-Disigma Ein and Salamandra-
Morning came without delay. Doremi woke up, per the usual routine, and thought little of what happened last night. It was a new day and she had school to get to.
Thus, she got ready, including removing her pajamas…and then noticed the black marks on her body.
"N-Nani?!" Doremi gasped. She quickly put her clothes on and rushed to Pop's room. "Pop-chan! Pop-chan!"
Pop, still asleep, stirred slightly.
"POP-CHAN!"
Pop opened one eye. "Onee-chan…?" she said groggily, "Do you know what time it is…?" Suddenly, her eyes shit open. "Onee-chan woke up early?!"
And just like that, Pop practically leapt out of bed. She stared at her older sibling in shock.
"WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT HAVE YOU-?!"
"Pop-chan!" Doremi called, "It's me!" She looked at the time. "Oh…that's why…" She shook her head. "But, Pop-chan!"
Pop calmed down at that moment. "If you're up this early, then something's wrong. I just know it!"
Doremi nodded and pulled her shirt up. Pop looked closely and saw what was on her bare skin.
"I…I think I've seen those somewhere before on someone other than Jou-sama…?" Pop pulled her sleeve up and, to her horror, noticed that she too had the black marks. "So it wasn't a trick of the eye…?"
"I think we're going to have to call out sick today, Pop-chan," Doremi warned.
"Onee-chan? Didn't Jou-sama strike us with a strange wave of darkness? I remember something like that happening!"
Doremi frowned. "I don't know."
The two siblings decided to transform and managed to leave the house. The sun had yet to break the horizon and the moon was smiling, much to Doremi's surprise. But they couldn't worry about how early it was; they had to see if Pop's theory was true and see if the others had the black marks as well.
The twosome landed at Hazuki's mansion first. To their surprise, the orange Ojamajo was standing behind the glass and preparing to transform. She stopped trying when she saw her Doremi and Pop land on the balcony.
"Doremi-chan? Pop-chan?" Hazuki peeped, "You…came here?"
Doremi and Pop nodded. "We saw some black marks on us," Doremi explained, "Pop-chan thinks it has something to do with that attack Jou-sama used on us."
Hazuki looked down. "I…was going to try finding everyone too…" She rolled up her sleeve, revealing black marks of her own. "I think Pop-chan is right."
"We won't know until we've seen everyone," Pop replied, "So I-!"
Pop was interrupted by more people flying in. It was Aiko and Momoko, and they were worried about something. Their expressions changed to surprise.
"Doremi-chan! Hazuki-chan!" Aiko called.
"Pop-chan!" Momoko called.
"Eh?" The three Ojamajos replied.
"Ai-chan?" Doremi asked.
"You won't believe what we found on ourselves!" Momoko half-shouted, her voice dripping with fear.
"You found black marks?" Pop asked.
"How did you know?" Aiko inquired.
Doremi, Pop, and Hazuki revealed their black marks while Aiko and Momoko revealed theirs. All five felt their fear increase. As such, the five Ojamajos mounted their brooms and took off.
The girls went over to Onpu's house first and found her still asleep. She stirred awake when they went inside, though it caused more than a little discomfort. But when she discovered she had black marks, the girls revealed theirs and filled her in.
Once all was said and done, they headed over to the Maho-Dou to meet up with Hana. To their surprise, the six Ojamajos found Hana flying by herself. She saw them and quickly shrunk away.
"Hana-chan!" Doremi called.
Hana looked at her in horror. "Stay away from Hana-chan!" she pleaded.
"We know what's happening Hana-chan!" Onpu replied.
At once, the girls revealed their black marks to the young Ojamajo. Hana seemed to calm down after that…and proceeded to reveal black marks of her own.
"That confirms Pop-chan's theory," Aiko muttered, "But what does this mean?"
"I think we need to pay Majo Heart a visit," Hazuki suggested, "She might have an idea of what's going on with us!"
The girls nodded in agreement and resumed their flight to the Maho-Dou. And with the moon smiling down, they didn't have to use magic. But now that they had recalled magic, they realized their magic was still drained from the previous day. They would have to visit Majo Toron if they were to get a refill.
