Many interested onlookers had gathered when they realized that a tag team duel was about to start, Marcus and Andreas exchanged uneasy looks unsure of how it would play out but they had no intention of losing either.
"All right, before we get started we need to know something." Marcus said folding his arms. "How is the order going to play out?"
"Well since you asked nicely." Amanda said folding her arms. "I will start followed by you, then Karen and finally Andreas, no one can attack until we've each had a turn."
"That sounds fair." Andreas said pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "One other thing, do you both have the seal in your decks?"
"No, only one copy of the Seal can be played at a time, however since we're a team we both benefit from it." Karen said before smirking evilly. "As for who has it, wait and see."
"Wonderful." Andreas muttered sarcastically before looking at his hand, Amanda drew her card and smirked.
"If it's any consolation boys, you won't have to wait that long." Amanda said playing the card she drew. "I activate the Seal of the Orichalcos!"
"Oh boy, this will be fun!" Marcus said sarcastically as the two boys braced themselves, the seal encased the four duellists sending onlookers unlucky enough to get too close flying back, soon the seal's symbol appeared on the two girls heads and they looked directly at them.
"You're right, it'll be fun." Amanda said as her evil grin grew. "Fun for us that is!"
"You know, now that I think about it, your racks really aren't that great." Marcus said causing the other duellists to fall over anime style.
"Is this really the time to insult them Marcus?" Andreas asked once he recovered.
"Well there are more colourful insults I could use." Marcus said and Andreas groaned.
"Forget I asked." Andreas said as the two women got up.
"You'll pay for that you sexist pig!" Amanda snapped at him before looking at the rest of her hand. "As for the rest of my move I set two cards facedown and summon Shining Abyss in attack mode." Amanda said playing the card and a strange circular being appeared on the field, it was blue in colour and had golden wings (4/1600/1800) and the seal appeared on its head increasing its attack to 2100.
"A fairy, Theresa's going to be thrilled when she learns that an Orichalcos duellist used fairies against us." Marcus said and Andreas nodded in agreement.
"It's your move," Amanda announced as Marcus drew his card.
"Great, I don't have anything that can destroy that Shining Abyss card." Marcus thought before picking up four cards. "I set three cards facedown and a monster in defence, your move!" Marcus said as the four cards appeared on the field, Karen drew her card and smirked.
"Your defence won't help you Marcus, I activate the spell card Stop Defence forcing your monster into attack mode." Marcus's eyes widened as Golem Dragon (3/200/2000) appeared on the field.
"Ah damn it." Marcus grunted.
"Don't worry, I have you covered!" Andreas reassured him looking at his hand.
"Well, if you say so." Marcus shrugged.
"They're learning to learn together pretty quickly." Amanda said into a headset concealed by her hair.
"Doesn't matter, we've been teaming together longer and we'll dismantle their defences." Karen answered back.
"You know we can here you right?" Jeff pointed out and the two girls panicked. "And one of the main rules of tag team duels is no sharing strategies."
"What are you going to do? Disqualify us?" Karen taunted before picking up 4 cards. "I set four cards facedown and end my turn." Karen said and Andreas drew his card.
"He won't need to because we'll defeat you." Andreas said looking at his card. "I set four cards facedown and summon Vorse Raider in attack mode!" Andreas played the card and the hideous halberd wielding beast warrior appeared on the field (4/1900/1200).
"Are you nuts! That thing's weaker than Shining Abyss!" Marcus quickly pointed and out and Andreas turned to him before pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
"Trust me; I know what I'm doing." Andreas grinned before turning his attention back to Amanda. "Feel free to make your move!" Amanda said nothing and drew her card.
"Shining Abyss, attack Golem Dragon!" Amanda commanded and Marcus grinned.
"Nice try but I activate my trap card Negate Attack!" Marcus grinned but Karen grinned as well.
"Then I'll chain that with Seven Tools of the Bandit, by paying a thousand lifepoints I can negate your trap!" Karen grinned as her lifepoints dropped to 3000. "Small price to pay compared to what your going to lose."
"This is where MY traps come in!" Andreas interrupted activated his trap. "I activate Shift, changing Amanda's target to my Vorse Raider!" Andreas said and Karen's jaw dropped. "What's the matter? Was that your only Seven tools of the Bandit?" Andreas asked as Shining Abyss changed its target to Vorse Raider and put its hands together.
"It doesn't matter, they'll lose lifepoints anyway." Karen grunted once her surprise wore off and Andreas grinned.
"Not with my other trap card, Horn of the Phantom Beast!" Andreas played the card and Vorse Raider grabbed the horn and blew into it increasing its attack to 2600, Vorse Raider evaded the blast and sliced Shining Abyss in two.
A&K: 3600 and 3000
A&M: 4000 each
"Nice save man!" Marcus said with a grin before giving Andreas the thumbs up in gratitude, this was a gesture that Andreas was all too happy to return.
"Just remember to return the favour if need be!" Andreas said before turning to the girls who where fuming at this point. "I believe you said something about crumbling our defences?"
"How could they be working so well together? They've never even been in a tag duel before?" Amanda said into her headset.
"You want to know why? We've watched each other's duels so many times since enrolling at Duel Academy that we practically know each other's decks backwards!" Marcus interrupted.
"Relax Amanda; I have some traps that will change their tune." Karen said folding her arms. "You haven't summoned yet so I suggest you do so quickly!"
"I'm on it." Amanda nodded picking up a card. "I set this is defence mode and end my turn." Amanda said and Marcus drew his card and grinned.
"That defence of yours is about to be rendered useless! First I activate Dragon's Rage; this trap will allow me to inflict damage with my dragons even if they attack a defence monster." Marcus grinned as the trap flipped up.
"So? Golem Dragon's too weak to do anything!" Karen pointed out.
"I know which is why I sacrifice Golem Dragon to summon a new addition to my deck, KAISER GLIDER!" Golem Dragon disappeared and in its place stood a mighty dragon with gold scales (6/2400/2200).
"Good card Marcus, but allow me to make it even stronger!" Andreas said activating one of his facedown cards. "With the magic of Rush Recklessly I can increase the attack of Marcus' dragon to 3100."
"They are learning quickly." Jeff thought as he watched the duel. "But I don't trust that girl's remaining facedown cards."
