RUSH DUEL - Yuga vs Setsuko (R2)
"The darkness of Magician of Dark Sevens means nothing to the deep-rooted malice of Nidhoggr! I Summon Cyclip, Maltron Croton. I reveal 2 Level 5 or higher Cyberse monsters to draw 2 cards and place 1 on the bottom of the Deck during this turn's End Phase and treat it as 2 Tributes for a DARK Cyberse monster. Tribute Summon. Break free from imperfection! Defy the will of heaven and bestow perfection upon this universe! Nidhoggr the Malice Serpent!"
"There it is." Yuga's confrontation with the black dragon has begun. Its dark roots wrap around Setsuko briefly before spreading to the field.
"I Tribute it for Disconnection. It sends Femt from my Deck to the GY. Maltron Att!"
"Her playstyle is like yours, Nail. Setting up a long combo for a big payoff in the end."
"I taught her how to Duel. Setsuko has a lot of potential to be a great Duelist in the future."
"Are you proud of your sister?"
"I..." Nail hesitates, but only briefly. With a smile on his face, he confidently continues, "I am." He has never thought she is invested into Rush Duel, until her Duel against Yuga.
"With Femt and Nidhoggr... Malice Grafting! By shuffling monsters from my GY into the Deck, I can Fusion Summon using those monsters!"
"Just like Sevens Wonder Fusion. Did you anticipate this, Yuga?"
"No, Yuna. It's a new strategy from her. Her Dueling is quite flexible, I must admit."
"The peculiar horizon to the concealed rune manifests itself. Show us true perfection. Peculiar Malice Serpent, Nidhoggr Rune!"
So it appears. The dragon that delves in darkness is now called to the previously empty field. Its roots sharpen, and its trunk emits a sinister purple radiance.
"A Fusion Monster using a Maximum Monster... Now we're speaking!"
"Rune lets me call forth another copy of itself in Defense Position. Be prepared for the worst, Yuga. Because you take battle damage from battles involving Nidhoggr Rune. Peculiar Malice Strike!"
"Magical Switch, activate. Protect me, Illusion Road!" Yuga Special Summons his shield by sending Sevens Paladin to the GY. "You have to attack Illusion Road, and Dark Sevens reduces all battle damage from battles involving my other monsters to 0!"
"The same tactic again. Not a big deal, however, because Nidhoggr Rune is indestructible once per turn."
"A strategy that reflects battle damage to the opponent, against a strategy that deflects battle damage from their opponent. Neither side is having more advantage than the other."
"So this is Rush Duel from the future. The strategies have evolved tremendously from our era." Yuamu comments on the evolution of Dueling.
"I end my turn. Due to Cyclip, Att and Rune, I draw 6 cards and return 1. Rune lets me gain 1000 LP for each time I draw during this End Phase." (Setsuko: 4000 → 5000 → 6000 → 7000 LP).
"Summoning a Fusion Monster without Fusion Summoning! Woahhh~ Gosh darn cool!"
"This... Goddammn nonsensical!" Yuna grows angry over Setsuko's tactics.
"Setsuko Saionji. She has only been working formally after the departure of Yuga. Initially replacing his place after the battle with Otes, her skills had proven us beyond doubts that she will be a valuable gem in the future. Not long after, she decided to move to Development Department, but she quickly gained leadership and the trust from other colleagues in no time. I personally hate to admit, but she has the charisma of Otes and the talent of Yuga." Yuo thought to himself.
"Swiftly changing from being offensive to defensive. Her providence is perfect."
"Now I truly end my turn. All yours, Yuga."
"5 cards in her hand. It's probably like before. Setsuko is planning to Maximum Summon Nidhoggr. That terrifying and unorthodox Maximum... But I'm prepared for it! My turn! I Summon Spell Arsenal to shuffle 1 Monster, 1 Spell and 1 Trap back to my Deck and draw 1 card. If it is an Equip Spell, I draw 1 more. Draw!"
*Yuga shuffles back Sevens Paladin, Sevens Wonder Fusion, Magical Switch to draw Magical Dragonic Crest - Sevens Geas.
"Nice! I get to draw 1 more. I return Illusion Road to my hand and activate Enchanting Road. I draw 1, and if I have Sevens Road Enchanter in my GY, the next damage I would take becomes 0. I send Sevens Road to activate Road Magic - Dark Twilight. Destroy Nidhoggr Runic, Dark Sevens!"
"Nidhoggr Runic cannot be destroyed once per turn!"
"I will follow up with this. Should my soul's prayers reach you, then use the power of the underworld and rise forth, my friend! I activate Sevens Wonder Fusion! Gallop forth from the heavens! Sevens Chariot the Magical Knight!"
"Whoop her ass, Yuga! Annihilate her for making you sad!"
