Seth had sat through the lessons of his second day in Duel Academy solemnly. He skulked his way out of the final class of the day, something about Synchro monsters. Useless information he didn't need. All he cared about now was getting stronger, so he could teach that Percival a lesson. But he needed someone to duel, and the only people he knew were in Slifer Red. He couldn't really improve much from beating them.. Well actually, he promised Eli that he would duel him sometime, and he seemed to have more of a brain about him than Reuben. He had found himself at the crossroads between the Obelisk and Slifer dorms anyway, so it wasn't that out of the way. The Red dorm, basically a glorified shed, seemed way more empty than it usually was. There tended to be people dueling, sometimes some guys playing basketball outside, but it was strangely silent. What did Eli say again? Something about working on machinery in what was supposed to be the ACTUAL shed on the side of the dorm. It wasn't hard to find. Unsurprisingly, he could hear the sound of welding inside. He opened the door, to find Eli wearing a welding mask and wielding a blowtorch, attempting his best to fuse a Duel Disk onto a bicycle. "Maybe you should try activating Polymerization." Seth snarked. Eli jumped up, turning off the blowtorch and lifting his mask up, revealing his tanned and grease-stained face and some heavily tousled red hair. "Heyo." "How did you even get all this equipment onto the island?" Seth questioned. Eli's grin practically spread from ear to ear. "That's for me to know, and you to, uh, not know. You here to duel finally? You have some terrible timing you know." "Eh, whatever you're doing looks like a lost cause anyway. I don't see card games on bikes in our near future." "Welp, then i guess i better get this off then." Eli ripped the Duel Disk from atop the bike. "You sure it's a good idea to duel with that? It's probably still hot." Eli laughed. "Eh, i'm pretty sure it'll be fine. Probably." The two headed outside of the Slifer dorm, activating their Duel Disks on the opposite ends of the makeshift basketball court.
"Duel!"
"I'll go first!" Eli said, drawing his five cards. "I set a monster facedown and end my turn. Your move!" The brown card appeared floating inbetween Seth and his opponent. "I draw!" Seth took 6 cards from his deck. "Hmm... promising. I normal summon Steelswarm Sting!" The humanoid metallic insect appeared in the air, preparing to fly forwards stinger first. "1850 attack points! Attack the facedown!" Sting struck, popping the set card with it's stinger. "Not so fast! When The Thing in the Crater is sent to my grave, i can special summon a Pyro monster from my hand, such as Solar Flare Dragon!" The flaming, serpent like dragon materialised from the floor, twisting upwards and roaring. "I know what that card can do, and i don't like it... i end my turn." Eli began his turn. "I draw! Now, i normal summon another Solar Flare Dragon!" The second serpent spiralled upwards, next to it's twin. "I think you know what this does! Solar Flare Dragon cannot be attacked while i control a Pyro-type monster, so since i have two, you can't attack at all! Now, i set a card facedown and end my turn, but it's not over! The effects of my Solar Flare Dragon's activate in my end phase, inflicting 500 damage to you each!" Both Dragon's spat out fire blasts, Seth trying his best to stand through the scorching flames as his lifepoints fell to 3000. "Can you overcome my wall of fire?" Seth grinned. "Hopefully you have a Plan B, because it won't take long for an Obelisk like me to break that wall down. My turn, i draw!" He assessed his hand. "Actually, this could be really nice... Time for you to see my own strategy! As you may know, i can Tribute summon Steelswarm Girastag by tributing 1 Steelswarm monster! I tribute Sting!" The Steelswarm Lord stepped out of the blue flames, charging it's cannon with orange energy. "When i summon it by tributing a Steelswarm monster, i can send your first Solar Flare Dragon to the grave, and recover 1000 LP!" The first dragon sunk away into the floor, after being blasted by Girastag's cannon, and Seth breathed in as his LP returned to 4000. It was as if Eli's combo had never happened. "Now, your other Dragon is defenseless! Girastag, attack! Tribute Blast!" The orange light burnt away the dragon, reducing Eli's LP to 2900. "Now, i set a card and end my turn."