"Hey handsome, mind if I sit with you?" Jeff looked up and saw Miranda.
"Sure." Jeff shrugged and Miranda sat next to him.
"Tag team duel huh? It's been ages since I've seen one." Miranda commented crossing one leg over the other. "Who's duelling?"
"The boys are two Duel Acedemy students, Marcus Reynolds and Andreas Freshier, the girls are Amanda and Karen, and they belong to the same organisation as the comatose duellists." Jeff explained.
"Great that means that no matter who wins someone's leaving on a stretcher." Miranda grunted. "So how do you know them?"
"I'm one of their teachers, duel academy wasn't comfortable with having teens roam New York unsupervised." Jeff explained with a smile. "All though I didn't expect to spend an hour in the hospital because of one of the duellists' first duel."
"I didn't expect the first duel to end with both duellists in the hospital." Miranda shrugged. "I can't place my finger on it but I think I've seen the Raven Haired girl before."
"Karen? I've never seen her before." Jeff responded.
"And now we reach the fun part! Kaiser Glider, attack her defence!" Kaiser Glider took flight and divebombed towards Amanda's facedown card and Amanda quickly activated one of her traps.
"I activate my Trap Card Hallowed Life Barrier!" Amanda announced as a barrier blocked the attack. "All I have to do is discard one card from my hand and any damage I receive is reduced to zero." Kaiser Glider broke through the barrier and breathed fire at the monster revealing it to be Shining Angel (4/1400/900), the monster was incinerated but Amanda's lifepoints where safe, she searched her deck before picking a card. "As for my replacement monster I chose a second Shining Angel in defence mode!" Amanda summoned the monster and a second Shining Angel appeared on the field.
"That's my cue! I activate Torrential Tribute to clear the field of all the monsters!" Karen announced causing Amanda to do a double take just before a tidal wave cleared the field.
"Sorry about that man!" Marcus apologized to Andreas.
"Don't worry about it." Andreas said as the three duellists sent their monsters to their graveyards. "Besides she now needs to worry about her partner in crime!"
"What the hell was that? I had a strategy in the works!" Amanda snapped at Karen not even bothering to use the headset.
"So do I, and my strategy requires that they have no monsters on the field." Karen said plainly. "You're monster was just collateral."
"Did you say collateral? You left me wide open for an attack!" Amanda snapped.
"Just watch and learn!" Karen said before turning to Marcus. "Are you done?"
"That depends, are you done arguing?" Marcus asked and Karen growled. "Anyway yeah I end my turn." Karen drew her card and activated her remaining traps.
"I activate my traps, Embodiment of Appophis! Well more specifically they are trap monsters!" Karen said as the humanoid traps appeared on the field (4/1600/1800) and their attacks rose to 2100 thanks to the seal. "Go my monsters, finish Andreas off!" The snake like beings charged at Andreas ready to strike.
"Time I paid you back man! I activate Call of the Haunted to bring back Kaiser Glider and I'll have him intercept the attacks!" The dragon reappeared on the field and flew in front of Andreas, Kaiser breathed fire at the Snake closest to Andreas incinerating it and the second snake stopped in its tracks.
A&K: 3600 and 2700
A&M: 4000 each
"Well, so much for your strategy!" Amanda snapped at her tag partner.
"How was I supposed to know he had Call of the Haunted? Or for that matter that they would figure out that they can use monsters to save their partners?" Karen snapped back at her.
"It looks like we're even." Andreas said with a smile. "Thanks for the save, I'd hate to imagine what would've happened if those attacks went through."
"Hey, when I said I treat my friends I meant it." Marcus grinned.
"How sweet, I think I may throw up!" Amanda spat to the side in response.
"What would you know? It's clear to us that you've never had friends." Andreas said folding his arms and Marcus nodded in agreement, the two girls scoffed.
"Friends? Please, they're nothing but a distraction, same goes for family." Karen said though what caught the boy's attention was the apparent sadness in her voice as she said the last part.
"Did you catch that last part?" Andreas whispered to Marcus who nodded.
"Yeah, I caught it loud and clear." Marcus said turning his attention to Karen. "I think it's your move."
"Gee, you just noticed?" Karen snapped at him before looking at the rest of her hand. "I'll end my turn."
"And that's my cue." Andreas said drawing his card. "Hmmm, I wonder if I could use Marcus's dragon for an attack since we're a team, worth a shot." Andreas thought. "Mind if I borrow your dragon for a minute?"
"She's all yours!" Marcus nodded and Andreas grinned.
"Good, because it's time we got rid of that eyesore Karen calls a monster!" Andreas grinned before looking at his new card. "But first I activate the Continuous Spell Card Poison Fangs!" Andreas played the card and grinned. "Now every time I inflict battle damage to either of you with one of my beasts you'll lose an extra 500 lifepoints."
"Is that supposed to scare me? You don't have any beasts out!" Karen pointed out.
"In case you haven't noticed I haven't summoned yet, allow me to rectify that!" Andreas grinned playing a card. "I summon Ape Fighter in attack mode!" Andreas played the card and the ape appeared on the field (4/1900/1200).
"Damn it, he has enough fire power to finish me off unless I do something quickly." Karen thought looking at her trap cards. "And I have no intention of loosing, not until I confront that bitch of a big sister!" Karen thought.
"Normally I'd be opposed to laying a finger on a pretty woman...so I'll let my duel monsters do that for me." Andreas said grinning broadly. "Kaiser Glider attack Embodiment, Ape Fighter attack I command you to attack her lifepoints!" The two monsters charged forward, Karen went to activate her last trap but Amanda beat her too it by activating her remaing trap.
"I activate Waboku to protect Karen's lifepoints!" Amanda announced as the three priestesses blocked the attack.
"Guess I'll save my trap for later." Karen thought as Kaiser Glider returned to Marcus' side of the field.
"I guess I'll end my turn." Andreas announced as Amanda drew her card.
"Since I'm feeling generous I'll activate the spell card called Card of Sanctity to refresh our hands." Amanda announced and the four duellists drew until they had six cards, when she saw what she had drawn however she grinned manically. "Oh boys, I have the monster in my hand that will finish you off."
"Oh, you've drawn the only worthwhile card in your entire deck, are we supposed to be impressed?" Karen mocked her and Amanda glared at her.
