Harald was surprised.
"Then…" Aki got the last card in her hand. "I summon the Pendulum Tuner Monster, Preservation Dragon – Guardian Dragon (ATK: 0, LV: 1)!" Aki summoned a monster that looked like Savior Dragon, but it had a color that was similar to Yuya's pendant.
"Hey, isn't that the same monster you summoned back at the Main Pillar?" Rua asked.
"No, this one is much more powerful." Rin admitted.
"I'm Tuning my Level 7 Black Rose Psychic Dragon, Level 4 Violet Witch with my Level 1 Guardian Dragon!" All three of the monsters flew into the air as Guardian Dragon enveloped all of them by becoming one big green ring and Black Rose Psychic Dragon and Violet Witch became eleven stars all together.
"Flower that has endured many battles to protect what matters! Unleash your final bloom and protect the land from the gods themselves! Synchro Summon! Scatter your petals! Pendulum-Synchro Monster, Guardian Rose Dragon (ATK: 4500, LV: 12, PS: 0)!" Aki summoned a Pendulum-Synchro version of her dragon and it unleashed a pure light and its petals danced all over the city with many people being marveled at the sight.
"A Synchro-Pendulum Monster…but it's strength is not strong enough to defeat Hela, also, she cannot be destroyed in battle and she cannot leave the field!" Harald pointed out.
"It's true that I can't destroy Hela, but that doesn't mean that I can't win!" Aki shouted. "I activate Aurora Rose's effect! I can Special Summon as many banished Synchro Monsters to my side of the field!"
"Banished Synchro Monsters?!" Harald's eyes widened.
"Wait, is she…" Dragan's eyes widened.
"No way!" Brave got panicked.
"I Special Summon the three gods! Come to my field, Loki, Thor and Odin!" Aki shouted. Thor appeared out of the water, Loki came through a rip in dimension and Odin descended from the skies.
Loki (ATK: 3300, LV: 10)
Thor (ATK: 3500, LV: 10)
Odin (ATK: 4000, LV: 10)
"You fool! Only those that wield the Rune Eyes can use the gods! You're destroying yourself!" Harald shouted.
The gods looked down on Aki and they were going to strike her down, but the mark on Aki's back glowed and the Crimson Dragon appeared and it roared at the three gods, making them hesitate.
Guardian Rose Dragon then got in front of the Crimson Dragon and she roared loudly at the gods that it shook the entire city. The gods looked at the dragon and Odin bowed to her, followed by Thor and Loki.
The gods are bowing to the Crimson Dragon…" Harald couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"Harald, there is another way! One team doesn't have to take down Roget! Together, we can take him down! Both the Crimson Dragon and the Gods working together!" Aki shouted. "We can take back our city, we can protect it from Academia, we can give it a bright future!"
"Together…" Harald uttered.
"I activate Guardian Rose Dragon's effect! Once per turn, it can gain the Attack Points of all Synchro Monsters on my side of the field! Loki has 3300, Thor has 3500 and Odin has 4000! Therefore, Guardian Rose Dragon gains 10,800 Attack Points!" The gods all shared their power with Guardian Rose Dragon and it glowed with power.
Guardian Rose Dragon (ATK: 4500→15,300)
"15,300 Attack Points! Its power is way beyond Hela's!" Harald was shocked.
"Impossible! There's no way!" Dragan hit the table hard. Brave clenched his fist and closed his eyes in frustration.
"This was made possible thanks to all of my friends! This is the power that surpasses the gods! This proves that if everyone works together, we can create a future where we're all friends!" Aki declared.
"That's right…We're all friends!" Melissa said the tournament catchphrase.
"Go! Guardian Rose Dragon, attack Hela! Final Bloom!" Guardian Rose Dragon charged towards Hela with the gods beside her and they all struck Hela together.
"Hela won't be destroyed in battle, but…" Harald lowered his head.
"You take damage!" Aki finished and an explosion occurred and it engulfed Harald as he took the damage.
Harald LP: 4000→0
Winner: Dimension Guardians
"Oh yes! She did it!" Sawatari jumped in joy.
"Way to go, Aki!" Dennis cheered.
"The winner of the incredible Friendship Cup semifinal battle is Team Guardians!" Melissa announced the winners as Sawatari's, Dennis's, and Aki's pictures appeared with winner below them and the audience cheered.
"Aki! Aki! Aki! Aki!" The audience began chanting Aki's name as she and Harald entered the arena and went to a complete stop.
"Well done, Aki Izayoi. A complete defeat for us." Harald took off his helmet. "You've shown me the power of bonds by using our monsters to work with yours to defeat Hela. Your belief in that managed to overpower the gods."
Harald's Rune Eye activated as Aki took off her helmet and he saw the Crimson Dragon with Guardian Rose Dragon. "My Rune Eye is telling me that you are the ones who will save this dimension. And Team Ragnarok will also assist you in that fight, as well as against Academia." Harald smiled.
"Thank you, Harald." Aki smiled.
"Victory dog pile!" Sawatari and Dennis tackled Aki off her D-Wheel, and knocked her to the ground.
"H-Hey, guys…" Aki tried to say something.
"We did it, we're in the Finals!" Sawatari shouted.
"We're one step closer to finishing our mission!" Dennis cheered.
"Geez…" Aki sighed as they ignored her, but she decided to let them have it as they were the reason, she was able to win.
"Too bad, Harald." Dragan approached Harald.
"Well, it can't be helped." Brave shrugged. "But man, they proved us wrong."
"The Guardians were able to overpower the gods. All thanks to the trust that they have in each other. The Final Match will showcase the full potential of that." Harald looked at the Guardians pit as they all celebrated.
