"Phew!" I dropped my butt on the first bench I found. "That was tiring!"
Jogging can be tiring if you're not used to it. I swear if the muscles in my legs can talk, they must be screaming and cursing me for exhausting them so much. Thirty minutes non-stop jogging, people! Salute to those marathon runners!
"And to think this was nothing in face of Action Duel..." or any shenanigans and catastrophic event in the near future. Like, yeah. Nothing at all. Especially when we are going to literally race with time.
I hate deadline.
"Excuse me." I looked up to find someone was staring at me intently. Ups! I... I didn't say anything strange, right? "I heard you mention Action Duel? Are you perhaps a duelist?"
"...I am, yeah." I nodded. "Why?"
"May I have a Duel?"
Uh, wait. It's just like that? And so abruptly? Here? Not like I'm complaining but... "Just for confirmation, you are aiming Maiami Championship?"
Her face brightens up. "You too?"
I nodded.
"Then it's settled."
Well, I guess... "Got any place? This park is kinda full." I gestured to group of kids who use most of the park as arena.
"Is the empty field next to the river is fine? It's spacious over there."
"Sure."
We headed away from the park and to the river. By river, I mean that one river that flow under Maiami Bridge. The riverside is sure spacious enough to hold a Duel. Hell, it even has several fields for dueling purpose. We can just pick one.
"I don't know how to activate Action Duel system, so we go the normal route, ok?"
"Sure. In fact I prefer old style dueling." I replied. "By the way, I'm Briar, Floren. You are?"
"Mihara Haruho."
A very minor character from anime? Maybe? There's so many cast, it would be impossible to keep track on all of them.
"Then, let's start this duel."
DUEL START
Mihara Haruho LP: 4000
Floren Briar LP: 4000
"Since you're the one who challenge me, have the first turn." I told her.
"Thanks!"
Don't thanking me. I'm just being cautious. If I am being honest, I rather take the even turn than the odd. This way I know what card my opponent is playing and can react accordingly.
"I summon Witchcrafter Genni in attack mode." A rather mature lady wearing glasses appears on the field.
Witchcrafter Genni | Level 1 | Wind
Spellcaster / Effect
ATK 300 / DEF 500
"I then activate Witchcrafter Genni's effect! I tribute her and Spell Card Witchcrafter Holiday to summon Witchcrafter Potterie from my deck in defense mode."
The monster disperses in... book pages? In which amidst it a little girl surrounded by comically-shaped doll clays, that were trying to get her attention.
Witchcrafter Potterie | Level 2 | Earth
Spellcaster / Effect
ATK 0 / DEF 2000
"I set one card and end my turn. And since I have a Witchcrafter monster in my field, the spell card I discarded earlier returned to my hand by its effect."
"My turn. Draw!" I look at six cards in my hand. My opponent is tricky. From what I see so far, the spells found its way back to hand after being discarded to graveyard so long the monster is on field so...
"I activate Continuous Spell Card: Aroma Gardening." I activate the card beforehand so I may gain its effect later. I'll need it. "Then I summon Aromage Cananga."
Aromage Cananga | Level 3 | Earth
Plant / Effect
ATK 1400 / DEF 1000
A young man with kind-of-messy blonde hair wearing hat and glasses, and brown clothes appears on my field. He has this excited and curious looking expression... that quickly fell when he looks at his opponent.
"Oh no." he groaned. "Not the Witchcrafter..."
...is there a history between you two that wasn't covered in the Lore? Anyway! "I activate Aroma Gardening's effect! If I normal or special summon Aroma monster except during step phase, I gain 1000 Lifepoints!"
Floren LP: 4000 --> 5000
"Cananga's effect activate! With my lifepoints being higher, all of my opponent's monster lose 500 Attack and Defense! Also, since I gain lifepoints, I can return one set card in spell and trap zone back to hand!" her monster lose defense power, and her set card return to the hand.
Witchcrafter Potterie DEF 2000 / ATK 0 --> DEF 1500 / ATK 0
"I set two cards and end my turn."
"My turn, I draw!" Mihara-san drew a card. "I activate spell card: Witchcrafter Creation and add one Witchcrafter monster card from my deck to my hand."
I was about to discard one card to negate it, then I remember that the Witchcrafter can special summon straight from the deck, and decide to save it for later.
"I then Summon Witchcrafter Schmietta in attack position." It was a spunky redhead holding... I don't know what that was supposed to be, but it was made from wood with metal ring or so.
Witchcrafter Schmietta | Level 4 | Fire
Spellcaster / Effect
ATK 1800 / DEF 600
The attack point would be worrisome... if I don't have Cananga's effect active.
Witchcrafter Schmietta ATK 1800 / DEF 600 --> ATK 1300 / DEF 100
"I tribute Witchcrafter Potterie and Spell Card Witchcrafter Holiday to Special Summon Witchcrafter Edel from my deck!"
"Negated! I discard Ash Blossom and Joyous Spring to negate the summoning!"
That was... close call. Now she only has one Witchcrafter in the field and she had already made her Normal Summon.
