Ranking Up to Infinity

Hitch's new monster towered over Sunset's phoenix. A tall, gray, furry beast that stood on it's hind two legs and garbed in a blue tunic and a fur belt. The fur and clothes whipped in the wind as Hitch sped up, catching up to Sunset. It gripped the sword sheathed on it's belt, it's claws curling around the handle in preparation.

"When he's Link Summoned, I can Special Summon 1 other Fur Hire monster from my Deck in Defense position!" declared Hitch. He slipped a card out of his deck, and placed it on his duel runner. "I call forth Rafale, Champion Fur Hire!" (Level 8, 2800/2200)

A tall reptilian monster appeared onto the field. It's long scaly neck craned over Sunset's phoenix as it roared, gnashing is claws and whipping it's tail in a frenzy. "When Rafale is summoned, I can excavate cards from the top of my deck, up to the other Fur Hire names I control on the field, and add 1 to my hand. The others are shuffled back into the deck."

Picking the top 2 cards from his deck, Hitch plucked one out placed the other into the deck slot, which beeped and whirred. The cards quickly were rearranged and restacked, as Hitch continued on. "Now I activate Donpa's effect! When another Fur Hire monster is summoned to my field, I can target a face-up monster my opponent controls and destroy it! Go, Donpa!"

The critter in the little flying machine scurried about, loading up one of the ballistae mounted on the side with a crude arrow made of rusty iron. As it's claw cranked the handle, the ballistae string was pulled back, and the arrow tilted down to point directly at the phoenix's head.

Sunset scowled, as she revved her duel runner. The burst in speed pulled her ahead in front of Hitch. "I'll use Balelynx's effect in my graveyard! If a Salamangreat monster I control would be destroyed, I can banish him from my graveyard instead."

An ocher barrier formed around the phoenix, as it screeched into the air, almost challenging Hitch's monsters.

Hitch frowned, taking one of the cards in his hand. After some thought, he placed it down on his duel runner.

"I'll set one card face-down. Turn end," said Hitch. He breathed a small sigh of relief, realizing he had been holding it this whole time.

Sunset growled, as glaring at Hitch. "I'm just getting warmed up. I draw!" she declared. Her eyes drifted to the card she drew, feeling a shiver up her spine when she saw it.

"I'm gonna give you a burn that you'll never get back from! I'm taking you down now!"

________________________________________________________________

"Challengers go first, as per our code," said Scootaloo with a smirk.

Marble took a deep breath, turning to her companions. Spike's face was fixed straight ahead in determination. Mona turned to his left to look at her, giving her a small smile. "You got this," he said.

She couldn't help but feel her heart slow as the words left his mouth, as she looked down at her cards. With another deep breath, she gave a small "hmph" as she took a card from her hand and placed it on her duel disk.

"I'll start off by summoning Beta, the Electromagnet Warrior in Attack position!" (Level 3, 1500/1500) A bronze mechanical figure emerged from the ground, equipped head to toe with magnets. A pair of horseshoe magnets constituted as horns on top of it's head.

"I'll use his effect! When he is summoned, I can add 1 Level 4 or lower Magnet Warrior from my deck to my hand! I'll add... umm..." Marble hesitated, looking at her duel disk. "....Delta, the Electromagnet Warrior."

Marble let out a sigh of relief as she looked at her hand. "I'll end my turn."

A silence fell over the duelists. Marble glanced at her teammates, who were giving her a curious look. Her face turned red under their gaze. "W-what?"

"....that's it?" said Spike. "You couldn't have set a card? Or done....anything else?"

Marble felt her face flush even more. "U-um...."

"Well, if this is the best you can do, this'll be done in a flash," said Scootaloo smugly. "My turn! I draw!"

She glanced at her hand and smiled. "I'll activate the effect of Windwitch - Ice Bell in my hand! If there are no monsters on my field, I can Special Summon this card from my hand, along with another Windwitch monster from my deck! Come forth, Windwitch - Ice Bell and Windwitch - Glass Bell!" (Level 3, 1000/1000) (Level 4, 1500/1500)

Two figures appeared onto the field. Both were endowed in white garbs, bearing light teal or dark purple brimmed hats. Pink ribbons flowed at the front of their dresses, glittering in the sunlight, and their boots almost rode up to their kneecaps.

