Starting Notes:
Welcome back! Once again, this is a one duel chapter—and the next chapter will only have one duel as well. This is because of two reasons—first, I wanted to split up the work for the end of this round, since if I tried to make these last three duels one chapter, it wouldn't be posted for like three weeks, haha. I think I had an estimated word count of like 40k for these three chapters in total at the minimum. Second, the next part of the Synchro Arc after this is very duel-heavy, so I wanted to take a bit of a break from duel-sketching by just doing it one at a time.
Chapter 47: Claws and Thorns
Two days ago, on the night of the first day of the Friendship Cup:
"If you kissed me," Shun said once she was finally done with her deck, since he hadn't wanted to disturb her preparations, "does that mean I finally have your permission to say it?"
Nue stopped. She turned slightly.
"You still remember that?" She said, sounding rather exasperated. "It's been months, idiot."
"I remembered it this entire time," Shun said. "You were right back then. I was… unfair to you. I finally understand why you were so angry with me back then."
"... took you long enough." Nue sighed. "I was unfair to you too. Maybe that's why it took so long for me to do anything too…" She leaned back. "No, you still can't say it. You haven't won against me properly yet."
Shun let out a soft, gruff sound. "So that's yet another demand from you?" He said, but there was something warm to it. "Well… someday then."
Several months ago, in the Xyz Dimension:
"Hey. Here."
Nue glanced up. Kaito was holding out a small bowl of porridge to her. It was practically a luxury—after all, the invasion had been going on for two months at this point, and most non-instant food had already expired by now.
"... how's the food supply going?" Nue said. Kaito sighed.
"Eat," he said irritably. "Being all self-sacrificial won't do you any good when we need every able duelist that we can get."
"Am I able?" Nue muttered, but after a moment, she finally took the bowl and began to eat. After two months, the Resistance had begun to settle into a proper system. Rooms had been assigned for sleeping, lookouts had been assigned—in general, there was a lot more hope than before. And Kaito's father had ensured that they would never run out of clean water, so that was… good.
Even so, the food issue…
Kaito sat down next to her.
"My father has started to experiment with growing some crops, but even if it works, it'll take a while for them to actually be edible." Kaito sighed, glancing off wistfully. "I wouldn't count on it, in the end… I'd also hope that the war doesn't last that long."
"... what would we do if it was over anyway?"
"Don't tell me that you've lost hope now." Kaito raised a fist. "I still want to march to Academia and punch the guy in charge of this."
"Lost hope…" Nue shook her head. "No, I haven't lost hope. If I met the person who ordered all of this though… I think that I'd do something worse."
"Well, I don't doubt that. You've always been the scarier one."
They lapsed into silence. Nue finished off the hot porridge—Kaito must have brought it over to her immediately. Meanwhile, Kaito seemed to be lost in thought.
"... just ask," Nue said with a quiet groan. "I already know what you're going to ask."
"Right." Kaito rubbed the back of his neck, still somewhat considerate. "... are Shun and Yuto doing better?"
"... no difference from before," Nue muttered. "Still driven, still constantly going out and searching, Shun's still beating the crap out of everyone while Yuto hesitates when it comes to stopping him."
"... no wonder you sound tired. I can't imagine trying to moderate them all the time."
"... well, I'm not doing it all the time." Nue shrugged. "I mean, I'm here because I'm tired of their… bullshit, right? Sometimes, I just need time to myself."
Or rather, Shun had gotten restless again and decided to run out after another random lead on a group of soldiers, and after a long argument as she tried to convince him to simply take a moment to find out more first, he had charged off, and Nue had decided to just say 'fuck it' and take a break from everything.
Kaito shook his head. "I… want to help, but I don't know if I have the right to say anything. We've all lost comrades, but I haven't lost family…"
"I've lost family too," Nue said briskly. "And I'm not being an uncommunicative jackass over it. I've tried so hard to help him, and he just keeps getting mad at me for it."
"... did he say something to you?"
"You don't know what it feels like to lose a sibling, someone that you've failed to protect! Don't lecture me when you know nothing about this!"
"He pissed me off," Nue muttered. She sighed. "For someone who is actually pretty mature for our age, he can be so… stubborn. That's practically where all of his flaws come from. If only I liked you, Kaito. It'd be way easier than liking him."
It wasn't actually that taboo to talk about her feelings for Shun to Kaito, because one, he was her best friend, and two, he had been forced to third-wheel them for almost two years now. He knew very well what was going on.
"Too bad that we're completely not attracted to each other," Kaito replied lightheartedly.
"Yeah, yeah, you like the sweet, shy and nice girls." Which Nue was decidedly not, and she didn't want to be, anyway. "Let's not talk about Shun right now. I'll figure something else out. Do we have any ideas on how to deal with the food situation?"
"People have been scavenging stuff from the wreckage—mainly the packaged instant food. The Solid Vision monsters destroyed a lot of stores completely though, and… it's hard to find it."
"It's hard to find food when everything is destroyed," Kaito muttered. "I thought it would be harder to fight, but it's actually harder to find the things necessary to stay alive…"
It was about infrastructure, in the end. The people who thought that they just had to keep on fighting were forgetting that the only reason they could do that was because other people were working in the background.
"If only there was a way to get food immediately."
A metaphorical light bulb lit up above Nue's head. "But there is a way," she said.
"A way?"
"... it's reckless though. I wouldn't want someone who's not in the right state of mind to go." Nue took a deep breath.
She had not stopped being angry at Academia this entire time. Even as she focused on other things, there was always something part of her that wanted to shriek in fury.
Even so…
She couldn't afford to lose her rationality.
"... want to go and raid Academia's food stores with me?" She asked, tilting her head.
"You went out alone with Kaito to go after Academia?"
Nue raised an eyebrow. "If all you want to do is get mad at me, why don't you go somewhere else?" She replied, her voice just as sharp as his.
"I'm mad because you made an impulsive decision—"
"Oh, that's real fucking rich of you to say," Nue replied, standing up. "Or were you not out with Yuto hunting down your leads again?"
"That's different!" Shun snapped. "We were within range of the Resistance headquarters, and the others knew where we were. But you two? You went straight to their outpost. And you went there for what—a few bags of rice? Some stacks of cans? How is that worth the danger that you went through?"
"It's worth more than three murders," Nue snarled—letting some of her anger come out, from how she had been holding it in over the last two months of the invasion. "Or do you think that what you were doing today was any more productive than me?"
"We're defeating the enemy who—"
"Oh, I'm sure that killing three soldiers in an army that far outnumbers us will make a significant difference in how we're dealing with things," Nue replied. "While our people start to starve. While people are scrounging to figure out how to live, you run off like you're trying your goddamn best to die! And you drag Yuto into it too!"
"Yuto wants the same thing as me!" Shun shouted back. "Just because you don't understand what he wants—just because you don't have a reason to be as angry as we are—doesn't mean that you can just try to stop us from being angry. I don't care if my anger solves nothing, as long as I have somewhere for it to go!"
"... and where is it going?" Nue said, deathly quiet. "Where is your anger going?"
Shun opened his mouth, before shutting it again. He didn't seem to understand.
"You kill and you kill, and it doesn't change a single thing," Nue continued. "You don't get any less angrier. So you think that it should be cathartic. So you think that if you just do a bit more, things will change. And a bit more, and a bit more, and you refuse to realise that you're just destroying yourself."
"... I still can't accept you putting yourself in danger."
Nue grabbed the collar of his shirt, yanking him forward. His eyes widened, before she spoke up. "If you can understand that, why can't you understand that I feel the same way about you?"
They kept eye contact for a long time, before Nue let go of him.
"It's different because I—"
"Don't say it," Nue said, cutting him off. "You don't have my permission to say it."
Shun looked like he had been struck in the face.
"I know that losing Ruri hurt you deeply," Nue said. "But it also blinded you. You can't even bring yourself to listen to anyone who might contradict that distorted way that you view the world. How can you call that—"
She swallowed the next word. Love. She couldn't say it either. Judging from his face, he knew what she had been about to say.
She pulled out the two cards from her pocket and laid them on the table. Her parents' faces stared up at them.
"I carry my reason to be angry everywhere I go," she said. "Just because I can control it better than you doesn't mean that I'm not furious too."
(Yuto would worry in the future about what they were becoming. Nue would glance at him and think that they were already past the worst of it—that what they had been in those early days had been awful, filled with conflict and needless cruelty. That the people that they were when they stepped into Standard were already better than the people that they had been back then.)
In the present:
"When I said you had to win against me, this isn't what I meant," Nue murmured.
"Does it change anything?" Shun said with a shrug.
"... no." Nue grimaced. "It'd be disrespectful to Yuto if I didn't put in my best against you after winning against him." She raised her head. "And I won't make it that easy for you."
"I always put in my best in everything that I do," Shun replied confidently. "So—let's have a good match."
Nue nodded.
… it's the first time in almost a year that we've dueled each other.
I wonder if it will feel any different now.
In the end, Shun won the first corner. They both drew their starting hands.
