Starting Notes:
Welcome back! :) Everyone seems to be speculating a lot about who the purple-haired person is. I apologise—I appear to have misled you all. This is no one important in the slightest. Instead, let's welcome our Link Dimension characters to the Standard Dimension!
Chapter 9: A Whole New World
In the Standard Dimension:
He had… seen her around before? So did that mean that there was another girl that shared the same face as her here?
"I don't think so," Hitoda said, speaking up from next to her. "We're new to the city. You couldn't possibly have met us before."
"New to the city… are you from another dimension?" The young man took a step back. "Are you invaders?"
"We're not," Hitoda argued. "My friend is sick. We just want to get him somewhere safe."
"The policy of the Leo Corporation is to treat all those from other dimensions as hostile until proven otherwise," the purple-haired young man said. "Turn yourselves in for investigation. I promise that you will be treated fairly."
Turn yourself in.
It's better to give up.
And who decides that?
"I refuse," Miharu said bluntly, before anyone got to say anything else. "I've had enough of that."
"I'm afraid I must insist," the purple-haired man began.
Miharu raised her duel disk. "I refuse," she said. "There is nothing else to add." She gestured to Hitoda to stand back and take care of Yuno. After a moment, the purple-haired young man lifted his duel disk as well. The duel began.
Up in the building, a silver-haired young man glanced at the screen of his computer, which was displaying the duel happening downstairs.
"That was an extremely strong recording of…"
"Yes, Nakajima." The silver-haired man folded his arms, leaning back in his seat. "The energy type that was recorded there was the strongest Link Summoning energy that we've ever detected. I'm interested. If these three are from the Link Dimension… we may be able to finally make Link Monsters that aren't generic, non-effect monsters. But first we have to see if they are enemies or possible allies. Also…"
Reiji zoomed in the camera, showing the faces of the girl who was dueling Yuu Sakuragi, and the boy who had collapsed on the ground.
"... it seems that we've found another two that share the same face as my father's favourites."
[DUEL!]
Dazzling Spring: 4000LP
Yuu Sakuragi: 4000LP
[Turn 1: Yuu] [H:5]
"Dazzling Spring?" Yuu frowned. "That's an odd name…"
Miharu simply stared at him, waiting for him to start his turn. Yuu cleared his throat and placed down a card.
"I will activate the Spell Card, Spellbook of Secrets. I will use its effect to add a "Spellbook" card to my hand! I will add and activate the Continuous Spell, Spellbook Star Hall! Every time a "Spellbook" card is activated, it gains a Spell Counter!" Yuu placed another card down. "I will Normal Summon Fool of Prophecy!"
A young man with purple-red hair appeared, wearing yellow and green robes, as well as a yellow and green hat, holding a golden staff in his hands. He had a rather cocky smile on his face as he stood on the field.
[Fool of Prophecy (3*/1600/900/EARTH/Spellcaster/Effect)]
"I'll activate Fool of Prophecy's effect," Yuu continued. "I'll send a "Spellbook" card from my deck to the graveyard! Then, I will activate the Spell Card, Spellbook of Knowledge. I will send another "Spellbook" card from my hand to the graveyard to draw two cards!" He gestured to Star Hall, which was glowing. "And my Star Hall gains a Spell Counter."
[Spellbook Star Hall: Spell Counter(s): 1]
"I will then activate the Spell Card, Spellbook of the Master," Yuu said. "Since I control a Spellcaster monster, I can reveal another "Spellbook" card in my hand, like Spellbook of Power, and copy the effect of a "Spellbook" Normal Spell Card in the graveyard! I will copy Spellbook of Knowledge!" He sent Spellbook of Power to the graveyard, drawing another two cards.
[Spellbook Star Hall: Spell Counter(s): 2]
"And now, I'll end my turn! And with the effect of Fool of Prophecy, since its effect was activated this turn, I can tribute it and Special Summon a Level 5 or higher DARK Spellcaster monster from my deck. Come—Reaper of Prophecy!" A man in a dark cloak appeared, holding onto a long black scythe. Dark purple runes were floating around the man in a rather eerie manner.
[Reaper of Prophecy (6*/2000/1600/DARK/Spellcaster/Effect)]
"I will activate Reaper's effect," Yuu continued. "When Special Summoned, I can apply as many of his effects as possible, depending on the number of "Spellbook" Spells in my graveyard! I have six! The first effect! Reaper of Prophecy gains 600 attack points! And Star Hall also grants him 100 attack points for every Spell Counter!"
[Reaper of Prophecy: 2000 + 600 + 100 x 2 = 2800ATK]
"The second effect! I can add a "Spellbook" card from my deck to my hand! And the third effect lets me Special Summon a Level 5 or higher DARK Spellcaster from my deck! Come! Prophecy Destroyer!" A demonic creature appeared, with ashy grey skin and long horns on the sides of his head, along with long, grey wings that spread out through the air, looking rather imposing.
[Prophecy Destroyer (6*/2500/1200/DARK/Spellcaster/Effect)]
"And Destroyer also gains 200 attack points from Star Hall!"
[Prophecy Destroyer: 2500 + 100 x 2 = 2700ATK]
[Turn 2: Dazzling Spring] [H:6]
"Draw," Miharu said. "I will activate the Spell Card, One for One. I can send a monster from my hand to the graveyard to Special Summon a Level 1 monster from my deck." She placed her main playmaker down. "Sunseed Genius Loci." The small, fragile-looking plant appeared in front of her.
[Sunseed Genius Loci (1*/0/600/EARTH/Plant)]
"A Level 1 Plant monster…"
"Manifest, circuit of the future." The large circuit appeared above her, made of flowers and leaves. Yuu gawked at her.
"You use Link Monsters? But they're so weak!"
"... I'll let you judge that for yourself." Miharu didn't know how this dimension knew about other summoning methods, but she was hardly going to acknowledge how dumb of a statement his words were. "Arrowhead confirmed. The conditions are one Level 4 or lower Plant monster. I will set Sunseed Genius Loci in the Link Markers. Appear now, young tree beginning to bear fruit. Circuit Combine. Link Summon. Link 1—Sunavalon Dryas." The Link Monster that she always summoned first appeared behind her, looking remarkably less ridiculous than it had in her duel against Kyoko, when it had been floating in the air.
… Kyoko…
[Sunavalon Dryas (L1/0/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↓)]
"When Dryas is Link Summoned using "Sunseed Genius Loci"," Miharu continued, "I can add a "Sunvine" Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand."
"Your Link Monsters have effects?"
… Miharu was definitely not going to acknowledge how dumb that was. "Spell Card, Sunvine Sowing," she continued. "I can Special Summon a "Sunseed" monster from my deck, and then take 1000 damage." She took a card from her deck and pressed it down. "Sunseed Twin." The two blue and pink fairies that were entwined in vines appeared on her field. Then, she was hit with the familiar shock, taking damage.
Dazzling Spring: 4000 - 1000 = 3000LP
[Sunseed Twin (2*/0/800/EARTH/Plant/Effect)]
"Sunseed Twin will revive a Level 4 or lower Plant Normal Monster to the field." Sunseed Genius Loci reappeared to the left of Sunseed Twin. "And Sunavalon Dryas's effect activates. Once per turn, when I take battle or effect damage, I gain life points equal to the damage I took." A glow surrounded her once again, healing her back to full life points.
Dazzling Spring: 3000 + 1000 = 4000LP
"Then, I can Special Summon a "Sunvine" monster from my Extra Deck. Come—Sunvine Healer." The girl in the pink flower dress appeared, curtsying in front of Miharu, at the Main Monster Zone behind Dryas.
[Sunvine Healer (L1/600/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↑)]
"Healer's effect. I gain 300 life points times the Link Rating of a "Sunavalon" monster on my field." Miharu pointed to Dryas. Healer moved to her side, surrounding her with a bright glow.
Dazzling Spring: 4000 + 300 = 4300LP
"Then, manifest again, circuit." Miharu pinched her nose for a brief moment. "The conditions are two or more Plant monsters. I will set Sunavalon Dryas, Sunseed Genius Loci and Sunseed Twin in the Link Markers. Let the shadow beneath the tranquil tree begin to take its own form. Circuit Combine. Link 3. Sunavalon Dryanome!"
The large tree appeared in front of her, taller than every monster on the field.
[Sunavalon Dryanome (L3/0/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↙, ↓, ↘)]
"But it still has 0 attack points!"
"... I will activate the Spell Card, Supremacy Berry. Its effect depends on whether my life points were lower or higher than yours when I activated it. Since my life points were higher, I take 1000 damage." She burned at her own life points again.
Dazzling Spring: 4300 - 1000 = 3300LP
"And thrice per turn, when I take damage," Miharu continued, "I can use Sunavalon Dryanome's effect to gain life points equal to the damage I took. Restoration Fruit!" Another glow surrounded her.
