Chapter 19: Boiling Over
Summary: Alexis and Brier go head to head as Brier's conflicted feelings start to boil.
"DUEL!"
Brier's Hand- Airknight Parshath, Mad Sword Beast, Mefist the Infernal General, Black Pendant x2
Alexis's Hand- Cyber Tutu, Fusion Sage x2, Doble Passe, Polymerization
"I'll go first!" Brier draws Gene-Warped Warwolf. "First I'll summon Mad Sword Beast in attack mode!"
Mad Sword Beast Atk / Def: 1400 / 1200
"And then I'll equip them with the Spell Card Black Pendant! With this card my Mad Sword Beast gains 500 attack points!" Said pendant appears on the beast's sword horn, the chain wrapping around it. A dark aura covers the monster's body.
Mad Sword Beast Atk: 1400500=1900
"With that I'll end my turn! Show me what you got Queen of the Obelisks!" Alexis looks a little shocked at his aggravated tone but shakes it off before looking at Brier with a challenging smirk.
"Be careful what you wish for, Spear of Ra, I draw!" Alexis draws Blade Skater. "First, I'll play two Fusion Sages, allowing me to add two Polymerizations from my deck to my hand! Then, I will summon Cyber Tutu in attack mode!"
Cyber Tutu Atk / Def: 1000 / 800
Alexis smirks. "She may look innocent, but she has a nasty effect, if all your monsters have higher attack than her, she can attack you directly! Go Cyber Tutu, attack him directly with Pounding Pirouette!" Cyber Tutu jumps into the air performing a pirouette, flies over Mad Sword Beast, landing a kick on Brier's chin, which she then uses to springboard herself back to Alexis's side of the field, landing with grace.
Brier's LP: 8000-1000=7000
Brier grunts and then mutters to himself. "Lucky shot." Alexis, having not heard him, just smiles, and sets Doble Passe.
"I'll then set one card facedown and end my turn." Brier draws Axe of Despair.
Back in the participant booth, Takashi looks on with worry. He's been getting a mess of emotions from Brier for a while. He hadn't even been reaching out, Brier's feelings were so strong, they all but forced their way into his mind. Anxiety whenever he looked at Alexis, burning anger when Raizou spoke, a sense of almost sadistic glee when Syrus beat him.
Then, when Jaden and Mindy dueled, his emotions became more turbulent, a sense of confusion covering his simmering rage, but underneath it all, was a glimmer of hope. Now that he's dueling Alexis, his emotions are like a hurricane, slamming into Takashi. The most prominent one being a sense of self loathing. Back on the Duel Field, Brier decides what to do,
"I won't be taking any more of those kicks, Obi-Alexis! I tribute Mad Sword Beast to summon Mefist the Infernal General, in attack mode!"
Mefist the Infernal General Atk /Def: 1800 /1700
"And when the Black Pendant equipped to my beast goes to the graveyard, you take 500 points of damage!"
Alexis's LP: 8000-500=7500
Alexis grunts as her life points drop, before looking back at Brier with a challenging smirk. "Looks like you got me back, Brier!" Brier stares at Alexis blankly before continuing his turn, making Alexis frown.
"Now I will equip my Mefist with another Black Pendant!" The pendant appears on Mefist's neck covering his body in a dark aura.
Mefist the Infernal General Atk: 1800500=2300
"Now, attack her Cyber Tutu, Blackened Hell Axe!" The dark aura converges on Mefist's axe, that he then swipes through the air, sending a wave of black energy that speeds towards Cyber Tutu.
Alexis throws out her hand activating her trap card. "Not so fast! I activate my Trap Card, Doble Passe! With this card, your monster's attack becomes a direct attack, and you take damage equal to the original target of your attack!" Cyber Tutu leaps over the black energy, causing it to virtually slice through Alexis. Cyber Tutu lands a kick on Brier, before landing and then leaps back to Alexis's side of the field.
Alexis's LP: 7500-2300=5200
Brier's LP: 7000-1000=6000
Brier growls under his breath before shouting. "You may have saved your monster, but when Mefist does damage to you, you must discard a random card from your hand! Go Mefist, Hell's Curse!" Mefist holds his hand out as his eyes glow red, a matching red aura covers Alexis's hand before converging on her Blade Skater that disappears from her hand as it goes to the graveyard, making Alexis groan in her head.
"Three Polymerizations and I discard the only monster card in my hand." Brier grunts.
"I'll end my turn." Alexis looks at Brier with a concerned frown and draws Cyber Gymnast. Over in the participant booth the others are starting to notice Brier's attitude. Mindy frowns at Brier on the field.
