This story was done in collaboration between me, Jriddle41 (Sodormatchmaker on DeviantART), and DaveMan1000 (both here and on DeviantART), and we own the OCs that are used in the story. AaronCottrell97 (known as stevecottrell on DeviantART) provided the Duel Layouts and additional ideas. Everything else belongs to their respective owners:
Thomas and Friends (c) Hit Entertainment and Mattel
The Railway Series (c) Rev Wilbert Awdry
Yu-Gi-Oh! (c) Konami
Gundam SEED characters, Orb, Blue Cosmos, M1 Astray, Strike Rouge, Murasame, Akatsuki (c) Sunrise
Character of Lisa Drake (c) DaveMan1000
Character of David Xadashi (c) DaveMan1000
Jak and Daxter characters, Spargus, Tough Puppy, Sand Shark, Dune Hopper, Gila Stomper, Slam Dozer, Heat Seeker, Dust Demon, Desert Screamer (c) Naughty Dog
Crash Bandicoot characters, Wumpa (c) Activision
Ratchet & Clank characters, Veldin, Sargasso, Shatterbomb (c) Insomniac
Sly Cooper characters (c) Sucker Punch
WARNING: Once again, this story is rated T for violence, some blood, suggestive themes, and some language. Reader discretion is advised.
WARNING 2: If you haven't read "Yu-Gi-Oh! The Sodor Chronicles Season 2", "Yu-Gi-Oh! The Sodor Chronicles Season 4", "Yu-Gi-Oh! The Sodor Chronicles (Pyramid of Light", "David Xadashi", "Lisa Drake", or "Team 4D's", you might want to do so before reading this story
On a stage inside the Orb Duel School, five face-down cards were lined up on a large blackboard. On cue, David Xadashi and Lisa Drake both showed up and began speaking to the audience.
"Hey there!" greeted Lisa, "Get ready for another exciting segment of 'This week's noteworthy cards'!"
"This took us some time, but we've picked out some excellent cards to share with all of you," agreed David, before he and Lisa turned to face the nearby blackboard with the five cards (still showing their backing) lined up, "Ready? Then here they are!"
The five face-down cards on the blackboard all automatically turned over and revealed themselves to be:
-'Lyrilusc - Promenade Thrush' (Xyz Monster Card)
-'Reactor Coating' (Trap Card)
-'Wind-Up Carrier Zenmaity' (Xyz Monster Card)
-'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE' (Effect Monster Card)
-'Wind-Up Shark' (Effect Monster Card)
"Lisa-chan!" gasped David, staring at the middle card ('Wind-Up Carrier Zenmaity'), "Do you see this one? It's one of Gabriella's cards."
"Well, well, our little student has a great one here," admired Lisa, before reading one of the effects it had, "Once per turn: You can detach 1 material from this card; Special Summon 1 'Wind-Up' monster from your hand or Deck," She then grinned smugly at David, "For the record, I picked this Deck out for her."
"Which I'm painfully aware of," groaned David, before he and Lisa looked back at the audience, "Gabriella will need all of the training she can get to become as good as all of us, but Lisa-chan and I will do everything in our power to ensure that it happens."
"As for that creep Vincent, he likely won't be of help with that," added Lisa, before she and David started waving goodbye, "As ever, keep cheering for us in our major battles!"
"(さようなら!) Sayōnara! (Bye-bye!)" David finished in Japanese.
The audience cheered and clapped in response.
Title: Beyond Redemption
Opening up at a river canal in the city of Hartford, Ashima and Gabriella were locked in a duel with a Dark Signer—Vincent. Both were in a very tight spot since Vincent had Summoned 'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE'. Each field was as followed:
-Gabriella (LP: 2400): Controlled an empowered 'Wind-Up Knight' (Level: 4/ATK: 2400/DEF: 1800), and two Set cards.
-Ashima (LP: 2400): Controlled 'Lyrilusc - Ensemblue Robin' (Rank: 1/ATK: 0/DEF: 0), 'Lyrilusc - Bird Sanctuary' (Continuous Spell), and two Set cards.
-Vincent (LP: 4000): Controlled 'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE' (Level: 8/ATK: 3000/DEF: 2500), 'Heavy Metal Raiders' (Field Spell), and a Set card.
"Ngh…" worried Ashima
"Oh…" whimpered Gabriella.
Outside the geoglyph, the members of Team 6D's and a number of their friends were watching the duel, concerned where it was gonna go with Vincent in complete control thanks to his ace monster having appeared.
"'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE'," murmured Lisa.
"You and I've beaten it before, Lisa-chan," reminded David.
"Maybe so," The voice of Vincent interrupted, causing the two Signers to glare while he looked very confident of himself, "But while you and your girlfriend got lucky, it'll wipe Ashima and your kid sister off the face of the Earth," To prove it, he motioned his left arm (equipped with the Duel Disk), "I activate 'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE's' first effect! Once per turn: I can send 1 card from my hand to the GY, then target 1 card my opponent controls; I must destroy that target!" He then eyed one of the helpless opponents, "Let's see…"
Gabriella tried to look brave, but she was scared Vincent would target her again. Sure enough…
"I choose to destroy your 'Wind-Up Knight', noob!" The voice of Vincent proclaimed, just as 'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE' let loose several missiles, "Take this! Sharp Shooting!"
The missiles approached 'Wind-Up Knight', but Gabriella decided to try saving her monster with one of her Set cards.
"Stop!" cried Gabriella, "I activate a Trap Card!" One of her Set cards flipped face-up and revealed itself, "'Zenmailstrom'! I must Tribute 1 'Wind-Up' monster with 1500 or more ATK; I must Special Summon 1 'Wind-Up' monster from my hand," As she explained the effect further, Vincent seemed to look annoyed with it (sort of), "then I can Special Summon 1 'Wind-Up' monster from my Deck with the same ATK as the monster Special Summoned by this effect."
"Pfft!" scoffed Vincent.
"From there, I Tribute 'Wind-Up Knight'," The voice of Gabriella went on, as her only monster faded away in a blue streak and caused the missiles from 'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE' to hit the ground harmlessly. She then took a card from her Deck, readied it with a card from her hand, and placed both of them onto her Duel Disk (sideways), "and Special Summon 'Wind-Up Dog' from my hand and 'Wind-Up Warrior' from my Deck! Both in Defense Position!"
Appearing on the field were two monsters; one was a mechanical wind-up dog toy-like monster (Level: 3/ATK: 1200/DEF: 900), and the other was a mechanical humanoid toy-like monster (Level: 4/ATK: 1200/DEF: 1800).
"Now it's my turn to play a card!" added Ashima, just as her first Set card flipped face-up and revealed itself, "I activate a Trap, 'Lyrilusc - Phantom Feathers'!" Vincent initially flinched as he listened to the card explanation made by her, "I must target 1 'Lyrilusc' monster I control; the ATK of all monsters my opponent currently controls become that monster's current ATK, also their Levels/Ranks become 1."
"That's very poor of you," dismissed Flashback Vincent, recovering very quickly from his flinch, "I activate a Trap, 'Extreme Air Raider'!" His Set card flipped face-up and revealed itself, just as 'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE' got energized with a new power even though its ATK and Level remained untouched, "I must target 1 'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE' I control; until the end of this turn, it is unaffected by my opponent's card effects, also if it declares an attack," He kept on grinning with malice, "I must change the battle position of the attack target."
