In a battle that's been a long time coming, who will reign victorious? A special double upload to make up for the lack of the chapters this week, so please enjoy and stay tuned for more!
Chapter 9 – Synchro Against Synchro
"Tanion, Jorann, stand down," Elise ordered. "This is ridiculous."
"No, Elise," Jorann shouted. "You don't understand because you aren't a Synchro user. If you were, though, you would know that what I'm doing is right."
"Just because I don't believe in all this spiritual crap doesn't mean I'm not a Synchro user," Tanion said to him. "I know how to Synchro Summon, and I have the monsters to do it."
"I can see how that no amount of talking is going to get through to you," Jorann muttered. "This is not your world, Tanion! Here the Duel Monsters are real, they are your friends. But you won't ever accept that, will you? Because your stubborn."
"I don't need to accept it," Tanion snapped back. "I'm here so that my family can be safe, and since I've been here, I've beaten everyone in duels. Even Elise, who is one of your best. I don't need to believe this spiritual stuff, nor, frankly, do I want to. It's absurd."
"Then you will lose," Jorann muttered. "From my hand, I activate the Field Spell Sanctuary of the High Dragons! Now I take no battle damage in battles involving a 'High Dragon' monster. Next, I summon High Dragon Yolmir to the field! Come forth, Yolmir! (Lvl:4/ATK:1500/DEF:1000)."
"Jorann, stop this idiocy!" Elise begged. "Look around you. These people are terrified!"
"I know," Jorann muttered solemnly. "These people have suffered much at the hand's of the Duel Monsters used by The Grand Order. "But this boy needs to know his place, as both a Synchro user and a member of the Coalition."
"There has to be another way," Elise pleaded.
"There isn't," Tanion cut in. "When I win, Jorann, you promise that you'll stop berating me with this spiritual crap, got that?"
"Why agree to something that will never happen?" Jorann asked rhetorically. "Like I told you in the courtyard, you can never defeat me because you have no faith in your monsters! They're just tools to you, not your friends."
"I love my cards," Tanion cut back. "They're amazing and I wouldn't have any other deck. But to say that they are alive? To say that they are living, breathing creatures? I can't accept that. They may be my sword and my shield, but there's no way that these cards are alive!"
"Then I have nothing more to say to you," Jorann spat. "High Dragon Paranel can be special summoned when I have a 'High Dragon' monster on my field. Come further, High Dragon Paranel! (Lvl:4/ATK:1800/DEF:1400)."
"A Tuner..." Tanion muttered.
"I tune my Level 4 Yolmir to my Level 4 Paranel! Synchro Summon! Descend before us now, oh mighty dragon of the skies! Level 8! High Dragon Allanon! (Lvl:8/ATK:2900/DEF:2400)."
"There's no stopping him now," Elise muttered, shaking her head. "Darrien, get Jorann's groups together and make sure the tunnels leading here are secure. We can't allow The Grand Order to catch us off guard."
"What are you going to do?" Darrien asked her.
"I'm going to make sure these idiots don't hurt anyone," Elise said. "Jorann's dragons, although beautiful, have been known to cause some collateral damage."
"I end my turn at this," Jorann said. "Now take your turn."
Tanion – 4000 LP
Jorann – 4000 LP
"Jorann, I'll prove to you in this duel that I don't need to believe in the spiritual nature of my cards in order for me to use them well," Tanion said. "I'll defeat you anyway!"
"Then try."
"I will," Tanion said, drawing. "Since you have a monster and I control no cards, I special summon Woodsman Knight from my hand! (Lvl:5/ATK:2100). Next, I summon the Tuner monster Knight's Squire! (Lvl:3/ATK:1000). I tune my Level 5 Woodsman to my Level 3 Squire! Synchro Summon! Level 8! Royal Knight! (Lvl:8/ATK:2500)."
"You would summon your ace so early?" Jorann pondered. "You seek to end this quickly."
"Well, yes, but also no," Tanion said. "It was simply the best combo, and that's all."
"So you do not believe that your deck answered your wishes and gave you the cards necessary to summon your Royal Knight?"
"I, what? No? Of course not! It's the luck of the draw," Tanion said, shaking his head in frustration.
But what if he's right? Tanion thought to himself. I did want to end this quickly, so that I could prove to him that I'm capable enough, and I've drawn the cards I need to do so. And he's not the only one who's told me that. Elise mentioned it also, and after what happened against her and that Grand Order guy who showed up at my place...
"Make your move so I can finish you already, boy," Jorann grumbled impatiently.
"Right," Tanion said. "From my hand, I activate the Equip Spell Divine Blade Felmiir! This raises Royal Knight's attack by the number of 'Knight' monsters on the field times 400, so his attack becomes 2900! Next, I activate Royal Knight's effect. I destroy your High Dragon Allanon, and deal damage to you equal to half his attack!"
