Crimson Star Priestess

VS Akiza - Part 1

As predicted, Yusei won the first semi-final duel, but Greiger revealed the truth about his village before trying to assassinate Goodwin in front of a million eyes. Fortunately, Yusei stopped him before someone got hurt. However, both Duel Runners crashed on the course, so the staff of the Fortune Cup had to halt the tournament for fifteen minutes to clean up the mess and make sure the Duel Runner course was okay to use for the next Turbo Duel. Greiger was arrested while his Duel Runner was confiscated by Sector Security. Yusei was able to roll his Duel Runner from the course to his assigned garage before the Fortune Cup staff took over the rest of the clean-up.

I ran to Yusei's garage to make sure he was okay. He had no injuries, but his Duel Runner had taken a big hit from Greiger's Duel Runner when they collided, so I left him alone to fix it while I mentally prepared myself for the duel.

Fifteen minutes later, it was time for me to duel Akiza. To be honest, I was starting to get nervous. I didn't know how I upset Akiza before, so I was worried that she would try to go all out. Tanner appeared in the lounge shortly before the second semi-final duel to wish me good luck before he hurried to check on Yusei.

I stood on a platform underneath the duel field and waited to be elevated to the surface. The ceiling opened as I heard the MC introduce me while the platform lifted me up.

"Welcome back to our second semi-final duel! We apologize for the wait, but we will give you one big knuckle-sandwich of excitement as compensation when it comes to this particular cat fight! Now, entering the arena, the unknown star, Estelle Malmstrom!"

People cheered and chanted my name as I looked around the stadium. Some people in the audience were already telling me to kick Akiza's butt and show her who the real boss was.

"And her opponent, the magician with the green thumbs; the Black Rose Witch!"

I felt a eyebrow twitch when the MC introduced Akiza with her alter ego's name as she was elevated to the duel field. My patience grew thin when people started booing Akiza. Some of them already ran away from the arena because they were afraid of being injured by Akiza's psychic powers. I saw some seats become empty in the last ten seconds and the duel hadn't even started yet.

"Get ready to duel!"

Tanner's POV

I found Yusei in his assigned garage fixing his Duel Runner. The television screen in the garage was showing the duel field where the women prepared themselves for the duel, but the young man's attention was focused on his ride.

"Yusei, the next match's about to start." I called.

"Sorry, fixing my Runner comes first." Yusei replied, not even bothering to look up.

I turned to the television and saw how the broadcast camera shifted from the Witch to Estelle. The Witch had a poker face while Estelle seemed to look concerned.

"But Estelle's goin' up against the Black Rose! You really think the Black Rose's a witch?" I asked in slight disbelief that Yusei wasn't concerned about the duel, especially now that Estelle was dueling.

"No, she's more dangerous that that."

"You think Estelle can win this?" I questioned as I leaned against a pile of crates.

I quickly recalled the duel I had with her the other day. I was stunned when I saw her summon the legendary Blue-Eyes White Dragon and how she literally destroyed me in the duel which at first I thought I would win. She was certainly full of surprises, but could she use those surprise combos to defeat the Witch?