* ShinobirdCrane so, you've journeyed way too long, way too far, your feet are sore, and you feel like you're in a forest that's in a TV studio, while also being in a deep dark Hokkaido forest in the end of March.
* [Kou] sore feet won't stop me. Kou looks around, his cloak's hood up. "You sure this is where they are?" He seems to listen as something responds in his head, stepping forward.
* ShinobirdCrane you slowly walk through ruined Torii, leading to a large ancient monolith
* [Kou] ... taking a deep breath as he approaches the monolith. Okay. You can do this.
* ShinobirdCrane the energy here is quite strong
* [Kou] stops. ... okay. I know they're here. Maybe I should announce myself? Let's try that.
<[Kou]> If someone is here-- I am Tezaki, Kou. Signer representative of the Black-Winged Dragon! I request an audience with a representative of the Shinobirds who call this area their home.
<ShinobirdCrane> Why should we answer to the Failed Signer?
<ShinobirdCrane> Whose dragon foresakes its duty
<[Kou]> *fuming internally. he resists snapping out about that* I'm here to fulfill a necessary duty. The Ancient Fairy Dragon has been striken with illness, and the longer she's incapacitated, the more likely it is that other horrors sealed by the Dragons will be released onto the world.
<ShinobirdCrane> We are not of the world, so we are not concerned by it.
<[Kou]> And if those horrors spread to other worlds? What then?
<[Kou]> I mean, you might not care about here, but it's not like they're going to stick to one spot if they can.
<ShinobirdCrane> We are not concerned.
<[Kou]> ... Well, I am. So, here's my terms. Duel me, so I can show you just how much strength even someone you call a "failed Signer" has. If I win, you have to provide something to rid the Ancient Fairy Dragon of her illness. And don't act like you have nothing.
<ShinobirdCrane> ... And what do we get in return for her healing
<ShinobirdCrane> She scorns her duty
<[Kou]> Would you feel better if I'm dedicated to making sure she faces her duty, no matter how much she cries about it?
<ShinobirdCrane> ... Something to that effect, might well do.
<ShinobirdCrane> But if we judge you to fail doing so, at any time or point, you will have to pay the reprocussions.
<[Kou]> ... Fine. I'll face what I need to. But do you accept dueling me?
* ShinobirdCrane five things resembling cards appear.
* [Kou] loads up his hardlight disk.
<[Kou]> You can take the first turn.
<ShinobirdCrane> I activate a Field Spell, Magical Mid-Breaker Field. ::Kou, your body literally feels weighd down by magic.
* [Kou] gnh. he keeps himself as steady as he can, even as he's forced down a little.
<ShinobirdCrane> This card prevents opposing monsters from being targeted by effects along with destruction during tehe Main Phase.
<[Kou]> Hnmf... fine.
<[Kou]> Continue.
<ShinobirdCrane> I set a monster in the face-down defensive. ::Enjoy a black blob sitting on his field ominously.::
<ShinobirdCrane> End Turn
<[Kou]> Right. Draw! *he pulls out the card, and then activates a different one* Charge of the Light Brigade! Mill three cards from my deck to add one Lightsworn monster from my deck to my hand. *the three cards flash by. Jain. Raiden. And Felis, who materializes onto the field, bow and arrow at ready as she crouches defensively. (2000 DEF)* I add... Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner, to my hand!
<[Kou]> Now... Summon, Lumina! (1000 ATK) *Lumina appears on the field, already chanting a spell* I discard Wulf from my hand to revive Raiden from the grave! *Lumina's chanting intensifies, before she waves her hands, light shining in front of her. Raiden seems to leap out of it. (1700 ATK)*
<[Kou]> Raiden's effect activates. Mill the top two cards of my deck. *an Ehren and a Wulf flash by-- before Wulf materializes onto the field. (2100 ATK)* And since a Lightsworn was sent by this, Raiden's ATK becomes 1900! Battle!
<[Kou]> Wulf, attack the set monster!
* [Kou] Wulf charges in, using his claws for the moment.
<ShinobirdCrane> Shinobird Pigeon is destroyed. ::The Servant Bird vanishes.::
<[Kou]> Raiden! Lumina! Go! *Raiden goes in with the dagger at you, Crane, while Lumina casts a light spell at you*
* ShinobirdCrane blunts the attacks using its bow to deflect its strikes
* [Kou] the damage still connects.
