Perhaps, my brain tried to deceive me, but–
In [Trial] no one ever dies. That’s what the little robot said to me. However, it never said the same rule will apply to other types of duels. Most likely, [Trial] has its own specific regulations.
Then, does that mean this Extreme Format Duel doesn't fall into the safe category?
Does that mean my life is still in danger?
Rei stared ahead. The man who became his opponent over there stood without making any suspicious movement, but his hair was already wanting to pull itself out. Terrified.
He immediately turned his gaze back to his floating screen, it would be a lie if he didn't do that partly because of the horror he suddenly felt. However, he managed to divert his mind to focus on the words 'Overkill Damage" instead. Which then brought up a little explanation about that specific word.
[OVERKILL DAMAGE: Damage taken in a single attack is 5000 or more]
5000 Damage? Is that even possible in the first place?
His mind wandered, encountering every detail of the rules he had read and observed.
He arrived at one particular detail. Besides the Battler Class, there was also the Attacker. A type which was capable of increasing their own power while in combat. Perhaps with that class, Overkill Damage was possible to achieve.
That small insight brought a smile to his face.
His opponent would be using the Bombast Archetype; a type of deck that had no Armament Spells and fairly low power units. By any means, it was quite impossible for him to take that much fatal damage in the first place. He remembered Morgan's deck well–at least he knew how it works.
Anyway, he had no intention to lose or give a free win to his opponent either.
[The Foundation Card is successfully activated.]
[Spawning shards and ready to orbit]
Another window appeared, time was tight so he just nodded without trying to understand what all this meant. And a shard of unknown metal circled his body out of nowhere. Moving but not living. It reignited his curiosity.
What is this, he wondered.
"Perhaps, that's the initial form of your Foundation Card. Sigil if you want to call it different. From what I see, it's not quite there yet."
The masked man flapped his robe and a couple of wings were seen. The wings fluttered a few times, disturbed the air for a second, and folded themselves back neatly.
It would be a lie if he wasn't fascinated by them. How those wings moved the air and one of the feathers reached his eyebrows, it felt so real. Just a few hours ago, he read about humans with wings in the diary and thought it was nonsense, and now he saw it for himself.
He didn't know how he should react about it, but if those wings could be used outside of duels, it would be a great help for his escape plan.
Urgh! I should bet on those wings too!
Nothing he could do, it was all in the past.
“If you have a higher level,” the man suddenly said, “you will be able to manifest your own Sigil."
“I’m not sure,” He took a good look at the debris circling him. “There’s no way this junk will evolve into something better than a silver garbage.”
He touched the orbiting shard and a sudden screen filled his face.
[Foundation Card (Persona Card; Sigil)
A unique card derived from the Foundation Sphere Core. Representative of a duelist's psyche. In the Outer Plane, this object has the main function of mitigating the real damage received by the Duelist.]
[Its form is level-dependent. The more nodes filled in the Orbital Plate, the greater the potential for Sigil to grow.]
Orbital Plate. Sometimes it was called Sol Map or Orbital Layer. It was one of the features explained by the little robot. However, he didn’t really pay attention to it because the concept, at first glance, was similar to the Sphere Grid from the Final Fantasy X.
He loved that game so much. If only a cute girl like Yuna explained the whole thing, without a doubt he would remember every single line.
Anyway, he had no time to reread the entire thing. It would take too much time. He preferred to look at the new card he received because he failed to read them before.
Starting from his new Engage Units.
1 Nighty Empress Smasher. Level 6, Battler Class.
1 Nighty Empress Charmer. Level 6, Neutral Class.
1 Nighty Empress Madam. Level 6, Guardian Class.
It was none other than the word " awesome" that filled his head. He was so excited. He got himself his own Engage units. He even lost sight of the fact that the cards were temporary.
The next cards he got were main deck units.
1 Nighty First Lady.
1 Nighty Queen Nutcracker.
1 Guardian Exia.
The first two units obtained weren’t new cards, but duplicates. In many card games, making copies of useful cards was a fundamental strategy to win. Hence, this wasn't a bad deal.
However, the last card was different.
It was a level 5 Guardian class, with a hyper attribute effect, and didn't have the name Nighty. Its effect in short, this card could negate Effect Damage from the opponent during Main Phase and Battle Phase. In other words, the best counter to Bombast Ignitor MAX.