Dazzling Spring: 3300 + 1000 = 4300LP
"And then, I can Special Summon a "Sunvine" monster from my Extra Deck." One of Dryanome's fruits burst open. "Appear, Sunvine Thrasher!" The verdant blue-green warrior dropped out of the fruit, standing up tall.
[Sunvine Thrasher (L1/800/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↓)
"Thrasher's effect. I can target a "Sunavalon" monster I control. Then, Thrasher gains 800 attack points times that monster's Link Rating." Thrasher glowed, drawing in power from Dryanome.
[Sunvine Thrasher: 800 + 800 x 3 = 3200ATK]
"Three thousand attack points?"
"Thrasher attacks Reaper of Prophecy." The green knight leapt forward, cutting down the sinister, dark spellcaster.
Yuu Sakuragi: 4000 - 400 = 3600LP
"When a Plant Link Monster I control inflicts battle damage to my opponent, I can use Healer's effect. I gain another 600 life points."
Dazzling Spring: 4300 + 600 = 4900LP
"I'll end my turn," Miharu said calmly. "It's your move."
"Interesting." The silver-haired young man looked at the field. "Her Link Monsters are indeed far superior to anything that we can currently create. Her deck seems to focus on self-damaging, self-healing and swarming." He stood up, picking up a tablet and pressing a few buttons. "I will be heading downstairs, Nakajima." The tablet began to show the footage from the security camera that was watching the duel.
[Turn 3: Yuu] [H:5]
"Draw!" Yuu looked somewhat perturbed. "I will reveal these three Spellbooks—Power, Secrets and Eternity—in my hand. And then, I'll Special Summon High Priestess of Prophecy from my hand!" A tall woman with bright pink hair appeared, dressed in a white witch's hat and armour. White ribbons covered in black runes streamed down from her headdress, and green runes were floating all around her.
[High Priestess of Prophecy (7*/2500/2100/LIGHT/Spellcaster/Effect)]
"I will activate High Priestess's effect! By banishing a "Spellbook" Spell from my graveyard, like Spellbook of the Master, I will target and destroy a card on the field! I will choose Sunavalon Dryanome, since that seems to be the root of all your cards' effects!"
"When my opponent targets a Plant monster I control that was Special Summoned from the Extra Deck with a card effect, I can activate the effect of Sunvine Maiden in my hand. I can Special Summon her and negate that effect." A purple-haired girl with piercing, crystal-like blue eyes appeared, wearing a green dress. This took up the third Main Monster Zone that Dryanome pointed to.
[Sunvine Maiden (1*/0/0/EARTH/Plant/Effect)]
"... I will Normal Summon Strength of Prophecy!" A red-haired woman in red and grey armour appeared, glowing red runes floating around her.
[Strength of Prophecy (4*/1500/1400/FIRE/Spellcaster/Effect)]
"Strength of Prophecy's effect! I will shuffle a "Spellbook" card, like Spellbook of Knowledge, from my graveyard into my deck. Then, I can increase the Level of a monster on the field by 1, and also increase its attack points by 500!" Yuu gestured to Prophecy Destroyer, who glowed.
[Prophecy Destroyer: 2700 + 500 = 3200ATK; 6* + 1* = 7*]
"Then, I will overlay the Level 7 Prophecy Destroyer and the Level 7 High Priestess of Prophecy!" The two monsters turned into streaks of light, flying up in the air and looping around themselves. Miharu raised an eyebrow. Overlay? "Emerge now, powerful fortune teller slumbering in the magical tower! Break the world's laws and bring the future to the present! Xyz Summon! Rank 7! Hierophant of Prophecy!"
A tall man in black and gold robes appeared, wearing an elaborate gold headdress. He was holding onto a black and gold staff. He had a rather stern expression.
[Hierophant of Prophecy (R7/2800/2600/DARK/Spellcaster/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]
[Hierophant of Prophecy: 2800 + 100 x 2 = 3000ATK]
[Strength of Prophecy: 1500 + 100 x 2 = 1700ATK]
So that was an Xyz Summon? Anyway, this guy had brought out a monster with less attack points than the materials he had used to make it, so it should have a rather powerful effect—
"Strength of Prophecy attacks your Sunavalon Dryanome!"
"Sunavalon Dryanome cannot be targeted for an attack," Miharu said.
"... attack Sunvine Healer!" The weaker Spellcaster leapt towards Miharu's monster. Miharu let it happen, her monster ending up destroyed.
Dazzling Spring: 4900 - 1100 = 3800LP
"Thrice per turn, Dryanome heals me by the amount of damage I took. Restoration Fruit."
Dazzling Spring: 3800 + 1100 = 4900LP
"Then, I can Special Summon another "Sunvine" monster from my Extra Deck. I will Special Summon Sunvine Thrasher." Another one of the green warriors appeared on her field. "Thrasher will gain 800 attack points times Dryanome's Link Rating."
[Sunvine Thrasher (2): 800 + 800 x 3 = 3200ATK]
"Hierophant attacks Sunvine Maiden!"
He took the bait, then. "Once per turn, when a monster that Dryanome points to is targeted for an attack, I can negate the attack and move that monster to a different Main Monster Zone." She moved Sunvine Maiden to a different zone, and Hierophant was forced to come to a stop.
"I'll end my turn."
"You're kidding," Miharu muttered.
"Huh?"
[Turn 4: Dazzling Spring] [H:3]
"Spellbook of Secrets was in your hand," Miharu said, drawing a card. "I may not know the effects of the other two Spellbooks, but if you had activated it, you would have been able to search a card that you could use and increase your monsters' attack points by another 200. Also, if your monster's effect wasn't useful, why didn't you attack first with the two individual monsters and then… overlay them in the second Main Phase?"
Yuu blinked, staring at her blankly.
"... never mind." Miharu gestured to her field. "Just because you can Xyz Summon, doesn't mean that you should always Xyz Summon. That's just boasting, not skill." She nodded to both Thrashers. "I dislike boasting. Sunvine Thrasher attacks Hierophant of Prophecy!"
The Xyz Monster was easily dispatched by Thrasher.
Yuu Sakuragi: 3600 - 200 = 3400LP
"But your other monster doesn't have enough attack points!"
"When Sunvine Thrasher destroys a monster by battle, I can Special Summon that monster to a zone I control that a Link Monster points to." Hierophant of Prophecy revived onto her side of the field. "Hierophant attacks Strength of Prophecy. Thrasher attacks you directly!" The two monsters moved forward, getting rid of the rest of Yuu's life points.
Yuu Sakuragi: 3400 - 1100 - 3200 = 0LP
Winner: Dazzling Spring!
Miharu didn't immediately leave. She pointed to the nearby stone wall behind Yuu. "I know you're there," she said. "Show yourself."
From behind the stone wall, a girl with sky blue hair walked out. She looked somewhat shy, her arms crossed in a rather defensive manner.
"Who are you?"
"... um, I'm like you," the girl said. "... I'm from another dimension too. My name is Kyorin Rinsoka. I'm from the Ritual Dimension."
Miharu digested that information.
"We are not your enemies," Kyorin said after a moment. "Nor do we want to be. Um—"
"Rinsoka. You can step back."
"Oh, thank goodness," Kyorin said, backing away. (Miharu did somewhat relate to that belief.) A silver-haired man walked towards them, looking at the three of them. He was wearing an extremely long red scarf, red framed glasses, a blue long-sleeved shirt and white pants and shoes.
Miharu looked back at him.
"My name is Reiji Akaba," the young man said. "I take it that you're from the Link Dimension? This is the Standard Dimension."
So it was called the Standard Dimension after all… Miharu took a step closer to Hitoda and Yuno. She didn't want to be separated from them in an unfamiliar world.
"I do not intend to harm you," Reiji said. "May I ask how and why you came here?" There was a certain air of authority to his words, a sense of power behind them. Miharu felt somewhat nostalgic immediately—that was the same kind of energy that Ryoken gave off so often, after all.
However, she still kept her guard up. "... I—"
Yuno staggered to his feet. Hitoda supported him, exchanging an exasperated look with Miharu. "Cool scarf," he said, and Miharu fought the urge to facepalm. "Hey, I think we can trust him."
"We've known this guy for about fifty seconds," Miharu responded. "You just have a weakness for long scarves." Yuno laughed sheepishly.
"Well, I'll follow your lead. You've always been the smarter one."
Miharu closed her eyes, quickly thinking through the possibilities. "... I think he is, at the very least, not our enemy," she said. She raised one finger. "One, the fact that this dimension seems to have access to all the summoning methods, and he seems aware of the other dimensions, but his… student or soldier or whatever the person I dueled is… that person seemed to not understand the very concept of Link Monsters being good. I suspect that our enemy shouldn't have been that surprised by my cards. Thus, at the very least, that brings forth the idea that they don't know anything about our dimension."
