Amir was never a lucky person, he knew it and planned his life accordingly, he should have known something was amiss when he was admitted among the elites of the academy: the Obelisk Blue.
Because not even a month into the school year he was chosen for a rank switch game, its true he didn't show up to some classes and during the ones he attended he may or may not took a few naps here and there but still that was incredibly hurtful, but maybe it just meant his opponent was really talented, not that he was a huge slacker. Amir never really had any contacts with his fellow dorm mates, but ever since the announcement they avoided him like the plague and openly mocked him in his back, he definitely will never get used to being the outcast
Soon enough the day of the duel came, he stood in his side of the bright arena, proudly wearing his blue blazer maybe for the last time, for the rest of the school Amir appeared as cold and emotionless as always, luckily for him the dark curly hair he was born with has grown enough to hide how jittery and anxious his eyes we're. His opponent was late and for a moment his tension was relieved, perhaps he would simply win thanks to this, maybe he didn't even have to rely on his terrible luck to win. Just when Amir started to see an end to the tunnel a chubby girl with red hair and a yellow overcoat came running into the arena with a smile on her face.
"Heya buddy! Sorry for keeping you waiting me and a bunch of friends just spent the night celebrating and prepping my deck you get the feeling, right?" She blurted all of this in go while Amir was looking at her baffled, her own confidence and apparent buzzing social life drove deeper how different they really, we're, before he had time to think he expressed his raw feelings.
"Sorry but I'm going to make sure you don't have a reason to celebrate" that came out as really mean which wasn't his intentions, he simply didn't pair well with the energetic crowd. Without apologizing the young man inserted his deck into the dark purple duel disk he owned, it's center flashing red as it unfolded into a dark wing.
"I guess you're like the other blues huh bro?" without letting him voice his dislike of that title she activated her own duel disk, one shining in the colors of silver and gold carefully embracing each other making the object look more like a jewel than a piece of advance technology.
The announcer, a young excited second year grabbed the mic and started with introducing the participants. "Ladies and gentlemen! Today we are watching with open eyes the meritocracy of our great academy! Will the challenger Zoé Sorel rise to the occasion and claim a spot among the elite or will Amir Mishina save himself ?!" his voice shaking with emotions resonated among the students, despite being the challenger Zoé was the one people cheered for, especially a very energetic androgenous student with long spiky hair dyed in two colors. The first move went to his challenger so Amir could only look at his starting with a burning desire to change those cheers into disappointed sighs.
"Aight I'll start us nice and good, can't disappoint such a cute audience!" After a few moments of staring at her hand, she shrugged. "That'll do just fine for now, I normal summon my Metalfoes Goldriver" A beautiful bright as the sun buggy appeared into the field driven by a foolish man that angrily stared at Amir who almost felt intimidated by a mere hologram. "I'll then set two cards face down and end my turn"
That opener delighted the obelisk blue student, she might smile and act like it's all good but he knew this was nothing but bluff, she didn't have enough monsters for a pendulum summon or any big enough play, her smile was as fake as the others he thought as he drew his card in one swift movement.
Amir suddenly froze, this was the first time he had to play in front of such a big audience and with stakes this high he just stopped for a moment, unsure of what to say or how to announce his plays he unconsciously started playing with the silver chain he wore around his neck making the audience question what he was doing, it took him noticing the card he drew for him to snap out of this trance.
"I" his voice started out as timid and unsure, but slowly as his brain figured out the combo he was going to make it turned a confidant roar full of authority "I start out by normal summoning the tuner monster Crimson Resonator!" the little horned devil appeared in a little explosion of flames, his appearance made some people in the crowd snicker with ill intent.
"It seems Amir made a misplay and did not special summon crimson resonator with its effect! I must say its on me for still expecting something from him" His only response to this was a loud and very audible Tsk that resonated in the arena.
"Next, I activate the effect of Zalamander Catalyzer in my hand, by revealing him and another fiend monster in my hand, I am allowed to special summon one of them at the cost of discarding the other, I reveal Lesser Fiend and chose to special summon it!" The 4-armed goat fiend was a much more threatening monster than the little crimson resonator, a few people we're displeased by such an aesthetically displeasing sight.
