Fortunately, we agreed on a regular Duel. Plus, maybe Joshua just had the idea to go to an Action Dueling arena if we had decided to do an Action Duel... or something? I dunno.
"My name? Joshua. Joshua Tamashii, Action Duelist in training." Joshua said with a mock bow before straightening up again. Looking at Michelle, he tapped his chin in thought before snapping his fingers. "Hey, wanna have a game? I got nothing better to do since classes are kinda cancelled and I could use some points. I'm sure you could use them as well."
"A Duel?" Michelle asked in surprise. At first, Michelle didn't know how to respond. Strange things had been happening recently, and it was centered around Dueling. At the same time, there didn't seem to be any reason to turn down the challenge. Eventually, Michelle responded with a, "Sure." Michelle figured that she could use this chance to clear her thoughts of the unpleasantness anyway.
"Alrighty then, a duel it is. But I got a question for ya: Do ya want an Action Duel or a regular one? You seem a little stressed, so I think running around could do ya some good, but in the end, you decide." Joshua said.
"Well, I'm fine with either one, really," Michelle replied. "Although I do prefer playing a regular duel over an Action Duel."
"Regular duel it is then. Kinda boring but maybe I can try to make a show of it." Joshua said before leading the way to an empty arena. Once there, he pulled out his duel disk, which unfolded itself to form the blade. After shuffling his deck and putting it in, he pulled out a coin. "Alrighty, heads or tails?"
After following Joshua to the arena, Michelle placed her duel disk onto her arm and turned it on, the blade forming itself as it was activated. Michelle then placed her deck into the deck slot, where it was then auto-shuffled by the duel disk. Michelle gave a moment's thought for her choice for the coin toss, then decided, "Tails."
Joshua tossed the coin and caught it as it came down. "Tails it is. First turn to you or to me?" He said.
"I'll take the first turn," Michelle said, drawing her first five cards.
"I Summon Raiden, Hand of the Lightsworn in Attack Position!" Michelle declared, the rogue-like warrior appearing on the field.
Raiden, Hand of the Lightsworn - Level 4, ATK 1700
"Now I play the Continuous Spell: Lightsworn Sanctuary, and the Field Spell: Realm of Light," Michelle added, the field transforming and a odd-looking metal frame appearing behind Michelle. "Then I activate Raiden's effect to mill 2 cards from my deck." Her deck then ejected 2 cards, which Michelle pulled out and placed in her graveyard slot, the cards revealed to be Breakthrough Skill and Jain, Lightsworn Paladin. "One card was Jain, Lightsworn Paladin, which means Raiden gets a 200 ATK increase until the end of your turn," Michelle explained.
Raiden - ATK 1700 --> ATK 1900
"Ah, but you're also getting a boost from your field spell, am I right?" Joshua noted
Michelle nodded. "Yes, that's right, as both Realm of Light and Lightsworn Sanctuary gain one Shine Counter each for Raiden's milling effect. I'll enter my End Phase, and Raiden mills 2 more cards from my deck." The next two cards were revealed to be Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner and Blackwing - Zephyros the Elite. "And now Realm of Light and Lightsworn Sanctuary gain one more Shine Counter each. Turn End."
"Jeez, no attacks and I'm already getting the floor wiped with me. Gods help this poor soul." Joshua said with a laugh drawing his card. Looking over at Michelle's field, the air of easiness he had been giving off vanished in an instant as he narrowed his eyes. "That's a right painful set up you got. Can't get rid of Realm due to it's effect. No point getting rid of Santuary either. And wil Realm effect, I'm on a time until you simply overpower me. Well then, first I'll activate Valhalla, Hall of the Fallen from my hand. With its effect, since I control no monsters, I can Special Summon one Fairy-type monster. I special summon Fluffal Dog in Defence mode."
On Joshua's field, a giant plush dog with a small pair of wings on its back and a pink collar would appear, crouching down with its paws over its head as if to protect itself.
Fluffal Dog - DEF1000
"With Fluffal Dog's effect, I search my deck for a Fluffal monster or an Edge Imp Sabres and add it to my hand. I'm going to add Fluffal Owl to my hand." Joshua said before showing the card and placing his deck back in his disc, which auto shuffled it. "I then set one monster and end my turn."
"Draw," Michelle declared, drawing a card from her deck. "I Summon Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior in Attack Position," Michelle said, the well-built axe-wielding warrior appearing on the field.
"I activate Raiden's effect to mill 2 cards from my deck," Michelle said, milling Foolish Burial and Realm of Light. "Because of that, Garoth's effect activates as well, allowing me to mill 2 more cards," Michelle explained, milling Beckoning Light and Monster Reincarnation. "Of course, my spells gain 2 Shine Counters each from the milling effects."
