Chapter 18: Kageru vs. Aria Pt 3: Kageru's Counter, Take Flight! Red Dragon Archfiend

"Don't worry." replied Aria."As you have seen earlier, I have set the intensity of damage in this duel to medium strength, so it should not prove fatal. However..." Aria turned to her injured opponent who was still enduring the wound. "The efficiency of damage could depend on the monster and how many points were dealt. This way...I shall test you and see if your state of mind and will can even endure actual conflict."

The crowd were struck with fear as they saw how real the attacks were. Those who once cheered for Aria instead were afraid of her, and were feeling certain that should Kageru continue, he will only end up hurting himself more. Several people began to run off, with fear of getting hurt in a crossfire, while some were anxious to see the full results of such a duel.

"It's your move. Let us see how long you will last." Aria called on Kageru to continue the duel, not even considering how injured he was.

Kageru stood up, trying to ignore his bleeding shoulder. Sweat poured on his face and his body trembled in shock. However he was more angry than afraid. His eyes sparked with a desire to defeat her. Aria saw her opponent's expression and gazed with desire onto them, wanting to see the full extent of his abilities.

"Show me...what the Hinodama family is capable of...What Akane Hinodama is capable of. If the clans have really chosen you, then prove it to me. Or is it that your weakling of a sister is no better than the pitiful being standing in front me, sulking at mere damage right now? I'll place one card facedowna nd that shall conclude my turn."

Gai and Tetsu stood with a feeling of unease. Worried about what may happen should Kageru continue,Tetsu stepped in and called out. "Hey Kageru you have to stop this game. If what Aria's sayin is really true, then you aren't in top condition to-."

"SHUT UP!" Kageru yelled in frustration. "I'm...not gonna let her...beat me down like this..."

"Kageru..."

"This chick...thinks she can just waltz in here...show up on everybody...Urgh!...Then...she's gonna on and talk...Arrgg!...talk about Akane like that? Nobody...nobody insults my big sis like that and gets away with it!" Kageru stood firm with eyes lit with fiery determination. Now that he knew what kind of game he was entangled as well as the deck his opponent played, his worries were beginning to subside. "My turn! I draw!"

Aria felt an aura around her opponent. She knew that he will no longer back down for the remainder of the duel. "So. I see that you have accepted the conditions of this game. Will you continue on knowing the reality you now face?"

"Heh. I'm still not convinced at all this stuff, but..." Kageru searched his hand for a game plan. The look in his eyes marked that he was prepared to go on the attack. "I'm summoning Flame Tiger in attack mode!" A large tiger was called onto the field. Its body was covered in a burning haze and its sharp fangs and white souless eyes gave off an intimidating gaze.

Flame Tiger LV4 FIRE/Beast

ATK 1800 DEF 0

"I ain't through yet! I'm activating another spell; Synchro Tune Up! With this I can perform a synchro symmon by banishin the materials from my grave as long as the non tuners are synchro monsters!"

"I see. So you're willing to sacrifice the souls of your monsters. It seems you're fit for survival after all."

"Uhh?" Kageru seemed to know what Aria meant. He thought that if the duel was indeed a reality, then banishing their souls from the grave and into a different dimension would mean forcing them to suffer through exile until the end of the game. "My monsters souls...She has to be kidding." Kageru's hand shivered. He was beginning to feel regret for activating the spell and forcibly banishing his Uruquizas and Origin until..

"Oru!"

"Huh!?" Kageru suddenly heard a voice. It was a familiar cry echoing out to him. Time seemed to have frozen and his inner soul looked around searching.

"Oruuu!" The childish cry came calling again. Kageru looked on and on.

"Who's there? Who are you!? Is this some kinda joke?" he yelled out.

Suddenly two monsters appeared before him. One was the warrior with flaming fists, while the other the infant embodiment of blue flame. Kageru was speechless at the sight of them, wondering if he was indeed dreaming and fell back in astonishement "!? Uru-Uruquizas!? Neo Flamvell Origin!? Just what the heck is this? R-real dmage, and now monsters?"

The two creatures suddenly spoke. "Do it." said Uruquizas.

"Huh? Wha-"

"If it will allow us to aid you in defeating her, then go for it and have no regrets. Remember the Flamvells may fall, but will always rise up to fight again with a blaze hotter than before." Uruquizas persisted on willingly for his master to continue his play. "Oru!" Origin happily nodded in agreement. Kageru then finally envisioned his next few moves.

The two monster souls suddenly disappeared, leaving only a trace of advice. Kageru tried to register in his mind what just happened to him. He looked as if he had only awakened from a sleep. "Were...were those real spirits just now?" He thought before shaking his head in denial. "I'm banishing Uruquizas and Origin from my grave!"

Kageru's graveyard sparked with fumes as the two spirits rose from the grave engulfed in fire. Their bodies zoomed into the air creating rings of fire where stars began to align into a single new body. "I'm tuning the LV6 Uruquizas and LV2 Origin for a synchro summon!"

