Chapter Text
Sakushi Vincent's POV
"That was...amazing."
I found no better words to describe Yuu and Harald's duel. Seeing the Nordic user in action once again was great on its own, though things went quite differently from what I had expected. Not only did he use Zigfried's cards from Duel Monsters, which criminally fit his deck's theme, but he also had new 'Aesir' gods and Rune Eyes! Yuu didn't allow him to steal the spotlight, however, and he went all out, proving his newfound resolve and strength as a Lancer.
Their duel quelled the crowd and brought the Commons and Tops together. Demiurge and the Mythorrors were also engrossed in the entire match, and no one was hiding their interest in both participants, especially Lindworm who came from the same mythology as Harald's Monsters.
"Ara ara~, the young sorcerer isn't half bad now." Sidonia giggled with a mischievous tone.
"What a shame he's fighting gods." Contrary to his words, Balor didn't sound to be sorry for him.
"Quite. But he's holding his ground nonetheless." Ereshkigal remarked during the final turn. "In fact, that Harald person must have realized Master's friend isn't an inept foe because he's fighting more ferociously than he did in the opening turns."
"He must teach him how helpless it is to oppose a god after all." Demiurge scoffed, albeit I could feel he was pleased by the recurring character's performance. "The Aesir, huh? I never heard of them, and they don't seem like much at first glance, but I guess I could be a little lenient considering they're gods. Who knows, they and that human might entertain me in the right circumstances, unlike the majority that only disappoints."
"Ahh, it's so good to hear you in high spirits, your Majesty!" Hevelius beamed.
"Oh joy." By his tone, I could tell Adaro just rolled his eyes.
An opponent who caught the interest of us all...this was a first! No matter what, I must advance to the second round to get a chance at dueling Harald. If this was enough to draw us together like never before, imagine what an actual match would do!
The next ones to enter the Duel Palace were Chojiro Tokumatsu and Yuzu. The clash between Entertainment and Enjoy Dueling made it an easy task to keep the audience in harmony, resulting in yet another fantastic fight. Yuzu also seemed to be using this opportunity to convey a message, more than probably to Yuya, to let him know she was fine and that he wasn't alone. Not gonna lie, hearing Shuzo's and Futoshi's catchphrases was nostalgic, as bizarre as they might be...
Following Yuzu's victory, it was her Fusion counterpart's time to shine against Tony in the second-to-last duel of the tournament's opening day. Some of our Mythorrors who were fans of Serena got really excited, but it was short-lived since her opponent didn't prove to be much of a big deal and was easily defeated. Although, the crowd quickly took a liking to her as well, probably because her beatdown style reminded them of Jack.
"The first day of the Friendship Cup is nearing its end, but there's still enough time for one last Duel!" Melissa shouted over the cheers of both Commons and Tops. "The Duelists of today's final match are these two!"
Two holograms materialized in the middle of the Duel Palace, and I jumped to my feet in shock for the second time today.
Ixtab barely contained a laugh. "Would you look at that?"
"Wh-What are the chances of this happening...!?" I would like to know it myself, Fey.
The three-dimensional images showed me and Ren.
Turn 18:
The Day a Legend is Defeated
"The fugitive who defeated a Duel Chaser, the star of Security, and the backseat kid will now face each other to determine who's going to proceed to the second round! Truly, a tragic turn of events for these two! But rest assured, everyone, for that doesn't mean their friendship is shattered. In fact, that's what this tournament is all about! The City is one! We're all friends!"
"Again with that 'backseat kid' thing..." I sighed in exasperation as Ren and I came to a stop at the starting line. The D-Wheel I was given was green and yellow, which matched my new attire.
"Ahaha! I guess this is your opportunity to—literally—make a new name for yourself." You bet I will do just that! Ren adjusted his gloves before gripping his D-Wheel's handles, tighter than he was previously doing.
Living together helped us get accustomed to his antics, so we knew what that unconscious gesture really meant. "He's excited." Xolotl pointed out.
"I never would've thought my first opponent would be you." Ren voiced just why he was feeling the said way. "How strange fate is."
"You can say that again." I agreed with a chuckle. He was right: this was an opportunity, and not only for the reason he stated. "I'm grateful for your and Antinomy's help, Ren. I'll show you how much I've grown, both as a person and a Duelist, thanks to you guys!"
"As you can probably tell, I'm looking forward to it." My happy expression and serious words earned a nod from the masked man, and we focused on the road. "I'll reply to your feelings by giving my all in this duel."
"Ugh. You, humans, have the weirdest concepts of foreplay..." Aura, h-how could you say that!? Great, now our moment was ruined!
"Without further ado, Action Field on!" Melissa winked at the camera and then pointed at the sky. "Field Spell, Crossover Acceleration!"
A yellow pulse of light spread across the sky, causing our surroundings to take on a bluish hue and Action Cards to scatter around the arena.
[Duel Mode, on. Auto-pilot, stand-by.] Our Duel Disk declared and deployed their energy blades.
"Our prayers, spells, and good luck charms will safeguard you, my king!" Seth reminded me as a holographic starting board appeared in front of us and started a countdown. "Rest at ease and keep all your attention on the duel!"
His words made my smile turn into a broad grin. "I will. Thanks, everybody!"
"Riding Duel...!" The countdown reached zero, and Melissa announced, "Acceleration!"
"DUEL!" we shouted and drove off in unison.
Ren: LP 4000
VS
Vince: LP 4000
We were racing towards the incoming corner side-by-side, but at the last second, I managed to surpass the White user and turn the corner for first.
"Like in his fight against the Duel Chaser, Ren will go second!" Melissa shouted.
"...And just like then, he did it again..." Howard pointed out, sounding vexed.
I noticed it, too. "Yeah. He deliberately decreased his speed, allowing me to go first." Ren knew the basics of my deck now, so he also knew whether he should go first or second to put me at a disadvantage. He's familiar with only a fraction of it, though. My deck was as versatile as his when it came to an opening turn!
"Hoh? It seems you figured me out." Despite hearing my words, Ren remained calm. "You're more perceptive now. Not bad."
"Thank you." I nodded and took hold of a card from my hand. "As you wish, I'll start us off, but I won't accept any complaints later on! I activate the Spell CardDanse Macabre!"
A card, which depicted Skull Servant, The Lady in Wight, Wightmare, Wightprince, Wightprincess, and Skull Dog Marron dancing merrily in a graveyard at night, appeared.
"Behold this frivolous yet terrifying performing art and memento mori, otherwise known as the Dance of Death!" I spread my arms as an ominous, dark mist fell over the ground we rode on. "By discarding any number of cards from my hand, for each one, an effect will be applied. I choose..."
I held up the remaining cards in my hand with a mischievous chuckle, prompting Ren to hum in surprise.
"Four. Per Danse Macabre's effect, you take 1000 damage and you must discard a card, while I draw four new cards!"
A pillar of purple light erupted under my opponent and shot into the sky, causing him to grunt.
Ren: LP 4000 - 1000 = 3000
"Vince draws first blood! He forced Ren to discard a card, too!" Melissa listed. Losing a card won't affect him much, in fact, it might help him, but dealing some damage now could make the difference in the late game. "A fitting effect for the so-called Dance of Death! Brrr, I'm even getting goosebumps..."
"You can't do anything with these, either." Demiurge grumbled upon inspecting my new cards.
"But everything is set for the turns to come." I reasoned with him in a low tone before addressing the White user. "It's your go, Ren!"
"H-Hold on a sec! Vince just ended his turn without doing anything else!" Melissa's eyes widened in shock, a sentiment shared by the audience. Heh, you're all in for a big surprise. "Why didn't he summon a wall-Monster or at least set a card...!?"
"That isn't like you." Ren remarked. Good, I was able to confuse him too! "You changed your playstyle? Just to defeat good old me?"
"Of course not. I'm not that type of Duelist." His words made me chuckle. "I'm an entertainer! Keeping the viewers and my opponent at the edge of their seats is a must."
"...Really now? If that's the case, let's see what you got up your sleeve! Ore no turn!" Ren drew a new card. "By discarding the Water Attribute White Moray, I can Special Summon White Stingray from my hand thanks to its effect!"
A white manta ray materialized on his field with a small cry.
White Stingray: Water / Fish / Effect / ATK: 1400 / DEF: 1000 / LV: 4
"Following that, I activate the Spell Card White Mirror!" He stated. "You already know what it does, Vince. It lets me target one Level 4 or lower Fish-Type Monster in my Graveyard, Special Summon it, and then add one Monster with the same name from my Deck to my hand. I target White Moray!"
The white ribbon eel swam out of a GY Portal that opened beside Ren with a short cry.
White Moray: ATK 600 / DEF 200 / LV: 2
"If Special Summoned from the Graveyard, I can turn Moray into a Tuner!" Ren gestured at his field. "I tune the Level 2 Moray with the Level 4 Stingray!"
As the fish's body morphed into two green rings that surrounded the other one and turned it into four stars, he chanted.
"Arise from the blue abyss, and protect the vast sea you live in! Synchro Summon! Level 6, and my partner! White Aura Dolphin!"
A bright beam shot through the rings, from which the dolphin with six light blue eyes and light turquoise scales under white armor swum out, letting loose a graceful cry as it followed Ren's D-Wheel.
White Aura Dolphin: ATK 2400 / DEF 1000 / LV: 6
"There it is!" Melissa shouted over the crowd's cheers, more prominently those of the Commons. By the looks of things, the Tops didn't completely forget what he'd done with that Monster a few days prior to this. "Ren Synchro Summoned the Monster which defeated the Duel Chaser!"
I smirked the same way I did in our last duel. "Your partner right off the bat again?" Not only that, but he also had a Moray in his hand. In his next turn, the chances he'll go for Whale are very high.
"Battle!" Ren aimed a finger at yours truly. "You've left yourself wide open, so don't mind if Dolphin attacks you directly! White Splash!"
"I don't mind, but there's someone in my Graveyard who does." I wagged a finger at him. "At this moment, the effect of the Trap Card Mythorror Imperial Armyactivates!"
"Humph, as I thought." Ren thought out loud in slight annoyance. "That's why you used Danse Macabre."
"Exactly. This card only has a Graveyard effect, but it's nothing to laugh at." I warned him. "When I'm attacked directly and this card rests in the grave, I can negate that attack!"
His dolphin fired a stream of water from her mouth, but it was deflected by a wall of clay debris and spiky, dark gray tentacles that emerged from a GY Portal behind me. The tentacles had eyes on them, too, which had yellow scleras, green irises, and slitted black pupils.
"Then I can Special Summon Imperial Army as an Effect Monster alongside two Mythorror Imperial Tokens, all of them in defense mode! Show yourselves, soldiers with resolves that shall never be washed away by time!"
The wall of tentacles split apart and coiled around each other to form three humanoid figures, causing the GY Portal to close. The clay debris then reunited on them like a puzzle to form Chinese armor, leaving a few holes here and there to keep their true appearance hidden underneath revealed at all times.
They were a part of theTerracotta Army, with the central soldier being clad in a general's outfit to signal their status as a commander.
Mythorror Imperial Army: Dark / Fiend / Effect / ATK: 1000 / DEF: 1000 / LV: 4
Mythorror Imperial Tokens: Dark / Fiend / ATK: 500 /DEF: 500/ LV: 4—x2
"W-What a move!" Melissa breathed out. "Not only did Vince negate the attack, but also summoned three Monsters, one of which is a Trap Card!"
"Brrr, tentacles..." Adaro suddenly shivered. "You know what I mean, right, Master?"
My soldiers and I cocked our heads to the side and exchanged confused glances. "Hm?" Tentacles, right? What's that I should know about them—Wait. "Adaro, are you referring to...?"
I had no trouble imagining his teasing grin. "Yes~! Tentacle ero—"
"I hate that! Don't ever mention it in my presence!" I whisper-shouted in exasperation. No, this wasn't about me! Don't pollute the minds of my other children with such things! "Actually, never mention that to anyone. How do you even...know of it!?"
"I have my ways." Ugh, of course you did.
"I know what you two are going on about, but if sweetheart hates it to this extent, I guess I can hold my tongue this once." Succubus, not you too...
"I'm lost. What were you saying that starts with 'ero'?" Willauk was confused, similarly to the rest. And we shall keep it that way!
"Ren seizes an Action Card!" Melissa's announcement snapped me back to attention. While I was busy talking with my Monsters, my opponent surpassed me and grabbed an incoming card in a bubble.
"Akushon Majikku:Frenzy!" A card, which depicted an enraged humanoid silhouette ramming into three others and knocking them to the ground, appeared. "This turn, Dolphin is permitted to attack all Monsters you control, once each!"
Seriously? "Damn that human-like luck." For once, I found myself agreeing with Camazotz. "He got exactly what he needed...!"
"Battle!" Ren threw an arm to the side. "Dolphin, attack Imperial Army!"
"Don't think that will work!" My smirk returned. "I won't let my soldiers die at your hands. Here comes another effect straight from my Graveyard! Because you attacked my Mythorror, I can Special Summon the Trap Card Mythorror Saleos as an Effect Monster! Come, in defense mode!"
A new GY Portal opened, from which a large, black-scaled crocodile with eerie crimson eyes and spikes jutting from her back all the way to the tip of her tail emerged with a roar. Riding the said beast was a handsome, fair-skinned man with warm, hazel eyes and short, white hair—that contrasted well with his steed's colors—as well as pointy ears. He wore a black regal outfit and boots with red and golden trims, a white-furred red left-shoulder cape, and silver armor on his right shoulder, arm, and hand. He also had black piercings in his left ear, one of which had a small cross hanging from it, and a black ducal crown on his head.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen." Brandishing his spiral-headed lance, Saleos greeted us with an excited smile. "At last, it's our chance to shine!" His steed roared again in agreement.
