Chapter
Now is the time for the Sitri Family Clash to begin!
"It seems it shall be a battle of sisters with Sona Sitri vs Vivian Wong!" Pegasus declared as both Sona and Vivian glared at each other while they headed to the arena.
Issei looked at Vivian with worry. He didn't like how Vivian had that glare on her face and preferred her when she was smiling. The real Vivian he saw was the one who was smiling and enjoying the simple things, not obsessed with the desire to destroy and prove herself to a family that cast her aside like garbage.
"Vivian. I hope this duel reminds you of what you are throwing away." Issei said that since he caught a glimpse of her Deck, it was different from the one Vivian used against Rex. This one is different and a lot wilder than her martial arts and dragon deck.
Vivian sensed Issei was worried about her and sent a smile his way as if she was telling him not to worry, but how could he not worry about her since Issei knew Vivian was strong, but the fact she is obsessed with wanting validation from a family that cast her aside worried Issei and hoped that this duel reminds Vivian that she didn't need her families validation when shes already her person who's special in her way.
Pegasus raised his hand, signaling for silence as he explained the match's special rule. "Now, duelists, the winner of the coin toss will gain an advantage. They may select a Field Spell from three special options. However, the selected Field Spell will remain a permanent feature of the duel and cannot be destroyed, replaced, or removed! But beware—the winner will not draw on their first turn!"
A shimmering holographic coin appeared above the duelists. Vivian and Sona stared at it as it spun through the air.
"Heads!"
"Tails."
Vivian and Sona said in that order until the coin came back down and finally landed. The result was Heads—Vivian had won the toss.
"Yes!" Vivian cheered as she was then shown the holographic images of the three Field Spells. She was curious about which one to choose until she saw a familiar one that made her smile.
"Perfect," Vivian said as she selected her choice and announced it. "I choose Infernal Blazes," Vivian announced confidently.
The arena transformed into a fiery volcanic wasteland. Lava bubbled, and heat waves shimmered across the field as Infernal Blazes activated its permanent effect:
•Fire monsters gain 500 ATK and DEF.
•Water monsters' effects are negated when they are on the field.
Pegasus continued, "Wonderful! Now, the duelists may still play their Field Spells, but the permanent spell, Infernal Blazes, will remain active on both sides, meaning Miss Sitri must now overcome the challenge of countering its effects!"
Sona scoffed at this before glaring back at Vivian. "I'd wish you luck, but we both know that it wouldn't be real."
"Like I need luck from someone like you."
"Be that as it may, I've been waiting to put you in your place ever since your humiliation when you were stripped of your title, little half-breed," Sona said with a smirk. Vivian growled at Sona for bringing up the past but calmed down, knowing Sona was just trying to get in her head.
"Enough chatter! Let's throw some cards!"
"Agreed. Let's duel!" Sona shouted as the duel began and their life points were set in place.
[Vivian LP: 8000 Sona LP: 8000]
Vivian smirked, raising her hand. "I'll take the first move. Since I can't draw on my first turn, I'll work with what I already have! I summon Fire King Avatar Barong in Attack Mode!"
Fire King Avatar Barong
•Level 4 / FIRE / Beast-Warrior / ATK 1800 / DEF 200
•Effect: If a card effect destroys a face-up "Fire King" monster you control, you can add 1 "Fire King" card from your Deck to your hand during the next Standby Phase.
Barong appeared in a burst of flames, its powerful roar echoing through the arena. Thanks to Infernal Blazes, its stats increased:
Fire King Avatar Barong (ATK 1800 2300 / DEF 200 700).
"Next, I activate the Field Spell Fire King Island from my hand!" Vivian continued, placing her card into her duel disk.
Pegasus interjected with a smile, "Remember, duelists, while Vivian may play a Field Spell on her side of the field, Infernal Blazes' effects remain in play for the entire match!"
Vivian nodded, confident in her strategy. "With Fire King Island, I'll destroy Barong in my hand to search my deck for Fire King High Avatar Garunix!"
Barong roared as it was engulfed in flames, and Vivian retrieved her ace card from her Deck. "When Barong is destroyed, its effect activates. During my next Standby Phase, I can add a 'Fire King' Spell or Trap to my hand. For now, I set one card face-down and end my turn."
[Vivian LP: 8000 Sona LP: 8000]
"My turn," Sona said, drawing her card with precision. She adjusted her glasses, her analytical mind already working to counter Vivian's strategy.
"You may have chosen Infernal Blazes, Vivian, but I'm not going to let that stop me. First, I activate my Field Spell: Deep Sea!" Sona said as she placed a field spell that not only flooded her area with water but shimmered with a faint light.
