New story is here! Hopefully it's good.
"Ever think that the Professor is up to something?" asked Kurai as he casually carded an XYZ rebel. His faded brown cloak whipped in the wind, and the gems on his shoulders glowed a blood red like his eyes. A plume of black, spiked hair with streaks of red adorned his head like a crown. His nose was sharp and upturned, like he was constantly displeased with something, but his mouth was twisted into a cruel smile.
"I trust the Professor," replied Yuri, finishing up his opponent. "This is for a noble cause."
"Oh, I complete agree. Nothing like wiping this scum off the face of the earth. But still, he might have some ulterior motive."
Yuri jumped down from his perch on a crashed van. "I can see a campfire to the east. Let's teach these low-lifes who's truly superior."
Kurai gave a grin like a shark. "With pleasure."
The pair of fusion-users ran towards the plume of smoke that marked their next targets.
XYZ dimensioners milled peacefully around the camp, collecting rations of soup from beside the camp fire. By the amount of tents, Kurai guessed that there were around forty people living in the camp. After the siege of heartland, the remaining people from the XYZ dimension had fled into the wilds and were all living in camps like these, a pitiful struggle to hide their true rulers. This camp was probably the last hope of survival for most of the people there.
It was almost a shame to see it all burn down.
Almost.
Kurai and Yuri appeared from behind the wreckage, taking a leisurely pace towards the camp entrance. Their violet and blood-red duel disks glowed in evening sun.
"My, my," said Yuri menacingly. "A camp of fugitives? How pathetic."
A man stepped forward, holding his arms out to protect the little girl behind him. "You evil bastards have no place here. Leave us in peace."
Kurai waggled a finger. "Not happening. We have direct orders to subjugate all remaining habitants of the XYZ dimension… using any means necessary."
"We're simple folk." A woman stepped up. "Please, you will gain nothing from us."
Yuri shrugged. "Orders are orders, missy. Besides… I will gain immense satisfaction from bringing these cuties"— he pointed to a pair of small children cowering behind the woman — "right back to the Professor!"
A man and a woman stepped up, holding each other's hands protectively. Both had poorly made duel disks strapped to their wrists. "We won't let you touch our families!" the man said. "You should go back to where you came from!"
The man and woman adopted a duel stance.
"Oh, this will be excellent!" Kurai clapped his hands, his red eyes gleaming. "I presume you scum know the rules of tag duel?"
"We know," said the woman defiantly. "We won't let you take our families!"
Yuri raised his duel disk, looking bored. "Let's see if you put a fight."
[TAG DUEL!]
Yuri and Kurai LP: 4000
Man and woman LP: 4000
"Take your turn," said Kurai dismissively. "You'll need all the advantage you can get."
"I summon Chronomaly Gordian Knot (ATK: 300 / DEF: 900 / LV:3), and activate its effect! I summon Chronomaly Tula Guardian (ATK: 1800 / DEF: 900 / LV: 5) and Gordian Knot's level become equal to the level of Tula Guardian." The man's two stony monsters appeared on the field.
"Then I overlay my level 5 Gordian Knot and my level 5 Tula Guardian! Two guardians of ancient times! Come together to form an impenetrable fortress! I XYZ summon! Rank 5! Chronomaly Machu Mech (ATK: 2400 / DEF: 1500 / RNK: 5 / ORU: 2)!"
A monster resembling an ancient fortress appeared on the man's field. Brass cannons protruded from its sides.
"Oh?" Yuri raised an eyebrow. "An XYZ summon on the first turn? Maybe this will be exciting."
"Don't get your hopes up, Yuri. They're just like everyone else," Kurai said.
"You're going to be sorry you ever came near us!" cried the man. "I activate Chronomaly Pyramid Eye Tablet, and with its effect all my Chronomaly monsters gain 800 ATK!
Chronomaly Machu Mech: 2400 = 3200
"Next is Chronomaly Machu Mech's effect; when a monsters ATK changes, by detaching one overlay unit you take damage equal to that change! Blast 'em, Machu Mech!"
The cannons protruding from Machu Mech fired, sending Yuri and Kurai stumbling backwards.
Yuri and Kurai LP: 4000 = 3200
Kurai licked his lips. "Interesting… very interesting." He threw back his head and laughed. "Maybe this time will be different!"
"You won't be laughing for long," said the man. "I set two cards and end my turn."
