Starting Notes:
Welcome back! This chapter was originally two chapters, but I fused them together because I realised that… well, neither of them was what I'd consider 'substantial' enough to count as a full chapter. Both of them also just really did not want to be written, lmao. Still though, I reckon that I've reviewed it enough times that any more is excessive (and also I'm really sick so I don't want to keep editing anymore), and this chapter really had no right to take two weeks, so let's go!
Chapter 68: Transition, Illumination
One year ago:
"I will probably never come to see you again," Arisu said, fiddling with the fur on the collar of her jacket. The wind rustled the dead leaves around her feet, but those leaves did not move. Clinging to each other, caked with mud and hollowed with holes. The footsteps of others in the graveyard had left obvious 'paths', but there was nothing beneath the leaves except mud.
This place was far more natural than the rest of the city, which was dense and packed with buildings. Even a blade of grass struggled to grow through the concrete there.
"The truth is, I still hate you." She folded her arms. "... why did you…"
She always lost her words in front of the graves. It was the only time that she felt like she could understand how Kaname felt. To feel like this all the time…
"I still want to be a good person, you know," she said. "Because I admired you so much. I wanted to be a good person like you. And now… what? Am I just a cog in the machine, never able to make any change?"
Twenty years old… and feeling like she was still struggling to figure out what to do with her life.
Her life, which had been forfeit from that day.
Her life, which was meant to be used for nothing more than servitude…
"My life is so painfully out of my control." Arisu shook her head. "My future belongs to someone else. I cannot make a single choice there—I will work, and work, and work until I die. And I don't believe that there will be any change… it feels like a naive thought. This city is too rotten to become better. It'll just keep rotting. But… I just want to be… a good person. And I don't know if you were a good person or not. I'm just scared of becoming like you."
She put the flowers down.
"I love you. But I can't keep thinking about you. It'll drive me insane."
She looked at the names.
"Someday, when this is all over, I want to just ride out of this city," she confided. "When there's a chance, when I could actually live a life far away, without having to be burdened by all of this… I want to find a place out there, far away from here, where I can breathe and laugh and my chest doesn't feel so heavy. Whether I'm twenty or thirty or eighty by the time that happens, I want that. I might have tried to do so already, to try and break out… if not for…"
She breathed out.
"... in this city, you don't get to decide your own existence. You are defined by who you're related to. Family… and friends. If I try and go on my own… they might pass it on from me to someone else. To him. I'll carry my own burdens. But I can't keep carrying you on my shoulders. It's too heavy. I've had… enough of you."
In the present:
Arisu twirled a cigarette between her fingers. She'd never picked up the bad habit, despite how common it was—Tops that would smoke to show off the fact that they could afford a habit like that, Commons who would smoke for the sake of stress relief.
Good people didn't smoke. That was what she'd been taught.
(She'd considered it a few times.)
Sitting in a city that had driven off invaders with a united front, and becoming their enemy as part of the corrupt system that had lasted longer than her own lifetime…
"What am I doing?" She murmured. She stuffed the cigarette back in the box. She'd give it to Makoto later, though if he was going to date her sister, she was going to politely ask him to stop smoking.
She could hear rumbling in the distance. D-Wheels.
They were about to get here then.
Why exactly am I fighting?
Not just because of Roget.
I just think that these people can't be allowed to believe that defeating Academia is their happily ever after.
There are worse enemies out there.
… I guess I can still try to play the role of the villain.
She stood up, adjusting her jacket.
It's not a half-bad role to play. If it's the last time I work for Security, I might as well go out with a bang.
She turned her head, and waited quietly.
He was somewhere. It was dark and cold.
He was…
Shivering.
He could not feel his own body—he was numb. It felt like something was pressing down on him, slowly seeping into him.
Heavy.
A hand pressed to his chin.
Failure.
The word was not spoken—rather, it bloomed in his head, like a thought from his own mind.
Failure.
You and 'the other you'.
You miss the forest for the trees.
The grand picture…
Does it not speak to you?
He might have breathed out a word—of denial, of confusion. A punch landed sharply on his chest.
Liar.
You are the blessed one. Neither the rage nor the despair, not the start nor the end. Not an ideal, but a dream.
You are, in my—our—gaze, beautifully horrifying.
"Wake up, Yuno."
Yuno blinked, suddenly awake again. He shook his head—there was something that he'd been dreaming of, wasn't there?...
"Thanks, big guy," he said to Gongenzaka, who had been carrying him this entire time. (There was no way that he could ride a D-Wheel with that ankle of his.)
"It is no problem." Gongenzaka put him down, and Yuno carefully balanced on his feet. Miharu supported him with her shoulder carefully.
What was the dream again?
… eh. Probably nothing.
They parked the D-Wheels, and then began to search around. They also talked for a bit, for lack of anything to do.
"Wait, so this person defeated you, Sugisaki?" Sawatari's mouth fell open. "But you're… like, really strong!"
Yuno chuckled awkwardly. "Well… yes." He shrugged. "... I wasn't in that good of a state of mind back then. But she beat me fair and square. I'm not the same as I was back then though…"
"I'll be the judge of that, if you don't mind."
The familiar voice was as calm and composed as ever. Yuno turned his head over. Arisu Kirijo was standing right there. She cut as striking of a figure as she had on that day when she had defeated and arrested him—her icy blue gaze swiftly grazed across all of them.
"You know, when I saw you with Yugo at the orphanage, I was happy that he'd made another friend." Arisu was looking at Miharu now, who blinked in surprise. "I didn't think that you'd end up being hurt so much while you were here. For what it's worth, I am sorry for what was done to you. I'm sure Yugo will have…" She glanced away, head tilted slightly upwards. "... words to say to me after this. A lot of them."
A wry smile, curt with something that Yuno recognised.
Self-loathing.
"I'd deserve it too."
"It's never too late to betray Roget," Yuno offered.
Arisu chuckled fondly. "... as optimistic as him too, I see."
Yuno looked at her.
The truth was, when he had heard what happened to this woman… he had felt a painful sense of empathy. It had brought back those painful memories again. Losing someone important to you was one thing, and it had almost destroyed Yuno. That was bad enough.
He couldn't imagine the pain that would come with placing a person on a pedestal, and then losing them as they tried to kill you for your own good.
"I don't hate you," Yuno said. Sawatari and Gongenzaka both turned to him. "I… respect you, Arisu Kirijo."
Arisu's eyes widened.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Yuno couldn't help but grin.
"Because you're still a kind person," Yuno said. "I have a sister too, and she's great. I wouldn't trade Miyu for anything."
(He wouldn't have traded Chikyu for anyone else either.)
"But Yugo's lucky to have you," he said.
Arisu stood there, frozen for a moment.
"... I'm the lucky one," she said wistfully. "Well, regardless, it is what it is. I'm still your enemy, and Roget still has half of the duelists in the city under his control."
Right.
In the end, this woman was still the pawn of a greater evil.
"Why don't you take a break, Yuno Sugisaki?"
It was a calm dismissal. Yuno's eyes widened. "Why—"
"What exactly happened in that building?" Arisu said idly.
Yuno froze.
"The cameras all simultaneously broke," Arisu said. "So I don't know what happened after the first part. What I do know is that you have not rested well since yesterday. You have been tortured, injured, exhausted and have been in a sick daze for the last couple of hours."
"Then, I—"
"She has a point, Yuno-dono." Gongenzaka spoke up. "Besides, the man, Gongenzaka, would like to take the measure of someone who was able to defeat you."
"Oh? You? I was thinking about…" Arisu's gaze turned to Miharu again, before she immediately looked back at Gongenzaka. "Very well. A two on one then—you and the other one—Sawatari, right?"
Sawatari let out a yelp. However, after a moment, he nodded. "Well, if Gongenzaka's going to try, I might as well!"
Yuno was about to object, but Miharu tugged at his sleeve. The two of them exchanged a look.
… ah.
She wanted him to take a moment longer to rest.
But that also meant that she had no faith in Gongenzaka and Sawatari to win… right?
[DUEL!]
Arisu Kirijo: 4000LP
Shingo Sawatari: 4000LP
Noboru Gongenzaka: 4000LP
[Turn 1: Sawatari] [H:5]
"I'll start!" Sawatari called. "I'll activate the Spell Card, Abyss Actors' Dress Rehearsal! At the start of my Main Phase 1, I can add an "Abyss Actor" card and a "Abyss Script" card from my deck to my hand. However, I can't Pendulum Summon monsters this turn, except "Abyss Actor" monsters!"
He swiped up two cards.
"I'll set the Scale 2 Abyss Actor - Leading Lady and the Scale 8 Abyss Actor - Funky Comedian in the Pendulum Scale!" The two monsters appeared, floating in the pillars of light. "With my current Pendulum Scale, I can Pendulum Summon monsters from Level 3 to 7! Pendulum Summon! Come from my hand! Abyss Actor - Superstar! Abyss Actor - Sassy Rookie!" The two Abyss Actors that Sawatari used the most appeared on his field.
[Abyss Actor - Superstar (7*/S3/2500/1800/DARK/Fiend/Pendulum/Effect)]
[Abyss Actor - Sassy Rookie (4*/S2/1700/1000/DARK/Fiend/Pendulum/Effect)]
"With Superstar's effect, I'll add a "Abyss Script" card from my deck to my hand, but it's sent to the graveyard during the End Phase! I'll add Abyss Script - Opening Ceremony to my hand and activate it, to gain 500 life points for each "Abyss Actor" monster I control! I control two, so I'll gain 1000 life points!" A dark aura surrounded him as his life points shot up.
Sawatari: 4000 + 500 x 2 = 5000LP
"Over to you, Gongenzaka!"
[Turn 2: Gongenzaka] [H:5]
"The man, Gongenzaka, will set the Scale 1 Superheavy Samurai General Jade and the Scale 8 Superheavy Samurai General Coral in the Pendulum Scales!" Gongenzaka set up his Pendulum Scales, just like Sawatari. Yuno whistled, somewhat impressed. Honestly, those from the Standard Dimension seemed to have taken to Pendulum Summoning far more than the rest of them. "With the current Pendulum Scale, the man, Gongenzaka, can Pendulum Summon monsters from Level 2 to Level 7! Come! Superheavy Samurai Motorbike! Superheavy Samurai Wagon!" A pink motorbike appeared on the field, along with a tall green humanoid that was pulling an enormous, colourful wagon behind him.
[Superheavy Samurai Motorbike (2*/800/1200/EARTH/Machine/Tuner/Effect)]
[Superheavy Samurai Wagon (4*/1200/1800/EARTH/Machine/Effect)]
"Superheavy Samurai Wagon's effect. Since the man, Gongenzaka, has no Spells or Traps in his graveyard, he can change Wagon to Attack Position. Then, the man, Gongenzaka, can add a "Superheavy Samurai Soul" monster from his deck to his hand."
"Do you always speak in the third person?" Arisu said.
Yuno snorted. Sawatari valiantly fought off laughter.
"It is what I've been taught," Gongenzaka said solemnly. "Though the man, Gongenzaka, does sometimes speak more informally."
"I see." Arisu's lips curved up slightly.
"I will activate the effect of Superheavy Samurai Motorbike. I will increase Superheavy Samurai Wagon's Level by 2."
[Superheavy Samurai Wagon: 4* + 2* = 6*]
"And with the effect of Superheavy Samurai General Jade in the Pendulum Scale, Superheavy Samurai Wagon's Level increases by 1."
[Superheavy Samurai Wagon: 6* + 1* = 7*]
"Tuning the Level 2 Superheavy Samurai Motorbike to the Level 7 Superheavy Samurai Wagon! With your divine fire, let loose a warcry that will break the battlefield! Show yourself! Synchro Summon! Level 9! Superheavy Samurai Beast Kyubi!" The silver Synchro Monster that was surrounded by bright flames appeared.
[Superheavy Samurai Beast Kyubi (9*/1900/2500/EARTH/Machine/Synchro/Effect)]
"Superheavy Samurai Beast Kyubi gains 900 defense points for each Special Summoned monster the opponent controls while there are no Spells or Traps in my graveyard." Gongenzaka gestured to Sawatari. "Since Sawatari controls two monsters, Kyubi gains 900 defense points for each!"
[Superheavy Samurai Beast Kyubi: 2500 + 900 x 2 = 4300DEF]
"Then, I will end my turn."
"Not going to attack?" Arisu said, sounding amused. "Your monsters can attack in Defense Position, right? I saw them in the Friendship Cup."
"That is not how the man duels." Gongenzaka raised his head. "That is how Academia duels—but that's not how honourable people duel."
"... haha."
All four of the Lancers looked at the woman, rather confused by her laugh.
"That makes a lot of sense." Arisu rubbed the corner of her eye—had she been trying so hard to stop herself from laughing that she had nearly started crying? "No, no, it's a good sentiment. Don't become like your enemies. You're an honourable one."
Gongenzaka blinked—clearly taken aback.
"But someday, you'll meet someone that can't be reasoned with so easily," Arisu said. "If you spend all your time trying to be honourable against people who are anything but, you'll ruin yourself."
[Turn 3: Arisu] [H:5]
"Don't just take my word for it though."
"Why not?"
A half-smirk, half-smile—hopelessness tinged with amusement. "I'm exactly the same kind of fool that you are," she said. "Let's see. Ametrix won't work that well against a field like that… well. There's an obvious answer if that's the case. I'm sorry, Noboru Gongenzaka. I am about to be unfair to you."
Huh?
"But if you use Machines in front of me, you should always be prepared to lose everything. I'll Normal Summon Genex Undine from my hand." The blue machine appeared, strange tendrils drifting around it, glimmering with a sapphire sheen.
[Genex Undine (3*/1200/600/WATER/Aqua/Effect)]
"Genex Undine's effect. When it is Normal Summoned, I can send a WATER monster from my deck to the graveyard to add Genex Controller from my deck to my hand." She picked up the card that she had sent to the graveyard. "I will banish Crystron Prasiortle from my graveyard to Special Summon a "Crystron" monster from my hand. Come—Crystron Citree!" The tiny, fairy-like black and orange monster appeared, kicking her feet up in the air.
