Chapter 43: Let the Games begin.

Fireworks rocketed into the skies above Heartland Island, signalling the start the second round. The duos duel disks bleeped, click and clacked as they unlocked. Their boxy forms expanding out into new more interesting shapes exposing bands of neon blue light within. Charles duel disk now faintly resembled a shield while Drakes reminded him of the Dragon Head Mark of the Crimson Dragon.

"Lets Duel!" they cried together.

A projected notice appeared before each duellist, detailing the duel rules that they would be operating under.

<<Duel zone rules activate: Toon Kingdom Zone rule – The power of Toons (Toon Monsters gain 500 ATK), Squires Courtyard Territory rule – Knights Territory (Warriors gain 200 ATK/DEF), Armoury Location rule – A Good blade (Monsters gain 200 ATK for each equip spell attached to them.)>>

The Toon Kingdom Zone rule was applied to any duel within the zone while the other two were specific to their current location, Drake wondered if Charles had intel about these rules when he led Drake into the Armoury. If he did then Drake was sure that would mean that his deck would be strongest here but that was fine, he enjoyed a challenge when nothing life changing was at stake.

Drake let Charles take the first turn.

[Turn 1 – Charles LP:4000 Hand:5, Drake LP:4000 Hand:5]

Before drawing Charles lifted his duel disk above his head.

"Skill! March of the Army, activate!" he cried. His duel disk projecting a phantom image of a row of warriors behind him.

<<Duel skill activated: March of the Army>>

[March of the Army – (consumable) activate at the start of one of your turns. You may normal summon an additional level 4 or lower monster this turn.]

A skill Drake hadn't seen yet from the vendors he had casually passed on the way over, and it was so interesting. Maybe Charles would tell him where he got it from after the duel was over.

"Draw!"

With a swipe of Charles hand a holographic card was generate over the duel disk, it was a crystal blue construct that then expanded and then moved to join the cards floating in front of Charles. Drake saw the confidence in Charles face. As someone who was prepared to duel against the 5th ranked duellist of the WDC, how could he not be prepared?

"Lets get started shall we. I activate <Graceful Charity> to draw three before I then discard two."

Touching the spell card in front of him he moved it down into projected duel disk area The two cards his discards shattered into light motes as he swiped them away, like closing a app on a pad. But the movements seemed awkward to Drakes eyes.

"Get ready to face the most sacred of knights, the champions that wield the holy blades, I summon <Noble Knight Medraut> to the field."

[Noble Knight Medraut – Lv4 ATK:1700 >1900/DEF:1000 > 1200]

A short blond haired knight in gleaming silver armour, wearing a crimson scarf while holding a steel short sword appeared on the field. Considering this was a virtual projection rather that an AR image displayed through a duel gazer, the quality was excellent in Drakes opinion. As a warrior it automatically received a 200 attack and defence boost because they were in the Squires Courtyard.

"Next I equip Medraut with the blade that proclaims kings, <Noble Arms – Caliburn>!"

In front of Charles monster appeared a sword trapped in a stone. Sheathing its own blade, Charles monster reached out and pulled the sword out, holding it aloft.

"Thanks to my Noble Arms, my monster now gains 500 ATK, and due to the field rule of this Armoury it also gains another 200 ATK for a total attack of 2600! Then due to Madraut's own effect it now becomes a level 5 dark monster."

[Noble Knight Medraut – Lv4 > 5 ATK:1900 > 2600]

"Thanks to Caliburn's effect I can now gain 500 Life points." Charles continued as a pillar of gentle light descended on Charles and his sword wielding monster.

[Charles LP > 4500]

"By using Medraut's effect I can special summon its faithful friend <Noble Knight Iyvanne> from my deck by destroying its equipped Noble Arms Caliburn."

[Noble Knight Iyvanne – Lv4 ATK:1700 >1900/DEF:1600 > 1800]

[Noble Knight Medraut – Lv5 > 4 ATK:2600 > 1900]

Iyvanne appeared on the field, a knight in green/blue armour with purple hair alongside a great golden lion as Caliburn shattered into pieces.