“Are you sure you're lending me these cards?” Rei asked, he was really nervous about all the excitement he suddenly got.
“Like I said, I love an equal fight. This is the easier way to make you have a chance to defeat me.”
Urgh! This guy is so full of himself. Is he truly such a skilled duelist? Instead of arguing about unnecessary questions, Rei was able to focus his efforts on the cards again.
He looked at his new added spell.
Dummy Spell
2 Entertainer Return
Protocol Calling
Twin Defect
He hadn't expected to get five interesting spell cards. ‘I'll lend you some cards to make you stronger,' it turned out the masked man wasn't lying at all.
Dummy Spell was a card to change the effect of an opponent's activated spell card into draw 1 card. Hyper Attribute. A type of card that could disrupt the opponent's combo.
Entertainer Return, a card to recover an Entertainer-type Unit from the Grave Zone to a player's hand.
Protocol Calling, a spell card used to search for Protocol. A mandatory card for Nighty Deck.
Unfortunately, the latter card wasn't as exciting as the others.
Twin Defect, a card to target 1 Twin Unit on the field and 1 unit in the Grave Zone, then revive the last. The unit would have the same appearance--name, class, type--as the selected Twin Unit. However, it could not attack, activated effects, and would be destroyed when the Battle Phase started.
For Rei, the card was useless for his deck right now.
"Are you done?" AO2 asked. "Just use the recommended build if you need more hand."
"Yeah, I'm done. thanks for waiting," Rei tinkered with his deck a bit. Swapped Twin Defect out with Nighty Call duplicates.
"Very well. Let me rephrase the stakes in this duel. If I win, Dragun0va will be mine. And if you win, I'll give you the cards I lent you, plus 50,000 Orbi$. All in?"
The cards Rei got were indeed tantalizing to his soul as a card gamer, but 50000 Orbi$ was something out of his head. Even though he didn't know the value of Orbit Dollar compared to Yen or USD. He was sure he would be able to use the money for a lot of food and cards.
"I accept!" He replied instantly, it was an impossible offer to refuse after all.
[Stakes renewed, both duelists approved]
[Duel Mode activated]
Rei's bracelet shone brightly and made a similar duplicate on his left arm. His left bracelet transformed into a Duel Disk and a deck was perched on it. His deck shuffled automatically and then the screen that would act as his virtual hand was already in place.
[LP 5000 AEGIS 2]
[First turn given to AO2]
[First Player needs to say "DUEL"]
[The Second player needs to say "ENGAGE"]
The initial five cards were drawn from the deck. Rei took them into his hand and got ready.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
AO2 raised his left hand forward, revealing his duel disk.
"DUEL–"
"Engage!"
A sudden earthquake struck, cracking the ground, making an ear-splitting thunder. He wanted to know what had happened, but Rei was too busy to stay on his feet without falling over.
He wondered as his body lifted and the air moved downward.
And his hunch landed right on the card. They actually moved upwards, similar to riding an elevator to the upper floor. But what occurred was strikingly different.
A large chunk of land, where they stood, was floating in the sky. It rose until the trees looked as small as fingers. The wind picked up, fluttering his clothes. Along with the chilly breezes and the sunlight streamed their skin unobstructed.
Falling from here... definitely dead, right? he thought, imagining one of his potential future deaths.
"What are you worried about? You won't die even if you fall down there."
Please stop reading my mind, Mr. Masquerade.
"Of course, I know," he sneered. "I'm just amazed we can play in the sky like this."
"No need to be amazed, depending on who has the highest level, they are the ones who determine the duel field parameter."
His duelist level was one, while AO2's was eight. An obvious thing to happen. However, why was the dueling field floating in the sky? That question picked his curiosity, but he quickly brushed it aside.
"Let's begin," AO2 said, "I activate Master Spell: Omni Spear," A long spear materialized from light and immediately charged at Rei.
Two Aegis were instantly destroyed, leaving Rei unshielded.
Is that a new Master Spell?
He checked his Master Spell list. He found two new types of spell there. Omni Spear and Power Relic. And the maximum capacity increased to five. He still didn’t understand why the number increased. He brushed it aside, and returned his focus.
