The trip to the Osiris Red Boy's Dorm was uneventful besides the odd looks that the students were getting from the other students who had heard the story that Chelsea had made up to avoid telling them the truth, they eventually made their way to Hamden's office and he sat down behind the desk.
"Please shut the door behind you, we will be discussing what really happened last night." Hamden instructed them and Theresa didn't hesitate to close the door. "I suppose you know that word has spread about the little white lie Chelsea told Martin and the others to avoid accusations of being crazy?"
"If we didn't know then we certainly would've guessed based on the looks we've been getting." Tyler answered and Hamden nodded. "It doesn't feel right lying to the teachers like that but it's not like they'd believe the truth."
"I understand." Hamden said plainly before motioning for the students to take a seat. "This isn't the first time something like this has happened at Duel Academy and it isn't the first time that a student has gotten in trouble for it." Hamden told them before his eyes narrowed. "But it is the first time that this many students have gotten in trouble for it."
"You'd have to ask my Duel Spirit about that." Chloe shrugged as Hamden turned to her. "She probably knows the most about it out of the Duel Spirits that awakened last night."
"And we'd ask Armed Dragon but I don't think he'd fit in here." Theresa added and he looked at her.
"All right, I'm going to be straight with you guys, this doesn't look good for any of you." Hamden commented and the students looked around uneasily. "So far only a handful of students have won their expulsion duels and even then they had a hell of a fight on their hands, if that duel you had just now was to prepare for the duels then that's a step in the right direction but it's not enough."
"We would've done more training but our first classes of the day start in an hour." Tyler said after checking his watch. "And that wouldn't be a problem if I wasn't the only one among us who's taking Duel Theory today." Tyler added and Hamden stroked his chin in thought.
"I have a solution that'll benefit you not only in your upcoming duels but in the long run as well." Hamden said after a few minutes. "I was planning on doing this anyway."
"Doing what exactly?" Chelsea asked and Hamden cleared his throat.
"If you would let me finish I'd tell you." Hamden said plainly and Chelsea blushed. "The road ahead of you will be difficult regardless of whether or not you win the expulsion duels, having Spirit Partners will help significantly but even then there will be an adjustment period whilst you get used to it." Hamden said before turning to Theresa. "In fact Theresa here is still in the adjustment period."
"Wait, really?" Lance asked as he turned to the Obelisk Blue Student who shrugged.
"It takes a while, when Armed Dragon first made himself known to me I'd thought I'd be used to him by the time I reached Obelisk Blue." Theresa said honestly as the other students turned to her. "Besides that we still don't know who Tyler's Duel Spirit is."
"She has a point." Tyler agreed as he leaned against the wall. "I have two decks so it could be any one of my monsters."
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it." Hamden informed them and the students nodded. "Back to my original point, I have spoken to your parents, and the less said about the difficulty I had getting through to Brandon and Tyler's fathers the better, and they agree to it."
"They agree to what exactly?" Chelsea asked and the others turned to her. "Right, let him finish, sorry."
"Apology accepted." Hamden said with a reassuring nod. "They agreed to let me tutor the eight of you outside of class."
"But what if we're expelled?" Marcus pointed out and Hamden frowned.
"That is a problem, I admit that." Hamden nodded as he leaned forward. "But I am confident in the fact that you will all win and get away with it but the expulsion duels aren't the only reason I'm doing this." Hamden added and the students blinked. "I have been a teacher at the academy for ten years now, age wise I am the youngest teacher here with Maria being the oldest and in that time I have seen many students acquire Duel Spirit Partners, like I said before you aren't the first and you definitely won't be the last, two years into my tenure here I got my own Duel Spirit Guide."
"You mean Shinato." Theresa said with a nod and Hamden nodded in return. "Why are you telling us this anyway?"
"Ever since Shinato made his presence known to me, which was unfortunately in the middle of a lecture but that's neither here or there, I have made a point to personally tutor duelists who I know to have Duel Spirit partners; however you cannot tell the other teachers about this." Hamden explained and the students blinked.
"Oh right, the board of directors made a rule that said that personally tutoring students was not allowed after Jaden Yuki graduated." Theresa remembered and Hamden nodded. "I've never understood that rule myself."
"I have appealed against it many times as a rule like that can only hinder the students' progress, especially below average students, but so far my attempts have failed." Hamden admitted before shaking his head. "Their official word on it us that a duelist learns best on their own but we'd need only look at Chloe for proof of how bogus that claim is."
"I don't understand." Chloe admitted as she scratched the back of her head in confusion.
"By your own admission you are a rookie with a little under three months of experience, tell me Chloe, do you think you'd be as good as you are presently if your step-dad hadn't taught you the basics?" Hamden asked and Chloe thought about it.
"I guess not." Chloe admitted and Hamden nodded. "So what do we do now? We know that our parents are on the island."
