[Momoyo/Zane, 6500 LP]
[Yumi/Celina, 5500 LP]
In just one moment, Yumi has summoned both Raye and Roze to his field.
"Spell card, Take Over 5! Send the top five cards from my deck to the grave!"His deck spat out five cards in one motion, all sliding neatly to the grave.
"Now, I send both Raye and Roze to the grave to Fusion Summon!"
Raye and Roze clasped hands, lifting their heads as a pillar of light exploded downward onto them.
"Henshin! Sky Striker Ace - Zero!"
The flash faded, leaving behind a tall, mature swordswoman clad in sleek silver futuristic armor, katana resting against her shoulder. She carried Raye's intensity and Roze's sharpness blended perfectly.
[Sky Striker Ace - Zero, 2000 ATK]
The simp population of Duel Academy instantly lost their minds. Neurons activated. Phones were pulled out. Someone fainted.
"Not bad." Momoyo complimented, also checking out Zero, before she casually waved her hand. "Iris's effect activates when you Special Summon a monster from your Extra Deck. I can destroy it.
Yumi remains calm. "Zero's effect activates! When she is summoned, I can add a Sky Striker Spell to my hand from my deck or grave!"
Pulling out his deck, Yumi searched and raised his chosen card.
"I'll add the Spell Sky Striker Mobilize - Engage!"
As the spell was placed in his hand, Iris's sword sliced through Zero, shattering her in a clean burst of light. But as the dust faded, another silhouette stood where Zero had fallen.
[Sky Striker Ace - Raye, 1500 ATK]
"I'll activate Engage, letting me add Sky Striker Mecharmory - Hercules Base to my hand." Yumi pulled out his deck and raised his chosen card for them to see. "And since I have three or more spells in my graveyard, I get to draw one card!"
He drew, adding the card to his hand.
"Now I tribute the Warrior monster Raye to Special Summon Flame Aegis - Homura!"
Raye vanished, replaced by a pillar of blazing fire. From the flames stepped out a tall woman with short red hair clad in red-and-black armor, gold and green ornaments glinting across her body.
[Flame Aegis - Homura, 2400 ATK]
The simps went even more ballistic, seeing Homura, as her figure, if to be described in a more polite tone, then it could be pleasing to the eyes. With curves that could rival or even surpass the Dark Magician Girl.
"Tch! Just how many good-looking female monsters do you have?" Momoyo clicked her tongue in annoyance, seeing how her little brother could make an entire deck out of those female monsters, while she only had like four good-looking female monsters.
The Ash doesn't count, too young...
Yumi simply shrugged. "Uhhh, I only have a few."
The simps nearly jumped the railing.
"Bastard! You call that a few!?"
"A few my ass!"
"You already have so many, share some with us!"
"A few? If you only have a few sexy female monsters, then I am the Duel King Yugi Muto!"
The simps watching were in an uproar, jealous and anger clouding their mind as they cursed Yumi out. As Duel Monsters gets more and more popular all around the world, there is a certain type of people who are interested in the game because of the female monsters.
But the issue is that there aren't many good female monsters, and those that are good are rare to come by. Like Dark Magician Girl, for example, she is good-looking and has strong support, but the issue is that she is rare and not easy to come by.
Plus, female monsters aren't just popular among males, but many females are also interested in them.
Momoyo simply turned toward those simps, who were busy cursing Yumi out, and cracked her knuckles, silencing the crowd in an instant.
Yumi acted like none of that existed. "Homura is always treated as a Sky Striker monster. I equip Hercules Base to Homura."
The massive Hercules Base appeared, floating ominously behind Homura.
Yumi then placed another card in his hand. "Next, I activate the equip spell, Hazard Trigger! Equipping it to Homura!"
Two black metal casts appeared on both sides of Homura, before slamming into her, the metal casts opened, releasing black smoke, revealing Homura. Now, with her hair, entire armor, and clothes shifted to black.
"Hazard Trigger's effect, the equipped monster can't change its battle position, it loses all of its DEF, and it gains ATK based on the lost DEF."
[Flame Aegis - Homura, 2400 -> 5200 ATK]
"Spell card, Sky Striker Maneuver - Afterburner!" Yumi placed down another card before pointing toward the massive Cyber End Dragon. "I target your Cyber End, destroy it, and since I have three or more spells in my grave, I also get to destroy the Swords of Revealing Light!"
"Armored Cybern's effect, when the equipped Cyber End is about to be destroyed, I can destroy this instead!"
The Armored Cybern on Cyber End Dragon shattered into pieces, and the wall of swords that caged both Yumi and Celina all disappeared.
