Chapter 49: Riding Out the Storm
Rin gazed around her surroundings. Instead of the big open space she had imagined, she found herself on a roadway that seemed to be high in the sky, with nothing but blue all around her. But what was most shocking was that her and Yugo's Duel Runner, which was being kept in a garage at Leo Corp, was standing there waiting for her.
"What the-"
Suddenly, the sound of a motorcycle approaching snapped her out of her thoughts, and she just had enough time to jump out of the way before the rider stopped beside her. The woman took off her helmet, shaking her blonde hair as she glared at Rin.
"I guess you're my opponent, then?"
"That's right, hon. Name's Mai Valentine, and you'd best remember it. It'll be the last name you ever hear!"
Rin snarled, but got on her duel runner.
"I don't know what's going on, but I'll never turn down a Turbo Duel!"
"First to take the first corner gets the first turn, got it?"
"Got it. 3…"
"2…"
"1…GO!"
Once the countdown was complete, the two sped off, trying to outmaneuver their opponent. It was a close race, but Rin just managed to squeeze through and take the first corner.
Rin: 8000
Mai: 8000
"To start, I'll activate Dark Room of Nightmare! Next, since I don't have any monsters on the field, I can normal summon Windwitch- Blizzard Bell (1800-2300/1800-1400) in attack mode without cost!"
But when Rin's monster hit the field, she was surprised to see her monster's attack points increase.
"Hey, what gives?"
"Look around you! When you stepped through those doors, the field spell Rising Air Current was activated. All Wind monsters gain 500 attack, but lose 400 defense."
This made Rin suspicious.
That's odd, why would she choose a field spell that gives my monsters an advantage? Even if she also uses Wind monsters, wouldn't it be better to choose one that will only benefit her?
"For my next play, I activate the spell card Windwitch Chimes! This card lets me special summon a Windwich monster from my deck in defense position, so long as it's not another Blizzard Bell, and I choose Windwitch- Ice Bell (1000-1500/1000-600)! And when she's special summoned, you take 500 points of damage, plus 300 from my spell card!"
Mai: 8000-7500-7200
"Now my level 5 Blizzard Bell tunes with my level 3 Ice Bell to Synchro Summon! Come on out, Windwitch- Diamond Bell (2800-3300/2400-2000)! And when she's Synchro Summoned, I can inflict damage to you equal to half the attack of a Windwitch in my graveyard, and I choose Blizzard Bell!"
Mai: 7200-6300-6000
"I'll end my turn with one card face down."
"Is that all? Let me show you how a real duelist takes charge hon! First, I'll summon Harpie Channeler (1400-1300) in attack mode! And I'll use her effect to discard Harpie Dancer in order to summon Harpie Harpist (1700-2200/600-200) in defense mode! Now I'll use the spell card Elegant Egotist to special summon Harpie Lady 2 (1300-1800/1400-1000) in attack mode! Now, with these three monsters I build the overlay network and Xyz summon! Descend, Harpie's Pet Phantasmal Dragon (2000-2500/2500-2100)! Now my pet, attack!"
"So what? My Diamond Bell has more attack points."
"Who said I was attacking your monster? As long as Phantasmal Dragon has an overlay unit, he can attack you directly!"
"What?"
Mai's huge monster swooped in and launched a massive fireball at Rin, the girl just barely managing to weave her duel runner around it.
Rin: 5500
"I'll end my turn with two cards face down. During each of my end phases, my Phantasm Dragon requires me to detach an overlay unit from it."
"I activate the spell card Monster Reborn to bring back Ice Bell, and don't forget about her effect."
Mai: 6000-5500-5200
"Next, I'll summon Windwitch- Glass Bell (1500-2000/1500-1100) in attack mode! And with her effect I can add Windwitch-Snow Bell from my deck to my hand. Now my level 4 Glass Bell tunes with the level 3 Ice Bell to Synchro Summon! Come on out, Windwitch– Winter Bell (2400-2900/2000-1600) in attack mode! And I'll use her effect to burn you for 1000 life points thanks to the Blizzard Bell in my graveyard!
