Starting Notes:
Welcome back! This chapter is a bit of a cooldown in terms of plot. We just get to see the duels for the first round of the Maiami Championship. Every other duel not shown in this chapter is the same as canon. I assume that everyone here wants a bit of a cooldown from staring at Sunavalon and Marincess, so we're skipping over their preliminary duels. I'm not sure I could write a duel this chapter with those two that matches up to last chapter anyway, considering that their opponents would get curb stomped, since this is early Arc-V Standard. As such, this chapter has nothing plot relevant in terms of duels—so we can all just chill until next chapter, when the really big one hits! There's also going to be a few important things at the end of the chapter in the Author's Notes, so just read the starting part! Enjoy!
Chapter 12: Maiami Championship (Breather)
"You're not participating in the Championship?"
"I told Reiji Akaba that I didn't want to," Yuto said. "I'll be investigating and wandering around during the Championship."
"... I see." Miharu sighed. "... if it wasn't for the fact that Reiji Akaba wants us to prove the strength of our Link Monsters, I would have opted out too. I'm not interested in competition."
The dark-haired boy chuckled. "I don't doubt that you'll do well," he said. "I have seen how well you duel, after all."
"How well does Ruri Kurosaki duel?" Miharu asked after a moment. While Yuno seemed to get along really well with his counterparts—being friends with Yuya, and exchanging polite conversation with Yuto—she didn't know if she would get along with her own counterparts. She had only exchanged a short conversation with Yuzu Hiiragi, after all.
"Ruri was very different from you," Yuto said, a fond smile on his face at the thought of the girl that he had mentioned was his girlfriend. "You focus on defence a lot—and healing yourself, right? Healing multiple counts of damage? She focused on multiple attacks and One Turn Kills."
"So she played offence more than you?" Miharu had seen the way that Yuto dueled, after all.
"Yes," Yuto said.
Miharu nodded. "I would like to meet her," she said. "She sounds… kind."
"I think she would like you too," Yuto said. He sighed. "Other than Sayaka, she didn't really have friends who were girls, back in Heartland."
"Then, when we get her back," Miharu said, "I'll be sure to talk to her. Stay safe, Yuto. I don't think Ruri would want you to tire yourself."
And thus, in the morning, Yuno and Miharu lined up with the rest of the LDS students. Hitoda wasn't there—she had claimed that she wanted to stay alert, and besides, 'you two kids are enough anyway'. So she was sitting out. At the same time, there were four other additions to LDS—Kyorin, Shun, Nue, and the ever calm Mion Myojin.
At the ceremony, Yuno blinked as Yuya was called on stage, before he smiled widely, clapping at the speech that the other boy gave.
Be your own person, Yuya. Show your strength to the masses.
Then, you might be able to truly bring smiles to the masses.
The matches that were taking place alternated between Youth, Junior Youth and Senior competitors. While the first match was taking place, Miharu headed over to the box at the top of the stadium. At the same time, she noticed the girl that had defeated You Show's Sora heading in the same direction. The two of them met at the top of the staircase, sizing each other up.
"What are you going to the Akabas' box for?" Mion asked, raising an eyebrow.
"... I wanted to wish Reira good luck," Miharu said.
"Wish Reira good luck…" Mion's smile brightened. "Oh! Reira's finally made a friend? That's amazing!" Her voice was extremely genuine, and she gestured for Miharu to follow her, as they walked towards the box. "He's usually really shy around new people, so the fact that he's managed to make a friend that will go out of their way for him… that's amazing!"
Reira was a boy?
… hmm.
Miharu didn't think that was the case. After all, Reira hadn't exactly corrected her when she had called her a girl, and while the younger girl was shy and withdrawn, she wasn't withdrawn enough to avoid correcting someone who was misgendering her. Even so, she didn't say anything. Mion might be right, Miharu might be right. Either way, until Reira said one thing or the other, Miharu wouldn't comment on it.
"... what are you here for?" She asked. Mion chuckled.
"I'm here to talk to Reiji, obviously."
"You call him by his first name?"
"What, am I supposed to be all stuffy about it?" Mion waved a hand through the air. "Nah. I'm pretty sure that I'm Reiji's only friend, considering that he's, one, a CEO, two, intimidating as hell and three, doesn't spend a lot of time with people his age. As such, of course I call him by his first name."
Miharu raised an eyebrow. Reiji Akaba, being friends with this friendly and enthusiastic girl? They couldn't be more different—
Then again, that was what people said about her and Yuno too. Perhaps she shouldn't be too quick to judge.
They opened the door to the box as the duels below continued. All three Akabas, as well as their assistant, Nakajima, turned to look at them.
"Mion," Reiji said, sounding rather surprised.
"Eh, your box is air-conditioned?" Mion waved to Himika Akaba, who had her lips pressed into a firm line at the sight of them. "I'll be hanging out here until my duel, Reiji. Don't mind me."
"Sure," Reiji said after a moment, and his mother turned to look at him with a confused look on her face. "And you, Kogami-san?"
Miharu had walked into the room, and she cleared her throat. "... I'm just here to wish Reira good luck," she said. Reira, who had been sitting next to Reiji, curled up on the couch with her teddy bear in her arms, turned to look at Miharu with a look of surprise. "I didn't come here to impose on you." She reached forward, patting Reira's shoulder, the two of them making eye contact. Reira seemed to understand her good intentions. "I'm rooting for you, no matter what, Reira."
After the blonde girl left the room, Reiji turned to Reira. "Why do you like her so much?" He asked—not an insult, but rather a genuine question.
