"ARGH, THIS IS POINTLESS!" Lance yelled out in frustration as as he looked over his deck, he was trying to prepare for his match against Eddie by coming up with new combos with new cards he had brought from a local card shop, he was sitting on the bed with his deck surrounding him. "Nothing I can think off is any good."
"Err Lance, some of us are trying to sleep." Brandon's voice rang out and he looked up, sure enough a tired looking Brandon was standing by the door.
"Sorry man, I'm trying to prepare for my match against Eddie." Lance said with a sigh. "None of the cards I brought earlier seem to be helping."
"Can I have a look?" Brandon asked.
"Be my guest." Lance shrugged his shoulders and Brandon sat down next to the bed. "I got some good fire cards but I can't seem to think of any effective combos."
"I know the feeling." Brandon said as he looked around the room. "You ever consider cleaning your room? Granted you might need a bulldozer but..."
"Ha, ha, very funny." Lance cut him off with a look of annoyance on his face. "Any ideas that relate to duelling?" Lance asked and Brandon turned his attention to the deck.
"Yeah, get some sleep." Brandon said after a few minutes. "Maybe sleeping on it will..." Brandon said before he noticed the time on Lance's alarm clock. "7:00am already?"
"Time flies when your racking your brain for combos." Lance shrugged. "Ah well, at least I have until the end of the day to come up with a combo."
"True enough." Brandon shrugged. "You ever consider adding more Synchro support cards?"
"Well I did pick some up alongside the fire cards." Lance said digging the cards out of his pocket. "Some good ones but some of them require specific cards like Stardust Dragon and Red Dragon Archfiend, cards I don't have."
"Yeah and they are pretty damn rare." Brandon agreed before running a hand through his hair. "Well good luck with that, I need to prepare for my match against Theresa."
"That reminds me." Lance said as he started gathering up his deck. "Any idea what deck she'll use against you?"
"No, I don't." Brandon said shaking his head. "All she told me is that she intends to use a deck she hasn't used in the tournament yet."
"That narrows it down." Lance said as a massive sweat-drop rolled down his head. "Whatever deck she does use it will give you a run for your money."
"As if Marcus didn't do that already." Brandon said before frowning. "But if anyone's got a tough duel ahead of them, well besides you and me, it's Chloe and Kimberly."
"Yeah, Chloe's facing a veteran duellist who kicked her own sister's ass and Kimberly's facing Otto." Lance said running a hand through his hair. "I'm sure I don't need to point out how difficult Kimberly's duel will be."
"Don't worry about me." The two boys looked up and saw Kimberly with a look of determination on her face. "Otto will pay for what he did to Andreas and by extension his cohorts will pay for what they've done over the past few weeks."
"Nathan included?" Lance asked and Kimberly frowned.
"That's a stupid question and you know it!" Kimberly snapped at him before shaking her head. "Sorry, that's still a touchy subject."
"No need to apologize." Lance said putting his hands up defensively. "You seen Chloe by the way?" Lance asked and Kimberly shook her head.
"Haven't seen her all morning, my guess is that she's doing some last minute preparation for her match against Miranda." Kimberly shrugged her shoulders.
"Actually I just finished doing some last minute preparation." Chloe chimed in making Kimberly jump. "You guys ready for your matches."
"You didn't even need to ask." Brandon said confidently. "Not sure if I'll be able to beat Theresa but that doesn't mean I won't try."
"Personally, if I where you I'd be more interested in whether or not Theresa lets you into her pants if you beat her tonight." Lance said causing Brandon to face-fault.
"You are so lucky that I don't have my duel disk right now." Brandon said as he got up. "Otherwise my monsters would be chasing you all over the city."
"Thanks but I don't want intimate details of your weird fetishes." Lance said nonchalantly causing Brandon to face-fault again.
"You always talk about your friend's sex lives?" Theresa chimed in as she approached them, she was in the middle of tying her hair up in a ponytail and had an amused look on her face, Lance laughed nervously as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Nah, just some light hearted teasing." Lance said as he started gathering up his deck, he put it into his deck slot before glancing at the clock. "What time does Chloe's match start?"
"Err, 10:00am, why?" Chloe asked after checking the time on her watch.
"Good, that leaves us an our to get to the duel dome." Lance said with a smile, Chloe gulped before heading back to her room and retrieving her duel disk and deck."You ready for whatever Miranda throws your way Chloe?"
"I was born ready." Chloe said confidently before frowning. "Doesn't mean it'll be an easy match though."
"All right students, I hope your ready for the second round." Jeff said walking up to the group. "Because we're about to leave."
"Where's Marcus?" Brandon asked.
"Oh he went down to get breakfast earlier, he'll be joining me and the other teachers in the stands." Martin explained as the other teachers joined him. "Shall we get going?"
"Lets." Lance said standing up, they followed the teachers to the car which drove off.
*meanwhile at the duel dome*
"What do you mean you where unable to find Otto Freshier?" Kaiba demanded from the small group of security guards, they gulped nervously.
"Sorry sir, we searched all over the duel dome for him." The security guard nearest Kaiba said apologetically.
"He couldn't have gotten far, not if he wanted to scout the competition for the next round." Another guard spoke up and Kaiba frowned.
"You are to resume your search for him immediately." Kaiba said with a frown. "If you have to apprehend him after his match against Kimberly Troy then do it." Kaiba added and the guards quickly left.
"Err, excuse me sir." Kaiba looked up and saw another guard by the door. "Miranda Trayson is here to see see you."
"Let her in, afterwards join the search for Otto." Kaiba said and Miranda entered the office, once the guard left Kaiba handed the medical report over to Miranda.
"This...this has to be a joke." Miranda stammered as she read the medical report.
"I wouldn't joke about something this serious." Kaiba said plainly as Miranda handed back the file, he took it and placed it on his desk. "The docs don't know if being trapped in the Orichalcos will affect the unborn child or who the father is."
"I can see that, I saw the notes mention that she's two months pregnant." Miranda said folding her arms. "So, you plan on telling the others?"
"No, this is a private matter for you and if you wish to tell them yourself I won't stop you." Kaiba said before his phone went off, he picked it up. "What is it?"