She raised another finger. "Two. The girl. There was zero reason for her to tell us that she was from a different dimension to this one, if she was our enemy. She clearly wanted to reassure us, and judging from her skittish nature and body language, she's not the kind that can lie well. Therefore, if she trusts this person, he, at the very least, must have helped her when she first came to this dimension."
She raised a third and final finger. "Three. The person I dueled stated that they intended to treat any unknowns from other dimensions as hostile 'until proven otherwise'. Thus, they are already aware of, and treat a different dimension as an enemy. Their enemy is likely the same as ours."
"If that enemy is the Fusion Dimension," Reiji said, "then you would be correct."
Miharu nodded after a moment. "I will choose to trust you for now," she said. She took another step back. "... Yuno."
"Alright, alright. You don't want to talk anymore, huh?" Yuno managed to stand up properly without Hitoda's help, which was a promising sign. "I'm Yuno Sugisaki. These two are my friends, Miharu Kogami and Hitoda Makishima. We were on the run in the Link Dimension, because the Fusion Dimension asked our own government to turn us over for an alliance." He explained a little more, and Miharu watched the way that Reiji moved as he listened to Yuno. He didn't seem to be a threat for now.
"I see," Reiji said, a moment after Yuno finished explaining everything. "I think I understand now. The boys and girls with the same face… you must all be important to the Fusion Dimension." He gestured to the tower. "Shall we have a proper discussion in a less exposed area?"
That set off alarm bells for Miharu. If they got into that tower, then it would be difficult for them to escape from it. However, they needed allies in this dimension. So perhaps there was no other choice but to follow.
So, she, Yuno and Hitoda headed in.
The boy, Yuu Sakuragi, was dismissed before they got to the office on the higher floor. Clearly, despite him knowing about the other dimensions, he was not held in high regard by Reiji personally. Reiji offered them chairs, and they sat down around his table. Kyorin was there as well, and a man, Nakajima, was standing behind Reiji, right by the window.
"To start," Reiji said, "I would like for this to be an open exchange of information. In that case, I would like to explain to you some of the things we have discovered about the other dimensions, in exchange for what you have just told us."
Miharu and Yuno nodded.
"To start off, there are six dimensions," Reiji said. "Each dimension seems to be focused around a single summoning method. The Fusion Dimension, the Synchro Dimension, the Xyz Dimension, the Ritual Dimension and the Link Dimension certainly prove that hypothesis. Of course, I'm sure that you're curious about this dimension." He cleared his throat. "Three years ago, I discovered the existence of other dimensions. The Leo Corporation, run by my mother and I, began to pick up readings of summoning energy, and through trial and error, we managed to begin creating monsters of the various types. Over time, we have managed to successfully replicate Fusion, Synchro, Ritual and Xyz Monsters, with relatively good effects."
"But not Link Monsters?"
"Link Monsters have proved difficult," Reiji admitted. "There are things about them which are uniquely different from the other monsters that are Special Summoned from the Extra Deck. Therefore, while we could refine our method for making the other monsters through using the same methods that we have to create normal cards, the Link Monsters seem to require a whole new process. That is enough from me, however. Rinsoka. How about you share what you told me with them? I suspect that they will find it enlightening."
Kyorin bit her lip again, before she took out her phone. She placed it down, screen facing up, showing a photo of five friends. One of them was Kyorin herself, but two of the other four were a boy that shared Yuno's face, and a girl that shared Miharu's face.
Miharu was barely even surprised at this point. "So it's not just the Fusion Dimension," she murmured.
"These two are… um, Yuji Fujita and Chiaki Katsuya." Kyorin glanced at the photo again. "They're my friends from the Ritual Dimension. Um. A few months ago, Yuji and Chiaki were both kidnapped."
"Kidnapped?"
"It was by the Fusion Dimension," Kyorin said. "My dad—uh, my guardian—is someone with a lot of power in the Ritual Dimension, so when Yuji and Chiaki were reported missing, I asked him if he could get me access to the camera recordings. Apparently, someone broke all the cameras in the park before Chiaki and Yuji got there. However, it did show the person who broke the cameras. It was a guy with the same face as Yuji, but with violet hair."
So the one that was in the photos Kengo had sent to Ryoken, huh?
"I went to the park to look around," Kyorin continued. "And I found an abandoned card on the grass. I think it must have dropped out of the kidnapper's duel disk… anyway, I put it on my duel disk just to see what it did. It turned out that it was a one-way teleport card, and it ended up sending me here. I don't know why it sent me here instead of the Fusion Dimension, but Reiji Akaba found me and I explained what happened, so he let me stay in LDS for a bit while we investigated more."
So that was the story behind this girl.
"Having samples from a Ritual Monster from the Ritual Dimension did help us quite a bit in producing stronger Ritual Monsters, however," Reiji said.
"And so you want our cards."
"I've seen how your Link Monsters work," Reiji said. I will not deny that I want to make better Link Monsters for our dimension too—for the sake of protecting it. Of course, I will not take from you without offering anything in return. You can stay here for free, in LDS—as much as we can do so, you will be sheltered and protected from harm. And when we find out more about the Fusion Dimension, and we fight to protect the other dimensions from them—I would like the two of you to fight as well, to protect both of our worlds."
Yuno and Miharu looked at each other. Under the table, Yuno took her hand and squeezed it reassuringly. He turned back to Reiji. "It's a deal," he said.
"Excellent." Reiji pressed his hands together on the table. "I suppose that there's one more thing that you should know. You two have lookalikes in this dimension as well."
Well, Miharu had already expected that. "You want us to hide our faces," she said. "So that no one in the public figures it out."
"... you're very astute," Reiji said, cracking a smile. "Interesting. You are correct. I would also like you three to record down your skills and capabilities for me, so that I know more about who I'm working with."
"Only if you do the same."
"Of course." Reiji nodded to Kyorin. "Rinsoka here will take you to your rooms. Welcome to the Standard Dimension, Yuno Sugisaki, Miharu Kogami and Hitoda Makishima. There will be more for us to talk about, but for now… rest assured that we are allies."
Miharu glanced at him. She didn't say anything, because Yuno was already smiling and thanking him, saying that he hoped that they'd get along. However, Reiji seemed to pick up on her message.
'I know that you're using us. But since we share the same goal, I'll play along.'
"Makishima-san," Yuno said. "You're not going into your room yet?"
"Just call me Hitoda," Hitoda said with a gentle smile. She patted his head. "I think I should talk to Rinsoka for a bit. Have fun, the two of you!" She turned to Kyorin, taking her hand and pulling her away. Yuno and Miharu stood there in the corridor.
They turned to look at each other at the same time, and then they both averted their eyes.
"Miharu," Yuno said after a moment. "You're not mad at me, are you?"
"Why would you think that?"
"... I mean, Magnetic Current—I don't know how that happened, but—" Miharu sighed, and she patted his shoulder.
"You had no control about that," she said. "And now, it'll be far harder for them to find us. I'm not mad."
"Ok." Yuno took her hand again. "Miharu…" He thought about Aso's words, back when they were dueling.
"In the end, for all that you're the boy that saved her, you're still not strong enough."
He met her gaze. His heart was beating slightly faster. "I—"
"She was the one that saved me!"
I still don't know enough about her past.
Yuno chickened out, clearing his throat. He simply squeezed her hand, and let go. "Good night, Miharu," he said.
Miharu met his gaze. Clearly, she understood what he had almost said. Both of them had understood for years. She drew her hand back. "Good night, Yuno," she said. "Rest well."
"Ughhh—" The moment that the doors to both Yuno and Miharu's rooms closed, Hitoda let out a groan, facepalming. Kyorin, who was right next to her, stared at her blankly.
"Um—"
"Look," Hitoda said, "I met Kogami-san for the first time today, and I can already tell what's going on between those two. He's been talking about her in vague terms for two years. Can't you tell just from looking at them?"
"It was the same for me," Kyorin said nostalgically. "Yuji and Chiaki were so painfully oblivious to the fact that they liked each other. They both thought that everyone else was joking about it, and never realised it. I'm pretty sure the two of yours are a little more aware."
They both stood there silently.
"I failed Yuji and Chiaki," Kyorin said. "So… I'll help you protect the two that you want to protect." There was something slightly different about her tone now. "It is what you want, right? We're the same in that regard?"
Hitoda tilted her head towards Kyorin. Kyorin looked back. Dark blue met light blue. Hitoda closed her eyes.
All her life, she had been assaulted with fleeting dreams of a past that did not exist. She had been searching for a purpose, lost in so many painful memories that weren't her own. That was the reason that she had called herself 'Soothsayer' in the first place, after all.
