Huzzah! It's back! This chapter is finally done! Woohoo!
*awkwardly clears throat.*
Well, now that you're here, I may as well start.
Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 4: The Ninja Strikes!
Tyler's POV
It was definitely a shock to my system when I was woken by a splash of cold water to the face. I guess I know how Cloud must feel by now.
"What are you waiting for?" Emerald said. "We have strategies to create, possibilities to explore, and duels to win!"
I groaned. "Really? That's why you're waking me up at-" I glanced at the clock. "8:15?"
He nodded. "Valtor informed us that you would be the next one up to bat- well, duel. So, I insist that you be prepared."
I face faulted. "That took waking me up with a bucket of water to the face?"
He grinned. "Actually, that was Cloud's idea."
He looked over, upset. "That is such a lie! No chance!"
Emerald rolled his eyes. "Right... Anyways, we'd best get to work."
I nodded. "Right after I change out of these soggy clothes."
Emerald appeared embarrassed. "Oh yeah... that..."
Cloud grinned. "Told you it was a terrible idea."
Emerald sighed as he sat back down on the couch. "Sometimes I feel as if the world is against me."
I narrowed my eyes. "I'm afraid that's my job right now, Emerald."
...
Tess teleported into Master Valtor's chamber where he was amassing a powerful clone army. As she appeared, she was caught in a field of bright green energy that paralyzed her.
Valtor appeared upset, and spoke. "How many times have I told you not to interrupt my work?"
Tess struggled to break free, but it was to no avail. "I apologize, Master Valtor. I only came to inform you that Phoenix has disappeared from the premises."
The energy field dissipated as Valtor stood up. "I suppose he'll have a good time breaking a few duelists' spirits... hopefully from the Syndicate of Shadows. They appear to be quite the nuisance."
Tess nodded. "I must agree."
Valtor nodded. "Very well. I expect the best from you in your duel with this... Tyler, later today. You had best not lose."
The ninja nodded. "As you wish, Master Valtor," she spoke before vanishing in a puff of smoke. Valtor observed the live feed from the camera planted in the duel simulator room as Cloud was dueling Tyler.
"It appears that it shall be a grand fight for the taking... but only one can win."
...
Cloud controlled Titanium Dragon as well as a Copper Leona, while Tyler had two set cards.
Cloud: 2400
Tyler: 1500
"I activate the spell card Alchemic Amalgamation! Now, I can Fusion Summon a Metallic Beast monster by banishing monsters from my Field and Graveyard! So, I'll be banishing my Leona and a Tin Eagle in my Graveyard to Summon Amalgam Beast Bronze Gryphon!"
The powerful, lustrous monster appeared, with a metallic shine (2500/1300).
"Now, I Special summon my Metallic Beast - Gold Falcon in Attack mode!"
A shining, gold bird wearing a spartan helmet and with bladed wings appeared, giving a shriek upon entering the battlefield (1600/1300).
"And, when my Falcon attacks, you can't activate Spell or Trap effects until after its attack is complete!"
I blinked. "Well, there goes that plan."
Cloud grinned. "Now, Falcon, attack! Shining Wingblade!"
The falcon divebombed me, knocking me to the ground.
Cloud: 2400
Tyler: 0
Cloud wins!
As the images disappeared, I saw Emerald and Cloud each offer me a hand.
"That's the worst hand I've ever gotten," I remarked.
Cloud shrugged. "Hey. You win some, you lose some."
Emerald nodded. "I have a feeling, though, that you'll be able to win against Tess today."
I sighed. "Let's hope you're right."
...
A couple hours later...
In the simulator hall, everyone was waiting for Tess to appear. Iwas starting to get nervous as he looked through his deck once again.
"Let's hope that I'm able to do this. This deck is pretty neat, but I'm afraid it just won't be enough..."
Suddenly, in a puff of smoke, the ninja appeared, brandishing a Duel Disk with Shurikens on each of the Spell and Trap card zones; the entire duel disk resembled a five-pointed kunai.
"Are you ready to face the wrath of my ninjas?" Tess asked.
I nodded. "Certainly."
