Starting Notes:
Welcome back! This chapter has Cloud Piercer facing off against Keika. :D Let's jump straight in!
#8: Sol and Luna
"You want to duel me?"
"I want to duel you, Dazzling Spring," the girl said, never lowering her head. She didn't need to put up any facades of being an idol here—she knew who Dazzling Spring was on the inside, and the girl knew her very well too. "And if I win—you tell me everything."
"Everything?"
"Everything about why you're doing this to my brother, and to yourself," Cloud Piercer replied. Her characteristic cheerful smile was nowhere to be found. "I hate you for this. But you're still my childhood friend. And he's my brother. You're both miserable. I want to fix this."
"You want to fix this—fix us." Dazzling Spring shrugged. "It can't be fixed. Let it go. It's over."
"It's not over until I say it is…!"
"You've always been stubborn." In VRAINS, it was always difficult to tell what on earth the other girl was thinking. "… fine. This shouldn't take too long."
"Topologic Penrose Aitvaras attacks directly."
The attack hit, and Cloud Piercer's life points fell to zero.
"Again," Cloud Piercer said, staggering to her feet again. Dazzling Spring shrugged, raising her duel disk in response. The other girl didn't seem to care.
Fine.
Cloud Piercer would make her care—
She would keep on dueling until she won. Because dueling was the only language that her opponent knew.
She would never give up!
The moon shone over them as both of them raised their duel disks.
Keika couldn't help but feel slightly uncertain, but even so…
A part of her was singing at the chance to duel this girl.
[ACTION DUEL!]
Keika Sakaki: 4000LP
Cloud Piercer: 4000LP
"This is… an Action Duel?" Keika said with a frown. She glanced around, seeing some cards scattered around the floor, and a few on the roofs. "But there's no Solid Vision projector…"
"Oh, you don't need that," Cloud Piercer said, waving a hand through the air. "I thought I would make things more comfortable for you. I connected my duel disk to one of their projectors and copied the program over, and honestly, the creation of those Solid Vision fields can be done with any machine that has enough processing power to run the program. And my duel disk probably has better processing power than anything here." She winked. "Wouldn't want you to complain that I beat you only in a format that you're not used to."
"… I appreciate it," Keika said, though her tone implied the exact opposite. "But I'm not reliant on them. If you don't use them, I won't use them either."
"Hmm…" Cloud Piercer raised a hand, making the shape of a gun and miming shooting at Keika. "It's a deal." She cancelled the program, and the cards vanished from around them. "Don't say I didn't offer it to you though!"
Both of them drew their starting hands. The duel disks randomly assigned Cloud Piercer the first turn.
"I'll start then," Cloud Piercer said. She glanced at her hand, humming. "Spell Card—Flash Sword Mecha - Hornet Bit! Since I control no monsters in my Main Monster Zones, I can Special Summon a Flash Sword Princess Token to my field." A small drone appeared on her field, projecting a hologram of a pale-haired girl in front of it.
[Flash Sword Princess Token (1*/0/0/DARK/Warrior)]
"My Flash Sword Princess Token can't be released for effects or an Advance Summon," Cloud Piercer explained. "But that's hardly an issue. Open, circuit of the dazzling faultlines!" Around her, a hologram projected itself on the ground—shimmering, flashing lines stretching out across the ground. "The conditions are one non-WATER "Flash Sword Princess" monster. I will set my Flash Sword Princess Token in the Link Markers. Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 1! Sending fine ripples through the air with the slash of her sword—Flash Sword Princess - Shizuku!" In front of her, the blonde-haired girl from the hologram appeared, wearing her black mecha, with blue lights flashing all around the robot's body.
[Flash Sword Princess - Shizuku (L1/1500/WATER/Machine/Link/Effect/↗)]
"Then, Spell Card, Flash Sword Skill - Vectored Blast. I will send two cards from the top of both our decks to the graveyard. Then, I will set two cards facedown," Cloud Piercer said. "I'll end my turn! And with Shizuku's effect, I can add a "Flash Sword" Spell from my deck to my hand with a different name from the cards in my graveyard. Over to you."
Hmm…
"Draw," Keika said. She glanced at her cards. "I'll set the Scale 1 Sunburst Spark Pendulum Dragon and the Scale 8 Metalphosis Volflame in the Pendulum Scales!" The two pillars of light rose around her. "I'll activate the Pendulum Effect of Sunburst Spark Pendulum Dragon. By destroying her, I can add a "Pendulum" Pendulum Monster or a "Pendulum" Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand." Golden flames rained down around her, and she added a card to her hand. "I will then set the Scale 8 Metalphosis Steeleren in the Pendulum Scale. With the Pendulum Effect of Metalphosis Steeleren, I will destroy Metalphosis Volflame and set a "Metalphosis" Spell or Trap to my field."