"That was actually why I was initially looking for you." Hamden admitted as he folded his arms. "They went to your dorm rooms expecting to find you lot but they couldn't find you even after checking Chelsea's girlfriend's dorm room, since the other teachers where teaching at the time and the security was busy elsewhere on the island so they asked me for help, since I had planned to approach you regardless it was perfect."
"And where are our parents now?" Marcus asked.
"I know Chloe and Chelsea's parents are waiting outside their dorm room, the others I'm not too sure about." Hamden told them and the two girls winced knowing what that would mean for them, Hamden checked his watch and turned to them. "I won't keep you any longer as your next class is in a half hour and since your next class is with me I'd suggest meeting me on the North Side of the island rather than in class, even if they catch you they won't punish you because there's a teacher present."
"And we'll resume training from there?" Tyler asked and Hamden nodded. "There is only one problem with that, what about the other students your teaching? We're hardly the only students who take your class?"
"This was actually something I've arranged in advance, as you know as part of my class I sometimes take students to one of the Duel Fields to see how much they've learned under my tutorage, however since the other teachers are using the Duel Fields presently I've given the students a choice, either they meet me at the North Side of the island or they skip the class. I had nothing special planned for it so the suggestion made sense." Hamden explained and the students nodded. "You are all dismissed but I wouldn't worry about the expulsion duels if I was you, you are all talented duelists in your own right and if anyone can win those duels it's you." Hamden added and the students left the office before heading to their own dorms. "I hope I am right."
"For once I'm not looking forward to getting back to my dorm room." Chelsea grumbled to Chloe as the two girls left the boy's dorm. "My folks are pretty strict so I am not looking forward to the earful they'll give me when we get there."
"I gathered that from what you told me earlier." Chloe nodded as the two girls separated from the group and headed towards the Osiris Red Girl's dorm. "Look if you feel like talking again after our parents are through with us I'm all ears."
"Thanks Chloe that may help a lot." Chelsea thanked her roommate as they neared the dorm; once again they got some odd looks from the other female students who had learned of the lie that Chelsea had told the teachers but they blew it off and went straight to the dorm room. Too their surprise they saw that they were the only ones in the hallway. "Huh, guess our folks went off to search for us…."
"Ah, there you are." Chloe's stepdad's voice rang out and Chloe gulped.
"You just had to jinx it, didn't you?" Chloe whispered too her roommate before turning around and seeing her stepdad standing there. "Hi Dad," Chloe sighed as she looked at her father. "I know why you're here so let's get this over with." Chloe added and her dad motioned for her to follow her to somewhere a bit more private and she did so without any hesitation.
"Well…..at least my folks haven't shown up yet." Chelsea gulped as Chloe and her stepdad walked off. She rubbed the back of her head nervously but her eyes widened when she heard a familiar voice clear his throat and she turned around before seeing her dad standing there with a frown on his face, he had short black hair and blue eyes and was wearing an outfit that identified him as a construction worker. "I really need to keep my mouth shut at times like these." Chelsea thought with a gulp. "Hi dad, I'm guessing I don't get any prizes for guessing why you're here?"
"No you don't young lady." Her dad said with a disappointed look on his face. "You know what I and your mother told you before you took the written test."
"Yeah, either behave myself or get sent off to military school." Chelsea nodded with a frown. "They've given me a second chance though."
"I know, Professor Hamden told me and the other parents." Her dad said with a nod before shaking his head. "I thought we brought you up better than this Chelsea."
"I know I fucked up dad but I have no intention of being kicked out any time soon." Chelsea said confidently as she turned to her dad. "Look, dad, this whole incident…..it was just a big mistake on my part and not one I will be repeating." Chelsea said with a sigh as she looked at her dad nervously knowing how strict he was, she sighed in relief as his expression lightened up a bit.
"I'm glad to hear it." Her dad said with a nod and Chelsea grinned at that. "I'm heading home but I will be present on Friday for the expulsion duel, let's hope that Hamden's tutorage in enough to keep you at the school." Her dad said before walking off, Chelsea sighed as she leaned against the wall and seconds later Chloe joined her. "So how did it go with your stepdad?"
"For one thing it made the conversation we had after my Duel with Cameron look pleasant." Chloe sighed in annoyance. "I'm just glad to get that over with."
"I can't help but agree there." Chelsea nodded in agreement before checking her watch. "We have fifteen minutes to go before our class with Hamden; I think we'd better get a move on." Chelsea said and Chloe nodded in agreement before the two girls started making their way out of the dorm.
"Chloe, wait up!" The two girls blinked before turning around and seeing two Osiris Red students approaching them, Chloe quickly recognized the students as Rachel Travis and Kyle Winston who she had helped out yesterday against Thomas Newborn. "Sorry, we only just got your texts." Rachel apologized once she caught her breath.
"Don't worry about it." Chloe reassured them with a nod. "I'm guessing you guys want to help me prepare for my expulsion duel right?"