"I'll use both of their effects in sequence! When summoned, Glass Bell allows me to add a Windwitch monster from my deck to my hand! On top of that, Ice Bell inflicts 500 damage to my opponent when summoned!"

A blast of wind washed over Marble, who winced at the sudden chill that blew about her.

Marble's LP: 8000 ------> 7500

"I'll add Windwitch - Freeze Bell to my hand! Then, I'll use its effect. Since I control a Windwitch monster, I can special summon it from my hand!" (Level 3, 1200/1200)

A third figure dressed in a similar fashion as the previous 2, this time dressed with green highlights. Scootaloo smiled, taking another card from her hand. "Next, I'll activate the Spell Card, Windwitch Chimes! With this, I can target 1 Windwitch monster I control, and Special Summon a different Windwitch from my Deck! Go, Windwitch - Blizzard Bell!" b](Level 5, 1800/1800)

Chiming sounds came echoing around them, and the temperature continued to fall. A giant church bell, painted white and decorated with emeralds and topped with a strange little angel, descended onto the field.

"She's already got 4 monsters on the field...." said Mona.

A bright pillar of light appeared behind Scoolatloo, as she began to chant. "Let's go! I'll tune my level 3 Ice Bell and level 4 Glass Bell!"

The two monsters merged into the pillar of light, flashing before everyone's eyes. A cold air arose from the ground.

"Ride upon the cold breeze of the blizzard's roar! Prepare to be swept up in it's cold embrace! I Synchro Summon! Level 7: Windwitch - Winter Bell!" (Level 7, 2400/2000)

A strange amalgamation of crystalline blades appeared onto the field, connected at the center with a blue sphere enshrouded with ice. At the top of the structure was a head of ice and metal, pointed to the back like a spear. It hovered above Scootaloo, staring at the trio before her.

"Yeah! That's our Scoots!" said Apple Bloom, pumping her fist.

"Next, I'll tune my level 5 Blizzard Bell and level 3 Freeze Bell! Synchro Summon!" said Scootaloo.

The remaining 2 monsters ascended into the pillar. A swirl of cold air began to scatter the debris and leaves across the field.

"Enshrouded in arctic wonder, snowing upon the land of those who oppose it's rule! The soul shatters upon it's gaze! Come forth, Level 8! Windwitch - Diamond Bell!" (Level 8, 2800/2400)

A massive towering being of iron and ice appeared onto the field. A great bell, split down the middle like a parted dress, twirled out of the pillar of light, which now vanished before them. Above it was a humanoid torso, backed with giant crystals of ice that stuck out behind it like wings.

Spike looked up at the looming monster, giving a look of slight annoyance. "There it is. Scootaloo's ace."

Mona crossed his arms. "A Synchro strategy?....Guess that means she's not the one with the Number card."

"I activate Diamond Bell's effect!" said Scootaloo. "When she's Synchro Summoned, I can target 1 Windwitch monster in my graveyard, and inflict damage equal to half it's ATK points! I'll target Blizzard Bell. That means 900 points of damage to you!"

From the head of the towering figure, a blast of cold air washed over Marble, who shuddered as her hairs stood on end.

Marble's LP: 7500 ------> 6600

"Since you took damage, Blizzard Bell activates her other effect! Twice per turn, whenever my opponent takes damage, she can target and destroy 1 card on the field. Say goodbye to Beta!"

Spike frowned. "Shoot. We'll be defenseless...."

A beam of blue light shot out from Scootaloo's monster, covering Marble and her monster. She shuddered in the cold, pressing her duel disk's buttons.

"I'll use Beta's effect!" said Marble. "During my opponent's turn, I can tribute this card to special summon a different Magnet Warrior from my Deck! Come, Alpha, the Electromagnet Warrior!" (Level 4, 1700/1100)

Beta vanished, and in it's place was a similar android. This one stood upright and was much taller than it's rounded counterpart. It held a long metal rod in it's hand, and a shield in the other. It buzzed with energy as it crouched on the ground, holding it's shield up.

"When Aplha is summoned, I can add 1 Level 8 Magna Warrior from my Deck to my hand. I'll add Berserkion, the Electromagna Warrior...." said Marble.

Scootaloo frowned. "Then I'll do this! Winter Bell activates her effect! I can target a Windwitch in my graveyard, and inflict 200 points of damage times that monster's level! Blizzard Bell is level 5, so that means I can inflict 1000 points of damage to you!"

