YuGiOh! XIIIth Hour
I
Once Upon A Duel/The Duel Savior's Story Begins
In the XIIIth Hour, the Duel Savior will start on the path, and if all goes well the Master of the Cards will save Humans and Monsters alike.
A white gold pocket watch from a chain around someone's neck is held open. Its face consists of 13 numbers and three hands of various lengths. The third and shortest of the hands doesn't move. The pocket watch is closed and returned back around someone's neck.
*!*!*
Sixteen-year-old Junyo stood examining his white gold pocket watch; he opened it to check the time. It was 8:30 in the morning. He closed it. This watch had been a gift from his mom. He couldn't believe she had given it to him on his 13th birthday, but because she had he had always taken care of it and kept it close. He cherished it. He had violet hair pulled into a short spiky ponytail with two thick, blue bangs that hung just before his right eye. His eyes were midnight blue. He wore a white short-sleeved t-shirt with an open black short-sleeved hooded jacket over it along with a pair of denim shorts, a brown belt with a white gold buckle, brown fingerless gloves, and brown boots.
"I expect to meet you at the top Little Brother," Yuuto said. "You better give me a good duel this time: a real duel this time."
Junyo looked up from his pocket watch: a little surprised by his older brother's sudden appearance. They hadn't come to the tournament together. His brother, who was older than him by two years, had recently moved into his own apartment.
"Don't worry," Junyo said. "I'm going to meet you there, and I'm finally going to win against you."
Yuuto wore his silver straight vertical bar charm on his chain around his neck. Their dad had given it to Yuuto on his 13th birthday. He was 18 now. Yuuto never left the house without it. He had straight, spiky violet hair that was a mix of red too. It stood straight up all over his head, and a single, slender red bang hung before his left eye. His eyes were steel blue. He wore a black v-neck shirt, with an open brown leather jacket over it along with a pair of dark denim jeans, a black belt with a silver buckle, and black leather boots.
"We'll see," Yuuto said. He smiled and nodded at Junyo before he went to take on a challenging opponent of his own: to properly enter the tournament hierarchy.
Junyo took his pocket watch, which hung from a chain around his neck, and tucked it back inside his shirt. He watched his brother disappear into the crowd before he went to start his own duel.
"The annual Duel Champion Tournament is about to begin," the Master of Ceremonies Katsuo Shirogane shouted. "Many matches have begun all over the venue. The first match in my neck of the woods is between the Beast Duelist with a Heart of Gold, Junyo Sasaki and the Dragon Duelist with a Vigorous Spirit, Gogen Tachibana!"
The audience went wild with anticipation and excitement.
"Are you ready Gogen?" Katsuo asked.
"Ready to win!" Gogen exclaimed.
The crowd cheered.
"I'm going to knock you out of this tournament before you can even get started Junyo," Gogen told him. "I've won tournaments around the world! I'm back to become Duel Champion. I'm one of the best. You won't beat me."
"Are you ready Junyo?" the MC asked him.
"I'm ready to get started," Junyo said.
The crowd cheered.
"I'm going to become Duel Champion," Junyo told Gogen, "and I won't let anyone stand in my way. I've worked hard to get here. You better be ready, Gogen."
"Duelists," the MC shouted. "Let's get this duel off the ground. Duel!"
Gogen: 4000LP
Junyo: 4000LP
Both duelists placed their decks on the Duel Reader, which virtualized their cards and prepared the duelists' virtual reality interfaces and the virtual reality field.
"Spectators," Katsuo announced, "for those in the audience and those at home who live under a rock, this will be a Partner Duel! The duelists will start by declaring their Field Partner Spell cards. Junyo won the coin toss earlier, so he'll proceed first, getting this duel well under way!"
The crowd cheered.
"I'll play my Field Partner, Anansi the Spider in Defense Mode," Junyo said.
"You're so predictable," Gogen said. "You'll lose again like so many times in the past. Western Modern Dragon take flight in Attack Mode!"
