Card of the Day: Dragon Core
Episode 81: Unlock It. The Power of Sigma
Binary code is flying through a space as a shadow is sitting the datascape.
???: Firewalls 1, 2, and 3 down. Firewall #4, 30% in progress. Overall overwrite progress 82.5% complete.
Neo's eyes are wide in shock as Black Rose Dragon [ATK 2400/DEF 1700 LV 7] and Splendid Rose [ATK 2200/DEF 2000 LV 6]. Neo has a set card and a set monster on the field. [Neo LP = 3300][Marie LP = 2200].[SPC: Marie = 7 Neo = 7].
Marie: I use the effect of Black Rose Dragon. I remove a Plant type monster from play [Witch of the Black Rose] in order to use its special ability. One monster my opponent controls goes to attack mode and its power is reduced to zero.
Vines lash around it and pull it into attack mode [Vylon Tesseract, ATK 800-0/DEF 600 LV 4]
Neo: My monster!
Marie: Splendid Rose, attack his Vylon Tesseract. Go, Rose Thorn Whip!
It whips the monster, cutting it in two. Neo screams as the whip also hits him [Neo LP = 1100].
Announcer: Amazing! That attack was the equivalent of a direct attack!
Marie: Now I use the effect of Splendid Rose. I remove from play a Plant type monster in the graveyard from play [Revival Rose] and let him attack a second time [ATK 1100/DEF 2000 LV 6]
Dex: If this connects….
Neo: Uh oh! Um….Trap card, Paying Your Respects. Now, during the turn a monster I control is destroyed in battle, I can negate all damage from direct attacks this turn
The second vine is blocked.
Marie: I see. Then I can't attack with my Black Rose Dragon. You escape this turn. You won't next time. Turn end
Opening
Neo and Marie continue to race around the arena. Black Rose Dragon roars as it flies over the arena with Splendid Rose following.
Alicia: Neo just barely made it past that turn.
Tamika With both Splendid Rose and Black Rose Dragon on Marie's field, Neo would appear to be in a tough situation
Yusuke: You make it sound like there's something more
Tamika: There is. At first glance, monsters like Splendid Rose look powerful. But, its effect requires removing Plant type monsters in the graveyard form play in order to use its effect. The same goes for Black Rose Dragon. You need to remove a monster in the graveyard from play to use it.
Dex: I get it! So in other words, Marie is limited by the number of cards in her graveyard! All Neo needs to do is wait until she has no more Plants left and then he won't be subjected to their effects.
Axel: Hmph. Yeah, that's true, but you're missing the big picture here. After all, having them not be able to use this effects is good, but in a case like this, when he's facing both with only 1100 life points, just surviving to empty Marie's graveyard is not going to be easy.
Yusuke: Neo can do it. I know he can!
Arnold: What a boring duel. This boy is not doing so well. What can he expect, going up against Marie like this? He's bound to lose
Salia: There's more to a duel than just the initial appearance. After all, Seth won his duel when it was looking bleak!
Arnold: Yes, that may be little girl, but don't forget, that was Seth in that case. This Neo boy...where did he even come from?
Seth: Arnold, shut up.
Arnold: Testy….
Seth: Alright, my turn [SPC: Neo = 8 Marie = 8]. I use the effect of Neo Speed World. Since I have a Speed Spell in my hand, I can pay 7 Speed Counters [SPC: Neo = 1 Marie = 8] to draw one more card from my deck. Now I set a monster in defense mode and place two cards face down to end my turn.
Announcer: It looks like Neo is in a tough situation! At a time like this, all he can do is play defense monsters! How long will he be able to do that before Marie breaks through?
Neo: It's alright. I have the proper tools to survive until next turn. But after that…what then? There's nothing I can summon right now. How do I get out of this? There's no way…
???: There is one way. All you need to do is unleash that card.
Neo: I told you, I'll never use that card!
???: You seriously think you can hide from it? Neo, that card is who you are.
Neo: what…do you mean?
???: The card is who you are, for the card is who I am.
