A new update, which means that it may be the last update for a while, it depends if we go on hiatus or not because of the university. But in this chapter we will finally have Ruri with her official debut, honestly, I think I like the choice of Ruri better instead of Yuto this time, I like Yuto's design but I like more what we proposed with Ruri in the story. That does not mean that he has completely disappeared, he is simply in Heartland.
I also wanted to talk about Ruri's new design which was inspired by the ideas that a lot of people had about her being blonde in the show. While I like her design oin the show and I think she's one of the best of the bracelet girls, I think I like the one commissioned better. There is something about it that looks more interesting than the original designs from the show. Regarding the appearance of the other bracelet girls, it's not time for them to appear yet but I really want to introduce them soon, although a complete arc is still missing for that I promise there will be interesting surprises.
leave a comment or you can also read a webcomic I'm working on with friends called Lightning Hunter, which is on webtoon.
Thanks to Antimattering, Pure Red Crane, Crimson Dreams, haohryuzarc, Donjusticia for helping me write this chapter.
Chapter 10: The girl Who Stoped Smile.
It had been a few days since the last time Ruri had contact with her brother, something that overwhelmed her a lot. He wasn't usually away for long. Shun was strict, but he wasn't the kind of brother who would abandon her, at least that's what she needed to think.
Her mission was to get information about the Academy. Seeing the everyday life of these people, Ruri felt that Shun's thoughts were wrong. Ruri only saw a normal school, where a girl who was the same copy of her attended.
But nothing had happened in that duel school called You-Show that was relevant, except for the fight that she witnessed between Phantom and the girl with the same face as hers.
Things were normal and, at the same time, they weren't. This created a crossroads in Ruri's heart, making her job difficult. Already, the job was getting more complicated now that Phantom and the girl were divided.
Ruri would have to be in two places at once to know what she was doing in each one. 'Maybe I should learn ninjutsu,' she thought to herself with a bit of irony.
"Must be a difficult job?" asked another person who was next to her.
"You have no idea…" Ruri sighed to the new person. In a moment of realization, she opened her eyes and realized that there was no one else working with her brother and her. She then looked at the person next to her in surprise.
"Phantom!" she yelled as she saw him extend his hand just to greet her.
"Excuse me if I disturb you, missy. Do you work for the genesis clan?" Yuya asked in such an innocent way that she found it incredible how this guy was the renowned criminal Phantom.
Ruri remembered her brother's warning her about revealing who they were to anyone in this country.
"I don't know anything about that, and if I did, I wouldn't tell you. I don't have to reveal my intentions to you," she affirmed trying to sound intimidating, but she didn't achieve her goal since Phantom noticed her lack of confidence.
"But you're the one watching us, aren't you?"
"How did you notice?"
"Since you started following us, to be honest. I don't think a pretty girl like you would do a good job."
Ruri blushed and, at the same time, was annoyed by the comment she received. Yuya immediately noticed this.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. Yuzu always tells me not to say those things. Please don't tell Yuzu!" Yuya tried to correct himself. "I mean, since you're pretty, you shouldn't be doing this kind of dirty work. Your good looks would draw any eye no matter how much you tried to blend in."
Ruri's frown deepened, her cheeks still red. Yuya realized that he wasn't making things better. "Ugh! I'm sorry!
Ruri clenched her fists. She felt very embarrassed and uncomfortable. A guy who was a carbon copy of her boyfriend was calling her 'pretty', and on the other hand, saying that she wasn't good at her job, which made her feel more worthless than before. She looked down and trembled with fury.
Phantom caused a tide of feelings in her, mostly because when she saw his face, she couldn't help but think of Yuto, which confused her a lot.
Seeing no other way to resolve this conflict, she took out her duel disk in front of Yuya, making it clear that there was no room for jokes anymore.
"If you'll just make fun of me, then I'll have to get information out of you in another way."
The girl had stuttered a bit. The only thing that made her convincing was her face filled with annoyance and a voice so thick with anger that Yuya couldn't help but think that he was facing Yuzu again.
Yuya took a step back, grimacing and looking away from her. He didn't want to think about Yuzu. Doing so made him feel guilty and bitter. However, this girl was a mystery, and letting her go just to avoid trouble wasn't something that Yuya could afford right now.
He needed to take his mind off of it somehow, and that was, fighting the spy who wore a face just like Yuzu's.
They arranged to meet on the roof of a building, a place isolated from unwelcome viewers. Each had their duel disk ready to fight.
Although Yuya was worried about having a spy behind his and Yuzu's back, her slips didn't make her look like a threat to them.
Yuya hadn't tested this new feature on his duel disk. It was technology he had stolen from the clan earlier. His duel against her was an opportunity to use this kind of technology. He was the perfect candidate for that.
"This place is a bit boring to have a duel. Let's make it more exciting," Phantom said with an enthusiasm that confused the girl.
The rooftop changed to a setting unlike anything Ruri had ever seen, filling her surroundings with color and happiness. It was as if they were in a completely different place. This was the power of the Action Field. Ruri could see it with her own eyes.
They were both standing on a meadow instead of the concrete of a building. That's what Ruri thought before realizing that she was inside a bird cage.
"Don't worry, this is just a new Action Field that I wanted to try for a long time. It's called Sky Tree Bird Cage." Yuya explained, calming Ruri down slightly.
Phantom was supposed to be a criminal. He was a threat, and yet she couldn't help but let her guard down. Shun would be disappointed in her.
Ruri tried not to be influenced by the face that resembled Yuto's. She constantly told herself that she wasn't dealing with Yuto, but with Phantom.
Yuya spun around until he faced Ruri with his materialized entertainment outfit. "I hope you like it." He winked at her, smiling.
Taking her situation into account, this was the first time Ruri had witnessed an Action Field. She had seen television shows like this before when she was a child, but the difference between witnessing one and living the experience for herself was abysmal. If it wasn't for the fact that she remembered the mission she could still enjoy the moment.
"Let's start the duel. I need to get information for Shun and not fail him again."
Ruri didn't realize what she said for a moment, but Yuya did. Ruri felt her chest heave nervously. Every step she took was a serious mistake.
"Are we ready then?" Yuya asked, pretending that he hadn't heard anything.
Ruri straightened up. "I am always ready."
"Good!" Yuya stretched out his arms excitedly, "Duelists locked in battle!"
