Whilst Chloe was getting ready for her confrontation with Sarah the others were racing after them and after Amanda got the rest of the duelists updated on the situation with Karen and Felix, they weren't that far from the seventh floor.
"Come to think of it, couldn't we have just used the elevator to skip all the duelists and just go straight to Victor?" Marcus asked as he took several deep breaths whilst the others were ahead of him. "Because seriously, my body isn't built for racing up several flights of stairs in the same day!"
"Victor owns this building and probably had a safeguard in place just in case we tried that." Brandon responded as he turned to the overweight student. "Besides, this is probably the most exercise you've had in a while if we're being honest Marcus."
"I can't really argue with that." Marcus admitted before they reached the seventh floor and saw Chloe having her stare down with Sarah. "Chloe you really shouldn't rush off like that!"
"Marcus, do you have any idea how much you just sounded like my mom?" Chloe asked as she glanced over her shoulder at Marcus. "And yeah, I probably should've waited, but I wanted answers from her as soon as possible." Chloe added as she motioned to Sarah. "And now that I mention it, we still don't know your name."
"Sarah Richardson, the biological daughter of your step-father." Sarah responded and Chloe turned to her with a skeptical look on her face. "Do you want to know how I got these scars?"
"That depends, are you going to start quoting The Dark Knight on me throughout the duel?" Chloe asked and Sarah chuckled.
"Why so serious?" Sarah asked before shaking her head. "I got these scars through my father's inactions, that's why I went after him."
"Yeah I'm taking that with the biggest grain of salt ever." Chloe responded with a frown as she folded her arms. "I'm going to start with the obvious, my stepmom can't have kids, that's the whole reason they wanted to adopt in the first place."
"If I had a problem with your stepmom, I would've gone after her." Sarah responded and Chloe's eyes narrowed. "I was born of your father's first marriage, he ever tell you about that?"
"Once or twice, yeah, he mentioned being married to a woman called Annette for a couple of years before she was killed in a car crash…" Chloe trailed off before she started to put the pieces together. "You're the girl from this photo, aren't you?" Chloe asked as she held up the picture again and Sarah nodded. "But dad said that she was another couple's kid who was killed in a car accident?"
"Chloe, your stepfather lied to you about your father going to jail for the rest of his life and yet you still accept his word as the gospel?" Sarah asked and Chloe's eyes narrowed. "I wasn't active in the Battle City operation because frankly, I knew it would attract to many eyes to our efforts, but I do know about a certain duel that took place in an abandoned shopping mall."
"Err, Chloe, what is she talking about?" Amanda asked with a concerned look on her face and Chloe sighed.
"It's a long story, and a painful one." Chloe responded as she turned to the older duelist. "I'll explain after the duel."
"No need, my cards will give them all the explanation they need." Sarah responded and Chloe turned her attention back to Sarah. "Enough stalling, I'm about to finish what I started the other day."
"Fine, I'll duel you." Chloe responded before her eyes narrowed. "On one condition, when I win, you free the souls of my step-father, Jamie Cunningham, Frank Goff, Billie Price and Sarah Baker."
"Do you really think that you're in any position to make demands?" Sarah scoffed and Chloe's eyes narrowed. "Fine, you have a deal but only because I know you won't win." Sarah added before she activated her duel disk and the two women drew their opening hands. "But because your making demands all of a sudden, I'll make the first move."
"Yeah, sure, it's not like every other Orichalcos Duelist in this building hasn't already taken the first move." Chloe responded with a sigh as Sarah looked over her hand. "At least this way I can get a feel for what her deck is about."
"May as well get down to business, I activate the Seal of the Orichalcos!" Sarah announced as she played the card and the seal quickly enveloped both duelists, once the seal appeared on Sarah's forehead she glared at Chloe. "Now, let the trip down memory lane begin! I activate Sad Story – Sorrowful Memories!" Sarah announced as she played the card and Chloe's eyes narrowed as the scenery changed to a rainy road late at night.
"Sad Story? I know you mentioned my biological dad, but I had no idea that you were going to copy his deck from my dream duel against him." Chloe responded and Sara shook her head.
"Please, he was using my deck, not the other way around." Sarah responded before a car drove by. "How about we see who's in that car?"
"Like I have a choice?" Chloe sighed before the scenery showed the inside of the car, in the driver's seat was Scott with a full head of hair and next to him was Annette, in the backseat sat Sarah as they drove along. "Doesn't look that sad so far."
