Heh…you've got to be kidding me…
I'm supposed to face against this little gal? Come on!
I know that a red student did manage to tie with Ashton before hand, but I'm more than one hundred percent sure that was just a fluke! No way would Ashton take that easily!
Although, I wonder what pathetic creatures this little girl plays…fairies? Cute little beasts? Perhaps spellcasters?
Wait…huh? Fighters? Well…that's original I'll give her that much…but it'll take more than just fighters to take down me!
Especially since I've changed my deck against that Colossus-using duelist…I've learned my lesson and decided that its time for change…
I'll roar like the monster that resides in my deck…I'll shatter whatever hopes this little girl has of victory!
Raise from the depths of the earth my beast!
//--/--///-/-/-//-/
Chapter 24
Earth Shatter Strike!
//-/--//-/-/-///-/-/
Standing near the dueling platform, Zaku was had his head near platform. Only a few minutes had passed since the first duel had ended…but the effects would leave scars for a long time…
"Ha! Ha! Ha!" Tao laughed slapping Zaku on the back a few times. "Looks like the big old scary Puppet Master lost to a little shorty!"
"…oh save it…" Zaku sighed lowering his head and placing his head into his hands. "…it's not so much that duel…but the fact that my fan clubs are going to hear about this!"
"Ah…the pain of being a celebrity," Chinto chuckled shaking his green hair from his eyes. "…I guess being a regular person has its perks…"
"Yeah, we read the tabloids…" Natalie added walking up with Kurro in front of her. "We're not in them…"
"Now, now you youngsters need to calm down," Kurro snickered tapping his cane on the ground, grabbing everyone's attention towards him. "So…we may be one down match…but we still have a decent chance at victory…"
"So…you're not mad at Zaku?" Tao asked pointing towards a very tired looking Zaku.
"Oh, heavens no, I'm furious," Kurro answered getting a few raised eyebrows from the group. "I'm just thinking about a proper punishment for him…and I'm having a hell of a time thinking of the various ways…"
"Uh, sir!" Tao shouted waving his hands in the air. "I'd like to duel next!"
"…I see…" Kurro muttered rubbing his chin at the excited large duelist. "So…what's with all the excitement?"
"Well…I've just wanted…" Tao answered with a pumping his arms up into the air. "…It's just been a while since I last had some fun! I need this!"
"Fine…well, I have to discuss the next match with Daigo anyway…" Kurro stated as he began to walk past his duelists. "So, I'll see what I can do…"
//--//--/-/-///-//-/
Meanwhile…
Sitting at the dock, a familiar Star Wielding duelist unfolded the days' paper, mostly looking at the horoscope paper. "Heh…while those fools duel…we continue to grow in strength and numbers…"
"I wouldn't get cocky Fomalhaut," Lucian advised walking onto the dock, getting a passing glance from Fomalhaut. "Gathering our members is of utmost importance…but doing the job is another factor…"
"You make it sound as if it was a bad thing," Fomalhaut chuckled, turning back to his paper. "You should know that we should embrace the challenge…even if it isn't much fun…"
"Lecturing me on how to do our jobs?" Lucian replied, glaring down at the star wielding duelist. "I never thought I'd see the day…"
"My horoscope told me that I'd be in a better mood…and so far," Fomalhaut answered looking towards the ocean to see a letter carrying boat come towards the island. "…but it looks like a couple of idiots are going to ruin it…"
"Relax…Saints Lust and Sloth may be unique," Lucian replied allowing the morning air to flap his cloak immediately. "…but their skills are comparable to our own…"
"There was one thing I needed to ask ya," Fomalhaut stated without looking up from his newspaper. "…from what I've counted…we've only got five members to our little Saints of Sin…shouldn't we have seven?"
"…I wouldn't expect you to know this," Lucian sighed brushing some of his hair to the side of his face. "…but, Saint Gluttony has already been chosen…"
"…And Saint Wrath?" Fomalhaut asked turning his head to the side to see the boat pulling up.
"Quite so…he's already here, he just needs a wake up call," Lucian answered bluntly making Fomalhaut stand up and raise an eyebrow.
"I don't get that at all…" Fomalhaut admitted.
A few minutes later, when the boat was completely docked, two forms slowly began to descend from the boat to greet the two Saints of Sin.
