Chapter 9
It was a new day, and it was time for the next set of battles in the Duelist Kingdom since after breakfast, the duelists who lost the first four rounds left the island and thanked Pegasus for a great time.
Weevil and Mai said their goodbyes to Issei, who wished them luck and hoped to duel them again sometime, which Weevil would be excited to do. At the same time, Mai gave Issei a goodbye kiss on the lips, which Issei reciprocated as the guys cheered for him. In contrast, Rebecca said goodbye to her former partner in the tournament, as well as Rex Raptor, since the bug and dino bonded during the tournament.
Yugi was saying goodbye to Tea, who wished Yugi luck, saying she wished to stay at the castle to cheer him on. Still, the rules stated she couldn't, so Yugi was sad to see his last friend go before wondering where Kaiba went, but Tea told him that he had left earlier, which made Yugi sad a bit since he wanted to promise Kaiba he'd save his brother.
"And now, as the first four leave the kingdom, we shall move onto the next battle, and the first battle of the second set will be..." Pegasus said as the wheel began to shuffle the next set of four until the match was chosen to be Bandit Keith vs Pegasus which got Issei intrigued until Pegasus stopped their fantasies.
"As much as I know you all want to watch me duel Bandit Keith, I'm afraid that I won't be the one dueling," Pegasus said to their shock, but before they could ask why a voice stopped them.
"And that's because I'll be the one to duel Bandit Keith." The voice said as Jasmine walked out to greet them all, which made the guys look at her in awe since she looked like a model was coming down the runway, but the most infatuated guy was Fenris since he was amazed by how beautiful she was and his heart began to beat loudly as Jasmine introduced herself to them all.
"My name is Jasmine Pegasus. It's a pleasure to meet you all." Jasmine said before closing her gaping mouth. Keith opened up when he saw her beauty and Vivian looked at their interests and pouted, and Sona looked at her chest and compared hers to Jasmine's before feeling depressed.
"Life is not fair," Sona mumbled to herself as she felt her pride as a woman being destroyed by Jasmine's beauty.
"Allow me to introduce everyone to my princess and shining star and little miracle Jasmine," Pegasus said, hugging Jasmine, which made her feel embarrassed by her affectionate father.
"Dad..."
Jasmine blushed as Pegasus embraced her, clearly used to his affectionate and dramatic nature but still embarrassed to be the center of attention. The duelists and spectators around her couldn't help but admire the radiant confidence she exuded.
"Now, now, my dear Jasmine, no need to be shy! You're about to show everyone here why you're not just a princess but a fierce duelist as well!" Pegasus said with a wink, stepping aside to let her take center stage.
Bandit Keith, who had recovered from his initial shock, regained his smug demeanor. "Heh, I don't care if you're Pegasus's daughter or some dueling prodigy. You're going down just like anyone else!" Keith said with a sneer, cracking his knuckles as he readied his duel disk. His cocky attitude was back in full force, but there was an underlying tension. Even though he wouldn't admit it, Jasmine's presence rattled him.
Rebecca knew this was an act and sighed since she knew her big brother figure liked to play the villain at times in his duels, but in reality, he was a big softy on the inside.
Issei, standing among the spectators, couldn't help but be intrigued. Jasmine wasn't just another duelist; the way she carried herself showed that she wasn't intimidated by someone like Keith. He found himself wanting to see just how good she really was.
"Do your best, Jasmine!" Yugi called out, his encouraging voice cutting through the tension. He could tell that despite her beauty and grace, Jasmine had the heart of a true duelist. He was eager to see her skills in action, especially against someone as ruthless as Keith.
"Yeah, make that cocky punk eat his words!" Fenris cheered, his enthusiasm standing out as usual. His feelings for Jasmine were clearly written all over his face, making Rebecca and Vivian both roll their eyes at his lovesick expression.
"Dude. I'm trying to be intimidating. I mean, beating her might give me a chance to face Pegasus." Keith said to Fenris, who apologized before explaining he was just being supportive of a fellow duelist, but Keith wasn't buying it.
