Hello all, I'm still alive. This chapter took way too long to write, I will admit. Thank you all for sticking with me through this. College sucks sometimes. Here's the next chapter for youse guys.
Louis John Bonaparte: The following is a non-profit fan-based fanfiction. Yugioh, Yugioh GX, Yugioh 5D's, Yugioh Zexal, and Yugioh Arc-V are all owned by Konami, 4Kids Entertainment, Toei Animation, and Kazuki Takahashi. Please support the official release! And prepare yourselves for my reign to come!
Chapter 33: The First Domino
The purple flames flickered ominously within the decorated room. The tone remained as deadly as it had been. Yugi could feel the pressure weighing down on everyone. He was all too familiar with this sensation. Duels against Pegasus, Bakura, Marik, and especially Dartz had given Yugi plenty of experience in Shadow Duels, especially ones of this caliber. And yet, there was a different feel to these Shadow Duels. It wasn't necessarily a heightened sense of danger, though there was a feel to these Duels against the Chaos Movement that had been lacking from past Shadow Duels. What it was, Yugi couldn't quite place a finger on it, nor could the Pharaoh, when enquired about that nagging feeling. But the Pharaoh had pointed out one thing about these Duels; there was an outside force, pressing down on all of them. What it was, the Pharaoh had no clue, as it wasn't quite a darkness like the Orichalcos, nor a darkness like the Millennium Items when their powers were invoked. It had a touch of the light to it, which made sense to the Pharaoh, as the powerful chaos monsters used both light and darkness. Rumor had it that Pegasus was working on a pair of chaos monsters, at least back in his time, for him and Kaiba. Light and darkness, working together…a crazy concept.
"Not crazy," the Pharaoh thought to himself. "Chaos." That's what it was. Somehow, this pressure, this power that was affecting this Duel, was chaos. It was weighing down on everyone and it was slowly growing stronger. That meant the Master had to be growing stronger too, and that was something that honestly scared Yami.
"Hang in there Akiza!" Yugi shouted, voicing the thoughts of most in the room. Most.
'Time to see if she can turn this Duel around,' Kaiba thought grimly. 'And with her Synchro Summoning sealed, I think she's as good as gone.' A part of him wondered just what the Master would try to do if he got a victory. Probably something insane, although you didn't have to be Nostradamus to predict that.
Akiza gritted her teeth, feeling the pressure of the Duel weighing down on her. She'd been in intense Shadow Duels before. Misty was a formidable foe. But LJ was something new. First there had been Melissa in the maze, a serene individual in tune with nature. Of course, with her dark side unleashed during that Duel, Akiza could only remember about half of that Duel. Still, she remembered enough to notice the contrast between her past opponent and her current one. "You don't have to tell me twice."
Akiza LP: 800
Louis John Bonaparte chuckled as he surveyed the battlefield. "I suggest you surrender now, to spare yourself from the pain that is certain to come if you continue this pointless struggle against my might!"
LJ LP: 3000
Caius the Mega Monarch: Atk 2800, Def 1000, LV 8
Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch: Atk 2400, Def 1000, LV 6
"I'll never surrender," Akiza declared, glaring at him. "Not so long as I still have cards to play."
"What card could you possibly draw that could bring you back into this Duel?" LJ asked, amusement in his tone. "Since I have nothing else to do, I will end my turn there. Brace yourself Black Rose, for your life as my servant will soon begin!" His insolent smirk irritated Akiza for whatever reason.
'There's one card in my Deck that can turn this around,' Akiza thought to herself. 'And I'll need all the help I can to draw it.' Her Mark of the Crimson Dragon pulsed with energy.
Satellite Highway
Yusei paused in his frantic typing as he felt the wave of emotions through his Mark. Things were dire for Akiza, sure, but he trusted her to pull it off. She had to. Yusei could sense the turmoil of the Duel, but he sensed Akiza's determination, and knew she hadn't lost. The Head Signer held up his hand. "Take all the power you need Akiza. We're all behind you."
Satellite Street
Dani peered around the corner, watching for the robot soldiers that had been marching the streets. They seemed to have taken up posts at certain locations, stopping anyone from entering where they chose to guard. And they had chosen to guard any and all entrances to the underground. She watched as they strong-armed a couple of Satellites away from the entrance and winced when they pointed their blasters at the poor guys. They got the unspoken message and scrambled out of the line of fire. "Something tells me we won't be as lucky if we try what they did."
Crow chuckled as he saw the pair run past. "Course not, it'd be stupid to just try and walk past them."
"Perhaps you can try asking nicely," Jack said sarcastically. They'd parked their Runners in the nearby alley and were trying to find a way underground to Akiza and the others. All the entrances near the subway were heavily guarded, with at least a dozen robots barring entry to anyone. The entrance they were currently peering at had only eight guards, for whatever reason, which was why Crow had decided to focus on this gateway to the underground. "I'd like to see how that'd go down."
Crow whirled on the former Turbo King. "What a great idea Jack! Why don't you give it a try?"
"And get my head blown off? No thank you. The world would truly mourn a loss of a man such as myself!" Jack fixated Crow with a glare.
"The only thing the world would be mourning is that these robots didn't get rid of your ugly mug sooner!" Crow retorted.
"Is this really the time?" Dani asked. "It's bad enough I had to put up with Kaiba's ridiculous ego, now I have to put up with yours Jack?"
"Yeah Jack, give the girl a break!" Crow added quickly, glancing at Dani. She rolled her eyes, knowing what he was doing.
Jack knew exactly what Crow was doing as well. "Think you could kiss up to her any more Crow? Then again, that's all you've been good for at times, kissing up to people."
Dani facepalmed as Crow got up in Jack's face. "I'll show you how good I am at kissing up when I make your face kiss up to my fist!" The argument would've escalated had their Marks not pulsed.
"Hope Akiza gets the card she needs," Jack said solemnly, glancing at his arm.
"It's not the Majestic Dragon like earlier, not yet," Crow noted. "But we're here for you Akiza."
Underground Subway Station
"It's my turn!" Akiza shouted as she placed two fingers on her Deck, willing the card she needed to be on top. "I draw!" The Psychic Duelist glanced at the card she drew and smiled.
"Did she get a good card?" Leo asked.
"I think she did," Luna replied hopefully.
Akiza placed her drawn card on her Duel Disk. "I activate my Spell card, Miraculous Fertilizer of Sanctity!"
"Oh?" LJ's voice was curious, as though he was looking forward to what was coming next. "And what does that do?"
"I'm allowed to activate it if the only other card in my hand is a Plant type monster and I have no cards on the field," Akiza began. "Then I discard that Plant type monster to the Graveyard and draw cards equal to the level of that monster." She placed her last card in the Graveyard. "And that monster in my hand was Rose Tentacles, a Level six monster! So that means I can draw six cards from my Deck!"