"... I have to steal the light of others, because I don't have any light of my own," Reira said. She pressed her arms around herself, as though attempting to hug herself. "But her… she has so much light, but she doesn't want it for herself. She'd give it all away without hesitation. She's… comforting. Almost familiar."
Reiji turned his head, seeing his mother looking at them with a rather complex expression on her face. After all, Reiji knew that his mother had never intended for Reira to have connections to anyone. Reiji himself had never been comfortable with the idea. Even so, his mother didn't express any dissatisfaction with Reira's words, simply turning back towards the duel field.
"Oh, it looks like the two Link duelists are doing well," Mion remarked, as both Miharu and Yuno systematically crushed their opponents. "How'd you find them, by the way?"
"They showed up at the doorstep of LDS one day," Reiji said, completely honest. Taking his words as a joke, Mion laughed.
"Oh, sure. Two talented duelists—sorry, that's seven or so now, counting Kurosaki and Kamisoka and the rest, right?—just happened to show up on your doorstep. If you don't want to share LDS's recruitment methods, you can just say so."
Filled with complete irony, Reiji cleared his throat. "Sure," he said after a moment. "Reira, it's your duel next. Good luck."
Reira nodded, standing up. Clutching her bear to herself, she walked out of the room.
"Geez, Reira's as shy as ever, huh?" Mion stuffed her hands in her pockets. "Still though, for his age, there's not a lot of people who are better than him." They watched as Reira defeated the girl from You Show below. "And that's my cue, isn't it?"
Reiji nodded. "Feel free to use that new deck to its fullest potential."
"After you made it specifically for me?" Mion chuckled. "How could I not? I won't waste your efforts, Reiji." She glanced down at the field below. "Besides, I'll need an adjustment period too."
She walked out. Reiji sighed. An adjustment period, she says. As if she hasn't already practiced with that deck for days on end. If there's one thing Mion is not, it's lazy.
"Reiji-kun," his mother said. "About that girl…"
"Not now, mother," he said, smoothly cutting her off. Or ever, really. He knew exactly what his mother wanted to talk about with regards to Mion Myojin, and he could not talk about it right now, not when he hadn't even figured himself out.
Below, Mion was facing off against one of the duelists from the Knights of Duels School.
"You're from LDS's Integrated Course, aren't you?" Her opponent was a boy named Ashley. Mion nodded, internally taking note—of course a school like the Knights of Duels would have researched their opponents. "Mion Myojin of LDS's Highlands Campus. Supposedly the best duelist in LDS, only beneath Reiji Akaba and Reira Akaba."
"Supposedly." Mion shrugged. She hoped that her opponent hadn't researched her too much. The surprise was what made the start of duels interesting, after all.
"Spell Counters player," Ashley commented. "But against me, your Spellcasters won't stand a ghost of a chance! Duelists locked in battle!"
"Kicking the earth and dancing in the air alongside their monsters!"
"They storm through this field!"
"Behold! This is the newest and greatest evolution of Dueling!"
"Action—"
"—Duel!"
Around them, a bunch of rocks appeared—they looked like they were in an aquarium, though they could clearly still breathe. Holographic coral and fish was all around them.
[ACTION DUEL!]
Mion Myojin: 8000LP
Ashley: 8000LP
[Turn 1: Ashley] [H:5]
"I will start!" Ashley called. "I will Normal Summon Heroic Challenger - Thousand Blades!" A knight in silver armour appeared, a silver polearm in its right arm. Tons of blades could be seen floating behind the monster as it stood in front of Ashley.
[Heroic Challenger - Thousand Blades (4*/1300/1100/EARTH/Warrior/Effect)]
"I will use Thousand Blades' effect! I will send a "Heroic" card from my hand to the graveyard, and Special Summon a "Heroic" monster from my deck! However, I cannot Special Summon monsters this turn, except for "Heroic" monsters. I will Special Summon Heroic Challenger - Morning Star!" A man in grey and gold armour appeared, with a long golden morning star in his hands, on a long chain. There were two golden horns on the top of his head.
[Heroic Challenger - Morning Star (4*/1500/1300/EARTH/Warrior/Effect)]
"With Morning Star's effect, I will add a "Heroic" Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand! And I will overlay the two of them! Show up now, divine archer, and devour all our enemies! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Heroic Champion - Gandiva!" Another warrior in black and gold armour appeared, holding onto a bow. He was sitting on a red and orange-armoured horse, and aiming an arrow towards her.
[Heroic Champion - Gandiva (R4/2100/1800/EARTH/Warrior/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]
"I will set a card facedown and end my turn!" Ashley said with a laugh. "Your turn!"
[Turn 2: Mion] [H:6]
"Draw," Mion said, raising a card. "I will Normal Summon Mythical Beast Jackal!" A smoky blue monster appeared on the field in front of her, dressed in dark blue armour, with some orange orbs around its armour. Its fur was wispy, rather like mist.
[Mythical Beast Jackal (1*/S4/0/1400/DARK/Spellcaster/Pendulum/Effect)]
"Mythical Beast Jackal?" Ashley repeated. "Huh? That's not a monster that you've ever used before…"
"I will then set the Scale 2 Servant of Endymion and the Scale 8 Endymion, the Mighty Master of Magic in the Pendulum Scales!" Mion declared, placing both cards down on her duel disk. Behind her, the two pillars shot up. In one pillar was a woman with platinum blonde hair, dressed in a black robe with light blue accents. She had a golden mask over the top half of her face, but she was clearly smiling. There were two mystical-looking lanterns floating in her hands. In the second pillar was a familiar-looking man in black armour with purple orbs all around him, as well as a ring of gold behind him.
