[3rd POV]
A heavy silence settled over the arena. The air felt dense, cold, and ominous, all of that is radiating from Mash. His once chill and outgoing personality had vanished, replaced by an eerie, sinister and pale white aura that seemed to warp the arena's atmosphere.
Chazz furrowed his brows, but the cold sweats forming on his face betrayed his confidence. His two lackeys, Taiyou and Raizou, weren't any better. Both trembling, both looked like they are about to piss at themselves, and both of their legs wobbling as if they might collapse at any moment.
"Woah… he's really mad," Alexis muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Syrus gulped. "Y-Yeah… and all of this… just from calling Lovely Labrynth ugly—"
Mash's piercing gaze snapped toward Syrus. The sheer weight of his glare sent a shiver down Syrus's spine. His face went pale as he yelped.
"HIIII! I-I'M SORRY! I MEANT SHE'S PRETTY! REALLY PRETTY!"
Mash retracted his killing intent gaze at Syrus as he turned his attention at the dueling arena. Without a word, he jumped on to it and then he turned to gaze at Jaden and gave him a silent command. "Move."
Jaden flinched. "Uh… Right, right! I'm moving!" He raised his hands in mock surrender, and backs away slowly from the duel stage toward Alexis and Syrus. Jaden then whispered to Syrus, "Syrus."
"Y-Yeah?"
"Remind me to never say anything bad about Lovely Labrynth in front of Mash."
Syrus nodded furiously. "Agreed! And dont forget to remind me too!"
I equipped and activated my duel disk, slotting my deck inside the compartment. Mash still gazed at Chazz with a cold blooded murderous gaze.
Chazz wiped his forehead, only now realizing how clammy his hands had become. He looked down... his fingers were trembling. [What the hell…? Me, Chazz Princeton… Intimidated?]
[NO. IMPOSSIBLE! A Princeton never backed down!] He clenched his fists, steeling himself.
Forcing a smirk, Chazz scoffed. "Nice aura you got there, Mash! I gotta say, for a Slifer slacker like yourself, you're—"
"Shut the fuck up."
The words sliced through the air like a blade.
Chazz's smirk faltered. "What did you just..!"
"I said. Shut. The fuck. Up."
Mash's eyes locked onto him like a predator seeing its prey.
Chazz flinched. [What the!?] He staggered back half a step. His breath erratic as he noticed something unnatural. Mash's eyes... Once dark, is now silver colored! And the aura around him flared, growing heavier, and suffocating.
Alexis gasped. "His eyes… They changed!"
Jaden's eyes widened. "Whoa! They really did!"
"H-H-How!?" Syrus stammered.
Mash exhaled slowly before speaking, his voice eerily calm. "Chazz..."
Chazz clenched his fists. "Tch… What now!?"
"Let me tell you one thing...
No one. Talks bad. About my Lovely Labrynth."
Chazz scoffed, masking his unease. "Oh yeah? Well, I just did! And what are you gonna do about it?"
"what am i gonna do about it" Mash let out a low chuckle. Then, without warning, he threw his head back and erupted into a villainous laugh, gripping his face with his entire arm. His laugh sends shivers down everyone spines.
Slowly, his laughter faded, his hand lowering to reveal cold, razor-sharp eyes. "here is what im gonna do... I'm going to show you the difference of skill between us!"
Mash pointed a single finger at Chazz, "YOU. will not last more longer than 3 turns...
I will make sure of that!"
Chazz's grip on his duel disk tightened. His pride roared against the fear creeping into his chest.
"Very intimidating," he sneered. "Let's see if your yapping is real.. Or just a bluff, Slifer slacker!"
Mash/Chazz: DUEL!
Chazz: "I'll—"
Mash: "I'll go first, draw!"
With a swift motion, Mash drew five cards (1), his fingers gripping them tightly as his silver gaze burned with intensity toward Chazz.
Chazz clicked his tongue, irritated. "Tch... Whatever! It doesn't change the outcome of this match, as I will win." He then also pulled five cards into his hand.
Mash glanced at his hand, analyzing his opening move before declaring his first move, "First! I will summon {Arianna the Labrynth Servant} in defense position!"
A silver door emerges on the field, and from it emerged a Shy looking silver haired gothic maid. She held an oversized ring of keys in one hand, and have a tail with green and black stripes.
{Arianna the Labrynth Servant|4 star|dark|fiend/effect|atk:1600 def:2100}
Syrus gasped and turned toward Jaden. "Whoa! its defense points is the same as your flame wingman, jaden!"
