C.5 - Bound and Burning
When Hana entered the Locker Room she had an audience, everyone of the remaining Duelists crowded around the entryway from the hallway. Said robed girl pulled her hood down and kept ahold of it. "Make way." She demanded.
"How do you have those cards girl?" Bandit Keith asked immedeatly. "Anyone who is anyone knows Kaiba would rather die than hand those cards out to anyone."
"Then maybe Seto Kaiba is dead?" Hana left the question in the air before then pushing past everyone and exiting out of the locker room.
There was a collective excuse me that came from nearly everyone in the locker room.
Joey couldn't blame a response like that. That sounded insane.
Although-
Seto Kaiba had been missing for some time. Ever since his last Duel with Yugi, back during the Aigami incident. He'd just stopped showing up to tournaments and anyone who has been checking up on him outside of his duelling career would notice that he hasn't been seen publicly too for some time.
Joey had been doing that occasionally, though not that often. He wondered if he would get to see him duel again. Or… was he actually just gone.
Honestly the most likely way someone else would be able to grab at his cards. Which is the same reason why it just sounded like Hana was just spitting out nonsense.
That'd suck. He'd liked to duel Kaiba again, it was just about the only thing he liked about the guy. That and the way they treat their brother is pretty nice.
"She's not a credible source." Rebecca huffed. Pulling him from his thoughts. "She could be lying. Like seriously, what kind of reason is Kaiba died so I took his deck."
"I wouldn't be surprised though. He's a little…" Mai then brought a hand to her head and made a quick motion to let them know she thought he was crazy. Which Joey had to agree with. Kaiba was a little bit too much like a megalomaniac. He'd tried to blow up an island with them still on it that one time.
He's just a major ass all around.
"No." Rebecca sternly replied. "I refuse to listen to this any longer. I'm not going to let this distract me. It's my turn to duel now. So it's time to focus up." Rebecca then clapped her hands on both sides of heer face before marching out of the locker room, Rebecca's opponent also quickly followed after her.
As she left Joey turned back towards Mai. "This Hana girl's real weird though, right?" He then looked ot the exit of the Locker Room Hana had left through.
"Mhm." Mai nodded back. "But let's bench this for now, I actually want to see this duel."
Rebecca stood across from her opponent. A japanese girl with short black hair and a set of glasses over her face. She looked fairly ordinary, just wearing a simple orange cardigan over a button top and black dress. The only real thing of note was the stickers of gashes and stitches placed over the duel disk and the multiple piercings running up one of their ears.
Their name was Mika.
The announcer introduced them and herself, even calling her the touring American Champion. Which was exciting. Certainly an accurate statement.
With the intro done, they began their duel.
"Let's Duel!"
They both drew from their deck, Mika managing to get their hand out faster than she did. Mika spread her five cards in front of her before gesturing for Rebecca to take the first turn.
"Oh?" She asked. "Well then, I'll gladly take that." Rebecca took her turn, drawing from her deck.
"After looking through her hand. She looked up with a smirking grin on her face. "You're gonna regret giving me that. I'll summon my Cure Mermaid in attack mode, then I'll set two cards face-down and end my turn."
A red scaled mermaid of a beautiful blonde woman appeared on her side of the field, curled up on the ground. (LV4/1500/800)
"Your turn, Mika."
Mika nodded and drew from her deck. "I'll take the initiative and summon Pyramid Turtle in attack mode, battle." She declared, her voice lacking enthusiasm. A large tortoise with a pyramid on its back emerged from the ground as if it was shrugging off sand. (LV3/1200/1400)
"Oh? Can't wait for me to destroy it, you wanna get your monster out now?" Rebecca asked.
"Something like that, now Pyramid Turtle." Mika's monster ran forwards towards the Cure Mermaid.
Rebecca crossed her arms. "Well now I wanna see how this goes."
