27 The Introvert vs The Pharaoh!
[Yuna POV]
Once the duel was over, Joey and I were lowered from the platform. He was still in shock, and he couldn't believe his loss. His eyes were unfocused, and his friends worriedly approached him. They wholeheartedly encouraged Joey, but his mood didn't seem to improve not even once.
While watching the crew interact with each other, Mokuba hugged me from the side and raised his head like a cute puppy asking for attention: "Big Sister, that was amazing!"
His eyes were bright like stars and his favorability meter would probably soar through the roof if this was a RPG.
"What the heck was that in the end?!" Mokuba eagerly asked: "I have never seen that monster before!"
Unable to answer his thoughts, I smiled helplessly and patted his head. Knowing I'm avoiding his questioning, he pouted but decided not to delve deeper into the matter. While messing with Mokuba, I glanced at Joey in the corner of my vision. I was curious about his reactions and what he was currently feeling. This duel was more important to him than I would ever understand, so I hope he can get better soon.
Noticing my stare, Joey's gaze met mine. He broke away from his friends and immediately walked toward me. I felt anxious and guilty about robbing his chance to win the prize money. Joey desperately needed the money to pay for his little sister's surgery, but I was the one that took that opportunity away from him.
Before I realized it, Joey stopped in front of me, and I nervously bit my lips. He must have sensed my anxiety and smiled wryly before reaching out his hand: "That was a good duel Sano-san."
I was caught off guard and hesitantly shook his hand. When I let go, Joey sighed and frustratingly ruffled his hair: "You're seriously way too strong. Geez, it's just my luck that you're my first opponent!"
"N... not mad?" I asked and curiously tilted my head.
"Huh? Of course, I'm angry." Joey shrugged: "I'm angry at myself for not being a better duelist!"
"Well, I'm probably going back to my room and cry for a bit. Then I should be better." Joey said while smiling shamelessly.
"B.. but mo.. money..." I uttered: "Need... it?"
"Yeah, you must have realized it, right?" Joey chuckled: "Don't worry, I can find other ways to get the money."
I nodded and patted my chest in relief. However, I have to make up for him anyway! Don't worry, Joey! If I'm still alive after this, you can get some money too!
Shortly after, we were ushered by the referees as the second match between Yugi and Mai will begin. The rest of us went to spectator areas to watch the duel, and I sat beside Mokuba as he dragged me along. I was quite interested in how the battle might turn out. Will Yugi play differently with the Eternal Soul I gave him?
Unfortunately, their duel was the same as the one from the anime. The episode was mainly focused on Yugi's struggle with the pharaoh in his body. Even if I couldn't see the interaction, I can tell what was happening with Yugi's random change of emotions and his pale face.
Ultimately, Yugi accepted his alter ego and transformed into Yami Yugi. Then with his divine draw power, Yami Yugi summoned Black Luster Soldier that wiped out Mai's strongest monster, the Harpie's Pet Dragon. With no more cards to defeat the Black Luster Soldier, Mai surrendered, and Yami Yugi won. [1]
So that means I have to fight Yugi now...
My body tensed, and I nervously watched Yugi approaching his friends. Suddenly, a small hand rest on my shoulder and Mokuba spoke in an assuring tone: "Don't worry, big sister will win!"
That's easy to say, but it's the almighty pharaoh you're talking about. Let's not even consider his ability to create Shadow Games. His strongest power was the almighty divine draw, allowing him to get any card he wanted in the deck. Heck, he might even print new cards that he's not supposed to have!
I sighed and stood up as my name was called. Mokuba gave me one last encouragement as I went to the duelling arena. Yugi was already waiting for me and smiled upon my arrival. It was only a quick fleeting moment but the shift in atmosphere didn't escape my detection. Yugi's entire presence has changed and if I don't know any better I would have thought he have became a new person.
'Ah....' I thought: 'He's here.'
"Let this be a great duel," Yami Yugi said, crossing his arms.
I nodded, and we entered our respective areas: "I won't be holding back, and I expect you to do the same." He announced
"Yes..." I replied: "I won't lose."
"Are both duelists ready?" The referee asked.
"Ready!" Yami Yugi and I shouted
The referee flipped a coin and landed on heads: "Yugi Mutou, will you go first or second?"
"First." Yami Yugi replied without hesitation.
Referee: "Understood; let the final match between Yugi Mutou and Yuna Sano Begin!"
[Yugi Mutou: 2000 LP]
[Yuna Sano: 2000 LP]
"My move!" Yami Yugi announced: "I will use Pot of Greed to draw two cards!"