Mai: 5200-4200-3900
"Heh, not bad."
"I'm not done yet! Since you took damage, Diamond Bell lets me destroy your Xyz monster!"
Diamond Bell fired an icy blast from her body, intended to obliterate Mai's monster. But to Rin's horror, the dragon phased out of the field, the blast instead consuming one of Mai's face downs.
"Sorry hon, but as long as my dragon has overlay units, he can't be targeted by attacks or effects."
Rin gritted her teeth. That would be troublesome, but she could still work with it.
"Fine. Since I have two Wind monsters on my field, I can special summon Windwitch-Snow Bell (100-600/100-0) in defense mode! Now Snow Bell tunes with Winter Bell to Synchro Summon another Diamond Bell, and I'll use her effect to burn you for half of Winter Bell's attack!"
Mai: 3900-2700-2400
"Alright, no more playing around! I activate my trap card, Hysteric Party! By discarding one card, I can special summon as many Harpie Ladies from my graveyard as possible, so come on out Harpie Dancer (1200-1700/1000-600), Harpie Lady 2, and Harpie Harpist! Now, I tune Harpie Dancer with Harpie Lady 2!"
"Are you insane? Neither of them are tuners!"
"That doesn't matter, because the monster I'm Synchro Summoning lets me use a Harpie Lady as a tuner monster. Now come on out, the level 8 Cyber Slash Harpie Lady (2600-3100/1400-1000)!"
"Alright, I'll admit that's impressive. But my Diamond Bell is still stronger!"
"That won't matter, because I will equip her with Cyber Shield! This boosts my Slash Harpie's attack points by 500 (3100-3600), but that's not all! Since a spell or trap card was activated, I can return Diamond Bell back to your extra deck."
"What?"
"Now Cyber Slash Harpie Lady, destroy her Diamond Bell!"
The Synchro Harpie flew straight towards Rin's monster, tearing it to shreds with a single swipe of her claw.
Rin: 5200
"Now Phantasm Dragon, Harpist, attack her directly!"
Rin swerved violently to avoid the two's sharp talons, nearly crashing her duel runner in the process, but she managed to stay upright.
Rin: 500
"And here I thought someone from another dimension would be a challenge. You're as weak as all of them! I end my turn, forcing me to detach another material from my dragon."
"I activate Card of Demise, letting me draw until I have five cards!"
Rin was silent as she drew her new hand.
"Aw, what's the matter? Did your deck fail you?"
"No. I'm just sad that I have to end this, knowing what will become of you."
"Oh really? Well then, show me what you got, kid!"
"Very well, I activate Monster Reborn to bring back Winter Bell! And this time I'll use her effect on Diamond Bell!"
Mai: 2400-800-500
"You may have tied the duel up, but you can't attack any of my monsters! Next turn you're finished!"
"There won't be a next turn, because I equip Winter Bell with Shooting Star Bow- Ceal! The monster equipped with this card loses 1000 attack points (2900-1900)!"
"How will that help?"
"Because now she can attack directly!"
"What?"
"Sorry, but I have a mission to complete. Winter Bell, attack Mai directly, and end this duel!"
Wnter Bell pulled the string back on her bow before firing, sending a bolt of pure energy at Mai. With nothing to protect her, the older duelist could only smile as it hit.
"Not bad, kid."
Mai: 0000
Once her life points hit zero, their duel runners came to a stop, smoke rising from Mai. But they didn't have time to worry about that, as Mai began to glow and dissolve.
"Well, shit."
"We need to get you to a doctor, or a hospital!"
"Don't bother, they can't do anything. This is the price those who seek the power of the Quantum Cube pay for failure."
Rin sighed.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be, I should've known this would happen. Thanks for one hell of a final duel."
Rin smiled, tears in her eyes.
"You're welcome."
"Now go kick my boss's ass."
Rin gave her a thumbs up, which Mai returned before she finally vanished for good. Once she was gone, the area around Rin dissolved, as did the duel runners, leaving Rin in an empty storage room.
"I need to find the others. I just hope they haven't lost to any of their opponents…"