AN: Hey everyone, I have the final duel here. This is it, the showdown you have all be waiting for. The rematch between the two that started this arc. Like I said, it a long duel with me putting everything I had into making it as epic as possible. With it, there is one time I bend the rules of a card, which I will discuss at the end. One thing to clarify, this takes place at the same time as the last chapter did, so it overlaps. Hope you enjoy this chapter, leave a review with your comments and questions, and have a nice day.
See Datasheet Chapter for cover art details.
Chapter 19 – The Guardian
Ruby struggled as she tried to break free of the dark bindings. However, they let go of the hooded Slifer Red after reaching a certain height. She fell on what would be assumed to be a floor before standing up. Across from her, Ruby saw Cinder and Salem. The Embodiment of Darkness watched the Fall Shadow Rider approach her opponent.
I will provide you with no aid. If you cannot defeat this girl, you have no right to acquire the power of the Sacred Beast.
"I will not lose to some first year Slifer Red," Cinder responded before having a sinister smirk towards her opponent, "Just sit back and watch me tear this little girl apart." The Fall Shadow Rider reset her glass duel disk. Ruby glared back as she took her red duel disk out, loading her deck, and had her cards shuffle.
"Duel!" Both said as the showdown had begun.
Ruby: 4000 Life Points
Cinder: 4000 Life Points
"I'll go first," Ruby declared as she drew, then took three cards out her hand, "I set a monster and two cards face down." She said with Cinder smirking, "That ends my turn."
"I draw," Cinder said before seeing the card, causing her eyes to light up, "I play Soul Absorption." She said as the continuous spell appeared, "Next, I play Allure of Darkness." The Fall Shadow Rider drew two cards before banishing one. Suddenly, her body glowed in a dark aura, "Thanks to Soul Absorption, I gain 500 life points for each card banished." She said as Ruby gritted her teeth, "I will not let our life points get so close that you will try to force a tie again."
Cinder: 4000 + 500 = 4500 Life Points
"I summon Djinn Demolisher of Rituals in attack mode." Cinder said a large lightish-red skin tone man wielding a massive battle-ax appeared, (1500 ATK / 600 DEF). "Attack!" Cinder ordered as the Demolisher swing the battle-ax. However, as the monster flipped face-up, it revealed itself as the earth charmer, (500 ATK / 1500 DEF). Aussa blocked the strike with her staff, pushing back the monster. "Your card may have had enough defense, but its effect is useless. Demolisher is a Dark attribute monster." Cinder said before setting one card face down, "I end my turn."
"My move," Ruby said before drawing, seeing the monster and playing it, "I summon Nefarious Archerfield Eater of Nefariousness." A ravenous flying brown rodent chewing on a skull appeared next to the earth charmer, (1500 ATK / 200 DEF). "Since I had a spellcaster on the field, I got to special summon him out." She said before sending both monsters to the graveyard, "Now, I can use both my monster to summon Familiar Possessed – Aussa from my deck!" She said as Aussa and the flying rodent were replaced by their powerful combined form, (1850 ATK / 1500 DEF). "Now destroy her Demolisher!" Ruby ordered as Aussa adjusted her glass, then fired a magical concentration of dirt particles in the air.
"You fool, I activate my trap card," Cinder retorted, "Dimensional Prison." She said as a rip in the fabric of space and time appeared into the path of the attack, sending the ball of earth to beyond this plane of existence, "Not only does it stop the attack, but banishes you monster." The Fall Shadow Rider added on as Aussa and the Nefarious Archfiend started to get pulled into the vortex.
"Oh no!" Ruby said before looking at her right face down card, "I activate Spiritual Earth Art – Kurogane. By tributing Aussa, I can special summon a level four or lower earth monster from my graveyard." The hooded Slifer red said before Aussa and the Nefarious Archfiend vanished. In their place, the charmer version of the two reappeared in defense mode, (500 ATK / 1500 DEF). Ruby took one card from her hand, "I set a monster and end my turn."
My, she's resourceful.
"She accomplished nothing, my draw!" Cinder responded to Salem before grinning at the result of her draw, "I attack your set monster with Demolisher." She said before the battle-ax came down. Like before, a charmer stood in the way with matching defense points, (500 ATK / 1500 DEF). However, this one was the same attribute as the attacker.
"Dharc the Dark Charmer's flip effect activates, letting me steal your dark attribute monster." Ruby said as Demolisher jumped to her side of the field, "How do you like that?"
"I saw that trick a mile away," Cinder responded as she entered her second main phase, "Now, I summon Alluring Queen LV3 in attack mode." The Fall Shadow Rider said as a young woman in a black and marron dress appeared. She held a staff in her right hand and fire radiated from her left index finger, (500 ATK / 500 DEF), "Neo is not the only one with a LV monster. This one's effect allows her to steal one of your level three or lower monster and equip herself with it." Cinder said as the Alluring Queen pointed at Dharc with a seductive smile. Suddenly, the dark charmer's body went limp as his essence was fading. Alluring queen held out the staff, causing the essence to gather into the red gem at the top, "And since your monster vanished Demolisher returns to me." The Fall Shadow Rider said as her monster jumped back to her side the field, casing Ruby to grit her teeth, "I end my turn."
"I draw!" Ruby said before summoning the monster, "I'll bring out Ranryu in attack mode." She said as a greed serpent dragon of the storms, (1500 ATK / 200 DEF). "Now, attack Demolisher!" Ruby said as her monster unleashed a cyclone of wind from its mouth. Demolisher swung the ax before the hit could collide, causing the weapon the be flung and land on Ruby's monster.