Majorin was flying across Majo Kai and heading for the portal to the Maho-Dou. Majo Heart wanted her to retrieve the Ojamajos so she could scan them; she and Majo Toron remained at the Magic Research Center to make sure Majo Isabelle stayed under control. In all honesty, the red-violet Witch felt the need to do it herself, seeing as she had felt useless throughout the entire crisis.
To her surprise, Majorin encountered the Ojamajos just outside the portal.
"Minna-san?!" Majorin half-gasped.
"We were heading to the clinic to see where Majo Heart was," Onpu explained.
Majorin raised her eyebrow. "Strange. I was heading to Ningen Kai to retrieve you girls…" she mused, "But nevermind. Majo Heart wants to see you seven."
"And we think we know why…" Doremi replied gravely.
Majorin gasped as the girls once again revealed their black marks. This had all but confirmed her earlier point and strengthened her resolve to make a difference. She was getting desperate.
"Then we need to get going," Majorin stated, "We'll be heading for the Magic Research center. Majo Heart and Majo Toron have moved their research there."
The Ojamajos nodded in agreement and quickly followed Majorin to the new area. It took very little time, but the tense aura surrounding everyone made it feel much longer. In any case, the group practically barged right into the small-as-ever building when they arrived. The three Witches inside were startled at first but quickly became a bit discontent and concerned.
"There was a doorbell…" Majo Toron deadpanned.
"That doesn't matter right now," Majo Heart replied quickly, "You seven!"
"Hai!" The Ojamajos replied.
"It will have to be one at a time. I can only scan one of you at a time right now."
The girls nodded.
One-by-one, the girls went over to Majo Heart as she called them. And by the same token, they each returned to the main group once she was finished. None of them felt very secure, even before being selected.
Once she had scanned them all, Majo Heart addressed the group. "Our fears are confirmed," she said grimly, "All seven of you are infected…with the same thing Jou-sama has."
The Ojamajos exchanged worried looks with one another. For they knew exactly what was going on with them.
"Ai-chan?" Momoko said. Tears appeared in her eyes.
Aiko hugged the yellow Ojamajo. "It's going to be alright, Momo-chan," she said assuringly, "We'll make it through this. I promise!"
"I hope so," Majo Heart said, "The only difference between yours and Jou-sama's infections is that yours seems more like an aggressive cancer than a simple pathogenic infection."
"There has to be a cure!" Doremi said desperately.
Majorin shook her head. "The Verz itself intends to spread and pervert all that there is," she explained, "You returning to Ningen Kai was a gargantuan enough risk in its own right."
"So then we're stuck here forever then…?" Onpu inquired.
"Only until the cure is found and applied," Majo Heart said, "I am sorry."
Hana looked at her fellow Ojamajos in sadness. She liked the idea of being with her mothers forever, but the young girl never wanted that outcome to come about this way. She had an idea of what the Verx was going to do to them, and she didn't want that to happen.
"Mama…!" Hana called. Doremi turned a deeply concerned eye toward her daughter. "Hana-chan doesn't want to become a monster!"
Doremi hugged Hana. "Maybe…Maybe if we fight it…maybe we won't have to."
The white Ojamajo looked into her mother's eye and buried her face in her chest.
Majo Isabelle looked on at the Ojamajos' suffering with amusement. "Perhaps you girls need some rest?" she snidely suggested, "You do know what time it is, correct?" The Ojamajos glared at the Spanish Witch. "Hmph! I was only suggesting a siesta y descanso."
"If they are going to rest," Majorin began, "They will rest. Out. Of. Your. Reach! You will not perform any experiments and you will not try anything unless you want to feel my wrath! Understood?"
Majo Isabelle smirked. "Cómo despiadado, Majorin. Cómo despiadado…" she smugly muttered, "I didn't think you were like this when Reina wasn't around…"
Majorin appeared deeply affected by Majo Isabelle's statement. She began shrinking away, but saw the Ojamajos looking up at her in concern. Hana even took her hand.
"Don't listen to her, Majorin-san," Hana suggested, smiling sweetly, "She's trying to make you feel down."
