My eyes flash open sensitively, and I instantly know I should probably have come back for sleep a little earlier than 1 AM. Especially since I wake up at six. My back aches slightly as I stand up, but I ignore the feeling of where the pole hit me last night. I dress into a one-shoulder long sleeve emerald crop top, and a new pair of black jeans. I tip-toe into the bathroom and apply a light cover of concealer over my bruise, and powder over the top. I then put quick eyeliner on and mascara, then but some lip balm on my lips. I leave the bathroom, hang my thick holster belt on my hips, slightly lop-sided and put my black lace-up boots on. I really do have an obsession with boots.
I head out into the corridors and everything is soundly quiet as usual. I walk soundlessly to the library to go over my strategy over and over.
"Azure!" I look up and see Alexis coming my way.
"Hey Alexis." I reply, and go back to sorting through my deck.
"Think you're ready for Jaden?" She asks curiously.
"Yeah. Probably could've used more time to go through his duels, especially duels he's lost but it'll have to do. Adapting during a battle is generally what I do best…" I say, rubbing my eyes slightly.
"Did you get any sleep last night? You look like you pulled an all-nighter! Please don't tell me you were working on your deck!" She says, frowning at the shadows underneath my eyes. I know I've blushed and keep my eyes on my deck purposely to hide it.
"No, nothing like that." I reply and she frowns.
"You always look tired! Keep your secrets if you want to, but I just hope you don't fall asleep during your duel with Jaden!" She says and I shake my head.
"I'll never be that tired." I reply, looking up after the tingle from my face had disappeared.
"We should go and get something to eat before your duel. It's in half an hour!" She says, so I nod and follow her out.
"You know, if you win this, I think Chancellor Shepard may ask you to come to school here!" Alexis tells me as we walk through the corridors.
"Really?" I ask, unconvinced.
"Yeah! I think it'd be a great way to get out of Lisa's hair…" Alexis tries awkwardly.
"I guess. If he did ask, but I can't get my hopes up, I'd probably say yes. It's… nicer here. Plus…" I trail off as I realise I was about to say I'd want to stay here with her and Zane. "… it's a nicer environment than east academy." She looks satisfied with my answer. Just.
"Azure." I hear a short voice from behind me and turn knowing who it was.
"Hi Zane." I say, almost blushing with Alexis standing right beside me.
"I wanted to wish you good luck, though I doubt you need it." He says in his low voice, and Alexis raises her eyebrows.
"Zane… do you have a headache?" She asks puzzled.
"Not at all." He replies tonelessly.
"I should go… bye." I say nervously, and turn away from them both grabbing a cereal bar before heading to the duel arena.
"Hey Azure!" I see Jaden and Sy on the other side of the duel arena and smile nervously.
"Hey Jaden. How are you doing?" I ask walking up closer to him and Sy.
"Great thanks! You better get your game on cos I'm not holding back!" He says, grinning.
"Don't worry I will. What about you Sy?" I ask smiling sweetly and he fumbles slightly.
"Okay… I think." He says and I frown.
"What's wrong?" I ask sympathetically.
"Sy, stop being so down! The message your brother sent you doesn't mean anything! You just need to believe in yourself!" Jaden says, encouragingly.
"What did he say?" I ask, suddenly aware that whatever the message was, may have been my doing.
"Nothing that matters… just that I should work harder." He mumbles and I'm confused.
"Anything bad?" I ask.
"Not really… but it's obvious he thinks I'm doing terribly!" He whines to himself.
"Sy, I think you've got the wrong impression-" I start to try and make Zane's small attempt of helping Syrus come out, knowing he was probably acting on my words, but the commentator interrupts me.
"So is everyone ready for the final duel?!" As the crowd starts to roar I walk silently back to the other side of the duel stage, my hand on my holster protectively. "Well let's get things started! First, it's the care-free first-year Slifer form duel academy, Jaden Yuki!" Jaden takes his position, smiling wildly, waving to the crowd.
