Chapter 26: The Empress Dethroned: Maria vs Albus Part 5

Maira dropped slightly to the ground, still trying to recover from the last attack. Laggia's fire had burned the sides of her arms and legs. She felt the after sting of the heat searing her flesh at several areas, and to make things worse, she was now faced with another new threat with abilities she is unaware of. "(So..So this is how a real duel actually is...)" she slowly, but painfully, rose back up. " Still...ehm... I won't lose..." she, shakily, drew her next card.

" I commend you for bearing such a spirit. But seriously…. Try to make this a bit more interesting for me." Albus observed closely. "( Show me your full power.)"

"Alright…., here I go!" Maira took the last bit of her strength and hope, and rested them on this very turn. "I summon forth Deep Sea Ruler-Atlantis! This card can be summoned while I have more than 3 WATER monsters in my graveyard and the only monsters in my grave are WATER attribute. Once it's summoned this way, I can tribute him to revive 3 WATER monsters from my grave, however they're effects are negated and they can't attack or be used as for anything except for an Xyz summon! I'll summon back Swamp Dweller, Missing Link, and Drowned Soul!" the monsters manifested within the walls and buildings of the large floating orb of water.

"(3 LV4's?... So it's coming. You're most powerful creature is finally appearing.)" Albus gazed with fascination, eager to see Maira summon her strongest monster.

" I overlay my 3 LV4 revived WATER monsters and build the overlay network!" Through her call, Maira's monsters spiraled around and began to combine their spacial bodies into one being. The overlay network beneath Maira burst out with a mighty torrent, and within its waters, her beast's eyes glowed. A powerful roar echoed across the field as the torrent subsided, and Maira's monster was revealed.

" I Xyz summon! Lagoon Dragon!"

Lagoon Dragon Rank 4 WATER/Dragon/Xyz (Is also treated as a DARK attribute)
ATK 2600

DEF 1500

"(So at last. Maira has finally brought out her ace monster. It looks like she's finally gotten serious.) Aria observed.

"And if you think that's impressive, I'll also activate the spell card; Sea World. This spell allows me to double the amount of overlay units on one of my WATER Xyz monsters. I think I'll target my Lagoon Dragon!"

"Awesome!" Kageru cheered. "Now Lagoon Dragon's got 6 overlay units. And with its ability, Maira can finish this turn! Argh… Go get em!"

" Here goes! I activate Lagoon Dragon's special ability! I can detach all its overlay units to destroy all monsters on your field! Go! Watery Abyss!"

As Lagoon Dragon's wings spread, spheres of water within them formed, followed by large aquatic tentacles that burst out and grabbed Albus's monsters attempting to suck them in to their doom. The mighty dragon of the deep gave out a fierce roar at Albus.

" Since Lagoon Dragon activated this effect while it has 5 or more Xyz Materials, it also inflicts damage to my opponent equal to the original ATK of the destroyed monsters!"

"!?" Albus twitched an eye, yet calmly watched as Maira's dragon unleashed its ability upon his field as if he simply allowed it to happen. Both Evolzar Laggia and Evoltile Odonto were destroyed, but still he made sure one monster was safe.

" I activate Xyz Horn's effect; When the equipped monster would be destroyed by a card effect i can detach one overlay unit from the equipped monster as a substitute."

The gleaming horn on Dolkka absorbed a material and created a protective aura around it in place of strength.

Albus braced himself for damage.

Albus LP 4800-2400-500=1900

Evolzar Dolkka ATK 3900-800=3100

Aria stared perplexed at her brother's actions. "(What is he doing?)...You really should stop playing around. Hurry up and end this Albus!

" Yeah! Come on Maira just a little more!" Kageru cheered.

Maira clinched her teeth, 'Oh no.. I was hoping to take him down... no matter! I'm not done yet! I'll just use Lagoon's effect one more time, and then I can destroy that monster…... I need to trust that fate will see me through!"

Maira swiftly followed with another card in play.

"I'll activate a quick-play spell card; Beach Memories!" The card revealed a beach scene with people playing, but below looked to be a lonely girl gazing upon them with envy. " Beach Memories allows me to select one card from my grave and use its effects. I'll use the other effect of Deep Sea Ruler- Atlantis and attach him along with two other WATER monsters in my grave as Xyz Materials!"

3 more materials spiraled towards Maira's Lagoon Dragon.

"Awesome!" Kageru continued to cheer out. "Now she can use the effect again."

Just as Maira was about to activate Lagoon Dragon's ability, something struck her as odd. She looked over, just to find Albus standing in front of her in the shadows. Head down, silent, and not even a single expression from the last blow he received. He seemed far too confident. "(What could he be up to? How could he be so content. After all that big talk…. Did I really get him this time?)" Maira shook her head, believing that hesitation and doubt will only end up costing her the match. She raised her clenched fist and without a moment's hesitation, she declared her move, "Go! Lagoon Dragon! Watery Abyss once again! Let's end this duel!"

Albus suddenly looked up. " I have finally experienced the full impact of your strength, and I must say Ms. Yune, that it has been quite a privilege to have this chance to face you...however... Unfortunately for you, this level of strength won't be enough…

"( Uh!?...No…. he's bluffing….) Go Lagoon Dragon!"

"I shall now activate Evolzar Dolkka's special ability. By detaching one overlay unit, I can negate the activation and effect of an opponent's monster and destroy it…. Now….. rid her dragon from my sight. Skill Breaker Haze!"

Dolkka devoured one of its materials and turned its essence into pure heat energy. Its body let out a bright glow and soon that glow created a shockwave, backfiring Lagoon Dragon's own power against itself. With Maira's ace monster destroyed, her field was left crippled. She was now vulnerable to Albus's following offense.

" I'm guessing that will be all now I presume?"

" No…..Impossible….Why now?" Maira fell to her knees. Hopeless and defeated, she froze up in front of Albus and his monster…" I end…..my turn…"

Kageru could not believe to see his friend's strategy reduced to nothing. A fit of rage grew in his heart. " Albus... why?... How could you?! You could have activated that effect earlier couldn't you? You're telling me you went easy on her this whole time!?"

" And this bothers you now?... From what I heard, I believe Aria did the same. I, however simply wanted to feel the full extent of Ms. Yune's abilities firsthand, and I have. Now that I have measured it, there really was nothing left for me to do but put her out of her misery. This shows me exactly how much strength that that the both of you lack."

" And you insult her pride as a duelist by doing this?! She... She... She poured all she had in this match... It wasn't enough that you harmed her physically?!... You had to step on her pride like that?!.."

" Pride?... At her level of ability? Understandable... However, she truly has nothing to be proud of. Neither of you do. You mumble on how you aim to become the strongest of Termina's duelists, and yet... this is all you can do? Don't make me laugh... Now... If you excuse me... I have a duel I have to finish. I draw. I activate the spell Xyz Inheritor. With this, I can select one Xyz monster on my field, and it gains overlay units equal to the number of Xyz monsters in both player's graveyards. Thanks to your Lagoon Dragon and my Laggia, my Dolkka shall be granted 2 more units!

Dolkka roared as it absorbed the two fallen Xyz monsters onto its body. And due to the power of Xyz Horn, Dolkka grew stronger.

Evolzar Dolkka AT 2300+1600=3900

Now...Evolzar Dolkka...attack Yune directly and finish this! Evo Breaker Claw!"

Dolkka's sinister eyes glowed as it dashed straight at Maira. The creature with its sharp grey claws lunged at Maira directly, pounding her body, her life points, and the remainder of her spirit down to the ground below.

Maira LP 3750-3900=0

Match Winner: Albus