Tournament of Souls Chapter 19
State Round
The Card Shop vs. Infinity and Beyond
"Life is a risk." – Diane Von Furstenberg
"You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do." Henry Ford
Editor's Note: Questionable placement of spell during resolution within. It is on purpose. If the author ever contradicts that non-equip/continuous/field spell cards spend practically no time on the board and are in fact in the graveyard during their resolution, then you can shoot him, if it's in the state round. If it's in a different round there may very well be slightly different rules.
Author's Note: Someone give John a cookie. Yes, the boy's deck had Megarock Dragon. Unfortunately for him he never had many rocks in the graveyard. For some reason people still haven't reviewed Shadows of the Small. Go. Read. Now. You may take that cookie with you. Or I may just focus on that one until it gets enough reviews and not update this one.
Raoul examined his new opponent. She was tall, had short brown hair, was fairly skinny and wore a pink shirt and a green skirt. He mentally checked her off as 'unattractive prep' and started examining her as an opponent instead.
Unfortunately it was nearly impossible to figure out what kind of duelist she was behind all the posturing. So much for analyzing the situation like Lucien keeps telling me to do. They slipped their decks in. Raoul's gem turned purple and his opponents turned a deep blue.
The spinner appeared and fell on the purple, causing Raoul's team mates to smile. Raoul took the top card off his deck and broke the silence.
"Let's get this party started!" He was clearly intent on making quite the impression with the audience. The tactic worked quite well as the spectators cheered loudly.
Raoul Cooper: 8000
Infinity and Beyond Captain: 8000
On the side lines Lucien noted Mr. Dongard's continued victory over the standard display formatting. It made him wonder exactly how much power the man had in the tournament system.
Raoul didn't notice this and instead began the duel. "I'll set a monster face down and set a card behind it. Scratch that. I'll set two cards down behind it; your turn." Raoul continued to play the audience, gauging the mood of the crowd.
The opposing captain grinned. "To start the turn I play the continuous spell card Samsara. Then I will summon Senju of the Thousand Hands (1400/1000). Its ability allows me to add one ritual monster from my deck to my hand. Tell me, how long did you think this duel would last?" She didn't care about the crowd. As long as victory came into her hands she was satisfied.
Raoul thought for a moment. "I'd guess however long it takes me to beat you. I suppose it should be around half an hour."
"I'm going to say your wrong. I play the ritual spell card End of the World."
Raoul stayed positive. Somehow the name of the card wasn't conducive to it. "Why does something tell me that isn't a good thing?" The tone was almost a mockery of the situation. A more experienced actor would have tried to look afraid to garner the sympathy of the crowd.
"It isn't. Not for you at any rate. Now, I sacrifice the Senju of the Thousand Hands on the field and Sonic Bird from my hand to special summon Ruin, Queen of Oblivion (2300/2000). By the way, Samsara sends all monsters sacrificed for ritual summons back to my deck."
Senju floated into the air, and Sonic Bird appeared beside it. Between them was a mountain. Within moments all three were consumed by blue fire which shot up into the sky from the mountain. An unfamiliar celestial symbol appeared growing out of the pillar of flame. Descending out of the symbol was Ruin. It appeared as if the Queen of Oblivion was not one monster but two, a woman and a beast of shadow behind.
The captain continued. "Queen of Oblivion, attack his monster." Skilled White Magician (1700/1900) was destroyed by slash from the woman's two pronged weapon.
"Now, Ruin, attack his life points directly." This time the shadow beast struck, coming up to Raoul and grabbing him by the neck before pushing him backwards. The illusions had just enough force to make Raoul stumble back.
Raoul Cooper: 5700
Infinity and Beyond Captain: 8000
"When Ruin, Queen of Oblivion destroys a monster she may attack one more time. End turn."
On the bench, Aliya was biting her lip. She didn't like how such a powerful monster had already been summoned and couldn't see how Raoul planned on defeating it.
Raoul however had many tricks left up his sleeve. Practically speaking they should have been in his pocket as he was wearing a t-shirt, but famous idioms rarely accommodate circumstance.
