Atlas smiled to himself as he adjusted the Obelisk Blue jacket that he had been assigned. As he was a freshman, the primary color was blue with trimming. 'Of course I got in,' Atlas thought to himself as he placed his family issued due disk on his desk and donned the Obelisk Blue duel disk, 'I deserved to.' The new duel disk was much chunkier than his other sleek duel disk, but that's okay. He wanted to start fresh here, and not have anything that could have someone tie him back to his family.
'Finally, no more riding on my family name.' Atlas thought while examining the new duel disk. 'People might still recognize me, but at least now I can forge my own path. And maybe...just maybe people will stop comparing me to my brothers.'
As he looked around the luxurious room he noticed something wrong. There were two beds in there instead of only one. 'I'll make sure to have it removed before the end of the night,' he made a mental note as he plopped down into the bed farthest to the right. He took the duel academy issued duel disk off and plopped down into bed, contemplating whether to go take a nap or go explore the campus. He decided taking a nap and started to doze off.
*BANG*
The door opened wildly, startling Atlas. He looked up confused to see a thin teen around his height with spiked red hair standing at the doorway. He had headphones in his ear, but even still Atlas could hear the loud rock music blaring from them. As soon as the teen eyed Atlas he gained a scowl. "What are you doing in my room?" He asked approaching Atlas somewhat threateningly as he took his headphones out.
"Your room? That's funny, if you look on my acceptance sheet; it clearly says that Room 102 D in this here dormitory belongs to me." Atlas looked over at the other bed before groaning out loud. "Unless…"
"Unless what?"
"Unless this room is meant to be a double." Atlas scrunched up his forehead at the idea of having to live with this guy. "Damn it," he said inaudibly.
"What?" The red-headed teen questioned loudly. "Obelisk Blue's don't share rooms. There must be some sort of mistake. You must have been in another room, or maybe you're really a Osiris Oaf and they accidentally placed you in my room."
Atlas's face darkened at the degrading name of being called a Osiris Oaf. "Maybe I'm a what now?" He questioned while glaring daggers at his soon to be roommate.
"A Osiris Oaf. You know, maybe you belong to Osiris R—"
"Or maybe you belong in a grave!" Atlas barked angrily.
"Whoa, whoa calm down," the teen said while he held his hands up defensively, "no need to get all testy."
Atlas stood up approaching the teen. "You are the one that had the nerve to call me a Osiris Oaf. I assure you that I'm ten times the duelist you are," Atlas said in a matter-of-fact way.
"Well there's only one way to settle this," the redhead replied. "And since we are at Duel Academy, I'm pretty sure you know what that way is," the teen said with a sinister smirk on his face.
"You want a duel? Well promise me you won't feel too disheartened when I crush you," Atlas said matter-of-factly.
The two teens made their way from the dorms to the Obelisk Blue's multiple duel fields. Once there they activated their duel disks and inserted their decks into their disks. "Oh and I guess it's proper for us to introduce ourselves, if we are going to be," the redhead paused as if something was stuck in his throat. "Roomies," he finished.
"I guess you're right," Atlas unenthusiastically agreed. "The name's Atlas Michaels. And yours?"
The teen scratched his head as he now recognized the powerful duelist. "My name's Dalton Reese and you better remember it because one day it's going to be more famous than yours."
Duel
(Dalton: 4000)
(Atlas: 4000)
"I'll take the lead," Dalton said as he slid six cards of the top of his deck with one motion. "I'll start by summoning Hunter Dragon (1700/100) in attack position." Dalton slapped the card on his duel disk as a dark dragon with a hooked metallic tail appeared on the field in front of him. "Now I'll place one card face-down and end my turn."
Atlas only shrugged as he drew a card. "I'll summon Divine Hero Jason (1600/1200) in defense position." A lean warrior holding a small sword appeared kneeling in front of Atlas. "And just like you I'll play one card face-down."
"A defensive play? I hate defensive plays. I summon Spear Dragon (1900/0) in attack position." A primarily blue dragon with a tan underbelly and a long mouth coming to a sharp point hovered to field in front of Dalton. "Go Spear Dragon, pierce through that warrior." The dragon flew up in the air then tucked its wings in as it nosedived straight towards Jason.
"Hold it," Atlas interrupted. "I activate my face-down trap card, Aid of the Argonauts." A small band of warriors erupted on Atlas's side of the field. They shouted and banged their weapons causing the dragon to retreat to Dalton's side of the field. "When Divine Hero Jason is on the field and I activate Aid of the Argonauts, it negates your attack and lets me special summon Divine Hero Argonauts (1200/800) from my deck to my side of the field. But that's not it because it also immediately ends your battle phase." Right after Atlas finished explaining, Jason sliced his sword through the air causing a wave of bright energy to collide with Dalton (Dalton: 3700).
