Brandon looked over his deck for what felt like the hundredth time in preparation for the match against Theresa, he knew the match would be tough and even tougher given the fact that he had to face beat his girlfriend in order to advance in the tournament.
"At the moment I'd rather face Eddie, hell even Otto." Brandon thought as he looked over his deck. "I've never been able to beat Theresa in a duel, hell the match we had whilst preparing for the tournament was the closest I got to beating her."
"Hey Brandon, got a sec?" Brandon looked up and saw Chloe approaching him; he smiled and returned his deck to the duel disk slot.
"Sure, what's on your mind?" Brandon asked and Chloe gulped.
"I'm just a bit nervous going into the next round." Chloe admitted as she leaned against the wall, Axel was going over his deck and didn't notice that Chloe was looking in his direction. "Miranda was tough but the competition can only get tougher from here."
"Yeah, I don't blame you for that." Brandon admitted with a nod. "Not to mention the fact that this tournament has been pretty tough on you." Brandon added and Chloe winced.
"Yeah, do me a favor and don't remind me of that." Chloe asked as a massive sweat-drop rolled down her head. "Are you worried about your upcoming match?"
"Yeah, just a bit." Brandon admitted as he looked down at his deck. "Problem is that Theresa knows most of my deck like the back of her hand, there's little I can surprise her…" Brandon started before stopping; Chloe could have sworn she saw a lightbulb go up above his head and without another word Brandon reached into his jacket pocket, retrieved a pack and added the three cards in the pack to his deck.
"That's how you're preparing, by adding three cards to your deck?" Chloe asked skeptically and Brandon smirked.
"These three cards are all I need." Brandon reassured her before looking at the time on his watch. "The match will be starting soon so you'll see what I mean." Brandon added but regardless Chloe remained skeptical.
"Will Brandon Thomas and Theresa Daniels please step onto the podium for the third match off the day?" Kaiba's voice rang out and Brandon smiled before hopping onto the duel arena. Theresa quickly joined him once she made her deck choice.
"I had a feeling we'd have to face each other during the tournament Brandon." Theresa commented as the two duelists activated their duel disks and drew their opening hands. "I just didn't expect it to happen so soon."
"That makes two of us." Brandon admitted as he looked over his opening hand. "This strategy will work better if I let Theresa go first, that and I can get an idea of what her deck is." Brandon thought before looking up at Theresa. "Well, since I'm a gentleman and all, ladies first." Brandon said and Theresa shrugged her shoulders before drawing her first card.
"Fine by me, I start by activating the Field Spell Card Sanctuary in the Sky!" Theresa played the card and the scenery changed to the palace in the clouds.
"She's using her fairy deck; this is going to be tricky." Brandon thought with a frown as he looked over his hand. "My best bet is to destroy the field spell once that happens her life-points will be mine for the taking."
"As for my first monster I summon Dumnas Dark Witch in attack mode!" Theresa played the card and the witch in red appeared on the field (4/1800/1050). "I set two cards facedown and end my turn." Theresa set the cards and Brandon drew his card.
"I end my turn." Brandon said after a few minutes causing the other duelists to do double takes.
"You're ending your turn? But you haven't played a single card?" Theresa asked skeptically as she drew her card, Brandon merely shrugged his shoulders and Theresa looked at her newly drawn card. "Well now you're going to regret that decision, I activate the Continuous Spell Card Court of Justice!" Theresa played the card and picked up another. "As long as this Spell Card is on the field I can Special Summon one Level 1 Fairy type monster from my hand, my card of choice is the tuner monster Buten!" Theresa played the card and a small, pig like angel with blue eyes appeared on the field (1/200/300).
"She's setting up a Synchro Summon, only problem is that the best she can do is a Level 5 Synchro Summon." Brandon thought before frowning. "That is unless she plans on summoning another monster first."
"And as for my normal summon, I summon Mystic Shine Ball in attack mode!" Theresa played the card and a small glowing white ball appeared on the field (2/500/500). "Now I tune Buten with my other two monsters to Synchro Summon Ancient Sacred Wyvern in attack mode!" Theresa played the card and the three monsters vanished, in the place of Dumnas Dark Witch stood a large silver dragon with red eyebrows and what looked like blonde hair (7/2100/2000).
"Impressive monster but I need her to summon another monster for this to work." Brandon thought as he stared down the large dragon.
"Next I activate Monster Reborn which allows me to revive my Witch in attack mode!" Theresa played the cards and the witch reappeared on the field. "Sorry Brandon, you may of made the mistake of not summoning a monster on your first turn but you should know by now that I don't let mistakes go unpunished, Wyvern, Dark Witch, attack his life points directly!" The two monsters attacked in that order, Wyvern by breathing fire at Brandon…..
"Nice try but by discarding Kuriboh from my hand to the graveyard I can negate the damage from Wyvern's attack." Brandon explained as a wall of Kuriboh's blocked the attack.
"So? My Witch can make up for that fact!" Theresa said as her Dark Witch fired a beam of light at Brandon sending him to the ground.
T: 8000
B: 5200
As Brandon got up to his feet Theresa smirked. "There's more I'm afraid, when my lifepoints are higher than yours Wyvern gets the difference added to his attack points." Theresa explained as her dragon's attack shot up to 4900; however her smirk disappeared when she saw the smirk on Brandon's face. "What are you so happy about?"
"Oh, not much except for the fact that by attacking me directly you've fallen into my trap." Brandon said earning him confused looks from the other duelists. "You said earlier that you don't let mistakes go unpunished, the fact that I didn't summon a monster wasn't a mistake." Brandon said as he picked up a card. "I summon Ogre of the Scarlet Sorrow in attack mode!" Brandon played the card and a blue ogre with light brown hair and a matching beard carrying a large club and had blood red tear stains (4/0/0), when the card appeared the other duelists did double takes.
"Wait, what? It's still my turn!" Theresa protested and Brandon grinned.
"This is my Ogre's Special Ability at work, when I suffer two direct attacks to my life-points I can summon this bad boy from my hand." Brandon said with a grin. "Best part is that his attack and defense points become equal to the attack and defense points of the first monster that attacked, namely Ancient Sacred Wyvern." Brandon explained as the Ogre's attack shot up to 2100.
"That still doesn't explain why you're so happy, your Ogre's only strong enough to defeat my Witch and even if you do Sanctuary in the Sky will protect my life-points." Theresa pointed out and Brandon grinned.
"Just wait and see." Brandon said simply. "My turn yet?" Brandon asked and Theresa looked at the rest of her hand.
"Go ahead, I end my turn." Theresa announced and Brandon drew his card.
"I start by activating Allure of Darkness, this Spell Card requires me to remove one Dark Type monster from my hand but in exchange I can draw two cards from my deck." Brandon played the card and, after pocketing one of his monsters, he drew two cards, Brandon looked at the two cards and his eyes lit up when his eyes rested on one of the cards he had added to his deck, apparently Theresa noticed this and raised an eyebrow.
"Did you draw something good?" Theresa asked and her boyfriend looked up.
"You could say that." Brandon said as he added the card to his hand. "But I can't summon it just yet, so instead I set a card facedown and I'll have my Ogre attack your witch!" Brandon set the card and the ogre charged towards Dunmas Dark Witch before smashing her head in with his club. "Unfortunately your field spell protects you from the damage you would've received from the attack."
"I think you mean unfortunately for you." Theresa pointed out as she sent her Dark Witch back to the graveyard. "Even if you were able to do damage anyway it wouldn't have been strong enough to lower Wyvern's attack to a level where your Ogre could match its strength."
"I'm well aware of that." Brandon said before motioning for her to take her turn, Theresa drew her card and looked at it.
"Shinato, unfortunately I don't have his Ritual Spell because otherwise I could win this duel." Theresa thought before adding the card to her hand and pointing to her Wyvern. "Wyvern attack Ogre of the Scarlet Sorrow now!" The dragon breathed fire at the ogre….
