Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! I only own my characters and the plot.
Chapter 1
To some ignorance is bliss, sometimes all people want to do is find answers no matter the consequences. But no matter how people view ignorance, it's a fact that they all have dreams and hopes they want to see become a reality. This is a story about a man whose quest to fulfill his dream takes him and those around him through darker paths, and the consequences which drags an entire population into peril.
It was currently recess in Kero City high school and most students were seated at the cafeteria. A few people decided to stay back in their classes though, Sora was one of them.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Sora asked the girl in the seat next to his, a concerned look on his face.
"W-What? Yeah I'm fine." She answered after a while.
"Rei, you're sure you're okay?"
"Don't worry I'm fine." The girl, Rei, replied. "Aren't you going to the cafeteria?"
"I am, I'm waiting for you."
Letting out a sigh, Rei said. "I'm not hungry right now, you can go ahead. I'll catch up to you."
"You sure?"
"Yeah." The girl answered. "The weather's probably getting to me."
Sora nodded and reluctantly left for the cafeteria, still worried about his friend.
Rei sighed as she watched the black haired boy leave the classroom, there were only three people left. She gazed around the classroom to see who else were there. 'Some nerd and an ill person.' She thought.
For the umpteenth time that day she found her hand rubbing through her hair in a crazed manner. Apart from the eeriness the weather brought, something just didn't feel right to her. What annoyed her was that she didn't have remember it clearly, she was sure it had to do with the duel she had the day before.
"Stupid wind." She muttered as she looked out the window. The wind whistled loudly outside, forcing the tall trees to bend and blowing the fallen leaves about. The wind brought a certain chill in the air, maybe it was thanks to that she had been feeling distant throughout the day.
She stood up and stretched a little, deciding to meet up with Sora in the cafeteria. She tried her best to make her hair look presentable but it was futile, she was getting herself prepared for the crazy redhead comment her friends would certainly make.
Rei found the school's uniform to be rather nice, it consisted of a long sleeved white shirt with thin red cross stripes, a black tie, a red jacket and black pants for boys while girls wore black pleated skirts. The only problem Rei had with the uniform was its slightly above knee-length skirt, she never quite felt comfortable in it.
She bumped into someone just as she left the class, her eyes widening as she recognized him. She struggled to remember the boy's name as he quickly uttered an apology and began leaving. "Wait!" She blurted out.
The boy turned back to face her, his mouth curling into a noticeable frown as he soon as saw her. "You're Hiro, right?" Rei asked.
"Yes." The boy answered.
"You remember me right?" She asked.
"I think so, you're in the sophomore year right?" Hiro replied, his eyes narrowing as he spoke.
"No, no!" She exclaimed. "I mean yes, I'm in my second year… but don't you remember the duel we had yesterday?"
He paused for a moment, thinking. "No. I don't believe we've ever dueled before. In-fact this is the first time I'm talking to you, I don't even know your name."
"It's Rei, how can't you remember the duel! I used a Fairy deck, you used some sort of fiend deck and there was this X-" She stopped as he waved his hand in her face. "What are you doing?"
"Oh, sorry. I thought I saw a spider. You were saying?"
"Our duel yesterday, you don't remember?" Rei asked, exasperated.
"No." He answered, his brown eyes staring into Rei's brown ones. "I'm sorry, Rei, maybe you have me mistaken for someone else."
'Yeah, because a lot of people have long silver hair like yours.' Rei thought, sarcastically. "Sorry for taking your time." She said, sighing in defeat.
"No problem." The guy said, beaming as he left the confused girl.
'I think I need help.' She thought as she made her way to the cafeteria, hand on her forehead.
"Why's your hair all spiked up like that?" Yumi laughed as pointed at Rei's hair.
"I think I might actually be going crazy." The redhead replied, playing with her barely touched food.
Yumi, Sora and Rei were seated in the cafeteria, the latter having just joined them.
"I knew something was up." Sora mumbled.
"I had a duel with this guy yesterday, I don't remember it very well but as far as I know it was weird and there was this especially odd monster." Rei began.
"So?" Sora said, his mouth full after taking a bite of his burger.
Sending a look his way, Rei continued. "When I asked the guy about it he said he's never dueled me, he didn't even know my name."