Both monsters exploded, but as the smoke cleared, the flying brown rodent reappeared, (1500 ATK / 200 DEF). "When Ranryu is destroyed, I can summon a monster with his same stats from my graveyard." The hooded Slifer Red said before pointing at Cinder's last monster, "Now, Nefarious Archerfield attacks Alluring Queen LV3!" She said as the flying rodent flared his jagged fangs. He bit into the staff, but was pushed back by a dark aura, "What, but he had three times her attack points." Ruby said before realizing, "Unless-"
"Like my favorite monster, she can send those equipped to her to the grave to save herself from destruction." Cinder said with her eye glowing amber.
"But you still take the damage," Ruby responded before seeing a white glow from Cinder's hand, causing the hooded Slifer Red to gasp.
Cinder: 4500 – 1000 = 3500 Life Points
"Yes, and because I took damage," Cinder said before playing the glowing card, "I can special summon Tragoedia!" The Fall Shadow Rider called as the nightmarish monster crawled out of the darkness, towering over the field with dread, (? ATK / ? DEF). "It's my turn," Cinder said as she drew, "And with four cards in my hand, Tragoedia's attack points increase to 2400." She said as her monster reradiated a crimson aura, (600 X 4 = 2400 ATK / 600 X 4 = 2400 DEF). "First, Alluring Queen LV3 will take your monster." Cinder ordered as Aussa's essence faded away into the staff, "Next, Tragoedia attacks your Nefarious Archerfield." With the swing of its right claw, Tragoedia crushed Ruby's last monster. The hooded Slifer Red shielded herself from the blast wave.
Ruby: 4000 – 900 = 3100 Life Points
"Finally, Alluring Queen attacks you directly." Cinder coldly ordered as her eyes glowed amber. Alluring Queen pointed at Ruby with her left hand, shooting a blast of fire from her fingertips. The shot collided with Ruby's left shoulder, setting it ablaze.
"AAAAAAA!" She screamed before patting out the flame, her skin visible and charred.
Ruby: 3100 – 500 = 2600 Life Points
"I end with one card face down," Cinder said causing her monster's stats to change, (600 X 3 = 1800 ATK / 600 X 3 = 1800 DEF).
"My turn," Ruby said before drawing, seeing a monster with enough attack points to overcome the nightmarish monster. "I summon Familiar Possessed – Wynn." She said as the green-haired girl and the petit dragon appeared on her field ready for combat, (1850 ATK / 1500 DEF) "Now, attack Tragoedia!" The hooded Slifer Red commanded as the duo on monster charged as combined wind blast.
"Ha, you really are the lowest level class at the academy," Cinder taunted, "You didn't think I purposefully lower my monster attack points as a trap?" She said before revealing her face down card, "I play Shadow Spell, binding your monster from attacking." The Fall Shadow Rider said as the chains began to erupt from the card and head towards Wynn. However, a new just of wind blew them off, causing Cinder to gasp.
"I may be just a Slifer Red, but that doesn't mean I should be taken lightly. I knew you had that trap, which is why I'm doing this!" Ruby responded before playing the quick play spell, "I activate Twister, paying 500 life points to destroy your face up trap card." She said as the chained were blown back into the card, causing it to shatter. Wynn and her storm dragon unleashed the beam of wind towards Tragoedia. The attack collided with the nightmarish monster's chest, pushing it back before toppling over. Upon hitting the ground, it exploded. As the smoke cleared, Cinder and Ruby were both scowling at each other.
Ruby: 2600 – 500 = 2100 Life Points
Cinder: 3500 – 50 = 3450 Life Points
"You may have destroyed Tragoedia, but I still have deadlier monster in my deck." Cinder said before drawing, then smirked, "As well, you should have attacked Alluring Queen LV3." She said as Ruby gasped, realized what LV monster could do, "Because she still has a card equip to her, I can level her up to Alluring Queen LV5!" Cinder said as her monster was engulfed in fire. However, it was the spirit of Aussa was the one screaming upon being incinerated. As the flames calmed the Alluring queen was seen much older and stronger. Two orbs of fire hovered around her as her staff was more elaborate than before, (1000 ATK / 1000 DEF). "Like her lower from, she can steal a monster of yours. However, that monster can now be level five and lower." The Fall Shadow Rider said as Ruby gritted her teeth. Like the charmers, Wynn was absorbed into the staff as the Alluring Queen smirked. "Attack!" Cinder ordered as her monster launched the two fireballs at Ruby. The hooded Slifer Red shielded herself from the damage but launched back from the contact explosion. "I end with one card face down." Cinder said before crossing her arms, "Your move."
Ruby: 2100 – 1000 = 1100 Life Points
Through the pain, Ruby held her card and drew, "I play Pot of Greed, letting me draw two cards." The hooded Slifer Red did so, seeing them both as monsters of the same attribute, "I summon Familiar Possessed – Hiita and then Inari Fire." She as two fireballs emerged on her side of the field. Out one jumped the blazing woman with red hair, (1850 ATK / 1500 DEF). The other, a ravenous fox whose fur resembled that of the flames around him, (1500 ATK / 200 DEF). Like the others before him, he was able to be brought out thanks to a spellcaster on the field, "Both attack Alluring Queen LV5!" At the same time, Hiita charged a fireball with her staff. While Inari Fire's mouth was fuming. The blazing familiar possessed launched her attack as the fox beast unleashed a flaming breath. Alluring Queen took the first hit, her staff light fading. However, the second one reduced her to ash, causing the staff to hit the ground.
