Yu-Gi-Oh Vrains: Advent of New Beginnings

by donkeyboy100

Sequel to Circuit of Smiles. Months have passed since Yuji, Ena, along with their counterparts, Yuya and Zuzu put a stop to Roget's plans and saved LINK VRAINS. However, a new mysterious group has come along that plans to eliminate LINK VRAINS Top 10 to take control of SOL Technologies. Can Storm Rider and his friends stop this new enemy without the aid of their counterparts?

19. Training Matches

Greetings, everyone! Donkeyboy100 is back with Chapter 19, where the Top 10 will duel against each other. So, without further ado, please enjoy!

In LINK VRAINS, at Kolter's private server…

Storm Rider and Sanctum landed on the ground covered with lush-green grass.

"No matter how often we come here, I'll never get tired of seeing this scenery," Storm Rider said.

"It certainly is," Sanctum agreed. She then looked around. "Uh, where's Soulburners and the others?"

"Right here," a familiar voice answered as Soulburner, Blue Maiden, and Roselyn walked over to where Storm Rider and Sanctum were.

"Okay, Soulburner. We're all here and ready to throw down." Storm Rider said with an eager tone. "So, who's going to duel first?"

"That would be me!" Soulburner exclaimed with a smile. "It was my idea, after all. As for my opponent, I already decided who I want to duel against."

"Well then, don't keep us in suspense," Blue Maiden said. "Who's the lucky duelist?"

Soulburner raised his finger before pointing it at the chosen duelist.

"Me?" Roselyn questioned.

"Can't argue with the finger," Soulburner said. "I bet you're wondering why I choose you and not anyone else."

"Right on the nose," Roselyn confirmed.

Soulburner smirked. "When you dueled Esper and won, I saw right then and there that you've grown as a duelist," he explained. "When you first joined the Top 10, you hesitated on assisting in taking down the Arbiters. But you managed to overcome the fears and decided to help. Plus, I've been eager to duel you for a while."

Roselyn smiled. "First of all, thanks for saying that. Second of all, I accept your challenge. I wanted to go against a duelist with Cyberse Cards. Last, but not least, promise me you won't go and throw a tantrum when I beat you."

"Funny. I was going to say the same thing to you."

Following Soulburner's words, he and Roselyn walked away some distance from the others, the former going to one side for their duel while the latter did the same thing on the opposite side. As the two duelists stood across each other, Soulburner addressed his opponent.

"Now remember, this duel is to test our Pendulum Cards. There's no need to go all out. Is that clear?"

"Crystal clear!" Roselyn exclaimed as both duelists activated their Duel Disks. "Are you ready, Soulburner?"

"You bet I am!" he confirmed. "Time for me to bring the heat!"

"Let's Duel!"

Soulburner: 4000 LP

Roselyn: 4000 LP

"I'll take the first turn!" Roselyn announced as she looked at her hand before selecting a card. "To start, I activate the Continuous Spell Card: Prohibition! I can declare one card name, and while this card is on the field, cards with that name can't be used! I declare Salamangreat Heatleo!"

"What?!" Soulburner exclaimed, having been caught off guard by Roselyn's opening move.

"Hoh, so Roselyn prevented Soulburner from using his ace monster?" Storm Rider noted. "Not a bad move. However, I don't believe Soulburner will be deterred merely because a few of his combos have been locked down."

"Next, I summon Twilight Rose Knight!"

A female knight with short blue hair, yellow eyes, a long white cape, and dark, rosy armor on the upper portion of her body appeared on Roselyn's field. On her head was a large, dark rosy tiara. In her left hand, she carried a sword.

Twilight Rose Knight ATK 1000 DEF 1000 LV: 3

"Twilight Rose Knight's effect activates!" Roselyn continued. "When she's Normal Summoned, I get to Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Plant monster from my hand! Come, Evil Thorn!"

A plant with a spiked seed sprouted onto her field.

Evil Thorn ATK 100 DEF 300 LVL: 1

"I activate Evil Thorn's effect! By tributing this card, I can inflict 300 points of damage to my opponent!"

Evil Thorn flung the massive grenade at Soulburner before shriveling up, causing him to wince slightly.

Soulburner: 4000→3700 LP

"And then, Evil Thorn's second effect lets me Special Summon up to two Evil Thorns from my Deck!"

Two more Evil Thorns appeared on Roselyn's field in Attack Position.

Evil Thorn ATK 100 DEF 300 LVL: 1 x 2

"The Evil Thorn Special Summoned by this effect cannot activate its effects this turn," Roselyn stated.

"It appears you've already taken the lead in this duel," Soulburner said. "Not bad, Roselyn."

"Thank you," she replied. "I cannot activate the effects of any more Evil Thorns the turn I use this effect. But I can do this." She gestured upwards. "Appear, the circuit of roses!" A Link Portal appeared above Roselyn. "Link Arrows authorized! The summoning conditions are two monsters of different types! I'll set Twilight Rose Knight and one of my Evil Thorns in the Link Arrows!"

Twilight Rose Knight went into the left arrow, while one of the Evil Thorns went into the bottom arrow.

"Link the Circuit! I Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! Crossrose Dragon!"

A medium-sized purple dragon covered in different colored roses flew onto Roselyn's field in the Right Extra Monster Zone. Her wings consisted of folded-up red roses and vine elements on the edges. She also had a long tail, with its end holding several small roses. Crossrose Dragon let out a growl upon entering the field.

Crossrose Dragon ATK 800 LINK-2 ←↓

"I'll set two cards face-down and end my turn," Roselyn concluded. "You're up, Soulburner."

Soulburner smiled in response. "Not a bad start. But allow me to show the limitless possibility of my Deck! My turn! I draw!"

"Hold on a second!" Roselyn interrupted. "I activate Crossrose Dragon's effect! By Tributing her and a Plant monster, I get to Special Summon one "Rose" Synchro monster or a Plant Synchro monster from my Extra Deck and treat it as a Synchro Summon!"

"What?!" Soulburner exclaimed, having been caught off guard by this new development.

Crossrose Dragon and Evil Thorn disintegrated into yellow particles and combined to form a new monster. One that was shaped like a woman with a green and red dress covered in leaves and vines.

"Emerge, Queen of Thorns!"

Queen of Thorns appeared on the field in Attack Position.

Queen of Thorns ATK 2200 DEF 1800 LVL: 6

"And as you already know, as long as Queen of Thorns is on the field, we must pay 1000 Life Points to summon a monster from our hands, except if it's a Plant monster," Roselyn explained, making Soulburner frown upon hearing this information.

"That makes sense," Storm Rider commented. "Soulburner's Deck revolves around summoning out as many monsters to perform multiple Link Summons, and most of those monsters are summoned from the hand. So if he decides to summon them, he has to pay a hefty cost, while Roselyn won't need to worry about it."

"Alright, Roselyn," Soulburner said. "I didn't expect you to pull off a move like that, but I'll play along. I activate the Spell Card: De-Synchro! This card allows me to return a Synchro monster on the field to the Extra Deck and Special Summon the monsters used as Synchro Material!"

"Interesting move," Sanctum commented. "Since the user of the Synchro Monster needs all the Synchro Materials in the Graveyard for that to work, Roselyn won't be able to summon anything from the Graveyard."

"That's right," Blue Maiden confirmed. "Since Queen of Thorns was summoned from the Extra Deck through an effect and not the traditional way, her field will be completely defenseless."

Roselyn narrowed her eyes and smirked. "Nice move, Soulburner. However, I expected you to do that." Soulburner raised an eyebrow in confusion. "I activate the Trap Card: Star Shift! I can return a face-up Synchro Monster on my field to the Extra Deck to Special Summon a Synchro Monster from my Extra Deck with the same Level with its effects negated!"

Following her words, Queen of Thorns vanished from the field.

"Appear now! Level 6! Splendid Rose!"

A woman with blonde hair in a bob cut emerged from the rings. She wore a green and black suit with half a rose around each ankle and had four vines emerging from her back.

Splendid Rose ATK 2200 DEF 2000 LVL: 6

"Clever," Soulburner noted. "Because of your Trap Card, I lost my original target. So De-Synchro's effect resolves with no target."

"That's right." Roselyn nodded. "But out of curiosity, when did you have that card in your Deck?"

"As I said, I've been eager to face you since your duel with Esper. Shortly after it, I added a few anti-Synchro cards to my Deck just in case we would throw down against each other."

"I see. Now I know to be more careful throughout this duel.

"That was a smart play Roselyn made," Sanctum smiled.

"While I will admit that move was a smart one on Roselyn's part, that doesn't stop Soulburner from making any more plays this turn," Storm Rider pointed out.

"True," Blue Maiden agreed.

Soulburner took a card from his hand and played it. "I summon Salamangreat Falco!"

A blackbird burning in flames appeared on Soulburner's field, letting out a powerful screech.

Salamangreat Falco ATK 1200 DEF 1600 LVL: 4

"And since I Summoned a "Salamangreat" monster, I can Special Summon Salamangreat Fowl from my hand!"

A blue and green mechanical peacock with feathers made of fire appeared next to Falco in Attack Position.

Salamangreat Fowl ATK 1800 DEF 200 LVL: 4

Roselyn tensed. "Two Level 4 monsters," she muttered.

"I overlay Level 4 Salamangreat Falco and Salamangreat Fowl!"

Soulburner's Duel Disk released a burst of crimson energy, creating the Xyz cross.

"With these two monsters, I build the Overlay Network!"

Soulburner's monsters disintegrated into data and entered the cross, which fired beams, creating an exploded galaxy.

"A scorching dragon that boils the oceans and incinerates the sky arrives in a pillar of glory! I now Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Salamangreat Blaze Dragon!"

The monster from the galaxy was a majestic grey dragon in dark blue armor with flaming wings sprouting from its back. It had green orbs on its chest, knees, arms and forehead. Two red lights circled it.

Salamangreat Blaze Dragon ATK 2300 DEF 1200 RNK: 4 OU: 2

"An Xyz Monster?" Roselyn said. "Looks like you've got a few surprises in store, Soulburner."

"You could say that," Soulburner smirked. "Following that, I activate the Spell Card: Salamangreat Sublimination! By Tributing Blaze Dragon, I gain Life Points equal to its attack points."

Following Soulburner's words, Blaze Dragon disintegrated as its particles enveloped Soulburner.

Soulburner: 3700→6000 LP

"Then, I draw one card from my Deck."

"Why'd you do that?"

"This is why. I activate the Equip Spell Card: Rising Fire!" Soulburner declared. "When I have no monsters on my field, I can target a Fire monster in my Graveyard and equip it with this card! I Special Summon Salamangreat Blaze Dragon!"

The blue-armored warrior dragon with flaming wings reappeared.

Salamangreat Blaze Dragon ATK 2300 DEF 1200 RNK: 4

"That's not Rising Fire's only effect," Soulburner mentioned. "The equipped monster also gains 500 attack points."

Salamangreat Blaze Dragon ATK 2300→2800

"Now, let's battle! Salamangreat Blaze Dragon, attack Splendid Rose!"

Flames enveloped Blaze Dragon's body as it charged forward, piercing through Splendid Rose's body and destroying it, with the ensuing shockwave causing Roselyn to wince.

Roselyn: 4000→3400 LP

"It's not over yet!" Soulburner exclaimed. "Blaze Dragon's effect activates! When it has no Overlay Units during the Battle Phase, I can Xyz Summon a "Salamangreat" Xyz Monster from my Extra Deck by using this card as material!"

Soulburner raised his left hand high into the air before he shot out a bolt of red energy, which caused a galaxy portal to appear behind him. Within seconds, Salamangreat Blaze Dragon turned into red energy that went into it before a pillar of light erupted from the center.

"Reincarnation Xyz Summon! Strike the inferno, Salamangreat Blaze Dragon!"

Blaze Dragon reappeared on Soulburner's field. Only now, its flaming wings were blazing blue.

Salamangreat Blaze Dragon ATK 2300 DEF 1200 RNK: 4 OU: 1

"A Reincarnation Xyz Summon?!" Roselyn gasped, caught off guard.

"Now, the battle continues! Go, Blaze Dragon! Attack Roselyn directly!"

As Blaze Dragon prepared its attack, Roselyn quickly gestured to her field.

"I activate the Trap Card: Counter Gate!" she declared. "When you attack me directly, that attack is negated!"

The Salamangreat Xyz Monster released a stream of flames from its maw. Suddenly, a stone gate appeared before Esper, blocking the flames.

"Then I get to draw a card, and if the card I draw is a Monster Card, I get to summon it."

Roselyn drew her card, looked at it and smirked.

"I drew the Level 6 Gigaplant, which means I can summon it to my field."

A massive Venus flytrap-like monster with a red crocodile-shaped head, multiple blue eyes and sharp teeth appeared on Roselyn's field in Attack Position.

Gigaplant ATK 2400 DEF 1200 LVL: 6

Soulburner glanced at the opponent's field, then returned his gaze to his field. "Since your monster has more attack points than Blaze Dragon, I won't attack," he said. "I place two cards face-down and end my turn."

"It's my turn!" Roselyn announced. "I draw! I activate the Spell Card: Graceful Charity! It allows me to draw three cards without discarding two."

She drew three cards, then discarded Cards of Compensation and Dandylion.

"At this moment, Card of Compensation and Dandylion's effects activate! I can draw two cards and Special Summon two Fluff Tokens to my field!"

Roselyn drew her cards as two creatures that resembled dandelion seeds appeared on her field in Defense Position.

Fluff Token ATK 0 DEF 0 LVL: 1 x 2

"I activate the Spell Card: Pot of Greed!" Roselyn continued. "Its effect lets me draw two more cards. From there, I Gemini Summon Gigaplant!"

"Gemini Summon?" Sanctum repeated.

"It's a certain ability that my Gemini monsters possess," Storm Rider informed her. "They can be Normal Summoned when they're already on the field. And if that happens, they can activate their effects! Otherwise, they are treated as normal monsters. As for Gemini Soldier..."

"I activate Gigaplant's effect!" Roselyn declared. "Once per turn, I can Special Summon a Plant monster from my hand or Graveyard. From my hand, I Special Summon Tytannial, Princess of Camellias!"

A beautiful woman wearing a regal dress made from pink rose petals emerged onto Roselyn's field. Her sleeves were made out of dark green ivy, the shoulders formed from crimson roses, and the crown on her head out of rose petals and leaves. Despite her beauty, her face bore a stern expression of anger toward Soulburner.

Tytannial, Princess of Camellias ATK 2800 DEF 2600 LVL: 8

"Whoa..." Soulburner gasped.

"Two monsters with 2400 and 2800 attack points," Blue Maiden gasped. "This doesn't bode well for Soulburner."

Roselyn gestured to her field. "Battle Gigaplant, attack Salamangreat Blaze Dragon with Swamp Smackdown!"

Gigaplant spat corrosive fluid from its mouth at the Salamangreat Xyz Monster.

Soulburner gestured to his field. "I activate Blaze Dragon's effect!" he declared. "Once per turn, I can prevent its destruction by using an Overlay Unit!"

Salamangreat Blaze Dragon OU: 1→0

"But you'll still take damage!" Roselyn reminded him.

The fluid made contact, and while Blaze Dragon withstood the attack, Soulburner suffered.

Soulburner: 6000→5900 LP

"Next, Tytannial attacks Salamangreat Blaze Dragon!"

"I activate Salamangreat Blaze Dragon's effect to Xyz Summon a "Salamangreat" monster from my Extra Deck!"

Following Soulburner's words, he raised his left hand high into the air before he shot out a bolt of red energy, which caused a galaxy portal to appear behind him. Within seconds, Salamangreat Blaze Dragon turned into red energy that went into it before a pillar of light erupted from the center.

"This wild steed blazes through the tundra to torch every illusion! Reincarnation Xyz Summon! Rank 3, Salamangreat Miragestallio!"

A majestic mechanical stallion in gold and black armor appeared on Soulburner's field in Defense Position. It had a flaming mane and tail and two wing-like appendages extending from its back. A single red light circled it.

Salamangreat Miragestallio ATK 2000 DEF 900 RNK: 3 OU: 1

"In that case, Tytannial will attack Miragestallio! And at this moment, I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Piercing!" The card showed Gaia the Fierce Knight's spear breaking through a shield. "I can target one monster I control, and if it attacks a Defense Position monster, you take piercing battle damage!"

