Welcome to Chapter 6! Or 7 depending on who you ask.
I really appreciate all the reviews and follows the story has gotten so far. Sometimes I'll look at the same few to get motivation to write for the current one.
This chapter has been one I've really been looking forward to as the second most important character to this story will finally get some screen time.
Without further stalling let's get started
Ch. 6 Destiny illuminating the Moon
'As certain that the moon's light shall strike the earth it is certain that destiny shall claim us all'
A loud beeping could be heard echoing in a small room. We pan on to the slumbering face of Serena. Her indigo hair was going in every directions a complete mess as she rustled around the small bed she was sleeping in. She loudly snored, having kicked off her blanket in her sleep hours earlier.
The beeping continued for a few moments longer. The noise almost drowned out by Serena's snoring. Until Serena's eyes groggily opened quickly then shifting into a strained expression that expressed her terror.
She leapt from her bed in a sudden motion. Then she grabbed her duel disk silencing the alarm.
"Ah! Shit I'm late!" Serena shouted hastily throwing on her red jacket that looked identical to the one she had when she first met Yuzu. She got dressed at a startling speed grabbing the yellow cloth she wore as a bow tying it into her hair a quick and easy fix to bed head.
Serena exited her room darting through the halls at her top speed. "Not again! Not again!" Serena recited to herself as she ran.
This was the crown jewel of the fusion dimension, Academia. The once military base academy had been fully converted to a place for a normal duelist education. Why Academia had always played the role of a school the classes no longer had intentions of teaching them to be soldiers or attempted to indoctrinate them.
The former military ranks of Academia had been converted to their dormitory assignments. Obelisk Blue the cream of the crop, Ra Yellow the average students and Osiris Red the bottom of the barrel.
Serena had been placed in Osiris Red a huge insult to her skill. It had not been done maliciously the conversation from military academy to only a duelist academy had been recent and their wasn't time for a proper assessment of skill. So they had just assigned them there most current rank from the Professor's rule.
Serena burst through the doors into the main lecture hall of Academia. At the center of the room currently giving a lecture was a thin and short man with reddish brown hair in a bowel cut, he wore a navy blue coat with yellow lining and had a pocket watch as brooch.
"Sixteen minutes late. Congratulations Miss Serena you have a new record." The short man said pulling off his watch from his jacket as he noted Serena's tardiness.
"Sorry Noroma." Serena says casually despite her annoyance using the nickname her teacher had hated for years.
The man let out a shrill sound out of frustration. "HMF! No it is not Noroma it is NORO Mamaru Noro! Your esteemed teacher who you are showing great disrespect! Now Miss Serena please take your seat!" Noro said attempting to simmer down.
Serena took her seat as she was told with a roll of her eyes.
As Academia made it's conversation the decision to reeducate the kids from the Professor's brainwashing the next choice to be made was what to do with all the adults that had worked for the Professor.
Ones such as the Doktor and Sanders had been immediately sent to prison for there human rights violations. That was the fate for most the teachers who were under the Professor's employ.
Shockingly most of the military staff had avoided jail time. Noro was an example of this being rehired from his former position as the Deputy Commander of the Arc Project as one of Academia's main instructors.
On top of most of the students being allowed to avoid consequences and focus on redemption even Obelisk Force was allowed to stay at Academia island. They were not let off nearly as easy. They were not children and were expected to take responsibility like the adults they are.
Obelisk Force is in a constant state of community service. Working most of the jobs on the island. Janitors, teaching assistants, food service, grounds keeper even being Academia's nurse putting there war medic training to good use. All of this without a pay check all the money they would've made being sent to help with the reconstruction effort at the Xyz dimension.
This was the least Academia could do. Why the decision to have an attempt at redemption for those who had committed atrocities was controversial the academy was still dedicated to making up for it's sins. But was that even possible.
None of this was currently on Serena's mind. She had half her face buried in her arms paying less then less half attention to the lecture. Spinning her pen she let her mind wander.
"Why am I even in this stupid class!? I don't need to be rehabilitated and I already know all of the stuff there teaching! I've dueled Obelisk Force and even forced Yugo to use his evolved dragon!" Serena mentally complained. "Then I then I...Got caught and was used as a weapon against my friends." She thought to herself dejected.
She buried her full face in her arms letting out a slightly audible groan thankfully muffled by her arms.
Man she was lonely. It almost felt as if she was back in the days of being on her own desperately trying to prove herself. All of her friends lived in a different dimension despite being the place of her birth Serena really held no ties to the Fusion dimension. As her mind dwelt on her loneliness one face came to mind it wasn't any of her friends. It was the unconscious face of Yuri that she had seen after Zarc was defeated.
Serena's face gained a light pink hue. Why him!? Of all people? Couldn't be Yuya, Yuzu or even that goober Sawatari. Yuri? Yuri seriously? They barely knew each other. Sure they probably saw each other once or twice when they we're little and a few times after that when the Professor had selected them for reasons they didn't know at the time. But they've never even had a conversation. So why him?
Thoughts of Yuri continued to bubble up in Serena's mind. She shook her head wildly in a odd attempt to brush the thoughts from her mind. She eventually banged her head against the desk letting out a audible groan.
"Miss! Serena! What is the purpose of this disturbance!" Noro yells irate at Serena.
"Huh!" Serena blurts being brought back to reality. "Sorry Noroma." Serena says casual still a bit of red pigment on her face.
Noro grit his teeth. "Gah! That settles it! Miss Serena at the end of the day I want you in my office for an hour for detention!" Noro squealed looking to his pocket watch.
"What! That's so unfair!" Serena bellowed aggravated.
"Oh what's unfair is that you show up to my class late and then started being a disturbance! You know what let's make that two hours of detention!" Noro snaped at Serena.
Serena grit her teeth about to yell something back but she then looked around the room seeing everyone was staring at her. She let out a tired sigh then sat back down.