"Okay, who pissed in your coffee this morning? Being hostile towards us is one thing but being hostile to your own partner?" Marcus said and Andreas groaned.
"Marcus, this is hardly the time to play Dr. Phill." Andreas said pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance. "All though I will agree that your behaviour has been odd."
"That's for me to know and you to never find out!" Karen snapped at the two boys before turning to Amanda. "Just play the damn card already."
"Fine, I will." Amanda grunted before playing a spell card. "I activate the Ritual Spell Card Shinato's Ark!" Amanda said as a massive wooden ship appeared behind her.
"A ritual spell, this should be fun." Marcus said sarcastically.
"In order to activate this ritual spell card I have to sacrifice monsters whose level equals 8, so I chose Hysteric Angel from my hand...and my partner's Embodiment of Appophis!"
"Wait, what?" Karen demanded but it was too late as the snake like being was absorbed into the massive ark.
"Consider that payback for leaving my field wide open!" Amanda said as the Ark opened up revealing a massive blue fairy with two sets of green wings and raven black hair (8/3300/3000). "Gentlemen, say hello to Shinato, King of a Higher Plain!"
"3300..." Andreas managed to mutter out at the site of the monster. "That's almost as powerful as Chloe's Silent Magician."
"And that's not even taking into account the bonus from the Orichalcos." Marcus added as the Orichalcos symbol appeared on the king's head increasing its attack to 3800. "Nothing in my deck can beat that thing."
"I have something that can, a fusion monster." Andreas said turning his attention to Marcus. "I have Polmerization and one of the required monsters in my hand, if I can draw the other we'll be safe."
"Yeah, but that's provided that thing doesn't wipe out our lifepoints first." Marcus said with a gulp.
"You should be worried, Shinato attack Ape Fighter NOW!" Amanda commanded and Shinato placed its hands together forming a ball of light, he launched at Ape Fighter disintegrating the monster burning Andreas in the process.
A&K: 3600 and 2700
A&M: 2100 and 4000
"Ack, this is not good!" Andreas grunted in pain.
"Make your last pathetic moves boys!" Amanda said with a grin as Marcus drew his card.
"Huh, I drew this card; if I can draw the other we might have a chance." Marcus thought before activating his remaining card. "I activate Jar of Greed; this lets me draw one more card from my deck." Marcus drew his card and looked at it. "Okay I set one card facedown and a monster in defence, over to you Karen!"
"You fool; not even defending will help you!" Karen said drawing her card. "I'll take control of my partner's monster for this round."
"Do I have a choice?" Amanda said clearly annoyed, Karen ignored her and Shinato floated over to Karen's side of the field.
"Hmmm, whilst I can end the duel by attacking Andreas, the Orichalcos only needs one soul after all, where would the fun in that be? Shinato attack Marcus's defence." Shinato placed his hands together before firing an energy ball at the defence monster, Luster Dragon Number 2 (4/1900/1600), the dragon was disintegrated and the attack carried through to Marcus who screamed in pain as the attack hit.
"Marcus, are you..." Andreas asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Marcus said gritting his teeth in pain before looking at his lifepoints counter.
A&K: 3600 and 2700
AM: 2100 each
"What the hell...why on Earth did I just suffer damage from that monster's attack, that shouldn't be possible my...my monster was in defence for crying out loud!" Marcus stammered in surprise.
"Shinato's the King of a Higher Plain for a reason! If he destroys a monster in defence mode that monster's attack comes out of your lifepoints." Karen explained with a maniacal grin. "Face it boys, it's hopeless! No matter what position your monsters are in our monster will do damage to you!"
"For once I agree with my partner!" Amanda grinned. "Just give up boys, the Orichalcos will go easy on you!"
"As a friend of mine would say..." Andreas said clenching his fists. "Not as long as we have lifepoints left!"
"Damn straight!" Marcus said with a grin.
"Though if I don't draw the card I need we may as well give up!" Andreas thought looking at his deck. "Heart of the cards, guide us to victory!" Andreas pleaded mentally as he closed his eyes and drew his card, the other duellists looked at him with baited breath, slowly he opened his eyes and looked at the card...and a massive grin spread across his face. "Your right ladies, it is hopeless...FOR YOU!" Andreas said playing the card. "I activate Polmerization to fuse Des Kangaroo and Big Koala in my hand to summon MY strongest monster...BEHOLD THE MASTER OF OZ!"
"It doesn't matter; nothing can match Shinato's power!" Amanda said confidently as the two monsters fused together and out of the Vortex came a gigantic green and yellow koala wearing a purple jacket and boxing gloved (9/4200/3700).
"You where saying?" Andreas grinned. "Too think, I added this to my deck to contend with Chloe's Silent Magician." Andreas thought the irony far from lost on him.
"K...Karen...please for the love of God, tell me you have something that can deal with that thing!" Amanda stammered her past arrogance long gone and replaced with fear.
"I do, just wait and see!" Karen grinned.
"Master of Oz, it's time to overthrow the king, attack Shinato!" The massive beast charged forward and Karen grinned.
"You're done for Andreas, I activate Magic Cylinder!" Karen activated her card and Andreas's eyes widened.
"Well, it was nice knowing you Marcus!" Andreas said dejectedly.
"You're not out of it yet! I activate Solemn Judgement to negate the activation of and destroy Magic Cylinder at the cost of half of my remaining lifepoints!" Marcus announced as his lifepoints dropped to 1050 the Cylinder's shattered and Master of Oz uppercutted Shinato shattering it. "And don't forget about Andreas's Poison Fangs!"
"Oh fu..." Amanda was cut off mid sentence by a sudden feeling of pain.
A&K: 2700 and 2600
A&M: 2100 and 1050
"Marcus, next time you see a hot dog stand I'll buy 12 hot dogs for both of us!" Andreas grinned.
"Now you're speaking me language!" Marcus grinned before turning his attention to the two girls. "We know the damage is real in an Orichalcos duel and I don't know about you but a direct attack from that thing? That'll easily earn you a few broken ribs."
"Marcus is right you must surrender whilst you can, you may be evil but we don't want to hurt you!" Andreas agreed.
"That's coming from the ones that are behind on lifepoints! What a joke!" Amanda said defiantly. "I won't surrender."
"Me neither." Karen agreed and Andreas sighed before closing his eyes.
