Hey everyone! I'm back and refreshed from a nice break and ready to get back to work on the story. Before I start today though, I just want to let you all know that the story now has a TV Tropes page started by the fantastic psychoman13. It looks fantastic! Feel free to check it out when you get the chance. You should be able to find it under the Yu-Gi-Oh fanfiction page on the site.
Also, before I forget, just want to say a massive thank you to everyone! The story is officially over both 500 favs and follows! That is amazing! Seriously, thank you all! The next goal is 750, woo!
Normal messages at the end, for now though, enjoy the show :)
Staying in the Background
Clash of Ideals - What Was Written in Black and White
Bastion and I woke up early the next morning. After a delicious spot of breakfast from the Obelisk café, I walked him back to the Ra dorm before continuing on my own. I had never been one for early exercise, I preferred the night breeze, but the morning was so perfect that I just had to keep going. The sun was just coming up on the horizon, the beginning of a new dawn and I was feeling positive. With the expulsion duels done and dusted, I was finally free of worry and could get back to my main mission at this academy; live my perfect high school life in a universe devoted to a children's card game.
I'd had a few setbacks.
Okay, a lot of setbacks. But today, things just felt fresh. Like I was starting anew. I kept walking until I was at the hill by the Slifer Dorm that overlooked the academy docks. There, I spotted a group of workers unloading several boxes into vans marked with the academy logo. A smile quickly spread across my face.
"Looks like the new stock is here," I mused before taking out my PDA and checking my DP balance. The win against Rex and Weevil had added nothing to my total since it was technically an official student exam, but I still had a comfortable 3425 DP saved. "Could be more…" I said, turning on my heel and beginning the trek back to the blue dorm. From my limited time within the dorm, there always seemed to be a few people up for a duel. Hopefully, they were up at this time of the morning. I needed my card fix after all.
I spent the next couple of hours taking on as many challengers as I could find. I won a lot, lost a few others, but who wants to hear about slip-ups and misplays. By the time I went back up to my room for a shower, my account was bloated with almost 10,000 DP. I figured that would be enough time for the new stock to be shipped over to the card shop. They were normally quite quick. Once I was in my uniform, I made my merry way over to the academy.
It didn't take long. One of the many benefits of the blue dorm is it was just around the corner from the main building. I was at the card shop in fifteen minutes and, much to my pleasure, one of my favourite people was already at the till. The moment I saw her, my face lit up. However, there were already a few people in the shop. It seemed I wasn't the only one who had come for the new cards. And, right at the counter was none other than mister personality himself, Chazz Princeton. He was standing in front of the till with a large pile of booster packs in front of him. It looked like he was going on quite the shopping spree. It didn't surprise me. One of the things I had liked about Chazz in the series was that he was one of the few duellists who regularly switched up his deck.
"I'll be taking all of these," I heard him say, his normal tone even sharper than normal. While I imagined dealing with the girl who had quite soundly defeated him, his bad mood was probably more to do with that he would be having a promotion duel tomorrow where if he lost, he would be falling to the ranks of Slifer. Of course, I knew that would never happen. Chazz would sooner leave this academy than ever go there. And unfortunately, that was exactly what was destined to happen. But like everyone else who unwittingly danced to destiny's song, he seemed determined to avoid his fate.
To her credit, despite the Obelisk's rude tone, Sadie maintained her professional attitude. "Very well. Will that be cash or duel points?"
Chazz reached out into his wallet and pulled out a black leather wallet. From it, he produced a number of bills and put them down on the counter. He began gathering up his cards when his head suddenly snapped up and he froze like he was in a trance. Robotically, his head turned back towards the display case. He just stared at the card packs, seeming almost lost.
"Is that everything?" Sadie asked, her brow quirked.
"I… I change my mind. I'll take as many of those as I can." He pointed to something I couldn't see."
"Are you sure? The cards in those packs aren't the strongest. I doubt they'd match your style," Sadie said.
"I said I'll take them," Chazz snapped, producing more bills and laying them down. Sadie shrugged before retrieving what I assumed was an appropriate number of packs for what Chazz had put down. Must be nice to be able to throw around that kind of cash. With everything paid for, the obelisk stuffed his purchases in his pockets and hastily left the store. I made sure to stay out of his way and ducked down behind some of the magazine stands. I didn't want to have to deal with him today. I wanted to keep my good mood.
After a few moments, when I was sure he was gone, I was about to rise when I heard a call from the counter. "He's gone now. You can come out."
Sheepishly, I popped my head up above the stand to see Sadie staring at me with an amused smile on her face. "You saw me?"
"You always come in around this time at the weekend. It's not hard to spot you," she said. "I would have thought the guy who beat two pros would be braver when it came to someone like Chazz Princeton."
"Hey, I'd take a thousand Weevil Underwoods over a single Chazz with a grudge," I joked as I walked over to the counter.
She bobbed her head from side to side, faking musing about my comment before nodding and giggling. "I suppose you're right. His attitude can be pretty haughty. He seemed off to me though."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know how to explain it. When he comes in here, he normally tries to act all smooth and suave. He didn't bother with it just now. He seemed in a hurry too and kept looking over his shoulder. The only time he paused was at the end there." She brought her hand up to her chin in thought. "If I were to guess, I'd say something's gotten under his skin."
She had keen instincts. I suppose if you interacted with people long enough in the capacity Sadie did, you were bound to pick up changes in their behaviour. But what she had said about him pausing, that had seemed weird. He seemed pretty set on only getting the packs he had initially chosen. I wonder what changed his mind.
"Anyway, I can guess what brought you in this morning," Sadie said, interrupting my thoughts. With a smirk, she reached beneath the counter and produced a booster box. The words 'Soul of the Duelist' were printed in bright letters. "They just arrived this morning. You want?"
"I want."
"I thought you would," she said. I reached out for the box only for it to be pulled from my grasp at the last moment. "Uh, uh. You don't want to do that," she said mischievously.
"Um… I think we just established I did?"
She shook her head. "Those packs are fairly expensive, y' know. And I know you're only looking for one card anyway."
"Well, two of the same card."
"Irrelevant. Before you go ahead and buy several card packs that will undoubtedly go to waste, why don't you check over here?" She pointed over to the card case displaying individual cards for sale. I looked them over but there wasn't a single card I actually wanted.
"Ummm… I don't want to be rude, but…"
"Hmm?" Sadie looked over in mock surprise. "Oh my, it seems someone forgot to stock one of the cards. I hope no one notices my mistake." She reached behind the counter and produced a single sleeved card. As she placed it among the others, my eyes widened.
"That's… That's the card!"
"I know."
"You… you kept it for me?"
"Not in a way that anyone can prove or get me in trouble," she smirked.
"Thank you. You didn't have to."
"Well, it's not exactly free."
"Oh yeah… woo… that is a hefty price tag."
"Well, yes, there is that. But it's not what I meant. I have my own finder's fee for holding back this little number."
"Really now? And what do you have in mind?" I asked, a smile spreading across my face.
"I was thinking that I could finally show you the best spots around the academy. Of course, that includes the best cafes and shops, which I'm sure you'll be more than willing to treat me to for my troubles."
"I'm sure that can be arranged," I said with a grin.
"Excellent. Today's looking up already. My shift ends at three. You up for meeting at the four by the main gate?"
"Perfect. I'll see you then."
"Hang on. Aren't you forgetting something?" she asked, holding up the sleeved card with a sly grin. "Cash or DP?"
I practically left the card shop skipping. I had my card, I had the date. Things were good. Now I just wanted to get home, do a little deck construction and get ready for seeing Sadie.