"Master Kaiba, the other Battle City Semi-Finalists have arrived." The guard on the other end said. "No sign of Otto Freshier though." He added, Kaiba said nothing before hanging up.
"Your opponent's arrived, I suggest you get down there before she gets too impatient." Kaiba sent bluntly, Miranda left the office and made her way to the duel arena where Chloe was waiting on the podium for her opponent.
"Welcome to the second round of the semi-finals ladies and gentlemen." Bill said as Miranda hopped onto the podium. "After a gruelling first round we are ready to begin with a match between Duel Academy's Chloe Richardson and Miranda Trayson, given the obvious experience difference between the two I'd have to give the edge to Miranda."
"True but Chloe has gotten this far in the tournament for a reason Bill." Bob pointed out as both duellists activated their duel disks. "As we saw in the last round we can't rule her out."
"All right kid, who's going first?" Miranda asked once she finished shuffling her deck and drew her hand, Chloe did likewise and looked over her hand.
"Sweet, I drew Fairy Box on my first turn." Chloe thought as she eyed her trap card. "This trap helped me defeat my dad in the last round so it should help me win this match!" Chloe thought before looking up. "I will." Chloe said before drawing her card. "I set two cards facedown and summon Marauding Captain in attack mode!" Chloe played the cards and the twin sword wielding captain appeared on the field (3/1200/400). "And I activate his effect, allowing me to Special Summon a Level 4 or lower monster from my hand, my monster of choice is Command Knight!" Chloe played the card and a female warrior with long blonde hair appeared on her side of the field, she was wearing red and gold armour and was ready for battle (4/1200/1900). "Since I have Marauding Captain on my side of the field you can't target any other Warrior type monsters on the field but that's not all." Chloe said as her two warriors attacks rose to 1600. "As long as Command Knight's on the field my warriors gain a powerboost of 400."
"Good start, those warriors maybe weak but their effects make up for it." Theresa thought as she observed the duel. "But Miranda has an experience edge over Chloe, she won't let a move like that stop her."
"That ends my turn." Chloe announced and Miranda drew her card.
"If you think a move like that will stop me kid then your in trouble." Miranda said before playing the spell card she drew. "I activate the Field Spell Card Harpy's Hunting Ground!" Miranda played the card and the scenery changed to a baron wasteland. "This spell card has two effects, for starters all Winged Beast Monsters I control gain a powerboost of their own, namely by 200 points, as for it's other effect well allow me to demonstrate by summoning Harpy Lady Number 1 in attack mode!" Miranda played the card and the redheaded Harpy appeared on the field (4/1300/1400) and due to the effect of Harpy's Hunting Ground it's attack increased to 1500...and again to 1800. "I'm sure you remember Harpy Lady's effect from my last duel."
"Yeah, I remember it." Chloe said before smirking. "Though once she attacks and I activate Fairy Box that won't..." Chloe thought but her train of thought was interrupted by the Harpy taking flight and destroying Fairy Box's hologram. "What just happened?"
"What just happened was Harpy's Hunting Ground's second effect, when Harpy Lady or Harpy Lady Sisters is Normal or Special Summoned I can destroy one Spell or Trap Card on the field." Miranda explained and Chloe's eyes widened when it dawned on her.
"No big deal, my Desperate Tag trap will prevent any battle damage and allow me to Special Summon my second Command Knight." Chloe thought as Miranda picked up another card.
"Encase your getting any ideas about your other trap being able to protect you, don't." Miranda said before playing a card. "I activate Elegant Egotist which allows me to Special Summon either Harpy Lady Sisters or Harpy Lady from my deck or hand, I chose to Special Summon the Harpy Lady Sisters in my hand and you know what that means!" Miranda played the card and the three Harpies appeared on the field (6/1950/2100) and due to the effects of Harpy Lady Number 1 and Harpy's Hunting Ground their attack increased to 2450, no sooner than they appeared that they took flight and destroyed Chloe's remaining facedown card.
"Okay, this isn't going as well as I'd hoped!" Chloe thought with a frown. "First priority is definitely get rid of this field spell!" Chloe thought as her two monsters braced themselves for the upcoming attacks.
"Harpy Lady Number 1 attack Marauding Captain, Harpy Lady Sisters attack Command Knight!" Miranda commanded and her Harpies took flight before ripping the two warriors to shreds with their claws.
C: 6950
M: 8000
"That ends my turn." Miranda announced and Chloe drew her card.
"Crap, I haven't drawn any cards that can destroy her field spell." Chloe thought before picking up the card she did draw, "I set a monster in defence mode and end my turn." Chloe set the monster down and Miranda drew her card.
"Another Harpy Lady, fortunately for Chloe I can't risk summoning her because Harpy's Hunting Ground's effect applies to all cards on the field, including it's self." Miranda thought before she added the card to her hand. "Harpy Lady attack her defence monster!" The harpy took flight before launching herself at the monster, revealed to be Apprentice Magician (2/400/800) which was torn to shreds by the harpy's claws.
"The monster you destroyed was Apprentice Magician, by destroying her you've allowed me to set another Apprentice Magician in her place!" Chloe announced as she sent her first copy to the graveyard and searched through her deck, she found the card that she was looking for and set the monster down.
"Fine, you set them up and I'll knock them down." Miranda said confidently before pointing at the Harpy Lady Sisters. "Harpy Lady Sisters attack her second Apprentice Magician!" The Harpies took flight before launching themselves at the second Apprentice Magician ripping her to shreds, once Chloe sent her second copy of the monster to the graveyard she searched through her deck before finding the card she was looking for and setting it. "I hope you don't plan on playing defensively the whole match Chloe because it's only a matter of time before I break through your defences."
"Miranda's right, Chloe's Apprentice Magicians have served her well so far but they can only protect her life-points for so long." Jeff said as he folded his arms, Marcus turned to him with a smile on his face.
"Jeff, you know as well as I do that Chloe's resilient, just look at the duel where she had to face her biological dad, if anyone can find a way out of this jam it's her." Marcus said before frowning. "Though I'll be the first to admit that I don't see it happening any-time soon."
"That's true Marcus but Miranda has an experience edge over her." Jeff agreed and the other teachers nodded in agreement. "At the moment I'd say her best bet is too either draw Silent Magician or a card that can destroy Miranda's field spell."
