Team Zero: Orichalcos
Chapter 26: Cards of the Duelists Heart
"So are you ready boy?" Mako asked Ronin as he walked upon the field. Giving Weevil a slight push he got the bug duelist to move out of the way.
"I am Mako." Ronin said as his duel disk snapped into place. "Time to see who is the best water duelist around."
"Then little guppy, it is time..."
"Time to Duel!" They both yelled drawing their opening cards.
Ronin-4000 LP
Mako-4000 LP
"Me first." Ronin called snapping a card from his deck. Glancing at it, he slid it into his hand. "Alright, here I go." Narrowing his eyes he looked at his opponent. "I have waited a long time for this. The time where I see how far I really have come as a water duelist. I want to pit my skills against his." Taking a deep breath he pulled a card free from his hand. "I start with this field magic card, A Legendary Ocean!" Ronin's black hair burst forward in a holographic wave as a large underwater city began to form around the square dueling arena.
"Why?" Mako's voice was calm and unwavering.
"Because." Ronin replied back, his voice was a little less confident and more wavery than his opponent.
"It helps me out too. Did you forget who you were facing?" Mako asked, still a stern face and calm voice.
"Nope." Ronin shook his head. "I know, and I don't care if it helps you either." Ronin slid another card from his hand and placed it on his duel disk. "I summon Shark Hunter Swordsman (1900/1400)(2100/1600) in attack mode!" A very muscled man appeared only wearing battered and torn pants. His body was scared with what looked like teeth marks.
"Aw, the Shark Hunter Swordsman." Mako grinned at the monster. "A fine water monster for five stars. He deals 200 additional points of damage for each water monster on your field when he destroys a monster."
"Yep." Ronin grinned. "And thanks to A Legendary Ocean I could summon him to the field without a tribute. Now I set up two cards and end my turn." Sliding the cards one at a time into his duel disk, lights flashed in front of his feet as the cards materialized on his field.
"Well I will say I am already impressed with what cards I have seen from you...what did you say your name was?" Mako asked before he drew his card.
"Well I guess I have never told you." Ronin said placing his hand on the back of his head. "I am Ronin Endo, I am seeking to be a great water duelist."
"Ronin, I like it." Mako said, smiling as he pulled his sixth card. "I shall give you a show then. I summon my 7 Colored Fish (1800/800)(2000/1000) in face up attack mode." A large multi-colored fish appeared before Mako. Groaning as its power shot up, it hovered down before Mako. "Next I slide these cards face down and end my turn." Mako slid two cards into his duel disk behind his fish monster.
"My move." Ronin declared snapping a card off his deck. "A weaker monster and two face down cards. Obvious trap! What is he thinking...unless he has a plan. But what? I need to figure it out." Ronin growled, sliding the card he drew onto his duel disk. "I summon my Sea Serpent Warrior of Darkness (1800/1500)(2000/1700) in attack mode..."
"Go Torrential Tribute!" Mako flung his hand up into the air as the trap flipped up. Out of it, a gush of water blasted across both of their fields wiping out everything in its path.
"He had set a trap to my summoning...not my attack. I should have seen that coming." Ronin growled as he slid the two monsters into his graveyard. "That is my turn."
"A pretty unproductive one actually." Mako commented drawing his card. "I summon my The Legendary Fisherman (1850/1600) in attack mode!" Appearing in a shimmer of light before Mako, a large virtual monster that appeared to have similar features to its owner. Riding on top of a large blue shark, he glared menacingly at Ronin who stood with only two face down cards for protection. "Legendary Fisherman will move to attack your life directly Ronin, Harpoon Stab!" Moving ever so slowly, the fisherman monster pulled out a large harpoon. Winding back his arm, he launched it forward at Ronin. Crossing his arms, Ronin slid back as the attack hit him.
Ronin-2150 LP
Mako-4000 LP
The crowd gasped as the attack went through, knocking a chunk of life off of Ronin. From their spots at their bench, Reku, Akina, and Sachiko all jumped to their feet as Ronin stood motionless. His life points drained by a massive amount.
"Ronin." Sachiko cried out to him. "You can do this, don't give in."
"Yea." Reku and Akina both yelled to their captain, still motionless with his arms up.
A cold silence then seemed to flow over the whole arena. Even the crowd seemed to be still and unmoving. No one was quite sure as to do to this situation. Ronin still stood there, arms up, unmoving.
"Are you ok kid?" Mako finally asked. Lowering his arms slowly, Ronin was smiling wide. "What was that about?"
