บท 25: The Champion's first servant
Riley and Clay drew their hands, inspecting the cards and how they were going to win against their opponent. For Clay, this was a bit more than simply a duel, this was his chance to get someone who would aid him in any adventures he was caught up in, someone who would stand by him if everything hit the fan.
"I'll go first," Riley announced drawing a card from his deck as the duel began in earnest. "I'll play this monster face down in defense mode." As he played the card a shadowy creature covered in spikes appeared on the field. "Then I'll play the spell card Spell Absorption followed by my spell Tremendous Fire! You take 1000 points of damage while I take 500 points of damage."
The first card played, showing a hand holding a ball of energy that was being siphoned away from a being in the distance. The next card showed a wall of fire with three beings dancing in it. These beings shot from the card and approached Clay, a trail of fire following behind them. They twirled around Clay, creating a fire vortex that took 1000 life points from Clay. The fire though grew out control and made its way over to Riley and burned at his sleeve.
Clay: 3000
Riley: 3500
"I'll set two cards face down and end my turn. Let's see how you make a comeback when your cards have less 'resources' to use." Riley spoke, his sarcasm apparent.
"I'll show you how well these cards will work. Draw!" Clay drew the card for his start of turn and added it to his hand, moving to grab another. "I'll play the spell card The Monarchs Stormforth!" Appearing on the field was a card that depicted a large tornado with a being stepping out of it.
"This turn, if I tribute summon a monster, I'm allowed to use your monster instead of my own, and I'll do just that. I'll tribute your face down monster and summon forth the Prime Material Dragon!" Riley's face down monster imploded on itself, becoming a tornado of wind that moved to Clay's field.
From the tornado, red eyes glowed within. Six wings, thin and completely made from gold burst from the tornado and disrupted the wind, revealing the beast that lurked within. Prime Material Dragon was a large dragon, completely gold in color that towered over Riley and Clay.
Prime Material Dragon: Atk 2400 Def 2000
Riley, not expecting this monster to appear in a deck full of Vampire cards, took a step back and gulped. He looked at the attack then breathed a sigh of relief; he wouldn't be taken out this turn.
"It's an impressive monster, but it won't be enough to beat me, Clay." Riley spoke from across the field. "I activate the trap card Back to the Front, letting me special summon Stone Statue of the Aztecs in defense mode."
Riley's monster appeared, launching into the sky before crashing back down in front of the boy. It was a green and blue stone monster, one that released smoke from its mouth but didn't move an inch.
Stone Statue of the Aztecs: Atk 300 Def 2000
Clay smiled, not overly phased that the monster returned to the field. "I'll play the field spell Zombie World!" The world around the duo morphed, the trees wilted, and the ground cracked, a purple mist entered the clearing they were in. "This field spell turns all monsters on the field or in the graveyard into Zombie type monsters, and neither of us can tribute summon monsters other than Zombies!"
A change occurred in Prime Material Dragon, it's once illustrious shine of gold started dimming, chunks of flesh dropping from the body. In a matter of moments, it was no longer the beautiful dragon, now it was a husk of its former glory.
The same change happened in Riley's statue, though instead of losing flesh its body became damaged, weathered as if it was thousands of years old.
"So what? Everything's a zombie, is that it?" Riley asked in disbelief. He expected something more from the spell, considering it was in the deck that Clay spent a bit of time on. To have it do one thing was slightly underwhelming.
"That's all I need it to do. I'll equip Prime Material Dragon with the spell card Big Bang Shot, allowing my monster to inflict piercing battle damage and increasing its attack by 400. (Prime Material Dragon: Atk 2400 + 400 = 2800 Def 2000) Prime Material Dragon, attack Riley's statue!" The dragon roared, causing shockwaves in the air. Before it moved though, Clay spoke up. "Since a monster declared an attack, I'm able to special summon Vampire Fraulein from my hand into defense mode!"
Appearing next to the dragon, a pale skinned woman wearing a black dress with red highlights holding an umbrella in her hand. She looked over to Riley, winking at him and giggling at seeing him blush.
