Everyone in the Colosseum suddenly stopped breathing, or at least that's what it felt like to James. No one made a sound, and James could understand why. Not once, in the entire tournament, had Maine spoken a word other than what he needed to, to actually play battlefield. Even then, his words were so soft spoken and mumble-like that barely anyone heard his voice when he played. Honestly, it made him seem like a boring competitor for the audience. But, now everyone heard him speak, and heard his voice. Strangely, his voice was smooth, like an announcer, even if it didn't sound that deep.
Verity looked at Maine with surprise, but a moment after her eyes lit with a kind of fire James rarely saw. Her eyes were the kind that showed she was ready to give her all.
The blue dome surrounded the two, preparing the game. Verity brought out her battlefield card "Black Magic temple", which turned her side into a large stone temple at the top of a windy cliff, air literally filled with red and purple magic.
Maine looked at the battlefield for a moment, before bringing his battlefield card up to the sky. James looked at the theatrics with interest. Before, Maine would simply use his card and get the battle going. Now though, he seemed to be going for as theatrical as possible. James knew that Maine's next move will be to use his signature battlefield card "Band Barrage Garrison", which will allow him to call one "instrument" warrior without a timer every 30 minutes. Seemed kinda broken to James, but not to the level of a special card.
"I use the battlefield card "Orchestra Theatre", which lets all "Instrument" and "orchestra" warriors gain double the amount of power they usually would have, at the cost of spending 3 extra minutes being unable to attack." Maine said, in an announcer voice that put the actual announcer to shame, his smile having disappeared.
James did a double take, and he saw that Verity did too, as well as any of the spectators that were paying attention the whole time. This wasn't the card that he was supposed to use!
Immediately behind Maine, a large, red curtained theater appeared, with spotlights focused on Maine, that moved with him wherever he moved. Not only that, but the battlefield card adapted and turned the spectators seats to plush red chairs that you would usually find in a big famous theater. Of course, this was just an illusion, meaning that the chairs felt no different, but it was a spectacular display nonetheless.
Verity looked around in shock and awe, before looking at her own battlefield and realizing that in the magnificence in the theater, it was as grand as a stage prop. A good one, admittedly, but a prop nonetheless. That didn't seem to sit well with Verity, and when the game started, she drew her card with vigor.
"I call "Witch of Shadows", "The Witch Delphi", and "The Sorceress Circe" to my field!" Verity said, pouring power into her voice.
Suddenly, three woman appeared in front of Verity, one who looked like she was made of darkness herself, smoke following in her wake, the second, an older woman with a crystal ball floating around her head, the last a young woman with pure white robes and a staff painted with a gold globe on top with pigs painted on the wood. All their timers were extensively long.
"I call "Violin legionary" to the stage. He's come to provide the ambiance for your defeat." Maine said, in his smooth voice.
A large man appeared in front of Maine, who held a very large violin like a shield, and held the violin bow like a sword, (which was also very large).
Verity looks at the "Violin Legionary" closely, before scoffing. Verity points at her "Witch of Darkness" before saying,
"I use "Witch of Darkness's' ability-!"
"I activate the charm "Fallen Star"! When this card is used, as long as you were about to use an ability, the warrior who you used is immediately destroyed! Seems like your witch has played their part, because this stage has no more use for her." Maine cut in, once again in a silky smooth voice.
The "Violin Legionary" put his bow to his violin, before playing one really loud note, which created visible sound waves that raced to the "Witch of Darkness" before she was obliterated. Maine pulls out another card, bringing it high over his head.
"That was such a grand performance that the audience wants more! So, they all asked for one thing, "Encore"! When this charm is used, I can activate the last charm I used again, regardless of what it's condition was to use. Hear that "Violin"? it seems they want another!"
The "Violin Legionary" once again puts his bow to his violin, before playing another loud note at "The Sorceress Circe", once again obliterating them. The audience put their hands to their ears, the sounds were so loud. But unlike before, they seemed to be really enjoying the battle, and were surprisingly into Maine's performance.
Both Maine and Verity drew again.
The timer for Verity's last remaining witch ended, allowing the witch to use her ability.
"When the "Witch of Delphi's" timer ends, it allows me to grab one card from my deck, bringing it directly to my hand. you as well, have to grab one card from your deck. But instead of bringing it to your hand, you have to destroy it." Verity said, with a hint of smugness.
James sat a little straighter. He knew this strategy. The effect will allow Verity to retrieve her ace, while also slightly inconveniencing Maine. Verity's ace was obviously her special card, and it was usually a very effective strategy. However, James knew there was a flaw with this particular strategy.
Verity grabbed the card from her deck, before shuffling again. Maine looked through his deck for a moment, before grabbing a card and destroying it.
"Thank you, Verity. I was originally a mite worried about your special card. But this is convenient for me." Maine said, a slight grin appearing on his face.
Verity turns to him on a dime, slightly incredulous.
"I use my "Soldier's Symphony" charm from beyond, allowing me to destroy every card in each of our hands, in exchange for drawing an equal amount from our decks." Maine said, his smile getting slightly wider.
Verity looked at him with shock, before slowly discarding all her cards and drawing a new hand. Maine did the same, with the same slight smile he had. Maine takes a quick glance at his cards before his smile becomes even wider.