"Battle! Go, Homura, attack The Iris Swordsoul!"
Summoning out her large crimson blade, Homura charged forward as black flame covered the sword.
"I activate the Electromagnetic Turtle in my grave, banish it, and end the battle phase!" Momoyo said as the card popped out from her graveyard.
She smirked, but Yumi calmly stared back.
"While Hazard Trigger is on the field, any effect that negates attack or ends the Battle Phase is negated." Yumi said before continuing with his attack.
"Overflow!"
The attack landed, destroying Iris.
[Momoyo/Zane, 6500 -> 3800 LP]
"Homura's effect, when she destroys an opponent monster by battle, she can inflict 1000 damage to my opponent! And Hercules Base's other effect, when the equipped monster is destroyed by an opponent monster in battle, I get to draw a card." Yumi said, drawing a card as Homura swung her blade again, sending a wave of flame toward the two Obelisks.
[Momoyo/Zane, 3800 -> 2800 LP]
Homura jumping back to her master's side, Yumi continued. "Hercules Base's effect lets the equipped monster attack twice, but it can't attack directly. Go Homura, attack Cyber End Dragon! Overflow!"
The woman charged forward once more, swinging her blade down on the massive metal dragon.
"Quickplay spell! Limiter Removal!" Zane quickly flipped up his face-down card. "Double the ATK of my machine monster, but they are destroyed at the end of this turn!"
The massive Cyber End Dragon roared loudly as its size grew even larger.
[Cyber End Dragon, 4000 -> 8000 ATK]
Cyber End Dragon throws its counterblast, destroying Homura.
[Yumi/Celina, 5500 -> 2700 LP]
"Homura's effect, when she leaves the field, I can Special Summon Hikari!"
From the dying flame left by Homura, light gathered, forming into a nearly identical figure, but with long, flowing blonde hair, and wearing a short white dress with back accents and numerous golden and green ornaments, as well as a golden tiara.
The simps went crazy again, but this time they knew better than to try and insult Yumi with the She Devil still around.
[Light Aegis - Hikari, 2800 ATK]
"I set one card face down, turn end."
At that moment, Cyber End finally exploded from Limiter Removal's drawback. Pieces of metal scattered across the field as the turn came to a close.
"My turn, draw!" Momoyo drew her card with a sharp flick, her eyes narrowing before a slow, confident smirk tugged at her lips.
"I set a card, then play the Spell, Card of Sanctity! We draw until we all have six cards in our hands!"
All four players quickly filled their hands to the six-card limit.
"I Normal Summon Swordsoul of Mo Ye!"
A gust of wind swept the arena as the elegant swordwoman materialized, stepping lightly across the platform as though dancing with each movement of her blade.
[Swordsoul of Mo Ye, 1700 ATK]
"I activate Mo Ye's effect!" Momoyo announced, but Yumi immediately cut in, raising a hand.
"I chain with Effect Veiler!" he declared, sending the hand trap to the graveyard. The spectral figure of Veiler appeared behind Mo Ye, her magic spiraling around the swordwoman. "I target Mo Ye and negate her effect until the end of the turn."
Then she slapped her set card face-up.
"Fine. I flip the Spell, Monster Reborn! And bring back Ecclesia!"
A glowing white circle burst open, and from it rose Incredible Ecclesia, gripping her dragon-headed hammer tightly as she stepped forward.
[Incredible Ecclesia, the Virtuous, 1500 ATK]
"I now use Ecclesia's effect! By tributing her, I Special Summon a Swordsoul from my deck!"
Ecclesia dissolved into motes of light, her energy forming into a new warrior: silver armor from head to toe, a long blade at his side, and a draconic tail sweeping behind him.
[Swordsoul of Taia, 1800 ATK]
"Next, I send Taia and Mo Ye to the grave! Fusion Summon!"
The two Swordsouls dissolved into swirling crimson and silver energy. The vortex exploded outward, shaking the entire arena.
"The fusion condition is one Swordsoul and one Wyrm monster, Fusion Summon! Swordsoul Grandmaster - Chixiao!"
A towering figure slammed onto the field, clad in deep crimson armor trimmed with shimmering gold. Its massive tail cracked the arena tile as it lifted its giant sword with terrifying ease.
[Swordsoul Grandmaster - Chixiao, 2800 ATK]
"When Chixiao is Fusion Summoned, I can add or banish a Swordsoul card from my deck! I add, The Abyss Dragon Swordsoul!"
She revealed it, grinning as she added it to her hand.
"And now Chixiao's second effect, by banishing a Swordsoul or Wyrm in my grave, I can negate the effect of another monster on the field."