"Battle Phase! Raiden, attack Fluffal Dog!" Michelle commanded, Raiden charging forward to strike down the dog plushie, slicing through the fabric and destroying it. "Garoth, attack the face-down monster!" Michelle continued, Garoth moving forward and swinging his axe downward at the card.
Joshua's monster appeared briefly, being a odd mechanical construct before disappearing. However, a ring of light appeared under Garoth and it would vanish from the field. "Kelbek returns the monster that battled it to the hand after damage calculation." Joshua said simply, placing the monster in his grave. "Now, let's see... Raiden is going to be at 2200 attack points at the end of this turn. Fun times."
Michelle said nothing, only milling the next two cards from her deck, Lightray Diabolos and Lightray Daedalus. "Turn End," Michelle declared.
Joshua wordlessly drew his card. "I Special Summon Fluffal Owl in defence position with Valhalla. Through it, I search out the spell card Polymerization." Joshua said, summoning a plush owl now and taking the spell from his deck. Lookig at his cards, Joshua sighed and set two of them face down, one monster and one spell or trap. Given his opponents luck though, he was not expecting the latter to stick around long. "Over to you, One Who is blessed by Izanagi. So, Raiden will be what, 2700, 2900 this time around, depending on your mills?"
"Perhaps," Michelle said, drawing a card. "I'll Summon Garoth back to the field in Attack Position, then activate Raiden's effect to mill 2 cards." The two cards, Fabled Raven and Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner, were sent to the Graveyard. "Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner was sent to the Graveyard, which means Raiden gains a 200 ATK increase."
"So it's 3100 at the end of this turn. Yeah, no thanks." Joshua said, placing his hand on top of his deck. "This was a very boring duel. Lowest of the low on the entertainment scale."
"Agreed," Megumi said reluctantly, returning the cards in her Graveyard and hand to the deck.
Joshua surrenders. Michelle wins!
"Well, only one way to remedy that. Try again." Joshua said, shuffling his deck. "A one sided slaughter is not a duel. Course, if I slaughter you this time, we'll have to keep going. And if you slaughter me, same deal. We keep going until we have an actual duel worthy of the term."
Michelle briefly wondered if that was a good idea, then decided to go with the flow. After all, both of them could only benefit from the Duels. "Ok," Michelle agreed. "I went first last time, so it's only fair that you go first this time."
"Draw." Joshua said, glancing at his hand. "I Summon a familiar creature. Come out Fluffal Dog. And with its effect, Fluffal Owl to hand."
The plush dog appeared again on Joshua's field and let out a few yips while wagging its tail excitedly.
Fluffal Dog - Level 4, ATK 1700
Joshua added Fluffal Owl to his hand and glanced and Michelle's field. He could guess her face down monster but he decided to risk it anyway. "Fluffal Dog, attack her face-down." Joshua commanded, causing the dog to jump at the card.
As the plushie landed on the card, a white wolf appeared from underneath, dodging the attack as it sprinted towards the left face-down on Joshua's field. "Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter's flip effect activates, letting me destroy a card you control and mill 3 cards from my deck," Michelle said.
"Knew it, but please go on and select your target." Joshua said with a laugh.
Michelle pointed to the card to her left, which Ryko ran towards and bit down on, destroying it. Fluffal Dog, however, had been chasing it, and Ryko was too slow the avoid the attack. Meanwhile, Michelle milled Judgment Dragon, Jain, Lightsworn Paladin, and Solar Recharge.
Joshua sent Nightmare Wheel to the grave and waved his arm, signaling the end of his turn.
"Draw!" Michelle said as she drew another card. "I Summon Raiden, Hand of the Lightsworn in Attack Position!" The rogue-like warrior returned to the field, blades ready for battle.
Raiden, Hand of the Lightsworn - Level 4, ATK 1700
"Trap Card open. Bottomless Trap Hole. In case you don't know, Raiden is now destroyed and then banished." Joshua said, revealing his trap card.
Michelle was slightly frustrated to see the giant green monster pull down her monster into the pit, but she would have to make do. Unfortunately, she was out of moves this turn. "Turn End," Michelle said.
Joshua wordlessly drew his card and glanced at Michelle's field. If that face down was what he thought it was, the only reason she didn't use it last time was because she wanted Ryko to go off. Still. "I summon Fluffal Owl and add Polymerization to my hand." He said, adding the card and shuffling his deck after the plush owl from last time appeared.
