"Yusei! When is he going to wake up!" I hear an unfamiliar male's voice loudly exclaim, "Ugh… he's been sleeping for like a year!" the boy argues with someone, who I cannot hear. 'A year!?' I try to yell out but the silence is telling. "Yeah… yeah, two days and a year are like the same thing."
"Sect, you really need to keep it down, he will wake up, when his body is ready," I hear a familiar voice quell the annoying boy. 'Why does that voice sound so familiar? The annoying boy called him Yusei,' I remind myself, trying to put a face to the name. "Whatever happened during that duel it… it took a lot our of him." I feel memories begin flooding back, me successfully letting psychic abilities out during a tag duel against Sector Security, injuring no one.
A woman appears from the darkness, her white hair matching the white Egyptian gown she is wearing, '"It seems that you are finally beginning to awaken, my dearest descendant," she welcomes me, my eyes widen, 'that voice… its the voice of-' my thoughts get interrupted. "You are correct, Rei Izayoi. I am your ancestor, but you may call me Lilith."
"I have wait centuries for one of my descendants to answer my call, and it seems the first one born with my psychic abilities was the only one to answer," the darkness surrounding us slowly melts away, leaving us in a desert standing atop a giant stone.
"Wh… where am I?" I ask looking around noticing the stone we are standing on is actually a giant mausoleum, "When are we?"
Lilith steps forward grabbing my hand, "You have finally arrived to my home, and welcome to the Festival of Duality!" she welcomes me again, making my eyes widen at the name. "This is 5000 years in the past, while I was still among the living."
I look all around me, before looking back at her, "Why am I here?" I ask her when a bright beam of light shoots from the sky down onto the center of the mausoleum.
She looks into the sky, "This is where the ceremonial duel between the Duel Priest and Priestess begins," she tells me, making me look up, seeing a giant tower erecting from the sky, "and that is known as the Aerial Fortress Seibal, I do not know what occurs up there, I lost my ceremonial duel against the Southern Duel Priest..." she drawls off, "purposely."
That makes me freeze, 'Lost purposely?' I question myself, before looking back at her tilting my head. "What do you mean, you lost your duel purposely? Who would… no more importantly. WHY would you or anyone purposely lose any duel that starts with the word ceremonial?" I question her, and with a motion of her hand, we appear inside a room.
Looking around the room, "Where did you-" I start to say when she interrupts me.
"5000 years ago, our Northern Leader, the High Priest. Who was thought to be a merciful and benevolent ruler to his people..." a vision appears of her walking behind an armored man being greeted by everyone they encounter, "he was adored by his people, I respected him as well."
When the vision ends, the same armored man is now standing in the room across from my ancestor, "he cannot see our hear us, this is a vision from my past," she tells me, I nod watching on. "Duel Priestess, this year's Festival of Duality is a particularly auspicious one, and..." he begins gaining to full attention of Lilith's past attention, "I know this is an unusual request, but I would like for you to lose. On purpose."
Her eyes widen, as do mine, "You would like mt to purposely lose?" she questions him. "I do no understand..." she looks around the room, "why would you ask me to do such a thing High Priest?"
He smiles softly at her nodding as if he understands, "Your loss will give our people a thrill of fear, and as a result, the country's bonds will strengthen," he explains and my eyes narrow, 'What kind of bullshit is that?' I go to ask, only stopping when I remember no one can hear me. "Please..." he gets down on one knee clutching her hand, "Lilith, it's for the sake of the people," I watch as her eyes widen, when he lifts his mask, his face shadowed kissing her hand.
She looks down at him shocked, "For the people..." she says.
"And I believed him. There was no reason in my mind, for me to have doubted him," the Lilith beside me explains. As the rooms begins to fade, leaving us atop the mausoleum again, as Lilith loses her duel against the priest.
I notice the land around us darkening before I hear a man, "Oh!" his voice calls out, "Look! The Sun!" I look up to the sky as the moon starts to move in front of the sun.
