The next morning, I used a Gateway to get to the airship. Something was telling me something bad was going to happen, and this morning was no help. Shadow had somehow gotten out of the house while I was asleep, and I was getting worried. Arcana Force XV: the Fiend didn't get enough rest that day and conked out in the middle of night-watch duty (should've remembered the poor spirit had insomnia). Shadow left the house, probably through an open window. I waited in the ship until everyone else was ready for the hunt. When they all got here, we reviewed what Mythyrians we'll be looking for next.
"This is the location of the final ruins," Astral explained, showing the location on the holographic map, where two lights hovered over the middle of the Pacific. "The sixth and seventh Mythyrian Numbers are there. These ruins may provide clues on uncovering the identities of the final two Barian emperors."
"Sounds like a big deal," Shark commented. "Is Kite gonna join us?"
"No," Yuma replied. "He said there was something he wanted to check out, but he didn't tell me what it was."
"It's got to be Mizar," the Shark-duelist believed.
"Wouldn't be surprised if it was," I added.
"Well even if we're a man down, we can totally handle the job," Yuma encouraged us.
"Hopefully we will not have to 'handle' anything and finding the Numbers will prove easy," Astral assumed. Tori agreed with him.
"Since when does anything come easy?" I asked, raising a brow.
"It doesn't matter if it's impossible," Yuma grinned. "We're gonna get 'em no matter what!" He ran up to the driver's wheel. "Better buckle up, 'cause I'm putting the pedal to the metal!" Two familiar minds caught my attention.
"I'll catch up with you guys in a bit," I told them. "Uh, Shadow left the house last night, and I'm hoping to probably find her." Yuma and the others were okay with it, and I went through a Gateway to whoever caught my interest.
I exited the Gateway to find myself atop a structure. None other than Dumon and Mizar a few yards in front of me, standing near the edge. I walked up to join them, and they both nodded to me in greeting as I did likewise.
"The legend contained within that Mythyrian Number claimed you used to be human," Dumon relayed to the blonde.
"I am a Barian, I could never have been a human," Mizar denied, but he had a faraway look in his eye. "That legend is nothing more than a fairytale."
"And yet, the Number Guardians beg to differ," I countered.
"I am done with trying to find these Mythyrian Numbers," the blonde decided.
"However you may feel about those stories, we still need those Numbers to protect Barian world," Dumon reminded. "And if they can help me find our two missing comrades, it's even more important to find them right now."
"Such loyalty that you display is an admirable quality, Dumon," I complimented before the two Barians vanished. I suddenly realized that one of my visions came true: the one I had the first day I was here. This structure was actually quite a ways away from the Arclight residence, so the vision must've been viewed from a different angle than I had originally assumed. A flash blazed through my head and suddenly vanished.
That's never good, I thought, knowing instantly what it was. I fell on my knees as burning agony tore through my head, like white-hot metal piercing my skull. I clamped my mouth shut to keep from screaming in pain. I saw a small black form in a dark, confined space. The space looked to be made of gold, and the black form had a small, light blue crystal tied to it. It appeared to be asleep until the space started rattling around violently. The black form snapped its violet eyes open and stood up straight, head down, back arched, ears folded back, and fur standing on end. It was clearly Shadow, and wherever she was, she was scared. The image slowly faded, and the pain fell away. I realized that the confined space Shadow was in was somewhere in the airship. Wherever the others were, it must've been turbulent. I stood up and went into a Gateway to follow Yuma, Astral, Tori and the twins.
I left the vortex right above the airship, with a stormy ocean surging beneath. I stuck the landing on the deck and was about to run inside when I heard a voice.
Come, a deep, strong voice ordered, seemingly from the water. Come. Come to me now. A strange presence started to enter my mind. My powers reacted, somehow keeping the presence at bay.
Who are you? What do you want? I mentally demanded. The voice only continued telling me to come to it. This presence was far different from Yurei; it sounded masculine, and didn't take control right away like she did. I saw Rio slowly walking out of the cockpit, eyes dazed and vacant, her mind blank and controlled by the presence that was still trying to control me. "Rio, what are you doing?" I demanded. No response. She only walked to the edge of the ship, where I was only about a yard away. I grabbed her as she tried going over the edge, hearing Shark calling out to his sister. He ran up to me, worried about his twin.
Come! the voice suddenly shouted as a powerful shock zipped through my body and head. The pain forced me to let go of Rio, and she fell into the surging waves below. Shark instantly dove into the water in pursuit. Yuma and Astral ran up did the same while Tori and I stayed behind.
"YUMA!" Tori screamed, fearing for her best friend.
