Number Wars

by Hawk00Refferencer

Numbers: emotion affecting cards that appeared worldwide; these are stories and adventures of a seperate Numbers Hunter, that lives under only one rule: Sky-High! - remade with more caution

1. Spirit Rising: SkyHigh!

Disclamer: I do not own "Yu-gi-oh"; it is an anime/manga/card game franchize created by Kazuki Takahashi; this is entirely a fanfiction story, any fan-made cards that do not exist in the official game will be noted at the end of each episode;

Any songs used will also have their authors mentioned, along with the media they were first used on;

Any references to real-world stories, movies, books, shows, fictional characters and other creations are purely and entirely made for entertainment and are not to be taken seriously;

Final notion: the following story includes several fictional Number cards; in addition to the above disclamer on their ownership, in case a fictional Number takes on the spot that is already taken in the official "Yu-Gi-Oh Zexal" franchize, it will be changed with other references; as with the official Numbers, the digits are not chosen randomly, but bear careful references;

That said, enjoy the show.

!

Dueling was always a thing of great importance. Card games now made such a great impact on society they were no longer considered childish or ridiculus. There were also certain stories involving supernatural phenomena that included Duel Monsters. Historic documents were never successful in verifying or confirming those phenomena ever occured, so those events soon became legends and ghost-stories.

It was the Xyz era of "Duelist World", an era involving the usage of Xyz monsters, special kinds of monsters that, according to the folklore, came into our universe through a wormhole. It was only a chit-chat glamour, nothing more than silly talk to explain the Xyz monster's odd properties.

That is, however, until one day, in Heartland…

Records speak of a powerful surge of energy, dark portals opening and many other crazy theories explaining this event. That day, from an unknown origin, a brand new kind of Xyz monsters came to be. A precise count of 100 new Xyz cards, never seen or recorded before, suddenly set loose all over the world. Those who came in contact with these new cards gained otherworldly abilities and were carrying markings that resembled common numerical symbols, which is why the cards were named: Numbers.

Heartland, a flourishing town of it's era, was in the middle of this event, and most Numbers were unleashed on that spot. The events occuring there were certainly of great importance, and telling what happened there would probably take at least 100 episodes of anime screening.

However, there was a nearby town in the same region of the world, that was also hit by this event:

Sky(narrator): "It all happened that night. They say they came from another world."

Sourand. (pronounce it as either Soul-land or Sorand) That's the other side of the medal. Many Numbers were set loose here, and many people were, in turn, infected by their influence.

The cards simply fell out of the sky, blank shiny cards that, upon human contact, gain their shape.

Sky(narrator): "It was the beginning of a very long part in my life. I hardly saw it comming."

In the civilic district, a young 17-year old was just entering his own doorsteps, when he heard something, a silent whisper, a tiny breeze if you would.

?.?.?: "Hm? (looks skyward) What is…?"

From the sky, a card fell down, dancing in the wind, before landing properly into his palms, which he stretched out to intercept it. The card, in his hands, was imageless.

?.?.?: "A card? What does it…?"

At first, that is. The next moment, the image of the card was slowly taking form, showing a black rim with what appeared to be a hyperspace design, the trademark of Xyz monsters.

A weird gleam appeared in the young man's eyes, as he observed the monster's appearance. The sight was apparenly too much, his head started to ache, but he could not blink. He could not breathe, either, for that matter. An odd, spooky aura surrounded the card, and him in turn.

Sky(narrator): "It felt so odd… The power, the pain… I hardly knew there really were such feelings until then."

He could only yell his lungs out, so the entire neighbourhood could hear him. It was a scream in agony, the card's influence must have caused severe mental pain. Mentioning of the onomatopaea of his scream would not be humane.

Sky(narrator): "But… I don't regret it."

That was the effect of the card that fell to him from the sky. It's almost poetic. For the young man…

Was called Sky Galen.

!

One month later…

Sunshine just passed through the narrow curtains of the windows. They barely hit the edge of the bed where he was sleeping. The guy lying on the bed was firmly asleep, neither the pillow nor the blanket were in their correct places on the bed, and the pose of the guy sleeping in there was also anything but anatomically correct..

There was a little odd alarm clock standing on a nearby shelf. It was cubic, mostly made of light-brown material and had exactly three silver rectangular plates on it's front, which is where the time was displayed. The part of the clock that was just above that was also a cuboid formation, closely resembling a face of a robot (this is without coincidence).

A small line of red digits flashed on the front plates, now displaying the numbers 06:30, with rapid intervals of beeping. Afterwards, what was apparently the radio sounded off:

radio?: "Wake up, Sourand! It's six-thirty in the morning, the weather calls for a regular walk in the sun outfit and the day just keeps calling for the birds to sing and the squrrels to cheek around. What a beautiful day! Any passionate electronics student and/or honorable duelist might wanna reconsider getting out of their sorry beds, get up and start living."

Still, the guy in the bed was immobile. Almost as if he was dead.

Radio?: "THAT MEANS YOU IN THE BLUE JAMMIES!"

At that point, the young man just twitched a bit, then rolled over to the opposite side of the bed, refusing to get up.

Radio?: "Sky-sama!"

Sky: "Ten more minutes, please."

I believe you already figured it out that the guy sleeping in was the same guy that found a mysterious card one month ago. Since this was not exactly his best moment, we'll save his physical description for later.

But, as for the "radio" that went off, it's eyes just opened up. The alarm clock next to the bed suddenly sprang to life, and started shapeshifting: the part that looked like a face… well, that really was the face of the robot. Out of the cuboid body, a pair of arms came out around the shoulder area, and a pair of small catterpillars emerged beneath the robot's body, allowing him to move.

The robot, Flint, only looked at the sleeping Sky with a very narrow-eyed glare.

Flint (Functional Long Integritty Number Tracker) really resembled a toy robot with light-brownish plates and a cuboid head with a pair of yellow eyes that had lids and vents so they moved a lot like actual eyes. Other features include a keyboard-like formation at the bottom of the head that was supposed to be his mouth (it was immobile, and while he talks, the mouth only flashes accordingly) and a pair of antenna atop of his head plus another pair where his ears were supposed to be. He had small arms and legs, ending with three-digit hands and catterpillar feet respectively, and his chest-plates greatly resembled three rectangular card slots, not to mention there were lots of small innactive slots, presumably innactive lights. Size-wise, he'd barely reach an adult man's kneecap, but considering it's size, the robot was quite mobile.

Flint: "(-_-) Geez, do we have to go through this every single morning? (jumps on the bed) Howdy-ho… I know just what to do to wake him up."

Flint looked down on his chestplates, noticing the time-clock was still flashing, now showing 06:31 time. In a blink, Flint changed the 6 on the clock… into a 7, then came in front of Sky's face, who was still pretending to be too sleepy to get up. He was using a merry tone when speaking to make his statement sound more humorous.

Flint: "Oh, Sky-sama…"

Sky: "('sleeping') What is it?"

Flint: "Look at here…"

As Sky just narrowly opened his eyes, he saw Flint's time display. To his horror, it now said 07:32

Someone in Sky's position would certainly take such a time at such a moment quite disturbing. In fact, it was shocking. He was wide awake in a matter of seconds… not to mention bug-eyed and panicking.

Sky: "(O.O) WHAT? That late already! Why didn't you wake me up?"

Within an estimated time of about 0,7 seconds, Sky got up (he was wearing blue jammies at the time), rubbed his eyes and rushed into the bathroom…

Flint: "Hehe, works every time."

… and within another extremely short period, pieces of clothing, most notably the blue jammies were flying out of the bathroom, and about 0,3 seconds later, Sky came running out, completely dressed up, in such a rush you could practically see the adrenaline driving through his veins. Anyway, we can now take a better look at our "hero":

Sky Galen is a 17 year-old young man wearing an unbottoned orange jacket that almost resembled a uniform, with a green shirt underneath that had an unknown logo strapped in blue, and a pair of jeans supported by what appeared to be a belt with many cases. He has deep green, wide eyes. His hairstyle includes mostly short, brown, solid-holding almost spikey hair, but the streaks on his forehead and around his ears were yellow-blonde, and a small line on the back of his neck slowly became black instead of brown.

Sky: "Geez, how could I let this happen, I never arrive late on purpose! Professor Sagawa will have my liver for this!"

While he was making a few last adjustments before the mirror, such as the position of his collar, or the smoothness of his shirt, Flint made a confession.

Flint: "Oi, Sky-sama…"

Sky: "I don't get it how you could allow me to oversleep like this, Flint! If I'm going down, I'm taking you with-"

Flint: "Sky-sama!"

Sky: "(looks at Flint) What!"

Flint then pointed at his time display on his chest. It first showed the regular 07:33 time, but Flint soon changed that into the actual timezone, and displayed it properly: 06:33. It's hard to tell from his robotic face, but he was actually smirking.

Flint: "Got you again, Sky-sama. Nothing wakes you up more than the feeling of failure."

Sky: "(O.O) Say what!... (-_-) I fell for that again. That's a mean trick, you old can opener."

Flint: "(upset) Don't call me that! I did you a favor, Sky-sama baka!"

Sky: "(!) You can't use 'sama' and 'baka' in the same sentence, you Green Gadget sound-alike!"

Flint: "(!) Stop yelling at me for beeing nice, you Card Flipper sound-alike!"

Sky: "(facepalms) Gosh, it's too early for this. (yaaaaawn) Anyway, I'm up properly. Great job as usual, Flint."

Flint: "Well I… (blushes) I knew you weren't serious about insulting me, Sky-sama."

Sky: "Whatever, let's get going."

Having said that, Sky left the room and went downstairs… Ignorring the bathroom in his way.

Flint: "Oi, you're not going to take a shower first?"

Sky: "What's the point? I already showered last night."

Flint: "(-_-) Geez, I'm not having this conversation again. Okay then, I'm comming!"

Flint moved around quickly with his little catterpillar-feet, and navigated his way down the stairs.

Sky's residence was the name for the entire house, sometimes simply called an appartment, due to it's humble size. Sky's bedroom was upstairs, along with the bathroom and a few more unused rooms, and the stairs led to a large almost wall-less interior featuring a complex of the kitchen, a large living room with a desk, a couch and a few sofas and a television, a hall that was the enterance and the exit, and the terrace that lead into the backyard. The simplest blueprints imaginable for a home. Despite his poor bedside-manners, the rest of Sky's home, other than his bed, was surprisingly clean.

Anyway, Sky turned on the TV, but this was only so that he had something to listen to while being in the kitchen. Flint was the one who was scrolling through the channels in search of a good programme, while Sky helped himself out and prepared a bread-slice covered with chocolate-hazelnut spread. That was about it, he ate it all in a single bite. He looked over at the table in the kitchen, which was covered in all sorts of objects: books, notepads, holographic varieties of the above items, a D-gazer, a set of keys, an odd amount of workshop tools, and most notably, a deck of Duel Monsters cards.

Sky reviewed his today's schedule of classes and put the books and notes on the requested subjects into the backpack.

Sky: "Let's see, that's Chemistry, Charge Physics, Dueling Development, 3D Technology, Effect Rulings, Cycle-tech… wait, I don't have classes on Cycle-Tech until Tuesday. (to Flint) Oi, Flint, you charged up yet?"

Flint: "(watching TV) In a minute, Sky-sama."

Sky: "Hurry it up, would you? Case-up and let's go. I don't wanna be late."

Flint: "Right, ri- Wait a sec, isn't it a bit early? If we leave now, school won't start for another hour."

Sky: "I'm not talking about getting in time for school, Flint."

Flint: "You're not? (-_-) Oh, right, 'the Thing', is it?"

Sky: "Got that one right. Gear up, time to fly."

Flint: "But I wanted to see the show all the way through…"

He was watching some kind of early-in-the-morning soap opera.

Sky: "You'll upload it later via Net-link."

Flint: "(hangs his head) I'm watching it now so I don't have to upload it later."

Sky: "Either way, I'm leaving. You might as well stay home alone."

Indeed, he put the backpack on his back and started to walk for the door.

Flint: "Oi, oi, oi, Sky-sama, wait! (turns off the TV) Don't leave me here alone!"

Swiftly, Flint reached up for the table, grabbed the deck of Duel Monsters, and inserted it into an opening slot in his chest, boxing it inside himself. He then quickly followed after Sky, who was waiting at the door.

Sky: "I knew you wouldn't resist. Here we go."

They both exited the house, Sky locked it up, and went running into the street.

There was an old lady sweeping the sidewalk next door. She was about three thirds Sky's size and wore what appeared to be a brown household dress decorated with pearl-like accessories, and her hair was, naturally, pale and with only a few streaks of deep brown hair next to her ears. She was smiling all the time as she saw Sky march by.

Sky: "'Morning, Mrs. Bara."

Bara: "Good morning, Sky. Off to school, are you? Isn't it a bit early?"

Sky: "In a way. I have something to do something first. I'll see you later."

By this time, he was already on the sidewalk and running at a rapid pace. Flint jumped up on his backpack and attached himself to it like an accessory, and he waved to old-lady Bara as the both of them went out of sight.

Flint: "By now, landlord Bara-sama."

Bara: "You kids have fun."

Even as Sky was way out of reach, Bara was still observing him for a while before returning to her daily chores.

Bara: "What a nice fellow. Does he really think I don't know where he's going? (humms a merry tune) I wonder if he'll like the surprise I prepared for him today."

And so, Sky kept on running down the street, feeling as energetic as ever. The morning air did good to his lungs, it was as if he was jogging.

Sk(narrator): "My name is Sky Galen. I'm 17 years old, and I live in the humble town of Sourand. That little guy on my back, that's Flint, a good pal I meet just recently. The old lady we just encountered was Bara, our landlord. She's a real sweetheart, mind you.

A whole month passed since that night, and ever since little has changed. Flint came to my life about that time, and so did a new semester. There's three priorities in my life: school takes third place, studying was always something I was kinda good at… if I had put my mind into it. Right now, I'm a 2nd year student at the Sourand Dueling High and Engineering Instinute. Even though Engineering classes appear tough, I managed to get through it. Heck, I even became a demos (a volunteer assistant) on the Deck Systematics department."

At a certain point in the road, Sky and flint came across a road that lead downhill. From their neighbourhood on, the whole city of Sourand could be seen as if it was an observation point. Despite him describing it as "humble", the entire town overtook almost the entire horizon.

It's a regular town you'd find nowadays, with buildings, railways, tram-stations, enviorment-healthy cars and lanes, in an aestetic sense, it looked like a little brother to Heartland.

The road before Sky was clear, no traffic, and it was leading downhill.

Sky: "Looks like we won't have to worry about traffic on our way to school. It was a good idea to leave early after all. What say you, Flint, feeling like wheeling up?"

Flint: "Hey, I might be little, but I'm not lazy. You let me worry about that, Sky-sama."

Flint leaped off Sky's backpack…

Sky: "Take it Sky-High, Flint!"

… and trasformed. It's arms thucked into the shoulder area, and a great series of plates and platforms exited his back while him catterpillars split into two segments, now acting as 4 independant units. 2 came up front, and 2 in the back, while the platforms that emerged out of his body like miracle-wardrobe shelves took form of a familiar vehicle: the entire body flipped and turned and remaind beneath the contraption like an engine of sorts.

In short, Flint bacame a skateboard. It was surprising how something that small managed to enter a form large enough to support Sky. There was a contraption on the upper part of the board that resembled solar cells, and as Flint spoke, this was the part that flashed accordingly.

Sky mounted the bord and Flint put it in gear.

Sky: "Oh yeah, spirit rising!"

With wheels beneath his feet, Sky was overjoyed to feel the wind against his face. With Flint charging up the board and make it move, it worked wonders in summoning a great speed that was moving Sky forward, especially now that they were moving downhill.

Sky: "Sky-High!"

By this time, they reached speed equal to that of a slow car. Sky was zig-zagging on the sidewalk a little out of sheer fun.

A few clicks later, the road straightened up, but this didn't reduce the speed the slightest.

Then, at one point, Sky noticed people gathering at one part of the street. He looked at the group curiously.

Sky: "Is something there?"

He then took out a small lens-shaped device, a D-Gazer, out of his pocket, and put it on his left eye.

D-Gazers allow Amplified Reality Vision, or AR-Vision, an entirely new plane of possibilities. The once lively town became even more magnificent, as things such as ads, lights, signals and the such were displayed mostly through this kind of vision. But most important, Duel Monster images.

What Sky could see in this way inside the crowd he was passing by was a lot of awesome scenes: monsters clashing. People were cheering as two duelists were matching skills. A giant monster that resembled a blue witch sitting atop of a huge deepsea fish commanded it's lower half to attack by spitting out an entire torrent of water upon it's enemy, which was a black-armored warrior wearing a trully massive necklace made of head-sized dark pearls. Another knight was kneeling next to this one, wearing white armor covered in blue gems. The torrent swallowed him entirely, and the few splashes remaining also hit it's owner. This was a female duelist with teal hair shaped like a swallow's tail (or maybe entirely like a whole swallow)

Duelist1: LP: 2600… 1600

For those who didn't recognize the above clash: it was Evigishki Mind Augus attacking Gem-Knight Obsidian. The surviving monster was Gem-Knight Sapphire.

The crowd was cheering out loud. Sky was also impressed by the scene, so he halted entirely in order to observe it.

Sky: "Cool, a duel!"

Her opponent was a male duelist, almost completely in black garments. He had black hair with blue lines running across it.

Duelist2: "That all you got?"

Duelist1: "I haven't lost yet! (draws) My turn, draw! (selects a card and plays it) I summon Gem-Knight Garnet!"