Cinder: 3450 – 850 – 500 = 2100 Life Points
Cinder drew, bring her hand size to four. However, as she looked at the card now in her in hand, she smiled, "It's time." She said to herself as Ruby had a look of confusion, "I play Black Illusion Ritual!" The Fall Shadow Rider exclaimed as Ruby's eyes widened, "I offer the level one Relinkuriboh." She said as she a small furball appeared at the center of an altar, "For Relinquished to appear!" Cinder announced as Relinkuriboh's body began to pulsate and expand. As the hair fell off, the eye on the back glared towards Ruby. The abomination was born again, (0 ATK / 0 DEF). "Now, absorb Hiita!" She ordered as the monster vacuum stomach expanded and began to inhale.
Ruby could only watch as her monster merged with the abomination, "Sorry Yang." Ruby said to herself as she the blazing familiar possessed had a look of agony. (0 + 1850 = 1850 ATK / 0 + 1500 = 1500 DEF). The hooded Slifer Red said before glaring back to Cinder, "I swear, I will defeat you and that monster!"
"I doubt that," Cinder said before placing two fingers on her deck, "Since Relinkuriboh was used as a tribute, I get to draw one card." She said before doing so, then pointing at Ruby's only monster, "Now, I attack your Inari Fire." Her monster started to charge its gazer, but the Fall Shadow Rider revealed her own face down card, "I activate Magician's Circle. This lets both of use special summon a spellcaster with 2000 or less attack from our decks."
"Fine," Ruby said before searching her deck, seeing a monster with matching stats to Cinder's. "I summoned Familiar Possessed – Lynn in attack mode." She said as the white-haired evolved charmer appeared, (1850 ATK / 1500 DEF).
"I choose this one," Cinder said before playing a normal monster, "Thousand-Eyes Idol in attack mode." She said as a small green man shaped like a potato with purple boots and gloves, a blue cape, and a cone hat. Its body was covered in eyes, each looking in a different direction, (0 ATK / 0 DEF). "Now, Relinquished continue its attack!" The Fall Shadow Rider said as her abomination unleashed its death beam. Inari Fire let out a whine of pain after the beam pierced his spine, causing him to explode.
Ruby: 1100 – 350 = 750 Life Points
Cinder then turned to Salem, "Watch this," She said as the aura radiated from her eye more chaotic than before, "During my second main phase, I activate Polymerization!" She said as Ruby gasped, "By fusing my Thousand-Eyes Idol with it, I can unlock Relinquished's true potential." She said as the monsters swirled together in a vortex, "Behold, Thousand-Eyes Restrict!" The Fall Shadow Rider said as the abomination reformed, its decayed flesh now a rotten purple. Many eyes now covered its body, but the golden eye remained. Its stomach vortex now had a set of teeth around it, as well as two green eyes of a monster, (0 ATK / 0 DEF).
Cinder then looked back at Salem, who did not say word, but was smiling at the horrifying abomination. The Fall Shadow Rider then looked back to Ruby, "Like before, it can absorb your monster." Cinder said as the vortex opened, sucking in Lynn as Ruby had a look of panic. (0 + 1850 = 1850 ATK / 0 + 1500 = 1500 DEF). "However, Thousand-Eyes Restrict does not have the rebound damage that his other form had." The Fall Shadow Rider said before grinning, "But what it gains, all other monsters cannot attack or change their battle positions."
"That's impossible," Ruby responded as she took a step back, "How can something like that be allowed?"
This was the ace monster on the creator of the card game, Maximillian Pegasus. Of course, he would make it the ultimate fusion monster. Now, it's your turn.
Salem articulated causing Ruby to reluctantly draw. She placed the card in her hand before taking a card that could help her stall, "I play Swords of Revealing Light." She said as the sabers of light rained down from the sky and onto Cinder's side of the field, "For three turns, you cannot attack."
"We'll see about that," Cinder said as she drew, "I set this card face down and end my turn."
Ruby drew, seeing the card Weiss gave back to her. Looking at it and the other card in her hand, she knew she had a plan, "I summon Familiar Possessed – Eria in attack mode." The hooded Slifer Red said as the blue-haired evolved charmer appeared, (1850 ATK / 1500 DEF). "Next, I play Book of Moon. Flipping your monster face down." She said as Thousand-Eyes Restrict fell over, turning into a set monster card. With it, Lynn was released and sent to Ruby's graveyard.
"Tsk," Cinder scoffed, "Lucky brat."
"With no monster equipped, it's defenseless. Eria, attack!" Ruby commanded as her monster unleashed a high-pressured beam of water from her staff. Thousand-Eyes Restrict revealed itself, the flesh wings folded in on its body, (0 ATK / 0 DEF).
"It's not defenseless," Cinder responded before pulling a card out of her graveyard, "I remove Relinkuriboh from play to save my monster from destruction." She said as the furball with an eye on its back appeared, taking the shot of water for Thousand-Eyes Restrict. Ruby gasped as Cinder smirked, "And since I removed a card, my life points increase."
