Chapter 5: Mage Power Part 1.
"Man I thought the weekend would never get here," Eric said, walking outside with David and Ashley.
"I can't believe how much homework we got during the first week, especially from Harkins, you'd think that he's out to get us all or something." Eric continued. Not hearing a response he turned around. David and Ashley were about 10 feet away talking to each other!
"Hey what are you guys…?" Eric stopped himself. "Guess those two are getting along all chummy I'll just leave them alone." Eric continued along wondering which assignment he should do first when he heard a female yelling, "Matt you jerk give that back and leave me alone,"
When Eric heard the name Matt, he stopped and looked around the bend, and received a shock; Matt and a flunky of his were standing over a girl, who was lying on the ground. He received an even bigger shock when he realized the person on the ground was Jessica.
"Give it back, Matt" Jessica repeated.
"All you have to do is go out on a date with me, first," Matt drawled holding what looked like a text book. Eric's first instinct was to rush in there save the lady and kick Matt's ass, but he knew he was outnumbered two to one so he had to play it smart. Glancing around, Eric spotted a long stick, perfect. Scooping it up, he strode briskly up to them. Their backs were turned and they were both laughing, so they didn't see or hear Eric approach.
"Pardon me jerks," Eric said, "Is this a private party or can anyone join in?"
Matt spun around glaring at him. "Well well slacker, looks like you didn't learn your lesson since I crushed you?"
"Actually, I was about to beat you but since we got interrupted, your sorry ass was saved," Eric replied while twirling the stick around. "Now then I believe you better comply with the lady's wishes or I will kick both of your asses," Eric growled. Matt and Eric glared at each other for a minute.
"Here," Matt said tossing the book down to Jessica, "Let's go." He and his flunky turned and walked quickly away.
"Cowards," Eric muttered dropping the stick. "Need a hand?" Eric said to Jessica.
"Thanks for your help," She said as he helped her up.
"No problem," Eric replied, "Are you all right?"
"Yeah they just shoved me that's all," She replied smoothing her skirt. This caused her massive breasts to jiggle slightly.
"Hey you want to go hang out?" Eric asked handing her back the book.
Jessica flushed slightly, "Oh…uh no thanks I have homework."
"We could work on our homework together," Eric suggested.
"Uh, no thanks I've gotta go," Jessica said, as she turned and walked away, "Thanks for your help."
"You're welcome," Eric replied. "Hmmm, she helps us out a couple of days ago, and now she looks like there's something wrong," Eric thought as he headed back to his dorm room.
Alone in her room in the Obelisk Girl's Dormitory, Jessica lay on her bed staring at the ceiling. She thought back on what had just happened, "Matt was being his usual jerk self. He said he wanted to go on a date with me. He's been trying to do that since Prep School. Then Eric steps in and stops him. He's so different," Jessica thought to herself, "Other people would not have stopped to help, but he did even though he was outnumbered."
Jessica sat up, "Why is Eric in Slifer? He took out Harkins plus technically beat Matt. Maybe he flunked the written exam, and only won his duels through dumb luck, or was it skill? I want to see for myself. I'm going to go challenge him to a duel." Jessica picked up her duel disk, slipped it on and set off.
"Hey bro, what's up? David asked as he and Ashley entered the dorm.
"Hey Eric," Ashley said.
"Hey David, what's up Ashley?" Eric replied setting down his books.
"Your dorm is just like ours, only it's red," Ashley noted. "Yeah it's pretty cool but the Obelisk dorm is still a lot cooler looking," Eric said.
There was a knock on the door. "Come in," David called out. The door opened and in walked Jessica.
"Hey Jessica," Eric exclaimed, "What's up?"
"I came to challenge you to a duel," she replied.
"Who's she?" Ashley whispered to David.
"Jessica, she's the one who helped us out with that duel between Eric and Matt," David whispered back.
