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Burning Petals
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"Now then! If you would please look up to the screen in front of you!" The announcer declared, many pair of eyes stared at the huge screen above them using their D-Gazers, "We received the final word! The rules to the Action Counter have been approved!"

"A-Action Counter?" Yurika questioned, looking over Takashi for an explanation, "Well?"

He let out a small chuckle, feeling honored for the assumption Yurika towards his intellect. Taking a deep breath as he begins the explanation.

"Well, my dear Yurika. It's basically a counter-system they added for the duel-disk." Takashi explained, showing a hologram from his watch, "The max counters that can be held are six. But those counter's purpose are to be used for these items called "Action Mods." Which, they're countless varieties of abilities that the mods carry."

"But Takashi, why the sudden approval of the Action Counter system?" Johan interrupted, deciding to jump in the conversation, "Seems out of nowhere in my opinion."

"Johan, remember that during the summer they hold a tournament." Takashi said, looking over the match after he finished explaining the rules, "Right now that doesn't matter."

"Shi-Chi! She doesn't know anything about the sudden news!" Yurika said, being concern for her friend, "I do hope Delthea doesn't over do it..."

"No worries Yurika." Johan said, being sure of himself, "Dell prefers giving a show these days."

"Johan…" Yurika replied softly, as a smile risen up, "R-Right! I am sure Delthea won't go overboard!"

' STAGE 1 – SAKURA '

' DAMAGE LEVEL – C '

The authorizations were approved as the announcement cleared things up. Damage level begin code within the system due to the incident between Johan and Takashi.

[LP: 4000 – Shizuka]
vs.
[LP: 4000 – Delthea]

[Turn 1]

Both duelist drawn their cards from the respected duel-disk. Shizuka concerned with the face she seen Delthea make before reverting back to a calm state. Her eyes seemed different from the angry and happy side that Delthea usually displays.

"Shizuka, you can have the first turn." Delthea suggested, reading her cards waiting for Shizuka to take charge.

Shizuka took a deep breath to calm her nerves, not to overthink. Believing it must have been stage fright that got her seeing things.

"I set a monster face-down in defense mode, and set one facedown." Shizuka exclaimed, as the two cards appeared on the field, "With that, I end my turn."

[Turn 2]

"Pathetic…" Delthea softly said, drawing her card glaring at Shizuka, Truly pathetic… Can't believe Yurika lost to a amateur like yourself."

"H-Huh?" Shizuka question, having her feelings hurt by the sudden insult, "D-Delthea? Where did that come from…?"

"I always hated you Shizuka…" Delthea mentioned, running to her left quickly to snatch an action card in time, "Because of the front you put every goddamn time! Action Magic! Combustion!"

Inserting the card into her duel-disk as a beam of light fired at Shizuka's monster. Revealing Shield-Wing, screaming in pain as it collapsed in data, catching Shizuka off guard.

[Delthea's A-Counters: 1]

"This card allows me to destroy on facedown card on the field." Delthea stated, placing a card her monster zone, "Shizuka! You will never understand the humiliation I felt for making me look like a monster in front of many!"

A fluffy stuffed animal of a lion with dotted black eyes and a goofy smile appeared. Set of three whiskers on both cheeks and forehead. Having all four of its small stuffed legs roped in white bandages, having small angelic wings attached to it's back. Positioned in front of Delthea, displaying anger towards Shizuka along with hatred.

"Now it's your turn to feel my pain! I normal summon Fluffal Leo in attack mode!" Delthea yelled out, as the stuffed lion let out a cute roar, "Attack Shizuka directly! When I declare an attack with this card it gains 500! Take this!"

Fluffal Leo: *4
[ATK: +2100]

By Delthea's command, Leo slowly charged itself at Shizuka. Fleeing from the monster in attempt to acquire an action card. She saw on at the entrance, until Delthea appeared in front of it, snatching it, and activated it.

[Delthea's A-Counters: 2]

"Nice try, you amateur! Action magic, Penalty Damage!" Delthea announced, rushing towards Shizuka, kicking her stomach, "Tch, all player receive 500 effect damage due to the card's effect!"

[Delthea – LP: 3500]

[Shizuka – LP: 3500]

Delthea made a displeasing face, as the foot she used to kick Shizuka glowed red. Shizuka was launched towards Leo, tackling her back with full force. Redirecting her at the wooden wall, smashing through it. Landing in the wooden floor as she is now in the tower, struggling to get up, panting heavily. Only with minor scratches, which worried the group.

[Shizuka – LP: 1400]

"H-Hey… I thought the damage level was set to C..." Yurika said, in a concerning tone, "And why… Why is Delthea rough housing Shi-Chi!?"

"Something is right, it's like…" Johan stated, trying to read the situation.

"Like what!?" Yurika question, instantly grabbing Johan by the shirt.

"H-Hey! Calm down! I am not certain but…" Johan sighed, looking over at Delthea as she slowly walked towards Shizuka' position, "It's like… she planned on hurting Shizuka from the start…"

"You… Your knew didn't you…?" Yurika questioning Johan's motives, "That is the reason you became friends with us!? Just to hurt Shi-Chi!? Is it!?"