"What's wrong with him?" Syrus sighs sadly.
"Brier was targeted by a bunch of bullies in Obelisk Blue, he had a bad case of stage fright that caused him to make mistakes when he dueled that they pounced on. We helped him, but I guess all we really did was boost his confidence, we didn't really address his grudge against the Obelisk Dorm." Takashi sighs and side eyes Syrus.
"While I wouldn't have spilled Brier's history like that…" Syrus lets out an eep realizing what he did as Takashi continues. "Syrus isn't wrong. We handled his original problem, but bullying can leave scars. Raizou made him feel secure in his thinking, but then you and Jaden dueled, Mindy, and it put his beliefs into question." Mindy points at herself confused. While the others are talking about the situation, Jaden watches the duel silently.
Alexis begins her turn. "Alright time to turn the duel back in my favor! I summon Cyber Gymnast in attack mode!"
Cyber Gymnast Atk / Def: 800 / 1800
"Now I activate her effect! By discarding one card," Alexis discards one of her three Polymerizations. "I can target and destroy one of your attack position monsters. In this case your Mefist! Aerial Twist!" Cyber Gymnast leaps into the air and does a horizontal twist, slamming into Mefist like a drill, shattering him. Brier growls and shouts at Alexis.
"You still take 500 points of damage when my Black Pendant goes to the graveyard!" Alexis is covered in the pendant's aura, grunting as her life points drop again.
Alexis's LP: 5200-500=4700
Alexis looks back up with a determined look. "But now your defenses are down! Go Cyber Tutu, Pounding Pirouette, And Cyber Gymnast attack with SomerAssault!" Cyber Tutu goes for her attack while right behind her Cyber Gymnast jumps, performing an aerial somersault, as she reaches Brier she smashes the top of his head in an axe kick. Both monsters return to Alexis's side of the field as Brier's life points drop.
Brier's LP: 6000-1000-800=4200
"Now I'll end my turn." Brier grunts in annoyance and draws Gravekeeper's Spear Soldier.
"Time to take out that annoying gymnast. I summon Gene-Warped Warwolf in attack mode!"
Gene-Warped Warwolf Atk / Def: 2000 / 100
"Now go, Gene-Warped Warwolf, crush Cyber Gymnast with Mutated Blow!" Gene-Warped Warwolf charges Cyber Gymnast and unleashes a flurry of blows with it's four arms shattering her before jumping back to Brier's field.
Alexis's LP: 4700-1200=3500
"I end my turn, your move, Obelisk!" Alexis frowns, her annoyance with Brier's attitude beginning to bubble up, and draws another Doble Passe.
"Sure. I attack you directly with Cyber Tutu again, go Pounding Pirouette!"
Brier's LP: 4200-1000=3200
Alexis sets her Doble Passe facedown. "Now I'll set one card facedown and end my turn."
Over in the participant booth Mindy looks at Alexis worried. "This isn't good, I think Brier is really starting to get to Alexis." Bastion nods.
"Brier has been getting more and more frustrated as the duel goes on, and he's starting to lash out. If Brier can't get a hold of himself, I fear this duel may fall apart and become a grudge match." Takashi is about to say something when Jaden, who has been quiet since the duel started, speaks up.
"I don't think we have anything to worry about." Syrus looks at Jaden with worried skepticism.
"Have we not been watching the same duel bro?" Jaden chuckles.
"No, we have. Listen, I know it may not work for every situation." Jaden side eyes Takashi at that. "But when two people duel, they bare their hearts to each other, and in this case, I think this is exactly what Brier needs. He couldn't have gotten a better opponent than Alexis for this duel."
Bastion, Mindy, and Syrus look at Jaden unsure, while Takashi goes back to silently watching the duel. In the back of his mind, another set of emotions, just as loud, if not louder than Brier's touches reach him.
In the stands, Beauregard looks down at his friend with concern, noticing his stiff movements and him making moves with little to no thought. "I know you can do it, Brier, but win or lose you need to enjoy yourself."
Back on the Duel Field, Brier draws another Gravekeeper's Spear Soldier. "I tribute my Gene-Warped Warwolf to summon Airknight Parshath in attack mode!"
Airknight Parshath Atk / Def: 1900 / 1400
"Now I'll equip Axe of Despair to my Parshath, raising their attack by 1000 points!" Parshath's hand with the sword morphs into a grotesque fleshy axe hand.
