The weekend was over, and it was now Monday morning, however it was just another day of preparation for the Orichalcos Duelists and today they were meeting somewhere completely different from Chloe's home.
"Okay, Tyler said to meet him outside the main gate." Chloe said as she met up with Lance and Chelsea in the front of the shop but not before closing the door that led to the house to keep Rex and Nala from accessing the shop. "And that he'll take it from there."
"Is he sure this is okay?" Lance asked with a skeptical look on his face and Chloe nodded. "I know he's Kaiba's kid but letting several Duel Academy students access KaibaCorp's duel bot tech for the day? And there's also the pro league duelists."
"He cleared it with his dad over the weekend and if any security guards raise a stink, he has clearance to get them to back off." Chloe responded as she adjusted a bra strap. "Besides, we won't be using this tech unsupervised, Kaiba himself won't be there but the staff that work with the Duel Bots at the Domino branch will be, with any luck we'll be in safe hands."
"I hope your right." Chelsea nodded in response before motioning to the door. "You did tell your dad where you were going for the day right?"
"Made sure that was the first thing I did." Chloe responded with a nod before the three teens heard a car honking its horn. "That's probably the limo Tyler sent to pick us up."
"And we're being picked up in a limo, I swear if we brag about this to the other Duel Academy students when we get back from Summer Break, they'll be wishing they had helped out!" Lance joked getting a laugh out of the two girls before they left the shop.
"Sarah, seems the brats aren't meeting up with the others at Chloe's family's shop." An Orichalcos Duelist reported through an earpiece as he watched the three teens enter the limo from a nearby car. "Do you want to strike now?"
"If I did, I'd be there already but the boss needs extra time to prepare." Sarah responded with an annoyed tone of voice. "Follow their vehicle and keep me posted on their movements."
"And the Redemption Seekers?" The duelist asked, and Sarah scoffed.
"If those traitors were a threat, I'd have dealt with them personally a long time ago." Sarah responded and the Orichalcos nodded before driving off after the limo.
*earlier*
The inside of Amanda Cotreau's hotel room was a mess to say the least with numerous clothing items thrown about the room, the reason why couldn't be more obvious as the Canadian woman lay naked in her equally messy bed spooning with the French woman she had slept with last night.
"I knew there was a reason I missed your company." Adrienne Beaumont grinned before she started kissing Amanda's neck from behind whilst running one hand down the side of her bedmates body and using her free hand to feel up Amanda's breast, the redhead groaned in response as she felt Adrienne's hand slap her rear end before she turned to face the younger, equally naked woman. "Think there's time for round two?" Adrienne asked with a grin as she lay on her side, Amanda leaned in and the two women shared a passionate kiss whilst feeling each other up before Amanda broke it off much to Adrienne's annoyance.
"If we didn't have training to do, I'd probably go for another twelve rounds." Amanda responded, and Adrienne groaned in response. "That was just a preview for when we meet up in your room tonight." Amanda added, and Adrienne grinned before she returned the kiss, it was just as brief as the first one but none the less passionate as their hands went up and down their bodies before Amanda broke it off again. "Any idea what Tyler has in store for us today?"
"More interested in what I had in store for you in round two, and what I have in store for you tonight now that you bring it up." Adrienne responded with a grin as the raven haired French woman glanced at her bedmate who grinned in response. "Joking aside, I think we're going down to Kaibacorp's local HQ for the day, Tyler apparently talked his dad into letting us use the duel fields." Adrienne added, and Amanda nodded. "Don't get me wrong, I like Chloe's house and her dogs but it's good to have a change of scenery."
"Yeah well, who doesn't like a couple of friendly dogs? Anyway, I think the change of scenery will be good for our training." Amanda responded before she rolled over to check her iPhone, however before she could pick it up, she felt a slap on her ass and gave Adrienne a playful glare. "Your going to keep doing that for as long as I'm in bed with you, aren't you?"
"Hey, it's better than the pillow talk we've been having, such romantic topics like "training for the Orichalcos" and "I'm going to miss Chloe's dogs"." Adrienne responded with a grin and Amanda rolled her eyes though not without some laughter. "Though I have been missing doggy style with Jacques…."
"And with that piece of "too much information" I'm getting out of bed." Amanda responded before she swung her legs over. "By the way, you did remember to cancel your wake-up call before you came over last night, right?" Amanda asked before she got out of bed and started searching for her clothes, Adrienne remained in bed but changed her position instead laying on her stomach with her chin in both hands.
"That depends, did you cancel yours?" Adrianne asked with a grin and Amanda turned to her as she checked the time on her iPhone.
"If I didn't, we would've had a repeat of the scandal from the last time we slept together." Amanda responded with a grin before setting her phone aside and sitting next to Adrienne. "Still feel bad for defeating Nicola the way I did yesterday."
"Meh, at that point the duel would've gone either way." Adrienne responded with a shrug as she glanced at the taller girl. "Either you ran out of stall cards or drew the wrong card and Nicola wiped out the remainder of your life-points and then some or the duel played out the same way it did yesterday, besides that girl will learn more from losing the duel than she would've from winning, same goes with Chelsea and her duel against Katrina." Adrienne responded before grinning as she realized something. "And I couldn't help but notice that you gave up the search after you checked your iPhone." Adrienne added, and Amanda grinned before rolling her onto her back, when Adrienne saw the look on her friends with benefits' face, she didn't bother resisting.
"We woke up earlier than I thought we did." Amanda said with a grin as she showed Adrienne her iPhone which showed the time as 7:00am, Adrienne's grin broadened as she got an idea.
"Why not take a nude selfie then?" Adrienne suggested as she sat up in the bed. "Little treat for the boys whilst we're away." Adrienne added, and Amanda grinned.
"I like the way you think, but if these selfies end up on TMZ or a similar website I'll be pissed." Amanda responded before she opened the camera app and set it for a selfie whilst Adrienne sat up on her knees and was within Amanda's personal space whilst Amanda sat up in the same position, she took two photos, one of Amanda and Adrienne feeling each other up with Adrienne's hands on Amanda's breasts and Amanda's free hand on Adrienne's rear end and the second off the two women kissing, it lasted several minutes before Amanda broke the kiss and tossed the iPhone back onto the bedside table. "I'll send the photos to your phone after I send it to Casey, just remember what I said." Amanda added before she leaned in and kissed Adrienne again and this time, she didn't stop for quite some time as Adrienne fell backwards onto the bed with Amanda on top.
