AN: Hello, I have the next chapter here. We have a special set of duels here for this larger than normal chapter. Since we get right into the match here, and the chapter was a bit short afterwards, I included the next duel right now, so you don't have to wait for it later. While I do like both, it is the second one that I really enjoyed making. Hope you enjoy this chapter, leave a review with your comments and questions, and have a nice day.
See Datasheet Chapter for cover art details.
Chapter 44 – The Little Angel
Near a water fountain by the café, two duelists prepared for their match with one conversion with her hooded friend, "Blair, I think you're overreacting." Ruby said while the maiden Slifer Red prepared her deck.
"Ruby, sometimes you have to do what you have to do in the name of love," Blair responded, "One day, you'll be old enough to understand."
"Um, I'm older than you." Ruby commented before sighing, "In any case, just watched yourself." The hooded Slifer Red said as she glanced over to the other end of the water fountain, seeing Neo preparing with Sora, "She is not to be taken lightly.
"Relax, what is it you always say?" Blair responded as she put her deck in her duel disk, "I have a plan."
"Okay, good luck," Ruby said with a smile before walking over to Alexis, Jaden, and Weiss sitting near the water fountain.
"I still don't get why they're dueling each other?" Jaden asked, "Is this because of something I did?"
"Don't worry about it, let Blair just get this out of her system." Alexis commented before crossing her arms, "Though, it is a little odd to see this situation from a third-party perspective."
"Does this type of thing happen to you a lot?" Ruby asked.
"More than it should," Alexis said with a sigh, "It's why I don't play tennis anymore."
"Huh, I forgot we have a tennis court," Ruby said before turning to the heiress Obelisk Blue and whispered, "Still, they didn't really kiss, did they?"
"Of course not," Weiss responded, "That's not how it works."
"Oh, okay." Ruby responded, "Because I do that all the time when someone gives me their cup to hold." She said with Weiss and Alexis looking back to her with wide eyes, "What?"
Suddenly, Sora clapped his hands, "Okay, Neo is ready. I'll just stay here in case you need clarity on some of her card's effect." He said with Blair slightly scowling, "Don't worry, I'll only act as an interpreter when needed." The petit pro duelist said before taking out a sucker, "Knock yourselves out." He said before putting the candy in his mouth.
"…" Neo smiled, then readied her duel disk.
"Duel!" Blair spoke with a glare, while Neo changed the orientation of her eye colors.
Blair: 4000 Life Points
Neo: 4000 Life Points
"…" Neo drew first, placing the card in her hand before playing another. Summoned before her was a small child in a dark rob and massive silver blade, her Silent Swordsman LV3, (1000 ATK / 1000 DEF). "…" Neo then set three cards to end her turn.
"My move," Blair said as she drew, smiling at the result, "I play Solar Recharge, discarding my Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner, so I can draw two. However, I have to send two cards from the top of my deck to the graveyard afterwards." She said before doing so, watching two traps from the top of her deck go to the graveyard. In looking at her hand, she took out three cards, "I'll set one monster and two card cards face down. That ends my turn."
"…" Neo smirked as she drew her card, causing Silent Swordsman LV3 to glow in a white light.
"Since he survived a full turn, her LV3 swordsman can now become an LV5 version of himself." Sora clarified as a more adult quiet swordsman was seen, (2300 ATK / 1000 DEF). the petit pro duelist saw Neo play another monster, causing an angelic nurse with white wings and a massive syringe with green fluid, "She also summons Injection Fairy Lily in attack mode." Sora said as the angelic nurse winked, (400 ATK / 1500 DEF).
"Only 400 attack points?" Blair commented, "Are you trying to chip me down in ten turns?"
"…" Neo changed the orientation of her eye color before pointing, causing Silent Swordsman LV5 to attack. He slashed the set monster card in half. However, it revealed a white wolf that snarled, (200 ATK / 100 DEF). the Lightsworn Hunter leaped toward its attacker, biting down before both were shattered, "…!" Neo gasped as both monsters were destroyed.
"Ryko has the flip effect to destroy one card on your field," Blair said before taking three cards from the top of her deck. "All I have to do is send these to the graveyard."
"…" Neo smirked before pointing again, causing Lilly to ride her massive syringe through the sky, readying for a direct injection attack.
