After Na'eemah and Ra were defeated only Jack, Juliet, Leo, Duban, Ghard, Kamdida and Tamamo were left.
It was quickly decided that Juliet would go after Ghard and Leo would take on Kamdida, leaving Duban for Jack. The final Duel draws ever closer.
35. Light of Hope - Part 1.
Jack and his remaining allies all went their own way. Jack sat in the van Duban had send for him. Leo had taken another van to his destination and Juliet was on her way to the Carnival.
In the back of the van Juliet was pondering her strategy, she tried to recollect what she knew about Ghard but she drew a blank.
She was looking at a card she had gotten for a while but hadn't used it until now, she doubted if even Jack knew she had it. Then she looked at the card she had traded with Jack.
'So you challenge Ghard?' The Half-Dwemer driver suddenly broke the silence. 'Not only challenging him, beating him.' She sounded determined.
'You know I'm rooting for you.' The driver said this surprised Juliet.
'Right I forgot.' Juliet muttered: 'It is because of the Dwemer you are like this now.' She remembered the moment Jack challenged Sabrina during the aftermath of the Dark Signer attack. The Dwemer had used an Elder Scroll, magic and Dwemer technology to travel to the past to create more Dwemer. Sabrina after she lost to Jack decided to mix her blood in the magic stream before the meteorite struck, the result was that Half-Dwemer suddenly appeared in the present.
'You know how it felt?' The driver asked Juliet felt some suppressed anger coming from him.
'I was just doing what I always did, trying to find a new job. Then suddenly I fell asleep, when I woke up I was in my bed, my girlfriend must have carried me there, when I saw her I got the scare of my life. Imagine my surprise when she turned out to be some human cat creature. Of course I thought I finally snapped and went insane. She explained magic to me and what she was, shortly after Duban contacted me and offered me a job there was a whole bunch of people that underwent the same thing as me.'
His grip on the wheel tightened. 'These full-blood Dwemer ruined your life.' Juliet replied.
'No it doesn't feel that way.' The driver spoke more calmly: 'Duban is doing what he can, I blame Sabrina most of us do, ever since I became Aware my life has improved, I'm going to marry my girlfriend next month actually, it was a huge relief for her that she didn't have to hide anymore, she never wanted to marry me because she was Aware and I wasn't. No the reason I'm rooting for you is Duban's behavior.'
He fell silent for a moment, they were close to the Carnival, he slowed down a bit.
'Sabrina made us like this, Duban took care of us, most of us Half-Dwemer now have a job with a good income, we are accepted in the Aware community. But you guys have an idea on how to move forward with Aware and Unaware people. Duban has his own ideas and frankly both ideas are flawed. Now Jack sees that and wants to reason but Duban is too stubborn to see it. You Blades win this thing and Duban will have to wake up and see reason, everyone will be better off.'
The van entered the parking lot, the driver just parked the van in the middle of the road. 'Juliet.' He spoke: 'Ghard sees it the same way as I do, Duban holds Ghard's opinions high, if you can win this Duel you might have a good talk with Ghard, convince Ghard that Duban and you Blades need to talk and he will listen to his friend.'
Juliet entered the Abandoned Carnival, the van drove off, she waved at the driver who waved back at her.
The Carnival was eerily silent.
The evening was setting in, the sun was setting, it was getting dark. A fitting setting for the final Duels.
Carefully she stepped under the gate, her eyes shifting looking for hidden shadows she knew that weren't there.
The Signer took a deep breath, just as she wanted to take another step the entire carnival flared to life, the rides turned on creating a cacophony of music and noise, the light that turned on lit the area up. For a moment Juliet had an idea how this place must have been when still operational. She imagined the families walking around, exited children running around, people screaming and laughing in the rides.
As a vampire her eyes were hurting, luckily she had packed a pair of sunglasses. 'Alright Ghard.' She muttered her gaze went over to the broken roller coaster, the two cars that formed the arena were bathe in the brightest, neon lights, a sole figure stood on the top of the red car.
Just as Juliet started her approach to the roller coaster the television screens turned on. 'Welcome.' Ghard spoke the camera was turning around him giving an overview of the carnival.
