138Vile: Holy crap, I actually got this story done within a month! ...Well, TBH, this is a story I tried to get out for a lot longer than this, but like I mentioned in my last story, writer's block hit me HARD. Thankfully, getting my last story out must've knocked my brain into enough gear to get this finished, so I hope you like me finally getting something out for ZEXAL again. This story is meant to take place after Double Numbershot 70 & 92. Enjoy!
Deckshibition
Chapter 17: This One's for the Girls
Rio walked down the streets of Heartland City alone, rounding the corner before looking around the various houses as if trying to find a specific one. 'I think it's on this road, right?' She thought to herself. Eventually, she located one with a blue roof, making her nod. 'There.' She approached the house, but a look of concern overtook her face as she got closer. 'Ryoga's really starting to worry about Ariel. After what happened that day with her gang, I'd probably be a little shaken too.' Her mind conjured images based on what Shark had told her. How somehow, when facing two Numbers alongside the rest of the Terminal Gang, the Sophia card they had in store somehow became real, claiming it was because of Ariel. According to Shark, she wasn't nearly the same: She was reserved, nervous, and sometimes even felt like she was avoiding everyone. Rio finally made it to her doorstep, taking a breath. 'Hope she doesn't mind me checking up on her.' She reached out and rung the doorbell, then just waited.
No answer came for a moment, making Rio think he she might not have been home. After a while, though, the door opened, showing Ariel on the other side, looking a bit surprised. "Oh. Hi, Rio-san."
"Hi, Ariel. Sorry to just drop in on you like this, but Ryoga told me what happened and how silent you've been lately, so I thought I'd check up on you." Rio said, trying to not be abrasive in any way about this.
Ariel looked nervous when she brought that up, but she kept herself from freaking out. "Th-Thanks. Come on in." She opened the door wider, allowing her to enter.
When she was inside, however, Rio noticed that someone else was there: A pink-haired girl about her age sitting in a chair in the living room, currently sipping a drink until she noticed Rio. "Oh, sorry. I didn't realize you had company." Rio said.
"Oh, don't worry about it." The pink-haired girl replied, putting her drink down. "She wasn't expecting me, either. My name is Jenaveve. You must be Ryoga's sister, Rio. I've heard about you."
"Jenaveve?" Rio repeated the name, her fingers to her chin in thought. The name sounded familiar to her. She prodded her memory for a while, trying to think of where she heard it. Eventually, the answer hit her, making the internal light bulb brighten. "Oh, you must be the one who hangs out with Tenjo-kun that Ryoga mentioned."
"Mm-hmm." Jenaveve said, getting up from her chair and walking over to her. "It's nice to meet you."
Rio couldn't help but smile. "Same here." She held out her hand, which Jen took and shook without hesitation. However, when they shook hands, both of them felt a small shock go through them. "Ow!" Rio cried, quickly pulling back her hand out of impulse.
"Iya, that stung." Jen groaned, shaking her own hand as a result of the shock.
"Are you two OK?" Ariel asked, worried.
Rio shook her hand a bit before checking it. Nothing was wrong. "Yeah, just some static electricity, I guess." Once that little incident was over, Rio took a seat, and Ariel brought out a couple more drinks, and the three of them just started talking. They didn't start with Ariel's condition: They just talked about recent events in their lives that weren't involved with the Number crisis. The older two could clearly tell that while she spoke, Ariel did not have the same enthusiasm that they remembered her always having before, often responding with a simple, subdued "Yeah." or "Mm-hmm." Rio turned out to have the more interesting stories, largely on account of some of her classmates. When Jenaveve mentioned something she and Ariel did together, that got Rio's attention. "So, you two and Kotori get together for some girl time now and then, huh?" She asked, sipping her drink.
"Yeah. Since the three of us are all dating guys who deal with some abnormal things, sometimes we just like to step back and live normal lives from time to time." Jenaveve replied.
"I honestly wanted to invite you along, Rio-san, but I wasn't sure how to really ask." Ariel admitted.
Rio slightly frowned. "Well, I hope I didn't seem like I was unapproachable or anything. I know you and I don't talk that much, but that's usually just because I'm doing other things, y'know?"
Ariel nodded. "Yeah. I guess that's why I didn't think you want to hang out, honestly." She tried to give a small smile. "Not that you are unapproachable, just that I figured you'd rather hang with your high school friends."
This made Rio smile in response. "Hey, I gotta know my little bro's girlfriend at least somewhat well, considering how often you're around." She sipped her drink again.
"How are you feeling now, anyway, Ariel-chan?" Jenaveve took the chance to ask.
Ariel took a big gulp of some of her drink and sighed. "A little better. Thanks for coming over, you two. Ever since that day... I haven't known what to do."
"Ryoga didn't give me a lot of details, but he did say that it happened before." Rio said. "That true?"
Ariel nodded, grimacing as she thought back to the first time. "It was during a Duel with the Number Distributor. Vector... he tried to take over Shark's body... I wanted so bad for Shark Drake to help, anyone to help... and it listened to me. Somehow it listened to me, ripping Vector out of Shark's body... it even said it did it because of me. I... I don't know how."
"Ryoga didn't tell me that he was almost overtaken by that creep." Rio said with a slight growl, her grip on her drink tightening. "If I get my hands on him..." Taking a deep breath, she managed to calm herself down. "But this isn't about him."
"And what about this time?" Jenaveve asked.
The younger girl flashed back again, remembering the battle against the two Numbers. "It was when me and my friends faced Shingo and Tokiko. One of Vector's allies showed up to take their Numbers. I tried to stop her, but she just knocked me to the ground like I was nothing." Her voice began to shake and turn frantic. "I didn't know what to do... and then Sophia, a monster we Summoned... she became real and stopped her! And that girl said it was because of me!"
Both Rio and Jenaveve put a hand on Ariel's shoulders as she began to freak out. "Easy, Ariel. Try to breathe." Rio told her.
"Yeah, I may not know what's going on, but I don't think it's because of you." Jenaveve added. "They might just be saying that to get to you."
Ariel took a deep breath, but didn't really feel that much better. "Then... what else could it be? I-I don't know what all the Numbers can do. I barely even understand what they are."
Rio thought about it for a moment. "You had one once. Maybe Shark Drake just sees you as worthy because of that, and because of your connection to Ryoga." Ariel just looks down at the table. She clearly was not really sure whether or not to believe that. The concern on the older girls' faces was clear, and Rio then stood up. "There's only one thing a girl can do in a time like this."
"And what's that, Rio-chan?" Jenaveve asked, Ariel looking up.
"Hit the town with her gal pals, and enjoy the day to take her mind off things." The older blue-haired girl chirped, slamming her fist into her palm.
"Ah, good idea!" Jenaveve said with a smile. "A day of standard activities is always good for cleansing the soul."
"What do you say, Ariel?" Rio asked.
Ariel looked between the two, a little hesitant to give an answer. Eventually, though, she managed to give a small smile. "…I'd like that."
So their day was settled. After setting off from the house and walking through the city, the trio of girls entered Heartland Shopping Mall. Their day together was a day fit for a group of teens: They began raiding the department schools, finding whatever clothes and accessories they thought "spoke to them", as Ariel put it, and even giving each other fashion tips. The local arcade was having a sale on plays, with Jenaveve showing a surprising amount of skill by crushing one game's leaderboard. The three of them spent the day laughing and smiling as they acted like normal girls their age, not as people part of the threats they had been part of.
"And that was when I looked out of my classroom to see Kurobara-chan running down the hall like her hair was on fire." Rio told the other two as they sat at a table, some food and drinks in front of them. "It drew a crowd, lemme tell ya."
"What made her do something like that?" Ariel asked.
