The ship had been sailing the students back to the mainland for at least an hour now and to the relief of the students the staff were being a lot more lenient than they had been in previous years, namely by letting the students from the different dorms interact with each other on the ship rather than keep them separated, allowing them to use their duel disks during duels on the boat (as long as there was a teacher present to make sure that things went smoothly) and abolishing the curfew that had been active on the island, these changes were only good for the return trip but if you asked the students they were much needed changes.
"Man, can't believe Summer Break is here already." Chelsea commented out loud as she surfed the internet on her laptop, once again she had been paired with Chloe though this time around Beth was sharing a room with them, the duel disks that had been issued to the students when they joined had been taken back since they were school property but it didn't take long for the students to get their old Duel Disks back as apparently they had been keeping them stored on the ship. "Feels just like yesterday that you and the others had returned from Battle City Chloe."
"Tell me about it, after everything that happened during Battle City I thought my return to Duel Academy would be a lot more peaceful." Chloe nodded in response as she plopped down on the bed and stretched her arms. "And I don't think I need to point out what happened instead."
"Yeah, it ended up being as peaceful as one of the concerts that Chelsea would attend." Beth commented with a grin getting a laugh out of the other girls. "Here's my question, are we going to get in one last duel before we hit the mainland or not? We still have a day to go."
"I'm not sure to be honest, I'm still kicking myself for not destroying Theresa's Dimension Wall Trap Card with Arcanite Magician when I had the chance." Chloe admitted with a sigh as she glanced over at her deck. "Sure, it would've meant that Theresa wouldn't have graduated earlier but after I tried to beat her for so long it would've been a fitting end to my first year here."
"You'll get your chance when Theresa, Tyler and Brandon return for our Graduation Duels." Chelsea responded as she turned to her roommate and Chloe nodded in agreement. "Hopefully by then you'll be an Obelisk Blue Student but until we reach that point we have more important things to worry about, like the Orichalcos." Chelsea added, and Beth frowned as Chelsea remembered something. "Oh yeah, Beth, are you free to help us?"
"I'd love to, especially after how your first Orichalcos Duel ended." Beth responded before sighing. "But my parents refused to let me go with you, they saw what happened during Battle City and the last thing they want is me to be in danger." Beth added, and the other two girls frowned in response. "I will be there for your Birthday Party Chelsea but that was the only compromise that they were willing to reach."
"Aren't you turning eighteen this year?" Chloe chimed in and Beth turned to her. "The whole reason why our parents are semi-okay with this is because I turned eighteen earlier this year and Chelsea's turning eighteen this Wednesday."
"Yeah, I know and that's the problem." Beth responded with an annoyed sigh. "My birthday's not until the middle of September and I'm guessing that you guys are hoping to have the Orichalcos done away with for good by then." Beth added, and the two girls sighed before nodding. "Sorry, as much as I want to see these bastards fall I don't really have a choice in the matter."
"That's fine Beth and don't worry, by the time we return to Duel Academy in September the Orichcalcos will be history!" Chelsea reassured her girlfriend and Beth grinned in response before they felt their stomachs rumbling. "I don't know about you girls but I'm starving, want to go grab something to eat?"
"Sounds like a plan." Chloe nodded in agreement before they left their room.
*meanwhile*
Whilst that was going on in the Ra Yellow section of the ship the Obelisk Blue section of the ship was a lot busier, mostly due to students talking about how many Obelisk Blue Students had graduated that day, aside from a couple of students saying that Theresa and Tyler shouldn't have graduated for beating "lowly Ra Yellow Students" the atmosphere was a lot more cordial than it was during Lance and Chloe's initial trip to the island which was a massive relief for some students.
"Chelsea's birthday party on Wednesday, trying to figure what to do with the Orchalcos during the rest of the week, not to mention Summer." Lance commented to himself as he walked down the hallways, like Chloe, Chelsea and Beth he had left his dorm room to grab something to eat but unlike the three girls he wasn't sharing a room with anyone. "At this rate, even if the condoms do arrive, I won't get any alone time with Chloe." Lance groaned as he walked down the hallway.
"Lance, I would like to think that the Orichalcos takes priority over your sex life." Andreas's voice cut off his train of thought and Lance looked up and saw the German teen catching up with him with Marcus not far behind them. "Just my two cents, besides at this rate you'll be better off going to your local pharmacy and buying them in person, that or taking your chances with unprotected sex."
"Yeah and I don't think Chloe can keep her dad busy long enough for you to flee the country." Lance responded as the two teens caught up with him. "Besides, I'm beginning to think that Duel Academy was blocking my order somehow because they thought it was a joke or a waste of resources."
"Probably both." Marcus responded as he put his hands in his pockets. "Anyway, you guys going to get any dueling done on the ship? It's not like we're going to arrive on the mainland before the duel ends."
"Unless it ends up being a super long duel that ends in someone decking out that is." Lance responded with a shrug as the three boys made their way down the hallway. "I think I will, I'll need to keep in practice if I want to keep up with the others or do I need to remind you of how well Chloe handled herself in her duel against Theresa earlier."
"Even then she still made some big mistakes, like using Birthright when she did with the full knowledge of Black Luster Soldier – Super Soldier's abilities hoping that Theresa, off all people, had forgotten her own card's effect." Andreas responded with a frown and Lance glanced over his shoulder at him. "And then there's not using Supreme Arcanite Magician's effect to destroy both trap cards, I can forgive her not using Torapart in the Synchro Summon of Colossal Fighter because she was obviously trying to make do with what she had but still."
