Shizuka wondering why she was put in the position she is in, sighing from the exhaustion coming soon. Knowing this is her first duel in her life time, she had enough time during her stay in Seijuro to learn the basics and memorize what she supposed to do during the duel. What made it stressful for her is that her opponent was none-other than Yurika. Feeling awfully intimidated by her friend, knowing she was a veteran at this game, but since it was an action duel. It's anyone's game for this round, slowly sliding both their decks into their respectable duel-disk as the auto shuffle sequence took over, while the containment field surrounded them, including a few eyes at place. It was after school, so many already rushed home due to the rumors about nighttime.
"Are you ready for your first duel, Shi-Chan?" she asked from a distance, taking her stance, "Remember, it's a casual match. This won't affect the rating system!"
Shizuka slowly nodded, as the auto-shuffle ceased, as she spoke softly, "Yurika, I... I don't know how I feel about this..."
"Trust me, you will be fine! Just have some faith in yourself!" She yelled out, being sure of herself, giving her an angelic smile, "But I won't go easy on you though during the walkthrough..."
Overhearing what Yurika said, Shizuka already wanted to call quits but the containment field was finished, the sphere of action card is up-n-ready, while she saw her friends, Takashi and Johan cheering her on getting Shizuka to slightly smile. Delthea wasn't with them, saying she had some practice to attend due to the festival, which didn't bother her, she did mention not preferring to see her opponent's deck before the festival, makes it more fun in her book. Within moments, without a heads up, Yurika started saying the sequence to activate the duel.
"Action Duel!" she called out.
"A-Action D-Duel!" being last on her saying, as the sphere shattered and cards scattered around the area, which was a basic standard forest, with a river in the middle.
[LP: 4000/4000 - Shizuka/Yurika]
"You can take the first move, Shi-Chan." Yurika said, being happy that Shizuka was finally dueling, "Take your time!"
Being too nervous as she drew her five cards, not knowing how to set up her field, she picked a two trap cards from her hand, slid them into the duel-disk as face-down.
"I set two cards face -down..." she explained, as she picked another card from her hand and set it face down in defense position, "And I set a monster on the field, with that... I end my turn?"
Yurika couldn't help herself but lightly giggle from Shizuka's innocence in the game, which was a refresher in her book, since the matches lately have been, drawing her first card, looking at her hand.
"Now then, let's begin Shi-Chan! When I have no monsters on my side of the field, I can special summon this monster, rise Photon Thrasher!" Calling out her monster, Photon Thrasher arrives on the field through a wormhole from above, landing in front of Yurika, rising its blade at Shizuka's set monster, "Next, I normal summon Photon Lizard to the field! Come on out!"
Photon Thrasher/Lizard: 4*/2*
[ATK: 2100/900]
Photon Lizard smashed its way on the field through the ground, leaving a small hole as it snarls at Shizuka, which creeped her out due to her fear of reptiles as it slowly converted into an energy orb that went into Yurika's deck, sliding a card out, which she took out, afterwards causing an auto-shuffle. Shizuka was confused, then she realized it was an effect of her monster.
"If you still confused, allow me to explain. I tribute Photon Lizard, which I am able to add one level 4 or lower Photon monster into my hand, which I picked is Photon Crusher!" she explained, pointing her finger at the set monster Shizuka placed as Photon Thrasher charged with sheer force, rising its blade and striking down at the monster, "Thrasher! Attack her set monster, Photon Slash!"
After it strikes, being pushed back by an average sized green dragon, which was very thin but had light blue metallic colored wings, using them to block Thrasher's attack, "What!?"
"I-Its Shield Wing's ability... Cannot be destroy in battle twice, how is that Yurika?" she asked nicely.
Shield Wing: 2*
[ATK/DEF: 0/900]
"Well, well. Looks like Shi-Chan is running some unexpected cards, no matter." she said, as she sets a card on her magic/trap zone, "I place one card face-down, and end my turn."
With that, Shizuka drew her card once again, looking at her hand, feeling a little calmer now, which caused to smile a bit more than usual, finally having some fun, as she placed a card on her duel-disk, suddenly from a distance an olive-color robot that looked dressed as an Olympic athlete appeared on Shizuka's field. "I normal summon Top Runner on the field! Next, I tune with my level 4 tuner, with my level 2 Shield Wing to Synchro Summon!"
