Thunder boomed and rain poured. One could say the weather reflected the dueling in the arena. Yet, no one considered the possibility the sky was a sign of things to come.
Daigo Sorano felt bitter he couldn't make it to the finals. But all things considered, he felt pleased he got as far as he did.
"This is an outrage! A Mistrial! An Inchoate crime! I've been wrongfully, dishonorably discharged!"
Well, more than the guy next to him. Yet, Daigo saw everyone else moving away from the guy's tantrum. To be fair on their part, the man looked fit enough to bench press anyone here.
Unbeknownst to Daigo, Horus pressed his wing on the back of his duelist. Daigo felt this need to stand up and walk towards the raging teen.
"Hey man, congrats on making the top four." Daigo waved his hand at the dino-themed duelist.
The action at least slowed the bulky teen down. "Aww shucks! That's mighty nice of ya to say!" He smiled at the compliment before he leered at one of the TVs. "But it ain't fair! I wanted a shot at the top 3! The only reason I lost to that smug stick-in-the-mud was cause I had a bad starting hand!"
This made Daigo think back to his promise with Blair. "If you're that upset, why not duel him again when we get to Duel Academy?"
The simple logic calmed down the teen. "Huh. Ya gotta point there, soldier. What's your name?"
"Daigo Sorano. You?"
"The Name's Tyranno Hassleberry!" With that, the two sealed their friendship with a handshake.
A good time as well since Crowler's voice echoed around the locker room.
"And we're back! Let me congratulate everyone for participating in a wonderful tournament! We have a special treat for everyone involved: the event we've promised! Our former top first-years are about to face off against their new juniors! This will be a team match to remember!"
On the dueling field, Wilona, Alexis, and Bastion stood across from Reginald, Blair, and Sera. The newcomers thought they were ready for hard fought duels. Yet, they didn't expect their opponents to be giving off unnerving smiles at them.
"H-Hey?" Blair wiped the sweat off her forehead. "Are they looking at us weirdly?"
"Hmm," Sera tilted her head. "They remind me of a nature documentary where a predator is about to pounce."
"What?" Blair hoped Sera chose right now to joke. Needless to say, the straight look on the exotic girl's face gave Blair her answer.
"Ha! You're letting yourself get psyched out by these guys?" Reginald held his chin high as he folded his arms. "The only one worth fearing is the Obelisk Blue. Ra Yellow are mediocre while Slifer Red is the lowest of the low! The best Slifer is on the level of a yellow. And even if this Ra was good, he's still pretty weak if he hasn't even gotten to Blue in a year!"
"If you judge things only in the surface, you may miss the dangers deep within." Sera's mind went back some years ago, to when someone closer to her blinded himself to revenge.
"Sure, whatever that means." Reginald raised his brow, but dismissed what the pretty girl said.
Professor Crowler pointed his hand up with the mic in his other hand. "Once again, we'll have the computers decide our matches! ... And we have our first pair! bastion Misawa versus Reginald Van Howell III!"
"This is going to be easy!" Reginald strode forward but didn't see Blair pulling her eye lid and sticking her tongue out at the jerk.
On the other side, Bastion turned to the two girls. "Wish me luck."
"Crush him, Misawa." Wilona smiled with all the sweetness of honey on a bear trap.
Bastion chuckled. "On second thought, he needs luck more than I."
It didn't take long for the contestants to reach the field. The crowd remained silent as all eyes turned to the field.
Several pairs watched the incoming duels with great interest.
"I can't believe I got you," They primed their duel disks . "Ms. Obelisk over there would appreciate the future king of Duel Academy than my last opponent. Or the red girl looks like an easy win."
The Ra Yellow chose not to mention that he was the least vicious among the three here.
"You remind me of someone I barely tolerate." That did not mean he wasn't going to do his best to crush this upstart here and now.
"Let's Duel!"
Bastion: 4000 LP
Reginald: 4000 LP
Turn 1.
Reginald drew first. He smiled as he saw his opening cards: Noble Knight Artogrius, Gawayn, and Merlin. He had Noble Arms equip cards and the quick-play spell card, Glory of the Noble Knights.
"Time to show everyone how much of a fluke that last duel was! I summon Noble Knight Artogius in attack mode!"
A muscular but dignified warrior appeared on the field, and he wielded a greatsword as if made of light wood.
Noble Knight Artogrius. [Type: Normal Monster/Sub-Type: Warrior/Attribute: LIGHT/Level: 4/ATK: 1400/DEF: 1800]
"Next, I activate Noble Knight Gawayn's effect from my hand! If I control a Light Normal Monster, I can special summon him in defense mode!" Reginald did so, summoning another warrior similar to that of Artogrius.
Noble Knight Gawayn. [Type: Effect Monster/Sub-Type: Warrior/Attribute: LIGHT/Level: 4/ATK: 1900/DEF: 500]
Regi pointed to the sky as a galaxy appeared overhead. "I set the Overlay Network! Through incredible actions, stories evolve into legends! Be reborn in a new battlefield! XYZ Summon!"
The two warriors turned into orbs of light as they flew into the galaxy. In an explosion of stars, a new warrior—no, a king appeared on the field.
Arorigus, King of the Noble Knights!" Reginald threw his hand out as the monster appeared on the field.
Artorigus, King of the Noble Knights. [Type: XYZ/Effect Monster/Sub-Type: Warrior/Attribute: LIGHT/Rank: 4/ATK: 2000/DEF: 2000]
The warrior that now stood on the field befit the title of a king. It was hard not to see why Reginald thought so much about himself if he had a monster like that.
