Yugioh/ML Chapter 14

Twin Toxin

"Duel Rules established." The three duelist's duel disks stated. "Duelists Reflekta and Ladybug shall share a field and life points, and alternate turns while facing against Baira."

"Fine by me." Reflekta declared. "I'll start us off. I activate the field spell Frontline Trenches. When it's activated, I can special summon a level 4 or lower warrior from my hand or deck. Appear, Gouki Twistcobra!" (Level 3/Attack 1600) "I then normal summon Gouki Suprex!" (Level 4/Attack 1800) "When Suprex is summoned, I can special summon another Gouki monster from my hand. Join me, Gouki Riscorpio!" (Level 5/Attack 2300)

"Appear, my circuit! The summoning conditions are two or more Gouki monsters. I set Gouki Riscorpio, Twistcobra, and Suprex in the link arrows! Link summon! Appear, Gouki the Great Ogre!" (Attack 2600/Link Arrows Bottom Left, Bottom, Bottom Right). "The effects of my link materials then activate, replacing themselves. Also, the effect of Frontline Trenches increases the attack of all my warrior link monsters by 300 times their link materials." (Gouki the Great Ogre Attack 2600-3500) "I end my turn."

"A strong start," Tikki commented. "especially considering the fact that the Gouki cards she just added most likely have nasty effects to protect her Great Ogre."

"Time to teach you some respect!" Baira snapped. "I draw! First, since there is a card in the field zone, I can special summon Dark Mummy Probe." A ghoulish monster wrapped in bandages appeared, having needles sticking out of its left arm. (Level 1/Attack 700) "When Probe is summoned this way, I can destroy one card in the field zone." Probe pointed her left arm at Frontline Trenches, then launched her needles at it, destroying the card. (Gouki The Great Ogre Attack 3500-2600)

"I summon a second Probe," (Level 1/Attack 700) "and set a card. Then, I activate the spell Monster Restitch. By tributing a Dark Mummy monster, I can special summon three Dark Mummy tokens." One of the probes burst, and three dark purple flames flew out of its corpse. (Level 1/Attack 0) "Next, I activate the continuous spell Temple of the Kings." A large stone temple appeared, floating behind Baira. "This card lets me activate one trap the turn it was set. I activate my face-down, Root Ransom Virus! By tributing a Dark monster with 0 attack, all link monsters will have their attack reduced to 0 and their effects negated."

One of the flames vanished, and purple and blue lines appeared on Great Ogre's body. (Gouki the Great Ogre's Attack 2600-0)

"Appear, my circuit! The summoning conditions are three Dark Mummy monsters. I set my two tokens and my Dark Mummy Probe in the link arrows! Link summon! Appear, Dark Mummy Surgical Forceps!" Another ghoul with blades for arms appeared, half of her body replaced with bandages. (Attack 2400/Link Arrows Top, Right, Bottom Left) "Unfortunately, the effect of Root Ransom applies to Surgical Forceps as well." The same stripes appeared on Baira's monster as well. (Surgical Forceps Attack 2400-0)

"To remedy this, I activate my skill, Malevolent Malpractice. By banishing two level 2 or lower monsters from my graveyard, I can special summon two monsters from my deck with the same name, and the same level as the monsters I banish. In essence, I replace my Dark Mummy Probes with two Dark Mummy Infusers!" Two more mummies appeared, each one having needles replacing their legs. (Level 1/Defense 500) "When Infuser is summoned, I can choose one zombie link monster that points to it, and render it immune to trap effects." Each Infuser stabbed into Surgical Forceps' body, causing the stripes to disappear. (Surgical Forceps Attack 0-2400) "Then, not only does each Infuser prevent you from attacking it for as long as they are linked, but Surgical Forceps' own effect gives itself 600 attack for each!" (Surgical Forceps Attack 2400-3600) "Surgical Forceps, attack her Great Ogre!" The ghoul rushed towards Great Ogre, baring its blades.

"I activate the effect of Gouki Octostretch in my hand! By discarding it when your monster attacks, the damage I'll take is halved." An octopus-man appeared and spit out an inky cloud that protected Reflekta from most of the damage as Great Ogre was sliced apart. (Reflekta/Ladybug 4000-2200)

"I end my turn." Baira said, coldly.

"Oh, no! All our link monsters are sealed off!" Tikki noted.

"Don't worry, little kwami. Root Ransom will banish itself from my graveyard, stopping the effect. But it will only do so during your second end phase!"

"I draw!" Ladybug declared. "First, since my life points are lower than yours, I can special summon Databug Roach from my hand." (Level 2/Defense 2000) "Then, since I control a Databug monster, I summon Databug Larva from my hand." (Level 1/Defense 0) "Finally, I normal summon Databug Chrysalis." (Level 1/Attack 0)

"Appear, my circuit! The summoning conditions are three Databug monsters. I set Databug Roach, Larva, and Chrysalis in the link arrows! Link summon! Appear, Databug Queen!" (Attack 3000/Link Arrows Bottom Left, Bottom, Bottom Right)

"Fool!" Baira shouted. "The effect of Root Ransom Virus activates again!" More stripes covered Queen's body. (Databug Queen Attack 3000-0)

"As I thought." Ladybug muttered. "Since I control a Databug link monster, I can summon Databug Ladybug from my hand." (Level 1/Defense 500)

"I activate the effect of Surgical Forceps! Once per turn, when a monster is summoned to a zone your link monster points to, I can destroy that monster." Surgical Forceps slashed her arms, creating an energy arc that destroyed the smaller bug.