Cinder: 2100 + 500 = 2600 Life Points
"My turn." Cinder said before seeing a familiar card to her opponent, "This time, I'll play Pot of Greed to draw two cards." She said before doing so, leaving her with three cards in her hand, "Now, I set one monster and card face down." The Fall Shadow Rider said before looking to her prior set card, "Then, I activate Dust Tornado to destroy your Swords of Revealing Light." Suddenly, a gust of wind blew away Ruby's last line of defense. Cinder to pointed at Eria, switching her monster to attack mode, "Thousand-Eyes Restrict will absorb your monster."
"I don't think so," Ruby said as she activated the other card that was set on her first turn, "I play Spiritual Water Arts – Aoi." She said as Eria was chanted while surrounded in a magical circle, "By tributing a water monster, I can look at your hand and send one card to the graveyard." Ruby said before pointing back, "Since you only have one, that is the card I am picking." Cinder gritted her teeth as she revealed Demise, King of Armageddon in her hand. She sent it to the grave as Eria vanished in a blue light. "It doesn't matter if your monster is the only one who can attack. Without a target to equip itself, it has no way to inflict damage."
"You little-" Cinder said before her eye started glowing, "Thousand-Eyes Restrict attacks you directly!" She said as the abomination reeled back its left claw arm, then slashed towards Ruby. However, the hooded Slifer Red remained steadfast as the claw was just an inch from her silver eyes, causing Cinder to scowl, "You…I end my turn." She said as Thousand-Eyes Restrict returned to her side of the field.
Ruby drew, "I set a card face down and end my turn."
"Without a monster, Thousand-Eyes Restrict is only a liability to me." Cinder said to herself before drawing, then looking at her horrifying abomination, "For me to win, I must get rid of you." She said as one of the thousand eyes looked back to the Fall Shadow Rider, a tear being shed, "I play Fiendish Chain and target Thousand-Eyes Restrict." She said as Ruby gasped, seeing the abomination bound by chains, "This negates his effect and allows me to flip summon Morphing Jar." She said as the vase with the smiling creature inside was seen, (700 ATK / 600 DEF). "We both discard our hands and draw five cards." She said while sending one card to the graveyard, while Ruby had none to send. Both now had a fresh hand as Cinder considered her options, "Yes, this is it!" She said before playing a monster, "I summon Tour Guide From the Underworld," She said as a red-haired woman in a business top and skirt appeared. She wore white gloves and black designer stockings. With a purse at her side, she smiled upon holding a whistle in her left hand, (1000 ATK / 1000 DEF).
Oh, what a lovey girl.
Salem commented as Cinder focused on her combo, "Her effect allows me to special summon a level three fiend form from my deck, like Djinn Prognosticator of Rituals." Cinder said as Tour Guide blew the whistle, causing the demonic black bus to appear. As the doors opened, out walk a large man with light purple skin, wielded a flail of a skull with a single spike, (400 ATK / 300 DEF). "Now, I play the ritual spell End of the World!"
"What!?" Ruby said before the blue flames formed, "But you sent Demise to the graveyard."
That is not the only monster who can be summoned with this ritual spell, but she is also level eight.
Cinder pointed to her targets, "I tribute Tour Guild, Prognosticator, and even my Thousand-Eyes Restrict." She said before a blue flame shot out of her duel disk, "However, they make up only seven of the needed levels. For the last one, I remove the card I discarded this turn, Djinn Disserere of Rituals." She said as her body glowed with a thin aura, "And with that, I gain more life points." The Fall Shadow Rider said as the fires converged to one single pillar.
Cinder: 2600 + 500 = 3100 Life Points
"Bow down before Ruin, Queen of Oblivion!" Cinder introduced as the blue flames instantly stopped. As the center of the field stood another queen to Salem, still with white hair, but with normal skin and eyes. She wore a red and black dress that showed her stomach and thighs. In her right hand was a red spear-like staff. Behind her loaned a shadowing being with a threating aura, (2300 ATK / 2000 DEF). "And since Disserere was used in this ritual, she is unaffected by trap cards." Cinder said before looking at her other monster, "I could end it now, but I want to see you suffer a little more. So, Morphing Jar attacks you directly!"
The creature in the vase laughed before extending out of the container. Ruby braced herself as the monster headed straight for her. However, it stopped a few inches away from her face with a deadpan expression. The hooded Slifer Red had a look of confusion for a second, causing Morphing Jar to have a toothy grin. It then opened its mouth and bit down on Ruby's skull, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Ruby screamed as her body was lifted into the air, the chucked her aside. The creature retried to the jar, blood staining his green teeth, but it still had that toothy smile.
Ruby: 750 – 700 = 50 Life Points
"And now," Cinder said before pointing at Ruby on the floor, who struggled to stand back up, "You die." The Fall Shadow Rider declared as Ruin rushed in with her weapon aimed at Ruby's heart. Just as the Queen of Oblivion was about to plunge her staff, swords made of light rained from above. She stopped as Cinder had a look of irritation, "What!? But I destroyed that spell card already."
"You destroyed my Swords of Revealing Light," Ruby said as she stood, taking one card out of her hand. While blood was dripping from her head, she played the card in defense mode, "But this is Swordsman of Revealing Light." She said as a large, blue armored shogun appeared from above. He landed in the center of where the weapons of light landed, picking one up as if it was a normal blade, (0 ATK / 2400 DEF). "If he is in my hand during a direct attack, I can special summon him. Also, if his defense points are higher than the attacking monster's attack points," Ruby said before pointing at Ruin, "Your monster is destroyed."
Cinder gasped before Ruin exploded. As the smoke cleared, she looked at her hand of two cards and gritted her teeth, "I set one card and end my turn."
