It was time for my second match. Well, it was almost time.

"One large popcorn, and one coke please" I said to the man behind the counter.

The man took some time to prepare my order and after a few minutes handed me the popcorn and the drink. I paid and thanked him then left back to head to my seat in the front row.

My match was in about 30 minutes so I didn't feel like practicing anymore. I had just kept on ordering popcorn and drinks while I watched the matches that took place.

I sat down once I reached my seat and began watching the duel while I munched on some popcorn.

"Oh this is getting interesting"

A flaming earth lizard which I recognised as Subterror Behemoth Ultramafus attacked a green haired woman in a white dress who was one of the weather archetype monsters.

Seems like the subterror user was going to take the win.

I ate a handful of popcorn and sipped on my drink before turning back to the match.

"You're awfully relaxed, aren't you going to be dueling next?" A feminine voice called out to me.

"Oh Yuzu,Yuya too" I said as I noticed the two of them, though Yuya was silent.

"No not really, I've done all I can so I just need to sit back and relax and do my best when the time comes. How was your duel Yuya?" I said as I took a sip.

"I lost, my opponent Isao Kachidoki managed to beat me with his violent dueling style," he said.

I stopped sipping and turned to him.

'So the changes I made are starting to show results, normally Yuya would summon Dark Rebellion to win but this time without it he wasn't able to win'

What else have I changed?

"I see. You gave it your best chance right?" I asked.

"Yeah"

"Then that's all that matters. You just need to make sure the next time you meet him you've improved" I said as I stood up.

"Yeah I'll work on taking my pendulum summoning to even greater heights" he replied gaining back his confidence

"You do that. I'll head on over to my next match so be sure to cheer for me" I said.

"I'm afraid we can't do that since we need to cheer for our own," Yuzu said.

"Cheer for our own? What do you mean?"

"You don't know who your opponent is?" she asked

"Yeah I didn't really care enough to check, guess it's someone interesting"

"Yep, though I might as well keep it a surprise" Yuzu said

"I guess, well then I'm heading on over, see you guys later" I said as I headed to my waiting room.

….

A blonde head of hair and a defiant stare.

Yep. I knew my opponent very well.

"Didn't think we'd get our rematch so soon," I said.

"Well it was about time, plus I need to show you how much I've duel won't be going the way the last one went" Natsume said

"Sure then let's get it on"

'Things seemed to be awkward between us for a while, I'll need to use this duel to put an end to that'

"Oh it seems our competitors know each other," Nico said.

"What exactly is your relationship?" he asked.

'He had to phrase it in the weirdest way possible, though what is our relationship exactly? I guess rivals'

Silence festered for about a minute until I spoke up.

"Well we've had a duel before, so I guess you could say we're rivals"

"So Yuusho's Natsume will be taking on her rival Raizen from LDS lets see who among these two cut throat duelists get to make it to the next round"

The crowd began to chant

"Duelist locked in battle!"

"Kicking the earth and dancing in the air alongside their monsters"

"They storm through the field" she said

"Behold! This is the newest and greatest evolution of dueling" I said

"Action duel!" We simultaneously said.

"The Action Field Spell:Primitive Oasis activates" Nico announced.

My surroundings continued to change until the area surrounding me turned into a desert with high cliffs and a single water body in the centre accompanied by some trees.

Turn 1-Natsume

"I summon Brotherhood of the fire fist-Rooster in attack position"

A man adorned in samurai gear followed by a flame in the shape of a rooster appeared. She went over and jumped on his back.

BOTFF-Rooster Lvl-3

Atk:1500 Def:100

"Then I activate the continuous spell card Fire formation-Tenki which allows me to add a level 4 or lower beast warrior monster to my hand. I choose to add Brotherhood of the fire fist-Spirit"

She said as she took a card out from the deck.

"Plus all my Beast-Warrior monsters get a 100 attack point increase"

BOTFF-Rooster

Atk:1600

"That's all I end my turn"

"Guess I'll go then, draw!"

Turn 2-Raizen

"I normal summon Mermail Abysspike"

Mermail Abysspike Lvl4

Atk:1600 Def:800

"I activate its effect and discard Mermail Abyssmegalo to add Mermail Abyssgunde to my hand. Now let's go"

I jumped on top of Mermail Abysspike and began searching around for action cards. When I found one I leaped off of Abysspike and landed on the cliff and grabbed it.