"Give it a few moments." Sarah responded before the car stopped at a red light, however another car didn't stop, and it rammed into the side on sending it rolling, when it eventually stopped Scott crawled out of the wreckage and looked inside the car.
"Anette? Come on Anette, speak to me!" Scott called out to her, but it was clear that Anette was killed on impact, a few seconds passed, and Scott looked around for Sarah. "Sarah?"
"It was on that day that your father abandoned me." Sarah added as the scene showed Scott being loaded into an ambulance before switching back to the seventh floor. "As for my Spell Card? Any monsters we draw from now on automatically go to the graveyard, I set two cards facedown and end my turn."
"I don't care what she says, dad would never willingly abandon anyone like that." Chloe thought as she drew her card, she looked at it, shook her head and shuffled it into her deck. "It's a monster card so I don't get to keep it, I set two cards facedown and I summon Expert Axe Raider!" Chloe announced as she played the card and the retrained version of Axe Raider appeared on the field ready for battle (4/1700/1150). "I know what the ace card of the Sad Story Cards is and thanks to the Seal it'll have more than two thousand attack points." Chloe stated before grinning. "Fortunately for me, Expert Axe Raider can survive attacks from monsters that have more than two thousand attack points! Expert Axe Raider, attack her life-points directly!" Chloe commanded and the axe raider charged into battle…
"Pity your life-points won't survive my trap cards." Sarah scoffed as her facedown card flipped up depicting the scene that was generated by Sorrowful Memories. "I activate Sorrowful Remembrance, since I have Sorrowful Memories face-up on the field this trap card will redirect Expert Axe Raider's attack but at you!" Sarah explained and Chloe's eyes widened as Expert Axe Raider changed direction and slashed her across the stomach bringing Chloe's life-points down to 6300. "Poetic, isn't it? Almost exactly like how your father turned his back on me."
"My dad would never turn his back on anyone, especially not the victim of a car crash." Chloe responded as she got back to her feet. "And as soon as you play Sad Story – Atrocious Day you won't be able to rely on your trap cards."
"True but whilst we're on the subject of the Sad Story cards, Sorrowful Remembrance will allow me to search for another Sad Story card." Sarah responded before she started inputting commands into her duel disk. "It's only a matter of time before you see the truth about your father Chloe but until then I'll keep playing the Sad Story cards."
"I know the truth about him, and I know how wrong you are." Chloe responded as her eyes narrowed before looking at her hand. "It's your move as soon as your done searching." Chloe announced and once Sarah had the card, she needed in her hand her deck shuffled and she drew her card.
"You sure you know your father so well?" Sarah asked and Chloe hesitated as she went to play a card. "Let's test that! I activate Sad Story – Unwavering Truth! Hope your ready for another trip down memory lane Chloe!" Sarah announced as she played the card and the scenery changed to show a building that Chloe recognized almost immediately.
"It's the orphanage I was at before I was adopted." Chloe thought as she glanced around the brightly colored walls of the room, when she finished glancing around, she quickly realized what was happening. "This has to be the day I was adopted; the paperwork matches up." Chloe thought as she looked at her stepparents and Margaret.
"Okay, the paperwork is in order." Margaret said as she put down her signature after Chloe's stepparents had signed it. "I'll go give Chloe the good news, if you have anything that you want to discuss between yourselves, now's the time." Margaret added before standing up and leaving the room, once she had closed the door Sandra turned to Scott.
"Scott, I know you want another chance at raising a family after what happened to your first wife and child." Sandra said as she turned to Scott and Scott frowned. "But are you sure about this? The poor girl's been through so much in her short time on this earth."
"It's a second chance for me Sandra, it's only right that I give her a second chance as well." Scott sighed in response as he turned to his wife. "I know you plan to homeschool her for two years before she is put back in the public school system, but this will be a challenge, for both of us."
"And we will do our best." Sandra responded before frowning. "I only wish Sarah had survived the accident."
"I'm sure she would've been thrilled to have a younger sister if she was." Scott responded before the scene ended.
"Yeah, I have a few questions before you continue." Chloe responded as she folded her arms and Sarah paused as she went to play another card. "If you are that same girl, how did you survive that car crash? From what I could see from the previous vison, you were on the same side as Annette and she was killed on impact."
"I was." Sarah nodded in response before frowning. "As you can see, I didn't exactly escape unharmed but because I didn't have my seatbelt on, I was launched through the back window, as for how I survived, I'm not so sure myself but I was taken up by a rural family who didn't know any better, what was your other question?"
