"DUEL!" All four Duelists shouted in unison.
"I shall be making the first move." Tsukikage announced, drawing his five Cards. "My turn! From my Hand, I will be Summoning Twilight Ninja Shingetsu!" A green armored ninja with a cyan-colored cape appeared to the Field out of a cloud of smoke.
Shingetsu: Level 4, 1500 Atk, 100 Def
"Next, I will activate the Magic Card Ninjitsu Art of Hazy Duplication. This Card allows me to Special Summon a level 4 or lower Ninja Monster from my Hand. I choose to bring out a second copy of Shingetsu!" Tsukikage exclaimed as another copy of Shingetsu appeared next to the first. "I set one Card facedown. And with that, my turn is finished."
"My turn." Hideo droned. "Draw. From my Hand, I activate the Magic Card Spellbook of Knowledge! With this Card, I get to add one Spellbook Card from my Deck to my Hand as long as it's not called Spellbook of Secrets. I choose to add the Card Spellbook of Power to my Hand."
Aki's eyes widened with recognition at the sight of the Cards, before her face recoiled into an expression of disgust. "Father's Deck...Roget's influence taints even the belongings of my family. I will not allow Roget to have control over my father's Deck any longer!"
For a single moment, Aki's hair seemed to flare up with a hint of killing intent leaking in the air. Tsukikage, being a member of the Fuuma clan, immediately picked up on these concerning traits.
"My next move will be the Summoning of Temperance of Prophecy!" Hideo declared as an orange-robed mage appeared to the Field.
Temperance of Prophecy: Level 3, 1000 Atk, 1000 Def
"Temperance of Prophecy! Then that means…" Aki gasped as she already knew what move her father was going to make next, as she has been on the receiving end of it many times in the past.
"I activate Temperance of Prophecy's effect! During the Main Phase, if I had previously activated a Spellbook Magic Card, I can release this Card and Special Summon a level 5 or higher Light or Dark Spellcaster-Type Monster from my Deck." Removing an ejected Card from his Deck, Hideo brought out a man dressed in royal robes sitting on a throne. "Come out, Emperor of Prophecy!"
Emperor of Prophecy: Level 5, 2300 Atk, 2000 Def
"Since this is a Tag Duel, I cannot attack this turn since I am going second. As a result, I set one Card to end my turn." Hideo finished his turn, directing a blank stare over to his daughter.
"Father...Mother…" Aki trailed off as she looked at her brainwashed parents with a sad look on her face. "I won't leave you. Never again. I've already lost you once, I cannot let it happen again. If I hurt you, please forgive me. I will not let Roget have his dirty hands control you any longer. It ends here! My turn, draw! To start, I will activate the Magic Card called Seed of Deception. This Card allows me to Special Summon a level 2 or lower Plant-Type Monster from my Hand. Come out, the Tuner Monster, Copy Plant!"
Copy Plant: Level 1, 0 Atk, 0 Def
"Next, I choose to release Copy Plant in order to Advance Summon the level 6 Gigaplant from my Hand!" Aki exclaimed, slamming the Card down as a huge plant with a Venus flytrap mouth and tendrils running across its slimy and mossy green body rose from the ground with a hungry look in its many eyes.
Gigaplant: Level 6, 2400 Atk, 1200 Def
"Since I cannot attack this turn, I will simply set these two Cards facedown and end my turn." Aki mimicked the movements her father made the turn before, her Cards materializing in front of her before disappearing. She directed her attention to the more pressing matter currently.
The other redhead in the room with their hand on a Deck.
"My turn, draw!" Setsuko declared emotionlessly, sliding the top Card off of her Deck. "First, I will activate the Field Magic Card Aroma Garden." A field of flowers enveloped the area surrounding the four Duelists, signifying that the Field Magic was in effect.
"It's as I suspected." Aki muttered under her breath, her anger slowly rising once again. "He's making her use her own Deck as well."
"My next move will be activating the Continuous Magic Card Aroma Gardening! Following that, I Summon Aromage Jasmine to the Field." A white-haired girl wearing a white colored jacket appeared in front of Setsuko.
Jasmine: Level 2, 100 Atk, 1900 Def
"Aroma Gardening's effect now activates! Once per turn, if I Normal or Special Summon an Aroma Monster, I can gain 1000 life points." Obviously, Setsuko went through with the effect, a green light surrounding her body as her life points surpassed the default amount.
Setsuko: 4000-5000 LP
Tsukikage narrowed his eyes. "It seems to be a Deck based around gaining life points. Am I wrong to assume that?"
Aki shook her head. "No. You are completely right."
"I now activate Jasmine's effect! Once per turn, if I gain life points, I can draw a Card from my Deck." After drawing her Card, Setsuko directed her attention to another Card in her Hand. "Aromage Jasmine has another effect. During the Main Phase, while my life points are higher than my opponent's, I can Normal Summon a Plant Monster in addition to my regular Normal Summon. With this extra Normal Summon, I choose to release Aromage Jasmine in order to Advance Summon Aromage Marjoram!"
