It happened in bright daylight.

Ovelon was already torn by war, witchcraft and monsters roaming about, yet this battle shook the very foundation of the world, all of Ovelon felt the tremors, and one might even capture the glimpse of the battle from the whispers that were carried by the wind.

Heroes have been marching Ovelon's lands and cities, felling beasts and fiends alike, rescued the royal princess Brail and escorted her to her throne in Samm Sabball, averted the great war of Zenturions, restored the ancient Vergilian manuscript, avenged Maku's father and secured the entchanted Timaeus Eye from the Paltonian Caverns. But this quest shook them greatly, even at the highest possible points of their skill and training, even with the finest equipment Argents can buy, even with the support from Sovereigns, the task seemed as good as impossible.

It occured here, in the Andorean ruins, a giant complex of marble rock placed in perfect harmony and glorious architecture of what was once a glorious city. Torn about by war, it's former residents fell back to summon a fell Sovereign, to eliminate the armies of either side. But what was meant to be their savior ended up as their nemesis, for it was this Sovereign that ultimately destroyed the city, and now the structure stands in ruins, a cradle of monsters and undead beasts, a beacon for the most notorious of the notorious monsters.

The area was a closed place in the very center of the ruins, surrounded from all sides by massive walls that were crumbling away from the fangs of time, and above this, there stood the massive transparent dome of crystal plates.

And in the very center, it waits…

Sleeping, dreaming, resting…

And now, it is awake.

There was a massive explosion shaking the Dome Forum.

And from the dust that was raised, the vestiges of a still occuring battle came to sight:

A huge figure, a demon to the closest description, flapped it's wings and blew the dust away. For now, it's horrible appearance remained shady and unrevealed, but it was clearly a tall, slim, winged nemesis of some sorts, wielding a kind of massive lance and obscured by darkness. A great amount of crimson runes shone over it's body like fiendish tatoos, incantating a foreign language whose visage itself was enough to make you believe this creature was foul indeed.

The fiend was gliding, grunting so deep it could easily be mistaken for a trombonic sound of an enraged whale by anyone that could not see for himself. And beneath it, it's prey:

It was a group of about half a dozen warriors, all wearing different medival garments and wielding different weapons of fantasy, commonly seen in modern RPGs. Nevertheless, they seemed beaten up and in a bad shape, the battle against the legendary fury taking it's toll on them. Notably, some of them did not appear to be human.

Mattheodeus, for example, was a Grean Viking. The Grean kind are, in average format, large and bulky humanoids with dark skin and fur covering their bodies. Most notably, their lower jaws tend to be larger than the upper, giving them an overbite appearance, and they also posess short, slightly curved horns atop their foreheads. Mattheodeus himself seemed like an elite member himself, his clothes almost entirely made out of tiger-skin and dragon-hide, but what made him even more intimidating was his overjaw, which was entirely decorated with a metallic bolted contraption resemblinf the jaws of a beartrap. His weapons of choice were a large battleaxe, and an even larger shield made out of Spiketoise shell, so it was naturally adorned with large spikes.

Next in line: Kirka is a tough female (human, most probably), and a member of the Red Capes, a special class of soldiers wielding spellbound rapiers in swift swordsmanship, easily to recognize by their crimson capes and a red hat with a white feather atop of it fashioned in a similar manner as Robin Hood's.

Depite their skill, however…

Mattheodeus: "Confoud it…"

Kirka: "We can't keep up."

… The entire party was beaten up, barely capable of holding their own weapons. The fell Sovereign towered over them, and it didn't seem like it was anywhere close to loosing as they were.

Towards the crimson caped female, two more figures ran up to, both relatively short and young, not any older than 12: one was a little girl with blonde hair and wearing a white robe of the White Healers, this including a humble hood, and a scepter with an emerald cross-like symbol atop of it. That was the party's healer, Rauri.

The other one was a young tief, wearing an outfit that was a cross between a streetrat and an adventurer, and held up a pair of daggers. His most notable feature was the extremely long belt that extended to the back of his pants and hanged down there, most resembling a monkey's tail. His name was Maku.

Rauri: "Kirka-sama!"

Maku: "Keep it together, Mattheodeus!"

Kirka: "Rauri, Maku, stand back!"

Rauri: "How can I? Everyone is fighting so hard, I can't stand by doing nothing! Let me help you!"