"I activate Allanon's effect!" Jorann countered. "Once per turn, during either player's turn, when a monster effect is activated, I can negate that activation and banish the card! Your Royal Knight is banished!"
"No..."
"What next, Tanion?" Jorann asked coldly.
"I..." Tanion trailed off, looking at the cards in his hand. "I set one card face down. Turn over."
Tanion – 4000 LP
Jorann – 4000 LP
"Still believe that the faith in your cards is enough?" Jorann asked.
"I'll win," Tanion said defiantly. "I don't rely on just Royal Knight to win. I'll beat you another way."
"I would like to see you try," Jorann said, drawing.
"I activate my face-down, Knight's Shield!" Tanion said. "Allanon's effect is now negated, and it's ATK becomes 0!"
"So you think your safe now, Tanion?" Jorann asked.
"Safer than I was," he replied.
Jorann looked at the card he had drawn and laughed. "I would have to say otherwise."
"Jorann, if you're about to do what I think you are..." Elise said warningly.
"Can it," Jorann spat. "He deserves what's coming to him."
"What did you draw, Jorann?" Tanion demanded.
"I'll show you, boy," he grumbled. "When I have a 'High Dragon' Synchro monster on my field, I can special summon this card from my hand! Appear, High Dragon Servant! (Lvl:1/ATK:200/DEF:1200)."
"That's the card you drew?" Tanion said, laughing. "I'm so scared."
"You should be," Jorann said. "I summon the Tuner monster, High Dragon Wyrm! (Lvl:1/ATK:0/DEF:0)."
"You're going for another Synchro summon?" Tanion asked. "What good can a Level 2 Synchro do?"
"You're about to find out," Jorann said. "I tune my Level 1 Servant to my Level 1 Wyrm! Synchro Summon! Appear before us now, my very soul! Level 2! The Synchro Tuner, Carer of the High Dragons! (Lvl:2/ATK:500/DEF:500)."
Tanion froze. He had to blink a couple times just to make sure that his eyes weren't deceiving him. Although the monster Jorann called Carer of the High Dragons had a long grey beard and pure white eyes, there was no mistaking it. It was Jorann.
"How?" Tanion gasped. "How is that possible?"
"The High Dragons and I have fought side by side for years," Jorann said. "Allanon was my favourite, but they all held a very special place in my heart. They weren't just my cards. They were my friends. Then the war came. The dragons defended me from The Grand Order, and I in turn made sure that they were never harmed. Then one night, I dreamed of them, and I saw a dragon I had never seen before. A High Dragon, who's power eclipsed that of all those who had come before. When I woke, this card was there beside me, a gift from the Spirits of my High Dragons."
"You're saying that Duel Monsters gave you a card?" Tanion scoffed.
"They knew that I couldn't keep fighting The Grand Order as I was," Jorann said. "But I stuck by them, and put my absolute faith in my cards that they would see my through. And the spirits of my cards rewarded me for my faith and friendship, and gave this new power."
"They gave you the power you needed..." Tanion realised.
"The High Dragons knew my heart my pure, and they rewarded me for my loyalty," Jorann said. "This card is more than just a bit of cardboard. It holds the memories of all the battles I've fought, and all the people I've lost. It holds my past, and I put my future in it's hands, because I believe that they will protect me!"
"Jorann..." Elise whispered.
"That's what it means to be a Synchro user, Tanion! To be one with your cards, and to realise that both you and them have potential waiting to be found!" Jorann exclaimed. "I tune my Level 8 High Dragon Allanon to my Level 2 Carer! Dragon and man, become one within the light's embrace and shine forth with your everlasting might! Accel Synchro! Appear before us now, Level 10! High Dragon Edilisna! (Lvl:10/ATK:3600/DEF:2800)."
The dragon let out a mighty roar as it descended from above, it's huge figure imposing itself upon the battlefield. The townsfolk scurried away in horror, but Jorann looked perfectly at home beneath the radiant glow of his beast. The dragon landed softly beside him, and Tanion watched in awe as Jorann patted the side of the dragon's head, and it almost seemed to nuzzle up to him in response.
"Beautiful, isn't she?" Jorann said.
"Majestic comes to mind," Tanion said.
"While you treat your cards as tools, I treat mine as my friends," Jorann said. "Edilisna is the High Dragon's reward for my faith in them. Your deck will respond to you too, one day, if you believe in it and trust it like I trust mine."
"How can I treat a card as my friend?" Tanion said to himself.
"High Dragon Edilisna's effect activates!" Jorann said. "I pick one card in your hand, then apply an effect depending on the type of card. Out of the two cards in your hand, I choose the one on your right."
"Magical Knight Merlin," Tanion said, revealing the card.
"A monster," Jorann said. "You take damage equal to Merlin's Level times 200, and then the card is sent to the graveyard. So take 200 points of damage."
Tanion brushed it off before sending Merlin to the grave. "It's fortunate that you didn't pick my other card," he said. "Otherwise I would not have been able to counter you on my next turn."
