Since people out there have already taken a liking to my Yu-Gi-Oh story out there, why not continue. So we're back at Duel Academy and now we're going to see what happens when you tick off the wrong people and we're going to see who's watching even the best from the shadows. Today it's two opposite sides of a spectrum, in more ways than one, Tao v. Magick.
DISCLAIMER: ALL THE CREDIT FOR YU-GI-OH GOES TO KAZUKI TAKAHASHI AND SHONEN JUMP. I OWN ONLY SOME OF THE OCs AND THE DECKS USED BY THEM.
Duel III: By Light and Shadow; Tao v. Magick
Morning, at the Slifer Dorm that only means one thing…breakfast! Destiny, Amun, and Tao all walked down the stairs at different speeds to get to the breakfasts already prepared by their dorm head, Ninomiya. The three had been at Duel Academy for about a week and were already becoming accustomed to living there, at least the meal situation. Tao, like always, brought up the rear in a sleepy fashion. When he got down he noticed one small change to the meal room…only one table.
"That old man is dead." He thought to himself.
"Ah, Tao. I see you found my latest renovation." Ninomiya said with a smug grin.
"This is far from over, old man." he said taking a place right next to Amun.
The three stayed in silence since the other three hadn't really talked to Tao since his arrival. Ninomiya sighed and hit his face with his palm and tried to strike up a conversation.
"So, Tao, tell us where you come from." He said.
"Here and there. When I lived with my parents they traveled around a lot so I never got to stay in the same for more than two years." He said still eating.
"So you must have some pretty interesting stories about all those places." Destiny said getting interested.
"Define 'interesting'."
"Like fighting off wild piranhas in the Amazon rainforest, or trying to take down a Yeti in the Himalayas." Amun said as an example.
"I've had experiences with monsters if that's what you mean. My parents are both crypto zoologists so most of the places we go are where they've been known to be spotted." Tao explained.
"What's a crypto zoologist?" Destiny asked.
"A scientist who studies the existence of unexplained creatures and tries to prove they're real like the Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot, and the aforementioned Yeti." He explained again.
"You don't believe in those things do you?" Destiny asked.
"Let me show you something" Tao began lifting up his sleeve. "You see this scar? Well, in an area of the Unites States called Point Pleasant, West Virginia is a creature said to be human in shape but with a seven foot wingspan. It's known as the Mothman. Now whenever this creature is seen it is normally attacking stray dogs for food. And I decided to help a dog once. The Mothman attacked me and gave me this scar from its wing. I've had it checked there're still traces of a moth-like wing substance in the scar of this arm. You try to explain that to me."
Destiny's, Amun's, and Ninomiya's eyes grew wider. Tao gave off a slight smile and went back to eating. Still shaken up Ninomiya quickly changed the subject.
"So have all of you cast your votes yet for the Miss Duel Academy competition?" he asked.
"Yep, voted last night on the computer." Destiny affirmed.
"Yeah, voted for that Obelisk Blue student, Reika. For some reason it just came to me in the middle of the night." Amun said.
"Not me. Those kinds of things don't interest me." Tao said still eating.
"Why not? I mean you gotta admit, Reika, by more than a few people's standards could be considered quite beautiful." Amun explained.
"You could say the same about Destiny but I didn't vote for her either." He said putting his bowl down. "Besides, Reika isn't so beautiful when you put her under a microscope. She's more of a witch than anything."
"Okay, that was uncalled for!" Destiny said.
"I didn't mean it as an insult I mean she actually practices black magic. Her deck reflects that."
"How would you know that, Tao?" Amun asked.
"Simple, while I may not like to I check the computer every now and again and I thought checking the candidates might be a good laugh. Based on everything said on her profile Reika could very well be considered a user of black magic."
"Interesting theory Tao, but how do you know that?" Ninomiya asked with a near frenzied look in his eye.
"I have my ways, now if you'll excuse me I have to get ready for classes. See ya."