"Nice try but I activate my trap card Draining Shield!" Brandon activated the trap and the flames bounced off of the forcefield. "This trap protects my life-points and adds the attacking monsters attack points to my lifepoints!" Brandon added as his lifepoints shot up to 10,100 and Wyvern's attack returned to 2100. "You were saying about my Ogre's strength?"
"Not a problem, I activate my own Trap Card Aegis of Gaia!" Theresa activated her trap and too Brandon's surprise her life-points shot up to 11,000. "This trap card increases my lifepoints by 3000 points and gives my Wyvern a power boost of 800 by extension." Theresa explained as the dragon's attack increased to 2900. "Not as big a power boost as before but it'll do nicely." Theresa added.
"They're not making this duel easy on themselves." Jeff commented as Brandon sent his trap card to the graveyard. "Then again given the talent they possess I shouldn't be surprised."
"Even so Theresa's made a big mistake by activating that Trap Card." Hamden added as he folded his arms. "Sure it gave her life-points a large boost but if it leaves the field then Theresa will lose the same amount that she gained."
"Theresa knows what she's doing." Martin responded with a smile. "She isn't one of my best students for nothing."
"Same can be said for Brandon though, or didn't you notice how he beat three of my best Dragons in the last round?" Marcus pointed out as Brandon drew his card.
"Not what I was hoping for but this will help me none the less, I activate my Spell Card Nightmare's Steel Cage!" Brandon activated the card and a steel cage surrounded Wyvern and Theresa in general. "Now neither of us can attack for the next two turns."
"Fine, once your Spell Card wares of your life points will be mine for the taking." Theresa said defiantly as Brandon looked over his hand.
"That'll do it for me." Brandon announced and Theresa drew her card.
"I may not be able to attack but I can do this, I activate my Spell Card Cards from the Sky, now by removing one Light Type Fairy Monster from my hand I can draw two cards." Theresa activated the card and drew her two cards after pocketing the monster. "Only downside is that I can't Special Summon or conduct my Battle Phase but I wouldn't be able to do so anyway because of your Spell Card." Theresa added before looking at her new cards. "I set a monster in defense mode and end my turn." Theresa set the card down and Brandon drew his card.
"I'll start by giving my Ogre some back up in the form of Dark Crusader!" Brandon played the card and the skeleton knight appeared on the field (4/1600/200). "Next I activate Dark Crusader's effect; by discarding one Dark Type Monster from my hand I can give him a power boost of 400 points." Brandon discarded the card and Dark Crusader's attack increased to 2000. "To top this turn off I activate the Spell Card Creeping Darkness, to activate this card I have to banish two Dark Type Monsters from my graveyard but in exchange I can add one Level 4 or lower Dark Type monster from my deck to my hand." Brandon retrieved the two cards, pocketed them and searched through his deck, he found the card he was looking for and added it to his hand. "That ends my turn."
"He's not setting up a situation where he can bring out Dark Armed Dragon? But that's his trump card." Theresa thought as she drew her card.
"Just need to draw the Trap Card I need and I'll have Theresa right where I want her." Brandon thought as his eyes darted towards the pocket where he was keeping his removed from play monsters.
"I pass for now but next turn your monsters will be at my dragon's mercy!" Theresa announced as the Steel Cage disappeared from the field and, once he sent his Spell Card to the graveyard, Brandon drew his card.
"Since I'm feeling generous I activate the Spell Card called Card of Sanctity." Brandon played the card and both duelists drew until they had six cards in their hands, Theresa only needed to draw one however as her previous usage of Cards from the Sky had left her with 5 cards in her hand, Brandon looked at his new cards and grinned. "Perfect, third round here I come!" Brandon thought before picking up two cards. "I set two cards facedown and activate Mystical Space Typhoon which I use to destroy Sanctuary in the Sky!" Brandon played the cards and a tornado ripped through the palace destroying it. "I end my turn." Brandon announced and Theresa drew her card.
"Why didn't he shift his monsters to defense mode? Even with their power boosts they are no match for Theresa's Wyvern." Eddie wondered out loud.
"That's a good question." Axel agreed as he stroked his chin in thought. "Even still Brandon's proven to be a very capable duelist so whatever the reason is it must be a good one."
"Wyvern attack Ogre of the Scarlet Sorrow!" Theresa commanded and her dragon breathed fire.
"Think again, I activate my Trap Card Escape from the Dark Dimension." Brandon activated the card and retrieved a card from his pocket. "This allows me to Special Summon one of my Removed from Play monsters and this card…well I guess you can thank Chloe for this move."
"What, I never gave you any cards?" Chloe asked confused.
"No but you gave me the idea to use these cards." Brandon added before playing the card. "I summon the mighty Yubel from my Removed from Play spot."
"He's summoning WHAT?" Eddie and Axel yelled simultaneously as the monster appeared on the field, it was a female demon with white and blue hair, grey skin and jet black wings, she was wearing a midriff exposing outfit and a red mask (10/0/0).
"Where the hell did he get that card? And more importantly does he have the other two cards?" Jeff said as his eyes widened.
"I don't know, but you have to admit his strategy for bringing out Yubel was pretty impressive." Hamden admitted as he folded his arms. "Whether or not Theresa can beat him now is anyone's guess." Hamden added.
"Why are you guys making a big deal about a monster with non-existent attack points?" Lance asked Eddie and Axel who turned to him.
"There are two reasons for that Lance; the first is its rarity." Eddie explained before turning his attention to the duel. "Yubel is one of three extremely powerful and rare cards, they are so rare that only six copies of each card is known to exist and copies of even a single card have been known to go for millions of dollars at auction."
"I'm guessing its power is the other reason?" Lance asked and Eddie nodded. "Well Brandon's dad is wealthy so maybe he owns the cards."
"That's a strong possibility." Eddie agreed, whilst that was going on Otto was watching the duel with great interest.
"Well, well, so Brandon has that card in his deck, if he has the other two cards then this will be a very interesting duel indeed, especially if Theresa manages to defeat him despite his obvious advantage." Otto commented as he watched the duel unfold.
"You think that's supposed to scare me? Wyvern I command you to continue your assault on his Ogre!" Theresa commanded as the dragon prepared to unleash its assault.
"This is where my other trap card comes in, Interdimensional Matter Transporter!" Brandon activated the trap and the Ogre disappeared from the field. "Until the end phase this trap card removes my ogre from play giving you a choice of attack targets."
"That's an easy choice to make, Wyvern attack Yubel!" Theresa commanded and the dragon breathed fire at the demon consuming it. "That was easy…" Theresa started only to yell out in pain as a blast of dark energy struck her in the chest. "What the hell was that?"
"Why don't you look at your lifepoint counter and find out?" Brandon asked and Theresa did so, her eyes widened when she saw the score.
T: 8100
B: 10,100
"What the….why did the damage come out of my life-points?" Theresa asked as she looked up…and her eyes widened even further when she saw that Yubel survived the blast.
"That was Yubel's special ability at work, for starters she can't be destroyed in battle and I take no damage from any battles involving her." Brandon explained as he folded his arms. "Best part is? The damage that would have come out of my life-points instead comes out of your life-points." Brandon explained with a smirk, as he said this Wyvern's attack dropped back down to 2100 due to Theresa losing her lead.
"In that case I set a card facedown and end my turn." Theresa announced as the facedown card and Ogre of the Scarlet Sorrow appeared on the field as Brandon drew his card.
"Okay, I have Yubel's second form but in order to summon it Yubel has to go." Brandon thought before adding the card to his hand and pointing at his ogre. "Ogre of the Scarlet Sorrow, attack Ancient Sacred Wyvern, Dark Crusader attack her defense monster!" The two monsters charged towards Theresa's monsters…..
"I activate my trap card Negate Attack!" Theresa activated the trap and two attacks bounced off of an invisible forcefield. "Not only does this protect my monsters but it forces you to end your battle phase." Theresa added as the two monsters returned to Brandon's side of the field.
