Starting Notes:
Welcome back! This chapter is technically on the shorter side, because it's the continuation of the duel from last chapter. Of course, the duel itself is still fairly long. Enjoy! :D You might want to reread the last part of the duel in the last chapter, just so that you remember what happened before this chapter. This chapter does kind of just continue on from there.
Chapter #65: Dragons' Cry
"Now that we've come to this point," Yuri said. "Before I do anything in this duel… I deserve to know what happened the last time we dueled."
Shino's smile gave him no answer to his question. Masquerade, Sprind and Quaeritis all let out threatening sounds—the first two roared, while Quaeritis let out a soft, insidious hiss.
"I deserve to know, so I can stop wondering. Because…" He grimaced, leaning more of his weight on Yuya's shoulder. "Because I felt that today."
That moment when he had lapsed into that strange fugue, before waking up in a collapsing building. It had felt exactly the same as back then, when they had dueled, he had brought out Starving Venom, and then—
Blood. Everywhere.
"I felt that same thing today, and… it means that when it happens, I only do something horrible." Even more horrible than anything that he normally did. "Tell me, Shino. If you can forgive me so easily… you must know why I do these things!"
To anyone around them, they'd probably assume that he was talking about his normal self. They'd think that he was asking Shino 'why am I evil', or some kind of moral nonsense like that. But Yuri knew himself very well—self-reflection led to self-hatred, after all, and he was very familiar with both. It was nothing like that.
No. He was asking about something that no one knew about except the two of them.
He was asking her why he lost control of himself. Why, sometimes, it felt like there was something else imposing itself on him. This strange feeling of losing control…
"Am I mad?" He muttered.
"You're not crazy," Shino refuted. Even so, with that single statement—she had proven Yuri's point.
She knew more than she was letting on.
"Then tell me why I did what I did!"
"We can make that one of the stakes between you and me then," Shino said. "If you win, I'll tell you what I can."
"... deal," Yuri said tensely. "You haven't ended your turn yet, Shino."
"I suppose not!" Shino still controlled Branded Lost and Despia, Theater of the Branded—along with her three monsters, still looming in front of Yuri. Masquerade, Sprind and Quaeritis. Her life points were at 800. "I will banish Despian Tragedy from the graveyard. With its effect, I will set the Trap Card, Brightest, Blazing, Branded King to the field."
Her field negate, then…
"I will set a card and end my turn there!"
… alright.
"She only has 800 life points left. You should be able to…"
"She would never have let her life points drop so low if she couldn't defend them," Yuri said tensely.
[Turn 10: Yuri] [H:5]
"My turn."
"Hey, are you alright?" Yuya adjusted himself so that Yuri could reach for his duel disk more easily. Yuri both appreciated and despised the sentiment. Around them, people were staring at him.
He looked at his cards.
"... hah."
"Huh?" Yuya peered at him.
"Nothing." What the hell was this supposed to be a sign of? How had these cards even gotten in his deck? Whatever. As improbable as it was…
He'd take it.
"I'll activate the Spell Card, Graceful Charity. I'll draw three cards and discard two."
Ah. There was the other one.
"Since I sent Predaplant Byblisp to the graveyard, I can add a "Predaplant" monster from my deck to my hand. Witness what I just got my hands on, Shino," Yuri called out. "With the Scale 8 Predaplant Spider Orchid—"
"No way!" Yuya exclaimed.
Yeah, I'm pretty sure this is on you, founder of Pendulum Summoning. Somehow, when we were talking… some kind of supernatural stuff must have happened then, when we agreed on our fathers. And it really says something about my life that I'm just accepting that as fact. Well, I'm not complaining.
"—and the Scale 8 Predaplant Triantis, I will set the Pendulum Scales!" The two pillars of light appeared around him. In one of them, a delicate white flower with yellow stamens and pistils that resembled a spider's segmented legs appeared. The centre of it was open, with thin yellow fibres surrounding the entrance that resembled some kind of beast's maw. In the other Pendulum Scale, a large green flower mantis appeared, red orbs and pustules surrounding its body. Its mandibles clicked, resembling thin bushels of leaves. At the bottom of each of its legs, the thin green limbs split into brown root-like structures.
"Pendulum, huh?" Shino hummed. "Not something I'm particularly interested in myself, but… yours look good."
"On the turn that Predaplant Spider Orchid is set in the Pendulum Scale, I can destroy a face-up Spell or Trap on the field! I will choose Despia, Theater of the Branded." The Field Spell was destroyed permanently. "I'll activate the Spell Card, Predadesperation. Since my opponent controls more monsters than me and have 2000 or less life points, I can discard a "Predaplant" monster and draw three cards, but I cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck this turn, except Fusion Monsters! I'll then Normal Summon Predaplant Chlamydosundew!" The small green lizard with frills around its neck appeared, sticking out its tongue for a brief moment.
[Predaplant Chlamydosundew (2*/600/200/DARK/Plant/Effect)]
"With Chlamydosundew's effect, I will perform a Fusion Summon of a DARK Fusion Monster using monsters in my hand, on my field, or that you control with a Predator Counter! With the Pendulum Effect of Predaplant Triantis, I can also treat cards in my Pendulum Zones as monsters on the field for this Fusion Summon! I will fuse Predaplant Chlamydosundew on the field with Predaplant Spider Orchid in my Pendulum Scale!"
"Two DARK monsters on the field…" Shino tilted her head. "Is this what I think it is?"
"No," Yuri said. "I'm going to destroy all three of your monsters this turn, Shino—step by step. Two beautiful flowers with an insect-alluring fragrance! Now become one, and form the ancient creature slumbering beneath nature's bounty! Fusion Summon! Appear! Level 5! Ancient cetacean—Predaplant Ambulomelides!" Ambulomelides appeared first, naturally—it let out a hiss. Despite being weaker than every monster on Shino's field, it didn't seem intimidated.
[Predaplant Ambulomelides (5*/1000/2500/DARK/Plant/Fusion/Effect)]
"When Predaplant Ambulomelides is Fusion Summoned, I can add a "Predaplant" monster or a "Predap" card from my deck to my hand!" He spotted another card with a split border in his deck, picking it up. "I will complete the Pendulum Scale with the Scale 1 Predaplant Bufolicula!" A large green toad appeared, red veins running across its clammy skin. "With my current Pendulum Scales, I can Pendulum Summon monsters from Level 2 to Level 7! Swing, pendulum! Cast your cold light across the darkness! Pendulum Summon! Come from my hand, Predaplant Spinodionaea! And from my Extra Deck, Predaplant Spider Orchid!"
The two monsters appeared—the delicate but deadly flower, along with the green reptilian creature with a large maw on its back.
[Predaplant Spider Orchid (1*/S8/0/0/DARK/Plant/Pendulum/Effect)]
[Predaplant Spinodionaea (4*/1800/0/DARK/Plant/Effect)]
"How'd you do that?" Yuya exclaimed. "Most people take a while to learn how to Pendulum Summon!"
"I am simply that good, obviously," Yuri said smoothly. In reality, it was simply that Serena had used that summoning method in front of him, and he refused to ever fall behind her in anything. So he'd simply followed her example.
He'd still make this summoning method his though. For all that he had criticised the Pendulum Monsters for being unable to stand alone, he could already see how this would help his arsenal.
"Predaplant Spinodionaea's effect! I'll target Despian Quaeritis and place a Predator Counter on it."
"No response," Shino replied.
Was she saving her Trap for later then? Specifically, for Starving Venom?
… smart of her.
"With the effect of Predaplant Ambulomelides, I'll tribute your Despian Quaeritis to Special Summon a "Predaplant" monster from my deck." Quaeritis vanished in sparks of light. "Come—Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra!" The thin green snake that resembled a vine appeared, the flower on its tail unfurling.
[Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra (3*/1000/1500/DARK/Plant/Effect)]
"When Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra is Special Summoned, I can add a "Fusion" or "Polymerization" card from my deck to my hand." Yuri picked up a card.
"And because you tributed Quaeritis as a cost, it's not counted as having left the field by an opponent's card effect," Shino said. "Clever!"
"Spell Card, Predaprime Fusion! I can perform a Fusion Summon of a DARK Fusion Monster using monsters from either field, including two or more DARK monsters I control!"
"I see," Shino said thoughtfully. "So that's the real reason that you got rid of Quaeritis first—it's the only non-DARK monster I control." There was something playful to her tone. "Not particularly good Fusion material for you to use."
"Oh, like you have any room to talk about using your opponent's monsters as Fusion Material," Yuri snarked. "I will fuse—"
"Trap Card, Brightest, Blazing, Branded King." Shino interrupted. "I will target Sprind the Irondash Dragon. This turn, the effects of all cards on the field are negated except for it." The entire field was surrounded by bright light and golden fire, and Yuri's card was sealed off. "We're not dealing with Triphyovertum, Yuri, if you please."
"That's fine," Yuri said readily. "I still have options."
Bufolicula's effect had been negated by the effect of Shino's Trap, but it was… a Pendulum Monster that gave him more material to work with for a Fusion Summon in Triantis, and a Pendulum Monster that allowed him to perform Fusion Summons every turn in Bufolicula. Could his monsters be any more obviously a mirror of Serena's? This was ridiculous.
"I will activate the Spell Card, Polymerization. I'll fuse Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra and Predaplant Spinodionaea." The two monsters shot up. "Two beautiful flowers with an insect-alluring fragrance! Now become one, and from the hell beneath your petals, give birth to a new terror! Fusion Summon! Appear! Poisonous dragon with hungry fangs. Level 8! Starving Venom Fusion Dragon!" The purple and green dragon appeared on the field, roaring furiously.
