Two days had passed since her duel with Yuya meaning that there was about 3 or so weeks until the Arc Championship started up truly.
Eddie had sent requests to LDS Students and alumni who she was eligible to duel against on the leaderboards, but she hadn't gotten a reply for any of them yet, and she hadn't really gotten any challenges since Gongenzaka yet.
Maybe they wanted to wait until she got to number five (that is to say, Match 6 after five wins) so they could do the 'stop her in her tracks' kind of thing.
So right now while she was waiting she had decided to take a walk around the City in casual clothes, and she was currently in front of the LDS Building, just to stake it out. She'd been meaning to do it, but she had been busy with the challenges, research, practicing card tricks, and most recently, trying to make more Pendulums and writing down as much information about various cards that didn't exist here as she could think of.
Anyway, LDS itself was that weird skyscraper she'd seen in the distance, sort of like an angular hourglass now that she was seeing up close, with five 'smaller' duel fields for normal duels, and then an absolutely massive Action Duel Field big enough to have a Turbo Duel in, from her estimate. Not as big as the Kaibadome (she'd been so happy to find out it was in fact, a Kaibadome modeled after the Kaibadome) but still massive.
There were students milling about, as the school day was coming to an end (she loved not being a real school student, if she had to go to actual school she would figure out how to give That Solemn Bastard a Nibiru to the face). LDS seemed to have every kind of schooling from elementary to high school with some cram options, which people from other schools could even go to apparently. She had a feeling it was super exclusive…
But she also had a feeling she could find an in there if she did what she was looking to do.
Interestingly enough, it seemed that, going off the uniforms she was seeing, the school part was actually completely normal, just duel oriented, as opposed to the [s]caste/s]House-based system of Duel Academy.
And no one seemed to be in agony (at least any more than to be expected from school students) or being bullied or anything she could see.
It just seemed… like a very nice, private school.
She still got the vibe that something was fishy here, and she wasn't talking about a Fish deck.
And… there was Yuya, Yuzu, Ayo, Futoshi and Tatsuya(the new Guppy) who were following another teen that was wearing the same male uniform that Yuya used as a cape. Well going by the look of it, this new kid was wearing something closer to whatever the standard was, it seemed they allowed heavy modification (like Gongenzaka's nearly trenchcoat-like jacket) as long as they kept uniform in the aesthetics.
Regardless, Eddie immediately made a beeline for them, joining the back of the group to see how long it took for them to notice.
"Oh wow, LDS is really different from You Show," Futoshi commented.
"The glass is really pretty seeing it up close," Ayu added.
"If you are impressed by the outside, just wait until you see the inside, I am willing to give a small tour before our Duel, Yuya," The teen they were following spoke.
"It would be interesting to see how a rival school does things," Yuya replied.
"And do keep your end of the promise, if Yuya wins he gets a meeting with the big guy," Yuzu said.
"Of course, I am a man of my… Bad Angel!?" The boy said as he turned around and noticed Eddie, and the rest quickly followed.
Eddie, who had her arms crossed and was glaring at him. "Hallo." She said without her normal enthusiasm.
"What are you doing here Eddie?" Yuzu asked.
"Hey, Big Sis," Ayu, Futoshi, Tatsuya and Yuya greeted her.
"Guppies, Yuya, Yuzu." Eddie said with a nod. "I was just walking by when I overheard that this… friend of yours? Said he could get you a meeting with one Akaba-ceo?"
"Sawatari here goes to 2-A," Yuya said as he motioned "He wanted to duel against my Pendulums, but didn't want it to be a Feature Match, so I said in exchange if I won with them, he could get us a meeting with Akaba-san."
"Sylvio Sawatari, my lady. My father is the man who is guaranteed to be elected as Maiami's next Mayor, so I do have connections to accomplish such a task."
"Really now?" Eddie asked curiously and only slightly menacingly. "And you confirmed that first, and you're not just making the assumption your father can make those connections? We're talking about the busiest teenager in the world right now, are you sure a Mayoral Candidate has the right clout to get a hold of him?"
"Of course, the Leo Corporation is the biggest donor to his campaign," Sawatari responded.
"...Alright!" Eddie said with a shrug at the absolute assuredness in his words. Sylvio, at least, believed his father was well connected enough. "I'm allowed to watch, right?"
"Of course, everybody is allowed to watch." Sawatari responded.
"Alright." Eddie said, completely dropping the menacing act. "Awesome, don't let me slow you down then."
"Then follow me," Sawatari said as he motioned them for them to follow into the main building, waving a card in front of a scanner. "Sylvio Sawatari, with guests, Center Field reserved for Action Duel."