"I now equip Noble Arms of Destiny and Caliburn!" Regi placed two cards into his duel disk. Artorigus held both blades onto his person. Regi was not done as he pointed to one of the blades. "I activate Caliburn's effect! Artorigus's attack raises by 500 and I gain 500 life points!" (ATK: 2000 → 2500)
Bastion: 4000 LP
Reginald: 4000→4500 LP
"I set one card," Reginald picked and set Glory of the Noble Knights. "And end my turn!"
Regi smiled as he set up his board. Noble Arms of Destiny prevents a monster from destruction once. On the off chance that his enemy had something to handle Artorigus, his Glory of the Noble Knights would allow him to summon any Equip card he needed. If Bastion went on the defensive, Regi could activate Arotirus' abilities and destroy any set cards. And even if his equip cards were destroyed, they all have recycling abilities and reequip themselves to a Noble Knight! Regi's board was full-proof!
Turn 2: Bastion. Cards: 5.
"That's a hard board to break. If Blair didn't disrupt Regi's combo, their duel would have gone differently." Alexis put a hand on her hip.
Wilona would have agreed if she didn't spot Misawa smiling at the card he drew for the briefest of seconds.
Bastion made his move. "I activate the effect of my Mathmech Circular! I can send one Mathmech monster from my deck to the grave and then special summon this card from my hand! However, when I activate this effect, I can only attack with 1 monster this turn!"
As he said this, a futuristic robot-knight spun into the field. The Mathmech monster held a large double blade that spun in a way true to its name.
Mathmech Circular. [Type: Effect Monster/Sub-Type: Cyberse/Attribute: LIGHT/Level: 4/ATK: 1500/DEF: 1500]
Without a doubt, those are cards from the wish." Wilona scanned the monster Bastion summoned. "But Mathmech? It seems Misawa has found a deck made for him." She enunciated the math name of the new monsters.
"But Bastion can only attack with one monster," Alexis pointed a finger up. "That's worse than his Elemental Lords skipping the battle phase. Still, if Bastion can work around the Elemental Lord's drawback, I guess he can use this one."
"I reveal the card sent to the graveyard, Mathmech Sigma! I can special summon him from my graveyard if I have no Extra Deck Monsters on the field! His other stipulation states that I must banish him once he leaves the field!"
A light from Bastion's graveyard shot out. The new monster that appeared styled itself red and white. It was different to the silver of Bastion's first monster.
Mathmech Sigma. [Type: Effect Monster/Tuner/Sub-Type: Cyberse/Attribute: LIGHT/Level: 4/ATK: 1000/DEF: 1500]
"Now, my Mathmechs, it's time to show them all your raw computational power!" As Bastion cried out, Sigma turned into four rings while Circular started to form into stars. "Synchro Summon! Geomathmech Magma!"
Wilona thought back to Syrus and Jaden's duel against the Paradox Brothers. It was hard not to when another giant, mecha robot appeared on the field much like the two's fusion.
Geomathmech Magma. [Type: Effect Monster/Synchro/Tuner/Sub-Type: Cyberse/Attribute: FIRE/Level: 8/ATK: 2500/DEF: 0]
"Ha!" The Noble Knight duelist laughed when he saw the monster. "All that for a monster with the same attack points!? Thanks to my equip cards and your own effect, you can't even destroy my monster!"
"Who said I finished there?" Bastion narrowed his eyes while reaching for another card. "I activate Matmech Addition from my hand! To special summon it, I must target one monster on the field and it gains 1000 attack points! Come to Magma's aid, Addition!"
This time, a pure red mech wielding a blade slid into the field beside Magma. It unsheathed its blade, prompting Magma to do the same with his. When done so, Magma's sword lit ablaze. (ATK: 2500 → 3500)
Mathmech Addition. [Type: Effect Monster/Sub-Type: Cyberse/Attribute: FIRE/Level: 4/ATK: 1000/DEF: 1000]
Bastion continued his turn. "Now, I'll normal summon Matmech Diameter in attack mode!
Mathmech Diameter. [Type: Effect Monster/Tuner/Sub-Type: Cyberse/Attribute: LIGHT/Level: 4/ATK: 1000/DEF: 1500]
The new monster descended from above, wielding a circle blade as big as its body. It looked like the twin of Circular.
"Now, when Diameter appears, I'm allowed to summon a Mathmech monster from my grave! In exchange, its effects are void! Return, Circular!" Bastion pointed towards and empty monster zone as his first monster reappeared.
Mathmech Circular. [Type: Effect Monster/Sub-Type: Cyberse/Attribute: LIGHT/Level: 4/ATK: 1500/DEF: 1500]
Alexis counted the numbers of levels. "Is he going for a level 12 monster this time?"
Yet, Bastion pointed downward this time. "I now set the overlay network!" At his voice, a galaxy appeared before him and the three summoned monsters flew into it.
"He's XYZ summoning?" Wilona perked up before her mind realized what Bastion did. "He can XYZ Summon and Synchro Summon!?"
Back in the duel, Bastion kept a commanding presence. "Forgive me as I don't have the theatrics down for summon chanting yet," But he made a crushing motion with his fist. "Instead, I'll let my new monster say all that needs to be said! XYZ Summon! Arise, Primathmech Laplacian!"
Thunder struck the area the galaxy once formed. The earth split open and out erupted a gold and blue mech smaller but bulkier than that of Magma's red and white.