[DUEL!]
Shun Kurosaki: 4000LP
Nue Kamisoka: 4000LP
[Turn 1: Shun] [H:5]
It was a mostly unfavourable start for both of them—since he favoured the second turn and she favoured the first turn, and they both knew that. Thus, this had been a decision made consciously by Shun—he thought that taking the first turn from her was worth sacrificing the Battle Phase.
Interesting choice.
"I will Normal Summon Raid Raptors - Tribute Lanius!" The sapphire blue bird appeared, soaring through the air.
[Raid Raptors - Tribute Lanius (4*/1800/400/DARK/Winged Beast/Effect)]
"During the Main Phase, since Tribute Lanius was Normal or Special Summoned this turn, I can send a "Raid Raptors" monster from my deck to the graveyard! I will send Raid Raptors - Fuzzy Lanius from my deck to the graveyard. And since Fuzzy Lanius was sent to the graveyard, I can add another copy of Fuzzy Lanius from my deck to my hand! However, I can't Special Summon monsters this turn, except "Raid Raptors" monsters."
He revealed the card in his hand.
"Since I control a "Raid Raptors" monster, I can Special Summon Raid Raptors - Fuzzy Lanius from my hand." The purple bird appeared on the field as well.
[Raid Raptors - Fuzzy Lanius (4*/500/1500/DARK/Winged Beast/Effect)]
"Furthermore, since I control a DARK monster, I can Special Summon Raid Raptors - Strangle Lanius from my hand." The bone-white bird with purple shadows dancing around it appeared as well.
[Raid Raptors - Strangle Lanius (4*/1600/1100/DARK/Winged Beast/Effect)]
"However, I can't Special Summon monsters this turn, except DARK monsters. I'll also activate the Continuous Spell, Raid Raptors - Nest. With its effect, since I control at least two "Raid Raptors" monsters, I can add a "Raid Raptors" monster from my deck to my hand."
Nue nodded. None of that was any surprise to her.
"I will overlay the Level 4 Raid Raptors - Tribute Lanius and the Level 4 Raid Raptors - Fuzzy Lanius. Avian hunter of the afterlife, seek the truth with your dark eyes, and grasp glory with your sharp talons! Xyz Summon! Take flight! Rank 4! Raid Raptors - Force Strix!" The metal owl appeared, sitting in Defense Position.
[Raid Raptors - Force Strix (R4/100/2000/DARK/Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]
"I will then activate the effect of Raid Raptors - Strangle Lanius. Since I control a DARK Xyz Monster, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower "Raid Raptors" monster from my graveyard. So return to the field, Raid Raptors - Fuzzy Lanius." The first copy of the purple bird appeared on the field. "Open, circuit of the valiant wings. Arrowhead confirmed! The conditions are two DARK Winged Beast monsters. I will set Raid Raptors - Strangle Lanius and Raid Raptors - Fuzzy Lanius in the Link Markers! Wise bird of the cybernetic world, start up a new revolution with the sharpness of your wings! Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 2! Raid Raptors - Wise Strix!" The silver bird appeared, bright rectangular screens flying around it.
[Raid Raptors - Wise Strix (L2/1400/DARK/Winged Beast/Link/Effect/↙, ↘)]
"I will activate Wise Strix's effect. When Link Summoned, I will Special Summon a Level 4 Winged Beast monster from my deck with its effects negated, and it cannot be used as Link Material. Come—Raid Raptors - Mimicry Lanius!" The golden bird appeared behind Wise Strix.
[Raid Raptors - Mimicry Lanius (4*/1100/1900/DARK/Winged Beast/Effect)]
"I will then activate the effect of Raid Raptors - Force Strix. By detaching an Overlay Unit, I can add a Level 4 DARK Winged Beast monster from my deck to my hand. Nest Calling!"
[Raid Raptors - Force Strix: OU:2 - 1 = OU:1]
"And when a "Raid Raptors" Xyz Monster I control activates its effect, I can use the effect of Raid Raptors - Wise Strix. I will set a "Rank-Up-Magic" Spell from my deck." Shun glanced back at her challengingly. "I'll end my turn there. Your move."
Nue couldn't help but smirk slightly.
… well, I always liked that confidence of yours.
[Turn 2: Nue] [H:6]
A Rank-Up-Magic that you didn't already activate… two Winged Beasts other than Force Strix boosts its defense points to 3000…
Nue drew a card as she considered all those factors.
[Raid Raptors - Force Strix: 100 + 500 x 2 = 1100ATK; 2000 + 500 x 2 = 3000DEF]
"... your set card is Rank-Up-Magic Revolution Force," she said after a moment, enjoying how his eyes widened slightly in shock. He had no poker face at all—or maybe she was just far better at reading him than most others, at this point. The Rank-Up that could steal an Xyz Monster that the opponent controlled and Rank Up that monster by a single Rank—no wonder he had prioritised it. He must have wanted to avoid her using Rafflesia's effect. "Well, in that case, the answer is simple."
It was like building a puzzle—interpreting the intentions of her opponent and seeing things through their eyes. It meant constantly putting herself in a different frame of mind and asking herself—how would I beat Nue Kamisoka, if I was in their shoes? She didn't necessarily need to strategise on how to defeat them—rather, she just had to understand how they would try to defeat her.
And that was half the battle.
"I'll Normal Summon Traptrix Atrax," she said. The girl surrounded by pale fur and fangs appeared, her pale purple hair implying a meek nature, but her malevolent smile implying the exact opposite.
[Traptrix Atrax (4*/1800/1000/EARTH/Insect/Effect)]
"While I control Traptrix Atrax, I can activate "Hole" Normal Traps directly from my hand," Nue explained. "Furthermore, the activation and effects of Normal Traps activated on my field cannot be negated. I will then activate the Field Spell, Traptrip Garden." The sweet-smelling winds swirled around them, carrying the scent of flowers and honey and nectar. "I can perform a second Normal Summon this turn of a "Traptrix" monster. Come—Traptrix Myrmeleo." The girl with ash grey hair appeared next to Atrax.
[Traptrix Myrmeleo (4*/1600/1200/EARTH/Insect/Effect)]
"When Traptrix Myrmeleo is Normal Summoned, I can add a "Hole" Normal Trap from my deck to my hand," Nue said. She drew the card from her deck immediately.
"That's Treacherous Trap Hole," Shun said, sounding extraordinarily confident.
"No," Nue replied. "Though you're not far off. I'd have searched it out…" She took another card from her hand. "If I didn't already have it in my hand. With the effect of Traptrix Atrax, since this card meets its activation requirements, I can activate it from my hand. Trap Card, Treacherous Trap Hole. When I have no Traps in my graveyard, I can destroy two monsters on the field. I will destroy Raid Raptors - Wise Strix and Raid Raptors - Force Strix."
The two birds were blown off the field instantly.
"When Raid Raptors - Fuzzy Lanius is sent to the graveyard, I can add another copy of Fuzzy Lanius from my deck to my hand!"
"1900 defense points perfectly seals off most of my attackers that aren't Xyz Monsters," Nue commented—a compliment, really. "Good choice on bringing out Mimicry Lanius…"
So she would just build her field up. After all, her opponent was Shun Kurosaki—and he would never be content to hide behind a shield.
Not that she would let him do that either.
"Open, circuit of the entrapping flowers! Arrowhead confirmed. The conditions are two Insect or Plant monsters. I will set Traptrix Atrax and Traptrix Myrmeleo in the Link Markers. Beautiful white flower dripping with dew! Form the idyllic creature sleeping in the dark swamp! Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 2! Traptrix Cularia!" The white-haired woman appeared on the field, green laurels growing around her body.
[Traptrix Cularia (L2/1800/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↓, →)]
"You've really taken to Link Summoning," Shun commented. While he had also been using his Link Monster more, he still mostly used it to supplement his Xyz Summoning—he still wasn't quite used to it. Nue's Link Monsters, on the other hand, clearly showed that they could work independently from Xyz Summoning. And she seemed much more comfortable with it than he was.
"Eh. I can't stay xenophobic forever."
Shun snorted.
"I'll set two cards facedown," Nue said. "I'll end my turn. During the End Phase, Traptrix Cularia lets me Special Summon a "Traptrix" monster from my graveyard in Defense Position." Traptrix Myrmeleo appeared behind the Link Monster. "And when Traptrix Myrmeleo is Special Summoned, I can destroy a Spell or Trap on the field." The landmine that was Rank-Up-Magic Revolution Force exploded, ensuring that Nue would be able to Xyz Summon with ease the next turn, if she wanted to. "Over to you, Shun."
"Oppressive," Shun said. Despite his field immediately getting torn apart, he seemed unfazed. (He would have to be, considering that his two rivals back in Heartland had been known for shredding entire fields on their own. And he wasn't too bad at that, himself.)
[Turn 3: Shun] [H:6]
"Draw," Shun said. Despite the fact that he had lost his field advantage, he technically still had complete hand advantage—not having lost a single card from his hand at all. "Since I control a "Raid Raptors" monster, I can Special Summon the third copy of Raid Raptors - Fuzzy Lanius from my hand." There was a slight pause there—a space for a response.
