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Yu Gi Oh: Tower of Faith | Chapter 40

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An hour goes by behind Synchro Sandwiches, Awakened Archanist charges at Tacey's opponent as their life points drop to zero, after a short exchange of words Tacey's fourth opponent leaves.

Tacey tries to loosen her hands and arms a bit from drawing and holding the Duel Disk up. "If I have to beat this whole crowd, I better watch myself..." she thought as she shuffled her deck anew.

Michael approaches Tacey as he lets out a small yawn. "Looks like you've got this...I'll be heading off now."

Tacey lets out a sigh. "Can you at least get me a bottle of water or two before you go? If I pass out in front of the crowd, that would be bad."

Michael rubbed his right eye. "When I was the regional champion, I never got any water..." He muttered as he looked over at the long line of duelists. "...you're lucky these guys are just after a date, and not trying to destroy your pride and title."

Tacey looked down. "Don't remind me..."

Michael then looked back at Tacey. "If you can't handle this level of stress, then you will have no chance of passing the test duel Haynes has in store for you."

Tacey shook her head. "Fine. Forget I asked..."

"I'm not asking you to be grateful." Michael admitted as he began to walk off towards Olivia who was waving from a distance. "...just don't be moaning when I warned you."

Tacey closed her eyes for a moment. "Looks like it's all on me, then." she thought aloud before looking back at the crowd. "Who's next?"

Olivia heads over to Michael. "So, about lunch...how about we check out 'Fusion Foods'. They have this crazy concept of mixing two or more styles of cuisines you pick. Sounds like it could be fun!"

"Sure..." Michael replied with no energy. "Where is it?" He asked as he walked past Olivia, expecting her to walk along with him.

Olivia looks confused as he walks past her. "Hey!" she says before walking over to him, following at his side. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, why...?"

"One, you walked past me. Second, you sound like you haven't slept in days." Olivia said before taking a right turn at the nearest intersection.

Michael followed Olivia's right turn. "...sounds just like me."

Olivia keeps walking for a minute, having trouble figuring what was going on. "Do you think Tacey has what it takes to deal with all of those duelists? It's not that I don't think she can, but I just hope someone doesn't get a one-up on her if she ever gets really hungry or thirsty."

Michael lets out a small grunt. "As I hinted to her...I went through way worse than that when I was the Regional champ...when your agent just wants money out of you there's no stopping. Always travelling, duelling, personal trainer making me duel whilst travelling...she's lucky I give her so many hours a say to herself."

Olivia folds her arms. "You think it's gonna be like that for us once the whole mess with Jupiter Six is over?" she continued, stopping at a red light and waiting to turn left.

Michael shook his head. "My situation was...unique..."

Olivia started walking the moment the light turned green. "Maybe, but I'm still curious. I mean, once we beat them, then what?"

"Then you do what you want, same as you are now." Michael replied. "Remember...I never asked any of you to take on the Jupiter Six..."

Olivia stopped on the other side of the street and looked at Michael. "And there can't be a 'Jupiter Six' if you're the only one at the top! Besides, if you WERE the top banana, what would you do, huh?"

"Guessing that's your way of asking what I'm doing once Haynes is taken care of..." He commented as he walked past Olivia. "If I told you, you'd follow...so not gonna tell you. Best if you all stay here."

Olivia shook her head before continuing her walk, feeling like she shouldn't have bothered asking.

Upon walking along main street, the two notice a small crowd of people trying to peer into 'Fusion Foods'.

"...guessing that's the place you chose?" Michael asked.

Olivia looks disheartened at the crowd in front of the restaurant. "Yeah..."

Suddenly Andrea's head poked out of the crowd, noticing the two before waving and running over. "Heeey!"

"Willow, what's going on?" Michael asked, though care was barely in his voice.

Andrea let out an irritated sigh. "I tell ya, any member of the Jupiter Six just think they can reserve an ENTIRE restaraunt for themselves...and they were having a special on jamaican dishes today!" She yelled in frustration, clenching both fists.

