Marcus and Brandon shuffled their decks as they got ready for battle, the spectators where starting to pour back into the duel dome ready for the match to begin and once the two duellists where satisfied they drew their opening hands.
"What do you think Hamden?" Jeff asked as they watched the duel. "Who do you think will walk out with the win?"
"It's anyone's game Jeff." Hamden shrugged his shoulders. "Marcus and Brandon are excellent duellists in their own right but after what happened to Andreas emotions will be running high for the both of them."
"What do you say to a friendly wajor then? $10 on Brandon!" Jeff suggested.
"Really Jeff? Placing bets on your own students?" Martin asked and his colleague shrugged his shoulders. "$20 bucks on Marcus!" Whilst the teachers made bets Marcus was examining his hand closely as was Brandon.
"Okay Brandon, if you don't mind I want to go first." Marcus eventually said, Brandon took another look at his hand and shrugged his shoulders.
"That's fine by me." Brandon said and Marcus drew another card.
"Okay, I start with a monster in defence mode and a card facedown." Marcus played the cards and the two cards appeared facedown on the field. "That will do it for now." Marcus announced and Brandon drew his card.
"Hmm, on one hand I could play it safe in case that facedown monster is either Golem Dragon or Exploder Dragon." Brandon thought as he surveyed the field. "On the other hand if I don't attack then he'll be free to tribute summon another, stronger monster." Brandon thought. "I start with the spell card Allure of Darkness, by removing one Dark Type monster from my hand this spell card allows me to draw two cards from my deck." Brandon pocketed a monster and drew two cards. "Now I summon Maiden of Macabre in attack mode!" Brandon played the card the scythe wielding geisha appeared on the field (4/1700/0).
"That's it Brandon, attack my monster!" Marcus thought with a grin.
"Maiden of Macabre attack his defence monster now!" The geisha charged towards the monster, which to Brandon's surprise was a large white egg (1/300/250), and destroyed it with her scythe.
"Thanks Brandon, that monster was White Stone of Legend!" Marcus said as he sent the monster card to the graveyard. "By sending it to the graveyard you activated his effect which lets me search my deck for a monster that I'm sure needs no introduction, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
"Wait, what?" Nearly every other duellist blurted out when he said the name of the monster before adding it to his hand.
"Nicely played." Brandon admitted as his Geisha returned to his side of the field. "But Maiden of Macabre has an effect of her own, she gains a spell counter each time she destroys a monster and for each spell-counter she gains 200 attack points." Brandon explained as Maiden of Macabre's attack increased to 1900.
"I know that, I watched your match against Ket remember?" Marcus pointed out before examining his hand. "Good, I have everything I need to get the Blue-Eyes White Dragon on the field in a couple of more turns." Marcus thought. "You done?"
"Not quite, I set a card facedown and end my turn." Brandon set the card and Marcus drew another card.
"All right, I'll summon a monster that can beat your maiden, Vanguard of the Dragon in attack mode!" Marcus played the card and a medium sized blue dragon appeared on the field, it was standing on it's hind legs and was wielding a sword and a shield (4/1700/1300).
"Nice try but my Maiden's still stronger!" Brandon pointed out as his Geisha got ready for battle, Marcus just grinned.
"Yeah but like your maiden my Vanguard has an effect." Marcus said picking up a card. "By discarding one Dragon type monster from my hand I can increase his attack points to 2000!" Marcus discarded the card and like just like he said Vanguard's attack increased to 2000. "Vanguard of the Dragon attack Maiden of Macabre!" The Dragon threw it's spear at the Maiden...
"Sorry but you've fallen for my trap, go Sekeretsu Armour!" Brandon activated the trap and suddenly the vanguard was wearing hideous looking armour. "This trap can only be activated if you attack with a monster and it's effect destroys the attacking monster!" Before Marcus could say anything else the armour exploded taking his dragon with it, once the smoke started to clear however a familiar looking silhouette appeared. "What the..." Brandon muttered...only for his eyes to widen when the smoke cleared and the Blue-Eyes White Dragon was standing beside a grinning Marcus (8/3000/2500).
"Surprised? Don't be, the dragon I discarded for Vanguard's effect was Blue-Eyes White Dragon and his effect allows me to special summon one normal type Dragon Monster from my graveyard when it's destroyed via a card's effect." Marcus explained before pointed to his dragon. "Blue-Eyes White Dragon, WHITE LIGHTNING!" The dragon charged up it's famous attack before letting it lose destroying Maiden of Macabre.
B: 6900
M: 8000
"Nice move Marcus." Brandon commented once the smoke cleared.
"Yeah, I wasn't anticipating using my Vanguard's second effect so soon but who's complaing?" Marcus asked rhetorically. "Well aside from you, and before you get any ideas I activate my trap card Dragon's Rage which will allow my dragon to inflict piercing damage."
"Marcus is playing a lot more seriously than he usually does." Lance observed.
"I think what happened to Andreas lit a fire under him." Theresa commented before folding her arms. "Then again that's just speculation on my part."
"And with that I end my turn." Marcus announced and Brandon drew his card, he looked up at Marcus's dragon then back down towards his newly drawn card.
"Time I took one of the cards I got from my stash for a spin." Brandon announced as he played the card he drew. "I activate Nightmare's Steel Cage!" Marcus blinked as a large cage completely surrounded Brandon. "Now neither of us can attack for two turns."
"I see, your binding your time until you can get a card that can beat my dragon on the field." Marcus said with a nod before grinning. "But you seem to forget that the only card in your deck that comes close to my dragon's attack power is Dark Armed Dragon and he falls a bit short."
"I know that." Brandon said before picking up a card. "I set this in defence mode and a card facedown, that ends my turn!" Brandon set the monster down and Marcus drew his card.
"Brandon your going to hate me for this, just a fair warning." Marcus said as he picked up two of the cards in his hand, Brandon blinked in confusion.
"Hate you? Why would you say that?" Brandon asked and Marcus grinned.
"Well first off, do you have Dark Armed Dragon in you hand?" Marcus asked and Brandon blinked.
"Err, no." Brandon said honestly and Marcus quickly played one of the cards.
"Well you do now, I activate Dark Designator!" Marcus played the card and Brandon did a double take. "With this I can declare one monster's name and if it's in your deck it gets added to your hand, my card of choice is Dark Armed Dragon!"
"Err, okay." Brandon blinked before searching through his deck and adding the card to his hand, Marcus sent his first spell card to the graveyard and played the second one. "I don't know why...your...oh crap!" Brandon blurted out when the hologram for Card Destruction appeared on the field.
"I couldn't of said it better myself, now we both have to discard our entire hands to the graveyard and draw new ones!" Marcus and Brandon discarded their hands and drew new ones, when Marcus saw three of the cards in his hand he grinned. "Sorry to disappoint you Brandon but I'm about to render your spell card useless."
"How do you intend to do that?" Brandon asked clearly annoyed after loosing the strongest monster in his deck.
"By summoning Lord of Dragons in attack mode!" Marcus played the card and the dragon protecting Spellcaster appeared on the field (4/1200/1100) at which point Brandon facepalmed.