Mythorror Saleos: Dark / Fiend / Effect / ATK: 2000 / DEF: 2000 / LV: 7
"The turn this card is Special Summoned, my Mythorrors can't be destroyed!"
True to my words, Dolphin fired a second stream of water from her mouth, but Saleos effortlessly bisected it with a swing of his lance. The Imperial soldiers bowed in gratitude, earning a sheepish chuckle from the demon and he waved his hand to assure them it wasn't needed.
"So you took advantage of my attacks..." Ren sighed, sounding angry with himself. "I was dumb to think you'd change the playstyle that suits you the most. I set a card and end my turn."
"Vince completely stopped Ren in his tracks!" Melissa pointed out. "His field is now set for his next turn. If his defense is this impressive, I for one can't wait to see his offense!"
"I won't keep anyone waiting then." Alright, let's turn up the heat even further! "Boku no turn! Draw! Because I control a Mythorror, I can Special Summon this card from my hand. Emerge from the angles of time, Mythorror Tindalos!"
The large dog's skeleton with a red glow radiating from inside their empty eye sockets, a pair of bat wings with dark red membranes sprouting from their back, and a long blue tongue appeared on my field through a portal of smoke.
Mythorror Tindalos: ATK 2400 / DEF 2700 / LV: 7 / SC: 6
"Two Level 7 Monsters... Your aim is to Xyz Summon, I presume?" I was going to confirm Ren's words when my head completely processed what he had said, and the realization caused my words to stick in my throat.
"If memory serves me well, Sir Ren shouldn't be aware of the presence of Xyz Monsters in my lord's Extra Deck." Reynardine voiced my realization, confused and suddenly anxious like me. "He didn't reveal them in their previous fight."
"Vince-kun always had his deck on his person around Ren and Antinomy." Snow reminded us. "Did they take a peek at it while we were asleep?"
"No." Yamatochi, who was doing a good job at remaining calm, said. "I stayed awake for guard duty and not once did they approach my master or his deck while he was asleep."
"Th-Then how does he know, nya~!?" Nekomata couldn't hold back the question anymore.
"You still don't get it?" Perses inquired in exasperation. "He just gave away the fact there's more to him, and more than probably that human friend of his, than meets the eye."
Followed by an amused chuckle as if he could hear the conversation, Ren tilted his head so he could side-glance at me. "I apologize for throwing you and your Monsters into disarray." Wait, he heard them!?
"Who in their right mind allowed themselves to be heard by him!?" Demiurge howled, and he didn't have to wait a lot for the answer as Nekomata yelped in panic.
"I-I-I thought he couldn't hear us, nya~! I'm so sorry!"
"Aw, don't fret over it!" Saleos didn't give the god the chance to reply, which I silently thanked him for. I would've had to intervene otherwise, and this wasn't the perfect moment for an infight. "I don't hide a thing from those Vince-kun considers his friends."
"Hoh? Quite the wholehearted words for a demon." Ren chuckled anew but did a double-take seconds later. "Ah, sorry. Maybe I took it too far with that joke."
"Oh, please." Saleos showed his pearly whites. "I'm not as innocent as I look." His crocodile growled with half-lidded eyes, prompting him to stare at her the same way. "Um, why so judgmental all of the sudden?"
Ren gasped. "Yours does it too from time to time!?" We all blinked, except for Dolphin, who shot her user a clearly annoyed stare. "Oi, you know I'm right!"
"Um, excuse me!" I waved a hand to catch their attention. I didn't wish to put an end to this nice moment, but all good things must eventually come to an end. "Ren, you...who are you?"
I wasn't in the slightest bit angry at him. In fact, I didn't have the right to feel that way, not when I have been lying to him and Antinomy for all these days. I kinda deserved it...but that didn't mean I won't be shocked by it. This was a truth bomb, with me in the middle of it!
"I'm not permitted to answer that, sorry." Was all he said back, to which I frowned. Permitted? By who? Antinomy...? Or someone else entirely, who's issuing orders to the aforementioned person as well? "At least, not for now. The occasion for it will eventually come, don't worry."
That wasn't reassuring at all, honestly. "He won't reveal anything..." Willauk muttered.
"Things are never that easy." You said it, Ixtab. "What now, human? By the looks of things, he and his friend might just be our enemies."
Yeah, quite the predicament. "...We're in the middle of a duel at the moment. We'll worry about the details later." The goddess hummed, agreeing with my words. Ren refused to tell us more and theorizing won't take us far right now. And I don't think they're our enemies, was left unsaid.
It's strange, but...I couldn't feel any animosity from Ren. Normally, you would reveal your true self at this point of your plan, but the masked man continued to be himself. He seemed even happier, as a matter of fact, openly talking with my Mythorrors.
And why revealnowthe truth to begin with? He and Antinomy were fooling us, but why? I think...theywantedme to enter the Friendship Cup, hence why they mentioned it to me and helped me register, and thanks to them, I was right where I had to be for the plot. That would explain why Ren dropped his façade too. They achieved what they wanted, or what they were ordered to do, so they had no reason to keep fooling us.
"C'mon, you two! Why are you only talking to yourselves?" Melissa's sudden scolding caught our attention. She and the audience weren't too happy we paused the match. "Please, continue the duel, you aren't here to chat!"
"OK, let's proceed." I nodded to myself, focusing back on the matter at hand. Hmm, what if...yeah, this was a good opportunity for it. I raised a hand at the sky and said in English, "Everybodyyy...!"
With a snap of my fingers, everyone fell silent. "Eyes on me!" I concluded with a grin.
"Oya, your very own catchphrase?" Ren inquired, and by his tone, I could tell he was grinning too.
I nodded. "Yeah! Although, I only invented it the other day." I found Yuya's own catchphrase iconic and fitting for our dueling style, but I couldn't just borrow it. It was his, which means I must come up with one of my own! "Now then, sorry for the long wait. My opponent and I are ready to continue from where we've left off! I overlay the Level 7 Saleos and Tindalos!"
My two Monsters turned into purple beams and entered a swirling galaxy, from which a pillar of light shot out.
"Ruler cloaked in death's scent. Gather the army that will defeat those foolish enough to defy me! Xyz Summon! Descend, Rank 7! Mythorror God Supay!"
To emerge from the portal was the tall man with stone blue skin decorated with black tattoos and four-toed feet with gray talons, wearing a black and golden headdress with the Supay-mask Duel Monster on his face, a brown loincloth with blue orbs strapped to his waist, a pair of bracelets made of blue orbs around his ankles, and clawed stone gauntlets.
Mythorror God Supay: ATK 2700 / DEF 1600 / RK: 7
The crowd was in awe. "An Xyz Summon?" Melissa blinked twice. "These two weren't average fugitives...? Moreover, Vince is also a god user like Harald? Man, the surprises just won't stop coming! This year's Friendship Cup bests all previous ones, and no one can change my mind!"
"Tindalos's effect activates." I gestured at my god, who banged his fists together. "Supay gains two new effects since he was summoned by using them as material. I can draw a card upon his summon, and he gains 300 Attack!"
(Supay: 2700→3000 ATK)
"The general of the Imperial Army will now activate their effect." The said Monster unsheathed the stone jian sword attached to their waist and raised it to the sky. "Because I control three soldiers of the Imperial Army, I can increase each of their Levels up to that amount. I choose to increase their Levels to 7!"
"Vince now controls three Level 7 Monsters!" Melissa shouted. "Will he Xyz Summon a second Rank 7 Xyz Monster!?"
"That's impossible." Ren interjected. "Tokens can't be used to perform an Xyz Summon."
"Indeed." I shrugged to confirm his words, but then immediately grinned. "Under normal circumstances, that is. Thanks to my general's other effect, I'm permitted to Xyz Summon a Mythorror by also using Imperial Tokens, at pact I banish them and attach the top card of my Deck to the summoned Xyz Monster as Overlay Units!"
"What did you say?" Ren gasped.
"Let's become the exception to the rule! I overlay my three Level 7 soldiers!" After conjuring a new swirling galaxy and pillar of light, I chanted. "Staunch guard dog of the Underworld, under my lead, let none escape the clutches of death! Xyz Summon! Howl, Rank 7! Mythorror Gnostic Kerberos!"
A magic circle suddenly appeared at the tip of the pillar, and black stars lit up one by one on it, followed by a black line which connected them all, revealing the Cerberus constellation. The three-headed, black-furred hound with sharp fangs, a single orange eye and a spiky collar for each of his heads, obsidian claws, and red circuits running along his body emerged from the circle.
Mythorror Gnostic Kerberos: ATK 2900 / DEF 2500 / RK: 7
"That...sure was a move." I couldn't help but allow my grin to widen at Ren's praise, although his next words caught me off guard. "Sadly, those chants don't suit you. No, scrap that, the Monsters themselves don't suit you. They're rubbish."
"I see someone likes running their mouth." Supay scoffed in irritation, and while I personally would've used a different word to describe Demiurge's servants, I concurred with what regarded the summon chants. They...weren't made for me. The hostility and air of superiority in them suited their creator, not me. But I kept using them because they sounded cool, and it seemed to please the god inside me the more he heard them.
"Battle!" I carried on without replying to Ren's words. "Kerberos, attack White Aura Dolphin! Infernal Ululate!"
His three heads howled in unison, unleashing several sound waves that washed over the aquatic mammal, who left the field in a shower of particles, and Ren, who grunted as his D-Wheel slightly wobbled.
Ren: LP 3000 - 500 = 2500
"Dolphin no kōka!" Ren declared. "If destroyed by battle or my opponent's card effect and sent to the Graveyard, by banishing one other Water Attribute Monster from my Graveyard, I can Special Summon her back to my field as a Tuner. I banish Stingray and revive her in defense mode!"
Aha, got you! "I was waiting for this moment!" My eyes widened in glee. "By using an Overlay Unit, I activate my guard dog's effect!" His middle head devoured a light orbiting his body. "Until the end of this turn, you aren't allowed to Special Summon Monsters from either Graveyard! Infernal Lock!"
Ren jerked in surprise. "Wh-What an effect!" Melissa cried out. "Vince had a way to seal Ren's strategy to resurrect his Synchro Monster right after its destruction and use it to block the next attack! If that effect goes through, a direct attack from the 3000-Attack Supay will follow!"
"To think it had an effect like that..." Ren clicked his tongue. "However, you're wrong to think that's enough to checkmate me. With a 'White Aura' Monster in my Graveyard, I'm permitted to activate the Counter TrapWhite Poison!"
A card, which showed White Sea Nettle trapping Shark Stickers between its tentacles in the sea, appeared.
"The activation of Kerberos's effect is negated!" Come on, man, seriously!? "As an added bonus, his effects are now permanently negated and it loses 400 Attack and Defense." Sigh, at least I attacked with him first...
(Kerberos: 2900→2500 ATK, 2500→2100 DEF)
As the chain resolved, Dolphin swam out of a GY Portal that opened beside her user with some low clicks.
"That was a close call." Sighing, Melissa rubbed her forehead with the back of her hand. "Since its effects are negated, Ren won't have to worry about that effect in the next turns, either..."
"Yeah, talk about annoying..." Fey muttered. His Reincarnation Synchro would've been as good as dead thanks to Infernal Lock, but it didn't come as a surprise Ren had something up his sleeve to protect his main strategy. As Fey noted, it was simply annoying.
"My Battle Phase isn't over yet!" I aimed a finger forward. "Battle! Supay will attack her next!"
The god brought his hands together, conjuring a sphere of purple flames. "Have an unpleasant, second trip to the underworld!" He then threw it like a pitcher, striking Dolphin and creating an explosion of purple flames.
"No matter how many times you defeat her, she'll just come back!" Ren shouted defiantly. "I activate Dolphin's effect, reviving her for the second time in defense mode by banishing Moray from my Graveyard!"
The same scene from before repeated itself.
"Neither Infernal Lock nor my attacks succeeded...but you know how the saying goes, right, Ren? The third time's the charm! I enter the second Main Phase and activate the Quick-Play Spell Rank-Up-Magic Horrific Force!" A card, which depicted the black silhouette of a chimeric monster with crimson energy overflowing from behind it and several golden chains tipped with violet spikes shooting out from it towards the edges of the picture, appeared. "Through its effect, I can Xyz Summon one 'Mythorror' Xyz Monster from my Extra Deck that's one or two Ranks higher than a 'Mythorror' Xyz Monster I control by using it as material!"
Kerberos turned into a purple beam that entered a swirling galaxy, from which a pillar of light shot out as I chanted.
"Avatar of destruction, with my will as your beacon, punish those who choose the path of light and hope! Rank-Up Xyz Change! Ravage, Rank 8! Mythorror Titan Perses!"
To emerge from the portal was a giant man, as big as Harald's Aesir gods, with scarred, charcoal skin, slitted purple eyes, and a white beard. He wore an obsidian corinthian helmet and armor from his waist to his feet, leaving his toned upper body embellished with tattoos on constant display. He ran a hand over the blade of the obsidian claymore he wielded, igniting it with raging flames.
"Your end is at dawn." He proclaimed ominously.