The rest of the day felt like a daze. Her day had been suitably ruined by her impending detention. Made even worse that this day it wasn't just others making her day difficult but it seemed her own mind was forsaking her. Having a murderous psychopath continuously come to mind was sure to throw anyone off. Why was she so damn curious of where Yuri was and what he was doing?
Serena let out a deep sigh she having just concluded lunch having eating alone. They really needed to update their menue they we're still serving the same the military grade food they were given back when the Professor was in charge.
She went through her last two classes exasperated. She had a dead look in her eyes slouching as she walked to Noro's office for her detention. Noro stood at the door his own face in a scowl.
"Two minutes late Miss Serena!" Noro said agitated tapping his pointer finger against his pocket watch. Before ushering Serena to follow him. Serena scoffed and followed.
Serena had her upper half slumped over the desk she was sitting. Her eyes we're on the clock as it's hands clicked. Sererna tapped her nail against her bracelet to do anything to kill the time.
As dozens of minutes went by Serena shifted her head to look to her bracelet. "What's even the point of these things anymore? Zarc's gone so the boys shouldn't be so damn set with 'becoming one' anymore. So this things just the worlds most inconvenient teleporter." Serena thought to herself.
"Maybe I should just throw it away?" She asked herself sitting up straight grabbing her bracelet with her left hand but as she gripped it she couldn't bring herself to take it off.
Even while dimensions apart this thing was her only connection to her counterparts and Yuya as well as...Yuri.
Sererna grumbled as that name came to mind. What was up with her today?
I mean sure this was an adjustment but was it really effecting her that much.
"Miss Serena."
Like sure, so what if this was the first time in her life she lacked a goal to pursue.
"Serena!"
So why would it be-
"SERENA!" Noro shouted shocking Serena from her stupor.
"Huh." Serena stuttererd.
"Your detention ended approximately a singular minute and thirty two seconds ago. You may now exist my office and please arive to my class on time tomorrow." Noro said lifting his pocket watch to his eyes as he spoke.
Serena sprung up embarrassed her face red before exhaling. "I'll try." Serena said despondent as she exited.
Serena walked through the empty halls of Academia bow legged her hands in her jacket pockets. "Everyone is already back in there dorm rooms by now." She thought to herself irritable.
"For the last time Dennis the answer is no." Serena overheard heard the voice sounding both annoyed and tired.
Serena stopped her stride peeking her head through the end of the corridor to see what was happening in the other hallway. And she saw Chancellor Edo Phoenix having a heated debate with Dennis Macfield.
"Please Edo, I beg you to reconsider. You're trying to make a place here where the people the Professor brainwashed can have a second chance. Does that not include Yuri too!" Dennis argued raising his voice.
"We have already has this discussion several times before. Of course it would be the ideal to have Yuri here but it's just not feasible." Edo said shutting his eyes in refusal.
"Is he not one of us!? He could be out there still hurting others! How can we hope to make up for Academia's past if we're not all here!" Dennis snapped at Edo.
"Oh and how are you gonna get him here!? Let's face it Yuri's is the single best duelist Academia has produced! What would we gain by sending some of our best duelist so he can just card them!? Edo yelled back. "Unless you think you can beat him by yourself somehow." He finished.
"No! Of course I don't but I must try! If it's just me at least we're not risking anyone besides me!" Dennis shouted.
"So your still just trying to throw your life away?" Edo uttered phrasing his question as a statement.
"No it's just," Dennis stuttered.
"That's why he won't be going alone." Said short boy dressed in blue with blue hair to match. His entrance causing both Edo and Dennis's eyes to widen at the intrusion.
"Sora?" Serena notes while still snooping.
"Sora you, you'd really help me?" Dennis stuttered looking to Sora in amazement.
"Of course I would. If Yuya was in this situation he'd probably say something like us entertainment duelist have to stay together." Sora said flashing a bright grin to Dennis.
Serena felt a weight on conscious. Just like these two she had learned about Yuya's philosophy and even accepted it as the truth, but unlike these two she wasn't trying to pay it forward and even if she did this instant would her motivation even be genuine.
"Well Edo, with the two of us do we have your permission." Dennis said resolute. Him and Sora looking to Edo with determination in their eyes.
Edo looked at the two an expression of contemplation clear on his face. "No. In my duel with Yuri even with myself Yugo and Kaito facing him all at once we still lost. I doubt you can beat him with just the two of you." Edo explained firmly.
"So you saying we would lose?" Sora said sounding offended giving Edo a glare.
"Face the facts. Not counting Yuri or the deceased Ryo Marufuji I'm the best duelist is Academia's history. And I still lose." Edo states matter of factly his expression stern.
"You think we're not as good of duelist as you?!" Sora said accusatory.
Dennis put his hand on Sora's shoulder to calm the short fusion summoner down.
Edo let out a sigh. "Sorry I didn't mean for that to be insulting. I really respect your skills and value us fighting side by side against Zarc, but let's be realistic here, Kaito defeated you Dennis and Yugo in that duel was taping into some of Zarc's power. You two could be just as good of a duelist as me and defeating Yuri would still be beyond you." Edo explained with a confidence that insulted his own skill.
Dennis let out a innocent chuckle noticing Edo's stress. "Don't worry Edo. We haven't just been sitting around I've been focusing on improving and I'm sure Sora has done the same." Dennis grinned broadly.
"I really wish I could tell the two of you different. But unless I know I'm sending people who are undeniably better duelist then me. It wouldn't feel right I'm sorry but I won't allow you to throw your lives away." Edo said determined his gaze filled with conviction.
Dennis and Sora looked to each other unsure of what would come next.
"So if I beat you we're good to go?" Serena said plainly walking out from where she was eavesdropping.
"Serena!" Both Dennis and Sora blurt confused.
"Hypothetically yes. If I knew there was a duelist more capable then myself I would feel better about sending you." Edo explained sounding tired and annoyed at Serena's eavesdropping.
"Well then your on Chancellor. I'll beat you then we'll be on our way." Serena said casual poping her knuckles Sora and Dennis's jaw's dropping at her audacity.