"Marcus, that monster protects monsters from being targeted by Spells, Monster effects and Traps, Nightmare's Steelcage doesn't target monsters!" Brandon pointed out and Marcus sweatdropped upon realizing his mistake. "But that's not all, I activate my trap card Hidden Soldiers! This trap can only be activated if you successfully normal summon a monster and it lets me special summon another monster to my side of the field as long as it's Level 4 or lower and it's a dark type monster, my card of choice is Newdoria in defence mode!" Brandon played the card and a small pink fiend appeared on the field, it had nasty looking claws and was wearing green and blue armour (4/1200/800)
"Thanks for the easy target for when Nightmare's Steelcage wears off, as my mistake okay, I admit that I should have planned that better." Marcus admitted before picking up and playing a card. "Doesn't mean I can't bolster my forces with The Flute Of Summoning Dragon though, this spell card lets me Special Summon up to two Dragon Type monsters, my monsters of choice are Cave Dragon and Rare Metal Dragon!" Marcus played the cards and the two dragons appeared on the field, the first was a massive green dragon (4/2000/100) and a large metallic dragon (4/2400/1200).
"Not bad, you now have more than enough firepower to finish me off." Brandon said calmly. "Just one problem, you won't be able to attack me until Nightmare's Steelcage wears off."
"I know so I'll end my turn." Marcus announced and Brandon drew a card.
"I'd better hope that this combo works otherwise I'd be out of the tournament." Brandon thought as he looked at his new card. "I set a card facedown and end my turn." Brandon announced and Marcus drew his card.
"Well what do you know, I won't have to wait as long as I fought!" Marcus said with a grin. "I activate the Spell Card A Wingbeat of Giant Dragon!" Marcus played the card and the Blue-Eyes White Dragon took flight. "In order to activate this card I have return one Level 5 or higher monster to my hand and my Blue-Eyes definitely qualifies."
"And is there a reason your getting rid of your strongest monster?" Brandon asked only to subsequently shield himself when the dragon flapped it's wings causing a harsh wind to wash over the field, then to his surprise the cage shattered followed by his facedown card and Marcus's copy of Dragon's Rage, once the wind settled down the dragon disappeared from the field.
"Because in exchange for that A Wingbeat of Giant Dragon destroys every Spell and Trap Card on the field." Marcus explained before grinning. "But don't worry, my dragon won't be gone for long, I sacrifice Rare Metal Dragon and Cave Dragon to bring back the Blue-Eyes White Dragon!" Marcus played the card and the two dragons vanished from the field and in the place of Rare Metal Dragon stood the famous Blue-Eyes White Dragon (8/3000/2500). "Blue-Eyes White Dragon attack Newdoria with White Lightning!" The dragon charged up it's attack before letting lose disintegrating the fiend. "Your turn Lord of Dragons..." Marcus started only to be taken aback when he saw Lord Of Dragons on the ground with a nasty looking gash across his neck before the hologram shattered. "What the? A Wingbeat Of Giant Dragon wiped out your spell cards."
"True but Newdoria has an effect of his own." Brandon said holding up the card. "When he's destroyed in battle he takes one monster with him but since it's effect targets a monster I couldn't get rid of Blue-Eyes so instead I went for the next best thing, your Lord Of Dragons."
"Anyone else feeling a sense of deja vue?" Chloe asked as the boys sent their cards to the graveyard.
"Yeah, it's similar to what happened in their first duel back at Duel Academy." Theresa nodded in agreement. "Pretty much the only difference aside from the monsters is the fact that Newdoria isn't a flip effect monster."
"Heh, nice move Brandon." Marcus complemented him before folding his arms. "But you still have my Blue-Eyes White Dragon to deal with so for now I'll end my turn."
"Believe me, I'll deal with that thing in due time." Brandon said as he drew his card. "I activate Pot of Avarice, which will allow me to return five monster cards from my graveyard to my deck and draw two cards, my monsters of choice are Maiden of Macabre, Dark Crusader (4/1600/200), Dark Armed Dragon (7/2800/1000), Newdoria and Armageddon Knight (4/1400/1200)." Brandon returned the monsters to his deck, shuffled it and drew two cards. "Sorry Marcus but my Dragon isn't gone for good."
"Okay but you still need three Dark-Type monsters in your graveyard to summon it." Marcus pointed out with a grin. "And by my count you only returned three of the monsters discarded with Card Destruction so you won't be able to bring out Dark Armed Dragon just yet."
"I know that, but truth be told the three monsters I mentioned that where in my hand? Those where the only monsters in my hand." Brandon admitted with a grin. "Which means I'll have a clean slate once I actually draw Dark Armed Dragon, for now I set a card facedown and summon Dark Hunter in attack mode!" Brandon played the cards he drew with Pot of Avarice and a humanoid dog that was black with green streaks appeared on the field, it was wearing a cape that matches it's fur colour and was carrying a dagger (4/1600/400) but almost as soon as it appeared Dark Hunter's attack dropped to 200. "Dark Hunter's a fairly unique monster in the effect that it has various effects depending on how many Dark-Type monsters I have in my graveyard, at the moment I have none so he instantly looses 400 attack points."
"So what? Even if it was at full strength that thing's no match for my Blue-Eyes." Marcus said confidently and Brandon grinned.
"Why don't you try attacking him then? I end my turn." Brandon announced and Marcus drew his card.
"All right I will, Blue-Eyes attack Dark Hunter with White Lightning!" The dragon charged up it's attack and fired at Brandon's fiend...
"I activate my trap card Interdimensional Matter Transporter!" Brandon activated the card and Dark Hunter vanished from the field before the attack could hit. "This trap card lets me remove one faceup monster I control from play until your turn ends." Brandon explained as he pocketed Dark Hunter, since the attack had no target it instead impacted the ground beneath where Dark Hunter used to be and Brandon shielded himself from the blast.
"Fine, my Blue-Eyes can attack again since your side of the field changed, Blue-Eyes White Dragon attack his defence with White Lightning!" The dragon charged up it's attack again before letting lose a stream of destruction towards the facedown monster which was quickly destroyed. "That takes care off...huh?" Marcus started but trailed off when he saw the Blue-Eyes disappear from the field. "What did you just do?"
"The monster you attacked was Wall Of Illusion (4/1000/1850)." Brandon said as he held up the monster. "Any monster that does battle with it is returned to the owner's hand immediately."
"NO WAY!" Marcus blurted out before sighing and returning the monster to his hand, Brandon said nothing as he sent his monster to the graveyard. "I'm not done yet though because encase you haven't noticed I can still summon a monster so I summon Luster Dragon number two in attack mode and set a card facedown." Marcus played the cards and the beautiful sapphire dragon appeared on the field (4/1900/1600). "I end my turn." Marcus announced and as Brandon drew his card Dark Hunter reappeared on the field.
"Okay, I sacrifice Dark Hunter to summon a new monster, Penumbral Soldier Lady in attack mode!" Dark Hunter vanished from the field and in its place stood an attractive blonde woman wearing green and grey midriff exposing armour that had what looked like the moon on her chest who was wielding a matching sword and shield (6/2100/1400). "Penumbral Soldier Lady attack Luster Dragon!" The woman charged forward...
"Nice try Brandon but I activate my trap card Dragon Reincarnation!" Marcus flipped up his trap and to Brandon's surprise Luster Dragon vanished from the field, his warrior hesitated due to not having a target. "This trap can only be activated if I remove a Dragon type monster from play first so bye-bye Luster Dragon." Marcus said as he pocketed the monster. "But here's the sweet part, in exchange this trap will let my special summon a Dragon type monster from my hand or graveyard and I'll give you two guesses as to what monster I'm bringing out."
"Your Blue-Eyes White Dragon." Brandon said calmly as Marcus played the card and the Blue-Eyes White Dragon returned to the field.