*two hours later*
The two women would have a few sex sessions before they had enough and got dressed (or in Adrienne's case, return to her room to get changed into fresh clothing) so that they could meet up with the other pro-league duelists and get ready to leave for Kaibacorp after breakfast, after a while several limos pulled up at the Domino Branch of the international company and Tyler's limo was stopped at the gate.
"State your business." The guard said simply once the limo driver rolled down his window, the limo driver said nothing as he rolled down the back window showing Tyler and Miranda sitting it the back. "Ahh, Master Kaiba, we were expecting you and your guests."
"Make sure no one interrupts us." Tyler responded, and the guard nodded. "Anything I should know before I head in?"
"Yes, one of your guests arrived early." The guard responded causing Tyler to do a double take. "Or should I say, one of your father's guests, she is waiting for you and the others at the Duel Field."
"Thank you, Roland." Tyler nodded before he and limo driver rolled up their windows and as the driver pulled into the parking lot Tyler turned to Miranda. "Did dad mention anything to you about having guests today?"
"It's not often that he has guests so if he did, I think I would've remembered." Miranda responded with shrug as she leaned back. "Everyone is present and accounted for in the other limos, so I doubt they left early and got here ahead of us."
"I guess there's only one way to find out." Tyler responded before the car pulled up and the limo driver let them out, once they were out of the cars Tyler turned to the other duelists. "Seems there's a development, father has a guest over and she's at the duel fields."
"What's so unusual about that?" Nicola asked, and Tyler shook his head.
"He never has guests over." Tyler responded before motioning for the other duelists to follow him. "Try to stay with the group and if one of you decides to sneak off to have a look at the next Duel Disk design or something else, my father will know about it and he won't be happy."
"When is he ever happy?" Chloe pointed out as they reached the entrance and Tyler shook his head.
"Point taken, but he'll be even unhappier than usual and because you're with me and Miranda then he'll take it out on us." Tyler responded as he turned to Chloe and the others. "And I don't think I need to point out how bad that'll be for us."
"I get your point." Chloe responded with a wince before they followed Tyler and Miranda through the building, after passing through several doors they eventually came upon a large double door and Tyler used a keycard to access it.
And did a double take the moment it opened, standing out from the assorted scientists and technicians was a young woman around Adrienne's age with waist length dark brown hair and brown eyes and to the unknowing eye, she looked like just another teenager, dressed in a red sleeveless top that left some of her mid-riff exposed and blue jeans and black boots, however Tyler and Miranda knew better. "Good, everything seems to be working perfectly."
"It's still a work in progress Ms. Pegasus." The scientist closest to the young woman responded causing the students and duelists not in the know to do a double take. "It'll take time to perfect the system, but it should be ready for the 40th Anniversary of Duelist Kingdom."
"Fortunately for you that's still a few years away." The young woman responded before briefly glancing up at the group. "Until then, keep at it…" The young woman trailed off before turning around completely and revealing that her top had the I2 logo on her chest and that some of her hair was covering her right eye. "Tyler?!"
"Sophia." Tyler responded with a respectful nod as he folded his arms. "When Roland said that father had a guest, the last person I expected was the current CEO of I2 and Maximillian's adopted daughter."
"What can I say? The world's full of surprises." Sophia responded with a grin before turning to the scientist. "Do you need me for anything? I have important stuff to discuss with the group."
"Just have some more testing to do on the Virtual World system, I'll call you if I need anything." The scientist responded as he shook his head and Sophia motioned for the duelists to follow her into an adjourning room, they did so, once they were in the break room Sophia sat down on the table and turned to face the others.
"I suppose you have a few questions." Sophia stated as she looked at the surprised looks on the duelists faces. "And I'm getting this out of the way early, I'm not answering any questions regarding any ban-lists."
"Really?" Brandon asked with a raised eyebrow. "Why?" Brandon asked, and Sophia let out an annoyed sigh.
"When my stepfather retired and handed me the keys to the kingdom, the state he left the game in was not pretty." Sophia stated as she crossed one leg over the other. "Dragon Rulers and Spellbooks were running rampant all over the place, I competed in that year's World Championships and I was the only one who didn't use either of those decks, I didn't even make it past the top thirty two and I saw for myself that something had to be done."
"Yeah but hitting all those cards at once? Was that really necessary?" Chloe chimed in and Sophia nodded.
"If your referring to the ban list that came out after I came into power, absolutely." Sophia responded as she folded her arms. "I made a few enemies with that list, even received a few death threats from Dragon Ruler players but it was necessary to get the game back into the state it was before Dragon Rulers and Spellbooks came out, personally I have no idea how Spellbook of Judgment even made it past quality control but I'm confident in saying that the changes I've made have been good for the game as a whole." Sophia added before glancing out the window towards the duel field. "If you asked my father, the game never really got out of the early years but with me at the helm I'll drag I2 and Duel Monsters into the 21st Century kicking and screaming if I have too."
"Is that what the Virtual World business is about? Because I can't see how my father would sign off an such a project." Tyler asked as he folded his arms. "Or do I need to remind you of my family's sordid past with virtual world technology?"
"Trust me, dear old Seto gave me an earful about it when I first pitched it to him." Sophia responded as she shook her head. "But this is a more benign version of the Virtual World that Noah Kaiba inhabited, I plan to debut it in a few years but until then, think of it like an MMORPG, only with Duel Monsters as your weapons." Sophia added before her expression darkened. "But that's not the only reason I called you all in here."
"I get the feeling I know the reason already." Chloe responded with a frown on her face. "The Orichalcos."
"Got it in one." Sophia responded with a nod before she hopped off the table. "When the Orichalcos resurfaced during Battle City it was a PR nightmare, and that was before three Orichalcos Duelists reached the finals." Sophia added as she glanced at the duelists. "Throw in the fact that its resurfaced again and has claimed the souls of three Duel Academy students and it'll be a PR Meltdown waiting to happen unless it contained before the end of the year."
"And if it's not?" Chelsea asked, and Sophia's frown deepened.