Such atrocity! Yin hissed as she came out, eyes narrowed and tail lashing about. That Number Guardian attempted to possess you, as Yurei did before! He even succeeded in possessing poor Rio! Yin sighed deeply to calm herself down. For all duel monsters, - regardless of type, attribute, or power - willful possession of another being is an almost unforgivable crime. The same goes for openly endangering life of any kind. Remember how Yurei took control of you back at Spartan City? She didn't know she was until the end of the tag duel; she already apologized for it. One of the Mythyrians down there took control of Rio using commands as if he were a god manipulating a mere puppet. I understood the point Yin was making, and she returned to her card for the time being.
I remembered my vision and went inside the ship. I looked through most of the ship, but didn't find anything. I stopped when I heard sounds coming from the airship's engines that wouldn't normally come from there. I looked inside to see Shadow in there, hiding. I carefully reached in and picked her up. Shadow recognized me and allowed me to bring her out. By the time I got back out, the storm was gone, and Tori was still on the deck, waiting. I walked up next to her again.
"Look who I found," I spoke, breaking the silence. Tori turned to me, slightly surprised that Shadow was in my arms. "This little stowaway was hiding in the engines." Tori looked back into the water.
"Where can they be?" she asked. "We should've heard something by now, unless they're unable to -" I suddenly sensed Dumon's mind, and a ball of energy flew straight for us! It stopped right in front of us, and Tori yelped and backed into me, causing Shadow to yowl in protest. I moved beside Tori as the ball turned white. The ball of energy disappeared, revealing Dumon's Barian form. "You're Dumon," Tori remembered.
"If you and you're friends are here, it must mean there is a Number somewhere nearby," he guessed.
"I don't know anything about Numbers!" Tori defended, turning aggressive. "All I know is when we got here, they jumped into the ocean."
"The ocean?" the Barian echoed, looking down into the water. The energy ball appeared around him again and he dove into the waves.
"Get back here!" I shouted as he disappeared into the sea. I growled in frustration. "Tori, hold Shadow for me. Something's weird here, and I need to follow Dumon to know what he's up to."
"Um... okay," Tori complied, taking Shadow from me; my cat didn't seem too bothered by the exchange.
"I'll be right back," I assured her before climbing over the edge.
I dropped into the water and followed Dumon's energy ball, which was glowing like a beacon underwater. Good thing I could swim fast, because he wasn't letting up on his speed. I followed him until I saw lights below the bottom. Dumon used his power to put a hole in the barrier that separated the bottom of the sea from the undersea ruins. When I was close enough, I was pulled into the miniature whirlpool the draining hole made. I fell into a stone labyrinth just behind Dumon, with Yuma and Astral in front.
"Yuma, Astral," Dumon began. "I have been following you, as your Phantom friend did to me. I cannot allow you to have any more Numbers."
"Than you'd better find some way to stop me," challenged Yuma as I went to the side, wringing the water from my hair.
"You are an opponent I will eventually have to defeat. And what better time than right now."
"But, Dumon," Yuma halted. "I'm not so sure we're enemies."
"Why would you doubt that?"
"Because you saved us," Yuma stated simply as he recalled the hunt for the first Mythyrian. "Back there at the underground temple. If it wasn't for you, I don't think we would've made it."
"You misunderstand my actions. From the very beginning, it has been our destiny to battle."
"Doubtful," I commented, frowning.
"Yeah, that's not true, Dumon," Yuma agreed with my statement. "I put two and two together, and the legends say that you were humans just like me. So the way I see it, you and your pals should be my friends, not my enemies. I know you feel the same."
"You do not know what you speak of," the gray-eyed Barian denied. "Anyone who believes we used to be humans is clearly mistaken!"
"Oh, come on!" I protested. "Now you're acting like Mizar!"
"But make no mistake about this," Dumon continued, "Barian world is the mortal enemy of Astral world."
"What's the beef between you two?" Yuma demanded. "Do you even know why you're going after each other?" Dumon and Astral stopped cold.
"Nope and double nope," I answered for them, reading their minds. "That's the main issue here: both of you know what you're trying to do and who you're up against, but none of you know why."
"The why is not important," Dumon glared. "What's important is my mission: to destroy Astral world."
"I, too, have a mission," Astral added. "To destroy Barian world."
"The time for talking has passed. It is time for us to duel." Dumon stood back, ready to duel.
"Dumon, before you battle, we want to ask you one question," Astral paused. "There are seven Barian emperors; there are two we have yet to meet. Who are they?"
"They are Marin and Nash, the leader of the seven Barian Emperors." Yuma and Astral looked up, eyes widening as shock entered their minds.
"Hey, look up there!" Yuma yelped. Dumon and I followed their gaze up to a stone tower. "What is that?" I could see Shark and Rio dueling at the top of the tower, but I couldn't detect Rio's mind; she was still being controlled by that duel spirit. "It's Shark!"
"It appears he is engaged in a duel with someone," Astral observed.
"It's Rio," Yuma realized. "This can't be good."
