(A/N: Instead of MDDP, the currency of the system will just be gems, alright lol? It's more fun that way.)
Alistair :"Did you know that you can give fake money to homeless people?"
Jade :"...You're a monster..."
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(A/N: I forgot to do it in the last chapter, but from now on, whenever a new card is used, that's when I'll put the price and Alistair's remaining Gems. So here's the list of last chapter:
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Gold Gadget (R: 500 Gems)
Infinitrack Anchor Drill (N: 100 Gems)
Red Gadget (N: 100 Gems)
Yellow Gadget (N: 100 Gems)
Number 97: Draglubion (R: 500 Gems)
Number 92: Heart-eartH Dragon (N: 100 Gems)
Number C92: Heart-eartH Chaos Dragon (N: 100 Gems)
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Total Cost: 1,500
Gems: 6,000 -> 4,500)
Jade smirked :"And guess what? While Skyscraper is on the field, if my Elemental HERO monsters have fewer ATK points than your monster, they'll get a 1,000 boost!
[Elemental HERO Flame Wingman: Warrior/ Fusion/ Effect/ Wind/ Lv 6]
So he prepared, because Wingman has one scorching attack, and he's gonna be slamming it all to your Draglubion!"
[Elemental HERO Flame Wingman: 2,100 ATK -> 3,100 ATK]
[Alistair's LP: 4,000 -> 3,900]
"But that's not the best part." She grinned smugly :"When Wingman destroys a monster-" Alistair interrupted with a smirk :"I also lose life points equal to the ATK of my monster."
She smirked "Exactly! So you'll lose 3,000 ATK points on top of that!"
[Alistair's LP: 3,900 -> 900]
Writing down the life points on a piece of paper, Alistair had a nervous but excited smile :"Damn, this is making me feel weird!"
"What is?"
"Losing so many life points. My life points haven't been this close to zero in years, Jade. This is kinda exciting hahahaha!"
"Seriously? You're really weird sometimes!" Jade laughed back, causing him to shrug :"It's the truth. I haven't experienced this in so long that it's nostalgic now."
He smirked :"But don't think that means you'll win this. After all, you haven't forgotten about my Heart-eartH, right? As long as he's there, I have an unbreakable defense."
'Hmm, he's right.' Jade groaned internally :'Not only can it not be destroyed by battle, I can't attack it either since I'll take all the damage instead! Geez, what kind of a boss monster is that?!
Wait, by battle! That's right, he can't be destroyed by battle! Then if I draw the right cards, I –can– get rid of him! I just need to have faith in my cards like always!'
Jade smirked :"That monster is really awesome, but he's not invincible! I'll show you after I destroy it! But first, I set a card, then end my turn!"
'Hmm, should I do it?' Alistair wondered :'With Heart-eartH's effect, I can banish her entire field. After that, I can easily win in my turn. But should I do it...? Nah, forget it. If I was going to win this duel using effects and interruptions and negates, I might have as well just used my Branded Deck!
I wanna enjoy this duel with simple attacks and plays! And besides, it's not like I can't win without Heart-eartH's effect. There are some heavy hitters in this deck, after all.'
[Jade's Field: (1 Monsters:) 2,100 ATK Elemental HERO Flame Wingman / (2 Spells/Traps) (Activate) Skyscraper / (Set) ???]
[Alistair's Field: (2 Monsters:) 0 ATK Number 92: Heart-eartH Dragon / 1,700 ATK Gold Gadget / (1 Spells/Traps) (Set) ???]
[Alistair's LP: 4,000 -> 900
Jade's LP: 4,000]
[Turn 3: Alistair]
"Alright then, it's my turn." He drew his card :"Next up, I summon Ruffian Railcar in defense mode. But he won't be staying for long, because I'll use it for a Contact Fusion and bring out Number 70: Malevolent Sin, which needs 2 Lv 4 monsters."
