Hyper Runners: Duel Legacy
All Character © Respective creators
Elemental Knights © TheBlackCrow2
Chapter Fourteen: Tag Battles
After spending a quiet night to rest, the tournament jumped back up again the next day. Sector Security was having a busy day as they monitored the eager audience and settled any disputes between them. Nonetheless, the Stardust Dome was the center of all the action. A sanctified stadium that could easy outrank the Kaiba Dome in terms of size with five different tracks circling the dueling platform in the middle. While the general public took their places for the upcoming match, The Signers were given special seating. In the top box overlooking the stadium, the group was sitting in a luxurious room with leather seats, air conditioning, and waiters.
"Man, this is so cool!" Leo yelled excitedly. "Check out the view!"
"This is the sixth time we've been here, Leo." Luna said irritably. "You don't have to act excited every time."
"I know, but the action is always the best here!" Leo shouted.
"Just sit down." Jack grumbled. "I swear, he was much more disciplined before hitting puberty."
"Hey, at least he doesn't hang around as much as he used to." Crow sniggered. He hissed slightly and held his ribs – he was still recovering from Ignite. "Anyway, what are your odds that the kids are gonna make it."
"Akira has a definite chance of advancing." Yusei contemplated. "Marcus has a lucky streak working for him and Namura can definitely win if he has more confidence in himself. But Ruki and Hikari remain unknown."
"So all we can do is hope." Akiza nodded.
Meanwhile, the collective duelists had gathered in the private lobby just outside the dueling arena. The room had lockers for each of the sixteen duelists, a few benches and tables, and a widescreen television to watch the matches. Trace and Nami were standing near the lockers, observing their competition, while Kai continued to glare at Marcus. Speaking of whom, the gang of four was looking over their decks in preparation for the matches while Rev separated himself from the groups. After a while, Hazama entered through the doors with a wide grin on his face.
"Well, I hope everyone had a good long rest." Hazama chortled.
"No thanks to Amy." Marcus thought tiredly.
"You need to stay in shape!" Amy yelled strictly. "You'll never save Sonic like you are now!"
"I hate to say it, but I agree with the rat." Yubel nodded.
"Thanks, Yu – WHAT DO YOU MEAN RAT?!" Amy screeched.
"Before we go into the main competition," Hazama stated. "There are a few rules that must be explained. First off, the starting rounds of the tournament will be done in Tag-Team Duels."
"Tag-Team Duels?" Brent questioned.
"Yes." Hazama nodded. "There will be four rounds with four plays in each. The teams have been randomly selected and all duelists will be given an equal amount of 4000 life points, making it 8000 on each side. Unfortunately, there is a catch."
"The duelists are forced to defend each other." Trace answered, drawing the attention of the group. "If one member of the team loses all their life points, then both players lose, regardless of his or her partner's remaining life points."
"So it's about cooperation." Rev said bluntly.
"That's the gist of it." Hazama nodded. "Unless you learn to work with your partner, you will be unable to advance. So I suggest you show good sportsmanship to one another.
That was easier said than done.
Back at the main stadium, the stands were completely packed with eager duel lovers. Up in the top box, The Signers had finally settled themselves in as Hazama made himself visible on the Duel Platform. And once again, by some unknown power, the white-haired man silenced the crowd with a wave of his hand.
"Welcome, duelists and fans alike." Hazama shouted loudly. "Welcome to the first match of the Ultimate Duel Tournament! I know you are eager to see some action, so let us begin!" He stopped a moment as the audience cheered. "Now let's bring out our first Tag-Team duelists: Crash and Hikari Reitai vs. Kana Izuma and Trace Rodik!"
With the jubilant cheers of the crowd, the four chosen duelists ran out onto the Dueling Platform with the exception of Trace, who walked. Hikari laughed as her partner went cross-eyed and stood on his hands, grinning like a fool. The moment he stood on his end of the field, Trace took a chance to inspect his temporary partner. She was very slender with flowing silver hair and piercing gold eyes. She wore dreary-black jeans with a chain acting as a belt, a black zipped-up jacket that opened in the back, and silver locket around her neck. Judging by her expression, she was a serious competitor.