"Aside from the massive personal risk? The Board of Directors might use it as leverage to try to force me out of a job, claiming that I let it happen under my watch, and my reforms would go with it." Sophia responded with an aggravated sigh. "They've already tried it once, back when I made my first ban list public, but I called their bluff and they backed down, I may just be nineteen, but my stepfather made sure that I knew how to run a business as large as I2 before letting me takeover but I'm not so sure the bluff will work the second time, letting the old timers takeover would not only be bad for me but for the business and game as a whole, there's not a single duelist on the board of directors and they are only interested in lining their pockets, balancing the game be damned."
"All the more reason for us to make sure that the Orichalcos doesn't survive past summer." Chloe responded, and Sophia nodded in approval.
"I knew you'd see things my way." Sophia responded before she motioned to the duel field. "You all have my unconditional support from here on in, I already explained the reasons why I don't want to hear the word Orichalcos again for as long as I live and if you can eliminate the Orichalcos then I can pick up from where I left off with no obstacles in my path." Sophia added before producing a duel disk from behind her, this one was a custom model with what looked like a jungle setting painted on and the I2 logo on top of the deck holder. "And that brings me to my next point, I want to see how much you've learned since Battle City."
"A duel against the current CEO of I2? How do we know you won't cheat and try to read our minds?" Amanda asked skeptically, and Sophia scoffed.
"Aside from the fact that the Millennium Eye is buried somewhere in Egypt?" Sophia asked before pulling back the hair covering her right eye to show that it was still intact. "I have no practical reason for wearing my hair this way, I just do it in tribute to my stepfather." Sophia added before letting her hair go. "Aside from that? I've dueled in public several times since taking over and I haven't cheated once, that's not changing anytime soon, and if I could read minds, well I'd be undefeated, which I'm certainly not."
"Well, in that case." Andreas said as he stepped forward. "I'll take you up on that offer."
"Good, I'll meet you at the duel field." Sophia nodded, and Andreas left with the others and Tyler stayed behind, once Adrienne had left the room and he was sure no one was left he closed the door. "I suppose you want to address the elephant in the room."
"You mean our arranged marriage." Tyler nodded in response as he leaned back. "I know how it came about, but I don't know why."
"Times are changing and it's high time that our families buried the hatchet." Sophia responded as she walked up to Tyler. "I was skeptical to say the least when our fathers came to an agreement, but stranger things have happened." Sophia added before stepping in closer to Tyler, whilst Tyler was clearly the taller of the two teens Sophia was quite tall for a woman and she placed a finger on his chin. "We'll make such beautiful babies together."
"We've literally just met." Tyler pointed out and Sophia shrugged.
"Perhaps but there is the old saying "love at first site"." Sophia responded before putting her duel disk on. "Now if you excuse me, I have a duel to win." Sophia added before leaving the room.
"I'm not about to deny that she's a beautiful woman." Tyler thought as he watched Sophia leave. "But it'll take more than our families old feud for me to commit to something like that."
"Unfortunately, you don't have a choice." Serene Psychic Witch responded, and Tyler shook his head before leaving the room. "And from where I stand, she seems trustworthy enough."
"Maybe she's right, maybe she isn't." Tyler thought before following the others to the Duel Field. "One thing is for sure and that she's an excellent duelist as well."
*later*
It took the students, Pro-Duelists and Sophia a few minutes to get down to the duel arena but once they were down there Sophia and Andreas took up positions opposite each other whilst the others watched on.
"Don't feel too intimidated Andreas." Sophia reassured him as she activated her duel disk and Andreas did likewise. "I won't bite."
"No offence Sophia but your stepfather's antics during Duelist Kingdom have gone down in infamy for good reason." Andreas responded, and Sophie frowned as they drew their opening hands. "It's going to take more than your good word for me to buy into that."
"That is fair, but I think there is at least two people in this room who can testify that the offspring can turn out nothing like their parents." Sophia responded and whilst neither of them stepped forward Chloe and Lance exchanged uncomfortable looks as they heard that. "To prove that I'm a good sport, I'll even let you make the first move." Sophia added as they drew their opening hands and Andreas nodded before going over his hand.
"This isn't bad, but I've had better." Andreas thought before picking up three cards. "I set two cards facedown and I summon Desmanian Devil in attack mode!" Andreas played the cards and a new monster appeared on the field, it was a small dog with black fur and a white bit of fur across its chest (4/1700/1400).
"Cute, but not really much of a devil, is he?" Sophia responded with a scoff and Andreas raised an eyebrow.
"Aren't you the CEO of I2? How are you not familiar with this or any other cards that your company produce?" Andreas asked, and Sophia shook her head.
"Andreas, I'm the head of a multinational company producing the most popular card game in the world, do you really expect me to remember each and every card that passes through my desk?" Sophia asked, and Andreas went to respond but couldn't find the words. "Just as I thought, my turn yet?"
"I end my turn." Andreas nodded in response and Sophia drew her card.
"Hey, Sophia said that she was on the pro-league circuit, right?" Chloe asked as she turned to the other Pro-League duelists. "You know what deck she runs?"
"Sophia competed in the American scene, we may have friends there, but we don't keep up to date with it." Amanda responded as she shook her head. "We have tournaments in our home countries to worry about, but she was right about the last World Championship."
"Good thing they don't." Sophia thought as she looked over her hand. "Wouldn't want Andreas to have an unfair advantage over me." Sophia thought before looking at her drawn card. "I activate the Spell Card One for One! I discard one monster from my hand to Special Summon one Level One Monster from my deck!" Sophia announced before she sent the monster to the graveyard and started searching for a monster via the inputs. "I summon Key Mouse!" Sophia announced causing Andreas to do a double take as the small mouse appeared on the field (1/100/100). "You seem surprised?"
"It's nothing, just my first time facing someone else with a Beast Deck." Andreas responded as the mouse knelt indicating it was in defense mode before he motioned to Adrienne with his thumb. "Closest I've gotten was when I faced Adrienne in my expulsion duel and she runs a Naturia deck."
"You still owe me a rematch, by the way." Adrienne chimed in and Andreas cleared his throat.
"Unless you guys want to watch me get double teamed by two beautiful women…let me try that again." Andreas trailed off as he heard snickering coming from behind him. "Unless you guys want to watch me duel two people at the same time, that'll have to wait."
