Welcome back everyone! We're finally getting back into the tournament, and with that more duels! Happy Halloween everyone! Hope you enjoy it, and let's jump right on in!
Ch. 43: Fierce Moonlight
"Hello people of the City!" Melissa Clarie cried out over the cacophony of cheering fans. "Welcome back to the second day of the Friendship Cup! Today we'll be wrapping up the first round of the tournament. Let's hope these next couple of contestants will give just as thrilling of a duel as yesterday's matches!" The reporter tipped her red cowboy hat back, and raised her microphone staff high up in the air. "As always, I, Melissa Claire, will be covering the entire Friendship Cup, and let's get this show started!"
"Yeah! Let's get going!"
"I can't wait to see what's going to happen!"
"Jack! Jack! Jack! Jack"
"Zero! Zero! Zero! Zero"
All around the crowd went wild. Most were excited to see what the Friendship Cup was going to bring while others cheered for either Jack Atlas or Zero. The roar of noise was so loud you could barely hear the person sitting next to you, and you had to scream to be heard, contributing to even more noise. While the Tops booths were much more calm and quiet compared to the rowdy Commons they too were still just as excited.
Yet, even through all of this, you could still hear the descent of arguments. The angry cries of people could still be heard whispered over the boisterous crowds.
"I can't believe we have to stay all cramped up together while those Tops get to lounge around down there!" A Common girl snapped irritably. "It's so unfair!"
"Those Common filth are so loud it's giving me a headache." A Tops nobleman looked over to a servant waiting for his every command. "Isn't there a way you people can shut those rabble up? I don't want to risk missing any of the matches because of them."
"I still think Zero cheated during his duel with Jack Atlas." An elderly man grumbled angrily as he glared down at the D-Wheel track like it personally insulted his mother. "There's no way the Common's King could lose to such a clown!"
"Common's King, hah!" Having heard the old man's statement, a young boy in his early teens a couple rows up barked out in mocking laughter. "No way Jack's a King of mine! Zero has shown more care to us Commons than that sellout ever has just by beating that jerk. In my opinion Atlas should be stuck in that underground facility slaving it away like the loser that he really is!"
Hearing as the crowd's cheering was starting to turn into angry arguing, Melissa cut it off at the bud. "Alright then! Let's get this party started by seeing who is going to start this day of dueling off first!" She pointed up towards the huge screen right behind her displaying a randomizer for today's matches. "Starting off the first match for today is… Serena Akatsuki vs Tony Simmons! Let's hope these two know how to start the day off with a bang!"
. . .
As both Yugo and Sylvio were bemoaning the fact that they still weren't going to duel yet, Serena quickly rose up from her seat and headed towards the contestant tower's doors. Though some in the group were tired out from last night it wasn't anything a good cup of tea or coffee couldn't fix. The Fusion user took one glance at her deck before putting it into her duel disk.
"Good luck out there Serena!" Ruri yelled out as the bellboy Sam began guiding Serena towards the D-Wheel garage. "Show them all what for!"
Yuto gave a silent thumbs up while Shun's focus was more on the TV, but he did nod his head once in acknowledgement.
"Understood." That military training from Academia was hard to break off as Serena gave a single nod back to Ruri's words. Her unwavering forest gaze not looking back for a second as she left for her duel match.
While the lobby floor wasn't as full of people as it was the previous day, everyone left was still in a rather cheery demeanor thanks to last night. Yuya and Yuzu had also gone outside the tower to have their very first date. Ruri and Yuto gave the two a couple of suggestions on where to go first since they explored the stadium yesterday on their own date.
Everyone was hoping that the date went well alongside Serena's incoming duel.
. . .
Meanwhile, Zero and Jack Atlas were back at it again watching the Friendship Cup's duels in the stadium's throne room. Currently though it was obvious both parties weren't going to be paying any attention to the next few duels. Atlas was currently reading a strategist's novel while Zero was partially curled up on his side groaning in pain.
It was clear his muscles were still sore from last night's torture. His entire body hummed with agony.
"Ugh." Zero grouched as he shifted further into his chair to try and find some comfortable position with only minimal success.
"Oh come on." Jack gave the revolutionary the side eye as he tried to suppress a smirk and failed. "There's no way you're still sore from those games last night, stop complaining."
"You're a right bastard, you know that?" Was the expected grumpy response from Zero as he practically laid down in his throne like it was no one's business.
"And you're rather pathetic if it only took a couple basketball games to get you like this." Jack replied back just as easily as he flipped the page of his book to continue reading. "Honestly it baffles me how you're a co-leader of these Lancers after seeing you wheezing on the ground at the end of last night."
"Well, I'm sure if I had a proper good night's rest that wouldn't have happened." Zero emphasized each word with a modulated growl. His gloved hands tightening into fists. "If only someone hadn't demanded I wake up in the middle of the night to play some damn games with him!" He was doing much better however despite that. The terrorist having a belly full of food and a much better grip on his reality compared to yesterday.
