Author's Note
The villains have made their first move. Now how will our heroes manage their second move?
During one of Beacon's free days…
Tanjiro and Blake were investigating the site in which Weiss was attacked before Lucy saved her. The former was sniffing the air, picking up scents.
"This scent… Someone evil was here… And it wasn't just the White Fang… Lucy and Weiss were telling the truth…" Tanjiro hummed.
"That's deeply concerning…" Blake pointed out. "So where do you think the remaining person went?"
Tanjiro sniffs the air again. "...It's faint, but… they went that way!" He exclaimed as he let Blake hop on his Duel Runner before he drove toward the direction he designated.
Later, they were outside an abandoned warehouse. The warehouse was locked up, nothing getting in or out as long as the grates were closed and locked. "You're saying they went in there?" Blake asked.
"Yes. I'm sure of it." Tanjiro answered. He smells the air before cutting down the locks and opening the grate with Blake's help.
"That nose of yours is REALLY handy…" Blake marveled. "Are you sure you're not a dog-type Faunus?"
"I was born with this acute sense of smell. I didn't really care how people treat me for it. It's helped me out and helped people out too. Like that one time where someone's vase was broken and was blamed for it breaking. I used my sense of smell to determine what caused it to break. Turns out it was a cat that made it fall over from a high enough place." Tanjiro explained.
"A cat? Like… an actual cat?"
"Yeah."
"So the person that was in trouble got off the hook because of you?"
"That's right. I'm very-"
Tanjiro stopped himself from talking and held a hand in front of Blake, stopping her too. "Tanjiro?" Blake called. Tanjiro sniffed the air again.
"...I smell a dark presence."
Those five words were enough to get Blake on guard. Tanjiro pulled out his Disk while Blake pulled out hers. "...I hear something."
"Heeheehee~"
"Someone's… giggling…" Blake grunted.
The two look around, their backs to each other. "You and I have each other's backs. We can find out who's here… Together." Tanjiro declared. Blake nodded before hearing something.
"TANJIRO!" Blake shouted before shoving him out of the way and getting hit by a red string that pierces her head, but does not kill her. In fact, it tied her up before her skin, hair, eyes, bow, and clothes became completely white. She also now had a brain completely visible with red strings wrapped around it tightly. She then looks at Tanjiro with a fierce expression.
"Blake!? What's going on with you!?" Tanjiro asked.
"Oh, she's just under my influence~"
Cue: Nui Harime Theme (Kill La Kill)
A spotlight appears, showing Nui Harime herself with a red string wrapped around her pinky finger.
"You're… Nui Harime!" Tanjiro gasped. He then sniffs and sees the red string connected between Blake's brain and Nui's pinky finger. "You're… controlling her!?"
"It's my Semblance called Mind Stitching~ I inherited it from my dear dead maman~" Nui stated.
"Let Blake go now!" Tanjiro demanded.
"Nope, nope, nope~ I'm gonna make you duel her first~!" Nui denied before forcing Blake into a dueling position.
"Blake, wake up! It's me, Tanjiro!" Tanjiro tried to call.
"Silly~ That won't work~ Blake Belladonna, Traitor to the White Fang, is under my complete control~ And if you lose your duel against her, so will you~" Nui proclaimed.
'Dammit… I wanted to duel Blake, but not like this…! …Still… If I have to, then… I'm sorry, Blake. I hope we can both get out of this alive!' Tanjiro grimaced in his thoughts before preparing to duel Blake who prepares to duel Tanjiro.
"DUEL!"
TANJIRO LP: 4000
BLAKE LP: 4000
End Song and Cue: Nothing is Promised (Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth)
"I'll start things off! I'll begin my turn by summoning Uni-Zombie!"
Tanjiro summons the same tone deaf zombies that Shalltear used during her duel with Izuku.
LV: 3
ATK: 1300
"Now I'll activate its effect! Once per turn, by discarding a zombie type monster from my hand, I can increase the level of a zombie type monster I control, including Uni-Zombie, by 1! I'll discard Changshi the Spiridao to increase Uni-Zombie's level by 1!"
LV: 3 → 4
"After that, I'll use its other effect which does the same thing, but I have to send a zombie type monster from my deck to the graveyard. I'll send Mezuki to the graveyard to increase my Uni-Zombie's level by 1 again!"
LV: 4 → 5
"And now I'll use Mezuki's effect! By banishing this card from my graveyard, I can Special Summon another Zombie-type monster from my graveyard! Come forth! Changshi the Spiridao!"
Tanjiro summons an undead dao master with a tag on the bottom of his hat.