"That's right and he doesn't appreciate being bounced back to my hand last turn!" Marcus said with a grin. "So, you going to call off the attack?"
"Actually no, Penumbral Soldier Lady resume your assault!" Brandon commanded and the female soldier charged towards the dragon,
"WHAT?" Nearly every other duellist yelled out when they heard the command, Brandon remained confident though and it soon became obvious why as his warrior's attack increased to 3100.
"Where did that power boost come from?" Marcus yelled out in surprise as the warrior leaped up and decapitated his dragon with one blow.
M: 7900
B: 6900
"Her own effect, you see when Penumbral Soldier Lady does battle with a Light-Type monster she instantly gains 1000 attack points!" Brandon explained as his warrior returned to his side of the field. "Your dragon maybe mighty Marcus but he's far from invincible." Brandon added and Marcus said nothing as he sent his dragon to the graveyard.
"No matter, I have ways of getting him back on the field." Marcus thought as he looked over his hand. "Even if I don't draw one of those ways I still have Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon and even if that fails I have my trump card in my extra deck." Marcus thought before looking back at Brandon. "You done yet?" Marcus asked and Brandon nodded, Marcus drew his card and did a double taken when he saw it. "I activate the Spell Card Future Fusion, in order to activate this I have to reveal one monster in my extra deck to you and send the fusion material monsters from my deck to the graveyard." Marcus explained as he retrieved a card from his extra deck. "Feast your eyes Brandon, this monster will take me all the way to the championship!" Marcus showed the card and Brandon did a double take,
"Five-Headed Dragon (12/5000/5000)?" Brandon blurted out when he saw the monster. "How long have you had that card?"
"It was one of the first cards I got when I originally constructed my Dragon Deck." Marcus explained as he returned it to the extra deck. "But I've been saving it for a special occasion and as far as I'm concerned the Battle City Semi-Finals are a perfect time to use it and in two more turns it will be summoned by the effect of Future Fusion!" Marcus explained as he retrieved five monsters, Golem Dragon (4/200/2000), Kaiser Glider (6/2400/2200) and his three Troop Dragons (2/700/800), from his deck and sent them to the graveyard.
"Brandon's in big trouble if he brings that out." Chloe realized but Ray shook his head.
"Not quite, if Brandon can destroy Future Fusion before the monster's summoned then it won't be summoned at all." Ray said folding his arms. "If that happens Marcus will just have a deck that's lacking 5 monsters and nothing to show for it."
"Marcus isn't stupid." Lance said shaking his head. "He probably has a backup plan if Future Fusion fails."
"Yeah, I do." Marcus thought as he glanced at two cards in his hand, Red-Eyes Black Chick and Red-Eyes Black Dragon. "And as soon as I can draw Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon I'll set it in motion." Marcus thought before glancing up. "For the time being I'll set a monster in defence mode." Marcus set the card and held up two cards. "Two more turns Brandon and this duel will be over!"
"Don't get ahead of yourself!" Brandon answered back before drawing his card. "I set a card facedown for later, now Penumbral Soldier Lady attack his defence!" The female soldier charged towards the monster, revealed to be Masked Dragon (3/1400/1100) which was quickly destroyed.
"Since you destroyed Masked Dragon I can search my deck for a Dragon type monster with 1500 or less attack from my deck and summon it to the field." Marcus explained as he searched through his deck and selected another Masked Dragon which appeared on the field where the first one used to be, Marcus shuffled his deck before turning his attention to Brandon.
"More deck milling, what's he up too?" Brandon thought before folding his arms. "That will end my turn." Brandon announced and Marcus drew his card.
"Just a fair warning, during my next standby phase Five-Headed Dragon will be summoned and will be ready to carry me to the finals." Marcus said before looking at his card. "I set this facedown and end my turn." Marcus set the drawn card down and Brandon drew his card...and grinned.
"Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but your dragon's staying in the Extra Deck!" Brandon said as he played the card he drew. "Go Mystical Space Typhoon!" Brandon played the card and a tornado started making it's way to Future Fusion's hologram...
"I don't think so, I activate Magic Jammer!" Marcus activated the trap and, after discarding a card from his hand, a purple fog protected Future Fusion's hologram from the tornado.
"Fine I'll settle for destroying your second Masked Dragon instead, go Penumbral Soldier Lady!" The female warrior charged towards the dragon and slashed it in half with her sword, Marcus wordlessly picked up his deck and searched through it before picking up and summoning his last Masked Dragon. "I'll end my turn."
"And so it begins!" Marcus said before drawing his card, the hologram for Future Fusion started glowing and a mighty roar was heard.
"I don't like the sound of that!" Lance yelled out as he covered his ears, soon a huge dragon with five heads appeared on the field, two of the heads where black, one was yellow, one was made of fire and the last one was blue, it's body was yellow as well (12/5000/5000). "Holy fucking shit!"
"Think he's impressive now? I haven't even began to describe his ability, you see he can't be destroyed in battle if he's doing battle with a Earth, Water, Wind or Dark monster." Marcus said triumphantly. "And I've seen enough of your duels to know that you have nothing but dark type monsters in your deck." Marcus said before switching Masked Dragon to attack mode. "Five-Headed Dragon, destroy Penumbral Soldier Lady, Masked Dragon attack his life-points directly!" The five heads of the dragon fired their attacks simultaneously at the warrior destroying her quickly, Masked Dragon was the next to strike...
"I don't think so, by attacking my life-points directly you've allowed me to Special Summon Battle Fader from my hand!" Brandon played the card and a small fiend that resembled a clock appeared on the field (1/0/0). "Now that he's been summoned this way the battle phase ends immediately."
B: 4000
M: 7900
"I should have known that you wouldn't be that easy to beat!" Marcus happily before frowning. "But all the same, I can't let you win." Marcus said with a tone of voice that caught Brandon off guard.
"Why? Because of Otto?" Brandon asked and Marcus nodded.
"I'm not about to let him get away with what he said about Chloe or what he did to his own brother." Marcus continued with a frown. "My only regret is that in the process I have to knock one of my friends out of the tournament." Marcus added and Brandon nodded in understanding. "I end my turn."
"Now I'm feeling a bit guilty for betting on this match." Jeff confessed with a frown. "All in favour of calling the bet off say I."
"I." The other teachers said simultaneously as Brandon drew his card.
"Sorry Marcus but I'm about to bring that dragon down." Brandon said pointing to Five-Headed Dragon.
"Oh really?" Marcus asked raising an eyebrow. "How do you intend to do that?"
"With this, I sacrifice Battle Fader to summon Caius, The Shadow Monarch in attack mode!" Brandon swapped out the cards and Battle Fader disappeared from the field, in it's place stood a massive black fiend in tattered robes appeared on the field (6/2400/1000).
"Dude, I think your math might be a bit off!" Marcus pointed as as the five heads of Five-Headed Dragon roared at Caius who started forming a ball of black energy in his hand.
"Sorry Marcus but Caius has an ability of his own, when he's successfully tribute summoned he removes one monster card on the field from play and if that monster happens to be a Dark Type monster it's controller looses one thousand life-points." Brandon explained and Marcus's eyes widened. "Caius use your ability to remove Five-Headed Dragon from play!" The fiend launched it's ball off energy at the dragon striking it in the chest, the dragon's heads roared in agony before disintegrating.
