Starting Notes:
Welcome back! In this chapter, absolutely nothing important or plot-relevant happens. Feel free to relax! *lying through teeth* Thank you to all who have read, favourited, followed or reviewed so far! Hope you enjoy this completely normal, unimportant chapter! (Jokes aside, this is an absurdly long duel in the chapter, and best experienced as a whole. Have fun reading!)
Chapter 5: Looking Like Them
In the Ritual Dimension:
"Seriously?" Johan stared at the message that had been transmitted to them from Academia. "He's sending… that guy here?"
Asuka took a deep breath. "I don't think that the Professor would do anything to hurt them," she said. "Let's just wait for orders."
The moon was full tonight.
Chiaki sighed as she walked through the dark streets. It was pretty late at night, but all of a sudden, Asuka had texted her, saying that it was urgent and she needed to ask her something. Chiaki had grumbled a bit, but she had ultimately changed clothes and stepped out into the night, walking towards the park.
"Asuka!" She called as she reached the park. "I'm here! What is so important—"
"Field Spell, activate. Closed Forest."
All of a sudden, trees shot up all around Chiaki, and she froze in place, before she reached out a hand and touched one of the trees. It was solid. She could feel the bark of the tree beneath her fingers. How was this possible? Holograms were something that everyone was used to now, but was this a solid hologram?
"Until the duel inside concludes," a smug voice said, "there is no way to escape this forest. And no one outside will hear you either."
Chiaki turned around, seeing a hooded boy. That smug voice pissed her off. "Who the hell are you?" She said.
"Oh, such coarse language." The boy chuckled, before he reached up and pulled off his hood.
And he—
He had the same face as Yuji.
What the fuck.
His hair was different—most of it was violet, though there were some bits of pink at the lower part of his hair. He had pink eyes, pink eyebrows and two bits of purple fringe that stuck straight up on his face. He was wearing a hood and cloak that clearly marked him as someone that was suspicious.
Oh, and not to forget, but he had the same face as Yuji.
"You—" Chiaki stepped back. This funhouse mirror reflection of Yuji tilted his head, seeming almost innocently curious, but just being around him gave Chiaki a bad vibe. The bracelet around her wrist felt like it was on fire.
"Oh, trust me, when I saw the photograph of you and your friend, I think I had a heart attack too," the violet-haired boy said, lifting his head and yawning. This did not help to alleviate Chiaki's shock in the slightest. "My name is Yuri. And you're Chiaki Katsuya. The girl with the same face as Serena. And one of those silver bracelets."
Same face as—what?
"You're going to need to explain that," Chiaki snapped at him.
Yuri had the gall to laugh at her. "Sure, sure. Still though, you're stuck in here until a duel in here is completed. So?" He gestured to his duel disk. "You want to get out? Then entertain me."
"You're going to regret that, eyebrow bastard," Chiaki replied, gritting her teeth and activating her duel disk too. The duel disk that Yuri activated turned out to have the same sword-like blade as Asuka and Johan's model, and Chiaki felt a sinking feeling in her heart. She had been suspecting it the moment that she had been trapped in the trees, but this was just adding evidence to that terrible theory. "That duel disk…"
"Oh, this?" Yuri chuckled. It was a terribly innocent laugh, and that just made it worse. "It's a duel disk from our school in the Fusion Dimension."
"Fusion Dimension?"
"See, there are six dimensions. Each is based on a summoning method." Yuri smirked. "You live in the Ritual Dimension. And I live in the Fusion Dimension. You share a face with a girl I know, and I share the face of a guy you know. Am I wrong?"
Chiaki shook her head. She didn't understand. Nor did she care to understand, because—was this guy insinuating that he and Yuji were somehow the same, just in different worlds? That was bullshit! Yuji was nothing like him!
"So I'm here to bring you back to Academia," Yuri continued. "But I don't just want to be an errand boy, so like I said… please entertain me, Chiaki Katsuya. I want to see the strength I've heard all about."
[DUEL!]
Yuri: 4000LP
Chiaki Katsuya: 4000LP
[Turn 1: Chiaki] [H:5]
"... Asuka-san," Chiaki said, her fists clenched. "Is she a member of your Academia? She and Johan?"
"Huh? Asuka Tenjoin and Johan Andersen?" Yuri asked, and the fact that he could say their names so easily confirmed Chiaki's fears. Yuri then laughed. "Ah, yes! They're the ones that let us know that you were here! They're Honor Students of Academia, you see—"
"Draw," Chiaki declared, interrupting him. Her temper was boiling over. Stupid. She was so stupid for ever trusting anyone but Yuji and her brother. The next time she saw either Asuka or Johan…
She didn't know what she would do, but she certainly wouldn't be friendly with them.
"I'll Normal Summon Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands," she declared. The silver monster appeared in front of her, and Yuri studied it with a look of curiosity.
[Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands (4*/1400/1000/LIGHT/Fairy/Effect)]
"That's the Ritual searcher, right?"
"... yes," Chiaki muttered, seething at the fact that he somehow had the audacity to ask her about her card effects. However, she still followed the duel etiquette of explaining her cards to the opponent. "I'll use Manju's effect to add a Ritual Spell or Ritual Monster to my hand. And I'll activate the Continuous Spell, Heritage of the Light. When a monster of an additional monster Type—so Ritual, Fusion, or apparently other Summoning Methods or whatever—is Special Summoned, while there is a monster of the same type on the field, I can draw a card. I can only use that once per turn."
"Allowing you to recoup the costs of your Ritual Summons," Yuri acknowledged.
"Oh my god, will you shut up?" Chiaki glared at him. "I don't need commentary on every move I make!"
Yuri laughed, clearly mocking her. "You're fiery, aren't you? Well, you certainly resemble Serena in that regard…"
Ok, Chiaki did not want to hear about this other girl that she apparently looked like. All she wanted was to win, punch this creep in the face, and go and get the cops or something. She held herself back from insulting him, instead holding out another card. "I'll activate the Spell Card, Pre-Preparation of Rites. I'll add a Ritual Spell and its Ritual Monster to my hand. Now, I will activate the Ritual Spell, Dawn of the Herald."
Yuri looked like he was about to say something, and Chiaki glared at him. He laughed again.
Chiaki wanted to wipe that smirk off his face. However, the fact that he still bizarrely looked so much like Yuji made her hold her tongue. "I'll tribute the Level 4 Manju on the field and the Level 2 Herald of Purple Light in my hand," she said. "Beautiful rainbow light that dances in the sky. Now, angel of absolute perfection, let the world around you bend to your divine declaration. Advent! Level 6! Herald of Perfection!"
She brought out the white, alien angel with multicoloured feathers and wings in Defense Position. It floated in front of her. Yuri pressed a finger to his cheek. "... hmm. Looks a little creepy."
[Herald of Perfection (6*/1800/2800/LIGHT/Fairy/Ritual/Effect)]
"I don't want to hear that from you," Chiaki said, narrowing her eyes. "I will activate the effect of Dawn of the Herald. By banishing it from the graveyard, I can add a monster that was used for the Ritual Summon back to my hand." She revealed Manju, adding it back to her hand. "I will end my turn. Over to you."
"Oh?" Yuri chuckled. "Just like that? Fascinating. Very well. I hope you don't lose to me in a single turn—that'd be embarrassing for you! Draw!"
[Turn 2: Yuri] [H:6]
Chiaki braced herself instinctively. Something about this guy felt far more dangerous than any other opponent she had ever met in her life.
"I will activate the Continuous Spell, Rapid Seed Fire." Yuri smirked. "Once per turn, I can send a Level 4 or lower "Predaplant" monster from my deck to the graveyard. Then, I can inflict 300 damage to you, and lower your monsters' attack points by 600!"
Chiaki's eyes widened, before a few seeds shot out from a strange, purple plant that formed next to Yuri.