"How are you remembering the day I was adopted exactly?" Chloe asked with a raised eyebrow. "Or memories from when you were what? Two maybe three years old? I have barely any memories from that time myself."
"When I grew older, my new family filled me in the blanks, and the Sad Story card works both ways, or said I say, three ways?" Sarah asked and Chloe's eyes narrowed. "Do you have Scott's Orichalcos Card?" Sarah asked and Chloe hesitated before reaching into her pocket and producing the card. "Good, by bringing it you've made my job easier once I win this duel, but more to the point, it appears that the Sad Story cards are accessing Scott's memories as well."
"Just when I thought today couldn't get any weirder." Chloe thought before returning the card to her jeans pocket. "Refresh my memory, what does Unwavering Truth do again?"
"Other Spell Cards can't be activated the same turn I use Unwavering Truth, and any Spell Cards you draw get shuffled into your deck." Sarah explained before she activated her other trap card which depicted the scene showed in Unwavering Truth's memory. "I activate The Truth Revealed! As my life-points are higher than yours by at least a thousand points and I have Unwavering Truth in play, this will destroy one Monster you control and allow me to Special Summon one monster of the same level from my deck!"
"Oh crap!" Chloe thought as Expert Axe Raider shattered into a million pieces and Sarah started searching through her deck again. "Let me guess, it also allows you to search for another Sad Story Card."
"You catch on fast, but too fast, The truth Revealed doesn't have that effect." Sarah chuckled as she played the card. "But my monster does, I summon Minister of Painful Truth in attack mode!" Sarah announced as she played the card and a new monster appeared on the field, it appeared to be a priest of some kind, but he was carrying a sword and his head was helmeted (4/1900/1200). "I can only summon this monster via the effect of The Truth Revealed and when he deals damage to your life-points I will be able to search through my deck for the last Sad Story card and trust me." Sarah said as she glared at Chloe whilst her monster's attack increased to 2400 thanks to the seal. "You don't want me to play that! Minister of Painful Truth, attack her life-points directly!" Sarah commanded and the monster charged into battle…
"I don't think so, I activate my trap card Defense Draw!" Chloe announced as she activated the trap and she survived Minister of Painful Truth's attack with her life-points intact. "I take no damage and I draw a card."
"That brought you a turn at most, use it wisely." Sarah responded as Chloe drew her card and added it to her hand. "It's your move." Sarah added and Chloe drew her card.
"I'm still not sure what she's getting at." Chloe thought before looking at her drawn card. "Trap Card, at least I can keep it this time." Chloe thought before selecting the card, when she looked over her hand, she quickly decided. "I set one card facedown, a monster in defense mode and I activate a Continuous Spell Card of my own, Arcane Barrier!" Chloe announced as she played the cards and Sarah remained stoic as they appeared on the field. "It's your move."
"That's the best you've got? Too bad." Sarah responded as she drew her card, she took one look at it and shuffled it back into her deck. "A monster card, but its one that benefits from this situation because when this monster is shuffled into the deck by Sorrowful Memories, I can special summon her to the field." Sarah added as she retrieved the monster from her deck and played it. "Sorrowful Maiden!" Sarah announced as the monster appeared on the field, she appeared to be an older version of the monster Unhappy Maiden wearing the same dress as the younger version and with the same expression (1/0/0) and as she crouched down her attack increased to 500 thanks to the seal.
"What's with the Orichalcos organization and reimagining The Unhappy Maiden?" Chloe thought as she glanced at the new monster. "First Depressed Angel and now this? If she brings out Laughing Demon, I'm surrendering the duel on the spot." Chloe thought before turning her attention back to Sarah. "She doesn't look like much, if anything she's just an older version of The Unhappy Maiden." Chloe commented and Sarah grinned.
"She's not much on her own but with Sorrowful Memories on the field? She's very lethal, as long as I have that card in play my monsters inflict piercing damage!" Sarah explained and Chloe's eyes widened as Sarah grinned. "And I've seen enough of your duels to know your favorite combo with Arcane Barrier, unfortunately for you, this time it's backfired! Minister of Painful Truth, attack her defense monster!" Sarah commanded and the minister charged into battle before slashing Chloe's facedown Apprentice Magician destroying her and bringing Chloe's life-points down to 4600. "Just as I thought."
"Piercing Damage or not, my Apprentice Magician's effect still triggers." Chloe responded as she started inputting commands into her duel disk. "I need to get rid of her Maiden as soon as possible, otherwise? I'll lose this duel and my soul." Chloe thought before she set the card. "I know you mentioned Minister of Painful Truth's effect last turn so go ahead and use it!"
