At Camula's Castle
The march to Camula's lair felt less like walking and more like stepping into a nightmare.
First, a heavy wooden door creaked open on its own, groaning like it hadn't been touched in centuries. Beyond it lay what looked like ruins pulled straight from the cursed temples they once visited on a field trip, except here, everything was darker, heavier, suffocating. The ruin seem to stretch out with no end, its warped pillars leaning like they were bowing to something far older and far more sinister.
Calling the place "terrifying" would've been too kind.
The castle's air wasn't just cold; it was biting, thick enough to sink into their bones. The shadows clung to the walls like a living thing, as though the stone itself wanted to swallow them whole. Even the light didn't seem like light, it simply revealed the path forward, a single corridor of possible death.
"Gu-guys, I think we sho-should leave," Syrus whimpered, his fingers gripping Chumley's sleeve so tightly the poor Slifer's arm was turning red.
"Sorry, but no can do, Syrus." Celina pushed forward, her steps deliberate as she led the group toward the vampire's nest.
"But, why?! You want her to take your soul?!" Chumley nearly shouted, his voice cracking in fear.
And though his words were blunt, no one could deny he was right. Losing their souls was a real possibility. They weren't just gambling cards here, they were gambling themselves. Yet, as Alexis said softly, "We don't want that, not one bit. But that doesn't mean we're going to let her win, either."
Bastion nodded in agreement, his tone resolute. "We are key holders. Protecting the Academy is our burden to bear, no matter how difficult the opponent. It is not optional."
The two non-key holders exchanged horrified glances.
"H-how about we wait for Yumi?" Syrus stammered hopefully, clinging to the idea of salvation through the strongest Slifer Red.
Zane's voice cut through like ice. "Why are you even following us?" His tone wasn't angry so much as annoyed, disdainful even. Brother or not, Zane had little patience for Syrus's fear.
The contrast between them couldn't have been sharper. One brother tall, proud, calm, confident. The other small, timid, trembling at every shadow. To Zane, Syrus wasn't even trying to grow past his fear.
"If you're afraid, then leave now," Zane said sharply. "She won't waste time on you if she has us."
Syrus and Chumley's heads dropped in shame. They knew he was right, but neither could bring themselves to turn back.
"I'm sorry…" Syrus whispered, his voice trembling, but his feet still followed the others deeper into the castle.
Zane felt the frustration burn hotter in his chest. His brother wouldn't even meet his eyes, wouldn't even try.
"We can't always rely on AIBO," Jaden said suddenly, his usual cheer gone, his eyes steady. He wanted to see Yumi duel, more than anyone, but he wasn't blind. If they leaned on him for everything, then they might as well throw away their title as key holders.
Alexis opened her mouth, ready to defend Syrus, but stopped. She hated to admit it…but Jaden was right.
The chatter cut off instantly as they stepped into the main hall. Two raised platforms stood across from one another, the dueling arena already set.
"I am so glad to host you." Camula's sultry voice echoed through the chamber. She stood tall on one of the platforms, arms crossed, her smirk sharpened as her eyes locked instantly onto Zane.
The key holders tensed, each of them itching to step forward, to avenge their fallen professor. But before anyone could speak.
The roar of an engine shattered the hall.
A deafening crash followed as glass exploded inward from the fourth-story window. A motorcycle, gleaming deep blue and cyan, landed hard onto the opposite platform in a spray of broken shards.
Gasps rang out through the group.
"What the hell!?" Celina and Zane shouted together, eyes wide.
And there they were. Momoyo at the front, gripping the handles, her black pants and white shirt whipping in the breeze of her dramatic entrance. Her red tie flapped like a banner, and her black suit jacket hung behind her like a cape. Sitting casually behind her on the bike was none other than Yumi himself, looking as if crashing through a castle window was just another Tuesday.
Both hopped off, glass crunching under their shoes.
Camula stood frozen. Her mind, sharp as it was, still stuttered trying to process what had just happened. How had they even gotten a motorcycle into the middle of the ocean, let alone through her fourth-floor window?
