Chapter 10-Trial of Self and Duel
"Mmmrrrrrmmmrrrmmmrrrmm.." Muiko hears a sound, sound of a vehicle. Even though she is still unconscious, she somehow can hear noises.
"Where..am I going?" She said in her thought.
The vehicle, specifically a truck, is heading to the Enforcer Prison in the outskirt of the city, located in the desert. The truck arrived to the gate of the prison as the guard men check for clearance before they let it through. After they did, the truck approached and parked in front of the entrance. Men in black uniform comes out of the door symmetrically and carry the bed cart that Muiko was laying on.
Some time later, Muiko woke up, but when she did, she was back in that room...her old bedroom. "Oh...no. I can't believe I am here again." She said as she got out of the bed. "But...perhaps maybe by this way, I can get some answers." She decided to search through this...place this time.
She exited the room, and this time she go to the opposite direction unlike from the previous time. She walked and walked slowly, but steadily. She stopped and saw two hallways, one on left and another on right. She decided to go on the right. When she did, there was a door at the end, but it was locked. "Damn. It looks like I need a key to open this one." Muiko said.
She turned back and decided to go to the other hallway that she didn't choose. As she walked down the hallway, she heard crying sound of a girl. Then, she heard laughter. As she walked closer and closer to the source, she approached to a door with no lock. She took a deep breath and opened the door slowly as light shined out from it.
She came to a balcony of the mansion somehow. "This is...!" Muiko realized. There was a little girl, crying and weeping as her tear fell from her eyes, dropping down from the balcony as she looked down. Suddenly, a man came behind Muiko, but passed through her like a ghost and approached to the girl.
"What's wrong, sis?" The man asked with a smile.
"Mmm, Jin." She weeped. "I..."
The man put his hand on her head and looked at her face. "There, there now. You got scolded by father again. It is alright. It's not that he hate you, you know." Jin said.
"I know, but...I just want to do the thing I like to do. I don't want to be..you know." She said, weeping.
"Hmmm. Well...exactly why you want to be the thing you like to do." He asked kindly.
"I want to be a strong duelist!" The girl replied excitedly.
"Hey, look at that. You are now happy again." Jin smiled.
They laughed a little together. "So, you want to become a strong duelist? What kind of duelist you want to be?" He asked.
"I want to be the very best!" She said happily.
"That's cool, but you know you got to get better in order to be the best, you know." He explained.
"I know, but if I do my best, I am sure I will be the best duelist in the world! Just like the King of the Duelist!" She said cheerfully.
"So, you want to become the King of the Duelist, huh? Well, sounds cool, but there is more to becoming a King of Duelist just by dueling, you know." He said.
"Really?" She asked.
"Yep. You see, there is a story about the Legendary Duel Kings. Each of them not only were just a good duelist, but they also trust in their heart and they get more power from their cards, their deck, and most importantly..."
"Most importantly?" She asked, repeating after him.
"Their friends, of course. That's what make them strong, which is how they became a King of Duelist." Jin explained.
"But, I don't have any friends..." She said sadly.
"Don't worry! I am sure you will have friends. You just have to make one, that's all. Do you understand now,...Yumeiya?" He asked.
"This is your most fondest memory." Said a voice. A light shined as the scene faded until Muiko noticed that she was back in that space world from her last dream.
"Golden Angel Dragon." She said calmly.
"Your dream was to become a King of Duelist." Golden Angel Dragon said seldom.
"Well...that was in the past. It was a stupid idea for a dream, anyway." Muiko argued.
"I don't think you have really given up that dream. I can sense that you still have the will to reach for that dream within your heart." Golden Angel Dragon claimed.
"...Just why are you showing these stuffs to me? What's the point?" Muiko questioned to her monster.
Before her dragon said anything, the surrounding area became wobbly. "Wait, no! I can't...just...go back to... sleep...now." Muiko complained until she fell into slumber again. Next thing she knew, she woke up and realized that she was in a gray room.
She got up from the white, comfy bed and realized steel bars. "Where the hell am I?" She asked loudly.
"You're in the prison, girl." Said a voice, just behind the wall next to her cell room.
"Prison? You mean I got arrested!?" Muiko asked surprisingly.
"That's why you are here, Captain Obvious. Actually, you've been here for 3 days now." The voice explained.