Ruby drew, looking at her new hand. However, her vision was getting blurry, "I can't take any more damage. I need a strong monster on my field. I need-ah!" She said before noticing the card in the far right of her hand, "That's it!" She thought before examining her hand, looking for a way to summon her out. "Okay, here goes!" Ruby said before playing a spell card, "I play Soul Release, removing five monsters from your graveyard."
Cinder had a look of confusion as five of her monsters were banished: Djinn Prognosticator of Rituals, Djinn Demolisher of Rituals, Alluring Queen LV3, Relinquished, and Thousand-Eyes Restrict. However, she grinned as she looked at her spell, "Due to Soul Absorption, I gain 500 life points for reach one."
Cinder: 3100 + 2500 = 5600 Life Points
"Fine by me, because I can now activate Spiritual Light Art – Hijiri. I can now tribute Swordsman of Revealing Light to Special Summon a banished monster." Ruby said as Cinder scowled, "You could negate with a trap card in your hand," Ruby said before pointing, but Cinder did not respond, "In that case, I special summon your Alluring Queen LV3." The hooded Slifer Red said as the card that once burned her was now on her side of the field, (500 ATK / 500 DEF). "With her effect, I can take your Morphing Jar." She said as the creature in the vase was transfixed by the burning beauty but was then sucked into her staff.
"You may have her effect, but you will never be able to level her up." Cinder commented.
"I don't need to, because with only one spellcaster as a tribute," Ruby said as the image of the Heiress Obelisk blue appeared in her mind, "I summon Blizzard Princess!" She declared as the royal youngest with a massive ice ball and chain appeared. Ruby looked at the monster, seeing its happy smile as she ready to fight, (2800 ATK / 2100 DEF). "After she is normal summoned, you cannot activate spells or traps for the rest of the turn," Ruby said as Cinder's eyes widened. Her facedown began to freeze over, "Blizzard Princess, attack her directly." Ruby ordered before her monster swung its weapon towards Cinder's body
"No, you will not take half my life points that easily!" Cinder said as she revealed the last card in her hand, "I send Sphere Kuriboh from my hand to the graveyard." She said as the ice ball and chain bounced off a yellow orb version of the small furball, but with no fur. "It blocks the attack by switching your monster to defense mode." She said as Blizzard Princess jumped back to Ruby, then knelt in a blocking stance.
As Ruby was left speechless, Cinder drew her only card, "I play Card of Demise, allowing me to draw until I have three cards in my hand." She said before doing so.
With that effect, you cannot special summon for the rest of the turn. As well, she will take no damage.
"Then consider this the prelude to her demise." Cinder responded to Salem, "First, I set one card." She said as her eye glowed amber, picking another card out of her hand, "I play Soul Exchange, letting me use your monster as a tribute this turn."
"Oh no," Ruby responded as she remembered this combo from the duel against Neo, causing her to have a look of panic towards Blizzard Princess. However, her monster vanished as a new one appeared on Cinder's side of the field. And like before, it was the same dark armor ruler with a purple vortex in his hands, (2400 ATK / 1000 DEF).
"Caius does still require me to banish a card, but since you don't have any. I will use the face down I set this turn." Cinder said as the vortex sword the face down, "And now, I gain 500 more life points."
Cinder: 5600 + 500 = 6100 Life Points
Since you played all three cards, you will not need to discard anything. Impressive.
"My turn," Ruby said as she drew, gasping at the result, in placing it in her hand, she took a new spell out, "I play Monster Reincarnation, discarding one card to add Blizzard Princess back to my hand." She said while taking the card out of the graveyard, "Next, I summon Familiar Possessed - Dharc in attack mode." The retrained dark charmer emerged with the bat-eye familiar glaring at the Shadow Monarch, (1850 ATK / 1500 DEF). "Now, I play Magical Dimension." She said as an elaborate coffin appeared behind Dharc, allowing the monster to jump inside with his companion. The hatch then closed as the box glowed, "By tributing a spellcaster, I can special summon a spellcaster out from my hand." she said as the coffin open, the royal ice youngster jumping out with a smirk, (2800 ATK / 2100 DEF). "Welcome back, Blizzard Princess. Also, Magical Dimension lets me destroy one of your cards now. The coffin charged with a yellow aura before firing a blast of magical energy. The shot pierced through the chest of the Shadow Monarch, causing him to collapse before exploding. "And now, Blizzard Princess attacks you directly!" Ruby ordered as Cinder gritted her teeth, no way to defend against this attack. The ice ball and chain crashed into the Fall Shadow Rider's body, flinging her back before slamming into a wall of darkness, "Yes, this time it landed!"
Cinder: 6100 – 2800 = 3300 Life Points
Salem watched as Cinder pushed herself up before walking back to where she once stood. Her breathing was heavy as she drew, playing it as the only cards she had, "I activate Shallow Grave. Allowing both of us to set a monster from our graveyards onto the field." She said as the set monsters were placed, "The ends my turn."
Ruby drew, but her body pulsated with pain. While Cinder was starting to feel the damage, the hooded Slifer Red was reaching her limits. She flip-summoned her monster, revealing it as Familiar Possessed – Hiita, (1850 ATK / 1500 DEF). With the two spellcasters on her field, the image of Weiss and Yang came to her mind as if they were standing right beside her, fighting along with her. At that moment, Ruby focused as she knew she could hold out a bit longer, "I attack with Hiita first!" Ruby ordered as her monster unleashed a blast of fire. Cinder set monster revealed itself to be Morphing Jar, (700 ATK / 600 DEF). The creature's body was incinerated inside the vase, but the players still discard their hands. In her delirium, Ruby now looked at the card she had drawn, Celestial Sword – Eatos. She gasped at not being able to play the card in time, but now must send it to the graveyard.
