Tabane dragged me through the streets of District 20, showing me around to various shops. Mostly, shops with machine parts that she was fantasizing about using on her Duel Runner- excitedly telling me her plans to save up and buy them to improve Violet Sky.
Tabane, at her core, was an engineer. Dueling was secondary as a focus for her, similar to Yusei. While Tabane did enjoy dueling, for her it was more a means to an end rather than the ending she sought. If she had the money to work on her machines all day instead- than she would and completely ignore dueling.
Still, she had brought me to District 20 and taken me to the card shop, so I decided I'd indulge her little impromptu tour.
"So," I spoke as Tabane finally took a breath between her words, "Long story short, you want to make the ultimate Duel Runner?"
"Yep!" She grinned. "I knew you'd understand, Yu-chan~"
I tilted my head, tapping my chin, "So is Violet Sky a test run of sorts?"
"Yep! The prototype- I have big plans for the real thing! Haven't thought of a good name yet though..."
"What about Shirokishi?" I suggested casually.
Tabane blinked and then her eyes widened. It seemed that name strongly resonated with her as I noticed her violet eyes lighting up.
"Shirokishi... White Knight... I love it!" She hugged my face to her chest. "Amazing, Yu-chan~ That name is super-duper perfect~ I knew there was a reason I loved Yu-chan the most~"
[Affection 150 detected with Tabane Fudo. You have obtained Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend.]
Oh? That was a surprise, I was expecting Crystal Wing or maybe the Manga version of Stardust. Instead, I got the Arc-V version of Red Dragon Archfiend. Still, it was undoubtedly a good card and was going in my Extra Deck- though almost every Extra Deck card I got would be going in there since it didn't have a limit in this world.
Yes, in this world, the Extra Deck wasn't as restricted as it was in the real world. No '15 Card Extra Deck' Limit. You could have up to 3 of a card in the Extra Deck at a time, allowing for even greater versatility from Duelists.
Besides that, I was also surprised by how easy it was to raise Tabane's affection... I supposed showing basic care to her was enough to make her thrilled, let alone when I actively participated with her thought process and helped her.
As we walked through the streets, I heard a soft feminine voice called out, "U- Um, excuse me..."
Both Tabane and I stopped and turned around.
Standing there was a- frankly- stunning young woman around my age. Her hair was long and white, pulled back in a ponytail, her blue eyes glancing away from both Tabane and I. She looked extremely timid, but there was a silent resolve in her eyes. She wore a white dress with a black sash and white pantyhose underneath, fiddling with her DT nervously.
For some reason though, I felt she looked familiar.
"Can we help you?" I asked her.
"Y- Yes..." She nodded. "M- My name is Kisara... W- Would you please Duel with me?"
My eyes widened slightly, immediately understanding why she was familiar to me.
Kisara- the Duel Spirit residing within the Blue-Eyes White Dragon. The reason why Blue-Eyes White Dragon was also called the 'White Bride' in the fandom. Seto Kaiba's ancient wife, who endured for thousands of years to be with him.
But this Kisara wasn't a Duel Spirit this time, I was sure of that- she was a flesh and blood human. Was it possible for Duel Spirits to reincarnate...? Or was this just a coincidence?
"A Duel, huh..." I glanced at Tabane.
"Hmph..." She pouted, but she let go of my arm and stepped to the side.
I turned my attention back to Kisara, "Why me?" I asked her after a moment. I had no objections to Dueling, but why choose me? Usually, Duels were used to settle disputes or for fun, or to earn money. But clearly, based on her nice clothes, Kisara wasn't lacking money. We had no beef, so she definitely wasn't doing it out of anger.
She was also so timid, so I doubted she was challenging a stranger for fun.
"I- I just have a feeling that dueling you will be good for me," she told me quietly.
I contemplated only for a moment before I nodded, "Alright," I agreed as my DT transformed into Duel Disk Mode, sliding my deck into place.
"Th- thank you very much!" She bowed and then quickly activated her Duel Disk, sliding her own deck into place. "U- Um, this is my first time dueling another person... B- But don't go easy on me, okay?"
"I won't," I promised her.
She nodded and tapped her holographic screen and then blushed. "U- Um... H- How do I send a Duel request? I've never done this before, so..."
I just chuckled in amusement and gave her quick instructions on how to do so.
Duelist Kisara requests a Duel.
Wager: 1,000 Lumins.
Do you accept?
I tapped yes silently, drawing five cards from my Deck. "Well then... Duel!"
"D- Duel!" She called out after, quickly.