"I'm sure you've survived worse." Atlas replied breezily, not even taking his eyes off of his book.
As Melissa announced Serena and Tony driving out of the D-Wheel garage Zero turned back towards the stadium outside. His smoldering gaze cooled as his eyes landed on the blue D-Wheel Serena was borrowing to ride in this tournament. He couldn't see her eyes past the visor across her face from her helmet, but he just knew she was staring straight ahead ready to show her opponent who was the superior duelist. Her stance and expression in a no-nonsense tone that meant business.
He turned away from the sight, ignoring Melissa starting the match as the two D-Wheels revved into action and sped off. Instead laying his head down as a wave of drowsiness hit him.
"I'm going to take a nap." Zero murmured quietly to himself, but Jack still gave a small hum stating he heard and understood.
"Aren't you going to watch the match?" That was the only question Jack bothered to ask in his intrigue. "That girl down there is a part of your Lancers after all."
"I already know she's going to win, so watching the rest of this battle is pointless if I already know the outcome." Zero replied back with only the slightest hint of sleepiness in his tone. "I've been around her enough to be familiar with her deck and her strategies." Atlas didn't bother to reply back to that, and instead focused on his own book instead, allowing Zero to fall asleep for a much needed nap.
. . .
SERENA LP- 4000
TONY LP- 4000
"DUEL!"
"And taking the first corner is… Tony Simmons!" Melissa stated as the crowd went wild in approval. "He takes the first turn! Though, Serena isn't too far behind him either."
"Alright, let's get this duel started then!" Tony stated as he began his turn. "The first thing I'll do is set one monster facedown in Defense Mode. Next, I play the Spell card Final Flame!" The Synchro citizen threw an arm back towards Serena. "With this Spell card you take 600 points of Direct Damage!"
Out of the Spell card a huge spiral of flames erupted onto the field. The burning fire shooting right towards Serena and her empty field. Seeing as no Action Card was nearby, and she had nothing in her hand to stop the Spell, Serena quickly swerved out of the way of the attack to prevent from getting hurt. The Moonlight user taking the damage like a champ, and not a single peep of pain escaped from her lips.
SERENA LP- 4000 = 3400
"Well what do ya know!" Melissa commented as the crowd cheered in approval. "It's still the first turn and already Simmons has taken first blood and dealt a whopping 600 points of damage!"
"With that, I set one card down and end my turn." Tony said as the crowd continued its cheering.
Serena's gaze burned into the back of the Synchro user's head in a determined glare. A disappointed look etched itself across her features, and her posture conveyed her discontent. "Is this really all the Synchro Dimension has to offer me? How unsatisfying."
"What- why you-!" The Zombie user was ruthlessly cut off as Serena continued speaking.
"I'll make this a quick duel then." She scowled, and quickly drew a card. "My turn! I draw! First I summon Moonlight Blue Cat in Attack Mode!" The nimble blue haired feline leaped out onto the field to float beside Serena. The monster's eager and swishing tail conveyed its excitement to battle.
MOONLIGHT BLUE CAT LV.4 ATK:1600 DEF:1200
"Battle!" Serena declared, and revved her D-Wheel to go faster and start regaining the ground she had first lost. "I attack your Defense monster with Moonlight Blue Cat! Feral Swipe!" Serena's monster gave a loud yowl, before lunging forward and attacking the facedown monster. Claws revealed themselves from the humanoid feline's fingers as the monster began to swipe down.
"Not quite!" Tony interjected, and quickly bent down to scoop up an Action Card he almost accidentally drove by. "I activate the Action Card Miracle!" As the Action Card went into effect, a blindly bright light shone into Moonlight Cat's eyes. "My targeted monster isn't destroyed, and any battle damage I take is halved!"
Moonlight Blue Cat cried out as she was blinded, and her attack ended up swiping at nothing but air. The force of the attack however did cause Tony to be pushed forward a few feet even though he didn't take any damage since his monster was in Defense Mode. The attack did serve to reveal the man's monster as it was flipped face up.
NECRO MANNEQUIN LV.3 ATK:500 DEF:500
The creature consisted mostly of several arms and legs belonging to mannequins. Its face was blank like any regular mannequin, but the fact that it stood on more than two legs and way more limbs than necessary certainly added onto the creepy factor of the card.
"Already using Action Cards to try and get out of a tough situation then. Disappointing, just don't forget that I can use those cards as well." If Serena was bothered by this, she certainly didn't show it. In fact, she didn't even look worried in the slightest. "Very well then, let's see if you can show me some potential as a Lancer with your next turn. I end my turn."
"And Simmons counters Serena's attack with an Action Card!" Melissa stated over the roaring crowd. "It looks like everyone is really getting into the idea of using these Action Cards and Action Duels. It certainly makes the duels more exciting and last longer. I can tell you that much!"
"I'll show you not to underestimate me! I draw!" Tony hollered over the wind as he drew a card and began his turn. "First, I play the Trap card Necro Cycle!" The man's single set card revealed itself, and its effect began to play with a low ominous glow. "Once per turn, if I control a face-up Necro Mannequin, I can Special Summon another one from my Deck!"