She incinerated yet another of her monsters, and a set card appeared on her field.
"I will then complete the Pendulum Scale with the Scale 1 Metalphosis Goldriver. With my current Pendulum Scale, I can Pendulum Summon monsters from Level 2 to 7! Swing, pendulum of lost souls. Cast your hopeful light across the aether in a streak of flame! Pendulum Summon! Come from the Extra Deck—Metalphosis Volflame! And in a burst of beautiful flames—Sunburst Spark Pendulum Dragon!" The two monsters appeared on her field. Volflame was a strange figure in an orange mecha. Meanwhile, Sunburst Spark was as bright and glaring as ever.
[Metalphosis Volflame (7*/S8/2400/2000/FIRE/Psychic/Pendulum)]
[Sunburst Spark Pendulum Dragon (7*/S1/2000/2500/FIRE/Dragon/Pendulum/Effect)]
Cloud Piercer tilted her head slightly. Her eyes stayed on the dragon for a brief moment.
"Sunburst Spark Pendulum Dragon—" Before Keika could declare her attack, she spotted something odd about her monsters' stats.
[Metalphosis Volflame: 2400 - 100 x 4 = 2000ATK; 2000 - 100 x 4 = 1600DEF]
[Sunburst Spark Pendulum Dragon: 2000 - 100 x 4 = 1600ATK; 2500 - 100 x 4 = 2100DEF]
"Ah, you've noticed it?" Cloud Piercer grinned. "Well, at least you're not like those extras that I trashed. Shizuku's effect reduces your monsters' attack and defense points by 100 for each Spell in my graveyard."
That meant that the two cards she had sent to the graveyard with Vectored Blast were both Spells then…
"Then it won't be a big deal for now. Sunburst Spark Pendulum Dragon will attack Flash Sword Princess - Shizuku! Raging Sunburst!" The bright flames shot towards Cloud Piercer's monster. "And I'll activate Sunburst Spark Pendulum Dragon's effect, to gain 500 attack points for each Special Summoned monster on the field, other than herself. Wrathful Solar Ignition!"
[Sunburst Spark Pendulum Dragon: 1600 + 500 x 2 = 2600ATK]
Cloud Piercer giggled. It was a sweet, cheerful sound that set Keika on edge. "How tyrannical," she said coyly. "Chill out. It's not time for the duel to reach that point yet. Quickplay Spell, Flash Sword Mecha - Eagle Booster." Shizuku flew upwards, dodging the flames. "I can only activate this card when I control no monsters in the Main Monster Zones. Shizuku is unaffected by the effects of cards other than itself this turn after this card resolves—and since I have at least three Spells in my graveyard, she can't be destroyed by battle either!"
So, her monster was certainly going to stick around for a while longer…
"Oh, and that's a Spell too," Cloud Piercer said teasingly.
[Sunburst Spark Pendulum Dragon: 2600 - 100 = 2500ATK; 2100 - 100 = 2000DEF]
[Metalphosis Volflame: 2000 - 100 = 1900ATK; 1600 - 100 = 1500DEF]
The attack hit—and it still dealt a sizable amount of damage, but Cloud Piercer seemed completely unaffected.
Cloud Piercer: 4000 - 1000 = 3000LP
"Volflame attacks your monster too," Keika said, watching the blonde girl cautiously. However, Cloud Piercer didn't make any overt moves, and her life points fell again, even though her monster wasn't destroyed.
Cloud Piercer: 3000 - 400 = 2600LP
"I'll end my turn," Keika said. She currently had Volflame and Sunburst Spark on the field, along with Steeleren and Goldriver in the Pendulum Scales, and a single set card. Meanwhile, Cloud Piercer had a set card and Shizuku on her field. "Over to you, Cl—" She grimaced. "Is there a name that I can call you, other than your stage name?"
"Oh, people back home would pay so much for my name, and you want me to give it to you for free?" The girl who was apparently some kind of idol back where she came from hummed. "… I guess that you can call me Kazuhar—I mean, Kazuha, if you want something else. It's not my actual name, but you seem like the serious kind that wouldn't like saying my stage name…" For a moment, her voice was slightly deeper—she had dropped the cutesy front that she had been putting up, as she contemplated the idea. "Yeah, that'll do. Just for you though, don't say it to someone else. Like I said, you're a side character. You don't get my actual name…"
Keika observed her. This girl…
Was very fake.