"My name is Hitoda Makishima," she said, despite the fact that Kyorin had to know her name already. "... hello."
Kyorin smiled, still seeming somewhat shy. "My name is Kyorin Rinsoka," she said, with exactly the same emphasis on her own name. "Hello. Let's work together from now on, to protect our worlds, and make sure that what we dread never happens. I was too much of a coward back then. If I had been stronger, maybe I would have been with Yuji and Chiaki when… whatever happened, well, happened. So now, I will fight."
The next morning:
"How did you two become best friends in a single night?" Yuno said, chuckling, spotting Kyorin and Hitoda chatting with each other in the LDS cafeteria. He was wearing a face mask, covering most of his face. Miharu was doing the same, in order to hide their faces from the rest of LDS.
"Don't question it," Hitoda said, smiling at the sight of them. "The food here's great! Try some!" She pushed two plates of food that had already been prepared towards the other side of the table. Yuno blinked, before smiling widely.
"Thanks!" He and Miharu sat down. Yuno reached over to pick up a fork, picking up the cherry tomatoes on his plate and moving them over to Miharu's plate, while taking the piece of chicken from her plate. Hitoda and Kyorin were both giving him odd looks, and Yuno explained himself immediately. "Uh, Miharu likes vegetables and fruit, but she hates meat."
"... no comment," Kyorin said. She turned to Hitoda. "I see what you mean."
"Right?"
"Oi, Rinsoka!" Kyorin looked up. Yuno looked over at the ones who were walking over to them. One of them was a dark-skinned girl with black hair, and a rather calm look on her face. The second was a boy with extremely tall, spiky purple hair, which resembled a rather messy mohawk. The third was a boy with long, spiky brown hair. The one that had called out Kyorin's name was the brown-haired boy, who looked at them, raising an eyebrow. "Don't know who your new friends are, but don't forget that we're going to duel! You're not chickening out on me again!"
"Ok," Kyorin said nervously.
"Who are your friends?" The dark-haired girl said.
"Um."
Yuno stood up, smiling. However, they likely couldn't see his smile under the face mask. "I'm Yuno Sugisaki," he said, introducing himself. "This is my best friend, Miharu Kogami, and our other friend, Hitoda Makishima. We're new here."
"What's with the mask?" The purple-haired boy asked, and both the brown-haired boy and the black-haired girl smacked him on the back of the head. "Hey! Why—"
"You can't just ask that!" The dark-haired girl scolded him. She turned back to them. "I'm Masumi Kotsu. These are my friends, Hokuto Shijima and Yaiba Todo." She smiled. "So you're new here, huh? What course are you in?"
Kyorin managed to cut in, though it wasn't smooth at all. "Kogami-san is a skilled coder," she said, using the alibi that Reiji had come up with for them. "A prodigy—she, Hitoda here and Sugisaki are technically in the general course, but they're Link specialists."
"Link?" Masumi blinked. "Wait. So when you talk about her being a good coder… she made proper Link Monsters?"
Miharu internally apologised to her brother, who was the one that had made these cards for her. She shrugged, picking at her food.
"Interesting. Can I see how you all duel then?"
Yuno and Miharu, both exhausted from the last day that they had gone through, both having dueled, the former having been electrocuted and drained by his mysterious dragon and the latter having dueled twice, both glanced at each other.
Hitoda cleared her throat. "I'll give it a shot," she said, clearly noticing how tired the two of them were. "If you're fine with me?"
After breakfast, they walked to the nearby Duel Fields, and Yuno and Miharu sat at the top of the stands, trying to avoid the crowd. Hokuto was sitting there with them as well, though they weren't talking. Meanwhile, Hitoda, Kyorin, Masumi and Yaiba were all down in the Duel Field.
"Battle Royale rules?"
"If either side loses all their life points first, they lose," Masumi responded. "Separate life points, fields, alternate turns. Fair?"
"Fair," Kyorin said. "Duelists locked in battle!"
Hitoda stared at Kyorin, looking baffled.
"Kicking the earth and dancing in the air alongside their monsters!" Masumi responded.
"They storm through this field!" Yaiba called.
Kyorin shot Hitoda an apologetic look. "Behold! This is the newest and greatest evolution of Dueling! Action—"
"—Duel!" The other three shouted.
A robotic voice called out across the field. "Action Field—Waterfall Pool." Holograms covered the entire field—there was a large waterfall splashing water down towards the ground, forming a long pull. There were two dry areas on the opposite sides of the field—two rocks that were peeking out of the pool. There were lilypads everywhere, and cards floating everywhere, glowing slightly. Flowers could be seen growing around the rocks and flowers within the field, and some fishes swimming around in the pool. There were branches from trees hanging over the field, with some vines around them as well. More pressingly, those looked like solid holograms, similar to the ones that SOL had been working on before all of this.
[ACTION DUEL!]
Kyorin Rinsoka: 4000LP
Hitoda Makishima: 4000LP
Masumi Kotsu: 4000LP
Yaiba Todo: 4000LP
[Turn 1: Kyorin] [H:5]
"What's an Action Duel?" Yuno said, mildly baffled. Hokuto turned to look at them, seeming shocked.
"You don't know?"
"No."
Hokuto stared at them, before he sighed. "Ugh, why am I the one having to give exposition… Action Duels are duels with solid holograms. There are Action Cards within the Action Field down there. They're Spells or Traps with effects, which you can play when you pick them up. You can only hold one in your hand at a time."
"So you can just… pull a card from out of nowhere and use it?" Miharu said. Yuno fought the urge to laugh. To most other people, Miharu probably sounded neutral, but Yuno could tell how disgusted she was by the very thought of that. For someone who planned out every move, observed everything and remembered all the effects of her opponents' cards, the idea of her opponents having the ability to just pull a card out of nowhere clearly angered her. Hokuto clearly couldn't tell though.
"Yeah," he said. "It's a kind of skill, too!"
Miharu opened her mouth to say something. Yuno patted her shoulder, stopping her from saying what was clearly on her mind. Miharu just sighed.
"Does Hitoda know?" Yuno asked, and Miharu glanced down at the field, where Kyorin was clearly swiftly explaining everything to Hitoda. "Guess not… sounds cool though! I'd like to try."
Miharu gave him the side-eye.
"Hey, don't forget, you can use the cards too!"
Miharu sighed. "... I like to know what I'm working with, Yuno. Let's just watch."
Kyorin turned back to the duel. "S-sorry for the delay!" She said. "Let's get on with it." She revealed a card in her hand. "I will discard Nekroz of Clausolas from my hand. With its effect, I can add a "Nekroz" Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand." She discarded the Ritual Monster. "I'll then Normal Summon Ariel, Priestess of the Nekroz!" A girl with blue-purple hair appeared. Brushing a hand through her pale hair, she also adjusted the dark purple hat on top of her head. She was wearing a light blue and black robe. She was holding onto a staff that was made entirely out of ice. With her soft blue eyes, she stared forward, looking rather shy.
[Ariel, Priestess of the Nekroz (4*/1000/1800/WATER/Psychic/Effect)]
"Ariel's effect," Kyorin continued. "I will reveal any number of "Nekroz" cards in my hand or on my field. Then, I can increase or decrease her Level by the number of cards I revealed! I will reveal the Ritual Spell, Nekroz Cycle!" She nodded to Ariel. "And I'll decrease her Level by 1."
[Ariel, Priestess of the Nekroz: 4* - 1* = 3*]
"I will then activate the Ritual Spell, Nekroz Cycle." She placed down the card that she had revealed. "I must tribute monsters on the field or in my hand with an equal Level to the Level of a "Nekroz" Ritual Monster in my hand or in my graveyard, to Ritual Summon that card! I will tribute the Level 3 Ariel!" Ariel shattered into three ice gems, that all spun around each other, giving off a bright blue light. "Winds of the mist valley. Be channelled into the mirror formed from ice, and bless the young warrior! Ritual Summon! Level 3—Nekroz of Clausolas!" She Ritual Summoned the monster from her graveyard in Defense Position.
In front of her, a boy with red and white hair appeared, his verdant green eyes twinkling. He is wearing a green suit of armour—there is a bird's face on the chestplate of the armour, golden bird feet on his own, and green and blue feathers on his wrists, legs and hips.
[Nekroz of Clausolas (3*/1200/2300/WATER/Warrior/Ritual/Effect)]
"Since Ariel was tributed, I can add a "Nekroz" monster from my deck to my hand, except a Ritual Monster," Kyorin continued. "I'll end my turn."
[Turn 2: Yaiba] [H:5]
Yaiba laughed. "Nice! I've been wanting to duel you ever since Reiji Akaba specifically recruited you into the school—don't know why you're so duel-averse. I'll Normal Summon XX-Saber Boggart Knight!" A tanned, muscular man in metallic armour appeared, with a red cape behind him.