Mo Ye briefly reappeared from the graveyard in a swirl of spirit light, before shattering into particles as she was banished.
Momoyo pointed directly at Yumi's monster.
"I negate Hikari's effect."
A pulse of red force shot from Chixiao, slamming into Hikari like a shockwave. The radiant woman staggered, light flickering violently around her.
"And since a monster was banished," Momoyo continued, snapping her fingers, "I can Special Summon The Abyss Dragon Swordsoul!"
The moment the card hit the field, darkness itself seemed to split open. A monstrous black serpentine body slowly coiled upward from the shadows, six burning crimson eyes opening one by one. Its jaws stretched wide, fangs gleaming as it hissed.
Atop the beast's crown stood a pale-blue armored warrior, humanoid, but unmistakably dragonic.
[The Abyss Dragon Swordsoul, 3000 ATK]
Many in the crowd shiver slightly, seeing the menacing dragon with the same attack power that can rival the Legendary Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
Despite being called a Dragon, this monster is actually a Wyrm. Similar to Zane's Cyber Dragon, despite being called Dragon, it's actually a Machine monster.
"When Abyss Dragon is Special Summoned," she declared, "I can banish a card in the Field Zone, and one of your monsters on the field or in your grave."
Momoyo lifted a finger toward Yumi.
"I banish your Hikari."
A jagged tear ripped open beside his monster. Hikari was pulled toward it, heels digging into the ground as light peeled from her body.
"Tch." Yumi clicked his tongue, watching helplessly as Hikari vanished into the void.
Since Hikari's effects were negated, he couldn't Special Summon back Homura, and both Homura and Hikari are treated as Sky Striker Monsters, not Sky Striker Ace monsters, so he couldn't resummon Raye.
Momoyo smirked.
"Battle! Chixiao, players direct attack!"
Chixiao lunged, its massive blade swinging downward toward Yumi and Celina.
"Quickplay Spell, The Flute of Summoning Kuriboh!" Yumi yelled, flipping his face-down. "Special Summon, Winged Kuriboh!"
A tiny, brave furball of brown fluff and angelic white wings appeared, floating defiantly in front of them.
[Winged Kuriboh, 200 DEF]
The arena fell almost silent as the tiny creature faced the massive crimson warrior.
Winged Kuriboh shattered instantly.
"Winged Kuriboh's effect," Yumi said, exhaling lightly, "I take no battle damage this turn."
Celina slumped in relief, wiping sweat from her brow.
"So close…" Momoyo muttered before regaining her composure and glancing at her remaining cards.
"I set two cards. Turn end."
Her new face-down cards sparked with a dangerous aura as they settled onto her field.
Celina exhaled slowly, shoulders tense. Between Chixiao's pressure and the Abyss Dragon towering over the field, even breathing felt heavier. Still, she placed her fingers on her deck, steady and sharp.
"My turn, draw!"
Her card slid out cleanly, and her eyes lit with a spark of determination.
"I activate the Spell, Dual Gate. I banish this and another copy in my grave to draw two cards!"
A second Dual Gate burst out from her graveyard, hovering beside the first. Both cards ripped apart into streams of light before vanishing into the void. Celina drew two cards in one fluid motion.
"I activate the Spell, Terraforming. I add a Field Spell to my hand."
She searched her deck, picked her card without hesitation, then slammed it into her hand.
"I add and activate the Field Spell, Apocalypse - Beast Over World!"
The moment it touched the Field Zone, the entire arena trembled. Cracks ripped across the battlefield. The sky bled into a violent crimson, a black tower appeared in the distance like a cursed monument.
A chill swept across the audience.
"I activate the Continuous Spell, Lunalight Formation Ingen. Once per turn, I can Fusion Summon a Beast-Warrior monster."
She raised two cards.
"I fuse Lunalight Crimson Fox and Green Kitty from my hand!"
Both beast-girls appeared in ghostly form behind her. Green Kitty bounded forward playfully while Crimson Fox twirled her red tails with a sharp grin. Together, they leapt into the swirling fusion vortex.
"The condition is two Lunalight monsters, Fusion Summon! Lunalight Cat Dancer!"
A brilliant full moon materialized in the crimson sky, bathing the arena in eerie light. A masked dancer descended from above, landing with perfect precision as her flowing dress trailed behind her like ribbons of moonlight.
[Lunalight Cat Dancer, 2400 ATK]
"My field spell increases the ATK and DEF of all DARK or EARTH Beast-Warrior monsters with 1600 or more original ATK by 400."