"Really? Just a fellow duelist, huh?"
"Yes..." Fenris said before Issei approached the Norse Duelist.
"Right. And you weren't just drooling a puddle when you saw her." Issei said, which made Fenris blush at this before the Dark and Machine Duelist laughed at their friend before Jasmine got Keith's attention.
Jasmine smiled gracefully before focusing on Bandit Keith. "You might think you're tough, Keith, but I'm not here to impress anyone. I'm here to duel. So let's make this quick," she said, her voice calm but firm.
With both duelists ready, they headed to the arena; before the duel commenced, the holographic projectors flickered to life, and the familiar hum of Duel Monsters filled the air as both players drew their starting hands.
"The special rule that is in play will be that Fusion Monsters can be created without a Polymerization Card, and if XYZ monsters need an extra Overlay unit, then you can sacrifice a monster to be sent as a unit to that monster as long as its either the same level or the same monster type as the XYZ monster." The referee said, which both duelists accepted before Keith looked at his starting hand and liked what he saw.
"Mind if I go first?" Keith asked before Jasmine nodded.
"Go ahead. Going first or second doesn't matter, for the outcome of this game has been decided." Jasmine said before looking in her Deck and showing a card to Keith.
"And this will be the very card that will be your end," Jasmine explained as Keith got a look at the monster and saw it was a level one Monster known as Gimmick Puppet Princess.
"Though showing is better than telling, so make your move," Jasmine said before Keith agreed as the duel began.
"I draw and summon Claydol Mechanic!" Keith said as his Claydol appeared and activated his ability.
Card Name: Claydol Mechanic
Type: Machine / Effect
Attribute: Earth
Level: 4
ATK: 1500
DEF: 1200
Effect:
This card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can summon 1 "Claydol Mechanic" from your Deck to your field.
Once per turn, you can target one face-up Machine monster you control; it gains 500 ATK until the end of this turn.
When you control 4 "Claydol Mechanic" monsters, you can send them from your field or hand them to the Graveyard to Fusion Summon 1 "Titan Defense: Claydol Colossus" from your Extra Deck.
"When Claydol Mechanic comes into play, then I can use his ability to summon another one from the deck to the field, so say hello to my second Claydol," Keith said as the second one appeared before the third and fourth appeared.
"And now that I have all four, I'll use their third ability by sending all four of them into the graveyard and summoning their ultimate form!" Keith declared that the Claydol had broken and appeared and had been combined into a massive Claydol.
"So, say hello to Titan Defense: Claydol Colossus!" Keith said as the Claydol roared. Jasmine smirked at this.
Titan Defense: Claydol Colossus
Type: Machine / Fusion / Effect
Attribute: Earth
Level: 8
ATK: 3000
DEF: 2500
Effect:
When this card is Fusion Summoned with 4 "Claydol Mechanic" monsters.
This card cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects while you control another Machine monster.
Once per turn, you can negate the effects of 1 card your opponent controls until the end of this turn.
"Not bad. I am impressed that you were able to summon a powerful monster like this one, but unfortunately for you, such a powerful monster will be your downfall." Jasmine said as Keith grumbled and placed two cards facedown to end his turn.
'My facedown cards are Time Machine and Magic Jammer, plus I have a spell card to help me bring back two of my Claydols to bring out one of my new aces. As long as I don't have to deal with any of her Extra Deck monsters, then I should be fine, but why did she say that her Gimmick Puppets would be able to best me? They have no attack or defense points, so why reveal it to me that way?' Keith asked himself since facing Jasmine was just like facing her father from last time.
"Now then, I'll stand and draw," Jasmine said before drawing her sixth card and smiling at her hand.
Bandit Keith's LP: 8000
Jasmine's LP: 8000
"First, I'll play Toy Donation. I send all copies of one 'Puppet' monster in my hand to the Graveyard and then send that one monster from my hand to the grave and draw one new card for each copy sent to the grave." Jasmine said as she sent all copies of Gimmick Puppet Princess to the Graveyard.
