“…Kyle Penn and Reese Miller!”
Reese gasped at the news, but his surprise turned into a pleasant smile. He’d finally get to face his arch-nemesis and avenge what he did to him and his sister. He eagerly walked up the stage, but was stopped by Alex.
“Reese,” he shouted.
“You need to make this quick,” Reese responded. “The sixty second rule still applies here.”
“I know that, but you need to be careful. I know that you have a Stone of Equus monster with you now, and I don’t know how powerful he was when you last saw him, but you need to be careful around Kyle. Something tells me he’s not nearly the same duelist that you knew from years ago.”
“I second that,” said Reese. He made his way to the stage at last.
“Good luck,” whispered Alex.
“And both competitors are on the stage!” cried the announcer. “How will this duel pan out? Let’s see…”
Kyle was already awaiting Reese when the latter stepped onto the stage.
“Long time no see Reese,” greeted Kyle coldly. “It’s been, what? Five years now?”
“Too long in my opinion,” seethed Reese.
“Likewise.”
“You may have beaten me those long years ago and then ran away with your tail between your legs, but I’m not the same duelist that you last knew.”
“You’re right. Now you’re getting defeated by fluffy pink ponies.”
“SHUT UP!” barked Reese. “You know damned well what I could do to you now!”
“Once again Reese, you hit the nail on the head. Which is why I have a Stone of Equus monster: to defeat yours and take it from you, like I did Claude’s.”
“Bastard…” Reese growled.
“Calm down, Reese. I remember our days at the academy well, and it seems your dueling faltered the most when you lost your temper.”
“Stop! I’ve heard enough of your nonsense. If you still think you have what it takes to defeat me, then do it with your dueling, not your mouth.”
“Fine then.”
Reese already had constructed his D-Pad prior to coming onstage, so all he had to do was unsheathe his D-Pad. Kyle’s forearm lit on fire, the blaze turning into his duel disk shortly after. Emma was with her other friends, praying silently for Reese’s safety. Both duelists drew five cards from their decks.
“DUEL!” they yelled.
Reese vs. Kyle
Reese’s Turn: Reese activates the field spell Zombie World, making all monsters on the field and in the graveyard Zombie-type monsters. He then activates Field Barrier, preventing Zombie World from being removed or destroyed. Reese sets one monster.
Reese places two cards face down and ends his turn.
Status: Hand-1 Life-4000 Monsters-1 Face Down Cards-2
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“Zombie World,” commented Kyle. “This is a new one, I’ll admit.”
“Just a little help from my friends,” said Reese, looking at John in the crowd.
“Not even your friends will be able to protect you from me.”
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Kyle’s Turn: Kyle normal summons Laval Lancelord without tributes (ATK: 2200 DEF: 200).
Kyle attacks Reese’s face down monster, which is a Morphing Jar (ATK: 700 DEF: 600). When Morphing Jar is flipped face up, all players discard their hands and draw five cards from their decks.
Kyle activates Rekindling, special summoning as many FIRE attribute monsters with 200 DEF from his graveyard as possible, choosing Flamvell Grunika (ATK: 1700 DEF: 200), Flamvell Baby (ATK: 800 DEF: 200), and Laval Lakeside Lady (ATK: 200 DEF: 200). Kyle tunes Laval Lancelord with Flamvell Baby to synchro summon Laval Stennon (ATK: 2700 DEF: 1800). When Laval Stennon is synchro summoned, Kyle must discard one card. Kyle tunes Flamvell Grunika with Laval Lakeside Lady to synchro summon another Laval Stennon. Kyle discards another card.
Kyle overlays both Laval Stennons to xyz summon Olivine Dragon (ATK: 3000 DEF: 2500). Kyle activates the effect of Laval Lakeside Lady from his graveyard. When he has three Laval monsters with different names in his graveyard, he can banish Laval Lakeside Lady and another Laval monster in his graveyard (Laval Blaster) to destroy one set card that his opponent controls, choosing one of Reese’s face down cards.
Kyle places two cards face down and ends his turn.
Status: Hand-0 Life-4000 Monsters-1 Face Down Cards-2
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Kyle, thought Reese, I’ll never forgive you for what you’ve done to me. Now that you’re here though, I can finally have my revenge.
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Reese’s Turn: Reese activates his face down Graceful Revival, special summoning Morphing Jar from his graveyard. Reese then normal summons Bone Crusher (ATK: 1600 DEF: 200). Reese special summons Kasha from his hand, as he controls at least two Zombie-type monsters (ATK: ? DEF: 1000). When Kasha is special summoned, all other monsters on the field are shuffled into their owner’s decks. Kasha gains 1000 ATK for each Zombie-type monster shuffled into the deck this way (3 x 1000 = 3000, ATK: ? -> 3000). Reese then equips Kasha with Axe of Despair, increasing its ATK by 1000 (ATK: 3000 -> 4000).
