Disclaimer: I do not own the properties of the Yu-Gi-Oh franchise or the work of the cards; I only own the OCs that could or may be involved in this series. I own nothing of the real OCG cards, just the formal OC character.
Friendship Cup — Chapter 20: The Spear and Shield; Yasuko Yukihana vs Gongenzaka Strong
The opening booth was nearly empty when people were waiting for the entrance to the Friendship Cup. The guards working the shift were bumped out; they were on the job, and they were going to deal with the crowd. Thankfully, the people were all inside the Duel Palace, which meant they could get a break.
"Man? What a rotten luck," the ticket worker complained. "We get to work on a day like this…"
"Yeah, no kidding," his coworker agreed.
They were complaining when they heard a noise coming from outside the booth. They saw three kids: twins and an older girl; Lua, Luna, and Zuzu's clone, Rin, in disguise. She wore a beret hat with circular glasses and a blue sweater under her green forest jacket. She was also wearing a brown skirt and holding a purse.
"Hi, are we late?" Luna inquired.
"Nah, you're just in time," said the ticket master. "Tickets, please."
The twins and Rin each give the worker their tickets, which he tears off so they know they've paid.
"Alright, go on in," he said.
"Thank you very much!"
They all enter through the gate and leave the booth immediately before anyone can see them.
"Come on, I can show you where we'll be watching," said Lua.
"Are you sure we can be in here?" Rin inquired. She looked around the empty corridors. "What if they spot me?"
"Don't worry, we'll be at the Tops spectators," Luna assured. "No one doesn't come to the Tops booth except us. It's only for the Tops."
They hurry up the stairs and come outside. The crowd is cheering for the first-round duelists in the Friendship Cup. The stadium is huge. Rin has never seen anything like it in her life. She is amazed by the crowd. It is everything she has dreamed of since she was a little girl.
"Amazing!" Rin beamed, looking at the stands. "This is so cool!"
"I know!" Lua replied. "Isn't it the coolest?" Like Rin, Lua was very excited to see the Friendship Cup. "And you know what else? We get to watch from our own booth!"
"Really?"
"Akiza said she has a booth reserved for her and her friends," Luna explained. "We are just going there and watching everything until we can see Yasuko and Akiza again."
"Oh, that's right," Rin realized as she continued, "Where are they? I haven't seen them since yesterday. You don't think they're arrested, are they?"
"No way," Lua declined. "Yasuko's under Akiza's protection. They're not going to arrest them."
As they talk, the announcer, Melissa, makes a statement about the first round.
"Ladies and gentlemen! I, Melissa Claire, will be your host for our first round in the Friendship Cup!" she said. "Now, let's give a welcome applause for our first contenders! Yasuko Yukihana and Gongenzaka Strong!"
Upon hearing that name, the trio gasped in surprise.
"Wait, what?!" Lua gasped. He runs to the railing to get a better look. "Hold on! Yasuko's in the tournament?!"
Luna and Rin followed behind to get a closer look at the players.
"Yasuko's here?" Luna inquired.
"How'd she get in the tournament?" Rin wondered.
The trio looks at the runway in the Duel Palace stadium. Two duel runners exit out of the tunnel and onto the runway.
Gongenzaka wears a gray jumpsuit with a white and red sash on his back. He was amazed by the smooth ride on a vehicle like a duel runner. He thought it would be hard, considering it was his first time. "Amazing," he commented.
Gongenzaka looked at the tower where the Duel Palace is. On the top is the spectator view of the king, Jack Atlas himself. He glared at Jack for humiliating his best friend, Yuya Sakaki, at the exhibition match. "I, the man Gongenzaka, will show you the power of the Lancers," he thought. Gongenzaka turns to his opponent. "But I never thought I'd have to be dueling her." He regrets having to duel one of his comrades.
Yasuko's duel runner was the same one she fixed at Crow's house. However, it was upgraded to a new version, which was different from what Elsa had done to it. The new one was designed to be a hybrid of streamlined and sturdy components with a more triangular motif glass.
Yasuko wore the same jumpsuit and olive green vest she wore while delivering with Elsa. She was surprised to learn that Elsa is sponsoring her for the Friendship Cup even after she's finished her delivery.
"I can't believe that Elsa is letting me have this, even though I'm not working for her," Yasuko thought.
She looked at the crowd. "Look at these idiots; they don't even know what they're watching." Seeing the crowd and thinking of how it all statutes makes her stomach twist in sickness. "Filthy corrupted animals."
"The City's biggest duel event, the Friendship Cup, is about to begin!" Melissa announced. "Who will be the first winner? Yasuko or Gongenzaka?"
The crowd noise becomes antagonistic as Yasuko and Gongenzaka approach the starting line. When they stop, the two duelists can hear the crowd shouting for one of them to beat Jack.
"King, my butt! He's a traitor!"
"Jack is a Commons hero!"
"Jack Atlas is the star! Not them!"
The shouting in the crowd draws the two duelists' attention.
Gongenzaka was confused by their hostility. "What's going on at this tournament?" he questioned.
Yasuko was just as confused about the crowd as he was. She expected some sides to be picked and two sides that might escalate, but she didn't expect the crowd to escalate, and the duel hadn't even started.
"I don't know, Gong," Yasuko replied. "But I can tell this crowd isn't what we're used to back home."
She was told of the disparity between the Tops and Commons but never knew the differences were massive.
"Right? Now. I'm gonna start, okay? Action Field, on!" Melissa stated. "Crossover Acceleration!"
The stadium pulses one ring, turning the atmosphere into a dueling field. The bubble holding the Action Cards forms above the stadium and bursts, spreading throughout.
"Duel mode, on. Autopilot, standby."
The duel runners synchronize with each other, connecting them. The countdown hologram appears in front of the duelists.
She is so going to win this tournament. Yasuko will be victorious no matter what happens or who her opponent is, even if she has to duel against her comrades in the Lancers.
As the countdown started, Yasuko saw three figures in her peripheral vision. She looked over and saw the twins and Rin. She was shocked.
"What the—?! Lua, Luna, and Rin?! What are they doing here?" Yasuko screamed in her thoughts. "Rin can't be here! She'll be seen!"
Yasuko wanted to scream at them, but the countdown was closing, and she refocused on her duel. "Damn it!" Yasuko hissed under her breath.
Three.
Yasuko tightly grips her stick.
Two.
Gongenzaka puts more throttle.
One.
GO!
"Riding Duel…Acceleration!" Melissa stated.
On "GO!", the duel runners' wheels screeched on the pavement, causing sparks to pop and crackle as the duelists zipped out of the starting line.
"Duel!"
Duel
Yasuko Yukihana (LP 4000)
VS.
Gongenzaka Strong (LP 4000)
The first Turbo Duel between Yasuko and Gongenzaka has officially begun. Gongenzaka was struggling to get a grip on his duel runner.
He may have put too much throttle before they start because he's ahead of Yasuko.
"Yasuko Yukihana is slowing down and right out of the gate!" Melissa announced.
Yasuko was looking at the cross while gripping the duel runner. "Those damn idiots!" she exclaimed in her head. "What were they thinking?! Bringing Rin into the open like this! Serena and Zuzu are all here too! Don't they know Security is going to identify her soon?"
Yasuko refocused on her turbo duel and saw Gongenzaka having difficulty adjusting to his duel runner. He wobbled back and forth between left and right, trying to regain some control of his duel runner. She felt sorry for the big guy since he was more used to being in one place.
