Chapter #6: Overwhelming, Overpowering
"Hey, did you hear? You Show Duel School's Ice Queen is back!"
Shiori raised her head to listen to the conversation.
"Really? Ah, it's that pretty girl with the facial scars, right?"
"Yeah. Looks like there's one decent duelist in that coward's school after all. I heard that because no one would agree to an official duel with her school, she offered to take matches at a handicap—two thousand life points to her opponent's four thousand. And she's apparently on a win streak of seven."
"Really? Wonder if she'll be in the Maiami Championship then… she's not in our age group though, so it doesn't really matter to us." The two students walked past them.
Shiori caught Manami smiling to herself. "Sae-san's your friend, right?" She asked.
"Huh?" Manami blinked. "Oh, you know Sae?..."
"We met once at the start of the winter."
Manami looked at her searchingly, and then she sighed. "... so it happened again, huh?"
"I wouldn't know," Shiori said. "It's not my business to enquire further anyway. Is she good?"
"... Sae's really good," Manami said. "The problem is that she's never defeated me. My deck holds a natural advantage over hers." She smiled thoughtfully. "Come to think of it… Sae's deck may very well counter yours completely. If she does participate in the Maiami Championship, it'd be interesting to see a duel between the two of you."
Shiori… was looking forward to that too.
"So, Risu-chan's joining LDS next year, after the Maiami Championship, huh?" Manami tilted her head. "With a reputation as fearsome as yours, she's got a lot to live up to."
"Risu's entirely her own person." Shiori could talk openly about it, because Risu was currently in Reiji's office, talking to him about her deck and learning how to play it. (She wanted to surprise Shiori. Shiori thought that it was rather cute.) "My hope is that with my reputation, no one will go out of their way to bother her."
"Always such a good sister." Manami looked at her—for a moment, there was something wistful there. "I'll look out for her too, of course. But I'm looking forward to the Maiami Championship too, now. If you're there, and Sae's there too… I think that's for the best."
Ice and snow blew through, coating the walls of the cave. The holograms faded soon after, but there was a stillness to the air, a sharp, cutting chill.
Sae took a step back from the field. She nodded to her opponent. "Good match," she said. "See you around." She walked toward the other duel field in the school—compared to You Show, this duel school was slightly more well off, with three duel fields in use.
"Arlekino!" Ayami's ace destroyed all the other monsters on the field, before it dove in for the kill—alright, perhaps that was slightly dramatic. Sae had never claimed to not think in purple prose.
Ayami turned and looked at her. Sae nodded.
"Let's go home," she said. "We still need to fill in the form to apply for the Maiami Championship."
"Junior for me, and Junior Youth for you, right?" Ayami nodded. "Junior Youth… so you'll bump into Manami."
"I hope not," Sae said frankly. "I do like her, but dueling her isn't particularly fun for me. Still…"
They walked out of the school. The sun was shining down on them.
"... it's almost spring," she said fondly.
The air felt warmer now.
"You're participating in the Maiami Championship, correct?"
Masumi nodded. Her strange mentor-like figure cracked a smile.
"Good. Take this."
She held out a card. Masumi looked at it. It was a Fusion card… a very powerful one, from the effect that she was reading.
"Fujishiro-senpai…"
"I put in a word with Akaba Reiji for you," Shiori said—and that shocked Masumi slightly. Was this girl actually friends with Akaba Reiji—not just connected to the Akabas, but close to Reiji himself'? "Good luck, Kotsu Masumi."
Masumi nodded—even more loyal to the girl than before. "Thank you, senpai. I'll make you proud."
"I'd rather you make yourself proud." Shiori shrugged. "But I won't be disappointed in you either way, if you do your best."
"But thank you for believing in me." Masumi said firmly. "I won't forget this, Fujishiro-senpai."
"... well, if you say so, then I hope we'll continue dueling in the future," Shiori said. "I'm always willing to help you improve."
She walked off. Masumi looked after her, heart thudding.
She wouldn't let that girl down. No matter what.
When the Maiami Championship began in March, there were over four hundred applicants, from all sorts of different schools. Of course, many of them were from LDS—unsurprising, considering everything. There were also more students in the older categories than the youngest category, since most people didn't join duel schools until they were at least at the age to be in middle school. Those that were thirteen and below were in the Junior Class, those who were fourteen to eighteen were in the Junior Youth Class, and those who were legally adults—nineteen and above—were in the Youth Class.
Of course, there wouldn't be a neat number of students in each category. So the higher-ranked students in each category in terms of win rate would get a bye into the next round, with only the lower-ranked duelists dueling in the first round, if there were too many students.
Sae herself benefitted from this rule—so she got a bye into the next round.
Ayami, however, did not manage the same for her category, so she did have to face an opponent. And she ended up drawing one of LDS's students, right off the bat.
Sae, Yuya, Yuzu and the adults in their lives—Shuzo, Yoko and Ryoma—waited in the crowd.
