Chapter 14: Cooking Up Trouble

An air of excitement hung over Paradise City. The Arc League Championship was approaching, and everyone who could qualify was racing to meet the requirements before the deadline. The Tournament was the stepping stone to the pro leagues, with many top finisher going on to enter the next season.

Presently, Yuya and Zuzu were headed to the Flavor Factory Dueling School to see a demonstration by their top duelist, Reed Pepper. Not only was he a great duelist, but a world renowned chef. However, Yuya's mind was more focused on dueling.

"4 more...just 4 more..."

Zuzu sighed in annoyance.

"Yuya, can you think of anything other than dueling for a single moment? Your mom was nice enough to give us the tickets, the least you can do is pretend to be interested.

"Huh? Oh, sorry Zuzu. I guess I'm just a little anxious."

The two of them soon took their seats in the audience, and before long the lights dimmed. Fog began to sweep across the stage as the announcer began to introduce the show.

"Ladies and gentleman, give it up for Reed Pepper!"

The crowd burst into applause as their host leapt up onto the stage, doing a midair somersault before landing with a flourish.

"Welcome, all of you, to a world of flavor! Now, I know normally I get right into cooking, but today I'd like to do something a little different."

The crowd mumbled in confusion.

"Now now, I assure you there will still be plenty cooking, don't you worry about that. However, as you all know, The Arc League Championship is coming up, and I'm looking to qualify. I need just one more win, so I decided to add a little flavor to today's demonstration: a two for one. Before I begin cooking, I'll duel someone from the audience! That way, I get my duel in, and you all get to see two dazzling performances in one day!"

The crowd cheered again, much to his pleasure.

"Alright then! And my lucky opponent will be..."

A spotlight shuffled over the audience, rapidly changing between them before landing on...

"Yuya Sakaki! Come on down!"

Yuya grinned broadly, bounding down the steps as the audience cheered him on. Once he had reached the stage, he activated his duel disk.

"I accept your challenge! After all, what kind of Dueltainer would I be if I turned down such an opportunity?"

"I admire your enthusiasm, but don't think I'll go down that easily."

The stage hands moved the stove and other cooking supplies out of the way as Yuya and Reed spread apart, leaving enough room to duel.

"Alright Yuya, get ready because I activate the action field Sweets Island!"

The set disappeared, giving way to a large canyon made entirely out of candy, cakes, and other sweet foods.

"Duelists locked in battle..."

"Kicking the Earth and dancing in the air alongside their monsters, they storm through this field!"

"Behold! This is the latest and greatest evolution of dueling! Action..."

DUEL!

Yuya: 4000

Reed: 4000

"Since I issued the challenge, I'll let you make the first move, Yuya."

Yuya nodded, glancing over his starting hand.

Not bad, but not great either. Best to play it safe.

"Since there are no monsters on the field, I can normal summon Performapal Drummerilla without a tribute, but his level becomes 4. I set two cards face down and end my turn."

"Alright Yuya, its time to spice things up! I'll start by activating the spell card Madolche Salon. Next, I summon Madolche Mewfeuille (500/300)! And when he's normal summoned, I can special summon a Madolche monster from my hand, so come on out Madolche Baaple (0/1800)! Now, with these two monsters I build the overlay network and Xyz Summon! Come forth, Rank 3 M-X Saber Invoker (1600/500)! Next, I activate his effect. By detaching one overlay unit, I can special summon a level 4 Earth Warrior or Beast Warrior from my deck, like Madolche Chouxvalier (1700/1300)! Next, thanks to Saloon's effect, I can normal summon an additional Madolche monster, like Madolche Buttlerusk (1500/800)! Next, I overlay my two Madolches in order to build the overlay network again! I Xyz Summon, Rank 4 Castel the Skyblaster Musketeer (2000/1500)! Now then, prepare yourself!"

"Bring it on! Don't forget about my Gorilla's special ability."

"I didn't, which is why I'll activate Castel's own effect! By detaching two overlay units, King Kong over there goes right back to your deck!"

"What?"

Castel loaded his cannon before firing a shot at the monkey, sending it right back into Yuya's deck.

"Now my monsters, attack him directly!"

"Not so fast! I activate the trap card Performapal Call! Now I can-"

Before Yuya's trap could go through, Reed lept up and grabbed an Action Card wedged in a cliffside.