Majorin smiled back…and noticed that something seemed uncannily familiar with Hana's words.
"It's past dawn," Onpu warned, "But we missed so much sleep during this event."
"But first," Doremi said, "We gotta give Hana-chan more magic. She's running out, I'm sure."
Those Ojamajos who still had energy in their jewelry porons got together. They gathered what little energy they had left and transferred it to Hana's compact. Majo Toron noticed the lack of magic and, judging that the crisis was still around, took each jewelry poron and refilled them.
Afterwards, Majorin, Majo Heart, and Majo Toron used their own Magical Stage and conjured individual tents for each Ojamajo to rest in. They went inside and quickly went back to bed…
"Doremi-chan! Doremi-chan!" Majorin called.
Doremi turned in her cot. She didn't care too much about how late it was. She needed the sleep after what she missed out on.
"DOREMI-CHAN!" Majorin called again.
Five more minutes… Doremi thought to herself.
"The others! Doremi-chan!"
"Alright, alright," Doremi said groggily, "I'm getting-!" She noticed Majorin standing over her; her expression was a combination between frustrated and desperate. "Eh?"
"The other Ojamajos are missing!" Majorin explained, "And I've already interrogated Majo Isabelle on it too!"
"Nani?"
"She wasn't responsible."
"Nani yo?! What's going on?"
Doremi got off the cot and exited the tent with Majorin. Once out, she found Majo Toron, Majo Heart, and Majo Isabelle outside. Only the former two were at all interested.
"We have to find them. Now!" Majorin half-ordered, "Doremi-chan! I did more research regarding the Verz. I believe you must defeat them in Duels!"
"We will help you find them!" Majo Toron shouted.
Majorin, Majo Toron, and Majo Heart gathered tier magic together and once again used their Magical Stage. Six rods came out and fell to the ground. All pointed in more or less the same direction. Doremi recognized it as being practically identical to one spell she and her friends used to find Hana one time with. She took all six and wasted no time in mounting her broom.
"Good luck, Doremi-chan," Majorin said.
Doremi nodded and quickly flew off.
Moments later, she found Pop on the ground. She had been trekking through Majo Kai and was now heading right for the portal to the Maho-Dou. Doremi quickly intercepted her.
"Pop-chan!" Doremi shouted, "What's going on here? Why did you and the others vanish?"
Pop looked at her sibling with an empty look. It was then that Doremi noticed that the marks had spread. Now, they seemed to be glowing with an unholy light. At the same time, a dark aura came into view…complete with glowing red eyes.
"She calls…" Pop said. Her voice was little more than a monotone. "We must go and spread her blessing…"
"What are you talking about?!"
"You must join us as well…"
Doremi looked at Pop in horror. If this was happening to Pop here and now, then the same had to be happening to the others. She had to stop it. To that end, she inserted her poron into her bracelet, forming her Duel Disk.
"Pop-chan…?"
"You refuse to follow Her commands…" Pop said emotionlessly, "You must be destroyed…I do not want to do this…You must obey…"
Doremi looked at her sibling. She recalled Majorin's words. "Duel".
"Pop-chan? I…would like to challenge you to a Duel. If you win…I will help in, uh, whatever it is you're all doing."
"Defeating you will allow Her to fully take control of you sooner…" Pop inserted her poron into her bracelet, forming her Duel Disk. "I will defeat you…"
Both of them inserted their decks into the proper slots. Then, both of them drew their opening hands as their Life Point meters raced to 8000.
"Duel!" Doremi shouted.
"Duel…" Pop said in her monotone.
Don't worry, Pop-chan! the Pink Ojamajo thought, I will save you!
"I will take the first move! Atashi no Turn! Draw!" Doremi took the card from her deck. Immediately, she felt…something…within her mind. "Ow~! What's-?!"
"Summon it!" a voice in her head ordered.
"Eh?"
"Embrace your corruption!"
Doremi grit her teeth. "She calls you, Doremi…" Pop said.