"So be it, I end my turn but come Marcus's turn you're finished." Andreas said sadly as Amanda drew her card.
"Who said gentlemen are extinct?" Miranda mused and several onlookers agreed with her, Amanda gulped before setting a monster down and motioning for Marcus to make his move, Marcus drew his card and looked at it.
"I activate Big Bang Shot and equip it to Master of Oz; it increases his attack by 400 and lets him deal damage even if the monster is in defence mode." Marcus said plainly and Amanda's eyes went wide.
"Karen, please tell me you have something that can save me!" She pleaded and Karen scowled.
"Even if I did why would I waste it on you?" Karen snapped at her causing a collective gasp from everyone else. "All you've done throughout this duel is hold me back and since the Orichalcos only needs one soul and the duel will end if one side loses a partner...well I guess you won't be holding back anyone anymore." Karen said coldly. "Do what you want with her, she's nothing to me."
"You cold hearted bitch..." Marcus gritted his teeth in disgust. "What do you think Andreas?"
"Amanda has more lifepoints than Karen, better to deal with her encase Karen's lying." Andreas said equally as disgusted as Marcus. "You can control Master of Oz for this turn Marcus."
"Yeah, I got it." Marcus grunted as Master of Oz marched over to his side of the field. "Master of Oz, attack her defence monster." Master of Oz charged at the facedown monster, revealed to be Sangan (3/1000/600), who was quickly destroyed alongside Amanda's lifepoints.
A&K: 0000 and 2700
A&M: 2100 and 1050
Karen started to walk away from the duel as the Orichalcos closed in around Amanda, Andreas and Marcus looked away even as the blood curdiling scream echoed from Amanda's lips as the Orichalcos took her soul. "Where are you going? You have a prize to give to us remember?" Marcus called after Karen who turned around.
"Hmmm...oh yeah, the locater cards and rarest card, you'll be able to find enough Locater Cards to cover the both of you on her person." Karen said plainly...but her eyes narrowed when she saw Miranda. "YOU BITCH!" She yelled at Miranda whose eyes widened.
"Karen? What are you doing with a card such as that?" Miranda demanded as Marcus retrieved Amanda's locater cards and Shinato alongside his Ritual Card.
"Doing what I can to survive." Karen said with a snarl. "When mom and dad threw me out I had no choice but to join up with the organisation!"
"I would've supported you sis, you know that!" Miranda said honestly and Karen spat to the side.
"Yeah, right we both know you where too loyal to daddy to even speak to me again!" Karen snapped before storming off. "I'll see you at the Semi-Finals." She said holding up three locater cards.
"Wow, and I thought I had issues with my brother." Andreas said as he witnessed the confrontation. "Miranda, are you going to be okay?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine kid." Miranda sighed as a tear rolled down her cheek. "My parents threw her out because she was a drug addict, I had no idea she'd go this far."
"You would have supported her, even after that?" Jeff asked shocked.
"I don't care if she is an addict, she's still my sister!" Miranda said sadly. "I'm off, if you see Karen again tell her that her big sister still loves her." Miranda said walking off.
"Damn it, never thought I'd be enraged at the ending of my first Battle City match." Marcus said as he handed over a Locater card to Andreas. "Did you see how many locater cards she had? We need to do some serious catching up!"
"We still have a while to go before the tournament semi finals start, don't worry." Andreas reassured him before realization dawned on him. "Marcus, call 911 now!"
"Huh...oh I get it; if they catch her they can interrogate Karen about her boss!" Marcus grinned before getting his cellphone out.
"I'm way ahead of ya." Alex said walking up. "I called the cops during the argument and they are on the lookout for her."
"Good." Andreas said shaking his head. "How could someone be so cold hearted towards someone she works with?"
"I'm no shrink but that argument with her sister just screamed abandonment issues to me, that and the dialogue during the duel it's self." Jeff said folding his arms. "So, what do you want to do now?"
"We're not to busted up from the duel, and we'd go through her deck for her rarest cards but neither of our decks support fairies, Theresa might get some use out of Shinato though." Andreas said running a hand through his hair as he held Shinato's Ark and Shinato, King of a Higher Plain in his hand. "That card, combined with the Orichalcos, was just nightmare inducing as far as power levels go."
"Yeah, speaking of Theresa I'll call her and Brandon to let them know what happened." Marcus said getting his cellphone out.
*elsewhere*
Mike had managed to find his first Battle City duel not long after Theresa's duel with The Hunter, his opponent was an English duellist by the name of Owen McIntyre who's deck specialized in the Iron Chain archtype, Owen had short black hair, blue eyes behind a pair of sunglasses and was wearing what could only be described as a typical biker outfit, on the field he had the Continuous Spell Card Poison Chain alongside Iron Chain Repairman (4/1600/1200) and the Syncro Monster Iron Chain Dragon (6/2500/1300), due to the effect of Poison Chain Mike's deck was down to 3 cards and he had A Legendary Ocean on the field alongside Amphibian Beast (6/2400/2200) who's attack was boosted to 2600 by the effect of Legendary Ocean, three facedown cards and two cards in his hand, the lifepoint score was this:
O: 200
M: 300
"All right mate, it's been a good duel but it's time I ended this!" Owen said drawing his card. "I summon a second Iron Chain Snake in attack mode!" Owen played the card and the steel snake appeared on the field (3/800/1200). "I'm sure you remember his effect from when I used it on Abyss Soldier earlier."
"Yeah, I know!" Mike said as the Snake coiled it's self tightly around Amphibian Beast lowering its attack to 1800. "Which is why I came prepared if you summoned another one!"
"You...you...came prepared...what?" Owen yelled in surprise as Mike activated one of his traps.
"I activate my trap card Collected Power! Since Iron Chain Snake is now treated as an equip card I can force it to be equipped to Iron Chain Repairman!" Owens's eyes widened behind his glasses as the snake uncoiled it's self from Amphibian Beast, restoring it's attack in the process, and coiled it's self around Repairman reducing its attack to 800.
"Fine, I could just end my turn and force you to deck out with Poison Chain's effect!" Owen said with a grin.
"Yeah, that's not going to happen either." Mike said flipping one of his facedown cards. "I activate Mystical Space Typhoon and destroy Poison Chain!" A tornado ripped through Poison Chain's Hologram shattering it.