Reese attacks Kyle directly with Kasha, but Kyle activates Soul Resurrection, special summoning a normal monster from his graveyard in defense position, choosing Flamvell Guard (ATK: 100 DEF: 2000). Next, Kyle activates Card of Last Will, drawing five cards when a monster he controls is destroyed by battle.
Reese places one card face down and ends his turn.
Status: Hand-2 Life-4000 Monsters-1 Face Down Cards-1
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“If you think you’re going to counter my monster that easily,” mocked Kyle, “then you’re no different than that crying little boy that I beat all those years ago.”
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Kyle’s Turn: Kyle activates Monster Reborn, special summoning Laval Stennon from his graveyard. Kyle then activates Xyz Plant, special summoning it as a monster with the same level as a monster he controls (7). Kyle overlays Laval Stennon and Xyz Plant to xyz summon Olivine Dragon. Next, Kyle activates Tailor of the Fickle, equipping Axe of Despair from Kasha onto Olivine Dragon (ATK: 4000 -> 3000) (ATK: 3000 -> 4000).
Kyle attacks Kasha with Olivine Dragon.
Reese’s Life Points: 4000 -> 3000
Reese activates his face down A Deal with Dark Ruler, special summoning Berserk Dragon from his deck when a level 8 or lower monster he controls is sent from the to the graveyard (ATK: 3500 DEF: 0).
Kyle sets one monster.
Kyle places two cards face down and ends his turn.
Status: Hand-0 Life-4000 Monsters-2 Face Down Cards-2
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Just like it had with his first duel with Alex, Reese felt real damage from the attack, and was slightly bruised and cut as a result.
“I didn’t want to rely on it,” said Reese, getting up from the attack, “but I guess it can’t be helped.”
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Reese’s Turn: Reese activates Graceful Charity, drawing three cards and discarding two. Reese activates the effect of Mezuki from his graveyard. By banishing it, Reese can special summon a Zombie-type monster from his graveyard, choosing Bone Crusher. When Bone Crusher is special summoned by the effect of a Zombie-type monster, Reese can destroy one spell or trap card on the field, choosing one of Kyle’s face down cards. Reese then normal summons Plaguespreader Zombie (ATK: 400 DEF: 200). Reese tunes Bone Crusher with Plaguespreader Zombie to synchro summon Doomkaiser Dragon (ATK: 2400 DEF: 1500).
When Doomkaiser Dragon is special summoned, Reese can special summon a Zombie-type monster from his opponent’s graveyard, choosing Kyle's other Laval Stennon. Reese activates Star Changer, increasing the level of Laval Stennon by one (Lvl.: 7 -> 8). Reese overlays Laval Stennon and Berserk Dragon to xyz summon Obsidian Imp (ATK: 2800 DEF: 2500). Reese equips Obsidian Imp with Xyz Unit, increasing its ATK by 200 times the monster’s rank (8 x 200 = 1600, ATK: 2800 -> 4400).
Reese attacks Olivine Dragon with Obsidian Imp.
Kyle’s Life Points: 4000 -> 3600
Reese then attacks Kyle’s face down card with Doomkaiser Dragon, which was Kyle’s own Morphing Jar, having Kyle and Reese discard their hand and draw five cards when it’s flip summoned.
Kyle activates Miracle’s Wake, special summoning Olivine Dragon from his graveyard, as it was destroyed this turn.
Reese places two cards face down and ends his turn.
Status: Hand-3 Life-3000 Monsters-2 Face Down Cards-2
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Kyle felt slightly battered from Reese’s attack, but with such minimal damage, it was easy to shrug off. That’s when Kyle looked at his newly replenished hand.
“This is going to be fun,” chortled Kyle.
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Kyle’s Turn: Kyle summons Laval Cannon (ATK: 1600 DEF: 900). When Laval Cannon is normal summoned, Reese can special summon a Laval monster from his banished zone, choosing Laval Blaster (ATK: 1200 DEF: 800). Kyle activates Double Summon, summoning Flamvell Firedog (ATK: 1900 DEF: 200). Kyle overlays Laval Cannon, Laval Blaster, and Flamvell Firedog to xyz summon Ruby Phoenix (ATK: 2600 DEF: 1800). Kyle activates Xyz Gift. When Kyle controls two or more xyz monsters, Kyle can detach two xyz materials from an xyz monster (Ruby Phoenix) he controls to draw two cards.
Kyle attacks Doomkaiser Dragon with Olivine Dragon, but Reese activates Defense Draw, negating the battle damage and drawing one card.
Kyle activates Plate Salvage, negating the effects of field spell cards for the next two turns.
Kyle places two cards face down and ends his turn.
Status: Hand-1 Life-3600 Monsters-2 Face Down Cards-3
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“Bastard,” growled Reese, “how dare you use Claude’s card against me.”