[Starving Venom Fusion Dragon (8*/2800/2000/DARK/Dragon/Fusion/Effect)]
"Hey, Starving Venom," Shino greeted casually. "You're as beautiful as ever."
"When Starving Venom Fusion Dragon is Fusion Summoned using only monsters on the field as material, it can gain attack points equal to the attack points of all Special Summoned monsters you control! You already used your trap to avoid Triphyovertum, so I hope you don't regret your decision! Hungry Fang!"
[Starving Venom Fusion Dragon: 2800 + 2500 + 2500 = 7800ATK]
"Then, I will activate the effect of Starving Venom Fusion Dragon! I will target a Level 5 or higher monster you control, negate its effects and copy its effects until the End Phase! I will choose Sprind the Irondash Dragon! Predator's Mimicry!"
"Ah, and you want to borrow its effect to destroy it," Shino said impishly. "... nope. Set card, the Quickplay Spell, Light of the Branded. I can target a Fusion Monster on the field or in the graveyard, and return it to the Extra Deck!"
"Huh?" Yuya frowned. "Is she trying to return her monster to the Extra Deck so you can't copy its effect?"
"Dig out your ears," Yuri said, rolling his eyes. "On the field. Not on her field."
"... what?"
"I will return Starving Venom Fusion Dragon to the Extra Deck!" Starving Venom was torn off the field, much to Yuri's annoyance. "And then, I can Special Summon a monster from your graveyard to your field, and Fallen of Albaz from my graveyard. I will give you Darlingtonia Cobra again, and bring back Fallen of Albaz." The two monsters reappeared on the field. "Fallen of Albaz's effect. I will discard a card and perform a Fusion Summon using Fallen of Albaz and Predaplant Ambulomelides!"
The two monsters shot up, meaning that Yuri couldn't bring out Dragostapelia conveniently either.
"I saved this one until now," Shino said. "You know who it is—you know how difficult it is to deal with."
Saved this one until now…
There was something strange about that phrasing. How would she have known to wait?
"Mirror, mirror, on the wall. Cruel ice bleeds into the empty glass. Reflections. Empty fighting. A cold grip. Submerge in the frozen jade, young legend, and forbid entry to the unworthy! Fusion Summon. Level 8! Mirrorjade the Iceblade Dragon!" The beautiful blue dragon—Shino's ace—crashed down on the field with a loud roar, red eyes staring forward.
[Mirrorjade the Iceblade Dragon (8*/3000/2500/DARK/Wyrm/Fusion/Effect)]
"I never understood why your ace was a monster so…" Yuri searched for the right word to use, only to come up short. The closest that he could get to it was the too-literal 'sharp', and yet that wasn't quite right. 'Cruel' was too harsh as well.
That was it.
"Why your monster is so harsh," Yuri said. "It's not like you."
"Mirrors are reflections," Shino replied. She winked. "When you look in a mirror, what you see in it is not truly how you see 'yourself'. The reflection of a mirror is what others see when they look at you."
"... what's your point?" Yuri returned.
"Well, if you think about it that way, people are often bad at seeing themselves as they really are. Self-loathing, guilt, occasionally self-importance, and sometimes even mental illness. Our images of ourselves are distorted by all of these things." There was something meaningful to her gaze—as though, despite all the people around them, he was the only one that those words were for. "So, if a mirror is an 'external' view of a person, what is jade? In some cultures, they consider jade a symbol of the immortal soul. In some ways, it protects and connects a person with the heavens—celestials and the afterlife, too."
"Am I in a history lesson?" Yuri snarked, though a part of him was shaken. If he was understanding her correctly…
"I'd like to think," Shino said, "that I'm a person that sees others better than they see themselves."
And fuck, that cut far too deep.
"Well, I'll never get in a debate with you, because you'll talk until I'm too confused to know what you're saying."
Shino winked. "Sounds 'bout right. Well, the ball's in your court. Branded Lost will let me add another monster that lists Fallen of Albaz in its text from my deck to my hand."
Yes. The situation had shifted rapidly. Now, Shino had Mirrorjade, Sprind and Masquerade on her field. Meanwhile, Yuri's earlier move had been countered, leaving him with just Spider Orchid and Darlingtonia Cobra on the field, and one card in his hand.
"Spell Card, Allure of Darkness. I'll draw two cards and banish a DARK monster from my hand." Luckily, he did draw a DARK monster, so he banished it. "Spell Card, Fusion Substitute. I will fuse Predaplant Spider Orchid and Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra."
"Hah. Is he coming back?"
Yuri nodded. "Two beautiful flowers with an insect-alluring fragrance! Now become one, and from the hell beneath your petals, give birth to a new terror! Fusion Summon! Appear! Poisonous dragon with hungry fangs. Level 8! Starving Venom Fusion Dragon!" Starving Venom reappeared on the field again. This time, as its wings spread out…
There was no stopping it.
"Let's try this again, Shino," Yuri said. "Starving Venom Fusion Dragon will gain attack points equal to the total attack points of all monsters you control."
"I'd activate Mirrorjade's effect," Shino said, "but I suspect that the card you happened to banish for Allure of Darkness was Sessiliflora Walleye?"
"Yes," Yuri said. "So since Sessiliflora Walleye was banished earlier, until the End Phase of this turn, my Fusion Monsters are unaffected by the effects of your monsters that were Special Summoned from the Extra Deck! So you can't interfere with Starving Venom any longer! Feast, Starving Venom—Hungry Fang!"
[Starving Venom Fusion Dragon: 2800 + 3000 + 2500 + 2500 = 10800ATK]
"Let's try this again, Shino—Mirrorjade can't stop me now. Instead—I will activate the effect of Starving Venom! I will negate the effects of Sprind the Irondash Dragon and copy them! Predator's Mimicry!" He couldn't copy Mirrorjade's effects, powerful as it was—after all, it required monsters with Fallen of Albaz as a Fusion Material for its cost, and he had none of those. Sprind was the next best thing. "I will then activate the effect that Starving Venom stole from Sprind the Irondash Dragon! I will move Starving Venom to the column where Mirrorjade is!" Thus, that was the column with an Extra Monster Zone. With a loud roar, Starving Venom cut down both Masquerade and Mirrorjade, which were in the same column. Then, it slashed its tail through the air, destroying Branded Lost for good.
"Good reversal," Yuya said. Yuri blinked. Was Yuya trying to… cheer him on?
… huh.
It was a pretty good reversal, obviously—Shino had gone from three Fusion Monsters on the field to one. And Mirrorjade's effect…
Well. No one other than the two of them knew about that effect, and the double-edged sword that it was about to become for both of them.
"Since a Fusion Monster I control left the field by a card effect, I can activate the effect of Aluber the Jester of Despia. I will Special Summon him from the graveyard and negate your Starving Venom's effect!" Aluber reappeared on the field in Defense Position, and Starving Venom roared in annoyance again as its effects were negated.
[Starving Venom Fusion Dragon: 10800 → 2800ATK]
"... tch." In that case, the damage he was going to deal wasn't enough.
"And since Masquerade the Blazing Dragon is banished when it leaves the field, The Golden Swordsoul's effect activates. I can banish it from my graveyard to Special Summon a LIGHT Spellcaster monster from my hand or graveyard. Return from the graveyard, Blazing Cartesia, the Virtuous!"
She must have discarded that card for Fallen of Albaz's effect. The white-haired girl reappeared on the field, and Yuri grimaced, slightly annoyed.
[Blazing Cartesia, the Virtuous (4*/1500/1500/LIGHT/Spellcaster/Tuner/Effect)]
"And you already know what my next move is, Yuri," Shino said. "With Blazing Cartesia, the Virtuous's effect, I will perform a Fusion Summon using monsters from my hand or field as material. I will fuse Blazing Cartesia, the Virtuous and Sprind the Irondash Dragon!"
Performing yet another Fusion Summon…
And if she was using Cartesia as material, there was only one option.
"Great puppet possessed by blasphemous shadows. Dance within the church of destructive emptiness, and let your cursed soul rise from the ashes! Fusion Summon! Level 8! Dragon of dark tragedy, Granguignol the Dusk Dragon!" A large dragon with a rusty-looking gold for its scales appeared. There was something sharp to its appearance. Long, stained glass formed its wings, spreading out behind it like curtains on a stage. Red eyes, seeming almost tormented, stared down from the dragon's face. Despite its beautiful appearance—dangerous and regal—it was also… cruel, in a way.
[Granguignol the Dusk Dragon (8*/2500/2500/LIGHT/Spellcaster/Fusion/Effect)]
"When Granguignol the Dusk Dragon is Fusion Summoned, I can send a Level 6 or higher LIGHT or DARK monster from my deck or Extra Deck to the graveyard." She gestured towards him, dropping a card from her Extra Deck into the graveyard. "My monster is in Defense Position. So?"
"So your main goal with all of that was just to avoid damage?"
"If it works, it works."
"... fair. Starving Venom!" His monster roared, cutting down Granguignol. "Main Phase 2. I'll banish Fusion Substitute from my graveyard and shuffle Predaplant Ambulomelides into the Extra Deck to draw a card from my deck." He glanced at the card. "I'll set a card and end my turn. Well?"
The side of Shino's lip curled up. "It may be a surprise to you," she said, "but I didn't activate the effect of Mirrorjade the Iceblade Dragon earlier."
Yuri snorted. Shino laughed.
"What effect is she talking about?" Yuya asked, and Yuri was in such a good mood that he actually answered.
"During the End Phase, if Mirrorjade left the field because of a card I control, Shino can destroy all monsters I control," Yuri said. "But if she did that, Starving Venom's effect would trigger once it left the field—meaning that Aluber's effect no longer applies to it, and it wouldn't be negated. It would destroy Aluber and inflict 1800 damage to her. And I don't think that she has a way to stop that."
"However, I do have to say something!"