And then my PDA began to beep.
'Please just be Bastion. Or Jaden. Or even Chumley…' I could already feel the oncoming jinx as I pulled the device out of pocket. There was a single message waiting for me.
Please come to the Chancellor's Office immediately.
"Oh, this can't be good…" I brooded as I put the device back into my pocket. Was this about the expulsion matches? Had they overturned their decision? Was he going to add more pages to the essay I already had to write? These were the questions running through my head as I made my way to the elevator and went to the top floor, where the administrative offices were.
Sheppard's office was exactly halfway down the corridor. A sense of dread overtook me as I walked closer and rapped my knuckles against the metal. They opened automatically and a deep call to enter came from within.
I stepped in and briefly took in the office I had only seen in anime and games. It was fairly spacious with a distinct lack of furniture. The back of the room was taken up entirely by a large window with long green shutters. To the left of the room was a table surrounded by a long 'L' shaped couch. To the right was a futuristic but large computer desktop that I assumed was connected to the giant screen embedded in the wall. However, the feature of the room that drew the eye was the expensive mahogany desk that was slap bang in the middle of the room. To either side were large potted plants. I knew for a fact that one of them had the Spirit Gate Keys hidden under the soil.
Only three people were in the room. The first was obviously Chancellor Sheppard. He stood by the window facing away from me with his arms behind his back. The second was Crowler, who was stood at attention to the side of the desk with a solemn look upon his face. Finally, there was Nurse Fontaine. She gave me a smile when I walked in before her expression became neutral. A heavy air weighed upon the room and my worries increased.
"You called for me, sir," I said, ending the silence as I addressed the Chancellor.
"Mr Cambell, thank you for coming so quickly," the older man said as he turned to face me. "I'll cut straight to the chase. We would like to ask you about the events that happened at the abandoned dorm last week. Specifically, about the girl you recovered, Eve Pechman."
Twin images ran through my mind. The girl in the hospital bed and her more frightening possessed counterpart. "Is everything alright with her, sir?"
"She woke up last night," the man said, momentarily stunning me. "However, the circumstances are…troubling."
"It would seem she is suffering from a form of amnesia," Nurse Fontaine said, taking her queue to speak. "However, it is strange as it is unlike any form I have heard about. She cannot recall anything about herself or her life, and yet her basic knowledge is intact. The only thing I could think of is that it is a form of dissociative amnesia where someone has difficulty recalling information relating to themselves. But from talking to her, it seems more like she is subconsciously refusing to remember."
"That's… that's terrible…" I mumbled, looking away. In the anime, when Atticus had been freed from Nightshroud's control, he spent a long time in the infirmary coming in and out of a daze, sometimes remembering those around him and sometimes being unable to. Eve's condition could be similar, but that meant she wouldn't get better until the Shadow Riders came to the academy, if they were connected to her at all. Alexis would be pissed. She was intent on getting answers out of Eve. This would put a spanner in her plans. However, it also meant that for now, I wouldn't be getting any answers on whether she actually was another reincarnate or just someone affected by the ripples to the timeline. However, there was something strange here. "Sir, if you don't mind me asking, why are you telling me this? I'm only a student."
"That may be the case, but you are also the one who provided the clearest recount of events that happened that night. We believe that Miss Pechman's condition may have been the result of the trauma she faced in that other world. Could you please recount the events once more for us? And leave out no detail. Anything could be of use in helping this poor girl." Sheppard came over and sat down at his desk.
Every detail? That was going to be difficult. The reason Nightshroud had come after Logan and me in the first place was that they had been able to sense we weren't from this world. I couldn't exactly explain that though. But still, if it was to help then I should try and compromise.
And so, I told them mostly everything. I said that Eve had appeared, possessed by 'some kind' of entity and attacked Logan and me to try and take us into their realm. When we won, the mask and cards she had been using had disappeared and we managed to escape. It wasn't difficult to recount. I had told the same story when I was initially asked during my stint in the infirmary.
The teachers listened all the way through my explanation, their faces growing grimmer and grimmer. When I was finally finished, Sheppard leaned back and ran his hand down his face. "So, it is possible her condition is supernatural in nature…" he groaned. "This does complicate matters."
"Her parents will want to see her," Crowler interjected. "They need to know that, even given the circumstances, she is safe."
"Indeed," Sheppard nodded. He sounded extremely tired. I imagined that if Eve had woken up last night, Sheppard had probably had no rest. The older man shook his head before turning back to me. "Mr Cambell, we would appreciate your discretion in this matter. You must understand that the circumstances are… complicated."
'And scandalous for the academy,' I thought. It had always rubbed me the wrong way how Sheppard had been in the canon. He left everything to his students and while never explicitly mentioned, he seemed overly worried about the school's reputation, and by extension his job. Either way, he had his role to play in events to come.
"I doubt anyone would believe me anyway, sir," I said.
"Thank you," the man replied, letting out a long sigh of relief. "We may call on you again in relation to this matter. But for now, please don't mention anything to your friends."
"I understand."
"Very well. In which case, you may go. Thank you again for coming today on such short notice."
"I'll walk you out," Crowler said quickly, hurriedly moving over to me and leading me by the shoulder to the door. As I left, I heard Ms Fontaine begin to say something to Sheppard.
"We should let Zane know."
"Yes. From what I recall, he, Atticus and Eve were close. Perhaps he can-" That was all I managed to hear before the doors shut behind me and the sound of their talk died out. Now it was just me and Crowler.
The Obelisk head of house lacked his normal grandeur, and his eyes were down. He didn't go back into the room either. "Are you okay, sir?" I couldn't help but ask.
"Yes. I'm fine. Very fine," he replied, his voice a little too high. He seemed to be struggling with whatever he wanted to say. Finally, he took a gulp and straightened his posture. "Mr Cambell, I just wanted to say… I… I'm sorry for what you have had to go through the last few weeks. A student such as yourself… should not have had to deal with such danger and unfair treatment. We as teachers are bound by rules, but we could have stood to be a more understanding of the circumstances."
Was this… was Crowler actually apologising? This early? Oh, this feels really wrong. I don't know what to do! Stay calm!
"Truthfully sir, while I could have done without the strangeness, I am grateful for the experience. I… I managed to grow closer to my friends because of it. And managed to learn some things about myself as well."
Crowler's eyes bulged but he quickly regained his composure. "I see. Well then, I suppose if some good came out of it, I am happy. Now, run along now. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday. I have particularly hard lessons planned this week so you will want your rest."
"Yes sir. Thank you. Have a good day." I gave one more bow before turning and starting the trek back to the blue dorm. I had to get ready after all and from what I was told, it would be rude to keep a lady waiting. But the little bit of conversation at the end stuck with me. Zane knew the mystery girl? I suppose it made sense given her connection to Atticus. But just how well did they know each other?
Logan sat in his room with his fingers entwined. His roommates were out. He couldn't even remember when he'd last spent time with them. But for the conversation he wanted to have, this actually served him just fine. He'd been happy the previous night. Grateful even. The time he had been able to spend with others, it was probably the happiest he had been at the academy. For once, he had felt normal. He forgot he was in an anime world. He forgot he was at a school for duelling. He forgot that all the people he knew were characters in a tv show.
For a few hours, he was just a normal teenager, hanging out with other normal teenagers. He found it hard to believe that after everything he had done, Ren had been willing to let him join. Maybe he had pegged the guy wrong. Maybe he had pegged a lot of things wrong. After he beat Chazz tomorrow, it was the last time he planned to meddle on his own.