"Ngh… A stalemate," winced Ashima.
"Here I go! Battle!" declared Vincent, entering his Battle Phase, "'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE'," As he continued speaking, 'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE' unloaded more missiles and bombs, "rain destruction upon 'Wind-Up Warrior'!"
The missiles struck the ground around 'Wind-Up Warrior', causing it to rise into a battle ready position (DEF: 1800 → ATK: 1200).
"Thanks to 'Extreme Air Raider', your weak monster has been switched into Attack Position, where it will be easy pickings," taunted Vincent, just as 'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE' unleashed a second wave of missiles and bombs, "Time to take out the trash! Death Air Raid!"
"I will protect Gabriella from the likes of you with all my power!" cried Ashima, as her second face-down card flipped up and revealed itself, "I activate a Trap, 'Lyrilusc - Bird Roost'!"
"Ashima-neechan!" rejoiced Gabriella.
"During damage calculation," said Ashima, "if a player would take battle damage: I must send 1 'Lyrilusc' Xyz Monster I control to the GY, and if I do, neither player takes any battle damage from that battle, then, Special Summon in Defense Position, 'Lyrilusc' monsters…" As she spoke on, 'Lyrilusc - Ensemblue Robin' started glowing white all over as she started splitting apart, "…with different names from each other and the monster sent to the GY by this effect, up to the number of materials that were attached to the monster that was sent to the GY by this effect!"
The barrage of missiles and bombs struck the area around 'Wind-Up Warrior', destroying it. While Gabriella took no damage from the attack, the backlash from the real explosions left behind was still enough to throw her against the wall of ghostly fire.
"No! Gabriella!" yelled David in horror.
"Keh! You got rid of your monster so easily," quipped Vincent rudely, directing his attention to Ashima, "Well, I'm perfectly okay with that since it makes you much weaker."
"Now I Special Summon five 'Lyrilusc' monsters!" recalled Ashima, holding up five cards taken from her GY before placing them onto separate Monster Zones on her Duel Disk (all five of them), "Appear now, my monsters!"
Appearing on the field were 'Lyrilusc - Sapphire Swallow' (Level: 1/ATK: 100/DEF: 0), 'Lyrilusc - Turquoise Warbler' (Level: 1/ATK: 100/DEF: 100), 'Lyrilusc - Recital Starling' (Rank: 1/ATK: 0/DEF: 0), 'Lyrilusc - Cobalt Sparrow' (Level: 1/ATK: 0/DEF: 100) and 'Lyrilusc - Celestine Wagtail' (Level: 1/ATK: 200/DEF: 0), and they all were in defensive stances.
"That's good," remarked Matt, "Two of five of Ashima's monsters have effects that will activate immediately when they're Special Summoned."
"Them being 'Cobalt Sparrow' and 'Celestine Wagtail', I'd wager," guessed Lisa.
Back inside the wall of fire, Ashima took out her Deck, looked through it, and out took a Monster Card ('Lyrilusc - Beryl Canary') and a Spell/Trap Card ('Lyrilusc - Bird Strike') respectively before reinserting her Deck into the holder of her Duel Disk.
"You know what 'Cobalt Sparrow' and 'Celestine Wagtail' do, yes?" commented Ashima firmly, briefly holding up the added cards ('Lyrilusc - Beryl Canary' and 'Lyrilusc - Bird Strike') while Vincent scowled, "After being Special Summoned—the former lets me add a Level 1 Winged Beast monster from my Deck into my hand, and the latter lets me add a 'Lyrilusc' Spell or Trap from my Deck into my hand."
"Grr… Whatever," hissed Vincent, taking a card from his hand and readying it in his right hand with his middle finger exposed, "I Set one card face-down…" He slotted the card into his Duel Disk, "…and end my turn. Now, the effect of 'Dark Ruler No More' and the first effect of 'Extreme Air Raider' both expire."
Gabriella was still laying on the ground when she slowly started to get back up and try beginning her turn.
"Wait, Gabriella," The voice of Ashima cut in, which caused Gabriella to weakly look over. She seemed very concerned with the young girl, "Please, just stay back and let me finish this duel alone; you're getting badly battered and are no match for Vincent."
"You? Finish the duel for her?" snorted Vincent, "It's not like you're faring any better."
"What are you inferring?" frowned Ashima.
"Look at you! You're absolutely worthless in this duel!" Vincent accused, pointing at his second victim, "You're holding back your true dueling power because you're afraid—afraid of possibly hurting someone like how you almost hurt your beloved Matt Fudo!"
Again, despite trying to ignore them, those words really affected Ashima as she shook with emotion and thought back to her Turbo Duel with Matt while she was under the control of the Dark Signers. Vincent smiled with satisfaction over how he was laying the hurt upon his enemy, not physically or with his cards, but emotionally with words alone. Outside the geoglyph…
"Damn that Vincent," cursed Lisa, "What a grade A bastard! He's a bastard of the highest order!"
"He is," acknowledged David, "Especially since he willingly allowed himself to be consumed by the Dark Signers' influence, and all for what? Just to prove that he is worthy of a petty, meaningless, childish title that he conjured up just to satisfy his poor, fragile ego?"
"Not to mention," added Michael, "he's an outright bigot," As he spoke on, Matt and James R. both looked over and listened, "You all heard what he's been calling David and Gabriella throughout the duel," He narrowed his eyes, "Because they're half Japanese."
"Yeah, it's absolutely sickening," agreed James R., "And also because Ashima's from India, he-"
"Say no more, James," interrupted Matt, "We know."
At last, David had a big question for his old bully turned archenemy, and it was one that had been plaguing him ever since Matt told him that Vincent was now a Dark Signer.
"Vincent!" called David, causing Vincent to briefly look over with annoyance, "Explain yourself! How did you become a Dark Signer in the first place? How did you get your satanic powers? Just tell us how you got it all!"
Carlie and Michael silently looked at each other. Come to think of it, none of them even knew how Vincent and the likes became Dark Signers in the first place. With his head bowed and a shadow over his eyes, Vincent didn't respond back initially. When it was clear an answer was expected, he decided to come clean.
"Alright, I'll let you all in on our little secret," said Vincent quietly, "The truth of the matter…" After a few beats, he raised his head, dispelling the shadow over his eyes, and seemed to smile with madness, "…is I was killed!"
Everyone in the area was taken aback by such a confession.
"You're dead?!" began Janice.
"Impossible!" put in Sean.
"Is it true?!" finished Asagi.
"Listen up! None of us are in the mood for dumb jokes!" snapped Lisa, "Tell us the truth! What the hell happened to you?"
"I'm not joking nor lying!" insisted Vincent, "What you don't know is that all of the Dark Signers were brought back from beyond the grave—and that includes me!" He looked up at the sky, "It occurred shortly after I met leaderman Rutger and accepted a partnership offer he made."
A flashback ensued.
FLASHBACK
Inside the hideout of the Dark Signers, a hooded Rutger was leading Flashback Vincent around the place.
"What a dump," insulted Flashback Vincent, "I was expecting sweeter surroundings. Still, based on what you've told me about the Crimson Dragon, and how robo-boy has a piece of its power within him…" There was a nasty gleam in his eyes, "I want that kind of power, too!"
"That's why we've formed a partnership," smirked Flashback Rutger, "By becoming a Dark Signer, you'll gain the power to match his own."