"I will." Sarah responded stoically before she searched for the last Spell Card and added it to her hand. "I move to my second Main Phase and I activate Sad Story – Atrocious Day! I hope your ready for your last trip down memory lane Chloe."
"I'm not, but it's not like I'm getting a choice." Chloe admitted before the scenery changed one last time, this time around it was a scene familiar with almost everyone in the room. "Seriously?!" Chloe asked with an exaggerated sigh as the duel between the Duel Academy Students who participated in Battle City, Axel Loather and Chloe's father Robert played out in front of them.
"Yes, seriously." Sarah responded as the closing moments of the duel played out in front of them, the scene ended after Scott tried to console her after Chloe had learnt the truth the hard way and Sarah frowned. "He lied to you for years, yet you still worship the ground he walks on, how gullible and naïve can you be?!"
"My dad is far from perfect, he'd be the first to admit that." Chloe responded as she clenched a fist. "But I'll still take a stepdad lying to protect his daughter from the harsh truth over a biological dad who abused me and my mom, not to mention eventually killing my mom and getting away with it, now finish your move already!" Chloe responded as she grit her teeth and Sarah frowned.
"Suit yourself, with Atrocious Day in play any trap cards that you draw during your draw phase get shuffled back into your deck instead." Sarah responded before setting a card. "I set one card facedown and end my turn." Sarah added and Chloe drew her card without another word and quickly shuffled it back into her deck.
"Wow, that was tough to watch." Amanda winced as the implications set in, she glanced over at Phillip who noticed the look she was giving him. "You knew about this?"
"Me and Fran were among the duelists helping out that day." Phil responded with a sigh as he stepped forward. "It was even harder to watch in person, take it from me, hell we're lucky that the Spell Card didn't show the entirety of that duel but all I'm going to say is that her biological dad was a sadistic piece of shit and that's me being kind."
"It's a miracle that she's not in a mental institution after everything she endured as a kid." Theresa continued with a frown as she leaned back. "She was lucky to have adoptive parents like the Richardsons."
"Pity they couldn't show the same love to their actual daughter." Sarah scoffed in response and Theresa turned her attention back to her. "But no, her dad left me to die, when I claimed his soul the other day it was a long time coming and Chloe here will get to join her father soon enough."
"Not if I have anything to say about it! I flip summon my second Apprentice Magician!" Chloe announced as the young magician appeared on the field again. "This activates her effect, allowing me to add another counter to Arcane Barrier! Next, I activate Pitch Black Power Stone! Through its own effect, this Trap Card gains three counters and once per turn I can move one Spell Counter to another card I control, I use this effect to move a Spell Counter to Arcane Barrier." Chloe announced as Arcane Barrier glowed again. "Finally, I sacrifice Arcane Barrier and Apprentice Magician to draw three cards."
"Trying to get around my Spell Cards huh?" Sarah asked with an unimpressed look on her face. "It won't help you."
"Never know until you try." Chloe responded as she drew her three cards and moved her two cards to the graveyard. "Oh hey! It's the cards that the other girls in Osiris Red got me after I returned from Battle City." Chloe thought as she recognized the cards. "I can't summon Endymion, but I can use the Field Spell." Chloe thought before playing the card. "I've waited a long time to use this card again, I activate Magical Citadel of Endymion!"
"Ah yes, one of the cards Otto destroyed during the Battle City Semi-Finals." Sarah nodded as the scenery within the seal changed, however true to the nature of the seal the Citadel was no longer as majestic looking as it once was having fallen into disrepair. "For what it's worth, Otto went against Victor's orders with that scheme of his, we hadn't quite mastered the art of capturing souls without the Orichalcos in play at that point and he was ordered to capture your soul."
"Knowing Otto, that does not surprise me." Chloe admitted before motioning to her Field Spell. "This Spell Card relies on Spell Counters, much like the remaining ones on my Pitch Black Power Stone." Chloe added before playing a card. "So, I activate Magic Planter! I use this to destroy Pitch Black Power Stone and draw two cards but more importantly, when a card with Spell Counters on it is destroyed those Spell Counters get put on my Citadel instead and when a Spell Card resolves, it gains another Spell Counter."
"Meaning it'll gain a total of three Spell Counters." Sarah nodded as Pitch Black Power Stone shattered and Chloe drew two cards whilst three orbs appeared above the ruined city. "I know what your game is Chloe, do you really think I'll let you summon Endymion, the Master Magician?"
