All right, well, as the author of this story, I'm able to take this in whatever direction I want. I could put all the characters in clown costumes and give them clown decks, BUT NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT I AM DOING.
Instead, I am going to do something I have to do for the sake of this story. The first couple of chapters were supposed to do nothing but introduce the characters and their decks. Now that it's been established, I'm going to introduce the plot of the story. To do that, I have to do the whole "1, 2, skip a few, 99, 100" routine, and skip a bit of time in order to establish the plot of the story.
--
The year had progressed slowly, with little to offer but a good duel every now and again. The one thing most were fearing or anticipating was mid-terms. Halfway through the year, a festive, decadent event was featured, where the duelists up for promotion would duel special guests for that chance. We'd see some of the premier duelists in the world come to our school. That in itself was extremely exciting.
Mid-term was held in the massive arena in the main area of the school. We headed there for the assembly.
"Greetings, duelists!" Chancellor Sheppard, the principal…quite the powerful man. I'd never seen him before, mostly because I never got in trouble. "It's a privilege to be seeing you all here…to celebrate this wonderful event!"
We all burst into a loud cheer.
"Now, now, calm down, ladies and gentlemen…" he said. "I know you're all excited, but please, we're on a tight schedule today. Allow me to introduce our first guest; he's a living legend in the dueling world, having top honors as a Battle City top 8 finalist. He's also the son of the creator of this game; help me introduce Scott Pegasus!"
The whole crowd burst into applause as Scott joined Sheppard on-stage. (A/N: SHUT UP. I know it was cheesy…SHUT UP :P)
"Duel Academy, how is everyone today?" he asked. Of course, he got a thunderous response from the crowd.
"Now, Scott, see, we usually bring our guests here for a very special reason." Sheppard said.
"That's correct." Scott said into the mic he was given. "I'm here to participate in a promotion duel for one of our students!"
We all burst into wild cheers. A duel with the son of the creator of the game? Scott held more prestige as a duelist than his father did; he was more of a competitor than a creator, and it would be amazing to duel him.
"Now, see, Scott, during the mid-term period of the year, we usually have promotion duels, where we get some of our best students trying to up their positions in the ranks for the dormitories. Now, see, when we first did the exams, we actually got one student who did extremely well in his duel, but wasn't that much of a student…" I gasped. Was he talking about… "We decided to keep an eye on him, because we wanted to see if he had what it took to duel against a competitive, tournament-goer such as yourself. That student is…Leon Royale!"
I gasped, completely taken aback. I ran up to the stage, trying to take it all in. I was going to duel against one of the world's best. Then it hit me; everyone was gonna want me to lose, simply because they were jealous that I was up there instead of them. Oh well; I'd prove them wrong…and win.
"So, Leon…" Sheppard said. "How do you feel, being up here?"
"I am…surprised." I said. "I'm excited, though. I get to duel with royalty here, I'm excited!"
The crowd burst into applause and cheer.
"Now, Leon…" Sheppard said. "You were one of our applicants, by the advice of our own Dr. Veilan Crowler." He motioned to Crowler, who stood up, smiled, and waved to me. "See, Leon here had one of the highest scores in the duel portion of the exam, but fell short in the written portion…"
I scratched my head. Like the school needed to know…
"Now, Leon here has been working closely with Dr. Crowler, because in addition to him, the rest of us here think that Leon has immense potential as a duelist, so…we decided to bring in one of the dueling elite to see if we can give Leon a worthy opponent to tap into that potential." The crowd began to murmur a bit; perhaps I was a bit of a hot topic to the crowd.
"You know…" Scott said, putting his arm around my shoulder. "I'm always looking for the next star in the dueling world, and you know…I got a good feeling about this kid." Funny he said that, being only three years older than me, and not even being an adult himself. I still smiled.
"So, why don't we stop talking about how good you both are and let your actions speak for your words?" Sheppard said.
"Why not?" Scott said, walking to one of the ends of the battlefield. I nervously walked to the other one. I was extremely nervous, and it was obvious to anyone to paid enough attention.
"Game on!"
Leon: 4000 L.P.
Scott:
4000 L.P.
"I'll go first." Scott said. "I draw! Hmm…I summon my Herald Serpent in Attack Mode!" A large dragon stormed the field.
ATK: 1400
DEF: 700
"Now, I set one card face-down, and end my turn." he said.
"All right, I draw!" I said. I was shaking, I was so nervous. In fact, as I put my sixth card in my hand, the rest of my hand slipped through my hand, falling to the floor. The whole audience burst into laughter. Scott looked on, humbly waiting.