[XX-Saber Boggart Knight (4*/1900/1000/EARTH/Beast-Warrior/Effect)]
"And when I Normal Summon Boggart Knight, I can Special Summon another "X-Saber" monster from my hand, as long as it's a Level 4 or lower monster!" Yaiba grinned. "Let's go! Meet XX-Saber Fulhelmknight!" A grinning warrior with beady blue eyes appeared, with mid-length blond hair. He was wearing bright orange armour, along with a similar red cape to Boggart Knight.
[XX-Saber Fulhelmknight (3*/1300/1000/EARTH/Warrior/Tuner/Effect)]
"Tuner?" Miharu murmured.
"I will now tune the Level 3 Fulhelmknight to the Level 4 Boggart Knight! Wielder of crossed blades of light, trample over this mountain of corpses! Synchro Summon! Come forth! Level 7! X-Saber Souza!" He summoned a man in dark metal armour that exposed his chest and arms, holding onto two long swords, a tattered red cape drifting behind him even as he laughed extremely haughtily.
[X-Saber Souza (7*/2500/1600/EARTH/Warrior/Synchro/Effect)]
… what was a Synchro Summon?
"And now, I'll have Souza attack Clausolas!" Showing some honour, Yaiba didn't attack Hitoda, since she hadn't taken her turn yet.
"I will activate the effect of Nekroz of Clausolas!" Kyorin declared. "Once per turn, on either player's turn, I can target a monster that was Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, negate its effects, and have its attack points become 0 until the End Phase! Mistfreeze!" Clausolas spread out his arms, and then, ice surrounded Souza, weakening it and freezing it in place.
[X-Saber Souza: 2500 - 0ATK]
"What?" Yaiba sputtered.
"Yaiba, you dumbass!" Masumi shouted, even as she ran off, grabbing a card from the ground. Yaiba himself also searched for cards, but then Masumi placed the Action Card that she had grabbed down on her Duel Disk. "Action Card, Blinding Blizzard! I'll end the Battle Phase!" Souza was halted before it finished its attack, and Yaiba nodded in thanks to her.
"Good job, Masumi!"
"Be more careful!"
Yaiba sighed. "I'll set one card facedown! Over to you!"
[Turn 3: Hitoda] [H:5]
Hitoda didn't draw either, since no player drew on their first turn in a Battle Royale. She just started her turn. "I will activate the Quickplay Spell, Spirit Charmers," she said. "I will take two cards with different names from each other from my deck, which are either "Charmer" monsters, "Familiar-Possessed" monsters, or "Possessed" Spells and Traps. Then, I can add one to my hand and set the other facedown."
She placed one card in her Spell and Trap Zone, adding the other to her hand.
"Then, I will activate my set card! Continuous Spell, Awakening of the Possessed!"
"It's odd to see her duel without being Soothsayer," Yuno remarked. Miharu nodded. She might not have watched too many Charisma Duelists duel, other than Yuno, but she had seen this move quite a few times.
"I will then Normal Summon Familiar-Possessed - Hiita!" The girl with spiky red hair appeared on Hitoda's field, glaring at the other side of the field immediately in challenge.
[Familiar-Possessed - Hiita (4*/1850/1500/FIRE/Spellcaster/Effect)]
"And since I summoned a monster with 1850 attack points, once per turn, Awakening of the Possessed lets me draw a card." She picked up the card. "And since I control a Spellcaster monster, I can Special Summon Hiita's familiar, Inari Fire from my hand!" A bright red fox appeared, leaping to Hiita's side, the two of them both summoning up bright flames around them.
[Inari Fire (4*/1500/200/FIRE/Pyro/Effect)]
"Two Level 4 monsters…" Masumi frowned contemplatively. "Are you performing an Xyz Summon?"
"What's an Xyz Summon?" Hitoda said, though her calm tone made her sound like she was being sarcastic about it. "I will send both the FIRE monster, Inari Fire, and the Spellcaster monster, Hiita, from my field to the graveyard, to Special Summon Awakening of the Possessed - Greater Inari Fire from my deck!" The humongous red fox which was almost completely made of flames appeared on her field with a loud growl.
[Awakening of the Possessed - Greater Inari Fire (5*/2000/200/FIRE/Pyro/Effect)]
"If Greater Inari Fire is summoned by its own effect," Hitoda continued, "I can burn you for damage equal to the original attack points of a monster you control. Obviously, I will choose Souza!"
Some people in the crowd exclaimed at the effect.
"2500 damage immediately?"
"No shot!"
"Oi, that's an unfair effect!" Yaiba exclaimed as he ran across the field, once again searching for Action Cards. Yuno saw Miharu frown in displeasure again.
"I had to bring out two specific types of monsters on the field," Hitoda said. Just as Yaiba was getting close to a card, Greater Inari Fire darted in front of him, breathing out fire. "It's very fair in my opinion. Do it, Greater Inari Fire!"
The flames came down, and Yaiba's life points plummeted.
Yaiba: 4000 - 2500 = 1500LP
"Nice, Hitoda!" Kyorin praised. "Let me help you out too! I will use Clausolas's effect, targeting Souza again! Mistfreeze!" Ice coated Souza's limbs and body again.
[X-Saber Souza: 2500 - 0ATK]
"Thanks!" Hitoda gestured to her Continuous Spell. "With the effect of Awakening of the Possessed, my monsters gain 300 attack points for each different Attribute I control!"
[Awakening of the Possessed - Greater Inari Fire: 2000 + 300 = 2300ATK]
"Attack Souza!" Hitoda declared. Immediately, their opponents bolted for Action Cards again.
"In Duel Schools, most people are trained to do acrobatic stunts for Action Cards," Hokuto shared proudly. "Masumi and Yaiba—"
His sentence came to a stop when Hitoda did a long leap through the air, landing on a lily pad that was surprisingly solid and didn't sink immediately. She then ran across several lilypads with no hesitation, culminating in a backflip, cutting Masumi off from an Action Card by snatching it from the air.
Then, there was no time. Greater Inari Fire had already been next to Souza, and it hadn't hesitated to attack.
"Acrobatic stunts for Action Cards?" Miharu said, shaking her head. "Yuno and Makishima-san have spent years doing stunts for nothing at all."
On the field, Yaiba flipped up his set card. "Trap Card, Gottoms' Emergency Call! I will revive two "X-Saber" monsters!" Fulhelmknight and Boggart Knight reappeared on his field.
"The attack continues!" Hitoda called, taking the replay and choosing to attack anyway.
"Once while X-Saber Fulhelmknight is face-up on the field, I can negate an attack!"
Hitoda shrugged, Greater Inari Fire's attack stopping against the shield that Fulhelmknight generated. "Fair enough. I'll set a card facedown. Over to you."
[Turn 4: Masumi] [H:5]
Masumi started her turn, placing a card down confidently. "Spell Card, Brilliant Fusion! I will send monsters from my deck to the graveyard to Fusion Summon!"
Both Yuno and Miharu tensed up.
"I will send Gem-Knight Crystal, Gem-Knight Garnet and Gem-Knight Lazuli from my deck to the graveyard! Gem with facets of day and night. Gem tinged with lightning. Brilliant emerald of good fortune. In a whirlpool of light combine to bring forth a new dazzling radiance! Fusion Summon! Appear! Supreme radiance who illuminates everything! Gem-Knight Master Diamond!" A warrior in shimmering white armour appeared, holding a sword in his right hand. The sword had many differently coloured gems, reflecting the light in spectrums across the ground. There was a bright white gem in Master Diamond's chest.
[Gem-Knight Master Diamond (9*/2900/2500/EARTH/Rock/Fusion/Effect)]
"Lazuli's effect. Since she was sent to the graveyard by a card effect, I can add a Normal Monster from my graveyard to my hand—namely Garnet. Next, the monster summoned with Brilliant Fusion loses all its attack and defense points." Masumi revealed a Spell in her hand. "But by discarding a Spell, like Gem-Knight Fusion, I can give it its original attack points and defense points. And Master Diamond gains 100 attack points for every "Gem-" monster in the graveyard."
[Gem-Knight Master Diamond: 2900 + 100 x 2 = 3100ATK]
"I will activate the effect of Nekroz of Clausolas!" Kyorin called. "Mistfreeze!"
"Action Card, Invisibility!" Masumi replied. "Master Diamond cannot be targeted or affected by your card effects!"
Clausolas's effect misfired.
Masumi pointed forward. "Attack Nekroz of Clausolas!" Master Diamond summoned up a storm of diamonds that flew towards the Ritual Monster.
"I will activate the effect of Nekroz of Decisive Armor in my hand!" Kyorin declared. "I'll discard it and give Clausolas 1000 more attack and defense points!"