"And it seems to be my lucky day! I call "Piano Overseer" to the field, ready to provide the music to your downfall!" Maine said proudly.
A man appeared in front of Maine, who was dressed in a red tuxedo and coattails. The man had black hair and an impressive mustache, with see-through piano keys swirling around him like smoke.
"Ah, and it seems like my "Violin" is ready to advance. Show that oracle your serenade." Maine said, noticing his "Violin's" timer had ended.
"Violin Legionary" Didn't move an inch, but brought his bow to violin, before playing really loudly, once again sending sound waves to the oracle. The oracle was subsequently destroyed. Verity started to look a bit panicked.
they drew again. Suddenly, Verity's look of panic was replaced with a smile after seeing her card.
"I use the charm "Siren's Song". This charm allows me to call one "Siren Witch" from my deck, in exchange for destroying one of your warriors. Luckily for you, usually, I can only use this when I have no warriors on my field and you have warriors on yours. luckily for me however, I seem to fit those conditions perfectly!" Verity said, smile becoming wider.
A red circle a magic appeared under "Violin Legionary", before making him burst in flames. The ashes of whatever remained converged on Verity's side, before becoming a woman with glowing blue hair and green scales for skin. Maine raised a single eyebrow at the exchange.
"Piano Overseer's" timer ended. Verity looked at it with a gleeful smile.
"Why, isn't this just swell? I use my "Siren's" ability to put one of your warriors under her spell. And she wants him to do just one tiny thing. Attack Maine." She said, putting stress on the last bit.
The "Piano Overseer" turned to Maine, ready to attack. Maine looked at it for a moment, before turning to look at his cards with a smooth dodge of the warrior's attack. He noticed that he only had two cards in his hand, and he sighed. Verity's face turned triumphant.
"Well. I was hoping to save this until the last round, but you've successfully forced my hand. Well done, Verity."
Verity's face immediately crumpled in confusion. Hadn't she won already? "Piano Overseer" rears another attack and is just about to hit Maine when suddenly, Maine holds up one of his two last cards. Suddenly, everything stops.
"I use the charm "Orchestrated Downfall"." Maine said loudly, yet somehow smoothly still.
"Piano Overseer" suddenly explodes into pieces, his piano keys starting to twirl around the card in Maine's hand. A ghostly Violin appears from Maine's discard pile, starting to play a slow build up whilst floating along with the keys. A ghostly trombone and a cymbal appeared, playing along to the slowly building up music.
"It seems all the instruments have warmed up. Now it's time for the real show to begin! One performer has yet to take his bow! Ladies and Gentlemen, we introduce our most important performer tonight... "Maestro!"" Maine yelled; his performance accentuated with the music.
A flash of light high above the field appeared, before the ghostly instruments floated up to it, before all disappearing, and from above dropped the most impressive looking warrior James had ever seen.
Landing in a superhero pose, before slowly standing up, was a man in a large wizard-like steampunk hat, with ghostly blue piano keys swirling around him like magic circles, holding a violin in one hand and a conductors stick in another. He was wearing steampunk armor emblazoned with music symbols and pieces of other instruments. You could not see his eyes, being covered by his hat, but you could see a smirk on his mouth.
"I must say Verity, you had me on the ropes for a moment there. In fact, this card needs so many little things to happen before it can even be used, it's a minor miracle. Luckily for me, I met all those conditions during our match, so it's no issue." Maine said, a smirk appearing on his face once again.
"Well, aren't you forgetting my "Siren"? She can take control of one of your warriors, and your "Maestro" will do perfectly!" Verity said, acting triumphant once again.
Nothing happened.
Verity looks at her "Siren" with confusion. Then turns to Maine with dawning horror.
"I see you realized it. You see, my "Maestro" is too powerful for your siren. If my "Maestro's" timer is not zero, he is unaffected by all abilities. And unfortunately for you, Verity, your "Siren" is another one of the orchestra members that "Maestro" is conducting! "Siren"! you have new musical directions! Turn on Verity!" Maine said with triumph.
"Maestro" waves his conductor stick, while also shining a bright shade of green for a moment. Suddenly, the "Siren Witch" Turns and immediately attacks Verity, regardless of its timer, which still had not ended. Verity's HP went from 100 to 85. Verity had the common sense to start running to avoid the "Siren's" attacks.
Maine drew. Verity was too panicked to notice the draw timer was over.
"I use "Neverending Crescendo!", this allows me to sacrifice one warrior in my control to immediately end one of my "orchestra" warrior's timers! Goodbye "Siren", your performance is over." Maine said, holding up his newly drawn card.
"Siren" was destroyed, and the timer for Maestro was immediately ended.
Maine looked Verity straight in the eyes.
"I was impressed by you, my dear Verity. Sadly for you, even the most loved stars take their final bows eventually. Now, its your turn to do the same." Maine said, looking very impressive.
Maestro runs to Verity, so fast he's hard to see. Then Maestro hits Verity once. Really hard.
85 HP to 0 HP in an instant.
"The game has ended. The winner is Maine Mercanon! Stakes have been put into effect." The automated voice associated with the cards said.
The spectators cheered after that grand display.
James looked Maine with something akin to fear.