Kaiba Dome
The massive stadium was filled with applause as two Duelists, mounted atop Duel Runners, approached the starting line. Neither was a stranger to the Kaiba Dome or its crowds, and both had their own fans within the stands. The first, named Nicholas O'Neil, was dressed like a stereotypical motorcyclist, black leather jacket and all. His goatee was about the only part of his face visible with his helmet on.
The second, on the other hand, dressed in red and black from toe to tip and with a draconic Runner, clearly had the larger fanbase. Valin Rotor, the Turbo Duel King. Shouts and applause for the youthful King dominated all other sounds; the MC's voice would have been nearly inaudible to the two Duelists if not for the headphones installed in their helmets. The command was given to activate "Speed World 3", and the stadium was illuminated with neon colors. Then was the signal to start, and though both could travel at breakneck speeds on their Runners, Valin was the faster, and was allowed the first turn.
Despite still beating Nicholas, Valin had yet to push his Runner to its fullest capacity. If he had reached its full speed, he would need a special mask to be able to breathe. He had only even come close to those speeds one time, and it had nearly cost him his life. As the Duel began, Valin looked at the five cards he had picked up. He wouldn't need the draw of his next turn.
(Turn 1: [Valin 4000] [Nicholas 4000])
"I Summon 'Blazing Dragonsmith' to the field in Attack Position," Valin declared, a 1700 ATK point muscular monster appearing on his field, a large hammer in one hand. "Now the effect of my 'Dragonsmith' activates," he continued, "allowing me to Special Summon a Dragon-Type monster from my Deck with less than 1500 ATK. I choose 'Sonic Dragon'!" A small Dragon-Type burst forth from a shimmering blue portal, registering as 1300 ATK. "Now, behold as my monsters join their forces together, creating one great beast that rules all. From these two flames comes a great blazing furnace of overwhelming power! Ignis Summon! Arise, my mighty 'Volspire Dragon'!"
As Valin chanted, his two monsters transformed into two crimson pulsing orbs which smashed against each other, creating a burst of bright flame. As the flash faded, a large ruby portal now glowed bright, which soon gave birth to a massive black dragon when Valin slipped the card from its sleeve around his neck, placing it in position on his Duel Disk. "Volspire Dragon" now gave an earthshaking roar.
"You Summoned your signature monster on your first turn?!" Nicholas asked, astounded.
"Yes, and in this first move, I'm about to take out half your Life Points," Valin replied.
"What? How?"
"Let me show you," the King sneered. "Because 'Sonic Dragon' was sent to the Graveyard as its Ignis Material, 'Volspire Dragon' gains 1000 ATK until the End Phase. Also, because I Summoned from the Extra Deck, 'Speed World 3' gives me an extra Speed Counter, so I can now activate a 'Speed Spell' card from my hand: 'Speed Spell - Extra Flame'! By activating this card after Summoning from the Extra Deck, I can remove all of my Speed Counters to inflict damage to you equal to half the ATK of the monster I just Summoned, and because my 'Dragon's' ATK is 4000, you're about to take 2000 points of damage!"
"What?!" Nicholas shouted in surprise as "Volspire Dragon" opened its jaws and released a stream of flame at him, burning away 2000 of his Life Points.
"From here, I Set two cards and end my turn," Valin concluded, satisfied even as the ATK of "Volspire Dragon" returned to its original 3000.
(Turn 2: [Valin 4000] [Nicholas 2000])
Nicholas breathed deeply and drew his card, both players' Speed Counters jumping to 1. As he looked at it, Valin heard him chuckle through his headset. "What's so funny?" Valin asked, rather annoyed. He had Dueled Nicholas before, and every time Nicholas thought he had some kind of advantage, he would laugh, and Valin would put him back in is place. He knew this would be no different.
"You don't think you're the only one capable of Ignis Summoning on the first turn, do you?" Nicholas asked. Valin frankly didn't care, though he didn't voice it to keep from sounding like a bad sport. "I activate the effect of 'Alpha Dasher' from my hand, Special Summoning it since I control no monsters and increasing my Speed Counters by 1!" True to his word, a cyborg, built for running, appeared on his field with 1300 ATK and his Speed Counters increased to 2. "I follow that up with the effect of 'Runner-Up' in my hand, Special Summoning it when my Speed Counters are increased by an effect other than that of 'Speed World 3', and giving me another Speed Counter!"