I picked up my cards, and then devised a plan. "All right…I summon Split Slime in Defense Mode!" A gelatinous creature took the field, retreating in its small size.
ATK: 1000
DEF: 1500
"Now, I set one card face-down, and end my turn."
"I draw." Scott said. "I summon my Wyvern Dragon in Attack Mode!" A large dragon appeared on the field, taking an offensive stance.
ATK: 1700
DEF:
700
"Now, my Wyvern Dragon, attack his Split Slime!" Scott commanded.
Scott's Wyvern Dragon sliced right through my Slime. However, the fragments began to collect, becoming two separate beings.
ATK: 500
DEF: 750
ATK: 500
DEF:
750
"What happened?" Scott asked.
"When my Split Slime is destroyed in battle, I get two Slime Tokens." I said.
"Well, not only can my Serpent attack, but since my Wyvern Dragon destroyed a monster in battle, it can attack another monster you control." Scott said. "So, Wyvern Dragon, attack his Slime Token!"
"Not so fast!" I responded. "I activate my face-down card; Alchemic Absorption!"
His Wyvern Dragon darted at my Slime Token, but a strange wind sucked the Dragon into my Slime, who digested it, then dissolved. It then re-formed, becoming a different thing entirely.
ATK: 1350
DEF:
1100
Leon: 3150 L.P.
Scott: 4000 L.P.
"My Alchemic Absorption works like this. When you use your monster to attack me, it becomes an Equip Spell Card to my monster. Half of your monster's power gets added to my Token, so long as I'm willing to take half of your monster's attack strength out of my Life Points."
"A powerful card nonetheless…but watch this!" Scott said. "Herald Serpent, attack the weaker Slime Token!"
Herald Serpent shot a fireball at my Token, destroying it.
Leon: 2500 L.P.
Scott:
4000 L.P.
Herald Serpent
ATK: 1600
"What the…?" I asked, confused.
"My Herald Serpent does damage to your Life Points even if your monster is in Defense Mode. Then, whenever my Serpent destroys one of your monsters in battle, it gains 200 attack points." Scott said. "Now, I end my turn."
Looking at the field, I had better draw something good, otherwise I was screwed. I had to destroy his Dragon, and I had a good idea as to how I was going to do it, but I was waiting on what I drew. Then, I had to get rid of his face-down card.
"I draw!" I said. Good, I got the card I needed. "I summon my Homunculus Soul in Attack Mode!" A small orb took the field.
ATK: 0
DEF: 0
"Now, I activate Alchemy Fusion!" I said, inserting the Spell Card into my Duel Disk.
The card appeared on the field, sucking my Token in with my Homunculus Soul. My Level 3 Homunculus appeared on the field.
ATK: 1400
DEF: 800
"Now, my Alchemy Fusion forces me to rid myself of another Spell or Trap Card I control, so I got rid of the Wyvern Dragon I took from you. Then, I get to fuse my two monsters, and make them into my Level 3 Homunculus!"
"I'm afraid your fusion was worthless." Scott said. "My Serpent's still stronger."
"You must not be aware of my Level 3 Homunculus' special ability. When he's summoned, he destroys a monster on your field and you take damage equal to its attack power!" I said.
Level 3 Homunculus fired a blast at his Serpent, destroying it.
Leon: 2500 L.P.
Scott: 2400 L.P.
"Now, my Homunculus can't attack you, so I set two cards face-down and end my turn." I said.
"I draw!" he said. "I summon my Summoner Dragon in Attack Mode!" A small green dragon appeared on the field.
ATK: 1200
DEF: 600
"Now, my Summoner Dragon allows me to play another Dragon from my hand, so I'll play my Tempest Dragon in Attack Mode!" he said. A dragon of lightning stormed the field.
ATK: 1600
DEF: 1000
"Now, my Tempest Dragon, attack his Level 3 Homunculus!" he said.
"Go, Homunculus Blast!" I said, revealing one of my face-downs. "Now, my Homunculus goes to the Graveyard, and I can summon monsters from my deck whose power equals 1400. So, let's summon a second Homunculus Soul, a Mutation Machine, and two Alchemy Brainwave Beasts!" Four monsters stormed the field.
Homunculus Soul:
0/0
Mutation Machine: 0/1000
Alchemy Brainwave Beast: 700/300
x2
"Now, my Brainwave Beasts each have the ability to change your Dragons to Defense Mode!" I said as my Beasts sent out sound waves that made Scott's dragons retreat.
"All right, well, I set one card face-down, and end my turn."
