Chapter 114 – Over the Limit

Bonus Chapter

The Top 8 was over.

After several intense matches, only four Duelists remained in the tournament.

Jonathan Lowell Spencer Storm. Charles Irvin Zane. Lucia Venturi. And Katherine Anne Pryde.

The remaining Duelists were given a short break before the tournament resumed. It wasn't a long one, but it was enough for everyone to breathe, stretch, drink some water, and release at least a little of the tension that had built throughout the quarterfinals.

Mike Patrick looked toward the Feature Table as the next stage of the tournament was prepared and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, the Top 8 has come to an end! And now, we move on to the Top 4! Only 4 Duelists remain, and only two of them will make it to the championship match!"

The crowd responded with another wave of cheers.

Alexander nodded and added, "The semifinals are where things become especially interesting. At this point, there isn't much left for these Duelists to hide. They've already demonstrated what their decks can do, and they've seen what their opponents are capable of."

Mike smiled, "And our first semifinal should be a fun one!"

Right at that moment, the first two Duelists stepped toward the Feature Table.

Johnny Storm was already grinning, and beside him was Chuck, who was grinning just as widely.

"Johnny!" Chuck called.

"Chuck!" Replied Johnny.

The two gave each other a high five.

Johnny was only ten years old, and it was impossible for him to hide his excitement. He practically bounced toward the table. Meanwhile, Chuck wasn't quite as wild, but he was still energetic and clearly enjoying himself. And somehow, the two ended up becoming friends along the way.

Once he took his seat, Johnny asked, "You ready to lose?"

"No way! I'm going to win this!"

"No chance! I'm going to show you how strong my Machines are! Be careful!"

Chuck laughed and replied, "Hahaha! I was going to say the same thing to you. My Dragons are going to roast you!"

Mike chuckled as the two took their places. "There's certainly no shortage of energy between these two!"

"They're both very lively," Alexander said, "Johnny is simply more direct about it."

"And Chuck?"

"Chuck is seventeen. He has slightly more experience at pretending to be calm as he has to maintain an apparently mature demeanour."

Chuck happened to hear that and turned toward them while yelling, "Hey! I heard that, Lex! I'm mature and handsome!"

In response, Johnny burst out laughing together with quite a good part of the audience.

Soon, the judge stepped between them and prepared the coin.

The coin was tossed, and both duelist called out their choice as it spun through the air before landing.

Chuck looked down and exclaimed, "Yes! Heads!"

Obviously, Chuck had won.

He smiled and declared, "I'll go first."

Like that, Duel 1 started, and Chuck drew his opening hand.

His smile immediately widened. "This is good."

Johnny raised an eyebrow and observed, "You look way too happy."

"I've got a good reason."

Chuck pulled out a card from his hand and began his turn by announcing, "First, I'll activate Pot of Greed!"

The audience reacted as Chuck drew two cards.

Mike laughed, "He's starting things off with Pot of Greed!"

"Which is exactly what Chuck wants," Alexander explained. "He's an aggressive Duelist, and drawing two additional cards gives him even more options to establish his field."

Chuck continued, "I Normal Summon Lord of D.!"

The monster card was placed on his side of the field while Johnny watched carefully.

Chuck immediately followed with his next card, "Now I'll activate The Flute of Summoning Dragon!"

As the crowd erupted, two Dragons were placed on the field.

[Luster Dragon - 2400 ATK / 1400 DEF]

[Spear Dragon - 1900 ATK / 0 DEF]

Mike nearly shouted over them, "WHAT A POWERFUL OPENING!"

Alexander nodded, "Lord of D. and The Flute of Summoning Dragon allow Chuck to put two Dragons onto the field immediately while also giving some form of protection to them. This is exactly the kind of opening his deck is designed to produce and one of Chuck's favourite ones."

Chuck folded his arms confidently and ended his turn. "Your turn now."

Johnny looked at the field while thinking, ' I have a way to answer it... But doing so immediately would require spending resources I might need later... He is the previous Grand Prix's finalist, so I have to be more careful than usual...'

So instead, Johnny took the safer route and began slowly building his own field.

The following turns became a battle between aggression and defence.