"WHAT THE HELL AM I SAYING!" Serena berated herself internally. "Stupid! Why did I just jump in like that I look like a total stalker! Why am I doing this anyway I don't have and damn reason!" She continued baffled by her own actions.
"Fine then we'll make that the agreement. If you are able to defeat me I will fully support you three searching for Yuri. But if I win we will not be discussing this again." Edo said with finality.
Serena, Dennis and Sora looked amongst each other for a few moments.
"Are you sure you wanna duel him. Edo is very good." Sora said in a warning tone pulling out a lolipop to suck on.
"Huh! Saying I'd lose!" Serena said whipping her head at Sora with comedic offense taken.
Dennis quickly put himself between the two. "No, no Sora didn't mean anything by it. He's dueled alongside Edo and just respects his skill. We're also all a little off put by your snooping." Dennis meditated with a pleading tone.
Serena's face flushed and she moved back and forth to center herself. "Well anyway trust me I can win this." Serena said hastily.
"Honestly I'm shocked you want to search for Yuri. I assumed you and Yuri didn't have any sort of relationship." Dennis said.
"We don't!" Serena snapped at him.
"Then why do you even wanna help?" Sora asked.
"Why are you assuming I have a different one then you two?! I spent time with Yuya to!" Serena said aggravated. "Anyway it doesn't matter I'll win this and then we'll all go get him!" Serena said certain.
"Says the Osiris Red." Sora added with a snicker. Serena gave him a glare. But before the two could bicker more Dennis got in between again.
"Stop! There is no use in arguing we only have one shot at this! So we should think about who's our best option to win. Can we discuss that civilly?!" Dennis pleaded frustrated.
Sora let out a sigh then looked to Serena both giving a nod to the other.
"I hate to admit it but I don't think I could win. More recently I've been thinking about how to improve at Action duels. I've dueled side by side with Edo and I'd say he didn't lead Academia's military for nothing." Sora said sounding disappointed in himself.
"I'd have to agree. Since Yuya convinced me to continue to keep living Entertainment dueling hasn't left my mind and I have some cards I'm waiting on and without them I have even less of a chance." Dennis admitted. "How about you Serena?" He asked.
"I, I don't know if I could win. I've never even seen Edo duel. But, I want this I need to prove I can win." Serena said clenching her fist looking to Sora and Dennis conviction burning in her retina.
Sora's mouth opened slightly memories of when Yuzu had approached him to learn fusion summoning.
"Dennis I think she's got it." Sora said speaking calmly looking to Dennis.
Dennis smiled widely. "Well then it's decided." He beamed.
"So have the three of you made your decision?" Edo asked tapping his foot.
"I'll be your opponent." Serena said filled with determination her and Edo's gaze meeting the others.
"Alright then. I'll clear out duel arena four for our match." Edo said gesturing behind him for the others follow.
Sora and Dennis sat in the bleachers of the duel arena, Edo currently stood at the far left side of the arena waiting for his opponent to take the opposite position.
Serena stoped at the steps to the arena for a moment. She looked to her own legs like she herself was confused at her abrupt stop. Then she noticed her legs were, shaking?
This was so unlike her. So much of this was unlike her. Was she afraid to lose? No that wasn't right. Was she afraid to win?" Serena asked internally before hitting herself in the face. "I have no time to doubt myself." She resolves.
She walked up the steps standing opposite to Edo their eyes locked.
"Duel!" They both shout.
Edo: 4000 LP
VS
Serena: 4000 LP
"I'll start I summon my Destiny Hero Drilldark!" Edo says as a slender hero with dark armor and drills protruding from it's body drilling up from the earth
Destiny HERO - Drilldark atk 1600/1200 def lvl 4
"And with it's effect I get to summon another Destiny Hero monster from my hand with equal or less attack points. Come to my field a second Destiny Hero Drilldark!" Edo states.
Destiny HERO - Drilldark atk 1600/1200 def lvl 4
"Then I set one card facedown and end my turn." Edo finishes.
Serena scoffed drawing from her deck. "Taking it easy on me? What do you expect to manage with two weak monsters?" Serena says sounding offended. "I summon my Lunalight Emerald bird." Sererna says a women with turquoise skin and wings across her arms danced onto Serena's field.
Lunalight Emerald Bird atk 1200/1000 def lvl 4
"With this card I can discard one Lunalight from my hand and send it to the graveyard and in return get to draw one card. I discard my Lunalight Purple Butterfly." Serena explained. "Then I can banish the Lunalight Purple Butterfly with it's effect and that allows me to summon a Lunalight from my hand. Now I summon my Lunalight Crimson Fox." Serena says a women in a red leotard with a fox's tail spined onto her field.
Lunalight Crimson Fox atk 1800/600 def lvl 4
"Now when I control two or more Lunalight monsters I can summon this monster. Come to my field Lunalight Scarlet Squirrel." Serena declares a women in a scarlet leotard with a brown bushy tail twirled onto the field.
Lunalight Scarlet Squirrel atk 1100/1200 def lvl 3
"I play the spell card Fusion Substitute with this card I can perform a fusion summon using monsters on my field. I fuse my Lunalight Emerald bird with my Lunalight Crimson Fox. Bird that soars with a rare gems shine! Sly fox with a gleam of scarlet! Spiral into the moon's gravity and become a new power! Fusion Summon! Come to me! Beautiful beast that dances in the moonlight! Lunalight Cat Dancer!" Serena chant a cat like women in a duel colored dress dancing onto her field.
Lunalight Cat Dancer atk 2400/2000 def lvl 7
"With the effect of my Lunalight Cat Dancer I can destroy one Lunalight monster on my field and in exchange my Cat Dancer can attack twice." Serena explained. "Full moon Cresta!" She called her monster moving with the flexibility of a cat crushing both of Edo's monsters.
Edo: 4000 - 1600 = 2400 LP
"Then I end my turn." Serena concluded.
"She dealt major damage!" Sora said.
