Chapter 18: Lover's Quarrel

"And this is it, folks! Who will win the right to challenge the Master of Faster, Jack Atlas?!"

Akiza ignored the cheering crowds as she and Yusei reached the starting line, getting ready for the duel to start.

"Remember Akiza, no holding back!

"Wouldn't dream of it."

As the two reached the starting line, the MC got the introductions underway.

"And now let's introduce our competitors! The shining star from Satellite, Yusei Fudo!"

"Get out of here!"

"Go back to Satellite where you belong, trash!"

Yusei just ignored the boos and jeers, and tightened his grip on the throttle.

"And his opponent, the lady with the green thumb, Akiza!"

"Woo!"

"You go, Akiza!"

"I love you!"

Akiza just rolled her eyes. If this was what having fanboys was like, she didn't want any.

"Let's kick this duel into high gear with the Speed World field spell! 3…2…1…"

DUEL!

Akiza: 4000 (SPC: 0-1)

Yusei: 4000 (SPC: 0-1)

"Ladies first, and I'll kick things off with Violet Witch (1100/1200) in attack mode! I'll set one card face down and end my turn."

Akiza SPC: 1-2

Yusei SPC: 1-2

"Alright then, time to rev it up! And my Speed Warrior (900/400) will do just that, because during the turn he's normal summoned his attack points are doubled (900-1800)! Attack Violet Witch!"

Akiza: 3300

"Thanks, because when Violet Witch is destroyed by battle, I can add a plant monster with up to 1500 defense from my deck to my hand, and I choose Botanical Girl!"

"I'll set two cards face down and end my turn (1800-900)."

Yusei SPC: 2-3

Akiza SPC: 2-3

"Alright Yusei, brace yourself! I summon Twilight Rose Knight, and with his effect I can bring out my Botanical Girl (1300/1100)! Now my level 3 Knight tunes with my level 3 Botanical Girl to Synchro Summon! Come on out, Queen of Thorns (2200/1800)! Attack Speed Warrior!"

"Nice try, but I activate Scrap Iron Scarecrow!"

"Come on Yusei, don't you think I saw that coming? Go, Trap Jammer!"

Yusei: 2700 (SPC: 3-2)

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

Akiza SPC: 3-4

Yusei SPC: 2-3

"Nice Synchro, now check out mine! First, I summon Junk Synchron (1300/500) in attack mode!

"Don't forget, as long as my Queen of Thorns is on the field, we both have to pay 1000 life points to summon a monster from our hand that isn't a Plant type!"

Yusei: 1300

"It's well worth the price, because with Junk Synchron I can back Speed Warrior! Now I'll tune them together to Synchro Summon Junk Warrior (2300/1300)! And I'll activate Limit Reverse to bring back Speed Warrior! Which is good news for my Junk Warrior, because when he's summoned he gains the attack points of every level 2 or lower monster on my field (2300-3200). Next, I'll tribute Speed Warrior to bring out Turret Warrior (1200/2000)!"

Yusei: 300

"And since I special summon him like that, he adds Speed Warriors attack points to his own (1200-2100). Attack her Queen of Thorns, Junk Warrior!

Akiza: 2300 (SPC: 4-3)

"Now Turret Warrior, attack Akiza directly!"

Akiza: 200 (SPC: 3-1)

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

"And would you look at that, folks! In just one turn, Yusei Fudo has managed to turn this duel around!"

At this point, even a few of his haters had turned around and started rooting for Yusei.

"Go Yusei!"

"Crush those weeds!"

Akiza ignored those taunts and drew her card.

Yusei SPC: 3-4

Akiza SPC: 1-2

"Sorry Yusei, but this is where your shooting star crashes and burns! I activate my trap card, Descendant Lost Star! This brings back my Queen of Thorns in defense position with her level reduced by 1! Next, I summon Nettles (1200/400) in defense mode! Now my level 2 Nettles tunes with my level 5 Queen to Synchro Summon! Come on out, Black Rose Dragon!"

Yusei stared in shocked awe as Akiza's ace monster appeared, roaring with pride.

"Now, by banishing Botanical Girl from my graveyard, Junk Warrior loses all of his attack points (3200-0)! Black Rose Dragon, attack his Junk Warrior and end this duel!"

"I activate the trap card, Spirit Force! This trap reduces the damage I would've taken to zero!"

A protective shield formed around him and his duel runner, shielding him from the storm of rose petals.

"Not only that, but I can add a Warrior type tuner monster from my graveyard to my hand that has less than 1500 defense points, and I choose Junk Synchron!"

"I end my turn."

Yusei SPC: 4-5

Akiza SPC: 2-3

"Alright then, time to rev it up! I summon Junk Synchron in attack mode! Now, my level 3 Junk Synchron tunes with my level 5 Turret Warrior to Synchro Summon! Rise forth, the one and only Stardust Dragon (2500/2000)!"

The moment Yusei's ace hit the field, his and Akiza's marks began to glow brightly.

"Not this again!"

"What's going on?"

Ignoring the sensation in his arm, Yusei continued his turn.

"Stardust Dragon, attack Black Rose Dragon!"

"I'll still have enough life points!"

"Not if I activate the Speed Spell, Silver Contrails! By removing one Speed Counter (5-4), Stardust Dragon gains 1,000 attack points!"

Akiza said nothing, just simply closed her eyes as her monster was destroyed and her life points hit zero.

Akiza: 0000

"And it is over, folks! Your winner, and the man moving on to face the Master of Faster himself, Yusei Fudo!"

Yusei and Akiza pulled off to the side of the track, ignoring the cheering crowds.

"Congratulations, Yusei."

Yusei, however, was bothered by something.

"Show me your hand."

Akiza did so, and Yusei immediately spotted what he was looking for.

"Magic Cylinder? If you had set that, you'd have won. You had to know I was going to summon Stardust Dragon. Why didn't you?"

"Because you're the one who deserves to fight Jack, not me. Goodwin can force me to duel you, but he can't make me win."

Yusei smiled, appreciatevely.

"What did I do to deserve an awesome girlfriend like you?"

"Just kick Jack's butt, loverboy, and I'll consider it even."

"Deal."

Up in Goodwin's private box, he, Lazar, and Jack were discussing the duel.

"So Yusei won, hmm? Too bad, I thought that Akiza had more fight in her."

Jack scoffed, unimpressed with the duel or Lazar's assessment.

"She let him win because she's his girlfriend. A true duelist would've fought to the end for the chance to be defeated by me. They're both a joke."

"Isn't Yusei the one who beat you in your last duel?"

Jack got up and picked Lazar off the ground.

"Listen here, you clown! That was a fluke, you hear me? A fluke, and I'll crush him like the insect that he is!"

"Jack, enough!"

Jack huffed, but dropped Lazar.

"Of course you will, no one is questioning that. All that matters is that we have proven Yusei is a signer, and that all four signers are now gathered in one place."

Jack paid Goodwin no mind, instead focusing his sight on Yusei.

Enjoy the limelight while it lasts, Yusei. He thought bitterly. Because once I beat you, I'm sending you and Akiza back to The Satellite where you belong!