"Deep Sea allows my Water monsters to be safe from card effects, so now I summon Buzzsaw Shark in Attack Mode!"
Buzzsaw Shark
•Level 4 / WATER / Fish / ATK 1600 / DEF 500
•Effect: Once per turn, you can target 1 WATER monster you control; Special Summon 1 Fish monster with the same Level from your Deck.
Buzzsaw Shark emerged, its sleek body slicing through the air. Normally, due to Infernal Blazes, its effect would be negated, but thanks to the Deep Sea, the shark is safe.
"I see you've realized it," Vivian said with a smirk. "As long as Infernal Blazes is in play, your Water monsters are nothing but fish out of water. Meaning, all I have to do is take out your Deep Sea spell, and then your fish will be down for the count."
Sona's expression remained stoic. "Even without its effect, I can still fight back. I activated Buzzsaw Shark's effect to summon Lantern Shark from my Deck, and now I'm activating Lantern Shark's effect! Meaning I can summon a Level 3 to 5 monster from my hand, so I'm bringing out Skull Kraken!"
Lantern Shark
•Level 4 / WATER / Fish / ATK 1500 / DEF 900
•Effect: If this card is Normal or Special Summoned, you can Special Summon 1 Level 3, 4, or 5 WATER monster from your hand in Defense Position.
"And now, with Skull Kraken's effect, I can take out one Spell card on your field like, say, your Fire, King Island or Infernal Blaze?" Sona said with a questioning tone before Skull Kraken blew out some smoke that destroyed the Infernal Blaze Field Spell.
"Dammit. I was counting on its ability to help me."
"A for effort, but let me show you how you actually play this game," Sona said, snapping her fingers as Buzzsaw and Lantern Shark glowed.
"I overlay my two Level 4 monsters to construct the Overlay Network! I Xyz Summon Number 101: Silent Honor ARK!"
Number 101: Silent Honor ARK
•Rank 4 / WATER / Aqua / ATK 2100 / DEF 1000
•Effect: You can detach two materials from this card, then target 1 Special Summoned monster your opponent controls; attach it to this card as material.
Silent Honor ARK emerged from the shimmering waters of Sona's Deep Sea field, its mechanical frame gleaming under the heat of the volcanic backdrop. The crowd gasped in awe, knowing the power this Xyz monster carried.
"Now, I activate Silent Honor ARK's effect! By detaching two overlay units, I can target your Special Summoned Fire King Avatar Barong and absorb it as material!" Sona declared with a triumphant smirk.
Barong roared defiantly as it was encased in water-like energy, its body dissolving into particles that flowed into Silent Honor ARK.
Vivian gritted her teeth as her field was left empty. "I'm not done yet. You might've taken Barong, but its effect will still activate during my next Standby Phase!"
"True," Sona replied calmly. "But I've ensured it's no longer a threat to me. With no other monsters on your field, I'll attack directly with Silent Honor ARK!"
Silent Honor ARK surged forward, its mechanical frame gliding effortlessly through the watery aura. The attack struck Vivian, causing a blast of energy that made her stumble slightly.
[Vivian LP: 8000 5900]
[Sona LP: 8000]
Vivian clenched her fists but kept her resolve. She couldn't let Sona's calculated moves break her spirit. "Not bad, but you'll need more than that to take me down!"
Sona adjusted her glasses, her cold demeanor unwavering. "We'll see. For now, I set one card face-down and end my turn."
Vivian drew her next card, determination blazing in her eyes. "You're not the only one who can think strategically, Sona. My turn, draw!"
The group leaned in, especially Issei, sensing the momentum of the duel shifting. Looking at Sona made Issei nervous due to her stoic poker face, but he could see a faint outline of a smile, which made Issei think that Sona was setting up for something, something big.
"First, Barong's effect activates in my Standby Phase! Since it was destroyed, I get to add one 'Fire King' Spell or Trap from my Deck to my hand. I choose Fire King Circle!" Vivian revealed the card and added it to her hand.
"Next, I activate Fire King Circle! This spell lets me target one FIRE monster I control, destroy it, and then add a different FIRE monster from my Deck to my hand." She placed the card in her duel disk. "I'll destroy Fire King High Avatar Garunix in my hand to bring another Fire King Avatar Arvata to my hand!"
Garunix burst into flames within her hand, sending shockwaves of heat that radiated through the arena.
"And don't forget—when High Avatar Garunix is destroyed, it comes back during my next Standby Phase to obliterate all other monsters on the field!" Vivian grinned. "You've just set the stage for my ultimate comeback."
