One can feel Zarc's glee.
He truly wants to get back at Ray, even if it only through their reincarnation.
"What's in your mind?" Yugo poked my arm.
"Oh, just wondering how Yuya gonna win it with Performapal Deck."
"...you meant Magician?" Crow frowned.
"Performapal." I reaffirmed. "Yuya's actual deck is mix between three archetypes. Magician Pendulum, Odd Eyes, and Performapal. Right now, he decided to use Performapal only."
"Is he arrogant or complacent or what?"
"More like, he wants to challenge himself and be fair to his cards." That's what he said anyway. "He did not use some cards in quite some time, so he wants to give them chance to shine."
"Cards he didn't use in long time..."
I can guess what's in Crow's mind.
It's about Armed Wing. Where did it came from. Wondering if he always has that card in his deck or if it magically appears out of nowhere.
Not that I blame him.
It was a pleasant surprise to see his 5Ds Synchro monster.
I wonder if he has others... and Black Winged Dragon.
"Yuya will win, right?" Yuto asked me.
Bias towards yuya and against Serena, huh?
Poor Serena. Not many in her side. Someone really should throw her into socializing class, or at least, give her time to find a commonality with others so she can make friends.
It really doesn't help that when she arrived, cliques were already made, and it's hard for outsider to joins in.
I shrugged.
"Let's see how he fares, ok?"
"City as one! We are all friends!" The MC declared. "Today, we have the final duels for the second round! Isn't it exciting?! Without further ado, let's welcome our duelists! The fierce lady who trounced anything in her path, Serena! And tricky magician who weaves spells to charm the audiences, Sakaki Yuya!"
Ah, it's starting.
"Ready? Set! Turbo Duel – Accelerate!"
Serena LP: 4000
Yuya LP: 4000
I wonder how he gonna win it. Lunalight Archetype is competitive, though Performapal is no slouch either... Performapal-Performage Meta deck with some additional cards to the deck, that is.
What Yuya is gearing up with, is Pure Performapal.
Plus
You got benched, aren't you? Zarc?
"Hmph." He harumphed, crossing arms in petulance. "He said he want to keep me secret until much later."
Probably because you will shock Clear Wing and Dark Rebellion out of their card. And the fact Yuya clearly didn't trust you to not influence him. You want to get back at Ray through Serena, don't you?
"My turn!" Serena looked at her card and seems to think about it. "I summon Lunalight Blue Cat! I set two cards and end my turn!"
Lunalight Blue Cat | Level 4 | Dark
Beast-Warrior / Effect
DEF 1600 / DEF 1200
Oh? Not a good starting hand.
"My turn then. Draw." It's Yuya's turn now, and Zarc perked up. Geez. If I don't know better, you're playing favoritism. "I summon Performapal Salutiger!"
Performapal Salutiger | Level 4 | Earth
Warrior / Effect
ATK 1700 / DEF 400
"For first act, a little chip!"
Serena LP: 4000 --> 3900
"When Salutiger destroy a monster and send it to the graveyard, I can draw a Performapal Pendulum monster of my choice!"
Huh. Of his choice? Any level? Interesting. It will make setting scales and getting the monster he wants much, much easier.
Or searcher.
Like Skullcrobat Joker.
Literally just normal summon him and pick any Odd Eyes, Performapal, or Pendulum Magician of your choice.
"Lunalight Blue Cat's effect! When it was destroyed, I can special summon a Lunalight monster from my deck! I summon Lunalight Crimson Fox! And I chain it with Trap Card, Lunalight Reincarnation Dance! When monster I control is destroyed, I can add two Lunalights monster from deck to hand!"
"I set four cards. I end my turn."
"My turn, draw! I activate Lunalight Black Sheep effect to discard her and draw a Polymerization Spell Card! Then I activate my continuous Trap Card, Lunalight Serenade Dance! Next, I Fusion summon using Lunalight Red Fox and Lunalight Yellow Marten! Tricky Vixen laughs in crimson! Weasel with ferocious mind! Spiral into the moon's gravity and become a new power! Fusion Summon! Beautiful beast that dances in the moonlight! Lunalight Cat Dancer!"
Here it is. Serena's Ace Monster.
