Chapter 16: Worm Invasion

After the chaos from Greiger's assassination attempt had settled down, it was time for Akiza and Misty's duel. As Akiza made her way into the dueling arena, she could hear the audience cheering for her opponent from the entry tunnel.

"Is that Misty Tredwell? Oh my god, I love her!"

"Go Misty!"

"Put this Satellite trash in her place!"

Akiza ignored the last comment as she made her way onto the dueling field. Misty was already there, clutching the locket of her and her brother.

"I'll find you, Toby. Even if I have to search to the edge of the earth."

"Misty!"

Misty snapped out of her thoughts to see Akiza's smiling face.

"Let's have a fun duel, ok?"

Despite the stakes, Misty couldn't help but smile as well.

"Ok. Good luck, Akiza."

"You too!"

Up in the observation tower, Goodwin and Lazar watched as the duel began.

"Are you really sure Miss Tredwell is the right choice? She's a model, not a professional duelist."

"WIth the right motivation, I find everybody will be willing to do anything. Especially when it involves their loved ones."

Jack scoffed from his seat behind them.
"This duel won't last long. Some fancy model can't hold a finger to Akiza."

"You'd be surprised, Jack. Misty is quite the duelist, one unlike Akiza has ever seen before.

DUEL!

Misty: 4000

Akiza: 4000

"I'll start things off with the spell card Double Summon. Now I can normal summon twice this turn instead of only once. I'll set two monsters face down, and another card face down to end my turn."

In the stands, the crowd murmured curiously at Misty's play.

"I don't get it, why didn't she summon a powerful monster?" Leo asked.

"Maybe she just had a bad hand?"

But Tanner wasn't so sure.

"I don't know guys. Something tells me she has something cooking, and Akiza's not going to like it."

Akiza stared at the two face down monsters thoughtfully. Most players either summoned their monsters in attack mode or face up defense position, not face down. She could only assume Misty's monsters had flip effects, but there was only one way to know for sure.

"I summon Botanical Lion (1600-1900) in attack mode! At-"

"Not so fast, I activate A Feint Plan! This turn, you're not allowed to attack any of my face down monsters."

Akiza sighed in frustration.

"I end my turn."

"I hope you have a strong stomach, because I reveal my face downs! Go, Worm Dimikles (1700/1400) and Worm Opera (400/800)!"

The audience wretched as the disgusting monsters revealed themselves. Even Akiza couldn't help but cringe.

"How…lovely."

"It gets better, because now their flip effects activate. Dimikles gain 300 attack and defense (1700-2000/1400-1700). And Worm Opera reduced the attack of every monster on the field that isn't a member of its species by 500."

The weaker worm shot out a sticky substance from its mouth, hitting Botanical Lion and sapping its strength (1900-1400).

"Now Dimikles, attack her pussy cat!"

"I activate the effect of Hedge Guard! By discarding it, my lion is safe!"

The fox-like reptile struck the plant type with its tails. Although the effect of Hedge Guard protected it from harm, the same could not be said for Akiza's life points.

Akiza: 3400

"I'll set one card face down, then I'll tribute Worm Opera to set one monster face down. Your move."

Akiza stared at the face down monster carefully. It had to be another Worm monster with a powerful effect, so it was best to avoid it for right now.

"I summon the tuner monster Spore in defense mode. Next, I'll tune my level 4 Botanical Lion with my level 1 Spore to Synchro Summon Naturia Beast (2200/1700)! Now Naturia Beast, attack Worm Dimikles!"

"Sorry, but I'm afraid there's been a change of plans. I activate my trap card, Shift! Now you're forced to attack my face down instead."

Naturia Beast veered off course, now striking the face down monster, which was revealed to be another…creature (1500/2400) which caught his attack and threw him back to Akiza's side of the field.

Akiza: 3200

"And don't think it ends there. Since Worm Noble was flipped face up because of your attack, you now take damage equal to half of your monster's attack."

Akiza moaned as a red aura enveloped her, taking away more of her life points.

Akiza: 2100

"I'll set one card face down and end my turn."

Misty drew her card, eyeing it carefully. With it, she could win the duel, but that wouldn't fit with Goodwin's plan. Of course, AKiza's face down could save her…

Cautiously, she glanced up towards the tower, trusting the director. Their eyes met, and he nodded. She nodded back, now knowing what she needed to do.

"I'll tribute my Worm Noble in order to call out Worm King (2700/1100)!"

"Wait a minute, that's a level 8 monster! You need to tribute two monsters to summon it."

"Normally, yes. But since I tributed one of his faithful subjects, I only needed one. And it's a good thing too, because now I can use his other effect! By tributing a Reptile type Worm Monster, I can destroy one card of yours and destroy it, so say goodbye to your Naturia Beast!"

Worm Dmikles turned into an orb of light, which was absorbed into Worm King's body. Then, from the King's mouth came a huge burst of energy which ripped into Naturia Beast, tearing it to shreds.

"You gave it your best, Akiza, but this is where your luck runs out. Worm King, attack Akiza directly!"

"I activate Half or Nothing! This card gives you a choice: either cut the attack of all your monsters in half until your end phase, or end your battle phase right now."

"I choose the former (2700-1350)."

Akiza: 750

Although keeping a calm demeanor on the outside, Misty was glad Akiza had survived that turn.

Come on, Akiza. Show me the Crimson Dragon. Show Goodwin what he wants so I can find my brother!

As Akiza drew her card, she felt a strong burning on her arm. Looking down, she saw that it was the same mark as before.

"What the-this again?"

Misty smirked, pleased to have accomplished her goal as Akiza made her move.

"I summon Twilight Rose Knight in attack mode! And with her effect, I can call forth Lord Poison!"

Misty smirked, knowing what was coming.

"Now, my level 3 Twilight Rose Knight will tune with level 4 Lord poison to Synchro Summon Black Rose Dragon!"

"Impressive, but my King is still stronger!"

"Not after I activate my Dragon's effect! By banishing Spore from my graveyard, your monster's attack points go straight down to zero (2700-0)! Black Rose Dragon, attack her Worm King!"

Misty: 0000

"I end my turn."

Misty sighed in annoyance. None of the cards she had could defeat Akiza's monster, but she could potentially stall for time.

"I activate The Shallow Grave! Now we both choose a monster from our graveyards and set it face down. I choose Worm Noble!"

"And I choose Lord Poison!"

"I end my turn."

Akiza smirked.

"Sorry Misty, but this duel is over!"

"How? Our monsters are tied, and if you attack you'll just-"

"Did I forget to mention my Dragon's effect also works on monsters in face down position?"

Misty could only watch in shock as her monster was forced into attack position, her strategy completely gone. Despite this, she couldn't help but smile.

"Good game, Akiza."

"You as well, Misty. Black Rose Dragon, attack Worm Noble!"

Misty: 0000

Misty took out her locket, staring sadly at Toby's picture.

"I'll find you, little bro."

With that, she retreated into the tunnels, Akiza watching her leave sadly.

"Misty…"