Team Zero: Orichalcos
Chapter 24: Ode to the Ones Known
The cool night air was crisp and clean as two kids walked out the door of the restaurant. Cars were moving slowly down the street before them.
"That was lovely, thank you Kevin." Usami warm smile made Kevin blush a bit.
"Your welcome." He replied trying to hid the shakiness in his voice.
Turning the two of them started to walk back in the direction of the hotel. Slowly walking, the two of them enjoyed the night. Looking up, they noticed that sky. It was unusually dark. With the light from the city it should have been a lot brighter.
"So who do you think we will face next?" Usami questioned bringing Kevin's attention back to her. "I just hope it isn't Team Orichalcos. We may need to stop them but I am afraid to face them."
"I know how you are feeling." Kevin said, rubbing his fingers over the deck outline in his pocket. "I just hope we have enough strength to get past this next round. It took a monster I was hopping to keep under wraps just to get past the first round."
"Yea, Blue Eyes Gallant Warrior." Usami thought back to the match. "But we did win. And so what if they know of the monster. We still have plenty of secrets that no one knows of yet. Heck, I haven't even dueled yet. My whole deck is a mystery."
"Unless we face Team Zero. They know all of us, and we know them." Kevin said. Jerking to a sudden stop when he heard a rhythm of feet hitting concrete echoed from around the corner. As the steps got closer the members of Team Zero, Joe and Kai rounded the corner. "What the?"
"There you are." Reku said panting. There was a silence for a few minutes while the group caught their breaths.
"Have you seen Ryokurio?" Joe asked, his breathing returning to normal.
"Not recently. Why?" Kevin said noticing the sense of worry in the group.
"You guys don't know where my brother is!" Usami said in a surprised panic. "It isn't like him to disappear."
"Yea, we know." Akina commented looking around. "We were hopping he had met up with the two of you. Now we are starting to get worried." Akina looked around at the group. "We have psychopaths competing in a tournament. They are free to run around. What if he..."
"Lost a duel to a member of Team Orichalcos." Ronin finished. He watched as tears started to build up in Usami's eyes. They didn't know if it was true but the thought of it was tearing Usami up inside. "Hey listen, we have to get a little rest before we have to compete tomorrow. We cannot face Chime if we are exhausted. Let's wait till morning and see if he turns up anywhere." Ronin suggested. Getting nods from the group they all started to walk back to the hotel were they were staying, keeping their eyes peeled just in case they were to spot Ryokurio on the way back.
Lucien stood on the balcony of their room. The sky was lighting up with the rising sun. In his hand was a deck of cards, locked tightly in his grasp. "I will do my best. I will not fall or faulter." He looked down at the deck, and the bracelet around his wrist of that arm.
His train of thought was interrupted as the glass door behind him slid open. Turning he saw Aliya and Raoul walk out onto the balcony. Smiling, he walked back inside with his team as they prepared to head down to the duel dome.
Ronin slipped the emerald duel disk around his wrist. As it locked into place he pulled out his deck. "We must win." Smiling as he turned over the deck he saw his key monster; Levia Dragon Daedalus.
"Ready dear?" Reku asked as Akina shuffled through her deck again. He was slipping on his own duel disk and locking it into place on his wrist.
"I am, how 'bout you?" She asked, walking over and giving him a hug.
"You know it." He said giving her a squeeze. Smiling he looked at their team leader. "How 'bout you Ronin? You look a bit worried."
"Naw, I am fine." He said flashing a thumbs up to him. "Lets go kick butt and take names." Getting a giggle out of Sachiko, the four of them left the room. They were walking towards the second round of the biggest tournament of their lives.
Ryokurio held up a deck of cards in front of his face. "No, it's still not good enough." He growled setting out the cards again on the floor by the trunk.
"So I take it you will catch up to us soon?" Chime asked as her and Hygin stood in the doorway.
