Disclaimer: Minor spelling, grammar, and other mistakes may be present.
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[Standard Arc Opening Theme (Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V Opening 1: BELIEVE X BELIEVE)]
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Scale 06: The Path to Surpassing One's Limits (I)
A day later...
You Show Duel School.
Yuuji sat on a couch in the common area, his eyes closed as he rested. Bandages were wrapped tightly around his arm and torso, a constant reminder of his recent duel. Nearby, Sora knelt with both hands clasped together in a pleading gesture.
"Please, Yuuji! You said before that we could duel later!" Sora begged.
"No," Yuuji replied flatly, not even bothering to open his eyes. "Like I said, I don't feel like dueling right now."
Sora frowned, crossing his arms. "You're acting completely different from what everyone told me. They said you're always up for a duel."
"They've only known me for a few days," Yuuji muttered. "It's not like they know me enough to understand how I act."
"..." Sora was silent for a moment before turning around, pouting. "Fine then, be that way. I'll go duel with somebody else instead!"
"Have fun."
"Hmph." Sora stomped out of the room, leaving Yuuji alone once more.
The silence lingered as Yuuji finally opened his eyes, his expression darkening.
Okay… what happened yesterday is messing with me more than I thought.
(A/N: The last chapter took place on the same day as Chapter 4 for those confused about the timeline.)
He had been in a bad mood ever since he woke up today. Every time he thought about dueling, it reminded him of what happened yesterday.
More specifically, Ryouga's smug expression.
"I thought you would give me a good challenge with your confident declarations and that weird Pendulum Summoning thing you did, but you weren't even a good warmup."
Yuuji covered his face with his hands. The secondhand embarrassment from making all of those boasts just to fall short in the end. It was pathetic.
It's so pathetic. Not just that duel, but me sitting here sulking about it as well.
Sitting around sulking over the past, doing nothing to improve himself. He knew better than to act like this.
"..."
"Okay, I got it."
Yuuji got up from his seat and grabbed his duel disk that he had placed on a nearby desk. Instead of sulking around all day, he might as well try and grow stronger so he wouldn't have to face an embarrassing loss like that again.
"Maybe Sora will still be up for a duel? It was kind of rude of me to put him off like that." Yuuji muttered before leaving the commonplace room.
Sure enough, just as Yuuji predicted, Sora was there. The younger duelist sat alone, a deep frown on his face as he stared at a card in his hand, his expression unusually serious.
Yuuji approached, raising a hand in greeting.
"Yo, Sora! You still up for that duel—"
"No."
Sora turned away with a huff, arms crossed. "You made me wait too long."
Seriously? Yuuji blinked. It's been, like… three minutes. How did he switch up so fast?
In situations like this, apologizing and backing off would probably be the smarter choice.
"..." Yuuji scratched the back of his head before speaking once again. "Look, I'm sorry about putting you off like that. I've just been feeling…off since yesterday. I'm feeling better now though, so if you're up for a duel later, I'm up for it."
Just as Yuuji was about to leave…
"You know what? I've changed my mind," Sora said with a smirk. "Since you've finally decided to be nice, I'll indulge you in a duel, Sensei~."
A vein bulged on Yuuji's forehead.
"If I win, you're never calling me that again," Yuuji snapped.
"And if I win, you'll have to teach me everything you know," Sora replied, crossing his arms confidently.
"Fine by me," Yuuji said, turning and walking toward the opposite end of the arena.
Suddenly, Sora called out, glancing toward the control room above. "Hey, Principal! Can you give us an Action Field like the one you used yesterday!?"
"Principal?" Yuuji echoed, confused as he followed Sora's gaze. In the control room, Shuzo nodded as he pressed a series of buttons on a machine.
"You got it, Sora! Action Field, on! Field Magic – Candy World!"
With the press of a button, the Real Solid Vision Machine began to whirr as the arena transformed around them. The floor rippled and shifted as a whimsical candy landscape unfolded. Lollipop trees sprouted from the ground, and hills of colorful gumdrops rolled across the terrain.
"Good luck to both of you!" Ayu cheered from the spectator booth.
"Huh?" Yuuji blinked in surprise, noticing the rest of You Show gathered in the spectator area. "Why is everyone here?"
"I invited them," Sora said, flashing a grin. "It'd be boring without an audience."
Yuuji narrowed his eyes. That still doesn't answer my question. When did he even invite them? Did he somehow know I'd end up dueling him?
It didn't make sense, not after how hard he'd been trying to avoid this duel.
But it seemed like no answers were coming his way. He sighed, shaking his head.
Guess I'll just roll with it.
"Let's start then. Duelists locked in battle!" Yuuji began chanting.
"Kicking the earth and dancing in the air alongside their monsters!" Sora chanted.
"They storm through this field!" Yuuji continued.
"Behold!" Sora chanted. "This is the newest and greatest evolution of Dueling!"
[Action—!] The two activate their duel disks as they draw their first five cards.
[Duel!] The two shout in unison as the duel begins. Action cards are soon dispersed around the candy arena.