He left a space filled with silence for the girl to complete the chant, but nothing happened. A bead of sweat fell down Yuya's temple, who was laughing awkwardly upon seeing how confused Ruri was.
"What are you doing? Do you think this is a game?" Ruri demanded, sounding quite like Yuzu. Yuya shuddered.
The boy shook his head and decided to teach Ruri the essence of Action Duel. Yuya raised his index finger to ask for a second of her time. Ruri sighed, her hands on her hips and agreeing to wait for the boy.
As if it were a magic trick, Yuya took out a pen and paper and began to write. Ruri blinked in shock and couldn't help but laugh a little as if she was watching a clown's show.
When he finished, Yuya handed her the paper so she could read it. "We have to be synchronized to give a better climax," Yuya told her, returning to his place.
Ruri read what was written on the paper and it looked like a script. "We're not in one of your circuses." She tried to sound rude, but the situation caused her to feel too much tenderness.
"It's you and me, right?" Yuya smiled, surprising Ruri.
Ruri decided to go with the flow this time. If she was Shun, she would have stuck the paper in his mouth to make him shut up, but…
…She wasn't like her brother.
"Let's go! Duelists locked in battle!"
Ruri pressed her lips together until she couldn't resist smiling and playing along, dancing along. "Kicking the earth and dancing in the air alongside their monsters!"
"They storm through this field! Behold!"
Yuya's smile widened as he saw Ruri having fun with him. Her intuition did not fail her. This girl was not a threat.
In unison, they exclaimed, "This is the newest and greatest evolution of dueling! Action Duel!
As if they didn't have to do anything else, Ruri stared at Yuya, panting and listening to her own heart beat so hard that she thought it would escape her chest. She hadn't had so much fun in a long time. She just had fun like that with…
…Yuto.
She settled her throat and wiped her smile, moving into a mourning pose. Yuya laughed.
"It's good to see that I'm not the only one having fun here." Yuya commented. "I'll start first by putting Entermate Monkeyboard on my pendulum scale. Its effect allows me to add another level 4 or lower Entermate to my hand, and then I put Entermate Fire Mufflion on my other pendulum scale."
Monkeyboard Scale 1- Entermate Fire Mufflion- Scale 5
"And now we start the party! Thanks to my scale, I can summon level two to level four monsters. Pendulum Summon!"
From the portal two rays of light fell to the ground, revealing a minotaur with a phone on its head and a donkey that Ruri found too cute.
Entermate Longphone Bull 1600 ATK / 1200 DEF
Entermate Second Key 1000 ATK / 2000 DEF
"When these cards are summoned, I can add two Entermates monsters to my hand." Yuya added two cards to his hand from his Deck. He proceeded with his turn with determination since he had the necessary cards for his play. "When I have two Entermates monsters on my field, I can summon this friend without any sacrifice: Entermate Hammer Mammo come out!"
The ground spread out as the large monster fell to the ground. Its figure couldn't be seen because of all the dust it kicked up when it landed. But by moving a hammer with its trunk, the movement dissipated all the dust, revealing a large elephant that roared.
Entermate Hammer Mammo 2600 ATK / 1800 DEF
"I set two cards face down and with this…" Yuya bowed. "I end my turn."
The elephant with its trunk picked Yuya up. He did a few little somersaults in the air and landed on the elephant's back. "Since I know you've been watching us before, I assume you know how an Action Duel works."
Ruri didn't say anything, but he was right in his statement. Watching some of Yuzu's classes, she already had a clear idea of how it worked and enough knowledge of his deck. On the inside, she felt amused, contemplating with her own eyes about pendulum summons and all the show that entertainment duelists boasted. But she couldn't let that cloud her mind.
Ruri drew a card. Aquilanche – Mercy Lark materialized on the field. It was a bird holding a small dagger.
"I activate my monster's effect that allows me to discard a card in my hand and then summon another Aquilanche monster from my Deck. Aquilanche – Kunai Sparrow emerges!"
A wind storm manifested on Ruri's field. Yuya had to take cover due to the huge amount of wind surrounding them. Two shadows with blue eyes surrounded Ruri. With a single thrust of their weapons, they dispelled the storm and both of Ruri's monsters appeared on the field.
Aquilanche – Mercy Lark 600 ATK / 900 DEF
Aquilanche – Kunai Sparrow 1000 ATK / 500 DEF
"The effect of Bristlehead in my graveyard is activated. Since I sent it this turn, I can draw another card. Kunai activates its effect, letting me target Bristlehead in my graveyard and add another Aquilanche from my deck to my hand!"
Compared to the way Yuya presented his duel, Ruri felt that her own duel was boring, but Shun didn't amuse people. Shun wanted revenge, to fight for their comrades, and for her to do the same. War wasn't fun. It wasn't a reason to smile or put on shows.
Ruri promised herself to be serious, then Shun would be proud of her.
"Now, I'm going to XYZ Summon using Kunai Sparrow and Misericord Lark."
From the great explosion emerged a new bird larger than the others, spreading its wings with an imposing, flashing brilliance that represented its Overlay Units. "Appear! Rank 3 Aquilegio – Shiv Starling!"
Aquilegio – Shiv Starling 2000 ATK / 1000 DEF (OVU:2)
Aquilegio let out a scream that shook every muscle in Yuya, who was not paying attention to all of Ruri's movements. He was already confused by so many summons and effects. Even before she made her XYZ summon, he was counting on his fingers the number of cards that she had used. "How many cards did you say you added to your hand?"
"I only added two cards."
She showed her cards in her hand, not wanting to be rude to her opponent.
"I see. Thanks." Yuya scratched the back of his neck, laughing awkwardly.
Ruri sighed. Yuto once again showed how distracted he could be with some things.
"I will activate the effect of Shiv Starling. By sending one of its Overlay Units and a monster from my deck to the graveyard, I can make this card gain 500 attack points at the end of the turn."
One of the luminous spheres was separated from Aquilegio and it vanished. The particles rained down on Aquilegio, giving it more strength.
Starling (OVU: 1)
Aquilegio – Shiv Starling 2000 + 500 = 2500 ATK
"Dirk Bunting's effect activates from my graveyard. It allows me to put an Aquilanche card on top of my deck. After I send Mercy to the graveyard by detaching an Overlay Unit, I can halve the attack and defense points of a monster you control."