[Nekroz of Clausolas: 1200 + 1000 = 2200ATK; 2300 + 1000 = 3300DEF]
Obviously, Clausolas was in Defense Position, so Master Diamond wouldn't be destroyed. At the same time, Hitoda played the Action Spell that she had stolen from Masumi the turn before.
"Action Card!" Hitoda called. "Restore! Your monster's attack points becomes its original attack points until the End Phase!"
[Gem-Knight Master Diamond: 3100 - 200 = 2900ATK]
"I will activate Action Spell, Fire Gem!" Yaiba declared. Hitoda had been interfering with Masumi again, so Masumi hadn't managed to find another Action Spell. However, her partner hadn't stopped moving, managing to find one. "I can inflict 600 damage to you! I'll inflict it to you, Rinsoka!" A fireball flew past Clausolas. At the same time, Brilliant Diamond collided with Clausolas, being thrown back and decreasing Masumi's life points as well.
Kyorin: 4000 - 600 = 3400LP
Masumi: 4000 - 400 = 3600LP
"That was just chaos," Miharu muttered.
"That looked fun!" Yuno said, clapping his hands together. Miharu glanced at him, and her eyes softened.
"... if you think so."
"I'll end my turn with a set card!" Masumi called. "Over to you!"
[Turn 5: Kyorin] [H:5]
"Draw!" Kyorin declared. However, Masumi and Yaiba had already headed off to search for Action Cards. Yuno frowned for a moment—this format was fun for the audience, but what about the duelist, who had to split their attention between themselves, their own field and the entire Action Field? "Um—"
"Oh, it's fine," Hitoda commented, loud enough for everyone to hear. "I'll interfere. Hurry with your turn." She ran forward, grabbing a vine and swinging forward, kicking against the water and splashing up a gigantic wave straight towards Yaiba, causing him to slip before grabbing an Action Card. She swiped up the Action Card herself, leaping onto the lilypads and heading towards Masumi to disrupt her movements as well.
"I'll discard Nekroz of Unicore from my hand to add a "Nekroz" card from my graveyard to my hand!" Kyorin called. "I'll add Nekroz of Decisive Armor back to my hand!" She sounded very nervous, and she was clearly rushing through the words. "I'll activate the Ritual Spell, Nekroz Mirror!" She revealed another card in her hand. "With the effect of Shurit, Strategist of the Nekroz, it can serve as the full tribute for the Ritual Summon of any "Nekroz" Ritual Monster! Come forth, dragon cloaked in the armour of the mighty warrior of the galaxy! Ritual Summon—Level 10! Nekroz of Decisive Armor!"
A dragon dressed in large black, blue and gold armour appeared, with three large cannon-like appendages on its back and arms. The dragon's blue tail trailed through the back of the armour, and the cannons all glowed with the same bright blue light.
[Nekroz of Decisive Armor (10*/3300/2300/WATER/Dragon/Ritual/Effect)]
"A Level 10 Ritual Monster? 3300 attack points?" Yaiba exclaimed from the other side of the field. The LDS students were in a stir too. Kyorin really hadn't dueled in front of them, huh? Her Ritual Monsters seemed rather powerful—countering the Extra Deck was very powerful—and also, if Miharu and Yuno had stronger Link Monsters than the Link Monsters here, Kyorin's Ritual Monsters were likely far more powerful.
"Since Shurit was tributed, I can add a Warrior "Nekroz" Ritual Monster to my hand!" Kyorin pointed at Masumi's set card. "Once per turn, Nekroz of Decisive Armor can destroy and banish a set card you control!" The card was blown off the field, and Masumi actually looked rather perturbed. "I'll change Nekroz of Clausolas to Attack Position! Nekroz of Decisive Armor attacks Gem-Knight Master Diamond! And I will use Nekroz of Clausolas's effect on the field! Mistfreeze!" Ice shot towards Master Diamond, surrounding it.
[Gem-Knight Master Diamond: 3100 - 0ATK]
"Action Card, Miracle!" Masumi called. "I negate Master Diamond's destruction, and the damage for that battle is halved!"
Masumi: 3600 - 3300 / 2 = 1950LP
Hitoda pressed an Action Card to her own duel disk. "Action Card, Wonder Chance!" She smiled, still as demure as ever, even though a few seconds ago, she had been backflipping through the air. "A monster can attack twice! I choose Nekroz of Decisive Armor!"
"Nekroz of Decisive Armor attacks Fulhelmknight!" Kyorin targeted Fulhelmknight, since if the attack went through, Yaiba's life points would be eliminated completely. "Nekroz of Clausolas attacks Master Diamond!" Yaiba and Masumi were looking for Action Cards again, but they didn't make it in time before the two monsters crashed against them, knocking both of them to the ground and eliminating Yaiba from the duel.
Masumi: 1950 - 1300 = 650LP
Yaiba: 1500 - 2000 = 0LP
"Damn," Hitoda said after a moment. "Did you even need me here?"
"You were so good with interfering with their Action Cards!" Kyorin praised. "Uh, I end my turn!"
[Turn 6: Hitoda] [H:3]
"Draw," Hitoda said. "You don't have your set card, and you're open to damage… but you might use one of those Action Cards, so I guess I'll go overboard." She revealed another card in her hand. "Come, Familiar-Possessed - Aussa!" The brown-haired girl in glasses appeared, shyly glancing down.
[Familiar-Possessed - Aussa (4*/1850/1500/EARTH/Spellcaster/Effect)]
"And with the effect of Awakening of the Possessed, I draw another card." Hitoda cleared her throat. "Aussa attacks."
Masumi rushed for an Action Card, and she smiled as she saw it. "Action Card, Evasion!" She declared. "I negate the attack!"
"That was my intention," Hitoda continued. "Because now, you're nowhere near another Action Card. You've practiced on this field before, haven't you? You two have been far too good at getting effective Action Cards." She gestured to her field. "My set card." She flipped it over. "Spiritual Fire Art - Kurenai. I can tribute a FIRE monster and inflict damage to you, equal to its attack points. And you can no longer get an Action Card in time!" Greater Inari Fire dissolved into flames, shooting towards Masumi and eliminating the last of her life points.
Masumi: 650 - 2000 = 0LP
Winner: Hitoda Makishima & Kyorin Rinsoka!
Hitoda landed back on the rocks next to Kyorin, sighing.
"Their first mistake," Miharu whispered to Yuno, making sure that Hokuto couldn't hear her, "was challenging a Charisma Duelist to something like this."
On the field, Masumi and Yaiba were talking to the two girls. Miharu turned back, overhearing the next sentence.
"Actually, Yuno's far stronger than I am," Hitoda said.
"Really?" Masumi glanced up. "... then I guess the three of us are going to have to get stronger. You've proven that we've gotten… complacent, with our dueling styles. Still though, Rinsoka, you're proof that LDS should really have a Ritual Summoning course."
"Ehehe." Kyorin rubbed the back of her neck. "Um… can we not talk about me now?"
Miharu sighed, and she stood up. She patted Yuno's shoulder, before she walked off.
"Aren't you going to follow her?" Hokuto asked.
"She doesn't want me to follow her," Yuno said. "That was why she patted my shoulder—to ask me to stay put."
Hokuto just looked confused, and then he sighed. "Girls," he muttered.
Miharu walked through the building of LDS. Yuno had understood her intentions correctly. She just wanted to walk on her own for a while, and settle her mind.
She heard footsteps from the opposite direction, but then, she simply ignored them, until she saw the person that they belonged to.
That person was a short child that was wearing a light blue hoodie. However, the most striking part of them—to Miharu, at least—were the child's eyes. They were wide, blue eyes, but at the same time, they carried a deep sadness to them, along with a clear… emptiness.
Miharu recognised those eyes.
From the way that the girl was looking at her, the girl recognised the same emptiness in her too. Slowly, the girl clutched the teddy bear in her hands to her chest, but she was eyeing Miharu with… curiosity.
Miharu opened her bag, and she took out her old stuffed turtle. She held it out to the grey-haired child, who carefully and hesitantly raised her bear in the air, pressing one of its paws to the stuffed turtle's head.
The two of them stared at each other for a moment.
Something terrible must have happened to this child, Miharu thought. Something awful must have happened to make them look like this, because no child should ever have those eyes. That was what her father had said when she was a child, and Miharu had accepted it as his form of empathy, but she herself had never felt it so strongly until she saw this poor child.
"I'm Miharu Kogami," she said, after a brief moment longer.
"... I know." The child blinked, not looking away from her. "Brother… told me about you."
Brother… as in…
"I'm…" The child hesitated, seeming shy. "Reira Akaba."
"Can I call you Reira?" Miharu asked.
"... ok, Miharu," Reira said. They stood there for a moment, in silent understanding.
"Want to sit down and talk somewhere?" Miharu asked.
