Arata: You son of a bitch! How could you end the last chapter like that?! I better win for all of the BS you put the readers through!
Yugioh – Unlimited Boundary
Episode 6 - Machine vs. Machiner, Duel for Duel Academy! Part 2 of 2.
(Character images can be found on my profile.)
"God dammit…" Arata whispered, staring at her hand, then back at the field, switching gazes every few seconds. Lights began to gather in the barrels of Machiners Force's weapons, all of them focused on Genex Searcher. Ginkouin started to laugh.
"Go, my Machiners Force! Attack and destroy her Genex Searcher!" He cried, extending a finger towards Arata's monster.
The creature obeyed, unleashing every weapon it had at the cost of 1000 points. The hand gun and the two cannons fired a massive blast that converged mid-way down the field, firing a blast of energy to Arata's monster after a loud compression of air. Reluctantly, Arata reached for her face-down, and all of my worries flushed away. My prayer had been answered.
"I activate my Call of the Earthbound trap card!" She cried, a pair of ghastly hands reaching up from the ground below Genex Searcher, appearing to catch Machiners Force's blast within their palms. "With this, I can redirect your attack to another one of my monsters on the field. I change your target to my Genex Blast!"
"She'll still take a whole lot of damage… But at least she's still in the game," The Chancellor tried to smile. I could see his anxiety.
"Fine, it doesn't matter to me! Continue the assault!" He cried, extending his finger once more, this time to her other monster. Within seconds, Genex Blast had been obliterated, and 3300 points of damage were dealt to her directly. I stared, unable to think of a proper thing to say. I wanted to cheer for her, but what could I say?...
Arata – 500
Ginkouin – 3000
Arata struggled to rise to her feet after a blast like that knocked her down. Once she did, however, she appeared as motivated as ever. I had no doubt that she would win, and I wish I could tell her that, I wish I could tell the Chancellor and have him believe me, but I had no idea what I could say to either of them…
"Now, Commander Covington! Finish off her defenses and attack her Genex Searcher!"
"With only 1000 points to his name, and nothing to defend her from it, Covington will leave Arata without a field…" The Chancellor managed to say.
A quick charge from the machine later, and Genex Searcher had been destroyed… "My Aftereffect of Impact spell card only works with one monster, so your Life Points are safe for now…" Ginkouin coughed.
"When Genex Searcher is destroyed, I can Special Summon one Genex monster from my deck… and I choose my Genex Worker!(1200/1200, Wind/Machine/Effect, Level 3)" She cried once more, placing her new creature on the field in attack position. It resembled a tank, at least to me, its eyes glowing red from above the hood of the large vehicle it resided in.
"I end my turn," He smiled.
"My turn, I draw!" Arata yelled, pulling her next card. She smiled… She looked like she was smiling, anyway… She seemed frozen in time, watching as the world around her continued to spin no matter what card she drew. She was able to live this long, why let it go to waste? She picked up her entire hand, card by card, and started formulating a plan.
"I activate my Genex Worker's effect! If I tribute him, I can Special Summon one Genex monster from my hand. So I release my creature to summon an even more powerful one…" She started, smiling the whole way through. With no face-downs to protect him, and two monsters in attack position, Arata didn't seem too worried. "I Special Summon my Solar Genex(2500/1500, Light/Machine/Effect, Level 7) in attack position!"
She now laughed as her creature was summoned, A large machine, the wings of a plane protruding from its back and arms, its golden color reflecting the sun in an almost-godly manner. I was now smiling, and I tried to think of something to cheer up the Chancellor as well. "Good job, Arata! Finish him off, take him out, and win the duel!" I cheered helplessly. I felt a little embarrassed, but I didn't care.
"You can do it Arata! You're still in the game!" The Chancellor struggled to cheer.
"A lot of good it will do you... Your monster only has 2500 attack points, with no effect that puts me in any danger..." Ginkouin sighed, as if bored, crossing his arms over his chest as he waited. "Seto Kaiba didn't hire me for nothing, my dear."