Muiko gasped. She couldn't believe that she was in a prison for long time. How would she get out of here?
Two days and one night ago, Mike was very worry. He had not contact or heard Muiko since the last time he talked to her. He decided to meet her at Mr. Griffon's mansion.
"What?! She hadn't come home since yesterday?!" Mike surprised in horror.
"I am afraid so." Mr. Griffon said calmly.
"Then, we should search for her! She could be in trouble or something!" Mike demanded.
"Settle down, Mike. It won't help you if you panic." Mr. Griffon said seldom.
"Yes, sir, but what are we going to do?" Mike asked confusingly.
"I think I know where she is, but getting her back will be very difficult." Mr. Griffon explained.
"You know where she is! And, why would it be difficult to get her back (Maybe she is still mad on me)?" Mike questioned more.
"Mike, you stay here until I get back. I will get Muiko back." He said decisively as he stood up from his chair.
Back to the present time, Mr. Griffon was heading to the Enforcer HQ. He made an appointment with the director. He hoped that he can convince to her to release Muiko. He waited just outside her office. The secretary came out of the office as Mr. Griffon stands up when he saw him. "Mr. Griffon, Director Akaba is now available to see you." He said, opening the door for him.
He entered the room as he walked with his cane. He took off his hat and sit gently down on the couch. "Mr. Griffon, it has been long time since we met." Director Akaba said as she watched the city through her windows.
"Indeed. I have something to discuss with you about." He said in a serious tone.
"...I see." She replied. "Please leave us alone together." Her secretary bowed down before he left out of the room. Director Akaba sat on the couch, just opposite from Mr. Griffon.
"So, what it is to discuss?" She asked.
"I want with your permission to release a girl named Muiko." He said.
"Muiko? I am not sure who you are talking about. Please elaborate more." She said calmly as she crossed her legs.
"I believe you arrested a new Muikai duelist, who is a girl. She uses a monster card called Golden Angel Dragon." He explained.
Director Akaba stared at him for a moment before she talked again. "Oh, I see. So, you are the one who has been hiding her. I suspected much." She said in a serious tone. "Just exactly why you want her to be released? You know that even though with my authority I can do it, there will be dying consequences if I do."
"...If you suspect me of foul play, then I am not. I need her...to exact my revenge." Mr. Griffon admitted.
"Revenge?" She said as she gripped her right hand.
"Yes, and I believe you know what I am talking about. So, are we in agreement?" He asked.
"...How would I know if the girl can be trusted?" She asked very strictly.
"Do not worry about that. I will discipline her. She is my 'adopted daughter'." He answered calmly.
The scene was now back with Muiko, who continued to discuss with the next-door prisoner. "So, if I understand, this prison is made for us, Muikai duelists. No one has ever gotten out of here, meaning I am basically stuck here for the rest of my life." Muiko said.
"That's right. This is a place for us, rats to rot to death. It is for those bastards who in the head of the societies keep us shut and safe, so we won't hurt anyone." The prisoner explained.
Just about the conversation was over, a prison guard walked over to Muiko's cell. He used an id card to open the steel bar. "Prisoner 66089. You are commissioned to come with us to meet the Director!" The guard said.
"Be careful." The prisoner warned to her. Muiko walked as she was handcuffed. The other prisoner watched her as she was being taken to meet the Director.
"So, is it alright to ask where I am going?" Muiko asked. The guard just ignored her as they continued to walk. They meet up with another prison guard, who was holding her deck case and duel disk.
Muiko wondered if they were actually releasing her, but instead they gave back her deck and duel disk, and let her through a room behind two-slide door. They released the handcuff from her, so she can move her arms and hands freely. She entered the room as the door behind her closed before she noticed a purple-haired woman with glasses standing on the opposite side of what it looked to be an arena.
"I presume you're the Director. The one who's in charge of this." Muiko said little coldly.
"That's specifically a job for the warden. As a director, I have the highest authority of the organization, the Enforcer, and I make sure that order and justice are met." She replied. "Anyway, my name is Director Lidia Akaba, and I am here to test you in a duel."
"Hmph. That explain why your lackey gave back my deck and duel disk, but why?" Muiko asked.
"Here is a proposition. If you win, I will let you go and remove all of the charges on your record. However, if I win, you will stay here for the rest of your life. Now, activate your duel disk." She ordered as she activated her purple duel disk
"...Fine." Muiko said as she activated her duel disk.