"Then I will summon Celtic Guardian in attack position! He yelled.
An elven warrior wearing green armour appeared on the field. The soldier wielded a long sharp sword and planted the blade on the ground before resting his arms on the hilt.
[Celtic Guardian: 1400 Attack, 1200 Defense]
"I will then set two cards and end my turn."
I would be cautious when there were two set cards on the field if it were any other duelist. However, in the case of Yami Yugi, I might as well assume that there's at least a Mirror Force or the sort placed, and I will suffer tremendously if not careful.
However, I don't have any Backrow Removal cards in my hand, so I can only pray that the damage will be manageable.
"I will summon Paladin of Felgrand!" I declared.
A young knight with blond hair was summoned. He wear dashing silver armour, and a white cape, and was equipped with a sabre that can cut anyone who comes too close.
[Paladin of Felgrand: 1700 Attack, 300 Defense]
"Paladin of Felgrand's effect will activate! I can equip this card with a Level Seven or Eight dragon from my hand or deck! If Paladin of Felgrand is equipped with a monster, it couldn't be affected by monster effects!"
Paladin of Felgrand raised his sword in the air. A bright golden light shone down from the ceiling and flowed into his blade. The knight yelled as he was wrapped with a glimmering aura.
"Now attack Celtic Guardian!" I ordered and pointed at the muscular elf.
Paladin of Felgrand charged and swung his sabre. However, the blade never reached Celtic Guardian when a magic circle appeared beneath his feet.
"I will activate my trap card, Spell Binding Circle!" Yami Yugi announced when one of his hidden cards revealed itself: "I can target one of my opponent's monsters and use one or more of the following effects: The monster loses seven hundred attacks, negating the monster's attack or changing its battle position."
"I will choose to lower Paladin of Felgrand's attack!"
[Paladin of Felgrand: 1700 -> 1000 Attack, 300 Defense]
I cursed as Paladin of Felgrand's attack was already in motion, and I couldn't cancel it. The knight swung his blade but was easily parried by Celtic Guardian. The elven warrior countered with a stab and the weapon pierced Paladin of Felgrand's chest.
[Yuna Sano: 2000 LP -> 1600 LP]
"I set a card and end my turn." I declared.
Yami Yugi nodded to himself: "I will open my second set card, Eternal Soul!"
'Eternal Soul?' I frowned and felt a sudden regret from gifting Yugi the card.
A stone tablet rises from the ground. On it was an image of Dark Magician in all its glory. Yami Yugi spread his arms, and the picture shined a blue hue.
"You're already familiar with this card, right?" Yami Yugi smiled: "I will activate Eternal Soul's second effect, allowing me to special summon my Dark Magician from my hand or graveyard! Come Forth, my greatest partner, Dark Magician!"
The stone tablet came to life, and a figure emerged from the surface. The man wore a purple robe that was combined with metal armour. In his hand was a green staff, and the man twirled the weapon before pointing it at my face.
[Dark Magician: 2500 Attack, 2100 Defense]
"Tsk..." I clicked my teeth, it was the second turn, and the Dark Magician has already revealed itself!
Typically, the Dark Magician will be Yugi's ace monster that turns a losing game into a winning one. By summoning it this early, it meant that he considered me a threat, and I don't know whether to feel flattered at his high opinion of me or feel annoyed at the rise in difficulty.
"I will then equip Dark Magician with the Book of Secret Arts, giving him three hundred more attack and defence points." Yami Yugi explained.
A book appeared in Dark Magician's free hand. He read it thoroughly, and a powerful spell emits from the tip of his staff.
[Dark Magician: 2500 -> 2800 Attack, 2100 -> 2400 Defense]
"Then I will set one more card and end my turn." Yami Yugi announced, and another card was placed.
"Wait before you end your turn!" I yelled: "I'm activating Solemn Wish. I gain five hundred life points every time I draw a card!"
Yami Yugi narrowed his brows: "The troublesome card has arrived..."
[Yuna Sano: 1600 LP -> 2100 LP]
I have been depending on Solemn Wish multiple times now; what can I say? It's a great card in this day and age! With a measly two thousand life points per duel, adding five hundred every time I draw can make a difference.
That's why I can dominate Joey, as all his plans became fruitless. However, with Yugi as my opponent, I have to make the most of it this time, and I'm sure he has a way of removing it!
"I will first use Pot of Greed and draw two cards!"
[Yuna Sano: 2100 LP -> 3100 LP]
"After Pot of Greed, I will use the spell, Graceful Charity, to draw three cards and discard two!"