Chiaki: 4000 - 300 = 3700LP
[Herald of Perfection: 1800 - 600 = 1200ATK]
"And now," Yuri said, licking his lips, "I'll activate the Equip Spell, Predapruning." He placed the Spell Card down, and a hologram of it appeared in front of him. "I'll Special Summon a "Predaplant" monster from my graveyard, and equip it with this card!"
"I'll activate Herald of Perfection's effect!" Chiaki declared. "I can send a Fairy monster from my hand to the graveyard to negate the activation of a Spell Card! Declaration of Divinity!" She sent Manju to the graveyard, stopping Yuri from reviving his monster. If she had to guess, Yuri had searched out that card from the deck and sent it to the graveyard because it was an important piece to a play that he had in mind.
I have to be careful…
Yuri chuckled as his card shattered. "Interesting! A control duelist, huh?" He smirked. "That much isn't enough to deter me though. I will Normal Summon Predaplant Flytrap from my hand!" A small, verdant green flytrap appeared on his field, and its 'mouth' opened in a rather grotesque manner. Its thin, spindly stem formed claw-like structures under its mouth. All in all, it was… unnerving.
[Predaplant Flytrap (2*/400/800/DARK/Plant/Effect)]
"Flytrap's effect," Yuri said. "I can place a Predator Counter on a monster you control. Naturally, you only control one monster. So I'll target your Herald of Perfection!"
Chiaki frowned. I feel like I should save the cards in my hand… but I don't like that smile of his. She made eye contact with Yuri, who smiled as Flytrap spat out a large seed at Herald of Perfection. "Screw it," she muttered. "I'll discard Ruin, Queen of Oblivion from my hand to use Herald of Perfection's effect. I'll negate a monster effect, and destroy the monster that activated it! Declaration of Divinity!"
Flytrap was blasted off the field by a ray of light, and Chiaki relaxed for a moment.
"Oh?" Yuri chuckled. "Congrats. You saved yourself from a loss there."
Huh? How?
Yuri didn't elaborate, despite Chiaki's reluctant curiosity. "I'll activate the Spell Card, Predapractice," he said. "I'll Special Summon a "Predaplant" monster from my hand, and then I'll add a "Predap" card from my deck to my hand. However, I cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck this turn, except Fusion Monsters."
Chiaki felt wary, but she held onto the final card in her hand, not even trying to activate Herald of Perfection's effect. Yuri seemed to sense her trepidation, judging from how his smirk grew.
"I'll Special Summon Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio from my hand!" A scorpion-like monster appeared on the field—it was made out of bark, with leaf-like veins running along the top of its body. It had several legs made of bark, as well as two large claws and a head. Its stinger was a large, leafy bulb.
[Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio (3*/1200/800/DARK/Plant/Effect)]
"When Ophrys Scorpio is Normal or Special Summoned, I can send a monster from my hand to the graveyard to Special Summon a "Predaplant" monster from my deck." Yuri took out a card from his deck, placing it down on his duel disk. "Come on out—Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra!" A green snake appeared, clearly formed by a large, long vine. It had a purple flower on its tail, opening up to reveal an orange centre, and a dark snake-like head formed at its roots, with pink jaws.
[Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra (3*/1000/1500/DARK/Plant/Effect)]
"I have two effects to activate," Yuri drawled. "First, I will activate the effect of Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra. I can add a "Polymerization" or "Fusion" Spell to my hand. Are you responding to this effect?"
Chiaki bit her lip in annoyance.
"Guess not." Yuri gestured to his graveyard. "The card that I sent to the graveyard for Ophrys Scorpio's effect was Predaplant Byblisp. I can add a "Predaplant" monster from my deck to my hand with its effect. Will you respond?"
Chiaki didn't speak up.
"Well?"
"I will not respond," Chiaki said, gritting her teeth.
"Alright." Yuri picked up two cards from the deck, instantly increasing his hand size to three. "Spell Card, Polymerization. Are you responding?"
"No," Chiaki said, and Yuri laughed again, sounding very amused.
"Oh, I see! How impolite of me. It's not that you don't want to respond, it's that you can't respond, correct? That first Fairy was one that you added back with Dawn of the Herald, and the second was the card that you added with Manju's effect. That last card is an unknown, but I'm guessing that it's not a Fairy monster, huh?" He pressed a finger to his lips. With his other hand, he slid the Spell Card into his graveyard. "Well, how unfortunate for you… and for me, of course. I won't be able to finish you off this turn since you negated the earlier effect, but oh well. I'll settle for scaring you a little. I'll fuse Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio and Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra on the field!"
The two monsters turned to dark energy, flowing into a portal.
"Two beautiful flowers with an insect-alluring fragrance! Now become one, and form the ancient creature slumbering beneath nature's bounty! Fusion Summon! Appear! Level 5! Ancient cetacean—Predaplant Ambulomelides!"
A green crocodile-like creature appeared, red patterns all over its body. Its body was light green, and dark green leaves could be seen on the top of its body and the back of its legs. Its tail ended in a bunch of sharp green leaves that all pointed outwards like a mace. A large, fern-like plant was growing on its back, with long and lush leaves, as well as white flowers blooming from the middle of the plant, rather like little spores on stalks.
[Predaplant Ambulomelides (5*/1000/2500/DARK/Plant/Fusion/Effect)]
"When Ambulomelides is Fusion Summoned," Yuri said, somehow managing to pronounce that absurdly long name perfectly the first time. "I can add a "Predaplant" monster or a "Predap" Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand." He picked up another card from his deck. "And now that I'm confident that you cannot negate my effects, shall we start the show? I will activate the Spell Card, Predaplast. By revealing as many "Predap" cards in my hand as I want, I can place Predator Counters on monsters on the field equal to that amount. I will reveal Predaplant Drosophyllum Hydra." He smirked. "And I'll place a Predator Counter on your Herald."
A dark seed flew over to Chiaki's side of the field, and it attached itself to Herald of Perfection, who seemed to rear back in pain. Chiaki grimaced.
[Herald of Perfection: Predator Counter(s): 1]
"Oh?" Yuri chuckled. "For all that you're a hothead, you do seem to care about your monsters. How interesting." He held up a finger. "I will activate the effect of Predaplant Ambulomelides. Once per turn, I can tribute a monster I control, or a monster my opponent controls with a Predator Counter, and Special Summon a "Predaplant" monster from my deck! Predator Farming!" He winked. "Of course, I will tribute your monster."
Herald of Perfection vanished from her field, torn apart by the strange, dark seed.
"Now, do you see?" Yuri said.
Yes. Chiaki saw it very plainly.
If she had allowed Yuri to get away with putting a Predator Counter on Herald of Perfection the first time, he likely had other effects that could have tributed her monster. And tributing a monster was a cost, so there would have been no chance for her to respond to the effect at all. Thus, it would have left her open, left Yuri with far more resources, and…
She would have lost.
"Luckily for you," Yuri continued, "you did make things somewhat interesting. Come on out. Predaplant Cephalotusnail!" A large, pale green pitcher plant appeared. The 'cap' on top of the pitcher plant was a rich purple, along with some pink and yellow accents. At the bottom of the pitcher plant, bark formed the body of a snail. Clearly, the pitcher plant was intended to be the 'shell' of the snail.
[Predaplant Cephalotusnail (4*/1300/1200/DARK/Plant/Effect)]
"Ambulomelioides is still in Defense Position, of course." Yuri yawned. "Cephalotusnail attacks you directly."
The snail shot forward, bopping its head against Chiaki's leg. Chiaki fought back the urge to scream—the snail felt cold and slimy and awful. She took a step back, though the impact of the hit still caused her to stumble.
Chiaki: 3700 - 1300 = 2400LP
"I'll end my turn. I heard that you're powerful enough to defeat Asuka Tenjoin, correct?" Yuri folded his arms. "You certainly aren't proving it."