With that, Rauri focused her magical powers and summoned a sacred gliph beneath her feet, this creating a power that culminated into her staff.

Rauri: "White Magic: Panamecia!"

This summoned a second sigl beneath Kirka, and charged her with energy, healing her wounds and repairing damage with flashing waves of light. However, the spell was meant to fully restore an ally's health, not their strength.

And before the process could even finish…

The Fell Sovereign picked it's blade up and called forth a devastating attack.

"Emperor Spark!"

It crashed the ground beneath with the spear, and cracked the earth beneath, producing a massive shockwave that was amplified with dark energies and crimson lightning. This shockwave was an aimed earth attack, and the target was Kirka with Rauri next to her.

Mattheodeus saw this.

Mattheodeus: "Watch out!"

With a final grip of strength, the Grean stood up and then got in the path of the blast, putting his shield up front.

Mattheodeus: "Avanguard!"

The massive shield was designed to block attacks and absorb a great amounts of damage dealt by all sorts of hostile enemies, ranging from marauder's blades and slingarrows all the way to cannonballs and dragon's breath. However, this attack was beyond his limits.

The impact of the Fell Sovereign consumed Mattheoudeus completely, and a great part of his body was damaged and blown apart.

Mattheoudeus: "This was … my last strength…"

From the fatigue of taking in Kirka's and Rauri's blow for them, the giant Viking finally collapsed, and ceased to move.

Rauri: "(crying) Mattheodeus!"

Maku: "I've got him!"

Maku searched his many pockets and purses around his belt, eventually taking out a finely decorated bottle of unknown contents. There was a mark on the bottle, resembling a large yellow eagle.

He took the lid of the bottle off, and an effect similar to a genie's release occured: the bottle cracked, and instead of fluid, a large amounts of yellow flames emerged, and flew towards Mattheoudeus' immobile body. Upon contact, the aura of flames took form of a giant bird of fire, consuming the Grean warrior completely. Once it fades, Mattheodeus stood tall again, his armor and body fixed and healed for the most part. He immediatelly took a battle stance.

Mattheoudeus: "Thank you, little man!"

Fangrim: "That was our last Pheonix Potion. We're at the end of our rope and Ruinvana didn't even start to breathe hard!"

This was spoken by another party member: a Dark Warlock named Fangrim. His age is somewhat obscure, as his robe and hair might suggest he was an elder, his skin and bodyshape seemed quite young. Fangrim wore a warlock's robes, which were quite dark and obscure in appearance, decorated by spooky accessories such as animal skulls on his shoulders, or raven feathers in his hair. As opposing to what his appearance might suggest, he was in fact a good guy.

The immense Sovereign saw the enemy fotrmation crumbling. By a single flash, it summoned a paling of it's own sigls, each and every one of them resembling a rune decorating it's body.

Rauri: "A Dark Spell!"

Kirka: "Everyone, take cover!"

That's when Ruinvana, as the name of the Fell Sovereign was, released the fury of it's mighty magics: each sigl spat out a flying sword whose edge was so dark it was almost painful to look at it.

"Charon Lance!"

And it sent the squall of blades at the party…

It all seemed to be over…

If it wasn't for the arrival of the heroine of Vergilian Chrinicles:

With a war-cry, she leaped into battle and…

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!

With a few swift swordstrikes, she pulverized the incomming darts like they were made of paper.

The fighters observed in awe as their true leader finally entered the battle:

The heroine stood up, and rested her blade on her shoulder, still holding her back towards the party.

Kirka: "You are…"

Maku: "(overjoyed) Master!"

She then decided to face them during the period in which Ruinvana was inactive: This was a beautiful heroine, a warrior lady and a fine warrior that might as well be called Warrior Princess. (as the matter of fact, you might compare her appearance to Xena… minus the age and hair) She had beautiful long red hair tied in a french braid, and wore a warrior's tiara on her forehead, and wielded a roundshield along with aknight's sword of legend. She turned towards her troop, and held a speech of valor.

Nico: "Stand up! The fight is not over yet! Our enemy may be the mightiest creature in all Ovelon, and things might seem hopeless. But do not give in to despair! Make that hope of yours a reality!Was it not this same hope that lead our battles against the beastly hordes of our wroth enemy Waldemeg? Did we not feel the same fear? And did we not emerge victorious? (puts her fist up) So don't give up now, my friends! We can prove ourselves the strongest in all Ovelon! Believe in yourself! Believe in Nico, your master!"