"And she depleted Edo options for a fusion summon." Dennis noted.
"Before my turn I activate the effect of my trap card. Destiny Calls! With this card the same turn I have a Destiny Hero destroyed I can revive the max number of Destiny Heros in my grave in defense position though there attack points are halved." Edo explained with a stern expression.
Destiny HERO - Drilldark atk 1600/1200 def lvl 4
Destiny HERO - Drilldark atk 1600/1200 def lvl 4
Drilldark atk 1600-800
Drilldark atk 1600-800
"Now my turn begins." Edo stated drawing from his deck he look at the card he drew and nodded in recognition. "I play Polymerization fusing both of the Destiny Hero Drilldarks on my field. Two heros drilling the bedrock of destiny. Now become one and reign in the pitch-black future! Fusion Summon! Come on! Destiny Hero Dystopia!" Edo chanted a hero in full purple armor with a golden mask adorn with the letter D emerging on his field.
Destiny HERO - Dystopia atk 2800/2400 def lvl 8
"The turn Dystopia is special summoned I can target one Destiny Hero in my graveyard and you take damage equal to that monsters attack points. Squeeze palm!" Edo commanded his monster palm illuminating with a dark energy that came from his master's graveyard then firing this energy directly at Serena.
Serena: 4000 - 1600 = 2400 LP
"Their even!" Sora blurted.
"Not for long, Dystopia attack her Lunalight Cat Dancer!" Edo commanded his monster launching itself at Serena's.
"Cat Dancer can't be destroyed by battle." Serena replied.
"But you still take the damage!" Edo interjected.
Serena: 2400 - 400 = 2000 LP
"Turn end!" Edo concluded with gravitas.
"My move! I play Polymerization fusing the Lunalight Blue Cat in my hand with the Lunalight Cat Dancer on my field. The beautiful beast dancing in the moonlight! Feline with a azure color! Swarm in the vortex of moon's gravity and become a new power! Fusion Summon! Come forth! Elegant beast dancing in the moonlit wilderness! Lunalight Panther Dancer!" Serena chanted a new lunalight with red brown skin appeared in a flury of motion ribbons flowing from bracelets around her wrist.
Lunalight Panther Dancer atk 2800/2500 def lvl 8
"They both have a monster with the same attack points." Dennis noted.
"Now with Panther Dancer's effect I can attack your monster twice this turn and Panther Dancer gains two hundred attack points." Serena explained.
Panther Dancer atk 2800-3000
"Panther Dancer! Attack his Dystopia!" Serena called her monster pouncing at Edo's.
Edo: 2400 - 200 = 2200 - 200 = 2000 LP
"Back to having the same life points." Sora says.
"I've destroyed your ace monster! What do you have left!" Serena says determined.
"You clearly lack experience if you think destroying Dystopia once is enough to even be a road block in this duel. I banish Destiny Calls from my grave this allows me to use it's effect but I can only select a single Destiny Hero. Return Dystopia!" Edo said coldly.
Destiny HERO - Dystopia atk 2800/2400 def lvl 8
Dystopia atk 2800-1400
Serena gained a strained expression realizing her mistake. "Damn." She grumbled.
"This triggers Dystopia's effect! If it's attack points are different then it's original I can destroy one card on the field and return Dystopia's to it's original." Edo explained.
Dystopia atk 1400-2800
"Don't get ahead of yourself Panther Dancer can't be affected by card effects." Serena countered.
"Correct, but Dystopia is back and your turn is over." Edo said with certainty.
Serena grit her teeth. "Turn end."
Panther Dancer atk 3000-2800
"My turn. I activate Destiny Draw with this card I can discard one Destiny Hero from my hand and in retidraw two cards. Now Dystopia attack her Lunalight Panther Dancer!" Edo ordred.
"But that will only lead to mutual destruction!" Sora blurted.
"Not with this card I activate the effect of the Destiny Hero Dreamer that I just sent to my grave with Destiny Draw and with it's effect during the damage calculation I can summon it from the grave as well as negate the destruction of one of my monsters meaning only your Panther Lady is destroyed!" Edo explained seriously the two fusion monsters clashing for a few moments before Panther Lady is destroyed.
Destiny HERO - Dreamer atk 0/600 def lvl 1
"Gah no Panther Lady!" Serena grunted.
"I set one card, Turn end. if you really want to prove yourself your going to need to try a lot harder." Edo said giving Serena a disappointed look.
Serena face went into a scowl. "Damn he's already dealt with both Cat Dancer and Panther Dancer and I haven't even managed to put his Dystopia down for good." Serena internally worried. "Can I win?"
"Don't give up Serena you can still do this!" Dennis cheered.
"Yeah we're did all that bravado from earlier go. Don't tell me your going to throw away our only chance at this!" Sora cheered.
Serena felt as if she was being brought back to when she dueled in the Friendship Cup when she dueled Yugo and the crowd cheered for her those felt like nothing compared to this.
She let out an audible scoff. "As if I'd give up with only a minor disadvantage. Who do you take me for. My turn draw." Serena said with a neutral expression.
Dennis shaked the back of his head letting out an awkward laugh. "Just encouraging you." He squeaked.
"I activate the effect of Fusion Substitute in my graveyard, I banish it to get a Fusion monster from my grave back to my extra deck I send back my Lunalight Panther Dancer! Then I play Fusion Recovery getting back the Polymerization I used alongside one of the cards I used in a Fusion summon I send Cat Dancer back to extra deck as well." Serena explained.
"She's setting up for something big." Edo noted to himself.
"I summon my Lunalight Kaleido Chick." Serena said a petite girl in a yellow leotard floating down onto Serena's field gracefully.
Lunalight Kaleido Chick atk 1400/800 def lvl 4
"With this cards effect I can send one fusion monster from my extra deck to the grave and this card gains it's name. I send my Cat Dacer!" Serena explains.
