Beta-ed by xenosaiyan
"First, I'm activating the effect of my Heroic Challenger - Thousand Blades," Pyrrha declared. "By discarding Heroic Challenger - Spartan and switching Thousand Blades to defense mode, I can summon Heroic Challenger – Assault Halberd from my deck!"
Once again, Thousand Blades slashed the air before it and took a knee. From the glowing white scars it had left emerged another warrior, this one encased spikey purple armor, wielding a hefty two-handed spear in only one hand (ATK 1800 / DEF 200).
"Two level fours," Yang grinned. "I see where this is going. Come on! Bring out your ace! I want to take on Heroic Champion – Excalibur with everything that I got!"
Pyrrha was sure she did. Yang had done her research. She knew the champion's tactics and her moves. It was completely possible that she could bring out her most famous monster this round, and with the cards in her hand she could raise its attack points to incredible heights, enough to wipe her opponent out completely.
However, to do so would leave her without any backup plan, and since Yang had a facedown card she knew nothing about, such a reckless move would be unwise. She would have to be a bit more strategic about this.
"I'll normal summon another Heroic Challenger - Assault Halberd," Pyrrha declared, another of her spearman appearing in front of her. "Then I'll activate the spell card Heroic Chance from my hand. This card doubles one of my 'Heroic' monsters attack points until the end of this turn, with the drawback that the chosen warrior cannot attack directly this turn."
The first Assault Halberd was coated in a flaming sapphire aura (ATK 3600 / DEF 200). It thrust its spear towards the soaring Red Wyvern, the crimson drake answering its challenge with a horrid shriek.
"Assault Halberd attack!" Pyrrha commanded, sweeping her arm back. "Take out Red Wyvern!"
Her ferocious warrior leapt into the air, its pike aimed for its foe's throat. The ragged dragon breathed a torrent of flames in an attempt to counter, but it was no use. Assault Halberd sliced the blaze in two and decapitated the beast in a single slash. The shockwave battered Yang, sending her duel runner wobbling as she fell even further behind Pyrrha.
Yang Xiao-Long: 2800 Life Points
Pyrrha snagged a card from her deck and showed it to her opponent before adding it to her hand. "Whenever Assault Halberd deals you battle damage, I'm allowed to add a 'Heroic' card from my deck to my hand. So, I'll take Heroic Challenger – Swordshield and then have my other Assault Halberd attack you directly!"
"I don't think so!" Yang shouted, her facedown card flipping up. "Trap card open! Reject Reborn! This card stops your direct attack and ends your Battle Phase!"
Despite herself, Pyrrha smirked back at her opponent. "But that's not all it does, correct? It also allows you to summon a synchro monster and a tuner from your graveyard."
"Right on the ball, P-money. You sure know your cards," Yang complimented, Red Wyvern and Red Resonator appearing in front of her speeding runner. "But you've only gotten a taste of what my deck is capable of. Now I'm gonna show you my big gun."
"I'm sure it will be incredible," Pyrrha called back to be polite, even as Argus Chariot rounded another corner and increased its lead even further.
Yang grinned, her mount accelerating as she drew a card and began her turn, her eyes glowing scarlet. "You bet! Ain't nothing better than my Burning Soul."
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"Burning soul? Burning soul!" Ruby cheered. She leaned over the row in front of her and pumped her fist up. "Go Yang! Show it to everybody!"
Jaune raised an eyebrow. "Uh, is this another thing I should know about?"
"For once, no. This matter is not among the Goliath sized gaps in your knowledge without reason," Weiss snipped. "Care to enlighten us, child?"
"I told you my name is Ruby," the red hooded girl protested, though her smile never faded. "Burning Soul is just something my dad always talks about. It's the manifestation of a duelist's spirit, their passionate will to clash head-to-dead with a worthy opponent with all they've got."
"Oh, that's pretty cool," Jaune said, though he sounded somewhat unsure. Down below, Yang activated Graceful Charity, drawing three cards from her deck and then discarding two from her hand.
Weiss scoffed. "So, it's a power deck? Hardly unique. I suppose you have one as well?"
