Surprises by Fate
Red Hat and Lara continued to run as fast as they could, despite Red Hat still recovering from the aftershocks from the stun rods. Feeling weak, he knew he would last very long. Still gasping Lara's hand tightly, he made a break for it and made it out of the alley way where he came from. He noticed all the parked motorcycles at the street. Since no one was around, and the many officers were somehow absorbed. He had nothing to worry about for the time being. Although, this doesn't mean he was safe.
'What's going on out there? Anyone, come in! Come in!' A radio message was heard near the vehicles. 'Why aren't you responding?!'
Red Hat knew they couldn't stick around much longer. They had to leave before more reinforcements come by. Not testing his luck any further, he continued to run with Lara. Making sure he stayed away from the main roads.
"Mr. Red Hat! Are we going to be, okay?" Lara asked, trying her best to keep up with him.
Red Hat merely smiled at her. "We'll make it back. I promise you."
"What's happening? Aren't we in major trouble?" She asked.
"We won't be if we don't get caught. Sector Security is going to wonder what happened to their men that disappeared. If we hurry back to my place and hide, then we'll be safe." He assured her. 'Although, what you said back there… Can it be the King of the Skull Servants is protecting you? If so, that's how you lashed out at the rogue spirit…' He thought that last past.
Lara nodded. "Okay…" The duo ran past the streets as they stayed out of sight as some people looked their windows to see what was going on.
Costal Area
Reyna walked away from the encounter, feeling nothing at the incident she helped cause. She always wondered why she even followed her masters' orders. While she never questioned his intentions. She always felt like her Master only ever showed up when he wanted something for her. He always told her emotions leads to reckless behavior and irrational thinking. Could that be true? She never questioned her masters' demands. What he did was of little concern to her.
After taking off her cloak and putting it away in her bag, she walked along the sidewalk of the city. Multiple Sector Security officers passed her in their motorcycles. Knowing full well they came to check up on their men. They would fine nothing as their souls have been absorbed by her master.
A couple officers stopped next to her as they got off their vehicles and approached her.
"Hey, isn't it a little late for school girl like you to be out here? It's long past curfew." One of the officers stated.
"Didn't know…" She simply replied in a low voice.
The officer raised an eyebrow but thought nothing of it. "Well, be careful next time. After receiving reports recently, it's not exactly safe at this time of night."
Both officers got back on their vehicles. "You have a good night, okay!" He said as they drove off to their current destination.
Reyna stood there for a bit before continuing her walk. She ignored anyone passing her and would begin to enter the shadier side of New Domino City. Eventually she made her way to the apartment she was currently staying at.
The apartment was rather sketchy as is far off from where most public apartments would be. It was barely two floor high with multiple small rooms around each section. The quality of the apartment was questionable. Barely having the bare minimum essentials to even be called an apartment. Almost no one lived in this apartment. One would even consider it was a place of low quality.
Climbing up the stairs, she made her way to the second floor, in the far back of the complex, where the place she was staying at was.
Her room was small much like every other room in this apartment complex. It had a small living room area which only contained a coffee table, on the right side of the entrance had a small kitchen which contained a small stove with two electric powered heaters, and the right side contained two doors. The one of the left leads to her bedroom and the one on the right led to the bathroom. It also contained a balcony with window sliding door with black curtains.
Needless to say, it didn't look like a good place to most people, but she did not care in the slightest. The tight space was good enough for her.
Taking off her shoes and locking the door behind her. She took of her duel disk and placed it on her coffee table. Once she entered her room, she then removed her school uniform shirt, and her skirt revealing her white tank top with matching white panties. She then removed her long white socks and placed them at a basket nearby.
Her standards of living were relatively poor, but she didn't care. If anything, she found it rather normal. Having no one around her but her master and her duel monster cards. Sometimes she wonders if she should Improve her standards. Her income was quite low and she had no one to really rely on.
She always believed in not standing out and just being average. Her poor communication skills with normal people didn't help. She always believed she made the right choice in life. After all, she was doing fine, wasn't she? Her master wouldn't lie to her. So, she would tell herself that every night.
Eventually, she placed some covers over herself and fell asleep.
Red Hat's Home
As the duo continued to run away. They eventually made it back to his home. Quickly closing the door, making sure the curtains were closed, and locking the doors.
"We made it back…" Panting and sweating, Red Hat took off his boots and hanged his jacket on a nearby hanger. Lara soon followed suit, removing her new boots at the front door.
Red Hat would soon collapse onto his bed from exhaustion after running for so long and still recovering from the aftershocks of the stun rods.
This caused Lara to worry. "Mr. Red Hat?!" She gently shook him and took a closer look. After waiting for a bit, she noticed he was breathing slowly. She mused that he was sleeping. Considering what he went through, she was glad he was just sleeping. "Rest well, Mr. Red Hat."
Lara readied the blankets on her own and went to the bathroom to get changed into her nightwear. She still wondered what happened back there. For a moment, she blacked out, then all of a sudden, she was running away with Mr. Red Hat. Feeling confused, she decided to not think about it too much. She was safe and sound and that's all that mattered to her at the moment.
Making sure everything was covered up. She would soon fall into a dreamless sleep. Zombie Master would occasionally appear on throughout the night. Waiting for his next scheme.
Spirit Realm: Unknown Location
Red Hat soon found himself once more into the duel monster spirit realm. Only this time he wasn't anywhere he'd think he'd be. He was currently standing from what appeared to be clouds? He spotted a sealed gate nearby. Beyond the gate he noticed a large palace structure that easily covered the large land mass. Still, what did this mean?
"Realm of Light…"
He turned around and spotted his duel spirit partner Winda. "Realm of Light? You mean the Palace that holds the Lightsworns or Light Lords as they're called in this realm."
Winda nodded. "You are correct. Although you missed something else. They rarely allow anyone to come in here without a personal invite. You were allowed to come here."
This confused Red Hat. What did she mean he was personally invited to this realm? He doesn't even know how he even enters the Duel Monster spirit realm in the first place. He just assumes it's just a wild dream until his spirit partner proves him otherwise. Does he have such power he never knew about? If so, why wont the spirits help him better understand? Was it because of safety reasons?
"How come? Thought I could just appear anywhere? Even though seems like I have no control if that's the case. I don't even dream of such things…" He replied, facing away from her.
Winda fought the urge to giggle. "You're a strange one, you know that right? Still, you'll understand the power you hold eventually. You just don't realize it that power yet."
Red Hat wanted to retort, but the gates soon began to open up. "We'll save this conversation for later."
Winda giggles and waves at him. "Be careful. Only you're allowed in. I have duties to attend do." She said as she disappeared from sight.
Sighing, Red Hat pushed forward and began his exploration. He still felt very weird to be traveling in the duel monster spirit realm. He had many questions yet the spirits refused to give him any. What was his purpose anyway? They act like he's needed for something major. If so, then why him?
He looked around the palace. Staying away from restrictive areas and fighting the urge to enter the palace. He noticed the spirits doing their own thing. He knew many of them were the light lords themselves. Not wanting to draw attention. He left everyone alone and didn't bother to interact.
He soon stumbled upon a woman who he didn't recognize. The woman was sitting upon a piece of stone in the middle of the area. The woman had long wild blue hair, wore a long white dress with long sleeves, and wore sandals. He overheard what she was saying, and to his surprise. The woman was singing a song somewhat foreign to him.
'Stop! mou kore ijou Please! Kanashimasenaide!'
Stop! No more! Please! Don't make me sad!
'Tomedonaku nagareru namida wa'
These teardrops that don't stop
'Aisurumono wo ushinata kanashimi'
Are the sadness of losing a loved one
'Ugokanai tokai no silhouette'
The still silhouette of the city
'Marude tsuki no sekai no you'
Is like the world of the moon
'I never konomama jya I never irarenai'
(I never) This way... (I never) I can't be like this!
'Itsuka kitto itsuka kitto'
Maybe someday... Maybe someday...
'Torimodosu wa!'
I'll get you back!
Red Hat was rather impressed. The woman sang rather beautifully. While he didn't fully understand what she meant with the song. It had a unique charm he couldn't quite put his finger on. 'I'll admit. Touching song.'
"Don't you know it's rude to be staring at a Maiden? At least introduce yourself." The woman said with a smile. Not even turning around to face him.
This caught Red Hat off guard as he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Sorry about that…" He approached the woman until he was next to her. Needless to say, she definitely didn't look like she was part of the Lightsworns. "Name is… just call me Red Hat."