"That's awesome!" Leo shouted. "She's got an entirely new hand now!"
"It certainly was a good combination," Yugi agreed. "Now to turn this Duel around!"
"Next I Summon Twilight Rose Knight to the field in Attack mode!" Akiza shouted. A short blue haired knight in purple armor appeared, white cape billowing around him as he drew his sword.
Twilight Rose Knight: Atk 1000, Def 1000, LV 4
"And since I successfully Summoned him to the field, I can now Summon a Level four or lower Plant type monster from my hand!" the Psychic Duelist continued. "So come forth Dandylion in Defense mode!" A small orange plant-like lion with flower petals in place of a mane appeared next to the Twilight Rose Knight, crouched on all fours.
Dandylion: Atk 300, Def 300, LV 3
"It matters not my dear Black Rose," LJ said, unconcerned. "You can't Synchro Summon because my Domain of the True Monarchs has sealed off your Extra Deck. You're left playing defense!"
"I don't think so," Akiza countered. "You sealed off my Extra Deck, but you haven't sealed off my Graveyard!"
"What?"
The Foot Signer grinned, though there was little mirth in that grin. "I activate the Spell card Shining Rebirth! Now by sending the required monsters to the Graveyard, I can Synchro Summon a Synchro monster from my Graveyard!"
'Very clever,' Yami though to Yugi. 'Her Black Rose Dragon is already out of her Extra Deck, so she's getting around the Synchro Sealing of Bonaparte's Field Spell.'
"She can turn this Duel around!" Yugi agreed.
"I Tune my Level three Dandylion with my Level four Twilight Rose Knight to the Graveyard!" Akiza announced. Her Rose Knight swung his sword before he turned into four bright stars. Those stars expanded out into bright green rings, into which the Dandylion leaped into and turned into three more stars. Akiza began her Summon chant once again. "Chilling flames engulf the entire world. Pitch-dark flower, set into bloom!" The stars erupted into a bright light that was tinged purple behind Akiza as she held her ace monster card above her head. "Synchro Summon! Be revived, Black Rose Dragon!" Akiza's favorite dragon rose from the purple portal in the ground, roaring triumphantly at her return. The flowery dragon flared her petaled wings as the Black Rose Dragon made her presence known.
Black Rose Dragon: Atk 2400, Def 1800, LV 7
"Like that'll make a difference," LJ scoffed, "I've already destroyed that dragon once, I can do it again just as easily!"
"I wouldn't be so sure," Akiza warned, "I activate Black Rose Dragon's special ability! Since I successfully Synchro Summoned her, she can now destroy all the cards on the field!" Black rose petals began to swirl around her dragon, the Foot Mark of the Dragon flaring with power.
"That's useless!" LJ countered. "You'll only destroy your own dragon, you can't touch my Monarchs thanks to March of the Monarchs!"
"Not this time," Akiza shot back at him as the petals increased in intensity and a maelstrom began to howl. "Thanks to Shining Rebirth, my Black Rose Dragon can't be destroyed by anything this turn! Go Black Rose Dragon! Black Rose Gale!" The black petal storm shot out from her dragon and engulfed the field with black rose petals.
"A futile effort!" LJ shouted as he shielded his face from the barrage. "My Monarchs are safe!"
"I'm not after your Monarchs!" Akiza shouted, glaring through the storm. It was a fearsome sight. "I'm destroying all your Spells and Traps!"
Leo was suddenly struck with the realization of where he'd seen that look before. "Akiza? You haven't let the Black Rose out, have you?"
His twin shot him a look. "Leo! Why would you ask that?"
"Look at her," Leo shouted, "She's got that scary look!"
The Foot Signer looked back at the twins and smiled at them. "It's ok Leo, I'm still me." She could feel the lure of her dark side, lurking in the darkest recesses of her mind. It was too easy to give in to temptation and allow herself to run wild, but she knew better. Nobody had said walking the righteous path was easy, but Akiza was used to living a hard life. "But I'm going to give this wannabe king something he'll never forget!" A purple aura appeared around the two Monarchs as the petal storm swirled about them, protecting them from the Black Rose Dragon's rage. The Magic cards were consumed by the black petals, as were the two Fluff tokens that had popped up briefly on Akiza's side of the field. The dark mist from LJ's field spell faded from sight as the petal storm died down, leaving only the monsters on the field.
"What have you done Black Rose?!" LJ demanded as he lowered his arms from his face. The frustration was evident on his face.
"I've just removed the protection your Monarchs had from my Black Rose Dragon," Akiza answered as she took a card out of her Graveyard. "And now I activate Black Rose Dragon's special ability by removing my Rose Fairy from play!" The translucent image of Rose Fairy rose into the air, hovering in front Akiza's dragon before the Black Rose Dragon devoured Rose Fairy. The vines extending from the flowery dragon turned a bright pink as they extended out towards Caius the Mega Monarch. "Go Rose Restriction!"
"Release my monster at once!" LJ shouted, watching Caius struggle.
"I don't think so," Akiza countered. "Now my dragon reduces the Attack points of Caius to zero!" The Mega Monarch's struggles grew weaker as more energy was absorbed into the Black Rose Dragon. Eventually the shadowy Monarch slumped in the vines, utterly drained.
Caius the Mega Monarch: Atk 0
"Now Black Rose Dragon, attack Caius the Mega Monarch with Black Rose Flare! Burn it to ashes!" Akiza shouted. Her ace monster roared and unleashed a stream of purple fire that completely incinerated the demonic Monarch, blasting LJ off his feet from the backlash of the explosion.
LJ LP: 600
"Nice one Big Sis!" Leo shouted, leaping into the air in celebration.
'She certainly took control of the Duel in one swift move,' Kaiba thought to himself as LJ slowly got back to his feet, looking very annoyed. 'That Black Rose Dragon can wipe the field of cards or take a huge chunk out of the opponent's Life Points. If only it were a bit stronger.'
'Well done,' the Pharaoh mused to himself. He found himself enjoying watching the different styles of Duelists in the future. While Dueling had evolved over the many years, some things remained the same. Yusei Dueled with a solid defense, going on the offensive when the enemy had worn themselves out against his defenses. Jack was a great power Duelist, if a bit reckless at times, very similar to Kaiba in many aspects. Akiza appeared to rely more on burning the opponent through effect damage and then finishing them off with Black Rose Dragon. 'So long as Akiza holds out during LJ's next turn, she'll win this Duel.'
"I'll end my turn with three facedowns," Akiza finished, placing the last three cards of her hand on her Duel Disk.
"Then it's my turn!" LJ growled, drawing a card. He glanced at it and grinned. "I play Card of Sanctity, which allows us both to draw until we're holding six cards in our hands!" The two Duelists drew cards from their decks, though you didn't have to be a professional to sense the sudden tone shift. Dark mist began to swirl again as LJ played a card in his Spell Zone. "I'll activate another March of the Monarchs Spell to protect my Monarchs from your Dragon's abilities again!"