We both yelled out, "Game on!"
Tess: 4000
Tyler: 4000
Tess nodded. "I'll go first..."
She drew her card. "I think I'll start by summoning Green Flame Kagessailant, in Attack mode."
A ninja master in a green outfit with flaming eyes stood before me, brandishing several shuriken in both hands (1900/1000).
"I think I'll set two cards facedown and end my turn."
I nodded. "Then it's my move."
I smiled as I saw the cards I had gotten. "Definitely much better than last time."
I looked towards the ninja with a grin on my face. "I'll start out by playing a field spell - Prehistoric Synergy Plant!"
A futuristic energy collection facility appeared, deep in a forest that almost covered the ninja.
"You'll soon see its effect... but for now, I summon my Dinomech Combustion Maiasaura!"
A reasonable, crested dinosaur with a furnace for a chest and blazing eyes appeared on the field (1500/1500).
Tess raised an eyebrow. "What's the point of that? My ninja can still annihilate it!"
I grinned. "Perhaps, but its ability might change your mind. When it's summoned, it gets one Heat Energy Counter!"
The furnace on its chest began to burn.
"And, any time I summon a Dinomech monster successfully, I'm allowed to put a Neo Energy Counter on this card."
The energy collector on the field began blazing as electricity flashed around it.
Tess scoffed. "Big deal."
I grinned. "It gets better. By using Maiasaura's effect, I can remove a Heat Energy Counter from it to Special Summon a level 3 or lower Dinomech monster from my hand in defense mode!"
Tess groaned. "I see..."
I smiled. "So here comes my Dinomech Turbine Pterodactyl!
A mechanized pterodactyl appeared, with helicopter-like blades circulating on its wings to keep it aloft (800/800).
"And both he and the Synergy plant gain their respective energy counters."
The blades on the pterodactyl spun at a much more frivolous pace.
I nodded. "And by removing Pterodactyl's energy counter, my Maiasaura can attack directly this turn!"
Tess blinked in surprise. "What?!"
The wind from the turbines picked up the Maiasaura.
"Now attack, Maiasaura! Blazing Burst!"
The dinosaur belched out a stream of flame that was headed directly for the ninja.
"No matter," She said. "I activate a trap - Ninjitsu Stealth Magic!
When you declare an attack, I can flip one of my Ninjas into face-down defense mode to negate your attack and end the battle phase, as well as inflict you with 500 points of damage."
I scowled as the ninja threw one of the shuriken at me before disappearing behind the facedown card, groaning as it hit me.
Tess: 4000
Tyler: 3500
I looked at the cards left in my hand. "I'll set a facedown and end my turn."
Tess drew her card. "It appears the odds are in my favor. I'll normal summon my Telekinetic Kagesailant in Attack mode."
A woman wearing a cobalt blue ninja outfit appeared, holding up several kunai with only the power of her mind (1000/1000)
"Her special power is that she can target one face-down spell or trap card on your side of the field. If I correctly guess what it is, then it's destroyed and I gain 500 points. If not, it's set back and I lose 500 points."
She pointed at the card on my field. "And I'm guessing you have a trap set for me!"
I grinned at the card I had facedown. "Wrong... it's a quick-play spell known as Energy Overcharge."
I showed her as one of the kunai accidentally flew back and hit Tess, causing her to elicit a disgruntled "hmph!"
Valtor was gazing intently at the ninja. "It appears she is letting her rage start to get the better of her."
Tess: 3500
Tyler: 3500
Tess nodded. "A minor setback. Now, I'll flip summon my Green Flame Kagessailant..."
The emerald-clad ninja reappeared (1900/1000)
"Before activating my facedown- Ninjitsu DoppelMan!"
A card indicating a shadow clone of Green Flame Kagessailant flipped on the field.
"When I control at least 2 Ninja monsters with the same level, I'm allowed to Special Summon this trap card as a Normal Monster. It's level is equal to the level of the two monsters that have the same level- so, 4!"
The shadow clone appeared on the field, made out of smoke and standing next to the other two ninjas (0/0).
"Now, I think I'll overlay my 3 monsters..."
