Wrote this to celebrate the two coming to Duel Links, only not really since half of their in-Duel dialogue is... Yeah. Anyway, here ya go have fun!
The cold, sterile air of the laboratory tingled against Leo Akaba's skin, making his very breath visible as he examined the madman standing before him.
"Kukukuku… Hahahaha! Fuahahahahahahaha!" the man laughed.
"Doktor!" Leo sneered, glaring at the man. "What's the meaning of this?!"
He was referring to the affront to all science before him, and more, its chosen test subject.
Lulu Obsidian.
A resident of the Xyz Dimension… and one-fourth of his daughter, a girl who was currently slumbering on the cold steel of the examination table.
"Speak," Leo repeated, eyes narrowing as he took a step forward. "That girl is supposed to be back in her cell. Why is she down here with you?"
The Doktor shot him a face-splitting grin, "Do you really need to ask me, Leo? She tried to escape. Lured the poor guard into letting her out of her cell. By the time we caught her, she was down at the docks, about to set sail and flee! If it hadn't been for dear Yuri letting me know, she'd have been long gone by now!"
"She had escaped?" Leo's eyes narrowed as he cast his gaze on the girl. She slept peacefully on the table, her chest rising and falling rhythmically as she breathed. A ghost of a smile graced Leo's lips.
Ray had always been resourceful.
Even in the Original Dimension, she'd always had a knack for problem-solving… a knack her counterparts seemed to have inherited if the Doktor's words were to be believed.
"Why was I not informed about this?"
The Doktor shrugged, "You were busy. And clearly, I had the situation handled. It seemed rather pointless to tell you."
Leo felt a twitch and gritted his teeth. The Doktor had always annoyed him, but the madman had grown even worse since the day they invaded the Xyz Dimension. He strode forward, resisting the urge to gut the man where he stood. The Doktor was a freak but his intellect was needed until the Arc Project was finished. Still, Leo could not allow the man to pursue his experiments freely. Letting him do so invited unnecessary distractions… and problems like this.
"That girl," he started, pointing at the comatose Lulu with a stern expression, "is one of the key individuals needed to ensure the Arc Project succeeds. If she so much as blinks differently, you should be letting me know! And don't think for a second I haven't noticed the way you avoided my question, Doktor. Even if she required recapture, that doesn't explain why she's here."
He was referring to her presence in the Doktor's lab, the cesspool of the madman's desires. A place no sane Duelist would dare to tread, much less a fine girl like her.
Strange mixtures and abstract concoctions bubbled against its steel walls, bathing the room in colorful glows of red, blue, and purple. Attached to them, countless wires spun a network throughout the room, connecting to humming machinery that blinked with mysterious red and green lights.
Leo wished he knew what they were for. The glow had always disturbed him, but it had always seemed unimportant…
Deeming it so was a mistake.
The Doktor smiled as he took in the words, leaning back against his keyboard. His smile grew wider.
"Doesn't it, though? I thought her escape explained everything!"
"You're the one who'll need to escape if you don't reveal what you've been up to. I only have so much patience, Doktor. You'll find you are testing mine."
"Fine, fine," the Doktor giggled, spinning around to face his monitor. He pushed a few buttons on his keyboard, bringing up a display of the Ray-faced girl's vitals. "Our dear Lulu here caused quite the trouble when she escaped from our Obelisk Force, so I figured I'd do a little tinkering in her brain to make the girl more obedient."
"Tinkering…?" Leo inquired. His eyes narrowed, "Doktor, if you harmed her—"
The man shooed him off.
"Oh, relax. My genius would never. Not when her existence is so… vital… to pursuing a new realm of knowledge!"
He pushed another button, grinning as the screen displayed one of Lulu's new X-rays. He grinned as he studied it, his sunken eyes glowing with madness as he scrolled to her head.
Leo's brow furrowed as he heard the man laugh.
"There! There it is! Perfect!"
"What's perfect? What have you done?!" Leo snapped, pushing him aside. His eyes widened as he saw the X-ray. "What… What the hell is that?!"
In the girl's skull, a shadow in the shape of a fist-sized bug twitched and spasmed.
"Behold! My new creation!" the Doktor screamed maliciously into the air. "The perfect monster born of my genius! The lovely Fusion Parasite!"
" Fusion… Parasite…?!" Leo repeated, his eyes aghast.
The Doktor giggled into his hands, hunching over as he stepped to the screen.
"It's a new card I designed to use with the Academy's Solid Vision with Mass! A monster that won't just help win a Duel… but someone's heart and mind as well!"
"What in the world are you saying?"
"This card is capable of controlling a body," he said. "Including risks like this poor girl here! She'll never try fleeing again!" The Doktor giggled. "As long as my Fusion Parasite resides in her brain, she'll do whatever I tell her to! And she'll think it's of her own volition!"