I think back and remember what Rex told me about the Festival, "The Duel Priest represents the Moon, while the Priestess represents the Sun… that must be why th-" metal footsteps echo from behind me.
"The sun has hidden its face!" I hear a sinister voice happily announce, making me turn back looking at the armored man from the vision. "And now we're one step closer to the resurrection of the Ultimate God!"
I feel Lilith clutch my arm, "This was the last of the Festival of Duality… I caused this, my belief in that man," her voice breaks, and I feel water hitting the arm she is clutching, "I cannot allow him to bring ruin to your time as he did mine," her convection makes me look at her, tears rolling down her face, "allow me to guide you, and stand at your side my dearest descendant?" she asks me.
I look around, at the death and destruction that this Ultimate God has caused before nodding, "I will not allow this to happen to my time," I promise her, "Even if I lose my life to stop it." As I spoke those words three lights appear from the sky casting away the darkness that surrounds us.
I watch as Lilith leaves the ground, flying to meet the three lights, "I shall gift you three cards that are made from the very souls of our line..." she tells me as one falls into my hand, leaving a card in it's place, "My first gift, Garden Rose Flora," she tells me. As another cards falls into my hand, "The lost soul of our first ancestor, Moonflower Rose Priestess," the card dulls, showing a woman with white and red hair, holding an ancient scale in her hand. The last card floats in front of me, "Lastly, the card that has been past down since the beginning, the card that will allow you to gain your birthright as a Duel Priest, our Duel Dragon! Black Rose Moonlight Dragon!"
The darkness fades and my eyes open, to me laying in a room. 'Was that all just a dream?' I question myself, looking around for Lilith only to notice an orange haired boy sleeping beside me. "It's good to see that you are finally awake," I hear someone say, and I turn to see Yusei standing in the doorway. "You have been out for four days now," he informs me.
I nod looking at the sleeping boy, 'I remember a boy wining about how I have been sleeping for two days… and that has turned into four, so maybe it wasn't a dream,' I tell myself. I look back at Yusei, before getting out of bed, "Thank you for caring for me..." I tell him, "You didn't have to do anything like that."
His eyes glint before he shakes his head, staring right into eyes, "You came to the rescue of a Satellite..." he reminds me, turning to walk out the room, "to me, that makes you better than must people around here, you're one of us now," and with that he leaves the room.
"He has been watching you sleep must of your time here," I hear Lilith tell me, appearing in a chair across the room, "It was both very sweet and creepy, I have no idea which of the two outweighs the other."
"So, it was all real, wasn't it?" I ask her, "That cruel man caused the death of so many..." the silence from her is telling, and I feel tears roll down my face, which furthers my resolve, "I need you to teach me to be a better duelist, I need you to train me to control my powers..." I look up directly into her eyes, "I need you to help me save this world!" I clench my eyes closed, as I start to picture my dead friends.
The room begins to darken around us, I look over to Lilith, "I am not doing this," she tells me holding out her hand, "but the power it feels familiar." a deep dark chuckle echoes from within the darkness, and a skeleton walks out of it.
"It seems I have finally found myself the descendant of the last Duel Priestess," he deep voice makes me take a step backwards, "Oh there is no need to fear me… you are almost as beautiful as she once was," he tells me. 'He knows you, how is he still alive?' I ask her through my mind, but when she does not answer I peer over at her and she looks petrified from fear.
"If I shouldn't fear you, then why are you here?" I ask him. A white duel disk appears on my right arm as a black one appears on his, "Is this your way of challenge me to a duel? Because if so..." I shove my deck into the duel disk activating it, "challenge accepted!"
He starts to laugh, "You may resemble your ancestor but your fighting spirit seems to outweigh hers," his duel disk activates, "Show me if your skill outweigh hers as well."