•Toy Donation (Spell Card)
•Effect:
Send all copies of one 'Puppet' monster in your hand to the Graveyard, then send that same monster from your hand to the Graveyard, and draw 1 card for each copy sent.
"I send all three copies of Gimmick Puppet Princess from my hand to the Graveyard and draw three new cards."
She looked over her new hand and smiled again. "Now, I'll activate Gimmick Puppet Princess's effect from my Graveyard! Since you control a monster with 2500 or more ATK, I can Special Summon Gimmick Puppet Princess in Defense Position."
Gimmick Puppet Princess
•[Level 1 Machine ATK 0 DEF 0 Effect]
•Effect:
When this card is in your Graveyard, and your opponent controls a monster with 2500 or more ATK, You can Special Summon this card in Defense Position, but it cannot attack.
2. When this card is Special Summoned from the Graveyard: You can Fusion or XYZ Summon 1 "Gimmick Puppet" Fusion monster using monsters from your hand or field, with this card becoming one of the requirements for the summon.
"And now, with Gimmick Puppet Princess summoned, I can immediately perform a Fusion Summon! I fuse Gimmick Puppet Princess with Gimmick Puppet Necro Doll in my hand!"
The two monsters combined in a swirl of dark energy, creating a new, menacing creature.
"I summon Gimmick Puppet Chimera!"
Gimmick Puppet Chimera
Two "Puppet" Monsters
•[Level 8 Machine ATK 3100 DEF 3000 Fusion / Effect]
•Effect:
Once per turn, you can target 1 "Gimmick Puppet" monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon it.
When this card destroys a monster by battle, you can inflict damage on your opponent equal to that monster's ATK.
When an opponent's card destroys this card, You can Special Summon 1 "Gimmick Puppet" Fusion or XYZ monster from your Extra Deck, ignoring its summoning conditions.
4. Once per turn,
"But I'm not done yet. I activate my Field Spell – Haunted Dollhouse!"
Haunted Dollhouse
•Type: Field Spell
•Effect:
Once per turn, when a Zombie monster is sent to the Graveyard, you can Special Summon it, but it gains 500 ATK and DEF, and its effects are negated.
When a "Gimmick Puppet" monster you control is destroyed by battle or card effect, You can Special Summon 1 "Gimmick Puppet" monster from your Deck.
When this card is on the field, your opponent cannot target other face-up "Gimmick Puppet" monsters with card effects.
"This field spell will ensure my Gimmick Puppets stay on the field, no matter what you throw at me."
"Now, Gimmick Puppet Chimera, attack Titan Defense: Claydol Colossus!"
Jasmine's Gimmick Puppet Chimera lunged forward, its mechanical jaws wide open as it clashed with Claydol Colossus before destroying it, but Keith grinned, ready to retaliate.
"I activate my trap, Time Machine!" Keith yelled.
•Time Machine (Trap Card)
•Effect: When a monster is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, return it to the field in the same battle position it was in.
"My Titan Defense: Claydol Colossus returns to the field! You're not getting rid of me that easily." Keith said with a smirk while Jasmine chuckled softly.
"That won't be enough to stop me since whenever Gimmick Puppet Chimera destroys a monster by battle; I can inflict damage to you equal to that monster's ATK!"
Keith's eyes widened as a pulse of dark energy from the destroyed Titan Defense: Claydol Colossus surged toward him.
Keith's LP: 8000-5000
"You're going to need more than just traps to win this duel. I'll set one card face down and end my turn."
Bandit Keith's LP: 5000
Jasmine's LP: 8000
The turn of events clearly shook Bandit Keith, but Jasmine remained calm and collected, fully in control of the duel.
"That's actually smart since not only does she have a monster that can damage Keith's life points, but also deals more damage to him thanks to the chimera's abilities," Fenris said that it reminded him of his Zombie Dragons and how they can deal a lot of damage to his opponents and destroy their strategies.