"Or find a way to force Miranda to destroy her own field spell." Maria chimed in causing the other teachers to look at confused. "Harpy's Hunting Ground's greatest strength is also it's greatest weakness, it's destroy Spell and Trap Cards effect also applies to Miranda's side of the field."
"That explains why she didn't bring out another monster." Jeff said stroking his chin. "Lets see if Chloe can figure it out for herself." Jeff added as Chloe drew her card.
"Mirage of Nightmare? Don't know how...wait I could use Miranda's own card to my advantage with this combination!" Chloe thought before playing the card. "I activate Mirage of Nightmare, now during your next standby phase..."
"Kid, I know what that does and quite frankly it isn't going to work." Miranda cut her off and Chloe sweat-dropped.
"We'll see about that, for now I set a monster in defence mode and end my turn!" Chloe set the monster and Miranda drew her card, as she did Mirage of Nightmare's effect kicked in allowing Chloe to draw four cards.
"Don't get too attached to those new cards because by your next standby phase you'll have to discard them!" Miranda said confidently before pointing to Harpy Lady. "Harpy Lady attack the defence monster she just set!" Miranda commanded and Harpy Lady took flight again...
"Thanks, I was hoping you'd do that!" Chloe said with a smirk, Miranda blinked in confusion...only for her eyes to widen when she saw the monster was Familiar Knight (4/1200/1600) before it was destroyed by Harpy Lady. "Now we're forced to special summon one Level 4 or lower monster from our hands, my monster of choice is a new addition to my deck Power Breaker!" Chloe played the card and a muscular man wearing a orange mask appeared on the field, he had long flowing blonde hair, was wearing blue pants and black gloves (4/1900/0000)
"Great, the only monster I have in my hand is the Harpy Lady I drew last turn and as much as I'd hate to risk giving the opponent an advantage by letting her keep those cards my only other option is destroying my field spell." Miranda thought before playing the card. "In that case I summon Harpy Lady Number 2 in attack mode and have her destroy Mirage of Nightmare!" Miranda played the card and the harpy with short red hair appeared on the field (4/1300/1400) and as her attack increased to 1800 via the effects of Harpy's Hunting Ground and Harpy Lady Number 1 she took flight before destroying Mirage of Nightmare. "So what if you forced me to destroy Mirage of Nightmare? Power Breaker's a giant bullseye for my Harpy Lady Sisters!" As Miranda said that the three sisters took flight before divebombing at Power Breaker ripping the monster to shreds with it's claws.
C: 6400
M: 8000
"Actually I was hoping you'd do that as well." Chloe said as she held up her monster. "Power Breaker has an effect of his own, when he's destroyed either by battle or a card effect and sent to the graveyard he takes one Spell or Trap card with him." As Chloe sent her monster to the graveyard it didn't take long for Miranda to realize what card she was targeting.
"WHAT?" Miranda yelled out as the field returned to normal and the 5 harpies attacks where reduced to 1600 and 2250 respectively, she quickly regained her composure however and pointed at the only Harpy Lady that hadn't attacked yet.. "Harpie Lady Number 2 attack her facedown monster." The newly summoned Harpy Lady took flight before ripping the facedown monster, Chloe's third and final Apprentice Magician, to shreds, Chloe wasted no time in searching through her deck and setting another monster facedown once she found the one that she was looking for. "I enter my second main phase and activate the effect of Harpie Queen (4/1900/1200) from my hand, with it I can discard her to the graveyard and add my second copy of Harpy's Hunting Ground to my hand." Miranda discarded the monster and searched through her deck, once she located the card she was looking for she added it to her hand and shuffled her deck. "And speaking of Harpy's Hunting Ground I'm activating that field spell!" Miranda announced before playing the card, once again the scenery changed to the baron wasteland and the five harpies got their power boost back. "Nice try kid, I end my turn." Chloe groaned in frustration before drawing her card.
"Great, I thought I saw the last of that damn field spell when I destroyed it." Chloe thought before looking at her newly drawn card. "I activate the continuous spell card Arcane Barrier, now each time a Spellcaster type monster on my side of the field is destroyed this card will gain a counter and by sending this card to the graveyard with one Spellcaster I control I can draw one card for each Spell Counter it has."
"Your assuming you'll even get that far kid." Miranda said with a grin. "Or have you forgotten about the second effect of Harpy's Hunting Ground?"
"If I where you I'd be more concerned about the Harpy Ladies already on the field, I flip summon Old Vindictive Magician!" Chloe flipped the card over and the old magician appeared on the field (2/450/600). "Now that I've flip summoned him his effect activates, namely the ability to destroy one monster on the field and I'm choosing Harpy Lady Number 1." Miranda's eyes widened in shock as the Magician cast a spell causing Harpy Lady's hologram to shatter, at the same time the remaining Harpy's attacks dropped to 1500 and 2150 respectively.
"That does it, come next turn that old guy's toast!" Miranda said and Chloe grinned.
"Your assuming that I'll leave my Magician on the field long enough for you too attack him, I offer Old Vindictive Magician as a tribute to summon Magical Marionette in attack mode!" The old magician vanished and in his place stood the red robed puppet master (5/2000/1000). "Marionette attack Harpy Lady Number 2." The puppet master launched it's strings at the Harpy strangling her.
C: 6400
M: 7500
"That ends my...oh crap." Chloe said once her mistake dawned on her.
"Let me guess, forgot about your own monster's effect right?" Miranda asked and Chloe nodded sheepishly. "Pity for you because I'm not going to let any mistakes go unpunished." Miranda said before she drew her card. "Fortunately for her I didn't draw another Harpy Lady, what I did draw however will come in handy." Miranda thought before setting the card. "I set a card facedown, now Harpy Lady Sisters attack Magical Marionette!" The three harpies took flight before tearing the puppet master to shreds with their claws.
C: 6250
M: 7500
"Since you destroyed my Spellcaster my Arcane Barrier gets it's first counter." Chloe pointed out and Miranda scoffed.
"Like I'll set you get very far with that thing." Miranda said dismissively. "I end my turn." Miranda announced and Chloe drew her card, when she saw it she barely suppressed the urge to grin broadly.
"You won't get a chance, because I'm about to activate a field spell of my own." Chloe said holding up the card. "Namely one of the cards I won in my first match."