"That can't be good," Luna murmured. "Hang in there Akiza!"
"Then I activate Frost Blast of the Monarchs!" the Bonaparte descendant announced, the translucent image of Mobius the Frost Monarch appearing behind him, the icy blue broadsword drawn. "Since I control a Monarch monster with 2400 Attack points and 1000 Defense points, I can now destroy one of your three Set cards! Mobius, destroy the one on the right! Go Frost Blast!" The image of Mobius slashed down with his sword and released a shock wave of pure icy power that flipped Akiza's Trap up, revealing it to be the Plant Food Chain Trap card before the card shattered.
"Here we go again," Leo groaned, "He's taking away all her Spells and Traps again!"
LJ nodded in satisfaction. "That'll keep your Black Rose Dragon in the Grave this time once I destroy it. Now since you still have two cards in your Spell Zone, I'm allowed to Special Summon this monster directly from my hand! Come forth Escher the Frost Vassal in Defense mode!" A small man in light blue armor appeared, red cape billowing out behind him as the Frost Vassal rose into the air, meditating as ice crystals supported his sitting form.
Escher the Frost Vassal: Atk 800, Def 1000, LV 4
"Next I activate the Magic Card Double Summon, which'll allow me perform two Normal Summons in one turn!" the Monarch Duelist continued. "First I sacrifice Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch!"
Akiza blinked in surprise. "Why him?"
"Because my dear Black Rose Witch," LJ replied coolly as the flames rose up and seemed to melt into the ceiling, which appeared to melt into a galaxy swirling above the group. "The fires of this Monarch shall be purified into it's purest form, light! Witness as the ruler of the stars above comes down to plane of mortals in order to pass her divine judgment! Rejoice, for you are in the presence of divine royalty! I Summon forth Ehther the Heavenly Monarch!" The galaxy coalesced together, taking the form of what appeared to be and elaborate throne, an armored figure sitting on that throne. The colors of the cosmos faded and allowed the golden brilliance of the throne to shine through. It stood taller than Caius the Mega Monarch had, a testament to the Monarch's power. Seated on the throne was the Monarch herself, not nearly as bulky as the other Monarchs, Ehther sat with a regal poise on the throne, white and golden armor covering her upper half and a heavenly white robe covering the lower half. Ehther rose from her throne, divine golden staff in hand, towering over Bonaparte, and beheld the battlefield.
Ehther the Heavenly Monarch: Atk 2800, Def 1000, LV 8
"Hold on, how could you Summon that monster with only one sacrifice?!" Kaiba objected, "It's an eight star monster, so it needs two sacrifices!"
"Under normal circumstances, yes," LJ agreed, "But thanks to the special ability of Ehther, if I sacrifice a monster that had already been Tribute Summoned then I only need one sacrifice to Summon her. Now for her other ability!"
Yugi grimaced. "This can't be good."
"Since I successfully Tribute Summoned this divine Monarch," the Monarch Duelist began, "I can send two Monarch Spells or Traps from my hand or Deck to the Grave which will enable me to Special Summon a monster with 2400 Attack points and 1000 Defense points directly from my Deck! So I send The Monarchs Awaken and The First Monarch from my Deck to the Grave and Special Summon a Monarch that was born from the very darkness itself; Delg the Dark Monarch!" Ehther held her staff out and created a portal, through which stepped a being cloaked in black and silver armor, a dark grey cape swirling behind the new Monarch.
Delg the Dark Monarch: Atk 2400, Def 1000, LV 6
"The only drawback is that Delg will return to hand during the End Phase of my turn, but that is a small price to pay in order to finish you off now! I activate Delg's special ability, which banishes two cards from your Graveyard and then forces you to discard two cards from your Deck to replace the banished ones. So say goodbye to Dandylion and Eco, the Mystical Spirit of the Forest from your Graveyard and send the top two cards from your Deck to the Grave!"
"That's actually a good strategy," Kaiba noted aloud, meeting Leo's curious glance with his own even gaze. "He removed the only other Plant type monsters in her Graveyard, so even if Akiza could take out that March of the Monarchs Spell on her next turn, she wouldn't be able to lower their Attack points." He crossed his arms and leaned against Akiza's car. "Those two facedowns of hers had better be game changers."
"Now for my other Summon this turn!" LJ continued. "But first, I'll need another monster, so I use Mithra the Thunder Vassal's ability to Special Summon her to the field in Defense mode!" A female being in purple armor and a bright yellow combat skirt appeared on the field, holding her hand up and summoning a lightning bolt that struck Akiza's side of the field. The Foot Signer flinched at the loud boom and bright flash of lightning, then blinked as the lightning drew itself into an orb of lightning that hovered on her side of the field.
Mithra the Thunder Vassal: Atk 800, Def 1000, LV 2
"What is this?" Akiza asked, indicating the orb with a nod of her head.
"That, my dear Black Rose, is a Vassal Token," the Monarch Duelist explained. "Because I chose to Special Summon Mithra, you get a Vassal Token Special Summoned to your side of the field in Defense mode."
Vassal Token: Atk 800, Def 1000, LV 1
"But it won't matter, not for what I am about to Summon," LJ said darkly. "For now I sacrifice both of my Vassals in order to Tribute Summon another powerful Monarch!" Both Mithra and Escher vanished, absorbed into the card held above his head. "Behold, as the Monarch of Light takes a step towards the stars and becomes even more powerful, showing why he rules all that is touched by the light! Come forth, Zaborg the Mega Monarch!" Lightning crackled throughout the room, scorching the battlefield as a figure appeared on the field, bulky armor and giant red horns from his shoulders composing his armor. The Mega Monarch straightened up, lightning crackling around his clawed fists.
Zaborg the Mega Monarch: Atk 2800, Def 1000, LV 8
"Now Zaborg's special ability activates since I successfully Tribute Summoned him!" LJ announced. "I get to destroy one Monster on the field! Say goodbye to your Black Rose Dragon! Fusion Bolt Attack!" The Thunder Mega Monarch drew his hands together, creating a blue orb of electricity between them that grew in size, nearly bigger than the Monarch himself before Zaborg threw the attack at Akiza's dragon, incinerating the Signer Dragon until the ashes blew away in the wind.
Akiza winced. "You really don't like my Black Rose Dragon, do you?"
"On the contrary my sweet, I happen to enjoy that Dragon rather much," LJ returned. "The beauty and power it holds, it's why I decided to make you into my servant once I win this Duel. With the power of the Black Rose Witch behind me, my rule would be assured for many years to come!"
"You're assuming you're going to win," Akiza countered, "But I'm not done yet! Since you destroyed my Black Rose Dragon, I can now Special Summon my Revival Rose that's sleeping in my Graveyard in Defense mode!" A small cluster of roses appeared in front of Akiza, purple eyes staring out from within the rosebuds.
