A Fun Duel

"Lunalight Cat Dancer!"

Celina's voice rang out, and the elegant, yet deadly cat woman emerged onto the field. She wore a tight-fitting dancer's outfit, long cyan ribbons extending from her dress to the rings on her wrists and ankles. Her fiery orange-red hair billowed behind her, and she cast a playful smirk at Yumi's side of the field.

[Lunalight Cat Dancer, 2400 -> 1500 ATK]

"Not bad, I'll be taking her," Yumi said, his tone casual as he waved his hand and one of his set cards flipped up.

"Spell card activate! 'Sky Striker Mecha - Widow Anchor'! I'll target your Cat Dancer and take control of her!"

"Not so fast!" Celina snapped back, her Duel Disk's Graveyard zone lighting up. "When a card or effect targets one of my 'Lunalight' monsters, I can banish Crimson Fox from my Graveyard to negate that effect. And we both take 1000 points of damage."

Crimson Fox's spirit emerged from her Graveyard, shielding Cat Dancer.

[Celina, LP 7200 -> 6200]

[Yumi, LP 4000 -> 3000]

"I'm impressed," Yumi admitted, raising an eyebrow. Most duelists in this world weren't that skilled, seeing Celina negate an effect so decisively was a pleasant surprise.

It reminded him of Celina from Arc-V.

"If you're impressed by that, you'll love this," Celina replied, her eyes gleaming. "Since Crimson Fox was used as Fusion Material for 'Polymerization', her other effect still triggers! I can target one of your monsters and set its ATK to 0!"

She pointed decisively at Yumi's fiery mecha girl. "I'll target your Kagari!"

[Sky Striker Ace - Kagari, 2600 -> 0 ATK]

Kagari's mecha body crackled with energy, forced to one knee as her strength was drained.

"Now, I'll Normal Summon 'Lunalight White Rabbit'!"

A petite bunny girl appeared beside Cat Dancer, holding a massive white sledgehammer in both hands.

[Lunalight White Rabbit, 800 -> 0 ATK]

"When White Rabbit is Normal Summoned, I can Special Summon a 'Lunalight' monster from my Graveyard in Defense Position." Celina said, retrieving a card from her Graveyard and placing it onto her Duel Disk sideways.

"Show yourself, 'Lunalight Blue Cat'!"

[Lunalight Blue Cat, 1200 -> 100 DEF]

"Since Blue Cat was Special Summoned, I can double the ATK of one of my 'Lunalight' monsters until the end of the turn. I choose Cat Dancer!"

[Lunalight Cat Dancer, 1300 -> 3700 ATK]

"Next, I'll activate White Rabbit's effect! She can target a number of Spell or Trap cards on your field equal to my 'Lunalight' monsters, and return them to your hand!"

White Rabbit leapt high, slamming her hammer down. A shockwave raced across the field toward Yumi's back row.

"If that's the case-" Yumi pressed a button on his Duel Disk, revealing another set card. "I'll chain with 'Gravity Lash'! But that's not all. I'll also activate the Quick-Play Spell 'Spell Textbook' by discarding my entire hand, shuffle my deck, and draw one card. If it's a Spell, I can activate it immediately."

He discarded his hand, shuffled, and drew in one smooth motion.

"Draw!"

The card glowed as he revealed it: "Spell card 'Gift of the Martyr'! I'll send Kagari to the Graveyard and give Shizuku her original ATK!"

Kagari dissolved into shimmering particles, absorbed by Shizuku's blue mecha armor, which now glowed brightly.

[Sky Striker Ace - Shizuku, 1500 -> 3000 ATK]

"Gravity Lash now activates, your Cat Dancer's ATK is reduced by its DEF!" Yumi said, his voice calm but sharp. "And since the number of Spells in my Graveyard has increased, your monsters lose even more ATK and DEF!"

[Lunalight Cat Dancer, 3700 -> 1700 -> 1300 ATK]

Celina clicked her tongue in irritation. "Tch! How many Spells do you even have in that deck? Besides your monsters, it's nothing but Spells!"

But she didn't falter; in her hand was just the card she needed.

"I'll activate the Quick-Play Spell 'Super Rush Headlong'! I'll target my White Rabbit and declare an Attribute. When she battles a monster of that Attribute, she'll destroy it at the start of the Damage Step!" Celina's eyes narrowed, confident.

"And I declare Water."

When Shizuku was summoned. She had already heard that the summoning condition was a non-Water Attribute 'Sky Striker Ace' monster, and when Yumi summoned Kagari, the condition was a non-Fire Attribute 'Sky Striker Ace', and Kagari's mecha suit seemed to be based on the Fire Attribute.