Airknight Parshath Atk: 19001000=2900
Brier holds his hand out. "Now, Airknight Parshath, attack Cyber Tutu with Fairies Axe!" Parshath flies forward with a blue aura surrounding their axe. Alexis throws out her hand.
"Not so fast! I activate another Doble Passe, so Cyber Tutu is here to stay!" Cyber Tutu ducks under Parshath, who slashes Alexis with their axe, and pirouettes to Brier kicking him.
Alexis's LP: 3500-2900=600
Brier's LP: 3200-1000=2200
Alexis lets out a sigh of relief. "Things are looking dicey, but at least I managed to keep Cyber Tutu around." Brier hangs his head letting out a frustrated growl before snapping his head up and shouting at Alexis.
"Oh, would you stop it already!" Alexis scowls and crosses her arms shouting back.
"What is your deal, Brier?! You've been acting like a jerk this entire duel! What did I even do to you?!" The audience goes silent as Brier clenches his trembling fists.
"It's your whole stupid dorm! I already know you're better than me! You don't have to keep letting me attack your life points directly to remind me!" Alexis frowns.
"What are you talking about?! I don't think I'm better than you, this is just how I play! Saving my monsters at the cost of my life points!" Brier turns his head to the side and scoffs.
"Oh, I'm sure. Since I've been going here, you Obelisks have been putting me down and making fun of me! Every time my stage fright would flare up they laughed at me; told me I should just drop out!" Hearing this Alexis's eyes soften.
"Is that what this is about? Listen, Brier, you know what my older brother used to tell me when he first started coming to Duel Academy?" Brier looks at Alexis with suspicion but also curiosity.
"What?" Alexis smiles fondly, remembering her conversation with her brother.
"He used to say there is nothing worse than a first year Obelisk student." Brier's eyes widen as a large section of first year Obelisk students shout in outrage while the other students laugh.
Alexis laughs at Brier's bewildered expression. "He always said the loudest, most obnoxious students were always first year Obelisk students. He used to call me all the time when I was home, complaining about the stupid things his dorm mates would say while also 'Not being able to duel out of a wet paper bag.'"
Alexis shakes her head fondly. "His words, not mine. But what I'm trying to say, Brier, the ones who bullied you were wrong, but all they do is talk big, and they aren't the only Obelisk students around." Brier looks down conflicted.
"But, but they were right, every time I gain an advantage, you counter me. Most of the damage I've done to you, is damage you've let me do." Alexis shakes her head with a chuckle.
"Well, I don't know what 'they" are talking about, but you've been really pushing me into a corner and countering me too, Brier." Brier looks up with shock at hearing Alexis say that. "Like I said, trying to keep my monsters around is one of my main strategies, and you've been making me really have to work to do so." A spark of hope lights in Brier's eyes.
"You really mean that?" Alexis sighs with amusement.
"Yes, now can we both start over and finish this duel?" Brier stares at Alexis for a second before his eyes soften and it looks as if a weight was lifted from his shoulders as he stands taller.
"Yeah, we can! Because Parshath did damage to you, I can draw one card!" Brier draws Fairy Meteor Crush. "With that I'll end my turn, your move Alexis!"
Jaden's grins big as the others in the participant booth feel relieved. "See, what did I tell you guys, Brier just needed to let it all out in a duel!" Takashi chuckles at that.
"You can't argue with the results I guess." Mindy gushes over the scene.
"Ohhhhh it's so amazing, two duelists finding common ground on the battlefield, do I smell a blooming romance!" The others sweatdrop and laugh as Mindy fades off into her own little world.
Up in the stands, Beauregard smiles down at his friend. "Now that's the Brier I know."
With a challenging smile, Alexis draws Graceful Charity. "Now that's what I like to hear! I play the card I just drew, Graceful Charity! With this, I draw three cards and discard two from my hand!" Alexis draws Cyber Prima, Double Summon, and Reinforcement of the Army. She discards her final two Polymerizations. "
"Now with this new hand, I play Reinforcement of the Army, and add one level four or lower warrior monster from my deck to my hand!" Alexis adds Etoile Cyber. "Now I'll summon her, come on out Etoile Cyber!"
Etoile Cyber Atk / Def: 1200 / 1600
"But I'm not done yet, I activate Double Summon. As the name implies, when this card is played, I can make an additional Normal Summon this turn!" Brier laughs nervously.
"And I'm assuming that means nothing good for me." Alexis smirks.
"It does not, I sacrifice Cyber Tutu to summon Cyber Prima in attack mode! And when she's Tribute summoned, she destroys all faceup Spell cards on the field!