"I set a card and end my turn."

"I draw! I then activate the spell Bio-Weapon Preparation. By tributing a Dark Mummy monster, I can activate a Virus trap card from my deck, ignoring its requirements. So by tributing one of my Dark Mummy Infusers, I can activate Current Corruption Virus! This trap makes it so that, for 3 of your turns, all your monsters with 2000 or less defense have their attack reduced to zero and their effects negated. Not only that, but the effects of monsters in your hand are sealed as well."

"That means that most of Reflekta' cards are sealed, now!" Tikki exclaimed as one of the infusers was destroyed. (Surgical Forceps Attack 3600-3000)

"Surgical Forceps, attack her Databug Queen!" Surgical Forceps lurched forward, attempting to slice into the insect.

"I activate my face-down, Link Damage Denial. This turn, all damage I take is reduced by 500 times Databug Queen's link rating!" Three shimmering glass arrows appeared to shield Ladybug from the brunt of Forceps' attack. (Reflekta/Ladybug 2200-700)

"Tikki, you're up!" Tikki called on as much power as she could, and another data storm appeared in front of them. All three duelists had to go around it, though Ladybug flew close by the storm, then stuck her hand in. "Since my life points are 1000 or less, I can activate my skill, letting me draw a card from the data storm. Lucky Charm!" Her hand glowed as she pulled out a card.

"How dramatic." Baira commented. "But in case you forgot, it isn't your turn next. It's Reflekta's. Speaking of, I end my turn. Do go on, then, Reflekta. Impress me."

Reflekta knew she was in a pickle, as most of her monsters were rendered useless by Baira's viruses. But she didn't get this far in her career by giving up when things were rough. Summoning her courage, Reflekta drew her card. "I draw! I activate my skill, Last Stand. Since my life points are 1000 or less, I can bring back a monster from my graveyard. Return, Gouki the Great Ogre!" Reflekta raised her hand, and a dark portal appeared. Great Ogre stepped out of the portal, covered in stripes. (Attack 2600-0) "I end my turn, and with it, the effect of Root Ransom!" Great Ogre yelled, and the stripes burst off of his body. (Attack 0-2600)

"How very droll." Baira said. "But I suppose that's all you can do, after all. I draw! And since I just drew a trap, I activate the effect of Surgical Forceps, dealing 500 damage to you." Surgical Forceps slashed again, sending another energy arc Reflekta's way.

"I activate the effect of Link Damage Denial in my graveyard!" Ladybug countered. "By banishing it, I can halve all effect damage me or my teammate takes this turn." The energy arc halved in size before it hit Reflekta. (Reflekta/Ladybug 700-450)

"How noble. But it won't save you. I set my trap, then activate it by the effect of Temple of the Kings; Medical Recycling. By paying 1000 life points," (Baira 4000-3000) "I return all Virus trap cards from my graveyard or banishment to my deck, then draw one card. If it's a Virus trap card, I can activate it this turn without setting it."

"That's in addition to the damage from Surgical Forceps' ability!" Fu reminded Ladybug.

With little ceremony to it, Baira drew her card. Frowning, she revealed it to be the spell Infected Mail. "I guess your luck hasn't run out, after all. I end my turn."

"Thanks for holding out, Reflekta." Ladybug said, earning a smile from her teammate. "I draw! I activate the spell Trash Link! This turn, I can link summon by using monsters in my graveyard as link materials. So I'll set Gouki the Great Ogre, Databug Ladybug, and Databug Roach in the link arrows! Link summon! Appear, Codespring Crystal Guardian!" A woman with a body made of crystal appeared, carrying a hammer that was also crystalline. (Attack 2300/Link Arrows Top, Right, Bottom)

"Once per turn, I can special summon a link 3 or lower link monster from my graveyard to a zone that Crystal Guardian points to." Crystal Guardian swung her hammer, and seemingly hit an invisible wall. A crack formed where the hammer struck, and Databug Queen broke through the crack.

"Again, you forget my monster's effects! Surgical Forceps shall destroy Databug Queen!" The mummy swooped in, attempting to slice up Databug Queen, but a crystal barrier blocked it.

"Think again! Crystal Guardian protects all linked monsters I control from being destroyed by battle or card effects! Now, Databug Queen, attack her Surgical Forceps with Harvest Throne!" Databug Queen grabbed Surgical Forceps with its many arms, then bit its head off. "Crystal Guardian, attack her Dark Mummy Infuser! Crystal Cacophony!"

Crystal Guardian crushed Infuser into a pulp with her hammer. "I then banish Chrysalis from my graveyard to allow Crystal Guardian to attack again. Attack Baira directly!" After growing wings on her back, Crystal Guardian swung again, this time knocking Baira off of her duel board. (Baira 3000-0)

Before Baira fell, Ladybug flew down and caught her in her arms. All three slowly flew down to the ground.

Ladybug let Baira go, but not before taking her duel disk away. "It's over, Baira. Hand over the virus, and stop all this destruction."

Baira scoffed. "You think the Deleted virus is the end of our plans?" She laughed mockingly at the two of them. "My master, Black Knight, has plans you are powerless to stop. But yes, I will surrender my designs to you."

…

From afar, Black Knight shook his head in disappointment. It would seem that Baira's plan would not come to fruition. But that did not matter. His true goal was still proceeding exactly as planned.

The Kwami would still fall.