NOVEL NEXT Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Raring To Go Part 2
The courtyard buzzed with excitement as students gathered for the practical portion of the exam. Duel arenas shimmered under the afternoon sun, each one surrounded by eager spectators.
Ace stood calmly in his designated area, observing the match-ups. He spotted Jaden and Chazz Princeton squaring off in another arena, their duel already drawing a crowd.
As the announcement came for his match, Ace's opponent stepped forward—a pompous Obelisk Blue student who looked down his nose at Ace.
"You don't belong here, Slifer," the Obelisk sneered. "I'll show you why."
Ace smirked, activating his custom duel disk. "Then try."
[DUEL START]
Ace Romanov – LP: 4000 | Hand: 5
Obelisk Duelist – LP: 4000 | Hand: 5
Turn 1: Obelisk Duelist
"I'll start!" the Obelisk said, drawing his sixth card. "First, I summon Luster Dragon in Attack Position!" (Level 4 / ATK: 1900 / DEF: 1600)
A shimmering green dragon appeared on his field, roaring loudly.
"Next, I'll set one card face-down and end my turn."
Field: Luster Dragon (ATK 1900), 1 Set Spell/Trap
Turn 2: Ace
Ace drew his card, his expression calm. "My turn. I draw."
He glanced at his hand and smirked. "I summon Sword Soul of Mo Ye." (Level 4 / ATK: 1700 / DEF: 1800)
A graceful warrior appeared, brandishing a blade wreathed in ethereal energy.
"Activating Mo Ye's effect. By revealing a 'Sword Soul' card in my hand, I can summon a Sword Soul Token to my field." (Level 4 / ATK: 0 / DEF: 0)
A shimmering token materialized next to Mo Ye.
"Now, I tune my Level 4 Mo Ye and my Level 4 Token to Synchro Summon Sword Soul Grandmaster – Chixiao!" (Level 8 / ATK: 2800 / DEF: 2300)
The crowd gasped as the mighty warrior appeared on Ace's field.
"Mo Ye's effect activates. When used for a Synchro Summon, I draw one card. And Chixiao's effect lets me add a 'Sword Soul' card from my deck to my hand."
Ace's advantage grew as he added Sword Soul of Taia to his hand.
"Now, Chixiao, attack Luster Dragon!"
The Obelisk Duelist's monster shattered under Chixiao's blade.
"I'll end my turn with a face-down card"
Turn 3: Obelisk Duelist
LP: 3100 | Hand: 4
The Obelisk Duelist grits his teeth as he draws his card. "You think you're so cool with your newfangled Synchro Monsters, but I'll show you the power of true Duel Monsters!"
He glanced at his hand and smirked. "First, I activate Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy your face-down card!"
Ace's set Infinite Impermanence shattered in a vortex of wind.
"Next, I'll activate Cost Down, discarding one card to reduce the levels of all monsters in my hand by 2."
Ace narrowed his eyes. "Planning something big, are we?"
The Obelisk Duelist smirked. "You bet I am. I summon Terrorking Archfiend without Tributing!" (ATK: 2000 / DEF: 1500)
A fiendish figure emerged, its wicked grin directed at Ace.
"Then, I'll activate Archfiend's Roar! By paying 500 Life Points, I can Special Summon Shadowknight Archfiend from my Graveyard!" (ATK: 2000 / DEF: 1600)
Obelisk Duelist LP: 2600
A second monstrous creature joined the first, casting ominous shadows over the field.
"Terrorking Archfiend, attack Sword Soul Grandmaster – Chixiao!"
The fiend lunged forward, slamming into Ace's Synchro Monster.
Ace LP: 3800
"Now, Shadowknight Archfiend, direct attack!"
The second monster rushed forward, landing a clean strike against Ace.
Ace LP: 1800
The Obelisk Duelist laughed. "I'll set one card and end my turn. Let's see if your precious Synchro Monsters can handle the true kings of the battlefield."
Field: Terrorking Archfiend (ATK: 2000), Shadowknight Archfiend (ATK: 2000), 1 Set Spell/Trap
Turn 4: Ace
LP: 1800 | Hand: 6
Ace drew his next card, unfazed by the damage he'd taken. "You're loud, I'll give you that. But volume doesn't equal victory."