Sona narrowed her eyes, sensing the tide of the duel turning against her. "You're betting everything on Garunix. Typical Vivian—reckless as always."
"Reckless? No, it's called calculated risk," Vivian shot back. "Now, I summon Fire King Avatar Arvata in Attack Mode!"
Fire King Avatar Arvata
•Level 4 / FIRE / Beast-Warrior / ATK 1800 / DEF 200
•Effect: When a monster effect is activated while this card is on the field, you can negate that activation and destroy one other FIRE monster you control.
"With Infernal Blazes gone, my Arvata doesn't get its boost, but that's fine. I'll end my turn here. Your move, Sona."
[Vivian LP: 5900]
[Sona LP: 8000]
Sona drew her card, her expression remaining composed. "You've set the board for your so-called ultimate strategy, but I'll dismantle it piece by piece, just like how I wipe the floor with you whenever we play chess. My turn, draw!"
She examined her hand, calculating her next move. "I play XYZ Gift! It allows me to either transform a monster in my field into an overlay unit for them or use an XYZ Monster to summon another one. I'll use the first one and transform Skull Kraken into his new Overlay Unit."
Sona said as Skull Kraken glowed and became a new Overlay unit for Silent Honor ARK, which made her smile grow a bit as she continued her turn. "Now, I activate Silent Honor ARK's effect again. By detaching its new overlay units, I'll absorb your Fire King Avatar Arvata!"
Silent Honor ARK surged with energy, drawing Arvata into its control.
Vivian smirked. "Thanks for that! When your effect destroys Arvata, its ability activates. I can Special Summon a FIRE monster from my Graveyard with its effects negated. Come on back, Fire King Avatar Barong!"
Barong reappeared on the field, roaring fiercely.
Sona frowned slightly. "You're persistent, I'll give you that. But persistence won't save you. Silent Honor ARK, attack Fire King Avatar Barong!"
The crowd cheered, except Issei, as Silent Honor ARK unleashed another attack. Barong was destroyed in a fiery explosion.
[Vivian LP: 5900 4700]
[Sona LP: 8000]
"And I'm not done yet. I activate the Spell Card Surface! This card lets me Special Summon a Level 3 or lower WATER monster from my Graveyard in Defense Mode. Welcome back, Skull Kraken!"
Skull Kraken reappeared, taking a defensive stance before Sona continued her turn.
"I end my turn," Sona said, her gaze locked on Vivian. "Your move. Show me if you've got what it takes to claw your way back."
Vivian growled as she glared at Sona while Issei closed his eyes and spoke softly.
"It's all over. Sona wins." Issei said shocking Fenris.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Sona has set the stage, and thanks to Vivian's new play style, she's left herself wide open for Sona. If she played with her old Deck, she would've been ready, but looking at the new Deck she's using, I can tell it's incredibly risky. Also, it looks like she's waiting for a special card, though it looks like she's only obsessed with winning now that she's forgotten that this game is meant to have fun." Issei said that he saw this as a way to try and make friends, but other duelists feared him and his power that they avoided him, which is why he almost stopped dueling; however, thanks to the competition, Issei was starting to enjoy himself dueling again.
Fenris was amazed by this before he looked back at the field.
"Well, even if it ends so soon, at least Vivian knows she has someone to help her get through the defeat."
"Yeah," Issei said as he looked back at the arena and saw the fiery energy around Vivian, which seemed to grow stronger as she drew her next card.
"This is it, Sona. The moment where I show you why I don't need validation from anyone—not even my so-called family. My turn, draw!"
Her eyes lit up as she saw the card. "First, Garunix's effect activates! It returns to the field and destroys every other monster!"
Garunix erupted from a blazing vortex, its wings spreading wide. A massive wave of fire swept across the field, engulfing Silent Honor ARK, Skull Kraken, and Barong in its flames.
Sona shielded her eyes as the destruction cleared. Silent Honor ARK and Skull Kraken were gone, leaving the field empty except for Garunix.
Fire King High Avatar Garunix
•Level 8 / FIRE / Winged Beast / ATK 2700 / DEF 1700
"With your monsters gone, it's time to strike back. Garunix, attack Sona directly!" Vivian commanded.
Garunix launched a searing inferno, striking Sona head-on.
[Sona LP: 8000 5300]
"And I'm not done yet. I activate the Spell Card Rekindling! This spell lets me summon as many FIRE monsters with 200 DEF from my Graveyard as possible. Come back, Barong and Arvata!"
The fiery beasts returned to the field, flanking Garunix.
"Let's end this next turn, Sona," Vivian declared, her field now blazing with power.