Gongenzaka is coming to the corner fast, but he isn't turning. He grunts and screams as he approaches the corner.
"The big guy's gonna crash!" Yasuko has to do something. She twists her stick and hits the throttle. With one move, she zips past Gongenzaka and comes to the corner, where she turns. In that instance, Gongenzaka finally turns his duel runner alongside Yasuko's.
Gongenzaka sighed in relief. He didn't crash at the turn.
Yasuko slipped past him, allowing herself to be in front. "My corner means my first turn, Gong," she said.
Turn 1: Yasuko (5x cards)
"And Yasuko Yukihana takes the first around the corner, securing the first turn!" Melissa announced. The crowd was making another spat amongst themselves, rooting for Jack or cursing Jack.
The announcer was most displeased to hear the crowd fighting over two sides. "Hey, come on," Melissa whined. "I'm trying to make this exciting, you know…"
"My turn!" Yasuko took out five cards and placed them on her gauntlet device to hold them. She picks one and activates Servant of Endymion (Scale 2). "First, I Set the Pendulum Scale with my Scale 2 Servant of Endymion!" Yasuko chooses to activate her first Pendulum monster and sets it. Once there, the servant endymion rose in the pillar of light.
"Amazing! Like Yuya Sakai from the exhibition match with Jack Atlas, Yasuko Yukihana has Pendulum monsters too!" Melissa commented. The sparring amongst the audience slowly dies down as they watch the girl making her turn.
Yasuko picks another one and activates the Spell Card: Spell Power Mastery. "Next, I activate the Spell Card! Spell Power Mastery!" she declared. "This card lets me add one "Endymion" card from my deck to my hand. And for every Spell Power Grasp or Mastery on the field or graveyard, I can place the same number of Spell Counters on cards I control that I can place a counter on!" She chooses to add Magister of Endymion. "And I add Magister of Endymion! And each time we activate and resolve a Spell Card; Servant of Endymion's Pendulum effect allows me to place one Spell Counter on this card!" In addition to adding one card, the servant endymion glows to gain a counter.
(Servant of Endymion: Spell Counter 0 → 2)
She then activates her Magister of Endymion (Scale 8). "I set the Pendulum Scale with my Scale 8 Magister of Endymion!" she declared. "I'm going to show you how I control the duel right now!"
With both her magister and servant in both Pendulum Zones, they float in the air with their respective Pendulum Scale number underneath them. "And since I activated Magister, Servant's Pendulum effect activates, gaining a Spell Counter."
(Servant of Endymion: Spell Counter 2 → 3)
Yasuko already has the cards in play for her big performance. "With these two monsters, I can simultaneously Pendulum Summon any monster between levels 2 and 7!" Yasuko exclaimed. "Hear my soul roaring upon thy! I call forth the energy of my heart to unleash the flames of solemnity from within! IPendulum Summon! Appear, my monsters!" Two lights rain down from the hole, and Yasuko Pendulum Summons Majespecter Raccoon – Bunbuku (ATK 1200/DEF 900) and her Pendulum Tuner Monster Magicalibra (ATK 1500/DEF 1000) from her hand in Defense Position. "Come, the Tuner monster, Magicalibra! And Majespecter Raccoon - Bunbuku!" The magical scales of justice and the raccoon with a tornado on its back and red cape appear on the field.
Upon seeing the Pendulum Summon, the crowd stopped arguing and looked at the girl in amazement.
"Whoa!"
"They were Special Summoned at the same time!?"
"She can Pendulum Summon too?"
Everyone was fixed on the duel, no longer arguing more about their Jack but the duelists who were unknown to them.
"When Raccoon is summoned, I can activate its effect to add one Majespecter monster from my deck to my hand!" She chooses a card to add, and a card pops out, allowing her to add Majespecter Fox - Kyubi to her hand. "I'm going to add Majespecter Fox - Kyubi!" Now that the conditions are set, Yasuko is making her Synchro Summon.
"Level 4 Magicalibra tunes the Level 3 Raccoon!" The magical scales and turns itself into four green rings. The rings scan the raccoon, turning the monster into four white orbs.
(3 + 4 = 7)
"Wonderous white dragon, spread those beautiful circuit wings to soar into the sky as fast as the winds can take you! I Synchro Summon! Appear! Level 7! Clear Wing Fast Dragon!"She tunes the level 4 Magicalibra with the level 3 Fox to Synchro Summon Clear Wing Fast Dragon (ATK 2500/DEF 2000). The green rings shoot a big white light, and Clear Wing Fast flies out, flying right beside its duelist, with its green armor plates outlined by white scales and four large panel wings on both shoulders reflecting the sky.
Gongenzaka was amazed by her strong start, seeing Yasuko going from Pendulum to Synchro on her first turn. He can see how his opponent won't be as easy as he thought Yasuko was when he saw her duels.
"Completing her Pendulum Scales, gaining Spell Counters just by setting her Pendulum monster, and then going straight from Pendulum to Synchro!" said Gongenzaka. "Yasuko, you are a worthy opponent. I can see why Yuya chose you to be his teacher wisely." He notices that her face is looking in the direction of the crowd. "Huh? What's she looking at?" Gongenzaka follows her sight at the crowd. The passing images of the people in the stands were baffling him.
"I Summon Majespecter Fox - Kyubi!" Yasuko Normal Summons Majespecter Fox – Kyubi (ATK 1500/DEF 1000). The fourth monster Yasuko summoned is a yellow fox wearing a red cape, but its tail is a tornado. "When Fox is summoned, I can add one Majespecter Trap from my deck to my hand!" Yasuko then activates its effect by adding one "Majespecter" Trap Card from her deck to her hand. She adds the Counter Trap Card: Majespecter Tempest to her hand.
"Now, by removing three Spell Counters from herself, I activate Servant of Endymion's Pendulum effect to Special Summon itself from the Pendulum Zone and one monster from my deck that I can place a Spell Counter on!" Yasuko declared. "I Special Summon Servant of Endymion from my Pendulum Zone and Mythical Beast Jackal King from my deck!"
(Servant of Endymion: Spell Counter 3 → 0)
By removing three Spell Counters for cost, Yasuko Special Summons Servant of Endymion (ATK 900/DEF 1500) from her Pendulum Zone in Defense Position and Mythical Beast King Jackal (ATK 2400/DEF 1700) from her Deck in Attack Position.
The servant disappears from the Pendulum Zone and reappears on the field, but a second portal opens, allowing Yasuko to summon the blue jackal king with a will-o-wisp tail. They all float beside her. "And in addition, each one gains a Spell Counter."
(Servant of Endymion: Spell Counter 0 → 1)
(Mythical Beast King Jackal: Spell Counter 0 → 1)
She then removes another card from her hand and sets it on the field. "I Set a card face down and end my turn!" she concluded. Yasuko Set a card face down.
Turn 2: Gongenzaka (5x cards)
It's now his turn, and Gongenzaka shakes his head to dismiss Yasuko's concern and concentrate on the duel. "No, I need to focus on the duel," he said. He has had thoughts regarding Yasuko ever since she came to his hometown.
"Yasuko Yukihana!" Gongenzaka called, catching the girls' attention. "Ever since I saw your duel, your dueling has inspired me. Your duels have made me stronger than ever before." He recalls when he first did his Synchro Summon with Yuya. "You are a strong duelist and a strong teacher. Yuya is very lucky to have you with him, just as I am honored to have you as my opponent."