"Apparently it was because someone got ahold of her gossip book and was about to throw it into a dumpster. Don't quote me, that's just what I heard on the grapevine." Rio took a sip of her drink.
Ariel rose an eyebrow at that line. "You'll have a lot of stories like that when you get to high school, Ariel-chan." Jenaveve told her. "Though I'm sure middle school isn't without its own stories.
"Yeah, one time I saw three guys trying to investigate rumors of Hanako-san at school." Ariel replied. "Turned out it was just someone sneaking up on people and dunking their heads in the toilet."
Rio sipped her drink a little too fast when she heard that, causing her to cough a bit and look at Ariel in surprise. "Seriously?"
"Yeah, it was all everyone was talking about for the rest of that week!" Ariel said, making the three girls start laughing at just how silly that story was. Once the laughs finally died down, Ariel sighed and just looked down at her tea. "...This was nice."
"Feeling any better, Ariel-chan?" Jenaveve asked.
The younger girl nodded. "Yeah…" She sighed again. "I haven't felt like my life was normal for a while now. I mean," she chuckled lightly, "the adventures of my boyfriend aside, I like to think my life was normal. But after Shark Drake responded to me… Sure, I brushed it off as him accepting me since the Numbers aren't exactly normal, but then Sophia… and the nightmares…"
"Nightmares?" Rio and Jen asked at the same time.
"Nothing major that made me lose sleep, like what you once had, Rio-san. But it's like… I just hear Vector's voice echoing in my head, saying how Shark's not normal. It goes away quickly, but it sticks with me. The more I think about it, the more I worry that maybe he's right." Rio and Jen looked at each other, uncertain as to what that meant, and Ariel could tell. "Rio-san, please, don't get the wrong idea. Ryoga is... a great guy, and an amazing boyfriend. I really want to be with him, but with everything that's happened, I'm just….scared. For him... for me… I just…" Her voice began to fail her as she began to shake again. She could feel tears of fear start to build in her eyes, which she tried her hardest to keep from falling.
Jen reached over and placed her hand on Ariel's shoulder. "It's OK, Ariel-chan. Don't be afraid. We're here for you."
"But that's just it, Jenaveve-san. I don't know what I'm afraid of, and that just makes me even more scared."
"What do you mean you don't know what you're afraid of?" Rio asked.
"I mean…" She paused, trying to actually find the words. "Well, it's really only happened twice, making what should be augmented reality real and obey me somewhat. I don't know if I should be afraid of being able to do that, or if that's somehow connected to me being with Ryoga." She placed her hands on her head. "It's just something so fantastic, like out of some fantasy rom-com anime."
Jenaveve continued to comfort Ariel, but Rio began to ponder. "Hmm… Maybe…"
"What is it, Rio-chan?" Jenaveve asked, but Rio didn't verbally answer. Instead, she stood up, fished out her D-Pad, and placed it on her wrist, making Ariel give an "Eh?" in confusion. "What are you doing?"
"This only when a Duel happens, right?" Rio asked. "So how about we see just what this really is."
Ariel was a bit startled, a small bead of sweat forming on her face. "Uh… O-Okay, I guess?" She stammered.
"Rio-chan, this really isn't a good idea." Jenaveve told her.
"What? I'm not saying we put Ariel in anything dangerous." Rio said, giving them an easygoing smile. "Let's just have a for-fun Duel, just the three of us. If what happened to her is something permanent, we'll just stop the duel. But I'm willing to bet that whatever is happening is more blessing than curse."
Ariel blinked a few times. Something about what Rio said started to make her feel a bit more… at ease. "You really think so, Rio-san?"
Rio nodded. "Think about it. The times it happened were to protect my little brother from Vector, and stop what was likely one of his goon squad from getting back the Numbers. Control or no control, this is likely some kind of self-defense thing that's likely acting up because of all the strangeness we've been dealing with. Heck, you might be like Akiza."
Jenaveve looked confused. "Eh? Who's this Akiza you're talking about?"
"Come on, you know… Yusei's wife."
The pink-haired girl was still confused, but the gears in her head started turning before a lightbulb turned on. "Oh! The famous Psychic Duelist!"
"Exactly." Rio said with a finger gun motion. "Back when she was our age, she had a hard time controlling her powers too." She looked at Ariel. "You could just be a late bloomer, and if so, you can control this, with some help. I'm willing to put myself in harm's way to help a friend."
"Rio-san…" Ariel breathed.
Jenaveve went silent for a moment, trying to think of words… before she too stood up. "...I'll join you, Rio-chan." Ariel looked at her in surprise. "Both to also help Ariel-chan, and to get you out of danger if I have to."
Rio nodded at the pinkette before looking to Ariel. "What do you say, Ariel?"
Ariel looked back and forth between them, still trying to fully process the fact that they were doing this. She barely even knew them that well despite hanging out with them, yet they were willing to possibly put themselves in danger. For her sake. The younger girl clenched her fists before placing her hands on the table. "...Yeah. Thank you." She stood up, feeling her nerve return. "I… I can't just be afraid!" She said, holding her fists in front of her.
Rio and Jenaveve smiled at her. "That's the spirit." Rio told her. Ariel nodded, pulling out her D-Pad.
"Duel Disk, set!" Ariel and Jenaveve said as their D-Pads clacked onto their wrists, unfolding their zones. "D-Gazer, set!" All three D-Gazers came online.
"AR VISION, LINK ESTABLISHED." The AR system said as the area around them morphed into the Augmented Reality.
"DUEL!"
Rio LP:4000
Jenaveve LP:4000
Ariel LP:4000
"Who should go first?" Rio asked.
"I will." Jenaveve offered, getting nods from the other two before drawing her card. "Hmm… This will work. I Summon Sacred Leonis!" A veil of sparkling stars formed on the field, forming into a silver-armored warrior with glowing light blue "hair" designed into his helmet, fashioned like a lion's mane. The Sacred symbols on his shoulders gleamed as claws made of blue light sprouted from his fingers, cape blowing in the wind.
Sacred Leonis: Lv.3 LIGHT Beast ATK:1000/DEF:1800
"Sacred Leonis's effect activates. Once per turn, I can Normal Summon a second Sacred monster from my hand." Leonis caused his claws to surge with light, glowing even larger before he slashed open a hole in space, leading to a world of sparkling stars. "Come, Sacred Sheratan!" From out of the portal leapt a smaller warrior clad in the Sacreds' typical armor. His helmet had horns like a ram, and he carried a small blaster in his hand.
Sacred Sheratan: Lv.3 LIGHT Beast ATK:700/DEF:1900
"An Xyz on Turn 1, eh?" Rio wondered.
Jenaveve chuckled. "I'll get there. Sacred Sheratan's effect activates." The ram-like warrior pointed his blaster in the air and fired, the shot exploding into a small burst of bright fireworks. "When this card is Normal Summoned, I can add another Sacred monster from my Deck to my hand." The fireworks rained down over her Deck, causing a card to glow and fly out from it into her hand. "Let's go. Level 3 Sacred Leonis and Sacred Sheratan, Overlay!" Both her monsters crossed their arms before turning fully yellow, shooting into the air. "With these two monsters, I build the Overlay Network!" A red spiral portal opened up, and both her monsters sailed inside, a burst of light erupting from the center. "Xyz Summon! Come forth, Sacred Hyades!" The light silhouetted a new warrior as it actually descended from above with crossed arms, only for it to grab at objects on its wrists and slash with them, dispelling the light to reveal the large white-and-gold-armored monster, helmet sporting horns not unlike Sheratan's, albeit pointing forward. Twirling its weapons, a pair of large knives with red laser hilts, it held both to its sides as two yellow Overlay Units orbited it.