'I have chosen this area to be our final showdown.' The Dwemer paused for a second, he looked down towards Juliet.
'I see I've caught the attention of the master of Red Dragon Archfiend, I'd hoped to face you.' He spoke.
Juliet approached the roller coaster, luckily it was one of the first things you'd come across when using the main entrance which she did.
It took only a few seconds for the elevator to get her to the top, she took position on the blue car, Ghard stood with his back turned to her, she saw the mechanical shoulder piece and the gauntlet that were his Duel Disk, slowly he stretched that arm, wires shot out of the shoulder connecting with the gauntlet, a blue beam formed around the gauntlet that acted as the blade of the disk, then more wires came out of his shoulder and connected to several holes in the flesh around his eye, his cybernetic eye glowed up, this was also his D-Gazer.
The Dwemer shuffled his Deck then inserted it into the gauntlet, the gauntlet automatically shuffled again, manually shuffling was just a habit he always did before facing a powerful opponent.
'So Juliet.' Ghard spoke as he finally turned around: 'I know that Duban and Jack are in a war against each other.' To Juliet's surprise Ghard made a formal bow. 'I don't share their sentiment. I of course support Duban like you Signers support Jack. I don't blame Duban for involving me in his fight, I imagine it is the same for you?'
Juliet was taken aback but she did agree to Ghard. 'The way I see it both Jack and Duban want the same thing. Jack now wants to take down Tamamo, he doesn't want to fight Duban but Jack claims Duban has something that will help Jack fight Tamamo.' She took the time to activate her Duel Disk and D-Gazer: 'Duban has lost sight of the true goal here Ghard, you know that as much as I do. Jack has ordered the complete destruction of your team, Jack hopes that this way Duban will see reason and Jack hopes they can cooperate.'
An empty smile formed on Ghard's face. 'I see it the same way, however that ''thing'' Duban has to fight Tamamo was designed to be used by us Dwemer, since that ''thing'' would negatively affect anyone but us.'
Juliet knew Ghard couldn't give her a lot of details, he gave her as much as he was allowed to. 'Juliet, Duban believes he can defeat Tamamo, however the arena needs to be clear for him to safely use this ''thing'' against Tamamo, that is why he ordered us to take you out. Duban at the moment is so focused on himself and his fight against Tamamo he lost sight of the great picture.'
Ghard let out a sigh: 'Duban was not pleased when those Aldmer got involved, they distracted you Blades from your agreement to take Tamamo out. What Duban does not see is that if you had not taken out the Aldmer they would have come after us, had they taken us out the ''thing'' Duban wants to use against Tamamo would not have worked since we Dwemer are the only ones who can properly use it. Something Jack had realized. Since the Aldmer took down two Blades Duban's faith in you has decreased significantly.'
Juliet observed Ghard. 'And what do you think?' She asked.
'I don't know.' The Dwemer replied: 'I am just the dumb muscle Duban has hired, he aims me at his opponents and I make sure to take them down.'
Juliet smiled at his reply: 'I don't buy that Ghard, you've perfectly read the situation and reached the same conclusions Jack did even down to Jack's reasons for taking on Na'eemah. So I don't believe you're just some dumb guy Duban hired.'
Ghard looked at the screen that count down the start of their Duel, there wasn't much time left, the drones already flew in position to record the entire Duel. 'Take it however you like Juliet. I don't like to come up with strategies like Duban does. It's simpler to be the dumb muscle, no expectation for you but to crush any and all opponents. That's the way I like it plain and simple.'
Juliet smiled it reminded her of Don, he also hated coming up with a strategy, unlike Ghard Don took it a step further by constantly throwing two-thousand attack point normal monsters at his opponents, if his opponent's effect monsters can't stay on the field he does not need to deal with the effects at all.
'It's time.' Ghard said, his demeanor had changed he was all serious and tense now. 'Duel!' Both shouted when the start signal sounded, at that right exact moment two more Duels started and two other arenas.
A lone figure stood on top of the skyscraper that was the arena of the city area, from there she could oversee all three Duels, wondering which team she would have to face once the three Duels were done.
(Ghard: 8000) - (Juliet: 8000)
'My turn.' Ghard stated as he took a card from his hand, he played it and a face-down card materialized. 'I end my turn.'