"And now, she hasn't yet even lost a single life point in all her duels, it's Azure Roarke!" I hear my name through the crowd and step up, not looking around at anyone except Jaden. I can't get distracted. I have nothing against Jaden, but I don't want to risk his health.
"Let's duel!"
"I draw!" I say, giving Jaden no chance to go first.
"Now show me what you got Azure!" He yells, unfazed. I smirk after glancing at my cards. The perfect hand.
"I normal summon Light Shadow Hunter (1600/1600) in attack mode. Now, I activate it's effect which allows me to look at the top five cards in your deck and change the order they're in." I say confidently. Hm. I need to get Polymerisation as far away as possible, so I'll put that last. Then the two of his monsters at the top to torment him. And Warrior returning alive next and Hero signal after.
"Nice trick, you done yet?" Jaden asks, frowning slightly.
"Not just yet. I place three face downs and end my turn." I say, making sure I don't leave any gap for him to get through.
"Okay, I draw! Sweet! I summon Elemental Hero Avion (1000/1000) in attack mode! Now-" I interrupt with my trap card.
"Sorry Jaden, I'm going to have to stop you there." I say calmly, trying not to get cocky.
"What already?" He asked confused. I nod.
"I activate the continuous trap shadow summon blaster. It's similar to Cyber summon blaster, but slightly different. I can activate it when you summon a monster. From now on, if either of us want to summon a monster any way, we take 600 points of damage for it." I say, explaining it carefully.
"What? Why would you want to stop both of us from summoning any monsters?!" Jaden says, alarmed.
"Because Jaden, you rely on your monsters, you care for them. I've seen it, it's quite fascinating. I can duel without mine, let's see if you can." I say smiling good-naturedly. I feel like I'm testing him. Maybe I am.
"Well… okay then. Anyway, since your Light Shadow Hunter has more attack points than Avion, I can't attack, but I feel like getting a boost. I activate Skyscraper!" Tall buildings rise up around us, and the crowd cheers. Avion's attack points rise to 2000.
"Now Avion, attack Light Shadow Hunter!" Jaden says, but I activate a trap.
"It's negate attack. Everyone should know what this does." I reply, and Avion's attack is stopped.
"Nice move, I guess I'll place two face-downs and end my turn."
"Great. Now first, I activate Shadow Block, which I set last turn. It makes me immune to one continuous spell or trap card on the field. I choose Shadow summon blaster." I say confidently. Going well so far.
"Jeez, you've thought this through haven't you." Jaden remarks, and I nod tentatively.
"And now I summon Wind Shadow hunter (1400/1600) in attack mode. And now I use it's effect, which allows me to attack directly. Go Wind Shadow Hunter!" I say, watching as Jaden's life points go to 2600. I look at my hand. No traps at the moment, but I can set Warrior returning alive. "I place one face down and end my turn."
"Great, my turn!" He draw and smiles. "Finally! Your blaster can give me it's best shot, I'm still going through with this, I activate Polymerisation!" Damn, I was hoping he didn't already have one in his hand.
"I fuse Elemental Hero Avion with my Elemental hero Burstinatrix! Out he comes, it's flamed wingman (2100/1200)!"
"Well then, Shadow summon Blaster, take 600 of his life points!" Jaden's life points drop to 2000.
"Argh! Well, here goes nothing, Flamed Wingman, attack Wind Shadow Hunter!" Wind Shadow Hunter is destroyed, and I take 700 points of damage.
"What's it like to finally take some damage? Well, now Flamed Wingman's effect comes in, and you take damage for Wind Shadow Hunter's attack points!" Flamed Wingman comes up to me and fire blazes around me. My life points drop to 1900.I don't even blink.
"It's oddly refreshing Jaden. And it just pushes me on to win this duel!" I say and I hear the crowd roaring.