"Now, if I had used the effect of crimson resonator my extra deck would be locked outside of Dark dragons, but since I normal summoned it I can do this, I tune my level 2 Crimson resonator with my level 5 Lesser fiend!" the two monsters become engulfed in light and flames as the figure of a new monster approached. "Appear lord of the lost and emissary of the end, Level 7 Chaos King Archfiend!" The one-eyed fiend unleashed a storm of flames on the field that threatened to engulf anyone and everything, it stood proudly besides its master, most of the mockery stopped and Amir couldn't hide a little cocky smile that made his round face really come together.
"Not too bad bro, in my defense I never doubted you hehe" Zoé raised her hands to signal her innocence, that cute little gesture earned her some cheers which added more to Amir's annoyance.
"That may be the case but don't expect to escape unscathed, I attack your Goldriver with my synchro monster, and on the attack declaration I will use its effect, Reverse World!" In an instant the pendulum monster withers under the cruel gaze of Amir's synchro monster, the buggy turning brittle and frail. "This switch the ATK and DEF of all monsters you control! Now the damage calculation may proceed, Infernal Slicer!" Using its shoulder blades, the fiend monster cuts Goldriver into tiny little pieces dealing a whooping 2100 points of damage to Zoé. Amir pushed his glasses up his nose, taking first blood was a little victory he was proud of, but to his dismay he sees that his opponent's smile didn't vanish, actually it grew even bigger.
"Destroying my monster was a bad move, reverse card open! The trap card Metalfoes counter! Appear Metalfoes Vanisher!" From the broken remains of the buggy, an impressive monster with wings burning as hot and bright as a thousand suns descends upon the field. "When summoned by a metalfoes card this neat little monster can banish any monster on your field or GY, so say goodbye to your archfiend, Crimson Remover!" In one flash of light, his advantage and field presence were wiped clean, his voice didn't sound as confident anymore, "Since a monster was destroyed in a battle involving a fiend monster, I can add my Zalamander Catalyzer from my GY to my hand, I… I will set one card and end my turn"
"Stop you right there bro, I need to activate my other trap card, reverse card open, Monster Assortment! You see it allows me to- "She couldn't finish her sentence, Amir had lost his patience and stopped Zoé right in her tracks.
"I play the card, just chose your targets and let's get it over with"
"You're pretty rude, I was mainly explaining to the crowd, you know being a duelist is also about entertaining them. Anyway, I chose Metalfoes Volflame and Metalfoes Melcasucre, come and test your luck!" She held two cards and after shuffling them back and forth she gestured toward the obelisk blue student, in this moment he loathed his inability to read facial expression, his opponent's smug smile remained the same no matter which card he pretended to choose so he just picked the right one, most likely due to superstition.
"Now its my turn, draw!" She examined her hand and Amir internally prayed that she couldn't perform a pendulum summon, but it seems whatever god was up there hated his guts. "I set Metalfoes Volflame as a scale 8 and Metalfoes Melcaster as a scale 7! I will now perform a pendulum summon bringing back good old Goldriver!" Bursting from the extra deck leaving hot trails behind, the normal monster's revival was pretty taunting to precisely one person in the audience.
"So, you had a 50 percent chance to be stuck with the same scale and still took the gamble" His voice betrayed a hint of envy, God only knows how many time that very same kind betrayed him by giving him Ryu-Kishin rather than Tour guide
"I am pretty confident in my luck, and besides my deck can clears scales pretty easily, but enough talking around, its time for the battle phase after all I must pay you back for that damage, go vanisher and goldriver! Erasing drift!" Their combination attack scattered flames all around the field and dropped the glass wearing boy's LP to a mere 3200, he clenched his fist in anger, his hand didn't contain any card to break through these pendulum monsters, and with their ability to tag in and out of the extra deck he was doomed to lose the grind game, Amir knew what he had to do.
"You better have something good up your sleeve bro, wouldn't want a duel this important to end like this right? Set 1 backrow and end turn, the stage is all yours" that smug little comment ignited some laughs in the audience, each one a wound in Amir's heart, he drew his card in silence hoping it would do the trick. For but one moment his eyes shone bright, breaking through the cold anxiety that always clouded them.