"Nope, Uncle Qrow wouldn't teach me until I stopped trying to copy Yang's style. He said that what works for her won't necessarily work for me," Ruby explained. "But that doesn't mean it isn't awesome!"
"Naturally," Weiss groaned. However, she did lean forward just a bit, as did Jaune. Yang showing off her synchro summoning before must have piqued their interest.
And if they liked Red Wyvern, then they were going to love what was about to follow it up.
"I tune my level two Red Resonator with my level six Red Wyvern!"
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"Stare into the eyes of raging fire! I burn and ignite the ruler's heartbeat that will light the heavens themselves! Synchro Summon! Hot Red Dragon Archfiend!"
A pillar of blinding light shot through the two emerald tuner rings. The circles of energy crackled with power and exploded into a cloud of smog. The audience gasped, terrified that she'd gotten the aura modulations wrong and failed to properly manifest her monster.
Yang smirked, her eyes fading from red back to violet. As if she'd ever mess up something so simple. Dad would never let her hear the end of it.
A thunderous roar boomed out of the smoke and a gale-force wind dispersed the cloud across the stadium, the audience squealing in shock. Descending amidst the chaos was a black and crimson dragon rippling with muscle. Its head would not have been out of place on a gargoyle, three thick horns spaced on either side of its neck and atop its skull. Leathery wings flared out behind it, demonic claws reaching up to tear down the heavens as it set its infernal gaze on Pyrrha (ATK 3000 / DEF 2000).
"Incredible," the Mistral champion whispered, genuine awe laced in her voice.
Yang grinned at the appropriate reaction to her ace. She gunned Bumblebee's throttle and came up beside her opponent.
"Okay, P-money," she said. "Is this doing it for you?"
"Doing it for me?" Pyrrha replied. "I don't understand."
Yang rolled her eyes. "Come on. You don't have to pretend. You're not in this match."
"I don't know what you're talking about. I've giving this my all."
"Oh, don't get me wrong. You're not making any mistakes or anything," Yang clarified. "But you're not letting yourself get invested in this, not getting fired up. It's like you don't care what happens. What? Am I not challenging you enough?"
"No! No, that's not…" Pyrrha sighed and shook her head. "I know how this is going to end. Your dragon is amazing and you are undeniably skilled, but I can beat you. I know I can. I know I'll win. And I know what'll happen after."
Well, that was certainly a weird compliment to receive. One of the best duelists around was at the same time telling Yang that she was awesome, but also that she didn't think she could win. Pyrrha didn't sound arrogant about it either. She actually seemed depressed, as if she'd resigned herself to her own victory. Plus, there was the whole 'what'll happen after' thing, which didn't sound pleasant.
It was sickening. Here they were having a kickass turbo duel and the Mistral Champion couldn't even enjoy the rush! There was no way Yang could let that stand!
"So what?" she demanded, her opponent's emerald eyes whirling to meet her violet ones. "Maybe you will win. Maybe you'll kick my butt to the curb. There's always got to be a loser in a duel. But I'm coming at you with everything in my deck and everything in my soul. And that alone is gonna make this game a wild ride that I'm going to enjoy every step of the way."
She revved her engine and pulled ahead of the legendary Argus Chariot, finally succeeding in beating her around a turn. Hot Red Dragon Archfiend howling with triumph as it overtook Pyrrha's monsters, flames building behind its hellish jaws.
"Meet me with everything you've got, and maybe you'll have just as much fun," Yang challenged, winking at her opponent.
The Mistral Champion's eyes widened in confusion, though her runner's path didn't waver an inch. She really was well trained, but she was confused, so mired in the midst of whatever issues she had that she couldn't enjoy the simple amazingness of what was going on around her.
Yang knew that feeling well, recalling her old obsession with finding her biological mother. Hopefully, what she had in store to help Pyrrha would be a much more pleasant shock than she herself had recieved.
"I activate Hot Red Dragon Archfiend's special ability!" she shouted. "Once per turn, it can destroy every other attack position monster on the field! Go Absolute Power Blaze!"
A titanic swath of flames ignited across her dragon's entire body, coalescing in its right claw. With a roar fitting of a king, the beast swiped its hand across the sky, unleashing an infernal tide that burnt both Pyrrha's Assault Halberd's to ash.