Jaden's eyes widened slightly before he nodded. "Yeah, you're right! That's a really strong defense monster!"
Alexis, however, saw deeper into Mash's play. "Yes, but Mash didn't summon her just to be a wall.
Mash smirk slightly. "I will activate Arianna's special effect! When this card is Normal or Special Summoned, I can add a 'Labrynth' card from my deck to my hand—except {Arianna the Labrynth Servant}!"
Chazz's eyes widened in shock. [A deck searcher card... and it activates on summon!?] His fingers curled into a tense fist. "Tch! Search your deck for your pathetic 'Labrynth' cards all you want, you Slifer slacker!"
Mash's expression remained unfazed. "But I won't be searching my deck... not yet." He held up a card in his hand. "Because I will now chain the effect of {Lady Labrynth of the Silver Castle}!"
The arena erupted with gasped of shock from the spectator
Chazz clicked his tongue with irritation. "Tch!"
Jaden tilted his head, confused. "Lady Labrynth of the Silver Castle...? Why does that name sound familiar?"
Alexis groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Because it has a similar name to Mash's ace monster, {Lovely Labrynth of the Silver Castle}. The only difference is that 'Lovely' is changed to 'Lady' in the name! Why can't you recognize it?!"
Jaden chuckled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "Haha... my bad."
Mash ignored the stupid ass conversation, its typical of Jaden. "I will explain {Lady Labrynth of the Silver Castle's} effect! When a 'Labrynth' card or effect—or a Normal Trap card—is activated this turn, I can Quick Effect: I can special Summon this card to the field from my hand in defense position!"
He extended his arm. "Now, go forth, my Lady!"
Chazz gritted his teeth as a fancy silver door erupted from the field, illuminating the entire arena in its brilliance. Then as the silver door opened, a tall, elegant woman emerged, her silver armor glistening under the dueling arena's spotlights. She stood with poise, twin rapiers resting against each other in an X formation in front of her elegantly, as she is in defense position.
Her piercing gaze locked onto Chazz, a faint smirk playing at the edges of her lips.
{Lady Labrynth of the Silver castle|8 star|dark|fiend/effect|atk:3000 def:2900}
Chazz staggered back slightly, his breath catching in his throat. [He summonned a level 8, 2900 defense monster on his first turn!? And if its in its attack position, it has the same attack power as the blue eyes white dragon!?]
Jaden jaw dropped "Woah! is that another one of Mash ace monster!?"
Alexis watched Lady Labrynth with interest. "How elegant... but why does her face resemble Lovely Labrynth?"
Mash's smirk widened. "Because they are the same person, Alexis. Lady Labrynth is simply Lovely Labrynth in silver armor rather than a fancy dress."
Alexis blinked in realization. "Oooh... I see."
Mash's tone shifted back to his usual serious one. "Anyway, I will now continue the chain effect to Arianna and search my deck for a 'Labrynth' card."
Mash took his deck from the duel disk compartment and then begin skimming through it until he finds and pulled out the card he is looking for and placed his deck back into the duel disk.
"The card that i just searched is {Labrynth cooclock}! and next, i will set a card!"
A face down card materialized on the field in front of Mash
"and then activate i {Labrynth cooclock} effect! I can quick effect: Discard {Labrynth cooclock} from my hand to the graveyard to be able to activate 1 normal trap card the same turn it was set, as long as i control a 'labrynth' monster. Which i do, and i have two of them."
Chazz's heartbeat quickened. [An effect that lets him activate a Normal Trap immediately... Wait! Don't tell me—!]
Mash's eyes gleamed with amusement as the Face down card on the field stands up to reveal itself. "I activate my Set card {Big Welcome Labrynth}!"
Jaden immediately pointed at the card with excitement in his voice. "That's the card Mash used to summon Lovely Labrynth against Professor Crowler that time!"
"But!" Mash cut in, his voice sharp as he raised a single finger. "I will chain Lady Labrynth's effect! Quick effect—when a normal trap card is activated, I can set another different trap card directly from my deck! And I choose Waboku!"
Waboku trap card materialized on Mash's field face up, hovering for a brief moment before setting itself face-down.
"Now Big Welcome Labrynth's effect activates!" Mash declared. "I can Special Summon a 'Labrynth' monster from my hand, Graveyard, or Deck! And you all know exactly who I'm summoning…"
Syrus eyes widened. "It's gotta be Lovely Labrynth!"
