* Shian is walking through the streets, to reach Isabel's place. Not that they're really thrilled to be doing this, but what can they do? They sigh, taking a turn, trying to ignore the feeling like someone's staring at them. If they cut through the alleyway, they'll reach the right street faster, so...
* [Cloaked_Signer] of course. the thing is, the feeling isn't paranoia. Someone IS staring at Shian. Once they take that turn through the alleyway, the figure sets their plan into motion. Shian scarcely realizes what's happening, until they hear a "FWIP FWIP" of arrows passing them by, embedding themselves into the building sides once they reach the open clearing in the alleys.
<Shian> What the--? *that's all they can get out before the arrows seem to ignite, creating a connected circle and blocking the path forward. They whip around to go back the way they were going, regretting trying to go for a shortcut, but.*
* [Cloaked_Signer] is standing right there, blocking the way. cloaked and intimidating.
<Shian> ... Who the hell are you.
<[Cloaked_Signer]> You'll know soon enough. Signer of the Red Daemon's Dragon, I have a message to send through you to the other Signers.
<Shian> *... che* I'm not exactly a messenger, you know. If you have something to say to them, you can say it yourself. In fact, I'm heading over there right now to meet up with them. You can come with. *waving off the tension of the situation*
<[Cloaked_Signer]> I can't do that. They'll only disregard me if I don't show my strength. And what I'm going to do right now is show my strength. *he produces one of the newer disks, readying it on his arm*
<Shian> *making a face* And what exactly makes you think I'm just going to duel you? Because you trapped me?
<[Cloaked_Signer]> I could always shoot your legs instead and be done with it. Either way, you're going to duel me.
* Shian ... glances at the bow and arrow set on the cloaked figure's back. Who the hell uses actual bows and arrows these days, outside of school clubs and the sort? Clearly they're dealing with a weirdo, here. They could try to go for weakening them... but the chances are better of handling a duel instead. Gah.
<[Cloaked_Signer]> Well? Are we going to duel, or will I have to go to Plan B?
<Shian> Gah, fine! Fine! *getting out their own D-Pad from their pocket and getting it set up with the deck.* Whatever, I'll chase you off through this, if that's what you want!
<[Cloaked_Signer]> Duel Start, then. [8000 LP] *his disk activates, the hard light outline a bright white.*
<Shian> Going right to it, then, huh. Duel! [8000 LP]
<[Cloaked_Signer]> I take first turn! *he draws his opening hand* I summon, Raiden, Hand of the Lightsworn! (1700 ATK) *the dark-skinned warrior appears, both blades at ready*
* Shian makes a face already. Lightsworn, huh?
<[Cloaked_Signer]> I use Raiden's effect! *Raiden slashes as two cards appear in front of him. Solar Recharge and Wulf, Lightsworn Beast. Who proceeds to appear from the slashed up card, growling. (2100 ATK) (1700 > 1900 ATK)*
<[Cloaked_Signer]> I set one card, and finish my turn. *two more cards appear as Raiden's strength falls back to normal. Plaguespreader Zombie... and a second Wulf, who appears on the field, joining his twin. (2100 ATK)*
<Shian> Che... already got quite a field set up, huh. Draw!
<Shian> I activate the field spell card, The Midnight Exhibit! *the alleyway surroundings shift to a dimly lit high-class museum with multiple empty cases*
<Shian> Next, activate Ticket to the Midnight Exhibit! *a card appears, showing a silver and golden embossed ticket being handed off* I add Gem-Knight Melanite from the deck to my hand.
<Shian> Now, Gem-Knight Nuumite, appear! *a sorta bug-like gem rock appears, scuttling around a little. (1000 ATK)* I banish it and Black Gem Star Diopside from my hand to Special Summon two Gem-Knight Nuumites from my deck, instead! *Nuumite seems to split open, showing the internal geode, as the other half produces legs to move on. (1000 ATK x2)*
<Shian> Construct the Overlay Network! *the swirling network appears before them* I overlay the two Level 3 Nuumites! Come out, the fiend who finds all using the dark pendulum! Xyz Summon! Diviner of Black Gems! (2000 ATK) *a partially crystalized fiend appears on the field from the network, two dark materials circling it as it sways a pendulum back and forth*
* [Cloaked_Signer] right, that's the one that's invincible to battle... but it has that added effect that's to his advantage...
<Shian> Diviner! Attack Raiden! *Diviner's Pendulum sways, before pointing at Raiden, a wave of dark energy rushing forth and shattering him*
* [Cloaked_Signer] [7700 LP]
<Shian> ... I choose to not activate Diviner's effect. I set one card, and finish my turn.
<[Cloaked_Signer]> Hnmn, guess you've dealt with Lightsworn before, haven't you. *drawing*
<Shian> Anyone who's been around in the past decade, sure.