With a bright light suddenly shining from the Trap card Necro Mannequin's shadow suddenly began to expand and grow bigger. Out of the first monster's shadow, a second Necro Mannequin suddenly revealed itself and appeared onto the field in Defense Mode.
NECRO MANNEQUIN LV.3 ATK:500 DEF:500
"Next, I play the Spell Graceful Charity!" Tony continued. "I draw three cards and then discard 2." As the man drew three and discarded two after a bit of thinking. Serena managed to catch up to drive side by side with him. "Next, I play the Spell Monster Reborn, and revive the Tuner monster Plaguespreader Zombie in Attack Mode!" A huge, buff zombie monster lurched out onto the field. Its clothes were shredded, and it looked like the monster was more stitched together than anything with the mismatching colored animal arms and reptilian tail hiding behind its back.
PLAGUESPREADER ZOMBIE LV.2 ATK:400 DEF:200
A dark, pungy purple aura excreted from the monster's skin, and the people close enough to get a whiff of the monster suddenly reeled back with an exclamation of disgust. While Tony didn't seem to care about the smell the zombie was giving off, Serena couldn't help herself as her features scrunched up at the putrid smell. One hand discreetly went up to plug her nose as she made her D-Wheel go faster to get ahead of Tony and the terrible smell coming from the zombie.
"Sometimes I wish people didn't go so far when designing their monsters as to give them a terrible smell to go along with their terrible looks." The Fusion user grouched nasally through her plugged noise.
"Now, I'll summon the Vendread Core in Attack Mode as well!" The Synchro user continued and summoned another freakish monster. This one mainly consisted of a single bright blue soul, but there was a bunch of flesh, claws, tentacles and gore surrounding the soul. Two bloodshot eyes blinked open, and stared down at Serena and her monster unflinchingly.
VENDREAD CORE LV.1 ATK:0 DEF:500
Thankfully, the monsters wouldn't be staying around for long. "Now! I tune my Level 2 Plaguespreader Zombie with my Level 1 Vendread Core and one of my Level 3 Necro Mannequins." As the three monsters leapt up into the air they became green rings and bright blue stars. A bright light enveloped it all as the newly Synchro Summoned monster began to appear. "Undead monster of great power. Rise up again and again until your foe is no more!" Tony raised a fist high in the air. "I Synchro Summon, come forth, Archfiend Zombie-Skull!"
The creature looked almost like a third removed cousin of the Summoned Skull, only zombified. Its skeleton was old and gray while its flesh was burnt black after countless hours spent burning in the sun. Loose veins and tendons spilled out from the monster as it flapped its great, draconic leathery wings to fly just behind its master. Sharp, red-tipped claws and great horns cast a rather intimidating picture for the Synchro monster as it gave a deep bellowing roar for blood.
ARCHFIEND ZOMBIE-SKULL LV.6 ATK:2500 DEF:1200
"Now, I play the Spell Card of Demise! I draw up to five cards, and during my 5th Standby Phase after the activation of this card I must send my hand to the Graveyard." The crowd screamed in excitement as Tony suddenly refilled his hand with cards.
The Zombie duelist suddenly grinned. "I activate the effect of the Plaguespreader Zombie from within my Graveyard! I choose to place one of the Spells in my hand at the top of my Deck, and can now Special Summon it onto my field." The Tuner monster once again rose up from the grave, just as a regular zombie would in any horror movie.
PLAGUESPREADER ZOMBIE LV.2 ATK:400 DEF:200
Serena raised a single immaculate eyebrow, unimpressed, but kept her thoughts and opinions to herself as the duel progressed.
"I also activate the effect of the Vendread Core within my Graveyard. By Banishing one other Zombie monster in my Graveyard from play I can Special Summon it onto my field." Simmons took his first Necro Mannequin out from his Graveyard and removed it from play, and then once again summoned Vendread Core.
VENDREAD CORE LV.1 ATK:0 DEF:500
"I can already see where this is going." Melissa stated over the loud crowd in the stadium. "It looks like Simmons is going to be doing another Synchro Summon! Two Synchro Summons in one turn! That's pretty impressive."
"Predictable." Serena looked down at her hand for a moment, before focusing more on the road in front of her.
"Now I once again tune my Level 2 Plaguespreader Zombie with my Level 1 Vandread Core and my second Level 3 Necro Mannequin." The first Archfiend Zombie-Skull suddenly gave a loud eerie bellow as the Synchro Summoning began to take place. It's call was soon answered by the sound of another Archfiend Zombie-Skull. "Rise from the depths and consume all of the monsters on my opponent's side of the field alongside your fellow allies! I Synchro Summon. Come forth, Archfiend Zombie-Skull!"
For a moment, when both Synchro zombies were on the field, the two began to fight with each other. After realizing Serena was their opponent instead of each other, they both focused their ravenous hunger on the Fusion user with twin growls. Drool slipped past their maws as they snarled like rabid animals.