"You have Pendulum Cards?" Ashley exclaimed.
"The activation of a Pendulum Monster in the Pendulum Scale is counted as the activation of a Spell," Mion said. "So, Mythical Beast Jackal gains 2 Spell Counters, and Servant of Endymion gains one, since they both gain Spell Counters upon the activation of a Spell!"
[Mythical Beast Jackal: Spell Counter(s): 2]
[Servant of Endymion: Spell Counter(s): 1]
"And by tributing Mythical Beast Jackal and removing three Spell Counters from the field," Mion declared, smirking, "I can Special Summon a "Mythical Beast" monster from my deck! I happen to have three Spell Counters right on my field!" The three Spell Counters vanished, and then, Jackal dissolved into mist.
[Servant of Endymion: Spell Counter(s): 0]
"Emerge now, magical anomaly," Mion declared, a card sliding out of her deck. "Mythical Beast Master Cerberus!" In front of her, a bipedal creature with a lion-like face appeared, with the same blue-grey fur as Mythical Beast Jackal. The creature held up a clawed hand, blue magic swirling around it, forming what looked like a portal. In his other hand, he held up a staff that was topped with a jackal's head. Behind him, a purple cape swept through the air.
[Mythical Beast Master Cerberus (8*/S4/2800/2800/LIGHT/Spellcaster/Pendulum/Effect)]
"Damn it. You summoned such a strong monster immediately…" Ashley gritted his teeth. "I was expecting you to Special Summon your low-Level monsters first, not bring out such a monster on the first turn."
"Understandable mistake," Mion said.
"Huh? Are you mocking me?"
Mion blinked. "Huh? I'm not—what makes you think—" She shook her head. "I was just saying that most people who use Synchro or Xyz do that. You don't have to take everything as an insult." She held out another card. "Activating the Magical Citadel of Endymion!" Her Field Spell showed up on the field, though it didn't change the Action Field too much—it just added a few towers inside the aquarium. "And when a Spell Card is activated, Mythical Beast Master Cerberus gains 2 Spell Counters, not just one!"
[Mythical Beast Master Cerberus: Spell Counter(s): 2]
[Servant of Endymion: Spell Counter(s): 1]
"Next," she said, as Ashley seemed to go searching for an Action Card in advance, "I will activate the Spell Card, Spell Power Mastery. I can add an "Endymion" card from my deck to my hand." She swiped up a card from her deck. "Then, for every Spell Power Mastery or Spell Power Grasp in the graveyard or currently on my field, I can place a Spell Counter on a card I control. Clearly, there's only one. I'll place an additional Spell Counter on Servant of Endymion, who gains a Spell Counter with her own effect!"
[Mythical Beast Master Cerberus: Spell Counter(s): 4]
[Magical Citadel of Endymion: Spell Counter(s): 1]
[Servant of Endymion: Spell Counter(s): 3]
"So what?" Ashley called. "Are you going to Pendulum Summon?"
Mion chuckled. "I will activate the effect of Mythical Beast Master Cerberus," she said. "I will remove 4 Spell Counters from my field—so simply from it—and banish a monster you control! Erasure Experiment!" Master Cerberus's left hand glowed, and it summoned up a large blue portal, sucking Gandiva into it. Ashley gritted his teeth.
"What a stupidly overpowered monster…"
"Says the person that's running a deck that can Xyz Summon like it's nothing?" Mion said. "I'm sorry that you feel that this is unfair, but unfortunately for you, I'm not done. Mythical Beast Master Cerberus gains attack points equal to the monster that you summoned, until your next End Phase!"
[Mythical Beast Master Cerberus: Spell Counter(s): 0; 2800 + 2100 = 4900ATK]
"What?" Ashley gritted his teeth. His set card was Heroic Retribution Sword, but without a "Heroic" monster, he couldn't use it. He picked up an Action Card, but his face fell. It was Acceleration, which only negated effect damage.
"I'm sorry to take you out so quickly," Mion said, and she really did mean it. She didn't like defeating opponents so quickly—it would only make them feel bad about themselves. At the same time, she was bad at holding back. "Master Cerberus attacks directly!" Master Cerberus leapt forward, striking Ashley down.
Ashley: 4000 - 4900 = 0LP
Winner: Mion Myojin!
"Tsk! He gave Mion Pendulum Cards too?" Sawatari groaned. He glanced at the new deck that he had made—the Yosenju cards that LDS had given him. "Never mind! I'll win too! If cards like that work so well, then I should be able to win!"
Right?
Right?
Sawatari gritted his teeth.
The thought of losing to Yuya Sakaki again made him want to throw up. He could not bear it.
He would just win!
No matter what happened, he would win the next day!
"That overpowered LDS girl got Pendulums?" Sora folded his arms, sulking. Part of him really, really wanted to take on Mion Myojin and wreck her. Another part of him was very wary of her, because of how much like Shino she was.
"Yuno!"
"Oh, Yuya!" Yuno smiled, waving to him. "You didn't have your match today, huh? I'm sure you'll do well! Oh, and I enjoyed your speech today!"
Yuya chuckled awkwardly, thinking about how both the masked redhead and his best friend had taken out their opponents easily in their matches. Both had apparently been from the Knights of Duels as well. "Thanks, Yuno. Uh…" He held out the Link Monster that he had received. "This was because of you, right? It must have taken a lot to get Reiji Akaba to agree…"
"Nah, don't worry about 'repaying' me or anything like that." Yuno shrugged. "I did it because we're friends."