"Ahahaha... I send Illusion Road from my hand to the GY to equip Sevens Geas to Sevens Chariot. I Set 1 card. Sevens Chariot's effect activates! I destroy both Nidhoggr Runic! Magical Count Burning Scissors!"
"The remaining Nidhoggr Runic still remains on the field!"
"I shuffle back Sevens Road Witch and Illusion Road to activate High Magic - Double Acceleration. Dark Sevens gains ATK equal to its original ATK until the end of this turn. And with Sevens Road Enchanter in my GY..." (Dark Sevens: 2800 → 3100 → 5900 ATK)
"5900 ATK!"
"This is my Rush Duel. Here I go, Setsuko! Nidhoggr Runic can only protect itself once! Sevens Wheel Thunder Streak!"
The thunder sparkled from the chariot stuns the resisting roots of the peculiar dragon. Binding the malice with lightning, the magical knight lands justice.
"Together with Dark Sevens..." Yuga glances at Yuna, nodding in satisfaction. Yuna smiles back at Yuga, too.
"Sevens Twiight Streak!"
Setsuko faces the brunt of the attack head-on, trying to stay unflinching. (Setsuko: 7000 → 1100 LP)
"Her LP is like candles on the wall. One soft blow away from being extinguished. You are amazing, Yuga!"
"Thanks. (flustered) You really don't mind me using Dark Sevens and its related supports, do you?"
"Well, Kuaidul has been dealt with, and you won't Duel this well if your brain is zapped. Also... You know, I believe in whatever you do, whatever you plan, and anything. I'm always on your side!"
"I want to find an answer to the turmoil in my heart back when I arrived to Mutsuba Town. About Otes' feelings, and why I could feel sentimental towards him in that battle, just for a brief moment. Though, I don't want to make myself too well-known in a timeline I'm not supposed to be there, and I have to concentrate in Duels against our enemies. There's no time to consider my deepest thoughts, at least until I return to Goha City and relax."
"I don't think you would return here, not without Rovian warning you about Lord of Chaos... Come on, you are crying again!" Yuna poutingly purifies Yuga's sad eyes with her love.
"Sorry. I end my turn. Do you have it, Setsuko?"
"Oh, come on. You think I don't? (smile) Manifest, the symbol of perfection!" Setsuko raises three cards above her.
"I know it... Nidhoggr the Malice Serpent!"
"Desperate to break free from imperfection, the malice serpent gnaws upon the tree of providence. Guided by your unholy insight, now is the time for you to defy the will of heaven and bestow perfection upon us! Maximum! Nidhoggr the Malice Serpent!"
"During Yuga's End Phase?!"
"It's possible, Yuo. It's possible to Summon a monster within Battle Phase or End Phase, even in Rush Duel or Goha Duel."
"Yuga, do you know about this monster?"
"I only learned about it earlier this morning, Yuo. Nidhoggr can attack directly during Setsuko's turn, and it gains 700 ATK for each card on the field when doing so. If my monsters battle with their original ATK, they can't destroy Nidhoggr. Once per turn, it cannot be destroyed by battle, and I take all damage she would have taken."
"And I can activate 1 Trap from my hand each turn, too! Malice Stems! When Nidhoggr is Special Summoned, I can choose to draw 3 cards by forbidding my next normal draw. Though, because I activate Malice Stems from my hand, I get to also inflict 300 damage for each card in my hand!"
"Due to Enchanting Road, I take no damage."
Setsuko smirks after she draws 3 cards, "How's that, Yuga? It's fun, right?"
"Ye.. Yeah. You are strong."
"Being praised by a senior. It's such an honour."
"I'm happy to see newcomers try out Rush Duel every day. That's nice to hear."
"Do you think there is anyone that refuses to try it out?"
"Probably. Opinions vary."
"I see. There are some that don't Rush Duel. Woe upon thee, I suppose. Sorry for being off-topic there. My turn. I can't normal draw this turn, but I can still attack. Nidhoggr gains 700 ATK for each card on the field. There are 5, so its ATK is 3500!"
"Yuga's LP is only 4000! If this attack goes through, his LP would be at the brink!"
"Nidhoggr! Nastrond Malice Strike!"
"Trap, Emergency Return! I return Dark Sevens to the Extra Deck and negate the attack!"
"Thanks for that. Because you return your monster to the Extra Deck, I activate Malice Roots. Sevens Chariot's effect is negated until the end of your next turn. Also, I return Sevens Geas to your hand and then to the top of your Deck."
"No! My Sevens Chariot is sealed!"
"Yuga. Do you think it's unfortunate that some adults don't know how to Rush Duel? Or pay attention to it and give it the respect it deserves?"
Yuga smiles, "It's not really about the number of people that play Rush Duel. For me, it's about the enjoyment that people get when playing Rush Duel. Even if there is only a hundred players, ten players, or even one; if that person, those people that are willing to try Rush Duel smile because they have so much fun with the format, I'm already beyond happy."