Those words alone were enough to encourage the team back into a battle-ready condition.

Kirka: "She's right. We might be tired, but so is our enemy!"

Maku: "I'll follow you to the end, master!"

Rauri nodded, and Mattheodeus simply lifted his battleaxe and smashed the ground with his large shield in a Grean salute.

And about this time, Ruinvana behind them became active.

Nico: "(points at Ruinvana) Do not think I fear you just because they call you Undying. The fact that you have never been defeated before means nothing to me! (to Fangrim) Fangrim, I need your help."

Fangrim: "My?"

Nico: "All of you, I need your support on this. You will have to stall Ruinvana long enough for me to prepare a final attack, draw as much health from it as you can."

Maku: "But master…"

Rauri: "How do we do that?"

Nico: "Do not worry, I have a plan. Viking class Mattheodeus, on the front line, take any attacks it throws your way! Red Cape Kirka, use the spellblade and imitate his Reprieve ability to minimize the damage. Rauri, in the back row, focus only on healing Mattheudeus, he will take the most damage. Maku, you remain in the center, use any bombs you have left and attack behind the shelled formation!"

She gave them all orders, and they nodded without objection. There was only one member left.

Fangrim: "And what do I do?"

Nico: "For you, I have a special task. And for that, you'll need this."

She put up a long object that was covered in cloth. The cloth came off as soon as she lifted it, revealing it's contents.

It was a large scepter. And a detailed one for that manner. This long staff had a tip that looked like a dragon's skull with a huge closed eyeball in it's mouth, as well as decorated with dragon wings and dark scales.

For the most important part, the eyeball… opened up! The wand itself looked around.

Kirka: "But that's…"

Rauri: "The Living Wand, Kurame!"

Nico: "This is why I took you on this quest, Fangrim. Use your powers as a Warlock to unlock this Kurame's hidden potential."

Fangrim: "(grins) Indeed, I shall."

He did not come close to receive the wand he was given. He simply put his hand out and the wand floated right into his grasp. Nico pulled her sword out and faced Ruinvana, with everyone set in front of her as she directed them.

Nico: "Now, everyone!"

Ruinvana swung it's massive blade…

Mattheodues: "Tank up! I'll take you on!"

Kirka: "And me too!"

Mattheodeus and Kirka both took their stances. The Grean put his shield up and the Red Cape swung her rapier, which was in this case used as a wand to produce a forcefield that was shaped exactly like Mattheodeus' shield.

Once Ruinvana smashed the ground with another shockwave, both defenders intercepted the blast. They were greatly scarred, but otherwise fine.

Rauri: "Hold on! I'll heal you guys!"

Rauri used her Healer skills to create small sigls beneath both defenders, which created a field of cure magic.

Maku: "(takes out a bomb) Let's see how you like this! (throws it)"

Maku threw a moderate bomb at Ruinvana, and despite the massive blast, the Sovereign was only made angrier. However, when it tried to counter and attack the little thief, the blast was once again intercepted by Kirka and Mattheodeus' combined efforts.

This process repeated over and over, and in the meantime…

Nico: "(takes out her sword) Now, Fangrim!"

Fangrim: "Wilco! (takes up the wand) Living Wand Kurame, show us your ancient power! Grant it to this warrior!"

Kurame's eye flashed up and produced a field of power…

Kurame: "Charge!"

… which enveloped Nico completely, giving her blade a brand new shine.

Nico: "The Charge effect increases my strength tremendously, but if I take a single swing it will wear off. Against the likes of Ruinvana, I'll need all the strength it can offer. Fangrim, do it again!"

Fangrim: "Understood! Kurame!"

Kurame: "Charge!"

The effect ocured again, rising Nico's power even more.

Nico: "Not enough! Again!"

Kurame: "Charge!"

It happened again.

Nico: "Again!"

Kurame: "Charge!"

And again, over and over, the combo repeated itself…

The formation Nico ordered up served well in keeping Ruinvana occupied. Until now:

Instead on focusing on a single swing, Ruinvana took it's blade up and started charging it up with more power.

Maku: "Out of bombs."