So she concluded that Yumi's 'Sky Striker Ace' monster could be special summoned out using one monster, but the summoning condition was that the material needed to be a different attribute from the fusion monster.

"Battle! White Rabbit, attack Shizuku!"

The bunny girl leaped, hammer crashing down and destroying the mecha girl.

"When a 'Sky Striker Ace' monster leaves the field by an opponent card, I Special Summon Raye from my Graveyard," Yumi said, as the pale blonde-haired warrior girl appeared with a flash, dressed in her black and white dress while holding her futuristic katana.

[Sky Striker Ace - Raye, 1500 ATK]

Celina smirked. "Since the number of monsters on your field changed, a Battle Replay occurs. I'll stop White Rabbit's attack."

She added with a confident grin: "And since Shizuku is gone, my monsters' ATK and DEF return to normal!"

[Lunalight White Rabbit, 0 -> 800 ATK]

[Lunalight Blue Cat, 0 -> 1200 DEF]

[Lunalight Cat Dancer, 1400 -> 2800 ATK]

"Go, Cat Dancer, attack Raye!"

Cat Dancer lunged forward, her spin kick catching Raye and sending her reeling.

"When Cat Dancer declares an attack, you take 100 damage!"

[Yumi, LP 2900] 

"I'll activate Raye's effect! I tribute her to Special Summon a 'Sky Striker Ace' Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck!"

Raye's form dissolved into glowing light, replaced by a new mecha girl.

"Henshin! Sky Striker Ace - Kaina!"

Kaina's four massive mecha hands reached out, grabbing Cat Dancer.

[Sky Striker Ace - Kaina, 1500 ATK]

"When Kaina is Special Summoned, I can target one of your monsters and stop it from attacking this turn. I target your Cat Dancer!"

"Not bad," Celina said with a smirk, slipping another card from her hand. "Quick-Play Spell- 'Flash Fusion'! I fuse my Cat Dancer and Blue Cat, Fusion Summon, Lunalight Panther Dancer!"

A spiral of light enveloped her two monsters, merging them into a lithe, dark-skinned dancer with the grace of a panther.

[Lunalight Panther Dancer, 2800 ATK]

"Panther Dancer, attack Kaina!" Celina ordered.

The Panther Dancer charged forward, claws poised.

"The effect of Necro Garda, which 'Take Over 5' sent to the graveyard, activates!" Yumi's duel disk glowed, as a phantom ghost appeared in front of Kaina, blocking Panther Dancer's strike.

He pulled the card out from his grave and showed it.

"By banishing this card from the game, I can negate one of your monster's attacks."

Celina's smile widened. "Graveyard plays too? You're more interesting than I thought. But I'm not done yet!"

She played her last card. "Quick-Play Spell- 'De-Fusion'! I'll return Panther Dancer to the Extra Deck and Special Summon her materials from my Graveyard!"

Panther Dancer split back into Cat Dancer and Blue Cat.

[Lunalight Blue Cat, 1600 ATK]

[Lunalight Cat Dancer, 2400 ATK]

"Blue Cat, attack Kaina!"

The blue-furred girl struck with her claws, destroying Kaina.

[Yumi, LP 2900 -> 2800]

"As I suspected, your Raye's effect to revive herself is once per turn," Celina said with a confident smirk.

"Now, Cat Dancer, direct attack!"

Cat Dancer lunged forward, slashing Yumi with her claws.

"Ugh…!" Yumi grunted, feeling the phantom force of the blow.

[Yumi, LP 2800 -> 300]

"And since Cat Dancer declares an attack, you take another 100 damage!" Celina added, crossing her arms with a confident smile. "I end my turn."

Yumi let out a short laugh, smirking despite his low Life Points. "To think I'd meet someone like you this early on, I think I might be in love."

Celina winked, matching his playful energy. "Oh? Don't get too excited. Beat me first, then I might go on a date with you."

Both duelists locked eyes, smirks of respect and challenge blazing in the air.

"My turn, draw!" Yumi declared, a confident smirk curving his lips as he drew his card.

"Spell card, 'Monster Reborn'! I'll revive Kagari from my grave!" His graveyard pulsed with light, and the flame-armored mecha girl, Kagari, emerged on his field, her sharp gaze zeroing in on the monsters across from her.