Yuuji — LP: 4000
Sora — LP: 4000
[Turn 1: Sora] [H: 5]
"I'll start!" Sora announced. "I summon Edge Imp Saw (Dark/Fiend/Effect/ATK: 500/DEF: 1000/LV: 3)!"
A floating saw monster with blood-red eyes appeared.
"When Edge Imp Saw is Normal Summoned, I can send 1 'Fluffal' Monster from my hand to my graveyard and draw 2 cards."
Sora discards a card from his hand and draws two cards from his deck.
"Nice!" Sora smiled when he saw what he drew. "I activate the Continuous Spell, Toy Vendor!"
When he played the card, the ground around them began to shake as a giant gumball machine appeared behind him.
"What the hell?" Yuuji's looked surprised.
"I must first discard a card to activate this Continuous Spell," Sora explained as he discarded a card from his hand. "Once per turn, I can draw 1 card. If the card I draw is a Level 4 or lower monster I can Special Summon it to my field. However, if the card I draw isn't a monster, I have to discard it from my hand. Draw!"
Sora drew a card and revealed it.
"I drew the Level 3 Fluffal Bear, which means that I can Special Summon it! Come out, Fluffal Bear in defense mode."
A large, pink teddy bear with white wings appeared on his field. Surrounding the monster was a faint, blue aura.
[Fluffal Bear (Earth/Fairy/Effect/ATK: 1200/DEF: 800/LV: 3)]
"Next, I activate the effect of Fluffal Wings in my graveyard!" Sora announced. "Since I currently have two of them in my graveyard, I can banish them both from there to draw two more cards!"
Sora drew two more cards.
"I set two cards and end my turn," Sora concluded.
He managed to draw like five extra cards in only a few moves. He's good. Yuuji thought. I can't underestimate him.
"My turn! Draw!" Yuuji began his turn.
[Turn 2: Yuuji] [H: 6]
"I activate the Spell Card, Pendulum Call!" Yuuji announced. "I can use its effect to place a Pendulum Monster from my deck directly into my Pendulum Zone! I set the Scale 4 Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon into my empty Pendulum Scale!"
Yuuji adds a card to his hand and places it on one end of his duel blade. A Pendulum Zone appears behind him, as a massive purple dragon with bone-like armor rises within the zone.
"Next, I'll complete my Pendulum Scale by setting the Scale 3 Antique Journal into my other Pendulum Zone!"
Yuuji places another card on the other end of his duel blade, the word [PENDULUM] appearing between the two cards in rainbow font as an old, worn-out journal rises into his other Pendulum Zone.
"Why would he do that?" Yuzu was confused. "He can't summon anybody with that Pendulum Scale."
"I then activate Antique Journal's Pendulum Effect, allowing me to Special Summon it directly from my Pendulum Scale in defense mode!" A portal appeared behind the old journal, and it soon appeared on Yuuji's field with a faint blue aura surrounding it.
[Antique Journal (Light/Fairy/Pendulum/Effect/ATK: 0/DEF: 0/LV: 4/SC: 3)]
"Then I activate Antique Journal's Monster Effect, allowing me to Special Summon a Pendulum Monster in one of my Pendulum Zones with its effects negated! Descend, dragon born within the heart of phantoms, Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon (Dark/Dragon/Pendulum/Effect/ATK: 2500/DEF: 2000/LV: 7/SC: 4)!"
The old journal begins to grow in size, as a portal appears on its pages as well as underneath Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon. The purple dragon soon emerges from the portal and onto Yuuji's field.
"Battle!" Yuuji moved into his Battle Phase. "Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon attacks Edge Imp Saw! Phantom Spiral Breath!"
Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon shoots a breath of purple fire from its mouth towards Sora's monster. Just before the attack connects, one of his set Trap Cards is activated.
"I activate my Trap Card, Punch-in-the-Box!" Sora countered. "When my opponent declares an attack while they control two or more monsters, I can negate that attack, then send another monster on your field that isn't being targeted by this effect to the graveyard."
Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon stops its attack as a purple chest appears in front of the Antique Journal, which then opens to reveal a fist that rockets out of it, punching the floating journal and destroying it.
"He managed to stop Yuuji-senpai's attack so easily." Ayu was surprised.
"Just like when he dueled against me," Yuya said. "Sora isn't pulling any punches."
"Damn…" Yuuji cursed. "That's all I can do. I set three cards and end my turn."
"Then it's my turn! Draw!" Sora drew a card.
[Turn 3: Sora] [H: 4]
Sora looked at the card he drew and smiled.
"Right on cue," Sora said. "But first, I activate Toy Vendor's effect once again, allowing me to draw another card!"
Sora drew a card and revealed it to be a monster card.
"I now Special Summon Edge Imp Sabres (Dark/Fiend/Effect/ATK: 1200/DEF: 800/LV: 3)!"
A floating monster with a body made up of scissors and blood-red eyes appeared.
"When Edge Imp Sabres is summoned, I can return 1 'Fluffal' Monster I control to my hand, and then Special Summon a different 'Fluffal' Monster instead!" Sora stated. "Come out, Fluffal Leo (Earth/Fairy/Effect/ATK: 1600/DEF: 1200/LV: 4)!"