"Why would they duel each other here?" Dumon asked.
"A Number Guardian has possessed Rio," I explained. "Since that's considered a crime in the Shadow Realm, Yin's pretty ticked about it."
"You are lucky that more pressing matters have come up," Dumon told Yuma and Astral. "I will deal with you another time." He used his Barian power to fly off, with Yuma attempting to give chase. Unfortunately, he slipped in the thin layer of water on the labyrinth's floor and fell backwards.
"That's right!" he taunted from the ground. "Fly away like the chicken you are! Come on, Astral, Star; we gotta get to Shark and Rio."
"But in order to do that, we need to escape from this labyrinth," Astral reminded. Yin instantly came out and swept me up to her back.
Well I'm not going to wait for you to find an exit, she hissed. That duel spirit possessing Rio ought to be sent to the Graveyard for this! I gave the two boys an apologetic look as Yin flew off towards the tower. By the time we got there, we caught up with Dumon as he hovered above the duel. I was confused at why Rio was dressed like some kind of royal priestess. She had on a white dress decorated with gold and certain jewels, also wearing a white long hood held in place by a gold circlet. She was even wearing white heeled sandals, similar to the ones she wore at Spartan City.
"I know this particular Guardian's ticking you off to no end, girl," I assured my ace, "but you've let your temper explode enough already." Yin warbled in slight defiance, but otherwise held her black, forked tongue. We watched as the Guardian, through Rio, Xyz summoned Number 73: Abyss Splash, in an explosion of power beyond what would be considered normal. Out from the explosion stepped a Water-attribute monster that looked as if it were an oceanic god. The sapphire on its helmet started glowing like a beacon, pulsing at everyone who was here.
I was suddenly alongside Yin in my phantomized form. We were at a battle scene, over the ocean at sunset. Broken and splintered wooden warships were scattered through the water, with only a small fleet still intact on each side. One had red flags bearing a black skull and blade; the other had blue flags with a crest that looked much like a Barian symbol. The form of Abyss Splash hovered on the side of those with the red flags, eyes glowing white.
Look at the leaders of each side, Yin commanded. I looked to the red-flagged fleet and saw none other than my own past demon: Vector. I turned to the leader of the blue-flagged fleet and met an even more surprising sight: someone who looked amazingly like Shark - it was Shark, believing that the Guardian Abyss was playing mind games with him. I could even sense a mind nearly identical to Rio's in the direction of the castle from which the fleet of blue flags came. However, in Rio's mind was a tinge of Don Thousand's influence.
With that mighty warrior by Vector's side, we cannot win, I heard from Rio's mind at the castle. Our land will be doomed, unless I do what needs to be done.
"That sounds ominous," I remarked. But Abyss Splash suddenly firing beams from his scepter at Shark's fleet and stronghold yanked my attention back to the fight. The guards on Shark's side were terrified, and concerned for their ruler. A bay horse started racing over the bridge to the battle, being ridden by Rio. Shark was crying out for his sister as she dismounted and approached the oceanic warrior, but another light appeared before we could know what happened next.
Riding Yin and beside Dumon, we were back at the duel after that flash. Now I know how it feels to be on the receiving end of an Umbral Reveal. Rio, still in her medieval clothing, was suddenly glowing with an aquamarine aura, floating in midair with her eyes closed. She really looked like a puppet with her arms stretched out the way they were. Shark was really scared at this point, as Rio wasn't responding to him.
Reginald Kastle, I heard in the voice of Abyss. I must know if you are the one I seek. And to do that, I must unleash my full power. Witness the true form of Abyss. The aura surrounding Rio led down to a materializing form that became a near doppelganger of Abyss Splash, just without the helmet and with a d-pad instead of a scepter. Yin flew into a rage, letting out a shriek-like roar towards the Guardian. Abyss' eyes narrowed at me and my ace dragon, paying almost no mind to Yin's dragonic wrath. He only activated Abyss Splash's ability, using an OLU to double its atk. Shark only had 200 LP left. The guardian had Number 73 attack Shark's Depth Shark with Final Fall. The purple-haired duelist activated his Hide and Shark trap to give up half his LP and banish his monster and end the battle, since his LP was less than 2000. His LP became 100, but Hide and Shark's other effect returned Depth Shark to the field with 100 more atk to add up to 1500 atk. Abyss commended the opposing duelist for his resilience, but threatened that he wouldn't be victorious in the duel as another flash came.
I was back at the battle scene in phantomized form and alongside Yin. I saw that Abyss Splash had held Rio in the grip of his giant, blue-skinned hand.
"It would be a good idea for you to surrender now," Vector suggested with a dark cackle. "If you don't, your sister's going for a nice, long swim." A black void appeared under the aquatic warrior as he opened his hand above the void. A shrill whinny was suddenly heard as the Pegasus flew to the battle, with the past form of Dumon riding its back.