ARCHFIEND ZOMBIE-SKULL LV.6 ATK:2500 DEF:1200
"Battle!" Tony declared, and threw his hand out towards Serena and her only monster. "I attack your Moonlight Blue Cat with one of my Archfiend Zombie-Skulls! Consume and Infect!
"Not quite!" Serena exclaimed as she forced her D-Wheel forward. Momentarily turning her D-Wheel to the side, sparks flew as she reached down and grabbed a nearby Action Card. "I activate the Action Card Evasion! Your monster's attack is negated!" With the grace of a cat, Moonlight Blue Cat showed its flexibility by flipping out of the way of Zombie-Skull's attack in an acrobatic display.
"But the Battle Phase isn't over, and I still have one more monster." Tony Simmons stated as he looked over towards his second Synchro monster. "I attack your Moonlight Cat again with my second Archfiend Zombie-Skull! Consume and Destroy!"
With no other way to get out of the attack, Moonlight Blue Cat's demise was certain. The second Synchro monster caught the feline by surprise after it dodged the first attack. The monster grabbed a back breaking hold of Moonlight, and mercilessly began to consume the poor monster before it was destroyed into yellow particles and sent to the Graveyard.
SERENA LP- 3400 = 2500
The Academia runaway grit her teeth as the damage caused her D-Wheel to skid for one heart stopping moment before she finally managed to right herself and keep driving forward. Her momentum barely lost as she still kept her lead in front of Tony.
"Finally, I set one card down and end my turn." Over the deafening noise of the crowd, Tony called out to Serena. "How's that for dueling!"
"My turn, I draw!" Serena said as she drew her card and began her turn. One unfazed eye looked back towards Tony Simmons as she spoke "You only play defensively, you barely ever go on the offense. How pathetic. You don't have what it takes to become a Lancer, so this duel is no longer useful to me."
. . .
"This place is absolutely amazing!" Yuya exclaimed as the two teens held hands and explored around the stadium's stalls.
"Yeah, if you ignore the terrible state the City is in for this occasion it actually is really beautiful." Yuzu agreed just as she finished eating up her last strawberry flavored pocky stick. "Oh, look over there!" Pointing towards one of the buildings next to the stadium both looked over towards a game stop that sold duel monsters cards. "Let's go take a look inside. I want to see if I can add a few monsters to my Deck."
"Okay." Yuya agreed with a casual shrug, and they began to head towards the store. "Maybe I can find a card or two to add too." The doorbell gave a light jingle as the duo entered the card store.
"Welcome to Monster City's Game Shop!" A cashier greeted cheerfully as he was quickly checking out a customer.
"Maybe." Yuzu agreed. "I still can't believe you pulled off a Synchro Summon during that duel! That was amazing." Periwinkle eyes looked up towards Yuya's sheepish form. "You have to teach me how to do a Synchro Summon!"
"I, well, I don't know about that Yuzu." Yuya objected carefully. "I mean, it kind of just… sorta happened really. Like when I first performed a Pendulum Summon!"
"You do realize this means you can do nearly all of the Summoning Methods, right?" The pink haired teen asked rhetorically. "Pendulum, Xyz, Fusion, and now Synchro. The only other Method you can't perform yet is Ritual Summoning! Yuya, that's amazing! Even professional duelists can usually only do two different Summoning Methods at the most, so for you to be able to do all four makes you a prodigy!"
"That doesn't mean I'm good at it!" Seeing Yuzu's disbelieving expression to his statement. Yuya diverted the conversation in a different direction while looking at all of the dueling cards this store offered. "Okay, that doesn't seem really believable, but there ARE better people that can teach you how to Synchro Summon." Unsure eyes looked over towards Yuzu's stubborn form. "Why not ask Crow to teach you how to Synchro Summon instead? He's actually from the Synchro Dimension, so he can probably teach it to you much better than I can. What about asking Gongenzaka to teach you?"
"I'm not as familiar with Crow as you are, Yuya." Yuzu reasoned as she lightly bit her lower lip. Something that Yuya unintentionally took in with great rapture as it made her look all the more cuter. "I just have this gut feeling telling me to ask you to teach me. I want to get stronger to help protect people like you or my dad. To be able to better show off my own brand of Entertainment Dueling than just leaving it in your hands. You would be the best person to understand that and accept it." She fiddled with her bracelet nervously. "Crow is too rooted into how the City functions and Gongenzaka has his Steadfast Dueling. In my eyes you're the best person to ever ask to teach me Synchro Summoning, so please teach me!" Like she had done with Sora way back in the day, Yuzu bowed over to Yuya as she pleaded her case to the Pioneer of Pendulum Summoning. "I'll even be happy with just learning Pendulum Summoning if trying to teach me how to Synchro Summon makes you that uncomfortable!"