Chiaki bit her lip.
"Regardless, it's a win-win situation for me. Either you show me a good time, or I get to finish my job a little faster. So? Which is it?"
[Turn 3: Chiaki] [H:2]
Chiaki drew a card. "Oh my god, shut up," she said, her other hand clenched into a fist. "Every time you open your mouth, I feel like punching you in the face." Yuri raised an eyebrow, still smiling with that infuriating look on his face. "I'll activate the Spell Card, Pot of Extravagance. By banishing three or six random cards from my Extra Deck, I can draw a card for every three cards banished." She plucked out six cards from her Extra Deck, tossing them into the zone for banished cards. Yuri raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? So willing to throw away your options?"
"What options?" Chiaki said snarkily. "They're all Fusion Monsters that I can't use. I don't know how to Fusion Summon. They're only there as fuel for cards like this." Cards like Flame Swordsman, things like that—old cards from the pile her brother had given her to work with, which she had included out of nostalgia. She drew two cards from her deck as Yuri hummed approvingly.
"Hmm. You're pretty callous, aren't you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you seem perfectly willing to throw your own cards away like that. Does that apply to comrades too?" Yuri raised a finger, an innocently curious look on his face. "If someone told you that you had to throw your friendship with that guy—Yuji Fujita—away to become the strongest person in the world, would you do it?"
Chiaki rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't," she said. "That isn't even a question."
"Huh?"
"In this overblown metaphor of yours, the monsters I just banished are just monsters I never use," Chiaki said. "The people on the periphery of my world? No matter what happens to them, I wouldn't shed a tear." She raised a hand to her chest, staring at the bracelet on her wrist, which seemed to be far warmer now. "I will save people. That is what I decided. But if I fail to save them, I wouldn't cry for them. I will just do what I can. But Yuji is different. Mushy as it is, I am perfectly allowed to be selfish with him. Childhood friend rights."
Chiaki saw Yuri's smile fade for a moment—as though she had reminded him of something uncomfortable. She didn't care. She held out a card. "That's why I won't lose to you! Spell Card, Pre-Preparation of Rites!"
"Another copy of that card?"
"Oh, like you don't run multiple copies of your cards?" Chiaki said snippily. "I will add another Ritual Spell and its corresponding Ritual Monster from my deck to my hand. I can't draw cards by card effects on the turn that I activate Pot of Extravagance, but this is not a draw."
He has no set cards. As long as I don't overextend…
"I will Normal Summon Diviner of the Herald from my hand," Chiaki continued. One of her signature cards appeared on her field. The pale girl looked frightened by Yuri's monsters, her multi-coloured wings folding in around herself, as though to hide herself from their side.
[Diviner of the Herald (2*/500/300/LIGHT/Fairy/Tuner/Effect)]
"I will send the Level 9 Trias Hierarchia to the graveyard with Diviner's effect, and increase her Level by Trias Hierarchia's Level!" The pale girl quietly cast her magic, glowing.
[Diviner of the Herald: 2* + 9* = 11*]
"I will activate the Ritual Spell, Hymn of Light," Chiaki continued. "I will tribute the Level 11 Diviner to Ritual Summon! Accept my sacrifice and pull open the gates of divinity, angels that preside over heaven! Advent! Imperial justice, Saffira, Queen of Dragons!"
Her ace appeared in front of her, silver, white and gold scales and feathers seeming to glitter in the darkness. Chiaki took a deep breath for a moment—she felt far too tense, but just having her ace there made her feel a little less nervous.
[Saffira, Queen of Dragons (6*/2500/2400/LIGHT/Dragon/Ritual/Effect)]
"So that's your ace," Yuri said. "A dragon, huh? You have good taste."
Something about that statement, coming from a boy with carnivorous plant-insect hybrids on his field, struck Chiaki as horribly ironic. "I will activate Diviner's effect," Chiaki continued. "Since she was tributed, I can Special Summon a Level 2 or lower Fairy monster from my hand or deck, except for herself. Come from the deck—Marshmacaron!" A large, red… blob appeared, looking like a melted marshmallow. Two innocent yellow eyes peered at the field from the top of the marshmallow, looking rather shy. The marshmallow moved into Defense Position, blinking slowly.
"Interesting choice, I suppose?" Yuri sounded somewhat confused. Good. He deserved to be.
[Marshmacaron (1*/200/200/LIGHT/Fairy/Effect)]
"Saffira will attack Cephalotusnail! Regal Eminence!" A bright ray of light shot down. She couldn't destroy Ambulomelioides this turn because of its high defense points, but if she could hold out for a bit longer—
"Sorry!" Yuri laughed. "While in Attack Position, Cephalotusnail can't be destroyed by battle, and I take half the damage!" The light shot over him, but he hardly seemed to care.
Yuri: 4000 - 1200 / 2 = 3400LP
"Sucks to be you, I guess."
"... I'll end my turn. With Saffira's effect, I will add a LIGHT monster from my graveyard to my hand."
Yuri smirked. "Looks like you can't do anything against even my most basic of defences. It's time to end this then."
[Turn 4: Yuri] [H:3]
"Draw." Yuri hummed. "Now, how should I finish you off?" He raised a hand, as though just thinking of an idea, though it was patently obvious that it was all for show. "I know! How about this? I'll activate the effect of Predaplant Cordyceps in my graveyard! By banishing it, I'll Special Summon two Level 4 or lower "Predaplant" monsters from my graveyard! However, I can't Normal Summon or Set monsters this turn! I will revive Predaplant Flytrap and Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra!" The two monsters appeared on the field, leafy green. "I'll activate Darlingtonia Cobra's effect to add another "Fusion" or "Polymerization" card to my hand!"
Yuri added a card to his hand.
That must have been the card that he sent to the graveyard with Rapid Seed Fire's effect. So… letting him Special Summon it wouldn't have done anything?
"Oh, I just wanted a Fusion Material." Yuri smiled viciously. "But good attempt, I guess. You're not worthy of Starving Venom's fangs. So… how about this then?" He pointed at Saffira. "I will activate Predaplant Flytrap's effect to place a Predator Counter on your monster!"
"I will chain the effect of Effect Veiler in my hand," Chiaki declared. "I'll send it to the graveyard and chain to your effect, and negate the effects of your Fusion Monster!" A bright light shone down on Ambulomelides, causing it to reel away.
A dark seed shot out, attaching to the silver dragon. Saffira reeled, and Chiaki winced again.
[Saffira, Queen of Dragons: Predator Counter(s): 1]
Yuri, however, clapped his hands together, grinning. "Not bad! So I can't tribute your monster for that effect, huh?" He smirked. "I guess I'll have to get rid of it through battle. Activating another copy of Polymerization. I will fuse Predaplant Flytrap and Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra!" The two monsters turned into dark streaks, shooting up in the air. "Bloom, parasitic dark flower! With the rolling of your carrion-like petals, let the force of your scent overpower the world! Fusion Summon! Level 7! Predaplant Chimerafflesia!"
A large, pink flower appeared on the field. Beneath it, parts of its stem slowly wiggled out, forming mouth-like appendages on the ends of its vines. The middle of the flower was golden-yellow, and seemed to shrink and widen over and over—as though the centre itself was a mouth.
[Predaplant Chimerafflesia (7*/2500/2000/DARK/Plant/Fusion/Effect)]
"Chimerafflesia's effect," Yuri said, laughing. "I'll banish a monster on the field with a lower Level than it! I will choose Saffira, Queen of Dragons! Venomous Captivity!" Vines shot out, wrapping around Saffira and dragging her off the field. Chiaki grimaced. "Looks like you're still destined to lose to me! Attack that last pathetic shield of hers, Cephalotusnail!"
The strange pitcher plant moved forward, crushing the marshmallow easily. However, since it was in Defense Position, Chiaki didn't receive any damage.