The crowd clearly already had certain expectations. After all, how could a student, a gem from LDS, lose to a student from the coward's school?
Sae looked up towards the area where LDS's students were sitting. She made direct eye contact with Sakaki Manami, and she smiled gently.
She held no hatred towards Manami. Sae had never known what it felt like to hate someone, anyway. It seemed like it would be too tiring. She would much rather understand than hate.
So she nodded.
Manami nodded back, seeming slightly more relaxed.
Both of them wanted the same thing, after all.
They wanted the best for Ayami, Yuzu and Yuya.
If they looked at it like that, without thinking about their schools, weren't they on the same side?
"Oh, so you're the coward's niece?"
Ayami rolled her eyes. "Get more creative material," she said. "Or is the great LDS student unable to find a single synonym for coward?"
"Y-you—"
"Sakaki Ayami," she introduced herself brusquely. "Shall we get going? Duelists locked in battle!" By starting the Action Duel chant, she'd forced her opponent to go along with it.
"Kicking the earth and dancing in the air alongside their monsters!"
"They storm through this field!"
"Behold! This is the newest and greatest evolution of Dueling!"
"Action—"
"—Duel!"
The cards rained from the sky—and the field around them transformed. They were standing on a platform of white concrete bricks, in the middle of a stormy night sky.
"Cosmic Sanctuary!" Shijima Hokuto gloated. "This is my field! I'm going to defeat you now!"
"You can do your best," Ayami said. "But I won't lose to someone who looks down on me without even facing me!"
[DUEL!]
Sakaki Ayami: 4000LP
Shijima Hokuto: 4000LP
[Turn 1: Hokuto] [H:5]
"I'll start!" Hokuto declared. "I'll activate the Continuous Spell, Constellar Star Chart! And then, I'll Normal Summon Constellar Algiedi!" A knight in sleek silver armour appeared, wearing a blue cape that swept out behind it. Stars scattered around them.
[Constellar Algiedi (4*/1600/1400/LIGHT/Spellcaster/Effect)]
"With Algiedi's effect, I can Special Summon a Level 4 "Constellar" monster from my hand! Come—Constellar Pollux!" Another knight appeared, wearing bulky silver armour, holding up two long blades.
[Constellar Pollux (4*/1700/600/LIGHT/Warrior/Effect)]
"I'll overlay the Level 4 Constellar Algiedi and the Level 4 Constellar Pollux! Golden cluster of unity, descend! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Constellar Praesepe!" A warrior dressed in golden armour appeared, strange protrusions in the shape of honeycomb emerging from his shoulders. White, black and red could be seen accenting its armour.
[Constellar Praesepe (R4/2400/800/LIGHT/Machine/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]
Loud cheers came from the crowd in response to the Xyz Summon—cheers of 'LDS', over and over.
"Since I Xyz Summoned a "Constellar" Xyz Monster while I controlled my Continuous Spell, I can draw a card!" Hokuto picked up the card. "Over to you." With his monster by his side, he dove for an Action Card.
"That's… Shijima Hokuto," Masumi noted. Shiori turned to look at her.
"Is he any good?" Shiori asked mildly.
"Apparently, he just qualified to get his Xyz Monsters," Masumi said. "So… he's probably decent?"
"If he's just decent," Manami said, "Ayami will clean him up easily." Shiori turned to look at her, surprised at the confidence—Manami was never arrogant, but it seemed that she could still be proud of her sister. "Against Ayami, if the only force you can summon up is a single monster, no set cards… you're just waiting to lose."
… hmm.
With so much confidence…
Shiori was suddenly somewhat interested in Sakaki Ayami's skill level.
[Turn 2: Ayami] [H:6]
"Spell Card, Terraforming," Ayami said. "I'll add a Field Spell from my deck to my hand."
"Hah, as if I would let you do that!" Hokuto revealed the Action Card that he'd picked up. "I'll activate the Action Card, Cosmic Arrow! If you add a card to your hand, except by drawing it, I can reveal it, and if it's a Spell, I'll destroy it!"
"... what a convenient Action Card," Ayami snarked. An arrow of light shot out at her, hitting the card in her hand and destroying it. "Well, that's fine. Quickplay Spell, Amazing Time Ticket! I'll pay 800 life points to add a "Amazement" monster from my deck to my hand!"
Ayami: 4000 - 800 = 3200LP
"I'll Normal Summon Amazement Attendant Comica!" The blonde girl appeared on her field, a calm look on her face.
[Amazement Attendant Comica (4*/1400/1800/LIGHT/Machine/Effect)]
"When Comica is Normal Summoned, I can set a "Attraction" Trap from my deck to my field!" The set card appeared on her field. Hokuto scoffed.
"Playing with Traps? They're pathetic and slow! Are you scared or something? Just get Action Cards!"