Primathmech Laplacian. [Type: Effect Monster/XYZ/Sub-Type: Cyberse/Attribute: EARTH/Rank: 4/ATK: 2000/DEF: 0]
Reginald started to sweat. Yet his pride refused to remain quiet. "You do two of the new summoning methods, and you still summon weaker monsters?!"
"You know, Reginald, you remind me of someone in our school. However, you lack a single ounce of his prowess as a duelist!" Bastion pointed to his XYZ monster. "I activate Laplacian's trigger effect! I detach 3 of its materials to activate his ability to send 3 cards to the graveyard! One in the monster field, one of your spells and traps, and one card from your hand!
Reginald laughed after hearing that. "Didn't you hear what I said? Noble Arms of Destiny prevents my monster from being destroyed once!"
"I believe it's you who misunderstands, Reginald!" Bastion pointed back. "I said send! This is not a destruction effect and therefore bypasses your protections!"
The future Obelisk Blue gasped as he heard that. To his credit, he pressed a button on his duel disk in response. I reveal my facedown, Glory of the Noble Knights! I can equip one spell card from my deck to a Noble Knight! I choose Noble Arms Excaliburn! With this card, he can't be targeted by effects!"
As the brunette cried this out, his monster sheathed both blades. Instead, the card summoned a massive sword that exuded power. With it, the king faced the incoming monster.
"That's not going to stop Laplacian! This was never a targeted ability!" Bastion pointed forward as his monster unleashed all the gathered energy. The pulse annihilated Regi's field and forced him to discard his last card.
Reginald hissed as he knew his field was wide open. But he remembered that Bastion could only attack with one monster. Regi knew he would survive. And he'd be able to activate Excaliburn's graveyard effect afterward. Excaliburn allowed him to XYZ summon a monster with a higher rank than the one currently in the grave.
As soon as it got to his turn, Reginald will make this Ra Yellow pay for making a fool out of him.
"Well? Call your attack!" Regi braced himself...
...Until he saw Bastion pick up a card. "Before I do, I play one last card: Blustering Winds! One monster gains 1000 attack and defense points until the end of my next standby phase! And I choose Magma!" (ATK: 3500 → 4500/DEF:0 → 1000)
"B-But that's as much as my life points!" Regi stepped back as he shouted.
"An astute observation! Magma, end this duel! Celsius Cut!" At the words of his duelist, the mech raced forward with his sword reclined back before reaching his target and unleashing the full force of his slash.
Reginald screamed as both the sword and his life points dropped.
Bastion: 4000 LP
Reginald: 4500→0 LP
The crowd cheered at Bastion's ability to use two summoning methods and break a board as if it was nothing.
However, Reginald punched the ground after his second humiliating loss. He got up and stormed off, not even sparing a glance at anyone as he left.
"Yeesh, he takes losing worse than Chazz." Alexis folded her arms.
Wilona felt different. A small piece of her hoped that nothing bad would come out of that.
But the two girl's focus turned to Bastion as he returned to their side of the field.
"Brilliant as usual, Misawa," Wilona put a hand on her hip. "Instead of three, you figured a deck that uses two summoning methods?"
The raven-haired young man nodded. "Indeed. Once I found these monsters, I began deckbuilding and making new equations forthwith."
Wilona felt happy for Bastion's new deck. Yet she wondered, "What of Laupaulia Mana and the others?"
"Not to worry. I've talked to them about my new decks." Bastion motioned to one of his side pockets. "I still intend to use them. My next project with this is a Fusion and XYZ variant."
"What an outstanding display of dueling skill by our Duel Academy students!" Crowler's voice rose as the cheering lowered. "So let's keep that excitement growing! Our next combatants are...!" He and everyone else looked up to the machine as it chose the next duelists. "Alexis Rhodes and Blair Flannigan!"
"Good." Wilona and Bastion noted the overjoyed tone in Alexis' voice as she strode forward. "I wanted this duel."
Over on the other side, Blair looked as excited as Alexis when hearing the matchup. She turned and said some words to Sera before waving at her new friend and racing to the other end of the dueling field.
"I've always wanted to duel you, Alexis. I wasn't expecting it to be so early!" Blair primed her duel disk.
"After seeing you tear through the tournament, I gotta say the same thing." Alexis' competitive spirit ignited as her duel disk did. "But I'm here to end your winning streak today."
"Dream on!"
"Let's Duel!"
Alexis: 4000 LP
Blair: 4000 LP
Turn 1.
"I'll start us off!" Alexis drew her card. "I drew Polymerization and fuse Etolie Cyber and Blade Skater!" The two monsters appeared before they combined into one. "Come on out, Cyber Blader in attack mode!"
Cyber Blader. [Type: Effect Monster/Fusion/Sub-Type: Warrior/Attribute: EARTH/Level: 7/ATK: 2100/DEF: 800]
The fusion entered the field with all the grace of a world-famous skater. But even with her appearance, Alexis continued her move. "I now play Machine Angel Ritual! I tribute Cyber Tutubon in my hand to special summon Cyber Angel Natasha in defense mode!"
If Blader was graceful, the monter that cantered into the field felt divine.
Cyber Angel Natasha. [Type: Effect Monster/Ritual/Sub-Type: Fairy/Attribute: LIGHT/Level: 5/ATK: 1000/DEF: 1000]
"Cyber Tutubon has an effect when she's used as a tribute for a ritual summon! I can target one ritual card in my grave and bring it back to my hand! So I'll recycle Machine Angel Ritual!" As the blonde picked up her card, she looked at her field. "Now, I'll activate Natasha's effect: I can gain life points equal to half of the attack points of a monster I own. So I'm picking Cyber Blader!"