"It's not always about that, something you should know very well," Arata started. I could see her fingers clench into a tight fist, opposite of the hand holding her four remaining cards. "I hate you types, you win a few tournaments, get a few good recommendations, and you act like the whole damn world is at your feet. So what if Kaiba thinks you're any good, for all I know, he hired you to clean his fucking bathroom. When I go professional, and believe me, it will happen, I'm going to show the world how it's done. You paying attention, jerk off?"
I felt almost inspired as Arata spoke. She had a way with words that, some how or another, makes me feel a lot better about things... Back on the boat, my duel with Alek... This being the third time something she said got to me. She knew what she was doing. I knew she was going to win. I started to laugh, if anything, attracting a curious gaze from the Chancellor next to me. I took a seat on the grass on Arata's side, rested my hands in my lap, and watched with a smile.
"What are you so happy about?" He asked me.
"That you'll still have your academy, and be debt free, within the next few minutes," I tilted my head towards him.
"I activate my Limiter Removal spell card!" She cried, placing her card straight in the graveyard. I knew what this did by now, and I'm pretty sure Ginkouin knew as well, by the look on his face. When I looked back at Arata, I saw her smile again. "Must I explain the effect, pro? Limiter Removal doubles the attack power of all machine-types I control, putting my Solar Genex at 5000, well over enough to annihilate your Machiners Force..." Arata said rather plainly.
Ginkouin couldn't speak.
"Now, there is a gigantic, gi-gan-tic, flaw in your deck," Arata looked much more relaxed now. She crossed her arms at her chest, mimicking her opponent, and prepared a speech.
"Oh is there? And what would that be?!" He demanded, furiously.
"It really is very simple... See, I don't even need to destroy your Machiners Force... I can win the game right now," She began, pointing towards his field. Soon enough, I saw it too. "With 5000 attack points, my monster could easily destroy Machiners Force... or, I could exploit this gigantic flaw, and destroy you now. Machiners Force is extremely powerful, the 1000 point cost is little to pay with an attacker like that. A proper combo would leave anyone defeated in one turn, like you almost had me. But not only is he so hard to get out, you need one monster to put all of the creatures together..."
His eyes looked like they were going to jump out of his skull. I watched his lips trace around the words that danced in my head. I wondered if the Chancellor noticed it too...
Arata laughed. "And you know what the best part about this duel is? I didn't get to use my Ace," She flashed the Genex Controller in her hand. "I didn't get to, nor did I need to, Synchro Summon in this duel..."
"Talk is cheap, dear, you never know what I may do in my next turn. Hurry up and attack my Machiners Force already, I'm done listening to your slander!" Ginkouin yelled, getting more and more irritated as the duel went on.
"I'll put you out of your misery then, and end the duel before I give the Chancellor a heart attack. Go, Solar Genex!" She cried, throwing her arm forward to give her monster the cue. The creature, confirming its masters command with a mechanized growl, prepared itself for battle. Fire ignited at the back of Solar Genex, propelling its body forward, its wings hoisting it from the ground. It reminded me, almost of an angel, flames dancing in its wake as the creature charged. "Attack his Commander Covington! Finish the duel!"
Everything went quiet. Spectators had their breaths stolen from their lungs, a petrified expression stained to his face. Ginkouin couldn't believe it himself. The creatures faded from the field, and Ginkouin's points dropped to zero with that one attack... At 5000, Solar Genex's attack dealt enough battle damage to his Life Points after attacking Commander Covington, who only had 1000...
Arata deactivated my disk, slipping both her deck from the slot, and her arm from the grip, keeping it in hand while she pacing towards Ginkouin without a word. He had just as little to say as she did. They watched each other in silence, until Ginkouin let out another sigh, bringing in the breath to speak.
"Commander Covington, the only true negative to my deck... Never in my years have I seen one able to change the entire game around with one turn... I never thought Covington would bring me to defeat. As I agreed, all debt is extinguished... and I shall continue to fund this academy. If you raise students like Miss Arata here, Chancellor, you are doing something right," Ginkouin sighed, his disk setting itself at rest, splitting down the middle of the field and folding on both sides of his arms. He placed his gaze at the Chancellor, who looked like he could sing a gospel chorus right now, petrified on his knees, smiling with his arms in the air like a football player.