Mythorror Titan Perses: Dark / Fiend / Xyz / Pendulum / Effect / ATK: 3500 / DEF: 3000 / RK: 8 / SC: 4
Alright, my first-ever Rank-Up summon was a success! "Vince evolves his Xyz Monster!" Melissa cried out. "Rank 8 and 3500 Attack! Will this Monster finally defeat Ren's Synchro!?"
"Only one way to find out. By using an Overlay Unit, I activate Perses's effect!" The Titan slashed one of the lights orbiting his body with his weapon. "Behold, a Savage Feast through and through! He will destroy as many Monsters you control as possible, and you take damage equal to half the Attack of one of the destroyed Monsters!"
"I just got a strong sense of déjà vu." Demiurge sneered when his follower swung his claymore at the 'White' Monster. "All the ammunition to keep his servant alive is gone."
"Think again." Ren remarked, angered by the fact we thought he'd let his partner fall so easily. I guess no one was holding back anymore, allowing themselves to be heard by the masked man. "I banish the Trap Card White Barricadefrom my Graveyard to prevent Dolphin's destruction by battle or a card effect!"
The spectral image of a Trap, which showed numerous White Morays coiled to each other to form a makeshift barricade to stop the advance of Amphibious Bugroth MK-3, appeared before turning into a wall of water that shielded his Synchro Monster from Perses's claymore.
"Agh, so close again." Snow sighed in frustration, finding it hard to believe I failed for the third time, a sentiment I shared with her.
"Since she wasn't destroyed, you won't take any damage." Those two share a very strong bond... I replaced my frown with a smile. This will be a great duel, way better than our previous one! "I place three cards face-down and pass!"
"It's only fair if I respond in kind, Vince. Prepare yourself!" My opponent declared after we turned a corner. "Ore no turn! Draw! I summon White Moray!"
After doing so, "Now I tune the Level 2 Moray with Level 6 Dolphin!" As his partner's body morphed into six green rings that surrounded the fish and turned it into two stars, he chanted. "Great whale slumbering in the blue abyss, awaken in the deep between life and death! Synchro Summon! Arise, Level 8! White Aura Whale!"
A bright beam shot through the rings, from which the white whale with twelve crimson eyes swum out, letting loose a resounding cry as it followed its user.
White Aura Whale: ATK 2800 / DEF 2000 / LV: 8
The people in the audience didn't know whether to gasp in shock or cheer in awe at the two behemoths on our respective fields. "Ren also evolves his Monster!" Melissa shouted, and I think I heard her add in a lower and more nervous tone, "Another huge Monster? I've seen too many of them for a day, honestly..."
"Its size is almost on par with a Titan." Styx specified, also confirming I heard things right.
"Whale no kōka!" The said Monster's eyes flashed, conjuring dark clouds above the Duel Palace as if it was about to rain. "If this card is Special Summoned, I can destroy all Monsters you control. Life Purification!"
There was a flash of lightning above us, followed by a thunderclap that earned a surprised cry from a few viewers. The wind picked up as well, growing so violent to the point I had to tighten my hold on the handles or else I'd lose control of my D-Wheel.
"H-How is he unaffected by all this...!?" I asked no one in particular with gritted teeth, watching Ren effortlessly drive through the storm. It must be all those years of experience. "That's...!"
An Action Card in a bubble! OK, take a deep breath. Let go of a handle and carefully lean down to grab it—"A tornado!?" I exclaimed in disbelief at the vortex which began forming behind the bubble, causing it to fly away. "For real!?"
"Master!" Ereshkigal yelled in concern.
I nodded. "I know!" Ren evaded the new obstacle with ease and I copied his exact moves, dodging the tornado somewhat sloppily but at least without crashing. My Xyz Monsters weren't as lucky, however, forcefully being dragged into the vortex where they burst into particles with pained grunts.
"Its power is even moremonstrous in a duel..." Reynardine muttered in shock.
"Making all those preparations before the duel has really paid off." Seth chuckled nervously.
I smiled at the reminder. "Thanks again." I then gestured at my field. "Due to their effects, Saleos and Imperial Army are banished as they were sent to the Graveyard as Overlay Units. On top of that, I activate the Xyz Summoned Perses's effect on destruction. By destroying all the cards in my Pendulum Zones, I can place him there!"
I placed his card on the end of my energy blade, causing a pillar of blue light to appear on my left as the Titan rose to its tip, dispersing the tornado we left behind with an irritated swing of his claymore.
"Oh! That Xyz Monster was at the same time a Pendulum Monster?" Melissa inquired in awe. "I didn't notice it earlier, what a surprise! It seems there's much more to these new Summoning Methods than meets the eye!"
"Curse that brat." Perses glared daggers at the masked man. "Reducing me to this state before I could destroy something...!"
"Oya? Did I ruffle your feathers? Too bad that isn't my problem." Ren scoffed rather coldly, prompting the Titan to growl in anger. "Battle!"
"Not so fast, Ren!" I hastily announced and played two of my set cards. I had no choice, or else I'd lose the timing and my strategy would fail. "Reverse card, double open!"
"Double?" He whipped his head around in surprise.
I raised my pinky finger. "The first: Continuous Trap, Minerva's Tactical Forecast! The Roman goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare will help me stop you, Ren. With this card, if my opponent controls two or more Monsters, they can only declare attacks with one of those each Battle Phase."
I raised my ring finger. "The second: Continuous Trap,Qiongqi of the Four Perils!" A card, which depicted a scrawny, bluish-gray-skinned humanoid demon with four arms and clad in a red, white, and black harlequin costume and a matching mask making a straw puppet, appeared. "Upon activation or during the Standby Phase, one Mythorror Straw Token is Special Summon to both our fields in attack mode!"
"Here it comes, here it comes! My cute puppet!" Qiongqi giggled madly as a living, straw puppet with a thorny vine tangled into its body emerged from a distorted, black portal on each side of the battlefield.
Mythorror Straw Token: Dark / Fiend /ATK: 0/ DEF: 0 / LV: 2—x2
"Hmm? I recall you making much bigger puppets during the Great War." Sidonia mocked the Peril, drawing an offended gasp. "That's not good~! Your skills have turned rusty."
Right, when I found their cards in my deck, Demiurge mentioned something about the Four Perils being his old servants from the Great War. They couldn't become actual Monsters like Saleos or Imperial Army, but they still functioned as such like Manek's Dopant of Zone.
"On the contrary, you witch!" He spat back. "Meaningful art needs time. All my works were hasty during the war, but once that was over and I could take my time in creating puppets, your little brain can't fathom the beauties I've produced!"
She giggled innocently. "Suuure." Qiongqi, however, not realizing she was still making fun of him, hummed in satisfaction.
"You didn't seal my attacks though." Ren addressed me. "There must be more to your combo."
"Yes, a keen observation." I clicked my fingers, eager to fully reveal my plan. "I'll start from the details. Straw Tokens can't attack or be targeted for attacks, but that does not prevent a player from attacking their opponent directly. Lastly, Qiongqi raises the stats of all Mythorrors by 200 for each Fiend-Type Monster on the field."
The straw puppets moaned like zombies as their strength increased.
(Straw Token: 0→400 ATK, 0→400 DEF)
"I see. They can neither attack nor defend, so they only serve to raise the stats of other Monsters you'll summon." Ren pointed out. "Since they can't defend, I can't remove them from the field via attacks either..."
"And there's more. I'll show you all...a triple-Trap combo!" Several gasps were heard from the crowd as I raised the same fingers from behind plus the middle one. "Continuous Trap open: Taotie of the Four Perils!"
A card, which depicted a fat, red-skinned humanoid demon with patches of gray scales on his arms and bald head, a dismorphed face with protruding fangs and dull, blue eyes, and wearing scant yet regal clothing and golden rings on his fingers, appeared next. He was at a banquet, eating large quantities of meat with a bored expression.
"Upon activation or at the start of the Battle Phase, I must target one Monster in attack mode that turn's player controls. If that target does not declare an attack and it's face-up on the field at the end of that Battle Phase, the turn's player takes 1000 damage. Ren, I target your Straw Token!"
"Feel hunger." Taotie declared with a bored tone, and seconds later, the Token gained a purple aura and it moaned hungrily.
"It can't attack, which means I'm guaranteed to take 1000 damage when the Battle Phase ends." Ren noted gravely. "But don't forget about Whale, Vince. The 2800 damage you'll take from its direct attack makes up for the 1000 you'll inflict on me. Not to mention, if my Life gets too low, I can always avoid your combo by not battling."
"Sorry, but you can't break free from this web so easily. As long as Taotie is in play, we must enter the Battle Phase no matter what." By his movements, I could tell Ren gritted his teeth behind his mask. "And Minerva's Tactical Forecast has an additional effect in store! Once per turn, when you control two or more Monsters and you declare an attack with the Monster whose original Attack is the highest you control, I can negate that attack!"
"Wh-What a terrifying lockdown...!" Melissa commented in concern. "The only attack Ren can declare will be negated by Vince's Trap, and at the end of his Battle Phase, he'll take 1000 damage! If Ren can't escape this combo in three turns, he'll lose!"
"Truly, a countdown to death!" Hevelius proclaimed proudly.
"Don't get too ahead of yourself." Ren warned us. Yeah, this won't be enough to win the match, that much I knew. He will find a way to shatter this combo eventually, and I need to prepare for that moment! "I enter the second Main Phase."
His Straw Token shrieked at those words, striking him across the back with its thorny vine and earning a pained grunt in return.
Ren: LP 2500 - 1000 = 1500
"I end my turn."
"Boku no turn!" I drew after we turned a corner. "Qiongqi's effect activates during the Standby Phase!"
A new Straw Token appeared on each of our fields, causing the ATK and DEF of all Tokens to become 800.
"And now, the icing on the cake! I activate the Continuous SpellTaowu of the Four Perils!" A card, that showed a brawny, white-skinned humanoid demon with black tattoos painted on his body, protruding lower canines, yellow eyes, a wild mop of black hair, and wearing a black loincloth with golden circles strapped to his waist, appeared. He was smashing to pieces boulders with an oversized hammer. "Each time you activate a card or effect, you take 500 damage immediately after it resolves!"
"Vince continues to put pressure on Ren!" Melissa's eyes widened. "Is there any hope left for him at this point? Can he break free from this lock!?"
"At last, my moment has ARRIVED!" I flinched at Taowu's unnecessarily loud shout, which was followed by a string of insults from his fellow Perils. He ignored them without missing a beat. "Your luck's good, twerp! No one can survive a fight against three Perils!"
While I agree I drew him at a good timing, I had trouble believing his other point. "Please, I found myself in much worse situations before." Ren interjected calmly, slightly turning his head to glance in our direction. "I won't allow a lock to restrain me."
"I'm glad to know your will to fight hasn't dwindled. Our crowd has to enjoy the show! It's no fun to hide behind a lock or to give up immediately." I admitted, obtaining cheers of agreement from the viewers. "In my last turn, I've shown you all my Xyz. Now...I'll use a different Summoning Method to capture your hearts!"
"Did I hear that right?" Melissa couldn't contain a grin of excitement. "On top of Xyz and Pendulum, Vince has mastered even more Summoning Methods!?"
"I won't keep anyone waiting." I repeated my words from my previous turn with a playful wink. "Because I control a Mythorror, I can Special Summon Tindalos from my Graveyard, at pact I banish them when they'll leave the field!"
The Hound of Tindalos reappeared through a portal of smoke, their ATK going to 3400 while the Tokens' to 1000.
"I activate the Spell CardPersona Coalesce!" A card, that showed a similar scenario to Polymerization but with Orthrus and Xolotl instead of the orange fiend and dragon glowing with green and yellow energy respectively and spiraling into an ancient book, appeared. "With this card's power, I can Fusion Summon one 'Mythorror' Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck by banishing one Monster from my field and one Mythorror from my Extra Deck who shares the same Summoning Method as a Monster my opponent controls. The ones I'll fuse are Tindalos and Ereshkigal!"
My Monsters turned into red and blue energy respectively, which then spiraled into a portal as I chanted and clasped my hands together.
"Relentless pursuer of time travelers! Queen of the Great Below! Let your desires awaken the Titaness binding oaths for the deities! Fusion Summon! Level 10! Mythorror Titaness Styx!"
To emerge from the portal was a giant woman with grayish-blue skin, cold light blue eyes, and shoulder-length blue hair whose tips slightly floated as if she was submerged in water. She wore a golden-trimmed black bodysuit that left her shoulders, hands, hips, and feet exposed, a long, blue strip of cloth attached to each of her wrists that connected to her hips, as well as a veil on her head and a waist cloak composed of the flowing, grayish waters of the river of her namesake.
"How ironic my first opponents ended up being you." She commented, and quickly added, "Fellow aquatic monsters and their user, Ren: prepare yourselves!"
Mythorror Titaness Styx: Dark / Fiend / Fusion / Pendulum / Effect /ATK: 2900→3900/ DEF: 3000→4000 / LV: 10 / SC: 11
"Like Sakaki Yuya, Vince himself wields Pendulum, Xyz, and Fusion!" Melissa shouted over the crowd's cheers. "This year's participants are packed with surprises, let me tell you!"
"Per Tindalos's effect, Styx lets me draw a card on summon and she gains 300 Attack!" Her ATK rose to 4200 at those words. "Now, pay close attention to the strength of the one who forms the boundary between Gaia and the Underworld! Styx, activate your effect!"
"Unfortunate wanderer of the Underworld," her veil and waist cloak extended throughout the chant. "Fall into the waters which bear my name, teeming with the hatred of my eternal prisoners! Soul Bind!"
