"Any sign of that brat?" A security guard asked the two guards he was approaching as they searched through the Kaiba dome, the three guards where currently patrolling the area above where the audience where seated, the two guards shook their heads.
"Nah, we lost site of the kid." The guard said shaking his head. "Just once I'd like to enjoy a Battle City semi-final where something DOESN'T go wrong."
"Yeah, I hear ya." The third guard agreed. "We'd better keep looking, if he wants to know who his potential opponents in the next round will be he'll stick around, that and I don't want to be the one to tell Kaiba that we lost an Orichalcos duellist."
"Yeah tell me about it." The guards agreed before going their separate ways, once they dispersed however Otto emerged from the nearby doorway that he had been hiding in.
"Idiots." Otto thought with a scoff as he glanced around. "They probably started searching through the lower sections so I should be able to watch the rest of the matches." Otto thought as he approached a balcony overlooking the duel arena, as for the duel it's self Mike was looking over his opening hand excitedly.
"Oh yeah, this is in the bag!" Mike thought paying no attention to the announcers.
"Well Bob, after that last duel I'll be glad to never hear the words Seal and Orichalcos again so let's focus on this match." Bill said tugging on his shirt nervously. "I'm fairly certain that Axel needs no introduction after all he is the undefeated national champion of Germany but what about Mike Bob?"
"Well I couldn't find any information on him save for the fact that he runs a water deck, tends to be a bit hyper and is the second youngest sibling of Duel Academy student and fellow Battle City Semi-Finalist Lance Alvers." Bill said. "In others we might end up with what the match between Chloe and Scott could've been like."
"Say Bill, shouldn't we be looking for Otto?" Bob asked and Bill shrugged.
"Eh, big deal." Bill said before turning his attention to the duel.
"So, who's going first?" Axel asked as he looked over his hand.
"I will." Mike said drawing another card. "And I start by activating the Field Spell Card A Legendary Ocean!" Mike played the field spell and a massive tidal wave washed over the field unintentionally getting several duellists wet.
"Bro, next time watch where you aim your tidal waves!" Lance said thankful for the fact that it was just a hologram effect. "I can't believe those words just came out of my mouth!"
"Sorry." Mike said sheepishly before turning to Axel. "As long as my field spell is in play all Water type monsters gain 200 attack points and lose a level like this little beauty, Cyber Shark in attack mode!" Mike played the card and out of the ocean's depths came a large shark with some kind of machine on it's nose (5/2100/2000) however since A Legendary Ocean was on the field it's level dropped to 3 and it's attack increased to 2300.
"Not bad." Brandon said once he saw the monster, however Lance shook his head.
"He should have waited a turn before summoning that monster." Lance said and Brandon raised an eyebrow at him. "Cyber Shark's effect states that if the controller has another Water type monster on the field he/she can normal summon a card without tributes."
"Yeah but he was able to do that anyway thanks to A Legendary Ocean." Brandon pointed out with a frown. "Though I can see where your coming from."
"Now I set two cards facedown and end my turn, just try beating that champ!" Mike set the two cards down and Axel drew his card.
"Not bad Michael but allow me to do one better." Axel said picking up a card. "I activate my own Field Spell Card Coliseum – Cage of the Gladiator Beasts!"
"Wait, what?" Mike yelled out in surprise as the Ocean was dried up and replaced by a large coliseum at the same time costing Cyber Shark it's power boost and level reduction.
"I'll explain, as long as this is on the field it'll gain a counter each time a monster is summoned from the deck and for each of those counters my Gladiator Beasts will gain 100 attack points." Axel explained before smirking. "It has a third effect but it won't come into effect until later."
"Man, so much for Tornado Wall protecting my life-points." Mike thought as he looked towards his second facedown card. "At least I have Cyber Shark to protect me."
"Now I summon the first of my Gladiator Beasts, Gladiator Beast Andal in attack mode!" Axel played the card and the one eyed bear appeared on the field (4/1900/1500).
"Nice try but my shark's stronger!" Mike said confidently and Axel chuckled.
"Who said anything about me wanting to destroy the beast? I have something more tactical in mind." Axel said playing a card. "I activate Creature Swap, with this I can swap one of my monsters for one of yours until the end of the turn but since we each have one monster on the field I don't think it's any secret what monster I'm choosing." Axel played the card and too Mike's surprise the two monsters switched sides of the field.
"Err, okay this isn't too bad." Mike said laughing nervously.
"Who said I was done? I activate the Quick Play Spell Card Gladiator Taming!" Axel played the card and Mike blinked. "This can only be activated if there is a Gladiator Beast monster on the field and it'll let me activate one of two effects, either I can change the battle position of a monster of yours or the effect I'm going for...to take control of one Gladiator Beast monster you control!" Mike's eyes widened as Andal returned to Axel's side of the field.
"Wait...but that's..." Mike said as he tried calculating the damage on his fingers, Axel sweat-dropped.
"4000 points of damage." Axel said before pointing to his monsters. "Cyber Shark, Gladiator Beast Andal, attack his life-points directly!" The two monsters charged at Mike and attacked him one by one.
A: 8000
M: 4000
"Ouch, Mike has already lost half of his life-points!" Bill announced as Mike got too his feet.
"I set two cards facedown and end my turn!" Axel announced as Cyber Shark and Gladiator Beast Andal returned to Mike's side of the field...only for Andal to jump back to Axel's side of the field. "Oh yes, I forgot to mention that, like Creature Swap, Gladiator Taming only works until the end phase of the turn that it's activated." Axel added, Mike grunted and drew his card.
"You'll pay for that!" Mike declared angrily as he drew his card. "I activate Moray of Greed, by returning two Water type monsters from my hand to my deck this will allow me to draw three cards from my deck!" Mike returned the monsters to his deck, shuffled it and drew three cards before sending the Spell Card to the graveyard, when he saw his new cards he grinned. "Now your really going to regret that move."
"Oh?" Axel asked raising an eyebrow.
"Now what's he up too?" Brandon asked and Lance shrugged.
"Don't know, what do you think An..." Lance started but stopped in his tracks, Brandon placed a hand on his shoulder.
"We'll find a way to get him back." Brandon said reassuringly and Lance nodded.
