Card of the Day: Fortissimo the Mobile Fortress
Episode 107: The Last Obstacle in the Way
In a room deep below the surface of the earth, Aslo and Armen watch the end of the duel. Armen is mostly hidden by shadow.
Armen: Damn Neo. I knew it was a mistake creating him. Now I've lost Sigma as well….oh well, can't be helped. Still though, these pests have made it too far now. Aslo…
Aslo: Yes sir. You can leave it all to me.
He turns and walks off.
Armen: Don't fail me.
Aslo stops for a second. He starts moving again up a staircase. As he walks he stares at his hand.
Aslo: I won't fail you….father.
Opening
In the room before, everyone else stares down the staircase.
Tony: Kinda gives you an ominous feeling, doesn't it?
Tier: Indeed. But now that we've come this far, we can't afford to stop. Come on.
Alicia: Yusuke….are you…?
Yusuke: I'm fine. After this, I can't sit back. Come on. Let's get going. If Armen gets away with this, Neo will never forgive me.
Marie: Nice to see that fighting spirit.
They all start to head down the stairs. Seth struggles with his crutches and almost falls down before getting caught by Salia.
Seth: Don't. I'm not worth all the effort. You'd be better off leaving me behind and going on ahead.
Salia: No…problem. I don't mind one little bit. And besides, if we left you behind, we'd be letting Armen win. And no way we're letting that happen.
She stumbles as well and is caught by Shimmer.
Shimmer: Besides, we can't do this without you. What happened to that fighting spirit that I battled against?
Seth: That was a different time. Now….I'm not the king. I'm little more than dirt in the eyes of most people.
Axel is glaring at Seth as he walks down the steps.
Tamika: Yo, I asked you a question.
Axel: Sorry, what?
Tamika: What's wrong with you? Get your mind out of the gutter.
Axel: Well excuse me. I'm thinking about something else right now.
Tamika: We don't really have time for that. We need to stay focused on the objective at hand.
Axel: I know, I know!
Dex keeps walking when he stops.
Dex: Hey guys, do you hear footsteps?
Alicia: Yeah but….they're walking UP the stairs?
Everyone prepares themselves as Aslo walks up the stairs.
Koga: Hey…isn't that Aslo?
Arnold: Armen's assistant. We should have known.
Aslo: I commend you for getting this far. But I'm afraid this is as far as you go. I'll stop you here.
Yusuke: We don't have time to deal with you. Look, you seem like a nice enough person, but we really need to keep moving.
Aslo: It is too bad then. Let me rephrase my sentence. I WON'T let you by. Unless you can defeat me that is.
Tamika: Hmph. You really think you're a match for us?
Aslo: Who will accept my challenge?
Axel: I will.
Everyone is surprised to see Axel said it. Aslo raises an eyebrow.
Dex: Hold on! Aren't we at least going to talk about this?!
Axel: There's nothing to talk about. I'm going to pound him flat, that's what!
Aslo: So you wish to fight me. I only wonder….why?
Axel: Hmph. I don't need a reason to want to crush you guys. You just make me sick! So, are you scared?!
Aslo: …I do not wish to fight you. I do not believe in violence. But Armen wants you defeated. So….be it. Come.
He walks back down the stairs and everyone follows. Aslo spins and meets everyone in the middle of a vast room.
Aslo: And now…..we duel.
He holds out his arm and the cloth of his shirt rips as his arm morphs into a Duel Disk.
Alicia: What?! He's a robot too?!
Axel: Heh heh. Interesting. Bring it on you pile of scrap metal!
He takes out his Duel Disk and puts it on his arm as it activates, slashing it through the air. One of Aslo's eyes fills with Momentum.
Both: Duel. [Aslo LP = 4000] [Axel LP = 4000]
Axel: You can go first. I don't mind.
Aslo: Don't lie. You want to go second so you can attack first.
Axel: Heh. Guilty as charged.