With pixels emerging, a new monster came up, this being a similarly designed armored warrior in red armor with a flame design. It took a proud stance. ATK: 1900/ LV4

Duelist1: "Might of the Gem-forces stand as one! I overlay the level four Gem-Knight Sapphire and Gem-Knight Garnet!"

This is what occurs when a duelist says that phrase: monsters are consumed and ultimately become searing orbs of energy, flying up in a helix formation.

Duelist1: "With these two monsters, I construct an Overlay Network: Xyz summon!"

A portal leading to an alternate universe opened up in the ground before her, and that's where the monsters flew in. A mighty flash followed their union into a new monster, which jumped out of the portal…

Duelist1: "United front, crush all things vile! Appear: Gem-Knight Pearl!"

And a new monster appeared as the crowd cheered: a massive Gem-Knight with entirely polished marble-like armor. It had 2 shining orbs orbiting around him, these being his Overlay Units. ATK: 2600/ R4

Her opponent was not all that happy to have an opponent like that.

Duelist2: "Oh shoot, an Xyz monster!"

Sky: "So cool! One of them is using Gem-Knights, the other the Gishki archetype. Those are legendary Terminus World clans clashing, just like in the story! Such an honorable match I must see!"

Flint: "Sky-sama, 'the Thing', remember?"

Sky: "Oh, right. Sorry."

Sky was back on track. He hated to leave these dueling grounds behind, especially when the duelists clashing were putting up a fight this big, but it took him little persuasion there was something even more important to him, so he kept on moving on the skateboard at great speed.

Sky(narrator): "My number 2 most important thing is dueling. Might as well be number one, it's in my oppinion the best way of people expressing their souls and behaviour without real conflict. In a duel, even enemies become friends, and your monsters become important allies. I believe in an honorable way of dueling, which means an ideal situation where both players give their best at the same odds, by using honorable fight and defense tactics, without dirty tricks."

Moving at high speed, Sky and Flint finally reached city central. Other than their neighbourhood, this area was highly urban, and traffic was never ending, since daybreak.

Right now, Sky and Flint were heading towards a crossroad that was flowing with cars and other vehicles. Just as they had it in sight, the light for the pedestrian section turned red.

Flint: "We better slow down, we'll never make it."

Sky: "No way, keep the speed up."

Flint: "HEH? But Sky-sama…"

Sky: "No buts, just trust me on this. We'll do this together!"

Sky(narrator): "As for my most important thing in life, it goes like this: sometimes, as people learn how to live, and settle down, they forget certain values in life, like honor or dignity, and simply obey the flow of life and do whatever they did before out of practice. Instead of love, many people marry for money, instead of spirit many deals are made for more profit. I decided not ever to forget my own heart and spirit. And if by any chance this world tips me down and I fall, I just have to remember this inner strength. Many people don't believe in that kind of stuff anymore… But not me. That's my life's rule, as soon as they beat me down, I take that strength and rise up, higher than ever."

He continued the high-drive, and just when he was going to reach the crossroad…

Sky: "My spirit's rising!"

… the cars stopped moving as their lights turned red, but the pedestrian light did not change color.

Basically, he jumped into the zebra crossing while the lights were still red…

Sk(narrator): "To put it short…"

Sky: "Sky-High!"

… and got to the other side by the time the lights turned green. He was so full of himself, he was boasting and almost yelling out his success.

Sky: "Yahoo! What did I tell you?"

Sky dismounted Flint and the robot took his own form again. By the looks of it, he was furious.

Flint: "We are NEVER doing that again!"

Sky: "What, you missed the Sky-High, Flint?"

Flint: "The cars missed us! Would it kill you to wait a few seconds like everyone else? You don't have to put your life at risk for that!"

Sky: "Maybe you're right, I kinda did go too far on that one. Okay, we walk from here, it's safer."

Flint: "Finally something we agree on."

Sky(narrator): "First lesson on Sky-High: Always tend to do the right thing. Lesson two: Never give up. Make your heart strong. A strong heart can bring you back up, no matter how low you fall, and when you rise, you can only fly higher than before."

Now, as for "the Thing"…

Instead of skating onwards, the tight and dense crowd of the Sourand central forced him to run the remaining way. Flint was hot on his tail, trying to keep up his speed with his catterpillar-legs. Whatever it was he was after, he wanted to get there fast.

Sky: "Inform me!"

Flint: "Signal's hot… and increasing! It's right behind this corner!"

Sky: "So we're just in time, alright!"

And with full spirit, Sky and Flint came to that corner, crossed it in a tight turn, and…

Sky: "We made it!"

Flint: "That's the spot."

… they simply looked at the other side of the street. There was a cafee bar on the other side, in the open, overlooking the street. Sky was trying to spot something there, but his eyes kept failing him.

Sky: "Oh no, I can't see through… Flint, help me out."

Flint: "Roger. Let's see… Aha, target found! It's right there in the corner."

Sky: "In the cor- WOAHA, I see her too!"

Sky blushed significantly when he spotted the so called target. They both spoke and behaved like they were on some kind of military mission. In truth, this is what Sk was after:

In the corner of the cafee, there was a girl sitting and reading a script of sorts.

From a strictly objective point of view, here's her description: a beautiful young girl with deep violet eyes, and dark, shoulder-length hair tied in a pony-tail. She was wearing a regular school uniform consisting out of a white shirt with pink sleeves and yellow lines crossing over the middle of it, as well across the sleeves, and a multi-layered semi-long skirt colored in a similar fashion.

In Sky's point of view… well, let's say he was blushing tremendously upon looking at her, even from the distance. In his version, he'd probably describe her hair as wonderful as the raven flapping of the wind in a starry night-sky, and her eyes as deep as the foreign reaches of the cosmos, compellant to the mystery of the mind that she holds, and a heart that radiates with such warmth that would make the sun blush. That's his version, anyway.

Sky(narrator): "There she is. Keira Detroy, or Keira-chan for short. I admire her a lot. She's a seecond year student, like myself, but attends a parallel class. She is a straight A student, a demos on as good as all subject fields so far, and I think Student Council has already voted her the prettiest girl on the school. Despite all this, she never forgets to smile. It makes me happy every time I see that smile.

She comes to this place every day before school first thing in the morning, to review her daily schedule and occasionally study. She gets up sooner than anyone else, including myself. She is so devoted to her studies it's beyond remarkable. I learned she likes Shakespeare and his work, and she has read as good as every historically valuable piece of work of every famous writer there is: Sun Tzu, Dante, Homer, Twain, Darwin, Einstein, even all Simback's stories. A lot of boys look up to her, and all girls want to be her friends.

Anytime I get the chance, I get to this place and just observe her, just out of admiration. She talks to me on a regular basis, even smiles to me, but… I don't think she knows how I feel yet."

You heard it. Sky was just standing on the other side of the street, looking at his crush, humbly hiding behind a street-pole in fear she might notice him.

Sky(narrator): "Every morning, I try to pick up the courage to go over there and join her, but… every morning, I fail. Sky-High of mine has never prepared me for this kind of thing properly."

Sky: "(blushing) She's so cute… And smart too… Like a godess."

Flint: "Sky-sama, I can hear you."

Sky: "I know, don't spread the word. It's hard enough for me as it is."

Flint: "Hmmmm…"

Flint looked at Keira, and from his distance, he could effortlessly zoom in on her appearance and scan it. However, his sense of understanding human attraction was next to poor, he could only estimate her general health and athletics, nothing more.

Flint: "For peeps sake, this daily routine is getting old, Sky-sama. If you like her that much, why don't you just go over there and talk to her?"

Sky: "Beacuse, I… I don't wanna disturb her."

Flint: "(hangs head) THAT'S your excuse?"

Sky: "She seems way too focused on her reading, I don't think I'd be doing any good if I bust in like that."

Flint: "That kind of thinking will bring Keira-chan into some other dude's arms."

Sky: "I know that! But the thing is… Say I actually do walk up to her, what then? I'm not sure if I'd make a good boyfriend, it's like she can do a lot better than me."

Flint: "Unless you get your act together, she will."

Sky: "Then that's fine, as long as she's happy! What makes her happy will make me happy, even if I end up miserable."

Flint: "(-_-) Honestly, Sky-sama, your logic makes no sense to me. The one time you really need Sky-High, it takes a break."

Sky: "It's not! It's just… I don't wanna use Sky-High in that way, that's all."

Flint: "Whatever, you're just too ashamed, admit it."

Sky: "(!) So what if am! I don't know what to say to her! (blushes) I… I wouldn't like it if she… gets mad or anything. It would be really bad for the relationship."

Flint: "She says hi when she sees you and smiles your way, which is good, but how is that a relationship?"

Sky: "(!-!-!-!) Listen to me, dice-head…!"

Flint: "Sky-sama, look!"

Flnt noticed a disturbance. When Sky looked at the other side of the street, he saw a few other girls with same uniforms approach Keira. They greeted each other, exchanged small talk, then Keira packed her things and they all left the caffee.

Sky: "Oh, rusts and buckets! She's on the move!"

Flint: "She's headed for the school! (transforms into a skateboard) Quick, I'll get us out of here."

Sky: "You're a life-saver, Flint."

Sky boarded Flint and let him drive him out, this time really heading for the school-grounds.

Before she got out of sight, Sky glanced in Keira's direction one last time and spoke his thoughts out loud.

Sky: "Okay… Tomorrow, for sure."

Flint: "You said the last time."

Right before the school, another student was on his way. He was using a bicycle as a matter of transport. He was the same age as Sky, but was wearing glasses and had messy, dark hair and brown eyes. He wore a uniform of the school, which was in fact an entirely blue shirt with long sleeves and a white collar.

Sky, on Flint-bord, was catching up to him a few dozen meters behind.

Sky: "Hey… Isn't that Toby?"

Flint: "I believe it is."

Sky: "Let's go greet him. Oi, Toby!"

The student glanced back to see who was calling him, and saw Sky approaching fast. Flint soon overtook Toby's bicycle and him and Sky were now moving side-by side.

Sky: "Morning, Toby."

(Note: none of the Toby's sentences have typos; he's just a stutterer)

Toby: "G-g-g-good m-m-m-m-m-morning, Sky-k-k-kun. How di-di-di-did it g-g-g-go with confessing to K-K-K-K-Keira today?"

Sky: "Ehm, not as well, but I'll get it right next time for sure."

Toby: "Why d-d-d-d-don't you just t-t-t-t-talk to K-K-K-K-Keira-chan when you see her in p-p-p-pers-"

Sky(narrator): "That's a colleague of mine, Toby. He's about as an odd case as I am. He stutters a lot, so you have to be patient with what he has to say. It's suposed to be some kind of mental illness, but everyone is too polite to ask him what it is exactly. But he is a cool guy, really. An A-grade student, better than me at any rate, with a strong spirit and a prosperous personality. He might not know it yet, that trully is Sky-High what he's living with, an unbreakable will. Wish everyone else saw it the same way."

Toby: "- and t-t-t-t-talk with her about uhm… Ab-b-b-b-b-bout…"

Sky: "I wish it was that simple, really, but I know what you mean. I guess I'm just not ready for it. (accelerates) Well then, stay out of trouble."

Toby: "See you in c-c-c-c-class today!"

They waved goodbye to each other. And Sky continued onwards, Flint's board-mode clearly outracing Toby's bike.

Meanwhile, in front of the school…

Sourand Dueling High and Engineering Instinute, or simply Sourand High, takes the shape of a regular shcool of it's time. And by "regular" in this time period, I mean a massive, park-sized complex of buildings stretched out and over like abstract architecture, with a great variety of institutes scattered around a great terrain that almost looked like a theme-park. At least the enterance of the school still retained the characteristics of your familiar school design, with a large front yard and a massive building with a clocktower that was encasing the entire rest of the complex like a huge wall. The front-yard was, as a result, quite large, friendly, with streams and small portions of grasslands, so it looked in a way like a park.

In short, it was a complex unrivaled by most other schools in the region, with the exception of those in Heartland perhaps.

A certain girl was awestruck when she beholded the entire institution at the enterance. She was so astonished, it was like watching the Great Wall of China. Her cute expression overwhelmed all other traits.

The girl was 16 years old, she had lime-green eyes and short, orange hair tied in twin-tails. She wore an identical version of a school uniform as Keira did previously. She was also holding a school-purse of sorts.

Her name was Enlil.

Enlil: "Amazing… I never thought they had schools this large, it must be an incredible view in there. I can't help it but to be excited on my first day here. I hope… (hangs head) I hope people here are all nice as well."

But, her feeling of awe aside, a moment of discomfort just followed. From her purse, what appeared to be ripples of dark mist spew fort.

She gasped.

Enlil looked at her purse, and watched the eerie darkness crawl about. It was only an ethereal existence, an aura, so only she could see it. It's presence made her uncomfortable, but she didn't seem unfamiliar with it. Rather, she was observing it like an unwanted ghost-relative.

Enlil: "No… No, please… I will definitely find friends on my own here! Please don't come!"

The eerie mist vanished, and she sighed in relief, holding her chest and calming her racing heart within.

Just then, another shock occured as Sky suddenly charged through there, at such a speed it brought up a powerful gust.

Enlil: "WAAAAH!"

Sky: "Sorry!"

At the speed of a bullet, Sky came all the way to school's enterance, and even performed a flip in order to skip all of the stairs leading up. That's when he broke suddenly, and Flint transformed into his usual self.

Sky: "Phew, what a ride. (thumbs-up) I feel Sky-High already."

Flint: "Maybe next time, you can feel Sky-High afoot."

!

Once inside, Sky proceeded to his locker and opened it.

Sky: "This again."

He took out an item: a hanging uniform shirt, of the same style as Toby's: entirely blue and thucky. Sky put his own jacket off, and put on his uniform, apparently, much to his dislike.

Sky: "Geez, those countries without a dress-code school system sure are lucky. This thing's scratchy, and smelly, and pocketless, and messy."

Flint: "Serves you right for not maintaining your clothing properly."

Sky: "I'm more comfortable in my own rags, is that so bad?"

Right after closing his locker, Flint signaled him again.

Flint: "Sky-sama, a word please."

Sky kneeled down to listen carefully to his small mechanical friend.

Sky: "Yes, what is it?"

Flint: "I didn't want to disturb your thoughts or anything, Sky-sama… But when we entered the school… I think I registered a faint Number signal."

Sky: "A Number? Here?"

Sky(narrator): "Oh right, just recently, I became a Numbers Hunter as well. Flint here has special sensors that detect Number's presence. Little did I know this was about to become my first real hunt in weeks, so basically both me and Flint were still starting out."

Flint: "That's right, it became hot as soon as we entered the school grounds. The signal is still faint, though, so I don't think anyone has detected it yet. But I'm a little concerned, the school's huge, if there is a Number here, then it could be held by anyone."

Sky: "Uhm, Flint, it's not that I don't trust you or anything, but… you remember what your last 'faint signal' was?"

Flint: "Heh? What do you mean?"

Sky: "You know… I was out getting eats, you said there was a Number nearby, we followed your senses, got into a junkyard, made a whole mess out of my clothes and stuff, and after a three-hour search, what did we discover? (-_-) You were picking up a signal from an old '95 radio box."

Flint: "(!) It's not my fault someone forgot to take out the batteries on that thing! You'd make the same mistake, Sky-sama baka!"

Sky: "Stop using 'sama' and 'baka' in the same sentence!"

Flint: "Okay, okay, I made a mistake back then, but that doesn't mean this signal is baloney as well."

Sky: "Well, can you be a little more precise?"

Flint: "Well… I know the signal came from within the 3 mile radius."

Sky: "(hangs head) Eh? (-_-) Why can't you be more precise than that, you old alarm clock?"

Flint: "I'm doing my best! Stop putting me under! At least I try!"

Sky: "HEH? (picks Flint up) You mean to say I don't do my part?"

Flint: "I don't mean to say anything. But maybe if you weren't so selective on your mood, you'd already have confessed to Keira-chan!"

Sky: "Listen, toaster-brain, you keep Keira-chan out of this! She's a very…"

And then, from behind him…

Keira: "What about me?"

Sky: "(O_O) GH!"

Sky looked behind him, still holding Flint like he was about to disassemble him. How surprised he was to see Keira standing behind him, blinking in confusion. Sky's expression, on the other hand, made him look like he was in the middle of swallowing a wood-log. It was an embarrasing moment for him.

Sky: "AG-AG- K-Keira-san? (tries to smile) 'Morning! Nice weather today, right?"

Fortunately for him, she didn't notice anything unusual. She just smiled.

Keira: "Good morning, Sky-kun. (to Flint) How's our little mascot toady?"

Flint: "I'm not a mascot, with all due respect."

Keira: "Sorry about that, Flint-chi."

That kind of smile would make even a robot blush…

Flint: "Uhm… Oh well, no one's perfect."

Keira: "Say, Sky… What was it you were saying about me earlier?"

Sky: "(blushes) Errr, I, ehm… I was just saying what a nice person you are, that's all."

Keira: "(giggles) Thanks, but you know… it's not polite to talk about other people behind their back."

Sky: "Ahm, right, I'm sorry about that."

Keira: "I'm just kidding. Thanks for the compliment, stuff like that helps me make it through the day. Anyway, I have classes now. (rushes) I'll see you around, okay?"

She waved goodbye, in a normal fashion, as she advanced away. Sky also waved back, but in a more… "melting snowman" kind of way.

Sky: "Right… Bye now…"

Flint: "That was a smooth ride."

Sky: "Shut up. And for future record, you're a mascot."

Flint: "When did I agree to that?"

Sky: "If she says you're a mascot, then you are one. If she calls you a monkey, you'll eat a a banana, understood!"

Flint: "Now you're just talking nonsense. By the way, don't we have classes as well?"