"…Saint Sloth…Saint Lust…Good of you two to come…" Lucian greeted lowering his head towards the two that stood before him and Fomalhaut.
The first of the two bowed down, allowing his somewhat spiked up red hair to wave up and down, as did the loosely red and mostly white uniform. When he stood up, the young man showed the collar of the jacket was covering the teen's mouth. His dark gray cargo pants had a pair of icy blue belts attached to his waist that had an icy blue duel disk and deck case strapped to them. "…it's nice to see you Lucian…but please, no need to be formal…its Talo…"
"Heh…what about your name Kouri?" The other teenaged man (who looked very familiar) chuckled pushing up his small round sunglasses. His greased black hair had a few strands of hair sprouting from his head. Around his body was a customized Slifer Red uniform that resembled more of an overcoat, his left arm was set about his belt allowing it to rest in the sling. Underneath his overcoat was a skintight dark blue shirt and his baggy gray pants. The weirdest thing about his outfit was the mysterious gourd tied around his belt.
"A lot better than your name Saint Sloth," Fomalhaut commented earning a glare from the teenager who went by the name 'Saint Sloth'.
Slamming his foot into the ground, Saint Sloth threw his hand towards the side "Oy! My name's Densui! And don't call me Sloth! It makes me sound like a bum!"
"Well, you're already a dead drunk," Talo pointed out, making a flaming aura appear around Densui.
"You want to try saying that to my face Ice Boy!?!" Densui growled turning towards Talo. "Or how about I slam my fist into the pretty face of yours into the ground?"
"Like you could actually do that," Talo replied combing a hand through his red hair. "There's no way that you lay a finger on me…"
"Oh, shut up you two!" Fomalhaut shouted looking through his paper. "Well, what do ya know…two annoyances are pissing me off right now…"
"I take it that your horoscope predicted this," Lucian sighed shaking his head at his few companions.
"Yeah…oh, and yours says that you'll find some money on the ground today," Fomalhaut chuckled lifting his paper up to Lucian to show the horoscope. "Just perfect for you…"
"You make it sound like I'd leap for a gold coin," Lucian groaned slapping his forehead and shaking his head before slamming his foot into the ground. "Anyway, now that you two have arrived, its time for you all to meet up with Saints Envy and Gluttony…"
"Yeah, yeah," Fomalhaut sighed returning to his paper, this time he was looking at the sports page.
"Yes, sir," Talo said sending a salute to Lucian.
"…suck up…" Densui growled throwing his arms behind his head.
"Then it's settled…" Lucian sighed throwing his cloak up as he turned and walked away. "Now…all three of you are to meet with Saints Envy and Gluttony at the library…"
"And where do you think you're going?" Fomalhaut asked beginning to fold up his newspaper under his right arm.
"…I have a little experiment to prepare for…" Lucian replied coldly stopping in his tracks, and turning his head to show the three saints his deathly stare. "…and it's more important than you fools realize."
Continue walking away, Lucian muttered the next part loud enough for the three weird saints. "…If you have the gall to bother me, I'll be found at the cliffs."
"…So, we'll see ya later sir," Talo stated waving his hand towards Lucian (although it was ignored by the weird cloaked man).
"Can we get a drink first?" Densui requested lifting up his gourd and shaking it to show that there was nothing in it at all. "I haven't had a decent drinky-drinky in a month and I'm due for a refill with my special concoction."
"I told you to make it while we were on the boat," Talo sighed reaching into his backpack and lifting up a small plastic bag. "I even managed to get what you needed for that vile poison that you call a drink…"
"Heh…you need a sophisticated tongue for something this strong," Densui laughed snatching the small plastic bag away from Talo.
"Will you two shut up already!?!" Fomalhaut snapped getting Talo and Densui to stand up straight immediately. "God…by the way you two argue, people may think that you're an old married couple."
"Take that back!" Talo and Densui shouted at the same time, both of them raising a fist up to Fomalhaut.
Seeing the two saints act like this, Fomalhaut just broke out in laughter and spun on his heel. "HA! HEH! HA! Thanks for proving me right!"
"What does that mean?" Densui asked making Talo slap his forehead.
"…you really act like a drunk," Talo sighed following Fomalhaut.