"Are you sure it wasn't a dream that seemed too real?" Yumi asked.
"No! I'm sure he's hiding something." Rei argued.
Yumi and Sora shared a look, their friend was usually the down to earth one, maybe something was really up.
"Even if said person is hiding something, there's no way to find out." Yumi said.
'Yes there is, I'll just f-' Rei paused as she noticed the concerned looks her friends were sending her. Sighing she continued. "You're right it's probably nothing." She finally said. "I guess it's better to just forget about it."
"Right." Sora said. He was relieved that Rei would stop pressing the matter, but he wasn't entirely sure she would forget about it. Time and time again she had proven herself to be the kind of person who rarely forgets anything.
The bell rung, signifying the end of recess. The trio left the cafeteria for their classes, leaving Rei's hardly eaten food.
"See you guys after school, stay sane." Yumi joked as she parted ways with Rei and Sora, both waved back smiling.
"You sure you're fine?" Sora asked again.
"Not really, I should be back to normal after I take a nap at home." Rei said.
'Maybe she'll actually let it go.' Sora thought as he entered the classroom.
The classroom was filled with chattering students, the bell had gone and school was over for the day. Rei was gathering her books while Sora waited for her. "I'm thinking about going to the park to duel, are you coming?"
"Nah, we've got dinner with my dad's boss so I've got to be home early." Sora answered.
"Do you know if Yumi's free?"
"She said she has extra lessons or something at home." Sora said as Rei grabbed her bag and the two began leaving the class.
"Shit, I forgot something." Rei suddenly cursed. They had just arrived outside the school's compound.
"Don't worry, I'll wait for you while you go get it." Sora suggested.
"It might take a while, I don't want to make you late for your dinner, it's better you go." Rei said.
"Okay." Sora said. "See you tomorrow."
See you tomorrow." Rei waved back before making her way back to the school.
She paused as she passed by a familiar student. She turned her focus to said student, the silver haired boy. She watched as he made his way out of the school, following the road opposite the one Sora followed.
Rei contemplated tailing the boy or actually forgetting about the whole thing. 'They haven't felt the way I do about that monster, I have to get answers.'
With her mind made up, she followed the boy, making sure to keep a good distance so he didn't notice.
Rei's feet were beginning to hurt, she wasn't used to walking long distances. 'Where the hell is he going to?' She wondered.
She had been following the silver haired boy for a while now and despite initially going the opposite direction, they had wound up in the same park she intended to go to.
As usual, the park was rather busy and she had to quicken her pace so she wouldn't lose sight of him.
"Hisako Rei."
Someone suddenly grabbed Rei by the arm, stopping her in her tracks. "What are you doing? Let go of me!" The red head shouted, turning back and glaring at the person.
"Hisako Rei." The girl repeated.
Rei yanked her arm away and tried to find the silver haired boy, but he was long gone.
"Hisako Rei." The girl continued.
"What?" Rei shouted back, glaring daggers at the girl. While observing the girl, one thing stuck out, her short spiky hair that seemed to have been in a dyeing fiasco. The originally black hair had purple highlights randomly splattered about.
"Let's duel." She asked.
"It's Akano Rei." Rei replied, frowning. "And no, I have better things to do than dueling you." She turned to leave.
"Hisako Rei." The girl stated, sternly, an eerie tone seeping into her voice.
Rei ignored the girl, storming away in annoyance. She suddenly felt some sort of rope wrap around her wrist.
"I wasn't exactly a request." The girl said, now frowning. She tugged at the other end of the rope which was attached to her Duel Disk.
"What the hell is this?" Rei retorted, almost falling as the girl tugged on the rope.
"It doesn't matter what it is." The girl said, her expression changing to one of satisfaction. "Try as hard as you can, it won't detach until a duel is over." She continued, noticing Rei's struggle.
"Fine, I'll just beat you and get it over with." Rei said, seething with anger. "You're gonna regret this." She activated her Duel Disk and D-Gazer.
The girl activated her Duel Disk and D-Gazer. "You'll find that it'll be hard to make good on those words." If Rei hadn't been so angry she would've noticed the quick flash of purple in her opponent's eyes.
"AR Vision – link established." The augmented reality rose around the girls as they stared each other down.