"Just enjoying the moment." Ronin said. "I have always wanted this duel. I have waited a long time for it. I was just savoring the moment I was attacked by your prized card. The key point in your deck, am I right?"
"Yes." Mako said looking down at his duel disk. "The fisherman card means a lot to me. Even though Joey won the one my father gave me way back in battle city, I have pursued another one to call my own. Now I rely on my own strength to push forward, not my fathers." Looking up at Ronin as he made his way back to his dueling spot. "This card is my most prized card in my deck. Not for its strength, or ability. But because it represents more to me than that. Determination, honor..."
"And the power to keep going." Ronin smiled. "You know Mako, there is a card like that for me."
"Really. Out of all the water cards in the world, which one represents your heart, your will power and fighters soul?"
"I'll show you." Ronin said drawing a card. "My move! First things first, go Card of Sanctity!" Looking at the two cards in his hand, he quickly snapped four more off his deck. Mako drew the three he needed to make a six card hand. "Now I'll play this magic card, Pot of Greed. I get to draw two more cards." Sliding the said card into his duel disk he snapped two more cards off his deck.
"Well you certainly know how to get options." Mako said, noting the seven cards in Ronin's hand.
"True but I will give it all up for my card. Open face down card!" Ronin pointed to one of the cards sitting before him. It flipped up to reveal a magic card. "Miracle Star in Hand! This magic card lets me send cards from my hand to the grave to summon one monster from my deck with the same number of stars. I send seven cards to summon my level seven monster, Levia Dragon-Daedalus (2600/1500)(2800/1700)."
"Daedalus?" Mako watched as the large serpent monster appeared on Ronin's field. Curling it self up around its owner, growling deep in its throat. "I should have figured. I do agree that the ocean is an all mighty paradise, but you looked to represent your inner will with the strong attack of Daedalus."
"Mako." Ronin lowered his head, looking at the effect monster card on his duel disk. "This card is more than just attack power or effect. It is, like your Legendary Fisherman, a representation of my heart. I have had a lot of memories with this card alone."
"Really, you didn't just say that because it is your favorite?" Mako cocked an eyebrow at Ronin who finally looked up from his card.
"It is my favorite." Ronin smiled wide, teeth showing and eyes closed. Beginning to chuckle a bit he opened his eyes and stopped smiling so much. "I first got it a while back. Right before a huge tournament, before I had a powerful team of good friends." Glancing over his shoulder he looked at Reku, Akina, and Sachiko. "Before to long, it became a part of my soul. I could rely on it, not just being powerful with its attack, or its effect, but by the spirit boost it gives to me. Both in and out of a duel, I feel this card strength is my own. It's true power comes from that bond, and it is growing every day."
"I see." Mako said, looking at the kid he gave a warm smile. "I do believe you understand. The ocean is a mighty place, full of powerful and majestic monsters. But it is also a calm and tranquil place. Brute power wins you nothing with the ocean for its power is always so much so greater." Ronin just listened quietly as Mako took a deep breath. "At first I thought you were just a person to use water for its power. But now I see I was wrong. Already you have proven to me that you are a great water duelist, my equal in battle. Shall we see who is better?"
"We shall, so on with the duel." Ronin said looking at him.
"And may the best man win." Mako said pointing to his face down card. "Open Dust Tornado! This trap will wipe out A Legendary Ocean!" Instantly, the tornado of dust burst out from its card hologram wiping the field clear of the field magic card.
"Good move, wiping out the magic of my field so I can't clear yours with it." Ronin said closing his eyes. "But I am afraid I can still win. Daedalus attack now! Torrent Rage!" Screaming the attack, Ronin whipped his arm out to point to the fisherman. Flying across the field, the large sea serpent monster ate the fisherman and shark whole.
Ronin-2150 LP
Mako-3250 LP
"That will be all of my turn." Ronin declared waving his empty hands down to his sides.
Reku and the others had sat back down to watch the duel. Looking at his buddy, Reku began to think about what he had just said. "I guess so, Ronin has had Daedalus for while. It has pulled him...and us out of some bad places before." Crossing his arms he remembered back to a few times he had seen Ronin with it. "It truly is his card."
"And begins mine." Mako announced pulling a card and sliding it into his hand, making a total of seven. "I'll set these two reverse cards down. Next I play this magic card." Three shining light erupted on Mako's field. Two of them formed face down cards while the third was a green bordered card. "Waves of Life. This lets me revive a water monster with an effect from my grave to my field. Then it drains that ability." Glowing, Mako's Legendary Fisherman appeared on his field once again. "Turn end."