Yuri and Yuya turned back to Shino.
"You're the first person who pushed me to this extent—and that means that I have quite a lot of effects that triggered. First—since a Fusion Monster was sent to the graveyard this turn, I can add Blazing Cartesia, the Virtuous and Incredible Ecclesia, the Virtuous from my graveyard to my hand. I can also activate the effect of Sprind the Irondash Dragon and Albion the Branded Dragon in my graveyard. With Sprind's effect, I will Special Summon Springans Kitt from the deck!" A white-haired girl with mechanical arms appeared, winking cheerfully.
[Springans Kitt (4*/1700/1000/DARK/Beast/Effect)]
"And with Albion the Branded Dragon's effect, I will set a "Branded" Spell or Trap from my deck. With Springans Kitt's effect, I will add a "Branded" Spell or Trap from my deck or graveyard to my hand, and then, I can place a card in my hand on the bottom of the deck.
Yes, but…
Yuri finally felt somewhat comfortable with the situation. He had baited out the Brightest, Blazing, Branded King earlier, so that she couldn't use its effect to add it back to her hand. He had baited out Mirrorjade, and he didn't think that she could bring it back.
He obviously hadn't been watching the duel so far, so he had no clue what was in her graveyard.
Would she answer if he asked?...
"Which monsters have you used so far?" He asked before she drew a card.
"Brigrand, Titaniklad, Granguignol, Masquerade, Sprind, Quaeritis, Mirrorjade. I just sent Albion to the graveyard too."
So, from what he remembered, that left only Lubellion and Alba-Lenatus for her to use. Neither of those two cards could take out Starving Venom with their effects though.
[Turn 11: Shino] [H:4]
"You already did quite well—I think taking down my entire original field from scratch is a pretty good move by anyone." Shino drew a card. "Since I have Fallen of Albaz in my graveyard, I can Special Summon Blazing Cartesia, the Virtuous from my hand." The white-haired girl reappeared in front of her.
"So you're Fusion Summoning again?"
"I am a Fusion specialist, after all." A sharp wink. "The day that you see me use anything other than Fusion, it'll be against someone that I actually consider my enemy. Blazing Cartesia's effect! I will fuse Springans Kitt, Aluber the Jester of Despia and Blazing Cartesia, the Virtuous!"
Huh?
"Monument of a holier nation, be corrupted by the dark malice that has seeped into your people's bones. Carry that ugly stigma, and turn into a monster just as hideous as you once were beautiful! Fusion Summon! Despian Proskenion!" A large purple sculpture appeared behind Shino, towering over her. It was something dark and hideous—hard to look at, let alone perceive its shape. Two serpents draped themselves in front of a shape that seemed like a fusion of several terrible creatures at the same time.
[Despian Proskenion (11*/3200/3200/LIGHT/Fiend/Fusion/Effect)]
"I've never seen this one before…"
"The 'skene' is the stage," Shino said. "And 'proskenion' is the area in front of it. You could call it the shadow beneath the stage." She grinned. "And really—the only reason I brought out this monster was for its attack points! After all, you were expecting me to fuse Starving Venom away and attack you directly with something, right? So you probably added Sarraceniant to your hand."
Yuri carefully kept a poker face.
"Let's test that," she continued playfully. "I will activate the Quickplay Spell, Light of the Branded."
"She's using it again?" Yuya exclaimed.
"She must have taken it back with Kitt," Yuri muttered.
"You don't seem surprised?"
"Against her, I'm lucky to keep Starving Venom on the field for a single turn," Yuri muttered. He shifted—and nearly fell. Yuya let out a yelp, barely supporting him properly. There was a hurried moment of the two of them struggling to stabilise themselves and balance well.
"You really need to get treated, Yuri," Shino said softly. "It should still be fine for you to walk if you get treated soon."
"I'm not going to surrender just for that."
"I didn't tell you to." Shino shook her head. "But it's… a little sad for me to see you like that." She gestured forward. Starving Venom vanished from the field. Fallen of Albaz returned to her field, while Chlamydosundew reappeared on Yuri's field—both in Attack Position. "I can't exactly put it in Defence Position—it would be the wrong move, no matter what I feel. I'll activate the effect of Fallen of Albaz. I will discard a card to perform a Fusion Summon. I will fuse Predaplant Chlamydosundew and Fallen of Albaz. You who mock the light and deceive the darkness. With the power that you crave, turn into the beastly demon that melts even the firmest of glaciers! Fusion Summon! Level 8! Lubellion the Searing Dragon!" The beautiful silver dragon appeared, roaring loudly.
[Lubellion the Searing Dragon (8*/2500/3000/LIGHT/Dragon/Fusion/Effect)]
It was also in Defense Position—protecting her life points, just in case.
"I will then discard the last card in my hand to activate the effect of Lubellion. It cannot attack this turn." Shino sounded amused when she said that. "I will perform a Fusion Summon by shuffling materials from my graveyard, face-up banished cards and field into the deck."
She grinned.
"I know how your brain works. You must already know who the last monster that can join this party is, right?"
Proskenion and Lubellion both roared.
"I will shuffle Fallen of Albaz from my graveyard into the deck, along with another copy of Fallen of Albaz, Titaniklad the Ash Dragon and Albion the Branded Dragon from the graveyard into the deck. The materials are Fallen of Albaz and as many Dragon monsters as I would like. You'd think that with so many cards called dragons, I'd have more materials than that, but that's the best I can do." The four monsters swirled above her.
This much, at least, was familiar.
"The bright red jester and the brave warrior with the power of dragons. Now, bathed in the flames of rebirth, have your power become one, and let the boiling magic roar more intensely! Fusion Summon! Level 8—Alba-Lenatus the Abyss Dragon!" The blazing red dragon appeared, roaring and thrashing around slightly.
[Alba-Lenatus the Abyss Dragon (8*/2500/2500/DARK/Dragon/Fusion/Effect)]
"For your benefit, Yuya Sakaki," Shino continued, "I'll fill you in on what Yuri already knows. Alba-Lenatus the Abyss Dragon can attack monsters my opponent controls, up to the number of materials used for it."
"What? So, like Rune-Eyes…"
Yuri leaned against Yuya's shoulder, subtly shaking his head. There was something in him that had responded to the worry in Yuya's voice—his first ever attempt to reassure someone.
"Of course, it's just to see how this works," Shino explained. "If I'm right, Yuri, your setup is Dark Seed Planter and Sarraceniant in your hand, as per normal? It usually helps you a lot against me, since I use mostly DARK monsters."
"So that's why you brought Proskenion out," Yuri muttered. "It's a LIGHT monster."
"Yep." Shino gestured forward. "Proskenion attacks directly."
"The last card in my hand…" Yuri raised his hand. "It's not Sarraceniant."
"Hmm?"
"I know I always use it, but not this time." Yuri gestured forward. "My set card is this one. The Trap Card, Ridicule World!"
"Ridicule…" Yuya muttered. "World?"
The Trap Card flipped over, with the face of a person being surrounded by purple spirits, each of them formless and laughing at them.
"All monsters my opponent controls gain 100 attack points. And monsters my opponent controls with attack points higher than their original attack points… cannot attack."
"Ridicule World," Shino muttered. "That's… where did you get that card?" She actually seemed surprised. "That card… it's that person's card, isn't it?"
Yes, Yuri had gotten this card from someone, but that wasn't the point here. If she recognised it, but didn't immediately rankle at its existence, then that meant…
I knew it.
You aren't loyal to Academia in the slightest.
The question is when? When did you come across that person?
"Why does it look so similar and yet different to my father's Smile World?" Yuya said.
Smile World?
… how ridiculous.
[Alba-Lenatus the Abyss Dragon: 2500 + 100 = 2600ATK]
[Lubellion the Searing Dragon: 2500 + 100 = 2600ATK]
[Despian Proskenion: 3200 + 100 = 3300ATK]
"So I can't attack because of that card. It's not very fitting, for me to be stopped with ridicule of all things…" Shino waved a hand, ending her turn. Now, she had those three monsters. Meanwhile, Yuri only had a single card left in his hand.
[Turn 12: Yuri] [H:2]
"Draw," Yuri said, somewhat tired. "During the Standby Phase, I can banish Predaplant Cordyceps from the graveyard to activate its effect. I'll Special Summon two Level 4 or lower "Predaplant" monsters from the graveyard, but I cannot Normal Summon or Set monsters this turn. Come back—Predaplant Spinodionaea! Predaplant Chlamydosundew!" The two monsters reappeared on his field, verdant green. "I will activate the effect of Predaplant Spinodionaea. I will place a Predator Counter on Despian Proskenion."
He had no clue what that card did, and since he knew Alba-Lenatus and Lubellion's effect, he was fairly sure that he could manage both of them. Better to take care of the unknown monster first.
[Despian Proskenion: Predator Counter(s): 1]
"Then, with Predaplant Chlamydosundew's effect, I can perform a Fusion Summon using materials in my hand and on my field, including Chlamydosundew itself. I can also use monsters my opponent controls with Predator Counters as Fusion Materials—and since I'm doing so, they're counted as DARK monsters! I will fuse Predaplant Chlamydosundew and Despian Proskenion!"
The two monsters shot up.
Starving Venom was his ace, but at this point, even Yuri could see the pattern that was currently unfolding—it seemed that a single large strike wouldn't do it. He had to whittle her down blow by blow.
"Beautiful dark flowers, form a new creature who could never bend to the will of another! Wipe out all those that would threaten my will! Fusion Summon! Level 8! Predaplant Dragostapelia!" Another one of his plant dragons—he had a surprising number of those—emerged in front of him, holding up its claws.
[Predaplant Dragostapelia (8*/2700/1900/DARK/Plant/Fusion/Effect)]
"Dragostapelia's effect! I will place a Predator Counter on Alba-Lenatus the Abyss Dragon!"