"Welcome Sylvio and Guests to LDS," The clearly automated voice said back as the glass doors slid open and they entered the first floor and Eddie could tell this place was state of the art, as Sawatari gave a quick tour of the nearby facilities as well as providing commentary. That LDS provided a number of different courses relating to both dueling and normal schooling for those that got invited after passing an entrance exam.
Which matched what she had been told before by Yuzu.
And Eddie could see that there were kids who were currently practicing drawing, and not artistic drawing, but drawing specific cards from their decks. Meaning they had a method to at minimum teach how to do Destiny Draws.
Damn, luck was a skill, no wonder she had so much trouble… wait, she hadn't actually had that much trouble, and if anything everyone else had been bricking around her.
Except Yuya.
Maybe she had an anti-bs aura?
Nah, her bad luck was just so bad it made everyone else's luck bad to match.
Notably, as they headed to the Arena, they walked past two duelists who were currently having a practice duel, but what caught her eyes were the two monsters duking it out, immediately catching her full and undivided attention.
It was Heroic Champion - Excalibur.
And Cyber Dragon Nova.
With the winner of the clash being Nova, of course, meaning Excalibur had probably used its effect on a previous turn.
Which resulted in the win for the Cyber Duelist as he followed by attacking with basic Cyber Dragon that was on the field, and then stood victorious with his machines.
This was the first time she'd seen an extra deck monster in person, all the matches she'd gone to watch just to observe having lacked them.
And there was tangibly something different about them, other than the material floating around the Cyber Dragon Xyz, though she couldn't place what.
"Wow!" The guppies vocalized.
"Yes, those are the Extra Deck Monsters that can only be obtained by being an LDS Student," Sawatari commented. Yuya and Eddie shared a knowing look as he pontificated about his school.
And soon after that they walked onto the massive Duel Arena that Eddie had seen during her walkabout, still smaller than the Kaibadome, but still impressive compared to the rather small one You Show had. It was at least the size of a football field.
While Sawatari bragged, Eddie pulled Yuya to the side. "Hey just a heads up, he definitely thinks he can get you the meeting, but I'm not sure he'll actually be able to." Eddie whispered.
Which Yuya just sighed at. "It was shot in the wind anyway, but now at least we get to see what an LDS Student is made out of?"
"Oh yeah no, give it your all, You Show 'em Yuya." Eddie said, saying that last part at normal volume.
She was going to make him a phrase-catcher for that.
"You Show 'em… we have to run that by Sensei as a catchphrase."
"Did you not see the sign during your big match?!" Eddie asked in shock. Had he not heard or seen them?
"I know you were holding a sign, but I couldn't see what was written on it," Yuya replied. "Need a bigger thing for next time."
"...Yuya, you need to get your eyes checked." Eddie said, genuinely concerned. "You might need glasses."
He answered by pulling his goggles over his eyes. And made a 'see' pose.
"...Then why don't you wear them normally?"
"...I think I've lost the thread, well I've got a duel to go and win," Yuya said as he went into the arena.
"Good luck, not that you need it." Eddie said before joining the rest of them in the stands.
"So what were you talking about?" Yuzu asked.
"Just about the duel, or at least the aftermath." Eddie answered honestly. "And then more importantly, he apparently didn't see the sign!"
"But it was so big?" Yuzu said, scandalized.
"I know right?! We'll just have to make a bigger one for next time." Eddie said resolutely. "Or get him glasses."
"Hmm? Something weird is happening down there," Ayu spoke up and Eddie's attention was pulled down to Yuya and Sawatari- and immediate rage flooded as she saw him take cards from Yuya's deck as he was being restrained by two rando goons.
"I only have rare cards for my collection, you can have trash one like these," She heard him speak as he from his jacket threw out a pile of cards.
Seconds before her foot impacted his side as she had immediately ran down and jumped off the edge in a drop kick.
She even stuck the landing in her unthinking rage, nice! Thanks, anime logic!
And Sawatri looked flabbergasted on the ground as he held his side, pain clear on his face as she clearly bruised a rib or two with that.
"Eddie?!" Came Yuya's shocked words as Sawatari's goons let him go and ran like their lives depended on it.
"You give him his cards back right now or I'm gonna follow up that Falldown Strike with a Heavenly Haymaker." Eddie promised, cracking her knuckles threateningly as she loomed over him.
"Action Field, ac-agh!"
Eddie interrupted by stepping on the hand with his duel disk. He was lucky she was wearing sandals and not her boots. "No, no, no, you don't get to duel your way out of this, you got physical, you broke the rules, you gotta cash the check you just wrote."
"Argh!" he cried out in pain. "Please… stop, it wasn't my idea okay!"
"...Go on." Eddie ordered, remembering this was a teenager.
"I got contacted, and was told to get Yuya Sakaki, take some of his Pendulum Cards and then duel with them." Sawatari explained.