[Crystron Citree (2*/500/500/WATER/Machine/Tuner/Effect)]
"I will tune the Level 2 Crystron Citree to the Level 3 Genex Undine." The two monsters shot up in the air. "Green crystal! Dissolve into the sands of time and be reborn with a new spark! Now, clash with our foes and strike down anyone in our path! Synchro Summon! Come forth, Level 5, Crystron Borahydra!" The colourful blue and green hydra appeared in front of her.
[Crystron Borahydra (5*/1500/2500/WATER/Machine/Synchro/Effect)]
"When Crystron Borahydra is Synchro Summoned, I can target a Machine monster on the field and destroy it," Arisu explained. "Then, I can Special Summon that monster back to my field in Attack Position. I will choose Superheavy Samurai Beast Kyubi! Boracite Crash!"
"I will activate the effect of Superheavy Samurai Soulfire Suit!" Gongenzaka declared. "By discarding it from the hand, Kyubi's defense points are decreased by 800, but it cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects this turn!"
[Superheavy Samurai Beast Kyubi: 4300 - 800 = 3500DEF]
"And since you control a Special Summoned monster, Kyubi gains 900 more defense points!"
[Superheavy Samurai Beast Kyubi: 3500 + 900 = 4400DEF]
"Sure, why not," Arisu said readily. "It can't be destroyed, huh?... fine. Spell Card, Salvage." She revealed the card. "I'll add two WATER monsters with 1500 or less attack points from my graveyard to my hand. Citree and Undine fit the bill." She put the two cards in her hand. "Spell Card, Double Summon. I can Normal Summon twice this turn. I will Normal Summon Genex Undine again. And I'll send another WATER monster from my deck to the graveyard and add another copy of Genex Controller to my hand."
The water-themed monster was just… floating there.
"Spell Card, Graceful Charity. I'll draw three cards and discard two." She revealed the two cards—both of them were the copies of Genex Controller that she had added to her hand. Therefore, she now had four cards in her hand, including Citree. "I'll activate the Spell Card, Moray of Greed. I will shuffle two WATER monsters from my hand into the deck and draw three cards. Then, I will discard a card from my hand and Special Summon Crystron Sulfefnir from my hand."
The yellow beast with green crystals growing all over its body appeared, letting out a feral growl.
[Crystron Sulfefnir (5*/2000/1500/WATER/Machine/Effect)]
"Then, I must destroy a card I control. I will destroy Sulfefnir itself." The monster exploded.
"Huh? You destroyed your own monster?" Sawatari said, clearly baffled.
"Since Crystron Sulfefnir was destroyed by battle or a card effect, I can Special Summon a "Crystron" monster from my deck in Defense Position," Arisu explained. "Come—Crystron Thystvern." The purple dragon-like creature appeared, its tail whipping through the air swiftly.
[Crystron Thystvern (3*/1500/1500/WATER/Machine/Effect)]
"Then, Spell Card, Iron Call. Return to the field, Crystron Rion." A strange, silver creature with spiky hair appeared, seeming humanoid in appearance.
[Crystron Rion (3*/500/500/WATER/Machine/Tuner/Effect)]
"I'll tune the Level 3 Crystron Rion to the Level 3 Crystron Thystvern and the Level 3 Genex Undine!" The three monsters shot up in the air.
"Level 9?"
"Didn't your friend do a Level 9 Synchro Summon as well?" Arisu pulled out a card from her Extra Deck. "You're not from our world, and so I'm guessing that you wouldn't know how legendary these cards are," she said. "Let me give you an introduction. Ice! Take on the cruel form of the destroyer through the hope of our salvation, and burst through with all the strength of the world below! Despair, become a new hope for my victory! Synchro Summon! Level 9! The Destroyer, Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier!"
First, ice. It formed crystals above them, swirling all around, before a dragon with a head made of icicle-like structures emerged. Its limbs also looked like heads as well, incredibly intimidating as it glared down at them. Graceful—
Destructive and inhuman.
[Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier (9*/2700/2000/WATER/Dragon/Synchro/Effect)]
"Trishula? Like Kyorin's…"
"Oh, I have no clue what Rinsoka-san's deal is," Arisu said easily. "I suppose that her monsters have an uncanny resemblance to the Ice Barrier dragons, but that's it."
"Dragon of the Ice Barrier," Yuno repeated.
"Brionac, Gungnir, Trishula," Arisu listed. "The three destructive dragons of the ice barrier."
"So, are they an archetype?" Sawatari said. "Is your deck a mix?"
"Well, I gave Gungnir and Brionac to Kaname. But yes." Arisu glanced away wistfully. She didn't explain anymore about that. "When Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier is Synchro Summoned, I can banish a card from your field, graveyard and hand. The card from the hand is banished randomly, but I can at least choose which player I banish a card from. I will banish Superheavy Samurai Beast Kyubi from the field, Abyss Script - Opening Ceremony from the graveyard, and a random card from your hand." She pointed to Gongenzaka.
Ice crystals burst forth around them—a sharp chill, as the field was frozen over.
She couldn't destroy it, so she just… removed it?
"Battle Phase," Arisu said. "Crystron Borahydra gains 200 attack and defense points for each "Crystron" monster in the graveyard or that is banished. There's four—the banished Prasiortle, along with Sulfefnir, Thystvern and Rion in the graveyard."
[Crystron Borahydra: 1500 + 200 x 4 = 2300ATK; 2500 + 200 x 4 = 3300DEF]
"And Borahydra gains an additional attack for every Machine monster on the field at the start of the Battle Phase," Arisu said. "I control two Machines, so Borahydra can attack thrice this turn!"
"What?" Sawatari gasped.
"Trishula will attack Abyss Actor - Superstar." The dragon raised its head, ready to breathe down thick layers of ice on the field. Superstar was frozen and destroyed under the blast.
Sawatari: 5000 - 200 = 4800LP
"Since you inflicted damage to me, I can activate the Pendulum Effect of Abyss Actor - Leading Lady! I will add an "Abyss Actor" monster with equal or less attack points from my deck to my hand!"
"Equal or less… so 200 or less?"
"Yes!" Sawatari picked up the card.
Arisu gestured forward. "I will attack your Sassy Rookie with Borahydra's first attack."
"Once per turn, Sassy Rookie can't be destroyed by battle!" The crystals shot up, but Sawatari's monster remained standing. Furthermore, since it was in Defense Position, Sawatari didn't take any damage.
"... hmm." Arisu glanced between him and Gongenzaka. "If we speak about this in terms of efficiency, it becomes evident who I should aim the other two attacks at, doesn't it? Crystron Borahydra attacks you directly." The crystals shot out towards Gongenzaka, who stood there, completely still, and took the impact with his own body.
Gongenzaka: 4000 - 2300 = 1700LP
"When I take battle damage while I have no Spells or Traps in the graveyard, I can Special Summon Superheavy Samurai Prepped Defense from my hand!" A green and bronze robot appeared in front of him in Defense Position.
[Superheavy Samurai Prepped Defense (3*/100/2100/EARTH/Machine/Effect)]
"And until the End Phase, Superheavy Samurai Prepped Defense cannot be destroyed by battle or by card effects!"
"You do focus especially on defence. Not a bad strategy in the slightest." Arisu gestured towards Sassy Rookie. Borahydra roared again, finishing it off with its last attack.
"Sorry, but you're not clearing my field this turn either! When Abyss Actor - Sassy Rookie is destroyed by battle, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower "Abyss Actor" monster from my deck! Come—Abyss Actor - Trendy Understudy!" A green-skinned figure in a rather over the top outfit—top hat, cape, vest and striped pants—appeared where Sassy Rookie had been earlier.
[Abyss Actor - Trendy Understudy (2*/S8/700/700/DARK/Fiend/Pendulum/Effect)]
"Like I said, you're both rather impressive compared to the other opponents that I've faced recently," Arisu said. Her praise was genuine—no lukewarmness, no exaggeration. "It looks like I'll have to take you seriously to win. I'll set one card facedown and end my turn." That left her with no cards in hand at all, which was… a strange choice.
[Turn 4: Sawatari] [H:3]
"Draw!" Sawatari declared. "I'll Normal Summon Abyss Actor - Extras!" The three strange blue creatures appeared, appearing like spirits that were seeping out of a jar.
[Abyss Actor - Extras (1*/S3/100/100/DARK/Fiend/Pendulum/Effect)]
"And then, I'll open the circuit of dark shining stars! Arrowhead confirmed! The conditions are one "Abyss Actor" Pendulum Monster! I will set Abyss Actor - Trendy Understudy in the Link Markers! Come forth now and streamline the path forward! Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 1! Abyss Actor - Hyper Director!" The blue-skinned man in a colourful suit appeared in front of him.
[Abyss Actor - Hyper Director (L1/800/DARK/Fiend/Link/Effect/↓)]
"Hyper Director's effect! I will Special Summon an "Abyss Actor" monster from my Pendulum Scale, and place an "Abyss Actor" monster with a different name from my Deck or face-up in my Extra Deck in the Pendulum Scale! I will Special Summon Leading Lady from the Pendulum Scale, and set the Scale 0 Abyss Actor - Mellow Madonna from my deck in the Pendulum Scale!" In front of him, the girl with the green braids appeared, grinning cheerfully.
[Abyss Actor - Leading Lady (4*/S2/1500/1000/DARK/Fiend/Pendulum/Effect)]
"I'll then open my circuit again!"
"Nice, Sawatari!" Yuno praised.
Sawatari stopped for a moment, glancing away—almost seeming startled by the compliment. "U-uh, arrowhead confirmed! The conditions are two monsters, including a Fiend monster! I will set Abyss Actor - Hyper Director and Abyss Actor - Extras in the Link Markers! Smug and organised, all the props and actors bend before your will! Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 2! Abyss Actor - Super Producer!" The rather sleazy-looking orange-haired man appeared, his ashen purple skin lending to the aura of a scammer that he exuded.
[Abyss Actor - Super Producer (L2/1600/DARK/Fiend/Link/Effect/↙, ↘)]
"With my current Pendulum Scale, I can Pendulum Summon monsters from Level 1 to Level 7! Pendulum Summon! Abyss Actor - Superstar! Abyss Actor - Sassy Rookie! Abyss Actor - Trendy Understudy! Abyss Actor - Extras!" The four monsters reappeared on the field, making a field of six monsters.
"Oh, a full field in one go," Arisu commented.
"Superstar's effect! I'll add a "Abyss Script" card from my deck to my hand. I'll then activate the Spell Card, Abyss Script - Rise of the Abyss King! Since I control three "Abyss Actor" monsters in Attack Position—Super Producer, Superstar and Leading Lady—I can target and destroy face-up cards you control up to that number! I will target Crystron Borahydra and Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier!"
The two monsters shattered.
"Well done, Sawatari!" Gongenzaka congratulated loudly.
"... when Crystron Borahydra is destroyed…" Miharu narrowed her eyes.
"You remembered correctly," Arisu said. "When a Synchro Summoned Crystron Borahydra is destroyed, I can target a monster in either player's graveyard with attack points equal to or lower than Borahydra's defense points—and Special Summon it back to my field in Attack Position. Return to the field—Crystron Rion." The silver grey crystal humanoid appeared.
"I'll activate the Spell Card, Abyss Script - Fire Dragon's Lair! This turn, if Superstar destroys a monster by battle, you must banish three cards from your Extra Deck!"
Three cards?...
"Battle Phase!" Sawatari declared. "Abyss Actor - Superstar attacks Crystron Rion!"
"Crystron Rion's effect," Arisu countered. "During my opponent's Main Phase or Battle Phase, I can Special Summon one of my banished non-Tuner monsters with its effects negated, and immediately perform a Synchro Summon with Rion and that monster by shuffling both of them into the deck. Return to my field—Crystron Prasiortle!" The green turtle appeared on her field.
[Crystron Prasiortle (2*/500/2000/WATER/Machine/Effect)]
"A Synchro Summon on my turn?"
"I will tune the Level 3 Crystron Rion to the Level 2 Crystron Prasiortle!" The two monsters shot up in the air. "Beautiful amethyst, fuse with the bright citrine, and with the power of the eastern sun, rise up! Synchro Summon! Level 5! Lady of ametrine—Crystron Ametrix!" The woman made of purple crystal appeared in front of her, dazzling and bright.
[Crystron Ametrix (5*/2500/1500/WATER/Machine/Synchro/Effect)]
"When Crystron Ametrix is Synchro Summoned, all face-up Special Summoned monsters my opponent controls are changed to Defense Position." Superstar and Leading Lady were forced into Defense Position. Super Producer was unaffected since it was a Link Monster, but it still couldn't defeat that monster.
… lady of ametrine, huh?
Yuno glanced between the woman made of purple crystal and the woman with long purple hair.
Yes, Borahydra was the ace of that woman, but…
In the past, before that… would that ace have been this monster? Graceful, but carrying an aura of power to her regardless?
The shift from this graceful creature with the ability to make others listen to her, to a destructive creature that ruled through force…
"What?" Sawatari grimaced. "Then… I'll end my turn."
[Turn 5: Gongenzaka] [H:1]
"Draw," Gongenzaka said solemnly. "The man, Gongenzaka, will Special Summon Superheavy Samurai Trumpeter from the hand." A tiny orange samurai appeared. "However, I cannot Special Summon monsters for the rest of this turn, except for "Superheavy Samurai" monsters."
[Superheavy Samurai Trumpeter (2*/300/600/EARTH/Machine/Tuner/Effect)]
"I will then tune the Level 2 Superheavy Samurai Trumpeter to the Level 3 Superheavy Samurai Prepped Defense! Swift sword, cut through the air! Synchro Summon! Level 5! Now show yourself—Superheavy Samurai Swordmaster Musashi!" A warrior with two long swords appeared, dressed in gold and red armour.