"Indeed, that puppet she had sent to her Graveyard is scary since she basically has all four copies in the Graveyard, which means she can keep summoning those dolls to come back and build her formation. I hope Keith knows what he's doing since I think the princess has this in the bag." Issei said since he could tell that the girl was strong and that if what Dark Mist was telling him was true, then there was a powerful number monster in her Extra Deck.
Keith clenched his fists as the duel progressed, watching how easily Jasmine controlled the field. He wasn't one to admit defeat, but even he had to acknowledge her skill.
"She's clever, no doubt about it," Keith muttered under his breath. "But I ain't giving up that easy."
Keith wasn't about to let a little commentary shake his confidence. It was time to strike back. He drew his card and grinned.
"I'm not going down without a fight! I activate Monster Reborn to bring back one of my Claydol Mechanics from the Graveyard!"
A portal opened on Keith's field as his Claydol Mechanic, which had been sent to the Graveyard earlier, rose back onto the battlefield in Defense Position.
But I'm not done yet," Keith declared, slamming his next card onto his duel disk. "I'm sacrificing my Claydol Mechanic to summon a real heavy hitter! Come on out, Brutal Jack!"
Brutal Jack
•Type: Machine / Effect
•Attribute: Earth
•Level: 6
•ATK: 2300
•DEF: 1800
Effect:
If this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle, you can discard 1 card to destroy one additional card your opponent controls.
A massive, hulking machine-like dragon appeared on Keith's field, its brutal fists clanking together as it revved up for combat.
Keith grinned, his confidence returning. "And to make sure my Brutal Jack has the power to tear through your puppets, I equip him with Machinery Overdrive! This spell boosts his ATK by 1000 points!"
Brutal Jack's ATK: 2300 - 3300
Brutal Jack glowed with energy, its power surging to intimidating levels. "Now, let's see how your puppets handle real power! Brutal Jack, attack her Gimmick Puppet Chimera!"
Brutal Jack launched itself forward, its fists raised to smash through Jasmine's Gimmick Puppet Chimera.
Keith leaned forward, his eyes wide. "He's going for the direct hit! With Machinery Overdrive, Brutal Jack has more than enough ATK to destroy her Chimera and deal a massive blow to Jasmine's life points!"
Jasmine, however, remained completely calm as Keith's attack barreled toward her monster. "You're not the only one with tricks, Keith," she said softly, flipping over one of her facedown cards. "I activate Puppet Shield!"
Puppet Shield (Trap Card)
- Effect: Target 1 "Gimmick Puppet" monster you control; that monster cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects this turn. Any battle damage you would take from battles involving that monster is inflicted on your opponent instead.
A shimmering barrier enveloped Gimmick Puppet Chimera, protecting it from Brutal Jack's attack. The force of the blow was reflected toward Keith.
Keith's eyes widened in shock as the powerful attack that should have destroyed Jasmine's monster instead rebounded on him. "What?! No way!"
Keith's LP: 5000 - 4800
The audience gasped as Keith's life points fell short. Jasmine's smile was serene as she watched the numbers on his side drop.
"You attacked my Chimera, and granted, if not for my trap, you would've destroyed my Chimera, but thanks to Puppet Shield, not only is it safe, but the damage is redirected back to you, even if it was just a small amount," she explained softly.
Keith staggered slightly, his confidence shaken as he faced Jasmine's unwavering calm. "She countered me again," he muttered under his breath. "I can't believe it…"
"That's the end of my turn."
"Then I'll draw," Jasmine said as she drew her next card, her strategy already in motion. "You've fought well, Keith, but now it's time to end this duel."
"First, I'll summon Gimmick Puppet Nightmare in attack mode!"
Gimmick Puppet Nightmare
•Level: 4
•Type: Machine / Effect
•ATK: 1000
•DEF: 2000
•Effect:
Once per turn, you can double this monster's level as long as there is another "Gimmick Puppet" on the field.