He was certain that now that he and Ren were working together, they could find a way to protect everyone in a way they both could agree on. But before that, there was something he had to do.
"Lumina. Are you there?" he called. The spirit appeared immediately, fading into existence in front of him with her arms crossed.
"I am here, My Saviour. Do you have need of me?"
Logan kept his features stony, trying to get a read on the spirit. "I want to talk about what Ren said yesterday. About Bastion's injury. Ren said he got hurt because he was blinded by a light. A golden light."
"I remember," she replied, her tone remaining ever neutral.
"Lumina, please, answer me honestly. Did you do that? Did you hurt Bastion?" It had occurred to him when Ren had brought it up. Ren had suspected it was a hologram of the Lightsworns. Of course, it hadn't been. Logan would never do anything to purposely harm the protagonists. Take their place maybe, but he had learned his lesson from that debacle.
But Lumina was a wild card. She kept talking about this mission he was supposed to complete and yet hadn't divulged what it was. He didn't know if it was the Lightsworns that had originally called him to this world or how Ren was involved in the matter either. He had no answer to so many questions and finally, he was tired of it. He needed to know something, anything. But first, he needed to know if Lumina was acting behind his back.
For her part, the spirit did not seem perturbed by the accusation. She remained graceful and poised, moving her hands down to her hips. "You are My Saviour," she said. "As such, I swear never to lie to you. As such, believe me when I say that no Lightsworn played any part in the injury of the Ra. It is my duty to ensure that you accomplish your task."
"But what is my task? You keep calling me a saviour and yet I don't know what it is I'm supposed to be saving! What if Ren was right? Do I even need to do anything if Jaden is destined to save the world?"
"Destinies can be swayed, My Saviour. There is an event coming. A cataclysm. One that has been foreseen. Jaden and his friends will not be strong enough to stop it." Logan's eyes widened as he focused on every word the spirit spoke. He did not interrupt. "I see it in my dreams every night now. This… vision of the future."
"Can you tell me about it? Any information may help."
She shook her head. "Now is not the time. There is still time and the days are young. I am glad you got to spend time with those people. While your relationships with them are strained, as you spend more time with them, those bonds will grow, and your own powers will grow as well. However, your existence is different from theirs. You have another purpose. And while I cannot control what you do, or how you choose to fulfil your purpose, I will remain at your side, acting as your guide and confidant. You will do great things, My Saviour. I am looking forward to seeing you complete them. As for the part The Other will play, only time will tell. The Lightsworns did not call upon him. It is one of the reasons I would recommend staying close to him. Keep his favour and he could become a worthy ally."
"Can't you tell me more now? It feels like I'm constantly moving around in the dark. If you are here to guide me. Tell me what I need to do."
She smiled. "Live your school life. Grow stronger. Refine your strategies. Deepen your bonds with your allies. Anything you do now will only help bring about a better future. But in the immediate future, I would focus on the challenge set before you."
Chazz practically flew into his room and sat himself down at his desk and laid out the packs he had bought. As much as he hated to admit it, he felt a little worried about his upcoming duel. Logan Evans had quickly become infamous amongst the blues. He had mowed his way through their ranks with those infernal Lightsworns of his. Cards that weren't even on the market yet! He'd checked.
Initially, he had thought about simply finding a way to take care of those cards. Steal them away and throw them in the ocean. But it could never work. Evans was a Slifer. Unlike Ras and Obelisks that meant that he had roommates, witnesses. And who was to even say he would leave his cards lying around. No, he couldn't risk it. This was a fight he couldn't win with trickery.
The Obelisk knew he was at a disadvantage. He didn't even know if Evan's had monsters at his disposal more powerful than his Judgment Dragon. Either way, Chazz needed any advantage he could get. In terms of what benefitted him, even if he didn't know all his cards, Logan's strategy was fairly well known. He relied on his monster's effects to send his own cards to the graveyard to set up his boss monster. Even the most basic of duellists could work out that was the decks biggest strength, and its most devastating weakness. He robbed himself of his own cards. From what Chazz had heard, most of the defeated Obelisks had tried to wait Logan out, stall him until he let his own deck bleed out.
That was their mistake.
Chazz had watched Logan's match against Taiyou, even throughout his own duel with Jaden. Taiyou had the right idea. He'd used the card 'Prohibition' to stop Logan from using his ace monster, effectively taking out his main method of victory. What he hadn't counted on was Logan having another way to victory.
What was needed was to stop him from accumulating cards in his graveyard and to strike him down in one fell swoop. That was what had brought about his sudden shopping spree. The only other advantage he could give himself. Change his cards, make himself unpredictable. Ever since he had received Crowler's message, he had been extensively searching card catalogues for any card that would give him an edge, then went out to buy the respective packs as soon as the shop had opened.
He had to admit, it wasn't pleasant seeing that Sadie girl, or Ren Cambell, who thought that by hiding behind a magazine stand he was somehow invisible. He hadn't wasted any time on him then, not even a glance. Chazz had a battle to prepare for, and he didn't need any distractions.
One by one, he opened the packs, placing the cards he drew into two respective piles. Cards that were useful, and cards that were not. Given the sheer number of packs he had bought, this took a fair amount of time. From there, he opened the drawer of his desk and pulled out a stack of cards he had prepared previously from his own trunk. However, before he could even begin the task of construction, the phone connected to his custom TV began to ring. It was the call he had been dreading.
Steeling himself, he got up from his desk and took a seat on the small couch positioned directly in front of it. He took one more calming breath before accepting the call. The TV burst to life, the screen split down the middle. On either side were two men who bore striking resemblance to Chazz. Both wore professional, tailored suits, and stared out at Chazz with smug smirks.
"Hey there, little bro," the oldest sibling, Slade said. He had a scruffy goatee on his chin and a mullet that Chazz knew he believed made him look handsome, but actually just looked ridiculous.
"It's been a long time," Jagger greeted. He was the middle brother. He was clean-shaven, and his hair cut short, nicely combed over to the side. Both shared the same sharp eyes and angular features.
'Not long enough,' Chazz seethed.
"It has. Is there something you need?" He wanted to get this over with quickly.
"Not this time, little bro. But it's quite clear you need something," Slade said.
"We've heard about your situation," Jagger growled. "What do you think you are doing on that island? Losing to a Slifer. Embarrassed by a shop clerk. Upstaged in front of your entire dorm. You're on the decline Chazz. Have you forgotten about our goal? Slade and I have held up our end. We are at the top of our fields in the worlds of finance and politics respectively."
"The world is changing, Chazz. Thanks to Kaiba Corp, this kid game that was once a flight of fancy is now one of the most popular games on the planet. More and more people play it every day. And those at the top duelling world, they control the latest trends, what people wear, what they buy."
"The political world controls the laws. The financial world controls the price of living. And the duelling world… that will control the people. Take all three, and you control everything. We had a plan little brother, and you are the lynchpin. Do your part, and the Princeton family will have achieved world domination. We sent you to that school so that you could become the best."
"I know," Chazz growled. "I'm doing my best. I'm already one of the top freshmen."
"That's not good enough!" Slade cried. "You should be running that school. You need to be the best!"
"The future of the Princeton family depends on you. We are all waiting on you," Jagger continued.
"Don't let us down," Slade finished.
The TV cut off there, both of the brothers hanging up before Chazz could get in a word. Shaking his head, the Obelisk rose and returned to his desk. "Don't let you down? Don't they realise how hard I've worked to just get here?" Ever since he got into duel prep school, he had put everything into achieving their dream. He'd made sure to ace all his schoolwork, followed the latest trends in duelling, regularly changed his deck to follow the meta and constantly worked to cosy up with those who may bring about future opportunities that could benefit the Princeton family. But would his brothers see that? No.