"Now attack Heroic Challenger – Thousand Blades!" Yang commanded.
"What?" Pyrrha gasped. "Why would you do that? You already guessed my facedown."
"Molten Scarlet Flare!"
Hot Red Dragon Archfiend threw back its head and sent a typhoon of hellish fire screeching towards the kneeling Thousand Blades.
"Fine then!" Pyrrha hotly declared, sweeping her arm to activate her facedown. "I activate my trap card, Battleguard Howling! When one of my warrior-type monsters is targeted by an attack or monster effect, this card lets me target one of my opponent's monsters and return it to their hand. It also deals damage to you equal to that monster's attack points, and with three thousand points, your dragon is about to be your demise!"
Sounds waves, so powerful as to be visible, emanated out from the trap card, halting Hot Red Dragon Archfiend's flames.
Pyrrha sighed. "I told you I knew how this would end."
"I activate the effect of Tuning Gum from my graveyard!"
"What?"
Yang flipped Bumblebee around and looked Pyrrha right in the eye. She withdrew a card from her graveyard and held it up for the champion to see. "I discarded it with Graceful Charity. And by removing it from play, it can negate any effect that targets exactly one Synchro Monster."
A blob of green gum materialized before Yang, an overly friendly smile on its surface. With a joyous laugh, it shot over and stuck itself onto Battleguard Howling. The trap card shattered into pieces, its sound waves crumbling under the renewed onslaught of flames. The fire ran over Thousand Blades and consumed the warrior.
"Told you that you didn't know every step of the way," Yang smiled.
Pyrrha plucked a card from her hand and sent it to her graveyard. "I discard Heroic Challenger – Swordshield! By sending it to the graveyard, I take no battle damage this turn, and my 'Heroic' monsters can't be destroyed by battle!"
The fires of Hot Red Dragon Archfiend's assault were pushed away from Thousand Blades. The ghostly image of Swordshield, a fully armored warrior with a pair of tower shields strapped to his arms, materialized between the two, defending its comrade from the flames.
Yang's beast growled at its stalwart foe, but the hunting duelist herself chuckled. She'd hoped to destroy Pyrrha's avenue to summon monsters from her deck, but she didn't think it'd be that easy. Now, the champion would have an easy way to get another level four monster on the field and summon the only monster in her deck capable of overpowering Hot Red Dragon Archfiend. Her own ace, Heroic Champion – Excalibur.
"I summon Witch of the Black Forest in defense mode," Yang declared, a woman with long violet hair and flowing black robes kneeling beside her dragon (ATK 1100 / DEF 1200). "Then I'll throw one card facedown and end my turn."
Alright, her preparations were made. In case her plan failed, and Hot Red Dragon Archfiend was destroyed, her witch would be able to keep her life points safe. But with any luck that wouldn't be necessary. Her facedown card was the trap Red Cocoon, a card that would equip onto her dragon once activated. From there, whenever the demonic beast battled, all her opponent's monster effects would be negated. And since Heroic Champion - Excalibur could only claim an attack point advantage with its special ability…
She wasn't pulling her punches on Pyrrha. She respected the hell out of the champion's skills, but she wouldn't be treated like some amateur. Her opponent had accepted to be a part of this duel, and that meant she had committed to putting her all into it.
Yang wouldn't let her get away with anything less.
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Even as she drew for her turn, Pyrrha found she could only stare blankly at Yang's back. Even as they made another turn, she couldn't find the sense to take the lead.
What was wrong with her? She'd been through duels a dozen times tougher than this and kept herself together. She knew her deck and she knew how to play it, wielding the exact amount of force necessary to defeat her opponent. It was clinical, it was what she did. It was who the Invincible Girl was!
… but, hadn't she chosen Beacon over Haven in an attempt to get away from being the Invincible Girl? To get off of the pristine pedestal she'd been placed upon? To actually interact with people like a normal girl and, just maybe, make a friend?
She didn't want to change her deck. Her cards had stood by her through thick and thin, and she would never betray them like that. Switching to another strategy when they were already so deep in the duel would only put her even more on the backfoot. She played by capitalizing on her opponent's weaknesses, making the openings they left wider and exploiting them.