"What… did… you say…?" Leo asked, his fist curling before he knew it. "You… implanted this thing in her head? Without my knowledge? My permission?!"
"Hm? I wasn't aware I needed such things when performing experiments. You made it quite clear that I was allowed to do as I pleased."
"Within reason!" he roared. "That doesn't include taking a captive and rummaging around in her mind! I want you to take that thing out of her now. Now!"
"I'm afraid it's far too late for that," said the man. "My Parasite's already entered her mind. Her prefrontal cortex is now poisoned. The moment my card's stinger pierced through her flesh, we passed the point of No Return. Its venom's addictive, and until I've created an antidote, I can't wean her off. Besides, ending things now would be an utter waste of this brilliant experiment! Imagine the things we could do with this card. The entire world could be our oyster!"
The Doktor, ignorant of Leo's growing rage, giggled and spun on his heel. "Entire armies at our beck and call. Prisoners, bound to our will! We could have them duel their own friends, use them as spies, oh…! the Arc Project would succeed in an instant!"
"Doktor…" Leo's eyes hardened. 'You're too dangerous to be left alone.'
He reached for his Duel Disk, intent on carding the man—but froze in his tracks. Without the Doktor, the Arc Project's progress would grind to an absolute halt. His dream of seeing his daughter again would vanish before his eyes… just like she had before.
Oh, he had no doubt that he could finish the project on his own if he wanted. But the time it would take would surely double, maybe triple, given recent events. He gritted his teeth, glaring at the unconscious girl who wore the face of his daughter.
She wasn't Ray.
But she could be.
But for that…
He needed the Doktor.
He took his hand off his Duel Disk, reining in his rage with all his might. The last thing he wanted was to leave her like this, but what other choice did he have? He needed Ray, sooner rather than later, and this was the path.
He only hoped it wouldn't lead him back down the road his world already walked.
"You are not to go near this girl without my permission," he grunted after a long moment. "And I'll need your card's data to ensure it won't affect the Arc Project's progress. Your actions here are irresponsible, rash, and quite frankly, revolting. This girl was taken to create a utopia, not to serve as your plaything."
The Doktor's eyes widened. "What? I assure you, that's not my intention! I did this to neutralize the threat she posed! There's no other reason, I swear!"
"I believe you. And it's the only reason I haven't carded you yet," Leo sneered. "But going forward there will be none of this. This Fusion Parasite is too dangerous. Cut things off here."
"Leo, please! Be reasonable! The Fusion Parasite could be a great boon to Academia!"
"Reasonable? You truly expect me to see the reason in your madness?" Leo frowned, his eyes darting to stare at the comatose Lulu. "You think I would gamble the success of the Arc Project on one of your twisted experiments?"
The Doktor's grin faltered momentarily, but he quickly regained his composure. He clasped his hands behind his back, pacing like a man caught between delight and disappointment. "Ah, but Professor, you underestimate the value of what I've accomplished! Imagine—"
"I don't have to," Leo cut him off sharply. "I've seen what progress without restraint has done to dimensions before. You've already taken things too far, Doktor. I will not have you jeopardize my plans with—"
"Then let me prove its worth!" the Doktor interrupted, his voice dropping into a low, conspiratorial tone. "Allow me to send this girl on a mission. Let her capture the one we've been watching. Rin, was it? If she succeeds, it will validate my Fusion Parasite's utility in furthering the Arc Project. And if she fails, well... I'll remove the Parasite and never speak of this again!"
Leo's eyes narrowed at the mention of Rin. The Synchro Dimension's invasion required a finer touch than that of Heartland's. The presence of Jack, a legendary figure from the Original Dimension, made Leo wary of a frontal assault. He'd intended to use their plant, Jean-Michel Roget, to guide things in their favor… but if they could send another figure to extract Rin directly… it just might be worth it.
With Yuri caught up in other missions and the other assets still invading Xyz, could this twisted parasite be the solution?
"Perhaps…" he murmured.
He hated the thought of using such a grotesque method to succeed, but with Z-Arc a looming and possible threat, the Professor's options were dwindling.
Leo stared at the Doktor while weighing the risks. He despised the man's methods, but there was no denying that this was a potential solution. The mission would be dangerous, yes, but Lulu was already compromised anyway. And if she succeeded…
He would be one step closer to seeing Ray again.
"If this fails," Leo said slowly, "there will be no second chances. You will remove Fusion Parasite, and the girl will be restored to her original state. Are we clear?"
The Doktor bowed theatrically, his grin never fading. "Crystal, Professor. I assure you, success is all but guaranteed!"
Leo turned on his heel, his cloak billowing behind him as he left the lab. He didn't like it. He didn't trust the Doktor, nor his monstrous parasite, but the Bracelet Girls needed to be captured. And this was surely the quickest way...
"Send her," Leo called over his shoulder, not looking back. "Send Ra… Lulu to capture Rin."