2. If this card is Level 8, then this card gains another ability: Once one turn, Choose one monster and make its attack points 0 until the end of the turn.
A creepy puppet with a patchwork appearance took the field, its many dangling limbs twitching as it materialized in front of Jasmine. Its eerie aura sent a shiver down Keith's spine.
"I'll activate Gimmick Puppet Nightmare's effect! I'll turn him into a Level 8 monster, and thanks to that, I can use his second ability and target your Brutal Jack, which makes ATK power become 0!"
Brutal Jack's ATK: 3300 0
Keith's confidence visibly wavered as Brutal Jack's power was drained, the massive machine collapsing slightly under its weight.
"Now, I'll activate the first effect of my Gimmick Puppet Chimera," Jasmine continued. "I target a 'Gimmick Puppet' monster in my Graveyard and Special Summon it. I choose Gimmick Puppet Princess!"
The eerie figure of the princess puppet reappeared, adding to Jasmine's growing army of puppets.
"Now, thanks to my princess, when she's summoned, I can use her and another Gimmick Puppet for a Fusion or XYZ summon," Jasmine said as a vortex appeared above her. "So, I Overlay my Level 1 Gimmick Puppet Princess and Level 8 Gimmick Puppet Nightmare! With these two monsters, I build the Overlay Network and summon Number 40: Gimmick Puppet of Strings!"
Number 40: Gimmick Puppet of Strings
•Rank: 8
•Type: Machine / XYZ / Effect
•ATK: 3000
•DEF: 2000
•Effect:
Once per turn: You can detach one material from this card; place 1 String Counter on each face-up monster your opponent controls. Monsters with String Counters are destroyed during the End Phase of your opponent's next turn.
A hulking figure sitting in a massive chair composed of twisted wires and strings descended onto the battlefield. Its puppet-like limbs twitched as it towered over Brutal Jack.
"I activate the Gimmick Puppet of Strings' effect!" Jasmine said as she detached one of the Overlay Units. "I place a String Counter on Brutal Jack."
A bright thread of energy shot from the puppet's fingers, wrapping itself around Brutal Jack. The massive machine whirred in confusion as the countdown to its destruction began.
"Now, Gimmick Puppet Chimera, attack Brutal Jack!"
With Brutal Jack's ATK reduced to zero, the massive puppet easily overpowered Keith's monster, ripping it apart with its mechanical jaws.
Keith's LP: 4800 1500
"Then, I'll activate Gimmick Puppet Chimera's second effect. Since it destroyed a monster by battle, you take damage equal to that monster's original ATK. That's another 2300 points of damage and game over." Jasmine said as she snapped her fingers while Keith's life points fell.
Keith's LP: 1500 0
Keith staggered backward as his Life Points dropped to zero, his face a mix of disbelief and frustration. The duel was over, and Jasmine had emerged victorious without breaking a sweat.
"The winner of this duel is Jasmine Pegasus!" the referee announced as the holographic projectors powered down and the battlefield faded.
The crowd erupted into cheers and applause. Jasmine smiled softly as she gracefully stepped away from the Duel Arena, leaving Keith to collect himself.
"You were a worthy opponent, Keith," she said as she passed him. "But next time, don't underestimate your opponent just because of appearances."
Keith scowled, still bitter about his defeat, but nodded in acknowledgment. "You're good… real good. Guess I'll have to train harder if I ever want a rematch."
Jasmine nodded with a graceful smile before returning to her father, who greeted her with open arms.
"That was splendid, my darling Jasmine!" Pegasus exclaimed proudly, pulling her into a fatherly hug. "You showed them all just how powerful the Pegasus family is!"
Jasmine smiled but seemed slightly embarrassed by her father's over-the-top praise. "Thanks, Dad. But I think the next duels will be even more exciting."
As the crowd continued to chatter about the match, Issei, Yugi, Fenris, and the others couldn't help but be impressed by Jasmine's skill.
"She's incredible," Issei remarked. "The way she controlled the field and countered Keith's strategies… she's definitely someone to watch out for."
