3rd POV:
"Draw!"
In a vacant lot in Heartland City, a slender figure was standing there with a duel disk on her hand. Any passenger can immediately know that she's training her draw skill which will help her strengthen the bond between her and her deck.
(It's a daily training of Duel Academy students in Yu-Gi-Oh GX to increase the connection of the students with their deck)
The girl keep drawing a card then shuffle it back into the deck and repeat the action a hundred times.
'99!'
The girl slowly closed her eyes and put her hand on her deck, then with a determine look "Draw!" '100!'
The girl looks at the card in her hand, then a smile bloom on her face. Like the 99 times before, the card she just draws is Summoned Skull, her favorite monster.
Although it's just a normal monster but Summoned Skull has stay with her since she enters kindergarten. It's her best friend and also her ace.
"Are you excited, my friend? I never thought that I will encounter another duelist using normal monster." Ever since when she was still a kid, people around always say that normal monster has been outdated and critical her for using one herself.
She tries to argue back but no one listens. Not any teacher or other kids believe in her back then that she could be a strong duelist with Summoned Skull.
But that didn't stop her from trying, she wants to proof to them that she can, although she already prepared herself to walk this path alone, Ryuji suddenly appear bring her a new companion she never know she needs.
At first, she gets interested in him because he uses fusion monster, something just as outdated as her normal monster. Then she started to get close to him and see him using Rescue Rabbit-Evolzar combo and Suship, two powerful archetypes that need normal monster to function.
That's when she truly recognizes him as her friend. It's just that he has a potential to be a professional playboy. Although lacking romance experience herself, she can still see the affection look the three girls gave him all the time. That why see keep teasing him to see the reaction of the girls. Tbf, that was really fun.
Thinking back at the screen of Ryuji stand aside 4 Evolzar, Riko can't help but tremble in excitement. At first, she was worrying wether Ryuji can make it to the final to face her. Now she's worry that she will lose very badly.
'But no matter what, I won't back down!' Riko think with determine as she raise her card high in the sky.
The red moon makes the card look more devilish. The clouds getting clear under the red light.
'Umu! The red moon truly fit the mood- Wait... Something is wrong!' Riko blink her eyes a few times and gently rubbing it. Then see rise her head and look directly at the moon above. The pure white light from the moon makes the surrounding look peaceful, it indeed has calmed her racing heart.
"Haha, look like I train too much I have a delusion. It's not safe for a girl like me outside alone anyway so let's go home." She quickly picks up her belongings and runs back home, not noticing that inside her shadow, a pair of deep, bloody eye was looking directly at her back.
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3rd POV:
"Riko-san"
'The red moon yesterday, is it really because I have a delusion?'
"Riko-san!"
'Perhaps it's a doing of some evil duel spirit like in some fairy tale.'
*Flick*
"Ouch! What was that for!?" Riko cover her forehead as Ryuji flick it. Having 5 duel spirit by his side, his strength is more than 10 time an adult man. Luckily, he has learned how to control his power as a result of his attempt to master Light of Corruption.
"I call for you several times, but you didn't answer, the final match was about to begin." Ryuji point his finger at the duel field. "Mr.Heartland will come to be the referee for our duel so go quickly."
Ryuji then walk towards the duel field, Riko quickly go after him.
On the field, Mr.Heartland was standing in the middle of the field and giving a speech. He slightly turns his head at the two kids figure and raise his voice.
"Now then, please welcome our duelist Ryuji and Riko!" Leading by Mr.Heartland, the audience give them an enthusiastic applause.
After the two get into the duel position, Mr.Heartland clap his hand a few times, then his bodyguard bring out a table with various items on top of it.
"Before start the match, I present to you the prize for the winner! First is the newest model of the duel disk, it was made with light but durable metal that can tank a bullet. It has some common function like auto shuffle and search for card; it can also modify it size to fit the user hand." Mr.Heartland raise the yellow and white duel disk as he introduced it function.