"I know you'll try everything you can to stop me but I'm not giving up that easily, I set one card facedown and I summon Silent Magician Level 4!" Chloe announced as she played the card and the younger version of her ace monster appeared on the field ready for battle (4/1000/1000). "And please, spare me the usual "I'll never let you get her grown up version out", honestly? I've heard it enough times that it's a cliché!"
"Fine, but I still won't let you get Silent Magician Level 8 out." Sarah responded as she folded her arms. "I suppose your going to attack Sorrowful Maiden?"
"I'd be a fool to leave her on the field, Silent Magician Level 4, attack Sorrowful Maiden!" Chloe commanded and the magician pointed her staff at the monster…...
"I don't think so! I activate my facedown card, Atrocious Tragedy!" Sarah responded as her facedown card flipped up but this time the artwork was different, and it struck a nerve with Chloe. "This card…"
"You bastards used the scene of my mom's death for one of your broken cards?!" Chloe demanded as her eyes narrowed. "Are there no depths to which you won't sink?!"
"Well, to be fair, we did fight a Serial Killer/Rapist on the previous floor." Tyler pointed out before face-palming. "Did I really just say that out loud?!"
"For the record, we didn't know Jack was a serial killer until long after he was recruited so don't hang that on us!" Sarah snapped back at Tyler before turning her attention back to Chloe. "As I was saying, Atrocious Tragedy requires the presence of Atrocious Day on the field and when the opponent tries to attack, every card on their side of the field is destroyed, and they lose a thousand life-points for each one." Sarah responded before grinning. "And look at that, you've used up your normal summon! I guess that's game Chloe! Don't feel too bad, I defeated your dad in the same way!"
"I won't go down as easily as he did, I activate my facedown card Trap Jammer!" Chloe announced as her long forgotten facedown card flipped up and Sarah's eyes widened as Atrocious Tragedy shattered, once the coast was clear Silent Magician Level 4 fired a beam of light at Sorrowful Maiden destroying her. "And with that, you've lost the ability to inflict piercing damage!"
"Perhaps, but if Sorrowful Maiden is destroyed whilst I have Sorrowful Memories on my side of the field, I can draw one card." Sarah responded before drawing her card. "Which off course means that Silent Magician Level 4 gains her first counter." Sarah added as Silent Magician Level 4's attack power went up to 1500. "Still not enough to deal with Minister of Painful Truth."
"He'll be dealt with in due time! It's your move." Chloe responded and Sarah nodded before drawing her card. "You know what Sarah?"
"What?" Sarah asked as she shuffled the card back into her deck and Silent Magician Level 4's attack power increased to 2000.
"Even after all the cheating and trying to mess with me, this is still one of the best duels I've had in a while." Chloe admitted only to sweat-drop as the other duelists present (aside from Karen, Felix and Sophia) cleared their throats. "No offense intended guys." Chloe assured them with a nervous laugh before turning her attention to Sarah. "If you weren't affiliated with the Orichalcos, who knows? Maybe we could've been friends." Chloe added and this seemed to strike a chord with Sarah.
"Friends?!" Sarah asked as her eyes narrowed. "You ever heard the phrase "with friends like these, who needs enemies"? I sent your father's soul to the Orichalcos, I personally escorted Orichalcos Duelists to Duel Academy Island including the duelists who claimed the souls of your fellow students and put your life in danger many times over, I don't see how we could be friends." Sarah added as her eyes narrowed. "And have you seen my face."
"Yes, I've been staring at it for the past….however long this duel has taken." Chloe admitted before shaking her head. "But that's still damage that can be repaired with plastic surgery, the mental damage? That will probably take a lot longer to heal but I know from personal experience that time heals all wounds, you don't have to join the other Orichalcos Duelists in jail when this is all set and done Sarah." Chloe added and Sarah took a step back.
"I…." Sarah trailed off before shaking her head. "Maybe you've got a point, it's not like we're that different, we were both failed by our biological fathers, just in different ways, and it's my move." Sarah added before looking at her hand. "Damn it, I haven't drawn Dragon Queen of Tragic Endings yet! And with the effects of my Spell Cards in play if I do draw that card during my draw phase it'll go straight to my deck, still, doesn't mean I can't destroy her magician!" Sarah thought before pointing to Silent Magician Level 4. "Minister of Painful Truth, attack her magician…." Sarah never finished her command as an ear-piercing screech echoed through the room and she looked up. "Command Silencer?!"