Revival Rose: Atk 1300, Def 1300, LV 4
"When did that get in the Graveyard?" LJ asked, "I removed the last two plants you have in your Grave when I activated Delg's ability!"
"You also used that ability to force me to discard two cards from my Deck straight into the Graveyard," Akiza explained, "Which is why Revival Rose was in my Graveyard to begin with."
The Bonaparte descendant grunted. "Too little too late Black Rose. You don't have enough monsters to defend your Life Points from my assault, and you can't affect my Monarchs thanks to my continuous Spell! Prepare yourself to enter into my service! Zaborg the Mega Monarch, attack that Revival Rose with your Bolt Strike Attack!" More blue lightning surged around Zaborg, hiding the Thunder Monarch within the ball of electricity before it flew forward and disintegrated Akiza's monster. She guarded herself from the recoil, bracing herself for the rest of LJ's attack. She had a plan, so long as she could hold on.
"She's just gotta think of something!" Yugi said, very concerned now.
'I think she has,' the Pharaoh thought back, 'Look. She's not backing down.'
"Now Delg the Dark Monarch, destroy that Vassal Token with your Gale of Darkness!" LJ commanded. The Dark Monarch stepped up and swung his cape, releasing a wave of dark energy that blew away the orb of lightning on Akiza's side of the field.
"No!" Leo shouted, "She's out of monsters!"
"Come on Akiza," Luna cheered. "You can do it!"
LJ sighed. "I hope you're prepared to disappoint them, Black Rose, because I now attack you directly with Ehther the Heavenly Monarch! Unleashed your Divine Judgment upon this Signer and let her begin her life of servitude to me!" Ehther stood up, golden staff in hand, and pointed it at Akiza.
"I activate my Trap card!" Akiza shouted. "Rose Blizzard!"
"It's useless!" LJ countered, "You can't affect my Monarchs!"
"I'm not looking to affect your Monarchs," Akiza shot back. Red petals swirled in front of her, intercepting the beam of golden light Ehther shot at the Foot Signer. "Rose Blizzard simply negates your attack! Normally, it would have the effect of switching your monster to Defense mode, but like you said, March of the Monarchs prevents that." The remains of her Trap blew away, mere embers after Ehther's attack, but Akiza was untouched.
The Monarch Duelist scowled, irritated at the setback. "I only hope you show this same persistence when you are serving me. I place two cards facedown and end my turn." Delg the Dark Monarch faded into the shadows, no longer able to hold onto corporeal form.
Akiza glared at him. "I'm nobody's servant, do you hear me? There's too much riding on this for me to leave my friends, especially when they've done so much for me already. You're attempting to shatter the bonds I have with my friends, especially Yusei. Now let me show you just how powerful they really are!" Her Mark of the Crimson Dragon flared brightly, humming with power.
Satellite Highway
"Take it to him Akiza!" Yusei said as he felt her determination. His Mark of the Crimson Dragon flared and disappeared. "Just like I'm about to take it to these robots!" His counter code was nearly ready, he had a few more firewalls to bypass and he'd be in, and once Yusei was in, then the main threat would be gone.
Satellite Street
"You guys ready?" Dani asked, glancing back at Jack and Crow. It had taken some debating, but they'd managed to come up with a plan that wouldn't end up with one of them getting a laser bolt to the head. Hopefully.
"Just about," Crow replied, revving the motor of the Blackbird. "You sure you're up for this?"
Dani gave him a slightly exasperated look. "Sneaking into places is kinda my specialty Crow. All I need is a distraction." She tightened her silver fingerless gloves, a reassuring gesture for her, something to calm the nerves.
Crow glanced down at his arm as it pulsed. "Ya might wanna hold up a second there. I think Akiza's got this." He watched as the Tail Mark of the Crimson Dragon vanished, along with Jack's Wing Mark.
"She's definitely picked a good time to use the Crimson Dragon's power," Jack noted rather dryly.
Underground
Luna watched as her Claw Mark vanished. It was always a curious sensation, feeling her Mark of the Crimson Dragon leaving her. It was a little draining, as it was a part of her leaving her, her power going to whoever needed it. Luna was rapidly getting used to it, as often as it had been called upon these past couple of days. Heck, she even had experienced it on the receiving end earlier today, and that had been a rush unlike anything she'd ever felt before. Luna could only imagine the relief that Akiza was feeling now, since this meant the battle was effectively over. The Majestic variations of their dragons had yet to lose a game, and with the way the Duel currently stood, it wasn't changing anytime soon. "You got this Akiza!"
Akiza could feel the Marks converging on her back, forming the completed Mark of the Crimson Dragon. Yusei was right, it was a surge of energy flowing through her, channeling itself into her Deck. She saw the top card on her Deck begin to glow with the golden light that signaled the arrival of hope and smiled. "You see Bonaparte? While you've separated us, we're still together. Now let me show you exactly what it means! It's my turn!" She drew the golden card with a flourish.
LJ's face paled as he recalled the last time he'd seen someone with the completed Mark of the Crimson Dragon. "But Black Rose Dragon is in the Graveyard!"
"Not for long!" Akiza began, "I activate my Trap, Synchro Spirits! By removing my Black Rose Dragon from play, I can re-Summon the Synchro Materials used for her Synchro Summon from my Graveyard! So while you did remove my Dandylion from the Graveyard, my Twilight Rose Knight can now return to the field!" As before, the small knight in purple armor appeared in front of her, sword held at the ready.
Twilight Rose Knight: Atk 1000, Def 1000, LV 3
"Pointless!" LJ shouted, "You just put your Black Rose Dragon even further out of reach!"
"Keep thinking that," Akiza snapped, "It'll make your defeat that much more satisfying. I activate my other Trap card, Dimension Reversion! Now all monsters that were removed from play return to their proper Decks!"
"That's awesome!" Yugi said as she moved the banished cards back to their respective Decks, her Duel Disk shuffling her Deck, "Black Rose Dragon returns to the Extra Deck, and it's a lot easier getting it out from there than from the Graveyard."
"Perhaps, but can she get enough monsters to summon whatever it is she's going for?" Kaiba pointed out. "Obviously it's a big one. With a full hand, I look forward to seeing what she does."
"I activate another Seed of Deception spell card!" Akiza announced, "Which lets me Special Summon a Level 2 or lower Plant type monster from my hand, a Plant type monster like my Evil Thorn!" A small plant with a black seed pod hanging off the end of it sprouted on the field, looking innocuous enough.
Evil Thorn: Atk 100, Def 300, LV 1
"Then I'll activate Evil Thorn's special ability!" the Foot Signer announced, placing the card in the Graveyard. "I can sacrifice my Evil Thorn in order to dish out 300 points of damage to your Life Points!" The Evil Thorn exploded, showering LJ in a barrage of black thorns and forcing the Monarch Duelist to cover his face reflexively.