Even now at the academy, no matter how much work he put in, there were those who managed to beat him with nothing but a few lucky draws and cheap tactics. In Chazz's mind, he knew just how strong he was, but recently his tactics were becoming stagnant. He looked around his room. When he first stepped in, he believed he was in the lap of luxury. An acknowledgement of all the effort and skill he had put into making his family's dream a reality. Now, it just felt like he was in a gilded birdcage, something pretty to reward those with a meagre bit of skill if their recent additions were anything to go by.
Even those in the class had begun to mock him. He heard them whispering their insults behind his back. Even his own friends were beginning to avoid him, giving flimsy excuses when he invited them to hang out. Some days, it all just felt ridiculous. No matter how much effort you put in, one loss, even an unlucky one, and you lost all the respect you had previously commanded. It was all so frustrating!
"I have to win and keep winning! You're nothing without power! Nothing without respect!" He slammed his clenched fist against the wood, his teeth bared, and eyes clenched shut. "I'm nothing without…"
ROWAHHH!
Chazz's eyes went wide as he looked around in shock. He went to the window. Nothing. He looked outside the door. No duels going on out there either. "I was sure…"
ROWAHHH!
It was louder this time, the monstrous and yet spectral roar coming from inside the room. From his desk. But that… that was impossible. Cautiously he approached the desk where his cards were all fanned out. Slowly, he reached out for the bag that held the remaining card packs he'd bought. The ones that weren't on his list. He'd bought them on instinct. He just couldn't explain it. There had been this pull… this need to buy them. He hadn't opened them yet because he hadn't thought he'd need them. But now…
He opened the packs one by one, looking at the cards and feeling no connection. And then, as he took the seventh pack, he felt a shock. He paused before hastily opening the pack and flipped through the cards, coming to a stop on the last one.
As he touched the card, he again heard the roar. It was gentler this time and he could feel a sense of warmth, unlike anything he'd felt before.
"You're beautiful…" he gasped.
"Hair? Check. Clothes? Looking smart. Breath? Ugh. Thank god for gum." I took out a stick of the precious sweet from my back pocket and quickly stuffed it in my mouth and began chewing thoroughly.
I was standing near the academy entrance waiting for Sadie. After leaving the academy, I went back to the dorm to take a quick wash and change into some casual clothes. I was currently wearing a pair of jeans and a white shirt with a black denim jacket over it. I quickly checked the time on my PDA. It was 3:50. I was a little early but that was fine.
I gently tapped my foot against the floor and clicked my tongue. The sky is nice today. Hey, that cloud looks like a Kuriboh. I should really get started on my essay at some point. I wonder how Zane knew Eve. Maybe I should… Maybe I should…
I checked the PDA again. It just changed to 3:51.
Oh, Arceus, what am I doing?
The panic began to set in. It hadn't been so bad when I had stuff to do, but now that I finally had a moment where everything was peaceful, it really occurred to me. I was going on a date with a girl. It had been an extremely long time since that had last happened. Like, previous life, long time. And even then, my experiences were limited.
I'd been confident when talking to Sadie casually, but now that I was about to do something intimate with her, I didn't know what I was going to say! The obvious answer was to just be myself and do what I normally do with her. However, nerves were a bitch, and they get to you at the worst of times.
It was now 3:52. Time was moving way too slowly.
"Ren? What are you doing here?"
I turned to find Dimitri staring at me in utter confusion. He was wearing his uniform, so I assumed he was going to the card shop but at that moment I didn't care.
Oh, Dimitri, you beautiful bastard.
"Dimitri! Me? Oh, I'm just waiting for someone! Yeah, that's it. Hey, what are you up to? Going for cards? Anything, in particular, you're going for? They just got a new shipment in this morning so there's a lot to choose from, hahaha."
"Are you… Are you okay? You seem to be… freaking out a little bit?" He was looking a little scared. Maybe I had come on a bit strong.
"Uh… Sorry about that. I just meant to ask how you've been doing? It's been a while since we talked. Oh, thanks for giving me your card the other day. I couldn't have won without it. I don't have it on me right now, but I can get it back to you soon."
"Don't worry about it. That card was for you. I don't need it anymore." His voice was a little distant but at least he was talking to me again.
"Oh, well thanks. I'll put it to good use. Hey, I tried to message you last night. We were having a party. I was hoping that you might come."
"Yeah… Uh… I got your text. It was nice of you to think of me. I just… I'm working some things out. I didn't want to bring the mood down."
"Hey now, that wouldn't have happened. We all would have loved for you to come. Next time we do something, you should definitely come. It's been ages since we've hung out. Hell, if you're up for it, we can organise a trip to the beach."
The smallest of smiles broke out on his face. "Yeah… I think that would be really good."
"Sweet. Um… hey, y' know that if there's anything you want to talk about, you can send me a message, right?"
"Yeah. I'd appreciate that. Thanks, man."
We both stood there awkwardly before Dimitri pointed to the entrance. "I should…"
"Yeah."
"I'm working on a new deck so…"
"Yeah. Whose strategies are you analysing this time?"
He gave a sly smile. "Well, you'll see. I'll let you know now, it's one of the teachers."
"Oh."
Oh…
"It's actually quite the challenge," he said proudly. "A lot of their cards are really hard to find. I really think that this deck might be a winner."
"I'm… uh… I'm glad." While I managed to say that with a straight face, my mind was running wild. I should say something. I should really say something. I said I would help him after all. "Out of interest, have you considered doing what I said, and developing your own strategy."
He blinked a couple of times, his expression going blank. "I… I have. But I want to just use a few more decks. You know… to really nail out my strategies. I'm still trying to find the style of duelling I want to pursue."
"And I get that, but if you keep doing that, you'll never break free from it," I tried to reason.
He shuffled uncomfortably, looking once again towards the door and avoiding eye contact. "Maybe. Anyway, I've got to go. I'll see you soon, man. Let me know if you do that beach thing." Before I could reply, he was already off at a brisk pace, walking through the main gate without so much as a second glance. Had I pushed too hard? Or was he just not ready to hear that he needed to change yet? Either way, I had to keep trying. I didn't want to see him as upset as he was in the canon.
"He's going through some stuff, huh?"
"Yeah."
"It's good you're trying to help him."
"Thanks."
Wait a minute.
My head snapped round to find Sadie standing at my side. She was wearing a light pink dress that came down to her lower thigh. Over that was a white hooded leather jacket and she wore brown knee-high heeled boots. Tucked over her shoulder was a small leather purse adorned with various pins from popular fiction like Eevee, Bugs Bunny and… and Saw. Huh…
I then noticed the changes to her normal look. Out of uniform, she allowed her hair to fall freely, her bangs falling to frame her chocolate brown eyes. She had the lightest touch of makeup but her skin seemed so much clearer and brighter than normal, really accentuating her beauty. My mind went numb as I looked at her. She was so beautiful. I really couldn't find other words to describe her accurately.
I had clearly been quiet too long because she poked my cheek. "It's rude to stare you know. The blush is cute though."
I was immediately brought back to reality as I turned away to hide my face. "You look… really pretty…" I managed to say. It was weak but it seemed to make her happy as she giggled.
"That's very kind of you to say. You don't look so bad yourself. I hope I didn't keep you waiting."
"Not at all. I just got here a few minutes ago, myself."
She smiled before taking hold of my right hand. Her skin was so soft and warm. "I'm glad. Now, let me show you some of the academies best spots." She quickly began dragging me away from the academy on the path towards the Obelisk Dorm.