Marjoram: Level 5, 2000 Atk, 1600 Def
"Now, I will activate the effect of Aromaseraphy Angelica from my Hand! During either player's turn, by discarding this Card, I can target an Aroma Monster in my Grave and gain life equal to that Monster's Attack." Inserting her Monster into the Graveyard, Setsuko obviously chose Jasmine, as that was her only choice.
Jasmine had only 100 Attack. Therefore, Setsuko only gains 100 life points.
Setsuko: 5000-5100 LP
"I now activate Marjoram's effect. Once per turn, if I gain life points, then I can target Cards in your Grave equal to the amount of Aroma Monsters on my Field and banish them." Setsuko explained. "The Monster I choose to banish is Copy Plant." Aki muttered a curse under her breath as she forced herself to remove her Tuner Monster from play. "I choose to activate the Graveyard effect of the Tuner Monster Aromaseraphy Angelica. If I have a higher amount of life points than my opponent and an Aroma Monster on the Field, I can Special Summon this Card from the Grave. However, I'll have to banish it when it leaves the Field."
As she concluded her explanation, a fairy-like entity appeared to the Field with a majestic twirl.
Angelica: Level 1, 0 Atk, 0 Def
"She said Angelica was a Tuner Monster." Tsukikage noted.
Aki nodded. "Yes. Then that means…"
"I tune the level 5 Aromage Marjoram with the level 1 Tuner Monster Aromage Angelica!" Setsuko finished her daughter's thoughts with her declaration, her Monsters being transformed into stars and rings respectively. A flash of light surged through the rings continuously with Setsuko announcing the Summon of her new Monster. "Synchro Summon! Come out! Level 6! Aromaseraphy Sweet Marjoram!" A winged Marjoram appeared to the Field with a staff in her hand.
Sweet Marjoram: Level 6, 2200 Atk, 2000 Def
As Setsuko had stated previously, since Aromage Angelica had left the Field after being brought back by her own effect, she was now banished instead of being sent to the Graveyard. After this, she immediately waved her hand to the newly Summoned Monster.
"Sweet Marjoram's effect activates. Once per turn, when this Card is Synchro Summoned, I get to add either Humid Winds, Dried Winds, or Blessed Winds from my Deck to my Hand." Taking out a Card from her Deck, Setsuko continued. "From these three, I choose to add Blessed Winds to my Hand. Now, I activate the effect of Aroma Garden. Once per turn, if I control an Aroma Monster, I can gain 500 life points. Also, all Monsters I control gain 500 Attack and Defense until the end of my opponent's next turn."
Setsuko: 5100-5600 LP
Sweet Marjoram: 2200-2700 Atk, 2000-2500 Def
Setsuko waved to her Monster. "I activate another one of Sweet Marjoram's effects. Once per turn, when I gain life points, I can target a Card that you control and destroy it!" Pointing her finger towards one of Aki's set Cards, she continued, "I choose to destroy that facedown."
Upon her declaration, Sweet Marjoram aimed her staff at the set Card, releasing a purple beam of energy. The beam connected with the set Card, destroying it without a trace. The destroyed Card was a Continuous Trap called Wicked Rebirth.
"Now then," Setsuko started. "Since I am the last one to do their turn, I can attack. Battle! Aromaseraphy Sweet Marjoram, attack Twilight Ninja Shingetsu!"
"Not so fast!" Tsukikage interjected quickly. "The effect of Shingetsu states that when this Card is on the Field the opponent cannot target any Ninja Monster for an attack except this Card. However, since I control two copies of Shingetsu, you cannot attack either of them!"
Setsuko grunted out of frustration, before it was quickly wiped away by another thought. "Your Shingetsu may protect your own Monsters, but that effect does not
apply to your teammate! Sweet Marjoram, attack Gigaplant!"
"Worry not, Aki-san. I have this covered." Tsukikage spoke, revealing his set lone Card, a Continuous Trap. "I activate Armor Ninjitsu - Art of Freezing! When an opponent's Monster declares an attack while I control a Ninja Monster, I can flip this Card face-up, negate the attack and end the Battle Phase!"
Not long after Tsukikage's explanation, Sweet Marjoram lowered her staff, placing it down at her sides.
Setsuko clicked her tongue out of annoyance at her failure in destroying her daughter's Monster. Coming to terms with her failure, she raised the last two Cards in her Hand and inserted them into her Duel Disk. "I set these two Cards and end my turn."