Rauri: "Wait, what's it doing?"

Kirka: "It's preparing a great attack! We can't block that!"

Mattheodeus: "If we keep our formation and let tit hit us, it's all over!"

Maku: "Master! Help us!"

Nico heard their cries for help. By now, the blade in her hand charged up so much power it nearly doubled in size and gained a blue glow similar to an anguishing flametongue.

Kurame: "Charge!"

Nico: "This is it! Here's no more time or SP for a next charge. Everyone, stand back!"

Having said that, Nico boldly took a sprint, and ran through her own ranks, aiming for the superboss enemy. She leaped up, and…

Nico: "This is your end! Vanishing Blade!"

She swung her sword, producing a massive wave of holy flames upon her enemy, and Ruinvana was too slow to deliver it's own attack, and got hit square in the chest! His entire body was set ablaze and the edge of the blade brought it down!

"BREAAAAAAAAGGGHHHHHH!"

There was a massive explosion. The attack was so powerful it shooke the very foundations of Andorean Ruins. The flames faded into smoke.

Nico was still holding her sword, and kept breathing heavily.

As the smoke faded, the Sovereign's shady silhouette was shown, but it lacked the illuminated runes and was bent up and twitching in many places. It clearly took a lot of damage, one might even say it was dying.

Rauri: "You did it!"

Fangrim: "But Ruinvana is still breathing."

Kirka: "But it's completely scorched now. One last attack will bring it down!"

Mattheodeus: "Then let's do it! We just need to finish it up with switch-play!"

Nico: "(grinning in exhaust) Peh… I finally got you, Ruinvana… After so many hours of loosing, I can finally…"

But… there was light.

Nico: "What?"

Ruinvana's body gained a new, unknown glow of amethyst light, and as it kept on breathing, the runes around it's body shone up again, spawning sigls of magic all over it's surrounding space.

Kirka: "What's it doing?"

Maku: "I've never seen that ability before!"

"AAAAAAggggghhhhh… Renewation!"

The sigls orbited around Ruinvana's body like a ring surrounding a planet, and as the ability kicked in, the effect was evident.

Just like that, in a flash…

All that was broken about it was fixed. All that was scorged was now healed. All that was missing was now replaced.

And when it was done, in short: Ruinvana healed completely!

Maku: "WHAT?"

Mattheoudeus: "Impossible!"

Fangrim: "It renewed itself completely!"

Nico was beside herself. The shock was so great she could not even move. She was just gazing upon her opponent, frightened, terrified of what a failure her effort has become.

Nico: "No way… For it to have an ability like that after all the effort I put in defeating it, how am I supposed t-"

She never finished her sentence. Ruinvana lifted her weapon up...

And smashed the ground with it.

And Nico and her entire team were wiped out by the impact.

Then… the screen turned black… Literally, the screen faded black and the image froze.

Then, it displayed the following:

GAME OVER!

Retry? -yes- -no-

To ellaborate everything, for example why you were reading half a dozen pages on some fantasy quest instead of a story on dueling, the entire section above occured as scenes and gameplay of a video game.

Now, in the real world (as far as we're concerned), in a certain appartment in Sourand…

Nico: "Awhhh, not again. Not even the tank formation works against Ruinvana."

The real-life Nico was looked barely like anything similar to her in-game counterpart. The reason why there is a Nico character in the game of "Vergilian Chronicles" is because the game allows the player to costumize and name the playable character.

The real Nico, the one still holding a joystick and kneeling in front of her TV, was nothing like the bold and furious warrior lady. This one had the same hairstyle and bodybuild, but her eyes were a bit different. Rounder, more innocent, and cuter, it was like a whole different person. Her voice was also softer and gentler, she was almsot whispering. She also wore large, round glasses, and her outfit was not exactly classy otherwise, consisting out of a pair of long pants and a long-sleeved vest over a short-sleeved shirt with a stripe pattern.

Her appartment was caught in darkness, with the curtains covering the windows leaving only a little portion of light through, and the TV with the game screen on was the only viewble source of light. The dim sight could still speak a lot about her personal life: it was a very tight, crampy piece of space, the entire appartment was reduced to only one room, with the only exception of an even tinier bathroom and a one-step long hallway. It's contents included a bed, a pair of currently shaded windows, a wall that held kitchen appliances…

And shelves overflowing with dozens, maybe even hundreds of game merchendize. Videogames, action-figures, videos, magazines, even a large mannequin with a warrior-lady cosplay in her size, all this was based on fantasy-related games and stories.