"It's my move. I draw," said Yuri. "I summon Predaplant Moray Nepenthes (ATK: 1600 / DEF: 1000 / LV: 4), then use Polymerisation to fuse it the Predaplant Cordyceps in my hand! Two beautiful flowers with an insect-alluring fragrance! Now become one, and give birth to the terror beneath your petals! I fusion summon! Level 8! Starve Venom Fusion Dragon (ATK: 2800 / DEF: 2000 / LV: 8)!"
Yuri's dragon roared as it appeared on the field. A sickly-sweet smell wafted from its ravenous mouths.
The two XYZ users stepped back as the terrifying dragon appeared on the field.
"That d… dragon is no enemy!" the man stammered. "Machu Mech's ATK is higher!"
Yuri grinned. "I'll activate Starve Venom's effect; it gains ATK equal to the ATK of all your special-summoned monsters!"
Stare Venom Fusion Dragon: 2800 = 6000
Starve Venom roared and the man and woman froze in horror.
"6… 6000 ATK?" stuttered the woman.
"I activate Machu Mech's effect!" cried the man desperately. "By detaching one overlay unit you take damage equal to the change!"
"You think I wouldn't have expected that?" said Yuri. "Pathetic. I activate the quick-play spell Predator Flurry! I negate Machu Mech's effect, then Starve Venom gains 600 ATK!"
Starve Venom Fusion Dragon: 6000 = 6600
The man gasped in terror.
"Battle! Starve Venom Fusion Dragon attacks Machu Mech! Break that fortress into rubble!"
Spiked vines appeared around Starve Venom's body, before wrapping around Machu Mech and starting to crush it.
"I… I activate the trap card Chronomaly Shield!" said the man. "This turn, Chronomaly monsters cannot be destroyed!"
"You'll still take the damage though," laughed Yuri casually.
An explosion threw the man and woman backwards.
Man and woman LP: 4000 = 600
"Absolutely pathetic," grinned Kurai. "They're helpless."
"We'll… we'll never lose…" groaned the woman, clutching her stomach as she got up. "We'll keep fighting for our family and friends!"
"By all means, keep fighting," grinned Yuri. "It will be all the more painful for you. I end my turn."
Starve Venom Fusion Dragon: 6600 = 3400
"I draw!" cried the woman defiantly. "I summon Gorgonic Cerberus (ATK: 1300 / DEF: 300 / LV:3) from my hand. Then, when I summon a rock-type monster, I can summon Gorgonic Gargoyle (ATK: 1000 / DEF: 800 / LV:3)!"
The woman's two rock monsters appeared on the field, baring their fangs.
"Then I overlay my level 3 Gorgonic Cerberus and my level 3 Gorgonic Gargoyle! Ancient beasts from the darkest caverns! Merge together to form a mighty monstrosity! I XYZ summon! Rank 3! Gorgonic Guardian (ATK: 1600 / DEF: 1200 / RNK: 3 / ORU: 2)!"
The serpent-like monster materialised on the woman's field. "I activate the spell card Gorgonic Rejuvenation! I attach two Gorgonic monster in my graveyard to an XYZ monster as overlay units. The monster I choose is… Machu Mech!"
Gorgonic Guardian and Gorgonic Gargoyle transformed into overlay units and attached to Machu Mech. The man nodded. "Thank you."
"I detach an overlay unit from Gorgonic Guardian to use its effect. Your dragon's effect is negated and its ATK becomes 0 until the end of the turn!"
Stare Venom Fusion Dragon: 3400 = 0
"Next, I use the effect of Machu Mech! By using an overlay unit, you take damage equal the change in ATK!" The woman snarled. "Get away from my people!"
Machu Mech's cannons fired on Kurai and Yuri, sending up billowing clouds of smoke.
The XYZ users in the camp cheered, congratulating their duelists.
A cruel voice rang out through the smoke. "Sorry to burst your bubble," said Kurai as he and Yuri emerged, "but we're not through with you yet."
A quiet shock rippled through the camp. "I activated the effect of Underworld Servant— Gatekeeper (ATK: 300 / DEF: 400 / LV: 1) in my hand," said Kurai matter-of-factly. "By banishing it, I negate the damage… and banish your Gorgonic Guardian!"
A dark rift opened up behind Gorgonic Guardian and sucked in the serpent monster.
The woman stared in shock.
"Come now," grinned Yuri. "Don't give up on us."