"It's my turn, I draw! First, I will activate the Magic Card Art of Katon. When I have a Ninjitsu or Ninja Card in my Graveyard, I can destroy one Card on the Field that the opponent possesses." Tsukikage explained, darting his eyes to every Card on the opposing Field. After a few brief moments of thought and decision-making, Tsukikage made up his mind. "The Card I choose to destroy is Aroma Gardening!"
Upon his declaration, the Continuous Magic Card shattered, disappearing from the Field. After, Tsukikage held up the final Card in his Hand and proceeded to slide it into his Duel Disk.
"I activate the Magic Card Card of Sanctity! Now, we all draw Cards until we each have six Cards in our Hand." Tsukikage explained, beginning to draw his Cards, prompting the other three to follow. Through an immediate reaction, Tsukikage took a Card out of his Hand, revealing it to the opposing team. "I activate the Magic Card Armor Ninjitsu Art of Alchemy. With this Card, if I control a Ninjutsu Card in my Magic and Trap Zone, I get to destroy all other Ninjutsu Art Cards on my Field and draw 2 Cards."
Placing Alchemy and Freezing into his Graveyard, Tsukikage proceeded to draw 2 Cards before holding them out to his opponents. "Now, I set the Pendulum Scale using the Scale 1 Twilight Ninja Jogen and the Scale 10 Twilight Ninja Kagen!"
Tsukikage swiped his hand across his Duel Disk, placing both of his Cards on either side of the blade. The word PENDULUM played across his Duel Disk's blade as his Monsters rose up into the air inside columns.
"With this, I can simultaneously Special Summon Monsters with levels between 2 and 9. Pendulum Summon!" Tsukikage raised his hand and flying out of a blue portal opening above him, a single Monster appeared. "Appear! Twilight Ninja Nichirin, the Chunin!"
Nichirin, the Chunin: Level 6, 2300 Atk, 1000 Def
"Following that, I choose to overlay the two level 4 Shingetsus!"
"Overlay?" Aki repeated out of surprise. "An Xyz Summon…"
"Xyz Summon! Appear! Rank 4! Blade Armor Ninja!" A purple-aroma red ninja with two sharp blades appeared to the Field.
Blade Armor Ninja: Rank 4, 2200 Atk, 1000 Def
"I activate the effect of Nichirin, the Chunin. Once per turn, during either player's turn, by discarding a Ninja Monster, I can activate one of Nichirin's two effects. I choose to use the second effect, where I get to increase the Attack of a Ninja Monster I control by 1000 until the end of the turn. I choose to increase Nichirin's Attack by discarding Twilight Ninja Getsuga, the Shogun."
Nichirin, the Chunin: 2300-3300 Atk
"I now activate the effect of Blade Armor Ninja. Once per turn, by detaching an overlay unit, I can grant one Ninja Monster I control the ability to attack twice!" Blade Armor Ninja used one of his swords to stab one overlay unit, destroying it. "I grant that ability to Nichirin, the Chunin. Battle! Nichirin, attack Emperor of Prophecy! At this moment, I choose to activate the Pendulum effect of Twilight Ninja Kagen! Once per turn, when a Ninja Monster declares an attack, I can give that Monster an extra 500 Attack until the end of the Battle Phase."
Nichirin: 3300-3800 Atk
Upon Tsukikage's explanation, Nichirin leaped into the air, unsheathing his dagger and holding up into the air, poised to strike. Nichirin tackled Emperor of Prophecy, causing the Monster to tumble over, leaving him open for Nichirin's dagger to stab through his chest. The dagger was forced through one side, ending up protruding out the other. Particles spilled out of the Monster, raining down on Hideo, causing him to cry out in pain.
Hideo: 4000-2500 LP
However, to Tsukikage and Aki's surprise, Emperor of Prophecy was still standing on the Field. The blade had left his chest, leaving a stab wound in his chest. Tsukikage darted his eyes to Hideo, laying his eyes upon a face-up Magic Card in front of him.
"I activated the Quick-Play Magic Card Spellbook of Survival. With this, I get to target a Spellcaster Monster I control, that Monster cannot be destroyed by battle this turn. Obviously, I chose Emperor of Prophecy." Hideo said, gesturing to his living Monster.
Tsukikage closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. "In that case…" Tsukikage waved his hand over to Setsuko. "Ninchirin, attack Aromaseraphy Sweet Marjoram!" This time, Ninchirin rushed towards Sweet Marjoram. The female Monster attempted to hit Ninchirin in the head with her wand, only for the ninja to duck under the attack, slashing open her stomach with his dagger. Sweet Marjoram let out a cry of pain as it exploded. The ensuing shockwaves caused Aki's mother to stumble backwards with a grimace.
Setsuko: 5600-4500 LP
Setsuko then used the effect of Aroma Garden, which stated that if an Aroma Monster she controlled was destroyed, then she gained 1000 life points.
Setsuko: 4500-5500 LP
"Now, Blade Armor Ninja, attack her directly!" Tsukikage declared, prompting his Monster to dash towards Setsuko, ready to strike.