[Superheavy Samurai Swordmaster Musashi (5*/300/2300/EARTH/Machine/Synchro/Effect)]
"Since I Synchro Summoned, I can target a Machine monster in my graveyard and add it to my hand!"
Arisu flipped over her set card. "Trap Card," she said. "Torrential Tribute. Since a monster was summoned, I can destroy all monsters on the field. And that includes your teammate's monsters as well."
Water shot up, freezing over and crushing each and every single monster. Only Sassy Rookie survived.
"What?" Sawatari exclaimed.
"When a Synchro Summoned Crystron Ametrix is destroyed, I can Special Summon a "Crystron" monster from my graveyard, except a Synchro Monster," Arisu said. "I'll Special Summon Crystron Thystvern in Defense Position."
Gongenzaka frowned.
"I will add Superheavy Samurai Motorbike from my graveyard to my hand," he said. "And I will discard it from my hand to add a "Superheavy Samurai" monster from my deck to my hand. Now, I will Normal Summon Superheavy Samurai Scales!" The green robot appeared in front of him.
[Superheavy Samurai Scales (4*/800/1800/EARTH/Machine/Effect)]
"With Scales's effect, the man, Gongenzaka will Special Summon a Level 4 or lower "Superheavy Samurai" monster from the graveyard. Return—Superheavy Samurai Motorbike!" For the second time, the pink motorcycle appeared on the field. "With Motorbike's effect, Scales' Level increases by 2!"
[Superheavy Samurai Scales: 4* + 2* = 6*]
"Tuning the Level 2 Superheavy Samurai Motorbike to the Level 6 Superheavy Samurai Scales! Ninja that cuts away tricks! Step steadfast on this battlefield! Synchro Summon! Level 8! Superheavy Samurai Ninja Sarutobi!" A large, rotund blue robot appeared in a puff of smoke.
[Superheavy Samurai Ninja Sarutobi (8*/2000/2800/EARTH/Machine/Synchro/Effect)]
"Superheavy Samurai Ninja Sarutobi can attack while in Defense Position, and its defense points can be used for damage calculation!" Sarutobi slashed through the air, cutting through Thystvern.
"Sure," Arisu said. "My turn?"
… strange.
"I will activate the effect of Superheavy Samurai General Coral in the Pendulum Scale! When a "Superheavy Samurai" monster that the man, Gongenzaka, controls destroys a monster by battle, that monster can attack a second time in a row!"
Sarutobi dashed forward, dealing a heavy blow to Arisu's life points.
Arisu: 4000 - 2800 = 1200LP
"Nice shot, Gongenzaka!" Sawatari cheered.
Gongenzaka nodded, ending his turn. Yuno watched the field intently.
Could she really take out both of them if she only had a single card in her hand?
And so far, she hadn't shown either of the two monsters that had devastated Yuno's field back then.
[Turn 6: Arisu] [H:1]
"Draw," Arisu said casually. "I will banish Crystron Thystvern from the graveyard to use its effect. I will add a "Crystron" monster from my deck to my hand." She picked up a card. "I will discard a card from my hand to Special Summon Crystron Sulfefnir from my graveyard." The yellow and green beast reappeared. "I must then destroy a card I control—so I'll destroy Sulfefnir itself. And you know the drill. Sulfefnir's effect. I will Special Summon Crystron Thystvern from the deck."
Another copy of Thystvern appeared on the field.
"And I'll banish the card that I just discarded from the graveyard—Crystron Smiger. I will add a "Crystron" Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand." She revealed the card. "Spell Card, Liquid Crystallisation."
She held up a finger before Sawatari could ask the obvious question.
"This card is always treated as a "Crystron" card," she said. "While I control a "Crystron" monster, I can banish a monster from the graveyard, such as Crystron Borahydra, to Special Summon a "Crystron" Tuner from my deck, and add a card with the same name from my deck to my hand. Come—Crystron Rion!" The silver machine appeared on the field.
Gongenzaka would have activated the effect of Sarutobi, but destroying the card wouldn't have negated its effects anyway, so he was waiting to see if anything else would happen.
"I will Normal Summon Crystron Rion." The three monsters were all on the field together. "Crystalline, perfect gem that speeds through time! Golden perfection feeding into the evolution of the crystals of the water! Now, emerge, golden lord! Double Tuning! Synchro Summon! Level 9! Crystron Quariongandrax!" The golden warrior appeared in front of her.
Yuno winced.
[Crystron Quariongandrax (9*/3000/3000/WATER/Machine/Synchro/Effect)]
"Since I used three Synchro Materials to Synchro Summon Quariongandrax, I can banish three cards from the field or graveyard of my opponents. I will banish Sarutobi and Sassy Rookie from the field. Golden Vaporisation!" The monsters vanished—leaving both Sawatari and Gongenzaka's fields open.
"Quariongandrax attacks you directly." The golden warrior dashed forward, reducing Gongenzaka's life points to zero.
Gongenzaka: 1700 - 3000 = 0LP
"I'll set a card facedown," Arisu said. "Your turn."
[Turn 7: Sawatari] [H:2]
"Draw," Sawatari said. "I'll…" He seemed a little lost now that he was standing alone. "I'll Pendulum Summon! Abyss Actor - Superstar! Abyss Actor - Leading Lady! Abyss Actor - Trending Understudy. Abyss Actor - Extras." Four monsters reappeared on the field. "Superstar's effect! I'll add Abyss Script - Dramatic Story to my hand. I'll activate it, and target Abyss Actor - Extras. I will Special Summon an "Abyss Actor" monster with a different name from my deck, and I'll destroy Extras. So come—Abyss Actor - Evil Heel!" The tall, large and monstrous fiend appeared in front of him, and Extras vanished.
[Abyss Actor - Evil Heel (8*/S1/3000/2000/DARK/Fiend/Pendulum/Effect)]
"Evil Heel's effect! I'll target your monster and decrease its attack points by 1000 for each "Abyss Actor" monster I control, until the End Phase!" A cold glow surrounded Arisu's monster.
[Crystron Quariongandrax: 3000 - 1000 x 4 = 0ATK]
"Evil Heel attacks your monster!"
"Quickplay Spell, Crystron Roulette. I will target Quariongandrax, banish a monster from my graveyard and add a "Crystron" monster with less attack points than that monster from my deck to my hand. Then, I destroy that monster."
She was destroying… her own monster?
Quariongandrax exploded into golden light.
"When Quariongandrax is destroyed, I can Special Summon one of my banished monsters," Arisu continued. "Come—Crystron Sulfefnir." The monster reappeared in Defense Position—she must have banished it herself.
"Attack Sulfefnir!"
Evil Heel destroyed her monster.
"When Sulfefnir is destroyed, I can Special Summon a "Crystron" monster from my deck. Come—Crystron Citree." The yellow fairy-like monster reappeared. "I'll activate the effect of Crystron Citree, naturally. I'll Special Summon Crystron Sulfefnir from my graveyard and immediately perform another Synchro Summon by banishing both of them. The damage will wreck the world. Noble warrior, stand up and suppress those who dare to stand against us! Synchro Summon! Level 7! Samurai Destroyer!" A larger, orange robot appeared right in front of her.
[Samurai Destroyer (7*/2600/1400/EARTH/Machine/Synchro/Effect)]
"2600 attack points…" Sawatari grimaced. "I'll… end my turn."
"Hmm…"
A searching look.
"You lack confidence."
"W-what?"
"I don't think I'm wrong, am I?" Arisu folded her arms. "You love exaggeration. But you lack confidence." She turned to Gongenzaka. "And you lack self-assuredness."
Gongenzaka furrowed his eyebrows.
"If you're here to fight, what is your motive, other than 'what is right'?" Arisu said. "The vague answer of 'righteousness' or 'power' won't sustain you forever."
Sawatari looked shocked—a little listless.
"Battles are long, and wars are longer," Arisu said. "Nobility only expires, and goodness only inspires for a short time." Her words were matter-of-fact. "You're not genuine. Your hearts are weak in battle, because you lie to yourselves about what you fight for. You want to pretend that you're more noble than you think you are."
"I don't…"
"It's just a thought. You're still young. It's very natural that you don't know what you fight for." Arisu swiped up a card. "I have a feeling that I shouldn't say much else—I don't need to give Mion Myojin a reason to be displeased with me. I do respect her that much. And no matter how much I criticise you—the privilege of the young is the capability to grow. Roget was wrong about a lot of things, but he was at least right about that."
[Turn 8: Arisu] [H:2]
"Draw," Arisu said. "I'll Normal Summon Crystron Citree. And I'll tune the Level 2 Crystron Citree to the Level 7 Samurai Destroyer. Enormous castle in the sky, with wind that howls like a beast. Synchro Summon! Level 9! Cloudcastle!"
A gigantic castle appeared above her—medieval and rustic-looking.
[Cloudcastle (9*/0/3000/WIND/Machine/Synchro/Effect)]
"When Cloudcastle is Synchro Summoned, I can Special Summon a Level 9 monster from my graveyard."
Level 9…
"Return—Crystron Quariongandrax!" The golden warrior reappeared on the field.
"But… you still can't defeat my monsters…"
"Spell Card, Limiter Removal," Arisu said. "I'll double Quariongandrax's attack points."
[Crystron Quariongandrax: 3000 x 2 = 6000ATK]
"And you happened to leave Trendy Understudy in Attack Position, because you wanted to believe that you would defeat me last turn." She gestured forward—
And Quariongandrax ended the duel.
Sawatari: 4800 - 5300 = 0LP
Winner: Arisu Kirijo!
"... it's a pity. I didn't exactly want to make the two of you duel at this point in time." Arisu turned over to Yuno and Miharu. "But—"
Then, all of them froze up, hearing a laugh nearby.
A monstrous laugh.
Yuno immediately tensed up as a figure rode into the clearing. A very familiar, monstrous creature. A duel disk raised.
Arisu held out a hand in front of Sawatari and Gongenzaka—a show of protectiveness. Her eyebrow was creased.
"I didn't hear any orders," she said, "about you coming here."
Sergey Volkov grinned.
"I decide how I run my own battles," Arisu said coldly. "And I have my own way to decide what I do when I win. Back off."
And despite that hostility…
It was not the amount of hostility that Yuno would expect from her, considering what Yuno knew.
… considering what Yuno knew…
Could it be that Arisu Kirijo didn't know about what this man had done?
A cackling sound. "She calls you sister," Sergey said. "Doesn't she?"
Yuno tensed up.
"... why are you talking about Kaname all of a sudden?" Arisu said warily. "None of us are your business."
"... could it be…" Cold laughter. "You don't know! You don't know! It hurts her so much that you don't know!" A cruel, wide grin. "The best. It's the best."
"What do you mean?" Arisu said. She was still positioning herself in front of the four of them—for all that she had been rather firm on her decision, her body language betrayed her gentleness.
Yuno's eyes widened.
She really… didn't know?
"That affliction that I painted on her like a church mural," Sergey said. "Haven't you seen it?"
It took Arisu a moment longer to connect the dots. When she did, however, her voice was tinged with cold fury—of a good-natured person who was seeing something that she did not want to believe.
"The fact that she worked with you," she said, "makes her a much better person than you could ever be, you piece of—" Her voice caught slightly. "... and if I believe that, I don't care that you're technically working for the same person as me, I won't let you have your way with anyone."
Sergey grinned. "If you die," he said, "it'll make her more perfect." He was about to move forward—
"Enough."
All of them turned over.
Jack Atlas strode forward. Yuya and Yuzu were behind him as well. The three of them seemed to be slightly out of breath—they had clearly gone to the place that Roget had told them to go, and had tracked Sergey here. Even so, Jack still looked rather majestic—an effortless confidence.
"You are a monster, Sergey Volkov," Jack said. "A disgusting parasite that has bloomed from the evil that has been nurtured in this city. You have only continued to drag others down into your hell. And it is long past the time that we dig you out of the earth."
Roget, naturally, had noticed the fact that Sergey had left the place where he was supposed to be. However, he was far more occupied with something else.
Namely, cheating.
"The Lancers should have all headed out," he said. "Aren't they the impulsive kind?"
He had, naturally, been waiting for the Friendship Cup stadium to be unguarded. But it seemed that the Lancers had not been willing to commit fully.
Still though, this was enough.
"Send out Prototype Unit 2 and Alternative Unit 1," he ordered. "Have them retrieve Chiaki Katsuya and card everyone there."
Had anyone really believed that he wouldn't play dirty?
… he would do anything to gain any advantage, no matter what.
"Chiaki."
"... ah." Chiaki, who had been turning the scissors over in her hands, turned over to Yuji. "Sorry. I was… thinking."
"About?" Yuji glanced at the scissors again.
"No, I'm not doing anything dangerous with it." Chiaki sighed. "I lent it from someone. You know they didn't let me cut my hair at Academia? I don't know why. It's gotten irritatingly long—even back before that bastard kidnapped me, I already needed to get a haircut. I can't exactly cut my own hair though."
"I can… try."
"Hah. I appreciate it." Chiaki glanced at him. "But no. You and I both know that you can't take care of hair."
Yuji shrugged. It was very true—he wasn't even offended by it. "Ask Kyorin."
"You're right. She probably knows how to manage hair properly. Guess I should keep this on me though, just in case." Chiaki slipped the scissors into the bag that was slung on her shoulder—Yuji didn't even know where she had gotten that from. "Have you been dueling?"
Yuji nodded. Chiaki had gone off on her own, after all, and he'd been keeping people away from her.
"... you're not as duel-averse as you used to be, then." Chiaki nodded. "Sure. Glad for you and all."
"... and you?"
"Opposite of you," Chiaki said. She raised a hand, pressing it tightly to the side of her head. "I just get so… angry when I think about it. My deck's with Asuka, Yuji."
"... why?"
"She stole it from Academia or something. I don't know. I don't understand her at all." Chiaki glanced at her duel disk. "But every time I duel, I just get so angry. The deck that I use right now is a reminder that my actual deck was taken from me, and I couldn't do anything about it. Saffira, which my brother gave me… I just can't forgive them for this!"