"Yes, I can't win with a bad deck." Ryokurio said not even looking at them. "I will catch up soon enough. I think I am close to getting the perfect deck." Nodding to Hygin, the two of them walked out of the room. The door latched behind them leaving Ryokurio sitting alone in the room shifting through cards.
Round 2 of the Tournament of Kings
Team Zero vs Team Nature Force
Team Punks vs Team Renaissance
Team Orichalcos vs Team Psycho
Team Zone vs Team Striker
"So we are to face Team Nature Force in the first round." Ronin said, starring up at the paper pinned to the wall by the duelist entrance.
"We can win dude." Reku said putting his hand on Ronin's shoulder. "They won't stand a chance."
"That's what you think." A rather annoying buzz like voice came from the right of Team Zero. The owner of the voice, a short boy with blue hair and bug like glasses, smirked. He was wearing a green, long sleeved shirt with a large black bug design on it with tan pants. "You armatures don't stand a chance."
"I will have to agree with my partner." Said that tall man standing behind the bug like boy. Wearing no shirt, just a blue vest with a wave design on it, the man had on torn off pants and a head band around his aqua blue hair.
Standing in the far back was the last member of the team. A taller kid than the first but shorter than the second. He was wearing a red stocking cap and a leather vest. Looking more like he was prepared for a hike than a tournament, he sneered at the four kids. "Right."
"Weevil Underwood. The Japan regional champion and bug duelist extraordinar." Sachiko said pointing to the short blue haired duelist in front.
"And that is Mako Tsunami." Ronin said, with a surprising smile on his face. "The world renowned water duelist."
"And he would be Rex Raptor, the great dino duelist." Akina said, talking about the kid in the far back.
"I see you have heard of us." Rex sneered getting the introduction from the kids.
"Kind of hard not to hear of us Rex." The annoying buzzing voice of Weevil said to the dino duelist. "We are famous after all. We are the best at what we do and we are here to prove it." Looking back at the team before them. "You armatures are just in our way of taking the titles away from Yugi, Kaiba, and that hack Wheeler."
"And you are just plain annoying kid." Reku commented. A wave of anger flushed through Weevil's face, but he maintained composure and just smiled.
"Watch yourself." He smirked. "Or you will be the first to face my insect army."
"Don't mind if I do." Reku said, motioning with his head to the arena. "When the rounds get underway today, you and me first. I will be gad to face your insects, and wipe them off the heel of my shoe."
"Very well then." Mako said listening to the terms.
"Mako." Ronin said bringing the ocean duelists attention to him. "I will have to request that you and I face off. I have been wanting to face you to see which of our water decks can truly be the called the best."
"Ah," Mako's eyes lit up with excitement. "A fellow ocean duelist. Alright then, we shall pit your ocean against mine to see who has the better water deck." Smiling, the two of them held up their duel disks as if they were going to use them as shields.
The two teams then stood in silence. Neither even seeming to move an inch. Soon enough though, Weevil sneered and brushed past them walking into the arena. Mako and Rex followed soon after.
"Oh yea, he was annoying." Reku said, glaring at them as they sat down on their bench. "I will enjoy crushing old bug boy there. I'll burn his bugs alive." He smiled looking at the emerald duel disk strapped to his arm. Looking a little less confident, he started to remember who he was talking about. More under his breath he added. "I hope."
"So they your first match?" A familiar voice came from down the hallway. Walking down the hall was the members of Team Striker. Joe and Kevin looked ready but Usami had a saddened, distant look on her face. Joe, the one who spoke, walked up and glanced at the paper on the wall. "So we face Team Zone as the final match of the second round."
"Yea," Reku said agreeing with the statement. "Any sign of Ryokurio yet?"
Shaking his head sadly, Kevin motioned to Usami. "Haven't heard, seen, or had any clues to him yet."
"Hmm," Reku said putting his hand on his chin in thought. Before he could say more the loud speaker from inside the duel dome crackled.