"Even so—"
Ok, clearly Yuya wouldn't let this go. Fine then.
"It's my own selfishness!" Yuno said cheerfully. "As your teacher, I want to see you Link Summon! So it's for me more than it's for you, yeah?"
Yuya stared at him with a slightly lidded gaze. "You don't think I'm that easy to fool, do you?"
"Who says I'm fooling you?" Yuno waved a hand through the air. "Plus, you can consider that a sign of our friendship!" He shrugged. "I value friends a lot, you know."
"Yuno?" Yuya's pun did not go unnoticed, and Yuno mock-glared at him for a moment. "Still though, I want to win, Yuno. I want to duel you in this tournament!"
Yuno smiled warmly. "Then let's do that!" He said. "Me and you, Yuya—now that sounds fun!" It felt a bit like having a troublesome little brother, but that was fine. "And remember—that resolve you showed today was amazing. Become someone that surpasses your father, and entertain in a way that suits you!"
"... I will," Yuya said. "But the vibe I get from you sometimes… Yuno, are you an Entertainment Duelist?"
Yuno blinked.
Um.
That was indeed a question. Those were indeed words spoken by a human being.
"I guess I am!" He said, vowing to tell Yuya about the other dimensions the moment that he could. It didn't sit right with him, to hide so much about who he was. "So I guess we do share the same philosophy, in that regard."
"That explains it then." Yuya smiled widely. "... Yuno, thank you."
Thank you?
What exactly was Yuya trying to thank him for?
Wasn't all of this just something natural?
The next day:
"Oh? Ryozanpaku Duel School?"
"I've heard from Reiji Akaba that they play rough, no matter who their opponents are," Shun said. "Be careful."
Nue smirked. "Please, if a couple of boys want to play rough, I'll gladly teach them a lesson."
Yuto, who was leaning against the door, sighed. "I think instead of telling you to be careful, we should be asking you not to beat them up too much," he said. "Good luck, Nue." He watched as his sister headed down. Then, he walked to Shun's side.
Shun didn't look at him.
Yuto balled up his fist and punched Shun in the stomach. Shun let out a 'oof' sound, clutching his stomach and falling back.
"Calm down," Yuto said with a sigh. "If you stew in your fury any longer, you'll explode."
His best friend got up with a groan. "I thought I was keeping it subtle enough…"
"You can't hide anything from me," Yuto said. "Does the idea of dueling the Fusion user really anger you so much?"
"I don't think I need to answer that," Shun said shortly. "I'll expose his true colours to everyone."
"But don't hurt yourself too much for it," Yuto said. He hesitated. Shun definitely noticed.
"But Yuto," he said. "You're boiling with rage too, aren't you?"
Yuto closed his eyes.
Simmering. Hatred.
"Maybe," he said. "But I won't let it rule how I act." He glanced down towards the field.
"So you're from LDS, huh?" Ken Umesugi pointed towards her. Nue folded her arms—she didn't even answer his question before he continued talking. "For the sake of our school's reputation, we will defeat every LDS student in this tournament!"
"Will you?" Nue smiled, a dangerous, crooked smile. "Interesting. Unfortunately, you're not anything of mine, and therefore, I don't care about what you want. Get ready to lose."
The extra said the Action Duel chant, and Nue didn't bother, simply letting him converse with himself.
She just wanted to be done with this already.
That was what she thought—until the Action Field took on the shape of a smoking, disastrous field, with nothing in it but rubble.
Nue grimaced.
Reiji Akaba. If this is the field you picked, it's not funny in the slightest.
[ACTION DUEL!]
Nue Kamisoka: 4000LP
Ken Umesugi: 4000LP
[Turn 1: Ken] [H:5]
"I will start!" He declared. "I will set two cards facedown and end my turn!"
Nue raised an eyebrow. "Oh," she said. "Very interesting." To not summon a monster at all… and yet look so confident. Was this overconfidence brought about by the existence of the Action Cards, Standard's cheats, or by those set cards? Clearly, he had a plan in mind. Nue just didn't know whether he was smart enough for an effective plan.
Well. She was perfectly capable of adapting.
[Turn 2: Nue] [H:6]
"Draw," she said. "I'll Normal Summon Traptrix Myrmeleo." The girl with dusty grey hair and devil-like horns appeared, a nervous look on her field as she stood in front of Nue.
[Traptrix Myrmeleo (4*/1600/1200/EARTH/Insect/Effect)]
"When Myrmeleo is Normal Summoned, I can add a "Hole" Trap to my hand," Nue continued. "I will add Chain Hole to my hand and set it facedown. Then, by sending my set Chain Hole to the graveyard, I can Special Summon Traptrix Vesiculo from my hand!" A black-haired girl with two bright white flowers on both sides of her hair appeared. She was dressed in a green and white dress, with the bottom of her skirt flaring out with long bits in the shapes of leaves, similar to a waterwheel plant's spindly leaves.
[Traptrix Vesiculo (4*/1400/1400/EARTH/Plant/Effect)]
"Traptrix Myrmeleo attacks you directly!"
"I will activate my set card, Frontline Fusion!" Ken declared. The card flipped over, and Nue saw red. She barely even heard anything that happened next. "I will fuse Senko the Skybolt Star and Todoroki the Earthbolt Star! Shine to the heavens! Quake the land! The destruction god of thunder descends! Fusion Summon! Come out, Raijin the Breakbolt Star!"
A warrior in golden armour appeared, a large black sword in his hands that he swung around. There were black pads on his shoulders, with golden sigils on them.