The three ninjas flew into a portal that appeared.
"Now appear, my ace monster- rise, Orichalcum Kagessailant!"
A ninja in a black outfit with a light green energy flowing through veins on the suit rose from the portal. It was surrounded by several chains glowing with the same, eerie green glow. At the end of these chains were golden shuriken. It struck a malicious pose as three overlay units orbited it (2700/2300).
I must confess, I was slightly intimidated by the sheer power exuded by this ninja.
Cloud glowered from the sidelines. "She gets an Xyz monster and I don't?"
Emerald shrugged. "My bad, bro."
Tess nodded. "And the best part is that by detaching an overlay unit, I can negate the effects of one of your monsters and halve its attack as long as this card is on my field! So I'll detach one to halve your maiasaura's attack!"
One of the golden shurikens absorbed one of the overlay units before wrapping itself (and the chain) around the maiasaura, who squealed in pain (750/1500).
"Now, Kagessailant, attack! Destroy that stupid dinosaur!"
The ninja looked to her. "The one in attack mode."
It took a second before I glared at her. "Hey! not cool!"
The ninja fired both of its remaining shurikens at my maiasaura... I knew I had to act fast.
"I'll activate my Energy Overload! This card doubles my monster's attack until the End Phase and prevents its destruction in battle. But during my next Standby phase, I take damage equal to my monster's original attack."
Maisaura groaned as its power rose again (1500/1500). However, it was still sliced by the shurikens, which then went and slashed me.
Tess: 3500
Tyler: 2300
Tess nodded.
"I guess I'll end my turn with a facedown."
I nodded as I drew a card, then the heat energy blasted back at me. I swear I came out of that attack with literal sideburns.
Tess: 3500
Tyler: 800
Tess smirked. "There's no way you can beat my Orichalcum Ninja!"
I grimaced before I looked at the card I had just drawn.
"This... this is the Alpha God!"
Flashback:
Emerald and I were looking through his deck when they stumbled across the monster I was holding.
"Whoa... that is one powerful monster! I mean, look at it! That thing is ferocious!"
I grinned. "Agreed... it's rough to summon, but destroys when it does."
Emerald nodded. "Very true."
End Flashback
I grinned.
"I Normal Summon my Dinomech Piezo Brontosaurus!"
A gigantic brontosaurus covered in electricity-absorbing tiles appeared on the field (1000/2100).
I grinned.
"You know the drill. My Brontosaurus gains a Piezo Counter, while my field spell gains another Neo counter as well."
The brontosaurus slammed its legs on the ground as electricity crackled around it, and the energy plant gained even more energy.
"Now, I play my Brontosaurus' effect. Now, by removing a Piezo counter, I can negate the effect of one monster on your side of the field until the End Phase... like your Orichalcum Kagessailant, for example!"
The gigantic brontosaurus slammed the ground once again, but this time the electricity it had stored pulsed across the ground and hit the ninja, paralyzing it with an electric charge.
Tess was confused. "What good will that do you?"
I sighed. "Two pieces of the puzzle left. First, I activate my Synergy plant's special ability! You don't think those Neo energy counters were for nothing, right? I can remove any number to Special Summon a Dinomech from my hand or Deck with a Level less than or equal to the number of counters I remove. So, I'll remove three counters to Special Summon my Dinomech Gas Archeopteryx!"
The Synergy Plant released its energy to create a portal. Out of it flew a small, winglike creature with a hot air balloon on its back, flapping its wings. It also boasted small but sharp teeth and a large beak (1400/300)
"You know the drill; Archeopteryx gets a counter, Synergy Plant gets a counter... We've been over this."
A fire on the archeopteryx's back began to burn and the creature's wings stopped flapping, as the air balloon allowed it to hover.
"Now, I'll use Archeopteryx's effect- by detaching one Gas energy Counter from it, I can add a counter to any different Dinomech - like, for example, my Turbine Pterodactyl!"
The fire on its back disappeared and, as the archeopteryx began flapping its wings once again, the turbines on the pterodactyl's wings began turning once again.