"Cards she won in her first match? What cards did she win in that match again?" Miranda thought before realization hit her. "The Endymion cards!"
"Bingo!" Chloe said triumphantly before playing the card. "I activate the Field Spell Card Magical Citadel of Endymion!" Chloe played the card and the baron wasteland changed to a beautiful looking city with tall towers the reached the sky, Miranda sent her field spell to the graveyard with a frown on her face. "My field spell did more than destroy Harpy's Hunting Ground Miranda, because like Magical Marionette it gains spell counters every-time a Spell Card is played but that's not all, when a card with Spell Counters on it, like Arcane Barrier, is destroyed it's spell counters get added to the Citadel."
"That's not all her field spell does." Eddie thought as he observed the duel.
"For now though I set a monster in defence mode and end my turn." Chloe set the card and Miranda drew hers.
"Your in trouble kid, you see I wasn't kidding when I said that I had updated my deck yesterday." Miranda said as she held up a card. "First I activate Card Destruction which forces us to discard our hands." Miranda played the card and both women discarded their hands, once they drew new ones the Citadel gained it's first counter.
"Thanks for giving my Citadel it's first counter." Chloe said with a grin. "I don't see the point of it though."
"Watch and learn, since I discarded it from my hand I can special summon the tuner monster Mist Valley Baby Rock to the field in attack mode!" Miranda played the card and a small brown bird with a green, ox like head appeared on the field (2/400/500). "Next I offer my sisters as a tribute to summon Mist Valley Executer in attack mode!" The three harpies vanished and in their place stood a muscular man with black hair, yellow claws and black wings wearing a red and blue outfit (5/2100/1600) "Before I continue my next move my Executer's effect activates, allowing me to return all faceup spell and trap cards to the owner's hands, in other words Arcane Barrier and your Citadel are returning to your hand."
"Oh great!" Chloe exclaimed as Miranda's monster flapped it's wings sending both of her cards to her hand, as Miranda retrieved a card from her extra deck she chuckled.
"You know, I was originally going to save this next monster for when I reached the finals and face Eddie again." Miranda said with a grin. "But your tenacity has impressed me enough that I want to see how you fare against it, I tune Baby Rock with Mist Valley Executer to Synchro Summon my deck's strongest monster, Mist Valley Thunder Lord!" The two monsters vanished from the field and in Harpy Lady Sisters stood a huge humanoid muscular bird that was red and green in colour and had black wins (7/2600/2400). "Eddie, consider this a taste of things to come! Thunder Lord attack her facedown card!" The lord flapped it's wings at the monster, revealed to be Defended The Magical Knight (4/1600/2000) who was blown into the air, whilst it was in the air it was struck by lightning destroying it.
"Not bad..." Chloe said...right before she took a look at her new hand and her eyes widened. "Shit, the only cards I can play are Arcane Barrier and Citadel!" Chloe thought before gulping. "My move yet?" Chloe asked and Miranda nodded, she drew her card and her eyes widened. "Shit, another Spell Card, at least with this I can get rid of her facedown card." Chloe thought. "I activate Magical Citadel of Endymion again!" Chloe played the card and the field changed back to the Citadel. "Now I activate two spell cards, Arcane Barrier and Mystical Space Typhoon and I'm using the latter to destroy your facedown card." Chloe played the cards and, after the Citadel gained two counters a tornado ripped through Miranda's facedown card destroying it.
"So much for Mirror Wall." Miranda thought as she looked at her card. "If she had attacked this trap would've cut her monster's attack points in half, sure I'd have to play 2000 life-points to keep it in play but it's still useful." Miranda thought.
"I...I have to end my turn at that." Chloe said with a gulp.
"This is going to be painful to watch." Lance said as his eyes widened.
"Even more so once Miranda activates Thunder Lord's effect." Axel commented as he folded his arms. "Let's just say that calling it a nasty effect is an understatement."
"I summon Mist Valley Thunderbird in attack mode!" Miranda played the card and a small yellow bird appeared on the field (3/1100/700). "Now I activate Thunder Lord's effect, by returning Thunderbird to my hand I can increase it's attack to 3100." The small bird vanished and Thunder Lord's attack increased to 3100. "It gets better, for me at least, when Thunderbird is returned to my hand by this effect I can Special Summon it back to the field, unfortunately it can't attack during the same turn." Miranda explained as the bird reappeared on the field. "Fortunately for you I can only use Thunder Lord's effect once per turn. Unfortunately for you it still packs a punch," Miranda said before pointing to her monster. "Thunder Lord attack her life-points directly!" The bird flapped it's wings at Chloe who braced herself, she was hit by the wind first followed quickly by the lightning.
C: 3150
M: 7500
"That ends my turn, try to put up a fight kid!" Miranda said confidently as Chloe drew her card.
"I can't let her use Thunder Lord's effect again, my best bet in terms of doing that is destroying Thunderbird." Chloe thought before looking at her newly drawn card. "Perfect." Chloe thought before playing the card. "I activate Card of Sanctity to refresh our hands and give my Citadel a new Spell Counter." Chloe played the card and both duellists drew until they had six cards, as Chloe examined her new hand the Citadel gained a new counter. "Next I summon Crusader of Endymion in attack mode!" Chloe said before the armoured spellcaster appeared on the field (4/1900/1600). "Crusader attack Thunderbird!" The crusader charged forward and decapitated Thunderbird with a slash of it's sword.
C: 3150
M: 6700
"I set a card facedown and end my turn at that!" Chloe set the facedown card down and Miranda drew her card. "I activate Thunder of Ruler, now you have to skip your Battle Phase."
"Great." Miranda groaned before looking over her hand. "I end my turn." Miranda announced and Chloe drew her card.
"Now I activate Crusader's ability as a Gemini Monster." Chloe announced as Crusader started glowing. "Basically it lets me add a Spell Counter to one card on the field, my choice is the Citadel it's self." As Chloe explained this the Citadel gained another counter Crusader's attack increased to 2500. "That's an added bonus, on the turn that I activate it's effect his attack gains a boost of 600 points."
"It's still not enough to beat my Thunder Lord." Miranda said confidently. "Not only that but since you have to give up a Normal Summon to activate a Gemini Monster's effect we're back to where we started two turns ago."