"Yeah, it's the least we can do." Kyle nodded once he caught his breath. "Look we don't care what you guys did at the Abandoned Dorm last night, you helped us so we may as well help you."
"Good to know." Chelsea said with a nod. "I'm guessing you've got Hamden's class next as well?"
"Yeah, we were going to skip it until we remembered that you guys had it as well." Kyle nodded as the four Osiris Red Students started walking together. "I've been asking around as well to see if I can get anyone else to help out, some of my pals are too busy right now to help and I'm waiting for news from the others."
"I can say the same thing." Rachel added as they headed towards the north side of the island. "I think the problem is most of the students are worried about any repercussions they'll receive if word got out that they are helping students who could potentially be expelled in a couple of days."
"They wouldn't really get in trouble for that, right?" Chelsea asked and Chloe shrugged.
"Considering who runs the Obelisk Blue dorms can you blame them?" Chloe pointed out as they neared the area where Hamden told them to meet him. "Did Hamden ever specify where he was going to meet us?"
"If he did I can't remember." Chelsea shrugged as they neared the clearing where Chelsea had dueled Beth an hour ago, thankfully for them Hamden was waiting for them alongside the other students who were at the dorm last night. "Sorry for the wait, the chat we had with our parents regarding the whole situation took a bit longer than we were expecting."
"You're here, that's what matters." Hamden shrugged before greeting Kyle and Rachel. "It seems that most of the students taking my class have decided to skip it, that's a good thing because now we can focus more on you guys."
"Good, so how are we going to decide who duels who?" Tyler asked and Hamden turned to him. "I myself am quite eager to duel; I haven't dueled once since I returned from New York."
"We'll decide that now." Hamden said before drawing ten cards from his deck. "Here's how it works, I have ten monsters in my hand and whoever draws the two strongest monsters gets to duel, any questions?"
"No, I'm good." Chloe shrugged before she and the others picked out the cards, Chloe, Chelsea, Brandon, Theresa, Tyler, Kyle, Lance and Marcus frowned when they saw that they hadn't drawn any strong monsters whilst Andreas and Rachel exchanged knowing looks.
"That settles it, Andreas is dueling Rachel." Hamden said before taking the cards back and shuffling his deck and once that was done the two duelists got into position, activated their duel disks, shuffled their decks and drew their opening hands. "All that's left is to decide who's going first."
"If Andreas doesn't mind I'd like to go first." Rachel volunteered and Hamden turned to Andreas who shrugged as he looked over his hand, Rachel grinned before drawing another card. "Truth is I was hoping to duel you at some point Andreas."
"You were hoping to duel me? Is there any particular reason for that?" Andreas asked as he raised an eyebrow. "I mean I know I'm good looking and all….."
"It's not that." Rachel interrupted whilst blushing furiously. "Besides I thought you met a girl whilst you were in New York?" Rachel asked and Andreas face-faulted. "Yeah, I thought so, anyway the reason I wanted to duel you is because like me you're a nature duelist." Rachel explained as Andreas got back up to his feet, she waited for him to gather up his cards before playing a card. "However whilst you are more of a Beast and Beast-Warrior type user I'm more of an insect type user, as I'm about to demonstrate with my opening move."
"A girl who isn't afraid of bugs, I never thought I'd see the day." Lance whispered to Marcus…only to subsequently gulp at the death glares he had earned from the present females. "Hey girls, can't you take a joke?" Lance asked whilst laughing nervously.
"Anyway…..I set three cards facedown and summon Anti-Aircraft Flower!" Rachel played the cards and a small yellow flower with what looked like a gun sticking out of its center appeared on the field (2/0/1600).
"That thing has Zero Attack Points? You would've been better of setting that card first." Andreas scoffed and Rachel frowned. "Besides I thought you used Insects, that's clearly a Plant Type Monster."
"That may be true but its effect supports insects all the same." Rachel said before looking over her hand. "That's all for now." Rachel announced and Andreas drew his card. "Now, let's see if he takes the bait or not." Rachel thought as Andreas looked over his hand.
"Sorry to disappoint you but that monster wouldn't have helped you even if you did set it!" Andreas said before playing the card he had drawn. "I summon Enraged Battle Ox in attack mode!" Andreas played the card and the angry Minotaur appeared on the field (4/1700/1000).
"Well I guess now's a good a time as any to activate this, I activate the Quick Play Spell Card Scapegoat!" Rachel activated the card and four small sheep appeared on the field, one red, one yellow, one blue and one pink, appeared on the field (1/0/0). "These four little guys will protect my life-points."
"Or they would if not for my Battle Ox's trampling effect, and since it also applies to my other beasts this will be over quickly." Andreas pointed out before pointing to his Ox. "Enraged Battle Ox, attack Anti-Aircraft Flower!" Andreas commanded and the Minotaur let out an angry growl before charging towards the flower…..