"I…I won't follow it! I have no monsters, so I can special summon Solar Wind Jammer!" Doremi grunted as her monster flew in (800-400/2400/1200). "Next, I will summon Astell Drawn!" And then, right beside the ship, a small artist being appeared (1600/1000). Moments later, they both transformed into orbs of energy and spiraled upward. "Astell Drawn can be a Lv5 monster when used for an Xyz summon. So with these two Lv5 monsters, I build the Overlay Network!"
Both monsters spiraled upward and into a galaxy-like vortex. It was followed by a rainbow-colored explosion erupting from within. Finally, the floating city descended (2400/1500).
"Awareru, Number 33: OOPArts Super Weapon – Machu Mach!" Doremi panted slightly. She was already beginning to feel tired. She ignored it for the time being and allowed Astell Drawn to do his thing. "And when Astell Drawn is used for an Xyz summon, I can draw one more card!"
Astell Drawn appeared as a phantom above Machu Mach, where he waved his tools. Doremi took her card. That's when she took notice of a card in her hand.
Eh?! Where did this come from?! Doremi thought.
"Use it!" The voice called.
Doremi clutched her head. "Not…again!"
"Use it!"
Doremi tried to ignore the voice, but something stopped her. It forced her to listen to what the voice had to say. She then found her body acting on its own, inserting the card into the slot against her will.
"No…! Allure of Darkness!" Doremi muttered. At once, a dark aura surrounded her, allowing her to draw two more cards…but only at a risk. Now…If I don't banish a DARK monster, then I won't be able to continue! Doremi looked at her hand and noticed that she had two: Summon Priest and Shadowlizard. "Now to-!"
"Banish Summon Priest!"
"Obey, Doremi…" Pop commanded, "She wishes for you to banish a specific card…You must banish that card…"
"Banish Summon Priest!"
Doremi clutched her head again. "No…! I…can't!"
"Banish Summon Priest!"
At that moment, a sound much like metal grinding on stone came from Machu Mach. It had a commanding tone and seemed to be urging Doremi to do something. She knew what it was saying…somehow. And she knew it was telling it her not to obey the voice.
"Machu Mach…!" Doremi muttered.
Machu Mach's core glowed brilliantly and shined a light on Doremi. Suddenly, she found herself feeling strong again…and able to resist that voice.
"I will decide which card I banish!" Doremi said defiantly, "And the card I choose is Shadowlizard!" Pop winced at Doremi's selection as she pocketed her card. The dark aura vanished, but the pink Ojamajo was unnerved. "I…didn't want to banish the card that voice wanted me to. Why would I anyway?"
"Perhaps because Shadowlizard would have allowed a stronger Rank 4…?" Pop deadpanned emotionlessly.
Doremi shook her head. "I set two cards. Turn end."
Two reversed cards appeared before her.
"Then allow me to take you down…Atashi no Turn…Draw…" Pop said. She gave an unreadable look at her new card. "You control a monster, which means I can special summon Haze Beast Gryps…" A fiery gryphon appeared by Pop's side (200/2100). "I will activate Haze Pillar…With this, I will summon other Haze Beasts without tributes…"
And just like that, a pillar of flame burst forth from behind the corrupted red Ojamajo.
"I don't think so! Reverse card, open! Cyclone, hatsudou!" Doremi shouted. Immediately, a whirlwind brewed up and went straight for the fiery pillar. It didn't stand a chance, having been blown out like a candle. "I won't let you do this easily!"
"It does not matter…" Pop replied, "I can normal summon Haze Beast Cerberus even without Haze Pillar…so long as it loses half of its ATK…" Doremi grit her teeth as Pop summoned her monster. No sooner than it appeared, it roared angrily…but it appeared tired from having to rush to its master's side (2000-1000/200). Suddenly, both it and Gryps transformed into orbs or fiery energy and spiraled upwards. "And with these two Lv6 FIRE monsters, I build the Overlay Network…"
Both monsters spiraled into a burning vortex. A similarly fiery explosion erupted from within as the new monster emerged. It was a flaming hybrid between a rooster and snake (2500/1800).