She swung her hand wildly through the air, as though to hit her duel disk against the wall—and then she stopped.
"I just can't forgive them. And the worst part is that I was alone in that room the whole time. Two whole months of waking up, staring at the wall, wanting to see you and hating them for everything. Every day felt the same. I felt like I was wasting away—the same food, the same skies, the same room, no one's voice but my own—and so I started breaking things in that room just to have some kind of difference in it, just so that I wouldn't go insane from nothing happening, to prove to myself that my hands could still do something of their own—"
Hate, Yuji thought, had probably been the only thing that had kept Chiaki going through that. Just like how hope had been the only thing that had salvaged his spirit. Two very different things, but hadn't they served the same purpose?
"They're in the wrong. I know that. So when I duel with this deck, it only reminds me that this is all so unfair, and I get angrier and angrier, and I just feel so…"
Yuji reached out. He carefully put a hand on her shoulder.
"Getting angry," he said, "is better than giving up."
(He was not the best at emotional advice.)
Still, Chiaki rolled her eyes. "You can't even get angry that easily." Still, it seemed to have cheered her up. "And—"
Nearby, a wall collapsed. The two of them turned to look at it.
A strange, white robot drove through it.
There was a moment of silence. The two of them turned to each other, before turning back to the robot.
"Facial recognition activated," the robot said. "Target identified. Objective—defeat and capture."
"Oh, I've had enough of this," Chiaki muttered—something that Yuji could agree earnestly with. "If you want to duel us, scrap bot, you'd better be ready to end up in pieces."
It wasn't even a question that they would be dueling together, of course. Yuji would never tell her not to fight, and Chiaki would never tell Yuji to not do something that he, for once, felt like doing.
[DUEL!]
Alternative Unit 1 - D1V1N3: 8000LP
Yuji Fujita & Chiaki Katsuya: 8000LP
[Turn 1: D1V1N3] [H:5]
"Oh, we share fields. This is going to suck," Chiaki muttered. Yuji shot her a slightly confused look. "This new deck's almost as xenophobic as yours now, Yuji." She peered at her duel disk. "Divine? Strange name for a robot…"
A robotic arm emerged from the side of the robot, holding onto a duel disk.
"Spell Card, Pot of Desires. Banishing ten cards from the top of the deck to draw two cards. Then, Spell Card, Emergency Teleport. Special Summoning a Level 3 or lower Psychic monster from deck. Come—Esper Girl." A blonde-haired girl with a white and red cape appeared, an innocent look on her face. She was holding onto a glowing mechanical staff.
[Esper Girl (2*/500/300/EARTH/Psychic/Tuner/Effect)]
"Tributing Esper Girl to Tribute Summon Overdrive Teleporter!" A man appeared, wearing a white mechanical suit and cloak, with long and sharp bronze hair. Green energy was streaming out from him, lending him an eerie aura.
[Overdrive Teleporter (6*/2100/1200/LIGHT/Psychic/Effect)]
"Activating Equip Spell, Telekinetic Charging Cell. Equip to Overdrive Teleporter. By paying 2000 life points, once while face-up on the field, Overdrive Teleporter Special Summons two Level 3 Psychic monsters from the deck. With Charging Cell, don't pay life points for effects of equipped monster. Special Summoning Hushed Psychic Cleric and Psychic Commander." The white and purple cyborg woman appeared in front of the robot, along with a green tank-like machine.
[Hushed Psychic Cleric (3*/0/2100/EARTH/Psychic/Effect)]
[Psychic Commander (3*/1400/800/EARTH/Psychic/Tuner/Effect)]
"Activating effect of Hushed Psychic Cleric. Discarding a card to banish Esper Girl from graveyard. Then, tuning the Level 3 Psychic Commander to Level 3 Hushed Psychic Cleric. Synchro Summon—Level 6, Psychic Nightmare." A colourful purple demon surrounded by green lightning appeared.
[Psychic Nightmare (6*/2400/1800/WIND/Psychic/Synchro/Effect)]
"Since Hushed Psychic Cleric was sent to the graveyard, player Special Summon monster banished with effect—come, Esper Girl." The girl from before reappeared on the field. "When Special Summoned from banished cards, Esper Girl banishes top card of deck. Tuning the Level 2 Esper Girl to the Level 6 Overdrive Teleporter. Synchro Summon. Level 8. Thought Ruler Archfiend." A large, green, fiendish monster appeared, golden claws attached to white skeletal structures around its arms. It floated next to Psychic Nightmare, looking just as sinister.
[Thought Ruler Archfiend (8*/2700/2300/DARK/Psychic/Synchro/Effect)]
"Since Esper Girl was sent to graveyard, add card banished by effect to hand. Activate Psychic Nightmare's effect. Pick random card in opponent's hand and guess type. If correct, gain 1000 attack points until end of opponent's turn." The bot gestured to Yuji. "Monster."
Yuji revealed the card, showing off its orange border. Psychic Nightmare powered up.
[Psychic Nightmare: 2400 + 1000 = 3400ATK]
"Set two cards facedown. End turn."
[Turn 2: Yuji] [H:6]
"Draw," Yuji said. He glanced at his hand. "Spell Card, Pre-Preparation of Rites. I will add a Ritual Spell and a Ritual Monster specifically mentioned in that Ritual Spell from my deck to my hand." He picked up the two cards. "Activating the Ritual Spell, Good & Evil in the Burning Abyss. By tributing the Level 3 Alich, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and the Level 3 Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss in my hand, I can perform a Ritual the providence that gave them the fifth pit to govern as the ministers of its will takes from their souls the power of leaving it! Appear now, leader of the Malebranche! Rule over this world with your heart of fire and brimstone! Ritual Summon! Level 6! Malacoda, Netherlord of the Burning Abyss!"
His most commonly used Ritual Monster appeared on the field, blue and orange fire around it.
[Malacoda, Netherlord of the Burning Abyss (6*/2700/2200/DARK/Fiend/Ritual/Effect)]
"Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss's effect. Since it was sent to the graveyard, I can Special Summon a "Burning Abyss" monster from my deck. Come—Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss." The horned demon appeared, its wings wider than its body.
[Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss (3*/1000/1900/DARK/Fiend/Effect)]
"Alich's effect. I will target a monster you control and negate its effects until the End Phase. I will target Psychic Nightmare." With its effects negated, the monster's attack points fell.
[Psychic Nightmare: 3400 → 2400ATK]
"Battle Phase."
"You really did go for the simplest strategy, Yuji," Chiaki commented.
It was more comfortable that way, was it not?
"Malacoda attacks Thought Ruler Archfiend. By sending a "Burning Abyss" monster from my hand to the graveyard, I'll lower your monster's attack and defense points by the attack and defense points of the monster that I sent to the graveyard. I sent Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to the graveyard. Hellraking Drain!" Blue and orange flames swirled around the Synchro Monster, weakening it significantly.
[Thought Ruler Archfiend: 2700 - 800 = 1900ATK; 2300 - 2000 = 300DEF]
"Activating Trap, Past Image! Banish your Malacoda until next End Phase!"
Yuji blinked as his monster vanished from the field. "... oh."
"I see that these past few months haven't helped you with predicting others' moves in the slightest," Chiaki said—just a matter of fact, nothing else.
Yuji nodded.
The fact remained that he was still disinterested in the dueling of others. Passion, strategy, interacting… those all meant an intention to engage with others that Yuji had no interest in.
"I'll Normal Summon Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss." The large, bulky demon appeared, stomping across the field.
[Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss (3*/1600/1200/DARK/Fiend/Effect)]
"And then, I'll set one card facedown," Yuji said. "I'll end my turn. Scarm lets me add a Level 3 DARK Fiend monster from my deck to my hand." This caused him to end the turn with two cards in hand. He still had the same emotionless expression on his face, despite the fact that he hadn't managed to touch his opponent's board in the slightest.
[Turn 3: D1V1N3] [H:2]
"Draw. Opponent's skill level assessed. Level established—Not Threat."
"It thinks you're not a threat, Yuji," Chiaki said, snorting. "Heap of junk." Malacoda reappeared on the field, the effect of the Trap from before ending.
"Normal Summoning Mental Seeker." In front of the robot, a boy with a blue blindfold covering his eyes appeared, mint green hair glowing with sparks of electricity.
[Mental Seeker (3*/800/600/EARTH/Psychic/Tuner/Effect)]
"Tuning Level 3 Mental Seeker to Level 6 Psychic Nightmare. Synchro Summon. Level 9. Hyper Psychic Blaster." A tall cyborg with most of its body made of white metal appeared next to Thought Ruler Archfiend, seeming far more cybernetic in nature than the rest of the monsters so far. For a deck labelled as Psychic monsters, the other Synchro Monsters strangely looked like fiends.
[Hyper Psychic Blaster (9*/3000/2500/EARTH/Psychic/Synchro/Effect)]
"Hyper Psychic Blaster attacks Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. Hyper Psychic Blaster deals piercing damage when battling a monster in Defense Position."
"Doesn't matter," Chiaki said with a smirk.
Yuji nodded, calmly flipping over the set card. "Trap Card, Fire Lake in the Burning Abyss. By sending Farfa and Cir from the field to the graveyard, I can target and destroy three cards you control. I will target and destroy Hyper Psychic Blaster, Thought Ruler Archfiend and your other set card."
Why bother going to so much effort to bring out more monsters when a single card could do the trick?
The robot beeped twice. "Thought Ruler Archfiend only protects one… processed. Activating Counter Trap. Mind Over Matter. Tribute one Psychic monster—Hyper Psychic Blaster. Negate activation of card and destroy."
"Hyper Psychic Blaster and not Thought Ruler Archfiend…" Yuji murmured. "... strange."
Chiaki shrugged. "They'll all be destroyed anyway." Fire Lake fizzled out, but by tributing Hyper Psychic Blaster, the robot had also ended its own attack. "Well, junk heap?"
"Thought Ruler Archfiend attacks Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss." The demonic creature slashed downwards. Since Cir was in Attack Position, their life points still fell—though not by a particularly large amount, all things considered.
Yuji & Chiaki: 8000 - 1100 = 6900LP
"When Thought Ruler Archfiend destroys monster, gain life points equal to destroyed monster's attack!" A glow surrounded the robot, which was… an odd sight.
D1V1N3: 8000 + 1600 = 9600LP
"When Cir is sent to the graveyard, I can Special Summon a "Burning Abyss" monster from the graveyard," Yuji said. In front of him, Graff reappeared.
"Set card, end turn!" No cards left in hand for the robot now.
[Turn 4: Chiaki] [H:6]
"Graff and Farfa are going to explode the moment that I play a monster," Chiaki said, glancing at the card that she was drawing. "So the usual?"
"They're there for you to use," Yuji said, feeling comforted at the very thought. This was how they had played all the way back in the past, after all—Yuji had always been the one providing card advantage and support, while Chiaki went for the necks of anyone they were dueling against.
A part of him wanted to cling to what he knew, what he was familiar with. That was the same part of him that had chosen not to do anything but Ritual Summon on the first turn—because he had also wanted Chiaki to see the same familiar dueling style that he had been using before.
An attempt on both of their parts to be the same people they had been before this.
"Ritual Spell, Dogmatikamacabre," Chiaki declared from next to him. "I will tribute the Level 3 Graff and the Level 3 Farfa to Ritual Summon. Holy corpse shrouded in the light of dogma. Let your relentless apathy cleanse this funereal plane, and bring forth the perfection that you seek! Advent! Level 4! White Relic of Dogmatika!"
Yuji got his second look at Chiaki's new deck, as the blonde girl dressed in pink and white robes appeared, looking just as lifeless as before.
[White Relic of Dogmatika (4*/500/2500/LIGHT/Spellcaster/Ritual/Effect)]
"White Relic of Dogmatika's effect. You didn't negate Yuji's Malacoda the turn before, so I'm guessing you can't negate monster effects! I'll target Thought Ruler Archfiend and Malacoda, Netherlord of the Burning Abyss. One of them gains attack points equal to the other's attack points—I'll give you one guess as to who I'm helping out. Awakening Cleanse!"
White Relic floated to Malacoda's side—a peculiar contrast between a holy priestess and a demon. She raised her staff, holy light bathing Malacoda and boosting his stats.
[Malacoda, Netherlord of the Burning Abyss: 2700 + 2700 = 5400ATK]
"Farfa's effect," Chiaki continued. "It was activated first, so it resolves second. Since it was sent to the graveyard, I'll target and banish Thought Ruler Archfiend until the End Phase."
This left a relatively clear field, with only one set card on the opponent's field.
"Plus, White Relic's effect is permanent."
So it would nearly be impossible to get Malacoda off the field by battle now.
"Malacoda, Netherlord of the Burning Abyss attacks directly! Hellfire Inferno!"
The fiend lunged forward, and rained down its unholy flames on the opponent.
D1V1N3: 9600 - 5400 = 4200LP
"I'll set a card and end my turn."
[Turn 5: D1V1N3] [H:1]
"Draw." The robot rumbled. "Trap Card, Psychic Overload. Shuffle Esper Girl, Hushed Psychic Cleric and Hyper Psychic Blaster into deck, draw two cards. Spell Card, Monster Reborn. Special Summon Thought Ruler Archfiend from graveyard." The demon from before reappeared on the field.
"Trap Card, Dogmatika Punishment! I will target your monster and send a monster with higher attack points from my Extra Deck to the graveyard to destroy it!"
"Thought Ruler Archfiend's effect is activated. By paying 1000 life points—Spell or Trap that targets a single Psychic monster is negated." Green lightning shot down, destroying Chiaki's set card. Since sending the monster from the Extra Deck was a part of the effect and not the activation cost, it didn't occur.
D1V1N3: 4200 - 1000 = 3200LP
"Normal Summoning Psychic Wheeleder." A spinning white wheel surrounded by green plasma appeared.