"I know that." Chloe said before picking up her newly drawn card. "I set this facedown and end my turn." Chloe set the card down and, as Crusader's attack returned to normal, Miranda drew a card.
"Her Citadel now has four counters but she hasn't explained what they do." Miranda thought with a frown. "Still her Crusader has a big bullseye on it's chest and given the massive lead I have how could I not take advantage of it?" Miranda thought before looking at her newly drawn card. "You know what? Since I'm feeling generous I'll throw you a bone, I activate Pot of Greed which lets me draw two cards and adds a Spell Counter to your Citadel." Miranda played the card and, once the Citadel gained it's fifth counter, she looked at one of her new cards and grinned. "Your Citadel's done for, I activate my own Mystical Space Typhoon!" Miranda played the card and a tornado ripped through the Citadel...only for the Citadel to survive the assault. "What?" Miranda yelled out and Chloe grinned.
"Surprised? By removing a Spell Counter from the Citadel I can save it from destruction, not only that but your Spell Card also restores a that lost Spell Counter." Chloe explained as her Citadel regained it's counter. "Nice try though." She added, Miranda frowned as she sent her Spell to the graveyard.
"Fine, guess I'll settle for destroying Crusader!" Miranda announced and her monster blew Crusader into the air before striking it with lightning.
C: 2450
M: 6700
Chloe sent her monster to the graveyard and Arcane Barrier gained it's first counter. "That ends my turn." Miranda announced and Chloe drew her card.
"I activate my Trap Card Call of the Haunted to bring back one of my Apprentice Magicians!" Chloe activated the trap and the magician returned to the field. "Now I tribute Apprentice Magician and Arcane Barrier allowing me to draw one card." Chloe sent her cards to the graveyard and drew her card. "Oh yeah, and my Citadel gains it's sixth counter." Chloe added as the sixth counter appeared on the field. "Just what I needed in other words."
"Just what you needed?" Miranda echoed the confusion evident on her face.
"By removing all six off my counters from my field spell I can Special Summon my next monster directly from my hand." Chloe announced as the six counters vanished. "Come forth Endymion, The Master Magician in attack mode!" Chloe played the card and a blight light enveloped the field, Miranda shielded her eyes as did the other duellists and spectators, once the light died down they looked up and Miranda's jaw dropped when she saw the monster, it was a tall man covered completely in black and gold armour wearing a purple robe (7/2700/1700).
"Crap, that thing's stronger than Thunder Lord!" Miranda cursed once it dawned on her.
"There's more though, when I summon my Magician this way I can add one Spell Card from my graveyard to my hand." Chloe explained as she retrieved the card and added it to her hand. "But that card won't stay in my hand for long, Endymion's other effect lets me destroy one card on the field in exchange for discarding a card from my hand!" Chloe discarded the card and Miranda's eyes widened as Endymion cast a spell at Thunder Lord, it was quickly engulfed in a black light and destroyed. "Now Endymion attack her life-points directly!" Endymion cast another spell striking Miranda in the chest.
C: 2450
M: 4000
"That ends my turn." Chloe announced before looking at her hand. "All I need is Level Up and Silent Magician Level 4 and I'll be able to back Endymion up with my strongest monster, I just need to wait for her to make her move." Chloe thought as Miranda drew her card.
"All she'll need is another Spell Card and a Level 4 monster with 1700 or more attack points to win the match, I'm not about to surrender though!" Miranda thought before looking at her newly drawn card, she grinned before playing it. "I activate Swords of Revealing Light, sure it adds another counter to your Citadel but it also buys me some time!" Miranda announced as three golden swords rained down from the sky pinning down Endymion, at the same time the Citadel gained another counter. "That ends my turn." Miranda announced and Chloe drew her card.
"Not much I can do so I end my turn." Chloe announced and as the first sword disappeared Miranda drew her card.
"I set a monster in defence mode and end my turn." Miranda set the card down and Chloe drew her card.
"One card down, one to go." Chloe thought as she looked at her copy of Level Up. "I end my turn." Chloe announced and once the second sword disappeared Miranda drew her card.
"I set another monster in defence mode and end my turn." Miranda set the card down and Chloe drew her card.
"Not what I was hoping for but still useful." Chloe thought before playing the card she drew. "I activate Spell Power Grasp, this lets me add one Spell Counter to a card on my side of the field and add another copy of the card to my hand from my deck, I'm adding the Spell Counter too my Citadel." Chloe played the card and the Citadel gained two counters, one from Spell Power Grasp's effect and the other from the fact that Chloe activated a Spell Card, once Chloe sent the card to the graveyard she picked up her deck and searched through it finding a second copy of the spell card near the bottom of the deck and adding it to her hand, one quick deck shuffle later and Chloe turned to Miranda. "I can only activate one copy of that card per turn so I'll end my turn at that." Chloe explained and as the third and final Sword disappeared from the field Miranda drew her card.
"Why didn't she just discard that card and use Endymion's effect? Is she waiting for a card?" Miranda thought before looking at her newly drawn card. "I pass." Miranda said plainly and Chloe drew her card.
"YES! I drew the card I was waiting for!" Chloe thought barely suppressing her grin at this point. "First I use Endymion's effect, discarding the Spell Power Grasp I added to my hand last turn and destroying your newly set facedown card!" Chloe discarded the card and Endymion cast a spell at the facedown card, revealed to be Harpy Lady Number 3 (4/1300/1400) quickly destroying it. "Now I summon Silent Magician Level 4 in attack mode!" Chloe played the card and one of her signature cards appeared on the field (4/1000/1000). "But she's not sticking around, I activate the spell card Level Up levelling her up to her strongest form and my strongest monster Silent Magician Level 8!" Chloe played the cards and, not noticing that the Citadel had another counter, swapped out the monsters, Silent Magician Level 4 started glowing and growing until she reached her adult form (8/3500/1000). "Endymion attack her defence, Silent Magician attack her life-points directly!" The two magicians launched their attacks, Endymion destroying Miranda's copy of Harpy's Pet Baby Dragon (4/1200/600) and Silent Magician's attack striking Miranda in the chest.
C: 2450
M: 500
"That ends my turn." Chloe announced and Miranda drew her card...and too Chloe's surprise surrendered.