Vampire Fraulein: Atk 600 Def 2000
Prime Material Dragon charged, flapping its wings so that it could take flight. It hovered over the field and looked down at Riley's statue, smoke billowing from its mouth. Before it unleashed its attack though, Clay spoke up once again.
"I activate Vampire Fraulein's effect!" The vampire woman giggled, moving over to Clay as he began to speak. "By paying my life points in increments of 100 to a max of 3000, I can increase my Zombie monsters attack and defense by the same amount. I pay 2900 life points!"
Fraulein, having reached Clay, bite into his neck, sucking blood from him as any vampire would. As she sucked a red energy enveloped Clay's dragon, making it grow in size. The smoke billowing from its mouth turned into orange fire, that fire eventually turning blue.
Clay: 100
Riley: 3500
Prime Material Dragon: Atk 2800 + 2900 = 5700 Def 2000 + 2900 = 4900
"Prime Material, Attack!" With the final command the undead dragon roared and unleased its fury. The stone statue was enveloped in fire and melted down to magma. The fire from the attack moved towards Riley who, while panicking, activated his trap card.
"I activate Type Zero Magic Crusher to send my Messenger of Peace to the graveyard to inflict 500 damage to you! I may not win but you won't either!" Riley's flipped card revealed a machine, one that looked old and rusted. It revved up and unleashed sparks of blue lightning at Clay, the boy smiling as he embraced the electricity.
Clay: 600
Riley: 3500
"What! Why did you gain life points instead of taking it as damage?!" Riley questioned in shock. The fire was still approaching him, surrounding him so he couldn't escape.
"Prime Material Dragon takes any effect damage that either player would take and instead makes it so we gain that amount of life points instead!" Clay explained, pointing to his dragon that was glowing a dull gold.
"So then... My entire strategy is completely ruined because of one card?" Riley's eyes panned down, eying the ground as the blue fire moved closer to him. A moment later and it finally brushed his hand, registering that the damage had been received.
Clay: 600
Riley: 0
The fire vanished from around Riley, Clay's monsters disappearing as well. The environment around them also returned to normal, the trees getting their life back and the purple mist disappearing. Clay walked over to Riley, a smile on his face.
"So, how was it? I know I only really showed one card from the Vampires but most of them are useful like that." Clay asked as Riley seemed to be thinking. The boy was silent for a moment, trying to process what just happened to him in the duel.
Then, as if a switch had been flipped Riley grabbed Clay by the arms and looked at him with eyes that twinkled.
"That was incredible! Not only are the monsters in the deck strong, but they must have good effects if they require life points to work! Just add cards like Dian Keto the Cure Master and you'd never have to worry about stuff like that again! And with Prime Material any effect damage is actually beneficial. It's like a permanent Rainbow Life!"
Clay smiled at the boy's enthusiasm, happy that Riley was thinking of ways to use the cards. It just made him glad that he would appreciate them instead of treating like simple beat sticks.
"I'm still unsure about giving the spirits to this boy." Anotherverse Dragon spoke, his suspicion of Riley still being large. After giving half of the spirits to Jaden, Clay's small army was smaller than Anotherverse was pleased with. Clay was the champion of Time; he should have his large army with him at all times.
"Relax, I'm not giving him the spirits just yet, I'll give him the cards after I've bonded with them, that way they still serve me." Clay explained, relieving Anotherverse's concerns. "And if he does show that he isn't worthy of them, then I'll just take the cards back."
Riley was still talking about the possible plays he could make to use the vampires to their full potential, but Clay had to stop him there. "Riley, calm down." The boy took a breath, calming down before giving his full attention to Clay.
"I know I said that I'd give you the deck, but I'm gonna need to hang onto it for a bit." Clay explained and Riley's shoulders slumped in disappointment. "Don't worry, you'll get the cards, it will just take a bit before I can give them to you. In the meantime, why don't you gather cards that will help the deck in the future."
"Right! I won't let you down! Now come on, we need to go get ready for school!" Riley said as he began dragging Clay away.
"I'm suspended! I don't have school! Let me go! Riley!"
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