She certainly thought the same, with the frustrated look in her face. "I set one card, and end my turn. Since I still have a Witchcrafter monster, my Witchcrafter Holiday returns to hand."
And I only have one copy of Ash Blossom and Joyous Spring. Troublesome. Though, if I wasn't mistaken, there's two spell cards in her graveyard, so why only one return? Is the other have no return ability or is there any other requirement to be fulfilled?
"My turn, draw!" It was... a monster card! Good! The one in my hand is one I keep there util my opponent activate her trap! "I summon Rose Paladin in Attack mode!"
An armored, caped woman with short symmetrical haircut and holding whatever that cone-shaped sword is called. She posed and ready to strike.
Rose Paladin | 4 Stars | Earth
Warrior / Effect
ATK 1800 / DEF 200
"Battle! Rose Paladin destroy her Witchcrafter!"
"Trap Card Activate: Mirror Force! I destroy all your attacking monster!"
"Negated! Since I control a plant monster, I can send Rose Archer from my hand to graveyard to negate and destroy your trap card!"
The archer briefly manifest in my field to shoot an arrow that destroy her trap card before she's gone. Which, thank Ra! Mirror Force is a nuke-type trap card! It cleans away your opponent's field of attacking monster. I know. I have one in my deck.
Without the trap card protecting her monster, Rose Archer can freely destroy weakened Witchcrafter Schmietta.
Mihara Haruho LP: 4000 --> 3500
"Rose Paladin's effect! If she destroys a monster in battle and that monster goes to graveyard, I can tribute her to special summon a plant monster from my deck in defense mode! Appears, O Red Mage of Aroma! I Special Summon Aromage Bergamot. Then I attack with Aromage Cananga!"
Mihara Haruho LP: 3500 --> 2100
"Nice hit."
"Thanks!"
My monster first-bumped. Well, two of them are depicted together in Dried Winds. And their effect is taken after what could happened if you overusing aromatherapy.
"I end my turn."
"My Turn!" Gotta admits, Mihara-san's determination to not give up is inspiring. "First, I banish Witchcrafter Schmietta from my graveyard and send Spell Card Witchcrafter Bystreet to graveyard." Why... does she banish her own card and send another to graveyard? Was there and effect I'm not thinking about? "I summon Witchcrafter Genie in attack mode. I tribute her and Spell Card Witchcrafter Holiday to special summon Witchcrafter Edel from my deck!"
A lady dressed in purple dress and adorned by many jewels appears on my opponent's side of field. Her glamorous, shiny appearance is really pronounced with the way sunlight shine over her that it almost blinds me. Yeouw!
Witchcrafter Edel | Level 5 | Light
Spellcaster / Effect
ATK 2000 / DEF 2300
Witchcrafter Edel ATK 2000 / DEF 2300 --> ATK 1500 / DEF 1800
"Witchcrafter Edel's effect! I send Spell Card Witchcrafter Collaboration to graveyard and special summon from my hand Witchcrafter Haine!"
Another female monster dressed in leather-y clothes with the coats tail split into three section and having arrogant look. Giant sewing needles are floating around her. She seems to give my monster an appraising look... or rather, their attire. Which, make my monsters bristled.
"Not a word." Warned Bergamot. "I warn you, not a word."
Witchcrafter Haine | Level 7 | Dark
Spellcaster / Effect
ATK 2400 / DEF 1000
Witchrafter Haine ATK 2400 / DEF 1000 --> ATK 1900 / DEF 500
Witchcrafter Edel ATK 1500 / DEF 1800 --> ATK 2000 / DEF 2300
Yeah, though because my lifepoints is higher, Cananga's effect is very much in place—wait a minute! Edel's stats returned to normal?! What happened? Since when?
"Witchcrafter Haine's effect! I tribute Spell Card Witchcrafter Draping and destroy one face up card you had. I choose Aromage Bergamot!"
Fuck.
"Battle phase! Edel attack Aromage Cananga!"
"Trap card open! Bottomless Trap Hole!"
"Trap card negated! As long as Haine in my field, you can't target my other spellcaster monster except her!"
...should have use the trap the second Edel is summoned. Next time, don't waste time and use trap the second requirement have been fulfilled. Then I don't have to see this walking jewelry store whacking her weapon at my monster. Sorry Cananga...
Floren LP: 5000 --> 4400
Witchcrafter Haine ATK 1900 / DEF 500 --> ATK 2400 / DEF 1000
"Witchcrafter Haine, attack directly!"
Okay, Spell and Trap zone? Clear. Target? The only one I can target with card effect. Hand? Risky but here's come nothing! "I activate Trap Card: Trap Hole of Spikes! If a monster that was normal or special summoned this turn attacks, I can destroy that monster and inflict damage equals to that monster's half of original attack points!"
Haine fell into trap hole with spikes at the bottom, that totally ruined her clothes much to her anger before disappearing.
Mihara LP: 2100 --> 900
She clicked her tongue. "I end my turn. By my cards effect, since I still control a Witchcrafter monster, Spell Cards Witchcrafter Creation, Witchrafter Collaboration, Witchcrafter Holiday, and Witchcrafter Draping return to my side while Continuous Spell Card Witchcrafter Bystreet is set on my spell and trap zone face up."