"Not so fast," Blair said as she one of her facedown cards, "I activate Rival Arrival." She said before taking out a card from her hand, "With that spell, I can normal summon a monster right now! Say hello to Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior." The maiden Slifer Red said as a white armored man with blue hair, who readied with a massive battle-ax, (1850 ATK / 1300 DEF). "Ha, now I have the higher attack monster. Try attacking him!" she dared as Neo smirked, pointing at Garoth, "Huh? You are attacking? But your monster-"
"Lily has the effect to increase her attack points." Sora said while crossing his arms, "For pay 2000 life points, she gains 3000 attack points."
"3000!?" Blair gasped as she saw the needle grow larger than before, (400 + 3000 = 3400 ATK). Lily then plunged her needle into the chest of the Lightsworn warrior. As the green fluid entered his body, his skin turned purple before Lily pulled the needle out. She then winked before Garoth shattered.
Neo: 4000 – 2000 = 2000 Life Points
Blair: 4000 – 1550 = 2450 Life Points
"Tsk," Blair spoke as the smoke cleared, then saw the syringe shrink back to normal, (3400 – 3000 = 400 ATK). "It's okay, that increase does not last long. You still have more life points." She thought to herself before drawing, then spoke aloud, "It's my turn!" she then pressed a button on her duel disk, "I activate Graceful Revival, letting me bring back Ryko." The maiden Slifer Red said as the Lightsworn hunter reappeared with a howl, (200 ATK / 100 DEF). "However, I tribute my monster to summon Gragonith, Lightsworn Dragon!" she said with the white hand yellow winged dragon appeared with a roar, (2000 ATK / 1600 DEF). "This monster also gains an attack boost. 300 for each different Lightsworn Monster in my graveyard." With that, the spirits of Ryko, Garoth, and Lumina appeared behind Gragonith with a white glow, (2000 + 900 = 2900 ATK).
"Not only is that attack boost enough to wipe out the rest of Neo's life points." Alexis commented, "But Neo can't pay life points without them hitting zero first."
"Exactly," Blair said before pointing, "Feel the power of my passion! Go, Gragonith, attack Injection Fairy Lily!" he said with the Lightsworn Dragon breathing a beam of white energy.
However, Neo smirked as she swapped her eye colors, "…!" suddenly, a trap card was revealed.
"Side Effects?" Blair spoke the card's name, which depicted a type of goblin in pain.
"Oh, I remember that card, she used it against Yang in our duel." Ruby commented before she looked back to Blair, "It lets you pick to draw one, two, or three cards. However, Neo gains 2000 life points for each one."
"What!?" Blair exclaimed, then looked back to her deck, "Darn it, I'll pick one card." She said before drawing, slightly gasping at the result.
At the same time, Neo pointed at her Injection Fairy Lily, "…!" with that command the needle grew again, (400 + 3000 = 3400 ATK). Lily changed in, evading the beam of light, and injecting the Lightsworn Dragon in the neck before the creature exploded. Lily landed near Neo before the syringe shrunk again, (3400 – 3000 = 400 ATK).
Neo: 2000 + 2000 – 2000 = 2000 Life Points
Blair: 2450 – 500 = 1950 Life Points
"Now it's Neo with the lead on life points." Weiss commented, "Blair is in a bad position."
"Yeah," Ruby said as she looked over to Blair in worry, whose head was hung low.
However, Blair slowly smirked, "Heh, now I have you right where I want you." she said with a sneer, "Letting me draw was a mistake."
"…?" Neo raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"With Gragonith, I now have four Lightsworn monsters in my graveyard." Blair said with Ruby gasping, know the card her friend was about to play, "Which means I can now special summon Judgement Dragon from my hand!" she said before the ultimate Lightsworn descended from the heavens. With its roar, Sora shielded himself from the shockwave, while Neo's eyes changed white, (3000 ATK / 2600 DEF). "Now, I get to pay life points. For 1000, I can destroy all other cards on the field!" Blair called out before extending her arms, "Go, Absolute Light Force!" she said before Judgement Dragon illuminated in a white light. The Injection Fairy Lily was encompassed by the light, as well as all the facedown cards on the field. When the light faded, only the ultimate Lightsworn remained.
Blair: 1950 – 1000 = 950 Life Points
"There, try can come back from that!" Blair said before taking four cards from the top of her deck and putting them in the graveyard, "I end my turn."
"…!" Neo gritted her before drawing, but then gasped at the result. She then closed her eyes before a small smile formed. In opening her eyes, the pink and brown heterochromia was back, "…" she played the card, which was the tiny-winged angel with brown fur, (300 ATK / 200 DEF). Winged Kuriboh hummed as he entered the field in attack mode.