Sadie proceeded to take me around the island, showing me her favourite spots. The first place she took me was a cliffside with a single tree growing near the edge that provided a decent amount of shade. Sadie told me that she often came here on her days off to read or rest after a long day's work. The gentle sea breeze and the cry of the seagulls created a calming atmosphere. I could see why she liked to come here. The location did seem familiar though, but I couldn't say why. Perhaps it was shown in the anime, and I just couldn't remember. There was a definite sense of déjà vu though. We stayed there for a little while, listening to the crashing of the waves on the rocks and talking about our lives before the academy.
I told her about my time in school and some of the friends I had made. I also told her about the Junior Tournament I was in and was semi-honest about why I had lost. I told her the same story I had told Alexis. That I didn't feel ready to go to a duel prep school and that I wasn't sure if that was the path, I wanted for myself. She took it better than Alexis did.
"I can see why she would be upset, what with her pride and everything," she had said. "But you were just a kid. It's understandable if you were scared or worried. And besides, for what it's worth, I think it did you a favour. Most of the prep school kids I know are jerks. Although, they also don't stare at their cards with such a loving look."
"You're never going to let me live that down, are you?"
"No."
We both laughed before Sadie told me about her life. She came from a fairly simple household and was the eldest of three siblings. Her dad was a salaryman, and her mum was a housewife. Sadie had decided fairly early on that she wanted to be a teacher after her class teacher resolved a bullying issue she didn't go too much into. But from that moment, she looked up to the profession and devoted herself to achieving her goal. She was labelled a teacher's pet by her peers, but she took it as a badge of pride, the recognition she was doing the right thing. At the same time, she was respected by her friends for being willing to help them with their schoolwork.
However, because of being focused on her schoolwork, she never got into Duel Monsters. She knew her friends played it, but she was never interested. The first time she played the game was when she decided she wanted to go to Duel Academy due to its extensive second-and third-year teaching courses that offered not only placement but also the opportunity, under referral, to go straight into teaching after final year. However, this meant she had to play the game and do well in it.
"It's a simple fact, you win by reducing your opponent's life points to zero," she had said. "Therefore, burn and stall tactics are your best option, especially when players rarely expect them. And with a 4000 life point cap, it's relatively easy to do. Most people prefer the theatrics or hard-hitting monsters. Give me three Ookazis any day. Just one is cheap and takes out a fifth of your opponent's points. If you haven't got any, I'd invest in some burn protection. I can think of a few cards that would go well with your deck."
Eventually, we decided to once again head out and visit a few of the other local spots. Some I was more familiar with than others, such as the forest waterfall and the hot spring centre on the far side of the island. Sadie had taken a particular interest in teasing me about Co-ed baths before shattering my hopes by revealing she'd been joking.
All the while as we walked, we talked, bantered, and laughed. My previous nervousness was forgotten as the evening went on. It turns out I'd been worried for nothing. When you connect with a person, the words come easily. Eventually, as the sun began to set and the sky was bathed in the gentle warmth of orange and pink, Sadie led me down to the small beach on the east side of the island. Since it was a school night, there weren't many people there. A few surfers looking to catch a couple waves before it got dark and one or two people spread out on the sand on picnic blankets reading.
Sadie, however, showed no interest in heading over to the sand and instead directed me over to this wooden service shack where students could buy drinks and food. It must have pissed any Slifer student off to see it because it looked nicer and cleaner than their dorm. On a porch before the window, there were two white wooden tables. Considering the hour, no one was waiting so we easily made our way up to the service window and bought a couple of lemonades.
We sat down at the tables and drank in comfortable silence. After everything we'd done today, it didn't feel awkward in any way and the atmosphere was truly relaxing. I still couldn't really believe I was on a date like this with such a beautiful girl. I felt like if I pinched myself, I'd wake up at any moment. And yet here I was. I must have been smiling a little too much because Sadie gently kicked my leg to get my attention.
"So, what do you think of this place?" she asked curiously as she ran her thumb around the top of her glass.
"It's nice," I said, looking over at the small shack. "It's got this charm to it I guess."
"I know. It's my favourite place on the island," she said proudly.
"Really? Have to say, that's a surprise."
"Oh yeah. Without a doubt. I love it here."
"So, what's so good about it? No offence but it's a bit simple by the academy standards."
"That's exactly the point," Sadie said. "It's the only place on the island that feels separate from the whole duelling aspect. When you looked at the menu, do you know what you didn't see?" I shook my head. "Gimmicks. There is nothing on that menu that has a silly name like Blue-Eyes White Coffee. Nothing here has anything to do with Duel Monsters." She paused to take a sip from her drink. "Everything at this academy seems to link back to a stupid children's card game but this place, it's separate from everything. You can't even see the main building from here." I turned around looked back up the hill. Just as she said, the school wasn't visible. "I know it's silly, but this seems like the only normal place on the island. Oh, but listen to me, I invited you out to have fun today, you don't want to hear this, haha."
"No, not at all," I quickly said. "Actually, I'm really interested in your thoughts. Truth be told, I find this school ridiculous at times too. It can be a little overwhelming at times."
"I know right. And it's not just the academy. The entire world is becoming obsessed with this game. Seto Kaiba is probably one of the richest and most influential men in this country. What does he spend his time doing? Making ground-breaking renovations for a game where virtual monsters fight each other. I know he also donates to a great number of charities and is doing work in the world of medicine, but it seems most of his attention goes towards Duel Monsters. It just doesn't seem right. And because so many people look up to him, they follow his example and try to emulate him. A decade ago, the game was popular, but it only affected a certain number of people. Today, your job may depend on whether you know how to properly chain a green card with a red one. That's certainly the case in the teaching field. You've got to understand what children like. I'd bet that there isn't a kid over five who doesn't already play. Duelling has even become a profession now and there will be kids who want to grow up to compete. They'll want to be taught how to play." She let out a long sigh. "Some days it feels like people forget that you are more than just your knowledge of a game."
I was enraptured by Sadie's rant. Unlike everyone else on this island, she seemed to resent the game. She had said she wasn't interested in the game, but it seemed her feelings were a little more complicated than that. To me, this world was a dream. I could fall back on my abilities in the game to make money after my three years here because my knowledge went beyond what some people knew here. It never occurred to me there were people who resented Duel Monsters because it disrupted their own sense of normalcy. By the time of 5Ds, the game would have become so widespread that everyone around the world would play it and always carry a deck around with them. But right now, it was still growing. And those who didn't like the game or didn't know how to play were becoming the minority.
This world was fated to go through a massive paradigm shift all because the ego of one man dictated that his love of a game must be spread to all those around him. While I suppose there was also the influence of magic, destiny, a glowing crimson energy dragon and fucking aliens, Kaiba was the man at the current head of the field. He could probably be doing more to help those outside the bubble.
"Sorry," Sadie continued, making me refocus my attention on her. "I know I'm dumping on something you enjoy."
"No, I get it. I've had similar thoughts. At times it does seem like the world is unhealthily linked to the game. And there are definitely better things people could be looking into than how to make a hologram produce the rancid smell of an ox."
"Oh yeah. Like how to make holographic ice cream that actually has flavour. All the sweetness, none of the weight gain or guilt."
"Now that is something I'd fund," I said, raising my glass.
Sadie's smile grew as she clinked her own glass against mine and we both took a sip. Our conversation turned to lighter matters away, the focus away from the Duel Monsters and more on mundane topics. For the next half hour, I felt like a normal person. I forgot I was a reincarnated person, that I was in a world where magic was very real and one wrong step would likely change the course of the world's history. It was just me and this girl I liked and that was all that mattered.
