The next chapter is here! Since I've been on hiatus for a while, Chapter 24 should be coming shortly after to get this section complete.
Chapter 23: Double Swap Duel Trial - Cyberdark Fury
As the group on the sidelines began to talk as the duel began, they all suddenly went silent as they saw Tara draw her cards after playing Graceful Charity. Yuna simply looked at Lulu in confusion who shook her head not knowing what was happening. In the end Wakka spoke up.
"Whats she doing ya?" He said. "It cant be that hard of a choice!"
"She is deeply trouble by something" The stoic Auron said. "That much is obvious"
"That doesnt help!" Tidus exclaimed to Auron before looking at me. "What do you think Kaiser? Kaiser? Yooohhhoooooo!" He said waving his hand infront of my eyes.
While they had been talking I had been feeling the strangest thoughts and feelings. I felt like I could see every card in her hand as she had drew them... which is how I knew what was wrong with her.
"Shes drawn the Cyberdark monsters" I say simply, drawing looks from everyone.
"Clearly she has not gotten past her previous encounter with them" Lulu said folding her arms.
"But... if she has them, why isnt she doing anything? Couldnt she simply discard them?" Yuna asked.
"She cant" I say, still seeing her cards. "She has two Hunter Dragons in her hand, and every other card leads her to using the Cyberdark monsters and a way to power them up. Doing anything else will make her loose"
"How do you even know all this?" Tidus asked. "You cant see her hand from here!"
"Dont ask me how I know Tye" I say simply. "I just know every card in her hand, as if I was looking at them myself"
"It is the Fayth" Auron said. "You are mystically bound to your deck. It stands to reason that you can still feel it even while your physically away from it"
"Wierd" Tidus said shaking his head.
"But I think he's right..." I said.
Tara 8000 Allia 8000
"What do I do?"
It was all Tara could think.
Currently in her hand were the objects of her fears and the things that very nearly killed her, the Cyberdark monsters. As she stared at the cards in her hand, two things crossed her mind. Either to simply tear them up and rid the world of the acursed things forever... but she knew Kaiser would never forgive her for it. Then again there was no guarentee that ripping them to shreds would truly destroy them considering they were gifts from the Fayth. The second was more obvious and easy to do, simply discard two with Graceful Charity and set the last one in defence mode and be thankful to see it destroyed. But as she reached to take the two from her hand she found resistance to her actions that was telling her the same thing in her mind.
"Without us... You will loose"
The words repeated over and over in her head everytime her hand moved closer to the Cyberdark cards. In her heart she fought with every ounce of her strength to push back these thoughts, but in her head, she knew that the thoughts were right. If she tossed the Cyberdark Monsters she would loose the duel, and as much as she hated them with almost every fibre of her being, she could not outright throw a duel. Closing her eyes and sneering, she took two cards from her hand.
"I send two Hunter Dragons to the graveyard" she said before taking a card from her hand. "And follow up with Heavy Storm! All spells and traps on the field are destroyed!"
As she played the card, a massive cyclone formed in the centre of the dueling field, which sucked up the two backrow cards that began to swirl in the vortex before being destroyed in a shower of pyreflies.
"I set one card face down and end my turn" Tara declared as the storm began to subside.
"By Yevon what is she doing!?" Wakka exclaimed. "She could have gone in for an easy attack!"
"I dont know Wakka..." Yuna said eyeing her sisters reactions. "She seems..."
"Scared" I finish making the others looking in my direction "Tara is drawn between wanting to win the duel, and not using the Cyberdark monsters. She cant do both, and by setting that card, which im pretty sure is Power Wall, it wont protect her for long"
"Perhaps she is hoping to draw into another kind of monster?" Lulu asked looking at me.
"Maybe... but if I know my deck, the cards she will send to the graveyard with Power Wall will be ..."
"I draw!" Allia declares as suddenly her graveyard slot glowed. "As this moment, I activate my traps from the graveyard!"
"You what?!" Tara splutters.
"During my standby phase, since you destroyed my two traps last turn, thier effects activate, so I should thank you" She said with a smile.
Allia took the cards from her graveyard and pocketed them before removing her deck and adding cards to her hand.
"Both my traps are banished, and perform similar functions. The first is Psycho Return, which now adds a Psychic Wave from my deck or graveyard to my hand. My second card is Psycho Invocation, which adds Jinzo Returner to my hand"
"I cant believe she is playing a deck that is my decks natural enemy" I couldn't help thinking on the side-lines.
"She completely played me!" Tara thought frustrated, a sneer forming on her face.