The pyramid turtle was slapped back by a wave of water summoned by the Cure Mermaid, destroying the weaker monster and doing some damage to Mika. (Mika/3700LP)
"When destroyed by battle, I can summon a Zombie Monster with 2000 or less Defence from my deck in Attack Position. I choose to summon Ryu-Kokki." A mountain of bones rose up like a hill behind Mika, the bones shifted revealing that the pile was actually just one gigantic skeleton with a constantly wide grinning face. (LV6/2400/2000)
"Now that i have the stronger monster.-"
"Now that you have the stronger monster, I activate my trap card. Gravity Bind."
"I studied your deck." Mika revealed. "I knew you'd play that and that's why I knew to wait with this card. Mystical Space typhoon, which I'll use to destroy your continuous Trap."
Before Rebecca's Trap could use its floodgate effect, it was torn to shreds by a hurricane that disappeared as quickly as it arrived. Ryu-Kokki then attacked, smashing her Cure Mermaid beneath its fist made of skulls. (Rebecca/3100LP)
Rebecca however wasn't all that devastated wit the loss. It's an acceptable outcome, she can easily jump back from this. But she had to hand it to her opponent. She could appreciate someone who prepares.
"You studied me?" Rebecca asked. That made her curious, not to mention somewhat flattering.
"Mhm." Mika nodded. "You play a deck that can support brutal beatdown tactics using dragons as well as being capable of utilising a series of healing and burn cards. I find it an interesting strategy, one that hurts the usual beatdown strategy most duelists employ."
"Mhm, it definitely serves as that. I've met many weak duelists who thought they could be the best, only to bow down before my Gravity Bind and watch as I whittled them down at my leisure. It's nice to know I won't be in another final where that one strategy topples over the entire competition. Ah, I also need to compliment your Zombie Play. Quickly summoning Ryu-Kokki like that is commendable. It's a bold play, I can respect the heart you put into it."
Mika smiled just the tiniest amount.
"Thank you, Usually people think Zombies are only useful if summoned from the graveyard and while that is true. Being able to surprise my opponent with a sudden and strong zombie is quite helpful."
"Nice strategy." Rebecca commended.
"Are those two seriously just talking strategy in the middle of the duel?" Joey groaned.
"It's actually quite interesting," Mai complimented. "I feel like I know more about how the two duelists think just from how they described their plays."
"Bah, I just wanna see the monsters fighting each other."
Mai shook her head. "You haven't changed too much, I see."
"Don't get me wrong, I love coming up with plans, but I don't need an essay in the middle of a duel."
"Your strategies mostly boil down to hitting it harder and summoning more monsters anyways." Mai pointed out.
"Like you're one to talk, how'd you think you won your last duel?" Joey pointed out.
Mai casually looked away once he said that. "You may have a point I guess."
"I set one card face-down and end my turn." Mika announced before passing it over to her. Rebecca drew from her deck. In very simple terms, she planned to win this whole tournament and be the best here. This wasn't even a roadbump to her path to success.
Rebecca adjusted her glasses, pushing them up along her nose before activating a card from her hand. "Soul Exchange, using this I can tribute a monster you control. Which is gonna be Ryu-Kokki, and I'll tribute them right away in order to summon my Luster Dragon Emerald."
Ryu-Kokki sunk down into the ground disappearing as a massive dragon with emerald green scales took flight on Rebecca's field. (LV6/2400/1400)
"However, Soul Exchange prevents me from declaring any attacks this turn. So I'll just end my turn there."
"Then allow me to pick things up. I draw." Mika did so, examining her new card before gesturing to her set card. "Jar Of Greed, this let's me draw another card." Mika grabbed yet another card.
"Draw power? Looking for something?" Asked Rebecca.
"Yes. I was looking for this." Mika then slotted her spell card into her duel disk. "Book Of Life, this will revive my Ryu-Kokki and then Banish your Cure Mermaid from your graveyard." The giant skeleton rose up behind Mika again, letting out a hazy breath of air that was like fog which filtered over the field.
Her own Luster Dragon snorted out a flame from its nostrils fighting back the fog.
"Next. I summon yet another monster. The Regenerating Mummy." The zombie appeared on the field as a floating torso before quickly growing its arms and shambling to Mika's side. (LV4/1800/1500)
"Let's battle." Mika decided.