"I know we will." Lance said simply. "As I was saying I don't know what he's up too, his deck's changed a lot sing the tournament started."
"I start by activating my trap card, Hidden Temple of the Deep!" The trap flipped up and suddenly the Coliseum floor was covered in water. "As long as this card is activate it's treated as the Field Spell Card Umi which gives me a perfect opportunity to use my other trap card Tornado Wall!" The second trap flipped up and the water beneath Mike started to become restless. "I may be down to 4000 life-points but as long as Umi, or in this case a card that's treated like it, is on the field this trap will protect my life-points."
"Err Mike, why didn't you use this combo to begin with?" Lance asked and Mike sweat-dropped.
"I wasn't sure if it would work." Mike said sheepishly before shaking his head. "Not that it matters, I summon Armed Sea Hunter in attack mode!" Mike played the card and a strange monster appeared on the field, it's upper body was brown, white and muscular whilst it's lower body resembled an octopus's and it was wielding a spear (4/1800/400). "Cyber Shark attack Andal!" The shark leaped towards the bear.
"I activate my Quick Play Spell Card Indomitable Gladiator Beast!" The spell card flipped up and to Mike's surprise Andal's attack increased to 2400. "During the turn this spell card is activated in one of my Gladiator Beasts will gain 500 attack points but as we both know there's only one Gladiator Beast on my side of the field." As Axel explained this Andal charged towards Cyber Shark, drew out it's sword and decapitated it.
"Man, Mike's getting creamed out there!" Marcus observed as the two duellists sent their respective cards to the graveyard.
"He'll bounce back...somehow..." Theresa said as she watched the duel. "Though I am beginning to see where Lance was coming from as far as how far out of his league Mike is."
"I end my turn with a facedown card!" Mike set the card facedown and Axel drew his card.
"I start by activating Card of Sanctity to refresh our hands." Axel played the card and both duellists drew until they had six cards. "Now then Michael, it's time I showed you the true power of the Gladiator Beasts."
"True power?" Mike asked looking confused.
"I start by sacrificing Gladiator Beast Andal to summon Gladiator Beast Alexander in attack mode!" Andal vanished from the field and in it's place stood a muscular humanoid lion in gold armour (6/2400/600).
"HAH! The jokes on you Axel! I activate Torrential Tribute to clear the field!" Mike activated the card and and a tidal wave prepared to consume both monsters.
"I'm afraid not, I counter Torrential Tribute with my own Trap Card Parry!" Axel activated the card and returned one of the cards in his hand to his deck. "In order to activate this trap I must return one Gladiator Beast monster from my hand to my deck but in exchange I can negate the activation of and destroy one trap card!"
"OH COME ON!" Mike yelled in frustration as Gladiator Beast Alexander slammed his fist into the ground somehow stopping the tidal wave. "Is there any moves of mine you don't have a counter for!" Mike continued and Axel remained silent.
"Mike, keep calm." Mike blinked before turning to the crowd of duellists, Lance stood there with his arms folded. "Yes, I realize that the majority of your moves have been countered in one way or another and yes I know there's a massive difference between his life-points and yours...I really need to work on my motivational speech skills." Lance said and Mike face-faulted at the last part. "But you've been in tougher spots before."
"He's right Michael." Axel agreed and the two brothers turned to him. "On both counts." Axel added and it was Lace's turn to face-fault. "You've just had a string of bad luck these past few turns, just trust in your deck and I'm sure that you can bounce back."
"Err, right." Mike gulped as the two duellists sent their cards to the graveyard.
"Now then, Gladiator Beast Alexander attack Armed Sea Hunter!" The massive monster leaped forward and uppercutted the monster destroying it.
"At least Tornado Wall saved my life-points." Mike said wiping the sweat from his brow as Tornado's blocked Alexander from getting to his life-points.
"That ends my turn and starts the tagging out process." Axel said and Mike blinked.
"Tagging out?" Mike asked just before Gladiator Beast Alexander disappeared from the field. "Hey where'd your monster go?"
"Back to my deck." Axel said holding up the monster. "You see each Gladiator Beast, save for Andal who's the only Normal Monster in the set and the fusion monsters, share the ability to be returned to the deck and replaced with another at the end of the turn that they are attacked or they attack.." Axel explained, Mike blinked before grinning.
"Okay, that doesn't sound too bad." Mike said as he looked over his hand. "Especially since none of my monsters could beat Alexander." Mike thought.
"You may think that but certain Gladiator Beasts gain special abilities from being summoned this way, such as Gladiator Beast Bestiari!" Axel played the card and a green humanoid bird in grey armour appeared on the field (4/1500/800). "Now then not only does my field spell gain it's first counter, whilst increasing my new monster's attack to 1600, but Bestari's effect kicks in, allowing me to destroy one spell or trap card on the field, my choice is Hidden Temple of the Deep." The Gladiator Beast took flight before shattering the hologram of Mike's trap card taking Tornado Wall with it. "Be thankful that this card is on the Limited List."
"Err, yeah." Mike gulped as he sent his two traps to the graveyard and drew his card. "Man, Tornado Wall was the only thing keeping my life-points and now I've lost it." Mike thought before looking at his new card. "Oh great, how can this help...hey wait a sec!" Mike thought as an idea formed in his head. "I start by summoning Tinplated Goldfish!"
"He's summoning what?" Lance, Brandon and Marcus asked simultaneously as a small, mechanical goldfish appeared on the field (4/800/2000).
"There are so many things wrong with that move." Lance said with a facepalm. "Most importantly why leave a monster with 2000 defence in attack mode?"
"Because of my goldfish's effect, that's why!" Mike said with a grin. "When he is normal summoned I can special summon another monster from my hand as long as it's Level 4 or lower and my choice is...Giant Red Seasnake!" Mike played the card and the giant red snake appeared on the field (4/1800/800).
"Okay, I think I see what he's going for." Brandon said as he looked over the field. "He'll attack Bestiari with Seasnake then use his goldfish for a direct attack...wow I can't believe I actually found a situation where the words "use his goldfish for a direct attack" would be appropriate." Brandon said sweat-dropping as he said the last part.
"Actually no, I have something else in mind!" Mike said picking up a card. "And it starts with my second copy of A Legendary Ocean."