After adding the cards to her hand and shuffling her deck, Allia continued her turn by flipping her set monster into attack mode. As the card flipped up, a monster jumped out of the set card which was a robot that looked humanoid, however every single apendage, and even its head were spinning drills. Tara was taken by suprise and stepped back in shock.
"I see you like my Drillago" Allia said,
Drillago 1600/1200
"Next I summon Jinzo Returner!"
Jinzo returner appeared in a crackle of energy that formed the outline of a humanoid cyborg. It wore a dark jumpsuit while it had massive yellow pauldrons with spikes on its shoulder, but its head was most strange. Its eyes were covered with goggles and its skull pulsated, almost looking likes its brain was on the outside.
Jinzo Returner 600/1400
"Next I activate my Psychic Wave magic card!" Allia continued. "I send a Jinzo from my deck while Returner is face up on the field to deal you six hundred points of damage!"
Taking her deck again, Allia quickly sent a Jinzo to the graveyard while Returner charged up a clear energy ball composed of lightning and with a chuckle, threw it across the field at Tara. Gasping in suprise, Tara brought up her arms to defend and took the strike head on, making her cry out in pain and was sent sliding back along the floor.
Tara - 7200 Allia - 8000
"Now Returner attacks your directly!" Allia continued jabbing her fist forward
Chuckling once again, Returner propelled itself across the field before leaping in the air and giving a diving kick to Tara, who brought her arms up to block again, but the force of the kick sent her sprawling to the floor gasping for air.
Tara - 6600 Allia - 8000
"Now Drillago will continue the direct attacks! Drilling Drill!"
Drillago responded by whirling its drills even faster and jumping high into the air, intending to skewer Tara who had not even got back up yet and was transfixed with the shape coming towards her. Her eyes went to the face down card, the Power Wall trap.
"I cant..." She thought. "I cant... I cant throw cards away like trash! Not even if it is Kaisers deck! I just cant do it!" She thought, as she looked to one side in despair.
After Jinzo Returner had just struck Tara directly, Yuna winced on the side lines.
"Tara!" She said in concern for her sister.
"Shes wide open for that thing to skewer her!" Wakka said his hands on the sides of his head.
"She can prevent that with the trap Wakka" Lulu said, her eyes looking to Tara.
Just then Drillago jumped at Tara while I immediately noticed her reaction.
"She's not going to!" I declare frantic, before stepping forward. "She can't play like I do!"
Time seemed to move slower as Drillago edged closer to Tara, she could almost feel the pain this attack would inflict, as she closed her eyes.
"Im sorry Kaiser... I cant win like this" She thought.
"TARA! ACTIVATE THE TRAP!"
Her eyes shot open immediately as she looked across the duel field at me.
"I know you dont want to use those cards but you have to! My deck will bring you victory! Trust in it and it will protect you!"
As Drillago was almost inches away from Tara, she looked at Kaiser as his words slowly sunk in... her mind going back to when he had dueled Leo at the Kilika Temple, and despite the fact he used Cyberdark Dragon, it had brought him not only the win, but restrained itself from injuring Leo or his soul monster. Her eyes suddenly flashed in a colour of fusion with the rainbow.
"Trap card open! Power Wall!"
Her declaration was defiant and the effect immediate, as sixteen cards flew from the top of the deck of thier own accord glowing a golden light to form a shield square wall infront of Tara. Drillago made contact with the cards and it was thrown back like it had tried to drill the hardest steel, leaving no damage to the cards whatsoever. It then retreated to Allia's side of the field. However Tara had still not gotten up and was transfixed looking at the cards. She could see each monster that was facing her while the backs of the cards had took the attacks.
"His Blue-Eyes and his different Cyber Dragons... they all protected me?"
A second later they all began to move again and flew into her graveyard slot as the light faded. Tara's eyes did not leave the graveyard slot as she thought about what had happened. Retrieving the cards from the graveyard she examined them, seeing Kaiser's Blue-Eyes, his Cyber Dragons and even his final Hunter Dragon had entered the graveyard. Although she did note that a Skill Prisoner had been sent to the graveyard, something she thought would be useful in the future. However the main thing she was starting to realise was one thing.
There were no other monsters left in the deck to draw... she only had his Cyberdark Monsters.
"Does the deck want me to use them too?" She thought to herself as she put the cards back in the graveyard. Gritting her teeth she got back to her feet and resumed a dueling stance.