[Raijin the Breakbolt Star (10*/3000/2200/LIGHT/Warrior/Fusion/Effect)]
Objectively, it was just another Warrior monster. Objectively, there was nothing more wrong with it than any other monster that Nue had seen while in this dimension.
At the same time, it was a Fusion Monster. In a ruined landscape.
How dare you use Fusion in front of me?
"This is an odd decision, Reiji-kun," Himika Akaba said, looking at the field. "I know that you specifically chose her opponent and the Action Field. But why is this what you chose?"
"Look at her face," Reiji said. Himika looked—
And on that girl's face, was the most livid expression that Himika had seen in her life.
"Yuto Kamisoka is a rather pleasant and calm boy," Reiji said. "His comrades are not. Shun Kurosaki, and Nue Kamisoka—I wish to see how they react. To see how they react, in the presence of that which they despise the most."
"The attack of Traptrix Myrmeleo stops," Nue said. "I will overlay the Level 4 Myrmeleo and the Level 4 Vesiculo!" The two monsters shot into a circuit in floral streaks. "Beauty made flesh, appear with the fruit of temptation! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Traptrix Rafflesia!"
Her ace appeared on her field, the red flower strikingly bright as she sighed, sitting in Defense Position.
[Traptrix Rafflesia (R4/300/2500/EARTH/Plant/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]
"I will set two cards facedown," Nue said. "Over to you." She was still seething at the sight of the Fusion Monster—every part of her was screaming for her to get it off the field immediately. Even her opponent seemed to be perturbed by the sheer hatred she felt. However, seconds later, he reached out, drawing a card.
[Turn 3: Ken] [H:3]
"Draw!" Ken dashed through the smoke, picking up an Action Card. "Action Spell, High Dive! I will increase Raijin's attack points by 1000! Now, attack Traptrix Rafflesia!"
[Raijin the Breakbolt Star: 3000 + 1000 = 4000ATK]
Lightning bolts struck all around them as Raijin closed in. Nue moved for an Action Card, but Ken moved towards her, getting ready to kick her away from an Action Card. As he raised his leg, Nue heard some cries from the crowd—it seemed that Ryozanpaku's general 'tactics' were known by the people of the Standard Dimension.
Nue hooked her arm around his leg, using his momentum to pull his legs out from under him, leaving him sprawled out on the ground. She then turned around, calmly picking up the Action Card.
"Action Card, Illusion Dance," she replied. "I'll change all Attack Position monsters on the field to Defense Position." Raijin was forced to stand down. "They change back to Attack Position during the End Phase." She looked directly at him. "... I'm actually glad that I'm your opponent. I'm guessing that most of your opponents don't try to fight back. But I'm warning you—if you try to hit me again, I'll break your leg."
"Damn it." Ken folded his arms, standing back up. He looked somewhat shaken at her threat. "I'll end my turn."
He couldn't do anything? Well, considering that the Fusion Materials were Level 5, maybe he just couldn't Normal Summon anything else. Raijin stood back up, and Nue drew a card from her deck.
[Turn 4: Nue] [H:3]
"Draw," Nue said. "I'll activate the Trap Card, Titanocider. I will negate the effects of a monster Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, and its attack points become zero!" An arrow of light shot out, piercing Raijin's armour, sapping out all of its energy.
[Raijin the Breakbolt Star: 3000 - 0ATK]
"What?" Ken started looking for Action Cards, but Nue didn't bother stopping him.
"I'll Normal Summon Traptrix Nepenthes." A girl with honey yellow hair appeared, with bright orange ends to her hair.
[Traptrix Nepenthes (4*/800/2000/EARTH/Plant/Effect)]
"Take it down, Nepenthes!"
Before Ken managed to get an Action Card, Nue's monster dashed forward, crushing the tall warrior with a vine.
Ken: 4000 - 800 = 3200LP
"You defeated my ace with that… puny girl?"
"I'll ask you not to be sexist," Nue said, rolling her eyes. "I will set a card facedown. Over to you."
"During the End Phase, with the effect of Raijin, since it was destroyed and sent to the graveyard this turn, I can revive two Level 7 or lower Warrior monsters! Come—Senko! Todoroki!" He revived the two Fusion Materials that he had used.
[Senko the Skybolt Star (7*/2400/0/LIGHT/Warrior/Effect)]
[Todoroki the Earthbolt Star (6*/2100/0/EARTH/Warrior/Effect)]
And let you Fusion Summon again? Hell will freeze over first!
"I will activate the other card I set last turn! Bottomless Trap Hole! I will destroy and banish the monsters you summoned, since they have 1500 attack points." Both Senko and Todoroki vanished, shredded to pieces by vines. "And since I activated a "Hole" Trap, Nepenthes lets me Special Summon another "Traptrix" monster from my deck. Come—Traptrix Atrax." A purple-haired girl appeared, her legs and arms surrounded by fur-like structures, a malicious smile on her face.
[Traptrix Atrax (4*/1800/1000/EARTH/Insect/Effect)]
"You destroyed my monsters and Special Summoned your own in one move?"
"Surprised?" Nue sneered. "I won't lose to someone like you. Take your turn."
Yuto grimaced.
"She flies into a rage so easily," Shun murmured, and Yuto gave him the side-eye. "... I do recognise the irony of that statement." He shrugged. "... she's not even seeing him as a person now. Just as an embodiment of all the things she despises and rages at."
"Shun," Yuto said after a moment. "You say that, but… doesn't it terrify you like it terrifies me?"
