Amazing. It's another chapter, and it's only been about four days or so. Yes, here we have the first Duel of the Battle City Finals! Sadly, this isn't the greatest Duel I've written, and I really wasn't that excited to write it. But the next Duel will be good. As for now, let's charge on in, and have some fun!
Chapter Eighteen: Choosers of the Slain
With as sudden a lurch as it had started, Kai's platform came to a stop before an already opened door. It had taken so many twists and turns that he had no idea where in the Duel Fortress he was, except that he now stood in a room that seemed to have been made specifically for being a dueling arena. Four walls lines with holographic projectors stood on every side of the plain marble floor.
As he stepped out onto the arena floor he noticed that his opponent had arrived at the same time as he, only they had practically fallen out of their transport. Leaning over and hyperventilating, it was revealed that his opponent was female with brown hair and wearing a blue blouse with a scarf draped like a cape over her shoulders. Instantly the face registered in his mind.
"Sakura Haeru." He called her by her full name as she regained her composure. "It seems that fate has declared that only one of us will get a rematch with Kevin." Nodding, yet still gasping for air, Sakura nodded. Kai raised his arm and the new Duel Disk, this one having more of a rigid shape, like the ones from the first Battle City tournament, snapped together. Sakura made her way to her end of the floor and activated her Duel Disk.
Kai-4000/Sakura-4000
"I'll make the first move." Kai called, drawing six cards. "I summon Steadfast Magician (500/2200) in defense mode." Before Kai's eyes, in a display the likes of which he had never seen before appeared the blue robed sorcerer with the ivory staff. What was so different was simply in how the monster appeared, emerging from a spiral of colorful wind rather than from a group of pixels like with normal Duel Disks. Furthermore, the monsters seemed far more real than those of old. The skin had imperfections, the clothing looked worn through in some parts, etc. It was truly amazing. "I'll also set two cards face down, and end my turn."
Picking up her newest card, Sakura gave a small yelp of excitement and surprise as she looked from the drawn card to the ones in her hand. Finally, she reached a decision and slipped the new card into her magic and trap zone.
"I play Walkurren Ritt!" she called as a massive pillar of light appeared in the air above their heads. "Now I special summon as many Valkyrie monsters from my hand as I want. So I'm bringing out my Valkyrie Sovite (1600/1600), Valkyrie Hildr (1900/1700), Valkyrie Sigdrifa (2300/2300), and Valkyrie Skogul, (1700/1000), all in attack mode!" she happily cheered. "Isn't this fun?"
What sickened Kai most was that she wasn't being sarcastic with that last comment. With eyes determined he watched her field as four women in various types and colors of armor, each mounted on the back of a white steed appeared. The horses pawed at the ground and snarled while the riders actually seemed to be humming some sort of sweet tune to themselves.
"Valkyries." Kai breathed. "The Choosers of the Slain. The handmaidens to Odin. Interesting choice." He knew just about everything there was to know about the Nordic legends of these feminine warriors, having read a number of Japanese translations of old Scandinavian stories, but as for their card forms, he had no way of know what they were capable of.
"They're so pretty." Sakura gawked at her monsters who's appearances had been intensified greatly. "Valkyries, will you please go and attack his Life Points?" she asked, sounding rather childish as she did.
"I still have a monster defending my Life Points." Kai responded, indicating is overwhelmingly strong defender.
"Nuh uh." She called back. "When Valkyrie Sovite is summoned, she instantly destroys one monster on the field." As she explained this, the pink haired Valkyrie kicked her horse, directing it to charge at Kai's monster which she cut in half with a single strike.
"Now, since my four Valkyries were all special summons, I'm going to normal summon my Valkyrie Randgrior (500/2500) in defense mode." The fifth Valkyrie to appear on Sakura's field was much like the others in appearance, only significant difference being that her hair was a flowing silver shade, and the fact that she seemed to be emitting a dome of pure light and energy all around herself.
"Now I'll attack." She called and her four attack mode monsters dug their heels into their steeds sides, lunging forward for the kill. However, before the attacks could get within striking range, a new magician appeared on Kai's field in a crouch dressed in white robes. "What are you doing?" she asked in a bewildered yet whiny voice.