I nodded. "Here is the climactic moment! I banish my Piezo Brontosaurus, my Gas Archeopteryx, and my Combustion Maiasaura in order to summon this-"
I held up the card left in my hand.
"Dinomech Alpha - Tyrannus God!"
The card began glowing in a harsh, red light as the creature was summoned. A colossal, cyborg tyrannnosaurus rex, with one side completely covered in mechanical armor that sharpened his claws and fangs as well as made them serrated, while the other half was organic- except for one arm, which had been replaced with a powerful grenade launcher. The sides were joined by a large, red, Alpha symbol that blazed with energy. The titanic creature gave a roar that would have frightened even the bravest of souls (4000/2100).
Tess was impressed, but shook it off quickly. "You still can't win!"
I smiled. "Oh, but I can. First, I get a second counter on the I use the effect of Turbine Pterodactyl once again- detaching a counter from my pterodactyl to allow my Tyrannus to attack directly this turn!"
Valtor grinned. "Impressive... his power shall serve the Orichalcos well."
My smile turned into a grin as I gave my next command. "Go, Tyrannus! Attack with Sic Semper Barrage!"
The monolithic creature began blasting everything it had in its arsenal at Tess- including grenades from its launcher, a blast from its lazer eye, and the claws on its armored arm fired as hooked blades.
Tess stood firm against the assault. "If I'm going down, I'm taking you with me! I play the effect of my Vapor Ninja from my hand! When I would take damage from a direct attack, I can banish one Ninja monster from my graveyard and discard this card from my hand to inflict the same amount of damage to you, at the same time!"
I groaned. "Really?"
She nodded. "Of course. I wouldn't lie to you about something like this."
I sighed. "Very well... I accept my fate with dignity."
"We both had a lot of game-changing moves and played our hearts out. That definitely counts for something."
As the explosion occurred, Vapor Kagessailant appeared in a puff of smoke, gathered up a fragment of the blast, and threw it back at me before disappearing. The resulting explosions left me and Tess both thrown back against the walls of the duel arena.
Tess: 0
Tyler: 0
Result: Draw
Valtor stood up. "That was well played, both of you. I was going to release Tess from this council if she lost and expel Tyler from the group if he did... but I guess you're both safe for now.
"For the next duel, I propose you skip the dramatics and get right to the destruction. The Syndicate of Shadows may be a nuisance, but they have power... power that I don't want to be taken lightly. I am afraid that if one of us loses to them... We will not be able to safely get them back."
He nodded. "Very well. The next duel shall take place in one hour."
He left the room, as did most of the others.
I sighed with relief.
Emerald walked up to me. "Best possible scenario, eh?"
I nodded. "Very true."
Cloud looked to Emerald. "So it's all up to you."
He nodded. "Yes... but I think I can make this work. The only problem is... which deck do I choose from?"
...
Elsewhere
Phoenix was in the midst of dueling three duelists at once, but it was clear that he was far superior to them.
Phoenix: 6800
Duelist 1: 1000
Duelist 2: 100
Duelist 3: 1800
Phoenix had three monsters on the field, including his Jigoku, ready to attack, while his opponents had nothing.
"Finish them off!"
Three screams were heard as the duelists fell to the ground, unconscious.
Phoenix wins!
Up in the trees, a girl wearing a light blue, skintight athletic suit that was camouflaged in the cover of the brancheswatched the onslaught of power as Phoenix started to walk away from the devastation he had caused.
"This is Retrograde to Taskmaster- do you copy?"
Another female voice responded. "For heaven's sake, Chronia! This is no time for codenames."
The girl, evidently called Chronia, groaned. "Very well, Miss Annika. Target sighted was all I was trying to say."
"Very well. Proceed as planned. Over and out."
The crackle of the radio fizzled out as Chronia nodded.
"Let's see if the Phoenix rises again after I destroy him with a blast from the past!"
She activated a device with a black, dual lightning bolt-symbol; she was immediately cloaked in a dark blue aura.
"The Syndicate of Shadows will have first blood!"
...
Ja; cliffhanger, leading to two duels next chapter! Should be quite intriguing!
I hope you all enjoyed this;
Until next time,
E.D.