"Edilisna, attack Tanion directly!" Jorann said angrily. "High Judgement!"
Tanion recoiled in shock as the blast hit him, knocking him to his feet and pushing the breath from his chest. Once the stream of destruction was over, he sucked in air, and noted that Elise had blocked part of the attack behind him using one of her Risen Soldiers.
"Be more careful, idiot!" she barked from afar. "You came here to help these people, not destroy their homes!"
"I am sorry," Jorann said. "I'm sure Edilisna did not mean to do that."
"You'll regret that, Jorann," Tanion muttered. "I won't go down that easy."
"I never believed you would," Jorann said. "But you do not have the strength to defeat me."
"We will see about that," Tanion muttered.
"We will indeed," Jorann said. "Turn over."
Tanion – 200 LP
Jorann – 4000 LP
"It's my turn," Tanion said, drawing. "No way..."
"Your deck is trying to speak to you, Tanion," Jorann said. "Are you listening?"
This card...Tanion shook his head in disbelief. This keeps on happening. How is this possible? Is Jorann right? Is my deck really trying to talk to me? Is Elise right? But they can't be. I know this is the world of the anime and all, but there's just no way...
"Forget everything you thought you knew about this game, Tanion," Jorann said. "The rules of Eden do not apply here."
"Maybe not," Tanion said. "But I'm still going to win dueling my way. I activate Merlin's effect in my graveyard! By banishing it, I can special summon a 'Knight' monster from my grave, but it cannot attack and it is destroyed during the End Phase. Appear before us once again, Woodsman Knight! (Lvl:5/ATK:2100)."
"The card you drew was a Tuner then?" Jorann asked perceptibly.
"I summon the card I drew, Handmaid of the Knight! (Lvl:2/ATK:600). Next, I tune my Level 5 Woodsman to my Level 2 Handmaid! Synchro Summon! Appear before us now, Level 7! Charger of the Knight! (Lvl:7/ATK:2700)."
"An impressive monster," Jorann said. "But it falls far short of Edilisna."
"I play my final card, Divine Blade Opin!" Tanion retorted. "Since you have 2000 or more life points than I do, Charger's attack is doubled to 5400! Not only that, but when Charger destroys a monster, it deals damage equal to that monster's defence! And it can attack twice!"
"Tanion, that's incredible," Elise said in awe. "You turned this around so easily..."
"I told you I'd defeat you, Jorann, and now it's over!" Tanion shouted. "Charger of the Knight, destroy Edilisna and bring us victory!"
"You're right, Tanion," Jorann said slyly. "This is over."
"What are you smiling about?" Tanion demanded.
"You've used every card, and it still wasn't enough," Jorann proclaimed. "Edilisna's monster effect activates! When this card is targeted for an attack, I can banish both monsters!"
Tanion cried out in desperation as both the High Dragon and Charger disappeared in a flash of brilliant white light. Just as quickly as it appeared, the light was gone, and so were both of their monsters.
"You stopped my attack..." he managed to get out, stunned.
"I told you, you cannot defeat me," Jorann said. "You are not strong enough."
"I... I activate Divine Blade Opin's second effect!" Tanion said despairingly. "When this card is sent to the graveyard, I can destroy one card on the field. I destroy Sanctuary of the High Dragons!"
"Face it, Tanion. There's nothing more you can do. You lost."
"Not yet," he said defiantly. "If I can just get through your next turn..."
"You won't," Jorann said. "You have no cards left so end your turn."
"I... I end my turn."
"At this moment, I activate High Dragon Edilisna's effect!" Jorann said. "During the End Phase, if this card was banished via it's own effect, I can revive it to the field. Appear by my side once again, Edilisna!"
Tanion watched in despair as the mighty dragon returned to the field. He had no cards left in his hand, none on his field, and no effects that he could activate in his graveyard in order to save himself from the coming fury. He was out of options.
Tanion – 200 LP
Jorann – 4000 LP
"I'll make this quick," Jorann said, drawing. "High Dragon Edilisna, end this with your might. High Judgement!"
Tanion slumped to his knees in defeat and closed his eyes as the blast hit him full on, sending him sprawling across the pavement. He looked over at Jorann and Edilisna and her heavenly glow slowly faded out of existence, and he clenched his fist in frustration. To be beaten so completely like that...
"Do you see now the difference between you and I?" Jorann asked as he walked over. "You have much to learn before you can truly claim to be a Synchro user."
"Why you..." Tanion cursed as he stood up. "Duel me again! I'll keep facing you until I beat you. I won't stop until I do!"
"Break it up," Elise said, pushing her way between them. "Right now we've have bigger problems thanks to you imbeciles."
"What happened?" Jorann asked.
"You're duel attracted quite a bit of attention," Elise said angrily. "The Grand Order is coming. In force. And they've got us completely surrounded."