Natasha pressed a pair of hands together in prayer. An aura eneloped over Blader and Alexis' life points rose.
Alexis: 4000→5050 LP
Blair: 4000 LP
"A fusion and a ritual monster," Wilona looked to Bastion. "And you handled XYZ and Synchro."
"I can see the coincidence, especially since you specialized in tribute summoning." Bastion laughed at the thought that they embodied the higher forms of summoning. "But if Blair doesn't handle those monsters, Alexis will have an overwhelming life point advantage."
Turn 2: Blair. Cards: 5.
Blair narrowed her eyes at the two monsters before she drew her next card. Her hand consisted of Satellarknight Altair, Unukalhai, and Deneb. She also had two trap cards and one spell card. "I play Satellarknight Unukalhai in attack mode!"
In a burst of light, stars formed into Blair's warrior.
Satellarknight Unukalhai. [Type:Effect Monster/Sub-Type: Warrior/Attribute: LIGHT/Level: 4/ATK: 1800/DEF: 1000]
"I can send a Satellarknight card from my deck to the graveyard! And this time, I'll send Vega to my graveyard!" As soon as Blair did this, she pointed to Natasha. "Now, Unukalhai, attack Natasha!"
The Satellarknight raced to the ritual monster before jumping above Natasha. In the air, Unukalhai swung his tail at the speed of a whip—only to hit a barrier.
Alexis smiled as the ritual's barrier repulsed the star knight. "Sorry, Blair, but as long as Natsha's up, I can negate attacks to my ritual monsters!"
The Satellarknight duelist clicked her tongue when she heard that. She had hoped to destroy Natasha so Alexis wouldn't keep gaining life points. But now she's exposed herself with her monster left in attack mode. "I'll play two cards facedown and end my turn!"
Turn 3: Alexis. Cards: 1.
Alexis drew her card before looking at Blair's monster. "Cyber Blader, attack!"
Blair opened up her facedown as soon as Alexis' fusion started to move. "I play the continuous trap, Stellarnova Wave! During my main phase, or my opponent's battle phase, I can special summon a tellarknight from my hand! Help me out, Altair!" Like a guardian angel, Altair descended to aid his fellow Satellarknight.
Satellarknight Altair. [Type: Effect Monster/Sub-Type: Warrior/Attribute: LIGHT/Level: 4/ATK: 1700/DEF: 1300]
"And you know what Altair does when he's summoned! I can bring one tellarknight from my graveyard to the field in defense position! Come on back, Vega!"
Satellarknight Vega. [Type: Effect Monster/Sub-Type: Warrior/Attribute: LIGHT/Level: 4/ATK: 1700/DEF: 1300]
Altair helped up Vega, who always seemed glad to see Altair.
"And Vega has her ability too! When she's summoned, Vega can bring more back up from my hand!" Blair shouted as Vega started to gather energy.
"I'm sorry, Blair," Alexis interrupted. "But you did this to yourself! Cyber Blader gains different abilities by the number of monsters on your field! With three monsters, I can negate any effect on your side of the field!"
Cyber Blader's eyes started to glow before Vega's channeling abruptly left her.
Blair flinched before she pressed a button, "In that case, I'll play my trap, Wonder XYZ! This will allow me to XYZ summon even in your turn!"
"That's where you're wrong again, Blair! Cyber Blader's negate is not a once per turn!" Alexis cried out as her fusion monster sent a shockwave that shattered the trap card.
"What!?" Blair cried out.
"You know, Cyber Blader is a better card since decks are now focused on swarming monsters into the field." Bastion rubbed his chin as he made a mental note to put in counters for Alexis' fusion.
"Lucky, Rhodes. She did not need to change her deck compared to the rest of us."
"Right," Bastion nodded before he perked up at something Wilona said. "Wait. You changed your deck?"
Whatever Wilona was about to respond with was interrupted when Alexis pointed forward. "You left Altair in attack mode, Blair! I can finally continue my battle phase and have Cyber Blader attack!"
The fusion unleashed a kick with enough force to shatter the Satellarknight.
Alexis: 5050 LP
Blair: 4000 →3600 LP
"Altair!" Blair and Vega cried out as the monster left the field.
Alexis pointed to her fusion. "Now that your monsters are back at 2, Cyber Blader gains a different effect: her attack points get doubled!" (ATK: 2100 →4200)
"I activate Natsha's ability again and gain more life points equal to half of a monster's attack points! And guess who's attack points doubled?"
Alexis: 5050 → 7150 LP
Blair: 3600
Turn 4: Blair. Cards: 2
"That's quite the gap," Bastion folded his arms. "If Blair doesn't do something soon, this is going to end poorly for her."
Blair drew her card before she glanced over at her hand. "I activate my Stellarnova Wave! I now special summon Deneb in attack mode!"
Satellarknight Deneb. [Type:Effect Monster/Sub-Type: Warrior/Attribute: LIGHT/Level: 4/ATK: 1500/DEF: 1000]
"I won't activate her effect because of your Cyber Blader, but she can't negate a regular XYZ summon!" As Blair lifted her hand, her three monsters flew into an open galaxy.
"Come on out, Triverr!" At Blair's voice, the galaxy exploded and out appeared the familiar titan of stars.