ATK: 2000
"Now I'll use Changshi's effect! Once per turn, during my Main Phase, I can send a zombie type monster from my hand or deck to the graveyard. I'll send Shiranui Spectralsword from my deck to the graveyard. After that, I'll set two cards face down and end my turn." Tanjiro finishes his turn.
"Oh? A monster with only 2000 Attack Points is the highest you can go? Are you sure you're estimating Blake's dueling strength correctly~?" Nui asked tauntingly.
"Why don't you come over here and ask me that directly?" Tanjiro counter-taunted.
"Ooh-hoohoohoo~! Enticing~! I've got a better idea, though: Blake. Hold nothing back~" Nui ordered her puppet.
"My turn. Draw. I will activate the Continuous Spell Card Bubble Barrier." Blake said in monotone before placing a Spell card with the image of multiple bubbles protecting creatures on the field. "Now I shall summon Performapal Salutiger."
Blake summons an anthropomorphic tiger that salutes. However, due to the influence of Nui, Salutiger was like Blake: Completely white in fur, clothes and eyes with a brain wrapped in red strings being visible.
LV: 4
ATK: 1700
"Salutiger attacks Uni-Zombie."
"I'm activating the trap Shiranui Style Swallow's Slash!" Tanjiro responded as he flipped over the trap card he used against Tsubaki. "This card allows me to tribute a Zombie-type monster in order to destroy two cards you control! I'll tribute my Changshi to destroy your Bubble Barrier and your Salutiger!"
"Once per turn, Bubble Barrier prevents my Performapal monsters from being destroyed by a card effect or by battle." Blake said.
"Heh. That won't matter! With the effect of Swallow's Slash, I am forced to banish a Shiranui monster from my deck face-up! I'll banish Shiranui Spiritmaster!"
"And what good does THAT do~?" Nui huffed.
"When Shiranui Spiritmaster is banished, I can target a face-up card my opponent controls and destroy it! My target is Performapal Salutiger!"
The flames of Spiritmaster appear and protect Uni-Zombie from Salutiger's would-be merciless onslaught and burn the tiger to ashes.
"...I will place one card face down and end my turn."
"My turn! Draw! I'll summon Shiranui Solitaire!" Tanjiro exclaimed as he summoned a man who wielded a staff.
LV: 4
ATK: 500
"Next, I'll use Uni-Zombie's effect once more, but I'm targeting Solitaire before I send Necroworld Banshee from my deck to the graveyard to increase his level!"
LV: 4 → 5
"Now I'll activate the effect of my Shiranui Spectralsword from my graveyard! By banishing this monster along with a zombie type monster in my graveyard, I can Synchro Summon! I'll banish level 2 Spectralsword and level 4 Necroworld Banshee!"
Spectralsword becomes two green rings while Banshee becomes four motes of light. "Become the scarlet lotus! A flower so pure right up to the end! A flower that will light the way to my fate! Synchro Summon! Cut through! Level 6: Shiranui Samuraisaga!"
With Tanjiro's chanting complete, he summons one of the Synchro monsters he used against Tsubaki.
LV: 2 + 4 = 6
ATK: 2500
"Appear! Circuit of honor! Summoning conditions are three or more Zombie-type monsters! I'll send Samuraisaga, Uni-Zombie, and Solitaire to the Link Markers!"
The three declared monsters turn into spirals before going into the top, bottom, and right Link Markers. "Link Summon! Reinforce! Link 3: Shiranui Skillsaga Supremacy!"
Tanjiro summons a young lady that has long black hair and a naginata that has two blades on each side, one of fire and one of ice.
LINK: 3
ATK: 2300
"...Sorry about what I'm about to do, Blake. Skillsaga Supremacy attacks directly!"
Skillsaga Supremacy goes and slashes Blake, damaging her Aura massively.
BLAKE LP: 4000 - 2300 = 1700
Tanjiro notices that some of the strings that were wrapped around Blake's visible brain were cut off from the attack he made. Blake was groaning, trying to break free. "Oh no, you DON'T!" Nui growled. "You're staying RIGHT. THERE."
CLICK
"Huh!?" Nui gasped before seeing Tanjiro managing to attach her wrist to a Duel Anchor, making the string fade away, snapping Blake out of it.
"Ugh…" Blake groaned.
"This is a battle royale now, Nui. A battle royale you can't escape until this duel is over! And best of all?"
"INTRUSION PENALTY: 2000 LIFE POINTS." A male robotic voice stated before zapping Nui with electricity, making her groan in pain.
NUI LP: 4000 - 2000 = 2000
"Ugh… That woke me up…" Blake grunted as she stood up. "That monster… you managed to deal enough damage to me to break Nui's concentration…"
"So you were aware?" Tanjiro asked Blake who nodded.
"Gr… Fine. I'll just kill you both!" Nui growled.