"With Caliburn's effect, when it is destroyed on the field, I target a warrior I control to equip it to from the graveyard. So I now Equip it to Iyvanne."

[Noble Knight Iyvanne – ATK:1900 >2600]

"With Iyvanne's effect, when I equip a Noble Arms to it I can special summon a <Noble Knight Token>. And while equipped with a Noble Arms, all other Noble Knight monsters I control gain 500 ATK."

[Noble Knight Token – Lv4 ATK :1000>1700/DEF:1000>1700, Noble Knight Medraut – ATK:1900 > 2400]

"Since Caliburn has return from the graveyard I can use its effect to once more gain 500 LP."

[Charles LP > 5000]

"But why stop at one sacred blade when I can have two. I equip <Noble Arms – Arfeudutyr> to Medraut. Arfeudutyr may not give my monster an attack boost of its own, but the Armoury field rule still does."

[Noble Knight Medraut – Lv4 > 5 ATK:2400 > 2600]

"In myths the strongest of blades was gifted to the king by the Lady, so now I special summon the <Lady of the Lake> that I sent to the graveyard with my Graceful Charity, back to the field with its effect by reducing Medraut's level by 1"

[Noble Knight Medraut – Lv5 > 4]

[Lady of the Lake – Lv1 ATK:200/DEF:1800]

A pool of water formed on the floor between the duellists, from its depths rose a pale beauty holding a pronged sword to her chest, her eyes half closed in sorrow.

"I now special summon <Noble Knight Custennin> to the field."

This could be special summoned from the hand so long as Charles controlled a Noble Arms equip spell. Its white and gold full armour suit sparkled as it ready itself on the field in defence.

[Noble Knight Custennin – Lv4 ATK:1000 > 1700/DEF:2000 > 2200]

"And the Lady of the Lake is a Tuner monster, so now gather the sacred lights and open the ignoble path of power. I tune my level 1 Lady with my level 4 Nobel Knight Token to Synchro Summon <Ignoble Knight of High Laudsallyn>."

[Ignoble Knight of High Laudsallyn – Lv5 ATK:2100 > 2300/DEF:900 > 1100]

Unlike Charles previous knights, the Ignoble knight looked more like a cursed knight clad in its black armour from which purple mist seeped from its edges.

"With High Laudsallyn's effect, when it is Synchro summoned I can equip it with a Noble Arms equip spell from my deck, so behold the sword of the king. <Noble Arms – Excaliburn>! So long as this spell is equipped to a monster that monster cannot be targeted by my opponents card effects. And don't forget the Armoury rule giving it another 200 ATK."

[Ignoble Knight of High Laudsallyn – Lv5 ATK:2300 > 2500]

"And that's just the start! With my level 4 Nobel Knight Custennin and Nobel Knight Medraut I form the Overlay Network to Xyz summon the holy king, <Artorigus, King of the Nobel Knights>."

[Artorigus, King of the Nobel Knights – Rank 4 ATK:2000 > 2700/DEF:2000 > 2200 OU:2]

"Using Artorigus effect, when it is XYZ summoned I can equip the <Noble Arms – Arfeudutyr> and <Nobel Arms – Clarent> in my grave to it. With two equip spells on it gain 400 ATK."

[Artorigus, King of the Nobel Knights – ATK:2700 > 3100]

Arfeudutyr was sent to the grave when Medraut was used as a Xyz material and Clarent had been placed there due to Charles' previous Graceful Charity along side the Lady of the Lake.

"Because I used Noble Knight Custennin for an Xyz summon, its effect allows me to normal summon an addition Noble Knight monster this turn, and along with the skill I activated at the start of my turn (March of the Army), that means I can still summon two more monsters this turn, so I summon <Noble Knight Borz> and <Nobel Knight Artorigus> to the field."