[Psychic Wheeleder (3*/600/0/EARTH/Psychic/Tuner/Effect)]
"Tuning the Level 3 Psychic Wheeleder to the Level 8 Thought Ruler Archfiend. Perfect, terrifying psychic terror!"
Oh, there was actually a summoning chant programmed for this one?
"Emerge now, and crush every feeble mind with your almighty power! Green lightning, rain down around with plasma! Synchro Summon! Level 11! Psychic End Punisher!" A tall, black and green monstrous creature appeared, a pink light shining in the middle of its body. Several long black limbs swung out all around it—its body could not be fit easily into a humanoid shape, and every part of it was decidedly alien—like the villain of a science fiction movie.
[Psychic End Punisher (11*/3500/3500/LIGHT/Psychic/Synchro/Effect)]
"When Psychic Wheeleder is used as material—target and destroy monster with less attack points on the field. Destroy White Relic of Dogmatika!"
"White Relic's effect also triggers," Chiaki said. "I'll send a monster from your Extra Deck to the graveyard." She didn't recognise any of the cards shown to her, so she just picked a random one with a high Level."
"Equip Spell, Psychic Blade. Pay up to 2000 life points to increase Psychic End Punisher's attack and defense points by that amount. Pay 2000."
[Psychic End Punisher: 3500 + 2000 = 5500ATK/DEF]
D1V1N3: 3200 - 2000 = 1200LP
"Battle Phase. Psychic End Punisher gains attack points equal to the difference between life points!" The monster let out a hideous roar, and green lightning rained down around it.
[Psychic End Punisher: 5500 + 5700 = 11200ATK]
"Damn. That's over nine—ten, eleven thousand attack points," Chiaki remarked. For some reason, Yuji felt the urge to smile, though he held it in.
"Psychic End Punisher attacks Malacoda, Netherlord of the Burning Abyss." The fiend flew forward.
Chiaki and Yuji glanced at each other, both somewhat surprised.
They did nothing, obviously. Malacoda went down.
Yuji & Chiaki: 6900 - 5800 = 1100LP
"Was that it?" Yuji murmured. "That was… it?"
Chiaki turned back to the robot. "When Malacoda is sent to the graveyard, it takes a card you control with it. I'll destroy Psychic End Punisher!" The large and intimidating monster was… destroyed.
"Error." The robot moved slightly. "Psychic End Punisher is immune… to activated effects while player's life points are lower."
"Well, it seems that you misplayed," Chiaki said with a shrug. "Boosted your attack points a bit too much."
The robot moved around, smoke leaving its body. "Error. Error." Then, it collapsed on the ground.
"... well," Chiaki said, "that's anti-climatic. Still though, just one of us would have been enough to take it on, let alone both of us."
Yuji stepped forward. He knelt down next to the strange, smoking robot, examining it. He knew nothing about mechanical objects, but the first thing that he did was remove its deck from its duel disk. He turned the cards over in his hands—they felt strange.
"What are you thinking about?"
"... let's take them back," Yuji said. "Give them to someone." By that, he naturally meant that they had to figure out what the significance of this deck was—why it was a different deck from all the rest that they had seen thus far.
"True. It's not our job to figure it out."
Yuji looked at the robot, searching for anything else, though he wasn't sure what he was looking for. Eventually, he found a panel that slid open when he hit something. There were a few wires inside.
Yuji had no clue what any of them did, but…
"Can I borrow the scissors?"
Chiaki blinked, handing it to him. With a single snip, Yuji cut through all of the wires.
Whatever this robot was, it seemed like it was 'unique', in a sense. In personal experience, cutting the wires in any appliance tended to destroy it. In the end, he pulled a chip out from inside it.
"Let's head back," Chiaki said assertively. "I've rested long enough."
"You can sit out," Yuji said.
"You're not sitting out."
"Because they won't let you, so I'm forcing them to."
"Hah. What makes you think that I don't want to take part in this?"
"... you don't care."
He was right, of course. Chiaki's eyes widened—and then, they softened, even as she spoke just as ruthlessly as she always did. "You're right. I don't care about this. Maybe past me would have cared about this. But at this point, the only enemy I can see is Academia. As far as I've heard, Roget is just a pathetic man acting on his own. Winning against him won't bring us any closer to destroying Academia. But—"
She clenched her fists.
"He's a monster, yes. But what does fighting mindless soldiers do? It's useless. I can't fight for no reason."
… you and I are so different. But the way that your mind is completely different from mine is exactly what allows me to understand you.
"Let's go back," Yuji said. "Maybe someone there… knows more about this."
Half an hour ago:
Droves of Security had been showing up at the stadium. Naturally, Aki had been showing them no quarter.
And then…
And then, she spotted a familiar figure in the distance.
Immediately, she abandoned her position, running off—from behind her, Kiryu called out in surprise, and she could hear him following her, though he might not have seen what she had seen.
"Sherry!" Aki called out, because that bright blonde hair was unmistakable. However, as she got closer, she realised that Sherry was wearing a helmet that looked remarkably similar to the ones that Security was wearing.
… no way.
Roget didn't—
"That bastard," Kiryu said from next to her, rage contorting his features. "I'll kill him. Sherry? Can you hear…"
Sherry just watched them—she didn't say anything. She just raised her duel disk.
"First he humiliated her, and then he's using her," Aki said. The woman that she loved, forced to this state by Roget… "I won't forgive him. I absolutely cannot…"
She breathed out.
"Fine. I'll duel you, Sherry. I'll get that helmet off your head."
"I'll keep anyone from disturbing you," Kiryu said.
"Appreciated." Aki didn't refuse him—on this kind of battlefield, the chances of someone attempting to intrude was way too high. "Can I borrow…"
Kiryu stilled for a moment. When he held out the cards, there was a rather honest smile on his face, small as it was.
"He'd like that," he said. "Sure. Make sure you don't lose to Roget's cheap tricks."
"Of course." Aki turned to Sherry. "Come on, Sherry. Your blades against my flowers—it's not something I'll enjoy, but I still intend to win."
In the High Council's meeting room, watching on the cameras, Roget laughed. "Yes! That's exactly what I want. You're not ruthless enough to cut down your own loved one, are you, Aki Izayoi?"
[DUEL!]
Aki Izayoi: 4000LP
Sherry LeBlanc: 4000LP
[Turn 1: Sherry] [H:5]
"Spell Card, Terraforming," Sherry said. Aki blinked. Sherry had never used a Field Spell, from what she remembered. "I will add the Field Spell, Starlight Junktion to my hand and activate it. I will activate the effect of Junk Converter. By discarding it and a Tuner monster in my hand, I can add a "Synchron" monster from my deck to my hand. And I'll Normal Summon Junk Synchron." The tiny orange machine appeared on the field, eyes round and wide behind thick spectacles.
[Junk Synchron (3*/1300/500/DARK/Warrior/Tuner/Effect)]
"I will activate the effect of Junk Synchron. I can Special Summon a Level 2 or lower monster from my graveyard with its effects negated. Come back—Junk Converter." The grey robot appeared in front of her.
[Junk Converter (2*/400/200/EARTH/Warrior/Effect)]
"And I'll tune the Level 3 Junk Synchron to the Level 2 Junk Converter. Body born from speed, gather these clustering wishes, and bring them forth for the collective revolution! Synchro Summon! Level 5! Junk Speeder!" The white and blue mechanical warrior appeared in front of her.
[Junk Speeder (5*/1800/1000/WIND/Warrior/Synchro/Effect)]
"And with Junk Speeder's effect, I will Special Summon as many "Synchron" Tuner monsters as possible with different Levels from my deck in Defense Position, but I cannot Special Summon monsters this turn, except Synchro Monsters."
So Aki didn't have to worry about any strange Fusions showing up… still, Junk Speeder was always a large problem.
"First. Level 1—Mach Synchron." A strange white, plane-like monster appeared.
[Mach Synchron (1*/0/0/WIND/Machine/Tuner/Effect)]
"Second. Level 2—Necro Synchron." The strange, rotting mechanical sapling appeared in front of her.
[Necro Synchron (2*/200/400/DARK/Machine/Tuner/Effect)]
"Third. Level 3—Steam Synchron." The green steam engine appeared.
[Steam Synchron (3*/600/800/WATER/Machine/Tuner/Effect)]
"Fourth. Level 4—Hyper Synchron." The blue machine with bright lights on its hand appeared.
[Hyper Synchron (4*/1600/800/LIGHT/Machine/Tuner/Effect)]
"Fifth. Level 5—Wheel Synchron." A red monster that resembled a D-Wheel appeared in front of her as well.
[Wheel Synchron (5*/800/1000/LIGHT/Machine/Tuner/Effect)]
"I will tune the Level 2 Necro Synchron to the Level 5 Junk Speeder. Necro Synchron is treated as "Fleur Synchron" while it's face-up on the field, so there's no problem with this next Synchro Summon. Under the holy light, bless others with the power of your cross! Synchro Summon! Level 7! Fleur de Vidame!" The yellow-haired woman appeared, dressed in a holy-looking white robe. She was holding onto a long, silver metal cross.
[Fleur de Vidame (7*/2000/2200/WIND/Warrior/Synchro/Effect)]
"Since Fleur de Vidame was Synchro Summoned, I can add one of four specific cards to my hand—Pennant of Revolution, Synchro Dilemma, Fleur de Fleuret or Heritage of the Chalice. Next, I'll activate the effect of Necro Synchron. Since it was used as Synchro Material, I can Special Summon a Level 1 Plant monster from my deck. Come—Flower of Death - Necro Fleur." The small, drooping sapling appeared. Now, Sherry still had six monsters on the field.
[Flower of Death - Necro Fleur (1*/0/0/DARK/Plant/Effect)]
"I will tune the Level 4 Hyper Synchron to the Level 1 Flower of Death - Necro Fleur. Arrogant nobility, raise a blade to cut down those who you deem unworthy! Synchro Summon! Level 5! Fleur de Vavasour!" The yellow and orange-haired girl appeared, younger than Vidame or the rest of Sherry's monsters. She swung her parasol through the air, a cocky look on her face.
[Fleur de Vavasour (5*/2000/2000/WIND/Warrior/Synchro/Effect)]
"When Fleur de Vavasour is Synchro Summoned, I can add a Level 4 or lower monster from my graveyard to my hand."
How much was she going to Synchro Summon… on the first turn? And more than that, Vavasour locked down Special Summons from the Extra Deck when it came to monsters with higher attack points than her—but only for Aki. Sherry herself was still fine.
"I will activate the effect of Hyper Synchron. I can Normal Summon a Level 4 or lower monster from my hand, but I cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck this turn, except Synchro Monsters." So that meant nothing, essentially. "I will Normal Summon Junk Synchron again." The orange monster reappeared on the field. "And return to the field—Junk Converter! I'll tune the Level 3 Junk Synchron to the Level 2 Junk Converter. Brave warrior enduring the fury of battle. Adapt and overcome! Synchro Summon! Level 5! Scarred Warrior!" The tanned warrior appeared, looking ready for battle.
[Scarred Warrior (5*/2100/1000/EARTH/Warrior/Synchro/Effect)]
But it was just for Synchro climbing… Sherry's real objective had to be…
"I will activate the effect of Junk Converter. I will Special Summon Necro Synchron from the graveyard, but I cannot activate its effects this turn." Necro Synchron appeared in Defense Position. "I will tune the Level 5 Wheel Synchron to the Level 5 Scarred Warrior! The one who leads the revolution of the people. Crush the foolish oppressors—and declare, with your elegant lance, the execution of all! Synchro Summon! Level 10! Fleur de Baroness!" The pink-haired knight on horseback—Sherry's strongest monster—appeared in front of her.
[Fleur de Baroness (10*/3000/2400/WIND/Warrior/Synchro/Effect)]
That meant that Sherry now controlled Fleur de Vavasour to lock off monsters with high attack points, Fleur de Vidame to fight against Synchro Monsters specifically, and Fleur de Baroness to negate effects… oh, and Mach Synchron and Necro Synchron were in Defense Position, protecting her.
That was… very rough.
"I'll set a card and end my turn."
[Turn 2: Aki] [H:6]
"Draw," Aki said. "I'll advise you to choose what you negate carefully. I will discard Rose Princess from my hand to add White Rose Cloister to my hand and activate it. And I'll Normal Summon Lonefire Blossom." The fiery sapling appeared in front of her.
[Lonefire Blossom (3*/500/1400/FIRE/Plant/Effect)]
"I will activate the effect of Lonefire Blossom. I will tribute it to Special Summon a Plant monster from my deck."
"I will activate the effect of Fleur de Baroness," Sherry said—confirming what Aki was thinking. "I will negate that effect and destroy that card—Declaration of Liberty!"
Lonefire Blossom shattered.
Aki frowned.
"Your judgement is usually better than that," she said softly. "And you don't forget things so easily. Then again, Roget's imitation of your dueling could never be as good as your own. When a Plant monster is sent to the graveyard outside of the Damage Step, I will Special Summon Rose Girl from my hand." The girl with a red rose for her hair appeared
[Rose Girl (3*/800/600/EARTH/Plant/Tuner/Effect)]
"Then, I will activate the Equip Spell Card, Mark of the Rose. I will banish a Plant monster, like Lonefire Blossom, from the graveyard to equip it to a monster that you control. Then, I can take control of a monster you control. I will take control of your Fleur de Baroness!"
Sherry did not react with surprise. The devastating move worked—Fleur de Baroness was pulled over to her side of the field.
"I will activate the effect of Fleur de Baroness," Aki continued. "I will destroy Fleur de Vavasour." The younger Synchro Monster was destroyed. That was the two main problems gone—all because she had been able to bait out Baroness's effect early.
In reality, the moment that she had drawn Mark of the Rose, she would have been able to take out both Baroness and Vavasour in a single move, as long as Baroness's effect didn't negate that.
"Since I control a Plant Tuner monster, I can Special Summon White Rose Dragon from my hand." The slender silver dragon with white rose petals forming its wings appeared.