Duel
Turn 1: Rei Izayoi
Rei Izayoi: 4000 Life Points (x6)
Skeleton Knight: 4000 Life Points (x5)
"I'll take the first move," I tell him, as I draw my first card, "I call forth my fearless Botanical Lion to my side." A lion with a flower for a mane stands proudly in front of me.
Botanical Lion Level 4 (Earth/Plant)
Attack 1600/Defense 2000
This card gains 300 Attack for each Plant monster you control. Control of this face-up card on the field cannot switch.
"Due to Botanical Lion's effect, he gains 300 attack for every plant monster I control, including himself," I inform him.
Botanical Lion Level 4 (Earth/Plant)
Attack 1600 1900/Defense 2000
"Now I think I'll activate my Field Spell, White Rose Cloister!" the darkness around us disappears bringing us into a garden of white roses with petals dancing around the field.
White Rose Cloister
Field Spell
Once per turn: You can Special Summon 1 "Rose" monster from your hand.
"Now by activating my White Rose Cloister, I can Special Summon my Rose Witch to my side!" I declare a woman in a red and green gown appears with vines for arms, "Don't forget due to my Botanical Lion gets another 300 point attack boost since I control another plant monster.
Rose Witch Level 4 (Earth/Plant)
Attack 1600/Defense 1200
This card can be treated as 2 Tributes for the Tribute Summon of a Plant monster.
Botanical Lion Level 4 (Earth/Plant)
Attack 1900 2200/Defense 2000
"I'll place one card face-down and end my turn," I conclude as face-down card materializes in front of me.
Turn 2: Skeleton Knight
Rei Izayoi: 4000 Life Points (x2)
Skeleton Knight: 4000 Life Points (x6)
"Now it is my turn, let's see if you can pass my test!" he draws his card, "I set one monster face-down, then I activate the Spell, Book of Taiyou. This card let's me change a face-down monster, to face-up attack position."
'Why would he waste a card that unless-" I remind myself, "It's a monster with a flip effect."
Book of Taiyou
Normal Spell
Target 1 face-down monster on the field; change that target to face-up Attack Position.
"Look at you figure out my move," he compliments, "Arise my Scapeghost!"
Scapeghost Level 1 (Dark/Zombie/Tuner)
Attack 0/Defense 0
FLIP: You can Special Summon any number of "Black Sheep Tokens" (Zombie/Dark/Level 1/Attack 0/Defense 0).
I go to activate my Pollinosis Counter Trap, when I freeze. "Allow him to proceed," I hear Lilith's voice warn me, as she appears at my side.
"Now I think I'll activate my other Spell! Token Sundae! By destroying all my Tokens," he tells me as the little black sheeps explode, "I can destroy cards on the field up to the number of tokens that were destroyed, that means all four of your cards are gone!"
Token Sundae
Normal Spell
Destroy all Tokens you control, then destroy cards on the field up to the number of Tokens destroyed by this effect.
"I activate my Trap, Pollinosis! By tributing my Rose Witch, I can negate that spell cards effect and destroy it," I counter, before looking at Lilith, 'What happened back there?' I ask her.
Botanical Lion Level 4 (Earth/Plant)
Attack 2200 1900/Defense 2000
"That is the Southern High Priest, the brother of the Northern High Priest. His Duel Priest is the one that I allowed to win," she tells me, "He always kind of scared me even when I was alive. Now why are you dueling him?" She questions me.
"You both understand, that I can see and hear you," the Skeleton Knight informs us. Making both of us freeze and look towards him, "Why I do miss seeing your lovely face dear Lilith, I much prefer the face of your descendant."
"Can you not flirt with me!" we both yell out, before looking at each other.
He tilts his head back, and I have a feeling he is smirking at us. "Might I continue my turn?" he request and I nod. "I will place a card face-down and end my turn, now show me what you can truly do!"