[Ruffian Railcar: Machine/ Effect/ Earth/ Lv 4/ 1,800 ATK/ 1,000 Def (500 Gems)
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Number 70: Malevolent Sin: Insect/ (Xyz) Fusion/ Effect/ Dark/ Lv 4/ 2,400 ATK/ 1,200 Def (100 Gems)]
[Gems: 4,500 -> 3,900]
"Then I set one card face-down and enter Battle Phase." But just as he set his card, they both nearly jumped when Alistair's monsters came to life :"Whoa, what the hell?!"
On the field, a mini Heart-eartH and Malevolent Sin stood on top of their cards, roaring and screeching at Jade when they appeared. They both looked at them with wide eyes, shocked at the slightly transparent monsters.
"Uuh, Jade... you see this too?" Alistair pointed unsurely, while Jade rubbed her eyes :"Uuh, yeah? So I'm not hallucinating if you're seeing this too?"
"Kyu!" Suddenly, a cute squeak was heard from Jade's deck, before a cute fur ball flew out of it. Jade's eyes widened :"Whoa, Winged Kuriboh?! What's going on here?!"
'So it's true, my cards –are– alive!' Alistair's eyes widened, before another voice spoke up :"It's nothing concerning, so no need to be worried." They grew even more shocked when another lady, someone who Alistair recognized instantly, appeared with a gentle voice :"Some of us were just interested in the duel, so we came out to take a look."
She was a beautiful lady with long white hair wearing a black dress with black stockings, with a gentle voice of –surprisingly– British accent. Alistair's mouth flew open :"Quem?!" Immediately recognizing one of his best monsters, Guiding Quem, the Virtuous.
"It is I, dear master." She bobbed a curtsy, lifting her dress slightly with a bow of her head :"It is a pleasure to finally meet you after all this time."
His eyes sparkled :"Whoa, so you're a duel spirit?" Confusing the amazed Jade, who had her Winged Kuriboh flying next to her :"Duel spirit?"
"Yes, duel spirits." Quem didn't smile, nor had a change in her facial features, but explained calmly and gently :"We are the living monsters that fight for you. I am the spiritual form of Guiding Quem, the Virtuous. And that little fella flying next to you is your Winged Kuriboh."
Jade :"Whoa... I had heard about these, but I had always thought they're just rumors. Wait, but then how can we see you if you're spirits?"
Quem :"Simple, it's because you and master are special. You are of the few rare humans who are capable of seeing duel spirits."
Alistair smiled :"Hey, that's awesome! But why did you decide to reveal yourself now?"
Quem shrugged :"As I told you, I was just curious. So are your other duel spirits in your deck, but I convinced them to stay back since this place would be too cramped.
The most troublesome to convince was Aluber, that troublemaker. Just look at your monsters on the field. Since they were excited, they couldn't hold back and revealed themselves as well."
Jade grew excited :"Whoa, that's awesome! So the cards that always help me are actually alive?! Wait, but then why haven't they shown themselves?"
Quem :"Your monsters, unlike the monster's of this deck master's, have quite a self-control. They haven't come out so you wouldn't be scared. But these fellas just couldn't control themselves."
Surprisingly, Heart-eartH turned and growled at her :"You're talking as if you yourself aren't out right now."
Quem scoffed, looking down at him arrogantly as she crossed her arms :"I was content with watching from my card, but had to come out because of you to explain the situation to master and Jade so they wouldn't freak out."
Sparks seemed to fly between them, confusing Alistair :"Why are you two so hostile to each other?"
Quem hummed :"Of course we would be hostile. After all, we're of two separate decks that you own. If someone has multiple decks, there will always be competition between the duel spirits of the separate decks.
Our hostility is caused by you not being satisfied with just one deck." Receiving a judging side eye, Alistair couldn't help but look away awkwardly.
Heart-eartH smirked smugly :"But it's obvious which is the better deck now. After all, look at which he has chosen to play with primarily."
That seemed to hit a nerve. Quem's eyes widened threateningly, revealing danger behind her eyes as she raised her head higher :"The only reason why he's playing your deck is because duels would be too easy with ours.
That only proves our strength, you fool, not your superiority. The only reason you're chosen is because of your incompetence compared to real decks like us, so don't get arrogant."