Stellarknight Triverr. [Type: XYZ/Effect Monster/Sub-Type: Warrior/Attribute: LIGHT/Rank: 4/ATK: 2100/DEF: 2500]
Alexis narrowed her eyes as she saw the XYZ titan. She and everyone else knew what was coming.
Yet Blair commanded anyway, "Triverr, Celestial Supernova! Return all cards on the field to the hand!"
The Xyz monster followed her command. It unleashed a blast that sent even Alexis' monsters back to their respective places. The duel's momentum shifted, and Blair had the advantage now.
She moved like a shark sensing blood in the water. "Thanks to my trap card, I still have my normal summon! Come on, Satellarknight Alsham in attack mode!"
Satellarknight Alsham. [Type:Effect Monster/Sub-Type: Warrior/Attribute: LIGHT/Level: 4/ATK: 1400/DEF: 1800]
"And you know what he does!" Blair yelled as the archer let loose an empowered arrow.
Alexis braced herself as the attack erupted after contact.
Alexis: 7150 → 6150 LP
Blair: 3600 LP
"Now, I activate my field spell, Hexatellarknight!" As soon as the girl placed the spell into her field slot, everyone watched the arena change. Beneath both duelists was a giant hexagon with odd symbols styled after the Satellarknights. Blair threw her hand out and explained. "Each XYZ tellarknight monster gains 200 attack and defense points for every material they have! Triverr has three, so he gets a 600 point boost!" (ATK: 2100 → 2700/DEF: 2500 → 3100)
Blair made a crushing motion with her fist before exclaiming, "Triverr, Alsham! Let's pay Alexis back!"
Her two monsters fired a combined attack on Alexis. Had she not boosted her life points so much, the Obelisk Blue would have lost the duel already.
Alexis: 6150 → 2050 LP
Blair: 3600 LP
"But I'm far from done, Alexis!" Blair cried out. "I remove one material from Triverr to send one of your cards from the hand to the graveyard!" The titan highlighted one of the cards, which Alexis revealed was Natasha before sending it to her graveyard.
However, Blair wasn't done with her turn. The Overlay Network appearing over her head signaled she was far from done.
"Wait! But you don't have any more monsters that can perform an Xyz summon!" Alexis noted as she saw Triverr and Alsham.
"Normally, yes, but..." Blair pointed upward as Triverr flew into the galaxy. "Xyz Summon! Satellarknight Constellar Diamond!"
As the galaxy exploded, the fierce dragon of Blair's new deck roared to life.
Stellarknight Constellar Diamond. [Type: XYZ/Effect Monster/Sub-Type: Wyrm/Attribute: LIGHT/Rank: 5/ATK: 2700/DEF: 2000]
"Diamond has the ability to use a lower-ranked XYZ monster as material to summon itself on my second main phase. And best of all, he keeps Triverr's current materials! So my field spell gives him the 600 point boost for his materials!" (ATK: 2700 → 3300/DEF: 2000 → 2600)
"I stand corrected," Bastion's eyes widened as he blinked several times. "Blair indeed turned the duel around."
"Triverr in combination with her Diamond is a game-changer," Wilona smiled. "But let's not count Rhodes out."
Blair took her last card, which Alexis knew was Steallarnova Wave, and set it facedown. "I'll end my turn and send it to you, Alexis!"
Turn 5: Alexis. Cards: 2.
"You've improved in one year, Blair." Even with the new cards, to think Blair would be this much of a great duelist already. "But you're going to have to do better than this to beat me!" With a fire in her soul, Alexis drew her next card.
Her eyes widened when she saw what she drew.
"I summon Cyber Petit Angel in defense mode!" Alexis shouted before a robotic pink monster appeared on the field.
Cyber Petit Angel. [Type:Effect Monster /Sub-Type: Fairy /Attribute: LIGHT /Level: 2 /ATK: 300 /DEF: 200]
"When he appears on the field, I can add one Cyber Angel or Machine Angel Ritual from my deck to my hand!" Alexis fished her deck for the one card she needed. "I now activate Machine Angel Ritual, the same one I used on my first turn! I tribute Cyber Petit Angel and Cyber Angel Dakini in my hand!"
Wilona perked up as she counted the levels of the two monsters. "Oh. Rhodes is getting serious."
"Come on out, Cyber Angel Vrash!" Alexis shouted as she threw her hand upward, making a pillar of light explode behind her. As the light faded, her mystical monster appeared on the field.
Cyber Angel Vrash. [Type: Effect Monster/Ritual/Sub-Type: Fairy/Attribute: LIGHT/Level: 10/ATK: 3000/DEF: 2000]
"A level 10 ritual!?" Blair cried out as she felt an overwhelming pressure from the monster.
"Vrash has multiple special abilities. When she's summoned, she can destroy your monsters summoned from the Extra Deck!"
"What!?" The Satellarknight Duelist cried out before Vrash made several hand motions. Beams of holy light chained and ensnared Constellar Diamond until they covered the wyrm completely. Vrash slammed her hands together, crushing the cocoon that trapped Blair's strongest monster.
Alexis did not relent. "When she does, you take 1000 points of damage for each monster destroyed! This is payback for all those times you used Aslham! Let's see how you like it!"
Vrash made hand signs with her lower pair of arms before firing a beam of light down on Blair.
Alexis: 2050 LP
Blair: 3600 → 2600 LP
"Now, Vrash! Attack Alsham!"
Credit where credit was due. Alsham didn't flinch as he fired an arrow at the goddess. Yet, the effort was a waste as the arrow faded before even reaching Vrash. The ritual monster raised one hand before cutting the young warrior in half.