Sky: "(realizes) … Rust and buckets, you're right! (closes locker, then rushes) I promised Sagawa to prepare the classroom for the construction excercises!"

And so, he rushed into his own classes, a regular beginning of the day.

!

Meanwhile, in a classroom on the floor beneath…

Students were all sitting on their places, except for one, the pretty girl with twin-tails from before, who was standing before the whole class. Her name was written on the bord behind her: Enlil Hizuki.

Teacher: "Attention, class, we have a new student joining us today. Treat her with respect."

They were observing the new girl, some with awe, others in confusion, waiting for the new girl to make a statement herself. The girl was shaking in nervousness, and blushing a little. The act was obviously a little embarrassing to her.

Enlil: "Uhm… My name is Hizuki Enlil, and I'm… pleased to meet you all. (bows) Please… take a good care of me."

After that, she shily made her way to the nearest possible empty spot. A few boys were still looking at her, only she could not decipher the meaning behind their looks.

Teacher: "Well then, let us begin…"

Enlil sighed in relief as she took out her usual note-set.

Enlil: "There sure is a lot of people here. I wonder if… If I'll be able to make friends here, with all these strangers. I shouldn't have made such a fuss about it."

Just then, as the teacher was still holding her class, Enlil once again had a discomfortable moment: that eerie darkness that was flowing out of her purse earlier today returned, again as a dark aura of sorts. Apparently, she was the only one who noticed it, but it sure frightened her. She was afraid to reach into her purse simply because the aura was there.

Enlil: "No… Not here, not now… Please… "

She thought she was whispering…

Enlil: "Please stop!"

… but apparently the entire rest of the room heard her as well. The teacher thought she was referring to her lecture, and so she paused for a minute. The entire rest of the class was looking at her, and she seemed as frightened as if she'd seen a ghost. By the time she noticed what the big deal was, she was already the central figure. She was deeply embarrassed, so she gasped.

Enlil: "I'm sorry, I… I'm deeply sorry."

Teacher: "I know the lecture is hard, so if you can't understand something, please raise your hand and ask properly."

Enlil: "Uhm… I will."

The lecture continued as usual, without scenes. Enlil could no longer see the dark mist crawling out, although the feeling of embarrasment has already left her at great discomfort, a cold feeling that rushed through her blood. No one seemed to make a big fuss about her recent scene…

… But there was a tall girl in the back seat, without books or notes on her spot, and chewing a toothpick. She didn't seem friendly. A short description: narrow eyes, messy, long, brunette hair tied in a ponytail, with one streak of hair covering her right eye, and the usual uniform stained with various tatoo-looking black markings.

She looked over to Enlil… and grinned.

!

After the class, in the caffeteria…

The lunch-room of the Sourand High looks in every aspect like a cross between your everyday caffeteria and a humble restaurant. No detailed description is required.

Enlil got her lunch on a pladder, what appeared to be a bowl of rice with peas, a bowl of soup and a soda. She was aiming for a free spot to sit, but she was still concerned about her scene earlier more than anything else at the moment.

Enlil: "That was a disaster earlier, I made a fool out of myself on my first day."

Just as she taught things could't get worse…

?.?.?: "Oi, Twin-Tails."

For some reason, she knew that was someone calling out to her. As she turned around, she could see the toothpick girl from before leaning against the wall, only she didn't realize it was her calling out to her.

Enlil: "Was someone… Calling me?"

As she walked ahead, she passed by the toothpick-girl…

And she tripped her with her foot, causing Enlil to fall down and drop her pladder.

Enlil: "WAH! (falls)"

It was quite a mess, barely a grain of food remained in the bowls. The rice and the soup got spilled all across the floor, and Enlil was just pulling herself up, holding her head.

Enlil: "… That hurt. What happened?"

?.?.?: "Oi, Snaps, you."

Enlil: "What?"

She looked up, and saw the grumbly face of the toothpick girl. The kind of face she was having, you'd pretty soon forget her gender. This rebel-student, named Bristy, was anything but a sight for soar eyes. Worse yet, she was accompanied by two more girls, both sharing a similar sinister expression: the one on her left had a round, blonde haircut with a spread tail, and the one on her right simple long dark hair with red highlights.

Bristy: "Your fall made my foot dirty. I think you should apologize."

Enlil: "I… I'm sorry."

On that note, Bristy burst into laughter (not in a good way). Seconds after that, the other two girls joined in.

Bristy: "AHAHAHAHAHAHA, did you hear that? The skum actually apologized! What a worm-dog."

Enlil: "Why are you… (looks at her pladder, almost crying) What have you done, my today's lunch… I already payed for it, how am I supposed to make it through the day without…"

Bristy: "You have bigger problems right now, Twin-Tails."

Enlil looked up again, and saw Bristy bent down to look her into the eyes. The poor girl was this close to burst into tears, and Bristy just gave her a glare like an evil queen (seriously, a few Fiend-type monsters would seem more friendly)

Bristy: "You're new, aren't you? My name's Bristy, and starting today, I'm going to be your worst nightmare, understood?"

Enlil: "But…Why? What did I do to…?"

Bristy: "We have a thing here called 'first impression'. And you, Twin-tails, you left a really lame first impression today, ergo the laws of nature allow us to pick on you."

That said, Bristy stepped on what was left of Enlil's spoiled lunch and proceeded to squash it before her eyes.

Ever thought bullying was bad? Try being bullied by a girl bully. Enlil felt hopeless at the moment…

And like that, the dark mist from her pocket started to spill out again.

Enlil: "No… No, please, stop it!"

Meanwhile, Sky was also looking for a place to sit on, carrying an identical pladder of food, and with Flint following next to his feet, trying to avoid stained places.

Flint: "Ewww, I hate this place, I always feel like there's something on my catterpillars, Sky-sama."

That's when Sky suddenly stopped walking…

Flint: "What's the matter?"

Sky: "Look."

… for he saw the scene occuring with Enlil and Bristy. Right now, she and her "bodyguards" were just cackling like witches while Enlil was still kneeling before them.

Flint performed a quick scan. He immediatelly recognized Bristy and her two followers: Edith, and Loxy.

Flint: "Looks like Bristy is out for it again."

Sky: "I can't believe people can just stand aside and watch."

Flint: "I don't recognize the other one, Sky-sama."

Sky: "Whatever, it's against my rule to stand idly by. Hold this!"

He tossed his pladder to Flint before marching forward…

… apparently forgetting that the pladder was larger than the guy he tossed it to.

Flint: "OI! Wait a sec! (grabbs it) Waaah… Oooh… Eeeehhh! (stabilizes) Phew. What am I, a cup-holder?"

For some reason, Enlil did not cry. At least, she was trying not to. Instead of looking at her bully, she insisted on holding her head instead, like someone was screaming into her ear at the time.

Enlil: "No, don't… I don't want to…"

Bristy: "What's the matter? So afraid you lost your mind? Hehahahahahaha…"

That's when Sky approached.

Sky: "You have nothing better to do, Bristy?"

Bristy: "(notices Sky) Huh?"

After giving her an angry glare, Sky kneeled down and helped Enlil up.

Sky: "Are you okay?"

Enlil: "I…"

Sky: "Don't be afraid. Here, let me help you."

The poor girl was still completely red in face because she had to supress all the tears, and having a boy help her up felt a bit embarrasing. Still, it was better than being yelled at by Bristy.

Sky: "There, all better?"

Enlil: "I am, but… my lunch…"

Sky: "Huh? (looks at the mess) Oh, that. That is unfortunate. Let's see, that's one bowl of…"

About that time, Flint rolled by, carying Sky's pladder in a similar fashion how the infamous Atlas is depicted carrying the world on his back.

Sky: "Hey, I got it."

He picked up his pladder, much to Flint's relief, and passed it over to Enlil.

Sky: "Here, take mine. It's the same menu."

Enlil: "What? But… I couldn't…"

Sky: "I insist. I can withstand hunger better than most people. It's my Sky-High that keeps me running. Go on, take it."

Hesitating, Enlil took the pladder of Sky's hands, and looked at his face. He was smiling, in a good way. In return, she blushed… a lot.

Enlil: "What a kind person… Th-thank you very much."

But the moment was broken all the sudden, as Enlil… she acted strangely… An image flashed through her mind…

71!

And the next moment, her eyes went wide, and she dropped the pladder again, which Flint managed to catch… again.

Enlil: "Excuse me!"

She ran away, out of the lunch-room, as if she just remembered something very important, leaving Sky, and pretty much everyone else, confused.

Sky: "What was that… about?"

Bristy: "You trying to look like sme kind of hero, Skydrop?"

Sky then turned his attention to Bristy. He was up for an argument.

Sky: "I could ask you the same. What's up with you and your squad of trolls, molesting everyone else as soon as you grab the chance?"

Bristy: "What I do with those weaker than me is none of your concern."

Sky: "It is if people get hurt! I know flunking first year was hard for you, but that's no excuse for taking it out on others!"

(according to a rumor, Bristy flunked the first year on purpose just so she could be the tallest one in class and bully others easily)

Bristy: "Flunking the year did not fall all that hard on me, it's all sticks and stones."

Sky: "It's sharp sticks and heavy stones to that girl. How can you be happy with causing all this trouble? That's… completely dishonorable!"

Bristy: "AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, yes, there it is, the D and H word. You're more of a fool than that poor soul, mister Honorable Duelist."

Flint: "Now wait a sec! There's nothing wrong with being honorable like Sky-sama! You have no right to talk that way!"

Bristy: "Some words comming from a walking toaster. You're both pathetic! You think this is some romance manga, where things like honor, pride and spirit make a difference?"

Sky: "Try being a duelist yourself and you'll see the difference! Or are you only too much of a coward to try?"

For some reason, this sentence picked a nerve on Bristy.

Bristy: "Oh no, don't go there. (spits the toothpick) This conversation is over. Edith, Loxy, we're leaving."

She was reffering to the two girls that were constantly following her. Like that, they all left the scene, leaving Sky in the middle of the mess.

Sky: "I only wish it was."

Flint: "We better not concern ourselves with that, Sky-sama."

Sky: "I am concerned, that's the problem. About both Bristy and the one she was molesting. I don't want her to make any more trouble, but… in a way, I kinda feel bad for her. She wasn't like that when we both first started out as freshmen one year ago."

Flint: "Right, I remember you telling me… She used to be a duelist like yourself, but gave up on it when she kept on loosing too many times. Was that it?"

Sky: "Yeah… But this other girl… I wonder why she ran like that?"

!

Enlil locked herself up in the girl's restroom. She was kneeling in a fetal pose in the corner, whimpering. It was only a miracle that she wasn't crying. She was just holding her head, shiverring like there was a ghost in the room.

Enlil: "Again… It's always like this, every single time… Why is everyone so mean to me? I never do anything wrong, and they just keep on… They just…"

In a way, there was.

Those dark tendrills kept on rising, a dark essence that was spreading like a cloud of germs, like a living mist. They were emerging from a certain spot near the sinks, their presence alerting Enlil even more.

A hollow voice aired through her ears. Hard to believe it, but that sinister voice was actually female!

"You saw the truth of men. They have forgotten values of heart and spirit, turning against each other and harming their own kind. As you are now, you cannot survive in such a heartless world."

The more the thing talked, the more frightened Enlil's face became.

"You need my power to overlay your sweet nature, an agressive state that can withstand their cruelty. Use me. Let the Number take hold."

Enlil: "No, wait, not yet… That person was just mean, but…"

Enlil had a flashback of Sky's aid in the mayhem.

Enlil: "… That other person was not mean at all. I don't want… I don't want to give up on hope just yet! Please, I beg of you… I will never show weakness again!"

That said, the tendrils withdrew and vanished.

Enlil sighed in relief.

Their starting point… was a card.

!

A few minutes later, Enlil got out of the bathroom, carrying a small deck-box in her hand. There was something in there that she both respected and feared. She couldn't take her eyes of it.

But, as soon as she stepped out…

Bristy: "Oi, Twin-Tails."

… There was Bristy, waiting for her in the lobby. There was no one else there. Naturally, this startled her, but Bristy showed no signs of aggression.

Enlil: "You… Don't tell me… Am I…?"

Bristy: "Don't worry, I'm not here to pipsqueak you now."

Enlil: "You're… not?"

Oddly enough, Bristy actually smiled at her in a modest sense.

Bristy: "Hey, look, I'm sorry about what happened before. I guess I kinda went too far. I wanna make it up for it. As a small token of my sincere apologies, I'll let you see something awesome."

Enlil: "What?"

Bristy: "(points up) Up on the roof. Care to chek it out?"

Enlil: "But… The class is about to…"

Bristy: "Come on, I insist. It won't be long."

That's when Bristy took Enlil's free hand started pulling her, thus leading the way. Enlil could not figure out how a person like that suddenly changed her personality within the past few minutes, but she didn't seem to mind.

Enlil: "Perhaps… She's not a bad person after all…"

What she didn't see was Bristy's sinister grin as she was leading her on.

!

Bristy lead Enlil up on the roof of the school, just as she promised. She lead her up the stairs, then opened the door for her that was leading into the open air.

Enlil saw a beautiful sight on the rooftop: it was a truly wide place, a large ground of flat concrete bordered by a long and tall fence of metal nets.

Enlil smiled and gasped on the sight. As she got closer to the net-fence, she observed the entire surrounding: in her sight, almost all of Sourand completely covered the horizon, and the city flourished in all it's colors, lively and breathing. The sight was so great Enlil completely forgot it was only a mere school she was in, but it felt like the top of the world.

Enlil: "Amazing! I can see the whole city from up here!"

Bristy remained by the door that lead back down into the corridor, and the following sentence… she spoke with a fake smile. Enlil was way to busy observing the horizon to notice what she was doing.

Bristy: "So, you like it?"

Enlil: "It's beautiful! I wonder why no one ever comes here? It must be so nice, having a private spot like this, on the fresh air. The breeze here feels so sweet it's…"

SLAM!

Enlil: "Huh?"

When Enlil turned around to see what Bristy was doing, she saw her holding the doorknob of the only exit, and the doors were sealed shut. She glared back at Enlil… this time with the familiar sinister grin.

Enlil: "What… happened there, Bristy?"

Bristy: "(grinning) The door just got locked."

Enlil: "What did you say?"

Enlil was a bit terrified on hearing that. Appart from that door, there was absolutely no exit point on the rooftop, not even a fire-escape. She immediatelly returned to the door and tried to open it by pulling the doorknob. It was useless. All along, Bristy only observed and cackled silently.

Enlil: "How can this be? The spot is great, but we can't remain here forever, we have classes comming up!"

Bristy: "That's the whole point… you stupid Twin-tail!"

Enlil: "What?"

Enlil looked again at the person for whoom she believed had a change of heart. Bristy once again had an awful sinister grin on her face, almost like a vampire. This started to trully horrify the poor girl.

Enlil: "What do you mean?"

Bristy: "Gosh, you're so naive! Did you honestly think for a second I changed my mind of you? My promise of making your life a living hell still stands!"

Enlil partially looked at her in horror, terrified of her words, and partially tried to open the door in vain.

Bristy: "It's useless. The reason why that door won't open for you is because I have two sidekicks blocking it from the other side."

Indeed, Bristy's usual two goons/friends, Loxy and Edith, were standing on the other side of the door, holding the doorknob from moving. Much like Bristy, they found this hilarious.

Enlil: "I don't understand, why did you bring me here?"

Bristy: "To make you miserable, of course. This entire little trip was only one big prank to get you isolated here with me."

Enlil: "But… why?"

Bristy: "Because I'm an expert bully, and you're an easy target, that's why."

Enlil: "But I'm…"

Bristy: "Save it. Unfortunately for you, I study my targets carefully, that's why I can pick the best method of picking on someone. Someone like you, for example, would certainly not stand to miss out class, would it?"

Enlil: "What did you say? (still trying to open the door) You did all this to make me skip class?"

Bristy: "Oh, you mean to tell me that's not terrifying you one bit? That awful feeling of making a terrible first impression on your very first day? Yelling out during class, making a mess in the hall, skipping classes altogether, I can already hear your file growing."

She couldn't deny it. Having to put up with something Enlil didn't do on purpose and get a on the black list of the teachers for the wrong reason was something that froze the blood in her veins instantly. She could barely breathe.

Bristy: "See? I knew I hit the right spot. In my book, if you stand out too much, you get the boot."

Enlil: "But… If you keep me up here… wouldn't that mean you'll be skipping classes as well?"

Bristy: "My, yes it does. Except I'm not such a crybaby student like yourself! I don't mind ditching school like this, I have no impression to make on the teachers whatsoever! You, on the other hand… Don't want them to look down to you, do you? Let this be a lesson for you!"

Enlil: "No! (keeps shaking the knob) Let me in! Let me back in, please! I can't afford to miss out like this, I just can't!"

She was shaking the doorknob and turning it over and over, up to the point where her hands started to hurt. This caused a lot of noise which only agitated Bristy even more.

Bristy: "Would you stop with all the CLINGING!"

That's when Bristy turned on the offensive. She pushed Enlil, and she fell hard on the ground, before her new nemesis. In the force of the push, Enlil dropped her deck box, which fell close to Bristy's feet.

Bristy: "Not comfortable, are we? Better get used to it, 'cause you and I will keep each other company for a long time now."

Enlil: "Why… Why are you doing this? I thought you were a nice person, I actually thought we could be friends…"

Bristy: "AHAHAHAHA! Friends? You and me, really? You know that's not possible, you're not in the position to make such an argument."

I don't have to mention how Enlil was trying not to cry, even though she so much wanted to.

Enlil: "But why… Why are you so mean to me? I never did anything to you."