The Doktor's laughter echoed through the sterile halls as Leo disappeared from sight.
"With pleasure," he whispered, turning to his comatose subject. "Time to put you to work, my dear Lulu..."
He placed his hand under his chin, smirking as the Parasite in her mind twitched. A grotesque smile slowly formed on her face.
"As you command… Doktor…"
Arc-V
Three weeks later, in another dimension.
"Rin? Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin?! Rinrin, where are you?"
Rin gulped, hiding just out of sight as Yugo searched for her. She had spent days planning this little excursion of hers to the junkyard, and the last thing she wanted was for Yugo to find her and ruin her upcoming surprise!
"Sorry, Yugo," she murmured, "but this is for the best. You'll see! Once I find this last part for our Duel Runner, not even Jack will be able to catch it!"
She sighed softly as Yugo finally left, no doubt heading to search her other hideouts. That meant she had a good hour or two to find the scour the yard for the part.
"Let's see… Those groupies I beat said the part should be somewhere near here…" she muttered. "They better not have been lying to me. We've needed a new carburetor for months!"
Their Duel Runner, the TK2000PS - yes, Yugo named it - was built to be the fastest piece of hardware around! Well, at least with what parts the orphans could find. But as fast as it was, Rin knew that it could go even faster! But their carburetor was old and decrepit, barely letting any fuel in the engine! Sure, it worked, and the TK2000PS was Friendship Cup-ready… but if they wanted to win and beat Jack, then they couldn't settle for machines that "worked." No, they needed one that would win! That would show those Topsiders what's what!
Her hands sifted through the wreckage, tossing aside bent metal and broken gears. She was so close. All she needed was the carburetor, and they'd be unstoppable!
An hour into her search, her fingers grazed something smooth and cold. Her heart leaped in excitement as she pulled it from the pile of scrap. It was exactly what she had been looking for—the perfect part.
But before she could even register her success, a shadow darted across the corner of her eye. Rin spun around just in time to see a cloaked figure snatch the carburetor right from her grasp.
"Hey!" she shouted, bolting to her feet. "What do you think you're doing?!"
The figure didn't respond. Instead, they turned and dashed toward the far end of the junkyard, the carburetor clasped tightly in their hand.
Rin's blood boiled.
She wasn't about to let some thief steal the part she had worked so hard to obtain. Not today. Not ever! She took off after the figure.
Her boots kicked up dirt and gravel as she ran.
"Give that back!" she called after them, her breath coming in sharp bursts as she closed the distance between them. The figure didn't reply, instead picking up speed as they weaved through the junkyard with ease.
They ducked into a narrow alley, and Rin smiled. That idiot had just played themselves! She knew this place like the back of her hand, and that alley was closed! They were caught!
Rin charged into the alley behind them, her heart pounding with determination.
"You can't hide from me!" she growled, her footsteps echoing off the metal walls. "I'm not leaving without that part! So give it back, and I promise I'll only beat you up half as much!"
The figure skidded to a stop at the alley's end.
"Finally done running?" Rin asked.
The figure giggled, then turned around to face Rin while tossing their cloak to the side. Rin gasped, her eyes taking in a sight that froze in her tracks.
The girl standing before her… had the same face as her.
"What… the…?" her voice faltered, her mind struggling to process what she was seeing. It was like staring into a mirror, but the reflection staring back wasn't quite right. The other girl's expression was cold and cruel, and her eyes—they were so unnerving.
Rin took a step back, her hands tightening into fists. "Who… who are you?!"
The girl didn't answer. She stood there, smirking, her hands clutching the stolen carburetor as if it were hers to take all along.
Rin's pulse raced as a deep sense of unease settled over her. This wasn't just some random thief. "I said, who are you?!" she repeated. "And why do you look like me?!"
Did she have a long-lost sister? A family who'd left her to rot?
A thousand questions raced through her mind, but none of them had any answers.
Finally, the girl spoke, her voice as cruel as the look on her face. "You want to know? Then you'll have to come with me."
"Come with you…?" Rin repeated. "I'm not going anywhere with you without answers! And if you think you can just show up and take my stuff, then you're in for a rude awakening! I don't care if you have my face—you're not leaving here with me or that part!"
"The Doktor said you'd be hard to convince. But that's fine. It's why I brought this."
The girl raised her arm, a purple energy blade emerging from the steel device on her wrist. Despite its strange look, Rin recognized it for what it was almost immediately.
"A Duel Disk? You're a Duelist? In that case, then we both know how we can settle this matter now, don't we?!"
Rin gritted her teeth, throwing on her own Duel Disk and extending its blade.
"If I win, you'll give back that part… AND explain why you look like me!"
"Fine by me," the girl smirked, "but when I win, you'll be coming with me."
The two girls glared at each other, stern eyes meeting cruel ones.
A single word cut through the silence.