"Another effect," Dalton questioned.
"Every time an attack is negated while Jason is face-up on the field, you take 300 points of damage." Atlas said with a smirk on his face.
"Well then I'll just end my turn," Dalton said irritably.
Atlas gave a bored expression as he drew a card from his deck. "You know, I thought that with this duel would be a lot more exciting." He grabbed a card from his hand and placed it into the back row of his duel disk. "I activate The A. Forces, and now with this card on the field, warriors on my side of the field gain 200 attack for each other warrior and spellcaster that I control," Atlas as both Divine Heroes attacks rose by 400 (Divine Hero Jason: 2000/1200, Divine Hero Argonauts: 1600/800).
"Now I'll switch Jason to attack mode and have him lay waste to your Spear Dragon." The lightly armored warrior lithely jumped towards the dragon preparing to strike a fatal blow.
"You really don't think I am going to let that happen do you?" Dalton laughed as his face-down card flipped face-up showing a Cannon Soldier helping a Mechanicalchaser defend from an oncoming blast. "Go Covering Fire! Now I can increase the attack of Spear Dragon by the attack of my Hunter Dragon!"
Both of Dalton's dragons opened their maws to prepare a counterattack. Spear Dragon released a gale of wind while Hunter Dragon released a black flame (Spear Dragon: 3600/0). The two attacks collided with the oncoming warrior incinerating him completely (Atlas: 2400).
Atlas tensed as fire and wind licked away at his life points. 'I can't believe I walked right into that. Guess I'll have to turn up the heat a tad,' Atlas thought as he took a card from his hand as Divine Hero Argonauts (1400/800) attack decreased. "I'll place one card face-down, switch Divine Hero Argonauts to defense mode, and call it a turn."
"My move," Dalton continued as he drew a card. "Now I sacrifice my two dragons to summon an even greater one." Spear Dragon and Hunter Dragon erupted in flames as the flames gathered together taking shape of a large creature. As the flames pulled back a shiny black and red dragon with large spikes jetting out of its back was revealed. "I give you Diablo Dragon (2700/1000)."
'That must be his ace,' Atlas thought to himself as the large dragon roared.
"Now Diablo Dragon, attack the Argonauts with Diabolical Screech." The dragon's head reared back as it generated a large amount of energy within its mouth. It faced its attention back towards Atlas's lone monster and let out a horrendous screech imbued with dark energy, but right before the attack could connect the Argonauts all put up their shields taking the attack. Dalton scratched his head and looked towards Atlas, "What did you pull now?"
"Well once per turn when you declare an attack, I can negate it as long as Divine Hero Argonauts remains face-up on the field." Atlas explained, not noticing Dalton add a card from his deck to his hand due to Diablo Dragon's ability.
"Well I'll just have to call it a turn," Dalton said seemingly disappointed that his attack didn't go through.
Atlas snatched a card from his deck and eyed it quickly. 'Perfect' he thought to himself. "Since I have a Divine Hero face-up, I'm allowed to summon this guy without a tribute. I summon Divine Hero Theseus (2400/1600) in attack position." As Atlas placed the card on his deck, a warrior in golden armor leapt to the field holding golden rope and a dagger. Both warriors on Atlas's side of the field started to glow a faint blue as their attacks increased (Divine Hero Theseus: 2800/1600, Divine Hero Argonauts: 1600/800).
"Now I'll switch Divine Hero Argonauts to attack position and start my assault. Divine Hero Theseus, take out Diablo Dragon." The marvelous warrior threw his golden rope around the dragon's neck and tugged at it forcing it to come barreling towards the warrior. As the dragon attempted to fight back Theseus placed multiple stab wounds in the struggling dragon, effectively destroying it (Dalton: 3600).
"Now go Argonauts, hit him directly." The multitude of warriors all brandished their weapons and stampeded towards Dalton; kicking, punching, and stabbing away at him until they were content (Dalton: 2000).
"Now that's what I call a move," Atlas said arrogantly as he looked towards his opponent's empty field. "Took out your strongest monster and dealt a hefty chunk of damage."
Dalton drew a card and quirked an eyebrow. "Strongest card? Oh you're referring to Diablo Dragon. That's not my strongest dragon," he laughed as he looked over his hand. "It's merely support to help get out my strongest." Dalton pulled free a card from his hand of six cards. A wide grin spread across Dalton's face as he slammed the card into his back row. "I activate Polymerization, and now I'll fuse the three Hydra Heads (1000/1000) in my hand."