Yasuko raised an eyebrow at the big guy. "Thanks, Gong. I'll take that as a compliment," she commented. "And he's also very lucky to have you as his best friend." Yasuko can understand Gongenzaka's resolve, a true best friend for Yuya. "You've known Yuya just as long as Zuzu, and now, we're here playing a dangerous game, my big fellow."
"A game?" Gongenzaka repeated.
"You showed me your Steadfast Dueling, a shield if I may call it, so now I'm going to show you my dueling, the spear," said Yasuko. "If you are a shield, then I will be the spear."
"Very well, I accept your challenge, Yasuko!" Gongenzaka affirmed. "My turn! Draw!" He draws a card. "I'll show you the full power of my Steadfast Dueling!" He takes out a card from his hand. "I Set the Pendulum Scale with my Scale 8 Superheavy Samurai Prodigy Wakaushi!" Gongenzaka activates his Superheavy Samurai Prodigy Wakaushi (Scale 8) into his Pendulum Zone.
From the left Pendulum Zone, a mechanical humanoid wearing a green robe holds a flute and a white cape outlined in gold floats up in the Pendulum Zone.
Now, the audience was fixed on Gongenzaka and the reveal of his Pendulum monster. From the stands, the twins and Rin watched the duel with amazement.
"Wow! This is so cool!" Lua exclaimed. "That big guy has his own Pendulum monster? Man, I can't wait to get some of my own!"
The twin sister was watching with astonishment. "This guy has a Pendulum monster, too?" Luna inquired. "How'd he got one?"
Rin was confused by the twins' discussion of the so-called Pendulum monster. "What's a Pendulum monster?" she asked. The twins turn to the girl.
"Oh, it's this amazing new monster card that Yasuko has!" said Lua. "Basically, you get to summon any monsters from your hand between the levels of their Pendulum Scale!" He turns back to the duel. "And this guy has one too! This is the coolest tournament ever!"
Yasuko glanced at Gongenzaka. "Don't forget, Gong, when you activate a Pendulum Monster in your Pendulum Zone, they're treated as Continuous Spell Cards, and thanks to my Magister's Pendulum and Jackal King's monster effects, my Pendulum monsters gain Spell Counters!" Yasuko explained. Due to Gongenzaka activating his Pendulum monster, the magister and the Jackal King gain counters.
(Mythical Beast King Jackal: Spell Counter 1 → 3)
(Magister of Endymion: Spell Counter 0 → 1)
"To think that even with my deck of monsters, you still have ways to control the duel," said Gongenzaka. "But that doesn't shake my resolve. I'll defeat you with my Steadfast Dueling! I activate Prodigy Wakaushi's Pendulum effect!" he declared. "When I have no Spell or Trap Cards in my graveyard, I can place one "Superheavy Samurai" Pendulum monster from my deck and then Special Summon this card from the Pendulum Zone!"
He picks one of the Pendulum Monsters from his deck and places Superheavy Samurai Monk Big Benkei (Scale 1) in his Pendulum Zone and then Special Summons Superheavy Samurai Prodigy Wakaushi (ATK 1000/DEF 1500) in Defense Position.
"I place my Scale 1 Superheavy Samurai Monk Big Benkei to my Pendulum Zone to Special Summon Superheavy Samurai Prodigy Wakaushi!" Gongenzaka places the monk benkei in his Pendulum Zone. The new monster Gongenzaka placed is an upgrade of his other monster, Big Benkei, but this one has a purple robe over its armor, and the staff it used was replaced with a guan gong. When the monk benkei is in the Pendulum Zone, the prodigy wakaushi disappears from the Pendulum Zone and reappears on the field like a ninja.
Yasuko was impressed that Gongenzaka had stepped up his game since the Arc League. "Impressive," she commented. "That's a new one."
Gongenzaka raised his hand to his monk big benkei. "If I control a Superheavy Samurai monster on my field, I can activate Monk Big Benkei's Pendulum effect! I add one "Superheavy Samurai Soul" from my Deck to my hand." Gongenzaka chooses the monster he will add: Superheavy Samurai Soulpiercer. "I add Superheavy Samurai Soulpiercer!" Once he's added the card he needs, Gongenzaka will attempt to summon a monster. "I activate Superheavy Samurai Prodigy's monster effect! By discarding one monster card, I can Special Summon one "Superheavy Samurai" monster from my deck!" Gongenzaka discards his Superheavy Samurai Gigagloves for cost, but Yasuko isn't going to let him bring out more monsters.
"Not when I have something!" Yasuko explained. "I remove two Spell Counters from my field to activate Jackal King's monster effect! When my opponent activates a monster effect, I can negate that activation and then destroy it!"
In response, Yasuko activates Jackal King's effect to remove 2 Spell Counters from her field to negate and destroy that monster and its effect.
(Mythical Beast King Jackal: Spell Counter 3 → 1)
"Jackal King negates your Prodigy Wakaushi!" The jackal king blares off a loud howling wave motion that hits the prodigy and destroys the monsters.
Gongenzaka grunted at the sight of his monster exploding after being negated. "Impressive, but that won't stop me!" Gongenzaka Normal Summons Superheavy Samurai Magnet (ATK 900/DEF 1900)
"I Summon Superheavy Samurai Magnet!" The monster Gongenzaka summoned is a large mechanical humanoid with a plus gauntlet on the right block-hand arm, a minus gauntlet on the left block-hand, and a large magnet on its back.
"When Magnet is successfully summoned, I can Special Summon 1 level 4 or lower "Superheavy Samurai" monster from my hand!" Due to the monster effect of the magnet, Gongenzaka Special Summons Superheavy Samurai Security (ATK 500/DEF 1500) in Defense Position. "I Special Summon Superheavy Samurai Security in Defense Position!" The new monster Gongenzaka Special Summoned is a black and yellow humanoid with a baton and a lantern. "When Superheavy Samurai Security is summoned, I can add one face-up Pendulum monster from my Extra Deck to my hand!"
"I'm not going to let you Pendulum Summon, Gong!" Yasuko flips up her face-down Counter Trap Card: Majespecter Tempest. "I flip up my Counter Trap! Majespecter Tempest!" she declared. "By tributing my Raccoon Bunbuku, I can negate a monster activation or if a monster would be Special Summoned and then destroy it!" The trap card blows a tornado, sending the raccoon to fly inside the center. The raccoon blows the tornado with its tail toward security. "I tribute my raccoon to negate your Security's effect and destroy it!" She tributes her raccoon to negate security and destroys it. The raccoon hits the security, making the monster grunt upon impact before disappearing into dust.
"Unbelievable!" Melissa commented. "Yasuko has stopped Gongenzaka twice already! Can Gongenzaka make a comeback after that?"
Despite losing a second chance to counterattack, Gongenzaka remains undaunted. "You may try and stop me, but I will not stop coming!" He takes out his soulpiercer monster he added from monk big benkei's Pendulum effect. "I activate Soulpiercer's monster effect from my hand! By targeting Magnet, I can equip this card to that monster!" He targets his magnet and equips it with Superheavy Samurai Soulpiercer. "I equip Superheavy Samurai Soulpiercer!" The soulpiercer then appears and attaches itself to the magnet. "And since I have no Spell or Trap Cards in my graveyard, my tuner monster, Superheavy Samurai Trumpter's effect activates, allowing me to Special Summon this card from my hand!" Gongenzaka takes the monster card, Superheavy Samurai Trumpeter (ATK 300/DEF 600), from his hand and Special Summons it in Defense Position.
