Ranking Up to Infinity

"Here we go!" said Trixie confidently. "I'm activating the spell card, Dark Ruler No More!"

A blue light descended upon the field, dousing Rainbow's monsters. "All battle damage my opponent takes is reduced to zero this turn, but for the rest of this turn, all their monster effects are negated. On top of that, monsters cannot activate their effects in response to this card!"

Rainbow's eyes widened, as she watched her cards turn grey on her duel disk, signifying their new status. She cursed under her breath, glancing up as Trixie continued.

"Here's something new for you! I'm activating the spell card, Branded Fusion!". The field began to glow, and Trixie's duel disk beeped in response. "I can fusion summon a monster that mentions 'Fallen of Albaz' as material, using monsters from my hand or deck, including him! I'll send him along with Bystial Lubellion to fusion summon Albion, the Branded Dragon!" Level 8, 2500/2000

A fiery red dragon descended down onto the field. It's claws dug deep into the sand beneath them. Pillars of fires lined the curves on it's body, and it's scales shone in the firelight. Rainbow's eyes widened at the sight.

"No way.....Branded?!"

Fluttershy gripped her knees tighter as she watched from afar. "Rainbow..."

"I activate Albion's effect!" said Trixie. "I can banish material from my graveyard to fusion summon a level 8 or lower fusion monster! I banish Fallen of Albaz and Bystial Druiswurm from my graveyard to summon Lubellion, the Searing Dragon!" (Level 8, 2500/3000)

A shining white dragon descended to the field alongside Albion, spreading it's massive wings. The three dragons on the field gave a defiant roar, none of them showing any sign of backing down.

"Next," said Trixie, "Lubellion's effect activates! By discarding one card from my hand, I can fusion summon another level 8 or lower fusion monster, by shuffling the required material from my graveyard, banishment, or field! I'll take the fallen of Albaz I banished, and Lubellion on the field, to fusion summon!" She clasped her hands together.

"The mountains tremble and the forests bow before a force of nature born from rage! Come forth, Level 8, Mirrorjade the Iceblade Dragon" (Level 8, 3000/2500)

Lubellion began to transform. Giant unrefined pillars of ice grew around it's body, and it's scales went from a cold white to an intense lavender. The ice encased it's head, forming a sort of mask that let the glowing red eyes shine through. Rainbow took a small breathe to mentally prepare herself.

"I activage Mirrorjade's effect! I can send a fusion monster that mentions Fallen of Albaz from my extra deck to the graveyard, to banish one monster my opponent controls! I'll send Sprind, the Irondash Dragon!"

Rainbow's eye widened as the purple dragon's icy armor shifted, spreading wide and refracting the light around it. It's eyes glowed bright, and the next thing Rainbow Dash knew, her Crystal Clear Wing was gone.

Trixie breathed a sigh of relief. "Mirrojade cannot use this effect next turn after activating it, so I'll enter my battle phase. Go, Mirrojade! Destroy Ultra hound!"

An explosion rocked the stadium, as Rainbow watched her remaining monster leave the field. The dust settled around them, and Trixie pumped her fist. "At the end of my turn, Sprind's graveyard effect activates! I can add a Springans or Fallen of Albaz from my deck to my hand. I'll add Springans Kitt".

She looked at the card in her hand, and sighed. "I end my turn. Your move."

Rainbow grit her teeth, placing her fingers on her deck. "I....draw!" She looked at her card, and smiled. "Jackpot. I activate the effect of one of my Speedroid Ultra Hounds in my graveyard. By banishing this card, I can shuffle one of my Speedroid monsters in my graveyard back into my deck, then special summon a Speedroid Synchro from my extra deck with a level equal to it, but with it's effects negated! I'm retuning Speedroid Terrortop to my deck, and special summoning another Hi-Speedroid Cork Shooter!"

The gun-shaped synchro from before appeared onto the field, with it's barrel staring down the two dragons. "Next, I'll normal summon Speedroid Marble Machine!" (Level 2, 200/100). Out popped a round glass sphere, surrounded my moving metal rings. Inside the ball was series of colorful plastic capsules.

"When he's normal summoned, I can add a Speedroid monster from my deck to hand! I'm adding Speedroid Taketomborg!"

Trixie narrowed her eyes, glancing at her their life point count.

Rainbow’s LP ----- > 4250

Trixie’s LP ----- > 3900

A bead of sweat rolled down her neck. "What is she up to now...?" Trixie thought to herself.
Rainbow took a card from her deck before playing it onto her duel disk. "Since I control a WIND monster, I can special summon Speedroid Taketomborg from my hand!" (Level 3, 600/1200)

A strange amalgamation of blue dice and metal "limbs" appeared onto the field, making strange beeping noises from the polygon one may call a "head". "I activate his effect! By tributing him, I can special summon a Speedroid Den-Den Daiko Duke!" (Level 3, 1000/1000). Out came a short monster, dressed fancily in a red cape and feathery hat, glaring at the 2 dragons before it.