...I see. So if the Spell card is activate, it can't return on that very turn, but must wait until her next turn as long as there's a Witchcrafter monster on the field. And continuous spell plays.
"My turn, Draw." Trap card. Damn. But workable. I can use it next turn combines with Aromage Gardening's effect. "I set one card and end my turn."
"My turn! Draw!" She draw a card. Witchcrafter Golem Aruru. "I use Spell Card Witchcrafter Creation to Special Summon Witchcrafter Pittore from my deck!"
A pale pink haired girl whose braid resemble paint brush, and surrounded by floating bulbs of... paint? Paint.
Witchcrafter Pittore | Level 3 | Water
Spellcaster / Effect
ATK 1000 / DEF 1500
"I activate spell card Witchcrafter Collaboration! I can choose a Witchcrafter monster, and she can attack twice, not to mention you can't activate spell or trap cards until end of the battle phase."
Ra dammit.
"Battle! Witchcrafter Edel, attack!"
"Gah!" I dodge the swung from that giant wrench—or whatever that thing is called!
"Once again!"
THAT ONE CAME TOO CLOSE!
Floren LP: 5000 --> 3000 --> 1000
"I Activate Continuous Trap Card: Blessed wind, and choose one of its three effect to activate! I choose the second effect to return one plant monster from my graveyard to deck and gain 500 lifepoints!" Cananga return to my deck.
Floren LP: 1000 --> 1500
SPLASH!
Good thing this was just hologram and not real Action duel or I would need a bath, ASAP, and new set of clothes, because getting the paint out would be a PAIN!
Floren LP: 1500 --> 500
"I end my turn." She looks at my trap contemplatively.
"Draw!" Another trap card. And a Suicidal one if I play it recklessly. Really? Cmon, can't you give me Raigeki instead? Or equip spell? Field spell is also fine. Ah damn. Make a lemonade. Make a lemonade. "I set one card and end my turn."
"My turn! Draw! Battle phase." Straight up to battle phase? Confident much?! Think again, either way I'M OUT OF THIS! "Pittore! Attack!"
"Aroma Gardening activate! If my opponent attack while my lifepoints is lower, I can special summon an Aroma monster from my deck! I special summon Aromage Jasmine in defense mode! And, by Aroma Gardening's effect, I gain 1000 Lifepoints! Aromage Jasmine's effect activate! Once per turn, if I gain Lifepoints, I draw a cardI!" It was, gee, why you come now ugh!
Flowern LP 500 --> 1500
Aromage Jasmine | Level 2 | Light
Plant / Effect
DEF 1900 / ATK 100
"Tsk. Pittore, stop the attack." The painter stopped. "Edel attack that monster."
Okay. Okay here it comes. Sorry Jasmine, "I activate Trap Card! Destruction Ring! I destroy one face up monster I control and we both dealt 1000 damage!"
Mihara LP: 900 --> 0
Floren LP: 1500 --> 500
I dropped on my butt. "Good game!" I sighed out, tired. Saved by skin of my teeth, or rather, Aroma Gardening's effect that allows me to harvest lifepoints! Man, it was normal game but the mental strain! It was tiring, but somehow addicting! Adrenaline rush is real here!
"Same." Mihara-san replied. "Nice tactics to counter that. I should've Summon Haine or Golem Aruru the second I'm able to."
"And I should've use Bottomless Trap Hole the second the requirements are meet." I replied back.
"Oh yeah, and I should've summoned Witchcrafter Madame Verre."
"I want to know who was that but in the same time I don't." either high ATK monster, or Low ATK with nasty effect... nasty to ME that's it!
She laughs. "You're really good. Which Duel School are you coming from?"
"You Show."
Her face shows a surprised look. "Huh? You Show? I thought that school is closing down." Excuse me? "Well, I did hear some rumor about Pendulum Summon and how Sakaki Yusho's son cheating with it to beat Ishijima. Is it true?"
"Sakaki-kun, you mean?" I asked. "I've never seen him Pendulum Summon, I just joined yesterday, so I don't have all the facts to make judgement with." Lie. I know about Pendulum Summon. It was... a plot device and Chekchov's Gun in the same time. "Speaking of that, how do you challenge people to duel? Is there any special forum, send a challenge letter or something? The Championship is close and I don't want to miss it." Absolutely not allowed to. I must reach the Royal Battle stage. Must.
"You could ask someone who has an "in" in dueling circle for arranging duel." Like how in Canon Nico Smiley offers to arrange Yuya's duels? "Another is challenge people to Duel, but yes, requesting challenge beforehand is preferable so that both party reach agreement of the time and location of dueling. Surprise dueling, in which you challenge a random duelist you meet, is also fine. Especially with the Championship is so close."
In short, pull a Pokemon NPC.
"Well, I don't mind dueling you again someday."
"Same here."
It was strange how you can make acquaintances, if not outright friends, with stranger just because of duel. But hey, there's saying you can know about other people by dueling them.