"Don't worry, I'll leave plenty of time for your rematch with Adrienne." Sophia responded with a slight laugh before looking over her hand. "It's your move."
"No Lock Cat? Then why did she summon Key Mouse that way?" Andreas thought with a raised eyebrow as he surveyed Sophia's side of the field. "No traps either and she didn't use her normal summon, what is she up too?" Andreas thought before drawing his card and looking at it. "Desmanian Devil, attack Key Mouse!" Andreas commanded, and the beast type monster charged towards the mouse before headbutting the mouse destroying it. "This in turn triggers Desmanian Devil's effect, when it destroys a monster by battle, I can search my deck for a Level Four or lower Beast Type Monster and add it to my hand."
"That's not the only effect that triggered." Sophia chimed in before holding up Key Mouse. "Since you were kind enough to destroy Key Mouse for me, I can search my deck for a Level 3 or lower Beast Type Monster and add it to my hand." Sophia added before sending it to the graveyard and the two duelists started searching through their decks.
"Sophia said that she competed on the world championship stage, so why did she leave Key Mouse unprotected like that? I've seen enough of Andreas's duels to know that there are two companion cards to Key Mouse, Chain Dog and…" Chloe trailed off before it hit her as the two duelists added their respective cards to their hands. "That's gotta be it! Sophia wanted Andreas to destroy Key Mouse so that she could search out Lock Cat!"
"I set a monster in defense mode and end my turn." Andreas announced once the decks finished shuffling as the facedown monster appeared on the field and Sophia drew her card.
"They are probably expecting me to play Lock Cat and do a Synchro Summon with her, Key Mouse and Chain Dog." Sophia thought as she glanced over at the other assorted duelists. "But if there's one thing I hate when it comes to Duel Monsters, it's predictability." Sophia thought before playing a card. "I summon Caninetaur!" Sophia announced as she played the card and a creature that half horse, half dog appeared on the field wearing silver armor (3/1500/200). "Caninetaur, attack Desmanian Devil!"
"But Andreas's monster is stronger!" Nicola pointed out and Sophia nodded in response with a grin on her face whilst Andreas frowned.
"Not for long, do you want to explain Caninetaur's effect or should I?" Andreas asked, and Sophia shook her head before picking up a card.
"I will, when Caninetaur battles an opponents' monster during either player's turn I can send one Beast-Warrior, Beast or Winged Beast monster from my hand or deck to the graveyard and increase it's attack by a number equal to that monster's level times a hundred." Sophia explained as Caninetaur's attack increased to 2000 and it charged at Desmanian Devil ready to deliver the killing blow with its sword.
"Guess again, I activate my Trap Card Beast Soul Swap to return Desmanian Devil to my hand!" Andreas announced as his trap card flipped up and Desmanian Devil disappeared from the field before Caninetaur's attack could hit. "As you should know, I can Special Summon another beast type monster in its place if it's the same level, I chose Berserk Gorilla!" Andreas added before playing the card causing the large, angry ape to appear on the field (4/2000/1000). "Unless you have a way to force my gorilla into defense mode, any battle between our monsters would be a draw."
"And if I did force it into defense mode, Berserk Gorilla would be destroyed by its own effect." Sophia nodded before pointing to Andreas's facedown monster. "Fortunately for me, you have another monster on the field, Caninetaur, attack his defense monster!" Sophia commanded and Caninetaur charged into battle against the facedown monster, revealed to be Giant Rat (4/1400/1100) which was quickly destroyed. "Giant Rat, now there's a card I haven't seen in a while."
"Then you know what it does! When Giant Rat is destroyed by battle, I can search my deck for an Earth Monster with 1500 or less attack points and summon it to the field." Andreas nodded in response before he started inputting commands into his duel disk. "I chose Mine Mole!" Andreas announced as he slapped the card down and the small mole with the worker's hat on appeared on the field (3/1000/1200). "Anything else or can I take my turn?"
"I set one card facedown and end my turn." Sophia responded as she set the card and Andreas drew his card before noticing that Caninetaur's attack points had returned to normal. "Unfortunately, Caninetaur's effect is only good until the end of the battle phase."
"I know, I run one in my deck." Andreas responded with a nod before looking at his drawn card. "I banish a Spell Card from my hand to summon Monoceros!" Andreas announced as he pocketed the card causing the unihorned beast to appear on the field (3/1000/1000). "And for my normal summon, I will summon Elephun!" Andreas added as the small beast type tuner appeared on the field (2/500/300). "Besserk Gorilla, attack Caninetaur!" Andreas commanded, and the gorilla charged into battle.
"Didn't you hear me last turn Andreas? I can use Caninetaur's effect on either of our turns!" Sophia responded before she discarded a card. "Fortunately for you, the best I can do is match your Gorilla point for point!" Sophia added before Caninetaur's attack rose to 2000 again and it charged at the Gorilla before slashing it with his sword, in response the gorilla punched Caninetaur in the face destroying both monsters. "Unless your plan is too attack me directly with your weaker monsters then you just wasted an attack."
"What if I told you that I wanted you to do that?" Andreas asked with a smirk causing Sophia to give him a confused look. "And before you ask, it's not so I can activate Green Babboon's effect, if I wanted to do that, I would've just switched my gorilla to defense mode." Andreas added before his trap card flipped up. "I activate Urgent Tuning! Using this I tune Mine Mole, Monoceros and Elephun together!" Andreas announced as the three beast type monsters leapt into the air for the Synchro Summon. "I Synchro Summon Lightning Tricorn!"
"Just as I expected." Sophia thought as the bright flash enveloped the field before the horse in golden armor with a blue mane appeared on the field (8/2800/2000). "I believe you have some effects to resolve."
"Correct, since I used Mino Mole and Monoceros in a Synchro Summon, I get to activate their effects, first Mine Mole lets me draw a card." Andreas added before drawing a card. "And next, Monoceros allows me to Special Summon a Beast Type tuner monster from my graveyard, I chose Elephun as it is the only tuner monster in my graveyard." Andreas added before Elephun returned to the field. "Lightning Tricorn, attack her life-points directly!" Andreas commanded, and the horse galloped into battle…...
