Hey guys, I'm back! I'm still using a beta reader for this story, so that I can improve my duel writing skills. With that being said, enjoy the show!
Kotori LP: 1000
Kaito LP: 3200
Kaito's field: Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon, no facedowns
Kotori's field: Hecatrice, Honest, 1 facedown
Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon
ATK: 3000
LEVEL: 8
Hecatrice
ATK: 1500
LEVEL: 4
Honest
DEF: 1900
LEVEL: 4
On the inside of a forest, Kaito and Kotori were dueling, well, more like instructing a lesson, while Yuma and Shark just watched by the side.
This all came about because of a favor that Kaito agreed to a few days back...
*Flashback*
"Hey, Kaito!" the blonde turned, seeing the greenette running towards him, waving. She stopped to catch her breath before saying, "Hey, are you entering the Dueling tournament that's coming up?"
The former Numbers Hunter nodded in response. "I've entered Haruto as well. I figured, now that he's cured, I should probably give him the freedom he deserves."
"Oh, that's great!" the greenette said, smiling.
"Why do you ask?" the blonde asked, statling the girl.
"Well, that's the thing... See, I kind of entered myself as well, and I bought myself a deck to duel with, but I don't now what half of them really do!"
"Let me see them." The girl got out her deck, allowing Kaito to see the cards. "Okay, this may be a deck I can work with."
Kotori raised an eyebrow, confused. "Work with?"
"That's what you wanted me to do, right? Train you to use these cards?" Kaito said, turning to look at the greenette.
"Well..." She began.
"Or, you can just watch as you get left behind in the tournament, which is it?" Kaito asked, giving Kotori an ultimatum of sorts. After a few moments of silence, she nodded in approval. "Excellent. We begin the day the tournament begins. Bring your deck... and a competent strategy."
The 14-year old was left standing there, trying to process what she just heard.
*End Flashback*
"I overlay the Level 4 Hecatrice and Honest!" Kotori declared, before both monsters turned fully yellow, spiraling into the air.
Underneath the 2 duelists, a red spiral portal opened up. "With these 2 monsters, I build the Overlay Network!" a light shot out of the portal. "Xyz Summon! Please show yourself, Fairy Cheer Girl!"
...a buzzer went off, with the greenette's D-Pad reading "ERROR". "Huh? What did I do wrong?!" the girl said, panicking.
The Solid AR Vision faded, as well as Kaito's D-Gazer, as his Photon Change switched off. As his coat turned from white to black, he slowly walked up to Kotori. "What happened?"
"I did everything right! I got the monsters on the field, made sure that they were the same levels, and I put it in my deck!"
"The deck?"
"Yes!" Kotori exclaimed.
Kaito pinched the bridge of his nose, before saying, "Yuma, explain to Kotori how you Xyz summon again."
Yuma took out a book, some glasses, and licked his fingers before finally saying:
"During their Main Phase 1 or 2, if the game state is open: The turn player can declare the action, choosing an Xyz Monster in their Extra Deck that they intend to Xyz Summon. They stack the required Xyz Materials on top of each other in a single Monster Zone, as listed on the Xyz Monster itself (which normally list at least 2 monsters with Levels that match the Xyz Monster's Rank). After that, they take the chosen Xyz Monster from the Extra Deck and place it on top of the stacked Xyz Materials in face-up Attack or Defense Position."
Yuma put the book away, before a Rice ball was thrown to him by the former Numbers Hunter. "Good boy." Kaito turned back to Kotori, who was looking down, in sorrow. "Sorry, Kaito..." The blonde raised his hand slowly... and placed it on Kotori's head, surprising the girl. She looked at Kaito, who had a gentle look in his eyes.
"It's okay. Nobody starts out as a pro at first." he then turned to Yuma and Shark, and remarked, "Isn't that right, Yuma?"
"Screw you! I actually knew what Xyz summoning was from its introduction!" the duelist snapped, making everyone laugh. As the laughter died down, however, Kaito said this: "However, in order to get you to ascend to a higher level, you have to face people that are higher on the totem pole than you." he motioned for Shark and Yuma to come over.
"These will be your opponents." Kaito told the girl, shocking the 3 of them.
"What?!" Yuma cried.
"Kaito, hold on!" Shark exclaimed, walking up to the former Numbers Hunter, putting a hand on his shoulder. "I don't think that this is the appropriate way to-"
"This is the first step to take if she wants to get stronger." Kaito replied, cutting him off. "Besides, this is what she wanted, and that's what she's going to get."