"Stop."
End Song and Cue: Enemy Strike (My Hero Academia)
Nui grunts before she can start dueling. She looked over and saw… "Ah… Shigaraki…!"
The blue haired man known as Shigaraki was suddenly there before he then jumped to Nui's side in a flash. "You seem a bit tied up there, Nui. Let me handle that."
"What are you trying to-"
CRUMBLE
Neither Tanjiro nor Blake could believe it, but Shigaraki somehow made a Duel Anchor, something made to capture villains and disable their powers… crumble.
With Shigaraki's magic working toward Tanjiro, he thought fast and cut his Anchor off before the decay could reach him. "Oho~ We've got a fast thinker here…" Shigaraki huffed.
"How did you do this? Are you the one behind that building crumbling to dust!?" Tanjiro accused.
"I was simply erasing a piece of trash that didn't belong in this world. That store sold those things called Dust, right? It was sold through the use of the Schnee's blood money. You can go ahead and tell your little rich bitch I said that."
"And how would you know that?" Blake glared.
"Let's just say I have connections, how's that?" Shigaraki asked back. "It's better for all of us if you don't know the complications~"
"Welp~! This has been a wonderful little experiment with my Semblance~ We'll just go ahead and go~ Don't try to stop us~!" Nui warned before using her strings to pull herself out of the warehouse, Shigaraki holding onto her with only his pinky finger off of her.
"Wait! Stop right there!" Blake demanded as she tried to pursue them.
"Mon Mingon Pret-a-Porter!" Nui shouted as she summoned clones of herself that stopped and then surrounded Blake. As the clones closed in, Tanjiro was suddenly seen above the chaos Blake was trapped in.
"Total Concentration: Water Breathing: Eighth Form: Waterfall Basin!" Tanjiro roared as the heads of Nui suddenly soared after Tanjiro swung his duel disk turned katana, the images of waterfalls appearing around Blake who found that she could breathe more easily.
End Song
"You… saved me again…" Blake let out. "Thank you…"
"Whew…" Tanjiro breathed. "You're welcome."
DUEL LEFT UNDECIDED
Cue: Lightning's Theme (Final Fantasy XIII)
Blake looked down in shame. "...I felt so helpless… Like a burden… With them on the White Fang's side, I… I don't know how I can help… I don't know how ANYONE from Remnant can help…!"
"You already are." Tanjiro said with a smile. "They may know a lot about you and the others, but with your knowledge, we'll be able to come up with counter-strategies!"
"That's… very optimistic of you. How do you know it'll work?"
"Because you love this part of the world, right?"
"...I do. But… if the White Fang ends up getting more aggressive and gets away with it in the process, then… who can stop them?"
"We will."
"How?"
"By sending them to justice."
"Again, you're being optimistic."
"Better optimistic than pessimistic. You should trust us. We won't let you down. I promise."
Blake was about to protest more, but thought about it more. She thought back to the smiling faces of her teammates then looked at Tanjiro's own smiling face.
'...He's right. He's strong enough to carry both our weight so I won't be in his way… …Tanjiro. I'll find a way to help you and your friends. No matter what.' Blake thought before smiling.
"Let's work together." Tanjiro said to Blake, holding his hand in front of her. Blake looks at his hand and sees that it was heavily scarred. Blake shakes his hand regardless.
"Yes. Of course."
"Oh! One more thing!"
Before Blake could ask, Tanjiro looked in his deck then pulls out an Xyz monster and gives it to Blake. "I won't be needing this. I've already got what I need to resist a Dark Signer's magic."
Blake looked at the card. "Number 52: Diamond Crab King...? Tanjiro, you're... giving this to me? I... I can't..."
"It's okay. I could tell that you were fighting back. Just keep it, okay?" Tanjiro asked of her as he goes toward Beacon, leaving a stunned Blake.
"...Huh..." Blake huffed before looking at the card. "Looks like that way to help... found me..."
End Song
Beacon Cafeteria, Next Morning...
"You encountered Nui!?" Ryuko asked Tanjiro and Blake.
"Yes. Blake was unable to fight her Semblance, but I managed to snap her out of her control." Tanjiro answered. Blake nods, saying that what he said was the truth.
"Dammit... So much for stopping her..." Ryuko grimaced.
"It's okay. We'll find her somehow." Tanjiro assured.
"Yeah. And... about your dad-"
"You're sorry, right?" Ryuko interrupted. "It's fine."
"Yeah, it's just... I can't imagine what you're going through..." Blake shook her head sadly.
"At least you still have a dad. You can still have time for your family." Ryuko smiled. Blake looks and smiles back.
"Yeah…"
"Blake. Next time, let's have an honest duel, where we're both giving it our all." Tanjiro offered.