"Wait! I'm not a dead drunk!" Densui pouted chasing after his two comrades, waving his arms like a madman. "Get your faces over here!"
//-/-//-/-//-/-//
"Now then…first point goes to you," Kurro chuckled tapping his cane on the ground a few times. He was standing face to face with Daigo at the stands were the students were currently sitting and where Cain was relaxing with his feet propped up and his arms behind his head.
"I have to admit…that shorty did impress me. How'd you find him?"
"HEY! I'm not short!" Cain shouted from his seat, getting everyone to look at his enraged power.
"Brother!" Ami pleaded pulling Cain back into his seat by his shoulders. "Keep calm! Remember your breathing exercises!"
Shaking his head from Cain's outburst, Kurro just chuckled. "Back to the challenge Daigo…"
"Its one to zero…" Daigo stated crossing his arms over his chest while tilting his head to the side with a superior look. "So, why not make it two to none?"
"Then I suppose you have no questions to me choosing the next duelist…" Kurro speculated turning his head towards the small group of students that gathered near him and Daigo.
"Sure…" Daigo answered before realizing what he just agreed to. "Uh, wait a second…"
"I choose you young miss," Kurro chuckled raising his hand up towards…
"…Yae?" Garu asked tilting his head to the side. "Why do you want her to duel?"
"Heh…as a student of the academy everyone has an equal opportunity to fight for the academy…" Kurro answered bluntly with a dark look to his face. "…I'm just giving a chance for her to succeed."
"…No thanks," Yae sighed making Kurro's eyes widen. "I'm not interested in this kind of thing…"
"Might as well be," Garu chuckled placing his arms behind his head. "Yae can't duel out of a wet paper bag…"
"That doesn't even make any sense," Yae moaned slapping her forehead.
"Uh, well," Garu stuttered rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. "Uh…I'm just saying that Yae couldn't hold her own against these guys. I'll duel in her place…"
That's when a powerful fist slammed into Garu's face, sending him flying over the seats over Cain and the others. Cracking her fist, Yae growled trying to make the large blood vessel on her head disappear. "Don't fight my battles for me!"
Cain just slowly tilted his head towards Garu and shook his head. "You still have many things to learn Dumbass…"
"Oh shut up," Garu moaned.
Then, standing straight up in her seat, Yae raised her hand towards Kurro and Daigo. "Principal Daigo! I'm dueling next! Any objections?"
"Uh…no?" Daigo questioned before Yae leapt from her seat and began to head towards the dueling platform.
"Well, that was unexpected," Kurro admitted blinking a few times before descending towards the dueling platform, following the enraged Yae.
"Wait a minute!" Daigo shouted out making Kurro stop in his tracks. "We didn't select your duelist!"
"…Oh," Kurro chuckled slightly turning his head back. "Well, he's already chosen himself to duel next."
"What?" Daigo cursed under his breath.
//--//-/-/-//-/-/
"KURRO!" Tao shouted from the dueling platform as Yae stood in front of him. "THIS ISN'T WHAT I WAS EXPECTING FOR AN OPPONENT!"
"…you realize I'm standing in front of you?" Yae asked with a large sweat drop appearing on the side of her head while she was watching Tao shouting out.
Apparently, Tao didn't hear Yae. "I WAS EXPECTING THAT BLUE HAIRED GUY! OR MAYBE THE KAISER THAT'S HERE!"
"Clean your ears out!" Yae shouted at Tao throwing her arms at her sides. "You're dueling me!"
That's when Tao finally took notice of Yae and flicked some of his hair that seemed to string out slightly in front of his face. "…no offense, but I was actually looking for a challenge…"
"Was that supposed to be a crack about me being a girl?" Yae asked crossing her arms over her chest. "Cause I'm really getting tired of people like you…"
"What?! NO! NO! NO!" Tao shouted waving his arms in the air in his defense. "I'm not a sexist! I was referring to your uniform color, red, the lowest dorm in the school. And if what Kurro told me, a student in red usually means that they have poor dueling skills, a weak strategy, or are just plain lazy."
"I…I," Yae stuttered blinking a few times in confusion. "I have to admit, from what I've been told, that was a good deduction…"
"Thanks!" Tao laughed out loud rubbing the back of his head. "Many people don't take the time to actually know that I have a decent education in this big head of mine!"