"DUEL!"
"I'll go first!" Rin said, drawing five cards for her hand. She studied each one, various combos and tactics immediately coming to mind. "Windwitch - Ice Bell's effect activates from my hand! While I control no monsters, I can Special Summon her from my hand! Come on out, Ice Bell!"
The smiling witch giggled and sang as her body took form on the field, materializing upon a frozen broom that circled the alley overhead.
Ice Bell - LV3 - WIND - Spellcaster - (1000/1000)
"One thousand Attack Points?" her doppelganger smirked. "Pathetic! You'll have to do better than that!"
"Oh, don't worry, I will! Or rather, she will! When Ice Bell's Special Summoned, she also gets to bring out a friend from my deck!" Rin snapped. "But why should I bother telling you about it when I can show you instead? Come out, Windwitch - Glass Bell! Lend my Ice Bell your aid!"
The card shot out of her deck, allowing her to grab it and slam it upon her Duel Disk. A second masked witch rose as she did, sitting upon a similarly shaped broom that settled beside Ice Bell's own.
Glass Bell - LV4 - WIND - Spellcaster/Tuner - (1500/1500)
"And the fun doesn't end there, either! If these two are summoned, they both get to use their effects!" she continued. "First, my Glass Bell adds another "Windwitch" monster from my deck to my hand." She searched her deck for a card, revealing "Windwitch - Blizzard Bell" before shuffling, "Then… my Windwitch - Ice Bell hits you for five hundred Life Points!"
Her doppelganger gasped as Ice Bell flicked her wand and sent a spiral of icicles forward. They tore through the girl's body, showering her with the invisible force of Rin's Duel Disk's Solid Vision.
The girl grunted as she was pushed, coming to a stop by the wall. The sound of her falling Life Points filled the air, and yet, she maintained her smug grin.
RIN - 4000 LP
LULU - 3500 LP
"Heh…! Heheheh… This… This is all…?" she asked. "Not even using Solid Vision with Mass? You really are from the boonies."
Rin's eyes narrowed at that.
'Solid Vision with Mass? What's she talking about? No, don't worry about that. With that smug look of hers, she's probably just some snobby Topsider looking for a thrill!' She clenched her fist. 'Still, the fact that it's MY face she's wearing doesn't make any sense!"
"Who ARE you?" she mumbled quietly.
The girl smirked. Clearly, she heard her.
"My name's Lulu," she replied. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Rin."
'She knows my name?! Oh man, this is getting weirder by the second!'
"Well, Lulu or whoever you are, you can say whatever you want, but don't think I'll let you get away with mocking me. Much less stealing my stuff!" she snapped. She threw her hand forward as she grabbed her new card. "I'm activating Blizzard Bell's effect! Since the only monsters I control are 'Windwitch' monsters, I can Normal Summon her without Tributing!"
With a swift motion, Rin summoned her newest card to the field. Unlike the others, this one wasn't a cute girl riding a broom, but rather, a frozen angel attached to a large white sphere. A single blue sapphire shone in the sphere's center, its frosty appearance sending chills through the already cold air.
Windwitch Blizzard Bell – Level 5 – WIND – Spellcaster/Tuner – (1800/1800)
"And now that she's here, it's time I taught you a lesson you won't soon forget!" Rin roared. She gestured forward, throwing her hand between her Ice Bell and Glass Bell. "I'm tuning my Level 3 Ice Bell with my Level Four Glass Bell!" she started. "Make way for a wicked wintertime blizzard!"
The two witches began to glow, their forms spiraling together as four familiar rings of a Synchro Summon resonated through the air. They spiraled around Ice Bell's body, transforming it into three shining stars. And then, in a burst of green light, a new creature was born!
"Midwinter wind. Make ice and snow my power and blow through!" Rin chanted. "Synchro Summon! Appear! Level 7! Windwitch - Winter Bell!"
In a flash, a frozen witch more sphere than human descended onto the field. Her arms, no- wings stretched out, taking up the space of the alley. This was Rin's ace monster: Windwitch - Winter Bell! A Level 7 behemoth that would keep this Duel blowing cold.
Windwitch - Winter Bell - LV7 - WIND - Spellcaster/Synchro - (2400/2000)
"Now I'll activate Winter Bell's effect!" Rin declared, her eyes flashing with determination. "Once per turn, I can target a 'Windwitch' monster in my Graveyard and inflict damage equal to its Level times 200. I choose Glass Bell, who's Level 4!"
The spectral form of Glass Bell appeared above Rin's Duel Disk, and with a wave of Winter Bell's wing, the icy winds swirled toward Lulu once more.
"Kyaa!" the girl screamed, blown back by the force of Winter Bell's blow. Her Life Points fell further as she was sent crashing to the floor.