"So, what's this great power I'll get?" pressed Flashback Vincent curiously, "Will it be like what you have?"
"You'll soon see."
(elsewhere…)
The tour led the pair outside on the highest level of the hideout, in the middle of the night.
"Excuse me, but why bring me outside?" complained Flashback Vincent, slowly losing his patience, "I don't get what you're trying to show me."
"It will all be explained in due time," answered Flashback Rutger, before removing his hood whilst still smiling. Flashback Vincent simply listened with disinterest, "Now, do me a favor and look off the edge of this building?"
Flashback Vincent grunted a quick, vulgar response, but complied; he walked towards the edge of the rooftop and looked below.
"What the-?!" cried Flashback Vincent, looking how far down it was, "That's a ton of air! But what am I even looking for?"
As he watched his new ally close by, the smile on Flashback Rutger's face turned evil, and then, without warning, he went and pushed Flashback Vincent from behind. Yelling out in surprise, Flashback Vincent lost his balance and fell over the edge, falling off the tower while screaming to his death. As he started falling, he never noticed that a large spider was perched underneath the edge. The spider shot out a silk thread until it wrapped around Flashback Vincent's neck, and 'saved' him—and by saving him, he was basically 'executed' by hanging. As the broken body of Vincent Stevens hung around just near the ground below, Flashback Rutger was ready to initiate the ritual to turn him into a new Dark Signer.
"Listen well," began Flashback Rutger, holding both arms out, "If the flames of vengeance etched into your soul, a soul as it verges death, have not yet died, then hearken to my voice! I am giving you one more chance to seek vengeance against David. For that purpose, you shall be a Dark Signer and help defeat the Crimson Dragon!"
Despite now being dead, Flashback Vincent, with his eyes closed, seemingly could hear those words and respond to them in his own way.
"Defeat…David Xadashi…" Flashback Vincent said mentally, as 'bad' memories of his life flashed before those shut eyes, including faded, overlapped footage of David using 'Life Stream Dragon' to attack and destroy 'Dark Strike Fighter', Johnny, Derek, and Eric denouncing the spiky black-haired boy as their friend, and him (Vincent) descending into depression with eating and heavy drinking after growing into adulthood, "That &$# ruined my life by defeating me in that tournament at school… I have never won a duel ever since then, I lost my former popularity at school, and I gained tons of weight from my depression after graduating… I will take revenge on David for humiliating me…! No matter the cost!"
"May this life be reincarnated as a Dark Signer!" boomed Flashback Rutger.
Before long, Flashback Vincent's whole body responded to the chanting and erupted in colorful light as dark red markings started forming on his face and he snapped his eyes open. A glowing (purple) birthmark even showed up on his clothed right forearm. Flashback Rutger, sensing the ritual was a success, burst into maniacal laughter as the first Dark Signer that wasn't him had been born.
(elsewhere…)
Somewhere in Peru (of South America), the Dog Nazca Line was also glowing purple in response to Vincent Stevens gaining the power of the 'Earthbound Immortal' monster and the awakening of a Dark Signer.
(new scene…)
Later on, when Team 6D's and their friends were searching all of Hartford for the missing Ashima, Flashback Vincent stood on the rooftop of a building in Hartford eyeing Flashback David, who seemingly believed he was seeing things.
"I'm coming for you soon, robo-boy!" thought Flashback Vincent, as he turned around and walked away, "I swear I will defeat both you and the Crimson Dragon!"
END FLASHBACK
The flashback ended, everyone was absolutely shocked by what they heard happened to Vincent in order for him to become a Dark Signer. Hearing the story, however, caused Juri to realize something equally horrifying.
"Orga, Clotho, Shani, and Azrael are Dark Signers, too," she remembered, causing Mayura and Asagi to look over, "If Vincent's telling the truth and he died to become a member, then that would mean…"
"…the Biological CPU and their headmaster…are also dead," finished Mayura grimly.
"N-No way…" whispered Asagi fearfully.
With gritted teeth, David clenched his right hand into a tight fist; he was more disgusted than ever with his old bully—who basically now hated him enough to accept the need for greater power and more. At last, he found his voice.
"Vincent, (バカヤロー!) bakayarō! (you damned fool!)" shouted David in Japanese, which caused Lisa, Carlie, and James R. each to look over as they listened to him, "Are you saying…you completely shattered yourself by letting yourself to die just so that you can pursue your pathetic lust for revenge against me?!" He raised his voice in further anger, "(ふざけんな!) Fuzaken na! (Don't screw with me!) Just how much of an idiot are you?!" Inside the geoglyph, as he (David) raged at what was believed to be a extremely stupid reason to die and become a Dark Signer, Vincent listened on with boredom, "You'd risk helping the Dark Signers bring about the end of the world just for another chance to fight me again?"
"Dave…" murmured Ashima with sympathy.
All of a sudden, she heard deranged chuckling and looked over to where it was coming from. Vincent was snickering quietly to himself before bursting into loud, long laughter at the hard words David said to him.
"What the hell is so funny?" spat Lisa, causing the laughter to stop.
"I fail to see what you find so amusing, Vincent," added David.
"Oh, just listen to you, rambling on about 'morality' and 'stupid decisions', when you made the stupidest decision of all when you stepped into 'our' land uninvited!" declared Vincent angrily, as, outside the geoglyph, David listened on in defiance, "It makes me sick! Nobody back at our school ever wanted to deal with your kind, and you never once took the hint that you were unwelcome!"
"What?!" growled David.
"Everyone at school was happy with me being number one, but you just 'had' to ruin everything by sticking your little yellow nose where it didn't belong!" Vincent raged on, growing more and more unhinged by the minute, "It was thanks to you I lost everything! My former popularity, my duelist's pride, and my good looks to depression!"
Everyone was slightly taken aback, not just by Vincent's increasing hostile tone and voice, but also the use of racial-based slurs directed at David.
"Eesh, where did all this come from?" Sean whispered to Janice.
"He's just lost it," answered Janice bluntly, "But, then again, that implies he had it to begin with."
But Vincent was not done; he had a few more things to say to his mortal enemy.
"Now listen closely, robo-boy! I don't care what you or any of your worthless friends think of me!" continued Vincent, before pointing forth, "When we duel again, I'll put you in your place like I should've done the day we met, and prove that 'we're' so much better than a so-called &$# like you!"
To everyone, especially David, that whole speech proved that whatever was left of Vincent's sanity, while he had always been delusional about himself and not very mentally stable, was completely gone and replaced with sheer hatred and prejudice—someone who would not stop until he succeeded in putting down his enemy both physically and emotionally. Gabriella, meanwhile, had heard enough as she returned to her feet and spoke to Ashima.
"Ashima-neechan… If we…lose here, (お兄ちゃん) O nīchan (Big Brother) and his, our, friends will suffer," panted Gabriella, surprisingly wise for someone her age, "You understand that, right?"
Outside the geoglyph…
"Gabriella…" uttered David.
And back inside the wall of fire, Gabriella briefly looked at her older brother before she faced Vincent despite being scared of him.
"I will duel on," she vowed.
"Your funeral, but suit yourself," shrugged Vincent, "Then go! Draw a card, if you dare!"
"It's my turn!" announced Gabriella, drawing a card, "Draw!"
Turn Five: Gabriella Xadashi (LP: 2400)
Deck: 32
Current Hand (2): "Wind-Up Magician" and "Pot of Greed"
Her drawn card was the 'Pot of Greed' Spell Card.