"Disguise name? Wouldn't surprise me." She replied, glancing at him before turning away. "Tell me, what do you know about duel monster spirits and the spirit realm?"
Red Hat raised an eyebrow at that question. "Well… I do know that the duel monster realm is completely different to the realm of the living. The cards are used as a gateway where monsters battle. From what I understand the spirits can manifest into our world."
The woman glanced at him and smiled. "That's more or less true, but there's more to it than that." She further elaborated. "Duel spirits can manifest into the human world by a duel of darkness or if large amounts of duel energy is present. A gateway can sometimes appear in rare intervals which allows Duel Spirits to manifest into the real world for a short period of time."
"Duel of darkness… Gateway to the human realm… Large amounts of duel energy… So, either one of those can happen. Although that doesn't really answer a situation I had earlier…"
The woman gave him a skeptical look. "Oh? What happened to you? Trouble with spirits I would imagine?"
"I had an encounter a while back. A duel spirit manifested into physical form and some dragon was summoned. When that dragon attacked, it absorbed many souls around it. I was able to escape." Red Hat explained, still feeling unsure.
This caught the woman by surprise. "A dragon absorbing souls? You mean to tell me you had an encounter with Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon? The dragon that's associated with hell? That dragon takes up a lot of energy and its purpose is to send souls that of sin and evil to hell. It's not intended to be summoned for evil purposes."
"Well… I also had another encounter with another spirit at the time who summoned the dragon of hell. Apparently, he was called Zombie Master… Least, that's what I have observed."
"Zombie Master…" The woman gave him a stern look before turning away. "Causing havoc with the undead and the living…"
"You know about him? Please, if you know anything about him, please tell me!" Red Hat pleaded.
The woman turned back to face him and shook her head in disapproval. "I'm afraid I can't help you on that front. You'll have to figure that out on your own. All I can tell you is that he's gone rogue."
Red Hat sighed at her answer. He now had more trouble coming his way. Trouble which he had no choice on the matter. Is this what they call, The Irony of Fate? "If I have to, then I'll do what I can… Does this mean I have to study up on spirits?"
"You can always ask your partner." The woman stood up and gently padded his should. Red Hat noticed she was shorter than he originally thought. "You have your own special power you haven't yet realized. You're also connected to spirits. You'll eventually learn more about this realm in the future."
Red Hat looked down for a moment and sighed. "Sometimes I wonder if I bring myself trouble. Guess I'll just have to accept it. No matter what danger follows me, I'll handle it and protect those I care the most. Even the people."
His response made the woman giggle. "You remind me of my husband. He's very much like you, but both of you are very different in your own special ways."
This confused Red Hat even further. "Eh? Why bring up your husband all of a sudden? How old are you anyway?"
The woman wagged her finger at him and smiled. "It's not polite to ask an adult woman her age." The gates to the Realm of Light soon opened up again. "It's time for you to go. Remember, you can ask you partner for any details related to this realm and what you can do. Your partner chose you for a reason. You want to be free like the winds, you want freedom from the madness that's coming your way."
Red Hat bowed to the woman. "I'll do my best on what I can do. I don't want to run away from my problems. That's not real freedom. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. If I'm needed to save the human realm from disaster, then I'll do it. Thank you…" He turned around as he began to leave the area. Once he was off site, the main gates closed completely.
"You didn't tell him everything, did you?" Another woman came by to speak to her. She had orange-brown hair with blue eyes. She wore a white sleeveless dress that reached her ankles, had what appeared to be a blue gem on her forehead, wore a single white glove on her left hand, wore a necklace which contained what appeared to be ruby, and wore what appeared to be gold high heels.
The blue-haired woman nodded. "I didn't have to tell him everything, Minerva. Zombie Master has found someone he can use for his own purposes. Who that is he'll figure out on his own."
The woman, now named Minerva gave her a skeptical look. "That's not the only thing, right? You purposely left out he made a spiritual connection with said person and evil is about to be reborn very soon."
"I couldn't just tell him everything. There is some things Fate doesn't want me to explain." The woman looked out into the distance. "My family originally fled here to this realm because of this new evil. It's not our fight and it's not safe to return. My husband never wanted this for us, and he wanted to stop this evil, but that would have compromised us. Our connection is the reason we're allowed to stay here."
"I understand my lady." Minerva said as she gave her a bow. "Sorry for speaking out of term."
"You don't have to apologize Minerva. I understand your concern." The blue-haired woman replied. "I'm afraid if he wants any chance to stop this new evil. He needs to learn the connection with spirits and the spirit realm. He doesn't really have allies he can rely on for the time being."
"In the meantime, you do what you have to do. Our kind has blessed you that much." Minerva reminded her.
"Yes, of course. Can't slip now, can I?" The woman joked as she joined Minerva as they headed back to the Palace to continue their duties.
New Domino City
At the apartment complex. Reyna soon woke up from her slumber. Feeling a bit cold from the morning air after removing her covers. She first decided to rub her hands together to warm up. When she felt she was warm enough, she took a look at her clock and noticed it was seven in the morning.
Knowing she had school hours and had a tournament to focus on. She got up and took a shower before dressing up in her usual school uniform. She decided to cook up some breakfast. Just some simple eggs with toast.
'Still in training for you little tournament?' Zombie Master asked.
"Yes…" She simply said.
'Just remember, any trouble you're in, call upon my power. Be careful when doing so. Can't allow humans to be suspicious about you.' Zombie Master suggested.
"I'm usually ignored… No problem…" She replied in a low voice.
'Excellent.' He said as he disappeared.
Reyna silently kept eating her breakfast. The main reason she entered tournaments was because of her very low income. Having no one to support her. She had to do whatever she could to survive on her own. Trying to live in secret didn't help matters either. Still, she didn't mind living like this. She had no connections with anyone anyway. Yet... why did she feel the opposite sometimes?
'Must be my imagination…' She thought as she finished up her breakfast and cleaned up the place for a bit. She grabbed her duel disk and put her shoes on. She locked her apartment place, attached her duel disk on her left arm and continued her merry way.
Red Hat's Home
Red Hat slowly began to stir as his eyes flutter. Once he stood up and rubbed his eyelids, he took a look around and noticed how late the day actually was. He looked at his clock and noticed it was the late into the afternoon. Was he that tired? Not that it mattered that much to him… if he was living alone.
He noticed Lara was fully awake as she was sitting on the floor organizing her cards. "How long have you been awake for, Lara?"
Lara looked over shoulder and smiled. "Good afternoon, sleepy head!" she greeted. "Do you know what time it is?"
"It's well past noon. I'd assume you already made breakfast?" He asked, finding hard to believe she's already eaten.
Lara nodded with a smile. "I already had breakfast a couple hours ago. Was just instant ramen too. Heating the kettle wasn't too hard to work with either."
Red Hat chuckled at her response. He had to remember Lara isn't a helpless girl and she can handle simple tasks herself. "I'm glad you're doing okay. Was very tired last night after that encounter we had."
"I glad you're okay too, Mr. Red Hat! I was worried about you last night."
Standing up, Red Hat lightly ruffled her hair and put the kettle back to prepare his lunch. "Lara… been meaning to tell you this. You'd think it be okay if I find someone else as a partner for the upcoming tournament?" He asked. 'How can I tell her about spirits? I don't think she'd understand… Not to mention, Zombie Master is hunting her down.' He thought that last part.
Lara gave him a confused look. "I mean… I don't mind that you do as I think I'll just be holding you back, but who will you team up with?"
'Thought she'd ask that…' He thought. "I have yet to figure that out. If what the flier said is true, I have to win that tag team tournament. My income is already starting to run low as I've been out of the leagues for a while now and I need the prize money… Assuming it's a big pay out."
Lara while feeling a bit disappointed, she nodded in approval. She understood Red Hat was already trying his best to take care of her. He's in this situation because of her recklessness and he himself getting too curious. They brought their problems onto themselves. It would be selfish of her to deny Red Hat the best possible partner and causing him trouble while helping her. She didn't want to cause him trouble again, especially cause he's doing this for her, not just for himself.
"I understand, Mr. Red Hat."
Red Hat gave her a warm smile. "Don't feel so down. If we were in a better position, I would take you to tournaments more often. I'd even gladly tag team with you." This gave Red Hat an idea. It was a long shot. "Lara, if you want, you can head out on your own if you want and even partner with someone. Just make sure you have your duel disk and cards at all times. Be careful who you interact with okay?"