The other two Slifer reds looked with concern at their third member and left to get ready for school. On the way Tao met up with some rather unnecessary comments about the red dorm.
"I know why you're basically alone, it's because no one cares!"
"Maybe you're too stupid to hear us!"
"Nah, those other Slifers probably rotted his brain! Hah-"
Just as the Obelisk blue student was about to laugh Tao picked him up by the collar with one hand over his head. Looking up at him Tao basically gave him a death gaze and spoke to him for all to hear.
"You can say whatever you want about me, I've been hardened by more than you can imagine, but if you ever say anything about the other Slifer red dorm members you will have me to deal with and given you're current position that doesn't seem like a good thing for you." He said before he was about throw him across the street.
Just before another Obelisk student placed a hand on his shoulder and eased down the other student. The Obelisk looked Tao straight in the eye and smiled forcing Tao to let him go.
"Why did you do that? He needed to be taught a lesson in respect." Tao said looking up at the Obelisk.
"Probably, but you made your point across the second you picked him up. If you want respect, try doing it through your own respect and not fear."
"Who are you to tell me what to do?" Tao asked looking at the male.
"Jason. You can call me Jason. See ya 'round, kid." The boy said.
"Intriguing…" Tao said walking up to the school with a small hint of evil in his voice.
Walking into the classroom Tao met up with Destiny and Amun as they seemed to be waiting for him.
"Heard you had a bad run-in with one of the first-year Obelisk." Destiny said.
"Should've known; the three fastest ways of communication, telephone, telegram, tell a girl." Tao said sarcastically.
On their way to class the three met up with Reika, the aforementioned candidate in the Miss Duel Academy competition, in the hall as she began seemingly charming every boy in sight. Tao slapped his face with his palm and walked right by her carrying a fainted Amun. Reika turned around and saw Tao talking to Destiny about the situation this morning and how he seemed unaffected by anything.
"Girls!" she commanded as her hired helped came around her. "Who is that?" she asked pointing at Tao
The first pulled out a file and read it to her, for want of a better name, boss.
"Tao, a freshman currently in the Slifer red housing development. Only things of note are an increased adrenaline rate when stressed, a scar on his right shoulder supposedly caused by a modern monster in West Virginia, USA known as the Mothman, and had lived in a wide variety of places other than the area we currently reside at this academy."
The second pulled another file on his dueling history.
"In application duels defeated the proctor without losing a single amount of Life Points while keeping his monster completely hidden."
"Wait, monster?" Reika asked.
"As of his dueling history in this academy he has one win and zero losses and an average summon rate of once per duel." The second hire hand finished.
"Until now, but he too will be placed under my spell." Reika said giving off a pompous laugh.
In the class Tao set Amun in his seat as he began to wake up.
"What happened?" Amun asked.
"You fell head over heels for that witch." Tao said sitting down in his seat.
As class began Destiny and Amun looked over on the other side of the room at Tao who still seemed slightly sleepy. Halfway through class the students were dismissed for the results of the Miss Duel Academy competition, but by this time Tao was already asleep. After waking Tao up he walked drudgingly towards the announcement hall completely disregarding Reika on the side striking a pose. After Tao walked by a vein popped in her head, and then went onto to the next area heading him off. This time striking a pose to kiss him Tao turned the corner towards the drinking fountains making Reika fall on the floor and another vein popping.
"That idiot!" Reika screamed at the top of her lungs as her eyes gained small tears in the corner.
In the hall the two finalists gathered in front of the students; from the left Destiny and Reika struck a pose for the purposes of the competition while Tao had just reached the announcement hall. The emcee took his stand and then announced the votes for who was decided to win.
"With 4,899 votes, Miss Reika is our champion!" the emcee announced with Destiny clapping for her opponent. Oh, hold on folks. It seems we have a tie. Miss Destiny also has accumulated 4,899 votes, so congratulations to the both of you-" he said before Reika grabbed him by the collar and lifting him up.
"What do you mean it's a tie!" Reika asked angrily as she shook the emcee back and forth.