"…Usually, a guy like you has only a good mind or that kind of a body," Yae pointed out as Tao nodded in agreement. "What's your trade-off?"
"Uh, I have a large amount of bad luck and I get tongue twisted easily," Tao answered with a dark aura floating over his head. "But, enough small talk…there was enough of that in the previous duel!"
"I have to go with you on that," Yae replied as both duelists lifted their duel disks up, activating the two devices on both duelists' arms.
"Duel time!" Tao shouted snapping his shuffled deck into his duel disk. (TLP: 8000)
"…and here I thought that little guy's opening statement was unique," Yae sighed pulling her five card hand.
"Ya wanna know something?" Tao asked slowly drawing his sixth card, fanning the small cards in his hand so that he could make an opening strategy. "I've actually heard that duel start used by a pop star duelist…more than likely that little dude just copied it being a fan of that pop star…"
"I'M NOT A FAN OF THAT JERK! AND STOP CALLING ME SHORT!"
"Three guesses as to who that was?" Tao chuckled spinning the first card from his hand and slapping it face down on his duel disk's field. In a dark flash, a face down card appeared before the clumsy duelist. "But now then…I'll start by summoning a set monster."
That's when two more set cards appeared behind the monster that Tao had set on the field. "And just to keep you guessing, these two cards will keep you guessing…"
"Then I take it that it's my turn," Yae guessed pulling her sixth card. 'Hmm…not a bad hand…I just wish I had a clue what this guy was playing with…'
"Before you make a move," Tao interrupted lifting his hand up to get Yae's attention. "I want to see which kind of Red student you are."
"Yeah, you mentioned that there are usually three reasons why a person's in red," Yae replied rubbing her chin. "Why do you bring that up now?"
"Well, think about it," Tao stated raising his hand up. "Depending on what kind of red student, that'll determine the match. I'm kinda hoping that you're not really knowledgeable about the duel monster game. That way I can enjoy your strategy and duelist ability."
"…I'm still surprised by that deduction," Yae commented shaking her head and lifting up her first card. "But I'll show you what kind of duelist I am! I summon Kung Fu Kid!"
Flipping over her, the blue haired young fighter (1300/1200) landed in front of Yae, raising his arms in a double knife style. "And now…Kung Fu Kid! Attack his face down monster!"
Leaping into the air, the Kung Fu Kid began to spin in a blue blur wheel that fell towards the set card.
Tao on the other hand…was smiling as the face down card flipped up, allowing a large egg shaped rock to emerge on the field. When the Kung Fu Kid slammed his foot into the boulder, the vibrations just sent the young fighter to the ground rubbing his knee. (YLP: 7300)
"What the hell is that thing?" Yae asked as her Kung Fu Kid flipped back to Yae's field.
"Heh, ya like it?" Tao asked tapping his hand against the large boulder like egg. "Allow me to show ya my Boulder Dragon Egg (0/2000). One of the newest additions to my deck!"
"I've seen some weird monsters here," Yae admitted before pointing towards the large boulder. "But that's a really strange monster…who made this game again?"
"Sorry, but I really can't remember," Tao admitted rubbing the back of his head. "Facts aren't my strong suite…but, I think its still your turn."
"Thanks, and to end that turn," Yae sighed fitting a card into her duel disk, making the set card appear behind her Kung Fu Kid. "I'll place a card to give my fighter a little back up!"
'My Disabling Kick trap will block any attack that the big guy tries…'
"Hmm…oh, its my turn right," Tao muttered slowly pulling his next card, then waving his hand up a little bit in the air. "And just cause I'm a nice guy, allow me to tell ya what my little egg can do…"
"I've got a few choice words about your Boulder Dragon Egg," Yae stated tilting her head to the side. "Little isn't one of them."
"My, aren't you the cut of humor," Tao chuckled tapping the backside of his fist up against the boulder next to him. "But in all seriousness, if you try to summon a monster with a little more kick by sacrificing your monster, you better make sure that they aren't level five or higher. Monsters that strong can't destroy this bad boy."
"So, I basically have to destroy your monster with a level four or lower monster," Yae summarized rubbing her chin. "Anything else I should be aware of?"
"Heh, well, I guess I can tell you what the other ability of my Boulder Dragon Egg has…" Tao muttered to himself crossing his arms. "…or, how about I show you? I activate my trap card, Rock Bombardment!"