Ryuji eyes light up a little as he sees the duel disk. This is what he asks Mr.Heartland to prepare for him to give to Yuma as birthday present. The color is matching with Yuma future ace Utopia. In contrast to him, Riko didn't show much interest.
"The second prize is 200,000 ¥ in cash." This time neither of them feel interested in the prize. None of them really lack money.
Mr.Heartland notice their unfocused and directly move to the last thing on the table. He rise it for Ryuji and Riko to see. The two immediately realize it's a xyz monster card.
[Gaia Dragon, the Thunder Charger]
"The last prize for the winner is a xyz monster. This card is the results of an international research collaboration to find a next Xyz Summon method.
Different from the other xyz monster card, this card can be directly Xyz Summon by using a Rank 5 or 6 Xyz Monster you control as material!" Mr.Heartland said loudly wanting to see the reaction of both duelists.
As he expected, both of them show an interesting expression on the card. After all, both of them have a deck with rank 6 as their ace.
"Before the duel start, I want to say that our academy always welcomes such strong duelist like both of you to join. No matter the results of this duel, I personally invite both of you to join our academy free of tuition fee." Mr.Heartland finish his speech but realized none of them seem to focus on his offer.
With a helpless smile, he slowly takes a golden coin out from his pocket.
As he throws it on the sky, Ryuji and Riko also declare their choice.
Ryuji: "Heads!"
Riko: "Tails!"
As the coin fall, the side of it can be clearly seen by everyone. "Tails! Duelist Riko take the first turn!" Mr.Heartland quickly step down, leaving the field for the two duelists.
"Look like the goddess of luck is on my side. My turn, draw! First, I activate Card Destruction, both of us send our entire hand to the graveyard and draw the same amount from our deck."
Riko draw 5 new cards from her deck, Ryuji do the same. Before Riko can make next action, Ryuji stop her. "One of the cards I just send to the graveyard is Card of Compensation which let me draw 2 cards."
Riko just shrubs her shoulder clearly doesn't seen those two cards as much threat. "Since you get to draw cards then I should too! I activate from my hand a continuous spell, Card of Safe Return! From now on, when a monster is Special Summon from the graveyard, I get to draw 3 cards."
'Banned card, Anime version too...' Ryuji have seen too much banned card in his previous life being use like some vanilla monster by almost everyone, now he feels numb.
"I normal summon Archfiend Cavalry in attack position! Then I can also Special Summon Archfiend Commander when I control an "Archfiend" card."
[Archfiend Cavalry, atk: 1900]
[Archfiend Commander, atk: 2500]
"But when Archfiend Commander is summoning by this effect, I must target 1 "Archfiend" card I control and destroy it. I choose to destroy Archfiend Cavalry!" Archfiend Commander release it power and fire it, not at the opponent but towards its own teammate.
Although it seems like she traces off her weak monster for a strong one, but Ryuji understand far too well what she's plan. "A fiend deck combine with Card of Safe Return... tch! Hopefully she didn't use Darkworld."
Riko didn't notice Ryuji annoyed and continue her play. "Right now, I activate Archfiend Cavalry effect; If this card on the field is destroyed by card effect and sent to the GY: I can target 1 "Archfiend" monster in my GY, except "Archfiend Cavalry"; Special Summon it, but it cannot attack this turn. I Special Summon Archfiend Giant in my graveyard."
[Archfiend Giant, atk: 2400]
"Next is Card of Safe Return effect, I draw 3 cards from my deck. I set 3 cards and end my turn." Three ominous cards appear on Riko background. Ryuji truly wish he have Harpie's Feather Duster in his hand right now.
"Sign... My turn, draw! I normal summon Rescue Rabbit and activate its effect to-" Before he can finish, Ryuji was cut off by Riko.
"Nope! No way I let you use that thing effect successfully, I chain my set card to your monster effect, Deck Devastation Virus!" The moment the card flipping, Riko already wear a winner smile on her face.
Ryuji who has watch all kinds of degenerate deck video in his previous life know far too well what this card does. 'She really comes prepare huh?'