Misericorde's ghost flew above the elephant, and as many birds of prey attacked their victim, Elephammer began to run desperately, destabilizing Yuya, who was riding it. Because of that, he flew to the ground, hitting his rear.
Elephant 1300ATK / 900DEF
"Are you okay?" Ruri asks worried. "No, wait. You are my enemy."
What Ruri said echoed in Yuya. Why would she see him as an enemy?
It is the first time he saw this girl. Besides her resemblance to Yuzu, he didn't recognize where this person came from, but maybe he could find the answer he was looking for in this duel.
He tried not to let the impact of those words hurt him and he continued to prepare for the duel, paying more attention to Ruri's plays.
"I activate the continuous spell Sky Resemble from my hand. This allows me to increase the ATK points of my wind XYZ monsters, and at the same time that it is activated, I can add a card from my graveyard to my hand."
Starling 2500 + 100 = 2600 ATK
"Then, I activate its next effect that lets me bring two Aquilanche monsters with their effects negated from my graveyard. Come back again! Drik Bunting and Seme Swallow!"
Aquilanche – Seme Swallow 1300 ATK / 700 DEF
Aquilanche – Dirk Bunting 500 ATK / 1500 DEF
A move like that only meant one thing in Yuya's mind. "You will do another XYZ Summon."
"Exactly," Ruri replied as an explosion happened in front of her from the XYZ summon. "Show yourself! Rank 4 Peregladius Falcon!"
Peregladius made its presence with its wings decorated in a tricolor plumage. Light blue and indigo feathers rained down on the field. Yuya looked at its claws going up its whitish thighs, distracted by a light blue vest that matched its striking plumage, eyes unreachable due to the goggles Peregladius was wearing.
Aquilegio – Peregladius Falcon 2500 ATK / 1600 DEF (OVU:2)
Aquilegius – Peregladius Falcon 2500 + 200 = 2700
"I activate Aquil Enforcement – Exoskeleton, which allows me to add this card as a material for my Falcon and increase its attack."
The beast let out a violent roar that made Yuya's monsters on the field shudder.
Aquilegio – Peregladius Falcon 2800 (OVU 3)
"Then I activate Falcon's effect. I send Seme as an overlay unit, and with that, I can get rid of one of your cards…" She commanded her winged beast so that one of its surrounding materials was directed to her. "I'll destroy one of your face down cards." It threw sharp feathers at Yuya's card, which vanished.
Yuya gritted his teeth, seeing that his line of defense was wiped out that easily. His opponent played in a totally different way than his, but he didn't see any enjoyment from her. She was a good tactician, but what good was all this coordination if she didn't fight with her soul on the line?
She explained all of her moves as if she was a robot following orders.
"Falcon's attack returns to 2700 and Seme's effect lets me add two Aquil monsters from my graveyard to my hand."
"Brother, are you watching me? I am capable of being as strong as you. Just look at me!" She thought to herself. All her moves were just what her brother had taught her. She wasn't making a single mistake and she wanted to hope that Shun would be proud if he was watching this duel.
"Falcon will attack Elephamer."
The monster flew over the field at full speed. Like an animal searching for its prey, it went straight for Yuya's huge monster.
But Yuya took the chance. "It's true that I lost one of my defenses, but that's not the only trick I have in store. Open Sesame! I activate my trap card - Last Minute Canceled! Now all my Entermates go into defense mode."
All the Entermates on the field held a rigid stance, gathering together to protect not only themselves, but Yuya.
Ruri didn't express a single gesture. "I activate Falcon's effect. During the Damage Step, my monster gains 400 attack points for each of its Overlays Units."
Ruri's bird still didn't stop. Flying over the huge field, it immediately managed to destroy Yuya's monster in a single fine movement, at which the poor monster could only scream in pain.
"I'm so sorry, my friend," Yuya muttered, hurt that he couldn't protect the monster.
Falcon ATK: 3500
Ruri managed to destroy Yuya's elephant, but failed to do any damage. Ruri felt useless for not being able to do anything else this turn, having fallen for the boy's childish games.
"I could have done better," she murmured. Yuya raised an eyebrow, curious about the girl's words. "Falcon returns to its original attack. I put a card face down and I end my turn, so Sterling returns to its original attack as well."
Falcon ATK: 2700
Starling ATK: 2100
Yuya drew a card to start his turn. The mysterious girl's behavior in the duel was strange. Even when she was in control of the duel, it was noticeable that something annoyed her. Perhaps if he could get her to release her feelings, he could discover what anguished her so much. But would it be enough? His way of entertaining was empty, just like Yuzu said. But if he made this girl smile, maybe he could show Yuzu how wrong she was.
"Since I took the card that I need, I will have to change the cast that I have now." he affirmed decidedly.
"Change the cast you have now?" She asked, confused.
Yuya took a step forward and proclaimed, "In my next act, my cards in hand will disappear~"
Ruri didn't respond. She acted like her brother always told her to act: impassive.
"Apparently, we have a difficult audience." Yuya grimaced, and looked around him as if he had more viewers. "You see, when I activate Recasting in my hand, I can do this." Curtains manifested and covered Yuya, then disappeared in a storm of colorful smoke. He came out of the curtain again, this time with three new cards in his hand.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! Now we will start a new act!"
Yuya was speaking to his one-person audience. Ruri didn't know what to say or how to respond to such a crazy thing.
"Before proceeding, I will first have to make sure that nothing is hindering the act, so I will activate Performance Hurricane. I will be able to return as many cards on your field times the number of my Entermates friends."
Longphone Bull and Secondonkey gave a salute. Ruri looked away, blushing. She looked like she was avoiding something, and if he was right, she was opening up.
"My effect still continues and I return the two cards that you have face down."
The huge tornado immediately returned Ruri's cards to her hand.
"The Starling effect and Sky Reassembly is activated," Ruri intervened, her voice sounding serious despite the other's effusiveness. "First, I'll return Kunai to my hand." She retrieved the card from the graveyard. "And then I'll summon Mercy to the field."
Aquilanche – Mercy Lark 600 ATK / 900 DEF
Yūya clapped his hands. "Very well, little spy! Now I'll use my normal summon to invite a new friend, ready to activate its effect."
A jester appeared performing some stunts until almost colliding noses with Ruri, letting out a laugh that impressed the duelist. Quickly, the jester returned to his place in front of Yuya.