Gongenzaka's tuner monster, a small, red-armored humanoid with a war trumpet, appears on the field.
"Now, I tune the level 2 Superheavy Samurai Trumpeter with my level 4 Magnet equipped with Soulpiercer!"
(4 + 2 = 6)
The trumpeter monster blows its war horn, allowing itself to turn into two green rings, scanning the magnet equipped with soulpiercer into four white orbs. "Roar, raging demon god! Ride with me on the road to victory! I Synchro Summon! Come to the frontlines! Superheavy Samurai Ogre Shutendoji!" He tunes the level 4 Magnet equipped with Soulpiercer with his level Trumpeter to Synchro Summon Superheavy Samurai Ogre Shutendoji (ATK 500/DEF 2500) in Defense Position.
The first synchro monster Gongenzaka summoned is a red-armored ogre with four gold thrusters and a giant battle club covered in spikes. "When Soulpiercer is sent from the field to the graveyard, I can add one "Superheavy Samurai" monster from my deck to my hand, and then, when Ogre Shutendoji is Synchro Summoned, and if I have no Spell or Trap Cards in my graveyard, I can destroy all Spell and Traps my opponent controls!"
The ogre shutendoji raises the club to strike down, but Yasuko has more than enough counters to deal with Gongenzaka's monster. "You're not blowing up my Magister with that move!" she exclaimed. "I activate Clear Wing Fast Dragon's special effect! This card can target one monster my opponent controls that was Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, change its ATK points to 0, and negate its effects until the end of the turn!" She points at the ogre shutendoji. "I target your Ogre Shutendoji!"
Clear Wing Fast flies upwards before returning to the ogre shutendoji and then blares off its crystal panel wings. "Cryptographic Reflection!" Clear Wing Fast sends a wave of circuit energy to hit the ogre shuntendoji, negating its effect and changing its attack power to 0.
(Superheavy Samurai Ogre Shutendoji: ATK 500 → 0)
"She even negated my Synchro monster?" Gongenzaka was sure Yasuko was making it tough, even for him and his monster deck. "Because of Soulpiercer, I add Superheavy Samurai Motorbike!" Gongenzaka removes a card from his deck, adding Superheavy Samurai Motorbike to his hand.
"No matter how many times you stop my monsters, I will pull through and defeat you!" Gongenzaka then saw Yasuko turning her head back to the crowd. "She's looking at the stands again?" He wondered why Yasuko seemed so distracted when they were in the middle of the Turbo Duel. "Yasuko, what are you looking at?" he called. "We're in the middle of the duel! Face me!"
Yasuko turns to Gongenzaka in annoyance. "I am facing you, you big idiot!" she snapped. "And I'm multitasking. I can handle two things at the same time!"
"Then don't get distracted!" Gongenzaka yelled. "That's the basic courtesy you owe to your opponent." He activates the Motorbike if he has no Spell/Trap cards in his GY, allowing him to discard the motorbike and then add one Superheavy Samurai monster from his deck to his hand.
"I activate Superheavy Samurai Motorbike's monster effect! By discarding this card, I can add one "Superheavy Samurai" monster from my deck to my hand, and I'm going to add Superheavy Samurai General Coral!" He adds Superheavy Samurai General Coral. "Now, I'm going to set the Pendulum Scale with my Superheavy Samurai General Coral!" Gongenzaka then activates his Superheavy Samurai General Coral (Scale 8) to his Pendulum Zone.
(Mythical Beast King Jackal: Spell Counter 1 → 3)
(Magister of Endymion: Spell Counter 1 → 2)
A tall ruby-red armored humanoid with a battle axe staff and the right side of its face obscured by rudy armor floats up in the Pendulum Zone. "Now, I can Pendulum Summon monsters between levels 2 and 7 simultaneously! I Pendulum Summon! Come forth! Superheavy Samurai Scales and Superheavy Samurai Prodigy Wakaushi!" Gong Pendulum Summons Superheavy Samurai Scales (ATK 800/DEF 1800) from the hand and Superheavy Samurai Prodigy Wakaushi from his Extra Deck in Defense Position.
The prodigy wakaushi returns to the field, and the humanoid scales appear on the road with its olive-green armor reflecting the sunlight as it holds a scale staff on its shoulders.
The audience was captivated by Gongenzaka's Pendulum Summon, bringing the new hype about Pendulum monsters to the stadium. They cheered at one of the duelists; both Tops and Commons cheer on in the tournament.
"When Superheavy Samurai Scales is summoned, I can activate its effect to target one level 4 or lower Superheavy Samurai monster from my graveyard, and then Special Summon it in Defense Position!" Gongenzaka targets Superheavy Samurai Motorbike (ATK 800/DEF 1200) and Special Summons it in Defense Position. "I target my Superheavy Samurai Motorbike from my graveyard and Special Summon it." The scales then lowers its left side, allowing a portal to open up. A pink motorbike with eyes as lights and a rocket back booster appears on the field, riding beside Gongenzaka.
"Now, I activate Motorbike's special effect! By targeting one Machine-type monster, I can increase its level by 2!" Gongenzaka gestures to the motorbike. "I target my motorbike and then increase its level!" The motorbike's level increases by two.
(Superheavy Samurai Motorbike: Level 2 → 4)
"Level 4 Superheavy Samurai Motorbike tunes the level 4 Scales!" The motorbike's rocket booster powers up, bursting flaming behind as it boosts itself into the air, turning into four green rings. The rings scan the scales, turning the monster into four white orb.s
(4 + 4 = 8)
"Shinobi who hides in the shadows, ride in the battlefield with a roar that echoes in the mountains! I Synchro Summon! Take to the field! Superheavy Samurai Ninja Sarutobi!" Gongenzaka tunes the level 4 Motorbike with his level 4 Scales to Synchro Summon Superheavy Samurai Ninja Sarutobi (ATK 2400/DEF 2800) in Defense Position.
The next Synchro monster is a blue round, mechanical humanoid monster with steam pipes from its main body of engine blocks.
Yasuko was fairly impressed with Gongenzaka's improvements since the Arc League. With Pendulum monsters, he's attained an equal footing with her. "From Pendulum to Synchro, you've got stronger than I expected," she commented.
"I activate Ninja Sarutobi's monster effect!" Upon Gongenzaka's declaration, the ninja sarutobi makes a ninja move with its fingers despite being steampipes. "During either player's turn, I can target one Spell or Trap Card on the field if I have no Spell or Traps in my graveyard, destroy it, and then inflict 500 points of damage!" The ninja sarutobi glows in purple aura before it sends out a strong gust of steamy winds. "I target your Magister of Endymion in your Pendulum Zone!"
Yasuko makes a counterattack to protect her Pendulum Zone. "I activate my Clear Wing Fast Dragon's second effect!" she declared, much to Gongenzaka's surprise. "When a level 7 or higher monster my opponent controls that Special Summoned from the Extra Deck activates its effects on the field, I can negate that activation!"
Clear Wing Fast rotates behind and then shoots a green laser beam from its jaws to hit ninja sarutobi, negating its effects.
Gongenzaka makes a low growl at Yasuko's stubbornness to block him. "You are very resilient, Yasuko," he said. "My level 4 Prodigy tunes the level 6 Ogre Shutendoji!" The prodigy turns into four green rings, scanning the ogre shuntendoji, and transforming the monster into six white orbs.