What's Dumon doing here? Shark mentally asked himself.
"Why are you so surprised, my friend?" the knight asked. "Didn't you know that I would come to your aid when you got into trouble?"
"I didn't know that you were my friend," Shark remarked in reply.
"What are you waiting for?! Fire!" Vector commanded his archers. Arrows flew at Dumon's past form and Pegasus, but they dodged the barrage with impressive aerial agility. "Make your choice!" Vector shouted to Shark. "Do you want to save your sister or your people?" Shark sneered in disgust at the insane prince, who - much to my surprise - was being controlled by Don Thousand.
"Do not fret, my brother," Rio comforted, standing up in Abyss' palm, "for I shall make the choice for you."
You mustn't, Marin! a feminine voice cried from within the void. An ice-blue goddess bearing the number 94 stood waist-deep in the swirling vortex. You need only to call my name to let me purify Abyss! Please listen to me, my priestess; remain in the land of the living with your brother Nash! Do not let the Chaos Lord get inside your head! My husband has been tainted by the blood sacrifice of the mad prince!
Poor Crystal, Yin sympathized. She didn't want that dear maiden to fall victim to the Chaos Lord's will.
"Rio," Shark called to his sister. "You can't mean..." he trailed off, fearing the worst.
"I do, brother," confirmed Rio with a soft, sad smile. "I will offer up my own soul to Abyss." Rio closed her eyes and fell off Abyss' hand into the void. In a blinding light from the void, Crystal rose from the blackness.
You offered yourself to aid me in saving my husband, Marin, the goddess relayed sadly. Even if there was another way for it to happen, you submitted to the Chaos Lord and allowed him to influence you. If only I had come to you sooner...
That dear friend of mine was never the same when Chaos took away her priestess, Yin explained as we were returned to the duel. Marin was the only friend she ever had in this world. Shark fell to his knees, in pure shock at what the memories showed him.
"Could it be I wasn't able to save my sister?" Shark asked the thin air.
And history will repeat itself when you fail to save your sister once again, Abyss boomed as Rio's unconscious form floated above another void. Your journey is over, as is Rio's. I no longer have need for her. Take a good look at your sister, Reginald Kastle, for this is the last time you will ever see her. He let go of Rio, and she began to fall. Yin was ready to fly in and catch her, but Yuma quickly took action and jumped over the swirling void beneath. He succeeded in grabbing Rio before she fell into the vortex and fell safely to the ground on a ledge, away from the vanishing void. A card appeared in Shark's hand, which Yin easily recognized.
You monster! Yin snarled at the Guardian as I sighed in relief. You are a disgrace to your kind, Abyss! Leave the twins alone like the others have their friends! The aquatic god looked up at my raging dragoness.
This does not concern you, Yinlong, Abyss criticized. You have no place in this duel. As for you, young Phantom: you impress me by resisting my control. But you, like your race, have no place in this battle. Reginald Kastle, if you can defeat me now, you will regain your memories and lead the world as its rightful ruler.
"You be quiet!" Shark burst out. "The only thing I'm gonna rule is this duel!"
He took his draw and equipped the spell Aqua Mirage to Depth Shark to make it count as two monsters in an Xyz summon. He also activated Monster Reborn to revive Black Ray Lancer. Shark then activated the Full-Armored Xyz trap, so that when he summons an Xyz monster, he can equip it with another monster on his field. He overlaid Depth Shark and Aqua Mirage to Xyz summon Number 94: Crystal Zero, the other Mythyrian Number in these ruins. Full-Armored Xyz let Shark equip Black Ray Lancer to Crystal, raising her atk to 4300. Abyss activated his respective Number's effect again, using Abyss Splash's other OLU to double its atk to 4800. But Shark used Crystal's Crystal Eraser ability, and used both OLUs to remove half of Abyss Splash's atk twice, lowering it to 1200. Shark had Crystal attack with Crystal Javelin, destroying Abyss Splash and dropping Abyss' LP to zero.
"Why?" Shark asked the Guardian. "Why did you do this to me and Rio?"
I only followed your orders, Reginald, Abyss replied simply, shocking both me and Yin. Your orders to awaken your memories. Abyss faded into mist, and I felt Dumon's mind disappear.
That doesn't excuse Abyss' wrongdoings, my dragoness growled. Next thing Yin and I knew, we were all back on the ship with Tori and Shadow, and Yin was back in spirit form as I stood on the deck.
"Yuma, you're back!" Tori greeted. Don't worry Star, Shadow mostly napped the whole time you guys were gone. Waking up, Shadow jumped from Tori's arms back into mine, purring with glee. Shark was suddenly frantic and looked around him until he gasped.
"No, Rio!" he yelped, causing us to follow his gaze. There, back in her normal clothes but completely unconscious, was Rio.