Tytannial raised a hand as thorny vines erupted from the ground and lashed out at the Salamangreat Xyz Monster, tearing through its body and destroying it. Soulburner winced from the backlash of the attack.

Soulburner: 5900→4000 LP

"I place one card face-down and end my turn," Roselyn concluded.

"It's my turn!" Soulburner announced. "I draw! I activate the Spell Card: Foresight Draw. Through its effect, I guess the type of the top card of my Deck. If I guess correctly, I can draw five cards; otherwise, I will have to send the five top cards of my Deck to the Graveyard and skip my next Draw Phase. I guess that my top card is a Monster Card. Now, draw!"

Soulburner checked his top card and revealed it with a smirk.

"It looks like I was correct, so I draw five cards. And now, I activate the effect of Salamangreat Meer from my hand! Since I added it to my hand through an effect, I can Special Summon it to my field!"

A small orange, red, and black mechanical meerkat appeared, letting out a little roar.

Salamangreat Meer ATK 800 DEF 600 LVL: 2

"Then, I blaze my circuit that scorches the path to the future!" A Link Portal appeared above Soulburner. "The summoning condition is one Level 4 or lower Cyberse monster. I set my Salamangreat Token into the Link Arrow!"

The fireball went into the bottom arrowhead, turning it red.

"I Link Summon! Appear! Link 1! Salamangreat Balelynx!"

A red and white mechanical cat with a flaming tail appeared on Soulburner's field in the Right Extra Monster Zone.

Salamangreat Balelynx ATK 500 LINK-1 ↓

"I activate the Trap Card: Cynet Regression!" Soulburner declared. "As I Special Summoned a Link Monster, one card on the field is destroyed! I destroy Prohibition!"

"I activate Tytannial's effect in response!" Roselyn retaliated, "By Tributing a Plant monster, such as one of my Fluff Tokens, I can negate the activation of your Trap Card and destroy it!"

"That's pointless!" Soulburner interjected. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Effect Shut! It negates the activation of Tytannial's effect and destroys it!"

Esper gasped as her monster was trapped inside a steel cage and vanished into a bright light.

"With Tytannial gone, Cynet Regression's effect resumes!"

The Continuous Spell on Roselyn's field shattered.

"Cynet Regression's effect then lets me draw a card. Then, Baelynx's effect activates! When Link Summoned, I can add Salamangreat Sanctuary from my Deck to my hand." Soulburner took the card, then played another card from his hand. "I summon Salamangreat Jack Jaguar!"

A black and yellow armored jaguar with flames shooting from its back appeared next to Falco.

Salamangreat Jack Jaguar ATK 1800 DEF 1200 LVL: 4

"Furthermore, since I performed a Link Summon this turn, I'm allowed to Special Summon Salamangreat Mole from my hand!"

An armored mole with flaming front paws appeared in Defense Position.

Salamangreat Mole ATK 0 DEF 0 LVL: 1

"I blaze my circuit that scorches the path to the future for a second time!" A second Link Portal appeared above Soulburner. "The summoning conditions are two or more fire effect monsters. I set Jack Jaguar, Mole, and Balelynx in the Link Arrows!"

His monsters entered the top, bottom-left, and bottom-right arrows.

"I Link Summon! Appear! Link-3! Salamangreat Heatleo!"

A dark blue-skinned anthropomorphic lion wearing orange and red armor with wings and gauntlets shaped like mouths emerged from the portal, summoned to the Right Extra Monster Zone.

Salamangreat Heatleo ATK 2300 LINK-3 ↙↑↘

"Heatleo's effect activates! When it is Link Summoned, one card in your Spell & Trap Zone is shuffled into your Deck! Resounding Roar!"

"How about I get rid of it for you?" Roselyn responded. "I activate the Trap Card: Two-Fold Barrier!" The card showed a group of soldiers being shielded by two overlapping forcefields. "Thanks to its effect, I can pay half my Life Points to reduce all damage I receive during this turn to 0!"

Roselyn: 3400→1700 LP

"In that case, I activate the Field Spell Card: Salamangreat Sanctuary!" A large pink magic circle with white light in the center appeared above Soulburner's field. Embers started falling on the field. "Sanctuary's effect lets me Link Summon a 'Salamangreat' Link Monster by using a monster with the same name as Link Material."

Heatleo burst into flames and entered the magic circle.

"Now rise again from the valley of flames to scorch the land in a raging inferno!" A massive twister of fire exited the portal and struck Soulburner's field. "I Reincarnation Link Summon! Salamangreat Heatleo!"

Heatleo emerged from the fire with its wings on fire and a mane of flames around its neck.

Salamangreat Heatleo ATK 2300 LINK-3 ↙↑↘

"I activate the Equip Spell Card: Salamangreat Claw!" Soulburner declared. "And equip it to Heatleo." A massive orange gauntlet with two prongs at the end materialized around Heatleo's left arm. "Thanks to its effect, Heatleo can't be destroyed by battle or card effects. And when Claw is equipped to a Reincarnation Link Summoned monster, it can attack for every Link Arrow it has. Since it has three Link Arrows, Heatleo can attack three times!"

"What!?" Roselyn gasped.

"Battle! Heatleo attacks Gigaplant! Inferno Strike!"

Flames covered Heatleo's body as it spun and charged at the Venus flytrap-like monster. The fiery tornado struck Gigaplant, destroying it in an explosion.

"Next, Heatleo attacks your remaining Fluff Token!"

The previous scene was repeated as Heatleo destroyed the token, leaving Roselyn's field bare.

"That should be enough for now. I end my turn," Soulburner concluded. "Let's see you overcome my Heateo."

"It will be a fun challenge doing so!" Roselyn stated with a smile. "You have shown you'd belong in the Top 10! And I can see you don't think I'm done."

"I'm not ignorant of your Deck's power," Soulburner said. "I faced Ringmaster in the Grand Prix just like you did, and I can attest that if I faced Storm Rider, Sanctum, and the rest of the Top 10... I could have them on the ropes, and they'd bounce back with a stronger fight. I'd like to see that."

"Then, let's get to it!" Roselyn exclaimed. "My turn! I draw! I activate the Spell Card: Double Spell, whose effect allows me to discard a Spell Card to target a Spell Card in your Graveyard that was activated during the previous turn and use it. I discard Vengeful Servant to activate Foresight Draw! Through its effect, I'm forced to guess whether the top card of my Deck is a Monster, Spell or Trap Card. If I guess correctly, I draw five cards from my Deck. If I'm wrong, I must send five cards from the top of my Deck to the Graveyard and skip my next Draw Phase. I declare that my top card is a Spell Card. Now, let's see if I was correct!"

Roselyn drew a card and revealed it to Soulburner.

"Seems like my gamble was correct, meaning I can draw five cards from my Deck!"

Roselyn drew, and her eyes widened when she looked at the cards.

"Time for me to shine by using my new trick. With Scale 1 Sunlight Rose Dragon and Scale 9 Boysenberry Rose Dragon, I set the Pendulum Scale!"

Two columns of light appeared on Roselyn's sides, with a small dragon covered in orange rose petals with thorns for feet and rainbow-colored eyes in the left pillar with a stylized "1" beneath it and a small dragon with dark indigo rose petals, blue eyes, and boysenberries attached to its waist in the right pillar with a stylized "9" beneath it.

Sunlight Rose Dragon Scale: 1

Boysenberry Rose Dragon Scale: 9

"Pendulum Summon, huh…?" Soulburner murmured. "So she managed to draw both of them through Foresight Draw. This duel is about to get more challenging and intense…."

"With my current Pendulum Scale, I can simultaneously summon monsters with Levels 2 through 8!" Roselyn declared. "My Pendulum, set into bloom, engulf the world in a rain of petals that light the bridge to the future! I Pendulum Summon! Emerge, Botanical Girl and Witch of the Black Rose!"

Within moments, a portal opened between the two pillars, where two lights emerged. The lights hit the field and then dissipated, revealing two monsters. The first monster was a girl wearing plant-like clothing with her hair consisting of large rose petals and a bulb, while the second monster was a short girl with long purple hair wearing a black, purple, and white dress and wielding a staff.

Botanical Girl ATK 1300 DEF 1000 LVL: 3

Witch of the Black Rose ATK 1700 DEF 1200 LVL: 4

"Ooooh, that's my first ever Pendulum Summon!" Roselyn cheered. "It's even more impressive and cool when I use it personally! Now, let's continue. I activate the Spell Card: Pendulum Riches!" The card showed a group of men opening a treasure chest containing rubies and sapphires. "If I Pendulum Summoned monsters this turn, I draw cards equal to the number of Pendulum Summoned monsters. Since two monsters were Pendulum Summoned, I get to draw two cards! Next, I tune the Level 4 Witch of the Black Rose with the Level 3 Botanical Girl!"

A bolt of green lightning struck Roselyn, causing her monsters to disappear. Two rings, one purple and one pink. Seven blue rings were stacked in a tower, and a screen displaying "4 + 3" in front of them. The screen changed to a "7".

"Lofty rose that buds in a garden of integrity! Bloom here, watered by blue moonlight!" Roselyn chanted. "I Synchro Summon! Arise, Level 7! Black Rose Moonlight Dragon!"

A massive, black-skinned dragon with orange eyes appeared on Roselyn's field in Attack Position. It had a long, slender neck covered in roses at the back and three mandible mandibles made of roses on its head. Its feet were draconic. The dragon had a long, thorned tail and a thinner tail. After appearing on the duel field, the dragon spread its wings and unleashed a shriveling roar at Soulburner.

Black Rose Moonlight Dragon ATK 2400 DEF 1800 LVL: 7

Everyone looked in awe at Black Rose Moonlight Dragon.

"She performed a Pendulum Synchro!" Sanctum cheered.

"Not to mention she has another "Black Rose" monster besides the original!" Blue Maiden stated.

"Gotta say, Roselyn sure has some tricks!" Storm Rider smiled,

"A different Black Rose Synchro monster..." Soulburner muttered in surprise. "It looks like you have another version of your ace monster, am I right?"

"Let's just say I've been saving this monster for a special occasion," Roselyn replied. "I activate Black Rose Moonlight Dragon's effect! When it's Special Summoned, or a Level 5 or higher monster is Special Summoned to your field, I can target one Special Summoned monster you control and return it to your hand."

"Since Heatleo was Special Summoned from the Extra Deck..." Sanctum began.

"That means it will return to Soulburner's Extra Deck instead!" Blue Maiden finished.

Soulburner gritted his teeth. "I did not see this coming..." he muttered, surprised that Roselyn had this strategy planned.

"I target Salamangreat Heatleo! Rose Ballad!"

Black Rose Moonlight Dragon let out a shriveling roar at Heatleo, turning it into particles as the monster returned to Soulburner's Extra Deck.

"Battle!" Roselyn declared. "Black Rose Moonlight Dragon attacks you directly! Rose Requiem!"

Black Rose Moonlight Dragon charged up energy in its maw before firing it at Soulburner, knocking him several feet.

Soulburner: 4000→1600 LP

"I guess that should be enough for now," Roselyn remarked. "I place a card face-down and activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Double Cyclone! I can destroy one of my Spell or Trap cards in exchange for destroying one of yours! In this case, I'll destroy my set card to destroy Salamangreat Sanctuary!"

"I activate the effect of Balelynx in the Graveyard!" Soulburner declared. "If a "Salamangreat" card I control would be destroyed-."

"That's useless," Roselyn interrupted. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Called by the Grave! With its effect, I can banish a monster from your Graveyard, and until the end of the next turn, you can't activate any of the banished card's effects." Soulburner's eyes widened. "I banish Salamangreat Baelynx from your Graveyard!

Soulburner gritted his teeth. Without Baelynx, he can't save his Field Spell from being destroyed.

Two cyclones emerged from the card, one yellow and one red. The red cyclone destroyed Roselyn's set card, while the yellow cyclone destroyed Soulburner's Field Spell.

"And since my destroyed card was Dummy Marker and a card effect destroyed it, I can draw one card, plus an additional one since a Spell Card destroyed it," Roselyn drew, then she said, "I place one card face-down and end my turn."

"It's my turn!" Soulburner announced. "I draw! I activate the Spell Card Graceful Charity! I draw three cards, then send two to the Graveyard!"

He sent an unknown card and Cards of Compensation to the Graveyard.

"Then," Soulburner continued. "Since I sent Cards of Compensation to the Graveyard, I can draw two extra cards!"

He looked at his cards and smiled. "It looks like the lady luck has blessed me with the perfect cards." Roselyn blinked. "With Scale 1 Salamangreat Liger and Scale 8 Salamangreat Lio, I set the Pendulum Scale!"

Two pillars of blue light formed on both sides of Soulburners's field. The one on the left held a small and cute liger cub covered in thin, vanilla armor, wine-red-colored claws and whiskers, vivid green eyes, and a tail whose tip was covered in flames with a stylized "1" beneath it. The one on the right held a light brown-furred jackal with dark armor on its back, which emitted flames, a red visor over its eyes, and a tail that ended with an exhaustion pipe with a stylized "8" beneath it.

Salamangreat Liger Scale: 1

Salamangreat Lio Scale: 8

"So you're also resorting to Pendulum Summoning," Roselyn commented. "However, can you use them to the fullest?"

"I guess we'll find out soon enough," Soulburner responded. "With the set Pendulum Scale, I can simultaneously summon monsters from Levels 2 to 7!" He then gestured to the side of his field. "I activate Salamangreat Liger's Pendulum Effect! When this and another "Salamangreat" card are in the Pendulum Zones, I can Pendulum Summon monsters from the Graveyard!"

Roselyn's eyes widened. "What?"

"From the Graveyard?" Storm Rider, Sanctum and Blue Maiden repeated in surprise.

"Go! Reincation Pendulum Summon! Resurrect, my monsters!"

A red portal opened between the pillars, and four flaming lights shot out.

"Return, Salamangreat Meer! Salamangreat Jack Jaguar! Salamangreat Falco! And Salamangreat Fowl!"

All four Cyberse monsters formed from the lights in Attack Position.

Salamangreat Meer ATK 800 DEF 600 LVL: 2

Salamangreat Jack Jaguar ATK 1800 DEF 1200 LVL: 4

Salamangreat Falco ATK 1200 DEF 1600 LVL: 4

Salamangreat Fowl ATK 1800 DEF 200 LVL: 4

Storm Rider narrowed his eyes "…I suppose this was expected," he said, his shock giving way to a contemplative smile. "Should his hand not have enough resources, his Graveyard will inevitably end up full of monsters to compensate for that. So he developed a Pendulum Summon that works best with him."

"Pendulum Summoning… from the Graveyard?" Sanctum wondered aloud as her wide eyes stared at the duel.

Roselyn looked over Soulburner's field critically before a small smile crossed her lips. "Not bad, Soulburner. Not bad at all."

"It's about to get even better!" Soulburner stated as he gestured to the sky. "I blaze the circuit that scorches the path to the future!" A Link Portal appeared above Soulburner. "Link Arrows Authorized! The summoning conditions are two or more Fire Effect Monsters. I set Salamangreat Meer, Jack Jaguar, Falco, and Fowl in the Link Arrows!''

His monsters entered the left, top, bottom, and right Link Arrows.

''Link the Circuit!'' Soulburner shouts as the Link Portal glows and a figure burns through it. ''I Link Summon! Blazing flames of rebirth! Link 4! Salamangreat Pyro Phoenix!"

A humanoid, red-crimson creature resembling a phoenix emerges on Soulburner's field.

Salamangreat Pyro Phoenix ATK 2800 LINK-4 ←↑↓→

"Falco's effect activates! When it's sent to the Graveyard, I can target a "Salamangreat" Spell or Trap card in my Graveyard and set it to my field. I target Sanctuary!"

After Soulburner took the declared card from his Graveyard, he placed it face-down in his Field Zone.

"Yes! Soulburner got back Salamangreat Sanctuary!" Blue Maiden cheered. "Which means he can use his Reincarnation Link Summons again!"

"Next, I activate the Field Spell Card: Salamangreat Sanctuary and use its effect to use Phoenix as Link Material to summon another copy of itself."

Pyro Phoenix burst into flames and entered a magic circle that appeared in the sky. The circle exploded with fire.

"Pyro Phoenix! Let the flames engulf your body! Cause from its ashes, you will be reborn! Super Reincarnation Link Summon! Soar, Link-4! Salamangreat Pyro Phoenix!"

Once more appearing is Pyro Phoenix, only now it has majestic blue fiery twin bird-like wings, burning hotter and brighter.