"...Yeah. Of course." Blake nodded hesitatingly.
'...There's something about you, Blake. I don't know what it is, or why you're hiding it, but I'll find out.' Tanjiro and Ryuko thought at the same time.
Nighttime, Vale Streets…
As Blake was investigating the warehouse, Tanjiro and Ryuko were hiding from her. Blake comes across one of the red strings Nui used on her. She tugged on it and even used something sharp to cut it, but nothing made it even give way. "This string is really strong… What is it MADE of…?" Blake grumbled.
"Why don't you ask ME, my dear? I know about it, after all."
Blake froze up, almost as if she recognized the voice instantly, dropping the string she was holding. She hesitatingly turned around slowly and what she saw made her freeze up even more.
It was two individuals. One was a man with red hair and a mask covering his eyes, for the most part. He also had bull horns and a black coat and pants and held a katana. The other was a young lady. Her skin has somewhat darker spots on her arms, legs, stomach and face, resembling chameleon scales. Her brown hair is tied back in a ponytail that curls at the end like a chameleon's tail. She also wore a mask that covered her eyes.
"A-A-Adam… I-Ilia…" Blake gasped.
'Former friends of hers, huh…?' Ryuko grunted in her thoughts. Blake backed away to a wall.
"This time, there's nowhere to run."
"And none of your friends are here to save you."
*CLANK* *CLANK*
Two Duel Anchors, one for each of the would be attackers, suddenly latched onto the two. But they were not from Tanjiro or Ryuko, who had one of each at the ready.
"You should have been a bit more aware of your surroundings, Adam Taurus and Ilia Amitola."
Jimbei and a young lady with long orange hair and knight-like clothes and a blue jacket appeared, both being the source of the two Anchors. "What the hell are you…?" Adam asked Jimbei, weirded out by what he was looking at.
"My name is Jimbei. I am a Fishman. A half-human, half-fish-type aquatic creature." Jimbei introduced himself. "And I am a teacher of Cross Tag Duel Academy."
"This does not involve either of you. Release your Anchors and I will promise you we will duel later." Adam growled.
"We won't. She may be a student from a different school, but it's still a teacher's duty as well as their apprentice's to protect them. Neither of you will get away as long as we're here." The orange-haired lady glared.
"That only applies when we don't win against you." Ilia glared back.
"Perhaps. However, while our Duel Anchors are on you, you will not lay a single finger on Blake Belladonna!" Jimbei exclaimed.
"True. There's just one problem. You're watching our mouths. Not our hands."
At that, Adam pulls out two circular devices that he tosses toward the two openings. The devices stop before laying themselves in the air and emitting a red wall of energy from those openings. "As long as these are deployed, no one can escape. The good doctor that is our ally has invented these. The only way for these to disappear is if we either lose our duels or if we complete our mission."
"The good doctor… You mean Shou Tucker…!?" The orange-haired lady gasped. "That cretin… You're working with the TRUE monster here!"
"Oh? But he gave us these oh so helpful devices that would prevent our targets from escaping~" Adam pointed out.
"Asuna. Do not lose your nerve. Focus on defeating your opponent!" Jimbei advised. The young lady, Asuna nodded.
"Right. Of course!"
"If we are all finished talking, I believe we all have a duel to go underway." Adam grunted impatiently.
"Of course. Let us begin. Since Asuna and I have captured you both with our Duel Anchors, this will be a Tag Duel." Jimbei set up the rules. "Both teams share 4000 Life Points each."
"Very well." Adam accepted.
"I am ready, Adam." Ilia declared.
"As am I, Master Jimbei." Asuna stated.
"With us both together, we cannot lose!" Jimbei boasted.
"DUEL!"
JIMBEI & ASUNA LP: 4000
ADAM & ILIA LP: 4000
Cue: Fierce Battle! Zoro Vs Sanji (One Piece)
"I shall make the first move!" Jimbei proclaimed as he took out a card and put it on his Duel Disk. "I will summon Beautunaful Princess!"
Jimbei summons a tuna fish… with big blue eyes and big lips.
LV: 1
ATK: 0
"When this card is summoned, I can banish this card to Special Summon a level 4 or lower Fish type monster from my deck! I shall banish Beautunaful Princess to Special Summon Buzzsaw Shark!"
The tuna vanishes and a mechanically enhanced buzzsaw shark appears.
LV: 4
ATK: 1600
"I will then activate the effect of my shark! Once per turn, I can target one monster I control and Special Summon a Fish type monster with the same level as that monster in Defense Position from my Deck! However, if I do this, I cannot activate that monster's effects this turn and I cannot Special Summon monsters from my Extra Deck except Xyz monsters for the rest of this turn! I'll target Buzzsaw Shark to Special Summon, from my Deck, Right-Hand Shark!"