"It's simple.' Kai expained. "When you destroyed my Steadfast Magician, I was allowed to instantly special summon a new magician to take his place, in this case my Immortal Magister (700/1000)."
"Well, I'll still attack." Was Sakura's only response to this unforeseen development. First her Sovite struck cutting Kai's monster to pieces. However, her confusion only grew as the monster seemed to reform, the fragments of holographic light seeming to pull back together. "I think these new Duel Disks aren't fully functional yet."
"That's not it." Kai responded. "When Immortal Magister is destroyed, I can summon another one from my deck in defense mode, as well as draw one card." He explained, holding up a hand of three cards once again.
"I'm still going to attack." She declared boldly and her three remaining Valkyries moved in. Up next were Hildr, who cut down Kai's magister just fine, as did Skogul. "Now Sigdrifa will attack and take away more than half of your Life Points!" she clapped for herself, a bright smile over her face.
"Go face down card!" Kai shouted as he depressed a button on his Duel Disk and the card on his left flipped over revealing the image of a man in wizard clothing pointing his wand at what seemed to be a rip in the air itself. "Magicians Rift activates when you attack directly and have two or more monsters more on the field than I do. I may now special summon two level four or lower magicians from my deck in face up attack mode, but their attack points will be reduced by 1000." He explained as he quickly placed the two monsters he had chosen onto his Duel Disk. "Mirage Mage (1900-1000/1100) and Chaotic Magician (1600-1000/2000)."
"Sigdrifa, attack his Illusion Magician and give me the lead in Life Points." Sakura commanded, her voice maintaining that same bubbly attitude of hers, but holding a hint of annoyance as well.
"I activate my last face down card." Kai called back as the last holographic card image flipped up. "Magicians Ordination will activate now that I have specially summoned a magician, ending your turn as well as allow me to draw one card. So now I get to draw two cards for the last two Immortal Magisters, giving me a hand of five. However, now that all three are in the graveyard I get to shuffle them back into my deck for later use. Also, thanks you my trap I draw again, giving me six cards even before my second turn begins, while your hand is empty."
With a deep frown, Sakura began to lift her Valkyries off of her Duel Disk. "Since your trap made my turn end, I have to now shuffle the four monsters I summoned with Walkurren Ritt back into my deck." She explained, and although he didn't show it, it made Kai smile. It meant that she only had one defense monster standing between him and her Life Points, with no magic or trap cards, and no hand to back it up.
"My move!" Drawing a seventh card, Kai looked over his multiple options. "Fist I'll sacrifice my
Mirage Mage to summon my Guardian of Time (2400/2500) in attack mode," As the yellow robed sorcerer vanished from site it was replaced by one of Kai's newest and most deadly monsters, robed in white and blue and spinning his staff about feverishly. However, despite how impressive the new systems were, this image wasn't as intense as when Kai had faced off against Tenken. "Now I play Gathering of Magics to pay 1000 Life Points to special summon two more level four or lower spellcasters from my hand or deck to the field in defense mode, so here comes my Apprentice Magician (400/800) and Illusionist of the Midnight Star (1500/1800)."
Kai-3000/Sakura-4000
Kai's two new monsters appeared, both holding their staffs up defensively. Sakura herself looked on in fear of Kai's four monsters. Fortunately only two of them could attack, and none of them had enough attack points to get past her Valkyrie Radgrior, so for now she was safe.
"Since I played a magic card, Guardian of Time has gained a magic counter. Then, because I've summoned Apprentice Magician my Guardian of Time receives another counter. And now that he has two, I can sacrifice them to instantly destroy one card on your field and remove it from play." With a flourish of his staff, the Guardian of Time began to concentrate the portions of energy he had absorbed from the two card effects into a single ball of light, which he flung at Sakura's monster, instantly swallowing her whole and leaving no trace. "Now my Guardian and my Chaotic Magician will both attack you Life Points directly!"