"... if you're so mocking of them, let's see how you do against these pathetic and slow Traps. I'll set a card facedown and end my turn." Not having her Field Spell would slow her down slightly—she could have immediately brought out Arlekino this turn, if not for that—but it didn't bother her much.
[Turn 3: Hokuto] [H:4]
"Draw," Hokuto said. "I'll Normal Summon Constellar Acubens!" A silver warrior with orange, crab-like pincers appeared, holding up its arms.
[Constellar Acubens (4*/800/2000/LIGHT/Machine/Effect)]
"When Acubens is Normal or Special Summoned, I can increase the attack points of all "Constellar" monsters I control by 500!" Both Acubens and Praesepe glowed brightly.
[Constellar Acubens: 800 + 500 = 1300ATK]
[Constellar Praesepe: 2400 + 500 = 2900ATK]
"Battle Phase!"
"Trap Card, activate!" Ayami declared. "Amaze Attraction Viking Vortex!" A large ship rose up from the void beneath them. "I'll equip it to Comica."
"Does it matter? Praesepe attacks your monster!"
"Well, dumbass, since I activated it, it does matter," Ayami snarked. "Viking Vortex's effect. I will negate the attack. And then, you take control of Comica until the end of the Battle Phase!" Comica cheerfully leapt over to Hokuto's field.
"But you're leaving your own field exposed!"
"Am I?" Ayami said with a smirk. "When I activate a Trap Card, I can Special Summon Amazement Administrator Arlekino from my hand!" Her blue-haired ace in a hat appeared on the field, cheerfully smirking—the two of them, always a little colder, and yet still amused.
[Amazement Administrator Arlekino (7*/2600/2200/DARK/Psychic/Effect)]
"... I'll end my Battle Phase," Hokuto said. Comica skipped back to Ayami's field. "I'll end my turn."
"Better go search for Action Cards," Ayami said. "Otherwise, you won't survive this turn."
[Turn 4: Ayami] [H:3]
Swiftly, she drew a card.
"I'll reveal an "Attraction" Trap in my hand and Special Summon Amazement Assistant Delia from my hand!" The other blonde girl appeared, cheerfully grinning. Blue wings grew from her shoulders.
[Amazement Assistant Delia (4*/1800/1400/LIGHT/Machine/Effect)]
"Delia's effect," Ayami called out. "I'll send a "Attraction" Trap from my hand or face-up field to the graveyard to set another "Attraction" Trap from my deck to the field!" She discarded a card, before another set card appeared on her field. "Comica's effect. I will equip Viking Vortex to your Praesepe instead."
Comica waved a hand through the air, and the ship moved forward. Then, the blonde jumped off it, grabbing Praesepe and tossing the Xyz Monster on the ship. She returned to Ayami's field. Hokuto, however, was still oblivious to what was going on.
"Hah. Two Level 4 monsters. If only you could Xyz Summon."
"Who needs that?" Ayami said. She revealed the other card that she'd set on the last turn. "Trap Card, Amaze Attraction Majestic Merry-Go-Round!" The carousel appeared on the field. "I'll equip it to Arlekino—and Arlekino gains 500 attack points!"
Her ace leapt gracefully on top of the merry-go-round, tipping his hat with a spin.
[Amazement Administrator Arlekino: 2600 + 500 = 3100ATK]
"I'll activate Arlekino's effect," Ayami continued. "By banishing "Attraction" Traps from the graveyard, like the one that I just discarded, I can destroy cards you control, up to that amount. I'll banish that card and destroy your Constellar Praesepe! Rebuilding Algorithm!"
Arlekino raised a hand.
"You aren't going to get rid of my monster so easily!" Hokuto shouted. "Action Card, Mirror Barrier! This turn, Praesepe can't be destroyed by card effects!" A thin barrier appeared in front of Praesepe, cutting off the blast of darkness and neon lights from Arlekino.
"Fine," Ayami said. "I prefer that." She gestured forward. "Arlekino. Attack Constellar Praesepe!"
"During the Damage Step, I can activate Praesepe's effect! I can detach one of its Overlay Units and increase its attack points by 1000!"
Ayami smiled curtly. "Then you're out," she said. "When an opponent's monster that is equipped with Viking Vortex activates its effect, it is returned to the hand. This is a compulsory effect—it doesn't matter if it's during the Damage Step. Your monster is done for!"
"What?"
Ayami raised her hand. The ship sank into the darkness below—along with Praesepe, dragged down in the wreckage. With the disappearance of the equipped monster, Viking Vortex was also sent to the graveyard.
"Of course, I don't get a replay," Ayami said. "But that's fine. Delia attacks your monster, and Comica attacks directly!"
The two girls dashed forward, raining down blows on Hokuto—who was unable to get to an Action Card in time.
Hokuto: 4000 - 500 - 1400 = 2100LP
"We'll whittle you down," Ayami said. "I'll end my turn." She was confident—and she had the right to be.