(6 + 4 = 10)
"Raging deity, in unison with the roar of a thousand blades, appear on the road of battle where dust swirls! I Synchro Summon! Now, depart for the front! Level 10! Superheavy Samurai Warlord Susanowo!" Gongenzaka tunes the level 4 prodigy with level 6 Ogre to Synchro Summon Superheavy Samurai Warlord Susanowoo (ATK 2400/DEF 3800) in Defense Position.
The synchro monster Gongenzaka summoned is a massive dark turquoise warlord with a giant naginata staff weapon.
Yasuko will have a very tough time dealing with a monster like that since it attacks in Defense Position with its Defense points. "Damn, that's a drag," she said.
"Battle!" Gongenzaka declared. "I attack Clear Wing Fast Dragon with Warlord Susanowo!" The warlord raises its naginata and then makes one slash across the field to send a slashing wave, hitting Clear Wing Fast. The dragon explodes into dust, sending shockwaves to Yasuko and inflicting damage.
(Yasuko: LP 4000 → 2700)
"And Gongenzaka has struck back!" Melissa announced. "After a struggling turn, Gongenzaka has managed to find a way to pull through and destroy Yasuko's monster!"
Gongenzaka was baring down on the girl ahead of him. "Now, I activate General Coral's Pendulum effect," he said. "When a "Superheavy" monster destroys a monster in battle, its effect allows it to attack again."
"What?!" Yasuko gasped. Since a "Superheavy" monster Gongenzaka controls destroyed an opponent's monster by battle, Gongenzaka activates the Pendulum Effect of "Coral", allowing a "Superheavy" monster he controls to attack twice this turn. "Now, Susanowo, attack Jackal King!" The warlord raised its naginata once again and slashed the jackal king in half, destroying it with an explosion to damage Yasuko's life points.
(Yasuko: LP 2700 → 1300)
She could feel the shockwave impacting her chest as the controls of her duel runner were getting sluggish briefly.
"Now, Ninja Sarutobi, attack Servant of Endymion!" The ninja sarutobi raises its hands and blows a powerful gust that destroys the servant.
"I activate Servant of Endymion's monster effect! When this card is destroyed, and it has a Spell Counter on it, I can place this card back in my Pendulum Zone!" Yasuko takes her Servant of Endymion (Scale 2) from her Extra Deck to her Pendulum Zone. The servant floats back up in the Pendulum Zone.
"This is incredible! Gongenzaka has cleared away all of Yasuko's monsters, and now, her field is empty!" Melissa announced. "The roles have been reversed!"
Since there was nothing more Gongenzaka could do on his turn, he will go to the End Phase. "I end my turn," he concluded.
Turn 3: Yasuko (1x card)
The twins and Rin watched Yasuko getting pushed back by Gongenzaka, astonished at the guy. They didn't think his deck had any Spell or Trap Cards.
"Wait, that's it?" Lua inquired. "That's all he can do?"
"A deck with no Spell or Trap Cards, that's amazing," Rin commented. "I never thought it would work." She can't imagine what kind of deck Gongenzaka is using.
"I know, using no Spell and Traps is something I've never seen before," Luna agreed.
The two duelists are coming to a turn, and Yasuko makes her turn. "My turn!" She draws a card. "And I summon Majespecter Crow – Yata!" Yasuko Normal Summons Majespecter Crow – Yata (ATK 1000/DEF 1500). The monster Yasuko summoned is a violet crow with a red cape holding three tornado capsules. "When Crow Yata is summoned, its special effect allows me to add one Majespecter Spell from my deck to my hand!" Yasuko activates its effect by adding one Majespecter Spell from her deck to her hand, so she adds Majespecter Storm. "I add Majespecter Storm, and then I will activate this card!" She plays her Spell Card. "By tributing one WIND Spellcaster, I can target one of your monsters and then return it to the hand!" She points at the giant warlord floating beside Gongenzaka. "I tribute my Crow to target your Warlord Susanowo and return it to the Extra Deck!" she declared.
The crow flies into the air as the spell card reveals itself, blowing a strong tornado where the crow enters through to hit the warlord.
"But that won't mean you can Pendulum Summon!" Gongenzaka exclaimed. "During either player's turn, I can activate Ninja Sarutobi's effect to target one Spell or Trap Card on the field, destroy it, and then inflict 500 points of damage!" He points at the magister in her Pendulum Zone. "I target your Magister of Endymion!"
In response, Gong activates Ninja Sarutobi's effect to target one Spell or Trap Card on the field and destroys it, then inflicts 500 points of damage. He targets Magister and destroys it.
The ninja sarutobi raises its hand and then blows a strong gust of wind that destroys the magister, and the gust comes to inflict effective damage on Yasuko. At the same time, the crow hits the warlord, effectively turning it into dust as the monster is shuffled back to the Extra Deck.
(Yasuko: LP 1300 → 900)
Despite losing access to her Pendulum monster, Yasuko still has her servant which gains a Spell Counter.
(Servant of Endymion: Spell Counter 0 → 1)
"You have no way to make a Pendulum Summon now, Yasuko," said Gongenzaka. "I have effectively sealed your tactics!"
"No, Gong," Yasuko replied. "You've only helped me." She took out a card. "When my opponent activates a monster effect during the Main Phase, I can activate this Spell Card! Triple Tactics Talents!" Since her opponent activated a Monster effect during her Main Phase, Yasuko can activate the Spell Card: Triple Tactics Talents to draw two cards, take control of one monster her opponent controls, or look into her opponent's hand and shuffle one card into his deck.
"What?!" Gongenzaka gasped. "You wanted me to activate Ninja Sarutobi?"
Yasuko glances back to Gongenzaka. "I've come to utilize and exploit my opponent's cards to my advantage," she said. "With Triple Tactics Talents, I can draw two cards, take control of one monster my opponent controls, or look into my opponent's hand and shuffle one card back to the deck." She chooses to draw two cards from her deck. "I draw two cards!" She looks at the cards, and one of the cards Yasuko has drawn is the one she needs.
(Servant of Endymion: Spell Counter 1 → 2)
"Gongenzaka, you may finally understand Pendulum, but I've developed ways to use any Pendulum cards!" Yasuko then activates the Spell Card: Harmonic Oscillation. "I activate the Spell, Harmonic Oscillation!"
Gongenzaka was surprised he never heard the card. "What does that card do?" he asked.
"I'm going to show you," Yasuko responded. "First, I target two cards in my opponent's Pendulum Zones, and then, for the rest of the turn, I can Pendulum Summon monsters between those Pendulum Scales from the Extra Deck!"
(Servant of Endymion: Spell Counter 2 → 3)
Gongenzaka was shocked. "No way! You're gonna use my Pendulum monsters to Pendulum Summon!?" he inquired.
"Don't think lightly of me, Gong," said Yasuko. "I've learned more about Pendulum when I duel, which means using my opponent's! I target your Scale 8 Superheavy Samurai General Coral and Scale 1 Superheavy Samurai Monk Big Benkei!"
Gongenzaka looked up at the two Pendulum monsters in his Pendulum Zones. "I can't believe she's going to use my Pendulum monsters," he said.