<[Cloaked_Signer]> Hm. I set one monster. Wulfs, attack the Diviner!
<Shian> Diviner can't be destroyed by battle! *Diviner weathers the blows from the Wulfs, doing minimal damage. [7800 LP]*
<[Cloaked_Signer]> Hnm. I finish my turn there.
<Shian> *he didn't do much... but that set monster worries them. Better make sure to have something out.* I draw!
<Shian> I set one monster. Diviner, attack one of the Wulfs! When Diviner attacks a monster of higher ATK, it makes that ATK score equal to it's own! *Diviner sends out a weakening wave, bringing down one of the Wulf's ATK to 2000-- just in time for a new wave to bowl it over*
<Shian> I end there.
* [Cloaked_Signer] draws
<[Cloaked_Signer]> Time to take the advantage. Flip-summon, Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter!
* [Cloaked_Signer] Shian makes an understandable sound of annoyance as the small wolf flips up onto the field, growling as it goes at Diviner, striking through and causing it to shatter, reforming in one of the display cases. (1) Three cards go by. Solemn Warning, Necro Gardna, Twilight Eraser.
<[Cloaked_Signer]> Twilight Eraser's effect! I special summon Felis, Lightsworn Archer from my hand! (2000 DEF) *the archer appears, bow and arrow at ready as she glares across the field*
<[Cloaked_Signer]> Finally, I summon the tuner monster. Plaguespreader Zombie!
* [Cloaked_Signer] a shambling zombie appears, but it's just happy to be here, really. (400 ATK)
<[Cloaked_Signer]> Tuning!
<[Cloaked_Signer]> Level 2 Tuner Plaguespreader Zombie. Level 4 Wulf! Level 2 Ryko! *he pulls down his sleeve, as a suspicious mark on his arm glows red.*
<Shian> ... wait, what the--
<[Cloaked_Signer]> Synchro Summon! The god dragon of the winds that blow! Black-Winged Dragon! (2800 ATK) *a large black, bird-like dragon appears on the field, flapping, causing the glass display cases to shudder*
<Shian> What! *exclaims that a little incredulously. They've definitely not heard of a Black-Winged Dragon. And that mark-- it glows like a Signer's mark!*
<[Cloaked_Signer]> Battle! Black-Winged Dragon, take out the set monster!
* [Cloaked_Signer] Black-Winged Dragon swoops in, claws shredding through the card, revealing a cryalized mechanical rabbit.
* Shian it shatters, forming in another display case. (2)
<Shian> -- effect activate!
<Shian> I discard Black Gem Star Diopside from my hand to draw one card. Then, I set a Black Gem Obsibunny from my deck to the field!
* Shian a card appears on the field.
<[Cloaked_Signer]> I end my turn.
<Shian> Yeah, good, because I have a few questions, now. Who the hell are you?
<[Cloaked_Signer]> I'm a Signer, clearly.
<Shian> "Clearly" one I'd never been informed of, since no one's ever mentioned a "Black-Winged Dragon" before.
<[Cloaked_Signer]> Hnm. Why don't you ask your dragon then to verify this?
<Shian> *bristling* You know what? I will.
<Shian> *draws* Activate Ticket to the Midnight Exhibit! I add a second Gem-Knight Melanite to hand. Then, I flip-summon my Obsibunny! *the crytal rabbit bounds up from the card. (900 > 1100 ATK) I discard Netherworld Security, and draw. *tosses the card, and then draws, almost slicing through the air with it* ... Monster Reborn!
<Shian> I revive your own Wulf! *the Wulf appears on Shian's field, growling and readying his claws* (2100 ATK) And then... Normal Summon the Tuner monster! Gem-Knight Melanite! (2000 > 2200 ATK)
* [Cloaked_Signer] ... wow, I told him to ask, but I didn't expect he'd just do it right now...
<Shian> Tuning! *holds up their hand, as the Wulf and Melanite form the rings and stars* Level 4 Tuner Melanite! Level 4 monster Wulf! Descend, the fire-red ruby of strength! My partner! Jeweled Red Daemon's Dragon! (3000 ATK) *Red Daemon's forms on the field, and for a moment, there's silence. Before Shian gestures to the Black-Winged Dragon and the mysterious Signer.*
<Shian> What the hell is that.
<RedDaemons> ... Brother, I thought I'd never see you take your duties seriously.
<Shian> Wait, you actually know what that is?!
<RedDaemons> That thing is my brother, the sixth Dragon General of the Five God Dragon.
* [Cloaked_Signer] the Black-Winged Dragon seems to laugh, rolling over in the air a bit lazily. The voice that comes out sounds... oddly easy-going. "I've been doing my duties for quite a long while, since we lost touch. My Signer is very dedicated."
<Shian> So he is actually a Signer...