Momoyo pushed her sunglasses up, a lollipop stick clenched between her teeth, giving the perfect illusion of a gangster's cigarette. Her narrowed eyes locked on Camula with undisguised disgust.
"So you must be the wrinkle-faced old hag with no husband, no friends, no loved ones, who preys on little boys just to fill the void."
The insult landed like daggers.
Camula flinched ever so slightly, her carefully maintained smirk twitching at the edges.
"Who do you think you are to barge in here uninvited?" she asked, her voice tight, trying to maintain that calm, elegant facade.
"Someone who isn't old and forever alone." Momoyo fired back instantly.
Being a vampire, age is just a number to her, but still, no matter which race you all are, a woman's age is a forbidden subject. And not to mention Forever Alone here hit a bit deep, seeing how she is the last of the vampire race.
So in a way, she isn't just lonely, she is literally the last of her kind.
"That doesn't answer my question, brat..." She said through gritted teeth.
"And you're still an old hag who is forever alone, gritting your teeth and glaring at me won't change anything. Your kind won't suddenly come back, and you still have no one to cuddle with at night." Momoyo replies before spitting on the ground right in front of her.
The others below went dead silent, then, almost in sync, all their eyes slid toward Zane.
Zane: "..."
He is also confused, but wasn't too surprised. Momoyo is the type who swings both ways. She is interested in cute girls and strong handsome males, and currently, the only strong male who caught her interest is him and her younger brother.
And he didn't get any cuddle, so it is probably some girls on campus, female teachers, or her brother.
Camula's vision suddenly turned red, as her mouth stretched, revealing her long tongue and sharp fangs.
"You despicable, disrespectful brat! Don't think I won't rip your soul out and make you a doll for the rest of your short existence!" She roared in anger, dropping her facade completely.
"With a mouth like that, and you still can't find anyone to be by your side? What a waste of a gift." Momoyo said, which only seemed to pissed the Vampire Rider off even more.
A deep red aura leaked out from the vampire as she raised one of her empty dolls. "Winners walk away. Loser get their soul seal inside one of my dolls!"
"Tch! Over a thousand years old, yet still playing with dolls and can only touch yourself at night. You started to make me feel bad. How about I go easy on you?" Momoyo said, shaking her head and giving her the most fake sympathetic face she had, as she raised her Duel Disk.
"Don't you dare look down on me!!" Camula roared, also activating her Duel Disk.
"DUEL!" x2
[Camula, LP 4000]
[Momoyo, LP 4000]
"Hmmm. Why does this feel familiar?" Jaden murmured, tapping his chin as though he were piecing together some great mystery. His brow furrowed in mock seriousness.
"This is just like..." Alexis muttered, eyes narrowing as the memory clicked. She remembered all too well the time Yumi had baited Nightshroud into a duel using the exact same trick.
"Let's just keep our mouths shut for now," Celina cut in quickly, lowering her voice. Her sharp gaze swept the group, silently warning them not to add fuel to the fire. The vampire's aura was already dangerous, her bloodlust flaring like a hungry beast, and the last thing they needed was to provoke her into snapping.
Across the field, Camula's fangs glinted under the faint moonlight. Her voice was venom-laced, bubbling with rage. "Go on, make the first move."
"Fine then." Momoyo smirked confidently, her hand sliding toward her deck. "Draw!"
She glanced at her new card, then immediately went on the offensive. "I set three cards face down."
Three cards materialized on the field with a sharp flash, forming a jagged line of traps and spells like an ambush waiting to spring. Momoyo raised another card with a flourish.
"I activate the Spell, Card of Sanctity! Both players draw until they have six cards in their hands."
Camula's eyes narrowed in distaste as she pulled a single card from her deck, while Momoyo's hand swelled with four more. Already, the difference in resources was glaring.
Momoyo wasted no time. "Next, open the set card. Spell card, Spell Books from the Pot, both players draw three more cards."
They drew three more cards.