With the set card disappearing into the air, a large boulder appeared over Yae as Tao lifted up a single card from his rather large deck of cards. Then, as soon as Tao fitted the card into his duel disk's graveyard, the large boulder fell towards Yae.
BOOOM!
Jumping to the side, Yae barely managed to dodge the large boulder, although the damage was still done. "Whoa!" (YLP: 6800)
"Now, in case you didn't realize," Tao explained placing his finger over his cards. "My trap allows me to send a rock monster from my deck to the graveyard. In its place you lose five hundred life points, a very interesting card."
"Seems to me that you've got a weird interest in strange cards," Yae admitted as the large boulder disappeared…
…all the while a large crack began to appear at the base of the Boulder Dragon Egg, allowing a large spurt of purple smoke to steam out. "I have to give you that little girl. Especially since I've got my Dragon Egg's first counter on it."
"And what does that counter do?" Yae asked blinking a few times.
"The counter itself isn't worth much," Tao replied wagging his finger. "Talk to be about its effect when it gets five counters."
"Do I even want to know what happens then?" Yae questioned lowering her head.
"Probably not," Tao chuckled lifting his next card up, immediately slapping it onto his duel disk. "But enough of this explanation crap! I summon Rock Soldier!"
The platform seemed to recede into itself, allowing a large knight made entirely of stone to rise onto the field, lifting up a large stone lance (2200/0). "And now…I think we should put your little Kung Fu Kid back in the kiddy corner where he belongs! Rock Soldier! Do your stuff!"
With a few cracks, the large Rock Soldier began to charge at the Kung Fu Kid at a surprising speed, it's lance aimed towards the calm fighter.
"Nice try! Trap card go!" Yae announced as her face down card flipped up and her Kung Fu Kid immediately slammed his foot into the side of the Rock Soldier's lance, making the attack miss. "My Disabling Kick negates your attack…but we both then take four hundred points of damage!" (YLP: 6400) (TLP: 7600)
With his soldier struggling back to his field, Tao just looked at his duel disk life point counter with a raised eyebrow. "Okay…well…that's not really all that impressive. But, to each their own…to end my turn, I'll set one card face down."
Before Yae could get a chance to draw her next card, many cracks appeared in the Rock Soldier's body (1700/500) allowing some dust to fly up into the air. "…let me guess, it has a nasty special ability."
"More like a handicap, my monster loses five hundred attack points, but they get transferred to his defense," Tao explained shrugging his shoulders. "But, at the moment, you've got nothing out that'll cause me to sweat…"
"Then how about we change that?" Yae asked pulling her next card from the top of her deck, then immediately spinning the card, Yae slapped her card onto her duel disk. "I summon Tiger Taijutsu Master!"
In a strong force of wind, the tiger themed female fighter appeared (1600/1200) joining the Kung Fu Kid on the battle field. "And guess what! My monster allows me to add a certain kind of card into my hand…"
"And you said my cards were weird," Tao chuckled as a card shot out of Yae's deck and into her hand.
"Sometimes weird is good," Yae replied looking at her newest card. "Just look at my friend Garu. He's weird looking but he's a good guy."
"I HEARD THAT!"
"You don't scare me!" Yae shouted back making Tao sweatdrop.
'…I don't even want to know how they became friends…' Tao thought as Yae fitted the card into her duel disk.
"Anyway, I activate the spell card, Taijutsu Art – Leaf Hurricane!" Yae announced as many green leaves began to appear all around the field. "And this spell card switches the battle mode of all of your monsters!"
"W-what!?!" Tao exclaimed as the many leaves began to flow around his two monsters, making the cards on his duel disk reverse modes. 'Crap! Now my Boulder Dragon Egg's going to get scrambled!'
"I usually prefer fried eggs," Yae admitted as her Tiger Taijutsu Master leapt into the air with a powerful burst of air following her. "But in this case…I'll make an exception!"
Using the air current, the Tiger Taijutsu Master propelled herself towards the large boulder egg, slamming her fist into the large stone. The impact shattered the boulder into Tao's body, making the duelist skid backwards due to the force. (TLP: 6000)
"And now…Kung Fu Kid! Attack that Rock Soldier!" Yae continued on as the young fighter speed forward, creating a few afterimages before slamming his foot into the Rock Soldier's head, cracking the statue like monster into pebbles.
