Yugioh/ML Chapter 12
No, I'm Ladybug!
The two of them raced through the skies, Doctor Genome and the fake Ladybug. After Ladybug's first duel with the Knights of Hanoi, there was an abundance of winds allowing for speed duels to be performed at will, without the need for Tikki.
"I'll go first." Doctor Genome declared. "Since there are no monsters on the field, I can summon Helixx Marmotroll from my hand without tribute by discarding another Helixx card from my hand. I'll discard a second Marmotroll." A green marmot monster in gold armor appeared, only to be devoured by a second one. (Level 5/Attack 2300) "I shall end my turn here."
"I draw!" 'Ladybug' announced. "I summon Databug Spreader." (Level 3/Attack 1000) "When Databug Spreader was just summoned, I can special summon another Databug monster from my hand. Appear, Databug Fire Ant!" A fiery version of Databug Ant appeared on top of Spreader. (Level 4/Attack 1000) "When Fire Ant is summoned, I can deal 500 damage to you." Fire Ant spewed a fireball from its mouth at Genome, who swatted it away with his arm. (Genome 4000-3500)
"Appear, my circuit! The summoning conditions are two cyberse monsters. I set Databug Spreader and Databug Fire Ant in the link arrows! Link Summon! Appear, Databug Blaze Wasp!" A giant wasp with fiery wings flew in. (Attack 2000/Link Arrows Right, Bottom). "Then, since I control a Databug link monster, I can special summon Databug Ladybug from my hand to a zone that link monster points to." A small ladybug with glowing spots on its wings appeared, trailing behind Blaze Wasp. (Level 1/Defense 500)
"I then activate the continuous spell Data Simulation. Once per turn, when a cyberse monster I control battles, I can ensure that neither monster is destroyed, and neither of us will take damage. Blaze Wasp, attack his Marmotroll with Fire Flight!" A holographic copy of Blaze Wasp flew towards Marmotroll, then released a jet of fire from the end of its tail, which Marmotroll was able to brush off.
"What, may I ask, was the point of that?" Genome asked.
"It let me activate the effect of Blaze Wasp, which destroys any monster it attacks at the end of the damage step." All over Marmotroll, red spots popped up. Eventually, the beast exploded in a gory display. "Then, the second effect of Blaze Wasp. Each time your monster is destroyed by a card effect, you take damage equal to half that monster's attack." Blaze Wing flapped its wings, sending a wave of fire Genome's way. (Genome 3500-2350) "I end my turn."
"How cute. But now it's time to teach you the price of playing a hero. I draw! I activate the spell Graveyard Incubation. This lets me summon two Helixx monsters with the same name from my graveyard, but they are made useless, except for use to link summon Helixx monsters. Appear, my two Helixx Marmotrolls." The two marmots rose out of a dark portal. (Attack 2300-0)
"Appear, my perfect circuit! The summoning conditions are 2 Helixx monsters. I set my two Helixx Marmotrolls on the link arrows! Link summon! Appear, Helixx Gothiclone!" A goat-man in gold armor appeared. (Attack 0/Link Arrows Top, Bottom) "Then, since I control a link monster in the extra monster zone, I can normal summon Helixx Dreadrat without tribute!" A black-armored skeletal rodent with fiery horns appeared next to Gothiclone. (Level 5/Attack 1200)
"Tell me, my dear. Do you know anything about DNA?"
'Ladybug' thought that was a bit of a nonsequitor, but played along. "My science teacher said it stands for Deoxyribonucleic acid. But that's all I remember."
"A pity regarding the education of today's youth. DNA contains the genetic instructions necessary for organisms to grow, reproduce, and function. In short, our DNA defines who we are. By examining the effects of DNA on your cards and play-style, I shall be able to deduce your true identity."
"I shall set a card, then battle. Gothiclone, attack her Blaze Wasp!" Gothiclone started to fly towards Blaze Wasp in an unsettling fashion. "First, the effect of Gothiclone turns it into a perfect clone of your Blaze Wasp." The body of Gothiclone warped and shifted, until indeed it was a second Blaze Wasp. (Gothiclone Attack 0-2000) "The second effect of Gothiclone protects it from being destroyed by battle once each turn."