"Just what I was hoping for, I activate Maximum Defense!" Rachel activated the card and a new card flipped up, its image depicting Marauding Captain, Field Commander Rhaltz, Command Knight, Blade Knight and Familiar Knight preventing a group of unarmed civilians from entering a castle. "Here's how it works, as long as each of my Monster Card Zones are occupied you can't attack, however should any of my monsters leave the field at any time the card's destroyed and I have to skip my next Battle Phase." Rachel explained and Enraged Battle Ox backed off.
"Not bad, though I must say that the Scapegoat tokens wouldn't exactly be my first choice for that card's effect." Andreas thought before picking up two cards. "I set two cards facedown and end my turn."
"Before you do that I'll activate my remaining Trap Card DNA Surgery!" Rachel flipped the card up and the six monsters on the field started glowing. "As for what Type I'm going for…..well I said that Anti-Aircraft Flower is a support monster for Insects so you do the math." Rachel added as the six monsters transformed into insect versions, Anti-Aircraft Flower was now a small insect with a gun on its back, the four tokens now resembled insect monsters and Enraged Battle Ox now resembled an insect/Minotaur hybrid.
"And there are my nightmares for the rest of my life." Lance said with a gulp once he saw what Enraged Battle Ox had turned into; Rachel ignored him before drawing her card.
"For my first move I activate Magic Planter!" Rachel activated the card and Maximum Defense shattered. "As long as I destroy a Continuous Trap first this spell will allow me to draw two cards."
"But that will leave you defenseless." Andreas pointed out as she drew twice.
"Well duh, I didn't intend to keep that card on the field." Rachel added before pointing to Anti-Aircraft Flower. "Now onto my flower's effect…..and yes I realize that it now closely resembles an insect." Rachel said before shaking her head. "To activate it I'm sacrificing all of my tokens."
"First you destroy your trap now you destroy your monsters?" Andreas asked with a raised eyebrow as the tokens vanished.
"Not a problem, that was only a temporary solution anyway." Rachel said before grinning. "Basically Anti-Aircraft Flower will now launch those tokens at you and you'll lose 800 life-points for each one."
"Wait, what?! That's 3200 points of damage!" Andreas realized as his eyes widened and Rachel's grin grew broader.
"That's the fun part." Rachel said before the insect fired the tokens at Andreas hitting him in the chest, each token self-destructed on impact bringing Andreas's life-points down to 4800. "Now as you've already said I can't attack but with this next Spell Card neither can you, I activate Insect Barrier!" Rachel played the card and a yellow shield encased her side of the field. "As long as this is on the field you can't attack with any insects."
"And thanks to DNA Surgery that's all of my monsters!" Andreas realized with a frown. "Even years after Weevil Underwood retired from Dueling that card's still popular despite Weevil's underhanded tactics." Andreas thought before noticing that Rachel had switched Anti-Aircraft Flower to defense mode and the insect was crouching down.
"It's better to be safe than sorry." Rachel shrugged before looking over her hand. "That'll do for now." Rachel announced and Andreas drew his card.
"I'll admit, her strategy is sound, as long as she has that flower on the field she can damage my life-points and as long as Insect Barrier and DNA Surgery are on the field she can protect her monster." Andreas thought before looking at his hand.
"That's all for me." Rachel shrugged and Andreas drew his card. "If he thinks Anti-Aircraft Flower is the only part of my strategy he has another thing coming." Rachel thought as her eyes rested on the second card she had drawn with Magic Planter, she looked up at Andreas and quickly noticed the disappointed look on his face. "Let me guess, dead draw?"
"You could say that." Andreas said with a nod as he glanced at his card. "Did I really just draw Berserk Gorilla!? Of all the times to draw this monster I had to draw him when she's using a stall and burn strategy?!" Andreas thought as he glanced at the monster. "I shall pass for now." Andreas announced and Rachel drew her card.
"Suit yourself." Rachel shrugged before looking at her card, she grinned before playing it. "Now it's time for you to meet one of my true insects, Pinch Hopper!" Rachel played the card and a large green insect with wings appeared on the field (4/1200/1000).
"Oh great, Pinch Hopper, don't bother explaining that thing's effect!" Andreas grumbled as it dawned on him. "Once you tribute it for Anti-Aircraft Flower's effect you'll be able to special summon another insect from your hand."
"True, but you're thinking too small!" Rachel said with a grin as she played her card. "I activate Multiplication of Ants; first I sacrifice Pinch Hopper…" Rachel said as Pinch Hopper disappeared from the field. "And in exchange I can special summon two Army Ant Tokens!" Rachel announced as a pair of small insects appeared on the field (4/500/1200). "Now before I tribute these little guys for my flower's effect I use Pinch Hopper's effect to Special Summon Insect Queen!"
"I knew it!" Andreas said with a frown as the infamous gigantic insect appeared on the field with a roar (6/2200/2400). "For all his underhanded tactics Weevil Underwood knew his Insect Queen was strong and helped popularize it among insect duelists."