"And then…?" Eddie asked, still looming over him but taking her foot off his arm.
"And then I would be rewarded." He cried.
"I do apologize for using such… underhanded methods." A voice came from Sawatari's Duel Disk.
"Who are you why are you manipulating children?" Eddie said, immediately redirecting her ire towards the one responsible.
"I wished to research these new Pendulum Cards, and so in the belief that Yuya Sakaki would not relinquish them. I conceived of another method."
"Oh yes, because stealing cards, and getting other people to do it for you rather than asking is so much smarter you insolent idiotic slime!"
"Perhaps I should think better of my fellow teens, but he would have gotten them returned once I was done. So Yuya Sakaki you will duel Sawatari, and if you do you will get your meeting with me."
"...You're Akaba?" Yuya asked.
"Doubtful, Reiji Akaba would have arranged something official, methinks." Eddie pointed out. "...But that's not what Sawatari said, was it. He said 'with Akaba-san', correcting me when I said Akaba-ceo. Meaning… you're someone else, aren't you?"
"No Yuya Sakaki is fully correct in his guess." She turned around at the voice, and-
"You're an idiot. I want you to know that." She said to the most powerful guy in the country.
"Eddie, that's the CEO of Leo Corporation!" Yuzu shouted.
"And?" Eddie asked rhetorically, before refocusing her attention.
"Yes perhaps I went about this the wrong way, but I will have my data."
"I was planning on actually just giving you them in exchange for getting to learn the other summoning mechanics," Yuya said. "But now I won't."
She did see Reiji's eyes go a little wide at that, realizing he might have burned a bridge and for no good reason. "Well, like I said I will have my data from a duel between you and Sawatari." He quickly recovered, only a little off kilter from his previous smug aura.
"And why should I go along with that?" Yuya asked.
"Yes, do tell." Eddie said, making it abundantly clear through her body language she would protest violently if she didn't like what she heard.
"...Do you wish to know where your father is?"
That made Yuya freeze.
"Or at least his most likely location." Reiji added.
"Yuya don't answer him yet." Eddie said, already knowing his answer, before turning her fiercest glare on Reiji. "No bullshit, no tricks, no nothing, this is an actual lead on his location?"
"Yes, and if you win this Duel you will have a spot in this year's Arc Championship League," Reiji added, the silver haired teen sounding completely honest.
Eddie bowed out at that and offered a hand to Sawatari, already knowing how that conversation would go. "I'm not sorry for dropkicking you but I am sorry for the follow up. It's… pretty obvious you didn't have a choice here."
"...I wanted my father to be Mayor, he is a good man and politician." Sawatari answered as he took the hand and got helped up on his feet. "Also you are a crazy girl, who dropkicks people like that?"
"Crazy Americans who are very protective of their friends and have no impulse control, that's who." Eddie said truthfully. There had not been a single thought in her mind when she'd acted.
"I accept the duel," Yuya said to the surprise of no one.
"Good, again I apologize for my underhandedness, but… no you will only get that info depending on how you perform." Reiji spoke as he went to leave the arena. "Sawatari, you are approved to use your actual deck for this duel, not the borrowed ones."
Eddie clapped Yuya on the shoulder. "You Show 'em, Yuya." Eddie said before following Reiji fully intent on at minimum making him uncomfortable through her presence alone. And realizing in the process she had somehow performed a 20 foot horizontal leap for that Falldown Strike.
"You really are the Neo-Kaiba. Good job restraining yourself from doing another Death T." Eddie snarked (somewhat sincerely) as she sat down next to him on the stands.
"...that is a term not many people should know about," Reiji stated as the duel started and the Action Field was generated into a dark neighborhood with a rising tower and a large bridge, the name being Prison Tower of Darkville.
"I know a lot of things that I shouldn't, Akaba-ceo." Eddie said, the term being said in a tone that she was certain he'd heard before.
"Yes for a woman who didn't exist until a month ago you certainly do," He said back.
"If you're trying to spook me it won't work, I already know about the surveillance technology in the Duel Disks." Eddie freely admitted.
"Merely stating facts as you are an enigma," The boy turned to look at her. "Tell me, does the term, Academia. Mean anything to you?"
"...You wouldn't happen to mean Duel Academy, would you? As in the island school that doesn't exist in this world?" Eddie asked back.
"Ask me again if you get your sixth victory, your next opponent in a few days will be a very special LDS Student." Reiji said as the Duel fully started and Yuya went first.
Sawatari LP: 8000/ Yuya LP: 8000
"First I will activate the Spell Card - Pendulum Call, by discarding a card, I can add 2 'Magician' Pendulum Monsters to my hand." Yuya said as added the cards. "Next I will Set Scale 1 - Stargazer Magician, and Scale 8 - Timegazer Magician as the Pendulum Scales!"