"Nice try, but I'm always one step ahead! I activate the action card, Caramel Pitfall! This card negates your card's effect and destroys it!"

A glob of molten caramel poured down all over Yuya's card, disintegrating it before Yuya was slashed and blasted at by Reed's monsters.

Yuya: 400

"I set two cards face down and end my turn.'

"Get ready, Reed, because I'm coming at ya! First, I activate Card of Sanctity so that we can refill our hands. Next, I set my Performapal Trump Witch and my Performapal Card Gardna in the Pendulum Scales! Now I can summon monsters between the levels of 5 and 7 all at the same time, so come on out Odd Eyes Pendulum Dragon, Dragoncaller Magician (2400/1000), and from the extra deck Performapal Drummerilla! Now for my comeback. Odd Eyes, attack his M-X Saber Invoker!"

"Not so fast, I activate Gift of the Mystical Elf, giving me 1500 extra life points (4000-5500-3700)!"

"Well, I'm not done! Dragoncaller Magician, take out his Castel, and don't forget Drummerilla gives him 600 attack points (2400-3000)!"

Reed: 2700

"Now Drummerilla, attack him directly!"

Reed: 900

"I end my with one card face down."

"Not bad Yuya, but don't count me out yet! First, I summon Madolche Magilene (1400/1200) in attack mode. And with her effect, I can add 1 Madolche monster from my deck to my hand, like Madolche Marmalmaide. And with Salon's effect, I can normal summon her too (800/2000). Now with these two monsters I build the overlay network and Xyz Summon! Come on out, Rank 4 Madolche Queen Tiaramisu (2200/2100)!"

"Nice monster, but mine are stronger."

"Ah, but you see, my monster has a special ability. First, I detach one overlay unit. Next, I take two Madolche monsters from my graveyard and shuffle them into the deck, and then I do the same to two of your monsters!"

"What?"

Yuya could only watch in horror as the queen shot a sticky toffee beam from her staff, sending his Odd Eyes and Dragoncaller Magician, sending them both back into the deck.

"And next, my Salon's other effect activates. When a card is added from my field or graveyard is added to my deck, I can set a Madolche spell or trap card straight from my deck to the field, and I choose Madolche Nights. Not that it'll matter, because this duel is over! Queen Tiaramisu, attack his Drummerilla! And I'll use my other face down, Madolche Lesson! By returning my last Madolche from my graveyard to my deck, all of my Madolche's on the field gain 800 attack points (2200-3000), and I can return Castel to my Extra deck. This duel is over, Yuya!"

Luckily, Yuya managed to grab an action card just in time.

"I activate the action spell, Sugar Crash! This negates your monster's attack and ends the battle phase!"

Suddenly, Reed's monster began to grow faint, her attack stopping in its place as she plopped to the ground and tried to gain back her energy.

"Nice save, but it only bought you a turn. I'll end my turn there."

Yuya smirked. One turn was all he would need.

"This duel is over! first, I summon Odd Eyes Mirage Dragon (1200/600). And now, for the grand finale! By tributing my two monsters, I can special summon, from my Extra Deck, Beast Eyes Pendulum Dragon (3000/2000)!"

The crowd gasped in shock. Zuzu especially was surprised.

"No way...Yuya can Fusion Summon?"

"Not bad, Yuya, but our monsters are tied. What're you going to do?"

"Simple, I'm going to win! I activate my trap card, Metalmorph, equipping it to Beast Eyes (3000-3300). Now Beast Eyes, attack his Queen, and due to Metalmorph's effect, he gains half of her attack (3300-4800)!"

Reed leapt upward, grabbing an action card.

"I activate the action card, Candy Shower! Now your monster is switched to-"

But Reed's sentence was cut short as a load of caramel flooded down, covering his action card. Looking down, he saw Yuya smiling confidently.

"Nice try, but my Magical Trick Mirror lets me copy the effect of a spell in your graveyard, so thanks for using Caramel Pitfall earlier. Now Beast Eyes, end this duel!"

Reed could only watch as his Queen was consumed by the attack, which then headed towards him. Despite this, he couldn't help but smile.

"Well played, Yuya."

Reed: 0000

Yuya wins!

The crowd cheered as Yuya helped Reed to his feet.

"That was a good duel, Reed. I hope to duel you again in the championship."

"Same here, Yuya. Now, how about a well cooked meal?"

Yuya's stomach grumbled, as if answering for him.

"Yeah, that sounds good."