The small shards lined on Winter Bell's torso flew out over Marble, who let out a yelp of fear.

Marble's LP: 6600 ------> 5600

"She's whittling down my life points..." said Marble.

"Diamond Bell's effect activates again! Destroy Alpha, th-"

Marble pressed a button on her duel disk. "I activate Alpha's effect! I can tribute him to Special Summon a different Magnet Warrior from my deck! Come, Gamma, the Electromagnet Warrior!" (Level 3, 800/2000)

Like before, the machine began to transform. The form began to change again, it's parts avoiding the pointed ice flying into the ground beneath it. After reassembling, the monster took the form of a round, portly blue android, with a tiny head contrasted with it's bulky arms and body. "When he's summoned, I can Special Summon a Magnet Warrior from my hand! I summon another Beta, the Electromagnet Warrior!"

The same bronze robot on the field reformed on the field. It clattered and rattled as it formed, like a bird freshly hatched from it's egg. "Once again, when he's summoned, I can add a level 4 or lower Magnet Warrior from my deck to my hand. I'll add another copy of Alpha, the Electromagnet Warrior...."

Spike glanced in Marble's direction. "She managed to defend herself after all," he said to himself quietly.

Scootaloo gave a small huff, then pressed on her duel disk's screen. "Then I'm going to battle! Diamond Bell and Winter Bell, attack her monsters!"

A snowstorm kicked up around them, and in an instant, both of the machines were encased in a thick layer of ice, before exploding into thousands of shards. Marble braced herself, feeling the cold air surround her.

"I'll end my turn by setting 1 card face-down. Your move."

Marble sighed. "Okay, we can do this, guys. We just have to-"

"You just barely held on," said Spike bluntly. "Don't leave yourself so open next time."

Marble winced at Spike's harsh words. She looked at her cards and her field. A crawling sensation on her back began to arise. "I...." she hesitated.

Mona gave Marble a sidelong glance, and pang of empathy resonated in his heart. Spike took the top card from his deck and drew.

"My turn!" said Spike. "I summon Chamber Dragonmaid in attack mode!"(Level 4, 500/1800). The figure dressed in a black dress, parted to make way for a long black lizard-like tail appeared onto the field. "When she's summoned, I can add a Dragonmaid spell or trap from my deck to my hand."

"Nice try. I activate the effect of my Effect Veiler from my hand!" said Scootaloo. She turned the card in her hand. "By discarding it, I can target and negate the effect of one of your monsters during the Main Phase, until the end of this turn."

An angelic figure drifted over Spike's monster, and began to glow. Spike's duel disk beeped twice, and he frowned.

"I've got other plans. I activate the effect of my Dark End Evaporation Dragon! By banishing one Level 8 Dragon monster from my Extra Deck, I can Special Summon him from my hand!" (Level 8, 2600/2100)

A giant black dragon rose on it's hind legs from the ground. It's torso carried the face of a demon, snarling and all, and it's head rose back to give a mighty roar.

Scootaloo smirked, then took a card from her hand. "I'll activate the effect of my Blizzard Bell. I can send it to the graveyard from my hand while I control a Windwitch monster to inflict 500 points of damage to my opponent!"

Marble's eyes widened. "But....that'll trigger Diamond Belle's effect!"

Spike slipped a card into his duel disk's slot. "I'll play my quick-spell, Called by the Grave. With this, I can banish Blizzard Bell, and negate-"

"I'll chain with this!" said Scootaloo. "I activate the trap, Icy Breeze Refrain! When my opponent activates a card or effect in response to my Windwitch monster's effect activation, I can negate my opponent's effect!"

Spike gave a small grunt as he felt a cold chill surround him, and watches as Scootaloo's monster began to charge up.

Spike's LP: 8000 ------> 7500

"And now..." said Scootaloo. "Pop goes the lizard!"

Diamond Bell blasted a blue ray of light from it's eye, and shattering Spike's dragon in pieces, just like before.

"That's our Scootaloo!" said Apple Bloom, pumping her fist.

"We know your deck by heart now, Spikey," said Sweetie Belle. "We know exactly how to slow you down."