"She's not going to take this lightly." Trace thought. "Nami, pay close attention to her abilities."
Back at the lobby, unknown to the others watching the television, Nami was holding a small notebook, staring intently at her boss's partner.
"Let's have a good match." Hikari smiled.
"And may the best duelist win." Trace returned happily.
"Don't worry..." Kana said coldly. "I will."
"Pancakes!" Crash shouted randomly.
"Let the first match of the Ultimate Duel Tournament begin!" Hazama announced.
"Duel!" The four called.
Hikari (4000) – Crash (4000) – Kana (4000) – Trace (4000)
"I'll go first." Hikari said, drawing her sixth card. "And to start off, I summon Arcana Force IV – The Emperor!"
The winged machine with red orbs and extended claws appeared on the field (1400/1400). As to be expected from an Arcana monster, the card appeared over its head, circling around for Hikari's command. Once the Gambler Duelist nodded, the card stopped straight up.
"All right!" Hikari cheered. "With The Emperor straight up, all Arcana monsters gain 500 extra attack points!"
Arcana Force IV – The Emperor (1900/1400).
"Then I place one card facedown and end my turn." Hikari finished after placing the card.
"A gambler duelist, huh?" Trace smirked, drawing his sixth card. "Let's see how far her luck goes. I summon Rattata in attack mode!"
A small purple rodent with pointed whiskers and a large overbite appeared on the field (600/300).
"And then I activate the Magic Card: Colonize!" Trace continued, revealing a card with a stampede of Rattata. "This card allows me to summon all Level 2 or below monsters from my hand. So I summon a second Rattata and two Caterpie's in attack mode!"
Another purple rat appeared next to the original along with two new creatures. They resembled green caterpillars with black, round eyes, and a red feeler on their heads (300/100). Naturally, Hikari screamed at the sight of the giant bug – she had a phobia for insects.
"Then I place one card face down and end my turn." Trace finished.
Meanwhile, the Signers were watching impressively from the top box.
"Whoa, this guy is going all out." Crow whistled. "He was able to summon four monsters on his first turn."
"That can only mean one thing." Jack said. "He's planning to sacrifice them for a stronger monster."
"No, they're not for him." Yusei said quickly, surprising the Signers. "This Trace character seems to be thinking more for his partner than himself. That's why he summoned all those monsters at once."
"But if that's the case, then why didn't he play them in defense mode?" Akiza questioned.
Back on the Dueling Platform, Crash had just drawn his sixth card, but didn't really seem capable of talking. So without a word, he placed a monster on the field in attack mode. The monster in question was a humanoid bandicoot with orange fur, a brown tuft of hair, and black tattoos over his fists. The bandicoot wore a pair of blue jeans and red running shoes (1500/1300).
"Pancakes!" Crash shouted.
Though the fellow duelists were obviously confused by his command, the wily bandicoot seemed to understand him well. The orange bandicoot twisted its body around into a comical tornado and sucked one of the green caterpillars into the swirling vortex. The large insect was tossed into the air, where it was obliterated into oblivion.
Hikari (4000) – Crash (4000) – Kana (4000) – Trace (2800)
"Pancakes!" Crash cheered, flipping in the air.
"I...think he's done." Hikari shrugged confused.
"It's about time." Kana said spitefully, drawing her sixth card. "In which case, I sacrifice my partner's two Rattata to summon Fallen Angel Asmodeus!"
Without warning, a hurricane of black winds kicked up into the middle of the field, destroying the two rodents that were offered. Hikari raised her arm protectively, Crash fell backwards with his eyes circling around, and Trace remained unimpressed by the performance. The wind died down to reveal the newest competitor of the battle. A tall figure with pale white skin with a pair of black angel wings appeared on the field. A flowing white robe was tied around its waist by chains, black armor covered its upper body, and a silver mask with a single eye covered its face. A cold chill ran across the stadium as the fallen angel spread its wings (3000/2500).
"A...Fallen Angel?" Hikari stammered fearfully.