Lara perked up after hearing that. "You'd give me that opportunity? I mean, I always walked around by myself in the Satellite. I just have to be careful when I'm out in New Domino City is all, right?"
Red Hat nodded. "Yeah. It's no different than living in the Satellite. Avoid suspicious people, don't act too friendly to strangers, avoid Sector Security officers at all costs, you know, it's not much different. If you wish to practice your dueling skills, you can always duel with the children in New Domino. Just be careful, okay?"
"I'll be okay, Mr. Red Hat. I hope you have a good day." Lara said as she gave him a light bow.
"Okay… I'll leave you to it. Be careful out there. Don't wonder too far, okay? It's a huge place and I don't want you to get lost. Head to the end check point." He warned as put his boots on and left his home.
Lara sat back down and began to organize her cards once more. Ever since Red Hat gave her some additional cards, and teaching her many things she didn't know about. She's been wanting to learn more about the game then she used when she attempted to duel the kids at Martha's place. She figured; she should duel more opponents.
After spending some time alone in the house. She got dressed in her old clothing and puts on her duel disk and takes her deck box. She puts on her shoes and leaves Red Hat's home, making sure the doors were locked before making her way into the city.
New Domino City
Red Hat, who was now wearing a black variant of his usual clothing, except for his hat, has been walking around the city for some time now. Looking for an opponent wasn't the easy as he thought he was. With the tournament days being numbered, he had to practice and learn as many opponent decks as possible. Whether he liked it or not, he was going to have to expose himself eventually.
'If only I wasn't hunted down… Otherwise I'd have no issue finding an opponent.' He thought, making sure he stayed away from the main roads and land marks.
"Hold it right there!"
Red Hat turned around only to be surprised at who wanted to stop him. He was staring down another female academy student. The girl had orange-brown hair that barely reached her shoulders and had brown eyes. The girl pointed at him as she made a pose. He sweat dropped at her antics. Playing hero, was she?
"Someone like you seems rather suspicious!" She accused.
"What makes you say that? You haven't even told me your name yet." He reminded her, finding her antics rather amusing.
She nervously chuckled. "Name's Yuma, Yuma Miyata!" She pointed at him again. "There's been rumors going around that Sector Security officers have been disappearing. You seem rather suspicious. I can tell you aren't from around here and you seem to be avoiding something."
Not wanting to succumb to her accusations he readied his duel disk in response. "They say the best way to understand someone is through a duel. Let's duel and find out if what you claim is true."
Smiling, Yuma jumped at the idea of dueling an opponent she hasn't seen before. Getting her duel disk ready and giggling slightly. "Yay! Can't wait! This should be a fun duel! Although… I don't know why, but I think something about you feels different, and not in a bad way. Your posture tells me you're confused."
"Then let's begin out duel. Perhaps you'll figure out who I really am!" He shot back.
DUEL
Yuma Miyata: 8000 LP
Red Hat: 8000 LP
"I'll go first if you don't mind?" Yuma suggested.
Red Hat nodded. "Go ahead. I'm curious to what you play."
"Yay! Let's do this! My turn, I draw!" Yuma draws.
Hand 6
"I summon Elemental HERO Prisma in attack mode! (LV4 Atk: 1700 Def: 1100)" A warrior with a glass frame with sharp edges for arms and legs emerged onto the field. "I'll use his effect! I reveal one fusion monster from my extra deck, then I send one of the materials listed on a fusion monster from my main deck to the graveyard. He becomes that monsters name until the end phase. I reveal Elemental HERO Grand Neos so I can send Elemental HERO Neos to the graveyard!" Yuma explains as she reveals both monsters. Re returns the fusion monster back to the extra deck and sends Neos to the graveyard. Prisma then became the illusion of Elemental HERO Neos.
'So, she plays an Elemental HERO deck huh? Didn't see that coming. This should be interesting.' Red Hat thought with an amused look. He hasn't dueled against a HERO player in a long time.
"I set one card facedown and end my turn. Prisma goes back to normal." Yuma ends her turn as Prisma returns to his original form.
Hand 4
"It's go time! My turn, I draw!" Red Hat draws.
Hand 6
"I play the spell card Dark World Dealings! We both draw one card then we discard one card!" He explained as he drew his card.
This confused Yuma for a bit. "Got something you don't want in your hand?" She questioned as she drew her card and discarded Elemental HERO Flash.
Red Hat discarded a particular card and smiled. "You'll find out soon enough." Soon a Griffin appeared onto the field. "The card I discarded was Gusto Griffin! If he's sent from my hand to the graveyard, I can special summon a Gusto monster from my deck once per turn! Appear, Windaar, Sage of Gusto! (LV6 Atk: 2000 Def: 1000)" A man wearing a green cloak emerged onto the field. He wore full dark green long-sleeved shirt, green pants with green knee pads, a green garb wrapped around his waist and carried a staff shaped like a sword with sharp edges on the top right side and contained what appeared to be an emerald in the center of the staff. The Giffein soon flew away as it disappeared.
"A 2000 attack monster already? I'd like to know what he can do!" Yuma said, now getting pumped to see what her opponent can do.
"You'll see! Battle, Windaar attack Elemental HERO Prisma!" The Sage leaped forward and used his staff as a sword and slashed Prisma in half, destroying him.
Yuma Miyata: 8000 – 7700 LP
"Windaar's effect, when he destroys a monster in battle, I can special summon a level 3 or lower Gusto monster in defense position. Gusto Griffin, return to the field! (LV2 Atk: 800 Def: 300)" The Griffin descended onto the field and covers itself with its wings. "I set a monster facedown and end my turn." Red Hat ends his turn.
Hand 4
"This is getting exciting. My turn, I draw!" Yuma draws.
Hand 5
"Come out my hero, Elemental HERO Stratos! (LV4 Atk: 1800 Def: 300)" The air-blade hero flew onto the field. "He has two effects, I can either add a HERO monster from my deck to my hand, or destroy spells and traps up to the number of HEROs I control except the card itself. Since there's none, I'll add a HERO instead! I'll add this one, Elemental HERO Ice Edge!" Yuma explained as she adds said card to her hand. Her deck was then auto shuffled by the duel disk.
'Let's see what you can do. I'm ready!' Red Hat thought, bracing himself for what she was about to do next.
"I play the spell card Polymerization! I fuse Elemental HERO Ice Edge with Elemental HERO Neos Alius!" A different version of Neos was absorbed into a fusion vortex, along with an icy clad kid. In their place, a blizzard occurred which then died down and revealed a mighty white armored HERO. "Appear, my favorite hero, Elemental HERO Absolute Zero! (LV8 Atk: 2500 Def: 2000)"
'Feels surreal seeing a fusion summon. These days, you'd be lucky to see a fusion summon at all.' Red Hat thought, feeling a sense of thrill seeing a fusion user over a synchro user.
"I'm not done yet! I active my continuous trap, Birthright! I target a normal monster in my graveyard and special summon it! Support me, Elemental HERO Neos! (LV7 Atk: 2500 Def: 2000)" In a flash of light, a muscular alien warrior with pupilless blue eyes, in white armor with red streaks on it, and a blue orb on the middle of its chest. "Time to battle! Neos, attack Windaar! Wrath of Neos!" Neos leaped forward and karate chopped Windaar, destroying him.
Red Hat: 8000 – 7500 LP
"Stratos attack his Griffin!" Stratos flew towards the large griffin and punched right at its beak and destroyed it. "Absolute Zero attack his facedown monster!" The HERO unleashed a powerful blizzard that made its way towards the facedown. The facedown was flipped face up, revealing to be Kamui, Hope for Gusto. (LV2 Atk: 200 Def: 1000)
"Kamui's flip effect, when flipped, I can special summon a Gusto tuner from my deck. Support me, Gusto Egul! (LV1 Atk: 200 Def: 400)" The small Gusto bird emerged onto the field.
"Awe, what a cute bird you got there! Well then, I end my turn right here." Yuma ends her turn.
Hand 2
"I'm just warming up. My turn, I draw!" Red Hat draws.
Hand 5
"I summon Caam, Serenity of Gusto! (LV4 Atk: 1700 Def: 1100)" Camm emerged onto the field beginning her chant. "Her effect, I shuffle two Gusto monsters in my grave back into the deck to draw 1 card!" He shuffled Windaar and Gusto Griffin back into the deck and drew his card. "I tune level 1 Gusto Egul with level 4 Camm, Serenity of Gusto!" The Gusto bird turned into one star that circled around Camm before turning into circles of green light. Both their bodies turned transparent and revealed 4 stars and lined up before creating a ray of light. "Synchro summon, level 5 Daigusto Gulldos! (LV5 Atk: 2200 Def: 800)" Soon a larger and more mature version of Gusto Gulldos emerged onto the field. On top of the bird had Winda riding on top of it.