The waves shot forward, plunging into a GY Portal that opened beside Ren. Much to his shock, they dragged out Dolphin from it, who was thrashing around in a vain attempt to free herself as her body merged with the water.
"Dolphin!" He reached out for her with a hand, but it was already too late. Styx's clothes returned to their original sizes once they concluded their job, prompting Ren to clench his hand in frustration.
"Don't worry. She wasn't actually dragged into the river." I addressed him with a reassuring smile. I wasn't evil; I'd never dare separate them for real. "Styx can, once per turn, target a Monster in a Graveyard to banish, enabling me to apply one of two effects until the End Phase. I choose the first option, having Styx gain the banished Monster's name and effects!"
Knowing his partner wasn't harmed, Ren's posture eased somewhat and he focused back on the road, giving me the cold-shoulder treatment for scaring him. Yeah, I deserved that, haha. Noting his mood swing, Styx merely sighed, but I didn't fail to see her eyes flash with a little guilt.
"I activate Styx's newly gained effect." I continued, hoping to lighten up the mood again. "Once per turn, I can target one face-up Monster you control and have its Attack become half its original Attack for this turn. You only control one Monster, Ren. My target should be obvious!"
(Whale: 2800→1400 ATK)
"That's more than enough to defeat Ren in an attack!" Melissa pointed out. "He has to worry about the lock and Vince's attacks in unison... How can Ren keep his cool under so much pressure!?"
"He has a plan to survive, no doubt." Nattmara scoffed.
Let's find out, shall we? "Battle! Taotie's effect activates at this moment, and I obviously target Styx for it."
"I guess I should go easy on you..." The Peril sighed as a purple aura surrounded the Fusion Monster, causing her to flinch in discomfort.
"Hold on, how much hunger did you infest my dear puppet with earlier!?" Qiongqi's question was met with a yawn, prompting the masked Peril to gasp in an overdramatized manner. "How dare you treat my babies so harshly!? Humph!"
I think I wasn't the only one who sweatdropped. "...Moving on. Go, Styx! Attack White Aura Whale! Oceanid Breaker!"
Following my words, Styx's veil and waist cloak shot forward again, this time heading for the large Synchro Monster.
"Ah! Will it hit!?" Melissa gasped anxiously, a sentiment shared by the audience.
"It won't." Ren deadpanned, confirming our assumption from a few moments ago. "Since my Fish-Type Monster is battling, I can discardWhite Pufferfrom my hand to activate its effect. I take no damage from this battle!"
The waves assumed a spear-like shape and pierced Whale in the back, ensuing an explosion. The flames were about to reach Ren when a white pufferfish with two light blue eyes and munsell yellow spikes suddenly appeared above him, puffing out to form a makeshift shield for its user before vanishing.
"Thanks to its effect, I don't take any effect damage for the rest of this turn, either." Tch, that meant Taowu's effect won't punish him for activating an effect...
"Wait, since his whale was destroyed..." Fey put two and two together. "This is bad!"
"Whale no kōka!" Ren raised a hand to the sky. "If destroyed by battle or my opponent's card effect and sent to the Graveyard, by banishing one other Water Attribute Monster from my Graveyard, I can Special Summon it back to my field as a Tuner! I banish Moray and revive it in attack mode!"
With a splash of water and an echoing cry, his Synchro Monster jumped out of a GY Portal.
"It's like watching the jump of an actual whale!" A girl in the crowd commented. "So beautiful..."
"That goddess is also pretty!" A second girl added.
"Apparently, not all humans lost the good taste their ancestors had in admiring the gods." Charon strangely didn't miss a beat, almost as if he was waiting for this exact opportunity to say those words.
"Not you too, Charon..." The Titaness sighed in exasperation, her cheeks turning a deeper shade of blue.
"If you don't mind me ruining your moment, Whale would like to get its revenge." Ren chimed in with a chuckle. "Life Purification!"
"I won't allow it!" I warned him when a new tornado formed between us. "I activate Crocell's Teachings' effect from my Graveyard! Since a 'Mythorror' card I control would be destroyed, I can banish this card to negate its destruction, then I have to send a different Spell or Trap Card from my Deck to the grave!"
Styx effortlessly dispersed the tornado with a swing of her arm.
"Yes, corner him to the point of suffocation." Demiurge laughed as I sent Reign of Terror to the GY, the perfect trap for our foe's 'White' Synchro Monsters.
"Ren tried to turn the tides in his favor, but Vince was one step ahead of him!" Melissa summarized in astonishment. But in all honesty—and not to vaunt myself—I wasn't justonestep ahead of him. I'll show him and Antinomy how much I've grown by dominating this duel!
"It's your go, Ren!" I announced after we turned a corner.
"That Trap...it was already in the Graveyard in your previous turn." He slowed down his D-Wheel so we'd be side by side. He got it in one: it was one of Kerberos's Overlay Units, which was used in an attempt to activate Infernal Lock. "Yet you held on to it. A wise decision."
I smiled wide.He caught on to that, too."I appreciate your kind words." He was unaware of my triple-Trap combo at that time, so I could risk losing my Monsters to Life Purification. It was a different matter now that he knew; taking chances wasn't an option. "That said, how do you plan to break loose from your countdown to death?"
"That's a good question!" Ren, in spite of the situation he's in, chuckled merrily. For him to remain so calm...exactly what did he have up his sleeve? "I guess...yeah, if I were not to usethatMonster in this duel, it would be an insult toward you."
"Heeh, I wonder what he's referring to?" Adaro inquired. A Monster...maybe one that succeeds Whale? "His scent is steadily growing stronger, too~. Master's friend is more ambitious than he was when we first met him!"
"Am I? Maybe it's because I've lived with Vince under the same roof for a short period of time." Ren shrugged, unsure of that himself. "Whatever the case may be, I'm genuinely glad I got to meet you, Vince. You've definitely earned yourself a round against that Monster."
"I...um, thanks?" He was praising me, but the said Monster won't be good news for me once it hits the field, so I wasn't sure how to reply. Also...it felt like there was more to Ren's sense of obligation than that.
He and Antinomy succored me for confidential reasons, but was that the whole truth? It was hard to tell for Antinomy who's more poker-faced, but it was the opposite for Ren. When he saved me from the Duel Chaser, he wasn't only doing his job, his pride truly had moved him to act. He wanted to—nay, hewantsto help me. He's still there, patiently waiting to rush to my aid when the need arises. We got to know a little about each other during the time we spent together, so it wasn't a matter of following an order or helping someone in danger anymore, but instead, a wish to protect your friend.
So I knew approximately why he was protecting me. From what, though? That's what I'd actually like to know. This was all a lesson, meant to aid me grow and confront that "what" myself if he or Antinomy won't be there when it will bare its fangs at me. As one might guess, it felt disquieting not knowing what I'd have to face...
"Brace yourself, Vince. You're about to meet one of my strongest 'White' Monsters!" The masked man accelerated ahead. "Ore no turn! Draw! The effect of that weirdo activates during the Standby Phase, summoning another Token to our fields!"
While that happened, "Why you!" Qiongqi fumed at the insult.
(Straw Token: 1000→1400 ATK, 1000→1400 DEF; Styx: 4200→4600 ATK, 4000→4400 DEF)
"I summon White Payara!" Ren slammed the card onto his energy blade.
The white payara with four light blue eyes and munsell yellow fangs appeared, biting the air furiously in a threatening manner.
White Payara: ATK 500 / DEF 500 / LV: 2
"I release Payara in order to activate its effect!" The said fish burst into particles. "I add two other Payaras from my Deck to my hand!"
"I don't mind your stubbornness, human!" Taowu admitted, a hint of sadism in his tone. "Accept the price that comes with it!"
His card lit up and released a dark energy wave from the sky that washed over Ren, prompting him to gasp in pain.
Ren: LP 1500 - 500 = 1000
"Ha! I did, so now what!?" The Peril was shocked by our foe's taunt, a sentiment shared by me and the others. To think the prospect of summoning the Monster he spoke of would excite him to this extent...ugh, now I was curious to see it myself! "I activate the Spell Card Moray of Greed! I shuffle the two Payaras in my hand into the Deck to draw three cards!"
After doing so, the same scene from before repeated itself.
Ren: LP 1000 - 500 = 500
"White Payara and Moray of Greed...what a splendid combination!" Melissa commented. "But was it worth it? Ren's now only got 500 Life Points! If he activates another card or effect, he'll be a goner!"
"...Did he lose it...?" Howard inquired in confusion.
"On the contrary." Seth corrected him with a proud and stirred chuckle. "That's passion!"
"He's right, you know? Passionate feelings are capable of tearing down any obstacles. Exactly like this!" Ren raised a card and played it. "Sokkō mahō: Mystical Space Typhoon! I target and destroy Taowu of the Four Perils!"
The said Peril took a big inhale, but his card exploded in a shower of particles before any words could leave his mouth, something that made Taotie sigh in relief.
"Oh, thank the gods..." He really hated his fellow Peril for being so loud, it seems.
"As it was destroyed before its effect would resolve, Ren doesn't take any damage due to Taowu's effect!" Melissa told the crowd why he didn't take the 500-damage-penalty. "The problem is that Vince's lock is still in play. If Ren can't find a way to overcome that too, he'll take 1000 damage due to Taotie's effect and lose!"
"Watch! This is my passion...and the strength of the White tribe!" Ren brought a hand to his chest and clenched it. "I tune the Level 2 Mythorror Straw Token with Level 8 Whale!"
I gritted my teeth. "No! How dare you abuse my art!" Qiongqi was in utter horror as the whale's body morphed into eight green rings that surrounded the straw puppet and turned it into two stars.
"Reclining dragon that sleeps at the pinnacle of creation." He chanted. "You in whom an all-knowing, all-powerful mind dwells! Arise from the blue abyss! Synchro Summon! Come forth, Level 10! White Aura Bihamut!"
A bright beam shot through the rings, from which a white, two-headed, fish-like creature of the same size as a Titan swam out, its twelve light blue eyes flashing to life as it awoke from a deep slumber. Throwing both of its heads back, it let loose a resounding roar in tandem with a flash of lightning from the dark clouds above us, followed by a thunderclap that shook the sides of the arena.
White Aura Bihamut: Water / Fish / Synchro / Effect / ATK: 3300 / DEF: 3000 / LV: 10
"R-Ren...summoned another behemoth...!" Melissa breathed out, intimidated together with the crowd by his Synchro Monster. I myself felt a sudden discomfort as it zeroed in on me; it gave off a completely different vibe from the other White Auras. It felt...godly.
"That man kept a god in secret this entire time!?" Aura cried out in disbelief.
"Bihamut, huh? If I remember correctly, he was the one to..." Ixtab started. Oh, he's a male... Wait, did they know each other? "Ah, my bad. I was unconsciously thinking out loud."
"As usual, your apology does not sound sincere." She merely chuckled at Styx's fed-up remark.
"Burn into your minds the might of my White God!" Ren's pride was overflowing from his words as he gestured at his newly-evoked comrade. He was a symbol of his passion and strength. He may not be his 'partner' like Dolphin, but he still meant a lot to him. "The number of Fiends on the field decreased, therefore, the stats of all Mythorrors go down!"
(Straw Token: 1400→1200 ATK, 1400→1200 DEF; Styx: 4600→4400 ATK, 4400→4200 DEF)
That was fine. I expected him to use a Token or two to his advantage. As long as he controlled more than one Monster, my lock could stop him!
"I activate the Spell CardTidal Release!" A card, which depicted Bahamut Shark enveloped in a blue and golden aura as the ghostly images of Levia-Dragon - Daedalus and Kairyu-Shin roared behind it, appeared. "I target Bihamut to release all other Monsters I control and have him gain 500 Attack for each, then gain Life Points equal to that amount!"
Dammit, I jinxed it! "Hoh? What an amusing mongrel, he broke free from the lock." Demiurge was somewhat impressed by this, having sold him short.
The remaining straw puppets on Ren's field burst into particles, which then enveloped Bihamut and Ren. The eyes of the White God's right head flashed blue while his user gained a golden aura for a few seconds.
(Bihamut: 3300→4300 ATK; Straw Token: 1200→800 ATK, 1200→800 DEF; Styx: 4400→4000 ATK, 4200→3800 DEF)
Ren: LP 500 + 1000 = 1500
"Unbelievable!" Melissa exclaimed in English. "Now that he controls only one Monster, Minerva's Tactical Forecast won't be able to negate Ren's attacks! He also lowered Styx's Attack to 4000 in the process, making his Synchro Monster the strongest on the field! Truly, killing two birds with one stone!"
"And this is only the beginning. I activate the Continuous Spell Whitefish Salvage!" Ren stated. "With its effect, only once during a turn, I can target one Fish-Type Monster in my Graveyard and add it to my hand. I return Payara!"
After doing so, "I activate a second Continuous Spell: White Nightmare! With its effect, only once during a turn, I can target one Fish-Type Monster I control and discard any number of 'White' Monsters from my hand. I discard Payara!"
I see, that's why he didn't recover Puffer. He could've raised his defense, but he was going to discard it as a cost for Nightmare anyway, so it didn't matter at all what he returned to his hand.
"Until the end of this turn, my target gains 500 Attack for each discarded card, as well as a new effect!" A white aura enveloped Bihamut next, and his right head roared.
(Bihamut: 4300→4800 ATK)
"It got even stronger?" Succubus asked in concern.