"Yeah well, try not to bring it up if we run into her in the food court, you saw how much she was beating herself up after her loss to Theresa at Battle City." Lance responded, and Andreas nodded in agreement. "Besides, I talked with Chloe before we got on the ship, according to her she was literally one turn away from drawing Mystical Space Typhoon and Theresa's reaction to that fact made it clear that she had no counter for it."
"Okay, I can at least forgive extremely bad luck and wanting to finally beat Theresa after trying for so long probably made her forget that Theresa still had a facedown card." Andreas responded with a nod as the boys neared the mess hall. "And unless they have a practice duel before we deal with the Orichalcos then I don't think they'll be a round four between them until it's Chloe's turn to graduate, meaning she'll likely be a lot more experienced by then."
"True enough, for now though let's get something to eat." Lance said before the boys entered the mess hall.
*a few minutes later*
Turns out that Chloe, Chelsea, Beth, Lance, Andreas and Marcus weren't the only ones who wanted to get something to eat in the mess hall as there were several students around, there were a few teachers around as well namely Jeff, Hamden, Tracy and Sarah who seemed to be preoccupied with going over what they would get up to once summer break had started and since it was almost dinner time the cooks were hard at work preparing food for the staff and students.
"I don't think I ever tried the food on the ship whilst I was on here previously." Lance thought as he munched on the burger he was eating at a table. "Guess I got preoccupied with everything that happened since then, well, at least we probably won't have to worry about the Orichalcos Duelists for now." Lance thought as he finished his burger, he was sitting alone as Andreas and Marcus had already finished their food and were on the lookout for some duels. "Screw it, I may as well see if I can get in a duel or two." Lance thought before standing up and glancing around, instead of a duel however he saw Chloe leaning on the ship's railing with her back to him and wearing her Ra Yellow blazer around her waist, Lance walked up to her and grinned. "To be honest, I'm not sure which view is better." Lance commented as he walked up to his girlfriend and she turned around.
"And to be honest, I've heard cheesier lines in a bad rom-com." Chloe responded as she shook her head and Lance grinned before the couple shared a kiss. "I came down here to get something to eat and maybe get a duel in, hopefully bounce back from my loss to Theresa and all, but I instead finished my food and found myself thinking about everything that's happened since we joined."
"Yeah, it's been a crazy year." Lance responded with a nod as he leaned against the ship wall. "Even discounting the whole Orichalcos stuff, if you had told me when I joined that I would be a quarter finalist in the Battle City Tournament I would've called you crazy."
"Same, just replace "quarter finalist" with coming in third, or hell, just making it to the semi-finals in general." Chloe nodded in agreement before sighing and looking down at her deck. "Especially when you look at how bad I was when I first joined, I'm still surprised they didn't reject me outright because I didn't know what Jinzo did even though that card's been around since before I was born."
"I'm pretty sure the only way they would've rejected you is if you had lost that duel because aside from that you did show a lot of promise and, well, look at you now." Lance commented with a chuckle and Chloe grinned in response. "Still, that isn't as surprising as you leaving your scarred arm exposed like that." Lance added as he motioned to her arm and Chloe sighed. "You're not worried that someone's going to see it."
"I only took off my blazer a couple of minutes ago and that was because of how hot it was getting." Chloe responded as she shook her head. "Besides, after the incident with Jessica on Thursday nearly everyone in the school saw it, at this point I just don't see the point of keeping it covered up and even then, the scars mostly faded by now." Chloe added before sighing. "I just wish I could say the same about the mental scars that my dad left me with."
"Unfortunately, we both know those type of scars doesn't go away that easy, my mom still goes to therapy because of everything that happened after my dad ditched us and she still hasn't gotten over it, even after remarrying." Lance sighed in response as he glanced around the area. "I still don't have the heart to tell her that he was the guy who was causing the most trouble for us during Battle City, come to think of it we never found out what happened to him after I beat him."
"You mean when that demonic force interfered on your behalf?" Chloe asked, and Lance nodded, Chloe took a moment to make sure no one was listening in before she walked up to Lance and leaned in to whisper in his ear, even if she had to stand on her toes due to the height difference. "Lance, don't say this to anyone outside of the group we've formed since the Orichalcos first reared its ugly head, but you remember when I played the Orichalcos?" Chloe said in a hushed tone and Lance nodded. "I didn't realize it until now but that demonic voice? It was the same one that took your dad away."
"Meaning that whatever it is, it's still at large." Lance sighed, and Chloe nodded before backing up a bit before Lance realized something. "I just realized that this is the same spot we came out to get some fresh air after that incident with Otto." Lance commented, and Chloe glanced around.
"Oh yeah, I didn't really notice either, guess I just got lost in my own thoughts." Chloe thought before sighing. "Pity about the other students being there, this would be a perfect make out spot, then again they probably decided to give us privacy when they saw me lean in like that."
"Yeah but even then, teachers could walk in on us, nothing kills the mood more than a teacher interrupting us just as it was getting good." Lance sighed in response as he glanced around, by the time he looked up Chloe had reentered his personal space. "Or do you not mind that?"