Kaleido Chick-Cat Dancer
"Then I'll play the Polymerization I just got and fuse the newly named Cat Dancer and the Yellow Marten in my hand.The beautiful beast dancing in the moonlight! Weasel in the image of the crescent moon! Swarm in the vortex of moon's gravity and become a new power! Fusion Summon! Come forth! Elegant beast dancing in the moonlit wilderness! Lunalight Panther Dancer!" Serena chanted as her monster appeared on the field for a second time.
Lunalight Panther Dancer atk 2800/2500 def lvl 8
"As I explained earlier my monster's attack points increase by two hundred and it gets to attack both of your monsters twice. Go Panther Dancer!" Serena ordered.
Panther Dancer atk 2800-3000
Panther Dancer leapts and attacked Edo's Destiny Hero Dreamer the hero surviving the first attack due to the dancers effect but exploding from the second.
"Since Dreamer was in defense position I take no damage." Edo said gaurding his face from the solid vision smoke.
Next Panther Dancer clashed with Dystopia managing chip damage with both attacks as well ad destroying the monster with the second.
Edo: 2000 - 200 = 1800 - 200 = 1600 LP
Panther Dancer atk 3000-2800
"She took the advantage!" Sora yelled happily.
"Turn end." Serena said with a grin.
"Not bad, I draw. Then I summon my Destiny Hero Decider!" Edo says a hero in dark colored armor with a helmet that resembled a bat appearing on his field in a defensive stance.
Destiny Hero - Decider atk 1600/1000 def lvl 4
"Then I set two cards, turn end. But with the end of my turn that let's me activate the effect of my Decider at the end of the turn this card is summoned I'm allowed to bring a Destiny Hero from my grave to my hand and I'll be adding back one of my Destiny Hero Drilldarks." Edo explained.
"My turn I draw." Serena says. "He has something planned so I shouldn't risk and not use Panther Dancer's effect." Serena deliberated. "I use the effect of my Panther Lady it gains two hundred attack points and will battle your monster twice." Serena says her dancer clashing with Edo's defense mode hero then destroying it with the second attack.
"What was the point of using Panther Dancer's effect all she did was make it take longer." Sora questioned.
"I activate my first trap card Destiny Signal when a Destiny Hero monster is destroyed I can activate this card and summon a level four or lower Destiny Hero from my hand or deck and I think I'll special summon a Drilldark from my deck!" Edo explained the third copy of his heroic driller sprouting from the ground.
Destiny HERO - Drilldark atk 1600/1200 def lvl 4
"Then since it was special summoned I'll use the effect of the Drilldark on my field to summon the one I added to my hand." Edo stated placing another Destiny Hero on the field.
Destiny HERO - Drilldark atk 1600/1200 def lvl 4
"What good that will do you." Serena said with a confident grin.
Sora's eyes widened. "With Panther Dancer's effect it gets to attack all of Edo's monsters twice that will deal more damage them Edo has life points. She won!" He realized.
"Go Panther Dancer and win me this duel!" Serena called.
"Not so fast I activate my second trap D - Fusion this trap allows me to perform a fusion summon with monsters I have on the field! Twin dark drillers from beneath the earths crust! Meld and take shape as a hero who brings new fortune! The dark hero that brings a perilous new era! Fusion Summon! Level six! Destiny Hero Dangerous!" Edo chanted a hero with purple skin with white boney protrusions and a flowing purple cape arrived from the fusion spiral.
Destiny Hero - Dangerous atk 2000/2600 def lvl 6
"What's that monster supposed to do? It has less attack points then Panther Dancer and you will still run out of life points of after both attacks." Serena inquired with a antsy confusion.
"Not with my Dangerous's effect once per turn I can send a Destiny Hero from my deck to the grave and for that turn Dangerous will gain two hundred attack points for as many Destiny Heros I have in my graveyard." Edo explained with a steely expression.
"What!" Serena, Dennis and Sora simultaneously blurt.
"With the three Drilldarks my Dystopia alongside Decider and the new monster I sent Dangerous gain twelve hundred attack points!" Edo declared dramatically.
Dangerous atk 2000-3200
"It's more powerful then Panther Dancer!" Dennis stated.
"Grr, I cancel my attack. Turn end." Serena growled frustrated.
Dangerous atk 3200-2000
"My turn draw. That may mean that Dangerous's attack points return to normal but they won't stay that way as I send another Destiny Hero from my deck to the grave to bring them right back up!" Edo stated dramatically.
Dangerous atk 2000-3400
"Now Dangerous! Attack and destroy her Panther Dancer!" Edo commanded his monster jumping up and crushing Serena's.
Serena 2000 - 600 = 1400 LP
"Damn, Panther Dancer!" Serena grunted.
"I end my turn and with that Dangerous's attack points return to normal." Edo concludes.
Dangerous atk 3400-2000
"Draw!" Serena says. "He's stolen back the advantage, and even if I can manage to get out Leo Dancer it will become even stronger then Leo Dancer." Serena thought to herself.
"She's keeping up well but if this is the best she has keeping her away from Yuri is still the correct decision." Edo thought to himself reaffirming his resolve.
"Alright! I set one monster face down and set a card turn end." Serena says.
"All she can do is defend." Dennis gasped.
"My turn I draw. Destiny Hero Dangerous! Attack her face down monster!" Edo ordered his hero charging the facedown.
Charcoal Cheetah atk 1100/1400 def lvl 3
"You destroyed my Lunalight Charcoal Cheetah." Serena grunted guarding her eyes from the smoke made by destroying her monster whick wore a black leotard and had bright yellow spots nearly resembling sparks.
"Stalling will get you nowhere Serena. Turn end." Edo said sternly.
"Don't be so sure Edo stalling got me right we're I wanted to be I draw." Serena said seriously. "I discard the Lunalight Black Sheep in my hand to activate it's effect this allows me to get one Polymerization from my deck back to my hand." Serena explains discarding the monster.
"I then play Lunalight Perfume with this card I can summon one Lunalight from my graveyard. Return to my side Lunalight Panther Dancer!" Serena called as the fusion dancer fliped from the grave to Serena's field.