Security Headquarters – Roget's Office
Roget saw the results on the screen. "Pretty much exactly as I predicted." He moved a chess piece on the board.
The door behind him opened and Mikage entered. "Sir, can I talk to you?" Mikage asked.
"I thought I told you to get some rest. You'll be in the Finals." Roget looked back.
"I understand that, but something has been bothering me." Mikage said. "I haven't seen Ushio lately. He's gonna be part of the finals, isn't he?"
"Unfortunately, Officer Ushio has taken a leave of absence." Roget answered. "But don't worry, I've already arranged a replacement for him."
"A leave of absence? But why didn't he tell me, we're partners." Mikage looked down upset.
"He didn't want you to worry about him. Remember, victory is important for us since if we win, we'll be able to control Neo Domino City and we can put it back on the right track, right before the Guardians showed up." Roget assured.
"Y-Yes sir." Mikage bowed. "I'll go and rest for the Finals."
"You do that." Roget turned around to face the screen as Mikage walked out.
Mikage turned her head back as the doors closed and she saw Roget taking out a card from his pocket and her eyes widened as she saw what it was.
"Step one, complete." Roget proudly stated.
Team Guardians Penthouse – Balcony
While everyone was inside celebrating today's victory and congratulating Sawatari, Dennis and Aki's victory, Yuya was outside looking at the city with Rin and Rua beside him.
"The end is finally in sight." Yuya said.
"Yeah. The Friendship Cup Finals." Rin nodded.
"We'll be facing the strongest lineup that Roget has planned." Rua noted.
"Let's do this for everyone that suffered through Zero Reverse." Yuya took out Kazama's card.
"Just you wait, Roget! For my grandpa, for Ruka, I'll take your team out!" Rua growled.
"We're gonna stop you and your plans to take over the Synchro Dimension!" Rin declared.
"And then we'll be coming for you, Leo Akaba! And you too, Raider!" Yuya finished as he was burning with anger with what Raider did to You Show.
Security Headquarters – Hallway
Mikage ran through the hallway as fast as she could. "I didn't imagine it. The card the director had…Ushio…" Mikage saw the defeated look of Ushio in that card. "I have to get out of here. I have to warn the Guardians…"
Mikage then bumped into someone and she fell on her butt. "S-Sorry, I wasn't—" Mikage paled as she looked at who she bumped into.
It was a tall bald dark-skinned man with purple eyes. He was wearing black robes with yellow strips with black sclera and dark red marks running down his face, over his eyes.
"You should watch where you're going. You can't get injured before the Finals." The man said.
"Wh-Who are you? This area is for Security personnel only." Mikage asked.
"I'm the replacement for your partner, Ushio. My name is Demak. Pleasure to meet you." Demak bowed.
"Demak…I swore I heard that name before…wait, he's…" Mikage flipped backwards and activate her Duel Disk.
"You're the assassin Duelist that has killed multiple political figures around the world!" Mikage said. "You were the one that killed Mayor Godwin's son and daughter-in-law!"
"I didn't really kill them. I was saving their lives. It's not my fault that my blood wasn't compatible with theirs." Demak smiled.
"You tampered with it! It was because of that transfusion that Aporia's disease was unknown and there was no way to treat it, and his wife, it caused her to give birth prematurely…Why? Why did you do it?" Mikage glared.
"Do I really need a reason?" Demak grinned maliciously. "Well, if you want an answer…it's because I felt like it."
"You monster! You're under—" Mikage was then grabbed by her neck and lifted off the ground by someone behind her. The person turned her around so she could face him and her eyes widened.
He was a tall and muscular man, wearing a full-body riding suit with green and purple parts, separated by red lines. There are spikes on the elbows, around his middle and on bracelets. The suits opening is very broad, exposing a lot of skin from his upper torso, showing the many criminal marks he has on his head, neck and upper torso. His left eye was technological and it looked like a scanner.
"Y-You're…" Mikage choked.
"Oh, poor Elite Officer, Mikage." Roget walked up to the group. "You should've just done and obeyed my orders.
"Director…" Mikage choked.
"No matter, you'll still play in the Finals, but not as the current you. Do it, Sergey." Roget snapped his fingers.
Roget then threw Mikage through the windows and she screamed as she fell many stories to the ground and a loud snap echoed. Roget looked down from the cracked hole with Demak and Sergey.
"Now be reborn…as one who opposes the Signers and serve under me!" Roget dropped a card to the ground and a purple and dark light shot into the sky.
Emerging from the purple light was Mikage, but she had changed. Her eyes were now light blue, she wore a black robe like Demak with orange stripes with her midriff exposed, black fingerless gloves, a black mini-skirt along with a long cape on her waistline and black boots.
"Now, Dark Signers...it's time for the curtain to rise on my kingdom!" Roget declared.
And done with the Guardians vs Ragnarok Duel. What did you all think? Only one more week of school and then I'm off for Thanksgiving Break. Hopefully I can do more than one chapter during that week off.
What did you all think of the Duel and are you looking forward to the upcoming Final Match. Let me know in the review and if you have questions, go ahead and PM me and I will answer as soon as I can.
Thanks for reading and I'll see you next time.
Preview: The Finals of the Friendship Cup are about to begin. With the future of Neo Domino on the line, Yuya, Rin and Rua vow to fight for the people that had fallen during Zero Reverse and give hope to the future. Rin starts off for the Guardians and her opponent is Mikage, the officer that arrested her and the girls. The final fight for the future of the Synchro Dimension is about to begin.
Next time: Vs Dark Signers! Rin vs Mikage!