Grayson: It looks like Neo's starting to lose his cool
Armen: It would appear Sigma is breaking lose. As it should be. After all, Sigma is who Neo really is. The human half was a little extra. But somehow, the Sigma persona was buried deep within Neo's programming. Now it looks like his true initiative is coming through.
Marie: It's my turn. I draw [SPC: Marie = 9 Neo = 2]. Next turn, I will have 10 Speed Counters. Which means I'll destroy a card next turn. In addition, as long as I have monsters in my graveyard, I can use the effect of Black Rose Dragon and change your monster to attack mode. With only 1100 life points, an attack from either Splendid Rose or Black Rose Dragon could finish you. So tell me, in a situation like this, what makes you want to keep fighting?
Neo: I made a promise to fight Yusuke in the final round. And well…I can't afford to let him down! So I'll fight you and anyone else who gets in my way to reach that final duel!
Marie: I see, so that is the reason. But reason without resolve is nothing. So tell me Neo, you have a reason, but do you have the proper resolve?
Neo: What? Of course I have resolve! If I didn't have resolve than I wouldn't be fighting this duel!
Marie: You're confusing the terms resolve and instinct. A duelist duels. It is simply who we are. But a duelist needs to be determined to duel with over 100% of their skills. And Neo, when I look at you, I see a scared little puppy whimpering in fear of its own shadow. What are you so scared of Neo?
Neo: I'm not afraid of anything!
Marie: And you deny it, like a real coward. I'm not going to bother with a weak coward for an opponent. You want to fight Yusuke? You'll never be within 1000 feet of him
Neo looks scared as a red tint appears in his eyes
Neo: Would ya shut up you stupid bimbo? Don't you dare underestimate me or I'll cut your tongue out.
Marie looks back in shock as the crowd boos
Announcer: Trash talking! What a disgrace!
Neo: Oh my…I'm sorry! I don't know what…
Marie: Oh, so I offer friendly advice and you respond like that? Well fine then, we can both play it the hard way.
Neo: No, that wasn't me! I swear! But then….who….
Dex: That was weird. Is Neo feeling okay?
Seth: There's something seriously wrong here.
He looks to the other Top Box and sees Armen and Grayson there
Seth: Hm…
He walks off
Salia: Where you are going?
Seth: A soda. I'm thirsty.
Salia: Oh, I can get one for you!
Seth: No, no. I want a chance to stretch my legs.
He walks off as Salia looks disappointed.
Marie: I remove from play Copy Plant and use the effect of Black Rose Dragon. Now, your monster changes to attack mode. Rose Restriction!
Vines extend and wrap around the monster. The Unhappy Maiden is forced into attack mode [ATK 0/DEF 100 LV 1].
Marie: I see. If I destroy that, the Battle Phase ends. Of course, damage is still dealt. So this attack ends it. Black Rose Dragon, attack The Unhappy Maiden. Black Rose Flare!
Neo: Trap card, Quick Reaction. This lets me put a monster in defense mode when it is attacked [ATK 0/DEF 100 LV 1]
Maiden is cut apart.
Marie: I see. Now I can't attack for the rest of the turn. I set two cards and end my turn.
Neo: Alright, now my counterattack begins! I draw [SPC: Marie = 10 Neo = 3]. I summon Vylon Tetra [ATK 900/DEF 900 LV 2]. Trap card, Synchro Material. This lets me use my opponent's monsters in my Synchro Summon. I won't be able to attack this turn, but that's fine. I tune my level 2 Vylon Tetra and your level 6 Splendid Rose.
Tetra becomes 2 rings that Rose flies through, becoming 6 stars [2 + 6 = 8]
Neo: Summon, the fourth strongest among the divine robots. Synchro Summon! Shine, Vylon Epsilon [ATK 2800/DEF 1200 LV 8]
Alicia: Yes! He got rid of Splendid Rose!
Tamika: Maybe so, but Black Rose Dragon is still on the field. Plus, Vylon Epsilon can't attack this turn
Marie: So you got rid of Splendid Rose. What changes?
Neo: Maybe I can't attack, but I'll still take out your Dragon. I equip my monster with Speed Spell- Light Scanner. Now by sending an Equip card to the graveyard, I destroy a card.