"That's your best move?" Blair commented, "Ha, that thing is nothing to my Judgement Dragon." She then looked over to Jaden, "Watch this, I'm about to des-" she was saying, but then saw the spirited Slifer Red smiling, but not at her. Jaden looked on at Winged Kuriboh then back to Neo with a slight giggle, "Wait why does he-!?" Blair spoke before gasping, "No, did Jaden give that card to her!?" she thought before gritting her teeth, then smiled at the realized, "That is the key to Jaden's heart." The maiden Slifer Red then pointed at Neo, "When I win, you have to give me that Winged Kuriboh!"
"…" Neo then scowled at Blair.
"Huh?" Jaden commented as he was half listening, "Is that what this duel is about?" He said with Alexis and Weiss groaning, while Ruby was also confused.
"It is more than just that," Blair answered, but was focused on Neo, "Well, what do you say?"
"…" Neo looked on with half-open eyes before sighing, setting one card from her hand face down.
"I think she just wants to end this duel," Sora interpreted, the stretched out his arms, "You better make this turn count."
"I intend too," Blair said as she drew, then thinking to herself, "I don't have enough life points to use the effect of Judgment Dragon again. But she made a mistake putting that monster in attack mode with so little stats. I just need to-" she thought before realizing, "Wait, she tricked me like this before!" she thought before shaking her head, "No, I can't let it happen again." She then focused on the facedown behind Winged Kuriboh, "That's how she plans to get me in her trap, I need to take care of her backrow. And I drew just the card for that." She thought before speaking, "I summon Lyra, Lightsworn Sorceress." The maiden Slifer Red said as a white robbed mage with black hair was summoned in attack mode, (1700 ATK / 200 DEF). "Now, I use her effect. By switching her to defense mode, I can destroy your face-down card." She said with Lyra kneeing, then raised her staff. Suddenly, a beam of light eradiated the trap card, which revealed as Mirror Force, "Yes, I knew it! I can win now!" Blair cheered before pointing, "Go, Judgment Dragon, attack with Pure Illumination Beam!" she said with the white energy gathering in the ultimate Lightsworn mouth. The attack them fired, encompassing Winged Kuriboh and Neo, "I did it, I w-" Blair said before gasping, seeing a set of massive white wings expand over the whole block, "W-what!?"
"Look," Alexis called out as she pointed to the origin of the wings, "They're coming from Kuriboh!"
"This can't be," Ruby commented, then recalled a familiar image from her past, "Did she play Transcendent Wings?"
"But that is not LV10," Jaden said as he saw the normal Winged Kuriboh at the center of the wings, his body radiating a rainbow aura.
"Impossible," Weiss commented, "She had no other cards on the field." She said before gasping, "Unless."
"…" Neo smirked as she showed the last card in her hand, one that depicted a blond angel in a holy yellow light.
"This is the effect of Honest," Sora clarified as Neo discarded the card, "By sending it to the grave, a light monster that is in battle gains the attack of the opposing monster for the rest of the turn." He said as Winged Kuriboh flapped its massive wings, (300 + 3000 = 3300 ATK). Suddenly, with an echoed hum from the Winged Kuriboh, the wings encompassed Judgment dragon, crushing the ultimate Lightsworn before vanishing in a white light.
Blair: 950 – 300 = 650 Life Points
"Uh oh," Blair said in worry as her turn end. While the wings shrunk, the look of panic did not fade, (3300 – 3000 = 300 ATK).
"…" Neo grew grinning at the result. She summoned a small mage robed in white and blue, her Silent Magician LV4, (1000 ATK / 1000 DEF). "…!" the mute pro duelist then pointed for the double attack. Winged Kuriboh rushed with the tiny wings flapping, headbutting Lyra shatter the Lightsworn sorceress. With nothing else on her field, Blair gasp as Silent Magician reposed her wand and unleashed a beam of white light. The direct attack collided with Blair falling to her knees, a look of emptiness in her eyes, "I lost."
Blair: 650 – 1000 = 0 Life Points
While tears started to form, Blair felt a hand on her right shoulder. She then looked up to see it was Neo, "…" the mute pro duelist smiled.
"That means you did well," Sora interpreted, his arms behind his head, "She was a bit worried when summoned out that big dragon."
"Really?" Blair asked Neo.
"…" Neo smirked as she showed the card she had discarded earlier, Honest.
"Hehe," Blair chuckled before wiping the tears from her eyes. She saw her friends walk over, but her eyes were focused on the spirited Slifer Red, "Jaden, I'm sorry." She said in remorse, slightly lowering her head, "I didn't realize that card meant so much to the two of you."