"I have a few tricks off my own up my sleeve, well figuratively speaking off course since I'm wearing a sleeveless top but still!" Sophia responded as her trap card flipped up. "I activate Defense Draw! All battle damage from Tricorn's Attack is reduced to zero and I draw a card." Sophia added before the horse rammed into her, but she stood her ground before drawing her card. "Anything else?"
"I set one card facedown and end my turn." Andreas announced as he set the card he had drawn with Mine Mole's effect and Sophia drew her card.
"He's got the big guns out, meaning that if I want to keep up with him and eventually win, I need to get the big guns out as well." Sophia thought as she looked over at Andreas's side of the field. "The obvious threat is Lightning Tricorn but with Elephun on the field he can always do another Synchro Summon, in either case, it's time I did one of my own." Sophia thought before playing a card. "I summon Lock Cat!" Sophia announced as she played the card and the small cat with the lock around her neck appeared on the field (3/1200/1000). "Now that I've summoned her, Lock Cat's effect activates allowing me to Special Summon one Level One Beast Type Monster from my graveyard."
"I get the feeling I know exactly what your about to summon." Andreas commented and sure enough Key Mouse returned to the field with a squeak. "Just as I thought."
"Hey, if it's not broken, why fix it?" Sophia asked only to sweat-drop as she saw several students and pro-duelists alike go to rebuke her comment. "Yes, I know I'm saying that as the CEO of I2 who banned several popular cards within the first few months of coming up into power but still!"
"Even Pot of Avarice and Card Destruction?" Chloe protested, and Sophia shook her head.
"If I wasn't in the middle of a duel, I'd give a long explanation as to why I banned those cards, instead all I'm going to say is that you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet!" Sophia responded before she retrieved a card from her graveyard. "Back to business, since I have two Beast Type Monsters on my side of the field, I can Special Summon Chain Dog from my graveyard!" Sophia announced as she played the card causing the large dog wrapped in chains to return to the field (4/1600/1100). "And yes, this was the monster I discarded for One for One."
"So, you're going for a Synchro Summon?" Andreas asked with a raised eyebrow. "Well, they do say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but the best you can do right now is summon your own Lightning Tricorn."
"You're right, I could do that." Sophia nodded in response before retrieving a card from her graveyard. "Or I could go one step beyond! One of the monsters I discarded for Caninetaur's effect was Power-Up Possum." Sophia added as she held up the monster (5/100/100). "He's not much to look at admittedly but his effect makes up for it! I can banish him from the graveyard to increase the level of one of my Beast Type Monsters, I chose to increase the level of Key Mouse by one!" Sophia added before pocketing the monster causing Key Mouse's level to increase to two. "And now I'm going for a Synchro Summon! I tune Key Mouse with Chain Dog and Lock Cat!"
"A level nine Synchro Summon?!" Andreas thought as the three beast type monsters leapt into the air for the Synchro Summon. "That's not good!"
"I Synchro Summon Red Baboon, Destroyer of the Forrest!" Sophia slapped the card down and Andreas's eyes widened as the massive red baboon appeared on the field (9/2600/1900). "And based on the look on your face, you know what his effect does."
"Yes, I have a copy, I took it out of my extra deck because I found Leogun to be more useful." Andreas nodded in response before frowning. "Being Synchro Summoned with three monsters is optional but if Red Baboon is then it destroys one card for each Synchro Material."
"Got it in one." Sophia nodded before Red Baboon raised its club above its head…
"However, I do not want my facedown card to go to waste, I activate Beast Burial Ritual! I use it to destroy Elephun and draw two additional cards during my next standby phase!" Andreas added as Elephun shattered just as the club hit the ground destroying it, Beast Burial Ritual and Lightning Tricorn.
"Pity you don't have Voltic Bicorn or Thunder Unicorn in your graveyard, they could've saved you from a world of hurt." Sophia responded before pointing to Andreas. "Red Baboon, attack his life-points directly!" Sophia commanded, and the baboon swiped at Andreas with its club hitting him in the chest and bringing his life-points down to 5400. "That's first blood too me and quite a bit of blood at that." Sophia added as Andreas got to his feet.
"I've come from behind before, just ask Nicola…..." Andreas trailed off before face-palming. "I swear, with all the innuendoes I've been making you'd think I've been hanging around Lance too much!"
"Trust me, I've heard worse slip ups." Sophia responded as she shook her head with a laugh. "And made some myself for that matter."
"I'll take your word for it." Andreas grunted as he got back to his feet. "That said, I have been wondering something about you, and no it's not in reference to that ban list."
"Let me guess, how much time it takes me to have my hair cover one said of my face and still keep it tidy?" Sophia asked, and Andreas blinked before shaking his head. "I get that question a lot, the answer is at least twenty minutes, more if I get any tangles in it."
"That wasn't my question." Andreas responded before clearing his throat. "You're the adopted daughter of Maximillian Pegasus, someone who is infamous for running Toon Monsters, Relinquished and Thousand Eyes Restrict yet we're practically playing a mirror match because our decks are so similar, why?"
"That's your big question?" Sophia asked with a chuckle before putting a hand on her hip. "Why don't you ask Tyler why he runs Psychic Monsters instead of a carbon copy of his dad's deck? Or Chloe why she doesn't run Ancient Gear Monsters like her dad does? I could go on, but I won't, besides, I decided on my deck before I was adopted, not after but even if that was the case, I wouldn't want to copy my father's deck."
"Why do you say that?" Andreas asked, and Sophia shook her head.
"Have you looked at the Toon Monsters recently? I was considering releasing them to the general public as a celebration of the anniversary of Duelist Kingdom next year, but I ran into one very big problem." Sophia added before flipped her hair over her shoulder. "The Toon Monsters are laughably weak by the standards of today's game; can't attack on the same turn it's summoned? Requires a Spell Card that requires a payment of a thousand life-points for nothing but keeping those monsters on the field? And don't get me started on the ones that kick the bucket if Toon World is destroyed."
"Is that why you've been releasing new Toon Cards?" Andreas asked, and Sophia nodded.