"Kaito, she's barely ever dueled! What if we-" Yuma began, then the cry of "YUMA!" cut him off, and all the boys turned towards the greenette.
"For years, I've done nothing but watch you... And I've been nothing but a burden... That's why I need to do this! So please, Yuma! Shark!" Kotori readied her D-Pad once again. "I request that you duel with me!" she put her D-Gazer over her eye.
Yuma smirked, before saying, "Alright, Kotori! If that's the case, then we're gonna bring it to you!" Yuma threw his D-Pad in the air. "Let's do this! Duel Disk, set!" His duel disk slicked on his wrist, the card zones folding out. "D-Gazer, set!" His D-Gazer flipped onto his face.
Meanwhile, Shark's D-Pad black-and-yellow formed from energy, and his left eye turned red.
"SOLID AR VISION, LINK ESTABLISHED." the AR system said, the area around them warping into the Augmented Reality. "ESTABLISHING LINK BETWEEN A AND B."
"DUEL!"
Yuma & Shark LP: 4000
Hand: 5 (each)
Kotori LP: 4000
Hand: 5
"This duel will be contested under Handicap rules!" Kaito declared. "Which means, until every player has taken their turn, nobody draws a card, and no monsters on the field can attack! Furthermore, if the one member of the team of Yuma and Shark loses all their Life Points, both members will lose!" the blond finished, before pointing at Kotori. "Since you're my student, you can have the first move! Show them what you've learned under my tutelege." the blond smirked.
The greenette nodded, and looked at her hand. "I summon The Agent of Creation - Venus in Attack Mode!" she laid the card down, and then a winged angel, with 3 orbs surrounding her, appeared on the field.
The Agent of Creation - Venus
ATK: 1600
LEVEL: 3
"I activate Venus' effect! By paying 500 Life Points, I can special summon 1 'Mystical Shine Ball' from my hand or deck!" Kotori got the card, and the clear ball appeared.
Mystical Shine Ball
ATK: 500
LEVEL: 2
Kotori LP: 4000 - 3500
"What can be done once can be done once again! I ativate Venus' effect! By paying another 500 Life Points, I can special summon another Mystical Shine Ball!" a card jutted out from Kotori's deck, and another clear ball showed itself.
Mystical Shine Ball
ATK: 500
LEVEL: 2
Kotori LP 3500 - 3000
"She just cost herself 1000 Life Points!" Yuma exclaimed.
"What's even worse, she has two Level 2 on the field!" Shark replied, making Yuma react.
"Now, let's see if you've picked anything up, Kotori." Kaito thought, smirking to himself.
"And now, I overlay the 2 Level 2 Mystical Shine Balls!" Both of the orbs turned from translucent to opaque yellow, and spiraled into the air. A red spiral portal opened up, and both monsters went inside. "With these 2 monsters, I build the Overlay Network!" A beam of white light shot from the portal. "Xyz Summon! Show yourself, Daigusto Phoenix!" The green-and-orange scaled dragon showed itself on the field, with 2 green overlay units cicling it.
Daigusto Phoenix
ATK: 1500
RANK: 2
OVU: 2
"Turn End!" Kotori declared.
Yuma just looked on in amazement. "Wow!" the black-and-red haired teen exclaimed. "I'm impressed! You actually managed to Xyz summon on your first turn! And correctly this time!"
Kaito smiled to himself. "Looks like someone's getting the hang of things."
"It's my turn!" Yuma declared. "I summon Goblindbergh in Attack Mode!" A goblin appeared in a plane, wearing a pilot suit.
Goblindbergh
ATK: 1400
LEVEL: 4
"And because I Summoned it this turn, I can Special Summon one card that has the level of 4!" Yuma explained, before Goblindbergh dropped a crate on the field. "Gogogo Golem, Special Summon!" the golem showed itself on the field.
Gogogo Golem
DEF: 1500
LEVEL: 4
Goblindbergh
DEF: 0
"Two level 4 monsters?!" Kaito mentally exclaimed, in realization.
"I'm gonna bring it to you, Kotori! I overlay the Level 4 Goblindbergh and Gogogo Golem!" the two monsters turned fully orange, before spiraling into the air. A galaxy portal opened up, and both monsters went inside. "With these two monsters, I build the overlay network!" Yuma shot his hand into the air. "Xyz Summon!" A bright light shone from the portal. "Bring it to 'em, Number 55!" The Number '55' flashed in pink, before a monster climbed out of the portal, looking like Gogogo Golem, only with more attachments on its back, and looking more like a fortress, with orange two overlay units circling it. "Gogogo Goliath!"