"So that is what they look like in person," Reiji commented.
"You're going to be seeing a lot more of them from now on." Eddie added. And while she said it somewhat politely she definitely meant it as a threat.
"Hopefully," Reiji replied.
"Now Swing, pendulum of souls! Draw an arc of light across the ether! Pendulum Summon! Come! My monsters!" Yuya declared. "Performapal Secondonkey, and Odd-Eyes Mirage Dragon!"
"So it really does allow you to summon as many monsters as you want," Sawatari commented.
"Just as long their level are between the numbers of the Scales, but now that Performapal Secondonkey has been Special Summoned, I would normally have to send a Performapal monster to the graveyard, but since I have both of my Pendulum Scales filled I can add it to my hand instead."
"A non-pendulum card that benefits from having these Pendulum Scales filled." Reiji continued to commentate. "How many cards of Sakaki's transformed to benefit this new summoning method?"
"The majority of the archetype, as far as I can tell." Eddie responded. "Some cards got full-on retrains and some cards got fully generated ex-nihilo. That moment in the stadium affected his entire collection."
"...That is quite irregular, no one else has come forward about their cards changing, yet one would think it would have affected the entire city, and not just Sakaki if the existence of Pendulum was mandated by the gods."
"Heh. Clearly, you don't know what happened during the Pendulum Genesis." Or at least, that's what she'd been calling it, but it fit now that he was getting into the talk of 'gods'.
"Pendulum Genesis, fitting."
"Are you done?" Sawateri asked.
"Not yet, I haven't even Normal Summoned yet," Yuya said. "I Normal Summon, Performapal Hip Hippo, his effect then allows me to Advance Summon a Level 7 or Higher monster. Now come forth, Performapal Smile Sorcerer(2500/2000)! And when he is summoned I can add a Smile card to my hand. Now Sawatori it is time to replace that sour face of yours with a smile. For I play the Spell Card - Smile World, to increase the attack of all monsters on the Field by a 100, which triggers Smile Sorcerer's effect. For each monster on my field that has their attack increased, I can draw a card, and that is my performance for this turn."
"Finally, I draw," Sawatari said as he revealed what his deck was. "I'll activate Pantheism of the Monarchs, discarding one Monarch card to draw two from my deck."
Monarchs. Damn, one of the most non-extra deck decks that was still good, so no new experience for Yuya on that.
"Now by banishing Pantheism of the Monarchs from my grave I select 3 Monarch Spells or Traps, and then you get to pick which of them I get."
"Ehh, I will choose that one!" Yuya said as he pointed at one of the cards that appeared in front of him.
And then… After he had summoned Edea and Eidos, Eddie had expected the big guys, especially after he had used Pantheism once more, and also Return that Sawateri would end up with a board of at least 2 Big Monarchs.
But instead he just ended his turn.
"Heh, he bricked. Happens to the best of us." Eddie said, grinning a bit sadistically at the turn of fate.
"No it does not," Reiji replied. "This just means that Sawatari needs to increase his training."
"Oh, right, luck's a skill here huh, keep forgetting that…" Eddie muttered.
"You speak of as if Destiny Draw is not a discovered art wherever you come from?" Reiji asked.
"Not as analyzed as you have it. What we call magic you call science, though they're clearly one in the same." Eddie said, eyes glued to the duel but at least continuing to engage with him.
"I see, one could consider them one and the same when they advance and are sufficiently analyzed."
"Is that it, Sawateri? You are giving our audience a disappointing performance," Yuya said. "It's time for another Pendulum Summon, swing Pendulum and manifest more actors onto the stage. Return Odd-Eyes Mirage Dragon, come Performapal Silver Claw and Performapal Whip Snake!"
At that, Sawatari went to pick up one of a cluster of suspiciously close together Action Cards that Yuya had also been heading towards-
"Arggh!" Both shouted as they drew Action Trap Cards, and Eddie watched as several attack points got reduced. Sawatari got hit twice, but it seemed like they could pick the monster so he just targeted Eidos for both… though in his haste to do so, accidentally activated his First Monarch Trap.
"Oh wow I didn't even know that was a thing." Eddie said in surprise.
"Some fields have Trap Cards as Action Cards that penalize, this field was picked by Sawatari to fight Sakaki, but in his haste seemed to have forgotten that." Reiji stated.
"I change Performapal Secondonkey to Attack Position, and use Whip Snake effect to switch his attack and defense."
Performapal Secondonkey(1000ATK 2000ATK)
"Now it's time to go on the offensive, show Sawatari that this circus is not to be messed with," Yuya ordered. "Smile attack the Trap Monster, Silver Claw his Edea!"