Edge Imp Sabres begins snipping away at the fur of Fluffal Bear. After it was done, a fluffy yellow lion with small white wings appeared.
"Now here comes something special!" Sora announced. "I activate the Fusion Spell, Polymerization!"
He can Fusion Summon!? Yuuji was surprised.
"From my field, I fuse my lovable Fluffal Leo with my Edge Imp Saw!" Sora declared as the aforementioned monsters rose into the air and fuse as he began chanting. "Steel blades possessed by demons. Become one with the fanged beast, and show us a new form and power! I Fusion Summon! Show yourself, Level 7! King of the hundred beasts that tears everything to pieces! Frightfur Leo (Dark/Fiend/Fusion/Effect/ATK: 2400/DEF: 2000/LV: 7)!"
A menacing bipedal lion with razor-sharp metallic claws appeared. Its face was split apart by a multitude of blood-red saws that enhanced its dangerous appearance.
How do you go from a cute lion to this? Yuuji thought as a bead of sweat flowed down his face.
"So scary!" Ayu yelped as she hit behind Yuzu.
"That monster gives me the shivers," Futoshi said with a terrified expression.
"I now activate Frightfur Leo's effect!" Sora announced. "Once per turn, I can target 1 monster my opponent controls and destroy it! Tear it apart, Frightfur Leo!"
The saws on Frightfur Leo's head shot off from it, soaring through the air at sonic speeds towards Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon, who couldn't even react to it. The saws tear through the dragon completely.
"When a monster is destroyed by Frightfur Leo's effect, you take damage equal to its ATK!" Sora declared.
"Not so fast!" Yuuji shouts as one of his set traps flips face-up. "I activate my Trap Card, Mirror's Embrace! When I am about to take damage from an effect, I can reduce the damage I receive from that effect to zero!"
A barrier appears around Yuuji, protecting him from the shockwaves of the attack.
Sora shrugged, pulling out a lollipop from his pocket and placing it in his mouth, "Whatever. I summon Fluffal Bear (ATK: 1200/DEF: 800/LV: 3)!"
The pink teddy bear appeared on his field once again.
"Next, I activate Fluffal Sheep's effect!" Sora shouts. "When I control a 'Fluffal Monster' I can Special Summon it from my hand in defense mode!"
A cute yellow sheep with small white wings appeared with a faint blue aura.
[Fluffal Sheep (Earth/Fairy/Effect/ATK: 400/DEF: 800/LV: 2)]
"I now activate the Spell Card Springboard!" Sora continued. "When this card is activated, I can target 1 card on my field and return it to my hand. I choose to return Fluffal Sheep!"
A mystery trap door appeared beneath the yellow sheep. A spring shoots out from it, blasting the monster into the sky. The monster then returns to its card form and slowly floats down towards Sora, who catches it in his hand.
"Huh? Why would you summon it and return it to your hand?" Yuuji asked.
"Fluffal Sheep's effect!" Sora answered. "When Fluffal Sheep is returned to my hand from the field or graveyard, I can add another Polymerization from my deck to my hand!"
"Another one!?" Yuuji's jaw dropped as Sora added another Fusion Spell to his hand.
"I now activate Polymerization once again!" Sora announced. "Fusing my Fluffal Bear with my Edge Imp Sabres!"
The two aforementioned monsters rise into the air as they begin fusing.
"Claws of the demon! Fangs of the beast! Become one and reveal a new form and power!" Sora then clasped his hands together. "I Fusion Summon! Appear, Level 6! Horrifying beast that shreds everything in its path! Frightfur Bear (Dark/Fiend/Fusion/Effect/ATK: 2200/DEF: 1800/LV: 6)!"
A giant pink bear with its body ripped apart and attached by a multitude of scissors appeared.
Two Fusion Summons in one turn? Yuuji frowned. He definitely isn't an amateur.
"This is only the beginning!" Sora announced. "Battle! Frightfur Leo attacks you directly!"
The lion monster roars as it begins frantically running towards Yuuji. Yuuji began running up a gumdrop hill as he looked for an Action Card. Sora began moving just as fast for his own Action Card.
There!
Yuuji finds an Action Card at the base of a lollipop tree, picking it up from the ground. At the same time, Sora finds an Action Card sticking out from a different lollipop tree's branch.
"I activate the Action Spell Evasion to negate your monster's attack!" Yuuji shouts as he swiftly evades a direct slash from Frightfur Leo which ends up destroying the lollipop tree behind him.
"Don't think you're safe yet! I activate the Action Spell Sugar Rush!" Sora shouts. "When one of my monsters has had its attack negated this turn, it can attack a second time during the Battle Phase, and gains an extra 500 ATK!"
"What!?" Yuuji cried out.
A giant gumdrop appears in the sky, falling down towards Frightfur Leo, who grabs and quickly eats it. Its body contorts for a moment before a red aura appears around it.