"…uh oh…" Tao gulped turning his head to the side to see Kurro shake his head. 'Oh no! I'm not going to lose like Zaku! And I'm not going to get that punishment!'
"And to end my turn…I'll set one card face down," Yae wrapped up as Tao slowly shook his head.
'O-Okay…I just got to stall till I can actually get the real star out…' Tao thought to himself slowly pulling his next card. At the sight of his card, Tao's eyes slowly widened. '…I'm half way there!'
Noticing that he wasn't doing anything, Tao shook his head and reached for another card of his. "Uh…I-I set a monster in defense mode. T-that's all I can do…"
'Alright! I've got him on the ropes!' Yae thought drawing her next card. "Now then…I think I'll summon Kung Fu Lass!"
Jumping onto the platform from the stands, a new fighter appeared on the field standing next to the (now blushing) Kung Fu Kid. This fighter was dressed in a similar fashion as the Kung Fu Kid, but was very different, the fighter was a young girl with long pink hair tied up into two buns wearing a dark red fighter's gi with a blue phoenix on the back (1200/1300). With a nod to the other two fighters, the Kung Fu Lass placed her left arm behind her back and had her right hand in the air.
"…I think I know what kind of movies you're into," Tao chuckled rubbing the back of his head.
/-/-/-/-///-/-//-///-/
"Damn it…where is Vergil?"
In the hallways, Mustang was still searching for Vergil for the beginning of Yae's duel. Currently, Mustang was in the general area of the library.
Slapping his forehead, Mustang leaned up against the wall near the library entrance and lowered his head. 'Geez…hell, why am I even looking for this guy? If anything, he's probably already at the duel arena…'
"AHH! That's what I call drinky-drinky!"
"Huh?" Mustang questioned turning his head towards the library's entrance way. After blinking a few times, Mustang slowly walked through the entrance way being quiet all the while. 'What was that?'
"Densui! Did you have to mix that stuff here?" Another voice stated with an icy tone to it.
'Hmm…I would've figured that with a large number of people gone thanks to Kurro, that I'd recognize a number of voices,' Mustang thought walking through the maze of books trying to get closer to the voices.
"Will you two shut up! This is a damn library!" A rather loud and slightly familiar voice snarled making the other two voices quiet down. "I'm trying to read my newspaper!"
'…I know that voice,' Mustang thought reaching the edge of the bookcase to see Densui, Talo and Fomalhaut sitting at a table. 'Hmm…haven't seen those two reds before. Transfer students maybe?'
/-/-//-//--/-/-/
Spinning her next card, Yae smiled as she fitted it into her duel disk. "I hope you're ready Tao! Cause its time to take you down a few notches!"
"…can we just skip to the part where you surrender?" Tao requested lifting his hands up as the spell card appeared in front of Yae, making his eyes widen in shock. "Uh…could you consider not playing that card?"
"Nope," Yae answered as a powerful yellow aura appeared over Yae. "I activate the spell card, Shield Crush! This card automatically destroys a defense mode monster! And since the only defense monster is your face down monster…"
With that fact established, the powerful yellow aura shot off from the air where it was set, and crashed into the face down monster, destroying it without leaving a trace of its existence.
And starring at the field of three monsters, Tao immediately lifted up his hands in defense. "W-wait! C-can't we talk about this?!?"
"Sorry…but, no deal!" Yae shouted throwing her hand towards Tao and making all three of her monsters nod. "All three of you! Direct attack on Tao!"
Blinking once, Tao missed how all three of the fighter monsters managed to disappear leaving afterimages of themselves. However, all three of the fighters appeared in front of Tao, each of them readying their fists.
"…this'll sting…" Tao muttered before three fists collided with his face, making him fall backwards with a dazed look on his face. "ARGH!" (TLP: 2900)
All three of the fighting themed monsters jumped backwards onto Yae's field, each of them with hardened smiles on their faces. Yae couldn't help but smile along with them. "Well now…I think this match is mostly done."
Struggling to stand up, Tao slowly drew his next card with his eyes narrowed down. "D…don't think that this over. Not by a long shot!"