"(お兄ちゃん) O nīchan (Big Brother) once told me this common card lets you draw more cards," thought Gabriella, "I will use it," She held her drawn card ('Pot opf Greed') out, "I activate 'Pot of Greed'! I must draw 2 cards!"
Upon placing her 'Pot of Greed' Spell Card in the GY, Gabriella drew two more cards. Her hand now contained 'Wind-Up Magician', 'Wind-Up Shark', and 'Monster Reborn'. Learning from her earlier mistake, she decided to hold off activating the 'Monster Reborn' Spell Card due to 'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE'.
"I Summon 'Wind-Up Magician'!" proclaimed Gabriella, placing a card ('Wing-Up Magician') onto her Duel Disk.
Appearing onto the field was a humanoid toy-like magician monster wielding a scepter of sorts (Level: 4/ATK: 600/DEF: 1800).
"You never seem to learn!" accused Vincent, "I activate the second effect of 'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE'!" As he explained the effect, 'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE' eyed down the opposition and readied its main weaponry before firing off several more missiles when said explanation finished, "Once per opponent's turn, when my opponent Normal or Special Summons a monster (Quick Effect): I target that monster; I must must destroy it, and if I do, inflict 800 damage to my opponent! Death Drop!"
The missiles struck the area around 'Wind-Up Magician' and the explosions caused the weaker monster to shatter into shards of glass, also causing Gabriella to shut her eyes and grit her teeth from the pain as her LP took another hit (LP: 2400 → 1600).
"But I have another way to get a monster out!" insisted Gabriella, "It's thanks to a card I drew from 'Pot of Greed'!"
"Huh?" pondered Vincent uncomfortably.
"From my hand, I'll…" As she spoke, Gabriella slotted a card into her Duel Disk and caused the 'Monster Reborn' Spell card to materialize face-up on the field in-front of her, "…the Spell Card, 'Monster Reborn'! I must target 1 monster in either GY; I must Special Summon it."
"What?!" flinched Vincent, "Then you Summoned 'Wind-Up Magician' on purpose, knowing I would destroy it?"
"I did," confirmed Gabriella, just as 'Wind-Up Magician' reappeared on the field (Level: 4/ATK: 600/DEF: 1800), "I Special Summon 'Wind-Up Magician' from my GY!"
Outside the fire wall…
"If the effect of a 'Wind-Up' monster is activated, except 'Wind-Up Magician': You can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower 'Wind-Up' monster from your Deck in face-up Defense Position. This effect can only be used once while this card is face-up on the field," explained David, going over what the card did as everyone else listened to him, "It's as simple as that."
"Does Gabriella have another Level 4 or lower 'Wind-Up' monster in her hand?" wondered Lisa.
Back within the geoglyph, Gabriella continued with her turn—and what better way than with Special Summoning a 'Wind-Up' monster?
"I Special Summon 'Wind-Up Shark'!" declared Gabriella, placing another card ('Wind-Up Shark') onto her Duel Disk.
Appearing on the field was a toy shark-like monster (Level: 4/ATK: 1500/DEF: 1300).
"When a 'Wind-Up' monster is Normal or Special Summoned to my field: I can Special Summon this card from my hand," acknowledged Gabriella, going over her monster's first effect, "But this will activate 'Wind-Up Magician's' monster effect!"
"I know what that monster does!" snapped Vincent, "Now you get to Special Summon a Level 4 or lower 'Wind-Up' monster from your Deck in face-up Defense Position!"
Gabriella simply took a card from her Deck, and appearing on the field was a toy rabbit of sorts (Level: 3/ATK: 1400/DEF: 600).
"'Wind-Up Rabbit'?" uttered Vincent.
"I activate 'Wind-Up Shark's' second effect!" continued Gabriella, "Once per turn: I can activate 1 of these effects."
These were the effects written on the 'Wind-Up Shark' Monster Card:
-"I must increase this card's Level by 1, until the end of this turn."
-"I must reduce this card's Level by 1, until the end of this turn."
"What?" frowned Vincent, "I see… You're gonna reduce your monster's Level, aren't you?"
And that's what happened; Gabriella chose to make 'Wind-Up Shark's' Level go down slightly (Level: 4 → 3).
"Level 3 monsters… Can it be?" thought Ashima hopefully, "Gabriella… are you going for an Xyz Summon?"
Why don't we find that out?
"As I saw in that tournament, I need my monsters to share the same Level," recalled Gabriella, before holding her right hand out, "I overlay Level 3 'Wind-Up Shark' and 'Wind-Up Rabbit'!" On cue, the Overlay Network appeared in the center of the field, "With these two monsters, I build the Overlay Network!"
'Wind-Up Shark' and 'Wind-Up Rabbit' were absorbed into the Overlay Network, and soon, the body of the new monster was shown emerging. It was a toy carrier-like monster colored gray and red with yellow stripes—all while a Summon Chant from Gabriella followed.
"Wind the key to fortitude, and soar into the beyond!" chanted Gabriella, "Xyz Summon! Rank 3! Come, 'Wind-Up Carrier Zenmaity'!"
The new monster was ready for battle (Rank: 3/ATK: 1500/DEF: 1500).
"Alright, the 'Wind-Up' archetype's ace monster shows itself at just the right time!" cheered Lisa.
"Tch! Okay, I admit that was a somewhat decent move," grunted Vincent reluctantly.
"As of now, I'll activate the first effect of 'Wind-Up Carrier Zenmaity'!" proclaimed Gabriella, just as a material from 'Wind-Up Carrier Zenmaity' faded away, "Once per turn: I can detach 1 material from this card; I must Special Summon 1 'Wind-Up' monster from my hand or Deck," She then took a card from her Deck, readied it in her right hand, and finally held it out, "This is the monster I choose to bring out… 'Wind-Up Soldier'!"
Appearing on the field was a green mechanical soldier with large magnets for hands (Level: 4/ATK: 1800/DEF: 1200).
"During my Main Phase: I can increase this card's Level by 1 and ATK by 400, until the end of this turn," explained Gabriella, "This effect can only be used once while this card is face-up on the field," As she spoke, the Level and ATK of 'Wind-Up Soldier' went up slightly (Level: 4 → 5/ATK: 1800 → 2200), "'Wind-Up Soldier' is now a Level 5 monster!" She then turned her focus towards her 'Wind-Up Dog', which, during the explanation, grew stronger in both Level and ATK (Level: 3 → 5/ATK: 1200 → 1800, "Next, I'll activate 'Wind-Up Dog's' effect! During my Main Phase: I can increase this card's Level by 2 and ATK by 600, until the end of this turn. This effect can be used only once while this card is face-up on the field!"
"That gives her two Level 5 monsters!" realized Sean.
"A second Xyz Summon!" added James R..
"Despite only being a beginner!" finished Michael.
And so, as the Overlay Network reappeared in the center of the field, it began…
"I overlay Level 5 'Wind-Up Dog' and 'Wind-Up Soldier'!" began Gabriella, "With these two monsters," Both 'Wind-Up Dog' and 'Wind-Up Soldier' were absorbed into the Overlay Network, "I build the Overlay Network!"
Something then started to emerge from the Overlay Network, which was the body of a huge, warrior-like toy monster with a large lance for a weapon—all while a Summon Chant from Gabriella followed.