"I'll use the effect of Data Simulation to protect Blaze Wasp." A virtual Blaze Wasp flew forward to battle with Gothiclone, the two trading blows with their stingers for a time until they both gave up.
"Now, I activate the final effect of Gothiclone. If it applied its protection effect, then after damage calculation, I can tribute a monster Gothiclone points to to deal damage equal to that monster's attack. I shall tribute Dreadrat." Gothiclone sank its claws into Dreadrat, converting the monster into dark energy. The dark energy was then flung towards the false Ladybug. ('Ladybug' 4000-2800) "I shall end my turn here." With that, Gothiclone returned to its original form. (Gothiclone Attack 2000-0)
"I draw! Blaze Wasp, attack Gothiclone with Fiery Flight!" A virtual copy of Blaze Wasp charged towards Gothiclone who also copied Blaze Wasp. (Gothiclone Attack 0-2000) "Your monster may protect itself from the battle, but not from Blaze Wasp's effect!" The two fake Blaze Wasps battled until the holographic one was able to pierce the heart of the second, destroying it. "And that means you're taking even more damage!" The real Blaze Wasp flapped its wings again, sending another wave towards Genome.
"Not this time. I activate my face-down Regeneration Cure. If you activate a card or effect that would deal a set amount of damage to me, I can reduce that damage to zero, then summon a Helixx token." The flames gathered in front of Genome, transforming into a small black egg. (Level 1/Defense 0)
Frustrated, 'Ladybug' gritted her teeth. "I set a card and end my turn."
"So far, your plays have revealed a deep conviction, a desire to prove yourself in some way. Time for the next phase of examination. I draw! First, I shall activate the effect of Dreadrat in my graveyard! I can special summon it from there, but not only will it be banished when it next leaves the field, but I can't normal summon or set this turn." Dreadrat crawled out of a purple portal. (Level 5/Attack 1200)
"Appear again, my perfect portal! The summoning conditions are two Helixx monsters. I set Helixx Dreadrat and my Helixx tokens in the link arrows. Link summon! Appear, Helixx Necro Darwin!" A vulture with red feathers and a long, diamond head appeared. (Attack 1800/Link Arrows Top, Left) "Then, I activate the spell Link Tomb Trade, tributing Necro Darwin to special summon Gothiclone, as they both have the same link rating." Necro Darwin's body shifted out of existence, with Gothiclone appearing in its place.
"However, Necro Darwin won't be gone for long. Once per turn, I can special summon it to a zone that my link monster points to." Necro Darwin's body reassembled itself piece by piece, so that it was next to Gothiclone. "Now, since a link monster was summoned from the graveyard, I can activate my skill Minus Mitosis! This allows me to halve not only one of your monster's attack points, but your own life points!"
A mask appeared on Genome's face, which he aimed at Blaze Wasp. The mask emitted a green laser that pierced the link monster, hitting 'Ladybug' as well. (Databug Blaze Wasp Attack 2000-1000) ('Ladybug' 2800-1400)
"Lastly, I activate the spell card Helixx Gene Regression. Since I control a Helixx monster, I can target 1 face-up card on the field and negate its effects until my next turn. I choose Data Simulation." The spell card became gray as it lost its effect. "Necro Darwin, tear her Blaze Wasp apart!" Necro Darwin flew towards Blaze Wasp like a looming black cloud, letting out a screech as it bared its talons.
"I activate my face-down Data Flare! This increases the attack of one cyberse monster I control by 1000." Blaze Wasp was wrapped in an aura of fire. (Blaze Wasp Attack 1000-2000) "Then, since Blaze Wasp is Fire, Data Flare deals 500 damage to you." Blaze Wasp breathed out a jet of fire towards Genome.