"Oh god damn it not again!" Lance yelled out as he and the other duellists backed off, a tidal wave crashed over the duel field washing away the coliseum, at the same time Giant Red Seasnake and Tinplated Goldfish's attack and defence rose to 2000, 1000, 1000 and 2200 respectively whilst their levels dropped to 3 and Bestiari's attack returned to normal.
"At least we knew what was coming this time." Chloe said folding her arms, Lance nodded in agreement.
"So you have more fire-power, the ability of my Gladiator Beasts will prevent you from even thinking about a direct attack." Axel pointed out and Mike grinned.
"A direct attack wasn't what I had in mind, because my move has set the stage for an XYZ summon." Mike declared as he retrieved a card from his extra deck.
"An XY what now?" Lance asked confused.
"XYZ summon, their a bit complicated but pretty satisfying to pull off successfully." Brandon explained.
"Okay, for those that are confused, namely my brother, I'll explain." Mike said as he carefully placed Tinplated Goldfish on top of Giant Red Seasnake, as he did this the two holograms started glowing. "An XYZ summon requires the presence of two monsters of the same level on my side of the field and the cards have to be placed on top of each-other, otherwise known as overlaying, and the new monster is placed on top of them, any questions?"
"Can you repeat that?" A clearly confused Marcus called out and Mike face-faulted.
"Brandon, would you mind repeating what I just said to Marcus, I'm a little busy." Mike asked once he got up and Brandon did so. "This monster in particular requires two Level 3 monsters in order for it to work so come forth Black Ray Lancer!" Mike placed the card on top of the other two and the two monsters morphed into a strange winged humanoid fish that was black in colour and was carrying a large red spear (3/2100/600).
"This is going to be troublesome." Axel said raising an eyebrow at the new monster.
"Black Ray Lancer attack Gladiator Beast Bestiari now!" The monster flew towards the beast and skewered it with his spear.
A: 7400
M: 4000
"I end my battle phase which means you can tag out your monster." Mike announced as Axel returned the monster to his deck.
"True." Axel nodded as he searched through his deck.
"Let me guess, your summoning Alexander right?" Mike asked but Axel shook his head.
"I'm afraid not, Alexander can only be special summoned with the effect of a certain Gladiator Beast and Bestiari wasn't the beast in question." Axel explained as he picked up a card. "This will do nicely, I special summon Gladiator Beast Hoplomus in defence mode!" Axel played the card and a rhino in sturdy looking green armour appeared on the field (4/700/2100). "When Hoplomus is summoned this way his original defence becomes 2400."
"Or it would if not for my Black Ray Lancer's effect!" Mike said retrieving Giant Red Seasnake from underneath Black Ray Lancer and sending it to his graveyard. "What I just did is known as Detaching and I have to do this in order to activate the effect of a XYZ monster, in this case Black Ray Lancer I can negate Hoplomus's effect until the end phase...which is right now." Mike added and everyone else face-faulted.
"Well that was pointless." Chloe remarked as she got up, Axel drew his card and raised an eyebrow.
"I activate the spell card Gladiator Beast Respite, think that Moray of Greed card you activated earlier only applied to Gladiator Beasts." Axel played the card and shuffled two of the cards in his hand into his deck before drawing three cards. "Now I activate another Coliseum – Cage of the Gladiator Beasts!" Axel played the card and, too Mike's annoyance, the ocean dried up revealing an in tact Coliseum. "Now I sacrifice Hoplomus to summon the mighty Gladiator Beast Spartacus!" Axel swapped out the monsters and Hoplomus vanished from the field only to be subsequently replaced by a large dinosaur with horns on his nose wearing brown armour and carrying a huge axe (5/2200/1600.
"NO! I'm Spartacus!" Marcus shouted out only to be punched in the back of the head by Brandon. "I'll shut up now!"
"Err, anyway." Axel cleared his throat before pointing to his monster. "Gladiator Beast Spartacus...okay if anyone else is about to say "I'm Spartacus" raise your hand now." Axel said and everyone except Chloe, Brandon, Theresa, Marcus and Lance rose their hands, even the announcers. "I kindly ask all of you to don't say it, now Gladiator Beast Spartacus attack Black Ray Lancer!" The monster charged forward and split Mike's monster down the middle with it's axe.
A: 7400
M: 3900
"I end my turn and thus Spartacus is returned to my deck." The Gladiator Beast disappeared from the field and Axel started searching for a new monster. "Come forth Gladiator Beast Dimacary!" Axel played the card and a blue bull standing on it's hind legs appeared on the field wearing blue, red and gold armour (4/1600/1200) and thanks to the Coliseum getting it's first counter it's attack rose to 1700.
"Your not going to tell me what it does when it's summoned that way?" Mike asked confused and Axel shook his head.
"In due time Michael, now make your move." Axel responded and Mike drew his card.
"I activate Soul Release to remove five monsters from my own graveyard from play." Mike activated the card and retrieved five monsters before pocketing them.
"Err, okay why did you do that?" Axel asked raising an eyebrow.
"You'll see soon, for now I set this card facedown and a monster in defence, your move." Mike set the two cards and Axel drew his card, he added his new card to his hand and pointed to his beast.
"Gladiator Beast Dimacary attack his defence!" The bull like creature charged forward towards the facedown monster, revealed to be a large blue bear (4/1400/1000) who was quickly gored.
"Hah, jokes on you because the monster you destroyed was Mother Grizzly!" Mike said holding up the card. "When she's destroyed in battle I can special summon another Water type monster as long as it's a Level 4 monster and it has 1500 attack points or less, and I'll choose another Mother Grizzly!" Mike sent the card to the graveyard before summoning another to the field, the bear returned to the field ready for battle.
"Very well, I'll destroy her as well." Axel declared and Mike blinked.
"But you've already attacked!" Mike protested.
"Yes, but when Dimacary is Special Summoned by way of another Gladiator Beast's effect he can attack twice in the same turn." Axel said before pointing to his beast. "Dimacary attack Mother Grizzly!" The bull charged forward and gored the bear this time ramming her into the wall.
A: 7400
M: 3600
"I chose to summon my third and final Mother Grizzly!" Mike said once he sent the second Mother Grizzly to the graveyard and summoned a third in it's place.