"I draw! I activate Pot of greed!" I say after peaking at the card I drew. I draw two more cards. Not enough to win this turn, but I can keep going. "First I summon Water Shadow Hunter(1600/1400) in attack mode. And I use its ability with the help of your flamed wingman to get some of my life points back." My life points return to 4000.
"After all that hard work…" Jaden jokes and I smile.
"Indeed. Now I activate Warrior returning alive and bring back Wind Shadow Hunter(1400/1600). Now, Wind Shadow Hunter, use your ability to attack Jaden directly!" I say, hoping none of his face-downs can hurt me with a direct attack.
"Not so fast! I activate A Hero Emerges! You're supposed to choose a card in my hand and if it's a monster I can summon it, but I only have one card so let's get right to it. Wroughtweiler (800/1200), come on out!" Jaden says, and I internally groan but keep a straight face. Wroughtweiler gets destroyed by my Wind Shadow Hunter, but Jaden only takes 600 points of damage, leaving him with 1400.
"All right then, I end my turn with a face down." I say calmly.
"Well, since Wroughtweiler was destroyed, it's effect comes into play and I can take a Polymerisation card and an Elemental Hero from my deck, and into my hand." Oh great, I can see where this is going. "Your blaster is going to be hitting me once more, but for the last time as I activate Polymerisation and fuse my Elemental hero Flamed Wingman with my Elemental hero Sparkman! Welcome to the field Elemental hero Shining Flare Wingman(2500/2100)!" A new monster comes onto the field, shining brightly. A fitting name to be sure.
"Now, Shining Flare Wingman, attack Wind Shadow Hunter!" I smile.
"Sorry Jaden, I activate the trap draining shield! This negates your attack, and I gain life points for your monsters attack points." I say smiling.
"What?!" He yelps, and my life points rise to 7500. A strange energy flows through me, and I grin.
"I end my turn then I guess." He says.
I look at my deck. Adynn, why don't you come and help me. I draw with a perfect swipe of my arm, then tilt the card perfectly. I can't help but smirk.
"You're an amazing duelist Jaden. Not only have you gone against my strategy, and taken damage for your monsters, you've also managed to dish out a good amount of damage. However, though you played well, it was nowhere near well enough." I say, already certain of my victory.
"The duel's not over yet Azure!" Jaden yells.
"Oh, but it is. I activate Polymerisation, and fuse together my Wind Shadow Hunter, Water Shadow Hunter, Light Shadow Hunter and my Fire Shadow Hunter from my hand." A vortex appears behind me. "I'll give it to you Jaden. You're amazing. I haven't had to play this card since I first battled a pro. Come on out, I'd like you to meet my pride and joy, level 11 Shadow Emperor Adynn (4200/3000)!" Adynn floats from the vortex magically, the dark emerald bow armed and ready, settled in his deep black hands.
It is good to be out again. I hear his voice in my head and smile.
"4200 attack points? If you're thinking of attacking, Skyscraper gives my Wingman an extra 1000 attack points, and my Wingman also gains 300 attack points for every Elemental hero in my graveyard, which is 3, so he has…" Jaden says, trying to work out the maths in his head. "4500 attack points?"
"It's 4700 attack points Jaden, but Adynn here has an effect. He's an emperor, so his troops give him power. If I choose to use this effect, he gains the attack points of all the Shadow troops in my graveyard. However, at the start of your next turn, if it gets to that, I'll be taking all that damage to my life points."
"That's insane! 6400 attack points!" I hear Bastian's voice faintly through the awe-filled crowd.
"6400 attack points. And I have 7500 life points. I think I'll take the risk." Adynn glows slightly as his attack points rise to 10600. "Adynn, take the shot will you."
"My pleasure." He whispers, and draws his bow up, pulls back, and releases the arrow. The arrow becomes laced with Fire, Water, Air and Light, the four Shadow Hunters in my graveyard. It strikes Jaden's Wingman, and Jaden Life points take the hit. The smoke clears, and he's on one knee, with no life points remaining.
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