[Alba-Lenatus the Abyss Dragon: Predator Counter(s): 1]
Her set card… what could it be, if she still hadn't activated it until now?
"Then, with my current Pendulum Scale, I can Pendulum Summon monsters from Level 2 to Level 7. Swing, pendulum! Come back from the Extra Deck—Predaplant Spider Orchid! And come from my hand—Predaplant Flytrap!" The flower from before appeared, along with a tiny flytrap.
[Predaplant Flytrap (2*/400/800/DARK/Plant/Effect)]
"I will activate the effect of Predaplant Flytrap! I will place a Predator Counter on Lubellion the Searing Dragon!"
[Lubellion the Searing Dragon: Predator Counter(s): 1]
"Then, I'll activate the Pendulum Effect of Predaplant Bufolicula! I will perform a Fusion Summon using Predaplant Spider Orchid and Predaplant Spinodionaea! Bloom, parasitic dark flower! With the rolling of your carrion-like petals, let the force of your scent overpower the world! Fusion Summon! Level 7! Predaplant Chimerafflesia!" The large spotted pink flower appeared next to Dragostapelia.
[Predaplant Chimerafflesia (7*/2500/2000/DARK/Plant/Fusion/Effect)]
"Once per turn, Chimerafflesia lets me target a monster with a lower Level than it on the field and banish it. I will target Alba-Lenatus the Abyss Dragon! Venomous Captivity!" The dragon vanished from the field. That way, she wouldn't get another search of a card as well. "And then, Predaplant Flytrap will attack Lubellion the Searing Dragon!"
"Huh?" Yuya exclaimed.
"With a Predator Counter, Lubellion becomes Level 1," Yuri said. "When Flytrap battles a monster with an equal or lower Level, that monster is automatically destroyed at the start of the Damage Step. So no damage calculation takes place!" The flytrap snapped down on Lubellion, destroying it. "And then, Flytrap's Level permanently increases by the original Level of the monster that was destroyed by its effect!"
[Predaplant Flytrap: 2* + 8* = 10*]
"Attack directly, Predaplant Chimerafflesia!"
"Trap Card, Branded Banishment," Shino said. "I can target a Level 8 or higher Fusion Monster in my graveyard, or a "Despia" monster, and Special Summon it to my field."
… hmm. That wasn't too bad. Chimerafflesia could deal with any monsters that she brought back, since it could boost its own attack points—
"Return to the field—Brigrand the Glory Dragon!" Brigrand reappeared in Defense Position.
… oh, that was problematic.
Brigrand the Glory Dragon could not be destroyed by battle. And even if he had saved Dragostapelia's effect, it couldn't negate continuous effects.
"Shame!" Shino shrugged. "Frustrating, isn't it?"
"I'll end my turn with a set card," Yuri said. He had Flytrap, Chimerafflesia and Dragostapelia on the field—Flytrap was clearly the weak link right now.
On the bright side, she only had Brigrand right now. Flytrap's effect would automatically destroy any of Shino's Level 10 or lower monsters, which was all of her Fusion Monsters. Chimerafflesia would destroy any monster with less than 4500 attack points, due to its own boosting effect.
So…
It should be fine, just for this turn.
"Blazing Cartesia and Incredible Ecclesia will add themselves back to my hand," Shino said.
[Turn 13: Shino] [H:3]
"Draw." Shino glanced at the card. "I know what you're thinking, Yuri. Flytrap and Chimerafflesia are invincible in battle because I'm your opponent… isn't that right?"
Yuri tensed up.
"And the answer to that is simple," Shino continued. "Or did you forget exactly what I did with Lubellion's effect last turn? Let me remind you! I will Special Summon Incredible Ecclesia, the Virtuous from my hand, since you control more monsters than me!" The blonde warrior reappeared. "I will tribute Ecclesia to Special Summon Fallen of Albaz from my deck! And by discarding a card, I will perform a Fusion Summon using Fallen of Albaz and Predaplant Dragostapelia as material!"
"I will use the effect of Predaplant Dragostapelia—"
Shino hummed.
Yuri froze. "... Brigrand."
"While I control Brigrand the Glory Dragon, you can't target other monsters I control with card effects," Shino said. "You already activated your effect. The only monster that you can target is Brigrand itself." A Predator Counter bloomed on Brigrand, though it did absolutely nothing.
[Brigrand the Glory Dragon: Predator Counter(s): 1]
"Albaz's effect resolves." The two monsters shot up. " Lawful dragon born of the stoic judgement of the land of cruel dogma! With your ruthlessness, reduce this world to ashes. Fusion Summon—Level 8, Titaniklad the Ash Dragon!" The shining metal dragon appeared—right, Shino had just returned it to the Extra Deck with Lubellion's effect. In other words, she had realised exactly what she needed to defeat him last turn.
[Titaniklad the Ash Dragon (8*/2500/2000/DARK/Dragon/Fusion/Effect)]
"Titaniklad will gain 100 attack points times the total Level of its Fusion Materials."
[Titaniklad the Ash Dragon: 2500 + 100 x 12 = 3700ATK]
"And as you know, Titaniklad is unaffected by the activated effects of any monsters Special Summoned from the Extra Deck on the turn that I Fusion Summoned it," Shino said cheerfully. "So Chimerafflesia's effect is useless against it."
"But not Flytrap."
"Yes, not Flytrap." A certain amusement could be seen in her eyes. "I will change Brigrand the Glory Dragon to Attack Position. Brigrand the Glory Dragon attacks Predaplant Flytrap."
"I will use Flytrap's effect to destroy it!" Yuri had no choice but to protect his own monster. Brigrand exploded.
"And that's fine," Shino continued. "Since a Fusion Monster I control left the field because of your card effect, I will activate the effect of Aluber the Jester of Despia. I will Special Summon it back to the field and negate Flytrap's effect."
Right—
Aluber reappeared. A quiet, dark laugh left him. Flytrap cringed back.
"Titaniklad the Ash Dragon will attack Predaplant Flytrap!"
"Continuous Trap, Dark Seed Planter!" Yuri flipped up the card. "All monsters you control become DARK monsters—and when a DARK monster you control attacks a DARK monster I control, I can negate the attack!"
"... thought so." Shino shook her head. "But now that I know what it is… this should be fine. I'll set one card facedown and end my turn. With Brigrand's effect, I'll add Tri-Brigade Kitt from my deck to my hand."
So far, it was a perfect stalemate between them.
Even so, it had to break eventually, right?
He still had Flytrap. Flytrap's effect would get rid of her monster.
[Turn 14: Yuri] [H:1]
"Draw," Yuri said. "Flytrap's effect. I'll target Titaniklad and pin it down with a Predator Counter!"
[Titaniklad the Ash Dragon: Predator Counter(s): 1]
"I'll activate the Equip Spell, Predapruning. I can Special Summon a "Predaplant" monster from my graveyard. Return to the field—Predaplant Chlamydosundew." The small green reptile appeared on the field. "I will use the effect of Predaplant Chlamydosundew. I will perform a Fusion Summon using Chlamydosundew and your Titaniklad the Ash Dragon! One more time, come to my side! Starving Venom Fusion Dragon!"
His ace reappeared in front of him—because everything always went back to Starving Venom, when it came to his dueling.
"I knew it," Shino said. "So… that's your final stand."
"Starving Venom Fusion Dragon's effect. It will gain attack points equal to the total attack points of the Special Summoned monsters you control. So it's just Aluber, but… better that than keeping Titaniklad on the field."
[Starving Venom Fusion Dragon: 2800 + 1800 = 4600ATK]
"Attack Aluber the Jester of Despia!"
"Quickplay Spell, Branded in Red! I will add a "Despia" monster or "Fallen of Albaz" in my graveyard, and add it back to my hand. Then, I can perform a Fusion Summon by banishing Fusion Materials from my hand or field. I will banish Fallen of Albaz and Aluber the Jester of Despia from my hand and field. Darkness sealed within a suit of holy armour, emerge now in the flurry of the rising curtains, and crush them in the emptiness of destruction. Whom do you seek?"
Wait, but that summoning chant… that meant…
"I don't have multiple copies of most of my cards," Shino said. "But this one… well, I do have two copies of this one. Fusion Summon! Level 8—Despian Quaeritis!" Her main Despia Fusion Monster appeared on the field in front of her—still as sinister as ever.
[Despian Quaeritis (8*/2500/2500/LIGHT/Fiend/Fusion/Effect)]
And it was in Defense Position.
Bringing out that monster just as a shield for herself…
"You really are so painfully poisonous, aren't you?" Yuri shook his head. "Swing, pendulum! Come—Predaplant Spider Orchid!" Spider Orchid returned to the field again—mostly for Fusion Material. "I will activate the Pendulum Effect of Predaplant Bufolicula. I will perform a Fusion Summon using Predaplant Spider Orchid, Predaplant Flytrap and Predaplant Triantis!"
This time, she wasn't going to stop him from bringing out his monster!
"Two beautiful flowers with an insect-alluring fragrance! Now, become one, and form the cunning, chimeric shapeshifter. As the seasons shift, tear down nature itself and make your move! Fusion Summon! Level 9! Predaplant Triphyovertum!" The large green plant dragon appeared, red dots covering its body. It let out a loud roar.
[Predaplant Triphyovertum (9*/3000/3000/DARK/Plant/Fusion/Effect)]
"Battle Phase!"
"At the end of the Main Phase, I will activate Quaeritis's effect. I will change the attack points of all monsters on the field, except Level 8 or higher Fusion Monsters, to 0!" Quaeritis howled again. While Starving Venom and Triphyovertum were both unaffected, Chimerafflesia was.