"Then I shall end my turn thus returning Dimacary to my deck." Axel said as his monster disappeared from the field, he searched through his deck and selected a card. "I chose Gladiator Beast Darius in attack mode!" Axel played the card and the humanoid horse in red armour appeared on the field (4/1700/300) and as the coliseum got it's second counter Darius's attack rose to 1900. "When Darius is summoned in this way I can special summon another Gladiator Beast from my graveyard, however it's effect is negated and it'll be reshuffled into my deck."
"Funny you should mention negating, I activate my trap card Oh Fish!" Mike activated the trap and the card's hologram flipped up.
"I beg your pardon?" Axel asked raising an eyebrow...only to be caught by surprise when Gladiator Beast Darius was washed away in a stream of water. "What did you just do?"
"Remember those monsters I removed from play? This trap was the reason, not only does it allow me to shuffle one of those monsters back into my deck but it also negates the activation of an effect monster's effect and destroys it." Mike said with a massive grin. "In short, I just crippled your whole strategy!"
"Not bad Michael." Axel admitted before taking a look at his hand and picking up the card he had drawn. "I set this facedown and end my turn." Axel set the card down and Mike drew his card enthusiastically.
"Now to begin my comeback!" Mike said before looking at his new card. "Hey what do you know? I drew another Moray of Greed!" Mike played the card and returned the two remaining cards in his hand to his deck and drew three cards, Mike took one look at his new cards and grinned broadly. "This is in the bag, first I activate Monster Reborn to bring back the first Mother Grizzly you destroyed." Mike played the card and next to the first Mother Grizzly stood a second. "But neither of them are staying around for long, I sacrifice them both to bring out my second strongest monster, Levia-Dragon – Daedalus!" The two bears disappeared from the field and in their place stood the might sea serpent ready for battle (7/2600/1500).
"Impressive monster." Axel admitted upon seeing the monster.
"Thanks but believe it or not he's not staying around either." Mike said with a grin and Axel rose an eyebrow at this, Mike picked up the last card in his hand and played it. "This next card can only be summoned by tributing Levia-Dragon so bye bye Levia-Dragon hello Ocean Dragon Lord – Neo-Deadalus!" Mike played the card and Levia-Dragon started to morph eventually transforming into a giant twin headed dragon that was blue and red in colour (8/2900/1600).
"I don't believe it! Mike actually might pull this off!" Lance said as he saw the monster roaring at Axel who somehow kept a cool head in the face of the dragon.
"Neo-Deadalus, attack his life-points directly!" The twin headed dragon breathed water at Axel in mighty twin bursts, Axel grunted as the attack hit.
A: 4500
M: 3600
"It's only a matter of time before your undefeated streak ends man!" Mike said folding his arms. "So for now I'll end my turn, enjoy your streak while it lasts!" Axel said nothing as he drew his card, he glanced up at the dragon before nodding.
"It's not often that I find myself in a position where I have to use this card but so be it, go Swords of Revealing Light!" Axel played the card and Mike shielded himself as the three swords pinned down his dragon.
"Doesn't matter, as soon as I draw my last A Legendary Ocean card I'll use Daedulas's effect to clear the field and attack his life-points again!" Mike thought confidently as he waited for Axel to finish his move.
"Now I summon Test Ape in attack mode!" Axel played the card and a small monkey appeared on the field (2/700/300).
"Are you trying to make a monkey out of me?" Mike shouted only to be met with collective groans from the other duellists and audience members. "Oh come on, like I was the only one thinking about making that joke!"
"He's certainly been one of my most entertaining opponents since I joined this tournament, wonder if his brother will be any different." Axel thought glancing over at Lance who didn't seem to notice that Axel was looking at him. "I end my turn for now Michael." Axel announced and Mike drew his card...and grinned broadly when he saw it.
"Your swords, along with the rest of your cards. are history! I activate my last A Legendary Ocean!" Mike played the card and the other duellists quickly got out of the way as the tidal wave approached.
"Not this time Michael, I activate my Trap Card Disarm!" The card flipped up and Axel returned the last card in his hand to his deck. "This trap card can only be activated if I return one Gladiator Beast from my hand to my deck but by doing so I can negate the activation off and destroy one spell card!" Mike's jaw dropped as the tidal wave dispersed just as it was about to hit the field. "I am well aware of Neo Daedalus's special ability Michael but unless you have a card that can return spell cards to your hand my life-points are safe for another three turns."
"Well, guess I'll end my turn in that case." Mike said as the first of the swords disappeared, Axel drew his card and looked at it.
"Good, here's one piece of the puzzle." Axel thought. "I set this card facedown...and I attack Neo-Deadalus with Test Ape!" Axel said pointing to the massive monster, the ape leaped towards the much larger monster only to drown in a jet of water.
A: 2300
M: 3600
"Thanks for the lead...I guess." Mike said scratching his head in confusion.
"Don't thank me just yet, when Test Ape is destroyed in battle I can Special Summon one Gladiator Beast from my deck to the field and I chose the monster I sent to my deck for Disarm's effect, Gladiator Beast Laquari!" Axel played the card and the humanoid tiger with red hair wearing red armour appeared on the field (4/1800/400) and thanks to the Coliseum's new spell counter it's attack rose to 2100.
"Lance, isn't that one of the monsters Axel used to contact fusion that monster?" Chloe asked and Lance nodded.
"Yeah, kind of difficult to forget a monster that powerful." Lance said with a nod. "Maybe he's hoping to summon it before the swords wear off."
"Whatever it is I'm sure Mike can beat it!" Sophie said confidently. "Besides if it weren't for those swords Mike would cream that overgrown pussycat!"
"I'll end my turn." Axel announced and Mike drew his card.
"Man, I can't use this card!" Mike thought with a frown as he looked at another copy of Tornado Wall. "I'll pass." Mike announced as the second sword disappeared and Axel drew his card.
"Blast a dead draw." Axel thought as he looked at Gladiator Beast Murmillo (3/800/400). "If I had summoned this monster to the field via the effect of a Gladiator Beast I could rid the field of Neo-Deadalus and pave the way for my strongest monster." Axel thought with a frown before adding the card to his hand. "I shall pass as well."
