Deleted Scene

    The crowd is abuzz with excitement! The turnout for the kick-off fight for the Duelists League exceeded even the best expectations, with great excitement of everyone involved: the organizers first of all, but also those who man concession stands or go around the seats selling merchandise. People still trickle in, packed, excited; crowds from all kingdoms, Landers and Adventurers alike, are in a stated of elated excitement. If one asks around, there seems not to be a clear answer as to why this specific pair of duelists was picked for the initial match, but the general consensus is that advertising the "Yuuki vs. Uta" duel would result in an enormous success, due to most people's reaction being "You had me at 'Yuuki vs.'".

    And so, while waiting for the MC to officially kick off the event as the last people are let in and the gates start closing, the most vocal fans on the front lines cheer wearing scarves and waving flags. Among them, one particular person stands out, unique among many, for a reason that will become clear soon.

    A certain musical kung-fu nurse, in fact, is decked in full Yuuki fan gear. "GO YUUKI! GO YUUKI!", she screams from a seat just behind the short wall that separates the audience from the fighting grounds. She turns to the person next to her. "When I saw the artistic posters for this fight at the guild hall, I /knew/ I had to come here to cheer on Yuuki. First of all, because she's a great inspiration to me. Second..." She turns to GLARE towards the fighting grounds. "...I hope she bashes in the Game Mascot real good. That girl keeps stalking me, tantalizingly showing me glimpses of herself, but HARDLY facing myself directly. I hope Yuuki teaches her a lesson!"

    When Yuuki had been approached by the forming Duelist League with the idea to kick it off with a match, Yuuki was so excited she agreed without actually even asking for anything in return. So unfortunately she's not getting any of the profits from today's match. She doesn't mind!

    Then when it came to finding an opponent, Yuuki pulled up the list of duelists who had signed up so far. She then put one hand over her eyes and raised her other in the air. She then jabbed a finger down onto the table.

    'You missed.' Said the organizer. Yuuki tried again. 'Alright, Uta it is!'

    And thus here we are today, Yuuki having entered the square. She's waving excitedly to the crowd as she looks around. Until she suddenly stumbles in her step. She squints into the audience, before blinking in confusion at the cheering Uta there.

    Of course, at that point Kauchemar proceeds to carry Uta into the fighting area and place her down in her spot. Before proceeding to announce the fight. Yuuki's just laughing though.

    Uta, still decked in full Yuuki fan gear, looks confused at what just happened. "Wait, wait, I'm taking part to the fight?!" She looks up, a finger tapping her lips, "Uh. That explains the 'YUUKI VS. UTA' caption on the posters. Yes, makes sense. I wish I had paid attention when the duelists league approached me." She reaches into her jacket and pulls out a handwritten piece of parchment with a seal. "Oh, yeah... uh. It turns out it identifies me as a duelist. That... that explains why they led me into that strange room and it was so hard to find the audeience's area..." She shakes her head, flicks her menu open, and after some navigation, the document shimmers out of existence, the shimmering light reshaping itself into the silouhette of Uta's caduceus-themed staff, which appears shortly after.

    "I- I can't believe it. I am dueling the great Yuuki..." She bows to her, wings flattened against her back. "I- It is a honour to share these fighting grounds wth you. Good luck, and may the best duelist win- ok, sorry, I've been a bit hypocritical there. I don't really wish for the best opponent to win. I'm wishing that /I/ win. But, you know, politeness."

    Uta shifts her stance, her wings spring up, straight, and her stare goes to one of utter determination. She twirls her staff, and begins chanting an ominous melody. Subdued, yet oppressive. Tendrils of darknes grow from her staff, and soon, a sphere of blackness explodes out of it, headed for her opponent.

    Yuuki recovers from her laughing in time to catch the end of Uta's words. Yuuki simply grins in return, raising her hand towards Uta and offering her a thumbs up, "Hey, as long as you have fun, that's what matters!" And it's true. Yuuki doesn't mind whether she wins or loses, as long as she has fun doing so!

    The duel countdown begins, during which Kauchemar briefly steps over to ask Yuuki to go a little easy on Uta. Yuuki nods along, "I gotcha. Don't worry about it." Yuuki then draws her sword, lowering her body as she watches the numbers drop.