"Frankly, it was long overdue, the artists at I2 kept coming up to my father with new Toon Monsters but he kept rejecting them, insisting that his precious toons were perfect." Sophia explained before letting out an aggravated sigh. "It took me taking over as CEO to finally get the ball rolling on new Toon Monsters and support cards but there's still a lot of work to be done before they are even remotely viable in the Pro-League scene and frankly, there are other, more successful and popular archetypes that I can support before I even think about supporting Toons."
"Don't take this the wrong way, but you sound like you resent your father." Andreas responded, and Sophia shook her head.
"Far from it, even before I was adopted, I respected him for creating the game, I'm just echoing a lot of common complaints I heard from other Pro-League duelists." Sophia added before motioning to the other Pro-League Duelists. "Just ask them if you don't believe me, truth is I owe a lot to my father, but his old fashioned ways was dragging down the game long before I met him."
"On that note, what is the story behind him adopting you?" Andreas asked, and Sophia shook her head.
"Another time, in less public spaces." Sophia responded as she motioned to the scientists overlooking the duel. "I believe it's your move?" Sophia asked, and Andreas drew his card.
"As far as a straight up fight is concerned, I only have one monster that can beat her baboon and that's in the graveyard, still maybe I can draw something that'll help." Andreas thought before adding his drawn card to his hand. "First Beast Burial Ritual's effect activates." Andreas explained as he drew two cards. "Next the effect of the card I banished for Monoceros's effect activates, it's a card called Card from a Different Dimension!"
"Since it was removed from play, it returns to your hand and allows us both to draw two cards." Sophia nodded in response as Andreas returned the Spell Card to his hand. "I've used that exact same combo a few times myself." Sophia added before they drew two cards.
"Good to know that one of my favorite moves has the seal of approval from the CEO of I2 I guess." Andreas responded before adding his newly drawn cards to his hand. "Come to think of it, who's running I2 whilst you're here."
"I run the day to day operations yes, but for each branch of I2 I have branch managers." Sophia responded with a slight laugh. "I can't be everywhere at once after all, besides, I've got my phone on at all times just encase something goes wrong at the Domino branch, the I2 Headquarters are over at Duelist Kingdom anyway and unlike my dad, I do leave the island every now and again."
"Your dad still lives at I2 Headquarters?" Andreas asked skeptically, and Sophia shook her head.
"No, he lives at the castle that served as the location for the Duelist Kingdom finals." Sophia responded as she brushed some hair behind her ear. "Which is probably an argument for taxing the rich but that's neither here nor there and besides, you've got a move to finish."
"Right, I set a monster in defense mode and three cards facedown." Andreas responded as he set the four cards he had drawn, and they appeared on the field. "And that ends my turn."
"Setting up your defenses hmmm Andreas-boy?" Sophia asked before face-palming hard. "Why is it that whenever dad said that it sounded okay but when I say it, it sounds flirtatious?!"
"It doesn't help that you're a beautiful woman." Andreas pointed out and Sophia nodded.
"I know but have you seen pictures of my dad when he was younger? He'd be handsome if it weren't for that damn millennium eye…...and now I made it sound like I have a crush on my stepdad." Sophia responded as she ran a hand down her face. "I'm just going to start my move before I dig myself a hole to China and back."
"Please do." Andreas responded as a massive sweat-drop rolled down his head and Sophia drew her card.
"I'll save that for later." Sophia thought before adding the card to her hand. "Red Baboon, attack Andreas's defense monster!" Sophia commanded, and the baboon raised its club before bringing it down upon the monster, however the monster survived the attack as it was revealed to be Barrier Rat (3/0/0). "Using a monster that can survive one attack per round, smart."
"Much as I appreciate the complement, I do have a duel to win." Andreas responded as he folded his arms. "Anything else you want to do?" Andreas asked, and Sophia looked at her hand.
"I set one card facedown and end my turn." Sophia announced as the facedown card appeared on the field and Andreas drew his card.
"Barrier Rat brought me some time, but I need to deal with her baboon quickly." Andreas thought before looking at his drawn card. "And I have just the combo for it." Andreas thought before activating one of his facedown cards. "I activate Dimension Switch to remove Barrier Rat from play for the moment!" Andreas announced as the trap card flipped up and Barrier Rat disappeared from the field as Andreas pocketed the card. "Why would I do that? So, I can play this Spell Card, Obedience Schooled!"
"Ahh yes, this combo." Sophia nodded in approval once the Spell Card appeared on the field. "'I've used it quite a few times since Obedience Schooled came out, course, I usually play test the new Beast Type support cards myself but that's neither here nor there."
"Yet you didn't know what Desmanian Devil does?" Andreas asked with a raised eyebrow and Sophia shrugged her shoulders.
"I playtest a lot of Beast Type support cards, I don't have a photogenic memory Andreas." Sophia responded, and Andreas nodded in response. "If I did, I'd be a much better CEO but that's beside the point."
"In any case, I use my Spell Card to special summon Baby Racoon Ponpoko, Baby Racoon Tantan and Mogmole!" Andreas announced as he played the three cards and the three small beast type monsters appeared on the field (2/800/0) (2/0/800) and (2/800/800) and they all cowered at the site of the baboon. "They lose their effects and will be destroyed during the end phase, but they won't be around that long, I activate Dimension Switch's other effect, sending it to the graveyard so I can bring back Barrier Rat!" Andreas announced as the small rat returned to the field as his trap card shattered. "And you probably know the next part."
"Yes, Barrier Rat is a tuner monster." Sophia nodded in response and Andreas grinned.
"It's like I said before, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery! I tune Barrier Rat with Baby Racoon Ponpoko, Baby Racoon Tantan and Mogmole!" Andreas announced as the four weak beast type monsters leapt into the air for the Synchro Summon and Andreas grabbed a card from the extra deck as the bright flash enveloped the field. "I Synchro Summon Leogun, Lord of the Jungle!" Andreas played the card and once the flash faded the mighty lion appeared on the field with a roar (9/2500/2000). "First Barrier Rat's other effect kicks in allowing me to draw one card for each Synchro Material I used."
"And you have to toss any Monsters you draw that way." Sophia nodded as Andreas drew his cards, he looked at them briefly before adding them to his hand.
"I activate his effect, by banishing one Beast Type Monster from my graveyard I can destroy one monster on your side of the field, you only have one so it's an easy choice." Andreas added as he pocketed Mine Mole and Leogun pounced on Red Baboon before slashing and destroying it. "I have to skip my Battle Phase, but I'll make do for now."