Alexis: 2050 LP
Blair: 2600 → 1000 LP
"I'm still in this!" Blair grunted after taking on the attacks.
Alexis closed her eyes. "Blair, you did well, but it is over." She opened her eyes and pointed to her opponent. "When Vrash destroys Extra Deck Monsters, she can gain an extra attack!"
Blair gasped as Vrash started glowing with blinding light.
"Apex Purge!" Alexis cried out before Vrash unleashed the energy of the attack.
Alexis: 2050 LP
Blair: 1000 → 0 LP
As the attack died down, Blair pouted as the holograms went away. "Aww! I thought I had you there!"
While the crowd cheered, Alexis walked up with a smile. "You almost did. And you're not even in the school yet. Are you sure you want to stay in red? We'd love to have you over at blue."
"I have my reasons, Alexis! But trust me, I won't lose to you next time!"
The two shook hands over their duel. Alexis started to make her way back to the others.
It took her a second to realize that Blair walked alongside her.
"Blair?" Alexis looked over to the younger girl as they made it over to Wilona and Bastion.
"Aren't you going to stay with Sera?" Bastion asked as they came close.
"I already told her I was on my way here. Besides, I didn't want to be alone for the last duel!" Blair looked at Wilona. "I never got to see how you duel, Master!"
"I am decent enough," Wilona pulled her cap down as she walked into the dueling field. Although, it looked like she was holding a laugh.
"Decent enough, she says," Bastion scoffed, making Blair look at him with curiosity. "With Zane and Seika gone, Wilona ties with the best duelist in school."
"What?" Blair looked to Alexis as if to confirm. The blonde girl sighed, but she didn't deny it. "Wait, Master is tied with the best in the school!?"
"And here we are, ladies and gentlemen!" Dr. Crowler cried out as the last duelists entered the ring. "Our final duel! However, this one is in no way our least! Wilona Konami Versus Sera Abraxas!"
The two duelists stared each other down.
"It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise."
They weren't exactly women of many words. That is why they both primed their duel disks.
Neither noticed more than one person eyeing their duel different than the crowd.
"Let's duel!"
Wilona: 4000 LP
Sera: 4000 LP
Turn 1.
As Wilona drew her cards, she mentally sighed. She had Edea, Mithra, Frost Blast of the Monarchs, Strike of the Monarchs, and Domain of the Monarchs. A bad hand, but she still had a draw.
"I'll take the lead this time!" The green-haired girl drew her next card. She eyed what she picked up and told herself, "That'll work."
"I set two cards down before I summon Edea in defense mode." Wilona's plated warrior appeared on the field.
Edea The Heavenly Squire. [Type: Effect Monster/Sub-type: Warrior/ Attribute: LIGHT/Level: 1/ATK: 800/DEF: 1000]
"When she's summoned, I can special summon a monster with the same defense and attack points as her from the deck! And I choose Eidos The Underworld Squire in defense mode!"
At times like these, people remembered the phrase: it's darkest under the candlestick. Eidos appeared from the darkness behind Wilona's shadow. Then made it's way to stand next to his counterpart.
Eidos The Underworld Squire. [Type: Effect Monster/Sub-type: Warrior/ Attribute: DARK/Level: 2/ATK: 800/DEF: 1000]
"Now, thanks to Eidos, I can perform one extra tribute summon, so I sacrifice Edea for Kuraz The Light Monarch!"
The light around Edea condensed before exploding into a golden, levitating warrior.
Kuraz the Light Monarch. [Type: Effect Monster/Sub-type: Warrior/ Attribute: LIGHT/Level: 6/ATK: 2400/DEF: 1000]
"When he's tribute or special summoned, I can destroy two cards on the field, and I choose my set cards!" Wilona cried out as Kuraz turned and threw two orbs of light that incinerated the cards she placed down.
Blair gasped. "Why would she do that!?"
Alexis and Bastion had more neutral faces as they've heard of this combo from Jaden.
"Kuraz has a drawback for being able to destroy two cards on the field, but for Wilona, it's a good thing for her." Alexis pointed a finger up.
Wilona herself explained the effect. "For each card destroyed, the respective owner draws one card. Since both cards destroyed were mine, I draw two cards." The Monarch duelist eyed the new cards before picking one of them. "I set one and end my turn."
Turn 2: Sera. Cards: 5.
"You go, Sera!" Blair cried out to her new friend. Although she had respect for Wilona, a piece of her at least wanted one win from the freshmen side.
The quiet girl smiled at the cheer before drawing her card. "I activate the spell card known as Onslaught of the Fire Kings! If my opponent controls a monster while I do not, I am allowed to summon any beast-type monster from my deck to the field. In exchange, its effects are negated, and it is destroyed by the end phase. The monster I choose is..."
Behind Sera, a ring of fire burst open before the familiar phoenix rose from the ground.
"High Avatar Garunix!"
Fire King High Avatar Garunix. [Type: Effect Monster/Sub-type: Winged-Beast/ Attribute: FIRE/Level: 8/ATK: 2700/DEF: 1700]
"She summoned that quicker than usual," Blair said aloud. She recalled how much that monster caused her trouble in her duel.
"At this moment," Wilona pointed down. "I reveal my continuous trap, The Monarch Erupts! This trap card can only be activated if I have no Extra Deck monsters and control a Tribute-summoned monster such as Kuraz. This card negates all the monster effects on the field except for Tribute Monsters."
"An archetype-specific Skill Drain," Bastion narrowed his eyes. "So that's what she meant when she changed her deck. I suppose my current data on Wilona's style is already obsolete."