"When Edea is sent to the Graveyard, I can add a Banished Monarch Card to my hand, I get Pantheism back." Sawatri interjected under the assault.
"Mirage Dragon will continue," The small dragon went over tail slapped Eidos into pieces. "Now Whip Snake, and Secondonkey. Direct attack!"
"Card, card, kyaaa!" Sawatari shouted as he was first kicked and then bitten in the ass.
Sawatari LP: 3300/ Yuya LP: 8000
"And that is the turn." Yuya said.
"The ability to swarm the field is impressive," Reiji said while Yuya got hit by more balls.
"WHY ARE THERE SO MANY TRAPS!"
"You know I'm starting to understand the Heavystrong style a bit more considering this field seems to be a minefield." Eddie commented.
"It is called Darkville."
And then Sawatri seemed to recover as he Banished Eidos, to get his field back on track and then… "I shall Activate, The Monarchs Stormforth, allowing me to Release your monster for my Advance Summoning, and that shall be your Performapal Smile Sorcerer!"
"Oh no." Yuya said as his strongest monster was removed from the field, and Sawatari as he used more effects to have an actual insane draw game, as the boy now had six cards in hand compared to Yuya's one. "I will use Performapal Snake Whip's effect to switch the attack and defense of Angmarl the Fiendish Monarch you just summoned, and if I remember my Monarchs, you need a specific statline to use their card effects." Yuya chided.
"Heh, you think so? I shall activate Strike of the Monarchs, to release him and then draw a card and also negate your Whip Snake, and then I shall use the Restoration of the Monarch, Equip Spell, you gave me during my first turn, to bring the Fiendish Monarch back to the field!"
And like that the Monster returned.
…In Defense Position.
"Urghh…" Reiji groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration.
"It's so hard to find good help these days, isn't it?" Eddie asked smugly as Sawatari realized he'd misread his own card.
"...I end my turn," Sawatari said shakily.
"I think you need to get back to class after this, Sawatari," Yuya said as the acrobatic boy got a higher position. "I draw and Summon the Fiendish performer, Performapal Gentrude!"
And filling the fifth slot on his field with a rather dapper looking devil.
"You fool!" Sawatari said as his demeanor took a 180 turn. "I Banish The First Monarch from my grave, to Advance Summon on your turn, releasing the loyal vassals of the monarchs, and I shall summon forth the great monarch of the heavens, come forth, Level 8! Ehther the Heavenly Monarch(2800ATK/1000Def)!"
And a cascade of effects activated in return as he ended up Summoning Kuraz the Light Monarch, which on summon destroyed Whip Snake and Gertrude, though that ended up drawing Yuya two cards, but he managed to get Whip Snake's effect off to switch Ehther's statline.
"Now what shall you do, Yuya Sakaki!" Sawatari taunted. "Surrender?"
"Nah, I win," Yuya replied with a massive smile on his face, even as a chorus of 'what!?' rang out through the crowd that had gathered through the duel. "Because the cards you made me draw gave me the path to victory, I activate the Spell Card - Spiral Flame Strike!"
"Here we go." Eddie said, leaning forward in anticipation.
"Swing, swing, Pendulum of my soul once again draw an arc of light!" Yuya said. "Pendulum Summon, Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer, and dragon with dual colored irises, descend onto the Stage, Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon!" Yuya said as the two monsters appeared. "And now Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer's effect activates, I can destroy two cards I control, and then add 2 Performapal monsters to my hand, I choose Performapal Odd-Eyes Valet and Performapal Ladyange. Who I will set as Scale 1!"
"Just one?" Sawatari asked in confusion.
"She is all I need, now Battle Phase! Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon attack Ehther the Heavenly Monarch with Spiral Flame Strike."
"Idiot if you do that, I will still have enough life points after, even with your Odd-Eyes' effect," Sawatari replied.
"That would be true, but Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to educate you all about the Pendulum Effect of Performapal Ladyange, when an attack is declared I can discard a Pendulum Monster, I can decrease the attack of one of your monster's by 1000, bringing Ehther all the way down to 0. And if Odd-Eyes doubles damage how much is that everyone?"
"5000!" The You Show students (and a few others) all shouted excitedly, but none more excitedly than the Guppies. They'd actually practiced some math using Odd-Eyes's effect.
Sawatari LP: 0/Yuya LP: 8000
Winner: Yuya Sakaki
"The power of Pendulums is something but…" Reiji commented as he stood up. "Well I shall uphold my end of the bargain."
"Somewhere private, or?" Eddie asked, getting up to follow. No way in hell was she letting Reiji and Yuya in a room alone together, not after the day's stunt.
"My office."