"I don't believe we've met, I'm Jessica Lange," Jessica said extending her hand. "Ashley Hammond," Ashley replied shaking her hand, "Nice to meet you."
"So what do you say, Eric?" Jessica asked.
"If you're serious then I accept," Eric replied grabbing his duel disk and slipping it on, "I never back down from a challenge. But let's go outside so we'll have more room."
"Ok," Jessica agreed. Everyone headed outside and Eric and Jessica stood across from each other.
"You ready?" Jessica asked.
"Let's do it to it," Eric exclaimed as they both drew five cards. (E-4000, J-4000).
"Ladies first," Jessica quipped as she drew, "I summon Gravekeeper's Spear Soldier in attack mode!" A tall, tanned man appeared on the field. He wore black robes and gripped a long enchanted spear. (Atk-1500. Def-1000).
"A Gravekeeper's deck?" Eric asked.
"Spellcaster actually," Jessica smiled, "Next, I place one card face-down, and activate the field spell card, Mystic Plasma Zone."
A vast swirling mass of purple-black clouds appeared above the field, firing off jagged blue bolts of lightning, one of which struck the Spear Soldier raising its attack by 500 points.
"Man, haven't seen that card in a while, I forgot it has such a cool effect," David commented.
"It's a little creepy if you ask me," said Ashley.
"Now all dark-attribute monsters gain 500 extra attack points, too bad. Now my Spear Soldier is stronger than any of the Gem Beasts," Jessica said.
"My go," Eric said drawing, "Well, well time for my favorite monster to make his Duel Academy debut. Kind of ironic it's against a spellcaster duelist. I summon Breaker the Magical Warrior, in attack mode!"
A tall knight clad in red and gold armor appeared on the field. He wore a red and gold metal magician's conical hat, complete with a gold visor on his head, a flowing red cape and carried a cool red and gold shield with a large purple stone set into the center; he also carried a long silver sword, (Atk-1600).
"That's his favorite monster?" Ashley asked.
"Yeah, how come?" Jessica asked.
"Breaker is the first card my father gave to me, besides he's so cool," Eric grinned, "Now I activate his special effect, whenever he's normal summoned, he receives a spell counter which increases his attack by 300 points."
The purple stone embedded in Breaker's shield glowed.
"Plus since he's a dark monster he gains an additional 500 thanks to your field spell," Eric continued. (1600-1900-2400). "Oh yeah, go Breaker; strike down her soldier with Paladin Saber!"
The sword glowed with a blue light and Breaker lunged towards the soldier, who tried to block with his spear but the sword cut clean through the spear and him.
"Uhhhh," Jessica winced as her life points decreased by 400.
"Now then, I'm sure the majority of your monsters are dark types, so I'll spend Breaker's counter and eliminate your field spell," Eric said, "Go Breaker do your thing, buddy."
Breaker seemed to nod, and raised its shield, which fired a purple beam right into the heart of the dark cloud, disintegrating it. "I'll set one card facedown and end my turn," Eric said. (E-4000. J-3600).
"My turn," said Jessica. "I discard my Gravekeeper's Commandant so I can add the field spell Necrovalley to my hand, and activate it." Canyon walls erupted from the floor, surrounding the pair. The sun blazed overhead, and the silhouettes of two pyramids could be seen in the distance.
"Great," Eric said, "Now all Gravekeepers receive 500 extra attack and defense points and I can't use cards from my graveyard."
"Right," grinned Jessica, "Now I summon my Gravekeeper's Assailant in attack mode!" A robed figure, wielding a wickedly curved sword, appeared on the field. (Atk-2000. Def-2000).
"Now attack Breaker with Necro Dagger Slash," Jessica commanded. The robed figure darted forward and with an upward slash from the dagger destroyed Breaker.
"Sorry," Jessica added seeing him wince.
"It's all good, part of the game," Eric said.
"I'll place one more card face-down and end," Jessica said.
"Time to get creative," Eric said drawing, "Nice, I activate the spell card, Gem Tree."