Her personality was completely falsified, her words were perfectly calculated to seem innocent and friendly. It was truly a perfect act—if not for the fact that the girl had accidentally dropped it, Keika might never have been able to tell.
Still though, this girl didn't seem to be the picture of confident invincibility that Yuzu had described her to be.
"Draw," Cloud Piercer said, her voice changing to that sweet and excited tone again. "Spell Card, Flash Sword Startup - Engage! I can add a "Flash Sword" card from my deck to my hand, and since I have at least three Spells in my graveyard, I can draw a card!" That was clearly the card that she had added to her hand with Shizuku's effect the turn before—a card that essentially let her search a card and draw another for free. "I'll activate the Continuous Spell—Flash Sword Engine - Multirole!"
The green-bordered card appeared on her field.
"Then, I will activate the Quickplay Spell, Flash Sword Mecha - Widow Anchor. Since I control no monsters in my Main Monster Zone, I can target an Effect Monster on the field, negate its effects and take control of it until the End Phase." She tilted her head, smiling innocently. "And there's only one target, no?"
Keika narrowed her eyes. A strange claw-like object grappled onto her dragon, dragging it over to Cloud Piercer's side of the field.
There was something about seeing her dragon on this girl's field in particular that annoyed her slightly. A possessiveness that was surfacing in her heart.
"Hmm." Cloud Piercer studied the dragon's appearance. "I almost feel like I might be burned if I touch you, even though you're just a hologram." She held a hand over her eyes. "A little too bright… I guess that's why you're named after the sun, huh?"
The dragon growled at her.
"Oh, it's alright that you don't like me," Cloud Piercer said, completely unbothered. "I just wanted to get you off her field, anyway. You're a little too dangerous, sunburst. And you'll steal the spotlight from me!" She held out another card. "I'll Normal Summon Flash Sword Princess - Raye!" A white-haired girl—the same one in the mecha—that was holding onto a glowing red sword appeared.
[Flash Sword Princess - Raye (4*/1500/1500/DARK/Warrior/Effect)]
"Now, make sure you don't lose!" Cloud Piercer's smile never left her face. "It'd be so boring otherwise. I'll open the circuit of the dazzling fault lines again! The conditions are one non-WIND "Flash Sword Princess" monster. I will set Flash Sword Princess - Shizuku in the Link Markers. Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 1! Finely cutting through the fog with the strength of the fiercest gale—Flash Sword Princess - Hayate!" Surrounded by green lights and several glowing black machines, another form of Raye appeared on the field, holding onto a glowing green blade that was as long as she was tall.
[Flash Sword Princess - Hayate (L1/1500/WIND/Machine/Link/Effect/↙)
"And why stop there?" Cloud Piercer quipped. "Open again, circuit! Come from the Extra Deck! Streak of flame that cuts through the night sky—Flash Sword Princess - Kagari!" The samurai-like form of the blonde girl from before appeared, stepping forward confidently in red armour. Her black wing-like metal structures lifted her in the air, even as she swung a fiery sword through the air.
[Flash Sword Princess - Kagari (L1/1500/FIRE/Machine/Link/Effect/↖)]
"When Flash Sword Princess - Kagari is Special Summoned, I can add a "Flash Sword" Spell from my graveyard to my hand." Cloud Piercer picked up a card. "Oh, and Kagari gains 100 attack points for each Spell in my graveyard."
[Flash Sword Princess - Kagari: 1500 + 100 x 6 = 2100ATK]
"But without Shizuku, Volflame's attack points exceed your monster's attack points," Keika said. "So, in that case…"
"Oh, I'm very aware," Cloud Piercer said cheerfully. "I'll have you know that I was top in math back in the school I came from."
If that's not an unexpected fact, I don't know what is…
"You see, my Flash Sword Princess - Hayate can attack directly," Cloud Piercer declared. Keika raised an eyebrow. "So, Hayate! Strike her down, will you?" The green blade crashed through the air, cutting down a large amount of Keika's life points.
Keika: 4000 - 1500 = 2500LP
"And," Cloud Piercer continued, dragging out the word, "when my Hayate battles, at the end of the Damage Step, I can send a "Flash Sword" card from my deck to the graveyard." She plucked out a card from her deck, placing it in her graveyard. Kagari's attack points increased, indicating that it was a Spell.
[Flash Sword Princess - Kagari: 2100 + 100 = 2200ATK]
Even so, she was still two Spells short, right?
"Alright!" Cloud Piercer clapped her hands together. "That's the end of my Battle Phase."
What?
"Haha, did you think that I brought out Kagari to attack?" Cloud Piercer waved a card through the air—the card that she had added back with Kagari's effect. "Have you heard of recursion, little miss firefly?"