However, Setsuko was not going to lie down and take it. Revealing her set Card, she spoke. "I activate the Continuous Trap Blessed Winds. Once per turn, I can activate one of three effects. I choose to use the third effect. By paying 1000 life points, I can Special Summon an Aroma Monster from my Graveyard. So, I choose to revive Aromaseraphy Sweet Marjoram!"
Setsuko: 5500-4500 LP
After paying the life point cost, a purple portal opened in front of Setsuko. Jumping out of this portal was Sweet Marjoram standing in Blade Armor Ninja's way.
"I choose to call off Blade Armor's attack." Blade Armor Ninja duck his foot into the ground, skidding to a halt before leaping backwards to Tsukikage. "I set one Card and end my turn."
As it was the end of his turn, both of the attack boosting effects on Nichirin, the Chunin had worn out, returning his Attack back to normal.
Nichirin: 3800-2300 Atk
"My turn, draw! From my Hand, I Summon the Tuner Monster Arcane Apprentice!" Tsukikage slammed the Card down onto his Duel. Jumping out of a flash of light came a purple-robed magician with red eyes.
Arcane Apprentice: Level 2, 1000 Atk, 400 Def
"I tune the level 5 Emperor of Prophecy with the level 2 Tuner Monster Arcane Apprentice. Synchro Summon!" Hideo exclaimed as a flash of light rushed behind him. Out of the light came a white-robed magician. "Appear! Level 7! Arcanite Magician!"
Arcanite Magician: Level 7, 400 Atk, 1800 Def
"A 400 Attack level 7 Synchro Monster?" Tsukikage questioned with narrowed eyes.
"Do not underestimate the power of Arcanite Magician." Hideo said, before raising his hand and continuing. "Arcanite Magician's effect activates! If this Card is Synchro Summoned, I can place 2 Magic Counters on it. For each Magic Counter, this Card gains 1000 Attack."
Arcanite Magician: 0-2 Magic Counters, 400-2400 Atk
"I will now activate another one of Arcanite Magician's effects. By removing a Magic Counter on this Card, I can target a Card my opponent controls and destroy it!" Hideo explained, directing his eyes towards Tsukikage. "I choose to destroy Nichirin, the Chunin."
Tsukikage thrusted his hand forward in response. "Not so fast. I chain the effect of Nichirin, the Chunin! Once again, by discarding one Ninja Monster, I can activate one of two effects. This time, I will activate the first effect by discarding my third and final copy of Twilight Ninja Shingetsu. Now, the first effect states that for this turn, Ninja Monsters and Ninjitsu Art Cards that I control cannot be destroyed by battle or Card effects."
Without any further need to explain, Ninchirin tanked a blast coming from Arcanite Magician's wand with practically no effort at all. Of course, since Arcanite Magician lost a counter, he loses 1000 Attack.
Arcanite Magician: 2-1 Magic Counter, 2400-1400 Atk
"Your Cards may be protected, but the same cannot be said for your teammate's Field." Tsukikage's eyes widened slightly when he realized that Hideo had never said Arcanite's effect was once per turn, meaning he could use it again. "Once again, I use Arcanite Magician's effect by removing a counter. This time, I choose to destroy Gigaplant."
Pointing his staff towards the humongous Monster, Arcanite Magician fired a green beam of light, enveloping the Monster and destroying, much to Aki's dismay.
Arcanite Magician: 1-0 Magic Counter, 1400-400 Atk
"With this, you no longer have any Monsters to protect you." Setsuko reminded her daughter, glancing to her husband who was getting ready to move on with his turn.
"I'm not done yet." The man had declared as he removed a Card from his Hand, sliding it into his Duel Disk. "I activate the Magic Card Fusion!"
"What? Fusion?!" Aki repeated, her eyes as wide as melons.
"I fuse the Synchro Monster Arcanite Magician with Prophecy Destroyer. Fusion Summon! Appear! Level 10! Supreme Arcanite Magician!" A red-eyed magician with an assortment of colors on its robes.
Supreme Arcanite Magician: Level 10, 1400 Atk, 2800 Def
"Supreme Arcanite Magician's effect now activates! When this Card is Fusion Summoned, 2 Magic Counters are placed on this Card. Then, it gains 1000 Attack for each Magic Counter."
Supreme Arcanite Magician: 0-2 Magic Counters, 1400-3400 Atk
"I activate the Magic Card Spellbook of Power! I can target a Spellcaster Monster I control. Then, for this turn, that Monster gains 1000 Attack." As it was the only Monster on his Field, Hideo chose to increase the Attack of Supreme Arcanite Magician.
Supreme Arcanite Magician: 3400-4400 Atk
"It is over for you." Hideo said, staring at his daughter with an emotionless look in his eyes.