"With your Pendulum monsters, I can Pendulum Summon any monsters between levels 2 and 7 simultaneously!" said Yasuko. "Hear my soul roaring upon thy! I call forth the energy of my heart to unleash the flames of solemnity from within! I Pendulum Summon! Appear, my monsters!" By targeting General Jade and Monk Big Benkei, Yasuko can Pendulum Summon monsters from the Extra Deck using the two monsters her opponent controls, but only from the Extra Deck.
She Pendulum Summons Mythical Beast Jackal King in Attack Position, Clear Wing Fast Dragon in Attack Position, Majespecter – Raccoon Bunbuku, and Majespecter Fox – Kyubi, from her Extra Deck in Defense Position. A portal opens up from the sky, and four lights rain down on the field to revive the jackal king, raccoon bunbuku, fox kyubi, and Clear Wing Fast from the Extra Deck
"Revive, Jackal King, Racoon Bunbuku, Fox Kyubi, and Clear Wing Fast Dragon!"
The audience turns to the girl, fascinated and excited to see her use her opponent's Pendulum monsters, and then Pendulum Summon her monsters using them.
"Amazing!" Melissa beamed. "Yasuko has managed to Pendulum Summon using Gongenzaka's already set Pendulum cards; that's a great strategy right there!"
From the stands, the twins and Rins were awestruck by Yasuko's dueling performance.
"Whoa-hoo!" Lua cheered. "Yasuko's the greatest!"
"Incredible," said Rin. She's witnessing Yasuko using her deck to its full potential. "Yasuko's got even better than the last time I saw her." She can see Luna nodding from her peripherals.
"When Raccoon Bunbuku is summoned, I can add 1 Majespecter monster, and when Fox is summoned, I add 1 Majespecter Trap card from my deck to my hand!" Yasuko selected two cards to add, and two cards popped out from her deck.
When Racoon is summoned, she can add one Majespecter monster from her deck to her hand, and when Fox is summoned, she can add one "Majespecter" Trap from her deck to her hand. "I add Majespecter Porcupine – Yamarashi, and Majespecter Tornado to my hand!" She adds Majespecter Porcupine - Yamarashi and the Trap Card: Majespecter Tornado. "And since I control a Majespecter monster on my field, I can activate Porcupine's monster effect to Special Summon this card from my hand!"
Since she controls a Majespecter monster, she can Special Summon Majespecter Porcupine – Yamarashi (ATK 1500/DEF 1500) in Attack Position. The monster Yasuko summoned is a khaki porcupine with each needle being tornados, and wears a red cape. "When Porcupine Yamarashi is summoned, I can activate its effect to target one Majespecter Spell from my graveyard and then Set it!" She targets her Majespecter Storm and then Sets it. "I Set Majespecter Storm!"
Gongenzaka realized what Yasuko was trying to do. "Don't tell me! You'll use that effect again and get rid of my Ninja Sarutobi!?"
Yasuko looked at the big guy. "My monsters may not break through your DEF points, but that doesn't mean I'm going right through your defenses," she said. "I activate Storm, tributing my Raccoon Bunbuku to target your Ninja Sarutobi!"
The raccoon turns around and then leaps up, allowing the spell to conjure a tornado. The raccoon enters the tornado and then hits the ninja sarutobi. The monster grunts as it disappears into dust.
(Servant of Endymion: Spell Counter 3 → 4)
The roles have been reversed; Gongenzaka is now left vulnerable to attacks, while Yasuko has a field of monsters to finish the duel.
"Now, Gongenzaka has no monsters!" said Melissa. "After destroying Yasuko's monsters on his turn, Yasuko ended up getting rid of his on hers. This left him wide open to a direct attack!"
"Now, let's battle!" Yasuko declared. "Clear Wing Fast Dragon, attack Gong directly!" Clear Wing Fast flies upwards and then charges its crystal panel wings. Once the crystal panels are all charged up, Clear Wing Fast unleashes a burst of circuit energy to rain down on Gongenzaka.
"I activate my Superheavy Samurai Gigaglove's effect from the graveyard!" Gongenzaka declared. "When my opponent's monster declares an attack, I can banish this card from the graveyard, then excavate the top card from my deck, but if that card is a monster, then the attacking monster's ATK points become 0!" Gongenzaka activated Superheavy Samurai Gigagloves by banishing this card from his graveyard for cost.
"No, you won't!" Yasuko shouted. "When my opponent activates a monster effect, I remove two Spell Counters from my field to activate Jackal King's special effect and negate that activation!"
In response, Yasuko activates the Quick-Effect of Jackal King to remove 2 Spell Counters to negate that monster effect activation.
(Servant of Endymion: Spell Counter 4 → 2)
Gongenzaka growls in frustration from Yasuko's persistence. A repeat of the attack and Clear Wing Fast attacks Gongenzaka directly. The circuit beams rain down on him. Gongenzaka spots something coming his way. It was an Action Card floating in a bubble. He gasped.
"An Action Card!" Melissa exclaimed, also spotting the Action Card coming his way. "Action Cards are spell cards spread all over the duel field! Can Gongenzaka use it to avoid damage?"
Yasuko has one thing in her head going on about Gongenzaka. She knows Gongenzaka uses a deck full of monsters, and they all have the effects of no Spell or Trap Cards in the graveyard. "If Gongenzaka refuses to take this Action Card, then it's likely he's got something. Regardless, I'm going to finish this!" she thought. Yasuko glances over to see the Action Card coming in fast. Just as she expected, Gongenzaka refuses to snag it and zips past it.
"He ignored it?!" Melissa gasped.
The attack proceeded to rain down and hit Gongenzaka with multiple explosions. The smoke blows up all over the road, covering anyone's sight from viewing the duelist. When the dust and debris cleared, Gongenzaka spun out of control, his duel runner twisting around. He managed to regain his grip, but he's taken heavy damage.
(Gongenzaka: LP 4000 → 1500)
Yasuko knows Gongenzaka doesn't use Spell or Trap Cards, but she wonders if Gongenzaka is allowing her to attack him or if he has something during the Damage Step. "One more attack, and this is over!" she exclaimed.
"Not yet, Yasuko!" Gongenzaka argued. "This duel isn't over yet! You've done a magnificent job crushing my immobile defenses. As I expected from you, Yasuko, but when I take damage from a direct attack, and because I have no Spell or Trap Cards in my graveyard, I can activate Superheavy Samurai Prepped Defense from my hand and then Special Summon this card in Defense Position!
Since Gong took damage from a direct attack and has no Spell/Trap Cards in his Graveyard, he Special Summons Superheavy Samurai Prepped Defense (ATK 100/DEF 2100) from his hand in Defense Position via its own effect. "Come out, Superheavy Samurai Prepped Defense!" A tall mechanical olive-green humanoid with a staff appears on the field.
"2100 DEF points? No problem, when Jackal King gets rid of that, Porcupine will finish it," said Yasuko.
"Not this battle," Gongenzaka snapped. "If Prepped Defense is Special Summoned this way, it cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects this turn!"
"What!?" Yasuko gritted her teeth in anger, realizing that her opponent had protected himself one more turn. "Damn it," she cursed. Because Gongenzaka's monster is protected, Yasuko Sets two cards.
"I Set two cards and end my turn," she concluded.
Turn 4: Gongenzaka (0x cards)
"My turn! I draw!" Gongenzaka draws a card. "And now, I activate Monk Big Benkei's Pendulum effect! Once per turn, I can add one "Superheavy Samurai Soul" monster from my deck if I control a Superheavy Samurai monster!" A card Gongenzaka chooses pops out, allowing him to add it. "I add Superheavy Samurai Soulbang Cannon!"