"Field Spell, on! Prison Tower, activate!" She called out as the Solid Vision turned on, transforming the surrounding area based on the field spell.
Muiko noticed that she was now standing on a floating platform as she looked down, seeing a never ending floors of prison cell room. She then looked up, and it was never ending, too. There were a lot of other floating platforms, above them and below them. There were also floating cell cages. "Let's cut to the chase, and just begin the duel, shall we." Director Akaba suggested.
"I agree with you on that." Muiko agreed.
"Action...DUEL!" They said at the same time. Meanwhile, Mr. Griffon and Director Akaba's secretary were watching from the sideline.
"I will go first!" Muiko declared. "I normal summon E.B. Fluorine Cheetah in attack mode!" Her common monster roared for battles. "Next, though its effect, I special summon E.B. Iron Hammerhead from my hand in defense mode!"
The iron shark appeared next to her cheetah. "When E.B. Iron Hammerhead is special summoned through its effect, it can inflict damage equals to its ATK! Go, Iron Hammerhead! Attack her with Iron Headbash!" She commanded as her shark monster swam up to her opponent.
Director Akaba took the damage as she clenched her stomach. Her Life Points decreased to 3200. "Next, I set two cards. Turn end!" Muiko ended.
"Not bad. Inflicting me with damage on your first turn. My turn. I draw!" She said as she drew her card.
"My! This girl, she actually did some damage to Miss Director Akaba without making her monster to attack on her first turn." The secretary surprised.
"It is a good move, but this duel has only begun." Mr. Griffon said as he watched them dueling.
"I activate three Spell cards from my hand." She picked up one card and revealed to her. "First, I will start this Spell card. The Continuous Spell, Covenant with the Infernal Gate, activates!" The card depicted a closed scroll with emanating blue aura.
"Covenant...So, I guess the rumor was true." Muiko said with a smirk.
"Oh, what would that be?" She asked calmly.
"Well, when I arrived here, I was having a chat with the prisoner next to my cell. He said that the director who is in charge of the Enforcer is using one of the Legendary Decks. One that was passed down from a duelist with your same last name. You're Reiji Akaba's great granddaughter." Muiko answered.
"I see that you know of my great granddad. But, of course, everyone knows him. He was...no, still is one of the famous duelists in the history of the dueling world. Anyway, the first Spell, Covenant with the Infernal Gate inflicts 1000 points of damage to me during each of my Standby Phase, but in exchange, I can select and add one Level 4 or lower DD monsters from my deck to my hand, once per turn." She explained. "I add my DD Cerberus to my hand."
She added one card to her hand. "However, I am only just getting started. I activate the second Covenant with the Infernal Gate to add one more Level 4 or lower DD monsters from my deck to my hand. I add DD Minotaur to my hand." She continued as she added a monster card that depicted a minotaur monster to her hand. "Lastly, I activate the third and final Continuous Spell, Covenant with Swamp King."
The last spell card showed a tombstone being swallowed by the monster, Swamp King. "During each of my Standby Phase, this card will inflict 1000 points of damage to myself, but once per turn, I can Fusion Summon one Fiend-Type Fusion Monster without using a Fusion Spell. I shall fuse my DD Cerberus and DD Minotaur. Hellhound that guards the gate of hell! The beast that devours lost prey! Join together to become one being, the King that looks over the Fusion Dimension! " She called out loudly and strongly.
Her two DD monsters fused together in a swirl of light blue and red colors. "Fusion Summon! Be born! DDD Blaze Overlord Temujin!" She said as a powerful warrior appeared on her side. Its body was surrounded with fiery red aura like a flame.
"So, that is one of the DDD monsters." Muiko said almost surpisingly.
"Don't compliment me yet. Battle Phase! Temujin shall destroy your E.B. Fluorine Cheetah! Attack!" She said, ordering her monster. Temujin slashed her monster as it roared before it died. Muiko's Life Points went down to 3500. "I set two cards down. Turn end."
"You may be using a powerful deck, but that does not mean I will lose so easily! My turn. I draw!" Muiko said as she drew her card. She jumped from one platform to another to look for Action Spell. Director Akaba decided to do the same as her monster followed her. Muiko noticed one in the cage, so she reached her hand in between the cage and obtained it.