Back at the lobby, the fourteen other competitors were watching the television – some of them with mild interest. Nami had actually stopped writing in her notebook long enough to send a hateful glare to the angel. Her hand tightened, snapping the pencil in her hand.
"Hey, Namura, what's a Fallen Angel?" Marcus asked his friend.
"Fallen Angel's are a contradictory Archetype." Namura explained. "They are fairy-type monsters that use darkness attributes. The main focus of their abilities is to send or summon Fallen Angels in the graveyard."
"This should be interesting." Rev commented.
"Those black wings..." Nami thought hatefully. "They remind me of her strongest card....Sephiroth."
Back on the battle field, Kana threw out her hand, facing the mechanical Arcana Force monster.
"Asmodeus, attack The Emperor with Shadow Wing!" Kana commanded.
The Fallen Angel spread its wings high into the air and flapped it swiftly inwards, releasing a wave of black feathers. But at the last moment, an iron wall surrounded the mechanical Arcana, effortlessly reflecting the sharp feathers. But the trouble had only begun when the feathers curved around the wall and struck Hikari directly. The Gambled Duelist moaned in pain, falling to her knees at the moment she was hit.
Hikari (2000) – Crash (4000) – Kana (4000) – Trace (2800)
"What happened?" Kana questioned. "Why isn't her monster destroyed?"
"That would be the answer." Trace said coolly, pointing to Hikari's recently upturned facedown. "That's a trap card called Iron Resolve. It saves the monster from destruction at the cost sacrificing half her life points."
"So she is a true gambler." Kana acknowledged.
Meanwhile, Hikari was finding its difficult to stand up, despite Crash's efforts to help her. It was the Comical Duelist who first noticed the reason behind the female's weakness when both players inspected her body. Bits of her clothing had been ripped off and her face and left arm were covered in scratches. But her right arm suffered the worst of the outcome as blood poured lightly down her forearm and dripped on the platform. Back at the top box, the Signer grew restless and worried for Hikari's injury.
"Damn it, she's hurt!" Crow yelled furiously. "They've got to end the duel right now!"
"They can't." Jack stated seriously. "Not until someone admits defeat."
"That's total crap!" Crow shouted.
"Akiza..." Luna said meekly, turning to his friend. "Was that...?"
"I recognize that power anywhere." Akiza said, gripping the arms of her chair. Yusei and Jack seemed to understand as well as their eyes turned from the Rose Duelist to Fallen Angel user. "That Kana girl...she's a Psychic Duelist."
Back on the Dueling Platform, Hazama had temporarily paused the match and alerted a medical team to help Hikari. The Gambler Duelist hissed as they applied antibiotics to treat her right arm before covering the bleeding limb in bandages. Hazama kneeled next to Hikari with a serious expression on his face.
"You know, you don't have to continue." Hazama said kindly. "We can call this off and you can be properly treated in the medical ward."
"No way." Hikari shook determined. "I'm going to see this through to the end."
The white-haired man nodded in acceptance, waving his hand to the medical team to back off. Once they were out of the way, the crowd seemed to admire at Hikari's strong will and cheered for the Gambler Duelist. Smiling gratefully, the brunnete drew her fifth card and smirked at Kana.
"I don't know what you did, but you angel is about to fall even further!" Hikari shouted eagerly. "Now I play Level Conversion Lab! I select one card from and roll a die! And whatever number it lands on becomes it's new level!"
A bacterial tank appeared in the center of the playing field, present a single white die floating in the die. With a snap of Hikari's finger, the die spirals around within the tank and gradually reduced in speed. The four duelists watched anxiously as the die suddenly stop. Much to Kana's joy, the die landed on the number 5.
"Aw, too bad." Kana said sarcastically. "Looks like you're out of luck."
"No so much." Hikari smirked. "Because I sacrifice Arcana Force IV – The Emperor to summon Arcana Force XXI – The World!"