Sacred Hyades: Rank 3 LIGHT Beast-Warrior/Xyz ATK:1900/DEF:1100 2 Overlay Units
"I Set one card." A face-down appeared on Jenaveve's field. "Turn end."
'She's starting off well enough.' Ariel thought to herself. "Atashi no turn. Draw!" She drew her card. "I Summon Gishki Abyss!" Her monster emerged as a humanoid creature whose head was actually an entire shark's body, grinning with red eyes.
Gishki Abyss: Lv.2 WATER Fish ATK:1400/DEF:1000
"Abyss's effect activates. I can add a Gishki monster with 1000 or less Defense Points from my Deck to my hand." A card slid out from her Deck, which she grabbed. "All right! Ritual Magic, Aquis Novena, activate!" The ground underneath Ariel's feet seemingly started to turn into water, but Ariel was unaffected. "This card lets me Ritual Summon any WATER Ritual Monster. Using this card, I offer Gishki Abyss and Gishki Mermaid in my hand as the Tributes!" A new Gishki monster that appeared to be a moss green-haired mermaid appeared on the field, only for her and Abyss to slowly sink into the water below. "The offering has been made! Let the Ritual commence!" The water began to churn and swirl, six lights glowing bright beneath the waves. "The Ritual is now complete! Behold the product of the sacrifice! Ritual Summon!" Then, the lights caused the water itself to glow, and a pillar of the water shot into the air. "I Summon thee… Aquarius Sorceress!" Part of the water swirled around before seemingly being tied in a knot, forming into blue gel-like hair attached to a strange creature. It was humanoid with a clearly feminine body, being completely clad in black armor with many light blue and some gold accents. Lines arranged in the shape of the constellation Aquarius were on her stomach, and her shoulders were covered by pads that looked like two halves of a broken jar. Her head was fully covered by a helmet (letting her hair come out the back) that only let two solid blue eyes be seen behind her. Reaching behind her, she pulled out a small device and lengthened it into a wand, which it waved to cause water to swirl up and hover around her.
Aquarius Sorceress: Lv.6 WATER Aqua/Ritual ATK:2200/DEF:1300
"Is that a newer card of yours, Ariel-chan?" Jenaveve asked.
"Mm-hmm. My dad made it." Ariel replied. "Gishki Mermaid's effect activates. Since I released it to Ritual Summon a WATER monster, I can draw a card." She drew her card. "Turn end!"
"Watashi no turn. Draw!" Rio drew her card. As she looked over her hand, she peeked past them at Ariel. The younger girl didn't seem to notice, but Rio was staring intently. 'I don't know what you are… but maybe I can bring you out.' She pulled off her D-Gazer and began typing using the keypad it brought up.
"Rio-san?" Ariel asked.
"Just sending a quick message. Gimme a sec." Rio replied. After about a minute of typing, she hit a button that caused the keypad to disappear, putting her Gazer back on. "Sorry about that. Anyway." She picked a card from her hand. "By sending a WATER monster from my hand to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon Mermail - Dinichabyss from my hand!" Emerging from the card was a large green-skinned aquatic humanoid clad in silver armor with a pinkish tint. Its head was that of a fish with jaws that snapped hard, and it pulled out a large dark pink spear with a conical spiked shell on the end, holding it in front of its body.
Mermail – Dinichabyss (TCG: Abyssteus): Lv.7 WATER Aqua ATK:1700/DEF:2400
"Sea Emperor's Skirmisher's effect activates!" Rio declared as a strange blue-green blur started to dash past her several times, water droplets coming off it. "If this card is sent to the Graveyard to activate a WATER monster's effect, I can Special Summon it!" The blur screeched to a halt on Rio's field, revealing itself to be a blue-green humanoid fish monster with light white armor and small blades attached to its wrists.
Sea Emperor's Skirmisher: Lv.3 WATER Sea Serpent ATK:1500/DEF:400 (Defense Mode)
"Eh?!" Ariel cried in shock. "That's Shark's Archetype! How did you get some of those cards?"
Rio shrugged with a confident smile. "That Deck of his was pretty big, and they looked like they worked with my Deck, so I took a few of the ones he didn't use. I don't think he'd mind." At that moment, her D-Gazer rung, so she hit the button to answer with her eyes closed. "Hello?"
"You didn't put the card box back in my closet." Ryoga's familiar voice said on the other end, causing her to yelp as she noticed him looking at her with an unimpressed look.
"Uh… sorry?" Rio asked with a nervous laugh.
"I don't mind you using those cards, but next time, ask before going through my stuff." Ryoga replied, unceremoniously cutting off the call.
"Oh, my." Jen said, having a sly smile on her face. Ariel had her hand over her mouth, laughter threatening to find its way out.
Rio sweatdropped, blushing beet red from embarrassment, before shaking her head to get herself back in gear. "Anyway… Since I Special Summing Dinichabyss, I can add a Mermail monster from my Deck to my hand." A card slid out from her Deck, which she took. "I Summon Deep Sea Diva!" A melodious voice was heard singing a note as a storm of glowing bubbles billowed onto the field. One by one they popped, revealing the singer to be a beautiful mermaid with a lot of white and red on her, those two colors entirely making up her clothes, "hair" (more of a giant fin), and tail.
Deep Sea Diva: Lv.2 WATER Sea Serpent/Tuner ATK:200/DEF:400
"Deep Sea Diva's effect activates. When this card is Normal Summoned, I can Special Summon another Level 3 or lower Sea Serpent monster from my Deck." Deep Sea Diva did a mid-air twirl before letting out another high note, causing a vortex of water to swirl in front of her. "Come, Sea Emperor's Attack Soldier!" The blade of a sword slashed through the water to dissipate it, revealing another fishman monster, clad in purple armor and carrying a shield to go with his sword.
Sea Emperor's Attack Soldier: Lv.3 WATER Sea Serpent ATK:1400/DEF:0
At that moment, Jen's D-Gazer gave a chime, much quieter than Rio's Gazer's ring. Looking, she saw a mail icon on it. 'A message?' Not wanting to disrupt the flow of the Duel, she pressed the buttons to open the mail. As the words appeared and slowly scrolled, Jen took in the message, slowly feeling more and more confused the more she read. 'Wait, is she serious?'
I want to see what this weird event is like for Ariel. Play aggressive. Let's see what happens with a little stress. –Rio
"Level 3 Sea Emperor's Attack Soldier and Level 2 Deep Sea Diva, Tuning!" Diva rose her arms, lacing her fingers together over her head, and began singing again as Attack Soldier rushed forward. The mermaid morphed into two Level Stars, which flew forward and morphed into Synchro Summon Rings. The rings came up behind Attack Soldier and overlapped him, turning his body into an outline with three Stars visible within. Its body vanished, allowing the Stars to line up before green line shot through the rings. "Synchro Summon!" Water burst out from seemingly nowhere, swirling around and merging together into a collective mass, turning gel-like in consistency. Two large wings formed from the water, alongside reptilian arms and legs. "Shin Kairyū (Sea Dragon God)…" As a tail formed out of the substance, the overall mass seemed to shrink, but that was only because a long neck was taking up most of it. "Gishilnodon!" Spiky scales lined what seemed to be a head, but no eyes ever formed out of it. Instead, the head was dominated by a large mouth of sharp watery teeth, letting out a loud roar that scattered any remaining water around it.
Sea Dragon God Gishilnodon: Lv.5 WATER Sea Serpent/Synchro ATK:2300/DEF:1800
"A Synchro Monster…" Ariel breathed.
"I Set one card." A facedown appeared on Rio's field. "Turn end." Since Ariel was still looking at Gishilnodon, Rio quickly looked over at Jen, nodding firmly.