"Fine, since I'm in my second main phase I'll summon Sangan in attack mode!" Brandon played the card and the small, three eyed fiend appeared on the field (3/1000/600). "Next I end my turn but before I do I have to tribute Sangan because Yubel would be destroyed otherwise!" As Brandon said that Sangan was consumed by a black light and Brandon sent it to the graveyard. "As we both know Sangan's effect now activates allowing me to search through my deck for a monster with 1500 or less attack points." Brandon added before picking up his deck, searching through it, and adding the monster he was looking for to his hand, once that was done Theresa drew her card.
"Okay, that Yubel monster requires the presence of other monsters on his side of the field because otherwise it'll be destroyed." Theresa thought as she looked at her newly drawn card. "Okay, I summon another tuner monster to the field namely Hanewata!" Theresa played the card and a small pink fluffball with wings appeared on the field (1/300/200). "My Wyvern's served me well but I think it's time he had a tune up." Theresa said as she picked up the two monsters and sent them to the graveyard. "So I tune my Level 7 Ancient Sacred Wyvern with my Level 1 Hanewata to Synchro Summon Avenging Knight Parshaff!" The two monsters vanished from the field and in the place of Ancient Sacred Wyvern stood Parshaff who was riding an invisible beast with white wings and carrying a sword (8/2600/2100).
"As if Wyvern wasn't bad enough, now I have to deal with something even stronger." Brandon muttered under his breath before folding his arms with a smirk on his face. "Doesn't matter, even if you try to attack Yubel again you'll get bitten back." Brandon added and Theresa grinned.
"Yubel's not the only card with Special Abilities Brandon." Theresa said as she folded her arms. "And Parshaff's ability lets it shift one monster into defense mode once per turn AND inflict piercing damage!" Theresa explained and Brandon's grin quickly disappeared once it dawned on him. "Parshaff, use your ability on Dark Crusader!" Theresa commanded and Parshaff pointed it's sword at Dark Crusader which quickly knelt down. "Now for the fun part, Parshaff attack and destroy Dark Crusader!" Theresa commanded and the invisible beast took flight before launching its self at Dark Crusader, one slash of Parshaff's sword later and Dark Crusader was destroyed.
T: 8100
B: 8600
"Only downside is that, unlike Parshaff's other forms, I can't draw cards when Avenging Knight inflicts damage." Theresa added as Brandon sent Dark Crusader to the graveyard. "Regardless it seems we are at a stalemate."
"Yeah, we both have powerful monsters on our side of the field that neither of us can destroy, but for completely different reasons." Brandon agreed with a nod. "Except for my Ogre and at the moment he's only good as fodder for Yubel." Brandon thought.
"I end my turn." Theresa announced and Brandon drew his card without a second thought.
"I start by switching my Ogre to defense mode!" Brandon announced as the ogre crouched down whilst holding his club in a defensive manner. "Now I set a card facedown and summon Dark Scorpion – Maenea the Thorn in attack mode." Brandon played the card and the sole female member of the Dark Scorpions appeared on the field (3/1000/1800). "I end my turn by sacrificing Maenea to keep Yubel on the field." Brandon set the card down and once the Dark Scorpion was consumed by dark light Theresa drew her card.
"Why did Brandon set his Ogre in defense mode? Due to his effect Parshaff will deal more damage to his life-points and there's no way I'm making the mistake of attacking Yubel again." Theresa thought before looking at her card, adding it to her hand and pointing to Parshaff. "Avenging Knight, attack Ogre of the Scarlet Sorrow." Theresa commanded and the knight took flight…
"I was hoping you'd take the bait!" Brandon said as he activated his trap. "I activate my Trap Card Shift, this forces you to target Yubel instead!" Theresa's eyes widened when she realized this and she could only watch as her knight changed course and slashed Yubel with his sword, Yubel survived the attack due to her effect and due to her other effect Theresa was blasted by a beam of dark light sending her to the ground.
T: 5300
B: 8600
"You okay Theresa?" Brandon asked as his girlfriend got up, the blast had knocked Theresa's ponytail lose letting her shoulder length hair flow down.
"Brandon, you should know by now that I am much tougher than I look." Theresa said as she got to her feet, once she gathered up her cards she picked up one of them. "And to be perfectly frank that Yubel monster's becoming a pain in the ass, not only that but I intend to get rid of it."
"Really, you intend to get rid of a monster that can't be destroyed in battle? I'd like to see you try!" Brandon said confidently.
"The key phrase there is "can't be destroyed in battle." and whilst that is Yubel's greatest strength that's also her greatest weakness," Theresa said as she turned the card around, Brandon's confidence quickly disappeared when he saw the card.
"Lightning Vortex?" Brandon gulped as his eyes widened, Theresa smirked as she played the card and once she discarded a card from her hand, lightning struck Brandon's fiends destroying them both.
"That's right; admittedly I was originally planning to use it to clear the field after destroying Ogre of the Scarlet Sorrow but….." Theresa started but stopped when she saw Brandon's massive grin after he sent his monsters and his trap card to the graveyard. "Why are you so happy about me destroying your best monster?"
"Who said anything about it being my best monster?" Brandon asked as he picked up a card. "Yubel has three forms and I have all three of them in my deck, however in order to summon Yubel's second form Yubel had to be destroyed by an effect other than her own so thanks for that." Brandon said as he played the card, Theresa's eyes widened when she realized her mistake. "So I summon Yubel – Terror Incarnate in attack mode." Brandon announced as a green, twin headed dragon appeared on the field with large wings and a red crest around its neck (11/0/0).
"Holy…" Eddie muttered under his breath clearly impressed. "He's prepared well for this duel."
"That much is obvious." Axel agreed whilst Theresa frowned.
"I'm guessing Terror Incarnate shares some of Yubel's abilities?" Theresa asked and Brandon nodded.
"That's right, Terror Incarnate can't be destroyed in battle and any battle damage I'd suffer is instead transferred to you." Brandon said with a nod before grinning. "And as for Terror Incarnate's other effect, well why don't you end your turn and I'll show you?" Brandon asked and Theresa looked at the rest of her hand.
"All right, I'll end my turn." Theresa announced and Brandon drew his card, however Brandon took one look at his deck and frowned.
"I was too reckless with drawing and retrieving cards from my deck, as a result it's running low." Brandon thought with a massive frown on his face. "I'd better be careful for now." Brandon thought before adding his newly drawn card to his hand. "I'll pass thus activating Terror Incarnate's ability which destroys every other monster on the field." Brandon explained and Theresa could only watch as Avenging Knight was consumed by flames from the dragon's mouths, once she sent the card to the graveyard Theresa drew her card.
"I start by activating my own Card of Sanctity." Theresa played the card and, whilst he was clearly unhappy at having to lower the number of cards in his deck even more, Brandon drew until he had six cards in his hands as did Theresa, Theresa looked at one of her drawn cards and grinned. "Since I drew it outside of my draw phase I can now special summon Watapon to the field!" Theresa played the card and the small pink fairy appeared on the field (1/300/200). "Next I play the Spell Card Double Summon which allows me to have an additional Normal Summon."
"Fine by me, that means more monsters for my fiend to roast." Brandon said confidently.
"Just wait until I summon them, first up is the Tuner Monster Trust Guardian!" Theresa played the card and a small fairy with purple hair and wings wearing a blue dress appeared on the field (3/0/800). "And last but not least Nova Summuner!" Theresa played the card and the strange orange fairy appeared on the field (4/1400/800). "Now I tune my three monsters together to Synchro Summon another Avenging Knight Parshaff!" Theresa played the card and the three monsters disappeared from the field, in the place of Nova Summoner stood Avenging Knight Parshath who didn't look pleased that he was destroyed (8/2800/2100).
"You did all that just to summon another Avenging Knight? I was hoping for a challenge." Brandon said clearly annoyed at this.