Olivia groaned. "One of the-? Urgh...and I was waiting for this! Which of the Six did it?"

Andrea thought for a moment. "Didn't say a name, hence why everyone is trying to peek in...but whoever it was they were really short..."

Olivia clenched a fist. "Must be Crystal..."

Andrea's face lit up. "Oh yeaah...why was I thinking Samuel Haynes slouching like a hunchback...?"

Michael sighed. "Well, shall we head elsewhere?"

Olivia shrugs. "Aww...too bad. I hope she chokes on Jerk Chicken...with the emphasis on 'Jerk'." she groans before looking at Andrea. "Know any other good spots around here?"

Suddenly a man in a suit and sunglasses grabbed Andrea's shoulder. "Excuse me have you seen a 'Glacier' around here?"

Andrea looked incredibly confused. "...I think something that big anyone could see..."

Michael rubbed both his eyes. "I'm guessing 'Miss Crystal' has sent you to look for me..." He commented.

The man in the suit took a moment to look over Michael. "...ah yes, your hair matches her description perfectly, please if you will follow me."

Olivia looked at the man with some concern. "Hey...what's the deal?"

"Can't overlook this..." Michael muttered. "She might actually have something important to say...you two coming with me?"

Olivia pouts. "Fine...as long as she doesn't do anything funny..."

Andrea shook her head. "Crystal is Olivia's match, I wanna stay clear from any Jupiter Six if I can...I just wanted to know who was in there, now I know so I'm taking off."

After being led through the main doors guarded by two burly butlers, Michael and olivia notice the tables in the restaraunt have all been arranged in a way that it made one big grand table, with Crystal being at the far end.

"Sounds like someone is compensating for something..." Olivia says, clearly not impressed.

"Again..." She muttered in a angry tone, wiping her mouth with a small handkerchief. "This food is far too greasy, disgusting...please take it back..." After she put down her handkerchief a nearby butler took her dish and went off with it.

Crystal did not seem to notice Michael and Olivia approach, though once she heard Michael's voice. "...you wanted to see me?" Her face lit up like a tiny christmas tree, though it was hard to tell if this was her mildy amused face or the happiest she could look.

"My beloved Glacier..." Crystal's voice was still distant and cold, but an eerie warm tone was present. "Finally...after Haynes had given me such a heavy schedule...my plan worked."

Michael rubbed the back of his head with a disgruntled look. "I was wondering why you haven't approached me for a while..."

Crystal patted the spot on the sofa next to her. "Please...be near to me...G-Glacier..."

Olivia tried not to show she was fuming. "Hey! What's the big idea?!?"

Upon hearing Olivia, Crystal's face darkened before giving Olivia an icy glare. "Who are you...and why are you here?"

Olivia took one step forward. "The one who brought Michael here for lunch...and you're the one I'm gonna mess up at the Extravangaza! That's who!"

Crystal focused her icy glare. "...I remember you being much less ugly."

"At least I'm not wearing Oxtail soup like make-up!" she said, pointing at a spot on her face.

Crystal sighed. "There is no way I would miss a spot..." She then turned her attention back to Michael. "Glacier...please sit..."

Michael dropped onto the sofa, lazily leaning back on it, his arm would be going over Crystal if she wasn't so small. "So Haynes gave you a busy schedule you said...?"

Crystal closed her eyes for a moment. "I thought he actually trusted me...but as it turns out, me being a big fan of yours, put me on his suspicious list..." She then gazed back over at Michael's face with a somewhat warm look in her eyes. "But in the end he could not stop me..."

Olivia frowns, not liking at all what she was seeing. "So much for my lunch...had I eaten before coming here, I'd be ready to hurl..." she said before walking over to Michael. "Let's just get out of here...little miss Ice Queen just ruined the whole place for us."

Michael looked over at Olivia for a second, keeping his usual tired expression. "If you're jealous that's fine, but we're not leaving yet." He then turned back to Crystal. "Would you say you're not a part of team 'dark' anymore?"