After all, she still had another Trap on the field.
[Turn 5: Hokuto] [H:4]
"Draw!" Hokuto declared, seeming flustered. "I—I won't lose to you! If you returned it to the Extra Deck, I can summon it again! I'll Normal Summon Constellar Aldebaran!" A warrior holding onto two glowing red rings appeared, two ox's horns on the top of its head.
[Constellar Aldebaran (3*/1300/800/LIGHT/Beast-Warrior/Effect)]
"With Aldebaran's effect, I can Special Summon a Level 3 "Constellar" monster from my hand! Come—Constellar Leonis!" A warrior with glowing blue hair appeared—spiky, like a lion's mane.
[Constellar Leonis (3*/1000/1800/LIGHT/Beast/Effect)]
"And I'll activate the Spell Card, Constellar Twinkle! I'll increase Leonis's Level by 1!" Leonis glowed.
[Constellar Leonis: 3* + 1* = 4*]
"And then, once per turn, by banishing a "Constellar" monster, like Constellar Acubens, from my graveyard, I can add Constellar Twinkle back to my hand! I'll activate it again, and increase Aldebaran's Level by 1 too!" The oxen warrior glowed as well.
[Constellar Aldebaran: 3* + 1* = 4*]
"I'll overlay the two of them! Come back, Constellar Praesepe!" The golden warrior reappeared on his field.
"Fine. If you want to be so determined to rely on your Extra Deck, fall with it too." Ayami gestured to Arlekino. "Once per turn, when my opponent Normal or Special Summons a monster, Arlekino lets me equip a "Attraction" Trap from my deck to that monster! Dark Amusement!" She picked up a Trap from her deck, placing it down. "I'll equip Amaze Attraction Wonder Wheel to your monster!" The ferris wheel appeared on the field, and Prasepe was tossed into it.
However, it seemed that Hokuto completely lacked caution. "Attack Arlekino!"
"You want to use its effect?" Ayami said. "That's unfortunate for you. Amaze Attraction Wonder Wheel's effect. Once per turn, if it's equipped to an opponent's monster, I can swap that monster's attack and defense points!" The wheel spun around, before spitting out Praesepe beneath the ferris wheel.
[Constellar Praesepe: 2400 → 800ATK; 800 → 2400DEF]
"What?"
"So even if you use Praesepe's effect," Ayami declared, "you can only save yourself!"
Hokuto gritted his teeth. He quickly activated Praesepe's effect, and his monster glowed—but it didn't survive the attack.
[Constellar Praesepe: 800 + 1000 = 1800ATK; OU:2 - 1 = OU:1]
His life points plummeted.
Hokuto: 2100 - 1300 = 800LP
"Ayami's doing so well," Ryoma said proudly, watching his daughter.
"Yeah!" Yuzu smiled proudly too. "She's winning against someone from LDS right now!"
Indeed, there were whispers in the crowd—people were talking about Ayami in surprise, saying that it was surprising that she could defeat one of the students chosen by LDS to receive an Extra Deck monster.
"I want to take part too, next year," Yuya said proudly. Yuzu turned to him, feeling the urge to tease.
"You should get better at dueling first!"
"I will," Yuya vowed. "I want to!"
On the field, Hokuto was forced to end his turn.
"You won't get an Action Card," Ayami vowed. Comica and Delia dashed forward, blocking off Hokuto's routes. "I may not be as familiar with this field as you. It's far too dangerous to leap around these platforms without being used to it. But I won't lose! Arlekino! Amusement Order!"
Her monster dashed forward, pulling off his hat again—
The shadows blotted out the stars.
Hokuto: 800 - 3100 = 0LP
Winner: Sakaki Ayami!
"Your sister's good," Shiori said. "Very good, actually… her hand advantage does suffer slightly, but that Arlekino more than makes up for it in every way."
"Arlekino was a gift to her from Uncle Yusho," Manami said, smiling to herself. "When they were kids, Yuya already had his Odd-Eyes… I actually don't know where Odd-Eyes came from. Maybe Uncle Yusho got it for him before he was born? But Ayami used to whine about not having an entertainment-based deck. As a kid, she played the same Entermate monsters as Yuya and Uncle Yusho, but she wanted something unique for herself. More edgy."
Manami cracked a smile.
"That playstyle of hers—to give every monster on the field a chance to experience the different sights of an amusement park, and gain strength through it. My sister came up with the idea on her own, and Uncle Yusho contacted his friend to get cards made for her. She's never stopped using those cards since."
"Traps that equip themselves to monsters," Shiori said thoughtfully. "This little sister of yours… is surprisingly patient, despite her personality."
Manami laughed. "Ayami really is!"
More duels passed by. The early morning was reserved for Junior Division duels, and then, from the morning to the afternoon, Junior Youth Division students had their duels. Youth Division duels continued from then to the evening.