Keika really didn't like that nickname.
"Open, circuit of the dazzling fault lines!" Cloud Piercer called. "Arrowhead confirmed! The conditions are two or more monsters with different names. I'll set Flash Sword Princess - Kagari, Flash Sword Princess - Hayate and Sunburst Spark Pendulum Dragon in the Link Markers!" The three monsters shot up. For a moment, Keika felt a sense of unease when she saw her dragon used as material—it felt like things shouldn't work that way. The moment passed quickly. "Dragon with the lovely demeanour. Under the thin, pale moon, cast your gaze of judgement. With arrogant sweet charm and merciless mechanical efficiency, chain them to your whims and your fancy. Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 3! Moonshine Anchor Link Dragon!"
And the dragon that Yuzu had mentioned appeared. Slender, sharp—as sharp as a sword, its body striking through the air. Light reflected off its pale grey scales and its glassy talons. Pale blue fur formed its mane and a long feathery tail. While its body could still somewhat be seen as organic, its wings were anything but—reminescent of satellites in the sky, metal in a straight and reflective structure, pale veins of light running through them.
'Beautiful,' was Keika's first thought. Then, immediately after it was, 'familiar'. Which was a silly thought, since she hadn't ever seen this dragon in her life.
[Moonshine Anchor Link Dragon (L3/2000/EARTH/Dragon/Link/Effect/↙, ↓, ↘)]
"Pretty, isn't she?" Cloud Piercer said proudly.
Keika's heart felt like it had stopped for a brief moment. She couldn't even answer.
This dragon, as primal and frightening as it was beautiful…
It made her heart feel a sense of 'want'. She wanted that dragon for herself.
But…
"You used that dragon as an idol?" Keika replied, suppressing the feelings in her heart. "Wouldn't it have scared off all your opponents?"
Cloud Piercer's smile felt like it was frozen. Keika might not have meant it in that way, but her words had called back that memory again.
"You're the only one having fun when you duel in that self-centred way, K—. You crush the spirits of others for the entertainment of yourself and your audience."
"Your temperament is nothing like Yuno's, you know. Why do you insist on being a Charisma Duelist when it doesn't come naturally to you at all?"
"That dragon of yours. If you think that it represents you so well, you have to know what you are. Stop lying to yourself. It's only hurting you."
For a moment, it was truly hard to keep up that fake smile on her face.
For a brief moment, there was a part of her that desperately wanted to wipe the floor with Keika Sakaki immediately. But—
No. This hatred's not for her.
Cloud Piercer smiled. "I'll activate the Spell Card, Flash Sword Startup - Engage! Since I control no monsters in my Main Monster Zones, I can add a "Flash Sword" card from my deck to my hand. And since I have three or more Spells in my graveyard, I can draw a card." She now had four cards in her hand. "I'll end my turn. And with the effect of Flash Sword Engine - Multirole, for each "Flash Sword" Spell that I activated while it was face-up on the field, I can set a "Flash Sword" Spell from my graveyard to my field, but they must all have different names, and they are banished when they leave the field." Two set cards appeared on her field. "Over to you, little miss firefly!"
"Can you stop calling me that?" Keika said, slightly annoyed.
"Oh? You don't like it?" The blonde laughed. "That's who you are to me though! Fire that flies—firefly—isn't it fitting?"
"The first is a phoenix, the other is an insect," Keika replied calmly.
"Mm hmm! Take it as you wish!" Cloud Piercer leaned on the side of her dragon, whose tail flicked around her protectively. "You might think you're a phoenix, but to me, you're just an insect, after all!"
"… how am I supposed to respond to that?" Keika drew a card, also having four cards in her hand—the same amount as her opponent, funnily enough. Her field had remained untouched—after all, Cloud Piercer only seemed to have been concerned with building up her field, instead of actually touching Keika's. Keika had set Metalphosis Counter the last turn, but since Cloud Piercer had taken her monster instead of actually destroying it, she didn't manage to benefit.
Still though, there was more than one way to do things.
"I will activate the Pendulum Effect of Metalphosis Steeleren," Keika said. "I will destroy Metalphosis Goldriver in my other Pendulum Scale, and set a "Metalphosis" Spell or Trap from my deck to the field." Another set card appeared on her field. Since her Pendulum Monsters took up space in the Spell and Trap Zones, this meant that if she filled up that Pendulum Zone again, she would only have space for one more set card. Luckily, she was already planning to get rid of one. "I will activate the Trap Card, Metalphosis Counter. Since a card I control was destroyed by battle or card effect, I can Special Summon a "Metalphosis" monster from my deck! Come—Metalphosis Vanisher!"