"You've already beaten my strongest monster kid." Miranda said as the holograms disappeared. "Besides the card I drew wouldn't really help now, would it?" Miranda asked as she held up her final copy of Harpy's Hunting Ground.
"Guess not." Chloe said with a shrug as she returned her cards to her deck and deactivated her duel disk, Miranda did likewise and both women hopped off the duel arena.
"There will be a twenty minute recess before the next match." Kaiba announced over the PA System and Axel smirked knowing that he was up next.
"Enjoy your undefeated streak whilst it lasts Axel." Ray said catching the German Champ's attention. "I'll break it faster than you can wave a white flag!"
"I'll say it once and I'll say it every-time someone says that to me until someone actually beats me, I'll believe it when it actually happens." Axel said dismissively, unbeknownst to them and the others, including Kaiba, Otto was watching the duel from a nearby balcony.
"Richardson's deck has become to powerful, if I face her in either of the following rounds I'll have to take steps to ensure that I make to the Semi-Finals." Otto thought with a scowl on his face before turning his attention to Axel. "After that I'll focus on beating either Theresa or Axel followed by Eddie, then I'll be the champ and the boss will have the strongest souls in the city."
Whilst that was going on Chloe, whilst happy to be through to the next round, was nervous about the potential matchups. "My last match against Theresa was so one sided it wasn't even funny, Eddie's the champ and is far out of my league. Otto...well I want to face him in the next round because of what he did to Andreas. Brandon, Ray and Lance, as much as I like them, are unlikely to beat their opponents and Kimberly...as much as I want to be the one to beat Otto I don't want to lose a second friend to the Orichalcos." Chloe thought before running a hand through her hair, she glanced over at Kimberly who didn't seem to notice that she was looking in her direction as she was looking over her deck.
"Something on your mind?" Chloe glanced over and saw Lance looking at her.
"It's nothing, just thinking about my potential matches in the next round." Chloe shrugged her shoulders. Lance frowned before glancing towards Theresa.
"You're worried about duelling Theresa again right?" Lance asked, Chloe bit her lip before nodding.
"Was it that obvious?" Chloe sighed before looking at her deck. "I'm a much better duellist than I was back then and my deck's improved a lot as well but I still don't think it'll be enough."
"Don't worry about it." Theresa said making Chloe jump. "Sorry, I overheard but anyway I'm sure you'll do fine."
"Thanks for the kind words." Chloe said sheepishly before glancing up at the screen which was showing a countdown timer to the match between Ray Edwards and Axel Loather. "The match will be starting soon." Chloe thought before glancing over at the male duellists who seemed to realize that as well.
"Will Axel Loather and Ray Edwards please step onto the Duel Arena for the next match." Kaiba's voice rang out and the two duellists stepped onto the arena ready for their match.
"I said it once and I'll say it again." Ray said as the two duellists shuffled their decks.
"Let me guess, you will be the one to break my winning streak?" Axel interrupted him as he activated his duel disk, Ray did likewise seemingly unaffected by the interruption and both duellists drew their opening hands. "I've heard it so many times by now Raymond that's it's become a cliché as far as I'm concerned, anyway who shall go first?" Axel asked as he looked over his hand.
"Well for one thing that will stop being a cliché once I beat you, as for who's going first I will." Ray said as he drew another card. "I set two cards facedown and summon Archfiend Interceptor in attack mode!" Ray played the card and a grey, four armed fiend appeared on the field, strangely enough though it was clad in American Football gear (4/1400/1000). "That ends my turn."
"Why would he open with such a weak monster?" Chloe wondered outloud.
"Good question, good money's on the possibility of that card having an effect to make up for it's weak attack." Lance commented not noticing Kimberly nodding in agreement.
"Your right Lance, let's see if Axel can figure it out though." Kimberly thought as Axel drew his first card.
"You may remember this card from my duel against Michael, I activate the Field Spell Card Coliseum – Cage of the Gladiator Beasts." Axel played the card and for the second duel in a row the field's scenery was changed, this time to the Coliseum from Axel's duel against Mike.
"This thing's effect contributed to Mike's defeat." Ray thought as he looked around. "I'm going to have to play this smart if I don't want to end up like him."
"I can tell from the look on your face that you remember this card's effect, as such I won't bother to repeat it." Axel said before picking up another card. "Now lets get this show on the road, I summon Gladiator Beast Darius in attack mode!" Axel played the card and the humanoid horse appeared on the field (4/1700/300).
"Thanks for that, you've allowed me to activate my Hidden Soldiers trap card!" Ray activated the trap and grinned. "This can only be activated if you Normal or Flip summon a monster, now that that's been done I can Special Summon one Level 4 or lower Dark type monster from my hand." Ray explained before picking up a card. "My monster of choice is Newdoria!" Ray played the card and the small pink fiend appeared on the field (4/1200/800).
"He's clearly hoping that I attack his weaker monster, however I remember it's effect from Brandon's duel against Marcus." Axel thought before pointing at Darius. "Darius attack Archfiend Interceptor!" The humanoid horse charged forward...but as he drew a sword one of Archfiend Interceptor's arms reached forward and slammed into Axel's face. "What on Earth?"
"That's the effect of Archfiend Interceptor." Ray said as Darius decapitated the fiend. "As long as it's in attack mode you take 500 points of damage each time a monster declares an attack." Ray explained as Darius returned to Axel's side of the field.
R: 7700
A: 7500
"Well played but don't forget about the ability of my Gladiator Beasts!" Axel said as Darius disappeared from the field, he picked up his deck and started searching through it. "My monster of choice is Gladiator Beast Beastiari in attack mode!" Axel played the card and the winged green reptile in matching armour appeared on the field (4/1500/800) and as the Coliseum gained it's first counter the monster's attack increased to 1600 and it flew towards Ray's remaining facedown card destroying it.
"So much for Scrubbed Raid." Ray thought before sending his trap to the graveyard.
"That shall end my turn." Axel said and Ray drew his card, he added it to his hand and picked up a card.
"I activate the Spell Card Allure of Darkness, now by removing one Dark Type monster from my hand I can use this card to draw an additional two cards from my hand." Ray pocketed the monster and drew two cards from his deck. "Nothing in my hand can beat Beastiari but if I set a monster he'll just bring out another one, still it's better than a direct attack." Ray thought. "I set a card facedown and a monster in defence mode, your move." Ray set the cards and Axel drew his card.