"I will activate the effect of Marshmacaron!" Chiaki called. "Once per turn, when it is destroyed, I can Special Summon two other copies of Marshmacaron as possible from my hand, deck or graveyard!" She took out two cards from her deck, slamming them down in Defense Position.
Yuri chuckled. "Chimerafflesia will destroy one of the marshmallows." A vine shot forward, squeezing the pink marshmallow until it exploded. "Ambulomelides is still in Defense Position, so you get to barely survive again! Congratulations!" He smirked, still rather smug. "I'll activate Rapid Seed Fire's effect again. I'll send another Level 4 or lower "Predaplant" monster to the graveyard and lower your monster's attack points by 600, while dealing 300 damage to you!"
Seeds rained across Chiaki's field again, hitting like bullets.
Chiaki: 2400 - 300 = 2100LP
[Marshmacaron: 200 - 600 = 0ATK]
"I'll end my turn," Yuri said. "So? Anything else?"
[Turn 5: Chiaki] [H:2]
Chiaki gritted her teeth, drawing another card. She could defend and defend, but unless—
She looked at the card in her hand, and she blinked.
"Spell Card, Graceful Charity!" Chiaki called, pressing the card to her duel disk. "I'll draw three cards and discard two cards!" She revealed one of the cards that she had discarded. "This is Eva! When it's sent to the graveyard, I can banish two other LIGHT Fairy monsters from the graveyard to add the same number of Level 2 or lower LIGHT Fairy monsters from my deck to my hand!" She placed Ruin and Manju into the pile of her banished cards, before taking two cards from her deck.
That left her with an entirely new hand of four cards to use.
I can't.
I can never—
"Stop thinking so much about it," she chided herself. She thought about white hair and silver eyes and a warm hand placing this card in hers.
"Happy birthday. Never ask me for anything else."
"I will activate the Spell Card, Instant Fusion!" Chiaki declared, and Yuri's eyes widened. "I will Special Summon a Level 5 or lower Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck by paying 1000 life points!"
Chiaki: 2100 - 1000 = 1100LP
"But you can't Fusion Summon—"
"I know!" Chiaki snapped.
"I can't Fusion Summon. You know that, dumbass."
"Just because you think it's weaker… this one too."
"Instant Fusion?"
"You can summon that monster without needing to Fusion Summon, and it'll be treated like it was Fusion Summoned. It's… a shortcut."
"Light scatters. The declarer up above will show its radiant form now. Come forth! Herald of Scattered Light!"
Another one of her alien-looking angels—the Heralds—appeared on the field. It was pure white, and the light that it was emitting was silver-grey. There were two fluttering, grey wings at the side of its 'head'. Like the rest of her fairies, it had no face.
[Herald of Scattered Light (4*/600/1000/LIGHT/Fairy/Fusion/Tuner/Effect)]
"When Herald of Scattered Light is Special Summoned, once per turn, I can send two Fairy monsters from my hand to the graveyard," Chiaki said, even as Yuri stared at her monster in slight wonder. "Then, I can draw three cards!" She swept three cards off the top of her deck. "And then, any time that I send a Fairy monster from my hand to the graveyard to activate its effect, I can gain life points equal to the total defense points of the monsters sent to the graveyard. I sent Vennu, Bright Bird of Divinity and Herald of Green Light to the graveyard! Thus, I regain 2500 life points!"
Chiaki: 1100 + 2000 + 500 = 3600LP
"Oh? So you recovered your life points. It's a shame though—you had to discard one of your precious Ritual Monsters for that."
"I will draw one card with the effect of Heritage of the Light," Chiaki said. "I'll activate the Field Spell, Ritual Sanctuary." Despite how much she wanted to punch Asuka right now—for betraying her, for handing her over to this asshole and whatever alternate dimension that he came from—the card was still in her hand, and therefore had to be used. "With its effect, I will shuffle Graceful Charity, my two Pre-Preparation of Rites, Instant Fusion, Hymn of Light and Pot of Extravagance into the deck!" She returned the six Spells back to her deck. "And I will revive a Level 6 Fairy monster! Come back—Herald of Perfection!"
She revived her Ritual Monster in Defense Position, and it floated in front of her, a protective guard.
[Herald of Perfection (6*/1800/2800/LIGHT/Fairy/Ritual/Effect)]
"And I will Normal Summon Diviner of the Herald again." She brought out the other card that she had added with Eva's effect, placing it down in front of her. The pale fairy reappeared. "With Diviner's effect, I will send Clear Kuriboh from my deck to the graveyard and increase her Level again!"
[Diviner of the Herald: 2* + 1* = 3*]
"Now, to Special Summon this monster from my graveyard, I can tribute any number of Fairy monsters. I will tribute three of them—Herald of Scattered Light, Diviner of the Herald and Marshmacaron!" The three monsters dissolved into light. Chiaki took out a card from her graveyard, pressing it to her duel disk. "Cloak all in your radiant light—Trias Hierarchia!"
A fairy with white hair appeared—she was wearing clean, white clothes as well, ones that were really appropriate for an angel to wear, with some golden lining along the clothing. Trias Hierarchia had six wings—three on each side, growing larger the further down that they went. The wings were all bright white as well, and they glowed with the same light as the Heralds.
An eerie, beautiful, perhaps even holy sight.
[Trias Hierarchia (9*/1900/2900/LIGHT/Fairy/Effect)]
"You have no right to count me out of this duel yet!" Facing towards Yuri, Chiaki flipped him the bird. "If there's one thing I'm bad at, it's giving up! Trias Hierarchia's effect! Since she was Special Summoned using at least two monsters, I can destroy a card on the field! I will choose Predaplant Chimerafflesia!" The large pink flower was blown off the field. "And then, since I tributed three monsters, I can draw two cards!" She narrowed her eyes. "And since Diviner was tributed, I can Special Summon a Level 2 or lower Fairy monster from my deck! Come—Light Law Medium!" She Special Summoned the pink-haired angel in Defense Position—after all, Yuri could easily bring out another monster next turn, and then she'd just take damage again. For now, she could leave Light Law Medium there, as a trap that Yuri didn't know about.
[Light Law Medium (2*/400/300/LIGHT/Fairy/Effect)]
"Finally, since Herald of Scattered Light was sent to the graveyard, I can add a Ritual Spell or Ritual Monster from my banished cards or graveyard back to my hand." She revealed Saffira in her hand. "And I'll set one card facedown. Over to you."
"Oh? Still on the defence after that passionate declaration?" Yuri mocked. "I'll admit that your restoration of that field was pretty impressive, but it's not close to enough! Draw!"
[Turn 6: Yuri] [H:4]
"During the Standby Phase after Chimerafflesia is sent to the graveyard, I can add a "Fusion" or "Polymerization" card from my deck to my hand." Yuri said casually. "I will activate my third copy of Polymerization. I will fuse Predaplant Ambulomelides and Predaplant Cephalotusnail on my field!"
He picked up a card from his Extra Deck.
"No," Chiaki called. "I will send a Fairy monster from my hand to the graveyard. I'll negate the activation of Polymerization! Declaration of Divinity!" The card shattered again.
"Oh, you're bold again." Yuri smirked. "Let's see. Four cards left in hand, huh? I'll keep it up longer than you can! I'll activate the effect of Rapid Seed Fire!" He sent another card from his deck to the graveyard. "I'll decrease Trias Hierarchia's attack points, since it seems to be the only threat!" Seeds rained over Chiaki's field again.
Chiaki: 3600 - 300 = 3300LP
[Trias Hierarchia: 1900 - 600 = 1300ATK]
"I will activate the Spell Card, Fusion Recovery," Yuri said. "I will add Polymerization and Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio back to my hand."
Chiaki didn't respond.