"The second rounds will begin in five minutes." Kaiba's voice boomed across the whole area. Fans were gathering in their seats as duelists were collecting in the dueling area.
Motioning with his head, Reku lead the two teams into the stadium and walked over to their bench. Team Striker sat on the bench next to them. All the other teams were already there and waiting. Looking at Team Orichalcos, Reku noticed there were only two members sitting there, Chime and Hygin. "Where is the other one?"
Kaiba was standing on the dueling platform with the microphone in hand. Taking a deep breath, he held the microphone to his mouth and began to speak.
"Welcome all to the second day of the tournament!" The crowd was sent back into an up roar. "So far half of the teams have been eliminated, leaving only eight left. The first round starts now. Team Zero will once again start us off as they face Team Nature Force." Roaring with excitement, the crowd was already fired up for the match. Kaiba strolled off the stage as Reku and Weevil jumped up on it.
"Ready bug boy?" Reku asked as his disk snapped into place.
Weevil just smirked. Adjusting his glasses, he activated his duel disk. "Insults won't win you this duel boy. My insects will swarm all over you."
"Right." Reku said slapping his deck into the deck slot. Weevil slid his in as well.
"Duel!"
Reku-4000 LP
Weevil-4000 LP
Snapping their opening hands off their decks, they fanned out the cards they had drawn.
"I'll be starting." Weevil's annoying voice announced as he snapped the sixth card off his deck. Adding it to his had he surveyed his options. "Looks like I have the perfect plan already to wipe you out."
"Try it then, we shall see how long it lasts." Reku's voice was bolstered with a fake confidence hopping that the plan wasn't too great.
"Fine, I'll set this one monster face down." Weevil smirked as he slid the card onto his duel disk face down. The card glowed into existence on his field. "And end my turn."
"Sad move." Reku smirked drawing a card. "Time to tear it apart. I summon UFO Turtle in attack mode (1400/1200)." A large green turtle monster with a UFO shaped shell materialized on the field before its owner. "Attack the monster now! Spiraling Flames!" Reku yelled as the monster shot a tornado of fire at the set monster. In an instant it toasted the card. "What the?"
Weevil smirked as he held up the card. A Basic Insect (500/700)! "You destroyed a basic bug, are you pleased with yourself?" Weevil began to chuckled under his breath.
"What the hell? No one plays Basic Insect!" Reku's face showed his confusion as he tried to think why someone would have the reason to play Basic Insect in a tournament with these high standings.
"I see that you are lost by my move." Weevil continued to snicker. Reku just growled as slid some cards into his duel disk.
"I set two cards and end my turn." The two card backs appeared on the field behind his turtle monster.
"Good, now that you fell right into my plan I can proceed to destroy you." Weevil drew his next card and slid it into his hand. "First off, I summon Insect Knight (1900/1500) in attack mode!" A large insectoid monster with a large steel blade and shield appeared in front of Weevil. "Next comes a set of magic cards. They are both Magical Feasting Swarm!" Weevil grinned sliding the cards into his duel disk. "Magical Feasting Swarm works if I have an insect type monster on my field. I destroy one magic or trap on your side of the field. You then lose 300 life points if the downed card was a trap card. So lets see what we have."
Weevil double magic cards featured a swarm of ants overrunning a picnic sight. Glowing a bright white light the two face down cards on Reku's field were soon covered in holographic ants. Feasting away, the two cards were soon gone from the field. The cards themselves ejected from the duel disk and Reku looked at them. Flipping them around so Weevil could see they were both traps.
"Two Man Flamethrower and Mirror Force." Weevil sneered as he watched Reku deposit the two traps into his grave. Then listened to the sweet sound of his life point counter count down.
Reku-3400 LP
Weevil-4000 LP
"Now Insect Knight, Insector Sword!" Weevil called as his buggish knight flew across the field. On quick movement and it stabbed into the shell of the turtle monster blowing it to pieces.