"Battle!" Ren threw an arm to the side. Taotie's effect activated at that, but his target was obvious since our foe controlled a single Monster. The right head roared once more, this time in hunger, and another thunder followed it. "Advance, Bihamut! Pulverize Mythorror Titaness Styx with Creation Purge!"
"Don't presume I'd give up without a fight!" She warned, launching her water-spear-attack at the opposing god. Bihamut's left head leaned forward and opened its large jaws, conjuring a sphere of energy which then expanded and formed a barrier to deflect the strike.
With its job done, the left head moved to the side and the right head leaned forward, firing its own energy sphere which then shattered into numerous rays of light. The waves bounced up at Styx's command and she formed her own barrier, although hers proved to be weaker. Some rays shot through the water, piercing her skin and causing her to explode with a pained cry.
"W-Whoa!" I gasped as my D-Wheel slightly wobbled.
Vince: LP 4000 - 800 = 3200
(Straw Token: 800→600 ATK, 800→600 DEF)
"I activate the Fusion Summoned Styx's effect on destruction! I place her in the Pendulum Zone!"
I placed her card on the other end of my energy blade, causing the word [PENDULUM] to flash between her and Perses and a new pillar to appear on my right as the Titaness rose to its tip. I felt Tiamat growing restless in response to her comrade's defeat.
"Humph. What a disappointment." Perses side-glanced at Styx, to which she scoffed in annoyance.
"Now then, let's see how this action-thing will play out for me." Ren thought out loud before revving his engine. He used the sides of the arena to propel into the air, grasping a floating Action Card while performing a barrel roll and landing on the ground safe and sound.
"Wow!" Snow cheered in unison with the crowd.
"Sir Ren successfully executed the same trick as Lady Yuzu." Reynardine praised him. "Despite it being the second time I see it today, it's still adazzling sight!"
"It seems the goddess of victory is on my side. Akushon Majikku: Wonder Chance!" The masked man declared. "Bihamut is permitted to attack yet again!"
The right head began charging the new attack. "I wonder if that's really the case." Noticing my smirk, he hummed in confusion. "The one favored by the gods is me! They're a part of my dueling style, for crying out loud. Styx, do you mind?"
"Gladly." The Titaness proclaimed, conjuring a whirlpool around yours truly.
"Once per turn, she can turn one instance of damage I would take into Life!" Thank you for the free LP!
I paused at Ren's carefree chuckle. "Interesting. But too bad." Huh? "At this instant, I activate Bihamut's effect gained from White Nightmare! Once per turn, if you activate a Spell or Trap Card or its effect during his attack, I can negate that activation and banish that card!"
"What!?" Styx and I gasped in shock. A white silhouette with purple eyes materialized behind the Fusion Monster and latched onto her, after which they both vanished inside a futuristic, white magic circle.
"Vince, who has been cornering his opponent so far, is now forced on the defensive!" Melissa reported. "Can Ren do it? Can he beat Vince right here and now!?"
"Don't count your chickens before they hatch!" I sped up, hastily collecting an Action Card Ren decided to ignore. "Alright! I activate Damage Banish! The damage I would take is reduced to 0!"
Bihamut released the energy sphere in my direction, but I managed to avoid it.
"Well done, boss!" I nodded at Willauk's praise.
"Naïve! That isn't enough to escape from my White God!" Ren scolded us. "Go, Bihamut! Attack Sakushi Vincent directly! Creation Purge!"
My eyes widened as the left head began charging the attack. "A third attack?" Xolotl was astounded. "That follower has the ability to attack multiple times? What persistence..."
"Yeah, you could say that again...!" I frowned and then gestured at my field. "I activate the effect of The Pearly Gates to Heaven in my Graveyard! If I'm being attacked directly, I can banish it to end the Battle Phase and inflict 600 damage to my opponent!"
The giant double door of stone with angelic figures carved on it appeared in front of me, blocking the energy sphere. The spot that it hit suddenly glowed, releasing a lightning bolt at our foe.
Ren: LP 1500 - 600 = 900
"Tsk, Kerberos's other Overlay Unit that was sent to the grave, huh?" Ren realized begrudgingly. "You're patiently waiting to use Graveyard effects to cheat death at the last minute. Your better-be-safe-than-sorry attitude is really troublesome when one is your opponent... I end my turn! Tidal Release's and White Nightmare's effects expire, and my White God's Attack returns to normal."
The glow in the eyes of Bihamut's right head dimmed as his ATK lowered to 3300.
"Due to their shared effect, the Four Perils are destroyed during the third End Phase after their activation," I explained as Qiongqi and Taotie burst into particles. "With Qiongqi no longer on the field, the stats of my three Straw Tokens return to 0."
"It's a first I get to witness a fight between two fellow god users." Melissa admitted, striking a guts pose. "Just who will emerge victorious? Ren turned the tables in his favor at last, but next up it's Vince's turn. Can he regain the advantage or will he lose to the White God!?"
"Let's find out without a second of a delay!" I suggested as a smile found its way back to my face. My heart was beating fast...but I knew why. Ren's ace in the hole, huh? Good. I'll defeat him, and fill every viewer with awe! "Boku no turn! Draw! I activate Perses's Pendulum Effect. Once per turn, I can target one other face-up Spell or Trap Card on my field and it goes boom. If it does, I can draw a card!"
As my remaining Continuous Trap burst into flames, I drew. "With its job done, we bid farewell to Minerva's Tactical Forecast. However, I'm no fool who wastes his cards. If it's destroyed on the field and sent to the Graveyard, Minerva's Tactical Forecast allows me to draw a card and inflict 500 damage to my opponent!"
A spear-shaped beam shot down from the sky, striking Ren and making him grunt in pain.
Ren: LP 900 - 500 = 400
"What a thrifty youth." Commented a Top.
"So cool! There's no end to how many combos he's got up his sleeve!" A Common shouted.
I grinned at their spurs. "I activate the Spell Card Amun-Ra's Splendor! The light of a god will lead my child to the field of battle: I now Special Summon one 'Mythorror' Pendulum Monster from my hand or Pendulum Zone in defense mode with a new effect. Join us, Lindworm!"
The oversized snake with dark green scales, two arms that ended in sharp black claws, and a mouth full of long fangs that made it impossible to be closed appeared with a fired-up roar for having called him my child.
Mythorror Lindworm: ATK 2000 /DEF 500 / LV: 5 / SC: 2
It felt awkward saying that term of endearment in front of so many people...but right at the same time. The result it had on Lindworm was totally worth it. There's also a tiny part of me that's glad they know he'smychild—but I quickly shooed those territorial thoughts away.
"Next, I activate Lindworm's effect! If he was Special Summoned this turn, by using Monsters I control and Lindworm as materials, I can Fusion Summon one 'Mythorror' Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck!" He and a Token turned into red and blue energy, which then spiraled into a portal as I chanted and clasped my hands together. "Poison of the greedy one! Marvel of the enigmatic Peril! Let your desires awaken the canine deity of heavenly fire! Fusion Summon! Level 6! Mythorror God Xolotl!"
The canine-headed god who wielded two stone broadswords with flames and lightning bolts carved on them appeared on my field.
Mythorror God Xolotl: ATK 2200 / DEF 1300 / LV: 6
"Hoh? Not Synchro, but Fusion?" Ren inquired jokingly.
"For now. I want to leave the best for last." I proclaimed with a wave of my hand. "Thanks to Lindworm's gained effect, since he was used as a material for the summon of my god, I can draw a card! Next, I summon Mythorror Nekomata!"
The female youth with fair skin, orange cat eyes, shoulder-length black fluffy hair, cat ears adorning the top of her head, two long tails, wearing a red and white dress reminiscent of a shrine maiden's outfit with detached sleeves, thus leaving her shoulders uncovered, and a purple neckerchief appeared, frantically waving her hands in the air.
Mythorror Nekomata: ATK 0 / DEF 0 / LV: 2 / SC: 7
"I don't know how to fly, nya~!" I shot up and extended my arms before my brain even finished processing what she had said, and she fell into my grasp with a scared yelp.
I sat back down. "I'm really sorry!" I hastily apologized as she buried her face in her hands. "I've allowed my excitement to blind me. I should've waited for you to say something before playing you..."
"How bizarre." Floating closer to us, Xolotl tilted his head a little. "I'm unable to fly myself, but right now it's the only method I can move with. It must be the game that allows a Monster to do sosince this is a Riding Duel and not an ordinary one."
My brows furrowed in confusion. "Then why isn't it working for her? No, whatever." I grabbed her hands and slowly lowered them, revealing her blushing face. She was about to cry out of shame.
"S-Sorry..." My heart ached at her words.
"You're apologizing? For what?" I laughed lightly, prompting her eyes to widen. I squeezed her hands affectionately. "It isn't a problem you can't fly... This is better, actually. Look!"
I gestured ahead of us with my head, and she did as she was told. The feeling of the wind blowing in her face and fluttering her hair and clothes drew a small gasp from her lips. Her posture eventually relaxed and she didn't look like she was going to burst into tears anymore.
Her ears twitched. "It's so fast..." She mumbled in utter bewilderment.
"Right?" I laughed again while letting go of her back to grab a handle and assist the D-Wheel in turning a corner. When her tails coiled around my waist, my heart melted.
"I-I loved running down the mountain back home, nya~. But this..." A big smile finally graced her face. "This is much better! I had no idea the wind could blow this hard, nya~!"
"See!? I told you!" Nekomata nodded in agreement.
"Oi, oi, what's with the special treatment?" By his tone, I could tell Adaro puffed his cheeks.
"Oya? Jealous?" Succubus giggled.
"As much as you are." Adaro remarked.
"I wasn't able to hide it, huh?" The demoness sighed in exasperation. "I would love to have a ride with sweetheart myself."
"R-Really?" My cheeks grew scarlet and a dumb smile crossed my face. Dammit, if only I could summon them and do just that...!
"U-Um, by the looks of things, Vince is demonstrating to his Monster how a Riding Duel works?" Melissa attempted to describe what she was seeing, which wasn't an easy task since she couldn't hear Duel Spirits. The crowd was confused too, while Demiurge and his servants were annoyed by our mushy scene, yet we paid them no mind.
"Your display of love for your Monsters leaves me at a loss of words." Ren confessed with a side glance. Bihamut remained silent, carefully examining me with his twelve eyes.
"They aren't my Monsters; they're my family. Of course I love them." Shock, followed by a burst of warmth. I chuckled at the familiar sensation, knowing my Mythorrors loved hearing words like those. Nekomata blushed to the tips of her ears and Xolotl's tail wagged from side to side. Ren, on the other hand, whipped his head around and just stared. "What's wrong?"
"...Ah. No, nothing." He shook his head and looked back at the road. Was my honest answer that shocking? Or did I...remind him of something? Or someone, maybe? "Shall we resume the duel?"
"Sure." I nodded and continued from where I'd left off. "Nekomata no kōka hatsudō! Once per turn, I can target one Mythorror in my Graveyard or face-up Extra Deck and have her gain its Attack until the end of this turn. I target Kerberos who's resting in my Graveyard!"
"Hm-hmm! Here I go, nya~!" Eyes sparkling with determination and mystic energy, the youkai leaped out of my arms as dark mist surrounded her body. When she emerged from it, her appearance became identical to Kerberos's, save for the cat ears and whiskers that adorned her heads. Heh, I guess her shapeshifting ability was still immature...
(Nekomata: 0→2900 ATK)
Orthrus, surprised by her new look, barked in confused awe. "Ganbareyo, Nekomata!" Snow cheered on. "Show them what you've got!"
"I will!" She howled with each head.
"And now, cue to an unexpected turnaround!" I raised a hand and clicked my fingers. "From my Graveyard, I activate Taowu's effect! By banishing the Four Perils from my grave, aka himself, Qiongqi, Taotie, andHundun, for the rest of this turn, all Mythorrors I control will gain 400 Attack for each Fiend-Type Monster on the field! I currently count four!"
The silhouettes of the Four Perils, colored white, blue, red, and yellow respectively, emerged from a GY Portal behind me and washed over my Monsters.
(Straw Token: 0→1600 ATK; Nekomata: 2900→4500 ATK; Xolotl: 2200→3800 ATK)
"Hundun of the Four Perils? When did you...?" Ren jerked as realization struck him. "You discarded it using Danse Macabre at the beginning of the duel. To think it could play a role this late in the game... Well done, Vince. Now your Monste—no, your companions are capable of engaging my White God in combat."
"You said it! Battle!" I aimed a finger at them. Let's end this! "Xolotl, attack White Aura Bihamut!"
"Fire that burns in the Heavens. Lightning bright like Venus." The god chanted as flames and electricity enveloped his broadswords. "Repel all that would harm the passers-by of Mictlan!"
"Ren's remaining Life is 400!" Melissa panicked as Xolotl leaped into the air. "If this hits, he'll take 500 damage and lose!"
"Are you sure about that!?" The masked man caught an incoming Action Card while spinning his D-Wheel around to directly look at us. "Akushon Majikku: Disperse Damage! The damage I would take becomes 0!"
"Scorching Lightning!" Xolotl brought down his broadswords, unleashing a crescent-shaped slash of flames and electricity that bisected one of Bihamut's heads, causing a massive explosion.
"Did it work?" Balor inquired as the smoke began to clear. We couldn't defeat Ren, but at least we destroyed—
A sudden roar silenced the Duel Palace, its force blowing away the smoke at once. Bihamut was still floating above his user, albeit it now missed a head, while the other's eyes were glowing brightly. For a 'White Aura' Synchro Monster to revive on destruction wasn't out of the ordinary, but this felt different...