Gongenzaka activates the Pendulum Effect of his Monk Big Benkei to add one Superheavy Soul monster if he controls a Superheavy Samurai and adds Superheavy Samurai Soulbang Cannon.
"With my Scale 8 General Coral and Scale 1 Monk Big Benkei, I can Pendulum Summon any monsters between levels 2 and 7 simultaneously! I Pendulum Summon!"
Gongenzaka Pendulum Summons Superheavy Samurai Prodigy Wakaushi from his Extra Deck, Soul Samurai Soulbang Cannon (ATK 1000/DEF 1000), and Superheavy Samurai Battleball (ATK 100/DEF 800) from the hand in Defense Position. "From my Extra Deck, Superheavy Samurai Prodigy Wakaushi! And from my hand, Superheavy Samurai Soulbang Cannon and the tuner monster, Superheavy Samurai Battleball!" The prodigy wakaushi returns to the field with the addition of two monsters: a large hollow blue cannon with electrical thrusters and a small, rounded, armored humanoid with a spear and a mask.
Since Yasuko has seen Gongenzaka's duel plenty of times, she remembers what kind of monsters will be a problem. "I activate my Trap! Majespecter Tornado!" In response, Yasuko activates the Trap Card: Majespecter Tornado, tributing her WIND Spellcaster to target one monster her opponent controls and then banishes it. "By tributing my Porcupine Yamarashi, I can target one monster you control and then banish it!" She wanted to use her second face-down, but she thought it could wait and see what else Gongenzaka had in his sleeve. "I target your Soulbang Cannon and then banish it!"
The porcupine jumps into the air, and a tornado is conjured from the trap, allowing it to fly over and hit the soulbang cannon, banishing it from the field
Gongenzaka grunts at the wind pushing against him. "She knew this card would activate during the Battle Phase when she activates a card effect while I control a Defense Position "Superheavy Samurai" monster," he speculated. "Yasuko, you know my strategy well. I applaud you, but this ends here!"
Gongenzaka raised his hand to his prepped defense and prodigy wakaushi. "I tune the level 4 Superheavy Samurai Prodigy Wakaushi with my level 3 Prepped Defense!" The prodigy turns into four green rings to scan the prepped defense, turning that monster into three white orbs
(4 + 3 = 7)
"Swift as the wind! Calm as the forest! Silent ninja, carry out the finishing blow! I Synchro Summon! Come forth! Level 7! Superheavy Samurai Stealth Ninja!" Gongenzaka tunes the level 4 Prodigy Waksuhi with his level 3 Prepped Defense to Synchro Summon Superheavy Samurai Stealth Ninja (ATK 1200/DEF 2800) in Defense Position. The rings shoot out a white beam. The new Synchro monster Gongenzaka summoned is a mechanical humanoid ninja holding a staff into its weird clamps and then flies beside Gongenzaka.
"When this card is in Defense Position, if I have no Spell/Trap Cards in my Graveyard, I can halve this card's original DEF until the end of this turn, and this card can attack my opponent directly!" Gongenzaka pointed out.
"You're not going to attack me with that!" Yasuko shouted. "I activate Clear Wing Fast Dragon's monster effect to target your Stealth Ninja and then negate its effects!"
Upon summon, Yasuko activates Clear Wing Fast Dragon's effect to target one monster her opponent controls that was Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, change its ATK to 0, and negate its effects until the End Phase. She targets Stealth Ninja. Clear Wing Fast Dragon turns around and flares off its crystal panels to send a beam of circuit energy down on the stealth ninja.
(Superheavy Samurai Stealth Ninja: ATK 1200 → 0)
"You run out of moves, Gong?" Yasuko dared. "I can do this all day."
"I can do this all day, too," Gongenzaka added. "I tune my level 2 Battleball with my level 7 Stealth Ninja!" The battle ball and the stealth ninja fly upward; the battle ball turns into two green rings to scan the stealth ninja, turning the monster into seven white orbs.
(7 + 2 = 9)
"As immovable as a mountain range! Spirit dwelling in the great stone, now become a towering fortress! I Synchro Summon! Come forth, Level 9! Superheavy Samurai Beast Kyubi!" Gongenzaka tunes the level 7 Stealth Ninja with his level 2 Battleball to Synchro Summon Superheavy Samurai Beast Kyubi (ATK 1900/DEF 2500) in Defense Position.
From the white beam of light, a giant, white-armored centaur monster appears with its flaming thrusters from the back end and its head holding a staff with orbs decorated.
The back-and-forth counters between Yasuko and Gongenzaka spurred the audience into excitement. Any hostility between the Tops and Commons has vanished, all focused on the duel.
"Great one, Gongenzaka!"
"You can do it, Yasuko!"
Melissa notices the change in behavior in the crowd. "Amazing," she commented. "The crowd's going wild? Now, will Gongenzaka make a final counterattack!"
"For every Special Summoned monster on your field, Beast Kyubi gains 900 DEF points!" said Gongenzaka. "Because you control 3, my Beast Kyubi gains 2700 DEF!"
Beast Kyubi gains 900 DEF for every Special Summoned monster his opponent controls. Since Yasuko controls Fox Kyubi, Jackal King, and Clear Wing Fast Dragon, it gains 2700 DEF.
(Superheavy Samurai Beast Kyubi: DEF 2500 → 5200)
"Now that you've used Clear Wing Fast Dragon's effect, you cannot negate this monster's," Gongenzaka pointed out. "And because your life points are now 900, this duel is over."
Yasuko wasn't surprised if beast byubi could attack in the Defense Position since most of Gongenzaka's monsters can do that. She has to wait for the right moment to strike back. "Are you sure about that?" she questioned. "You don't know how the duel will end."
"No, I know," Gongenzaka replied. "Duels are a match with your opponents but also a battle with yourself." He narrowed his eyes. "A duelist with a wavering heart cannot defeat me!"
Yasuko narrowed her eyes at him. "A wavering heart? My heart is in the right place," she said. "And there are bigger concerns for me right now, Gong."
She turned back to the crowd, and just like before, Yasuko saw the twins and Rin in the stands. They seemed to notice her looking at them, and Lua waved at Yasuko to get her attention.
"Hi!" Lua called above the stands. "Yasuko! We're right here!"
Gongenzaka looked over to where the twins and Rin were. From behind the visor, his eyes widened at the sight of Rin. "What the-?! Zuzu!?" he gasped. Gongenzaka turned back to the girl ahead of him. "Was that Zuzu? I could've sworn that was Zuzu right there." He now realized what was making Yasuko distracted for brief moments. "Are they the cause of your distraction?" he questioned.
Yasuko turns back to Gongenzaka. "Yeah," she confirmed. "But the girl with them is my main concern."
"The girl?" Gongenzaka realized that Yasuko was referring to Rin. "You mean Zuzu?" he assumed.
"Not Zuzu," Yasuko corrected. "Her alternate universe Synchro self. Rin."
"Alternate universe self?" Gongenzaka finally pieced together the puzzle. "Wait, are you telling me that there is more than one Zuzu and Serena?"
"Frankly, yes," said Yasuko. "I was supposed to keep an eye on her, but then, this tournament happened, and now the kids don't know how much danger they're in bringing her with them."
"Who are those kids?" Gongenzaka questioned.
"They're identical twins, and their names are Lua and Luna," Yasuko explained. "I needed allies to get around this town, and they're helping me."