"I must tribute 1 DARK monster with 2000 or more ATK to activate this card effect; look at my opponent's hand, all monsters they control, and all cards they draw until the end of their 3rd turn after this card resolves and destroy all those monsters with 1500 or less ATK. I tribute Archfiend Commander!"
The archfiend body slowly turn rotten, from within it a lot of dark color virus fly out and cling to Ryuji duel disk.
"Now, show me your hand please~" Riko smile smugly as she looks at Ryuji hand. 'Let's see what he got here.'
Double Summon
Bayerock Dragon
Appropriate
Kiteroid
Evolsaur Lios
Double Evolution Pill
Kaitoptera
"Deck Devastation Virus effect; All monster with 1500 or less ATK are destroyed!" Riko watch satisfied as Ryuji send 3 cards to his graveyard.
"At this moment, Bayerock Dragon activate it effect; If a monster I control or in my hand is destroyed by battle or card effect: I can Special Summon this card from my hand." Ryuji show a card in his hand to Riko and put it on his duel disk.
[Bayerock Dragon, atk: 2300]
"Next, I activate Double Evolution Pill; I banish Kaitoptera and Rescue Rabbit from my graveyard to Special Summon Super-Ancient Dinobeast from my deck."
[Super-Ancient Dinobeast, atk: 2700]
Then I activate the effect of Kaitoptera when it get banished; Special Summon it. I activate it effect to add 1 "Polymerization" from my Deck to my hand."
Riko: "Hold it! I chain this card to your effect, Needle Ceiling; If there are 4 or more monsters on the field: Destroy all face-up monsters. But once per turn, my Archfiend Giant effect let me pay 500 LP to protect it if it would be destroyed by a card effect. I pay 500 LP so now only your monsters will be destroyed."
[Riko, LP: 4000 -> 3500]
Ryuji watch helplessly as his monsters are blow up one by one while Riko just standing there with a smirk on her face. He feels that his is hard right now, his fist to be specific.
'I almost forgot how it feels to deal with those underworld players and she have to remind me of them!?'
"Tch! I don't know if your archfiend awakens their spirit or not, but I know for sure that you have a spirit of a fiend inside." Ryuji take a card out from his graveyard and put it on his duel disk.
"Bayerock Dragon effect; When this cardin its owner's possession is destroyed by an opponent's card: I can target 1 other Dinosaur monster and/or 1 Rock monster in my GY and Special Summon them. I Special Summon Dinovatus Docus."
Riko frow a little. 'When did this card... Is it because of my Hand Destruction?'
Unaware of Riko thought, Ryuji continue his play. "From my hand I activate Double Summon summon Evolsaur Lios in attack position."
[Evolsaur Lios, atk: 1600]
"I activate Evolsaur Lios effect to set Evo-Singularity from my deck. Then I activate Dinovatus Docus effect; I tribute Evolsaur Lios and Special Summon Stegocyber from my deck."
[Stegocyber, atk: 1200]
Riko tap her forehead helplessly. "So that's still not enough to stop you huh?"
Ryuji response back calmly. "If my deck gets stop by just one card then I can never get this far.
Now, I overlay both of my monster to xyz summon Evolzar Lars!"
Both dinosaurs turn into 2 points of light and fly towards the sky forming a portal, within it a red eyes black dragon come out.
[Evolzar Lars, atk 2500]
'After all those interruptions and he still able to summon his ace monster, his connection with his deck is really admirable.' Riko look at Ryuji with approved, this fight has just started but she already feels a bit pressure.
"Ready or not, here I come. I enter Battle Phase and using Evolzar Lars to attack your Archfiend Giant!" Evolzar Lars raise it head and fire a huge fireball from its mouth. The archfiend already uses its protection effect this turn so there's no way out for it.
[Riko, LP: 3500 -> 3400]
"I set 1 card and end my turn." Ryuji put one card in his hand into his duel disk. But Riko who already see Ryuji can guess it's the trap card Appropriate.
"Haha. Look like I have a little disadvantage in round 1. Then, round 2 start now! My turn, draw!"
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I'm back! And I wil probably gone in some random day.