[Predaplant Chimerafflesia: 2500 → 0ATK]
"Triphyovertum! Attack Quaeritis!"
Her Fusion Monster was destroyed.
"Chimerafflesia attacks you directly!" Vines lashed out—but the reason that Yuri had attacked with Chimerafflesia first was that he was still sure that she had something up her sleeve—still so sure that she could protect herself.
"I'll banish Branded Arisen from the graveyard," Shino said, not failing to live up to his expectations. "I'll Special Summon a certain monster from one of three archetypes from my deck." She picked up a card. "Come—Bystial Druiswurm!"
Bystial?... what was that?
A silver dragon with red wings that were weighed down with chains appeared in Defense Position in front of her.
[Bystial Druiswurm (6*/2500/2000/DARK/Dragon/Effect)]
"Chimerafflesia will attack your monster!"
Druiswurm was destroyed, but…
Shino sighed.
"... I thought that was enough," she murmured. "I thought I had calculated everything correctly for you to end up exceeding your current self… but it seems that it's impossible, if it's me."
"Huh?" Yuri flinched back. Was she… disappointed in him for some reason?
"When Bystial Druiswurm is sent from the field to the graveyard, I can send a Special Summoned monster my opponent controls to the graveyard," Shino said. "Starving Venom is powerful—but its effect only activates when it's destroyed." She snapped her fingers. "No one will ever understand how to get rid of Starving Venom as well as I do—because my monsters are so similar to yours. My Mirrorjade is so much like your Starving Venom."
A dark vortex appeared beneath Starving Venom. It was dragged down into the abyss yet again.
Yuri grimaced. "It looks like…" he muttered. "Was it that I wasn't able to meet your expectations?" And it was painful that there was someone in the world who could make him utter those words.
"You've got it all backwards," Shino replied. She smiled at him—soft pride in her eyes. "You have no idea how proud I am of you right now, really… you've met all of my expectations. As for what I wanted… I'm the one who's failed you."
What—
"Chimerafflesia's attack points are at 0," Shino said. She gestured forward—to an empty field. "You can't take the final blow anymore."
"I know," Yuri said, scowling. "... I end my turn."
… and now, he was truly at zero.
Shino picked up Brightest, Blazing, Branded King from her graveyard, along with Blazing Cartesia and Incredible Eccelsia.
[Turn 15: Shino] [H:4]
"Draw," Shino said. "So… I suppose this is one has a simple solution. Triphyovertum… and Chimerafflesia. Spell Card, Pot of Avarice. I will shuffle Mirrorjade, Sprind, Granguignol, Lubellion and Quaeritis into the Extra Deck, and draw two cards."
… oh no.
"I will Special Summon Incredible Ecclesia, the Virtuous from my hand, since you control more monsters. I will then tribute her to Special Summon Fallen of Albaz from my deck."
And then, all she would have to do…
She discarded a card, and Triphyovertum and Fallen of Albaz shot up.
"One more time then, Yuri," Shino said. "Mirror, mirror, on the wall. Cruel ice bleeds into the empty glass. Reflections. Empty fighting. A cold grip. Submerge in the frozen jade, young legend, and forbid entry to the unworthy! Fusion Summon. Level 8! Mirrorjade the Iceblade Dragon!"
Shino's ace reappeared.
"I'll then activate Mirrorjade's effect. I will send Sprind from my Extra Deck to the graveyard, and I'll banish Predaplant Chimerafflesia."
The flower faded away from the field—trapped in glass.
"Attack directly," Shino said.
Mirrorjade mercilessly beared down on him—
And gently tapped him on the shoulder, with no malice at all.
That was it.
Yuri: 2000 - 3000 = 0LP
Winner: Shino Gitsune!
Yuya was staring in shock. And around them, people were staring.
Yuri didn't know how to deal with it. Despite everything, he'd lost. Despite everything…
He hadn't even touched her life points once.
"... I wanted you to win so badly," Shino admitted.
"Then why didn't I?"
"You're too strong," Shino said. "Too strong to evolve in the way that the others do, because you'll never be as emotional as them. Never quite as desperate. Never with your back against the wall like so many of them."
Really? He was too strong, so it was harder for him to evolve?
That was simultaneously the best compliment and the weirdest insult he had ever received.
"Then… since I lost." Yuri raised his head. "Does that mean that I have to come back with you, to become stronger?"
"That depends. What do you think it means to become stronger? Do you… really think that staying in Academia is the best choice for that?"
… no. He did not.
"In that case, I just have to get better," Yuri said. "I'll look for the most dangerous situation—and I will find what I lack that you have. I'm going to become stronger than you—than anyone else in Academia!"
Shino searched his gaze. Her wheelchair rolled over. Yuya tensed up.
"Hey, Sakaki," Shino said. "Lean down a little so that I can reach his head, will you?"
Yuya obligingly lowered down.
"Good. Thanks." Shino reached up—and kissed Yuri softly on the forehead. "Goodbye, Yuri."
… what?
"But you… won."
"I won the right to decide." Shino winked. "I decided to listen to the choice that your heart is making, as I always do. And I have a feeling that I know your choice. Don't I?"
"I don't care about the Lancers," Yuri argued, despite the fact that Yuya was right there. "I don't care about any of this. I don't need to be a good person, I don't need to be happy, I don't want to die. Just don't…"
He bit down on the words viciously, before those pathetic words could leave his lips.
Just don't give up on me.
"I've been shielding your heart for as long as I can, Yuri," Shino said. "But it's your choice, in the end. Aren't you bored of what you've been doing this entire time? Of just attacking and killing with no purpose? You said that you don't need to be happy. Is that really true?"
Yuri thought about Serena again. Her fierceness and her purpose—
And how he didn't have either.
Of his own envy and frustration towards all the traits in her that he admired.
"It's so much harder to be good," Yuri said.
"What is 'good', anyway?" Shino replied. "It's a learning experience. If you slowly see more, you'll learn to judge for yourself. And it's fine to see more. It always is."
"If that's the case," Yuri said quite reasonably, "why are you still there?"
"I have my own reasons," Shino said cheerfully. "And someday, when all of this is over, I'll sit you down and explain everything. If you want to come back with me, I'll do everything in my power to ensure that you will find your place back there again! But you've been miserable there. I can't in good conscience say that I would like you to come back!"
Academia was a place where he'd been miserable?
A miserable place…
A miserable place that was like sinking in quicksand. And now, standing here, it felt like he had clawed his way to the surface of it.
To blindly follow orders and confine others in that place…
And of course, Yuri was not that apologetic about it. He was still not a good person in any way. He probably wouldn't be able to genuinely apologise—to feel guilty or to think too much about the lives that he had lost. He could only care about the people that mattered to him.
However…
No matter how much of a bastard he was, he also wanted to be happy. Was that so wrong?
Was what he had felt when he carded people a real kind of joy, or had he mistaken it as such because for once, there was something there other than sadness?
But, if he left…
He understood now—her intentions, what she had hoped for him. She had wanted him to go off and figure out a way to become a better person, and she would stay behind and continue to try and help people, at no benefit to herself in the slightest.
That was her plan.
"I don't want you to decide things for me."
She laughed. "Mm. I thought so. We'll meet again then—"
"No," Yuri said. "We won't need to meet again. Because I will go back with you."
Shino stopped.
Slowly, she turned the wheelchair back around, looking at him.
"I know that you planned for me to have an easier path to be happy," Yuri said. "But if I go, I'll leave you alone there. Because…" He gestured for Yuya to let go of him, and he limped over, ignoring his red-haired lookalike's look of shock. "You love everyone, and you want the best for them. But you don't trust a single one of us—not really. Not with your plans or intentions. You're always so concerned that I'm sad or afraid—but you're the loneliest of all, aren't you?"
With that newfound understanding—maybe even empathy—he could see her now.
So concerned with others that she could not trust anyone with herself.
If I go, you'll be alone with people that you cannot trust with yourself, for fear that they'll discover your true intentions.
"So I will not go," Yuri said. "Even if I don't believe in Academia anymore—I don't think I ever did—I believe in you."
"What about Serena?" Shino protested.
"What about Sora?" Yuri retorted.
Shino shook her head. "This isn't what…"
"Isn't what's supposed to happen?" Yuri managed a grin, despise how absolutely shit he felt. "Good. If everything always goes according to plan, it's too easy for you. Easy is boring. Come on. I know what you wanted from me, and I'm still here. You can't turn away an ally, can you? You said you'd respect my choice—and this time, my choice is to trust you."
"... you always surprise me," Shino said. She seemed slightly more relaxed now. "It really isn't going to be that easy if you come back, you know."
"Like I said, easy is boring." Yuri leaned on the side of her wheelchair. "Let's get going."
(He had already forgotten the other thing that they'd bet. And so, Shino got to keep her secrets a while longer.)
"Teleport back," Shino said. "Get Ayukawa-san to call in an orthopedic surgeon for you. If your recklessness did ruin your legs, I'm going to be very mad at you."
"You would never be mad at me," Yuri said confidently. Still though, he turned to Yuya—
Who had a strange look on his face.
"Next time that we meet, we will duel," Yuri said. "... but…" He made a strangled sound, before he finally got the last word out. "Thanks. I guess."
Shino laughed.
Yuya smiled, after a moment. "Sure," he said. "And next time, if we duel… I'll convince you to smile."
Yuri glanced away.
Tch. Idiot.
He pressed the button on his duel disk, leaving.
Shino reached Kisara's side. "Let's withdraw," she said cheerfully. "I'll go and pick up Ryo-san. You can call the rest off."
"... you took a risk there," Kisara said. "If he had defected, I would have held you responsible."
"Oh? I thought that you didn't care about him at all." Shino winked. "Why the sudden concern for him?"