Her strongest Main Deck monster other than her dragon appeared on her field, waving out two glowing pink swords towards the opponent.
[Metalphosis Vanisher (9*/S1/2900/1900/FIRE/Psychic/Pendulum/Effect)]
"When Metalphosis Vanisher is Special Summoned by the effect of a "Metalphosis" card, I can target a monster you control or in your graveyard, and banish it," Keika explained. "Obviously, I will target Moonshine Anchor Link Dragon." The pink sword on the left cleaved through the air—
"Oh, please, you know what I am," Cloud Piercer said with a yawn. "Continuous Trap, activate."
Trap?
"Iron Wall of the Royal Palace," Cloud Piercer said, the card showing itself on her field. "While I control this card—neither player can banish cards." The effect harmlessly dissipated—the white dragon danced through them easily.
That felt… oddly specific. This girl wouldn't have put that card in her deck just to counter Vanisher, considering that Keika rarely used it—and even then, it was also the only card Keika had which could banish monsters.
What was the reasoning behind that card?…
"Oh, and Moonshine Anchor Link Dragon's effect activates!" Cloud Piercer said. "Once per turn, if a monster is Special Summoned, I can target that monster, and Moonshine Anchor gains attack points equal to that monster's attack points until the End Phase. Furthermore, the targeted monster cannot declare an attack this turn. Lunatic Laugh Captivation!"
The dragon flew forward, wings flaring out. It was rather swift—its claws dug into Vanisher's shoulders as it laughed, draining the strength from Keika's monster.
[Moonshine Anchor Link Dragon: 2000 + 2900 = 4900ATK]
So, Keika had not only failed to banish that card, but her monster had ended up powering up her opponent?
"I'll set the Scale 1 Metalphosis Silverd in the Pendulum Scale," Keika called. "Pendulum Summon! Return to the field! Metalphosis Goldriver! Sunburst Spark Pendulum Dragon! And come from my hand, Raremetalphosis Bismagia!" The two monsters reappeared on the field, along with Bismagia. Bismagia was in Defense Position, but Sunburst Spark and Goldriver were distinctly not. This filled up all of Keika's Main Monster Zones—Sunburst Spark, Volflame, Vanisher, Bismagia and Goldriver.
[Metalphosis Goldriver (4*/S1/1900/500/FIRE/Psychic/Pendulum)]
[Raremetalphosis Bismagia (1*/S8/0/0/FIRE/Psychic/Pendulum/Effect)]
"Hmm. You have four monsters other than your Sunburst Spark," Cloud Piercer said cheerfully. "I have one. Even then, your monster will only go up to 4500 attack points! Sorry to say, but you can't match me this turn with that."
"No need for you to worry about me," Keika replied resolutely, causing Cloud Piercer to blink in surprise. "Field Spell, Burning Blood! All FIRE monsters gain 500 attack points and lose 400 defense points!" Flames erupted around them, and all of Keika's monsters gained a boost to their stats.
[Metalphosis Goldriver: 1900 + 500 = 2400ATK; 500 - 400 = 100DEF]
[Raremetalphosis Bismagia: 0 + 500 = 500ATK; 0 - 400 = 0DEF]
[Sunburst Spark Pendulum Dragon: 2000 + 500 = 2500ATK; 2500 - 400 = 2100DEF]
[Metalphosis Vanisher: 2900 + 500 = 3400ATK; 1900 - 400 = 1500DEF]
[Metalphosis Volflame: 2400 + 500 = 2900ATK; 2000 - 400 = 1600DEF]
"Sunburst Spark Pendulum Dragon attacks Moonshine Anchor Link Dragon! And with her own effect, she will gain 500 attack points for every other Special Summoned monster on the field! Wrathful Solar Ignition—"
The golden flames burned brighter around the dragon, exploding outwards like a volcanic eruption.
"Raging Sunburst!"
[Sunburst Spark Pendulum Dragon: 2500 + 500 x 5 = 5000ATK]
"… I know you're an aggressive player, but just charging forward like that? Do you think I'm just a weak piece of grass?" Cloud Piercer, for the first time during this duel, actually sounded annoyed. "If I had set Widow Anchor to my field, I would end you right now."
"But you didn't, because Widow Anchor would lock off your ability to use other Spells on my turn—you can't easily use my monster as Link Material on my turn, and it would return to me anyway." Keika raised two fingers calmly. "If you're recognising that I'm an aggressive player, then I've also recognised you too—behind that cheerfulness of yours, you are calculative, aren't you? So you would have trusted your dragon's effect to work to protect it from me. At the same time, you would be preparing for the next turn. In any case, you didn't set Widow Anchor because you think I'm strong enough to work around it. Your set cards are Engage and Eagle Booster, aren't they?"