"Quickplay Spell, Thirst for Compensation!" Momoyo slammed the card down, her smirk widening. "When you add cards from your deck to your hand, I can Special Summon two Level 4 or lower monsters in my hands in face-up defense position."
She pulled two cards free and thrust them onto her disk.
"Special Summon, Swordsoul of Mo Ye and Incredible Ecclesia, the Virtuous!"
[Swordsoul of Mo Ye, 1800 DEF]
[Incredible Ecclesia, the Virtuous, 1500 DEF]
The two female monsters appeared before her, both kneeling with their arms crossed.
"Mo Ye's effect activates when she is summoned. I can reveal a Swordsoul or a Wyrm monster in my hand to Special Summon a Swordsoul Token to my field." Momoyo declared, revealing another card in her hand. "I reveal The Golden Swordsoul."
Three crystalline orbs with bat-like wings materialized, flapping in eerie rhythm beside Mo Ye.
[Swordsoul Token, 0 DEF]
"The condition requires two Wyrm monsters… so I send Mo Ye and the Token to the Graveyard to Contact Fusion!" Momoyo waved her hand as both Mo Ye and the crystals bate flew into a spiral vortex merging into one being.
"Come forth! Swordsoul Grandmaster - Chixiao!"
Stepping onto the field was a hulking figure, clad in crimson armor with golden trim running around the edges, with the inner lair being white. His tail lashed like a whip as he hefted a great crimson blade with ease.
[Swordsoul Grandmaster - Chixiao, 2800 ATK]
"I'm not done," Momoyo said before waving her hand. "Ecclesia, it's your turn now. I Tribute her to Special Summon my wife! The Iris Swordsoul!"
The graceful swordswoman materialized beside the Grandmaster, her elegant blade gleaming under the dim moonlight. Her stance was calm yet unyielding, eyes locking onto the vampire with a quiet calmness.
[The Iris Swordsoul, 2500 ATK]
"Next, I activate the Spell, Foolish Burial. This let me send a monster from my deck to my grave." She reveals the card in her hand before pulling out her deck and searching for her selected card. "I send my Electromagnetic Turtle to the grave."
Momoyo slid the card into her graveyard smoothly, and she placed down another card in her hand.
"And now, the Continuous Spell, Soul Absorption, any time a card is banished, I gain 500 Life Points for each."
She then picked two more cards from her hand. "I set two more cards face down."
Setting two more cards with a sharp wave of her hand, her back row now a wall of hidden threats.
"That will end my turn."
The field glowed ominously. Two powerful warriors stood side by side, backed by four looming spells and traps and the steady hum of Soul Absorption. Even Jaden, usually carefree, swallowed hard.
"Whoa… talk about overkill," he muttered.
Camula grit her teeth, her claws tightening. This was the first turn. How come her opponent had summoned four monsters in just one turn and managed to set up a full backrow of cards, the weight of her setup pressing like an iron cage.
"My turn…" Camula placed her hand firmly on her Duel Disk. Her nails dug slightly against the edge as her eyes burned with rage. "Draw!"
The card slid free in a hiss of light, but before she could even glance at it, Momoyo's fingers snapped sharply.
"Trap card open, Heavy Slump!" she declared, her smirk widening. "If you've got eight or more cards in your hand, shuffle them all back into your deck… and then draw two cards."
"You!?" Camula's eyes widened in fury, her pale face twisting as her crimson glare locked on Momoyo. The crowd felt the venom in her voice, a palpable wave of hostility.
But when she glanced down at her hand, ten cards fat and full of possibilities, her expression cracked. With clear reluctance, she slid them back into her deck, shuffled hard, and drew two cards.
Her lips curled back into a fang-filled grin the moment she saw one of them. "Fortune smiles on me! I activate the Spell, Roll of Fate! I rolled a six-sided dice and drew cards equal to its result, but I have to banish the same number of cards from the top of my deck."
A massive dice appeared on the field, clattering loudly as it tumbled across the holographic floor. Everyone leaned in as it rolled to a stop, on a six.
Camula's delighted chuckle echoed. "Perfect. I draw six more cards!"