"All right fine, I won't end my turn, instead I'll use Iron Chain Dragon's effect again removing one Iron Chain monster from my graveyard and increasing his attack to 2700!" Owen said removing his first Iron Chain Snake from the graveyard and his dragon's attack rose to 2700. "Right then, finish Mike off my beasts!" Owen commanded as the Dragon charged at him.
"Nice try but I activate my last trap card and the card that'll defeat you, Poseidon Wave!" Mike said as a wall of water blocked the attack of Iron Chain Dragon. "Not only does it block your attack BUT if I have a fish, sea serpent or Aqua Type monster on my field you lose 800 lifepoints."
"Wh...what..." Owen stammered as two massive hands emerged from the wave punching him in the face.
O: 0000
M: 300
"I don't bloody believe it." Owen chuckled. "Me, a guy who came in second place in England's National Championships last year, was beaten by a kid."
"I'm 15 years old!" Mike asserted as the holograms disappeared.
"Regardless I'll never here the end of it from the National Champ." Owen said handing over his Locater Card and Iron Chain Dragon. "Here, ya earned them kid."
"Keep your dragon, my deck wouldn't support it that well." Mike said and Owen smiled.
"That's a fair point." Owen admitted. "Oi Mikey, win this tournament for me okay?" Owen requested.
"I'd like too but my brother and his friends are competing." Mike said sheepishly as Owen walked off.
"After all these Orichalcos duels I'm glad to see a duel where both competitors walk away with nothing but the loser's pride damaged." Brandon admitted, he, Sophie and the Obelisk Blue headmaster where watching the duel from a bench.
"Indeed." The Obelisk Blue Headmaster nodded in agreement. "At least Owen was a good sport about it." He added as Mike walked over clearly pleased with himself. "Well done Michael. It's surprising that you failed to enter Duel Academy before based on that performance."
"Yeah well, I taught Lance everything he knows so at least that's something!" Mike lied and Sophie shook her head.
"Now we have to find duels for me and Brandon and we'll be all set!" Sophie grinned even as Brandon's cell phone went off.
"Hello?" Brandon asked as he answered it. "Marcus, hey what's up? You and Andreas where in a Orichalcos Tag Team Duel?" Brandon asked as his and the other's facial expressions darkened. "No serious injuries? Good, one of the losers's escaped since the Orichalnos only needed one soul? And you just let her go!" Brandon said surprised. "Forgive my French but she sounds like a real bitch, keep in contact okay?" Brandon asked before hanging up. "Well the good news is that the police have someone who's confirmed to be a member of that organisation that revived the Orichalcos to capture, bad news, she could be anywhere in the city."
"Yes, and this is a big city." Martin agreed folding his arms. "At least Marcus and Andreas won't be needing hospital stays."
"True." Brandon nodded running a hand through his hair. "Marcus gave me a description of the woman who escaped; she's in her late teens with long black hair, blue eyes, wears revealing outfits, attractive, and carries a scythe duel disk." Brandon added. "Oh and she's Miranda Trayson's drug addicted younger sister."
"I didn't even know she had one." Martin admitted and Brandon shook his head.
"Her parents disowned her, that's probably why." Brandon answered. "Anyway I need to find me a duel next otherwise the others will leave me in the dust."
"Hey, what about me, I haven't duelled yet?" Sophie pouted; Brandon smiled and patted her on the head.
"Don't worry, we'll find you a duel as well." Brandon said smiling sweetly unaware of someone watching the four of them from a nearby rooftop.
"Sir, I've spotted my target." The cloaked figure spoke with a male Cajun accent. "You want me to take care of the young duellists after I take care of him?"
"Deal with them however you wish, and be sure to report any sightings of Karen to the boss, he wants a word with her for abandoning Amanda." Michael responded.
"Shame, I'll miss having three ways with them." The figure grinned before hanging up and walking off, whilst that was going on Brandon, Sophie, Mike and Martin where making their way down the street in search of a duel.
"Unless I find an opponent soon I may die of boredom." Brandon said impatiently as he looked at his duel disk.
"Excuse me; did you say that you're looking for an opponent?" Brandon stopped in his tracks and looked down a nearby alleyway where the voice was coming from, the cloaked figure from the rooftop emerged from it having ditched the cloak, he was tall and tanned with short dark brown hair with a matching goatee, brown eyes and was wearing a black jacket under a red t-shirt, black pants and brown boots.
"Yeah, are you looking for a duel?" Brandon asked and the Cajun man chuckled.
"That I am, you can call me Felix Truman." Felix grinned before revealing a black scythe like duel disk. "I already know who you are Brandon!" Brandon's eyes narrowed.
"What do you want Felix?" Brandon asked.
"Oh not much, fame, glory, to feed your soul to the Orichalcos, you know the usual." Felix shrugged. "So, do you accept or not?"
"I accept your challenge Felix." Brandon said activating his duel disk. "Just tell me one thing, why would you associate yourself with an organisation like the one that's revived the Orichalcos?"
"That's for me to know and you to never find out." Felix grinned activating his own duel disk. "But I'll make you a deal, if you beat me in this duel and I'll reveal as much information as I can before the Orichalcos takes my soul."
"That's a pretty big risk to take." Martin pointed out and Felix grinned evilly.
"I wouldn't be taking it if I wasn't unbeatable at this game." Felix chuckled and Brandon's eyes narrowed.
"No one's unbeatable at Duel Monsters Felix." Brandon said as the two duelists drew their opening hands. "And I'll prove it in this duel!"
"Then you won't mind if I go first?" Felix asked and Brandon shrugged, Felix drew his first card and smiled. "Very interesting, I'll set one card facedown and a monster in defence mode, your move."
"Strange, I was expecting you open with the Seal." Brandon pointed out as he drew his card and Felix shrugged.
"What can I say? We can't always be lucky enough to get that card on our first draw." Felix said as Brandon looked at his hand.
"Yeah but me on the other hand, I was lucky enough to get my signature cards on my first draw." Brandon smirked looking at his hand. "I summon Don Zaloog in attack mode!" Brandon played the card and the leader of the Dark Scorpions appeared on the field (4/1400/1500).
"You use The Dark Scorpions? I wasn't aware that anyone used those pathetic cards anymore." Felix mocked him and Brandon growled.