"Gem what?" Ashley asked.
In response, a bare tree with a glowing jewel on the bottom of its trunk appeared on the field in a flash of rainbow light.
"I've heard of money trees but not a gem tree, what does it do?" Jessica asked.
Eric grinned, "You'll see. But first I summon Gem Beast Sapphire Pegasus in attack mode!" The winged horse appeared on the field, (Atk-1800).
"Now for his ability," Eric said. Sapphire raised its head and whinnied, the horn on its head glowed. Eric then took his deck and selected a card saying, "I'll place my second Sapphire Pegasus in my spell/trap zone."
As soon as it was in place the gem tree glowed and a reddish jewel sprouted from one of the branches.
"Whenever a Gem Beast crystallizes, my tree gets a gem counter. Then I can send my tree to the graveyard and place Gem Beasts directly from my deck into my s/t zone equal to the number of counters on the tree," Eric explained. The jewel on the bottom of the trunk flashed and the reddish jewel fell off the branch and into his spell and trap zone as an oval-shaped ruby. (The tree then disappeared).
"So now Ruby Carbuncle is in my spell and trap zone, but not for long, go Gem Promise!" The ruby shattered and Ruby Carbuncle flew out and landed next to Sapphire in attack mode, (Atk: 300).
"Awwww how cute," Ashley cooed.
"Why does every girl think a purple cat with four ears is cute?" David asked.
"Because it just is, ok?" Ashley said, playfully punching David in the arm.
"Now for her special ability," Eric said, "Come on out Sapphire Pegasus." Ruby's tail glowed and the Sapphire dissolved revealing another Sapphire Pegasus, which flew next to the first one.
"And now I can add another gemstone to my side of the field, like Topaz Tiger." Eric said, as an oblong, yellow topaz appeared behind the Pegasus.
"That's very nice and all but all of your monsters are still too weak to destroy my Assailant," Jessica proclaimed with a toss of her hair.
"True, but not if I activate Giant Trunade!" Eric said, "This card returns all s/ts to the owner's hand, including Necrovalley."
"Rats," Jessica exclaimed as a vast tornado appeared on the field and proceeded to sweep away all of the spell and trap cards.
"Oh well I can still activate Scapegoat, as well as Mystic Wok!" Jessica called raising both of her facedown cards, causing four sheep tokens to appear on her side of the field in defense mode, and her monster to be absorbed into a giant bowl, transformed into energy which flowed into Jessica raising her life points by 2000.
"Go Sapphire Pegasus numbers one and two, attack her goats!" The two Sapphire Pegasus' horns fired twin royal-blue beams at two goats, destroying them.
"Now Ruby, your turn," Eric said, "Ruby Tail-rap." Ruby jumped up and slapped the red goat with its tail, and landed next to Eric. "Goat ahead," Eric grinned. (E-3600, J-5900).
"Cute," Jessica said, drawing, "I place a monster in defense mode and end."
"Back to me, and now I summon Gem Beast Topaz Tiger in attack mode." Eric called out as the snarling white tiger appeared yellow stones flashing, (Atk-1600).
"Go Ruby, get that last goat," Eric said. As she flew back, Eric called out, "My tiger's itching to fight, go Topaz Strike!" The Tiger leaped forward claws outstretched. "And whenever he battles his attack goes up by 400," Eric continued, (1600-2000). The attack revealed a small girl wearing tight purple armor and carrying a green staff.
"You destroyed my Apprentice Magician, and thanks to her ability I can special summon another one in face-down defense mode," Jessica said, proceeding to do so.
Sapphire Pegasus blasted it, and then another Apprentice appeared only to be blasted by my second Pegasus.
"Now I'll special summon my Crystal Seer in defense mode," Jessica announced as the card appeared before her.
"Fine, I'll place one card facedown and end," Eric concluded.