"Chelsea told me that getting caught is part of the fun." Chloe responded with a grin as she wrapped her arms around her boyfriend's neck and Lance did likewise with her waist. "Besides, it looks like everyone's left." Chloe added, and Lance looked up to see the mostly empty mess hall, when he turned around Chloe locked lips with him and they started making out, it didn't take long for the couple to get intimate and just as Lance was about to remove Chloe's tanktop…
"You know, as much as I want you guys to finally get it on, I can definitely think of better places." Chelsea's voice rang out breaking up their make out session and Chloe quickly pulled down her top. "Mostly because there's a duel about to start at the front of the ship between Marcus and Andreas and well, this is the quickest way to the bathroom."
"Chelsea, I swear to god, if you do that again over Summer Break I'm going to smother you in your sleep." Chloe grunted in response as the couple let go of each other. "Anyway, what was that you said about a duel?"
"I don't know, you sure you don't want to bonk each other first?" Chelsea teased them, and the couple glared at her. "Right, shutting up, are you coming? And no, Lance, I don't mean coming in Chloe!"
"Sure, let me just get my blazer on." Chloe said as she undid her blazer and started putting it on. "I'll catch up with you guys." Chloe added before her boyfriend walked off with her roommate. "I'm never going to have sex with Lance at this rate!"
"You'll get your chance, just be patient." Silent Magician responded, and Chloe sighed before walking off, not realizing that a third party was nearby.
"Damn it, I was this close to seeing Chloe with her top off!" Marie groaned as she emerged from the shadows that she had been hiding in, she had originally planned to deliver a message to Chloe from her superiors but after Lance showed up she decided to wait. "Doesn't matter, that message can wait and what was that about Marcus dueling someone?" Marie thought before grinning and putting her hand to an earpiece. "If you guys are done checking out the female students we can check out a duel instead!"
"You're hardly one to talk, we know you were hoping to see Chloe topless." Jared responded, and Marie frowned. "Mostly because you left your earpiece on after we split up, are you sure you have a message for Chloe from the higher ups and not just an excuse to check her out?"
"You got the same message from the higher ups, just replace Chloe with Lance, so don't give me that crap!" Marie responded as she rolled her eyes. "Where is Drew anyway? He has a message for his ex as well!"
"Doing exactly as you said, checking out the female students." Jared responded and Marie face-palmed.
"Remind him that he's in his early twenties and the youngest students at this school are at least fifteen, I don't think the bosses will appreciate him ending up on a sex offender list!" Marie responded with a sigh and Jared nodded. "Also tell him to meet me at the front of the boat, same goes for you Jared!"
"Fine, but if we get caught I'm blaming you." Jared responded before hanging up.
*a few minutes earlier*
Whilst Chloe and Lance where having a private moment together Andreas and Marcus, having just gotten a bite to eat, where on the lookout for a duel of their own but hadn't had much luck, largely because most of the students had left their duel disks in their rooms to avoid getting food on them and just wanted to relax before summer break started.
"An academy full of duelists and no one wants to duel?" Marcus commented as he scratched his head and Andreas stood there with his arms crossed as the two boys surveyed the crowd. "At this point I'm half tempted to challenge Lance."
"Last I saw Lance he was still eating his burger and we both saw Chloe checking out the view on the portside." Andreas sighed as he glanced over at the table where Lance had been sitting though it was unoccupied right now. "And I'm willing to bet good money that he's seen Chloe as well and wants to have some private time with her."
"They do realize that there's literally nothing stopping them from getting caught if they do get frisky, right?" Marcus wondered, and Andreas shook his head. "I know Chelsea says that its part of the fun, but she lost her virginity a while ago, Chloe still hasn't lost hers!"
"And I'm also right behind you." Chelsea commented with an annoyed look on her face and Marcus let out a nervous gulp. "Seriously I may be brutally honest about my sex life but that's not the kind of thing I want to discuss in front of the teachers!"
"Chelsea, you do realize that your brutally honest about most things, right?" Andreas pointed out and Chelsea nodded in response. "For one thing, if you weren't you wouldn't have accused Martin of being biased towards Obelisk Blue to his face."
"I'm never living that down, am I?" Chelsea sighed in annoyance and the boys shook their heads. "Between that and the assault on Jessica I may as well start saying "I get it, I fucked up big time, now stop bringing it up already!" whenever it is brought up."
"And if you hadn't fucked up in the first place your trip back to the mainland would be a lot more peaceful." Marcus responded, and Chelsea sighed in resignation. "Okay, at this rate, we're not going to get a duel in before the trip's over so I'm open to suggestions."
"Why don't you guys duel each other?" Chelsea shrugged, and the two boys turned to the lesbian. "Seriously, back when you guys made it to the Battle City semi-finals there was a lot of students looking forward to a duel between you two and just as many who were disappointed that you guys were knocked out as early as you were." Chelsea added before laughing nervously. "Circumstances behind Andreas's elimination aside, off course!"
"Bad memories aside, she does bring up a good point." Andreas nodded in agreement as he turned to Marcus. "I can't remember ever facing you in a duel, not even in the run up to Battle City where most of our free time was spent training for the tournament."
"Then it's settled, we'll duel." Marcus responded, and Andreas grinned in response. "Meet you at the front of the ship in five minutes?"
"You got it." Andreas nodded in response and Chelsea hopped off the table she had been sitting on.