"If you're waiting until I bring out my monster this time," Yuri said, "then you have a surprising amount of self control." He grinned widely. "Perhaps my dragon can amuse itself after all. I'll activate the Spell Card, Polymerization. I will fuse Predaplant Ambulomelides and Predaplant Cephalotusnail on my field!"
Once again, Chiaki didn't respond. She just gripped onto her cards, so tightly that her knuckles were going white.
She was afraid, Chiaki realised. Afraid of whatever was about to come out. Afraid that she could not win.
She was afraid in a way that she had never been before, not even when she had been a desperate girl on the streets. Back then, she had still believed in her own invincibility—to protect herself from anything and everything.
Yuri pulled out a card. "You have my apologies, then, for saying that you were not worthy of his fangs. Two beautiful flowers with an insect-alluring fragrance! Now become one, and from the hell beneath your petals, give birth to a new terror!"
And then, raw terror shot through Chiaki's system.
Whatever he was about to bring out…
It was bad news!
A white-haired boy sat right up in his bed, eyes wide and heart beating a mile a minute. He immediately tossed himself out of bed.
He couldn't explain it but he could feel that something was wrong.
Chiaki!...
In his duel disk, a single card glowed, seeming to respond to something far away.
Yuri's smile was far wider now.
"Fusion Summon! Appear! Poisonous dragon with hungry fangs. Level 8! Starving Venom Fusion Dragon!"
A large, violet and green dragon appeared. Its main body was dark, murky green, while its claws, face and shoulders were purple. It had two long horns on the sides of its face. Bright red and yellow orbs could be seen all over its body, including its claws, which were sharp and vicious but also seemed to glow with bright yellow light, due to the orbs. It had a long, vine-like tail that slashed across the air behind it, like a whip.
[Starving Venom Fusion Dragon (8*/2800/2000/DARK/Dragon/Fusion/Effect)]
Chiaki took a step back, because she was terrified. Deep inside, some part of her was screaming in horror at the sight of it—something familiar, something foreign, something that she couldn't look at without wanting to scream—
"Yes," Yuri said, sounding very smug. "That is the face I wanted to see."
Chiaki snapped out of it, taking a deep breath. It was just a dragon. Her fear made no sense. She had seen scarier monsters before. She was fine. And more importantly—
"Screw off," she said. "I might be afraid, but don't think I'm going to cower before you."
"Good response," Yuri said, tilting his head. "Let's see. Starving Venom's effect! When Fusion Summoned using only monsters on the field, I can have him gain attack points equal to the attack points of all Special Summoned monsters you control! Hungry Fang!"
What?
"I'll activate Herald of Perfection's effect!" Chiaki declared. "I will send a Fairy monster from my hand to the graveyard to negate your effect and destroy your monster! Declaration of Divinity!"
"I know!" Yuri crowed, and Chiaki felt like her blood was freezing over. "Forbidden Droplet!" He revealed the Quickplay Spell in his hand. "I will send Predaplant Drosophyllum Hydra from my hand to the graveyard. Then, since I sent one card from my hand to the graveyard, I can negate the effects of an Effect Monster my opponent controls until the end of this turn and halve its attack points!"
Chiaki pulled out another Fairy monster from her hand. However, she stopped when she saw Yuri's smile.
"Oh, and you can't respond to this with monster effects, since I discarded a monster for the cost," Yuri continued. Herald of Perfection was silenced, drooping towards the ground.
[Herald of Perfection: 1800 / 2 = 900ATK]
"Of course, that does mean that my Starving Venom gains less attack points, but he wasn't going to gain much from that weak field of yours anyway." The dragon roared, and Chiaki covered her ears.
[Starving Venom Fusion Dragon: 2800 + 900 + 1300 + 400 = 5400ATK]
"I'll now activate the Quickplay Spell, Enemy Controller. And I'll change your weakest monster to Attack Position!"
Oh. He wanted to take her out in one shot? Light Law Medium stood up, glaring at Yuri.
"Attack that monster, Starving Venom!"
"You know," Chiaki said, "Yuji's a million times better than you, because he's not nearly as overconfident! I'll activate the effect of Light Law Medium! Once per turn, when she's targeted for an attack, I can negate the attack and inflict damage to you equal to half of your monster's attack points! Refract Law!"
"Oh!" Yuri whistled, dodging the ray of light that shot towards his field. "Interesting!"
Yuri: 3400 - 2800 / 2 = 2000LP
"So your deck wears down, huh?" Yuri chuckled. "You never intended to attack me at all… very well. I'll set a card facedown and end my turn. Starving Venom's attack points go back to normal."
"It's not that I don't want to attack you and smash your face in," Chiaki muttered. "But your monsters are at a point where it's awkward for me…" Plus, she had already discarded Vennu and Ruin just to stay in the duel a little longer, and those were the two monsters that could actually go into Attack Position without getting destroyed.
[Turn 7: Chiaki] [H:4]
"Draw!" Chiaki glanced at the card in her hand. "I'll activate the Spell Card, Pot of Extravagance! I'll banish another six cards from my Extra Deck and draw two cards! Then, I'll discard a Spell from my hand to add a Ritual Spell to my hand with Ritual Sanctuary's effect!" She cycled through her hand again.
She placed down the Ritual Spell. "Now, once again! Ritual Spell, Hymn of Light! I'll tribute the Level 9 Trias Hierarchia, who is banished since I Special Summoned her by her own effect! Accept my sacrifice and pull open the gates of divinity, angels that preside over heaven! Advent! Imperial justice, Saffira, Queen of Dragons!"
She Ritual Summoned her ace again, who appeared, roaring in challenge towards Starving Venom, who roared back.
[Saffira, Queen of Dragons (6*/2500/2400/LIGHT/Dragon/Ritual/Effect)]
"Congrats, you managed to Ritual Summon her again," Yuri said boredly. "So now, what will you do?"
"I will draw one card with the effect of Heritage of the Light," Chiaki said. "I'll have Saffira attack your dragon! Regal Eminence!"
Yuri raised an eyebrow.
"And I'll discard Honest from my hand! Saffira gains attack points equal to your monster's attack points!"
[Saffira, Queen of Dragons: 2500 + 2800 = 5300ATK]
"Continuous Trap, Infinite Impermanence," Yuri declared. "I will target Herald of Perfection and negate its effects!"
Why—
"I will not use Herald of Perfection's effect!" Chiaki declared. If she discarded the only Fairy monster in her hand right now, she couldn't use Herald of Perfection's effect anyway—in that case, it was basically negated, and she would've lost card advantage for nothing. "The attack continues!"
"I will use the effect of Predaplant Drosophyllum Hydra in my graveyard," Yuri said smugly. "I'll banish another "Predaplant" monster from my graveyard and return a banished monster to the graveyard. Then, I can halve the battle damage I would take!" He shielded himself with an arm as the light shone down on him and destroyed Starving Venom.
Yuri: 2000 - 2500 / 2 = 750LP
"And now you're doomed," Yuri said with a loud laugh. "I'll activate Starving Venom's effect. When it's destroyed, I destroy as many Special Summoned monsters you control as possible, and inflict damage to you equal to their total attack points! Vengeful Storm!" A storm of petals swallowed the entire field, and Yuri continued laughing even as the petals settled.
All of the monsters on Chiaki's field were gone, but Chiaki herself was still standing there.
"I discarded Hanewata from my hand," Chiaki said, breathing heavily. "I don't take effect damage this turn."
"... ok, this is getting ridiculous," Yuri said with a scoff. "How much damage are you going to negate?"
Chiaki rolled her eyes. She slammed a card into her Duel Disk. "I set a monster facedown," she said. "I end my turn." All that she was left with was a monster, a Set card, her Field Spell and Continuous Spell. No cards left in hand. But she was still alive.