'Looks like it's time for battle. It's rare I battle with Gulldos by my side.' Winda said as she smiles at her partner.
"Have to let you battle in some way, right?" He mumbled back, just enough so his opponent would hear him. "Alright, now I play the spell card Emergency Teleport! With this, I special summon a level 3 or lower Psychic-type monster from my hand or deck, in this case the deck. I special summon Pilica, Descendent of Gusto! (LV3 Atk: 1000 Def: 1500)" The youngest Gusto girl emerged onto the field. "Her effect activates, when summoned, I can special summon 1 wind tuner from my graveyard, but its effects are negated. Return to the field, Gusto Egul! (LV1 Atk: 200 Def: 400)" The gusto bird descended and landed next to Pilica. "Now, I tune level 1 Gusto Egul with level 3 Pilica, Descendent of Gusto!" The Gusto bird turned into one star that circled around Pilica before turning into circles of green light. Both their bodies turned transparent and revealed 3 stars and lined up before creating a ray of light. "Synchro summon, level 4 Daigusto Falcos! (LV4 Atk: 1400 Def: 1200)" One of the younger fully grown Gusto birds descended onto the field with Kamui riding it.
"Two synchros in one turn? So cool!" Yuma praised with a smile. "Still, how do you intend to beat my monsters?"
"Simple. Daigusto Falcos effect activates. When synchro summoned, all Gusto monsters on the field gain 600 attack points! (LV4 Atk: 1400 – 2000 Def: 1200) (LV5 Atk: 2200 – 2800 Def: 800)"
"That's enough to take out my monsters… well two of them." Yuma pointed out.
"Time to battle! Daigusto Falcos attack Elemental HERO Stratos!" The smaller bird flew towards Stratos. As it passed by, Kamui launched an energy orb from his staff and destroyed the hero.
Yuma: 8000 – 7800 LP
"Daigusto Gulldos attack Elemental HERO Neos!"
'Thought you'd never ask!' Winda said as she commanded her bird to fly as high as it could. With a chant she performed, she absorbed some lightning and launched a lightning blast from her staff as she destroyed Neos.
Yuma: 7800 – 7500 LP
"I'll end my turn here. Let's see what you can do." Red Hat ends his turn.
Hand 4
"My turn, I draw!" Yuma draws.
Hand 3
"Are you aware there's a new kind of fusion?" Yuma asked, curious to see if her opponent knew anything of the sort.
Red Hat raised an eyebrow at her claim. "New kind of fusion? Besides more generic fusion material, Contact Fusion such as Gladiator Beasts and the VWXYZ cards that nobody uses anymore, and Instant Fusion for level 5 or lower fusion monsters. I don't see what you're on about."
Yuma giggled at his confusion. "You'll see right now! I play the quick play spell, Mask Change!"
"Mask Change? Never heard of it before… Must be a new thing."
"Oh, it's a new thing alright! Here's how it works! First, I target a HERO monster I control; I send it to the graveyard, then I can special summon a Masked HERO from my extra deck with the same attribute that the sent monster had! I send Elemental HERO Absolute Zero to the graveyard and special summon, Masked HERO Vapor! (LV6 Atk: 2400 Def: 2000)" In Absolute Zero's place, a new monster appeared onto the field. The warrior was clad in blue and silver armor. He also wielded a long, white, double-edge spear.
"Masked HERO? This is a new thing alright! One card fusions." Red Hat gasped as he felt the incoming blizzard, destroying both of his monsters. "Since you sent Absolute Zero to the graveyard, all my monsters are destroyed by his effect."
Yuma hopped once, giggling as her opponent was impressed with her new monster. "That's right, and I'm not done yet! I play the spell card Miracle Fusion! I banish Elemental HERO Neos and Elemental HERO Ice Edge to form Elemental HERO The Shining! (LV8 Atk: 2600 Def: 2100)" Both heros were absorbed into the fusion, and then, it suddenly flashed, creating an intense light. As the light died down, a warrior in a white and gold suit that bore six red gems as well as a strange contraption that resembled the sun attached to its back. "Let's not forget, The Shining gains 300 attack points for every one of my banished HEROs!" (LV8 Atk: 2600 – 3200 Def: 2100)
"Omni HEROs… If I had to guess, you still have more to offer. With a deck like HEROs, you pretty much a race to beat your opponent. Otherwise, you'd have a hard time making a comeback…" Red Hat guessed, knowing how HERO decks he encountered a long time, played.
"Oh, I know." Yuma smiled and posed. "And that's why I'm not done yet! I still haven't normal summoned. For my last move, I summon Elemental HERO Voltic! (LV4 Atk: 1000 Def: 1500)" A warrior wearing gold and purple armor emerged onto the field, bolts crackling over his body.
"Battle! The Shining, attack him directly, Solar Burst!" The six spikes on The Shining's contraption started to glow with white energy. Then, The Shining gathered all the energy to form an energy orb between his palms and fired at Red Hat, pushing him back with enough force.
Red Hat: 7500 – 4300 LP
"Masked HERO Vapor, it's your turn to attack my hero!" Vapor leaped forward and impaled Red Hat with his spear, causing him to stumble before regaining his footing.
Red Hat: 4300 – 1900 LP
"Alright! Now, it's your turn Voltic! Attack him directly!" Electricity formed in Voltic's hands and launched it at Red Hat.
Red Hat: 1900 – 900 LP
"Voltic's effect now kicks in! Since he delt battle damage to you, I can special summon one of my banished Elemental HEROs! Welcome back my savior, Elemental HERO Neos! (LV7 Atk: 2500 Def: 2100)" Yuma explained as she placed the banished card on her duel disk, resummoning Neos onto the field.
Red Hat merely chuckled, knowing this duel was over. He knew HEROs had to do a lot of damage, otherwise they'd be in a tough spot. Granted, he admitted, he was also to blame. He was playing to passively. Had he destroyed Absolute Zero earlier, then she'd had no target for Masked Change, as far as he was aware of. He would have lasted a couple more turns, had he used Daigusto Gulldos effect to pop him after he ended his battle phase. Too late now, he lost fair and square.
"The hero always wins in the end! Neos finish him off, Cosmic Crush!" Neos leaped forward and karate chopped Red Hat directly. He stumbled and forced to go down tone knee as his LP was depleted.
Red Hat: 900 – 0 LP
"Heh, nice job." He praised, getting back up on his feet.
Yuma jumped as she clasped her hands together. "Yay! I was lucky!"
"Except, it was anything but luck. You're actually quite skilled." Red Hat congratulated. "Luck favors the prepared, practice or not."
"Um... heh heh, thank you… Um, I don't think I ever got your name." Yuma said, stuttering at her words.
"The name is… just call me Red Hat…"
Yuma gave him a confused look. "Red Hat? I can tell that's not really your name… why hide it?"
"I don't have any reason to tell you…" He walked past her without a second thought.
Yuma pouted and ran up to him. "Hey, you're just going to leave like that?"
He looked over his shoulder to glance at her. "I'm just searching for duelists to practice for the upcoming tag team tournament. Have to prepare myself, after all."
Yuma continued to pout only to reach for his hat and lift it up. Red Hat immediately grabbed her wrist, not wanting her to take off his hat. Not wanting to give in, Yuma stared into his eyes for a while. This situation made Red Hat uncomfortable.
"Just what are you doing?" He asked, not liking where this was going.
"I can see it in your eyes. You're confused, and you feel trapped. You're posture gives it away. You feel like you've done something wrong, but you didn't. At least, that's what you believe. You looked like you didn't want to be here. You want to be free." Yuma explained as she backed away from him, still keeping a hard look on him.
This caught Red Hat of guard. While she took a wild guess, he'd be lying if what she said wasn't true. Other than trespassing into Satellite and leaving in secret. He's never done anything to warrant being hunted down. Least he thought so, besides trespassing. He was just someone that wanted to move on with his life, now he was forced into a fate he never asked for. Life can be strange sometimes. He figured he should hang around with more people.
"You could say that. Though can you really trust me? What if what I'm saying to you isn't actually true?" He asked, wondering how she'd respond.