Both mages twirled their staves feverishly before snapping them down and pointing them at Sakura, both releasing beams of mystical light which pushed her back against the back wall. This was more intense than any hologram duel Kai had seen, with the exception of his match with Tenken. He didn't think a collection of light particles could carry that much force, or cause the kind of pain he could see in Sakura's eyes as she struggled to her feet. In truth, Kai was surprised that she could stand, granted her small size and obviously lacking his level of physical stamina.
Kai-3000/Sakura-1000
"You meany!" she shouted at him, fighting back her tears and drawing a card.
'Just from one joint attack she's crying?' Kai observed. "These holograms are much more than I expected. Although I don't want to hurt her, I can't hold back.' He returned his focus back to the Duel and the relieved look Sakura was giving her newest card. 'What's she planning?'
"I play the magic card, Loki's Betrayal!" she called as she slipped the card into her duel disk.
"Loki? The god of mischief and who betrayed the gods?" Kai wondered.
"Maybe." Sakura responded with a shrug. "I don't know. I've never heard the name outside of this card. Anyway, it lets me guess the name of a card in your deck and if I'm right you have to activate it."
"What card could you be sure of my having that would help you?' Kai asked. "Every Duelists deck is different, outside of the occasional staple like Monster Reborn or Pot of Greed, but those would only help me."
"Except I know about a special card of yours." Sakura explained. "Kevin told me about it and how it saved you guys when you Dueled those Rare Hunters."
"What?" Kai gasped, instantly knowing which card she was choosing.
"Yep. Hand Rebirth!" With a sigh of annoyance, Kai searched his deck for the magic card before shuffling again and activating the rare magic card, dumping his hand of three cards and drew five while Sakura merely drew cards, since she hadn't had any to discard and summon a monster in defense mode. That ends my turn."
"Not wise Sakura.' Kai pointed out as he drew a sixth card. "Didn't you learn when you emptied your hand last turn? True, you got lucky this time around, but now my Hand Rebirth is in the graveyard, and I doubt you'll topdeck a second copy of Loki's Betrayal, even if it wasn't.'
"I don't need to." she responded as one of her cards flipped over. "I activate Emergency Provisions to sacrifice two of my other cards to gain one thousand Life Points each!" As she said this the two indicated cards shattered and she slipped them into her graveyard. "Both of those cards were called Apple of Freya, and they allow me to draw one card each when they're sent to the grave."
Kai-3000/Sakura-3000
"Impressive move, Sakura. You've tied the score once more, and you've managed to restore your hand. But, I still hold the attack advantage. I switch my Illusionist of the Mighnight Star into attack mode, and Chaotic Magician to defense mode. And, my Guardian of Time now has three magic counters, thanks to you. So, I'll remove your monster from play and then I'll finish you off. However, since your monster is face down, I must sacrifice all three of his counters. Go Guardian of Time!"
As her one monster was removed from play Sakura jumped to the floor, clutching her hands over her head as Kai's monster's first attack blew by her, however she still took Life Point damage.
Kai-3000/Sakura-600
"Now my Illusionist of the Midnight Star will finish you off."
"I activate my trap car, Flame of Rogue!" Sakura called, still on her knees as her last card flipped over and a pillar of blue fire sprung up, halting the attack. "This card keeps all of your monsters whose attack is less than 2000 from attacking."
"Fine, I end my turn."
With a worried look in her eyes, Sakura drew her card, examined it, and instantly cheered up. "I play Twilight Renewal, and since I have no cards in my hand, this card lets me draw five." Pulling a new hand free from her deck, Sakura began to explore her new options. "First, I'll set one card face down and then I'll set a monster in defense mode, end my turn."
Kai already had a new card in his hand when the hologram of her face down cards appeared. Glancing at his Guardian of Time he verified that it had one magic counter from her magic card activation. However, he didn't have any useful magic cards in his hand at the time, so he couldn't get the last two counters he'd need in order to remove her monster from play. However, he did have other moves.
"I set one card face down and then I'll have my Guardian of Time attack your monster!" However, even as he raised his staff, Kai's monster froze as a second pillar of fire, this one a shimmering silver, rose up in the path of his attack. As the mage lowered his staff, the pillar of fire dissipated.