Juliet drew her first card: 'A face-down spell or trap card? I know Duban's plan, he wants to summon the core of his Machine Emperor than destroy it with a card effect. That set card will destroy his core which means he already has it in his hand. By leaving himself seemingly open he wants me to attack him directly.' Juliet choose a card from her hand. 'I set this and end my turn.' She firmly stated, a face-down monster appeared before her.
Ghard added his card to his hand, his fingers briefly hovered above one of his cards. 'Machine King, I know our power together is enough to take out the enemy. But Duban demands total annihilation.' He took a different card. 'I summon Wise Core.' He stated before him appeared the small, mechanical egg, it opened up showing the blue core in its center. (0 ATK)
'I activate Oops!' Ghard shouted his set trap opened up. 'I destroy my own Wise Core.' He stated, sparks of electricity exploded out of the egg it exploded and the core came free.
'I summon from my Deck: Machine Emperor Wisel, Wisel Top, Wisel Guard, Wisel Attack and Wisel Carrier!' The five parts of the gigantic machine appeared from five places around the carnival, slowly the five pieces formed together until Machine Emperor Wisel towered over Juliet and Ghard. (2500 ATK)
'I replace Wisel Attack for Wisel Attack 3.' Ghard stated, the right arm disconnected from the machine, it got replaced by a larger arm that had electricity around it, the Machine Emperor also got stronger a bit. (2500- 2900 ATK)
After that the Dwemer quickly played a card which appeared face-down.
'Wisel attacks your defending monster and because of Wisel Attack 3 it does piercing damage!'
Juliet's card disappeared and the small, robe-wearing fiend that was Dark Resonator, it used its tuning fork as a shield. (300 DEF)
Wisel's laser that came out of its chest pierced through the fiend, of course the creature was unharmed, Juliet however took the blow head-on.
(Ghard: 8000) - (Juliet: 8000- 5400)
'I end my turn Juliet.' Ghard said.
Juliet drew her card. 'Damage Diet, the card I traded with Jack before coming here, I set it just in case.' The trap appeared as a face-down card.
'Next I release Dark Resonator so I can advance summon Salvage Warrior!'
Juliet's blue-skinned monster appeared, he held his salvage device ready. (1900 ATK)
'Through the effect of Salvage Warrior I special summon Dark Resonator.'
The Salvage Warrior created a hole in the ground then lowered his hook in, eventually he retrieved it and the small Fiend was holding the hook. (300 DEF)
Juliet's Signer Mark lit up, a warm feeling shot up her arm, the sky turned green as Dark Resonator changed into three rings.
'Darkness gathering into my very being, the blood of the red dragon coursing through my veins! Synchro summon! The soul of the demon king reborn! Red Dragon Archfiend!' Juliet chanted, the demon dragon announced its arrival with a mighty roar, it appeared from the forest with incredible speed, it burst through the roller coaster breaking a significant piece off of it before landing on the entrance sign. (3000 ATK)
'Good time to realize that all your monsters are in defense position except for the body. When the battle is done all your defensive monsters will be destroyed, I wonder how your Wisel will fare without any limbs.' Juliet said. 'Absolute Power Force!' She yelled her dragon roared unleashing its mighty flames at the body of Wisel.
'I redirect the attack to Wisel Guard!' Ghard shouted the mighty machine created a shield that held the flames. 'Wisel Guard once per turn cannot be destroyed, then I activate Wise C3!'
The bottom part of Wisel disconnected as Ghard's trap card activated.
'I replace Wisel Carrier by Wisel Carrier 3!' A new bottom part connected it resembled the original one but with more antennas, these guided electricity between them, the power of Wisel increased a bit as well. (2900- 3300 ATK)
'Wisel Carrier 3 once per Duel prevents any of my monsters from being destroyed by card effects.' The flames washed over the Machine Emperor but when they died out the monstrosity was still standing.
Juliet took another card from her hand: 'I activate Monster Reborn.' She stated, the holy symbol appeared above the field, under the holy light Salvage Warrior reappeared. (1900 ATK)
'And you were so close too.' Ghard said as he drew his card: 'Too bad I had a counter to your destruction effect, now your gamble failed and your Synchro is mine. This is why Duban gave us these Machine Emperors. A strong counter against your Signer Dragons. A hollow victory for me I'd rather had won with my own cards, but when results are all that matter I don't shy away from using a tactic that is bound to work.'
