"I really don't like relying on a God Card to win my Duels but for some reason i was compelled to use it this time. I hope Claire's going to be alright." Yugi spoke remorsefully.
"What do you mean?" Robert spoke up this time, it's one thing to feel bad about stomping an opponent but Yugi spoke as if he'd physically injured Claire.
"Well, you see when the God Cards deal damage the Duelist fells every life point being drained away. A God card isn't like a normal monster they're almost alive. When they attack I guarantee you feel it." Yugi answered.
"Well, it's a good thing I'm not up against you next Yugi." Mai spoke as she set down her drink. "I'm only up against this pip-squeak." She added ruffling Ryu's white hair playfully.
"Come on Mai you know better than to..." Joey started only to have Mai interrupt.
"Yes Joey I know. I was just joking with Ryu he knows it right Ryu?" She asked the younger Duelist.
"Of course, it's not like I've never been made fun of before. See you on the field Mai." Ryu replied and left abruptly.
Everyone at the table watched in silence as Ryu stormed out of the room. Kelly quickly took off after him as Mai, dumbfounded, looked around and shrugged her shoulders as if asking, "What did I do?".
Twenty Minutes later, Duelist Haven Colosseum
Antony took his pace at the center of the field between the two Duelists, both of whom were already hooked into the Colosseums systems. Their Duel Disks already updated and communicating with the massive computers deep below the huge Roman like structure.
"Welcome back Ladies and Gentlemen to Round two of the Battle Island finals. This will be our final round for the day so soak it up. One of these fine competitors will not be returning to this field again. Now, Mai Valentine and Ryu Drakar will have it out here and now." With that Antony departed the field and the virtual coin toss started up.
As the coin slowed it showed an image of Ryu.
"Guess I go first Mai." Ryu spat as he drew his cards. He was obviously still angry about what had happened earlier.
"I'll Summon my Gilasaurus in attack mode and I'll treat it as a special summon allowing me to set one more monster in defense mode. I'll follow up with one face down card and end my turn." Ryu had played three cards and none of them seemed to have anything to do with his previous strategy of boosting Maha Vailo, in fact. His entire style of play seemed different.
Mai drew her card and moved a few cards around in her hand attempting to maximize her strategizing potential. "I play the field card Harpies Hunting ground then I'll summon my Harpie Lady number One in attack mode." She explained as the field took on the appearance of a forest clearing, several dark red spots could be seen on the ground as well as signs of struggle on the ground.
"And say good by to your face down magic or trap card Ryu honey, thanks to my summoning of a Harpie Lady while My Hunting ground card is in play You lose your little card." As Mai's field magic cards effect activated Ryu's face down magic card appeared to be shredded by unseen talons.
"But I'm not done yet Ryu, Next I'll play my Elegant Egotist magic card, allowing me to special summon either another Harpie lady or a Harpie Lady Sisters to the field. I choose a second Harpie Lady number one which brings both of my Harpies to a walloping twenty one hundred attack points!" Mai's second Harpie appeared on the field with a shrill scream and in a flurry of feathers.
"What!? How are they up to twenty one hundred? You field magic card only increases the attack of Harpie Lady or harpie Lady Sisters by two hundred. Your monsters aren't Harpie Ladies." Ryu called out.
"Oh, you've never heard of the Harpie Family cards? Well let me clear this up for you sweetie, you see the Harpie lady one, two and, three cards are treated exactly like their names were just Harpie Lady so they benefit from my hunting ground card and my Elegant Egotist card." Mai explained as her two Harpies floated in the air eyeing Ryu's monsters like they were on th menu.
"But how do they get up to twenty one hundred points? I mean they should only be at fifteen hundred." Ryu still wasn't sure how her monsters had gotten so strong so quickly.
"My Harpie Lady number One cards have the added effect of boosting the attack of all wind monsters on the field by three hundred and with two of them in play that brings them to nineteen hundred each before the Hunting Ground powers them up." Mai explained further.
"Now if class is over I'd like to attack your monsters." Mai said sarcastically.
No sooner had she spoken then the two powered up harpies lunged at Ryu's waiting monsters. Ryu's Gilasarus was blown away with a single swipe and with its fading pixels so went Ryu's Life points.
Ryu: 7300 Mai: 8000
As soon as Ryu's face down monster flipped and exploded he set another monster in attack mode. A Rare Metal Dragon.
"What!? How'd you..." It was Mai's turn to be surprised.
"Oh, what's the matter sweetie don't know know Familiar Knights effect? Well let me enlighten you. When Familiar Knight is destroyed both you and I can summon a level four or lower monster from our hand to the field. So if you've got one please by all means sumon another monster." Ryu had a snide little smirk on his face as Mai looked over her hand and sighed dejectedly.
"I don't have any monsters that meet those requirements in my hand." She finally admitted.
"Then I guess your turn's over eh Honey?" Ryu spat Mai's words back at her as he drew for his turn.
"Wow, what's gotten into him?" Sammantha asked as she watched Ryu's last exchange with Mai.
"He's been made fun of most of his life. For a few reasons, first was because of his small size. Ryu's not that much younger than me but he's small for his age. Second is his hair, he was born with that stark white hair and has been ridiculed for it most of his life. Last but not least is because of his brother, well adopted brother really. You see he's one of Americas top five ranked Duelists and because of that Ryu's constantly being picked on." Kelly explained as she watched the young man work out his next move.
"What do you mean? With a strong sibling others should be afraid to do anything to him." Joey spoke up, thinking of his Duel with Espa Roba in Battle City.
"Things don't work like that int he US Joey. It sucks but it's the way of our section of the world." Robert broke in.
"I guess I kinda figured Family stuck up for family everywhere." Joey Replied.
"No, don't get me wrong if His brother were around when they were picking on Ryu he'd have done something. Despite the fact that Ryu was adopted Jason treated him like his own flesh and blood. They always chose to attack him when Jason wasn't around though." Kelly spoke.
"Jason... why does that name sound so familiar." Robert spoke up again.
"God you're awful with names. She's talking about Jason Frank. We met him at the Industrial Illusions diner a few years ago." Sammantha reminded Robert.
"Oh damn that's right he' one of the new play testers for the game." Robert spoke more certainly now, his memory finally flooding everything into his grasp. "He's one hell of a Duelist, a vicious warrior deck." He added.
"Yeah but the people picking on him were too scared to take on Jason so they went after Ryu." Kelly spoke, adding reason to Ryu's outburst.
"And to add insult to injury Ryu kind of looks at you as a brother too Robert." Kelly added.
"Crap, so when I didn't do anything..." Robert trailed off.
"Yeah. He felt like he was being abandoned. It wasn't even conscious but all of the emotions and memories came surging up and it really got to him." Kelly finished.
"Damn I'm going to have to apologize when the duel's done." Robert spoke as he looked out to Ryu.
"One more thing though. Take a look at his deck, notice anything about it?" Kelly spoke again.
Robert looked out at the field and reviewed the cards Ryu had played so far.
"Dragons and Warriors." He finally said as Ryu played a Luster Dragon in attack mode and equipped it with an axe of Despair.
"Yeah, it's supposed to be a dedication to two of the strongest people he's ever known." Kelly said and Robert shot her a look of surprise.