"My Wandering Flame is just like my Flame of Rogue-" Sakura stopped and gasped for air, tugging on her blouse to try and fan her face.
"Only it stops monsters who have over two thousand attack, correct." Kai finished for her. She nodded and then straightened her body up again.
"It's hot in here." she panted. Kai himself had noticed a small increase in heat, but it looked like Sakura was being exposed to something more intense.
'Of course. Her two Flame cards are directly in front her, only a few feet away. When they activate, with the new system as powerful as it is, it'll heat up the air around her. I'm a distance away, so I'm barely affected, but she's directly in the midst of the inferno.'
"Well, I end my turn there, as I can't attack you at all." Kai admitted, keeping his focus on the field, as well as the actions of the sweating girl.
"I activate Graceful Charity." she began her turn by drawing her three cards and then discarding two, giving her four cards in hand. "Next I'll set one card face down-"
"I play Dust Tornado!" Kai called as a pillar of wind struck down on the card just as it was forming in front of her.
"My Solemn Wishes." she lamented. "That would have helped to restore my Life Points."
"Carry on." Kai prodded her.
"I play Gryphons Feather Duster!" On her field emerged a powerful gale which began to sweep away her own trap cards.
"You're willing to give up your only defenses against me for a simple one thousand Life Points?" Kai asked, well aware of the cards effect.
Kai-3000/Sakura-1600
"There's more." Sakura happily replied, having been cooled off quite effectively by the small windstorm that had destroyed her cards. "When Flame of Rogue and Wandering Flame both allow me to special summon a specific Valkyrie each." First to appear on Sakura's field was another horse rider, this one with more decorative armor than the previous few, flowing blue hair, and what seemed to be a combination of a crown and a helmet set one her head. "This is Valkyrie Brunhilde (1800/2000), and she'll be followed by her twin sister, Valkyrie Fridwulfa (1800/2000)." The second maiden was nearly identical to Brunhilde, except she had silver hair, the same color as the flame which represented her.
"Brunhilde will gain 300 attack points for every warrior and dragon on the field." Sakura explained, although her monster remained unchanged.
"Unfortunately for you, Sakura, I have no dragons or warriors in my deck." Kai responded.
"But then Fridwulfa gains three hundred for ever angel and spellcaster you control." As she said this the silver haired woman's sword began to pulse with some sort of inner power, raising her attack points to three thousand, a truly frightening sum.
"Next I'll flip up my Valkyrie Rota (1500/500), who will cut your Guardian of Time's attack points in half (1200)." Instantly Kai's soul creature began to shrink in size, his power diminishing. "Finally, I'll summon my Valkyrie Dritt (1000/1600), who gains one hundred attack pints for every monster removed from play. Since you've removed two of my monsters with your Guardian of Time, she gains two hundred points (1200)." The last of the four new Valkyries was apparently younger than her sisters and had bright red hair, but not nearly as long as anyone else.
"Fridwulfa will attack your Guardian of Time!" Charging forward on her horse the maiden cut through Kai's monster. At least she would have had it still been there. 'What happened?" Sakura asked as her monsters attack dropped slightly (2700).
"I had a few more magic counters on my Guardian thanks to your Twilight Renewal and you Griffins Feather Duster. Because of that I was allowed to remove my Guardian from play for one turn, protecting him."
"I'll still get your other monsters. Now Brunhilde will attack your Illusionist of the Midnight Star." With almost no effort, the blue haired Valkyrie sliced Kai's scarlet robed sorcerer in half, further weakening Fridwulfa (2400).
Kai-2700/Sakura-1600
"Last, Dritt will destroy your Apprentice Magician." Without even moving from her current position, Dritt slashed her sword through the air, creating a current of power which cut through Kai's monster, leaving him with only one magician on the field, but also dropping Fridwulfa's attack points a bit more (2100). However, a new card soon appeared on Kai's field in defense mode.
"A fair move Sakura." Kai complimented as he drew a card. "But that move cost your Valkyrie some good attack points, and they were perhaps your best chance at defeating me. And," he let his voice trail as a new card appeared in defense mode. " When Apprentice Magician is destroyed, she summons another low level spellcaster from my deck to the field face down.