She glanced at the two cards in her hand, specifically her Heroic Challenger- Double Lance. If she played like the Invincible Girl, she'd use it to call out her Heroic Champion – Excalibur and overpower Yang's dragon.
But Yang wanted her all, her spirit and her soul. If that was the truth, she would have to go further, push herself farther. Iron sharpened iron, and an opponent of this caliber could forge her into the finest of steel if she let her.
And maybe she could help her evolve along the way.
"I switch my Thousand Blades into attack mode and then activate its effect!" Pyrrha declared, her monster rising to its feet and then immediately taking a knee once more. "I discard Heroic Challenger - Double Lance from my hand in order to summon another Heroic Challenger – Extra Sword from my deck!"
Extra Sword burst onto the scene, a blade in each hand.
"Now I'll activate the spell card Inferno Reckless Summon," Pyrrha shouted. "When I special summon a monster with fifteen hundred or less attack points while you have a face-up monster on the field, I can summon as many copies of my monster as possible from my hand, deck, or graveyard. In exchange, you get to do the same with any monster on your field."
"Really? Sweet!" Yang replied. "I'll bring out two more Witch of the Black Forests!"
Pyrrha nodded and each of them brought out two more monsters. But the duel wouldn't last long enough for Yang's reinforcements to matter.
"You want my all? You want my soul?" Pyrrha challenged, a true wide smile spreading across her face. "Here it comes! With my three Heroic Challenger – Extra Sword and my Heroic Challenger – Thousand Blades, I build the Overlay Network!"
The four warriors transformed into nodes of orange light and soared into a scarlet nebula, churning with twinkling stars. The crowd gasped and even Yang's eyes widened. "Four overlay units?"
"Let light be released from the Ends of the World! The noble spirit shall thrust unto evil and deliver this world from the chaos of the storm into a new shining order! Xyz Summon! Number 86: Heroic Champion – Rhongomyniad!"
The nebula exploded into a crimson nova and her monster descended. The crowd held their collective breath.
"That's not Excalibur," Yang muttered, her eyes locked in awe upon Rhongomyniad.
Pyrrha could hardly blame her. Her ultimate warrior towered over the track, nearly a head taller than even Hot Red Dragon Archfiend. The gigantic champion was decked out in gleaming white armor, steel obsidian spikes and a helmet crowned by golden antlers completing the splendor. In its titanic hands, held aloft like a specter of justice, was a brilliant golden spear, shining like a second sun. Add to all that the fact that it was a Number and that there were four orange overlay units orbiting its body, and she doubted anyone could face it without quivering (ATK 1500 / DEF 1500).
"Heroic Champion – Rhongomyniad gains additional effects for each overlay unit it has," Pyrrha explained. "As long as it has one overlay unit, it can't be destroyed by battle. And as long as it has two, it gains fifteen-hundred attack and defense points." (ATK 3000 / DEF 3000).
"Oh, that's not good," Yang paled.
"It gets worse," Pyrrha revealed. "Remember my Extra Sword's ability? Now, there are three of them. So Rhongomyniad gets another three thousand points!"
Rhongomyniad twirled its spear, a golden aura shimmering to life around its armor as its weapon rose into position (ATK 6000 / DEF 3000). Hot Red Dragon Archfiend roared defiantly at the knight, even as its power became utterly dwarfed by the shining champion.
"Attack now!" Pyrrha commanded. "Destroy Hot Red Dragon Archfiend!"
"I activate my trap card! Red Cocoon!" Yang shouted. Her card flipped up, revealing a crimson web suspending a gloating cocoon. A dark red aura spread around her dragon. "With this card equipped to my Hot Red Dragon Archfiend, your monster's effects are cancelled out when they battle. So your champion's attack points drop back down to fifteen hundred!"
"Under normal circumstances, you'd be correct," Pyrrha smirked. "But when Rhongomyniad has three or more overlay units, it can't be affected by any other card's abilities!"
"Holy shit," Yang muttered. Her mouth morphed into an eager grin. "That's what I'm talking about! Give me everything you've got P-money!"