Masumi was ranked high enough to get a bye into the next round (despite how much she had tanked her record with her continued challenges against Shiori.) Even so, due to the 'bye' system, two rounds of duels would be taking place that day. As such, Masumi went down and swiftly disposed of her opponent—some boy with cooking monsters? Shiori wasn't sure, because Masumi had crushed him the moment that she'd stepped into the field.
"Are you proud of her?" Manami said with a bright smile.
"... she did well," Shiori said neutrally.
"You should tell her that when she comes back," Risu said.
… were those two ganging up on her? How unfortunate.
"Fine," Shiori said.
Masumi's face lit up when Shiori said those words to her later, so clearly she'd done something right by listening to them. Oh well.
The Junior Youth Division duels were what she was far more interested in. Once the preliminary round to cut down the duelists was complete, the proper duels started.
Shiori cleared through her duel without any hesitation, and then waited.
Because in this round, there was…
"You Show Duel School's Ice Queen," Shiori murmured the title to herself.
In front of the crowd, Fuyutsume Sae walked calmly to the middle of the field.
… what an imposing figure. For all that Shiori knew that Sae was a sweet, gentle girl, with that long, dark hair and grey, smoke-like dress, along with a white cardigan, she looked a little like a witch. A dark, ethereal beauty.
And her opponent…
"LDS Xyz Course, ranked fourth," Manami supplied. "That's Sakuragi Yuu."
Ah. So that boy with the purple hair…
Hopefully, he'd put up a better show for them. Or hopefully not.
In this duel, to Shiori, he was a non-entity.
She just wanted to see what Fuyutsume Sae was capable of. It was time to see the deck that Manami had said would counter hers almost completely. The Action Field deployed—a meadow filled with trees and flowers.
Shiori leaned forward with genuine interest, and she watched.
"You must be You Show Duel School's new rising star," her opponent said. "Well, good luck."
… surprisingly civil. "You too," Sae said with a gentle smile. "I apologise though. I'm likely to ruin this atmosphere."
"With those ice cards of yours? I don't doubt that." Yuu chuckled. "Really… I've heard a lot of rumours about you. Do you really use that summoning method?"
"... well," Sae said, "you'll have to wait and see. I know nothing about you, after all—shouldn't we start out on the same level?"
"I suppose so." Yuu smiled at her. "Let's have a good duel."
[DUEL!]
Fuyutsume Sae: 4000LP
Sakuragi Yuu: 4000LP
[Turn 1: Sae] [H:5]
"Spell Card, Moray of Greed," Sae declared immediately. "By shuffling two WATER monsters from my hand into the deck, I will draw three cards." She cycled out the cards in her hand. "I will then discard Nekroz of Clausolas from my hand to add a "Nekroz" Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand, and discard Nekroz of Brionac to add any "Nekroz" monster from my deck to my hand."
She revealed the card in her hand.
"I'll Normal Summon Ariel, Priestess of the Nekroz." A girl with light blue hair appeared on the field, dressed in an overly large, dark witch's hat and robes.
[Ariel, Priestess of the Nekroz (4*/1000/1800/WATER/Psychic/Effect)]
"Ariel's effect," Sae continued. "By revealing "Nekroz" cards in my hand, I can increase or decrease her Level by the number of cards that I revealed. I will reveal the Ritual Spell, Nekroz Cycle to decrease her Level by 1!"
[Ariel, Priestess of the Nekroz: 4* - 1* = 3*]
"So you really do use Ritual Summoning, huh?"
"I've had these cards for a while," Sae said. "They're precious to me." A cold breeze blew past them. "And besides, all these fancy summoning methods that you've all learned recently… they don't suit me, I think. Ritual Spell, Nekroz Cycle. I will tribute Ariel to Ritual Summon a "Nekroz" Ritual Monster with the exact same Level as the monsters I tributed. And this Ritual Spell can be used to Ritual Summon a monster from the graveyard too."
"A Ritual Summon from the graveyard, huh?"
"Mist, dance in the valley and freeze all that dares oppose you! Ritual Summon! Level 3—Nekroz of Clausolas!" A short warrior appeared, messy red and white hair curling in the breeze that started around him. He rested in Defense Position.
[Nekroz of Clausolas (3*/1200/2300/WATER/Warrior/Ritual/Effect)]
"When Ariel is tributed, I can add a "Nekroz" non-Ritual Monster from my deck to my hand."
Sae picked up the card.
"I'll set a card facedown. Over to you."
[Turn 2: Yuu] [H:6]
"I'll Normal Summon Spellbook Magician of Prophecy!" A boy in a blue robe and hat appeared, holding onto a book that shimmered with a light purple glow.
[Spellbook Magician of Prophecy (2*/500/400/WATER/Spellcaster/Effect)]
"When Spellbook Magician of Prophecy is Normal Summoned or flipped face-up, I can add a "Spellbook" Spell from my deck to my hand! I'll add Spellbook of Secrets to my hand and activate it—and I can add a "Spellbook" card from my deck to my hand!"