Aslo: Well, then let's duel. Draw. I use Graceful Charity. This lets me draw 3 cards. Then I send two cards in my hand to my graveyard [Wisel Attack 5 and Grannel Guard 3].
Tony: He's already using hand refresh cards? Does his opening draw suck that much?
Tier: Hm….no. Look at him. He shows no emotion at his hand. Either he has a great poker face or….he is not displeased with his hand at all.
Marie: In that case, he doesn't even need to draw. There's some other reason for it.
Aslo: Next I summon Wise Core in defense mode [ATK 0/DEF 0 LV 1]. I set one card on the field. And lastly I use the Field Spell, Fortissimo the Mobile Fortress.
Wires and metal spring up from the ground and link together into a giant steel fortress that surrounds the field. Axel looks around.
Axel: A Field Spell? That's different. Other than that, his deck seems pretty basic. This'll be cake!
Aslo: Turn end.
Axel: My turn. Don't think I'm impressed. Your Field Spell doesn't intimidate me. I summon Spear Dragon [ATK 1900/DEF 0 LV 4]. I attack your Wise Core! Bionic Spear Burst!
It roars and shoots a powerful stream of energy. It shatters Wise and the beam hits Aslo as well, blasting him back a few steps [Aslo LP = 2100]
Axel: When Spear Dragon attacks a monster in defense mode, he deals Piercing damage.
Aslo: I see. But when Wise Core is destroyed, I get to destroy all monsters and summon these five monsters. Come, Machine Emperor Wisel Infinity [ATK 0/DEF 0 LV 1], Wisel Top [ATK 500/DEF 0 LV 1], Wisel Attack [ATK 1200/DEF 0 LV 1], Wisel Guard [ATK 0/DEF 1200 LV 1], and Wisel Carrier [ATK 800/DEF 600 LV 1]. Form, Machine Emperor Wisel!
Top becomes a head and attaches to Wisel. The monster roars as both arms transform and link onto the body. Carrier morphs into a set of legs and attach to the bottom as well as Wisel slashes the air and stands [ATK 2500/DEF 1200 LV 1].
Alicia: He already summoned a Machine Emperor?!
Axel: Not bad. But, when Spear Dragon attacks, he goes to defense mode [ATK 1900/DEF 0 LV 4]. I set two cards and end my…
Aslo: At this time, the effect of Fortissimo activates. If you did not summon a Machine type monster this turn, you take 100 points of damage.
A laser fires and streaks across the ground, blowing up. Axel screams in pain afterwards [Axel LP = 3900]
Dex: Axel!
Tamika: Damn! What is this?!
Axel: Heh….only 100 points of damage? Big whoop! Your bug bites don't even tick me off! Turn end. Damn…for 100 points of damage that actually really stung. Not to mention that card works on every monster except Machine. Damn….I don't even have one Machine monster in my deck. If I don't end this duel soon, it's really going to be a pain.
Aslo: I draw. I use Graceful Charity.
Axel: Another one?
Salia: Why is he drawing so many cards?
Koga: Maybe he has a bad hand.
Arnold: No, that's not it. He's looking for something. That must be it.
Aslo: This'll do. I use Dark Hole. This destroys all monsters out.
Tony: Wait, what's he doing?!
A black hole appears and sucks in all the monsters.
Shimmer: But…why? He had the advantage in terms of monsters. Why would he send his own Machine Emperor to the graveyard?
Aslo: Trap card, Infinite Prison. When a Machine Emperor monster is destroyed, I send a card to the graveyard [Batiel Top]. Next I take Wise Core from my graveyard and place it in my Spell and Trap card zone.
Wise Core appears and moves to the upper right part of the card.
Yusuke: Now he's bringing back the Cores? Why not keep them on the field to begin with?
Aslo: Next I summon Sky Core in defense mode [ATK 0/DEF 0 LV 1]. Turn end.