"Here we go!" said Rainbow. "I'm tuning my level 3 Cork Shooter and my level 2 Marble machine!" A pillar of light appeared before the field, as Rainbow's monsters were sucked in. "Synchro summon! Level 5, Hi-Speedroid Chanbara!" (Level 5, 2000/1000)

Rushing out of the light came a giant curve scimitar. At where the hilt would be was a figure dressed in pink armor, the same color as the blade itself. It rode on the blade like a horse, holding it's own sword in it's hand.

"I'm not finished!" said Rainbow. "I'm now tuning my level 5 Hi-Speedroind Chanbara, and my level 3 Hi-Speedroid Cork Shooter!" The pillar of light shone down again. Rainbow raised her arm in a defiant pose.

"Ride in on the winds of destruction, and let your roar be heard from the stratosphere! Level 8, Hi-Speedroid Kitedrake!" (Level 8, 3000/2800)

Blue metal and white armor assembled together from the light, before it burst out from the scene as a flying machine, talking the form of a dragon. "Chanbara's effect activates when sent to the Graveyard! I can add on of my banished Speedroids to my hand!"

She scanned through her duel disk's interface, selecting her monster. "I'll add back Ultra Hound....and activate Kitedrake's effect!". Her monster roared, as it's shining wings began to glow ominously. "When it's synchro summoned, I can choose between 2 options. I'll choose this one: I negate the effects of all my opponent's cards on the field!"

Trixie was confused. "Wait....Kitedrake can also destroy all other cards on the field upon being summoned. So why...?. A light blue light covered the field, affecting Trixie's two dragons.

Rainbow continued. "I activate Den-den Duke's graveyard effect! I can banish him from my graveyard to special summon a Speedroid tuner from my graveyard! Come on back, Cork Shooter". Rainbow's monster rose out from the ground.

Fluttershy took in a deep breath as she watched. "Here it comes..."

Trixie realized what was happening. "Here it comes."

Rainbow smirked as the pillar of light expanded twice in size. "HERE IT COMES! I'm tuning my level 3 Cork Shooter and my level 8 Hi-Speedroid Kitedrake together!"

The two monsters rose into the sky, and after vanishing into the light, the sound of a revving engine echoed through the air.

"Infinity is just a number! Limits are meant to be broken! We keep speeding on, faster, and faster, and we ain't gonna stop! Come on down, Level 11! HI-SPEEDROID CLEAR WING RIDER!" (Level 11, 3500/2000)

The sounds grew louder, until out of the pillar, came a giant, shining white duel runner, lined with green highlights. It's design was sleek, as if it were meant to by aerodynamic. The exhaust blasted with every rev, and it stood on it's own as if it was piloting itself.

Trixie had heard of self-driving vehicles, but this was pushing it a bit.

Rainbow smirked as she said, "I activate the effect of Clear Wing Rider! Once per turn, I roll a die. Then, I shuffle WIND monsters from my graveyard back into my deck, equal to the number rolled, and for each, I get to pop one card on the field! And for each, my monster gains 500 attack points!"

Trixie's eyes widened as a large holographic die appeared on the field. The duel simulation technology began to whir, and the dice was tossed into the air. Both duelists watched with bated breath as it landed.

Dice Roll: 5

"Yeah!" Rainbow pumped her fist. "That's more than enough to wipe out your whole field!"

Trixie could only watch as her two monsters were destroyed, along side her field spell and face down card. She grimaced as she watched Rainbow look at what she had destroyed.

Rainbow's eyes widened when she saw the card that had been set the previous turn. "Holy Barrier - Mirror Force?....You cheeky little..."

The bike revved up, as it began to glow with a green aura.

Hi-Speedroid Clear Wing Rider: 3500 -----> 5500

Trixie winced, then, after taking a deep breath, she declared, "When you destroyed Mirrorjade, you activated his graveyard effect! When he's sent to the graveyard, at the end phase of the turn, he destroys all monsters my opponent controls!"

Fluttershy stood up, watching her best friend duel. She clutched the rabbit nestled in her arms tightly, feeling the tension in the air.

"Too late. This is game over! I attack you directly with Clear Wing Rider!" Rainbow said. The bike spun out for a moment, before charging right at Trixie at full speed.

Rainbow expected to hear the sounds of victory. Instead, it was the sound of a giant, fuzzy furball taking the brunt of the attack. Her eyes widened, as she stared at the mound of hair that suddenly appeared before her monster. "What the-!"