He revealed another card in his hand.
"I'll reveal three "Spellbook" Spells in my hand and Special Summon High Priestess of Prophecy from my hand with her own effect!" A pink-haired woman appeared, wearing a white magician's robe. A light green glow surrounded her as she floated next to the other monster.
[High Priestess of Prophecy (7*/2500/2100/LIGHT/Spellcaster/Effect)]
"I'll activate the effect of High Priestess of Prophecy! I'll banish a "Spellbook" Spell from my hand or graveyard to target and destroy a card on the field!" Yuu pulled out Spellbook of Secrets from his graveyard and gestured forward. A ray of light shot out towards Clausolas.
"I'll discard Nekroz of Gungnir from my hand," Sae countered. "This turn, Clausolas cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects." A blast of ice shot out around her, forming a barrier around her monster, protecting it from the other monster's effect. Sae glanced around the meadow. She could already see three Action Cards, but none of them were close to her or easy to get.
"For the whole turn?" Yuu grimaced. "I'll…" He ran to a bush, grabbing an Action Card from within it. However, the Action Card didn't seem to be exactly what he wanted. "Action Card, Flower Gift! I can permanently give a monster I control 400 attack points. I'll obviously give it to High Priestess!" Flowers bloomed around the pink-haired woman, casting a glow on her.
[High Priestess of Prophecy: 2500 + 400 = 2900ATK]
"I'll then activate the Spell Card, Spellbook of Knowledge! By sending a "Spellbook" Spell or a Spellcaster monster I control to the graveyard, I can draw two cards!" Yuu picked up the cards. "I'll set a card and end my turn!"
[Turn 3: Sae] [H:3]
"Draw," Sae said. "I will activate the Spell Card, Preparation of Rites. I can add a Ritual Spell from my graveyard to my hand, and a Level 7 or lower Ritual Monster from my deck to my hand." She picked up the two cards. "Ritual Spell, Nekroz Cycle."
"You're Ritual Summoning again?"
"Yes. I'll tribute Shurit, Strategist of the Nekroz in my hand. With Shurit's effect, he serves as the full tribute for this Ritual Summon, and I will Ritual Summon a monster from the graveyard." Red ice formed through the grass, uprooting it. Sae saw her opponent shiver. "Spear of bloody red that always strikes true, pierce through all evil! Ritual Summon!"
A woman with red-hair appeared, her curls flicking through the air like tongues of flame. She was dressed in beautiful, icy blue armour—no, armour made entirely out of ice. There was a darker red, sinister tinge to her armour—to the blue ice wings that snapped out behind her.
"Level 7, Nekroz of Gungnir!"
[Nekroz of Gungnir (7*/2500/1700/WATER/Spellcaster/Ritual/Effect)]
"She's beautiful," Yuu said. "But she's still a couple hundred attack points short."
"It'll be clear in time," Sae said softly. "Shurit's effect. When tributed, I can add a "Nekroz" Warrior Ritual Monster from my deck to my hand." She picked up the card. "I will Normal Summon Dance Princess of the Nekroz."
A similar version of the red-haired woman from earlier appeared—no longer dressed in the icy armour, but rather, in simple robes.
[Dance Princess of the Nekroz (4*/1600/800/WATER/Spellcaster/Effect)]
"I'll then activate the effect of Nekroz of Gungnir. Once per turn, by discarding a card, I can destroy a card you control! I'll choose High Priestess of Prophecy!"
"What?" Yuu immediately started to search for an Action Card.
"Let your spear strike true. Frozen Waltz Spear!"
Gungnir summoned up an enormous spear of ice above herself, before it became tinged bloody red. She flung it forward.
"Action Spell, Leaf Shield!" Yuu declared. "I can negate the destruction of my monster once this turn!" He gestured to High Priestess.
Meanwhile, Sae had been staying in a single spot. Clausolas, however, had not—without a need to engage in battle, he'd run off to look for Action Cards for Sae.
He flung one over, and Sae caught it.
"Action Card, Dispersal!" She said. "I can negate the effects of an Action Card this turn." The leaves fell apart, and Gungnir's spear hit the foe—destroying her. "Gungnir attacks you directly!"
"Trap Card, Magic Cylinder—" Yuu tried to flip up his set card, but it didn't work. "Huh?"
"While I control Dance Princess of the Nekroz, "Nekroz" Ritual Monsters I control can't be targeted by card effects. So your Trap can't activate, since targeting is part of the cost." Gungnir dashed past Yuu, leaving a trail of jagged crystals in her wake.
Yuu: 4000 - 2500 = 1500LP
However, now that Sae knew what Yuu's set card was, she obviously didn't attack with Dance Princess—after all, Dance Princess's protection didn't extend to herself.