[4* + 2* = 6*]
After her words were spoken, the monsters jumped in the air, taking flight as Top Runner converted into four green-ring, creating a tunnel for Shield Wing to fly through, showing a golden outline of the monster, within it had two shining stars. Afterwards, a burst of white energy appeared behind Shizuka, revealing a flaming red-colored wyvern coming out of it.
"Take breath within the flame, as you oppose those who threat the king's arrival! Come forth! Red Wyvern!" naming her monster, as it roared at the field, as it lands in front of Shizuka, "Now, strike down Photon Thrash! Red Burst!"
Red Wyvern: 6*
[ATK/DEF: 2400/2000]
Following its master's command, the Red Wyvern burst out a hot flame towards Photon Thrasher, as it became engulfed by it, slowly converting into destroyed data, as Yurika picks the card up and sends it to the graveyard zone through her duel-disk, giving a bit of a sour look as she took battle damage. Shizuka feeling victorious about her first battle and winning which gave her the confidence boost she needed.
[LP: 4000/3700 - Yurika]
"With that, I end my turn." Shizuka said, smiling happily.
Yurika drew her card, with intense speed, glaring at her opponent showing her competitive side at her friend, which made Shizuka gulp, "Now then, we will get rid of that Red Wyvern first." I activate my face-down, Galaxy Zero, I can bring back one Photon or Galaxy monster from the graveyard, I chose Photon Thrasher! Rise once more!"
A luminous light brightens the field for a moment, fading away slowly, as Thrasher reappears once again, its yellow-color eyes looked at Shizuka, unable to express its anger towards defeat. Afterwards, a heavy armor monster crashed down onto the field, wielding a double-sided metal Eku with a copper-colored tip, taking its stance, as Yurika explained the monster's arrival. "I normal summoned Photon Crusher to the field, in attack position!"
Photon Crusher: 4*
[ATK/DEF: 2000/0]
"Both of them aren't able to defeat Red Wyvern!" Shizuka examining the two monsters, wondering what she was planning on doing, since she has never seen Shizuka duel, "Unless you are..."
"You guess could be right, sure the two can never defeat your monster alone, but together they can create something more powerful along the way!" she said, "Now then, I use these two level 4 monsters to construct an Overlay Network!"
With her call, the two monsters converted into energy for the XYZ method, a black hole appeared in the middle of the field, within a yellow-color galaxy of star stir inside like a spiral as the two energies forced themselves inside causing an explosion. Coming out of it, as the area turned back to normal was a silver paladin wielding two long swords in both its hands, with a clear light teal blade, as the middle is pure steel.
"Protect the stars o'great paladin of mine, as your blade protects both your master and her dragon, stand now my knight! XYZ Summon! Rank 4! Starliege Lord Galaxion!" She called out her monster, as the paladin floats aside of Yurika as her smile slowly returns, showing no fear at Shizuka.
Starliege Lord Galaxion: Rank 4
[ATK/DEF: 2000/2100]
[Overlay-Units: 2]
Shizuka was in shock, forgetting one of the basics about xyz monsters, but she snapped out of it due to its attack power, "I-It's still not strong enough!"
"I am not done yet! I use two of my overlay units to activate its effect! Starlight Call!" she said, as the two overlay units clashed against its body, rising its blade up in the air as dragon flew down with great speed, "I can special summon one specific monster from my deck!"
"W-What!?" Shizuka questioned, as she felt her situation has took a bad turn for the worst.
A mini red colored pitchfork copy, by with its bars bent toward ninety-degree angle on both side, as the middle looked more like a horn, in the center, a shine appeared as it illuminated the field of vision for all that were watching. Grabbing hold of the center as she threw it in the air, her entire body glowed white for one second, creating a galaxy pattern vortex within the skies, "The embodiment of light, now descend! Appear now, Galaxy Eyes Photon Dragon!"
Galaxy Eyes Photon Dragon: 8*
[ATK/DEF: 3000/2500]
A dark navy-blue dragon, with bright teal galaxy patterns on parts of its body, including the wings, it roars at Red Wyvern, taking its stand against the monster. Yurika giving a sinister giggle, as she was confident with her monster arrival to change the battlefield to her liking. "Now then, attack Red Wyvern! Photon Stream of Destruction!"
A beam of light burst of the dragon aiming towards Red Wyvern, as Shizuka removed all her fear to activate her trap card, "I-I activate the trap card Scrap-Iron Scarecrow, to block one of your monster from attacking to prevent the downfall of Red Wyvern!" afterwards, a metal-bar cross with a dirty football covered Red Wyvern, smiling from another success as the bream vanished behind hand, "W-What?"