"Father…" Aki whispered. It was as if he did not even recognize her.
"Supreme Arcanite Magician, attack her directly!" Hideo declared as the Monster raised its wand, releasing a green ball of energy, heading straight for Aki.
Fortunately, the burgundy-haired woman had a plan.
"I activate the Trap Card Offensive Guard! When a Monster you control declare a direct attack, I can halve the attacking Monster's Attack until the End Phase and draw 1 Card." A red aura surrounded Hideo's magician, signifying the loss of its Attack.
Supreme Arcanite Magician: 4400-2200 Atk
The green ball sent by Hideo's Fusion Monster connected with Aki's body, causing the girl to let out a cry of pain as she was thrown to the floor, her body sizzling.
Aki: 4000-1800 LP
Aki quickly rose to her feet, drawing a Card from her Deck in accordance with her Trap Card's effect.
"I place down one Card and end my turn." Hideo concluded.
"At the end of his turn, I choose to activate the effect of Blessed Winds!" Setsuko interjected. "I choose to pay another 1000 life points in order to bring back Aromage Marjoram."
Marjoram jumped out of a portal appearing in the ground as Setsuko lost the required amount of life points.
Setsuko: 4500-3500 LP
"Now, come." Hideo spoke after Setsuko finished her move. "If you are even worth being called my daughter, then you must prove it to me. Come at me with no mercy!"
Tsukikage glanced at his teammate, who was looking at the Fusion Monster on her father's Field with hate in her eyes.
"That Monster…" He started.
But he did not need to finish it. He already knew the answer.
Roget...you are the worst kind of scum I have ever met. Tsukikage thought to himself
"I will free you both." Aki said to her parents, despite knowing that even though they were looking at her, they weren't seeing her. "I swear on my life. I will free you both. My turn, draw!" Aki glanced at the girl and widened her eyes momentarily, before a small smile formed on her face. "To start, I shall activate the Quick-Play Magic Card Cyclone. With this, I can destroy a Magic or Trap Card on the Field. Mother, I choose to destroy Blessed Winds!"
A cyclone rushed out of Aki's Magic Card, rushing over to Setsuko's Trap and enveloping it, never to be seen again. However, before it could fully be destroyed…
"I chain the effect of Blessed Winds!" Setsuko yelled immediately, trying to make the best use of her Card while she still had it. "This time, I choose to use the second effect. I get to target a Plant-Type Monster in my Graveyard, shuffle into my Deck, and get 500 life points. I choose to shuffle Aromage Jasmine!"
A green aura surrounded Setsuko as she removed Jasmine from the Grave, placing it into her Deck and proceeding to shuffle it.
Setsuko: 3500-4000 LP
Now, the Trap was fully destroyed.
"I activate the Magic Card Monster Reborn! With it, I choose to revive Gigaplant from the Graveyard. Next, I will Summon the Tuner Monster Glow-Up Bulb from my Hand!"
A flower with an eye hidden in the roots appeared on the Field, watching its opponents very carefully.
Glow-Up Bulb: Level 1, 100 Atk, 100 Def
"Tuner Monster." Hideo noted. "Could it be...Moonlight?"
"Not just yet." Aki responded as she removed a Card from her Hand, sliding it into her Duel Disk. "I activate the Equip Magic Card Thorn of Malice. This Card can only be equipped to a Black Rose Monster or a Plant-Type Monster." Aki smirked. "Last time I checked, your Aroma Monsters are Plant-Type. Am I wrong, Mother?"
At the sound of her mother's grunt and the agitated expression of her face, Aki's question was answered.
"Perfect. Then it will work when I say that I will equip this Card to Sweet Marjoram! The equipped Monster gains 600 Attack!" Aki exclaimed as Sweet Marjoram was powered up.
Sweet Marjoram: 2200-2800 Atk
"Hmm…" Tsukikage looked on with interest, wondering why Aki would purposely give her opponent's Monster a boost in Attack
"And now I will tune the level 6 Gigaplant with the level 1 Glow-Up Bulb. Black rose guided by a pitch-black flower, bloom before us and show us your might! Synchro Summon! Appear! Level 7! Black Rose Bloomlight Dragon!"
Bloomlight Dragon: Level 7, 2400 Atk, 2000 Def
"I activate Bloomlight Dragon's effect!" Aki spoke with a determined fire in her eyes. "When this Monster is Synchro Summoned, I can target the two Monsters on the Field with the highest Attack. Those Monsters are then banished, and damage is dealt to you equal to halve the combined Attack of the banished Monsters."
"I see…" Tsukikage realized why Aki had given her mother's Monster a boost in Attack. "She did it so both of their Monsters would be banished rather than her own." After all, Bloomlight Dragon would have been the second strongest Monster without Aki's Equip Magic.
