In a closed-down bar in the downtown area, two figures enter. One is short, and wide, with the other being fairly tall and slim. Turning the lights on, they walk towards a table with a blinding spotlight above it.

The wider of the two reaches the table first. His name is Leonard. He's an older man, dressed in one of the finest suits old money can buy, while also sporting a combed, waxed, and treated mustache. Despite how distinguished they present themself it's clear there's more under the surface.

The other is dressed more casually, wearing a pair of dark jeans, with a zip-up hoodie. Taking the hood down, they reveal their unrealistically spiky white hair. This is Asher. A senior in high school who keeps to himself.

Leonard pulls a purple envelope from out of his pocket and displays it, "Proof of prize." He says, before setting it down on the table. "Winner takes all." They've come to play a card game, with the prize being the invitation to compete in an upcoming world tournament.

Both players take a seat at the table. Leonard had already set up a game board for them to use for the duel. The field contains territory for forests, wastelands, mountains, lakes, oceans, and meadows.

Setting their decks down after shuffling, the pair draw their opening hands to start the duel.

"Since you challenged me, I think I will take the first turn," Leonard remarks, drawing for the turn without waiting for a response.

Leonard 2000

VS

Asher 2000

"I'll attack with this. Gargoyle in the forest." [1000/500] Leonard plays the first turn. He takes one of the cards in his hand and places it down on the map used for the duel field.

"I see," Asher takes a second to decide his move. His finger taps on the tap while he chooses his cards. "I will attack with this." He takes a monster, and places it down on the field, "Elf Swordsman." [1400/1200] "Battle."

The two monsters in place engage in a battle. Elf Swordsman possessed the greater attack value and thus won. Leonard loses life points based on the difference as he takes his monster off the field, and sets it down in the graveyard discard pile. [1600]

"Not bad. But that was just a little warm-up for you, just to whet your appetite for the main course." Leonard draws from his deck before making his next move. "Curse of Dragon, in the wasteland." [2000/1500] Leonard plays his monster. "Curse of Dragon thrives in the wasteland. With the 50% increase, that takes him to 3000."

Curse of Dragon engages Elf Swordsman. The warrior is no match for the dragon and thus loses with ease. Asher takes the card off the board. [400]

"I've already taken you down to less than half your life. Next time, don't fall for such an easy bluff." Leonard bloasts over his momentary victory, while Asher keeps quiet. He stares at his opponent with a blank expression.

"My turn again. I will defend." Asher puts a card down sideways on the board. "Big Tree." [400/600] "And then, this." Asher takes another card from his hand and puts it down, "Miraculous Water." A blessed stream comes over the duel field, removing all that gets caught in its tide while bringing life to the land. "The waters will grant life to the wasteland, removing your Dragon's bonus. As well, when paired with Big Tree, my monster will drop seeds affected by the water, allowing them to grow and ensares your Dragon despite it being safe from the tide."

Through an expert level of play, Asher removes Leonard's dragon from the game, while at the cost of his own monster.

Leonard is at a loss for words at the sudden, abrupt way he lost his strong monster without putting up a fight.

"Do you wish to continue?" Asher asks, tilting their head aloofly to the side while keeping their blank expression.

Leonard grits his teeth and clenches his fist before coming to his senses. Remembering the current game choice, he relaxes and laughs. "Yes. We shall continue. With this. Saggi the Dark Clown, in the Forest." [600/1500] "And I'll pair it with this. Negative Energy. It triples a Dark monster attack."

"I'll counter with this. Silver Fang, also in the forest. Being a wolf, he gains a 50% buff with the forest terrain. Our two monsters clash."

True to Asher's word, the two monsters of equal strength destroy each other, leaving neither player to lose life points. This ticks Leonard off as nothing has changed.

"You're really something, aren't you? Well, this game will have to end sometime. I'm a very busy man. Minotaurus on the beach." [1700/1000] Being a beast-warrior, Minotarus doesn't receive a bonus from the beach setting.

"Dark Dragon. In the mountains." [1500/1000] Asher calls on a dragon of his own, placing it in the mountain field. "Dragons, Winged-Beasts, and Thunder monsters thrive in the mountains. Thus Dark Dragon goes up by 50%."

Engaging in battle, Dark Dragon is the undoubted victory against Minotarus. [1000]

Leonard grabs the table by its corner and grips it tight. As rage comes over him. The table shakes while he tries to get a hold of himself. Smiling through the pain he draws his next card. Seeing it, he gets a clear idea of victory.

"A face-down. And this, Devil Kraken in the lake. As a monster of the water, Kraken gains 50% more power." [1200/1400]

Asher takes his turn after seeing Leonard defend with the Kraken. "Dark Dragon will battle Devil Kraken."

Dark Dragon tries to attack, it is halted by Leonard's face-down card. "Curse of Dark Cross Star. This keeps your monster in place, and removes its bonus, leaving it up to my Kraken to finish off."

Leonard's Kraken catches Dark Dragon in their tentacles, and crushes them, destroying the dragon. [100]

"Haha, that's all you've got left. That dragon made you cocky, but in the end, even your best monster cannot defeat me."

Asher taps the table calmly while thinking of a response. "Dark Dragon wasn't my best monster. This is." He takes a card and sets it down on the field. Leonard looks at it, and then slowly realizes what was played. "Summoned Demon." [2500/1200]

"De…de…demon! That's one of the strongest demon monsters in the game. How did you get your hands on such a card?"

Asher ignores the question and proceeds to his turn. "Demon uses an electrical attack when battling monsters. Water-based monsters have a strong weakness to electricity. With that, Demon is more than enough to defeat your Kraken, and you."

Using their powers of electricity, Asher's Summoned Demon destroys Devil Kraken and completely defeats Leonards. [0]

Asher packs up his cards while Leonard just stares at the game board in dismay. As Asher grabs the invitation off the side, Leonard grabs their arm.

"Please, don't take it. I need to win this tournament. It means more to me than words can describe." Leonard has become desperate to the point of begging Asher to let him keep it.

Asher grabs him by the wrist and forces him to let go. In a cold tone, he just says, "You should have thought of that before betting it away so carelessly." He takes the invitation and walks away, leaving a sobbing Leonard to his sorrows.