RIN – 4000 LP
LULU – 2700 LP
"I end my Turn. How's that for pathetic?" Rin mocked. "Still looking down on the boonies? Well, guess what? I'm no pushover, Lulu!"
Lulu slowly rose to her feet and wiped away the dust that had settled on her clothes. She smiled—a cold, mechanical smile that sent a chill down Rin's spine.
"This… is your most precious card? Impressive, Rin. You just might be me after all," Lulu said.
"What in the world are you saying?" she asked.
"All will be clear soon enough," Lulu purred, her voice tinged with mock admiration. "But for that to happen, you and I will have to finish this Duel first! It's my turn. I Draw!"
"And now that you have, I'm using Blizzard Bell's effect!" Rin interrupted. "During your Main Phase, since I control a 'Windwitch' monster besides Blizzard Bell, I can send it to the Graveyard to deal five hundred more damage!"
"Hmph! Go ahead and do whatever you like!" Lulu said as the sphere started glowing.
"I will! Blizzard Bell, fire!"
The crystal on its sphere shone brightly. A second later, a flurry of icicles erupted from its center mass, depleting the frozen angel upon it as if using its form for ammo. Lulu grunted as the flurry overtook her, showering her with frosty winds. Her eyes narrowed, and yet, that damnable smile never left her face.
RIN - 4000 LP
LULU - 2200 LP
As the winds died down, Lulu lowered her arms, emerging unscathed. Her chest heaved rapidly as she closed her eyes, almost as if she were laughing.
"Something funny?" Rin asked, glaring at the girl while clenching her fists.
"Oh, it's nothing," Lulu replied. "It's just amusing is all."
"Amusing?"
"Seeing you try so hard. You've got no chance. Oh, but where are my manners? It's still my turn, right?" The doppelganger grinned and studied her cards. Then, with a cruel smirk, said, "I'll set one monster and two face-down cards. Hmhmhmhm… your turn, Rin."
'What? Set three and pass? Did she brick?' Rin wondered. 'Or is she luring me into a trap? Well, if she is, I might as well spring it!' she reached for her deck. 'And take her down while I do!'
"My move then. I draw!"
She glanced at her new card.
Lucky Pied Piper.
'Not the best,' she admitted. 'But it's still more than enough to win this! But first, for a little extra insurance…!'
"Windwitch - Winter Bell's effect activates! By targeting the Glass Bell still in my Graveyard, guess what? You take some more damage!"
Winter Bell raised her wing, and once again the spectral form of Glass Bell appeared. The specter unleashed freezing winds that whipped through the alley, sending a flurry of ice and snow directly toward Lulu's face. This time, the gust was even stronger than before, hammering against the girl's body.
She staggered back slightly, gritting her teeth as her Life Points took another hit.
RIN – 4000 LP
LULU – 1400 LP
Rin clenched her fist, feeling the momentum swing once more in her favor. "Nothing for burn effects? Ha! In that case, this Duel's good as done!"
She slapped her next card onto her Duel Disk with a flourish. "I summon the Lucky Pied Piper!"
With a bright flash, a cheerful figure appeared on the field before her, clad in vibrant colors and playing a melodic tune on his pipe. The wind swirled around him as he danced on the battlefield, ready to lend his luck to Rin's side and the Duel once and for all.
Lucky Pied Piper – Level 4 – WIND – Fairy/Gemini – (1500/500)
"Battle!" Rin called, raising her arm as her Duel Disk projected the combat phase. " Winter Bell, attack her face-down monster!"
Winter Bell lunged, her frozen wings slicing through the air as she descended on Lulu's hidden card. The face-down monster flipped up to reveal a grotesque insect-like creature with 0 Defense Points.
The parasite screeched as Winter Bell shattered it with a single blow, its fragments dissolving into the alley in an explosion flourish of ice. Lulu grimaced for the first time as she shielded her eyes from the blast, the light from the assault being enough to blind those gazing upon it.
As the glow faded, Rin breathed a sigh of relief as Winter Bell returned.
'No weird Battle Traps either. Guess this Duel is mine!' she smirked. "Alright, Lucky Pied Piper! Let's finish this Duel with a bang! Attack that weird doppelganger of mine with your Lucky Pipe Song Attack!"
The colorful piper charged toward Lulu, playing a melody as he struck at her Life Points. Victory was within Rin's grasp.
And then Lulu spoke.
"I activate my Trap Card— Negate Attack!" she said fiercely.
A swirling vortex of energy appeared in front of Lucky Pied Piper, absorbing the song and bringing the battle to an abrupt halt.
Rin froze, her eyes narrowing in frustration as the attack was negated. "You've got to be kidding me! You're telling me you had that card set the whole time?! Why did you wait until now to use that? You could've stopped me from destroying your monster!"
"Don't be shocked yet. Instead of chatting, how about making a move?" she smirked. "Or are you saying you have nothing left? If that's the case, it's my turn!"