B: 4000
M: 6900
"Oh and one more thing, Caius can still attack!" Brandon said as Marcus pocketed Five-Headed Dragon and sent Future Fusion to the graveyard. "Caius attack and destroy his last Masked Dragon!" The fiend prepared another attack before launching it at Masked Dragon destroying it.
M: 5900
B: 4000
"I'm sure I don't need to repeat Masked Dragon's effect." Marcus said as he sent Masked Dragon to the graveyard and searched through his deck. "I already used up my Troop Dragons in order to summon Five-Headed Dragon so they are out of the question...AHA! Got it!" Marcus thought before selecting the card and Decoy Dragon appeared on the field (2/300/200).
"Marcus, if you think I'm dumb enough to attack that thing after what happened in our last duel then your sadly mistaken!" Brandon pointed out before folding his arms. "I'll end my turn for now." Brandon said and Marcus drew his card.
"He won't have a choice soon enough." Marcus thought as he saw his newly drawn card. "I set a card facedown and summon Red-Eyes Black Chick in attack mode!" Marcus played the two cards and the egg containing the baby Red-Eyes Black Dragon appeared on the field (1/800/500). "That ends my turn." Brandon said nothing as he drew his card though the confusion was evident on his face.
"Why didn't he use Red Eyes Black Chick's effect to bring out it's strongest form? At least then he'd have a monster that can go toe to toe with my Monarch." Brandon thought before glancing at his newly drawn card. "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). "Don Zaloog attack Red-Eyes Black Chick!" The leader of the Dark Scorpions leader charged towards Decoy Dragon...
"Sorry Brandon but there's been a change of plans, I activate Shift which lets me change Don Zaloog's target to Decoy Dragon and you know what that means!" Brandon's eyes widened as Don Zaloog turned towards Decoy Dragon which vanished before the blades could make contact, Marcus sent Decoy Dragon to the graveyard and retrieved Blue-Eyes White Dragon before playing it and just like that the legendary dragon was back on the field (8/3000/2500). "Blue-Eyes, counter-attack with White Lightning!" The dragon charged up it's attack before letting lose destroying the Dark Scorpions leader.
M: 5900
B: 2600
"Fine, I'll end my turn!" Brandon announced and Marcus drew his card, as he did Brandon quickly activated his trap. "I activate Thunder of Ruler, now you can't conduct your battle phase."
"Good choice, otherwise I'd be able to finish you off in this turn!" Marcus said before picking up a card. "I use Red-Eyes Black Chick's effect allowing me to tribute her to summon her daddy, Red-Eyes Black Dragon!" The egg started to hatch and once it was open Red-Eyes Black Chick started glowing and growing eventually growing into it's fully grown form (7/2400/2000). "But he's not sticking around, I tribute Red-Eyes Black Dragon to summon it's strongest form and my strongest monster, RED-EYES DARKNESS DRAGON!" The Red Eyes Black Dragon vanished and in it's place stood it's strongest form (9/2400/2000).
"Oh great, that thing gains three hundred attack points for each dragon in your graveyard!" Brandon realized and Marcus nodded.
"And I have a lot of dragons in there so lets count, first there's White Stone of Legend and Vanguard Of The Dragon which gives him 600, then there's the three dragons I discarded with Card Destruction which gives him 900, then there's Rare Metal Dragon and Cave Dragon which gives him 600, then there's the five dragons I sent to the graveyard for Future Fusion's effect giving him 1500, then there's the three Masked Dragons which gives him 900, then there's Decoy Dragon which gives him an extra 300 and last but not least there's Red-Eyes Black Chick and Red-Eyes Black Dragon which gives him 600 so in total that's a whopping 7800 attack points!" Marcus explained and Brandon's eyes widened once it dawned on him.
"7800...attack...points..." Lance managed to blurt out once it dawned on him and his jaw hit the floor.
"My, my, for a Ra Yellow student Marcus is showing some good strategy." Otto thought as he watched the duel. "Pity that Brandon's trap has brought him some time."
"However like you said I can't attack so I end my turn." Marcus announced and Brandon drew his card.
"I activate Card of Sanctity to refresh our hands!" Brandon played the card and both duellists drew until they had six cards in their hands, "I set two cards facedown, switch my Monarch to defence mode and set a monster in defence mode, your move." Brandon announced and Marcus drew his card.
"You're going to regret giving me this card, I activate the Cheerful Coffin!" Marcus played the card and Brandon blinked. "This lets me discard three monster cards from my hand to my graveyard and you know what that means!" Marcus discarded the cards and Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon's attack increased to 8700 attack points.
"I am so glad I'm not in Brandon's shoes right now." Chloe gulped at the site of the monster.
"Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon attack Caius, INFERNO DARKFIRE!" The dragon took flight before letting lose with a mighty fireball destroying the fiend. "Blue-Eyes White Dragon attack his defence, WHITE LIGHTNING!" The dragon charged up it's famous attack before letting lose...
"Bad choice Marcus!" Brandon yelled over the noise of the attack, Marcus blinked...only for his eyes to widen when he saw that the monster was another Wall of Illusion (4/1000/1850).
"HOLD YOUR ATTACK!" Marcus yelled but it was too late, the Wall of Illusion was disintegrated by the attack and Blue-Eyes White Dragon disappeared from the field, Marcus reluctantly returned it to his hand.
"I was hoping he'd attack Wall of Illusion with Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon but one less powerful monster to deal with is fine by me." Brandon thought with a frown.
"I'll end my turn." Marcus announced and Brandon drew his card.
"I activate Swords of Revealing Light!" Brandon played the card and three golden swords rained down from the sky pinning down Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon. "Now I summon Ancient Brain to the field in attack mode and activate Dark Spirit Art – Greed!" Brandon played the card and an odd looking orange fiend appeared on the field, it's brain was showing, it had purple wings, it was carrying a small staff and it was wearing a green cloak (3/1000/700) and it disappeared almost as soon as it arrived due to Dark Spirit Art's effect,
"Fortunately for you I don't have any spell cards to negate that card's effect." Marcus admitted and Brandon drew two cards.
"I'll end my turn for now!" Brandon announced and Marcus drew his card.
"I'll pass." Marcus said as the first of the swords disappeared, Brandon drew another card,
"Okay, I activate Soul Release to remove Caius, Don Zaloog, my second Wall Of Illusion, Ancient Brain and one of your Masked Dragons from play." Brandon played the card and retrieved the monsters from the graveyard before pocketing them, Marcus did likewise and Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon's attack dropped to 8400.
"Like that'll help you." Marcus said with a scoff.
"It'll help me in two more turns, for now I set a monster in defence and end my turn." Brandon set the monster down and Marcus drew his card.
"My deck's running a bit low, if I want to win this I had better end it as soon as possible." Marcus thought. "I activate Cards Of Consonance! In exchange for discarding a Dragon type Tuner monster with 1000 attack or less I can draw two cards." Marcus discarded the monster, increasing Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon's attack to 8700 in the process, and drew his cards. "I'll end my turn." Marcus announced as the second sword disappeared and Brandon drew his card.
"Damn it, I still haven't drawn Dark Armed Dragon." Brandon thought with a frown. "If he draws another Dragon's Rage and I don't draw Dark Armed Dragon I'll be out of the tournament." Brandon thought before setting the drawn card. "I set a card facedown and end my turn."
"And begins mine!" Marcus said as he drew his card. "All right, I've drawn Dragon's Rage! Now all I need to do is set this down and let Swords of Revealing Light wear off!" Marcus thought before setting the card down. "I set this facedown and end my turn." Marcus said and Brandon drew his card as the last sword disappeared and Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon let out a mighty roar obviously unhappy at being unable to attack. "I activate Dragon's Rage! Now there's nothing that can save you from my dragon's wrath!"