"Go ahead." Rebecca responded.
First Ryu-Kokki attacked, its pulled back fist being thrown forwards just as her Luster Dragon blasted out a breath of fire, the two attacks passed through each other without issue. The zombie caught aflame and the punch sent her dragon falling down. Mutual destruction, both monsters were destroyed.
The crowd roared at the double knock-out, but Rebecca tuned them all out as watched the Regenerating Mummy shamble closer shambling towards her before swiping its arm at her. (Rebecca/1300LP)
"Phew." Rebecca sighed, this wasn't looking good. Just based on their life points.
"Your move." Mika said evenly. She didn't seem to let their guard down at all.
Good.
"My turn, then let's draw!" Rebecca picked up her next card and grinned. "Graceful Charity, letting me draw three more, as long as I discard two right after." As she said she picked up three cards then dropped her Servant Of Catabolism and Marie The Fallen One.
"I'll then summon Fire Princess in attack mode." Rebecca declared as she summoned the red robed sorceress herself. (LV4/1300/1500)
"Following that, I'll set two more cards face-down and end my turn there."
"My turn." Mika declared. "And i'll begin it by summoning a second Regenerating Mummy and then entering my Battle Phase. So stop this!" The first of the two mummies shambled forwards towards her Fire Princess.
"Gravity Bind." Rebecca declared, flipping her monster face-up. "Level 4 and higher monsters can no longer declare an attack now."
A wave of force pulsed out of her continuous Trap card. Forcing the mummies backwards.
Mika seemed miffed at being slowed down, but she simply ended her turn there.
"I'm not finished yet, I'm activating my other trap card. Solemn Wishes. Now Each time I draw a card, I will gain 500 life points! Now I'll start my turn, I draw!" As she picked up a card she immediately gained her life points from Solemn Wishes, a light fall of rain washed over her.
(Rebecca/1800LP)
"And as you should know, whenever I gain life points while Fire Princess is on the field. She'll inflict 500 points of damage to you." Her princess then launched a fireball with Mika raising her arms ip to absorb the impact. (Mika/3500LP)
"Oh and before I forget, Marie The Fallen One is in my graveyard. So during my standby phases I gain 200 life points from her and repeat it with me folks, each time I gain life points."
A demonic angel floated over her, spreading their wings and dropping small glittering lights over her, in response her Fire Princess threw a fireball at Mika again. (Mika/3000LP) / (Rebecca/2000LP)
"Now that we're done with the upkeep, let's get into the meat of the gameplay. I summon my Injection Fairy Lily." An angel dressed as a cute nurse appeared on the field, flapping their little wings behind them as they heaved up a massive needle that was larger than even they were up and over their shoulder. (LV3/400/1500)
"Next I play Monster Reborn, reviving my Servant of Catabolism." Suddenly a mollusk was revived and stood on her field besides her other monsters. (LV3/700/500)
"Now let's battle." Rebecca snapped her fingers. "As I enter my battle phase I activate my last trap card, the spell-absorbing Machine. This card flips all my face-down monsters face-up, but on top of that it'll give me 400 life points for every Effect Monster on the field. Counting it all up we have five, so that's an easy 2000 life points!"
Mika visibly winced at that number. As a fireball then came their way.
(Rebecca/4000LP) / (Mika/2500LP)
"Now then, Injection Fairy Lily attacks your mummy and as they do, I activate their effect. Paying 2000 life points, she gains 3000 Attack Points in this battle!" (Rebecca/2000LP) / (ATK:3400)
The Injection Fairy Lily's syringe tripled in size becoming comically big and nearly becoming too big for the little fairy to hold. Almost that is, they flew it forwards towards the mummy using their medical tool like a mighty spear, destroying one of them. (Mika/900LP)
"Next up, my Servant's effect lets them attack you directly and just like lily since they're under level 4 they can still attack. So let's go!" Her servant flung itself over her opponent's monsters and conked on top of Mika's head causing them to stumble backwards as the mollusk dragged itself back to her side of the field. (Mika/200LP)
"Alright, with that done, I'll end my turn there."