"I'll go after your Life Points next turn, and that will be that." Sakura chimed.
"I doubt that." Kai said, setting three cards face down. Glancing at his two monsters he began to plan, his Guardian of Time reappearing as he did, raising Fridwulfa's attack points y another three hundred (2400), tying their strengths. "I pass my turn with that."
"Good enough for me!" Sakura happily drew a card, giving her a hand of two. "I set two cards face down and then I'll have Fridwulfa attack your Guardian of Time!"
"I'll play Negate Attack to stop your attack and end your battle phase." Kai responded.
Whimpering in frustration, Sakura quickly ended her turn, having no cards in her hand. However, as Kai drew his card she activated one of the cards she had set face down, which displayed her Valkyries resting in a decorated hall with piles of treasure all around them.
"Regenleif allows me to draw one card for each Valkyrie on the field." Sakura declared, drawing four new cards.
"Doesn't matter to me." Kai replied. "I summon a monster in defense mode and then I'll have my Guardian of Time attack Valkyrie Dritt!" Spinning his staff about, Kai's monster moved in for a killing blow that would just about win him the Duel.
"I activate my last face down card, Valkyrie Gondul!" Sakura called as all four of her Valkyries began to glow with a gold light. "This trap card will combine all of my Valkyries attack points for this one turn (6800). You've lost, Kai."
"Not quite! I remove the last magic counter from my monster to remove him from play until your turn starts!" Kai responded, once again picking his card up off of his Duel Disk. "And now you have a choice to make, Sakura." Kai pointed out. "You can either destroy your Valkyries, or you can shuffle them into your deck at the cost of 500 Life Points each. Then again, you don't have 2000 Life Points, so I guess theirs only one answer, so say goodbye to your Valkyries."
"I activate a quick-play card from my hand." Sakura shouted, surprising for her attitude and her small size. "Mischief of the Goddess Time will move time ahead by one turn, cancelling out my trap cards drawback." "Your turn." Kai relinquished as his Guardian of Time reappeared next to his three defense monsters, one face up and the other two face down.
"I sacrifice Valkyrie Dritt and Valkyrie Rota to summon my secret weapon!" she shouted, slipping the two monsters into her Graveyard and slapping one of the four cards from her hand onto her Duel Disk. "I summon Valkyries Pet Gryphon (2400/2500)!" Her newest monster was a large eagle and lion hybrid creature with gold wings and piercing amber eyes. As it emerged from the card it beat it's wings, creating a large windstorm in the arena. "And this monster gains two hundred more attack points for every Valkyrie on my field, so now it has 2800 attack points." With a screech, the mythical beast powered up a burst of light in its mouth, which it fired and incinerated Kai's Guardian of Time.
Kai-2300/Sakura-1600
"Valkyrie Fridwulfa, attack his face down monster!" Charging in and raising her sword the Shield Bearing maiden prepared to strike the horizontal card on Kai's field. As she closed in, said card began to glow and revealed a magician figure in scarlet robes appeared, staff raised in front of him. At the last second the figure uttered a quick chant, creating a small barrier which her monster plowed into head-on.
"No good Sakura. My Guardian of the Archives (1000/2200) has one hundred more defense points than Fridwulfa did attack points. Of course, now that he's been revealed, her attack goes up another 300, but I'm safe for now."
Kai-2300/Sakura-1500
"Your turn." she grumbled in frustration of being stopped again.
"I'll pass this turn." was all Kai could say as he looked at the card in he had drawn, developing a plan.
"I play Maiden of Swan, which will allow me to instantly summon one Valkyrie from my hand to the field!" On her field appeared a pink haired Valkyrie which he recognized instantly. "I summon Valkyrie Sovite, who will instantly destroy your Guardian of the Archives!" On that command the pink haired woman charged energy to her sword which she extended to Kai's monster, releasing the bolt and incinerating his monster. "Now I play Heavy Storm to wipe out your two face down cards!" Yet another typhoon came to life on the arena floor, this one ripping at Kai's two set cards, shattering them to pieces.