[Noble Knight Borz – LV4 ATK:1700 > 2400/DEF:900 > 1100, Nobel Knight Artorigus – Lv4 ATK:1800 > 2500/DEF:1800 > 2000]

"But they won't be around for long as I use these two monster to Xyz summon the servant of the brave king, rank 4 <Sacred Noble Knight of King Custennin>."

[Sacred Noble Knight of King Custennin – Rank 4 ATK:1500 > 2200/DEF:2500 > 2700 OU:2]

Now Charles field had four monsters in play, an effect monster, two Xyz monsters and a synchro monster.

"I end my turn, now make your move White Dragon so i can slay you!"

[Turn 2 – Drake LP:4000 Hand:5, Charles LP:5000 Hand:0]

Drake was impressed, Charles had depleted his hand to nothing in one of the longest first turns Drake had experienced since coming to this world, but in exchange he had a practical army of monsters ready to take on Drake. This was the kind of challenge Drake found fun. No other motives, no world shaking consequences, just the challenge of the duel.

"Draw!"

Ugh, now Drake knew why Charles seemed so awkward duelling in his turn. The feel of working with purely holographic cards was terrible. No substance, no weight. Looks like he had one more reason to hate this duel disk they had provided.

"I play <One for One>, with this spell by discarding my <Heliosphere Dragon> I can special summon my level 1 <Blue-Eyes Kuriboh> from my deck."

[Blue-Eyes Kuriboh – Lv1 ATK:300/DEF:200]

"Kuri!" Drakes monster scream as its bounced onto the field flapping its cardboard wings.

"Next I summon <The White Stone of Legend> to the field."

[The White Stone of Legend - Lv1 ATK:300/DEF:250]

The large white egg appeared as Drakes Kuriboh danced around it in joy.

"Now it's time to introduce you to one of the latest additions to my deck. With these two monster I build the Overlay Network to Xyz summon the third stone of the White Dragon, <The White Stone of Power>!"

[The White Stone of Power – Rank 1 ATK:300/DEF:200 OU:2]

A new white egg appeared on the field from the Overlay vortex, its shell marked with neon blue magical runes as its overlay units circled around it.

"I activate my Stone of Power's effect, by using one Overlay unit I can add a spell or trap that includes 'Blue-Eyes' in its text, like this <Burst Stream of Destruction> to my hand. And because I sent The White Stone of Legend to the grave for this effect, its effect lets me add a Blue-Eyes White Dragon to my hand."

[The White Stone of Power - OU:2 > 1]

One of Drakes monsters Overlay Units was absorbed by one of the mystical runes on the egg shell, transforming into a light that pulled a card from out of Drakes deck to join the cards floating in front of him before the rune went dark.

"I then use White Stone of Powers effect again, but this time its ability will allow me to special summon the Blue-Eyes White Dragon I just added to my hand to the field."

[The White Stone of Power - OU:1 > 0]

The second Overlay Unit was absorb a different rune before the egg seemingly cracked open to allow Drakes signiture monster to emerge and take flight.

[Blue-Eyes White Dragon – Lv8 ATK:3000/DEF:2500]

*ROAR!*

"Now I activate <Burst Stream of Destruction> to destroy all your monsters on the field, in exchange Blue-Eyes White Dragons I control cannot attack this turn."

White lighting blasted out from Drakes Blue-Eyes as it swept across the field destroying everything in its path. The proud knights Charles had gather were helpless against Blue-Eyes unstoppable might and even their sacred blades could not save them. But one blade remained sticking out from the ground, faint trails of smoke twirling around it.

"When Sacred Noble Knight of King Custennin is destroyed, its effect allows me to special summon <Sacred Noble Knight of King Artorigus> from my extra deck in defence mode and attach Knight of King Custennin to it as an Overlay Unit." Charles declared as his new knight marched onto the battlefield and put up the fallen sword in its hands.