"Yeah, Winged Kuriboh has always helped me out of a jam." Jaden said before looking over to Neo, "And the little buddy seems to do the same for you." He said with Neo smiling, "I think I finally get what you two were dueling about." Jaden said with the others slightly gasping, "It was about who I could duel afterwards, right?" she said with Alexis and Weiss having a look of pain, while Ruby remained unshocked.
"N-no, it was-" Blair was saying.
"…" Neo nodded, then smirked with her eye colors changing.
"Sweet, let's get right to it." Jaden responded to the mute pro duelist, "I am so excited to show you all the new cards I have in my deck too."
"Huh?" Blair commented, looking back to Neo, "Why?"
"…" Neo winked before walking away, returning to her end of the water fountain with Sora.
Blair remained speechless before seeing Ruby smile at her. The two then walked over to Alexis and Weiss, waiting for the second match to start.
"Okay Neo," Jaden said as he loaded his deck in his duel disk, "Time to get your game on!"
"He has a catchphrase," Sora said as Neo giggled, then put her full deck back in the duel disk, which auto shuffled.
"Duel!" Jaden said as Neo swapped her eye colors again.
Neo: 4000 Life Points
Jaden: 4000 Life Points
"…" Neo again went first with her draw, then smirked at her hand. She summoned out the angelic nurse with the massive needle again, Injection Fairy Lily, (400 ATK / 1500 DEF). The mute pro duelist then took two cards from her hand, then set them face down to end her turn.
"It's my move." Jaden said as he drew, placing the card in his hand before taking a different one, "I summon Card Trooper in attack mode." He said as the gunner robot appeared, (400 ATK / 400 DEF). "And with its effect, I can send three cards from the top of my deck to the graveyard for 500 more attack points each." He said before doing so, sending two monsters and a spell to the graveyard, (400 + 1500 = 1900 ATK). "Next, I remove Bubble Illusion to special summon Spell Stricker." He said as a tiny wizard entered the battlefield, (600 ATK / 200 DEF). "Now, Card Trooper attacks your Injection Fairy Lily."
"…!" Neo reposed with her life points lowering, but Lily's needle getting larger, (400 + 3000 = 3400 ATK). The angelic nurse then evaded the gunfire before pricing Card Trooper's glass head with the syringe, causing an explosion.
Neo: 4000 – 2000 = 2000 Life Points
Jaden: 4000 – 1500 = 2500 Life Points
"I get it now," Blair commented, seeing the needle shrink again, (3400 – 3000 = 400 ATK). "With two monsters, Neo will have to pay for Lily's boost from each attack."
"Thanks to Card Trooper, I get to draw one card." Jaden said as he did so, "And Spell Sticker can attack you directly." He said with the tiny wizard leaping over Injection Fairy Lily and unleashing an electric beam from his wand that zapped Neo.
Neo: 2000 – 600 = 1400 Life Points
"Uh, why didn't he take down Lily?" Blair spoke before she was interrupted.
"Neo still has two facedown." Weiss comments, "Even if they might be bluffs, it's good to play around them when you can."
"I'll set two and call it a turn," Jaden said as two cards appeared behind Spell Stricker.
"…" Neo drew, then played the monster, which revealed itself as a witch with red hair that almost matched her dress. Her metallic white wings matched her boots and gloves, (1800 ATK / 1050 DEF).
"Dunames Dark Witch!" Ruby said in joyful surprise, "Even when all odds are against this brave fairy, she will press onwards in battle and never retreat." She said with her arms crossed, then noticed Weiss watching her with half-open eyes, "What, my mom used that card too."
"…!" Neo pointed, causing Dunames Dark Witch to unleash a blast of black lightning from her hands.
Jaden then took out one of the other cards that were sent to his graveyard from earlier, "I remove Necro Gardna, to block the-" he said before a red seal appeared on the graveyard after the card was removed, "Huh?" the spirited Slifer Red then looked over to see a card in Neo hand.
"Silent Graveyard." Sora spoke the card's name, "For one discard, all your graveyard effects are negated." He said before realizing his sucker was now fully eaten, "Not only does the attack go through, but your card is still removed." Sora said before getting a new sucker to put in his mouth.
"Oh man," Jaden said as the black lightning attack collided with the tiny wizard with a dark explosion, "Luckily, Spell Stricker makes it so I take no damage from the battles involving him." He said before looking over to the angelic nurse, "And you can't use that card attack boost again."