"I'll have my Gryphon attack your set monster!" Firing yet another burst of light, Kai's last set monster exploded, leaving nothing behind.
"Sakura, you've just attacked Learned Magister (500/400), who lets me search out a magic card and add it to my hand from my deck." Kai explained, quickly locating the card he wanted.
"I don't see why." Sakura said, looking over her field. "Fridwulfa, attack his Chaotic Magician now!"
"But you can't." Kai explained as he held the card up in his hand. "One of the cards you destroyed with Heavy Storm, or tried to, was Soul Spell, which I chained to your card, switching my Chaotic Magician with a level four spellcaster from my hand known as Alpha Sorcerer (1500/1100) in defense mode."
"Why'd you do that?" Sakura asked. "It can't stop my attack."
"You'll see, come my next turn."
"There wont be a next turn. Valkyrie Sovite, attack his Life Points directly!" With a quick slash, Kai's Life Points to a serious dip as he himself was forced to his knees by the power of the attack.
Kai-700/Sakura-1500
"Brunhilde, attack his Life Points directly and end it!"
"I activate my trap card!" Kai shouted.
"But you don't have any on the field!" Sakura called back.
"It's in my Graveyard." Kai explained. "Voice from the Dust instantly removes one attacking monster from play!" As he said this a whirlwind of sand formed around Brunhilde accompanied by a horrendous shriek, both suffocating her and ripping away at her skin at the same time until she vanished, along with the shrieking voice.
"Fine." Sakura sighed in her frustrated whine. "I play Card of Sanctity, so I draw six cards and you get one." Looking over her new cards, Sakura seemed pleased as she set five of them face down. "Go."
"I will." Kai said, drawing a seventh card. "Now Sakura, I'll show you why I protected my Chaotic Magician. To start off, I'll summon him in attack mode (1600/2000)!" Again the robed sorcerer appeared, staff at the ready. "Then I'll set three cards face down and then I'll play Dimension Magic to sacrifice my Chaotic Magician in order to summon any spellcaster from my hand that I wish, so I choose to summon Disintao-Elderly Mage (2300/1700) in attack mode." From Kai's magic card appeared a thin golden sarcophagus appeared suspended within a cubic frame of metal poles by chains. Slowly it opened and chains reached out and pulled in Chaotic Magician, closing, and then reopening to release an entirely new being.
Kai's newest monster was an elderly man with white hair and wearing a purple set of robes. However, despite his age, he held himself very straight and firm, commanding a sense of authority and power. "When Dimension Magic is activated and the monster summoned, one of your monsters will instantly be destroyed." Kai explained as a dart of magical energy fired from the head os Disintao's staff, striking the gryphon and destroying it.
"Next I should tell you that my Chaotic Magician has an effect. When he is sacrificed for a card effect, he destroys two of your cards. So, I'll destroy Fridwulfa and Sovite!" From Kai's Duel Disk launched twin bolts of lightning, each one hitting a separate target. Sovite instantly burned away, but Fridwulfa had raised her shield to stop the attack, and as such, half of the shield was destroyed.
"When Fridwulfa would be destroyed, I can sacrifice 1000 of her defense points to keep her in play." Sakura explained as her monsters defense reduced to one thousand.
"No matter." Kai said. "I was expecting some sort of interference, so I play my two face down cards, Instant Necromancy and Spell Overlap. This combo will bring back my Chaotic Magician for one turn with his stats reduced to zero. Then Spell Overlap will reactivate my Dimension Magic, sacrificing him again to summon the last card in my hand." Once again the mage who had watched the entire duel reappeared, only to be sucked into another golden sarcophagus and allow another magician to appear. "My Moonlight Alchemist (1500/300) allows me to instantly sacrifice him when he's special summoned to draw cards equal to his level, which is four." Kai's new monster vanished and he pulled four cards free.
"Now Dimension Magic activates, destroying Fridwulfa once. However, you then sacrifice her last one thousand defense points to keep her in play." Kai predicted as he watched the bolt of light destroy the last half of the Valkyries shield, but leaving her behind. "Then Chaotic Magician's effect activates again, destroying Fridwulfa and one of your set cards." The two blasts of lightning struck, leaving only four magic and/or trap cards in Kai's way.