Chuck attacked carefully, never simply throwing his Dragons into Johnny's back row without thinking. He learned early to play around traps when Ginny constantly made him fall for them, while Johnny slowly extracted value from cards such as Bottomless Trap Hole and Mirror Force, and at the same time, Mechanicalchaser and Guardian of the Throne Room helped Johnny establish a more stable board.

But Chuck kept rebuilding.

At one point, Chuck activated Stamping Destruction, destroying one of Johnny's critical traps.

Mike whistled, "Chuck is making sure Johnny doesn't get comfortable!"

"He's also being careful about which cards he commits," Alexander said. "Despite looking relentless, he's not simply attacking because he has stronger monsters, but he's managing the resources around them."

The duel continued until Johnny finally set a card, ended his turn and smiled while saying, "I think I'll try something different."

Chuck glanced toward it, but since he didn't have any removal currently at his disposal, that was all he did.

Chuck started his turn and summoned Baby Dragon, but right at that moment, Johnny activated DNA Surgery.

Chuck blinked and asked, "What?"

Johnny looked at the field and, with a grin, he said, "I chose... Machine Type."

The audience reacted.

At first, many spectators simply assumed Johnny had found another way to strengthen his Machine strategy, but then Chuck's expression changed as he muttered, "Oh..."

Mike noticed immediately, "Chuck just realised something!"

Alexander smiled and explained, "This is the dangerous part of DNA Surgery. Johnny's card is affecting Chuck's Dragons."

Every face-up monster became a Machine.

"They're still there," Alexander continued. "But they're no longer Dragons."

Chuck stared at his monsters while Mike realised, "That means..."

"Exactly," Alexander said, "Most of Chuck's Dragon support depends on those monsters actually being Dragon Type. DNA Surgery hasn't removed his field. It has disconnected his field from the cards that make it dangerous."

Chuck scratched his head and said, "Well, that's annoying."

Johnny grinned, "Yup!"

Chuck still had options.

Spear Dragon could attack. Baby Dragon was still a monster. Time Wizard remained useful. Raigeki was still Raigeki. Mirror Force was still Mirror Force.

So Chuck changed his strategy, and instead of forcing his Dragon engine to work, he started playing a more conventional beatdown game.

The duel slowed as the two began trading resources.

Johnny's Machines had advantages in several situations, but Chuck's ability to manage his remaining cards kept him in the game.

Alexander watched closely and commented, "Chuck is adapting very well."

Mike looked surprised. "You're comparing this to chess, aren't you?"

"I'm thinking about it."

"Why?"

"Because Chuck plays chess. He is actually one of the best in the country..."

Mike laughed, "So he knows how to move his pieces."

"Exactly."

The duel became increasingly calculated, but eventually, Johnny saw an opportunity and played his most explosive card, "I activate Limiter Removal!"

His Machines doubled their ATK, and without hesitation, Johnny attacked.

However, Chuck smiled and activated the set card he held back until now, "Hold it! I activate Waboku."

Because of that, the attack failed to finish him, and Johnny's expression dropped as his monsters ended up destroyed by Limiter Removal's effect at the end of his turn.

Chuck grinned and said, "Nice try."

Johnny groaned, "Oh, come on! I was this close!"

Johnny survived Chuck's next turn thanks to his own Waboku and tried to restore his field presence, but a turn later, Chuck found the answer he needed as he activated, "I activate Harpie's Feather Duster!"

DNA Surgery was destroyed, and his Dragons were returned to normal, thus freeing him from using his usual support cards.

Chuck immediately returned to his original strategy and activated Monster Reborn to Special Summon Tyrant Dragon from his Graveyard while tributing his Cave Dragon on the field.

Tyrant Dragon returned from the Graveyard, and Johnny's back row was cleared.

Chuck's Tyrant Dragon attacked, destroying two monsters while damaging Johnny's LP, then Baby Dragon finished him off, and with that Johnny's LP reached zero.

[Johnny - 0 LP]

Mike raised his arms and announced, "CHUCK TAKES THE FIRST DUEL!"

Chuck pumped his fist in celebration, "Hell yes!"

Johnny sighed before immediately smiling again, "Okay. Okay. You're good... I get it."