"…" Neo smirked as she switched her eye colors again, then pressed a button on her duel disk to reveal a familiar trap card.
"Side Effects!?" Blair called out.
"Again?" Ruby added on.
"I'm doubting her older duel disk's shuffling mechanics," Weiss commented with Neo overhear, who stuck her tongue out at the heiress Obelisk Blue.
"It's okay, I trust her. Must just be her lucky day," Jaden responded, with Neo smirking back, "Okay, I'll draw three cards." He said with the mute pro duelist gasping.
"W-what!?" Sora spoke with the sucker falling out of his mouth, "Heh, nice joke, but it won't matter any."
"We'll see," Jaden said before he drew three cards.
Neo: 1400 + 6000 = 7400 Life Points
"Tsk," Sora said before looking down, seeing his candy on the brick road, "Oh, that was my last one." The petit pro duelist spoke in sorrow. Suddenly, he saw a lollipop offered to him. He looked over to see it was Neo with a smile, causing him to smile back as he accepted the candy.
"…" Neo then looked back to the duel and pointed, causing Injection Fairy Lily to ready for the final attack.
"Time for my face down, I activate Limit Reverse." Jaden said as a continuous trap appeared, "I can now bring back a monster with less than 1000 attack points in attack mode. So, welcome back Spell Stricker." He said with the tiny wizard reappearing, (600 ATK / 200 DEF).
"…!" Neo smirked as she continued her attack, causing Lily's needle to enlarge, (400 + 3000 = 3400 ATK). The angelic nurse then dove in and injected Spell Striker, causing him to expand before shattering like glass. However, no damage was delt as the needled returned to its original size, (3400 – 3000 = 400 ATK).
Neo: 7400 – 2000 = 5400 Life Points
"Even though she paid 2000 just to destroy a monster, Neo is now way in the lead." Alexis said before looking over to Jaden, "What was he thinking giving her all those life points when she has Injection Fairy Lily."
"Okay, my draw!" Jaden spoke, putting his hand to seven cards, "First, I play E – Emergency Call to add an Elemental Hero from my deck to my hand." He said before doing so, "Next, I play Monster Reincarnation. So, I can discard one card to regain Elemental Hero Captain Gold that was sent to the Graveyard by Card Trooper." The spirited Slifer Red said as he swapped the cards, "Now, I play O – Oversoul to special summon a normal Elemental Hero."
"…?" Neo had a look of confusion, not recalling him ever having one of those in his graveyard. However, she remembered the card he just discarded for Monster Reincarnation.
"You ready?" Jaden asked, "Neo, meet Neos!" he said as the contact hero appeared, reposing with his fists at the ready, (2500 ATK / 2000 DEF).
"…Hehe." Neo chuckled before looking up at Neos.
"Glad you like him, but I am not done with my spell cards yet." Jaden responded as he took two more cards from his hand, "I activate R – Righteous Justice and H - Heated Heart. When I have an Elemental Hero on the field, the first lets me destroy a spell or trap, and the second gives him 500 more attack points and piercing damage for the rest of this turn." He said before one of Neo's facedown cards shattered, revealing itself to be a Magical Cylinder. At the same time, Neos gained a fiery aura around his body, (2500 + 500 = 3000 ATK).
"Wow, all those cards had odd names." Ruby said before putting her hand on her chin, "I wonder if they spell anything if you have them in a certain order…. Hmmm…."
Alexis was going to speak, but Weiss stopped her, "Let her think it through." The heiress Obelisk Blue said with a sigh, causing Alexis to retract her statement as Ruby continued to ponder.
"Almost all set," Jaden said to himself, then took a card out of his hand, "I discard Captain Gold to Skyscraper to hand." He said before returning the card to his graveyard, then taking out the one that ejected from his deck, "Now, I play Skyscraper." The Spirited Slifer Red said as played the field spell, causing tall buildings to encompass the area, "Go, Neos attack Injection Fairy Lily!" he said with the contact hero leaping into the air, "Burning Wrath of Neos." Jaden said with Neos aiming a flaming chop with his right arm.
"…!" Neo pointed, causing Lily's Needle to enlarge, (400 + 3000 = 3400 ATK).
"Did you forget from last time," Jaden said with Neo having a look of confusion before gasping, "Since your monster has more attack points, Neos gains 1000 more for himself." He said with Neo's burning aura erupting, (3000 + 1000 = 4000 ATK). Injection Fairy Lily panicked as Neos chopped her syringe in half. As the fire mixed with the green medicine, an explosion engulfed the field. As the smoke cleared, only Neos stood with his arms crossed.