[Turn 8: Yuri] [H:1]
"Draw," Yuri said. "You're persistent, I'll give you that. I'll activate the effect of Predaplant Cordyceps, which I returned to the graveyard last turn. I'll banish it and Special Summon Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra and Predaplant Lilizard!" Darlingtonia Cobra was becoming a persistently annoying sight to Chiaki at this point, but the other monster was different—a lizard made of verdant green plant matter, with a 'tail' of five sprouted stalks, topped with puffy purple flowers.
[Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra (3*/1000/1500/DARK/Plant/Effect)]
[Predaplant Lilizard (3*/1200/1200/DARK/Plant/Effect)]
"Once per turn, when Predaplant Lilizard is Special Summoned from the graveyard, I can draw one card! And with Darlingtonia Cobra's effect, I'll add a "Fusion" or "Polymerization" Spell Card from my deck to my hand!" Yuri refilled his hand. "I will activate the Equip Spell, Predapruning. I will revive a "Predaplant" monster. Reappear on my field—Predaplant Chimerafflesia!" The pink flower reappeared. "This might be overkill, but you seem to be a person who always slips out of danger somehow. Darlingtonia Cobra will attack your set monster!"
"You'd be right about that," Chiaki said, managing to smile despite everything. "Because it's… exactly people like you who I despise." Her set monster flipped over. It was a girl with green hair, wearing a white cloak, with a golden bow in hand. "This is my Cupid Volley."
[Cupid Volley (1*/600/600/LIGHT/Fairy/Effect)]
"Why should I care what the trash that my dragon tramples is called?" Yuri said condescendingly.
Chiaki smirked. "When she's destroyed by your card and sent to the graveyard, I can gain 1500 life points."
Chiaki: 3300 + 1500 = 4800LP
"So it seems that despite your best efforts," Chiaki continued, "what you consider overkill still can't defeat me."
Yuri stared, and then he pointed forward. "Chimerafflesia," he called. "Attack her."
A vine lashed out at her—
"When my opponent declares a direct attack," Chiaki said, "I'll activate the effect of Clear Kuriboh in my graveyard. I'll banish it from the graveyard and draw a card. If it's a monster, I can Special Summon it." She picked up the top card of her deck, looking at it, before she shook her head.
"Finally," Yuri said, rolling his eyes. "Chimerafflesia's attack continues." The flower hit her with its whip-like vine, and Chiaki stumbled back.
Chiaki: 4800 - 2500 = 2300LP
"Lilizard!"
The lizard shot forward, and Chiaki coughed as it headbutted her.
Chiaki: 2300 - 1200 = 1100LP
"You know, as a member of Academia, I should really be getting upset about how long it's taking me to defeat one girl," Yuri said. The grin on his face widened. "On the other hand, I haven't had this much fun since I dueled the Kaiser, and at least this time, I'm not walking away with broken bones!"
"B-broken bones?" Chiaki blinked in shock. What kind of hellish school did this guy go to? It was almost enough to make her pity him, especially because she still wasn't used to how similar he looked to Yuji—a fact that was sadly causing her to be less abrasive towards him, no matter how angry she was.
Almost enough.
"I want to continue having fun," Yuri said. He set a card facedown. "So like I said, Chiaki Katsuya." He raised a finger, pointing at her. "This is your last turn. You've been struggling and barely stabilising the situation this entire time. Can't you put on a less unsightly show?"
"You're insane," Chiaki said. She drew a card.
[Turn 9: Chiaki] [H:1]
She glanced at the card, and then she nodded to herself.
"I will activate my facedown Trap," she said. "Call of the Haunted. I can revive a monster in my graveyard in Attack Position. Return—Light Law Medium!" One of her favourite Fairies reappeared on her field.
"... you like her a lot."
"Well, yeah, obviously."
"It's because she's just like you, isn't she?"
"... Yuji, what the hell does that mean?"
"... um."
"No, you're not getting away with silence."
"... if you stir up shit with her, she gives as good as she gets?"
"Battle Phase!" Chiaki declared. "When Light Law Medium attacks, I'll use her effect, Refract Law! You lose!"
Yuri practically cackled. "Lose?" He asked. "It's a delusional world that you live in. Oh, to come so close only to falter at the end! My set card activates! Necro Fusion! I will banish cards from the graveyard facedown to Fusion Summon! I will fuse Predaplant Ambulomelides and Predaplant Cephalotusnail in my graveyard!" The portal appeared behind him. "Oh, if this wasn't so funny I'd feel sorry for you! Beautiful dark flowers, form a new creature who could never bend to the will of another! Wipe out all those that would threaten my will! Fusion Summon! Level 8! Predaplant Dragostapelia!"
Another dragon appeared—though this was clearly more in theme with the idea of being a plant. Its body was bright leaf green, with a tuft of light peach-coloured fur on its chest. Large flowers bloomed on stems that emerged from all over the dragon. The edges of its wings were the same green as its body, but the wings themselves were mostly violet in colour.
[Predaplant Dragostapelia (8*/2700/1900/DARK/Plant/Fusion/Effect)]
"... but that doesn't change the result," Chiaki said. "I will still choose to attack!" She pointed at Chimerafflesia, and the pink-haired angel shot out a bright ray of light.
"I know," Yuri said. "I knew that you would! You're the headstrong type after all!" His smirk widened. "This is why you lose. Once per turn, on either of our turns, Dragostapelia can place a Predator Counter on a card on the field!" A dark seed shot across to Chiaki's field, hitting Light Law Medium.
[Light Law Medium: Predator Counter(s): 1]
"And while I control Dragostapelia, all monsters with Predator Counters have their effects negated! Emptied Husk!" Light Law Medium tossed her head back in a scream. Chiaki stared in horror as Chimerafflesia's vines struck the ground around it. Yuri pointed directly at her. "Counterattack, Chimerafflesia. Finish her."
A vine shot over, smacking her to the ground, and Chiaki fell down, her life points draining away.
Chiaki: 1100 - 2100 = 0LP
Winner: Yuri!
It was hopeless.
It had been hopeless the moment that monster came out. Whether she had attacked or not, she had no more cards left to defend herself, nothing left that she could do. Yuri could have just negated her monster's effect on his turn and defeated her anyway—
But Chiaki didn't want to lose.
She hated losing.
She—
The trees faded away. Yuri walked over, a victorious smirk on his face.
Then—
"Get away from her."
Yuri caught a fist as it smashed straight towards his face. "Oh?" He said, smirking. "Don't real duelists talk with their cards or something like that?"
"If they do, it doesn't mean anything to me," Yuji said, and Chiaki's heart nearly cried with relief. Even though she had been fighting back this entire time, even though she wasn't weak, it still felt safer with him there. "I'm not a real duelist in any way. How dare you hurt Chiaki." His face was stone cold. "I'll make you regret it."
"She was a very interesting opponent," Yuri said. He licked his lips. "But you… you seem like you'll be even more interesting."
That tone that Yuri was speaking in filled Chiaki with dread. And more than that, a part of her was screaming out—screaming that she couldn't allow the two of them to duel. Without even knowing what she was doing, she tried to push herself off the ground. Despite the pain, she reached out towards Yuji, who was about to raise his duel disk—
And then her bracelet flashed with bright light, and the world was consumed by it.
The last thing that Chiaki saw was both boys with the same face falling to the ground, before she passed out as well.
"Hey, Z_. I'm here again."
"Hey."
"..."
"Do you ever wonder how things got this way?"
"You can stop, you know."
"... how could I stop now?"
Duel 1 Summary: Chiaki Katsuya vs Yuri
Format: Normal Duel
Turn 1: Chiaki Katsuya
Chiaki Normal Summons Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands (4*/1400/1000) She adds the Ritual Monster, Ruin, Queen of Oblivion (8*/2300/2000) to her hand. She activates the Continuous Spell Card, Heritage of the Light. Then, Chiaki activates the Spell Card, Pre-Preparation of Rites, and adds the Ritual Spell, Dawn of the Herald and the Ritual Monster, Herald of Perfection (6*/1800/2800) from her Deck to her hand. She activates Dawn of the Herald and tributes the Level 4 Manju on the field and the Level 2 Herald of Purple Light (2*/300/500) in her hand. She Ritual Summons Herald of Perfection in Defense Position. With Dawn of the Herald's effect, she banishes it from the GY and adds Manju back to her hand. She ends her turn.