"I activate the second effect of Necro Darwin. Once per turn, when you activate a card or effect that would deal effect damage to me, not only can I reduce that damage to zero, but I can then double its attack!" Necro Darwin spread its wings out, blocking the fire. It then grew greatly in size. (Necro Darwin Attack 1800-3600) Darwin proceeded to claw at Blaze Wasp, destroying the cyberse monster with ease.
But as the dust settled, 'Ladybug' was still standing. "I activated the effect of Databug Ladybug. By tributing it, the battle damage was halved." ('Ladybug' 1400-600)
"How persistent. I end my turn." As he did, Necro Darwin returned to its normal size. (Necro Darwin 3600-1800) "Well? Why don't you prove you're the real Ladybug by using her skill? After all, you should be able to use Lucky Charm, now that your life points are low enough. But you're not her, are you? No, I have finally deduced who you really are. You are Juleka Couffaine, or as you're better known, Reflekta!"
'Ladybug' smiled, her relief great at the fact that she didn't have to hide herself anymore. She pressed a button on her duel disk, changing her avatar to her form as Reflekta.
"Yes, I am Juleka Couffaine, and no, I don't have the Lucky Charm skill. But I don't need it, because I'm going to win this duel on my own. I draw! First, I summon Databug Scavenger." (Level 4/Attack 800) "When it is summoned, I can bring back a Databug monster from my graveyard. Return, Databug Blaze Wasp!" Scavenger scratched at the air, creating a crack that Blaze Wasp flew out of.
"What good will that do you?" Genome taunted. "The effect of Necro Darwin prevents you from attacking it for as long as it is co-linked, and your Data Simulation is useless, so your Blaze Wasp is powerless against my Gothiclone!"
"Who said I'm using Blaze Wasp? Appear, my circuit! The summoning conditions are two or more Databug monsters. I'll set Databug Scavenger and Databug Blaze Wasp in the link arrows! Link summon! Appear, Databug Stink Predator!" A large purple beetle appeared with vents on its body. (Attack 1900/Link Arrows Top Left, Bottom Left, Bottom Right) "When Stink Predator is link summoned, I can target monsters you control, up to the number of Stink Predator's link materials, and negate their effects for this turn!"
The vents on Stink Predator opened, releasing noxious clouds that swarmed Necro Darwin and Gothiclone. "Now, I'll activate my own skill, one that increases my link monster's attack by 500 times its link rating; Arrow Boost!" A bow with three arrows appeared, and Juleka took them, then fired each at Stink Predator, who absorbed them into its body. (Stink Predator Attack 1900-3400)
"Stink Predator, attack Gothiclone with Odious Oxide!" The beetle lumbered forward and charged Gothiclone, ramming into it with its horn. The impact threw Genome off his board and onto a nearby rooftop. (Genome 2350-0) Juleka flew towards him and extended her hand. "Now, give me the cure, as you promised."
Genome gave a small laugh. "Don't be so suspicious. The Knights of Hanoi are honor-bound. Here is your cure." He extended his hand, creating a small glowing orb that Juleka took. "But I wouldn't rest on your laurels. If you knew what our master has planned, you would stay in the real world." He then laughed as he was logged out by some external force.
…
Some time later, Juleka logged out of Link Vrains herself. To her complete lack of surprise, Luka was waiting in the living room, sitting on a chair. "Before you say anything, let me speak my piece." Juleka started. "Firstly, I'm sorry about going back on despite you telling me not to. I'm grateful for everything you do for us, but I can't just stand by while people are suffering. I want to help, I want to fight! If you're going to punish me, then I'll accept it. But I won't stop doing what I know is right."
Luka stood up from his seat and sighed. "I'm not going to punish you, because I realized that I was wrong. I was still seeing you as a little girl who needed protecting. But you've grown since then, haven't you?"
Juleka walked towards her brother and pulled him close in a hug. "I mean, I don't mind your protection. I just want to help you, after everything you've done for me."
"I can actually arrange that." Luka pulled slightly away so that he could look at his sister. "Sol Technologies is on the lookout for strong duelists to help secure Link Vrains and well, I think you've certainly proven yourself strong enough. What do you say?"
Juleka grinned at her brother. "When do I start?"