Axel: Heh. You think destroying my monster gets rid of it for good? Sorry to disappoint you! I draw. Trap card, Call of the Haunted. This lets me revive one monster in attack mode. Come on back, Spear Dragon [ATK 1900/DEF 0 LV 4]. I attack Sky Core! Bionic Spear Burst!
It shoots a stream of energy that destroys it and hits Aslo in the chest, sending flying backwards and onto his side. He slowly gets up as he moans in pain [Aslo LP = 200].
Alicia: He took almost all of his life points!
Dex: One more turn and it's over.
Aslo: Not bad. But when Sky Core is destroyed, I get to Special Summon these five monsters from my deck. Come on, Machine Emperor Skiel Infinity [ATK 0/DEF 0 LV 1], Skiel Top [ATK 600/DEF 0 LV 1], Skiel Attack [ATK 1000/DEF 0 LV 1], Skiel Guard [ATK 200/DEF 300 LV 1], and Skiel Carrier [ATK 400/DEF 0 LV 1]. Form, Machine Emperor Skiel.
Attack and Guard merge together into a gun with a laser cannon at the bottom as it fuses with Infinity. Carrier splits into two wings and merges with the sphere. Top transforms into a head that links with the top as the monster roars and flies around [ATK 2200/DEF 300 LV 1].
Marie: A second Machine Emperor.
Axel: Not like it matters to me. I'll crush it. At this time, Spear Dragon goes to defense mode [ATK 1900/DEF 0 LV 4]. I summon Wish Dragon in defense mode [ATK 700/DEF 100 LV 2]. That ends my turn.
Aslo: You have zero Machine monsters on your side of the field. Therefore, Fortissimo deals 100 points of damage to you.
A laser fires and scrapes against the ground again as the sparks hit Axel and he cries out again. [Axel LP = 3800].
Axel: He's not even dealing that much damage! How is he hurting me this badly?!
Aslo: Here we go, my turn. Machine Emperor Skiel attacks Spear Dragon. Sky Cannon.
Skiel aims its gun at the monster and fires a powerful beam of energy that blows up the monster when it hits.
Axel: So you finally attack me eh coward?!
Aslo: Turn end. Since I have a Machine Emperor, which is a Machine monster, Fortissimo won't deal damage.
Tier: So he uses a deck full of Machines and quickly swarms the opponent. Meanwhile, he uses Fortissimo the Mobile Fortress to deal 100 points of damage to his opponent every turn he lacks a Machine monster.
Marie: The fact of the matter is that not every duelist uses Machine monsters. Axel's unlucky enough not to have a single one. Which means slowly he'll be whittled down. Sure, it's only 100 life points per turn, but add in Battle Damage and such, and he'll be in trouble before long.
Axel: So much for a fight. I draw. Here we go! By releasing Wish Dragon, I get to Special Summon two Dragon Tokens [ATK 0/DEF 0 LV 1 each]. And that was not my Normal Summon! Which means I can still summon out this monster. By releasing two weaker monsters, I summon this! One of the rarest cards in the game, with scales pure as snow, with eyes as fierce as the raging ocean. I summon Blue- Eyes White Dragon [ATK 3000/DEF 2500 LV 8].
Tamika: Hmph, show off.
Aslo: Ho. I thought Synchro monsters were your forte. I wasn't expecting you to summon that.
Axel: As if. Your monster kills Synchros, so I summon a Synchro? Get real! Blue- Eyes White Dragon attacks Machine Emperor Skiel Infinity. Burst Stream of Destruction!
Aslo: Skiel Carrier's monster effect. Once per turn, I can negate an attack.
The wings flap and a wind blocks the attack.
Axel: I can deal with that. Trap card, Dragon's Anger. When a Dragon type monster fails to destroy its opponent in battle, it destroys one monster on the field. I destroy Machine Emperor Skiel Infinity! And when that monster is destroyed, all your monsters are destroyed!
Skiel glows and blows up. Aslo doesn't even react.