Spike shook the snow off his clothes. "Try and stop this! I activate my spell card, Dragonmaid Changeover! With it, I can fuse my Chamber Dragonmaid with Dragonmaid Lorpar in my hand!"

Scootaloo's eye's widened. "You had the fusion spell already? You baited my veiler!"

Spike's monster disappeared into a purple, swirling vortex, as he began to chant.

"Live to fight. Live to serve. It's all the same! We protect, and we destroy, as all in one. Spread your wings! Destroy the order, and substitute your own! Level 10, Dragonmaid Sheou!" (Level 10, 3500/2000)

A grandiose dragon, covered in black and white scales, flew onto the field, spreading it's dark crimson wings. It's shadow cast over the other two monsters on the field, towering over every duelist around. Several watchers of the skatepark began to cheer, enjoying the duel unfolding.

"I set one card face down and got to my battle phase! Dragonmaid Sheou attacks Winter Belle!"

The dragon gave a roar, and a white-hot stream of fire erupted from it's jaws. In an instant, Scootaloo's monster was no more, and the impact pushed her back a meter away from the field.

Scootaloo''s LP: 8000 ------> 6900

Spike lowered his duel disk. "Turn end."

Sweetie Belle smiled, taking a card from her deck. "Then it's my turn, I draw." She looked at her card and smiled.

"During the Standby Phase, Sheou activates her effect," said Spike, "and allows me to Special Summon a Dragonmaid from my graveyard. I'll summon back Chamber Dragonmaid, in Defense position."

The elegant maid returned to the field, bowing as Spike continued. "I'll use her effect to add a Dragonmaid Spell/Trap from my deck to my hand."

Sweetie Belle nodded. "Then I shall summon Marincess Blue Tang." (Level 4, 1500/1200) . A girl dressed in blue a surrounded by water appeared on the field, twirling before them. "When she's summoned, I can send a Marincess monster from my deck to the graveyard... I shall send Marincess Mandarin."

"Next...," said Sweetie Belle. "I shall use my Blue Tang as link material! I shall link summon the Link 1 Marincess Blue Slug!"
(Link 1, 1500 ATK)

Appearing before them was another petite girl, dressed in a blue and black dress, and once again surrounded by water. "I shall use these effects in sequence. First, Blue Slug allows me to add a Marincess card from my graveyard to my hand. As chain link 2, I shall activate Blue Tang's effect. When she's used as link material, I am allowed to excavate the top 3 cards of my deck, and add a Marincess card among them to my hand."

Mona narrowed his eyes. "She's familiar with sequencing. She must know about Spike's monster effects...."

"Next, I shall Special Summon Marincess Sea Horse from my hand. I can summon it to zone that my link monster points to."

Yet another childlike form appeared onto the field, but this one was dressed in a blue swimsuit dress. "I shall link her off to Link Summon the Link 1 Marincess Sea Angel!"(Link 1, 1000 ATK)

Appearing onto the field was an spunky, youthful child with white hair descended down onto the field, seemingly on a waterfall that fell from the sky. "When she's link summoned, I can add a Marincess spell from my deck to the hand."

"I think not," said Spike. "I activate Sheou's effect. I can negate the activation of one of my opponent's cards once per turn, and destroy it." The dragon gave a mighty roar, causing the ground to shake. Sweetie Belle's monster vanished from the field as the card moved to her graveyard.

"Once Sheou uses this effect, she returns to the Extra Deck, and transforms into her alternate self. Come, House Dragonmaid!"(Level 9, 3000/2000)

The dragon began to glow, and it's wings folded neatly along it's body. Soon, in it's place was a maiden in a black maid dress, apron and all, with a red tail swishing under the dress and a pair of horns protruding from it's head.

Sweetie Belle's expression did not falter, remaining the same calm expression from before. "Then I shall do this. I activate The effect of my Trickstar Aqua Angel. Once per duel, when I control a Marincess monster, I can Special Summon her from my hand." (Level 4, 0/0). A girl in pigtails and a well-decorated dress with stars appeared onto the field.

Marble flinched. "T-trickstar?! Why is that...?"

"Aqua Angel has an effect that allows it to always be treated as a Marincess." Sweetie Belle raised her hand elegantly. "I shall use Blue Slug and Aqua Angel to Link summon again. The link 2, Marincess Coral Anemone!"

