Yu-Gi-Oh! Academy

Chapter 9

Severed Strings

Outside the forest in the setting afternoon sky, a Duel was going on as Derrick was sent back hard, slamming against one of the tree trunks. His D-Gazer was slightly cracked as his cards were thrown around the place. His Obelisk Blue Coat was burned and almost tattered as Danielle walked forward. Her Duel Disk was activated as she picked up one of the dropped cards. The card read as Derrick's signature card, Apoqliphort Towers. A smile came across her face as Rika and Nick came from the shadows. Nick seemed to be having a good time while the only Ra Yellow of the group looked concerned. "You knew the conditions for remaining with my team, Derrick. You never lose and you're free to do what you want. But your carelessness just shows how weak you really are. You are no longer worthy of using Towers." Danielle told the weakened Duelist. She put it in her pocket and walked off. Nick snickered to himself a little as he followed the Obelisk Blue. The only one remaining behind was the Ra Yellow as she seemed to be hesitant, leaving a former member behind. He noticed this through his exhaustion, but all he could think about was his anger to Danielle. "...You don't stand a chance, you know this." Rika finally spoke, getting Derrick's attention. He glared at her, not noting that she looked a bit sad. "You screwed up, Derrick. If...if I were you, I wouldn't bother fighting her." She said and with a push of her sky-blue hair, she started walking away.

"I'll get you back for this! You'll see, I'll defeat each and every one of you!" Derrick shouted, frightening the Ra Yellow from the volume of his voice as she hurried out of the woods.

Morning soon came after as classes resumed for everybody. In the Stadium classroom, students were listening to Alden's lesson on the Qliphort archtype. He was basically explaining on how they were among the first archtypes to abuse the Pendulum Summon mechanic, Special Summoning their gigantic machines and then tributing for the signature boss monster, Apoqliphort Towers, a behemoth of a Level 10 monster. Sure, it has a mediocre 3000 ATK for a Level 10, but its effect says otherwise. It isn't affected by any Spells, Traps, or monster effects that are lower than it. It's final effect is that it forces you to send a monster from your hand or side of the field to the Graveyard. It's truly a boss monster and hard to get rid of, hence why the Qliphorts are so dangerous. To slow them down, you take out their searcher card, Qliphort Scout, one of the many Pendulum monsters in the Deck. If you can take that out, you can slow them down considerably, enough to take out most of their monsters. If you're coming against Towers however, you must summon up a huge monster or something with more than 3000 ATK if you aim to take on that thing. Tomorrow, Yumi can tell you the history after she's done with the Hidden Arsenal War." The Obelisk Blue teacher explained to the class as he looked up at the clock in the room. It turned over just as soon as he was finished, school bells ringing loudly. He nodded with a smile as he said farewell to his students and left along with the other students. The center stadium started to change to a flat Dueling Field as other students were getting ready for dueling. Mikee was among one of the students leaving as he was going out for the Club Fair. It was still going on as he has yet to find his certain club. Part of him wanted to join Neo's Club of old-school cards, but he firmly didn't believe that his Synchrons were old fashioned. As much as he wanted to hang with his friends, Mikee thought that he would need to travel his own path to make his Synchrons the best he could make them.

"Hey! Mikee!" He heard Neo call from the booth as it was just him and Marth there today.

"Hey Neo, Marth. What's up?" Mikee asked as he went over to their booth. They entered a small conversation about how not too many Duelists were running older Decks. Everyone seemed to be using the brand new Decks, or whatever was winning on the tournaments around the world. "Because of it, we're only a small group for now. It's me, Marth, Luna, and that Roy guy, but he said he was interested, never got back to me on that." Neo explained. Marth counted on his fingers for a second as he continued Neo's sentence. "We need at least four people to make it a decent club. You sure you don't want to join?" Marth asked this time.

"I'm just checking out the other clubs, but I will come back to this one if the other clubs aren't interesting." Mikee said as he put on his Duel Gazer and looked at the Duels happening outside. There wasn't as many as he expected, as the thought came across his mind. "Speaking of which, have you seen Tigara?" Mikee asked.

"Not since she went to go look for information on Danielle. That girl, she's dangerous business." Marth brought up. He couldn't help but agree with the Slifer Red as he started to hear a commotion behind him.

"-And I told you, I don't know where she is!" A female voice yelled.

"Don't give me that crap, I ain't stupid! You're practically her minion! Where is she hiding today!" A male voice retorted as the small group looked to see Rika and Derrick causing the commotion. The sky-blue haired Ra Yellow seemed irritated as she was walking away from the Obelisk Blue. "Hey, don't walk away from me, I'm busy demanding where Danielle is!" Derrick shouted.