Sunburst Spark charged forward, letting out a roar that was rather bird-like instead of bestial. Moonshine Anchor responded with that sharp laugh again, tilting her head towards her duelist expectantly—
As though knowing that she wouldn't be destroyed.
" … I really don't like being seen through like this," Cloud Piercer replied, sober for a brief moment. One of her set cards flipped over—sure enough, it was Eagle Booster. "Quickplay Spell, Flash Sword Mecha - Eagle Booster. Moonshine Anchor Link Dragon is unaffected by card effects this turn, except her own, and since I have three or more Spells in the graveyard, she cannot be destroyed by battle."
The attack hit. It did practically no damage at all—
But still, it was a matter of proving that Keika would not allow herself to be stopped by a single move.
Cloud Piercer: 2600 - 100 = 2500LP
"Was it worth it to put that much effort in for 100 damage?" Cloud Piercer asked, her expression rather neutral.
"What do you think?" Keika responded. "I had to punch a few holes in your facade somehow." She raised a hand, gesturing to her life point counter and Cloud Piercer's—both of them at the exact same value of 2500 life points. "Look. We're on even ground now."
Cloud Piercer didn't respond.
Keika turned back to her field. "I will use the Pendulum Effect of Metalphosis Silverd. By destroying a face-up card I control, like Raremetalphosis Bismagia, I will set a "Metalphosis" Spell or Trap from my deck to my field." She now had two set cards on her field. "And since Raremetalphosis Bismagia was destroyed, I can add a "Metalphosis" monster from my deck to my hand during the End Phase—which is now. I will set a card and end my turn." She now had a filled backrow.
Cloud Piercer stood there silently. It took her a moment to respond, and when she did, there was something sharp to it—for a moment, Keika could see real emotion on the girl's face when she raised her head. The real girl behind Cloud Piercer was looking at her.
"Someone who duels for mindless anger wants to claim that they're on even ground with me?" Cloud Piercer—or should she call the girl Kazuha for now, considering that there was no persona being put up at this moment? "I may not hate you, but I still won't let you say that. I'm not as simple as you." She stressed the word 'simple' as though it was the biggest insult. that she could give. She reached out a hand. "Flash Sword Engine - Multirole's effect. I can set a "Flash Sword" Spell from my graveyard to my field, since I activated one this turn."
And then, Keika understood.
"Your Multirole allows you to recycle Spells, at the cost of banishing them after you use them again," she said. "But with Iron Wall of the Royal Palace active… they'll just go back to the graveyard, where you can recycle them again with Multirole."
"… yes," Cloud Piercer said, before grinning again, light as a bird. "Draw! I will activate my set card, which as you said, was the Spell Card, Flash Sword Startup - Engage. I will add another "Flash Sword" card from my deck to my hand, and draw another card." She revealed the card that she had searched from the deck. "Spell Card, Flash Sword Skill - Afterburner." Flaming waves that resembled Kagari's wings burst outwards. "I can destroy a monster. I will choose Metalphosis Volflame, obviously." The monster exploded. "And since I have three or more Spells in my graveyard, I can destroy a Spell or Trap. I will destroy your Field Spell." Burning Blood was destroyed too.
"Trap Card, Metalphosis Counter," Keika said, revealing another copy of her Trap. "So come from the deck—Metalphosis Steeleren!" Another copy of Steeleren appeared on her field in Defense Position.
[Metalphosis Steeleren (2*/S8/0/2100/FIRE/Psychic/Pendulum)]
"Mmm! As expected from you. Bringing out a monster with zero attack points so that Moonshine Anchor can't benefit. But I'm not done yet." Cloud Piercer hummed. "The other card you searched out was Metalphosis Fusion, right? You're really cautious, leaving that there to see what I do first!" Her other card flipped up—the one that she had just set with Multirole. "Spell Card, Flash Sword Maneuver - Jamming Waves!" A soft blue aura surrounded the field, before yellow waves shot out at Keika. "I can destroy a Set card you control, and since I have three or more Spells in my graveyard, I can destroy a monster too. I'll choose Metalphosis Steeleren and your set card!" Both cards were struck off the field by the sharp yellow waves.
Destroying four cards with two… this was odd. She wasn't destroying Vanisher, who had the highest attack points?