"It means that there was at least one student who didn't vote…" The emcee said about to lose his breath.
Reika took the microphone and shouted into it, "Alright, who decided they didn't want to vote!"
Everybody looked around the room to find Tao raising his hand and walking up to the podium to meet with Reika. He kept a very solemn look on his face and stared right into Reika's eyes.
"I take it you want me to vote for you?" Tao asked.
"Huh?" Reika asked in surprise.
"Don't bother; those things don't work on me." Tao said as though he knew Reika was aware of what he was talking about.
Ninomiya walked up to the both of them and made the suggestion for a duel.
"I'm good with that." Reika said. "But what about this boy. Maybe the fact I'm an Obelisk scares him."
At that moment Tao snapped and reached out for her when Destiny shouted in protest.
"Don't hurt her?" she said as Tao lowered his hand.
Reika began panting out of fear when Tao turned to face her.
"We duel now!" he declared. "I win, this contest is voided by my choice, but if you win than I will vote for you."
"Deal!"
In the school's main dueling hall the stands were packed. On the one side was the Obelisk blue and Ra yellow dorm male members cheering for Reika with most of the female student body on the side. On the side behind Tao were Destiny and a tied to his chair Amun who had still been charmed by Reika. Before the due an Obelisk blue sat down next to Destiny and asked if he could watch the duel with them.
"Who're you?"
"Just call me Jason." The student said.
Ninomiya lifted his hand and brought it down beginning the duel.
"Duel!" the two said in unison.
"Ladies first" Reika said. "And I summon Magick Enchantress (1600/1000) in attack mode." The monster appeared out of the card and gave a slight wink to everyone on the field causing them all to go into a near shock of infatuation. "Next I play two cards face-down and end my turn. Go on, little boy."
Tao opened his eyes for the first time since the duel began and drew his card. "I summon Yang Spirit-Seiryuu (1800/1600) in attack mode. Now I activate his effect, when this card is Normal Summoned I can automatically Special Summon another monster from my hand with the word "Yin" in its name. So I summon from my hand Yin Spirit-Suzaku (1700/1000). Now comes the fun part. Whenever Suzaku is on the same side of the field as a Yang monster I can destroy one of your Spell or Trap cards once per turn. Suzaku, Magic Burn!" The giant phoenix breathed a large breath of fire and obliterated the Trap card face-down. The attendance in the stands booed him for destroying the card with him ignoring it. "Now Suzaku, attack Yin Burner!" the phoenix let out another fire stream which was stopped by the enchantress on the other side.
"Sorry, kid, but whenever my Magick Enchantress is attacked by a opponent who controls more than one monster I can sick your monster onto one of your other monsters with a boosted 500 attack points, and you take the difference between the two monsters attack points as damage." Reika explained with another pompous laugh.
"Seiryuu, intercept!" Tao commanded as the dragon looked into the eyes of Suzaku and negated the effect. "See, whenever one of my Yin monsters is targeted by an effect I can automatically negate it should I also have Seiryuu on the field. So my attack still goes through."
Suzaku turned back to the Spellcaster and destroyed it in an instant dropping her life points from 4000-3900.
"Now, Seiryuu. Attack, Wood Disruptor!"
The green dragon pushed its body on the ground and forced a montage of sharpened tree branches to rise and attack Reika dropping her life points again from 3900-2100.
"Next I play a face-down, and end my turn. Your move, witch." Tao said.
The crowd continued to boo Tao as Reika began her next turn with a quaint smile on her face.
"Alright, I summon Magick Sorceress (1900/200) in attack mode. Now I activate her effect allowing me to take control of a light monster you control. So come to your new master Seiryuu."
The female mage pointed her staff and shot a beam at the dragon monster bringing over to her side of the field. Right when Seiryuu reached the other side of the field both it and Suzaku exploded.
"What the-?" Reika exclaimed.
"Did I miss something?" Destiny asked.