"I set one monster and end my turn" He slammed a monster face-down and mentally steeled himself for the public's reaction
"And it seems we're seeing the end of this duel folks! The challenger has the overwhelming advantage both in field presence and LP, Amir will not grow into a king today!" The pun was horrible but still the other students laughed, it was mean spirited and even Zoé felt it, she flashed a comforting smile his way. Sympathy or pity? Amir assumed it was the later and simply stared at his opponent trying to not show any emotions that would betray him.
"It was good duel don't pay any attention to the crowd bro, your deck just didn't get the opportunity to shine yet, I'll make this quick. Battle phase! Go goldriver destroy his face-down!" The buggy literally runs over the set monster revealing it to be a very bony fiend wearing a tuxedo that got shattered by the impact.
"By destroying my Archfiend Horrid Butler you triggered its effects! I can special summon a Normal or Gemini monster from my deck to my side of the field, behold the very first archfiend that ever walked the land, appear in the thunderclap Summoned Skull!" His voice shook with passion as lightning strikes the field revealing the presence of an imposing demon, its muscles protruding through the bones.
"That's a cool card bro, I could use it in my deck, wanna trade later?" Amir was taken back by how genuine she sounded but before he could answer she announced to the crowd "It's a nice monster but its no match for my vanisher! Go Crimson Eraser!" The pendulum monster flew accumulating speed, he was this close to obliterating Amir's last chance at winning when suddenly he smirked smugly.
"Reverse card open! Synchro call! I special summon back my crimson resonator and immediately after that I synchro summon during your turn by using it and summoned skull!" Vanisher's attack stops right in its track as he becomes blinded by the vanishing light indicative of a synchro summon, get carried by emotions and forgetting the crowd Amir starts chanting as flames cover the field.
"Fallen queen of hell take pride in your scars for they show your might and resolve, let us show them that those with nothing to lose are to be feared!" He clasped his hand together and brings them down in a swift motion as the light explodes. "Synchro summon! Level 8! Nadab Fallen Archfiend!"
Tattered wings, a dark body illuminated only by the endless number of red scars, one of her horns broken and an empty eye socket, her appearance must have been glorious one day but now if not for the anger shining in her only remaining eye one would not be blamed to think of her as nothing but a walking corpse. She stood proudly next to his master, summoning his ace burned away all of his anxiety and worries, he was going to win this duel.
Yet despite the superior ATK of her opponent's monster Zoé smiled. "Finally, you make this duel worthwhile! but you're not the only one with tricks up his sleeve, go quick-play spell! Order to Charge!" Zoé quickly slammed the spell into her duel disk, the heat of the duel was starting to affect her as well, there was no more crowd and even the commentator's voice was drowned by the passion. "I tribute Goldriver to destroy your Nadab!"
The golden buggy charged on driven only by a burning will to overthrow the tyranic dragon, it soon becomes nothing more than a ball of pure fire that explodes on Nadab's face that covered the field in dust, zoé was smiling confidant in her victory but when the dust settled to her and the crowd's surprise Amir's monster was still on the field. "But but how!?"
"If a fiend monster I control would be destroyed I can discard Kuribohss instead" The pompadour fiend mocked Zoé as it went into the graveyard and Nadab roared to establish her dominance, she would not so easily be denied.
"That's cheating! Your monster is a dragon through and tough!" She pouted and several people in the audience shouted for a judge, Amir's laugh resonated in the arena as he shook his finger in front of his face.
"My monster has the effect to also be treated as a fiend on the field and GY, if you have any complaints, you're free to send them to the game designer." Showing frustration for the first time in the game Zoé ended her turn having exhausted every play open to her.
"Could this be a comeback for Amir!? Did we all underestimate his resolve to remain at the top?!"