<[Cloaked_Signer]> Not just a Signer. But the first Signer of this era.
<Shian> The... first?
<Shian> Well-- no matter! This is the middle of a duel!
<Shian> Red! Effect activate! Wipe out all other attackers on the field!
* Shian the effect triggers, a blaze wiping out the Obsibunny-- who forms in one of the cases, hopping around with it's twin as a crystal statue-- but also engulfs the Black-Winged Dragon, who flips over rightwise once it sees it coming.
<[Cloaked_Signer]> Trap Card, activate!
<[Cloaked_Signer]> Shadow Impulse!
<Shian> What.
<RedDaemons> ?!
<[Cloaked_Signer]> When a Synchro Monster I control is destroyed by battle or effect, I can special summon a Synchro Monster of the same type and level from the Extra Deck, but with a different name! *he raises up his hand, cloak billowing*
<[Cloaked_Signer]> Come on out, the raging storms! Blackfeather Darkrage Dragon! (2800 ATK) *the flames release from where Black-Winged Dragon was, and... he looks similar, but the armor on it's underside has increased, a strange white and purple aura surrounding him as the claws shine.*
* [Cloaked_Signer] as the room seems to rumble from an unseen thunderstorm
<Shian> ... is that normal? *pointing the Darkrage*
<RedDaemons> Define Normal.
<Shian> Expected to you.
* [Cloaked_Signer] well, one thing's for sure. Your brother wasn't going by "Darkrage" before, so...
<RedDaemons> ... This is clearly a new form for him. Much like this is for me.
<Shian> Well, it doesn't feel right to me. But I guess I can't afford to dwell on this now. Red, attack! (3300 ATK)
* RedDaemons growls pulling his claw back
* RedDaemons and swinging it at his brother's face to grab it
<[Cloaked_Signer]> From the graveyard! Necro Gardna! *a darkened barrier appears over the field, reflecting Red's claw. ... ... Darkrage is totally giving as much a smirk a bird-dragon can give.*
<Shian> Hnmng... Turn end!
<[Cloaked_Signer]> Draw.
<[Cloaked_Signer]> I summon Ehren, Lightsworn Monk! *a young woman with strong legs appears on the field, ready to kick someone in* And then... Felis, effect activate!
<Shian> Oh, no.
<[Cloaked_Signer]> I tribute Felis to destroy the Jeweled Red Daemon's Dragon!
<RedDaemons> ?!
* [Cloaked_Signer] Felis puts all of her energy into her arrow.
* [Cloaked_Signer] before releasing it, striking through Red
* RedDaemons growls, giving the cloaked signer and Darkrage a very rude eye.
* Shian before you shatter. Ergh, this can't get worse, right?
* [Cloaked_Signer] three cards mill by. Raiden, Jain, and Jar of Avarice.
<[Cloaked_Signer]> Special Summon!
* Shian ... I just had to think that.
<[Cloaked_Signer]> Judgment Dragon!
<[Cloaked_Signer]> (3000 ATK)
* [Cloaked_Signer] Judgment Dragon descends, stomping down onto the floor.
<[Cloaked_Signer]> Ehren! Blackfeather Darkrage Dragon! Judgment Dragon! Direct attack!
* Shian moves their arms to guard themselves-- especially the head-- as Ehren kicks, Blackfeather shreds, and Judgment Dragon roars, throwing them off-balance and to the floor. GAH. Those-- those were not pleasant. Those were bad. Really bad. [400 LP]
<Shian> So... You got that kinda thing going, huh... uggh... *pushes themselves up. I'm gonna feel sore later.*
<[Cloaked_Signer]> I always figured it standard, with Signers, to put their full force behind their moves. Unless I was mistaken? *he motions to end his turn. The cards roll by. Ryko, and Lumina, but they look... weird. Darker. cloaked. And Ehren, regular Ryko, Raiden, Gargonith, and Solar Recharge.*
<Shian> I-I've got my own thing I can do. *coughs* I've got no reason to try to beat up on someone through duels. *Drawing*
<[Cloaked_Signer]> Yes, I noticed. That's why you left the Junior League. Because you don't want to bring that upon yourself.
<Shian> *che* What, you've been watching?
<[Cloaked_Signer]> Of course. Now, will you do something, or are you going to give up?
<Shian> Keh. Summon, Black Gem Rabbit!
* Shian a half-crystal Rescue Rabbit appears from a hole in the ground. Before digging back down.
<Shian> I banish them! Special Summon, Black Gem Wulfenites! (2000 > 2300 ATK x2) *two partially crystalized wolfmen appear from the hole, as though tossed out, before righting themselves*
<Shian> Construct the Overlay Network!