"Sound the cannons, and raise the mechanical flags of victory!" chanted Gabriella, "Xyz Summon! Rank 5! Come, 'Wind-Up Arsenal Zenmaioh'!"
The new monster posed on the field with his weapon for battle (Rank: 5/ATK: 2600/DEF: 1900). Too bad Vincent didn't think Gabriella was going to take down 'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE' that easily using 'Wind-Up Arsenal Zenmaioh'.
"Sorry to disappoint you on your triumphant Xyz Summons, but your new monster is still 400 ATK too short," dismissed Vincent, "You'd best try harder than that if you wanna beat the 'Level-up King'!"
"(なめるな!) Nameru na! (Don't underestimate me!)" warned Gabriella in Japanese, before her remaining Set card flipped face-up and revealed itself, "I activate a Trap, 'Overwind'! I must target 1 face-up 'Wind-Up' monster I control; I must double its ATK/DEF, but return it to the hand during the End Phase of this turn!" Her focus shifted to 'Wind-Up Arsenal Zenmaioh', "I target 'Wind-Up Arsenal Zenmaioh' and double his ATK and DEF!"
'Wind-Up Arsenal Zenmaioh' was supercharged with power (ATK: 2600 → 5200/DEF: 1900 → 3800). Outside the wall of fire…
"Ooooooh yeah!" rejoiced James R., punching the air with his right fist before doing the bicep-polishing gesture, "Now Gabriella can take down Vincent's 'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE' lickity split—she'll even take a big bite out of his LP at the same time!"
"Don't be so sure," said Carlie sternly, which caused James R. to look at her in an eased up sort of way. She then explained her reason for why she pointed that out, "Gabriella might have the monster advantage, but Vincent is obviously waiting for her to attack because he has something hidden in the wings."
"Oh yeah… There's that, and there's also 'Heavy Metal Raiders'," worried James R..
"Battle!" The voice of Gabriella announced, entering her Battle Phase.
James R. looked freaked out when he heard that. Back in the geoglyph, Gabriella was ready to take down 'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE', but she never considered the fact Vincent might be wanting her to attack him—and Ashima and David both knew this as they respectively shouted a warning.
"Gabriella! Watch what you're doing!" wailed Ashima.
"It's a trap!" put in David.
Alas…
"'Wind-Up Arsenal Zenmaioh', attack 'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE'!" commanded Gabriella recklessly.
Sean, Janice, Juri, Mayura, Asagi, and Lisa all let out startled yells, just as 'Wind-Up Arsenal Zenmaioh' posed with his lance and began charging an attack to wipe out 'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE'—but Vincent started to laugh triumphantly.
"That's great! Really great!" he boasted, "I've been waiting for an attack to come my way!"
"Huh?!" gasped Gabriella.
"Best of all," rambled Vincent, "it came from someone like you, you pipsqueak!" He then pressed a button on his Duel Disk, "Ready? Then here's my surprise!"
His remaining face-down card flipped face-up and revealed itself.
"That card?!" panicked Lisa.
"(しまった!) Shimatta! (Oh no!)" cried David in Japanese.
"The Trap Card, 'Reactor Coating'!" announced Vincent, "I must target 1 'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE' or 1 'Reactor' monster I control; I must equip this card to that target. It cannot be destroyed by battle."
Gabriella recoiled, watching as a reflective coating formed on the body of 'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE', making it look shiny and able to reflect almost anything. Meanwhile, the energy blast on the lance of 'Wind-Up Arsenal Zenmaioh' had finished charging and was fired at 'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE', striking it hard and causing Vincent to get pushed back while taking immense damage (LP: 4000 → 1800). Despite being hit like that, he only giggled viciously because everything was falling into place.
"The first effect of 'Heavy Metal Raiders'!" Vincent went on, "The first time each DARK Machine monster I control would be destroyed by battle each turn, it is not destroyed, and if I took battle damage from that battle," From there, as he spoke on, 'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE' got even stronger from the damage sustained (ATK: 3000 → 5200), "it gains that much ATK after damage calculation, and keeps that ATK gain as long as this card is on the field."
"5200 ATK!" recoiled Mayura.
"And that's not the scariest part," warned David, while in his mind… "There's also the second effect of 'Reactor Coating'!"
Back in the geoglyph, 'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE' started readying all of its weaponry for an attack of its own in retaliation to being hit.
"The second effect of 'Reactor Coating'!" proclaimed Vincent, "After damage calculation, if the equipped monster battled an opponent's monster: I must destroy that opponent's monster, and if I do, inflict damage to my opponent equal to half of the destroyed monster's ATK."
"(何?!) Nani?! (What?!)" exclaimed Gabriella in Japanese.
Outside the wall of fire, everyone else watched in horror at what was about to occur.
"'Wind-Up Arsenal Zenmaioh' has 5200 ATK, and Gabriella will take 2600 ATK as damage!" remembered Juri.
"Don't forget one detail!" The voice of Vincent added.
The intelligent, dark blue-haired young woman gasped. Inside the geoglyph, Vincent was looking more and more gleeful by the minute as he explained the main purpose of the whole duel.
"This is a special Dark Duel," explained Vincent, "You know, where the damage inflicts real pain," He smiled sadistically, "Riddle me this; what would happen if a 6-year old takes an attack worth 2600 damage in a duel where said damage is reality? The answer is really easy… it's death," Gabriella and Ashima both listened as they grew more and more afraid of what was to come, "I don't need my 'Earthbound Immortal' to take any lives, seeing as this will work just fine!" As the command to attack was given, 'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE' took aim at its targets, "'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE', fire all your weapons at 'Wind-Up Arsenal Zenmaioh' and the &$# girl!"
And 'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE' fired off countless missiles towards 'Wind-Up Arsenal Zenmaioh' and Gabriella—who was so terrified she couldn't speak or scream. As mentioned, if the attack were to be successful, Gabriella would not only lose, but she would also die from the impact.
"GABRIELLAAAAAAAA!" screamed David, thinking this was the end of his younger sister.
But Ashima was not going to let that happen…
"I activate the first effect of 'Lyrilusc - Ruby Phoebe'!" shouted Ashima, taking and readying a card in her hand. She sent the card ('Lyrilusc - Ruby Phoebe') to her GY, "When my opponent activates an effect…" The spirit of a young girl wearing a ruby red flight suit with white wings for arms appeared on the field before joining 'Wind-Up Arsenal Zenmaioh' in trying to protect Gabriella from 'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE's' attack, "…that would inflict damage to a player (even during the Damage Step) (Quick Effect): I can discard this card; the damage that player takes from that effect is halved."
The barrage of missiles connected with both 'Lyrilusc - Ruby Phoebe' and 'Wind-Up Arsenal Zenmaioh', destroying them in a massive explosion. The backlash of said explosion was so intense that it actually sent everyone else in the area flying back a short distance. When everything finally calmed down within the wall of fire, Ashima was laying on the ground, but mostly unhurt. She sat up and rubbed the back of her head before remembering something…
"Gabriella!" realized Ashima, before looking nearby and reacting with horrified, widened eyes, "Oh no…"
Gabriella (LP: 300) was shown to be buried by some rubble from the pavement, having just barely survived with critically low LP remaining thanks to Ashima's quick intervention—but her eyes were closed, she was bleeding from a crack in her head, and there was no response of any kind. Outside the wall of fire, everyone else was on the ground but luckily unhurt. David was the first to get up, and when he did, he thought of Gabriella and raced towards the fire wall. Once there, he looked around the inside and saw Ashima crawling over to a pile of rubble.