"I draw!" I said. "I now activate the effect of my Mutation Machine! I'll have it sacrifice itself to summon a Rotting Beast Carcass from my Deck!' Mutation Machine absorbed its own body into the material it held. The material became my Rotting Beast Carcass. "Now, I reveal my face-down card; Polymerization!"
Polymerization was revealed, and my Carcass and Homunculus Soul were sucked into it. My Level 8 Homunculus emerged.
ATK: 2800
DEF: 2600
"Now, my Homunculus, attack both of his monsters!"
"I activate my trap; Skies of Myth!" he said. His Summoner Dragon took to the skies, and a giant gray dragon appeared on the field.
ATK:
2900
DEF: 2400
"Skies of Myth not only protects my Summoner Dragon, but my Black-Eyes Gray Dragon comes out to join my two dragons." His Black-Eyes Gray Dragon roared.
"That's fine. Homunculus, take care of his Herald Serpent!"
"I activate my other face-down card; Mist Shroud!" A blanket of mist enveloped his dragons. When the mist faded, his Dragon wasn't destroyed.
"My Mist Shroud protects my monsters from being destroyed in battle." Scott said.
"That's fine." I said. "I set a card face-down, and end my turn."
"I draw!" he said. "Now, Leon…I regret having to claim victory in this manner, but this duel is over. I sacrifice my three monsters to summon my ultimate creature…The Arbiter-Solencio!"
The winds of sacrifice enveloped his monsters, and an enormous green creature took the field.
ATK: 5700
DEF: 3700
"Holy…" I said in fear, taken aback at the enormous monster he just summoned, and the immense power it had. "What the f# is that thing?" Oh God, I just swore in public.
"This is an Egyptian God Card!" he said as Solencio roared.
"Wow…an Egyptian God…" I said in shock.
"Now, I activate the effect of my Egyptian God Card." he said. "If I give up 1000 of its attack points, I can destroy your face-down card!"
As Solencio slammed its fist on my face-down card, its attack power dropped to 4700.
"Now, I activate Monster Reborn, bringing back my Black-Eyes Gray Dragon!" he said. Black-Eyes Gray Dragon returned to the field.
"It won't be here for long, though; I sacrifice it to give Solencio my Dragon's attack power!" Scott said. Solencio absorbed Black-Eyes Gray Dragon as its attack power rose to an astonishing 7600.
"Now, Solencio, end this! Attack his Homunculus with Gavel Fist!" he said. Solencio slammed its fist into the field, causing a huge dust cloud and a small tremor.
Leon: 0 L.P.
Scott: 2400
L.P.
The entire crowd burst into a huge cheer. The crowd loved the duel a lot, and it was a great duel, even if I had lost.
"Perfect…" Scott said to me, not loud enough for the rest of the crowd to hear. "You're the perfect duelist to take on the responsibility of the power of this island."
"What?" I asked, confused.
"What a wonderful duel!" Sheppard said, coming on-stage. "You two dueled with a tremendous amount of integrity, spirit, and presence. I commend the two of you…"
"I commend this young man as well." Scott said. "Usually, my opponents don't swear when they see my Egyptian God Card…"
"Well, it's definitely not what I'm used to…that thing is absurdly powerful…" I said.
"Well, Scott, you, Leon and I have something to discuss." he said silently, between us. "Leon, can I see you in my office?"
"Certainly, sir, but why…?"
"I'll explain when we get there. The crowd's getting suspicious, so I have to distract them." He then turned to the crowd. "Now, students, the promotion tests are about to be underway. However, I must take my leave, and Scott, being the world-renowned duelist that he is, must return to his duties. Thank you all!" He then left the stage, taking me and Scott with him.
"So…are either of you going to tell me what the hell is going on?"
Sheppard looked around. "Please, Leon, I ask you to wait until we reach the office."
We arrived in the office eventually. Scott sat down, and Sheppard ran to the window to look around.
"…We need your help."
--
-CARD EFFECTS-
Herald
Serpent
EARTH
Level 4
Dragon/Effect
ATK: 1400
DEF:
700
During battle between this attacking card and an opponent's
Defense Position monster whose DEF is lower than the ATK of this
card, inflict the difference as Battle Damage to your opponent. Each
time this card destroys an opponent's monster in battle, increase
the ATK of this card by 200 points.
Split Slime
WATER
Level
4
Aqua/Effect
ATK: 1000
DEF: 1500
When this card is
destroyed in battle, Special Summon 2 "Slime Tokens" (WATER,
Level 2, Aqua, ATK/500, DEF/750) to your side of the field.