"Duel!"
Rei: 4000 | Miki: 4000
"I'll go first." The girl said as she began studying her hand of five.
'Her name's Miki, huh.' Rei thought, noticing the life points counter. 'The irony.' She chuckled inwardly.
"I summon Aqua Phantom Bill!"
A small avain, much like a parrot in appearance appeared. The bird was peculiar because like it's name suggested it seemed to be made of water. (LV4, 1000 ATK)
"I set two cards facedown and end my turn." Miki concluded her turn as two reversed cards appeared behind the bird.
"A rather generic play, wouldn't you say so." Rei taunted as she drew. "I activate the Continuous Spell Card: Valhalla Hall Of The Fallen. This card allows me to special summon a Fairy-type monster from my hand if I control no monsters."
Miki watched on as the Spell Card appeared, her face now held a blank expression.
"I'll use Valhalla's effect to summon Airknight Parshath!"
A centaur knight garbed in angelic blue armor with golden rims appeared. A golden shield was in his left hand and a sword in his right. (LV5, 1900 ATK)
"I activate Celestial Transformation." Rei continued as another spell card materialized on her field. "Thanks to this I can special summon a fairy from my hand with its stats halved. I'll summon another Airknight Parshath."
A double of the centaur knight appeared, brandishing its sword. (LV5, 1900 – 950 ATK)
"Now, level 5 Airknight Parshaths, overlay!" The two monsters turned into two orbs of light which flew upwards. A red spiral portal appeared where the monsters formerly were, and the orbs shot into the portals. "I use these two monsters to construct the Overlay Network! Xyz Summon! Tiras Keeper of Genesis!"
The portal exploded and an angelic warrior appeared. He had long silver hair and golden brown wings. He was garbed in light silver armor and in his hands were a sleek sword and a shield with a red flame-like insignia. Two orbs of light orbited around him, signifying the overlay units. (RNK5, 2600 ATK, 2 OLU)
"Tiras attack her monster!"
The sword wielding fairy lunged at the smaller avain but the most surprising thing happened, his sword went right through the avain and struck Miki.
Rei: 4000 | Miki: 4000 – 1400
"What just happened?" Rei asked, slightly taken aback.
"The effect of my Aqua Phantoms." Miki said, brushing off the damage from the attack. "All Aqua Phantoms can't be targeted for my opponent attacks, so instead your attacks become direct ones."
"Why would you use monsters like that?" Rei said, rather unsettled.
"The effect of Aqua Phantom Bill activates." Miki continued, ignoring Rei. "When I take battle damage, I can increase his attack by the damage taken."
The parrot like bird suddenly doubled in size, though still dwarfed by Tiras. (LV4, 1000 - 3600 ATK)
"It doesn't matter because I activate Tiras' effect!" Rei countered. "After he attacks or is attacked, he destroys a card on the field. I'll use this effect to destroy your Aqua Phantom."
Miki seemed to hesitate as her hand approached her Duel Disk, eventually deciding against using her card.
Tiras' pointed the shield at the Aqua Phantom and a burst of energy shot out of the shield, obliterating the avian.
"I set a card and end my turn." Rei said with a satisfied smile as a reversed card appeared behind Tiras. "At the end of my turn, I have to detach one of Tiras' overlay units." One of Tiras' overlay units was absorbed into the shield. (RNK5, 2600 ATK, 2 – 1 OLU)
Miki drew her card silently, and her expression changed as she added it to her hand. She started chuckling, her eyes focused on the cards in her hand.
"What?" Rei couldn't resist asking. She was still pissed at Miki for making her lose the silver haired boy, but the girl had been acting off.
Miki's chuckle died down and a frown replaced her formally blank expression. "I summon Aqua Phantom Claw."
A new creature appeared, made out of water just like the other bird. It resembled a Lion in many ways, but unlike a Lion it's claws were accentuated, much like a wolverine's, and it's canines were not as pronounced. (LV4, 1800 ATK)
"Claw's effect activates since it was normal summoned, changing Tiras' battle position." The Aqua Phantom let out a loud roar and Tiras got to his knees, bringing his shield up in a defensive stance. (RNK5, 1700 DEF, 1 OLU)
"Aqua Phantom Claw, attack her monster!" Miki said and the creature obliged, lunging at the defensive fairy.