"Hohoho~ That's right, Syrus-boy!"
A smug, playful laugh suddenly echoed through the arena, sending a chill down Chazz's spine as he know who that voice is.
A grand, regal silver staircase materialized in the center of the field, shimmering with elegance. At the very top of the staircase, a tall, strikingly beautiful woman stood with an air of dominance. She wore an ornate silver dress embroidered with intricate patterns and silvery jewelry. In one hand, she gripped a massive battle axe, the silver gleaming ominously and elegantly under the stadium lights.
With effortless grace, she leaped from the top of the staircase, landing on the field with a confident click of her heels. A mischievous smirk danced on her lips as she turned her silver gaze toward Chazz.
Chazz instinctively staggered back, his fingers tightening into fists as a scowl formed on his face.
{Lovely Labrynth of the Silver castle|8 star|dark|fiend/effect|atk:2900 def:1500}
Lovely Labrynth tilted her head, her expression mockingly sweet. "So this is the snotty brat who had the audacity to insult me~?" She let out a dramatic sigh, placing a hand on her hip and the other hand pointing at Chazz. "Didn't your mother ever teach you not to talk bad about others, dear~?"
Chazz gritted his teeth, his pride flaring like a fire. "Shut the hell up! you're just a duel monster card that somehow able to talk! How about you go back to your master's trash deck where you belong!?"
Lovely Labrynth's smirk widened, eyes gleaming with mischief. "Oh~? And how about you dive straight into a trash can where you belong~? With that attitude and those dueling skills of yours, I'd say it suits you perfectly~!"
Chazz's face twitched, veins popping in frustration. "YOU…!"
Lovely Labrynth elegantly flicked her hair back, her silver eyes glinting with wicked amusement. "Hohoho~ Did I hit a nerve~?" She crossed her arms, her smirk growing ever more devilish. "Just so you know, I can handle a COD lobby like it's nothing~!"
Jaden blinked in awe. "Man… the trash talk is strong with this one."
Alexis sighed, rubbing her temples. "It's almost like Chazz finally met his match…" She shook her head. "Also… I still can't get over the fact that we're actually hearing a Duel Monster talk."
Syrus tilted his head. "Uh… what's a COD lobby?"
Mash coughed, pulling everyone's focus back to the duel. "Enough! Now that I've Special Summoned a 'Labrynth' monster, I must return one monster back to my hand due to {Big Welcome Labrynth}'s effect. And the monster I choose is {Arianna the Labrynth Servant}!"
On the field, Arianna shimmered before turning into an orb of light that returned back to Mash's hand.
Mash's gaze then snapped toward Chazz. "And now… since a monster left the field due to a normal trap card, you know what that means."
Chazz let out an exasperated groan, rolling his eyes. "Tch! Hurry up and get it over with!"
Mash raised a commanding hand, pointing directly at Chazz. "It triggers Lovely Labrynth of the Silver Castle's effect! And now—I can destroy one card in your hand!"
The arena fell silent as Lovely Labrynth stepped forward, her heeled boots clicking against the floor. She towered over Chazz, her silver eyes glinting with sadistic amusement.
Chazz felt a cold sweat forming as the elegant fiend leaned down slightly, her smug expression unwavering.
Her voice dropped to a low, mocking whisper. "Now that I see you up close, brat… you really should've crawled back into your mother's womb with that look of your's~"
A cocky sneer formed on Chazz lips "I am not gonna argue with some ugly and old ass duel monster card." Chazz hand curled into a tight fist before he suddenly give her the middle finger "How about you quickly pick a card and go back to the retirement home, granny?"
For a moment—just a moment—Lovely Labrynth was silent. Then, her shoulders shook slightly… before she suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hohohohoho~! HOW FUNNY, BOY~!" Her voice rang through the arena as she wiped away a single, nonexistent tear.
Then—instantly—her expression dropped.
Her smirk became a sinister curve. Her eyes darkened, the silver hue glowing eerily as her voice took on a spine-chilling tone.
"you'll choke on those word... brat~"
Chazz barely had time to react before Lovely Labrynth's clawed fingers lashed out.
In one swift movement, she snatched a card from his hand, holding it between her fingers before slowly crushing it into a fine, shimmering silver dust. The particles faded into nothingness as she turned on her heel, gracefully walking back to her original position.
The entire stadium held its breath.
Chazz's fingers trembled, gripping his remaining cards tightly. His once confident smirk was now wavering.