"Silence fool! I draw!" The young man smiled and pushed his glasses up his nose again, this duel was over. "During the standby phase Nadab's effect activates, I can pay Life points in multiple of 100 to boost her ATK by the same amount, I will drop down to 100 LP! Devil's Drive!" He let out a groan as his life was drained, for once his pain had a purpose and will edge him closer to victory, from 3000 ATK Nadab grew into an absolutely towering beast with 6100 ATK.
"Then I equip her with the equip spell, Archfiend Staff of despair! I use its effect, your monster's will lose ATK equal to half of Nadab's ATK, you know what this means! This game is over! Tyrant's Gaze" Brandishing the Staff, the mummified head on top of it let out a deafening screech dropping Vanisher' ATK to 0, if this battle phase went on without trouble Amir will win.
The audience was shocked and a petite girl wearing thick glasses very audibly gasped, Zoé started sweating and showing signs of worries, Amir might not be an expert in body language but he knew that this could only mean one thing, he was going to win.
"Battle phase! Go forth Nadab let us end this once and for all, Scarlet Tyranny !" The fiendish dragon submerged herself in flames opening up all of her old scars as she burst forth in a blaze of glory destroying Vanisher and leaving nothing but trash behind. Amir let out as sigh of relief, this duel was too close, from now on he was going to attend every class and be more sociable this truly was a wakeup call.
Yet the hologram of his dragon didn't disappear, and when the dusted settle Zoé was smiling and sticking out her tongue taunting him. "Sorryyy, I activated my quickplay spell Emergency provision, by sending Volflame to the GY I gained 1000 LP, leaving me with 800 "
The crowd went wild, people started clapping and chanting her name, Amir was baffled and couldn't say a thing. No, no this was still in the bag, he didn't lose control at all. "You're still going to lose! When I deal damage to you, I get back my kuribohss! And when Nadab destroys a monster, I can search my deck for a dragon or fiend and add it to my hand or destroy it, I add tour guide from the underworld from my deck to my hand!" He had protection for his monster, she had such a high ATK that nothing could take her down, hell he even had follow up for the next turn, Zoé had nothing, she was missing a scale and her hand was full of deck card, this was his game!
"True true, it's all riding on this draw, can you feel it? The tension, the pressure piling up" Her voice got lower and lower, making Amir focus to listen to her, he was hanging by her every word, watching as her hand slowly touched the top of the deck and finally, she drew it and the executioner's blade fell on his head.
"hmmm, I'm in a real pickle, its indeed a monster but I can hardly fusion summon with only one monster…Unless?" Those words and her smug smile made him shiver "My ultimate fusion spell activates, Parametalfoes fusion!" She brandished the card up in the sky for all to see. "I can fusion summon using monsters from my hand, field AND extra deck face up! I use Vanisher and the Silverd I drew as material, come forth my very own ace monster!" A bright line shone in the field blinding Amir, the monsters' armors we're removed and repurposed, the figure was slicker, faster and more polished. "Come forth, fly on wings of liberty and fueled by the flames of passion! Metalfoes Mithrilium!" The girl pilot was proud and unfazed by how titanic Nadab was, she brandished her guns and was ready to rumble, Amir was not intimidated by her low 2600 ATK points but as he feared, that monster had an effect.
"True your monster can escape destruction by battle or card effect thanks to that cute kuribohss of yours, but can she deal with this? I use Mithrillium's effect! I shuffle Parametalfoes Fusion and Metalfoes Counter from my GY into my deck to return Nadab to the hand!" Amir's face became pale, he extended his hand toward Nadab as if he could stop her from leaving him, but before he could say anything his ace monster, the card closest to his heart was gone, he had no monsters, no spell or trap, nothing to stop the incoming attack.
"Good game bro, Mithrillium, finish this in style. Quicksilver Bullet!" The crowd roared as the fusion monster finished off Amir, the small girl and androgenous delinquent he saw in the crowd jumped out and hugged Zoé as the announcer proclaimed her victory and new rank. Amir was on his knees gritting his teeth, it was the one game he had to win, this was supposed to be what he was good at, yet he shocked and misplayed when it mattered the most, tears we're swelling in his eyes as he saw the scene of friendship and joy play out in front of him.