"Ashima-san-!" whispered David, before making his Mark of the Dragon glow, "Please, let me go inside!"
Before long, he found his right hand going through the geoglyph wall. He walked inside for a moment before running towards the rubble where Gabriella was buried, and Ashima was trying to remove them. Once the aqua blue-haired boy made it over, he knelt down and took a good look at Gabriella, who was still bleeding heavily from the left side of her forehead, her eyes remained closed, and he seemingly felt no pulse from her.
"Gabriella, Gabriella! (落ち着いて!) Ochitsuite! (Get a hold of yourself!)" begged David in Japanese, shaking his younger sister in desperation, but not getting any response, "(落ち着いて!) Ochitsuite! (Get a hold of yourself!)"
But Gabriella remained unresponsive.
"No… no, please no!" begged David, as tears began forming from his eyes.
Fearing the worst, he cradled the motionless body of his sister, holding her close and silently sobbing, wishing this was all some bad dream. Unfortunately, it was no dream, and he had seemingly lost his younger sister for all eternity. It resulted in him gazing up into the sky and letting out an anguished scream.
(elsewhere…)
Inside the hideout of the Dark Signers, the three Bio-CPU boys were still watching the duel on the crystal globe. Footage of Vincent snickering quietly to himself after his successful attack was shown. Were Orga, Clotho, and Shani impressed? Far from it.
"Man, what the hell did he think was gonna happen?" huffed Orga, folding his arms, "Did he seriously think that beating a rookie little kid is even remotely impressive to us?" He shook his head scornfully, "That fat-ass is nothing but a total embarrassment to us Dark Signers."
Clotho and Shani both silently agreed.
(elsewhere…)
Back at the river canal in Hartford, the rest of Team 6D's were able to enter the wall of fire, where they found a most heartbreaking sight waiting. There, on his knees cradling Gabriella's body in his arms, was a sobbing David repeatedly uttering his younger sister's name in grief. Ashima just stayed silent, but was equally devastated. Quickly realizing what just happened, Lisa found herself breaking down into tears, too.
"Oh, Dave… I'm so sorry," she said, softly and sincerely.
Matt and James R. both closed their eyes and bowed their heads in respect to Gabriella's sad passing. While Carlie and Michael (even him) looked very solemn. Outside the geoglyph, Sean, Janice, and the three Astray girls all watched with equal sadness. By then, however, they all heard the sick, maddening laughter from Vincent, who displayed no remorse or empathy from appearing to kill Gabriella.
"Well, guess she had that coming," Vincent remarked snidely, "Noobs…"
David's hands were soon balled into hard fists, and he looked up, displaying more anger and hatred than he ever displayed in-front of anyone. However, he wasn't the only one who was this angry…
"Dave," The voice of Ashima spoke up, causing David to look over and see a shadow over her eyes, "There's still a chance to save her."
"Ashima-san?" peeped David.
With a shadow still over her eyes, Ashima was practically shaking with growing fury and hatred—even so, she was still able to speak calmly to her grieving friend. Asagi, Mayura, Juri, Sean, and Janice all could be seen watching outside the geoglyph as they overheard the conversation.
"Get Gabriella out of here and to a hospital," The voice of Ashima ordered, before she raised her head to dispel the shadow over her eyes and sharply looked at the others, "You three!"
"Ashima-!" exclaimed Asagi.
"You go with Dave, and make sure nobody tries to get in his way," The voice of Ashima instructed.
"R-Right," nodded Juri.
"Asagi, call their parents," Mayura said to Asagi, "They need to know about this ASAP."
Asagi nodded with urgency. Once Gabriella was freed from the rubble, David picked her up and managed to leave the geoglyph thanks to the power of the Crimson Dragon. Upon emerging, he and the three Astray girls left the area, while Sean and Janice remained behind to continue supporting the Signers and Ashima. Speaking of Ashima, when she finally got back to her feet, she turned and glared at Vincent with sheer rage burning in her normally kind eyes. No one had ever seen this kind of reaction from someone like her before, but Vincent wasn't scared, at all—if anything, it just made him laugh some more.
"I like that look on your face!" giggled Vincent, "It suits you well! And besides, that noob girl got what she deserved!" Ashima, not losing her enraged look, listened on, "She made far too many rookie mistakes against someone as great as me!"
"Unforgivable…!" snarled Ashima in fury, while Vincent just yawned boredly, "You… you're beyond any sort of redemption!" Suddenly feeling like she was no longer afraid of dueling, she started getting over most of her PTSD as she pointed at her opponent, "I promise… I promise I'll defeat you!"
(elsewhere…)
Inside one of Orb's cafeterias, Ren and Futaba were enjoying some tea with Discord, completely unaware of what everyone was doing.
"I wonder what David and Gabriella are doing?" asked Futaba absentmindedly.
"I wouldn't worry," reassured Discord, before taking a sip of his tea, "I'm positive he and Lisa are helping young Gabriella with her dueling," He stood up made a brief shrugging gesture with his arms, "I must say I'm surprised you're allowing Gabriella to begin dueling at the age of six."
"Let's just say David gave in and decided to help her," figured Ren, "She's good at getting him to do what she wants, and he loves her a lot," He smiled fondly, "I'm sure they're all having a good time dueling."
They each quickly found out the hard way that was not the case when Discord's phone started ringing.
"Hello? Discord J. Crawford here," answered Discord.
"Discord, it's you? Oh, thank goodness!" The voice of Asagi responded from the other line, "Are you with Dave and Gabriella's Mom and Dad?"
"Asagi?" pondered Discord calmly, "What's the matter? You sound upset."
"That's because we ran into huge trouble!" The voice of Asagi said frantically, "Namely a huge creep by the name of Vincent Stevens, a Dark Signer, and he injured Gabriella to the point she's being rushed to the hospital," As she continued speaking, Discord, Ren, and Futaba each gasped, "Ashima's currently stuck in a deadly duel with him at the city's river canal. Please, Ren and Futaba need to come to be with their daughter!"
"Dark Signer?!" recoiled Ren, before adding in Japanese, "(まさか…) Masaka… (This can't be…)"
"Oh my God… My little Gabriella-!" uttered Futaba in parental fear.
"Asagi, we'll be right over," promised Discord, before hanging up and looking to the other two adults, "Come on, we need to get to the hospital quickly."
"(はい!) Hai! (Yes!)" accepted Ren in Japanese.
"Mommy's coming, sweetie!" Futaba cried determinedly.
The trio started to leave the cafeteria, with Discord retreating into his thoughts about the whole ordeal—particularly since Ashima was still in the duel.
"Ashima, you're the only one who can stop Vincent," he thought to himself, "Please hurry and win the duel!"
(elsewhere…)
Back at the river canal, the duel between Ashima and Vincent (originally Ashima and Gabriella vs. Vincent) was ongoing, and the former was completely outraged at the latter for his actions to the point she seemed to no longer fear dueling.
"Vincent, as of now, I'm not going to hold back my power. Prepare yourself!" threatened Ashima, before drawing a card, "It's my turn!"
