3rd POV:
'This is bad, that monster is even more hard to deal with than Evolzar Solda.' If it's Solda then she could just find a way to wear out all of its material or use brute force to attack it directly.
But Dragonlark Pairen is different, it doesn't need material like Solda and it's also immune to battle destroy. 'But that doesn't mean it didn't have weakness.' After make up her mind, Riko focus back to the duel.
"I set 4 cards and end my turn. Now, the role reverse, try your best to breakthrough my board."
After hearing Ryuji voice, she let out a meaningful smile. "Although your monster is hard to deal with, but only when there's a monster Special Summon from the graveyard is on the field. Right now, only my Archfiend Heiress is Special Summon from the graveyard by Archfiend's Roar effect. And-"
Before Riko can finish, Ryuji cut her off. "And the monster Special Summon by Archfiend's Roar is destroyed during the End Phase of the turn it's summon, isn't?"
Riko froze when hearing what Ryuji, then she pout a little. "Don't you know it's rude to cut off order when they're talking?"
Seeing her like that, Ryuji suddenly think the 'Underworld duelist' before him look really cute. "Alright, I'm sorry, you can continue."
"As long as you know. Next, because of Archfiend's Roar effect; Archfiend Heiress is destroyed. Archfiend Heiress effect: If this card is sent to the GY by card effect, I can add 1 "Archfiend" card from my Deck to my hand. I add Call of the Archfiend to my hand. Next is my turn, draw!"
Riko look at Ryuji field with calculate. 'The last card in his hand should be Evo-Diversity. Then that mean his 4 set cards are Solemn Judgement, Xyz Reborn, Waboku, and Mystik Wok.' She looks at her hand for a moment before smile confidently. "I activate Spell Books from the Pot; Each player draws 3 cards."
Ryuji didn't have any intention to stop her, why would he? She gets to draw 3 cards, he gets to draw 5 cards, both sides happy. "Since you draw card outside of Draw Phase, Appropriate effect; I draw 2 more cards. Now, let's see what I got." Ryuji start to flip his top card one by one.
Supersoaring
Evoltile Pholis
Hyper Hammerhead
Survival Instinct
Flowerdino
"Evoltile Pholis and Hyper Hammerhead both have 1500 atk or lower so they're destroyed. Flowerdino have 2000 atk, Supersoaring and Survival Instinct are both trap cards do they didn't get destroyed. Thank for the cards by the way."
"Hehe, no problem! Next, I normal summon Skilled Red Magician in attack position." A muscular magician with a red cloak covers his figure appear on Riko side of the field.
[Skilled Red Magician, atk: 1600]
A Yu-Gi-Oh fan like Ryuji already too familiar with Skilled Magician monster. 'If I remember correctly then this monster can Special Summon archfiend monster from the deck directly, right? Or it's just Summoned Skull?'
Riko quickly follow up with another card. "I activate equip spell Falling Down; I can equip this card to 1 of your monsters and take control of it, I target your Dragonlark Pairen!"
Ryuji: "Not so fast, Tornado Dragon effect; I detach 1 material from this card to destroy your Falling Down."
"You can't destroy my card if I do it myself! I activate Double Cyclone; I can target 1 Spell/Trap I control and 1 Spell/Trap my opponent controls; destroy them." Riko look at Ryuji Spell/Trap Zone, considering which card she should destroy.
'The best option naturally is Solemn Judgement, but the chance is only 1/4. And all other set card he has can chain directly to my card to prevent losing resources, except for 1.' After making up her mind, Riko point at the only face up trap Ryuji have. "I destroy your Appropriate."
Ryuji hesitate for a moment but decided it's not worth to use Solemn Judgement to protect it. 'The MVP of this duel will belong to you, let me draw 10 cards in the whole duel, what a legend.' "Flowerdino effect; When my opponent activates a Spell Card or effect: I can Special Summon this card from your hand. I special summon Flowerdino in defence position."
[Flowerdino, def: 0]
Riko watch satisfied as two magic symbols on her Skilled Red Magician light up. She quickly shows another card on her hand.
"Next, I activate Trap Booster; I discard 1 card on my hand to activate a trap card directly from my hand. I want to activate this card." Riko take a card from her hand and reveal it to Ryuji.
The moment he sees that card, Ryuji truly want to curse out loud. 'Why did you have all kind of hateful card in that deck of your!?'
"I activate Skill Drain by paying 1000 LP; Negate the effects of all face-up monsters while they are face-up on the field!"
[Riko, LP: 2700 -> 1700]
"Then I chain to your Skill Drain with Solemn Judgement; I pay half of my LP to negate it!"
[Ryuji, LP: 3000 -> 1500]
Riko look unbothered as Ryuji negate her trap card, the last magic symbol on her Skilled Red Magician light up. Right now, Ryuji have nothing left to stop her.