Nue shrugged.
Shun continued. "I will activate the effect of Raid Raptors - Nest. I will add a "Raid Raptors" monster from my deck to my hand. I will add and Normal Summon Raid Raptors - Sharp Lanius." The small mechanical bird appeared, bright red and standing out against the road. In the evening light, as the sun was beginning to set, its body seemed to flicker like flames.
[Raid Raptors - Sharp Lanius (4*/1700/1000/DARK/Winged Beast/Effect)]
"That's the one," Nue said. She flipped over one of her set cards. "Trap Card, Bottomless Trap Hole. When a monster with 1500 attack points or more is Normal or Special Summoned, I can destroy it and banish it." After all, Sharp Lanius had just enough attack point to take Myrmeleo out, and its effect would allow Shun to revive Tribute Lanius, which would cascade into a bunch of other moves—
And she didn't want to deal with that, so she shut off the route immediately. Sharp Lanius was sucked into a dark void.
"And with Cularia's effect, I will set Bottomless Trap Hole back to my field."
"To use Bottomless Trap Hole to get rid of a minor irritation to you…" Shun said contemplatively.
"Oh, what, do you expect me to use it on your Xyz Monsters, who all have less attack points than the requirement?" Nue said, the side of her lip curving up in amusement. "No, if I wanted to do anything with that card, it'd have to be on your actual Main Deck monsters. I hope you don't think I'll be any less cruel to you just because you're handsome."
Shun sputtered. "What do you mean—"
Nue couldn't help but smirk.
"Anyway—I'll activate the Spell Card, Wing Requital. I'll pay 600 life points to draw two cards, since I control at least two Winged Beast monsters with different names."
Shun: 4000 - 600 = 3400LP
"And I'll activate the Spell Card, Raid Raptors - Call. I will target Raid Raptors - Mimicry Lanius and Special Summon another copy of it from the deck." Another copy of the golden bird appeared. "I will overlay the Level 4 Raid Raptors - Fuzzy Lanius and the two Level 4 Raid Raptors - Mimicry Lanius! Obscured falcon, raise your sharpened talons in front of adversity, spread your wings of rebellion! Xyz Summon! Appear! Rank 4! Raid Raptors - Rise Falcon!" Summoning up dark winds, Shun's ace swooped down from the sky, landing right in front of him.
[Raid Raptors - Rise Falcon (R4/100/2000/DARK/Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect) (OU:3)]
"I will detach an Overlay Unit from Rise Falcon," Shun declared, when Nue didn't respond once again. "I will have Rise Falcon gain attack points equal to the total attack points of all Special Summoned monsters you control. Brave Claw Revolution!"
[Raid Raptors - Rise Falcon: OU:3 - 1 = OU:2; 100 + 1800 + 1600 = 3500ATK]
"Rise Falcon can attack all Special Summoned monsters you control! Attack Traptrix Cularia!"
"Your Battle Phase has started? Good." Nue's other set card flipped up. "Trap Card, Titanocider. I will change your monster's attack points to 0 and negate its effects." Green arrows shot out and turned to whips, wrapping around Rise Falcon and perfectly trapping it in place.
[Raid Raptors - Rise Falcon: 3500 → 0ATK]
"Of course, you and I both knew it would happen, and yet you attacked the monster in Attack Position rather than the one in Defense Position," Nue concluded. Rise Falcon summoned a breeze that Cularia easily deflected, the attack backfiring on Shun and destroying his monster. "So?"
Shun: 3400 - 1200 = 2200LP
"We both knew," Shun agreed. "Rise Falcon was bait—you knew that—and you still used Titanocider on it?" He placed down a Spell from his hand. "On the turn that Titanocider is sent to the graveyard, you can't set it back to your field—so this is an opening! Main Phase 2! Rank-Up-Magic Soul Shave Force! By paying half my life points, I will revive Raid Raptors - Rise Falcon and Rank Up Rise Falcon by two Ranks!"
"Half your life points at this stage…" Nue shook her head. "How tyrannical… saving nothing for defence, huh?"
Shun: 2200 / 2 = 1100LP
"Against you, I can't be half-hearted," Shun said. "You're… a really tough opponent, you know that? Only half-heartedly committing to an offence means that I can't break through, but I also have to think about everything… you're all kinds of things at once, overpowering, a stone wall, a spider web…"
"Does it stress you out?"
"Stress me out?" Shun repeated. He smirked. "Well, yes, but in a good way. It means that I'm always paying attention to anything that you do, so that I can figure out everything." Rise Falcon turned into a dark streak that flew up in the sky. "... and I'm always paying attention to you anyway."
"Is now really the time for flattery?" She really meant flirting, but she didn't exactly want to say that aloud.
"Well, you did start it first. Prideful falcon. Spread your wings, dyed in the blood of heroes, and charge through the path of revolution! Rank-Up-Xyz-Change! Appear! Rank 6! Raid Raptors - Revolution Falcon!" The evolved form of Rise Falcon appeared, silver wings tinted with the warmness of the sunset.
[Raid Raptors - Revolution Falcon (R6/2000/3000/DARK/Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect) (OU:1)]
"Since Raid Raptors - Revolution Falcon was Xyz Summoned using a Rank 5 or lower "Raid Raptors" Xyz Monster as material, I can target a Special Summoned monster you control, destroy it, and you take damage equal to half its attack points. I will destroy Traptrix Cularia! Blitzing Bombardment!"
After all, while Traptrip Garden protected her monsters from battle, it didn't do the same for card effects. Nue's Link Monster was destroyed by the explosion, some mechanical debris raining down around the black-haired girl.
Nue: 4000 - 1800 / 2 = 3100LP
"Since Raid Raptors - Mimicry Lanius was sent to the graveyard this turn—I can banish one of them to add a "Raid Raptors" card from my deck to my hand. I'll set two cards facedown and end my turn." That left him with four cards still in his hand, ridiculously enough.
Of course, Nue didn't exactly have the right to say that, considering that her deck also searched out cards quite a lot, but… not quite at the same rate as Shun's.
[Turn 4: Nue] [H:2]
"Draw," Nue said. "I will banish Traptrix Myrmeleo from the field with the effect of Traptrip Garden, to Special Summon a "Traptrix" monster from my hand or graveyard. Return—Traptrix Cularia." The white-haired woman reappeared, seeming rather calm and docile despite the violent manner of her earlier destruction. "I will then Normal Summon Traptrix Mantis." The girl with pink hair that went down to orange ends appeared in front of her as well.
[Traptrix Mantis (4*/1500/1300/EARTH/Insect/Effect)]
"When Traptrix Mantis is Normal Summoned, I can add a "Traptrix" monster from my deck to my hand." She added the card to her hand. "I will then Special Summon Traptrix Arachnocampa from my hand, since I control a "Traptrix" monster." The girl with the short white hair appeared, dripping green droplets floating around her.
[Traptrix Arachnocampa (4*/1300/500/EARTH/Insect/Effect)]
"I will overlay the Level 4 Traptrix Arachnocampa and the Level 4 Traptrix Mantis." The two monsters turned into flowery streaks that shot up in the air.
"You wouldn't bring out Rafflesia now, when she can't do much against me on her own," Shun murmured. "In that case…"
"... it's the cute one," Nue said, her voice sounding at once annoyed and fond. "The one that Yuto got me, as it were. Beautiful plant overflowing with wool, share in the lifeforce of all nature around you. Grow bright, and in your grazing dream, bring forth a new world. Xyz Summon. Rank 4. Baromet the Sacred Sheep Shrub!" A fluffy white sheep appeared in front of her, absurdly cute. There was a large plant growing from the bottom of its belly, a fern with long growing vines that wrapped around it. Twin curling ram horns could be seen growing from both sides of its head, with two small demon wings on the top of its head.
[Baromet the Sacred Sheep Shrub (R4/1900/2000/EARTH/Plant/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]
"That one," Shun said, unable to hold back a smile. "The one that Yuto thought suited you."
The sheep's eyes were still closed, and it was still dozing off. It let out a quiet sneeze in its sleep.
"Only he thinks I'm that soft," Nue said, rolling her eyes. "Idiot little brother, really…" She was smiling, despite that. "Baromet's effect. By detaching an Overlay Unit, I can return a Trap from my graveyard to the deck to draw a card. I will return Treacherous Trap Hole to the deck and draw. Draining Blessing." She swiped up a card from her deck.
[Baromet the Sacred Sheep Shrub: OU:2 - 1 = OU:1]
"Defense Position…"
"Going in Attack Position against Revolution Falcon means that I lose every time," Nue pointed out. "If I get a clean shot, I only need one attack. Why would I ever put Baromet in Attack Position in those circumstances? I will use the effect of Traptrip Garden to Normal Summon Traptrix Dionaea!" The black-haired girl reappeared on the field, white flowers in her hair. Through this, Nue had emptied out her hand, though she didn't really care.