LJ LP: 300
When he lowered his arms, he was surprised to see two more Evil Thorns sprouting on the field. "What's this?!"
"Thanks to its special ability, I can bring out two more Evil Thorns from my Deck!" Akiza explained, "But you don't have to worry about me using its special ability again, as I can only do that once per turn. Next I Summon my Botanical Girl in Attack mode!" A woman-shaped plant appeared on the field, a green curvy body underneath a pink flower serving as the Girl's 'hair'.
Botanical Girl: Atk 1300, Def 1100, LV 3
Akiza held her right hand in the air and clenched it into a fist. "Time to Tune my Twilight Rose Knight with my Evil Thorn and my Botanical Girl!" As what happened before, the Knight swung his sword a couple of times before turning into four stars, which expanded out into three green rings. "Chilling flames engulf the entire world. Pitch-dark flower, set into bloom!" Akiza chanted as the other two monsters leaped into the rings, dissolving into four more stars. The Foot Signer glared at her opponent as a brilliant purple light exploded from the rings. "Synchro Summon! Come forth Black Rose Dragon!" The light faded and revealed the Signer Dragon once again, petaled wings flared and ready to strike.
Black Rose Dragon: Atk 2400, Def 1800, LV 7
"I don't suppose this means you're going to try that stunt you did earlier with Black Rose Dragon's special ability," LJ said, a touch of hope in his tone.
Akiza glanced at him, her face a mixture of emotions at his absurd suggestion, mostly surprise and amusement. "Not on your life! You keep tearing my dragon down, but like the rose she represents, my Black Rose Dragon will rise up greater than before! I activate the One for One Spell card and send my Copy Plant to the Graveyard in order to Special Summon a Level one monster from my hand!"
"You wouldn't," LJ gasped.
"I would!" Akiza retorted. "I Special Summon the Majestic Dragon!" The little pink dragon appeared above Akiza's head, floating serenely above the Signer.
Majestic Dragon: Atk 0, Def 0, LV 1
"Not again!" LJ cried, pale face a stark contrast with the golden crown and purple cape.
"Now I Tune my Level seven Black Rose Dragon and my Level one Evil Thorn with my Level one Majestic Dragon!" Akiza shouted, the three monsters floating towards the ceiling. The pink Tuner dragon grew in size, engulfing the Black Rose Dragon and the Evil Thorn within its body. The two monsters dissolved into eight bright stars as Akiza began her chant. "Rose petals herald a change, line the path to a bright new future!" The Majestic Dragon exploded into a brilliant pink light. "Synchro Summon! Enter gracefully! Majestic Rose Dragon!" Red rose petals exploded around the room as the light faded, revealing the evolved form of the Black Rose Dragon. Four rose petal wings spread out from the Majestic Rose Dragon as it glided around the chamber once before alighting behind Akiza, vine-like tail twitching like a cat's. The Majestic Rose Dragon shook her head, the line of petals trailing from her head like horns waving in the air as it exuded an aura of power and light.
Majestic Rose Dragon: Atk 3400, Def 2800, LV 9
LJ was silent as he took in this new dragon. It was weaker than the Majestic Red Dragon, at least in terms of Attack Points, and his Monarchs were protected from special abilities and effects thanks to his Magic Card, but that attack strength was still a major concern. He glanced at his Traps, hoping for something that could help.
"Now your Spell card may protect your Monarchs from my Dragon's special abilities, but you can't defend yourself from my attack!" Akiza shouted, holding her right fist forward. "Majestic Rose Dragon, attack Zaborg the Mega Monarch with your Rose Petal Blizzard!" Red rose petals swirled about the Majestic Rose Dragon as energy gathered within her mouth.
"I activate my Trap card!" LJ cried out as the Majestic Rose Dragon fired her blast, disintegrating the Monarch with ease and swallowing LJ in rose petals.
"It's over," Akiza declared, allowing herself a sigh of relief. A dark chuckle got her attention. Looking up, she saw LJ discard his robe, coated as it was in petals. Somehow he was still standing.
LJ LP: 200
"What?!" Akiza gasped, "How do you still have Life Points left?!"
"He should've taken 600 points of damage!" Luna said, doing the quick math in her head.
Leo was a bit slower with the math. "I was about to get there! So with only 300 Life Points left, he should've lost!"
"That Trap card he activated must have reduced the damage somehow," Kaiba noted. "That was the last thing he activated before the attack connected."
"You are astute as always Kaiba," the Bonaparte descendant noted dryly. The rose petals faded from sight and revealed his face up Trap card.
"Reinforcements?!" Yugi exclaimed. "So he increased his Attack points of Zaborg the Mega Monarch just enough to withstand the Majestic Rose Dragon's attack!"
"Indeed!" LJ confirmed. "It gave my Mega Monarch 500 more Attack points, so I only took 100 points of damage!"
Akiza was flustered. This was a first. The Majestic Dragon failed to defeat an opponent of the Signers. She had no way of keeping her Majestic Rose Dragon on the field. This was bad. Still, she had a couple cards in her hand that could stop further attacks on her Black Rose Dragon, even if his Monarchs couldn't be directly affected by her Traps. There was a chance though. "So, you survived the Majestic Rose Dragon's attack. Impressive. But you're not going to beat me just because you held out against that!"
Chaos Movement HQ
The Master cackled as he watched LJ weather the storm. "Louis John, Louis John, I told you that you just had to use my cards and you'd win. Now then, finish this Signer off and get yourself a new servant!" He waved his hand and felt the chaotic energies that he ruled flow towards their Duel.
Satellite Underground
"I'll activate Majestic Rose Dragon's special ability!" Akiza announced, rose petals beginning to swirl once more. "Now by sacrificing herself, she can destroy all your cards on the field!"
"That's pointless!" LJ shouted, "March of the Monarchs prevents that ability from working!"
"Maybe, but it'll get rid of those facedowns, as well as that March of the Monarchs!" the Foot Signer countered, "And thanks to Majestic Rose Dragon's ability, I can bring back my Black Rose Dragon from the Graveyard!" She looked up at the Majestic Rose Dragon, who roared towards the skies before a pink glow enveloped it. She could only watch as her Majestic Dragon reverted back to her original form, the Black Rose Dragon. The Majestic Dragon coalesced above the Black Rose Dragon and flew through the ceiling, disappearing from sight along with the completed Mark of the Crimson Dragon from Akiza's back. However, the pink aura destroyed all three Spells and Traps on LJ's side of the field and removed the blue aura provided by March of the Monarchs surrounding Ehther the Heavenly Monarch. "I place two cards facedown and end my turn," Akiza finished solemnly.
Black Rose Dragon: Atk 2400, Def 1800, LV 7
"Oh no," Luna gasped as her Claw Mark reappeared with a burning sensation. "How's Akiza going to get through this turn?!" She grasped her arm, trying to fight through the pain.