"Wouldn't it be better to make something that everyone universally plays, rather than something a specific format that only a circle of people pay attention to?"
"It wouldn't be as fun, would it? It's much more fun for some people to play a format that doesn't feel restrictive."
"If the demographic is dominated by kids, what will happen to Rush Duel when they become adults? Deserted?"
"I'm sure they will still like it. I believe in the future ahead of us!" Yuga confidently grins.
Setsuko stares at Yuga soullessly. She is skeptical about Yuga's answer.
"Time is running out for you." Setsuko focuses herself on Yuga's forehead, which has been turning more and more red. "That future may not reach out to you."
Yuga tries to use Sevens Chariot's effect, but Setsuko is right. This is a do-or-die situation.
"It has to be now... I'm starting to feel dizzy. But, this fun Rush Duel is so fun. It's fun... I Tribute! Guide us, o little-sister disciple of the spellcaster who stands atop the crown of the Sevens Road! Sevens Road Witch! I send 1 card from my hand to the GY to Special Summon this monster. The gentle darkness that embraces the tender light of Sevens Road! Illusion Road Magician! Illusion Road is treated as Sevens Road, increasing Witch's ATK by 400. I activate Heart of Sparks to gain 200 LP and add back Sparks and Curtain of Sparks. Then, I draw 1. You take 200 damage for each card in my hand. After that, I activate Sparks, then send 1 card from my hand to the GY to equip Sevens Geas to Illusion Road." (Yuga: 3000 → 3200 LP) (Setsuko: 1100 → 300 → 100 LP) (Witch: 1600 → 2000 ATK)
"No card in hand. I'm disappointed." Setsuko comments on Yuga's state.
"Batt.. (gasp) I... Att... I attac..." Yuga's fever starts to kick in.
"Yuga! Hold onto me!" Yuna holds onto Yuga's shoulder, preventing him from falling to the ground.
Yuga gasps to catch a breath, but his eyes begin to divert from his monsters. His concentration is dwindling.
"Tch...! Go, Illusion Road!"
"Nidhoggr cannot be destroyed once per turn. Also, Yuna, you take battle damage in my stead!"
"Really?!"
"Don't worry, Yuna... Illusion... Its effect. (gulp) If I have Witch or Magician on my field, battle damage involving... becomes 0. Thanks to Sevens Geas, I can destroy Nidhoggr."
"This is for Yuga. I, Yuna, order you, Sevens Road Witch! Attack Nidhoggr! Sevens Punish!"
"Trap, activate! Magic Cylinder! You take damage equal to her ATK."
"Witch's attack cannot be negated! Arghhh!" (Yuga: 3200 → 1200 LP)
"There's nothing you can do to prevent Nidhoggr's destruction, Setsuko! End of the line!"
"Still, I take no damage!"
Despite that, Witch's attack goes through and destroys Nidhoggr.
"Hooray! Yuga does it! He destroys Setsuko's ace!"
"Don't celebrate too early, Damamu. Nidhoggr may just have been a wall for Setsuko to survive."
"Just like my last turn. A victory against Setsuko seemed so close, yet so far. I only learn how crafty and careful Setsuko is when setting her defense after I realize that I couldn't deplete her LP yet. Is the ideal future that far away from me? And with each passing turn, my chance for comeback decreases. Time is running out, isn't it? Rush Duel holds comeback potential, but just against Setsuko... She always gains the favor of the Goddess of Comeback. Urgh... My vision is so blurry, I'm not sure I can register her next moves."
"Yuga! Do you want to stop the Duel? We've confirmed that your behaviour doesn't drastically change because of Dark Sevens. It's providence that this is merely a coincidence, so..."
"Don't stop this fun Duel, please! I'm still having fun, just feeling very tired. Haha..."
"Pot of Greed." Setsuko looks at the cards she has drawn, "This Duel will end soon. Here I go! I Summon Femt. I Tribute it for Nano, Maltron Viscom. During the End Phase, Nano places any number of Cyberse Maximum Monsters from my GY on top of my Deck. Because I have a Level 6 or higher DARK Cyberse monster on my field, I Normal Summon Extension, Maltron Shrimp without Tributing."
"Now she can draw Nidhoggr again!" Yuhi and Yuamu freak out.
"Just as expected. Setsuko can return her Maximum back to her Deck."
"Aw~ Yuga has to defeat it again."
"Nidhoggr this, Nidhoggr that! I'm infuriatingly angry!"
"Calm down, Yuna. Finally, I find it! The weakness of Nidhoggr!"
"Nidhoggr's weakness? That powerful Maximum has a weakness?"