The Dwemer swapped two cards on his Duel Disk: 'I replace Wisel Attack 3 for Wisel Attack 5.' The arm got replaced by one that was completely surrounded by green energy, the Machine Emperor got stronger again. (3300- 3700 ATK)
'And now to take my price.' The center of the chest of Wisel opened, showing the fast, shifting core inside the infinity symbol, green chains lashed out binding Red Dragon Archfiend, slowly but surely the mighty dragon was dragged into the core, the moment the chest closed red electricity erupted around the Machine Emperor as its attack points skyrocketed. (3700- 6700 ATK)
'I activate Damage Diet!' Juliet shouted as the trap she traded with Jack opened up.
Ghard let out a chuckle: 'So you live for another turn, good I didn't want this to end that fast, but know this that with Wisel Attack 5 all damage Wisel deals is doubled. Attack Salvage Warrior! Stainless Steel Slash!' Ghard roared Wisel dashed forward with incredible speed, Juliet held her Duel Disk in front of her to deflect the coming attack, with Wisel Attack the Machine Emperor cleaved the blue-skinned man in half then it clashed with Juliet's Duel Disk who could barely keep standing from the sheer force of the attack.
(Ghard: 8000) - (Juliet: 5400- 600)
'I end my turn.' Ghard stated as a face-down card materialized behind Wisel.
Juliet drew her card, She looked at all the other four spells and traps in her hand, In quick succession she played five cards, all five appeared face-down. 'I end my turn Ghard.' She stated, she was nervous inside and she hoped Ghard didn't notice, without a monster on the field she was wide open.
'You're nervous Juliet. You hide it well, possibly good enough for anyone else, but I see through you.' Ghard calmly said as he drew his card.
'I activate Wise T3!' Ghard's trap opened up, the snake-like head of Wisel disconnected then a more animal-like creature appeared with four legs, wings and a tail, it changed shape, the legs and tail retreated and it connected to Wisel with its lower body, Wisel got slightly stronger. (6700- 6800 ATK)
'It's over Juliet!' Ghard roared: 'Stainless Steel Slash!'
Juliet quickly pressed a button on her Duel Disk: 'I activate Enemy Controller!' She shouted the large controller appeared above Wisel.
'Wisel Top 3 negates the activation of that card and destroys it.' Ghard explained, the controller exploded and Wisel continued its attack.
'Go Negate Attack!' Juliet's second card opened up.
'Wisel Attack 5 negates the activation and...' Ghard fell silent, he let out a chuckle. 'You already knew this.' He said realizing Juliet wanted him to use these two effects first.
'Exactly Ghard, I knew because I wanted to activate this card!' Her third card opened up: 'King's Consonance! I banish Dark Resonator and Salvage Warrior!' As Juliet removed the two cards from her Graveyard Wisel retreated as its attack was being canceled, a roar then announced one of Juliet's monsters appearing, Hot Red Dragon Archfiend broke through the trees landing between Wisel and Juliet. (3000 ATK)
'Now that your attack is canceled I activate Interdimensional Matter Transporter!' Her final face-down card opened up, the weird machine appeared it and the Synchro disappeared.
Ghard started to clap for a few seconds. 'Well played Juliet. You avoided your defeat, for now at least.' He waved as a signal he ended his turn, the machine and Hot Red Dragon Archfiend reappeared. (3000 ATK)
'Time to draw this to a close Ghard.' Juliet stated, she added her new card to her hand.
'I activate the effect of Hot Red Dragon Archfiend! The body of Wisel is in attack position so it will be destroyed!'
The Red Dragon Archfiend look-a-like unleashed its mighty flames.
'Not yet Juliet. My Wisel Carrier 3 can activate its protection effect once per turn, however by paying three-thousand life points I can reset this effect.' A barrier formed around the Machine Emperor warding off the flames.