[White Rose Dragon (4*/1200/1000/DARK/Dragon/Effect)]
"I'll tune the Level 3 Rose Girl to the Level 4 White Rose Dragon. Pacifistic flames burn in the depths of the peaceful forest. Pitch-dark flower, set into bloom! Rain calamity upon those who threaten the amity of this sacred rose cloister! Synchro Summon! Level 7! Black Rose Calamity Dragon!" Aki's ace appeared, fiery and thorny whips slamming on the ground.
[Black Rose Calamity Dragon (7*/2400/1800/FIRE/Dragon/Synchro/Effect)]
"When Black Rose Calamity Dragon is Synchro Summoned, I can target cards on the field, up to the number of Special Summoned monsters that my opponent controls, and destroy them. You control three—Necro Synchron, Mach Synchron and Fleur de Vidame. I will destroy your set card, Fleur de Vidame and Necro Synchron. Then, the attack points of all Special Summoned monsters on the field other than Black Rose Calamity Dragon becomes 0. Black Rose Ceasefire!"
"I'll activate my set card," Sherry said. "Continuous Trap, Limit Reverse. I will Special Summon Flower of Death - Necro Fleur from the graveyard." The three cards shattered. "When Limit Reverse leaves the field, Necro Fleur is destroyed. Then, I can activate Necro Fleur's effect. When it is destroyed, I can Special Summon Witch of the Time Flower - Fleur de Sorciere from the deck."
The colourful witch appeared on the field—another of Sherry's signature monsters. At the same time, Black Rose Calamity Dragon's effect resolved—probably the reason why Sherry had summoned Fleur de Sorciere in Defense Position.
[Witch of the Time Flower - Fleur de Sorciere (8*/2900/0/DARK/Spellcaster/Effect)]
[Witch of the Time Flower - Fleur de Sorciere: 2900 → 0ATK]
[Fleur de Baroness: 3000 → 0ATK]
"When Fleur de Sorciere is Normal or Special Summoned, I can Special Summon a monster from my opponent's graveyard to my field, but that monster is destroyed during the End Phase." Sherry waved a hand. "I will take White Rose Dragon and Special Summon it in Defense Position."
"Since White Rose Dragon was used as Synchro Material and sent to the graveyard, I can still activate its effect. I will send a Level 4 or higher Plant monster from my deck to the graveyard. I sent Staysailor Romarin to the graveyard. And with her effect, since she was sent to the graveyard, I can send a Level 5 or lower Plant monster from my deck to the graveyard."
She picked up another card.
"Since Fengli the Soldrapom was sent from my deck to the graveyard by a monster effect, I can Special Summon it back to the field." The pineapple-themed monster appeared on the field.
[Fengli the Soldrapom (1*/800/0/FIRE/Plant/Effect)]
"Open, circuit of scattered petals! Arrowhead confirmed! The conditions are two monsters with different Types. I'll set Fleur de Baroness and Fengli the Soldrapom in the Link Markers! Beautiful roses blooming within the holy garden. Now, take the form of the dragon that bridges the gap, and scatter beautifully! Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 2! Crossrose Dragon!" The beautiful, colourful dragon appeared in front of her. The monster that Miharu had made for her.
[Crossrose Dragon (L2/800/DARK/Dragon/Link/Effect/↙, ↘)]
"Spell Card, Graceful Charity. I'll draw three cards and discard two cards. And then, since I drew Rose Fairy by a card effect, I can Special Summon her." The tiny pink fairy appeared in front of her.
[Rose Fairy (3*/600/1200/WIND/Plant/Effect)]
"I will have Rose Fairy attack Fleur de Sorciere!" The pink fairy flew forward, destroying the weakened sorceress. "And Black Rose Calamity Dragon will attack White Rose Dragon! Black Rose Flare!" White Rose Dragon had 1000 defense points—not enough to be cleared by any of Aki's monsters except her dragon. Still though, it went down in a blast of flames and petals. "And attack Mach Synchron, Crossrose Dragon!"
The small dragon dashed forward, destroying the machine.
"I'll end my turn," Aki said. Now, the circumstances were reversed. Before this, Sherry had stood before her with a seemingly impenetrable field. Now, her field was barren, and Aki's field had flourished.
[Turn 3: Sherry] [H:3]
"Draw," Sherry said. "I will Normal Summon Swift Horse of the Flower Knights." The red horse appeared in front of her.
[Swift Horse of the Flower Knights (3*/400/800/WIND/Beast/Effect)]
"When I Normal or Special Summon Swift Horse of the Flower Knights, I can add a LIGHT "Noble Knight" monster from my deck to my hand. I will then use its other effect to immediately perform a Fusion Summon. I will fuse Swift Horse of the Flower Knights with Noble Knight's Shield-Bearer in my hand. Beautiful knight of the shining blade. With justice and vengeance at war in your mind, strike down any that dare to oppose your holy might! Fusion Summon! Level 6! Centaur Mina!"
There it was.
That strange, pink-haired centaur—a monster that Roget had used to turn others against Sherry in the first place—
Centaur Mina appeared on the field, ready for battle.
[Centaur Mina (6*/2200/1600/LIGHT/Beast-Warrior/Fusion/Effect)]
"Centaur Mina's effect. Once per turn, I can Special Summon a Level 2 or lower monster from my hand or graveyard. Return from the graveyard—Hyper Synchron." The blue Tuner reappeared. "And I will activate the effect of Starlight Junktion! By tributing Hyper Synchron, I will Special Summon a "Synchron" Tuner monster with a different Level from my deck. Come—Fleur Synchron!"
Sherry's signature Tuner appeared on the field in front of her—bright orange, with a pink flower blooming from its bulblike body.
[Fleur Synchron (2*/400/200/LIGHT/Machine/Tuner/Effect)]
"I will tune the Level 2 Fleur Synchron to the Level 6 Centaur Mina. Lovely maiden who once waited on the sidelines. Now, charge forward into battle alongside those chosen to be warriors! Synchro Summon! Level 8! Fleur de Chevaleresse!" The rose-themed warrior appeared, swinging her rapier through the air.
[Fleur de Chevaleresse (8*/2400/1800/WIND/Warrior/Synchro/Effect)]
And it hurt more than Aki would have expected it to hurt.
To see a card that represented Sherry's love of her used in such a manner…
"When Centaur Mina is sent to the graveyard as material for the Synchro Summon of a WIND Synchro Monster, I can destroy a face-up monster on the field. I will destroy Black Rose Calamity Dragon."
That was the logical choice, of course. Black Rose protected her from attacks.
And yet…
It still stung a little.
Black Rose Calamity Dragon fell.
"Furthermore, Fleur Synchron's effect," Sherry said, unaffected by the scene. "I will Special Summon a Level 2 or lower monster from my hand, since it was sent to the graveyard by a Synchro Summon. Come from my hand. Junk Anchor." A white and red robot appeared in front of her.
[Junk Anchor (2*/0/0/EARTH/Warrior/Tuner/Effect)]
"Since I control a Level 2 or lower monster, I can Special Summon White Steed of the Floral Knights from my hand." The beautiful white stallion dressed in gold and shining silver armour appeared next to Junk Anchor.
[White Steed of the Floral Knights (6*/2400/1800/WIND/Beast/Effect)]
"Junk Anchor can substitute itself for any "Synchron" Tuner," Sherry explained. "I'll tune the Level 2 Junk Anchor, treated as Fleur Synchron, to the Level 6 White Steed of the Floral Knights. Body born from speed, the time for revolution has come! Bring victory into my hands! Synchro Summon! Shine, Fleur de Chevalier!" The pink-haired knight appeared, standing side by side with Chevaleresse.
[Fleur de Chevalier (8*/2700/2300/WIND/Warrior/Synchro/Effect)]
"Battle Phase!"
"During the end of the Main Phase, I will activate the effect of Crossrose Dragon. By tributing it and a Plant monster, I can Special Summon a "Rose" Synchro Monster or a Plant Synchro Monster from the Extra Deck, and it is treated as a Synchro Summon. I will tribute Crossrose Dragon and Rose Fairy!" The two monsters dissolved into rose petals. "Beautiful, lonely maiden in the garden of sleeping thorns. Now, rise up in solidarity with the dragons and bring forth the silent destruction! Synchro Summon! Level 5! Garden Rose Maiden!" The white-haired woman appeared in Defense Position.
[Garden Rose Maiden (5*/1600/2400/DARK/Plant/Synchro/Effect)]
"I'll activate the effect of Fleur de Chevaleresse," Sherry declared. "I will negate the Special Summon of your monster and destroy it!" Garden Rose Maiden was swept away—but Aki didn't lower her head.
"When a monster I control is destroyed by a card effect, I can banish Crossrose Dragon from the graveyard to Special Summon a "Rose Dragon" monster from my graveyard! Return to the field! Black Rose Calamity Dragon!" Black Rose reappeared again in Attack Position, letting out a loud roar.
"I will continue my Main Phase," Sherry said, still not reacting to Aki's move in any noticeable way. "Fleur de Chevaleresse's effect. Once per turn, I can Special Summon a Level 6 or lower Warrior monster from my graveyard. Return—Centaur Mina."
Wisely, she did not attack. She only had one monster that exceeded Black Rose's attack points, but Black Rose's one-time attack negation each turn would stop that in its tracks.
"I'll end my turn."
[Turn 4: Aki] [H:1]
"I will activate the effect of White Rose Cloister," Aki said. "I will predict that the card that I am about to draw is a monster." She flipped it over. "It is. So this turn, Level 7 or higher Synchro Monsters I control gain 1000 attack points."
[Black Rose Calamity Dragon: 2400 + 1000 = 3400ATK]
"Then, I will Normal Summon Red Rose Dragon." The red dragon appeared in front of her, nesting its head in the petals of its wings.
[Red Rose Dragon (3*/1000/1800/DARK/Dragon/Tuner/Effect)]
"Battle Phase. Black Rose Calamity Dragon will attack Fleur de Chevaleresse! Black Rose Flare!"
Her dragon glided forward. Aki didn't look away.
Destroy that symbol of how much she loves me, so that I can find the her that does love me, behind that helmet.
A flaming whip cut across Fleur de Chevaleresse, destroying her.
Sherry: 4000 - 1000 = 3000LP
"Main Phase 2," Aki continued. Now that she had gotten rid of Chevaleresse, there was nothing stopping her from Synchro Summoning again. "I will tune the Level 3 Red Rose Dragon to the Level 7 Black Rose Calamity Dragon! Pitch-dark flower, restless in the shadows of the holy rose cloister. Let the flames burn you from the inside out. You, born of relentless fire and rebellion, you, suppressed by the light, hope not for salvation. Now, rise, and with the darkness in your heart, blot out the sun for the sake of your own justice and righteousness! Curse those who blindly follow the light! Dragon of peace and calamity! Synchro Summon! Level 10! Dragon who burns out the sun—Sunblight Black Rose Dragon!" The fiery dark dragon appeared, golden flames covering much of its red petals. Twirling around, it held onto a golden sphere in its claws that mimicked the sun.
[Sunblight Black Rose Dragon (10*/3200/2400/FIRE/Dragon/Synchro/Effect)]
"When Sunblight Black Rose Dragon is Synchro Summoned, I can negate the effects of all other face-up cards on the field permanently, and then, all monsters in Defense Position you control change to Attack Position!" Centaur Mina was dragged up into Attack Position. "Then, the attack points of all monsters you control become 0! Devastating Eclipse Expulsion!" Bright light erupted, consuming the field.
[Fleur de Chevalier: 2800 → 0ATK]
[Centaur Mina: 2200 → 0ATK]
"Sherry," Aki said. "Without you, I would never have found myself! Being loved helps us to search ourselves for answers that we might not have thought to think about before. And at the same time, it is through loving you and the many people that I have met that I have found the courage to be entirely myself—to recognise and fight as myself without any more fear!"
And not just Sherry. There were so many people that Aki had to protect. How could she say that she would back down by even a footstep when there were so many people that she loved here?
If she would fight, then she would do it with courage!
And that meant not holding back just because she was worried that she would hurt Sherry. She couldn't do that. Sherry would be furious if she did—if she put just Sherry's physical safety over the good of the greater whole, over the good of those who fought for what was right, over the good of the city, over the good of Sherry herself.
"I don't think you have to worry about that, Aki-san. (...) When it comes to questioning if something deserves to be torn down, you alone are not the arbiter. You do not carry the responsibility alone. And—you're a good person, Aki-san. I know that. I believe that. You would never put your own personal feelings over those of others. So—you will never burn this city down with your own hands. Not in the violent way that you imagine, at least."
"When Red Rose Dragon is sent to the graveyard for a Synchro Summon, I can Special Summon a different "Rose Dragon" monster from my deck. Come in Defense Position, Roxrose Dragon." The tiny pink dragon reappeared on the field.
[Roxrose Dragon (3*/1600/1200/DARK/Dragon/Tuner/Effect)]
"With Roxrose Dragon's effect, I'll add a card that specifically lists "Black Rose Dragon" in its card text from my deck to my hand." She revealed the card. "I'll activate the Spell Card, Basal Rose Shoot. Return from the graveyard, White Rose Dragon!" The small white dragon reappeared. "I'll tune the Level 3 Roxrose Dragon to the Level 4 White Rose Dragon. Lofty rose that blooms in a garden of integrity! Watered by blue moonlight, let your petals unfurl in the darkest of night! Synchro Summon! Level 7! Black Rose Moonlight Dragon!" The beautiful, glowing alternative version of Black Rose appeared next to Sunblight.
[Black Rose Moonlight Dragon (7*/2400/1800/LIGHT/Dragon/Synchro/Effect)]
"When Black Rose Moonlight Dragon is Synchro Summoned, I must return a Special Summoned monster you control to the hand. I will return Centaur Mina to the Extra Deck! Moonlit Petal Scatter!" Centaur Mina was swept off the field. "I'll end my turn."
Right now…
It would be very hard for Sherry to do anything to her.
[Turn 5: Sherry] [H:1]
"Draw," Sherry said. "Spell Card, Miracle Synchro Fusion."