"Yeah but she does have her drawbacks." Rachel said as she glanced up at the gigantic insect. "First the good news, for me anyway, my queen makes up for her low attack for a Level 7 monster with her effect which allows her to gain 200 attack points for each insect on the field and unfortunately for you your Battle Ox counts!" Rachel added as her queen's attack increased to 3000. "But before I attack I'm giving up my two tokens to use Anti-Aircraft Flower's effect one last time."
"What does she mean by one last time?" Chloe wondered as the two ants where loaded onto the gun and fired at Andreas bringing his life-points down to 3200 and the queen's attack points down to 2600.
"Err, trust me Chloe, you don't want to know." Tyler gulped as he glanced at the monster.
"Too bad, she's going to find out anyway." Rachel said before pointing to Anti-Aircraft Flower. "Unfortunately I have to sacrifice an Insect Type monster each time I want to attack with my queen so Anti-Aircraft Flower has to go!" Rachel added and what happened next disturbed everyone present, the Insect Queen swallowed Anti-Aircraft Flower whole before charging at Battle Ox, Andreas looked away in disgust as his monster was swallowed whole bringing his life-points down to 2700.
"I may be losing by a significant margin but thanks to that attack I can activate Animal Trail!" Andreas announced as the trap card flipped up. "Now that you've destroyed one of my monsters this trap lets me add a Beast Type monster from my deck to my hand." Andreas quickly searched through his deck before finding the card he was looking for and adding it too his hand.
"Well if you think that can help you then by all means." Rachel shrugged before looking over her hand. "I end my turn which triggers my insect queen's third and final effect." Rachel added as the queen squatted down a bit.
"Err, I really don't like where this is going." Lance gulped as the students watched as the queen laid an egg (1/100/100). "Phew, for a moment I thought Kaibacorp had taken its holographic technology way to far."
"Crack jokes all you want Lance." Rachel said as she turned to him. "But that Insect Monster Token will keep my Insect Queen's attack high and since she'll give birth to one each round her attack will keep increasing." Rachel said as she grinned broadly. "And with my Insect Barrier and DNA Surgery cards in play I don't have to bother worrying about the tokens being sitting ducks."
"Maybe so but your outdated strategies won't last forever." Andreas interrupted and Rachel's eyes narrowed.
"Just take your turn already." Rachel said with a growl and Andreas drew his card without hesitation.
"It seems Andreas hit a soft spot just now." Theresa observed and Kyle shook his head.
"It's because those outdated strategies are pretty much the only ones her family can afford, heck they had to get a loan in order for her to attend the school." Kyle explained with a frown. "Heck the only reason she has that Maximum Defense card is because I gave it to her since it fits her deck better than mine."
"Well, that certainly makes sense, she's far from the only duelist I've encountered who uses outdated cards because their family can't afford the newer cards." Andreas thought before looking at his drawn card. "That was what I assumed Chloe's situation was when I saw her test duel, until she brought out her best monster that is." Andreas thought before playing two cards. "I set a card facedown and a monster in defense mode that ends my turn." Andreas announced and Rachel drew her card.
"You know what? I'm feeling generous so I'll play a Spell Card called Heaven's Lost Property!" Rachel played the card and Andreas raised an eyebrow. "Long story short this Spell Card will allow us to draw three cards so long as we discard two." Rachel explained and Andreas grinned before doing so.
"That's good because now I can activate my other trap card, Disgraceful Charity!" Andreas activated the trap and grinned. "You can thank my partner in the tag tournament for this handy little trap card, to put it simply we can both return the cards we just discarded to our hands."
"Fine by me that trap card helps me as much as it helps you." Rachel shrugged before retrieving the two cards she had discarded to the graveyard and adding them to her hand, Andreas did likewise and the two duelists looked over their hands. "I summon Cockroach Knight!" Rachel played the card and an overgrown green cockroach appeared on the field wielding a shield and a sword (3/800/900). "I have bad news for you Andreas, Cockroach Knight…."
"Cockroach Knight returns to the top of your deck when it's sent to the graveyard." Andreas interrupted and Rachel blinked. "Come now, you're hardly the first insect duelist to use this combo."
"Yeah, I guess that's true enough." Rachel admitted before pointing to her queen. "Insect Queen, feast upon Cockroach Knight and then his defense monster!" Rachel commanded and the queen swallowed the knight whole before she charged towards the monster; however the queen's attack was deflected by a barrier. "Huh?" Rachel asked before looking over her opponent's field. "You didn't activate a trap! What just happened?"
"Simple, my defense monster was Barrier Rat." Andreas said as the monster was revealed, a large grey rat with extra hard fur (3/0/0) and as soon as it appeared the monster transformed into a more insect like form. "Sure his attack is non-existent but with the ability to survive one attack per round he more than makes up for it."