Number 55: Gogogo Goliath
ATK: 2400
RANK: 4
OVU: 2
"A Numbers Monster?!" Kotori exclaimed.
"Yuma, when did you get that card from?" Shark asked.
"I don't really know, really..." the teen replied, scratching the back of his head. "All I know is, the card just showed up in my extra deck one day, as I was searing through it!"
Meanwhile...
Astral was watching Yuma's duel on a screen, smiling to himself. "Consider this to be my second gift to you, Yuma."
Back at the duel...
"That thing is enormous..." Kotori stated, looking at the Numbers monster.
"With this, I end my turn!" Yuma declared. "Shark, do it!"
"Right! It's my turn! First off, I'll summon Big Jaws in Attack Mode!" A torrent of water flowed, and a shark with large, protruding teeth and a sharp fin appeared.
Big Jaws
ATK: 1800
LEVEL: 3
"And because a Fish-Type monster was summoned on my field this turn, Shark Stickers, Special Summon!" A another fish, this one with suction cups on its head, appeared next to Big Jaws.
Shark Stickers
DEF: 1000
LEVEL: 3
"I overlay the Level 4 Big Jaws and Shark Stickers!" Both monsters turned fully blue, before spiraling into the air. A red sprial portal opened up, with both monsters going inside. "With these two monsters, I build the overlay network!" A purple spear came out from the ground. "Xyz Summon! Show yourself, Black Ray Lancer!" The winged stingray monster showed itself, brandishing its spear.
Black Ray Lancer
ATK: 2100
RANK: 3
OVU: 2
"I set one card facedown." Shark's facedown appeared. "Turn End." Kotori stared at the two Xyz monsters, breathless. "Amazing... they each managed to Xyz monsters! Not only that, they're all stronger than my Daigusto..." she looked at her free hand, noticing it shaking slightly. "I feel strange..." Kotori noticed that her whole body was trembling, not with fear, but with happiness. "I see... so this is what it's like!" she let out a chuckle. "The real duel begins begins now!" The greenette put her hand on her deck, before declaring, "It's my turn! DRAW!" she drew her card. "Field Spell, Sanctuary in the Sky, activate!"
The area morphed from a forest, to an angelic building which had floated into the sky, and the 3 duelists found themselves sending on the clouds.
"Next, I'll Summon The Agent of Mystery - Earth in Attack Mode!" A grey-skinned woman wearing elegant cloth, green-blue wings, and holding a clear orb appeared.
The Agent of Mystery - Earth
ATK: 1000
LEVEL: 2
"Agent of Mystery's effect activates! Because Sanctuary in the Sky is on the field, I can add one Master Hyperion from my deck, straight to my hand!" a card jutted out from the greenette's deck. "And by banishing one 'The Agent' monster from my field," Kotori began, with 'Earth' dissipating. "I can Special Summon this card from my hand!" A blaze of fire took place, before a giant monster, wearing ancient robes, and rings around the center of its chest.
Master Hyperion
ATK: 2700
LEVEL: 8
"A level 8 monster?!" Shark exclaimed.
"What?! When... Where did she get that card from?!" Kaito said, shocked.
"Battle! Master Hyperion, attack Black Ray Lancer!" The giant monster rushed towards the Xyz monster, destroying it.
Yuma & Shark LP: 4000 - 3400
"Daigusto, attack Shark Directly!" Kotori declared, and the dragon ran up to Shark, kicking him.
Yuma & Shark LP: 3400 - 1900
"And now, Venus, continue the trifecta and attack Shark directly!" The three orbs lit up on Venus, and they all shocked Shark. "WAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" the Barian screamed.
Yuma & Shark LP: 1900 - 300
"SHARK!" Yuma cried, running over to his friend. "Hey, Shark, are you okay? Answer me!" Yuma gently shook Shark, who opened his eyes, before saying, "I'm not dead, you know." Yuma smiled, and then the Barian slowly got up.
"Turn End! Now, let's see if you can make a comeback!" Kotori stated, slighty mocking her opponents.
"Heh." Yuma chuckled. "Don't worry, because we haven't lost just yet! It's my turn! Draw!" Yuma looked at his card. "Yes! I tribute Gogogo Goliath!" The giant, fortress-like monster disappeared.
"What?!" Shark exclaimed.
"Yuma got rid of that powerful monster... but why?" Kaito wondered.
"Gogogo Golem - Golden Form, Special Summon!" Yuma declared, and his monster formed, looking almost like Gogogo Golem, except leaner, with golden armor, and a red centerpiece at the heart of its chest.