His lackeys, Taiyou and Raizou, were in shambles.
Taiyou was shaking violently, his entire body rattling like a blender on max speed. "Ch-Chazz! G-get a grip! M-m-maybe if we apologize, she'll forgive us!"
Raizou, on the other hand, was already defeated, his pants soaked in piss. "W-we're sorry we talked bad about you! Please forgive us!"
Syrus' face was pale and his hand was shaking. "Sh-she's… so... scary… Lovely Labrynth is scary…"
Jaden patted his hand on Syrus back. "Calm down, Sy!"
Alexis let out a breath. "Well… she is a Fiend monster. This is probably second nature for them…"
Mash looked a bit surprised at his Lovely Labrynth's action. [Zamn...! I can't believe my Lovely Labrynth has a full-on yandere personality like that! Chazz might've talk shit about her, and no Laifu can disrespect my Waifu like that... But now, it feels like sucker punching a child in the face just because they called me a poopyhead..]
His rage completely gone, Mash sighed. "Anyway, I activate my {Pot of Greed} spell card to draw two cards."
A pot of greed appeared on the field, and Mash swiftly drew 2 cards from his deck.
"I set four cards and end my turn."
Four face-down cards materialized on the field.
{Mash LP: 4000
Hand cards: 1
Field cards: 2 monster, 5 set cards}
Chazz tries to compose himself. "You took your precious little time... But now, its my turn. Draw!"
With a dramatic motion, Chazz swiped the top card from his deck, glancing at it, then breaking into a confident smirk. "Well, well, looks like I just drew the card that'll flip this duel on its head! Prepare yourself, Mash, because-"
"Yeah, yeah," Lovely Labrynth cut him off with a bored tone. "Get on with it, you wannabe edgy emo kid. Just play whatever you drew already."
Chazz twitched in irritation. "Fine! I activate the {Dark Hole} spell card!"
Jaden blinked. "Dark Hole? What does that do?"
Alexis groaned, rubbing her temples. "Ughhh... Dark Hole is a spell that destroys all monsters on the field. But Chazz doesn't even have any monsters, so..."
Syrus gasped. "Oh no! That means-!"
"HAHAHAHA! Say goodbye to your monsters! Especially you, you Ugly Labrynth!" Chazz cackled, pointing a triumphant finger at Lovely Labrynth.
"Oh, please~ I'll be back!" She smirked, completely unfazed.
A massive, swirling black vortex erupted in the center of the field, its gravitational pull ripping through the battlefield. Mash's monsters were engulfed by the void as dust and shadows swirled violently—
Chazz grinned wildly. "AHAHAHA! See that, Mash?! This is my first step toward total victory-!"
Mash simply pointed at the field. "Look again."
As the dust settled, Chazz's eyes widened in absolute horror. {Lady Labrynth of the Silver Castle} was still standing, completely untouched.
"WHAT!? H-HOW!?"
Mash smirked. "Its because of {Lady Labrynth of the Silver Castle} effect! As long as there's a set card on my field, Lady Labrynth is untargetable and indestructible. So yeah, Dark Hole did absolutely nothing."
"Tch! So what!? I Just destroyed your ace monster, so i still got a chance to win this!" Chazz declared. "I summon {Dark Blade} in Defense Position!"
A dark warrior clad in sinister armor materialized on the field, assuming a defensive stance.
Mash chuckled.
Chazz narrowed his eyes. "What's so funny?"
Mash casually flipped a card on his duel disk. "One card. {Bottomless Trap Hole}." (2)
A set card on mash field stands up, and revealing itself to be {Bottomless Trap hole} trap card. after that, a hole appeared beneath Dark Blade and he falls down into it and gets banished.
"Fine!" Chazz gritted his teeth. "Then I activate Double Summon, letting me normal summon twice! And I summon Chthonian Soldier in Defense Position—!"
Mash smirked. "Not on my watch. {Trap Hole}." (3)
As soon as Chthonian Soldier touched the field, another pit opened beneath him, sending him to the graveyard before he could even react.
Chazz was now sweating bullets. He glanced at his hand—only one card left. "I-I set a card... and end my tu-"
Mash, now grinning ear to ear, interrupted. "Before you end your turn... I activate your favorite trap card {Big Welcome Labrynth}! And did I mention? It lets me Special Summon a 'Labrynth' monster from the graveyard!"
Chazz slumped to his knees, defeated before the turn had even fully ended. "Just... just get it over with..."