"Damn, I should've attacked with Cockroach Knight first." Rachel thought with a frown before returning Cockroach Knight to her deck. "Since I didn't destroy your monster this turn my Queen doesn't get to give birth to another egg." Rachel explained with a frown whilst the others sighed in relief. "For now I end my turn." Rachel announced and Andreas drew his card.
"Perfect, with this combo I should be able to put Cockroach Knight out of commission." Andreas thought before picking up two cards. "I set one card facedown and a monster in defense that ends my turn." Andreas announced and Rachel drew her card. "I know what that card is so you may as well get it over with."
"I couldn't agree more." Rachel agreed before playing the card, sure enough Cockroach Knight returned to the field. "I'm not making the same mistake I made last turn, Cockroach Knight get his Barrier Rat!" Rachel commanded and the knight charged towards the rat, sure enough the Barrier came up again knocking Cockroach Knight back to Rachel's side of the field. "Insect Queen, gobble up Cockroach Knight and attack Barrier Rat!" Rachel commanded and the students turned away as Cockroach Knight was swallowed whole…..
"Thank you; you have triggered my trap card Earth Protector!" Andreas activated his trap once Rachel returned Cockroach Knight to her deck and a new card revealed itself revealing The Rock Spirit and Gigantus charging into battle against Terrorking Archfiend, Shadowknight Archfiend and Skull Archfiend of Lightning whilst a group of civilians fled, Rachel took in the image on the card for a few seconds before noticing that Barrier Rat was glowing. "Unlike most of my cards this is an Earth Attribute support card as the name suggests, it can only be activated when an Earth attribute monster is targeted for an attack by a monster with 2000 or more attack points, I get to choose the target for the attack on the condition that any cards that would be sent to the graveyard are removed from play instead until the end of my next turn."
"Seems pretty situational, besides since Cockroach Knight was already sent to my graveyard by Insect Queen's effect it's too late for it to affect him." Rachel said with a grin. "Anyway what card is my new target?"
"The facedown monster I sent last turn." Andreas explained and Rachel wasted no time in targeting the monster, the Insect Queen charged towards it…however she would immediately regret her decision once she saw the monster. "No! Not Needle Worm (2750/500), anything but that monster!"
"Too late, you've already declared the attack." Andreas said with a grin and Rachel could only watch as the pink spiked worm fired some of its spikes at the top five cards of her deck. "Normally they'd go to the graveyard but Earth Protector's effect in play they'll be removed from play instead, including your Cockroach Knight!" Andreas added as Needle Worm was swallowed whole and the two duelists, in Rachel's case reluctantly, pocketed their cards. "It seems that if you want to use your Queen's effect again you're going to have to tribute her own eggs."
"Like that's going to happen." Rachel said before shaking her head. "Besides Cockroach Knight may be gone for good but he's hardly the only monster I can sacrifice for my Queen's effect." Rachel said before picking up two cards. "But just in case you're thinking of trying anything I set two cards facedown and end my turn."
"And since your Queen destroyed Needle Worm she lays another egg." Andreas added as the queen laid a second Insect Token and Andreas shook his head before drawing his card. "Well I'm sorry to say Rachel but your strategy's going out the window."
"Oh is that a fact? How exactly is that going to happen?" Rachel asked nonchalantly and Andreas played his card, her eyes widened when she saw it. "Is that Heavy Storm? No!"
"Sorry but it is." Andreas said with a grin as a storm washed over the field, Rachel shielded herself before quickly activating one of her cards.
"Fine, since they'll be destroyed anyway I may as well benefit from it, go Emergency Provisions!" Rachel tried to activate the Spell but it didn't work. "Huh?"
"Earth Protector's effect is still in play, remember? And since Emergency Provisions' effect clearly states that it has to go to the graveyard…" Andreas explained and Rachel's eyes widened as it dawned on her, one by one her four Spell and Trap cards shattered followed by Andreas's own facedown card, soon Insect Barrier's hologram shattered followed by Barrier Rat returning to its original form.
"Fine, I was planning on Emergency Provisioning those two cards at some point anyway." Rachel admitted as she pocketed her four cards and Andreas did likewise. "No Level 4 or lower Beast Monster can match my Insect Queen's power anyway."
"I don't need too; you left your tokens in attack mode for starters, incidentally the same mistake Weevil Underwood made in his Battle City duel against Joey Wheeler." Andreas pointed out and Rachel frowned as she realized he had a point. "Also I wasn't entirely truthful when I was describing Barrier Rat's effect earlier."
"What do you mean?" Rachel asked impatiently and Andreas grinned. "I can only think of one other monster that shares that monster's effect and that's Dark Resonator…wait a minute…." Rachel thought as it dawned on her. "Barrier Rat's a Beast Type counterpart to Dark Resonator isn't it? Yeah, it must be, right down to being a Tuner Monster."