Jen merely stared at Rio for a moment, actually trying to decide what to do. Ariel had taken her attention off the monster, so Rio tried to look unassuming, but Jen just sighed. 'I'm going to regret doing this, I know it.' She thought. "Watashi no turn. Draw." She drew her card. "I Summon Aster Drawn!" Her monster emerged as a small, chibi humanoid dressed in black and white clothing, a head like a space helmet, and a black beret on top, twirling a small yellow wand with a paintbrush head on the top.
Aster Drawn: Lv.4 EARTH Spellcaster ATK:1600/DEF:1000
"Magic Card, Sacred Starlight, activate. This lets me Special Summon a Sacred monster from my Deck." A beacon of holy light shone down from above, sparkles coming off it. "Come, Sacred Gredi!" Descending from the light above was another silver-armored member of the stellar force… one with very little detail to its armor beside two small horns and a bit of a skirt design.
Sacred Gredi: Lv.4 LIGHT Spellcaster ATK:1600/DEF:1400
Jen took a slight breath. 'Rio, this had better work.' She thought. "Now I-" Her voice seemingly caught in her throat, eyes shrinking a bit.
"Jen-san?" Ariel asked, concerned. Rio, however, merely glanced over at her. Despite the apparent change in her eyes, Rio could see the same overall look: She was up to something.
The pink-haired girl groaned, her fist clenching. "Level 4 Aster Drawn and Sacred Gredi, Overlay." Her two monsters turned fully orange and yellow before spiraling into the air. "With these two monsters, I build the Overlay Network." Another red spiral portal opened up, allowing her monsters to be absorbed. Jen's eyes briefly seemed to glow. "Xyz Summon!" Sparkling starlight erupted from the portal as a new figure emerged. One arm shot out equipped with a strange spiky weapon of sorts that glowed with an orange light, followed by another; the light seemingly moving with the consistency of honey. A cape with the cosmos tinted red flowed behind it, the cape supported by golden armor with hexagonal holes. "Come forth… Sacred Beehive!" The warrior crossed his gauntlets and let out a grunt that almost sounded like buzzing before taking a battle stance.
Sacred Beehive: Rank 4 LIGHT Machine/Xyz ATK:2400/DEF:800 2 Overlay Units
"…You… I will defeat you…" Jen growled, her voice cracking a bit. 'Ugh, this does not feel good on my throat.'
"E-Eh?!" Ariel gasped.
"What?" Rio asked, playing along. Jen held her right hand under her left arm and briefly caused her power to make the back of her hand glow. The shadow of her arm made the pink glow look more like a light purple, which Rio caught quickly; Ariel, however, appeared to miss this fact, and she did not like where things were going.
"When Aster Drawn is used for an Xyz Summon, I can draw one card…" Jen drew her card. "I switch Sacred Hyades to Attack Mode." The other Sacred Xyz stood up, tossing up one of his knives and catching it as he twirled the other. "Sacred Beehive… attack Aquarius Sorceress!" Beehive beat his gauntlets together before leaping into the air. The strange liquid light in the weapons began to churn, coating his arms in orange light before he dove forward, arm outstretched.
"Aquarius Sorceress's effect activates!" Ariel cried, taking Gishki Abyss out of her Graveyard. "By banishing a WATER monster from my Graveyard, Aquarius isn't destroyed by battle!" The water witch held her wand up and began to wave it, causing the water that hovered around her to surround her in a large bubble. Beehive slammed his fist into the bubble, causing slight mist to come off it, but when it didn't go through, he kept pummeling at it for a while, trying to get through. Eventually, however, he gave up and leapt back to Jen's field.
Ariel LP:3800
"You won't last long… Sacred Hyades, attack Aquarius Sorceress!" Jen ordered, Hyades leaping forward with knives at the ready. "Sacred Beehive's effect activates. By using an Overlay Unit, Hyades gains 1000 Attack Points!" One of Beehive's units was absorbed by the symbol on his chest, and the hexagonal holes in his armor glowed orange before launching four small missiles of energy. Two missiles apiece struck the knives, coating them in an orange glow that made them grow larger.
Hyades ATK:2900
"Crush it…!" Hyades swung his knives down, slicing through Aquarius in a clean X shape. The water around her scattered before she herself exploded, Ariel holding her arms in front of her.
Ariel LP:3100
"J-Jen-san, what's gotten into you?" Ariel asked, concerned.
"Damn…" Rio groaned. "Is her Number taking hold of her?" Ariel gasped hearing that.
"Turn end." Jen said simply.
"Ariel, stay on your toes!" Rio told the younger girl. "You know what Numbers can do to people!"
"I-I know…" Ariel groaned, her legs shaking a bit. 'These stupid Numbers… why are they doing this?' "Atashi no turn! Draw!" Ariel drew her card. "I Summon Gishki Dancer!" A burst of water erupted from her field, receding to reveal a beautiful young woman with moss green hair in clothing that was very revealing, yet still visibly in the style of the rest of the Gishkis. A small mirror dangled from her hip as she danced to an inaudible beat, blue ribbons flowing around her arms.
Gishki Dancer: Lv.3 WATER Warrior ATK:1200/DEF:800
"Gishki Dancer's effect activates! When I Normal Summon her, I can Normal Summon another Gishki monster this turn!" Dancer's movements became more fluid as she began to dance in spinning motions. Her ribbons grew longer and morphed into water, which converged on another zone and formed a vortex. "Come, Gishki Sword!" A figure leapt out of the vortex and landed, the flashes of quick sword swipes being seen. The flashes came from a rapier, held by a humanoid figure in the same overall dress as the rest of the Gishkis, but similar to Abyss, his head was that of a sea creature: Namely, a black swordfish.
Gishki Sword: Lv.4 WATER Fish ATK:1800/DEF:400
"Level 4 Gishki Dancer and Gishki Sword, Overlay!" Both her monsters turned fully blue before shooting into the air in a spiral.
"What…?" Jen forced herself to say in a tone that only somewhat sounded threatening. "Your monster was Level 3!" Rio lowered her head in order to roll her eyes at Jen's attempt.
"Gishki Dancer can be a Level 4 monster for an Xyz Summon!" Ariel said as a red spiral portal opened in front of her. "With these two monsters, I build the Overlay Network! Xyz Summon!" Both her monsters sailed inside, causing energy to erupt from the portal. The reflective shimmer of a Gishki mirror's glass showed what seemed to be a watery world beyond, and something appeared to swim into view, eyes glowing a vibrant view. The mirror rippled like water before the creature within emerged, swimming through the air gracefully with a large lower, bright blue lower body; the combination of tail and flippers made it resemble that of a seal. However, the top half of the body seemed to be that of Gishki Dancer, but her ribbons were no longer hanging from her body: Instead, they were attached to a new wand she was holding, a mirror attached to the tip. "Come forth, Evigishki Sapphire Selkie!" The human half gave a wink as she twirled her wand, holding it to her side while her two Overlay Units circled her.
Evigishki Sapphire Selkie: Rank 4 WATER Aqua/Xyz ATK:2400/DEF:1800 2 Overlay Units
"Sapphire Selkie's effect activates!" The human half of the monster absorbed one of her units through her wand, twirling it around while sashaying what was left of that part of her. "By using an Overlay Unit, I can shuffle 3 cards in the Graveyards into the Deck and draw a card." Selkie giggled, holding her wand's mirror next to her face. Aster Drawn, Gishki Mermaid, and Deep Sea Diva were briefly seen in the mirror for a second each, then each card vanished from the Graveyards and re-appeared in their Decks. Each Disk shuffled the Deck, and Ariel drew her card. "Furthermore, since I used Gishki Sword to Xyz Summon it, Selkie gains 1000 Attack Points!" Sword's image appeared and swung his rapier, causing water to surround Selkie's wand, morphing into a sharp rapier's point.