A fiercely made shark appears from Jimbei's right hand after he slaps the card of the monster to his Duel Disk.
LV: 4
DEF: 1300
"I will now overlay my level four Buzzsaw and Right-Hand Sharks!"
The two sharks transform into blue spirals of energy that go inside a galaxy-like vortex. "With these two monsters, I shall build the Overlay Network!" Jimbei exclaimed as the vortex exploded. "The transparent warrior who drifts through chaos. Sting everything in this world that lay before you! O, great superior, enter the fray! Appear! Number 4: Stealth Kragen!"
With Jimbei's chanting complete, he summons a large jellyfish-like kraken with the number 4 on its body.
RANK: 4
DEF: 1500
"I will then play the Spell Card Pot of Desires. By banishing the top ten cards of my deck face-down, I can draw two cards!" Jimbei exclaimed as he did just that. He looks at the cards he draws thoughtfully. "With that, I shall end my turn."
"Nothing for your Spell and Trap zones? Hmph. You're either very brave… or very foolish." Adam huffed.
"Hold your tongue-"
"Asuna! Let him assume he has the upper hand." Jimbei interrupted her. "He will soon realize that I have him on the backfoot."
"We'll see about that. My turn! Draw! I'll activate the Continuous Spell Shien's Dojo!" Adam began his turn as he activated a Spell with the image of a dojo-like arena. "Next, since you control a monster and I do not, I can Special Summon Elder of the Six Samurai from my hand!"
"I will chain the effect of Maxx "C" from my hand! Each time you Special Summon a monster, I can draw one card!"
Adam summons an elderly man in a resplendent palanquin.
ATK: 400
"Due to your Special Summon, I get to draw one card from the effect of Maxx "C"!"
'Samurai…?' Tanjiro thought as he grimaced while balling his fists. 'He brings shame on that honorable deck that Hakumen of the Six Heroes had…!'
End Song
"How dare you use that deck… Lord Hakumen of the Six Heroes had that deck! You have no right to use it!" Asuna growled.
"Hmph. YOUR country's Six Samurai Deck, that is for certain. However, before you came along, a human held this deck. What better way to destroy a race than with their own sword~?" Adam asked mockingly.
"Why you…!"
"ASUNA. WHAT DID I TELL YOU?" Jimbei raised his voice at her.
"Ah… I-I'm sorry, Jimbei, it's just that-"
"I understand your frustration. In fact, I am just as, if not more furious than you are. However, I will not make such emotional mistakes."
"You've laid your only monster in defense. That's quite a mistake. And you won't wait long enough to find out why. Because your precious student won't get a turn." Adam boasted.
"We shall see."
Cue: Can't Escape, Fight! -Straw Hat Pirates Mix- (One Piece)
With a click of his tongue, Adam continued with his turn. "Shien's Dojo's effect. Each time a Six Samurai monster is summoned, I can place one Bushido Counter on this card."
BCs: 0 → 1
"Now I'll activate Shien's Smoke Signal!"
Adam plays a Spell that has the image of purple smoke coming out of the palanquin. "This card allows me to add a level 3 or lower Six Samurai monster from my deck to my hand. I'll add Legendary Six Samurai - Kageki! I'll then Normal Summon the monster I just added, Legendary Six Samurai - Kageki!"
A man with multiple mechanical arms, each holding a sword, appears.
LV: 3
ATK: 200
BCs: 1 → 2
"When Kageki is Normal Summoned, I can Special Summon a level 4 or lower Six Samurai monster from my hand. I'll Special Summon the Tuner monster Kagemusha of the Six Samurai!"
Adam summons a man with a strong resemblance to a great warrior.
LV: 2
ATK: 400
BCs: 2 → 3
"It's coming…" Blake dreaded.
"A Tuner monster… So you are a Synchro user… Very well. What do you plan on summoning with those monsters?" Jimbei asked.
"Who said anything about using these monsters to Synchro Summon?" Adam smirked.
"What?" Asuna let out in confusion.
"I'm activating the Quick-Play Spell Six Scrolls of the Samurai!" Adam proclaimed as he showed a Spell with the image of the Kagemusha being surrounded by scrolls, some unfurling around him. "By tributing two Six Samurai monsters, I can Special Summon their lord to serve me! Heed this battle cry of vengeance! Depose the feeble cowards, Great Shogun Shien!"
Adam summons a mighty warrior in red armor with a powerful-looking katana and a fierce expression on his face.
ATK: 2500
"As long as Great Shogun Shien is on the field, you cannot activate more than one Spell or Trap per turn."