"Terrify… what?"
"I don't want us to become people that Ruri wouldn't recognise," Yuto said, and Shun flinched. "This is my sister, Shun… and sometimes, she looks like an entirely different person entirely. And I wonder… am I like that too? Have I become so unrecognisable to everyone else? Is this what Reiji Akaba wants us to see about ourselves? The people that we are becoming?"
[Turn 5: Ken] [H:4]
"D-draw! I will use the effect of Hayate the Earth Star! Since I control no monsters, I can Normal Summon it without tribute!" A man in blue armour appeared, with a white wolf's pelt over the top of his head.
[Hayate the Earth Star (5*/2100/0/EARTH/Warrior/Effect)]
"And then, I can use the effect of Hayate the Earth Star to Special Summon a Level 5 LIGHT Warrior monster from my hand! Come—Kaiki the Unity Star!" A purple-haired warrior appeared, with a large, gaping demon's face on his chest, the demon's mouth wide open in a rather creepy manner. He had two staves on his back.
[Kaiki the Unity Star (5*/1000/2100/LIGHT/Warrior/Effect)]
"Kaiki's effect," Ken continues. "I will pay 500 life points to perform a Fusion Summon with Hayate and Kaiki!"
Ken: 3200 - 500 = 2700LP
"I'm usually supposed to stick to just using Raijin, but I suppose they will forgive me if I do this to defeat you! Fusion Summon—Idaten the Conqueror Star!" The warrior that appeared was practically seeping with darkness. Flames surrounded his weapon—a bright spear. His armour was golden, a little too bright under the sunlight.
[Idaten the Conqueror Star (10*/3000/2200/LIGHT/Warrior/Fusion/Effect)]
"Haven't you learned your lesson?" Nue remarked harshly. "Anyone that steps in my way gets trampled. Void Trap Hole! When my opponent Special Summons a monster with 2000 or more attack points, I can negate its effects and destroy it!" Idaten was destroyed without a moment of hesitation, ripped apart by a void that appeared beneath it. "And Nepenthes's effect triggers. Come, Traptrix Genlisea!" The pale girl appeared next to Atrax, seeming slightly shy.
[Traptrix Genlisea (4*/1200/1600/EARTH/Plant/Effect)]
"What?"
Ah, to duel against people with no clue about her deck again… it was certainly a nostalgic feeling. After the Resistance had formed, Academia had started to process their reports, providing information about the decks of the strongest Resistance members to their invasion force. Of course, she, Kaito and Shun were among that group. As such, Academia members that met her were a bit more prepared.
Of course, 'a bit more prepared' meant nothing against the Ace of Diamonds.
Ken ended his turn with a set card.
[Turn 6: Nue] [H:2]
"Draw," Nue said. "I'll overlay the Level 4 Atrax, Nepenthes and Genlisea." The three monsters turned into streaks of light, flying upwards. "Beautiful worker that assists the alluring forest of the tricksters, arise now and revive the darkness that dwells in the forest! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Traptrix Allomerus!"
The red-haired girl appeared next to Rafflesia, staring at Ken with a smirk.
[Traptrix Allomerus (R4/2200/600/EARTH/Insect/Xyz/Effect) (OU:3)]
"I will Normal Summon Traptrix Mantis," Nue continued. The pink-haired girl appeared on the field.
[Traptrix Mantis (4*/1500/1300/EARTH/Insect/Effect)]
"With her effect, I will add a "Traptrix" monster from my deck to my hand."
Nue took a moment to take a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
This was not an enemy. He might be using Fusion, but he was insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
In the grand scheme of things, the only thing that's important is what's mine. What's mine to protect, what's mine to hold onto, and everything else does not matter.
"Mantis attacks directly," she called. At the same time, Ken grabbed onto an Action Card.
"Action Card! Rocket Spike! I'll destroy your Mantis and inflict 1000 damage to you!"
"That's not possible," Nue said. "While I control Traptrix Rafflesia, other than her, my other "Traptrix" monsters cannot be destroyed."
"Huh?" Ken balked at the words. "Then—"
Mantis hit him. After another command from Nue, Allomerus moved forward as well, finishing him off.
Ken: 2700 - 1500 - 2200 = 0LP
Winner: Nue Kamisoka!
Nue sighed. "Screw you, Reiji Akaba," she muttered.
It's impossible for someone like you to see my true self.
"She calmed down near the end," Shun noted.
Yuto stared, a little quieter now.
"I don't know the answer to your question, Yuto," Shun said bluntly. "But no matter how much we change, I am still me, and you are still yourself." He pressed his hand to Yuto's shoulder firmly. "Despite everything, it's still you. It's still me. Steel your resolve, Yuto. If someday, we truly become those unrecognisable people you fear… we will bring each other back from the precipice. I will never leave you behind."
They watched the duel between Yuto's doppelganger and the guy that Yuto had (accidentally) attacked. Then, a moment afterwards, Shun was called down to the field.
To face someone who used true Fusion.
Yuto grimaced.
He watched as Shun walked down. Then, the Action Field activated.
Future City Heartland.
Yuto flinched.
No.
No.
My homeland is not a tool to destroy and entertain!
He stood up immediately, but he couldn't bring himself to walk away.
Buildings fell. Smoke rose in the air.
Heartland was torn apart piece by piece.
Yuto stood there, unable to look away.
Stop it! Stop it!
He clutched at his head.
Please, stop it…
The monstrous orange sheep moved towards Rise Falcon, cutting it down, causing an explosion on the pavement.
Please.
I never want to see this horrific sight again.