Salamangreat Pyro Phoenix ATK 2800 LINK-4 ←↑↓→

"Looks like Soulburner's decided to take his game to the next level," Soulburner commentated.

''Pyro Phoenix's Reincarnation effect activates!'' Soulburner exclaimed. ''All cards on your field are destroyed!"

Pyro Phoenix spreads its arms and wings and unleashes a destructive burst of flames upon Ringmaster's field, destroying all her cards.

"At this moment, I activate the effect of the Trap Card: Forced Rebirth from my Graveyard!" Roselyn declared as the card reappeared on her field. "When a card effect destroys this card, I can Special Summon a monster from my Graveyard. Return, Black Rose Moonlight Dragon!"

The Synchro Monster reappeared on the field at Roselyn's command.

Black Rose Moonlight Dragon ATK 2400 DEF 1800 LVL: 7

"And because Moonlight Dragon was Special Summoned, its effect activates. I can target one Special Summoned monster you control and return it to your hand. I target Pyro Phoenix and return it to your Extra Deck! Rose Ballad!"

Black Rose Moonlight Dragon let out a shriveling roar at the Salamangreat Link Monster, causing Soulburner to smirk.

"You thought I didn't think ahead?" Soulburner said. "I activate the effect of Salamangreat Sparrow from my hand! By discarding it, I can target a "Salamangreat" monster on my field to have it gain 600 attack points and become unaffected by your card effects until the end of this turn."

Following Soulburner's words, a spectral image of a deep red sparrow with flaming wings and talons appeared before turning into particles, which went into Pyro Phoenix as it braced herself against Black Rose Moonlight Dragon's roar, surviving the effect in the process.

Salamangreat Pyro Phoenix ATK 2800→3400

Battle! Pyro Phoenix attacks Black Rose Moonlight Dragon! Phoenix Finisher!"

Pyro Phoenix charged a flame ball in its hands and launched the blaze at the Synchro Monster.

"I banish Two-Fold Barrier from my Graveyard to activate its second effect!" Roselyn yelled. "If a monster on my field would be destroyed due to battle or a card effect, I can prevent its destruction! As such, Black Rose is safe!"

A semi-transparent barrier that appeared around Moonlight Dragon blocked the ball of flames. However, several flames slipped past it, striking Roselyn and causing her to cry in pain.

Roselyn: 1700→700 LP

"I place two cards face-down and end my turn," Soulburner concluded. "Since it's the End Phase, the effect of Salamangreat Sparrow ends, and Pyro Phoenix's attack points return to normal."

Salamangreat Pyro Phoenix ATK 3400→2800

"That was close…." Sanctum let out a sigh of relief. "If Roselyn didn't have Forced Rebirth and Two-Fold Barrier, she would have probably lost."

"Not completely useless," Storm Rider said. "She can still use Black Rose to summon a Synchro Monster with a higher Level. Soulburner knows that well, so he tried to get rid of it. Shame it didn't work out for him."

"My turn!" Roselyn announced. "I draw! I activate the Spell Card: Card of Demise, whose effect allows me to draw until I have five cards. Next, I summon Copy Plant!"

A creature with green eyes wrapped up in roots appeared on Roslyn's field.

Copy Plant ATK 0 DEF 0 LVL: 1

"I now tune the Level 1 Copy Plant with the Level 7 Black Rose Moonlight Dragon!"

A bolt of green lightning struck Roselyn as the world greyed out, and her two monsters turned into particles. Two rings, one light brown and one red appeared before turning blue and merging. Eight blue rings stacked in a tower appeared, a screen displaying "1 + 7" in front of them. The screen changed to "8" as light surged through the rings.

"Calming wind blooms forth new flowers. Conjure the flames to cover the world that burns away sadness and hate! I Synchro Summon! Appear, Level 8! Flourished Rose!"

A beautiful, princess-like female knight with long red hair and yellow eyes wearing blue and purple-colored armor. She had a tarred white cape and wielded a white blade with a red rose-like guard and grip. She also wore a necklace that resembled a cross-like star emblem.

Flourished Rose ATK 2800 DEF 2500 LVL: 8

"Flourished Rose…?" Blue Maiden wondered.

"I've never seen that monster in any of Roselyn's duels," Sanctum mentioned. "Did she recently add it to her Deck…?"

"She probably did," Storm Rider answered. "Let's see if it's strong enough to help her win."

"Flourished Rose's effect activates!" Roselyn declared as she gestured to her monster. "When it's Special Summoned, I can banish a Plant monster from my Graveyard to reduce the attack points of one monster you control equal to the attack points of the banished monster until the end of the turn. I target Pyro Phoenix and banish Tytannial to have it lose 2800 attack points, bringing it down to 0!"

Soulburner narrowed his eyes and smiled. "That's an interesting effect, but I'm afraid I can't let you use it," he said. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Salamangreat Transcendence! I can use a "Salamangreat" Link Monster I control to Link Summon a "Salamangreat" Link Monster with the same name!"

"What?" Roselyn gasped. "Reincarnation Link Summoning with a Quick-Play Spell?"

Pyro Phoenix burst into flames and entered a magic circle that appeared in the sky. The circle exploded with fire.

"Pyro Phoenix! Let the flames engulf your body! Cause from its ashes, you will be reborn! Super Reincarnation Link Summon! Soar, Link-4! Salamangreat Pyro Phoenix!"

Pyro Phoenix appeared once more, only now it had majestic blue fiery twin bird-like wings, burning hotter and brighter.

Salamangreat Pyro Phoenix ATK 2800 LINK-4 ←↑↓→

''Pyro Phoenix's Reincarnation effect activates!'' Soulburner declared. ''All cards on your field are destroyed!"

Roselyn smirked. "I was hoping you'd do that." Souburner's eyes widened. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Effect Shut! It negates the activation of my Pyro Phoenix's effect and destroys it!"

A steel cage appeared around the Salamangreat Link Monster as electricity was generated around it, causing it to vanish from the field.

"Now, let's battle! Flourished Rose attacks you directly! Rose Sonic Slash!"

"I activate the Trap Card: Damage Diet!" Soulburner shouted. "Through its effect, all damage I receive this turn is halved!"

Following Soulburner's words, Flourished Rose charged Soulburner at insane speed and dashed right past him. Shortly her blade glowed as Soulburner suffered multiple unseen slashes, causing him to scream in pain.

Soulburner: 1600→200 LP

"I'm not done yet," Roselyn said with a sly smirk. "Thanks to its effect, Flourished Rose can attack twice per Battle Phase. Now, let's put an end to this, Soulburner! Flourished Rose, attack him again and wipe out his remaining Life Points!"

"I activate the effect of Salamangreat Reynard from my Graveyard!" Soulburner declared. "Since I took battle damage this turn, I can Special Summon it! And the best part, it can't be destroyed in battle this turn!"

A monster resembling a small bird with a crimson body and two flaming wings protruding from its back appeared on Soulburner's field, shielding him from Flourished Rose's attack.

Salamangreat Reynard ATK 1100 DEF 1100 LVL: 3

"Almost there, but not quite, eh?" Roselyn remarked. "I place two cards face-down and end my turn. At least I was able to remove Pyro Phoenix from the field."

"Don't underestimate me, Roselyn," Soulburner spoke confidently. "You think I hadn't made any preparations for such a situation? I'll go as far as to say that this was your last chance to defeat me."

"That's a bold claim," Roselyn said. "Let's see if you can back it up."

"With pleasure," Soulburner said. "It's my turn! I draw!"

"I activate my face-down!" Roselyn suddenly declared, surprising Soulburner. "The Trap Card: Discord Link!" The card showed Decode Talker being torn apart by a light at its center. "With this card's effect, neither player can Link Summon until the 2nd Standby Phase after activation. In other words, until your next Standby Phase!"

Soulburner gritted his teeth. He had to admit, that was a smart move; most of Extra Deck contained Link Monsters. Still, there was something he could do that would help him win without Link Summoning.

"I activate the Spell Card: Pendulum Card Burst! By destroying two Pendulum Cards on my field, like Salamangreat Liger and Lio, I get to draw two cards!"

Both Pendulum Monsters were destroyed as Soulburner drew. Upon checking his drawn cards, he let out a small smile.

"Looks like I got a good haul. Time to put them to good use. But first, I activate Salamangreat Liger and Lio's effects! When they're destroyed while in the Pendulum Zone and sent to my Extra Deck, I can Special Summon them!"

Following his words, Liger and Lio reappeared on Soulburner's field in the Main Monster Zones and roared.

Salamangreat Liger ATK 1500 DEF 1200 LVL: 4 PS: 1

Salamangreat Lio ATK 1700 DEF 1000 LVL: 4 PS: 8

"From there, I activate the Quick-Play Spell: Cynet Backdoor!" Soulburner continued. "This card banishes a Cyberse monster I control and lets me add a Cyberse monster with less attack points from my Deck to my hand. I banish Salamangreat Reynard and add Salamangreat Hummingbird to my hand."

As he took the card from his Deck, Reynard disappeared.

"Due to Cynet Backdoor's other effect, Salamangreat Reynard will return during Soulburner's next Standby Phase," Storm Rider said. "And when it returns, it can attack you directly."

"That's if Soulburner survives Roselyn's next turn," Sanctum pointed out.

"But something tells me that Soulburner plans to end things this turn," Blue Maiden stated.

Soulburner narrowed his eyes at Roselyn. "Your tactics may have evolved, but my Deck embodies evolution itself!" he declared. "There's no end to its growth, as you'll see. I activate Salamangreat Hummingbird's effect from my hand! By reducing Salamangreat Lio's Level by 3, I can Special Summon it!"

A flaming red aura surrounded Lio as a small child wearing a hummingbird with green mechanical armor on its body and flames coming out of its wings and beak appeared in Attack Position.

Salamangreat Hummingbird ATK 500 DEF 2000 LVL: 3

Salamangreat Lio LVL: 4→1

Roselyn narrowed her eyes at the new monster before looking up its stats. Her eyes widened. "That monster's a Tuner!?" she cried out in shock. "Don't tell me you—!"

"It's exactly as you think." Soulburner grinned. "Level 3 Salamangreat Hummingbird tunes Level 1 Salamangreat Lio and Level 4 Salamangreat Liger!"

A bolt of green lightning struck Soulburner as the world turned gray. A wave of energy swept across his field and disintegrated Hummingbird, Lio, and Liger, turning them into particles. Those particles turned into three red circles, with the latter two composed of four and one concentric circle – stacked above each other. The circles turned blue and then merged. Numerous blue-green rectangles appeared and formed a circle, while eight blue rings formed in the middle and arranged themselves in a tower. A screen above the tower showed "3 + 1 + 4" before shifting to "8". A beam of light shot through the rings.

"Blazing Speed! Let lightning become a fire that sparks new life and overpowers despair! I Synchro Summon! Charge, Level 8! Salamangreat Pearl Kirin!"

Emerging from the beam of light was a white armored coated horse-like creature with a sharp white mane, electrical glowing blue eyes with blue steel color metal parts and yellow lining. It had a lightning bolt-shaped horn on top of its forehead, releasing sparks of electrical flame, and each of its hooves was shaped like small engines that released fiery orange flames from its soles. It roared as it appeared on Soulburner's field in Attack Position.

Salamangreat Pearl Kirin ATK 2800 DEF 2000 LVL: 8

"Hoh, that's interesting." Storm Rider smirked while observing the Duel. "It appears Soulburner possessed much more power than we thought. Still, this is well within my predictions."

"Salamangreat Pearl Kirin's effect activates!" Soulburner declared. "Since it was successfully Synchro Summoned, I can target and destroy cards on the field up to its Synchro Materials!" Roselyn gasped. "Kirin had three Synchro Materials. So I can destroy three cards! White Shockfire!"

Roselyn gritted her teeth and gestured to her field. "I activate the Trap Card: Courageous Heart!" she declared. "Through its effect, by paying half my Life Points, I can negate your Pearl Kirin's effects!"

A portal appeared before the Salamangreat Synchro Monster as it emitted a beam of purple light that drained its power. At the same time, Roselyn was enveloped by a black aura that caused her to wince.

Roselyn: 700→350 LP

Soulburner frowned but then smirked. "Well, that was a bummer. I was hoping I could finish this off with a direct attack. Still, I can roll with this. Battle! Salamangreat Pearl Kirin attacks Flourished Rose!"

"Both our monsters have the same attack points!" Roselyn pointed out. "And thanks to Flourished Rose's effect, I can Special Summon a "Rose Dragon" monster from my hand, Deck or Graveyard during the End Phase. So come my next turn, I'll end up the winner!"

"Don't be too sure about that!" Soulburner said with a smile. "I activate the Trap Card: Majesty of Fire from my hand! And I can do so since I control a "Salamangreat" Synchro Monster," he explained. "When this card is activated, I can double the attack points of a "Salamangreat" monster on my field until the End Phase. I double Salamangreat Pearl Kirin's attack points!"

The Synchro Monster glowed red as its attack points increased.

Salamangreat Pearl Kirin ATK 2800→5600

"Continue your attack, Pearl Kirin! Flame Storm!"

"If this attack hits, Roselyn is finished!" Blue Maiden exclaimed.

Roselyn smiled. "That's what I was waiting for," she said.

"What?" Soulburner said, shocked at her reaction. Storm Rider, Blue Maiden, and Sanctum had similar facial expressions.

"I activate the effect of Pulsing Roses from my hand!" Roselyn declared, revealing the card to everyone. "If I would take damage this turn, I can make it so you any damage I take this turn, you take as well!"

Soulburner's eyes widened. "But… the damage will end up being…."

"2800," Sanctum said, her amazement evident.

Two giant red roses on the same stem briefly appeared on Roselyn's field. Pearl Kirin raised its horn to the sky, which unleashed a flaming lightning strike that descended and struck Flourished Rose, destroying it in a massive explosion, which was absorbed by the giant red roses. One turned in Roselyn's direction, while the other turned in Soulburner's direction. After doing so, both red roses fired an explosion at them, knocking each one off their feet and causing them to land on their backs, effectively ending the duel.

Soulburner: 200→0 LP

Roselyn: 350→0 LP

"What," Blue Maiden said, her eyes wide. "What just happened?"

"It was a draw," Storm Rider said, his eyes wide. "Their Life Points hit 0 at the same time."

Sanctum watched in silence, then yelled, "Roselyn!" She ran over to her and leaned down next to the girl. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," she said, standing up a little shakily. "That… that was one of the best duels I've ever had!"

"Same here," Soulburneer said, standing up just as shakily as Roselyn. "I wasn't expecting you to summon another version of Black Rose Dragon or a Level 8 Synchro Monster. And that last card…" he laughed. "If I had used Transcendence on the turn I summoned Pyro Phoenix, I would have won. But I wanted the duel to last longer."

"Yeah," Roselyn chuckled. "I kind of guessed that."

"Wow, I assumed one of you would've thrown a fit given how serious the two of you were," Storm Rider said, scratching his cheek.

"This was merely a practice duel," Roselyn stated. "It wasn't like we were getting graded on this."

"She's not wrong," Sanctum agreed as she turned to Storm Rider. "Anyway, now that this duel's over, it's yours and Blue Maiden's turn."

"This sounds like it's going to be a good match," Soulburner said.

"And I'll bet they have a few tricks up their sleeve just like us," Roselyn said.

Soulburner and Roselyn stepped back with Sanctum as Storm Rider, and Blue Maiden took their places and activated their Duel Disk.

Blue Maiden narrowed her eyes. "How about we make this duel a bit more interesting?"

Storm Rider raised an eyebrow. "What did you have in mind?"

"How about we have an Action Duel instead of having a regular old duel?"

Storm Rider's eyes widened. "An Action Duel!?" he repeated.

"You heard right," Sanctum said. "Kolter thought it would be fun and cool if this private server allowed the use of Action Fields, she explained. "I honestly forgot about it until Blue Maiden mentioned it."

"Aw, man," Soulburner frowned as he turned to Roselyn. "If we had known that, we could've done an Action Duel too."

Roselyn smiled. "Don't worry. We can have one next time."

"An Action Duel…" Storm Rider pondered this for a moment before making a decision. "I accept."

Blue Maiden smiled. "Very well. Then let's not waste time. Sanctum?"

The girl nodded. "With pleasure! Action Field On!"

Following her words, the giant card above the field began spinning, stopping after a few seconds.