"Did you really think it would be that easy?" Rei said, pressing a button on her Duel Disk. "Go, Lumenize!" Her reversed card flipped up, bathing the battling monsters with rays of light. "This card negates your attack and increases Tiras' attack by your monster's attack."
The Aqua Phantom was forced back to Miki's field, Tiras' sword glowing in the process. (RNK.5, 2600 – 4400 ATK, 1 OLU)
"Are you done?" Rei asked.
"I set a card face-down." Miki grit her teeth. "Turn end."
"My turn, draw." Rei said, adding a card to her hand, holding a total of two cards. 'She has three face-down cards… but since Tiras is impervious to destruction by card effects I should be mostly safe.'
"I switch Tiras to attack position." Rei said, causing her fairy to stand again. (RNK5, 4400 ATK, 1 OLU)
"I activate Forbidden Chalice. This negates Claw's effect and in return he gains 400 attack points." Miki said as the card materialized briefly on the field.
The Aqua Phantom's body hardened considerably, almost looking like ice. (LV4 1800 – 2200 ATK)
'Wouldn't it make sense to negate Tiras' effect and destroy it with a card effect?' Rei said, hesitating to continue her attack. The smirk on her opponent's face made her go through with it. "Tiras, wipe that smirk off her face!" The fairy lunged at the beast.
Rei's confidence vanished completely as Miki's trap card flipped up. "You're so easy to manipulate, I activate Reverse Trap!"
Rei gasped as Tiras' body darkened and his attack points dropped. "What did you do?!" (RNK5, 4400 – 800 ATK, 1 OLU)
The Aqua Phantom also experienced the same thing Tiras did groaning as it attack dropped. (LV4, 2200 – 1400 ATK)
"This card is a classic! How can you not know what Reverse Trap does?" Miki said, genuinely surprised. Her expression soon changed to that of disdain as she continued. "Though I wonder why I expected more from the likes of people such as yourself."
"What do you mean by that?" Rei retorted, offended.
"It simply turns attack gains into losses and attack losses into gains. Hence Tiras loses 1800 points and Claw losses 400 points. Enough to make Aqua Phantom more powerful!"
Seeing the opponent dazed, Claw took the opportunity and sprung on Tiras, destroying him.
Rei: 4000 – 3400 | Miki: 1400
Rei having recovered from having the tables turned on her proceeded with her turn. "I set a monster and a card face-down. Turn end."
The Aqua Phantom returned to it's semi solid state as it effects returned. (LV4 1400 – 1800 ATK)
"Oh c'mon how did you not expect that!" Miki asked. "The first thing a person fighting a Light deck does is find a way to counter cards like Lumenize, and that blasted Honest."
"Just make your move." Rei retorted.
"My turn, draw." Miki said, glancing at her hand of two. "Aqua Phantom Claw, attack her face-down monster!" The wolverine-like creature lunged at the face-down monster and slashed at it, only for its claws to harmlessly pass through it, much it would've done it.
The monster looked like an animated marshmallow with an upside down cartoon face. (LV3 500 DEF)
"Marshmallon can't be destroyed by battle, and when it's attacked while face-down, you get dealt with 1000 points of damage." Rei explained, a smug smile on her face.
"Stupid monster." Miki cursed as she was dealt a mild shock, her already low Life Points dropping into the danger zone.
Rei: 3400 | Miki: 1400 – 400
"I end my turn." Miki forced out.
"My turn." Rei said, drawing. "I would say this was fun, but it really wasn't. Thanks for wasting my precious time with this duel. I activate Xyz Reborn! This Trap Card resurrects Tiras and attaches itself to him as an overlay unit."
Tiras reappeared on the field, brandishing it's sword as a lone light orb orbited around him. (RNK5 2600 ATK, 1 OLU)
"Tiras attack and end this duel!"
Miki pushed a button on her Duel disk, her last reversed card flipped up. "I activate Solidify! This Trap negates the effect of Aqua Phantom Claw, switches him to defense mode and forces you to attack him."
Aqua Phantom Claw's body became solid once again and was put in the path of Tiras' attack. Tiras swung his sword in one mighty arc, cleaving the beast into two.