The masked man deployed Bombast Recruiter, immediately used its effect to search for Bombast Ignitor.
"From my hand, I activate Protocol Card: Double Misery." After the card was inputted into his bracelet, two tall, eerie-looking pillars emerged behind AO2. "Any debuffs players receive will be doubled as long as this Protocol is in play."
It was the first time he had seen that Protocol. Moreover, it fitted perfectly with the gameplay of the Bombast Deck, which required a large number of Explosive Counters.
“I deploy a level 3 unit, Bombast Generator.” He sent Ignitor as a cost, and an unfamiliar Bombast unit appeared on the field. A big, fat goblin with an energy generator installed on its belly.
[Bombast Generator]
[Level : 3]
[Type : Machine]
[Class : Neutral]
[Power : 1000]
[Class Effect: - ]
[Effect(1): Once per turn, inflict 3 Explosive Counter to your opponent.]
[Effect)2): —]
“Due to the Double Misery effect, the Explosive Counter you received is now 6.”
AO2 continued his play and sent a unit from his deck to the Grave Zone via spell card: Warrior Epitaph, and let his opponent draw 1 card.
In a glimpse, the card AO2 sent to the Grave Zone was Bombast Defibrillator. A card Rei had never seen either.
“My turn ends,” he said, without looking at the cards in his hand or on his field.
Whether it was the confidence of a skilled duelist or perhaps the carelessness of underestimating his opponent, either way, Rei just needed to push everything he got until the end.
“I draw!”
[Turn 2]
AO2 : 5000 LP | 2 Aegis | 2 Units | 1 Card on hand
Rei : 5000 LP | 0 Aegis | 0 Units | 7 Cards on hand
Explosive Counter: 6
While picking a Master Spell, Gamma Storm was always the first choice … but, he doubted it was the best thing to use today. Destroying enemy units didn't guarantee he could drop the enemy LP as low as possible in this turn. Especially with Deploy Limit 5.
On top of that, there was a chance a Battle Spell had been prepared by his opponent.
Perhaps, copying the playstyle of a seasoned duelist would be a good choice here.
“I activate Omni Spear!” As the spear struck, all of his opponent's barriers were shattered in a flash.
Now they both were unshielded.
He looked at his hand, formulating a strategy among the cards he owned.
Nighty Accountant, Nighty Queen Nutcracker, Dummy Spell, and the rest were other Nighty units. This hand smelled even more fragrant than the time he battled Morgan. It couldn't be said to be perfect, but Rei was filled with confidence saying this starting hand was the best one he had.
“I deploy Nighty Accountant, and with her effects, I can search for a Nighty Protocol Card and add it to my hand.”
Shortly after Grandiose Bar was added, Rei inserted the card into his bracelet. The duel field shook intensely. A single pillar appeared on the Protocol Zone and at the same time, a bar-like building emerged from the ground.
[Grandiose ‘Nighty’ Bar]
[Type: Protocol]
[Level: 1*]
[Effect (Lv 0 : Universal Attribute): Each standby Phase, Search 1 Protocol Card with the same name, add it to your hand] {Ultra Attributed applied}
[Effect (Lv 1) : Once per turn, Search a random Nighty Unit level 5 from the deck, add it to your hand.]
“Randomly, I can add 1 level 5 Nighty Unit from the deck to my hand.” Unlike the first duel, this time Rei had a great opening as Nutcracker was already in hand and the duplicate also existed in the deck. So whatever random card he got, he could utilize it well.
[Added : Nighty First Lady]
It’s even better! He smirked.
He sent two card units as cost, and pitched his Nutcracker card into the Combat Zone.
With a bang, the doors of the Grandiose Bar were forced open, as white clouds came out to greet the main star of the game.
A woman in a tight black latex outfit walked in like a mighty warrior. From her toes to her gold-painted hair, displayed both sexiness and strong dominance.
[Nighty Queen Nutcracker]
[Level : 5]
[Type : Entertainer]
[Class : Battler]
[Power: 1000]
“Not over yet!” He used Nighty Accountant on the field and 1 Nighty unit from hand as a cost, then deployed the unit to the Combat Zone.