"I'm off to see if the lovebirds aren't to busy making out to catch this duel." Chelsea added with a grin before she started walking off. "Don't start without us!" Chelsea added before she walked off.
*a few minutes later*
The prospect of a duel between Marcus and Andreas had attracted quite a crowd towards the front of the ship including the teachers who had been in the mess hall just a few minutes ago, off course Marie, Jared and Drew where watching the action from the shadows hoping that they wouldn't be noticed by anyone.
"Hope your ready Andreas!" Marcus said as the two boys activated their duel disks and let their decks auto shuffle. "Because my dragons are hungry, and your beasts are on the menu!"
"Normally it takes a knight to slay a dragon." Andreas responded as they drew their opening hands. "But I'm about to show you that beasts are just as good at slaying dragons! So, who's going first?"
"I will!" Marcus responded before looking over his hand. "And I start with Cards of Consonance! I discard one dragon type tuner and draw two cards!" Marcus announced before discarding the card and drawing two cards. "And there's more! Because the monster I just discarded was White Stone of Legend and you know what that means!"
"Yes, you get to add one Blue-Eyes White Dragon from your deck to your hand." Andreas nodded in response as Marcus inputted commands into his duel disk before retrieving the card from his deck. "Anything else?"
"I was just getting to that." Marcus responded as his deck shuffled again. "I set two cards facedown and I summon Alexandrite Dragon!" Marcus announced as he played the cards and the beautiful sapphire dragon appeared on the field with a roar (4/2000/100). "That ends my turn!" Marcus announced, and Andreas drew his card.
"I banish a Spell Card from my hand, so I can Special Summon Monoceros!" Andreas announced as he pocketed a Spell Card and the large, horned black beast appeared on the field (3/1000/1000). "And for my normal summon, I bring out Elephun!" Andreas announced as he played a second card and the blue, floating elephants head appeared on the field (2/500/300). "I think you've seen enough of my duels to know that Elephun is a Tuner Monster, so I'll cut to the chase! I tune Elephun with Monoceros!" Andreas announced as the two Beast Type Monsters leapt into the air for the Synchro Summon.
"He isn't wasting any time in bringing out the big guns." Marcus thought as Elephun dissolved into two Synchro Rings that surrounded Monoceros. "That just means that I can't afford to waste any time either!"
"To Synchro Summon Thunder Unicorn!" Andreas announced as he played the card and once the bright flash faded the electric blue unicorn appeared on the field before rearing on its hind legs ready for battle (5/2200/1800). "By using Monoceros in a Synchro Summon I can use his effect to Special Summon a Beast Type Tuner Monster from my graveyard, it should go without saying that I'm bringing out Elephun!"
"Your right, it does." Marcus nodded as Elephun returned to the field in defense mode. "I also know that Thunder Unicorn's effect will benefit from having two Beast Type Monsters on the field."
"That's right." Andreas nodded in response as Thunder Unicorn lowered his head. "I activate Thunder Unicorn's effect, by targeting one monster you control I can make it lose five hundred attack points for each monster on my side of the field, essentially cutting Alexandrite Dragon's attack points in half!" Andreas added as lightning sprung forth from Thunder Unicorn's horn striking Alexandrite Dragon in the chest and bringing its attack points down to one thousand. "Thunder Unicorn, attack Alexandrite Dragon!" Andreas commanded, and the unicorn charged into battle….
"I'm not going down that easy Andreas! I activate my trap card Negate Attack!" Marcus announced as the facedown card flipped up causing the attack to bounce off the invisible force field. "And I know that Thunder Unicorn's effect only lasts until the end of the turn so once your turn ends my dragon will be back at full power!"
"But still not strong enough to destroy my Unicorn, I set two cards facedown and end my turn." Andreas announced as the two cards appeared on the field and Marcus drew his card.
"I activate my facedown card Tyrant Wing!" Marcus announced as the trap card flipped up and Alexandrite Dragon's wings got replaced by much larger wings seemingly made of light. "Not only does this trap card grant my dragon an additional four hundred attack points but he can make two attacks during a Battle Phase and from where I stand there's two monsters ripe for destruction!" Marcus added before pointing to Thunder Unicorn. "Alexandrite Dragon, take flight and attack Thunder Unicorn!" Marcus commanded, and the dragon took flight….
"I'm afraid Air Alexandrite Dragon has experienced unexpected delays, I activate my facedown card Urgent Tuning!" Andreas announced as his facedown card flipped up and his two Beast Type Monsters leapt into the air for the Synchro Summon soaring right past Alexandrite Dragon. "Using this trap card, I tune my two monsters together to Synchro Summon Voltic Bicorn!" Andreas played the card and once the bright flash faded the black horse with the electric blue mane appeared on the field (7/2500/2000).
"Fine, I'll call off my attack since a replay has occurred." Marcus responded as Alexandrite Dragon touched down on the field. "I set one card facedown and end my turn, since a monster equipped with Tyrant Wing has declared an attack this turn my trap card gets destroyed." Marcus added as Tyrant Wing's hologram shattered and the wings returned to normal alongside Alexandrite Dragon's attack points as Andreas drew his card.