"Close, yes Barrier Rat is a Tuner but it requires that the Synchro Material Monster be a Level 4 or lower Beast Type Monster." Andreas explained before playing a card. "I believe Berserk Gorilla fits the bill quite nicely." Andreas played the card and the angry orange gorilla appeared on the field (4/2000/1000).
"That explains why he was so intent to keep it." Rachel thought with a frown as she glared at the two cards. "As long as my copy of DNA Surgery was in play all he could do was defend with it." Rachel thought before frowning. "So what's the plan? Are you going to summon that broken Ape King card you used on Rajin?"
"For your information I got rid of that thing shortly before I departed from the island for Battle City." Andreas informed her as his two monsters leapt into the air. "As for what I am going to summon well just watch as I tune Barrier Rat with Berserk Gorilla!" Andreas added as Barrier Rat dissolved into three glowing stars that surrounded Berserk Gorilla. "So that I may Synchro Summon this mighty beast, come forth Voltic Bicorn!" Andreas played the card and the sound of a horse galloping could be heard, eventually the monster revealed itself to be a jet black horse with a blue mane and lightning like markings (7/2500/2000).
"Nice try Andreas but with two Insect Tokens on the field your horse is no match for my Insect Queen." Rachel pointed out with a smirk.
"Don't be so hasty, Barrier Rat has another effect." Andreas said as he held up the card. "If he is used in the Synchro Summon of a Level 7 monster I can draw one card for each Synchro Material monster used in the Synchro Summon, if there's any monsters among the drawn cards I have to toss them however." Andreas explained before drawing twice. "I set two cards facedown, now then, Voltic Bicorn attack Insect Queen."
"What?" Rachel asked pretty much echoing what everyone else was thinking and the horse let out a whinny before charging at the queen. "Are you crazy or do you want to lose?"
"None of the above, I activate the Quick Play Spell Forbidden Chalice and I use it on Voltic Bicorn!" Andreas played the card and Rachel's eyes widened as Bicorn's attack increased to 2900. "Sure my Bicorn gets stripped off his abilities in return but those abilities only activate when he's destroyed in battle anyway." Andreas added as the horse slammed into the massive insect sending an electric shock through her, the queen screamed before her hologram shattered bringing Rachel's life-points down to 7700. "It's about time I did some damage in this duel."
"Yeah but you still have a long way to go." Rachel pointed out with a frown. "Is that everything?" Rachel asked and Andreas looked over his hand.
"Yes, that will do for now." Andreas announced and Rachel drew her card. "All right, I've taken her monster out of commission and with Earth Protector's effect still in play she had no choice but to remove Insect Queen from play, right now I can only think of two Insects with the power to defeat Voltic Bicorn, Great Moth and Perfectly Ultimate Great Moth, but those cards are so impractical that she would be stupid to try to summon them."
"I start by activating Spellbook inside the Pot which allows us both to draw three cards." Rachel played the card and both duelists drew three cards, she looked at all three of her new cards and grinned before sending her Spell to the graveyard. "You may have destroyed my Queen Andreas but she's far from the only member of the insect royal family." Rachel said before playing a card. "I sacrifice one of my Insect Tokens so that I can summon Insect Princess in attack mode!" Rachel played the card and one of the eggs vanished, in its place stood a beautiful, scantly clad, insect like woman who was green in color and had butterfly type wings attached to her head (6/1900/1200).
"A Level 6 monster with 1900 attack points?" Andreas asked with a raised eyebrow. "Either she has a powerful effect or you just wasted a tribute summon."
"Oh she does, in fact I tend to prefer her to Insect Queen anyway, and for one thing she doesn't require a tribute in order to attack." Rachel explained with a proud grin. "For starters any insect type monsters that you would have on your side of the field are forced into attack mode."
"In other words, if you had drawn her a few turns back instead of Cockroach Knight you would've won." Andreas realized and Rachel shrugged.
"Yeah but at the same time it's rare that I get to draw her anyway." Rachel explained before grinning. "But there's more, each time my princess destroys a monster as a result of battle she gains 500 attack points."
"Nice try but Voltic Bicorn is the only monster on my side of the field and with DNA Surgery gone he's still a beast type monster." Andreas said with a smirk. "And even if it was in play there's no way that Insect Princess can defeat him in either mode!"
"I'm not done Andreas." Rachel said before playing a card. "For starters I activate Monster Reborn and bring back Enraged Battle Ox from your graveyard!" Rachel played the card and Andreas tossed the monster at her, she played it and the angry Minotaur appeared on the field. "Finally I activate Gift of the Martyr."
"Oh great, that thing will allow you to tribute a monster and add its attack to another monster on the field." Andreas grumbled as Enraged Battle Ox vanished and Insect Princess glowed as her attack points shot up to 3600.