[Traptrix Dionaea (4*/1700/1100/EARTH/Plant/Effect)]
"When Traptrix Dionaea is Normal Summoned, I can revive a "Traptrix" monster in Defense Position. Come back— Traptrix Arachnocampa." The white-haired girl reappeared. "Open again, circuit of the entrapping flowers. Arrowhead confirmed. The conditions are at least two monsters, including a Plant or Insect monster. I will set Traptrix Cularia and Traptrix Dionaea in the Link Markers! Cunning cruelty that weaves the web of destruction. Atypical anomaly that tugs on the strings of all that pity her. Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 3! Cursed cunning—Traptrix Atypus!" The brunette in a purple robe appeared, webs spinning out all around her like thread. She sat down in the Extra Monster Zone.
[Traptrix Atypus (L3/1800/EARTH/Insect/Link/Effect/←, ↓, →)]
"Then, open again, circuit. Arrowhead confirmed! The conditions are a "Traptrix" monster that isn't a Link Monster! I'll set Traptrix Arachnocampa in the Link Markers! Now, cute girl in the beautiful meadow! Rise up with the sunshine over your hair and trap the world in your shadow! Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 1! Traptrix Sera!" The green-haired girl appeared on the field.
[Traptrix Sera (L1/800/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↓)]
"Two of your Link Monsters on the field?"
"Traptrix Atypus's effect activates. I can target face-up cards you control, up to the number of other Insect and Plant monsters I control, and negate their effects. I control Sera and Baromet. So I'll target Raid Raptors - Revolution Falcon and Raid Raptors - Nest."
"And the secondary effect lets you banish a Trap from the graveyard to destroy one of the targeted cards…" Shun's eyes widened. "You're willing to permanently sacrifice Titanocider for Revolution Falcon?"
"And even if your set cards could negate the effect, Atypus is always immune to Trap effects when it's Link Summoned and face-up on the field." Nue slid Titanocider, the only Trap in her graveyard, into her banished cards. "I will destroy Raid Raptors - Revolution Falcon. Stealth Strangle!" Thin web strings had wrapped around Revolution Falcon's neck, cutting off the mechanical bird's air supply and destroying it. Shun grimaced.
"Furthermore, since a "Traptrix" monster's effect was activated, Traptrix Sera lets me set a "Hole" Normal Trap from my deck to my field." She picked up the card, before turning back towards him. "Battle Phase," Nue continued. "Traptrix Atypus attacks directly." There was no boost in attack points since she currently had no Traps in her graveyard, but Shun's life points were low enough—by his own doing—that it would be enough.
"Activating my set card—the Quickplay Spell, Rank-Up-Magic Raptor's Force."
Nue raised an eyebrow. Her hand drifted over her set cards.
"I will Special Summon Raid Raptors - Revolution Falcon to my field and Rank Up Revolution Falcon by 1 Rank. Unified falcon. With the power of the rage of the others around you, channel it into your form, and whip the winds into a frenzy! Rank-Up-Xyz-Change! Rank 7! Raid Raptors - Arsenal Falcon!" A mechanical dusty grey bird appeared, even larger than Revolution Falcon, green dots and lines decorating its body like morse code. Dusty white swirls of wind floated around it.
[Raid Raptors - Arsenal Falcon (R7/2500/2000/DARK/Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect) (OU:1)]
And that was cool and all, but…
"Trap Card, Bottomless Trap Hole," Nue said, arching an eyebrow. The card that she had set back to her field with Cularia's effect flipped up again. "I'll destroy and banish your monster. And Arsenal Falcon's effect only lets it float into another monster if it's sent to the graveyard. Poor choice."
"Poor choice," Shun agreed readily. "But if I don't do anything, I'll still be in the same situation. I have to burst through it all at once! Quickplay Spell! The Phantom Knights' Rank-Up-Magic Launch!"
"... seriously?" Nue cracked a smile. "Well, I guess that makes sense."
"I'll Rank Up Raid Raptors - Arsenal Falcon by one Rank!" The bird that had been brought out as bait flew up in the air triumphantly, escaping the pitfall beneath it. "Dauntless falcon. Hoist up the flame of anger, become the flash of light that burns the land to ash! Rank-Up-Xyz-Change! Soar! Rank 8! Raid Raptors - Satellite Cannon Falcon!" The beautiful white falcon appeared, cannons already glowing slightly.
[Raid Raptors - Satellite Cannon Falcon (R8/3000/2000/DARK/Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]
"And when Raid Raptors - Satellite Cannon Falcon is Xyz Summoned—I can destroy all Spells and Traps you control!" Cannon shots rained down around her.
… he waited until I got rid of everything that could threaten his monster, and until I had no other way of setting Traps to my field.
Her Field Spell and set card was destroyed.
… as usual, Shun Kurosaki, you're still surprisingly logical behind all of that recklessness.
"Since I activated a "Hole" Normal Trap, I can use Traptrix Sera's effect to Special Summon a "Traptrix" monster from my deck. Come—Traptrix Genlisea!" The girl with the two long white braids appeared, and Shun let out a huff of annoyance, clearly knowing what she was about to do.
[Traptrix Genlisea (4*/1200/1600/EARTH/Plant/Effect)]
"Main Phase 2. I will tribute Traptrix Genlisea. I can set a "Hole" Normal Trap from my graveyard, along with one from my deck, but they are both banished when they leave the field." The two cards appeared on her field. "I end my turn."
She currently had Atypus, Sera and Baromet on the field, with the latter in Defense Position, while Shun had Satellite Cannon Falcon, deadly and terrifying.
[Turn 5: Shun] [H:5]
"Draw," Shun said. "During my Standby Phase, The Phantom Knights' Rank-Up-Magic Launch attaches itself to the monster Special Summoned with its effect." Satellite Cannon Falcon let out a loud cry.
[Raid Raptors - Satellite Cannon Falcon: OU:2 + 1 = OU:3]
"Since I control only "Raid Raptors" monsters, I can Special Summon Raid Raptors - Heel Eagle from my hand." A grey bird with purple wings appeared in front of him in Attack Position.
[Raid Raptors - Heel Eagle (3*/700/700/DARK/Winged Beast/Effect)]
"Then, I will—"
"Trap Card, Terrifying Trap Hole Nightmare," Nue declared. "Since you Special Summoned a monster this turn, I can target a monster you control with 2000 or more attack points and destroy it. I will choose Raid Raptors - Satellite Cannon Falcon. Then, since I have a "Hole" Normal Trap in my graveyard, I can banish a monster from your graveyard. I choose Satellite Cannon Falcon."
To stop him from continuing to Rank Up his monster then…
"Then, Traptrix Sera will Special Summon Traptrix Nepenthes from my deck with her effect," the dark-haired girl continued. The girl with yellow-orange hair appeared in front of her, tropical orange-tinted leaves unfurling around her.
[Traptrix Nepenthes (4*/800/2000/EARTH/Plant/Effect)]
"Not Myrmeleo?"
"To destroy Nest?" Nue snorted, not even giving it a thought. "Heel Eagle banishes itself from the graveyard to add a "Raid Raptors" Spell or Trap from your graveyard to your hand. Sending Nest there would be a waste—I'd be gifting it to you on a silver platter."
Shun couldn't help but smirk at that. "True enough," he said. Simple bait like that wouldn't work again then. "I will Normal Summon Raid Raptors - Vanishing Lanius." The brilliant emerald bird appeared on the field in front of him.
[Raid Raptors - Vanishing Lanius (4*/1300/1600/DARK/Winged Beast/Effect)]
"With Vanishing Lanius's effect, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower "Raid Raptors" monster from my hand. Come—Raid Raptors - Necro Vulture." The dark purple vulture surrounded by shadows appeared.
[Raid Raptors - Necro Vulture (4*/1000/1600/DARK/Winged Beast/Effect)]
"I will use the effect of Raid Raptors - Nest to add another "Raid Raptors" monster from my deck to my hand. I will then overlay my Level 4 Necro Vulture and Vanishing Lanius." Another copy of Force Strix appeared, floating on his field. "Bottomless Trap Hole won't work on Force Strix. I will detach an Overlay Unit from Force Strix to add a Level 4 DARK Winged Beast monster from my deck to my hand."
[Raid Raptors - Force Strix: OU:2 - 1 = OU:1]
This was one of the rare occasions where, thanks to Satellite Cannon Falcon's earlier nuke of all uncertainties, Shun knew exactly what Nue had set to her field, and he could play around it. After all, Genlisea had set a card from her graveyard and a card from her deck, and Terrifying Trap Hole Nightmare had been the card from the deck. Shun only remembered one Trap that had been sent to the graveyard without being banished.
"I will activate the Spell Card, Rank-Up-Magic Raid Force. I will Rank Up Force Strix by one Rank."
"... ah, crap," Nue muttered, clearly understanding what was about to happen.