"I'm hardly concerned for him. I simply care about loyalty to Academia. And... you're leaning dangerously close to the line between loyalty and treason."
"Haha. I guess I am!" Shino leaned back. "But I'm not afraid of failure. And I'm not afraid of you either, Tsutsuji-sensei, no matter what you say to me."
The two of them had a staring contest for a moment. Eventually, Kisara sighed and turned away, seeming somewhat annoyed. Shino grinned, glancing away too.
"Let's go find Ryo-san—"
"I'm here."
Shino turned over. Ryo was walking over—he looked far more worn out than usual. Despite their argument before the invasion, Shino immediately moved next to him, looking him over—the scrapes, the heavier breathing…
"Oh, I could get mad at someone," she murmured. "You're injured pretty heavily, Ryo-san."
"I dueled one of those Psychic duelists." Ryo sounded completely calm, somehow managing to ignore his injuries.
"Oh." Shino glanced at him. "... well, you definitely have to withdraw now."
"... a failure will be bad for morale."
"And yet, our enemies are far better rested than we are."
Ryo shot her a side-eye. "You're very hasty to leave."
"Perhaps I am," she said enigmatically. "Shall we give our report?"
Kisara and Ryo both looked at her.
Shino winked.
She already knew the answer—this smart woman who had already agreed to do something, and this honourable man who knew better than to stay.
With that…
Who else here could do anything about them?
"... we withdraw," Ryo said.
"I concur," Kisara added. "Let's inform them to withdraw." She turned to Ryo. "Did you get Roget's data?"
"I did," the Hell Kaiser said—efficient as ever. Shino narrowed her eyes. "I couldn't get to him, but it's no matter. The city will get him for us, or the Lancers will." He turned his head. "... I shall communicate for the rest to leave now. Be prepared to go."
Shino watched them.
Standard, and now Synchro. Two successive failures for Academia, a school which convinced its students of its own invincibility.
Well…
What about now?
How long could it keep that facade up, when its students now knew failure—and knew to question themselves, to wonder if what they had learned was truly the best?
"… I can't believe Sakaki's being so kind to him—that's your kidnapper." Shun had been seething since Yuya had helped Yuri forward. "No matter how much he looks like Yuto…"
"Don't make a scene," Ruri said. Shun turned his head towards her in shock, ready to argue. However, Ruri's voice remained firm. "I mean it, big brother."
"Why? He hurt you, Ruri!"
… but he looked so determined when he had stepped up to fight. And while Yuri might not have known it, he'd looked crushed when he'd lost, hurt for that moment.
"You're entirely too kind, Ruri." Nue said critically.
What could Ruri say? Not only was her heart already softening at the thought of a person trying to figure out how to become someone better—she also remembered what that other girl with the pinkish-purple hair had said.
"… I need to put up a show. When we meet again, could you do something for me?"
"Meet… again?"
"I'm still going to be playing the role I need to play during the invasion," Shino said. "I plan to put up a grand show and lose at the end of it. If I do it well, I think my troublesome br—friend will finally figure out what he's been missing this entire time."
"And what?" Rin said. "You want us to be a part of this show?"
"Well, you can take part if you want! But no, that's not what I'm asking you for." Shino rubbed the back of her neck. "You see, once he figures it out, Yuri might decide to defect. If that happens… I won't ask you to forgive him. Regardless of anything, he still did the wrong thing with regards to you, Ruri Kurosaki. But please… even if you hate him, give him a chance to become a better person."
"That's ridiculous," another voice cut in. Chiaki, who had supposedly been asleep, turned over to look at them. "How on earth can that asshole—"
"Remind me, Chiaki-chan, who was the one trying to convince Rin-chan of a certain someone's innocence again?" Shino said lightly.
"Yuji was coerced into it!"
"And Yuri was raised in it. To-may-to, to-mah-to. Same difference." Shino sighed. "... sorry about that. I don't mean to be unsympathetic. But even if you don't forgive him… can you at least promise me that you won't chase him away, if he ends up on that side."
"Absolutely n—"
"Okay," Ruri said, cutting Chiaki off. Both Chiaki and Rin turned towards her. "It's not that big of a request. And she is helping us escape. I think that her telling us to not chase away someone who chooses to fight against Academia isn't that big of a deal. And what would we say, anyway? That he doesn't deserve to fight against Academia? That he should continue fighting for Academia?"
Chiaki grimaced.
"I don't know if I can forgive him completely," Ruri said. "But I won't get in his way if he wants to repent for what he's done."
Soft relief filled Shino's face. "Good," she said. "... thank you. I just want him to be happy."
"Really?"
"Really," Shino said. "I want everyone to be happy, but he's one of the most important people to me. Not for a moment will I ever stop working towards his safety and happiness. And I will give him a happy ending, no matter what it takes—no matter how I have to sculpt the narrative."
The three girls exchanged looks.
"And remember," Shino said. "We don't know each other. I came up and chatted with you a few times, but that's it. And this conversation never happened."
And Ruri was always bad at being cruel to others.
In the end, Shino's plan seemed to have failed—but Ruri thought that it had succeeded in its own way. There was something new to Yuri Kaiba's eyes.
So maybe that was fine.
"Ruri's… always too kind."
"Yuto!" Ruri cried out—seeing his eyes slowly shift open. She clutched at his hand, and Yuto blinked slowly.
"I think I'm hallucinating, Nue," Yuto said slowly.
Nue let out a quiet snort. "Yeah?"
"I can see… Ruri." Yuto reached out with his other hand, fingers gently touching Ruri's cheek. "Right there."
"Yeah," Nue said amusedly. "Wake up, little brother. Your girlfriend's right here."
Yuto shook his head for a moment, his eyes slowly blinking again, before he sat up straight. He stared at Ruri, mouth falling open.
"Hello, Yuto," Ruri said, squeezing his hand again. She managed a smile and a light-hearted tone. "Nice to meet you—I'm your hallucination." And she leaned forward, kissing him. Shun let out a quiet, annoyed groan, before Nue firmly smacked his shoulder. But Ruri didn't really care about that right now. She wrapped her arms around him, kissing him, and he clung to her as well.
When she pulled away, she met his gaze. There was something soft and tender to it.
"Hey," she said.
"Hey," Yuto replied. "It's you. You're finally here."
"Yes." Ruri hugged him even more tightly. "I missed you so much. I missed you so much, Yuto."
"I missed you too."
Everyone was polite enough to give them some space as the two of them whispered all kinds of reassurances to each other. Ruri was pretty close to crying just from happiness.
When they both calmed down, they continued sitting there, though Yuto didn't let go of her hand.
"I think I've been out for a while," he said. "Could you… fill me in with what you know?"
"Our siblings are dating."
"About time," Yuto said, as though it was the most natural thing in the world. "Anything else?"
"... I love you," Ruri said softly. "That's something I know too."
"Well, I know that much too. But if you need me to say it, I love you too."
"You're always so considerate." And Ruri didn't let go of his hand either.
"Good," Chiaki said. "He didn't run away after all."
Yuji tilted his head towards her, an uncertain look in his eyes.
"That way, I don't need to listen to anything that girl said," Chiaki added. "She's crazy if she thinks that I'm ever going to forgive that person." She shook her head. "... I'm tired."
"... I could," Yuji said, "if you would."
"... really?" Chiaki said quietly. There was something cold to it.
"Yes." When Yuji said it, it was very matter of fact. "I would. But you don't. So I won't. I'm not the one that was hurt."
When the crowds began to thin, the citizens of the Synchro Dimension took notice, as did the Lancers.
"Is it over?" Yuya asked, staring at the sky. They had fought through the night. It was morning now. The dawn sky was shining on their faces. There was a sense of relief to everyone's faces—the people from Academia seemed to be leaving rapidly, and the sounds of dueling had mostly faded by now.
Was it really over? Had they won?
… maybe.
Yuya still wished that Yuri had defected, in the end.
And you'd probably say to give him a shot, right? Though it's still my own decision, dad.
He and Yuzu had reunited tearfully and sappily, as one could probably imagine, but Yuzu had then gone off to talk to Rin and Chiaki—which made sense, considering that she probably wanted to understand the other people with the same face as her. Yuya understood that feeling. The only reason that Yuzu wasn't talking to Ruri too was because the dark-haired girl was busy reuniting with Yuto.
"... ugh."
Yuya turned around. Someone was sitting up, rubbing his forehead.
"Did someone catch the number of the truck that ran me over?" Yuno Sugisaki said, rubbing his forehead.
In sheer relief, Yuya walked over, holding out a hand. "No," he said. "Though the same truck probably hit all six of us at the same time." Plus Serena and whoever else had been there.
Yuno grabbed his hand. "I need paracetamol," he said, but he managed a smile. "My head is pounding—I feel like someone took a hammer and hit me so hard that I slipped out of my own head."
"I'm just glad that you're fine," Yuya said. "You didn't look too injured, but… you looked really sick."
Yuno let go of him, rubbing his forehead. "... right. Miharu? Fujita?"
"From what I've heard, Yugo went to Security to help her get out," Yuya said.
Yuno nodded. Yuya noticed drops of sweat on the side of his head—clearly, his fever had not yet gone down. "I'll go and meet up with him then." He took a few steps forward. Yuya watched in concern. Obviously, he wouldn't tell Yuno not to go—if it was Yuzu, he'd be worried sick. Even so…
There was the sound of a D-Wheel in the distance. Yuya turned his head—
Only to see two of Security's D-Wheels approaching. On one of them was Carly Nagisa, who was holding onto a large bag that looked fit to burst with various different things. And on the other—
Yuno ran forward. Halfway there, he tripped—
Miharu caught him as he fell, though the two of them ended up on the ground anyway. Her usually well-tied hair was a mess, but she didn't seem to care either. Yuno recklessly pulled her closer to him, hugging her—it was uncharacteristic of him to show such physical affection, but it was clear that he didn't care about that right now. Miharu didn't push him away. She seemed happy to see him too.