"Just watch, first I use Avenging Knight's effect to force Terror Incarnate into defense mode!" Theresa announced as Avenging Knight pointed it's sword at Terror Incarnate and the twin headed dragon crouched down. "Now all I need to do is play one last card, it's another Spell Card." Theresa announced as she turned the card around, Brandon's eyes widened when he saw it.
"Please tell me that's not Shield Crash?" Brandon gulped as Theresa played the card.
"I could but I'd be lying, this Spell Card lets me destroy one monster in defense mode on the field and I'm choosing Terror Incarnate!" Theresa played the card a gigantic hammer slammed down upon Terror Incarnate flattening it. "Now your lifepoints are mine for the taking!" Theresa said as Brandon sent the card to the graveyard.
"Or they would if not for Terror Incarnate's other effect." Brandon said as he picked up a card. "When he leaves the field for whatever reason I summon Yubel's third and final form to the field so come forth Yubel – The Ultimate Nightmare!" Brandon played the card and in Terror Incarnate's place stood a massive version of the Terror Incarnate with many more eyes than normal and a terrifying face in between the heads (12/0/0).
"Holy shit, he's actually using all three forms in the same duel." Eddie said with an impressed whistle. "As much as I hate to admit it, I don't think Theresa can win this."
"Let me guess, because the Ultimate Nightmare is Yubel's strongest form?" Lance asked and Eddie nodded.
"Well, that and the fact that it's so rare that anyone gets to play the three cards in question." Axel added causing Lance to turn his attention to him.
"Okay Brandon, what's that thing's effect?" Theresa asked once her surprise wore off, Brandon grinned as he prepared to explain it.
"Simple really, The Ultimate Nightmare shares Yubel's ability to not be destroyed in battle not to mention transferring the damage to you and has the added benefit of destroying any monster that attacks it." Brandon explained and Theresa frowned at the last part. "So feel free to attack Yubel, I won't mind."
"Yeah, nice try but I'm not that stupid." Theresa said as a massive sweat-drop rolled down her head. "It's your move." Theresa announced and Brandon drew his card.
"Only two cards left in my deck, I'd better end this quickly." Brandon thought before looking at his newly drawn card. "I activate the Spell Card Lightning Vortex!" Brandon played the card and Theresa's eyes widened as he discarded a card and lightning struck Avenging Knight destroying the monster, once Theresa sent the card to her graveyard Brandon picked up another card. "Obviously attacking with The Ultimate Nightmare would be pointless so instead I summon Dark Blade the Captain of the Evil World in attack mode!" Brandon played the card and the warrior in black armor appeared on the field, however his armor now had gold in it and he was carrying a sword and shield (4/1800/1500)."Dark Blade, attack her lifepoints directly!" Brandon commanded and the monster charged forward before slashing Theresa with his sword.
T: 3500
B: 8600
"But why stop there?" Brandon asked as his girlfriend got up to her feet. "Your Aegis of Gaia trap gave you a three thousand lifepoints boost earlier in the duel but what happens when I destroy it? Let's find out, I activate Twister which lets me destroy Aegis of Gain in exchange for 500 lifepoints!" Brandon played the card and, as his lifepoints dropped to 8100, a tornado ripped through Aegis destroying it, however before she could send her trap to the graveyard Theresa grunted in pain as she was hit by a beam of light.
T: 500
B: 8100
"Sorry Theresa but you should know by now that I don't pull any punches." Brandon said as Theresa sent her trap to the graveyard. "That ends my turn but come next turn this duel will be over." Brandon said as Theresa drew her card.
"You'll have to wait a bit longer than that I'm afraid." Theresa said as she played a spell card. "I activate Swords of Revealing Light!"
"WHAT?" Brandon yelled out in surprise as his two monsters where pinned down by three golden swords.
"That's right, now you can't attack for another three turns." Theresa said before frowning. "But there won't be a third turn, I can see from here that you are down to your last two cards."
"Yeah, you're right." Brandon said clearly disappointed that the duel would end this way. "My turn yet?" Brandon asked and Theresa nodded, Brandon drew his card and added it to his hand, without another word he surrendered. "It's better than decking out." Brandon said as the holograms disappeared and, once the two duelists had returned their cards to their decks, they deactivated their duel disks.
"And Theresa Daniels joins Chloe Richardson and Axel Loather in the next round!" Bill yelled over the cheering audience, whilst the two duelists got off of the podium Otto chuckled from his hiding place.
"Looks like I'm up next, which means I can trap another Duel Academy weakling in the Seal." Otto commented to himself as he looked down at his deck. "Once I win my match against Kimberly and eliminate Chloe I'll set my sites on Theresa and from there my employer will have some of the strongest souls in this city…"
"Otto Freshier?" Otto stopped himself mid monologue and turned around, behind him where several security guards. "Master Kaiba wants a word with you."
"And I'm sure that he would like each and every one of his competitors to simultaneously go bankrupt as well." Otto said with a cocky smirk. "Give me one reason why I should grace Kaiba with my presence."
"I'd listen to them Otto, if you intend to still participate in the tournament that is." A soft spoken voice rang out and a teen pushed through the crowd of security guards, he had shoulder length brown hair and blue eyes and he was wearing a uniform that identified him as a second year Obelisk Blue student, Otto's eyes narrowed once he recognized him.
"Tyler, I thought you were ill." Otto said with a smirk, Tyler said nothing as he folded his arms.
"I was, but I'm better now." Tyler said as he narrowed his eyes. "Believe me Otto my father will do more than just disqualify you from this tournament if he felt like it."
"Would he now? I know he's on Duel Academy's Board of Directors but how much sway does he really have?" Otto scoffed and Tyler's eyes narrowed.
"Enough sway to see to it that you are expelled from Duel Academy and that this will be your first and last tournament." Tyler said plainly and Otto growled.
"You know what? I'll humor him." Otto said as he followed them to Kaiba's office, Kaiba's announcement of the twenty minute recess before the next match rang out over the PA System but Otto paid little attention to it, once they reached the office Tyler entered first followed by Otto, Kaiba was at his desk looking over some paperwork.
"It took some persuasion but Otto is here father." Tyler said plainly and Kaiba turned around greeting the two boys with a cold stare.
"Let me guess, you wanted to congratulate me on eliminating the weaklings of duel academy?" Otto asked arrogantly and Kaiba frowned.
"When you and your classmates were added to the tournament you were given the responsibility of representing some of the best students duel academy had to offer." Kaiba said as his eyes narrowed, Otto said nothing so Kaiba continued. "Your classmates have done an excellent job of doing just that, even the Osiris Red student has proven to be a capable duelist and has proven that just because she's in the worst duel at Duel Academy doesn't mean she can't duel with the best of them."
"She got to the Semi-Finals on luck alone." Otto scoffed as he folded his arms. "If anything that fact proves that she doesn't belong in this tournament."
"Don't kid yourself, despite her inexperience Richardson has represented Duel Academy extremely well, to the point where many people are calling her the underdog going into the next round." Tyler said with a frown as he stepped forward. "But you on the other hand, you disgrace duel academy just by having that card in your deck."
"What are you going to do? Disqualify me?" Otto scoffed as his eyes narrowed. "Like it or not I am the favorite to win this tournament….."
"Wrong again, Theresa Daniels is the favorite to win the tournament." Kaiba cut him off with a frown on his face. "The only thing that's keeping me from kicking you out of this tournament is a technicality, the Seal of the Orichalcos was never added to the Forbidden list because it was believed that myself and Yugi Muto destroyed the Seal years ago when the original organization that used it was destroyed along with it."
"Is there a point to this? I have a victory to prepare for." Otto said impatiently, he jumped a bit when Tyler patted him on the back.
"Relax; you have another ten minutes before your match against Kimberly Troy." Tyler said plainly ignoring the death glare from Otto.
