"You okay?"
"Peachy." I grumbled.
Kaito look at me, before signaling for us to take a short break in the semi-ruined café.
If I close my eyes for a moment, I can pretend it was a normal day where I have my usual order, instead tearing open wrapped up rations and water bottle.
"You don't look okay."
I sighed.
"Have you ever discovering that someone is hiding something from you?"
"...does those outsiders do something?"
"They don't give me hard time, or trying to betray us, if that's what you're asking."
"Then what?"
I don't know.
How about magic is a thing, as well psychic ability that I've always thought as pony trick at tv show? That my worldview had been flipped upside down, again? How about the fact Yuzu's monster, who looks like her and Ruri and probably how they would looks like if they're about my age or slightly older, talked or more like argued with Dark Rebellion whose grunt and roar is perfectly understandable to her, as well Yuzu, and Yuto? How about Yuto's headaches and spacing out is because his power is going out of control?
I can't exactly blab it in open space like this, can I?
"It's complicated." Is all I can answer Kaito with. "Everything is complicated. God. I wish we're back when things are simpler."
Back when all I have to worried is passing my exam and score a good university, as well keeping handsy persistent guys away from my sister. Back when the only troublesome duels I have to anticipated is Heartland Duel Carnival. Back when duel is just fun games and doesn't decide my freedom. Back when magic is just sleigh of hand and effect of ARC System and not a real thing that can break natural order.
His shoulder sagged. "You're not the only one."
Again.
Fuck Academia and Fuck Akaba Leo.
May they rot in hell!
Or Shadow Realm.
Apparently that was Duel Spirit counterpart of hell and if you know how, you can send someone there.
That Ruri-lookalike monster did give me a warning look before launching a rant how Shadow Magic is double edge sword that doesn't care about right or wrong. And attempting to do that was worse than suicide because if it goes wrong, it goes terribly wrong.
I still want to kick Akaba Leo down there.
"So... how was the card making process?"
"...Hiiragi is a help in that front. She seems to know if there's problem so the production team can take care of the problem before it become a problem."
Well.
I'm not surprised.
She did make me cards. In short time. and quite good ones. Not to mention I am not the only ones who get it.
Magic.
Really?
Guess I found default excuse / answer for all weird things that happens.
"Good to hear. How about—" I abruptly stop.
"Shun?"
I shushed him.
"There's someone here." I spoke in hushed voice. "Danger."
Kaito's eyes narrowed. "Academia?"
"Most likely."
I don't know why. I just had feeling there are other people aside from us. Hostile ones.
(Almost animal instinct, in detecting prey... or was it predator? I don't know who was it, just that they are not friendly in the slightest
Dammit. I've been in battlefield too much if my instincts are this honest. Why can't I, and my loved ones, lived a normal life?!
Fuck You, Academia. Seriously, Fuck you!)
We sneaked to the road I felt danger coming from. Where our opponent waiting.
Yes. There is it. Academia.
Four of them.
I have no regret in summoning Sharp Lanius to screech and dive-bombing them.
They destroy my home. Heart attack from having metallic bird screeching and almost ripping you off is what they deserve.
"Shit. Academia Scum!"
Three of them geared up to duel
One is hanging back and actually taking steps away.
(Why?)
No. It wasn't important.
I can take care of him later.
Duel!
Obelisk Soldier #1 LP: 4000
Shun LP: 4000
Obelisk Soldier #2 LP: 4000
Kaito LP: 4000
Obelisk Soldier #3 LP: 4000
"I summon Dinomorphia Diplos and send a Trap Card to the graveyard. I set two cards and end my turn."
Dinomorphia Diplos | Level 4 | Dark
Dinosaur / Effect
ATK 1000 / DEF 0
Sigh. This is either hard or easy but full of pitfall. No in between.
"My turn. Draw. I summon Raidraptor – Fuzzy Lanius. Also, I special summon another copy of it."
Raidraptor – Fuzzy Lanius | Level 4 | Dark
Winged Beast / Effect
ATK 500 / DEF 1500
"Trap Card Open: Summon Limit! All of us cannot summon more than twice of each turn."
I stare in shock.