Yugo hopped off the D-Wheel that they had borrowed. He was smiling, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. Had something happened? "One rescue mission, complete!" He declared. "Now, where's Rin?" He then spotted Rin and his eyes lit up immediately, sadness seeming to fade. He immediately began running. Before he tackled her with a hug, Rin kicked him in the stomach.
"Be more sensitive! You can't just hug me in the middle of everyone!"
Yugo looked up at her, beaming. "But I really missed you!" Completely unfazed, he properly hugged her this time. Rin rolled her eyes, but she looked touched.
"Ah, fine. Just this once…"
Yuya looked around them, at everyone.
Really…
Everything seemed to have resolved itself. Had they finally triumphed over their enemies?
… hah.
That's like swatting a fly off a pile of garbage and saying that the place is clean.
Above them, clouds moved over the sun. While the world was still brighter, it had not yet become the brightness of morning—there was still something shrouding the city, something so large that people might not notice that it was not as bright as it could be.
As people began to relax, began to take a moment to breathe after that tiring night of nothing but fighting…
The screen at the front of the Friendship Cup stadium turned on. The screen displayed blurry footage from a security camera, but despite the low quality, the contents were obvious. The five High Council members were turned into cards one by one by two strangely blurry figures, before they were set on fire.
Yuya stood there, surprised.
No way.
Carding people… and then burning their cards? Why would Academia…
"This is not a calculated or logical act," Jack said from next to him—startling Yuya. His face was sharp with anger. "Academia would not have done this—they were here for efficiency and to destroy as many people as possible. This is monstrous… an act of wrath and passion. But who would do something so cruel in a city like this?"
"Surprised?" Roget's voice said—as though he'd heard Jack's words.
"Roget," Jack said, stepping forward. "What exactly do you intend to prove with that video?"
"I am simply showing off the brutality that has just taken place in our city," Roget said smoothly. "Something that has been committed by people that have pretended to be benevolent and helpful to our city, but in reality, came here to destroy it, much like the invaders that have just been driven off from our city."
Yuya blinked.
He wasn't…
There was no way that Roget was accusing them right after the invasion, right?
And yet, Roget continued talking. "The ones who assassinated the High Council are the Lancers. Those otherworldly duelists with those strange summoning methods—they are the ones who have done such a thing."
The video continued playing—flames and cards burning within them.
"As such, citizens of this city, while it pains me, I must ask you to help to capture these dangerous fugitives. Otherwise, they will cause more harm than the invaders from earlier. This is for the benefit of us all—"
"Utterly ridiculous," a voice interrupted Roget's monologue sharply. "Not another poisonous word should leave your lips, Jean Michel Roget."
Yuya turned his head.
"Benefit?" Jack Atlas said, standing tall. "Benefit for all? Tell me, are you truly deluded enough to believe that your wicked lies can dull the shine of the honourable?"
"I do not understand what you mean, King."
"It is simple," another voice said calmly. Jack turned his head, and Aki walked up, standing right next to him. "Do you think that just because you succeeded with Sherry, you can keep on doing this? Staining the reputation of others to hide your crimes?" There was something sharp and cold to her eyes—a look that could make a person wilt. "Without the Lancers, this city would have perished. They have fought without any hesitation to protect this place. They have fought until their bodies have collapsed. Look!" That word was directed not just to Roget, but to all the people around them, who were watching. "Look at the Lancers, and tell me if you sense any malice! Can you see the sincerity of their hope, of their honour, and think that they would be the danger that this man says that they are? Think for yourselves!"
Jack nodded to Aki. He turned towards Reiji, who had been standing up, ready to say something. "There is no need for you to speak any more, Reiji Akaba. Your actions have already spoken for themselves. If anyone here cannot see the sincerity of your people's actions, they have become far too blinded."
Reiji raised an eyebrow.
"I agree," Kiryu said. His voice was not loud, and yet it carried over a great distance. "I know what cruelty looks like. I do not see it in any of you—and anyone who could believe otherwise is a fool." He was currently sitting next to Shinji—who was still clinging onto Crow's card. However, he slowly looked up, and he seemed to brace himself.
"I believe in them too," Shinji said aloud—and then he repeated it, far louder. "They have suffered for us. How can we reject that effort and betray them… if we do that, that's like betraying ourselves! If we can't extend a hand despite wanting others to extend a hand to us, that just makes us hypocrites. I'm not so blind that I can't tell who the real enemies are!"
"Yeah, can't you guys see how tired they are?" Rua stomped one foot on the ground. "I—if anyone wants to betray them, I won't forgive them!"
"I-I'm not afraid to fight either!" Ruka exclaimed. "So, I won't stand for anyone blaming them either! It's not them!"
Murmurs broke out around the crowd. Then, a voice spoke up. "Yeah! One of them helped me to get my kid out of the house!"
"They were fighting off so many of them at the same time!"
"Plus, did you see them in the Friendship Cup? They're not bad people!"
"Yeah, yeah!"
Reiji glanced around. His gaze met Yuya's—both of them slightly surprised by the positive attention that they were receiving, for very different reasons.
"I see," Roget said. "Well, I suppose that we have no choice. The order has already been handed down to Security, and they will obey." There was a strange stress on the word. "And any that get in the way will be branded as traitors to the city as well." The screen turned off.
"... that's trouble," Carly said—her voice was far more serious than usual.
Jack stalked over to her. "What is it, Carly?"
"I downloaded Security's files," Carly said. "I'll make it short. Roget has invented a chip that can be placed in a helmet, in order to control a person's mind through electric shocks."
"Through… electric shocks?" Reiji repeated. "You mean…" His gaze turned to Yuno and Miharu, who were silently discussing something.
Carly looked rather awkward. "Yes," she said. "It was what I suspected, when I first saw it. I believe that those were prototypes. However, it seems that he's implanted those chips in the helmets of all members of Security. Anyone who was in their uniform at that point in time is now under his control, from the schematics that I found."
"So he's making people fight us against their own will…" Reiji clicked his tongue. "How distasteful."
"There are quite a lot of files that I unearthed," Carly said. "I deleted the files of the blueprints that he made for those chips, along with the back-ups. He might have print copies, but I couldn't find any there. Regardless, the only way to stop them is to take the helmet off."
"Which is hard if they're following Roget's orders," Reiji murmured. "Is there a way to shut it all down without needing to get the helmets off individually?"
"Supposedly, Roget has a 'Master Key' that will shut them all off, and that allows him to manipulate all of the chips at once—it's a program in his duel disk. If we get to him, we can take his duel disk and shut it off."
"Then that's just what we have to do," Reiji said. "We'll head to his location at once—only when our hidden enemy has been properly defeated can we say that this is over."
"Before that," Carly said, "there's a set of files that's heavily classified. Roget should still take a while to send people here—Academia has also taken down many members of Security. I heard that you have a hacker in your group… if you could get her to open up the files for me, it might finally be enough."
"Enough?"
"I've been chasing after… uh, the big fish in the city for a long while!" Carly looked determined, despite her skittish manner of speech. "And one of them's Roget. If this is a really important file, it might contain details that could let me take him down too."
"... fair. But our hacker's not in good shape—"
"It's fine."
Reiji tilted his head over to look. Miharu reached out a hand for Carly's tablet. Yuno was next to her, naturally, having bounced back with a smile once he was by her side again. He seemed completely unbothered by anything, despite still being sick.
"It won't take me a long time." Miharu's eyes were determined. "If it's to take Roget down… he deserves it all, and more."
Carly handed over the tablet. Miharu sat down, connecting it to her laptop with a wire. Reiji watched as she focused on the screen.
However, a minute or so later, Miharu blinked twice, frowning. Yuno peered over her shoulder.
"Uh oh," he said. "Seriously?"
"Mmm." Miharu glanced across the screen. "Did you happen to find any account passwords? I figured it out when I was getting the Facility's records, but they require accounts to view anything, and each account has different clearance. This file—or rather, this folder—can only be opened by specific accounts. It's easy enough to get a generic account, because someone's bound to use a bad password, but… to get a specific account is harder."
"What accounts do you need?"
"... Director, Overseer or Elite Officer," Miharu said. "Those five accounts are the only ones with access to this folder, and only Roget has editing rights."
"I don't know anything about any of those either," Carly said. "... oh no…"
"It's… not a big deal." Miharu turned to Yuno. "Could you… call Yugo over?"
"Sure." Yuno raised his head, shouting Yugo's name. Yugo, who had been noisily crying over seeing Rin again, came over. Rin followed him with an annoyed frown, but there was something affectionate to her eyes as well—smiling with her eyes, and not her mouth.
"Yugo," Miharu said. "The book you're holding. You said that it was your sister's favourite book, correct?"
Yugo glanced at the book. "I mean, when I saw it… yeah, it's a bit weird that she brought her favourite book to read before dueling me, huh?"
Miharu held out a hand. "Can I have it?"
Yugo blinked. "Huh?" His hand reflexively tightened on the book. "I mean…"
"Not permanently," Miharu said. "Just for a moment."
"Well…" Yugo held out the book. Miharu took it, thumbing through the pages. "What's it for though?"
"... I just had a thought," Miharu said. She looked at the book one more time, and then she typed in something. Something satisfied emerged in her expression, and she tapped a few buttons, before she disconnected the tablet from her laptop, handing it back to Carly.
"You… unlocked it?"
"Your sister must have been very conflicted about you," Miharu said. "... about you learning what was in that file. But in the end, she decided that she wanted you to know. Someday, if not now."
She opened up the book, flipping it to a page at the front. She held it back towards Yugo.