(Frightfur Leo — ATK: 2400 → 2900)
Frightfur Leo roars as it begins charging towards Yuuji. Yuuji leaps away from his spot, barely saving himself from being slashed. However, the shockwaves from the attempted attack send him flying back a few meters.
Yuuji — LP: 4000 → 1100
"This is bad. If Sora's other Fusion Monster attacks Yuuji directly, he'll lose before he is able to do anything." Tatsuya grimaced.
"Now to finish this!" Sora declared. "Frightfur Bear attacks you directly!"
The large pink bear leaps into the air, extending its arm towards Yuuji.
"I activate my Trap Card, Emergency Barrier!" Yuuji counters. "When my Life Points are lower than my opponents, all battle damage dealt to me is reduced to zero for the rest of this turn!"
A transparent barrier forms around Yuuji, protecting him from the attack.
"He managed to survive that," Yuzu said with some relief. "That was close."
"Aw, no fair!" Sora whined as he continuously stomped his foot on the ground. "I was supposed to win there!"
That was a little too close for comfort. Yuuji thought.
Sora eventually stops his mini tantrum and sighs.
"I end my turn." Sora reluctantly concluded.
"Then it's my turn! Draw!" Yuuji drew a card.
[Turn 4: Yuuji] [H: 2]
Yuuji looked at the card he drew and smiled.
Okay, I can work with this.
"I'll start by summoning Antique Resonance Mirror (Light/Fairy/Tuner/Effect/ATK: 0/DEF: 0/LV: 2)!" A pristine floating mirror appeared on Yuuji's field. "Resonance Mirror's effect activates, allowing me to Special Summon an 'Antique' Monster directly from my deck! Appear, Antique Maker - Mira (Dark/Spellcaster/Pendulum/Effect/ATK: 2000/DEF: 100/LV: 5/SC: 8)!"
A woman in all black holding a mirror in both of her hands appeared.
"When Antique Maker - Mira is summoned, I can add one 'Antique' Card from my deck to my hand!" Yuuji continued as he added a card to his hand, revealing it. "I added an Antique Golden Carol to my hand!"
Yuuji then paused for a moment, thinking about his next play. Once he thought of something, he continued.
"I now tune the Level 2 Antique Resonance Mirror to the Level 5 Antique Maker - Mira!" Yuuji announced as the aforementioned monsters transformed into green rings and orbs respectively, lining up together as a green pillar of light shoots through it.
"Item of old lost through time. Bring about your legacy!" Yuuji chanted. "Synchro Summon! Appear, Level 7! The forbidden wand of calamity! Antique Burdened Staff (Light/Fairy/Synchro/Effect/ATK: 0/DEF: 0/LV: 7) in defense mode!"
An old, floating, used up wand appeared on Yuuji's field. A faint blue aura surrounded it.
"A Synchro Summon?" Sora was surprised.
"Before I use Burdened Staff's effect, I set the Scale 8 Antique Golden Carol into my Pendulum Zone!"
A Pendulum Zone appeared behind him, as a golden bell slowly rose within it.
"Antique Golden Carol's Pendulum Effect activates!" Yuuji shouts. "When I only control a card in my Pendulum Scale, I can place another 'Antique' Monster in my remaining Pendulum Zone!"
Yuuji adds a card to his hand, revealing it.
"Using the Scale 1 Antique Mimic Chest and the Scale 8 Antique Golden Carol already set in my Pendulum Zone, I set the Pendulum Scale!"
Yuuji declared as he placed the card on the opposite end of his duel blade, the word [PENDULUM] appeared between them in rainbow font as a wooden chest with razor sharp teeth rose into the Pendulum Zone. The numbers 1 and 8 appear in a strange golden font as a giant silver pendulum swung above.
Sora smiled widely when he saw it, "Here it comes!"
"With my current Pendulum Scale, I can summon monsters between the Levels 2 through 7 all at the same time!" Yuuji announced. "Shine, Pendulum of Destiny! Draw an arc across the ether, and reflect onto me a path to victory! I Pendulum Summon! Return from the Extra Deck, my monsters!"
A portal appeared, with three beams of energy shooting out from it.
"Item used to store the tales of old, Antique Journal (ATK: 0/DEF: 0/LV: 4)!"
"Fair maiden who lives in the reflected palace, Antique Maker - Mira (ATK: 2000/DEF: 100/LV: 5)!"
"And finally, the amber-eyed dragon born from the deep embrace of phantoms, Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon (ATK: 2500/DEF: 2000/LV: 7/SC: 4)!"
Yuuji's monsters swarm his field. Sora's eyes widened in excitement.
"Finally!" Sora cheered. "This is exactly what I've been waiting for!"
"Huh?" Yuuji was confused as Sora's remaining Trap Card was flipped face-up.
"I activate the Counter Trap, Frightfur Stampede!" Sora declared. "When my opponent Special Summons more than three times, I can destroy cards on their field equal to the number of Frightfur Monsters on my field! I choose to destroy Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon and Antique Burdened Staff!"
Sora's two monsters frantically run forward, attacking the two aforementioned monsters and destroying them.
"Damn…" Yuuji winced from the shockwaves. "I should've used Antique Burdened Staff's effect earlier…"
He didn't expect Sora to have a counter to his combo.