Bristy: "On the contrary. You're just the kind of person I can't stand: a goody-girl that believes the whole world should be made out of sugar and rainbows!"

Enlil: "But I…"

Bristy: "Such freaks that can't see the clear picture… They just make me sick!"

As bristy paced forward, she accidentally kicked the deck box by her feet. She was curious about the object which she looked down at. The box was made of solid plastic, and had a few kitty and flower stickers on it's surface.

Bristy: "What is this? (picks up the box)"

Enlil: "No… My deck, that's…"

Bristy: "(grins) Well, well, well, what have we here? Looks like things are even worse than I though."

Enlil: "Please… Give that back."

Bristy: "I think not!"

She threw the deck-box with brute force right beneath her own feet, almost breaking it. The sight made Enlil gasp, which she tried to supress with her palm.

Bristy: "Another thing I cannot stand… are you duelists!"

That said, she put her foot up… and stomped the deck box. Only by a miracle did it remain in one piece, but Enlil, who kept surpressing her tears up until now, started to cry.

Enlil: "NOO!"

Bristy: "You know why I hate your kind so much? (squash…) It's because of what you did to the world! (stomp, stomp)"

Enlil was trying to grasp the deck-box from the ground, but Bristy kept stepping on it like it was a large bug, causing a large crack on it's surface with each blow. Enlil felt so powerless…

Bristy: "It used to be the law of the strongest! (stomp) Now it's a world of morons that settle everything with their lousy duels! (stomp) And people like me that never had a chance to get a fine deck never get a say in it!"

That's when Bristy kicked the box over to Enlil. The deck was fine, but the box was completely wrecked, so all her cards spilled forth and covered most of the floor before her. She could only tremble in horror. To think someone was capable of doing such a thing…

Enlil: "What have you done… This deck is my life… All my hopes and dreams, why…"

Bristy: "Oh, boo-freaking-hoo."

That's when Bristy did the unthinkable… and stomped the card nearest to her foot.

Enlil's gasp was so great she suddenly lost her strength to keep her head up. She hung it and glared down, her tears spilling all over her deck, and her hands shaking.

Bristy: "What's the matter? You finally gonna cry? Come on, entertain me, cry, cry you weakling!"

Enlil did cry, but she just managed to supress her voice from crying out loud. The whole evet was just too much for her…

Just then, a certain card started to spill forth a dark mist.

There was that gloomy voice again.

"Use me. Let the Number take over…"

Enlil: "… I don't care anymore. I really don't. I can't take it anymore."

The mist intensified, and covered the ground around her. Bristy could not see this mist nor hear the voice, so she thought Enlil was talking to herself.

Enlil: "If this is what the world is like... I really don't want to live in it. Do it. Do whatever you want, I won't resist."

That's when the mist climbed up Enlil's feet and covered her entire body, like a cloak of dark aura.

Worse yet, there was a sudden energy burst, and without even flinching, Enlil was surrounded by it, a power not from this world.

Odd things started to happen: like by magic, her enitre deck reassembled into an ordinate form and came into her hand, an event that pretty much confused Bristy.

Her tears suddenly dried… and her eyes turned hollow and narrow…

And most notably, there was a shining marking on her left shoulder: it looked like a dark blue set of lines and dots…

… forming the number 71.

Bristy: "Huh? How did you do that? Hey, don't mess with me, unders-"

Enlil: "You had your chance to run."

Bristy: "What?"

A little note: Enlil did not sound like her usual innocent, cuty-girl self. This time, her own voice was overcome by that gloomy voice that was talking to her, making her sound like she was possessed (a very correct comparison).

Enlil slowly got up, without lifting her head.

Enlil: "You wanted to hear me cry? Well… How about we make you cry first?"

Until now: she lifted her face and glared at Bristy.

Something was definitely not right, regardless of the sudden appearance of the dark aura and the number-resembling marking… Her eyes were much darker now, highlightened by deep shadows under them. Her expression… it was this horrible, awful, evil grin, much more frightening than that of Bristy. Like her, she giggled in a sinister fashion.

Bristy: "What kind of trick are you trying to pull? (BURST) BAAH!"

Out of nowhere, and without warning, Bristy was pushed and blown aside by what appeared to be an overwhelming windburst. She fell down in the same instant, like she was hit by a bull. The weather was sunny, without a cloud in the sky, there was no clue where that sudden gust came from.

Bristy: "What was that? (BURST) AAAAH!"

Another burst of sharp wind, this one hitting her right in the right cheek, so it was really like a slap. She collapsed immediatelly.

Enlil, or whatever it was that possessed her at the moment, simply laughed at the sight. She was still speaking by using that gloomy voice as a background.

Enlil: "Not comfortable, are we? Better get used to it, because you and I will keep each other company for a long time now."

In synch with the sudden bursts of wind, Enlil moved her hand accordingly. Bristy didn't even get to get up on her knees, and another burst of wind just pushed her sideways. Moments later, another one moved her backwards. Simple movement became a dificult task for her, it was like the air itself turned into a minefield.

Bristy: "What the… Who the heck are you?"

Enlil, smiling… no, more like laughing maniacally, replied:

Enlil: "I am but a shell. The voice of Number 71."

She pointed her hand at Bristy, and caused another powerful windburst…

!

Meanwhile, in the classes below…

Sky's current class, Dueling Development, had just begun. Sky was sitting in the front row, but even so, he was barely paying attention, so he focused on taking noties rather than listen on what the professor was really saying. He was probably the only student left that took down notes the old fashioned way, with pen and paper, as everyone else were using computers and some kind of handy holo-screens.

Flint was attached to his backpack for that while, acting like a lifeless accessorry.

At least, he was trying to, but then…

Flint's antenna atop of his head suddenly rose up, and started beeping in a rythmic ressonance.

Flint: "Meep, meep… (wakes up) Heh?"

The following statement, he made so loud the entire class could hear him:

Flint: "WAAAAAAAAAHH! Numbers alert! Numbers alert!"

Much to Sky's discomfort, that call caused quite a scene, forcing the teacher to halt the lecture. It would have been better if Sky's cellphone started to ring, this was, from his perspective, much worse. Everyone was looking at him like he was some kind of deliquent. And Flint kept on jumping and making noise like a meteor was about to strike.

Sky: "(!) GH!"

Flint: "Numbers alert! Numbers alert! There's a-"

Sky covered Flint's mouth the same instance, then tried to cover his guilt with a smile to the teacher, who was anything but amused. Flint was still struggling in his grasp, trying to speak up.

Teacher: "Galen-dono, is that yours?"

Sky: "Uhm… Errr… Kinda, yes."

Teacher: "Shut it down, would you? The class has only begun."

Sky: "Uhm… Yeah, I'd love to, but, I, errr… I must have gotten a call, that must be it."

I don't have to mention the other students were laughing out loud.

Teacher: "Is it important?"

Sky: "(to Flint) Is it? (Flint nods) I may need to take this one."

Teacher: "Very well. (points at the door) If you need to talk, take it outside. You're ruining my lesson."

Sky: "I will… I-I mean, I'm sorry, I truly am."

That said, Sky picked his stuff up (not including Flint, who moved on his own), and went by the door of the classroom, bowing in respect to the teacher along the way.

Teacher: "And if you intend to cause any more trouble, don't bother comming back!"

Sky: "I won't! I'm turly sorry!"

Sky closed the door behind him, and sighed deeply. When he turned to talk to Flint, he had more veins popping up on his forehead than you think was possible.

Sky: "Phew, what a scene… (to Flint) WHAT THE HECK, FLINT? MAKING ME LOOK BAD LIKE THAT? WHAT IS SO IMPORT-"

Flint: "Sky-sama, the Number!"

Sky: "Huh?"

Flint: "I sense a Number nearby! It's the same signal from before, it became active!"

Just like that, he forgot about the fact he was mad and turned serious.

Sky: "What, really? Here? In the school?"

Flint: "There's no mistaking it! Take both my arms if I'm wrong."

Sky: "If the signal became active, can you track it?"

Flint: "In a moment! (tracks, tracks) Hmmmmmmmm… That's weird, I'm getting a clear signal, but it seems to be about 15 feet above our current location."

Sky: "15 feet would equal 2 more floors, so that would mean… (looks at the ceiling) It's on the rooftop?"

Flint: "It's the only possible conclusion, Sky-sama. Do we go after it?"

Sky: "Well I can't go back to Development, that's for sure! Alright, Flint, our first real hunt! Aren't you excited?"

Flint: "Sure am! I must see Sky-sama on the field! But don't undermine the situation for a bit, Sky-sama, this is seriously dangerous."

Sky: "It better be. I've been practicing like a madman! (fingersnips) Okay, let's begin… the Number hunt! Lead the way!"

Flint: "Roger, Sky-sama! (rolls out)"

Flint put his catterpillars into high gear and started moving at a great speed down the hall. Sky followed up at a rapid pace, excited and full of energy…

!

Back on the rooftop…

An odd scene was taking place. The wind was acting crazy, bursts of it came in from all directions at random order at the same speed as an arrow. Bristy, who got caught up in this mess, was tossed around, left and right, like a ragdoll, by some kind of mysterious power as Enlil simply stood there, covered in that weird aura, and grinned.

Bristy barely the chance to get up, and another powerful burst simply overwhelmed her. She looked all beaten up in a matter of moments.

Bristy: "What the heck… Is going on here?"

The next burst of wind pushed her into the closed door, an impact no different than a 10-feet deep fall. Bristy realized she was close to the exit, and started banging the door as soon as she got the chance.

Bristy: "Guys, let me in! Something's wrong!"

The two girls on the other side, wondering what it was, let go of the doorknob in order to let Bristy in.

What they didn't notice was a sudden dark flash covering the doorknob after they let go. It was the same shimmer as the dark mist that covered Enlil.

Bristy kept pulling and pulling, but no matter how hard, the door wouldn't open.

Bristy: "Hey, I said let go!"

Edith: "But we did. What's the matter?"

Bristy: "This thing… Won't… Budge!"

Enlil: "You're wasting time."

Bristy: "What?"

Enlil: "(cackling) You're not going anywhere. Not by a long shot. (points her hand towards Bristy) Time you felt the pain of those you've been putting down all this time."

Angstious, Bristy could not explain, nor like the events occuring around her. Before she knew it, the wind around her suddenly increased speed. It was swirling around her.

In a matter of moments, a whirlwind, a small tornado formad around her, doubtlessly due to Enlil's influence. It picked her up, then tossed her sideways, and into the metallic fence that served as the rooftop's border. The impact was so great that the fence bent on the outside, leaving an imprint.

!

Edith and Loxy could hear Bristy's whimps from the other side, unaware what kind of force could cause such a painful event.

Edith: "What are you waiting for, open it up!"

Loxy tried to, but no matter how hard she pulled, the doorknob remained stiff and the door wouldn't open. That dark mist had it glued together.

Loxy: "It won't open!"

Edith: "What do you mean? Hurry up and get Bristy out of there!"

It was about then that Sky and Flint came running from the stairway of the corridor. Sky saw Edith and Loxy struggling about the lock atop of the stairs, and instantly realized something was afoot.

Sky: "This way!"

Him and Flint both went up the stairs, where they met up with the girls, both of which looked terrified with the situation.

Loxy: "What are you doing here?"

Sky: "Nevermind that, what is going on?"

Edith: "We don't know. Something's wrong out there, and Bristy, she's…"

Sky: "Alright, stand aside!"

That's when Sky grabbed the doorknob, and started pulling it. He made no more progress in opening it than any of the girls before, except maybe for the fact he tried leaning his foot against the door. He almost fell down the stairs when his hand slipped, but managed to regain his balance before things got way out of hand.

Sky: "No good, it won't open."

Flint: "Is it locked?"

Sky: "There's no lock on these doors, more like it's sealed."

Flint: "Sky-sama, the Number holder is out there, I can sense him. But… With our only access route blocked, I don't see how we're gonna get near it."

Sky: "Ghh… Hmmmmm…"

Sky looked around a bit, much to the girl's confusion, like he was searching for something. He stepped down and got to the bottom of the stairs, still looking around, until he noticed… a window.

Sky: "(smiles) Not all routes, Flint."

!

It was a turn of events, and now it was Bristy who was terrified, even though she hated to admit it. But when she tried to move sideways upon seeing Enlil approaching, she realized… she couldn't. One of her bracelets ended up stuck into the fence like it was thornwire. She could neither move her hand from the spot nor remove the bracelet properly.

Bristy: "Oh no… (panicking) No, no, no, come on!"

Enlil: "Having problems?"

Bristy gulped when she saw Enlil approach. Enlil still had that sinister grin on her face, and the mark of 71 was still glowing on her shoulder.

Bristy: "Alright, I get your point, now leave me alone, you freak!"

Enlil: "Like you were going to leave me alone? You cannot be trusted, force is the only thing you and the rest of this heartless world respond to."

She put her hand up, pointing it into the sky.

Enlil: "The world shall be purged with divine winds."

Bristy: "What divine winds?"

Bristy was almost too afraid of looking up to see what she was conjuring. But when she did, she saw the sky above them suddenly turning dark and cloudy.

Enlil: "Winds carry clouds, and clouds bring storms. Do you know what happens to a human body when hit by lightning, while attached to a perfect wire-net conductor?"

Bristy: "N-no…"

Enlil: "Then… Let us find out."

Out of nowhere, a dark storm was forming above them…

!

Thunder crashed in the distance, and some kind of weird energy impulse just shortwired the entire school, creating a massive blackout. Lights, computers, and most other devices simply shut down.

This includes the classrooms. All student's computers simply turned off, much to their dismay.

"Hey, what the…?"

"Power's down?"

"My entire log for today is gone!"

"Hey, look outside!"

Those that did so saw the shrouds of a great, dark cloud in the sky, enveloping the entire school.

!

Students on the outside were looking skywards, their sight directed at the Sourand High rooftop. There were two things they were observing. First:

"When did the sky turn so dark?"

"A storm? In bright daylight?"

"Where did it come from?"

And second, after a while of searching…

"… Hm? Hey, look, there's someone climbing up the walls!"

With many gasps and bug-eyed stares, the students noticed a very special person trying to climb up the school walls, mimicking Spiderman's skills in a way.

"What is he doing?"

"Has he gone mad?"

"Is that a student?"

Those who had recording devices with a zoom function used them to get a closer look at the person. How surprised they were to see a Sourand uniform and a small robot attached to the back of the student that was climbing.

"Hey! Isn't that Sky?"

"The robot guy? What is he doing?"

"He's gonna get himself killed!"

Moments ago, Sky got out through one of the windows he found in the coridor, and then proceeded to this act: he was wall-sneaking and wall-climbing, using windows, exhaust pipes, beams and anything else he could find in order to keep his footing.

If you think this sounds easy, here's a comparison: the building has 8 floors, and he was about to reach the top!

Flint was tightly holding to his shoulders, observing the spinning ground deep, deep below them like a frightened kid (who wouldn't).

Sky: "I hear we… (climb) brought up… (climb) the wrong kind of attention."

Flint: "(scared for life) Sky-sama, whatever you do, don't look down! If we fall from this heights, we'll die for sure!"

Sky: "You think I'm unaware of that? Keep me posted, pretend it's a rock-climbing attraction."

Flint: "Right… a rock-climbing attraction on 100 feet above sea-level with bristling winds slapping us silly! Whatever made you do such a thing?"

Sky: "If what you told me about the Numbers was true, it would be really bad if we left this alone. But if the Number thinks we'll back down due to a little heights…"

Flint: "A LITTLE?"

Sky: "… it might as well think again. I'll hunt that thing with pride!"

He reached the edge of the wired fence on the rooftop. That surface was much easier to grab and hold than the edgeless concrete.

Sky: "Alright, the rest here is smooth-sailing. (proceeds) Here goes: spirit rising!"

Enlil was still holding her hand up, apparently awaiting a thunderbolt to come down, much to Bristy's horror…

Bristy: "No… please wait!"

Enlil: "It's useless to negotiate. You will…!"

… right when Sky made a final leap into the solid ground.

Sky: "Sky-High!"

Enlil: "Huh?"

Bristy: "What the!"

After a difficult climb, Sky finally reached the top of the building, and got a solid surface under his feet. His sudden arrival sure surprised the two girls that were there.

Sky: "Phew, that wasn't so bad."

Flint was so stiff in fear he fell right off Sky's shoudler. He didn't move at all, he just fell, like a statue.

Sky: "Come on, pull youself together."

Flint: "R-r-roger…"

Sky: "So now, where is this Number?"

Sky's first sight was:

Bristy stuck on the fence.

Sky: "HEH? B-B-Bristy?"

Bristy: "What are you nimrods doing here?"

Sky: "(O.o) Wait, Bristy's the Number holder? Well that fits."

Flint perfrmed a quick scan of her in his POV, but all his sensors and detectors reacted normally, without alerting him of the Number's presence.

Flint: "Negative, Sky-sama. My sensors can't confirm it."

Sky: "Not her, huh? Then who else is- (sees Enlil) HEH?"

Enlil seems to have cooled down on the sight of Sky. She spoke with the normal voice and the dark aura has apparently left her presence, this includes restoring her usual face expression.

Enlil: "You are… That boy from before?"

Sky: "You? You, errrr… What are you doing here?"

Flint scanned her as well, running pixels of dana from top to bottom. At one point, he detected the mark of 71 on her left shoudler, and all the sudden his scanners started to beep and meep like crazy.

Flint: "Aha! Number located!"

Sky: "What? Wait, she? Really?"

Flint: "No doubt. That girl there is holding a Number."

Sky: "I can't believe it. (to Enlil) Uhm, you, errr… you okay there?"