'Hiss, oof.' Alistair hissed internally :'Damn, she may not be Fire attribute, but she sure burns.' Seeing Heart-eartH's face turn into that of rage, he quickly interrupted :"Alright, alright, that's enough!
No arguing, alright? Both of you, stop. And Quem, apologize. That was too much and it's not true. I wouldn't have chosen this deck if it wasn't strong."
"Hmph, or expensive." She scoffed, looking away and leaving Alistair speechless, with Heart-eartH and Malevolent shaking in anger. He quickly cleared his throat :"Alright, that's enough already! Seriously, no more. We were in a duel, remember?"
As the three monsters glared at each other, Heart-eartH scoffed :"That's right, we've got a duel to finish at the moment. Unlike a certain deck that will just eat dust instead."
"Why, you-" Quem glared, but Alistair :"I said, that's enough. It's not funny anymore, so just drop it already."
Seeing he wasn't joking anymore, they all dropped it reluctantly. Alistair brought his attention back to Jade as Quem sat on the bed :"Now, shall we continue?"
"Yeah, sure! This duel just became a lot more interesting!" She grinned :"But before that, do you think my monsters can come out too? Hey, Flame Wingman, you home?"
"It's not that they can't or don't want to come out." Quem explained :"As I said, it's just that they haven't come out until now so you wouldn't be frightened. Most duelists would freak out if they saw duel spirits, after all. But if you give them permission, I'm sure they'd be happy to come out."
Jade's eyes sparkled :"Oh, then please come out, Flame Wingman! You and everybody else definitely have permission! In fact, you didn't even need to ask!"
From his card, spiritual fire erupted before he soared to the air. Flying for a moment before descending to pose on his card. While Jade looked at her monster in amazement, Heart-eartH and Malevolent Sin scoffed :"Show off."
Receiving a glare from Flame Wingman before he turned around and gave a small bow to Jade :"It's my pleasure to fight for you, mistress. Just leave this battle to me."
"Alright then, go get em!" Jade smiled excitedly, but Alistair and his monsters smirked :"Sure, he can come and get it. After all, it is my Battle Phase. So I'll attack with my Heart-eartH!"
With a roar, Heart-eartH slid towards Flame Wingman sharply before trapping him like a snake, causing him to groan :"Release me, you vile creature!"
"Sure, after I'm done with your mistress's life points!" Heart-eartH laughed, a purple light enveloping them as he absorbed Flame Wingman's power before shooting a breath of energy at Jade.
"No, my lady!" Flame Wingman struggled as Jade blocked the breath nervously. But eased up when she didn't feel anything :"Oh, so they're really just spiritual attacks. I didn't feel anything."
[Jade's LP: 4,000 -> 1,900]
Done with his attack, Heart-eartH let go sharply and came back to his card, where he growled at the glaring Flame Wingman. Alistair smirked :"And now, I'll attack with Malevolent Sin! And because your Skyscraper only activates when –you– are attacking, your Flame Wingman is done for!"
Releasing a screech, Malevolent Sin, a spider covered in scales rather than fur –which made it cool instead of creepy– crawled towards Flame Wingman at such a speed that made them cringe in disgust.
Fur or no fur, spiders were creepy. And although neither of them were afraid of bugs, his speed still creeped them out. They didn't show it to not hurt his feelings though.
"Shaaa!!" He swiped his spear-like legs, striking a deadly blow to Flame Wingman. Jade's eyes widened in worry at his yell :"No, Flame Wingman!"
"I'm sorry, my lady..." He stumbled back, holding his chest :"I couldn't be... of further assistance... ugh..." Before falling down and disappearing into his card.
"Haaah, such a drama queen." Quem rolled his eyes, catching her worried attention :"Don't worry, he's not hurt. We're spirits in this world, remember? He's just playing around to make the battle more interesting."
"Oh, that's a relief." Jade sighed in relief, before smirking in annoyance at Alistair :"But you're still gonna pay for that! Because I activate my face-down, A Hero Emerges!"