(Ghard: 8000- 5000) - (Juliet: 600)
'In that case I normal summon Crimson Resonator!' Juliet's small, robe-wearing fiend appeared its back was on fire. (800 ATK)
'I use the effect of Crimson Resonator to special summon Force Resonator from my Deck.' The Blade stated. Next to the fiery fiend appeared the one with the black orb on its back. (500 ATK)
Juliet spread her arms, both Tuners changed into a total of four, flaming rings. Hot Red Dragon Archfiend flew through them, flames erupted out of its body. 'Darkness gathering into my very being, the demon king unleashing its disastrous power, Synchro summon! My soul burns brightly, descent Hot Red Dragon Archfiend King Calamity!' Juliet chanted, more flames erupted around her dragon, it started to grow becoming twice its original size, the creature had a mostly black and gray body with red accents, large wings, four arms with two of the arms being smaller, the wings were partially attached to them, the other two arms were large and ended in sharp claws, its body was covered in many spikes, fur covered its neck and the majority of its rather small head were its large, red horns.
Slowly the dragon descended onto the ground, it still reached the top of the roller coaster, with a roar it spewed flames all over the area blanketing the sky in flames. (4000 ATK)
'Crimson Absolute Break!' Juliet shouted.
'I redirect the attack to...' Juliet cut Ghard off: 'No you won't, when King Calamity is summoned you cannot activate cards and effects on the field.' Juliet explained
Then she activated her last face-down card: 'Ghosts From the Past!' She shouted: 'I banish Force Resonator and Crimson Resonator in order to make the attack of your Wisel zero for the turn!' Electricity struck the Machine Emperor, its attack power plummeted.
Ghard closed his eyes, he had a smile on his face.
King Calamity's body got engulfed by fire, with incredible speed it broke through the body of Wisel, flames erupted around the Machine Emperor, it slowly turned around its weapons trained on the dragon. Electricity sparked out of its different parts, before it could counter multiple explosion erupted through its body, the limbs came loose falling to the ground they each exploded as they fell, then with one final explosion the body was ripped into shreds, smoldering pieces of debris fell down all over the area.
(Ghard: 5000- 1000) - (Juliet: 600)
Ghard said nothing as he drew his card.
'Don't think this is over Juliet. I don't need a Machine Emperor to win this Duel and I shall prove this.'
He hesitated for a second, at first he thought he was nervous, then he realized he was exited, the Duel could go both ways, both he and Juliet were one attack away from defeat.
'Juliet.' Ghard sounded serious: 'I'm abandoning Duban, his fight is no longer one I believe in.'
Juliet wasn't surprised, Ghard, to her always seemed the most reasonable one of the three Dwemer.
'I should have fought this Duel with my own cards. I might have ruined this at the start, but in the end I can make it right! I activate Monster Reborn!' The holy symbol appeared and the egg-shaped Wise Core with it. (0 ATK)
'I reject the Machine Emperor!' The egg disappeared: 'All hail the Machine King!' Ghard roared a gigantic robot rose behind him it had a gray body and red limbs, the body and limbs were rectangular in shape on the chest it had a giant circular, laser-shooting weapon, its human-shaped head had its red visor aimed at Juliet. 'Machine King gains one-hundred attack points for each Machine on the field. Ghard stated. (2200- 2300 ATK)
'Next I activate Shrink!' Ghard played a spell, the moment it appeared King Calamity shrunk to half its size, it was still bigger than Machine King. (4000- 2000 ATK)
'Attack!' Ghard roared Machine King statically aimed its arm then its fist shot out straight through the chest of King Calamity.
(Ghard: 1000) - (Juliet: 600- 300)
'King Calamity was destroyed by one of your cards, which means I get to special summon a Dark, Dragon, Synchro from my Graveyard!' Fire erupted out of King Calamity it changed back into Hot Red Dragon Archfiend. (3000 ATK)
'I set this card and end my turn.' Ghard stated a face-down card appeared behind Machine King.
Juliet drew her card.
'This ends now.' Ghard thought.
'I use the effect of Hot Red Dragon Archfiend to destroy all other face-up attack position monsters.' Hot Red Dragon Archfiend took to the skies, it flew over Machine King torching it as it did, the dragon did not stop until Machine King was a smoldering piece of scrap.