Kisara LP: 4000
Yukio LP: 4000
"I- I'll start!" Kisara drew a card. "D- Draw!" She looked down at her hand. "U- Um... I start my turn by summoning Lord of D.!" She placed the card on the field, revealing a card that was rather infamous among Kaiba's cards.
Lord of D.
Level 4 | DARK | Spellcaster | Effect | ATK 1200 | DEF 1100
"Th- then I activate a Spell Card- Flute of Summoning Dragons!" She revealed the card as she activated it, a golden dragon headed flute appearing in Lord of D.'s hand. "W- While I control Lord of D., I can use this card to Special Summon 2 Dragon-Type Monsters from my hand!"
Lord of D. blew into the flute, causing the sound to echo through the alleyway- the roars of dragons echoing in the distance.
"I- I Special summon Hyozanryu a- and my ace monster!" Her eyes lit up with visible excitement as she spoke that last word. "Appear now, my Soul! Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
Tabane's eyes widened. "WHAT!?"
Two monsters manifested on the field to the flute's call. The first was a sleek light and light blue dragon with orange scales along its chest, a horn protruding out of its head- looking as if it were made from diamonds.
Hyozanryu
Level 7 | LIGHT | Dragon | Normal | ATK 2100 | DEF 2800
But the other monster was a creature of legend.
Majestic white scales the glittered in the slight, with fierce glowing blue eyes that shone with power. Its body sleek and noble as it roared loudly, manifesting in a duel for the first time in years to once again display its dominance and power.
Blue-Eyes White Dragon
Level 8 | LIGHT | Dragon | Normal | ATK 3000 | DEF 2500
Despite myself, I couldn't help but swallow...
Blue-Eyes White Dragon. A card of which only four were ever printed, and all of them fell into the hands of Seto Kaiba- with one even being destroyed so that it would never be used against him.
To see it in person... It was majestic, there was no other word for it.
"Blue-Eyes...?" Tabane questioned, her eyes sharpening as she looked at Kisara with a more assessing gaze.
Before, Tabane had written of Kisara as just a shy girl who was trying to build up some courage- maybe having some good money since she saw how nice those clothes were.
But now?
She understood- Kisara wasn't an ordinary girl. More than likely, she had some relationship with Kaiba Corp... Perhaps the Heiress?
But if she were then Tabane would have certainly known, she did keep up with Kaiba Corp after all.
Was it possible that Kisara was a bastard child who somehow got her hands on Blue-Eyes...?
Kisara, meanwhile, was ignorant to Tabane's look as she stared with pure joy at Blue-Eyes. "I- I finally summoned Blue-Eyes in a duel," she said happily. "I- I set one card face-down and end my turn."
I watched Kisara carefully, but she wasn't looking at me at all. Her eyes were only on Blue-Eyes.
I felt a momentary stab of guilt... She really was just a beginner at this game, someone who genuinely just loved Blue-Eyes White Dragon and wanted to play with it in her duels.
Alas... She had chosen me as her first opponent, and so her fate could only be one thing...
Reverse.
"Draw," I looked down at my hand, falling silent for a moment, before my eyes hardened. "I Special Summon Jester Confit from my hand," I declared, causing the jester-like monster to manifest with a grin.
Jester Confit
Level 1 | DARK | Spellcaster | Effect | ATK 0 | DEF 0
"This card can be special summoned from my hand in attack position. Next, I'll tribute Jester Confit..." I revealed a card to her. "And Special Summon my Silent Magician in Defence Mode!"
Alice manifested in the field in her black witch outfit, reluctantly taking a knee and pouting at the sight of Blue-Eyes looming over her.
"Then I'll set one monster and set two cards face-down. Turn End."
"It's my turn then," Kisara pulled a card free. "Draw!" Her eyes lit up happily.
"I'll activate a Spell Card - Graceful Charity! I draw 3 cards and then discard two!"
"I'll chain Silent Magician's effect," I told her. "Once per turn, when a Spell is activated, I can negate the activation. Therefore, your Graceful Charity is negated."
She pouted softly as her card failed. "Then let's battle! Hyozanryu attacks Silent Magician! Diamond Breath!"
Neither Alice nor I reacted as Hyozanryu unleashed glimmering white breath that tore her body apart. As she was destroyed, she smirked slowly...
When the white breath faded, a mysterious black ring that pulsated with red energy was left in her place.
"What is that...?" Kisara tilted her head.
Tabane, on the other hand, felt a shudder run down her spine and her arm pulsed with pain- making her grab it.