Fenris, still slightly lovesick from his earlier encounter, could only nod in agreement. "Yeah, no kidding… She's something else."
Yugi smiled, knowing that the upcoming duels would only get more intense from here. "It's going to be a tough tournament. But we're all here to give it our best shot."
Ishizu Ishtar stood off to the side, her gaze fixed intently on the Millennium Puzzle hanging from Yugi Moto's neck. Even though the current duel was underway, her mind was elsewhere, clouded by the vision she had seen thanks to the Millennium Necklace. The future was not always set in stone, but she had witnessed a fate that disturbed her deeply.
"I've seen your destiny, Yugi Moto," Ishizu murmured to herself, eyes narrowing as if the future was still unfolding before her. "I am truly sorry, but you will lose to the Dark Duelist. The Gods have decided. No matter your efforts, in the next round, your fate is sealed."
She recalled the vision she had seen in great detail:
Yugi Standing alone on the field His Life Points were drained His strongest monsters laid to wasteIt was inevitable—no matter what paths he took from here, defeat awaited him.
As the current duel ended and the arena was prepped for the next, Pegasus stepped forward, his voice booming with enthusiasm. "And with that, the next round shall soon begin! Now, let's see who will duel next!" He gestured theatrically to the massive screen behind him, where the names of the duelists began to shuffle like a deck of cards.
Jasmine, still standing near her father after her victorious duel, noticed something peculiar on the screen. Her eyes widened in disbelief. "Oh no," she groaned, looking at Pegasus with an exaggerated expression of disbelief. "You didn't..."
Pegasus chuckled, his signature entertained smile spreading across his face. "Oh, but I did, my darling Jasmine!" He turned to address the entire audience and the assembled duelists. "This is part of the fun I had in store when creating the pairs. I was hoping this little surprise would come up soon! This special card allows two pairs to *swap* opponents with another pair! So, the next four duelists will have a little twist!"
As the cards on the screen shuffled more intensely, four names appeared:
*Rebecca Hawkins vs Rex Raptor*
*Sona Sitri vs Vivian Wong*
Jasmine shot her father an exasperated look, but Pegasus continued as though nothing was out of the ordinary. "And now... the pairs will be *changed*!"
The crowd gasped as the names flipped around, reshuffling.
*Sona Sitri vs Rebecca Hawkins*
*Vivian Wong vs Rex Raptor*
"And now," Pegasus announced with a dramatic wave of his hand, "the next battle will be between *Sona Sitri* and *Rebecca Hawkins*!"
Both duelists sighed before heading toward the Duel Arena, their decks in hand, ready for battle.
Rebecca Hawkins, the young but brilliant American duelist, smirked confidently as she approached her opponent. "So, you're supposed to be some genius in Kuoh Town, huh? Must be nice, going to a wannabe fancy school." Her tone was dripping with sarcasm, her words designed to get under her opponent's skin.
Sona Sitri, the prim and proper student council president of Kuoh Academy, raised a brow, visibly perturbed by Rebecca's attitude. "I'm sorry, but what exactly is that supposed to mean?" she asked, her voice calm but with an edge of irritation.
Rebecca crossed her arms, her smug grin growing wider. "Oh, nothing," she said in a sing-song tone. "Just wondering if you've spent as much time *dueling* as you have studying."
Sona's eyes narrowed slightly. "I'll let my cards speak for me," she replied coolly. Without another word, she activated her Duel Disk, the familiar whir of the machinery filling the air as her Life Points displayed on the screen.
Rebecca shrugged casually. "Fine by me. Let's see if you're as good as you think you are." She activated her own Duel Disk, her grin never faltering.
Both duelists stared each other down as the digital projections of the battlefield sprang to life around them.
"DUEL!" they declared in unison.
The crowd watched with bated breath as Sona and Rebecca stepped up to the Duel Arena. Each duelist activated their Duel Disks, ready to give their all in this battle of wits and tactics.