Turn 2: Yuri
Yuri draws. He activates the Continuous Spell, Rapid Seed Fire. With its effect, he sends a Level 4 or lower "Predaplant" monster from his Deck to the GY. He lowers Herald of Perfection's ATK by 600 and inflicts 300 damage to Chiaki. (HOP: 1800 - 600 = 1200ATK) [CK: 4000 - 300 = 3700LP] He activates the Equip Spell, Predapruning. Chiaki discards a Fairy monster from her hand with Herald of Perfection's effect to negate and destroy Predapruning. Yuri Normal Summons Predaplant Flytrap (2*/400/800) from his hand. He uses Flytrap's effect and targets Herald of Perfection. Chiaki negates it with Herald of Perfection's effect by discarding Ruin, Queen of Oblivion. Yuri activates the Spell Card, Predapractice. He adds a "Predap" card from his Deck to his hand, and Special Summons Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio (3*/1200/1000) from his hand. He sends Predaplant Byblisp (1*/0/1900) from his hand to the GY to Special Summon Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra (3*/1000/1500) from his Deck.
Using Darlingtonia Cobra's effect, Yuri adds Polymerization from the Deck to his hand. Using Byblisp's effect, Yuri adds a "Predaplant" monster from the Deck to the hand. He activates Polymerization and fuses Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra and Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio, Fusion Summoning Predaplant Ambulomelides (5*/1000/2500) in Defense Position. Using Ambulomelides's effect, he adds a "Predaplant" monster to his hand. Then, he activates Predaplast, and reveals Predaplant Drosophyllum Hydra (5*/800/2300) in his hand to place a Predator Counter on Herald of Perfection. (HOP: PC1) Using Ambulomelides's effect, he tributes Herald of Perfection from Chiaki's field to Special Summon Predaplant Cephalotusnail (4*/1300/1200) in Attack Position from the Deck. Cephalotusnail attacks Chiaki directly. [CK: 3700 - 1300 = 2400LP] Yuri ends his turn.
Turn 3: Chiaki Katsuya
Chiaki draws. She activates Pot of Extravagance. By banishing 6 random monsters from her Extra Deck, she draws 2 cards from her Deck. She activates the Spell Card, Pre-Preparation of Rites, adding Hymn of Light and Saffira, Queen of Dragons (6*/2500/2400) from her Deck to her hand. She then Normal Summons Diviner of the Herald. (2*/500/300) With Diviner's effect, she sends Trias Hierarchia (9*/1900/2900) from the Deck to the GY to increase Diviner's Level. (DOTH: 2* + 9* = 11*) She then activates Hymn of Light, tributing Diviner to Ritual Summon Saffira, Queen of Dragons in Attack Position. She then uses Diviner's effect to Special Summon Marshmacaron (1*/200/200) from her Deck in Defense Position. Saffira attacks Cephalotusnail. With the effect of Cephalotusnail, it cannot be destroyed by battle, and battle damage is halved. [Y: 4000 - 600 = 3400LP] Chiaki ends her turn. With Saffira's effect, she adds Manju from the GY back to her hand.
Turn 4: Yuri
Yuri draws. During the Standby Phase, he banishes Predaplant Cordyceps (1*/0/0) from the GY to revive Flytrap and Darlingtonia Cobra. Using Darlingtonia Cobra's effect, he adds Polymerization back to his hand. He uses Flytrap's effect to place a Predator Counter on Saffira. (SQOD: PC1) Chiaki discards Effect Veiler from her hand to negate Ambulomelides's effect. Yuri activates Polymerization to fuse Flytrap and Darlingtonia Cobra to Fusion Summon Predaplant Chimerafflesia. With Chimerafflesia's effect, he banishes Saffira from the field.
Cephalotusnail attacks Marshmacaron. When it's destroyed, Chiaki uses its effect to Special Summon two more copies of it in Defense Position on her field. Chimerafflesia attacks and destroys one Marshmacaron. Yuri uses Rapid Seed Fire's effect again, weakening the last Marshmacaron and inflicting 300 damage to Chiaki. [CK: 2400 - 300 = 2100LP] (M: 200 - 600 = 0ATK) He ends his turn.
Turn 5: Chiaki
Chiaki draws. She activates the Spell Card, Graceful Charity, drawing three cards and discarding two cards. She discards Eva (1*/500/200) and Manju from her hand. Since she discarded Eva, she activates its effect, banishing Ruin and Manju from the GY to add 2 Level 2 or lower LIGHT Fairy monsters from the Deck to her hand. She activates Instant Fusion and Special Summons Herald of Shattered Light (4*/600/1000) from her Extra Deck by paying 1000LP. [CK: 2100 - 1000 = 1100LP] With its effect, she sends 2 Fairy monsters from her hand to the GY to draw three cards, and gains LP equal to the total DEF. [CK: 1100 + 2500 = 3600LP] She draws 1 card with the effect of Heritage of the Light. She then activates the Field Spell, Ritual Sanctuary.
By shuffling 6 Spells from the field into the Deck, she revives Herald of Perfection. She Normal Summons Diviner of the Herald. With Diviner of the Herald's effect, she sends Clear Kuriboh (1*/300/200) from her Deck to the GY and increases Diviner's Level. (DOTH: 2* + 1* = 3*) By tributing Diviner of the Herald, Herald of Shattered Light and Marshmacaron, she revives Trias Hierarchia in Defense Position. With Trias Hierarchia's effect, Chiaki destroys Chimerafflesia and draws 2 cards. With Diviner's effect, she Special Summons Light Law Medium (2*/400/300) from her Deck in Defense Position. With Herald of Scattered Light's effect, she adds her banished Saffira back to her hand. She ends her turn.
Turn 6: Yuri
Yuri draws. During the Standby Phase, since Chimerafflesia was sent to the GY last turn, he adds Polymerization from his Deck to his hand. He activates it, targeting Ambulomelides and Cephalotusnail. With Herald of Perfection's effect, Chiaki discards a Fairy to negate the Spell. Yuri uses the effect of Rapid Seed Fire. [CK: 3600 - 300 = 3300LP] (TH: 1900 - 600 = 1300ATK)
Yuri then activates Fusion Recovery. He adds Polymerization and Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio from his GY to his hand. He activates Polymerization and fuses Cephalotusnail and Ambulomelides to Fusion Summon Starving Venom Fusion Dragon (8*/2800/2000) in Attack Position. Starving Venom activates its effect to gain ATK. Chiaki activates Herald of Perfection's effect to negate the effect, but Yuri activates Forbidden Droplet, discarding Predaplant Drosophyllum Hydra to negate Herald of Perfection's effect and halve its ATK. (HOP: 1800 / 2 = 900ATK) (SVFD: 2800 + 2600 = 5400ATK) Yuri activates Enemy Controller to change Light Law Medium to Attack Position, and he has Starving Venom attack her. Chiaki negates the attack with Light Law Medium's effect and inflicts 1400 damage to him. [Y: 3400 - 1400 = 2000LP] Yuri sets a card facedown and ends his turn.