Flint: "(drops) You ask HER if she's okay?"

Sky: "I'm just trying to be polite. (to Enlil) I didn't properly introduce myself earlier, sorry. My name is Sky. What's yours?"

Enlil blushed when she was asked that. She was so ashamed that she could not even look Sky in the eyes when she replied:

Enlil: "E… Enlil's the name."

Sky: "Enlil, right? You… don't happen to know anything about…"

Bristy: "Oi, Trash-brains! Don't you see what's going on? She's the source of this mess!"

Sky: "(!) I'll deal with you later, after I sort things out with this Number!"

Bristy: "With what? A Number?"

Enlil: "Num… ber…"

That's when the gloomy aura, and the voice, returned in Enlil's presence.

Enlil: "(Number's voice) So, boy… You are aware of my existence, are you?"

Sky: "You're kidding… That's what a Number sounds like?"

Flint: "Sky-sama, the routine!"

Sky: "Uhm, right. (to Enlil) You're a Number, are you not? What are you doing to Enlil?"

Enlil: "(Number's voice) I'm protecting her, what else. I am all she has in this harsh world."

Sky: "Harsh world? What kind of nonsense have you been filling her mind with?"

Flint: "Numbers twist the minds of those they posess. There's no telling what the Number told her."

Sky: "Then we… We must hunt it!"

Just then, a mysterious glow appeared in one of the small boxes on Sky's belt. It was comming from his deck, and he pulled out the card that was causing the glint, in wonder.

Sky: "This is… The light…"

Enlil: "(Number's voice) That light… So, you're holding a Number yourself?"

Sky: "Eh?"

Flint: "Sky-sama, I believe the best bait to lure out Numbers are other Numbers?"

Sky: "It is? In that case… (to Enlil) If you want this Number, you'll have to win it in a duel with me! In return, I demand you let go of the mind you corrupted!"

Enlil: "(Number's voice) How amusing. Fine, I'll have you taste the bitter- (normal voice) No, plase stop! I… I don't wanna duel! This person was very kind to me, I don't want to harm him!"

Sky: "She's resisting? Oi, Enlil, was it?"

Enlil: "Uhm… Yeah."

Sky: "The thing you gave in to is no good at all. And it won't leave until you accept to duel me."

Enlil: "But I…"

Sky: "Trust me! Duel me like you would duel Bristy here, without holding back!"

Bristy: "Hey, I'm right here!"

Sky: "Dare yourself, Sky-High!"

Enlil: "What? Sky-High?"

Bristy: "Pih, again with that nonsense…"

Sky: "I will not let you finish what you started without unless you do so. In order to get back at Bristy, you'll have to get through me!"

Enlil: "You? (looks at Bristy) But this person, she… (Number's voice) You asked for it, then I'll blow you both away in the same breath!"

Enlil, or whatever was posessing her, tossed a small device from her waist, this opening up in mid air. It looked like a frame with a holo-screen, and it attached to the device on her wrist.

She then picked a lens-like device, a yellow D-Gazer, and put it on her left eye, at which point the device on her arm opened up into a proper D-pad model Duel Disk.

Sky: "We got her on the roll! My first hunt, this is so exciting! Come on, Flint!"

Flint: "Roger!"

Flint leaped up…

Sky: "Let's hunt, Sky-High!"

… and transformed in mid-air. His arms clentched close to his torso, and the shoudlers expanded, now revealing 5 slots. Is head turned upsode down, and his catterpillars hid on his back, where the robot opened up and revealed an already prepared deck of cards. In this form, Flint attached himself to the device on Sky's left arm, his now turned head turned towards Sky while the 5-slot contraption pointed the other way.

In short: he turned into a Duel Disk for Sky to use.

Sky: "Duel Disk- set!"

Sky then took another device from his belt, a lens of sorts, which opened up and turned into a device that resembled a solid earphone with a vizor. It had a yellow lens, and Sky put it instatnly over his left eye and ear.

Sky: "D-Gazer- set!"

The surroundings, from their point of view, became full of pixels, and swallowed into a scene of augmented reality.

Sky: "Duel target- lock on!"

"AR-Vision- Link Established."

In order to follow up, Bristy also pulled out a pink D-Gazer of her own and put it on.

The field was set:

Enlil&Sky: "Duel!"

Enlil: LP: 4000

Sky: LP: 4000

Sky: "Even if it's against a Number, we should still keep things clean. Ladies first, I'll go second."

Flint's head was now located on the right side of Sky's left wrist, so talking to him felt like talking into a watch.

Flint: "HEH? This is no time to be acting polite, Sky-sama! Take it seriously, would you?"

Sky: "You be quiet. I'll hunt this thing in my way, with an honorable match-up."

Enlil: "My turn then. Draw! (draws, observes her hand) Do I really want to… I mean, I don't want to hurt him. (the Number reacts, hurting her) Gh! I'm sorry! I won't hesitate anymore!"

Sky: "Huh? What's wrong with her?"

Enlil: "I summon Aerial Striker!"

Before her, the many pixels formed a massive card of a monster, which emerged in a 3D model. It was an odd creature, a bipedal warrior with a bird's head, and talon-like arms and feet, carrying a crossbow in each hand. Clothe-wise, it seemed to be of near east, perhaps Arabian origin. ATK: 1000/ LV3

Enlil: "Now I use it's ability: when Aerial Striker is Normal summoned while my field has no other monsters, by discarding a monster (dicards a card) I can double it's original Attack points!"

With the discarded monster lost somewhere in a void space (this is merely a symbolic display, it was still in the Graveyard), Aerial Stiker's eyes flashed, and it's musclemass simply doubled, along with it's size. ATK: 2000

Sky: "A monster with 2000 points in the first turn? That's… That's…"

Bristy: "Bad news, that's what."

Sky: "That's so awesome!"

Enlil: "Huh?"

Bristy: "(mad) What the heck is your problem? She's the enemy, you're not supposed to be impressed at a time like this!"

Sky: "You be quiet! If you can't respect your opponent or the game, that's your problem, but I'm not like that! No matter if you win or loose, you should always try and enjoy the game, that included respecting your opponent."

Enlil: "(blushes) He called me… awesome."

Bristy: "You don't respect what you must defeat, you baka!"

Flint: "I'm with her on this one, Sky-sama baka!"

Sky: "Whose side are you on? And stop using 'sama' and 'baka' in the same phrase!"

Enlil: "Uhm, I… (picks a card) I set a card and end my turn! (sets)"

A massive card appeared before her, pointing forward and face-down.

Sky: "Alright, here goes. Time for my practice to pay of, I'll definitely hunt that thing down! That's the way I live: Sky-High! (draws) My turn, draw!"

He observed his hand for a while. He found monsters of a familiar kind, but to his dismay, none of them had above 2000 Attack points.

Sky: "Hmmm, I don't seem to have a monster that can match hers in strength."

Flint: "Then the move is simple, we go on the defensive."

Sky: "Hmmm… No, not exactly. I can't match her strength, unless… (plays a card) I summon Wind-up Soldier!"

His summoned monster looked both funny and intimidating: it was a green mechanical soldier with a V-shaped cranium and with large lobster-like hands that looked like wrenches. He had a golden key stuck up it's back, and moved at a great velocity like a true fighter.

Soldier: "Haaaaah! (battle stance) Zenmai! (ATK: 1800/ LV4)"

Enlil: "A Wind-up monster? What was their trait again?"

Sky: "Next, the Continous Spell card, Wind-up Factory, activates! (plays it)"

The activated spell appeared out of many pixels before him in it's massive state. Curiously enough, Wind-up Soldier was in the artwork.

Sky: "So, from now on, anytime a Wind-up monster triggers it's effect, this card fetches another Wind-up from the deck to my hand."

Flint: "Okay, we ensured hand superiority."

Bristy: "Are you kidding? That toy soldier cannot defeat her monster!"

Sky: "Wait and see. I activate Wind-up soldier's monster effect!"

On his cue, the key on the Soldier's back started to spin rapidly, until it reached the speed of a whirlwind, causing the Soldier to steam up and yell out in power as a result. His hands started to produce massive embers of orange fire.

Sky: "Wind-ups can perform their effects once while their face-up on the field, but that's all I need. And by winding this guy up, he gets a little power boost! Attack points: plus 400, level plus one!"

Soldier: "Zenmamamamamamai! (ATK: 1800… 2200/ LV4… LV5)"

Sky: "And Wind-up Factory's effect… (a card slides out of his deck) Fetches another Wind-up to my hand. (picks it) I select Wind-up Juggler. (shows it)"

Enlil: "So it has more power than my Aerial Stirker."

Sky: "Here goes! Wind-up Soldier, attack her Striker!"

Soldier: "Mai!"

The soldier flew up (literally, like a superhero), then dove down and launched the flames from his hand like a pair of fireballs, aiming at Enlil's monster.

Flint: "No, Sky-sama, wait!"

Bristy: "Are you blind? She has a face-down card!"

Sky: "YEIKS! I forgot!"

Enlil: "A face-down? My trap… (the Number surges) Ghhh… I know, I know! I reveal my Trap card: Magical Cylinder! (the card flips)"

Sky: "What, that card?"

Soldier: "AH!"

Enlil: "This card stops your attack, then deals damage to my opponent same as that monster's Attack points."

Enlil's card summoned a pair of parallel barrels with a large question mark on each of them. One barrel absorbed the fireballs directed at the Striker, and the other barrel, by unknown means, spat the same attack out, this time directing it at Sky.

Sky: "No way. (gets hit, and blown back) GYAAAAAAH!"

Sky fell down hard on the floor, only his bones were not as damaged as his pride… or his Life points.

Sky: LP: 1800

Sky: "(gets up) I didn't see that one comming. That dishonorable card of all…"

Flint: "What dishonorable card? That was a clear counter!"

Sky: "Right, but that card comes from the very dawn of Duel Monsters, it's effect and reversal power are way too powerful in today's measures!"

Enlil: "What? Too powerful?"

Bristy: "What are you talking about? You just can't stand the fact a girl beat you to it, you so called honorable duelist!"

Sky: "(!) I'm not taking lessons from you, you lousy Harpie Lady sound-alike!"

Bristy: "Your entire concept is a baloney and you know it! How are you supposed to beat your opponent if you don't use strong cards?"

Sky: "Just because you can't understand it doesn't make it baloney! The real fun in a duel doesn't come from single card kills or strong effects, but from super combos you put together with your average cards! A real duelist would understand, let me know when you change your mind!"

Bristy: "Pih, like hell I will!"

Enlil: "Uhm… Bristy-san, you were a duelist?"

Bristy: "Like you care!"

Sky: "Don't mind her. She quit dueling long before she even started understanding it. But I'm not like that! (picks two cards, grins) That little backfire was a nice little trigger, for whenever you bang me down, I rise back up, even stringer than before. That's what my Sky-High is about! (sets them) I set these two down. Turn end. Then, during End phase, Wind-up Soldier cools off, and his stats return to normal."

Wind-up Soldier's flames died down, and the steam simply vanished, leaving the Soldier in a hanged, exhausted state, in which he was breathing out loud and deep. The little key in it's back slowed down drmatically, and when it ceased to move, it shattered into pixel-dust.

Wind-up Soldier: ATK: 2200/ LV5…. ATK: 1800/ LV4

Enlil: "An honorable duel? Sky-High? What is that? (Number surges) Wait, no! I won't hesitate, I promise! It's my turn now. (draws) I draw! And I summon Breather Snatch!"

Her new monster appeared out of the ground, smashing it up with it's arrival. It was an odd creature: a green-furred lion or some other kind of bulky feline, but it's neck was much shorter, so it's face seemed to be growing out of it's chest. The face was odd as well, more ogre-like than lion-like, and with a disproportionally large mouth. It's mighty howl sounded like a distant storm. ATK: 1400/ LV4

Flint: "She has more monsters than us! If both attacks hit, we're finished!"

Sky: "Don't worry, I have a plan."

Enlil: "I attack your Wind-up Soldier… with Aerial Striker!"

On her cue, her birdman marksman leaped up, and aimed it's crossbow at the soldier beneath him, who was eager to intercept the attack. The Striker shot many dart-like arrows down…

Sky: "That attack won't hit! Let me show you… what combos are all about! I reveal my trap: go, Zenmairch! (the card flips) This card bounces Wind-up Soldier back into my hand!"

Before the attack connected the Soldier simply vanished, so the darts hit the ground beneath him instead.

Sky: "Also, I can special summon another Wind-up from my hand to replace him: introducing, Wind-up Juggler!"

A new monster emerged on Sky's field. It had an odd X-shaped design on it's head, large hands (that had fingers, unlike Soldier), but had a large spiral spring instead of legs. Like it's partner, it also had a wind-up key in it's back. It spun rapidly, then put both arms in a pose against it's foe.

Juggler: "Hrrrrrr-Ha! Zen! Zenmai! (ATK: 1700/ LV4)"

Enlil: "Huh? Another one?"

Flint: "That's it! Wind-up Juggler can instantly destroy the monsters it fights with! After her attack backfires, we can destroy the Striker, then regain field control with Wind-up Soldier."

Enlil: "Still, by destroying that monster, I can deal massive damage. Aerial Stiker, resume attacking!"

Her monster pointed it's other bowgun at Sky's new monster.

Sky: "You got it wrong. Didn't I tell you I was about to perform a combo? Other Trap, open: Zenmailstrom! (the card flips)"

Flint: "EH? What the…?"

Sky: "Zenmailstrom's effect allows me to tribute my brave Wind-up Juggler…"

Before them, the Juggler turned red, imploded and disassembled into parts…

Sky: "… in order to re-summon the Wind-up Soldier!"

… but the parts reunited and flashed like a supernova, a display out of which the Soldier emerged once again, attaining a battle-stance against Enlil's side.

Soldier: "HuAAAAAAH! Zenmai! (ATK: 1800/ LV4)"

Enlil: "But why?"

Bristy: "You traded one Wind-up just so you can replace him with the one that you already used before? What's the point?"

Sky: "Because Zenmailstrom's other ability summons another monster from my deck. Another Wind-up, that is, as long as it has the same Attack points as my Soldier. (picks a card in his deck) I choose Wind-up Knight! Appear!"

Sky slammed the card on his Duel Disk (Flint's chest/back, actually), and his new monster appeared. Sky's new monster was also a warrior. A fully armored knight, also resembling a toy soldier, with a short sword and a shield with a gear symbol on it. His call was the deepest among all the Wind-ups so far.

Knight: "Hoh! Zen-zanmai! (ATK: 1800/ LV4)"

Bristy: "Another lame monster!"

Enlil: "I must not hold back! Striker, attack him again!"

The Striker already launched another series of flashy darts upon Sky's new monsters.

Flint: "Now what, Sky-sama?"

Sky: "Here comes the good part! I activate Wind-up Knight's monster effect!"

On his signal, Wind-up Knight stood before the Soldier, and the key on it's back started to sipin like crazy, reaching the speed of a ventilator. This made him put his shield up, tiny compared to the attack that was comming.

Sky: "By winding him up, Wind-up knight can block and negate an attack directed at a Wind-up monster! Go, Wind-up Break!"

Knight: "ZenMAI!"

He leaped in the intercept course to the attack, and his leap summoned up a forcefield that completely engulfed the arrows…

Knight: "Zen-zen-zen-zen-zen… Zenmai!"

And he pushed back and disintegrated the attack. Then, as he dropped down to the gound, the key stopped spinning, then shattered into pixels, and the Knight hung his body in exhaust and started breathing heavily.

Enlil: "Amazing…"

Bristy: "All that trouble just to negate an attack?"

Sky: "Not done yet. There's still the effect of Wind-up Factory, and it… (takes a card from his deck) Allows me to fetch Wind-up Kitten into my hand."

Enlil: "So much happened."

Sky: "Cool, right? You tell me, which is better: my combo, or should I have used a lame tactic and play an attack negation trap or something?"

Enlil: "I must say… That was a cool move! (the Number surges) GhhhhH! No, please… forgive me, I won't… GAAAH!"

Sky: "What' going on?"

Flint: "I suspect the Number is opressing her inside her mind. We must act quickly, or it might get serious."

Sky: "What did you say?"

The dark mist that enveloped Enlil's body was seemingly causing a lot of pain on her behalf. It was as if someone invisible was pressing her head together.

Enlil: "Wait… I… (picks a card) I set a card, turn end."

Sky: "That cowardly Number is only causing trouble. Alright, this time we'll bring it out, no matter what!"

Flint: "Now you're talking, Sky-sama!"

Sky: "Okay, let's hunt that thing! Sky-High! (draws) My turn, draw! (plas a monster) I'll introduce… Wind-up Kitten!"

His new summoned monster was, really, a mechanical kitty with tiger stripes. It also had a wind-up key on it's back, and a cute little necklace with a gear emblem on it. She purred and winked, performing a cute motion.

Kitten: "Nyaaaah. (winks) Zen-nya! (ATK: 800/ LV2)"

Enlil: "A kitty? It's so cute…"

Sky: "I use the effect of Wind-up Kitten! By winding her up, she can bounce a monster my opponent controls back into your hand."

Kitten's key wound her up, spinning at the speed of a windmill, which caused the kitty to produce an odd bubble out of her mouth.

Kitten: "Zen-nyaaaaaaaa…."

Flint: "That's it! We can get rid of that annoying Aerial Striker by bouncing it back!"

Sky: "No, wait, if we bounce back the Striker, she might call him back and use it's effect to power it up again. It's better we clear the field this way: I choose to bounce… Breather Snatch!"

Kitten: "… mai!"