He glanced at his hand and smirked. "I summon Sword Soul of Taia!" (Level 4 / ATK: 1800 / DEF: 1500)
The graceful swordsman appeared, his blade shining brightly.
"Activating Taia's effect! By banishing a 'Sword Soul' card from my Graveyard, I can summon another Sword Soul Token to my field." (Level 4 / ATK: 0 / DEF: 0)
The glowing token materialized.
"Next, I tune my Level 4 Taia and my Level 4 Token. Synchro Summon! Arise, Draco Berserker of the Tenyi!" (Level 8 / ATK: 3000 / DEF: 0)
A mighty dragon warrior descended, its presence radiating power.
"Taia's effect activates as well. When used for a Synchro Summon, I can send one 'Sword Soul' card from my deck to the Graveyard. I'll send Sword Soul of Mo Ye."
The crowd watched in awe, whispering about the Synchro Monsters' power.
"Now, Draco Berserker of the Tenyi, attack Terrorking Archfiend!"
The dragon warrior charged forward, obliterating the fiend in a single strike.
Obelisk Duelist LP: 1600
Ace's eyes glinted. "When Draco Berserker of the Tenyi destroys a monster, it gains that monster's original Attack until the end of my next turn." (ATK: 5000)
The audience gasped as the dragon's power surged, its aura becoming almost oppressive.
"With that, I'll end my turn."
Turn 5: Obelisk Duelist
LP: 1600 | Hand: 2
The Obelisk Duelist drew his card, visibly shaken. "Y-you think this is over? Not yet!"
He activated his face-down card. "I flip Call of the Haunted! This lets me revive Terrorking Archfiend from my Graveyard!" (Level 4 / ATK: 2000 / DEF: 1500)
The fiend returned, roaring defiantly.
"Then, I'll summon Archfiend Soldier!" (Level 4 / ATK: 1900 / DEF: 1500)
A third fiendish warrior appeared.
"Terrorking Archfiend, attack Draco Berserker of the Tenyi! Let's see how tough it is!"
Ace smirked. "When my Draco Berserker of the Tenyi is targeted for an attack, its effect activates! It can banish your attacking monster before the battle happens."
Terrorking Archfiend vanished in a flash of light, leaving the Obelisk Duelist stunned.
"No way…"
The duel arena fell silent, save for Ace's calm voice. "Anything else?"
The Obelisk Duelist clenched his fists. "I set one card and end my turn."
Field: Shadowknight Archfiend (ATK: 2000), Archfiend Soldier (ATK: 1900), 1 Set Spell/Trap
Turn 6: Ace
LP: 1800 | Hand: 5
Ace drew his card, his confidence unwavering. "My turn. Draw."
He glanced at the card and smirked. "Time to end this. I activate the effect of Sword Strategist Longyuan by discarding 1 Swordsoul card I can special summon it onto the field with a Sword Soul Token." (Level 6 / ATK: 1200 / DEF: 2300)
"Now, I'll Synchro Summon once more. Come, Sword Strategist Longyuan! From two come one, and from one will come great power! Arise, Baronne de Fleur!" (Level 10 / ATK: 3000 / DEF: 2400)
The elegant synchro monster appeared, radiating an aura of grace and power.
"With Baronne's effect, I'll destroy your Shadowknight Archfiend."
The Obelisk Duelist's monster shattered under Baronne's assault.
"Now, Draco Berserker, attack Archfiend Soldier! And Baronne, attack directly!"
The combined assault wiped out the Obelisk Duelist's field and the remainder of his Life Points.
Obelisk Duelist LP: 0
[DUEL END]
Chancellor Sheppard announced Ace's promotion to Ra Yellow shortly after the duel. As the crowd cheered, Ace spotted Jaden declining a similar offer, choosing to remain in Slifer Red. Ace was a little surprised by Jaden's choice but, that didn't last long after hanging out with the guy for so long he could tell that Jaden was a guy who could do anything for his friends. But he also noticed that he tends to always put all the stress on his shoulders.
'I hope he knows what he's doing or one day the weight will crush him'
That evening, as Alexis congratulated him on his promotion, Ace couldn't help but feel a faint warmth in her smile. Perhaps Duel Academy had more to offer than he initially thought.