Entermate Skullcrobat Joker: 1800 / 100
"When it is summoned, I can add a card to my hand that is Entermate, Magician or Odd Eyes."
The jester handed a card to his hand.
"Thank you very much~"
Ruri covered her mouth so that the small giggle that happened at such a sight wouldn't be noticed.
"Now the fun is about to begin! I will perform a Pendulum Summon to summon Entermate Swordfish."
A strange swordfish shot out of the portal of the pendulum summoning.
Entermate Swordfish 600 ATK / 600 DEF
Yuya took the fish as if it were a sword, and he ran fast towards Ruri's Falcon, surprising her by his somewhat risky movement. "I'll activate Swordfish's effect. I select Falcon and it loses six hundred attack points."
Yuya threw the monster and it multiplied into several copies.
Falcon ATK: 2100
"Amazing!" Ruri couldn't resist her enthusiasm and expressed it openly, especially when the boy and his monster decided to jump on her Falcon and then fall towards the ravine. "Why did you do that?"
When she looked back down the ravine, she saw Yuya reappear again, this time riding a new dragon that was bringing him back to the field. "To summon Odd-Eyes Wizard." He winked.
"I sent my Skullcrobat Joker and an Odd Eyes to the graveyard."
Odd Eyes Wizard Dragon 2500 ATK / 2500 DEF
"When I summon a monster onto the field, Swordfish's second effect returns to make your monsters lose six hundred attack points."
Again, the fish multiplied and went to Ruri's falcon.
Falcon ATK: 1500
"I change my Entermates to attack position. And the battle phase begins with the guest star: Wizard Dragon!"
Clapping effects resounded out of nowhere as the dragon went straight for Ruri's monster.
"Falcon's effect activates and it gains four hundred attack points when it's in the battle phase."
Falcon ATK: 2300
The dragon charged directly at the bird at full speed, making it fall to the ground and disappear the moment the monster was shot down. Ruri took the damage in response to its destruction.
Ruri LP: 8000 - 200 = 7800
Ruri was so distracted by the show that she almost forgot an effect that could have been useful to her.
"The effect of Exoskeleton activates. I can increase my life points, and at the same time, any damage I take this turn becomes half."
A green aura surrounded Ruri all over her body.
Ruri LP: 7700 + 1000 = 8800
"Then Secondonkey will destroy your Mercy."
The donkey comically jumped at Ruri's bird, completely destroying her last line of defense.
"Now my friends will continue with the rest."
Both Longphone Bull and Fish advanced towards Ruri to attack her directly.
Ruri LP: 8800 - 1100 = 7700
"With this, I'll end my turn," Yuya said as he and his monsters took a step for applause. Ruri covered her mouth again, trying not to show genuine amusement.
"Don't hide it. Have fun." Yuya said. "No matter how difficult things are or whatever they send you to do, never forget to smile whenever you want to." he advised. He placed his fingers on the corners of his own mouth and stretched out a smile. "Just like this."
She couldn't hide her emotions from herself any longer. Ruri spat out a giggle. Although Phantom's words moved her too much, they were words that Yuto had said to her before parting ways with her.
Never stop smiling, Ruri.
Ruri shook her head. She wasn't in front of Yuto, at that moment. Smiling was the last thing she should do. Winning was everything.
She drew a card from her deck to start her turn. "I activate the continuous magic card Attack Squadron and then I will summon Misericorde back to the field."
Aquilanche – Mercy Lark 600 ATK / 900 DEF
"I use its effect to discard Seme from my hand and then directly summon another copy of Dirk Bunting."
Aquilanche – Dirk Bunting 500 ATK / 1500 DEF
"And Dirk Bunting's effect lets me take another card from my deck and Seme's effect lets me add an Aquilanche card."
She drew another card and her duel disk immediately let her add another one. "Attack Squadron activates its effect and targets your Odd-Eyes Wizard Dragon to destroy it."
The card fired a beam of energy that destroyed the dragon in a second, leaving a huge explosion. She was worried that the impact of the explosion had injured Yuya, but after it happened, she watched as he came out of the cloud of smoke on top of a new dragon.
"You're amazing!" she exclaimed enthusiastically without realizing it.
"Thank you, wonderful audience." Yuya bowed. "But, in addition to summoning my Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon, this card also lets me add a Spiral Flame. When I summon Odd-Eyes by effect, that means my Entermate Sword Fish's effect activates."
Yuya took the monster, and threw it with great speed at Ruri's birds, before the Swordfish multiplied into several versions of itself. With great impact and precision, they collided with Ruri's birds.
Mercy ATK: 0
Dirk ATK: 0
Ruri frowned.
"That doesn't mean anything because I'll activate Seme's effect, which allows me to discard Dirk Bunting from my hand to summon him back onto the field."
The monster appeared, forming together with the other birds.
Aquilanche – Seme Swallow 1300 ATK / 700 DEF
"When Dirk is discarded, I can put an Aquilanche card on top of my deck."
She shuffled her deck and the card she chose was on top of it. "I activate the other effect of Attack Squadron to make an XYZ summon again and summon my Aquilegio Peregladius Falcon."
Aquilegio – Peregladius Falcon 2500 ATK / 1600 DEF (OVU:4)
Falcon ATK: 2500 + 400 = 2900
"Then I activate another copy of Exoskeleton and my Serateeth from my hand. They will become Overlay Units for my card."
Falcon ATK: 2900 + 200 = 3100
"Now, I will begin my battle phase, attacking your Swordfish."
Her bird went straight for Yuya's fish. Her monster received the above power bonus. "Serateeth's effect is activated. You get 300 points of damage."
Yuya LP: 8000 - 300 = 7700
Yuya knew the danger he was running into. He had to pull a card up his sleeve. "I activate Action Card: Miracle, which protects my monster from being destroyed."
"When did you take it?" Ruri asked in amazement.
"When I fell down the ravine, it wasn't just for a simple demonstration. I went to take an Action Card."
"Awesome," the girl gasped. He wasn't just moving randomly. There was a strategy in his way of thinking. "But that doesn't change anything. Falcon gains 400 ATK for each of its Overlay Units."
Falcon ATK: 5500
The fish was protected by a multicolored aura, but that didn't stop it from flying straight into its owner's face and he almost fell to the ground, desperately trying to hold on to Odd-Eyes.
