Disclaimer: No I do not own Yugioh.
Legends of the Demon Duelist-Rival School Arc
Chapter 20: Outmatched
Eri drew. "I play the magic card Golden Ointment. This card lets me choice one player in play other than myself. That player draws a card." She pointed at Ichigo. "And when that player draws the card I gain 2000 life points."
Ichigo smiled and drew. A golden light fell over Eri's body.
Eri- 1700
Daniel- 2800
Ichigo- 5200
Rikuo- 6800
Eri slid a card into her disk and placed a monster face-down. "I set one card face-down and one monster as well. End turn."
Daniel drew. "From my hand I play Pot of Greed. This card lets me draw two cards." He slid the top two cards off of his deck and looked at them. After a few moments he pointed at Ichigo's Cyber Shadow Rune Blade. "Go Tempest, attack his monster now! Chaos Tempest!" The warrior aimed its blaster at the warrior on Ichigo's field and released a blast of blue energy that hurtled towards the spellcaster.
Ichigo pointed at one of his set cards. "I activate Narrow Escape! This trap card lets one Cyber Shadow in play escape one attack and emerge unscathed." The spellcaster leapt aside and the blast flew past Ichigo and slammed into the back wall of the arena and dissipated. "Also, this trap lets me set one magic or trap card from my hand on the field. It can be activated during this turn." He slid the card he had drawn into his disk and it appeared on the field behind his Cyber Shadow.
Daniel frowned and slid a card into his disk. "I set one card face-down and end my turn."
Ichigo drew. "I switch Rune Blade into defense mode." The spellcaster slid to one knee, its swords gone and leaving it without any real use. (400/1000) "Also, I set one monster face-down and end my turn."
Rikuo drew. "Steel Wolf General, attack Eri's set monster now!" The mighty warrior leapt forwards and slashed the set monster in half. "End turn."
Eri drew. "I flip up my face-down Call of the Haunted trap card! This card lets me revive one monster from my graveyard!" Lithmus appeared on the field and drew its swords. "Because there is a trap card face-up in play its attack and defense are 3000!" (3000/3000) Her eyes glanced at the spaces of her magic and trap zone. ("Because of its effect Call of the Beast destroyed itself when I had no monsters in play. If I still had it then Lithmus could defeat Steel Wolf General…") She pointed at Tempest. "Attack now Lithmus!" The warrior leapt forward and slashed its sword across the hero's front.
Daniel pointed at his set card. "Tempest's special ability activates now! I sacrifice one card on my field to prevent it from dying as a result of battle!" The card shimmered away and Tempest yelled out, releasing a blast of wind that pushed the other warrior away.
Eri- 1700
Daniel- 2600
Ichigo- 5200
Rikuo- 6800
Eri growled darkly. She had forgotten about that ability. "I set two cards face-down and end my turn."
Daniel drew, looked at the card, and then pointed at Rune Blade. "Tempest, attack now with Chaos Tempest!" The warrior lifted its blaster and blew the spellcaster away. "End turn."
Ichigo drew. "Here I go…" His eyes flicked down to the drawn card and then widened. "From my hand I play Pot of Greed." He drew two cards, looked at them, and then looked at the two monsters on the field of his father and Rikuo. "Let's what luck has in store for me. From my hand, I summon Cyber Shadow Shifter!" (800/1200) A black-clothed ninja appeared on the field and struck a fighting pose. "Then I play the magic card Shifter's Trickery! This card lets me draw three cards when Shifter is in play!" He drew the top three cards off of his deck and held them up. "I got it…"
Rikuo and Daniel both narrowed their eyes. Daniel had some idea what was coming…but he didn't know what it was specifically.