Crystal lightly hummed in delight. "Afraid not...I still need his little toy to make my dream come true...but if telling you little secrets will make you stay longer..." She then leaned in closer to look at Michael's face better. "...then I don't mind...ask away..." Crystal seemed to blush, but upon her pale skin you couldn't tell if it was a heavy or mild blush.

As much as she hated Crystal's 'moment' with Michael, Olivia did realize he was trying to get something out of her. It was painful to watch and listen, but she had to wait.

"Alright...has Haynes started production of more dark duel disks?"

Crystal shook her head. "Took him a year to make what you took...only my Glacier could make one as boring as Haynes so jumpy..."

"Do you know of any other dark duelists Haynes has contact with?"

Crystal leaned in closer, lost in Michael's face. "A green haired woman...and a man on a giant screen, he's big, even Haynes bows to him it seems..."

"What has he planned for these test duels aside from me?"

Crystal hummed with content as her eyes went all over Michael's face. "...unsure, all out of town duellists I heard...all I care about is you getting through, the others losing...then once you've dealed with Haynes..." Crystal began to lightly pant. "...we can duel..."

Olivia walks over to the two. "Okay, that's close enough!" she says, deciding to squeeze between Michael and Crystal.

Crystal's face snapped into a dark grimace. "Move, you're blocking my view of Glacier." She stated with a deadly tone.

"You can have your duel with him ONLY if you beat me." Olivia shot back. "And I'm not gonna let some snooty ice queen get lovey-dovey with him!"

Crystal made a mocking smirk. "It must be so nice to have such grand delusions, you must even fool yourself that you and Glacier are close."

Olivia scratched behind her left ear. "Oh, I know he plays hard to get. But I know that sweet words and booking a whole restaurant isn't his kind of fun. Besides, who says that once he's done with Haynes, he won't just do another disappearing act?"

Suddenly Michael's phone went off, causing the two to glare at each-other as Michael sighed before getting up. "Private call, I might be a while..." He said as he walked to the other side of the room.

Crystal slowly got up, grabbing her Brionac plush. "To you...Glacier is another guy you are attracted to...for me he is more special than he could ever be to anyone else."

Olivia relaxed for a second before pointing at her Marks. "Michael saved my life. It's not just about me having a crush on him. It's about being there for the one that gave your life meaning! That's more special than anything you could come up with!"

Crystal wasn't even facing Olivia anymore, though a condescending smile crawled across her face. "...you claim Glacier is more precious to you than to me?"

"I don't 'claim' it." Olivia said, about ready to activate her duel disk. "I know so!"

"To make sure I don't waste my ice on someone so worthless...you should see my match later tonight..." She then looked back at Olivia with one eye, though Olivia through that one peering cold eye felt her whole body shiver. "It will be your one and only warning of death..."

Olivia did her best to avoid showing it, but that stare was making her nervous.

Meanwhile, Michael was looking slightly annoyed. "It's not my problem...look I asked you because I know you'll make sure she doesn't make the same mistake and...I don't care how much she's yelling at you over the phone...or constantly texting you, or-" Michael let out a long sigh of defeat. "...okay if she's bothering Akimoto I'll do something, I'll give her a...side job-look, I'll handle it. You're in Connect City now right?" After hearing the response Michael rubbed the back of his neck. "She should still be behind Synchro Sandwiches, just wait for her to finish, alright see you soon...maybe."

Around an hour later, Michael and Olivia sit in a private stand in the duel stadium waiting for Crystal's duel to start.

"You haven't seen her duel yet have you...?" Michael asked.

Olivia seems to be brooding. "Not really..." still thinking at how Crystal was too close to Michael for comfort. "What's with her anyways? Gushing all over you like some tart..."

Michael shrugged. "I just know she was at almost every one of my duels unti I left the league."

"Ladies and gentlemen, duelists of all ages!" The announcer starts as the lights dim save for two spotlights. "We have a new challenger to the Jupiter Six! Let's make some noise! First off, let's meet our defending Jupiter! The hottest ice queen on the block, she can give anyone the chills! Put your hands together for...Jennifer Crystal!"