"I summon Skilled Dark Magician (1900/1700). Skilled Dark Magician, attack Ruin."
Aliya jumped halfway out of her seat. "What does he think he's doing?"
Lucien put a hand on her shoulder, forcing her back down. "Just watch."
As his monster began to leap across the field in a suicidal attack, Raoul flipped up a card. "Though I was crazy for a moment there, didn't you? I activate Magician's Circle to special summon a spellcaster from my deck with 2000 or less attack. And I select Magical Marionette (2000/1000). Magician's Circle forces you to summon one as well, but I doubt you have one." He waited for recognition from his opponent, got it and continued.
"Then I'll activate the quick play spell Magical Dimension from my hand. This card requires that I have a spellcaster on the field, and its cost is to tribute a monster, in this case Skilled Dark Magician. Then I may special summon a spellcaster from my hand, and I choose Dark Magician of Chaos (2800/2600). Its ability allows me to return a spell card from my graveyard to my hand, so I'll take Magical Dimension. Magical Dimension's final ability is to allow me to destroy one monster on your side of the field, but I'm not going to use that because doing so would cause me to forfeit Dark Magician of Chaos's ability's activation. All this summoning of monsters as caused a replay in case you didn't know, so my battle phase is still in progress. Oh, and before I forget playing a spell card gives Magical Marionette a spell counter and 200 more attack points (2200/1000)."
Lucien was laughing. "And you say I'm long winded."
Raoul defended himself. "And you are! But you don't have crazy good five card combos." The crowd laughed.
"Yeah, I can do the same stuff with one card."
Raoul waved him off. "Ignoring my delusional friend over there, I'll have Dark Magician of Chaos attack Ruin." One wave of its scepter expelled enough dark magic to send Ruin into oblivion.
Raoul Cooper: 5700
Infinity and Beyond Captain: 7500
Lucien piped up from the bench. "Don't forget that Ruin is removed from play because of Dark Magician of Chaos's effect."
Raoul glared. "I haven't. How many times do I have to tell you not to back seat duel?"
"Seventeen." Now the crowd really started cracking up. Still, they clearly sided with Raoul. In fact, they had started cheering his name. Lucien was starting to understand what Mr. Dongard was going for in having his team mate's names be on the board. It was easier for the crowd to support a name than a position and a team.
Raoul's opponent was getting seriously annoyed. "Could you two stop playing around and get back to the game?" She blamed the team mates, but in reality it was clear that it was the crowd that was really bothering her.
Raoul was in altogether too good a mood. "No. No we can't… Just kidding. In any case Magical Marionette attacks directly."
Raoul Cooper: 5700
Infinity and Beyond Captain: 5300
"I'll set a card down and pass to you."
Ever impatient, his opponent growled as she made her move. "I summon Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands (1400/1000) to get me another End of the World. Now I will play it, sacrificing Shinato, King of a Higher Plane to summon Demise, King of Armageddon (2400/2000). Shinato is returned to my deck by Samsara." The mountain appeared, this time with Shinato as the sacrifice. And instead of Ruin, an armored figure lowered out of the arcane symbol. Its cape appeared to be made of blue flames which needed no breeze to flow.
"Demise has a special ability. I may pay 2000 life points to destroy all cards on the field other than itself. And I will do so now." Demise swept forth his cape, and the blue flames consumed the field.
Raoul Cooper: 5700
Infinity and Beyond Captain: 3300
Raoul raised a hand and his card flipped up. "I chain with Magical Dimension! I will sacrifice Dark Magician of Chaos to summon Apprentice Magician, adding spell counters and such, but none of that matters seeing as the field is about to go up in flames. I use Magical Dimension's secondary ability to destroy Demise, King of Armageddon."
Again the crowd screamed its support. This was probably the first time many of them had seen plays this big off of the television screen. When the flames receded, the field was completely clear. The nameless team captain was almost shaking with fury. She did her best to contain her anger knowing that it would win her no friends among the crowd. "I end my turn."
Raoul drew. His resources were in a sad state. But with a clear field he should have been able to do something. Unfortunately it appeared that he had not the monsters to mount an attack. "I set a monster face down. That is all."