"I'll never give up…" breathed the woman. "I'll never give up until you sick bastards are defeated! I activate Rank-Up-Magic Argent Chaos Force! By using Machu Mech as an XYZ material, I summon a monster that is one rank higher! Shatter the limited space-time continuum and engrave your existence into all the creation! Descend! Rank 6! Chronomaly Atlandis (ATK: 2600 / DEF: 3000 / RNK: 6 ORU: 3)!"
The titanic monster appeared above the camp, towering over the duelists. Magma flowed over its rocky body.
"A rank-up-magic," said Kurai. "Fascinating."
"Atlandis can equip an XYZ monster from the graveyard to itself, and then gain its ATK points! I choose Machu Mech, so Atlandis gains its 2400 ATK!"
Chronomaly Atlandis: 2600 = 5000
"Go, Chronomaly Atlandis! Attack Stare Venom Fusion Dragon! Finish off those bastards!"
"Sorry, not happening!" said Yuri calmly. "I banish Predator Flurry from my graveyard to negate your attack and gain life equal to the damage I would have taken!"
"What?!"
Chronomaly Atlandis' attack stopped and Yuri and Kurai's life points increased.
Yuri and Kurai LP: 3200 = 8200
The woman toppled backwards and was just caught by her partner.
"I'm sorry," she whispered to the man. "I couldn't beat them."
"It's all right," said the man, standing up stronger. "Don't you see?" he yelled to Yuri and Kurai. "All you bring is pain and suffering!"
Kurai grinned. "I suppose you're right." He directed his attention to the woman. "Now hurry up and end your turn."
"I… I end my turn."
Kurai stepped forward. "Finally. I draw!"
Looking at his hand, he smiled. "I'd like to thank you two. This has been the most exciting duel of my day. But it's over now. I summon Underworld Servant— Ferryman (ATK: 1500 / DEF: 100 / LV 3) from my hand, and its effect allows me to summon an Underworld Servant from my deck. I choose Underworld Servant— Harpy (ATK: 500 / DEF: 800 / LV: 2)!"
A ghoulish, undead bird-woman appeared on Kurai's field. "Next I activate Demon Fusion, and use it to fuse Underworld Servants Harpy and Ferryman! Two demonic creatures! Combine to form the wicked demon who decides the fate of the dead! I fusion summon! Level 8! Prideful Underworld Judge— Lucifer (ATK: 2700 / DEF: 2300 / LV: 8)"
Kurai's demonic monster appeared. A crown of thorns rested on its head and blood-red eyes gleamed underneath a hood.
"I activate Lucifer's effect! Your monster's effect is negated and its ATK becomes 0 until the end of the turn, even is this card leaves the field!"
Glowing red chains appeared around Atlandis, causing it to kneel.
Chronomaly Atlandis: 5000 = 0
"Battle! Lucifer, show this scum who is truly superior!"
"I activate the trap card Chronomaly Armageddon Device! Your life points become equal to mine and we both take the damage!" He spat at Kurai. "I'll take you down with me!"
"Oh no!" Kurai laughed sarcastically. "You think I wouldn't have a countermeasure? Once per turn, I can return Lucifer to the extra deck!"
"Why do that?" said the man, confused. "You just destroyed your own monster!"
Kurai laughed manically. "In exchange, I can summon another Underworld Judge from my extra deck! Callous demon who reveals the path of the dead! Show yourself! Level 8! Greedy Underworld Judge— Mammon (ATK: 2700 / DEF: 2300 / LV: 8)!"
The new Underworld Judge had a splendorous blood-red cape lined with black gems. Pendants and jewels hung from its arms and neck.
"Mammon can negate your trap card and banish it!"
Ropes of darkness sprung out from Mammon's cloak and wrapped around the trap card, destroying it.
"The attack continues! Mammon, subjugate these weaklings!
Crackling red lightning hit Atlandis, cleaving its body in two.
Man and woman LP: 600 = 0
Yuri and Kurai: WIN!
"Such weaklings," Yuri scoffed, turning his duel disk to the woman and pressing a button. Purple light blazed and the woman disappeared, a card falling where she had been.
Kurai casually carded the man in a burst of blood-red light then turned to the cowering group of XYZ dimensioners. "You have a choice!" he announced. "You can join Academia's noble cause, or join your friends!" He held up the card showing the man's permanently horrified face.
"I would rather die than join you!" yelled someone from the back the group, bringing up a chorus of cheers.
"That can be arranged," said Yuri, and purple and red light filled the camp, drawing up fresh screams of horror.