"What Tyler says is true." Kaiba said sternly as he rested his hands on the armrest. "You can leave but rest assured there is a way to restore the Orichalchos victim's souls to their bodies and as soon as that happens you and your associates may as well start applying for jobs in Fast Food joints because your professional duelist careers will be over…..or in your case over before they started." Kaiba said coldly and Otto stormed out of the office, once he left Tyler turned to his father.
"So, when do you plan on telling the students about this way to retrieve the souls?" Tyler said and Kaiba stroked his chin.
"I will after the tournament." Kaiba said turning his back to his son. "At the moment they have the rest of the Semi-Finals to worry about, if I told them now that fact would distract them in their upcoming duels."
"Do you have any theories on how the Orichalcos was revived?" Tyler asked and Kaiba shook his head.
"I have a couple but they are just that, theories." Kaiba responded with a frown. "As soon as I get a definite answer you and the Duel Academy students will be the first to know."
"What about Andreas Freshier? The third round will be held in another location after all." Tyler asked and Kaiba turned to him.
"We'll transport him to a local medical facility; I'll leave instructions for my limo driver to transport his girlfriend to the hospital so that she can be there when he wakes up." Kaiba answered before his frown deepened. "How are you feeling after Otto's outburst before his match against his brother? I know you have a similar history to Chloe."
"I didn't greet him by punching him in the face if that's what you're asking." Tyler said with a frown. "As tempting as it was."
"I understand." Kaiba said before standing up. "So, you sure you're ready to return to Duel Academy?" Kaiba asked and Tyler nodded without hesitation.
"I would've gone back sooner but I wanted to watch the Tournament in person." Tyler said before turning his attention to the monitors that showed the arena floor. "And speaking of which, the next match is about to begin." Tyler added and Kaiba looked at the monitors, sure enough Kimberly was waiting on the duel podium for Otto's arrival.
"Where is that bastard?" Kimberly muttered under her breath as she tapped her foot impatiently against the floor of the podium, without a second thought she turned her attention to Bill and Bob's monitor. "HEY! CAN'T YOU RENTACOPS SAY SOMETHING THAT WILL GET HIM HERE QUICKER?" She yelled at them causing the two security guards to sweat-drop.
"Impatient, isn't she?" Eddie asked Axel who nodded.
"Not her fault, one of Otto's associates put her stepbrother, another Duel Academy student, in the hospital a couple of weeks prior to the tournament." Lance explained to them with a frown. "I'll give you two guesses how." Lance added and the two duelists frowned quickly getting the idea. "If anything she's just eager to take out her frustrations on Otto."
"I don't blame her one bit." Eddie said nodding in understanding. "Truth be told, I was hoping to face Otto in the second round after what he said about your friend and what he did to his own brother."
"Yeah, I agree with you there." Lance admitted before glancing over at Chloe. "But I think we both know who wants to face him the most." Lance added, whilst Kimberly waited impatiently Chloe was looking over her deck to pass the time.
"Hey Chloe, what's up?" Chloe glanced up and saw Theresa standing there, her hair was now back in the ponytail though it was kind of messy.
"Not much, just waiting for the next match to start." Chloe shrugged her shoulders before looking up at Theresa. "Actually…..I wanted to apologize."
"Apologize? Why do you want to apologize?" Theresa asked Chloe who sighed.
"I was talking with Brandon just before the match started; he got the idea to add the Yubel cards to his deck during it." Chloe explained. "I guess what I'm saying is I'm sorry for accidently almost costing you the match." Chloe added and Theresa smiled.
"Don't worry about it, a loss is a loss right?" Theresa said with a shrug. "Besides if I was to lose to anyone during the tournament I would've been happy if I had lost to Brandon." Theresa added before her mood turned sour. "Kimberly's opponent has arrived." Theresa said and Chloe quickly turned her head in the direction that Theresa was looking, sure enough Otto was entering the arena ignoring the boos from the crowd and the glares from the other duelists, including a particularly nasty one from Chloe.
"Took you long enough, scared of the beating I'll give you?" Kimberly growled as she activated her duel disk, Otto hopped onto the duel arena and activated his own duel disk.
"If anyone should be scared it's you." Otto said as the two Obelisk Blue students drew their opening hands, whilst the trash talk was going on Tyler was watching the proceedings with a critical eye.
"As much as I hate to admit it, I doubt Kimberly will be advancing to the next round." Tyler admitted as he folded his arms. "She's good but Otto's way out of her league."
"I guess we'll have to wait and see," Kaiba said with a frown, before Tyler could respond Kaiba's phone went off and he answered it. "What is it?"
"Sir, we've detected an anomaly with Otto Freshier's duel disk." One of the technicians responded.
"What kind of anomaly?" Kaiba asked impatiently, Tyler didn't pay much attention to this figuring it had to do with the fact that Otto was using a custom Duel Disk; however when he saw his father's expression go from calm to furious he knew something was wrong. "You mean to tell me that someone has disabled the safeties on Otto's duel disk and you can't prove who did it?"
"Whoever did it knows what they are doing; we initially thought the anomaly was because of the fact that Otto was using a custom duel disk." The technician responded and Kaiba growled.
"I don't want to hear excuses, in fact don't bother calling me until you can prove who did it!" Kaiba bellowed before hanging up.
"So what do we do now?" Tyler asked catching his father's attention. "It's too late to stop it, they've already drawn their opening hands."
"Even if we could stop it we don't have proper grounds to do so, unless he's dumb enough to confess to it we can't do anything." Kaiba said with a frown, whilst that was going on Kimberly had elected to go first and had drawn her first card.
"Hmm, just to be on the safe side I'd better delay Otto's activation of the Seal for as long as possible, I don't want to end up like Andreas after all." Kimberly thought before discarding one of her cards. "By discarding Archfiend General from my hand I am allowed to add the Field Spell Card Pandemonium to my hand." Kimberly announced as she discarded the card and added the field spell to her hand. "And whilst I'm at it I'm activating the Field Spell Card Pandemonium!"
"This is pointless." Otto thought as he glanced towards his copy of the Seal of the Orichalcos that was in his hand. "As soon as my turn commences I'll show her a real field spell!" Otto thought as the scenery changed to a hellish arena.
"That's not all; I set two cards facedown and summon Shadowkight Archfiend in attack mode!" Kimberly played the card and the demonic knight appeared on the field (4/2000/1600). "That ends my turn." Kimberly announced glaring at Otto as he made his first draw.
"Perfect, I have everything I need to make short work of her and her pathetic archfiends…" Otto thought though he didn't notice Kimberly activating a trap.
"I activate Lightforce Sword!" Kimberly announced catching Otto's attention; soon afterward a sword appeared above Otto aiming for the cards in his hand. "This trap allows me to remove from play one random card in your hand, don't worry, you'll get it back after four of your standby phases." Kimberly explained as the sword skewered the middle card and Otto's eyes widened when he realized what it was.
"NO! NOT THE SEAL!" Otto yelled obviously angry at this development, he growled as his eyes narrowed. "You'll pay for that you little bitch!"
"Err; once again we would like to apologize for the poor choice of words coming out of Otto Freshier's mouth." Bill said as the two announcers sweat-dropped.
"Don't you have a move to make? Or did your initial strategy revolve entirely around that Field Spell that you and your associates use?" Kimberly asked plainly and Otto growled.
"I don't need the Seal to defeat a weakling like you, since you have a monster on your side of the field and I don't I can Special Summon Cyber Dragon to the field!" Otto played the card and the mechanical dragon appeared on the field (5/2100/1600). "Cyber Dragon, slay that pathetic fiend!" The dragon opened its mouth and started charging up a laser…
"This "pathetic fiend" as you put it is staying around for a bit longer!" Kimberly announced as she activated her sole remaining trap card. "I activate my other trap card Negate Attack and it does exactly what it says on the tin, so to speak." Kimberly announced as the attack bounced off of a forcefield, Otto growled as Kimberly sent her trap card to the graveyard before picking up two cards.
