Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL.
Chapter 6: Red Nova vs. Prime Tachyon
"There is one more thing you need to know about Prime Tachyon Dragon." Mizael told Cleo. "During my turn as long as Prime Tachyon is on the field, all other monsters on the field with levels are also treated as having Ranks equal to those levels. And when Prime Tachyon Dragon attacks a monster, he gains 200 ATK times the total Ranks of all monsters on the field!"
"That means when Prime Tachyon attacks, it'll have 7800 ATK!" Rio realized.
"Prime Tachyon! Attack Skull Knight 2 and end this duel!" Mizael commanded. "Eternal Tachyon Spiral!"
The white mechanical dragon roared and fired a beam of golden light from his jaws. Before the beam could get halfway across the field however, Cleo's Emissary from Pandemonium let out an ear-piercing howl and fired a beam of green energy from its mouth. The green blast hit Prime Tachyon's attack head on, and after a moment both beams of light dissipated.
"What is the meaning of this?" Mizael demanded to know.
"When you attacked, I activated the Trap I set before, Harmonic Barrier Wave." Cleo explained. "When an opponent's monster attacks me while I have at least one Tuner out on the field, Harmonic Barrier Wave cancels that attack at the cost of lowering the levels of all Tuner monsters I control by two."
"Impressive." Astral remarked. "Not only did Cleo stop Mizael's attack, she also made it possible for her to summon Red Dragon Archfiend again on her next turn."
"In other words, even though Mizael threw everyone a curveball by summoning that Shining Number of his, Cleo's been a step ahead of him." Shark realized.
"When the effect of Harmonic Barrier Wave is successful, I get to draw one more card." Cleo continued as she pulled another card from her deck. "Rio told me all about your little trick of rewinding time within a duel, though I never expected anything like this. Still, I think you'll find I'm prepared for whatever move you make next."
"It seems you've bought yourself at least one more turn." Mizael observed with a scowl. "I will end my turn here. But know that there is nothing you can do to defeat me! Now that Prime Tachyon Dragon is on the field, I have absolute control over the destiny of this duel!"
"We'll see about that!" Cleo declared as she drew her next card. "First In tune the level five Emissary from Pandemonium into the level three Skull Knight 2 for a level eight Synchro Summon!"
The blue demon hound howled and changed back into five rings of green light. Just like before, the rings encircled Skull Knight 2 and transformed him into three white stars.
"The ruler's heartbeats will now file through here! Take witness to its creation-shaking power!" Cleo chanted. "Synchro Summon! My very soul, Red Dragon Archfiend!"
The stars flashed and shot a pillar of light high into the air. In moments the light faded and Cleo's red and black dragon reappeared with a roar.
"Now I summon the Tuner monster, Chain Resonator!" Cleo announced.
Appearing on Cleo's side of the battlefield was a short demonic-looking creature with a grey horned helmet that almost covered his entire head. The only parts of his face that showed were a pair of large glowing red eyes and a grinning mouth filled with small white fangs. On the back of the little demon was a large black chain. He had on tattered purple robes, and hanging down the front of his body was a blue banner with orange trim around the outside and a picture of a short golden chain on the front. In its right hand, the demon carried a large tuning fork, and in its left was a thin metal rod with a green orb at the end.
"When Chain Resonator is summoned normally while there's a Synchro Monster on the field, I can summon another Resonator monster from my deck!" Cleo announced. "I summon Dark Resonator!"
Materializing next to Cleo's other two monsters was another small demon that looked almost identical to Chain Resonator. On his back in place of a chain was a collection of gold cymbals.
"I tune my level three Dark Resonator and the level one Chain Resonator into my level eight Red Dragon Archfiend for a level twelve Synchro Summon!" Cleo announced.
Both demons clinked their tuning forks together and quickly changed into four rings made out of red fire. The rings encircled around Red Dragon Archfiend and formed into a ball of fire that was almost like a star.
"The Empress and the Devil shall here and now be as one! A Raging Spirit! Lift up the very cries of Creation itself!" Cleo chanted. "Synchro Summon! The power to smite the gods, Red Nova Dragon!"