"Nothing except this! I chain Dragon's Rage with Seven Tools of the Bandit!" Brandon activated his trap and, as his life-points dropped to 1600, the hologram for Dragon's Rage shattered. "I set a card facedown and end my turn." Brandon announced and Marcus drew his card.
"Sorry man but this duel is over!" Marcus said playing the card he drew. "I activate Nobleman Of Crossout to remove your facedown monster from play!" The armoured human charged towards the facedown monster and struck it with his sword.
"So much for my last Wall Of Illusion." Brandon thought as he pocketed the monster.
"Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon, finish him off with INFERNO DARKFIRE!" The dragon let lose with it's fireball...
"I'm not out of it yet, I activate Enchanted Javelin which will take Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon's attack and add it to my life-points!" Brandon activated the trap and the javelin went through the fireball and the dragon before it fired a beam of light at Brandon sending his life-points sky-rocketing up to 10,300, then the attack hit sending Brandon flying and his life-points plummeting down to 1600.
"You okay man?" Marcus asked as Brandon got back up to his feet, he gathered up the cards in his hand and got back into position.
"Never better." Brandon said with a nod. "You done?" Brandon asked and Marcus nodded, Brandon drew his card and smiled. "I'm about to take out that dragon Marcus."
"Heh, good luck with that!" Marcus said confidently and Brandon held up his drawn card.
"Now that I have three Dark-Type monsters in my graveyard I can summon my strongest monster, Dark Armed Dragon!" Brandon played the card and the massive dragon appeared in the skies above the arena ready for battle (7/2800/1000).
"Nice try but your dragon falls a little short!" Marcus pointed out before he noticed Brandon retrieving one of the cards from his graveyard.
"Then you've forgotten about my dragon's special ability, it allows me to remove one Dark Type monster from my graveyard and destroy one monster on the field!" Marcus's eyes widened as he watched the mighty dragon's tail raise up and slam into Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon destroying it. "Dark Armed Dragon attack his life-points directly!" The dragon raised it's tail about and slammed it into Marcus.
M: 3100
B: 1600
"You okay man?" Brandon asked as Marcus got up, Marcus nodded and Brandon smiled. "I'll set a card facedown and end my turn but you could always surrender you know, I've taken everything you've thrown at me and beaten them all!"
"Not on your life!" Marcus said determinedly as he drew his card. "I activate my own Card of Sanctity to refresh our hands!" Marcus played the card and both duellists drew until they had six cards, however both duellists could see that they're decks where running low so they would need to end it soon. "Brandon, you've seen me use several different methods of getting the Blue-White Dragon onto the field but now I'm going to show you another."
"Another?" Brandon echoed clearly confused.
"Yeah but first I activate Lightning Vortex to clear your side of the field!" Marcus played the card and Brandon shielded himself as lightning struck his dragon destroying him.
"Before you do anything else I activate my trap card Waboku to protect my life-points." Brandon activated the trap and Marcus frowned.
"Fine, I can wait a turn before finishing you off." Marcus shrugged. "Now I activate White Dragon Ritual, in order to activate this I have to send a Level 4 or higher monster from my hand to the graveyard so I send Alexandrite Dragon (4/2000/100) from my hand to the graveyard to summon Paladin Of White Dragon!" Marcus discarded the card and a knight riding atop a white dragon which seemed to resemble a young Blue-Eyes White Dragon appeared on the field, the knight's armour and cape was white and it was ready for battle (4/1900/1200).
"Marcus, all you brought out was a weaker ritual monster, I'm not exactly impressed." Brandon said as a massive sweat-drop rolled down his head.
"You will be because his effect lets me tribute him to Special Summon my Blue-Eyes White Dragon from my hand or deck!" Marcus played the card and the dragon carrying the knight took flight into the sky and from the sky emerged the legendary dragon (8/3000/2500). "To be honest man you wasted your trap card."
"What do you mean?" Brandon asked.
"Well my intention was never to attack with Paladin and the Blue-Eyes White Dragon that's summoned by it's effect can't attack the same turn it's summoned." Marcus explained. "The reason I used Lightning Vortex was to keep you from using Dark Armed Dragon's effect."
"Can't blame me for being cautious." Brandon shrugged his shoulders before looking up at the dragon. "I may have something that can beat that thing and Marcus but it all depends on what card I draw." Brandon thought. "My move?" Marcus nodded and Brandon went to draw a card. "Come on Heart of the Cards, guide me!" Brandon thought before drawing his card. "Sorry Marcus but this is over."
"Your surrendering?" Marcus asked and Brandon shook his head.
"Far from it, I activate Polmerization to fuse Dark Blade (4/1800/1500) and Pitch-Dark Dragon (3/900/600) to form the mighty Dark Blade The Dragon Knight!" Brandon played the card and the two monsters where sucked into the vortex, the monster that emerged was basically Dark Blade riding atop the dragon (6/2200/1500).
"You're kidding? That thing's much weaker than my dragon!" Marcus scoffed and Brandon shook his head.
"Far from it because I activate Megamorph, since my life-points are lower than yours my Dragon Knight's attack is doubled!" Brandon played the card and the knight doubled in size and strength all the way to 4400. "Dark Blade The Dragon Knight, attack Blue-Eyes White Dragon with Dark Sword Slash!" The dragon flew towards the other one and the knight decapitated the mighty dragon.
M: 1700
B: 1600
"No biggie, I'm still standing!" Marcus said confidently and Brandon shook his head.
"Not for long, I activate De-Fusion to split up Dark Blade and Pitch-Dark Dragon into their individual forms." Marcus's eyes widened as Dark Blade hopped off Pitch-Dark Dragon's back and landed on the field. "It's been a hell of a duel man but only one of us was going to win today." Brandon said sadly.
"Dude, I maybe out of the tournament but I'm just happy that it's you I lost too." Marcus said with a smile which was returned by Brandon.
"Dark Blade, finish it!" The warrior charged towards Marcus and slashed him with his swords.
M: 0000
B: 1600
Marcus slowly got to his feet as the crowd was silent, Marcus sighed as he looked down at his deck. "I gave you everything my deck had, even my Five-Headed Dragon but it still wasn't enough."
"Yeah, it was a hell of a ride though." Brandon said with a smile, before the two boys could say anything else though they where cut off by the cheers and applause from the crowd and fellow duellists alike, some where even calling for a rematch though that never happened. "Looks like we've left our mark on this tournament."
"That we did." Marcus said with a smile as the two boys hopped off the duel arena. "Hey Brandon, if you end up facing Otto in the next round, kick his ass for me okay?"
"You got it." Brandon nodded only to be caught off guard by a friendly pat on the back from Ray.
"That was a hell off a show guys...and a hell of a comeback for that matter." Ray said and Brandon smiled.
"Well I wouldn't of been satisfied if I won an easy duel." Brandon said honestly before turning to Miranda. "Your facing your sister next."
"So I noticed." Miranda said with a nod. "Don't worry about me kid, I didn't become as good as I am just by being good looking."
"I don't doubt that but Orichalcos duels can be brutal, just look at what happened after the second duel." Marcus chimed in with a frown. "Be careful out there."
"Thanks for the warning kid." Miranda said with a nod.
"There will be a twenty minute recess before the next duel." Kaiba's voice rang out over the PA system once the noise died down, most of the spectators left to grab snacks or have bathroom breaks but the duellists stayed where they where.