Rin glowered and glanced at her hand. There was nothing that could finish her this turn. "Ugh, fine! But on my next turn, you won't have a Negate Attack to save you!"
"Oh, trust me, with what I'm planning… I won't need one to. I draw!"
Lulu quickly drew her next card with a flourish, then cast her cold gaze upon its form. Her lips parted in a cruel smile.
"This Duel is mine. Since I control no monsters, I can Special Summon Lyrilusc - Turquoise Warbler!" she began.
A small girl in a warbler bird costume appeared on Lulu's field, fluttering gracefully in the cold air of the alley.
Turquoise Warbler – Level 1 – WIND – Winged Beast – (100/100)
"And now Turquoise Warbler's effect activates! Since it was Special Summoned, I can bring out another 'Lyrilusc' from my hand or Graveyard!" she continued. "I Special Summon Lyrilusc - Cobalt Sparrow from my hand!"
Another bird girl took flight beside the warbler, its feathers gleaming with a cobalt brown sheen.
Cobalt Sparrow – Level 1 – WIND – Winged Beast – (0/100)
"And now Cobalt Sparrow's effect kicks in! When it's Special Summoned, I get to add a Level 1 Winged Beast from my deck to my hand!" Lulu quickly searched her deck for the desired card: Lyrilusc - Celestine Wagtail. "I'll be needing you shortly."
Rin watched as Lulu's field filled up with more and more monsters, but she wasn't worried. Even with the extra monsters, Winter Bell still had the advantage in attack power. And more than that, all the monsters Lulu was summoning were Level 1! Even if she did bust out a Tuner, their combined Levels couldn't be that high.
But Lulu wasn't done. On the contrary…
She had only just gotten started.
"Next, I'll activate the effect of Lyrilusc - Sapphire Swallow!" she said, revealing the card in her hand. Since I control a Winged Beast monster, I can Special Summon both her and another Level 1 Winged Beast from my hand! Take flight, Celestine Wagtail!"
She placed the two cards on her Duel Disk, prompting two more bird girls to appear on the field.
Lyrilusc - Sapphire Swallow – Level 1 – WIND – Winged Beast – (100/0)
Lyrilusc - Celestine Wagtail – Level 1 – WIND – Winged Beast – (200/0)
"Big deal! You did all that to get four Level 1 Monsters out?" Rin asked. "Unless that last card in your hand is a Tuner, you're just wasting everyone's time. We both know I'm gonna win, so why don't you just hurry up and surrender? Spare yourself and your monsters the humiliation of defeat!"
"Humiliation? You're the one facing humiliation here, Rin," Lulu purred. She swung her hand out, "I activate the effect of Celestine Wagtail! If she's Special Summoned, I can add a Lyrilusc Spell or Trap from my Deck to my hand. I choose Lyrilusc - Bird Strike… and I'm playing it now!"
She slapped the Spell card onto her Duel Disk the moment it fell out of her deck. The Lyrilusc girls sang in chorus as she did, emitting a pulse from their mouths. To Lulu, their voices sounded like a majestic melody… but to Rin?
"Agh…?!" she grabbed her head in pain. "That sound… it's so terrible! What… What are they… doing?!"
Lulu giggled. "How rude. It's my Bird Strike's effect! If I control a 'Lyrilusc' monster, it negates the effects of every monster you have on the field."
"What?!" Rin gasped, watching as Winter Bell and Lucky Pied Piper staggered. Clearly, the sound of the screeching girls was too much for them to hear, too.
"That… That doesn't matter!" Rin cursed, steeling herself. "Even if they can't use their effects, they've still got WAY more Attack Points! Your monsters are just too weak to win! They… They can't attack me!"
"That's what you think," Lulu hissed, a cold smile of satisfaction crossing her face. "But this world is far bigger than you can imagine. It's time someone opened your eyes."
"What…?"
" Swallow, Sparrow, Wagtail, Warbler," Lulu chanted with a grin. She spread her hand out, her Duel Disk's blade shining as a portal opened in the sky. "With these four Level 1 monsters, I'll build the Overlay Network!"
Rin's eyes widened.
"Overlay what?"
The portal grew bigger. Clouds rolled in from the distance, drowning the once-sunny day in absolute darkness. Within its midst, a single bolt of stardust split the sky.
"Birds with beautiful wings! Gather on the battlefield and take brilliant flight!" Lulu cried. She spread out her arms, smiling into the sky as she finished her chant. " Xyz Summon! Dance in the sky! Rank 1! Assembly Nightingale!"
The stardust burst, revealing a cyan-skinned woman in a blue-and-white bird suit. She spread her wings, descending gently into the alley below. The clouds slowly receded as she did, giving way to the bright sky anew.
Lyrilusc - Assembled Nightingale – Rank 1 – WIND – Winged Beast – ( 800/0)
"Xyz… Summon…?" Rin asked. "Zero Attack Points…? No, it changed?"