Brier gasps. "That means!" Alexis nods.
"That means say goodbye to your Axe of Despair and Parshath's extra 1000 attack points! Reverent Light!" Cyber Prima appears on the field and lets out a flash of light that travels over the whole field, dissolving Axe of Despair when it reaches it.
Cyber Prima Atk / Def: 2300 / 1600
Airknight Parshath Atk: 2900-1000=1900
"Now, Cyber Prima, attack Parshath with Reverence of the End!" Cyber Prima folds her arms into an X shape and spins, turning into a tornado that travels and lands in front of Parshath and performs a cross chop, shattering them.
Brier's LP: 2200-400=1800
"Now, Etoile Cyber, attack Brier directly with Arabesque Attack!" Etoile Cyber leaps into the air with one leg extended in front of her and the other extended behind her. "And when she makes a direct attack, Etoile Cyber gains 500 attack points during the damage step!"
Etoile Cyber Atk: 1200500=1700
Landing gracefully, Etoile Cyber performs a roundhouse kick on Brier's stomach.
Brier's LP: 1800-1700=100
Etoile Cyber Atk: 1700-500=1200
"And with that, I'll end my turn." Brier looks at his deck for a second before looking at Alexis with an amused grin.
"Well, Alexis, you've been a great opponent and gave me a lot to think about." Alexis smiles, and Brier gives her a determined smile. "But it all comes down to this draw. I only have 100 life points left, and you have 600 remaining. Etoile Cyber has 1200 attack points, so, if I draw one of my attack boosting Equip-Spells or a monster I can summon right away with 1800 or more attack, I win." Alexis gives him a challenging smirk.
"And if you don't, I win." Brier's smile grows wider.
"You ready to roll the dice on this one card?" Alexis's smirk gets bigger.
"Always." Brier draws his card, after a tense second he looks at the card to reveal the Level 6 Dark Driceratops. Brier sighs and chuckles.
"Well, it looks like you win Alexis." Brier places his hand on top of his deck ending the duel.
Winner- Alexis Rhodes
As the holograms fade and the crowd roars, Brier walks towards Alexis with a small smile. "I'm sorry I misjudged you, Alexis, you're not so bad, for a first year Obelisk." Alexis laughs at that.
"Well, you're not so bad yourself, for an angry little Ra." Brier laughs sheepishly.
"Yeah, I probably deserved that." Brier smiles and holds out his hand to Alexis. "Good duel." Alexis smiles and shakes his hand, much to the recharged excitement of the audience.
Up in the staff booth, Sheppard lets out a hum. "Well, I'm glad my students were able to work out the issue without staff involvement." Sheppard shakes his head with fond amusement. "Ah, to be young and so spirited..." Stepping up the Chancellor makes his next announcement.
"Would Bastion Misawa and Takashi Mirai make their way to the field please!" As the Chancellor makes his announcement, Alexis and Brier make it to the participant booth. The other duelists congratulate them. Mindy runs up and grabs Alexis's hands.
"Oh, that was so romantic Alexis! Enemies to lovers is my favorite romantic trope!" Alexis laughs with amused exasperation, while Brier stutters denials. Jaden slaps Brier's shoulder laughing, snapping him out of it, making him laugh too. As this is going on, Bastion and Takashi excuse themselves and make their way to the Duel Field in silence. As they enter, they meet in the middle to talk to each other.
"I have been preparing for this duel since I first saw you Synchro Summon, Takashi. I have finetuned this deck to counter you the best I can with you using different decks each time you duel." Takashi gives Bastion a small calm smile.
"Well, I hope the deck I chose for you doesn't disappoint." Takashi holds out his gloved hand to Bastion. "To an exciting duel." Bastion nods with a confident duel, shaking Takashi's hand.
"I can't imagine it being anything but." With that they separate and go to their respective sides. Sheppard's voice sounds through the speakers once more.
"On one side, we have the Professor of Ra Yellow, Bastion Misawa! On the other side, we have another of the Shining Stars of Slifer Red, Takashi Mirai! Both duelists use multiple decks and have shown keen minds. Will Bastion's careful calculations come out on top, or will the unpredictably of Takashi's never before seen cards give him the edge? When both duelists are ready, we'll find out!" Takashi hangs his Slifer Red jacket on his shoulders. With that both duelists activate their Duel Disks and shout.
"DUEL!"
So another round comes to a close with Alexis coming out on top. Next chapter we have Bastion vs Takashi. What strategy does Bastion have to counter Takashi, what deck has Takashi chosen for Bastion?