Lunalight Cat Dancer | Level 7 | Dark
Beast-Warrior / Fusion / Effect
ATK 2400 / DEF 2000
"Lunalight Serenade Dance effect. When I fusion summoned, I can target the Fusion monster to summon a Lunalight Token in your field and increase the Fusion monster's attack by 500!"
Lunalight Token | Level 4 | Dark
Beast-Warrior / Token
ATK 2000 / DEF 2000
Lunalight Cat Dancer ATK 2400 --> 2900
"Lunalight Crimson Fox's effect! When she is sent to the graveyard by card effect, I can make your monster's attack become zero!"
Performapal Salutiger ATK 1700 --> 0
"Similarly, when Yellow Marten is in the graveyard with that reason, I can add a Lunalight spell or trap to hand. Then, I summon Lunalight White Rabbit, and activate her effect!"
"Negated! Infinite Impermanence! I negated that white Rabbit's effect!"
"Lunalight Crimson Fox effect! I negate effect that targeted a Lunalight monster I control and both of us gain 1000 lifepoints!"
"Meet Called by the Grave!"
"...That was intense banter." Commented Kurosaki.
Intense? Yeah... that was the kind of combo you usually see in Master Duel... though compares to some chain combo... this can still be considered tame...
Serena clicked her teeth.
"Whatever! Cat Dancer activate her effect to tribute White Rabbit and gain ability to attack twice, and first time your monster is about to destroyed, it isn't! Now, Attack his monster!"
"Trap Card open! Performapal Pinch Helper! When battle involve my performapal monster and monster you control, I can send this card to the graveyard and I gaint no battle damage from it."
"When Lunalight Cat Dancer declares attack, you gain 100 effect damage."
Yuya LP: 4000 --> 3900
First time it wasn't destroyed nor Yuya gain battle damage from it. But the second...
Yuya LP: 3900 --> 3800 --> 900
"Quick Play spell card! Illusion Balloons! I can ctivated it when a monster I controlled is destroyed by battle this turn! I excavated five top cards in deck and summon performapal monster excavated, and shuffle the rest back into deck." Five cards are excavated. "I summon Performapal Swordfish!"
Performapal Swordfish | Level 2 | Water
Fish / Effect
DEF 600 / ATK 600
"When performapal Swordfish is summoned, my opponent monster lose 500 Attack and defense!"
Lunalight Cat Dancer ATK 2900 / DEF 2000 --> ATK 2300 / DEF 1400
"Whoa... his lifepoints is dangerously low..." murmured Yugo.
Well. At least he survives. That's better than K.O.-ed.
Zarc grumbles, "If I was there, it'll end in flash."
He's lucky my monsters are still stewing off in Spirit World (or rather, keeping eye on Black Rose whom according to them, is still raging mad), otherwise I'll have them bonked him on the head.
"I set one card and end my turn."
"My turn, then. Draw." Yuya draw his card and think about it.
What combo is he aiming for...?
"First, I set Scale 8 Performapal BaroKuriboh and Scale 6 Performapal Lizardraw. When there's a Performapal monster in other Pendulum scale, I can destroy Lizardraw to draw a card. I set scale 1 Performapal ClassiKuriboh."
Performapal BaroKuriboh | Level 8 | Dark
Fiend / Pendulum / Effect / PS 1
ATK 300 / DEF 3000
Performapal ClassiKuriboh | Level 1 | Dark
Fiend / Pendulum / Effect / PS 8
ATK 300 / DEF 200
Kuriboh? More Kuriboh?!
"Furball...!" Serena gasped.
Ah yes. Kuriboh cuteness. Round fluffball you just want to cuddle... it doesn't help they're friendly AF.
"I pendulum summon Performapal Secondonkey, whom if summoned and I has monsters on Pendulum zone, allow me to add another Performapal. I summon Performapal Friendonkey—and Friendonkey allow me to special summon level 4 or lower monster from the graveyard! Come back, Salutiger!"
Performapal Secondonkey | Level 4 | Earth
Beast / Effect
ATK 1000 / DEF 2000
Performapal Friendonkey | Level 3 | Earth
Beast / Effect
ATK 1600 / DEF 2000
"Also, Swordfish stats reduction also works whenever I special summon monster. I Special summon twice this turn, so..."
1200 loss.