The buildings continued falling, Shun won, and Yuto still just stood there.
I will never let this happen again!
He didn't know when the door had opened, or when Nue had walked in, but he heard her sigh, and then she wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. Yuto felt the tears forming in his eyes, no matter how hard he tried to suppress them.
Not to this world. Not to any other world.
Shun's right. No matter what, as long as I remember why I duel—to protect others—I won't lose myself. So we can't hold back too, not against those who would do something like this!
Shun won, as Yuto had known that he would, and Yuto turned to Nue again.
"You want to interrogate him about your girlfriend, right?" Nue snorted. "Go ahead. Call me if you need help."
"... thank you. I'll see you later, onee-san."
A bright light faded in the carpark of a mall. As it faded, a boy was frantically checking over his motorcycle. He had bright blue eyes that were currently wide in confusion, and his hair was bright blue and yellow.
"Jeez, Clear Wing, what is it now?" He shouted. Luckily, no one else was around, or they'd be very confused by him. "Huh? Missing pieces? What do you mean?" He tilted his head. "... do you mean Rin? Is Rin the missing piece of my life or something? I mean, oddly poetic, but still!"
He glanced around.
"If Rin's here, then I'll go look for her! And beat up that guy that took her too! Counting on you, partner!"
Yuno bit his lip as he heard Yuya, Yuzu and Gongenzaka discussing what was going on in that duel between Kurosaki and Sora. The fact that they were so close to the truth, but the truth was so ludicrous, meant that they were likely never going to know until someone told them.
Yuno could tell them. But he had been told not to, and he did understand why—it was information that completely changed how a person viewed the world.
At the same time…
If Sora was from Academia, did he know that Academia was targeting the boys and girls with the same face?
If so, by dueling in front of him, hadn't he and Miharu exposed their location to the Fusion Dimension? That was… troublesome.
It felt like the masquerade was about to drop.
He was just quietly standing by the side, listening to them, when several guards ran past them.
"Inform headquarters at once. Sora Shiun'in has left his ward, and may have escaped the building. We need immediate backup to pursue him." The guards all ran past them. Yuzu, Gongenzaka and Yuya all looked shocked.
At that exact moment, Yuno only had one coherent thought.
Shit.
He spun around.
He had to go and find Sora. And he had to go and find him now, before Yuya or the others did so, because they were too soft. If Sora had any ill intent whatsoever, then he could easily fool them and hurt them.
At the same time, he sent off a message to Miharu, before he snuck off.
"So, Gongenzaka goes to the ocean, Yuzu goes towards the river, and I'll go to Central Park." Yuya turned his head. "Yuno, what do you—huh?"
Yuno wasn't standing there anymore.
"Maybe he left earlier and we just didn't notice?" Yuzu said, though she sounded uncertain as well. "Either way, we shouldn't get him involved in something like this, right? He's just a normal guy."
Just a normal person… Yuya nodded. Yuzu was right. Sora was their friend, and he was clearly wrapped up in this stuff. Yuno was his friend, and he was a perfectly normal person, wasn't he? So…
Yuya would do all that he could, to protect all of his friends.
Duel 1 Summary: Mion Myojin vs Ashley
Turn 1: Ashley
Ashley Normal Summons Heroic Challenger - Thousand Blades (4*/1300/1100) from his hand. With its effect, he sends a "Heroic" card from his hand to the graveyard, and Special Summons Heroic Challenger - Morning Star (4*/1500/1300) from the Deck. With its effect, he adds Heroic Retribution Sword to his hand. He overlays Morning Star and Thousand Blades to Xyz Summon Heroic Champion - Gandiva. (R4/2100/1800/OU:2) He sets Heroic Retribution Sword facedown and ends his turn.
Turn 2: Mion Myojin
(After some thought, I have decided to just state the Spell Counter gaining effect when the card is played, and not explain why Spell Counters are being gained afterwards.)
Mion Normal Summons Mythical Beast Jackal. (1*/S4/0/1400) Jackal gains a Spell Counter when a Spell is activated. She sets the Scale 2 Servant of Endymion (3*/S2/900/1500) and the Scale 8 Endymion, the Mighty Master of Magic (7*/S8/2800/1700) in the Pendulum Scales. (MBJ: SC2) (SOE: SC1) By tributing Jackal and removing all 3 Spell Counters, she Special Summons Mythical Beast Master Cerberus (8*/S4/2800/2800) from her Deck. (SOE: SC0) She activates Magical Citadel of Endymion. (MBMC: SC2) (SOE: SC1) She then activates Spell Power Mastery, adding an "Endymion" card to her hand and placing an additional Spell Counter on Servant. (SOE: SC3) (MCOE: SC1) (MBMC: SC4) Removing the 4 Spell Counters from Master Cerberus, Mion banishes Gandiva, and Master Cerberus gains ATK equal to Gandiva's ATK. (MBMC: 2800 + 2100 = 4900ATK; SC0) Master Cerberus attacks directly. [A: 4000 - 4900 = 0LP] Mion wins.
Duel 2 Summary: Nue Kamisoka vs Ken Umesugi
Turn 1: Ken Umesugi
Ken sets 2 cards facedown. He ends his turn.