Sapphire Selkie ATK:3400 1 Overlay Unit
"Go! Sapphire Selkie, attack Sacred Hyades!" As she made her order, Selkie was looking into the mirror of her wand before realizing she was being commanded, looking over at her intended target. Giving a "Hmph!", she waved her wand around and gathered even more water into the rapier point on the end, then thrust it forward, the water surging forward like a giant lance.
Jen forced a growl to keep up her act. "I activate Sacred Beehive's effect…!" Beehive fired more energy missiles that powered-up Hyades's blades (ATK:2900), which he used to try and block the incoming attack. It didn't work as well as it would've hoped, as the water lance pierced right through the blades and through him, obliterating Hyades.
Jenaveve LP:3500
Sacred Beehive: 0 Overlay Units
Jen shook her head from the slight force. "That barely felt like anything happened…"
"Th-There's only so much I can do." Ariel sputtered. "But I'll show you what I can do! I Set a card. Turn end!"
'Is she actually buying this?' Rio wondered. 'I can't help but feel like she's playing along.' "Watashi no turn! Draw!" She drew her card. "Trap Card, Call of the Haunted, activate! This card lets me Special Summon a monster from my Graveyard. Revive, Deep Sea Diva!" The Trap glowed as the white-and-red mermaid returned from a purple portal. "Now I release Sea Emperor's Skirmisher and Deep Sea Diva! Advance Summon!" Both monsters disintegrated into odd particles, which combined and formed a deep blue portal. "Come, Mermail – Leedabyss!" Emerging from the portal was a large (larger than Dinichabyss, even) powder blue fishman with a wrinkled face and red and silver armor covering its entire body. After its tail was out of the portal, it reached back in and pulled something, grunting in effort as the portal actually widened enough for it to pull out a giant bladed anchor as tall as itself, one of the sides covered in blue coral that made that side even sharper.
Mermail – Leedabyss (TCG: Abyssleed): Lv.7 WATER Sea Serpent ATK:2700/DEF:1000
Rio reached for her Extra Deck, but stopped, realizing something. 'Wait, crap! If I Summon Gaioabyss, then Ariel's Ritual Monsters can't attack because of their Level!' She tried to think of what she could do, looking between Ariel and Jenaveve. Jen glanced down at her facedown, then toward Ariel, and then winked, which made Rio respond with a smirk. "…You know, I don't think I need to Xyz Summon for this. Dinichabyss, switch to Attack Mode!" The other large Mermail stood up, readying its spear.
"I can handle you…" Jen growled.
"Let's see if you can handle this, then. I activate Gishilnodon's effect!" A portal opened up beneath the watery dragon, causing it to be struck by a geyser of water. However, its body seemed to absorb the surging torrent, growing larger and larger. "Since a Level 3 monster was sent to the Graveyard this turn, Gishilnodon's Attack Points become 3000!" Gishilnodon's teeth grew larger as the water continued forcing it to grow larger, making it let out a very loud roar.
Gishilnodon ATK:3000
"Let's beat that Number out of her. Gishilnodon, attack Sacred Beehive!" Moving its head to face Jenaveve's last monster, part of the watery skin moved to finally reveal two glowing green eyes before Gishilnodon's neck suddenly began stretching to incredible lengths with the visual flair of a geyser. The aquatic dragon roared before sinking its teeth into the golden armor and crunching hard, Beehive yelling out as the teeth punctured its flesh before it was obliterated in an instant.
Jenaveve LP:2900
"Alright! Dinichabyss, direct attack!" Dinichabyss rose his spear up, causing the shell on the tip to begin spinning, becoming so fast that it was like a drill. The Mermail switched stances, acting as though it was about to chuck the spear at Jenaveve, and his following movements seemed to follow that, but he never let go of the spear; instead, the shell launched off the spear like a rocket, barreling right through Jenaveve and making her slide across the ground a bit.
Jenaveve LP:1200
"Yes! One more, Rio-san!" Ariel chirped as Dinichabyss actually blew a small bit of air from its mouth with a nod before tapping the spear's bottom on the ground, the shell re-appearing from nowhere to re-attach.
"Not yet…" Jen said in a low tone, shaking off the force. "Trap, activate. Reflective Refraction." The Trap gave off a bright light, enough so that Rio and Ariel had to cover their eyes. "Because I took damage from a direct attack, I can Special Summon a LIGHT monster from my Deck with Attack or Defense Points equal to or less than the damage I took. Come, Sacred Antares!" The light finally died down, revealing that a new Sacred monster had taken the field: A tall, thin, gangly automaton with red highlights to its armor, wielding a metal rope with a glowing red blade on the end.
Sacred Antares: Lv.6 LIGHT Machine ATK:2400/DEF:900 (Defense Mode)
"And when a monster is Summoned by this card, its lower stat is inflicted to my opponent as damage." Jen pointed at Ariel without even looking at her, and the Trap's light converged to a single point, firing a laser beam right through her.
Ariel LP:2200
"Damn… Should've figured it wouldn't give in so easily." Rio groaned, Ariel shaking off the force of the laser.
"I activate Antares's effect. When this card is Summoned… I can retrieve a Sacred monster from my Graveyard and place it back in my hand." A purple portal opened up near Antares, who twirled his rope spear before throwing in through the portal with a grunt. He felt the blade hit something, so he pulled back, the spear emerging with Sheratan's card attached, which Jen snagged out of the air.
Rio sighed, trying to make herself seem exasperated (and actually sounding the part, Jen thought). "Leedabyss, take out the straggler." Leedabyss lifted its anchor-blade like it was nothing and leapt forward, bringing it over its head and down again, slashing the scorpion-like golem right down the middle, making it explode. "That's about all I can do now, but we'll take you down before you know it. Turn end." She glanced over at Ariel. The younger girl clearly looked like she was trying to stay brave, but in spite of how… bad their little act was, she looked genuinely shaken, her breathing a bit heavy. '…Okay, she's definitely not faking it. She really IS that terrified of the Numbers.'
"Watashi no turn. Draw." Jenaveve drew her card. "Sacred Scheat 's effect activates. Because you control a monster and I don't, I can Special Summon it from my hand." A small star fell from the sky and landed with a small flash, revealing it to be a large silver jar with the Sacred symbol emblazoned upon it. Two big brown eyes peeked out of the jar's opening, followed by the rest of a small head wearing a horned helmet. The creature poked its arms out and used them to pull out the rest of it, sitting on the top of the jar and waving. "Once per turn, Scheat can copy the Level of a Sacred monster in my Graveyard. Copy Sacred Antares!" Scheat hopped off the jar and picked it up like it was nothing despite it being as big as it, swinging it and seemingly collecting starlight like it was water. Once there was a decent amount in the jar, it actually turned it upside-down and began audibly drinking it, growing larger and larger until it was finished, wiping off its "mouth".
Sacred Scheat: Lv.6 (normally 1) LIGHT Fairy ATK:100/DEF:1000
"Furthermore, I Summon Sacred Kaust." Her next monster emerged as a centauric Sacred, brandishing a golden bow with an arrow already drawn.
Sacred Kaust: Lv.4 LIGHT Beast-Warrior ATK:1800/DEF:700
"I activate Sacred Kaust's effect. Twice per turn, a Sacred monster's Level can be raised or lowered. I raise Sacred Kaust and lower Sacred Scheat to the same Level: Level 5." Kaust aimed his bow upward as his arrow became an arrow of solid light, and he fired it into the air. The arrow split in two as it angled back downward, plummeting to strike both Kaust and Scheat at the same time.