This wasn't a resurrection. This was regeneration.
Golden light shimmered on the severed neck, hiding its interior and preventing any blood from spraying out. The light then traveled upwards, retracing the lost head. When that was over with, the new head became real, gaining colors and everything, and Bihamut roared with both heads in unison as thunder flashed above him.
"What a magnificent beast..." Seth breathed out in shock, a sentiment shared by every one of us, some in a good way, others in a bad way. "Whatwasthat?"
"My White God's soul is eternal." Voice filled with pride, Ren spoke up. "Across space and time, it rises again and again. In layman's terms—it's an immortal existence!"
Immortal, you say...!? Unlike the other White Auras, you didn't have to pay a cost to revive him? No, wait, was he destroyed in the first place? Did it have an effect that protects him from destruction via battle!?
"That ugly thing actually grew his head back...like the Hydra!?" Aura all but screamed. At least he didn't regrowtwoheads instead of one...brrr, thank the gods.
"His physical body was removed, revealing the spiritual body hidden within," Charon explained, and at this point, we weren't talking with Yu-Gi-Oh language anymore. "Using that as a medium, as if going back in time, he returned his appearance to how it was before taking any damage."
Tindalos growled at that. "What a roundabout way to heal himself." Ixtab sounded exasperated and impressed at the same time.
"I didn't understand a lot, sorry, nya~..." Nekomata muttered. I didn't blame her; I didn't expect actual logic—um, could magic count as 'actual logic'?—to be brought to the table, either. "But! If I attack him as well, we can defeat the user, right, nya~?"
"Sorry, but no." Ren revealed, to which I blinked twice. "Since the damage became 0 due to Disperse Damage, its additional effect changes all battle damage I would take for the rest of this turn to 0."
"We almost snatched his head... Again!" Camazotz fumed. "Damn human!"
I frowned. Tough luck for us, huh...? "No reason to stay in the Battle Phase then. I switch my two Straw Tokens to defense mode and end my turn with a face-down. Nekomata's and Taowu's effect also expire."
The youkai's body exploded in a puff of dark mist, returning to its normal form, and I caught her in my arms for the second time.
(Straw Token: 1600→0 ATK; Nekomata: 4500→0 ATK; Xolotl: 3800→2200 ATK)
The White user turned his D-Wheel back around. "Ren's ace in the hole gets the better of Vince!" Melissa reported. "It can attack twice and it's invincible, what an amazing Synchro Monster!"
"Attack twice? Invincible?" Offended, Ren shook his head, an action that confused all the viewers, me included. He then placed a finger in front of his mask where his lips should be in a 'shh' gesture. "My White God isn't that simple. Vince, can you expose Bihamut's secret, or will you lose before that could happen?"
"What?" He refused to reveal his card's effects? I mean, a player wasn't obliged to state the entire effect of their cards, a technique I've used myself in the past to catch my opponents off guard, but it's a different matter if requested, right? And even if that wasn't the case...
"How dumb. You can simply read his effects on the Duel Disk's screen." Demiurge reached the same conclusion. I refused to believe he forgot that important detail. So why did he challenge me?
Ren... He may be cocky or impish during a duel, but it was always justified. He held back against the Duel Chaser and acted in a condescending manner because he was much stronger than him, a point he proved quite well. He was easy-going when we dueled a couple of days ago because it was a friendly match. And now he fought with his all because it was a significant duel, my moment to prove to him and Antinomy I've grown.
This challenge wasn't a game. It was...a test? Yes, it was a test. Did I become strong enough to discover the effect of his White God, the symbol of his passion and power, mid-fight? Will I lose or decline his challenge, proving I didn't accomplish anything in these past days? The choice was mine to make.
Though...it was pretty obvious what I'd pick, wasn't it? As an Entertainment Duelist, as a friend of Ren and Antinomy, and especially after all the bravado I've been shamelessly displaying since entering the Duel Palace in order to fight this man—in truth, I only had one option.
"I'm game!" The crowd burst into shocked cheers at my words. "Let's aim to make this one of the most memorable duels of this year's Friendship Cup!"
That's the answer Ren expected from me. "Good."
"Why you—"
"It's alright, Demiurge!" I hastily spoke up. Yep, surprise surprise, someone got angry for not listening to him and making things more complicated than needed. "Once I make my guess, I can check to see if I was right. Although...how slim are the chances of me losing with you and the others by my side?"
"It's in moments like these that I get the urge to just...!" The god inside me let loose a long, pained sigh. He probably gave up on trying to understand me a long time ago, something I could honestly relate to. "Fine! Play along with him. I'll take over the second my patience runs dry!"
"Hm, OK. I'll end this before that could happen." I was on a timer as well, how dandy. But I'd be lying if I said my heart wasn't racing from excitement. "That said...I admit another reason why I accepted is that I wish to solve this mystery together with you all."
"Eh?" Nekomata stared at me with wide eyes.
"It would be my honor!" Seth immediately tagged along.
"Let's do it, let's do it!" Adaro and Fey shouted in sync. I chuckled. None of my children declined, which boosted my morale. Demiurge and his servants were still skeptical, but they won't stay like that for long. They want me to win after all.
"I don't mind." Overhearing our conversation, Ren shrugged. Perfect! "They've been lending you a hand from the beginning of the duel. There's no reason for me to be picky and decide they can't help you unveil Bihamut's secret. Ore no turn, draw! I activate the Spell Card Card of the Pure Sea, returning the banished Stingray and the two Morays to the Graveyard to draw three cards!"
After doing so, "I activate Whitefish Salvage's effect, adding a White Moray from my Graveyard back to my hand. Then I activate White Nightmare's effect, discarding Moray to increase Bihamut's Attack by 500 and gift him a new effect!"
A white aura enveloped him again, and his left head roared.
(Bihamut: 3300→3800 ATK)
"A replay of the last turn, huh?" I'll have to bait the new effect with an Action Card to—I blinked twice, a thought suddenly flashing through my mind. The right head roared the last turn, not the left one. I guess it wasn't a complete replay...
"Now I discard White Sea Nettle to equip my White God with the Equip SpellBlanc Maelstrom!" A white whirlpool materialized above the said god, fusing with the gray clouds and following him around. "The equipped Monster gains 500 Attack, and every Monster it fails to destroy in battle is banished!"
The left head roared for the second time. "An anti-Pendulum card...!?" I gritted my teeth.
(Bihamut: 3800→4300 ATK)
"Battle!" Ren stated. "Bihamut, attack Nekomata! Creation Purge!"
Her tails coiled around my waist in panic. "I've got your back." I patted her head with a hand in a reassuring manner, an action that caused her to blush. I sped up, catching up to our foe and grasping an incoming Action Card. "Akushon Majikku: Evasion! Your attack is negated!"
"You know that won't work. I activate Bihamut's new effect!" Ren declared. "The activation of Evasion is negated and it is banished!"
"Then how about this? I activate the Continuous Trap Pendulum Switch!" I revealed my true intent. "Using its effect, I target Nekomata in my Monster Zone and place her in the Pendulum Zone!"
She smiled, happy that I got her out of harm's way. "Th-Thank you, Vince-sama!" I nodded. A pillar of blue light appeared on my right, which she jumped into and rose to its tip.
"Vince uses a bait to successfully protect his Monster and Life!" Melissa shouted.
"Impressive, but you ultimately failed to stop the attack." Ren pointed out. "A replay now occurs! Bihamut, your new attack target will be Xolotl! Creation Purge!"
The left head released an energy sphere at my god, which pulverized him on contact with a pained grunt. I gritted my teeth when the shock waves knocked me back, putting Ren in the lead again.
Vince: LP 3200 - 2100 = 1100
I'm still one step ahead of him!"I activate the destroyed Xolotl's effect...!" I grunted out. "I return Nokk from my Graveyard to my hand!"
The second I touched his card, I was hit with Nokk's anger. "I was finally able to leave that abominable place..." The water spirit growled in a low tone.
"S-Sorry for making you wait..." I muttered sheepishly. I discarded him with Danse Macabre. He's been in the GY since Turn 1. He probably missed his lake.
"Blanc Maelstrom's other effect activates." Ren's words snapped me to attention. "Because the equipped Monster destroyed an opponent's Monster by battle, by banishing one White Aura from my Extra Deck, you take 500 damage and I can destroy one Monster you control with less Attack than the Monster I banish!"
It could what!? "What a strong effect." Hevelius noted in surprise.
"I banish White Aura Piranha and destroy one Straw Token!" The left head fired another energy sphere, reducing a straw puppet to nothingness and hitting me with a second shock wave.
Vince: LP 1100 - 500 = 600
"Ren reduces Vince's Life to 600 points! They're about equal." Melissa noted. To think he did thatandremoved three Monsters from my field with a single attack...as expected of Ren.
"Battle! Bihamut, attack the remaining Straw Token!" The right head fired its own energy sphere at a straw puppet, emptying my field of Monsters. "For your information, Blanc Maelstrom's effect can only be used once per turn. I activate the Continuous Spell White Barrier. Thanks to the presence of Bihamut on my field, all damage I take is canceled!"
"Sir Ren is leaving no openings." You could say that again, Reynardine.
"I end my turn! White Nightmare's effect expires as well." The glow in the eyes of Bihamut's left head dimmed as his ATK lowered to 3800. "I will give you some time now to collect your thoughts and opinions, Vince. When you're done...answer me this: what's the secret of my White God?"
Someone clapped their hands twice to draw our attention. "You heard him." Ixtab said. "Let's start putting in our two cents."
"Regeneration...are we sure that's what really happened?" Baphomet inquired. "It definitely seemed like it, but we must be sure. If the foundation is incorrect, there's no meaning to pile other theories on it."
"...Are you saying he's invincible...?" Howard remarked. "...That he cannot be defeated via battle...?"
"I'm more inclined to believe that." I answered instead of the god. "The option to activate Reign of Terror's Graveyard effect wasn't available when he attacked..."
"Hmmm? That card...had an effect that kills a Monster, which was summoned from the grave, when it attacks, right?" I nodded to Adaro's words. That effect was used on him once, no wonder he remembered it. "I guess we know for sure that god wasn't defeated."
"Weird..." Fey muttered. "When Styx counterattacked, he had a way to protect himself. Why didn't he use it to block Xolotl's attack? Or, better yet, if he's invincible, why did he block Styx?"
My eyes widened a little. That... "Yeah, that is weird." Willauk concurred. "The left head was probably tired of guarding the right head again, haha!"
"Wait." Nattmara spoke up. "Now that you mention it, the left head saved the right one in both scenarios. But the left head doesn't specialize in defense; we just saw it attack, bearing the same level of strength as the right head."
"If I may," Yamatochi politely interjected. "It's interesting to note that both heads never take action simultaneously, except to roar."
"You're right..." Roaring at the same time wasn't anything noteworthy. Orthrus, who's two-headed as well, usually barks and growls and howls with both heads in unison. That's simply how they communicate. "It's always one head that attacks and whose eyes flash or dim. Only one head was defeated by Xolotl, too!"
"It almost sounds like each head is a being of its own." Aura snorted jokingly. Heh, yeah, she had a point there—WAIT! BACK! UP!
"TWO-IN-ONE!?" Many of us shouted together in utter bewilderment. Was it possible for an effect like that to exist!? A Monster that was actually two at once!? Just how crazy could this children's card game get!?
"That's the most logical conclusion." Demiurge, who didn't lose his cool and kept his tone matter-of-fact, said. "An attack and effect for each head. Befitting of a god to possess such a groundbreaking ability."
"So effects only affect one head at a time..." Demiurge's right. The more I think of it, the more it sounds like the most logical conclusion. "White Nightmare gifts only one head the new effect. That explains why Ren, three turns ago, used Wonder Chance on the right head and then attacked with the left one. It wasn't a random order at all. He had to attack with the right head because only it had the new effect, creating a chance to deplete my Life after negating my counter!"
Not only that, but whenever he attacked with the weaker head, he always made sure the attack could defeat me. He was making sure not to arouse any suspicion while also going for my throat... What a dangerous and complex opponent.
"If that's the case, how was he able to attack with both heads while Minerva's Tactical Forecast was active...?" Snow asked.
"More than probably, he had an effect that bypassed that." Balor suggested. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised.
"I'm glad you're having fun." Ren chuckled. Heh, I wasn't the only one though. My children, some more or less than others, were experiencing the same emotion. We're really in sync at the moment! "And I presume you figured it out, haven't you?"
"Bihamut's secret...yeah, the Mythorrors and I found it out." Followed by a short pause to create a dramatic effect, I pointed at the Synchro Monster and gave—hopefully—the correct answer. "Bihamut's heads are two separate Monsters!"
"What!?"
"Oi, oi, isn't that a little presumptuous?"
"Is that what he meant when he shouted two-in-one...?"
"According to Vince, Ren's ace in the hole...are two Monsters in one card!" Melissa repeated to catch the attention of the confused crowd, although she herself sounded baffled. Well, couldn't blame them, could you? "But, um, how would that work? Is that the correct answer or—"
"Fufu...hahahahaha!" I couldn't stop a grin from forming on my face when Ren abruptly burst into laughter, silencing the audience. He eventually calmed down, and his next words were filled with pride, pride for his friend who grew stronger. "Congratulations. You got it right on your first try, exactly like Antinomy."
"Alright!" The children and I cheered together.
"Vince has won the challenge!" Ren spread his arms wide. "White Aura Bihamut may look like one Monster, but he's actually two. Each head is a Monster on its own, capable of attacking and possessing an effect that restores the other head when it is removed! Bihamut can't leave the field unless both of his heads are lost!"