Reira seemed almost happy, even though her expression didn't change. They walked along the corridor together, though Miharu didn't really know where they were going.
"I have a brother too," Miharu said after a moment. "He and my father saved me."
"... mother and Reiji saved me too," Reira said. She hugged the bear tightly. "... what is your brother like?"
"My brother?" Miharu thought about it for a moment. "He's… the strongest duelist I know. Very resolute… sometimes he does things that other people might think are wrong, for his own beliefs. He's bad at compromising—he always just wants to accomplish what he wants. Tactical, too… a bit overly logical. Some people might think that he's the kind that would become a villain… but I've never disagreed with him, so I don't know. He also hides a lot of things from other people, but I don't think he's ever had malicious intent when doing so."
"... my big brother is like that too," Reira said.
Miharu looked at Reira. She sighed. "He is, huh?"
… if they have so much faith in him…
I'd be a hypocrite, to trust Ryoken so much but not trust him.
Fine.
Reiji Akaba.
If you are the kind of person that has saved a girl like this from the loneliness, from the emptiness, the lack of light…
I will trust you.
"I'll get you a sandwich," Miharu offered.
"Should we—"
Reiji stared at the camera that was showing his sister walking alongside one of the Link Dimension refugees. He could tell that Reira had come close to smiling, when she was talking to that girl.
"... leave them be," he said.
He would never begrudge Reira something so small, if it made her happy.
Duel 1 Summary: Dazzling Spring (Miharu Kogami) vs Yuu Sakuragi
Duel Format: Normal Duel
Turn 1: Yuu Sakuragi
Yuu activates the Spell Card, Spellbook of Secrets, adding the Continuous Spell, Spellbook Star Hall, to his hand and activating it. He Normal Summons Fool of Prophecy (3*/1600/900) from his hand. He uses Fool's effect to send a "Spellbook" card from his deck to the graveyard. He then activates Spellbook of Knowledge, sending a "Spellbook" card from his hand to the graveyard to draw two cards. Since he activated a "Spellbook" Spell, Star Hall gains a Spell Counter. (SSH: SC1) He activates Spellbook of the Master, revealing another "Spellbook" Spell in hand to copy a "Spellbook" in his graveyard. He copies Spellbook of Knowledge, sending another "Spellbook" card from his hand to the graveyard to draw two cards. (SSH: SC2) He ends his turn. With Fool of Prophecy's effect, he tributes it and Special Summons Reaper of Prophecy (6*/2000/1600) from his deck. With Reaper's effects, it gains 600ATK, lets him add a "Spellbook" Spell from his Deck to his hand, and Special Summons Prophecy Destroyer (6*/2500/1200) from his Deck. Star Hall grants his monsters 100ATK for each Spell Counter. (ROP: 2000 - 2800ATK) (PD: 2500 + 200 = 2700ATK)
Turn 2: Dazzling Spring
Miharu draws. She activates One for One, sending a monster from her hand to the GY to Special Summon a Level 1 monster from her Deck. She Special Summons Sunseed Genius Loci. Using Sunseed Genius Loci, she Link Summons Sunavalon Dryas. (L1/0/↓) She adds Sunvine Sowing to her hand and activates it, burning herself for 1000 damage to bring out Sunseed Twin. (2*/0/800) [DS: 4000 - 1000 = 3000LP] With Twin's effect, she revives Sunseed Genius Loci. With Dryas's effect, she Special Summons Sunvine Healer. (L1/600/↑) In addition to the 1000LP Dryas gives her, Healer gives her 300 more. [DS: 3000 + 1000 + 300 = 4300LP]
With Sunseed Genius Loci, Sunavalon Dryas and Sunseed Twin, she Link Summons Sunavalon Dryanome. (L3/0/↙, ↓, ↘)] She activates Supremacy Berry, inflicting 1000 damage to herself. Dryanome heals her, and she Special Summons Sunvine Thrasher (L1/800/↓) from her Extra Deck. Thrasher gains 2400ATK with its own effect. (ST: 800 + 2400 = 3200ATK) It attacks and destroys Reaper of Prophecy. [YS: 4000 - 400 = 3600LP] With Healer's effect, Miharu gains 600LP. [DS: 4300 + 600 = 4900LP] She ends her turn.
Turn 3: Yuu Sakuragi
Yuu draws. He reveals three Spellbooks in his hand to Special Summon High Priestess of Prophecy (7*/2500/2100) from his hand. He then banishes a "Spellbook" Spell from his graveyard to target Dryanome and destroy it. Miharu Special Summons Sunvine Maiden (1*/0/0) and negates the effect. Yuu Normal Summons Strength of Prophecy (4*/1500/1400) from his hand. With its effect, he targets Prophecy Destroyer and shuffles a "Spellbook" card from his GY into his Extra Deck to increase its Level by 1. (PD: 6* + 1* = 7*) It also increases its ATK, but it doesn't matter, since he overlays his two Level 7 monsters to Xyz Summon Hierophant of Prophecy. (R7/2800/2600/OU:2) He has Strength attack Healer. Both Strength and Hierophant gain 200ATK from Star Hall. (HOP: 2800 + 200 = 3000ATK) (SOP: 1500 + 200 = 1700ATK) [DS: 4900 - 1100 = 3800LP] Dryanome heals Miharu. [DS: 3800 - 4900LP] It Special Summons Sunvine Thrasher to her field. Thrasher gains 2400ATK. (ST: 800 - 3200ATK) Hierophant attacks Sunvine Maiden. Miharu uses Dryanome's effect to move Maiden to a different Main Monster Zone and negate the attack. Yuu ends his turn.
Turn 4: Dazzling Spring
Miharu draws. Thrasher destroys Hierophant and revives it to Dryanome's bottom Link Marker. [YS: 3600 - 200 = 3400LP] Hierophant destroys Strength, and Thrasher attacks directly. [YS: 3400 - 1100 - 3200 = 0LP] Miharu wins!
Duel 2 Summary: Hitoda Makishima & Kyorin Rinsoka vs Masumi Kotsu & Yaiba Todo
Turn 1: Kyorin Rinsoka
Kyorin activates the effect of Nekroz of Clausolas (3*/1200/2300) in her hand, discarding it to add a "Nekroz" Spell or Trap from her Deck to her hand. She then Normal Summons Ariel, Priestess of the Nekroz. (4*/1000/1800) With its effect, she reveals Nekroz Cycle in her hand to lower Ariel's Level by 1. (APOTN: 4* - 1* = 3*) She activates Nekroz Cycle, tributing Ariel to Ritual Summon Nekroz of Clausolas from the graveyard in Defense Position. With Ariel's effect, she adds a non-Ritual "Nekroz" monster from her Deck to her hand. She ends her turn.
Turn 2: Yaiba Todo
Yaiba Normal Summons XX-Saber Boggart Knight. (4*/1900/1000) With Boggart Knight's effect, he Special Summons XX-Saber Fulhelmknight (3*/1300/1000) from his hand. He uses both to Synchro Summon X-Saber Souza. (7*/2500/1600) Souza attacks Clausolas. Kyorin uses Clausolas's effect to negate Souza's effects and reduce its ATK to 0. Masumi activates the Action Card, Blinding Blizzard, ending the Battle Phase. Yaiba sets a card and ends his turn.
Turn 3: Hitoda Makishima
Hitoda activates the Quickplay Spell, Spirit Charmers, sending a card from her Deck to the graveyard to set Awakening of the Possessed to her field and add Familiar-Possessed - Hiita to her hand. She activates Awakening of the Possessed, and Normal Summons Familiar-Possessed - Hiita. (4*/1850/1500) With Awakening of the Possessed's effect, she draws 1 card. She Special Summons Inari Fire (4*/1500/200) from her hand. Sending both of them to the graveyard, she Special Summons Awakening of the Possessed - Greater Inari Fire (5*/2000/200) from her Deck in Attack Position. With its effect, she inflicts 2500 damage to Yaiba. [YT: 4000 - 2500 = 1500LP] Kyorin uses Clausolas's effect, targeting Souza again. (XSS: 2500 - 0ATK) Awakening of the Possessed grants Greater Inari Fire 300ATK. (AOTPGIF: 2000 + 300 = 2300ATK) It attacks Souza. Yaiba activates Gottoms' Emergency Call, Special Summoning Fulhelmknight and Boggart Knight from his GY. With Fulhelmknight's effect, he negates the attack. Hitoda sets 1 card and ends her turn.