"Since they are the Monsters with the highest Attack, both Supreme Arcanite Magician and Aromaseraphy Sweet Marjoram will be banished!" Aki said as her dragon let out a roar, ready to unleash her wrath.
However, her parents had other plans…
"I reveal my set Card." Hideo said as his set Card was flipped over. "It's the Quick-Play Magic Spellbook of Wisdom!"
"I reveal my set Card." Setsuko followed the actions of her husband with her own set Card. "Quick-Play, activate! Flash Fusion! Using Monsters I control as a Fusion Materials, I can Fusion Summon a Monster from my Extra Deck. I fuse Aromaseraphy Sweet Marjoram and Aromage Marjoram! Fusion Summon! Come out! Level 8! Aromaseraphy Bergamot!"
Aromaseraphy Bergamot: Level 8, 2600 Atk, 2200 Def
As one of the targets were no longer on the Field, Bergamot was safe from being banished.
Aki cursed under her breath at this realization. She then turned her attention to her father, who after waiting for Flash Fusion's effect to resolve, began to recite the effect of his Magic Card.
"The effect of Spellbook of Wisdom is that I can target a Spellcaster Monster on the Field and apply one of three effects to it. I choose the third, which states that the targeted Monster cannot be affected by Monster effects this turn. This effect will be applied to Supreme Arcanite Magician!"
Black Rose Bloomlight Dragon swung its tail at Supreme Arcanite Magician, skipping over Bergamot due to the original target of Bloomlight's effect being lost. The attack struck the magician, but it did not destroy him.
"Damn it!" Aki cried out of frustration. Her frustration didn't last long however as she soon came up with a move. "I activate another one of Bloomlight Dragon's effects. Once per turn, I can banish a Plant-Type Monster in my Grave. Then, I can target a Monster you control and shuffle it into the Deck! I banish Gigaplant in order to shuffle Bergamot into your Deck."
Setsuko held her hand out in response to this action. "Aromaseraphy Bergamot's effect. It cannot be affected by Card effects."
"Tch!" Aki grunted. She failed to do anything once again. "Well then, I set these two Cards and end my turn."
"Normally, Flash Fusion would destroy the Monster Summoned at the end of the turn. However, since Aromaseraphy Bergamot can't be affected by any Card effects, it is not destroyed." Setsuko said with a smirk. (A/N: Correct me if I am wrong on this point. I wasn't 100% sure.)
"My turn!" Setsuko announced, drawing her Card. "I activate the Magic Card Foolish Burial! With this Card, I get to send from my Deck into the Graveyard. I send Aromage Bergamot. Next, I will activate the Magic Card Monster Reborn! And with it, I choose to revive Aromage Bergamot!"
Bergamot: Level 6, 2400 Atk, 1800 Def
"Now, I choose to activate the effect of Aroma Garden once again." A green aura surrounded Setsuko as she once again gained life along with an increase in Attack and Defense for her Monsters.
Setsuko: 4000-4500 LP
Aromaseraphy Bergamot: 2600-3100 Atk, 2200-2700 Def
Aroma Bergamot: 2400-2900 Atk, 1800-2300 Def
"I activate the effects of both Bergamots! When I gain life points, they gain 1000 Attack and Defense until the end of our opponent's next turn."
Aromaseraphy Bergamot: 3100-4100 Atk, 2700-3700 Def
Aroma Bergamot: 2900-3900 Atk, 2300-3300 Def
"Battle! Aromaseraphy Bergamot, attack Black Rose Bloomlight Dragon!"
"I don't think so! I activate the Trap Card Rose Blizzard! When a Monster I control is being targeted for an attack, I can force the attacking Monster into Defense Position and negate the attack." Aki explained as Aromaseraphy Bergamot halted her attack, immediately taking a defensive stance with little to no resistance at all.
"Then how about this!" Setsuko exclaimed, waving to her other Monster. "Aroma Bergamot, attack Bloomlight Dragon!" Upon her command, Aromage Bergamot short out a gust of wind from her hand towards Bloomlight Dragon.
In response to this, Aki revealed a Card in her Hand. "From my Hand, I activate the effect of Guard Hedge! When a Monster I control would be destroyed in battle, I can send this Card to the Graveyard. That Monster will not be destroyed, but afterwards it will lose halve its Attack for the rest of the turn."
Bergamot's attack connected with Bloomlight. The dragon and its owner cried out in pain, but they both stood their ground in the end.
Aki: 1800-300 LP
Bloomlight Dragon: 2400-1200 Atk
"I end my turn." Setsuko concluded.
As the turn was over, Guard Hedge's effect ended. This meant that Bloomlight's Attack would now return to normal.
Bloomlight Dragon: 1200-2400 Atk
Tsukikage looked over to Aki, who had sweat rolling down her face. A look of concern for her parents was clearly evident on her face, but there was also evidence of sheer anger hidden there as well.