Lunalight Panther Dancer atk 2800/2500 def lvl 8
"I've already beat that monster it won't stand a chance." Edo said with certainty.
"That's why it's not what I'll be using I summon Lunalight White Rabbit." Serena says a girl in a black leotard with green lining that went up into a hat mixed with rabbit ears hopped onto Serena's field.
Lunalight White Rabbit atk 800/800 def lvl 2
"With this cards effect I get to summon one Lunalight from my graveyard so appear on my field Lunalight Black Sheep." Serena says a girl with white hair a mask and a black suit waltzed onto the field.
Lunalight Black Sheep atk 100/600 def lvl 2
"Wait she has Panther Dancer two monsters and Polymerization that summons." Dennis realizes.
"My strongest monster! Elegant beat dancing on the moonlit forest! Beast hiding within the skin of a sheep! Speedy rabbit with snow white fur! Swarm in a votex of the moon's gravity and revive with a new power! Fusion Summon! Come fourth! The king of beast dancing atop the summit of the moonlight wilderness! Lunalight Leo Dancer!" Serena chanted a tall lunalight with a long tail and multiple gold plating in scantily attire with a mask in the shape of a crescent moon.
Lunalight Leo Dancer atk 3500/3000 def lvl 10
"Now I attack with my Lunalight Leo Dancer!" Serena ordered Leo Dancer gripping it's sword charging Edo's fusion monster.
"Foolish, I use the effect of my Destiny Hero Dangerous! I send one Destiny Hero to the graveyard to raise it's attack point!" Edo retorted.
Dangerous atk 2000-3600
"With that my Dangerous is too powerful to be destroyed by your Leo Dancer." Edo stated.
"Not with this I activate my trap card! Lunalight Serenade Dance! This trap allows me to use one of it's effects making my Leo Dancer's attack points go up by five hundred for every monster you control! Since you only have one it will only go up by five hundred but that's enough!" Serena countered a tone of certainty in her voice.
Leo Dancer atk 3500-4000
"Leo Dancer continue your attack!" Serena yelled her monster fliping up and splitting Edo's monster down the middle.
Edo: 1600 - 400 = 1200 LP
"Sadly since you no longer have any monsters Leo Dancer's attack points will return to normal." Serena says.
Leo Dancer atk 4000-3500
"But with that I'll end my turn." Serena said.
"She's in a great position." Dennis states with a wide smile.
"What did I tell you, she's really gonna win this!" Sora said happily.
"My turn I draw." Edo said looking to his hand. "Turn end." He said plainly.
Serena's eyes slightly widened. "Is he planning something." She thought to herself.
"Has Edo given up?" Dennis asked himself.
"I can't waist this opportunity Leo Dancer! Attack him directly!" Serena ordered her monster charging Edo.
"Not so fast I discard the Destiny Hero Dynatag in my hand whenever I would take damage I can discard this card to negate the damage and we both take one thousand points of damage." Edo explained.
Edo: 1200 - 1000 = 200 LP
Serena: 1400 - 1000 = 400 LP
"Damn of course, I end my turn." Serena grumbled.
"My turn, this is the end I activate the effect of my Destiny Hero Malicious I banish the copy I have in my grave thanks to my Dangerous's effect to summon a copy from my deck." Edo explained.
Destiny HERO - Malicious atk 800/800 def lvl 6
"Then I summon my Destiny Hero Fear Monger." Edo added.
Destiny HERO - Fear Monger atk 1000/1000 def lvl 4
"Now I play my own Fusion Substitute fusing the two monsters on my field. Hero with despicable ideals and a malevolent attitude! And the mechanical hero who inspires fear in all around them! Meld and take shape to a hero who brings new fortune! The dark enforcer who spews flames that destroys all in your sight to bring subjugation! Fusion Summon! Level eight! Destiny Hero Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer!" Edo chanted a dark hero emerged from the flaming fusion spiral in black and dark red armor with large wings that had jet black feathers.
Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer atk 2500/2100 def lvl 8
"With this cards effect your Leo Dancer loses two hundred attack points for every Destiny Hero in my graveyard!" Edo declared.
"That won't work Leo Dancer can't be affected by card effects!" Serena retorted.
"That is true but I'll circumvent that issue I banish the Destiny Hero Dynatag in my graveyard to increase my Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer's attack points by one thousand!" Edo stated.
Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer atk 2500-3500
"Now I attack your Leo Dancer!" Edo ordered his fusion monster charging Serena's strongest card.
"What will you gain by mutual destruction!" Serena blurted as her and Edo's monster destroyed themselves.
"Because when Destroyer Phoniex Enforcer is destroyed I get to summon one Destiny Hero from my graveyard. Return Dystopia!!" Edo shouted his ace fusion arriving on the field again.
Destiny HERO - Dystopia atk 2800/2400 def lvl 8
"Since my battle phase hasn't ended. Dystopia attack her directly and end this duel!" Edo shouted his Dystopia charging a blast of dark energy in hand firing it at Serena.
"Not yet! Lunalight Serenade is a continuous trap and I use it's second effect that allows me to summon a Lunalight token!" Serena said.
Lunalight Token atk 2000/2000 def lvl 4
"So you managed to survive not bad. Dystopia destroy her token." Edo said casually Dystopia destroying the token. "Turn end" He said.
"My turn draw." Serena shook. "Even Leo Dancer couldn't stop him, I don't have any more options." She thought terror creeping into her tone. "Can't give up yet, I activate the effect of Lunalight Seranade to get another token!" She said aloud.
Lunalight Token atk 2000/2000 def lvl 4
"Then I set one monster facedown and end my turn." Serena says.
"This is bad Serena's three fusion monsters have all been defeated!" Sora gasped.
"Let's not give up hope Edo only has Dystopia on the field. If Serena can somehow revive either Panther Dancer or Leo Dancer she could win!" Dennis interjected.