"I'm starting to see why Brandon beat me in that match we had." Felix said coolly as he leaned against the wall. "I'll get him back in the next round though."
"You honestly think I give a fuck about your match?" Karen asked bluntly as she got up close to him and Felix scoffed. "All I care about is getting revenge on my sister."
"Does she know about..." Felix started but Karen put a finger on his lips.
"No, but I'll tell her during the match." Karen said plainly.
"Hey you two, get a room." One of the security guards yelled out too them and Karen glared at him.
"I'd love too but no matter what I try she won't spread her legs for me!" Felix shouted back only to be kneed in the balls by Karen who subsequently stormed off. "Women right?" Felix laughed even as he grunted in pain.
"You sure you going to be okay against your own sister?" Chloe asked Miranda who gave her a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry about me kid, this isn't exactly my first time duelling her and I've beaten her in each of our previous encounters." Miranda said before looking down at her deck. "My Harpie Ladies hasn't failed me against her before and they aren't going to fail me today, yes even if she is an Orichalcos duellist."
"I'd take their advice if I where you Miranda." Axel chimed in with a frown. "My last match before the semi-finals was an Orichalcos duel."
"Relax, even with the Orichalcos I'll still beat her." Miranda said confidently. "Besides my deck doesn't just contain Harpie Ladies nowadays."
"You've modified it?" Eddie asked and she nodded. "In what way?"
"Wait and see." Miranda said plainly.
"Will Miranda and Karen Trayson please step onto the duel arena for the sixth match of the day." Kaiba's voice rang out over the PA system and Miranda grinned before stepping onto the podium, Karen quickly followed glaring at her sister the whole time.
"Karen, I..." Miranda started and Karen's eyes narrowed.
"Save it!" Karen snapped at her as she activated her Orichalcos Duel Disk. "This match is one I've been waiting for and I don't want to hear your excuses."
"Well Bob, there seems to be oh god damn it not again!" Bill started but stopped once he saw Karen's duel disk.
"May as well go with it Bill, it's going to be a long Semi-Finals." Bill said facepalming as the two women activated their duel disks and drew their opening hands.
"So, who's going first?" Miranda asked as she looked over her hand, Karen did likewise before glancing up at her older sister maintaining the death glare.
"You will." Karen said plainly and Miranda drew another card.
"Well then, allow me to start things off with something you lack, style." Miranda said plainly earning a collect "Ohhhhh" from duellists and spectators alike. "I summon Cyber Harpy Lady in attack mode!" Miranda played the card and the Harpy Lady appeared on the field wearing it's cyber shield. (4/1800/1300). "That's not all, I equip her with Rose Whip increasing her attack to 2100." Miranda played the card and a whip appeared in the Harpy's hands increasing her attack to 2100. "I set this facedown for later and end my turn, think you can top that sis?"
"Don't act all friendly you bitch, I know what your really like!" Karen snapped at her before drawing her card, she looked at it and frowned. "Not the seal but this will do nicely." Karen thought before setting the card. "I set this facedown for later and a monster in defence mode, your move." Karen announced and Miranda drew her card.
"You may be familiar with this card sis, I activate Elegant Egotist! This spell card can only be activated if I have a Harpie Lady on my side of the field and according to Cyber Harpie Lady's effect she counts as Harpie Lady..." Miranda started.
"And as a result it'll allow you to Special Summon one Harpie Lady or Harpie Lady Sisters from your deck, let me guess your going with Harpie Lady Sisters?" Karen cut her off somehow holding back her smirk. "Just as I hoped!"
"You would be right." Miranda nodded before searching through her deck and playing the card, almost immediately the three Harpie Ladies appeared on the field ready for battle (6/1950/2100) at which point Karen started laughing.
"You idiot, that was what I was hoping for! I activate my Quick Play Spell Card Demise Of The Land!" Karen activated the card and Felix smirked instantly catching on.
"Smart move babe!" Felix thought as Karen picked up her deck.
"This quick play spell card can only be activated if you special summon a monster and it lets me activate a Field Spell Card from my deck!" Karen said with an evil smirk and Miranda's eyes widened once it dawned on her.
"Sis, please for the love of god think about what your doing!" Miranda pleaded with her as she searched through her deck. "If you play that than either of us will end up in a coma!"
"I know, but I've had two long years to think about this!" Karen growled as she held up her card. "And I don't plan on losing, through the magic of Demise of the Land I activate The Seal Of The Orichalcos!"
"Oh great, not again!" One of the spectators yelled out before the seal encased both women, Miranda quickly shielded herself and when she looked up her eyes widened in horror when she saw the Orichalcos symbol on Karen's forehead and a look of manic glee on her face.
"You know it's funny, up until this point I haven't used the Seal at all in this point." Karen said with a grin. "Then again I was saving it for you."
"How thoughtful." Miranda muttered under her breath sarcastically, whilst that was going on her Harpies seemed to be looking around the seal with a look of confusion on their faces. "Cyber Harpy attack her defence monster." The harpy took flight and whipped at the monster which which was revealed to be a small green insect with two sets of arms and wings (4/1400/900) and despite it's attack increasing to 1900 due to the seal it was quickly destroyed. "Flying Kamakiri Number 1, why am I not surprised?"
"Maybe because you helped me make this deck? Just saying." Karen shrugged before searching through her deck and selecting a card. "Thanks to Kamakiri's effect I can search through my deck for a Wind Type Monster with 1500 or less attack points and since I don't like the idea of being attacked directly right now or suffering any damage for that matter I summon Whirlwind Prodigy in attack mode!" Karen played the card and a small boy with wild brown hair appeared on the field, he had a good tan and was wearing a black t-shirt and white pants (4/1500/1600) and his attack increased to 2000 as soon as the symbol appeared on his forehead. "Remind you of anyone Miranda?" Miranda blinked for a bit before her eyes widened.
"Jason..." Miranda's eyes narrowed. "How dare you bring him into this, he's been dead for years."
"Who are they talking about?" Chloe asked scratching her head.
"Miranda had two siblings, Karen and Jason, he was the youngest of the three." Alex explained before frowning. "He died whilst they where still in high school, overdosed on Karen's drug stash apparently."
"Why not? You don't seem to have a problem sharing it with people outside of the family?" Karen asked pointing to Alex before folding her arms. "Get used to it bitch, that's just the first of the painful memories I'll be bringing up."
"I can't believe I once thought she was hot!" Marcus said with a facepalm.
"This really isn't an appropriate time Marcus." Theresa scolded him before frowning. "If that's true than shouldn't she be in jail? It was her stash that he overdosed on so she should be guilty of manslaughter at the very least."
"If I had an answer for that I'd tell ya." Alex shrugged. "How'd you know so much about law anyway?"
"My mom's a cop." She answered simply. "I have a basic understanding of the law as a result." Theresa added.
"I end my turn." Miranda said with a frown and Karen drew her card.
"I know invoke Whirlwind Prodigy's effect meaning that I can use him as both tributes for a Level 7 or higher monster so I sacrifice him to summon Simorgh, Bird of Divinity in attack mode!" Whirlwind Prodigy vanished from the field and in his place stood a massive green bird with a crown on it's head (7/2700/1000) and it's attack went up to 3200 thanks to the Seal of the Orichalcos but none the less Miranda frowned when she saw the monster.
"Why summon that? It's effect will do you more harm than good once your turn ends." Miranda pointed out with a frown.