She's doing everything she can to hold out. Unfortunately, the pressure keeps getting to her. Anymore and she may snap...Tsukikage thought to himself as he placed his fingers on top of the top of his Deck. In that case, I must assist. After all, that is my duty!
"Draw! I now activate the effect of Nichirin, the Chunin! I discard a second copy of Nichirin, the Chunin in order to use the second effect to give himself 1000 Attack until the end of the turn."
Nichirin, the Chunin: 2300-3300 Atk
"To follow this up, I activate the effect of Blade Armor Ninja by detaching his final overlay unit. I give Nichirin the power to attack twice once more! Now, it's time to battle. Nichirin, the Chunin, attack Aromaseraphy Bergamot!"
"What?" Setsuko questioned the move, only to be immediately answered by Tsukikage's next move.
"I activate the Pendulum effect of Twilight Ninja Kagen to give Nichirin, the Chunin an extra 500 Attack until the end of the Battle Phase." The Pendulum Monster lit up with a light blue hue as Nichirin began to glow with the same color.
Nichirin, the Chunin: 3300-3800 Atk
"I'm not done there! I activate the Pendulum effect of Twilight Ninja Jogen! Once per turn, if a Ninja Monster I control attacks a Monster you control this turn, I can inflict piercing damage. Go, Nichirin!" Tsukikage shouted as his Monster slashed downwards with his dagger, destroying the Monster immediately. The ensuing shockwaves caused Setsuko to grimace.
Setsuko: 4500-4400 LP
"Now, for Nichirin's second attack...he will battle against Supreme Arcanite Magician!" Tsukikage declared, turning to Hideo and his Monster. Nichirin also turned his attention to the magician. Like last time, he sliced his dagger downwards, striking the magician and destroying it. Hideo let out a cry of pain as he was thrown backwards.
Hideo: 2500-2100 LP
Hideo quickly rose to his feet, beginning to speak. "I activate the effect of the destroyed Supreme Arcanite Magician. When destroyed, I can Special Summon Arcanite Magician from my Extra Deck or Graveyard. Come out, in Defense Position, Arcanite Magician!" The white-robed magician returned to the Field, coming out of a portal opening from the ground, immediately crouching down to remain on defense.
"If that's how it shall be, then so be it. Blade Armor Ninja, destroy Arcanite Magician!" The dual-wielding ninja rushed his opponent, stabbing the magician with both of his blades, destroying the Monster instantly.
"With this, I will end my turn." Tsukikage said, closing his eyes.
I have done all that I can. He thought. The rest is up to you, Aki-san.
As it was the end of the turn, all of the Attack increasing effects had worn off. And the Attack of Tsukikage and Setsuko's Monsters now returned to normal.
Nichirin, the Chunin: 3800-2300 Atk
Aromage Bergamot: 3900-2400 Atk, 3300-1800 Def
"My turn!" Hideo declared with a powerful tone. "Draw! Now, by banishing three Spellbook Cards from my Graveyard, I can Special Summon this Card from the Grave. I banish Spellbook of Knowledge, Power, and Wisdom in order to bring out Prophecy Destroyer!"
Rising from the ground came a demonic-looking Monster with a single blade in its left hand with gigantic wings to boot.
Prophecy Destroyer: Level 6, 2500 Atk, 1200 Def
"Time to battle! Prophecy Destroyer, attack Black Rose Bloomlight Dragon!" The demonic Monster glared at the dragon, raising its sword over to Prophecy Destroyer. An orange beam of light shot from the tip of the blade.
Tsukikage held up his hand, ready to activate his set Card, only to be stopped by a look that Aki directed at him. He froze, analyzing the look in her eyes closely. The message had played through her eyes for only a brief moment, but he could see.
"Let me take this."
Tsukikage closed his eyes as the attack connected, destroying Bloomlight Dragon. Aki didn't flinch as she was enveloped in a cloud of smoke that formed as a result of her Monster's destruction.
Aki: 300-200 LP
"I activate the effect of the destroyed Moonlight Dragon. I can now Special Summon a Monster from either player's Graveyard or banished zone to either player's Field, except Moonlight Dragon herself. Appear! Glow-Up Bulb!" Aki exclaimed as she brought back her Tuner Monster in Defense Position.
"I end my turn." Hideo concluded. "Take your last turn, my pathetic and worthless daughter. Take in your failure in defeating us just as hard as you took in your failure of being unable to protect us. You will never be strong enough to save anyone. You are weak."
Aki's body stiffened. She looked down at the ground, her hair covering her eyes so no one could see what was going through her mind. She looked up to glare at her brainwashed parents, her teeth seething out of anger.