Trixie breathed a sigh of relief. "By discarding Kuriboh from my hand, I can negate battle damage once. Thanks, buddy!"

The giant Kuriboh warbled happily at this, before it disappeared from the field.

Rainbow's eyes widened. She looked at her duel disk in frustration, and sighed. "I ....end my turn."

Giant pillars of ice shot up through the ground, shattering Rainbow's ace in the hole.

Trixie pressed another button on her duel disk. "During the end phase of the turn Albion the Branded Dragon is sent to the graveyard, I can set one Branded spell or trap from my deck onto my field. I choose Branded in Red."

Her duel disk beeped, signifying the start of her turn. She drew her card from her deck, and narrowed her eyes. "I draw!"

She looked at the card in her hand. "I activate the effect of Magician's Soul in my hand! I can send a Dark Magician from my deck to the graveyard, then send this card from my hand to graveyard, to summon Dark Magician!" (Level 7, 2500/2000)

The iconic monster burst onto the field, staff at the ready, and staring down his opponent. "Next, I summon Springan's Kitt from my hand! I can special summon her if a fusion monster mentioning 'Fallen of Albaz' as material is in my graveyard!" (Level 4, 1700/1000)

A young teen, strapped in heavy iron gear and black clothing appeared onto the field. "When she's summoned, I can add a Branded spell or trap from my graveyard to my hand, then I return one card from my hand to the bottom of the deck. I choose Braded fusion to return to my hand, then I'll place it at the bottom of my deck."

Trixie raised her arm. "Battle! Dark Magician attack you directly! Black Magic!"

"I activate the effect of Speedroid Tri-eyed dice in my graveyard!" said Rainbow. Her duel disk beeped twice. "By banishing him from my graveyard, I can negate the attack of one of my opponents monsters!"

The sorcerer raised it's staff, ready to fire away at Rainbow, only to have his projectile fizzle out in midair. Trixie narrowed her eyses.

"Fine! I attack with Springans Kitt"

Rainbow raised her arms in a defensive position as she was bombarded with missiles. She grit her teeth as she watched her life points drop.

Rainbow's LP: 4250 -----> 2250.

Fluttershy averted her eyes, feeling her lip quiver. "Rainbow...."

Rainbow Dash coughed as the dust settled, and she looked on at Trixie. "I....won't let you hurt her...."

Trixie blinked. Was that what this was all about? "Rainbow....I tried to tell you, I'm not after Fluttershy. Well, not in a bad way."

Rainbow raise her eyebrow. ".....the heck does that even mean?"

"Remember, you promised to listen! I activate my set card, Branded in Red! I can add one 'Fallen of Albaz from my graveyard to my hand, then fusion summon a monster by banishing it and the other materials on the field and hand! I'm fusing him, Kitt, and Dark Magician together!"

Trixie's monsters rose into the air, before being pulled into a giant swirling mass of energy. She clasped her hands together, before calling out, "The beast that protects the gates of purgatory has come to deliver judgement! Come, Guardian Chimera" (Level 9, 3300/3300)

A giant behemoth of a monster flew down on grey, feathered wings. Three heads were attached to it's massive body: A hawk, a lizard, and a goat. Their dark fur complemented the violet eyes staring Rainbow down like she was prey.

"Attack, Guardian Chimera! Wailing Darkness!"

An explosion rocked the field, as the large crowd that had gathered braced themselves for the shockwaves. Fluttershy covered her mouth in shock. The bunny had leapt out of her arms and hid away in her bag. The pink-haired girl made her way down the bleachers, hoping to check on her friend.

Rainbow's LP: 2250 -----> 0.

Rainbow sat up from her position as the hologram faded. She dusted herself off, feeling a bit worse for wear. Glancing up, she was ready to speak when a pair of small arms wrapped around her.

She looked behind her to see Fluttershy clinging onto her for dear life, and shooting daggers at Trixie.

"L-leave us alone, Lulamoon!" she said. Her voice was still soft, but there were hints of fear and anger.

Trixie rubbed her temples. "For crying out loud, I'm not here to hurt you two! I.........." She took a moment to take in a deep breath, before clapping her hands together to keep her composure.

"Look, Fluttershy, we need your help. In fact, we need all the help we can get." Trixie looked at them pleadingly.

Rainbow and Fluttershy glanced at each other, slightly confused. Rainbow furrowed her brow, and turned back to Trixie, with an expression of curiosity.

"I'm sorry, who's 'we' ? "said Rainbow.

____________________________________________________________________

".....and that's what we're up against," said Mona, folding his arms as he leans on the kitchen island.

Spike sat on the couch, with piping hot tea in his hand. He had been listening to Mona's explanation of all the events that had led up to this point. His eyes were downcast and gloomy, as was the rest of the room. Hitch closed the fridge door, holding an ice pack, and brought it to the child.