Syrus winced. "Wow... this is brutal... I'd be on my knees too if I were in Chazz's shoes."
Jaden nodded. "Yeah! Chazz literally can't do anything!"
Alexis folded her arms. [Why is Mash even in Slifer? This literally makes no sense. With this kind of skill level, he's literally at Zane's level. He should've been put in Obelisk Blue!]
Mash cracked his knuckles. "Alright, I'll make it quick. I Special Summon {Lovely Labrynth of the Silver Castle} from the Graveyard and return Lady Labrynth to my hand."
A regal silver door appeared on the field and when it opens Lovely emerged from door, striking a smug pose. Lady Labrynth's form turned into a glowing light before vanishing into Mash's hand.
Lovely tilted her head as she stared at Chazz kneeling before her. "Hohoho~ So this is the brat who was talking so much crap last turn? Hohoho~" Her smirk darkened. "Didn't I tell you~?" Her voice lowered into a sinister whisper.
"You'd choke on those words~?"
Chazz gritted his teeth, but he had nothing left.
Mash continued, "Now that a monster left the field because of a Normal Trap, Lovely's effect activates! And before that, I'll chain {Lady Labrynth of the Silver Castle} effect since a Labrynth card's effect was activated, she Special Summons herself back in Defense Position!"
Lady Labrynth emerged from inside a silver door once more, her presence looming over the battlefield.
Mash pointed at Chazz's last set card. "Now then. Lovely, destroy that last card of his."
"Aye-aye, darling~" Lovely Labrynth twirled her massive battle axe with a flourish before slashing downward. "Eat this! Silver Slash!" A gleaming silver arc of energy shot toward Chazz's set card, revealing it as {Call of the Haunted} which turned into solid silver before cracking into silver dust
Chazz didn't even say anything. His turn automatically ended.
{Chazz LP: 4000
Hand cards: 0
Field cards: none}
Mash smirked. "I draw! But honestly? The card doesn't even matter! this duel is already over!"
He turned to Lady Labrynth. "I change you to attack position! Go. Attack Chazz directly."
Lady Labrynth charged forward, her rapiers aimed at Chazz. He instinctively braced himself as the holographic blades pierced through his torso
"GAHHHHHHHH!!!"
{Chazz LP: 4000 -> 1000}
Mash groaned internally. [Omg, you just got impaled by a hologram, its not. A. Real. Physical. Weapon. How fucking dramatic.]
"Lovely, finish him off."
"With pleasure, darling~" Lovely Labrynth sauntered forward, gripping her massive battle axe in one hand. She stopped just inches away from Chazz, staring down at him like trash.
Chazz clenched his fists. "What are you waiting for, Shitface!? Finish me off!"
Lovely Labrynth giggled. "You know, brat~? I really am just like my darling~"
Chazz blinked. "Huh!? The hell are you talking ab—"
THUD.
Chazz gasped as Lovely had grabbed him by the throat.
Everyone in the arena froze.
"H-HOLY MOLY!" Syrus shrieked. "Aren't those supposed to be holograms!?"
Jaden turned his head towards me with a serious expression. "MASH! What is going on with your monster!?"
Mash stammered. "I-i dont know! I didnt do anything! HEY-Lovely!"
Lovely Labrynth tightened her grip, lifting Chazz off the ground as he struggled to breathe.
"But if you insult my darling~" Her eyes darkened. "Please prepare for my wrath~"
Her fingers shifted on the handle of her silver battle axe. She raised it.
She was going to swing.
Mash's heart stopped.
"LOVELY—!!"
The axe swung, Its trajectory to Chazz's neck.
Mash's hand shot out.
"STOOOOP!!!"
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Man... its a goddamn long ass chapter isnt it? welp, i am pretty tired right now, and as i am writing this its literally 3 in the morning. Maybe its a good thing since i am writing quality... though if i we're to write quantity this single chapter i can just disect into 3 or 4 chapter. Anyway i hope you all have fun and i know i did (even though my eyes is probably red tired rn) Chiao!
(1): i decided to errata the opening hand from a few chapters ago since after further research, the GX follows TCG game rule and now the opening hand is changed from 6 to 5.
(2): Bottomless trap hole effect: When your opponent Summons a monster(s) with 1500 or more ATK: Destroy that monster(s) with 1500 or more ATK, and if you do, banish it.
(3): When your opponent Normal or Flip Summons 1 monster with 1000 or more ATK: Target that monster; destroy that target.
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