"It is true that back then I was too weak to save the two of you. However, that doesn't mean things are the same now! I will break you out of that bastard Roget's control! My turn, draw! To start, I will reveal my set Card. Continuous Trap, Call of the Haunted, activate! I can Special Summon a Monster in my Graveyard in face-up Attack Position. Return to the Field, Black Rose Moonlight Dragon!" Aki shouted as her ace Monster was resurrected from the clutches of Death herself.
"What?!" Setsuko widened her eyes.
"Don't tell me you are going for another Synchro Summon!" Hideo said with worry evident in his tone.
"You would be correct, Father. I tune the level 7 Black Rose Bloomlight Dragon with the level 1 Tuner Monster Glow-Up Bulb. Mighty blossomed rose guided by a pitch-black flower, unleash your wrath upon your enemies and show us your strength! Synchro Summon! Appear! Level 8! Black Rose Blossomed Dragon!"
A dragon with a similar color pattern to Moonlight Dragon appeared on the Field. Differing from her lesser form, the wings of this dragon were lined by a mossy green with vibrant blue lines flowing down the wings.
Blossomed Dragon: Level 8, 2900 Atk, 2000 Def
"I activate Blossomed a Dragon's effect! If this Card was Synchro Summoned using Bloomlight Dragon as Material, I can destroy all Monsters you control whose current Attack are lower than this Card's original Attack!" As she spoke, Blossomed Dragon let out a roar, whipping her tail around the Field and ramming into both Prophecy Destroyer and Aromage Bergamot in the process, destroying them.
"No…" Hideo mumbled with wide eyes at the sight of being bested so easily.
"Now, for this turn only, Black Rose Blossomed Dragon can attack as many times as the amount of Monsters destroyed by its initial effect in addition to its normal attack. I destroyed two Monsters with Blossomed Dragon's effect." Aki reminded her opponents. "Therefore, Blossomed Dragon can attack three times for this turn. Battle!"
"We have failed...Roget-sama." Hideo said with his head down. However, despite him saying this, there was still a part of him inside that was actually relieved to be getting defeated, and by his own daughter no less. She had finally did it. She had saved them…
"Black Rose Blossomed Dragon…" Aki faltered momentarily as she looked at the faces of her parents. She sharpened her gaze, hardening her resolve as she remembered what exactly she was fighting for. "Attack my parents directly and end this meaningless Duel! Black Rose Stream!"
Blossomed Dragon let out a purple vortex of energy from her mouth. The vortex tumbled over to Aki's parents, enveloping them and throwing them backwards with a scream being released from their lips.
Hideo: 2100-0 LP
Setsuko: 4400-0 LP
It was over…
They could be freed now…
Card Catalog
There are some Cards that I have changed the effects to. First is Nichirin, the Chunin. For him, I decided to give him his effects from real life as the anime effect is practically useless.
The second effect I changed is the effect of Spellbook of Wisdom. For this, I merely added a third option that protected Monsters from Monster effects.
I am pretty sure I changed the effect of at least one more Card but I can't remember. So if you find an effect that isn't right, then that might be the Card.
Spellbook of Survival, Quick-Play, Magic: Target a Spellcaster Monster you control. For this turn, that Monster cannot be destroyed by battle. You can only activate this Card once per turn.
Aromaseraphy Bergamot: (Not filling this in right now).
Blossomed Dragon: (Will fill this out later.)
Whoo! I'm finally done with this chapter.
With this one, like last time, it took a while because of the opponents. Like with Roget, I had to give Setsuko and Hideo Decks of their own, except I thankfully didn't have to create Cards, I just had to look some up. These two were one-off Duel characters. They are never going to Duel again in this fanfic.
Another reason it took so long to release this chapter was because I was sick for a little bit. Don't worry, it wasn't the virus. But it make me feel a little bit tired and unmotivated to work on this fic.
Now, just for a warning, I might not be working on this fic that much for the next week or so because I have a very important online exam that I have to take. There is also the fact that I need to actually get to work on my other fic as I haven't updated that in months to the point where people who don't know I have another fic probably think I'm dead.
As for what happens next in the fic. I'll give you guys an overview of the next two chapters. As the next chapter will be the 100th chapter of this fic, I want to do the Yuto vs Jack Duel first. Then, for chapter 101, I'm gonna do the Duel with Yuya and Yuri. As I have said in the last chapter, I believe the Synchro arc will be over in four-five chapters.
Now for the responses…
Matrixnis: You're probably gone again, but it's great to see you, old friend. I hope you are doing well. Anyway, as for your question. I have literally not heard of any Shark Cards for Ryoga so I'll have to look into that later.
HelenTheMoon: I know that there were many other people who knew my pain, but it feels so much better having someone confess that. Thank you. I literally feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders lol.
Ljgtechra: Gracias por el apoyo. Lo siento mucho por la larga espera. Además, perdona mi horrible español. Ha pasado un tiempo.
That's all for now guys. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I will try to get this next chapter out as soon as possible.
Take care, goodbye!