"Spell Card, Flash Sword Skill - Scissors Cross. Since I control no monsters in my Main Monster Zones and I have at least three Spells in my graveyard, I can revive a Level 4 "Flash Sword Princess" monster to my field." Raye reappeared on the field. "And Moonshine Anchor's effect triggers—she will gain attack points equal to Raye's attack points! Lunatic Laugh Captivation!" Moonshine Anchor whirled to look at her comrade dangerously—her claw struck through the air, drawing blood. Raye seemed unbothered, bowing to the dragon.
[Moonshine Anchor Link Dragon: 2000 + 1500 = 3500ATK]
"Of course, Raye cannot attack this turn because of that," Cloud Piercer said. "Unfortunate! Guess it's time for the best part." She snapped her fingers. "I do love the theatrics, but I think we'll save some time! I'll use Raye to Link Summon another copy of Kagari!" The flaming woman reappeared on the field. "With her effect, I'll add Engage back to my hand, though I can't activate it." She hummed. "And do you know how many Spells are in my graveyard now?"
Kagari's attack points shot up, and up—
[Flash Sword Princess - Kagari: 1500 + 100 x 9 = 2400ATK]
"Flash Sword Princess - Kagari attacks Metalphosis Vanisher," Cloud Piercer declared. "And here's my favourite part! When a monster that Moonshine Anchor Link Dragon points to battles a monster with lower attack points than Moonshine Anchor's attack points—I can grant that monster attack points equal to Moonshine Anchor's attack points! Graceful Moonlit Madness!" Kagari was surrounded by a white glow as she charged forward, blade slashing through the air.
[Flash Sword Princess - Kagari: 2400 + 4000 = 6400ATK]
Then—
"I still have one more set card," Keika said, retaining her cool.
"So?" Cloud Piercer looked unsurprised—had she wanted Keika to respond to her attack?
"Quickplay Spell, Fullmetalphosis Fusion," Keika said. Cloud Piercer seemed somewhat surprised. "I can Fusion Summon a "Metalphosis" monster using cards from my hand or field. I will fuse Sunburst Spark Pendulum Dragon, Metalphosis Vanisher and Metalphosis Goldriver!" The three monsters shot up, and Cloud Piercer frowned in surprise.
"Three monsters…" She laughed. "The three monsters you controlled that were in Attack Position. So you're sacrificing one of your Fusion Monsters to defend yourself? Talk about practicality…"
And the thing was, Cloud Piercer wasn't wrong in the slightest.
It was entirely to stop herself from losing against this ridiculous offensive.
… an offensive very much like her own.
"Flame-coloured metal that only regalia is worthy of," Keika said. "Even legends will be bent to my will. Fusion Summon! Mythological presence—Metalphosis Cardinal!" A man in a flaming orange mecha appeared, flames erupting from around him.
[Metalphosis Cardinal (9*/3000/3000/FIRE/Psychic/Fusion)]
"Hello, sacrificial fodder!" Cloud Piercer beamed. "Kagari, if you will?"
The Fusion Monster was sliced through instantly by Kagari's red-hot blade, but with Keika's precaution, her monsters were all in Defense Position, so she didn't take damage.
"She loses the boost at the end of the Damage Step," Cloud Piercer added. She then grinned. "And that leaves you with only Steeleren."
… huh?
"The monster targeted by Moonshine Anchor Link Dragon's effect can attack twice," Cloud Piercer explained. "You thought that two shields was enough, right?" Kagari dashed forward, slicing through Steeleren. "And that leaves just you! Moonshine Anchor attacks you directly! Serene Claw!"
This entire turn…
Wiping out her set cards to ensure that her options were limited. That raw confidence…
Keika grimaced.
Damn it.
She might not get as pumped up as people like Gongenzaka and Yuya when it came to dueling…
But she still didn't like losing.
The attack tossed her back—Solid Vision was still active, after all, even if the Action Cards were disabled.
Keika: 2500 - 3500 = 0LP
Winner: Cloud Piercer!
"You're good," Cloud Piercer said with a laugh. "I'm better." Then, to Keika's surprise, she took a step forward. "Need a hand?"
Keika stared at the extended palm.
Who was this girl, anyway?
She took the hand, and Cloud Piercer lifted her to her feet.
"Alright, ciao." Before the girl could take off, however, Keika spoke up.
"Teach me."
Cloud Piercer turned back to look at her. "Hmm?"
"Teach me your Link Summoning," Keika said. She lifted her head—she would not lower her head in front of someone else ever again. She had made that decision a long time ago. "I'd learn it by myself even if you didn't teach me. But I'm not going to lose to you again."
If I become stronger than you, then I will be stronger than anyone. I know it.