"Ferocious falcon. Break through this fierce battle and spread your wings! Destroy our gathering foes! Rank-Up-Xyz-Change! Appear! Rank 5! Raid Raptors - Blaze Falcon!" The red and black bird appeared with a loud screech.
[Raid Raptors - Blaze Falcon (R5/1000/2000/DARK/Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]
"Blaze Falcon's attack points aren't high enough to set off your Bottomless Trap Hole again," Shun said. "Even if Atypus boosts your "Traptrix" monsters' attack points by 1000, since you have a Normal Trap in your graveyard…"
[Traptrix Sera: 800 + 1000 = 1800ATK]
[Traptrix Atypus: 1800 + 1000 = 2800ATK]
"... Blaze Falcon can attack me directly," Nue completed. "And it can also destroy all my monsters."
"Blaze Falcon!" Shun didn't bother explaining, since Nue obviously already knew. "By detaching an Overlay Unit, I will destroy all Special Summoned monsters you control, and inflict 500 damage to you for each! Raptor's Break of Thunderclap!"
[Raid Raptors - Blaze Falcon: OU:2 - 1 = OU:1]
Lightning bolts and flames consumed her entire field—
It was razed to the ground, each and every card. Only her set Bottomless Trap Hole remained on the field, and even then, it wouldn't serve her any use. Three fireballs flew past her as well.
Nue: 3100 - 500 x 4 = 1100LP
"Blaze Falcon attacks you directly!" The flames shot forward, lowering her life points to their minimum point.
Nue: 1100 - 1000 = 100LP
"And Heel Eagle attacks you directly too!"
"You do have the potential for lethal damage on the field," Nue murmured. "Alright then. The setup's complete, so I'll reap the rewards now."
"Huh?"
"My set card isn't Bottomless Trap Hole," Nue said. "Or did you forget that you nuked a different card altogether?" She cracked a smile. "Let me refresh your memory. Sera's effect let me set another "Hole" Normal Trap to my field. It was destroyed by Satellite Cannon Falcon's effect. I thus had two options to choose from the graveyard when I was using Genlisea's effect. You assumed that it was Bottomless Trap Hole, and you tested it out with your cards. And when I didn't do anything, you assumed that your guess was correct." Nue smirked. "Confirmation bias at its best." She flipped up the card. "To be fair—it's hard to think of something you didn't see directly. Trap Card, Traptrix Holeutea. I can Special Summon this card as a Normal Monster to my field in Defense Position."
A girl with tanned skin and dark hair appeared, hiding beneath large leaves, and glancing forward with honeyed brown eyes. She looked rather wary of everything around her.
[Traptrix Holeutea (4*/400/2400/EARTH/Plant)]
"... I'll set a card and end my turn," Shun said. "Looks like you managed to outthink me again… it's hard to outthink you. Sometimes, it's almost like you think on another level from anyone else we've ever met…"
[Turn 6: Nue] [H:1]
Nue swiftly drew a card. She tried not to think about the implications of what he had just said.
It was true. There was something different about her, but it wasn't her way of thinking. It was her eyes. Her eyes, which could look at a field, no matter how complicated it was, no matter how many opponents there were, and understand a situation immediately. Of course, her thoughts still took a while to catch up, to figure out answers to what she was seeing, but she had never failed to assess a situation at first glance.
Still though, she had never shared that.
How was she going to do this then?
First. She had to get rid of Blaze Falcon. The two cards in Shun's hand were guaranteed to be "Raid Raptors" monsters with his searches from the previous turn. Thus…
Alright then…
What a lucky draw at this point in time though.
"Spell Card, Pot of Extravagance," Nue said. "After this card resolves, I can't draw any other cards by card effects this turn. Then, by banishing six random cards from my Extra Deck, I can draw two cards." She had multiple copies of all her Extra Deck monsters other than Baromet and the Link Monsters, so it wouldn't be like she was cutting off options anyway. She swiped up the two cards from the top of her deck. "I will Normal Summon Traptrix Vesiculo." The dark-haired girl dressed in green appeared, white flowers in her hair.
[Traptrix Vesiculo (4*/1400/1400/EARTH/Plant/Effect)]
"I will overlay the Level 4 Traptrix Vesiculo and the Level 4 Traptrix Holeutea," Nue declared. "Beautiful worker that assists the alluring forest of the tricksters, arise now and revive the darkness that dwells in the forest! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Traptrix Allomerus!" The red-haired girl appeared, floating in front of her, a rather casual smile on her face.
[Traptrix Allomerus (R4/2200/600/EARTH/Insect/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]
"Allomerus's effect," she continued. "By detaching two Overlay Units, I can revive a Level 4 Insect or Plant monster. Return to the field, Traptrix Atrax." The dark-haired girl reappeared on the field.
[Traptrix Allomerus: OU:2 - 2 = OU:0]
"Traptrix Allomerus attacks Raid Raptors - Blaze Falcon!"
"Attacking me head-on…"
"It's either Last Strix or Booster Strix," Nue said. "So?"
Shun revealed one of the two cards in his hand. "Activating the effect of Raid Raptors - Booster Strix," he said. "I will banish it from my hand to destroy your attacking monster." After all, Allomerus had just enough attack points to take him out.
Allomerus exploded.
"I know," Nue replied. "I'll banish Traptrix Holeutea from the graveyard to use her effect. I can Special Summon a "Traptrix" monster from my graveyard." Allomerus reappeared, looking very miffed. "And since she was just summoned back to the field, she can attack again. Attack Raid Raptors - Blaze Falcon!"
"I will activate the Trap Card, Raid Raptors - Evasive. By returning one of Blaze Falcon's Overlay Units to my hand, I can negate the attack."
Nue nodded. The last orb flying around Blaze Falcon dissolved into light.
[Raid Raptors - Blaze Falcon: OU:1 - 1 = OU:0]
But at his current life points… the reason that she had chosen Atrax for Allomerus's effect despite the rest of her monsters providing more defensive potential was because it could declare an attack on Heel Eagle and win the duel, considering that Shun had 1100 life points.
"Traptrix Atrax attacks Raid Raptors - Heel Eagle!" Nue declared.
And Shun smiled. "I guessed you would," he said.
"Hmm?"
"The smarter move would have been to place Heel Eagle in Defense Position when I summoned it," Shun said. "While you might have thought that it was because I was recklessly trying to defeat you in one turn… but I also wanted to draw your attention away from Blaze Falcon here." He tilted his head, smiling widely. "I knew that you'd never fail to see a win. So in order to stop you from setting up those impossible defences, I had to make sure that you would focus on defeating me instead."
… so he bet on the fact that I would see the chance to defeat him immediately, to trick me to put my all into defeating him this turn…
Maybe that's something that only he can do, because he's one of the few people that I register as capable of defeating me. And thus, one of the only people that can trick me into a different rhythm from my own.
He had two searches, and he chose to pick up those two… he was really confident that I would go directly for his throat, huh?
"Since a "Raid Raptors" monster I control is battling while I have Spells and Traps on my field and in the graveyard, I will Special Summon Raid Raptors - Last Strix from my hand." A tiny green bird with golden metal forming its head and a red visor appeared as well.
[Raid Raptors - Last Strix (1*/100/100/DARK/Winged Beast/Effect)]
"Then, I can gain 100 life points for each Spell or Trap on my field and in the graveyard." Shun said. "I have nine."
Shun: 1100 + 900 = 2000LP
The attack hit and Heel Eagle was destroyed, but Shun survived it due to the life points that he had gained.
Shun: 2000 - 1100 = 900LP
Nue glanced at him, and then she sighed.
"Good job," she said. "I can't think of many others who would have been able to see through things like that." She snorted. "If I hadn't realised that I could defeat you in so many ways, if I hadn't put everything into attacking, you'd have nothing but bricks in your hand. That was a large risk to take."
"I'm surprised that you actually put so much into it," Shun admitted. "I doubted myself a little, but that was the only way to win."
"Well…" Nue shrugged. "It looked like a challenge from you. And I wanted to rise to that challenge."
What were they to each other now, anyway?
The answer to that had been something far less complicated a long time ago. Back when they had first met, they were just rivals. Then, they were friends. Then, they were people who had feelings for each other—not quite dancing around them, but waiting until they had found their place in the world beyond childish dreams.
And what were they now?
If nothing had changed, if Academia hadn't attacked them…
Shun would have graduated before her, being a year older. He would have found his place in the pro circuit and risen up. And Nue would have been the challenger chasing after him, a year later.
And…
They most likely would have started dating by now, huh?
The entire last year felt like time had been ripped away from them. All the experiences that they could have had in that year, all the ways that they could have grown as people, all of it had been lost to them.
They were not the same people they had been then.
Nor were they the same people that they could have been.
In a sense, this Shun wasn't just her friend-borderline-boyfriend anymore. He was a lost dream of sorts. When she looked at him, sometimes Nue wondered about that possibility of normalcy. Everything about the idea of still loving him was tied up in all those complicated hopes and dreams that Academia had scattered to dust.
The Nue from before Academia would never have been capable of that level of attacking. She would have only ever been able to focus on defence, nothing else.