"Not much happening Bob." Bill said with a yawn.
"Neither player can do anything until those swords wear off Bill." Bob pointed out with a yawn as Mike drew his card. "That or Mike draws something that can clear the field of Spell Cards." As Bill said that Mike drew his card.
"I set a card facedown and end my turn." Mike set the card down and as the last of the swords disappeared from the field Axel drew his card.
"Perfect, I summon a second Gladiator Beast to the field, Gladiator Beast Tygerius in attack mode!" Axel played the card and a blue humanoid cat with a long white beard appeared on the field, it was wearing black armour and was wielding a large sword (4/1800/800).
"Yeah, just keep stacking up monsters for my Dragon Lord to wash away, you're making my victory all the more easier and I appreciate it!" Mike said confidently and Axel chuckled.
"I'm afraid that there's only one monster who's going to be washed away as you put it." Axel said as he pointed to Tygerius "Tygerius attack Neo-Deadulas!" The monster charged forward only to be washed away by a stream of water.
A: 1200
M: 3600
"Yeah, yours!" Mike said with a grin but Axel chuckled.
"Watch and learn, as you know at the end of the Battle Phase that a Gladiator Beast monster attacks or is attacked they are returned to my deck and another takes it's place, I chose Gladiator Beast Murmillo and activate Double Tag Team!" Axel played the card and a small seasnake in makeshift armour appeared on the field. "I'll get to my trap card in a second but first you must know Murmillo's effect that activates when it's summoned in this way."
"Okay...what does it do?" Mike blinked...only to let out a yell of surprise as Murmillo leaped towards Neo Deadalus and drove a hole through it's chest destroying it.
"It destroys one faceup monster." Axel said plainly as he searched through his deck. "As for my trap card it can only be activated when a Gladiator Beast is Special Summoned and it allows me to special summon another, my card of choice is Gladiator Beast Tygerius!" Axel played the card and the previously destroyed Gladiator Beast returned to the field. "Now I contact fusion my three monsters to form my strongest monster, GLADIATOR BEAST HERAKLINOS!" Axel played the card and the three monsters where absorbed into the vortex, out of the vortex came the massive centaur with the lion's mane (8/3000/2800) and thanks to the new spell counter it's attack rose to 3600. "Be thankful that my Battle Phase has ended, I'll end my turn." Mike gulped as he shakily drew his card.
"I pass, there's nothing I can do." Mike said sadly. "Or so he thinks, as soon as he attacks I'll spring Posseiden Wave on him and negate the attack and at the same time buy me some time!" Mike thought as Axel drew his card.
"My apologies Michael, you've duelled well but the duel's over, Heraklinos attack his life-points directly!" Axel commanded and the giant monster charged forward.
"I activate Poseidon Wave, this negates your monster's attack..." Mike was cut off when Heraklinos slashed through the wave and his life-points reducing them to 0.
"Sorry Michael but by discarding a card from my hand Heraklinos can negate the activation of and destroy one spell or trap card during either of our turns." Axel said as Mike got too his feet.
A: 1200
M: 0000
"I lost." Mike said casting his eyes downward as the holograms disappeared, Axel said nothing as he returned his deck to and deactivated his duel disk before approaching Mike.
"Don't be so down on yourself Michael." Axel said reassuringly as he approached him, once he was close enough he extended his hand out for a handshake. "You did well and proved to be one of my more entertaining opponents since the tournament began." Axel added and Mike shook his hand happily before two duellists got off the stage.
"There will be a twenty minute recess before the next duel." A voice over the PA system rang out and the duellists started to disperse whilst some audience members left to grab a snack, whilst that was going on Mike approached Lance.
"Sorry bro, I tried." Mike said sadly and Lance smiled.
"Hey, relax you held your own." Lance said with a smile. "Besides me and Sophie can make up for your defeat."
"I wouldn't get your hopes up about that Lance." Ray said folding his arms. "I intend to win the next match."
"Not against my sister you won't." Lance said with a smirk, whilst that was going on Otto was watching the aftermath off the duel with a critical eye.
"Good to see that Axel hasn't lost lost his touch since we last duelled." Otto thought as he folded his arms. "But on the other hand his deck hasn't changed one bit, he won't stand a chance against my deck."
"There you are." Otto glanced over his shoulder and saw Felix standing there. "Revealing that girl's past in public is one thing but holding your own brother's soul hostage."
"Oh, like your any better." Otto said with a scoff. "That little bitch needed to be put in her place and Andreas? He was always a weakling." Otto added. "Besides, how is that any different from your incident?" Felix growled and grabbed Otto by his collar.
"That was self-defence." Felix said angrily as his eyes narrowed. "And I'd appreciate it if you didn't go around telling everyone."
"Or what?" Otto spat with a smirk. "Sugar-coat it all you want but the fact remains that your a murderer who never went to jail for it, much like Robert if I'm not mistaken."
"Don't you dare compare me to that bastard!" Felix spat before letting him go. "I don't have time for this, the next match will be starting soon and I need to scout the competition."
"You can scout the competition just fine from up here." Otto said and Felix glared at him.
"And spend an indefinite amount of time near you? I'd rather French Kiss Vorse Raider's hologram!" Felix said before storming off, back on the floor Ray and Sophie had gotten into position ready for their duel.
"Kick his ass sis!" Mike shouted from the sidelines, Sophie glanced over at her brother and smiled before turning to Ray.
"I'll try." Sophie said as both duellists activated their duel disks and drew their opening hands. "Ray may not be as famous as Axel but he must be good since he made it this far." Sophie thought as she examined her hand.
"Maybe I shouldn't judge her skills based on her duel against Victor." Ray thought as he looked over his hand. "Okay kid, who's going first?"
"Erm, I'd like to go first if that's okay with you." Sophie said, Ray shrugged his shoulders and Sophie drew her card.
"Seems they've started without us Bill." Bob said as the two announcers returned to their podium. "What have you got on our duellists Bill?"
"Well Ray is one of the top students at North Academy and he uses a Fiend deck, Sophie is a rookie who uses a fairy deck and she is the youngest Alvers sibling so this should be an interesting match." Bill said as Sophie contemplated her move.