Yuma shook her head and smiled. "No, I trust you. I believe what you're telling is true. I never distrust anyone, especially with good intentions. I always believe it's important to trust in others."
Red Hat sweat dropped at her statement. 'That's a really bad mentality to have. This will lead people to take advantage of you.' He thought, now imagining the horrors she could potentially get herself into. That he wouldn't allow, but he had no idea how to do so.
"Say, I want to chat with you on certain manners…" He looked to his side and stared at the sky, noticing he still had time before evening began. "Mind if we head to the nearby park and chat?"
At first, Yuma gave him a surprised look. She then smiled and jumped in excitement. "Me? Really? Of course! I'll try to stay out of your way!"
Chuckling, Red Hat stood aside and waited for Yuma to catch up. The duo would soon walk to the nearby park, with Red Hat leading the way.
Meanwhile with Lara
Lara has been walking around the city for quite a while now. Following what Red Hat told her, she made sure to stay away from the main roads and shady alley ways. She made sure she wasn't within Sector Securities line of sight. Last thing she wanted was being taken away again.
'Hmm… Mr. Red Hat did tell I should be careful with who I interact with.' She thought, hoping she wouldn't get into trouble again.
As she continued her walk, she then noticed a familiar girl leave a nearby store. It was none other than the same girl she met yesterday, Daisy.
"Thanks for helping out at the store young one." A middle-aged woman thanked.
Daisy smiled and bowed to the middle-aged woman. "It was my pleasure. I like helping out people in need."
The middle-aged woman smiled and waved at her. "A rare sight seeing someone like you. I can't describe it, almost like a saint."
Daisy shook her head smiling. "I just like helping people is all. I'm no saint as some people claim."
The middle-aged woman chuckled a bit. "Well, you have a nice day now." She bowed slightly and returned back to the shop.
Daisy waved and began to walk back, only to spot Lara nearby. "Oh, hello there Lara-chan! How have you been."
Lara smiled and walked towards her. "Hello Daisy-chan! How have you been doing today?"
"I just got done helping out in the shop right here. It's not really a job or anything, I just like helping people!" Daisy replied with a smile.
Lara's eyes gleamed as Daisy said that. "Ooo, really? You're amazing Daisy-chan!"
"It's not that big deal!" Daisy replied sheepishly. He looked to her side and noticed Red Hat wasn't with her. "Speaking of which, where's Red Hat-san?"
"He went out on his own to practice for the upcoming tag team tournament. He's even searching for a tag partner. He says he wants to win it for the price money they're handing out." Lara explained, slightly bowing. "I don't care about the money, but I understand why Mr. Red Hat wants it. He's trying to live his own life while taking care of me."
"I find it strange why he would take care of you? I mean, you two clearly aren't related and you're not adopted either. Why would he take care of you? Just curious is all." Daisy asked.
"I wouldn't know myself." Lara lied. She knew exactly why he was taking care of her. She couldn't risk telling her the truth. Perhaps she said too much?
Daisy gave her a skeptical look, but didn't push any further. "Well, what brings you all the way out here?"
"Mr. Red Hat says I should practice too. Even if I won't join the tournament with him. He says I should still at least practice my dueling ability." Lara answered.
"Oh? Well then, how about we practice together! You're already here with me, Lara-chan!" Daisy suggested.
Lara smiled and lightly bowed. "Really? Thank you, Daisy-chan! I really appreciate it!"
"No need to thank me. Let me head back home to grab my stuff, and then we search for duelists, okay?"
"Yeah!"
Daisy would take Lara to her house hold in order to pick up her duel disk and her deck. Telling her to wait outside for a bit. She quickly grabbed her things and met up with Lara outside. Once they were ready, they began walking around the city, trying to find some duelists for them to tag duel. Being relatively early in the daytime, they had plenty of time to look around.
"So huge… So many places to see…" Lara said, amazed at all the sights she was seeing. While she enjoyed the sights with Red Hat. If felt different sightseeing with a friend.
"New Domino City is pretty amazing, isn't it? There's so much to see and do, you can potentially get lost in its wonders." Daisy replied, while looking back at Lara.
"There's so much to see, it's overwhelming at times." Lara observed.
The duo would continue to walk around the city, until they made their way to clearing. They noticed a large have gathered around, mostly academy students. Curious to what the crowd were watching. The duo would squeeze their way to the open clearing, Daisy apologizing along the way. Once they were in the front, they found out they arrived at the end of a tag duel.
Both sides were Academy school girls dueling each other. From what the audience were able to tell, they are also practicing their dueling skills.
On other right side, there was two synchro monsters on the field. One of them was Doomkaiser Dragon, and the other one was what appeared to be a female magician in greenish blue robes, she carried a scythe and had two bats floating above her.
On the left side, all they had was Flamvell Fire Dog and one facedown card. Both tag duelists had very low LP. As the duo got closer, they were able to get a better look at them. The left side was a green-haired girl wearing round glasses, while her partner had dark blue hair with two ponytails that barely reached her shoulders.
The right side had two other academy school girls. One of them had pink hair, tied with two yellow ribbons and formed two circle curls on both sides. The other school girl had white short hair that reached her shoulders. The moment Lara laid eyes on the white-haired girl, her eyes glowed red for moment before returning to normal. Leaving her a bit dazed. Turns out, three of them were Rin, Reyna and Bright.
Rin & Reyna: 600 LP
Bright & Partner: 1000 LP
"You ready? From the top! It's my turn, draw!" Rin twirls around and draws her card.
Hand 2
"Are you aware of Tempest Magician's effect, Hana?" Rin asked to the pigtail girl, now named Hana.
"I'm well aware how your card works, Rin! You always save that monster of yours as a final last resort when you're in trouble!" Hana called out to her.
"Well then, you would already know that by discarding any number of cards from my hand to the graveyard, she gains one spell counter for each card discarded!" Rin explained as she discarded her last remaining cards. Two blue orbs began to glow on Tempest Magician's scythe. "Now time to use her effect! By removing all spell counters on the field, you girls take 500 effect damage per sell counter! That's two that means we win!"
Bright chuckled slightly. "Didn't I tell you? Don't assume you'd won the duel until it happens." Rin got confused by what she meant. "Do you need a hint? Very well, chain quick play spell, Chain Strike! Since this is a chain link 2, I can activate this card. You take 400 effect damage per chain link! Since that's chain link 2, you take 800 effect damage! Chain Links resolve backwards, ours resolves first, so we win!"
As the card revealed itself, multiple chains covered in fired wrapped around both Rin and Reyna, depleting their LP before Tempest Magician was able to activate her effect. The chains disappeared once their LP was depleted.
Rin & Reyna: 600 – 0 LP
"Aww man, this was a lot harder than I thought." Rin said, grasping her head with one hand.
The other tag duo approached them, both with smiles, although Bright had a sterner look on her face. "You two did well for a practice match. Your dueling ability has greatly improved. You especially, Reyna."
Reyna gave her a blank stare. "Really?"
Bright nodded. "That's correct. Before you would often studder with your moves or hold back. Now it seems you're getting serious this time. What changed all of a sudden?"
Reyna blinked a few times before responding. "Nothing special…"
This confused her classmates and the chairwoman. "It sure doesn't sound like nothing."
Rin giggled and lightly jabbed her friend with her elbow. "Come on now Rey Rey! Why don't you tell us the real reason!"
"I have nothing…" Reyna replied softly, almost like she was whispering while turning away from them.
Bright sighed at her answer. She knew Reyna was tedious to speak to, but more often than not, every time she tried to get her to talk to her, she never gets anywhere. Or if she does, she gets replies that make very little sense. What could she possibly be hiding that warrants such secrecy? Rumors has it she purposely holds back to not stand out. Why would that be an issue for her? There's modesty and then there's self-sabotaging yourself just because you don't want to attract attention.
"I respect your answer, I won't push any further at the moment." As Bright and Hana were about to head back to their group, they noticed someone was missing. "Hey, has anyone seen Yuma around?"
Rin sweat dropped, knowing Bright would get angry "Um… Yuma took off somewhere. She said she wanted to investigate some rumors that happened last night."
Fuming as her glasses shined. "Hana, come with me. We're going to look for her. That girl is going to get herself into major trouble someday if she keeps playing hero."
"I'm coming, Reika!" The duo would soon leave the crowd to find their missing student.
Once the duo left, the rest of students went their sperate ways. Believing practice was now over. Leaving only the tag duo, Daisy and Lara. Only it took a bit for Rin to notice them.