Yuya LP: 7700 - 2450 = 5250
Ruri laughed, and in the end, she was defeated by her opponent's ridiculousness. She was laughing hard like she hadn't in a long time. Without knowing why, she stopped for a moment, only to start crying this time.
"You don't have to cry when smiling is better," Yuya told her. He wanted her to feel better. She seemed to be a tough-looking person. She tried hard to hide her emotions, but in reality, she was too sensitive, and therefore fragile. She was like him.
Ruri rubbed her eyes like a little girl, continuing to cry. "Stop talking like him. I'm tired of this!"
Yuya sounded like Yuto. Ruri missed Yuto so much and the good times she spent with him. She wanted to have fun again. She wanted to be young again.
Yuya didn't understand what the girl was saying. He kept a forced smile, but seeing her cry like that broke his heart. "Hey…"
Seeing that girl cry, with that face so similar to Yuzu's, made Yuya need to know if Yuzu also kept so much anguish behind that strength.
Although Ruri's shoulders were still shaking from sobbing, she was able to clean her tears and continue the duel. If Shun saw her cry like this, he would surely be disappointed. "My turn is over and my falcon's attack will return to normal. I also set a card face down." she pronounced reluctantly. However, she raised her face and showed a rather sweet smile, softening Yuya's heart. "The show must go on. Come on."
Falcon ATK: 3100
Yuya thought that perhaps it was better to interrupt the duel, but he supposed that it would only make things worse if he did. The best thing to comfort a person was to continue with the show.
Yes, the show must go on.
"Then let's start the show!" Yuya was sure that this move would be decisive in reaching her heart. "I activate the Spiral Flame effect. Since I have Odd-Eyes on the field, I can destroy a monster you control on the field and your Falcon will be the target."
Ruri responded this time more confidently than her last turn. "Sorry, Phantom, but I activate Serrated Teeth's effect! By detaching a unit from my monster, I can negate an effect."
Falcon ATK: 3000
"Also, when Serrated Teeth is sent to the graveyard, I can banish a monster from your field."
Ruri pointed to Odd-Eyes. Her shadow moved quickly and surrounded Yuya's dragon. In the blink of an eye, the dragon disappeared from the field with its roar being the last thing they heard from it.
"Oh well! Since the star of the show disappeared, I can't do anything but call its understudy, and for that, I will also have to fire my other two assistants."
Both monsters bid farewell to Ruri. She laughed heartily at the monsters.
"Let's make way for the sorcerer who only brings smiles. Come, Entermate Smile Magician! Clean our tears with your laughter!" The magician appeared, winking at the girl with her peculiar smile.
Entermate Smile Magician 2500 ATK / 2000 DEF
"When Smile Magician is summoned, I can add Smile World to my hand." Yuya added the card. "Then, I'll do another Pendulum Summon to bring back my Entermate Skullcrobat Joker."
The skull magician went back to the field and greeted her by taking off its hat.
"I activate Swordfish's effect."
The monster multiplied again and went straight toward Ruri's monster.
"I won't allow it. My trap, Breakthrough Skill, is activated. It allows me to negate the effect of your Swordfish."
The fish was forcibly stopped by the black aura surrounding it, desperately trying to move before giving in to the pressure and falling asleep because of it. Yuya slapped himself. "Come on, Swordfish! Don't stop now! You ruined the act!"
"Then, I will activate my magic card, Smile World."
The field was surrounded by different colored smiles that made all the monsters on the field smile. He even managed to make the girl smile, forgetting her stress.
Yuya smiled, proud of himself.
Magical ATK: 2900
Sword Fish ATK: 1000
Skullcrobat Joker ATK: 2200
Falcon ATK: 3400
"Because of this effect, all monsters on the field gain 100 attack points for each of them. But I'm not done yet because thanks to this, Smile Magician's effect is activated, which lets me draw cards for each monster whose attack has increased."
Yuya drew three cards from his deck. "Then, I activate the Magician Pendulum Boost card. By destroying the two pendulum cards I have and one of my monsters, it gains attack equal to their combined level."
Magical ATK: 2900 + 900 = 3800
"I place Partnaga and Drumerilla on my pendulum scales."
The new monsters manifested on Yuya's scales. "I activate Partnaga's effect and Smile Magician will gain attack for each Entermate on the field."
Magical ATK: 3800 + 900 = 4700
"I need your help, buddies." Yuya began to run across the field. "I will attack your Falcon with my Smile Magician and then I will activate Drumerilla's effect that increases my magician's attack by six hundred."
The monkey started drumming and increased Yuya's monster's attack power.
Smile Magician ATK: 4700 + 600 = 5300
Yuya took an Action Card and immediately activated it. "Activating my Action Card. Thanks to Double Attack, I increase the attack of my Smile Magician."
The monster began to turn into a huge smiley face.
Sorcerer ATK: 5300 + 5300 = 10600
"It doesn't change the fact that Falcon's attack increases when it's in the battle phase."
The bird immediately took care of Yuya's magician.
Falcon ATK: 5400
Ruri's monster was immediately destroyed as the huge smiling face vaporized it almost immediately.
Ruri LP: 7700 - 5200 = 2500
"The effects of the cards you destroyed – Misericorde, Seme, Exoskeleton, Sky Reassembly – activate immediately." Ruri added back the lost cards in her graveyard due to the effect of her cards.
Ruri LP: 2500 + 1000 = 3500
Smile Magician ATK: 5300
Phantom ran fast in search of the Action Card because he knew that one of those effects would destroy his monster. He managed to grab one in time and took it. "I activate Mirror Barrier and that negates the destruction of my monster."
The attack landed and a huge energy barrier surrounded Yuya's monster, preventing the imminent destruction that was about to hit him.
"But that doesn't save you yet. Smile Magician can attack this turn multiple times."
The magician went straight back to attack.
"But remember that, due to the effect of my card, all damage is reduced to half." The magician attacked Ruri, letting her fall to the ground.
Ruri LP: 3500 - 2650 = 850
Luckily for her, when the last attack was about to come, she saw one of the Action Cards that Yuya was using and took it immediately. "I activate the Action Card, Big Escape, which ends the battle phase."
"You're starting to master this. Are you liking it?" Yuya asked the girl, making her smile shyly. "I put my Swordfish in defense mode and then end my turn."