Aslo: Infinite Prison. I discard one card from my hand and return Sky Core to the field as a Spell card.
Sky Core appears and goes to the left side of the card.
Tier: He added another card to the field. I don't like this….not one bit.
Axel: I set a card and end my turn.
Aslo: At this time, the effect of Fortissimo activates.
A laser fires and hits Axel once more, sending him flying back [Axel LP = 3700].
Axel: This is nothing! I don't get this guy. He has all these Machine Emperors, but he hasn't used a single one physically. Yet he still sends cards to the grave. What's his goal?
Aslo: I draw. Spell card, Tumbling Tower. This lets me send three cards from the deck to the graveyard and draw 3 cards. Perfect. I summon Grand Core in defense mode [ATK 0/DEF 0 LV 1]. I set one card and end my turn.
Axel: Hmph. You just took your last turn! Here we go, draw! I use Fissure. This lets me destroy the monster on the field with the lowest attack. You only have one monster. That means I'll destroy it.
The monster is crushed. Seth stands and looks shocked as Aslo begins to smile
Seth: He's….happy?
Aslo: You don't learn do you? By destroying Grand Core, these five monsters are summoned. Machine Emperor Grannel Infinity [ATK 0/DEF 0 LV 1], Grannel Top [ATK 500/DEF 0 LV 1], Grannel Attack [ATK 1300/DEF 0 LV 1], Grannel Guard [ATK 500/DEF 1000 LV 1], and Grannel Carrier [ATK 700/DEF 700 LV 1]. Form, Machine Emperor Grannel!
Infinity floats into the air. Carrier morphs into a self levitating jet that attaches to the base. Attack and Guard respectively transform into a gun and a shield and become the arms. Top morphs into a head and attaches to the top.
Alicia: Now he's summoned a third one…
Axel: Hmph. Sorry to disappoint you. I've already beaten that thing. It no longer intimidates me. Besides Grannel's attack points are equal to your life points. With only 200 life points, it only has 200 attack points [ATK 200/DEF 0 LV 1]
Aslo: Yes, it would seem that way. I set a card and end my turn.
Tony: For the last guy left, he's pretty tame. He hasn't done anything tremendous or anything.
Marie: No. With that Infinite Prison, he must be planning something.
Yusuke: Skiel, Wisel, Grannel. Beta, Gamma, Delta. Wait….it can't mean that…
Axel: I draw. I attack Machine Emperor Grannel Infinity with Blue- Eyes White Dragon! Burst Stream of Destruction.
It fires lightning that rips through Infinity, causing the whole thing to blow up.
Tamika: He didn't even try to block it that time. We were right. That was his goal.
Aslo: By discarding one card, Grand Core is placed in the Spell and Trap card zone. Well Axel, you didn't deal damage. Nice attack though.
Axel: If you thought that was great, hang on a second. Trap card, Slash Charge! When I destroy a monster, half of its attack points are dealt as damage. Grannel had 200 attack points, so you take 100 points of damage.
Aslo barely has time to react as something quick slash him. He screams as a ripping sound is heard [Aslo LP = 100].
Axel: Heh. ….Huh? HUH?!
Alicia: It can't be!
Dex: That's…impossible!
Aslo: So now you know. You know me as Aslo, Armen's faithful servant. But in reality….
He moves to his chest and more ripping is heard. Everyone looks in shock as metal is shown with a symbol on it.
Aslo: I am Project Xi of Armen's 24 projects. And he is also….my father.
Axel: Armen is…your father?
Yusuke: No way.
Aslo: And now Axel Seshia, you lose.
Grand Core appears and the room shakes.
Tony: What's going on!?
Salia: Why is the room shaking?!
Aslo onlygrins as Axel snarls in anger.
Ending
Narrator: Time is drawing close to the end. As the final Divine Machine Emperor appears, can they win before the date of the end arrives? Next time on Yu-Gi-Oh! Riders of Fate, Episode 108: Project Chi- Infinity Cubic