Michelle knew she was at a disadvantage in terms of field presence, but she also knew that she couldn't let that get to her. "Draw!" Michelle declared, drawing a card. "I Summon Jain, Lightsworn Paladin in Attack Position!" The female paladin appeared on the field, sword and shield at the ready.
Jain, Lightsworn Paladin - Level 4, ATK 1800
"Oh, this is gonna hurt." Joshua muttered.
"Battle Phase! Jain, attack Fluffal Owl!" Michelle commanded, Jain charging forward to attack. "When Jain attacks an opponent's monster, her ATK rises by 300!" Michelle explained.
Jain, Lightsworn Paladin - ATK 1800 --> ATK 2100
"Why do you think I said this would hurt!" Joshua said, a small smile on his face. Maybe he could get her to smile, not moving as the paladin charged.
Michelle's eyes widened in suprise as she realized what an error in judgement she had made. She realized then that perhaps she should have not attacked this turn to build up her own defenses for the next turn. "Oh no," Michelle said as she reacted to Joshua's words. Fortunately for her, no trap card or anything had been activated, and Fluffal Owl was sliced into two. Michelle was shocked for a moment, then she wondered if there was perhaps no Trap card or anything after all.
Joshua LP: 4000 --> 2900
"Trap Open. Fluffal Crane!" Joshua declared, revealing his trap. "When any Fluffals on my side of the field are destroyed by battle or card effect, so long as they are face up, one returns to my hand. So I get Fluffal Owl back. And since the Crane Game is such an unfair one, I net a second prize by being able to draw another card."
With that, Joshua added Owl and one new card to his hand, keeping a poker face at the results.
Things were a bit better than expected, but only a bit. Michelle knew she was still at a disadvantage, but she believed she would survive if she played her cards right. "At the End Phase, I mill 2 cards," Michelle said as she milled Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner and Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress. "Turn End."
"Draw." Joshua said. Smiling he knew what to do. And best part was that, even if it backfired, he had a back up. "I summon King of the Swamp on my side of the field in Attack mode."
On Joshua's side of the field, a green mass of goo rose up on his side of the field
King of the Swamp- Level 3, ATK 1700
"Tell me Michelle, do you believe in demonic possession?"
Michelle raised an eyebrow at the question, then responded, "Why do you ask?" Michelle already knew the answer to the question, but she felt that it still had to be asked.
"Reasons." Joshua said, flipping his face-down monster face-up. It was Edge-Imp Sabres, the monster appearing like several pairs of scissors joined together, with a pair of demonic eyes coming out from between the gaps in the handles.
Edge-Imp Sabres- Level 3, ATK 1200
"Now then, I play the spell, Fusion Substitute. With this, I can use monster on my side of the field for a fusion summon. I use King of the Swamp's effect to treat it like Fluffal Bear and fuse it with Edge-Imp Sabres! Claws of the Demon! Fangs of the Beast! Become one and reveal a new form and power! Fusion Summon! Appear, horrifying beast that shreds everything! Frightfur Bear!"
Joshua's monster's floated into the air as he chanted, turning into streams of red and blue light that spiraled together. A plush bear appeared in the air before it was torn in several places by pairs of scissors, with two pairs acting as its arms and another pair coming out of its stomach. The bear's mouth opened, revealing a pair of demonic eyes.
Frightfur Bear - Level 6, ATK 2200
"I switch Fluffal Dog to Defence position and then have Frightfur Bear attack your Jain, Lightsworn Paladin!" Joshua said, his fusion monster throwing a punch at Michelle's monster, its arm extending to close the distance.
"By discarding Honest from my hand, Jain gains ATK equal to the attacking monster until the end of the turn!" Michelle countered, sending a card from her hand to the Graveyard. Jain suddenly grew wings of light from her back and blocked the incoming attack with her shield, then knocked the arm aside and counterattacked, piercing the monster in the chest.
Joshua LP: 2900 -->700
Joshua shrugged, having been expecting something like this as he placed Bear in the grave. "I activate the effect of Fusion Substitute. I banish it and add Bear back to my Extra Deck. then I draw one card." He said. "You know, I was expecting something along those lines. I send one card from my hand to the top of my deck to Special Summon Edge-Imp Sabres to my field in defense. Then I set one card and end my turn."
"Draw!" Michelle said as she drew a card. "Since I have more than 4 LIGHT monsters in my Graveyard, I can Special Summon Lightray Daedalus from my hand!" A giant blue serpent appeared on the field next to Jain, looking threatening.