Lucien sighed. It would have been nice if Raoul had been able to press the attack.
His opponent was getting impatient. "I play Fulfillment of Contract. This card allows me to resurrect a ritual monster that has been properly summoned at the cost of 800 life points. Come forth Demise!" The armored monstrosity was raised out of the ground. Whispers were heard throughout the crowd. There was no way to tell what they were talking about, but it can be assumed that they thought Raoul was in a bad position.
Raoul Cooper: 5700
Infinity and Beyond Captain: 2500
Aliya agreed with the crowd. "What is Raoul supposed to do now? She has enough life points to use its ability yet, and if she attacks directly he'll lose more than half his life points!"
Lucien shook his head. "She won't. If she did then Fulfillment of Contract would be destroyed. It's still on the field so it must be an equip spell like Premature Burial. If she uses that ability, she will destroy the spell and her own monster. Then even Magical Plant Mandrigola could finish her off."
It seemed that the captain had come to the same conclusion. "Destroy his face down monster!" The air shook with the force of the invisible attack. Raoul's set card was revealed as a hunchbacked red armored magician which was soon obliterated.
"Old Vindictive Magician's effect destroys the King of Armageddon."
Lucien smiled as the girl ended her turn. "She's done for."
"What makes you say that? She still has over a quarter of her life points. That's a fighting chance if you ask me." Said Aliya, puzzled.
"Think about it. Anything new would require at least three cards; a ritual spell, a ritual monster, and something to sacrifice. She only has one card in her hand. That severely limits her options."
"That makes sense I suppose."
Unfortunately Raoul had yet to draw anything with aggressive potential. "I set a monster and end my turn."
This bit of the duel wasn't going well for either combatant when it came to card draws evidently. The captain of Infinity and Beyond just got more irritable as her expensive cards failed to help her.
"I'll set a card. Make your move!"
Raoul did just that. Finally he had the ability to do something. "I will tribute my face down Royal Magical Library to summon Magical Marionette. Then I play Upstart Goblin to draw a card, giving you 1000 life points, as well as giving Magical Marionette a spell counter (2200/1000). Magical Marionette attacks your life points directly."
Raoul Cooper: 5700
Infinity and Beyond Captain: 3500
The female captain's eyes practically glowed. "Not if I can help it; activate Scapegoat." Magical Marionette's attack took out a goat.
"Luckily that gives my monster a second spell counter, allowing me to activate its effect. I send two Spell Counters to the graveyard and destroy one of your goats." The marionette threw one of its daggers at a goat token, destroying it. "I end my turn."
His opponent drew and immediately moved. "I summon Sonic Bird, adding a ritual spell to my hand. Then I play it, Black Illusion Ritual, sacrificing a goat token to ritual summon Relinquished (0/0)." The one eyed abomination rose to the field with an odd screech.
"Relinquished allows me to take one of your monsters and use it as an equip spell. Now!" Slowly, painfully, Magical Marionette was incorporated with the living tissues of Relinquished (2000/1000).
"Now, attack my beasts!" Sonic Bird dove in with an ear shattering cry and Relinquished attacked soon after.
Raoul Cooper: 2300
Infinity and Beyond Captain: 3500
"Now let us see if you can defeat my monsters."
Raoul had recovered from the attack and proceeded valiantly. "I can and I will. I summon Breaker the Magical Warrior (1600/1000) (1900/1000). I will use the token it was summoned with to destroy my enslaved Magical Marionette." Relinquished cried out as the bonded flesh was destroyed.
"Now I will take my revenge. Breaker, attack Relinquished." The magical warrior thrust its blade hilt deep in the cyclopean monstrosity with a sickening squelch. The crowd cheered as their chosen champion took revenge.
Raoul Cooper: 2300
Infinity and Beyond Captain: 1900
"End."
You could tell she wanted to resist. Bur really there was nothing that the team captain could do. "I switch Sonic Bird to defense mode. End turn"
Aliya turned to Lucien. "What if he can't win this turn?"