'What is that...? Why is this birthmark pulsing...? What is... This feeling of dread...!?'
"When Silent Magician is destroyed, I can Special Summon another "Silent Magician" monster except her from my hand or Deck..." Crimson energy began to pour out of my Deck. "Please don't blame me... After all, you opened this Gate with your own two hands."
The black ring slowly rose up into the air, pulsating as wicked laughter began to echo as I tugged a card free from my Deck.
Inexplicably, as I held that card in my hand, I hear them- voices coming from my Deck. I could witness visions that I had no way of describing- but only for a moment.
"Mad Witch, corrupted by the forbidden arts," I lifted the card, "Become the Vanguard of Despair, and drown the world in Silence!"
"Descend! Silent Magician "Яeverse"!!"
Out of the Ring- the Gateway- emerged Alice... She wore a black dress extremely similar to her 'good' counterpart. Her hat was discarded, with black sclera and crimson eyes as she held a pair of staves- one black, one red- with crimson and black rings around them. The gateway sealed shut behind her, floating behind her body as a black and crimson ring... Proof of her status.
Silent Magician "Яeverse"
Level 9 | DARK | Spellcaster/Cyberse | Effect | ATK 3800 | DEF 3000
Kisara stared in shock and swallowed. "Яeverse...?"
Tabane held her arm and stared in shock, horror... And fascination.
Kisara took a deep breath. "B- Blue-Eyes attacks your set monster! Burst Stream of Destruction!"
I just smirked as the card flipped up, revealing a youth in purple clothes who was destroyed. "Apprentice Magician's effect. When destroyed by battle, I can set a Level 2 or lower Spellcaster monster from my Deck to the field," I pulled a card free and set it down. "I choose a second Apprentice Magician."
"Turn End," Kisara took a deep breath, unable to take her eyes off of Silent Magician "Яeverse". It let off a terrifying power... And yet, for some reason, she couldn't help but feel drawn to that power.
'If my Blue-Eyes had that power... How strong would it become...?' She thought to herself.
"Draw," I pulled a card free. "Silent Magician "Яeverse" activates her effect! I... Lock!"
"Lock??" Kisara questioned.
"Lock..." Tabane murmured. "What is..." She fell silent as one of my set cards began to tremble.
Black and crimson rings enveloped it, shrinking down the card to its true size on the holographic field- enveloped in a black field of energy surrounded by the rings.
"Wh- what happened to your set card?" Kisara questioned.
"I locked it," I smirked. "Locked Cards... Don't exist on the field. They have no name, no effect, cannot be activated, cannot be removed from the field... They are sealed away in a state of non-existence. And if you only control locked cards in your monster zones, you can be attacked directly. That is the power of Яeverse... Lock..."
"Now that a card on my field has been Locked, Silent Magician's effect. During this turn, you cannot activate Spell or Trap Cards during the Battle Phase..." I grabbed a card from my hand. "If there is a Locked Card on the field, I can Special Summon Star-Vader, Ruin Magician from my hand!"
A young woman manifested on the field, clad in cybernetic armor with crimson and black rings- just like Alice's around her arms with a crimson horn protruding out of her forehead.
Star-Vader, Ruin Magician
Level 4 | DARK | Cyberse | Effect | ATK 1400 | DEF 1000
Tabane checked her terminal to look at my card's effects, and her eyes widened. "Cyberse...? A new type...?" She looked at me. "Yu-chan... What is all this...?"
I smirked slowly... During my walk with Tabane, I had messed around a bit with the System to obtain a couple more cards thanks to obtaining more VE from affection. One of the cards I'd obtained was Ruin Magician, a perfect fit alongside Silent Magician "Яeverse".
"Ruin Magician's effect. When she's summoned, if I control another "Star-Vader" monster or a monster with "Яeverse" in its name and there is a locked card on the field, I can target one card on your field and lock it!" I pointed. "I lock... Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
Kisara's eyes widened and the rings surrounded Blue-Eyes, who visibly struggled. "No, Blue-Eyes!" She cried out.
Blue-Eyes roared before it was shrunk into its card form, trapped in the void space and guarded by the crimson rings.
"Silent Magician "Яeverse" activates her effect too," I told her. "When you have a Locked Zone, I can destroy 1 monster on your field and inflict half of its ATK to you as damage! Of course, I target the only monster left on your field- Hyozanryu!"
Alice grinned wickedly and lifted one of her staves, a black ring floating above it, before it was sent hurtling at Hyozanryu- bisecting the diamond dragon in two before it exploded, destroyed.