"I'll have to make a comeback! I draw!" His eyes lit up. "This card is just what i wanted! I activate Polymerization! I fuse Blazing Inpachi and Cyber Esper in my hand to Fusion summon Ignition Beast Volcannon!" The armoured, metallic rhino blasted into action, launching an explosive shot from the cannons on it's shoulders. "When Volcannon is Fusion summoned, i can destroy itself and your Girastag, and you'll take damage equal to Girastag's ATK, 2600!" The inferno blast obliterated both monsters, burning away Seth's lifepoints. "Try healing from that! I end my turn!" Seth began his turn. "I draw! I activate the Spell, Monster Reincarnation! By discarding Steelswarm Gatekeeper, i can add Girastag back to my hand." Eli grinned. "Not so fast! When i have no cards in my hand, i can activate the Trap card, Fire Darts! I can end this right here!" Three flaming darts emerged from a skull shaped dartboard. "I roll three dice, and you take damage equal to the combined amount i rolled times 100! The dice rolled, landing on a 5, a 6 and a 2. The three darts flew into Seth, lowering his LP to just 100. "Eh, lucky save." Seth gritted his teeth. "I activate my Spell, Dian Keto the Cure Master! I gain 1000 LP!" Seths LP rehealed to 1100. "Now, i can special summon Steelswarm Cell from my hand when i have no monsters!" The tiny insect appeared on the floor, in defense position. "Now, i set a card in my Spell/Trap zone and end my turn." Eli began his turn. "I draw! I set a monster, and end my turn." "I draw! I set a facedown card and end my turn." They seemed to be at a stalemate. Eli began another turn. "I draw! Now, i activate my Pot of Greed, drawing two cards! Then i set a card facedown and end my turn." Seth knew he had to make a move quickly before Eli's cards could burn his LP away. "I draw! Now, by tributing Cell i summon Girastag again! I send your set Spell/Trap to the grave, and gain 1000 LP!" Seth healed up to 2100. "Now, i activate my set First Step towards Infestation, returning Girastag to my hand to draw a card! Now, i activate my trap, Steelswarm Ripples! I pay 500 LP to 1600 to revive Cell from my grave! Then i use my Spell, Double summons! I can normal summon Girastag again by tributing Cell! I send your set monster to the grave, and gain 1000 LP!" The Steelswarm Lord blasted UFO Turtle into the grave as Seth's lifepoints went to 2600. "Now, Girastag attacks! Tribute Blast!" Eli's lifepoints fell to 300 after another attack from Girastag. Eli growled. "My turn! I draw! By banishing the Fusion Substitute you sent to my grave, i can return Volcannon to my extra deck, to draw 1 card! Now, i activate the field spell Fusion Gate! The morphing purple gate appeared behind Eli. "You're going to summon the Volcannon you returned?" Seth questioned. Eli grinned. "No, i'll summon my Ultimate Monster! By banishing Pyrotech Mech Shiryu and Cyber Phoenix in my hand, i fusion summon! Blaze Fenix, the Burning Bombardment Bird!"
The half flaming, half metallic Phoenix descended onto the field. "I'll use it's effect! You take 300 damage for each card on the field, but it can't attack this turn. That's 1200 damage!" Fenix launched a volley of flames at Seth, reducing his LP to 1400. "How did a Slifer get fusion monsters like these?" Seth growled. "Well, it won't matter! I chain my Trap, Infestation Wave! By returning Girastag to my hand i destroy Blaze Fenix!" Girastag launched a red beam from it's hand, destroying Fenix and blasting itself backwards to Seth's hand. "Fine, i end my turn." Seth grinned. He was close to having this duel in the palm of his hand. "I draw! Now i end my turn." He had to hope he could defend against at whatever Eli had, so he could take away his last 300 lifepoints when he had the chance. "I draw! I special summon Inferno from my hand by banishing UFO Turtle in my grave. Now, it attacks you directly!" The spectral flame lowered Seth's LP to 300, equalling the playing field exactly. "I draw! I activate my spell, Foolish Burial! I send Steelswarm Scout from my deck to my graveyard! Now, i activate Supremacy Berry! I gain 2000 LP! Now, i end my turn." Seth had managed to save himself from being on the brink of a loss. Eli grinned. "This has been a great duel! I draw! Battle Phase! Inferno attacks directly!" "Not so fast, i special summon Battle Fader from my hand to end the battle phase!" Battle Fader appeared, clanging it's bell and dissipating the flames that were surrounding Seth. "Fine! In my main phase 2, i activate the quick play Spell, Circle of the Fire Kings! I tribute Inferno to revive Blaze Fenix!" Eli's ultimate monster was reborn, flying up through a circle of fire in the ground. "A Phoenix never dies! I use it's effect, inflicting 900 damage to you! This'll be over soon!" The volley of fireballs burnt Seth's LP down to 1400. "Not today! I draw!" A smile quickly flashed across Seth's face. "First, i can revive Scout from my grave in defense position while i have no Spells or traps. Now, i activate Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Fusion Gate!" Eli chuckled. "Trying to build up defense and reduce the damage Fenix will do i see." Seth smiled. "Are you sure about that? You may have forgotten, but Wave returned Girastag to my hand." A shocked look of realization flashed across Eli's face. "By tributing Scout, i summon Girastag! It's effect sends Fenix to the grave and i gain 1000 LP, making my lifepoints 2400!" The Steelswarm Lord blasted Fenix away with it's cannon. "But my lifepoints don't matter, because this duel is over! Girastag, attack Eli directly with Tribute Blast!" A beam of orange energy came from the cannon, engulfing the smiling Eli and reducing his LP to 0.