* [Kou] so 5100 LP for you.
<[Kou]> Next, Main Phase 2!
<[Kou]> Set one card. Double Tuning! I tune together Lumina and Felis, and Raiden and Wulf! The Archangel and the god of the winds, come forth! Synchro Summon! Michael, the Arch-Lightsworn! (2600 ATK) And Black-Winged Dragon! (2800 ATK) *the monsters all tune together. The rings, the stars. as the two monsters appear. Michael in front, as Black-Winged Dragon spreads its' wings above*
<[Kou]> I end my turn. Michael's effect! *three cards flash by. Solemn Strike, Lightsworn Sanctuary, and Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter.*
<ShinobirdCrane> Draw.
<ShinobirdCrane> Pre-Preparation of Rites
<ShinobirdCrane> I add Shinobird's Calling and Shinobaron Peacock to my hand
<ShinobirdCrane> I then use the sacred sea guardian, Gamciel the Sea Turtle Kaiju
<ShinobirdCrane> to Ritual Summon Shinobaron Peacock
* [Kou] braces himself for when it appears
* ShinobirdCrane two new 'cards' appear
<ShinobirdCrane> Herd of the Stars, Prince of the Wind, Form the Path of Magpies and Desced Upon This Lowly Mortal Realm!
<ShinobirdCrane> Ritual Summon!
<ShinobirdCrane> Shinobaron Peacock (3000 ATK)
<ShinobirdCrane> Black-Winged Dragon and Michael return to your hand! Sword of Celestial Driving!
<[Kou]> Wha-- *Black-Winged Dragon and Michael get driven back, returning to the "hand"-- or in this case, the Extra Deck, by the aura of the Shinobaron*
<ShinobirdCrane> Baron Peacock
<ShinobirdCrane> Attack directly! (3000 ATK)
* [Kou] ghh! he defends himself with his arms, even as the Peacock's attack hits. (5000 LP)
<ShinobirdCrane> Set 1 card, and Ending of the Turn!
* ShinobirdCrane Peacock whips up in a tornado as two very very pretty and overly ornate peacocks appear.
* [Kou] there we go.
<[Kou]> Draw!
<[Kou]> I summon Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress! *the black-haired spellcaster appears on the field, lightly chanting in a somewhat singsong voice* I attack... Them! *points to one of the peacocks, as Lyla casts her spell, causing a beam of light to come down on the token.*
* ShinobirdCrane one of the Peacocks shatters, clicking their tongue
* ShinobirdCrane and beak
<[Kou]> Main Phase 2! I switch Lyla to defense for her effect, destroying your set card! Lyla, cast your spell! *Lyla chants a different "song" as she kneels, as the light comes up from the set card, enveloping it* (200 DEF)
<ShinobirdCrane> Urgent Ritual Art is destroyed. ::... Next turn, next turn...::
<[Kou]> I set one card, and end my turn. Lyla's effect! *the cards flicker by. Solar Recharge, and Lumina and Jain, but... they both look kinda different...*
* ShinobirdCrane quirks an eye
<ShinobirdCrane> Draw.
* ShinobirdCrane stares at his hand, contemplatively
<ShinobirdCrane> "End of Turn"
<[Kou]> Draw!
<[Kou]> I activate my set card, Jar of Avarice! I return Raiden, Lumina, Charge of the Light Brigade, Lightsworn Sanctuary, and Solar Recharge to my deck. *it shuffles as the cards return, before he draws* Activate Solar Recharge, discarding from my hand: Lyla, Twilightsworn Magus! *that isn't the Lyla you're seeing in front of you. Still, he discarded it. Draw twice, and then mills: Necro Gardna and Raiden.*
<[Kou]> Now... summon, Jain! Twilightsworn General! (1800 ATK) *well, that's different. A version of Jain appears, only their cape is a black and golden color instead of the white, sword looking red and somewhat cursed*
<[Kou]> I banish Wulf from my Graveyard to reduce the remaining Token's strength by 300 points, times the banished Wulf's level. 1200! *Jain's sword glows, as the strength seems to be drained from the peacock.*
* ShinobirdCrane glowers.