"Normally that would be true but as soon as I destroy Cyber Harpy that won't be a problem." Karen said before pointing to the bird. "Simorgh, attack Cyber Harpy with Wings of Divinity!" The bird took flight before divebombing at Cyber Harpy at a great speed, fast enough to cut the Harpy in half before she even knew what was happening.
M: 6900
K: 8000
"Why didn't she go after the Harpy Lady Sisters? She would've done more damage?" Lance asked scratching his head in confusion.
"More importantly, why didn't Miranda activate her trap?" Theresa asked equally as confused as Lance.
"I end my turn." Karen said as the bird took flight again and spread it's wings out striking both women.
M: 6400
K: 7500
"What just happened?" Lance asked confused.
"Simorgh's effect that's what." Karen answered him with a smirk. "Until the bird's destroyed we will each take a thousand points of damage during our end phases, however that amount is reduced by five hundred for each Spell and Trap on the field, we each have one so at the moment we'll each loose five hundred life-points during our end phases." Karen said before smirking evilly. "But since I have the lead you'll run out of life-points before I do."
"That's assuming your overgrown parrot will stay on the field that long." Miranda said defiantly as she drew her card, Karen laughed again.
"You ever considered giving up duelling for stand up comedy sis?" Karen asked rhetorically before frowning. "Please, we both know that that closest thing to my monster's power in that pathetic deck of yours is the only monster you have on the field!" Karen said with a scoff.
"What was the first thing I taught you about duel monsters? Oh that's right, strength isn't everything." Miranda shot back before playing the card she had drawn. "I activate the Spell Card Triangle Ecstasy Spark, this can only be activated if I have the Harpy Lady Sisters on the field and it increases the attack of any copies of that card to 2700 AND you can't activate any trap cards."
"That's supposed to scare me?" Karen said cockily even as the sisters' attack increased to 2700. "Even with the power boost they aren't a match for Simorgh!"
"Watch and learn sis, first I activate Card Destruction to discard the rest of my hand to the graveyard, not to mention yours, and draw a new hand." Karen frowned but said nothing as she sent her cards to the graveyard, Miranda did likewise and the two women drew new hands.
"How typical of you." Karen said with a smirk. "You where always so selfish that you discarded anyone once they outlived their usefulness to you, you did it to me, Jason, even your parents."
"Karen, shut up." Miranda growled as her eyes narrowed.
"Oh? Don't like the truth?" Karen spat to the side. "I don't know why your demonizing me..."
"Gee, I don't know maybe because your using the Orichalcos against your own flesh and blood!" Marcus shouted from the sidelines but was shut up by a death glare from Karen.
"As I was saying, I don't know why your demonizing me, at least I had the decency to attend mom and dad's funeral!" Karen spat at Miranda and her older sister growled.
"I was in London for last year's Battle City Tournament and you know it." Miranda said as her eyes narrowed. "I couldn't get the organisers to let me leave the city without forfeiting my place in the tournament otherwise I would've been there!"
"That true?" Theresa asked turning to Eddie.
"Yeah, me and the other duellists raised a big stink about it once we got word." Eddie said with a nod. "That rule wasn't included in this year's rulebook for that reason."
"As I was saying." Miranda said trying to keep her rage in check. "I activate my trap card Hysteric Party, in order to activate this I have to first discard a card from my hand but in exchange I can Special Summon as many Harpy Ladies as I can from the graveyard so I summon Harpy Lady Number 1, 2, 3 and last but not least my old friend Cyber Harpy!" The first card to return to the field was Cyber Harpy followed by individual versions of the Harpy Lady Sisters (4/1300/1400) each...only for Simorgh's attack to increase to 3500, Harpy Lady Sister's attack to increase to 3000, Cyber Harpy's attack to increase to 2100 and the individual Harpy's attacks to increase to 1600. "That's the effect of Harpy Lady Number 1 in action, as long as she's on the field all WIND monsters gain 300 attack points."
"Nice to see that your still as dumb as ever, or haven't you noticed that my Bird of Divinity IS a Wind monster?" Karen smirked but stopped smiling when she saw her sister play a card. "Err, what are you playing?"
"Oh, not much, just the Equip Spell Card Axe of Despair!" Karen's eyes widened as the Harpy Lady Sister's grabbed onto an Axe each increasing their attack to 4000.
"OH FUCK NO!" Karen yelled out once she realized how much damage she was about to receive.
"I can't believe I'm agreeing with her on something but I'd probably yell the same thing if I where in her shoes!" Marcus said after thinking for a moment.
"Harpy Lady Sisters attack Bird of Divinity now!" The three harpies took flight and carved into the massive bird before finally finishing it off with the attack depicted on the cover of the Spell Card Triangle Ecstasy Spark. "Sorry sis but you've gone to far, Harpy Ladies attack her life-points directly!" The four remaining Harpies charged towards Karen one by one.
K: 100
M: 6400
"That ends my..." Miranda started but as Harpy Lady Sisters' attack dropped to 3250 she was cut off by an obviously irate Karen as she got up to her feet.
"YOU FUCKING BITCH!" Karen yelled at her as she clenched her fists. "I'll kill you...I'LL KILL YOU JUST LIKE I KILLED MOM AND DAD!" Karen blurted out...only for her eyes to widen once what she had said dawned on her.
"You...you what?" Miranda stammered once it dawned on her.
"I was planning on telling you a bit later." Karen said clutching her side in pain. "Did you honestly think I'd let them get away with throwing me, their own daughter, out on the streets? Whilst you where at that tournament I returned home and killed him." Karen said with an evil grin. "Slowly cut them up piece by piece whilst they where still conscious, I only wish that they hadn't bled out so quickly, they deserved to suffer for what they did to me."
"That...that's impossible, you...you told me and the cops you where in rehab at the time! You had documents to back it up!" Miranda said barely holding her tears back.
"Oh that little lie? The documents where forged by my friend over there." Karen said motioning to Felix. "Off course, now that the statute of limitations has run out..."
"It seems that your the dumb one, not Miranda." Theresa cut her off and Karen turned to her.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Karen demanded and Theresa frowned.
"Murder doesn't have a statute of limitations, and you just confessed to a year old double murder." Theresa explained and Karen's eyes widened. "It's gets better, your friend over there is just as guilty as you are because he helped you cover it up."
"Shit!" Karen cursed herself before smirking. "But as long as I'm a Battle City Semi-Finalist the law can't touch me so there!"
"Not for long!" Miranda snapped at Karen catching the younger woman off guard. "I was willing to forgive you for Jason's death, I was willing to forgive you for stealing from your own parents for years to feed you own addiction but now? I can't forgive you and I never will."
"Yeah, because I'll beat you into the ground!" Karen said as she drew her card. "I activate Pot of Greed which will allow me to draw two cards!" Karen drew the two cards and looked at them. "Well, well, now I can get some payback."
"How?" Miranda demanded angrily.
"By activating Lightning Vortex!" Miranda's eyes widened as Karen discarded the other card that she had drawn with Pot of Greed and lightning struck the five harpies (well, seven if you want to get technical) destroying them and Hysteric Party. "Oh it gets better, first I set two cards facedown and activate Emergency Provisions, sending both cards to the graveyard and giving me 2000 life-points." Karen set the cards and played the third one, the two facedown cards disappeared almost as quickly as they arrived increasing her life-points to 2100. "Sure, that move has left me with only one card in my hand but for now that's all I need, I summon Harpy's Brother in attack mode!" Karen played the card and a red and brown humanoid bird appeared on the field (4/1800/600) and it's attack increased to 2300 thanks to the seal. "Harpy's Brother attack the bitch's life-points directly!" The monster ran towards Miranda at impressive speed before slashing her with it's claws.