As the hologram field shut itself down, Seth crossed the basketball court to Eli. "You okay?" Surprisingly, the charred boy hopped up off the floor with a ton of energy. "Woah, that was amazing! I've not had such a good duel since my first duel against Reuben!" The two walked back towards Eli and Reuben's dorm, Eli incessantly chattering the entire time. "Wow, those Steelswarm Lords are so cool, how did you get 'em? Do you think i could rank up a dorm at somepoint? I wonder what it's like being in Obelisk Blue, i heard you guys get All-you can eat buffet for breakfast." As Seth opened the door, he found Reuben lounging around on his top bunk. His usual spot. "Don't worry, he'll calm down eventually. He gets like that in duels." "Well he better stop soon, i have places to be." Seth snarked. "Oh, and what would that be?" Reuben questioned, pretending to care. "Well, i need to test my mettle. Improve. Which is difficult when you're at my level. I'm trying to expose myself to different playing styles and cards to..." Reuben suddenly interjected, starting to care. "Oh, interesting little tidbit. This morning on the way out of my dorm, i ran into another Slifer student. Literally. Turns out he has a Synchro card." Seth was visibly shocked. "What!? A Synchro monster, here? In Slifer? I don't think there's even any in Obelisk..." He went into deep thought, scratching his chin. "Yeah, apparently he got it from his brother. Probably a Pro." Seth looked up to Reuben on the top bunk. "Where can i find this guy?"
It was getting late in the second day of the new year in Duel Academy. The yellowing sun was starting to descend throught the clouds, signalling the impending sunrise. The perfect stage. Seth climbed the shaky wooden stairs up to the second floor of the Slifer dorms, stopping at the door he believed to be the right one. He knocked on the door, waiting until a Slifer Red opened it.
"My name is Seth Willow, and i'm looking for Carter Davis. Would you happen to know him?"
"Duel!"
"I'll go first!" Eli said, drawing his five cards. "I set a monster facedown and end my turn. Your move!" The brown card appeared floating inbetween Seth and his opponent. "I draw!" Seth took 6 cards from his deck. "Hmm... promising. I normal summon Steelswarm Sting!" The humanoid metallic insect appeared in the air, preparing to fly forwards stinger first. "1850 attack points! Attack the facedown!" Sting struck, popping the set card with it's stinger. "Not so fast! When The Thing in the Crater is sent to my grave, i can special summon a Pyro monster from my hand, such as Solar Flare Dragon!" The flaming, serpent like dragon materialised from the floor, twisting upwards and roaring. "I know what that card can do, and i don't like it... i end my turn." Eli began his turn. "I draw! Now, i normal summon another Solar Flare Dragon!" The second serpent spiralled upwards, next to it's twin. "I think you know what this does! Solar Flare Dragon cannot be attacked while i control a Pyro-type monster, so since i have two, you can't attack at all! Now, i set a card facedown and end my turn, but it's not over! The effects of my Solar Flare Dragon's activate in my end phase, inflicting 500 damage to you each!" Both Dragon's spat out fire blasts, Seth trying his best to stand through the scorching flames as his lifepoints fell to 3000. "Can you overcome my wall of fire?" Seth grinned. "Hopefully you have a Plan B, because it won't take long for an Obelisk like me to break that wall down. My turn, i draw!" He assessed his hand. "Actually, this could be really nice... Time for you to see my own strategy! As you may know, i can Tribute summon Steelswarm Girastag by tributing 1 Steelswarm monster! I tribute Sting!" The Steelswarm Lord stepped out of the blue flames, charging it's cannon with orange energy. "When i summon it by tributing a Steelswarm monster, i can send your first Solar Flare Dragon to the grave, and recover 1000 LP!" The first dragon sunk away into the floor, after being blasted by Girastag's cannon, and Seth breathed in as his LP returned to 4000. It was as if Eli's combo had never happened. "Now, your other Dragon is defenseless! Girastag, attack! Tribute Blast!" The orange light burnt away the dragon, reducing Eli's LP to 2900. "Now, i set a card and end my turn."
