Yu-Gi-Oh Academy
Chapter 15
The Shadows Rise
Meanwhile, at the Obelisk Blue dorm's dining area, Heather and Rika were sitting there, eating and enjoying each other's company while new cards were in front of them. Rika was going through her Deck and seeing if she could impliment any new cards. Heather smiled as the sky-blue haired female was concentrating so hard. "Geez, Rika, you keep staring at those cards like that, you'll burn a hole through them." The pretty Obelisk Blue commented, drinking her cup.
"S-sorry, I'm just...thinking what would make my Deck even stronger. I mean, there's so much with these new sets, and Danielle gave us so much. I just can't afford to lose, really." Rika told her, still looking at the cards and ignoring the plate of food next to her. Heather looked amused as she put her cup down. "You're so dedicated, what is your deal? How'd someone like you end up with little Danny?" She asked, leaning on the table.
"Well, it's a long story. What about you?" The Ra Yellow female replied, looking to the green-haired female.
"I'm just an ordinary gal. I lived up in Satellites, so life was normal for me. To make my life story short, things were just...so boring. Sure, dating was easy for me, but really, there needed to be something, new I guess. Once I heard of Danielle and her Surreal Duels, I just couldn't help myself. Beating people up in Surreal Duels with my adorable Fluffals is fun and entertaining." Heather explained.
"Oh, I thought, something else." Rika said outloud as Heather smiled. "Nah, I'm pretty boring. What about you, now? I don't care if it's a long story." She asked. Rika sighed as she pushed back her blue hair, getting ready to tell her story.
"Well, it's sorta a long story, but I'm, well, Danielle's adopted sister." Rika told her friend as her eyes widened. She let her continue her story. "I was in an adoption center for most of my life, really. As a child, I just started playing the game, but despite it, I wasn't that good. The people I played cards with usually just made fun of me for being weak, and no one wanted to help me. Back then, the only friends I had were just my cards." Rika recalled as she looked at the cards she had now.
Back at the Mansion, both Duel Disks activated as Nick and Cryo drew their starting hands as Danielle and Lily watched, the lead Obelisk Blue watching with a smile on her face. "I'll start first, and let's start this game with Evo-Diversity! It adds an Evoltile or Evolsaur monster from my Deck to my hand. With this, I add Evolsaur Elias to my hand from the Deck. Now, I summon Evoltile Odonto to my side!" Cryo called out an orange lizard that crawled in front of him, bobbing its head. (Evoltile Odonto: Level 2 FIRE Reptile. 500/1200.) A circle of fire appeared outside the dorm as they looked to see Elias outside, in Defense Mode. (Level 6, 100/2400) "Thanks to my reptile, he's able to Special Summon my Elias from my hand, and I'm sure you're familiar with his effect." Cryo called out Darwino as it screeched by its side, Cryo going outside to join them. They roared at the opponent they were facing as Nick stood inside the Mansion with a smile on his face.
"It's my turn then, draw. I still see you're just using your Evolzar Deck. They're no match for this. I play this, Tenacity of the Monarchs!" Nick revealed his card as Cryo's eyes widened, the Spell card flipping up. "By revealing a monster with 2400 or 2800 ATK and 1000 DEF, I can add a Monarch Spell/Trap from my Deck to my hand. I reveal Raiza the Mega Monarch to add Pantheism of the Monarchs, in which case, I'll activate as well. By sending a Monarch Spell/Trap from my hand to the Graveyard, I can draw two cards. I send another copy of it from my hand to the Graveyard. The next part of its effect is still active. By banishing one of them, I can select three Monarch Spell/Traps from my Deck. You pick one at complete random, but..." Nick was saying as three cards appeared in front of Cryo, all of them being the same thing. It was a card known as The Monarchs Stormforth. "If it's rattling you, Cryo, it pains me to say it, but Nick is almost as strong as I am in duels. He only duels if he absolutely has to." Danielle said with a small laugh, looking at the both of them.
"I'm flattered, Danielle, you think that way of me, but I'm still not even close to being done. First off, let's play Trade-In. By discarding a Level 8 monster, I draw another two cards. Discarding Raiza, and..." Nick told his opponent as he smiled at what he drew. "Perfect. By banishing Raiza from my Graveyard, I can Special Summon Lucius the Shadow Vassal in Defense Mode!" He declared as a small dark soldier appeared, crossing its arms. (Lucius the Shadow Vassal: Level 1 DARK Fiend. 800/1000.) "I throw The Monarchs Stormforth along with it as now, it's time to bring my signature card. See, when I activate Stormforth, I can tribute one of your monsters on your side of the field. I tribute my Lucius and your precious Darwino to Tribute Summon my ace monster!" The Obelisk Blue declared as Cryo's dinosaur was wrapped in darkness and pulled into the pit of darkness behind Nick's back. His small monster flew willingly into it as a vortex shot towards the sky. "Almighty king, ruler of darkness, banish the light with your infinite strength! Tribute Summon! Caius the Mega Monarch!" Nick chanted as a giant monster crawled out of the vortex, emerging with blood red eyes as shadows wrapped around the battlefield, filling the air with a sudden chill. (Caius the Mega Monarch: Level 8 DARK Fiend. 2800/1000.) The shadows that floated around his giant monster now took over Cryo's last two monsters as they were dragged down into an empty void. "Caius, like all my monsters activates its effect. When this card is Tribute Summoned, I can target one card on the field, banish it and inflict 1000 Damage, but if I Tribute a DARK monster like my Lucius, I can target two cards instead. I banish your last line of defense!" Nick explained as the shadows now swarmed Cryo, it feeling extremely cold for him as he didn't seem to flinch at first, but he was brought down to one of his knees. (Cryo: 7000 LP) His field was wide open as his Mega Caius proved so, firing off a dark blast at the duelist. This was enough to knock him onto his back. Cryo: 4200 LP."With that, I end my turn. Let's see you pull yourself out of this one." Nick taunted as Cryo rose back up.