"Exactly!" Chloe responded as she drew her card before grinning. "Oh yeah, let's not forget about my Citadel's effect!" Chloe added as the ruined citadel gained another Spell Counter.
"You won't be able to stall for much longer, I end my turn." Sarah announced and Chloe nodded before drawing her card.
"I know from my duel against my dad that the Dragon Queen of Tragic Endings is the best card of the set, if I want to win, I'd better end this quickly." Chloe thought before looking at her drawn card and sighing. "Level Up, this would've brought out Silent Magician Level 8, pity I can't hold onto it." Chloe thought before shuffling the card back into her deck. "Luckily for me I drew another Spell Card when I used Command Silencer." Chloe thought before playing the card. "I activate Spellbook inside the Pot!"
"How generous." Sarah commented dryly as both women drew three cards and Silent Magician's attack points went up to 3000. "She'll be able to bring out her best monster on her next turn, better hope that I can find a way to destroy it before then." Sarah thought before looking at her drawn cards. "And I may have just what I need."
"Off course, this means that my Citadel gains another counter." Chloe added as another Spell Counter appeared above her. "I have enough counters to summon Endymion, problem is, Spellbook inside the Pot helped her as much as it helped me so who knows what she has waiting in her hand?" Chloe thought before her eyes locked onto a card. "But this might be my best chance." Chloe decided as the six counters disappeared. "I remove the six counters from my citadel to special summon Endymion, the Master Magician from my hand!"
"Off course she has that waiting in the wings." Sarah thought with a frown as the magician in black and silver armor with the purple cape appeared on the field (7/2700/1700). "And if she uses his second effect, then my plan goes out the window."
"By special summoning him this way I can take one Spell Card from my graveyard and add it to my hand." Chloe added before she retrieved a card from her graveyard and added it to her hand. "I think it's about time that I inflicted some life-point damage! Silent Magician Level 4, attack Minister of Painful Truth!" Chloe commanded and the young magician pointed her staff at the minister before firing a beam of light at him destroying the warrior and bringing Sarah's life-points down to 7400. "It's a start but I still have a long way to go before our life-point totals are even close." Chloe added before pointing to Sarah. "So, I may as well start now! Endymion, attack Sarah's life-points directly!" Chloe commanded and the magician pointed his staff at Sarah…...
"Guess again! From my hand, I summon Atrocious Orator!" Sarah announced as she played the card and a man in a Roman Toga appeared on the field (1/0/0) and he started babbling on for what seemed like an eternity.
"So, a replay occurs, I'm happy with that." Chloe responded before pointing to Atrocious Orator. "Endymion, attack the guy who manages to make one of Martin's lectures as exciting as one of the classic TLC Matches!"
"Which one?" Sarah asked simply and Chloe blinked. "You're not the only wrestling fan in this room Chloe."
"Err, TLC 3!" Chloe quickly decided and Sarah nodded in approval.
"Good choice, I personally would've gone with the TLC Match they had on Smackdown! But it's not like it matters." Sarah responded before motioning to Chloe's monsters and Chloe sweat-dropped as she realized that her two monsters had fallen asleep. "When Atrocious Orator is Special Summoned with Atrocious Day in play, he automatically ends the battle phase."
"That did not go as planned." Chloe thought as her two monsters woke up. "I set two cards facedown and end my turn." Chloe announced and Sarah drew her card.
"Perfect! I have everything I need to win this duel!" Sarah thought before playing a card. "As I have three Continuous Spell Cards on my side of the field, I can Special Summon Dragon Queen of Tragic Endings to the field!" Sarah explained as she played the card and Chloe frowned as the large dragon appeared on the field (6/1900/2600) and as the dragon's attack power increased to 2400 thanks to the seal Chloe's eyes narrowed.
"I was wondering when that was going to show up." Chloe admitted as she folded her arms. "Pity it can't destroy either of my monsters."
"True, but that's not what I summoned her." Sarah responded and Chloe gave her a confused look. "Here's another fact about Atrocious Orator for you Chloe, as long as Atrocious Day is on the field, he's a Tuner Monster."
"A Synchro Summon?!" Chloe asked as her eyes widened and Sarah grinned before motioning to her two monsters.
"Exactly! And this Synchro Summon requires that I use Dragon Queen of Tragic Endings, so I tune Atrocious Orator and Dragon Queen of Tragic Endings together!" Sarah announced as the two monsters leapt into the air for the Synchro Summon. "I Synchro Summon The Tragic King!" Sarah announced as she played the card and once the bright flash faded Chloe's eyes went as wide as dinner plates, the monster was a tall human male wearing plate armor and a crown.