"You what?!"
"Heh. You xyz scum won't be able to do anything now! I also activate Dinomorphia Frenzy! Primal beast revived in new form! Revel in your instinct and unleash your primal rage! Fusion Summon! Level 8! Dinomorphia Rexterm!"
Obelisk Soldier #1 LP: 4000 --> 2000
Dinomorphia Rexterm | Level 8 | Dark
Dinosaur / Fusion / Effect
ATK 3000 / DEF 0
I bite back swears.
Damn. This is bad.
Xyz summon requires at least two materials on the field. it was like Synchro summon in that regard. Damn. Damn it all.
"I set three cards and end my turn." Set them all right now. Who knows I can use them.
"My turn then. I summon Dinomorphia Therizia and send a Dinomorphia trap to the graveyard. I attack Raidraptor Fuzzy Lanius."
Dinomorphia Therizia | Level 4 | Dark
Dinosaur / Effect
ATK 1500 / DEF 0
Shun LP: 4000 --> 3000
"I activate Raidraptor – Avenge Vulture. When I take damage, I can special summon it from my hand. Also, when Fuzzy Lanius is send to the graveyard, I can add another copy to my hand."
Raidraptor – Avenge Vulture | Level 4 | Dark
Winged Beast / Effect
ATK 1700 / DEF 100
"I set three cards and end my turn."
"My turn. Draw. I summon Cipher Twin Raptor and special summon its copy from the graveyard. I set two cards and end my turn."
"I activate Trap Card: Dinomorphia Domain and Fusion summon monster using material on field and on hand. Ancient Beast long gone, now resurrect and conquer the world once again! Fusion Summon, Level 6! Dinomorphia Kentregina!"
Obelisk Solider #2 LP: 4000 --> 2000
Dinomorphia Kentregina | Level 6 | Dark
Dinosaur / Fusion / Effect
ATK 2000 / DEF 0
"Dinomorphia Kentregina lose attack equals to my lifepoints."
Kaito and I exchange befuddle look.
"The fuck?"
I mean, looking at the current attack, you means that monster is at full power when your lifepoints is ZERO?! When you are gone? The heck? The fucking hell? I know you're the strongest at lowest lifepoints, but this? This is plain ridiculous.
Shiunin was right when he rants. WHAT kind of Archetype this is?!
"My turn. Draw. I summon Dinomorphia Diplos and send a card to the graveyard. I set two cards and end my turn."
"My turn. Draw! I attack Fuzzy Lanius with Dinomorphia Rexterm!"
"Trap Card Open! Raidraptor – Readiness! My monster cannot be destroyed!" The special summoned one happens to be in defense position so unless it has piercing effect, I'll be fine!
"Trap Card open: Solemn Judgement! I halved my lifepoints and negate the effect!"
Obelisk Soldier #2 LP: 2000 --> 1000
Dinomorphia Kentregina ATK 2000 --> 3000
Shit! "Trap Card: Raidraptor Replica! I target Avenge Vulture and summon its copy from my deck in defense mode!"
"Trap Card Open! Dinomorphia Domain! I fusion summon using monster on field and on deck!
Ferocious Beast of Ancient age! Revived in new form! Fusion Summon! Dinomorphia Stealthbergia!"
Obelisk Soldier #3 LP: 4000 --> 2000
Dinomorphia Stealthbergia | Level 6 | Dark
Dinosaur / Fusion / Effect
DEF 2500 / ATK 0
"I set a card and end my tun."
"My turn. Draw." Good. "I special summon copy of Fuzzy Lanius in defense mode then overlay it and two Avenge Vulture!" Thanks for Replica! "Obscured falcon, raise your sharpened talons in front of adversity, spread your wings of rebellion! Xyz Summon! Rank 4 Soar, Rise Falcon!"
Rise Falcon | Rank 4 | Dark
Winged Beast / Xyz / Effect | OVU: 2
ATK 100 / DEF 2000
"I activate Rise Falcon's effect!"
"Dinomorphia Stealthbergia's effect! You gain damage equals to your monster's original attack."
I resist the urge to cackle. Good thing Rise Falcon's initial attack is just 100, right?