"I'll have to make a comeback! I draw!" His eyes lit up. "This card is just what i wanted! I activate Polymerization! I fuse Blazing Inpachi and Cyber Esper in my hand to Fusion summon Ignition Beast Volcannon!" The armoured, metallic rhino blasted into action, launching an explosive shot from the cannons on it's shoulders. "When Volcannon is Fusion summoned, i can destroy itself and your Girastag, and you'll take damage equal to Girastag's ATK, 2600!" The inferno blast obliterated both monsters, burning away Seth's lifepoints. "Try healing from that! I end my turn!" Seth began his turn. "I draw! I activate the Spell, Monster Reincarnation! By discarding Steelswarm Gatekeeper, i can add Girastag back to my hand." Eli grinned. "Not so fast! When i have no cards in my hand, i can activate the Trap card, Fire Darts! I can end this right here!" Three flaming darts emerged from a skull shaped dartboard. "I roll three dice, and you take damage equal to the combined amount i rolled times 100! The dice rolled, landing on a 5, a 6 and a 2. The three darts flew into Seth, lowering his LP to just 100. "Eh, lucky save." Seth gritted his teeth. "I activate my Spell, Dian Keto the Cure Master! I gain 1000 LP!" Seths LP rehealed to 1100. "Now, i can special summon Steelswarm Cell from my hand when i have no monsters!" The tiny insect appeared on the floor, in defense position. "Now, i set a card in my Spell/Trap zone and end my turn." Eli began his turn. "I draw! I set a monster, and end my turn." "I draw! I set a facedown card and end my turn." They seemed to be at a stalemate. Eli began another turn. "I draw! Now, i activate my Pot of Greed, drawing two cards! Then i set a card facedown and end my turn." Seth knew he had to make a move quickly before Eli's cards could burn his LP away. "I draw! Now, by tributing Cell i summon Girastag again! I send your set Spell/Trap to the grave, and gain 1000 LP!" Seth healed up to 2100. "Now, i activate my set First Step towards Infestation, returning Girastag to my hand to draw a card! Now, i activate my trap, Steelswarm Ripples! I pay 500 LP to 1600 to revive Cell from my grave! Then i use my Spell, Double summons! I can normal summon Girastag again by tributing Cell! I send your set monster to the grave, and gain 1000 LP!" The Steelswarm Lord blasted UFO Turtle into the grave as Seth's lifepoints went to 2600. "Now, Girastag attacks! Tribute Blast!" Eli's lifepoints fell to 300 after another attack from Girastag. Eli growled. "My turn! I draw! By banishing the Fusion Substitute you sent to my grave, i can return Volcannon to my extra deck, to draw 1 card! Now, i activate the field spell Fusion Gate! The morphing purple gate appeared behind Eli. "You're going to summon the Volcannon you returned?" Seth questioned. Eli grinned. "No, i'll summon my Ultimate Monster! By banishing Pyrotech Mech Shiryu and Cyber Phoenix in my hand, i fusion summon! Blaze Fenix, the Burning Bombardment Bird!"