"Until we meet once more, Arata Muteki," Ginkouin smiled without another word, pacing off down the concrete path with less than a gaze.
And then I wondered, how did he know Arata's name?
I watched Arata stare for several minutes before rising to my feet. I wasn't able to stand for long, because the split moment after Arata gently set my disk on the ground, tucking her deck away into the inside of her blazer, I was tackled to the ground in a massive embrace. Arata squealed with victory, her arms around my neck, cheering as loud as she could.
"Yeah! I fucking win! I beat him!" She cheered, giggling and laughing with me in unison. I hugged her back and enjoyed the moment.
"Good job, Arata! I knew you would beat him!"
We both looked at the Chancellor in all of our celebration. He remained the same, petrified on his knees. Curiously, we stopped our cheers to crawl over and start poking him, trying to get his attention. "Chancellor, wake up!" Arata yelled, but received no response.
"Did he die...?" I asked, pulling on his shirt.
"ARATA!" He cried, instantly, throwing his arms around her shoulders, crying in happiness. He chanted her name several times to make himself believe it, but once he did, he didn't seem like he could be happier. A few minutes of this and he was back on his feet, doing his best to pull himself together. "That was an amazing performance! Thank you so much, Arata!"
She smiled.
The Chancellor took a deep breath. "I was on my toes the entire time... Arata, do you know how historic this is?"
"What do you mean?" She asked, curious.
"A student, from MY academy, defeated a pro!" He cheered. "That says nothing but good things of my school!"
We laughed at him. He acted like an excited kid.
"Now, on a more serious matter, now that I am in the clear!" He made sure to emphasize. "We had something to discuss, did we not?"
"Right, about Enzeru..." She began. We spoke of my duel with Alek. He asked me how I felt about my accomplishment, and what I hoped to do by dueling him. I didn't really have the answers to either of those questions, and that's what I told him. I dueled him for fun, and it was some of the most fun I've ever had. Him and Arata then had a discussion about my rank, how I don't belong in Slifer Red, and how even most Obelisks wouldn't stand a chance against Alek. Then, the Chancellor brought up a point that I've heard all too many times.
"I'm sorry, Arata, but there really isn't much that I can do... I must take luck into account, and that Alek wasn't using his real deck... If he had, the outcome may have been totally different. While I in no way doubt Miss Enzeru's abilities, she isn't the first Slifer to have outstanding talent... I may even be so bold as to say she has more talent than him, there is officially nothing I can do..." The Chancellor sighed, looking at me with an apologetic face. Surprisingly to him, I smiled, and began to speak before Arata could complain.
"I understand. I may even like being a Slifer. But to end all of the controversy once and for all, I'm just going to have to defeat Alek with his real deck, and prove luck had nothing to do with it," I reassured him. He then smiled. "I do have a request, though."
"Name it, I owe the both of you for what you did," He quickly said, looking at the two of us.
"From what I understand, we aren't allowed on other dorm grounds... And even when given permission, it is highly looked down upon... Can I visit Arata whenever I want to?" I felt almost stupid asking.
"And vice versa," She added.
Chancellor Bannori laughed. "Well of course you can, I would hate to separate the two of you," And then he froze. His eyes looked as if they were about to fall out of his head, his mouth hung open. "OH GOD DAMMIT!" He screamed. "That reminds me!!! The students were supposed to get their dorm rooms and everything an hour ago!"
I blinked. Arata looked as if she were about to laugh. "So?" She asked.
"So? I made Miss Enzeru miss it! She doesn't have a place to go tonight!" He complained, holding his hands with his head.
"You're... really unorganized..." Arata sighed. "She can stay with me tonight, I know where my room is and everything, no big, just make sure you get her room and everything by tomorrow. I dunno if I can protect her very long from all of the pissed off smurfs in the Obelisk Dorm..."