So, for Shun to have predicted that she would attack instead of defending—for Shun to choose to search out ways to defend, rather than to prepare for the next wave of offence…
Maybe they had both understood how the other had changed, after all. It was an oddly satisfying feeling.
"I end my turn," she said.
[Turn 7: Shun] [H:1]
"Draw," Shun said. He snorted. "I could put up a whole fuss and bring out Ultimate Falcon to make it a very dramatic victory. But we both know the very simple way that I win here."
"I'm not here to be a test dummy for your new way of bringing out Ultimate Falcon," Nue said, rolling her eyes. "Yes, we both know. I don't have any tricks left either. Do it."
Shun nodded. "It's fitting," he said. "Nothing overly complicated would ever be able to defeat you, because you're the most complicated there is."
Nue snorted. "That's what you think."
"Raid Raptors - Blaze Falcon attacks you directly!"
The red bird charged forward—
And it eliminated the last of her life points.
Nue: 100 - 1000 = 0LP
Winner: Shun Kurosaki!
Nue exhaled, taking off the helmet. She breathed out slowly.
She had never liked exhaust fumes.
"Did you put in your best that time?" Shun asked, and really, it was a silly question.
"I put in the same effort against you as I always do," Nue said. She lifted a fist. "It's your victory, Shun."
"… good." For a moment, Shun took a step forward. Instead of returning the fistbump though, he wrapped his arms around her. "I was worried that you would hold back and lose on purpose to go and find Yuto."
Nue snorted. "You worry too much. It's you, isn't it? Even if I had won, you'd have done the same thing. If there's anyone that I can trust to watch out for my brother as well as I can, it's you, isn't it?" And that was it—that was the greatest show of trust that she could ever give to someone. Trusting them to protect Yuto as well as she could.
"Alright." Shun leaned in, whispering into her ear. "And I've defeated you now."
Nue's throat felt dry.
"Are there any more conditions, or can I finally say it?"
"... you have my permission to say it," Nue replied, uncharacteristically shy.
"Good." She could hear him smiling as he spoke—as sharply confident as ever, and yet with a tenderness that Nue thought he'd lost ever since the invasion began. "Then—I'm going to tell you this every day that I can. So listen carefully, so that you never forget it." He leaned back. While one arm still held onto her, his other hand gently pressed against her cheek, turning her face to look at his.
His next words were a soft whisper, and yet they were the only thing that she could hear for that brief moment.
"I like you."
Nue breathed out slowly again, her uncertainty finally draining from her. "Good," she said. "Because I like you too, and if you needed me to say that to know it, then you're a bigger idiot than I thought."
Shun laughed, sounding slightly breathless. He sounded like he had been nervous too. "I won't make the same mistakes again," he promised. "I'll make sure that I always hear you out from now on."
"Good."
This moment wouldn't last forever—
But despite everything that had happened before, and everything that might happen after, despite the fact that they still suffered from the same doubt and anger and grief—
For the first time in a long time, they were happy with where they were.
Down in the Underground, Yuto sneezed loudly.
"Is something wrong?" Yuzu asked. They were almost at what Yuto had called the rendezvous point of the Lancers, but she would be fine with slowing down if Yuto was sick.
"I just feel like I just missed something very important," Yuto said. "And as though I've finally been relieved of some large burden?" Being a rather logical and responsible person though, he shook it off a moment later. "It's probably nothing. Let's go."
Duel 1 Summary: Shun Kurosaki vs Nue Kamisoka
Duel Format: Normal Duel
Turn 1: Shun Kurosaki
Shun Normal Summons Raid Raptors - Tribute Lanius (4*/1800/400) from his hand. He uses Tribute Lanius's effect to send Raid Raptors - Fuzzy Lanius (4*/500/1500) from his Deck to the GY. He activates the effect of the Raid Raptors - Fuzzy Lanius that was sent to the GY, to add another Raid Raptors - Fuzzy Lanius from his Deck to his hand. However, he cannot Special Summon monsters this turn, except "Raid Raptors" monsters. He Special Summons Fuzzy Lanius from his hand with its own effect. Since he controls a DARK monster, he Special Summons Raid Raptors - Strangle Lanius (4*/1600/1100) from his hand, but he cannot Special Summon monsters this turn, other than DARK monsters. He activates the Continuous Spell, Raid Raptors - Nest, adding a "Raid Raptors" monster from his Deck to his hand with its effect. He overlays the Level 4 Raid Raptors - Fuzzy Lanius and the Level 4 Raid Raptors - Tribute Lanius, Xyz Summoning Raid Raptors - Force Strix (R4/100/2000/OU:2) in Defense Position. He activates the effect of Raid Raptors - Strangle Lanius, Special Summoning Raid Raptors - Fuzzy Lanius from the GY. He uses Fuzzy Lanius and Strangle Lanius to Link Summon Raid Raptors - Wise Strix. (L2/1400/↙, ↘)
He uses the effect of Raid Raptors - Wise Strix to Special Summon Raid Raptors - Mimicry Lanius (4*/1100/1900) from the Deck. He uses the effect of Raid Raptors - Force Strix, detaching Raid Raptors - Tribute Lanius to add a Level 4 DARK Winged Beast monster from his Deck to his hand. He uses the effect of Raid Raptors - Wise Strix, setting Rank-Up-Magic Revolution Force from the Deck. He ends his turn.
Turn 2: Nue Kamisoka
Nue draws. She Normal Summons Traptrix Atrax. (4*/1800/1000) She activates the Field Spell, Traptrip Garden. With Traptrip Garden's effect, she can Normal Summon a "Traptrix" monster every turn, in addition to her Normal Summon. She Normal Summons Traptrix Myrmeleo. (4*/1600/1200) She uses Myrmeleo's effect to add a "Hole" Normal Trap from her Deck to her hand. She activates the Trap Card, Treacherous Trap Hole, from her hand with Atrax's effect. While she has no Traps in her GY, she can destroy two monsters on the field. She destroys Force Strix and Wise Strix. Shun uses the effect of Raid Raptors - Fuzzy Lanius to add a third copy of Fuzzy Lanius from his Deck to his hand.
Nue uses Atrax and Myrmeleo to Link Summon Traptrix Cularia. (L2/1800/↓, →) She sets 2 cards and ends her turn. During the End Phase, Cularia Special Summons Traptrix Myrmeleo from the GY in Defense Position. With Myrmeleo's effect, Nue destroys Shun's set Rank-Up-Magic Revolution Force.
Turn 3: Shun Kurosaki
Shun draws. He Special Summons Fuzzy Lanius from his hand with its own effect. He activates the effect of Raid Raptors - Nest, adding Raid Raptors - Sharp Lanius (4*/1700/1000) from his Deck to his hand. He Normal Summons Raid Raptors - Sharp Lanius. Nue activates the Trap Card, Bottomless Trap Hole, destroying and banishing Sharp Lanius. With Cularia's effect, Nue sets Bottomless Trap Hole back to her field. Shun activates the Spell Card, Wing Requital, paying 600 LP to draw 2 cards. [SK: 4000 - 600 = 3400LP] He activates the Spell Card, Raid Raptors - Call, Special Summoning a second copy of Mimicry Lanius from the Deck. He overlays three Level 4 monsters—the two copies of Mimicry Lanius and Fuzzy Lanius—to Xyz Summon Raid Raptors - Rise Falcon. (R4/100/2000/OU:3) He activates Rise Falcon's effect, detaching an Overlay Unit to have it gain ATK equal to the total ATK of all Special Summoned monsters that Nue controls. (RRRF: 100 + 1800 + 1600 = 3500ATK) Shun starts his Battle Phase, having Rise Falcon attack Cularia. Nue activates the Trap Card, Titanocider, changing Rise Falcon's ATK to 0. [RRRF: 3500 → 0ATK) The attack continues, and Rise Falcon is destroyed. [SK: 3400 - 1200 = 2200LP] Shun moves to his Main Phase 2, activating Rank-Up-Magic Soul Shave Force. Shun pays half his LP to revive Rise Falcon and Rank Up that monster by two Ranks, Xyz Summoning Raid Raptors - Revolution Falcon. (R6/2000/3000/OU:1) [SK: 2200 / 2 = 1100LP] Shun activates the effect of Revolution Falcon, destroying Cularia and inflicting damage to Nue equal to her ATK. [NK: 4000 - 900 = 3100LP] Shun uses the effect of Raid Raptors - Mimicry Lanius. Since it was sent to the GY this turn, he can add a "Raid Raptors" card from his Deck to his hand. He sets 2 cards facedown and ends his turn.