"The Action Field for this Duel is—Wisom Fountain!"

Sanctum announced enthusiastically, after which the floor lit up beneath them. The field glowed as a large beautiful crystal tower surrounded by a lake appeared. Purple and blue crystals floated through the lake. Across the lake, connecting the tower to a town (though the town itself was just a background, not a Solid Vision feature) was a white bridge looking like marble. Storm Rider and Blue Maiden stood on the bridge, with Storm Rider having his back to the tower.

"Duelists locked in battle!"

Storm Rider began the Action Duel chant, with Blue Maiden continuing after him.

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

"They storm through this field!"

"Behold! The newest and greatest evolution of Dueling!"

"Action—!" Sanctum, Soulburner and Roselyn exclaimed.

"Duel!" Storm Rider and Blue Maiden shouted together as the Action Cards scattered across the field.

Storm Rider: 4000 LP

Blue Maiden: 4000 LP

"The first turn is mine!" Blue Maiden announced. "I summon Marincess Blue Tang!"

A woman with long blue hair tied into a ponytail appeared, wearing a black vest over a blue dress.

Marincess Blue Tang ATK 1500 DEF 1200 LVL: 4

"Blue Tang's effect activates! When Normal or Special Summoned, I can send a "Marincess" monster from my Deck to the Graveyard. I send Marincess Sea Horse to the Graveyard." Blue Maiden raised her hand. "Shine, the circuit of friendship and bonds! Link Arrow authorized! The summoning condition is one Level 4 or lower "Marincess" monster. I set Blue Tang in the Link Arrow!"

The woman entered the bottom arrow.

"Link the Circuit! I Link Summon! Appear! Link-1! Marincess Blue Slug!"

A short blue-haired girl in a blue dress and tights emerged from the portal into the Right Extra Monster Zone.

Marincess Blue Slug ATK 1500 LINK-1 ↓

"Since Blue Tang was sent to the Graveyard to Link Summon a Water monster, I can excavate the top three cards of my Deck and add a "Marincess" card among them to my hand, then shuffle the rest into my Deck." Blue Maiden pulled out three cards: Marincess Sea Turtle, Marincess Decision, and Marincess Splash. She added Sea Turtle to her hand and returned the other two to her Deck.

"When Link Summoned, I can activate Blue Slug's effect!" Blue Maiden stated. "I target one "Marincess" Monster in my Graveyard and add it to my hand. I choose Sea Horse. I Special Summon Marincess Sea Horse!"

A blonde girl in a dress, pink and golden dress appeared at Blue Slug's Link Arrow in Attack Position.

Marincess Sea Horse ATK 1400 DEF 1000 LVL: 3

"Sea Horse can be Special Summoned to a "Marincess" monster's Link Marker. Shine again, the circuit of friendship and bonds! The summoning conditions are two Water monsters. I set Sea Horse and Blue Slug in the Link Arrows!"

Blue Maiden's monsters entered the left and bottom arrows.

"I Link Summon! Appear! Link-2! Marincess Coral Anemone!"

An orange-haired woman in a yellow, pink, and orange dress appeared in the Right Extra Monster Zone.

Marincess Coral Anemone ATK 2000 LINK-2 ←↓

"I activate Coral Anemone's effect! Once per turn, I can Special Summon a Water monster to Coral Anemone's Link Arrow. Resurrect, Blue Slug!"

The short blue-haired girl reappeared at Coral Anemone's bottom Link Arrow in Attack Position.

Marincess Blue Slug ATK 1500 LINK-1 ↓

"Two Link Monsters in one go…." Storm Rider muttered. "I think I know what's coming next."

"For a third time, shine! The circuit of friendship and bonds! The summoning conditions are two or more Water monsters. I set Blue Slug and Link-2 Coral Anemone in the Link Arrows!"

The two monsters entered the left, bottom, and right arrows.

"I Link Summon! Appear! Link-3! Marincess Marbled Rock!"

A woman with spiky blue hair emerged from the portal at the Right Extra Monster Zone. She wore a red armored dress with fins on the sides and coral on her forehead and shoulders.

Marincess Marbled Rock ATK 2500 LINK-3 ←↓→

"It's only the first turn, yet Blue Maiden has already summoned Link-3 Link Monster," Roselyn noted. "She sure is going all out."

"Since Coral Anemone was sent to the Graveyard, I can add a "Marincess" card from my Graveyard to my hand. I'll add Marincess Blue Tang to my hand. Next, I activate Marbled Rock's effect! Once per turn, I can add a "Marincess" card from my Graveyard to my hand. I'll return Coral Anemone to my Extra Deck! Next, I activate the Spell Card: Marincess Stream Flux!" The card depicted an image of Blue Slug and Coral Anemone releasing torrents of water at Armored Kappa. "By targeting a "Marincess" Link Monster, in this case, Marbled Rock, you take 200 damage for each Link Arrow it has. Since it's Link-3, you take 600 points of damage!"

Three streams of water erupted from the card, washing over Storm Rider and sending him skidding back.

Storm Rider: 4000→3400 LP

"I place two cards face-down and end my turn," Blue Maiden concluded.

"Blue Maiden successfully dealt damage on her first turn," Soulburner noted. "Now, how will Storm Rider respond to this!?"

"Blue Maiden seems very pumped," Sanctum remarked. "She must be eager to show she can hold her own against Storm Rider."

"That was a good start, Blue Maiden," Storm Rider said with a smile. "Allow me to respond in kind. My turn! I draw!" Looking at his card, Storm Rider chose a different one. "I activate the Spell Card: Cycode Gift! By discarding a "Cycode" card, I draw two cards." He discarded Cycode Illusionist, drew, then said, "I Special Summon Cycode Armorer!"

A large robot wearing blacksmith's clothes covered with a metallic black apron appeared on Storm Rider's field in Attack Position. Its wielded a metal hammer in its right hand.

Cycode Armorer ATK 1200 DEF 2000 LVL: 6

"Armorer can be Special Summoned when you control a Link Monster," Storm Rider explained. "I activate Cycode Armorer's effect! I can target a Link Monster on the field and send Armorer to the Graveyard to Special Summon Cycode Armor Tokens to my field, equal to that monster's Link Rating. I target Marbled Rock, which means I summon three Cycode Armor Tokens!"

Armorer disappeared, and in its place rose three dwarf robots in blacksmith's clothes, both in Attack Position.

Cycode Armor Token ATK 0 DEF 0 LVL: 2 x 3

"Appear, my circuit!" The Link Portal materialized above Storm Rider. "Link Arrows authorized! The summoning condition is one "Cycode" monster. I set one Cycode Armor Token in the Link Arrow!"

The token became a whirlwind of energy and entered the right arrow, turning it red.

"Link the Circuit! I Link Summon! Link-1! Cycode Apprentice!"

A young mage in digital orange and gray hooded magician robes, wielding a small wand lit in flames, emerged from the portal, summoned to Extra Monster Zone.

Cycode Apprentice ATK 1000 LINK-1 →

"Apprentice's effect activates! When it is Link Summoned, I draw a card!" Storm Rider drew, then said, "And because there is a Cyberse Link Monster on the field, I can Special Summon Cycode Prisoner!"

The cyborg in a prisoner's uniform appeared in Attack Position.

Cycode Prisoner ATK 1600 DEF 2100 LVL: 5

Storm Rider raised his right hand. "Appear again, my circuit! The summoning conditions are two Effect Monsters, including a "Cycode" monster. I set Cycode Apprentice and Cycode Prisoner in the Link Arrows!"

The monsters entered the top and bottom arrows.

"I Link Summon! Appear! Link-2! Cycode Squire!"

A warrior in gray armor with pale green lining emerged from the portal at the Extra Monster Zone, swinging a white greatsword.

Cycode Squire ATK 1300 LINK-2 ↑↓

"Prisoner's effect activates! When it is used to Link Summon a "Cycode" Link Monster, I can add a "Cycode" card from my Deck to my hand." Storm Rider took a card from his Deck and smirked. I summon Cycode Dancer!"

A robotic female in a pink leotard with pink dancing shoed appeared and did a pirouette.

Cycode Dancer ATK 1000 DEF 200 LVL: 2

"Since Dancer was Normal Summoned while I control a "Cycode" monster, I can Special Summon a Level 2 or lower "Cycode" monster from my hand or Deck." A card popped out of his Deck, which he took and placed on his Duel Disk. "I summon Cycode Coder!"

An alien in a lab coat appeared on its field. It carried a laptop under one arm and had small pieces of armor on its shoulders and lower legs.

Cycode Coder ATK 0 DEF 0 LVL: 1

"Coder's effect continues!" Storm Rider continued. "When this monster is Summoned, I can add one "Cycode" card from my Deck to my hand, but then I must send a card from my hand, Deck, or field to the Graveyard."

Storm Rider took two cards from his Deck. He added one to his hand and sent the other to the Graveyard.

"Now, I'll create my circuit for a third time!" Storm Rider raised his hand as it glowed blue and shot a lightning bolt, creating a Link Portal. "Link Arrows authorized! The summoning conditions are two Level 4 or lower "Cycode" monsters. I set one of my Armor Tokens and Dancer in the Link Arrows!"

Said monsters entered the top and right arrows, turning them red.

"Link the Circuit! Link Summon! Appear! Link-2! Cycode Wild Outlaw!"

A robotic male humanoid emerged from the portal. The robot wore a brown cowboy hat over his blonde hair and had a mustache. It also wore blue jeans with white frills, a red handkerchief around its neck, brown boots, a white shirt and a black vest over it. A dark red cape with maroon lining hung from its shoulders, and two flintlock pistols were holstered in two dark brown leather holsters on its hips. It aimed one of its pistols as it was summoned to Cycode Squire's bottom Link Arrow.

Cycode Wild Outlaw ATK 1900 LINK-2 ↑→

Blue Maiden blinked. "Two new "Cycode" Link Monsters? Since when did he add those cards to his Deck…."

"Hey, Sanctum, doesn't that monster…?" Sanctum remained silent in response to Roselyn's query and kept watching.

"Dancer's effect activates!" Storm Rider declared. "Since it was used to Link Summon a "Cycode" Link Monster, that monster gains 600 attack points!"

Cycode Wild Outlaw ATK 1900→2500

"Furthermore, Code Squire's effect! All monsters you control lose 500 attack and defense points for each monster it points to."

Blue Maiden gasped as her monster was weakened.

Marincess Marbled Rock ATK 2500→2000

Storm Rider narrowed his eyes. "This is my final Link Summon!" His hand glowed blue as the Link Portal appeared above him. "The summoning conditions are two "Cycode" monsters. I set my last Armor Token and Coder in the Link Arrows!"

His monsters became whirlwinds of energy and entered the left and bottom-right arrows, turning red.

"I Link Summon! Link-2! Cycode Hunter!"

A cybernetic humanoid emerged from the Link Portal at Cycode Wild Outlaw's right Link Arrow. It wore silver gauntlets with futuristic pistols on its forearms, and a cobalt mask covered its mouth. It also wore a navy blue cape with white lines hanging from its shoulders, and instead of eyes, it had two light blue lenses that were constantly whirling.

Cycode Hunter 1600 LINK-2 ←↘

"Link Summoning four times in a turn!?" Soulburner said in surprise.

Storm Rider gestured to his field. "Battle! Cycode Wild Outlaw attacks Marincess Marbled Rock!"

Blue Maiden's eyes narrowed as she rushed forward, grabbing an Action Card from the tower's walls. "Marbled Rock's effect activates! When your monster declares an attack, I can discard a "Marincess" monster to prevent my "Marincess" monster's destruction and reduce the damage to 0!"

"That's not going to happen!" Storm Rider stated. "I activate Wild Outlaw's effect! Once per turn, when it points to at least one monster, I can activate a "Cycode" Spell or Trap Card from my hand." Storm Rider played the card he'd gained from Prisoner's effect. "I activate the Counter Trap Card: Recode Counter!" The card showed Cycode Gaia Charger bracing multiple energy beams. "Thanks to this card's effect, it's treated as a "Cycode" card. And since you activated a monster effect while you control a "Cycode" monster, I can negate that effect and have all cards I control be unaffected by your monster effects until the end of the turn."

"What!?" Blue Maiden said in surprise as Marbled Rock greyed out and Storm Rider's monsters became transparent.

"In that case, I activate the Action Spell Card: Miracle!" Blue Maiden declared. "Through its effect, Marbled Rock won't be destroyed by this battle, and the battle damage is halved!"

Following Blue Maiden's words, the robot unholstered its pistols and blasted Marbled Rock but failed to destroy Marbled Rock due to a semi-transparent barrier that enveloped it. The ensuing shockwave sent Blue Maiden skidding backwards.

Blue Maiden: 4000→3750 LP

"In that case, I'll have Cycode Hunter attack Marbled Rock!"

As Hunter charged towards Marbled Rock, Storm Rider picked up an Action Card from a lantern hanging above his head.

"I activate the Action Spell Card: Charge Recklessly, increasing Cycode Hunter's attack by 600 during damage calculation!"

Cycode Hunter ATK 1600→2200

Hunter quickly punched Marbled Rock in the chest, destroying it and making Blue Maiden wince.

Blue Maiden: 3750→3550 LP

"Go! Cycode Squire attacks you directly!"

The monster charged as it slashed Blue Maiden with its sword. After the monster relented, Blue Maiden fell to one knee.

Blue Maiden: 3550→2250 LP

Cycode Hunter ATK 2200→1600

"Man, Blue Maiden is in trouble even with the help of her Marincess monsters!" Roselyn exclaimed.

"And it's worse since Storm Rider has three Link Monsters on his field," Soulburner added.

"Meaning, Storm holds the advantage now." Sanctumnoted. "But I believe Blue Maiden won't back down without a fight."

"I activate my face-down!" Blue Maiden declared. "The Trap Card: Cyberse Beacon! Since I took damage, I can add one Level 4 or lower Cyberse monster from my Deck to my hand. I add Marincess Blue Tang from my Deck to my hand!"

"Looks like she's preparing for her comeback next turn," Storm Rider muttered. "I place one card face-down and end my turn. Was my starting attack a bit too much? You look out of breath already. Perhaps I should take it a bit easier?"

"Don't joke with me." Blue Maiden scoffed at Storm Rider's words. "This is just a warm-up for me. The real deal starts from here. My turn! I draw! I summon Marincess Blue Tang!"

The woman with long blue hair tied into a ponytail reappeared.

Marincess Blue Tang ATK 1500→1000 DEF 1200→700 LVL: 4

"Blue Tang's effect activates! When she is Normal or Special Summoned, I can send a "Marincess" monster from my Deck to the Graveyard. I send Marincess Sea Horse to the Graveyard." Blue Maiden raised her hand. "Shine, the circuit of friendship and bonds! Link Arrow authorized! The summoning condition is one Level 4 or lower "Marincess" monster. I set Blue Tang in the Link Arrow!"

The woman entered the bottom arrow.

"I Link Summon! Appear! Link-1! Marincess Blue Slug!"

The short blue-haired girl in a blue dress and tights reappeared in the Right Extra Monster Zone.

Marincess Blue Slug ATK 1500→1000 LINK-1 ↓

"I activate the Trap Card: Cynet Regression!" Blue Maiden declared. "As I Special Summoned a Link Monster, I can target and destroy one card on the field! I destroy Cycode Wild Overlaw!"

Storm Rider gestured to his field. "I activate Wild Outlaw's effect!" he declared.

"Eh?" Blue Maiden blinked. "You can use that effect during our turn!?"

"I activate the Trap Card: Cycode Shift from my hand!" Storm Rider declared. The card showed Cycode Architect jumping in front of Cycode Fortress Golem. "Since you targeted a "Cycode" monster with a card effect, I can banish Cycode Shift to change the target to another appropriate card. Your Trap Card will now destroy Cycode Squire instead!"

Following Storm Rider's words, the small warrior disintegrated.

Marincess Blue Slug ATK 1000→1500 LINK-1 ↓

Blue Maiden gritted her teeth. "But since Squire's no longer on the field, Blue Slug's attack points revert to normal."

"Cynet Regression's effect then lets me draw a card. And since Blue Tang was sent to the Graveyard to Link Summon a Water monster, I can excavate the top three cards of my Deck and add a "Marincess" card among them to my hand, then shuffle the rest into my Deck." Blue Maiden pulled out three cards: Marincess Mandarin, Marincess Bubble Circle, and Marincess Battle Ocean. She added Battle Ocean to her hand and returned the other two to her Deck.