<[Kou]> Construct the Overlay Network, next! The Level 4 Jain, and the Level 4 Lyla. Light and darkness intertwines to give an ascended form! Xyz Summon, Miverva, the Exalted Lightsworn! (2000 ATK) *the two monsters turn into energy orbs, as Minerva seems to descend from the Network, her wings spread widely. with her owl friend.*
<[Kou]> I detach a material to use her milling effect. *the dark orb gets absorbed into her staff, as she waves it. The cards flicker by. Gragonith. Solemn Warning. And... Felis. Who appears on the field once more. (2000 DEF)* I draw two cards since two Lightsworn hit the graveyard because of that. Battle!
<[Kou]> Minerva, attack the weakened token! *Minerva gives a little command to her owl friend, who flaps up and swoops in at the peacock token.*
* ShinobirdCrane it shatters, the bird grimacing
<[Kou]> I end there.
<ShinobirdCrane> Draw
<ShinobirdCrane> Normal Summon Shinobird Crow
<ShinobirdCrane> Discarding his leige the Baron to grant my Ninja 3000 ATK, allowing it to destroy that defiler!
* ShinobirdCrane the Ninja Crow darts around bouncing around in the style of the Baron, cleaving Minerva in twain
* [Kou] Minerva seems surprised at the sudden callout, as Crow goes right through her, shattering. (4000 LP)
<[Kou]> Hnmnf... a defiler, huh? Well, she won't take that sitting down. Minerva's effect, activate!
* [Kou] the owl friend's spirit appears
<[Kou]> I mill the top three cards of my deck. *the cards flicker. Plaguespreader Zombie. Raiden. Ehren. as the ghostly owl glows* Two Lightsworns are gone! That means now, I get to destroy two cards on the field! Destroy Shinobird Crow and your Magical Mid-Breaker Field!
* [Kou] the owl seems to explode into light, encompassing the Crow and the surroundings, before nothing is left.
<ShinobirdCrane> End Turn.
<[Kou]> Draw.
<[Kou]> It's time. Summon! Lyla, Twilightsworn Magus! (1700 ATK) *Lyla appears, only she's more... witchy this time. complete with the hat and a dark cape, despite her white and gold clothing underneath.*
<ShinobirdCrane> ... ::I am going to keep note of you.::
<[Kou]> Tuning! Level 4 tuner Felis, and Level 4 monster, Lyla! Give form to anger, the wind and blows through the valleys in a storm! Get your revenge now! Synchro Summon! *raising up his hand, as the winds pick up around them* Blackfeather Darkrage Dragon! (2800 ATK)
* [Kou] what forms is Black-Winged Dragon, but it seems to have a silvery sheen to it-- the winds have moved into being a storm, claws sharpened and wings spread out.
<[Kou]> Finally... Special Summon from my hand. *... wait this is a Lightsworn deck. oh no. a dragon's foot stomps out of a portal that ripped through onto the field.*
<[Kou]> Judgment Dragon! (3000 ATK)
<ShinobirdCrane> ...
<ShinobirdCrane> The ultimate destroyer.
<[Kou]> Nice to see you recognize it. Battle!
* ShinobirdCrane tries to fend off the two dragons, but, there's no defenses to protect them
<[Kou]> Judgment Dragon! Blackfeather Darkrage Dragon! Attack! Judgment Day! *Judgment Dragon roars out, light striking down at you from the stormy heavens, as Darkrage swoops in and grabs you, flying up before dropping. ow.*
* ShinobirdCrane drops to the ground undignified
<[Kou]> ... I win. *0000 LP shows for you, Crane. The two monsters fade away, though Darkrage does linger a moment to stare down at you and give a sorta huffing sound. the offense is clear.*
* ShinobirdCrane stands up, wiping themselves of the dirt.
<ShinobirdCrane> We acknowledge you and will provide the medicine you needed.
<ShinobirdCrane> However, should she stray again.
<ShinobirdCrane> We will take things into our own hands as due compensation, Signer.
<[Kou]> Of course. I'm aware of the deal here.
* [Kou] least you're not calling me "failed" now.
* ShinobirdCrane vanishes for a moment before returning with a small gourd of water and broken off fern leaves and berries and roots
<ShinobirdCrane> Grind these up and mix it with this water
* [Kou] gets out a cloth to put the fern leaves, berries, and roots into. tying it up and securing it, before taking the water.
<[Kou]> Thank you for your cooperation. For the good of anyone involved, they better work.
* [Kou] he bows his head, though it's clear he's got distaste for you, Crane. As he turns and heads off. ... god, got another long trek ahead of me. uggh.