Gogen and Junyo were the same age. They had grown up together and gone to school together until high school when Gogen and his family moved out of the country and began to travel. His parents wanted him and his younger sister Haru to become worldlier the older they became. Gogen took of his trench coat before the duel started and gave it to his manservant. Gogen had short orange hair, which he styled with gel and slicked to the side. He had piercing green eyes. He wore a maroon long-sleeved collared shirt with rolled-up sleeves, a beige tie and beige vest over it, and black corduroy pants, along with a beige belt and a pair of cowboy boots: beige and maroon.
"Don't get cocky," Junyo said and smiled. "I won't lose: not this time."
This visibly irked Gogen.
Anansi the Spider
[Beast/Field Partner]***
ATK: 1300
DEF: 1300
EFF: +1000 LP
Every time three Monsters are sent to your Graveyard. Pull a Spell card from your Deck to your hand. Then, shuffle your Deck.
Western Modern Dragon
[Dragon/Field Partner]****
ATK: 1700
DEF: 1500
EFF:
If attacked by the opponent's Field Partner, whether in Attack or Defense Mode, you draw a card.
Gogen: 4000LP
Junyo: 5000LP
"Duel!" They exclaimed simultaneously.
Yesterday was the last day of school. Summer break had started. For Junyo, what was great about today, which made him both excited and anxious, he was about to enter the entry round for the Duel Champion Tournament sponsored by Game Masters, who brought a new dynamic and new rules to the Duel Monster's phenomenon that spanned the world. Game Masters was a small business that managed to impress and become partners with Industrial Illusions. Junyo's father worked with Game Masters part-time as an artist and card creator, who many duelists loved and admired for the monsters he created: his official title was that of a card artist. He worked full-time as a zoologist, who frequently traveled the world studying animals, making discoveries about their habits and behavior, and writing books about them. His mother used to be an astrophysicist, but she decided to help raise her family and become a professor of astrophysics when she returned to the working world.
A month ago, his older brother Yuuto had become the top duelist in the neighborhood. This was no surprise to anyone. He had held the title for several years now. Yuuto entered the first time to stop all the kids who used to bully Junyo because everyone felt he was a terrible duelist. People would come from all over to challenge him. Yuuto only gave people rematches once, every year, when he supported their dad's favorite gaming store and defended his title. The only other time was when Yuuto competed in the annual Duel Champion Tournament. Yuuto never told Junyo, but he also hoped one day Junyo might beat him and take the title for himself one day. That was the day Yuuto decided he might finally stop dueling. Dueling would have served its purpose: to prove his little brother didn't need him anymore.
A new girl, Chou Ito, who recently moved to town, took second. People still watched the video online of the epic duel between Yuuto and Chou. Their duel was electric, garnering them both fans: more than they already each had. Junyo, himself, placed third. This had been the first time he'd come this close to facing his brother in an official tournament. Not being able to face his brother bothered him but he hadn't even cared he took third because he managed to win the last card he had wanted to have to complete his dream Deck. It had been his favorite card their dad ever created. There were only two in the world: the original that their dad kept as a part of his collection and the one Junyo had won. Luckily, Yuuto and Chou had chosen other cards. With it, he would finally defeat his brother, and what better place to debut his new Deck than the Duel Champion Tournament to become top duelist of the city.
The Duel Champion Tournament drew people from all over too. However, the top duelist would win $50,000 dollars. That wasn't all. He or she would get first pick of 7 Ultra Rare cards that their father had created. They alone were to be the originals. Not a soul knew anything about them. Their father wouldn't even hint at them: only smiling when Junyo and Yuuto asked about them. Dueling would go on all morning. With one win, you moved forward. If you lost, you were out. This would go on until there were 7. Then, the 7 would fly to Game Masters HQ to be the first duelists to duel in their new, technologically advanced, state of the art, Duel Arena.
"Duelists now participate in Partner Duels," Katsuo explained. "Field Partners are declared. They are Spell cards that grant various effects but ultimately act as Special Summoning material for a duelist's Battle Partner. A Normal Monster card cannot destroy the Field Partner. A Spell card can only take out a Field Partner from the Field. A Field Partner can only attack another Field Partner, and that is another way a Field partner can be removed from the Field. The Battle Partner changes the game, taking it to the next level. It can attack the Field Partner and gives the duelist access to certain Partner-specific Spell cards that are in an Extra Deck, giving the Battle Partner immense power."