[Yuna Sano: 3100 LP -> 4600 LP]
With my life points replenished, I can fight back with less worry! I have a new card that I haven't used that can help me in this situation!
"I will activate the effect of a monster in my hand!" I announced: "By banishing a DARK and LIGHT monster from the graveyard, I can special summon Lightpulsar Dragon from my hand!"
The Paladin of Felgrand and the Koumori Dragon I discarded earlier were removed from play. Suddenly when the conditions were met, a dragon with blue and white scales was summoned onto my field.
The dragon stood on two legs with sharp claws and wings behind its back. The monster's blood-red pupils stared down at Celtic Guardian and Dark Magician before howling ferociously.
[Lightpulsar Dragon: 2500 Attack, 1500 Defense]
I present you the Lightpulsar Dragon, and you should also expect its sibling, the Darkflare Dragon! But, Yuna, you may ask why I choose this card instead of Chaos Emperor Dragon - Envoy of the End, which has the same stats as Blue Eyes White Dragon and arguably a much better effect than the duo while having the same summoning conditions.
Well, let me explain.
Chaos Emperor Dragon simply doesn't fit well with my deck. Lightpulsar Dragon allows me to revive Darkflare Dragon from the graveyard easily. In contrast, Darkflare Dragon allows me to send dragons from my hand and deck to the graveyard, which I must do as soon as possible to gain an edge in the duel.
Also, you may say that Chaos Emperor Dragon's effect can kill an opponent in one go by destroying every card in both hands and then dealing three hundred damage for each card sent to the opponent's graveyard.
The easiest answer was that activating the effect was too costly. First, I have to pay one thousand of my life points, and with a starting health of two thousand, I would rather not risk it unless I'm sure I will win. Also, sending all the cards from my hand to the graveyard? That's too risky, as negates were rare but not none existent! Lastly, after activating the effect, I can't activate any more effects for the rest of the turn?!
Therefore, Chaos Emperor Dragon was not a good choice, so Lightpulsar Dragon and Darkflare Dragon were my best options...
Where were we?
"Lightpulsar Dragon, attack Celtic Guardian!" I ordered.
The monster flew into the air and lunged toward the elf warrior with determination. However, before the Lightpulsar Dragon reaches its enemy, a translucent barrier deflects its sharp claws. The dragon growled and stared at the barrier with annoyance while attacking it with fury.
"You have fallen for my trap card," Yugi explained: "I activate Mirror Force! When my opponent declares an attack, I can destroy all attacking monsters they control!"
Suddenly, the barrier glows an ominous red light as it condenses and exploded in the dragon's face. Lightpulsar Dragon howled in agony as its scales melted from the heat. The monster finally collapsed from the sky, its body charred. With one last roar, it succumbed to its wounds...
[Yuna Sano: 4600 LP -> 3350 LP]
I gritted my teeth and watched my life points drop considerably. To think that a Mirror Force will come out this early...
"Since Lightpulsar Dragon was destroyed and sent to the graveyard! I can target one Level Five or higher Dark Dragon monster and special summon it! I choose Darkflare Dragon!"
A black and red dragon appeared on my field. Opposite of Lightpulsar Dragon's divine appearance, this one was demonic and menacing, inciting fear.
[Darkflare Dragon: 2400 Attack, 1200 Defense]
"Then I will activate the Keeper of the Shrine's effect in my hand! Once per turn, if a dragon monster was sent to the graveyard, I can special summon this card from my hand or graveyard!"
A small platform emerges beside Darkflare Dragon, and an old man with dragon features was spotted sitting on top of it. The man smirked as he sat crossed legs and rest his chin against his fist.
[Keeper of the Shring: 0 Attack, 2100 Defense]
"Finally, I'm activating Polymerization and using the two monsters on the field as materials!"
"Fusion summon?!" Yami Yugi frowned: "So you're summoning it now!"
Words began to manifest one by one in my head. My lips moved independently and I felt a power resonating in my soul. The feeling of its spirit intertwined with my own and informed me of its impatience in unleashing itself to the world.
"The two dark evils that dwell in this realm!
From hell hiding within your shadows!
Sacrifice yourselves and birth to another terror!
I FUSION SUMMON!
The poisonous dragon with hungering fangs!
Starving Venom Fusion Dragon!!!"
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I hope you enjoy it!
[1] Forgot to add this earlier, but in the anime, it was depicted as Yami Yugi as the one dueling Mai however, it more looked like Yugi himself was in control. So that's why I'm using Yugi first before he fully accepting Yami Yugi.