"Excellent counter" Allia said. "I did not think your card would block my attack with your first hesitation, and now I see from your friend on the sidelines that it is not something you enjoy doing in playing in such a manner. But for now I set one card and end my turn"
On the sidelines on the opposite side of the dueling field from Kaiser and the others, Tallia had her eyes closed and seemed deep in thought. Belgemine noticed and regarded her duelist before speaking.
"What do you make of it Tallia" She asked.
"Pain... suffering... loathing" She said almost in a whisper. "Tara does not have a good history with the deck she has been forced to use. Her confliction in her mind is obvious"
"You are a psychic" Belgemine said with a small chuckle. "Obvious is not something we all see compared to you"
"Regardless" Tallia continued. "I believe she may be reaching a turning point"
As the card appeared on Allia's field, Tara was looking down at the deck in her duel disk. Taking a deep breath, she made her choice and placed her hand down.
"Draw!" She declared. "Pot of Greed activate!" She said drawing twice more. "Lets follow up with more Pots! Pot of Avarice to be precise!"
As her graveyard slot began to glow golden in colour for a moment, five monster cards popped out as Tara retrieved them to shuffle them into the deck.
"I send the Cyber Barrier Dragon and Cyber Laser Dragon to the deck as well as all three Blue-Eyes White Dragons to draw two cards!" She said before drawing.
"So its true..." Allia said before looking to Kaiser on the sidelines. "He does possess that soul monster"
Adding the cards to her hand without responding, Tara quickly took another which was then slotted into her duel disk.
"I Play Quick Summon! With this I can special summon a monster from my hand and treat it as a normal summon, so with two normal summons this turn I summon Cyberdark Horn and Cyberdark Edge!"
With two piercing shrieks and a shower of pyreflies the parasitic machine monsters appeared on the field while Horn was crackling with dark purple energy and Edge surrounded by a wind cyclone.
Cyberdark Horn 800/800
Cyberdark Edge 800/800
Looking at the two monsters on the field, Tara felt a shiver run down her spine at the parasitic monsters, but she then closed her eyes as the world started to slow down.
"He told me to trust in you... Now show me that he isnt wrong!"
"When these monsters are summoned to the field they absorb a level three or lower dragon type monster in the graveyard and converts it to attack points! I select two copies of Hunter Dragon!"
As the two small dragons appeared on the field, the two Cyberdark monsters roared in anticipation, but Tara gasped at what happened next. Both Hunter Dragons openly flapped thier small wings and flew into the waiting arms of the Cyberdark monsters who clamped down on them. A second later, they began to shine in white light and changed into energy balls that entered the Cyberdark Monsters increasing thier attack points.
Cyberdark Horn 2500/800
Cyberdark Edge 2500/800
"Well thats new" Tidus said puzzled.
"I cant believe she used them in the first place!" Wakka exclaimed clasping his hands on his head.
"But isnt that good?" Yuna asked. "Now she can strike back"
"She can..." I say trailing off.
"What did you think happened Kaiser?" Tidus asked me "Why did they do that?"
"I don't know... I really don't know" I say
"It appears she is no longer holding back" Belgemine said nodding.
Looking to her side, she noticed Tallia was not responding.
"What do you see Tallia?" Belgemine asked.
"Feeling..." Tallia said simply. "Kaiser's Cyberdark monsters are parasitic in nature... yet this time they feel something other than rage... they feel care"
Tara had involuntarily clasped a hand across her mouth at what she had saw. But this time it wasnt due to the brutality of the Cyberdark monsters, it was infact the opposite.
"They gave themselves willingly?" She thought. "And the Cyberdarks didnt desecrate them... Did they do this for me?..." She thought.
For a moment she felt a breeze pass her face as her hair was swept to one side, and Tara felt a sense of peace for the first time since she had drawn her opening hand from the tension she had felt. Her eyes flashed in a rainbow fusion once again as she launched a hand into the air.
"Cyberdark Horn! Attack Drillago with Dark Spear!
With a loud roar, Cyberdark Horn focused up its purple energy at the centre of its pincers into an energy lance that shot across the field to pierce through Drillago that was destroyed instantly from the attack.
Tara - 6600 Allia - 7100
"Cyberdark Edge!" Tara continued not letting up. "Counter Bomb!"
Flapping its wings down a massive torrent of wind swirled across the field to envelop Jinzo Returner that shielded itself with its arms for a moment, before crying out in pain and exploding.
Tara - 6600 Allia - 5200
Feeling a small sense of victory, Tara allowed herself a smile, but it quickly died on her lips as she noticed that Allia was smiling too as her hand went to her graveyard.