I should've accounted for that. Yuuji clenched his fists. But…
His mind felt cluttered. He wasn't sure if it was because he was facing a Fusion User, or something else.
Focus, idiot! Yuuji slapped his cheeks. Sora isn't the same as that bastard. Just forget about that loss already and duel! Not all hope is lost just because I lost those two.
"I activate Antique Journal's Effect!" Yuuji continued his turn. "From my Pendulum Zone, I'll Special Summon Antique Golden Carol (Light/Fairy/Pendulum/Effect/ATK: 0/DEF: 0/LV: 5/SC: 8)!"
A portal appeared under Golden Carol and on the pages of Antique Journal, as the former was brought out and onto Yuuji's field.
"Next, I activate Antique Mimic Chest's Pendulum Effect!" Yuuji announced. "Once per turn, I can target a monster on my field and make its Level equal to that of another monster! I choose to make Antique Journal's Level the same as Antique Maker - Mira's!"
(Antique Journal — LV: 4 → 5)
"Changing the level of your monster?" Sora raised an eyebrow before realizing something. His eyes widened. "Wait, you're going to…"
"Using my Level 5 Antique Journal, Antique Golden Carol, and Antique Maker - Mira, I construct the Overlay Network!" Yuuji announced.
The three aforementioned monsters transform into energy and are absorbed into a galaxy vortex. A giant pillar of light shot out from the center of the vortex as Yuuji began chanting.
"The will of the oppressed who die on the battlefield burns bright. They wait for the one who guides the will of the fallen to victory!" Yuuji chanted. "I Xyz Summon! Rise up, Rank 5! The courageous leader who fans the flames of rebellion, Antique Maker - Revolution Commander (Fire/Spellcaster/Pendulum/Xyz/Effect/ATK: 2500/DEF: 2000/R: 5/SC: 5/OU: 3)!"
A tall man with striking red hair and sharp, eagle-like eyes, cloaked in black with a matching mask covering his mouth appeared.
"Revolution Commander's effect activates!" Yuuji announced. "By detaching one Overlay Unit, I can Special Summon Antique Dawning Blaze (Light/Fairy/Pendulum/Effect/ATK: 0/DEF: 0/LV: 5/SC: 7) from my deck!"
(Revolution Commander — OU: 3 → 2)
A fiery sword with a golden hilt appeared.
"Next, Dawning Blaze is equipped to Revolution Commander, increasing its ATK by 500 for each monster on the field excluding itself."
"Since there are two monsters on the field other than Revolution Commander, it gains 1000 ATK!"
Revolution Commander grabs onto the fiery blade. The flames spread around its body, surrounding it like an aura.
(Revolution Commander – ATK: 2500 → 3500)
"Battle!" Yuuji pumped his fist forward. "Revolution Commander attacks Frightfur Leo! Blazing Revolution!"
Revolution Commander leaps towards Frightfur Leo, who tries to slash away at the warrior with its claws. Revolution Commander parries these attacks, before landing a clean clash on Frightfur Leo which slices it in two. Sora is sent flying back from the shockwaves.
Sora — LP: 4000 → 3400
"I'm not done yet!" Yuuji announced. "When Revolution Commander has 'Antique Dawning Blaze' equipped to it, it can make a second attack during the Battle Phase!"
"What!?" Sora cried out. He quickly turned around and began looking for an Action Card.
Yuuji also began running for an Action Card as he commanded his monster, "Revolution Commander attacks Frightfur Bear! Blazing Revolution!"
Sora uses his athleticism to hop off from a gumdrop onto the branch of a lollipop tree. In a swift motion, the hops from branch to branch towards the top, where he managed to find an Action Card.
"Nice!" Sora smiled at what he found. "I activate the Action Spell, Candy Crumble! When your monster declares an attack, I can temporarily decrease its ATK by the difference between our Life Points during the Damage Step! Since I have 3400 and you have 1100, Revolution Commander loses 2300 ATK!"
"Not so fast!" Yuuji cuts in. "I activate my own Action Spell, Extreme Sword! Targeting 1 monster on the field, I can increase its ATK by 1000 for the rest of the Battle Phase! I choose to increase Revolution Commander's ATK!"
(Revolution Commander — ATK: 3500 → 1200 → 2200)
(Frightfur Bear — ATK: 2200)
The two monsters clash, with Frightfur Bear using its extendable arm to try and bludgeon Revolution Commander into the ground. However, the warrior swiftly avoids these attacks and goes in for a deadly slice. Revolution Commander succeeds in slicing through Frightfur Bear with its fiery blade, but ends up being hit hard during the process, resulting in both monsters being destroyed. Both duelists wince from the ensuing shockwaves.
Revolution Commander ended up being destroyed, but at least I managed to clear Sora's field.
Yuuji then looked at his remaining set card and the monster in his hand.
These two cards should be able to protect me until the next turn.
"I end my turn," Yuuji concluded.
"The two of them managed to completely clear each other's fields." Yuzu said in awe. "They're completely even right now.