Leo couldn't fail to notice the agony in her tone. "Are you alright Luna?!"
"I'll be fine Leo," Luna said quietly, "But I'm scared for Akiza!"
"As well you should be," LJ chuckled. "Because it's my turn!" He drew a card from his Deck, a malicious grin on his face.
Satellite Highway
Yusei flinched as the Head Mark of the Crimson Dragon burned its way back onto his wrist. Akiza was in trouble. Somehow the Majestic Dragon had failed to finish off her opponent. He fought down a twinge of panic, swallowing nervously as he felt the shifting tides of the Duel. He toggled the radio, cutting into Crow's feed. "You guys down there yet?"
Subway Entrance
"Not yet," Crow said with a grimace, feeling his burning Tail Mark. "We thought that Akiza had it won. How close are you to shutting these bots down?"
"Not close enough," Yusei gritted through the radio, "And it feels like Akiza needs our help NOW! You've got to get down there!"
"Well getting ourselves killed isn't going to help Akiza," Jack noted grimly.
"Neither is standing around!" Yusei retorted. To say that he was stressed was putting it mildly.
"We'll get down there Yusei, I promise," Crow said quickly. "Though it'd be a lot quicker if you can shut these bots down."
"I'm doing what I can!" Yusei snapped. "For all our sakes!"
Satellite Underground
"First I must discard a card from my hand in order to Special Summon this monster," LJ began, "Berlineth the Firestorm Vassal, come forth!" A short man in red armor and wearing a red and blue patterned cape appeared in a surge of flames, fireballs dancing from hand to clawed armored hand.
Berlineth the Firestorm Vassal: Atk 800, Def 1000, LV 3
"But he is just the sacrifice I need in order to bring forth your induction into your service!" the Bonaparte descendant said as Berlineth dissolved into a blue portal, "Behold as I sacrifice the vassal of flames to bring forth the Monarch that will put your dreams on ice! Watch as the ruler of all things cold makes his presence known to those who can feel the stinging touch of winter! I Tribute Summon Mobius, the Frost Monarch!" With a wave of icy energy, a large blue-armored man stepped through the portal, the temperature in the room lowering by several degrees as his red cape billowed around the Frost Monarch.
Mobius the Frost Monarch: Atk 2400, Def 1000, LV 6
"And with his arrival comes the destruction of your two facedowns!" LJ shouted, "Show them what I mean Mobius with your Freeze Shock ability!" Mobius raised his arms, icy-blue energy gathering crackling around his fists as the Frost Monarch fired twin beams that froze Akiza's facedowns in ice before shattering the Traps.
"Akiza no!" Leo shouted, unable to comprehend what he was seeing.
"Now Ehther the Heavenly Monarch, take out that Black Rose Dragon with your Divine Judgment!" the Monarch Duelist shouted. The Heavenly Monarch rose and fired another powerful beam of light that disintegrated Black Rose Dragon with a roar of agony. Akiza sank to her knees, feeling the pain of her dragon as well as the sudden surge of emotional pain as she realized just what this meant. This wasn't a loss to Yusei to snap her out of her mean streak or some a loss a Duel Academy because the teachers wanted to prove a point. This was a loss with the world on the line, and Akiza was feeling a cacophony of emotions with that realization.
Akiza LP: 400
'We need to get in there,' the Pharaoh said quickly, getting Yugi's attention. 'We can stop this! Are you ready?'
"Always," Yugi replied, closing his eyes. The Eye of Wdjat appeared on his forehead and the Millennium Puzzle began to glow. With a flash of light, he transformed into Yami Yugi.
"Now Mobius, attack her Life Points directly!" LJ declared, "Subzero Slammer Attack!"
"Hold on!" the Pharaoh shouted, stepping forward as the Frost Monarch gathered energy within his hands.
"You're too late Yugi!" the Bonaparte descendant yelled, "It's over! The Black Rose Witch is mine!" Mobius the Frost Monarch thrust his hands forward, firing the blast that engulfed Akiza in an explosion of icy energy.
"No! Akiza!" Luna cried, burying her face in Leo's shoulder.
Akiza LP: 0
"Now then Black Rose," LJ began, grabbing a golden scepter off his throne and pointing it at the Foot Signer, who was on her knees and surrounded by a pile of snow from Mobius' attack. The two Monarchs faded from sight, their task complete while LJ's scepter began to glow a purple color. "Do you swear your allegiance to me and acknowledge me as the future king of all of Europe?"
"As if!" Akiza replied. At least, that's what she replied in her head. Out loud, to the shock of everyone, she said "Yes, my Lord."
"Akiza?" Leo began hesitantly. "You're joking right?"
"What was that?!" Akiza gasped, though the words seemed to ring around. To her horror, she found herself walking towards the Monarch Duelist, unable to control her body. "What's going on?!" Her vision was beginning to fade, as evidenced by the black edges around her eyes. "Why can't I move?!"
An evil cackle got her attention. She glanced to her left, the darkness closing in, and saw her dark side materialize next to her. "Looks like you're getting put in time out, which means I'm going to come out and play."
"I'm not going to let you do that!" Akiza told her dark half, looking to lunge towards her, but her mental self just couldn't seem to move.
"Like you have a choice in the matter," Dark Akiza laughed as she made to stride forwards, intent on taking control of Akiza's body, yet she was blown back towards Akiza by some mysterious lavender and beige wind. The light that had been her point of view faded and it was just the two of them in the darkness.
Now the Foot Signer was confused. "But if we're both stuck in my head, who's in control?"
Dark Akiza growled. "I don't know, but whoever it is, they have seriously pissed me off. I really don't want you as a roommate, you're too much of a goody two-shoes." She crossed her arms, unintentionally (or intentionally, if you wanted to look at it that way) pushing her breasts together as she pouted. "And I don't want to have to move the pool table."
"When did you?!" Akiza began, before catching herself. "I almost fell for that."
Her dark side appeared to walk over to something, a pair of lights illuminating the equivalent of a seedy barroom, the likes of which you'd see in any B-list action movie. Set in the center of the room sat a pool table, which Dark Akiza picked up one of the cues leaning against it, chalking up the tip. She glanced at Akiza curiously. "Fell for what?" The Foot Signer could only stare. Her mind was an interesting place, apparently.
Outside of Akiza's consciousness, everyone could only watch as Akiza knelt down in front of LJ, accepting the touch of his scepter. The Monarch Duelist laughed. "It is as it should be! Not even the Signers can stand up to the one true King! Now my dear Black Rose, shall we adjourn for a bit to get you better dressed for your new role?"
"Of course my Lord," Akiza said, though her voice was very meek. It was obvious that it wasn't their Akiza at the controls.
"You're not going anywhere!" Yami declared, dashing forward and placing a hand on Akiza's shoulder. The Eye of Wdjat appeared on his forehead, pulsing ominously with energy. "You won't get her without a fight!"