And the Kitten blew the bubble forward, which has grown to a significant size by now. The bubble, containing a similar coloration effect as an oversized soap-bubble, surrounded the large Breather Snatch. Inside, the beast tried to break it's way out, to no avail, and then the bubble just… shrunk and vanished, floating over to Enlil's hand, where the card materialized.

Enlil: "It's in my hand?"

Sky: "Alright! And now, thanks to Wind-up factory…"

A card slid out of his deck, and he picked it up.

Sky: "… I can fetch… Wind-up Warrior. (reveals it while smiling)"

Enlil was almost hypnotized by Sky's performance. The moves he made, they were more than simple effects, it was like he linked them all together into a perfect combo. It was not even the fact that he was winning that astonished her, but the fact how happy he seemed when he played them.

Enlil: "Amazing… Sky-kun is so amazing. Even though I'm loosing, I'm… actually… enjoying…"

She didn't even finish her though. A dark mist enveloped her again, and it was once more as if the mist was hurting her.

Enlil: "No! Stop it! I was just… GHHHHHH!"

It was painful to look. Something in her own deck was causing her pain.

Bristy: "Pih, what a crybaby."

Sky: "Alright, that does it! I'll bring it up! Hey, Number, I have an opponent for you! "

Enlil could narrowly squint, when she tried to see what Sky was about to do next.

Sky: "I'll show it to you… My Sky-high! I overlay the level 4 Wind-up Soldier and Wind-up Knight!"

Soldier&Knight: "Zenma-MAAAAAAAAAAI…!"

Both of his monsters were consumed by, and ultimately became masses of shining energy: Soldier's became brown, and Knight's became yellow. The two forms of energy spiraled around each other and flew up in a helix formation.

Then, beneath these, a massive portal opened up, revealing an entire universe full of stars beyond. Both of these now formed Overlay Units flew into this portal…

Sky: "With these two Overlay Units, I bridge this space with the antispace: Xyz summon!"

… and something else came out. Something massive.

Sky: "Appear, mechanical Budha: Wind-up Zenmaister!"

It had the same essential toy-parts and wind-up keys as the first two, but this monster was way more serious and had a much more terrifying display: it was a large machine that looked like a robot united with some kind of triangular platform with boosters, really looking like a meditating budha-like pose.

The new monster released a powerful mechanical battle-cry, and two Overlay Units were orbiting around it. ATK: 1900/ R4

Bristy: "An Xyz summon? How the heck did a pipsqueak like him get to Xyz summon first?"

Sky: "My super combo ace! Due to Zenmaister's ability, he gains 300 extra Attack points for every Overlay Unit supporting him. In total, that is Wind-up Zenmaister: Attack points: plus 600!"

Wind-up Zenmaister: ATK: 2500

Sky: "Alright, now we have the big guns! (looks at Enlil's side) But, she still has that face-down. My last attempt to overlook it ended in a disaster. But I'm getting smarter, I won't fall for it again! (picks a card) I play the instant Spell, Mystical Space Typhoon! (plays it) It's effect is a bit too powerful, but it can protect my comrades from harm. It's power simply destroys your face-down card!"

A powerful twister formed out of the played card, this landing right atop of Enlil's set card, and disintegrating it. The breeze also seemingly dispelled the gloomy mist that was covering Enlil, allowing her to see what was happening.

Sky: "Now that that path is clear: Wind-up Zenmaister, attack Aerial Striker with Spring-up Knuckle!"

Now powered up by it's own effect, Zenmaister swung it's fist, and it almost detached from his body when he executed the punch, the only thing holding it in place being a very long, green spiral-spring. The knuckle attack was overwhelmingly powerful, and the Aerial Striker was completely busted up from the impact, after which it's image shattered into pixels.

Enlil had to brace herself from the force of the impact.

Enlil: LP: 3500

Sky: "And while we're on the topic… Wind-up Kitten attacks directly!"

The kitten then leaped forward, like it was skipping fluffy clouds, and perfromed a flip forward while in mid-air, ultimately slapping Enlil with her tail.

Kitten: "Nuuu-nya! (strikes)"

Enlil: "Ow!"

Enlil: LP: 2700

Sky: "And it doesn't end here."

Enlil: "What?"

Sky: "Wind-up Monsters can only use their effects once while they're on the field. But, my good friend, Zenmaister here can aid them a little. I activate Zenmaister's monster effect!"

While the Kitten was resting on the ground from her attack, Wind-up Zenmaister rose up and gathered energy. One of it's Overlay units flew towards him, and he absorbed it through one of the wind-up keys on it's throne, which started spinning.

Sky: "By consuming an Overlay Unit, one monster I control switches from Attack mode to face-down Defense mode. Afterwards, during the End phase, he can flip it again. Wind Over!"

The spinning of it's wind-up keys surged a lot of energy into Zenmaister's hands, so he pointed one palm at the Kitten next to him, who curiously looked back. Almost by magic, Zenmaister fashioned a new wind-up key that gently landed before the Kitten, then mysteriously picked her up as she meowed, and in a flip, both items turned into a face-down card.

Bristy: "What's the point in that?"

Sky: "The point is, Wind-ups can only use their effects once while they're face-up on the field."

Flint: "However, with Wind Over, they are set face-down, and as such, they can use their abilities again once they are flipped back up. It's like rewinding them, really."

Zenmaister withdrew his hand, and resumed his pose.

Zenmaister: ATK: 2200

Sky: "Because it has lost an Overlay Unit, Zenmaister also looses 300 Attack points. But, as I end my turn like this, it's ability flips Wind-up Kitten!"

The now face-down card flipped up, and the Kitten sprung up, joyful and jubilant, with a brand new key on her back.

Kitten: "Nyaaah. Zen-nyah! (ATK: 800/ LV2)"

Sky: "Now we can use her ability again to bounce enemy monsters!"

Enlil: "That was… Sky-kun, that was beautiful!"

Sky: "Eh?"

Enlil: "You make dueling look so easy. Those combos of yours, they're… (blushes) They're so…"

Sky: "(O.O) Ahmmmmm… Thanks, I appreciate it."

Enlil: "Even though the circumstances demand us to be serious… It is… It is really fun playing with you."

Sky: "Well, that's the whole idea of Sky-High. I can't have fun in a duel unless I respect my opponent, and I can't duel properly unless I have fun."

Bristy: "Would you cut it out with the bull, you're making me sick!"

In case we forgot, Bristy was still stuck against the fence as her bracelet was caught up in the wire.

Bristy: "Fun duels, are you kidding me? She tried to kill me, and you're pretending it's funny?"

Sky: "Look… I'm sorry about what happened last year, but that's still no reason to be acting like that towards others!"

Enlil: "Last year?"

Sky: "Right. Her and I used to be class-mates, and duelists, but she kept on complaining how she couldn't win no matter how many times she revised her deck. She's a sore loser, and after only a few matches with me, she tossed her deck and forgot about dueling altogether."

Enlil: "But that's… thats awful."

Bristy: "Like you're to talk! The game is stupid to begin with! I didn't have access to fancy cards like you, what good was it to keep on loosing?"

Enlil: "Bristy…"

Bristy: "Do you have any idea how it feels? To be called weak and pathethic over and over? I could beat all of you up just like that, and I'd still be a lowlife because I can't win!"

Sky: "You just don't get it!"

Bristy: "What?"

Sky: "I have news for you, I don't always win either! But that doesn't force me to quit as soon as someone calls me weak. It's not about winning, or losing, it's about the game itself!"

Bristy: "How can you say that?"

Enlil: "But he's right. Bristy, I… (sad look) I too was mocked upon for dueling."

Bristy: "Huh?"

Enlil: "I know how it feels, to be good for nothing. But that's not what put me down. Even though I hardly ever won, it didn't stop me from playing, nor did I let it affect my life. Because… because dueling itself is like life, you must love it for the sake of itself."

Bristy: "Pih, what a load of bul-"

Enlil: "It's not. (the mist appears behind her) you can't look on dueling like it's something that proves you strong. It's something that makes you feel at ease with who you are, and- (it consumes her) WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!"

Sky: "Oh no, Enlil!"

The dark mist that was interfeering with her actions all along was back, but this time it's intensity was larger than ever. Enlil's appearance was almost gone in the shadows that it produced, and the force was suffocating her.

Enlil: "Stop it… Please, don't…"

That's when the mark of 71 reappeared on her skin, and reverted her in the state where the Number's possesion over her was absolute, making her eyes void, and her voice spooky.

Enlil: "(Number's voice) Enough talk! I can stomach no more of it!"

Sky: "The Number?"

Flint: "Oh no, it's entering the final stage of possession!"

Enlil: "I'm taking over from now on! (about to draw) For too long has this scene been denied! (draws) My turn, draw! I summon Miracle Hawk!"

Her new monster was a spread-winged bird of prey with green feathers and a silver horn atop it's head, carrying an oversized platinum bracelet. ATK: 1200/ LV4

Enlil: "When Miracle Hawk is Normal summoned, it can revive a Wind monster back on the field, so I Special summon Aerial Striker from my Graveyard!"

With a wingbeat, the hawk just summoned a portal from the ground, out of which the designated birdman emerged, readying it's bowguns. ATK: 1000/ LV3

Sky: "I think she's swarming the field!"

Enlil: "I also activate the Spell card: Advance Wind! With this spell, I can Special summon a monster from my hand that is by one level higher than Aerial Striker, so Breather Snatch also comes back!"

With that said, the green quadrapedal beast rose up once more, as bloodthirsty as ever, growling like a tiger. ATK: 1400/ LV4

Flint: "An unusual formation."

Sky: "Wait a sec, I think she's going to…"

Enlil: "You catch on quickly. I overlay the two level four monsters Breather Snatch and Miracle Hawk!"

The same process as previously mentioned infused the two monsters into two radiating masses of green energy, that flew skywards, spiraling on each other.

Enlil: "With these two monsters, I construct an Overlay Network: Xyz summon!"

A portal opened for the two of them, but other than before, this portal resembled a spiral galaxy and had a golden rim.

Simultaneously, the dark cloud above them suddenly turned even darker and expanded beyond the perimiters of the school. It looked like the sky over the entire city was darkened.

71!

Out of this portal, something emerged. It was not a monster, it looked more like a green star-shaped object with red edges and a hollow in the middle, a cross between a windmill and a shuriken.

Enlil: "Boiling winds, restrain this world of my burden!"

That's when the object showed a sign of activity: the star-windmill, call it whatever you want, started to spin rapidly, creating a massive whirlwind and gathering a great amount of shiny, glittering dust, creating something like a dancing storm.

Out of this twister, from it's top, a female figure emerged. First, a pair of gentle female hands, which immediatelly spawned a pair of almost transparent veils on their wrist, looking like a piece of dress-clothing. Then, a pair of feet emerged from the bottom, and the twister was slowly starting to die down.

As the twister vanished completely, the monster's ultimate form was shown, in all it's beauty: it was, in fact, a pretty girl whose skin was, in fact, an ethereal green substance, creating an odd glittering effect, wearing what appeared to be a set of gently red and silver veils, except on the chest, where a red star-shaped corzet was seen. The veils were extremely delicate, they were floating in the air as if they were underwater.

The number 71 appeared flashing on the monster's left tigh.

Enlil: "Appear, Number 71: Divine Wind!"

She then opened her eyes, which were surprisingly human-like. Her face, also bearing no signs of fiendishness, almost resembled that of Enlil herself, or a more adult version of her. The monster's hairstyle revealed a short set of pig-tails on the first glance, but the hair was in fact much longer, dancing behind her body, with tips as transparent as the air itself.

The monster made a cutie pose, winking in mid-air. She had 2 overlay units orbiting around her. ATK: 2100/ R4

Sky: "That's a… Number?"

Bristy: "What, a Number?"

Sky was just beholding the new monster in front of him. The monster's true form barely resembled the monstrosity that he had in mind.

Sky: "That doesn't seem so bad. In fact, she kinda looks cute."

Flint: "Don't be fooled! I know the monster doesn't look like much, but Numbers are always dangerous opponents!"

Sky: "Fine, if you say so. Still, even without his extra 300 Attack points, Zenmaister can still beat her in sheer strength."

Enlil: "This is my real self, my avatar. You will now behold the power of winds divine! Go, Number 71: Divine Wind! Attack Wind-up Zenmaister! Zephyr Breeze!"

The apparently harmless monster showed off it's power: ny simple hand motion, she called up a powerful whirlwind that engulfed her and Zenmaister, leaving the machine confused on her intentions.

Sky: "What's the point? Zenmaister is way stronger than the Number, isn't it?"

Enlil: "Divine Wind's monster effect activates! By consuming an Overlay unit…"

That's when the female monster absorbed one of her orbiting Overlay Units through her chest, forming a round orb of windpower between her palms at the same time.

Enlil: "… one monster's Attack points become the same as that of Divine Wind. I select Zenmaister! Cripple him with Power Gust!"

The monster launched the orb of wind at Zenmaister. Upon impact, the orb somehow caused severe pain to the machine lord of Wind-ups. It's strength was decreasing.

Wind-up Zenmaister: ATK: 2100

Sky: "Now they both have 2100 points? They'll destroy each other!"

Flint: "No, they'll…"

Before Flint could finish his sentence, Divine Wind formed another twister between her palms and launched it forward like other certain monsters would usually launch fireballs. The wave spiraled around like a serpet before impaling Zenmaister in the chest. Much to Sky's surprise, Zenmaister couldn't counter, and the wind tore him apart in a matter of moments before it shattered into a cloud of pixels.

The impact from the attack also severely pushed Sky back, like a bomb exploded before him.

Sky: "GYAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH! (gets up) Tch-tch-tch, owie… She took out Zenmaister. But at least we got rid of the Number as w- (sees Number 71) Heh? HUH?"

He was surprised to see that the attacking monster, despite the same Attack power, was still flying above them.

Sky: "Why is that Number still on the field? That suicide attack should have finished them both!"

Enlil: "Unless it was no suicide attack."

Sky: "Say what?"

Flint: "Sky-sama, Numbers can only be defeated in battle with other Numbers, don't you remember?"

Sky: "(0.0) Heh?"

Flint: "Remember, we discussed it?"

Sky: "That was for real? I thought you were joking!"

Flint: "(!) I was dead serious! I would never joke about Numbers, Sky-sama baka!"

Sky: "(!) Stop putting those two words together! We have bigger issues! (looks at Divine Wind) So if that thing really can only be defeated by another Number… This will turn out a lot more difficult than expected!"

Enlil: "And you call yourself a hunter. My Aerial Striker attacks your Wind-up Kitten, so you can't bounce it back into my hand."

Aerial Striker lepaed up, and charged it's bowguns.

Enlil: "And I use Divine Wind's effect a second time! (detaches) By detaching an Overlay unit, my striker obtains a little power boost! Power Gust!"

Divine Wind absorbed the last Overlay Unit through her chest, and produced another orb of wind. This time, she threw it at Aerial Sniper, who obviously took it in much better than Zenmaister.

Aerial Striker: ATK: 2100

Sky: "Oh no…"

Enlil: "That kitty is history!"

Aerial Striker shot it's arrows and the sharp shower rained upon the poor Kitten, disintegrating her on sight, and severely blowing Sky back.

Sky: "AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!"

Sky: LP: 500

Sky's injuries were real now. He could feel the pain, not only be hitting the hard concrete, but also by the slaps of the wind itself. It was an awful feeling, he felt bruises and his clothes got all dirty.

Flint: "Sky-sama!"

Bristy: "Those injuries… That's no AR field!"

Enlil: "See now how inferior you are to me?During the End phase, the monster that was summoned by the effect of Miracle Hawk is destroyed."

In a sudden blast, Aerial Striker blew up and was reduced into pixels.

Enlil: "I end my turn like this. What's the matter? Too tired to go on?"

Sky was just lying there, trying to open his eyes.

Ot to mention, that huge whirlwind that Divine Wind called out, it enveloped the entire rooftop, covering most of the surrounding field in dark clouds.

Enlil: "This world must be remembered of pain it causes. And nothing will stand in my way of acomplishing that, least of all you… or your Sky-High."

That's when Sky's eyes suddenly opened, and he not only got up… he jumped up, like he woke up from a good night's sleep. This act seriously surprised those around him.

Enlil: "What?"

Bristy: "You've got to be kidding me!"

Enlil: "How is that possible? You were supposed to be too fatigued to continue!"

Sky: "Are you kidding me? That fake suicide move was a great turn of events, but the way you used the monster's ability to charge up own allies as well as deliberate mine… That was a fantastic combo!"

Enlil: "My… combo?"

That's when Enlil's normal voice returned, along with the gleam in her eyes.

Sky: "Totally! And you know what? If you so dearly wanted to win, you should have done so in that last turn. Because every time I'm blown down, my resolve strengthens up. I get back up, stronger than ever! That's what it's all about… the Sky-High! I don't care what my injuries are, I am deeply convinced I can finish what I started!"

Enlil: "… Sky-kun."

Sky: "And I think… I think I can bring it down. (points at Divine Wind) That Number there sure made a mess… but it's in fact driven by human emotions. If that's true, then the same thing can master it. I think someone like you, that has withstood it's rule for so long… (grins) Is kind of amazing."

Enlil then… burst into tears of joy.

Enlil: "Thank you…"

Even though the dark mist was still enveiling her, almost crushing her spirit, she kept on smiling warmly.

Enlil: "Sky, please… Please end this!"

Sky: "I will! The Number has comitted a dishonorable deed, and misused the duelist's heart! I will definitely… Show you my own power!"

A faint glint appeared in the deck boy on Sky's belt. But, in a matter of seconds, it grew larger, eventually becomming the shine that enveloped his entire box.

Sky: "The light that twists all others about… It is the only thing that will defeat it! Flint, let's do it!"