Crimson energy surged upward from the blood-red ground, wrapping Cat Dancer like a mantle.
[Lunalight Cat Dancer, 2400 -> 2800 ATK]
"Next, I activate the effects of Crimson Fox and Green Kitty sent to my grave by my Lunalight Spell."
Both spirits reappeared, Crimson Fox flicking her tails, Green Kitty waving cheerfully.
"Green Kitty lets me draw two cards. Crimson Fox lets me target your Abyss Dragon, and drop its ATK to zero."
As Celina drew, Crimson Fox zipped across the field, slashing a trail of red light across the monstrous Wyrm.
But Momoyo snapped her arm forward.
"I chain Chixiao's effect! I banish Taia from my grave, and target your Cat Dancer, negating her effect!"
Taia's image briefly flared from the grave before shattering. Red chains shot toward Cat Dancer, but Celina was already countering.
"I banish Crimson Fox from my grave. When a card or effect targets a Lunalight monster, I banish this to negate that activation, and we all gain 1000 Life Points!"
A pulse of soothing red light washed over all four duelists.
[The Abyss Dragon Swordsoul, 3000 -> 0 ATK]
[Momoyo/Zane, 2800 -> 3800 LP]
[Yumi/Celina, 2700 -> 3700 LP]
"Next, I activate Lunalight Perfume. It lets me Special Summon a Lunalight from my grave."
Her graveyard glowed, and a familiar goopy-looking lion girl popped out with a goofy roar.
"I Special Summon Lunalight Gold Leo!"
[Lunalight Gold Leo, 1600 -> 2000 DEF]
"Gold Leo's effect, when she's summoned, I add a Lunalight monster from my deck to my hand, then discard another card."
She searched, revealed, discarded with practiced rhythm.
"I add Lunalight Black Sheep."
Momoyo immediately fired back.
"Trap card, Swordsoul Backout! I target my Abyss Dragon and your two Lunalight monsters, destroy them!"
The trap erupted with power, but only Abyss Dragon shattered.
"What?!" Both Obelisks stiffened, eyes darting toward the black tower in the distance.
Celina crossed her arms with a triumphant smirk.
"With Beast Over World, Beast-Warrior monsters can't be destroyed by card effects."
Zane smirk. "Not bad, sis- I mean, Celina."
Celina: "..."
Syrus: *cried*
Damn it! I'm your true sibling, not her!
Celina decided to ignore it since, in a way, she also understood and somewhat viewed Zane as an older brother. After all, he understands her pain and future pain the most.
"Anyway," she continued, firmly, "I activate Black Sheep's effect. By discarding it, I add a Polymerization to my hand."
She tossed Black Sheep to the grave and picked up the spell.
"Then Gold Leo's effect adds Black Sheep back to my hand."
Black Sheep popped back into her hand.
"Spell card, Polymerization! I fuse Lunalight Gold Leo and Cat Dancer on my field!"
Both monsters leaped upward into the swirling vortex.
"Fusion Summon! Lunalight Panther Dancer!"
A tall, toned black panther woman emerged, landing with a predatory smirk. She flexed her claws, each one gleaming with dangerous promise.
[Lunalight Panther Dancer, 2800 -> 3200 ATK]
"Panther Dancer's effect lets her attack all monsters you control, twice, and the first time the monster she battles won't be destroyed."
She pointed dramatically.
"Battle! Panther Dancer, attack Chixiao!"
The panther girl shot forward, moving faster than a blur.
"When Panther Dancer attacks, she gains 200 ATK until the end of the Battle Phase."
[Lunalight Panther Dancer, 3200 -> 3400 ATK]
Her claws slashed across Chixiao's armor, sending sparks and flames flying.
[Momoyo/Zane, 3800 -> 3200 LP]
"Second attack! Go Panther Dancer!"
With a fierce roar, Panther Dancer launched herself again, this time ripping through Chixiao entirely as crimson armor shattered in every direction.
[Lunalight Panther Dancer, 3400 -> 3600 ATK]
[Momoyo/Zane, 3200 -> 2400 LP]
"I set one card and end my turn." She placed down a card before ending her turn.
[Lunalight Panther Dancer, 3600 -> 3200 ATK]
Seeing that Celina has grown to this level of strength, Zane couldn't help but smile, feeling that although she would have to suffer a lot during the next two years of Duel Academy, being friends with Yumi.
She would at least have a better start than him, since it only takes him some time before he even begins to get to know Momoyo, and even then, his journey wasn't easy.
This quiet, shared understanding between him and Celina made them feel like true siblings.
But if he ever said that aloud…
Syrus May Cry.