"Well well, you're going to challenge me?" LJ asked, the arrogant smugness in his tone reminding the Pharaoh of Kaiba, ironically enough.
"Very perceptive of you," Yami told him, sarcasm undercutting the compliment. "Yes, I'm challenging you for Akiza's freedom from whatever dark power you have her under!"
LJ laughed. "I literally just won her and you want me to put her on the line?"
"Perhaps," Yami began, "But you can't call yourself the one true king while the King of Games stands in your way, now can you?" The mirth in his eyes served only to infuriate LJ.
He kept his anger contained, though his face couldn't hide the irritation. "You know Yugi, I know you're playing me, but you're right." He held up his royal Duel Disk. "I'll take your title as King of Games from you and you shall take your place in my vanguard!"
"Only if you win," the Pharaoh said, dead serious as he held up his own Duel Disk. "And I don't intend to lose!"
Satellite Highway
Yusei sat limp on his Duel Runner. She had lost. Akiza had lost. It felt as though a cavity had been opened up in his chest. He couldn't sense Akiza's presence anymore. His Mark burned. There was a high pitched roar and he glanced over to see the Crimson Dragon rising up into the air, letting out a mournful cry to the heavens as it spread its wings. With that, it was gone.
"Akiza," Yusei whispered, understanding the symbolism behind the Crimson Dragon's cry. "Why couldn't I save you?" His vision blurred as he shook with raw emotion. He was hurt. He felt a tentative mental touch from Luna, feeling a gentle nudge of hope from her. Yusei envied her, able to keep on hoping in this dark hour. He heard the Crimson Dragon roar once more and Yusei blinked, suddenly seeing the world through Luna's eyes. The Head Signer beheld Yami Yugi standing before the Monarch Duelist, Akiza standing behind him with a blank look in her eyes.
"What's going on?" he gasped, watching the two draw their five cards. "Yugi's going to…I get it now." He closed his eyes and found himself back in his body. "l have to have faith in Yugi." He wiped his eyes and focused on the counter code he was creating. There was work to be done.
Subway Entrance
Crow could feel the Mark on his arm burning and tried to focus. As bad as it was for Akiza, there was still the rest of the gang down there. Luna had sent him an image, probably unconsciously given that she always seemed to use her Signer powers when her emotions were running high, and given the recent reaction of the Crimson Dragon, he couldn't blame her. "I am so not ready for this."
"What the hell is going on?!" Dani demanded, her face revealing how weirded out she currently was. "Your eyes were glowing red for a bit, then the Crimson Dragon goes and roars at the sky, I don't even know anymore!"
Crow chuckled weakly. "Well, Akiza lost, Yugi's fighting to get her back, and Yusei's on the verge of a total breakdown. That just about sum things up?"
"Don't forget the part where those robots have noticed we're here and are coming over," Jack pointed out, revving the engines of his Duel Runner.
Crow nodded. "Oh yeah, there's that too."
Dani was quiet for a whole three seconds, allowing it to sink in. "WHAT?!"
"Just get on Crow's Runner before you're shot," Jack said as he rode off, crashing through a pair of trash cans as if to prove his point.
"How the hell does that guy such a huge fan club?" Dani asked as she quickly settled in behind Crow on the Blackbird. None too soon, as Crow accelerated down the alley the first laser blasts began to zip past them. One of them pinged off one of the wingtips of the Blackbird.
"Beats me," Crow quipped, "But these guys sure don't shoot like stormtroopers! We gotta scram!"
Satellite Underground
"Let's Duel!" both Yami and LJ shouted. One could practically taste the tension in the air.
"Is Big Sis Aki going to be alright?" Leo asked, holding his sister tightly.
"I sure hope so," Luna replied, returning the hug.
Yugi LP: 4000 LJ LP: 4000
"I'll start things off," LJ declared as he drew a card. "And I shall begin once more by Summoning Edea the Heavenly Squire from my hand in Attack mode!" The effeminate figure in silver armor with gold highlights appeared once more, ready for battle.
Edea the Heavenly Squire: Atk 800, Def 1000, LV 1
"And thanks to her special ability, when I Summon Edea to the field I'm allowed to Special Summon a monster with 800 Attack points and 1000 Defense points directly from my Deck, the only stipulation being that I can't use my Extra Deck this turn. Since I don't have an Extra Deck, that doesn't matter, so say hello to Eidos the Underworld Squire in Defense mode!" From out of the shadows stepped a man in demonic-looking dark armor, crouching down in front of LJ protectively.
Eidos the Underworld Squire: Atk 800, Def 1000, LV 2
"I'm not done," the Monarch Duelist continued. "Because Eidos' special ability allows me an extra Normal Summon this turn, with the cost of not using my non-existent Extra Deck. First things first, I'll Special Summon Mithra the Thunder Vassal directly from my hand!" A female being in purple armor and a bright yellow combat skirt appeared on the field, holding her hand up and summoning a lightning bolt that struck the Pharaoh's side of the field. He remained impassive at the loud boom and bright flash of lightning, watching with a cold fury as the lightning drew itself into an orb of lightning that hovered on his side of the field.
Mithra the Thunder Vassal: Atk 800, Def 1000, LV 2
Yami raised an eyebrow. "You do realize you've given me a monster of my own with that ability, yes?"
Vassal Token: Atk 800, Def 1000, LV 1
"All part of the plan," the Bonaparte descendant shot back. "I still have a Normal Summon this turn! I sacrifice Eidos the Underworld Squire in order to bring out the Monarch of the Storms! From the softest of summer breezes to the howling tempest of a mighty hurricane, Raiza is there to rule over all who feel the power of air! Come forth Raiza the Storm Monarch!" A man in bulky, albeit streamlined for better aerodynamics, green armor appeared in a rush of wind, stirring the flames surrounding everyone. He drew his saber and swept it in one fluid motion, creating a miniature tornado that swept up the Vassal Token floating in front of Yami and destroyed it.
"Raiza's special ability sends one monster on the field back to the top of the Deck, but since it was a Token, it was merely destroyed," LJ explained, a smug grin on his face. "So there goes Mithra's gift to you Yugi. I place one card facedown and end my turn!" He met Yami's fierce gaze. "Let's see what you've got, King of Games!"
The Pharaoh merely glared at the Monarch Duelist. "I'm going to make sure you never take over another innocent like you did with Akiza."
LJ laughed. "She's hardly an innocent Yugi. Shall I list her crimes in alphabetical or numerical order? At least now her chaotic powers can be harnessed and put to a productive use rather than being allowed to run free, where she could harm thousands of innocents if she so chose."
"What kind of sick and twisted logic is that?!" Yami exclaimed, "She's done nothing to you, nor to anyone since Yusei saved her from the Arcadia Movement!"