"Hm. Is that all?"
Jimbei's taunt causes Adam's head and neck to twitch in irritation. "Not even close because I'M NOT DONE YET. I will now activate the second effect of my Shien's Dojo! By sending this card to the graveyard, I can Special Summon a Six Samurai or Shien monster from my deck with a level that is equal to or less than the amount of Bushido Counters it had on the field. Shien's Dojo had 3 counters, meaning I can Special Summon a level 3 or lower Six Samurai or Shien monster. I'll Special Summon a second Kagemusha!"
Adam summons the second Kagemusha of the Six Samurai.
LV: 2
ATK: 400
"No… The lockdown…" Blake gasped.
"Jimbei. She's reacting." Asuna told him.
"I know. It must be a trump of some kind." Jimbei hummed.
"My darling Blake is right to be afraid, as should the both of you. There is only one man who could defeat this Spell and Trap lock and NEITHER OF YOU are that man! I will now tune level 2 Kagemusha with level 3 Kageki!
The two monsters soar into the air, Kagemusha turning into two green rings of energy while Kageki turns into three motes of light. "Warrior savior lionized by history! Depose the feeble cowards too weak to take the prize! Mobilize from legend! Synchro Summon! Destroy them! Level 5: Legendary Six Samurai - Shi En!"
Adam summons another powerful man in red armor, pridefully putting his katana in front of him.
LV: 2 + 3 = 5
ATK: 2500
"It's over for the both of you. As long as Shi En is on the field, Adam can, once per turn, negate the activation of a Spell or Trap card. Well. If you HAD any." Ilia mused before chuckling victoriously. "And with Great Shogun Shien on the field...
"...You really believe it's over?" Asuna suddenly asked. "In my honest opinion… you are BOTH fools."
"What?" Ilia huffed.
"...Forget I said anything. Go on. Keep believing that you'll win." Asuna urged.
"Tch. Your valor will only last for so long! Since I have a Six Samurai monster on my field, I can Special Summon Legendary Six Samurai - Kizan from my hand!" Adam growled as he summoned a man in black armor with a katana of his own.
ATK: 1800
"I will now enter-"
"Not so fast. I will activate the effect of my Stealth Kragen! Once per turn, during either player's Main Phase, I can destroy one WATER monster you control! And if I do, you take damage equal to half of that monster's Attack Points! I shall destroy your Legendary Six Samurai - Shi En!" Jimbei interrupted.
End Song
"...Pft." Adam scoffed before flat out laughing. "Why bother telling me that~!? None of the monsters I control are WATER Attributed, much less Legendary Six Samurai - Shi En!"
"Sorei wa dou ka na?"
Adam and Ilia look at Asuna confused by what she said. "Oh, sorry. A bit of the Cross language slipped out. What I said has a meaning. It means… "You think so?""
As she said that, the armor that both Shiens and Kizan wore turned blue. "What is this? What's going on?"
Cue: Luffy Vs Blueno (One Piece)
"It's an effect that my master and I should've told you. While Stealth Kragen is on the field, every monster on the field has their Attribute… become WATER!"
"WHAT!?" Adam and Ilia yelled as the kraken wraps its tentacles around Shi En and squeezes him into oblivion before his energy is transferred over to it. Stealth Kragen then uses that energy and shoots it at Adam and Ilia, zapping them both.
DAMAGE TOTAL: 2500/2 = 1250
ADAM AND ILIA LP: 4000 - 1250 = 2750
Blake couldn't believe it. The lockdown was not only partially nullified, but it was detrimental to them. And all of that was done from a single Xyz monster's effect!
"Gr…! You won't get away with it if *I* have anything to say about it!" Adam growled.
"Then by all means. Try to destroy my monster if you think you truly can." Jimbei provoked.
"GLADLY. Kizan, destroy that monster's Stealth Kragen!"
At Adam's order, Kizan leaps and cuts the kraken in half… only for it to reattach itself together. "WHAT NOW!?"
"Right-Hand Shark's effect. An Xyz monster that was summoned using only WATER attributed monsters including this card gains the following effect: This card cannot be destroyed in battle!" Jimbei explained.
"...So you think you can hide behind your so-called immortal shield? Fine. Enjoy it while it lasts. I'll place one card face down and end my turn."
"Hide? A Fishman does not hide. He presents his monsters proudly for all to see like it was from a museum! Immortalizing it for all to see, generation to generation!" Jimbei denied. "But enough talk. Asuna. It is your turn."
"Of course, master! My turn! Draw!"
Cue: Luminous Sword (Sword Art Online)
"Since you control more monsters than we do, I can Special Summon Incredible Ecclesia, the Virtuous!" Asuna proclaimed as she summoned a young lady with a hammer shaped like a dragon's head.