However, it was the face of the monster that had caused Chloe to panic (7/3000/2500). "And now you've gone and made a card in my biological dad's likeness, just when I thought I couldn't hate the Orichalcos more than I already did!" Chloe commented as she regained her composure whilst The Tragic King's attack power increased to 3500 thanks to the seal.
"I'm afraid that your daddy issues are the least of your worries right now." Sarah responded and Chloe glared at her for the comment. "When The Tragic King is Synchro Summoned and I have all three Sad Story cards on my side of the field they all get destroyed, alongside every monster on your side of the field." Sarah explained and Chloe's eyes widened as the warrior charged into battle before slashing Endymion across the chest, however when it got to Silent Magician Level 4 it took pride in slowly killing the monster before slashing her throat with his sword.
"You will pay for that!" Chloe growled as she sent her cards to the graveyard. "And what it's worth, since my Silent Magician was destroyed with all five of her Spell Counters on her they all go to my Citadel!" Chloe added as five new orbs appeared above her.
"Why? So, you can summon Endymion again? He won't save you, and you know it! Tragic King, attack her life-points directly!" Sarah commanded and the king charged into battle before slashing Chloe across her scared arm bringing her life-points down to 1100. "Make your last pathetic move Chloe, we both know how this ends."
"Maybe we do, maybe we don't." Chloe responded as she clutched her arm in pain before her trap cards flipped up. "But here's what I do know! Since I just took battle damage, Damage Gate will allow me to Special Summon a monster from my graveyard with attack equal too or less than the damage I just took, all in exchange for discarding a card, whilst Shock Draw will allow me to draw a card for each point of damage I just suffered."
"So, three cards in total." Sarah nodded as Chloe drew three cards. "As for Damage Gate, let me guess." Sarah asked as Chloe sent a card to her graveyard. "Endymion again? We both know you won't get to reuse his effect if you summon him that way."
"Hence why I'm not summoning him." Chloe responded as Silent Magician Level Four returned to the field. "And much like how my testimony should've put my dad away for life when I was seven, Silent Magician Level 4 will help bring your king down!"
"I'd like to see you try, I set one card facedown and end my turn." Sarah announced as she set her facedown card and Chloe drew her card. "She won't get a chance, my deck may be filled with new cards but when all else fails my Mirror Force will stop any attempt at a comeback dead in its tracks, after that? Her life-points and her soul will be mine for the taking."
"It's over Sarah." Chloe announced as she looked at her hand and Sarah looked up. "I've won."
"One level four monster with 1000 attack points against my level seven monster with 3500 attack points?" Sarah scoffed as she folded her arms. "Like I said, I'd like to see you try."
"I'll show you! First I activate Level Up!" Chloe announced as she played the card and Silent Magician Level 4 started glowing and growing until she reached her adult stage (8/3500/1000). "By the way, thanks for getting rid of the Sad Story cards, wouldn't have been able to play that card with them still on the field." Chloe added before her Citadel gained a sixth counter. "Now I activate the effect of Endymion from my graveyard, special summoning him back to the field!" Chloe added as Endymion returned to the field. "Sarah, I don't know if you were telling the truth about my stepdad or not, but this is from him! I activate the Eye of Timaeus!"
"What?!" Sarah asked as her eyes widened whilst the card appeared on the field. "Let me guess, Silent Dragon Rider again? You're so predictable Chloe."
"Not as predictable as you think! I'm fusing the Eye of Timaeus with Endymion!" Chloe responded as the two cards fused together, as the new monster ejected itself from Chloe's extra deck she grinned before playing it. "I summon Endymion, Dragon Master Sorcerer!" Chloe announced as she played the card and from the fusion portal emerged Endymion again only this time his armor was gold in color and was riding a massive dragon.
But most importantly, the new monster was glaring daggers at the Tragic King (10/4000/3500). "That monster is powerful, but I still have a significant lead over you Chloe!" Sarah responded as she took a step back in fear. "I'll still survive this round!"
"That's where your wrong Sarah, at the cost of half of my life-points." Chloe responded as her life-points dropped to 550. "I activate Endymion's effect, destroying all cards on your side of the field and inflicting five hundred points of damage for each card." Chloe explained and Sarah's eyes widened as the sorcerer cast a spell at the two cards destroying them both. "Only downside is, he can't attack the same turn I use this effect, but Silent Magician can."