"Since you destroyed Jinzo Returner, I can now special summon the original Jinzo from my graveyard!"
The original Jinzo appeared to be the Returner as an adult form, wearing a black and green cyborg suit and crackling with electrical energy. Its face was covered by a mask with piercing red eye slots glowing across the field at Tara. Folding its arms, its skull was pulsating with the brain underneath.
Jinzo 2400/1200
"I set two cards" Tara declares unfazed "And end my turn!"
However before she had even time to draw breath, Jinzo crackled with purple electricity that shot out to engulph her face down cards as well as Allia's lone set card, causing Tara to gasp in suprise.
"I see you have seen what my Jinzo does" Allia said with a smirk. "All trap cards on the field are negated and if they are face down cannot be activated!" She said putting a hand on her deck "My draw!" Allia declares.
A grin crossed Allia's face for a moment as she placed Jinzo in her graveyard.
"I send Jinzo to the graveyard to summon Jinzo - Lord!"
Jinzo despite its brief appearance was surrounded by pyreflies as he began to undergo a transformation. His suit began to change colour to a purple and blue scheme, while from his back had sprouted several belt like appendages that were flying around of thier own accord.
Jinzo Lord 2600/1600
"My Lord retains the abilities of his previous form" Allia continued. "But he does have an edge I will reveal to you after I activate this equip spll called Psycho Amplifier! This card only equips to my Lord and negates your traps only!"
As the Jinzo-Lord gave an evil chuckle while he was outfitted with a silver helmet that crackled with power, the electricity surrounding Allia's set card dissapated as Allia then activated another card which was a continous spell card.
"Next I play Psycho Force, and once a turn, it forces one of your set cards face up and remains that way before being set again at the end of the turn. So lets choose that card on the left there for its effect!"
Tara gasped as her face down suddenly flipped up, depicting a humans face that was half machine.
"I see..." Allia says looking at the card. "You planned to use Samsara Dogma to power up your Cyberdark monsters using non dragon monsters in the graveyard by changing thier types with your trap. Plus after you played that Power Wall, chances are a lot of monster entered your graveyard. Im begining to see the strategy behind this deck" Allia mused. "Very clever, but too bad its all for a naught!" She said pointing to Jinzo.
"I activate the effect of Jinzo Lord! Each turn, it destroys a face up trap card you have while giving you three hundred points of damage! Hyper Trap Destruction!"
With a cackling behind its mask, the upgraded Jinzo conjured an energy ball in its hands and flung it across the field to strike that trap that was vaporised on the spot, the shards of which flew back at Tara striking her making her cry out in pain.
Tara - 6300 Allia - 5200
"Now its time to attack! Jinzo Lord! Attack Cyberdark Horn! Cyber Energy Impact!"
With another cackle, the Jinzo monsters straps behind its back this time rose into the air as it created its energy ball for added impact which flew across the field, however Allia was playing a card.
"I activate Limiter Removal! At the cost of my machina monsters being destroyed at the end of the turn, this doubles thier attack!"
Jinzo Lord 5200/1600
The energy ball seemed to increase in size at it struck Cyberdark Horn across the face which roared in pain as its body was ravaged by the energy, but Tara was already countering.
"I activate the effect of Cyberdark Horn! By sending the equipped monster to the graveyard, it is not destroyed!"
With a defiant roar, Cyberdark Horn threw off the energy ball which was sent sky high into the air.
Cyberdark Horn 800/800
"Maybe so!" Allia said pointing at Tara. "But you will still take the damage!"
The energy ball changed direction to head towards Tara who started to shriek as the attack headed towards her. Involuntarily she closed her eyes at the last second and threw up her arms for protection, but all she heard was a roar from Cyberdark Horn. Opening her eyes she gasped at what she saw. Cyberdark Horn had lowered its pincers infront of her to deflect the attack against her.
Tara - 3600 Allia - 5200
Tara was stunned, it was one thing for them not to brutalise the Dragons they used, but it had openly put itself in harms way to save her? Once the energy dissapated, Cyberdark Horn rose back up to its normal position and Tara caught the eye of the dark monster.
"Did you want to protect me?" She couldn't help but think.
"It seems your monsters will injure themselves to protect you" Allia said interrupting her thoughts. "An interesting development. However its still a duel, and during my end phase Jinzo Lord's stats return to normal and would be destroyed by Limiter Removals effect, however my Amplifier's effect now activates. By banishing a Jinzo card from my graveyard, like my Jinzo Returner" Allia said pocketing the card. "Jinzo Lord is not destroyed. With that I end my turn"
Jinzo Lord 2600/1600
Tara wasnt listening fully, she was still looking up at Cyberdark Horn. She couldnt believe what had just happened, as far as she was concerned, these monsters wrought nothing but death and destruction, yet now on two separate occasions they had surprised her as well as try to protect her. But then something had occured to her.