"Nidhoggr may have been an oppressive Maximum, but it is passive. It doesn't have a lot of offensive power, 1 Trap is enough to stop its attack. And if you can defeat it in combat, even if you can recover Nidhoggr, you have to wait for my turn to Maximum Summon it again. I still have my field intact, plus the 5 cards that I would draw in my turn. There will be a Road that lead to my victory! I'm sure of it!"
"You're right. The current Nidhoggr has that weakness. Extension's effect activates! I send Nano and itself to the GY, and during this turn's End Phase, I add back 1 Spell and 1 Trap from my GY to my hand. I Summon Maltron Zept and activate its effect. Then, I Summon Maltron Yoct. By placing Femt, Att and Zept on the bottom of my Deck and sending Yoct to the GY, I draw 3 cards during this turn's End Phase. Turn ends. I draw 5 cards and resolve Extension's effect." Setsuko adds back Pot of Greed, Malice Stems to her hand.
"Alright. Let's see if I can defeat Nidhoggr and clinch it this time! My turn!"
Yuga is about to play out his turn. But Setsuko interrupts him...!
"At this moment!" Setsuko raises a set of cards up high, "The realm of perfection is unattainable. Is that true? Is it possible to transcend the world of thought and enter the world of enlightenment? Only the malice serpent can guide us towards ecstasy! Transcend! Perfect Malice Serpent, Nidhoggr Nysa!"
"Before I start my turn?!"
"Surprise, Yuga? When Summoned, Nysa stacks Nidhoggr underneath it. And it gains the effects of underneath Nidhoggr!"
"Essentially, the terror of Nidhoggr appears sooner than when Yuga expected. This feels like a bunch of cheats going on! Grrrhhh!"
"It's over, Yuga, Yuna. Because Nysa is Summoned, I activate Malice Stems from my hand. In sequence, I draw 3 cards and inflict 300 damage for each card in my hand."
"And... (pants) I take 1500 damage in total."
"It's your loss again. Yuga!"
"Krghhh... Arghhh!" (Yuga: 1200 → 0 LP)
"That was time well-spent." Setsuko offers Yuga a handshake, "Thanks for the Duel."
Yuga grunts. He tries his best to reach towards Setsuko's hand. Right after, he lies on the ground. He sweats profusely.
"Send Yuga to the nursing room immediately! He has a big fever!" Yuo gives his order.
"Now I'm truly angry! Oh, poor Yuga. Hold on my back, I will quickly carry you to the nurses."
"Mhmm. Thanks..."
Seeing Yuga falls asleep, Setsuko can't help it but ask, "So what should we do if the interviews have to be cancelled?"
"Invite Yuhi and Yuamu, I suppose. They can talk in behalf of Yuga, if needed."
"Sure. Hope Yuga can recover, even a little bit would be good."
On the other side, Yuhi and Yuamu have heard Yuo's proposal. If Yuga's fever is too much for him to handle, the twins can take the job. They know him quite well, after all, or at least they can tell the press about their story with Yuga.
"I will come with you two. This may be a great chance for you both to know the inside of Goha Corporation."
"Yuna's company, huh... Just what the heck happened that made her company a big corporation?"
"We'll find out. Damamu, come with us!"
"Nice! Let's also visit Yuga together!"
It's evening. Yuka and Setsuko are inside an elevator, heading towards the helipad.
"Anything important that you want to talk to me privately?"
"This is an order from a Goha President. Don't refute."
"Sure. (elevator opens) The sky is clear today. Look! The stars are mesmerizing to see!"
"Indeed."
"What do you want to—!" Setsuko turns her back to Yuka, but she is caught surprise by Yuka's Duel Disk in front of her.
"Let's Rush Duel, Setsuko."
"Why?"
"Once again. I, Yuka Goha, order you as a Goha President. I have the right to command you to do whatever I say."
"Fair. It's an honor to Duel a Goha President. I accept your challenge!"
RUSH DUEL - Yuka vs Setsuko
"My turn. I Summon Femt and Cyclip. By revealing Extension and Attra, Maltron Hydra, I draw 2 cards and return 1 to the Deck during this End Phase, also I treat Cyclip as 2 Tributes. I Tribute Cyclip for Attra. Because I have a Level 6 or higher DARK Cyberse monster on my field, I Normal Summon Extension without Tributing. By sending Femt and Extension, I add back 1 Spell and 1 Trap from my GY to my hand during this End Phase. Attra's effect activates. If I have 3 or more Cyberse monsters in my GY, during this End Phase, I draw 1, but if those monsters are DARK, I draw 2 instead. I Tribute Attra for Pico, Maltron Peacock. If I have Femt in my GY, I send Pico and the top 2 cards of my Deck to the GY so I can draw 2 cards during this End Phase."
"I quite like your Deck, Setsuko. It's worthy to be battered."
"I have high expectations for you, Yuka. Don't disappoint me." Setsuko sneers back at Yuka.