"Haze Beast Basilicock…" Pop stated, "Your monster will never defeat it…"
"You monster won't get the chance! Reverse card, open! Warning of God!" Doremi's last set card revealed itself. The heavenly beings appeared from it and, after taking their payment and reducing her to 6000 Life Points, gave their warning to Basilicock…and immediately slew it before it could truly make it to the field. "And since it's summon was negated, you will never be able to bring it back!"
Pop grit her teeth. "Card set…turn end…" A reversed card appeared before her. "You will not win…"
Doremi shook her head. "Pop-chan… I just forced you into a corner. And as long as I keep the pressure on, you will be trapped there until I win! Atashi no Turn! Draw!" Doremi shouted. She looked at her card, frowning. "I can get a powerful Rank 4 monster without Shadowlizard! I activate Reinforcement! With this, I will add Goblindbergh to my hand!"
Doremi took her card from her deck. After making sure her combo was ok, she went to work.
"Alright! First, I will summon Goblindbergh!" At once, three planes being piloted by goblins appeared. They were carrying a large, metal, side-sided crate. "And when he's normal summoned, I can special summon any Lv4 monster from my hand! So come on, Summon Priest!" The crate fell to the ground and opened, revealing the Priest himself (800/1600). "And now I will use Priest's ability! By discarding any spell card, I can special summon any Lv4 monster from my deck! Come on…Gagaga Magician!"
Summon Priest gathered his magic together. The spell card Doremi sacrificed transformed into energy and was used by the Priest to open a portal. Soon after, the juvenile Magician appeared by the pink Ojamajo's side (1500/1000).
"That's three Lv4 monsters, Pop-chan!" Doremi shouted, So I can-!"
"Summon it!" the voice ordered.
Doremi winced again. Where…does this voice keep coming from?
"Summon it!" The voice ordered again, "The focus of your Verz!"
All three of Doremi's Lv4 monsters transformed into orbs of energy and spiraled upward. Doremi tried her hardest to ensure her monster was the one she wanted…but something overrode her intentions. The vortex opened up, spewing a bubbling darkness as something like a corrupt light burst forth.
A massive being emerged from the vortex. Doremi couldn't tell what it looked like other than that it seemed to have been three different monster stacked on top of one-another. Its main part did have a pair of long arms that ended in claws (2500/2100). At the same time, another dark aura appeared around her.
"That's…That's not Number 16!" Doremi cried. She clutched her head again. "Y-You-?!"
"Surrender the duel! Allow the Verz to take hold!"
Doremi grit her teeth. This monster, Vylon Disigma, was the source of her own corruption. It didn't make any apparent sense why that monster would be her corruption, but it didn't matter. She didn't want to summon the card due to the field not being the right one for it. But now that it was out, she was finding it increasingly difficult to resist the voice's influence. An aura of darkness appeared around Disigma.
"Surrender!"
"NO!" Doremi shouted.
"She calls for you, Doremi…" Pop reminded, "You must obey…"
Machu Mach's core glowed even brighter than before. It shone back down on Doremi, dispersing the aura somewhat. No sooner than it did, the pink Ojamajo felt her resolve returning.
"Arigatou…Machu Mach!" Doremi muttered, "Now…Vylon Disigma! You…are my card…I won't listen to you or that voice! Attack Pop-chan directly!" Vylon Disigma obeyed, gathering crackling lightning into its claws and then firing it at Pop. The corrupted red Ojamajo was blown to the ground as her Life Points fell to 5500. "Now, Machu Mach! Attack Pop-chan directly! Fire of Vril!"
Machu Mach rerouted energy from its core to the top of its uppermost spire. Doremi felt her dark aura returning, but she had to be strong. She witnessed her ace monster launching a beam of blue plasma at Pop, knocking her back down and dropping her to 3100 Life Points.
Doremi looked at her sibling in concern and pity. It wasn't Pop's fault the Verz was controlling her. In fact, she hoped that she was trying to fight it from within. She just had to…
"Turn end," Doremi said.
"You cannot win, Doremi…" Pop said, "The power of the Verz cannot be stopped…All shall be brought under its control…And you will be next…" The top of Pop's deck glowed red whilst crackling with black energy…DESTINY DRAW. She took the top card of her deck and added it to her hand. "I activate Black Hole…Your monsters will be destroyed…"
A massive dark vortex burst into being, drawing Machu Mach and Disigma into its maw. Neither of them survived.