"Did you protect me because I protected you from being destroyed?... Is that why you did it?"
Almost responding to her thoughts, Cyberdark Horn actually roared across the field at Jinzo Lord, which despite the stat different seemed to actually flinch in response. It was then Tara knew one thing without question.
It was true.
Smiling across the field at my Cyberdark monsters, I took a deep breath as I fell into my own thoughts
"You surprise me more and more" I think
"Kaiser has very loyal monsters" Belgemine spoke. "To put themselves in harms way to protect another is admirable"
"No..." Tallia said. "There is something else... They protect her because they feel... like they are indebted to her"
"I draw!" She declared defiantley. "I switch my two monsters to defence mode and summon Cyberdark Keel!"
Cyberdark Keel 800/800
As the two monsters switched to protect themselves, the third Cyberdark in the form of the snake appeared with a squeal. Seconds later a Hunter Dragon had appeared without command that was coiled around the new monster briefly before dissapearing to increase its stats.
Cyberdark Keel 2500/800
"I set one card and end my turn" Tara declared, despite it still beginning to crackle from Jinzo's effect.
"Then I draw!" Allia declares. Looking at her card, she added it to her hand before scanning the field.
"She is an interesting opponent" Allia thought to herself. "Setting a card in front of Jinzo Lord that she knows I can negate and destroy... as well as summoning that monster in attack mode. Even if she can protect it she will take damage, despite it not being a lot" Allia's eyes then widened. "Is she trying to bait me to attack it? Is there more to her plan?"
Looking at her hand, she begins to move
"I play my own Pot of Greed!" She said drawing her cards. "Next I use Psycho Force to declare your far left card!" She declares.
As Tara's card flipped over, it was clearly a trap card so Allia continued.
"I activate the effect of Jinzo Lord and destroy it!" She continued
Jinzo Lord formed its energy once again to fly across the field, however Tara smiled in response as a card ejected from her graveyard.
"I banish Skill Prisoner from my graveyard! This negates targetted effects to a card I control from your monsters! So your Lord is out of luck!"
As its energy ball headed towards the trap card, it seemed to thin and dissapate until it fizzled out completely.
"Looks like your Lord isnt the lord of traps at all!" Tara said smirking. "He has no hold over the graveyard!"
"Maybe!" Allia retorted. "But he can beat any of your monsters! Attack Cyberdark Keel!" She said jabbing a fist across the field.
Seeimingly insulted that its effect had been negated by a trap, Jinzo Lord this time floated across the field to strike its opponent directly with a punishing right hook. Cyberdark Keel took the attack direct on the head and roared in pain, but as the energy it had absorbed from the Hunter Dragon dissapated, it prevented its own destruction.
Cyberdark Keel 800/800
Tara - 3500 Allia - 5200
"Seems like your being wreckless to attack me head on like that for so little damage!" Tara says with a smirk.
"Ill show you wreckless!" Allia said, her composure going. "I activate Trap Call! I now send a card from my hand to the graveyard to set a trap card on my field!"
Discarding her card, Allia fished a card from her deck which she held up.
"I set Psycho Blast and then end my turn"
"Wow" Tidus said. "Tara completely threw Allia off her game with a single play!"
"It appears as if she can mount an offense next turn. She has assembled the monsters to summon Cyberdark Dragon" Lulu said.
"Do you really think she will play that?" Yuna asked looking in my direction
"Yes... yes she will" I say nodding.
"Allia is loosing her composure" Belgemine declared shaking her head. "Then again it has always been her way" She added with a smile.
"This is the last turn" Tallia said softly
"You mean Tara will win?" Belgimine said.
"I cannot see that" Tallia said. "But I know one way or another... the duel is over this next turn"
As her card appeared on the field, Tara's trap flipped back face down as she smirked to herself.
"Then I draw!" She declared.
"Its time..." She thought to herself. "My Skill Prisoner baited her out that she completely ignored looking at the trap she revealed"
Tara's eyes went to the face down card.
"Fusion Guard... it will protect me from effect damage, and that trap she placed face down inflicts effect damage... clearly she didn't look otherwise she wouldn't have added it... this is going to be an all or nothing move, but if it works, I will win!"