"I'll set a Monster in Defense Mode," Junyo said after looking over the cards in his hand. "I'll then lay a card face down, which will end my turn: your turn."
After drawing a card, Gogen looked at his cards, and then he looked toward Junyo.
"I didn't get a chance to knock you out of the last tournament," Gogen said, "but I'm going to show everybody that had I been there neither of the Sasaki brothers would've won anything: let alone placed." He placed a card face up. "I'm going to play Polymerization for a Fusion Summon. Alright, Thunder Dragon and Lightning Dragon, come together to form Lightning War Dragon!"
Thunder Dragon
[Thunder/Effect]*****
ATK: 1600
DEF: 1500
EFF:
You can discard this card; add up to 2 "Thunder Dragon" from your Deck to your hand.
Lightning Dragon
[Dragon]******
ATK: 1900
DEF: 1300
Lightning War Dragon:
[Dragon/Fusion/Effect]*******
ATK: 2100
DEF: 1700
EFF:
When this card destroys a Monster by battle and sends it to the Graveyard: Special Summon either one Thunder Dragon or Lightning Dragon from your Deck to the Field.
"On top of that," Gogen said, "I'll equip my Monster with Dragon Treasure!"
Dragon Treasure
[Spell Card]
A Dragon-Type Monster equipped with this card increases its ATK and DEF by 300 points.
Lightning War Dragon:
[Dragon/Fusion/Effect]*******
Equipped w/Dragon Treasure
ATK: 2400
DEF: 2000
EFF:
When this card destroys a Monster by battle and sends it to the Graveyard: Special Summon either one Thunder Dragon or Lightning Dragon from your Deck to the Field. Then, shuffle your Deck.
"I admit I didn't expect to beat you so fast," Gogen said. "Lightning War Dragon, Lightning War Charge!"
"You are a good duelist," Junyo said, "but I refuse to lose. That's the only way I'll become the next Duel Champion. With your attack, you've activated my Trap Card: Hearts and Minds."
"I've never heard of that Trap," Gogen shouted.
"You've never been one to rely on Traps," Junyo said, "but I'll explain what it does. It's a Continuous Trap card, allowing me to destroy one of my opponent's Monsters once per turn and give my opponent Life Points equivalent to the Attack Points of the Monster that is destroyed."
"Cheap trick," Gogen said, grinding his teeth.
"You can come back from it," Junyo said. "I don't expect my road to the top to be easy. So, I expect you to make this duel a good one for me, sweetheart."
"I'm going to enjoy making you choke on those words," Gogen said. "Western Modern Dragon, attack Anansi the Spider."
"Anansi the Spider lost defense points," Katsuo explained, " but it only lost 100 because Gogen has no monsters on his side of the Field."
"I end my turn," Gogen said. "Hurry up, so I can take you out."
Gogen: 6400LP
Junyo: 5000LP
Anansi the Spider
[Beast/Field Partner]***
ATK: 1300
DEF: 1200
EFF: +1000 LP
Every time three Monsters are sent to your Graveyard. Pull a Spell card from your Deck to your hand. Then, shuffle your Deck.
Western Modern Dragon
[Dragon/Field Partner]****
ATK: 1700
DEF: 1500
EFF:
If attacked by the opponent's Field Partner, whether in Attack or Defense mode, you draw a card.
Junyo drew a card, looked over it, and proceeded with his play.
"I'll place a card face down," Junyo said. "Next, I'll set a card in Defense Mode. Then, I'll Flip Summon my Monster that was previously in Defense Mode into attack position."
White Lion
[Beast/Effect]
ATK: 1700
DEF: 1000
EFF:
+200 ATK points for every Monster card in your hand.
White Lion
[Beast/Effect]***
ATK: 1900
DEF: 1000
EFF:
+200 ATK points for every Monster card in your hand.
"White Lion," Junyo said, "attack with King's Roar."
Gogen: 4500LP
Junyo: 5000LP
"With that," Junyo said, "I'll end my turn."
"I draw," Gogen said. He looked at his card and a wicked grin appeared.
Junyo knew what was coming.
"I Partner Summon Eastern Ancient Dragon in Attack Mode," Gogen shouted. "This duel is done!"