"Oh, hello you two! Are you lost or something?" Rin greeted, hoping they weren't lost or needed something.
"Excuse me, Rin-san. But I was wondering..." She turned back to Lara only for her to nod. "If you don't mind Tag dueling with me and my friend here!"
Rin smiled at her request. "Oh, definitely! I could I reject such a request. Hey, Rey Rey! We're going to have another Tag Duel! Let's get ready"
"Sure…" Reyna simply replied, activating her duel disk as her deck was auto shuffled.
"Let's get started, shawl we!" Rin stated as she also readied her duel disk, her deck being auto shuffled.
Daisy smiled as she readied her duel disk and readied her deck. "Okay… I'll try my very hardest! Let's do our best effort Lara-chan!"
Lara stepped forward and bowed to her opponent. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Let's have fun." Lara activated her duel disk as her deck was auto shuffled.
Daisy & Lara: 8000 LP
Rin & Reyna: 8000 LP
"I'll start this duel! My turn, draw!" Rin draws.
Hand 6
"I'll start by playing the field spell, Magical Citadel of Endymion!" The area began to transform and in its place a large citadel with a magical barrier surrounding the area. In the center of the place contained a large tower.
"What a nice-looking place! Never seen a field spell like this before!" Daisy complimented. Lara nodded her head in agreement.
"Its effect is; whenever a spell card resolves from all of us, I place one spell counter on the field spell. If a card with a spell counter is destroyed, I place all its spell counters on this card. Once per turn, If I would activate a card effect by removing spell counters, I can remove that many spell counters from this card instead. If this card would be destroyed, I can remove a spell counter from this card instead."
"A deck based around spell counters? Haven't seen that before." Daisy said.
"Same here… I often don't know what I'll be facing." Lara added.
"I'll start off simple. I play the spell card Upstart Goblin! I draw a card and you gain 1000 LP." Rin drew her card as her opponents gained LP. The citadel began to glow as an orb began to shine.
Daisy & Lara: 8000 – 9000 LP
Spell Counters: 1
"I set a monster and set one card facedown. I end my turn" Rin ends her turn.
Hand 3
"I know it's possible! My turn, I draw!" Daisy draws.
Hand 6
'I can work with this hand. Too bad no field spell.' Daisy thought as she looked at her hand. "I play the spell card Cards of Consonance! I discard a dragon tuner with 1000 or less attack to draw 2 cards!" She discards Dragunity Phalanx and drew her cards.
Spell Counters: 1 – 2
"I summon Dragunity Dux-san in attack mode! (LV4 Atk: 1500 Def: 1000)" The male winged-beast emerged onto the field. "His effect, when normal summoned, he can target a level 3 or lower dragon Dragunity monster in my graveyard and equip it to him. I'll choose Draguity Phalanx-san." Dux hopped onto the smaller Dragunity Phalanx. "Dragunity Phalanx has an effect, once per turn while he's equipped to a monster, I can special summon him. Phalanx-san, move forward and help out your comrades (LV2 Atk: 500 Def: 1100)!" Dux hopped off the dragon as Phalanx moved forward onto the field. "Phalanx-san is also a tuner monster."
Rin sweat dropped at her play, but smiled as she got into it. "Monsters that can equip other monsters and have effects? That's quite the deck you got. I'm excited to see more!"
"Then I won't disappoint! I tune level 2 Dragunity Phalanix-san and level 4 Dragunity Dux-san!" The dragon dragunity turned into two stars that circled around Dux before turning into circles of green light. Both their bodies turned transparent and revealed 4 starts and lined up before creating a ray of light. "I'm a little embarrassed… but I need you! Synchro Summon, level six, Dragunity Knight – Gae Dearg-san! (LV6 Atk: 2400 Def: 800)" A larger red dragon emerged onto the field. Its rider appeared to be Dragunity Legionnaire.
"That's quite the dragon you have there!" Rin complimented.
"Thanks, now for its effect! Once per turn, I can add a level 4 dragon or winged-beast monster from my deck to my hand, then I must discard a dragon or winged-beast monster. I'll add Dragunity Militum!" Daisy explains as she adds said monster and discards Dragunity Brandistock. "Battle, attack her facedown monster, Gae Dearg-san!" The dragon launched a stream of flames from its maw and attacked the facedown monster, revealing to be Apprentice Magician. (LV2 Atk: 400 Def: 800)
"Apprentice Magician effect activates! When he's destroyed in battle, I can special summon a level 2 or lower spellcaster type monster in facedown defense position! I'll set the tuner monster Frequency Magician! (LV2 Atk: 800 Def: 400)" Rin explains as she replaces her destroyed set monster with another one.
"I set one card facedown, and end my turn." Daisy ends her turn.
Hand 4
"Five minutes… My turn, draw…" Reyna draws.
Hand 6
She looks at her hand stares blanky at one card. 'Do not summon me. You'll give us away. That small girl must not know you have me.' Zombie Master warned.
"Really… Why are you worried about her?" She replied in a very low voice.
'They must never know you and I are together. My plans are ruined otherwise. Do not summon the dragon either.' Zombie Master reminded her.
Sightly nodding, Reyna continued her turn. "Summon, Malevolent Mech – Goku En… (LV6 Atk: 2400 Def: 1000)" A corrupted evil version of Majestic Mech – Ohka emerged onto the field.
Daisy prepared herself. "I'll activate my continuous trap, Gozen Match! As long as this card remains on the field, we can only summon and keep monsters on our field of the same attribute! Any other attribute monster that's face-up on the field are sent to the graveyard!"
Reyna, not being bothered by her floodgate continued. "Battle… Crash, Goku En…" The corrupted mech roared and charged forward as the dragon retaliated and fired a stream of fire from its maw. Destroying both of them. "Spell card, Foolish Burial… I send monster from deck to grave…" Reyna sends a particular monster from her deck to the graveyard. "Turn end…" Reyna ends her turn.
Hand 4
Spell Counter: 2 – 3
"My turn, I draw!" Lara draws.
Hand 6
"I play the spell card Delinquent Duo! By paying 1000 you must discard one random card in your hand, then you must discard one card of your choice if you still have cards." Lara explained as two fiends appeared next to Reyna and discarded a card from her, which happened to be Mezuki.
Reyna looked at her hand to see what she would discard. 'You said not to summon you, Master… Then I won't use you…' She thought as she made the decision to discard Zombie Master without the others knowledge.
Daisy & Lara: 9000 – 8000 LP
Spell Counter: 3 – 4
Rin sweat dropped, confused to how a child had such a card. "Um… one question if you don't mind. How do you have such a powerful card like that? That card has been out of print for years and you can't just buy it. It's pretty expensive."
Daisy was a bit surprised by that factor. "I didn't think you'd have a card like that."
"Um… Mr. Red Hat said he found this card in an abandoned house one day. I think he must have misplaced this card when we were editing our decks." Lara explained, not sure herself how Red Hat even found it, let alone how it ended up in her deck.
"Even still, it's not like you can play that card much anyway. Official tournaments banned powerful cards like that." Rin added.
"I'll be okay, but thanks for the help." Lara thanked as she continued her turn. "I set a monster and set one card facedown. That ends my turn." Lara ends her turn.
Hand 3
"Fight on! My turn, I draw!" Rin draws.
Hand 4
"Before you begin your turn, let me use my face down card. I'll activate my trap card." Lara called out politely as she revealed her facedown card. "Needlebug Nest. With this trap card, I send the top 5 cards of my deck to the graveyard." Lara sends her five cards which happened to be Solemn Judgement, Foolish Burial, Whightmare, Skull Servant, and Card Destruction.
"Very well then… I summon Defender the Magical Knight in attack mode! (LV4 Atk: 1600 Def: 2000)" A magician with dark blue and gold robes emerged onto the field. He wielded a small sword and large blue shield with gold edges around the shield and a red power stone in the center. "His effect, when normal summoned he gains one spell counter" The power stone on the center of the shield began to glow bright red as a spell counter was placed. "I'll flip summon Frequency Magician!" A smaller magician with a purple cape emerged onto the field.
"Just remember, Rin-san. So long as Gozen Match is on the field, you can't summon any monsters that isn't light attribute." Daisy reminded her.