Kaust, Scheat: Lv.5
"Level 5 Sacred Kaust and Sacred Scheat, Overlay!" Jen's two monsters turned fully yellow and spiraled into the air, another red spiral portal opening in the ground. "With these two monsters, I build the Overlay Network. Xyz Summon!" Both her monsters flew into the portal, which then released a burst of bright starlight. A silver-armored arm emerged from the light, wielding a golden half-moon blade. Another arm's emergence swept a deep blue cape with a pattern like the cosmos. "Come forth… Sacred Pleiades!" The two horizontal lines on the warrior's helmet shined from the yellow glow within, and with a swipe of his arm and a yell, the excess starlight scattered, two yellow Overlay Units circling him.
Sacred Pleiades: Rank 5 LIGHT Warrior/Xyz ATK:2500/DEF:1500 2 Overlay Units
"I'd finish you off now… but I'll make things harder for you first." Jenaveve groaned before turning to Rio, conveniently covering her power's glow again to make it appear to be her Number's glow. Ariel still didn't fully notice, stepping back once. "Sacred Pleaides's effect activates. By using an Overlay Unit, one monster you control returns to your hand." One of the yellow orbs was absorbed into the chest symbol, spreading a glow from the symbol into the cape. Pleiades grabbed hold of his cape, pulled it in front of him, then swiped it hard, sending out a gust of glistening wind that blew across Leedabyss, turning him into light and sending it back to Rio's hand.
Pleiades: 1 Overlay Unit
"I'm not done. To Xyz Summon this monster, I can use Pleiades as the only material." Pleiades suddenly turned fully yellow before shooting into the air, the details of his cape remaining visible in that form. "Xyz Change…!" A blue spiral portal opened in the ground, and the minute Pleiades entered, pillars of light shone from the portal as another new form emerged. "Descend… the ultimate creation of the cosmic defenders!" This creature had a vaguely dragonic look, but one look at it showed it was not organic: It was mechanized, sporting two large wings that appeared to have starry skies for webbing. "Sacred Ptolemys… Messier 7!" The eyes on the creature flashed to life as it let out a powerful noise, two yellow orbs circling it.
Sacred Ptolemys Messier 7: Rank 6 LIGHT Machine/Xyz ATK:2700/DEF:2000 2 Overlay Units
"Xyz Change?!" Rio cried.
"Sacred Ptolemys, attack Mermail Dinichabyss!" Jenaveve ordered. Crossing its wings, the mechanical dragon lowered its neck as a glow traveled up its length, eventually settling right where the back of its mouth would be. With a quick unfurl of its wings, Ptolemys roared and unleashed a breath of pure starlight that bombarded Dinichabyss, making it hiss before it was completely swallowed by the glowing assault.
Rio LP:3000
"I Set one card… Turn end." Jen said as her facedown materialized.
"It's gotta be building to something." Rio said. "Ariel!"
"R-Right! Atashi no turn! Draw!" Ariel drew her card… or rather cards, as she clearly drew two.
"What…?" Jen growled.
"If Aquarius Sorceress is in my Graveyard, I can draw 2 cards each Draw Phase if I want to. I can't Summon that many things if I do… but I already know what I'm Summoning. But first, I activate Sapphire Selkie's effect!" Selkie absorbed her other Overlay Unit before flashing the images of Dinichabyss, Gishki Dancer, and Sacred Scheat, sending all three cards back to the Decks before letting Ariel draw her card.
Sapphire Selkie: 0 Overlay Units
"Ritual Magic, Gishki Exomirror, activate!" A Gishki mirror emerged from the card, having a black, creepier edge around it, though the glass looked no different. "This card lets me release Sapphire Selkie to Ritual Summon a Gishki monster whose Level is double its Rank or lower!" The mirror slowly grew larger and larger, Selkie giving a send-off gesture before swimming back and into the mirror, making the glass ripple like water. "The offering has been made! Let the Ritual commence!" The mirror began to rumble, and then the glass slowly began to turn black… and a portal was torn open where the glass was. "The Ritual is now complete! Behold the product of the sacrifice! Ritual Summon!" Slowly, a large aquatic head with a large purple fin crest emerged from the portal, followed by two hands with red-tipped webbed hands that grabbed a firm hold of the mirror's edge. "I Summon thee… Evigishki Soul Ogre!" The hands pulled the rest of the creature's black body with gold scales out of the portal, large feet stomping heavily as its tail slammed the ground, the mirror present on its chest glowing red. Standing up straight, it crossed its arms and gave a sickening smile.
Evigishki Soul Ogre: Lv.8 WATER Aqua/Ritual ATK:2800/DEF:2800
"Soul Ogre's effect activates! By discarding a Gishki monster from my hand, I can send Sacred Ptolemys back to your Deck!" As Ariel discarded her card, Soul Ogre's mirror glowed before sending out a blue beam that struck Ptolemys. The mechanical dragon screeched in pain before curling itself up in its wings, vanishing in a burst of starlight.
"Curse you…" Jen said, coughing a bit. 'I'm going to need a lozenge after this.' "Trap, activate… Xyz Reborn. This card allows me to revive Sacred Pleiades from my Graveyard and grant this card to it as an Overlay Unit." The Trap created a purple portal that Pleiades leapt out of, then the card morphed into a yellow Overlay Unit and began orbiting it.
Sacred Pleiades ATK:2500 1 Overlay Unit
Ariel groaned. "Damn it … That effect can work on either turn…" She clenched her fist, struggling to decide what to do. Rio watched her intently, waiting to see if anything would happen. Ariel's head was lowered, preventing Rio from seeing a small red flicker in her eyes that simply faded without issue as Ariel took cards. "I Set one card." A facedown Spell or Trap Card appeared on her field. "T-Turn end." Jenaveve merely blew a bit of air out of her nose.
Rio narrowed her eyes, sensing something wasn't right. "Watashi no turn. Draw." She drew her card. "I Summon Mermail – Abysspike!" Emerging from water was a muscular blonde-haired merman with a gray tail and a lance equipped to his back.
Mermail – Abysspike: Lv.4 WATER Fish ATK:1600/DEF:800
"Abysspike's effect activates! By discarding a WATER monster, I can add a Level 3 WATER monster from my Deck to my hand." Abysspike dove under the "water" of the ground as Rio discarded her card, emerging with another card attached to his lance, which Rio took and added to her hand. "However, because I discarded Mermail – Abysshilde, I can Special Summon Mermail – Abyssmander from my hand!" The image of a cute pink-tailed mermaid girl with a long orange braid appeared and blew a kiss, forming a heart-shaped bubble that grew until it popped. When it did, in the bubble's place was a stockier, yet still well-built merman with brown armor to match his flatter tail. He looked rather bored, with his hand on his chin.
Mermail – Abyssmander: Lv.4 WATER Fish ATK:100/DEF:2000
"Level 4 Abysspike and Abyssmander, Overlay!" Both of Rio's monsters flexed their muscles before turning fully blue and shooting into the air. "With these two monsters, I build the Overlay Network!" Both her monsters flew into the Xyz Summon portal, which gave off a burst of energy. "Xyz Summon! Come forth, Mermail – Abyssriton!" The sound of water splashing wildly was heard: Something was rapidly crossing the waves. Though no horses were pulling it, an ornate green and gold chariot was tearing through the water at great speed, ridden by a merman with the moss green tail of a seahorse. His golden armor gleamed and blue hair shook from his travel, but his yellow eyes held a determined stare. Abysstrion grabbed hold of reins attached to his chariot and pulled hard, causing whatever force was driving the vehicle to let up, bringing the seafaring craft to a stop, letting him survey his opponents while his Overlay Units circled him.