The Emperor exploded into a ray of light and disappeared into the closed dome of the stadium. All of a sudden, a blast of light burst over the gathered audience, forcing the people to cover their eyes. Trace and Kana seemed unaffected by the spectacle, but were nonetheless impressed by the newest addition of the battle. A circular machine made from stainless-black steel with a number of yellow opals pressed into its body. An arc closed over its head with flexible claws snapping eagerly for the approaching battle. (3100/3100). And like all Arcana monsters, it's card appeared above its head, spinning clockwise. And much to Hikari's despair, it landed upside-down
"It may not have worked, but I still control this battle." Hikari panted tiredly, wincing for her arm. "But no matter. I attack Caterpie with the World!"
The World lashed its claws to either side of the green caterpillar – Caterpie tried to scurry away. But the effort proved to be in vain as the World's claws snapped closed over the insect's body, absorbing the remains into it's body. But Trace receiving the backlash of the damage, Crash fell backwards, groaning in pain.
Hikari (2000) – Crash (1200) – Kana (4000) – Trace (2800)
"W-what happened?" Hikari stammered shockingly.
"Before you attacked, I activated my trap card: Mirror Coat." Trace said, revealing a card with a blue blob gained a field of crystal energy. "When one of my monsters is destroyed, the damage can be redirected to an opponent. And chose to surrender the damage to your partner."
"Why didn't you give it to that girl?" Kana glared. "It would have ended this match sooner."
"I wanted to save the honor for you." Trace said, but his thoughts were different. "But more importantly, I wanted Nami to collect more data on you. You could prove to be a worthy challenge later."
"I end my turn." Hikari moaned.
"That would make it my move." Trace said, drawing his second card. "And now I summon Pikachu in attack mode!"
A small but swift creature appeared on the field. It was electric-yellow mouse with a zigzag tail, red cheeks, and pointed black ears. The golden rodent grinned confidently with sparks radiating from its cheeks (1800/1700).
"Pikachu! Eliminate that bandicoot with Volt Tackle!" Trace commanded.
With a swift nod to its master, the yellow rodent charged across the field...literally. A surge of electricity coursed over its body as it picked up speed and jumped to head-butt the wild bandicoot. Then all of a sudden, Crash jumped out of the way, leading the yellow rat to strike its master. Pikachu and the Comical Duelist became equally dizzy as both knocked heads with one another.
Hikari (2000) – Crash (900) – Kana (4000) – Trace (2800)
"So that's how it works." Trace smirked. "Your bandicoot cannot be destroyed in battle. That's a very useful technique. In which case, I end my turn."
"Pancakes!" Crash shouted, drawing his next card.
The Comical Duelist placed a card on the field, granting his signature monster a new power. A wooden mask with mutli-colored feathers appeared and slapped on the bandicoot's face, unlocking its hidden power.
Crash Bandicoot – (3000/1300).
"Pancakes!" Crashed screamed happily.
"Can't he say anything else?" Kana hissed irritably.
The wily bandicoot twisted its body into a familiar orange tornado, steady advancing towards the yellow rodent. Pikachu tried its best to remain on the ground, but the spiraling animal's force was too great and swept the electric rodent off the ground. Trace looked away sadly as his little friend was destroyed.
Hikari (2000) – Crash (900) – Kana (4000) – Trace (1600)
"If you are quite done, I'll take my turn." Kana stated, drawing her card. "With this, I will finally end the game. I play the magic card: Smashing Ground! Basically saying, the monster with the highest defense points is destroyed!"
"But that means!" Hikari gasped.
"Say farewell to The World!" Kana roared.
Arcana Force XXI – The World sparked ominously, drawing the attention of its hesitant master. Being trapped within her own fear, Hikari was unable to move as the giant machine exploded. The kind-hearted female dropped to her knees with tears escaping from her eyes – her back was grievously burned from the blast. The Gambler Duelist weakly raised her head up, only to be confronted by the black-winged angel.
"Please..." Hikari pleaded.
"You weakling." Kana said harshly.
Upon her command, the Fallen Wing flapped its wings and shot a wall of black feathers. For one moment, Hikari reflected over her time with the rest of the heroes. Even Rev, despite his cold personality, was enjoyable to be around. But the one thing she remembered most of all was the wide grin of the boy with the criminal mark on his cheek.