Yugo took it. Curious, Reiji took a moment to peer at the password that she had keyed in, along with Mizuchi's username. A few Japanese characters.
'Everything passes.'
Yugo glanced at the words on the post-it note stuck to the page.
So Kaname hadn't been reading when he'd seen her. She'd been writing. It took him a while to get through the words—he wasn't as fluent in written language—but he managed it eventually.
I'm still doubting myself. I do not know if I will give this to you.
The truth is that I'm horrified by myself. I always have been. There is something inherently monstrous to me that only you seem to be unable to see. In a way, that is why I am so scared of you. That if you do see it someday, I will really be alone then.
But it's not fair, in the end. You need to know who you choose to love, Yugo. You need to see what I've hidden from you.
I hope that you won't see this until after you grow strong enough to cut me down. It pains me to think about having to duel you.
Remember, Yugo.
Everything passes.
When people drown, they lose any sense of rationality. They cling onto others near them. They drag others down too.
You cannot save everyone.
I hope you understand.
I love you.
Yugo clenched a fist.
Rin leaned over his shoulder. "... she's as optimistic as ever, I see," she said. "But she gave you… what, a password? And she expected you to be smart enough to figure that out without any context clues?"
Yugo shook his head. "... I don't understand. What exactly is in that folder? What did she want me to know?"
Carly opened up the folder, glancing through the contents. She went pale. The more that she read, the paler that she seemed to get. When she was done, she put the tablet down, her hands shaking slightly.
"What's in it, Carly?" Jack said, walking over and putting a hand on her shoulder.
Carly looked at him. "It's about why the Elite Officers work for Roget," she said. "But it's not something that can be used against him. The people that it can be used against are no longer… present."
"Tell me."
Carly glanced over.
"Tell me what's in that file," Yugo said, fists clenched. "I need to know what she wanted me to know. No matter how bad it is."
Carly took a moment to think, and then she began to speak.
OC Cards:
Predaplant Sessiliflora Walleye
(6*/1700/1000/DARK/Plant/Effect)
You can send this card from your hand to the GY and Tribute 1 DARK monster you control; add 1 Level 4 or lower DARK Plant monster from your Deck to your hand. You can only activate this effect of "Predaplant Sessiliflora Walleye" once per turn. If this card is banished: Fusion Monsters you control are unaffected by the effects of your opponent's monsters that were Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, until the End Phase of this turn.
Trivia: Based on the Asian marshweed. I won't even lie, it's an excuse to protect Starving Venom from Mirrorjade in this duel.
Branded Arisen
(Trap)
Target 1 monster your opponent controls; take control of it, and if you do, that monster is treated as a DARK and LIGHT monster until the End Phase. You can banish this card from the GY; Special Summon 1 "Bystial", "Despia" or "Dogmatika" monster from your Deck, but you cannot Special Summon monsters for the rest of this turn, except Level 8 or higher Fusion or Synchro Monsters. You can only use 1 "Branded Arisen" effect per turn, and only once that turn.
Trivia: :) I just looked through like 100 cards to try and give Shino enough card advantage for Turn 15. In the end, I gave up.
Predadesperation
(Spell)
If you control less monsters than your opponent, and your LP is 2000 or less: You can discard 1 "Predaplant" monster; draw 3 cards. You cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck this turn, except Fusion Monsters. You can only activate 1 "Predadesperation" per turn.
Different Card Effects from TCG:
Starving Venom Fusion Dragon - Uses its anime effect.
Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra - Uses its OCG effect, which allows the user to add any "Fusion" or "Polymerization" Spell card instead of just "Polymerization". However, uses its anime condition, which lets it use its effect when Special Summoned in any way, not just by a "Predaplant" monster.
Ridicule World - Anime-only card. Uses its OCG name because it's better.
Predaplant Cordyceps - Uses its anime effect, which restricts Normal Summons/Sets, but doesn't restrict Special Summons like the TCG effect.
End Notes:
This chapter is half duel, half fluffy reunions. And that works! I struggled a bit with the tone of the chapter. These notes are also all over the place, because the chapter wasn't written in order. I might come back here after the arc and tidy up a bit—I still feel like some parts could have been done better, even though it's my fourth draft. Still though, it'll do for now.
Yuri's Pendulums come from Yuya, as is appropriate. :D Yes, despite Yuri literally being his enemy, Yuya's heart went "friend friend friend". On the other hand, it's been so long since I wrote someone who actually Pendulum Summons using Pendulum cards, lmao.
Also, this duel is very long for the number of turns involved, because there are some interesting interactions. When I started writing and Yuri's first turn was 3000 words, I realised that I was dealing with Chapter 20 all over again. Yuri being so sure that Shino only had Alba-Lenatus and Lubellion is because Shino doesn't actually have Rindbrumm or Sanctifire yet. Power curve! Plus, forcing Mirrorjade out of the duel early and making Shino fight him with monsters with 2500ATK and less removal effects was more interesting. If I didn't let Yuri force Mirrorjade off the field early, the duel was unwinnable.
Also disclaimer—the author only knows the symbolism of Chinese jade, not Japanese jade, which is very different. :D
And yes, Ridicule World has plot relevance in this fic, because the fact that they shoved Smile World down our throats for the whole show and never addressed the fact that there's an opposing version of it is a bad writing decision. More on that later—it's really a plot point for the Fusion Dimension, because boy that arc's length is going to make this one look tiny in comparison.
For clarification, Yuri does not have Greedy Venom yet. Only Dark Requiem, Crystal Wing and Hydrostatic Current have shown up.
As for Shino's joke about never doing anything other than Fusion Summon until she faces an actual enemy… if you know anything about her deck in the TCG, you probably know what monster it'll be.
Now, we come to the result of the duel. I have never seen people so absolutely split on something in this fic. To be honest, even I was a bit split on who would win the duel. I had reconsidered and reconsidered—but in the end, this is what I think is best. Yuri loses—and in doing so, he gets concrete proof that Academia's methods are not the true answer to become stronger. At the same time, it allows him the chance to make a decision not based on power. He knows that going with the Lancers might make him more powerful—but he also realises that if he does that, he leaves Shino alone, since he's the only one from Academia that is fully aware that she is working against Academia, and is willing to help her with it. So he makes a decision to not be 'all take and no give', and for once, do something for someone else.
Rin-Yugo, Yuya-Yuzu and Miharu-Yuno's proper reunions aren't shown on screen. We'll get more from all three pairs in the near future, especially Rin-Yugo, and I'm pretty sure you can imagine how the other two went pretty well. Miharu and Yuno will get a chance to talk properly later about everything, but it didn't fit in this chapter.
Also, now we're heading into the Security part of the arc! The truth is, now that we're here—I always intended to rewrite the ending of the Synchro Arc to give Yugo a far bigger role than canon. A lot of elements that were added to the story in the early stages of 'development' were all to prepare for that. And an important part of that was to give him emotional stakes—a reason to genuinely want to defeat Roget, instead of it just being the 'right thing'.
… we'll see those stakes in full display very soon.
Also, I thought I'd inform everyone now—the next chapter is very… eclectic in terms of style. You'll see what I mean when I post it, but… yeah. There's almost no dueling in it too—I mostly just wanted to give myself a moment before the duel-heavy chapters after.
Review responses!
To phantomdragons, I'm glad you enjoyed those interactions! And yeah, I think that Kisara's earlier actions make it clear what would have happened if Shino was remotely interested in eliminating the Lancers. Hope you enjoyed the chapter!
To Ben23ten, it's absolutely true that it doesn't matter who wins! If Yuri won, he'd have realised the same things that he realises here. And thank you so much for pointing out the problem with the duel. The power of 2 am brain, lmao. :D
To Kuroto, glad that you enjoyed! I definitely decided to base Yuri and Yuya's interactions slightly more on the manga here—they're definitely going to get a lot more interactions in the future.
To AccurateGap1, you're totally correct! That entire process was Shino's plan—but in the end, unlike what she thought, she didn't pose enough of a threat in Yuri's mind for him to actually evolve and become strong enough to defeat her. She mistook how much she actually meant to Yuri, and how sure he was in his safety with her. And thank you very much for the comment about every character having a part to play and not being teleported away before canon events end! It was something that I really wanted to explore—I don't think I could have gotten away with a copout of teleporting away, considering how much I already rewrote the arc, haha.
To Bryz0n, haha, fun fact, an early version of Hitoda did use Tri-Brigade! In the end though, I chose not to use most of the other Albaz Dragon archetypes in a major capacity individually (Chiaki not withstanding), because I was worried about large overlaps between the decklists. Tri-Brigade might get a cameo in the future though, since it's sufficiently separate from Albaz.
To cardfan135, good theory on exactly where that evolution is going. And I'm glad that last line was painful for you, because it did make me a bit sad to write it. And I'm glad that you're not sure who would win, because that was the intention!
To Unlucky-Fausto, in this story, Shino considers Nue a bigger threat than most of the others—and that's because of the duel between her, Mion and Nue in the Standard arc. There'll be more elaboration on that in the future, but it's definitely more based on attitude. If Shun and Nue went against Shino 2v1 with separate fields, they'd probably have the advantage, since Rise Falcon benefits from her, and Nue is pretty good at slowing her down. Yuri and Yuya's moment is something I've been thinking about for a while. And yeah, the twins are definitely there for cameos, haha. I won't deny that much. And I have a lot of plans for Edo. What I will say is that GX Edo Phoenix is literally one of my favourite characters ever, and I basically don't intend to follow any of Arc-V's canon characterisation of him. :D
QOTC: What do you think will happen (duels, etc) in the next part of the arc?
Alright, that's it! Thank you very much. The next chapter might come out a bit faster, since it has no duel. We'll see how it goes. :D