Some people have it all, what is his small talent worth compared to this? As he got up and left in silence a strange person kept observing him rather than celebrate with the other students, it played with one of it's silver braid as it yawned, yes this boy would make quite the amusing servant It thought to itself grinning ominously.
Card used in order of Appearance :
Metalfoes Goldriver
Fire
Level 4
Scale 1
Psychic/Pendulum
1900 ATK/500 DEF
Pendulum Effect: Once per turn: You can target 1 other face-up card you control; destroy it, and if you do, Set 1 "Metalfoes" Spell/Trap directly from your Deck.
Crimson Resonator
Dark
Level 2 Tuner
Fiend
800 ATK/300 Def
If you control no monsters: You can Special Summon this card from your hand. If the only other monster you control is exactly 1 DARK Dragon Synchro Monster: You can Special Summon up to 2 "Resonator" monsters from your hand or Deck, except "Crimson Resonator". You can only use each effect of "Crimson Resonator" once per turn. You cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck, except DARK Dragon Synchro Monsters, the turn you activate either of this card's effects.
Zalamander Catalyzer
Fire
Level 4
Fiend
1600 ATK/200 DEF
You can reveal this card and 1 Fiend monster in your hand; Special Summon 1 of them and discard the other. When a monster is destroyed by battle involving your Fiend monster, while this card is in your GY: You can add this card to your hand. You can only use each effect of "Zalamander Catalyzer" once per turn.
Lesser Fiend
Dark
Level 5
Fiend
2100 ATK/1000 DEF
(This card is always treated as an "Archfiend" card.)
Banish any monster destroyed by battle with this card.
Chaos King Archfiend
Dark
Level 7 synchro monster
Fiend
2600 ATK/2600 DEF
1 Fiend-Type Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
When this card declares an attack: You can switch the current ATK and DEF of all face-up monsters your opponent controls, until the end of the Battle Phase.
Metalfoes Counter
Normal Trap
If a card(s) you control is destroyed by battle or card effect: Special Summon 1 "Metalfoes" monster from your Deck. During either player's turn, except the turn this card was sent to the GY: You can banish this card from your GY; add 1 face-up "Metalfoes" Pendulum Monster from your Extra Deck to your hand.
Metalfoes Vanisher
Fire
Level 9
Scale 1
Psychic/Pendulum
2900 ATK/ 1900 DEF
Pendulum Effect: If a monster(s) you control is destroyed by card effect (except during the Damage Step): You can add 1 "Metalfoes" card from your GY to your hand, except "Metalfoes Vanisher". You can only use this effect of "Metalfoes Vanisher" once per turn.
Monster Effect: While this card is in your hand: You can target 2 face-up cards you control, including a "Metalfoes" card; destroy them, and if you do, Special Summon this card from your hand. If this card is Special Summoned by the effect of a "Metalfoes" card: You can target 1 monster your opponent controls or in their GY; banish it. You can only use each monster effect of "Metalfoes Vanisher" once per turn.
Monster Assortment
Normal Trap
Reveal 1 Normal Monster from your Deck, and 1 Effect Monster from your Deck with the same Type, Attribute, and Level, then your opponent randomly chooses 1 for you to add to your hand, also you shuffle the other into your Deck. You can only activate 1 "Monster Assortment" per turn.
Metalfoes Volflame
Fire
Level 7
Scale 8
Psychic/Pendulum
2400 ATK/ 2000 DEF
Pendulum Effect: Once per turn: You can target 1 other face-up card you control; destroy it, and if you do, Set 1 "Metalfoes" Spell/Trap directly from your Deck.
Parametalfoes Melcaster
Fire
Level 7
Scale 1
Psychic/Pendulum
2000 ATK/ 2500 DEF
Pendulum Effect: Once per turn: You can target 1 other face-up card you control; destroy it, and if you do, Set 1 "Metalfoes" Spell/Trap directly from your Deck.
Monster Effect: If this card on the field is destroyed by battle or card effect: You can add 1 face-up "Metalfoes" Pendulum Monster from your Extra Deck to your hand, except "Parametalfoes Melcaster", but you cannot activate it, or cards with its name, to place it in the Pendulum Zones, for the rest of this turn, except by card effect. You can only use this effect of "Parametalfoes Melcaster" once per turn.