Of course, all good things must come to an end. As the light in the sky began to die and the shack employees packed up, Sadie and I were forced to leave. I walked her back up the hill until we reached a crossroads. We'd have to part here since I wasn't allowed on the girls' dorm premises. Nonetheless, I didn't want to part.
"I had fun today. I'm glad we did this," Sadie said, her smile beaming. "Thanks for listening to me."
"Anytime. I had fun too. We should do this again."
"I'd like that. Let's not wait until after another near expulsion though," she laughed.
"I can't promise anything. You know me, I like to get into trouble."
"Not too much, I hope. Hmm… Have a good night, Ren. I'll catch you later."
"Good night, Sadie."
She made to leave, walking a couple of steps before turning around and pecking my cheek. As the softness of her lips grazed me, it felt like a shock ran through my body and I was left awestruck and unable to speak as she pulled away, giggling at what was probably the stupid expression I had on my face. Giving me a wave, she turned once more and made her way back to her dorm. I watched her for a little bit, my hand against the spot she had kissed before making my own way back to the dorm. My face hurt from how much I was grinning, but I didn't care. I was too happy.
It wasn't until I had got back to my room that I remembered about the next day's events. It was probably in my best interest to go and support Logan. Oh, even thinking that made me feel ill. This partnership was going to take some getting used to. Either way, it seemed he was willing to put in the effort so it was only fair I do the same.
"Tomorrow's a new day," I whispered to myself as I got into bed. I went to sleep dreaming about that afternoon and the wonderful girl I had been lucky to meet.
Classes the next day seemed to fly by. Bastion was quick to ask me about my happy demeanour and I told him about the previous evening. Not all the details of course, just about where we went and some of what we talked about. He listened politely as I gushed like a schoolgirl and gave me a kind smile when I finished.
"Well… I'm happy for you. I'm glad you two had fun. Does that mean the two of you are dating now?"
"We didn't really discuss that," I admitted. "At the very least, I'd say we're a little more than friends at the minute."
"I see." He looked away, ending the conversation there. It was a bit odd for him. Despite his intellectual nature, I had found Bastion to be quite the gossip. His uncharacteristic silence now was worrying. Maybe he had something on his mind? Before I could question him about it, the bell for the end of classes rang and Professor Banner started dismissing us. I would have wanted to talk more, but there was something more pressing to focus on. The moment the class ended, both Chazz and Logan got up and made their way to the door. They'd been quiet today, both probably focusing on the duel that was to happen today. I had already decided I was going to watch but it seemed there were a few others who wanted to show their support.
Jaden, Syrus and Chumley came up to us with big grins on their faces. "Are you guys going to watch the match?" the hero user asked.
"I am," I said before turning to Bastion. "You up for joining?"
"Normally I might but my leg is aching a bit so I'm going to go for a walk," he said. "You go on ahead though. Give my best to Logan. He may find himself struggling against Chazz."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, of course. I just ask that you let me know the result."
"Alright. I'll catch you later man."
"See you soon." He gave me a wave as I got up and left with the Slifers.
The walk to the Obelisk Arena was fairly short and as we walked, the Slifer boys and I discussed potentially having another party in the event that Logan won his duel to celebrate. I'd have to make sure to send Dimitri, Bastion, Sadie and Alexis a message in that event. I'd be quite up for a second round of partying.
When we entered the arena, we found that Chazz and Logan were already standing up on the stage, waiting for Crowler to arrive. I already knew Chazz hadn't made an attempt to steal Logan's deck since my fellow reincarnate had sent me a message confirming as such that morning. However, despite the situation he was in Chazz seemed remarkably calm. His eyes had been focused on Logan but the moment he saw Jaden and me, his eyes narrowed, but he didn't acknowledge us beyond that. He seemed entirely focused on Logan.
The four of us stood off to the side where we'd get the best view of the field and patiently waited for Crowler to arrive. The Slifer's called out various forms of greeting and encouragement to the Lightsworn, which he acknowledged with a nod and a small wave. His own posture relaxed seeing us as a small smirk appeared on his face. He was confident in his victory; I could tell from here. He had the utmost faith in his cards and their ability to curb stomp Chazz out of the academy. Truthfully, I did too. And yet for some reason, I had this feeling of unease. Chazz seemed too calm for my liking. I imagined him trying to psyche Logan out. Trying to make feel small so that he would make a mistake. Instead, he just stood staring with cold indifference. It was… disconcerting.
Finally, Crowler arrived. He seemed a bit surprised by the readiness of the duellists of the combatants but shrugged it off. "I see you are both ready. Let's not waste any time then. I have papers I need to mark. This duel serves as the promotion examination for Logan Evans. In the event of his victory, he shall swap dorms with his opponent, Chazz Princeton. Are the rules understood?"
"Yes," the two duellists answered in unison, both activating their duel disks.
"Then begin."
"DUEL!"
Crowler quickly produced a coin and did a coin toss that Chazz won.
"I'll be taking the first move!" the Obelisk cried, drawing his first card.
Turn 1: Chazz – 4000LP – 6 cards in hand – 0 cards on the field
The Obelisk took a careful look at his hand before shaking his head. "I'll start by activating Magical Mallet. I'll return these three cards to my deck, shuffle and draw three more." As he took his new cards, he gave the barest nod of approval.
"I'll set a monster and play one card face down. I end my turn," Chazz said succinctly as his cards appeared on the field in a 'T' formation. "It's your move, Slacker." It wasn't just my worries getting to me. Chazz was far too confident, his demeanour bringing back memories of his manga counterpart. I just hoped this Chazz wasn't playing like him too.
"Be careful, Logan," I whispered.
Logan smiled as Chazz finished his play. His move had been far too cautious, which meant to him meant the Obelisk was worried about what he may do. As he should be. His hand already contained Judgment Dragon and Lumina, two of his staples. He'd told Lumina not to appear in spirit form, not wanting Jaden to see the spirit and tell Ren. Lumina was currently his only advantage. While he did want to work together with his fellow reincarnate, he wasn't stupid enough to tell him that he had a spirit to keep watch over the island and lose the element of surprise. Either way, it seemed his monsters had his back and he wasn't about to let them down.
"My turn," he declared as he drew his card.
Turn 2: Logan – 4000LP – 6 cards in hand – 0 cards on the field
As he added the card to his hand, his fellow slifers cried out their support. It further encouraged him to do well with his move. For once, he actually felt like he was in the position of an anime protagonist. Here he was, taking on a tough enemy with his friends all calling out for his victory. It was with this spark of joy that he made his move.
"Stop me if you've heard this before. I activate the spell, Solar Recharge! I discard a Lightsworn from my hand, draw two and then send the top two cards of my deck to the grave." He discarded Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior before drawing and pitching his next cards. The cards he discarded were Aurkus, Lightsworn Druid and Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter. That made three Lightsworns in the grave. Not quite enough for Judgment Dragon and he didn't have another card that would allow him to get a fourth. Therefore, he'd have to go with a different play.
"I now normal summon Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner (1000/1000)." The beautiful short-haired blonde appeared on the field. As she floated in the air, she looked back and gave Logan a brief nod before focusing on the battle. "I now activate her effect. By discarding a card, I can revive a level four or lower Lightsworn from my grave. So, I'll pitch Jain and revive Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior (1850/1300)!" The white garbed sorceress began to chant, purple magic circles appearing in her hands and on the ground. The circle on the ground grew larger until a new warrior rose from it. He wore the same ornate white and gold accented armour as the rest of his creed, but there was a gap at his midriff, revealing his toned muscles. His hair was blue and spiked and he wielded a large poleaxe with a glowing blade.