Yet, even with what was a seal on monster effects, Sera picked up another card from her hand. "That card says monster effects on the field, but what of effects outside of it? I destroy two fire monsters from my hand in order to special summon True King Agnimazud in attack mode!"
True King Agnimazud, The Vanisher. [Type: Effect Monster/Sub-type: Wyrm/ Attribute: FIRE/Level: 9/ATK: 2900/DEF: 1900]
The familiar Wyrm made itself known with a roar strong enough to create shockwaves.
Sera pointed forward. "There's more! Along with its summon, it can banish one monster on the field! Furthermore, this ability is activated from the hand!"
Wilona's eyes narrowed.
"Ah! Great Scott!" Bastion leaned forward as he realized what was happening. "Sera has seen through Wilona's trap card! It can't prevent Agnimazud's effect because it never activated it on the field!"
"Agnimazud, banish her Eidos!" Sera pointed as the fire wyrm incinerated the dark monster in a way that made the word "overkill" jealous.
Yet that didn't stop Sera from picking up her next card. "I play the spell card, Rebirth of Nephthys! By tributing my High Garunix, I'm allowed to Ritual Summon Cerulean Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys!"
Blue flames absorbed Garunix until its body started to turn to cinders. Yet, in an eruption of blue fire, the primordial bird revealed itself.
Cerulean Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys. [Type: Effect Monster/ Ritual/Sub-type: Winged-Beast/ Attribute: FIRE/Level: 8/ATK: 3000/DEF: 1000]
It took a second to realize that two of Sera's best monsters were now on the field. Wilona may have had a negate on monster effects, but it didn't protect her from the raw firepower Sera's monsters were about to unleash.
"Cerulean, burn Kuraz!" Under the command of her voice, her Ritual monster lit aflame and burned the Light Monarch.
Wilona: 4000 → 3400 LP
Sera: 4000 LP
With that, Wilona had no monsters on the field to protect her life points. Sera pointed forward. "Go, Agnimazud!"
The True King's head started to glow while its body rumbled with power. It then unleashed a laser down on Wilona. Yet the girl only pulled her cap down before she got absorbed by the light.
Wilona: 3400 → 500 LP
Sera: 4000 LP
Smoke filled the arena from the attack, yet as it faded, Wilona stood as if nothing had phased her.
"I am feeling quite nostalgic," She started as she looked up. "One year ago, these holograms caught me off guard."
Her mind trailed back to when she stood on the opposite side of the field, barely able to lift her own duel disk.
Turn 3: Wilona. Cards: 3.
But those thoughts took a back seat when Wilona opened her eyes, lit with a hunger for victory.
"Let's see how much I've improved, shall we?"
With a swipe of her hand, she noticed the card she drew. However, Sera cried out, "The cards I used for Agnimazud's ability was another copy of High Garunix and Sacred Phoenix of Nephtys!"
Sera's graveyard started to ignite. Two familiar phoenixes appeared on the field alongside the Ritual Monster and Agnimazud.
Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys. [Type: Effect Monster/Sub-type: Winged-Beast/ Attribute: FIRE/Level: 8/ATK: 2400/DEF: 1600]
Fire King High Avatar Garunix. [Type: Effect Monster/Sub-type: Winged-Beast/ Attribute: FIRE/Level: 8/ATK: 2700/DEF: 1700]
Everyone watching could only watch with shock as four level 8 and higher monsters unleashed a conclave of overlapping roars.
"All four of Sera's best monsters are out on the field," Bastion wiped his forehead. "I feel as if Wilona's trap works against her this time. She has negated Garunix's ability to destroy all other monsters except itself, leaving those four on the field while she has no monsters."
"So this does mean Sera is going to win?" Blair looked over to Bastion.
Alexis looked forward. Wilona's face looked neutral, but she already started moving her hand that held one card.
"I play the Field Spell, Domain of the Monarchs!" With a swipe of her hand, the field changed. A solitary but massive throne stood behind the Slifer Red. "Next, I activate Strike of the Monarchs from my graveyard! By banishing this card, I can change all attributes on the field to my choice! So, I command that all on the field shall be the DARK Attribute!"
Blair tilted her head. "I don't know what Master is doing. What's changing an attribute going to do?"
"Good..." Bastion raised his brow and put a hand on his chin. "Question... I'm not familiar with this strategy."
"I now activate the spell card, The Monarch's Stormforth! I can now tribute one monster on the field, even if it's not my own! Lastly, I activate my field's spell's special effect that will allow me to turn a level 8 monster into a level 6 card from my hand." Wilona held the card she drew up. "Instead of revealing it, why not summon it? I sacrifice your Sacred Phoenix Nephtys!"
Bastion did a quick mental math. Which among Wilona's monarchs could even turn this situation around? Their abilities could only affect one monster. Combining the attack and tribute, it would always leave one monster behind on Sera's field.
A giant wind surrounded and overtook the golden bird on Sera's field before it moved over to Wilona's side.
The green-haired girl's eyes narrowed before she raised her card. "I tribute summon Caius the Mega Monarch!"
"Mega?" Alexis blinked as she heard the word. However, it didn't take long to realize the word, mega, had weight to its meaning. Or rather, people started to grow silent as the field spell turned pitch black.
Behind Wilona, large red eyes glowed. The darkness around the field started to converge on the eyes until a familiar but new monster towered over the Monarch Duelist.