"I activate Gladiator Beast Respite, now by shuffling two of my Gladiator Beasts into my deck this Spell Card shall allow me to draw three cards." Axel shuffled the two cards into his deck and drew three cards...
"Don't get attached to them, I chain Respite with my trap card Null and Void!" Ray activated the trap and Axel frowned. "I see you recognise this card."
"Yes, I must now discard the three cards I just drew." Axel said before turning his cards around, the cards in question where another copy of his Coliseum Field Spell, the trap card Gladiator Lash and Gladiator Beast Sparticus (6/2200/1600) before discarding the three cards. "A minor annoyance at best however, Beastari attack his defence!" The winged reptile flew towards the monster...and everyone did double takes when they saw a giant tomato with an evil looking face (4/1400/1100) which was quickly destroyed.
"That was one of the few non fiend types in my deck, Mystic Tomato!" Ray said as he held up the card. "This is a deck searcher similar to Mother Grizzly and Shining Angel only it's effect applies to Dark Type monsters." Ray explained as he sent the monster to his graveyard and searched through it. "My card of choice is the Tuner monster Dark Tinker in attack mode!" Ray played the card and in the place off Mystic Tomato stood a large black spider with a skull design on it's back and swords being carried by it's pincers (2/1000/1300).
"That also works in my favour." Axel announced as the Colosseum gained another counter and Beastari's attack increased to 1700. "Simply put, the Colosseum's effect also applies to non Gladiator Beast monsters, I end my turn and you know what that means!" Axel said as Beastari disappeared from the field, he picked up his deck and searched through it, once he found the card he was looking for he played it. "Through the abilities of the Gladiator Beasts I summon the mighty Gladiator Beast Octavious in attack mode!" Axel played the card and a humanoid eagle in green armour appeared on the field (7/2500/1200) and as the Colosseum gained another counter it's attack increased to 2800. "Normally when this beast is summoned in such a way I would be able to destroy one face-down Spell or Trap card and destroy it, however since neither of us have any facedown cards I'll simply leave it at that."
"Yikes, I'm glad he didn't use that against me!" Mike said as he watched the duel, he and Sophie where watching the duel from the stands alongside their mother and step father, a short man with short red hair and blue eyes. "Though I still would've beaten it."
"Bro, you could barely beat Axel's weakest monsters." Sophie pointed out and Mike laughed nervously as he sweat-dropped.
"That thing's supposed to scare me?" Ray asked bluntly as he drew his card. "Perfect, first I offer Newdoria as a tribute to summon Air Eater in attack mode!" Ray swapped out the monsters and Newdoria disappeared from the field, in it's place stood an odd looking fiend that was green in colour and had four arms (6/2100/1600). "Now I tune my Level 2 Dark Tinker with my Level 6 Air Eater to Synchro Summon the mighty Blood Mefist in attack mode!" Ray played the card and the two monsters vanished, in the place of Air Eater stood the top hat wearing fiend from Theresa's duel with Alex (8/2800/1300).
"Not bad, now we're at a stalemate." Axel acknowledged.
"Don't get ahead of yourself because there's two more things for me to do before I end my turn, first I activate Dark Tinker's special ability from the graveyard, this allows me to look at the top card on my deck and decide if it remains at the top of my deck or goes to the bottom." Ray explained before picking up his card. "This will remain at the top of my deck." Ray announced as he returned the card to the top of his deck. "As for the other thing, I set one card facedown and end my turn." Ray set the card down and Axel drew his card...only to wince as a blast of dark light struck him. "Blood Mefist inflicts 300 points of damage to your life-points during your standby phase." Ray explained.
R: 7700
A: 7200
"No matter, for it seems our stalemate has ended already." Axel said as he played the card he drew. "I equip Octavious with the Equip Spell Card Gladiator Beast's Battle Gladius!" As Axel said with a large sword made of silver and gold appeared in Octavious's hands. "As the name suggests this Spell Card can only be equipped to a Gladiator Beast monster such as Octavious, with it the equipped monster gains a 300 attack point power boost!" As Axel explained this his monster's attack increased to 3100. "But why stop there? I also equip my Gladiator Beast with another spell card, Gladiator Beast's Battle Archfiend Shield!" Axel played the card and a large brown shield appeared in Octavious's right hand, strangely enough it had the design of a skeleton complete with a skull at the top. "Octavious attack Blood Mefist!" The beast charged towards the fiend...
"You'll have to try harder than that, I activate Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Gladius!" Ray activated the trap and a tornado ripped through the stadium destroying the sword and returning Octavious's attack to 2800. "I was going to use this on the field spell but for all I know he might have another in his hand, either way both monsters will be destroyed." Ray thought as Axel sent his Spell Card to the graveyard and Mellfist pointed it's staff at Octavious, the staff fired a black beam of light at Octavious causing a large explosion. "Now both our monsters are destroyed but more importantly no more tagging out for..." Ray started but stopped when he saw that Octavious was still standing and Blood Mefist was gone.
"Did you ever wonder why I never explained Battle Archfiend Shield's effect? That's why, you see Battle Archfiend Shield has a very powerful ability for you see if the equipped monster would be destroyed in battle the shield would be destroyed in it's place." Axel explained and Ray frowned.
"This is just like Mike's duel against him, no matter what I throw at him he has a counter for everything I've got." Ray thought before glancing at his deck. "Luckily the card that Dark Tinker gave me a sneak peak at packs a punch, no matter what he has lined up next I'll be ready for it." Ray thought.
"That shall end my turn and off course Octavious returns to my deck!" Axel said as the large winged reptile disappeared from the field.
"That monster was a powerhouse, you have to wonder just what Axel will follow it up with!" Bill said and Bob nodded in agreement.
"Through the magic of the Gladiator Beasts I summon Gladiator Beast Secutor in attack mode!" Axel played the card and in the place of Octavious stood a small green humanoid reptile in blue armour (4/400/300) and everyone else face-faulted at the site of the stats even as they where increased to 800 through the magic of the Colosseum. "I equip my monster with Mist Body, now it can't be destroyed in battle, that ends my turn."