Lunalight Cat Dancer ATK 2300 / DEF 1400 --> ATK 1100 / DEF 200
"I attack with Lunalight Token."
"Action Card: Evasion."
Yuya smirked. "I've been waiting for that." He said. "Salutiger."
Ah.
He threatens Serena with the Token, who has 2000 ATK, either Serena negates it and waste the Action Card she snatched, or take the damage. Either way, it's win-win for Yuya.
"Foolish bitch." Smirked Zarc.
I pretend to stretch as I hit him in the head.
"Ow!"
Behave, Zarc. Behave.
"Action Card: Attack Force! Cat Dancer gains 600 attack!"
"Action Card: NO ACTION!" Whoa there, Yuya! Don't be Captain Capslock!
Serena LP: 3900 --> 3300
"Trap Card open, Lunalight Reincarnation! I draw two lunalight monsters!"
"They don't have any effect that can block direct attack, do they?" Teased Yuya, much to Serena's ire.
Serena LP: 3300 --> 2300 --> 700
"Now, they're more or less even." Yugo commented.
"I set one card and end my turn."
"My turn. Draw!" Her eyes narrowed. "I am going to make you pay for messing me! I activate Lunalight Kaleido Chick and activates her effect! I send Lunalight Panther Dancer from extra deck to the graveyard and Kaleido Chick's name become Panther Dancer!"
Lunalight Panther Dancer | Level 4 | Dark
Beast-Warrior / Effect
ATK 1400 / DEF 800
Oh dear.
She is aiming for Leo Dancer.
"I set Lunalight Wolf to my pendulum scale and activate her ability! I fusion summon by banishing materials from graveyard! Elegant beast dancing on the moonlit wilderness! The beast lurking in jet-black dress! The cat prowling in azure! Swarm in a vortex of the moon's gravity and revive with a new power! Fusion Summon! Come forth! The king of beasts dancing atop the summit of the moonlight wilderness! Lunalight Leo Dancer!"
Lunalight Leo Dancer | Level 10 | Dark
Beast-Warrior / Fusion / Effect
ATK 3500 / DEF 3000
"Battle!"
"Trap Card open! Last Minute Cancel! All monster I control is changed to defense position, and when they are destroyed, they go back to my hand!"
"That won't save you. When Leo Dancer destroy a monster, she can destroy ALL Special summoned monster you control. Also, don't bother. She cannot be targeted by cards effect!"
Yuya's field now only leaving Performapal Friendonkey... who is normal summoned.
"Kaleido Chick, destroy that donkey. Then, Leo Dancer can make second attack! Direct attack!"
The boss fusion monster geared up to attack, but Yuya smirked and signaled to his Kuriboh.
"ClassiKuriboh's effect. When monster declare direct attack, it will self-destruct and end the battle phase. Please try again next time!"
I can see smoke coming out from Serena's head. She's that angry.
"You're just stalling time!" She gritted her teeth.
"Stalling is also a type of playstyle, remember?" Yuya retorted, which makes Serena angrier.
"I activate Pot of Acquisitiveness and shuffle Lunalight Panther Dancer, Black Sheep, and Blue cat to deck and draw two cards! I set one card and end my turn!"
"My turn. Draw." Yuya draw his card. "I summon performapal Swingcobra in attack position."
Performapal Swingcobra | Level 4 | Earth
Reptile / Pendulum / Effect
ATK 300 / DEF 1600
"Then I set Performapal Extra Slinger in my empty pendulum zone."
Performapal Extra Slinger | Level 3 | Dark
Spellcaster / Pendulum / Effect / PS 6
ATK 800 / DEF 1100
"Swingcobra can attack directly!"
The snake jump beyond the Lunalight monster and bite Serena's helmet. Hopefully his fangs will be ok.
Serena LP: 700 --> 400
"Also, second main phase! During my main phase, Extra Slinger can inflict 300 damage per face up pendulum monster in the graveyard! And I have two!"
Serena's eyes widened. "Action Card: Accelerate—"
"Sorry, Serena, but Action Card: Action Crush!"
Serena LP: 400 --> 0
"Atta boy." Cheered Zarc. "You completely played her around. She thought you gonna go at her with beatstick-Stunner tactic. Too bad, it's whole different archetype and playstyle."