"I. Uhhmmm… Oh, I don't know, Yuzu." Yuya looked away from her pleading, bowed form and lightly scratched his cheek as he thought about it. The indecision in his voice was rather obvious. "What should I do? I've never tried teaching someone like this before. Mmmm…"
As he pondered about it he eyes scanned the new section of cards they had wandered to near the back of the store. It wasn't a question of if, of course Yuya would love to help Yuzu better herself as an Entertainment Duelist! That was never the question. The question was how he would go about teaching Yuzu how to Synchro and Pendulum Summon. Hell, he didn't know how to Synchro Summon until that duel with Duel Chaser 227! He didn't even know where he got Twilight Paladin, but he was rather positive that the Synchro monster was never in his Extra Deck before that duel started.
Then his eyes focused on a Synchro monster card. A card that Yuya just knew deep down would be perfect for Yuzu's Deck.
The tomato haired teen huffed out a defeated breath, and slumped his shoulders. "Alright, fine. I'll try my best to teach you everything I know about Synchro and Pendulum Summoning."
"Yes!" Yuzu cheered as she ecstatically threw her arms around Yuya into a tight hug. "Yes, yes,yes! Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you for this! I swear I won't let you down or let this opportunity go to waste. I promise!"
"Ah, easy there on the hug Yuzu! I can barely breathe!" Though, he didn't really mind the close contact. He really did miss Yuzu's hugs since she went missing in Standard, and she still smelled like a beautiful bouquet of freshly cut flowers.
"Sorry Yuya, but I can't help it. I'm just so excited to finally get stronger in my dueling." The melodious duelist explained as she slowly released Yuya from her hug and backed away to look for some interesting cards to buy.
"I still don't know if I'm the best person for you to go to to teach Synchro Summoning." Yuya stated as he took a closer look at the one card he first spotted. "Pendulum Summoning? Yeah, I'll teach that to you easy peasy. I'm just a little uncomfortable with teaching you Synchro Summoning since I just learned how to do it myself." He smiled over at Yuzu despite his insecurities and doubts. "But I'll give it my all to teach you anyway. I'll try my best." Suddenly, an idea went off in Yuya's head. "Hey, why don't we both ask Yugo to help us understand Synchro Summoning?"
"Yugo?" Surprised, Yuzu was actually a little embarrassed at forgetting the banana banged duelist after everything he's done to help her. "That's not a bad idea actually."
"Yeah!" Yuya agreed, much more enthusiastically now that someone else better at Synchro Summoning was going to help teach them both how to do it properly. "Though, it all depends on if he says yes, but I'm sure we can convince him to teach us. He's known how to Synchro Summon his whole life. I'm sure he'd be happy to help us better our dueling!"
"That's true." Now Yuzu was getting excited. The two Standard duelists just bounced off of each other like an intense ping pong match. "Yeah! Yeah, you're right! Once we get back to the tower, let's ask Yugo to help us!"
"Then we can probably help him learn something too, like Pendulum or Fusion Summoning." Yuya laughed as he adjusted his pendulum crystal. "Then we can all give our best to help each other grow."
"That's all I need." A good attempt at helping her learn and become a better duelist was all she wanted. Yuzu smiled back just as happily. Content to just being beside Yuya after all of the fear and worry from first arriving to the Synchro Dimension alone with only Yugo. Dazzling periwinkle eyes blinked, and Yuzu's attention was suddenly stolen away as she zeroed in on a Synchro monster card within the display case. "Hey, look at that card!"
"Oh?" Tilting his head in curiosity, Yuya got a closer look at the card Yuzu was pointing at. "Hey, that monster looks pretty neat, but I don't think it really fits your deck or Melodious monsters."
ENLIGHTENMENT PALADIN LV.8 ATK:2500 DEF:2000
It certainly looked like a paladin or knight. Its armor was a gleaming silver while it wore long pure white clothes alongside it. The monster's face was mainly covered, but the hair and eyes vaguely reminded Yuya of his Timegazer Magician. The monster held two boardswords in each hand that looked like they could connect together as one. The fan and gear-like components of the Synchro monster's weapons and clothes also reminded Yuya of Timergazer Magician's clock-esque gear strapped onto its right arm. Overall, it really did look like a cool, strong monster.
"Maybe not for me, but it really does look like something that would be in your deck Yuya." Yuzu expanded upon her original comment.
"You know what? You're actually right." Squinting and leaning even closer towards the display glass Yuya studied the paladin even more. "He looks like a good monster to have to compare against my Twilight Paladin too."
"You should get it!" Yuzu stated happily as she flagged an employee over to help them. "It'll be good to have more than one Synchro monster in your Extra Deck too just in case."
"True." Yuya hummed, as his eyes once again strayed over to the card he first spotted. "I think I'll get it then, but I believe I've also found a rather good Synchro monster for you too Yuzu. Take a look at this monster."
Looking to where Yuya was pointing, Yuzu gasped as she came face to face with the beautiful Synchro monster he was talking about. The monster was a definite she, and had shiny black hair that bobbed and curled all the way down to just the bottom of her flawless ebony colored neck. Sparkling forest green eyes focused on playing the finely handcrafted mahogany violin in her right hand. The violin bow in her left hand was crafted of gold and had musical notes carefully etched into it, but there was no string on it.