He shook his head. "He'll be fine. He has at least one more turn to beat her."
"How do you figure that?"
"He's going to destroy any sacrificial lambs she might use this turn. Next turn she'll have two cards in her hand, but unless she gets another Fulfillment of Contract or Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands and one of the cards to summon Relinquished, she won't be able to do anything on her next turn either."
Raoul took his turn. "I summon Apprentice Magician (400/800), and its summoning allows me to add a counter to Breaker (1900/1000). My apprentice will attack your final goat. Breaker the Magical Warrior will destroy Sonic Bird. Set a card and end turn." Once again his opponent's field was clear.
She drew and an evil glint appeared in her eye. "I play Fulfillment of Contract, paying 800 of my life points. Return Demise, King of Armageddon (2400/2000)!" One final time the lord of the end rose up from the field.
Raoul Cooper: 2300
Infinity and Beyond Captain: 1100
"Now I will attach him with a very special equip spell: Ritual Weapon (3900/2000). That leaves him with just enough attack to win me the game. Attack Apprentice Magician and defeat this fool!"
Raoul would have none of it. "Chain, Magic Cylinder. I win."
All of a sudden, the air shook in the other direction when the Cylinder's appeared. No one was quite clear on how the air could shake in a particular direction, but they were quite definite that it had.
Raoul Cooper: 2300
Infinity and Beyond Captain: 0
The judge stood. "The winner of the duel and the match is The Card Shop!" The crowd went wild.
Raoul came down off the duel station and grabbed a protein bar and a soda from the cooler. "So Lucien, why didn't you duel this round?"
Lucien couldn't meet his friend's eyes. "I wanted to give the two of you a chance with the holograms."
"Who are you trying to fool? You love dueling, man. You could have one of us go this round and the other next. No reason not to duel yourself. What's up?"
"It's a long story."
Aliya was listening too. "We have time. Between us we finished the round long before everyone else. Cough it up."
Lucien sighed and finally met their eyes. "The fire at my house wasn't exactly and accident."
Raoul came to the obvious conclusion. "Arson?"
"Nay, worse. The red haired lady was their waiting for me."
Aliya was shocked. "What did she do?"
"She dueled me. You're not going to believe some of this though. I don't believe it. We tied, and that's why I don't trust myself to win here." Mr. Dongard was approaching from the control booth.
"Oh, and before I forget," This was sarcastic. "I have glasses now. The fire damaged my eyes a bit."
Immediately he got pity from Aliya. "Oh, I'm so sorry! How bad is it?"
"Not too bad. I'll tell you about it later. The important thing is that she killed my family. I-… I need a drink." Lucien walked off in search of a water fountain, leaving Aliya sitting with Raoul holding a water bottle.
He wanted to tell them, he really did. But he wasn't ready to explain the Shadow Realm. Such a thing wasn't possible, but it was so. He wasn't sure if it was science or magic. It has to be science. Magic doesn't exist. Maybe, just maybe there is some truth in some of the tales. But it would just be an extension of science, with different rules. Anything else was impossible. Then again, lately the impossible hadn't been paying attention to its status as such.
He found a water fountain and drank deeply. When he checked his watch he realized how little time he had before the next round and headed back to the duel station. Then he remembered one of the things that they had all been told by the official in City Hall. "Unfortunately due to the numbers, the first round will be split into two parts. There are four times as many teams as duel stations meaning that first one half will duel, and then the other. All other rounds will be able to occur simultaneously.
Instead he wandered the complex, watching different teams duel. There were many varied decks present. E-Hero's faced down Water decks. In one area the Dark Scorpions were taking a beating from Archfiends.
Lucien walked around, analyzing all the decks that he might have to face in the next round. Until he passed a team that had evidently just been defeated and he overheard some of their conversation.
"- wasn't for License to Torment, she couldn't have beaten me. I've never even heard of the card!"
She was here. He knew it. He had to warn his team, to hell with the consequences. He couldn't let them be taken.
With bare minutes to spare before the next round, Lucien strode off toward his assigned duel station. He didn't notice the red haired woman watching him from across the dueling area.