Indeed. Magicians revolves in Stunner-Searcher-Beatstick combo, with the attackers has over 2000 ATK. Performapals, however, only few has over 2000 ATK, most have it low. But they're revolve in swarming field to use their stall, stats modulation, and can search for their fellows. They don't do beatstick so stacking high ATK didn't do much but prolong the duel.
They only become beatstick when Yuya has Dramatic Theatre on field, that increase ALL monster's ATK by 200 per TYPE on field. and Performapal has what? There's Warrior, Beast, Beast Warrior, Winged Beast, Spellcaster, Fiend, Dragon, Reptile, Aqua, Insect, Rock, Plant...
...
Goddammit Yuya. Why didn't you use There Can Be Only One?! It would completely turn the tide in your favor!
"And best of that, Master Yuya didn't use any Extra Deck Summoning." Odd Eyes is so proud!
I blinked and
He was right.
Yuya didn't Fusion, Synchro, or Xyz summon. At all.
While Synchro and Xyz is understandable, as he doesn't have Performapal monster in that type, not to my knowledge, he does have Fusion monster. And he didn't use it at all!
He use Normal, Special and Pendulum only. Main Deck only.
The deck Odd Eyes belongs to, as he's not an Extra Deck monster.
Damn, Yuya. That was major improvement.
He back to his root, before he learns Extra Deck summoning. And that is amazing!
Okay. You're forgiven for not use Meta Ability to the fullest. And Drawing is also relies on luck.
I already can hear others thinking strategy how to get around the tactics, in case they go up against him later in the tournament.
Too bad, boys. There's more to Yuya's deck. That deck is like Mystery Box if utilized properly. You won't know what you get until it hit you in the face.
"Now, there's only one duel left, is there?" I wondered. "The Anti-Synchro deck?"
"...does Hikage even have Synchro monster?" Yuto asked aloud.
Out of us five here, only he and Shun who have no Synchro monster.
Who knows?
We turned our attention to the screen.
Lucciano LP: 4000
Hikage LP: 4000
"I summon Meklord Nucleus Infinity Core."
Meklord Nucleus Infinity Core | Level 1 | Dark
Machine / Effect
ATK 0 / DEF 0
"When Nucleus Infinity Core is special summoned, I can add Meklord Spell or Trap card from deck to hand. I activate Field Spell Card Fortissimo the Mobile Fortress and use its effect to special summon Meklord Army of Wisel in attack position."
Meklord Army of Wisel | Level 4 | Dark
Machine / Effect
ATK 1800 / DEF 0
Meklord Army of Wisel ATK 1800 --> 1900
"I activate Spell Card Boon of the Meklord Emperors! When the only face up monsters on the field is two Meklord monsters, I can draw two cards. I set one card and end my turn."
"He got a Zero attack and defense monser in Attack position?" Yugo asked incredulously.
"Probably gonna tribute it to summon the Emperor from hand." Zarc replied offhandedly.
You do remember that, unlike Yuya, Yugo cannot hear you just yet, right?
"My turn. Draw." Hikage make his draw.
"I summon Ninja Grandmaster Hanzo, and activate his effect to add Ninjitsu card to my hand."
Ninja Grandmaster Hanzo | Level 4 | Dark
Warrior / Effect
ATK 1800 / DEF 1000
"I activate Continuous Spell Card Ninjitsu Art Notebook and discard one monster to set a Ninjitsu card from the deck. I equip Grandmaster Hanzo with Fuhma Shuriken and increase his attack by 700."
Ninja Grandmaster Hanzo ATK 1800 --> 2500
"Trap Card, Mektimed Blast! I destroy Meklord Nucleus Infinity core and your Ninja monster."
"When Fuhma Shuriken is destroyed, I can inflict 700 damage."
Lucciano LP: 4000 --> 3300
"Well, since my Meklord monster is destroyed, I can summon Meklord Emperor Skiel."
Meklord Emperor Skiel | Level 1 | Wind
Machine / Effect
ATK 2200 / DEF 2200
"I activate Spell Card Ninjitsu Art of Hazy Duplication and special summon Twilight Ninja Shingetsu from my hand."
Twilight Ninja Shingetsu | Level 4 | Dark
Warrior / Effect
ATK 1500 / DEF 100
"I end my turn."