—
Reiji's office was… rather barren, there was only a desk with a chair that was positioned so that he was sitting with his back to the window, screens were on the desk, alongside picture frames that she couldn't see the contents off.
And right now it was only Eddie, Yuya and Reiji in the man's office.
"First off, I do want to apologize for my behavior, things have been tense lately, but I should have reached out normally to pay for access to your cards, not through deceit." Reiji apologized, it was genuine, but it didn't sound like he was sorry for what he did.
"Just call like a normal person next time," Yuya replied.
"I shall, and even with the deal, I still overstepped, and I shall think of some form of extra compensation," Reiji added. "But for the immediate ones you have a free pass to the Arc League Championship, Junior Youth Division."
"Yes now my journey to become a pro can start but… what about my Father?"
"That… is a bit of a more complicated answer," Reiji said slowly.
"Is he in another dimension?" Yuya asked.
The CEO blinked. "...Maybe not as complicated as I thought." Reiji said.
"So is this what you call Gift of Useless Prophecy, Eddie?" Yuya asked her.
"I've said it before I'll say it again, it only works when it's too late for me to change anything." Eddie agreed.
"Well I assume, you have an idea due to Eden Hawthorne telling you that she is not from our dimension." Reiji stated as he looked at Eddie.
"That too." Eddie said, not breaking eye contact.
"Then you are correct, ten years ago Leo Corporation discovered that other Dimensions exist, though we are currently only aware of three others, but there presumably exists more." Reiji explained.
"Lemme guess, you've dubbed them the Fusion, Synchro, and Xyz dimensions." Eddie said drolly, seeing where this was going. They probably corresponded to the other main series, too, at least in the same way this one did to the original.
"Yes, as in those only those Summoning Methods exist, Leo Corporation slowly analyzed the Extra Deck energies that flow through them to harvest what exists in ours, which we call Standard." Reiji said.
"Though with recent revelations, it might be more accurate to say this is the Pendulum Dimension." Eddie said as she patted Yuya on the back.
"Eh, I guess so," Yuya responded, sounding a little out of his depth. "So what about my dad."
"Three years ago there was an incident with the Dimensional Transporter, which resulted in both Yusho Sakai, and Leo Akaba vanishing from this Dimension, we presume they got sent to one of the others. We only recently managed to rebuild it, with a test happening a little over a month ago."
"Lemme guess: you detected an anomaly but otherwise nothing came through." Eddie said.
"Correct."
Eddie motioned to herself. "Anomaly detected. Landed in the waterways near the bay."
"Now the puzzle pieces slide into place, well once we have fixed the bugs, Leo Corporation shall attempt to find your dimension and send you home," Reiji said.
"That's appreciated." Eddie said. "Though, before the duel, you mentioned something about 'Academia'. I'll guess that's tied to the Fusion Dimension."
"Join the Arc League Championship, and perform well." Was all Reiji said to that, very much stating he was not telling the full story and that she needed to prove herself to be part of the Inner Circle so to speak.
"You already seem to have picked my next opponent, so duly noted." Eddie said.
"She will come to You Show in 4 days, as due to this conversation I believe that a little extra shall happen to 'spice it up' as they say."
Eddie looked at him flatly. "If you pull anything like today again I'm going to personally kick your ass."
"No, an idea to assist Sakaki merely came to my mind," Reiji said. "The duel with Sawatari showed me that while Pendulum is powerful it has not yet reached its final evolution."
"Final evolution?" Yuya asked.
"If you can realize it yourself, you will surely become the strongest duelist of our Dimension." Reiji said completely seriously, which made Yuya look at him in shock at the praise for his potential as a duelist. "Well that is the end of this meeting. I am a CEO after all with a company to run."
"See you later then, Akaba," Yuya said as the two went to leave the office.
"You know how to reach us for anything else involving this Different Dimension stuff." Eddie said as she left.
"I shall be sure to."
—
"So did you get what you wanted?" Yuzu asked, as she and the guppies were waiting outside the building for them.
"Yeah, I did Yuzu," Yuya replied.
"Good, you can tell when we get back."
"Wow that was a really cool duel," A young voice spoke up and Eddie saw a fancy-looking kid with (gasp! Monocolor!) blue hair in a bit of a pineapple do, a lollipop in hand (the big kind… oh he took a bite, right, anime land). "Do you go to LDS?"
"No, we go to You Show Duel School," Yuya replied. "Are you an LDS student?"
"No, I came to Maiami with my family last week due to work on their part and we were looking for a Duel School for me to join and LDS was the most prestigious one, but those Pendulum Summons were amazing."
"Hehehe," Yuya laughed as this was probably the first time he got flattered like this. "Yeah it is pretty cool."
"So can you be my Shishou, and teach me how too?"
"Sorry…" Yuzu began.