"When Link Summoned, I can activate Blue Slug's effect!" Blue Maiden stated. "I target one "Marincess" Monster in my Graveyard and add it to my hand. I choose Sea Horse. Next, I discard Marincess Mandarin to Special Summon Marincess Harlequin from my hand!"

Emerging from a twister of bubbles was a young woman with fair skin, blue eyes, black hair tied up in a high ponytail, earrings decorated with blue gems and a necklace with a heart-shaped crystal, dressed in a white costume with blue heart patterns over it, white gloves, a white ball mask, and blue fins attached to her boots and elbows.

Marincess Harlequin ATK 2000 DEF 900 LVL: 5

"I can Special Summon her by discarding another "Marincess" Monster from my hand," Blue Maiden explained. "Next, I activate Marincess Sea Horse's effect from my hand! I Special Summon it to Blue Slug's Link Arrow!"

The blonde girl reappeared again at Blue Slug's bottom Link Arrow and smiled at Blue Maiden's opponent.

Marincess Sea Horse ATK 1400 DEF 1000 LVL: 3

"Shine again, the circuit of friendship and bonds! The summoning conditions are two Water monsters. I set Sea Horse and Blue Slug in the Link Arrows!"

Her monsters entered the left and bottom arrows.

"I Link Summon! Appear! Link-2! Marincess Coral Anemone!"

The orange-haired woman reappeared in the Extra Monster Zone and giggled.

Marincess Coral Anemone ATK 2000 LINK-2 ←↓

"In that case, I activate Coral Anemone's effect! Once per turn, I can Special Summon a Water monster to Coral Anemone's Link Arrow. Resurrect, Marbled Rock!"

The spiky-haired woman in a red dress reappeared at Coral Anemone's bottom Link Arrow in Attack Position.

Marincess Marbled Rock ATK 2500 LINK-3 ←↓→

"I activate Marbled Rock's effect!" Blue Maiden "Once per turn, I can add a "Marincess" card in my Graveyard to my hand. I add Sea Horse to my hand! And since I control two or more "Marincess" Link Monsters, I'm allowed to Special Summon Marincess Mandarin from the Graveyard!"

A pink-haired girl in an orange robe over a blue skirt appeared at Marbled Rock's left Link Arrow in Defense Position.

Marincess Mandarin ATK 100 DEF 100 LVL: 1

Blue Maiden raised her hand. "Shine again, the circuit of friendship and bonds! The summoning conditions are two Water monsters. I set Mandarin and Harlequinn in the Link Arrows!"

Blue Maiden's monsters entered the bottom and right arrows.

"I Link Summon! Appear! Link-2! Marincess Cnidarian!"

A young teenage girl with long pink hair with tentacle-like strains like a jellyfish emerged from the portal at Marbled Rock's left Link Arrow. She wore a blue, purple-pink royal-like dress that was Jellfyfish themed with a tentacle-like skirt.

Marincess Cnidarian ATK 1700 LINK-2 ↓→

"Since I used Harlequin to Link Summon a "Marincess" monster. I can return one of your monsters to your hand! I choose Wild Outlaw!"

"Naïve!" Storm Rider exclaimed as he bounced up and grabbed onto one of the bridge's support beams, climbing up and grabbing an Action Card from the top. "I activate the Action Spell Card: Invisibility! Until the end of this turn, Outlaw can't be targeted by card effects!"

"Not bad," Blue Maiden praised her opponent. "At this moment, Cnidarian's effect activates! When she is Link Summoned, I can add a "Marincess" Trap Card from my Deck to my hand. I add Marincess Snow to my hand. Next, I activate the Field Spell Card: Marincess Battle Ocean! This card increases my "Marincess" monsters' attack points by 200!"

Marincess Cnidarian ATK 1700→1900

Marincess Coral Anemone ATK 2000→2200

Marincess Marbled Rock ATK 2500→2700

"I activate the effect of Marincess Sea Star in my hand! One "Marincess" monster I control gains 800 attack points by discarding it. I increase Marbled Rock's attack points!"

Marincess Marbled Rock ATK 2700→3500

Blue Maiden gestured to her field. "Battle! Marbled Rock attacks Cycode Wild Outlaw! Marincess Submerge!"

"Not so fast!" Storm Rider exclaimed. "I activate the Cycode Hunter's effect! When you declare an attack, I can negate that attack!"

"Sorry, but I can't allow that to happen!" Blue Maiden abruptly stated. "I activate the Trap Card: Marincess Crystal Whirlpool from my hand! I can activate this card from my hand if I control a Link-3 or higher "Marincess" Link Monster. And since you activated a Spell, Trap, or monster effect while I control a "Marincess" Link Monster in the Extra Monster Zone, the activation of that card is negated and destroyed!"

Storm Rider blinked as his Link Monster vanished.

"Furthermore, Crystal Whirlpool inflicts 200 points of damage to you for every other card on the field! There are six cards, so you take 1200 points of damage!"

A giant whirlpool appeared in the center of the field and struck Candyman, sending him tumbling back.

Storm Rider: 3400→2200 LP

"Not only that, but Marbled Rock's attack continues!"

The sphere of water struck Wild Outlaw in the chest, destroying it and making Storm Rider wince.

Storm Rider: 2200→2000 LP

"Yes!" Blue Maiden cheered. "This ends now! Marincess Coral Anemone, attack Storm Rider!"

Coral Anemone brought her hands together as they glowed blue. She blasted a stream of water at Storm Rider.

"I activate my face-down!" he declared, surprising Blue Maiden. "The Counter Trap Card: Cycode Barricade!" The card showed Cycode Talker standing before Cycode Squire, blocking a blast of energy. "If you attack me directly with a monster whose attack points are greater than or equal to my Life Points, the attack is negated!"

A barrier appeared around him, blocking Coral Anemone's attack.

"What?" Blue Maiden said, surprised at his Trap Card.

"And then," Storm Rider continued, "I can Special Summon one "Cycode" Link Monster from my Graveyard whose attack points are equal to or less than the damage I would have taken. I bring back Cycode Apprentice!"

The hooded mage reappeared next to Strider.

Cycode Apprentice ATK 1000 LINK-1 →

"And now, the third part of Barricade's effect!" he declared. "You take damage equal to the difference between my Life Points and Apprentice's attack points!"

Soulburner narrowed his eyes. "Apprentice has 1000 attack points, and Sttorm Rider has 2000 Life Points. That meant…

"Blue Maiden takes 1000 points of damage," Roselyn finished.

The Trap Card blasted Blue Maiden. In response, Blue Maiden dashed to the side of the bridge and flipped over it, grabbing an Action Card from beneath.

"I activate the Action Spell Card: Acceleration!" Blue Maiden declared. "One instance of effect damage becomes 0!" Storm Rider gritted his teeth. Finally, Marincess Cnidarian attacks Cycode Apprentice!"

Storm Rider signaled Apprentice, who tossed him up, allowing him to grab an Action Card wedged in the crystal tower's walls.

"I activate the Action Spell Card: Twilight Healing!" Storm Rider exclaimed. "Thorough its effect, I can negate one instance of damage and increase our Life Points equal to the negated damage!"

Cnidarian stabbed Apprentice all over its body with its hair-like tentacles, destroying it, with its remains turning into particles of light that enveloped Storm Rider and Blue Maiden.

Storm Rider: 2000→2900 LP

Blue Maiden: 2250→3150 LP

Blue Maiden sighed. "Guess I have no choice but to place three cards face-down and end my turn. Since it's the End Phase, Sea Star's effect wears off."

Marincess Marbled Rock ATK 3500→2700

"My turn! I draw!" Storm Rider looked at his new card, added it to his hand, and chose a different one. "I activate the Continuous Spell Card: Cyberse Infinite Coding! This card gains a Cyberse Counter every time a Cyberse monster is Link Summoned." Blue Maiden narrowed her eyes. Since she and Storm Rider have Cyberse decks, that card would fill up on counters quickly. "And since you control monsters and I don't, I'm allowed to Special Summon Cycode Swordsman from my hand!"

A man in cybernetic blue armor carrying futuristic swords appeared.

Cycode Swordsman ATK 1200 DEF 900 LVL: 3

"Since Swordsman was Special Summoned by its effect, I can add one "Cycode" monster from my Deck to my hand," Storm Rider said. "I add Cycode Linker to my hand." He did so, then said, "Next, I activate the Spell Card: Cycode Maintenace! With its effect, I add Cycode Dancer from my Graveyard to my hand, which I'll summon!"

The robot in a leotard materialized in Attack Position.

"Since Dancer was Normal Summoned while I control a "Cycode" monster, I can Special Summon a Level 2 or lower "Cycode" monster from my hand or Deck. From my Deck, I Special Summon Cycode Kid!"

A small robotic boy in a t-shirt and cap appeared on Storm Rider's field.

Cycode Kid ATK 300 DEF 200 LVL: 1

"Now, I'll create my circuit!"

Storm Rider raised his hand as it glowed blue and shot a lightning bolt, creating a Link Portal.

"Link Arrow authorized! The summoning condition is one Cyberse monster! I set Cycode Swordsman in the Link Arrow!"

Swordsman entered the bottom-left arrow, turning it red.

"Link the Circuit! I Link Summon! Appear! Link-1! Cycode Sky Eagle!"

A light green cybernetic eagle-like monster appeared in the Right Extra Monster Zone with turbine-like wings.

Cycode Sky Eagle ATK 300 LINK-1 ↙

"Because a Cyberse monster was Link Summoned, Infinite Coding gains one Cyberse Counter!"

Cyberse Infinite Coding: 0 CC→1 CC

"Sky Eagle's effect activates!" Storm Rider continued. "When it's Link Summoned, I can add a "Cycode" monster from my Graveyard to my hand. I return Cycode Swordsman to my hand. Now, I'll build my circuit again!"

The Link Portal appeared again above Storm Rider.

"The summoning conditions are two Cyberse monsters, except Tokens. I set Cycode Dancer and Kid in the Link Arrows!"

His monsters became whirlwinds of energy and entered the left and right arrows, turning them red.

"I Link Summon! Link-2! Cycode Binal Sorceress!"

A white robotic-like humanoid monster with silver coating and feet appeared, summoned to Sky Eagle's bottom-left Link Arrow.

Cycode Binal Sorceress ATK 1600 LINK-2 ←→

"Because another Cyberse monster was Link Summoned, Infinite Coding gains another Cyberse Counter!"

Cyberse Infinite Coding: 1 CC→2 CC

"Cycode Kid's effect activates!" Storm Rider declared. "When this card is used to Link Summon a "Cycode" Link Monster, I can target and destroy one face-up card on my opponent's field!"

"What?" Blue Maiden said.

"I destroy Marincess Marbled Rock!"

The Link 3 Marincess monster disintegrated as Blue Maiden frowned. Storm Rider could now destroy her monsters with ease.

"And since I control a "Cycode" monster," Storm Rider said. "I Special Summon Cycode Linker from my hand!"

The robot in black armor wearing gauntlets with red arrows appeared in Attack Position.

Cycode Linker ATK 1700 DEF 800 LVL: 4

"Appear again, my circuit!"

For a third time, the Link Portal appeared above Storm Rider.

"Link Arrows authorized! The summoning conditions are two "Cycode" monsters. I set Cycode Sky Eagle and Linker in the Link Arrows!"

His monsters became whirlwinds of energy before entering the left and bottom arrows.

"Link the Circuit! I Link Summon! Link-2! Cycode Administrator!"

A large blue mechanical humanoid emerged from the portal, summoned to Cycode Binal Sorceress's left Link Arrow.

Cycode Administrator ATK 1200 LINK-2 →↙

Cyberse Infinite Coding: 2 CC→3 CC

"Cycode Administrator's effect! All "Cycode" Link Monsters I control gain 800 attack points!"

Cycode Administrator ATK 1200→2000

Cycode Binal Sorceress ATK 1600→2400

"Since I used Cycode Sky Eagle to Link Summon Administrator, its second effect activates!" Storm Rider added. "All my monsters gain 400 attack points!"

Cycode Administrator ATK 2000→2400

Cycode Binal Sorceress ATK 2400→2800

"I activate the second effect of Infinite Coding!" Storm Rider shouted. "By removing two Cyberse Counters, I draw one card!"

Cyberse Infinite Coding: 3 CC→1 CC

Blue Maiden gritted her teeth and gestured to her field. "I activate the Trap Card: Marincess Wave! Until the end of the turn, one of your monsters has its effects negated until the end of the turn! I negate Cycode Administrator's effects!"

Storm Rider frowned as his monster greyed out. "Since Administrator's effects are negated, both my monsters lose 800 attack points."

Cycode Administrator ATK 2400→1600

Cycode Binal Sorceress ATK 2800→2000

"But just because my monster lost its effects doesn't mean I can't restore them," Storm Rider said as he grabbed an Action Card. "I activate the Action Spell Card: Reboot! It allows me to target one monster on the field whose effect was negated and restore it. I choose Cycode Adminstrator, which means my monsters regain 800 attack points."

Cycode Administrator ATK 1600→2400

Cycode Binal Sorceress ATK 2000→2800

"I activate the Spell Card: Link Treasure! With this, I draw cards equal to the number of Link Monsters on the field. There are four, so I draw four cards!"

Storm Rider drew, and his eyes widened in surprise. He then smiled to himself. Yes, he thought. It's here. Now I need to draw the other.

Storm Rider added the cards to his hand and gestured to his field."Battle! Binal Sorceress, attack Marincess Cnidarian!"

Binal Sorceress lobbed a ball of energy at the Marincess Link Monster, but Blue Maiden gestured to her field before it reached.

"I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Mystic Wok!" she declared. "I send my Marincess Cnidarian to the Graveyard and gain Life Points equal to its attack points!"

Her monster disintegrated at her words as a green light surrounded her body.

Blue Maiden: 3150→5050 LP

"Impressive. You use Spell Card's effect to increase your Life Points so you can survive this turn," Storm Rider said. "Even so, that doesn't mean your safe. Since Cnidarian left the field, a replay now occurs. Binal Sorceress attacks Coral Anemone!"

Binal Sorceress lobbed another ball of energy at Coral Anemone, destroying it and making Blue Maiden wince in pain.

Blue Maiden: 5050→4450 LP

"Coral Anemone's effect activates! "Since it was sent to the Graveyard, I can add a "Marincess" card from my Graveyard to my hand. I'll add Sea Star to my hand. Furthermore, I activate the Trap Card: Marincess Snow! When a "Marincess" Link Monster is destroyed, I can Special Summon a "Marincess" Link Monster with a lower Link Rating from my Extra Deck and treat it as a Link Summon!"

Storm Rider smirked. "I expected that!" Blue Maiden blinked at his words. "From my hand, I activate the Counter Trap Card: Cycode Jammer!" The card showed Cycode Coder sitting at a computer on a desk, breaking through a firewall. "I can activate this card from my hand if I control two or more "Cycode" monsters with different names. And thanks to its effect, whenever you activate a card effect during the Batlle Phase while I control a "Cycode" Link Monster, Jammer can negate that effect and destroy it!"

"What!?" Blue Maiden said in surprise as Marincess Snow disintegrated.

"Without your Trap Card, Cycode Administrator attacks you directly!"

Blue Maiden gritted her teeth as she grabbed an Action Card from a nearby rock while at the same time, Administrator lobbed an orb of blue energy at her.

"I activate the Action Spell Card: Damage Banish!" Blue Maiden shouted. "Due to its effect, the battle damage is reduced to 0!"

Storm Rider narrowed his eyes. "In that case, time to give Blue Maiden a run for her Duel Disk…."

Storm Rider muttered as he jumped off the bridge and landed on the ground. He dashed forward in search of an Action Card and found one after a few seconds.

"Excellent." Storm Rider remarked with a satisfied smile. "I activate the Action Spell Card: No Action! It negates the activation of your Action Card and destroys it!"

Blue Maiden's eyes widened as her card shattered, and the orb of energy struck her, sending her back several feet.

Blue Maiden: 4450→2050 LP

"That's all I can do for now," Storm Rider remarked. "I place one card face-down and end my turn."

"My turn! I draw!" Blue Maiden looked at her card and immediately played it. "I activate the Spell Card: Roll of Fate! This card lets me roll a six-sided die and draw cards equal to the result. Afterward, I must banish cards from the top of my Deck equal to that result. Go, Dice Roll!"