Crystal simply strutted out onto the field, not looking at the crowd or at the announcer as she held her Brionac plush close, a small but sharp duel disk attached to her right arm with a glistening and reflective texture.

Many of the audience, mostly young guys, roared as she simply ignored them.

"And the challenger! Riding the fast track up the ranks, can this guy make our ice queen melt, or will she give him the cold shoulder? Let's hear it for...Erik Hoews!"

The young man that walks out is wearing a lightning-bolt red t-shirt with black jeans and matching sneakers. His spiky black hair looks anime-inspired, while his duel disk looks like an hommage to super-hero comics, as it looks more like a techno axe than a Duel Disk.

Erik takes a moment to stretch before placing his hands together to bow, as if he had one too many karaté lessons. "Let's have an awesome duel." he said, being almost overly polite.

Crystal doesn't reply, closing her eyes impatiently waiting for someone to start the duel.

"It looks like our little queen isn't interested. Well then, let's warm the Field up! Ready?"

Erik activates his Duel Disk. "Let's duel!"

Erik quickly draws his opening hand. "I'd say 'Ladies First', but I'm starting this off!"

Crystal activates her duel disk without opening her eyes, then slowly opens them to half-way. Her empty eyes staring into space. "Take your first and only turn."

Erik looks at his hand. "Yikes...frost burn." he commented. "I summon 'Elemental Hero Blazeman' in attack mode!" A dark-armored, red-visored man with fiery hair appears on the field, quick to take a fist fight position. 1200 Attack. "Thanks to Blazeman's special ability, whenever he's Normal or Special Summoned, I can add a 'Polymerization' card from my deck to my hand!" Erik continues, the Duel Disk ejecting a card half-way for him to pull out. "Next, I play the spell card 'E - Emergency Call' so I can add one Elemental Hero from my deck to my hand...and the one I'm picking is 'Elemental Hero Shadow Mist'!"

"Next up, I play Polymerization!" Erik continues. "I fuse Elemental Hero Blazeman with Elemental Hero Shadow Mist... Let's hear it for Vision Hero Adoration!" The monster that appears looks more like a warrior version of a Dark Magician than a Warrior, though its body is bulky and covered in white under black robes. 2800 Attack. Erik takes a quick look at his remaining cards. "I place two cards face-down and end my turn!"

Crystal draws her opening hand, her glazed eyes peer down at it before picking up one card. "How disgraceful...to use such a deck whilst Glacier himself is watching...I shall finish this quickly; I first play Heavy Storm."

"Good move, but not enough. I activate 'Elemental Recharge'!" Erik lets out. "Since I have one Elemental Hero on my side of the field, I gain 1000 Life Points!" 5000 Life Points. Erik watches as his other card - 'Super Polymerization' - is destroyed.

Crystal doesn't even pay attention to Erik's play. "Next, Nekroz Kaleidoscope, by sending Nekroz of Decisive Armor to the graveyard, I can ritual summon Nekroz of Brionac." 2300 Attack. "And Nekroz of Unicore." 2300 Attack. "Brionac's effect sends your hero back to the extra deck."

Erik looks startled. "Whoa! Two Rituals off the same spell?"

Crystal did not even bother explaining to Erik how the spell card worked. "Next I play Preparation of Rites, to add a second Nekroz of Unicore to my hand from my deck and Kaleidoscope from my grave to my hand...I activate Kaleidoscope again, sending Herald of the Arc Light from my extra deck to the grave to ritual summon my second Unicore." 2300 Attack.

Erik took a step back as he looked at the field. "Not good..."

Crystal closed her eyes with a light sigh of boredom. "Herald of Light can give me another Ritual monster or spell once sent to the grave...but there is no need. All Nekroz monsters, attack." By her command all three monsters charged Erik's empty field and hand.

Erik braced for impact, only to end up trampled by the three monsters' charge, leaving him dazed on the ground. 0 Life Points.