"It's been a turn since I banished a spell card for Monoceros's effect." Andreas started before retrieving the spell card from his pocket. "The spell card in question is Card from a Different Dimension and I activate its effect, by returning it to my hand it allows us both to draw two cards." Andreas added, and Marcus nodded before they drew their cards. "I set one card facedown, now Voltic Bicorn, finish what Thunder Unicorn started last turn and attack Alexandrite Dragon!" Andreas commanded, and the horse charged towards the dragon before impaling it on it's horn destroying it and bringing Marcus's life-points down to 7500. "That's first blood to me!"
"But at what cost? I activate my facedown card Damage Condenser!" Marcus announced as his trap card flipped up and he discarded one of the two cards he had just drawn and started inputting commands into his duel disk. "Granted, five hundred life-points doesn't leave me with a lot of options but it's all I need to bring out Totem Dragon!" Marcus added before he retrieved the card he wanted and played it causing the strange, green dragon to appear on the field (2/400/200).
"With that monster's effect he can easily bring out his Blue-Eyes White Dragon, good thing I've got more tricks up my sleeve." Andreas thought before picking up the two cards he had just drawn. "I set two cards facedown and end my turn!" Andreas announced as the two facedown cards appeared on the field and Marcus drew his card.
"He's probably figured out what I have planned but its to late to turn back now." Marcus thought as he glanced up at Andreas. "He may have used a Synchro Summon to bring out a powerful monster but right now nothing beats a good old-fashioned tribute summon!" Marcus thought before pointing to Totem Dragon. "I tribute Totem Dragon who, thanks to his effect can be used as tribute for a monster that would normally require two tributes!" Marcus added as Totem Dragon disappeared from the field. "And this monster needs no introduction! Miranda Kaiba might have the original copies and more support cards for it than I care to count but he's still the Blue-Eyes White Dragon!" Marcus played the card and sure enough the famous white dragon appeared on the field with his signature roar (8/3000/2500). "Let's get right down to it! Blue-Eyes, attack Voltic Bicorn with White Lightning!" Marcus commanded, and the dragon let lose with his famous attack disintegrating Andreas's monster and tying the score at 7500. "And that's the score tied!"
"Perhaps, but by destroying Voltic Bicorn by battle you've triggered his effect! This forces us both to send the top seven cards from our decks to the graveyard!" Andreas added, and Marcus nodded before they milled their seven cards. "That was a risky move, if he draws Dragon's Mirror and milled at least four dragons he can fusion summon Five Headed Dragon and the combined power of Five Headed Dragon and Blue Eyes White Dragon was enough for him to secure his place in Obelisk Blue, my only hope is that he milled Dragon's Mirror as well!" Andreas thought before glancing up at Marcus. "Are you done?"
"Yeah, I end my turn!" Marcus responded, and Andreas drew his card.
"Lock Cat, I could use this in combination with Elephun for another Synchro Summon but the only level five Synchro in my Extra Deck is in my graveyard and Elephun's level is too high to be used with Lock Cat's effect anyway, then again maybe Voltic Bicorn forced me to mill something I could use when Blue Eyes White Dragon destroyed it." Andreas thought before turning to Marcus. "You mind if I go through my graveyard?"
"Go for it." Marcus nodded in response and Andreas ejected the cards in his graveyard and looked through them.
"Green Baboon, he could come in handy later but not much use right now." Andreas thought before looking through the rest of his deck. "Perfect!" Andreas thought with a grin before returning the cards to his graveyard. "I summon Lock Cat in attack mode!" Andreas played the card and the white and red cat with a lock around her neck appeared on the field (3/1200/1000) and the cat hissed the moment she saw the massive dragon across the field from her.
"I hope your girlfriend isn't watching this duel Andreas." Marcus chuckled as the dragon roared at the cat causing it to back down. "Knowing how much of a cat lover she is, she'll never forgive you for sending a cat to fight my dragon!"
"Given what happened to Nicola on Tuesday we both know that she has more important things on her mind." Andreas responded with a frown before retrieving a monster from his graveyard. "I activate Lock Cat's effect, now that I've summoned her I can Special Summon One Level 1 Beast Type Monster from my graveyard and thanks to Voltic Bicorn I have just the monster!" Andreas added before he played the card and the small white mouse with the key sticking out of its tail appeared on the field (1/100/100). "After all, what's a lock without a key? Or in this case, Key Mouse!" Andreas added as the mouse immediately cowered behind the cat at the sight of the dragon.
"If he has Chain Dog in his graveyard than he can easily Synchro Summon Lightning Tricorn." Marcus thought with a frown as he looked at the two monsters. "But I'm not worried, the only area where Lightning Tricorn matches my dragon is in its level!"
"Now I activate the effect of Chain Dog from my graveyard, since I control two Beast Type Monsters I can Special Summon him to the field!" Andreas announced as he played the card causing the small, brown and white dog with the chain around its neck to appear on the field (4/1600/1100) and it lowered its head in submission when he saw the dragon. "Don't worry, I don't intend to make an enemy out of every animal lover on this ship by having my three monsters attack your dragon, there are faster ways to surrender after all, instead I'm tuning Key Mouse with Lock Cat and Chain Dog!"
"I knew it!" Marcus thought as the three beast type monsters leapt into the air for the Synchro Summon whilst the Blue-Eyes White Dragon watched. "Bring it on Andreas! I'm ready for Lightning Tricorn!"
"I suppose there was no hiding it." Andreas admitted as the bright flash enveloped the field. "But yes, I Synchro Summon Lightning Tricorn!" Andreas played the card and once the flash faded the third and most powerful of the unicorn Synchro Monsters appeared on the field and unlike the other Beast Type Monsters it seemed unafraid of Blue Eyes White Dragon (8/2800/2000). "And this unicorn's going to bring down your dragon!"