"And I thought I told you to GET LOST!" Rika shouted back as she shrugged off the Obelisk Blue, still walking with more haste. Derrick hurried as well, almost outrunning the Ra Yellow until Mikee stepped into the fray. "What the heck is going on here?" Mikee demanded. Derrick turned to glare at the newcomer of their argument. Rika seemed a bit relieved as she stood by his side. "Mind your own business, you damn weakling! This is between me and Rika!" He rudely told Mikee. The Ra Yellow stood his ground as Rika noticed he had his hand over his Duel Disk, as if he was preparing for a Duel. He looked over to the female classmate as she looked a little surprised. The former Surreal Duelist noticed his stance and started to laugh. "Oh please, I'm LEAGUES above you. Your pathetic low level monsters don't stand a chance against my almighty Qliphorts, and she knows it." The Obelisk Blue told him, taking a glare at Rika. She didn't back down, but gritted her teeth.

"You don't have to duel him if you think you have the skill to beat me." Neo stated as he joined them, backing up his friend. Mikee sighed in relief as the other Duelists around them just begun to notice the commotion as Derrick looked around. He noticed the attention his fight was getting as he started to back off. "Tch, fine, I'll be back, don't you worry about that! Danielle will regret taking me off the club!" He swore and left the Club Area. Duelists started to snicker as Neo didn't look happy about the commotion.

"Danielle kicked him from the Surreal Duelists club? That's a shocker." Marth mentioned as Rika told the group about why the guy was harrassing her like that. She nodded and looked around as if she was keeping an eye out for someone. To Mikee, he thought she was keeping an eye out for Derrick, as if she was worried he would try something later. "Yeah, apparently he lost to that Cryo guy the other day during the Club Fair, and Danielle heard about it. She...does not take losing lightly." Rika stated, finally relaxing as she sat down on one of the stools placed in front of Neo's club booth. "The rest can be pieced together: The jerk just wants revenge against her and he thought I knew where she was."

"Do you know where she is?" Mikee asked. The blue-haired female shook her head.

"Just because we're friends and in the same club does not mean I know where she is constantly. There are times where she disappears, or just in her room at the Dorm. Who knows." She replied, sighing. Things were quiet between the four of them as the crowds were starting to calm down.

It was already starting to get late as students were now beginning to head back to their dorms. "You sure you two will be okay on your own like this? I mean, Derrick might pop up again." Neo asked as he was cleaning up his booth. Mikee nodded as he was preparing his Duel Disk. "Yeah, we're both in the Ra Yellow Dorm after all. We'll be fine." Mikee reassured as Rika was waiting for him. The Obelisk Blue was a bit skeptical of this as the other Ra Yellow was out of earshot. "Are you sure about this? She's with Danielle's group after all." He whispered.

"Neo, I'm sure of it. I can handle myself against their group." Mikee told him as he waved over to Rika, signaling that he was ready to go. She nodded and started moving forward, almost outrunning him. He had to keep up the pace, the orange sky above their heads as evening was approaching fast. It wasn't hard to get to the Ra Yellow Dorms either as there was a forest path leading straight to the dorms. Mikee enjoyed the moments like this, but then he remembered that he was walking with Rika as he caught himself looking up at the sky. "It's a beautiful evening tonight. Clear skies and everything." Mikee said, attempting to have a conversation with her. Rika nodded silently as she looked up at the sky too for a second. He cleared his throat as the silence was starting to get to him a bit. "So...Rika, what are you trying to do after Academy?" Mikee asked her.

"Hm?" Rika asked, turning to look at him.

"W-Well, like for me, I'm studying to become a Turbo Duelist and get my license later this year. With the Simulators coming soon, I'll finally have some hands-on experience with handling Duel Runners." He mentioned.

"You don't have a Duel Runner yourself? I hear they're pretty hard to come by these days." She told him, Mikee relieved that there was something to talk about with her. Was she going to be a Turbo Duelist too? "Yeah, I know that, but after Academy, I do have a promising position at a Duel Runner shop, so maybe someday I can make or buy my own model." He explained.

"Interesting. Is it because you follow that Yusei guy?" Rika asked as Mikee looked to her, surprised that she remembered that. It was during Byron's class on the first day that he mentioned one of the reasons that he liked running Synchrons as his main was because of Yusei's heroics. "Well, some of it. He was a guy who started from the very bottom and then rose to the very top, and he didn't save the entire Satellite region for glory or fame, he saved it because he was protecting his friends and his hometown." Mikee explained with a certain light in his eyes. He opened his Duel Disk, stopping for a moment as he pulled out Stardust Dragon and Junk Warrior from his Extra Deck. "It's just like Stardust Dragon in a sense. And Junk Warrior is my favorite card as he pulls his strength from lower creatures, kind of like me in a sense." Rika paused for a moment as she noticed Mikee took a longer look at the cards before putting them back in his Duel Disk. "You pull strength from your friends or something?" She asked.

"Yeah. I owe a lot to Neo and Tig. They were there for me when I didn't have anybody." Mikee mentioned as he remembered the exact time last year with the guy who ran the Infernities. Those were tough times as he clenched his fist. "What about you?" Mikee asked, catching the female Ra Yellow off-guard, her eyes wide open.