"I'll end my turn," Sae said. She smiled. "Over to you. Are you going to show me a proper Xyz Summon, then?"
[Turn 4: Yuu] [H:6]
"Draw!" Yuu declared. "I'll activate the Spell Card, Spellbook of Eternity. I'll add a banished "Spellbook" Spell to my hand. I'll then activate the Spell Card, Spellbook of Secrets, and add another "Spellbook" Spell from my deck to my , I'll Normal Summon Amores of Prophecy!" A green-haired man holding onto a glowing blue crossbow appeared.
[Amores of Prophecy (3*/600/2000/EARTH/Spellcaster/Effect)]
"Then, by revealing a "Spellbook" card in my hand, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Spellcaster monster from my hand! Come, Strength of Prophecy!" A red-haired woman wearing a blue cape appeared on the field too, right next to Amores. Red runes floated around her.
[Strength of Prophecy (4*/1500/1400/FIRE/Spellcaster/Effect)]
"Strength of Prophecy's effect. I will shuffle a "Spellbook" Spell from my graveyard into the deck to target a monster I control. Its Level increases by 1, and it gains 500 attack points! I'll target Amores of Prophecy!" The red-haired spellcaster gestured to the green-haired archer, some of her red runes floating over.
[Amores of Prophecy: 3* + 1* = 4*; 600 + 500 = 1100ATK]
Changing the Levels of his monsters to make them the same?
"So you're an Xyz user," Sae concluded.
"Yup," Yuu said. Sae smiled—to her surprise, she saw his face flush for a brief moment. "I am—I'm the fourth-ranked Xyz duelist." He was stuttering slightly.
"That's very impressive," she said.
"Um—thanks. I will overlay the Level 4 Strength of Prophecy and the Level 4 Amores of Prophecy! Xyz Summon! Come! Downerd Magician!" A blue-haired girl tossing around potions appeared on his field, smiling in a way that seemed rather cheeky.
[Downerd Magician (R4/2100/200/DARK/Spellcaster/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]
"Downerd Magician gains 200 attack points for each of her Overlay Units!"
[Downerd Magician: 2100 + 200 x 2 = 2500ATK]
"And I'll activate the Spell Card, Spellbook of Power! I'll give Downerd Magician 500 more attack points!"
[Downerd Magician: 2500 + 500 = 3000ATK]
"Attack Nekroz of Gungnir!" Yuu dashed towards a nearby tree—and Sae nodded to Clausolas, raising her head.
"Once per turn, Nekroz of Clausolas allows me to target a monster on the field that was Special Summoned from the Extra Deck," Sae declared. "I can negate its effects and change its attack points to 0—and these effects last until the end of the turn. I will target Downerd Magician. Mistfreeze!"
A sharp, cold burst of wind shot forth.
"Your monster counters the Extra Deck?" Yuu exclaimed in shock.
[Downerd Magician: 3000 → 0ATK]
"Action Card, Miracle! I'll negate Downerd Magician's destruction and halve the damage!" The attack backfired on him, but he barely managed to avoid a loss.
Yuu: 1500 - 2500 / 2 = 250LP
"Why would a deck that counters the Extra Deck exist?" Yuu continued. "Extra Deck monsters only came out a few months ago!"
The truth was, Sae did not understand.
Why did her monsters counter the Extra Deck, if they were made before the Leo Corporation had invented these three summoning methods? What would be the purpose of these effects when the Extra Deck did not exist before then? Why had her parents…
Enough.
She was freezing.
"It's a new deck," she said—because it was true. The number of duels she had actually played with this deck paled in comparison to the number of duels she'd had when she was younger with other decks. "You don't have to worry too much about it. But if you use the Extra Deck, you won't win against me—that's all."
"... I understand," Shiori said. Manami glanced at her. "Her deck counters the Extra Deck. It also has a lot of effect protection for itself. So the reason that you think she counters me is because of that… isn't it?"
"Am I wrong?"
"Mm. We haven't dueled since that day, right?" Shiori lifted up one of her Fusion cards. "My deck's taken on a very different identity since then. And unlike her, my countering of monsters doesn't stop at the Extra Deck. But you're right. I'm interested in her."
"That's overwhelming…" Yuu murmured. "I'll set a card facedown and end my turn."
Sae eyed his first set card. That card was Magic Cylinder.
It shouldn't be a big problem.
"Nekroz of Gungnir's effect," she said. "It works on either player's turn. I'll discard a card. Frozen Waltz Spear!" She destroyed his set card.
[Turn 5: Sae] [H:2]
"Draw," Sae said. "Clausolas's effect. I will target your monster again—Mistfreeze." The cold winds blew past them—most of the flowers had already wilted under the force. "Since I still control Dance Princess, you can't target Clausolas or Gungnir with card effects… so I'm ending this here. I will change Clausolas to Attack Position. Gungnir attacks Downerd Magician!"