Atlas could only watch as a swirling vortex opened above Dalton's side of the field as three serpentine black dragons with leathery wings flew into the vortex.
"Tempered rage will bring the world to its knees! Witness the creation of a godly beast! Fusion Summon, an unstoppable force, Hydra Dragoon (3000/3000)."
Three massive heads with silver spikes protruding from them started to emerge from the vortex each of them hissing and snapping at each other. As the more and more of the monster became visible, it was now noticeable that heads of the dragon converged into one long, serpentine body with scarlet red, leathery wings. The dragon coiled around Dalton's entire field. Although Atlas thought Diablo Dragon to be big, this creature was massive.
"This right here is my strongest monster," Dalton cackled as he pulled another card free from his hand. "Now I'll activate Dragonic Intimidation. Now with this card, I can negate the effect of one monster on the field since I control a high-leveled dragon, and I choose Divine Hero Argonauts." All three of the dragon heads roared loudly as the band of warriors on Atlas's side of the field shrunk back in fear.
Dalton leveled his hand at Atlas's side of the field as Hydra Dragoon readied itself. "Plus Hydra Dragoon can attack all monsters you control." Go Hydra Dragoon blast away both of his monsters with Venomous Assault!" The left and right heads fired toxic green blasts of high powered gas blasting away both of Atlas's monsters in mere seconds (Atlas: 600).
Atlas drew a card as he smirked. 'Hmm, he's better than I thought. Welp, I guess that is why he's in Obelisk Blue,' Atlas thought to himself as he browsed over his hand. "Time to get serious," he muttered under his breath for only him to hear. He drew a card bringing his hand to a total of four cards. "I activate Pot of Greed allowing me to draw two cards." A malicious, green smiling pot appeared then shattered as Atlas pulled free two cards from his deck.
"Now I'll set two cards face-down and summon Epic Teller (1000/1000) in defense position." A frail, elderly man covered in tattered robes holding a leather-bound book. Moments after the man was summoned he opened the book which released a bright light as Atlas pulled out his deck and grabbed a card. "When Epic Teller is summoned, I can add one Divine Hero from my deck to my hand," Atlas explained as he added the card to his hand. "Now I'll end it there."
Before Atlas could even finish his last sentence, Dalton sliced a card from his hand. He looked at it for a fraction of a second then slammed it on to his duel disk. "Come out, Projectile Wyvern (800/400)." A small green and white dragon shaped like a lance appeared next to its much larger comrade. "Go Hydra Dragoon, destroy Epic Teller!"
The middle head of the large dragon released an intense blast of toxic gas straight onto the old man. The already frail man coughed as the poison caused his body to deteriorate into nothingness. "Now Projectile Wyvern, attack directly and end this." The small dragon zipped forwards towards Atlas at an incredible speed with full intent on ending the duel. The dragon slammed right into Atlas causing him to stagger back, but instead of his life points decreasing, they stayed the same (Atlas: 600) and he drew a card bringing his hand to a total of four. "Explain!" Dalton shouted baffled.
Atlas pointed over to his face-up trap card and let out a chuckle. "The card I just activated is Defense Draw. Now all damage you would've dealt is reduced to zero and I get to draw a card," the Divine Duelist explained as the trap card faded away.
"Fine, I'll just end my turn with a face-down. Oh, and just to let you know, when Projectile Wyvern is sent from my field to the Graveyard, you take 800 points of damage, which means…" Dalton trailed off as Atlas drew another card signifying the beginning of his turn.
"Since you control monsters on the field and I don't, I can summon this hero to the field without having to sacrifice a monster. So now I'll summon Divine Hero Achilles in defense position (1800-2000/0)." A sturdy looking hero wearing barely any armor on and holding a long blade appeared in front of Atlas.
"Now I'll activate the spell card Trojan Gift. With this I can give you Divine Hero Achilles." A small wooden horse appeared before Achilles who then jumped onto its back. The horse then proceeded to go Dalton's side of the field and stop. Before Dalton could even ask why his opponent would give him the only monster he had to defend, Achilles swiftly sliced Dalton across the chest with his sword causing him to gasp in surprise(Dalton: 200).
"Trojan Gift forces you take damage equal to the original attack of the monster I gave to you, plus if the sent monster was Divine Hero Achilles, then I can draw one card." With the effect explained Atlas drew a card from his deck and eyed it. "Now I'll end my turn, and at the end of a turn where Achilles is sent to my opponent's field, he returns."
Achilles jumped back over to Atlas's side of the field right as Dalton drew a card vigorously. Not even looking at the card went straight on to the offensive. "Projectile Wyvern, slice through that warrior!" Without hesitation the little dragon launched across the field coming into contact with Achilles but failing to break through the warrior.