"...Did you really just say that?" The Chancellor raised his brow at Arata, fighting back a powerful laugh. I didn't have that kind of restraint, and I started laughing, holding my stomach after a minute or so of laughter. Hearing me laugh, The Chancellor couldn't hold it back, and joined me. Arata simply giggled, wrapping her arm around my shoulder and enjoying the moment with me. "I promise," The Chancellor tried to say, fighting back the laughter even still. "I'll fix everything by tomorrow. Are you alright with staying with Arata, Enzeru?"
"Of course I am," I smiled, regaining my breath.
"Then it's settled," He said. "Until farther notice, you are to room with Arata. I am truly sorry, Enzeru, for making you miss it..."
I wanted to laugh. How could this have worked out better? "Don't worry, there's nothing to apologize for!"
"She's right, lighten up, Chancellor!" Arata brought her arms to her chest, scanning the sky for the navy citadel of the Obelisk dorms. "If it's alright with you, though, I'd like to get the dorms before it gets too late... The sun is going down,"
"Oh! Right! By all means..." He tried to laugh it off, the whole day being too much for him to handle. Without a moments hesitation, Arata took me by the arm and ran, forcing me once again to struggle in my heels... "And thank you again!"
The faster Arata ran, the faster I was forced to move. We stopped only after a few steps to retrieve my disk, attaching it to my arm in an attempt to save time. I swung my bag over my shoulder and we began running again, towards the dividing, navy pillar. Spectators clapped for Arata as we passed, cheering for her amazing victory, but she didn't seem to care in the slightest, She amazed me...
I took this time to enjoy the scenery, as if I wouldn't get another chance. It looked so beautiful, so low tech, nothing like Domino City... Forests, gardens, it was like the country, almost... And the sky, the sky was the most amazing part... I felt as if I could stare into the heavens beyond the gentle clouds, a sky so clear could only be angelic... I never see things like this in the city.
Suddenly, a frightening noise tore apart this beautiful sky, forcing my heart into a race, and Arata's feet into a halt. We were close to the dorms, I could see the roof of the large building from over the treetops, but Arata pulled me aside, keeping close to a pair of trees. She pointed ahead, beyond the veil of shrubbery in the way. It took me a while to notice, but I saw Alek... He stood before two other duelists, their faces petrified with fear. Two terrifying creatures stood at Alek's side, one a dragon of darkness, a black flame building between its fangs, the other a dragon of light, a strident of light building in its maw... Alek laughed.
"The game is all over. Attack! Dark End Dragon, Light End Dragon! SHOW THEM WHY I'M FEARED!"
The two duelists yelled as the dragons unleashed a unison blast, engulfing the two of them within seconds. The blasts converged mid-stream, light spiraling around black flame, destroying all hopes the two duelists had in succeeding. Arata look to me, her playful demeanor vanished. "That's Alek's real deck... You want to go against that?"
The power from the blast was enough to blow Alek's hair in the wind, flowing behind him almost majestically... I was once more reminded of what I refused to let enter my mind. They were too much alike, I almost couldn't watch...
"Alek and I have been rivals for years, and since the day we entered the academy, we've struggled to one-up the other. His ace monsters, Dark End and Light End Dragon, are a powerful force to face... Something is wrong with him, I can just feel it... From the second he played that Dark Armed Dragon, something in him is just... off... I'm worried."
I felt something too... And as the dragons began to fade and Alek walked off, coldly, I was almost sure of it... It was dark, cold and lifeless... Like another force entirely had taken over Alek's body. He and Alek were more alike than I thought... Whatever happened to him was happening to Alek...
As quick as it started, the spectacle ended, and Alek seemed to vanish in all of the commotion. As if nothing had happened, Arata took me by the arm once more and made her way out of the trees, towards the dorms, with me following directly behind. I didn't know what to say, nor did I think I should have said anything. I took a second look at what was left of the duelists, laying face-first on the ground, their clothes smoking from the blast. It didn't seem right...
Arata: Hey, all of you dudes reading this, pay attention!
Enzeru: If you like this story, then we recommend Chronicles of Neo Flux: Servitude of the Quill by Skyline Stanza!
Arata: Go check it out in the Yugioh 5D's section of the site!