After drawing five cards, Cinder watched as Ruby ordered Blizzard Princess for another direct attack. But in looking at her hand, she saw a lifeline, "I send Kuriboh from my hand to the graveyard, negating all damage." She said as the ice ball and chain bounced off the furball, causing Blizzard Princess to pout. Ruby ended her turn with one card face down. Cinder started her turn, but at seeing her draw, she began to laugh, "Hahahaha! HAHAHAHA!" Cinder laughed as she put the card in her hand, "First, I play Dark Core. Discarding a card to banish your Hiita." She said before a black vortex appeared over the blazing familiar possessed, sucking her into the next dimension. As well, The Fall Shadow Rider gained more life points.
Cinder: 3300 + 500 = 3800 Life Points
"Now, I remove from play three fiend monsters from my graveyard," The Fall Shadow Rider said as Tragoedia, Kuriboh, and Tour Guide From the Underworld were banished, "To summon, Dark Necrofear." She said as a ghost began to emerge from the darkness below. The shape of a woman holding a baby formed. However, the woman had blue skin and cold black eyes with yellow irises. Her chest and torso looked mechanically replaced, stitching ran around her neck. In her hands was not a baby, but a laughing broken doll, (2200 ATK / 2800 DEF). With three more cards removed, The Fall Shadow Rider gained even more life points.
Cinder: 3800 + 1500 = 5300 Life Points
"Attack!" Cinder commanded as the monster's eyes widened, unleashing a black laser beam.
"But Blizzard Princess still has more attack," Ruby pointed out as her monster jumped the beam, then smashed Necrofear with the ice ball and chain.
Cinder: 5300 – 600 = 4700 Life Points
However, as Dark Necrofear's vanished, its spirits went inside Blizzard Princess' body, "Your monster is mine. During the end of turn the she was destroyed; I can take control of a face-up monster on your side of the field." Cinder said before her eye began t glow amber, "I will beat you with your own card."
"This card isn't mine; it belongs to my friend. And there is no way I am letting you take her!" Ruby retorted before revealing her facedown card, "I activate Book of Eclipse, flipping all monster on the field into face-down defense position." She as Blizzard Princess's body fell over, turning into a set card. In doing so, Dark Necrofear's spirit was exercised, as there was no face up monster to target anymore.
"You little-" Cinder said before noticing her hand, her eyes widening at the last two, "Heh, never mind." She said before setting one card face down, "This is all according to plan." She then turned to Salem, "Next turn, she will be defeated." However, Salem was looking off into the distance, her eyes widening as her skin was paler than normal, "Salem?"
…My King…
Suddenly, Salem vanished in the darkness as Cinder had a look of shock. She then looked back to Ruby, who drew before flipping her monster face-up, "Blizzard Princess attacks you directly!" She ordered as her monster swung the ice ball and chain again.
"I activate Forbidden Chalice, giving your monster 400 attack points, but negating her effect." Cinder said as Ruby had a look of confusion, (2800 + 400 = 3200 ATK). With the boost of power, the attack slammed into the Fall Shadow Rider harder than before. Cinder's body slammed against the wall of darkness, her head starting to bleed.
Cinder: 4700 – 3200 = 1500 Life Points
"Why would you do that?" Ruby asked, "It didn't help you at all." Suddenly, the entire area was set ablaze. She then looked up to see a massive fireball from above about to crash land, "W-what!?"
"Oh, it did." Cinder said as she stood up, then walked through the fire, "You see, when I take 3000 or more points of damage from one attack," She then revealed her last facedown card, the one that had been once frozen, now set ablaze, "I can activate Inferno Tempest." The Fall Shadow Rider as she had a sadistic smile on her face, her eye blazing with a fiery aura, "Now, this removes all monster from our decks and graveyards." She said with Ruby gasping. The hooded Slifer Red saw the fireball crash down on the field, launching her back in the heatwave. As she slammed into a wall, her cards fell in front of her. She watched as all the Charmers and Familiar Possessed were burnt to ashes. Her breathing became sporadic as she had lost her treasured cards permanently. Cinder held the stack of her monster cards to be banished, watching them burn, "It looks like thirty-one cards between the two of us are being banished." Cinder said before crushing her cards into ash, "And I gain 500 life points each." She said as her body absorbed all the flames, healing her wounds as she fully glowed with power. In parting her black hair, both eyes now radiated the fiery aura.
Cinder: 1500 + 15500 = 17000 Life Points
"17000 life points!?" Ruby said as she struggled pushed herself up.
"And you just have 50 life points left." Cinder responded, "Give up now to spare yourself the pain."
"Never!" Ruby shouted back as she got on two feet, "So long as I can still fight, I will fight!" She said before returning to her position, "I will stop you from destroying the world!" the hooded Slifer Red said before looking to her monster on the field, "Blizzard Princess was unaffected by Inferno Tempest. And you have no monsters left."