… of course. That made about as much sense as anything else.
"I will banish Witch of the Time Flower - Fleur de Sorciere and Fleur de Baroness from the graveyard to Fusion Summon! Queenly majesty, let your cold glare keep the flowers upright. Rain down your justice on those who oppose us! Fusion Summon! Fleur de Dauphine!" The woman that appeared was dressed in a rather feminine ballroom dress—not armour or robes like the rest of Sherry's monsters. Her hair was twirled up in the shape of a purple iris, with long streams of hyacinth falling around her face like long strands of hair. Her dress was purple with gold trim, and she held onto a long rapier, though it seemed purely ornamental. Purple orbs of magic drifted around her.
Fleur de Dauphine… dauphine, huh?
… queen?
[Fleur de Dauphine (10*/3000/2400/WIND/Warrior/Fusion/Effect)]
"When Fleur de Dauphine is Special Summoned, I can activate her effect. By banishing three Synchro Monsters from the graveyard, like Fleur de Vidame, Fleur de Chevaleresse and Fleur de Vavasour, she will gain 500 attack points for each."
Aki reacted immediately. "I will activate Black Rose Moonlight Dragon's effect. Since you Special Summoned a Level 5 or higher monster, I can return a Special Summoned monster you control to the hand. Moonlit Petal Scatter!"
"When a Special Summoned monster my opponent controls activates its effect, I can negate that effect and reduce that monster's attack points to 0! Declaration of Obedience!" Dauphine slashed her rapier through the air, sending forth a shockwave that hit Black Rose Moonlight Dragon, causing her to collapse from the sky in a heap on the ground.
[Black Rose Moonlight Dragon: 2400 → 0ATK]
So… an effect similar to Sunblight's…
"Fleur de Dauphine's first effect resolves."
[Fleur de Dauphine: 3000 + 500 x 3 = 4500ATK]
"Fleur de Dauphine attacks Sunblight Black Rose Dragon." Sherry didn't bother with Black Rose Moonlight Dragon, who was in Defense Position—instead aiming for the big target.
"When Sunblight Black Rose Dragon battles, all monsters the opponent controls with less attack points are destroyed!" Aki called out. On Sherry's field, Fleur de Chevalier caught on flames and exploded. Sherry didn't seem to care—and her monster struck down Aki's, just as merciless and uncaring.
Aki: 4000 - 1500 = 2500LP
"When Fleur de Dauphine destroys a monster by battle, all Spells and Traps that the opponent controls are destroyed!" White Rose Cloister was destroyed with another swift slash.
"I'll activate the effect of Sunblight Black Rose Dragon. When she's sent to the graveyard, I can Special Summon a "Rose Dragon" monster from the graveyard! Return to the field! Black Rose Calamity Dragon!"
Sherry shrugged. "I'll end my turn."
Aki…
Aki was angry at this flagrant disrespect of Sherry's cards.
Roget.
Had he really seen the fact that Sherry's cards were based off noble titles, and chosen to give her a card based on royalty?
Because if that was the case, then he had missed the point completely.
Sherry did not want to rule. Her monsters, for all that they represented nobility, did not represent oppression. They did not represent order. They represented the truest form of nobility—that was, noblesse oblige. The idea that those born into nobility had obligations to act in a way that was generous and protected those under their care.
Sherry's monsters were the noble knights and ladies that would lend a hand to anyone in need—the oppressed, and those in need of rebellion.
"I'll take it on for you," Aki promised. "Your spirit of rebellion, until I can give it back to you—I'll hold it for you."
[Turn 6: Aki] [H:1]
"Draw," Aki called. "I'll send the top card of my deck to the graveyard to Special Summon Glow-Up Bulb from the graveyard." The bulb with a single eye in the middle of it appeared, a white flower blooming on top of it.
[Glow-Up Bulb (1*/100/100/EARTH/Plant/Tuner/Effect)]
"I'll tune the Level 1 Glow-Up Bulb to the Level 7 Black Rose Moonlight Dragon!" She called. The two monsters shot up.
She picked up the card, holding it tight to her chest.
"It doesn't feel right for me to use this," she murmured. "Your wishes would have been entrusted to Kiryu, or to Sherry. No one else. But these clustering wishes of yours… that faraway star that you are to them, a spirit that they cannot ever reach… can I call them forth? Can I ask you to let me call forth that longing that hurts them so much…"
She felt tightness at the corner of her eyes.
This would be so cruel.
"So that I can bring her back to my side? Would that be alright? I hope so. If I can be so bold… I think that you'd want me to do this too."
She placed the card on her duel disk.
"Clustering wishes will become a new shining star! Become the path its light shines upon, and bring forth the salvation that only exists at the space between the dead and the living! Soar out of purgatory! Synchro Summon! Level 8! Stardust Expiation Dragon!"
The beautiful white and blue dragon appeared in front of her, stars dancing within its wings. Kiryu glanced over from nearby. There was something gentler to his eyes—there always was some kind of conflict to his face when he saw that monster.
[Stardust Expiation Dragon (8*/2500/2000/WIND/Dragon/Synchro/Tuner/Effect)]
Sherry seemed to react for a moment—a hand raised slightly, before falling.
"Do you know why grass grows?" Aki said. The non sequitur seemed to surprise even Kiryu, who glanced at her. (Behind him, his monsters were finishing off yet another opponent.) "Not how it grows, of course. That's all down to science. Why exactly does grass grow? No one really wants it there. If you want aesthetics, flowers, shrubs and trees will easily fill that niche. So why is it that grass grows so rapidly, even in spaces where it shouldn't be able to—bursting through cracks in concrete, on rafters, in the drains after the storms?"
Sherry watched her, silent. Unfeeling.
"I told Divine this once, a long time ago," Aki said. "Grass grows because it searches for every possible hope that it can find. It searches for every space that it can grow into—because it wants to find more and more. It searches for its new horizon—whether that is an open meadow, or a tiny slit between bricks. It wants more, but it always co-exists with others. It is a tiny part of a far larger whole—never distinct, but if it's missing, the spot where it should be is apparent."
She pressed a hand to her chest.
"We are grass, Sherry. We reflower in the most unnoticeable ways, but we flourish anyway. And the freedom that we dream of always feels incomplete if there's a single blade that is missing."
"Even with all that, there is no purpose for grass to grow," Sherry responded—the first words she had spoken that had nothing to do with the duel. "But without the grass, the flowers are… far less beautiful."
Ah, Aki thought. There you are.
Because without the people that our fates happen to become entangled with, the good things in this world are far less beautiful.
"I'll set a card and end my turn," Aki said.
Attack if you want, Sherry. But in this state that Roget has put you in, you were unable to remember some of my cards. So—do you remember the effects of this card that belongs to someone so precious to you?
[Turn 7: Sherry] [H:1]
"Draw," Sherry said. "Fleur de Dauphine attacks…"
For a moment, she hesitated—faced with Black Rose and Stardust.
"Fleur de Dauphine attacks Black Rose Calamity Dragon."
"Black Rose Calamity Dragon's effect. I will negate the attack and destroy that monster. Binding Amity Retribution!"
"I will activate the effect of Fleur de Dauphine. I will target your monster, negate that effect and change your monster's attack points to 0! Declaration of Obedience!"
"... when another card I control would be targeted or destroyed by a card or effect, I can tribute Stardust Expiation Dragon to negate that effect and destroy that card," Aki retorted. For a moment, she saw Stardust turn its head back—in silent acknowledgement. "Salvation Sanctuary!"
Stardust Expiation Dragon dove in front of Black Rose—and with a passionate roar, it shielded the other dragon. Then, it dove forward, slicing straight through Dauphine with its claws. As Dauphine fell, Stardust, too, dissolved into starlight.
"I guess that answers my question," Aki said. "You're the protector of the people, Sherry, not their oppressor! Without the unity between these two dragons—two of us who want to protect you and stand by your side—I could never have destroyed that false self!"
Sherry looked at her. She raised a hand to the side of her head—and then, she ended her turn.
That much was an answer, wasn't it?
"During the End Phase of the turn that I use the effect of Stardust Expiation Dragon, it returns to the field!" The bright dragon reappeared on the field.
[Turn 8: Aki] [H:2]
"I'll end it now, Sherry, just as you wanted! Stardust Expiation Dragon attacks you directly! Shooting Sonic Flare!"
Sherry twitched, reaching for a card in her graveyard—
Stardust roared.
Sherry stopped.
"No," she said. "No, I will not."
The starlight rained down around her, and she did nothing.
Sherry: 3000 - 2500 = 500LP
"Black Rose Calamity Dragon attacks! Black Rose Flare!"
Sherry grasped at her own fist, as though physically restraining herself.
"Revolt against those who would oppress you!" Aki shouted—and Black Rose dashed forward, dealing the final blow.
Sherry: 500 - 2400 = 0LP
Winner: Aki Izayoi!
Kiryu moved forward—but before he could even help—
Sherry ripped the helmet off her head herself, and she flung it on the ground, raising a foot and stomping on it. One of her hands pressed against her temple—still clearly hurting.
"That's it," she spat out, "I'm done with being used by the same evil I'm trying to destroy—"
Aki gently wrapped her arms around her. Kiryu hugged them as well—none of them afraid to show that fear and affection.
"I know," Aki said. "And you'll never have to be that way again. I will never let you go back to the Facility again—even if somehow, nothing changes after this, I will run and hide for as long as it's necessary to protect you. Don't be afraid."
Sherry leaned into her shoulder. "Oh, mon trésor," she murmured. "I want that more than anything else in the world."
When the three of them made their way back, they were filled in on what had happened in their absence.
"Divine's deck…" Aki turned to Kiryu and Sherry.
"... yeah," Kiryu said. "Misty…"
Sherry bit the bullet, saying it outright. "Misty stabbed him for killing her brother."
Aki raised a hand to her face. She sighed.
She would have to talk to Misty later. The two of them had never been friends, even if they had known of each other's existence. Even so…
"I don't fault her for killing him," she said quietly. "Divine was really terrible, at the end. When I learned about that back then…"
She shook her head.
"I just wished that he could have changed. But I don't think he would have."
She would sort through this later. There was far too much in her mind to sort through.
Fighting would be a good distraction for now.
"My robot was destroyed so… effortlessly? By Ritual of all methods?" Roget gritted his teeth. "And LeBlanc didn't work either. It looks like I might have to rely on myself. Not a single person in this city is reliable!"
He walked over to the opposite side of the room, pulling out a deck and looking at it.
"Well, we'll see how it goes. If Jack Atlas wants to busy himself with taking out Sergey, that suits me just fine. As if I can't handle a few whelps myself!... no. Calmness. I must be prepared for the worst case scenario. Even if they come here, I will survive. I will survive. I will not—"
"Oh, please, we're over your whole spiel. You're not loyal to the Professor at all."
"You have a lot of cheap tricks, and I'm sure that those have worked for you in the past, but you'll never be half the leader that people like Reiji Akaba, Jack Atlas or Ryo Marufuji can be. There's nothing genuine to you, after all."
Roget tossed a cup on the ground, shattering it.
"I will get what I want, even if I have to kill each and every single one of those Lancers! If I have no way to go back, I will accomplish what I want myself!" There was something desperate and yet petulant to his voice. "I won't give up now!"
In his mind, despite the fact that none of his officers had actually been defeated—he no longer had any faith in anyone other than himself. He could not think about anyone other than himself.
He would survive. No matter what.
OC Cards:
Crystron Borahydra
(5*/1500/2500/WATER/Machine/Synchro/Effect)
1 Tuner + 1+ non-Tuner monsters
If this card is Synchro Summoned: You can target 1 Machine monster on the field; destroy it, and if you do, Special Summon it to your field in Attack Position. This card can declare an attack once for each Machine monster on the field at the start of the Battle Phase, and it gains 200 ATK/DEF for each banished "Crystron" monster and each "Crystron" monster in your GY. If this Synchro Summoned monster on the field is destroyed by battle or card effect: You can target 1 monster in either player's GY with ATK equal to or lower than this card's DEF; Special Summon it to your field in Attack Position.
Liquid Crystallisation
(Spell)
(This card is always treated as a "Crystron" card.)
If you control a "Crystron" monster: You can banish 1 monster from your GY; Special Summon 1 "Crystron" Tuner from your Deck, and if you do, you can add 1 monster with the same name from your Deck to your hand. You cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck on the turn you activate this card, except Machine monsters. You can only activate 1 "Liquid Crystallisation" per turn.
Trivia: Entirely made because Crystrons have no actual Spells (Crystolic Potential is not a "Crystron" card) and I wanted to give Smiger at least one "Crystron" Spell to search.
Crystron Roulette
(Spell/Quickplay)
Target 1 monster you control; add 1 "Crystron" monster with lower ATK than the targeted monster from your Deck to your hand, and if you do, destroy that monster. You can only activate 1 "Crystron Roulette" once per turn.
Fleur de Vidame
(7*/2000/2200/WIND/Warrior/Synchro/Effect)
"Fleur Synchron" + 1+ non-Tuner monsters
If this card is Synchro Summoned: You can add 1 "Heritage of the Chalice", "Fleur de Fleuret", "Synchro Dilemma" or "Pennant of Revolution" from your Deck to your hand. If this card battles a Synchro Monster: Double this card's ATK during damage calculation. If this card is sent to the GY as material for the Synchro Summon of a WIND monster: You can banish 1 monster from the GY; Special Summon 1 "Flower of Death - Necro Fleur" from your Deck, and if you do, destroy 1 monster you control.
Fleur de Vavasour
(5*/2000/2000/WIND/Warrior/Synchro/Effect)
1 Machine Tuner + 1+ non-Tuner monsters
If this card is Synchro Summoned: You can add 1 Level 4 or lower monster from your GY to your hand. You can only activate this effect of "Fleur de Vavasour" once per turn. Your opponent cannot Special Summon monsters with higher ATK than this card from the Extra Deck.