Another elegant woman, dressed in yellow this time, appeared onto the field. Her dress resembled that of a sea anemone, with the way it's "tendrils" stuck out and spun. "Now", said Sweetie Belle, "Aqua Angel uses her effect. When she's used as Link Material, she allows me to reveal my opponent's hand and all set cards."

Marble, Spike and Mona looked at each other, then nodded, and revealed their hands. The cards appeared on Sweetie Belle's duel disk. A half-minute passed as she looked at each and every card, and she smiled.

"I see...I shall now use Coral Anemone's effect to target a water monster with 1500 or less ATK in my graveyard, and Special Summon it back to my field. My target shall be Aqua Angel."

Spike glared, then declared. "I'll activate the effect of my trap. Dragonmaid Tidying! I can target a Dragonmaid I control and a card in my opponent's graveyard, and return them to the hand. I target Aqua Angel."

The Chamber Dragonmaid vanished, as Spike took the card off his duel disk and back to the hand.

"Next, House Dragonmaid's effect now activates. Since a Dragonmaid monster returned to my hand, I can target a monster my opponent controls, and destroy it."

The maid held out her hands, stretching its gloved fingers into a triangle shape. Yellow light shone from it's fingertips, before firing at Sweetie Belle's monster.

However, Sweetie Belle simply smiled. "When Coral Anemone is sent from the field to the graveyard, I can target a Marincess card in my graveyard and add it back to my hand. Return to me, Marincess Sea Horse."

Mona narrowed his eyes. "She's not fazed at all, despite all of Spike's interruptions. Could it be...?"

"I shall activate the field spell, Marincess Battle Ocean," declared Sweetie Belle. The field transformed into the sunny skies of the open ocean, and the field suddenly became covered in ocean. The holographic water rose up to their knees, and thankfully didn't make anyone's socks wet. "So long as this field spell is in play, all Marincess monsters I control gain 200 attack. Next, I shall play the spell, Marincess Dive. Since I control Battle Ocean, I can use this card to Special Summon a Marincess from my Deck. Come forth, Marincess Pascalus."(Level 4, 1200/2000)

A woman dressed in a frilly pink dress and lavish rosy hair appeared onto the field, and her body began to glow. "When she's summoned, I'm allowed to special summon a Marincess from my hand. I shall choose Aqua Angel." The same monster from before appeared onto the field.

Mona narrowed his eyes, deep in concentration. "She's managed to play through everything Spike had..."

"Now then...this shall kick off the main event. I use these two monsters to summon the link 2 Marincess Crystal Heart."

Appearing before them was a blue shining gem with white mist surrounding it. The water swirled around it like a foamy tidepool. "Next, I shall use the effect of my Marincess Springirl. By banishing one of my Marincess monsters in my graveyard, such as Blue Slug, I can summon her from my hand." (Level 4, 1200/1000). Appearing onto the field was a mermaid dressed in blue, shimmering scales, as it rested on the surface of the water.

"Now I shall use Marincess Mandarin's effect. When I have 2 or more Marincess monsters on my field, I can special summon her from my graveyard to a zone my link monster points to, but she is banished when she leaves the field." A small petite child wrapped in an orange jacket appeared onto the field, smiling and winking at the 3 opponents.

The water began to swirl and boil over. Sweetie Belle raised her hand to the sky. "Now I shall use Crystal Heart, Mandarin, and Springirl to link summon once again!"

The water began to ripple violently, and the foam broke against the concrete of the skatepark. Despite it merely being a hologram, Marble could feel the spray of seawater against her face.

Sweetie Belle began to chant. "The tidal waves coalesce into the force of nature that drives the sea to rule the lands! I summon forth the Link 4 Marincess Aqua Argonaught!" (Link 4, 2300 ATK)

Out from the waters came a tall woman, with silvery hair that went all the way down to her ankles. She was dressed in a blue gown and leggings wrapped in seaweed. In her hand was a large silvery scepter that gleamed in the sunlight. Sweetie Belle smiled and pressed a button on her duel disk.

"When I Link Summon a Marincess into my extra monster zone, I can activate the effect of Marincess Battle Ocean, and take up to 3 of my Marincess Link monsters in my graveyard, and equip it to Aqua Argonaught. Each one equipped grants my monster an additional 600 attack points."