Turn Six: Ashima Nilgiri (LP: 2400)
Deck: 48
Current Hand (4): "Lyrilusc - Assault Wings"(!), "Lyrilusc - Beryl Canary", "Lyrilusc - Bird Strike", and "Overlay Regen"
Her drawn card was the 'Overlay Regen' Spell Card. It was good, but not needed just yet. She added the card into her hand and took another ('Lyrilusc - Bird Strike') out to play.
"From my hand, I'll activate the Spell Card, 'Lyrilusc - Bird Strike'!" began Ashima, before slotting the card into her Duel Disk and causing the mentioned Spell Card to materialize face-up on the field, "If I control a 'Lyrilusc' monster: I must negate the effects of all face-up monsters my opponent currently controls."
"What?!" cried Vincent.
"That's right," confirmed Ashima, just as the shiny-looking 'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE' found itself electrically sparking, "This means you can't access your monster's effects any longer!"
"Tch! Damn those tricks of yours," grumbled Vincent dejectedly.
"I overlay Level 1 'Turquoise Warbler'…" continued Ashima, holding her right hand upward. It was then the Overlay Network reappeared in the center of the field and absorbed 'Lyrilusc - Turquoise Warbler' and 'Lyrilusc - Celestine Wagtail' into it, "…and 'Celestine Wagtail'!"
Before long, the Overlay Network started erupting as something started to emerge, which was another adult-like, female humanoid bird-like warrior with purple/violet armor and helmet, and came with two large black wings with orange tips for arms—all while a Summon Chant from Ashima followed.
"Untamed songstress of the skies, spread the wings of beauty as the chorus of the winds brushes past your foes!" chanted Ashima, "Xyz Summon! Take flight! Rank 1! 'Lyrilusc - Promenade Thrush'!"
The 'Lyrilusc' Xyz Monster did a couple of back flips before standing on her spot on the field while posing for battle (Rank: 1/ATK: 0/DEF: 0).
"'Lyrilusc - Promenade Thrush' gains 500 ATK for each material attached to it," explained Ashima, going over her monster's first effect, as her focus went entirely to 'Lyrilusc - Promenade Thrush', "She has two materials attached, meaning she has 1000 ATK."
'Lyrilusc - Promenade Thrush' grew stronger (ATK: 0 → 1000).
"Heh! 1000 ATK ain't gonna cut it, and you know it," scoffed Vincent.
"I activate 'Promenade Thrush's' second effect!" rebutted Ashima, as a material floating around 'Lyrilusc - Promenade Thrush' faded away as her ATK went down (ATK: 1000 → 500) and she sent a large whirlwind directly at Vincent's face-up 'Heavy Metal Raiders' Spell Card, "Once per turn: I can detach 1 material from this card, then target 1 Spell/Trap my opponent controls; I must shuffle it into the Deck!"
"Nooooo! Not my 'Heavy Metal Raiders'!" shrieked Vincent, watching as his face-up 'Heavy Metal Raiders' Spell Card got hit by the wind, blew away, and shattered into shards of glass, "I can't believe it!"
"With 'Heavy Metal Raiders' gone, the power bonus 'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE' has is now gone, too," Ashima pointed out.
'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE' returned to its normal power level (ATK: 5200 → 3000), while Vincent had to take back and add his card into the Deck (which automatically shuffled itself afterwards). He was not a happy camper about it, but was certain he remained invincible.
"Who cares if you got rid of my Field Spell?!" raged Vincent delusionally, "Even without it, 'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE' is still as unbeatable as ever before."
"So it would seem, but my turn is just beginning," retorted Ashima heatly.
"Just beginning?" repeated Vincent, while in his thoughts… "That damn Indian girl… What else will she try? She knows she can't win the duel, yet she's continuing to fight me?" He eyed his calmly furious opponent, "What does she think this is, an animated TV show or something?"
"I overlay Level 1 'Sapphire Swallow' and 'Cobalt Sparrow'!" Ashima went on.
The Overlay Network reappeared in the center of the field once more, absorbing both 'Lyrilusc - Sapphire Swallow' and 'Lyrilusc - Cobalt Sparrow'. Another something then started to emerge from Overlay Network, which was an adult-like, female humanoid bird-like warrior wearing a blue/white battle dress that resembled exposing her midriff, and also two large white wings for arms—all while a Summon Chant from Ashima followed.
"Birds with beautiful wings! Gather on the battlefield and take brilliant flight!" chanted Ashima, "Xyz Summon! Dance in the sky! Rank 1! 'Lyrilusc - Assembled Nightingale'!"
The new monster posed on the field for battle (Rank: 1/ATK: 0/DEF: 0).
"This is a whole new duel," declared Ashima, before going over 'Lyrilusc - Assembled Nightingale's' first effect (ATK: 0 → 400), "'Assembled Nightingale' gains 200 ATK for each material attached to it. She has two materials attached, so her ATK is 400."
"Pah! 400 ATK can't do anything to a monster with 3000 ATK!" smirked Vincent.
"That's not true!" argued Ashima, "I'm going to end this duel on this turn using only my 'Assembled Nightingale'."
"Cut the crap!" Vincent rebutted harshly, "At this rate, you'll never pull it off!"
"Then just watch me," Ashima suggested, as she resumed her turn, "I activate the second effect of 'Sapphire Swallow'!" She briefly held up her 'Lyrilusc - Sapphire Swallow' Monster Card, "A WIND Xyz Monster that was Summoned using this card on the field as material gains this effect."
This was the effect written on the 'Lyrilusc - Sapphire Swallow' Monster Card:
-"If it is Xyz Summoned: I can target 1 'Lyrilusc' monster in my GY; I must attach it to this card as material."
Vincent gritted his teeth as Ashima held up a card ('Lyrilusc - Celestine Wagtail') taken from her GY.
"The monster I attach is 'Celestine Wagtail'," revealed Ashima, as the card ('Lyrilusc - Celestine Wagtail') in-between her fingers dissolved into dust, "This gives…" While speaking, a third material appeared and started floating around 'Lyrilusc - Assembled Nightingale' as she gained more ATK (ATK: 400 → 600), "…'Assembled Nightingale' three materials and another 200 ATK!"
"And I take it 'Cobalt Sparrow' also grants an effect to an Xyz Monster you bring out?" pouted Vincent.
"'Cobalt Sparrow's' second effect!" announced Ashima, "A WIND Xyz Monster that was Summoned using this card on the field as material gains this effect."
This was the effect written on the 'Lyrilusc - Cobalt Sparrow' Monster Card:
-"My opponent cannot target this card with card effects."
"But there's more!" As she spoke, Ashima held two cards ('Lyrilusc - Beryl Canary' and 'Lyrilusc - Ruby Phoebe') up, "I activate the first effect of 'Beryl Canary'! If this card is in my hand: I can target 1 'Lyrilusc' monster in my GY; I must Special Summon both this card and that monster, also I cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck for the rest of this turn, except Xyz Monsters," She placed both cards onto separate Monster Zones on her Duel Disk, "Appear now, 'Beryl Canary' and 'Ruby Phoebe'!"
Appearing on the field were both 'Lyrilusc - Beryl Canary' (Level: 1/ATK: 0/DEF: 200) and 'Lyrilusc - Ruby Phoebe' (Level: 1/ATK: 200/DEF: 100). Within seconds, the Overlay Network reappeared again.
"I overlay Level 1 'Beryl Canary' and 'Ruby Phoebe'!" howled Ashima.