Flint: "I'm with you, Sky-sama!"

Sky: "That's the way I live! (draws) Sky-high! (looks at what he drew) It's here! I play Zenmailfunction! (plays it) This Spell can bring back a Wind-up monster from my Graveyard in Defense position, but it's effect will be negated. I revive… Wind-up Kitten!"

A small portal appeared before him, and out of it, Wind-up Kitten appeared, smiling and purring, albeit without her wind-up key.

Kitten: "Nyah! Zen-nyaaa. (ATK: 800/ LV2)"

Bristy: "With the bounce effect it might work… But, Sky said it's effect was negated. So what is he…?"

Sky: "I follow up with summoning of Wind-up Warrior!"

His latest monster looked a lot like Wind-up Soldier, but had a larger chest and it's mouth was covered with some kind of armor plate. It performed similar moves as Soldier did before him.

Warrior: "Hyoh! Hmm! Zen-Mai! (ATK: 1200/ LV4)"

Enlil: "(Number's voice) A level 2 and a level 4 monster. You can't Xyz summon like that."

Sky: "(grins) Heheh, maybe not now. (reveals a card) But with this, it might be possible."

Enlil: "(Number's voice) Isn't that…?"

Sky: "I Special summon Half-way Eater!"

Another small portal showed up on Sky's side. A monster like none he played before emerged out of it: it was a large orange serpentine angler fish whose mouth was full of needle-sharp teeth, and the jaw was disproportionally larger than most of it's face.

Half-way Eater: "Khhhrah!"

Sky: "When I control a monster whose level is even, I can cut it's level in half in order to Special summon Half-way Eater. Then Half-way Eater's level becomes equal to that reduced amount. I reduce the level of Wind-up Warrior!"

The serpentine fish slitherred around the summoned Warrior, and above him, it's level display showed 4 stars. That's when Half-way Eater swam into this, and as it bypassed it, it only left 2 stars behind. As if left to occupy a zone of it's own, Half-way Eater swallowed something large and orbital, and on this note it's level display also changed.

Wind-up Warrior: LV4… LV2

Half-way Eater: LV1… LV2/ ATK: 800

Number 71: "Three level 2 monsters?"

Sky: "Here goes! Spirit rising: Sky-High! I overlay the level 2 Wind-up Kitten, Half-Way Eater and Wind-up Warrior!"

/insert song: "Tagiru Chikara" by Psychic Lover ("Digimon Xros Wars Hunters", 2012)/

All three of his monsters became surging units of energy, yelling out their lungs/gill as they flew up in a helix formation.

Sky: "Once again, I bridge this space with the antispace: Xyz summon!"

Another large portal opened up in front of Sky. Like Enlil's, this one was shaped like a spiral galaxy and had a golden edge. The materials immediatelly flew in, uniting.

Sky: "Shine brightly, and twist all othe rlights about! (plays the card)"

Something came out of the portal. It was an odd golden shape, a statuesque golden form with two huge tear-horn-shaped appendages pointing upwards. It was concealed with many different layers of armor.

59!

Sky: "Appear, Number 59: Shining Knighcorn!"

The appendages flipped down, and openened up, becomming what appeared to be hooved legs.

The small horn-like structures bursted up, and extended, opening and spawning a pair of golden wings.

The entire lower portion tilted backwards and split into three parts, two forming the hind-legs, and the last one extending like a fan and becomming the tail.

The frontal part extended, bursting through the layers of armor. The armor slid down, and a horn pierced through like a javelin, revealing the head.

Total result: a golden stallion-like creature with golden wings and a horn that was standing atop of a head that more closely looked like a knight's helmet than a horse's cranium. It was an alicorn like none seen before, hence it's individual name: knighcorn.

Hibana chirashite DEAD-HIT
Ki wa nukenai ze DANGER ZONE

The Number 59 flashed on the root of it's right wing. Three orbs were orbiting around the beast. It galloped skywards, neighing in power. ATK: 1800/ R2

Sky: "It's here!"

Moeru
(Moeru)
Toushi
(Toushi)
Atsuku
(Atsuku)
Hibikiatteru nda

Sky was beside himself as he saw his hidden ace emerge skyward. Shining Knighcorn extended it's wings and flapped with them in a mighty gale, but what he produced was not wind, but light. A sight that pierced through the dark mist enshrouding the rooftop like gentle lightning and started to disperse the dark clouds.

!

Students all over the school gathered before the main building, beholding the odd scenes occuring at it's peak, where they could see a giant cloud of darkness veiling it. Only this time, they could see another strange phenomena: golden lightning that was penetrating the clouds, without the simultaneous thundering noise, so it seemed only like a bright burst.

Kibun saikyou SUPERSTAR
Girigiri semeru HUNTING TIME

"What is that?"

"I've never seen anything like it."

Among these studens, there was a certain girl: Keira Detroy was overwhelmed by curiosity and went out to see what the fuss was all about. Like all others, she looked skyward as soon as she noticed the apparitions. Believing this to be a result of AR vision malfunction, she put on her purple D-Gazer in order to observe from all fronts, but the effect was all the same.

Iku ze!
(Iku ze!)
Ore no
(Ore no)
Chousen ga hajimaru

Keira: "What is going on?"

The sight of penetrating light has already left her speechless, but then…

With a powerful call of a horse's cry and the wingbeats of an angel, the entire dark cloud blew up and dispersed, revealing the magnificent creature within.

Keira saw Shining Knighcorn spreading it's wings, and peering out into the world. From her perspective, it looked like an angelic being descending. She gasped and didn't even blink when she witnessed the marvelous sight, and even blushed a little.

!

That was Sky's monster's big enterance. It turned it's horn towards Divine Wind, whose stage it just stole.

Nerai wo sadameru no sa
Hanate ima
Jounetsu de
Tokecha isou na

Sky: "Wow, in AR it's even more impressive than on the card. Okay, now let's boost it up! (plays a card) I play the Spell card: Spartan Assault! Because you control a monster that cannot be destroyed by battle, for any reason whatsoever, Shining Knighcorn can attack twice during this turn!"

A smooth green veil of light covered Knighcorn's already shining aura.

Afureru ore no POWER!

Enlil: "(Number's voice) And if it could attack a hundred times, a weak rank 2 monster will never defeat Divine Wind, even if it is another Number!"

Sky: "Then I shouldn't be doing this! (points forward) Charge! Shining Knighcorn, attack Divine Wind!"

Tagiru Chikara!
Tomerarenai

The horn atop of Knighcorn's head started to glow, as the beast was readying it for an attack.

Enlil: "What? You're attacking? Why?"

The Knighcorn charged down from the sky.

Mugen no
E-NERGY uzumaku yo

Sky: "Don't judge a monster by it's appearance. Don't judge it by it's rank or level. Don't even judge it by it's effect. Judge it only… by what the duelist does with it! Shining Knighcorn's monster effect activates!"

Ima sekai wa
Ore wo matteru

In mid-charge, two of Knighcorn's Overlay units flew into it's horn, shining it up even more, and apparently extending it's length. The jolt glow ran down the Number's body like a visible pulse of veins, running down it's neck, into it's chest, and finally into it's wings…

Sky: "For every Overlay unit consumed, Shining Knighcorn can deplete 500 Attack points from a battling monster. I detach two units, which means Divine Wind looses 1000 Attack points! Power Breakdown!"

HIT-UP! Kyuujoushou tsukinukero
… where it erupted in form of a rain of a thousand golden needles, all raining down on Divine Wind, who kept on screaming in pain as the darts impaled her body.

Number 71: Divine Wind: ATK: 1100

Enlil: "(Number's voice) Her power is depleted!"

Sky: "Then, when fighting a monster caught by this effect, Shining Knighcorn's Attack points go up by plus 300!"

Number 59: Shining Knighcorn: ATK: 2100

Subete wo kakete
Idomu BATTLE

Sky: "It's set! Take her down with Shining Javelin!"

Knighcorn charged down, with it's horn pointing forward like a lance, and with it's added shine, it seemed three times as long. Divine Wind barely saw it comming.

She got impaled into the chest, a wound that immediatelly errupted with light like a supernova, and the destroyed Number kept on screaming in pain, before being shattered into pixels.

Hitotsu ni nare
HEART&HEART!

Simultaneously.

Enlil: "(Number voice) WEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAhhhhh… (sigh)"

Enlil: LP: 1700

… the dark mist enshrouding Enlil vanished, and the Number's voice of posession was ultimately silenced.

Sky: "We got the Number down!"

Flint: "Once more, Sky-sama!"

Sky: "Count on it! With Spartan Assault, Shining Knighcorn attacks again! Direct attack!"

Knighcorn's horn flashed again and trippled it's size in this mirage, and Knighcorn pointed it towards Enlil. Instead of charging, it released a powerful battle-cry and summoned a powerful beam of light upon her, hitting her like a laser-beam, which caused a minor explosion.

The impact has blown her back a few feet, causing her to fall down on her back.

Enlil: "AAAH!"

Enlil: LP: 0

WINNER: Sky

Sky: "Yahooo! We did it!"

Flint: "Not over yet, Sky-sama."

Sky: "Heh?"

Flint: "Just as we practiced, a hunt is concluded with the Number's purification."

Sky: "Oh, right, so, how do we…?"

Flint: "Leave the rest to me!"

Sky: "Uhm… Okay. (puts his left arm up) Hook Linker, deploy!"

As Sky reached his hand out, Flint, that served as a Duel Disk up to this point, engaged a second transformation. The entire disk rotated on Sky's wrist, so the actual disk was now pointing towards his hand. The actual disk now retracted back into a 3-zone appearance, and what appears to be Flint's former arms slid forward, splitting down the middle, forming an extended 4-point grabber of sorts. In it's center, an unusual device resembling a cartoonish ray pistol appeared. In the back of the body, a series of lights and antennae spawned, along with a small reading screen.

In short: it appears Flint has transformed into a gauntlet blaster of sorts, that basically resembled a modernized bowgun.

Sky: "Establish link with Knighcorn…"

Two graphs showing different wavelengths appeared in Sky's D-Gazer vision. The wavelengths were overlapping, synching together, until they became one single wave. Knighcorn was in the background of the graph.

Sky: "And fire!"

The beam cannon in the middle of it shot a lightning-like ray at Shining Knighcorn, which the beast absorbed through it's horn, which it then pointed at the lying Enlil. The beam that the monster fired seemed more like a powerful searchlight, bearing colors of overflowing colors of the sunshine.

Upon flashing Enlil, light particles were exiting her body. The process was apparently quite painful. She looked like she was suffering from a heart-attack.

Enlil: "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"

But it was not a malefic process. Along with the light-particles, a shadow, or a dark shadow-like entity exited her chest, being pulled up by the beam like it was a tractor beam. It was in fact this dark ghost that was yelling in pain, not Enlil herself. Upon reaching Knighcorn's horn again, the shadow was captured in a spherical prison of light, which the Knighcorn slingshot towards the device on Sky's arm.

The Number was yelling all along, and as it reached Sky, the device grabbed the sphere and started crushing it, slowly absorbing it's essence.

At that time, Flint's entire body, especially his face, started blinking and flashing like a Christmas-tree decoration, encoding the Number's essence.

Flint: "(blinging) Bere-bere-bere-bere-bere-bere-bere-bere… Kap-Cha!"

In the end, a card slid out of Flint's mouth.

Sky picked it up, and observed it. It was Number 71: Divine Wind. However, in this form, it showed no sighns of the devilish entity's presence whatsoever. It simply flashed in the light, like every other card, as if it just got out of a booster pack.

Sky: "… (grins) Number hunt: concluded."

That's when the AR space dispersed, and the sky turned back to normal, with all monsters vanishing from sight. Sky took his D-gazer off and Flint got of his wrist and resumed his robot form. They both approached Enlil, who was still lying on the ground.

She peered her eyes slowly, feeling like she just woke up from a nightmare.

Sky: "You okay?"

She woke up completely as soon as she heard Sky's voice. She immediatelly got up in a sitting position, but blushed significantly as soon as she saw Sky's extended hand.

Enlil: "I-I-I… I'm fine."

Sky: "Can you stand? Come, let me help you."

Depite her silent protest, Sky helped her get up on her feet, and she was still a bit ashamed of looking into his face.

Enlil: "Thank you. I feel like I had a horrible dream."

Sky: "Did it include this?"

He was showing the captured Number card: Divine Wind. Enlil paced back as soon as she saw the thing's outlines.

Enlil: "That's a…!"

Sky: "It's fine, it won't be causing any more trouble anytime soon. (to Flint) Will it?"

Flint: "Don't worry, my tech can work wonders on Numbers. I canceled it's possessing properties, it's no treat anymore."

Sky: "So we just… call it a day?"

Flint: "Indeed."

Sky looked at Flint for a while… then he grinned and started jumping up and down like a kid that just met Santa Claus.

Sky: "Yahoo! Our first hunt concluded! This feels great! Did you see me out there? I was awesome!"

Flint: "(!) Would you show some class, Sky-sama baka!"

Enlil: "Uhm…"

He soon stoped being jubilant, and they both turned to Enlil instead. She had something to say, apparently. She was still having problems with looking directly at Sky.

Enlil: "Sky-kun, I… (bows) I'm sorry about what happened! It's all my fault!"

Sky: "Huh? Errrr… It's fine, we got through it. But, uhm… (looks at Divine Wind) What exactly are we supposed to do with this thing, anyway?"

Flint: "Uhm… I'm unsure, but I'm certain we'll come up with something. With it's properties canceled, we can just store it aside until we really need it."

Sky: "What is that supposed to mean 'need it'?"

Bristy: "HELLO!"

That's when they all turned to Bristy, who was still stuck on the fence.

Bristy: "Would anyone mind giving ME a hand here?"

Sky: "(O.O)… (blink, blink) Right, sorry…"

He approached her… slowly, taking his time, then looked at the contraption she got caught in. The bracelet on her wrist enveloped the wire on the fence completely.

Bristy: "Don't just stand there, take it off!"

Sky simply opened the bracelet and took it off Bristy's wrist, allowing her to move freely again. It was much easier for Sky to unfold the bracelet, since he had both hands at his disposal.

Bristy: "About time you noticed!"

Sky: "(-_-) You're welcome, by the way."

Another new event followed moments after this: with the Number defeated, it's seal keeping the door shut was lifted, and as a result, a very angry someone marched into the scene.

?.?.?: "What is going on here?"

They all turned to look who it was.

There were three people, in fact, two of which were Bristy's personal brigade, Loxy and Edith. As for the third person… oh boy…

It was a short, egg-shaped person wearing what appeared to be a doctor's coat over a teacher's uniform. It's head was completely bald from the forehead up, as opposing to the lower half of his face, which had a really long, pale Santa Claus-like beard. He was also wearing a pair of large glasses.

Whoever it was, it's arrival sure freaked Sky and Flint out.

Sky: "(O_O) AH! Professor Sagawa!"

Sagawa: "I heard some rumble was going on up here, atop of our proud school, and what do I find? You, Sky, of all people? And two more students? Aren't you supposed to be at class at this time? Very disappointing. You should be ahsamed of yourself."

Sky: "Errr, yeah, about that, I, err…."

Sky was sweating bullets in the presence of it's mentor, and just as he was running out of vocals, Enlil stepped forward.

Enlil: "It was my fault, professor. I… I'm to blame."

Bristy: "Huh?"

Sky: "Enlil-chan?"

Enlil: "I got lost and ended up here. The others were just caught in the midst. Please… (bows) don't punish them!"

Sky: "Why is she taking the bullet?"

Sagawa: "Hizuki Enlil, from Tesla Dueling High, I suppose? I've heard a thing or two from the other techers regarding your behavior. Shouting in class, toying with food, now even ditching class and endangering other students? How very disappointing."

Enlil: "(hangs head) I'm sorry."

Sagawa: "I'm afraid the school follows a zero tolerance politics on such behavior. You do realize I might have to expell you."

Enlil: "… Yes."

Sky: "But it was nothing like that."

Enlil: "Huh?"

Sky: "It's my fault… kinda. She seemed a bit too nervous on her first day here, so I… err, I had a duel with her to, you know, help her loosen up, but I… I kinda forgot about the time, so… heheh…"

Sagawa: "You were dueling? Out here, outside class?"

Sky: "(twitches) Y-yes…"

Enlil: "(observes Sky, blushing) Sky-kun, you…"

Sagawa: "Well, in that case…"

Sagawa's voice and expression looked like he was about to speak out a death sentence.

One moment later:

Sagawa: "…(his voice became higher and joyful, his cheeks turned pink, he smiled and made an OK gesture) I suppose it's fine!"

A change in character that big would make anyone go "HEH?" Ten seconds ago, he sounded like a war-general, but now he sounded like a host of a TV puppet show.

Sagawa: "You should have said it was a duel you were having, that excuses everything. It reminds me of my own self back in the days. It's no wonder you were so nervous before, duels tend to have that kind of effect, people should do it more often."

Sky&Flint&Enlil: "(sweatdrop) Gosh, what a change of character."

Sagawa: "Well then, don't be long now. (leaves)"

Sagawa simply left the area, and ventured back into the corridors beneath. The expressions on Enlil's, Sky's and Flint's faces were… proceless. A very expressed, yet very silent "EH?"

Meanwhile, Loxy and Edith walked up to Bristy in order to make sure she was fine.

Edith: "Oh my gosh, are you hurt?"

Loxy: "Yeah, what happened out here?"

Bristy: "Pih, nothing worth mention. The girl thought she could take me down, and got the fangs as the result."

Sky: "(-_-) I'm not even mentioned, am I?"

Bristy: "I've had it with these losers for today. Come, we're leaving."