The Synchro monster dressed in fine robes in various shades of green, and all had delicate silver stitched into the fabric. Each silver line created musical notes and songs that were weaved into the creature's emerald clothes. Black fabric helped make the colors pop more and become more noticeable. Multiple light green flowers were also fixed into the creature's clothes and were even embedded into its skin all along its arms and in her hair. A ring of the flowers were wrapped around its delicate neck making her dark skin stand out even more in a gorgeous display. The monster's legs and feet were visible and were instead consumed by the long robes trailing behind her.
AZEALIA THE MELODIOUS ALTO LV.7 ATK:1400 DEF:2800
"Oh my." Yuzu breathed in awe as her eyes became glued onto the monster. "She's gorgeous."
"She doesn't have good Attack Points, but her Defense looks pretty good." Yuya agreed sagely. "What really matters is her effect. It's pretty killer."
"She's the perfect monster for my deck!" The Melodious duelist looked back towards Yuya in gratitude. "Nice find, Yuya!" To show her appreciation Yuzu quickly gave a small kiss on Yuya's cheek. It was just a light peck, but it managed to make Yuya blush like crazy. It looked like he was about to pass out.
As Yuzu searched for some more cards and Tuner monsters Yuya brushed his fingers where Yuzu had kissed his cheek with reverence. "Y-yeah, no problem, Yuzu."
He definitely made the right decision.
. . .
"I use the Spell card Polymerization!" Serena exclaimed as she revealed two of her monsters from her hand. "I fuse the Moonlight Blue Cat and Moonlight Purple Butterfly from my hand to create an even stronger monster!"
Together, the two moon themed monsters were forged together to create one stronger entity in a bright yellow light. "Blue cat that prowls through the darkness! Butterfly with violet poison! Spiral into the moon's gravity and become a new power!" Bringing her hands together into one balled fist, Serena threw them down in front of herself. "I Fusion Summon! Come to me! Beautiful beast that dances in the moonlight! Moonlight Cat Dancer!"
Serena's ace monster graced the field with a beautiful twirl and dance. The humanoid feline swinging around to her own tune in a graceful, eye-catching display. Revealing her jagged twin daggers, Moonlight Cat Dancer gave a low, somewhat seductive meow before she threatened her new opponents with a hiss.
MOONLIGHT CAT DANCER LV.7 ATK:2400 DEF:2000
"With this I activate the Spell card Moonlight Perfume!" A wonderful smelling fragrance and light blue fog began to fill the arena. "I can Special Summon 1 Moonlight monster from my Graveyard onto the field. I chose to summon Moonlight Blue Cat!" Out of the dissipating blue fog, the familiar figure of Moonlight Blue Cat slunk back onto the field with a pleased purr.
MOONLIGHT BLUE CAT LV.4 ATK:1600 DEF:1200
"I activate the effect of Moonlight Blue Cat!" Serena threw one hand out towards the recently resummoned monster. "When this card is Special Summoned I can target one Moonlight monster I control on the field and double its original Attack Points!"
"What!?"
"I choose to double Moonlight Cat Dancer's Attack!" The Fusion monster gave another long purr of appreciation as Blue Cat gave a deep bow to its superior and powered it up.
MOONLIGHT CAT DANCER ATK: 2400 = 4800
"Now I activate Moonlight Cat Dancer's effect." Serena's green eyed gaze looked over towards her ace monster. "By tributing one Moonlight monster on my field Moonlight Cat Dancer can attack each of your monsters twice. The first time your monsters are not destroyed, but the second time they are. I tribute Moonlight Blue Cat!" With a playful leap, Blue Cat exploded into yellow particles as Moonlight Cat Dancer began to glow a menacing light blue color in her powered up state.
"No way!" Tony yelled in disbelief as the crowd's opinion began to side with Serena.
"Battle!" Serena declared as she threw her arm back towards Tony's Synchro monsters. "I attack your Archfiend Zombie-Skulls with Moonlight Cat Dancer! Moonlight Prowl!"
"I don't think so!" Simmons interrupted and threw an arm out to his facedown. "I activate the Trap card Iron Resolve! By paying half of my Life Points any Battle Damage I would take is reduced to zero and the Battle Phase ends." A great force of electricity came between the Fusion monster and Synchro monsters, causing them to separate and the Battle Phase the end. As a consequence, some of the stray electricity zapped at Tony's D-Wheel, but he was otherwise perfectly fine.
TONY LP- 4000 = 2000
"Hm, very well then, stall against the inevitable." Serena looked at her hand and took one card. "I set one card down and end my turn."
"I suppose I'll have to end this duel quickly, so it's now or never! My turn!" Simmons drew his card, and immediately got into the battle. "I play the Pot of Greed to draw two more cards. Next I summon Plaguespreader Zombie in Attack mode."