Eastern Ancient Dragon
[Divine Dragon/Battle Partner/Effect]********
ATK: 2700
DEF: 1100
EFF:
Once per turn, this card can Special Summon one Level 4 or lower Dragon-type Monster from your Deck to the Field. Then, shuffle the Deck.
"I'll play from my Extra Deck my Partner Spell card Dragon Roar," Gogen said, "which allows me to bring back one Normal Dragon-type Monster from my Graveyard to my hand."
"Partner Spell cards are amazing!" Katsuo shouted. "Each duelist gets 5 to use at their discretion but only one can be used per turn. Gogen is a force in the dueling world. He doesn't disappoint!"
"After activating Eastern Ancient Dragon's effect," Gogen added, "I Special Summon Dodger Dragon to the Field."
Dodger Dragon
[Dragon/Effect]****
ATK: 1900
DEF: 1200
EFF:
This card's Normal Summon cannot be negated. After this card was Normal Summoned, your opponent cannot activate Counter Trap cards for the rest of that turn.
"Eastern Ancient Dragon," Gogen instructed, "put an end to Junyo's White Lion with Ancient Dragon Rage!"
Gogen: 4500LP
Junyo: 2300LP
"Dodger Dragon," Gogen instructed, "take care of that Monster in Defense Mode with Dragon Tail Slash!"
Junyo's card merely flipped into a face-up position. Neither card was destroyed.
Black Tiger
[Beast/Effect]***
ATK: 1000
DEF: 1700
EFF:
+200 DEF for every Monster card in your hand.
Black Tiger
[Beast/Effect]***
ATK: 1000
DEF: 1900
EFF:
+200 DEF for every Monster card in your hand.
"I'll have Eastern Ancient Dragon attack your Anansi the Spider!" Gogen shouted, continuing his assault.
Anansi the Spider
[Beast/Field Partner]***
ATK: 1300
DEF: 900
EFF: +1000 LP
Every time three Monsters are sent to your Graveyard. Pull a Spell card from your Deck to your hand. Then, shuffle your Deck.
"Once a Battle Partner hits the Field," Katsuo explained, "the Field Partner is protected from attacks. Gogen has put himself in an excellent position to claim victory!"
"Hear that Junyo!" Gogen shouted. "Bet you're shaking now!"
"Not a chance sweetheart," Junyo said. "If you're finished, I'll activate my Trap cards: another Continuous Trap card Solemn Wishes. Increases my Life Points by 500 each time I draw a card (or cards). I'm sure you haven't forgotten Hearts and Minds either. Say goodbye to Eastern Ancient Dragon. Rushed it a little bit, don't you think?"
Gogen: 7200LP
Junyo: 2300LP
"Doesn't matter," Gogen said. "You're digging yourself into a hole. My turn ends. I'll just get Eastern Ancient Dragon back on the Field."
"I draw my next card," Junyo said, "which allows Solemn Wishes to grant me Life Points."
Gogen: 7200LP
Junyo: 2800LP
"Gogen struck Junyo a major blow," Katsuo announced, "but Junyo remains calm and collected. Battle Partner cards can attack twice: Normal Monster cards and the Field Partner card. Spell cards, however, don't affect them. However, a well-placed Trap card can take them out. Junyo's working with a new Deck and a new dueling attitude: nothing like his brother's – the current Duel Champion Yuuto Sasaki. Let's see if Junyo pulls off a win this year and stays in the tournament! Gogen seems to have this in the bag! Let's continue with this exciting duel to see who our Second Round 14 and eventual Top 7 tournament contestants will be!"
"I sacrifice my Black Tiger to Tribute Summon a Monster in Defense Mode," Junyo said, "and then I end my turn."
"You made this too easy," Gogen said after he drew his next card. "In Attack Mode, I summon Dwarf Star Dragon Planeter!"
Dwarf Star Dragon Planeter
[Dragon/Effect]****
ATK: 1700
DEF: 1200
Once per turn, during the End Phase, if this card was Normal Summoned this turn: you can add 1 Level 7 LIGHT or DARK Monster from your Deck to your hand.
Gogen added a card to his hand. He chose the Serpent Night Dragon. It had an attack power of 2350 and defense power of 2400.