Turn 4: Nue Kamisoka
Nue draws. She banishes Traptrix Myrmeleo from the field with Traptrip Graden's effect, Special Summoning Traptrix Cularia from her GY. She Normal Summons Traptrix Mantis (4*/1500/1300) from her hand. She adds a "Traptrix" monster from his Deck to his hand. She Special Summons Traptrix Arachnocampa (4*/1300/500) from her hand since she controls a "Traptrix" monster. She overlays the Level 4 Traptrix Arachnocampa and the Level 4 Traptrix Mantis, Xyz Summoning Baromet the Sacred Sheep Shrub. (R4/1900/2000/OU:2) She detaches an Overlay Unit from Baromet and returns Treacherous Trap Hole to the Deck to draw a card. (BTSSS: OU:2 - 1 = OU:1) She uses Traptrip Garden's effect to Normal Summon Traptrix Dionaea. (4*/1700/1100) She uses Dionaea's effect to Special Summon Traptrix Arachnocampa from the GY. She uses Dionaea and Cularia to Link Summon Traptrix Atypus. (L3/1800/←, ↓, →) She uses Arachnocampa to Link Summon Traptrix Sera. (L1/800/↓) She activates Traptrix Atypus's effect, targeting Revolution Falcon and Nest to negate their effects, and banishing Titanocider from the GY to destroy Revolution Falcon. Traptrix Sera sets Traptrix Holeutea to her field. Atypus attacks directly. Shun activates the Quickplay Spell, Rank-Up-Magic Raptor's Force, Special Summoning Revolution Falcon from the GY and Ranking Up by 1 Rank, Xyz Summoning Raid Raptors - Arsenal Falcon (R7/2500/2000/OU:1). Nue activates Bottomless Trap Hole.
Shun activates the Quickplay Spell, The Phantom Knights' Rank-Up-Magic Launch, Ranking Up Arsenal Falcon by 1 Rank to Xyz Summon Raid Raptors - Satellite Cannon Falcon. (R8/3000/2000/OU:2) He uses Satellite Cannon Falcon's effect to destroy all Spells/Traps that Nue controls. Sera's effect Special Summons Traptrix Genlisea (4*/1200/1600) from the Deck. She tributes Genlisea with her own effect to set Terrifying Trap Hole Nightmare from the Deck and Traptrix Holeutea from the GY, but they are banished when they leave the field. She ends her turn.
Turn 5: Shun Kurosaki
Shun draws. The Phantom Knights' Rank-Up-Magic Launch attaches itself to Satellite Cannon Falcon as material. (RRSCF: OU:2 + 1 = OU:3) He Special Summons Raid Raptors - Heel Eagle (3*/700/700) from his hand. Nue activates Terrifying Trap Hole Nightmare, destroying Satellite Cannon Falcon and banishing it from the GY. Traptrix Sera Special Summons Traptrix Nepenthes (4*/800/2000) from her Deck. Shun Normal Summons Raid Raptors - Vanishing Lanius. (4*/1300/1600) He uses Vanishing Lanius's effect to Special Summon Raid Raptors - Necro Vulture (4*/1000/1600) from his hand. He uses Nest's effect to add Raid Raptors - Last Strix from his Deck to his hand. He overlays the Level 4 Necro Vulture and Vanishing Lanius to Xyz Summon Raid Raptors - Force Strix. (OU:2) He detaches 1 Xyz Material from Force Strix to add Raid Raptors - Booster Strix from his Deck to his hand. (RRFS: OU:2 - 1 = OU:1) He activates the Spell Card, Rank-Up-Magic Raid Force, Ranking Up Force Strix by 1 Rank into Raid Raptors - Blaze Falcon. (R5/1000/2000/OU:2) Blaze Falcon activates its effect, detaching 1 Xyz Material to destroy all of Nue's Special Summoned monsters. (RRBF: OU:2 - 1 = OU:1) Furthermore, it inflicts 500 damage to her for each monster destroyed with this effect. [NK: 3100 - 500 x 4 = 1100LP] Blaze Falcon attacks directly. [NK: 1100 - 1000 = 100LP] Heel Eagle attacks directly. Nue activates Traptrix Holeutea, Special Summoning her as a monster (4*/400/2400) in Defense Postiion. Shun sets a card and ends his turn.
Turn 6: Nue Kamisoka
Nue draws. She activates the Spell Card, Pot of Extravagance, banishing 6 cards from her Extra Deck to draw 2 cards. She cannot draw cards by other card effects this turn. She Normal Summons Traptrix Vesiculo (4*/1400/1400) from her hand. She overlays the Level 4 Traptrix Vesiculo and the Level 4 Traptrix Holeutea to Xyz Summon Traptrix Allomerus (R4/2200/600/OU:2) in Attack Position. She detaches 2 Xyz Materials from Allomerus to Special Summon Traptrix Atrax from the GY. (TA: OU:2 - 2 = OU:0) Allomerus attacks Blaze Falcon. Shun banishes Raid Raptors - Booster Strix from his hand to destroy the attacking monster. Nue banishes Traptrix Holeutea from the GY to Special Summon Traptrix Allomerus from the GY. Traptrix Allomerus attacks Blaze Falcon once more. Shun activates the Trap Card, Raid Raptors - Evasive, removing one of Blaze Falcon's Xyz Material to negate the attack. (RRBF: OU:1 - 1 = OU:0) Atrax attacks Heel Eagle. Shun Special Summons Raid Raptors - Last Strix (1*/100/100) from his hand in Defense Position with its own effect, gaining 100 LP for each Spell/Trap on his field and in his GY. The attack continues. [SK: 1100 + 900 - 1100 = 900LP]
Turn 7: Shun Kurosaki
Shun draws. Blaze Falcon attacks directly. [NK: 100 - 1000 = 0LP] Shun wins!
Different Card Effects from TCG:
Rank-Up-Magic Revolution Force - Anime effect. After reading through the duels that it appears in, I have decided to treat it as though the Overlay Units the original monster has are discarded, since Revolution Force does not have the clause that states that Overlay Units are attached to the new monster.
Raid Raptors - Rise Falcon - Anime effect.
Raid Raptors - Revolution Falcon - Anime effect.
Rank-Up-Magic Raptor's Force - TCG effect, but works for any Xyz Monster rather than just Raidraptors.
The Phantom Knights' Rank-Up-Magic Launch - Anime effect, but a Quickplay Spell.
Rank-Up-Magic Raid Force - Anime effect
Raid Raptors - Blaze Falcon - Anime effect
Raid Raptors - Evasive - Anime-only card.
End Notes:
If there's one thing in common for how I designed all the 'pairings' in this story, it's that they really don't have it easy. And the reason why none of them have actually been able to get together officially without any complications is because of their own character flaws. E.g. Yuno and Miharu's communication issues, Yuya and Yuzu's general immaturity about how to behave around each other, Yuri and Serena's stunted upbringings, etc. Literally the only couple that has successfully managed to get together is Yuto/Ruri, and that's because… well, I'll explain more when Ruri actually shows up in a major capacity again. But yeah, pre-character development Shun and Nue… well, they're both slightly more functional people in the present. Their argument in the flashback emphasises both of their flaws.
I think I've already said in the past that my original intention was never to pair Shun and Nue together, which may make most people here mildly incredulous. The thing was, their character arcs just intersected really well. I still have a lot in mind for Kurosaki in the future, since I think I've made it clear that he's one of my favourite Arc V characters—or YGO characters in general. And the thing is, Kurosaki is absolutely an asshole for like the entire first half of canon. If not for the fact that he's cool as hell, he'd be the most insufferable character ever. And yet he's insufferable for understandable reasons. When I figured out early on that I wanted to soften Shun's outlook towards the Lancers in general earlier on—so that I could make him and Dennis genuinely get along before the Friendship Cup, get him and Serena to talk, etc—I realised that just Yuto's presence wouldn't work, because in canon, Yuto is still kind of a bystander to all of his antics. He needed someone who he was close to who would genuinely call him out for being an asshole, and well, Nue was already there and it would be completely in character for her. As I was planning that part out though (around the time that Chapter 12 was being written) I realised that the Kurosaki that I was writing was already a lot softer than his canon counterpart, considering that he hadn't actually attacked a single person despite technically having the chance to, and not just because Miharu found him—because if you think about it, he was watching the LDS vs You Show duels instead of going after Professor Marco, even though the ripple effect hadn't hit the story that hard yet. So the only explanation other than a reverse-butterfly effect was that something had already changed pre-canon to make him less hostile, even if he was still suspicious. Thus, the flashbacks above were written for Chapter 12. In the end, I pulled them out because I thought it would work better in the future once I fleshed out their dynamic a bit more. I did read through the scenes though, and I passed it to my friend like "please tell me that there's any way that this reads as platonic" and she just looked back at me with a deadpan expression. And thus ParadiseBirdshipping was born. :D But yeah, essentially, just like how Reira's character arc was pushed to start in Standard instead, so I could explore slightly different dynamics, Kurosaki's more hostile aspects were mostly dealt with before he even showed up in Standard.
And the part where Nue muses about how things might have turned out if Academia hadn't attacked is based on the way that trauma can interfere with the forming of relationships. I won't say that it's based completely on personal experience, necessarily, but sometimes, when experiencing great loss, it can be easy to lash out, to hurt others. And even those around you who love you may not be able to understand at all. It's no one's fault, but sometimes, it just happens. In a sense, the Xyz characters aren't just suffering from the loss of their loved ones, but rather, the loss of who they could have been. There's always the feeling that there's someone better that you could have been if not for circumstances beyond your control. Of course, they're all managing it decently well, but even so, I wanted to portray that conflict somewhat.