"I set two cards facedown and end my turn." Otto set the two cards and Kimberly drew her card.
"I start my turn by activating the Spell Card Allure of Darkness, as long as I can banish a dark type monster from my hand it'll let me draw two cards from my deck." Kimberly pocketed one of her monsters and drew two cards; she looked at them and grinned. "Perfect, he'll be in for a surprise once Lightforce Swords wears off." Kimberly thought before setting the two cards. "I set two cards facedown and I sacrifice Shadowknight Archfiend to summon Skull Archfiend of Lightning!" Kimberly played the cards and Shadowknight Archfiend disappeared from the field, in its place stood the Summoned Skull lookalike (6/2500/1200).
"Blast, that thing is stronger than Cyber Dragon!" Otto thought with a frown. "Luckily my two trap cards can protect my lifepoints and then some!"
"Skull Archfiend of Lightning, attack Cyber Dragon now! HELL'S LIGHTNING!" Kimberly commanded and the fiend charged up its attack.
"Your Archfiend will have to find a new target!" Otto announced as he activated his trap. "I activate the trap card Interdimensional Matter Transporter which allows me to remove my Cyber Dragon from play until my end phase!" Otto announced and just like he said Cyber Dragon disappeared into a portal which closed up as quickly as it opened.
"Fine, it has a new target and it's your lifepoints, continue your attack!" The Archfiend pointed it's claws at Otto….
"What do you take me for, an Osiris Red loser like Chloe?" Otto said cockily ignoring the fact that Chloe's glare at gotten nastier at that statement, Theresa did notice it though.
"Chlo, keep your temper in check." Theresa said trying, and succeeding at, to calm her down. "I know it's hard but wait until you face him."
"Thanks Theresa." Chloe said with a sigh before looking at her oddly. "You don't think Kimberly can win this?"
"As much as I hate to say it, yes I don't think she can win." Theresa said with a sigh. "She's good but Otto's out of her league."
"I CAN HEAR YOU, YOU KNOW!" Kimberly yelled at Theresa who sweat-dropped. "I don't care what you or Theresa says; this attack is putting me in the lead!"
"That's where you're wrong, I activate Dimension Wall!" Otto activated the trap and too Kimberly's surprise the lightning bounced off of a forcefield, what surprised her even more was the fact that the lightning bounced back in her direction electrocuting her, she screamed in pain before collapsing to her knees.
K: 5500
O: 8000
"You were saying? Dimension Wall is quite a potent trap card, with it any battle damage I'd suffer instead comes out of your life-points!" Otto said with a smirk, Kimberly meanwhile was breathing heavily due to the backfired attack.
"That's….that's not my concern right now." Kimberly said as she grunted in pain. "That attack hurt, like someone turned off the safeties." Kimberly added as she glared at Otto, as Kimberly slowly rose to her feet her sentence was starting to dawn on the spectators and other duelists, Otto on the other hand put on a face of fake shock.
"Oh my, whoever could've done that?" Otto said showing fake concern, Kimberly would have rolled her eyes if not for the fact that she was in pain.
"Your full of shit, you know that?" Kimberly spat ignoring the gasps from the parents in the audience and Bill and Bob's failed attempts to apologize for the language. "Who else would have a reason, not to mention the knowhow, to disable the safeties? Besides no one buys your innocence routine after the stunt you pulled last round and your comment about Chloe." Kimberly added and Otto smirked.
"Nice theory, but where's your proof?" Otto asked arrogantly, Kimberly growled before sighing in resignation.
"I end my turn." Kimberly admitted, before Otto drew his card the portal opened back up and Cyber Dragon returned to the field, once that happened Otto drew his card.
"Kimberly has no proof Otto did that?" Chloe asked clearly annoyed by this.
"The only way Kimberly could get proof he did that is to check Otto's duel disk, something tells me that Otto isn't willing to let that happen." Theresa told her clearly as annoyed as the younger duelist at this development. "Otherwise, well what Kimberly just said is technically slander."
"So what, Otto can just beat the hell out of Kimberly with his monsters and get away with it?" Chloe asked clearly not liking this development.
"As much as I hate to say it, that's pretty much it." Theresa said with a sigh of annoyance, whilst that was going on Otto was glancing towards the hologram of the skewered Seal of the Orichalcos.
"That's one standby phase down, three to go." Otto thought before looking at his drawn card. "I switch Cyber Dragon to defense mode and set another card in defense mode that shall end my turn." Otto set the card and Cyber Dragon crouched down as the facedown monster appeared next to it, Kimberly gritted her teeth before drawing her card.
"My whole body hurts like hell; I guess this how Chloe felt during her first duel of the tournament." Kimberly thought before looking at her drawn card. "This trap will help later." Kimberly thought before setting the card. "I set a card facedown, now Skull Archfiend of Lightning, finish the job you started last turn and destroy Cyber Dragon with Hell's Lightning!" Kimberly commanded and the fiend charged up its attack before launching it at Cyber Dragon, the dragon let out a mechanical scream before shattering. "That ends my turn." Kimberly announced and Otto drew his card.
"Two more to go, I can only keep up the defenses for so long and as soon as she draws another Archfiend my life-points will be hers for the taking." Otto thought with a frown before looking at his newly drawn card. "I shall set this card facedown for later that ends my turn." Otto set the card down and Kimberly drew her card.
"That's likely a trap that'll cause any attacks I commit to bite me in the ass like Dimension Wall." Kimberly thought before looking at her newly drawn card. "I'll pass for now." Kimberly announced and Otto drew his card, he added it to his hand before glancing over at the hologram of the Seal skewered by the sword.
"Only one more turn before your fate is sealed Kimberly." Otto said mockingly before looking at his card. "I shall set a card facedown and end my turn." Otto set the card down and Kimberly wasted no time in drawing her card.
"If all goes to plan he'll have to wait even longer." Kimberly thought before glancing at her new card. "I summon Terrorking Archfiend in attack mode!" Kimberly played the card and the king of the archfiends appeared on the field (4/2000/1500). "Skull Archfiend of Lightning, roast his defense monster with Hell's Lightning!" Kimberly commanded and the fiend charged up his attack before launching it at the defense monster…
"Not so fast, I activate my trap card Absolute End!" Otto activated the trap and too everyone's surprise the lightning changed course instead targeting Otto. "This trap can only be activated during my opponent's turn and with it I can force my opponent to attack me directly!" Otto explained before grimacing as the attack hit.
K: 5500
O: 5500
"That's fine by me because I'm having Terrorking attack your life-points!" Kimberly commanded and the Archfiend launched forward past Otto's facedown monster…
"Did you honestly think I'd let you gain access to my life-points without something in return?" Otto asked rhetorically before activating his remaining trap card. "I activate Confusion Chaff, this trap can only be activated if my opponent launches a second direct attack and it allows me to force Terrorking Archfiend to attack Skull Archfiend of Lightning!" Otto announced with a grin. "Oh and before you ask no it doesn't target any monsters so Terrorking's effect doesn't activate." Otto added as Terrorking was roasted by Skull Archfiend's lightning.
K: 5000
O: 5500
"There's an added bonus as well." Otto said as Kimberly sent her fiend to the graveyard. "During the turn that Confusion Chaff is activated other card effects can't be activated so the secondary effect of your pathetic little Field Spell doesn't activate."
"Just take your turn already." Kimberly growled and Otto drew his card bringing his total to three, then the hologram of the Skewered Orichalcos field spell disappeared and Otto quickly retrieved the Orichalcos from his pocket. "Just so I'm clear, you have four cards in your hand right?"
"Yes, what off it?" Otto demanded and Kimberly grinned before activating her trap.
"In that case I activate my Trap Card Penalty Game!" Kimberly activated the trap and Otto blinked. "This trap can only be activated if my opponent has four or more cards in his or her hand, it allows me to activate one of two effects, either you can't draw during your next draw phase or, and this is the effect I'm using, you can't activate any Spells or Traps this turn."