"It's my turn!" Cryo called out as he drew his card, looked at it and placed it face-down. He didn't seem to react to what he drew as Nick started off his turn with a smile. Well, you're finished. I begin, and start with Return of the Monarchs. You'll see what this does as I activate Mithra the Thunder Vassal's effect from my hand. See, I can simply Special Summon it to my field, but at the cost of giving you a token." Nick declared as a female in a yellow robe appeared, cracking electricity from its hands as a copy of itself was summoned to Cryo's field. Mithra the Thunder Vassal: Level 2 LIGHT Thunder monster. 800/1000. Vassal Token: Level 1 LIGHT Thunder monster, 800/1000.) Cryo winced slightly as it vanished within a thunderclap as a new monarch took its place. "I tribute Mithra to Tribute Summon Zaborg the Thunder Monarch!" The Obelisk Blue declared as a larger, more powerful monster apeared on the field, emitting the same electricity as the previous monster. Zaborg the Thunder Monarch: Level 5 LIGHT Thunder monster. 2400/1000. Nick held up three fingers to Cryo as he had a cocky grin on his face. "Now, three effects go off at once here. First, Return of the Monarchs activates when I Tribute Summon, I can add another monster with 2400 ATK or 2800 ATK from my Deck to my hand. The monster I pick: Zaborg the Mega Monarch. Next, the Zaborg on my field activates his effect to where he can instantly destroy a monster on the entire field." He explained as electricity destroyed Cryo's face-down, the other Obelisk Blue looking defeated. "Finally, Mithra activates her effect. When she's Tributed for a Tribute Summon, I can Tribute Summon one more monster, and guess who I'm bringing out." Nick asked as Zaborg was beginning to power up in electricity. It tributed as it fired back up into the dark clouds, the clouds now charged as Nick held up his hand. "Oh, almighty king of thunder, strike down the opposition with your judgement! Tribute Summon!" He chanted as a gigantic lightning bolt struck down on the field, a massive monster in white armor and a yellow cape appeared, equaling in size to Caius. "Zaborg, the Mega Monarch!" Nick called out. (Zaborg the Mega Monarch: Level 8 LIGHT Thunder monster. 2800/1000.) It raised its hand and struck at the token with its lightning as now Cryo was wide open once again, he could only brace for impact as both his monarchs fired their blasts. Cryo was sent back flying as he landed on his back.
Cryo: 0 LP
Nick: 8000 LP.
Nick is the victor.
The duel ended as their duel disks retracted, a slow clapping was heard as it was coming from Danielle. She looked right at the sky-blue haired Obelisk Blue as Nick nodded. "All right then, it's all done." She said as the female walked to him. She looked down on him for a second before offering her hand. "Get up, it's time to allow you into my group. That was part of our deal." She reminded him. Cryo looked at her hand for a moment before taking her hand to get up. "There's nothing wrong with your Deck, you were just out of your league, but now, you're with me. When you're with this group, you're free to be as strong as you can be." Danielle told him.
"B-But what you're doing is wrong, it's hurting people, sending them to the infirmary." Cryo reminded her.
"My dear, pain is only temporary. A loss is forever. May I remind you of the Shadow Duelists of old? Their duels were far worse, where the loser would lose their soul, leaving their bodies to rot. Surreal Dueling is nothing more than a very merciful version of Shadow Duels, only the pain is just an added reminder that you lost. Just like your loss against Tigara last year." She mentioned, which got an angry scowl from him. She noticed this and smiled. "It hurts, doesn't it? Almost forgotten, the former king of the Academy, replaced by another who's known around the entire Academy as the Queen, and you just want to earn your rightful place back on top." She was telling him as they were going back into the dining room.
"And being with you would prove this how?" The Obelisk Blue asked, crossing his arms.
"Easy, the Quasar Cup." Nick told him.
Meanwhile, at the Library, Mikee was waiting for Tigara as she came from the other shelves, with her own books for her studies, but this wasn't what she was meeting him for. "Sorry, had to get some books for me. It's time I tell you what I found out about Danielle." She told her close friend.