Lulu smirked. " My Assembled Nightingale has a few special effects. One of them is that its ATK is equal to its Overlay Units times two hundred!"
"Overlay Unit? You're hitting me with a lot of new words I don't understand!" Rin snapped. "But from what I can see, that monster still doesn't have the strength to beat my Pied Piper, much less Winter Bell!"
"Beat?" Lulu giggled. Her eyes then cut in with a nasty glare. "You fool. The beauty of Assembled Nightingale is that she doesn't have to 'beat' anything! Thanks to her effect, she can fly right past your monsters to attack you directly! And not only that… but she can attack you once for each Overlay Unit! To put it simply, since I used four monsters to summon Assembled Nightingale, it means she can attack you four times." She smirked. "And your monsters can't stop her."
Lulu threw out her hand at that moment, pointing at Rin with a crazed and feral grin. "Go, Assembled Nightingale! Strike her down with your Assembled Air Raid!"
As Assembled Nightingale spread her wings wide, a vortex of wind and feathers surged forward. Rin braced herself as the bird-like Duel Monster flew up and dove toward her, cutting through the air with speed surpassing even that of Winter Bell.
In a flash, the Lyrilusc struck her with a precise hit, its talons grazing her arm and leaving a scratch.
RIN – 3200 LP
The force sent a shockwave through Rin and, more than that, shocked her. Solid Vision wasn't supposed to cause physical damage. But this girl's monster had hurt her! Before she could even react to the thought, the bird swooped down once again. Another talon lashed out, digging into her shoulder, sending her staggering back.
RIN – 2400 LP
'Solid Vision with Mass…' she recalled Lulu saying. Was this what the girl meant? She wasn't dealing with a mere hologram, but a real monster… given flesh!
The third attack came even faster, slamming into her chest and nearly knocking her off balance. The impact left her reeling, and she let out a gasp as air fled from her lungs.
RIN – 1600 LP
Lulu's cold laughter echoed through the alley, her eyes glinting with cold satisfaction. "That's right, Rin. You'll be done soon enough. Assembled Nightingale, one more time!"
The fourth and final strike from Assembled Nightingale struck true, throwing Rin ruthlessly into the dirt. She gasped for breath as the assault ended, nails digging into the road as she coughed and glared at her foe.
RIN – 800 LP
"Is that… Is that all you've got?" she spat, forcing herself upright. She winced as she stood, swaying in place before steadying herself once again. "Sorry to disappoint you, but… it's not over yet! I'm still standing! Looks like that monster of yours didn't have what it takes! On my next turn-"
"-you'll finish me? Is that the naive tripe you're thinking?" Lulu wondered. "Sorry to burst your bubble, Rin… but YOU WON'T HAVE SEE THE NEXT TURN!"
Rin gasped. A foul aura was seeping out of Lulu's body, and her twisted smile had grown more deranged. This woman… This witch… She was a monster.
"I activate my face-down card!" Lulu said with delight. "Powerful Rebirth! It Special Summons a Level 4 or lower monster from my Graveyard! Be reborn my most precious servant!"
Her eyes glinted darkly.
"FUSION PARASITE!"
The grotesque insect-like monster screamed as it materialized on Lulu's field, its body writhing with eerie life as it erupted from under the road.
Fusion Parasite – Level 1 – DARK – Insect – (0/0)
"Fusion… Parasite?" Rin asked.
Lulu smirked. "Your new future. Fusion Parasite activates when it's Special Summoned! It lets me Fusion Summon using it and another monster on my field!"
"Fusion Summon?!" Rin gasped. "But that's… I've never heard of Fusion before!"
"Well, after this you'll never forget it… because you'll be doing it, too!" Lulu laughed. Her voice dripped with triumph. "I'll fuse my dear Fusion Parasite with Assembled Nightingale, creating the ultimate Duel Monster that will bring this Duel to a close!"
The two monsters merged in a swirling vortex of energy between the two girls, their forms twisting and blending together as Lulu spread her arms open.
"Twitter of the songbird that resounds in the dark night. Become one with the inner voice and cry even more intensely! Fusion Summon! Fly down! Noble isolated night bird!" Lulu's hands crashed together as the vortex burst, " Lyrilusc - Independent Nightingale!"
Rin screamed as the vortex's energy erupted in the midst of the alley, showering both sides in a blinding light as the new creature took shape. Gone was the bright and beautiful suit, replaced by dark blue and red hues. And the girl's face, once so majestic, now shone with eyes dyed completely red.
Lyrilusc - Independent Nightingale – Level 1 – WIND – Winged Beast – (1000/0)
Rin staggered. "You… merged them? But… that's unheard of! And that card? Wasn't she your ace? How could you fuse her with that gross thing?!"