(Marincess Aqua Argonaught: 2300 ---> 4300)

"There's more you should know," declared Sweetie Belle. "So long as Argonaught exists in the Extra Monster zone, my opponent cannot target monsters for attacks aside from itself. On top of that, since it used Crystal Heart as link material, Battle Ocean makes it unaffected by my opponent's card effects."

Marble's eyes widened. A sense of dread crawled up her spine. Spike made no reaction to the appearance of Sweetie Belle's ace monster, and Mona simply looked at his duel disk, reading all the lines of text on the field.

"Battle!" declared Sweetie Belle.

Spike raised his hand. "When the battle phase begins, I can return Chamber Dragonmaid to my hand to special summon a level 7 or higher Dragonmaid from my graveyard. Come forth, Dragonmaid Lorpar!" (Level 8, 2700/1700)

The maid dressed in black began to glow, filling the field in a green light. Her body morphed as she grew larger, with scales and a snout growing upon her body. Her tail thrashed and her wings unfurled, and as the light dimmed, the transformation was complete. The green dragon gave a roar, shaking the ground.

"House Dragonmaid's effect!" said Spike. "When a Dragonmaid monster I control is returned to the hand, I can target a card on the field and destroy-"

"I activate this trap!" declared Sweetie Belle. "Marincess Wave!"

Marble's eyes widened. "A trap activation from hand?!"

"I can activate this card from my hand when I control a Link-3 or higher Marincess monster." said Sweetie Belle. "Since I have a Marincess Link Monster, I can target 1 face-up monster my opponent controls and negate that monster's effects until the end of this turn. After that, since I control a Link-2 or higher Marincess monster, all face-up monsters I currently control are unaffected by my opponent's card effects until the end of this turn."

Spike's duel disk beeped twice again, as he let out a small "tch". The water around them began to swirl.

"I attack with Aqua Argonaught to destroy House Dragonmaid," continued Sweetie Belle. "Torrent Surge!"

A cascade of crystal blue water descended upon Spike's monster. Spike winced as his life points dropped, but his eyes remained steady.

Spike's LP: 8000 ------> 6700

Scootaloo raised her hand. "Since you took battle damage, Diamond Belle's effect activates! She destroys one of your cards!"

A swirl of ice surrounded Spikes remaining monster, freezing it in place before it shattered.

"I shall end my turn with that, dear," said Sweetie Belle. She turned to Mona. "Now then....what shall you do?"

Mona sighed and placed his fingers on his deck. "My turn now." He drew from his deck, and looked at his hand. An expression of hesitation passed over his face.

"What's wrong, new guy?" said Scootaloo. "Can't make a play?"

Mona looked back up at the three, then glanced at Marble and Spike, who were looking on with anticipation. He closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.

"Using the scale 1 D/D Savant Copernicus and Scale 10 D/D Savant Newton, I set the Pendulum Scale!"

Mona's monsters appeared on both sides of him, enshrouded in light. The numbers 1 and 10 appeared underneath them, as the field swirled with energy.

"With these two monsters I call forth my servants! I Pendulum Summon D/D Savant Thomas and D/D/D Oblivion King Abyss Ragnarok!" (Level 8, 1800/2600) (Level 8, 2200/3000)

Mona's monsters came onto the field with a thundering sound, their forms familiar to Marble. They towered over the other monsters on the field, and their shadows shrouded the field. Thomas was covered in a white cloak, crackling with electricity, and shook with every volt passing through the machine.

A black swirl formed underneath the monsters, as Mona said, "I overlay my 2 level 8 monsters! XYZ Summon!"

The two towering figures were pulled into the void like a black hole, taking on the form of spheres of light. Mona leaned back at and began to chant:

"From upon the throne of the cosmos, the legends call out thy name. Justice breaks the chains of oppression and shatters expectation! Release thy rage! D/D/D Duo Dawn King Kali Yuga!" (Rank 8, 3500/3000)

A massive stone throne carved with runes and arcane symbols rose from the ground. Sitting upon it was a figure clad in red armor. It's black cloak wrapped around it's legs were it sat, and the piercing yellow eyes glowed bright under the crimson helmet.

"When he's summoned," said Mona, "Kali Yuga immediately locks all of us out of activating any other card for the rest of the turn, as well as negating the effects of all everything else on the field."