Rin makes a pose. "No need to worry, when in a pinch, I'll find a way! I tune level 2 Frequency Magician with level 4 Defender the Magical Warrior!" The small magician turned into two stars that circled around Defender the Magical Knight before turning into circles of green light. Both their bodies turned transparent and revealed 4 starts and lined up before creating a ray of light. "I'll show you how good I am! Don't blink or you might miss it! Synchro summon, level 6 Explosive Magician! (LV6 Atk: 2500 Def: 1800)" A magician in white robes with gold trimmings emerged onto the field.
"You synchro summoned? I'll have to assume it's a light attribute monster." Daisy assumed.
"That's right! Now time for his effect! Once per turn, by removing two spell counters, he can destroy one spell or trap on the field! By paying the cost from the field spell, you're Gozen Match trap card is destroyed!" Explosive Magician consumed magic from the power stone and launched explosive magic at the trap card, destroying it.
Spell Counter: 4 – 2
"Battle, attack her facedown monster Explosive Magician!" The magician fired multiple explosive energy orbs at the facedown monster, revealing to be Mad Reloader. (LV1 Atk: 0 Def:0)
"Mad Reloader's effect! When it's destroyed in battle, by discarding two cards from my hand, I can draw 2 cards!" Lara explained as she discarded two particular cards and drew two cards.
"You might need those. Now I play the spell card Spell Power Grasp! I target one card on the field that I can place a spell counter; I place one spell counter on that card, then I can add another copy of the same spell from my deck! I'll use it on my field spell!" Rin explained as she activated her spell. A magician appeared and created a power stone on the citadel.
Spell Counter 2 – 4
She then added another copy of the card from her deck to her hand as her deck was auto shuffled. "I set one card facedown and end my turn." Rin ends her turn.
Hand 2
"I know it's possible! My turn, I draw!" Daisy draws.
Hand 5
"I play the spell card Trade in! I discard a level 8 monster to draw 2 cards!" Daisy discards Dragunity Leyvaten and drew her cards.
Spell Counter: 4 – 5
"I summon Dragunity Pilum-san in attack mode! (LV3 Atk: 1400 Def: 1000)" The smaller green dragon in silver armor emerged onto the field. "His effect, I can special summon a Dragunity Winged-Beast type monster in my hand and equip him to that monster! Help him out, Dragunity Militum-san! (LV4 Atk: 1700 Def: 1200) Militum emerged onto the field as she hopped on the dragon. "Her effect allows me to special summon a Dragunity monster in my spell and trap card zone. Return to the field, Pilum-san!" Militum hopped off the dragon and commanded it to come forward to battle.
"So many effects! I'm liking what I'm seeing. Such a great show!" Rin complimented.
Daisy smiled and bowed. "Thanks, Rin-san. However, I'm not done just yet! I banish Pilum-san to special summon this card from my hand, help me out, Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon-san! (LV10 Atk: 2800 Def: 2400)" The small dragon was vaporized in a pillar of darkness as what rose from the pillar of darkness was a black dragon. Its entire body was coated in black armor with markings around its body and wings. It let out a mighty roar as it was surrounded in a dark aura.
"Woah! That's one powerful dragon!" Rin called out, shocked to see such a card. Reyna was unfazed by the dragon and remained quiet.
"Darkness Metal Dragon-san effect activates, once per turn I can special summon a dragon-type monster from my hand or graveyard! I special summon from my graveyard Dragunity Leyvaten-san! (LV8 Atk: 2600 Def: 1200)" Leyvaten emerged onto the field by Darkness Metal's power. "His effect activates, when he's summoned, I can equip a dragon-type monster from my graveyard, except himself, and equip it to him. Phalanx-san, support him!" The dragon is summoned back as it flew next to Layvaten. "I use Phalanx-san effect to special summon him, let's go! (LV2 Atk: 500 Def: 1100)"
Rin was amazed at the plays she was seeing from this young girl. Reyna on the other hand, remained unphased by the amount of summons Daisy was making.
"I tune level 2 Dragunity Phalanx-san with level 4 Dragunity Militum-san!" The dragon dragunity turned into two stars that circled around Militum before turning into circles of green light. Both their bodies turned transparent and revealed 4 starts and lined up before creating a ray of light. "I'm a little embarrassed… but I need you! Synchro Summon, level six, Dragunity Knight – Vajrayana-san! (LV6 Atk: 1900 Def: 1200)" A large red armored dragon with Miliotum as its rider emerged onto the field.
"Vajrayana-sans effect now activates, when its synchro summoned, I can target a level 3 or lower dragon-type dragunity monster in my graveyard and equip it to this card. Dragunity Phalanx-san help your comrade!" The smaller dragon remerged onto the field and flew next to Vajrayana side. "I'll use Phalanx-san's effect to special summon him to the field! (LV2 Atk: 500 Def: 1100)" Phalanx came up to the front zone. "I tune level 2 Dragunity Phalanx-san with level 6 Dragunity Knight - Vajrayana-san!" The Phalanx turned into two stars that circled around Vajrayana before turning into circles of green light. Both their bodies turned transparent and revealed 6 starts and lined up before creating a ray of light. "Powerful dragon, reveal yourself and support your allies! Synchro Summon, level eight, Scrap Dragon-san! (LV8 Atk: 2800 Def: 2000)" The light died down and revealed a dragon that let out a loud roar. Its body was made of pieces of scrap metal. Some of them formed a pair of big wings and a tail.
"You're still going?" Rin asked, sweat dropping at the long play.
Daisy nodded and bowed. "Sorry, but I must keep going. I set this card facedown, the I use Scrap Dragon-san's effect! I can destroy one card you control by also destroying a card I control! I destroy your Explosive Magician in exchange for my face down!" The dragon let out a roar as Daisy facedown began to shake as the magician covered its ears from the roar. Both cards were destroyed.
"Battle, Dragunity Layvaten attack Rin-san directly!" The dragon charges forward and slashes Rin with its swords, causing her to stumble back a bit.
Rin & Reyna: 8000 – 5400 LP
"You're turn to attack Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon-san!" The armored black dragon launched a blast of flames, filled with darkness, from its maw as it blasted Rin, causing her to cry out.
Rin & Reyna: 5400 – 2600 LP
"I hope this works! Scrap Dragon-san attack her directly and end this duel!" As the dragon began its mighty roar, Rin prepared herself.
"I don't like this, but I'll activate my continuous trap card Limit Reverse! I special summon a monster with 1000 or fewer attack points! Frequency Magician, protect us this turn! (LV2 Atk: 800 Def: 400)" Frequency Magician emerged onto the field once more. The Scrap Dragon changed its target, and screeched at the smaller magician was destroyed.
Rin & Reyna: 2600 – 600 LP
"Shoot, so close too! This is exciting! I end my turn!" Daisy ends her turn.
Hand 1
"Somehow… my turn… Final…" Reyna took a bit and made a slight pose before drawing her card. "Draw…"
Hand 3
"Continuous spell… Card of Safe Return…" Reyna replied weakly as the card appeared on the field.
Spell Counter: 5 – 6
"Banish, Frequency Magician and a dark monster in my graveyard…" Frequency Magician was ejected out of Rin's graveyard as she placed it in the banish zone. "Special summon… Chaos Sorcerer… (LV6 Atk: 2300 Def: 2000)" The chaos sorcerer emerged onto the field, releasing his dual flames from his palms.
Rin was rather surprised by the monster she summoned. "Since when did you get such a powerful card there, Rey Rey? It was only a few years ago when he started to be printed again."
"Nowhere special…" She responded weakly.
Rin sweat dropped, but smiled. "Um… okay then."
"His effect… banish a face-up monster, if so, he can't attack this turn… Target, Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon…" Chaos Sorcerer readied his orange and purple flames and launched them at the armored black dragon, banishing it for good.
"Ah!" Daisy cried out as her monster was banished.
"Summon… tuner monster, Plaguespreader Zombie… (LV2 Atk: 400 Def: 200)" The zombie-like plague emerged onto the field. "Tune Plaguespreader Zombie and Chaos Sorcerer…" Plaugespreader turned into two stars that circled around the Chaos Sorcerer before turning into circles of green light. Both their bodies turned transparent and revealed 6 starts and lined up before creating a ray of light. "Synchro Summon. Appear, Dark End Dragon. (LV8 Atk: 2600 Def: 2100)" A black dragon with two silver horns on the side of it head. The dragon appeared to have a second face on its torso. The dragon radiated a dark aura around itself.