"He really won't let it go!" Ronin thought to himself, watching Mako's determination return with his monster. "He puts a lot of faith in that card." Moving his arms, Ronin drew the top card off his deck. Placing it in his left hand, he jerked his right arm out. "Daedalus attack now! Torrent Rage!"
"Not so fast there." Mako called as his trap flipped up. "Ocean Tide will prevent you from actually attacking any water monsters on my field this turn. As a secondary effect, you get to draw a card." Mako's trap faded away as Ronin's dragon returned to his field. Looking down, Ronin examined the card he drew."
"Turn end." Ronin announced, not looking up from his cards.
"Draw!" Mako called snapping a card off his deck. "Reveal trap! Coral of Mystery!" Flipping up, the trap card sent waves of beautiful lights throughout the dome. Everyone seemed to be in awe but Daedalus. Roaring loudly and wild, it began to flail about the field.
"What did you do?" Ronin asked as his monster started to beat itself against the floor.
"Coral of Mystery painfully drains your mosnters on your field by half of their attack power. In exchange, I discard two cards." Mako quickly slid two of his cards into the graveyard (1300/1500). "Legendary Fisherman attack! Harpoon Strike!" Swinging his harpoon back, the fisherman launched it forward at the sea serpent. Piercing it through its skin, the mosnter exploded into data bits.
Ronin-1600 LP
Mako-3250 LP
"That will be my turn." Mako announced, his monster hovering back and forth on his shark. Pacing around Mako's field as if bored.
"Fine, Draw!" Ronin yelled snapping a new card from his deck. "For my move, I summon my Aqua Fighter (1500/1200) in defense mode and end my turn." Ronin called slapping his monster onto his duel disk. A large blue monster with oversized forearms appeared on his field crouching down. His face had two eyes and that was it.
"My move." Mako announced drawing a card. Pointing to the monster, Mako took a deep breath. "Legendary Fisherman attack it now!" Calling the attack, the monster stabbed the blue mosnter with his harpoon. Screaming in pain, the Aqua Fighter faded away.
"Trap go, Under Toe!" Ronin's face down card revealed itself as a powerful trap. Glowing, the fisherman faded away.
"I see, so you destroyed my fisherman again." Mako said bowing his head.
"Yes, Under Toe works when a water monster is destroyed. It destroys all monsters on your field of the same or higher attack." Ronin explained sliding the cards into his grave.
"Hmm, I summon my Furious Sea King (800/700) in defense mode and end my turn." Mako's new monster was a blue fishy monster with a sharp bladed trident. Kneeling down, it braced the trident against the ground to help protect itself from any attack.
"Bringing it turn yet again." Ronin announced drawing his card. Eyes wide he weighed his options. "Even if it works, he wouldn't be done for. But this is the perfect card to use. I shall let fate decide the outcome of this match." Ronin thought sliding the card into his hand. "I summon Mermaid Knight (1500/700) in attack mode!" A large, green tailed mermaid monster appeared on Ronin's field. Bringing its armaments down to its sides, a sword and shield, it waited command from Ronin. "Next I play this magic card, Umi!" Again, a large wave flooded over the arena, but this time there was no ancient city with it. Both monsters began to groan with the power they got (Furious Sea King 1000/900)(Mermaid Knight 1700/900).
"Well, this will be fun." Mako sarcastically said, watching as the mermaid was flying towards him.
"Double attack! First his monster, then his life!" Obeying the command the mermaid slashed up the blue monster, then cut down the body of Mako.
Ronin-1600 LP
Mako-1550 LP
"Now I have one final play to make." Ronin sighed, he knew that this duel would be won, or lost by this card. "I play Chaotic Waters of Life and Death."
"Chaotic Water!" Mako gasped, taking a few steps back. "You aren't really going to risk this duel on that card are you?"
"Yes I am Mako." Ronin's head slowly fell downwards. "I have faith in my monsters, and they trust me. This duel will be won by fate!" Ronin head snapped up as his graveyard ejected a monster card. "I chose to remove Levia-Dragon Daedalus from my grave from play. This infuses Chaotic Waters of Life and Death with 2600 power points." Ronin's magic card started to glow as a little holographic counter counted up to 2600.
"Ok then, I think you have a point." Mako said watching the card. "Time to find out how this ends. Pick your three cards."
"Right, Chaotic Waters of Life and Death lets me pick three cards from my deck, a magic, a trap, and a monster." Sliding his deck out he fanned it out and grabbed one of each. His mermaid faded away leaving three brown backed cards on Ronin's field. "Next you chose one, depending on what you chose will determine the outcome of this duel."