"Yeah right, there might not be much of a difference between our monsters' attack points but my dragon's still stronger!" Marcus scoffed in response as the two monsters stared each other down. "You would've been better off summoning that Leogun monster!"
"And if I had the capability to summon that monster I would, but there's more than one way to slay a dragon!" Andreas responded before his facedown card flipped up. "I activate Synchro Strike! With this I target Lightning Tricorn and he gains five hundred attack points for each Synchro Material Monster that was used in its summon, for those keeping score at home, that's one thousand extra attack points!" Andreas added as Lightning Tricorn's attack went up to 3800. "What was that about our monsters' attack points? Lightning Tricorn, attack the Blue Eyes White Dragon!" Andreas commanded, and the unicorn charged towards the dragon…...
"Guess again Andreas! I activate an effect of my own from the graveyard!" Marcus responded as he retrieved the card from the graveyard and an illusion of a light blue dragon appeared in the path of Lightning Tricorn taking the hit for the Blue Eyes White Dragon. "Phantom Protector Dragon! If a dragon type monster I control would be destroyed by battle and this card is in my graveyard I can banish it to negate the attack!" Marcus added as Lightning Tricorn returned to his side of the field. "And I know that Synchro Strike's effect is only good until you end your turn."
"True but that doesn't mean I'm done yet!" Andreas responded before looking over his hand. "I end my turn." Andreas announced and once Lightning Tricorn's attack points returned to normal Marcus drew his card.
"Well, what do you know? I don't need to attack Lightning Tricorn to destroy it now!" Marcus thought before playing a card. "I activate Burst Stream of Destruction! In exchange for my dragon's ability to attack this turn I can wipe out your Lightning Tricorn!" Marcus played the card and the Blue Eyes opened its maw again before letting lose its attack destroying Lightning Tricorn. "There goes your last line of defense because even though Tricorn's effect lets you summon one of the other unicorns they can't compete with my dragon!"
"Truthfully Marcus? You would've been better off just attacking my Tricorn." Andreas chuckled as his life-points dropped to 6500. "Because Chain Dog and Key Mouse weren't the only useful monsters in my graveyard! I pay a thousand life-points to Special Summon Green Baboon, Defender of the Forrest in attack mode!" Andreas added, and Marcus's eyes widened as the massive imposing beast appeared on the field with a roar (7/2600/1800). "And I use Lightning Tricorn's effect to Special Summon Thunder Unicorn from my graveyard!" Andreas added as the first monster he Synchro Summoned returned to the field. "And as you just said, your Spell Card prevents your dragon from attacking!"
"For now, but once I get past your two monsters and find a way to prevent Green Baboon from coming back your life-points will be mine for the taking!" Marcus responded as he folded his arms. "I end my turn." Marcus announced, and Andreas drew his card.
"Obedience Schooled, I'll hold onto this on the off-chance Marcus gets past Green Baboon and Thunder Unicorn." Andreas thought before glancing up at the dragon. "But first, I have a dragon to slay!" Andreas thought before motioning to Thunder Unicorn. "I activate Thunder Unicorn's effect! It should go without saying that I'm targeting that I'm targeting your dragon!" Marcus added as Thunder Unicorn aimed its horn at the much larger dragon before firing lightning at it bringing its attack points down to 2000. "Fortunately for you. Thunder Unicorn is the only monster that can attack on the turn that I use this effect but that's a small price to pay for slaying your dragon!" Andreas added before pointing to the Blue-Eyes White Dragon. "Thunder Unicorn, slay the Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
"I sure hope Kaiba isn't watching this duel!" Marcus thought as Thunder Unicorn charged into battle against the dragon before impaling it on its horn destroying the famous dragon and bringing Marcus's life-points down to 7300. "I'd hate to see the look on his face if he knew that the dragon he made famous got slayed by a horse!" Marcus thought before sending the dragon to the graveyard and turning to Andreas. "Are you done?"
"Yes, I am done." Andreas responded as Thunder Unicorn returned to his side of the field and Marcus drew his card.
"Black Dragon's Chick! Even if I had Red-Eyes Black Dragon in my deck I don't have my copy of Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon in my hand." Marcus thought before glancing towards the sea. "Marie, wherever you are, I'm coming for my dragon!" Marcus thought before retrieving a card from the graveyard. "It's my standby phase and since I have nothing but dragon type monsters in my graveyard I can Special Summon Totem Dragon back to the field!" Marcus announced as he played the card causing the strange green dragon to return to the field. "Next I set a monster in defense mode and end my turn."
"He must've gotten a dead draw if he's being reduced to setting up some defenses." Andreas thought as he drew his card and looked at it. "I set one card facedown on the field, now Green Baboon, Thunder Unicorn, attack his defense monsters!" Andreas commanded, and the two monsters charged into battle with Green Baboon pummeling Totem Dragon with his club and Black Dragon's Chick (2/800/800) being impaled on Thunder Unicorn's horn. "Black Dragon's Chick, surprised you still have that card in your deck after…." Andreas trailed off when he remembered that the two boys were having a public duel.
"Yeah, I know, and that card won't be missing for much longer." Marcus nodded in response as he sent Black Dragon Chick to the graveyard and pocketed Totem Dragon due to its side effect. "Are you done?"