K: 2100
M: 4100
"That ends my turn." Karen said as her monster returned to her side of the field, Karen drew her card and frowned.
"I activate Card of Sanctity." Miranda played the card and both women drew until they had six cards in their hands, or in the case of Karen drew an entirely new hand, and examined them. "I set two cards facedown and a monster in defence, your move." Miranda set the cards and Karen drew her card.
"Well, isn't this interesting?" Karen muttered to herself before playing the card. "I summon the tuner monster Junk Synchron in attack mode!" Karen played the card and the tuner monster appeared on the field (3/1300/500) and it's attack went up to 1800 thanks to the seal. "When he's normal summoned I can Special Summon a Level 2 or lower monster from my graveyard and I think I'll chose one of the monsters you made me discard with Card Destruction two turns ago, Harpy Girl!" Karen retrieved the monster and a young blonde harpy appeared on the field (2/500/500) and her attack increased to 1000 thanks to the seal. "But neither of these weaklings are sticking around, I tune Junk Synchron with Harpy Girl to Synchro Summon Vortex The Whirlwind!" The two monsters vanished and in the place of Harpy Girl stood a huge hideous looking brown bird with a green face and green, human like body (5/2100/700) and it's attack increased to 2600 thanks to the seal. "Harpy's Brother attack her defence." Harpy's Brother charged towards the monster, revealed to be a yellow, green and blue bird (4/1600/1600) which was quickly destroyed. "Birdface? Like that will help you!"
"I wouldn't be so quick to judge if I where you." Miranda said as she picked up her deck and searched through it. "Thanks to Birdface's effect I add another copy of Harpy Lady Number 1 to my hand." Miranda announced before adding it.
"Like that'll help you, Vortex it's your turn!" The bird took flight and divebombed at Miranda knocking her off of her feet in the process.
K: 2100
M: 1500
"I activate my trap card Numinous Healer!" Miranda announced as she got up. "Now that I've taken damage this trap will restore a thousand of my life-points." Miranda added as her life-points increased to 2500.
"Big deal." Karen scoffed as her monster returned to her side of the field. "Even with the extra life-points my Vortex The Whirlwind still has more than enough strength to finish you off for good, I set a card facedown, now make your last pathetic move." Karen said and Miranda drew her card.
"Sorry Karen, but this duel's over!" Miranda said once she got a good look at the card she had drawn.
"Let me guess, your surrendering?" Karen asked and Miranda shook her head.
"No, it's over for you, I summon the Harpy Lady Number 1 that you helped me retrieve from my deck last turn!" Miranda played the card and the Harpy returned to the field (4/1300/1400) and thanks to her own ability her attack increased to 1600, however Harpy's Brother and Vortex The Whirlwind's attack strength also increased, to 2600 and 2900 respectively. "I also play another Elegant Egotist to special summon another Harpy Lady Sisters from my hand!" Miranda played the cards and the Harpy Sisters returned to the field (5/1950/2100) and their attack increased to 2250 thanks to the effect of Harpy Lady Number one.
"So? My monsters will knock them down easily." Karen scoffed. "And even if by some miracle my monsters are destroyed my facedown Mirror Force will wipe the field clean, then on my next turn I'll use Monster Reborn to bring back Simorgh and have him finish the job." Karen thought.
"I activate Icarus attack!" Miranda activated her last trap and Karen's eyes widened. "I see you remember what this trap does, in exchange for sacrificing a Winged Beast monster I can destroy two cards on the field, so I sacrifice Harpy Lady Number 1 to destroy Harpy's Brother and Vortex The Whirlwind!" The Harpy took flight high in the sky before divebombing towards the monsters, as she descended she started burning up and once she made contact with the monsters there was a massive explosion wiping out all three monsters.
"So what? I still have my trap!" Karen scoffed, Miranda remained confident even as the Harpy Lady Sisters lost their power boost.
"Encase you haven't noticed I have one card left in my hand, a card that renders your trap card useless!" Miranda said holding up the card. "I activate a second Triangle Ecstasy Spark!"
"NO! NOT THAT!" Karen yelled once it dawned on her, Miranda played the card and the Harpy Lady Sisters attack increased to 2700. "Sis...please have mercy!"
"Oh, NOW you beg for mercy?" Miranda scoffed before sighing. "Karen, before I attack and finish you off there's something you have to know."
"What?" Karen demanded barely able to hide her panic at this point.
"What I said earlier in the tournament, about being willing to support you no matter what, I meant every word of it." Miranda said as tears started rolling down her eyes. "I'll still press charges for the murders of my parents, or should I say our parents, if you ever get out of the Seal of the Orichalcos but all the same I'll call in a favour and have one of the best lawyers I know represent you." Miranda said and Karen blinked clearly taken aback by this.
"But...but why? After...after everything I said, everything I've done..." Karen stammered. "You...you may as well wash your hands off of me."
"Sis, I don't care about that, your still family to me." Miranda said honestly and tears started forming in Karen's eyes.
"Sis...if I ever do get out and...and I get arrested and sent to jail for those murders...promise me you'll visit me in jail..." Karen asked in between sobs.
"You got it." Miranda said with a nod before pointing to the Harpy Lady Sisters. "Harpy Ladies, finish her off with Triangle Ecstasy Spark!" The three harpies charged up their attack before launching it at Karen striking her in the chest.
K: 0000
M: 2500
Karen slumped down against the seal wall knowing what was about to happen to her. "Sis..." Karen said as Miranda went to leave, her older sister turned around and Karen sighed. "I'm sorry, for everything."
"Apology accepted." Miranda smiled as the seal closed in around her younger sister, she turned away as Karen let out a blood curdling scream as the seal took her soul, Miranda walked over to Karen and retrieved her Soul Card before pocketing it.
"Err, the winner of the duel is Miranda Trayson!" Bill announced clearly uncomfortable at this point before paramedics rushed over to Karen's unconscious body so that she could get medical attention.
"Looks like I'm up next." Kimberly said glancing over at Luigi. "I hope you don't mind the fact that I'll be kicking you out of the tournament."
"Please, I intend to win the match and the tournament!" Luigi said with a scoff. "Still, may the best duellist win."
"Don't worry, I will." Kimberly responded.
"There will be a twenty minute recess before the next match." Kaiba announced as Karen was carried away on a stretcher, Felix watched as Karen was carried away but before he could say anything his cell-phone went off.
"What is it?" Felix asked angrily once he answered the phone.
"It's Michael." Michael's voice rang out and Felix quickly calmed down. "You and Otto are the only operatives left in the organisation, do not fail."
"Don't worry, I'm facing that Lance Alvers kid in the last match of the day, should be a piece of cake!" Felix said confidently. "As for Otto, well that will depend on who he faces in the next round."
"Indeed." Michael said.
"Yo Michael, if we fail what will you do?" Felix asked, there was a few seconds of silence before an answer came.
"I will deliver an ultimatum to the Duel Academy students once the tournament is over." Michael eventually answered. "If they want their friends souls back they will meet me at the New York docks the very next day."
"Nice, lure them in with a sweet promise and steal their souls!" Felix said with a grin. "And if you fail...not saying you will..."
"Then the leader will take over for me." Michael said plainly before hanging up.