In a stream on light, a beautiful angel appeared next to Tao, pulling three of his cards from his deck for him. "I activate the spell card, Graceful Charity! Now I draw three cards and discard two!"
Before he selected his two cards, Tao looked over his three newest cards…he must've drawn something good, cause his eyes were as wide as dinner plates. "Heh…I guess I have take something back."
Taking two of the cards in his hand, Tao handed them over to the angel who slipped into his graveyard slot. "This match is over! I activate my face down trap card, Call of the Haunted!"
A spooky mist floated over the field, allowing a coffin made entirely out of granite to rise from the duelist platform. Then, in a shower of granite shards, the coffin shattered to allow a large green golem with a mine on its head to step forward (1000/1900). "This allows me to special summon my Mine Golem! But I'm not done! I activate the spell card, Inferno Reckless Summon!"
Two blue flames erupted from the platform, creating two more Mine Golems (1000/1900 x2) next to the original. "My spell card allows me to special summon all copies of a monster that I special summoned. However, now you get to special summon all copies of the Kung Fu Kid in your deck!"
"Fine by me!" Yae replied lifting up her two other copies of the Kung Fu Kid (1300/1200 x2) both whom appeared on the field. At the sight of the three Kung Fu Kids, the Kung Fu Lass sighed and shook her head slightly. "And I already see what your strategy is! That face down card is Minefield Eruption!"
"…Wrong!" Tao shouted sticking his tongue out. "My trap card isn't for my three golems…but its for something quite different! Something that's much more dangerous!"
"Yeah right, I call your bluff," Yae stated lifting her hand up. "If you had something that strong, you would've brought it out by now!"
"…I would've…but I needed the necessary cards," Tao admitted lifting a card up, and spinning it into his duel disk. "I activate the Ritual Spell card…Seal Released!"
The earth began to shake violently, making Yae and her five monsters lose their footing as a very large, fancy coffin emerged from the ground. However, Tao was able to keep standing, even as the shaking began to get worse. "Now then…I offer all three of my Mine Golems!"
The coffin slowly began to open, allowing a large stone clawed hand burst out clutching all three of the large golems easily. All three of the golems tried to escape, but unfortunately, the clawed hand pulled them directly into the coffin. "The sacrifice has been accepted…and now…Stone Emperor! Awaken!"
The coffin then shattered into large boulders, releasing the owner of that large clawed hand. Standing behind Tao, casting a very large shadow was a extremely large stone golem warrior with a carved lion head on the top. In the warrior's broad arms was a large anchor like sword that it holds in its clawed hands.
The tall golem looked down at all five of Yae's monsters and then roared loudly, making the ground shake once more (2000/2000).
Yae just sweatdropped at the creature, sure it was stronger than her monsters…but she was expecting something with a little more punch with its appearance and entrance. "…that was worth the hype?"
"You haven't seen nothing yet!" Tao laughed loudly, reaching into his duel disk's graveyard, pulling out a monster card that went by the name D.D. Statue (0/2200). "I enact the special ability of my Emperor! By removing my D.D. Statue from the graveyard, I can increase my monster's attack or defense by my statue's defense (2000/2000 + 2200/0)!"
"Okay…that's actually pretty impressive," Yae admitted as Tao continued on.
"And I'm not done! I activate the spell card Infernal Earth Strike!" Tao shouted fitting his spell card into his duel disk, showing the Stone Emperor slamming its fist into a large building. "Now…by sacrificing one thousand life points…my Emperor can attack all monsters on your side of the field!" (TLP: 1900)
"What!?!" Yae shouted looking at all five of her surprised monsters.
"Stone Emperor! Unleash the fury of Earth's Depths!" Tao commanded as his Stone Emperor roared loudly into the air, lifting up the anchor like sword into the air.
Then with a powerful horizontal slash, the sword sliced through all of Yae's monsters, making the fighters cry out in pain and shattering them into pixels. The force of the wind sent Yae stumbling to the ground. (YLP: 0)
With a final roar, the Stone Emperor disappeared into the air behind Tao…who at the moment was kind of surprised. "I…I won?!? I did it! I won! I won!"
Sitting back up, Yae lowered her head with a loud sigh. "Yeah…congrats, you just beat a young girl at a card game."