Wyvern
Dragon
LIGHT
Level 4
Dragon/Effect
ATK: 1700
DEF:
700
If this card destroys an opponent's monster in battle, it
can attack once again in a row. This card cannot attack a player
directly.
Alchemic Absorption
Trap/Normal
Activate only
when your opponent declares an attack on a face-up monster you
control. Pay Life Points equal to half the ATK of the attacking
monster to equip the attacking monster to the monster you control as
an Equip Card. Increase the ATK of the equipped monster by half the
ATK of the monster equipped to it.
Homunculus Soul
LIGHT
Level
1
Spellcaster
ATK: 0
DEF: 0
The soul of a homunculus,
it is able to use the physical material of whatever is around it in
order to create a new body. Such power is a wanted commodity among
mortals who wish to obtain power in order to upgrade their bodies.
Alchemy
Fusion
Spell/Normal
Destroy 1 Spell or Trap Card on your side
of the field (other than this card). Remove from play, from your side
of the field or your Graveyard, Fusion-Material monsters listed on a
Fusion Monster in your Fusion Deck, and Special Summon the
appropriate Fusion monster from your Fusion Deck.
Level 3
Homunculus
LIGHT
Level 3
Spellcaster/Fusion/Effect
ATK:
1400
DEF: 800
"Homunculus Soul" + 1 Level 2 monster
When
this card is Summoned, destroy 1 face-up monster your opponent
controls. Inflict damage to your opponent equal to the ATK of the
destroyed monster. This card cannot declare an attack during the turn
it is Summoned.
Summoner Dragon
WIND
Level
3
Dragon/Effect
ATK: 1200
DEF: 600
Once per turn, you are
allowed an extra Normal Summon or Set of a Dragon-Type monster while
this card remains face-up on your side of the field.
Tempest
Dragon
LIGHT
Level 4
ATK: 1600
DEF:
1000
One of the following effects activates when the effect of an
opponent's card is activated. If one of these effects is activated,
another cannot be activated until your next Standby Phase:
-Effect
Monster: Destroy one monster on the field.
-Spell: Cut the ATK of
all your opponent's monsters in half until the End Phase.
-Trap:
This card is unaffected by the effects of Spell and Trap Cards until
the End Phase.
Homunculus
Blast
Trap/Normal
Tribute one monster on your side of the
field. Special Summon monsters from your Deck whose total ATK is
equal to or less than the ATK of the Tributed monster.
Alchemy
Brainwave Beast
WATER
Level 3
Aqua/Effect
ATK: 700
DEF:
300
When this card is Summoned or flipped face-up, you can change
the battle position of one monster on the field. (If it is in
face-down Defense Position, change it to face-up Attack Position.)
Mutation
Machine
DARK
Level 4
Machine/Effect
ATK: 0
DEF:
1000
Tribute one monster you control to Special Summon one monster
from your Deck or Graveyard with an ATK equal to or less than the ATK
of the Tributed monster.
Rotting Beast Carcass
EARTH
Level
7
Insect/Effect
ATK: 0
DEF: 0
You are able to Special
Summon this card from your hand during either player's turn. This
card is destroyed during the End Phase of the turn that is Summoned.
Level 8
Homunculus
LIGHT
Level 8
Spellcaster/Fusion/Effect
ATK:
2800
DEF: 2600
"Homunculus Soul" + a Level 7 monster
This
card can attack all monsters on your opponent's side of the field
once each.
Skies Of
Myth
Trap/Normal
Activate when your opponent declares an attack
on a Dragon-Type monster. Negate the attack, then Special Summon one
Dragon-Type monster from your hand. That monster cannot attack until
your 2nd Standby Phase after this card's activation.
Black-Eyes Gray
Dragon
DARK
Level 8
Dragon
ATK: 2900
DEF: 2400
Mist
Shroud
Spell/Quick-Play
Until the end of the turn, monsters on
your side of the field are not destroyed in battle.
The
Arbiter-Solencio
DIVINE
Level 10
Divine Beast/Effect
ATK:
?
DEF: ?
This card can only be Tribute Summoned by Tributing 3
monsters on your side of the field. This card is unaffected by the
effects of Trap Cards. The effect of any Spell Card that this card is
effected by is negated at the End Phase of that Spell Card's
activation. The ATK and DEF of this card are each equal to the total
ATK and DEF of the monsters Tributed to Tribute Summon this card. By
decreasing the ATK of this card by 1000, destroy one card on the
field. Tribute a monster on your side of the field to increase the
ATK of this card by the ATK of the Tributed monster. Each time your
opponent attacks a monster on your side of the field other than this
card, that monster is destroyed after damage calculation.