Turn 3: Rei Izayoi
Rei Izayoi: 4000 Life Points (x3)
Skeleton Knight: 4000 Life Points (x2)
"It's my draw, I activate my White Rose Cloister, so I can Special Summon..." the petals of the white roses fly to the air, and bleed red "Queen of Rose, the Stately Angel!"
Queen of Rose, the Stately Angel Level 7 (Earth/Plant)
Attack 2400/Defense 1300
Once per turn, during your Standby Phase: Destroy the 1 face-up monster on the field that has the lowest Attack (your choice, if tied).
Botanical Lion Level 4 (Earth/Plant)
Attack 1900 2200/Defense 2000
"Oh isn't that interesting," the knight coos, "has your eye colored always changed when you summon that monster?" he asks me, "or is this the first time." My hand reaches up to my right eye and I run my finger down my eye lid.
"It doesn't matter what has changed! Queen of Rose attack his Scapeghost, Trimmer Rose!" I command, as she slices the little ghost into piece, "Seems you were more confident than you should've been." The impact throws the Skeleton Knight backwards.
Rei Izayoi: 4000 Life Points (x2)
Skeleton Knight: 4000 1600 Life Points (x2)
"You are simply amazing, you were born with her gift as well," his voice sounds amazed, he looks over at Lilith, "You must be proud of such a magnificent human."
I fell my face heat up at the sound of his amazement, "Just cause you are a complimenting me doesn't mean I will let you go! Botanical Lion attack Skeleton Knight directly and end this duel!" I throw my hand forward.
"I activate my face-down, Hallowed Life Barrier! By discard a card from my hand, I take no damage from your card's for the rest of this turn," he informs me as he discards a monster from his hand and my eyes narrow at the trap.
Hallowed life Barrier
Normal Trap
Discard 1 card; you take no damage from your opponent's cards this turn, also your monsters cannot be destroyed by battle this turn.
'Why did he not activate that trap, when he could've saved his monster and a lot of his life points?' I ask myself.
"Since my Ghost Sleeper, the Underworld Princess, was sent to the Graveyard I can add Ghost Fusion from my Deck and put it n my hand," he informs me, 'I still don't understand why he did not activate that card before.'
Ghost Shipper, the Underworld Princess Level 3 (Dark/Zombie)
Attack 1300/Defense 0
If this card is sent to the Graveyard: You can add 1 "Ghost Fusion" from your Deck to your hand. If this card is in your Graveyard, except the turn it was sent there: You can banish this card and discard 1 card, then target 1 of your banished Level 4 or higher Zombie monsters, add it to your hand. You can only use each effect of "Ghost Sleeper, the Underworld Princess" once per turn.
I look at his normal empty field, before looking back at my hand, "My turn's up."
Turn 4: Skeleton Knight
Rei Izayoi: 4000 Life Points (x2)
Skeleton Knight: 1600 Life Points (x2)
The Skeleton Knight starts to clap, "You did pretty good, but it seems you are not the Duel Priest I am looking for, such a disappointment, I would've loved to have seen you more," he tells me. "Since you are the only one that controls a monster I can Special Summon this card from my hand, come forth Ghost Lancer, the Underworld Spearman!"
Ghost Lancer, the Underworld Spearman Level 5 (Dark/Zombie)
Attack 2000/Defense 0
If only your opponent control a monster, you can Special Summon this card (from your hand). Cannot be destroyed by battle, except with monsters Special Summon from the Extra Deck. If this card attacks a Defense Position monster, inflict piercing battle damage.
"Now I activate my Ghost Fusion spell card!" He declares, making me stop.
"You have no other monsters to fuse, how are you going to fusion summon?" I ask him.
Ghost Fusion
"Since my Life Points are lower than yours, Ghost Fusion allows me to banish 1 Zombie monster from my hand, Graveyard or Deck instead. I banish my Scapeghost to fuse with my Ghost Lancer, the Underworld Spearman to Fusion Summon!" a giant black hole opens into the middle of the field, as a metal claw rises from it, "Arise from the Gates of Hell, Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon!"
Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon Level 8 (Dark/Dragon/Fusion)
2 Zombie Monster
Attack 3000/Defense 0
Must first be Fusion Summoned. Monsters cannot be destroyed by battle with this card. At the end of the Damage Step, if this card battled a monster that has an original Level: That monster's Attack becomes 0, also, if that monster is still face-up on the field, Special Summon 1 "Dark Soul Token" (Zombie/Dark/Level ?/ Attack ?/ Defense 0). (When Summoned, its Level and Attack become equal to the original Level and Attack of that monster,) You can only control 1 "Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon".
"What the hell it that!" I demand staring up at the skeletal like dragon.
"Dragonecro attack his Queen of Rose!" he commands, "Monster cannot be destroyed by battle when they battle Dragonecro!"
Rei Izayoi: 4000 3400 Life Points (x2)
Skeleton Knight: 1600 Life Points (x0)
"After the Damage Step, your monster's Attack becomes 0 then I can Special Summon a Dark Soul Token, with the original Level and Attack as your Queen of Rose!" he informs me and my eyes widen.
Queen of Rose, the Stately Angel Level 7 (Earth/Plant)
Attack 2400 0/Defense 1300
Dark Soul Token Level 7 (Dark/Zombie)
Attack 2400/Defense 0
"Now my Dark Soul Token destroy his Queen of Rose!" he commands and I watch as my Queen is drug underground.
Rei Izayoi: 3400 1000 Life Points (x2)
Skeleton Knight: 1600 Life Points (x0)
Botanical Lion Level 4 (Earth/Plant)
Attack 2200 1900/Defense 2000
"My turn is over, this will be your last turn. If you do not defeat me now," he says no finishing his sentence.
Turn 5:
Rei Izayoi: 1000 Life Points (x3)
Skeleton Knight: 1600 Life Points (x0)
'This is it, either we win now or it's all over,' I look over at Lilith and she nods, throwing her hand in the air and the white petals from my field spell begin to swirl around, and my duel disk lights up, I look over and my Field Spell Card has changed.
White Rose Cloister
Field Spell
Once per turn: You can Special Summon 1 "Rose" monster from your hand. During your Draw Phase, before you draw: You can declare 1 card type (Monster, Spell, or Trap); reveal the top card of your Deck, and if it is the declared card type, apply this effect for the rest of the turn (even if this card leaves the field)
Level 7 or higher Synchro Monsters you control gain 1000 Attack.
"I activate the effect of my White Rose Cloister second effect," I call out, "I can declare a card type and if I am right, for the rest of the turn all Level 7 or higher Synchro Monsters I control gain 1000 Attack," I tell him.
"Interesting effect, yet as far as I know. You have no Synchro monsters on the field, nor do you own any to begin with…" I can hear his grin from behind his mask, "unless your dearest ancestor gifted you with her dragon, did she?"
"It doesn't matter," I tell him closing my eyes, 'Rose Paladin'. "It's a monster card!" I call out grabbing my card revealing to him my Rose Paladin, "This duel is over! I activate White Rose Cloister first effect, and Special Summon Rose Spirit from my hand!"
Rose Spirit Level 3 (Earth/Plant)
Attack 300/Defense 800
When your opponent activates an effect that would inflict damage (Quick Effect): You can discard this card; negate the activation, and if you do, inflict damage equal to the amount of damage you would have taken to your opponent. If this card you control would be used as Synchro Material for a "Rose" Synchro Monster, you can treat it as a Tuner monster.
Botanical Lion Level 4 (Earth/Plant)
Attack 1900 2200/Defense 2000
"Now I summon forth my Rose Paladin to my side!" I declare, "I'll show you the true power of a Duel Priest!"
Rose Paladin Level 4 (Earth/Warrior)
Attack 1800/Defense 200
When this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle and sends it to the Graveyard: You can Tribute this card; Special Summon 1 Plant monster from your hand or Deck in Defense Position.