PLAGUESPREADER ZOMBIE LV.2 ATK:400 DEF:200
"I activate the effect of the Vendread Anima that's in my Graveyard. By Banishing this card from play I can Special Summon a previously Banished Vendread monster onto my field. I chose to summon Vendread Core once again." Once again, the same grotesque monster rose from the dead and haunted the rather full side of Tony's field.
VENDREAD CORE LV.1 ATK:0 DEF:500
"Now I play the Spell card Book of Life!" Simmons showed the card to everyone, before activating it. "I can Special Summon one zombie monster from my Graveyard, and Banish any monster I choose from your Graveyard. I summon Necro Mannequin, and choose to have your Moonlight Blue Cat removed from play!" As Serena wordlessly removed her Blue Cat from play the freaky mannequin crawled out onto the field.
NECRO MANNEQUIN LV.3 ATK:500 DEF:500
"Oh my!" Melissa cried out as she reeled back from her seat in the reporters booth. "Would you look at that, Simmon's field is absolutely overrun with monsters! What is Serena going to do!?"
"So you're going to Synchro Summon another Archfiend Zombie-Skull. Not very original." Serena scoffed, unafraid of having to soon face three Synchro monsters all at once.
"That's correct. I tune my Level 2 Plaguespreader, Level 1 Vendread Core, and Level 3 Necro Mannequin to once again Synchro Summon a third Archfiend Zombie-Skull." Once the rid zombie was summoned, all three Synchro monsters let out a loud groan over to the sole Fusion monster on Serena's side of the field.
ARCHFIEND ZOMBIE-SKULL LV.6 ATK:2500 DEF:1200
"I don't care how long it takes. I'll keep coming back stronger and stronger than before no matter how many monsters it takes." The Commons crowd cheered extra loudly at Tony's declaration of victory. "The longer this duel lasts, the stronger I become. You're finished! Battle-"
"I don't think so!" Serena interrupted, and activated her facedown. "I activate the Trap card Threatening Roar! My opponent cannot declare an attack for the rest of this turn." With the added boost, Cat Dancer's voice was suddenly amplified, and she let out a booming roar similar to a tiger's. The sound caused all three zombies to flinch, and become unable to attack back.
"Grr, very well then." Simmons growled. "In that case I activate the Spell Emergency Provisions. For every Spell of Trap I send to the Graveyard I gain a 1000 Life Points. I send the Trap card Necro Cycle to the Graveyard and gain a 1000 Life Points."
TONY LP- 2000 = 3000
"Now I activate the Equip Spell card Zombie Heart." As soon as the Spell was played, black and purple dead heart appeared onto the chest of one of the Archfiend Zombie-Skulls. It oozed gross purple blood and mucus onto the monster. "I choose to equip it to one of my Archfiend Zombie-Skulls, and once per turn. Then I set one card down and end my turn." The Synchro duelist sped forward until he was beside Serena. "I'll make sure to end this duel on my next turn."
"You won't get another turn." Serena boldly stated as she drew a card to start her turn. "My turn! I draw! I summon Moonlight Purple Butterfly in Attack mode!" The beautiful humanoid monster with giant, shimmering purple wings flew onto the field to be beside Serena. Shimmering royal purple particles falling behind the monster in an mesmerizing way. "Next I activate the Spell Polymerization, and fuse my Moonlight Purple Butterfly with Moonlight Cat Dancer!"
"What!? You're performing a Fusion Summon using a Fusion monster as material?!" Simmons shouted incredulously as he straightened up in his D-Wheel's seat.
"Unbelievable!" Melissa screamed over the crowd. "Just what Fusion monster is going to appear now ladies and gentlemen?!"
"Butterfly with violet poison! Become one with the cunning convertness of a stealthy beast so that I can create a new lunar legend!" Together, the two Moonlight monsters merged into one new, much more powerful enemy for Simmons to face. "Sleek creature of the night, ready those razor sharp claws!" Serena raised herself up as pride began to fill her tone. "I Fusion Summon! Come to me, Moonlight Panther Dancer!"
Out of the bright light, an ebony skinned temptress elegantly skipped out onto the field. Though, this temptress certainly had spunk and wicked long claws to go with her beauty. Black furred panther paws and feet alongside short, straight black hair covering the monster's eyes gave the creature a razor edge to its cold majesty. The creature wore a tight navy blue corset that hugged her figure, and was draped in pink silks and golden bells that jingled on her wrists and ankles with every step she took. Feline ears twitched in excitement, and a savage smirk crossed the monster's features much to the roaring applause of the crowd.
MOONLIGHT PANTHER DANCER LV.8 ATK:2800 DEF:2500
"I'm afraid your Fusion Summon was pointless." Simmons revealed, as he activated his recently placed facedown. "I activate the Trap Bottomless Trap Hole! Since your monster has more than 1500 Attack Points it is destroyed and Banished!"
"I expected something like that, so I'm afraid it's not going to work." Serena responded sternly as she looked towards her Fusion monster. "Moonlight Panther Dancer cannot be destroyed by my opponent's card effects, so your Trap card is useless."