Mermail – Abyssriton: Rank 4 WATER Fish/Xyz ATK:2200/DEF:2200 2 Overlay Units
"When Abyssriton is Xyz Summoned, I can add a Level 3 or 4 WATER monster from my Deck to my hand." Abyssriton pulled out a conch shell and blew into it, allowing Rio to add her monster. Looking over her hand, she scowled. 'I can't make use of these. Time to refresh.' "Magic Card, Moray of Greed, activate!" She showed her hand: An Atlantean and a Mermail. "I shuffle two WATER monsters in my hand into the Deck and draw 3 cards." One quick shuffle later, three new cards were in Rio's hand. "Better. But I should mention that for every card in my hand, Abyssriton gains 200 Attack Points."
Abyssriton ATK:2800
Jen seethed. "Mermail – Abyssriton, attack Sacred Pleiades!" Rio ordered. Abyssriton harshly cracked his chariot's reins with a yell, making the wheels spin and carry him across the field toward his target.
"Pleiades's effect activates…! By using an Overlay Unit, Mermail – Abyssriton is returned to your hand!" Pleiades absorbed his lone unit before kicking up another glowing wind with his cape, bombarding Abyssriton and causing him to glow and dissipate.
Pleaides: 0 Overlay Units
"Hmph. That worked better than I thought it would." Rio mused, making Jen raise her eyebrow. "Without that Overlay Unit, you can't get rid of Soul Ogre, and I know you had planned on doing that. I might not be able to destroy Pleiades with Gishilnodon, but derailing your plans is good enough… for now. I Set one card. Turn end."
"Watashi no turn… Draw." Jenaveve drew her card, narrowing her eyes. "I Summon Sacred Pollux." Emerging with a backflip was a Sacred monster with an odd style of armor: While the right side had the detail one would expect with plenty of spikes, the left side looked blank white aside from a hip plate made out of the symbol. He drew a sword with two blades attached to the hilt from his back.
Sacred Pollux: Lv.4 LIGHT Warrior ATK:1700/DEF:600
"When Sacred Pollux is Normal Summon, I can Normal Summon another Sacred monster. I choose Sacred Dabaran." Pollux pointed his sword at a zone, and on it, a new monster emerged as a muscular Sacred with a helmet sporting bull horns, wielding a large chakram made of red light.
Sacred Dabaran: Lv.3 LIGHT Beast-Warrior ATK:1300/DEF:800
"When Dabaran is Normal Summoned, I can Special Summon a Level 3 Sacred monster from my hand. Sacred Sheratan, Special Summon!" The small ram-helmeted warrior emerged beside its bulkier comrade.
Sacred Sheratan: Lv.3 ATK:700
"Level 3 Sacred Dabaran and Sheratan… Overlay!" Her two monsters crossed their arms before turning fully yellow and shooting into the air. "With these two monsters, I build the Overlay Network. Xyz Summon!" Both her monsters flew into the red portal, causing starlight to erupt from its center, which came together to make a tall humanoid form clad in the same silver armor, the helmet resembling a crown and the shoulder pads being quite bulky. "Descend, Sacred Mercer!" A shooting star fell out of the sky, which the warrior caught mid-flight and clenched, destroying the physical object and surrounding his hand in light. Swishing his green-tinted segmented cape, the warrior swung his arm around before slamming the mass of light around his hand on the ground, solidifying it into the form of a giant shield with the Xyz Sacred symbol emblazoned on it.
Sacred Mercer: Rank 3 LIGHT Warrior/Xyz ATK:500/DEF:2400 2 Overlay Units
"The heck? Why such low Attack Points?" Rio wondered.
"I don't know what you're up to, but I won't let you do it!" Ariel cried. "Trap, activate! Ritual Surge! This lets me use Evigishki Soul Ogre's effect on your turn!" She held up Gishki Beast. "I discard Gishki Beast to send Mercer back to your Extra Deck!" Soul Ogre grinned as its mirror glowed blue, firing another beam toward it.
"…All you did was speed up your defeat…" Jenaveve said, making Ariel "Eh?" in response. "Sacred Mercer's effect activates." Mercer absorbed one of his Units through his shield before holding it out, letting the beam impact it. "By using an Overlay Unit when a card effect would remove it from the field… I can reflect the effect to your own card. Scutum Reflection…!" As he held back the beam effortlessly, Mercer caused the shield to slowly change its sheen, ironically making it look mirror-like. Then he shoved his shield forward, sending the beam back where it came from and striking Soul Ogre right through its mirror, causing her to vanish from sight.
Sacred Mercer: 1 Overlay Unit
Ariel stood there, shaking as she stared down Jenaveve's monsters. She didn't have enough Life Points to survive both of their attacks, and as she glanced down at her facedown, she realized it wouldn't be able to deflect the damage. "N… No…" She muttered. "Why… Why is this happening?!" She covered her face and started crying.
Rio and Jen both watched, seemingly waiting for something to happen. The stress had clearly gotten to her in this Duel… but nothing happened. The few times Rio saw her eyes, there were no red flashes, and nothing strange occurred regarding her cards. Jenaveve was already mentally kicking herself for going along with this, but this sight finally convinced her that this little act had gone on far enough. The pink-haired girl shot a look at Rio that said only one thing: "I can't keep doing this." It took no time at all for Rio, who also looked like she was regretting this, to nod in confirmation. Next thing Ariel knew, she felt a pair of arms wrap around her from the side and secure tightly, making her gaze go rigid. "Shhh… Calm down… Please calm down, Ariel-chan…" She heard Jenaveve say to her, her voice as soft and kind as she remembered. Slowly turning her head, she saw her looking at her with a sad look, no trace of evil in her eyes.
"J-Jenaveve-san…?" She breathed.
Jenaveve let out a tense breath. "…I'm sorry, Ariel-chan. I'm so sorry I did that to you."
"W… What do you-"
"It was my idea." Rio interrupted, looking away with shame. "I told her to act that way to try and stress you out. It was a stupid idea. I'm the one who should be sorry."
"Yes, you should… but so should I for going along with it." Jen said. Ariel looked back and forth between them, completely confused.
"I… Eh… Wha…" She could barely form words. "…Why?"
Rio brought herself to look at Ariel. "I wanted to see if what happened to you that day would happen again if you were stressed. That was how Akiza first manifested her powers. I figured if we backed you into a corner… something might happen."
Ariel sniffled and looked at Jenaveve. "So… you weren't… taken over?"
Jenaveve shook her head. "No. I only pretended to be. And I didn't like doing it at all, both because I was stressing you out and because it wasn't easy for me to growl that much." She coughed a couple times to prove it.
"Yeah, hopefully you'll be all right after that." Rio said.
"I should be." Jenaveve looked back to Ariel. "What about you, Ariel-chan? Are you going to be OK?"
"I… I don't know…" Ariel managed to say. "I'm g-glad you're OK, Jen-san, b-but…" She stopped to try and catch her breath, exhaling shakily.
Rio tried to think of something to say that wouldn't make her nerves even worse. The only thing she could think of came when she mentally looked back over the Duel. "Look on the bright side." She said, trying to put on a soft smile. "Nothing happened." Ariel looked confused, so Rio continued speaking. "Despite how stressed you got, you didn't make any cards come to life or anything. Take off your Gazer and look." Ariel slowly reached her hand up, removing her D-Gazer. All of the Duel visuals completely vanished before her, leaving her in a completely normal reality. Some of the patrons in the mall were watching the Duel, but none of them seemed to be reacting to anything out of the ordinary. "See? No damage, no chaos, just a normal day."
Ariel blinked, looking around the mall as she started calming down. She felt relief wash over her. "Y... You're right..."