"Since you'll probably give me more Life Points anyway," Gogen said, "I don't even have to worry about losing anymore: not that I was worried in the first place. You practically gave me the win. Your new Deck is full of terrible cards." He laughed.
"Hey," Junyo said.
His voice grabbed everyone's attention. It was the first time Junyo sounded hard. His voice was laced with an edge.
"Don't ever call my cards terrible," Junyo told Gogen. "I worked hard for every single one of them. My dad designed almost all of them. They mean a lot to me. From now on, they're going to carry me to my every victory. Pay attention."
"I'll have to see it to believe it," Gogen said. He smirked.
"You will," Junyo said, wiping the smirk from Gogen's face.
"It's clear these two have a history," Katsuo told the audience: those there in the arena and those watching from around the world online. "I happen to know for a fact that these two have dueled off and on for years. They have a complicated relationship: friends, lovers, or rivals… all three? Who knows! I couldn't say. What I do know? Junyo has never won a duel against Gogen, but judging by their exchange I wonder if this might be a different game, a different duel, a different story."
"Dwarf Star Dragon Planeter get rid of his Monster in Defense Mode," Gogen said.
Gogen: 6300LP
Junyo: 2800LP
"Wait a minute," Gogen said, "I lost 900 Life points!?"
"That's not all!" Katsuo shouted.
"You attacked my Solar Elephant," Junyo said. "He has a defensive power of 2600, and he's got a great effect too."
Solar Elephant
[Beast/Effect] ******
ATK: 1500
DEF: 2600
EFF:
Once attacked while in Defense Position, this Monster switches to Attack Position and gains 500 ATK points until the end of the opponent's next turn.
Solar Elephant
[Beast/Effect] ******
ATK: 2000
DEF: 2600
EFF:
Once attacked while in Defense Position, this Monster switches to Attack Position and gains 500 ATK points until the end of the opponent's next turn.
"Western Modern Dragon attack Anansi the Spider," Gogen said.
Anansi the Spider
[Beast/Field Partner]***
ATK: 1300
DEF: 600
EFF: +1000 LP
Every time three Monsters are sent to your Graveyard. Pull a Spell card from your Deck to your hand. Then, shuffle your Deck.
"Will you be attacking again?" Junyo asked.
"No," Gogen said. "You're still a pain."
"Don't be that way sweetheart," Junyo said. "Instead, say goodbye to your Dwarf Star Dragon Planeter. That card would definitely become a problem."
Gogen: 8000LP
Junyo: 2800LP
"I'll draw my card," Junyo said, "and then we'll proceed." He winked at Gogen.
Gogen narrowed his eyes and shook his head.
Gogen: 8000LP
Junyo: 3300LP
"I play the Spell card Golden Scarab," Junyo said. "It grants me 700 Life Points, but after I play it and discard it to my Graveyard it acts as a Monster card, which activates Anansi the Spider's effect."
Gogen: 8000LP
Junyo: 4000LP
"Every time three Monsters are sent to your Graveyard pull a Spell card from your Deck to your hand," Junyo explained. "Then, shuffle your Deck. I know just the card: Partner's Aid. This Spell card allows me to obtain my Battle Partner from my Deck and put it in hand. Afterward, I shuffle my Deck. Now, I will Partner Summon my Battle Partner to the Field. In his first official duel debut, I introduce in Attack Mode: Anansi the God of Stories."
Anansi the God of Stories
[Divine Beast/Battle Partner/Effect]*******
ATK: 2300
DEF: 2300
EFF: + 2000 LP
Negates Opponent's Trap Cards.
"From my Extra Deck," Junyo said, "I'll play my Partner Spell card Cleverness, which automatically switches my opponent's Monster into Defense position and causes the loss of Life Points equal to half of its potential attacking power. In this case, you lose 950 Life Points."
Gogen: 7050
Junyo: 6000
"I'll play in attack position my Moonlit Alligator," Junyo began.
Moonlit Alligator
[Beast/Effect]****
ATK: 1700
DEF: 700
EFF:
This card does 500 points of damage to your opponent's LP for every Monster you control.
Gogen: 5550
Junyo: 6000
"First," Junyo said, "I'll have my Moonlit Alligator destroy your Dodger Dragon. You won't lose any Life Points. Next, Solar Elephant will do 2000 Life Points of damage with a direct attack."