"Here. Press it down on where it burns the most," he said.

Spike nodded and placed the tea on the counter, grabbing the ice pack for himself. The sudden coolness on his arm made him shiver slightly. His had been cured in a frown for the past hour now, and Hitch was feeling more uncomfortable than ever. He even felt a slight bit of relief when Mona's phone began to ring and broke the silence.

Mona sighed. "I'm sorry, Spike. What happened to you....it wasn't fair." He glanced at his screen, and tapped it with his thumb. "If you'll excuse me for a moment....."

He turned away and left the room holding it up to his ear. "Hello?"

Hitch couldn't pick up on the conversation afterwards. He took a seat next to Spike, who was still looking down at the ground. Slowly, he put his arm around the kid, rubbing his shoulder. The tense silent had now become awkward, with neither of them making much comment. Spike leaned towards Hitch, his eyes still downcast.

"What are you gonna do now, kid?" asked Hitch. He already had a sense of what Spike was going to say.

After a brief pause, Spike turned up and looked Hitch straight into his eyes. Hitch could almost feel his steely stare boring right through his skull.

"I'm gonna find Tempest," he said. "And I'm gonna make her pay."

Hitch gave a small gulp. "And we'll get you there. For now though, we need to find Number users before she gets to them first."

He gave a short sigh, looking up at the ceiling and leaning back on the couch. "And goodness knows where the next one is."

".......I know someone," said Spike.

Hitch sat up so fast the couch beneath him creaked. "What?!"

___________________________________________________________

The Pie Family rock farm estate was the last place one would expect something interesting to happen. Marble Pie convinced herself that maybe that's why she had been so hesitant all this time. She stared at her phone, deep in thought.

She wanted to know more about him. From the afternoon she had spent researching on their family's half a century-old computer, quite a few things had come to light. She read the articles like ciphers, soaking in each and ever tidbit she could find.

"His real name is Morgan....?" Oddly enough, it wasn't the strangest thing she had found.

She had a better idea of the looming threat they now faced: Tempest Shadow. It wasn't too hard, given her notoriety. Her victories and her loss - yes, singular - had been well-documented beforehand. And yet, the articles rarely ever mentioned Mona. Perhaps that was reasonable, since Tempest was the bigger success story. She still found it odd that Mona's dueling history was so subdued, especially given how his style was so unique.

Marble's mind had been stuck on that duel Mona had with Limestone. She kept thinking about his explosive, almost self-destructive style was a result of training, or simply how his deck operated. Marble could see he knew every intricate part of his deck, almost to the same degree as Limestone did with her deck.

As if right on cue, her elder sister knocked on her bedroom door. "Yo," came her voice on the other side of the door. "I'm gonna shower and then hit the hay. You get some rest, too, okay?"

Marble instinctively hid her phone behind her back, brushing her hair behind her ear. "Okay, sis...."

There was a short pause, before Limestone's voice came up again. "Hey. Just remember that Maud is gonna be okay. She'll pull through."

Marble gave no audible response this time as she listened to her sister's footsteps recede. She sighed as she took a look at her phone again. Biting her lower lip, she scrolled to her contacts list, until she found his name.

The tone rang three times before he picked up. "...Hello?"

"Mona?" said Marble, wrapping her fingers in her hair absentmindedly. "It's me. Marble. Pie?"

"H-hey! It's good to hear from you. How is everything?"

Marble felt her cheeks flush slightly. "It's been a bit rough around here, honestly..."

A sigh came from the other end of the line. "Sorry. That was insensitive of me. I should've known...."

She shook her head. "Don't apologize. You're doing all you can for Maud. And...for that, I'm grateful." She lay back on her bed, holding her deck box to her chest. "U-umm.....I need a favor."

"Name it."

Marble took a deep breath. "I want you to teach me how to duel."

Mona's response was immediate. "Huh? But wouldn't Limestone be a better teacher? You're sisters, after all."

"She's good at dueling but...." she lowered her voice. "She's kind of hard-core."

"Tell me about it," said Mona. Marble stifled a giggle as she awaited his answer.

"Alright," he said, after a brief pause. "I'll help you. We'll set up a time and place tomorrow, okay? I'm kind of in the middle of something right now."

Marble nodded. "Call me. Okay?"

"U-uh, alright. Good night. See you soon," Mona stammered. The tone went flat as Marble set her phone on her bedside lamp. She breathed a sigh of relief, barely noticing Pinkie's presence for the past 10 seconds.

The pink-haired girl stared in wide-eyed surprise, and crossed her arms. " 'Call me'?! Really, Marble?"

A small yelp came from Marble's mouth, as the poor girl stumbled off the bed in shock.