Gungnir summoned up another one of her spears, sending it flying out at Downerd Magician.
"Action Card, Evasion!" Yuu declared. He was searching for another Action Card even as he did that. "I'll negate the attack!" He moved towards another one.
"Nekroz of Clausolas attacks your monster!"
"I'll—"
The wind blew. The tree shook—and the card fell from the tree that Yuu was climbing, out of his grip.
The attack hit—reducing the trees to nothing but their branches. The beautiful meadow was nothing but a frozen wasteland.
Fuyutsume Sae raised her head, breathing out, the air becoming misty in the cold.
Yuu: 250 - 1300 = 0LP
Winner: Fuyutsume Sae!
She walked over to her opponent, reaching out a hand with a smile. "Xyz Summoning does seem cool though," she said. "Sorry—it seems that my deck completely countered yours. It was a fun duel though."
"It's fine. Losing in the first round's not fun, but…" Yuu seemed like he was blushing. Sae tilted her head, slightly confused. "Do you want to go out after this? For dinner, or…"
"Are you asking me out on a date?" Sae said, blinking.
"Yes. I think you're… pretty? And you're really nice."
"O-oh. I'm flattered, but…" Sae shot him an awkward smile. "I'm sorry. I'm not interested in dating anyone. It has nothing to do with you—I'm just not ready for a relationship right now." She bowed slightly. "I hope you can understand that."
Yuu looked a little crestfallen. "That's a shame," he said after a moment. "I understand though. Can we still be friends?"
"I'd like that," Sae said, slightly relieved. "If you don't mind that I defeated you."
"I don't." Yuu glanced upwards. "I hope for your sake that you don't run into her in the next few rounds though—I'd like you to get to the end, since you won against me."
Her…
"Is Fujishiro Shiori that good?" Sae asked.
"Oh, you know her?"
"I saw her on the LDS rankings." Sae felt her heart tremble in… what, anticipation? "… I hope that I don't meet her in the early rounds either. I'd much rather meet her in the finals."
And, driven by a certain level of strange confidence in her heart…
Sae turned towards the LDS stands and made direct eye contact with her. She raised a fist in the air.
From an external perspective, it would look like a challenge from You Show to LDS. Especially since she'd just defeated a student of LDS.
But to Sae, it was simply a challenge from her to the girl that had found her in the snow.
Even as the crowd roared in surprise and delight at the drama that they saw, Sae saw Shiori incline her head forward for a brief moment, a nod.
Acknowledgement.
Sae couldn't help it. She smiled even more widely.
No. That girl wasn't demure at all.
End Notes:
We won't linger too long in this tournament arc, because I dislike those. It's necessary for the plot though.
Apparently, it's a rule that Hokuto must get wrecked once in every fic I write. Sorry, Hokuto. You're insufferable.
Honestly, writing Ayami as a character was fun in this chapter purely because Manami, Shiori and Sae all have different personalities, but they also all don't trashtalk their opponents much. Writing trashtalk has been sorely missed.
You already know that Shiori sweeps her opponent, so there's no need for me to show that duel on-screen. So instead, have a double feature with Ayami and Sae, whose deck I've been waiting to debut for a while.
I normally have a policy of never doubling up on decks for OCs in different stories, but in this case, I had no choice. Luckily, Sae is so different from that other OC that it doesn't matter in this case. And I had no choice but to use Nekroz for Sae, because of certain things. Anyway, I gave her different summoning chants too.
For powercurve reasons, certain Nekroz monsters are not given to Sae for now. Nekroz is a bit too overpowered to give to her fully before canon.
Reminder that OC Action Cards are not listed because they're unique to the field involved and usually won't show up again.
Review responses!
To Yuki, the tournament arc will probably skip over most non-essential duels, but you'll see the expected match-ups :)
To Hikaru, I never said that I was going to change Shiori's archetype completely. I will confirm that Shaddolls are Shiori's archetype throughout the story. But if I was going to change it, you wouldn't be able to change my mind. New cards are completely under spoilers and I will never answer questions involving them. You'll only know about them if I choose to bring them up myself. Still, thanks for the enthusiasm :)
To Utopy, since I decided to sort them by age group, Shiori isn't in the same group as Yuya/Yuzu/Ayami/Masumi/Hokuto etc right now. :)
To phantomdragons, you got Sae's deck right. I did feel that it was dead obvious. I can't confirm or deny the other theory though. Don't get too caught up in theories for now, I assure you that lore comes later! Thank you for the good review, I'm glad that you enjoyed the chapter for what it was.
To the Guest asking about pairings, Shadow In The Mist is unique among fics I've written in that it is intentionally written with a high focus on relationship arcs, both romantic and platonic. That being said, this fic has the most pairings of any fic I've ever written, purely because a part of it was also me being curious about how many of them I could stuff in the plot while having them all be plot relevant.