"Not for long. My turn! Draw!" Sora drew a card.
[Turn 5: Sora] [H: 2]
"Once again, I activate Toy Vendor's effect!" Sora announced as he drew a card, revealing the card to be another monster card. "Today's my lucky day, cause I drew Edge Imp Chain!"
Sora places a card on his duel blade, as a machine monster made up of chains with blood-red eyes appears.
[Edge Imp Chain (Dark/Fiend/Effect/ATK: 1200/DEF: 1800/LV: 4)]
"Next, I activate Frightfur Fusion!" Sora declared. "By banishing materials from my field or graveyard, I can Fusion Summon a 'Frightfur' Fusion Monster directly from my Extra Deck! I banish Edge Imp Sabres along with Fluffal Bear and Fluffal Leo in order to Fusion Summon!"
"A Fusion Summon by banishing materials?" Yuuji frowned. "The similarities are uncanny."
Edge Imp Sabres, Fluffal Bear, and Fluffal Leo appear on Sora's field for a moment before rising into the air and fusing as he begins chanting.
"Demonic claws, sharp fangs! Become one in the mystic vortex and show us a new form and power!" Sora chanted as he clasped his hands together, an intense expression forming on his face. "I Fusion Summon! Show yourself, Level 6! Mystical jungle beast that rips everything to shreds! Frightfur Tiger (Dark/Fiend/Fusion/Effect/ATK: 1900/DEF: 1200/LV: 6)!"
A blue bipedal tiger monster with its limbs being connected by scissors appeared.
"I hope you're ready, Sensei!" Sora smiled. "When Frightfur Tiger is summoned, I can destroy cards on your field equal to the number of monsters used to Fusion Summon it. With it, I'll destroy your set card along with your remaining Pendulum Zone!"
Frightfur Tiger begins laughing as it leaps forward, slashing through Yuuji's Mimic Chest and his set Trap Card.
"That's not all. While Frightfur Tiger is on my field, 'Fluffal' and 'Frightfur' Monsters gain 300 ATK for each 'Fluffal/Frightfur' Monster on the field!"
A red aura surrounded Frightfur Tiger as it powered up.
(Frightfur Tiger — ATK: 1900 → 2200)
"Now Yuuji has nothing to defend himself," Yuya was shocked. "He'll lose!"
Sora bit down hard on his lollipop, biting off a chunk from it as he smiled, "This has been fun, but I think it's time I end this! Battle! Frightfur Tiger attacks you directly!"
Frightfur Tiger leaps towards Yuuji, its claws enlarging in size as it attempts to wipe out the rest of his Life Points.
"Not yet!" Yuuji shouts, a determined look present on his face. "I activate Antique Twilight Shield's effect! When my opponent declares a direct attack while I control no monsters, I can Special Summon this card from my hand in defense mode!"
A large purple shield appeared on Yuuji's field.
[Antique Twilight Shield (Light/Fairy/Pendulum/Effect/ATK: 0/DEF: 0/LV: 5/SC: 4)]
"That won't save you. I'll just destroy it and finish you off with my other monster."
"Is that what you think?" Yuuji smiled.
"Huh?"
"Twilight Shield's effect activates." Yuuji stated. "On the turn that this card is summoned via its effect, it gains DEF equal to the monster with the highest ATK's attack stat!"
(Antique Twilight Shield — DEF: 0 → 2200)
Twilight Shield blocks Frightfur Tiger's attack, shielding Yuuji from harm.
"Tch," Sora clicked his tongue. "I end my turn."
(Antique Twilight Shield — DEF: 2200 → 0)
"Phew," Yuya sighed a breath of relief. "He survived."
A vein on Sora's face twitched at the comment.
"Hey, Yuya! Don't be relieved!" Sora whined. "I invited you guys here to cheer for me, not him!"
"R-Right. Sorry." Yuya said with an uneasy smile.
It all comes down to this draw. Yuuji thought as he put his hand over the top of his deck. If I don't draw what I need right here, it's all over.
Yuuji took a deep breath. This was just like his duel against Ryouga, having to rely on deck to pull him out of this situation. He started having doubts.
What if he didn't draw the card that he needed?
Nothing bad right? He would just lose, laugh it off with his friends, and move on with his day.
But...
Why would I want that?
He wanted to win. No...he needed to win. Not for the sake of his honor or his life, but just for the fact that he hated losing.
"Okay, let's do this!"
After Yuuji psyched himself up, he drew a card.
"My turn! Draw!" Yuuji drew with all his might.
[Turn 6: Yuuji] [H: 1]
When he saw what he drew, he smiled. He could work with this.
Yuuji revealed a card in his hand.
"I set the Scale 6 Antique Compass into my Pendulum Scale!"
A pristine compass rose into an empty Pendulum Zone behind Yuuji.
"Antique Compass' effect activates, allowing me to Special Summon an Antique Monster directly from my graveyard!" Yuuji announced. "Return to my field, Antique Maker - Mira (ATK: 2000/DEF: 100/LV: 5)!"
The woman in all black with a pristine mirror in her hand appeared.