Shun LP: 3000 --> 2900
"Rise Falcon target Dinomorphia Kentregina and gain attack equal to its current attack! Then I equip him with Raptor Ultimate Mace and increase his attack further by 1000!"
Rise Falcon OVU: 2 | ATK 100 --> OVU: 1 | ATK 3100 --> ATK 4100
"Rise Falcon can attack ALL Special summoned monster, once each! Rise Falcon, Strike them!"
"Trap Card Open: Dinomorphia Reversion! I pay half of my lifepoints and banish a Counter Trap, so its effect is now the banished card! Since it's Dinomorphia Shell, I can summon Dinomorphia Token!"
Obelisk Soldier #2 LP: 1000 --> 500
Dinomorphia Kentregina LP: 3000 --> 3500
"I banish Dinomorphia Sonic and gain no battle damage!"
So. I destroy number one and number three's monsters, and obliterate number 2.
Obelisk Soldier #2 LP: 500 --> 0
Ah, but Rexterm special summon its own Copy of Kentregina, which I attack again, and special summon Diplos to burn my lifepoints. Stealthbergia also summon a copy of Therizia. But since they are special summon monster, Rise Falcon rips onto them without mercy as well.
Shun LP: 2900 --> 2400
"My turn is over."
Kaito did double take. "Shun. Your monster..."
I nodded. Still grinning.
Rise Falcon changed.
Before, he can gains attack equals to ALL monster my opponent controls, but it would revert back to original once the turn is done, thus I must complete the duel in that very turn or risk it (not that I don't have Rank Up and other Raidraptors as back up). Now? Now Rise Falcon can only target one, but in exchange the attack change is permanent. Allowing him to stay on the field longer, and the longer he stays, the more formidable opponent he become.
Replacing the power for survivability.
A better fit for my current predicament. My opponent change their strategy, so I must change tactics to keep up with them.
(I have to thank Yuzu for this. Or Yuya? Yuto? Whatever. I'll thank all of them later!)
"It's your turn. And You can do big risk."
He nodded. "My turn. Draw! I activate Continuous Spell Card: Double Exposure and doubles the levels of monsters I control! Then I overlays the level 8 Cipher Twin Raptor! Xyz Summon! Rank 8! Galaxy Eyes Cipher Dragon!"
Galaxy Eyes Cipher Dragon | Rank 8 | Light
Dragon / Xyz / Effect | OVU: 2
ATK 3000 / DEF 2500
"Trap Card Open! Dinomorphia Domain! I fusion summon Dinomorphia Stealhbergia!"
Obelisk Soldier #3 LP: 2000 --> 1000
Kaito chuckles, darkly. "I activate Galaxy Eyes Cipher Dragon and take control of your monster with its name become Galaxy Eyes Cipher Dragon and its attack become 3000."
"I... pay half my lifepoints to activate Trap Card Dinomorphia Brute to destroy both of our monster!"
"Negated! Raptor's Gust! I negate that trap card activation and destroy it!" I grin. "You're done."
He blasted them both.
Obelisk Soldier #1 LP: --> 0
Obelisk Soldier #3 LP: 1000 --> 500 --> 0
"You... you damn Xyz scum."
Still mouthy? How about become a card?
"I won't bother if I were you."
"Edo Phoenix!" Kaito snarls, seeing the commander jumped down. In middle of battlefield.
But... no Penalty? Wait.
He is not geared up to battle.
"Leave." He told us. "Otherwise, your friends would pay the price of your slowness."
What is he implying? "What are you talking about? What did you do?!"
He cocked his head. "I don't do anything. Academia, however, sent the huntresses twins. Who are out for blood. Pretty sure right now they were unleashing their pent up boredoom and frustration on Resistance members."
Fuck!
Damn it.
"Kaito...!"
Kaito clenched his fist.
"You fucking coward!" He growled. "I'll get back at you later! Don't think this is the end...!"
We quickly left to search for our other comrades.
They better put up fight long enough to stall these huntresses twins whoever they are. At least until Kaito and I can arrived!
("Well... now that trash is out of the way... I got a little task for you, little one.")