"HE WAS RIGHT!?" Both Commons and Tops cried out in unison.
"I-I-I-I can't believe it! In all my years as a reporter, I've never heard of such a bizarre and powerful effect!" Melissa sounded like she was about to faint from shock. "B-Bihamut is two Monsters in one! Ren's been fooling us from the second he summoned it!"
"He's a god. No surprise he bears an unorthodox effect." Ren reminded her. "Vince, wanna know why Minerva's Tactical Forecast didn't apply, considering I controlled two Monsters? You see, each head has an effect that prevents me or that head from being affected by effects that do not allow an attack declaration."
"So that's why..." Snow mused.
"Oh, and White Barrier's effect only applies if I control at least two 'White' Monsters, not specifically Bihamut." Ren admitted. "But because my White God is actually two Monsters, my earlier explanation wasn't incorrect, either."
"It wasn't." I agreed with a nod. "Since the cat is out of the bag, all that's left is to defeat it, yeah? Boku no turn! Draw! With my set Scales of 4 and 7, I can now simultaneously Summon Monsters from Levels 5 to 8! Battalion of mythical creatures and gods! With our souls on the line, our power becomes the hammer which crushes despair! Pendulum Summon! Return to me, Lindworm!"
A portal opened between the two pillars, and a single beam shot out of it before revealing the said Mythorror.
"A Pendulum Summon allows a player to summon many Monsters at once, yet you only brought out one?" Ren voiced his confusion.
"I did. This one child is more than enough to defeat you guys!" Lindworm roared at my words. "I summon Mythorror Nokk!"
The humanoid Monster covered from head to toe in wet green and brown seaweed with a tiny, light blue glow radiating from where his eyes should be joined us.
Mythorror Nokk: Tuner / ATK 1500 / DEF 0 / LV: 4 / SC: 2
"When Nokk is Normal Summoned successfully, I can use his effect to add a different 'Mythorror' Monster from my Deck to my hand." The water spirit cleared his throat and sang a note with an angelic voice, causing a card to eject from my deck. Some girls from the audience were left mesmerized by his voice. "I choose Sidonia! I activate Pendulum Switch's effect, targeting Nekomata in my Pendulum Zone to Special Summon her!"
The light around the youkai dissipated. She blinked twice, "Nya?" And fell from the sky with a scared yelp. I motioned Lindworm to help her, which he did by letting her land on his back. She sighed in relief when she realized she wasn't falling anymore.
"I, using the Scale 10 Mythorror Gnostic Sidonia, complete the Pendulum Scales!"
The pillar reappeared, this time containing the young woman with tan skin, orange eyes, shoulder-length brown hair, and flames enveloping her right hand, wearing a sleeveless, form-fitting, black jumpsuit that left the majority of her chest exposed and a black witch hat, both of which were decorated with red trims.
"I activate Perses's Pendulum Effect again, destroying Pendulum Switch to draw a card!" After doing so, "By releasing a 'Mythorror' Pendulum Monster I control, I can Special Summon Mythorror Reynardine from my hand!"
The anthropomorphic fox with yellow-green eyes, wearing a white shirt with a small collar under a black waistcoat, a burgundy coat over those, black moleskin trousers, and black leather boots with spat covering replaced Nokk.
Mythorror Reynardine:ATK 2200/ DEF 500 / LV: 7 / SC: 2
"Now I activate the Spell Card Pendulum Fusion! By having two cards in my Pendulum Zones, I can use them together with Monsters on my field to perform a Fusion Summon! The ones I'll fuse are Perses and Reynardine!"
The said Mythorrors turned into red and blue energy respectively, which then spiraled into a portal as I chanted and clasped my hands together.
"Avatar of destruction! Faerie with a noble heart! Let your desires awaken the apex predator armed with jet-black wings! Fusion Summon! Fly down, Level 8! Mythorror Gnostic Valravn!"
A purple beam shot out of the portal and formed a circle in the sky. Purple stars lit up one by one on it, followed by a purple line which connected them all, revealing the Corvus constellation. The half-wolf and half-raven knight then flew out of it with an ear-piercing scream.
Mythorror Gnostic Valravn: ATK 2800 / DEF 1700 / LV: 8
"I was wondering why Vince completed his Scales when he's already Pendulum Summoned." Melissa admitted, leaning forward on her table to the point one might fear she'll fall over it. "It was so he could Fusion Summon by using a card in the Pendulum Zone as a material! Amazing!"
"And there's more to come! I activate Sidonia's Pendulum Effect! Since I control a Mythorror, she is Special Summoned to my field and I gain 500 Life Points!"
Following my words, the witch left the pillar of light, too.
Mythorror Gnostic Sidonia: Tuner / ATK 0 / DEF 0 / LV: 1 / SC: 10
She then waved her flaming hand, causing a warm aura to envelop me for a few seconds.
Vince: LP 600 + 500 = 1100
"Earlier, I said I want to leave the best for last." I clicked my fingers, flashing the viewers a grin and a wink. "So you know what time it is, right? I tune the Level 1 Sidonia with the Level 2 Nekomata and the Level 5 Lindworm!"
As the witch's body morphed into a green ring that surrounded the lindworm and the youkai and turned them into seven stars, I chanted.
"Fear born from bloodshed. Gain the blessing of the god of darkness and become the roar of the king of beasts! Synchro Summon! Subjugate, Level 8!Mythorror Gnostic Phobos!"
A bright beam shot through the rings, which then formed a circle in the sky. White stars lit up one by one on it, followed by a white line that connected them all, revealing the Leo constellation. To emerge from it was a tall and brawny centaur clad in light gray armor with a lion-themed helmet with eyeholes that burned with green flames, two big horns jutting from its forehead which then curled forward, and a mane of dark cobalt hair whose tips slightly floated like Styx's. The bestial part of his body wasn't covered in armor and he had the legs and feet of a dark cobalt-furred lion, a tail, and black claws.
Galloping beside me and his brethren, he let loose of a resounding roar, which sounded like a mix between a lion's roar and an army's battle cry. Holes formed in the dark clouds above the Duel Palace, allowing sunlight to peek through them.
Mythorror Gnostic Phobos: Dark / Fiend / Synchro / Tuner / Effect / ATK: 2400 / DEF: 2900 / LV: 8
"Vince Synchro Summoned!" A Top gasped in happiness.
"Finally!" A Common added.
"These two, eh? Good thinking, my vessel." Demiurge chuckled in a sadistic manner at the sight of his two servants. "Teach that mongrel a lesson about true strength!"
"Please," Ren scoffed. His god roared in agreement. "Neither of them is a match for my White God."
"Not yet." I corrected him and spread my arms. "The stronger the opponent, the more exciting the climax! Strong versus strong...Synchro versus Synchro...here I come, Ren, Bihamut! Phobos no kōka hatsudō! If this card is Special Summoned, I can target one Monster you control and place one Fear Counter on it. I target the left head!"
"What?" The masked man whipped his head around in surprise.
A purple mist enveloped the said head, causing the god to lower it in discomfort.
"In Valravn's presence, all Monsters that have a Fear Counter have their original Attack and Defense halved," I explained as the left head's eyes lost their glow. "Phobos, on the other hand, negates their effects!"
(Bihamut - Left Head: 3300→1750 ATK, 3000→1500 DEF)
"What did you say!?" Ren cried out in shock, and for a good reason.
"A head's effects are negated! Do you know what that means, folks!?" Melissa asked. "If Vince is able to destroy the head whose effects aren't negated, then the remaining head won't revive it! The invincible god can now be defeated!"
"Well done, my master." Yamatochi praised me.
"You found a way around my White God's effect...this quickly...!?" Ren couldn't believe what his eyes were seeing. Heh heh, I surprised you good, didn't I? "But! I still have White Barrier in play, Vince. I won't take any battle damage from your first attack, and Valravn's Attack is too low to defeat the second head!"
"Oya? Do you really think that?" He gasped again. "I activate the Spell Card Complete Homonoia! By targeting Valravn and Phobos, the latter's Attack and half the difference between our Life Points are added to the former's Attack until the End Phase!"
(Valravn: 2800→5550 ATK)
"Battle! Do it, Valravn!" My winged knight flexed his claws as I threw an arm forward. "Attack Bihamut's right head!"
He zoomed across the field at lightning speed, slashing the said head's neck and causing it to explode. Golden light shimmered on the severed neck, but unlike before, it wasn't—nay,couldn'tregenerate. As if to commemorate our achievement, the clouds finally parted, revealing the blue sky, the sun, as well as a beautiful rainbow.
"Impossible...!" Ren tightened his grip on the handles in disbelief. "My White God was...!"
"You control only one 'White' Monster, therefore, White Barrier's effect ends. Everybody, we have reached the finale!" My Fusion Monster took off into the sky at my words. "Witness the instant an undefeatable legend meets its end! Due to his effect, Valravn can attack all opposing Monsters that have a Fear Counter, once each. Go! Horrific Scream!"
My winged knight dive-bombed the remaining head, shredding it into pieces and causing Bihamut's entire body to explode with a pained roar. Ren cried out in pain as he tried his best to prevent his D-Wheel from spinning out of control. Steam was then emitted from its front, causing it to eventually come to a stop.
Ren: LP 400 - 3800 = 0
Winner: Vince!
"WE! HAVE! A! WINNEEER!" Melissa, who was standing on her table at this point, screamed at the top of her lungs over the cheering crowd. "Turnarounds, breathtaking Monsters, and exhilarating tactics left and right! This duel had it all! What a great way to end the first day of this year's Friendship Cup!"
"A victory well-deserved, no doubt." Saleos commented upon discovering the winner.
"Of course! Master was super cool through it all!" Fey praised me.
"I'm grateful for your help, everybody." I remarked with a fond smile. To say I was able to win with their support made my chest swell with pride and warmth. "We've solved a mystery together and defeated an extraordinary Duelist and god!"
"You mustn't thank us, my master." By his tone, I was sure Xolotl had smiled. "We only carried out our jobs as your Monsters."
Of course he'd say that. "Don't make it sound so simple..." I whispered through a chuckle.
"...The role of an Entertainment Duelist suits you better than I could've ever imagined." The masked man said after a moment of silence, followed by an amused sigh. The sun started to set by now, dyeing the sky orange. "I lost, but...this is fine. I'm overjoyed I found my first rival in Duel Monsters today."
I blinked twice. "Really?" Right, Antinomy's his teacher, not his rival. I showed my pearly whites. "That's great! I had lots of fun dueling you again, Ren. I hope you're up for another round, in the future!"
"Heh, that goes without saying." He gave me a thumbs-up. "Next time, my dueling will wipe the floor with you, instead of the other way around. With that...I believe it's time for me to take my leave."
I didn't get the time to process his words that a magic circle with a futuristic design materialized under him and his D-Wheel. A swirling portal of white energy then opened in it, causing the mysterious White user to fall into it and vanish from our sights before closing back up.
"...Eh?" It happened so fast that I didn't get the chance to react in time, either.
"...Eh?" Melissa, shocked like me and surely all the other viewers, was having a hard time finding the right words to express herself. "Ren...left...? Just like that...?"
"You people are really slow on the uptake." Demiurge sighed in exasperation.
Fan-made Cards:
Action Cards:
Frenzy
Action Spell
Target 1 monster you control; this turn, it can attack all monsters your opponent controls, once each.
Disperse Damage
Action Spell
If you would take damage that would reduce your LP to 0: That damage becomes 0, and if it does, for the rest of this turn, all damage of the same type (battle or effect damage) you would take becomes 0.
Vince:
Danse Macabre
Normal Spell
Discard any number of cards, then apply these effects (if able), in sequence, depending on the number of cards discarded by this effect.
- 1+: Inflict 300 damage to your opponent.
- 2+: Draw 1 card and inflict 300 damage to your opponent.
- 3+: Draw 2 cards and your opponent discards 1 card.
- 4+: Draw 1 card and inflict 400 damage to your opponent.
- 5+: Your opponent discards 1 card.
You can only activate 1 "Danse Macabre" per turn.
[Trivia: theDanse Macabre, also called the Dance of Death, is an artistic genre of allegory of the Late Middle Ages on the universality of death.]
Mythorror Imperial Army
Normal Trap
When you are attacked directly while this card is in your GY: You can negate that attack, then Special Summon in Defense Position, 2 "Mythorror Imperial Tokens" (Dark/Fiend/ATK: 500/DEF: 500/LV: 4) and this card as an Effect Monster (Dark/Fiend/ATK: 1000/DEF: 1000/LV: 4) with this effect. (This card is NOT treated as a Trap.)
- This card is also treated as a Rock monster while on the field. Once per turn: You can raise the Level of all "Mythorror Imperial" monsters you control up to the same number of "Mythorror Imperial" monsters you control x 1. You can use "Mythorror Imperial Tokens" to Xyz Summon "Mythorror" Xyz Monsters by banishing them and by attaching the top card of your Deck to them as material.
Banish this card when it is sent to the GY as a monster or Xyz Material. You can only use this effect of "Mythorror Imperial Army" once per turn.
[Trivia: this card's a reference to theTerracotta Army. Concept credit goes tomekyaku.]
Mythorror Saleos
Normal Trap
If a "Mythorror" monster(s) you control would be destroyed: Negate its destruction. If a "Mythorror" monster you control is attacked while this card is in your GY: You can Special Summon this card as an Effect Monster (Dark/Fiend/ATK: 2000/DEF: 2000/LV: 7) with this effect. (This card is NOT treated as a Trap.)