Mika didn't draw immediately, instead choosing to just stand there for a moment. "You're meeting my expectations." They admitted.
Rebecca preened herself, throwing her hair back as she looked on proudly. "Why thank you."
"But in other words. I was prepared for this eventuality." Mika stated boldly before drawing from their deck. "Heavy Storm, activate and sweep my opponent's field clear."
Rebecca winced, she didn't so much as have a single set card on her field to help her contest that. Instead a storm blew through her field destroying her two Continuous Traps, Solemn Wishes and Gravity Bind.
"Next." Mika continued. "I play Pot Of Greed, letting me draw two more cards." With two more cards in her hand, Mika grabbed for one. "Aid me, Double Coston." Two ghosts bound together appeared over the field. (LV4/1700/1650)
"Now let's battle, Regenerating Mummy! Attack that Fire Princess." The mummy smacked her princess, destroying them.
"Now Double Coston, attack the Servant Of Catabolism." The two ghosts disappeared into the mollusk's shell, phasing through it and causing the creature to age rapidly until it just turned to dust and the shell fell to the ground empty. (Rebecca/1000LP)
Mika then let out a small sigh, letting herself decompress after that turn. "I set a card face-down, Now you can take your turn."
She nodded and then picked up the top card of her deck. "Draw."
Immediately Marie The Fallen One in her graveyard began to heal her. (Rebecca/1200LP)
Perhaps this was the turn she could win this… but she had to be careful. "I switch my Injection Fairy Lily to Defence Mode. Then I'll play Luster Dragon Sapphire." The blue bejewelled dragon roared as it flew down onto her field. (LV4/1900/1600)
"Battle, attack Double Coston."
"Mirror Force."
The holy barrier repelled her dragon's fire and then sent it right back at them, turning them to bones.
"Ah… great. I set one card face-down and end my turn."
"Then it's my move. I draw." Mika declared as she drew. Her eyes seemed to sparkle as she looked at the card she'd drawn. "I tribute my Double Coston, treating it as two tributes for the dark monster I'm about to summon, my Despair From The Dark!" A massive building-sized shadow of some kind of demon rose up from behind Mika, looming there ready to pounce at her at any moment. (LV8/2700/3000)
Rebecca couldn't help but grit her teeth as she adjusted her head to look up at the giant monster. This could be a problem.
"Battle," Mika declared. "Regenerating Mummy attack their Injection Fairy Lily."
Her last line of defence was destroyed, leaving her wide open for the Despair Of The Dark, or she would be if she didn't have her face-down card. "Quick-Play Spell activate." She shouted as she pointed to her face-down. "Scapegoat. This puts four goat tokens on my field in defence mode, try getting through that!"
The giant shadow slammed its open palm down on top of one of her lamb tokens destroying them with ease.
"I'll then activate Swords Of Revealing Light, then end my turn there." Mika declared. Rebecca covered her eyes with one arm as swords made of literal light came crashing down onto her field.
"No attacking for me then." Rebecca realised easily. This was annoying.
Mika replied with a quick nod.
"And now it's my turn." Rebecca declared, drawing, then gaining life points as her Marie activated its effect during her Standby Phase. (Rebecca/1400LP)
"Unfortunately for you, I drew Pot Of Greed, letting me draw two more cards." With two more cards in her hand, she got exactly what she needed. "I'll then activate Monster Reborn, reviving my Fire Princess."
"I'm not going to let you keep that monster on the field." Mika said with determination.
"Well that won't be a factor. I play token thanksgiving destroying my tokens and giving me 800 life points for each one. So you know what that means." She sang with a cheeky wide smile over her face.
Mika frowned as each of Rebecca's tokens were destroyed and just accepted it as her Fire Princess flung one last fireball directly at her. (Mika/0LP)
The crowd around them broke out into a roaring cheer at her sudden finish.
Rebecca grinned "Great game Mika."
Mika nodded back, thankful. "You were… very good too, expectations… It seems I couldn't exceed yours." The glasses wearing duelist just shook her head with disappointment, but she kept smiling regardless. "I hope we'll meet again. It's fun to talk to you."