Both 'Lyrilusc - Beryl Canary' and 'Lyrilusc - Ruby Phoebe' were absorbed into the Overlay Network. Something started to emerge from Overlay Network, which was another adult-like, female humanoid bird-like warrior with purple/violet armor and helmet, and came with two large black wings with orange tips for arms—all while a Summon Chant from Ashima followed.
"Untamed songstress of the skies, spread the wings of beauty as the chorus of the winds brushes past your foes!" chanted Ashima, "Xyz Summon! Take flight! Rank 1! 'Lyrilusc - Promenade Thrush'!"
The second copy of 'Lyrilusc - Promenade Thrush' did a backflip and stood on the field while posing for battle alongside the first copy of the same monster (Rank: 1/ATK: 1000/DEF: 0).
"'Beryl Canary's second effect!" Ashima went on, "A WIND Xyz Monster that was Summoned using this card on the field as material gains this effect."
This was the effect written on the 'Lyrilusc - Beryl Canary' Monster Card:
-"This card gains 200 ATK, also its control cannot switch."
Vincent simply laughed at his opponent bringing out many weak Xyz Monsters, which Ashima did not take kindly to.
"Are you laughing at my monsters?" she questioned hotly.
"I sure am! It doesn't matter how many of those Xyz Monsters you bring out!" bragged Vincent, "They're all utter trash compared to my own cards!"
Ashima uttered an agitated grunt.
"Don't underestimate them!" called Matt, also not happy with Ashima's cards being insulted, "No card, no matter how low Leveled they are, is useless!" His focus went briefly to both copies of 'Lyrilusc - Promenade Thrush', 'Lyrilusc - Recital Starling', and 'Lyrilusc - Assembled Nightingale', "They all might have low ATK, but Ashima will definitely use them to finish you off for good!"
"Right," agreed Ashima, "And besides, thanks to 'Beryl Canary', my second…" 'Lyrilusc - Promenade Thrush', as the short conversation came to an end, grew stronger (ATK: 1000 → 1200), "…'Promenade Thrush' gains 200 more ATK!" She then pointed to her face-up 'Lyrilusc - Bird Sanctuary' Spell Card, "I then activate the second effect of 'Lyrilusc - Bird Sanctuary'! If I control an Xyz Monster with 3 or more materials: I can draw 1 card."
Ashima drew her card, which was a Trap Card called 'Lyrilusc - Egg Hatching'(!). Adding it into her hand, she then moved her right hand near her face-up 'Lyrilusc - Bird Sanctuary' Spell Card.
"Next, I'll activate the first effect of 'Lyrilusc - Bird Sanctuary'!" The black-haired young Indian woman declared, "I can target 2 Winged Beast Xyz Monsters I control; I must attach 1 of those monsters to the other as material. (Transfer its materials to that monster.)"
"Ngh…" grimaced Vincent.
"I target 'Recital Starling' and the second copy of 'Promenade Thrush'!" proclaimed Ashima, just as 'Lyrilusc - Recital Starling' turned into an orb of light (material) and attached itself to the second 'Lyrilusc - Promenade Thrush', "With a third material, my second 'Promenade Thrush' gains 500 more ATK!"
The second 'Lyrilusc - Promenade Thrush' gained strength (ATK: 1200 → 1700). Vincent continued to remain unconvinced Ashima couldn't beat him with three Xyz Monsters with well under 2000 ATK.
"I don't know what you're up to, but your so-called plans suck!" coughed Vincent.
"Is that so?" pondered Ashima, "If I can offer a small piece of advice, why don't you start paying closer attention to my actions rather than continuously making light of them," She resumed her turn, "I activate my second 'Promenade Thrush's' second effect!" From there, a material floating around the second copy of 'Lyrilusc - Promenade Thrush' faded away as she motioned her arms/wings together, "Once per turn: I can detach 1 material from this card, then target 1 Spell/Trap my opponent controls; I must shuffle it into the Deck."
'Lyrilusc - Promenade Thrush' fired off another blast of wind, striking Vincent's face-up 'Reactor Coating' Trap Card and destroying it—or, rather, turning it back into card form, which Vincent took, looked at it, then shuffled back into his Deck.
"Now 'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE's' greatest protection is gone," acknowledged Ashima, "And I'm almost done preparing for your defeat!" She then took and held one more card ('Overlay Regen') out, "Spell Card, 'Overlay Regen', activate! I must target 1 face-up Xyz Monster on the field; I must attach this card to it as material!" From there, a fourth orb of light appeared and started floating around 'Lyrilusc - Assembled Nightingale', "I attach this card to 'Assembled Nightingale', which also increases her ATK by another 200!"
'Lyrilusc - Assembled Nightingale' gained more strength (ATK: 600 → 800). Initially, Vincent was still unconvinced in Ashima being able to defeat him. However, after what seemed to take a very long time, he finally remembered something about one of Ashima's monsters that he completely overlooked—specifically 'Lyrilusc - Assembled Nightingale'.
"C-Crap! Now I remember!" panicked Vincent, now understanding the predicament he was in as he spoke about Ashima's 'Lyrilusc - Assembled Nightingale', "'Assembled Nightingale' has two effects that allow her to attack directly and multiple times!"
"You finally acknowledge it, don't you?" smiled Ashima humorlessly, "Yes, 'Assembled Nightingale's' second effect… This card can attack directly," She then shifted her focus to her ace monster's third and most important effect, "And the third effect! While this card has material, it can attack a number of times each Battle Phase, up to the number of materials attached to it," Before long, she delivered some more bad news to the stunned Vincent, "You only have 1800 LP—just three strikes from 'Assembled Nightingale' will defeat you, but that won't be enough to quell the anger Dave and I feel about you… I'm going to hit you the full 'four' times!"
"$*#^, $*#^, $*#^, $*#^, $*#^!" yelled Vincent, swearing up a storm.
"Yeah! Alright!" whooped Sean.
"You go, girl!" came from Lisa.
"Hurry and finish him off!" encouraged Michael.
Ask, and you shall receive…
"Battle!" announced Ashima, entering her Battle Phase before speaking in a more calm, tranquil fury-like tone, "Vincent, are you prepared to lose the duel and pay for all of the evil things you've done to me and my friends?" She didn't bother waiting for an answer and issued a command to her ace monster, who took to the skies until she was above Vincent and 'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE', "Take flight, 'Assembled Nightingale'!"
"No! No, no, no, no! Damn you!" wailed Vincent.
"Attack the opponent directly!" ordered Ashima.
'Lyrilusc - Assembled Nightingale' obeyed, starting to fire off blasts of wind from her hands. Not one blast, not two blasts, not three blasts, but 'four' such blasts. With seemingly no way to defend himself, Vincent could only watch and scream as he and 'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE' got hit and a massive explosion was left behind. When everything calmed down, there was a thick blanket of smoke covering Vincent's field—although Ashima and everyone else believed that he had been defeated.
"She did it!" Lisa and James R. both cheered in unison.
"Ashima won the duel!" put in Carlie.
Matt smiled and nodded. Inside the geoglyph, a very tired out Ashima stood slightly bent over for a few seconds before straightening up and sighing to herself, relieved she won against a Dark Signer of all duelists and avenged Gabriella. But there was little time to celebrate, because she and everyone else in the area then started to hear ominous laughter coming from the blanket of smoke. A pair of glowing, menacing eyes were also starting to show. What was going on? Well, you'll find that out next time.