The half flaming, half metallic Phoenix descended onto the field. "I'll use it's effect! You take 300 damage for each card on the field, but it can't attack this turn. That's 1200 damage!" Fenix launched a volley of flames at Seth, reducing his LP to 1400. "How did a Slifer get fusion monsters like these?" Seth growled. "Well, it won't matter! I chain my Trap, Infestation Wave! By returning Girastag to my hand i destroy Blaze Fenix!" Girastag launched a red beam from it's hand, destroying Fenix and blasting itself backwards to Seth's hand. "Fine, i end my turn." Seth grinned. He was close to having this duel in the palm of his hand. "I draw! Now i end my turn." He had to hope he could defend against at whatever Eli had, so he could take away his last 300 lifepoints when he had the chance. "I draw! I special summon Inferno from my hand by banishing UFO Turtle in my grave. Now, it attacks you directly!" The spectral flame lowered Seth's LP to 300, equalling the playing field exactly. "I draw! I activate my spell, Foolish Burial! I send Steelswarm Scout from my deck to my graveyard! Now, i activate Supremacy Berry! I gain 2000 LP! Now, i end my turn." Seth had managed to save himself from being on the brink of a loss. Eli grinned. "This has been a great duel! I draw! Battle Phase! Inferno attacks directly!" "Not so fast, i special summon Battle Fader from my hand to end the battle phase!" Battle Fader appeared, clanging it's bell and dissipating the flames that were surrounding Seth. "Fine! In my main phase 2, i activate the quick play Spell, Circle of the Fire Kings! I tribute Inferno to revive Blaze Fenix!" Eli's ultimate monster was reborn, flying up through a circle of fire in the ground. "A Phoenix never dies! I use it's effect, inflicting 900 damage to you! This'll be over soon!" The volley of fireballs burnt Seth's LP down to 1400. "Not today! I draw!" A smile quickly flashed across Seth's face. "First, i can revive Scout from my grave in defense position while i have no Spells or traps. Now, i activate Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Fusion Gate!" Eli chuckled. "Trying to build up defense and reduce the damage Fenix will do i see." Seth smiled. "Are you sure about that? You may have forgotten, but Wave returned Girastag to my hand." A shocked look of realization flashed across Eli's face. "By tributing Scout, i summon Girastag! It's effect sends Fenix to the grave and i gain 1000 LP, making my lifepoints 2400!" The Steelswarm Lord blasted Fenix away with it's cannon. "But my lifepoints don't matter, because this duel is over! Girastag, attack Eli directly with Tribute Blast!" A beam of orange energy came from the cannon, engulfing the smiling Eli and reducing his LP to 0.
As the hologram field shut itself down, Seth crossed the basketball court to Eli. "You okay?" Surprisingly, the charred boy hopped up off the floor with a ton of energy. "Woah, that was amazing! I've not had such a good duel since my first duel against Reuben!" The two walked back towards Eli and Reuben's dorm, Eli incessantly chattering the entire time. "Wow, those Steelswarm Lords are so cool, how did you get 'em? Do you think i could rank up a dorm at somepoint? I wonder what it's like being in Obelisk Blue, i heard you guys get All-you can eat buffet for breakfast." As Seth opened the door, he found Reuben lounging around on his top bunk. His usual spot. "Don't worry, he'll calm down eventually. He gets like that in duels." "Well he better stop soon, i have places to be." Seth snarked. "Oh, and what would that be?" Reuben questioned, pretending to care. "Well, i need to test my mettle. Improve. Which is difficult when you're at my level. I'm trying to expose myself to different playing styles and cards to..." Reuben suddenly interjected, starting to care. "Oh, interesting little tidbit. This morning on the way out of my dorm, i ran into another Slifer student. Literally. Turns out he has a Synchro card." Seth was visibly shocked. "What!? A Synchro monster, here? In Slifer? I don't think there's even any in Obelisk..." He went into deep thought, scratching his chin. "Yeah, apparently he got it from his brother. Probably a Pro." Seth looked up to Reuben on the top bunk. "Where can i find this guy?"
It was getting late in the second day of the new year in Duel Academy. The yellowing sun was starting to descend throught the clouds, signalling the impending sunrise. The perfect stage. Seth climbed the shaky wooden stairs up to the second floor of the Slifer dorms, stopping at the door he believed to be the right one. He knocked on the door, waiting until a Slifer Red opened it.
"My name is Seth Willow, and i'm looking for Carter Davis. Would you happen to know him?"