"So, all things considered, it looks like it worked out." Jen told her. "Whatever this is that's happening, it looks like you have more control over it than you think."
Ariel couldn't help but express her relief with a small laugh. "I guess you're right. Still, that was kinda mean, Rio-san."
"Yeah, I know." Rio replied with a resigned tone, sweatdropping.
However, their attention was caught by the sound of a small motor, looking to see a mall security officer rolling up to them on a segway. "I could hear the commotion and came over to see your little friend crying. Is everything alright over here?" He asked in a stern, but not hostile tone.
Jenaveve felt nervous at being approached by security, gulping. "Uh, y-yes sir." She said. "We were just having a Duel, and we stressed our friend out, unfortunately."
The officer looked at Ariel, who gave a nod in confirmed. "I wondered what was up. Some other patrons happened to be watching and thought things were a little too...intense for a public Duel."
Rio scratched the back of her head. "Sorry, officer. We didn't mean for it to get that rough."
He seemed to accept what Rio was saying, nodding. "Well, as long as nothing too serious is going on. Just be mindful of the people around you next time. Have a nice day, ladies." He then turned his segway and wheeled away, responding to the garbled speech coming from his walkie.
The girls sighed, glad they weren't in trouble. "I don't know about you two… but I think it'd be best to end the Duel here, no?" Jenaveve asked.
"Sounds good to me." Ariel replied. "I wasn't going to make it past this turn, anyway."
"Alright." Rio said, disengaging her Duel Disk. The Augmented Reality slowly faded away as the other two did the same. A few patrons groaned in disappointment at the Duel ending prematurely, but ultimately what little crowd there was started to lose interest and get on with their day.
"Jen-san? Rio-san?" Ariel asked, getting their attention. She gave them a smile. "Thank you for today."
"No problem, Ariel." Rio told her. "We do what we can for our friends."
"Even if I had to nearly lose my voice to do it, Rio-chan." Jen said, directing a playful sternness at Rio that made her laugh sheepishly. That didn't last long, however, as she quickly changed the topic. "I think there's a sale going on somewhere in the western sector. Let's go check it out." Jenaveve suggested. Both WATER Duelists nodded, leaving the plaza to continue their day.
Unknown to them, though, right next to where Ariel's head used to be, something had been lodged in the column right after they left: A 4 of Diamonds card, one of its corners having slightly pierced the stone. A few feet away, a small palm tree used as decoration for the plaza seemed normal… until a slash mark went across one of its leaves, half of it falling to the ground. "As I figured. I could've made that shot." A voice said as a hand pulled back from a stretched-out position, the male figure's other hand rapidly shifting another playing card between his fingers. The figure reached into a pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. Names, dates, and what appeared to be events were listed on them… with Ariel's name about halfway down the list. "Sometimes I feel like I'm too much of a stickler for my schedule." He stopped juggling his card in order to roll the paper back up, putting it back in his pocket before walking in the opposite direction of the girls. "You get to walk away for now. But when I get to you… I'll make things quick."
Author-Made Cards
Gishki Mermaid
Level 4 WATER Fish
ATK:800/DEF:1300
Rest of Effects Unconfirmed A "Gishki" monster that was Ritual or Xyz Summoned using this card on the field gains this effect.
● If it is Special Summoned: Draw 1 card.
Sea Emperor's Skirmisher (TCG: Atlantean Skirmisher)
Level 3 WATER Sea Serpent
ATK:1500/DEF:400
Rest of Effects Unconfirmed When this card is sent to the Graveyard to activate a WATER monster's effect: You can Special Summon this card.
Gishki Dancer (Red243)
Level 3 WATER Warrior
ATK:1200/DEF:800
If this card is Normal Summoned, you can: Immediately after this effect resolves, Normal Summon 1 "Gishki" monster. This card can be treated as a Level 4 monster when used for an Xyz Summon. A "Gishki" monster that was Ritual or Xyz Summoned using this card on the field gains this effect.
● Cards cannot be added from the Main Deck to your opponent's hand, except by drawing them.
Gishki Sword
Level 4 WATER Fish
ATK:1800/DEF:400
Rest of Effects Unconfirmed A "Gishki" monster that was Ritual or Xyz Summoned using this card on the field gains this effect.
● If it is Special Summoned: It gains 1000 ATK.
Aquarius Sorceress
Level 6 WATER Aqua/Ritual
ATK:2200/DEF:1300
You can Ritual Summon this card with "Aquis Novena". If this card would be destroyed by battle: You can banish 1 WATER monster from your Graveyard instead. During your Draw Phase, if this card is in your Graveyard: You can draw 2 cards instead of 1 for your normal draw, but you cannot Special Summon monsters this turn, except WATER monsters from your hand or Main Deck. You can only use this effect of "Aquarius Sorceress" once per turn. (TCG/OCG: This effect only works on the Draw Phase after being sent to the Graveyard rather than being able to work anytime.)
Evigishki Sapphire Selkie (Red243)
Rank 4 WATER Aqua/Xyz
ATK:2400/DEF:1800
2 Level 4 "Gishki" monsters
Once per turn: You can detach 1 material from this card, then target up to 3 cards in the GYs; shuffle all 3 into the Deck, then draw 1 card. If this card is destroyed by an opponent's card and sent to the Graveyard: You can target 1 "Gishki" Ritual Monster or 1 "Gishki" Ritual Spell in your GY; add it to your hand.
Mermail Abyssriton
Rank 4 WATER Fish/Xyz
ATK:2200/DEF:2200
2 Level 4 WATER monsters
When this card is Xyz Summoned: You can add 1 Level 3 or 4 WATER monster from your Deck to your hand. Gains 200 ATK for each card in your hand. Once per turn: You can detach 1 material from this card; discard 1 card, then Special Summon 1 "Mermail" monster from your Deck.
Sacred Mercer (TCG: Constellar Mercer)
Rank 3 LIGHT Warrior/Xyz
ATK:500/DEF:2400
2 Level 3 monsters
If this card (and no other cards) would be removed from the field by a card effect: You can detach 1 material from this card and target 1 appropriate card your opponent controls; that card is removed by your opponent's effect instead.
Aquis Novena
Ritual Spell Card
This card can be used to Ritual Summon any WATER Ritual Monster. You must also Tribute monsters from your hand or field whose total Levels exactly equal the Level of the Ritual Monster you Ritual Summon.
Sacred Starlight (TCG: Constellar Starlight)
Normal Spell Card
Special Summon 1 "Constellar" monster from your Deck. You can only activate 1 "Sacred Starlight" per turn.
Gishki Exomirror (XBrain130)
Ritual Spell Card
This card can be used to Ritual Summon any "Gishki" Ritual Monster. You must also Tribute Xyz Monsters from your field and/or banish Xyz Monsters from your GY, whose total Ranks equal or exceed half the Level of the Ritual Monster you Ritual Summon. Rest of Effects Unconfirmed
Reflective Refraction
Normal Trap Card
If you take battle damage from a direct attack: Special Summon 1 LIGHT monster from your Deck with ATK or DEF equal to or less than the damage you took, and if you do, inflict damage to your opponent equal to that monster's ATK or DEF, whichever is lower.
Ritual Surge
Normal Trap Card
Target 1 Ritual Monster you control; this turn, you can activate that card's effects as Quick Effects, but you cannot activate other monster's effects for the rest of this turn.
Vile: *sighs* It always feels good to get something out again. I decided to scale back my use of romaji this time to see what it felt like. It didn't feel that much different, but IDK what y'all will think. If you guys liked this chapter, leave a review for me, and I'll see you all when my next upload happens. Ja ne for now!
Computer Voice: Vile, logging out.