"Yep, when a Yin monster is on the field and you control no Yang monsters it's destroyed right then and there and the same goes for Yang monsters. The deck of the Tao culture is an extremely dangerous and time consuming deck to master. Your friend Tao knew that if one was destroyed so would the other that's why he didn't react to the ability of Magick Sorceress. The only question is, what's he gonna do now when he has only that face-down card against that kind of a monster?" Jason explained.
"No matter, you're still defenseless. Sorceress attack, Charming Magic! If this doesn't put you under my spell I don't know what will." Reika said ending with that thought.
The sorceress shot a beam in the shape of a heart at Tao and it hit him dead-on dropping his life points from 4000-2100. He opened his eyes and narrowed them onto Reika.
"Is that the best you can do, witch?" he asked as though unaffected by whatever Reika did to him.
"Why aren't you being charmed by me, or my monsters? Look at those idiots over there, slobbering like stray puppies that had just gotten a decent meal. Why doesn't it ever work on you?" Reika asked furious at Tao.
"Because I can never allow anyone to get to close to this!" Tao shouted. "When I was attacked by that monster I thought I really would die, but you know what happened? I fought back and I became so hardened by that I became a monster myself. I can never fall in love because of what I do to people.
"Now it's my turn" he said drawing his card. "And I activate the Spell card Mythic Revival to summon Yin Spirit-Suzaku from my graveyard granted its ability is negated. But now I summon Yang Spirit-Byakko (1500/1600) in attack mode. Now by his effect I also summon the Yin Spirit-Genbu (1000/2000) in defense mode. And now while I control Genbu and another Yang monster I can Special Summon one of from my graveyard once per turn. So come on back Yang Spirit-Seiryuu!"
The four monsters from the right; Suzaku the phoenix, Seiryuu the dragon, Byakko the tiger, and Genbu the tortoise all looked at Reika.
"They don't scare me. To anyone this is just an over glorified zoo. What are they gonna do, destroy my monster? Ha, fat chance!" she said boastfully.
"Wu Xing" Tao said.
"Huh?" Reika said.
"Wu Xing is the natural border between Yin and Yang. All the time we live on that border, but sooner or later we step off into Yin or Yang. I still live on the Wu Xing Border and now I will show you it's manifestation, since I control two Yin monster and two Yang monster I can Special Summon Huang Long-the Spirit of Wu Xing (2800/2400) in attack mode!" a large yellow dragon sprang up from the card and stared right into Reika's eyes. "Now I activate my Trap card, Yin Yang Combination. I can sacrifice all Yin and Yang monsters on my side of the field to destroy an equal amount of cards in your hand. So send four to the graveyard and destroy your hand." Tao finished.
"You're going somewhere with this?" Reika asked.
"For every Yang monster in my graveyard, Huang Long gains five hundred attack points." The attack point reader read 3800 instead of 2800. "And for every Yin monster in my graveyard your monster loses five hundred attack points." The attack reader for the sorceress then read 900 instead of 1900. "Now attack, Borderline Crusher!"
The dragon pounded its tail on the ground creating a huge amount of rock and debris that pummeled the sorceress and the rest of Reika's life points from 1900-0. Reika fell to the ground as the male student body return to normal. Tao offered her his hand and she slapped it aside.
"Anger is the destroyer of fools; compassion is the healer of the wise. I declare this contest voided by my choice! See ya 'round, witch." He said waving goodbye from behind.
As Tao left Destiny sat there in silence at the amount of power that that dragon gave off. Jason got up to leave and smiled down at Tao.
"You three are definitely going to make this year the best year ever for some of us. See ya 'round, kids." He said waving goodbye much like Tao had just.
"What is Tao? Is he some sort of monster, or something different?" Destiny thought touching her necklace.
Chapter three complete. Thanks for Jason; he'll be used next chapter. Also, thanks for the other OCs sent to me as they will be used in later chapters.
It's a duel against the days of chivalry when Jason comes to meet with the Slifer dorms favorite divination girl. Next time: By Oath of the Sword; Knights of the Round Table v. Zodiacs