Kisara LP: 4000 --- 3050
"Battle Phase," I pointed at Kisara. "I attack you directly with Silent Magician "Яeverse"!"
Alice floated up into the air, lifting both staves above her head as ebony flames gathered above them, enveloped by a spinning black ring.
"Silent Burning Яeverse!"
Kisara covered her head and yelled as the flames descended on her, shrouding her form in black fire and obscuring her from view. Her trap card lay helpless on the field, unable to do a thing as she was defeated.
Kisara LP: 3050 --- 0
Yukio Wins!
I took a deep breath and ran a hand through my hair, my account pinging with the new funds as the black flames faded from view. Kisara's head was bowed low, looking at the ground.
Silence reigned through the alleyway, even Tabane was looking at me with shock in her eyes and... Something I couldn't identify.
For a moment, I was concerned... Until...
[You have defeated Kisara! You obtain 10,000 VE!]
[You have defeated a "Named" Character! Shop Function Unlocked!]
[Kisara's Affection Increasing...]
[Kisara has reached 100 Affection! You have obtained 10,000 VE and 1 "Random Blue-Eyes" Ticket!]
I felt my body relax as I saw Kisara was properly Reversed, now loyal to me...
[Kisara has reached 150 Affection! You have obtained 15,000 VE and the Duel Spirit "White Stone of Legend!"]
My eyes widened in shock.
150? Why was it still increasing? How high would it go??
[Kisara has reached 200 Affection! Booster Pack "True Light" now available in Shop! You have obtained 25,000 VE and 1 "Blue-Eyes Selection" Ticket!]
My eyes locked onto Kisara, who slowly lifted her head.
For a brief moment, I saw that her pupils had become a pair of sideways 8s in crimson red... Ouroboros, the Symbol of Infinity.
"That was a really fun duel!" She told me, her eyes returning to normal as she ran up to me happily- practically glowing. "Can I get your number?? I'd love to Duel again some time!"
I swallowed hard and glanced at Tabane, who looked utterly dumbfounded.
I turned back to Kisara, who was looking at me with sparkling eyes and obvious expectations...
It seemed... Kisara had more in common with Kaiba than I first thought...
Namely an obsession with the first person to defeat them in a Duel.
***
Silent Magician "Яeverse"
Level 9 | DARK | Spellcaster/Cyberse | Effect | ATK 3800 | DEF 3000
You may Special Summon this card (from your hand) by banishing 1 "Silent Magician" monster from your Field or Graveyard. Once per turn, you may Lock one Spell or Trap Card on your Field. Until the End Phase, your opponent cannot activate Spell or Trap Cards during the Battle Phase. If your opponent has a Locked Zone, you may target 1 monster they control; destroy it, and if you do, deal damage to your opponent equal to half of that destroyed monster's ATK.
Star-Vader, Ruin Magician
Level 4 | DARK | Cyberse | Effect | ATK 1400 | DEF 1000
If there is a Locked Card on the field, you may Special Summon this card from your hand. You may only Special Summon 1 "Star-Vader, Ruin Magician" per turn this way. When this card is summoned, if you control another "Star-Vader" monster except "Star-Vader, Ruin Magician", or a monster with "Яeverse" in its name, and there is a Locked card on the field; Lock 1 card your opponent controls. You may only the effect of "Star-Vader, Ruin Magician" once per turn.
Keyword - Lock
Lock is a state similar to making an opponent unable to use a Monster or Spell/Trap Zone (I.E cards like Ojama King and Gravity Collapse). Locked Zones are treated in a state of non-existence. Cards cannot be activated in those zones, nor set. If a card is present in a lock zone, that card cannot be activated, cannot be removed from the field, and is treated as having no name or effect. It cannot be targeted by card effects (unless stated in card text, I.E 'Target 1 locked card' or 'Target 1 Locked Zone'). Monsters on Locked zones cannot change their battle positions, cannot be targeted for attacks, cannot attack, and cannot be used as Tribute, Ritual, Fusion, Synchro, or Xyz Material.
Locked cards are treated in a state of non-existence, and thus do not count towards the total number of cards on the opponent's field when resolving card effects (I.E, you activate Evenly Matched and the opponent controls 3 normal cards and 1 Locked card. The opponent will send two normal cards to the Graveyard, and Evenly Matched will be considered resolved. One normal card and the Locked Card will remain on the field.)
Locked Cards will be unlocked at the end of the owner's turn.