"Right." Mako nodded looking at the cards. "If I chose your monster, you magic card deals us 2600 points of damage, ending the duel in a tie. If I were to pick trap, all 2600 points come at me, finishing me off. Magic will do it for you though." Mako said looking at the three cards. "What to pick?"
"Yes, well pick a card." Ronin said, watching Mako think.
"Fine, I pick the card on my right!" Mako called pointing to that card.
"And you have chosen..." Ronin started to say as he picked up the card. Looking at it, he bowed his head. He flipped it around so that Mako and others could see it. "Chaotic Waters, do your worst." Glowing brightly, the card sent a stream of flowing waters sky high. Hovering in mid air for a few seconds, the two water duelists looked at each other.
"It was a good game you played." Mako smiled.
"Yes, if nothing else I had fun with playing you." Ronin smiled back. "Well this is it, Chaotic Waters go!"
At the roar of Ronin's command, the large spout of water began to ripple. Slowly and surly, a white line started to pierce its way down the middle of the tower. Gravity pulling, the large tower began to split into two, falling at both of the duelists. Crashing down, the large tidal wave flowed over both players and wiped all the card holograms off the field. Ronin still stood motionless with the card in his hand, the Nightmare Penguin!
Ronin-0 LP
Mako-0 LP
"So a tie." Mako's duel disk clicked back into standby mode. "Well I guess we move on to Rex verses your last team member."
"Yea, Akina." Ronin looked over his shoulder at her. Looking back he saw Rex walking up upon the field. "How about a deal?"
"What kind of deal?" Rex snarled as his duel disk hummed to life.
"Since this duel ended in a tie, and so people get a bit more of a suspenseful match. Let's wager it all on this last match." Ronin offered as Akina walked up next to him. "If she wins, we win. If Rex wins, then you win."
"Deal." Rex gave a wicked smile. Nodding to Mako, who in turn walked off the dueling field. Ronin turned to leave too but was stopped by Akina.
"No pressure at all." She sarcastically growled.
"Akina, I know you can do this." Ronin said without turning to her. "I know you can, I have faith." And with that he walked off the field again. A large smile adorned his face, he had just played Mako Tsunami, and brought him to a tie. Sure if he kept playing he may have won, but that wasn't the point. He wanted to prove that fate will guide them to beating Chime, and the Seal of Orichalcos.
"Enough talk." Rex growled sliding his deck into the duel slot. "Time to duel."
"Right!" Akina's attention was snapped back to the duel. Her emerald duel disk snapped into place and her deck quickly inserted. "Bring it on!"
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Alright, one more thing. Below are the two cards Weevil played against Reku. Insector Buzz and Insector Buzz-Queen of all Insects. It was kinda hard for them to explain it as dialog rather than just reading the card. Also please, if there is ever a question about any one of my cards, feel free to ask. I will post it here and or answer any questions you may have about it. But do note that these are my cards! Don't take credit for them in you own story (If you have one).
Insector Buzz
Atk 0/def 0/6/earth/insect
Effect: This monster cannot be normal/set summon, flip summoned, or special summoned except by the following effect. When your life points drop below 1500 due to a direct attack you may special summon this monster from your hand or deck to the field. Once per turn, you may send a normal insect monster with an attack of 1000 or less back to your deck to search for one Insect Queen. You may sacrifice this monster and a Insect Queen in your hand to special summon Insector Buzz-Queen of all Insects from your hand or deck.
Insector Buzz-Queen of all Insects
Atk 3000/def 3000/9/earth/insect
Effect: This card can only be special summoned due to the effect of Insector Buzz. Increase this cards attack by 500 for each insect monster on your side of the field. When this monster destroys an opponent monster as a result of battle summon one "Insect Monster Token" (atk 100/def 100/Insect/earth/1) to the field in face up defense mode.
To LucienShadowMaster: Well, the Legendary Ocean thing came true.
To Vyser Adept of Dragons: I hope that was somewhat interesting.
To Demon Fan: And Aknin is going to duel.
To John: Yea, just goes to show that anything is possible in a duel.
To Dragon and Sword Master: Ok, the effects are above. Since Reku attacked Weevil with Solar Flare Dragon bringing him below 1500, Weevil summoned Insector Buzz. Next he used the ability to trade Kumootoko in for a Insect Queen which he next proceeded to use the fusion type effect to get Insector Buzz-Queen of all Insects. Hope that helps.
To Gate Guardian32: Well, Reku really burned the bugs, not squashed them. Hehe.
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