Sona Sitri: 8000 LP
Rebecca Hawkins: 8000 LP
Sona looked at her opening hand and smiled. "I'll take the first move," she said confidently. "I summon Hammer Shark in Attack Position!"
Hammer Shark
•Level: 4
•Type: Fish / Effect
•ATK: 1700
•DEF: 1500
•Effect: Once per turn, you can reduce this card's level by 1, and if you do, use Special Summon 1 Level 3 or lower WATER monster from your hand.
A large, menacing shark appeared, circling Sona with a predatory glint in its eye.
"Next, I use Hammer Shark's effect to lower its Level by 1," Sona declared, "which allows me to Special Summon Atlantean Marksman in Attack Position!"
Atlantean Marksman
•Level: 3
•Type: Sea Serpent / Effect
•ATK: 1400
•DEF: 0
•Effect: When this card inflicts battle damage to your opponent, You can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower Atlantean monster from your Deck.
A sleek warrior wielding a water-infused spear appeared beside Hammer Shark.
"I set two cards facedown and end my turn," Sona finished, her field established with both strength and versatility.
Rebecca grinned, drawing her first card. "Not bad, Sona, but let's see how your water monsters fare against my army of the undead! I summon Sangan in Attack Position!"
Sangan
•Level: 3
•Type: Fiend / Effect
•ATK: 1000
•DEF: 600
•Effect: If this card is sent from the field to the Graveyard, Add one monster with 1500 or less ATK from your Deck to your hand.
A small, grotesque creature with multiple eyes appeared on Rebecca's field.
"Next, I'll activate Graceful Charity!" Rebecca smiled as she drew three cards and discarded two. "And now I'll use Foolish Burial to send Shadow Ghoul directly to my Graveyard."
Sona watched warily as Rebecca quickly built her strategy. "Shadow Ghoul already in the Graveyard? You're planning something."
Rebecca chuckled. "You'll see soon enough. For now, I end my turn with two cards facedown."
"My turn!" Sona said as she drew. "I summon Big Jaws in Attack Position, and thanks to my having a fish monster on the field, I can summon shark stickers from my hand."
The smaller shark appeared as Sona looked at the last card in her hand.
"I'll overlay my Level 3, Hammer Shark, Atlantean Marksman, Shark Stickers, and Big Jaws!" Soma declared that all four became Overlay Units until Sona's monsters were revealed.
"Come on out! Black Ray Lancer and Number 17, Leviathan Dragon!" Sona declared as the two units appeared on her side of the field before Rebecca scoffed at them.
"Thanks for that. I activated my Trap Card: Overlay Steal!
Rebecca smirked as Overlay Steal activated, a shadowy aura engulfing the field. "You fell into my trap, Sona!" she exclaimed as her facedown Trap flipped up.
Overlay Steal
Trap Card
Effect:
Activate by sacrificing one monster you control. Gain Life Points equal to the sacrificed monster's highest stat (ATK or DEF). Detach all Xyz Materials from your opponent's Xyz Monsters, then immediately conduct an Xyz Summon using those materials."I'll sacrifice Sangan!" Rebecca declared that the grotesque monster had vanished in a dark vortex. "Since its highest stat is 1000 ATK, I gain 1000 Life Points."
*Rebecca Hawkins: 8000 LP 9000 LP
"And don't forget," Rebecca continued, "Sangan lets me add one monster with 1500 or less ATK from my Deck to my hand. I choose Tour Guide From the Underworld!" she said, retrieving her card with a grin. "But now for the fun part: I'll steal the Xyz Materials from Black Ray Lancer and Number 17: Leviathan Dragon!"
The Overlay Units from Sona's monsters—Hammer Shark, Atlantean Marksman, Shark Stickers, and Big Jaws—detached and were drawn into a swirling vortex on Rebecca's side of the field.
"With your Xyz Materials, I'll Xyz Summon my monster!" Rebecca declared. "I summon my cute and loveable monster: Number 34: Terror-Byte!"