"Sora, Sora Shiunin." He answered. She was just a touch disappointed he didn't say Truesdale, he definitely looked to be the same spiritual line as Syrus and Leo/Luna, with hair like that he looked like he could easily be related. That and the blue outfit.
"Sorry Sora, but to Pendulum you need Pendulum Cards, we currently don't have a lot, but you are welcome to join You Show and get access to more once we learn how to make more." Yuzu said.
"Ah… well that's kinda disappointing to hear, but I can wait, so do I need to take, like, a test to join?" Sora asked.
"We have a small entrance duel you need to do, you don't need to win, but show what you've got to become an Entertainment Duelist," Yuya said.
"Yeah, I had a duel against Ayu," Tatsuya said, which was how Eddie had learned he played an incredibly gimped Deskbot deck, which was more Earth Machine main deck stuff, and he actually had a few Machina cards to make up for the lack of Pendulum cards that did not yet exist, and their Synchro Boss. Though it made sense he would be using such an archetype considering- it seemed like a reoccuring theme for Yuya's friends and the people around him.
"How good do you think you are, Sora?" Eddie asked curiously.
"I was the best of my class at my previous school over in Kyoto," He answered. "So if you want I can show you my stuff tomorrow, if you are challenging me."
"I haven't gotten to test anyone yet, so I think it could be fun. Plus, we can tell if you were a big fish in a tiny pond or not." Eddie said. "Btw, how old are you Sora? If you don't mind me asking."
"Thirteen."
"But you are almost the same size as us!" The guppies stated.
"Geeze talk about going for the jugular, I am just short okay, but hey there was actually a kid that was shorter than me, and he was even two years older."
"Oh who was that?" Eddie asked curiously.
"I never talked to him, but I think it was… Maru, maru, hmm, ah right Marufuji."
Eddie stared at him blankly as her brain ran that name through her mental database, landing on an issue of Shonen Jump. "...Blue hair like yours, but spikier? Glasses? Machine deck user?"
"Yeah, how did you know?" Sora asked.
"He's the younger brother of the master of the cyber dragons." Eddie said, having already moved herself between the group and him, If she was wrong, whatever, she could play it off as a joke, but if she was right... "He also doesn't exist in this dimension."
Sora's eyes went wide at her words. "Other dimension what are you even talking-".
"I thought I recognized that coat design. Obelisk. Blue." Eddie said, activating her duel disk.
"...Traitor." Sora spoke and immediately he activated his Duel Disk. "Intel was shoddy if they didn't know a traitor Academia was here, well I shall just defeat and card you and return."
Eddie's eyes widened at the mention of 'carding'. "Bring it, pintsize."
"Eddie what is happening?" Yuzu asked, confusion clear on her face.
"I'll explain later, get the guppies back and stay safe… and someone get Reiji's attention." Eddie said as the duel started.
Eddie LP: 8000/Sora LP: 8000
"I shall go first," Sora said as he drew five cards. "First I shall Normal Summon, Fluffal Dog to the field, and when this adorable toy is summoned, I can add Edge Imp Sabres to my hand, and then I shall activate the Spell Card - Frightfur Patchwork, to add an Edge Imp monster, and the Spell Card Polymerization to my hand, next I shall activate this all mighty Spell Card, Polymerization!"
"He is a Fusion user?!" Yuzu asked from behind them in shock and so did the crowd that was now gathering.
"I thought he wasn't with LDS?" Futoshi asked.
"I shall fuse together Fluffal Wings and Edge Imp Chain, from my hand, Chains of the demon! Fangs of the beast! Become one and reveal a new form and power!" Sora slammed his hands together like a prayer and now in person Eddie could feel how Extra Deck summoning involved more than just having the right cards. "Fusion Summon! Level 8! Appear, horrifying beast that shreds everything! Frightfur Daredevil(3000ATK/2200DEF)!"
Eddie made sure to memorize that feeling, even as she stared at the somewhat familiar devil toy. "Is that all?" Eddie asked, hoping to bait him into more. She already had a plan. "Or are you going to at least use Chain's effect?"
"How...?" He asked as he did exactly that, adding Toy Parade to his hand.
"I've forgotten more about Duel Monsters than you'll ever learn." Eddie taunted seriously. Damn her memory problems.
And then she saw Sora's face go full Marik at that. "I will end my turn."
"My turn." Eddie said as she drew. "I'll start by discarding Darklord - Ixchel and another Darklord from my hand to activate its effect and draw two cards."
"I didn't know Hibiki-sensei had a protegé." Sora commented.
She ignored the confirmation for now. "I'll then activate Darklord - Nasten's effect from my hand, discarding two more Darklords to summon itself to the field! Now then, your Daredevil is strong, so how about I take it? Darklord Nasten's effect will allow me to use Darklord- Enchantment from my graveyard for a mere 1000 LP!"