Neo: 5400 – 2000 – 600 = 2800 Life Points
"I'll throw down a face down and call it a turn," Jaden said Neos lost its burning aura and the boost from Skyscraper, (4000 – 1000 – 500 = 2500 ATK).
"…" Neo drew, then took a card from her graveyard.
"The card she discarded before was Silent Sword Slash, and she is removing it to add Silent Swordsman LV5 from her deck to her hand," Sora said as Neo did so, then tributed the Dunames Dark Witch for the swordsman, his massive blade over his right shoulder, (2300 ATK / 1000 DEF).
"…" Neo then played her a spell card, Level Up. Her silent swordsman then was encompassed in white light, change him into his LV7 form, (2800 ATK / 1000 DEF). "…!" She then pointed with Silent Swordsman rushing in with an overhead swing.
"Not so fast, I have my other facedown," Jaden said the card revealed itself, "Hero Barrier to block your attack." He said as a spinning bracket parried the blade of the Silent Swordsman LV7, causing Neo to grit her teeth, "Looks like it's my move." He said before drawing, playing the card, "I summon Elemental Hero Ocean in attack mode." He as a blue aquatic hero was called onto the battlefield, wielding a harpoon with a fin-shaped head, (1500 ATK / 1200 DEF). "Now Neos attack your Silent Swordsman!" he said with the contact hero leaping for another strict. His arm clashed with the massive blade, causing sparks to flicker through the area, "And like before Skyscraper will allow Neos to-" Jaden was saying until the massive sword slashed through Neos and into his chest, causing the contact hero to explode, "…Uh…"
Jaden: 2500 – 300 = 2200 Life Points
"At LV7, Silent Swordsman can negate the effect of all spell cards on the field." Sora clarified as Neo smirked, causing Silent Swordsman to spin the sword in his hand before resting it on his back.
"Oh, whoops." Jaden said while scratching the back of his head, "Well, good thing I have a backup still." He said before the other facedown he had revealed itself, "I activate Hero Counterattack. Since a Hero was destroyed by battle, you can pick a card from my hand. And if it's another Hero, it gets special summoned, and your monster is destroyed." He said before showing the one card he held, "Which will it be?"
"…" Neo looked on with half-open eyes
"I'll take it that you piked this one." He said as he played the card, "I special summon Elemental Hero Bubbleman." He said as the foaming equip hero was summoned onto the field, (800 ATK / 1200 DEF). "And you know what that means." The spirited Slifer Red said before Silent Swordsman LV7 exploded, "Now, time for a double dose of hero water attacks." He said with Ocean launching a tidal stream of water, while Bubbleman fired a beam of bubbles from his wrist gauntlets. Both attacks mixed before colliding with Neo, soaking the mute pro duelist.
Neo: 2800 – 1500 – 800 = 500 Life Points
"…" Neo looked on with half-open eyes before spitting out a cup full of hologram water.
"Sorry about that," Jaden responded, "I end my turn."
"…" Neo shook herself off before drawing, revealing the grinning vase, Pot of Greed.
"I'm not explaining that one," Sora commented as Neo drew two cards.
"…" Neo then set the two cards, one in her monster zone and the other in the spell and trap zone.
"My turn," Jaden said as he drew, "Thanks to Ocean, I can add an elemental Hero from the graveyard back to my hand." He said before picking his target, then played the card he drew, "And it looks like I got Pot of Greed as well, giving me two more cards." after adding the cards to his hand, Jaden then pointed, "Now, Ocean attacks your set monster." He said with Ocean rushing in with his harpoon. However, the monster revealed itself with angelic wings and a yellow holy light that repelled the aquatic hero, (1100 ATK / 1900 DEF). "It's Honest," Jaden said as his life points went down from the recoil.
Jaden: 2200 – 400 = 1800 Life Points
"I see, okay then." Jaden said before taking a card out of his hand, "I'll set this, switch Bubbleman to defense mode, and end my turn." He said with the foaming equip hero kneeling with his arms in a blocking stance.
"…" Neo drew at the start of her turn, gasping at the result, then smirked. Suddenly, Honest glowed in a white light.
"What's going on?" Blair asked from the sidelines.
"Honest has the effect to return itself to the hand." Sora said as Neo revealed her facedown card, "And it looks like Neo is chaining that with Graceful Tear."
"What does that do?" Jaden asked seeing Neo give a card in her hand to Sora.
"Well, she gives you a card, then gets 2000 life points." Sora said as he walked over to Jaden offering the card, "Here you go?"