"WHAT?" Otto yelled as his three spell cards, The Seal, Power Bond and Break! Draw!, glowed, he tried reaching for the Orichalcos but was stopped by electricity. "Your stall tactics are starting to annoy me."
"Don't you have a move to do?" Kimberly asked and Otto growled.
"Well I was going to do away with this silly field spell but I guess I'll make do by setting another monster in defense mode." Otto set the monster down and the facedown monster appeared on the field. "Make your damn move already!" Otto scowled and Kimberly drew her card.
"I will, gladly." Kimberly said before looking at her drawn card, her small confident small quickly turned into a much larger grin. "The card I just drew will ensure that you won't play the seal in this duel."
"Oh, will it really?" Otto asked in a mocking tone. "You know as well as I do that the Seal can't be destroyed or negated."
"But it can still be sent to the graveyard." Kimberly said catching Otto's attention. "I activate the Spell Card I just drew, CARD DESTRUCTION!" Otto's eyes widened when he heard the card's name and they went even wider when he saw the hologram of the card on the field. "This spell card forces us both too….."
"Discard our entire hands and draw new ones from scratch; I've seen enough of the Osiris Red bitch's matches to know what that damn card does!" Otto snapped at Kimberly ignoring Theresa's attempts to calm down Chloe as he and Kimberly discarded their entire hands and drew new ones.
"Huh, she was actually able to prevent the activation of the Seal." Tyler commented with a stroke of her chin.
"And I think I know why." Kaiba chimed in with a small smirk. "She didn't let him activate the Seal so that the cops could interrogate him once she beats him."
"You mean if she beats him." Tyler corrected him. "Otto was an excellent duelist before he got his hands on the Seal of the Orichalcos, Kimberly and her step brother was the last Ra Yellow students to graduate to Obelisk Blue during last year's examination duels and there progress has been steady." Tyler said before his eyes darted to Theresa's attempts to calm down Chloe. "I'm concerned about the Osiris Red student."
"Richardson? Why are you concerned about her?" Kaiba asked turning to his son.
"You remember the aftermath of the students' last duel before the Semi-Finals, and we both know the results your background check on him turned up." Tyler said with a frown. "I'll set them up in one of the VIP rooms, that way we won't have an incident on our hands."
"Fine, it looks like Theresa's taking Chloe backstage anyway." Kaiba said motioning with his head towards the monitor which showed the two girls heading backstage, when Kaiba turned around Tyler was already heading out the door and whilst that was going on the two female duelists where making their way backstage.
"Theresa you sure this is necessary? We'll miss the match." Chloe protested and Theresa glanced at her.
"Aren't you forgetting the last time you lost your temper?" Theresa asked and Chloe stiffened up thinking back to seven on one duel against her biological dad, something Theresa noticed. "I know, I know it's a touchy subject but it's better than the alternative." Theresa added.
"I'll say." Tyler's voice rang out and the Obelisk Blue student stepped out of the shadows, the stairs to Kaiba's office was just ahead of the two girls which was why Tyler was able to get their so fast. "Long time no see Theresa, impressive showing in your match."
"Tyler?" Theresa blinked in surprise once she recognized him. "I thought you were ill?" Theresa asked and Tyler nodded.
"I was, I also happened to be in New York for the tournament." Tyler responded before his eyes narrowed. "I noticed your friend's temper flaring up."
"Oh right, Chloe this is Tyler Serites, he's the top student in Obelisk Blue and by extension the whole academy." Theresa introduced Chloe and Chloe gulped.
"Don't worry kid, I don't bite." Tyler said folding his arms with a chuckle.
"Err, sure, wait why where you coming from Kaiba's office if you're just an Obelisk Blue student?" Chloe asked clearly confused, Tyler frowned clearly anticipating the question.
"It's not something I like discussing in public for a number of reasons." Tyler said plainly before motioning for the two girls to follow him. "To give you the short version, I'm Seto Kaiba's adopted son; I just like using the surname I was born with."
"Yeah, right." Chloe said skeptically as the two girls followed him. "Next thing you tell me is that duel monster cards have spirits inside of them."
"Chloe, don't be rude." Theresa scolded her and Tyler turned to them.
"It's okay Theresa, it's not exactly the first time that my claim to fame has been met with skepticism, you were skeptical when I told you remember?" Tyler said with a smile and Theresa blushed a bit. "Besides Chloe, throughout this tournament you've faced off against duelists who used a field spell that trapped people's souls in another dimension and accepted it as fact, is going to the same school as the adopted son of a world famous duelist really that hard to swallow?"
"That's different though." Chloe pointed out with a frown. "For one thing I have firsthand experience of the effects of that damn field spell." Chloe added and Tyler paused.
"Fair point but still given everything you've experienced is the fact that Kaiba's my father really that hard to fathom?" Tyler asked before opening a door to a VIP room. "Here, you can watch the rest of the match in here." Tyler said and the two girls entered the room without hesitation, Chloe plopped down on the sofa whilst Theresa remained standing and Tyler turned on the TV, not much had changed since the two girls left the arena, the two duelists where looking over their new hands formulating new strategies.
"Hmmm, I didn't draw any monsters." Kimberly thought with a frown. "But on the other hand these traps will help." Kimberly thought before picking up three of her new cards. "I set three cards facedown, now Skull Archfiend attack the monster Otto set last turn with Hell's Lightning!" The fiend stretched out its arms and lightning shot from them, the monster was revealed to be a mechanical bird with four wings (4/1200/1600) which was quickly destroyed.
"Thank you for destroying Cyber Phoenix." Otto said as he sent his monster to the graveyard. "When it's destroyed as a result of battle and sent to the graveyard I am allowed to draw a single card from my deck." Otto explained as he drew a card.
"Draw all the cards you want, all it'll do is bring you one step closer to decking out." Kimberly taunted before motioning for Otto to take his turn, he drew his card without hesitation.
"I don't need Cyber End Dragon or the seal to defeat a pathetic weakling like you!" Otto sneered before looking at his newly drawn card. "First I activate Silent Doom which I use to revive one of the monsters you forced me to discard last turn, Robotic Knight!" Otto played the card and a mechanical knight in red and gold armor appeared on the field (4/1600/1800).
"That's hardly a knight in shining armor." Kimberly scoffed before grinning. "But then again neither is his handler."
"Joke all you want but let's see if you're still in a joking mood after I sacrifice Robotic Knight to summon Machine King in attack mode!" Otto swapped out the cards and Robotic Knight vanished, in its place stood the king of machines ready to do battle (6/2200/2000) and due to its own effect the King's attack rose to 2300.
"Even with the Orichalcos in your deck you're still using that old thing?" Kimberly scoffed before folding her arms. "Machine King's strong but he falls just short of Skull Archfiend's strength."
"That may be true but not for long, I flip summon my facedown monster Jinzo number 7!" Otto flipped the card up and a small, rusty android appeared on the field (2/500/400) and as soon as it appeared Machine King's attack rose to 2400. "Next I activate Machine Duplication; since my Jinzo is a pathetic weakling I can summon two more of them from my deck!" Otto activated the card and picked up his deck, one quick search later and two more androids appeared on Otto's side of the field increasing Machine King's attack to 2600. "But my three weaker monsters come with an extra benefit; they can attack directly even if the opponent has a monster on her side of the field." Otto explained and Kimberly frowned.
"Good thing I drew those traps last turn." Kimberly thought as Otto pointed to his weaker monsters with a maniacal grin on his face.
"Go my Jinzos, attack her life points directly!" The three androids charged forward past Skull Archfiend of Lightning…
"Think again, I activate my trap card Waboku!" Kimberly activated the trap and three priestesses blocked the androids from getting any closer to Kimberly.
"Fine, I end my turn." Otto growled as his three androids returned to his side of the field, Kimberly drew her card and frowned.