"I activate Edge Imp Scythe in my hand, by revealing it during my opponent's main phase I can fusion summon a monster, using cards from my field and hand. And I use, Frightfur Daredevil, and Fluffal Dog, to make the feline of your demise, Fusion Summon! Level 8! Frightfur Sabre-Tooth(2800ATK/200DEF)!"
"Still stolen, so sad, too bad." Eddie said, not having actually targeted Daredevil yet as she stole Sabre-Tooth instead. "Though admittedly a good play, you take less damage and keep your advantage on your next turn… but not good enough to stop me. Battle phase, attack directly."
And then the monsters attacked with force tearing up the ground.
"Wait, why is damage happening like during an Action Duel?" Ayu asked.
"I… don't know," Yuzu responded.
Eddie LP: 7000/Sora LP: 2600
"Main phase 2, I'll set one card face down and end my turn, returning your Sabre-Tooth to you, Obelisk." Eddie said coldly.
"I am an elite soldier of the Obelisk Force, and I will not lose to a runaway traitor like you," Sora said. "I activate Polymerization once more, and I shall fuse together Fluffal Wings and Edge Imp Sabres, from my hand, Claws of the demon! Wings of the beast! Become one and reveal a new form and power! Fusion Summon! Level 6! Frightfur Tiger(1900ATK/1200DEF)! And when Frightfur Tiger is summoned I can destroy cards on the field up to the number of materials."
"Sanctified." Eddie interjected. "Via Nasten's effect, giving me life points and negating your monster's effect this turn."
Eddie LP: 8300/Sora LP: 2600
"I activate the Spell Card - Toy Parade! Targeting my Frightfur Sabre-Tooth." Sora said. "Battle Phase! Sabre-Tooth destroy that fallen angel!"
"Mirror! Force!" Eddie enunciated forcefully.
"Since Frightfur Sabre-Tooth was fusion summoned using 3 materials, he can't be destroyed, and I will save Tiger, by banishing my Edge Imp Sabre, from my graveyard." Sora responded.
"And yet, you can only attack with Sabre-Tooth this turn thanks to your own effect." Eddie pointed out.
"More damage," Sora responded as Sabre-Tooth attacked again, this time directly.
Thankfully, while it hurt, it didn't draw blood, the pointy bits not even making direct contact.
Did knock her on her back though, forcing her to shield her head instead of anything getting hit.
"That shouldn't be happening." Someone commented.
"Why is Bad Angel getting hurt?"
Eddie LP: 5300/Sora LP: 2600
"I will end my turn," Sora grunted and as he did the attack points of the monsters increased due to Tiger's continuous effect.
"Urgh…" Eddie grunted as she stood up. "I draw…" She looked at her cards. "Heh. Looks like I'm stealing that Daredevil after all! I'm going to play Monster Reborn to bring it to my side of the field!"
"No!"
"I'll move into the battle phase, and attack Tiger with Daredevil! And while it won't deal much battle damage, you'll still take some nice effect damage from your own card, won't you?" Eddie said with a sickeningly saccharine tone as sharp implements of his own destroyed monster cut into him.
Blood dripped from his forehead.
"Surrender now. I don't want to hurt you." Eddie said.
"Never."
"So be it. I'll place one card face down and end my turn."
Intruder Alert! Activating Battle Royal Mode! Inflicting 4000LP Damage to intruding duelist.
"Huh?"
The system of the duel disk announced it, and then...
"I activate The Spell Card - Change of Heart, taking control of Frightfur Sabre-Tooth," The voice of Reiji spoke as he came up beside Eddie.
"No!" Sora shouted desperately, fear in his voice and body language, looking ready to run.
"Battle Phase, Frightfur Sabre-Tooth, attack directly," He spoke in a cold tone as the monster attacked its creator. Well, fuser, but still.
Eddie LP: 5300/Sora LP: 0/Reiji LP: 4000
"And I surrender."
Winner: Eddie
"Big sis you okay!? I went and got Reiji!" Yuya shouted as came running back out.
"Thanks for the assist, but I had that." Eddie said, keeping her eyes on the injured Sora.
"No I wasn't supposed to lose, I wasn't supposed to get found out, why did a traitor have to be here!" He shouted in anger.
"You lost regardless, Sora. Come peacefully and no more harm will come to you, right?" Eddie said, directing the last part towards Reiji.
"Of course," He replied.
"Heh, as if I have a choice now that my cover got blown," Sora said morosely and Eddie saw his body be consumed by a blue light of pixels, as he seemed to digitize out of existence vanishing before their eyes.
"...Screw waiting, we're talking about this now." Eddie told the CEO.
"This… is not my day."