Nico moped silently before putting down the controller to fix her glasses and pick a few grains of chips and snacks that she layed down on the floor next to her.

Nico: "This must be the 17th time I tried to battle Ruinvana. This is as far as I could get, but how am I supposed to defeat it if it uses Renewation at the end? I know it's called a superboss for a reason, but that stage alone took me over an hour. How do you beat something that renews itself over and over? (eats a chip) Perhaps the boss is really beyond defeat…"

Then, somethins sudden startled her: there was a knock… rather, a bang on the door. And the voice behind it did not sound friendly. It said.

"(bang-bang-bang) Nico! I know you're in there! Front and center this instant!"

This frightened her so much she spilled all her chips over the floor and fell backwards, before pulling herself up again.

Nico: "Uhm, I'm comming."

She got to the door, and on the other side, a very unfriendly face was awaiting her:

He large man in front of her fits the description of a typical grumpy naighbour: an elderly man with a very round belly, a bald top of the head and a suspiciously large chin.

Nico: "H-Hokyo-sama?"

Hokyo: "Don't you 'Hokyo-sama' me! You've been playing that stupid game again?"

Nico: "Yes, how did you know?"

Hokyo: "(yelling) Because I heard it all the way to my place! The entire building heard it!"

Nico: "(startled) I-I'm so so-"

Hokyo: "This is the 5th time this month I gotta warn you about too loud telly, too much trash or too much screaming at the screen! And you still don't get the message!"

Nico: "I-Ihad no idea, I didn't realize the volume was too loud, I'm so sorry… I was just admiring the battle theme so much I thought it might improve my skills a little. It's not easy to keep your focus up when the Debris status is up, so I-"

Hokyo: "DO I LOOK LIKE I'M IN THE MOOD FOR EXCUSES?"

The way he expressed himself, believe me, even Rambo would wet himself on that short range. Try imagining what an innocent girl felt like.

Nico: "N-no, I'm so sorry! I promise, I'll be more considerative, please don't yell again!"

Hokyo: "(facepalms) Bah, I don't get you at all, Nico. You barely get out of that appartment that I rented you, you hardly see any friends and still you make the most trouble. If you wanna waste your life on those stupid videogames, then that's your problem, but do the world a favor and stop dragging others into it!"

Nico: "I…"

Hokyo: "I'm warning you as your landlord, if I have to come down here again for no good reason, I'll kick you and your stupid game-stuff out on the street!"

He left as grumpy as he came. And he kept on grumbling all the way as he walked down the corridor. Nico only observed him in fear, barely peeking from behind a jerked door.

She was this close to break down in tears. She gulped and wiped her eyes, then tried to breathe out loud. It did not help, she still felt like crying.

Nico: "It's not stupid to be a gamer… It's just… The real word is so scary. (deep breath) I need to air out. I'll take a stroll."


A bit later, in a park…

Nico's idea of "taking a stroll" is not exactly what you might think it meant. Instead of physical excercise, she would merely sitting on a bench with a laptop in her lap. She felt a slight aversion to sunlight, so she sat in the shade. She wore a D-Gazer-like device that allowed scrolling through the screen easier.

Her mood did not improve much since her landlord payed her a visit in her appartment. If anything, she switched from being sad and almost crying to being silently angry and complaining.

Nico: "Hokyo does not understand what it means to be a gamer, he had no right to judge me. If this was the world of Ovelon, he'd be respecting me! (hangs head) Who am I kidding? Ovelon is a too distant dream for me. The tought of it hurts…"

She then heard a slight beep on her laptop. For some reason, this improved her mood.

Nico: "Ah! He replied again!"

She was chatting online with someone that used the username "zenmaniac59". Nico herself used the username "ScarletCrow".

Nico: "Finally… The only one that understands me…"

She typed her reply on his message. This is what the conversation looked like:

zenmaniac59: oi! how is it going?

ScarletCrow: Nothing much. Tried fighting Ruinvana for the x-teenth time. Failed.

zenmaniac59: ouch. What went wrong?

ScarletCrow: He uses Renewation right in the end! How do I beat that?

zenmaniac59: really? that's awfully dishonorable!