"Oh, thanks." Jaden said before looking at the card, "Wait, this is-"
"And now, time for the Chain Link 3," Sora said.
"Chain link 3?" Ruby asked.
"It is the sequence in which cards are activated and their effects resolve," Alexis answered.
"We had that lesson two weeks ago." Weiss added on, then looked over to Neo, "It looks like she has a third card to play."
"…!" Neo swapped her eye colors before slapping the card on the duel disk. Forming was the brown furball with wings. However, he dawned a red armored helmet and claws, his wings no longer tiny, (? ATK /? DEF).
"W-winged Kuriboh?" Jaden spoke in shock, then saw Neo gain a white aura from the trap card.
Neo: 500 + 2000 = 2500 Life Points
"Winged Kuriboh LV9." Sora corrected, seeing Honest go back to the hand, "Not as good as LV10, but still leagues higher than the original." He said before crossing his arms, "Now that this guy is on the field, all other spells activated are removed from play." The petit pro duelist then looked back to Jaden's duel disk, "However his attack and defense becomes the number of spells in your graveyard times 500. And if my count is right, you have six." He said as the armored Winged Kuriboh radiated a white aura, (500 X 6 = 3000 ATK).
"…!" Neo then pointed at Elemental Hero Ocean, causing Winged Kuriboh to charge in. However, she also discarded the Honest in her hand, giving her monster an attack-boost equal to its target, (3000 + 1500 = 4500 ATK).
"Oh no, if that goes through," Blair panicked, "Then Jaden-"
"I activate Elemental Recharge," Jaden said as he showed his facedown card, "I gain 1000 life points for each Elemental Hero on the field, and I got two of them." He said before his body glowed in a green aura. A second later, Winged Kuriboh LV9 rammed into Ocean, breaking the harpoon before he exploded.
Jaden: 1800 + 2000 – 3000 = 800 Life Points
"Wow, I had no idea my buddy had that form." Jaden said with a smile.
"…" Neo smirked as she crossed her arms. Winged Kuriboh LV9 returned to her side, her turn over, (4500 – 1500 = 3000 ATK).
"Okay, my draw." Jaden said before doing so, smirking as well from the result, "Neo, get ready." He said before putting the card in his hand for a second, "Frist, I switch Bubbleman back to attack mode." With that order, the foam-equipped hero stood up, "Next, I play Bubble Shuffle, switching him back to defense mode, as well as your Winged Kuriboh LV9." He said Bubbleman knelt again, while the armored Winged Kuriboh crossed his claws, "And now, I can tribute Bubbleman to summon back," Jaden said before playing the monster he got from Ocean's effect the turn prior, "Elemental Hero Neos!" he said with the contact hero returning the battlefield, (2500 ATK / 2000 DEF), "Neo, this duel has been fun, but I active Hero Flash!" the spirited Slifer Red said with a white light shining behind Neos, "I can now remove Heated Heart, Emergency Call, Righteous Justice, and Oversoul."
"Oh, it spells HERO!" Ruby said in shock, "How did I not realize that earlier?"
"Because your acronyms don't spell the word correctly," Weiss said with a sigh, causing Ruby to giggle.
"Since removed those spells, Winged Kuriboh LV9's stats go down." Jaden spoke, "But with Hero Flash and Neos being a normal monster, I don't need to attack him." He said before pointing at Neo, "I can now attack you directly!" with that declaration the contact hero leaped again into the air, "Go, Wrath of Neos!" Jaden said before Neos chopped towards Neo, resulting in an explosion on contact.
Neo: 2500 – 2500 = 0 Life Points
"That's game," Jaden said with a wink.
"…Hehe," Neo giggled as she smiled, looking up at Neos before curtsying. The contact hero crossed his arms and nodded before fading away with the other cards on the field.
The others ran over to the spirited Slifer Red, "That was amazing, you won!" Blair cheered.
"You beat the fifth rank duelist in the pro leagues." Weiss commented.
"That's quite impressive." Alexis added on.
"Congratulation, but I have a question." Ruby asked, "What was the card she gave you?"
"Oh, this one," Jaden said with a smile, revealing the last card in his hand. Before the four girls, the original Winged Kuriboh card was seen, but only the heiress Obelisk Blue saw what looked like the card winking. Jaden chuckled before seeing Neo walked over, "Here you are." He said while offering Winged Kuriboh back to the mute pro duelist.
"…" Neo did not extend her hand but did smile as she swapped her eye colors.