"Archfiend Empress, I can't summon her because Skull Archfiend of Lightning is my only monster on my side of the field….but maybe my trap cards can help." Kimberly thought before playing a card. "I summon Sangan in attack mode!" Kimberly played the card and the small three eyed fiend appeared on the field (3/1000/600). "Now I activate another trap card, Dark Spirit Art Greed! By sacrificing Sangan this card will allow me to draw two cards." Kimberly activated the card and the fiend vanished, soon afterwards Kimberly drew two cards and sent Sangan and her trap to the graveyard.
"Let me guess, you're activating Sangan's effect next?" Otto asked and Kimberly said nothing before picking up her deck and searching through it, she found the card she was looking for and added it to her hand.
"Okay, I have a couple of more monsters including one that can help me if he tries bypassing Skull Archfiend again." Kimberly thought before picking up a card. "I activate the Spell Card Dark World Dealings, now we can draw an extra card on the condition that we discard a card as well." Kimberly played the card and both duelists drew an extra card before discarding a card. "As much as I hate helping Otto the card I just sent to the graveyard will be a bigger help to me in the graveyard than it will in my hand." Kimberly thought with a frown. "That ends my turn." Kimberly announced and Otto drew his card.
"Hmm, why didn't she attack? If she had destroyed one of my Jinzos she would've reduced Machine King's attack to 2500 and reduce the direct damage she would've taken." Otto thought with a frown. "No matter, any mistake she makes will inevitably benefit me!" Otto thought before adding his newly drawn card to his hand. "Go my Jinzos, finish what you started last turn!" The three androids charged towards Kimberly again…but like last time they were stopped in their tracks this time by Battle Fader (1/0/0).
"I have ways of stalling cards other than Spell Cards Otto." Kimberly said as the three androids returned to Otto's side of the field. "Unfortunately for you this little move has allowed me to set the stage for my strongest monster's arrival."
"Archfiend Empress." Otto thought remembering the card from Kimberly's duel against Luigi in the last round. "I set a card facedown and call it a turn at that." Otto set the card down and Kimberly drew her card.
"Then the stage is set." Kimberly said as she picked up her two monster cards, she pocketed Battle Fader due to its effect and sent Skull Archfiend of Lightning to the graveyard. "I sacrifice Battle Fader and Skull Archfiend of Lightning to summon my strongest monster Archfiend Empress!" Kimberly played the card and in Skull Archfiend's place stood the mighty queen of the Archfiends (8/2900/2100) however as soon as the queen appeared Otto activated his trap.
"I activate Bottomless Trap Hole!" Otto activated the card and grinned. "This trap is an improved version of Trap Hole, for one thing it only works on monsters with 1500 or more attack points and removes them from play and I know for a fact that the empress doesn't share her minion's luck based effect!"
"She doesn't need to; I chain Bottomless Trap Hole with my own Trap Card Trap Stun!" Kimberly flipped the card up and too Otto's surprise the hole that had opened up beneath the empress had closed up. "Now that this has been activated the effects of the other trap cards on the field are negated for the rest of the turn." Kimberly explained and Otto growled before sending his card to the grave. "Now for the fun part, Archfiend Empress I command you to attack the jinzo on the far right!" The empress pointed her staff at the android in question and a beam of dark light erupted from it consuming the android and causing it to explode, Otto shield himself as his lifepoints took a large hit.
K: 5000
O: 3100
Once the smoke from the explosion cleared the android was gone and Machine King's attack had dropped to 2500, Otto was seething at this point. "All it will take me is two more attacks from my Empress and you'll be paying for what you did to your brother not to mention anyone else you hurt in this…" Kimberly started but was stopped when Otto's temper got the best of him.
"YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH YOU PATHETIC WHORE!" Otto yelled at her as he drew his card, Kimberly clenched her first in anger ready to punch Otto out for the comment but thought better of it. "I activate Pot of Avarice, this spell card requires me to return five monster cards from my graveyard to my deck but in exchange I get to draw an additional two cards! Otto activated the card and returned Cyber Dragon, Cyber Phoenix, Biofalcon, Robotic Knight and the destroyed Jinzo 7 to his deck, once that was done he drew two cards from his deck, when Otto saw his two cards he grinned maniacally. "I may not be able to send you to the Orichalcos like my associate did to that pathetic brother of yours but I can still put you in the hospital." Otto said ignoring the death glare from Kimberly. "I offer my remaining Jinzos as tribute to summon Perfect Machine King in attack mode!" Otto played the card and the two androids vanished, in their place stood a shinier, more advanced version of Machine King that was silver and red in color (8/2700/1600). "As you may know Perfect Machine King gains 500 attack points for each Machine Type monster on the field, there are two which will bring his total to 3700." Otto explained as Perfect Machine King's attack skyrocketed to 3700 whilst its regular form's attack dropped to 2400.
"Big deal, even if you destroy my Empress my lifepoints will survive the hit!" Kimberly said confidently and Otto grinned.
"You'd think that, wouldn't you?" Otto asked as he activated the other card he drew. "But I'm afraid that my Limiter Removal Spell Card will have to disagree with you, you see for this turn only this spell card's effect shall double the attack strength of all machine type monsters on the field; I believe the results speak for themselves." Kimberly's eyes widened when she saw Perfect Machine King's and regular Machine King's attack raise to 7400 and 4800 respectively.
"Not a problem, the monster I discarded for Dark World Dealing's effect was Necro Gardna (3/600/1300), all I'll need to do is remove him from play and I'll be able to negate Perfect Machine King's attack and since Limiter Removal's side effect destroys all Machine Type monsters on his side of the field at the end phase his life-points will be mine for the taking." Kimberly thought as her eyes darted towards her graveyard.
"What's the matter? Do you believe that a card in the graveyard will save you from my wrath?" Otto asked catching Kimberly's attention. "Well I can't risk that happening so I activate another Spell Card called Soul Release to remove that one card in your graveyard, care to tell me what it is?" Otto played the card and Kimberly growled.
"Necro Gardna." Kimberly whispered as her hair overshadowed her eyes.
"I'm sorry, I didn't catch that." Otto said putting a hand to his ear. "Would you mind repeating that so that we can….."
"IT'S NECRO GARDNA DAMN IT!" Kimberly snapped at him before retrieving the card and pocketing it, Otto sent his spell to the graveyard and pointed at his monsters.
"Machine King, show that empress what real power is all about, Perfect Machine King send her to hell!" Otto commanded and the two machines launched their attacks, Machine King's rocket fists struck Archfiend Empress in the chest destroying her and bringing Kimberly's life-points down to 3100, Perfect Machine King's assault soon followed sending her flying off the podium and into the wall.
O: 3100
K: 0000
"Err; the winner of the match is Otto Freshier!" Bill announced as several other duelists rushed to Kimberly's aid, back in the VIP room Chloe had bolted from the room as soon as Perfect Machine King's attack hit and she had returned to the arena just as Otto was heading backstage, he spotted her glaring at him and grinned.
"You're next bitch." Otto said plainly before walking off, Chloe gritted her teeth as she clenched her fists.
"Let it go Chloe, take your frustrations out on him in the next round." Chloe turned around and saw her stepdad there, Tyler and Theresa weren't far behind. "I know your angry but assaulting him isn't the answer."
"It's…it's not right dad." Chloe said as tears started forming in her eyes. "First Andreas is trapped in the Orichalcos now Kimberly's seriously injured and he's getting away with it."
"He won't Chloe." Tyler reassured her as he stepped forward. "I and my father will make sure of it." Tyler added as paramedics ran over with a stretcher to attend to Kimberly. "Looks like Kimberly will be going to a local hospital rather than the medical ward."
"Her injuries must be serious if that's the case." Theresa said before getting an idea. "Mr. Richardson, would you mind driving me to the hospital? I want to be there when Kimberly wakes up."
"Off course Theresa, and please call me Scott." Scott nodded in understanding before turning to his daughter. "I take it you want to come as well?" Scott asked and Chloe nodded before following her dad.