"Mock them all you want but as a team the Dark Scorpions are unbeatable!" Brandon said picking up another card. "I activate the Spell Card Mustering of the Dark Scorpions! This allows me to summon Don Zaloog's partners in crime to the field."
"Or it would if not for my trap card; I activate Snake Deity's Command!" Felix said activating the trap. "I hope you're not afraid of snakes Brandon because me deck's full of them, and with this trap card I'm required to show you one Venom type monster in my hand and in exchange I can negate the effect of Mustering of the Dark Scorpions!" Felix said showing Brandon Venomningagga, The Deity of Poisonous Snakes (10/0/0).
"Did you say Venom type monsters?" Brandon asked raising an eyebrow.
"They are an archtype of Reptile type monsters, very tricky to use." Felix said sending Snake Deity's Command to the graveyard. "That is unless you have the skills to use them, as I do."
"Regardless I still have Don Zaloog on the field." Brandon said pointing to Felix's facedown monster. "Don Zaloog, attack his defence monster!" Brandon commanded and Don charged forward and stuck his dagger into the facedown monster...only to be sent flying back.
F: 8000
B: 7400
"Oh, I'm sorry; it appears that you attack Venom Cobra!" Felix mocked him as a silver and red cobra appeared on the field (4/100/2000). "You'll need more firepower than Don Zaloog to get past him."
"I end my turn by setting three cards facedown." Brandon said reluctantly and Felix drew his card.
"This was just the card that I was looking for!" Felix grinned before playing the card. "I activate the spell card Terrorforming! This lets me search for one Field Spell card in my deck!"
"You mean the Seal of the Orichalcos?" Brandon asked and Felix chuckled.
"No, I won't play that card, not just yet anyway." Felix chuckled as he selected the card. "I activate the Field Spell Card Venom Swamp!" Felix played the card and the scenery changed to that of a swamp. "As for its effect, wait and see but first I activate the Spell Card Snake Rain!" Felix said picking up a card. "All I have to do is discard one card from my hand and I can send four Reptile type monsters from my deck to my graveyard but first I think that you'll be interested to know what card I'm discarding." Felix said turning the card around.
"You're discarding the Seal of the Orichalcos?" Brandon asked surprised as he sent the card to the graveyard alongside four monster cards. "Why on Earth would you discard that card, it makes no sense?"
"I have my reasons." Felix said with a smirk. "Now then I sacrifice Venom Cobra to summon Venom Boa in attack mode!" Nothing happened for a few minutes before a blue snake leaped out of the bushes and swallowed Venom Cobra whole.
"I think I'm going to be sick." Mike said turning green at the sight, the snake that swallowed Venom Cobra stood in its place glaring at Don Zaloog (5/1600/1200).
"Is a level five monster with 1600 attack points supposed to scare me?" Brandon asked folding his arms.
"No, he's supposed to defeat you." Felix smirked. "Now I activate his effect, it lets me target Don Zaloog and place two Venom Counters on him..."
"Not going to happen, I activate my trap card Dark Illusion!" Brandon said flipping the card up. "This negates Venom Boa's effect and destroys it!" Felix's eyes widened as a dark light consumed the snake destroying it.
"Fine." Felix grunted folding his arms. "I end my turn and the effect of Venom Swamp kicks in." Brandon blinked before boils started to appear on Don Zaloog's arms lowering his attack to 900. "At the end of our end phases your Don will get a Venom Counter which lowers his attack by 500, when his attack reaches zero he will be destroyed." Brandon's eyes narrowed at that news.
"Great, unless I draw Mystical Space Typhoon soon Don Zaloog will be destroyed in another three turns." Brandon thought as he drew his card. "On the other hand though I can still use Don Zaloog's effect and wreck havoc on his hand." Brandon thought before looking at his new card. "I activate Card of Sanctity to refresh our hands!" Brandon announced and both players drew until they had six cards in their hands. "Perfect." Brandon thought before picking up another card. "You may remember this card from my last turn."
"Let me guess, another Mustering of the Dark Scorpions?" Felix said with a yawn. "Don't you get tired of the same old strategies?"
"You know what they say, don't fix what isn't broken." Brandon said activating the card. "As I was about to say earlier this spell lets me summon Don's partners in crime, Gorg The Strong (5/1800/1500), Meanae The Thorn (3/1000/1800), Chick The Yellow (3/1000/1000) and Cliff The Trap Remover (3/1200/1000)." Brandon announced as the four Dark Scorpions appeared on the field. "Go Dark Scorpions, attack his lifepoints directly." Brandon commanded and the Dark Scorpions charged forward and attacked Felix.
F: 2100
B: 7400
As the Dark Scorpions returned to Brandon's side of the field Felix forced himself to his feet. "But that's not all, now their effects kick in; first Cliff will get rid of Venom Swamp!" Cliff charged forward and slashed Venom Swamp's hologram shattering it and returning the scenery to normal. "Don's attack isn't back to normal though, I guess that counter is there to stay." Brandon thought before picking up his deck. "Next Meanae lets me search my deck for a card with the words "Dark Scorpion" in its name and I chose a second Gorg the Strong." Brandon announced adding the card to his hand. "And speaking of Gorg his effect now kicks in, which allows me to send the top card in your deck to the graveyard." Felix did so reluctantly though for some reason he showed it to be another Venom Cobra which he sent to the graveyard. "Next Chick The Yellow let's me look at the top card in your deck and decide if it stays at the top of your deck or goes to the bottom." Felix tossed the card at him and Brandon caught it before looking at it. "Spell Reproduction, you where planning on using this to return the Seal to your hand in case your Venom Swamp was destroyed weren't you?"
"Guilty as charged." Felix admitted with a shrug before Brandon tossed the card back to him. "Let me guess, the bottom right?"
"You got it." Brandon nodded and Felix sent the card to the bottom of his deck. "Good, he can't use the Orichalcos against me unless he has another copy of that spell card." Brandon thought with relief before smirking. "Last but not least Don Zaloog may be weakened but his effect still works, I can now chose to either send two cards in your hand or your deck to the graveyard and I chose your deck!" Felix did so and Brandon noticed how low his deck was at the moment, he showed the monsters to be two more Venom Boas. "I end my turn." Felix drew his card and laughed manically.