"Pity, because you wasted your card's effect, I activate my Trap Card Miracle's Wake to bring back Red Baboon from the graveyard!" Sophia announced as her trap card flipped up and Andreas's eyes widened as the baboon returned to the field. "I'll give you an A for effort, F for execution."
"I wasn't aware that I was being tested." Andreas responded before looking at his hand. "It's your move." Andreas added, and Sophia drew her card.
"I have to get rid of Leogun now, otherwise winning this duel will be a lot harder." Sophia thought before looking at her drawn card. "And this won't help, guess I have to do things the old fashioned way." Sophia thought before pointing to Leogun. "Red Baboon, attack Leogun, Lord of the Jungle!"
"I was hoping you'd do that." Andreas responded, and Sophia blinked as his second facedown card flipped up. "I activate Synchro Strike! For each Synchro Materiel Monster used to summon it Leogun will gain five hundred attack points until the end phase!"
"WHAT?!" Sophia yelled out, but it was too late as Leogun's attack shot up to 4000 and he jumped over Red Baboon's club before slashing him with his claws destroying him and bringing Sophia's life-points down to 6600. "Not bad, but my deck has more where that came from! I set a monster in defense mode and end my turn!" Sophia announced as she set the monster and once Leogun's attack points returned to normal Andreas drew a card.
"Finally managed to inflict damage in this duel! Let's just hope I can keep it up." Andreas thought before looking at his drawn card. "This will come in handy later." Andreas thought before adding it to his hand. "Leogun, attack her defense monster!" Andreas commanded, and the lion pounced at Sophia's facedown card, revealing it to be Sophia's own Barrier Rat, which survived the attack. "Should've known you'd have your own copy."
"Who am I to say no to a good monster just because it's a rat?" Sophia responded with a grin as Leogun returned to Andreas's side of the field. "And I know Leogun's side effect Andreas, you can't use his effect after already attacking."
"I'd expect nothing less from a fellow Beast Deck user, even if you weren't the CEO of I2." Andreas nodded in response before going over his hand. "I Just know that she's going to use Barrier Rat for a Synchro Summon like I did, I need to be prepared." Andreas thought before setting a card. "I set one card facedown and end my turn."
"Two facedown cards, clearly meant to protect Leogun if I manage to get something stronger than it on the field." Sophia thought before drawing her card and looking at it. "And I'm about to do just that." Sophia thought before playing a card. "I activate Heaven's Lost Property! Now we'll both draw three cards and discard two."
"Well, she made one choice easy for me." Andreas thought as they drew their cards and he picked up Card from a Different Dimension and one of the monsters he had drawn. "Card from a Different Dimension was taking up hand space after all." Andreas thought before discarding the two cards, "Anything else? Or did you just want to give me some extra cards for the hell of it?"
"Please, I'm a CEO of a multinational company, I don't do anything without a purpose." Sophia responded as she discarded her two cards. "As for what that purpose is, I'll get to that later, for now I activate Cattle Call!" Sophia announced as she played the card and Barrier Rat disappeared from the field. "It requires that I send a face-up beast, winged beast, or beast warrior monster I control to the graveyard but in exchange I can special summon one monster from my extra deck that's the same type, you should be familiar with this monster." Sophia explained as she played the card and Thunder Unicorn appeared on the field with a whinny (5/2200/1800). "It can't attack, it can't use it's effects and it'll be destroyed come the end phase."
"So, what was the point of summoning it that way? You could've easily used Barrier Rat and a Level Two Monster to summon it instead." Andreas pointed out and Sophia nodded.
"True but I have a better idea." Sophia responded before she picked up a card. "Consider yourself lucky Andreas, your getting an exclusive world premiere, this card has been play tested by myself and several other duelists with Beast Type Decks about as thoroughly as you can playtest a card before your arm starts to hurt from playing it and it won't be released anywhere for months, I just happen to have a copy in my deck because I know how useful it is."
"If all this build up was to a Level One effect monster with zero attack points whose effect states "if this card inflicts battle damage, you win the match", I'll scream." Andreas deadpanned getting a hearty laugh out of Sophia before she shook her head.
"Do you really think I2 would release a card like in the modern age? Not as long as I'm at the helm." Sophia responded before playing a card. "First I activate Ancient Rules which allows me to Special Summon one Level Five or Higher Normal Type Monster from my hand without a tribute, I chose another monster you should be familiar with." Sophia added as she slapped the card down and to everyone's surprise the original version of Leogun appeared on the field with a roar (5/1750/1550). "After all, your using the modern version of Leogun."
"And this is another case where I must ask, what was Pegasus on during the early days of the game?" Andreas asked, and Sophia sighed. "A level five monster with 1750 attack points? Even back during Duelist Kingdom, there was several level four monsters that could attack over it!"
"You know, I actually got into my dad's wine cellar once, back when he first adopted me." Sophia explained with a slight chuckle. "I was old enough to drink by then and I figured "what could be the harm?", I woke up several hours later hanging upside down from my bedroom wall dressed in a clown outfit and a road cone over my head." Sophia explained earning surprised looks from the others. "To this day I still haven't asked my dad what he put in his wine and after that experience, I'll likely save it for when he's on his deathbed."
"Well, that would certainly explain a lot about Pegasus." Andreas conceded before shaking his head. "Back to business, what exactly do you plan to with a Synchro Monster with its effects negated and a weaker version of the monster I have on the field, the only thing they have in common is the fact that they are both level five…" Andreas trailed off as it hit him. "Your planning an XYZ Summon?"
"Guilty as charged, though this one requires that both monsters be beast types, even so, I use my monsters to construct the overlay network!" Sophia announced as Thunder Unicorn and Leogun where sucked into the dark portal and the other duelists present heard a whinny in the distance before they heard galloping coming from the portal. "I XYZ summon the fourth member of the Unicorn Monsters, Storming Quadhorn!"
"You were really starving for names when you came up with that weren't you?" Andreas asked and Sophia sweat-dropped as the monster emerged from the portal, it was a horse like the other creatures of its ilk, but its armor was seemingly made of diamonds and it had four horns protruding from its forehead (Rank: 5/2500/2000).