"Now all of those annoying card are out of the way, I activate this continuous spell card from my hand, Piercing the Darkness!" A card with the artwork of Dark Paladin using his ultimate attack. Clearly it was supposed to me Dark Magician support card, even Ryuji hasn't expected it to appear in Riko deck.
"Now Skilled Red Magician has gathered 3 Spell Counter, I can activate it effect; Tribute this card with 3 Spell Counters on it; Special Summon 1 "Archfiend" monster from my hand, Deck, or GY. Come here, my ace monster Summoned Skull!"
Not Lava Golem, not Archfiend's Ascent, neither of them were Riko ace. From the very beginning, her ace was always Summoned Skull, the strongest monster at the beginning of Yu-Gi-Oh.
[Summoned Skull, atk: 2500]
Even Ryuji was a bit surprised seeing the monster Riko summon. 'Looking at the energy around it, this card is almost awakening a spirit on its own. So, this is her ace huh?'
Seeing the surprised look on Ryuji face, Riko feel a bit of satisfied. "Not expected this, did you? My ace monster was just a normal monster, but don't underestimate it. First, I activate Piercing the Darkness effect; If I Normal or Special Summon a non-Token Normal Monster: I can draw 1 card.
Now, I enter Battle Phase; I use my Summoned Skull to attack your Dragonlark Pairen!"
Without hesitation, the archfiend gathers a thunderstorm between its hands and launch it towards Pairen. If Ryuji isn't a transmigrator, he will definitely say something like 'What! Using a lower atk monster to attack higher one, are you crazy?'
But he is, "Let me guess, Piercing the Darkness also have some effect activate when you attack with normal monster, isn't it?"
Riko froze for a moment before smile mischief again. "Of course it's, I'm not an idiot to attack without prepare. I activate Piercing the Darkness effect; When an attack is declared involving an opponent's monster and a monster, I control that is a Level 5 or higher Normal Monster: I can make that monster I control gain ATK equal to that opponent's monster's ATK, until the end of this turn.
My Summoned Skull is a level 6 Normal Monster, so it'll gain the same amount of your Dragonlark Pairen atk until the end of this turn!"
Outside the field, Yuma and Tori immediately get worried. "Oh no, Ryuji-san only have 1500 LP left, if he gets hit by this attack he will lose immediately."
Nistro look at both of them like an idiot. "Did you two seriously think his set cards are just decoration or something. Just Waboku alone is enough for him to handle the attack."
True to what Nistro just say, Ryuji immediately flip his trap card. "I chain to your card with Waboku; I take no battle damage this turn. My monsters cannot be destroyed by battle this turn."
"I know you would activate that! I chain to your trap card with Forbidden Lance; Target 1 face-up monster on the field; until the end of this turn, that target loses 800 ATK, but is unaffected by the effects of other Spells/Traps. I target your Dragonlark Pairen, now it'll lose 800 atk and won't get the protection from Waboku!"
Nistro and Dextra watch with a sudden realize. "Look like she just wants to deal with Dragonlark Pairen instead of finishing the duel. But it seems like she forgets that Ryuji also set Xyz Reborn, he can easily bring back 1 monster from the graveyard so Pairen can gain it battle protection."
Dextra seem to fell into deep thoughts before opening her mouth. "I feel like Riko already have a solution to deal with that situation."
Nistro look at her in surprised. "What make you think that?"
Dextra shrug her shoulder. "Duelist intuition."
Nistro look at the field again with a thoughtful look. "If so then Ryuji most likely can't keep his monster through the Battle Phase."
Dextra continue. "But it's not like he has to keep it though Battle Phase, is it? As long as it still stays on his field at the End Phase."
The 3 hardly consider duelist Kari, Yuma and Tori can hardly keep up with the conversation. Seeing their confused look, Nistro let out a helpless smile. "You three just need to wait and see."
In the field, Ryuji give Riko a meaningful look before continuing the chain. "Then I chain to your Forbidden Lance with this card."
Riko watch carefully as Ryuji flip his set card, she expects to see Xyz Reborn get flip up. But when she sees the card, she freezes on the spot. It's not Xyz Reborn but Mystik Wok.
"Mystik Wok effect; I can tribute one of my monsters. Select either its ATK or DEF and gain that many Life Points. I tribute Dragonlark Pairen and choose its atk. Because it resolved before your Forbidden Lance so I will gain 2700 LP."
[Ryuji, LP: 1500 -> 4200]
"Then my Waboku successfully resolved, from now on every monster I control can't be destroy by battle and I can't take battle damage. Now, continue your struggles, Riko-san."
Riko stand still, unable to process what has happened. After a while, she opens her mouth but still seem stun by Ryuji play. "Why don't you activate Xyz Reborn?"
"Hmm? Look like you still remember I set Xyz Reborn on my field. I was just gamble that you have a way to deal with it and from your reaction I win the bet." Ryuji say with a bit mischief. "I can tell you right now that I will activate Xyz Reborn during your End Phase to bring Dragonlark Pairen back. So, could you find a way to deal with it?"