"I may have lost the Orichalcos but I can still beat you, sure the boss won't have a soul for his collection but that's the least of your worries!" Felix said activating two spell cards. "I activate two Silent Dooms to revive my Venom Cobras!" Felix announced as the two cobras returned to the field. "And I sacrifice them both to bring out the second most powerful card in my deck, Vennominon, The King Of Poisonous Snakes!"
"I'm not even going to try to pronounce that monster's name." Mike said as a massive sweatdrop rolled down his head and in the place of the two cobras stood a massive snake wearing a cape and armour (8/0/0).
"That thing has zero attack points? Even my weakened Don Zaloog can beat him and he's a four star monster!" Brandon said confidently...until he saw the monster's attack raise to 4000.
"My king has a special ability to make up for his lack of attack or defence points, well to be more accurate he has several special abilities but the one you should worry about is the one that gives him 500 attack points for each Venom type monster in my graveyard." Felix announced with a grin. "But why stop there? I activate Lightning Vortex, discarding yet another Venom type monster to my graveyard in order to clear the field." Brandon's eyes widened as lightning struck the Dark Scopions destroying them, at the same time the king's attack rose to 4500.
"I am really glad that the Orichalcos isn't in play right now." Brandon gulped.
"So you should be, Vennominon, attack his lifepoints directly!" The snake wrapped it's self around Brandon and squeezed causing Brandon to yell in pain.
B: 2900
F: 2100
"I set this card facedown and end my turn." Felix said with a grin. "You may have the lead but I have a monster with 4500 attack points, you're done in this tournament kid." Felix said with a grin as Brandon drew his card.
"I set this card in defence mode and end my turn." Brandon said plainly as Felix drew his card.
"Venominon attack his defence!" Felix commanded and the snake coiled around the defence...and Felix's eyes widened when he saw it. "WHAT THE HELL...HOW DID YOU MANAGE TO DRAW NIGHT ASSAILENT OF ALL CARDS?" (3/200/300) Felix yelled in shock as Night Assailant managed to throw a dagger into the snake's throat before being crushed to death, both players sent their cards to the graveyard and Felix grinned. "I was hoping you'd do that actually."
"What did you just say?" Brandon demanded.
"I activate the trap card Rise of the Snake Deity!" Felix announced as he picked up a card. "This trap can only be activated if my king is sent from the field to the graveyard by a method other than destroying him, when he is this will allow me to summon my most powerful monster; in fact you may remember her from earlier."
"You mean that card you showed me in order to use Snake Deity's Command." Brandon realized.
"That's right, come forth Venomnagga, The Deity of Poisonous Snakes!" Felix played the card and in Venominon's place stood a massive three headed blue and red snake, the first two heads where regular snake heads but the third had the head of a hideous green skinned woman with black snake like hair (10/0/0). "Like the king she gains 500 attack points for each Reptile type monster in my graveyard." Felix explained as his monster's attack rose to 5000. "This monster also can't be targeted by the effects of, and in unaffected by, the effects of monsters, spells and traps in fact the only way to destroy it is in battle."
"Great, I don't have anything that can beat her." Brandon thought.
"Finish him off my deity!" Venomnagga charged forward...but was stopped by a wall of Kuribohs. "Looks like your lifepoints are safe for now." Felix grunted as Brandon sent Kuriboh to the graveyard. "It's your move." Brandon nodded and drew his card.
"That's your most powerful monster huh? Then allow me to introduce you to mine, since I have three dark type monsters in my graveyard, well more than three but that's beside the point, I can summon Dark Armed Dragon to the field in attack mode!" Brandon played the card and the massive dragon appeared in the skies above the field (7/2800/1000).
"Nice toy, but he can't hope to beat my Deity!" Felix taunted.
"That's why I'm risking everything on this trap card, Fiend Comedian!" Brandon said as the trap card flipped up.
"What part of "isn't affected by Spells, Traps or Effect Monsters" didn't you understand?" Felix demanded.
"My target isn't your monster Felix, it's your graveyard!" Brandon said reaching into his pocket and producing a coin. "I flip a coin and call it, if I call it right every single card in your graveyard is removed from play, if I call it wrong then I send the same amount of cards from my deck to my graveyard as you have in your graveyard."
"That's a lot of cards Brandon, you sure you want to risk it?" Felix asked with a cocky smirk.
"Sometimes you have to run a risk to get ahead in life." Brandon said with a smirk. "I can't believe I just used my dad's motto." Brandon thought. "I call Heads!" Brandon announced flipping the coin.
"Come on tails!" Felix yelled out as the coin started to descend.
"Give me heads, give me heads!" Brandon yellowed out, the coin landed on his hand and Brandon placed it onto the back of his hand, he took a deep breath before removing the hand.
"Well?" Felix demanded after Brandon didn't announce the.
"I called it right!" Brandon finally said and Felix's eyes widened.
"But...but that means..." Felix realized. "My monster will lose all its attack points!" Felix said before he reluctantly removed the cards from his graveyard sending the deity's attack plummeting all the way down to zero.
"This duel's over Felix just be glad that the Orichalcos was among the removed cards." Brandon said before pointing too Dark Armed Dragon. "Dark Armed Dragon, attack his Deity and end this duel!" Dark Armed Dragon raised its tail and slammed it into the deity.
B: 2900
F: 0000
"Then I guess that's my cue to leave." Felix said deactivating his duel disk, he dug into his pocket and tossed a locater card at Brandon who caught it between his fingers. "I'd give you my rarest card but I don't think it'd suit your deck but rest assured we WILL meet again, I still have two more locater cards." Felix added before running off.
"HEY WAIT!" Brandon called after him, Felix span around and threw down a smokebomb before running off. "Damn it...I lost him." Brandon said once the smoke cleared.
"It doesn't matter Brandon." Martin shook his head as he approached him. "You where able to prevent the activation of the Orichalcos, that's what matters."
"Not to mention the fact that I won for that matter." Brandon added before checking his watch. "Anyway it's getting late; I vote we return to the hotel."
"But I haven't duelled yet." Sophie moaned.
"Relax, there's still plenty of time between now and the Semi Finals." Brandon said giving her a small smile. "You'll duel tomorrow, I promise."
"I'd better." Sophie pouted as Martin started calling for a cab.