With a roar, Red Dragon Archfiend burst out of the ball of flames in a new form. He was larger and was mainly bright red and dark black. On his back were four very large blade-like wings. Blade-like spikes ran down the length of his back, and the end of its tail resembled a large axe. On the back of the dragon's head was a large horn that went straight back, while on the sides of his head were two smaller horns that curved forward. On the front of the dragon's chest was a small blue diamond.
Red Nova Dragon and Prime Tachyon Dragon both glared at one another. Both dragons let out a roar that shook the entire stadium.
"Looks like Red Nova and Prime Tachyon are anxious to fight one another." Kaito observed.
"Because I have three Tuner monsters in my Graveyard, Red Nova's ATK rises from 3500 to 5000." Cleo announced. "That's a thousand points stronger than Prime Tachyon."
"That may be, but Prime Tachyon can only be destroyed in battle with another Number." Mizael pointed out. "At best, all attacking Prime Tachyon would do is inflict minor damage to my life points."
"Do you really think I'd go into a tournament full of Number users without adding cards to my deck that could counter them?" Cleo asked. "I equip Red Nova Dragon with the Spell card, Rainbow Veil!" Suddenly Red Nova began to give off a rainbow-colored aura. "Any monster equipped with Rainbow Veil negates the effects of any monster it battles with. Meaning that Prime Tachyon's invisibility to monsters other than Numbers is rendered useless!"
"If Red Nova's attack get though, Cleo just might win this thing!" Yuma assumed.
"At the very least, she won't have Prime Tachyon to worry about anymore." Kaito told him. "But Mizael could still turn things back around by reviving it or summoning Neo Tachyon Dragon."
"Mizael also still has a card face-down on the field." Astral reminded them. "This next battle could go either way."
"Red Nova! Destroy Prime Tachyon Dragon!" Cleo commanded. "Burning Soul!"
Red Nova roared and his body became covered in red flames. The demon dragon flew full speed towards Prime Tachyon, but suddenly he seemed to freeze a split second before impact. Even the flames covering his body were unmoving, as if the dragon was frozen in time. Suddenly Red Nova completely vanished from the field. A second later he reappeared on Cleo's side of the battlefield where he originally was. The flames that had been covering him were gone. Meanwhile, another ball of golden light had appeared in Prime Tachyon's orbit.
"What… what just happened?" a confused Cleo asked. "What did you do, Mizael?"
"I activated a Continuous Trap, Tachyon Rewind!" Mizael explained. "This card can only be activated while I have a Galaxy-Eyes Xyz Monster on the field. Once per turn, I can negate an attack on a Galaxy-Eyes Xyz Monster, and when I do I can attach a Dragon-type monster in my Graveyard to that Galaxy-Eyes monster as an overlay unit."
"In other words, Mizael just negated Cleo's attack and replenished Prime Tachyon's overlay units at the same time." Shark observed. "And as long as Tachyon Rewind is on the field, he can keep doing that every turn."
"If you didn't think I would have cards to protect against countermeasures to my Number, then you are the foolish one!" Mizael declared. "Now then, are you through?"
Cleo scowled. "I set one card on the field and end my turn!"
Mizael drew his next card. "Your great Red Nova may have the power to rival even the Egyptian God cards used by Yugi Muto, but even he is powerless against the flow of time that I control! I activate Prime Tachyon Dragon's effect and detach an overlay unit to send Red Nova back into the past!"
One of the balls of light orbiting Prime Tachyon entered the hourglass embedded in his chest. The dragon roared and chimed like a clock, sending a wave of blue light across the entire battlefield. Upon being hit, Red Nova Dragon vanished and the three monsters that had been used to summon him appeared in his place.
"It's a shame that I can't use Prime Tachyon Dragon's power to send Red Dragon Archfiend back to the Extra Deck as well." Mizael remarked. "But in the end, I suppose it doesn't matter. When Prime Tachyon attacks, his ATK will rise to 8200 and wipe away your life points in one shot. It's all over for you this time, Atlas."