"I end my turn." Rei said and Tiras' only overlay unit was absorbed into his shield. (RNK5, 2600 ATK, 1 – 0 OLU)
Miki drew her card silently and Rei blinked, noticing that the once busy park now seemed silent. The only audible sound was that of the wind as the blew furiously as it had been doing since the day began.
Rei began to feel nervous as her opponent stood there, her head hung and her arms dropped, the metal studded jacket she wore flapping as the wind blew. "Miki?"
"Oh, forgive me." Miki started sarcastically, her head still down. "You have better things to do don't you?" She clenched her right hand tightly. "Don't worry, I'll end it now!" She shouted in a voice that didn't sound like hers, whipping her head up. "Since you have a monster and I don't, I can special summon Aqua Phantom Falco."
Another Aqua Phantom avian appeared. Unlike the rest, Falco didn't seem to be completely made of water, it had black claws, black wing tips and a tooth stuck out at the side of its beak. (LV5, 0 ATK)
"I activate Inferno Reckless Summon!" Miki continued, her eyes flashing dangerously. "Since I special summoned Falco which has less than 1500 Attack Points, I can special summon two more Falcos from my deck."
Two creatures identical to the Aqua Phantom appeared. (LV5, 0 ATK)×2
"You're going to Xyz summon!" Rei gasped.
"Yes." Miki confirmed. "But not just any monster!" She started laughing. "Level five Aqua Phantom Falcos, overlay!" The three monsters took to the air, all enveloped by a pale blue aura, and a galaxy styled portal appeared. "I use these monsters to construct the Overlay Network! Xyz Summon!" The monsters flew into the portal and the portal exploded.
"From the deepest crevice of the sea, where man doesn't dare step foot in, Appear! Number 62: Mist Phantom Bake-Kujira!" Miki's laughter turned into cackles as a pale blue number 62 appeared on her left cheek.
Out of the portal rose a large suspended mass of water in the shape of a ball. A sizzling sound could be heard as the water slowly turned into vapour. The entire field was enveloped by fog as the water completely vanished and the outline of a large creature started to form. The spectral creature let out a loud shriek as it fully came into view, it was a very large whale with bluish-black skin. The number 62 was visible on the top of the whale, just next to it's blowhole. (RNK5, 2800 ATK, 3 OLU)
"N-Nu-Number..." Rei chocked out, her eyes widening in shock.
Two small fishes appeared next to the whale. (LV1, 500 DEF) ×2
"Hisako Rei!" Miki said, the whale looming over both duelists as she did. "It's time you get what you deserve!"
"Bake-Kujira, attack!"
A/N: Yeah, this is an alternate universe story focused on the number cards. As vague as things might seem in this chapter, the next chapter will reveal more. Since it's an alternate universe I'll be using custom number cards, or in special occasions where I feel compelled to use an original number card.
Some archetypes I've created will show up in the story, but there won't be many of them. At the end of each chapter where a custom card was used, I'll write the descriptions below the Author's notes.
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed it.
Custom Cards
Aqua Phantom Bill
LV4
Water/Winged-Beast/Effect
1000 ATK/ 1000 DEF
This card cannot be targeted for attacks as long as it is face-up on the fieldbut does not prevent your opponent from attacking you directly.
Each time you take battle damage from an opponent's monster attack, you can increase this card's ATK by an amount equal to the damage taken.
Aqua Phantom Claw
LV4
Water/Beast/Effect
1800 ATK/ 600 DEF
This card cannot be targeted for attacks as long as it is face-up on the field but does not prevent your opponent from attacking you directly.
When this card is normal summoned, you can change the battle position of an opponent monster. When this card destroys a monster by battle and sends it to the graveyard, you can add an "Aqua Phantom" card from your deck to your hand.
Aqua Phantom Falco
LV6
Water/Winged-Beast/Effect
0 ATK/ 1000 DEF
If your opponent controls a monster and you don't, you can special summon this card from your hand. When this card declares an attack, you can banish an "Aqua Phantom" monster in your graveyard to target an opponent monster, if you do this card gains ATK equal to the ATK of the target monster.
If this card is selected as an attack target, switch it to defense position.