Chapter 19: Sand and Surf
Eria hummed to herself as she combed the small beach for small treasures. Although she was far from home, she enjoyed this part of the desert world. Being this close to water made her feel right at home and in her element. Smiling, she picked up a beautiful seashell.
"Isn't this lovely, Gigobyte?"
She turned to face her companion...
Only to find him in the jaws of a vicious Sand Moth, struggling to escape.
"Save me!"
Sighing, Eria marched over and began to whack the moth upside the head repeatedly.
"Let him go!"
Growling, the Sand Moth did so before turning its attention towards her.
"Bah! I was just putting this weakling in his place before you showed up and ruined my fun. Guess I'll just have tot take my frustration out on you!"
Seeing that there was no other way out of this situation, Eria raised her duel disk in acceptance of his challenge.
"Anything to shut you up."
DUEL!
Eria: 8000
Sand Moth: 8000
"Ladies first, worm."
"Gee, how thoughtful. I set one monster face down and two cards face down. Your move."
"A pathetic move from a pathetic duelist. I draw! And I'll start by summoning Giant Rat (1400/1450) in attack mode!"
A diseased vermin gnashed its teeth at Eria, a skull clutched firmly in its paw.
"Now my Rat, attack her face down with Skull Bash!"
The rat pounced on the face down, about to smash the skull it used as a weapon on it before it revealed itself to be Nightmare Penguin, which effortlessly deflected the attack before sending it back to Sand Moth's hand.
Sand Moth: 7600
"Grr, you'll pay for that! I set one card face down and end my turn."
"Then its my move! First, I activate the spell card Big Wave, Small Wave from my hand, destroying Nightmare Penguin so I can summon Frostosaurus in attack mode. Next, I'll add my Granadora (1900/700) to the mix. And when Granadora is summoned, I gain 1000 life points (8000-9000). Next, I activate Call of the Haunted to revive Nightmare Penguin, giving everyone 200 extra attack points (2600-2800) (1900-2100) (900-1100). Now my monsters, attack!"
Sand Moth reeled from the onslaught of attacks, parts of his body falling off as clumps of mud from all the water.
Sand Moth: 1600
"That ends my turn. Your move."
"Humph. I'll set one monster face down and end my turn."
My Man Eater Bug will save me some time, he thought to himself. Once he attacks, I can use it to get rid of one of her stronger monsters, and since she'll use the other one to attack, that'll just leave her puny little penguin, which is more than manageable. I just have to find a way to survive until I have enough monsters for Megarock Dragon. Once I get him on the field, this weakling will be on the floor where she belongs!
"I don't know what you're trying to pull, but it wont work! I activate my Face Down, Raigeki Break! By discarding one card from my hand, your face down is destroyed!"
Sand Moth gasped in shock as a bolt of lightning struck down his only line of defense.
"No! My Man Eater Bug!"
"Now my monsters, finish him off!"
The Sand Moth could only watch in despair as Eria's monsters drowned him in a huge wave, ending the duel in his defeat.
Sand Moth: 0000
Eria wins!
Growling, the sand moth retreated as Eria went to check on her friend.
"Are you alright, Gigobyte?"
"Gigo, I'm fine."
"You know you shouldn't wonder off on your own."
"Hey, Eria! What's up?"
Eria turned to see Jaden and company coming towards them.
"Jaden, Alexis, good to see you!"
"Same here. What are you guys doing?"
"Oh, little Gigobyte here got into some trouble, but I sorted it out. You guys still looking for a way home?"
"Sure are. Know any one who might be able to help."
Eria thought for a minute, then smiled.
"My old friend Otohime lives around here. I'm sure she'll be happy to help."
"Great! Where is she?"
Eria gestured with her staff to the sea behind them, much to Jaden's confusion.
"Um, Eria? We can't breathe underwater."
"Don't worry, I can fix that."
Eria waved her staff over the seven of them, a wave of blue energy surrounding them. Once the aura had disappeared, however, they felt no different.
"Um, what was that? I don't feel anything."
"That's because you're still on land. Don't worry, once you hit the water, you'll be just fine."
"Alright guys, let's get moving! Thanks Eria!"
Eria waved the travelers off as they walked into the ocean. Then she turned to her partner.
"Come on Gigobyte, lets head home."
"Coming, Eria!"
But as they left, Gigobyte took one last longing look at the sea, his mind on the seven friends they had made.
One day, i'll be strong like them. Then I can protect Eria instead of the other way around. One day...