- This card is also treated as a Warrior monster while on the field. "Mythorror" monsters cannot be destroyed during the turn this card was Special Summoned.
Banish this card when it is sent to the GY as a monster or Xyz Material. You can only use 1 "Mythorror Saleos" effect per turn, and only once that turn.
Rank-Up-Magic Horrific Force
Quick-Play Spell
During the Main Phase: Target 1 "Mythorror" Xyz Monster you control; Special Summon from your Extra Deck, 1 "Mythorror" Xyz Monster that is 1 or 2 Ranks higher than that monster you control, by using it as material. (This is treated as an Xyz Summon. Transfer its materials to the Summoned monster.) You can only activate 1 "Rank-Up-Magic Horrific Force" per turn.
Mythorror Titan Perses(Dark/Fiend/Xyz/Pendulum/Effect/ATK: 3500/DEF: 3000/RK: 8/SC: 4)
Pendulum Effect: You can only Pendulum Summon "Mythorror" monsters. This effect cannot be negated. Once per turn: You can target 1 other face-up Spell/Trap you control; destroy it, and if you do, draw 1 card.
Monster Effect: 2 Level 8 "Mythorror" monsters
(This card is also always treated as a FIRE "Mythorror God" monster.)
Must first be Xyz Summoned. If you can Pendulum Summon Level 8, you can Pendulum Summon this face-up card in your Extra Deck. If this card is Xyz Summoned: You can negate the effects of all other face-up cards on the field until the next Standby Phase. You can detach 1 material from this card; destroy as many monsters your opponent controls as possible, and if you do, inflict them damage equal to half the ATK of 1 of the monsters destroyed this way. You cannot attack directly during the turn you use this effect. If this Xyz Summoned card is destroyed: You can destroy all cards in your Pendulum Zones; place this card in your Pendulum Zone. You can only use each effect of "Mythorror Titan Perses" once per turn.
Qiongqi of the Four Perils
Continuous Trap
(This card is also always treated as a "Mythorror G" card.)
You can only control 1 "Qiongqi of the Four Perils". All "Mythorror" monsters on the field gain 200 ATK/DEF for each Fiend monster on the field. If this card is activated OR, once per turn, during the Standby Phase: Special Summon 1 "Mythorror Straw Token" (Dark/Fiend/ATK: 0/DEF: 0/LV: 2) to each player's field in Attack Position. "Mythorror Straw Tokens" cannot attack or be targeted for attacks, but does not prevent a player from attacking their opponent directly. During the 3rd End Phase after this card's activation: Destroy this card.
[Trivia: in Chinese mythology,Qiongqiis one of four malevolent beings, whose name translates to "distressingly strange" or "thoroughly odd". Concept credit goes tomekyaku.]
Taotie of the Four Perils
Continuous Trap
(This card is also always treated as a "Mythorror G" card.)
You can only control 1 "Taotie of the Four Perils". Both players must enter their Battle Phase. If this card is activated OR, once per turn, at the start of the Battle Phase: Target 1 monster in Attack Position that turn's player controls; if that target does not declare an attack this Battle Phase and it is face-up on the field at the end of the Battle Phase, that turn's player takes 1000 damage at the end of the Battle Phase. During the 3rd End Phase after this card's activation: Destroy this card.
[Trivia: in Chinese mythology,Taotieis one of four malevolent beings, whose name translates to "greedy glutton". Concept credit goes tomekyaku.]
Taowu of the Four Perils
Continuous Spell
(This card is also always treated as a "Mythorror G" card.)
You can only control 1 "Taowu of the Four Perils". Each time your opponent activates a card or effect, they take 500 damage immediately after it resolves. During the 3rd End Phase after this card's activation: Destroy this card. You can banish this card, 1 "Qiongqi of the Four Perils", 1 "Hundun of the Four Perils", and 1 "Taotie of the Four Perils" from your GY; for the rest of this turn, all "Mythorror" monsters you control will gain 400 ATK for each Fiend monster on the field. You can only use this effect of "Taowu of the Four Perils" once per turn.
[Trivia: in Chinese mythology,Taowuis one of four malevolent beings, whose name translates to "block stump", said to be a reckless, stubborn creature. Concept credit goes tomekyaku.]
Persona Coalesce
Normal Spell
If your opponent controls a monster (Fusion, Synchro, Xyz, or Pendulum): Fusion Summon 1 "Mythorror" Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck, banishing as Fusion Material, 1 monster from your field and 1 "Mythorror" monster from your Extra Deck with the same card type as that monster your opponent controls. You can banish this card from your GY, then target 1 Level 4 or lower "Mythorror" monster face-up in your Extra Deck; Special Summon it, but negate its effects. You can only use 1 "Persona Coalesce" effect per turn, and only once that turn.
Mythorror Titaness Styx(Dark/Fiend/Fusion/Pendulum/Effect/ATK: 2900/DEF: 3000/LV: 10/SC: 11)
Pendulum Effect: You can only Pendulum Summon "Mythorror" monsters. This effect cannot be negated. Once per turn, if you would take damage (Quick Effect): You can gain that much LP, instead.
Monster Effect: 1 Fusion, Synchro, or Xyz Monster + 1 Level/Rank 7 or higher "Mythorror" monster
(This card is also always treated as a WATER "Mythorror Goddess" monster.)
Must first be Fusion Summoned. You can target 1 monster in a GY; banish it, and if you do, apply 1 of these effects until the End Phase.
- This card's name is also treated as that target's name, and replace this effect with its effects.
- 1 monster your opponent controls loses ATK/DEF equal to half that target's ATK or DEF, whichever is higher (your choice, if tied).
If this Fusion Summoned card is destroyed: You can place it in your Pendulum Zone. You can only use each effect of "Mythorror Titaness Styx" once per turn.
Hundun of the Four Perils
Continuous Spell
(This card is also always treated as a "Mythorror G" card.)
You can only control 1 "Hundun of the Four Perils". Once per turn, if a Spell(s) is added to your hand (Quick Effect): You can send 1 of those cards to the GY. If your opponent activates a Spell and you have a card with the same name in your GY (Quick Effect): You can banish that card from your GY; negate that activation. During the 3rd End Phase after this card's activation: Destroy this card.
[Trivia: in Chinese mythology,Hundunis one of four malevolent beings, whose name translates to "chaotic torrent". Concept credit goes tomekyaku.]
Mythorror Gnostic Phobos(Dark/Fiend/Synchro/Tuner/Effect/ATK: 2400/DEF: 2900/LV: 8)
1 "Mythorror G" Tuner + 1+ non-Tuner DARK Fiend monsters
This card is also treated as a LIGHT monster while on the field. If this card is Special Summoned: You can target 1 monster your opponent controls; place 1 Fear Counter on it. While you control this card, monsters with a Fear Counter have their effects negated. During your Main Phase (Quick Effect): You can lower this card's Level by 2 or 3, and even if you do not, immediately after this effect resolves, Synchro Summon a "Mythorror" Synchro Monster using this card you control and 1 monster your opponent controls that has a Fear Counter, by treating that monster as a Level 2 Synchro Monster. You can only use each effect of "Mythorror Gnostic Phobos" once per turn.
[Trivia: this card's a reference toPhobos, the personification of fear brought by war in Greek mythology (often depicted as having a lion's or lion-like head), and the Leo constellation. Concept credit goes tomekyaku.]
Ren:
White Poison
Counter Trap
When your opponent activates the effect of a monster they control while there is a "White Aura" monster on your field or in your GY: Negate the activation, and if you do, negate that monster's effects and lower its ATK/DEF by 400. You can only activate 1 "White Poison" per turn.
White Barricade
Normal Trap
Tribute 1 Fish monster; you take no damage for the rest of this turn, also, if you Tributed a "White" monster, you can draw 1 card. If a Fish monster(s) you control would be destroyed, you can banish this card from your GY instead. You can only use 1 "White Barricade" effect per turn, and only once that turn.
White Puffer(Water/Fish/Effect/ATK: 0/DEF: 300/LV: 1)
During damage calculation, if your Fish monster battles (Quick Effect): You can discard this card; you take no battle damage from that battle, also, you take no effect damage for the rest of this turn. You can only use this effect of "White Puffer" once per turn. If this card is Special Summoned from the GY: You can treat it as a Tuner this turn.
White Aura Bihamut(Water/Fish/Synchro/Effect/ATK: 3300/DEF: 3000/LV: 10)
1 Tuner Synchro Monster + 1+ non-Tuner monsters
Must be Synchro Summoned. While on the field, this card's right head and left head are treated as two different monsters, also, it cannot leave the field if it has a head. This effect cannot be negated. This card's heads have these effects:
- Effects which do not allow an attack declaration do not affect you or this head. If the other head leaves the field (Quick Effect): You can Special Summon that head.
[Trivia: I altered this card's manga effects for convenience's sake. Ren will use this version of Bihamut for the rest of the story.]
Tidal Release
Normal Spell
Target 1 WATER monster you control; Tribute all other monsters you control, and if you do, that target gains 500 ATK for each Tributed monster until the End Phase, then you gain LP equal to that amount. If all Tributed monsters were WATER, it gains 1000 ATK for each, instead. You can only activate 1 "Tidal Release" per turn.
White Nightmare
Continuous Spell
You can target 1 Fish monster you control, then discard any number of "White" monsters; until the End Phase, that target gains 500 ATK for each discarded card and this effect.
- Once per turn, if your opponent activates a Spell/Trap or its effect between this card's attack declaration and the end of the Damage Step (Quick Effect): You can negate that activation, and if you do, banish it.
You can only use this effect of "White Nightmare" once per turn.
[Trivia: I altered this card's manga effect for convenience's sake. Ren will use this version of White Nightmare for the rest of the story.]
Blanc Maelstrom
Equip Spell
Discard 1 "White" monster; equip this card to a Fish Synchro Monster you control. It gains 500 ATK, also, every monster that battles it, but is not destroyed, is banished at the end of the Damage Step. Once per turn, if it destroys an opponent's monster by battle: You can banish 1 "White Aura" monster from your Extra Deck; inflict 500 damage to your opponent, also, you can destroy 1 monster your opponent controls with less ATK than that banished monster. You can only control 1 "Blanc Maelstrom".
White Barrier
Continuous Spell
If you control two "White" monsters, you take no damage. At damage calculation, if you would take battle damage: You can banish this card from your GY; the battle damage you take from this battle becomes 0. You can only use this effect of "White Barrier" once per turn.
[Trivia: I altered this card's manga effect for convenience's sake. Ren will use this version of White Barrier for the rest of the story.]
Phew, what a ride! Pun intended, by the way.
The chapter starts with Vince and the Mythorrors' reactions to the other duels on the tournament's opening day, which speaks for itself in my opinion, so I'll head straight to the main attraction, namely his rematch against Ren.
I had so much fun writing this because I got the chance to showcase a fraction of who Vince will become as the story progresses, openly referring to his Mythorrors as his children and having fond interactions with them. Not all scenes involving them are going to be this mushy, however. That would be taking it too far. It's normal they're like this at the moment, we're only at the beginning after all!
A friendly reminder that when a Monster is sent to the Graveyard or is banished, the communication link between them and the outside world is severed, and it remains like that until that Monster leaves that zone or the duel ends. Hence why Saleos didn't know who the winner was, only after the end of the duel.
Reviews really make my day and it's a great way to communicate with you readers, and maybe find out errors I can avoid making. Please review, and with that said, here's the chapter's last scene!
Two cards appeared on the screen before turning around, revealing White Aura Bihamut and Danse Macabre. They suddenly glowed, filling the screen with white light. Once it died down, Ren, Charon, and Ixtab's cards were present, as well as Bihamut's entire lower body occupying the background.
"Charon and Ixtab? What happened to Vince?" Ren tilted his head in confusion. "Considering his importance in this chapter, I was sure he'd appear here, too."
"Yes, that was the case." The goddess confirmed. The top-right border of her card then curled inwards to touch its center, as if she was putting a hand to her chest. "But he was kind enough to leave his spot to us."
"It's because of what you said during the duel." Charon said. "That human thinks you know Bihamut. I'm here only because you dragged me along."
"Well, consideringthatplot point, that's understandable..." Ren reasoned. "Although, why are you in your card?"
"I haven't officially appeared in the story yet, remember?" Ixtab pointed out. "And this is for the better. We're already cramped because of a certain god."
"Is that so?" A loud yet calm voice said. The three looked up to their right, in other words, at Bihamut's right head, and the same voice echoed around them. "Now that you've delivered your daily insult, may we move on, Ren?"
"As you wish, my god." The masked man bowed his head a little in respect. "The Secret of the Chapter is the following: Vince's words before he activated Phobos's effect on Special Summon are the same—bar the 'Synchro versus Synchro' part—that the rival of the second Yu-Gi-Oh!series after ARC-V says to the protagonist in one of their duels."
"Ah, the series that no one watched because it wasactuallymade for kids." Bihamut's left head said with a deeper and rougher voice.
"Don't say that. As you can see, some people watched it nonetheless." Ixtab sighed playfully. "As always, you're a grumpy old man, aren't you?"
"..."
The three looked up in confusion when he didn't reply—and immediately rushed into different directions to avoid a Creation Purge fired by the left head. Its contact with the floor ensued an explosion, and the screen comically froze and grayed out as the words [To Be Continued...] appeared accompanied by an iconic Jojo's Bizarre Adventureending song.