Ichigo flipped the three cards over. "I've drawn Polymerization and Cyber Shadow Soldier." His lips lifted slightly, just enough to reveal the tips of his fangs. "Hang on tight old man, because I'm about to take that ugly fusion off the field. Go Polymerization!" A medium-sized black-helmeted warrior appeared next to Shifter and the two monsters were pulled into a glowing vortex. "Come out now, Cyber Shadow Vortex Fighter!" (1800/1500) A warrior wearing a black and silver martial artist's uniform appeared on the field. "This monster's special ability lets it gain half of the attack of any stronger monster it fights! Dragon Fist!" The warrior leapt forward and punched a hole in the chest of the Steel Wolf General. (3500/1500)
Eri- 1700
Daniel- 2600
Ichigo- 5200
Rikuo- 6700
Rikuo braced himself against the backlash and snarled. "Damn you, little…" He caught a card that was spat out of his graveyard. "When Steel Wolf General is destroyed I can special summon Wolf Demon Lord!" (2400/1000) A humanoid wolf in samurai armor appeared on the field.
Ichigo looked at the last card in his hand. "End turn for now."
Rikuo drew. "I'm going to mess up your face, whelp. Now hold still while I play Monster Reborn!" He pointed at his field. "Revive now, Steel Wolf General!" The fusion warrior reappeared and howled along with the Wolf Demon Lord. "Now Wolf Demon Lord, Howling Sword!" The warrior slammed its sword along the ground, the blast heading towards Shifter.
"Reveal Draining Shield!" Ichigo watched calmly as a glowing barrier of green light sprang up and stopped the attack. "This card negates your attack and lets me gain life points equal to the attack strength of the negated monster."
Eri- 1700
Daniel- 2600
Ichigo- 7600
Rikuo- 6700
Rikuo pointed at Vortex Fighter. "Your monster is tough, but the more I think about it I understand something…its effect only applies when it is the attacker."
Ichigo paled.
"I thought so! Steel Wolf General attack!" The warrior launched forwards and slashed through the martial artist with no problem. "End turn."
Eri- 1700
Daniel- 2600
Ichigo- 5000
Rikuo- 6700
Eri drew. ("Ichigo…you can't defeat my father alone. But at the same time, as long as your father is fighting alongside my father then there's no way we can hope to make much progress against them.") "Lithmus, attack Tempest!" The warrior launched forwards and this time the superhero was truly destroyed. "End turn."
Eri- 1700
Daniel- 2400
Ichigo- 5000
Rikuo- 6700
Daniel drew. "You're very good Eri…but not quite good enough. I play Hero's Respect. This magic card lets me select one fusion monster from my graveyard. I may take two of its fusion components from my graveyard and add them to my hand." He held up Bubbleman and Featherman. "Now, I summon Elemental Hero Bubbleman in attack mode!" (800/1200) The light blue armored superhero appeared on the field and struck a pose. "When there are no other cards in play I draw two cards." He drew twice and looked at the drawn cards. "Now I play The Warrior Returning Alive! This magic card lets me take back one warrior monster." He held up Elemental Hero Burst Lady. "Now…Polymerization." A green and red superhero with a dragon for an arm appeared on his field. "Elemental Hero Flame Wingman!" (2100/1200) The warrior roared out and then lowered its eyes to look at Lithmus.
Ichigo frowned slightly. ("Flame Wingman. When this monster destroys another monster as a result of battle the owner of the destroyed monster takes damage equal to the attack points of the monster they lost.") As long as Flame Wingman was in play the duel was now in a state of endgame. One good hit from Flame Wingman would finish off nearly any duelist.
Eri rubbed her index finger under her nose. "I'm safe, or have you forgotten that Lithmus is in play?"
"I haven't forgotten." Daniel opened his field magic card slot. "But have you forgotten what I have? Activate field magic card Skyscraper!" All around the four duelists the field changed into a giant landscape of buildings. "As long as this field magic card is in play all monsters with hero in their title gain 1000 attack points when they battle with a stronger monster."
"That means…" Eri's eyes widened.
"That's right." Daniel pointed at Lithmus. "Flame Wingman, Skyscraper Shooter!" The superhero leapt upwards to stand on the top of the highest building. (3100/1200) It looked down at Lithmus and then dropped downwards, its body covered in fire.
Eri knew that if that attack went through with no outside interference she'd be destroyed. "Reveal Hopes of the Fallen! This trap card activates when a monster is destroyed as a result of battle. I gain that monster's attack points in life!" Flame Wingman's burning form slammed into Lithmus and blew it apart.