Chuck laughed, "Don't worry. You've still got two chances."

"Yeah! And I'm taking both!"

Before long, Duel 2 began, and Johnny went first.

This time, he tried to not rush like before, he set one card, then he summoned Robotic Knight in DEF Position and ended his turn.

Chuck drew his opening hand and smiled, "This hand looks pretty good too."

Then he summoned Lord of D., but Johnny smiled back and said, "You won't think that for long."

After saying that, he immediately activated DNA Surgery and said, "I chose Machine Type."

Chuck stared at the field in disbelief. "Already?"

Johnny's strategy was now active before Chuck could establish his Dragon board.

Lord of D. became a Machine, and that meant that Chuck could still use Lord of D.'s effects if their conditions were satisfied. He could still use The Flute of Summoning Dragon, but the protection Lord of D. provided to Dragon monsters was no longer useful for the monsters on the field.

Then Chuck looked at his hand, staring at one card in particular while thinking, 'Stamping Destruction... Normally, this would have been one of my answers to Johnny's DNA Surgery. But I can't activate it now as I technically won't have any Dragon-Type monsters on the field. My deck is full of Dragons; they just aren't Dragons anymore when they get on the field... Damn.'

Chuck clenched his teeth and muttered, "That's... really annoying."

Alexander immediately recognised the difference and observed, "In the previous Duel, DNA Surgery was a problem Chuck had to overcome after building a satisfactory field."

He looked toward the field and added, "But this time, DNA Surgery is on the field before Chuck had the chance to actually do anything. It is a much worse situation."

Johnny had learned too.

He summoned Mechanicalchaser and established Guardian of the Throne Room, but he didn't immediately use Limiter Removal and waited.

Mike noticed, "Johnny seems much more patient this time."

"He learned from Duel 1," Alexander said. "Last time, he used Limiter Removal too early, and Chuck survived. Johnny doesn't want to make that mistake again."

Chuck continued fighting.

He used his monsters without relying on the Dragon engine while Johnny traded cards carefully.

The Duel became a war of attrition, but Chuck's LP got lower and lower.

Then Chuck drew the card he'd been waiting for and, without hesitation, used it, "I activate Harpie's Feather Duster!"

The crowd exploded as Johnny's back row was wiped away.

Chuck clenched his fist and celebrated, "Alright!"

He had created his opening, but the gap created thanks to DNA Surgery remained; yet Chuck still quickly built his field, and thanks to that, Johnny's LP began falling.

For a moment, it looked as though Chuck had finally turned the Duel around, but then Johnny drew and smiled before he activated Limiter Removal.

The crowd understood immediately what that meant. His Machines doubled their ATK. And once again Johnny declared an all-out attack.

Chuck reacted instantly, "Hold it! I activate Mirror Force!"

Johnny's eyes widened before he smiled and said, "Nope! Not this time... I activate Solemn Judgment!"

He paid half his LP and negated Mirror Force, allowing the attack to resume uninterrupted.

The empowered Machines crashed into Chuck's field, and his remaining LP disappeared together with his monsters.

[Chuck - 0 LP]

At the same time, Mike shouted, "JOHNNY WINS DUEL TWO!"

Johnny threw both fists into the air. "HAHAHA! YES! YES! YES!"

Chuck laughed as he gathered his cards. "Okay. That one was good."

"Told you!"

"You were right. But it's not over yet."

The two shuffled their decks again.

The score was tied, and only one Duel remained.

Before long, the final Duel began, and the atmosphere around the Feature Table had changed.

There was still laughter between Johnny and Chuck, but both now understood exactly what the other was trying to accomplish.

Chuck knew DNA Surgery had to disappear, and Johnny knew Chuck knew.

Alexander looked toward the two duelists facing one another and said, "This is going to be a whole different duel."

Mike nodded, "Because both of them know the winning strategy and they will do everything in their power to accomplish it.”

Chuck went first, and this time, he deliberately avoided his strongest-looking opening.

He set a monster and set a back-row card, then ended his turn.

Johnny stared at the field and realised, 'He's being careful... Okay...'

Johnny summoned Mechanicalchaser and attacked the set monster, revealing Troop Dragon that was destroyed, but it activated its effect, Special Summoning another Troop Dragon from the Deck before Johnny ended his turn.