Sona stood calmly amidst the fiery battlefield, the water from her Deep Sea Field Spell still faintly shimmering beneath her feet despite the oppressive heat. Adjusting her glasses, she offered a small, almost imperceptible smile.
"You've grown, Vivian," Sona said, her tone surprisingly genuine. "You've come a long way from the reckless, emotional duelist I once knew. Your strategies are sharper, your determination stronger."
This shocked Vivian, who would have never imagined her sister saying such kind words to her. Then Sona looked at her with her Ice Queen face, sending a shiver down her spine.
"But…"
Sona's expression turned cold, and her voice carried an icy edge. "Growth alone doesn't win duels. It's time I showed you the difference between a duelist chasing validation and one who's already mastered it. Checkmate."
Vivian's eyes widened as Sona drew her card with an air of absolute confidence.
"My turn, draw!" Sona declared, her movements precise as she examined her hand. Her gaze shifted to Vivian, who glared back, refusing to show fear.
"First, I activate my Spell Card: Salvage! This card allows me to add two WATER monsters with 1500 or less ATK from my Graveyard back to my hand. I'll retrieve Lantern Shark and Skull Kraken."
The two cards ejected from her Graveyard, and Sona swiftly added them to her hand.
"Next, I summon Lantern Shark in Attack Mode!" The sleek, aquatic beast emerged once more, circling in the watery remnants of the Deep Sea.
"And now, Lantern Shark's effect activates! I can Special Summon a Level 3, 4, or 5 WATER monster from my hand. I summon Skull Kraken!"
The shark circled the Kraken, their synchronized movements creating an eerie ripple of water beneath them.
Vivian frowned. "You're building your board again, but Garunix will just wipe it out on my next turn!"
Sona smirked. "Who said you'd get a next turn? Watch closely. I play Water Rising, which allows me to increase my Water Monsters level to the next Level of the highest level manager on my field, so since Lantern Shark is Level Four, I can make both Lantern Shark and Skull Kraken Level Five! And now I overlay my Level five Lantern Shark and Buzzsaw Shark to construct the Overlay Network!"
The two monsters transformed into beams of blue energy, swirling into a vortex as Sona raised her hand.
"I Xyz Summon Number 73: Abyss Splash!"
From the vortex emerged a towering, water-clad warrior wielding a massive trident, its presence radiating overwhelming power.
Number 73: Abyss Splash
Rank 5 / WATER / Warrior / ATK 2400 / DEF 1400
Vivian narrowed her eyes. "Abyss Splash? Its base ATK isn't enough to beat Garunix!"
Sona's smirk widened. "That's true—on its own. But Abyss Splash's effect changes everything. By detaching one overlay material, its ATK is doubled until the end of the Damage Step. Watch as it rises to 4800!"
Abyss Splash's trident crackled with watery energy as its strength surged.
"4800 ATK!?" Vivian gasped.
"And I'm far from done," Sona continued. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card Forbidden Droplet! By sending one card from my hand to the Graveyard, I can halve the ATK of one monster you control and negate its effects for the turn. Say goodbye to Garunix!"
Vivian's jaw tightened as Garunix was enveloped in a shimmering mist. Its ATK dropped to half, and its effect was nullified.
Fire King High Avatar Garunix (2700 1350)
"Now, Abyss Splash, attack Garunix!" Sona commanded.
Abyss Splash lunged forward, its trident glowing as it struck Garunix with a devastating blow.
Vivian LP: 4700-1725=2975
Vivian staggered slightly, the sheer force of the attack leaving her breathless.
"And to finish this, I activate my final card: Wrath of the Ocean!" Sona said, causing the water of the Deep Sea spell to rise and surround Abyss Splash's weapon with its power, causing its power to rise again.
"Since Abyss Splash attacked and destroyed a monster on your field, it can attack again without its special effects being able to activate again—and this time, its ATK doubles once more to a staggering 9600!"
Abyss Splash roared as its power surged to an overwhelming level.
"9600 ATK!?" Vivian's voice trembled, but she clenched her fists and stood her ground. "Damn it… Fine. Bring it on!"
"With pleasure," Sona said coldly. "Abyss Splash, end this duel. Attack Vivian directly!"
The crowd erupted as Abyss Splash unleashed its final strike, a torrent of watery energy surging toward Vivian. The impact was immense, forcing Vivian to shield herself as her Life Points plummeted to zero.
Vivian LP: 2975-4800=0000
Soma Sitri Wins!
The duel ended as the fiery volcanic arena faded away, leaving Sona standing tall in her Deep Sea domain. Vivian fell to her knees, panting, but there was no anger or despair in her expression—only reflection.