Eri- 4600
Daniel- 2400
Ichigo- 5000
Rikuo- 6700
Daniel pointed at the demoness. "Flame Wingman's special ability activates and you take damage equal to the attack points of your monster!" The superhero aimed its dragon arm right at Eri. The arm snarled and sprayed the girl with fire.
Eri- 1600
Daniel- 2400
Ichigo- 5000
Rikuo- 6700
Daniel pointed at Eri. "Bubbleman, direct attack!" The superhero lifted its right arm and fired a stream of water that slammed into Eri's chest and sent her careening to the ground. "End turn."
Eri- 800
Daniel- 2400
Ichigo- 5000
Rikuo- 6700
Ichigo drew. "I set a card face-down and a monster face-down. End turn."
Rikuo drew. "Wolf Demon Lord, attack the newest set monster with Howling Sword!" The humanoid wolf slammed its sword across the earth and sent a wave of blue fire that slammed into the monster. A machine was revealed on the field. It made a weak hum noise and then exploded into dust. "Now Steel Wolf General, attack the other set monster!" The huge warrior launched forwards and slammed its sword through the set monster.
Ichigo frowned. "Cyber Shadow-Screamer's special ability lets me pick up one Cyber Shadow and one Polymerization card. Except that its effect is a flip effect. Because of that your monster negates this effect. However…" He pointed at his set card. "Reveal Reverse Revenge! This trap card triggers when a flip effect on my field is negated! The effect activates twice!" He smirked and held up two Polymerizations, King of Swords, and Soldier. "Thanks for helping me."
Rikuo snarled….knowing that there was nothing he could do. "Fine…end turn."
Eri drew. "I play Mystical Recursion. This card lets me pick up one normal monster from my graveyard!" He slapped a card down. "I summon Death Caliber Knight (1900/1200) in attack mode!" A skeleton on an undead horse appeared on the field. "Attack Bubbleman now!" The warrior charged forwards and slashed through the superhero. "I also set one card face-down and end my turn."
Eri- 800
Daniel- 2300
Ichigo- 5000
Rikuo- 6700
Daniel drew. "Flame Wingman, attack her knight and end this duel! Flame Shooter!" The warrior launched forwards, its body immediately lighting on fire. It flashed past the undead knight and blew it apart. "Flame Wingman…"
Eri pointed at her set card. "Reveal Pikeru's Circle of Enchantment! This trap card negates all effect damage to me during this turn!" A glowing white circle of light appeared around her, blocking the flames that Flame Wingman hurled at her immediately.
Eri- 600
Daniel- 2300
Ichigo- 5000
Rikuo- 6700
Daniel smiled slightly. "Good, you're not surrendering. End turn." He nearly leapt out of his skin when Rikuo snarled at him.
"Don't encourage them!" The wolf demon's eyes spun around to meet Ichigo's. "I refuse to accept that this pitiful whelp could even have the chance of being my son in law! And I shall use every ounce of my power to make sure that he doesn't succeed!"
Ichigo returned the glare coldly. "You…I thought that you cared about your daughter….but now I see the truth…"
Eri turned slowly, her face actually reflecting the tiniest bit of fear. "Ichigo….don't…."
Rikuo snarled darkly and punched a hole in the steel of the arena right below him. "You little punk! Are you criticizing how I raise my own daughter?"
Ichigo drew. "It's my turn now! I play Reload and shuffle my hand into my deck. Then I draw four cards." He slid four cards off of his deck and then looked into Rikuo's eyes calmly. "You're insane. If you knew what was right for her, then you'd stop being such an ass and listen to what she wants!"
"All you care about is getting her for yourself!" The wolf demon nearly roared. "I won't let you have her without a fight to the death! Do you hear me? Just like the Steel Wolf General, I'll crush every hope you have of putting my daughter in a dangerous situation ever again! It's because of you she's wound up part of all of this anyway!"
Ichigo had his eyes closed the whole time as he listened. Then he opened his eyes. "Let me show you something. You think you're invincible? You think that you can keep her safe because you're her big strong father?" He held up a card. "The power of Polymerization…the power that speaks of my heart."