Lightray Daedalus - Level 7, ATK 2600
"Battle Phase! Lightray Daedalus, attack Fluffal Dog!" Michelle commanded, Daedalus lunging forward and ripping the plushie to shreds. "Jain, attack Edge Imp Sabres!" Michelle continued, Jain rushing forward to slice through the many pairs of scissors.
With the Battle Phase out of the way, Michelle said, "I'll set one monster, and mill 2 cards with Jain's effect." Michelle then moved to mill Lightsworn Sanctuary and Alexandrite Dragon. "Turn End," Michelle declared.
Joshua drew his card and sighed. He had one shot at this. but he had a feeling that new monster was another Ryko. Still, he had to do something.
"I once again summon Edge-Imp Sabres with its effect, returning one card to the top of my deck." He said, the pair of scissors appearing on his field again. "Then I summon Fluffal Owl to search out Polymerization from my deck!"
"I activate my Trap card: Breakthrough Skill, which negates the effect of your Fluffal Owl," Michelle countered as a grey scaly clawed hand shot out of the card and struck the owl.
"Fluffal Owl attacks Daedalus." Joshua said with a shrug as the owl was smashed by the serpent and his life points hit zero.
Joshua - 700 LP --> 0 LP
Michelle Wins! again
"Well, I'm bored now. Later." Joshua said, walking away while raising a hand.
Michelle was about to say a farewell as well, until she remembered something. "Wait a minute!" Michelle called out. She took out her D-ceiver and asked Joshua, "Do you, um, want to add each other on our Friends Lists?"
Joshua turned around and frowned. "Nope. I only add people I can have fun with. Sadly, as it stands, your deck is unable to provide me with that right now with the way mine is. Your deck is too powerful, and your mills, while bad, do nothing to hurt you. Really, for a standard starter, it's more balanced and powerful than most. So as it stands, I have no interest in dueling you until I improve mine, though you will doubtlessly put even more of a gap between us until then." He said.
Michelle placed a hand above her heart, feeling hurt by his words. Michelle could not deny his blunt statements, though. After a moment's silence, Michelle looked down and quietly said, "I see. Alright then, I understand."
Joshua's frown deepened. "I have nothing against you, you know. You seem like a nice enough person. But you pick a deck like Lightsworns, people are bound to avoid you because they won't view it as worth their time with the chances of losing in their favor. If you want my advice, take those points you got and buy a weaker deck to give others a better chance. Though, there are others who prefer a challenge. So maybe you should seek out those who prefer to better themselves over having fun." he said.
Michelle thought about Joshua's words. She remembered the days of her youth when there were people who did avoid Dueling her just because she used a Lightsworn deck. They said it was no fun to play against, and that it was too hard or frustrating to do so. Those thoughts brought a few tears to Michelle's eyes. She didn't want to abandon the Lightsworns in favor of another deck so quickly, yet she wondered if it wasn't possible to just have fun playing a Lightsworn deck.
"... all that being said though, I am looking to improve myself. So maybe you occasionally challenging me to a one-sided massacre might not be entirely bad. My first sign of progress will be actually hitting your life points." Joshua said, trying to make it sound offhanded.
Michelle wiped away her tears, then looked back up at Joshua. "So then,I'll... see you next time," Michelle said awkwardly before walking away.
"Time will tell. Until then, consider if that deck really gives you what you really want." Joshua said before walking away.
Megumi was in the garden along with most of the other students for the first day of the academic year. Megumi was a little nervous at the moment, but she managed to keep herself composed. The announcement from Headmistress Livia began with introductions, which was soon interrupted by Nurse Hillard before the headmistress could regain possession of the microphone. Then there came information about some sort of dinner party in three days, as well as their dorm assignments.
Megumi was then surprised by the sudden appearance of the vast quantity of spirits that danced around in the sky. At first, Megumi thought they were some sort of wind spirit, but Megumi found inconsistencies that quickly debunked that theory. What they exactly were, though, Megumi couldn't tell. Then the spirits dropped down and gave everyone a slip of paper. Megumi grabbed the paper that the spirit gave to her and read it as the spirit flew away. The Library... Megumi thought as she scanned the paper. There were also a couple of other names on the paper who Megumi assumed would be the others who would also reside in the library.
With the announcement over, Megumi decided to make her way to the library. As she did, she thought about her small argument with her parents back home. She had rejected every other choice for her schooling, and had chosen this place. Now that Megumi thought about it, she probably should have done a bit more research on the place other than to make sure that it wasn't some scam. She had chosen this school out of impulse to see what it was like to not have her parents looking over every second of her life. If her father hadn't thought of that deal, perhaps she might not have been able to come.
Well, the past was the past. It was the start of a new life for Megumi now.