Gogen: 3550
Junyo: 6000
"Then," Junyo said, "I'll let Anansi the God of Stories do 2300 Life Points worth of direct damage."
Gogen: 1250
Junyo: 6000
"Finally," Junyo said, "Anansi the God of Stories will attack your Western Modern Dragon, which will result in the loss of 1000 of its attack points and 1000 Life Points worth of damage to you."
Western Modern Dragon
[Dragon/Field Partner]****
ATK: 700
DEF: 1500
EFF:
If attacked by the opponent's Field Partner, whether in Attack or Defense mode, you draw a card.
Gogen: 250
Junyo: 6000
"That's…" Gogen said through gritted teeth. "That's impossible!"
"I lost a lot in the past: to my brother, to friends and family, and to other duelists, strong duelists like you," Junyo said. "All of you taught me a lot. You taught me a lot about dueling and myself. It might take me a minute to get going, but once I do everyone's in trouble. My cards won't let me down, and I won't let myself down."
"Crap," Gogen said. He chuckled to himself. "Got to admit. You've gotten a lot better: a lot stronger. I'm not done yet though. This duel isn't over."
"Come at me sweetheart," Junyo said.
"I draw," Gogen said. "Yep. I would get this card. It's the one I had Haru trade you for when we were kids. I play your Secret Power Dragon in Attack Mode."
Secret Power Dragon
[Dragon/Effect]***
ATK: 500
DEF: 700
EFF:
Flip 3 Coins. Three Tails: this card is sent to the Graveyard. Three Heads: this card absorbs and adds the ATK and DEF power of your opponent's strongest Monster on the field to its own power.
"I'm surprised you still have that," Junyo said. "I've still got your Inaba White Rabbit."
"Here goes nothing," Gogen said.
Gogen, Junyo, and the crowd all watched the three coins flip.
First Coin: Heads
Second Coin: Heads
Third Coin: Tails
"Looks like you got me," Gogen said. "I end my turn."
"It was a great duel," Junyo said after drawing his card. "Anansi the God of Stories, let's finish this with Grand Story attack."
Anansi the God of Stories opens a large tome, facing Secret Power Dragon. The pages of the tome burst out of it, surrounding Secret Power Dragon. The pages and Secret Power Dragon are drawn into the book. Anansi the God of Stories closes it. This ends the duel.
On a large screen, the results of the duel are projected.
Gogen: 0
Junyo: 6500
Junyo: The Winner
"The duelist that claims victory not only gains entry into the next round of the tournament but also wins either one or three new cards from their losing opponent," Katsuo said. "A duelist either gives up his or her Partner card or a Trio Pack: One Monster, Spell, and Trap Card.
"I'll take the Trio pack," Junyo said.
"Junyo chose the Trio pack," Katsuo announced to the crowd
"I believe a Partner card is too important to take from someone else," Junyo said as he received the Trio pack from Katsuo.
"I'm not surprised you would say something like that," Katsuo said and smiled. "Junyo leaves this duel with these three cards: Unexpected Dai, White Night Dragon, and Mirror Force."
The crowd applauded.
Junyo and Gogen shared a look. Junyo nodded in thanks and appreciation. Gogen tried and failed to hide a smile. He scowled, shook his head, and walked away from Junyo. Junyo walked away from Gogen and headed for the next duel area.
*!*!*
"I can't believe I was able to witness your first duel with Anansi the God of Stories," an unknown woman said to herself.
This dark-skinned woman had long, flowing platinum blonde hair that reached to the middle of her back and eyes that were ruby red. She stood holding her arms close to her. As she turned away from the duel to leave the arena area, someone walked through her. She only stopped to glance back at Junyo for a moment before she continued on her way. She pulled a familiar white gold pocket watch from a chain around her neck. She opened it and looked upon its face: its 13 numbers and three hands of various lengths. The third and shortest of the hands moved slowly: the slowest of the three. It had begun to move. She closed the pocket watch and returned it back around her neck.
"You have to make it to that last duel," the unknown woman said to herself. "I'll make sure you do. I'll protect you. With your heart and your cards, it's no wonder you became Duel Savior, Savior of the Cards. Hopefully, you still will…"