"No way!" It was true, and the Trap card burst into yellow particles and headed to the Graveyard in its futile attempt to stop Serena. "You still can't beat all three of my Synchro monsters though! You only have one monster on your field."
Finally, Serena cracked a smirk. "I only need this monster to defeat someone like you. I activate Panther Dancer's effect!" The Academia runaway gestured towards her gorgeous monster who started to chuckle lowly in mischief. "Once per turn, and for the rest of this turn, Panther Dancer can attack all of your monsters twice. The first attack does not destroy your monsters, but the second will. Battle!" She threw her hand out towards Tony's monsters. "I attack your Archfiend Zombie-Skulls with Moonlight Panther Dancer. Lunar Pounce!"
Serena's monster needed no further prompting to attack, and lunged forward to do so. With no other cards available to defend his monsters Tony began to start looking for an Action Card. Something that Serena quickly prevented by getting in the duelist's way. The first double attack suddenly, causing the first Zombie-Skull to fall with a low groan of pain as it was clawed in half before vanishing.
TONY LP- 3000 = 2700 = 2400
"Everytime Panther Dancer destroys a monster, she gains 200 Attack Points until the end of the Battle Phase!" Serena included as her Fusion monster instantly set its sights on the next monster to destroy. The graceful monster bends back against a Zombie-Skull's counterattack before kicking it upside the chin. As the Synchro monster's head snapped back Panther Dancer sank its huge claws into the zombie's exposed midriff.
MOONLIGHT PANTHER DANCER ATK:2800 = 3000
"Impossible!" Tony Simmons cried out as with each attack he began to lose more and more ground on his D-Wheel. "I- I can't lose! I don't want to go to that damned facility!"
TONY LP- 2400 = 1900 = 1400
While the urge to grimace was strong, Serena showed no emotion except her determination to win. Forest green eyes stayed staring straight ahead towards her goal as she spoke remorsefully. "Then you never should have joined this tournament."
MOONLIGHT PANTHER DANCER ATK:3000 = 3200
Finally, Tony's last Synchro monster was destroyed, and with it, all the rest of his Life Points.
TONY LP- 1400 = 700 = 0 LOSS
SERENA LP- 2500 WIN
The crowd went wild, they were so loud you couldn't even hear Simmon's D-Wheel brakes activate and bring him to a screeching halt. The only thing that showed his stop was the smoke billowing from the D-Wheel at the activation of its emergency brake protocol.
Serena refused to watch as the Friendship Cup guards began to forcefully take Tony Simmons away to the underground garbage disposal facility. She didn't want to end up making a scene about it like Yuya.
Still, this is all wrong. Yuya was right about that, but to change it one of us has to win first. Forest green eyes looked up towards the throne room residing within the stadium. The glass blocked her view of who was inside, but she was positive both kings were watching her. Just give the word Zero, and I and the rest of the Lancers will help tear this place down to its atoms to help rebuild it into something better, something right. Something this City can actually be proud of for both Tops and Commons. A kinder, gentler place that won't even need a dividing system that creates Tops or Commons in the first place.
She was just waiting for the word to strike, and Serena didn't doubt Zero had something cooking up in the works to make it all happen.
. . .
Up in the throne room, Atlas raised a single eyebrow as Serena began to head back towards the contestant tower. Ignoring all of the cheers of adoring fans or Melissa's praise towards the Fusion user's victory.
"Your girl won."
"She's not my 'girl', and I can tell that she won without your obvious input." Zero snarked as he shook himself awake with the resounding victory Serena gained. "Her opponent wasn't much to take note of, so the outcome was quite clear from the start."
"Yes, I have to agree with you." Jack laid his head in one open hand. "You can't fight back if you're too busy trying to keep your defenses up."
"No, you can't." Zero agreed lightly as he finally straightened up in his chair properly. "At some point, you need to take a stand and fight back." As Melissa began to psyche the crowd up for the next duel Zero pondered his own words.
He wondered about how his friend and allies were fairing back on his world without him.
You know throughout this entire story I've noticed something. I keep switching the archetype of Serena's monster by accident. One chapter I'm using Moonlight Cat Dancer and the next I'm using Lunalight Cat Dancer. My bad to anyone that notices it. I'll be sure to go back and fix that once I finish the story and do the mass revision. I'm sticking to the Moonlight archetype from now on, or at least I'll try to.
It's also such a shame to see Yuya's monsters are the only ones to branch into all of the types of Summoning Methods. I tried looking up some Melodious Synchro monsters and found zilch, super disappointing, so I had to come up with my own. Again. Disappointment is immeasurable and my day is now ruined. I won't tell you much about the monster yet since I plan to introduce it for real in Yuzu's next duel. Leave it as a surprise for you all.
If you have enjoyed the story so far leave a REVIEW, Follow, and Favorite the story so you can keep track of when chapters pop up. Because FYI, I don't have a posting schedule and I just post whenever I feel like it.
Until the next chapter everyone! -MoonlightWright