Number 34: Terror-Byte
*Rank: 3
*Attribute: DARK
*Type: Machine / Xyz / Effect
*ATK/DEF: 0 / 2900
*Materials: 3 Level 3 monsters
*Effect: *Once per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card to target 1 Level 4 or lower Attack Position monster your opponent controls; gain control of it until the End Phase.*
A mechanical behemoth, resembling a grotesque spider-like creature, appeared on Rebecca's field, its many legs poised and its mechanical eyes glowing red.
"But I'm not done yet, Sona," Rebecca said with a wicked grin. "I activate Rank-Up-XYZ Force!"
Rank-Up-XYZ Force
Spell Card
Effect: Target 1 face-up Xyz Monster you control; Special Summon from your Extra Deck, 1 "Number C" monster with the same Rank as that target, but 1 Rank higher, by using it as material. (This Special Summon is treated as an Xyz Summon. Transfer its materials to the Summoned monster.)
"With XYZ Force, I can evolve my Terror-Byte into a much more powerful form!" Rebecca chanted as a red light enveloped her Xyz Monster. "Come forth, Chaos Number 34: Void Terror-Byte!"
The group watched in awe as Terror Byte transformed into a massive, more menacing version of itself before it emerged from the light, its mechanical limbs charged with chaotic energy.
Rebecca's field now held a fearsome Rank 4 Chaos Xyz Monster.
Chaos Number 34: Void Terror-Byte
Rank: 4
Attribute: DARK
Type: Machine / Xyz / Effect
ATK/DEF: 0 / 3200
Materials: 3 Level 4 DARK monsters
Effect:
Once per turn, you can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card, then target one face-up Xyz monster your opponent controls; take control of that Xyz monster until the End Phase. You can detach Xyz Materials from the controlled monster while it is under your control, and it cannot attack or be Tributed.
Once per turn, you can target 1 XYZ monster you control or a monster you've taken control of; equip that monster to this card or another XYZ monster on your field as an Equip Spell that grants the card 500 DEF times the Rank of the equipped monster.
At the start of each Battle Phase, you can activate this effect: Swap this card's ATK and DEF and change its battle position (Attack Position - Defense Position). This effect remains until the end of the Battle Phase.
If this card has "Number 34: Terror-Byte" as Xyz Material, it gains the following effect:
•Once per turn, you can detach 2 Xyz Materials from this card; target 1 Xyz monster your opponent controls, take control of it permanently, and it gains 1000 ATK. This effect can only be used once while this card is face-up on the field.
"Next, I'll use Void Terror-Byte's effect!" Rebecca declared. "I'll detach 1 Xyz Material to target your Black Ray Lancer and take control of it!"
Void Terror-Byte's tail lit up as it stretched over to Sona's side, stung it in the chest, and latched onto Black Ray Lancer, pulling it over to Rebecca's side of the field.
"And now, I'll use Void Terror-Byte's second effect to equip your Black Ray Lancer to it as an Equip Spell, boosting its power by 500 DEF times the Rank of the equipped monster!" Rebecca smirked. "Since Black Ray Lancer is Rank 3, Void Terror-Byte gains 1500 DEF!"
Void Terror-Byte: DEF: 3200-1500=4700
Rebecca grinned. Her field was now packed with a powerful chaos monster. "I'll end my turn for now, but your Xyz Monsters are powerless against my chaos!"
Sona gritted her teeth, staring down the newly evolved Void Terror-Byte and the looming threat it posed. "This is bad," she muttered, gripping her Deck, knowing she'd have to pull off something big on her next turn to turn the duel around; otherwise, she would be done for, and her dream would be finished.
Scene!
I hope you all enjoyed it since it was fun writing Pegasus's daughter, and trust me when I say she has her father's love of toons but also enjoys making her dolls more...terrifying, which is why she loves horror and finds dark and scary things cute, which is why Jasmine is connected to Zombiestein.
I also made a few changes to the numbers, so get ready since for the next battle since it'll be a splash!
Next time: Battle of Geniuses.