Sword Fish ATK: 600
Skullcrobat Joker ATK: 1800
"I will summon Misericord back to the field." Ruri summoned her monster for the last time. Her field was empty, but that didn't change how determined she was. This time she wasn't fighting for her life. She was having a fun duel. She had longed for this feeling. "I discard Bristlehead to summon Kunai!"
Aquilanche – Kunai Sparrow 1000 ATK / 500 DEF
"The effect of my cards is activated. First, Attack Squadron will destroy the Smile Magician."
She pointed at Phantom's monster. From the graveyard came the shadow of one of the birds, which destroyed the wizard with one blow before Yuya could say goodbye. "Then I add Dirk from my graveyard and add Seme. Then draw a card with Bristlehead's effect."
Ruri drew confidently and overzealously. "I discard the copy of Seme in my hand to activate Seme's effect in my graveyard, so I can summon it to the field!"
The monster again appeared on the battlefield.
Aquilanche – Seme Swallow 1300ATK / 700 DEF
"Then I will use another Attack Squadron, and if you remember its effect, I will bring back the copies of Dirk and Seme."
The monsters returned to the field again. The monsters were positioned on the field, giving Ruri a total of more than five monsters. With all these monsters, she could rebuild the Overlay Unit. The five monsters turned into energy, and when they exploded, she revealed a much more powerful bird than the previous one.
"Rise to fight for your allies! Use your hunter wings not to bring revenge, but to protect them all. XYZ Summon! Aquilegio Rise – Griffalchion Vulture!"
The huge bird showed itself to the field, almost pushing Yuya away with a strong, but inspiring blizzard. It was as if the wind in her mood had changed.
Aquilegio – Griffalchion Vulture ATK 2000 / DEF 2800 (OVU: 5)
"But there's more. If you think my monster has too many materials, you have to see that it can gain even more when I activate the copies of Serrated Teeth, Exoskeleton and Electroreception."
The bird screamed as all those materials became a part of it.
Aquilegio – Griffalchion Vulture (OVU: 8)
"Electro's effect kicks in, letting me destroy your Drumerilla." The gorilla was destroyed as the bird gave a sonic scream. "Finally, I activate my Rank Up Magic Aquilla Force and select Vulture."
It spread its wings. A series of lightning flashes followed, revealing the huge winged beast. The sharp wings of the beast seemed to cut through any kind of material. The huge beast roared with anticipation, a roar that could only reveal a great inner pain.
Aquilegio – Blackhawkatana Eagle ATK 3000 / 2700 (OVU:9)
"Aquila force has yet another effect. The summoned monster gains two hundred attack points for each material."
Blackhawkatana ATK: 5700
"Mercy's effect activates, changing the position of Swordfish to attack."
The monster went on the attack. "Attack his monster, Blackhawktana."
Yuya immediately ran. He managed to jump between the jungle pods, Swordfish in hand, thus preventing Ruri's attack from succeeding and escaping the clutches of her XYZ monster.
He found an Action Card and activated it. "I use the Action Card: Miracle!"
Ruri stretched out a smile, startling Yuya. "Enough of your games, Phantom. I activate the effect of Blackhawkatana!"
An Overlay Unit vanisheed from Blackhawkatana, negating Miracle's effect and making the card disappear from Yuya's hand.
Yuya looked at Ruri in surprise, who winked at him, as the Phantom had done so many times with her. "Now it's here, and now it's not here. Did you like my magic trick? Because that's not all! Since I sent Mercy to the graveyard, your Swordfish's attack is halved."
Swordfish ATK/DEF: 300
Yuya swallowed heavily. Seeing defeat coming gave him a bitter taste for an instant. However, there was a twinkle in the girl's eyes that was different to him. She was enjoying this duel.
That, for Yuya, meant that she had won.
"Let's get this over with!" Ruri excitedly demanded for Blackhawkatana to destroy Swordfish.
Swordfish exploded into thousands of particles upon being attacked. The huge impact pushed Yuya to the ground as his LP was reduced to zero.
A large digital billboard announced Ruri's victory before the stage vanished. There was no longer any trace of the Action Field, nor anything to do with the duel that was supposed to take information from Phantom.
Ruri felt relieved, not because she had fulfilled that particular mission, but because she had had the most fun ever. She wanted to thank Phantom, and though she hesitated at the idea, she didn't hold back from doing so.
Ruri ran over to Yuya to offer a hand and help him up. Now they were being welcomed by the boring rooftop view, which somehow kept the atmosphere nice, different from before they started the duel.
Yuya looked up, seeing the girl's hand stretched out, showing her radiant smile, a smile similar to Yuzu's.
Yuya concealed the hope that it was Yuzu who was reaching out to him with a smile and took Ruri's hand, laughing awkwardly at her. "Looks like the curtains closed on me," he said as he stood up.
It was Yuya's way of saying that his show was over, and in an unexpected way, but at the same time, he kept holding onto that insecurity that lurked in his heart regarding his dueling style.
"Are you kidding?! Your dueling style is fantastic!" Ruri gushed. Realizing that she was getting carried away, she decided to hold back her enthusiasm a bit. "I mean, you're very talented as an entertainment duelist. I had a lot of fun!"
Yuya shuddered. Those words lightened his load. "Thanks." He scratched the back of his neck, slightly blushing, "I think I needed to hear that. But I also need to hear why you were spying on me." Yuya raised an eyebrow.
Ruri clasped her own hands, directing her gaze to the city, carefully sitting down on a rooftop step. Yuya sat next to her.
"Let's say I'm looking for something…" Ruri hugged her knees. "In other words, I'm looking for someone."
Yuya noticed a hint of melancholy in her eyes. Ruri returned her gaze to him, forcing a smile that was still kind, but hid a bit of sadness and loneliness. "I have a brother and I want him to see that I'm not as useless as I seem, but I don't know where he is. Pathetic, right?"
Yuya pursed his lip, hugging his knees as well. "No, it's not. I think… I understand."
He knew where he could find Yuzu if he wanted to look for her, but deep down he wished Yuzu would look for him and see how capable he was of making a person smile with his entertaining duel. However, he wasn't sure if what he had done today was enough to make her proud or even patch things up with Yuzu.
He still couldn't comprehend what he had done wrong.
Yuya shook his head. This was not the time to brood over that.
He forced a smile. "Well, if that's the whole point. I'll pretend we just had a friendly duel."