Bristy started to march towards the exit, acting like nothing ever happened, while her two pupils followed up like a pair of chicks after the mother han.

Before she could exit…

Enlil: "Wait, Bristy-san!"

Bristy: "Hm? (looks at her) Whaddaya want, Twin-tails?"

Enlil gulped out loud before gathering up the courage to speak.

Enlil: "About what happened now… I'm really sorry!"

Bristy: "(surprised) Huh?"

Sky: "HEH?"

Bristy: "Wait a second, you are apologizing to me?"

Flint: "Shouldn't it be the other way around?"

Enlil: "But, today's mess occured because I was too weak… in every way possible. I showed weakness in front of you all, and the Number. You almost got hurt because of me. Please… (bows) please forgive me!"

Words couldn't express how shocked and surprised Bristy blinked at Enlil. Then again, she showed this expression for only a second before looking sideways.

Bristy: "W-whatever, like I keep count."

Enlil: "There is one more thing."

Bristy: "Now what is it, I already said I-"

Enlil: "(passes over her deck) Here."

I take it back. The previous moment one might define, but absolutely no description is accurate enough to preceive how Bristy felt at that moment Enlil offered her her own deck. I can only ay Bristy was mind-blown, she was confused, overwhelmed, quiet, moved, etc. She kept observing the deck of cards that Enlil was trying to pass over to her.

Bristy: "Wha… What are you trying to pull?"

Enlil: "You said it earlier how… How you never had access to good cards, and you quit dueling. But I think… You must have been very sad when you experienced that. And you've missed out a lot on what makes dueling so much fun. So here, you can play with my deck. I won't mind."

Even Bristy was hesitating in taking the deck, but Enlil didn't seem to mind parting from something that important. Bristy was speechless.

Bristy: "Her deck… Never before has someone given me his own deck. She said this deck was her life, so why…?"

Enlil was still giggling. Bristy only gasped for a minute before looking sideways again.

Bristy: "Uhm, I'm only taking this out of profit, nothing more, understand! No funny thoughts!"

Enlil: "(smiles) None at all."

Bristy turned around and resumed her leave, so no one could see her expression when she said this.

Bristy: "It's your loss… Twin-tail baka."

It sounds harsh when you read it, but she in fact blushed when saying it, and everyone noticed she was only pretending to be tough, while she in fact bluffed every word. She was quite moved at that moment. Nevertheless, she left, and Edith and Loxy followed.

Sky: "(to Enlil) You know… That was very noble of you."

Enlil: "Thanks."

Flint: "But with your deck now gone, how do you suppose to duel?"

Enlil: "I don't worry. I actually remembered what you said, Sky-kun."

Sky: "What was it?"

Enlil: "(giggles) E-hhm… Sky-High, was it?"

Sky: "(nods) Yep, sounds like me."

Enlil: "When I'm down, I can find the strength to stand up, stronger than ever. And even though I don't have a deck anymore… I believe I can start over, and my next deck will be even better."

Sky: "Wow, that is… exactly like Sky-High!"

Enlil proceeded to leave, but also turned around one last time to see Sky's face.

Enlil: "Uhm, can I… I mean… Will we see each other again?"

Sky: "Hoh? (smiles) Sure, I'd like that."

Enlil: "(blushes)… Thanks!"

(SNAPSHOT!)

Flint's head is full of surprises: he can make his eyes act like camera-lenses, and take pictures like a photographer with his head. Such as this one:

He captured Sky giving a thumbs up and Enlil waving goodbye in the backgrund in the frame. Sadly, due to this ability, he was unable to show up on any other pictures.

!

Sky and Flint remained on the roof, beholding the picture Flint had taken. He developed it immediatelly, so Sky could observe it properly.

Sky: "Looks cool, you're a natural."

Flint: "Comes natural, as a scanner, I'm good with perspectives."

Sky: "This marks our first sucessful Numbers hunt. If there'll be any more of them, don't you think we should make a scrapbook of pics like this?"

Flint: "We just might."

Sky: "(thucks the photo away) But what an awkward day, never thought this hunt-thing would be so exhausting."

And then…

Keira: "What hunt?"

Sky: "GH!"

Sky immediatelly turned around, and could not believe his eyes: Keira was standing in front of him, and her reply has terrified the sockets outta him. It was quite a surprise. She caught him completely off-guard, he had no idea what to say, not to mention his current pose was giving his shock away.

Sky: "K-K-K-K-Keira-chan? What are you…?"

Keira: "Have you seen it?"

Sky: "Heh? Seen what?"

Keira: "That… that beutiful alicorn earlier."

Sky: "Alicorn?"

Flint: "Sky-sama, an alicorn is the name given to the creature that has traits of a pegasus and a unicorn."

Sky: "A winged unicorn, then?"

Keira: "That's right, I can't believe you missed it!"

They way she looked in the sky, and the way she moved, it looked like she was praying to the mentioned creature, or rather admiring it's picture in her mind.

Keira: "A wonderful creature, to think something that beautiful exists like a Duel Monster… That golden light, that beautiful wingbeat, it felt like a hope's triumph when it pierced through the darkness!"

Sky: "Heh? Wait a sec, the only thing here that fits the description was…"

Sky remembered what his Number 59 looks like: an armored equine with a horn and wings, albeit with a completely armor-covered head.

Sky: "Shining Knighcorn, does she mean that?"

Flint: "You don't mean Shining Knighcorn, do you, Keira-chan?"

Keira: "Shining… Knighcorn? (blushes) That's it's name, so it does exist!"

Sky: "GH! (!) What are you doing, Flint? Spilling secrets of Numbers to innocent Keira-chan!"

Keira: "I wonder to whom it belongs?"

Sky: "So you… Liked Knighcorn's performance?"

Keira: "Liked? I think I'm in love! The story of the 'Knight's Alicorn' was always my favorite bed-time story, I would so want to see that amazing monster again! It's owner must be a wonderful person!"

In his head, Sky made a face like a happy little teddy-bear:

Sky: "Yaaaay, she thinks my Shining Knighcorn is awesome! I'm so lucky!"

Then, she turned to Sky, again catching him off guard.

Keira: "Wait a sec, if you know it's name, then… Sky-kun, do you know who it was that summoned it?"

Sky: "AH, I, err… I might."

Keira: "Please, tell me that!"

You'd think he did the obvious, but instead, he was facing a dilemma.

Sky: "I could tell her it's me right now and gain her respect… but if I do that I might get Keira-chan to like me for the wrong reasons. Sky-High, help! Awhm, it was, errr… I think it was… (sigh) Truth is, I… have no idea."

Flint: "Heh?"

Keira: "You don't?"

Sky: "(panicks, waves hands rapidly) B-b-but if I knew, you'd be the first to know, I promise! I can look it up for you, how about that?"

Keira: "You'd do that?"

Sky: "Sure."

Keira then did what Sky onle dreamed of before: she hugged him, and nearly caused his heart to explode.

Keira: "Thank you so much, Sky, you're a real friend!"

Sky almost melted in her arms, but alas, she was only holding him for a second, by which time she rushed out and ran out of sight. She waved goodbye one more time before ultimately leaving.

Keira: "Thanks again! I won't stop until I see it again. (winks) See you in school!"

And she left. Even so, Sky kept on waving at her. He had an expression on his face like he just ate a sweet marshmallow.

Sky: "Okay… Bye-bye… Aaaahhh, she's so cute."

Flint: "Ahehem."

Sky: "Huh? (to Flint) What is it?"

Flint: "Care to explain? It was your clear chance to gain Keira-chan's trust, and you missed it on purpose. Why didn't you tell her it was you who summoned the Number 59 and saved the day?"

Sky: "Because, errr… Because I'd want her to like me for what kind of a person am, not because of what kind of duelist I am."

Flint: "The Number does reflect what kind of a person you are! A like is a like, Sky-sama baka!"

Sky: "Stop calling me that! Besides… (looks sideways) Had I told her, she'd be caught up in our Numbers hunt. She might end up hurt, I don't want that?"

Flint: "That's the reason? Awwwww, Sky-sama, you're just so amazing…"

Sky: "Huh? (scratches head, smiles) You think? Thanks."

Flint: "…ly stupid."

Sky: "(!) What did you just say, you old buckethead?"

It'd be pointless to speak of how the conversation went on…

Numbers Hunt Status Report:

Number 71 successfully captured;

Number 59 combo deployed successfully;

Keira's interest in Number 59 arises as a complication;

!

Dusk came quite soon. It's remarkable how time flies by when you're enjoying the day… one way or another.

School was over for today, so Sky was heading home. Instead of the usual energetic skateboard ride that we fist saw, the return home is usually more worn out, so he walked instead and had Flint hang of his backpack.

Sky: "(sigh) What a day, so much happened, and every time I get this worn out, it's turning into a habit."

Flint: "I told you to conserve your strength and Sky-High after the school instead of before."

Sky: "Right, right… But, something sure feels better."

Flint: "Really? What's that?"

Sky: "Well…I deployed Shining Knighcorn for the first time, I met a new friend, and… I think… things are looking better for me and Keira-chan."

Flint: "Say what you want, it's still not a relationship."

Sky: "I'm too tired to argue about this…"

And when the two reached a crossroad, they were surprised to see a familiar someone on the other side of the street.

She looked at them as well, and was also surprised: it was Enlil.

Enlil: "Huh?"

Sky: "Eh? Enlil?"

Enlil: "You are…"

Minutes later…

As it turned out, both Enlil and Sky were following the same route home, so they tagged along for the time being. As before, Enlil had a hard time looking Sky into the eyes and kept blushing as soon as he talked to her. Odd thing was, Enlil was dragging a large piece of luggage instead of a usual backpack.

Sky: "You sure you don't need any help with that?"

Enlil: "No, I'm fine. It's not as heavy as it looks."

Sky: "What are you tolling that thing for, anyway?"

Enlil: "I, uhm… It was my first day in town today, really. I was supposed to get settled in a new home today after school."

Sky: "You found a place?"

Enlil: "Yeah. A very nice person offered a free spot in an appartment nearby, I can even afford the rent."

Flint: "And it's here nearby?"

Enlil: "I think so."

Flint: "But… If Sky-sama lives nearby, wouldn't that make you our new neighour?"

Enlil: "Heh? Y-you live around here?"

Sky: "Yeah, I do. Perseus Heights, that's my street."

Enlil: "Seriously? My new adress is supposed to be on Perseus Heights."

Sky: "Then… I guess we really are neighbours."

Enlil: "I know, isn't that great? (blushes) Ehm, I mean…"

Sky: "I won't complain. I think you should rest for today, since… well, you know… Oh, by the way, that Number…"

Enlil: "Eh? … Uhm, I… I really don't think."

Sky: "It's okay, you don't have to tell me. Let's get you settled first."

Enlil smiled widely, like she just ate up a cherry-pie.

Enlil: "Thank you, Sky-kun. You're a really nice person."

Sky: "Well, I manage…"

Just then, they halted before a certain house. Enlil took out a small note and checked the adress, observing her new home in awe.

Enlil: "This is it. This is where I'll be staying."

Sky: "Glad to see you like it. I wonder who else is giving away rooms around h- (looks at the house) Eh? Huh!"

Enlil: "Is something the matter?"

Sky: "But this house, it's…"

As Sky took a flash-overview of "Enlil's new home", he realized that her place… it looked awfully familiar.

The doors…

The roof…

The walls…

Even the mailbox…

In short it was:

Sky: "This is MY place!"

Enlil: "Heh? (checks her note) It says here 'Perseus Heights 59'. Can it be a mistake?"

Flint: "I didn't know we were renting out rooms."

Sky: "We're not."

Sky's next-door neighbour, Bara, then showed herself. She was in her yard, sweeping it.

Bara: "Good afternoon, kids."

Sky: "Oh, Mrs Bara."

Enlil: "Bara-senpai, good afternoon."

Sky: "Heh? Wait a sec, you know her?"

Enlil: "She is the person that offered the appartment to me."

Sky: "Really? (to Bara) Mrs Bara, I didn't know you were a landlord over more than one house here."

Bara: "Hihihihihi… I'm not."

Sky: "Huh?"

Enlil: "But you said you had a spare room somewhere."

Bara: "I do. So I gave you the one place I had authority of."

Sky: "Don't be silly. The only place you own then is the one where I…"

By the time he figured it out… everything turned mute. Even the wind became acustic…

Sky: "… … … …. Eh?"

Sky&Enlil: "(O.O) HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH? WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?"

(to be continued)

!

(BONUS!)

Flint: "It's time for Numbers Math Trivia! It's the part of the episode where we explain certain Number's significance. Math was never more fun! Let's see, today we have successfully met with…"

(Shining Knighcorn's card appears)

Sky: "Number 59: Shining Knighcorn! My own personal Number, and a super cool monster: a knight and a unicorn, and a pegasus! What do you think his number 59 stands for?"

Flint: "Let's see the data."

Number 59: Shining Knighcorn (LIGHT/ rank 2/ Beast-type/ ATK: 1800/ DEF: 200) - 3 level 2 Monsters
- During either player's Battle phase, when a monster attacks, you can detach up to 2 of this card's Xyz materials and select 1 monster on the field: The targeted monster loses 500 ATK for each card detached until the end of the Battle phase. If this card battles a monster targeted with this effect, this card gains 300 ATK.

Flint: "There appears to be the following reference: in the past, there has been a total of 9 Lazarus Heroes that came in contact with Duel Monsters…"

1- Whyte Kingston

2- Swift Cardigan

3- Jet Yuno

4- Yunata Shuuki

5- Shiro Whiterain

6- Diego Sanchez de Sol

7- Girojin of the Dawn

8- Len Klenty

9- Sky Galen

Flint: "Only Sky-sama is one of the 5 remaining to take the game seriously!"

1- Jet Yuno

2- Yunata Shuuki

3- Shiro Whiterain

4- Diego Sanchez de Sol

5- Sky Galen

Sky: "That makes me the 5th out of 9, a 59, right? Also, if we take another look, the total sum of the individual numbers is 14…"

5 + 9 = 14

Sky: "… and the year 2014 is supposed to be the Year of the Horse, right? This might explain Knighcorn's equine appearance. How cool, let this light shine into the day-sky, Sky-High!"

Flint: "By the way, who are all these other people?"

Sky: "Beats me, I never heard of them. I don't see Yugi, or Yusei… what is this?"

Flint: "I think one of them owes me money."

Sky: "Okay, now you're being a spoiler."

!

(next time)

Sky: "This first episode was way too long!"

Flint: "That's because first-contact descriptions take out most of it."

Enlil: "By the way, how do we celebrate? We had our first episode done without any spoilers!"

Sky: "How about a trip to the cinema?"

Enlil: "The movies! Nononono, I can't, it would be just like a d…d…d… D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D…"

Sky: "What are you trying to say?"

Flint: "Now that's a spoiler, a recurring gag."

Enlil: "EH? I didn't mean to, I swear!"

Sky: "Geez, let me handle this."

(… okay, because they just messed up the preview, here's a short summary:
"All of the sudden, Sky and Enlil find out that they'll be living together, a concept that does not clash with Sky's interrests of a Numbers Hunt, while Enlil points out her problem with sharing her space with a boy. In order to clear things out, a trip to the cinema is planned, which occurs just in time of the premiere of a brand new horror movie remake, which seems to be leaving all it's viewers terrified…")

Sky: "Next time on Number Wars: 'Fighting Fear- The Star Beast King Arrives!' Spirit rising, Sky-High!"

!

Card intel:

Aerial Striker (WIND/ level 3/ Warrior-type/ ATK: 1000/ DEF 1000)- When this card is Normal summoned, and you control no other monsters, you can discard 1 monster card from your hand: this card gains 1000 ATK.

Breather Snatch (WIND/ level 4/ Beast-type/ ATK: 1400/ DEF: 1600)- When a monster is Special summoned on your side of the field, you can tribute it: select and destroy 1 Spell or Trap card on the field.

Miracle Hawk (WIND/ level 4/ Winged Beast-type/ ATK: 1200/ DEF: 1200)- If this card is Normal summoned: you can special summon 1 level 3 or lower WIND monster from your Graveyard. It is destroyed during the End phase.

Advance Wind (Spell, Normal)- Select 1 monster you control. Special summon 1 WIND monster from your hand whose level is by 1 higher than the selected monster's.

Number 71: Divine Wind (Xyz/WIND/ rank 4/ Fairy-type/ ATK: 2100/ DEF: 2000)
- 2 level 4 Monsters
- During either player's Battle phase, by detaching 1 of this card's Xyz materials, target 1 face-up monster on the field: It's ATK becomes the same as this card's original ATK.
+ Anime effect: This card can only be destroyed by battle with another "Number" monster.

Half-Way Eater (WATER/ level 1/ Fish-type/ ATK: 800/ DEF: 400)- You can select 1 monster you control whose level is an even number; reduce that monster's level by half, and Special summon this card from your hand; summoned in this way, this card's level becomes equal to the reduced amount, until the End phase.

Number 59: Shining Knighcorn (LIGHT/ rank 2/ Beast-type/ ATK: 1800/ DEF: 200) - 3 level 2 Monsters
- During either player's Battle phase, when a monster attacks, you can detach up to 2 of this card's Xyz materials and select 1 monster on the field: The targeted monster loses 500 ATK for each card detached until the end of the Battle phase. If this card battles a monster targeted with this effect, this card gains 300 ATK.
+ Anime effect: This card can only be destroyed by battle with another "Number" monster.

Spartan Assault (Spell, Normal)- You can only activate this card if your opponent controls a monster that cannot be destroyed by battle (by either card's effect, under any conditions). Select 1 monster you control; during this turn, it can attack twice.