Turn 2: Nue Kamisoka
Nue draws. She Normal Summons Traptrix Myrmeleo (4*/1600/1200) from her hand. With its effect, she adds a "Hole" Trap to her hand and sets it. Then, by sending it to the GY, she Special Summons Traptrix Vesiculo (4*/1400/1400) from her hand. She has Myrmeleo attack directly. Ken activates his Set card, Frontline Fusion, sending Senko the Skybolt Star (7*/2400/0) and Todoroki the Earthbolt Star (6*/2100/0) from his hand to the GY to Fusion Summon Raijin the Breakbolt Star (10*/3000/2200) in Attack Position. Nue stops attacking. She overlays Myrmeleo and Vesiculo to Xyz Summon Traptrix Rafflesia (R4/300/2500/OU:2) in Defense Position. She sets 2 cards and ends her turn.
Turn 3: Ken Umesugi
Ken draws. He activates the Action Spell, High Dive, increasing Raijin's ATK by 1000 until the End Phase. (RTBS: 3000 + 1000 = 4000ATK) Raijin attacks Rafflesia. Nue activates the Action Spell, Illusion Dance, changing Raijin to Defense Position until the End Phase. Ken ends his turn.
Turn 4: Nue Kamisoka
Nue draws. She activates the Trap Card, Titanocider, reducing Raijin's ATK to 0 and negating its effects. (RTBS: 3000 - 0ATK) She then Normal Summons Traptrix Nepenthes. (4*/800/2000) Nepenthes attacks and destroys Raijin. [KU: 4000 - 800 = 3200LP] Nue sets 1 card facedown and ends her turn. Ken uses Raijin's effect to revive Todoroki and Senko. Nue activates Bottomless Trap Hole, destroying and banishing both. With Nepenthes's effect, she Special Summons Traptrix Atrax (4*/1800/1000) from her Deck to the field in Attack Position.
Turn 5: Ken Umesugi
Ken draws. Ken Normal Summons Hayate the Earth Star (5*/2100/0) without a Tribute with its own effect. Then, with its effect, he Special Summons Kaiki the Unity Star. (5*/1000/2100) Using its effect, he pays 500LP to Fusion Summon Idaten the Conqueror Star. (10*/3000/2200) [KU: 3200 - 500 = 2700LP] Nue activates Void Trap Hole, destroying it. With Nepenthes's effect, she Special Summons Traptrix Genlisea (4*/1200/1600) from her Deck in Defense Position. Ken sets 1 card and ends his turn.
Turn 6: Nue Kamisoka
Nue draws. Nue overlays Atrax, Nepenthes and Genlisea to Xyz Summon Traptrix Allomerus (R4/2200/600/OU:3) in Attack Position. She then Normal Summons Traptrix Mantis (4*/1500/1300) from her hand, adding a "Traptrix" monster to her hand. Mantis attacks directly. Ken activates the Action Spell, Rocket Spike, but it fails to resolve, as Rafflesia prevents "Traptrix" monsters from being destroyed. Allomerus also attacks directly. [KU: 2700 - 1500 - 2200 = 0LP] Nue wins!
Different Card Effects from TCG:
Frontline Fusion - Anime-only card.
Action Cards - Anime-only.
Idaten the Conqueror Star - Retains its TCG summoning conditions, which are easier to fulfil, but uses its anime effect.
Action Card - Rocket Spike - The Strongest Duelist Yuya manga.
End Notes:
Alright, so a Guest review asked me if I was putting this story on hiatus, two days after I posted the previous chapter. And I'd like to point out that most of my chapters (not this one because this is filler) are very long. In general, like I said, I try to keep a one chapter cushion, so I write Chapter 13 before I post this one, etc. But I guess there's an important thing to say here. As school is starting again, I'll likely slow down in terms of chapter updates. Chapter 13 will be posted before the year ends, and afterwards, I'll be posting around once per two weeks, or maybe less, depending on how fast I finish chapters. Optimistically, I'll have a chapter per week, but I won't promise too much if I can't deliver. At the very least, you'll probably see the end of the Standard Arc by around late February or early March next year, considering that I've already outlined every duel for the Standard Arc at this point. So please be patient. :)
Some of you may interpret the way that I write Yuto and Miharu as Ship Tease, which it's not. The two of them just have a lot of things in common, especially in terms of their personality. Plus, Yuto is already canonically dating Ruri. I will just confirm now that the pairing is Yu Boys X Bracelet Girls in their dimension pairs, if that wasn't obvious from Yuji and Chiaki, or Yuno and Miharu.
Me when writing this chapter: "The Traptrix Structure Deck releases next year? I can't wait that long for an official translation! Konami, why?" So anyway, I'm still not using those Traptrix cards. If by the time I write Nue's next duel, they're still not translated, I'm still going to use them though.
Also, I chuckled at the last part, when Yuya described Yuno as a perfectly normal person. As you all can tell, some shit is about to go down next chapter. Will everything go according to canon? Well, I guess we'll have to wait and see.
To marcusns . mills—I disagree with the idea of stealing original cards from another person. While I appreciate your attempt for support, those cards ultimately belong to Nox, and so, I will not be using them without his permission. I've also already come up with a deck for Ray—it was one of the first things I did when planning this fic. Also, I disagree with the idea that Scale 0 should be exclusive to Zarc. It was specifically the existence of Scale 0 and Scale 13 together which made his Scale so frightening. There are several other Scale 0 cards that exist in the card game. Plus, without a Scale 0 monster, Miharu literally cannot Pendulum Summon.
As for T.V. 2000, I do appreciate your review, and I do acknowledge that I somewhat rushed through the LDS arc, purely because the only purpose of it was for Yuno to meet Yuya. Originally, he wasn't even intended to duel, but I decided that if I was going to have him there, I might as well set up Sora's 'oh shit' moment as well.
Thanks for the reviews, and thank you for reading!