She greedily pulled six cards from her deck, her long nails sliding across them like claws claiming prey. Immediately after, she banished six cards from the top of her deck. Shadows surged, only to be burned away by a bright green light that wrapped around Momoyo.
[Momoyo, LP 4000 -> 7000]
"Tch…" Camula hissed under her breath. She hated giving her opponent any advantage, but momentum was everything now.
"I activate Graceful Charity! I draw three, then send two to my Graveyard." Cards flowed seamlessly into her hand as she split two away. Her rhythm was quick, confident, her smirk returning.
"Next, I Normal Summon, Vampire Lord!"
A surge of blood-red wind howled across the field, bats swirling together before slamming down into the form of a tall, regal vampire. His crimson eyes gleamed as his cloak whipped dramatically behind him.
[Vampire Lord, 2000 ATK]
The crowd gasped. A Level 5 monster, summoned without a tribute.
"You must be wondering why I can summon him so freely, right?" Camula taunted, though she didn't bother waiting for a response. Her Duel Disk pulsed with an ominous glow as her Graveyard lit up. "It's because Sleepy Beauty is in my Graveyard. Thanks to her, all Zombie monsters in my hand have their Level reduced by one!"
Her grin sharpened, fangs flashing. "Now, I banish Vampire Lord to Special Summon, Vampire Genesis!"
The regal lord dissolved into a swirl of shadow, which burst apart to reveal a hulking, purple-skinned monstrosity. Its massive jaws opened wide, baring endless rows of sharp fangs.
[Vampire Genesis, 3000 ATK]
Momoyo's Life Points ticked upward again, her aura glowing brighter.
[Momoyo, LP 7000 -> 7500]
Camula ignored it and pressed forward, eyes gleaming with hunger. "And now, Vampire Genesis's effect! By discarding my Level 7 Wicked Shadow Dark Lurker, I can Special Summon a Zombie monster of lower Level from my Graveyard!"
The discarded card slid into her Graveyard as another swarm of bats coalesced, screeching as they formed into a pale-skinned, red-eyed predator with crimson aura dripping like blood.
[Vampire's Curse, 2000 ATK]
The battlefield began to twist under her control. Camula thrust another card onto her Duel Disk.
"I activate the Field Spell, Vampire Kingdom!"
The ground split apart. Blackened soil and broken cobblestones spread across the field. Jagged iron gates erupted, enclosing the battlefield in twisted gothic walls. In the distance, a towering castle rose under a crimson moon, bathing everything in a bloody glow. The air itself seemed heavier, filled with a suffocating chill.
"With Vampire Kingdom in play," Camula explained, savoring every word, "all my Zombie monsters gain 500 ATK during damage calculation!"
Her hand snapped again as she revealed yet another card.
"Next, I activate the Continuous Spell, Overpowering Eye! I can only activate this while I control a Vampire monster on my field. I can't target your monsters for attack, but now I can attack directly!"
Her grin stretched unnaturally wide, fangs glinting as she threw her arm forward.
"Battle! Vampire's Curse, attack her directly!"
The cursed vampire crouched low before leaping into the air. His claws slashed through the bloody mist as he bypassed Momoyo's two powerful monsters entirely, aiming straight for her.
The spectators tensed. Zane's eyes narrowed, his voice low and certain. "One of those set cards is definitely a Mirror Force."
Momoyo's smirk deepened. Her hand waved with effortless confidence. "Trap card open, Storming Mirror Force! When you declare an attack, all Attack Position monsters you control return to your hand!"
Zane's eyes flashed. "Called it."
Camula: "..."
Camula froze, eyes wide as her vampire's claws crashed into the swirling barrier of wind. A violent gale erupted, hurling her monsters backward. Both Vampire Genesis and Vampire's Curse dissolved into red mist, vanishing as they were slammed back into her hand.
Camula stood rigid, glaring at Momoyo through gritted teeth. Her hand trembled as she placed down two more cards with sharp, angry movements.
"I set two cards face down." Her voice was venom. "Turn… end."