A dice flew out of Roll of Fate and landed on the ground. After it stopped rolling, it eventually stopped at a four.

"Since the result ended up being four, I get to draw four cards!"

Blue Maiden smiled as she drew her cards and checked them out.

Storm Rider noticed his opponent's expression. "You drew your Pendulum Cards, didn't you?" he asked.

Blue Maiden smirked. "My my. Nothing gets passed you," she quipped. "Alright, I've seen it quite a lot of times by now, so… let's hope I don't embarrass myself." She held up two cards. With Scale 2 Marincess Silver Pomfret and Scale 7 Marincess Water Lily, I set the Pendulum Scale!"

Two columns of light appeared next to Blue Maiden's sides, with two monsters rising to the top. One was a beautiful young woman with silver hair and eyes wearing a beautiful light blue trimmed dress with a long skirt shaped like a fishtail, while the other was a cute young girl with long blue hair and purple eyes. She wore a skintight blue-purple-colored dress with a skirt resembling a flower.

Marincess Silver Pomfret Scale: 2

Marincess Water Lily Scale: 7

"Now, I can summon monsters with Levels 3 to 6!" Blue Maiden gestured upward. "Swing, waves of the oceans! Let your guide hope and love! I Pendulum Summon! Come out, my monsters! Marincess Sea Horse and Marincess Sea Star!"

Two beams of light erupted from the portal, solidifying into the forms of Sea Horse, and a girl with spiked, dark-turquoise hair appeared on her field. Her attire included a dark-blue shirt with no sleeves, light-green baggy pants, purple shoes, and a white scarf around her neck.

Marincess Sea Horse ATK 1400→1600 DEF 1000 LVL: 3

Marincess Sea Star ATK 800→1000 DEF 400 LVL: 2

"Thanks to Silver Pomfret's Pendulum Effect, all "Marincess" monsters I control gain 200 attack points for every "Marincess" card on my field with a different name. There are five cards, so Sea Horse and Sea Star gain 800 attack points!"

Marincess Sea Horse ATK 1600→2600

Marincess Sea Star ATK 1000→2000

"Next up, I activate Silver Pomfret's Pendulum Effect!" Blue Maiden continued. "Once per turn, I can select one "Marincess" monster on my field to have its Level become 4 and be treated as a Tuner monster until the end of the turn!" Storm Rider's eyes widened in shock. "I target Marincess Sea Horse!"

Marincess Sea Horse LVL: 3→4

"I activate the Spell Card: Resonance Device! By targeting two of my face-up monsters with the same Type and Attribute, I can change the Level of one monster to the Level of the other!" Blue Maiden smirked. "I target the Water Cyberses Sea Horse and Sea Star and change Sea Star's Level to Sea Horse's!"

Marincess Sea Star LVL: 2→4

Roselyn tensed. "Two Level 4's!"

"And one of them is a Tuner," Soulburner added.

"Which can only mean one thing," Sanctum finished.

"Level 4 Marincess Sea Horse tunes Level 4 Marincess Sea Star!"

A bolt of green lightning struck the field, turning the two monsters into data particles that reformed into two rings, one orange and the other yellow, each made of four concentric circles. The rings turned blue and merged, then formed eight blue rings in a tower. A "4 + 4" screen appeared before changing to "8." Light surged through the rings as Blue Maiden chanted.

"The predator for the beautiful seas! Use your sharpness to tear through against the enemies who endanger the deep blue! I Synchro Summon! Appear, Level 8! Marincess Beauty Shark!"

The monster that emerged from the light was a beautiful white-black striped long, spiky hair woman with black eyes. She wore a blue-black and white lining and a trimmed shark-themed royal-like dress. She had a shark's fin tail and a sharp-ended crown-like fin head over her head with the Marincess symbol attached to the center of the crown. She had sharp black fingernails and fin-bladed wristbands.

Marincess Beauty Shark ATK 2900→3900 DEF 2100 LVL: 8

"So you decided to bring out your Synchro Monster," Storm Rider remarked. "However, you won't find much use for it here. I activate the Trap Card: Panic Wave! By destroying a card on my field, I can negate the effects of all face-up Spells, Traps and Effect Monsters until the end of the turn. I destroy Cycode Multiplier!"

The Equip Spell shattered as Panic Wave glowed white before releasing a blast of energy across the field, striking all cards and causing them to grey out.

"Since all cards on the field have lost their effects, our monsters' attack points return to normal, and Cyberse Infinite Coding loses its remaining counter."

Marincess Beauty Shark ATK 3900→2900

Cycode Binal Sorceress ATK 2800→2000

Cycode Administrator ATK 2400→1600

Blue Maiden frowned but continued with her turn. "Battle! Beauty Shark attacks Cycode Administrator! Marincess Sharp Slash!"

Beauty Shark swam towards Administrator, slashing through its chest with her sharp fingernails, destroying it and sending Storm Rider skidding backwards.

Storm Rider: 2900→1600 LP

"And don't think you're out of the woods yet," Blue Maiden said as she hopped off the bridge and grabbed a nearby Action Card. "I activate the Action Spell Card: Gravity Turn! When a monster on my field has destroyed an opponent's monster in battle, it can attack again! Furthermore, its attack points increase by 100 until the battle's end!"

Marincess Beauty Shark ATK 2900→3000

"Go! Beauty Shark attacks Binal Sorceress! Marincess Sharp Slash!"

The previous scene was repeated as Beauty Shark obliterated Binal Sorceress, making Storm Rider grimace.

Storm Rider: 1600→600 LP

"Since Beauty Shark destroyed your monster, it gains 100 attack points and can attack again." Blue Maiden said.

Marincess Beauty Shark ATK 3000→3100

"Attack Storm Rider directly, Beauty Shark, and finish him off! Marincess Sharp Slash!"

Storm Rider gritted his teeth. "If this attack connects, I'm finished." he reasoned as he spotted an Action Card wedge in the central tower's walls. Using his Duel Anchor, he grabbed the card and smiled as he saw what it was. "Excellent. I activate the Action Spell Card: Chivalry! It allows me to reduce all damage from direct attacks to 0 for this turn!"

A semi-transparent barrier appeared around Storm Rider, shielding him from Beauty Shark.

"As expected, you managed to turn things around once again." Blue Maiden grinned. "That means we get to enjoy ourselves a bit more. I place a card face-down and end my turn. And since it's the End Phase, Gravity Turn and Panic Wave's effects end."

Marincess Beauty Shark ATK 3100→3900

"Not only that, but for each "Marincess" card on my field and in my Graveyard, Beauty Shark gains 100 attack points. There are nineteen "Marincess" cards, so she gains 1900 attack points!"

Marincess Beauty Shark ATK 3900→5800

"Blue Maiden's monster has over 5000 attack points," Soulburner noted. "It's going to be tough to take it down."

"But knowing Storm Rider, he probably has a plan for doing so," Roselyn stated.

"My turn!" Storm Rider announced. "I draw! First, I activate the Spell Card: Card of Adversity! Since I control no monsters on my field and you control a Special Summoned monster on yours, I can draw two cards."

Storm Rider drew and smiled at his cards. "Since I control no monsters," he said. "I can Special Summon Cycode Swordsman!"

Cycode Swordsman ATK 1200 DEF 900 LVL: 3

"Since Swordsman was Special Summoned by its effect, I can add Cycode Acrobat from my Deck to my hand," Storm Rider continued. "Appear, my circuit!" Storm Rider's hand glowed blue as the Link Portal appeared. "Link Arrow authorized! The summoning condition is one "Cycode" monster. I set Cycode Swordsman in the Link Arrow!"

Cycode Swordsman became a whirlwind of energy and entered the bottom arrow, turning it red.

"Link the Circuit! I Link Summon! Come forth! Link-1! Cycode Architect!"

A man in a digital light brown-gray robed outfit, wielding a staff and book, appeared, summoned to the Extra Monster Zone.

Cycode Architect ATK 700 LINK-1 ↙

Cyberse Infinite Coding: 0 CC→1 CC

"I activate Cycode Architect's effect! Once per turn, I can Special Summon a "Cycode" monster from my hand. I Special Summon Cycode Acrobat!"

A female-like android in a light blue leotard, leg warmers, and arm sleeves with a silver hoop in its right hand appeared next to Strider in Attack Position.

Cycode Acrobat ATK 1700 DEF 1400 LVL: 5

"Acrobat's effect activates! When it is Special Summoned by a "Cycode" card's effect, I can add a "Cycode" card from my Deck to my hand. I add Cycode General. And since I control two or "Cycode" monsters, I Special Summon General from my hand!"

A large male humanoid blue digital-like knight with white lining appeared next to Updater. His cape is pure energy as he wields a massive energy blade.

Cycode General ATK 2600 DEF 2300 LVL: 7

"Appear again, my circuit!" Storm Rider's shouted as his hand glowed as the Link Portal appeared for the second time. "The summoning conditions are two or more "Cycode" monsters. I set Cycode General, Acrobat and Architect in the Link Arrows!"

His monsters entered the left, right, and bottom-right arrows.

"I Link Summon! Appear! Link-3! Cycode Deleter!"

A purple and silver humanoid monster with a bulky body wearing a blue vest wielding digital-like batons emerged from the portal, summoned to Cycode Talker's bottom-left Link Arrow.

Cycode Deleter ATK 2100 LINK-3 ←↘→

Cyberse Infinite Coding: 1 CC→2 CC

Storm Rider gestured to his field. "Battle! Cycode Talker attacks Marincess Beauty Shark!"

Cycode Deleter drew two of its batons.

"Cycode Deleter's effect activates! When this card battles a monster that is not a Link-3 or higher Link Monster, I can banish it, and then it can attack again!"

"What?" Blue Maiden said, surprised.

Cycode Deleter threw its batons at the Marincess Synchro Monster, disintegrating.

"And when this effect successfully resolves, Cycode Deleter gets to attack for a second time," Storm Rider pointed out. "Cycode Deleter attacks you directly!"

"I activate the Trap Card: Offensive Guard!" Blue Maiden declared. "Since your monster declared a direct attack, its attack points are halved, and I get to draw a card from my Deck!"

Offensive Guard fired a blast that hit Deleter, temporarily siphoning the fox of its strength.

Cycode Deleter ATK 2100→1050

Cycode Deleter pulled out a knife and slashed Blue Maiden, causing her to grunt in pain.

Blue Maiden: 2050→1000 LP

"I activate the effect of Infinite Coding! I remove two Cyberse Counters to draw one card!"

Cyberse Infinite Coding: 2 CC→0 CC

"I place one card face-down and end my turn," Storm Rider concluded.

"Storm Rider destroyed all three of Sanctum's monsters," Roselyn remarked. "Looks like he has the advantage now."

"While that is true, you must remember that Blue Maiden is his opponent," Sanctum said. "After all, she still has her Pendulum Scale, so setting up her field shouldn't be hard."

"My turn!" Blue Maiden announced. "I draw! I summon Marincess Pascalus!''

A beautiful girl with pink hair and amber eyes, wearing a lovely white, purple-pink dress with wide sleeves and a long scarf going past her back with orange-colored faded ends and a pink gem attached in the middle. She also wore a long pink skirt, leggings, and a blue crystal heart hairpin with a golden design.

Marincess Pascalus ATK 1400 DEF 1000 LVL: 4

''Pascalus's effect activates! When it's summoned, I can Special Summon a Marincess monster from my hand.'' Blue Maiden explained. ''Come out, Marincess Springirl!''

A female with long blue hair wearing a blue dress appeared on Blue Maiden's field in Attack Position.

Marincess Springirl ATK 1200→2200 DEF 1000 LVL: 4

"And thanks to Water Lily and Battle Ocean's effects," Blue Maiden continued. "Pascalus and Springirl gain 1200 attack points!"

The blonde girl reappeared, with her Level changed.

Marincess Pascalus ATK 1400→2600

Marincess Springirl ATK 1200→2400

Soulburner narrowed his eyes. "Two Level 4s," he muttered. "She's already summoned her Synchro Monster, so is she planning to Xyz Summon…."

Blue Maiden gestured to her field. "I activate the Pendulum Effect of Marincess Water Lily! Once per turn, I can Fusion Summon a Cyberse Fusion Monster using monsters on my side of the field or hand. I will fuse Marincess Ocella and Sea Horse using Water Lily's effect!"

Both monsters disintegrated into red and blue particles that swirled into a vortex before bursting forth as tornados. The streams merged to form one purple tornado.

"Lovely maiden whose heart is as bright and flawless as a pearl! Let your strength protect the ocean you love! I Fusion Summon! Marincess Oyster Maiden!"

A beautiful maiden with long, majestic purple princess hair with a crown on her head and blue eyes emerged from the tornado. She wore a beautiful, blue-purple-colored royal-like princess dress with golden color designs and wielded a long purple-blue-colored staff with an oyster tip with an orb in the center. She rested on top of a beautiful, giant oyster in Attack Position.

Marincess Oyster Maiden ATK 2700→3700 DEF 1700 LVL: 8

"This time, it's a "Marincess" Fusion Monster," Roselyn noted.

"Not to mention it's the same monster she used against me in the SOL Grand Prix," Sanctum added.

"Blue Clam's second effect activates!" Blue Maiden continued. "When it's used as material for a "Marincess" Fusion Monster, I get to draw two cards then shuffle one card in my hand back to my Deck afterward."

She drew her cards before shuffling one of the cards she had just drawn back into her Deck.

Blue Maiden gestured to her field. "Oyster Maiden's effect activates! For every "Marincess card on my field, you take 200 points of damage. There are five "Marincess" cards, so you take 1000 points of damage!"

Oyster Maiden gathered water into a massive sphere above her head, which she flung at Storm Rider. In response, he took a card from his hand.

"I activate the effect of Cycode Saver in my hand!" he declared. "When I would take damage from an effect, I can Special Summon this card to negate that damage!"

The dwarf alien in white armor carrying a shield appeared in Defense Position and deflected the sphere of water.

Cycode Saver ATK 0 DEF 1300 LVL: 2

"Then, I gain Life Points equal to the damage negated by Saver's effect!"

The shield in Saver's hands glowed, as did Storm Rider.

Storm Rider: 600→1600 LP

"And for the rest of the turn, I take no effect damage!"

"If you think I'm done, I'm not," Blue Maiden said, drawing Storm Rider's attention. "Thanks to Water Lily's additional Pendulum Effect, whenever one of my "Marincess" monsters attack, you can't activate cards or effects!"

"Is that so?" Storm Rider said. "In that case, I activate the Trap Card: Cycode Half-Guard! By discarding Cycode Assailant from my hand, all battle damage I take is halved!"

Blue Maiden frowned. "Me and my big mouth," she muttered before gesturing to her field. "Battle! Oyster Maiden attacks Cycode Deleter! Marincess Shining!"

The Marincess Fusion Monster leaped into the air and aimed her staff, forming a sphere of water. She launched the sphere at Storm Rider's Link Monster, destroying it and creating a shockwave that almost sent Storm Rider flying.

Storm Rider: 1600→800 LP

Blue Maiden noticed and grabbed an Action Card from a nearby rock. She frowned upon seeing that. "This card could've been better, but since I can only have one Action Card at a time, I have no choice but to use it. I activate the Action Spell Card: Berserker Charge! When a monster on my field has destroyed an opponent's monster, it can attack again and gains 300 attack points until the battle's end!"

Marincess Oyster Maiden ATK 3700→4000

"Battle! Marincess Oyster Maiden attacks Cycode Saver! Marincess Shining!"

The previous scene was repeated once more as Saver was destroyed.

"Since the Battle Phase ended, Half-Guard lets me draw one card for every monster of yours that battled this turn."

Enoch narrowed his eyes as Storm Rider drew one card. "Since the Battle Phase is over, Oyster Maiden's attack points return to normal with the battle's end."

Marincess Oyster Maiden ATK 4000→3700

"Finally, I place one card face-down and end my turn with that." Blue Maiden stated. "Now, it's your move, Storm Rider. And it'd better be good if you want to win this duel."

"Oh, I will!" Storm Rider exclaimed. "My turn! I draw!"

Upon checking out his drawn card, Storm Rider's eyes widened. Perfect.

He narrowed his eyes at Blue Maiden. "Since you were so kind to show me your Pendulum Cards, it's only fair to show you mine." He took cards from his hand and revealed them. "With Scale 1 Cycode Dragon Gate - Raiden and Scale 9 Cycode Dragon Gate - Draco, I set the Pendulum Scale!"