Chuck started his turn and followed up with Spear Dragon; the Dragon attacked and destroyed Mechanicalchaser, inflicting 50 LP of Damage, but he stopped there as Chuck left Troop Dragon in DEF Position.

Neither player overextended.

For several turns, the Duel became a careful exchange of resources.

Chuck actively searched for ways to destroy DNA Surgery, as Stamping Destruction was used whenever its conditions were available, and there were suspicious set cards in Johnny's back row. A Wingbeat of Giant Dragon also threatened Johnny's back row. Raigeki cleared monsters when necessary. Chuck attacked repeatedly, forcing Johnny to reveal defensive cards, but he was also careful with his own resources.

He knew that if DNA Surgery appeared, he needed enough cards left to deal with the rest of Johnny's defences.

Eventually, Chuck managed to bring Lord of D. onto the field, and Johnny had a card that was likely DNA Surgery set, as until now that card didn't make an appearance.

Chuck stared at it and knew exactly what was coming, yet he activated The Flute of Summoning Dragon.

Johnny allowed it, and two Dragons appeared. Then Johnny activated DNA Surgery and, as usual, declared, "I chose Machine Type."

The Dragons changed into Machines, but Chuck didn't react with surprise this time as he had expected; instead, he changed tactics immediately and began attacking Johnny's defences.

Bottomless Trap Hole. Mirror Force. Call of the Haunted.

One after another, Johnny was forced to spend his resources.

Alexander watched carefully. "Chuck gave up trying to destroy DNA Surgery..."

Mike looked confused and asked, "Then what is he doing?"

"He's attacking everything else instead."

Chuck kept pushing.

"He's forcing Johnny to make a choice," Alexander continued, "Protect his strategy, or protect himself."

The strategy worked as Johnny's field shrank and his defensive cards disappeared, and when he finally drew Harpie's Feather Duster, Chuck destroyed DNA Surgery and the rest of Johnny's back row.

The crowd erupted while Mike shouted, "HE DID IT!"

Once again, the Dragons on the field were no longer being turned into Machines.

Chuck smiled and said, "Now we're back."

But Johnny wasn't finished. As before, the last of his back row disappeared; he activated Scapegoat and four Tokens were placed on his field, becoming an annoying wall protecting Johnny's LP.

Mike shouted, "FOUR TOKENS!"

The crowd exploded as Chuck had done it. He had solved the matchup, but Johnny had been preparing for exactly this possibility.

He still had Limiter Removal, and he still had enough Machine monsters in his Deck.

Johnny summoned another Mechanicalchaser, then he activated Monster Reborn and Special Summoned Machine King from his Graveyard.

[Machine King - 2200 ATK / 2000 DEF] -> [Machine King - 2300 ATK / 2000 DEF]

Chuck's LP were already dangerously low.

Johnny looked at his field, then smiled and announced, "I activate Limiter Removal."

The Machines' ATK doubled, and the crowd realised what was coming.

Johnny pointed forward and declared, "Attack!"

Chuck survived the first attack, but Machine King's enormous ATK was too much, and when the next attack landed and Chuck's monster was destroyed, Chuck's LP also dropped to zero.

[Chuck - 0 LP]

For a moment, the arena was silent, then Mike exploded, "JOHNNY STORM WINS!"

The crowd erupted.

“HE WON THE SEMIFINAL! HE TAKES OUT THE PREVIOUS GRAND PRIX FINALIST AND BECOMES THIS EDITION'S FIRST FINALIST!”

Johnny raised his arms. "YES! I DID IT!"

Chuck laughed and shook his head. "Yeah. You did."

Johnny walked over. "You were really close!"

"I know. But you played better..." Chuck held out his hand. "Good Duel."

Johnny shook it. "Good Duel!"

Alexander watched the two Duelists leave the Feature Table.

Chuck had found the weakness in Johnny's strategy, and Johnny had anticipated Chuck finding it. And in the end, the difference had been the card Johnny had saved until the very end.

The tournament had reached its final four, and now only one semifinal remained.

Lucia Venturi versus Katherine Anne Pryde.