Archfiend Horrid Butler
Earth
Level 2
Fiend
1200 ATK/ 200 DEF
If this card is sent to the Graveyard because of a card effect or being destroyed by battle: You can Special Summon 1 Normal or Gemini monster from your Deck.
Summoned Skull
Dark
Level 6
Fiend
2500 ATK/ 1200 DEF
(This card is always treated as an "Archfiend" card)
Synchro Call
Normal Trap
Target 1 monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon it, but it has its effects negated (if any), and if you do, immediately after this effect resolves, Synchro Summon 1 DARK Dragon or Fiend-Type Synchro Monster using only monsters you control as Materials, including the Summoned monster.
Nadab Fallen Archfiend
Dark
Level 8 Synchro Monster
Dragon
3000 ATK/ 2000 DEF
1 Fiend-type Tuner + 1+ Non-Tuner monsters
This card is also treated as a Fiend-type monster while on the field and GY
During your Standby Phase: You can pay LP in multiples of 100; this card gains that much ATK until the End Phase of the next turn. When this card destroy an opponent's monster by battle : You can take 1 Dragon-type or Fiend-type monster in your Deck, and either add it to your hand, or destroy it.
Order to Charge
Quick-play Spell
Target 1 non-Token Normal Monster you control; Tribute that Normal Monster, and if you do, destroy 1 monster your opponent controls.
Kuribohss
Dark
Level 1
Fiend
300 ATK/ 200 DEF
If a Fiend monster(s) you control would be destroyed by battle or card effect, you can send this card from your hand to your GY instead. If your opponent takes damage while this card is in your GY: You can add this card to your hand.
Archfiend's Staff of Despair
Equip Spell
Equip only to a monster you control. During your Main Phase: You can make all monsters your opponent currently controls lose ATK equal to half the equipped monster's ATK, until the end of this turn (even if this card leaves the field). If this card is sent to the GY while equipped to a monster: You can pay 1000 LP; return this card to your hand. You can only use each effect of "Archfiend's Staff of Despair" once per turn.
Emergency Provisions
Quick-play Spell
Send any number of other Spell/Trap Cards you control to the Graveyard; gain 1000 LP for each card sent to the Graveyard this way.
Tour Guide From the Underworld
Dark
Level 3
Fiend
1000 ATK/ 600 DEF
When this card is Normal Summoned: You can Special Summon 1 Level 3 Fiend monster from your hand or Deck, but negate its effects, also it cannot be used as Synchro Material.
Parametalfoes Fusion
Normal Spell
Fusion Summon 1 "Metalfoes" Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck, using up to 1 monster each from your hand, field, and/or face-up Extra Deck as Fusion Material. You can only activate 1 "Parametalfoes Fusion" per turn.
Metalfoes Silverd
Fire
Level 3
Scale 1
Psychic/Pendulum
1700 ATK/ 100 DEF
Pendulum Effect: Once per turn: You can target 1 other face-up card you control; destroy it, and if you do, Set 1 "Metalfoes" Spell/Trap directly from your Deck.
Metalfoes Mithrillium
Fire
Level 6 Fusion Monster
Psychic
2600 ATK/ 1000 DEF
1 "Metalfoes" monster + 1 Pendulum Monster
You can target 2 "Metalfoes" cards in your GY and 1 card on the field; shuffle the targets from your GY into the Deck, and if you do, return the target on the field to the hand. You can only use this effect of "Metalfoes Mithrilium" once per turn. If this card is sent from the field to the GY: You can Special Summon 1 "Metalfoes" Pendulum Monster from your GY or face-up Extra Deck.
So first chapter huh, been a while since i wrote anything and doing it alone feels hard. I just hope people will grow attached to the characters and look fondly at their interactions and dev. Making customs for each character is cool because it gives them a lot of personality so look forward to a lot of those you punks!
And if you wonder why zoé has no customs yet, its because her deck is cool enough as is for now, but dont worry she'll get some
There should be a chapter every 2 weeks so see ya soon suckers.
Signed, the ruler of all fiends.