Two blue pillars appeared on each side of Storm Rider's field. The first pillar contained a cybernetic white snake-like dragon covered partly in dark blue armor with glowing yellow eyes with a black slit pupil. It shapes its snake-like body to form the letter "R". The second contained a cybernetic white snake-like dragon covered in light green armor, glowing blue eyes, and a black slit pupil. It shapes its body to form the letter "D". A stylized "1" appeared underneath Raiden, while a similarly styled "9" appeared under Draco.

Blue Maiden blinked. "Dragon Gate? Wait, those are your Pendulum Cards?"

"Yes," Storm Rider said. "Scarlett noticed that out of all my monsters, one of them isn't a Cyberse monster. That being Cyber Tech. So she and her father made Pendulum Cards that support my Deck and ace monster for me." Storm Rider gestured to the field. "Due to Raiden's Pendulum Effect, If I control no monsters, I can Pendulum Summon monsters from my Graveyard!"

"What!?" Blue Maiden cried out in astonishment. "Another card that allows the user to Pendulum Summon from the Graveyard? I still can't believe such a method exists!?"

"With my currently set Pendulum Scale, I can simultaneously summon monsters with Levels 2 through 8!" Storm Rider declared. "Phantom Pendulum Summon! Return to my side again, Cycode Linker, Swordsman, Saver, Acrobat and General!"

Unlike Soulburner's Phantom Pendulum Summon, the dark portal appeared on the ground instead of the sky before Storm Rider, out of which five beams of light emerged and solidified into the form of monsters upon landing on the field.

Cycode Linker ATK 1700 DEF 800 LVL: 4

Cycode Swordsman ATK 1200 DEF 900 LVL: 3

Cycode Saver ATK 0 DEF 1300 LVL: 2

Cycode Acrobat ATK 1700 DEF 1400 LVL: 5

Cycode General ATK 2600 DEF 2300 LVL: 7

"Storm Rider has a full field of monsters now…." Roselyn commentated.

"It looks like he's planning a counterattack," Soulburner noted.

"It appears so," Sanctum said. "Let's hope for his sake that it works."

Storm Rider raised his hand. "Appear! The ultimate circuit!" The Link Portal appeared above him. "The summoning conditions are two or more monsters. I set Cycode Saver, Acrobat, General and Linker in the Link Arrows!"

His monsters entered the top-left, top, bottom, and top-right arrows.

"The new wind that flows throughout this world gives the mighty creature that connects the past and future! I Link Summon! Appear, Link-4! Cyber Tech Link Dragon!"

The dragon that emerged from the portal had a blue body, white and yellow lining, and silver claws. It also had a spiral-like tail and jet-like energy wings with white and blue-lining eyes like a circuit board. Two large horns on its head faced forward, with a smaller one on the back of its head. Three small spikes that resembled claws were placed on the "elbow" of the wings. The dragon's red eyes glowed as it released a powerful roar from the Left Extra Monster Zone.

Cyber Tech Link Dragon ATK 2500 LINK-4 ←↑↓→

"Your ace monster is out, eh?" Blue Maiden smirked. "Looks like things are starting to get serious."

"I activate Cyber Tech's effect!" Storm Rider exclaimed. "Once per turn, I can Tribute a monster it points to and target one Special Summoned monster my opponent controls that's in Attack Position, and until the end of this turn, I can place that monster in a zone it points to and take control of it! I Tribute Swordsman to take control of Marincess Oyster Maiden. Go, Cryptic Corruption!"

"This isn't good…."

Blue Maiden muttered as she motioned to Oyster Maiden, who grabbed her and sent her to the top of the tower, where he snatched an Action Card.

"Excellent," Blue Maiden remarked with a satisfied smile. "I activate the Action Spell Card: Malfunction! Cyber Tech Link Dragon's effects are negated until the End Phase!"

"So close!" Soulburner announced. "If the effect had gone through, Storm Rider could have settled this duel in one turn!"

"No matter, Storm Rider said. "I activate Cycode Dragon Gate - Draco's Pendulum Effect! Until the end of the turn, my Dragon Link Monster gains 1000 attack points and is unaffected by your card effects! I target Cyber Tech!"

Said dragon raised its head and roared.

Cyber Tech Link Dragon ATK 2500→3500

"Then, I activate the Spell Card: Link Treasure Ticket!" Storm Rider continued. "By targeting Cyber Tech, I now draw cards equal to its Link Rating and then send an equal number of cards from the top of my Deck to the Graveyard. I draw four cards and send four to the Graveyard."

Storm Rider drew, then sent Cycode Nova, Cynet Crosswipe, Link Restart and Cycode Serpent to the Graveyard.

"I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Twin Twisters! By discarding one card from my hand, I can target up to two Spell and Trap Cards on the field and destroy them. Since Pendulum Cards are treated as Spell Cards in the Pendulum Zone, I target and destroy both Silver Pomfret and Water Lily!"

As Storm Rider discarded a card from his hand, two twisters emerged from Twin Twisters, destroying Blue Maiden's Pendulum Cards.

Blue frowned. "Since Water Lily left the field, Oyster maiden loses 800 attack points."

Marincess Oyster Maiden ATK 3700→2900

Storm Rider gestured to his monster. "Battle! Cyber Tech attacks Oyster Maiden! Digitized Burst Stream!"

The orbs on the dragon's body lit up, making blue energy travel over Cyber Tech's body up to its open mouth. The energy gathered and was released in a massive burst toward the Marincess Fusion Monster. The blast tore through the monster and continued to strike Blue Maiden, who winced in pain from the shockwave.

Blue Maiden: 1000→400 LP

"I place two cards face-down and end my turn," Storm Rider concluded. "During the End Phase, Cyber Tech's attack points return to normal."

Cyber Tech Link Dragon ATK 3500→2500

"Then, it's my turn!" Blue Maiden announced. "I draw!"

Storm Rider gestured to his field. "I activate the Trap Card: Cyberse Enhancement!" The card showed Cyber Tech Link Dragon. Its wings folded downwards as a rig with two cannons was being lowered onto its shoulders. "This card is equipped with one Cyberse or Dragon Link Monster!" Two cannons formed on Cyber Tech's shoulders. "Cyber Tech cannot be targeted or destroyed by card effects, and it gains attack points equal to its Link Rating times 500!"

Cyber Tech Link Dragon ATK 2500→4500

Blue Maiden narrowed her eyes. "Playing defensively, I see. Very well. I'd be more than happy to break it. I activate the Spell Card: Marincess Splash! This card lets me shuffle five "Marincess" cards or Water monsters in my Graveyard back into the Deck and draw two cards. But since I control Marincess Battle Ocean, I get to draw three cards instead. I target and return Marincess Crystal Whirlpool, Blue Tang, Harlequinn, Sea Star, and Flux Stream!"

Blue Maiden took her cards from the Graveyard. She drew, then let out a small smile. Alright, I got all I need. Time to give this a shot!

"Time to pay you back for destroying my Pendulum Cards! I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Spell Shattering Arrow! This card destroys all face-up Spell Cards on your field and deals 500 points of damage for each one!"

"I activate the Trap Card: Damage Diet!" Storm Rider bellowed. "Through its effect, I can halve all damage that I take this turn!"

Following Storm Rider's words, Two bright red arrows shot from the Spell and pierced through Raiden and Draco, shattering them into pixels all over Storm Rider as he winced in pain.

Storm Rider: 800→300 LP

"That was some quick thinking," Blue Maiden stated. "Good thing I expected something like that. I activate the Spell Card: Cemetery Link! By banishing monsters from my Graveyard, I can perform a Link Summon!" Storm Rider's eyes widened. "Shine, the circuit of love, friendship, and bonds!" A Link Portal appeared above Blue Maiden. "The summoning conditions are two or more Water monsters. I banish Marincess Pascalus, Springirl, Mandarin and Sea Horse!"

Spectral forms of the mentioned monsters appeared, and entered the top, left, right and bottom arrows.

"Sorceress of the ocean! Heed my call, and safeguard the ocean from those who threaten it! I Link Summon! Arise! Link 4! Marincess Aqua Argonaut!"

A woman with yellow eyes and long silver hair tied in two long strands appeared on Blue Maiden's field in the Right Extra Monster Zone. Her attire included a sleeveless black shirt with a blue tie and a silver skirt over tights. Attached to her back was a pair of pink, translucent wings resembling that of an angel. In her hands, she carried a battle halberd.

Marincess Aqua Argonaut ATK 2300→2500 LINK-4 ←↑↓→

Soulburner whistled. "Wow. A duel monster that resembles Blue Maiden's first avatar? Color me surprised."

"Keep your surprise in, Soulburner. Because there's still more to be seen." Blue Maiden said. "Such as this! Battle Ocean's second effect activates! Since a "Marincess" Link Monster was Special Summoned to the Extra Monster Zone, I can equip up to three "Marincess" Link Monsters with different Link Ratings from my Graveyard to that monster!"

"What? Equip?" Storm Rider repeated.

"I equip Blue Slug, Coral Anemone and Marbled Rock to Aqua Argonaut!"

Spectral images of the three female monsters appeared before disappearing into Aqua Argonaut, making her glow blue.

"While Battle Ocean is on the field, monsters equipped with "Marincess" Link Monsters gain 300 attack points for each of the equipped monsters' Link Arrows!"

"Blue Slug is Link-1," Roselyn said. "Coral Anemone is Link-2, and Marbled Rock is Link-3. Aqua Argonaut gains 1800 attack points."

Marincess Marbled Rock ATK 2500→4300

"I activate the effect of Marincess Sleepy Maiden in my hand! By targeting Marincess Aqua Argonaut, I can Special Summon her from my hand."

A woman with light-purple hair who wore a tiara on her head appeared on Blue Maiden's field. She wore a light-purple dress with yellow outlines and blue gems on the sides. On her chest was the Marincess emblem.

Marincess Sleepy Maiden ATK 500→700 DEF 2500 LVL: 5

"The targeted monster can't be destroyed by battle or card effects while she's on the field." Blue Maiden continued. "But moving past that, I activate Aqua Argonaut's effect! Once per turn, I can target one Water monster on my field and one card you control and return them to our hands."

"That's not good..." Storm Rider muttered to himself.

"I target Sleepy Maiden and Cyberse Enhancement and return them to our hands!"

The designated cards turned to particles that returned to their owner's hands.

"And with Cyberse Enhancement gone, your dragon loses its attack boost!" Blue Maiden reminded Storm Rider.

Cyber Tech Link Dragon ATK 4500→2500

"Battle! Marincess Aqua Argonaut attacks Cyber Tech Link Dragon!"

"I'm not out of this duel yet!" Storm Rider interjected and immediately started running, looking for an Action Card, before finding one and immediately grabbing it.

"I activate the Action Spell Card: Battle Lock, which prevents your monsters from declaring an attack for this turn!"

"Not if I have anything to say about it." Blue Maiden said with a sly smile. "I activate Aqua Argonaut's second effect! Once per turn, during either of our turns, when you activate a Spell or Trap card, I can Special Summon one of my '"Marincess" monsters equipped to her to my field and negate that effect!"

"What?!" Storm Rider gasped.

"I Special Summon Marbled Rock to my field and negate Battle Lock! Hydro Suction!"

Aqua Argonaut raised her halberd high into the air, which caused two whirlpools of energy to appear before heading over to Blue Maiden and Storm Rider's fields. One pulled Marbled Rock to Blue Maiden's field, while the other suffocated the Action Card completely.

Marincess Marbled Rock ATK 2500→2700 LINK-3 ←↓→

Marincess Aqua Argonaut ATK 4300→3400 LINK-4 ←↑↓→

"Now, Aqua Argonaut's attack continues unhindered!" Blue Maiden stated. "Hydro Halberd Slash!"

As Argonaut prepared to attack, Storm Rider climbed up on Cyber Tech, who lifted him as he aimed for the Action Card atop the tower. As for Blue Maiden, she activated and attached her Data Anchor to the bridge and started running across it, heading towards an Action Card embedded in the wall.

"Oh, look at these two go!" Sanctum exclaimed. "As expected for these two, this is child's play. However, will lady luck smile on them!?"

Both Duelists reached the Action Cards at the same time and grabbed them.

"I activate the Action Spell Grand Miracle!" Storm Rider exclaimed. "Due to its effect, my monsters cannot be destroyed by battle and damage involving them is halved!"

Following Storm Rider's words, Argonaut struck Cyber Tech with its halberd. However, the shockwaves from the attack struck Storm Rider, causing him to stumble.

A transparent barrier appeared around Storm Rider's Link Monster, shielding it from Argonaut's attack.

Storm Rider: 300→75 LP

"And thanks to the second effect of Grand Miracle, I get to draw one card from my Deck for each monster I control that battled this turn at the Battle Phase's end." Storm Rider stated. "Since only Cyber Tech battled, I draw one card."

"Geh, mine is the Action Trap Card: Attack Limit, which prevents me from attacking with more than one monster during the Battle Phase." Blue Maiden grimaced. "Looks like luck wasn't on my side this time." She gestured to her field. "I activate Marbled Rock's effect! Once per turn, I can target one "Marincess" card in my Graveyard and add it to my hand. I target and add Sea Horse from my Graveyard to my hand. With that, I end my turn. Now, come at me, Storm Rider!"

"As you wish!" Storm Rider exclaimed. "My turn! I draw!"

Storm Rider drew, and his eyes widened. This… could work. "I activate the Spell Card: Cyberse Computation!" The card showed a graphing calculator, half of the keys sizzling with electricity. "Thanks to its effect, I can draw a card, and if that card is a Cyberse or Dragon monster, I can Special Summon that monster at the cost of destroying it during the End Phase."

Blue Maiden narrowed her eyes. He's hoping to get a monster to use Cyber Tech's effect. Well, not on my watch.

"I activate Aqua Argonaut's effect!" Blue Maiden declared. "Through it, by Special Summoning Blue Slug, the activation of your Spell is negated and destroyed! Hydro Suction!"

Aqua Argonaut raised her halberd high into the air, which caused two whirlpools of energy to appear. One pulled Blue Slug to Blue Maiden's field while the other suffocated Cyberse Computation. Completely.

Marincess Blue Slug ATK 1500→1700 LINK-1 ↓

Marincess Aqua Argonaut ATK 3400→3100 LINK-4 ←↑↓→

"You fell for it, Blue Maiden." Storm Rider grinned. "Since you wasted Argonaut's effect, I can now activate the Spell Card: Cynet Mining. By discarding a card, I can add a Level 4 or lower Cyberse monster from my Deck to my hand." He sent the first card to the Graveyard, then took the second from his Deck. "I summon Cycode Hound!"

A black robotic dog with silver armor on its shoulders and legs appeared. It barked as it appeared at Cyber Tech Link Dragon's bottom Link Arrow in Attack Position.

Cycode Hound ATK 1000 DEF 1000 LVL: 3

"I activate Hound's effect! Once per turn, I can target and negate the effects of a monster my opponent controls until the End Phase."

"What?" Blue Maiden gasped.

"I target Marincess Marbled Rock! Data Howling!"

The robotic dog howled, draining Marbled Rock of its power.

"Moving on, I activate Cyber Tech's effect! I Tribute Cycode Hound to take control of Aqua Argonaut! Cryptic Corruption!"

"I won't allow this!" Blue Maiden said as she grabbed a nearby Action Card. "I activate the Action Spell Card: Guard Cover, allowing me to change the target of your card effect to Blue Slug instead."

Cyber Tech's wings lit up as the orbs on its body released tendrils that ensnared Clear Wing, transferring it to Storm Rider's side of the field.

"That matters not. Thanks to Cyber Tech's second effect, it gains attack points equal to the monster I just took control of. Which is still more than enough. Go, Processor Boost!"

Cyber Tech's eyes glowed blue again as a same-colored aura formed around its body.

Cyber Tech Link Dragon ATK 2500→4200

"Now, the finale!" Storm Rider declared. "Cyber Tech Link Dragon, attack Marincess Aqua Argonaut!"

"I won't fall so easily!" Blue Maiden signaled her Monster. "Let's go, Argonaut!"

In response to its controller's command, the Marincess Link Monster grabbed Blue Maiden and leaped high up. In response, Storm Rider urged his dragon to follow them, flying through the sky. Shortly afterward, both of them caught sight of Action Cards and leaped from their respective monsters, with Storm Rider landing on the tower's roof while Blue Maiden jumped on top of a tall tree.