Crystal narrowed her eyes slightly. "...you're lucky I didn't want to bring any attention with Haynes' contraption..."

"Just as she promised: one turn was all that was needed!" The announcer lets out. "The winner, and still undefeated...Jennifer Crystal!"

Olivia pouts. "That wasn't a duel; she just steam-rolled over him!"

Michael grunted lightly. "Yep...seems I made an impression on her back then..."

Olivia looks at Michael. "Back then?"

Michael gave Olivia an agitated look. "You can't remember anything I've said can you?"

Olivia shrugs. "Fine if you don't want to say it." she says before getting up. "Still, that was too fast - even for me."

"If it was too fast then she'll 'steam-roll' you just as easily."

Olivia looked back at her disk. "My Soul-Soldiers are all high-leveled monsters. Even if I got lucky and grabbed Jelly Lord in my opening hand, if she just bounces the one I tribute for with Unicore, I'll just be in trouble." she said. "I can't really use my Warped Warriors if the Soul Soldiers aren't destroyed while on the field. Urgh...I'm not liking my odds."

Michael sighed before getting up and walking over to Olivia. "You know, you could just back out...wouldn't blame you for it."

Olivia looked away. "After what I saw, and what I said...if I backed down, she wins...and I don't want that!"

"After what you said, I might not be the only one she wants to use her dark disk on." Michael replied in a heavy tone.

Olivia looks over her shoulder. "Huh?"

Michael looked back out at the field. "Crystal seems to not care about the effects of the dark disks the same way the others do...but with you getting directly between her and myself, she may reconsider her plan."

Olivia turns to look at Michael. "So you're saying that she'd be crazy enough to keep you for herself... by taking out everyone else? Sheesh! Obsessed much?"

Michael sighed in irritation. "If you lose to her you will DIE." He bluntly replied with a harsh tone.

Olivia felt the words freeze her just as much as Crystal's stare. "...damn..." was all she whispered before she plopped back down on the couch, too stunned to say or do anything else.

Michael grunted  to himself as if he wanted to take back what he said, but followed up with a light cough before leaning over the back of the couch, staring out onto the almost empty duel field. "...you should of stayed where I left you...all of this...well it's why I didn't-don't, want anyone to follow me."

Olivia slowly got up. "I need some fresh air." she said half-heartedly, the brunt of the situation having taken the fight out of her.

"Hopefully she'll know what to do..." Michael commented, still leaning over the couch as he got out his pda, typing in a number, ringing for a minute until Paige's voice came through the speakers.

"Hello! Jun's residence. Paige speaking!"

Michael paused for a moment, thinking of how to hide his voice. "...is...Akimoto...there?"

"Uh...actually, he's busy at the moment. Can I take a message?"

Michael scrunched his face, and once again when he spoke tried to hide his real voice, though his irritation was clear. "...is he...still calling...playing video games...a reason...to be busy...?"

"W-wait a sec...who is this?!?" Paige snapped back. "And why do you want to talk to him so badly?"

"Who is it!?" Jun's voice echoed in the background.

Paige turns away from the phone. "Someone who wants to talk to you...and who knows you're on your video games right now."

It was a few seconds of silence before heavy and fast footsteps grew louder until the sound of the phone being snatched went over the microphone. "I-It's important, j-just take over for me will ya Paige?"

"Fine..." Paige says before footsteps are heard walking away from the receiver.

When Paige was out of ear, Jun whispered into the mic. "...what's wrong?"

Michael sighed. "You know how I asked Kitadani to come down and lend me a hand with White?"

Jun hummed in thought. "Yeah...wrote it off as 'helping the extravaganza' once he told me you needed him. Did he not turn up?"

"No he rang me earlier...a certain food-duelist found out that I called him over."

Jun grunted in frustration. "...well what do you want me to do about it?" He asked almost sarcastically. "I can't stop her if she's heading to where you are. or hounding Shoji for information."

"Tell her I actually have a task for her..."
Michael and Olivia run into the last Jupiter Six member whose deck you've yet to see.
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