"Tch" Riko click her tongue in annoyed while looking at a card on her hand, Forbidden Chalice. It was her way to deal with Pairen but now it's almost useless. The two-remaining card on her hand are trap card so she truly couldn't do anything.
"Haa~ You really outplay me this time. I change Archfiend's Ascent into defense position and set 3 cards. I end my turn!"
[Archfiend's Ascent, def: 1200]
Ryuji quickly flip his trap card. "During your End Phase, I activate Xyz Reborn to bring Dragonlark Pairen back!"
[Dragonlark Pairen, atk: 2700]
(Pairen: I'm back baby!!)
"My turn, draw! The card I draw is Megamorph, it's an equip spell so it doesn't get destroyed. Next, during my Standby Phase, I can activate Dragonlark Pairen effect; I can detach 1 material from this card, then target 1 Level 5 or lower monster in my GY; Special Summon it."
Riko: "I chain Breakthrough Skill to your monster; Target 1 Effect Monster my opponent controls; negate the effects of that face-up monster until the end of this turn. I negate your Dragonlark Pairen."
Seeing his monster fail to activate effect, Ryuji show no panic and continue with another. "Then I activate Leviair the Sea Dragon effect; I can detach 1 material from this card, then target 1 banished Level 4 or lower monster; Special Summon that target to my field."
Riko: "Nope! I chain Forbidden Chalice to your monster; I can target 1 face-up monster on the field; until the end of this turn, that target gains 400 ATK, but its effects are negated. I negate your Leviair."
[Leviair the Sea Dragon, atk: 1800 -> 2200] (defense position)
'Another negate? Let's see if your last card is also negated then.' "I activate Evo-Diversity; I can add 1 "Evoltile" or "Evolsaur" monster from my Deck to my hand. I add Evolsaur Lios to my hand and Normal Summon it. Evolsaur Lios effect; I can set 1 "Evo-Singularity" directly from my deck.
Finally, I overlay Evolsaur Lios and Flowerdino, Xyz Summon Evolzar Laggia in attack position!"
Riko snap her finger and point at her last set card. "I activate Black Horn of Heaven; When my opponent would Special Summon exactly 1 monster: Negate the Special Summon and destroy it. I negate and destroy your Evolzar Laggia!"
Ryuji watch helplessly as Evolzar Laggia didn't even have a chance to set foot on the field before getting erase by a black storm. 'So, the last set card really is a negate.'
"Now you understand how others feel when dealing with your Evolzar, did you have anything else to do?" Riko say with a mocking tone, clearly, she feels very pleased seeing Ryuji struggle. If she has to describe it, then it feels like ruining an innocent boy in his first...his first...
...Duel! Yes, nothing improper, just a normal Duel.
Ryuji let out a long sigh. "Haa~ Alright then, I could do nothing for now, so I enter Battle Phase. I attack your Archfiend's Ascent with Dragonlark Pairen!"
Pairen once again rush over and launch an attack on Archfiend's Ascent, but different from last time, this time it successfully destroys the fiend. The results make Ryuji raise an eyebrow. ' Doesn't it still have one last material left? Why didn't she activate it effect?'
He looks at the last card on Riko Spell/Trap Zone. 'She does it for a card?'
Riko raise her voice. "Archfiend's Ascent effect; If this Xyz Summoned card I control is sent to your GY by an opponent's card: I can Special Summon 1 "Summoned Skull" from my hand, Deck, or GY. I Special Summon one Summoned Skull from my deck!"
With a huge roar, Archfiend's Ascent explose and from it place, another fiend appears.
[Summoned Skull, atk: 2500]
"Because I just summon a normal monster, I can activate Piercing the Darkness effect to draw 1 card." Riko take a deep breath and reach towards her deck, she silently please. 'I want to win this duel, so lend me your strength!'
As if hearing her please, two Summoned Skull on the field let out a roar likely to encourage her.
With a smile on her face, Riko about to draw. But suddenly, a strange energy flow from her shadow towards her deck and cover it in red like blood color. Only Ryuji and Mr.Heartland, the two-person holding Duel Spirit seems to see it.
Mr.Heartland frow a little, his Number card is reacting to this energy. 'Could it be...' He then whispers something to his bodyguard; the latter hesitate a little before heading out of the field.
*Gugyugabah!* X4
(I bet you don't know who make this cries)
Ryuji hear the hostile roar of his Evolzar. Clearly, whoever is the master of that strange energy, they didn't like them.
"Be careful, the energy of this thing is sinister and full of murder intense. If you don't finish the duel quickly then she may get control by it." Demise says in a low tone.
'Understand' The moment the red energy flow out, Ryuji already search though his mind to find what it could be in Yu-Gi-Oh world. Since this is Yu-Gi-Oh Zexal, the answer is very clear. 'A Number monster.'
________________________________________
Not gonna lie, the duel is longer than I expected.