[Nighty First Lady]
[Level : 5]
[Type : Entertainer]
[Class : Neutral]
[Power: 500]
[Deploy Requirement: 2 Nighty units]
“When this card is played–” As he talked, Nighty First Lady raised her hand like a conductor in a musical concert, and two cards from his deck rose to the beat. “I draw two cards and dump one to the Grave.”
There was no response from AO2, as if no threat would come to bite his tail.
However, Rei didn't think so.
Not when his Engage card would come up on the field.
To achieve that, Rei required two of the same unit. This was where the main effect of Nighty First Lady came into play.
"Once per turn, I can target 1 Nighty unit on the field and perform a Swap."
Nighty First Lady swung her hand horizontally to create a dimensional crack. When it was big enough, she went inside, high-fived to her comrade, and switched her position on the field.
That so-called comrade was another Nutcracker.
He smirked. All he needed was on the field.
"AO2, I will crack your mask!” he declared, “I ENGAGE two Nighty Queen Nutcrackers to build a new force to break through the King’s floor!"
The two selected units floated in space, their bodies dispersing into bluish light and leaving five spheres of red light each. The spheres formed a constellation, connected to each other with the brightest light at the base and tip.
"TWIN ENGAGE! Come! My most elegant fighter! Nighty Empress Smasher!"
The constellation pattern split apart and gave rise to a new portal. A sexy woman wearing silver armor came out and landed on the field. The giant hammer she was holding slammed into the ground and caused a tremor that repelled the wind.
"Who will I have to squeeze, Master?"
[Nighty Empress Smasher]
[Level : 6]
[Type : Entertainer]
[Class : Battler]
[Power : 1500]
[Class Effect: Twice Attack]
[Effect: On Battle, (1) the opponent takes double damage; (2) if the player takes damage, half the amount.]
[Passive: Mystic Armor]
He was unable to contain his excitement, turning his face into a smug. It was his first Engage unit after all. There was no way anyone couldn’t understand that feeling when you were able to play one of your strongest cards. High dopamine time.
"Battle!” Rei ordered with a grin. “My Empress, attack all his units!" Smasher followed and raised her hammer, igniting hot flames around her body causing the silver on her armor to turn red. She jumped up and smashed the two opponents in turn. Leaving nothing but smoke and cries of despair.
1500 vs 300 = 1200 damage.
1500 vs 1000 = 500 damage.
With Smasher's effect, all damage per battle was doubled and AO2's Life Points dropped instantly to 1600.
As the smoke from the battle faded, AO2 stood up unscathed on the other side. Which was strange considering Smasher's destructive power traveled far enough to reach his opponent's feet.
Yet, the underlying reason for this was obvious.
The wing beside him bloomed and acted like a shield. Then it refolded to provide his master a clear field of vision.
I see. That’s what the system meant about damage mitigation.
Now he looked at the shard orbiting him, wondering if it could withstand attacks like AO2's. He didn't expect much to begin with, to be fair, it was just a shard, a broken part of unknown metal.
On the bright side, even without the Foundation Card, he had prepared his resolve to accept the pain of battle. Talking about positivity.
“Well, don't get excited just yet,” the masked man suddenly said. “When Generator was destroyed in battle, it will inflict 3 Explosive Counter on my opponent. And due to the Double Misery effect, it becomes 6.”
His eyes widened, almost shut his smile permanently.
The number of debuff on Rei’s was increased to 12 in one turn. It startled him a bit. Without Double Misery, Rei should only have 6 in total and that number was totally fine. But 12? It was quite dangerous.
He checked his hand again and he had nothing to reduce the number.
That didn't mean he was going to lose.
He had Guardian Exia, Dummy Spell, and Nighty Waitress. Those three were a good combination to survive. Guardian Exia to negate effect damage caused by Explosive Counter, Dummy Spell for disruption, and when he got his turn back, with Nighty Waitress he was able to recycle his card.
That debuff numbers were nothing as long he had Guardian Exia. Yet, he felt something strange–it came from his opponent’s attitude. He was just too calm in this duel. Ao2 should be aware of these cards, could he possibly ignore and treat them like nothing?
As a new turn rolled around, AO2 drew his card.
Turn 3
AO2: 1600LP | 1 Cards in Hand | 0 Units
Rei: 5000LP | 3 Cards in Hand | 1 Unit
Explosive Counter(s): 12