'Yes attack me now Juliet, I have my Trick Buster, when you attack me I destroy your attacking monster and deal three-hundred damage.'
Juliet took a card from her hand. 'I equip Hot Red Dragon Archfiend with Silver Wing!' The spell card appeared a silver glow appeared around the wings of the dragon.
'Hot Red Dragon Archfiend!' Juliet roared.
'I know I've lost, but I still activate Trick Buster!' Ghard roared.
'A nice final trick Ghard, but I send Silver Wing to the Graveyard so that my dragon isn't destroyed thus I do not take any damage from your card effect!' Both cards exploded Juliet's dragon inhaled, ready to unleash its mighty attack. Ghard closed his eyes and let the fire wash over him.
(Ghard: 1000- 0) - (Juliet: 300)
Both Duelists said nothing on their way back down, once they reached the ground Ghard spoke up: 'You want to get something to eat?'
Juliet was surprised by this question. 'I do not consider you Blades to be enemies. We had our Duel like Duban wanted, I lost and now I'm hungry.' Ghard explained himself, Juliet let out a laugh. 'You really are a simple man aren't you Ghard? Might as well get something to eat, getting a little rest before we tackle Tamamo.'
Juliet was surprised that Ghard called over a private transport, it was just one of the regular tournament vans but only accessible by Ghard.
'So where do we get something to eat?' Juliet wondered as they all had brought some food for their own, restaurants were closed in the tournament areas.
'I'm taking you out of the tournament area. As long as you are with me you won't get disqualified.'
Juliet said nothing as she took a few seconds to let it all sink in, she just destroyed a Machine Emperor and defeated a Dwemer and now she was all friendly with said Dwemer.
'So Juliet.' Ghard broke the silence: 'I know you're a vampire, you want blood or regular food?'
She smiled, first time with someone who wasn't a Blade that she could freely discuss this. 'I'm very particular in terms of blood Ghard.' She replied.
'We have blood that isn't good for donating, these people freely gave it, in fact Duban adopted this policy from you guys.'
Juliet lowered her guard a bit, she felt at ease: 'I would have a regular meal, with a glass of blood, I always drink it as if it is wine.'
Juliet who was looking through the window the entire time looked up when Ghard took out a tablet. 'Tamamo hasn't moved yet, she's on the skyscraper at the arena. We could take her.' The Dwemer spoke.
'Inadvisable.' Juliet replied: 'I know the show of the tournament is as good as over, but Tamamo is now pressed into a corner, she took a severe beating from Rini nearly losing, she's on the skyscraper to maintain control, only one way from where we can attack her, should we try anything. She's prepared. We lure her to the colosseum, there she's lost her advantage combine that with whatever that machine is Duban has under the colosseum and hopefully that will be enough for a victory.'
Ghard put the tablet away as the reached their destination. 'You talk as if Jack and Leo will win.' Ghard spoke.
'They will win Ghard, they must win.' Juliet replied.
Eliminated:
Ghard: The New Government
Next time:
Six Duelists left. The New Government had just lost their first major Duelist. Juliet fared well in her fight against Ghard, next up is Leo versus Kamdida.
Card details:
Wisel Carrier 3
Type: Machine/Effect
Attribute: Dark
Level: 3
ATK: 1200
DEF: 1000
You can Tribute 1 "Wisel Carrier" to Special Summon this card from your hand. If you do not control a face-up "∞" monster, destroy this card. Once per Duel all Monsters you control cannot be destroyed by your opponent's card effects then replace this Effect by the following: You can pay 3000 LP all Monsters you control cannot be destroyed by your opponent's card Effects.
Wise C3
Normal Trap
Send 1 face-up "Wisel Carrier" monster you control to the Graveyard. Special Summon 1 "Wisel Carrier 3" from your hand.
Note: The above 2 cards were created by me nobody is allowed to use these cards for their own.
Trick Buster (anime)
Normal Trap
When an opponent's monster declares an attack while you control no monsters: Destroy all Attack Position monsters your opponent controls, and if you do, inflict 300 damage to your opponent for each monster destroyed.
Note: The above card was used by Vector during the Yu-Gi-Oh Zexal anime, episode 137. All credits go to the writers of that episode.