Gogogo Golem - Golden Form
ATK: ?
LEVEL: 4
"It has no Attack Points..." Kotori breathed.
"Because I tributed a 'Gogogo' monster, Golden Gogogo Golem's Attack Points become double that of the tributed monster!"
Gogogo Golem - Golden Form
ATK: 4800
"4800 Attack Points?!" Kotori exclaimed.
"Golden Gogogo Golem! Attack Master Hyperion!" the golden monster rushed toward the giant, and punched him.
Kotori LP: 3000 - 900
"Nice! Now our Life Points are almost the same!" Shark said. "Nice one, Yuma!"
The red-black haired boy gave a thumbs up, and replied, "Thanks, but I'm not done yet! I summon Gogogo Ghost in attack mode!" An monster appeared on the field, dressed in samurai garb, wielding a samurai sword, with blue flames of energy coming out.
Gogogo Ghost
ATK: 1900
LEVEL: 4
"I overlay the Level 4 Gogogo Golem - Golden Form and Gogogo Ghost!" the monsters turned fully purple (Ghost) and orange (Golden) before spiraling into the air. A galaxy portal opened up, with both monsters sailing inside. "With these 2 monsters, I build the Overlay Network!" A light shone from the portal. "Xyz Summon! Show yourself! Number 39! The King of Hope, Utopia!"
The Number '39' flashed in red, before Utopia's sealed form arose from a dark cloud. The gold and silver wings extended, and its body started to form, taking out its sword, before finally letting out a cry of "HOPE!"
Number 39: Utopia
ATK: 2500
RANK: 4
"Turn End!" Yuma declared. "Shark, take it away!"
"Right! It's my turn! Draw!" Shark drew his card. He pointed at the greenette. "Since you control more monsters than I do, I can summon Eagle Shark!" the purple fish, armed with razor-sharp fins, showed itself on the field.
Eagle Shark
DEF: 1800
LEVEL: 5
"Because I summoned Eagle Shark this turn, Panther Shark, Special Summon!" A yellow-purple monster decked with razor fins showed itself.
Panther Shark
DEF: 2000
LEVEL: 5
"I overlay the Level 5 Panther Shark and Eagle Shark!" both monsters turned fully blue before spiraling into the air. A red portal opened up, and both monsters went inside. "With these 2 monsters I build the Overlay Network!" A light shone through the portal. "Xyz Summon! Come, Shark Fortress!" A giant fish shaped like a submarine came out though the portal.
Shark Fortress
ATK: 2400
RANK: 5
"Spell Card, Open!" Shark's facedown flipped up. "Rank-Up-Magic Barian's Force, activate!" the card glowed crimson.
"Barian's Force?" Kotori breathed.
"By targeting one Xyz monster, I can increase its Rank by one!" Shark declared.
Shark Fortress
RANK: 6
"And because I increased its Rank, I can rebuild the Overlay Network!" A galaxy portal opened up, Shark Fortress diving inside. "Chaos Xyz Change! Show yourself, Chaos Number 73! Pierce through the whirlpool of Chaos, and now, surface from the depths to this land!" The monster that appeared wore purple-white armor, with spiked shoulders and a helmet, all while wielding a staff. "Abyss Supra Splash!"
Number C73: Abyss Supra Splash
ATK: 3000
RANK: 6
"3000 Attack Points?" Kotori gasped.
"Well, this is unexpected." Kaito thought, smirking.
"Battle! Abyss Supra Splash attacks Daigusto Phoenix!" The Chaos monster charged its energy at the monster, fired the energy directly at it, obliterating it.
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" Kotori screamed, as the force was just enough to knock her back a few feet.
Yuma & Shark LP: 300 - WIN
Kotori LP: 0
Yuma and Shark's faces appeared, each with the word "WIN" appearing underneath as the Solid AR Vision vanished. The two teens walked up to the greenette, who said, "I lost..." she then felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked and saw that it was Kaito, giving her a warm smile. "It's okay... Losing is all part of the process."
"Yeah, you may lose a lot now, but soon, you'll be winning left and right!" Yuma said, making her smile.
Shark smirked, before saying, "Yeah, how many times do you think that Yuma had to lose to everyone before finally winning for once?"
"Shut up! You don't know a thing!" Yuma said, his cheeks puffing out, while everyone just laughed and laughed. As soon as the laughter died down, however, Kaito stood up, saying, "Alright. I think the practice games are over." He walked forward, looking back at his teammates. "Let's win some medals."