"Hm? Oh, well..." Rika started thinking as Mikee continued a bit. "You seem like a nice person, I don't know why you're hanging around someone as cruel and evil as Danielle." He stated. The female tensed up a bit as she looked forward. "Danielle, isn't that bad. I guess just, misunderstood." She managed to say.

"Misunderstood? She pretty much destroyed Luna's cards in a Surreal Duel! She mocks the Slifer Reds constantly, what is there to understand-"

"You don't get her like I do, all right?!" Rika snapped back, looking angry at her fellow classmate. Mikee was taken aback as he was feeling a bit bad until Rika relaxed a little. She sighed and pushed back her blue hair. "I-I'm sorry..." Mikee apologized.

"...Let's just keep going, I don't want to talk about this." Rika told him. She sighed and continued on, walking a little faster. The Ra Yellow Dorm wasn't too far from them as Mikee was a little relieved, but yet he didn't want to leave Rika.

Something rustled within the bushes nearby, and Mikee's instinct immediately told him that there was something wrong. He caught up with Rika and pushed her aside, almost knocking her down. Before she could even shout at him, a pronged claw was fired from the bush as it grabbed onto Mikee's Duel Disk. It activated instantly as Derrick came out of the shadows. Rika was shocked as the Obelisk Blue's Duel Disk was activated as well. "Damn, you got in my way! This was meant for her." He complained, looking furious.

Surreal Duel Activated. Damage: Maximum Level.

Mikee looked at his D-Gazer as he noticed that this was going to be his first Surreal Duel now with one of Danielle's former friends. The claw retracted as both of them were staring each other down. "You were waiting to ambush Rika, I didn't think someone like you could stoop so low." He commented, trying to get the Obelisk Blue riled up. Mikee looked over to Rika, who seemed to be irritated. "Rika, get to the Dorm, I'll beat him-"

Duel Mode Changed. Two Versus One Initiated. Mikee's D-Gazer read as Rika activated her Duel Disk and threw on her D-Gazer. His eyes widened as Derrick cocked a grin. "I don't need you protecting me! I can take him on myself!" Rika snapped to Mikee.

"But he's after you, and this is a Surreal Duel, to it's maximum level!"

"So what?! I just said I can take him!"

"I don't care either way." Derrick chimed in, laughing a bit as he had a somewhat maniacal look to him. "I can squish two bugs in one go, now are you both done arguing or are we going to start the slaughter?" The Obelisk Blue laughed, making his stance.

Mikee and Rika looked at each other as they had to agree. Despite their differences, being allies in this Duel sounded safer than taking on an Obelisk Blue alone. The three Duelists looked at each other.

"DUEL!"

Surreal Activated. Damage Level: Maximum. Tag Team shares a field, but seperate Life Points, Solo Team has a boost of 16,000 Life Points. Turn Order begins as Derrick, Mikee, Derrick, Rika, and then repeat.

Derrick: 16,000 LP

Mikee: 8,000 LP

Rika: 8,000 LP

Surreal Duel Begin.

"I'll begin first!" Derrick declared as he looked to his starting hand. The look on his face displayed it all as Mikee instantly had a pit in his stomach the moment two veils of light shone onto the battlefield. "I place the Scale 9 Qliphort Scout and the Scale 1 Qliphort Monolith onto my Pendulum Scale!" Derrick declared as both gigantic ships appeared next to the Obelisk Blue, rising straight into the air. They started to activate as Qliphort Scout fired a beam to Derrick. "I activate Scout's Pendulum Effect! By paying 800 Life Points, I can add a Qli card from my Deck to my hand, and the monster I add is an old favorite of Rika's." Derrick declared as he took the damage, grunting slightly as both Ra Yellows watched him add the boss monster of the Deck, Apoqliphort Towers.

The feeling in his stomach dropped as a portal opened up above them. "Pendulum Summon!" He declared as three bursts of light came forth. Qliphort Shell, Qliphort Disk, and Qliphort Cephalopod all appeared in the sky as all three monsters dropped down to Level 4 and had 1800 ATK. It didn't matter to them as Derrick raised his hand. "I tribute all three of my monsters! Rain death upon the mortals who have defiled the land, reign supreme with your almighty power! Tribute Summon! Apoqliphort Towers!" Derrick boomed as all three ships disintergrated into the night sky. Both Rika and Mikee were taken aback as a new, gigantic machine lowered down, blinking as this thing was about the size of the Academy itself. Apoqliphort Towers is a Level 10 EARTH Machine monster with 3000 ATK and 2600 DEF.

"Towers?! I thought Danielle took it from you! You're not supposed to have that card!" Rika exclaimed, getting a surprised look from Mikee. That was when Derrick started to laugh. "God damn you're stupid as she is for ditching me! You think I'm that dumb to carry one copy of Towers? And who said anything about Towers being my only boss monster? Besides, there's nothing either of you can do to stop me now! Towers is now on the field, and neither of you will be able to stop him! This Duel is over!" Derrick declared proudly as Mikee and Rika took a step back. Could they defeat Towers, or was it already over, as Derrick declared?