Doremi looked at Pop in confusion. Why did she destroy Disigma? Doesn't she know it's the focus of my corruption? She then realized it. "Pop-chan really is fighting it!"
"I will now summon Verz Salamadra…" Pop said. Her dark aura suddenly burst outward, growing in size. A large part of it took shape, marching forward and growling menacingly. By the time it reached Pop's field, it had taken the form of a large, spike-armored tyrannosaurus. Dark flames engulfed parts of it (1850/950). "Salamandra's ability allows me to banish up to two monsters per turn from my graveyard…In exchange, Salamandra gains 300 ATK until my next turn…"
Salamndra's aura seemed to drive right into the ground. Two bubbles, one containing Gryps and the other containing Cerberus, rose from its depths. Both of them were devoured by the corrupted Jurrac (1850-1550/950).
"Salamandra…Attack Doremi directly…" Pop commanded. The monster drew its head back, dark flames licking from within its mouth. Then, it sprayed dark flames at Doremi; she tried to dodge the assault, but the breath's area was too wide. Doremi wasn't injured, but the feeling of being burned was still evident, including and up to her Life Points falling to 3550. "Turn end…"
"Pop-chan! I know you can hear me!" Doremi cried, "You have to fight it! Yu can't let it control you any further!"
"I can hear you clearly…" Pop retorted, "But she calls…And I must obey…"
Doremi shook her head. She noticed the Verz monster on her field…and she noticed it glaring at her. It roared violently, as though trying to stop Pop from fighting the Verz.
"You're just like Vylon Disigma," Doremi mused, "I haven't been feeling the Verz's influence as much after Pop-chan destroyed Disigma. If that's the focus of my corruption…then you must be the focus of Pop-chan's!" Salamandra's eyes widened in surprise. It roared in reply. "Then to save Pop-chan…I must defeat you!"
The top card of Doremi's deck glowed a bright pink…DESTINY DRAW. "Atashi no Turn!" Doremi drew her new card and shot it a determined look. "I activate the spell Pot of Avarice! By returning five monsters in my graveyard to my deck, I can draw two more cards!"
Doremi looked into her graveyard to see which cards she was going to return.
That's when she felt it: Vylon Disigma. She felt its desire to return, to speak…and then she felt something else coming from it. She didn't know what it was, but she felt intrigued since it didn't feel like rage…or anything that could register as "evil".
Adding to that was the voice of Machu Mach. She understood it perfectly…and it seemed to be telling her to return it to her Extra Deck. She knew her ace monster's voice…especially since Disigma sounded absolutely nothing like it.
"If you say so, Machu Mach," Doremi said. She pulled out her five monsters: Machu Mach, Disigma, Summon Priest, Astell Drawn, and Solar Wind Jammer. She shuffled them into their proper decks and drew her two cards. I hope I know what I'm doing, saving the Verz's focus in me… "I activate Gagagarevenge! With this, I can bring back Gagaga Magician!"
At once, the ground burst open, revealing a coffin with runes carved into it. Its lid opened, allowing Magician to emerge. He stretched from being inside the cramped quarters, but was ready to fight otherwise.
"Next, I will summon Gagaga Girl!" And just like that, a young, delinquent female magician appeared by Gagaga Magician's side (1000/800). "Gagaga Magician and Gagaga girl have special abilities: Magician can change his level so long as he doesn't go higher than 8. And girl can make her level match Magician's! So I will make Magician Lv5 and have Girl copy his level!"
Magician and Girl nodded at one another as they rose to Lv5. Then, both of them transformed into orbs of energy and spiraled upward.
"And with these two Lv5 monsters, I build the Overlay Network!" Doremi shouted. And once again, the galaxy-like vortex opened, accepting the two monsters and bursting with rainbow-energy. Finally, the massive form of Number 33: OOPArts Super Weapon – Machu Mach descended. "And when Gagagarevenge is sent to the graveyard because the monster it revived was used for an Xyz summon, all Xyz monsters I control gain 300 ATK!"