"Not too bad, Nicholas, but I hope you aren't too focused on Summoning monsters without paying attention to how powerful my monster is," Valin said cooly. "Your monsters only add up to 2400 ATK, which isn't enough to beat a monster like 'Volspire', even without the boost that it had from 'Sonic Dragon'."
"I'm well aware of this, Valin, but I have some tricks today you haven't seen before," Nicholas countered.
Just show me, Valin thought with a smirk.
"I activate 'Speed Spell - Max Out!'," Nicholas declared, "which increases my Speed Counters by one for every other card on the field until the End Phase. That adds up to 5, so I'll be gaining five more Speed Counters!" As he said it, his SPC jumped from 3 up to 8. "Now, 'Alpha Dasher' and 'Runner-Up' join forces! When these two collide, they create the ultimate source of power and speed! Make way for a true champion! I Ignis Summon . . . 'Lightning Rider Garu'!" Just like when Valin Summoned "Volspire Dragon", the two monsters became crimson orbs and smashed against each other, creating the ruby portal that birthed his monster. "Lightning Rider Garu" looked impressive, a motorcyclist glowing with neon green lightning. However, with only 2400 ATK, Valin wasn't worried about what it could do, though he was still keeping his eyes peeled for the trick he "hadn't seen before."
"Thanks to 'Speed World 3', my Speed Counters now become 9, and when 'Lightning Rider Garu' activates its effect, it increases my Speed Counters by 1 for every card in my hand, which is 3, giving me just enough to max out my Speed Counters at 12!"
"You seem so focused on gaining Speed Counters," Valin said. "And the only move I can think of you trying to use is 'The End of the Storm', which wouldn't win you this Duel. So tell me . . . what're you up to?"
"I'm getting there," Nicholas said. "See, 'Lightning Rider Garu' has another effect--one that increases his ATK by 100 for each of my Speed Counters!"
There's the punchline, Valin thought as the 2400 ATK monster had its points increased to 3600.
"Battle Phase! 'Lightning Rider Garu', attack 'Volspire Dragon' and wipe the King out of his own game!" Nicholas called out, and the motorcyclist charged at 'Volspire Dragon', a large orb of electricity forming in its palm.
"You should know better, Nicholas. I activate my Trap, 'Reflection of Sword'! When I take Battle Damage from this battle, now you take the same damage I do, and 'Volspire Dragon is saved from destruction!" Though it didn't save him the damage, he knew he had just reduced Nicholas to a much more dangerous amount.
"Ach! Valin, you just don't know when to give up, do you? No matter what you do, you won't beat me now, because even when I end my turn and lose five of my Speed Counters when 'Speed Spell - Max Out!' wears off, my monster will still have 3100 ATK, still greater than your 'Volspire Dragon'!"
"Hmph. If you're so much greater, then why stall the Duel? But while we're waiting, I might as well do this: I activate my second Trap, 'Seal of the Doomed'! This places a rather painful seal on 'Garu' that you will find the full extent of during my next Standby Phase."
"I don't care what it does, Valin. You'll still lose. But so you don't think I'm stalling any longer, I end my turn."
(Turn 3: [Valin 3400] [Nicholas 1400])
Valin drew his card silently and without fanfare, signified only when the loud ding sounded to inform the crowd that the two players' SPC had increased, and with it, "Lightning Rider Garu" was 3200 ATK. "Now the effect of 'Seal of the Doomed' activates," Valin explained, "inflicting damage to you equal to half the original ATK of your 'Lightning Rider Garu', meaning you take 1200 points of damage."
Just as quickly as Nicholas' SPC had increased, they dropped back to 7 with the shock to his Life Points. "Blast it! I refuse to give in!" Nicholas shouted, but Valin was no longer paying attention to his curses.
"I activate the effect of 'Sonic Dragon' in my Graveyard," Valin said, "banishing it and targeting one Ignis Monster I control to increase my monster's ATK by 1000 points. Now, my 'Volspire Dragon' is again 4000 ATK."
"No!" Nicholas cried.
"Battle Phase! 'Volspire Dragon'! Put an end to this Duel! Attack with Maelstrom Flare!"
The final moments were composed of a great roar from the titanic dragon, followed by a cone of flame that obliterated Nicholas' remaining Life Points.