Yuya stood up and extended his hand for the girl to shake.
Ruri raised an eyebrow. "Pretend? We had a friendly duel, Phantom. Or should I call you...?"
"Yuya. Call me Yuya."
Ruri shook his hand, feeling more comfortable with Yuya's presence. "A pleasure, Yuya. You can call me Ruri."
Ruri didn't feel guilty at all for making Phantom her ally. If she was her brother, she probably wouldn't want to be anywhere near this boy, but in critical moments like the ones they were living through, sometimes it was better to make allies and not more enemies.
That was what Ruri wanted her brother to understand.
Shun was taken to the LDS building, something that was on his list of plans so that he could meet face-to-face with Akaba Reiji. He wouldn't let the Academy take him prisoner. He acted like he was easy prey, but as soon as they made him set foot in the building, Shun charged at the guards.
He didn't have his duel disk, much less his cards, but he had his hands and the training to go hand-to-hand with these guys.
Shun struggled and managed to free himself. The men who were supposed to guard him were attacked by Shun.
More guards joined the scene, surrounding Shun, who resisted very persistently, but there were too many and Shun was already carrying his body, exhausted from the duel he had with that fusion user.
Some men managed to subdue him, taking advantage of his exhaustion. Shun was weak and immobilized, being beaten in such a way that didn't allow him to defend himself as he normally would. He was at his worst, feeling vulnerable in front of the enemy he wanted so badly to destroy.
What kind of message was he giving his comrades by being defeated in such a pathetic way?
With the last of his strength, Shun claimed to see Akaba Reiji. He cursed the men who held him and embarrassed him in this way.
"That's enough," a deep, determined voice demanded.
His lungs burned, and his chest ached terribly, but he had enough resistance to look up and meet the sharp presence of the person who had intervened in the fight.
"Didn't you want to see me? Here I am, Kurosaki Shun."
Ruri OC's cards.(Haoh Ryuzarc cards)
Aquilanche – Kunai Sparrow
Attribute: Wind
Level: 3
Type: Winged Beast/Effect
ATK/DEF: 1000/500
Effect:
If this card is used for the Xyz Summon of an "Aquilegio" monster, it can be treated as a Level 2 or 4 monster. If this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can target 1 WIND monster you control or in your GY; add 1 "Aquilanche" monster from your Deck to your hand with the same Level as the Level/Rank of the targeted monster. If this card is sent to the GY: You can send the top 2 cards from your Deck to the GY. You can only activate 1 "Aquilanche – Kunai Sparrow" effect per turn, and only once that turn.
Aquilanche – Misericorde Lark
Attribute: Wind
Level: 3
Type: Winged Beast/Effect
ATK/DEF: 600/900
Effect:
If this card is used for the Xyz Summon of an "Aquilegio" monster, it can be treated as a Level 2 or 4 monster. You can discard 1 card; Special Summon 1 "Aquilanche" monster from your Deck. If this card is sent to the GY: You can halve the ATK/DEF of 1 monster on the field. You can only activate 1 "Aquilanche – Misericorde Lark" effect per turn, and only once that turn.
Aquilanche – Kris Bristlehead
Attribute: Wind
Level: 3
Type: Winged Beast/Effect
ATK/DEF: 1200/300
Effect:
If this card is used for the Xyz Summon of an "Aquilegio" monster, it can be treated as a Level 2 or 4 monster. If this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can target 1 WIND Xyz Monster you control; attach 1 "Aquil" monster from your Deck or GY to that monster as material. If this card is sent to the GY: You can draw 1 card. You can only activate 1 "Aquilanche – Kris Bristlehead" effect per turn, and only once that turn.
Aquilanche – Seme Swallow
Attribute: Wind
Level: 4
Type: Winged Beast/Effect
ATK/DEF: 1300/700
Effect:
If this card is used for the Xyz Summon of an "Aquilegio" monster, it can be treated as a Level 3 or 5 monster. You can discard 1 card; Special Summon this card from your hand or GY. If this card is sent to the GY: You can target up to 2 "Aquil" cards in your GY; add them to your hand. You can only activate 1 "Aquilanche – Seme Swallow" effect per turn, and only once that turn.
Aquilanche – Dirk Bunting
Attribute: Wind
Level: 4
Type: Winged Beast/Effect
ATK/DEF: 500/1500
Effect:
If this card is used for the Xyz Summon of an "Aquilegio" monster, it can be treated as a Level 3 or 5 monster. If this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can draw cards equal to the number of "Aquil" monsters that were sent to your GY this turn (Max. 2). If this card is sent to the GY: You can take 1 "Aquil" card from your Deck and place it on top of your Deck. You can only activate 1 "Aquilanche – Dirk Bunting" effect per turn, and only once that turn.
Aquilegio – Karambit Nightingale
Attribute: Wind
Rank: 3
Type: Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect
ATK/DEF: 100/2000
Effect:
2+ Level 3 "Aquil" monsters
This card can attack directly. You can send cards from the top of your Deck to the GY, up to the number of materials attached to this card, and if you do, this card gains 300 ATK for each "Aquil" card sent to the GY by this effect until the end of this turn, also it can make that many attacks during each Battle Phase this turn. (Quick Effect): You can detach 1 material from this card; until the end of this turn, "Aquil" monsters you control cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects, also you take no battle damage from battles involving "Aquil" monsters. You can only use each effect of "Aquilegio – Karambit Nightingale" once per turn.
Aquilegio – Shiv Starling
Attribute: Wind
Rank: 3
Type: Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect
ATK/DEF: 2000/1000
Effect:
2+ Level 3 "Aquil" monsters
Cannot be destroyed by battle while it has material. You can detach 1 material from this card; send 1 "Aquil" card from your Deck to the GY, and if you do, this card gains 500 ATK until the end of this turn. If this card leaves the field by card effect: You can Special Summon 1 "Aquilanche" monster from your GY. You can only use each effect of "Aquilegio – Shiv Starling" once per turn.
Aquilegio – Peregladius Falcon
Attribute: Wind
Rank: 4
Type: Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect
ATK/DEF: 2500/1600
Effect:
2+ Level 4 "Aquil" monsters
You can detach 1 material from this card and target 1 card in your opponent's hand or field; send it to the GY. You can only use this effect of "Aquilegio – Peregladius Falcon" once per turn. This is a Quick Effect if this card has 3 or more materials. If this card battles an opponent's monster: This card gains 400 ATK for each material attached to this card during the Damage Step only. Once per turn, if your opponent activates an effect that would add a card(s) from their Deck or GY to their hand while this card has 6 or more materials (Quick Effect): You can detach 1 material from this card; negate that effect, and if you do, destroy that card.