"Heroic Champion – Rhongomyniad attack!" Pyrrha proclaimed once more. "Shining Sun Deliverance!"
Her titan charged, its spear tip blazing like the bright star. Credit where it was due, Hot Red Dragon Archfiend did not waver. The dragon roared right back as Rhongomyniad advanced, engulfing its right fist in flames as it made its counterattack. Fiery fist met golden spearhead, the latter piercing right through draconic flesh and unleashing a beam of radiant light that shot right through the demonic beast's heart.
Yang Xiao-Long: 0 Life Points
Winner: Pyrrha Nikos
Yang's duel runner wavered from the shockwave, her aura crackling as it broke under the strain of the attack. The sides of her mount popped open and the emergency brake system ejected a cloud of smoke, a sign for combat support to follow in the field. On the track, it was a helpful sign to the audience that the loser was still alright. After all, the negativity generated by seeing a crash could be exponential. Entertainment duels were meant to reduce the emotion that would draw the Grimm to the city, not increase it.
Fortunately, it seemed this one had done its purpose. The crowd was on its feet, the prospective Beacon students cheering wildly at the display of what they would one day be capable of. Pyrrha's face flashed across the giant holographic screens as the audience chanted her name.
But the Mistral Champion only had eyes for her opponent. Her monster faded from the air, her aura returning from its form, but her heart was still hammering in her chest. She circled around the track and braked beside Yang's runner. When she arrived, the blonde was laughing.
"That was awesome!" Yang cheered, jumping off her stopped motorcycle. She pulled off her helmet and grinned at Pyrrha. "I've never seen a monster like that before! What was it, a Number, right?"
Pyrrha smiled, dismounting from Argus Chariot. "Yes. From what I'm told, they're quite rare."
"Wicked," Yang said. "Did you forge it yourself?"
The redhead nodded. "My first year at Sanctum. I haven't had much occasion to use it since though."
"I'll say. I can't remember ever seeing it on tv." Yang's grin widened, if that was possible. "Guess I pushed you pretty hard, huh?"
More than she knew. Pyrrha hadn't felt such a rush from a duel since she'd first started competing. The challenge, the strategies, the clashing of honorable wills and spirits, more than a cold exchange of tactics. It was a feeling she'd dearly missed. One the Invincible Girl had never tasted before.
She had defeated Yang, but a true duel wasn't supposed to be about winning or losing. And while that sentiment was usually used to temper those overzealous about achieving victory, she found it no less a potent lesson for her own situation. One her opponent had taught her quite thoroughly.
"Very hard indeed," she said. "Yang, if it isn't too much to ask, could we have a rematch someday?"
Yang's eyes widened in shock, but she quickly recovered, extending a closed fist towards the champion. "Any time, P-money. We're both pretty much a shoo-in for passing initiation, so we can go another round as soon as we're both settled in."
Pyrrha stared at the offered fist for a moment before it clicked what was happening. Her smile grew and she answered the fist bump. "I'd like that. I'd like that very much."
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"My sister just fist-bumped Pyrrha Nikos! This is the best day ever!"
Weiss raised an eyebrow. "She just lost to Pyrrha Nikos. How is that in any way a good day?"
Ruby whirled on the heiress with a wide smile. "Uh, because the duel was awesome! Obviously! I've only seen anyone take down Yang's Hot Red Dragon Archfiend a handful of times, and never like that!"
"It was pretty awesome," Jaune agreed, a dorky grin on his face. "I've never seen a monster with that much attack power."
"Which would be fascinating if she didn't lose to that same monster," Weiss protested.
"What's your problem?" Ruby asked. "That match was amazing and you're still all grumpy."
"Oh, don't misunderstand me. I am perfectly aware of the astounding display of dueling skill I just witnessed," Weiss clarified. "However, in any duel there is a winner and a loser. And in the real world, the winners decide the fates of the losers, no matter how skilled they are."
Ruby pouted. "Sourpuss."
"I am not a sourpuss!" Weiss huffed.
Ruby would have argued otherwise but Professor Goodwitch's voice crackled over the microphone before she could.