"Yes, I am done." Andreas nodded in response and Marcus drew his card and immediately played it once his Main Phase started.
"I activate Spellbook inside the Pot!" Marcus announced as the popular Spell Card appeared on the field and the boys drew three cards each. "Now I'm back in business!" Marcus thought with a grin before playing a card. "I summon Debris Dragon!" Marcus announced as he played the card and the small, white dragon appeared on the field with a roar (4/1000/1200). "I activate Debris Dragon's effect allowing me to Special Summon one monster with five hundred or less attack points from my graveyard with its effects negated, so I summon Unseen Dragon!" Marcus played the card and a semi-transparent small dragon appeared on the field with a roar (3/0/500).
"I2 must be really starved for names if that's the best they can come up with." Andreas commented dryly, and Marcus shrugged.
"Not commenting on that, anyway since Debris Dragon is a tuner monster I'm tuning him with Unseen Dragon!" Marcus announced as the two dragons leapt into the air for the Synchro Summon. "I Synchro Summon Exploder Dragonwing!" Marcus played the card and once the bright flash faded the Asian style dragon appeared on the field with a roar (7/2400/1600).
"I know that monster's effect from its constant usage during Battle City." Andreas responded before smirking. "But the most that monster can do is destroy my Thunder Unicorn, against Green Baboon it stands no chance!"
"Look again." Marcus responded, and Andreas looked up and saw that Exploder Dragonwing's attack points had increased to three thousand. "When Unseen Dragon is sent to the graveyard as part of the Synchro Summon of a Dragon Type Synchro Monster and another Dragon Type Monster was used in the Synchro Summon half of the defense points of the Tuner Monster gets added to that Synchro Monster's attack points, and since your so familiar with Exploder Dragonwing's effect then you gotta know what's coming next! Exploder Dragonwing, attack Green Baboon!" Marcus commanded, and Andreas shielded himself as the dragon let lose a breath attack that engulfed the massive baboon in flames. "And thanks to Exploder Dragonwing's effect Green Baboon's attack points get taken out of your life-points!" Marcus added as Andreas's life-points dropped to 3900. "Just one attack on your unicorn and a direct attack and this duel is over!"
"It's not over until the fat lady sings, and unless you have a Spell or Trap Card that you drew with Spellbook that you wish to play I believe it's my turn!" Andreas responded, and Marcus looked over his hand.
"I'm good for now." Marcus nodded in response and Andreas drew his card.
"Well, if there was ever a better time for me to use this combo then I haven't heard it!" Andreas thought before flipping his facedown card up. "I activate Dimension Switch, using this trap card I banish Thunder Unicorn from the field!" Andreas added as Thunder Unicorn disappeared from the field. "Why would I do that? So, I can activate Obedience Schooled, using this Spell Card I can Special Summon Three Level Two or Lower Beast Type Monsters from my deck, so I summon Playful Possum, Baby Racoon Tantan and the Tuner Monster Uni-Horned Familiar!"
"So, you got rid of a powerful monster to summon three weak monsters?" Marcus asked with a skeptical look on his face as the three monsters appeared on the field (2/800/800) (2/0/800) and (2/0/1000) all crouching down in defense mode. "Seems to be a long way to go just for a Synchro Summon."
"Who said that's all I'm doing?" Andreas asked, and Marcus blinked in confusion. "I activate the second effect of Dimension Switch, I can send it to the graveyard to Special Summon Thunder Unicorn back to the field!" Andreas added as Thunder Unicorn returned to the field. "And for my normal summon, I bring out Mine Mole!" Andreas announced as he played the card and the small cartoonish mole appeared on the field (3/1000/1200). "Next I activate Thunder Unicorn's effect!"
"Oh crap!" Marcus cussed as Thunder Unicorn lowered its horn at Exploder Dragonwing before firing lightning at him bringing his attack points plummeting down to 500. "And somehow I doubt you flooded the field with weak beast type monsters just to lower my dragon's attack points!"
"And you'd be correct! I tune Uni-Horned Familiar with Playful Possum, Baby Racoon Tantan and Mine Mole!" Andreas announced as the four weak beast type monsters leapt into the air for the Synchro Summon. "I Synchro Summon Leogun, Lord of the Jungle!" Andreas played the card and once the bright flash faded the mighty lion that Andreas had used in several of his duels appeared on the field with a roar (9/2500/2000). "He can't attack this turn due to Thunder Unicorn's effect but since I used Mine Mole in a Synchro Summon I can draw one card." Andreas added before drawing his card. "You can worry about that later though, Thunder Unicorn, attack Exploder Dragonwing!" Andreas commanded, and the unicorn charged towards the dragon before impaling him on his own destroying it and bringing Marcus's life-points down to 4900. "I'd say that puts us on equal footing, one wrong move from either of us and this duel is over!"
"True but my deck has plenty of tricks left up its sleeve!" Marcus responded with a grin and Andreas nodded.
"And I look forward to seeing them in action, I set two cards facedown and end my turn." Andreas set the two cards down and once they appeared on the field Marcus drew his card.
"If I can just draw the right card this duel will be mine." Marcus thought as he drew his card, when he looked at it and another card in his hand however he grinned broadly. "Andreas, you are bout to regret making me mill seven cards with Voltic Bicorn's effect!"