"My turn, draw! I banish the Destiny Hero Malicious in my graveyard to summon my third copy from my deck!" Edo stated with growing passion.
Destiny HERO - Malicious atk 800/800 def lvl 6
"Then I play my second copy of Destiny Draw discarding a Destiny Hero from my hand to allow me to draw two cards." Edo said.
"He's setting up for something." Serena said antsy.
"Now I play Polymerization fusing the Destiny Hero Dystopia on my field with the Malicious also on my field. Hero of the world of Darkness! Hero of a world a malevolent desires! Now become one and reign over the utopia's twilight! Fusion Summon! Come on! Destiny Hero Dusktopia!" Edo chanted a new hero in golden armor covering every part of it's body even it's face not visible in the place was a large red D.
Destiny HERO - Dusktopia atk 3000/3000 def lvl 10
Serena, Dennis's and Sora's eyes all widen.
"That's it! That's Edo's strongest monster the one he used against Zarc!" Sora shouted with a shiver.
"I don't need to worry I still have two defenses position monsters! No matter how strong his monster He won't be able to destroy both!" Serena thought to herself sweat beginning to go down her brow.
"I use the effect of my Dusktopia when this card is fusion summoned is allows me to conduct a fusion summon with monsters in my hand! Three hero's who bring forth fortune meld! Form a new hero with a presence that makes all around it kneel! The powerful hero with dominion over all it sees! Fusion Summon! Come on! Level ten Destiny Hero Dominance!" Edo chanted a hero in grey armor almost like stone that stood over a dozen feet tall with a blood red D at it's center.
DestinyHERO - Dominance atk 2900/2600 def lvl 10
"Now with my Dominance I'll attack your facedown monster and with Dusktopia I'll destroy your token!" Edo ordered his monster doing just as he commanded.
"You may of destroyed my token without issue but the monster your Dominance destroyed was my Lunalight Sardonic Snake." Serena said.
Lunalight Sardonic Snake atk 0/0 def lvl 1
"When my Sardonic Snake is destroyed it after the battle phase takes the monster that destroyed it out with it and if it's a level four or lower monster I draw a card but if it's five or higher I draw two since your Dominance is a level ten monster I will draw two card." Serena said drawing from her deck with force hope beginning to return to her tone.
"That was the greatest mistake you could have made." Edo said with a cold calmness.
"Huh!" Serena blurted her expression going into shock.
"When Dominance is destroyed I'm allowed to summon three level nine or lower Destiny Hero monsters from my graveyard." Edo said casually and in three pillers of purple light his Dangerous Dystopia and Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer returned to the field.
Destiny Hero - Dangerous atk 2000/2600 def lvl 6
Destiny HERO - Dystopia atk 2800/2400 def lvl 8
Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer atk 2500/2100 def lvl 8
Serena shook as shadow casted over her staring at Edo's nearly full field.
"F-four powerful fusion monsters,! So this is the power of the leader of Academia's military." Dennis said with a shiver his eyes wide in amazement.
"Damn Serena, it was a really good attempt you shouldn't feel bad." Sora said closing his eyes.
"I apologize Serena. But you never stood a chance. It wasn't your Destiny to be victorious in this duel. I could never lose to someone who doesn't even understand why they duel. Consider yourself fortunate my battle phase is over. Turn end." Edo concluded.
"Don't know why I duel." Serena almost silently repeated to herself. "Why do I duel?" She internally asked herself. "If Yuya was asked that question what would he say?" She pondered.
"Dueling is here to bring smiles and joy to anyone and everyone." A mental image of Yuya said.
"Academia taught me that dueling existed as a weapon only a tool to make one's dreams a reality and to dominate anyone who got in they way of that. But that's wrong. But was Yuya's right? I have to admit it's never felt as natural to me as it was to all the other Lancers. I've only felt that excitement for entertaining once in my duel with Yugo." Serena contemplated.
"How would Yuri answer if he was asked the question?" Serena asked herself.
"Dueling is how I hunt~ it's what I use to feel enjoyment in my life." A mental image of Yuri said.
"Would he say that? I guess I don't know him well enough to judge. Neither Acedamia or Yuya's seem to fit me perfectly. But I have both of them." Serena thought nearly like an epiphany looking to both her hands.
"Please cease your stalling I'm sure this is hard for-" Edo began before being cut off.
"I'll admit it Edo, your a far better fusion summoner then I am. But I'm not just a fusion summoner!" Serena said a look of raw determination across her face.
A bead of sweat went down Edo's brow.
"With the scale one Lunalight Wolf and the scale five Lunalight Tiger. I set the pendulum scale! With this, I can summon monsters with levels two through four!" Serena chanted two Lunalights appearing on Serena's far left and right in pillars of light.
Dennis and Sora both smiled happily at the sight of the summoning method Yuya pioneered.
"Pendulum Appear Lunalight Purple Butterfly!" Serena said a lunalight in a leotard appearing with purple hair big butterfly wings coming from it's back.
Lunalight Purple Butterfly atk 1000/1000 def lvl 3
"I use the pendulum effect of my Lunalight Tiger. This effect allows me to summon a Lunalight monster from my hand. Revive Lunalight Blue Cat." Serena said her monster returning from the graveyard.
Lunalight Blue Cat atk 1600/1200 def lvl 4
"Next I activate the effect of my Lunalight Wolf! With this affect I can perform a fusion summon using monsters on my field and can banish one Lunalight in my graveyard for the fusion as well! Azure cat! Violoet butterfly! Snow colored rabbit! Meld like three beams of pure moonlight! Within a vortex of the moon's gravity! Into the elegant beast dancing with supreme dynamic movement! Fusion Summon! Level nine! Lunalight Sabre Dancer!" Serena chanted a lunalight with purple skin and golden rings around it's limbs it's body covered in a dress of a mix of magenta black and gold appearing from the fusion spiral.
Lunalight Sabre Dancer atk 3000/2600 def lvl 9
"Before you do anything I activate the effect of my Destiny Hero Dangerous I send to the graveyard one Destiny Hero to raise it's attack points!" Edo countered.