"… jeez, you're something else." Cloud Piercer waved a hand. "Do you think that I have time to waste on teaching you? I'm a busy girl, you know."
"Then what exactly are you busy with here?"
Cloud Piercer paused.
"… sorry. That was harsh." Keika folded her arms. "But you're right. I was satisfied before with where I am now, but if I can't defeat you, that's not satisfactory at all. Teach me."
"That's because you're using Fusion, which is the weakest of the summoning methods," Cloud Piercer finally said, smirking slightly. She seemed more relaxed now. "You're domineering, little miss firefly." For once, the nickname sounded like a compliment. "Get some sleep. I'll come find you when I'm free."
The blonde disappeared across buildings.
Strangely, Keika wasn't upset. Some might be, if they lost a duel to their own mistakes—and it had been Keika's own mistake, after all. She should never have gone so strongly on the offensive that she left herself so open to a counterattack.
But losing to this girl…
It didn't feel too bad. It had even been… fun to duel her?
It was a strange feeling, similar to what she had felt with Kanae. This feeling of odd familiarity…
From what Yuzu had said, that wasn't the girl's real appearance, right? If the avatar was stripped away, if all those fake smiles weren't hiding the person really behind them…
It was a ridiculous thought, but would Keika see her own face once again, looking back at her?
… she should head home.
OC Cards:
Sunburst Spark Pendulum Dragon
(7*/S1/2000/2500/FIRE/Dragon/Pendulum/Effect)
Pendulum Effect: You can destroy this card: Add 1 "Pendulum" Pendulum Monster or 1 "Pendulum" Spell/Trap from your Deck to your hand, but you cannot activate cards with that name this turn.
If this card attacks a Special Summoned monster: It gains 500 ATK for each Special Summoned monster on the field, except itself, until the End Phase.
Moonshine Anchor Link Dragon
(L3/2000/EARTH/Dragon/Link/Effect/↙, ↓, ↘)
2+ monsters with different names
Once per turn, if a monster(s) is Special Summoned: You can target 1 of those monster(s); this card gains ATK equal to that monster's ATK until the End Phase, and that monster cannot declare an attack this turn. Once per turn, if a monster this card points to battles a monster with lower ATK than this card's ATK: You can have that monster this card points to gain ATK equal to this card's ATK until the end of the Damage Step, and if you do, that monster can declare a second attack during this Battle Phase.
End Notes:
So, if this story technically has Keika as the protagonist, then Cloud Piercer is most definitely the rival, haha. To be honest, having the Link and Pendulum counterparts be rivals felt like a natural thing, all things considered.
Cloud Piercer really went "the readers think you're overpowered? Wait 'til they see me."
Also, just for fun and because I've been holding onto this tidbit for a while—a sunburst is a flash of sunlight, especially through a break in clouds. While I did give the historical definition of moonshine the last time Cloud Piercer showed up, it can also simply be another word for 'moonlight'. At the same time, it can also colloquially mean 'empty talk', or 'nonsense'. Which is, as Keika discovers here, pretty much everything that comes out of Cloud Piercer's mouth. There's a lot of small tidbits and puns to each dragon's name, and I'm probably going to go over all of them once they're all introduced!
Why did I give Keika Burning Blood/Molten Destruction instead of having her use the Metalfoes Field Spell? Because the Metalfoes Field Spell is bad. Ok, uh, she'll probably get a better version of it in the future, but like I said before, Keika's duel style very much sacrifices defence for offence. I thought that giving her Molten Destruction was a good reference to that.
Uh, 'do you think I'm just a weak piece of grass' loses some of its meaning when I type it in English, funnily enough. It's a metaphorical phrase in Chinese for 'do you think I'm just going to stand here blankly and let you step on me without doing anything?'
It might take a while for more chapters, since like I said, the last four chapters were written together. We're really getting into it now though. :D
Thank you to LHOCIN, Findarato and phantomdragons for reviewing.
To LHOCIN, yeah, the mechanics of how the K counterparts work is a little different. :) Saying more would be spoilers though!
To Findarato, it's a good idea! To be honest, Keika's deck was the one that I struggled with deciding on the most out of the counterparts. Qli was a deck that I did consider as well. However, I firmly believe that Metalfoes is still the best for the story that I want to tell. Also, it fits Keika's more reckless and aggressive playstyle and attitude more than Qli would. Also, Qli literally doesn't allow her to Special Summon non-Qli monsters, so that wouldn't allow for some things that I want to do. Thank you for your review, regardless.
To phantomdragons, relax! I can understand their rationale behind their opinion. :) And yeah, you nailed your description of her personality quite well.
See you guys next time!