"All prospective students please report to the ballroom. Tonight, you will rest. Tomorrow, your initiation begins."
The microphone went silent and the headmaster and his deputy began to walk away. The rest of the crowd rose in a great wave and started making their way out of the arena.
Weiss whipped away from Ruby and Jaune. "I am here to hone my skills and become as strong a hunting duelist as possible. I don't have time to waste prancing about with immature children like you two."
"Um, aren't you seventeen too?" Jaune pointed out.
Weiss growled and stomped away.
Jaune cringed. "Right, mom did say not to ask a woman about her age. Stupid, stupid."
"Eh, don't beat yourself up about it," Ruby comforted him. She watched Weiss stride away down the hall. "Some people are just mean. Hopefully, we won't have to deal with her too much once we're in the school."
"I don't know," Jaune said, a dreamy look in his eyes. "That kind of confidence and intelligence? I wouldn't mind getting to know her a little better."
Ruby groaned. Boys were weird. Why did they always start drooling over Yang or other girls when there were perfectly good card games to play? It was just ridiculous.
Oh well. Once she was in Beacon, she could play all the duel monsters she wanted. It would just be a nice, simple four years of learning how to be the best hunting duelist she could be. Paradise.
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"You beat that?"
Ozpin shrugged and took a sip from his steaming mug. He and his deputy were both watching their two exhibition turbo duelists walk their runners back to the academy's garage. Ms. Nikos and Ms. Xiao-Long were chatting amicably as they escorted their mounts.
"It is a formidable monster, isn't it," he noted, referring as Glynda had to the Mistral Champion's ultimate warrior. Her Number. "I didn't allow her to get so many materials out as Ms. Xiao-Long did however, so it was much easier to handle."
"Clearly," Glynda remarked.
Ozpin chuckled. "I take it you were quite impressed by them both."
Glynda's brow furrowed in contemplation. "Ms. Nikos is already at the skill level of most licensed hunting duelists. After a year of training, I'll be surprised if she doesn't make it to at least the finals of the Vytal Festival."
"Indeed. And Ms. Xiao-Long?"
His deputy sighed. "She's strong, I'll give her that. Taiyang taught her well. But she has his recklessness and Raven's pride. A dangerous combination."
Ozpin couldn't help but notice the spirited smile on Ms. Nikos' face, an expression that he'd been unable to catch even a hint of before their match. "You forgot Summer's heart."
"Heart will only take her so far," Glynda remarked. She shook her head and turned away. "I better make sure everything is ready for tomorrow. We can't have them encountering anything too powerful in the forest."
Ozpin nodded, his second walking away. When she was gone, Ozpin's smile disappeared. He removed his deck box from his belt and pulled out a card, one he'd held in his possession for longer than most could remember. A gift from gods.
"Calm yourself, Timaeus," he soothed the green dragon. "She is not our enemy. Whatever fraction of his power she wields, it does not define her. She is only a child."
The subtle vibrations emanating from his old friend slowly dissipated, the dragon of the eye calmed from its rage. Ozpin could only sigh as he replaced the card in his deck.
There was nothing for Ms. Nikos to be ashamed of. She was an upstanding young duelist, one he believed might one day be capable of shouldering the great burden of a maiden. The fact that she had managed to forge a Number, that she had called upon the spirit of a creature he had wielded so long ago, only did credit to her ability. Only the strongest of warriors were capable of invoking such power, let alone controlling it. And just because she had, did not make her malicious in any way. She was a kind young woman. Isolated by her own power, but that was a condition they could improve upon.
Timaeus was just remembering an old enemy, an old war that had cost them all so much, that had, unknown to them all, drawn the lines that would divide them to this day.
But the old war had ended long ago. Now, they had a new one to fight. And he would have to prepare his next generation of soldiers. As they entered his school, they were wide-eyed duelists, eager to learn more about themselves and the world.
Yet he had meant what he said. Knowledge would only take them so far. Knowing what laid in hell did not make it any easier to walk into. And when that knowledge finally came for them, it would be up to their wills and their decks to see them through the conflict.
He could only hope they would be ready.
Thank you for Reading! I hope you enjoy what comes next!
Go Forth and Conquer!