Energy from the coffin flowed into Machu Mach. Its core glowed brighter than ever as its power rose (2400-2700/1500). Gagaga Girl appeared as a phantom over the floating city, only to give a dismayed look.
"Gomennasai, Gagaga Girl," Doremi said, sweat-dropping, "There aren't any monsters to target with Zero Zero Call." Gagaga Girl sighed and withdrew back into her personal orbiting light. "But I can use Machu Mach's ability! By detaching one Overlay Unit, I can target any monster you control whose ATK is different from its Original ATK. And your Salamandra fits the bill perfectly! Go! Infinity Canon!"
One of the lights orbiting Machu Mach flew into the uppermost spire, merging with the weapon on top. Then, several cannons emerged from its ring and fired. All of them hit Pop and Verz Salamandra, dropping the form to 2500 Life Points. Machu Mach quickly absorbed the energy present, powering itself up even further (2700-3300/1500).
"You cannot win…" Pop said.
"You have too little advantage, Pop-chan" Doremi pointed out, "Or…rather, the Verz controlling you! Machu Mach! Attack Verz Salamandra! Fire of Vril!"
And with that, Machu Mach gathered energy in its uppermost spire. Salamandra took the opportunity to attack, launching a stream of dark flames. But before they could even reach their target, Machu Mach's own attack finished charging and fired. Both attacks impacted, but the Fire of Vril was the superior one, splitting apart the dark flames and vaporizing Salamandra. Pop was caught in the blast and thrown to the ground, her Life Points falling to 1750.
"Pop-chan!" Doremi called.
Pop slowly got back up. "O…Onee-chan…?" she said weakly, "Onee-chan?"
Doremi stood there, speechless. The dark aura surrounding Pop had faded, and she was looking at her sibling in shock. She put her hand on top of her deck…a gesture that Doremi recognized but hadn't seen used too often.
Pop surrendered, giving Doremi the win.
No sooner than Pop lost, they were both running up to one another. Both were in tears, even as they managed to hug each other.
"Gomennasai! Onee-chan! Gomennasai!" Pop cried, "I…I tried to fight it…But it…but it-!"
Doremi shook her head. "It's over now, Pop-chan," she said, comforting her sister, "It can't hurt you anymore."
The two released each other and quickly pulled out the focuses of their respective corruptions. Doremi and Pop both saw them…and the dark auras both were exuding.
"What do we do with them?" Pop asked, "I can still feel the Verz…"
"I don't know," Doremi said. She reached for the Verz Salamandra and even got a grip on it. But when she tried to take it, Pop gripped the card tightly, much to the red Ojamajo's surprise. "Nani yo?"
"It wants to stay with me," Pop said, "It wants to reinstate my corruption. It won't let me get rid of it!"
Suddenly, a glowing form Doremi's Extra Deck drew both of their attentions. Doremi found the source: Number 33: OOPArts Super Weapon – Machu Mach. She heard its voice asking her to let it try; form Pop's point of view, Doremi was just going on a hunch. However, the pink Ojamajo touched the Salamandra with Machu Mach…and Pop's grip on the card lessened considerably, allowing her to release it and hand it off to Doremi.
"Machu Mach?" Doremi asked. Pop wanted to try saying something, but Doremi raised her hand. "If you were brought under the Verz's control, then the others must have been too!"
Pop nodded. "If we split up, we might be able to catch them in time!" she said. Doremi shot a fearful look at her sister. "If we don't stop them, then they'll go into Ningen Kai and spread the Verz there too!"
"Then if we're splitting up," Doremi began. She took out six rods, each one matching the colors of the Ojamajo except herself. She jammed the red one into the ground. "This one was to find you."
Pop looked at each one carefully. "I'll take these two!" she said, taking the purple and yellow rods.
"Good luck, Pop-chan," Doremi said.
"Break a leg, Onee-chan!" Pop teased.