"I play Overload Fusion!" Tara declares beginning her move. "I remove from play fusion material monsters on my side of the field or graveyard to summon a dark machina fusion monster! So Cyberdark's Horn, Edge and Keel are banished!"
In a sweeping light of pyreflies, the vortex of fusion formed and with cries from the three monsters, the pyreflies began moving back together to form a new creature.
"Arise! Gaikoku Ryu! Cyberdark Dragon!"
As the fusion vortex errupted, the massive form of the amalgamated Cyberdark Dragon appeared with a roar that seemed to shake the entire field.
Cyberdark Dragon 1000/1000
"Cyberdark Dragon carries its breatheren's effect without level restrictions! So I use a Hunter Dragon to strengthen it!"
Once again the small dragon appeared on the field to fly towards the beast before it to allow its strength to be absored, as Cyberdark Dragon clamped onto it, it roared as its points increased.
Cyberdark Dragon 2700/1000
"Impressive!" Allia declares. "But it only has barely enough strength to able to defeat my Jinzo! Which incase you have forgotten, can prevent its own destruction with its Amplifier!"
"Its a good thing Cyberdark Dragon has another effect! For every monster in my graveyard it gains a further hundred attack points!"
Glowing a shiny black light, Cyberdark Dragon roared as it gained power from the monsters in the graveyard.
Cyberdark Dragon 3500/1000
"Next its time for my own Limiter Removal! Doubling Cyberdark Dragons attack points!"
Roaring out loud once again, Cyberdark Dragon seemed to increase it size, dwarfing the duel field and the Jinzo below it which it simply stared down at with a sinister grin.
Cyberdark Dragon 7000/1000
"Cyberdark Dragon! Attack Jinzo Lord! Full Darkness Burst!"
With a massive roar that shook the very earth, Cyberdark Dragons clear energy blast began to move across the field towards Jinzo Lord, which roared in pain at such a massive attack, but managed to weather the storm as Allia was removing a card from her graveyard.
Tara - 3500 Allia - 800
"I remove Jinzo from the graveyard!" Allia shouted above the din.
"Maybe!" Tara declares. "But I noticed something about your Amplifier! Now that you have no other Jinzo cards in your graveyard, it destroys itself and negates your Lord's effect!"
As if on cue, the Amplifier spell card exploded along with the helmet into pyreflies, while Jinzo slumped forward as the electricity around it faded, quickly followed by Tara's face downs on the field being freed from thier bonds.
"Impressive that you would notice" Allia declares. "However it comes too late! I activate my face down Psycho Blast!"
"Its coming" Tara thought.
"Since you attacked a Jinzo monster, this card now deals you damage to what I took! Thats more than enough to wipe out your life points!"
An energy ball similar to the Jinzo's attack began to form on the trap card which launched itself across the field at Tara. She braced herself as she activated a trap.
"Counter Trap! Fusion Guard! I now send a random fusion monster from my Extra Deck to the graveyard to negate the damage I would take!"
Taking out the Extra Deck, she shuffled them in her hand before moving to pick one.
"This is it... the one move that will win me this duel... if your really trying to protect me then I give you all my faith now!"
Taking one of the cards, she placed them back in the extra deck slot while still holding her choice face down in her hand. Staring at the card, she didnt even flinch as the energy from Pyscho Blast completely bypassed as the damage was negated, she was concentrating on the card.
"May we live and duel forever!" She declared.
Turning it over...
I immediately brought a hand to my chest when she drew the card as if something had clutched my heart in a grip.
"I cant believe it" I gasp
Tallia gasped as Tara had drawn her card, clasping a hand to her mouth
"What is wrong Tallia?" Belgemine said.
"Such... overwhelming power!" She said softly.
She smiled.
Placing it in her graveyard, Allia was already activating another card.
"You managed to evade one of my traps, but you will not escape this one! Since you now attacked a Jinzo monster, I activate Psycho Strike! Now I destroy your attacking monster and deal you damage equal to its attack points!"
Jinzo Lord seemed to recover from its wounding, and once again shot across the field to jump high in the air to launch a right hook at Cyberdark Dragon. Seeing the attack approach, Tara used her final card.
"I activate Cyber Ying Yang formation and remove Cyberdark Dragon from play!"
With a roar, Cyberdark seemed to dissolve into pyreflies as Jinzo's punch swung and missed causing the monster to fall forward in suprise. However it corrected itself to land on the dirt before jumping back to its original position
"Now from my graveyard I can summon a certain Fusion monster!" Tara said punching a hand into the air.