"As a king, I am forced to make difficult decisions for the good of the public," the Bonaparte descendant explained. "What is one life weighed against the many? As it is, I am merely taking a wild card out of the game and making it into an asset. Kaiba would agree with me, as ruling a kingdom is no different from running a corporation."
The Kaibacorp executive shrugged. "There are plenty of semantics wrong with that statement, but I won't deny the logic behind it. I do at least make sure I get their consent before I have people work for me though."
LJ snorted. "Cute, Kaiba. My point still stands."
"You say that it's one for the good of the many," Yami began, "But how long before it becomes one for the good of yourself? You act as though you're making a tough decision, but in reality you're using it as an excuse to enslave people to do your bidding. You aren't worthy to be king!"
"I'm more worthy than any of you peasants!" LJ snapped.
"We'll see about that. It's my move!" Yami shouted, drawing a card. He grinned. "I just drew my favorite card. I activate the Magic card Change of Heart! Now I can take control of one of your monsters until the end phase of this turn! So come forth Raiza to my side!" The Storm Monarch heard his call and darted forward, taking position in front of the Pharaoh.
"Traitor!" LJ yelled after his monster.
The Pharaoh chuckled. "Don't worry, you'll be reunited with him soon enough, but only from the card Graveyard, because I sacrifice Raiza the Storm Monarch in order to Summon the Dark Magician Girl!" Raiza exploded in a burst of dark energy, which coalesced into a portal through which floated the famous female magician, holding her staff in front of her in her usual adorable fashion.
Dark Magician Girl: Atk 2000, Def 1600, LV 6
"Then I'll play this Magic card, Sage's Stone!" Yami added, "Thanks to Dark Magician Girl being out on my field, Sage's Stone allows me to Special Summon my dear friend directly from my Deck, the Dark Magician!" The Sage's Stone appeared next to Dark Magician Girl, who closed her eyes and began chanting some ancient spell, the Stone glowing with power before turning into a purple portal. The Dark Magician stepped through, holding his staff upright and clanging it against the Dark Magician Girl's staff in appreciation.
"It appears we're up against quite the opponent," he noted grimly.
"We got this!" the Dark Magician Girl said cheerfully, "Look at the strength of his monsters!"
"They are but the vassals to a much greater threat," the Dark Magician replied. "Be on your guard."
"Right."
Dark Magician: Atk 2500, Def 2100, LV 7
"Alright, Yugi got his ace on the field in the first turn!" Leo cheered, "He's totally got this!"
"Now my Dark Magician! Attack that Heavenly Squire!" the Pharaoh shouted, "Dark Magic Attack!" His favorite monster leaped into the air, twirling his staff a couple of times before firing a beam of black jagged energy at the Squire, destroying it with an explosion of dark power. LJ was blasted off his feet by the backlash, crashing into his throne and knocking the crown off his head, revealing his bright red hair.
LJ LP: 2300
"Dark Magician Girl, take out his last monster with your Dark Burning Attack!" Yami continued. Dark Magician retreated while his apprentice stepped up, send a ball of pink fire at Mithra the Thunder Vassal and destroying it with less of a shock wave than the Dark Magician's attack given that the Vassal was in Defense mode, but the Pharaoh was sending a message.
"I'll place two cards facedown and end my turn," Yami finished. "Had enough?"
"Never," LJ growled as he picked himself off his throne. There was a slightly maniacal grin on his face. "If that was your best shot, then you're going to wish you'd never challenged me! It's my turn!" He drew his card, glanced at it, and laughed. It was the laugh of one who was about to taste absolute victory. "And this draw just sealed your fate!"
Please don't be mad at me? I love Akiza's character, mind you, it's just when I planned this story out over 3 years ago, this loss was planned, even with the failure of the Majestic Dragon. There are ramifications for this that'll go beyond the events of Chaos Unleashed, including a story arc to fix Akiza's shattered psyche. Until then, we'll see how well the Pharaoh does in getting her back next time. Hope you all enjoyed the chapter!
Question for the Chapter:
We all have a card that just speaks to your soul. Nothing wrong with that. Which card do you feel reflects you best? Or which card do you resonate the best with? Obviously I feel I resonate with the Blue-Eyes cards, in particular the Guardian Knight with Eyes of Blue, because while I don't have blue eyes myself (brown eyes doesn't quite have the same ring to it), I do find myself protecting others from various…hazards, to put it gently. I'm not gonna say anymore out of respect for my friend. So, which card(s) do you feel represent you personally?
Response to Guest Reviews (in order with which they reviewed)
Arthogawa: The Master is not Vector, nor is he Don Thousand. You could say he's even worse than that, as he is but an envoy for the chaotic forces that were attacking Astral World at the end of Zexal II. In fact, that's pretty much where Yugioh: Chaos Incarnate is going to pick up. Oh yeah, I've made one pretty nasty villain, lol. But yes, Mika acted outside of his orders, but he's not too upset about it as his plans are more or less on course.
As for Aki, well, we'll see what happens next chapter, won't we? You're rather perceptive on how I've been working throughout this story. Nice choice of Summon Chants, by the way. Hope to hear from you soon!
Guest 2: Sadly, she didn't. Kaiba will get cards, soon enough. Bear with me. Leo and Dani are not going to be fodder for the Master either. This isn't like Aporia giving Yusei a heads up. This is going to be much more climactic than that.
Guest: I'm building up to this Duel slowly but surely, and I guarantee that it'll be one helluva climax! The epic team that'll top the Bonds Beyond Time teamup, if I do say so myself.
Thoughts? Questions? Concerns? Reviews are always welcome, as is any and all respectful criticism. As an author, I'm always looking to improve and I like hearing your thoughts about the chapter.
Also, I will be alternating polls, for those of your who want to have an input on which supporting characters will be accompanying Yuma and Jaden. The Zexal poll is up currently, and I will alternate each month with which poll goes up. So check in on June first if you wanna vote in the GX poll. As for the current poll results, here's the current Zexal results:
1: Kite, Rio, and Tori are in first with 4 votes apiece
2: Shark a close second with 3
3: Anna has 2 votes
And Bronk, Kathy, and Flip each have one vote
If you have any other characters that should be on the list, comment and I'll add it to the poll.
GX Current Poll Results:
1: Alexis with 9 votes
2: Jesse with 8 votes
3: Chazz with 7 votes
4: Blair (?!) with 6 votes
5: Aster and Cyrus with 5 votes
6: Zane with 4 votes
7: Hassleberry and Atticus with 2 votes
8: and Bastion, Chumly, Jim, and Axel with nothing. No love for those guys, not that I'm surprised
Same with Zexal, if you feel I'm missing any character from the poll, let me know. I'm a little surprised at some of the results, but hey, that's polls for you.
Follow me on twitter, at nuttybuddy792 for more nutty shenanigans and interactions.
Until the next chapter my friends!
From your Nutty Buddy,
The Eagle Nut