"Her? My ace?" Lulu smirked at the thought. "I'm afraid you're mistaken. After all…"
"... Fusion Parasite is my ace!" the Doktor said with her as he watched the Duel.
Leo hummed, overseeing the operation from a seat in his lab. A squad of Obelisk Force students stood just out of view, ready to intervene if necessary.
"It seems everything is going as planned."
"Just like I told you!" said the Doktor. "And with this next move, our dear Lulu will deliver Rin right to our doorstep!"
Back on the field, Lulu chuckled as if she'd just had the same thought.
"Really? That creepy insect?" Rin asked. "That's… something."
Lulu cackled. "Think whatever you want. You'll see my Parasite up close soon enough. And with the power it's granted my Nightingale, she's ready to prepare you for the procedure."
"The only thing she's prepared for is an early trip to the Graveyard! In case you haven't noticed, your 'powered up' monster only has a thousand Attack Points. That's more than what she had before, sure, but unless she can attack directly, my Winter Bell will crush her next turn!"
"I keep telling you, you don't have a next turn! And my Nightingale's effect will prove it! While she may not be able to attack you directly anymore, my Fusion Parasite has given her a new ability that's just as good!"
A red aura began to seep out of Independent Nightingale, filling the alley with its crimson glow and showering Rin in despair.
In front of her, Winter Bell and Lucky Pied Piper crept back. Rin glanced at them in shock.
"My Monsters…? They're afraid?"
"You should be too," Lulu said with a sneer. "What was it you said again? That my monster only had a thousand Attack Points? I suggest you look again!"
Rin furrowed her brow and did just that.
Her eyes widened in shock.
Lyrilusc - Independent Nightingale – Level 5 – WIND – Winged Beast – (3500/0)
"Your Nightingale?! Impossible! How'd she gain so much Attack?!"
Lulu cackled. "I already told you. It's her new effect. If she's Fusion Summoned with a Lyrilusc Xyz monster, then she'll gain Levels equal to that monster's Overlay Units! Four units mean four Levels, and she gains 500 Attack Points for each! That's twenty-five hundred Attack Points! More than enough to beat you!"
She laughed once more, gesturing toward Rin's precious Winter Bell.
"That's… your most precious card, right? Now watch it fall before Fusion! Independent Nightingale! Attack Windwitch - Winter Bell! Show Rin the power of the Fusion Dimension! Parasite Roar!"
Independent Nightingale spread its wings wide, its body crackling with an intense aura of power that sent shivers down Rin's spine. The energy swirled violently as it built up in from of her face, concentrating into a small sphere of pure destructive force.
Rin's heart pounded as the attack loomed over her. "No… This can't be…"
Be what?
She never got to say.
In a flash, Independent Nightingale unleashed its devastating blow. The crimson energy exploded forward, colliding with Winter Bell in a destructive shower of sparks and frost. The Windwitch let out a shrill cry as the attack overwhelmed it, shattering her into a thousand glittering shards in a BOOMING explosion.
The force of the impact sent Rin flying backward, her Duel Disk sparking from the overload of energy. She screamed as she flew, the sound of her falling Life Points echoing through her ears as she hit the ground with a thud.
LULU - 1400 LP
RIN – 0 LP
Silence filled the alley, the only sound being the hum of Nightingale's wings fluttering in the aftermath of its victory. Rin lay on the cold ground, her vision swimming as she tried to process what had just happened.
Lulu stepped forward, her face twisted in a cold, triumphant smile as she towered over her defeated opponent.
"I told you," she sneered, her voice dripping with naught but cold satisfaction. "There was never going to be a next turn. You never stood a chance."
Rin's chest heaved as she struggled to catch her breath, her body still reeling from the brutal assault. She couldn't believe it. She had been completely overwhelmed, outplayed by this strange girl who wore her face, wielding a power she didn't understand.
"Why…?" Rin gasped, trying to force the words out as she held on to the last of her consciousness. "Why… do you look like me…?"
Lulu's smile didn't waver, but there was a hint of something darker in her eyes as she crouched down beside Rin, her gaze piercing.
"Who I am doesn't matter right now," Lulu said softly, too softly. "What matters is that you're coming with me. The Doktor has plans for you."
"The… Doktor?" Rin whispered, her heart sinking as the name echoed in her mind.
Lulu nodded slowly, her smile widening as she lifted a Fusion Parasite. The insect wriggled in her grip as she leaned down, holding it in front of Rin's face. "That's right. You're going to be very useful to him. And to the Professor."
Rin's eyes widened in horror as she tried to move, tried to flee. But her body was too weak, too drained from the Duel.
She felt the bug crawl in her ear.
Lulu's grip loosened, her voice dropping to a whisper as she leaned in close.
"Welcome to Duel Academy, Rin. I'm certain you'll become a great student."
As the sound of Rin's choking gasps filled the air, the carburetor lay on the ground, forgotten.
THE END…?