Both smiled as they each mounted their rooms and took off. Each were after different targets, but with Doremi carrying the rest, it was going to be hard. And Pop knew she wouldn't be able to remove the Verz's focus from her friend even after she defeated it. Doremi now knew that defeating the Focus in some way will free their friend from the Verz's control. Both sought to use this knowledge to free them…
Featured Duel: Doremi vs. Verz Pop
Doremi LP (8000) – Verz Pop (8000)
Doremi's turn:
Doremi has Star Drawing, Solar Wind Jammer, Gagagarevenge, Pot of Duality, and Allure of Darkness as her opening hand. She draws Summoner Monk.
Since Doremi controls no monsters, Doremi can special summon Solar Wind Jammer. She then normal summons Star Drawing and follows by overlaying it with Jammer to Xyz summon Number 33: Chronomaly Machu Mech. Star Drawing allows Doremi to draw 1 card; she draws Kagetokage. Doremi activates Allure of Darkness, drawing Mystical Space Typhoon and Solemn Warning and then banishing Kagetokage.
She sets Mystical Space Typhoon and Solemn Warning and then ends.
Verz Pop's turn:
Verz Pop has Hazy Flame Cerberus, Hazy Flame Griffin, Hazy Pillar, Evilswarm Salamandra, and Safe Zone as her opening hand. She draws Hazy Flame Peryton.
Since Doremi controls a monster, Verz Pop can special summon Hazy Flame Griffin. She then activates Hazy Piller; Doremi chains by activating Mystical Space Typhoon, destroying it. Verz Pop then normal summons Hazy Flame Cerbereus via its effect; its ATK is halved as a result. She then overlays both to Xyz summon Hazy Flame Basiltrice. Doremi activates Solemn Warning, paying 2000 to negate it's summon and destroy it.
Verz Pop sets Safe Zone and ends.
Doremi LP (6000) – Verz Pop LP (8000)
Doremi's turn:
Doremi draws Reinforcement of the Army.
Doremi activates Reinforcement of the Army and uses it to add Goblindbergh to her hand. She then normal summons Goblindbergh and uses his effect to special summon Summoner Monk. She then activates Summoner Monk's effect, discarding Pot of Duality to special summon Gagaga Magician from her deck. She then overlays her three Lv4 monsters to Xyz summon Vylon Disigma.
Doremi attacks Pop directly with Machu Mech and Disigma.
She ends.
Verz Pop's turn:
Verz Pop uses DESTINY DRAW to get Dark Hole.
Verz Pop activates Dark Hole, destroying all monsters on the field. She then normal summons Evilswarm Salamandra and activates its effect, banishing Griffin and Cerbereus to raise its ATK by 600.
Pop stacks Doremi directly with Salamandra and ends.
Doremi LP (3550) – Verz Pop LP (3100)
Doremi's turn:
Doremi uses DESTINY DRAW to get Pot of Avarice.
Doremi activates Pot of Avarice, returning Machu Mech, Disigma, Summoner Monk, Star Drawing, and Solar Wind Jammer to her deck and drawing Gagaga Girl and Heavy Storm. Doremi activates Heavy Storm, destroying all spells and traps on the field. She then activates Gagagarevenge and revives Gagaga Magician. She then normal summons Gagaga Girl. She follows by activating Magician's effect to make him Lv5; Gagaga Girls' effect also makes her Lv5. She then overlays Magician and Girl to Xyz summon Machu Mech again; since Gagagarevenge went to the graveyard because its monster was used as Xyz material, Machu Mech gains 300 ATK. But Gagaga Girl's effect does not apply since there are no special summoned monsters on Verz Pop's field. Doremi activates Machu Mech's effect, detaching Magician and targeting Salmandra; Pop takes 600 damage while Machu Mech gains 600 ATK.
Doremi attacks Salamandra with Machu Mech, destroying it. At that point, Pop breaks free from the Verz's control and surrenders.
Doremi LP (3550) – Pop LP (1750)
Doremi is the winner!
I have Onee-chan to thank for saving me, but…I still feel the Verz inside me somehow. Oh well, I'll just have to fight to keep it suppressed. But right now, I have bigger things to worry about.
.su nioj dna emoC
Obliviwisp has begun its approach…
A/N: At the rate I'm going, I will be surprised if I get this finished by the end of the format.