    The countdown hits zero. Uta gets her spell off, the ball of darkness streaking towards Yuuki. Yuuki dashes STRAIGHT for it, quickly meeting the magic projectile. There's an explosion of darkness.

    And Yuuki comes bursting out the other side! Small blotches of red light shine across her, her HP bar already down a chunk. But she's quickly approaching the caster! As she gets close she leaps into the air, raising her sword above her. It begins to glow, light trailing behind it as Yuuki comes down towards Uta. Yuuki then swings, unleashing the powerful Sword Arte that creates a shockwave of air on impact.

    Nobody can have any doubt that Uta is thoroughly impressed by Yuuki's ability to take damage. Her hands clench on her staff, while she exclaims, "OH BY THE THREE GODDESSES I'M TOAST- Wait- do we even have toast in this world? I-AAAH! WHAT AM I DOING!"

    She hurries to begin chanting another song, but she's too slow. Yuuki's sword strikes true, and Uta gets a very visible, glowing gash traveling through her side and arm, as she staggers back, unable to complete the spell, it seems.

    "Poison...", Uta mutters, her legs trembling. "...well, in that case, take THIS!", Uta exclaims.

    What she does next is rather confusing.

    First, she reaches into her gi, and pulls out a bottle. A bottle which is immediately hurled in Yuuki's general direction.

    Second, she slams her staff on the ground, and begins singing a clear, melodious aria, with celtic vibes. Colorful tendrils of light interwine with the music. As they reach uta, she shimmers with a golden light.

    Third, the bottle- uh. It's /empty? Like, just a glass bottle with nothing inside? And if that wasn't enough, it's even aimed to somewhere where it's pretty much going to do no damage at all? Like, the best protected spot in Yuuki's guard, and the one where any incoming item is best deflected.

    Fourth, as the song completes... it doesn't. This version of the Fairy Healing song might be familiar to some people, and yet, Uta does not end it at the appointed point. No. She keeps going, higher and higher, louder and louder, a creascendo which goes from forte to fortissimo to OH GOODNESS WHAT IS THAT to-

    Deafening.

    Downright air magic powered deafening energy hammering into anyone around, grabbing onto the bottle and SHATTERING it into smithereens, shrapnel which flies all around the well-protected spot, to impact all over Yuuki...

    Yuuki jumps back after her strike, readying herself for whatever Uta has to throw at her.

    Uta throws an empty bottle.

    Well, that seems harmless... WHICH MEANS IT'S A SERIOUS THREAT! Gamer logic.

    And sure enough, the bottle shatters into a rapidly expanding field of shrapnel. Yuuki reacts quickly, her blade glowing as she swings it up into the cloud. The glass fragments vaporize into pixels of light, though not just the ones that her sword strikes, but a wide swath around it too. This leaves most of the shrapnel to pass around Yuuki harmlessly, only a few pieces embedding themselves in the Imp.

    Yuuki grins at Uta, "Nice surprise! Didn't expect that."

    Yuuki then starts running once more to close the distance to Uta. Though she's zigging left and zagging right as she does so, trying to throw off the caster's defensive preparations. Before quickly darting past Uta along the side with a quick cutting strike.

    Uta half collapses, panting, after the exercise. "T...Thanks. First time I use it. Well, on purpose. Already used it by accident. It-AAAAAAAH!", she staggers sideways. She takes two long leaps back, spinning in the air for extra show. "Oh goodness, I seriously need to start paying attention to people who charge at me with a sword!"

    Landed again, grimacing, a gash on her side, fighting stance resumed, her dark singing resumes, and her gem shimmers black. She keeps her eyes closed as she does so, but somehow, a black tendril links the staff with Uta's forehead. This feels eerily like the quiet before a storm...

    Yuuki stops running and spins around to face her opponent, expecting a counterattack. One doesn't immediately come. Instead Yuuki watches as the caster does magic things. Yuuki doesn't know what magic things. She's not a magic person!

    Which is why the Imp decides to press the offensive before Uta can pull out whatever trick she's hiding.

    Yuuki charges forward once more, this time straight on. Her already dark blade grows even darker, taking on a black sheen as she raises it. She then proceeds to launch into a series of four strikes. The first two are light, meant to unsteady Uta.

    After which Yuuki follows through with two much heavier strikes, pressing her offensive to try and disrupt the caster's spell.