"Okay, I set a card facedown and a monster in defence, that will end my turn." Sophie played the two cards and Ray drew his card.
"That's all huh? I'll make things easy for you by summoning Twin-Headed Wolf in attack mode!" Ray played the card that he had drawn and a two headed wolf appeared on the field, it's heads where pink whilst the rest of it's body was green and blue (4/1500/1000). "Twin-Headed Wolf attack her defence!" The wolf charged towards the monster and both heads ripped it to pieces.
"Thanks Ray, the monster you just destroyed was Skeleangel (2/900/400)." Sophie said as he held up the monster. "When he's flipped I can draw an extra card from my deck." Sophie explained before drawing another card and sending her monster to the graveyard.
"If I had waited another turn before bringing out my Wolf I could've negated that monster's flip effect." Ray thought with a frown. "No matter, I have more tricks up my sleeve and there's definitely nastier flip effect monsters out there." Ray thought before picking up another card. "I set these two cards facedown and end my turn." Ray's facedown cards appeared behind his wolf and Sophie drew a card.
"I activate Cards From The Sky, in order to activate this spell card I have to remove one Light-type fairy monster from my hand but in exchange I can draw two cards." Sophie pocketed one of the monsters in her hand and drew two cards.
"Don't get too attached to them, I chain Cards From The Sky with my trap card Null And Void!" Ray's second facedown card flipped up and he grinned. "Now you have to show me the cards you just drew with your spell card and immediately discard them to the graveyard." Sophie's eyes widened but she reluctantly revealed the cards, they where the Field Spell Card Sanctuary In The Sky and the monster card Victoria (4/1800/1500) before discarding them both to the graveyard.
"I have other cards I can play, I summon Gellenduo in attack mode!" Sophie played the card and two small strange beings appeared on the field, one was pink, the other was green and their bodies where surrounded by halos (4/1700/0).
"Those things are supposed to scare me?" Ray asked bluntly.
"No but my trap card will, I activate Spirit Barrier!" The card flipped up and Sophie grinned. "As long as this is on the field, provided that I have a monster on the field, it will protect my life-points from damage."
"Why activate that now? Your monster is stronger than mine!" Ray asked raising an eyebrow,
"You'll see soon enough, now Gellenduo attack Twin-Headed Wolf!" The two fairies surrounded the wolf and started spinning around him faster and faster until they where nothing but a blur...
"Nice try but I activate my own trap card Bark Of Dark Ruler!" Ray flipped his remaining trap card up and winced as his life-points dropped to 7700. "This could only be activated during the damage step and by paying 300 life-points your monster loses 300 attack points." Ray explained as Gellenduo's attack dropped to 1400 and Twin-Headed Wolf's heads grabbed the two fairies. "My only regret is the fact that your trap card protects your life-points."
"It'll do more than that!" Sophie countered back, Ray blinked...only to yell in surprise as the two fairies broke free from Twin-Headed Wolf's mouths and returned to Sophie's side of the field. "Gellenduo can't be destroyed in battle but they would be destroyed if I suffered any damage."
"Which your trap card protects you from." Ray realized as he sent Bark Of Dark Ruler to the graveyard. "Great, I intentionally lowered my own life-points for nothing." Ray thought.
"It has a third effect but I'll get to that next turn, for now I end my turn." Sophie announced and Ray drew his card.
"I may not be able to defeat those...things...but I can still do this!" Ray said before removing Twin-Headed Wolf from his duel disk. "I sacrifice Twin-Headed Wolf to summon the mighty Doom Shaman!" The wolf disappeared from the field and in it's place stood a headless man in black and orange armour wielding a staff (6/2400/2000).
"Huh? That looks more like a Spellcaster than a fiend." Lance blinked. "You know, besides the missing head."
"Maybe it has an effect that benefits fiends." Chloe shrugged.
"That it does, once per turn I can use it's effect to Special Summon a Fiend type monster from my graveyard and since I only have one such monster in my graveyard I'll bring back Twin-Headed Wolf!" Ray retrieved the monster and played it, soon afterwards the Twin-Headed Wolf returned to the field. "I'll set a card facedown and end my turn for now." Ray said with a frown and Sophie drew her card. "Knowing my luck she intends to sacrifice those things to summon something stronger than my Shaman." Ray thought as Sophie picked up a card after removing Gallenduo from the duel disk.
"Okay, I sacrifice Gellenduo to summon Guardian Angel Joan in attack mode!" Sophie played the card and the two fairies vanished, in their place stood the angel Joan who was ready for battle (8/2800/2000).
"Hey wait a minute, that monster requires two sacrifices!" Ray protested and Sophie grinned.
"That's Gellenduo's third effect, if I need too bring out a Level 7 or higher Light-Type Fairy monster, like my Angel here, they count as two tributes." Sophie explained.
"Oh great." Ray muttered as it set in.
"Now Guardian Angel Joan attack Doom Shaman!" The Angel prepared to fire her attack.
"You'll have to do better than that, I activate my Trap Card Scrubbed Raid!" Ray activated the trap and Twin-Headed Wolf vanished from the field. "This can only be activated during the battle phase and in exchange for sending one monster I control to the graveyard I can immediately end the battle phase."
"Fine." Sophie sighed in resignation as Joan stopped her attack. "Wait, why haven't you sent your trap to the graveyard?"
"It's a Continuous Trap Card, that's why." Ray explained with a frown. "Only downside is that I can't send Scrubbed Raid it's self to the graveyard via it's own effect."
"So in short they both have traps that protect their life-points." Brandon said with a frown. "Guess it comes down too who draws Mystical Space Typhoon first."
"Not quite, Scrubbed Raid's only good as long as Ray has another card on the field and I doubt he's willing to get rid of his Shaman." Theresa pointed out. "Spirit Barrier doesn't have that limitation and Ray can still take damage, in short Sophie has the advantage."
"We'll see how long that lasts." Brandon said with a nod.
"I end my turn." Sophie said and Ray drew his card.
"I activate a Spell Card called Allure of Darkness, by removing from play one Dark Type monster from my hand I can draw two cards." Ray pocketed the card and drew two cards. "Now I activate another Spell Card, Mirage of Nightmare." Ray played the card and the card's hologram appeared on the field. "Now during your next standby phase I will get to draw until I have four cards in my hand but during my next standby phase I'll have to discard the same number of cards from my hand as the number of cards I drew."