"Blame the marketing department for that, if I could name the cards myself, I would." Sophia conceded before pointing to Storming Quadhorn. "I activate Storming Quadhorn's effect, in exchange for detaching one of my XYZ Materials I can banish one monster the opponent controls!" Sophia added, and Andreas's eyes widened as she detached Leogun and her monster lowered its horn at Leogun, Lord of the Jungle, the horn suddenly shot a stream of electricity at the monster destroying it in an instant. "And that's not the best part, well for me at least, you see Leogun might have to wait a turn for it to attack if it uses it's effect by Storming Quadhorn has no such drawback."
"Oh, this is bad." Andreas gulped as he stared down the monster.
"For you, maybe, Storming Quadhorn, attack his life-points directly!" Sophia commanded, and the horse charged into battle before ramming into Andreas and bringing his life-points down to 2900. "Just two more attacks and this will be over."
"Maybe, but I'm not going down without a fight! I activate my Trap Cards, Shock Draw and Damage Gate!" Andreas announced as the two facedown cards appeared on the field and Sophia frowned. "Shock Draw lets me draw a card for each thousand points of damage I just took, whilst Damage Gate lets me Special Summon a monster with attack equal too or less than the damage I just took, I chose Playful Possum!" Andreas announced as the small possum appeared on the field (2/800/800). "And in case you're wondering, I discarded him for Heaven's Lost Property."
"I thought that was the case." Sophia nodded as Andreas drew his two cards. "If you think it'll help then by all means, I wouldn't want this duel to be to one sided! I end my turn." Sophia announced, and Andreas drew his card.
"Deck's running low, unless I end this soon, she'll win by deck out." Andreas thought as he glanced at his deck, as soon as he saw the contents of his hand however, he grinned as he got an idea. "First I activate Foolish Burial to send one monster from my deck to the graveyard."
"I know this combo all too well." Sophia thought as Andreas inputted commands into his duel disk and sent a monster to the graveyard from his deck. "I can't count the number of duels it won me, still, Andreas is running a big risk by doing this move when his life-points are as low as they are."
"Now I activate Playful Possum's effect! Since you have a stronger monster than it on the field, I can destroy it during my Main Phase." Andreas explained as Playful Possum shattered, however as it did a loud howl was heard as Andreas's life-points dropped to 1900. "We saw Red Baboon earlier in the duel, only right that I bring out the original! I summon Green Baboon, Defender of the Forrest in attack mode!" Andreas played the card and sure enough the massive green baboon appeared on the field ready for battle (8/2600/1800). "Your world premiere is about to be cut short! Green Baboon, attack Storming Quadhorn!"
"I could've used a trap card right here." Sophia thought as Green Baboon charged into battle before clubbing Storming Quadhorn with its club destroying it and bringing her life-points down to 6500. "You still have a long way to go if you want to defeat me Andreas!"
"Unless you can attack over Green Baboon, I'll keep at it until I can." Andreas responded as he folded his arms with a confident grin on his face. "Your move."
"At least this duel has shown one thing, he doesn't give up easily." Sophia thought before she drew her card and looked at it, however when she did, she let out an aggravated sigh. "And I'll take "what is the worst possible time to get a dead draw" for $200 Alex! Oh look, the daily double!" Sophia thought before turning to Andreas. "I have to pass."
"Excuse me?" Andreas asked with a disbelieving look on his face.
"I got a dead draw, I did draw a monster but it's too powerful for me to summon right now." Sophia explained, and Andreas blinked before drawing his card. "Just because I'm the CEO of I2 doesn't mean I'm immune to getting the occasional dead draw every now and again."
"Indeed, anyway since I destroyed Playful Possum through his effect last turn, he returns to the field during my standby phase." Andreas explained before the possum appeared on the field again. "But he won't remain on the field for much longer, I activate Sacrifice to the Jungle Gods! In exchange for destroying Playful Possum Green Baboon gets to attack twice."
"Oh, I'm going to feel this in the morning!" Sophia thought as her eyes widened whilst Playful Possum disappeared from the field and Green Baboon let out another howl. "Just one request Andreas, not the face." Sophia winced as she braced herself.
"As your wish, Green Baboon, attack her life-points directly twice and don't aim at her face!" Andreas commanded, and the baboon charged at Sophia before whacking her in the stomach twice reducing her life-points to 1300. "Just one more attack and I'll be the first one to say that I beat the current CEO of I2 in a duel!"
"Oh please, I've been beaten in playtest duels." Sophia responded as she got back to her feet with a wince. "Difference is, I make the other play testers sign Non-Disclosure Agreements to avoid leaks! Anyway, is that all?"
"Yes, I am done." Andreas nodded, and Sophia drew her card once she had gathered up her cards.
"At this point, this duel could go either way, either Andreas attacks me with Green Baboon again or I manage to get rid of it and attack for game." Sophia thought as she looked at her hand. "I set one card facedown and end my turn."
"She's resorted to that old trick." Andreas thought as he drew his card, he looked at it and frowned. "Guess it's my turn to get a dead draw, difference is, I'm about to win." Andreas thought before pointing to Sophia. "Green Baboon, finish it!" Andreas commanded, and the massive beast charged into battle.
"Your right, he is about to finish it." Sophia responded as her trap card flipped up. "In my favor, I activate Dimension Wall!" Sophia added, and Andreas's eyes widened as Green Baboon's club struck an invisible wall bouncing it back at Andreas and reducing his life-points to zero, as the holograms disappeared Sophia approached him and offered her hand to help him up. "You've grown a lot since Battle City, I'd like to see the Orichalcos Duelists try to take your soul this time!"
"Should everything go well, they won't get a chance." Andreas nodded as Sophia helped him up before they heard a slow clap coming from the stairs and they looked up as the doors opened.
"Excellent duel you two." A familiar gruff voice rang out and Tyler and Miranda's eyes widened when they heard it. "But if these students intend to take down the Orichalcos, then they have a long way to go."
"Father?!" Tyler and Miranda asked simultaneously as Seto Kaiba stepped into view surveying the students around him.
"Who where you expecting? The tooth fairy?" Kaiba asked with a chuckle as he glanced around the room. "I'm glad that you persuaded me to let them use my facilities Tyler, for now the real training can begin."