Yasuko thought of her choices for the team, but the whole identity thing was plaguing her thoughts more than just gathering allies from the Synchro Dimension. "Gong, I know we're supposed to be allies, but to me, she was more important than the tournament. I must ensure that girl doesn't get caught, even if I have to beat you."
"Which means…if I beat you…." Gongenzaka thought about what the outcome would be if he won. "Then…she'll be in bigger danger just as Zuzu and Serena."
"They'll all be in danger, Gong," said Yasuko. "So, whatever happens after this duel, don't be angry with my decision. This is what the Lancers are for."
Gongenzaka was sure Yasuko is right. The stakes are high for them to participate in the tournament and gain some allies from the Synchro Dimension if they are going to fight back against Academia and the Fusion Dimension. "Very well, I understand," he said. "Then come at me, Yasuko. Let us show no mercy."
The thrusters from the beast Kyubi flame out to power up the monsters. "I attack Clear Wing Fast Dragon!" The fire then dies down, being absorbed into the staff. The beast kyubi raises its staff and fires a powerful flamethrower at Clear Wing Fast.
"Is this over for Yasuko?!" Melissa speculated. "If this attack goes through, it's over! And Gongenzaka will advance to the second round!"
Flames impact Clear Wing Fast, but Yasuko will ensure that the monster stays put. "I'm the one who's going to win!" Yasuko flips her face down Quick-Play Spell Card: Forbidden Scripture. "I activate my Quick-Play Spell! Forbidden Scripture!"
"What?!" Gongenzaka gasped.
"If my monster battles an opponent's monster, during damage calculation: this card negates all other card effects on the field until the end of the Damage Step, and the damage calculation for this battle, we use each monster's original ATK and DEF points," Yasuko explained.
"But that would mean…"
"Your beast kyubi's effects are negated!"
The spell card flips up, creating a sonic wave to motion all over the field. The flames that hit Clear Wing Fast die down when the wave motion swims over, effectively canceling the attack due to the effects of beast kyubi being negated.
(Superheavy Samurai Beast Kyubi: DEF 5200 → 2500)
"But because Beast Kyubi's effect is negated, I can't destroy your monster."
"That's right," Yasuko affirmed.
Gongenzaka was outplayed by Yasuko. "I can't believe she's even this ahead of me," he said. The spell was resolved because it was the end of the damage calculation.
(Superheavy Samurai Beast Kyubi: DEF 2500 → 5200)
"You may have stopped my monster, but that doesn't mean the monster is dead," said Gongenzaka. "So long as it's in Defense Position, you can't defeat it. I end my turn."
Turn 5: Yasuko (0x card)
"We'll see about that," said Yasuko. "My turn!" Yasuko draws a card. "I activate my Quick-Play Spell, Enemy Controller!" Yasuko activates the Quick-Play Spell Card: Enemy Controller. "This card targets one monster you control, and then it changes its battle position!"
"What?!" Gongenzaka gasped.
"I target your Beast Kyubi and then switch it into Attack Position!" The spell card flips up before it zaps a yellow lightning bolt to the beast kyubi. The monster was then forced into Attack Position.
"Let's go, Gongenzaka!" Yasuko explained. "I activate Clear Wing Fast Dragon's effect to target your Beast Kyubi to negate its effects and change its ATK to 0!" Clear Wing Fast Dragon flies upwards and then blares off a wave of circuit energy at the monster. "Cryptographic Reflection!" The circuit beams hit the beast kyubi, effectively negating its effects and changing its attack points.
(Superheavy Samurai Beast Kyubi: ATK 1900 → 0)
"My monster's ATK is now 0!" Gongenzaka exclaimed.
Yasuko turns her duel runner to drift alongside the road to make the final attack. "Battle! Clear Wing Fast Dragon, attack Superheavy Samurai Beast Kyubi!" Clear Wing Fast flies up and then rockets down with a whirlwind tornado forming from the tip. "Whirlwind Raiser Dash Slice!" The beast kyubi raised its staff gun to defend itself, but the monster was coming in too fast, allowing the dragon to pierce right through with one slash of its claws. The monster exploded on impact, sending damage to end Gongenzaka's life points.
(Gongenzaka: LP 1500 → 0)
WINNER: Yasuko Yukihana
Gongenzaka grunts after taking the damage. His duel runner shuts down as steam blows out of the machine. The big boy slows down after being defeated by Yasuko.
Melissa makes a stunning announcement to the audience. "What a duel! She did it! Yasuko Yukihana has won the opening match with a dramatic victory!" she cheered. The audience was cheering them on for the spectacular duel of the Pendulum.
Yasuko parked her duel runner at the small opening shop at the end of the road. She removes her helmet and then wipes the sweat from her forehead. "God, that was exhausting," she said.
"Yasuko!"
The girl looked up and saw the twins and Rin all waving at her with huge smiles.
"That was super cool!" Lua exclaimed.
"You were amazing!" Rin praised.
"You're okay!" Luna cheered
Yasuko wasn't relieved to see them in the stadium. She glanced at them and pointed at them, indicating that she would speak with them when she returned to their place—if she could return. She heard footsteps coming, and Yasuko turned to see Gongenzaka approaching with his usual stern look.
"Congratulations, Yasuko," said Gongenzaka. The guy gives her a satisfying smile. "If it weren't for the sake of the Dimensions, I'd like to have a real duel with you when we all go home." He lets up a hand. "But this was the most real I've ever had with you."
Yasuko nodded in agreement. She returns with a handshake. "Same here, Gong," she replied.
Both Tops and Commons were cheering the two duelists. They no longer bicker amongst themselves over who was Tops or Commons. The thrill of a strong duel between two duelists has ceased any hostilities for now.
"What a fantastic duel, Yasuko!"
"Magnificent, Gongenzaka!"
"This is so cool!"
The audience's cheering has spurred new enthusiasm for the tournament. Despite their energy, none of them reached Yasuko. She knew what else was next from the outcome of their duel, which was part of the deal between Declan and the Administrative Council.
"I'm sorry, Gongenzaka," she apologized. Gongenzaka raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Because I won, you're going to be out of here. You can't stay with me or the other contestants anymore."
Gongenzaka knows what Yasuko is talking about. He placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's alright," he assured. "This was bound to happen, one way or another. But I'll be fine. I'm a Lancer, after all. I can take on anything. You just focus on winning the tournament until you beat Jack."
Despite Yasuko's desire for Gongenzaka to stay, she nodded, hoping the outcome would be gentle. "Okay," she replied.
With that, Gongenzaka smiles and then walks into the garage. "Gong," she murmured. "I'm really sorry for you." Yasuko can only look at his figure disappearing in the shadows. With Gongenzaka out of the tournament, the Lancers are down by one player. She clenched her hand into a fist, left with no choice but to move forward and ensure she doesn't lose the next round in this fraud tournament.
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First round! This was some duel. More duels are coming the way. I'm going to play ball here, and the other duels will be just as exciting as this arc goes on. More players, more fun duels to make. Hope you people are enjoying the chapter. Be advised, there will be some duels that might be considered canon, but I'm not going through all the canon ones except for the ones I enjoy watching, but don't misjudge that I'm going to show that here. Everyone knows what happens. The duels will go through. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Give a thought of what you like, what you want to see, which opponent matchups you have dreamt of seeing, and if you like the story, then make sure you mark this as your favorite and keep in touch with updates. Good night!