"Only if that Spell Card's still on the field." Brandon remembered. "He's probably planning on using it as fodder for Scrubbed Raid."
"It would make sense." Theresa said folding her arms. "But Sophie knows about Scrubbed Raid's effect so she won't be stupid enough to try to arrack."
"I set a card facedown and end my turn." Ray announced and Sophie drew her card, whilst she was contemplating her move Mirage of Nightmare's first effect kicked in and Ray drew two cards before activating his trap. "I activate my trap card Battle Mania!" Ray flipped the card faceup and Sophie blinked. "This could only be activated during your standby phase and now all off your monsters must attack."
"But that means you'll be able to send your spell card to the graveyard before it's side effect kicks in." Sophie realized and Ray smirked.
"I know." Ray said simply and Sophie frowned.
"Fine, Guardian Angel Joan attack Shaman of Doom!" The angel charged up her attack and without missing a beat Ray sent Mirage of Nightmare to the graveyard.
"I send Mirage of Nightmare to the graveyard so that Scrubbed Raid can end the battle phase." Ray said and the Angel reluctantly stopped her attack.
"Not a bad combination." Otto chuckled to himself as he watched the duel. "This Ray certainly isn't a slouch as far as duellings concerned."
"I'll end my turn." Sophie announced and Ray drew his card.
"I set a card facedown and end my turn." Ray set the card and Sophie drew hers.
"I activate another Cards From The Sky." Sophie announced before she pocketed a monster and drew two cards. "Good, that facedown isn't another Null And Void." Sophie thought with a sigh of relief before looking at her new cards. "Yeah, this could work." Sophie thought. "I set my own card facedown and a monster in defence, your move." Sophie played the cards that she had drawn and Ray drew his card.
"I summon Skull Knight Number 2 in attack mode!" Ray played the card and a skeleton in light blue and gold armour appeared on the field, it's helmet had horns on it and it was wielding a sword (3/1000/1200). "Skull Knight, attack her defence!" The knight charged forward.
"That's what I was hoping you'd do, I activate my trap card Malevolent Catastrophe!" Sophie flipped up the card and Ray blinked...just before a vortex opened up in the middle of the field sucking in Spirit Barrier, Scrubbed Raid and Ray's facedown card, another Bark of Dark Ruler, before closing back up.
"What did you just do?" Ray demanded once the surprise wore off, Sophie smirked.
"Malevolent Catastrophe can only be activated if my opponent attacks, which you just did, once it's activated all Spell and Trap cards on the field are destroyed." Sophie explained, Ray shook his head.
"So? Skull Knight's attack wasn't negated by it." Ray said as the knight slashed Sophie's facedown monster...only for Ray to be hit in the chest by Marshmallon (3/300/500).
R: 7000
S: 8000
"I'm sure you remember Marshmallon's effect from my duel against Victor." Sophie said folding her arms as Marshmallon returned to her side of the field.
"Yeah, I remember it." Ray grunted as he got back to his feet and Skull Knight returned to his side of the field. "Great, now I have nothing to stop her from taking out my Knight and my Shamen next turn." Ray thought. "I end my turn." Ray said and Sophie drew her card.
"Okay, I sacrifice Marshmallon to summon Airknight Parshafth in attack mode!" The small monster disappeared from the field and in it's place stood the centaur like fairy ready for battle (5/1900/1400). "Parshaff attack Skull Knight, Guardian Angel Joan attack Doom Shaman!" The two monsters launched their respective attacks destroying Ray's monsters. "There's a couple of things I need to explain, when Parshaff deals damage to your life-points I can draw a card and when Guardian Angel Joan destroys a monster it's attack gets added to my life-points."
R: 5700
S: 10, 400
Sophie drew her card and grinned. "Weee, the monster I drew with Parshaff is Watapon!" Sophie said happily before doing a victory dance.
"Okay kid, Number 1 how much sugar did you consume during the recess, Number 2 how does that help you?" Ray asked as a massive sweat-drop rolled down his head.
"Because when Watapon is added to my hand via the effect of a Spell, Trap or Monster card I can Special Summon it to the field!" Sophie played the card and a small pink being appeared on the field, it had big adorable eyes and antennas sticking out of it's head (1/200/300) and every male present ended up face-faulting when they heard the other females cooing over the monster.
"Theresa, you use that card in your fairy deck." Brandon said to his girlfriend as he got up too his feet. "Why are you cooing over it!"
"Just because I use it doesn't mean I can't find it cute." Theresa protested before glaring at her boyfriend. "And question why I find something cute again and you won't get any sex until we return to Duel Academy."
"Yeah, I'm going to drop that subject." Brandon said laughing nervously as a massive sweat-drop rolled down his head.
"Good." Theresa smiled before returning to cooing over the monster.
"Watapon attack his life-points directly!" The fairy bounced over to Ray who laughed.
"What's it gonna do? Make me laugh until I lose life-points?" Ray said laughing and the other males joined in...only to stop laughing the moment Watapon made a scary face, opening it's mouth up wide revealing sharp fangs.
R: 5500
S: 10, 400
"Why did I open my big mouth?" Ray muttered under his breath as Watapon bounced back to Sophie's side of the field.
"Suddenly that thing's not quite as cute." Theresa said and Brandon face-faulted.
"You never attacked with that thing?" Brandon asked as he got up and Theresa looked at him like he just declared himself to be the love child of the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus.
"Off course not, I mostly use it as Sacrifice Fodder." Theresa answered and Brandon just shook his head.
"That ends my turn!" Sophie said sweetly and Ray swiftly drew his card.
"Okay, there's no way in hell I'm going to let her keep her 5000 life-point lead!" Ray thought as he looked at his hand. "And I have just the card to do it!" Ray thought before picking up two of his cards, one of which being one of the cards that Ray got with Mirage of Nightmare. "I set a card facedown and summon Flash Assailant in attack mode!" Ray played the cards and Brandon and Theresa did a double take.