"If you're so sure, then attack me." Cleo dared.
"Very well! Prime Tachyon, attack Chain Resonator!" Mizael commanded. "Eternal Tachyon Spiral!"
"I activate my Trap, Resonator Wall!" Cleo announced. "During this turn since I have two Resonator monsters on the field, my monsters can't be destroyed in battle and any damage I take is reduced to zero!"
Prime Tachyon fired another blast of golden light from his metal jaws. Before the attack could hit though, both of Cleo's Resonator demons clinked their tuning forks together. The resulting sound waves created a transparent blue barrier that completely blocked Prime Tachyon's attack.
"You're really starting to get on my nerves, Atlas!" Mizael told her. "You should accept the fact that nothing you can do can defeat me! As long as I control Prime Tachyon, the destiny of this duel is mine!"
"You're a buffoon if you think you control the fate of this duel just because Prime Tachyon is dominating the field!" Cleo told him. "The true fate of a duel lies in the cards each of us draws from our decks! As long as we can cards from those decks, that fate has limitless possibilities!"
"If you're really so sure about that, then I'll end my turn here." Mizael announced. "Go ahead. See if you can change your fate with your next draw!"
"You asked for it!" Cleo responded as she pulled the next card from her deck. Upon looking at the card, she smirked. "I tune my level one Chain Resonator and my level three Dark Resonator into my level eight Red Dragon Archfiend for a level twelve Synchro Summon!"
Both of the Resonator demons clinked their tuning forks together and changed into four rings made of crimson flame. The rings encircled Red Dragon Archfiend and formed into a blazing star.
"The Empress and the Devil shall here and now be as one! A Raging Spirit! Lift up the very cries of Creation itself!" Cleo chanted. "Synchro Summon! The power to smite the gods, Red Nova Dragon!"
The star exploded and Red Nova Dragon burst from it with a roar. Both Red Nova and Prime Tachyon glared at one another once again.
"Red Nova, attack Prime Tachyon Dragon!" Cleo commanded. "Burning Soul!"
"You fool! I activate the effect of Tachyon Rewind to negate your attack and attach an overlay unit to Prime Tachyon from the Graveyard!"
Red Nova Dragon roared as his body became covered in red flames. The demon dragon flew towards Prime Tachyon, only to be frozen in time a split second before impact. Red Nova vanished and reappeared a second later in the same position he was in before attacking. Meanwhile, a third ball of golden light had reappeared in Prime Tachyon's orbit.
"What did you hope to accomplish with that attack?" Mizael asked. "You knew very well that I would simply use Tachyon Rewind to stop you. Not only that, Red Nova lost Rainbow Veil when he was sent back to the Extra Deck last turn, which means your attack wouldn't have destroyed Prime Tachyon."
A grin formed on Cleo's face. "I was counting on you to use Tachyon Rewind, because now I can do this! From my hand, I activate the Quick-Play Spell, Double or Nothing! Because Red Nova Dragon's attack was negated, Double or Nothing lets him make a second attack with double the ATK points! Which means I don't need to destroy Prime Tachyon anymore!"
"And the effect of Tachyon Rewind can only be used once per turn!" Kaito realized. "Which means this next attack will finish Mizael!"
"Red Nova, attack Prime Tachyon again and end this!" Cleo commanded. "Burning Soul!"
Red Nova roared again as his body was once more shrouded in flames. Only these flames were burning as twice as hot than they were before. Red Nova flew at Prime Tachyon a second time and rammed into him at full speed. The resulting impacted created a blinding flash of white light that had washed out the entire stadium. When the duel was over, both dragons had vanished and Mizael's life points had dropped to zero. With the duel finally over the color of the surrounding area returned to normal.
"And the winner of the second duel is… Cleo Atlas!" the referee announced, causing the audience to cheer.
"Wow! Cleo really is an amazing duelist." Kotori praised. "Only a few people could take down Mizael's dragon like that."