Aquilegio – Griffalchion Vulture
Attribute: Wind
Rank: 4
Type: Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect
ATK/DEF: 2000/2800
Effect:
2+ Level 4 "Aquil" monsters
You can detach 1 material from this card; add 1 "Aquil" card from your Deck to your hand. You can only use this effect of "Aquilegio – Griffalchion Vulture" once per turn. This is a Quick Effect if this card has 4 or more materials. At the end of the Damage Step, if this card attacked: You can change it to Defense Position, then send the top card of your Deck to the GY. While this card has 6 or more materials, double its ATK/DEF.
Aquilegio – Blackhawkatana Eagle
Attribute: Wind
Rank: 5
Type: Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect
ATK/DEF: 3000/2700
Effect:
2+ Level 5 "Aquil" monsters
You can also Xyz Summon this card by using a Rank 4 or lower "Aquilegio" monster with 5 or more materials that you control as material. (Transfer its materials to this card.) You can detach 1 material from this card; negate the effects of 1 card on the field, and if you do, destroy it. You can only use this effect of "Aquilegio – Blackhawkatana Eagle" once per turn. This is a Quick Effect if this card has 3 or more materials. If this card attacks a Defense Position monster, inflict piercing battle damage to your opponent, also, during the Damage Step only, negate the effects of that monster while it is face-up on the field (but its effects can still be activated). Once per turn, if this card has 6 or more materials (Quick Effect): You can change 1 monster on the field to Defense Position or, if its position cannot be changed, its ATK becomes 0.
Aquil Sky Reassembly
Card Type: Spell/Field
Effect:
When this card is activated: You can target 1 "Aquil" card in your GY; add it to your hand. WIND Xyz Monsters you control gain 100 ATK for each material attached to them. During your Main Phase: You can target up to 2 "Aquil" monster in your GY; Special Summon those targets, but negate their effects, and if you do, immediately after this effect resolves, Xyz Summon 1 WIND Xyz Monster using only "Aquil monster you control, including any monsters Summoned by this effect. If a WIND Xyz Monster(s) you control is destroyed by battle or leaves the field because of an opponent's card effect: You can target 1 monsters in your GY that was attached to one of the Xyz Monsters as material when it left the field; add it to your hand. You can only activate each effect of "Aquil Sky Reassembly" once per turn.
Aquil Attack Squadron
Card Type: Spell/Continuous
Effect:
During your Main Phase: You can target up to 2 "Aquil" monster in your GY; Special Summon those targets, but negate their effects, and if you do, immediately after this effect resolves, Xyz Summon 1 WIND Xyz Monster using only "Aquil monster you control, including any monsters Summoned by this effect. If an "Aquil" monster(s) is sent to the GY: You can target 1 card on the field; destroy it. If exactly 1 WIND Xyz Monster you control is targeted for an attack or by an opponent's card effect (except during the Damage Step): You can return that monster to the Extra Deck, then you can Special Summon any monsters in your GY with the same names as those attached to that Xyz Monster as material when it was returned to the Extra Deck. You can only activate each effect of "Aquil Attack Squadron" once per turn.
Rank-Up-Magic Aquila Force
Card Type: Spell/Normal
Effect:
Target 1 WIND Xyz Monster you control; Special Summon from your Extra Deck, 1 monster with the same Type and Attribute as that monster you control but 1 Rank higher, by using it as the Xyz Material. (This Special Summon is treated as an Xyz Summon. Transfer its materials to the Summoned monster.) The Xyz Monster Special Summoned by this effect gains 200 ATK x the number of materials attached to it until the end of this turn. If this card is in your GY: You can shuffle 3 other "Aquil" cards from your GY into your Deck, then add this card to your hand. You can only use this effect of "Rank-Up-Magic Aquila Force" once per turn.
Aquil Enforcement – Serrated Teeth
Card Type: Spell/Quick-Play
Effect:
Attach this card to a WIND Xyz Monster as material. A WIND Xyz Monster with this card as material gains this effect:
● If this card attacks: Inflict 300 damage to your opponent.
If this card is sent to the GY: Banish 1 monster your opponent controls or in their GY. You can only use this effect of "Aquil Enforcement – Serrated Teeth" once per turn.
Aquil Enforcement – Exoskeleton
Card Type: Spell/Quick-Play
Effect:
Attach this card to a WIND Xyz Monster as material. A WIND Xyz Monster with this card as material gains this effect:
● This card cannot be targeted or destroyed by your opponent's card effects.
If this card is sent to your GY: Gain 1000 LP, and if you do, halve all damage you take until your next Standby Phase. You can only use this effect of "Aquil Enforcement – Exoskeleton" once per turn.
Aquil Enforcement – Electroreception
Card Type: Spell/Quick-Play
Effect:
Attach this card to a WIND Xyz Monster as material. A WIND Xyz Monster with this card as material gains this effect:
● Once per turn (Quick Effect): You can target 1 card in your opponent's Spell/Trap Zone; look at it (if it was face-down), then you can destroy 1 Spell/Trap your opponent controls.
If this card is sent to your GY: You can excavate the top 3 cards of your Deck, and if you do, you can add 1 excavated "Aquil" card to your hand, also shuffle the rest into your Deck. You can only use this effect of "Aquil Enforcement – Electroreception" once per turn.
Rank-Up-Trap Aquila Iron Molt
Card Type: Trap/Normal
Effect:
Target 1 WIND Xyz Monster you control; Special Summon from your Extra Deck, 1 monster with the same original Attribute as that monster you control but up to 2 Ranks higher, by using it as the Xyz Material, and if you do, attach this card to it as additional material. (This Special Summon is treated as an Xyz Summon. Transfer its materials to the Summoned monster.) An Xyz Monster Special Summoned by this effect gains 500 ATK until the End Phase. If this card is detached from an Xyz Monster and sent to the GY to activate that monster's effect: That monster cannot be destroyed by your opponent's card effects until the end of this turn, also, you can Set this card. That monster's effect must be the last Chain Link to activate and resolve this effect.