"I activate the Action Spell Card: Double Attack!" Blue Maiden declared. "Aqua Argonaut's attack points are doubled thanks to its effect!"

Marincess Aqua Argonaut ATK 3100→6200

"It's your loss, Storm Rider!"

"Is that so?" he grinned. "I activate the Action Spell Card: Miracle Fire! Thanks to it, I can copy the effects of an Action Card you activated! I also copy Bi-Attack's effect to double my monster's attack points!"

Cyber Tech Link Dragon ATK 4200→8400

"An attack of 8400!?" Blue Maiden cried out in shock.

"Finish her off, Cyber Tech Link Dragon!" Storm Rider pointed at Blue Maiden's monster. "Digitized Burst Stream!"

The dragon opened its maw wide, unleashing a massive blast of blue energy, enveloping Argonaut and blowing Blue Maiden back.

Blue Maiden: 400→0 LP

Following the conclusion of the Duel, the surroundings returned to normal as the Action Field disappeared, with the rest of the on-lookers joining the two duelists.

"Ah, I lost," Blue Maiden said disappointedly as she got up. "Well, at least I held my own pretty well. Next time, I'll be the winner."

"Looks like I can't afford to slack off," Storm Rider said as he shook Blue Maiden's hand. "Good thing I have so many rivals to keep me on my toes."

Before anyone could say anything else, Storm Rider's Duel Disk started going off.

"Looks like you got a message," Sanctum noted.

"Yeah. Hold on." Storm Rider said, reading the message. His eyes widened. "It's from Varis."

"Varis?" Roselyn repeated.

"Don't keep us in suspense, dude," Soulburner said. "What did he say?"

"Varis says that he and the other Knights have finished rebuilding the base," Storm Rider informed them. "And they figured out a way to help us defeat the Syndicate."

Blue Maiden narrowed her eyes. "Did he mention what?" she asked.

Storm Rider shook his head. "Afraid not. But he did leave us details regarding it."

"And what would those details be?" Sanctum asked.

"First off, he states that he needs us to retrieve a specific resource," Storm Rider explained. "Luckily, he provided the location of where we can find it. And if we succeed, he'll provide us videos of their duels with the Syndicate in return."

"That doesn't sound like a fair trade," Soulburner complained.

"Even so, we should all log out and head home," Storm Rider suggested. "We have many things to discuss and lots of planning to do…."

Everyone else nodded back at Storm Rider's words as they logged out of the server, with Storm Rider following suit.

Meanwhile, at the Syndicate's fortress…

"I received word from Marionette. The Top 10 have incorporated Pendulum Summoning into their arsenal. It seems my suspicions were correct about the Top 10. They're becoming stronger. Not to mention now Varis wants them to locate a resource for him. Once the Top 10 figure out the location of this resource, I want you and Marionette to head there at once with the soldiers as soon as they are done with their preparations."

Queen Priscilla said so to Umbra, who was kneeling before her.

"I understand, your Holiness. Rest assured. I will succeed."

"I'm counting on you, Umbra."

Following her words, Umbra vacated the throne room.

"So you choose the guy who tied against Storm Rider instead of the guy who crushed and kidnapped the Shepherd?"

Priscilla turned to see Galerius entering the throne room. "Please, your Holiness, let me join this mission. I'll ensure the Top 10 won't get their hands on this resource if I'm there will help secure the resource."

"I'm sorry, but no, Galerius," Priscilla replied. "Umbra's skills as a former assassin will guarantee to secure the resource. Also, thanks to the factory, our soldiers have become stronger and transcended human flesh. You can thank one of SOL Technologies' projects for that."

"I see," Galerius remarked. "Very well. I'll take my leave then."

Following his words, Galerius left the throne room, and leaving Priscilla alone with her thoughts.

OC Card Memo:

Roselyn:

Pulsing Roses (LV: 6/Plant/Fire/ATK: 0/DEF: 0)

Effect: If you would take damage: You can send this card from your hand to the GY; any damage you take this turn is also inflicted to your opponent.

Sunlight Rose Dragon

LIGHT
[Dragon / Pendulum / Effect]
Level: 3
SCALE/1
ATK/1000
DEF/1000
Pendulum Effect
During your Main Phase: You can target 1 Dragon or Plant monster you control and declare a Level between 1 and 8; that target becomes that Level until the end of the turn. You can only use this Pendulum Effect of "Sunlight Rose Dragon" once per turn.
Effect
If you control no monsters, you can: You cannot Special Summon monsters for the rest of this turn, except "Rose Dragon" and Plant monsters, also Special Summon this card from your hand, and if you do, you can take 1 Level 4 or lower Plant monster from your Deck, and either add it to your hand or Special Summon it.

Boysenberry Rose Dragon
DARK
[Dragon / Pendulum / Tuner / Effect]
SCALE/9
Level: 2
ATK/600
DEF/900
Pendulum Effect
You cannot Pendulum Summon monsters, except "Rose Dragon" or Plant monsters. This effect cannot be negated. Once per turn: You can target 1 "Rose Dragon" or Plant monster you control; this turn, that face-up monster is treated as a Tuner (even if this card leaves the field).
Effect
If this card in the Pendulum Zone is destroyed: You can target 1 "Rose Dragon" or Plant Synchro Monster in your GY; Special Summon it, but destroy it at the end of the turn. You can only use this effect of "Boysenberry Rose Dragon" once per turn.

Flourished Rose
WIND
Level 8
ATK: 2800/DEF:2500
[ Plant/Synchro/Effect ]
1 Tuner + 1+ non-Tuner monsters
During the turn this card is Synchro Summoned, it can make a second attack during each Battle Phase. If this card is Special Summoned: You can banish 1 plant monster from your GY, then target 1 monster your opponent controls; it loses ATK equal to the banished monster's ATK until the End Phase. During your End Phase, if this card leaves the field this turn: You can Special Summon 1 'Rose Dragon' monster from your hand, deck, or GY. You can only use each effect of 'Flourished Rose' once per turn.

Soulburner:

Salamangreat Sparrow- Level 1, ATK: 200, DEF: 200, ATT: FIRE, Type: Cyberse/Effect

Effect: During the Battle Phase (Quick Effect): Target 1 FIRE monster you control; it gains 600 ATK and it cannot be destroyed by battle this turn. If you control a "Salamangreat" monster while this card is in your GY, except the turn it was sent to the GY; Special Summon it but banish it when it leaves the field.

Salamangreat Reynard- Level 3, ATK: 1100, DEF: 1100, ATT: FIRE, Type: Cyberse/Effect

Effect: You can reveal this card from your hand: Discard this card and for the rest of this turn, you can conduct 2 Normal Summons/Sets of "Salamangreat" monsters this turn. When you take damage if this card is in your GY (except during the Damage Step): You can Special Summon this card, which cannot be destroyed by battle this turn. You can only use each effect of "Salamangreat Reynard" per turn.

Salamangreat Hummingbird

Fire/Cyberse/Effect

LVL: 3

ATK:500/DEF:2000

If this card is in your hand or GY: You can target 1 face-up "Salamangreat" monster you control; reduce its Level by 3, and if you do, Special Summon this card, but banish it when it leaves the field. You can only use this effect of "Salamangreat Hummingbird" once per turn. When this card is Normal Summoned: You can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower "Salamangreat" monster from your hand, except "Salamangreat Hummingbird".

Salamangreat Liger

Attribute: FIRE

Level: 4

Type: Pyro/Pendulum/Effect

Pendulum Scale: 1

ATK: 1500

DEF: 1200

Pendulum Text: Once, while this card is in the Pendulum Zone(s), and you have a "Salamangreat" card in your other Pendulum Zone: You can target Pendulum Summon "Salamangreat" monster(s) in your GY whose Levels are between the Pendulum Scales of both cards in your Pendulum Zones.

Monster Text: (This card is also treated as a Cyberse-Type monster.) If this card in the Pendulum Zone is destroyed and is sent to the face-up Extra Deck: You can Special Summon this card. You can only use this effect of "Salamangreat Liger" once per turn.

Salamangreat Jackal

Attribute: FIRE

Level: 4

Type: Pyro/Pendulum/Effect

Pendulum Scale: 8

ATK: 1700

DEF: 1000

Pendulum Text: You cannot Pendulum Summon monsters, except FIRE monsters. This effect cannot be negated. If you Special Summon a "Salamangreat" monster using a monster with the same name as it as material or Tribute, and this card is in the Pendulum Zone: (This card is also treated as a Cyberse-Type monster.) You can add 1 "Salamangreat" Spell/Trap from your Deck to your hand. You can only use this effect of "Salamangreat Lio" once per turn.

Monster Text: If this card in the Pendulum Zone is destroyed and is sent to the face-up Extra Deck: You can Special Summon this card. You can only use this effect of "Salamangreat Lio" once per turn.

Blue Maiden:

Marincess Cnidarian- LINK 2, ATK: 1700, ATT: WATER, Type: Cyberse/Link/Effect, Arrows: Bottom, Right

Effect: 2 WATER monsters

If this card is Special Summoned, add 1 "Marincess" Trap Card from your Deck or GY to your hand. You cannot activate other cards this turn, except "Marincess" cards. You can only activate 1 "Marincess Cnidarian" once per turn. Your opponent cannot respond to the activation of a "Marincess" Trap Card while this card is face-up on the field.

Marincess Silver Pomfret- Level 3, ATK: 1000, DEF: 1800, ATT: WATER, Type: Cyberse/Pendulum/Tuner/Effect
Pendulum Scale: 2

Pendulum Effect: "Marincess" monsters you control gains 200 ATK for each "Marincess" card you control with a different name. Once per turn: You can target 1 WATER Cyberse monster you control; this turn, that face-up monster is treated as a Tuner, also its Level becomes 4 (even if this card leaves the field).

Effect: If you control a "Marincess" Link Monster: You can Special Summon this card from your hand or face-up from your Extra Deck to a zone a Link Monster points to, but you cannot summon other monsters this turn, except for "Marincess" monsters. If this card is used as material for the summon of a "Marincess" Link, Fusion, Synchro, Xyz or Ritual monster: Add 1 "Marincess" monster from your Deck, and then inflict damage to your opponent equal to the Level of the added monster x 200. You can only use each effect of "Marincess Silver Pomfret" once per turn.

Marincess Water Lily- Level 5, ATK: 2000, DEF: 1600, ATT: WATER, Type: Cyberse/Pendulum/Effect
Pendulum Scale: 7

Pendulum Effect: You cannot Pendulum Summon monsters, except Cyberse monsters. If a "Marincess" monster you control battles, your opponent cannot activate cards or effects until the end of the Damage Step. Once per turn, during your Main Phase: You can Fusion Summon 1 Cyberse Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck, using monsters from your hand or field as Fusion Material. These effects cannot be negated.

Effect: When you control 4 or more "Marincess" cards: You can Special Summon this card from your hand or face-up from your Extra Deck to a zone a Link Monster points to, but you cannot summon other monsters this turn, except for "Marincess" monsters. If this card is Special Summoned this way: Target 1 "Marincess" Spell Card from your GY or banished, and then add it to your hand. During the Main Phase (Quick Effect): You can Fusion Summon 1 Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck, using "Marincess" monsters you control on your Monster Zone or Spell & Trap Zone as Fusion Materials, including this card. You can only use each effect of "Marincess Water Lily" once per turn.

Marincess Oyster Maiden- Level 8, ATK: 2700, DEF: 1700, ATT: WATER, Type: Cyberse/Fusion/Effect

Effect: You take no effect damage while this card is face-up on the field. This card is unaffected by your opponent's card effects while a "Marincess" Link Monster is pointing to this card. During your Main Phase: Inflict 200 of damage to your opponent for each "Marincess" card you control. If this card is destroyed: Add 1 "Marincess'' card from your Deck to your hand. You can only use each effect of "Marincess Oyster Maiden" per turn.

Storm Rider:

Cycode Hound

Attribute: DARK Type: [Cyberse/Effect] ATK 1000 DEF 1000 Level: 3

You can target 1 monster your opponent controls; negate that monster's effects until the End Phase (even if this card leaves the field). If this card is used as material for the Link Summon of a "Cycode" Link Monster: You can target that Link Monster; that monster can make two attacks against your opponent's monsters during the Battle Phase. You can only activate each effect of "Cycode Hound" once per turn.

Cycode Dragon Gate - Raiden
ATK/500 DEF/2000
Light/Cyberse/Pendulum/Effect/Level 5 -Scale 1
Pendulum Effect: If you control no monsters and would perform a Pendulum Summon: You can Special Summon monsters from your GY whose original Levels are between your set Pendulum Scales. You cannot Special Summon Fusion Monsters, Ritual Monsters, or Synchro Monsters via this effect.
Monster Effect: If this card is Tributed: You can target 1 Link Monster you control; for the rest of the turn, if that monster destroys your opponent's monster by battle, you can inflict damage to that monster's controller equal to the destroyed monster's original ATK or DEF, whichever is higher.

Cycode Dragon Gate - Draco
ATK/900 DEF/2200
Light/Cyberse/Pendulum/Effect/Level 5 -Scale 9
Once per turn: You can target 1 'Cycode' or Dragon Link Monster you control; that monster gains 1000 ATK and is unaffected by your opponent's card effects until the end of the turn.
If this card is Tributed: You can target 1 Link Monster you control; during each Battle Phase this turn, your other monsters cannot declare an attack, also the targeted monster can attack all monsters your opponent controls, once each, and if it destroys your opponent's Special Summoned monster, you can draw 1 card.

Cycode Squire- LINK-2, ATK: 1300, ATT: WIND, Type: Cyberse/Effect/Link, Arrows: Top, Bottom

Effect: 2 Effect Monsters, including a "Cycode" monster

Monsters your opponent controls loses 500 ATK and DEF that this card points to. Cannot be destroyed by battle or your opponent's card effects, while this card points to a monster.

Cyberse Computation Normal Spell Card

If you control no monsters: Draw 1 card, then reveal it; if that card is a Cyberse or Dragon monster, you can Special Summon it, but it will be destroyed during the End Phase. Otherwise, send it to the GY. You can only use 1 "Cyberse Computation" per turn.

Recode Counter- Type: Counter Trap Card

Effect: (This card is always treated as a "Cycode" card). If your opponent activates a monster effect while you control a "Cycode"monster(s); negate that effect, and until the end of the turn, cards you currently control become unaffected by your opponent's monster effects until the End of your next turn. You can only activate 1 "Recode Counter" once per turn.

Cycode Jammer Normal Trap Card

If you control a "Cycode" Link Monster: Negate the activation of a Spell/Trap Card and destroy it. You can activate this card from your hand if you control two "Cycode" monsters with different names.

Cycode Barricade Counter Trap Card

When your opponent's monster whose ATK is greater than or equal to your LP attacks you directly: Negate that attack, and if you do, you can Special Summon 1 "Cycode" Link Monster from your GY whose ATK is less than or equal to the damage you would have taken. Immediately after this effect resolves, inflict damage to your opponent equal to the difference between the ATK of the Special Summoned monster and your current LP. You can target 1 "Cycode" monster you control and banish this card from your GY; that monster gains 1000 ATK until the end of the turn.

Cycode Shift Normal Trap Card
When your opponent targets a "Cycode" monster you control (and no other cards) with a Spell, Trap, or Effect Monster's effect: Target another card you control that would be an appropriate target; that effect/Spell/Trap now targets the new target. Once per Duel, if this card is in your GY, you can activate the above effect by banishing this card from the GY.

Cyberse Enhancement Normal Trap Card

Target 1 Cyberse or Dragon Link Monster you control; equip this card to it. It gains ATK equal to its Link Rating x 500, also it cannot be targeted or destroyed by your opponent's card effects. You can banish this card from your GY; Special Summon 1 Cyberse or Dragon monster from your GY. You can only use each effect of "Cyberse Enhancement" once per turn.

Chapter Preview

Next time on Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS: Advent of New Beginnings. Chapter 20 – Operation: Possible or Impossible.

QOTC: Which member of the Top 10 Pendulum Cards do you think is the best?

Author Notes:

And with that, Chapter 19 comes to an end. Hope you guys enjoyed the duels and the Top 10's Pendulum Cards debut. Shoutout to dvdryms for letting me use his Action Cards from Fifth Factor Hopefully, Chapter 20 will take around the same time to come out as this one. Until then, please read and review.

Until next time!