"That's your big follow up? My weakest Fiends will eat it for breakfast!" Ray declared as he got up, he drew his card and grinned. "There's a reason why I left this card at the top of my deck last turn, to say that it packs a punch is understatement." Ray said as he played a card. "First I activate Monster Reborn to revive Blood Mefist!" Ray played the card and the top hat wearing fiend appeared on the field. "Now that I have a Level 8 Synchro monster on my side of the field I can bring out Creation Resonator!" Ray played the card and a grey fiend in purple, gold and orange robes appeared on the field, in had long flowing white hair and for some reason was carrying a tuning fork (3/800/600).
"All that just to bring out a weak fiend type monster? Please." Axel scoffed and Ray grinned.
"I'm not done yet, since those two summons where Special Summons I can normal summon Archfiend Soldier in attack mode!" Ray played the card and the purple fiend appeared on the field (4/1900/1600). "Now I tune Archfiend Soldier with Creation Resonator to summon my strongest monster, the mighty Dark Highlander!" The two monsters vanished and in the place of Archfiend Soldier stood a tall man in black and gold robes carrying a massive scythe (7/2800/2300). "Dark Highlander attack Secutor, Blood Mefist attack his life-points directly!" Dark Highlander threw it's scythe at Secutor nearly decapitating it but the spell card saved it, Mefist followed it up with a blast of dark energy from it's staff.
R: 7700
A: 2400
"I don't believe it Bob, we may be seeing the end of Axel's undefeated streak!" Bill said as Dark Highlander grabbed it's scythe.
"Don't count me out just yet, you see there is a reason I chose to summon Secutor, you see when it's summoned via the effect of another Gladiator Beast I can summon two more Gladiator Beasts from my deck as long as they aren't copies of Secutor at the end of the battle phase which I'm assuming is now." Axel said, once Ray nodded to confirm this he picked up his deck and searched through it, he finally found the cards he was looking for and played them. "My cards of choice are Gladiator Beast Laquari and Gladiator Beast Retriari!" Axel played the two cards and, as the Colosseum gained two more counters, the humanoid tiger appeared on the field (4/1800/400) alongside a muscular humanoid frog wearing little armour, though the armour it was wearing was black and gold, which was wielding a trident (3/1200/800).
"I see what he's up too, he's trying to set up a Contact Fusion and bring Herraklinos out." Ray thought with a smirk as the two monsters attacks rose to 2300, 1000 and 1800 respectively due to the Colosseum's effect, however his smirk quickly turned into a frown when he looked at his hand. "Unfortunately I don't have the means to prevent it." Ray thought before looking up at Axel. "I end my turn." Ray announced and Axel drew his card wincing as another blast struck his life-points down to 2100
"It's time I brought out my strongest monster, I contact fusion Laquari, Secutor and Retriari to summon Gladiator Beast Herriklinos!" Axel played the card and the three monsters vanished, in the place of Laquari stood the massive centaur that won Axel his last two duels (8/3000/2800) and it's attack rose to 3600 due to the Coloseum's effect. "Herriklinos attack Dark Highlander!" The centaur charged towards the scythe wielder before splitting him in half with his axe.
A: 2100
R: 6900
"Axel may still be in this match Bob!" Bill said clearly excited.
"Don't count Ray out yet, he still has a lead of over 4000 points." Bob pointed out as Ray picked up his card to send to the graveyard, however when he did he realized that he had made a mistake.
"Damn, I should have used Dark Highlander's effect when I had the chance." Ray thought with a frown. "With it I would have been able to destroy Mist Body, inflict some damage to his life-points and prevent Herriklinos's summoning!" Ray thought before sending his card to the graveyard.
"Something wrong Raymond?" Axel asked noticing the frustration on his face.
"It's nothing, I just made a mistake during my last turn." Ray said shaking his head. "Is it my move?" Ray asked and Axel looked at the cards in his hand, he nodded and Ray drew his card. "Not much I can do so I switch Mefist to defence mode and set a monster in defence mode, you're move!" Ray announced as his remaining fiend crouched down and a facedown card appeared next to it, Axel drew his card and looked at it wincing as his life-points dropped to 1800.
"I activate the Spell Card Gladiator Beast Proving Ground, this allows me to add one Level 4 or lower Gladiator Beast monster from my deck to my hand." Axel played the card and picked up his deck, he searched through it before finding the card he was looking for and adding it to his hand, he sent his card to the graveyard before summoning the monster. "Now I summon the monster I just added to my hand, Gladiator Beast Tygerius come forth in attack mode!" Axel played the card and a blue humanoid cat appeared on the field, it had a long grey beard and was wearing grey armour (4/1800/800) and it's attack increased to 2300 thanks to the Colosseum's effect. "Herriklinos attack Blood Mefist, Tygerius attack his facedown card!" The two monsters charged forward and decapitated their opposition, in Tygerius's case it was Trance Archfiend (4/1500/1000), which was quickly destroyed along Mefist. "I end my turn which means it's time for another tag out." Axel said as Tygerius disappeared from the field. "Through the power of the Gladiator Beasts I summon Gladiator Beast Dimacari in attack mode!" Axel played the card and the blue humanoid bull appeared on the field (4/1600/1200) and as the Colosseum gained another counter Dimicari's and Herriklinos's attacks increased to 2300 and 3700 respectively, Ray drew his card with a frown.
"I have no monsters I can summon, this duel's over." Ray said with a frown. "You win." Ray said as he surrendered the duel, the holograms disappeared and the two duellists deactivated their due disks.
"And Axel joins Chloe Richardson in the next round but the question is who will join them?" Bill wondered out loud.
"We'll find out in twenty minutes Bill as the match between Theresa Daniels and Brandon Thomas is next!" Bob said as the two duellists hopped off the podium.
"We're up next Theresa." Brandon said turning to his girlfriend. "I promise I won't go easy on you just because we're in love."
"If you did then you'd get no sex until the tournament's over." Theresa said teasingly before frowning. "I hope so, I expect a good match from you."
"Same here." Brandon said as he glanced up towards the screen which was showing their pictures with an arrow pointing to them. "Forcing young lovers to duel each other for a place in the next round, if I didn't know any better I'd say that Kaiba has a sick sense of humour." Brandon thought.