"It's okay, you can still keep him close by," Jaden spoke, his voice more somber than before, "Thanks for offering to give him back, but I think he has taken a liking to you." Neo hesitated, but then extending her hand and acquired Winged Kuriboh again. In looking down at the card, she smiled as her eyes swapped colors. Jaden saw the spirit of Winged Kuriboh rest atop Neo's head, a look of joy as the tiny-winged angel nuzzled in pink and brown hair. The spirited Slifer Red then turned to the group, "Well, we still have a lot of time before the big match. So, why don't walk somewhere else? Any suggestion?"
"Oh, I know where we can go!" Ruby said before bolting off in rapid speed, leaving a trail of rose petals on the ground. After a few seconds of silence, Ruby returned, "Sorry, I've been trying not to do that as much." She apologized before pointing, "I know the way to a card shop we can visit." The hooded Slifer Red said before walking to lead the way.
The others started to follow, but Blair tugged at Neo's jacket, stopping the two girls, "H-hey, I want to apologize." Blair spoke, "I was jealous and thought you were going to steal Jaden from me." She said before a soft smile formed on her face, "But I see now, that you two are good for each other…better than I am for him." The maiden Slifer Red then sighed, "So, please take care of Jaden."
"…" Neo looked on in slight confusion, but then smiled before petting Blair on the head.
"I think that means she forgives you." Sora said as he remained close by, "And with the other stuff, she'll think about it." He said before crossing his arms, "So, I guess that gives you a few more chances."
"R-really?" Blair asked Neo, who nodded before swapping her eye colors, "Okay, but you're going to regret not taking this opportunity of love!" She said before running after the group, "Hey Jaden, wait for me!"
"…" Neo looked on before noticing Sora sighing.
"I think you should have taken the chance," Sora commented, realizing he had finished the lollipop, "I mean, even I can tell you do like that guy. So, what gives?"
"…" Neo winked with her index finger on her lips.
"That's what you always say," Sora said, putting his hands behind the back of his head, "Well, I guess you should enjoy the time you have with him now." He said before walking away following the group.
"…" Neo sighed as well, but as she looked over to the spirited Slifer Red, her cheeks went slightly red. Hovering overhead was the spirit of the Winged Kuriboh, who happily hummed with his eyes closed.
AN: There you go, a double duels chapter with Neo netting even in the end. She has expanded her deck a bit, including a lot of my favorite cards. Neo does have some fun toying with Blair, but Jaden's proved to much this time. Like I said, the second duel was a blast to write. Jaden got to use all HERO cards in one turn before playing Flash to win the duel later, as well as do some other cool combo stuff against Neo, (might be a bit of shenanigans with the chain link at the end, but those are something I really do account for when making these duels). For me as well, I liked Neo trying to give Winged Kuriboh back Jaden, but he lets her keep it so the little buddy can look after her. And as the end reveals, Neo has developed some feelings for Jaden, but she is holding them back for now for a reason we will see later. Next chapter, I think we will switch over to the Yang group for a bit to see some more characters, with potentially some new faces even I was not sure at first about adding to this series. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.
Now, time to answer some questions. For a custom archetype, I did make up a Grimm archetype for a one-shot that I ended up deleting. It was really nothing special, just having Grimm as the main monsters, the rwby characters and Synchro monsters, and weapons as union monsters. For it, they had no real play style, which is why I do not make custom cards for my duels, as I know I am not good at making them. Regarding Vendread archetype, they are cool. It is basically Spawn meets Resident Evil, what's not to love. I sort of have an idea of who could play some of these cards here, but I am not sure yet. Regarding Beetroopers, they look neat, but that's about all I have to say. For favorite pendulum monster, it is DoSolfachord Coolia. The design is great, almost looking like if Neo grew up to be a conductor. However, the reason it's my favorite pendulum is because I bought two packs of Ancient Guardians, and from the first one, I pulled this card as my first collectors' rarity. I was hoping to pull her but was overjoyed when I got in the highest rarity. A few days later, I felt like getting a couple more packs, and in the second one, I got her again as her normal ultra-rare. If the second was also a collectors' rare, she might be my favorite card of all time. And finally, I saw the stuff regarding Yu-Gi-Oh Master Duel. It looks cool, but I hope it has a good simulation mode, so I make scripting these duels a lot easier. I am also excited for Cross Duel, mainly because I could then have a R-W-B-Y battle royal with some baseline rules already made beforehand. Those were all the questions I had, feel free to ask more, and I will answer them in the next chapter.