"I activate the Action Spell, Extra Gift!" Muiko declared. The card showed a gift present with a lovely red bow attached to it.
"It allows me to draw one card! I draw!" She looked at the card and grin at it. "I play the Normal Spell, Shield Summoner!" The spell card depicted a magical shield wielded by a mage, summoning Giant Soldier of Stone.
"For this turn, I can normal summon a monster face-up in defense mode. I summon E.B. Zinc Tortoise in defense mode!" Muiko summoned a metallic tortoise and as soon as she did, it hide its head and feet into its shell. "Turn end. And I believe that you will now gain 3000 points of damage, thanks to your three Covenants card!" She finished, but noticed something strange.
Her three Covenant Spells were no longer face-up on the field. In fact, it was destroyed, except for one face-up remaining on the field. "What?! It can't be!" Muiko gasped.
"You think I will gain the effect damage of my Covenant Spells? Nonsense! I already activated my Trap, Lease Laundering. This trap card negates the effects of all Covenant cards during the End Phase of this turn. When it does, I draw one card for each Covenant cards that were destroyed by this card effect." She explained.
Muiko gritted her teeth in frustration.
"My turn. Draw." Director Akaba said. She stopped jumping and looked toward to Muiko. "I summon Level 3 Tuner monster, DD Night Howling in attack mode." A monster with big wide jaw and sharp teeth appeared next to Temujin. "I activate Night Howling's effect. When it is summoned successfully, I can special summon one Level 4 or lower DD monster from my Graveyard with zero ATK points. I special summon DD Minotaur in attack mode!"
The black minotaur with red eyes appeared as it swung its powerful axe side to side. "Now, I'm Tuning my DD Night Howling with DD Minotaur. A ferocious beast that eat soul! The beast that guards the ancient labyrinth! Summon the all powerful King that watches over the Synchro Dimension with its powerful wind!" As she was calling out her monster, DD Night Howling turned into three green rings and her DD Minotaur hopped into the rings as it becomes into 4 lights. A powerful beam of energy goes through the three rings and out if it, a new monster was born.
"Synchro Summon! Rise! Level 7, DDD Gale Overlord Alexander" She said strongly as her Synchro monster appeared next to Temujin with green windy aura emanating its body.
"Gale Overlord Alexander?!" Muiko said, as she covered her face from the powerful winds that the monster blew when it was summon. "So, that is your great grandfather's Synchro monster!"
"Indeed. Now, I activate Temujin's effect!" Director Akaba declared. "When another DDD monster is special summoned beside itself, I can select one DD monster in my Graveyard and special summon it to my side of the field. I bring back my DD Minotaur!"
Her minotaur appeared next to her two ace monsters. "Then, I activate Alexander's special ability. When DD monster is special summoned, I can special summon one level 4 or lower DD monster from my Graveyard. I resurrect my DD Cerberus in attack mode!" She added.
The three-headed hellhound roared to her minotaur's side. "Now, I Overlay my two DD monsters to build the overlay network." She proposed. "Dark hellhound with your vicious fangs and the beast of half man and half bull! Come together to summon the watcher and the lord of all seas. Bring forth the King that watches over the Xyz Dimension! Xyz Summon! " Her monster transformed into two dark purple energies and swallowed into a spiral galaxy-like portal. A third monster with heavy blue sword and watery blue aura surrounding its armored body came out. "Come forth! Rank 4! DDD Wave Overlord Caesar" She almost screamed strongly.
Three powerful DDD monsters stood side by side as Muiko watched in both fear and excitement. "SO, this is the almighty three DDD monsters that control the three different summoning methods. Fusion. Synchro. Xyz." Muiko checked.
"That is right. I thank you for the admiration of my great grandfather's DDD, but in this duel, you will lose." Director Akaba said strongly. Muiko now stands against three powerful DDD monsters, all that rule over the three summoning planes; Fusion, Synchro, and Xyz. What other surprises that Director Akaba of the Enforcer will present to Muiko? Will Muiko defeat her and win her freedom? To be continued...
New Card Cheat Sheet
DD Minotaur-Level: 4 Attribute: DARK Type: Fiend/Effect ATK/DEF: 1800/1000 Effect: Unknown
Shield Summoner-Type: Normal Spell Effect: For this turn, you can Normal Summon one monster in face-up Defense position.
Extra Gift-Type: Action Spell Effect: Draw one card.