"Oh, you weren't paying attention. I said it removers all monsters in our decks and graveyards." Cinder said as she held out a single card, "But not out of our hands." She said before playing the card, "This is it, the final monster you will ever see. I summon Gorz, The Emissary of Darkness!" The Fall Shadow Rider said as a pillar of blackness erupted in front of her. Emerge from the gunk was a man clad in black armor and a tattered red cape, matching his long hair. A steel visor covered his eyes, but his face showed no emotion. Attached to his back was a massive cleaver-like sword, (2700 ATK / 2500 DEF).
"My monster still has more attack points," Ruby responded.
"Higher than Gorz, yes, but," Cinder responded, "When I special summon him via taking battle damage. I can summon an Emissary of Darkness Token on my field with stats equal to the damage I took." She said as another eruption formed. This time walking out was a female counterpart to Gorz, who scowled at Ruby through her silver warrior's helmet, (3200 ATK / 3200 DEF). "And during your end phase, the effect of Forbidden Chalice will vanish."
Ruby gasped as she did not know what to do. She looked down at her hand, taking one card as a line of sweat ran down her face. Cinder watched and smiled as her opponent was about to be defeated. However, she had a look of confusion as Ruby realized something. The hooded Slifer Red then took an additional card out of her hand, "I set two cards and end my turn." With that, the aura around Blizzard Princess faded, (3200 – 400 = 2800 ATK).
"What was she…Oh, no matter." Cinder said as she drew, but then looked at her result. She then sneered before pointing to Ruby's only monster, "The Token attacks Blizzard Princess." The Fall Shadow Rider Ordered as the token dashed forward, going for as overhead slash. The steel blade cut through the ice as the monster Weiss gave Ruby was no more. However, the duel was not over as Ruby revealed one face down card.
"I play Defense Draw," Ruby countered, "Not only does it negate the damage, but I draw one card." She said before drawing but gritted her teeth at the result.
"Fine then, I was hoping the end this with a direct attack." Cinder said before point, "Gorz, kill her!" She commanded with the Emissary of Darkness rushing in for a vertical slash.
"From my graveyard, I remove from play the Spiritual Swords of Revealing Light to negate one direct attack," Ruby said as the blades of light block Gorz's attack, but the shockwave still pushed her a few feet back.
"How did you-" Cinder said before remembering Monster Reincarnation being played, "The same move you did in our first duel." She said before looking at the cards she drew, the activated it, "No matter, this ends now. I play Ectoplasmer!" Cinder said with Gorz struggling to stand, "During each of our End Phases, we tribute a monster to inflict half its original attack points as damage to the other player." The Fall Shadow Rider said as Gorz's soul left his body, become a mass of lifeforce, "Ruby Rose, you have failed." Cinder stated as the lifeforce shot at the hooded Slifer Red.
"No, I will not fail!" Ruby said as she struggled to stand. She looked at her duel disk to activate her last card, but her vision too blurry, "Come on, come on!" She said to herself as she could hear the lifeforce rocketing towards her. Suddenly, Ruby felt someone help move her hand, allowing her to find and press the button to reveal the card. She gasped, but then focused back on the duel, "I activate Relay Soul!" Ruby called out as Cinder scowled, "You were right about one thing, monsters in the hand were not affected by Inferno Tempest." Ruby said as she took out her last monster card, "I special summon Guardian Eatos!" Before the lifeforce could collide with Ruby's body, the angelic huntress appeared between them. With her white wings, she blocked the damage to the hooded Slifer Red. After the wings extended, Eatos stood with her right hands on her hip, glaring at Cinder with her left eye, (2500 ATK / 2000 DEF). "Because of Relay Soul, as long as Eatos is on the field, I don't take damage. However, when she is removed-"
"You lose," Cinder finished with a smirk, "Meaning, unless you can destroy Ectoplasmer on your turn right now. You will lose by sacrificing your favorite monster."
"I'm not going to sacrifice Eatos," Ruby said as she placed her two fingers on her deck, "I'm going to win! Right here! Right now! Draw!" She said before she drew a card, upon seeing it, she made a single noise, "…Heh." The hooded Slifer Red commented as Cinder had a look of confusion, "I play Hidden Armory." Suddenly a small white hole appeared on the floor in front of Eatos, "I send the top card of my deck to the graveyard, as well as sacrifice my ability to normal summon." She as Eatos knelt to reach into the portal with her left hand, "In turn, I get to add an equip spell from my graveyard back to my hand. I choose Celestial Sword – Eatos!" Ruby declared as her monster was already equipped with it. Eatos pulled out the sacred sword, the light shining through the darkness, (2500 + 500 = 3000 ATK).
"That will not be enough, my Token still has more-" Cinder was saying until Ruby cut her off.
"I now activate Eatos' effect. By sending the equip spell to the graveyard, I can banish your Gorz to increase her attack points by 500." Ruby said as the Celestial sword vanished, but the aura of light formed around Eatos instead. The angelic huntress closed her eyes as she hugged her body with her arms and wings. Once more, Cinder's life points went up with a banished card.
Cinder: 17000 + 500 = 17500 Life Points
"But that doesn't change her total increase, she is still 200 less attack points than my Token." Cinder responded before seeing Ruby do something that made the Fall Shadow Rider scowl, "Why are you smiling?"
"When Celestial Sword is sent from the field to the graveyard," Ruby responded with confidence, "Guardian Eatos gains 500 attack points for every removed from play monster."
"Wait, WHAT!?" Cinder said as she started to sweat, "E-Everyone!?"