[Sky Striker Ace - Kagari, 1500 ATK]

"Since Kagari was Special Summoned, I can add one 'Sky Striker' spell from my graveyard to my hand," Yumi continued. A card popped from his graveyard slot, and he swiftly set it on his duel disk. "Quick-play spell- 'Sky Striker Mecha - Hornet Drones'! I Special Summon a 'Sky Striker Ace Token' in Defense Position. And because I have three or more spells in my grave, it gains 1500 ATK and DEF."

[Sky Striker Ace Token, 1500 DEF]

"Henshin! Sky Striker Ace - Hayate!" Yumi called, his voice brimming with excitement.

The blue holographic Raye vanished, replaced by a version of Raye clad in green mecha armor, wielding a large sniper rifle.

[Sky Striker Ace - Hayate, 1500 ATK]

With a flourish, Yumi slapped down another card. "I'll equip Kagari with 'Phoenix Gearblade'- it can only be equipped to a Warrior or FIRE monster, giving it an extra 300 ATK."

[Sky Striker Ace - Kagari, 1500 -> 1800 ATK]

"And Kagari gains an extra 100 ATK and DEF for every spell in my grave!" he announced, and the flames around Kagari flared even brighter.

[Sky Striker Ace - Kagari, 1800 -> 3400 ATK]

"Battle!" Yumi's eyes gleamed as he entered the battle phase. "Kagari, attack Cat Dancer, Afterburners!"

The blade wings on Kagari's back unfurled, igniting in a blazing fury as she surged forward, her sword slicing down in a flaming arc.

[Celina, LP 6200 -> 5200]

"Now I'll activate the effect of 'Phoenix Gearblade,' sending it to my graveyard! This turn, all Warrior and FIRE monsters I control can attack twice!"

[Sky Striker Ace - Kagari, 3400-> 3200 ATK]

He then pointed toward Blue Cat.

"Secondburners!"

Kagari's sword slashed down again, flames roaring around her as she struck the smaller cat girl.

[Celina, LP 5200 -> 3600]

"Ugh!" Celina winced, raising her arm to shield herself from the backlash of the blow.

"Next, Hayate, direct attack!" Yumi ordered, surprising Celina. She still had one monster left on her field!

"Hayate's effect lets her attack directly," he added coolly.

Hayate dropped to a knee, sighting her target through the scope of her rifle. With a crack of green energy, she fired, striking Celina directly.

[Celina, LP 3600 -> 2100]

"S-So strong…" Celina breathed, the thrill of the duel pounding in her chest. She hadn't expected him to turn the duel around so quickly, and she loved it.

Yumi's grin widened. "Now for my ultimate spell! Quick-play spell- 'Berserker Soul!'" He flipped the card face-up, its artwork depicting a warrior driven mad by power. "I discard my entire hand and reveal the top card of my deck. If it's a monster, a monster with 1500 or less ATK on my field can attack again!"

Celina's eyes widened. "This combo… If he draws only monsters, he could OTK me right now!"

Yumi pressed a finger to his duel disk, his eyes glittering. "Get ready, Celina- Draw!"

He drew the top card of his deck and glanced at it, then his expression fell. "Spell card."

Celina: "…"

She sighed, remembering that most of his deck seemed to be spell cards. Honestly, besides Raye and that removed-from-play Necro Gardna, she hadn't seen many monsters at all in his main deck.

"Doesn't matter," Yumi said with a shrug, slipping the drawn spell into his duel disk. "Quick-play spell- 'Mischief of the Time Goddess!'"

A beautiful woman with blue twin-tails and a playful smile appeared in a swirl of yellow light, twirling her staff before vanishing.

"Skip to my next Battle Phase."

Celina: "!!?"

What the heck was that card!?

She watched in stunned disbelief as the turn leapt forward, bypassing everything else. Kagari and Hayate seemed to smirk at her, almost as if they were in on the trick.

With her remaining Life Points and a single weak monster left on her field, Celina knew the duel was already decided.

The two mecha girls charged her together, their attacks landing simultaneously.

[Celina, LP 2100 -> 0]

Celina fell back onto the floor, letting out a frustrated sigh. "Damn… what kind of cards are those? I've never even heard of most of those cards…"

Yumi just smirked. After all, most of his deck was crafted from his own system, incorporating cards from the future, anime, and even manga that no one in this world had ever seen.

"I didn't expect to meet someone so strong in Slifer Red," Celina said as she picked herself up, brushing off her skirt. Like Yumi, she was in Slifer Red because of her low scores, something she had never been satisfied with.

Originally, she hadn't planned to bother with dueling weaklings, but now, after facing Yumi, she felt a spark of excitement for what lay ahead.

"That was fun," Yumi said, stepping forward and offering her a hand.

Celina took it with a wry smile. "Yeah, it really was a fun duel."