"Then settle for this! I activate Galaxy Eye's effect! Photon Realm!" she called out, as Galaxy Eyes grabbed hold of Red Wyvern creating a black hole for them to escape to as one, "I can banish one monster one the field along with Galaxy Eyes for the remainder of the Battle Phase, now... Starliege attack! Photon Slash!"
Without a moment delayed, the paladin flew quickly towards Shizuka, turning her back on the monster taking her leave, passing bush by bush as the monster cutting down trees to reach her, which frightened her, as Yurika watched Shizuka struggle. Until she found an action card, activating it in time, as she jumped back to avoid the blade of Starliege, "Action Magic! Happy Escape! This card allows me to evade a direct attack, in doing so I am able to draw one card from my deck!"
Yurika watched as Shizuka drew her card, not expecting her to luck out with an action card at the end, which made her be more competitive than her usual calm and collect self. She was driven by excitement, as she looked up as the portal opened as the two dragons escaped from it and took their master's side, roaring at each other. Yurika sets a card on her spell and trap zone.
"I set a card facedown and end my turn, your move Shizuka." she declared, watching Shizuka draw her next card, "Find what ya need in there?"
She responded with energetic nod, as she slammed a card one the duel-disk on the monster zone, as mini monster appeared, having a creepy smile with red eyes and a black face. Generating lightning from its hands as there was a shield equipped onto its back, laughing as it looked over at Red Wyvern. "Now then! Let us begin! Tuning my level 2 tuner Force Resonator with my level 6 Red Wyvern to Synchro Summon once again!"
"Another!?" Yurika sounded surprise by Shizuka summoning, as she watched the two monsters convert, "What surprise you have for me today?"
[2* + 6* = 8*]
Flames erupted, surrounding Shizuka, her eyes closed for that moment, she showed nothing of her true self, instead she decided to take the role of the King in her hands, showing that her eyes were crimson red. Burning passion rose within her, as the tunnel of two green rings guided Red Wyvern inside, only showing the outline and stars. "The ruler's heartbeat will now file through! Take witness of its creation-shaking power! Syncro Summon! My very soul, Red Dragon Archfiend!" With her words, energy crashed down behind her, revealing her ace.
Red Dragon Archfiend: 8*
[ATK/DEF: 3000/2000]
A tail crashed down onto the field, its power smashing through its beauty with sheer force, a muscular-looking dragon to flight over Shizuka, its wings looking black and dreadful like a demon's, showing over its yellow-colors fangs as its roared loudly at Yurika's field, its body colored only with red and black, fitting for its name as one of duel monster powerhouse synchros. Shizuka being one its holders, as she rose her arm up high and then cutting it down low to the side as the flames were vanquished by her will, it was not the same Shizuka anymore that everyone knew. Determination towards being the true ruler of this world was her calling, as the monster is proof towards her existence in living in this world.
"Now then, let's the carnage begin, entertain me Yurika." Speaking with such confidence, as she rose her arm and pointed at Starleige, "Crush him, my servant... ABSOLUTE POWER FORCE!"
Obeying its master, flapping its wings as the wind blew heavily at the field, rushing towards Starliege with great force, swinging its arm towards the monster, the bone claw ripping apart the paladin's armor like butter. Being unable to save her ally, as the wind blew her back a bit as Starliege was removed from the field without a trace, only leaving a crater. Stunned by the monster's power, as her laughter took over, finally she faced an opponent that can fill her with sheer joy instead of disappointment, but she held herself back in more trying to not reveal all her tricks.
[LP: 3700/2700 - Yurika]
"I end my turn, come at me Yurika!" she commanded.
"What the hell happened to these two!? One minute they were normal girls and a second later, they become total savages that hunger for battle!" Johan asking question, as he stared at Takashi, but he was too enlightened with the match, "Not you too Taka..."
"My move! Draw! I activate a quickplay spell card! Photon Stream of Destruction! Which allows me to banish one card on the field as long as I control a Galaxy Eye on my field, now vanish Red Dragon Archfiend!" she declared as a beam of light ran through the sky and aimed for Red Dragon Archfiend, "Its over Shi-Chan!"
Shizuka jumped to the side, with her speed she was able to leap far to obtain another action card that was on a broken tree, activating it as the beam was misdirected towards the river. Causing the river to have a giant hole which all the water is heading towards, even though it seems bottomless.