Months later
"The standard dimension?" Yuri inquired. "What could we possibly want there?"
"There is a girl named Yuzu Hiragi, with the same face as the two you have captured before. I need you to bring her to me."
"Of course sir." Yuri walked out, his purple cape fluttering behind him.
"What about me, sir?" asked Kurai. "You know how much I… enjoy dimensional outings."
The Professor leaned forward on his chair. "As a matter of fact I do. I am worried that my agent in the Synchro dimension has become… lax. I would like you to give him a reminder about the chain of command."
"With pleasure," grinned Kurai. "Also sir, what do we need these girls for? Are they a part of revival zero?"
"Very much so." The Professor gave a rare smile. "They are a key instrument to achieving my goal of dimensional integration and bringing peace to the world."
"Surely you don't believe that yourself sir?" Kurai smiled. "Integrating the dimensions will cause chaos, not peace. It's just propaganda for our troops."
The Leo Akaba sighed. If anyone else had made that comment, except Yuri, he would have carded them on the spot.
But Kurai was too good of a lieutenant to lose.
"Then why are you here, Kurai?" asked the Professor softly. "If you realise that the dimensional integration will cause total chaos, why do you follow me?"
"Total chaos sounds like a lot of fun to me, sir." Kurai gave a maniacal laugh. "The world's boring as it is. Someone needs to spice things up."
He turned to leave, boots clicking against the polished floor, but the Professor called after him. "And Kurai? Permission to use any force necessary."
Kurai gave his trademark shark's grin. "Wouldn't have it any other way, sir."
So... that was Chapter 1. I thought I made up the name Kurai, but then I googled it and discovered it's the name of a music artist and a whole bunch of anime characters and I'm too lazy to change it. The Underworld Judges are an archetype I made up and you'll see more of them if I write more of this story.
The XYZ users in this chapter were not Trey or whoever played Gorgonics, even though they did have their decks. I just thought it would be a good idea to include the decks of some characters from other Yugioh series'.
Some card effects or summoning chants may be different for convenience or because I'm lazy. I've decided to make a list of the cards I made up for this chapter so here we go:
Predator Flurry: You can negate the effects of one monster on the field, then a Predaplant monster you control gains 600 ATK. You can banish this card from your graveyard to negate battle damage and regain life equal to the damage you would've taken (quick-play spell card).
Chronomaly Shield: Chronomaly monsters cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects this turn (trap card).
Gorgonic Rejuvenation: Target up to two 'Gorgonic' monsters in your graveyard, then attach them as XYZ material to a face XYZ monster (spell card).
Underworld Servant- Gatekeeper (DARK / DEMON / EFFECT / ATK: 300 / DEF: 400 / LV: 1): If you would take 1500 or more damage, you can banish this card from your hand to negate that damage, then banish 1 face-up card on the field.
Underworld Servant- Ferryman (DARK / DEMON / EFFECT / ATK: 1500 / DEF: 100 / LV: 3): When this card is summoned, you can summon 1 'Underworld Servant' from your deck.
Underworld Servant- Harpy (DARK / DEMON / EFFECT/ ATK: 500 / DEF: 800 / LV: 2): ?
Demon Fusion: Fusion summon 1 Demon-type monster from your extra deck using Demon-type monsters in your hand, field and/or graveyard.
Prideful Underworld Judge- Lucifer (DARK / DEMON / FUSION / EFFECT / ATK: 2700 / DEF: 2300 / LV: 8): Once per turn, during either player's turn (quick effect) you can negate the effects of 1 monster your opponent controls and if you do, make its ATK 0. Once per turn (quick effect), you can return this card to your extra deck, then special summon 1 'Underworld Judge' fusion monster from you extra deck ignoring its summoning conditions. If this card was summoned by the effect of an Underworld Judge, you cannot activate this effect the turn it was summoned.
Greedy Underworld Judge- Mammon (DARK / DEMON / FUSION / EFFECT / ATK: 2700 / DEF: 2300 / LV: 8): Once per turn, during either player's turn (quick effect) you can negate the effects or activation of an opponent's trap card and if you, banish it. Underworld monsters you control are unaffected by the effects of your opponent's trap cards. Once per turn (quick effect), you can return this card to your extra deck, then special summon 1 'Underworld Judge' fusion monster from you extra deck ignoring its summoning conditions. If this card was summoned by the effect of an Underworld Judge, you cannot activate this effect the turn it was summoned.
As always, reviews would be greatly appreciated.