"Now Garoth, attack Chazz's monster."
The warrior let out a savage cry as he charged forward, bringing his axe down upon the set monster. The moment the weapon collided, the card flipped, revealing Chazz's monster to be a Masked Dragon (1400/1100). The dragon let out a pained cry as it was sliced in two.
"When it's destroyed by battle, my dragon's effect activates, allowing me to special summon another dragon from my deck. I choose my Samsara Dragon (0/0)." From the ashes of Chazz's Masked Dragon emerged a tiny dragon larva. It was purple in colour and its body was adorned in glowing red orbs with another green orb on its head and in the middle of its chest. Two little wings were on its back, and it had two arms held together almost in prayer.
Despite appearing weak, this monster gave Logan pause. The reason was he didn't recognise it. While he couldn't say he knew every card in the game, he could say with confidence that he had never heard of this one. Ren had told him there were cards from the future diluted in this timeline. Could this be one from beyond 2018? If so, he had to get rid of it. While it appeared weak, it probably had a powerful effect. It was the only reason he could think of that Chazz would even bother with it at this point in the timeline.
"Lumina, destroy that lizard!" he cried. Lumina rose her arm, magical energy already crackling around it. But before she could fire, Chazz interrupted.
"I activate my face down, Negate Attack." As the trap activated, a clear barrier formed in front of Chazz's little monster, protecting it from harm. "I'm sure I don't have to tell you what it does, but I will say that your battle phase is now over, so my 'lizard' is safe."
Logan grimaced as he looked back down at the cards in his hand. There was very little he could do now. Come next turn though, he should have enough monsters to call forth his ace. Just one more turn. "I'll play two cards facedown and end my turn. Since it's the end phase, Lumina's effect activates, meaning I send the top three cards of my deck to the grave. This in turn activates Garoth's effect. Since cards were sent to my grave because of a Lightsworn effect, I send two more cards to the grave and then draw cards for each Lightsworn sent by his effect. Those cards are Wulf, Lightsworn Beast and Gragonith, Lightsworn Dragon. Two Lightsworns means two more cards for me. Oh, and finally, since Wulf, Lightsworn Beast (2100/300) was sent to the grave as a result of a card effect, he's automatically summoned to the field!" The spear-wielding wolfman emerged from the grave, taking his place amongst his fellow Lightsworns, letting out a low growl.
As his turn finally came to an end, Logan grinned at his set-up. Thanks to Lumina and Garoth's effects, he now had more than enough Lightsworns in the grave to call forth his dragon. Not only that, but he had also drawn a second copy of the dragon to allow him to defeat his opponent in one fell stroke.
Chazz drew his next card calmly, unfazed by the impressive set-up before him.
Turn 3: Chazz – 4000LP – 4 cards in hand – 1 monster on the field
"I'll start by activating the spell card, Stamping Destruction. Since I control a dragon monster, I can destroy one of your face downs and deal you 500 points of damage. I'll take out the one on the left." The moment the card activated, Logan's face down shattered, revealing it briefly to be Lightsworn Barrier. The Lightsworn user grimaced as his life points fell. (Logan: 3500LP)
"Now, I'll tribute my Samsara Dragon to call forth a new monster." The atmosphere around Chazz grew warm and tension filled the air as the orbs on Samsara Dragon began to glow. The area around Chazz became fuzzy as particles of light and dark energy flowed towards him and the card he was holding. "When summoning a high-level dragon monster, this guy counts as two tributes, so I'll send him to the grave to call forth this great beast! Come forth, Light and Darkness Dragon (2800/2400)!"
"Light and Darkness what?"
It was too late. The particles of light and dark coalescing around Chazz took on a physical shape, becoming a western dragon with two tails. The dragon was one of spectacular duality. One half of its body was pure white with a large, feathered wing like that of an angel. The other half was obsidian black with a demonic, leathery wing reminiscent of a demon. As it took to the field, it let out a screeching roar that was impossibly both utterly calming and downright terrifying. Out of the corner of his eye, Logan spotted Winged Kuriboh appear at Jaden's shoulder staring out at the dragon with wide eyes. The dragon looked out across the field until its eyes locked on Logan and Lumina and it let out a snarl, baring its fangs.
Chazz wasted no time in throwing his arm out. "Light and Darkness Dragon, attack Lumina!"
His dragon obeyed without hesitation, opening its maw, and charging up a beam of dark-hued light before unleashing the powerful beam. "I activate my face down!" Logan cried, acting quickly. "Glorious Illusion!"
"It's no use," Chazz interrupted. "Once per chain, my dragon negates your card effects at the cost of exactly 500 attack and defence points!" The light half of Chazz's dragon began to glow and Logan's trap turned dark before fading away. (2800-2300 ATK/ 2400-1900 DEF)
The attack went through, reducing Lumina to ashes. However, thanks to Logan's quick thinking, he hadn't taken as much damage as he would have. Nonetheless, he wasn't any happier about it. (Logan: 2200LP)
Chazz gave a huff before taking the final two cards in his hand. "I'll set two cards facedown and end my turn."
Logan let out a groan as steadied his nerves. He wasn't expecting to see Chazz's ace monster from the manga. Not only that, but its effect was also particularly annoying since while he could still summon his Judgment Dragon, he now couldn't use its effect without it being instantly negated. Thankfully, he could still swing over it. And he had few other cards as well that could serve to reduce Chazz's dragon's attack points even more.
Turn 4: Logan – 2200LP – 5 cards in hand – 2 monsters on the field
"That's a cool monster, Chazz, but it's about time I end this. I'll start by activating Foolish Burial. Normally I'd be able to send a monster to the graveyard, but your dragon immediately negates its effect." As he spoke, the dragon began to glow and Logan's spell grew dark, fading away. (2300–1800 ATK/1900-1400 DEF).
"I also activate Lightsworn Sabre, but again, your dragon negates it." The dragon glowed one more time and the spell faded away (1800-1300 ATK/1400-900 DEF). Now feeling it was safe to continue, he took hold of his next card and held it high into the air. "The time for judgment has come! There are now four Lightsworns with different names in my graveyard. This allows me to call forth my strongest creature!" The normal fanfare started as four pillars of light rose into the sky before forming a single light. From it emerged the large, feathered wings and with a single flap, the light dispersed, revealing the imposing beast that was Judgment Dragon (3000/2600).
"But two heads are better than one," Logan continued as his ace came to hover above him. "I call forth my second Judgment Dragon (3000/2600)!"
"The second?" he heard Syrus cry from the side.
This time, rather than the previous summoning animation, the room was filled with golden light before Logan's second dragon emerged from the heavens, coming to land beside its identical counterpart.
Logan took a breath before continuing. "Sorry Chazz, but this is where I rise. Judgment Dragon number one, wipe out Light and Darkness Dragon!"
The holy dragon reared back its head before unleashing a gigantic beam of light. Light and Darkness Dragon tried to match it with a beam of its own, but it was fruitless. It was quickly overtaken and destroyed in a violent explosion that sent out a powerful shockwave, obscuring Chazz's side of the field in smoke. (Chazz: 2300 LP)
"Now go my Judgment Dragon number 2! Wipeout Chazz's life points!" He waited for the inevitable, but his second dragon didn't strike. It remained still as a statue. "Huh, what's wrong with you? Attack!"