Sona approached her slowly, her voice firm but not unkind. "You fought well, Vivian. You're no longer the duelist I remember. But as long as you let the past control you, you'll never reach your full potential. Remember that."
With that, Sona turned and walked away, leaving Vivian to contemplate her words as the crowd's cheers echoed around her.
As the group of watchers began to disperse, Vivian climbed the stairs back to the spectator area, her movements slower than usual. Her fiery determination had dimmed, replaced by a quiet, reflective demeanor. Issei watched her approach, his heart aching as he saw the unshed tears shimmering in her eyes. Without hesitation, he stepped forward and held his arms out.
Vivian hesitated for a moment, but the weight of the duel and Sona's cutting words finally broke through her defenses. She stepped into his embrace, burying her face in his chest as the tears she had been holding back began to fall freely.
Issei said nothing at first, letting her cry into his shirt as he wrapped his arms around her protectively. He gently rubbed her back, offering silent comfort. Vivian clutched his shirt tightly, her body trembling as the emotions she had bottled up spilled out.
After a few moments, her sobs began to quiet, and her breathing steadied. Issei finally spoke, his voice soft and steady. "Vivian, do you know why you lost?"
Vivian stiffened slightly in his arms but didn't pull away. She sniffled, her voice muffled against his chest. "Because… Sona's better than me. She's always been better. Smarter, stronger… more confident. I couldn't beat her."
Issei shook his head gently. "That's not it." He pulled back slightly, just enough to look her in the eyes. "You didn't lose because she's better. You lost because you're still fighting the wrong battle."
Vivian frowned, confusion and frustration flickering across her face. "What do you mean?"
Issei's gaze softened, and he cupped her shoulders firmly. "You were fighting to prove yourself to people who don't deserve your energy. Your focus wasn't on the duel—it was on Sona, on the past, on all the pain your family caused you. You're chasing validation from them when you don't need it. You're already amazing, Vivian. But until you believe that, you'll keep holding yourself back."
Vivian stared at him, her tears slowing as his words sank in. "But… how do I stop? How do I just let it go?"
"You start by realizing that their opinion doesn't define you," Issei said firmly. "You've got people who see how strong, smart, and amazing you are—right here, right now. You've got me, you've got your parents, and the others who believe in you. You've already got a family, Vivian. One that believes in you, even when you don't believe in yourself."
His words broke through the last of her defenses, and fresh tears spilled down her cheeks—not from sadness this time, but from relief. Vivian leaned into him again, and Issei hugged her tightly, letting her feel the warmth of his support.
After a few moments, she whispered, "Thank you, Issei."
He smiled, his tone teasing but kind. "Hey, what are friends for? Now, come on. You'll get your rematch with Sona someday, but for now, let's stay here before we go back to the group."
Vivian wiped her tears and nodded, a small smile breaking through her lingering sadness. "Okay, and thanks, Issei. You didn't have to do this since I know you aren't a hugger like me, but still, thank you. I really appreciate it, Issei, since even though you still act a bit cold and distant, you're still a really good person."
"My, my. Aren't you a sweet talker? But there's no need to butter me up; you don't need to say honeyed words just to make me feel good," Issei said, which made Vivian giggle. She could tell that Issei is good at helping others with their emotions but puts on his tough act to keep his act together.
Together, they walked back toward the group, and while the sting of defeat still lingered, Vivian felt a small spark of hope igniting within her—a hope that one day, she would win not just a duel but the battle within herself.
Pegasus saw this and smiled at the sight, as it reminded him of a distant memory when he and his lover were in the same position, with Pegasus being comforted by his wife.
However, he still had a tournament to run, so he cleared his throat and signaled for the next match to be decided.
The screen shuffled the last two duels of the day, and the remaining four were curious to see who was next before the next match was chosen.
"My, my. It seems the next match will be an exciting one."
"Indeed, father, and I know he'll be excited for this duel as well," Jasmine said, looking at her new ace: Winged Dragon of Ra. She then looked at the necklace around her neck and opened it to see a photo of herself, her father, and her mother.
'Once I win, Mother, then you'll be able to come back.' Jasmine said as she kissed the picture and then closed it as the next duel was announced.
The tournament was now about to continue as the duelists readied their decks. They glared at each other as they drew their hands and nodded.
"Let's Duel!"
Scene!
Who shall be the next duelist in the tournament?
The lucky Duke Develin versus Pegasus's Daughter, Jasmine?
Or the Dark Duelist, Issei Hyoudou, versus the Creator of Duel Monsters, Pegasus?
Find out next time!
Ta-Ta!~