"Action Magic! Corrupted Magic! It allows me to disable an effect of a spell card that is activated, which makes it render less." she explained.
"Damn you! Galaxy Eyes attack Red Dragon directly! Photon Stream of Destruction!" she yelled out as the monster fired its beam of light towards Red Dragon.
"Not so fast! I reactivate the trap card Scrap-Iron Scarecrow, making your attack pointless!" Shizuka called out, as the beam disappeared once again before impact.
"Galaxy Eye's effect! Photon Realm!" She said, as the two were dragged into a black hole, as Yurika instantly took a card from her hand, having a sinister smile on her face, "Now I activate this! Dimension Wanderer! With this monster's effect, whenever a monster is banished along with my Galaxy Eye's effect, I can inflict 3000 towards you!"
"WHAT!?" Questioning the logic of that card as lightning struck down on her, viewing her life point counter being decreased, "Damnit..."
[LP: 4000/1000 - Shizuka]
"Isn't that card... too broken for our rules?" Takashi said, confused by the card's logic, "Guess it can't be helped, even though that is unfair."
The two dragons reappeared on the field once again, pushing each other away and roaring once more at each other, angered by one another's existence.
"With that, I end my turn. Come Shi-Chan, you can't always rely on action card to save that dragon of yours." she said, with a snarky tone, "After all, it seems like that its effect is decades behind."
Shizuka drew her card, not paying attention to Yurika's words, sighing as she stared four cards in her hand, setting one card in her spell and trap zone.
"I set one card facedown and end my turn." she said in a calm tone, closing her eyes as she waits for her opponent to begin her turn, "Let's wrap this up already Yurika, this seems dull to me."
Yurika was offended by her friend's word, as she drew her card and pointed at Red Dragon Archfiend as a sign to attack, already claiming her victory since she drew another Dimensional Wanderer in her hand, "Attack! Photon Stream of Destruction!"
Within that moment, Shizuka activated a trap card but not what she expected it to be, "I activate the trap card, Red Cocoon and I equip it to Red Dragon Archfiend!" she said, as the dragon's aura glowed hot red, "Now all monster effects that battle this monster are negated!"
"Then you are force to use your Scrap-Iron Scarecrow!" she yelled, as she saw another trap card being activated, the one she set in the beginning of the duel, forgetting about it completely, "What the..."
"I activate a continuous trap card! King Scarlet! By targeting Red Dragon Archfiend, it becomes immune to battle destruction!" she explained, as the two dragons clashed, "Which makes this suicide attack an advantage!"
The two dragons fought bravely, but in the end, with the support of Shizuka's trap card, they reigned over Galaxy Eyes like nothing, being cut in half by the victorious dragon, as it exploded, leaving no trails, as Yurika was on her knees feeling like a failure. "I-I lost?" she said, not paying to Shizuka as she had an action card in her hand, taking advantage of the situation, showing no mercy for her friend.
"Action Magic! Victory Assault! When my monster destroyed a monster on my opponent's field, it counter attacks, since you have no more defenses, it will be a direct attack." she said, as Red Dragon Archfiend swung its arm directly at the crushed Yurika, crushing her with sheer force, "Game over."
[LP: 2700/0 - Yurika]
Shizuka Wins!
The area slowly decade into oblivion, as the field went back into a normal state, walking over to Yurika, giving her a hand. Yurika looks up as Shizuka's eyes were violet again, having a concern look on her face. Responding as she grabbed hold of Shizuka's hand, and lifted herself up. Yurika felt defeat for the first time, even if it was a casual match, watching their friends walk up to them, while the other students clapped in delight for a wonderful duel.
"I-I'm sorry Yurika! Are you hurt?!" Shizuka asked, with a worried tone, "Tell me!"
"I-I am fine, Shi-Chan, you just caught me off guard is all." Yurika sounding delighted with her match with Shizuka, but deep down felt a cold and sharp pain that a newcomer overthrown her like nothing, "I am sure you will be fine against Delthea now."
They all began to laugh at what Yurika said, which confused her for moment, as they all got their bags and left the school premise before nighttime. During that time, Ryuuji was looking at the duel from afar, in the shade of the tree, sighing. As he walks out last, and waited for night to appear, his hunt for the murderer that stained itself onto Seijuro will occur tonight.
To be Continued...
Next: Chapter IX: Treacherous Night! Ryuuji's Hunt Begins!
Sorry for the delay on the chapter this week, I hope you enjoy this chapter today, as always, keep on living large people!