"Mezuki's effect… Banishing him, special summon a zombie from my grave… Return, Malevolent Mech – Goku En. (LV6 Atk: 2400 Def: 1400)" The corrupted being returned to the field. "I draw thanks to the spell…" Reyna drew her card and gave a blank look. "Spell card, Allur of Darkness… I draw 2 then I banish a dark monster… If not, then I discard my entire hand…"
Spell Counter: 6 – 7
This caught Daisy by surprise. "Eh? You're going to risk it, Reyna-san?"
"Hmm…" Reyna didn't respond as she drew her two cards. She then showed and banished Goblin Zombie. "I send my single card back to the top of my deck to bring back Plaguespreader Zombie. (LV2 Atk: 400 Def: 200)" The zombie-like plague reappears onto the field. "He gets banished if he eave the field now… I draw a card." Reyna redraws the card she placed on the top of her deck. Tune Plaguespreader Zombie and Malevolent Mech – Goku En…" Plaugespreader turned into two stars that circled around the Malevolent Mech – Goku En, before turning into circles of green light. Both their bodies turned transparent and revealed 6 starts and lined up before creating a ray of light. "Synchro Summon. Appear, Colossal Fighter… (LV8 Atk: 2800 Def: 1000)" The muscular titan emerged onto the field.
"You got more Ray Ray?" Rin asked, curious to see how much Reyna has in store.
"Hmm…" She refused to respond and kept going. "Spell… Burial from a Different Dimension. Three banished cards return to my graveyard…" Reyna returns Mezuki, Plaguespreader Zombie, and Goblin Zombie back to the graveyard.
Spell Counter: 7 – 8
"Banish Mezuki to bring back Goblin Zombie… (LV4 Atk: 1100 Def: 1050) An undead goblin was caried by the yokai ox emerged onto the field as Mezuki disappeared. "Draw… Spell, Book of Life… I bring back Plagespreader Zombie then I banish a monster in your graveyard… (LV2 Atk: 400 Def: 200)" As Reyna targets her tuner, she looks through her opponent's graveyard and decides to banish Dragunity Phalanx.
"No, not Phalanx-san!" gasped Daisy.
Spell Counter: 8 – 9
"Draw… Tune Plaguespreader Zombie and Goblin Zombie…" Plaugespreader turned into two stars that circled around the Goblon Zombie before turning into circles of green light. Both their bodies turned transparent and revealed 4 starts and lined up before creating a ray of light. "Synchro Summon. Appear, Revived King Ha Des… (LV6 Atk: 2450 Def: 0)" A zombie-like revival of the infamous demonic dark ruler emerged onto the field. Despite being a corpse, he was still able to move gracefully. "Goblin Zombie allows me to add a zombie with 1200 or fewer defense if sent to the graveyard… I chose Paladin of Cursed Dragon…"
"Geez Rey Rey, why don't you swarm our field while we're at it." Rin sarcastically said. "If you can do this much, then how come you play so passively sometimes?"
Reyna paid no attention to her comments. "Dark End Dragon effect… Reducing his attack and defense by 500, he sends a monster you control to the graveyard… Layvaten gets sent there…" Dark End Dragon launched a dark energy orb at Layvaten as it vanished from the field. (LV8 Atk: 2600 – 2100 Def: 2100 – 1600)
"Eh? Why get rid of Layvaten-san?" Daisy asked, wondering why get rid of her dragunity monster over Scrap Dragon.
Reyna, refusing to reply continued her turn. "Battle… Colossal Fighter attack…" The titan began to rush forward to deliver a powerful punch to the Scrap Dragon. The dragon retaliated with mighty roar before. As the titan delivered a mighty blow, both monsters were destroyed. "Colossal Fighter effect, if destroyed in battle, a warrior comes back from the graveyard… Himself included… Return to the field…" The titan revived himself as it flexed its muscles. "Attack directly…" The titan leaped forward and slammed down onto Daisy.
Daisy & Lara: 8000 – 5200 LP
"Attack… Dark End Dragon…" The dark dragon launched a stream of black flames from its maw and blasted it at Daisy, pushing her back.
Daisy & Lara: 5200 – 3100 LP
"Attack… Revived King Ha Des…" The dark ruler conjured a dark energy orb and tossed it at Daisy. She covered herself to block the blast.
Daisy & Lara: 3100 – 650 LP
"Set facedown… turn end…" Reyna ends her turn.
Hand 1
"Lara-chan, can you do 600 LP damage? We almost got them!" Daisy pointed out.
Lara stares at her deck. "I think I can. I just need to draw him."
"I know you can! Just believe in your deck!"
"Okay…" Lara nodded. "Just a little more. My turn, I draw!" Lara draws.
Hand 4
"I activate the spell card Allur of Darkness! Now it's my turn to draw 2 cards and banish a dark monster." Lara draws her cards and banishes King of the Skull Servants. "I discard the monster known as Wightmare to activate his effect! It allows me to either; return either Skull Servant or Wightmare from the banish pile back to the graveyard; or special summon The Lady in Wight or King of the Skull Servants from my banish zone! Come back King of the Skull Servants! (LV1 Atk: ? – 5000 Def: 0)" The Wight king emerged onto the field after being called from Wightmare.
"Activate, trap card… Bottomless Trap Hole… A monster summoned with 1500 or more attack is banished…" Reyna said as a hole opened up from underneath the Wight King and swallowed him up. As he fell down into the void, the hole closed up.
"Ouch, hope you have a backup plan, Lara-chan! Although, how did she know to banish your monster?" Daisy pointed out.
"Such a monster summoned will always have high attack…" Reyna replied in a low tone.
"I believe I got this…" Lara assured her. Her eyes glowed red for a bit. "I play the spell card, One for One. I discard a monster to special summon a level 1 monster from my hand or deck. I special summon a second King of the Skull Servants from my deck. (LV1 Atk: ? – 5000 Def: 0)" A second Wight King emerged onto the field. This time glaring at his opponents. "My Wight King gains 1000 attack for every Skull Servant in my graveyard. I have three Skull Servants and two Wightmare's which are treated as Skull Servants in the graveyard. So, that's 5000 attack points."
"We don't have enough LP to survive this attack." Rin said in shock.
"This shawl end it! King of the Skull Servants, attack Revived King Ha Des and end this duel!" The Wight King conjured an orb of dark energy and launched it at the revived dark ruler, destroying him in the process. Depleting the last of Rin and Reyna's LP.
Rin & Reyna: 600 – 0 LP
The field soon returned to normal. "Aww man, this is the second time we lost. To kids no less." Rin said in disappointment. She quickly composed herself and smiled at the kids. "That was fun duel."
Reyna looked at the ground with a blank stare. "I lose…"
Lara deactivated her duel disk, clasping her hands together. "I can't believe it. I can't believe we actually won!"
"We did it Lara-chan! That was great!" Daisy cheered. "That was an intense match, thank you." Daisy gave her opponents a respectful bow.
"You two were tougher than we thought!" Rin stated with a smile. "Looks like we need to practice some more and improve ourselves, right Ray Ray?"
"Yeah…" She nodded.
"Let's leave now. School is already over anyway." Rin and Reyna leave the duo behind, with Reyna looking back at Lara for a bit before following Rin.
'Why is Master interested in her? I don't understand…' She thought, following Rin to avoid suspicion.
"That was fun, wasn't it? Oh, what do you have planned for the rest of the day, Lara-chan?" Daisy asked, wondering if she had anything else planned.
"Oh, I think I should meet up with Mr. Red Hat soon. He's probably worried about me." Lara said. "I had a great time. Thanks for the company, Diasy-chan!"
"I had fun today. If you want to hang out some more, you're welcome to come by to my home during the day. I tend to be busy during the mornings, helping people." Daisy explained.
"Okay! I'll consider it. Thanks for hanging out with me." Lara gives her a bow and walks away, waving back at her.
"You be careful out there! Thanks again!" Daisy calls out, waving back at her.
Lara smiles and quickly tried to find her way out of the city. She took her time to observe the city and avoid all suspicious areas. She avoided talking to people she didn't trust or would assume would be bad people. She would sometimes would hide in the alleyway if she spotted Sector Security officers from afar.
When the cost was clear, we should run and make her way to the outskirts of the city. However, what she didn't know, someone was watching her from the shadows.
A/N: I had to end the chapter here as it was getting far too long. I not a huge fan of leaving behind cliffhangers. It's why I make sure duels end as quickly as possible. (Granted that's also my fault for being against cliffhangers.) As it wasn't obvious by now, most of the focus is the Tag Force characters and their misadventures before the plot begins. There's a couple of Easter Eggs in this chapter. Can you guess what is it?
Anyway, see you all next time.