“Claude’s card?” asked Kyle. “If I’m not mistaken, I won this card fair and square.”
“SHUT UP! Let’s see how you like having your monster taken away from you!”
That’s it, thought Kyle. Mosey right into my trap, you little novice.
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Reese’s Turn: Reese summons Goblin Zombie (ATK: 1100 DEF: 1050). Next, Reese equips Obsidian Imp with Xyz Jeweled Crown, making its rank its level (Rnk.: 8 -> Lvl.: 8). Reese then activates Double Attack, discarding one monster card to allow a monster he controls with a lower level than the discarded monster to attack twice this turn, discarding Supersonic Skull Flame.
Reese attacks Ruby Phoenix with Obsidian Imp, but Kyle activates Ruby Phoenix’s effect. By detaching one xyz material from it when it would be destroyed by battle or a card effect, its destruction is negated. Battle damage is still applied.
Kyle’s Life Points: 3600 -> 1800
When Ruby Phoenix has no xyz materials attached to it, it is destroyed. Reese attacks Olivine Dragon with Obsidian Imp.
Kyle’s Life Points: 1800 -> 400
Reese then attacks Kyle directly with Goblin Zombie, but Kyle activates Firewall, negating a direct attack by banishing a Pyro-type monster in his graveyard (Laval Stennon).
Reese activates his face down Disappear, banishing Ruby Phoenix in Kyle’s graveyard. Next, he activates Monster Reborn, special summoning Olivine Dragon from Kyle’s graveyard.
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Green electrical sparks began erupting from the Olvine Dragon card that now appeared on Reese’s duel disk.
“What?” he wondered.
The sparks then enveloped Reese’s entire body in bolts, sending painful shocks all over him. Both the crowds observing from Rotary Hill and Equestria were horrified.
“What…” moaned Reese, being brought to his knees by the pain, “what is going on?”
“My Number of Equus card is meant to be with me and me alone,” answered Kyle. He looked beaten from Reese’s assault, but he sounded perfectly fine. “This is one of the powers given to me by Rae Sulfa Tun .” (Pronounced: Reh Soul-fah Toon)
“Rae Sulfa Tun?” questioned Alex. “I see, so that must be his ‘employer.’”
“Nothing less from Alex Yuwell,” said Kyle, impressed by his intuition. “Once she obtains your Stone of Equus cards, our mission will finally be complete.”
People clamored about this “mission” unsure what he meant. Reese just bared his teeth at Kyle.
“Don’t count on it, Kyle!” Reese yelled back, his voice lacking in control from the agony he was enduring. “I hold all the cards here, including yours. You can’t win this duel.”
“I disagree.”
“Huh?”
================================================================================
Kyle activates Heraldry Catastrophe, targeting a monster that his opponent controls that he owns. All monsters that his opponent controls with ATK equal to or lower than that monster are destroyed and damage is inflicted equal to the combined ATK of the monsters, destroying Olivine Dragon and Goblin Zombie.
Reese’s Life Points: 3000 -> 0
Kyle wins.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
The blow from the damage was catastrophic. Despite being freed from the curse that Olivine Dragon afflicted onto Reese, he would face 3000 points of damage. Heraldry Catastrophe’s damage came in the form of a large explosion, which knocked Reese to the ground. Reese only had to feel a fraction of a second of pain from the resulting shockwave. With Reese still on his knees from Olivine Dragon’s curse, the shockwave forced Reese’s upper body straight down, causing the back of his head to smash itself onto the stage floor, rendering him unconscious instantly.
Reese’s body flailed like a ragdoll as it was swept off the stage from the remaining explosion. The audience screamed as a result, having quite possibly witnessed a death.
“REESE!” cried Emma from the back, running full sprint to check on the status of her brother. Alex and the others ran to his side as well.
“And the winner is Kyle Penn,” quickly said the announcer, fearing the situation at hand. “Oh, God, someone call an ambulance!”
There was a large crack in the stage where Kyle hit his head. Kyle merely walked away and disappeared shortly after, both his own Olivine Dragon and Reese’s Obsidian Imp in hand.
Emma and the others tried to resuscitate Reese, but it was obvious that he was unconscious and possibly losing life, his blood trickling down the back of his head.
Paramedics came quickly, the local hospital only being a few blocks away. They carried Reese on a stretcher where they moved him up to the top Rotary Hill's parking lot where the ambulance was parked.
Emma was sobbing all the while as she watched the ambulance carry off her brother into an uncertain fate. Pinkie Pie tapped Emma’s lower back, leaving her to turn around and see Pinkie Pie with tears in her own eyes. They two then hugged each other as they cried over Reese.
“Kyle,” growled Alex, seething furiously. “You will pay for all that you’ve done to Reese. I swear it.”