Black Rose Calamity Dragon
(7*/2400/1800/FIRE/Dragon/Synchro/Effect)
1 Tuner + 1+ non-Tuner monsters
(This card is always treated as a "Rose Dragon" monster.) This card's name becomes "Black Rose Dragon" while on the field or in the GY. If this card is Synchro Summoned: You can target cards on the field, up to the number of Special Summoned monsters your opponent controls; destroy them, and then, all face-up Special Summoned monsters except this card have their ATK become 0 until the End Phase. Once per turn, if a monster declares an attack: You can negate that attack, and if you do, destroy that attacking monster.
Fleur de Chevaleresse
(8*/2400/1800/WIND/Warrior/Synchro/Effect)
"Fleur Synchron" + 1+ non-Tuner monsters
This card cannot be targeted by card effects. You can target 1 Level 6 or lower Warrior monster in your GY; Special Summon that monster to your field. Once per turn, on your turn, if your opponent Special Summons a monster: You can negate that Summon, and if you do, destroy that card. You can only activate each effect of "Fleur de Chevaleresse" once per turn.
Sunblight Black Rose Dragon
(10*/3200/2400/FIRE/Dragon/Synchro/Effect)
1 Tuner + "Black Rose Dragon"
If this card is Synchro Summoned: You can negate the effects of all other face-up cards on the field, then change the battle position of all monsters in Defense Position on the field, and if you do, the ATK of all monsters your opponent controls becomes 0. While this card is face-up on the field, it is unaffected by the effects of monsters with 0 ATK. If this card battles, at the start of the Damage Step: Destroy all monsters on the opponent's field with less ATK than this card. If this card is sent to the GY: You can Special Summon 1 "Rose Dragon" monster from your GY, except "Sunblight Black Rose Dragon".
Fleur de Dauphine
(10*/3000/2400/WIND/Warrior/Fusion/Effect)
1 Level 8 or higher Warrior Synchro Monster + 1 Spellcaster monster
If this card is Fusion Summoned: You can banish up to 3 Synchro Monsters from your GY; this card gains 500 ATK for each card banished by this effect. If a Special Summoned monster your opponent controls activates its effect while this card is face-up on the field: You can target that monster; negate that effect, and if you do, change that monster's ATK to 0. If this card destroys a monster by battle: Destroy all Spell/Trap cards your opponent controls. You can only activate each effect of "Fleur de Dauphine" once per turn. You can only Special Summon "Fleur de Dauphine" once per turn.
Trivia: 'Dauphine' is the French equivalent of a queen, essentially. Irises are France's national flower, so they're pretty straightforward. Purple has always traditionally been associated with royalty. Plus, if Sauge is a darker Sorciere, then it makes sense for a darker Baronne to be purple too. At the same time, the very concept of a monarchy goes against the French revolution that Sherry's deck represents. It is the representation of the corruption that has found its way into Sherry's deck—the same thing that she rebels against now being forced on her. It's also proof that Roget knows nothing about what the people rebelling against the Tops really want—he thinks that they want to rule, when that's not quite correct. 'Declaration of Obedience' is the opposite of Baroness's effect name, 'Declaration of Liberty'.
Stardust Expiation Dragon
(8*/2500/2000/WIND/Dragon/Synchro/Tuner/Effect)
1 Tuner + 1+ non-Tuner monsters
(This card is always treated as "Stardust Dragon".)
If this card is Synchro Summoned using at least 2 Level 2 or lower monsters, or Special Summoned by its own effect, it cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects while it is face-up on the field. Once per turn, if a card you control, other than this card, would be targeted or destroyed by a card or effect: You can Tribute this card; negate that effect, and if you do, destroy that card. During the End Phase after you activated this effect, you can Special Summon this card from the GY to the field in Attack Position. This card can be treated as a non-Tuner for the Synchro Summon of a Level 10 or higher Synchro Monster.
Different Card Effects from TCG:
Abyss Actor - Superstar - Anime effect. Using its TCG effect makes it immune to Zarc's effects.
Abyss Actor - Leading Lady - TCG effect, but its ATK-lowering effect only lasts for one turn.
Abyss Actor - Extras - Anime effect. The limitations on the TCG effect make it difficult to use it in anime duels, where people are always borrowing each other's cards.
Mach Synchron - Anime-only card. Uses its Tag Force effect.
End Notes:
This chapter was very painful to get out, lmao. I think it's because it's the slowest moving chapter, plot-wise, in the entire back part of the arc. It looked good in the outline, but when I actually had to write it… ugh. At least it's done. This arc jumps all around the place. I hope it reads better than it felt for me to write. Sherry vs Aki took me like four days, Gongenzaka & Sawatari vs Arisu stumped me for a week, and Yuji & Chiaki vs the robot took me… an hour? Helps that it's an intentional anti-climax and has no ending.
You know, I've mentioned this before, but Sawatari and Gongenzaka were always intended to take quite a lot of Ls early on in the fic. There's one specific arc where they get to shine (take your guess on that), but out of the Arc-V characters in this fic, the two of them definitely get the shaft in terms of character development. *sigh* It's something that I'm more aware of now though, so I'll be looking over my outline to see if I can find a way to give them more focus in the future, since I do like them… they're just less interesting to write for than a lot of other Arc-V characters. It's kind of the problem where Shun, Sora, Dennis, etc are so interesting that I kind of just want to focus on them. Still though, I already committed to this chapter in the outline, so I can't exactly change it now.
Sherry's strange absence since the Friendship Cup was definitely set-up for this duel! Originally, this was going to be a 2v1 with Sherry against both Aki and Kiryu, but trying to pace it properly was too difficult—all three of them are too competent, and because of that, I could not realistically make the fight even. But I might actually prefer this to the original duel—their duel is both a call-back to Aki vs Yusei and an inversion of it. Yes, Sherry has Yusei's cards to face off against Aki deckwise, but Aki is the one with Stardust, reaching out to help her opponent (and love interest) to snap out of someone else's control. The duel itself is a pretty normal length for a 1v1—it's nice to take a break between 2v1s.
You can tell that I had fun with the fact that grass is referred to as 'blades', lmao.
Meanwhile, the duel between Yuji/Chiaki and the robot with Divine's deck is less focused on the duel itself, and more on Yuji/Chiaki reassuring themselves that they still understand the other's dueling style—and thus, the other. Yuji spends the entire duel telling himself that he does not want to engage with or understand others through dueling… while simultaneously familiarising himself with Chiaki's dueling again. Different cards, but the same style. There is also some background horror in the fact that Roget literally pillaged a corpse to get the deck, but the deck itself serves as nothing more than a cameo.
Chiaki talking about Academia not letting her cut her hair… Chiaki having red hair… why would a certain someone want Chiaki to have long red hair? :) It's exactly what you think. Also, reminder that Chiaki was in fact kidnapped first out of the three Bracelet Girls who were kidnapped in this continuity. She's had two more months than Ruri and Rin to steam about it—and unlike them, she was alone for those two months before the other two were kidnapped.
I had to essentially figure out Divine's deck from scratch, since 5Ds was so long ago and plenty of Psychics that work at a faster speed have been released since then. The result was fun to write though. And if you're asking how I built for him considering that it's not an archetype, I… searched for all Psychic monsters and all Psychic support, and read my way through each and every card to remember what they did. :D So that was great. For context with the Psychic monsters I gave him, all the way back in 2018, I was trying to figure out how to make banish Psychics work as a deck, just for fun. They were never a good deck, but I had fun with them. Did I have the robot purposely misplay to make a stealth 'over 9000' joke? Yes. It's not like it's a plot-important duel anyway—the only plot-importance that it has is to nudge Roget along the road of insanity. :D
Review responses!
To NightWingBOI, thanks! I'd say that we'll reach a proper 1 million words in about… maybe four or five more chapters? Depends on how long the next ones end up being. We'll definitely hit it before we're done with the Synchro Arc. I'm honestly thrilled that you do like Shun/Nue. I will say that I prefer happier endings, so Shun won't be left in the same state at the end of the story. :D As for character profiles, if you find the Tumblr, I do have all the character profiles there! (Updated only to around Chapter 60, I think, but they're all there.) The Tumblr is purposely hidden from search engines, so you'll have to type in the username directly in Tumblr itself. Thanks for the review :D
To Kuroto, you have some good theories! While I won't comment on most of them for now for spoilery reasons (i.e. whether they're true or not, I can't confirm anything), there is one that I will talk about here. While Yugo's guilt is definitely something that will be addressed, for the most part, physical self-harm is one of the topics that I take very seriously, and as such, it's likely not something that will be treated that lightly. Yugo's got a good support system and as an individual, he has a rather optimistic personality. On the Six Dimensions' mental health scale, he's actually probably one of the most stable people. So it won't go to that extent. :) And yup, character appearances have been added to the Tumblr! Thank you for your suggestion!
To AccurateGap1, hell yeah, water deck gang! :) I do have a soft spot for a lot of WATER-themed decks. If I could have fit them in, Ice Barriers would have been one of the main antagonist decks. Unfortunately, their Synchros were so good that I ended up just giving the Synchros to the other archetypes to strengthen them. And yes, that statement about them getting off scot free, while a reference to their fate in original Arc-V, is also a bit of historical commentary. A lot of leaders of corrupt regimes usually end up reaping a lot of rewards and eventually getting out scot free after their country undergoes revolution. And yup, Yuto, Nue, Shun and Ruri (and Kaito) all get quite a lot of focus in the Xyz Arc. Good luck with your fic!
To phantomdragons, I do like Shinji a lot, I just wish that Arc-V had developed him better. And yup, he still loses. Honestly, I'm not as pressed to give Shinji wins as I am with characters like Gongenzaka and Sawatari, because what I'm doing with Shinji is deconstructing his entire ideology. As much as I validate it as correct in certain ways, Shinji as a character is just flawed enough that I like to explore the flaws in canon's world-building of the Synchro Dimension through him. (And naturally, through the EOs.) As for Ryo and Shino, you're going to be rather pleasantly surprised when that payoff comes. :D And that's a good suggestion—I'm working on a list of references right now :)
To cardfan135, Miharu is never having a good time in this fic, lmao. It'll take a while. And what do you mean you're seeing hints? ;3 No clue what you're talking about.
To T.V. 2000, glad you enjoyed! The duels will likely be 2v1s—most of the Lancers are not quite strong enough yet to go 1v1 right now. Still though, I'm looking forward to the chance to write that duel too. :) As for Kyorin… hmm, her case is pretty interesting. It might happen, it might not happen in the future! (Judging from my track record, yeah, it's pretty likely. As it turns out, I like shipping the characters together.)
To , ah, that's a blast from the past. :) I guess an explanation is in order for that fic. Dragons' Awakening was never continued because when I started writing it, I was still keeping physical notes for all my writing. As such, when I moved to a different place, I ended up losing all my notes for the arcs of the story. I tried to continue it later on, but without those notes, I wasn't capable of finishing the story. I still feel nostalgic about it, and I might go back to it a long time in the future, but it'll likely be a very different story if I write it now compared to when I planned it back then—the fic was planned in 2017, and it's been quite a lot of years. The way that I write has definitely changed as well. But thank you for reading my writing back then, and still reading it now. I genuinely appreciate it a lot. :)
To kikuruhime, I'm glad that you enjoyed! The pairings in this story can be sorted under two different traits—how fast they get together, and how much angst I can pack into that pairing. I'll say that Nue/Shun is one of the most stable pairings in the story. And good guesses!
To Unlucky-Fausto, thank you for the reviews, and it's lovely to hear from you again! I saved you for last even though I usually go by chronological order, because there's a lot to cover! :) I kind of locked myself into having Shino protect her life points pretty much perfectly, because it was a two-chapter duel, and the previous part of the duel lowered her life points enough for that. In I think the third version of Chapter 64-65, there was an instance where Yuri and Yuya (when he was a part of the duel) played hot potato with Mirrorjade's effect the entire time, so that was similar. I didn't edit Chiaki's section, though you might have read it when I originally only pasted half of it. It's the same though. As for the Tumblr, I purposely hid it from search results—it helps with avoiding spam bots. :)
Next, your observation on Makoto's one being the most 'hopeful' one… you're correct! Fantastic observation. :) You'll note that throughout the story, the only Security member who ever speaks about change is Makoto. Not a single other one has ever said anything about what happens after Roget, or how the city can change, other than him. All four of them are beaten down in their own ways, but in a sense, he's the only one who has genuine hope that things can get better. A part of him being the only one with genuine hope also links back to the fact that he's the only one that has a genuine goal to work towards—after all, Arisu knows she has no future because of financial debt, Chino has no goals to aim for and Kaname is just going with the flow. Having something to work towards—wanting to get rid of his criminal marks and help his sister recover—at least gives him motivation. And that implication that Sergey killed his child was intentional—after all, he was definitely trying to.
For the final review, yup, Sora, Yuri and Serena are going to have some pretty important interactions in the future. Six Dimensions!Sora greatly values people who are kind to him, such as Yuzu, Yuya, and of course, Shino. At the same time, he gets envious when he feels like those people stop caring about him for someone else. I think the fact that Yuno vs Miharu and Yuri vs Serena are both extremely emotionally charged and contain genuine hostility between the characters (albeit coerced, in the former's case) makes them more interesting to write than most other duels. Usually, the more interesting that a duel's concept is to me narratively, the better the duel ends up being. :D As for the Link Dimension character, I'm genuinely not sure what you're talking about! :D I only covered characters that have appeared on screen and played at least some major role. Maybe someone just slipped my mind though.
QOTC: Rank the counterparts in this story (Dragon Boys, Nature Girls, Fragments) from top to bottom in how much you like them.
I'll probably be holding another proper character poll with all the characters at the end of the arc, but I figured that this would be sufficiently difficult to answer. :D Plus, character polls give me feedback on who I might need to give a bit more screentime to, if possible!
Now that this chapter is done, I can move onto Chapter 69! (Nice.) Next chapter should be two duels only, but both duels are full ones—and should be really fun. More fun than this chapter, anyway! :D See you there!