"You got it." Rachel said before tossing Enraged Battle Ox back at Andreas who subsequently returned it to his graveyard. "Insect Princes, attack Voltic Bicorn!" Rachel commanded and the princess spread out her arms, seconds later a massive swarm of insects engulfed Voltic Bicorn and once it was gone so was Bicorn.
"That's certainly one of the darkest death animations I've seen in Duel Monsters." Andreas said as his life-points dropped to 1600. "But by attacking and destroying Voltic Bicorn you've triggered his effect forcing us both to send the top seven cards in our decks to the graveyard." Andreas explained before picking up the top seven cards and sending them to the graveyard. "But that's not all; by destroying my monster you've allowed me to trigger my trap card, Miracle's Wake!" Andreas's trap card flipped up and too Rachel's surprise Voltic Bicorn returned to the field. "Surprised? Don't be, Miracle's Wake lets me target one monster that's been destroyed in battle this turn and special summon it."
"So what are you planning? Make me deck out by destroying your monster over and over?" Rachel asked and Andreas shook his head.
"You'll see, is it my move?" Andreas asked and Rachel looked over her hand before nodding as her Insect Princess's attack dropped to 2400 and Andreas drew his card without hesitation. "I don't have what I need but if my luck holds out I can win this on this turn." Andreas thought before activating his trap. "I activate Pride of the Pack, since I have at least four Beast and Beast-Warrior Type Monsters in my graveyard, I get to draw one card for each monster but if any of the cards I draw are a second copy of a card in my graveyard I must end my turn and skip my next turn."
"Fine by me, you'll just deck out faster that way." Rachel said confidently as Andreas counted the number of monsters in his graveyard. "So, how many are there?"
"Ten." Andreas said simply and Rachel did a double check.
"Ten draws? You realize how high the possibility of drawing another copy of a card is right!?" Rachel asked and Andreas nodded before returning the cards to his graveyard and drawing ten cards completely draining his deck. "Hah, as soon as I end my turn all I'll need to do is pass my turn and I'll win the duel!"
"There won't be another turn for you Rachel, because it's over." Andreas said simply before playing a card. "And I'm using most of my new cards to do it! First I activate Lightning Vortex to clear the field!" Rachel's eyes widened as he discarded another card and lightning struck Rachel's two monsters destroying them both. "Next I activate Polymerization which I use to fuse Des Kangaroo and Big Koala to summon my best monster, Master of Oz!" Andreas played the card and the two monsters fused together, out of the portal emerged the massive green koala (9/4200/3700).
"Those guys are powerful but not enough to finish me!" Rachel said confidently as she tugged at her blazer nervously.
"They will be, next I activate Ancient Rules which allows me to Special Summon a second Big Koala from my hand!" Andreas played the cards and a huge koala appeared on the field (7/2700/2000). "Do the math, I've won." Andreas said plainly and Rachel sighed.
"You have, but I don't care if the attack point total comes up to 9400 points of damage, I have way to much pride to surrender." Rachel said and Andreas nodded as she braced herself for the huge amount of damage she was about to take.
"Master of Oz, Voltic Bicorn, Big Koala, finish it now." Andreas commanded and the three monsters charged towards Rachel attacking her one at a time sending her life-points down to zero and her onto her backside, Andreas approached her after deactivating his duel disk and offered her a hand to help her up. "That was a good duel, you almost had me there."
"Thanks, maybe we'll meet up again at the tournament…..if by some miracle my team beats Theresa's team." Rachel responded before accepting the hand and Andreas pulled her up.
"Good work you two, take five." Hamden instructed them and the two students walked onto the sidelines, the rest of the lesson went off without a hitch with some good duels scattered in between, however one duelist who wasn't satisfied was Chloe, her duel had been a short one that had to be called off because she had ran out of time.
"How am I supposed to improve under these time constraints?" Chloe thought with a frown as the duelists headed back to their dorms, she was walking side by side with Chelsea who was similarly dissatisfied as time had run out before she could duel. "I need to duel someone outside of a lesson who can and will give me a challenge but whom?" Chloe thought as the two girls descended down the hill, she heard Tyler chatting with Theresa and Brandon and looked up. "Anyone of those guys would be perfect but I want to be prepared for anything and that means I have to challenge someone who I haven't seen in action…someone like Tyler." Chloe thought as an idea formed in her head. "Chelsea, remind me to stop by Maria's office when we get back to our dorm."
"Sure, what do you have in mind?" Chelsea asked before noticing who she was looking at. "You're not….."
"I am." Chloe said with a nod as she turned to her roommate. "I'll explain why once we're back in the dorm room."
"Chloe I know you want to prepare for this Friday but this? Tyler's pretty much the only Obelisk Blue student that Osiris Red Students are afraid to face." Chelsea pointed out and Chloe grinned.
"Why's that? Is it because he's that good? That's just another reason for me to challenge him." Chloe responded with a grin before glancing over at Tyler who was unaware of the conversation they were having. "Whether or not I'll win is another matter."