"You havent played any other fusion monsters!..." Allia said trailing off before gasping "Dont tell me its what you discarded with Fusion Guard?" Allia said in panic realising what had happend.
"It is!" Tara declared as she retrieved a card from her graveyard and held it high in the air. "I summon Cyber End Dragon!"
With a massive roar as its steel wings appeared first extending outward, the tri headed dragon appeared on the field to roar at Jinzo Lord which actually stepped back in fear.
Cyber End Dragon 4000/3800
"Due to my spell card, Cyber End gains half of Cyberdark's attack points!"
Glowing in a silver light, Cyber End Dragons points began to shoot up even higher as the Jinzo Lord beneath it seemed almost like it was beginning to panic.
Cyber End Dragon 7500/3800
"Cyber End Dragon! May we live and duel forever! Eternal Evolution Burst!"
Roaring, Cyber End Dragon charged up its energy beams that launched at Jinzo Lord, destroying the monster without any effort as Allia was caught in the energy blast and thrown backward to lie in a heap on the floor.
Tara - 3500 Allia - 0
There was silence after Cyber End Dragon had finished its attack. Allia was still sprawled on the floor breathing heavily, while Tara was haunched over panting also from the exertion. Cyber End Dragon gave a roar of victory as it began to dissipate into pyreflies.
It took several seconds before...
"She won!" Tidus said punching the air.
"Holy Yevon she really did it!" Wakka said stunned.
"A truly magnificent display from both" Auron added nodding in agreement.
Clapping across the duel field, Belgemine and Tallia had moved into the fray as we all began to join in after such a great duel.
"An excellent duel" Belgemine spoke while bowing. "From both of you. It appears the first round goes to your party Summoner Yuna"
Tallia in the meantime had moved across to help her sister to her feet.
"You did very well" She said softly.
"I would like to have won though" Allia added getting to her feet.
Giving the traditional Yevon prayer sign which Tara returned, Allia spoke up.
"That was a a great duel. I felt your resolve as we proceeded. I hope to garner a rematch someday with your real deck" She smiled.
"Likewise. Maybe I can see your soul monster in our next match" Tara added.
"Perhaps" Allia said with a smirk. "But for now the round goes to you" She nodded before moving to the side-lines.
Shortly after we had all swamped Tara after the duel while Yuna was currently hugging her sister.
"Im so proud of you" She beamed.
"So you werent proud of me before?" Tara teased.
"No no no! Of course I was!" Yuna spluttered drawing a laugh from Tara.
"Your use of the Cyberdark monsters was impressive" Lulu said speaking up. "It seems you have surpassed your fears and doubts of them"
"I wouldnt say that Lulu..." Tara said taking the deck out of her duel disk. "But I have a better understanding of them now" She smiled.
The crowd parted as Tara took a step towards me to hand me my deck.
"Here you go" She said smiling. "I am... glad, I was able to use the Cyberdark's afterall"
Taking my deck back I quickly pocketed it.
"Its not over yet" I say to see Belgemine waiting for patiently for the next round. "Its your turn Yuna"
"Ok" She said simply taking her staff from her back.
"You'll do fine" Tara said smiling to her sister.
A collective round of support followed from the group as Yuna smiled at us all before moving to the centre of the field to begin her round.
"How many Aeon's do you possess?" Belgemine asked her.
"Only two" Yuna replied.
"I see" Belgemine said raising a fist to her chin. "Of your two, summon your strongest Aeon. This shall be a one round match"
"Ok" Yuna replied simply.
With that Yuna threw her arms to her side as she began to invoke her summoning magic, a portal opened in the sky as the winged Valefore appeared in the air. Hovering for several seconds it descended to the earth to land near to Yuna, who once again gave it an affectionate stroke on its cheek. She quickly moved away as Valefore took to the air again to hover and wait for battle.
Belgemine responded by extending her arm as a orb of flame appeared in her palm, and as she dropped it to the floor and stepped back quickly, the fire seemed to consume the earth around it as a pillar exploded erupting high into the air. On top of the pillar was the Aeon Ifrit, its red flaming hair billowing wildly in the wind. With a roar it jumped down from the pillar which collapsed into the earth as it stood in a fighting stance ready for combat.
Valefore struck first, swooping down with a slash of its clawed wings to strike at Ifrit. However Ifrit was too fast and dodged out of the way to the left before returning a right hook across the birds face. Valefore took the hit direct on the head and was set falling to the floor stunned. Getting back to its feet, Valefore tried to fly but Belgemine had already extended a hand forward
"Meteor Strike!"