"What do you…" Andreas trailed off as it hit him, and his eyes widened. "Don't tell me you just drew Dragon's Mirror?!"
"That's exactly what I've done and now I'm activating it!" Marcus announced as he played the card and Debris Dragon, Unseen Dragon, Alexandrite Dragon, Blue-Eyes White Dragon and Black Dragon's Chick briefly returned to the field before they all vanished as they were being sucked into the fusion portal. "I fusion summon Five Headed Dragon!" Marcus played the card and from the portal emerged the massive five headed dragon that was widely considered to be Marcus's ace in the hole (12/5000/5000). "This bad boy can't be destroyed in battle with a Dark, Earth, Water, Fire or Wind Monster but that's a moot point since I know that the only light monsters in your deck are your Unicorn Synchros!"
"Perhaps but as a recent duel of yours demonstrated, your opponents don't need to slay that dragon to beat you." Andreas responded, and Marcus frowned.
"Good luck with that! Five Headed Dragon, attack Thunder Unicorn and send it to the glue factory!" Marcus commanded, and the five heads launched simultaneous attacks on the unicorn disintegrating him and bringing Andreas's life-points down to 1100. "Just one more attack on Leogun and this duel will be over!"
"You won't get that far!" Andreas responded as his facedown cards flipped up. "First, Miracle's Wake will bring back Thunder Unicorn!" Andreas added as the unicorn returned to the field. "Next Damage Gate will special summon Playful Possum from my graveyard!" Andreas added as he discarded a card and Playful Possum returned to the field.
"His plan couldn't be more obvious, even with three monsters on the field he can't get my dragon's attack points low enough for Thunder Unicorn to destroy it and I'm pretty sure he's running out of ways to flood the field, his plan has to be to destroy Five Headed Dragon with Leogun's effect, Special Summon Green Baboon to the field for good measure and finish me off next turn." Marcus thought before shaking his head. "To bad for him that it won't work." Marcus thought before setting a card. "I set one card facedown and end my turn." Marcus announced, and Andreas drew his card.
"You've undoubtedly worked out my plan, so I'll cut to the chase!" Andreas announced as Playful Possum disappeared from the field. "First, I activate Playful Possum's effect, since you have a monster that, quite frankly would consider Playful Possum nothing more than a tasty snack I can destroy him and have him return in two turns." Andreas added before his life-points dropped to 100. "But there won't be another two turns." Andreas added as Green Baboon returned to the field. "Now I activate Leogun's effect…."
"Sorry Andreas, but this duel is over!" Marcus responded as his trap card flipped up. "And Fiendish Chain is my ticket to victory!" Marcus added, and Andreas's eyes widened as the chains wrapped around Leogun. "Any last words?"
"A few." Andreas said before smiling broadly. "Thanks for the great duel."
"Likewise, man, I take it its my turn?" Marcus asked, and Andreas nodded before Marcus drew his card but by this point they knew it was a formality. "Five Headed Dragon, attack Green Baboon and finish this!" Marcus commanded, and the five heads let lose their attacks one last time vaporizing the baboon and bringing Andreas's life-points down to zero. "Huh, got so used to hearing Martin or Hamden announce the end of the duel that it feels weird not having anyone do it."
"The winner is, Marcus!" Jeff called out as the holograms disappeared and the two boys returned their cards to their decks before shaking each other's hands and the crowd cheered. "And just in time too, that duel went on for so long that its now dinner time." Jeff added, and the students turned around in time to see the cooks getting ready for dinner. "I hope that duel worked up your appetite boys."
"Jeff, you've known me long enough to know that it doesn't take much to work up my appetite." Marcus responded getting a laugh out of the students before they parted ways.
*later that night*
It was now nearly midnight and despite the lack of curfew on the ship many students were now getting an early night knowing that they would need an early start as the ship was scheduled to arrive at Domino Pier first thing in the morning, still that didn't stop some students from wondering about, largely because they, like Marcus and Andreas, had gotten duels in.
"Man, after a good night of dueling I'm ready to hit the hay!" Lance thought as he walked to his room in the Obelisk Blue section of the ship with his hands in his pockets, the hallway was mostly unoccupied but as he neared his room he saw a familiar female figure. "Chloe?" Lance asked, and his girlfriend looked up.
"Hey Lance, I was hoping I would catch you before you went to bed." Chloe responded with a grin on her face as she walked up to her significantly taller boyfriend. "I know you kept saying that you were waiting for the condoms to arrive before we had sex for the first time and all…"
"Yeah, I'm actually convinced Martin was using his power to block the shipment." Lance responded with a grin and Chloe giggled. "No worries, I can get some once we're on the mainland."
"That's just it, I'm sick of waiting." Chloe responded as she entered her boyfriend's personal space. "Why do you think I kept coming on to you, like on visitor day or right before today's duel? I know there's a risk I'll get pregnant but at the rate we're going I feel like we're going to be eighty by the time we finally get it on." Chloe added as she started feeling up her boyfriend and Lance did likewise. "Just one thing Lance, be gentle, it's my first time!"
"Don't worry, I will be." Lance responded before the two teens started making out next to his dorm, this went on for a few minutes before Lance's hand started going up Chloe's shirt at which point she stopped kissing him, opened the door to his room and led him in, without a second though Lance closed the door and locked it just as Chloe removed her tanktop.