"My turn then. Draw. I summon Meklord Army of Granel."
Meklord Army of Granel | Level 4 | Earth
Machine / Effect
ATK 1600 / DEF 1200
Meklord Army of Wisel ATK 1900 --> 2000
Meklord Army of Granel ATK 1600 --> 1800
"When Meklord Army of Granel is normal summoned, I can halve your monster's attack."
Twilight Ninja Shingetsu ATK 1500 --> 750
"Battle. I attack with Meklord Army of Wisel."
"Trap Card Open: Armor Ninjitsu Art of Freezing. When I control a Ninja monster, I can negate the attack and end the battle phase."
"My, what a lucky person. How long could you do this, though?" Mocked Lucciano. "I end my turn."
"My turn. Draw." Hikage draw his card. "I tribute Twilight Ninja Shingetsu to summon Twilight Ninja Getsuga, the Shogun."
Twilight Ninja Getsuga, the Shogun | Level 8 | Dark
Warrior / Effect
ATK 2000 / DEF 3000
"When Twilight Ninja Getsuga is in attack position, I can change it to defense position and special summon two Ninja in my graveyard. I summon Twilight Ninja Shingetsu and Ninja Grandmaster Hanzo." 3000 barrier wall... and both ninja are in defense position. "When Grandmaster Hanzo is special summoned, I can add a Ninja monster from deck to hand. I end my turn."
"My turn, then. Draw." Lucciano... grins. He found something then. "When there's three Meklord monster in my field, I can special summon Meklord Astro Dragon Asterisk!"
Meklord Astro Dragon Asterisk | Level 10 | Dark
Machine / Effect
ATK 0 / DEF 0
"I can target my other Meklord monsters I control and send them to the graveyard, and Meklord Astro Dragon Asterisk gains attack equals to their combined attack!"
Meklord Astro Dragon Asterisk ATK 0 --> 5300
"From zero to over five thousand..." Crow twitched. As if remembering a bad memory.
"Battle. First, I destroy your Shogun Ninja." Done there. "Then, Action Card: Second Attack. I destroy the other Twilight Ninja."
"When Twilight Ninja Shingetsu is destroyed and sent to the graveyard, I can add Ninja monster from deck to hand."
"I am beginning to see your tactic..." Drawled Lucciano. "I set one card end my turn."
"My turn. Draw. I activate Action Card: Single Destruction and destroy your sole monster. Then, I tribute Grandmaster Hanzo to summon Twilight Ninja Nichirin, the Chunin. I discard a Ninja card and Nichrin gain 1000 attack until end of the turn."
Twilight Ninja Nichirin, the Chunin | Level 6 | Dark
Warrior / Effect
ATK 2300 / DEF 1000
Twilight Ninja Nichirin, the Chnin ATK 2300 --> DEF 3300
"Direct Attack."
If it connects...
"Trap Card open: Meklord Astro the Eradicator. I special summon three Meklord monsters I used to fuel Meklord Astro Dragon Asterisk, all in defense position."
"I... destroy the Meklord Emperor of Skiel then. I end my turn."
"My turn... Draw! I banish three Meklords monster in my graveyard, and special summon Meklord Astro Dragon Triskelion!"
Meklord Astro Dragon Trsikelion | Level 10 | Dark
Machine / Effect
ATK 3000 / DEF 0
"I activate Continuous Spell Card Meklord Assembly and draw one Meklord monster, but then I discard it to destroy your Ninja monster."
Empty field now...
"I attack with Meklord Astro Dragon!"
"When opponent declare direct attack, and I have another Ninja monster, I can banish Aqua Armor Ninja and negate the attack."
"I attack with Meklord Army of Wisel, and I boost attack with Action Card: Double Attack."
Meklord Army of Wisel ATK 2000 --> 4000
Hikage LP: 4000 --> 0
And that's our winner of second round.
Eight winner go to the third round.
I glanced at the bracket, and feel my mouth curled up in a rather nasty smirk.
Winners of each day face against each other.
It means, I versus Sergey.
Can't wait for the revenge.
Wonder how Roget would react seeing his Pet is beaten by someone else than Jack Atlas?
(A/N: Happy New Year everybody!)