"…you must really like taking the fun out of everything don't ya?" Tao asked shaking his head while looking at the ritual monster he had on his duel disk. 'But like that matters now! Now I won't get punished, and I owe it to you Stone Emperor!'
Meanwhile…
"My, my, my," Kurro chuckled rubbing his chin. "I guess Tao really had a few tricks up his sleeve…"
"…that really wasn't fair if you ask me…" Zaku moaned while combing his hair with a silver comb. "I get a Obelisk Blue and Tao got a slacker…"
"…life's unfair," Natalie pointed out.
"Deal with it!" Chinto laughed pointing at Zaku.
//-/--/--//-/-/-/-/
Card Stats
Kung Fu Lass / Wind / LV. 4 / ATK: 1200 / DEF: 1300 / Warrior/Effect: During each battle phase this card does not attack, increase its ATK by 200. When this card attacks, it's ATK returns to normal at the end of the battle phase.
Description: A young girl with long pink hair tied up into two buns wearing a dark red fighter's gi with a blue phoenix on the back.
Taijitsu Art – Leaf Hurricane / Spell Instant /Effect: This card can only be activated when you have a monster with 'Taijitsu', 'Monk', 'Kung Fu' or 'Karate' in its name on your side of the field. Switch the battle mode of all of your opponent's monsters (any face down defense monsters are flipped face up, negate any flip effects).
Image: The Tiger Taijitsu Master stopping a punch from the Hitotsu-Me Giant just by simply pushing his fist to the side.
Boulder Dragon Egg / Earth / LV. 3 / ATK: 0 / DEF: 2000 / Rock/Effect: This card cannot be destroyed by monsters with level 5 or higher. Every time an EARTH Rock type monster is sent to your graveyard, place one counter on this card. When this card has five or more counters on this card, you may special summon one 'Boulder Dragon' from your hand, deck, or graveyard.
Description: A large stone egg with many vines around it.
Rock Soldier / Earth / LV. 4 / ATK: 2200 / DEF: 0 / Rock/Effect: During each end phase this card is face up on the field, decrease this monster's attack by 500. And then increase this monster's defense points by 500.
Description: A large knight made out of stone lifting up a large stone lance.
D.D. Statue / Earth / LV. 3 / ATK: 0 / DEF: 2200 / Rock/Effect: During the end phase this card was removed from play, you may return this card to your graveyard, or your opponent's graveyard. This card cannot be special summoned.
Description: A large glowing statue of the D.D. Warrior lady.
Seal Released / Ritual Spell / Effect: This card is used to Ritual Summon 'The Stone Emperor'. You must offer monsters from the field or your hand whose total Level Stars is equal to or more of nine.
Image: A young blue haired girl wearing a simple dark blue dress standing in front of fancy stone coffin being opened up by two dangerous clawed hands with a pair of red eyes gleaming out of it.
The Stone Emperor / Earth / LV. 9 / ATK: 2000 / DEF: 2000 / Rock/Ritual/Effect: This card can only be ritual summoned by the effect of 'Seal Released' and by offering monsters who total stars equal to or more to nine. Once per turn, during your main phase, you may remove one EARTH monster from your graveyard from play to increase this monster's attack or defense points by the attack or defense points of the removed card from play until your opponent's end phase. If the card that was removed by this card's effect was a Rock monster, this card cannot be destroyed by spell or trap cards until the end of your opponent's turn.
Description: An extremely large stone golem warrior with a carved lion head on the top. In the warrior's broad arms is a large anchor like sword that it holds in its clawed hands.
Infernal Earth Strike / Spell / Effect: Pay 1000 life points. Select 1 level 7 or higher EARTH attribute monster on your side of the field. During this turn, only the selected monster can attack and it attacks all monsters on your opponent's side of the field. The effects of all Effect monsters destroy by the selected monster in battle cannot be activated.
Image: the Stone Emperor slamming its fist into a large building.
/-//--/-/--///-/
Kurro: Now then…we're tied again…
Chinto: And I'm up! So who's going to be against me?
Vergil: Your opponent…is me!
Chinto: Well, well, well…I've been waiting for a chance to face ya again!
Vergil: Zeff…let this be my retribution!
The rematch appears! Enforcers Against the Kaisers! Next time – Chapter 25: Corrupted Justice
Taylor: Come on Vergil! Win this or else!
Rox: BARK! WOOF!