The five other duelists widened their eyes at that declaration. Sweetie Belle frowned, looking on at the monster's power radiating off from it. "Impressive", she said. "But Argonaught remains unaffected due to Battle Ocean's protection, even if Battle Ocean itself becomes negated at the same time."

"True.... but now that Battle Ocean is negated, it no longer gains any ATK points."

(Marincess Aqua Argonaught: 4300 ---> 2300)

"We'll now battle!" declared Mona. "Kali Yuga attacks Aqua Argonaught! Judgement Blow!"

The seated figure's eyes shone bright, before beams of energy shot and pierced through the maiden. The resulting explosion was enough to push Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom all at once backwards.

Sweetie's LP: 8000 ------> 6800

"I end my turn with that," said Mona.

"Finally," said Apple Bloom. "It's my turn! Here we.....go!" She quickly drew a card from her deck. "When My opponent controls a monster, I can special summon Battlin' Boxer Promoter from my hand!"(Level 4, 1700/800)

Appearing onto the field was a humanoid robot dressed in a red tux and holding a microphone. A spotlight fell over, as it began standing as if to present something to a huge crowd. "I activate his effect. I can tribute him to Special Summon 2 Battlin' Boxers from my deck! Let's go, Uppercutter and Chief Second!" (Level 4, 1600/200) (Level 4, 500/2000)

Two more monsters dressed in sparring gear appeared onto the field, taking battle stances. "Now I'll use Uppercutter's effect to add Battlin' Boxer Cross Counter trap from my deck to my hand! Then, Chief Second lets me normal Summon another Battlin' Boxer from my hand in addition to my regular normal summon! Go, Battlin' Boxer Switchhitter!" (Level 4, 1500/1400)

A third monster returned to the field, taking up a similar battle stance like the others. "When he's normal summoned, I can special summon a Battlin' Boxer from my graveyard! Let's go, Promoter!" The robot with the red tux appeared back onto the field, surrounded by the other monsters. Apple Bloom pumped her fist as the field began to darken.

"I overlay Chief Second with Uppercutter! Let's go!"

A swirl of black stars began to form under Apple Bloom's feet, and the ground began to shake.

"I'm gonna pound you into the dirt! Blaze on! Rank 4, Battlin' Boxer King Dempsey!" (Rank 4, 2300/1800)

A tall, armored unit of a machine leapt onto the field. It's fists were wrapped in metal painted yellow like boxing gloves. Giant pistons pumped fuel up and down on the back of the android, as it threw shadow punches into the air.

Apple Bloom took another card from her hand. "Now I'll do my actual normal summon and summon Battlin' Boxer Glassjaw!" (Level 4, 2000/0). A green android appeared onto the field, swinging it's fist onto the air before adjusting it's headgear.

The black swirl began to shake beneath the ground of the 6 duelists. Apple Bloom raised her hand, and the number "79" began to glow on her wrist. Mona's eyes widened, recognizing the familiar glow.

"She's the Number user Spike mentioned?"

"I overlay my Battlin Boxer Glassjaw, Switchhitter, and Promoter!" declared Apple Bloom. The three monsters were pulled into the portal, before exploding in a mix of fire and light.

"King of the Ring! Champion of Brawls! Let's go, Number 79! Battlin' Boxer Nova Kaiser" (Rank 4, 2300/1600)

A towering android, covered in red and gold paint, landed onto the field. A pair of metal "wings" were folded behind it. It raised it's fists ready to fight.

"There's the number card!" said Marble. "But...it's still weaker than Kali Yuga..."

Mona narrowed his eyes, as Apple Bloom took a card from her hand. "What is this feeling....it can't be...." Mona thought to himself.

"I activate the Spell card, Rank-up-magic Quick Chaos!" declared Apple Bloom. "With this, I can take my Number 79, and XYZs summon a Number monster with 1 rank higher than it! Let's go, Nova Kaiser!"

Spike let out a low "Tch... this is it."

Marble's eyes widened "W...what is this power?! Rank-up?!"

Mona flinched as the monster before him began to transform, and morph. White armor began to clamp onto Apple Bloom's monster, as it rose in size, and it's gloves became a pair of massive gauntlets.

"The spirit blazes! The spirit of fighting exists in all in it's presence! Our will is unbreakable! Let's go, Chaos Number 79! Battlin' Boxer General Kaiser" (Rank 5, 2600/2000)