"Sorry, Marcus." Hikari thought. "Looks like I won't be joining you."
The black feathers made contact, splattering blood across the Dueling Platform. Even Trace, who had seemed more of a neutral party, couldn't resist sending a disapproving glare to his partner. But when he turned his gaze to Kana, she was replaced by a single black feather.
Duel Victors: Kana and Trace
While Trace continued to stare at the black feather, Hazama and Crash both kneeled down to the fallen duelist. A strong hush consumed the audience as a medical team quickly made its way to the sight. It wasn't a pretty picture. The black feathers had thoroughly pierced every inch of the female's body. The scratches from earlier had opened into deep wounds with Hikari's blood coating nearly every part of her body – a small trail dripped from her mouth. Her eyes were closed, giving her a sense of peace.
"This is bad." The medic said worried. "She's been hit in several vital points. Unless we get her to the medical ward immediately, there is a good chance that she may...not make it."
"Do what you can." Hazama said strictly. "We don't need any casualties."
Back at the lobby, the other duelists were just as shocked as the outside watchers. Not from the fact that Hikari's life was in danger, but from the fact that someone would commit such a cold-hearted act. As Nami closed her book and stuffed it out of sight, Rev and Kai watched the video screen with peeked interest. This tournament was becoming more interesting than they had expected. And despite all belief, Ruki was actually crying.
"This c-can't be h-h-happening." Ruki sobbed. "Why Hikari?"
"She'll be all right." Namura said uncertainly, patted the girl's back. "She's a tough one. She'll survive this."
But no one was close to believing him. For all they knew, Hikari was as good as dead.
Meanwhile, Kana was walking down the dark corridors within the deepest parts of the Stardust stadium. The heartless duelist was holding her locket within her vision, staring at the picture inside. Her footsteps echoed within the empty hall until it was joined with a second sound. Someone was clapping. Quickly snapping her locket shut, Kana looked ahead, where she found Ignite leaning against the wall, clapping humorously.
"All right, Kana." Ignite praised dully. "Fight, fight, fight."
"What do you want, Ignite?" Kana questioned coldly.
"Just came to check out the competition." Ignite shrugged nonchalantly. "You were vicious out there. That girl could very well die because of your actions. That must be heavy on your conscience."
"I have no conscience." Kana said coolly. "I was just doing what I was hired to do. I was unable to verify the extent of the Wind Elemental's true powers because the Tag-Team Duel shortened the match. Had it been longer, I would have discovered his secrets."
"Cold, manipulative, and precise." Ignite smirked. "That's one of the reason our leader hired you. You know, you have all the qualifications of being the next member. How would you like being No. XIV?"
"Just have my payment ready when this is over." Kana replied.
Pushing her employer to the side, Kana continued down the hallway until she was out of sight. Despite his offer being shot down, the Pyro Duelist stilled seemed very interested.
"It looks like she won't be easy to convince." Ignite chuckled.
"Then just leave it to me." A female voice said. "After all, I can be very...persuasive."
Shaking his head lightly, the flaming warrior turned and smiled at the female. Like the Pyro Duelist, she wore a black cloak that covered a majority of her body with silver chain around her neck and the zipper stopping at her knees. She wore black gloves, black jeans beneath the cloak, and high-heeled boots. To hide her identity, the hood covered her face.
"Just go easy on her, ok." Ignite smirked. "She could still be useful to us, Void."
"Weren't you paying attention, Ignite?" The female known as Void sniggered. "In this tournament, I'm called Amaya."
The beginning may just very well be the end. Will Hikari survive this ruthless encounter? What job has Ignite hired Kana for? And what is the true purpose of this secret organization? Find out on the next Hyper Runners!
Please, read and review.
Duel Report:
Name: Pikachu
Attribute: Light
Type: Thunder
Level: 4
ATK/DEF: (1800/1700)
Description: A playful rodent that loves to communicate with others. But when it's tail is pulled, it will unleashed a powerful bolt of electricity.