Caius The Mega Monarch. [Type: Effect Monster/Sub-type: Fiend/ Attribute: DARK/Level: 8/ATK: 2800/DEF: 1000]
"That's Caius?" Alexis asked aloud. She knew one of Wilona's toughest Monarchs, but how did it change into an even more monstrous form?
"Mega? Mega monarchs?" The Ra Yellow realized that he needed to throw away all his old notes on Wilona's dueling style.
Wilona motioned forward. "When Mega Caius is tribute summoned, I can banish one monster on the field, then all monsters on the deck and extra deck will be banished if they have the same name. My opponent will receive 1000 points of damage..." Wilona trailed off before she closed one of her eyes and smiled. "But if Mega Caius was summoned by sacrificing a dark attribute monster, he gains a new effect: he can banish two cards on the field."
Many understood why Wilona changed the attributes of all monsters on the field.
"Mega Caius, banish her Garunix and her Cerulean!" The Mega Monarch gathered two shadow orbs and launched them at the called targets. The orbs smashed into the chest of the targets before collapsing them inward like black holes.
Wilona: 500 LP
Sera: 4000 → 3000 LP
It was then that Blair realized something. "Oh? Is that why she sacrificed the weaker monster? She wanted to banish Garunix and the Ritual monster while breaking Nephthys' cycle with a tribute. The only monster she left alone doesn't have a reincarnation ability. But Agnimazud still has higher attack points."
Wilona pointed towards the Wyrm monster. "Mega Caius, attack Agnimazud!"
Alexis spoke while Blair looked on with shock. "Wilona's field spell has a lot of effects. One of them increases Tribute monster's attack points by 800 when attacking." (ATK: 2800 → 3600)
Mega Caius towered over the True King. As if to prove itself the rightful ruler, he brought down a punch that slammed the wyrm into the ground.
Wilona: 500 LP
Sera: 3000 → 2300 LP
"I end my turn," Wilona exclaimed as Mega Caius walked back towards his duelist.
Turn 4: Sera. Cards: 0.
Sera lowered her arms as the dust settled. The girl drew her card and stared at it before she closed her eyes and placed a hand on top of her deck.
"It appears my draw did not help me. I forfeit the match."
Wilona became the victor, yet no one complained as they saw some amazing plays from both duelists.
The green-haired girl and the duelist from Egypt walked up to each other.
"You did great," Wilona offered her hand to Sera.
"You were also spectacular. Hopefully, we may duel again."
The girl from Egypt reached out to—
Ascreamofrebirthressurectiondeathsoulspowerandthefateoftheworlduntothosewhocandefydestinyyetdefiancemeansthedestructionofall.
"...lona? Wilona!?"
The green-haired girl blinked before she saw Alexis to her right. "Rhodes? How did you get here?"
"How did I—Wilona, you were just standing there motionless for a few seconds!"
"I—what?" Wilona looked over to Sera, who Blair was beside, and also rubbed her eyes.
"Are you alright?" Bastion asked.
"I..." Wilona tried to think back. However, the more she tried, the less she could recall what had happened. "I believe I'm fine. ... This better not be a premonition to how screwed up this year will be..."
[Tag Force: Heroes and Villains]
He watched as the bizarre girl in red walked away with the other duelists. It was odd. Destiny had been planned out except for the one chosen to defy them.
Yet, why was Destiny blind to her? No matter what the cards had said, it was as if they did not know she existed. Or rather, she did not exist in the first place.
Perhaps it was a good thing he decided to take a direct approach.
Now, where was that young Reginald?
{Author Notes}
So, with this chapter done, we can finally start season 2 proper. Man, can you believe this summer could have been longer if I added Jaden and Jesse's adventure? At this point, I might post it as a one-shot with how hard it is to fit with the narrative now. Or maybe not. Who knows?
Still, that's 6+ chapters of between Season 1 and 2. Whoo boy is there a lot to cover in this story. It's hard to pull off, but I welcome the challenge, and it looks fun when I do it right.
As you can see, 3 duels in one chapter would usually make me mad, but a huge thanks to Hiyuusha for introducing me to EDOPRO, an online Yugioh game that helps me write duels better than before and gives me experience on how to actually use decks I've never touched before.
Too bad I'm planning to make more OC cards...
Anyway, give a huge round of applause for Bastion's new deck: The Mathmechs! I wanted Bastion to have a deck that had two summoning methods instead of three. Lo and behold, the Mathmechs fit Bastion way too much for this story: a monster deck that's all about using them precisely like a mathematician? Not only that, they fit what I was planning for Bastion, so they had to be one of his new decks.
Wilona gets an upgrade as well with access to the Mega Monarchs. (Watch in later duels, I'm just going to "Subtly" plant the Monarch Theme from Master Duel whenever she summons these bad boys.)
Overall, this chapter was hard to write and plan, but I can't wait till we get to see Season 2's poster child: Aster Phoenix! He's going to be fun to write.
Stay safe out there, folks!
{Altered and made up cards}
A huge thanks to Hiyuusha for introducing me to EDOPRO, an online Yugioh game that helps me write duels better than before and gives me experience on how to actually use decks I've never touched before.
Most of the plays in this chapter are legal! I'm super happy about it. Though, I did have to rework a few abilities because of what's currently in the duel and what I already changed.
Sacred Phoenix Nephthys: I made a change so that this will revive every standby phase, not just the player's.
Mathmech Sigma: Sigma works if there is no monster in the Extra Monster Zone. It's kinda a preview, but I reworked the Mathmechs a little since there is no Extra monster Zone in the story.