[Sacred Noble Knight of King Artorigus – Rank 5 ATK:2200 > 2400/DEF:2200 > 2400 OU:1]

"Now I use the spell <dragonic tactics>, by tributing Blue-Eyes White Dragon and The White Stone of Power I can special summon another Blue-Eyes White Dragon from my deck."

"Why would you do that? Thanks to your Burst Stream of Destruction Blue-Eyes can't attack this turn." Charles wondered.

"Because I have this, go <Ultimate Cosplay>! With this spell I can target my Blue-Eyes and then reveal a fusion monster from my extra deck that lists it as a fusion material. So I reveal <Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon>. Then thanks to Ultimate Cosplay my Blue-Eyes name and effects change to match those of the fusion monster I just revealed."

[Blue-Eyes White Dragon > Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon]

The illusionary image of Drakes Neo Ultimate Dragon appeared around the Blue-Eyes White Dragon before transforming into a bright white light that blocked the dragon from view. A flash of white light pulsed to reveal Drakes monster now clad in its cosplay costume in the form of two cardboard ultimate dragon heads, glittering blue sticker markings were stuck across its body and a crown crest adorned its true head.

"Since my Blue-Eyes name has changed, it is no longer prevented from attacking. Go and attack Knight of King Artorigus with Neo Imitation Burst!"

The two imitation heads opened their jaws to reveal laser cannons that began to charge their power as the true head gathered its own energy before being unleashed. Twin beams of blue energy spiralled around a ball of white lightning as it smashed into Charles guarding knight.

[NBEUD ATK:3000 > SNKoKA DEF:2400]

*BOOM*

As the smoke cleared another familiar knight was revealed to have take the destroyed monsters place.

"When my Knight is destroyed I can special summon a level 4 or high Noble Knight from my Graveyard, so appear once more <Nobel Knight Medraut> in defence mode." Charles explained.

[Nobel Knight Medraut – Lv4 ATK:1700 > 1900/DEF:1000 > 1200]

"I have studied you and your monsters and I know a Neo Ultimate dragon can attack multiple times so long as its your only face up card on the field, but with Medraut protecting my life points you don't have enough power to finish me this turn." Charles continued.

"Not bad, but not good enough. I activate the quickplay spell <Dragon's Fighting Spirit> targeting my Blue-Eyes, allowing me to attack you again!"

Dragons Fighting Spirt targeted a dragon that was special summoned this turn and then granted it an additional attack for each monster the opponent currently controls which was special summoned this turn. Meaning Drakes Blue-Eyes could make an additional attack this turn even before using its effect.

[NBEUD ATK:3000 > NKM DEF:1200]

*BANG*

Drakes Blue-Eyes annihilated Charles last line of defence in a blaze of light and lightning. Charles expression turned grim, he could do the maths and knew how things were going to end now.

"That not all, as you know my dragon not only has Neo Blue-Eyes name but its effects as well, so by sending a Blue-Eyes fusion monster from my extra deck to the grave, my monster can attack again! So I send the true Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon to the Grave, go direct attack! Neo Imitation Burst!"

[Charles LP > 2000]

*ZAP*

"Arrgh!"

Light blasted into Charles as he lost over half of his life points in single attack and it was not over.

"And this effect can be used twice per turn, so I send my Blue-Eyes Twin Burst Dragon to the grave to attack you directly and end this duel!"

[Charles LP > 0]

*BOOM!*

<<DRAKE WINS. 200 Duel points & x1 Duel Skill: Pride of Tribe I claimed. As the first person to win a duel in Squires Courtyard Drake gains 1 reputation point >>

Charles Duel disk dimmed and locked itself back up like it was before the round had started, signalling Charles elimination from the WDC. Even now his duel disk would be sending a location signal to patrol bots that would arrive in half an hour to escort the fallen duellist off the island.

"Oh well, guess this is what I get for challenging a top 10 contender." Charles sighed, knowing that he had blown his only chance at fame.

"Sorry, but it was a good duel. Better luck next time." Said Drake honestly praised as he took the opportunity to leave and look for the reason he had come to Squire court in the first place, the Trial of the Six.