"Battle phase! Mermail abysspike attacks Rooster"

Mermail Abysspike swam towards Rooster with its fists clenched.

"If this attack goes through both monsters will be destroyed putting Raizen with no monster when Natsume takes her turn" Nico commented from the mic.

"No need to worry about that Nico" I said as I parkoured my way down to the ground and then turned to Natsume.

"I activate the action spell:Charge recklessly, when a monster I control battles an opponent's monster I get to temporarily increase it's attack by 600 points"

Mermail Abysspike Lvl-4

Atk:2200

Natsume began searching for action cards but it was too late and my attack managed to go through knocking her off and destroying her monster.

"Ugh, you'll pay for that," she said.

Natsume:4000 LP →3400 LP

"Sure give it your best shot, I set a card and end my turn" I then jumped back onto Abysspike

"I can see that you're underestimating me so let me prove to you that I've improved, draw!" she said.

Turn 3-Natsume

"I summon Brotherhood of the fire fist-Spirit. I activate its effect which allows me to bring back Rooster from the graveyard"

Flames burst in the air and when they cleared out Rooster appeared.

"You didn't just mean to summon two weak monsters did you?" I asked taunting.

"They are weak right now but once they are combined they won't be. I tune my level 3 spirit with my level 3 rooster"

Rooster levitates above the ground as Flaming visual waves surround it.

"Rise from the inferno,the horseman who has managed to tame the flames of fate! Synchro Summon! Appear Lvl-6 Brotherhood of the Fire Fist-Horse Prince"

Flames swerved out of control until they all began coming together and formed a horse made of blue flames who's rider wore Samurai armor.

Brotherhood of the Fire Fist-Horse Prince

Atk:2300 Def:2200

Natsume sat on the flaming horse behind the rider and they began to cover ground.

"Synchro summoning eh, glad to see you following in my footsteps" I said.

She ignored me.

"When Horse Prince is summoned I get to special summon a level 3 monster from my graveyard. I special summon Rooster"

Flames gather around and Rooster appears.

"When Rooster is special summoned I get to add a Fire Fist Monster from my deck to my hand. I add Spirit to my hand"

She adds the card to her hand then shuffles the deck.

"Battle Phase! Horse Prince attacks Mermail Abysspike"

I look around for an action card but don't find any so the attack connects.

"Agh"

Raizen:4000 LP → 3300 LP

"Now continue the assault Rooster attack Raizen directly"

Rooster began heading towards me with incredible speed.

"Sorry I'm going to have put out your fire, I activate my trap card Abyss sphere which allows me to special summon Mermail Abysslinde in defense position, leaving my life points safe" I said

I say as Abysslinde shields me from Rooster, shattering in the process.

"And when she's destroyed I get to summon a Mermail monster, I summon Mermail abyssdine who's effect allows me to special summon the Abysslinde that you just destroyed"

"Hmm you survived this time, I end my turn"

"I'll do more than just survive, draw!"

Turn 4-Raizen

"You showed me your synchro summon so it's only fair that I return the favor. I summon fishborg archer" I said as my monster materialized.

"Now I tune my level 3 fishborg archer with my level 3 mermail abyssdine. White dolphin unfettered by the waves of change, lend me your strength. Synchro Summon! Appear Level 6 White Aura Dolphin!"

Waves splashed onto the desert as a White Dolphin Materialized. I jumped on top of it and began to check around the field for cards.

"I activate White Aura Dolphin's effect to halve your Horse Prince's attack"

BOTFF-Horse Prince

Atk:2300 → 1200

"I change Mermail Abysslinde to attack position. Battle Phase! My White Aura Dolphin attacks your Horse Prince"

White Aura Dolphin goes in for a tackle-

"That won't be happening. I activate the action spell Sacrifice. This makes me tribute a monster so I tribute Rooster then I get to add Rooster's original attack to my Horse Prince with the caveat that I can't deal any damage this turn"

Rooster dissipated into flames which gathered around Horse Prince, strengthening its flames.

Horse Prince

1200 → 2700

Horse prince shot flames at White aura dolphin, destroying it and sending me into the air.

"I activate White Aura Dolphin's effect, by banishing Mermail Abyssdine I special summon it back to the field" I said as I landed on the special summoned White Aura Dolphin.

"Show me how much you've improved Natsume, I set a card and end my turn"