Dangerous atk 2000-3800
"Damm Edo's playing defensive." Sora grunted.
"Irrelevant cause with the effect of my Sabre Dancer it gains two hundred attack points for each Lunalight in either my graveyard or banished. And I have thirteen so it's attack points rise my twenty six hundred." Serena said cooly.
Sabre Dancer atk 3000-5600
"Fifty, thousad! Attack points!" Dennis and Sora stammered excitement growing in their tones.
"Now Sabre Dancer! Attack his Dusktopia and win me this duel!" Serena yelled filled with passion.
"I wouldn't be so hasty! I activate the effect of my of Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer I can decrease your monsters attack points by two hundred for every Destiny Hero in my graveyard!" Edo shouted in response his usual demeanor less collected.
Sabre Dancer atk 5600-3800
"That won't work! I banish the Lunalight Crimson Fox in my graveyard to negate the activation of an effect towards a Lunalight monster and as a bonus I gain one thousand life points!" Serena screamed the adrenaline taking over.
Sabre Dancer atk 3800-5600
Edo gained a look of shock. "What that monster from the beginning of the duel she's saved it all this time!" Edo thought to himself caught off gaurd.
"Sabre Dancer!! Go!!!" Serena cried her fusion monster spinning in a rhythmic manner clashing with Edo's Dusktopia and destroying it.
Edo: 200 - 2600 = 0
Edo began to fall over from the force of the solid vision created by his monster destruction. "Good job." He said with a wide smile.
WINNER: Serena!
"AHHHHHH!" Serena screamed with raw satisfaction. This wasn't like her but none of today had been like her.
Both Sora and Dennis filled with excitement at Serena's victory jumped up from their seats and ran to Serena. Joining her with her celebration.
"Not bad for an Osiris Red!" Sora joked still particularly yelling from excitement.
Serena's expression flipped on a dime going into a annoyed glare throwing a kick in Sora's direction.
"Heh Haha let's calm down I know we're all excited but let's try and stay civil. Congratulations Serena!" Dennis meditated with a chuckle. Sora and Serena swiftly ceasing there play fight.
"Congratulations indeed." Edo said with a grin. "Well a deals a deal I'll fully support you three searching for Yuri meet me in the mass teleporting center during first period tomorrow and I'll have you three be on your way." Dennis said looking at the three with a smile.
Serena had a look that almost said she wanted to argue to leave immediately but her smart side knew it was best leave after a goodnight sleep. "Right." She noded
Serena, Dennis and Sora all waltzed into the mass teleporting center. The room the Professor used to send multiple soldiers across dimensions in the exact same location.
Chancellor Edo Phoniex stood in the room at his side was his Vice Chancellor Asuka Tenjoin.
"Well are we good to go?" Dennis asked more to break the ice grinning at Edo.
"Not yet I got your group a forth member for the mission to help lead." Edo said still with the same smile from the day before.
"You got us a babysitter?" Sora groaned giving Edo a petulant look while sucking on a lollipop.
"Yes." Edo chirped happily. "One with a lot of experience." He added with a grin.
"Who?" Dennis asked.
"That would be me." Said a calm gruff voice entering the room. He wore a green jacket with four pouches matching his teal hair ha also wore a black pants going down into black combat boots his most distinctive features being his eyepatch not covering the entirety of a scar that clearly came from a grizzly accident.
"Barrett!" Serena gasped in recognition of her former bodyguard.
"It's been some time, Serena." Barrett nodded at the girl.
"I chose Barrett not just because he's a veteran duel soldier but he's also the most experienced at managing Serena." Edo explained with a grin Serena grimacing at the added reason.
"So can we leave now?" Sora asked.
"Well you need to know we're your going first." Edo said in a joking tone before giving Asuka a nod.
"We are actually well aware of Yuri's location. Academia duel disks have a unremovable tracker on them. There not precise enough to give an exact location but we do know the dimension and we'll know his location in a radius of fifty miles." Asuke surmised.
"Wait a minute don't are duel disk have the emergency return function. Couldn't we just activate Yuri's manually and get him here and have the element of surprise?" Sora asked.
"That wouldn't work. Out of every duelist in Academia Yuri's duel disk is the only one lacking the emergency return function. I have my own theories to why but for now all that matters is that it won't work." Barrett interjected.
"Well that doesn't change our plan we're still gonna track him dowm beat him and bring him back." Serena said looking to the group.
"You four get going the transporter is ready." Edo said.
The four nodded stepping forward.
"Yuya, I'm paying it forward what you taught me. I won't stop until the whole world knows you and Yuzu's philosophy of spreading smiles." Sora thought to himself.
"Yuri, I'm probably the person who has spent the most time with you. I will not give up until your given your chance to be better that others gave me." Dennis thought to himself.
"Serena, I wonder what you think of me after what I've done. But you don't have to worry I will still help you with everything I have even if you despise me." Barrett thought to himself.
"I still don't know exactly why I'm doing this but I won't stop until I understand us both, Yuri." Serena thought herself.
"Let's GO!!" Serena shouted her voice filled with conviction leading the pact the four disappearing in a flash of purple light.
Edo's eyes lingered on the vacant transporter for a few moments the grin on his face not dropping.
"Well you've been an awfully more smiley today." Asuka noted looking to Edo with her own smile.
"Sorry it's just lately I've been feeling that Destiny is on our side." Edo said still smiling broadly.
And done
This chapter was honestly a lot of fun to write a good change of pace. Plus we get to have some more fun with characters from the Arc v anime with some of my favorites in this chapter also getting to explore some more of the post series aspects of this story with the post Professor Academia.
It honestly felt odd to write a duel that did't involve Predaplants with only one other duel in this fic lacking them so far. Regardless I think this duel came together pretty well.
Next chapter we will be returning to the Synchro dimension and will have a lot of moving characters even compared to the Xyz section we had.
I appreciate all the reviews so far and with that I will see you all next time.