"Mira's effect activates!" Yuuji continued. "When she is summoned, I can add another 'Antique' Card from my deck to my hand!"
Yuuji added a card to his hand.
"I now activate the Equip Spell, Antique Maker's Will!" Yuuji announced. "When an 'Antique Maker' Monster is equipped with this card, it gains 500 ATK for each 'Antique' Monster currently in my graveyard! I currently have 4 'Antique' Monsters in my graveyard, which means Mira gains 2000 ATK!"
A purple aura erupted around Yuuji's monster as her ATK doubled.
(Antique Maker - Mira — ATK: 2000 → 4000)
"4000 ATK!?" Sora was shocked.
"I'm not done yet!" Yuuji declared. "I activate the effect of my Trap Card, Antique Restock from my graveyard! By banishing it and paying half my Life Points, I can Special Summon an 'Antique' Monster directly from my graveyard. Return to my field, Antique Burdened Staff (ATK: 0/DEF: 0/LV: 7)!"
The old, battered and bruised wooden staff appeared on Yuuji's field.
Yuuji — LP: 1100 → 550
(Antique Maker - Mira — ATK: 4000 → 3500)
"Burdened Staff's effect activates!" Yuuji announced. "I can equip this card to a monster you control and take control of it until the End Phase! I choose to equip Burdened Staff onto Frightfur Tiger!"
The staff shoots a beam of purple energy that surrounds Frightfur Tiger, dragging it from Sora's side of the field all the way to Yuuji's side of the field.
"Hey no fair! You can't just take my monster like that!" Sora cried out.
"You should've protected it better then," Yuuji smiled. "Now it's about time I end this. Battle!"
Frightfur Tiger roars as it runs forward.
"Frightfur Tiger attacks Edge Imp Chain!"
Frightfur Tiger slashes cleanly through Sora's monster, creating a shockwave that sends him flying back.
Sora — LP: 3400 → 2400
"Now here comes the climax!" Yuuji pumped his fist forward. "Antique Maker - Mira attacks you directly! Crystal Beam!"
Yuuji's monster shoots a beam of light from its mirror towards Sora.
"Not yet!" Sora quickly began looking for an Action Card. Yuuji does the same, quickly running in the opposite direction.
—Rumble!
The ground shakes as a geyser of candy water shoots out from the ground in front of each of them, an Action Card being found on top of it. Sora swiftly hops up a lollipop tree and propels himself off of it, snagging the Action Card easily.
"I activate the Action Spell, Candy Cushioning, which reduces the battle damage I receive from an attack to zero!"
A large amount of cotton candy forms around Sora, which protects him from the energy beam for a moment. At the same time, Yuuji uses Frightfur Tiger as a ramp, jumping off the monster and snagging his own Action Card from the geyser.
"I activate the Action Spell No-Action!" Yuuji countered. "Your Action Card is destroyed thanks to it, and all of its effects are negated."
The cotton candy surrounding Sora suddenly disappears, leaving him wide open. Yuuji's monster's attack hits him directly, creating an explosion that sends him flying away—concluding the duel.
Sora — LP: 2400 → 0
Winner: Yuuji
Yuuji hits the ground, yelping in pain for a moment from how far he fell. The Action Field then disperses, returning the two of them back to the arena.
"Ow, ow, ow…" Yuuji rubbed his bottom as he stood up on his feet.
That hurt like hell, but at least he won in the end. Though…
I didn't find any hint that'll help me evolve further. Yuuji frowned.
He was able to make use of graveyard effects a bit in that duel, but that alone wouldn't help him defeat someone like Ryouga.
He needed to go against someone stronger than him.
Not that Sora was weak or anything, but Yuuji could tell from that duel that Sora himself was holding back. He didn't think about it much during the duel since his mind was solely focused on winning, but after the fact, it was obvious.
Yuuji turned to his opponent, who was sulking on the ground after his loss.
You're hiding something, aren't you? Yuuji thought. Not just any random duelist can perform that many Fusion Summons in quick succession like that.
"Yuuji, Sora! That was amazing!" Shuzo interrupted Yuuji's thoughts as he barged into the arena. "That hot-blooded duel of yours really got my heart pumping!"
"Dad, you're being too loud." Yuzu frowned as she walked in with the rest of the You Show Students.
"He's right though, the two of them were neck and neck," Tatsuya said.
"Mhm," Ayu nodded. "I couldn't tell who was going to win."
Sora eventually stood up and congratulated Yuuji for winning the duel, saying that he would definitely get stronger and defeat Yuuji the next time they duel. Yuuji just responded by saying that Sora should hold up his end of the bargain and stop calling him Sensei. Sora reluctantly agreed to the terms. Afterwards, he went off to talk to the rest of the You Show Students and Shuzo, who were all discussing the recent duel with happy expressions.
The only people left in the arena were Yuuji and Yuya. Yuuji noticed that Yuya had a solemn expression on his face and spoke up first.
"You okay?" Yuuji asked.
"Huh?" Yuya was surprised by the question. "Uh…yeah, I am."
"Then why are you clenching your fists so hard like that?"