A swirling vortex appeared in the air. "Sometimes the most powerful emotions can't be enough to protect those you love." He held up a card. "Cyber Shadow Blademaster. The devotion to a single purpose. The devotion to keeping Eri safe from harm. It alone cannot be enough to defeat you." A black-armored warrior holding a pair of longswords appeared in the air above him.
Rikuo snickered slightly at that. "That's right…wishful thinking means nothing…"
Ichigo held up another card. "Cyber Shadow Berserker. The rage that drives one to sacrifice themselves for those they love. This cannot be enough to match you in battle." A wild-looking warrior holding atoothed blade appeared on the other side of the vortex.
Rikuo narrowed his eyes. "You've learned…something at least. Being an emotional little brat won't help you save anyone."
"That's where you're wrong." Ichigo watched as the two monsters were sucked into the vortex. "Blind rage and devotion to a cause…giving a form that can bring forth the most damage! Come out now, Cyber Shadow Cutter!" (2100/1500) A humanoid warrior holding a laser chainsaw appeared on the field.
"Keh! If that's what your emotions can produce, then I have nothing to worry about." Rikuo sneered.
Ichigo held up the last card in his hand. "The final addition. The power that makes it all worthwhile. Friendship….friendship and understanding! Fusion Weapon! This equipment magic card raises the attack and defense points of one level six or lower fusion monster in play by 1500 points!" (3600/3000)
"3600…." Rikuo's eyes widened. "Why you little…"
"Stuff it, old man." Ichigo pointed at Steel Wolf General. "Cyber Shadow Cutter, Berserk Slash-down!" The warrior launched forwards and swung the chainsaw hundreds of times in a matter of seconds. Steel Wolf General growled weakly and exploded into dust, the backlash forcing Rikuo to cover his eyes.
Eri- 600
Daniel- 2300
Ichigo- 5000
Rikuo- 6500
Ichigo pointed at Rikuo. "Cyber Shadow Cutter shares the effect of Flame Wingman. When he destroys a monster as a result of battle you take the destroyed monster's attack in damage!"
Rikuo opened his eyes just in time to feel a chainsaw bite into his shoulder. For a few moments he actually stumbled, but then he quickly caught his balance.
Eri- 600
Daniel- 2300
Ichigo- 5000
Rikuo- 3100
Everyone in the stands sat speechless. No one, even Daniel, had ever seen someone speak like that to Rikuo.
The wolf demon literally roared this time. "I'll tear you apart!"
Ichigo closed his eyes. "Come. Bring your best."
"It's my turn now…" Rikuo drew slowly. "DRAW!"
To be continued…
To Lance Murdock: They might. Ichigo has to be fully into Dark Halo for his deck to transform though.
To falcon demon general: Yup.
To Seeker of the Soul: I'm glad you agree.
To Hogwarts-Knight: Which Rikuo have you been watching? The only reason Rikuo hasn't killed Ichigo is because he's Daniel's son.
To G.O.T. Nick: It's still pretty tense, if just because Ichigo is pretty much planning on taking on Rikuo all on his own.
To LucienShadowMaster: Eri was simply having trouble sorting through the powerful emotions of suddenly being human. Therefore….she kind of lost her mind.
To Rex: That's right, he isn't screwing around. He intends to destroy Ichigo if he can.
To Voidtemplar: Rikuo always has the Howling Sword. Legendary Weapon cards don't disappear into thin air. They appear like that, but never disappear from their owners.
To Raine: Yeah, Rikuo is being a bit thick-headed right now.
To Bobbomp: Hum.
To Anime Albino: Ichigo flavored? Spread strawberry flavoring over a dog chewtoy and there you go.
To generic reviewer: Perhaps, perhaps not.
To Star: I'll be sure to relay that to them.
To wolfy: I'm glad you're so loose on your moral standards. Of course, if that happened Rikuo would sniff Ichigo down and castrate him….and then the Sestros' style torturing would begin.
To Sinister: This might be the last arc. Who knows, maybe this will be the last duel I ever write. I have been at this for a while now….hmm….
To Dais: Await no longer.