Suddenly, Yurika felt a sensation on her right shoulder, looking over with an angry expression. Noticing it was Takashi's hand trying to revert her focus on Johan.

"Yurika, right now… Shizuka needs our support. Arguing won't get us anywhere." Takashi exclaimed, trying to calm her down with fact, "We will deal with them two later, let's focus on the problem in front of us now."

"Well, well, well…" Delthea repeated, circling around Shizuka with a grin on her face, "You truly have no bite, even when I am holding back."

"W-What…?" Shizuka coughed, finally getting up and met Delthea face-to-face, "I have no idea what's gotten into you Dell…"

"Tch… Don't you call me THAT!" Delthea yelled, punch Shizuka's face which knocked her down on the floor, "You have no right to address me with that dumb name!"

Shizuka was in shock from what she witness, having a familiar feeling when Delthea used to be aggressive towards her. Not something she missed, but would have to deal with now. Placing her hand on the cheek which was punched, slowly getting up. Walking away from her "friend" being upset with Delthea's current personality, stopping once the distance was made. Fluffal Leo slowly walked into the room, positioning itself in front of Delthea. Letting out a small yawn, as Shizuka glared at her for a moment.

"What are you waiting for?" Shizuka asked, in a cold tone, "Are you going to end your turn?"

"Feisty, but I will place two cards face-down and end my turn." Delthea explained, giving her a smirk, "Hope you don't disgrace yourself.~"

[Turn 3]

"You…" Shizuka spoken softly, drawing her card as she gave her a cold glare, "You honestly believe belittling me will work!? You are wrong! I will show you how much I improved, no matter what!"

"I-I never seen Shi-Chi upset before…" Yurika said, shocked by the scene her friend made.

"Says the one that attacked me just now…" Johan mentioned, as the two gave him death glares, "I-I'm kidding guys, honestly!"

"I activate my face down card, A Rival Appears!" Shizuka explained, having a card ready for it's effect, "I can special summon a monster on the field with the same level of the monster I choose on your side! I choose your Fluffal Leo!"

Shizuka pointed as the trap card activated, pointing at Fluffal Leo. Tilting it's cute her to the side in confusion staring at the card as it glowed. Came out a buff tan monster with blades attached to it arms, similar to the axe's blades. Slicing through as it roared at Leo.

Power Breaker: *4
[ATK: 1900]

"I special summon Power Breaker in attack mode!" Shizuka said, using another card and slamming it on her duel-disk, "Next I normal summon Mad Archfiend in attack mode!"

A brown-colored skeleton with baggy stripped golden aged pants, giant red wristbands that cover half its arm. Messy red hair, its face black as the abyss only seeing its yellow eyes and creepy smile. A human skull was shown in the middle of it's belly, which had a giant mouth with razor sharp teeth. The image itself looked intimidating probably scaring the kids within the crowd.

Mad Archfiend: *4
[ATK: 1800]

"Now then… Power Break attack Leo! Make sure it's unrepairable!" Shizuka commanded as her monster charged and sliced the stuffed lion in half, "Take that!"

[Delthea – LP: 3200]

"You will pay for that! Now I activate my trap card! Fluffal Crane!" Delthea said, a pink crane descends from the skies, lowering itself down towards the hole. A hole that was connected to Delthea's graveyard, "When a Fluffal monster is destroyed, I can dig in my graveyard to recollect what was lost to me… Come back to me, Leo!"

The pink crane grabbed onto Fluffal Leo's back, rising up and leaving the graveyard dimension. Confused from what happened as it looked at Delthea with its dotted eyes, instantly converting into energy, returning back into Delthea's hand.

"Second effect activated!" Delthea stated, drawing a card on top of her deck, "If the monster I selected was recently destroyed this turn, I can draw 1 card!"

She looked over at the card that was drawn, revealing a face that had Shizuka concerned. It was sheer joy, but in a sadistic fashion. Shizuka didn't have time to hesitate, pointing her figure at Delthea.

"Mad Archfiend attack her directly!" Shizuka command, as the monster begins using its belly monster to munch on the skull, "Bone Splash!"

Using the shards of broken bones as the spewed directly at her until Delthea activated something on her duel-disk which confused Shizuka.

"Action Counter! Half-Drain!" Delthea yelled out, a ray beam fired out of her duel-disk and towards Mad Archfiend.

Mad Archfiend: *4
[ATK: -900]

"W-What the…!?" Shizuka questioned as the attack went through still, "What just happened right now…?"

[Delthea – LP: 2300]

"Poor Shizuka, how did you not see that one coming? Hmmm?" Delthea teased, showing her duel-disk, "You see this, we were authorized to use action counters, you dolt."

[Delthea's A-Counters: 0]

"Action… Counters…?" Shizuka questioned once again, looking over her duel-disk, with disappointment, "I-I don't understand…!"

"You truly have much too learn." Delthea said, letting out a small giggle, "But you don't have time to learn at this moment. Now then… End your turn."

Friendships can always go both ways, good or bad. Be careful on who you trust at this time of "peace."

Next on...

Yu-Gi-Oh! Dimensional Scale!

Lovely Smile...