"That's still only 3500 points of damage." Sarah pointed out as her life-points down to 6400. "I'll still survive another round."
"That's where your wrong." Chloe responded as she played a card. "I activate Megamorph and I equip it to Silent Magician Level 8! As my life-points are a lot lower than yours, this will double my magician's attack points all the way up to 7000!" Chloe explained as she played the card and her magician doubled in size and power to 7000 whilst Sarah lowered her head. "Anything you want to say?"
"Not me, but I found something whilst I was trashing your dad's trophy room." Sarah responded as she motioned to the screens. "As for the missing trophies, they are all in that room, I no longer have any need of them so feel free to take them back to Domino City with you but before you do, I think you'd better listen to this." Sarah added before the screens turned on and Chloe saw her dad's face.
"Chloe, if your seeing this, then the truth has been revealed." Scott stated as he closed his eyes. "I know I lied to you about your father's imprisonment for years and after the incident at Battle City, I knew I had to prepare for the worst, you have an older sister, at least five years older than you, from my first wife, I thought that they had both been dead for years but it has come to my attention that your sister is still out there and worse, she may be working for the Orichalcos, you will find her birth certificate in my office."
"She was telling the truth." Chloe realized as her eyes widened. "Why didn't you show me this to begin with?"
"It was a back-up plan in case I failed to convince you with the Sad Story cards." Sarah explained with a sigh as she looked up. "There's more to come."
"I know how deeply it hurt you to find out about the nature of my lies during Battle City but please understand, I only lied to protect you." Scott continued before pausing. "Because if you knew this then you would go after her before you were ready, she is a powerful duelist and I…." Scott trailed off before wiping a tear. "I've already lost one daughter, you were my second chance at raising a daughter and I didn't want to lose that, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me."
"Dad…..." Chloe's thoughts trailed off before she wiped away a tear and turned her attention back to Sarah. "Do you have a copy of that tape?"
"Same room as the trophies." Sarah nodded and Chloe glanced over at her friends, Brandon and Marcus quickly got the message and they rushed off towards the room. "Congratulations Chloe, you are the first duelist who's ever defeated me in a duel and maybe you were right, maybe we can be friends, we are sisters after all." Sarah added before taking a deep breath. "Half sisters but sisters none the less, but if you thought I was a challenging opponent…..." Sarah trailed off before motioning to the stairs. "Victor awaits you on the next floor, and he is the most powerful duelist in our organization."
"We'll be ready for him." Chloe nodded before pointing to Sarah. "Silent Magician Level 8, finish her off!" Chloe commanded and the magician pointed her staff at Sarah before firing a beam of light at Sarah striking her in the chest and sending her life-points down to zero, as Sarah collapsed to her knees and the seal closed in around her Chloe approached the seal wall. "It's never too late, you know? As I said, you could avoid jail time and with your skills? The world is your oyster."
"I'm an Orichalcos Duelist, I'm afraid that seafood has gone off." Sarah responded as she shook her head before looking up at her sister. "But I am a woman of my word." Sarah added before clutching the Orichalcos stone around her neck for a few minutes, her eyes glowed a bright green color for the duration before she let go. "It's been done, the souls that you requested be returned to their owners have been returned." Sarah added before lowering her head. "But to destroy the Orichalcos permanently, you know what you need to do, good luck against Victor, you'll need it." Sarah added before her soul was claimed by the Orichalcos.
"So, Chloe." Amanda winced as she approached the younger woman and she glanced up. "You want to talk about what happened back there?"
"As I said, it's a long and painful story." Chloe responded as she turned to the Canadian woman with a frown on her face. "It's also in my past, as you saw in that last vision my dad was an Orichalcos Duelist but once the truth of what he did to me as a kid got out the leader of the Battle City operation ordered his soul destroyed." Chloe added before letting out a deep breath. "That's why I refused to believe what she was saying about my stepdad, frankly Scott has been a much better dad than my biological dad ever was."
"Well, if you need to talk, we've got another week in LA so it's not like we're short on time." Amanda assured her and the other pro-leaguers nodded in agreement before Marcus and Brandon emerged from the room. "Was she telling the truth."
"Yeah, all the missing trophies and that tape are in that room." Brandon nodded in response before sighing. "No offense Chloe but I think our top priority should be taking out the Orichalcos and carrying those trophies around will just slow us down."
"I understand." Chloe nodded before turning to the stairwell. "And there's only one person left to defeat before we can do that, I'm ready when you guys are." Chloe added and the others nodded before going up the stairs with her.