"Time for a comeback," Jessica said drawing, "I'll flip up my Seer, and thanks to her ability I can pick up the top two cards of my deck and add one to my hand, which I'll immediately play, Pot of Greed!" The chuckling pot appeared behind her and she drew two cards. "Next I sacrifice my seer for the mighty Chaos Command Magician in attack mode!"
A tall figure wearing blue/grey armor and robes appeared on her side of the field, wielding a staff, (Atk-2400). "Now attack his Carbuncle," Jessica commanded.
"Sorry, but I'll have to negate your attack, go Waboku!" Eric shouted as the trio of mages appeared blocking the magician's attack.
"Darn it, I'll set one card and end," Jessica said.
"Let's see," Eric began, "I'll set two cards facedown, and switch Ruby to defense mode, your turn."
"That was quick," Jessica commented, "time to summon my Breaker the Magical Warrior to the field, and I'll spend his counter to destroy the face-down card on your right."
"Crap, well so much for Mirror Force," Eric groaned.
Jessica grinned, "Now Chaos Command Magician, strike down his tiger with Red Chaos!" The mage fired a red blast of energy at Topaz from the orb on its staff, crystallizing the tiger. "Now Breaker, attack his kitty," Jessica ordered. Breaker dashed forward and slashed Ruby, crystallizing her. "That ends my turn," said Jessica.
"Then I'll step in with Gem Raigeki. By sacrificing my Ruby Carbuncle, I can destroy your Command Magician," Eric said.
"Noooo," Jessica moaned as her mage was vaporized.
"Now Sapphire number one, attack her Breaker," Eric commanded.
"Errrgg." Jessica groaned as the blast destroyed Breaker along with 200 of her life points.
"Sapphire number 2 direct attack!" Eric called. As the winged horse charged for its attack, Jessica called out, "Not so fast I reveal my trap card, Sakuretsu Armor!"
A tall fiend appeared in front of her wearing jagged armor. The blue beam struck him and rebounded, crystallizing the Pegasus.
"Nuts, I thought I had you," Eric said.
"Not by a long shot," Jessica grinned.
"I'll finish up by summoning Gem Beast Amber Mammoth in attack mode!" Eric said as a large multi-tusked elephant appeared and trumpeted its arrival, (Atk-1700). (E-2800. J-5400).
Jessica drew. "I'll place one card facedown and re-activate Necrovalley, and end," Jessica said.
Eric drew and called out, "Let's try this again, Sapphire Pegasus direct attack!"
"Go Rite of Spirit!" Jessica called out, "Rise up my Gravekeeper's Spear Soldier!"
"Err, cancel that attack Sapphire," Eric yelled, "I'll switch my Mammoth to defense and end. The mammoth sat down like a dog, (Def-1600).
Jessica drew, "Now I summon Gravekeeper's Commandant in attack mode!" A tall, staff-wielding warrior wearing a jackal's mask appeared on the field (Atk-1600-2100). "Go Commandant, attack his Pegasus," Jessica ordered. The monster swung its staff at Sapphire, but suddenly the amber stone on Amber Mammoth's head glowed and the Commandant seemed to change his mind and swung it's staff at the mammoth instead, crystallizing it.
"Hey, what happened, he was supposed to attack your horse," Jessica cried out.
"Well see the thing is," Eric smiled, "Amber Mammoth hates to see his friends in a fight so his special ability forces your monsters to battle him instead."
"Nice one," David called.
"Oooh fine, Spear Soldier crush his pony with Necro Spear!" Jessica ordered. The soldier lunged forward, and thrust his spear at Sapphire Pegasus, who tried to block with his horn, but to no avail. The attack caused Sapphire Pegasus to transform into a large, round sapphire, and floated to the back of Eric's field as a continuous spell.
"Urrrrgg!" Eric groaned as my score dropped by 200.
"And with that, I end my turn," Jessica concluded. (E-2600. J-5700). "Looks like I have you in a corner, Eric now let's see if you're good enough to get out of it.
To be continued…..