"If you'll all excuse me, I'll be right back." Cathy announced as she rose from her chair.
"Where are you going?" Anna asked.
"If I know my Mizael, he's probably going to need some cheering up right now." Cathy told them. "Don't worry. I'll be back before the start of the next duel."
"Mizael." Cleo spoke as the blonde dragon tamer stepped off the stage, causing him to pause and look back. "You fought well against me. Besides Hikari and perhaps a few others, you are the only duelist I consider to be a true rival."
Mizael said nothing and continued towards the large door that led out of the stadium floor. Cleo merely smirked and walked off the stage back to the dugout.
"The next duel will be between Michael Arclight and Stacy Livingston!" the referee announced. "There will be a ten minutes break before the duel begins!"
"Damn!" Thomas cursed. "I was really hoping that Atlas would get her ass handed to her."
"Well, it looks like I'm up next." Michael observed. "Wish me luck everyone."
"Good luck, Michael!" Yuma told him with a grin and a thumbs-up. "Get out there and knock 'em dead!"
At that moment, Cleo entered the dugout. Rio quickly went up to her and gave her a kiss on the lips.
"Cleo." Shark spoke, getting the dark-haired girl's attention. "Looks like you and I will be up against one another in the next round."
"So it seems." Cleo replied.
"You and I still have a few things to settle." Shark told her. "This tournament looks like it'll be the best way to do that. Just keep in mind that I'm not the same guy you clobbered in duels over two years ago."
"I'll keep that in mind." Cleo told him. "But there are two things that you should keep in mind, Ryoga. The first is that I've gotten stronger in that time too. That much I'm sure you've realized by now. The second thing is that even with our relationship the way it is now, I will show you no mercy."
"I didn't expect you to." Shark replied.
Meanwhile in the other dugout, Alnia had finally managed to calm down. Chitose and Samantha were looking at her with concern.
"Are you alright, Alnia?" Chitose asked.
"You've been a total basket case since that dragon of Mizael's showed up." Samantha spoke.
"…That Shining Number." Alnia finally spoke. "Don't ask me how, but that damn thing could've somehow screwed us. Good thing the Atlas bitch managed to win."
"What makes you believe that the Shining Number would've been a threat to us?" Chitose asked.
"I just told you I don't know." Alnia answered. "All I know is we're a lot better off now that dragon boy has been knocked out of this tournament. Now nothing can stand in our way."
Mizael stood in the hallway of the stadium deep in thought. His mind was on the how and why he had lost to Cleo. The blonde dragon tamer was so lost in his own world that he failed to notice Cathy walking up to him.
"Hey." Cathy spoke, finally getting his attention. "You okay?"
"To think that I would lose in the very first round of the tournament." Mizael replied. "Though there's no shame in losing to Atlas. She's a truly worthy opponent. Still, I lost because I let Prime Tachyon's power go to my head. That's why I lost."
"You'll do better next time." Cathy told him. "The important thing is that you've learned something from this defeat. Besides, you did great out there."
"Thanks." Mizael replied as a small smile came to his face.
Cathy noticed an open utility room door and grinned, taking Mizael's hand. "C'mon."
"What are you doing?" Mizael asked as Cathy pulled him to the room.
Cathy said nothing as she took him into the room. Once they were inside, the catgirl tightly shut the door behind him. She then pinned Mizael up against the wall and planted a firm kiss on his lips. Mizael deepened the kiss and for a few moments their tongue's mingled in one another's mouths. When they broke for air, Cathy got down on her knees and went to work undoing Mizael's belt and zipper. Mizael realized that they were going to be in the room for quite a few minutes.
Author's Note: I was somewhat surprised that some of you who reviewed the last chapter (thank you, by the way) thought that Mizael was going to win. It's an understandable assumption actually. Truth be told, I was having a fair bit of trouble figuring out how Cleo was going to win against Mizael. But Cleo had to win so she could face Shark later in this story. As some of you reading have probably realized, they have a few issues still to work out.
Please review and let me know what you think.