Turn 4: Masumi Kotsu
Masumi activates Brilliant Fusion, sending 3 Gem-Knights from her Deck to the GY to Fusion Summon Gem-Knight Master Diamond. (9*/2900/2500) With the effect of Gem-Knight Lazuli (1*/600/100) that was sent to the GY, she adds Gem-Knight Garnet (4*/1900/0) back to her hand. She sends Gem-Knight Fusion from her hand to the GY to give Master Diamond its original ATK and DEF. Master Diamond gains 200ATK from its own effect. (GKMD: 2900 + 200 = 3100ATK) Kyorin activates Clausolas's effect. Masumi activates the Action Spell, Invisibility, stopping Master Diamond from being affected by card effects. Master Diamond attacks Nekroz of Clausolas. Kyorin activates the effect of Nekroz of Decisive Armor (10*/3300/2300) in her hand, discarding it to give Clausolas 1000 more ATK and DEF. (NOC: 1200 + 1000 = 2200ATK; 2300 + 1000 = 3300DEF) Hitoda activates the Action Spell, Restore, changing Master Diamond's ATK back to its original ATK. Yaiba activates the Action Spell, Fire Gem, inflicting 600 damage to Kyorin. [MK: 4000 - 400 = 3600LP] [KR: 4000 - 600 = 3400LP] Masumi sets 1 card and ends her turn.
Turn 5: Kyorin Rinsoka
Kyorin draws. She discards Nekroz of Unicore (4*/2000/1300) from her hand to add Nekroz of Decisive Armor back to her hand. Then, she activates the Ritual Spell, Nekroz Mirror. By tributing Shurit, Strategist of the Nekroz (3*/300/1800) in her hand, and treating it as the whole tribute with its effect, she Ritual Summons Nekroz of Decisive Armor. With Shurit's effect, she adds a Warrior "Nekroz" Ritual Monster from her Deck to her hand. With Decisive Armor's effect, she destroys and banishes Masumi's set card. She changes Nekroz of Clausolas to Attack Position and has it use its effect on Master Diamond. (GKMD: 3100 - 0ATK) Decisive Armor attacks Master Diamond. Masumi activates Action Spell, Miracle, to negate the destruction of Master Diamond and halve the damage. [MK: 3600 - 1250 = 1950LP] Hitoda activates Action Spell, Wonder Chance, to give Decisive Armor another attack. Decisive Armor attacks Fulhelmknight and Clausolas attacks Master Diamond. [YT: 1500 - 2000 = 0LP] [MK: 1950 - 1300 = 650LP] Kyorin ends her turn. Since Yaiba has been defeated, the turn order skips to Hitoda.
Turn 6: Hitoda Makishima
Hitoda draws. She Normal Summons Familiar-Possessed - Aussa. (4*/1850/1500) With Awakening of the Possessed's effect, she draws 1 card. Aussa attacks Masumi directly. Masumi activates Action Spell, Evasion. Hitoda activates her set card, Spiritual Fire Art - Kurenai, tributing Greater Inari Fire to inflict damage equal to its ATK. [MK: 650 - 2000 = 0LP] Hitoda and Kyorin win.
Different Card Effects from TCG:
All the Action Cards - Anime-only. Wonder Chance technically targets a monster you control and lets it attack again, but I have decided that it just lets a monster attack again, doesn't have to be yours. Why? Because anime bullshit.
End Notes:
Nope, Yuu Sakuragi's not getting plot relevance. But it's a waste to canonically have a character who uses Prophecy cards but doesn't ever duel someone, because Prophecy cards are amazing. So I did give him a duel here, even if Miharu did curb-stomp him. Hey, he somehow managed to lose pathetically against Obelisk Force with the numbers advantage. He can't be that strong.
Standard has access to all the summoning methods, just like canon, and that includes Link and Ritual Monsters. However, Link Monsters, due to possessing an additional characteristic (Link Markers and no DEF) that other Extra Deck Monsters don't, are hard to produce. It's the same situation as the uniqueness of Pendulum Monsters making life difficult for the producers of cards.
Anyway, Kyorin's here! *claps hands together* I will not elaborate on that. Nor will I elaborate on anything relating to Hitoda and Kyorin's conversation, or what Hitoda thinks about during that conversation, until the end of the Standard Arc. Also, ah, LDS trio. On one hand, I love the three of them, because they're such typical teenagers. At the same time, it's exactly that they're such typical teenagers which makes them such absolute pricks. My original thought was to have a Tag Duel between Miharu/Yuno and Yaiba/Hokuto, but that was scrapped because of three reasons. Firstly, Hokuto has a perfect dueling streak when he first duels Yuya, and um… yeah, if he dueled Miharu and Yuno, that would not be true anymore. Secondly, I wanted to give Hitoda one more duel, just for relevance. Thirdly, I already have another Tag Duel for Miharu and Yuno planned, and that one loses some impact if we have one here. So I decided to just give the two other OCs a chance at dueling, since Yuno and Miharu kind of monopolise duels in Standard, in terms of OC duels.
Nekroz is such an overpowered deck. I see why Bonds of Pendulum, which was the first 'full-length' Arc-V rewrite fic, gave it to Ray. I started writing this duel and it took so much effort to have Kyorin not trash both Masumi and Yaiba in one turn. I almost reconsidered retconning Kyorin's deck and giving her something else, but at this point, I am resigned to the sunk cost fallacy. I'll have to ask everyone to suspend their disbelief and just accept that Kyorin's not going to be using Nekroz to its full capabilities for like… the rest of the Standard Arc, until everyone catches up. For now, Kyorin's only going to use Clausolas, Unicore, Gungnir and Decisive Armor. Also, LDS is just… not that strong at this point. I'm so glad that I'm starting the plot of Arc-V next chapter, so I'll get access to some more fun decks to use.
Next, Action Duels. Action Duels are the bane of us all, and one that a lot of fanfics have to deal with, since their fic wants to stay true to Arc V's spirit. However, as Nick Fury once said, while I recognise that the writers of Arc-V have made a decision, I also recognise that it's a stupid ass decision, and I have decided to ignore it. Therefore, Action Duels, in this universe, are a special ruleset specifically meant for exhibition duels—duels meant to be viewed by an audience, and thus, to look physically active and exciting. So, this ruleset will be applied to the Friendship Cup and the Standard duels, and then we will never have to worry about it again, because no, Reiji Akaba, putting RNG in your war is a bad idea. (Ok, if the last arc has some duels that are specifically meant to be for putting on a performance, it will show up. However, I am going to try to keep the usage of Action Cards to a minimum. For characters like Tsukikage (and Yuya) who rely on Action Cards, their strategies will be retooled over time so that they don't have to rely on it.) I did try to write this duel without biasing the result with Action Cards. If you read through, you'll notice that while Action Cards are used, they are almost always countered by another character's Action Card, or the thing that actually does the job is a Trap Card, not the Action Card. That is the policy I'm planning on taking—while canon duels are too difficult to rewrite to do the same thing, I do intend on avoiding reliance on Action Cards, or reducing the impact that Action Cards actually have.
Reira is still referred to as a boy for most of the Standard Arc, but Miharu does know that she's a girl. Also, Reira and Miharu's interaction in this chapter is one that I've wanted to write since I finalised Miharu's character. Older brother who gave them confidence and is the 'rival with dubious intentions' in their series? Check. Traumatic childhood experience? Check. I do love Reira as a character, except in Arc-V's ending. :) Which does not exist. I deny that ending's existence.
Uh, review responses! We'll go in order then. For those who expressed that they do want the VRAINS characters to have a bigger role, I do have a role planned for Blood Shepherd and Ghost Girl specifically in the Link Dimension arc, and both of them are getting at least one duel. I won't elaborate on that now, since I only have that arc planned in broad strokes. In terms of whether or not OC cards are going to be made for the Sunseed/vine/avalon deck, I don't think it's a spoiler to say that I'm planning on having Yuno and Miharu learn other summoning methods. So yes, there'll definitely be some OC cards, by virtue of Sunavalon and Marincess not having cards of other methods. This does apply for a lot of Arc-V characters' decks. As for DSpaceZ's request that I show the Ritual Dragon's name… the name, at the very least, will be revealed in Chapter 11, and considering that I'm probably going to post that in a few days, I'll have to ask you to be patient for a few more days. :) The effect… I don't have an exact chapter number, because I just redid some chapter numbers in my outline because of Reiji Akaba (I'm sure what that means will become clear in Chapter 11) but the dragon's appearance and effect will certainly turn up before the Standard arc ends.
I think that's it! Uh, surprise? I'm once again going to point out that I post these chapters with a buffer of two chapters. Thus, I'm currently writing Chapter 12. However, when I realised that I accidentally left everyone on a cliffhanger and confused about who the one with the purple hair was, I figured I could just drop this chapter, since it was already edited and the duels had been checked over.
Thank you for reading and reviewing! I do appreciate every single review—and I won't deny that it does boost my motivation to write :) I think I should have Chapter 10, 11 and 12 up before December is over, but Chapter 13 might take a while longer, since there's a lot more dueling and Battle Royales in the later chapters for obvious reasons. Thank you for your support! Have a good day!