"I am?" Yuya looked down at his hands, which were balled up into fists. "Oh…"
"Are you mad about something?" Yuuji asked.
"No."
"Don't lie."
"Yes…" Yuya reluctantly admitted.
"What's wrong?"
"It's about Sora," Yuya said.
Sora? What problem would Yuya have with Sora? Yuuji wondered. Wait…I remember hearing that he and Sora had a duel yesterday.
"You dueled him, right?" Yuuji asked. "Did you lose?"
"No, I won. But…" Yuya bit his lip. "...I didn't at the same time."
That sounds so backwards.
"During our duel, he only made use of Frightfur Bear." Yuya continued. "While in your duel, he used two other Fusion Monsters."
"Oh…" Yuuji finally got what Yuya meant. "You're mad that he held back against you, right?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I'm also mad."
"Huh?" Yuya was surprised. "Why?"
"Because he held back against me too," Yuuji said.
"..." Yuya was stunned.
"It may not have looked that way from how close our duel was, but I can tell for sure that Sora was just messing around."
"Oh…" Yuya sort of deflated. If Sora was messing around during his duel against Yuuji, what was he doing during their duel?
"But, don't let that discourage you Yuya." Yuuji reassured him. "It just means that we have new heights to surpass."
"New heights?"
"We just need to find our own way to surpass our current limits," Yuuji stated. "We need to evolve."
"And how do we do that?" Yuya
"We can't just rely on Pendulum Summoning to win our duels," Yuuji said. "We need to learn other summoning methods as well. I already knew how to use Synchro Summoning before getting these Pendulum Cards, and somehow learned Xyz Summoning during my duel against Gongenzaka."
"Somehow?" That was new information that Yuya didn't know. "Are you saying that you just suddenly manage to use Xyz Summoning somehow?"
"I'm not really sure how it happened myself," Yuuji thought. "But it probably was a similar phenomenon to how we got our Pendulum Cards in the first place.
"..."
"I originally wanted to evolve in my own way without some weird mysterious force granting me the exact card I need to win," Yuuji continued. "But thinking back on it now, it may just be the key for us to grow stronger. A way of going beyond Pendulum."
"..." Yuya wasn't sure how to respond to this new information.
"I'm not sure about how this power works, so I can't say for sure that it'll work, but it's worth a shot." Yuuji said. "So, I'll keep trying and failing until I unlock that same sensation once again."
Yuuji then stretched for a moment before turning around and walking off.
"I'm going off to do some private thinking," Yuuji said. "Be sure to tell me if you learn something new about what we discussed here."
"R-Right." Yuya replied as Yuuji left the arena.
Yuya thought about Yuuji's words for a moment.
Finding a way to surpass Pendulum? Yuya frowned. Just how the hell am I supposed to do that?
<><><><><><><><><><><><>
Custom/Altered Cards:
Monster Cards:
Antique Mimic Chest
ATK: 0, DEF: 0, LV: 5, SC: 1
Light/Fairy/Pendulum/Effect
Pendulum Effect: Once per turn: You can target 1 monster on the field; make its Level equal to the Level of another monster on the field until the end of this turn.
Monster Effect: Once per turn: You can target 1 monster on the field; this card's Level becomes equal to the targeted monster's Level until the end of this turn.
Antique Twilight Shield
ATK: 0, DEF: 0, LV: 5, SC: 4
Light/Fairy/Pendulum/Effect
Pendulum Effect: The monster with the highest DEF on the field cannot declare an attack during the Battle Phase.
Monster Effect: When your opponent declares a direct attack while you control no monsters: You can Special Summon this card from your hand. If this card is Special Summoned by this effect, it gains DEF equal to the ATK of the monster with the highest ATK on the field until the end of the turn.
Spell/Trap Cards:
Toy Vendor
Continuous Spell
To activate this card, you must discard 1 card. Once per turn: You can draw 1 card. If the drawn card is a Level 4 or lower monster, you can Special Summon it. Otherwise, discard it.
Pendulum Call
Spell Card
Place 1 Pendulum Monster from your Deck into your Pendulum Zone. You can only activate 1 Pendulum Call per turn.
Springboard
Spell Card
Target 1 monster on your field: return it to your hand.
Sugar Rush
Action Spell
If one of your monsters had its attack negated this turn: It can make a second attack during this Battle Phase and gains 500 ATK.
Frightfur Stampede
Counter Trap
When your opponent Special Summons three or more monsters in a single turn: Destroy a number of cards your opponent controls equal to the number of "Frightfur" monsters you control.
Candy Crumble
Action Spell
When your opponent's monster declares an attack: During the Damage Step, you can temporarily decrease its ATK by the difference between your opponent's Life Points and your own.
Antique Restock
Counter Trap
When your opponent declares an attack, Special Summon 1 'Antique' Monster from your graveyard. You can banish this card from your graveyard and pay half your Life Points; Special Summon 1 'Antique' Monster from your graveyard.
Candy Cushioning
Action Spell
When you would take damage from an opponent's monster's attack: Reduce that damage to 0.