Throwing my hand into the air, "I tune my Level 3 Rose Spirit with my Level 4 Botanical Lion!" I call out into the skies, as Lilith follows along.
"Yes! Show me your true potential! Let me feel your power!" The Skeleton Knight request.
"Solitary Rose, Sprouting in the Pure Garden! Obtain the Young Moon's Dew and Bloom! Black Rose Moonlight Dragon!" I chant along with Lilith all around us the roses in the garden turn red, as my red and black descends from the sky.
Black Rose Moonlight Dragon Level 7 (Light/Dragon/Synchro)
1 Tuner 1 non-Tuner monsters
Attack 2400/Defense 1800
If this card is Special Summoned, or a Level 5 or higher monster(s) is Special Summoned to your opponent's field: Target 1 Special Summoned monster your opponent controls; return that target to the hand. You can only use this effect of "Black Rose Moonlight Dragon" once per turn.
"And thanks to my White Rose Cloister, my dragon gains 1000 Attack points," I inform him.
Black Rose Moonlight Dragon Level 7 (Light/Dragon/Synchro)
1 Tuner 1 non-Tuner monsters
Attack 2400 3400/Defense 1800
"I activate Black Rose Moonlight Dragon's effect, since she was Special Summoned to the field I can target one Special Summoned monster you control and send it back to your hand… but in this case I'll send your Dragonecro to your Extra Deck, now! Rose Ballad!" I declare and a tornado of roses appear onto the field driving his dragon away.
"Interesting they have changed once more. With Queen of Rose they turned into a dark red, and with your dragon they are crimson… it seem that your eyes change to match the color of Level 7 monsters that you have on the field…" he tells me, my eyes widen and I look towards Lilith and she nods.
"I see…" I tell myself, "That just proves to me that I will be the one to stop the Ultimate God from arising! Black Rose Moonlight Dragon attack his token, Rose Requiem!" I command and his monster gets burned by the blue flames that come from my dragon, making me stagger back 'why does those flames look so familiar?' I ask myself, when the flames clear my opponent is on the ground.
Rei Izayoi: 1000 Life Points (x1)
Skeleton Knight: 1600 600 Life Points (x0)
"Rei, you need finish this duel," Lilith tells me and I nod, 'It must be me remembering something from a past life,' I tell myself.
"Rose Paladin, finish this duel attack the Skeleton Knight directly!" My paladin quickly move piercing piercing the knight with his spear.
Rei Izayoi: 1000 Life Points (x1)
Skeleton Knight: 600 0 Life Points (x0)
He starts laughing gleefully, "It was a pleasure dueling you, I wish I would have chosen you to be my champion and not that pest of a human, but it matters little," he says before disappearing.
The next thing I know, I am back in the room… alone. "Rei?" I hear Yusei call and I look towards the door, "Where did Sect-" he starts off and his eyes dart to the chair where Lilith is sitting, "who is that?" both her and my eyes widen.
"You can see her?" I ask him and he nods, I look over to her, 'Do you think we can trust him?' I ask her and she looks between the two of us, before nodding. "You better sit down it's a damn long story," I tell him and he looks wary but nods before sitting down beside me.
Somewhere Else
"How did the duel with our dearest Rei Izayoi go?" a voice asks as the Skeleton Knight walks into the room.
The knight is silent for a moment, "I lost to him… but seeing from where he came from that is not shocking," he answers.
"I see, and dear brother…" the man walks from the shadow, showing the face of Rex Goodwin, "Did anything interesting occur during the duel? I was not able to get a reading on it due to your darkness."
Without a moment of hesitation, "No, he used his Fusion Monster to negate the effect of my Dragon so he could negate its token effect and defeating me," he lies.
Rex nods, "Perfect… is your chosen champion in order?" Rex asks gaining a nod from his brother, "Mine will be too..." Rex smirks as a picture of Rei comes onto screen.