ATK: 1500
"I will then activate the Spell Swordsoul Emergence!" She continued as she showed a Spell that had the image of four individuals, two from the foreground two from the background witnessing the emergence of a powerful warrior. "This lets me add one Swordsoul monster from my deck to my hand! I'll add Swordsoul of Mo Ye!"
"Asuna. If you plan to summon Mo Ye, you'll need to rid the field of Stealth Kragen first. Your plan won't work otherwise."
"That won't be an issue, Jimbei. As long as I have your permission to use it for Link Summoning?"
"Oh? This should be good. Go on." Jimbei nodded.
"Hm! Appear! Circuit of salvation! The summoning conditions are two Effect monsters! I'll send Number 4: Stealth Kragen and Incredible Ecclesia to the Link Markers!"
The two monsters turn into spirals of energy that go into the bottom left and bottom right Link Markers. "Link Summon! Appear! Link 2: Brute Enforcer!"
Asuna summons a man with a rifle that shoots energy.
LINK: 2
ATK: 1600
"I will now Normal Summon Swordsoul of Mo Ye!"
Asuna summons a black skinned feminine humanoid wielding a sword.
LV: 4
ATK: 1700
"When this card is summoned, I can reveal another Swordsoul card from my hand to Special Summon a Swordsoul Token! I'll reveal Swordsoul Strategist Longyuan!"
Asuna summons a monochrome version of Mo Ye.
DEF: 0
"And that's not all. The Token I just summoned is a Tuner monster! Unfortunately, due to the effect of my Mo Ye, any player that summons a Swordsoul Token while a Swordsoul monster is on the field cannot summon monsters from their Extra Deck except Synchro Monsters. But that's exactly what I had planned~ I'll now tune my level 4 Token with level 4 Mo Ye!"
The two monsters turn into four green rings and motes of light respectively. "As you jump high from your dreams, rise and soar! No matter how you are knocked around, stand up against the storm! Synchro Summon! Cut through! Swordsoul Grandmaster Chixiao!"
Asuna summons a powerful warrior with an equally powerful blade.
LV: 4 + 4 = 8
ATK: 2800
"When Chixiao is Synchro Summoned, I can add a Swordsoul card from my deck to my hand or banish it from my deck! But first, Mo Ye's effect! When Mo Ye is sent to the graveyard for a Synchro Summon, I can draw one card! Now Chixiao's effect! I will add Swordsoul Blackout to my hand. Next, by discarding a Swordsoul card or a Wyrm monster, I can Special Summon Swordsoul Strategist Longyuan! I'll discard Swordsoul Blackout!"
Asuna summons an old individual with a golden blade.
ATK: 1200
"When this monster is summoned, same as with Mo Ye, I can Special Summon another Swordsoul Token!"
A monochrome version of Longyuan appears.
DEF: 0
"I will now tune my Token with level 6 Longyuan!" Asuna declared as the token turns into four green rings while Longyuan turns into six motes of light. "Take aim at the sky! Change everyone's whole lives! Never give in and ignite the world! SYNCHRO SUMMON! Defeat them utterly! Level 10: SWORDSOUL SINISTER SOVEREIGN - QIXING LONGYUAN!"
Asuna summons a much more powerful version of Longyuan, who has black armor and a black whip-like sword.
LV: 4 + 6 = 10
ATK: 2900
End Song and Cue: Gunland (Sword Art Online II)
The summoning of this monster causes blue flames to swarm all over the warehouse, causing Blake to get away from them and run to Jimbei and Asuna.
"I should warn you that the turn you had… was your one and ONLY turn. So don't call your partner worthless just because she couldn't get a turn herself." Asuna warned.
"Your monster is quite impressive, human. However, it is NOTHING compared to what I have in store for you and your "master"." Adam mocked.
"Oh please. Like you could last long enough for that to happen."
"And why do you say that?"
"When Longyuan is used for a Synchro Summon, you take 1200 points of damage!"
"What!?" Adam grunted before the afterimage of a sword slashes at him, making him yell in pain as he held his chest.
ADAM & ILIA LP: 2750 - 1200 = 1550
"Battle! Go, my Swordsouls! Attack his dishonorable samurai! Qixing Longyuan attacks Great Shogun Shien!"
Longyuan summons a black bladed whip before sending it at Shien, cutting him down.
ATK DIFFERENCE: 2900 - 2500 = 400
ADAM & ILIA LP: 1550 - 400 = 1150
"Chixiao attacks Kizan!"
Chixiao surges forward and cuts Kizan down with his laser blade.