LV6+LV2 = LV 8

"Take flight! Red Dragon Archfiend!" With the souls of Kageru's two monsters, a new monster came in return. It was a black dragon covered with a crimson red body plate with dark orange outlines. It had large arms and wings as well as eyes filled burning rage. It was a creature that seemed to embody power itself.

Red Dragon Archfiend LV8 DARK/Dragon/Synchro

ATK 3000 DEF 2000

"Alright! He brought out his new boss!" yelled Tetsu.

Archfiend gave off a poweful roar as the crowd cheered on. Kageru was getting eager to attack. "Alright Aria, It's about time for me to bring the pain. Red Dragon Archfiend attack Evigishki Soul Ogre!"

The red dragon flapped its wings ferociously and spiraled towards Aria's monster. It's fists ignited with fumes, creating raw burning energy within its palm.

"Absolute Powerforce!" The dragon unleashed its energy and forcibly punched it through Soul Ogre's chest, causing it to implode from within. Aria calmly covered herself for damage.

Aria LP 8000-200=7800

"Next I think I'll give that Gishki Beast of yours some payback. Flame Tiger, show that thing who the real animal is!" The flaming tiger rushed on with its hazing heat body and devoured the green beast on Aria's field. Aria commented as her monster was destroyed. "Hmph. Allowing emotions to cloud even such simple judgment. A fool you are indeed."

Aria LP 7800-300=7600

Completely ignoring Aria's comments, Kageru went on to his End Phase "I'll set one card down and end my turn!"

Aria brushed off the dust that flew on her uniform before proceeding her turn."My turn. I draw." Itlooking at the field, it seemed as though Aria was pushed on a corner as she began to play more defensively. ."First I shall summon Reese the Ice Mistress in Defense Position. Next I'll switch Ariel to defense mode. Finally, I'll set two cards and end my turn."

"All right! She's chickenin out! You got her Hinodama!" cheered Tetsu.

Kageru looked at Aria's field and studied closely. Aria ended with a monster that resembled a sorceress in bright blue wearing a headwear with a snowflake insignia embedded on it.

Reese the Ice Mistress LV2 WATER/Sea Serpent/Tuner

ATK 800 DEF 800

Kageru seemed to know the card."Reese the Ice Mistress..Trying to stall me out huh? That ain't gonna work on me! I draw." Kageru looked at the number of cards in his hand and thought it would be better to conserve for now. "Battlephase! Archfiend attack Reese the Ice Mistress!"

Gai looked it confusion. "I'm no Kageru! Reese can't be destroyed by LV4 or higher mosnters!"

Kageru smiled in response. Gai wondered what he had in store. "When Red Dragon Archfiend attacks a monster in defense, he wipes out all defense monsters in my opponent's field afterwards! Absolute Powerforce!"

"How naive you are...Reveal my trap. Shadow Spell." As Aria flipped her facedown, rows of eerie chains shot out from the card, restraining Kageru's monster. The chains suddenly began draining it's strength. "Shadow Spell binds a monster and reduces it's attack by 700. Well I supposed you're finished?"

Kageru grinned with confidence. "Not exactly, I was waiting for that! I activate my hand, the quickplay spell; Forbidden Lance! This reduces my monster's attack by 800, however it also makes it impervious to spell and traps!"

Aria caught off guard by Kageru's counterplay looked at him with disdain.

The dragon glowed with a bright light as it absorbed the lance's power. With it, it was freed from it's restraints and proceeded to attack once more.

"Let's finish what we started! Archfiend attack! Absolute Powerforce!" The dragon soared swiftly towards Aria's monster and crushed it with its overwhelming fists. Aria's line of defense was broken, but Kageru still was not finished attacking."And to top it off I'll add in my facedown; D.D. Wormhole! At the cost of 500 LP, this trap can special summon a monster that's been banished! I'm bringin back Flamvell Uruquizas!"

A gap in space opened, and Kageru's Uruquizas returned to the field. "Now Uruquizas, attack Aria directly! Meteor Fist!" Uruquizas leaped up and rocketed towards Aria with its fists at the ready.

"Urghh..." Aria guarded herself with her disk as Uruquizas charged with overwhelming force. The impact pushed her back, and bringing her down to one knee.

Aria LP 7600-2100=5100

"Direct hit! Finally!" The crowd yelled from the sides.

"Here comes another one, Flame Tiger.. Attack!"

Aria LP 5100-1800=3300

Maira was really getting into the duel when Kageru landed both hits. "Yes!" She yelled out as she whipped her fists back and forth.

Gai sighed with relief as the noisesof cheering echoed. "That was close..."

Aria stood up. The blow seemed to have barely fazed her. "My move...So. It seems that you are well aware of how this match is like. I believe this means I no longer have no more reason to hesitate."

The crowd murmured to themselves, asking whether Aria had been holbing back her true strength until now. Fear and anxiety began to fill the air again, and many hoped for the best in Kageru's favor.

Kageru looked at Aria with frustration. He felt insulted that Aria had outplayed him so much despite her not showing full strength. Maira began to wonder to herself what will happen if she faced Aria herself. As the duel goes on, she wondered if she can manage in an actual duel where damage is real, and hoped that Kageru would escape from it as soon as possible.