"It's time for me to use Disintao's special ability and discard two non-monster cards from my hand to destroy all of your magic and trap cards." Slipping two of his four cards into the Grave, Kai watched as a violet flame appeared on the head of the plain wooden staff, which was quickly turned into an attack which washed over the field, leaving no trace of Sakura's cards except a few ashes.
"Disintao," Kai called to the mage, who then prepared for and assault. But before Kai could declare the attack, he noticed something in Sakura's eyes: Tears.
She was weeping for her monsters and for her impending defeat. And yet, Kai felt entirely unmoved by this. Despite the pity he may have felt for her in the depths of his soul, his heart as a Duelist beat strong, and overpowered the potential moment of weakness. With only a solemn nod, he declared his attack.
"Disintao, attack with Light of the Eldars." Again the mage aimed his staff at Sakura, who raised her arms to cover her tear-drenched face. Then, in a single instant, a flame of pure light struck her, pushing her against the back wall until the attack stopped, and then she fell to the ground, unconcious.
Turning off his Duel Disk, Kai ran to the fallen Duelist. Her eyes were closed and her body a little bruised, but her breathing was normal.
Laying the girl out on the floor in a more normal position, Kai reached her deck and quickly found her rarest card, a Change of Heart magic card, which he pocketed before moving towards his platform.
'They'll take care of her. I need to get to Kevin soon and tell him what happened. He'd want to know.' he decided in his mind as the doors closed and the elevator-like device came to life.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Had Kai remained in the arena a few moments longer, he would have noticed Sakura's breathing grow almost silent and her body even more lax as a white mist escaped through her mouth and seeped through the roof.
To Be Continued...
Original Cards by Me:
Kai- Guardian of Time, Chaotic Magician, Immortal Magister, Mirage Mage, Gathering of Magics, Illusionist of the Midnight Star, Steadfast Magician, Magicians Ordination, Magician's Rift, Moonlight Alchemist, Spell Overlap, Instant Necromancy, Voice from the Dust, Soul Spell.
Sakura- Valkyrie Randgrior, Valkyrie Hildr, Valkyrie Sigdrifa, Valkyrie Skogul, Loki's Betrayal, Valkyries Pet Gryphon, Valkyrie Rota, Valkyrie Gondul, Regenleif.
Cards not by Me:
Sakura- Twilight Renewal (Seeker of the Soul), Wandering Flame (Seeker of the Soul), Valkyrie Fridwulfa (Seeker of the Soul), Disintao-Elderly Mage (G.O.T. Nick)
There we go. Sakura is the first of the Finalists to fall, and a great fall it was. The power of her Valkyries was no match for Kai's magicians. But just wait, cause Kai will soon unlock some more of his full power, which is when the real fun begins.
Now, onto Author-Review Responses:
The Helldragon- Hurricanes...A reason why I never intend to live in the South-Eastern states. Sorry that Matt isn't in the Finals, but as was proven several chapters ago, he just doesn't have the skills. But don't worry, I have a special cameo already picked out for our most hated American Duelist.
MatrixFighter- Ouja has quite a surprise up his sleeve, that he does. And I enjoy knowing that you've been waiting for this time, as have I. As for the match-ups, you'll just have to wait and see, and that's all I'm gonna say on the subject.
G.O.T. Nick- As you can see, Sakura was in the Finals. She still had one Locator Card after she lost to Kevin, and with the swarm abilities of the Valkyries, easily got the ten that she needed. As for Kai, if he hadn't gotten the box open, then Disintao may have never appeared. Think about that.
Noble Paladin- I hadn't even realized that Duel Fortress was the same term you used. I just picked it cause it sounded cool. As for Ouja, you'll have to wait and see about his possible connection to the Sennen Items, as you love to call them. And, as you see, there was no Kevin/Sakura rematch.
Seeker of the Soul- I already answered your one question, so I'll just say this again so that it can go on the record: I will not be naming the other three Finalists because they wont appear at all...Again.
See ya!