Four rays of light hit Dragon and destroy it
Dex: And now both of them went down!
Marie: I shouldn't have let my guard down
Neo: Alright, that's it for me. You wanted to see my resolve? Well here it is!
Marie: I see. You do have resolve. But too bad for you, isn't enough to stop my resolve. My turn [SPC: Marie = 11 Neo = 4]
Neo: Did she draw a Speed Spell?
Marie: Tsk. You're lucky. I can't use Neo Speed World's destruction effect until next turn. But, next turn will not come. Trap card, Descending Lost Star. This revives a Synchro monster with a decreased level in defense mode and makes it defense points zero. I revive Splendid Rose [ATK 2200/DEF 0 LV 5]. That's not all. I summon Wilt Wizard [ATK 700/DEF 300 LV 2]. Wilt Wizard can tune to monsters on the field and let me revive monsters in the graveyard.
Neo: No way!
Marie: Yes. Now then, Trap card, Star Siphon. This lets me summon a Star Siphon Token [ATK 0/DEF 0 LV 1]. Once per turn, I can switch the levels of a Star Siphon Token and one another monster. I switch the levels of Splendid Rose and the Star Siphon Token [ATK 0/DEF 0 LV 5][ATK 2200/DEF 0 LV 1] I tune the level 5 Splendid Rose and level 2 Wilt Wizard to revive Black Rose Dragon
Wizard becomes 2 rings that Rose flies through, becoming 5 stars [2 + 5 = 7]
Marie: Now resurrect, Black Rose Dragon [ATK 2400/DEF 1700 LV 7]
Announcer: And Marie revives her ace monster, Black Rose Dragon! And even right after Neo managed to destroy it!
Neo: No way….
Marie: It's like I said, you can't beat me. I use the effect of Black Rose Dragon. I remove a Plant type monster from play [Wilt Wizard] and reduce the attack points of your monster to zero [ATK 0/DEF 1200 LV 8]
Koga: Neo won't be able to avoid it!
Axel: First she lowered Splendid Rose's level using Descending Lost Star to make it easier to revive Black Rose Dragon. Then she use Star Siphon so she didn't have to sacrifice Splendid Rose. She's clever.
Marie: Too bad for you. My Synchro monsters are better than to beaten by the likes of you. Black Rose Dragon, attack his monster. Go, Black Rose Flare!
Neo: This isn't good!
He closes his eyes when they open and turn red again
Neo: Trap card, Lightning Passage. I pay 500 life points [Neo LP = 600]. This lets me negate one attack against me
Lightning blocks it
Marie: Until next turn then.
Neo: That's assuming you survive until next turn
He rushes at her. She looks back in shock and quickly jumps away as Neo pumps into the wall. His eyes return to normal
Marie: What the hell's your problem?! Now you're trying to murder me?!
Neo: No, hold on a second, it wasn't me!
Marie kicks at his head as he ducks
Marie: Fine then! If you want to play rough. Go ahead, make your move!
Neo: Oh man….I draw [SPC: Marie = 12 Neo = 5]. I set a card. Turn end.
Dex: Just a set card? But it won't help him!
Tamika: Neo's acting really weird down there
Yusuke: what's happening with you Neo?
Grayson: This is amusing entertainment, is it not?
Armen: Oh yes. If it all goes well, we might see it in action. Aslo! I'm thirsty. Get me a cold beverage.
Aslo: As you wish sir.
He leaves the room and sees Seth, who is cracking his knuckles
Seth: Hi. May I please speak with Armen?
Aslo: You should really address him as Mr. Armen. And I'm afraid you can not.
He runs at Seth suddenly, Seth reacts and rolls as Aslo punches the ground. Aslo turns and kicks as Seth blocks it.
Marie: My turn [SPC: Marie = 12 Neo = 6]. I use the effect of Neo Speed World. I pay 12 Speed Counters [SPC: Marie = 0 Neo = 6]. This lets me destroy all cards you control. I won't take a chance with you having some kind of trap. Go, Speed Storm!
Neo: Trap card, Waboku! Now for this turn, all Battle Damage I take goes to zero.