ATK DIFFERENCE: 2800 - 1800 = 1000
ADAM & ILIA LP: 1150 - 1000 = 150
"I will activate the trap Back to the Front! This card allows me to Special Summon a monster from my graveyard in Defense Position! You're a fool if you think I wouldn't last! Now Ilia will punish you for your arrogance! Even though I may not leave her any monsters, next turn, she will-"
"THERE IS NO NEXT TURN." Asuna and Jimbei growled as one.
"What do you mean!?" Adam asked in confusion and shock.
"If you activate a Spell or Trap while Qixing Longyuan is on my side of the field, I can banish that Spell or Trap! And if I do, you take 1200 points of damage!"
"WHAT!?"
"No… I… couldn't help… at all…!?" Adam and Ilia respectively gasped.
"They… beat them… so effortlessly…" Blake marveled. "Amazing…"
Qixing Longyuan charges up his flames before throwing them at Adam and Ilia, making them scream in defeat.
ADAM & ILIA LP: 150 → 0
WINNERS: JIMBEI ARLONG & ASUNA YUKI
End Song
Asuna and Jimbei walk to Adam and Ilia and cuff their hands together behind their back. The two made an effort to break them, but were only wasting their strength. A while later, the flames made during the duel were extinguished and two cars, one for Adam, and one for Ilia, came.
"You two have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do can and will be used against you in the court of law. You will both be judged fairly under the law of our Cross Tag Nation so that Remnant's laws won't judge you unfairly just because you two are Faunus. You both also have the right to hire an attorney." Asuna declared.
'If they can even GET one…' Ryuko grumbled in her thoughts.
'Looks like we didn't need to be here after all…' Tanjiro sighed in relief.
"To think we'd be crushed so effortlessly… Like ants against an elephant…" Ilia grunted in disbelief while Adam just looked down.
"...You've gotten quiet. You had no problems running that mouth of yours earlier. What happened to your "vengeance"?" Asuna pointed out to Adam.
"...What is there to say? I've severely underestimated the both of you. And because of that, I couldn't give Ilia a turn before you completely bested the both of us. Pity. If I didn't despise you humans for doing what you did to me, I would've believed that peace would've been possible without violence… Sienna wouldn't be so violent to humans if true peace between the two races happened. Maybe Shigaraki too, if he didn't despise everyone equally. …I will… say this…" Adam said as he gave a wide smile to Blake. "Darling… if you think you're safe from the White Fang just because Ilia and I are under arrest… you will make a grave mistake of resting on your laurels. And if I die before it happens… then I can't wait to watch from hell… you losing EVERYTHING you hold dear… Blake."
With that, Adam was placed into the car before chuckling and laughing like a madman, Ilia noticeably disturbed. After that, Ilia was placed in a separate car just so she couldn't hear him. As the cars drove away, Blake gasped as she took in air, almost as if she forgot how to breathe for the moment, before coughing out and taking in the air.
"Jeez. Some friends YOU'VE had, huh, Blake?"
Blake looks and sees Ryuko and Tanjiro. "Ryuko!? Tanjiro!? What are YOU TWO doing here!?"
"We… kinda, sorta… followed you…"
"...HOW DID I NOT HEAR YOU!?" Blake blurted out before covering her mouth. "I-I mean-"
"It's fine, Blake. You got your good hearing skills from those friends of yours, right?" Ryuko asked her before winking at her.
"...Ah… Y-Yeah. I did. I wish I was able to hear them before Jimbei and Asuna interfered… And I CERTAINLY wish I heard YOU TWO before you decided to get in that warehouse with me!" Blake hissed.
"S-Sorry! We couldn't help but be curious and worried! …Especially worried." Tanjiro said.
"...I'm sorry for worrying you…" Blake sighed.
"Hey, no harm, no foul, yeah?" Ryuko huffed, getting an arm on Blake's shoulders. "Listen. If you're getting attacked by the White Fang again, let us know, okay? You've seen how strong we are, haven't ya?"
"...Yeah. You're right. I keep worrying about my friends for no reason… I feel so silly…" Blake tearfully smiled. "But now… I feel like I'm… free from it all… Thank you both."
"Right. Let's get back to Beacon before we get scolded by the teachers." Ryuko replied before making her way back to Beacon. Tanjiro and Blake do the same.
"...Ryuko. Tanjiro. There's… something else you should know."
"You don't have to confess a damn thing to us. If the idiotic humans of Remnant can't see the simple fact in front of them, they don't deserve the love they get."
"Ryuko's right. It doesn't matter who or what you are. As long as you care about everyone you've interacted with, then you're more human than anyone says you are."
"...Thanks again. Really." Blake thanked them before looking at the card she summoned from the opening song. 'Odd-Eyes… Our hope is drawing nearer…'
END OF EPISODE