But yes, I'm satisfied with how that turned out! Also, for certain reasons, I needed Shun/Nue to actually be upfront with each other before the Xyz Arc because of how I'm dealing with certain subplots in that arc.
Also, I have been waiting for Baromet to get its TCG name for ages now. Thank you, Konami, let me finally give the cute plant sheep to literally one of the two most abrasive female characters in the story.
Why does Shun have Phantom Knights' Launch? In universe, because Yuto gave it to him as a sign of their friendship. Out of universe, because I needed him to have a Quickplay "Rank-Up-Magic" Spell that worked on a monster on the field at any point.
Also, yes, Nue definitely suffers from not having the first turn here, but in the end, her loss is still a loss.
Review responses! I decided to provide opinions on mentioned pairings as a separate section below. Also, reminder to Guests that it would be nice if you wrote under a guest name!
To Mr. Owl, glad to hear it! I definitely intend to give Zarc more personality to work with than he had in canon, haha. Thanks for your support!
To phantomdragons, glad that you enjoyed the duel! Your observation about Yuno and Miharu is pretty delightful, actually—that's exactly the feeling I hoped to create. There will be a time when it goes away, but for now, there's still that slight distance there. I think that the only duel that challenges Miharu vs Aki in terms of length is the rewritten Shun vs Dennis.
To the Guest talking about legacy characters, thanks a lot! I do think a lot about how the legacy characters exist in this story, actually—because it's really tricky. On one hand, I want to make use of them for character growth of other characters, but like you said, I don't want them to overstay their welcome. I've never made it a secret that while I'll be having cameos, the legacy characters will never be more important to the fic than the actual characters of Arc-V/the new counterparts.
To cardfan135, that's totally understandable, honestly. Arc-V is ultimately a story with a tightly packed plot, and unless you put in a lot of time and work, especially if you just want to write cool duels, sometimes people prefer to just take the route of dumbing down their pairings.
To PhilJS89, yeah, I think I mentioned this before, but Miharu's trauma is very much based on real life childhood trauma, which takes a long time to recover from. I'm glad that you like her! Honestly, I don't expect people to like all the OCs of this fic, because they're all so radically different, but I do hope that people can identify with at least some of the feelings and emotions that those characters have. Ah, that's interesting. I never watched 5Ds' full dub, so I didn't know about changes, haha. I'll check out the tracks you mentioned!
To LHOCIN, glad you enjoyed the duel! :) I actually totally agree! Team New World should have been shown winning at least once or twice against other teams as well. :) The thing about age is especially iffy because some fics have the MCs have kids like a year or so after the war, and… it's all a bit yikes for me, yeah. And yeah, I think Serena and Yuzu should have gotten to interact way more as friends, so that the Fusion Arc's parasite reveal would have been slightly more impactful, if they were going to do stuff like that. Yuya and Yuto got some moments to bond in the Xyz arc, but I do wish they got more to do.
To Sanic Bandicoot, for now, probably not. It'd be hard to plan out a sequel when a main story isn't even done yet.
To the Guest asking what Pokemon teams I think the Yu-boys would have, hypothetically… you're talking to a Pokemon nerd, haha! I'll drop a few for each of the characters, since it's a topic that I actually like. No legacy characters though, even if they're important to the story. Yuya (Politoed, Primarina, Blacephalon), Yuri (Roserade, Overquil, Thievul), Yugo (Rotom, Scolipede, Galvantula, Manectric), Yuto (Bisharp, Absol, Aegislash, Noivern), Yuji (Runerigus, Shedinja, Dragonair, Linoone, Type: Null), Yuno (Lapras, Floatzel, Dragonair, Tatsugiri), Yuzu (Meloetta, Florges, Leavanny, Audino), Serena (Empoleon, Clefable, Mightyena), Rin (Froslass, A-Ninetales, Aurorus), Ruri (Togekiss, Emolga, Oricorio (Baile)), Chiaki (Gourgeist, Gyarados, Volcarona, Blaziken), Miharu (Lilligant, Xerneas, Hatterene, Mimikyu, Porygon Z), Mion (Mismagius, Espathra, Beheeyem, G-Articuno), Shino (Tinkaton, Flutter Mane, Weavile, Morpeko), Kaname (H-Zoroark, Milotic, Dewgong, Eelektross), Nue (Ribombee, Hydreigon, Arboliva), Kyorin (Polteageist, Glaceon, Altaria), Hitoda (Araquanid, Reuniclus), Shun (Talonflame, Skarmory, Corviknight), Dennis (Cursola, Eiscue), Sawatari (Palafin, persian), Reiji (Garchomp, Chandelure), Reira (Dragapult, Eevee), Gongenzaka (Blastoise, Hariyama), Arisu (Frosmoth, Yanmega), Sora (Alcremie, Vanilluxe), Tsukikage (Shiftry, Kabutops)
Ok, that's all. Moving on! :)
To the Guest asking about Harmonic Synchro Fusion—while I'm not trying to be rude, even if you want Yuji to get more cool stuff, Harmonic Synchro Fusion literally can't do anything in Burning Abyss. Like, literally, it can't do anything at all. There's no reason to ever give it to him. And he's neither the Synchro or Fusion counterpart.
To kikuruhime, great note there! Yes, Miharu is the most distant from the other Lancers, due to being sent to Synchro with Yuzu and Yugo, and later, not really interacting with the rest as much. Obviously she's friends with Yuto and Reira, but other than them and Yuno, she's not actually friends with anyone else in the Lancers. Which is pretty obvious, considering her reserved personality. She'll… get there.
To the Guest asking about synchronisation, thanks for understanding the issue with spoilers, haha. Actually, there have already been scenes of synchronisation, but 'synchronisation as seen in the anime'... yeah, you've actually hit a pretty interesting point. :) I'm surprised that someone's noticed it already, actually, and while I can't address your theory directly, I will mention that in general, synchronisation does occur, but not necessarily in the way that the anime shows it. In fact, it has already occurred more times than most people here have probably noticed, but I will confess that most of the story has been intentionally written so that any strange (for lack of a better phrase) supernatural fuckery has mostly happened off-screen, or been viewed through a lens that won't notice it. Can't go any further than that, but your theory was really interesting to read, whether it's correct or not!
To the Guest asking about Empty Abyss's effect, thanks for reminding me that I still haven't revealed his effect, lmao. I swear it's not intentional, but yeah, its effect has been fixed from the start, and at this point, with the sunk cost fallacy, I might as well carry on to keep it hidden. I won't reply to that question because of that though.
To the Guest who said that I "don't dare" to give Yuji an overpowered infinite combo that no one can counter, I get that you're excited, but please phrase things better. Sometimes, even if you want something to happen, a story may not do those things, and it's ultimately up to the writer. I already explained my rationale in response to your previous review, so I'd appreciate not being insulted for not doing something, even if it's unintentional. To clarify, I'm not getting mad at you, because I do understand your enthusiasm, but yeah, this story is not going to have any infinite loops in duels, because then that makes said duelist invincible, and that's the kind of stuff that leads to power creep and cards with highly specific and long effects just to counter one specific thing. There's a reason why cards that facilitate infinite loops are also banned IRL.
To the Guest asking about Odd-Eyes and Empty Abyss evolving in this arc, since Dark Rebellion, Magnetic Current and Clear Wing already evolved, that's a really good question!... that I can't answer, lmao. I will clarify straight away that Odd-Eyes does have an evolution in this story. What I will say is that there is actually a common thread in the dragons' evolutions, but I can't talk about that until it all happens. But yes, the dragons will evolve at the right time.
Alright! Pairing opinions! (Notes—I'm not commenting on any ships with non-canon characters here, though if you do want to know, you can ask! Just the ships mentioned by commenters with canon characters.) In general, I'm fine with the Bracelet Girl/Yu-boy pairings—in fact, I feel like that's an obvious sentiment, considering that I'm writing them here, lmao. I generally don't mind most Arc-V pairings though. I will admit that Serena/Yuzu is probably the pairing that I like most though. *shrugs* *dodges tomatoes*
I'm going for a medical checkup in a few days, so the next update might take a little while longer to come out. :) Nothing major, just to check on some stuff. It's also a duel that I'm going to suffer a bit when it comes to writing, so yeah.
QOTC: This is just something interesting that I've noticed in the fandom, but when it comes to main characters and their decks, do you prefer them to stick to just one archetype/a mixed archetype deck, to switch decks between different archetypes, or alternatively to use an OC deck?
The reason for this question is because I've seen quite a lot of all three, and I was just curious about people's opinions. Do you prefer characters to just stick to one deck? Do you think that switching decks is still interesting? And can you actually follow duels with OC archetypes, even though you might not know the deck that well? :D
See you all next time!