"I'm afraid it won't be doing that," Chazz called out from within the smoke. "You see, my dragon has a second effect that activates when it's destroyed. But that's unimportant. What is, is that it gave me the opportunity to chain my facedown card." The smoke covering Chazz's field faded, revealing one of his facedown cards had activated. It was a trap that Logan knew well and filled him with an unending sense of dread.
"Ring of Destruction," he gasped, looking at the card in fear. It suddenly became clear. Chazz had used his dragon as bait, hoping Logan would destroy it so that he could activate his trap. No, it wasn't even that. Light and Darkness Dragon could only negate one effect per chain. He could have chained that trap with either of the spell cards he had activated at the start of the turn. He had waited for this moment, when Logan had been certain of his victory, to show him that all his efforts were fruitless. It was a cruel trick that he had walked right into.
The trap activated and a collar embedded with red explosives appeared around the second Judgment Dragon's neck. The explosives began to flash rapidly, showing they were about to ignite. "But it'll be a tie…" he muttered. "Ring of Destruction will take out both our life points."
"Think again," Chazz smirked. "I chain my other facedown, Ring of Defence. This card reduces all effect damage dealt to me to zero." A large, second ring appeared in front of Chazz, this one adorned with four shields. The ring began to spin rapidly. "You were right that this is the end. But it's for you."
"But I can't-"
BOOM!
Before Logan could finish his thought, the collar adorning his dragon exploded with a force twice as destructive as the blast moments before. He was thrown back, falling to the floor as the explosion overtook him. The explosion was so devastating, it destroyed the remainder of his monsters as well, all of them burning away with the rest of his life points.
(Logan: 0 LP. Chazz wins)
"He lost…"
The arena was silent as the smoke faded, revealing Logan on his back and Chazz standing tall with his arms crossed, his ring having protected him from the blast. I couldn't believe what I had just seen. I had been so certain of Logan's victory that I wasn't prepared for the alternative outcome. I definitely hadn't expected to see Light and Darkness Dragon. But, somehow, Chazz had managed to win, and now my roadmap for the future had burned up in that explosion.
Chazz's position in Obelisk Blue was secure. He had no reason I could see to leave the academy. What would that mean going forward? My breathing became quicker and there was a pit in my stomach. I felt sick and my right hand was twitching uncontrollably. The timeline that I knew was now well and truly broken, and I didn't know how to fix it. If Chazz didn't leave the academy, what would that mean for the school duel? What would that mean for Chazz's own development?
Crowler took the opportunity to walk into the middle of the field and declare Chazz the winner. He had a smug grin on his face, probably extremely happy to see Logan be upstaged. I barely heard what he said as he ran off his normal spiel. I was too busy thinking about all the possible avenues that the future could take from here.
Chazz didn't seem keen on listening to Crowler's spiel either. The moment his duel disk deactivated, he made his way for the stairs on Logan's side. He stopped just before the shocked Lightsworn teen. "I beat you because you are predictable," he said loud enough so that we could all hear. "So, from now on, every time you summon that dragon, I want you to remember me, and that I'm the one who beat you." Without giving Logan so much as a chance to reply, he turned to the side to look directly at Jaden and me. Raising his hand, he pointed at the two of us. He said nothing, but his message was clear.
'You're next.'
And that's that. Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter! A few of you predicted this outcome but I hope it was still to your liking. Who knows what will happen after this paradigm shift.
Honestly, I had tried to get this chapter out yesterday for Valentines Day but life got in the way in the form of a broken car that I had to take to the garage. Figures...
Also, as I said last week, I've been looking for a way to reply to reviews without a massive author's note section and I think I'll be doing that using discord. I was invited to a lovely group last week and I've been experimenting with it since and learned a few things. Either way, I'll be spending most of this week setting that up so hopefully, it'll be ready in time for next week.
On that note - the replies!
To Peter Kim: Rex will probably return at some point. He seems fairly popular and I don't see a reason why he can't make more appearances. Being a teacher would be a good role for him, you're right. Thanks for the tips on other archetypes that can be used. It would be fun to include Dragon Rulers at some point due to their overpowered nature. I have considered an early appearance from Jesse at some point but still finding the best time to do it that would line up with him acquiring the Crystal Beasts.
To Bob: I hope this chapter surprised you. To answer your question, Logan didn't need Ren but he wanted to include him as they agreed to work together.
To Evan: I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter! In terms of Spirit Partners, I know a few that would be good for him but he doesn't need them just now. In time though... I am also planning on doing seasons 1-4 of GX definitely. I've already got an action plan of the main events all the way up until their graduation.
To JustaRandomGuy: I hope you had a fantastic birthday! High five! Thanks for letting me know about my mistake with amnesia. I tried to explain it in this chapter a bit but I don't know how well I did. I actually do have an explanation for her amnesia but it is a spoiler. Part of it is to do with Nightshroud's possession though, much like how Atticus struggled when he was freed in the anime. On to pitch time! 1.) Lunalights would be a good deck to include. I've actually got someone in line later that they would be perfect for so that is a fantastic suggestion. 2.) You are right that I already have an explanation planned for the Sacred Beasts beyond the normal, they are just there. 3.) I also have an explanation for Banner planned, although it could probably be refined more. Thankfully I have time for that. Looking forward to your next review!
To Kismet and Karma: You are right to be suspicious. Can't say much about the keys but the timeline is broken now so we'll see how it goes.
To E: There are definitely going to be more than a few bumps in their path. Can't say too much about the SOL arc but I do have a fairly big plan for it. As for cameos, I know the people I want to bring in, it's just a matter of finding the best way to bring them in. As for Bastion, he will be getting his chance to shine very soon.
To A synchrony fan: I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter. I worked hard on their interactions to make it seem like a natural flow. Rex and Weevil needed to be brought down whilst Ren and Alexis needed to rise. Thankfully that seems to have played off well. I will be expanding on both Logan and Ren's interest in the game. It was only a small detail last chapter but it is something I want to expand upon in time. As for Eve, yeah, the amnesia card is always a risky one to play but it has to happen at least once. Some things are rules. Plus, the mystery around her is significant and I want to explore it thoroughly.
To the Guest who wanted to see Lumina's perspective: It may happen at some point.
To West: Hey there, man! Don't worry about it, I know how annoying the internet can be when it suddenly cuts out, especially when you've taken time to do something and then lose it. Got to say, I really enjoyed your review again! I'm glad you liked the dynamics of not only the duel but also the interactions between the characters. It's great that you liked the symbolism of the moves and also that you noticed it! As you can see, one of your predictions proved correct and I am really looking forward to exploring the avenues it opens, especially for the character development of those involved. I've got more I could say but I can't without spoilers, unfortunately. Either way, I'm looking forward to your next review :)
To Bran: He definitely will, haha. As for Ren's second deck, we will be finding out in time. I'm saving it for a special occasion.
To the guest shamelessly shipping Ren and Alexis: Thank you very much! That's very kind of you to say!
To Digmata: It would be a fun arc to do. I'm sure they'll be running into people they've previously met in time.
To GuestWithIdeas: Sorry that the duel wasn't to your liking but I'm really happy to hear that you enjoyed the dynamics. They are the aspects I work the hardest on. The group will be interacting with people differently in line with what they have learned so far, so expect some things to go differently. As you can see, part of your prediction was right for Chazz. I wanted to reflect Chazz's own limited growth a bit in this chapter. Light and Darkness Dragon will play a significant part in it but we will see how it goes beyond that.
As always, please don't forget to fav, follow and review! It's always a pleasure to hear from you all and I am eternally grateful for everyone's interest in the story. Until the next time :)