"Oh by the way, Achilles can't be destroyed in battle," Atlas mentioned as he shrugged his shoulders.
"Why can't you just stay down," Dalton said in an irritated tone. "I was hoping to take you down in a more flashy way, but this way will do too, I activate Share the Pain. Now both of us must tribute a monster on our side of the field. I'll tribute Projectile Wyvern, and you must tribute Divine Hero Achilles since it's the only monster you control," Dalton said excitedly.
Two swords materialized over Projectile Wyvern and Divine Hero Achilles. Both of the monsters looked up causing the swords to lunge straight into them causing both monsters to deteriorate.
"And I hope you've remembered that when Projectile Wyvern is sent to the Graveyard, you take 800 points of damage," Dalton laughed as a piece of shrapnel flew from the spot where Projectile Wyvern had just been.
"Trust me. I didn't forget," Atlas whispered as he motioned towards his set card. "Go Energy-Absorbing Monolith!" As the trap card flipped face-up a stone tablet appeared in front of Atlas. "Now that effect damage is instead given to me as life points." The shrapnel hit the table causing a burst of energy to come out of the opposite side rejuvenating Atlas (Atlas: 1400).
"Fine, I'll end my turn," Dalton said angrily.
'That was close,' Atlas thought to himself, 'if he hadn't been so caught up with ending me in a "flashy" way and activated Share the Pain first, I would've been left wide open for Hydra Dragoon to finish me off, well that is if I hadn't already prepared for that either.' Atlas drew a card and sighed as the final card he needed to win the duel was placed in his hand.
"Well as fun as this has been, it's time we end this," Atlas said calmly. "Thanks to the life point increase you gave me, I can activate Premature Burial to revive Divine Hero Achilles by paying 800 life points." A spot on Atlas's side of the erupted in a bright light as Achilles returned to the field (Atlas: 600).
"Oh please, that's hardly going to stop me," Dalton laughed.
"He's not meant to. Now I'll equip him with Grade Sword which increases his attack by 300 and allows him to count as two tributes when I sacrifice him for a warrior type monster (Divine Hero Achilles: 1800-2000-2300/0)," Atlas explained as he pulled the next card free. "Now I'll sacrifice Divine Hero Achilles to bring out the strongest."
Divine Hero Achilles erupted into light as he was prepared to be used as a tribute.
"Only the mighty have what it takes to become a hero, and still only the divine can become godly. A hero's work is never done. Appear, achiever of efforts, Divine Hero Heracles (2600-2800/2000)!" Atlas slammed the named card onto his duel disk as Achilles was replaced with a much more muscular warrior.
"Go, Divine Hero Heracles attack Hydra Dragoon with Herculean Punch!" Dalton laughed as Atlas declared the attack.
"A suicide attempt—" Dalton was cut off as Atlas continued.
"And when Heracles attacks a monster, he gains attack equal to the monsters level times 100, and since that dragon is a level nine monster…well just watch." Dalton's face dropped as Atlas finished explaining. Atlas's mighty monster launched forward at Dalton's wicked dragon with a glowing fist (Divine Hero Heracles: 2800-3700/2000).
Hydra Dragoon reacted with all three heads releasing its foul gas towards Heracles, but the divine warrior blasted straight through the gas and punched straight through the monster's chest destroying it and the rest of Dalton's life points.
(Dalton: 0)
(Atlas: 600)
End Duel
A cheer erupted from around the two duelists as they realized that their duel had brought quite a crowd consisting of people from all dorms to watch. Atlas turned towards Dalton with a cold look on his face, "I told you and I'll tell you again. I am no Osiris Oaf."
Atlas walked away keeping up a cool front despite the thoughts going through his head. 'I'm going to have to watch out for that one.'
Cards of the Duel:
Atlas Michaels:
Divine Hero Achilles - Lv 8, Earth, Warrior, 1800/0
If you don't control a monster and your opponent does, you can Normal Summon this card without Tributing. This card cannot be destroyed by battle. When control of this card is switched, control of the card is returned to you during the End Phase.
Dalton Reese:
Hydra Dragoon - Lv 9, Dark, Dragon, 3000/3000
Hydra Head + Hydra Head + Hydra Head
This card can attack each monster your opponent controls once. When this card is sent to the Graveyard, you can Special Summon as many "Hydra Heads" from your Graveyard that you can.
With a roommate who possesses a similar dueling skill level as Atlas, the titan-named duelist is in for quite a year. But the Obelisk Blue dormitories aren't the only ones that contain powerhouses. Catch the next chapter, Wrapped in Red.