<Shian> *the vortex appears before them, glittering* The Level 4 Wulfenites combine into the network! Xyz Summon! The alluring sheen! Gem-Knight Black Pearl! (2700 > 3000 ATK) *the Black Pearl leaps out of the Network, crossing their arms as they stare down* I remove a material!
<Shian> *Black Pearl holds out a hand, as the material enters it, forming two cards* I banish Jeweled Red Daemon's Dragon and Diviner of Black Gems from the Graveyard to draw twice!
* Shian the cards vanish, as Shian draws.
<Shian> Then... Activate my set card! Escape from the Dark Dimension!
<Shian> Come back! Jeweled Red Daemon's Dragon! *a wormhole opens up behind them, as Red crashes through*
<[Cloaked_Signer]> Ah... So you banished him just to bring him back... Least you're more tenacious than you came off as, in the Junior League.
<Shian> Oh, shut up. Effect activate! Red, wipe out the whole field!
* Shian the flames spread and envelope all of the other attackers, including Black Pearl, who appears as a statue in one of the cases. (4) (3400 ATK) But it does also mean that Mysterious Signer X's entire field is wiped out as well. And he only has one card in hand...
<Shian> I activate Underground Appraisal. I add Recurring Nightmare to my hand, but I can't activate it this turn! *swipes out the card as it spits out from the deck, as three cards go to the Graveyard. Mirror Force, The Midnight Exhibit, and Gem-Knight Melanite.* Battle!
<Shian> Red, attack directly! Absolute Powerforce!
* [Cloaked_Signer] guards himself in preparation for Red's attack
* [Cloaked_Signer] Red's attack hits with a flaming aura claw, about knocking the cloaked opponent into one of the empty displays, causing it to crack and break. [4700 LP] "Ghh... that's more like it..."
* Shian just gives this sour look, still feeling the soreness in their arms and legs from the attacks before...
<Shian> Turn end.
* [Cloaked_Signer] seems to take a deep breath, as he stands up. One card in hand. And that card is useless to him right now. So... He'll need to bet on this... He puts his fingers to the deck, to draw, taking a moment to focus. Before drawing, a streak of light following it.
* [Cloaked_Signer] he flips it over, and it's... ! "I summon, Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner! (1000 ATK)"
<[Cloaked_Signer]> I discard Punishment Dragon from my hand to Special Summon Raiden from the Graveyard! *Raiden appears, who immediately uses his effect. slicing through two cards: Solemn Strike and Harpie's Feather Duster. ... not what he'd have wanted. he used up all of his draw luck on that Lumina. (1700 ATK)*
<[Cloaked_Signer]> Tuning!
<Shian> Oh, geeze.
<[Cloaked_Signer]> Level 4 Tuner monster Raiden! Level 3 monster Lumina! Spread your wings and descend from the heavens! Synchro Summon! Michael, the Arch-Lightsworn! (2600 ATK)
* [Cloaked_Signer] Michael comes down from what seems to be a ray of light, looking on high from atop his dragon
* Shian I'm half-way between impressed and mad that he seemed to draw exactly what he needed, here.
<[Cloaked_Signer]> Effect activate!
<[Cloaked_Signer]> I pay 1000 LP [3300 LP] to banish the Jeweled Red Daemon's Dragon! *Michael raises up his sword, as rays of light come down, piercing through Red in multiple spots, before he vanishes.*
* Shian oh goddamnit.
<[Cloaked_Signer]> Battle! Michael, attack directly!
* [Cloaked_Signer] the dragon he's on swoops in, heading for Shian as Michael readies his sword. Before he slices through.
<Shian> AH! [0000 LP] *goes down to one knee, as they hold onto the area they were sliced through at, checking to make sure they weren't just-- just bisected or something. god, it stings. But... but there doesn't seem to be any bleeding... ugh...*
* [Cloaked_Signer] meanwhile the field vanishes, as the cloaked person holds out a hand, the mark on his arm glowing. Red, while you're in your card, you feel something... "copying" you. As a card appears in his hand. He pockets it before Shian can even notice it.
<[Cloaked_Signer]> I win. And I'll let you go. But you'd best relay the message I want, unless you want me to not hold back with that final attack, next time.
<Shian> Geh... *cough, cough* I'm still not... a messenger...
<[Cloaked_Signer]> Too bad. Tell the other Signers they don't have to concern themselves with interrupting their lives. I, the first Signer, will take care of both of the escaped prisoners myself. And that if they want to, I'll take them down myself to prove my strength to them, too.
* [Cloaked_Signer] he snaps his fingers, as the arrows that were blocking the way seem to fizzle out and disintegrate.
<Shian> Tell them that... yourself...
* [Cloaked_Signer] rude, even in loss. Whatever, he got what he wanted, and they're likely to mention him, anyway... He shakes his head, as he jumps away, leaving Shian to ponder that loss. And also the fact that their arms and legs are figuratively screaming at them, now.