Reku-2900 LP
Weevil-4000 LP
"So what?" Reku asked pulling his deck out. "When UFO Turtle is destroyed in battle I get to pull a fire monster from my deck and special summon it to the field. I chose Solar Flare Dragon (1500/1000)!" In the place of the strange turtle monster a large molten snake appeared. Made of molten rock and fire, the snakish monster hissed at the bug duelist.
Weevil, still with a greedy looking smirk on his face, motioned that he ended his turn. Reku took the sign and drew his top card.
"Activate the quick play magic card Sacred Red Flame!" Reku yelled slamming the card into the slot behind his dragon monster. "This will up the power of a fire monster on my field by 700 points for my turn (2200/1000)! Solar Flare Dragon attack Insect Knight! Solar Wind Destroyer!" Reku bellowed out as his dragon shot a blade of fire screaming from its mouth and cutting the insector knight in two.
Reku-2900 LP
Weevil-3700 LP
"To that I will end my turn." Reku said as his monsters attack dropped again. Smiling though, his dragon monster opened its mouth and blasted a stream of fire across the field at the bug duelist. "My Solar Flare Dragon deals you 500 points of damage at the ends of my turns."
Reku-2900 LP
Weevil-3200 LP
"I see." Weevil groaned a bit. Straightening his glasses he continued to smirk. "Too bad it won't help you for long." And with that he drew his next card. "I set this one card face down and activate the magic card Infection of a Bug Bite. This powerful magic card equips to your Solar Flare Dragon, draining its effect and changing it to an insect sub type monster." Weevil informed Reku as his monster began to sprout bug like appendages. "And to finish my turn I set this one monster in defense and activate my Insect Barrier!"
"With Insect Barrier in play, insect monsters on my field can't attack." Reku groaned looking at his now buggish looking dragon. "Cleaver move changing my monster and draining its burn effect."
"Well I am the worlds best insector duelist." Weevil boasted, puffing out his chest and giving his familiar mocking grin.
"And a great strategist." Reku added closing his eyes. Holding his duel disk up, he slowly placed his fingers on his top card. Opening his eyes he snapped the card off. "I summon Robotic Knight (1600/1800) in attack mode!" The robotic monster dressed up like a commander appeared next to the bug like snake. Holding up his saber, he prepared to battle. "Go Robotic Knight, attack his defense monster now!" A creak of machinery was heard as the monster charged across the field and cut the card in half. Before it vanished a strange blackish blue bug like monster appeared with a white skull on its back.
"Since you destroyed my Skull-Marked Ladybug (500/1500) I get 1000 free life points." Weevil flashed the card to Reku before sliding it into his graveyard.
Reku-2900 LP
Weevil-4200 LP
"Turn end." Reku growled. "These bug monsters are stopping me. I won't say insects are weak monster cards, but the ones he has been playing have been a bit on the weak side. Yet he manages to stop each and every one of my plans." Narrowing his brow he looked at the cocky kid. "He is a good strategist. I will give them that. But damn is he arrogant."
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Wow! The duel between Reku and Weevil is starting to heat up. I haven't even begun to scratch the surface.
To John; Yup.
To LucienShadowMaster: Yea, I guess we will just have to wait for his big appearence.
To Erestor Telemnar: Yea, I said I got a good laugh out of it. But I was more refering to the whole thing rather than the last part. But wow, thanks...I will take what praise you are willing to give. Yea, Wolfgerneal is a great writer.
To Gate Guardian32: Are you refering to Weevil? If so then here is a duel with him.
To Vyser Adept of Dragons: Is this soon enough?
To Dragon and Sword Master: Hmm...well I don't know what this whole present and past tense thing isabout. And just for the record, Ryokurio was never on a team. As of right now...nothing will happen to them. Reku has the Onyx crysatl and Order has the Amber Crystal. I guess that is where they will stay.
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