A hurricane destroys Epsilon
Marie: It doesn't matter. You have no cards on the field and no cards in your hand. No matter what do you do, you can't win. I have 2200 life points while you have 600. How can you expect to come back?
Neo: I…don't know. But I know I will!
Marie: Fool. There's no way. I set a card. Turn end
Neo: Um…draw [SPC: Neo = 7 Marie = 1]. Speed Spell- Reactor Pod. If I use this, I could have dealt damage. But I have no monsters. Looks like I need to take a risk. I use the effect of Neo Speed World. I pay 7 Speed Counters [SPC: Neo = 0 Marie = 1] and draw a card. Huh?!
???: You drew it.
Neo: No…out of all the cards….how can this help me!?
???: You can win Neo. All you have to do is play it.
Neo: No…there's no way I can use a card like this. After all…this card is everything we're against.
???: This card is who you are Neo. Besides, don't you want to keep you promise?
Neo: I do but…if I use this card….I won't use a card like this!
???: You don't have a choice. Our only reason for existing is to use this card.
Neo: No! I won't do it!
???: Neo, you aren't human. You are a robot. If Yusuke and the others knew, they would abandon you in a minute
Neo: No…they wouldn't…
???: Your future, your life, your loyalty, your victory. It all lies in this card. All you must do is play it
Tamika: What's taking him so long?
Dex: He just holds that card.
Yusuke: Neo…
Grayson: I think it will be soon
The door creaks
Armen: It's been a few minutes Aslo. Do you have my cold drink?
Seth: Sorry, afraid not. But if you tell me what you did to Neo, I'll get you one
Armen: And what makes you think I'll tell you?
Seth runs at Armen. Neo looks very conflicted as he closes his eyes
Neo: I summon….Dragon Core [ATK 0/DEF 0 LV 1]
Greg: DRAGON Core?
Everyone steps up in shock. Grayson punches Seth against the wall as he looks down
Armen: And it begins.
Neo's eyes turn all red.
Marie: A Core? Wait a minute….
Neo: I use the power of Neo Speed World. Since I have 0 Speed Counters, I can release Dragon Core and gain Speed Counters equal to his attack points [SPC: Neo = 1 Marie = 1]. And now that Dragon Core is destroyed, I get to Special Summon Machine Emperor Dragiel Infinity [ATK 0/DEF 0 LV 1], Dragiel Top [ATK 500/DEF 0 LV 1], Dragiel Attack [ATK 1100/DEF 0 LV 1], Dragiel Guard [ATK 400/DEF 900 LV 1], and Dragiel Carrier [ATK 400/DEF 0 LV 1]. Form, Machine Emperor Dragiel!
Top becomes a head that hooks to the body. Guard becomes a tail that hooks onto the back. Attack becomes two arms and legs that attach and Carrier becomes a set of wings. Dragiel roars [ATK 2400/DE 900 LV 1]. Neo's outfit becomes surrounded by binary code and turns all red with a billowing cape
Neo: Dragiel's effect lets me absorb a Synchro monster. I absorb your Splendid Rose
Tentacles lash out and grab it [ATK 4600/DEF 2900 LV 1]
Marie: No way….a Machine Emperor…this is what they are?
Neo: Now my monster attacks
Marie: Trap card, Mirror Force.
Neo: That won't do. Dragiel shatters any Spells or Traps when he attacks
Dragiel shatters the mirror and shoots fire. Dragon is incinerated. The fire spreads and covers Marie. She screams in pain as her clothes are set on fire [Marie LP = 0]. She slips and crashes into a wall. Everyone in the audience looks in shock as Neo keeps riding. Grayson begins to laugh
Armen: His true power has been unlocked. Project Sigma is now complete.
Yusuke looks on in horror as Neo's eyes continue to glow blood red
Ending
Narrator: After Neo's transformation into Sigma, Yusuke is in a sad situation. However, the tournament still goes on as Leon and Ashoka have their rematch. Next time on Yu-Gi-Oh! Riders of Fate, Episode 82: The Greatest Shield. Machine Emperor Defendiel