"Flash Assailant? Why would he play that?" Brandon wondered as the facedown card appeared on the field alongside an one eyed Indian man with purple hair who was wearing a red scarf and white pants (4/2000/2000) and almost immediately his stats dropped to 800.
"Flash Assailant looses 400 attack points for each card in my hand." Ray explained with a frown. "But it's still more than enough to destroy Watapon so go Flash Assailant!" The man charged towards Watapon drawing out a knife as he did, he cut Watapon to ribbons before jumping back to Ray's side of the field. "This had better work, if not then I'll lose a hell of a lot of life-points." Ray thought.
R: 5500
S: 9800
"That ends my turn." Ray announced and Sophie drew her card.
"Guardian Angel Joan attack Flash Assailant!" The angel prepared for her attack and Ray grinned before activating his trap.
"Thought you'd try something like that, that's why Flash Assailant was the bait for my Mirror Force trap card!" Sophie's eyes widened as the attack bounced back to Sophie's two monsters destroying them both. "If you can I suggest summoning something and quick." Sophie looked at the remaining cards in her hand and quickly set a monster.
"I set this in defence mode and end my turn." Sophie announced and Ray drew his card, as he did Flash Assailant's attack dropped to 400.
"Okay I got rid of her monsters but she still has a huge lead." Ray thought before playing the card he had drawn. "I offer Flash Assailant as a tribute to summon King of Yamimakai in attack mode!" Flash Assailant was consumed by darkness and in it's place stood a huge muscular behemoth of a field (5/2000/1530). "Not exactly my best single tribute monster but he'll do for now." Ray thought. "King of Yamimakai attack her defence monster!" The fiend charged up two huge balls of dark energy in it's hands before launching them at the monster, revealed to be Shining Angel (4/1400/800) which was destroyed.
"The monster you destroyed was Shining Angel, it's effect is pretty much the same as my brother's Mother Grizzly cards only applied to fairies." Sophie explained as she sent her monster to the the graveyard, searched through her deck and played a second Shining Angel.
"Fine, I'll end my turn." Ray said with a frown and Sophie drew her card...and grinned broadly.
"All right, I get to play another copy of a card your trap card forced me to discard earlier!" Sophie said grinning broadly.
"Trap Card? Oh yeah, I used Null and Void to prevent her from benefiting from those cards she drew with Cards From The Sky, one of them was a monster but the other...oh great..." Ray thought as realization hit him. "You just drew another Sanctuary In The Sky, didn't you?"
"You got it and I'm activating it!" Sophie played the card and the scenery changed to the great palace in the clouds.
"Great, now I can't touch her life-points as long as she has fairies on her side of the field." Ray thought with a frown. "As if I wasn't having enough trouble already."
"I'll end my turn at that." Sophie announced and Ray quickly drew his card.
"Time I gave my King some backup, I summon The Bistro Butcher in attack mode!" Ray played the card and a purple fiend in a red chef's outfit appeared on the field wielding a meat cleaver (4/1800/1000). "King of Yamimakai attack Silent Angel!" The monster charged up it's attack and once again destroyed Silent Angel, Sophie searched through her deck and summoned her third and final one to the field. "Your turn Bistro Butcher, carve up Silent Angel!" The butcher charged forward and cut Silent Angel's throat open, Sophie searched through her deck for the last time before summoning a muscular man in gold armour with a matching mask and a knife (4/1500/1800)...and Ray's jaw dropped when it's attack skyrocketed to 3500. "What the hell?"
"Ray, meet Mudoria." Sophie introduced her new monster with a grin. "He gains 200 attack points for each Fairy type monster in my graveyard and I count ten so he gains 2000 attack points."
"Yeah, but at what cost?" Ray asked, Sophie blinked before looking at her duel disk...and her eyes widened.
"I...I only have one card left." Sophie said once realization hit her, Ray nodded and held up his own duel disk which had plenty of cards left in it's Deck Zone.
"Yeah, you spent too much of the duel drawing cards from the deck and now it's cost ya." Ray said folding his arms. "I'll end my turn." Ray announced and Sophie reluctantly drew her last card, she looked at it before sighing in resignation and surrendering.
"Even if I do attack you I won't do enough damage to finish you off." Sophie admitted as the holograms disappeared, both duellists said nothing but deactivated their duel disks and hopped off the stage.
"Looks like we're up next Brandon." Marcus realized and the Obelisk Blue student nodded.
"Yeah, may the best man win." Brandon said with a nod. "I only hope that the cards that dad sent me yesterday serve me well." Brandon thought as he glanced down at his duel disk.
"There will be a twenty minute recess before the next match." Kaiba announced over the PA and some of the duellists and spectators started to disperse, however two duellists didn't exactly go far namely Lance's siblings as they had approached their older brother.
"Your not disappointed in us, are you bro?" Mike asked catching his older brother off guard.
"Disappointed? Why would I be disappointed?" Lance asked and the two siblings blinked in confusion.
"But...but we lost our matches." Sophie said after a few minutes, Lance smiled at them reassuringly.
"You still had good duels, hell Mike you almost beat the only undefeated duellist here." Lance said pointing to Axel who was going through his deck. "You where just unlucky that's all."
"Thanks bro." Mike said with a smile, the two younger siblings walked off and Lance frowned.
"Now I have to make sure that I don't lose my match." Lance thought before glaring at Felix. "And if that means he joins his friends in the Orichalcos than so be it." Lance thought before turning to Theresa. "So Theresa, who are you backing in the next match?"
"Good question, and not one I have an answer too." Theresa said honestly. "Ideally I'd want them both to go through but that's not the way it works."
"True." Lance shrugged. "I'd be thinking the same thing if my siblings ended up fighting each-other rather than Axel and Ray."
"Or worse, either of them ended up facing you." Theresa pointed out and Lance nodded in agreement.
"Will Marcus Reynolds and Brandon Thomas please step onto the duel arena for the fifth match of the day." Kaiba's voice rang out and the two Duel Academy students shared a look.
"Good luck out there man." Marcus said with a respectful nod.
"Same to you." Brandon agreed as the two duellists got onto the arena and activated their duel disks.
"Sorry Brandon but I don't intend to lose this." Marcus thought thinking back to Andreas's match against Otto. "I have a friend to save and I'm not letting anyone get in my way!"