Turn 7: Chiaki
Chiaki draws. She activates Pot of Extravagance again, banishing 6 monsters from her Extra Deck to draw 2 cards. She activates Hymn of Light, Ritual Summoning Saffira, Queen of Dragons by tributing Trias Hierarchia. Trias Hierarchia is banished with its own effect. Using the effect of Heritage of the Light, she draws 1 card. Saffira attacks Starving Venom, and Chiaki discards Honest from her hand to increase Saffira's ATK by Starving Venom's. (SQOD: 2500 + 2800 = 5300ATK) Yuri activates Infinite Impermanence, negating Herald of Perfection's effects. Yuri also uses Drosophyllum Hydra's effect, banishing another "Predaplant" monster from the GY and returning Predaplant Cordyceps to the GY to halve the damage. The attack concludes. [Y: 2000 - 1250 = 750LP] Starving Venom's effect triggers, destroying all of Chiaki's Special Summoned monsters. Chiaki negates the effect damage by discarding Hanewata. (1*/200/300) Chiaki sets a monster facedown and ends her turn.
Turn 8: Yuri
Yuri draws. He banishes Predaplant Cordyceps from the GY to revive Darlingtonia Cobra and Lilizard. Lilizard lets him draw a card, and Darlingtonia Cobra lets him add a "Fusion" or "Polymerization" Spell Card from the Deck to his hand. He activates Predapruning to revive Predaplant Chimerafflesia. Darlingtonia Cobra attacks Chiaki's set monster. Chiaki's set monster is Cupid Volley (1*/600/600), who gives her 1500LP when destroyed. [CK: 3300 + 1500 = 4800LP]
Chimerafflesia attacks Chiaki directly. Chiaki banishes Clear Kuriboh from the GY to draw a card. [CK: 4800 - 2500 = 2300LP] Lilizard attacks directly. [CK: 2300 - 1200 = 1100LP] Yuri sets a card facedown and ends his turn.
Turn 9: Chiaki
Chiaki draws. Chiaki activates Call of the Haunted to revive Light Law Medium. Yuri activates Necro Fusion, fusing Ambulomelides and Cephalotusnail in the GY to Fusion Summon Predaplant Dragostapelia (8*/2700/1900) in Attack Position. Chiaki attacks Chimerafflesia with Light Law Medium. Yuri places a Predator Counter on Light Law Medium with Dragostapelia's effect, negating its effect. (LLM: PC1) The attack concludes. [CK: 1100 - 2100 = 0LP] Yuri wins, which you already expected.
OC Cards:
Herald of Scattered Light
(4*/600/1000/LIGHT/Fairy/Fusion/Tuner/Effect)
2 LIGHT monsters
If this card is Special Summoned: You can send 2 Fairy monsters from your hand to the GY; draw 3 cards. If this card is sent to the GY: You can target 1 Ritual Spell or Ritual Monster in your GY or that is banished: Add it to your hand. You can only activate the above effects of "Herald of Scattered Light" once per turn. If you send a Fairy monster(s) from your hand to the GY to activate an effect: Gain LP equal to the total DEF of the monsters sent to the GY.
Different Card Effects from TCG:
Rapid Seed Fire - Anime-only card. I placed a soft 'once per turn' condition on all of its effects, since it can do an OTK otherwise.
Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra - Uses its OCG effect, which allows the user to add any "Fusion" or "Polymerization" Spell card instead of just "Polymerization". However, uses its anime condition, which lets it use its effect when Special Summoned in any way, not just by a "Predaplant" monster.
Predaplant Cordyceps - Uses its anime effect, which restricts Normal Summons/Sets, but doesn't restrict Special Summons like the TCG effect.
Starving Venom Fusion Dragon - Uses its anime effect.
Predaplant Drosophyllum Hydra - Has both its anime effects and its TCG Special Summoning effect. However, I did put its anime damage reduction effect at once per turn, because what the fuck is that effect.
Predaplant Lilizard - Anime-only card, for obvious reasons. I've stamped a hard 'once per turn' restriction on its effect, because that's Ipiria on steroids.
Predaplant Cephalotusnail - Anime-only card.
End Notes:
I had Danse Macabre playing on loop in the background while writing this chapter.
Muahahaha.
Ok, like I said, I'm not turning the Bracelet Girls into MacGuffins. But this has pretty much been planned from the beginning! Relax though—this isn't a spoiler, purely because it's obvious that I would never kill them off in Chapter 5. Yuji and Chiaki are alive. They may not be fine, but they're alive. Yuri purposely didn't tell Chiaki that Johan and Asuka wanted them to be spared, because he wants to see her enraged, so… *whistles* that'll be fun. Unfortunately, this loss is very important for their character development. Now, I won't necessarily say that Yuri is much stronger than both Yuji and Chiaki, especially since Yuji hasn't had the chance to duel him on screen yet, but what I will say is that there is a huge difference between growing up in a militant school that forces you to train hard for a ranking, and a rather calm environment where dueling is a hobby. There are no Duel Schools in the Ritual Dimension, after all. Yuji and Chiaki will both get stronger.
Also, yes, if the last chapter and this chapter didn't clue you in, Serena and Yuri are childhood friends in this AU of Arc-V, because I'm pretty sure that everyone in the fandom agrees that they should have had some kind of friendship, considering that the other counterparts were all friends. A lot of Yuri's cards have additional effects in the OCG, so I just gave them those additional effects. Cards that can be changed to TCG effects without affecting canon duels will probably be changed. (Yes, I read through all the Yuri and/or Asuka duels in the series to make sure that using TCG/OCG effects for certain cards wouldn't change anything. Thinking about doing that for Yuya upsets me on an absurd level.)
Also yes, Yuri gets his Predaplant Fusion Monsters, because having only Starving Venom as his Fusion Monster doesn't make any sense. Also, as may be obvious by the usage of Graceful Charity in this chapter, the Forbidden and Limited List doesn't exist in this world. I won't be having any characters abuse Forbidden cards, but draw power cards are definitely on the table to some extent, if I need a way to get cards in the characters' hands. I also gave Chiaki a Fusion Monster that can be summoned by Instant Fusion, since she has mentioned over and over again that she can't Fusion Summon. I consider Instant Fusion and cards like that as 'shortcuts' to Fusion Summoning in the Ritual Dimension. Also, Herald monsters have monsters of every Type except for Fusion and Pendulum, which just feels imperfect.
Also, all six Bracelet Girls' bracelets have special powers, not just Yuzu's. That's what happens at the end of this chapter. I'm so sorry to all the people who were hoping that Yuri wouldn't show up. :) And now I can explain why Chiaki seemed to be getting so much more screentime than Yuji early on—it's because of this. I promise that Chiaki is not going to be locked up for most of the story—but for plot reasons, she's going to be in the background for most of the Standard Arc.
Also, reviewers DSpaceZ and T.V. 2000, I'm giving a special shout-out to both of your reviews, because you nailed several of the archetypes that I was already planning on including. Like, either we have very similar tastes in decks, or you're a prophet. I will say right now that I don't plan on including Drytrons specifically because they're a meta deck, and there's just something fun about exploring less practical archetypes in fanfics. As for the Guest review that asked about whether the Yu boys would fuse together in a different way, it's far too early for me to spoil anything like that :) As for Jason's question about when we're getting to the canon storyline…
Next chapter actually doesn't return to the Link Dimension just yet. There's something else that I want to do beforehand, which is something that I wish they showed us in Arc-V proper. So we'll be heading off to a certain dimension that is about to get invaded. I'm sure you all understand.
In terms of the canon storyline, I will say that we're going to see the Standard Dimension in… *checks outline* roughly Chapter 8 or 9, for now. It was originally Chapter 7, but Chapter 6 got so freaking long that I had no choice but to split off the second part of it. Finally, for reviewer Ben Tennyson, I reserve the right not to answer that question for now, because any answer to that question would be a spoiler.
To be honest, I hate writing the Duel Summaries. Usually, writing them is my way of double-checking the duels, but specifically for longer duels (especially next chapter…) it's a nightmare. I kind of want to stop writing them, but I'm afraid that I'll mess up the duels and not notice. Eh. I don't think people even read them, it's just that I already make them, so I figured I'd put them into the chapter. Let me know what you think.
Once again, thank you for reading and reviewing.