Ruby nodded, "Everyone." Suddenly, Eatos opened her Wings, which glowed in a pure white aura as they expanded, "Just because a monster was banished, that doesn't mean they are gone forever!" She said as the Eatos' wings expanded. The spirit of every charmer was seen within the wings; Aussa, Wynn, Eria, Hiita, Lynn, and Dharc. As the light grew brighter, there familiar possessed forms were seen, next to them were the companies of each element. Even the Swordsman of Revealing Light added his blades to the expanding light.
"No," Cinder responded in taking a step back. In looking at the continuously growing wings, she saw all her monster spirits as well. However, they all glared back at their former owner, who had sacrificed them for more life points, "This can't be!" Of all of them, Cinder noticed Relinquished, who averted the golden eye from what was about to happen next.
"You may have banished thirty-one monsters in a single move," Ruby responded, "But forty-four monsters have been removed from play in this duel!" She said as Eatos opened her eyes with the glow. At the apex of the expansion, they reach a wingspan ten times what it was before, (3000 + (44 X 500) = 25000 ATK). "Now Cinder, it's over," Ruby said as Eatos held her hands close together, gather a ball of condensed light. As it charged, the light began to form a slight silver hue, matching the duelist's eye color. "Guardian Eatos, attack!" With a final battle cry, the angelic huntress unleashed the sphere, causing it to erupt into an enormous blast.
From Cinder's perspective, it looked as though she was watching a tsunami wave about to crash into her. However, she did not attempt to dodge. This was not pride, but fear, a fear that had petrified her to her core. The Emissary of Darkness Token was deatomized in the wave, never standing a chance. The Fall Shadow Rider was next, her body enveloped in the silver energy. As it passed over her, she could feel every cell of her body getting ripped apart. She did not scream because she with still in shock. Cinder not only lost. She lost to a new Slifer Red student at Duel Academy. As The Fall Shadow Rider's body was carried away in the energy, the aura around her eyes faded as well.
Cinder: 17500 – 21800 = 0 Life Points
From ground level, Jaden and the others watched as the gigantic black sphere formed an oblong bulge. Suddenly, the blast wave of silver energy erupted from the spot. It traveled through the sky, evaporating all the nearby clouds. They shielded themselves from the shockwave before looking back up at the black sphere. With its structural integrity broken, the black sphere started to disintegrate.
They looked up in confusion, but Neo suddenly pointed as her eyes went white. Jaden saw what she was pointing at, discover it was the hooded Slifer Red freefalling, "Ruby!" Jaden shouted as he ran towards the woods, hoping to catch her before the impact. The others followed as Jaden ran through his pain, still trying to keep an eye on Ruby through the leaves. As he approached where she was about to land, he feared he would be too late.
However, Jaden watched as Ruby's body was not freefalling. Rather, Eatos was holding the hooded Slifer Red in her arms. The angelic huntress gracefully descended with the wind beneath her wings. She laid Ruby peacefully on the ground, then looked over to Jaden. While he did not say a word, Eatos nodded to him with a smile. Jaden smiled back before the angelic huntress faded away. The other caught up to Jaden before they ran over to Ruby. In checking her body, Ruby was battered and bruised. Despite that, she was still breathing. Moreover, a smile was seen of the hooded Slifer Red's face.
AN: There you go, this probably going to be the longest one-on-one duel I will ever do. While it was very stressful to plan and write, it was a lot of fun. Starting with Cinder, I do like how many boss monsters she has. Thousand-Eyes Restrict being so cool, proving why he was banned for so long. Ruin comes in with some Salem envy. Even Dark Necrofear got a cameo, showing more of the comparison to Cinder's deck and Bakura. And lastly, I got to add Tour Guide into the mix…because she cute, (Also, if you are wondering why Prognosticator was picked instead of Releaser, it's because Releaser is Banned. I try to not use banned cards as much as possible, because they are busted in duels like these. I allow Pot of Greed because it helps with writing and Weiss gets Brilliant fusion because she uses it the intentional way to be played in her archetype. This seems like a note I should have said since the beginning, but better late than never).
If I had to be technical, the only time I had to fudge the rules a bit was with Gorz. You must control no cards when you activate his effect, so it does not chain with Inferno Tempest and Soul Absorption still on the field. However, this is just me altering the effect a bit for a cool moment. Since Cinder had Tragoedia, who does not have a limit like this, I was loose with Gorz here to just being control no monsters. Plus, if there is any combo that characterize Cinder to her core, it is Inferno Tempest mixed with Soul Absorption, (As well as the forbidden item cards, which have a lore that is basically Cinder's whole story when you think about it).
Ruby got to bust out all six of the familiar possessed monsters in the duel, even gets to play a few of the animal companions as well, (Sorry Jigabyte). Sadly, they all got burnt away in Inferno Tempest. She managed to save Blizzard Princess, as well as her ace Eatos. When thinking of how I could top the 11000 attack points of the last final, why not over double it? Everything kind of worked out the way I wanted with the last moments of the duel. Especially if you reread the speech Jaden gave to Ruby in the woods. To me, this feels like a season finale. With it, the epilogue will be up tomorrow morning. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.
Now, just some quick questions to answer. Regarding Bastion, he was with Weiss and Blake when they took the took the helicopter with injured Yang to Domino City for medical treatment. And with the Sacred Beast, since Ruby won here, they do not get unlocked now. But remember, they to do come back in a later season of GX, and I might do that even sooner in this series like I did with Supreme King. And regarding Sienna, she is one of the characters I do want to put into this series. I will talk about that more in the next chapter in my person reflection of everything I did so far here.