"As I'm sure you're aware Brandon I won't be able to accompany you tomorrow due to the meeting at Kaibacorp, are you and Theresa going to be all right on your own?" Martin asked and Brandon nodded.
"What about after the meeting?" Brandon asked.
"I will call you and arrange a meeting place; the other teachers will do the same to the students that they are supervising." Martin answered as he got through to the cab company.
*elsewhere*
"How the hell could I let that little brat beat me?" Felix thought as he walked down an alleyway. "Next time we fight I'm bringing out the Orichalcos, no doubt about it." Felix thought kicking away a empty coke can...which landed at Karen's feet. "Karen? I thought you lost your Orichalcos duel?"
"It's nice to see you too Felix." Karen said sarcastically. "It was a tag team duel and the Orichalcos only needed one soul, Amanda was just collateral."
"Shame, I'll miss the nights we spent together...in my bed." Felix grinned and Karen rolled her eyes.
"You mean the nights where you got us drunk and got us to agree to a three-way." Karen said folding her arms. "Face it that was the only way you could even hope to score with us."
"Ouch." Felix winced. "You gotta admit though, those where the best nights of your life." Felix grinned and Karen shook her head.
"That would be giving you too much credit." Karen said turning around as she started to walk off.
"You're just a fucking junkie bitch who can't keep her legs closed, nothing more." Felix spat at her and Karen glared at him.
"Do you really want me to castrate you with a rusty Butcher's knife?" Karen warned, before Felix could respond his eyes widened. "What?" Karen asked and Felix pointed behind her, she turned around and covered her mouth with a gasp as she saw Michael.
"The two of you failed, I don't accept failure." Michael spat as he folded his arms. "Fortunately for you the boss still has some use for the two of you."
"Well, we are the three best duellists in the organisation." Felix smirked cockily.
"Don't get ahead of yourself, don't forget that you lost to that Obelisk Blue Student and didn't get a chance to use the Orichalcos because of your own stupidity!" Michael said before holding out two briefcases. "These contain very rare and very powerful cards that the master thinks will fit in perfectly with your deck." Michael said as the other two duellists exchanged uncertain looks before taking the cases and opening them up, when they saw the cards they grinned manically. "Just remember that there won't be any second chances."
"What, with these cards in our decks? Not only will we succeed but either one of us will have the reigning champion's soul." Felix grinned as he started adding the cards, 40 in total bringing his deck count up to 80, to his deck.
"What he said." Karen agreed as she did likewise. "What about that kid from Duel Academy?"
"His deck has been upgraded as well, so as everyone's deck." Michael said folding his arms. "But I swear to god if you fail again I will personally rip up your soul cards."
"And if we end up facing each other?" Felix asked.
"Don't use the Orichalcos in that case." Michael said plainly before walking off. "Well truth be told I haven't upgraded the deck of the agent that's tracking Kimberly, hopefully I can find her before she duels her."
"What, that crazy old lady? What does the boss she in her?" Felix asked.
"He sees the fact that she's an excellent duellist, nothing more." Michael said before walking off.
"So, is there any chance of me getting good luck sex from you?" Felix asked only to be kneed in the crotch by Karen.
"Don't get your hopes up." Karen said before walking off as Felix collapsed to the ground.
"Is that a no?" Felix asked as he grits his teeth in pain.
*elsewhere*
"Kimberly, it's getting late." Maria said as she struggled to keep up with the younger woman, they where currently in a shopping district of New York in the search of Duels. "Are you sure you want to keep looking?"
"Lance, Chloe, Theresa, Andreas and Marcus have won their first duels." Kimberly said folding her arms. "Unpleasant consequences of Chloe's duel aside I have some catching up to do."
"If you insist, though if we end up searching until midnight then we're heading back to the hotel." Maria said with a yawn, Kimberly smiled.
"You have a deal." Kimberly said looking around. "Off course it would help if there were other duellists out this late." Kimberly complained as she looked at her duel disk.
"Hear ye, hear ye, come have your fortunes told by Madame Ruska." An old sounding Russian voice came from around the corner, when the two women rounded the corner they saw an old woman, older than Maria to be precise, with grey hair in a bun who was wearing a typical gypsy outfit sitting in front of a small desk covered in a ugly table cloth and a crystal ball.
"Just ignore her dear; she'll try to rip you off." Maria said leading Kimberly away.
"What about you...Kimberly?" Madame Ruska asked causing Kimberly to stop in her tracks.
"How...how do you know my name?" Kimberly stammered in surprise.
"My crystal ball knows all dear." Ruska said and Maria rolled her eyes.
"She probably recognises you from the big screen, now let's go!" Maria insisted but Kimberly shook her head.
"What's the harm? I've always been interested in fortune telling." Kimberly shrugged as she stepped in front of the desk. "So how much will it cost to have my fortune told?"
"Normally I'd charge $20 but for you? I'll do it for free, just this once." Ruska said getting a duel monsters deck out, she drew three cards and placed them facedown. "Pick one."
"It seems simple enough." Kimberly shrugged before pointing to the card on the left, Ruska picked up revealing it to be Ruin, Queen of Armageddon (8/2300/2000).
"Hmmm, this tells me that you are a good person who recently had her world turned upside down by a tragic event." Ruska said before returning it to the deck.
"Nathan." Kimberly thought knowing exactly what she meant before choosing the card in the middle, Ruska picked it up revealing it to be the Spell Card United We Stand.
"Ah, this tells me that you feel as though you are nothing without your friends." Ruska said before returning it to the deck, Kimberly was taken aback by the bluntness of the statement.
"Though it is true, since I've never had any family of my own I had to make do with friends being the closest thing to a real family for a long time." Kimberly thought. "Okay, but what does that mean for me in the future?"
"Select the last card and it'll be all the more clear to you." Ruska said, Kimberly hesitated for some reason before selecting the card, Ruska held it up...and Kimberly's eyes widened with fear.
"The Seal of the Orichalcos...but that means..." Kimberly trailed off as Ruska stood up and kicked the table away after retrieving the card and the deck.
"That's right Kimberly." Ruska said laughing sinisterly before revealing a black, scythe like duel disk that had been hidden under her cloak. "There's only one fate that awaits you in the next few hours...AND IT IS OBLIVION!"