Roaring, Ifrit conjured a ball of fire in its hands which condensed quickly to become a piece of super heated rock which it flung at Valefore. Valefore seeing that its end was near, jumped clumsily to the side, with only its left wing taking the brunt of the attack. Ifrit sensing the kill leapt forward in a somersault to strike it hard on the head. However Valefore brought up its wings to shield itself taking the impact which stunned Ifrit as it was thrown back.
"Use Blizzard!" Yuna commands.
Valefore gave a shriek as it focused its magic, while a second later a large block of ice appeared over Ifrit to crash down on the Aeon, causing it to roar in pain.
"Sonic Wings!" Yuna continued.
Valefore continued its assault by first taking back to the skies, and closing its wings. It then unleashed an energy wind buffet at Ifrit that was unable to dodge due to the previous attack throwing the fiery creature to the floor. Seeing its enemy was weak, Valefore quickly swooped down to strike the Aeon physically, snatching at it with its beak several times on the chest. Ifrit roared in pain before it fell to the ground unconscious before dissolving into pyreflies.
"Stop. That is enough." Belgemine said bowing before walking forward as Valefore flew away. "Not bad for one so young. I was very impressed how you know to use Blizzard against Ifrit. I underestimated you. Take this. You've earned it" Belgemine said handing Yuna a ring. "You show promise. With more training, you could defeat Sin"
"Thank you!" Yuna gushed "I cannot take all the credit, it was Lulu who taught me about using certain elements to my advantage. But I think you might defeat Sin before I am able to"
"I cannot" Belgemine said shaking her head
"Eh?"
"Or should I say... I was not able to"
"You mean..." Yuna says trailing off.
"Anyway, our third contest is now here. I will give the floor to my second duelist Tallia. May Yevon walk with you" Belgemine said before retreating to the side lines.
Yuna was beaming as she re-joined the rest of us, to which Tara quickly embraced her.
"You won!" She said hugging her sister.
"It seems my training paid off" Lulu said with a smirk
"Yes it did! Thank you Lulu" Yuna said.
"Even as a novice, you show great promise" Auron added. "By the time we reach Sin, you will be ready"
"Thank you Sir Auron!" She beamed.
"Looks like your up Kaiser ya?" Wakka said pointing to Tallia moving onto the field.
"True enough Wakka" I said taking a deep breath.
"Don't let the side down now" Tidus said smirking
"Yea, make sure you win" Tara said with a wink. "My Hero's and Crystal Beasts have your back"
"You have no idea" I think, but I nod to her.
After everyone had given me further votes of support, I move forward to face my opponent.
As Allia and Belgemine were stood on their side of the field, Allia crossed her arms with a 'hmph'
"You really held back there" She said.
"And why do you say that?" Belgemine asked.
"You know full well that you could have summoned Bahamut and beaten her easily. Yet you used one of your weaker Aeons in that fight instead" Allia countered.
"I had to give her confidence" Belgemine said. "Otherwise she will never beat Sin"
"Letting her win wont do that!"
"On the contrary. She won fair and square. However by the time they reach the Calm Lands. I will battle her at full strength"
Belgemine then crossed her arms.
"On that matter, why did you not use your real deck Allia?"
Allia's jaw almost hit the floor as she struggled to answer
"It wouldn't have... been fair when Tara did not use her own deck" She said quickly.
"Then it appears we both had the same thing in mind" Belgemine smirked. "However I hope you honour your promise to use your soul monster in your next duel with her"
"Believe me I will" Allia said looking over at Tara. "She is a strong opponent. Next time I will take it to the next level"
"Much like Tallia will no doubt do now" Belgemine said
As I approached Tallia, I noticed that she had produced a small piece of paper and appeared to be writing something on it. I couldnt see what she was writing, but my curiosity seemed to have peaked her attention despite the fact she hadnt even looked up.
"I am writing down the name of a single card" She said simply. "That card will be the key card that wins this duel"
"Arent you getting a little ahead of yourself?" I said raising an eyebrow. "Who said your going to win?"
"I didnt say that" She said not stopping. "I simply said it will be the card that is the key to winning the duel"
Finishing scribbling down, she quickly pockets it before walking back across the duel field to take her position. Puzzled I walk back to my spot and put the deck in the duel disk.
"She must be saying that to throw me off. She has no idea what's in my deck so how can she guess?"
But then I looked down at the deck I was using and smiled.
"Jesse... Jaden... if you can both hear me, lend me your power!"
"DUEL!"
That's one half of our Swap Duels over! Join us again for the conclusion next chapter!