ScarletCrow: I know…

zenmaniac59: don't feel bad. you're still the best player I met. I'm still stuck at the Sacambara dungeon lol

ScarletCrow: Thanks. But still, if I can't beat the ultimate superboss, I'm hardly the best player…

zenmaniac59: don't say that, no one ever defeated ruinvana. you're the best for trying, at least.

ScarletCrow: Maybe… But I made my neighbour angry, he said…

zenmaniac59: what did he say?

ScarletCrow: Not important.

zenmaniac59: I hope it's nothing serious… still, you can't let it drag you down. Remember what I told you?

ScarletCrow: The… Sky-High, was it?

zenmaniac59: that's right! when you're down, you get back up, stonger than ever! Use that to get over your neighbour, and then you'll defeat ruinvana!

ScarletCrow: Hehe, thanks, that's nice…

zenmaniac59: I'm serious. If anyone is going to defeat ruinvana, it's you.

ScarletCrow: Thank you,that's encouraging. You'll use that to confess to that girl you like, right?

zenmaniac59: erhhhm… I hope so… By the way, what do I use the Tauren Key for again?

Nico: "(smiling) How like him, to change subject when he feels embarrased. I would like to meet him someday, someone that talks like that about Vergillian Chronicles can't be a bad person."

But something interrupted her tranquil moment. She heard a commotion, not too far from her: there was a duel occuring.

Guy1: "Hahahaha, did you see that?"

With her D-Gazer already on, she could see the outcome: it doesn't really matter what the field looked like, the important part begins at the duelist's behaviour. The one in the lead kept on boasting and laughing. His opponent was a guy you'd really feel sorry for, he was all banged up and bruised.

Guy2: "Please, enough…"

Guy1: "What's the matter? Too tired to keep up?"

Guy2: "Please, I've had enough, I-"

Guy1: "Weak duelists don't get the right to say when it's enough. You really had the guts to go against me, and now you whrite and coward? You're pathethic! And you'll be defeated as such! Gyaaahahahahahaha!"

This was obviously an act of opression.

The Nico from Vergilian Chronicles would step right up and fight this misdeed.

However, the real-life Nico…

She was so frightened by the opressor's expression (he was laughing out loud with his tongue sticking), that she immendiatelly panicked. She picked her stuff, and ran in the opposite direction.

Nico: "That man… He was just so scary, so heartless, he- Ah!"

As she got out of range, Nico tripped, and fell down, dropping all her stuff. The laptop, her miniature snacks, and her entire Duel onsters deck. All her cards were scattered around the ground.

Nico: "Oh no, oh no… (starts collecting the cards) This is just unfair… Why must the real world be so mean?"

As she collected the last of her cards, she took a look at her collective deck, and deep down, she made a desperate wish… And she shed a tear in doing so.

Nico: "I wish… I wish the world was more like Ovelon. I wish I could make a difference to it! Not like this…"

She wept silently, while olding her deck tight, close to her heart.

She then wiped her tears, and opened her eyes… Noticing smethign odd among the bushes.

Nico: "Huh?"

There was a card, lying on the ground, not too far away from her.

Nico: "A card? Is that mine as well?"

She reached out for it.

This was a bad desicion. The one and only notable thing that made this card different from the rest of her deck… was a spooky, cold aura eering from it. And as soon as she touched the card, the aura consumed her…

… And after she gasped, a mark appeared in her eye.

It was a Number mark: the sigl of 98!


/intro song: "BRAVING!" by Kanan; ("Yu-Gi-Oh Zexal", 2011/12); Croatian version;/

(at the crossroad with a traffic lamp glowing red…)
Kad uzdignem se i probudim
Osvrnem se,
/When I rise up and wake up, I look around,/
(… Sky is waiting to cross;)
Zatekne me skroz zlatni svijet pun svjetlosti.
/I am caught in an entirely golden world full of light./
(Enlil and Flint await on the other side; they wave at him…)
Sutra došlo je na ovaj dan,
/Tommorow came to this day,/
(… and he smiles and runs towards them across the street…)

Budućnost je započela
/The future has begun/

(… in full dash, he greets them both with a high-five!)

Kroz san!
/Through a dream!/

Number Wars

(flashy cards rain all over Sourand; transparent images of Sky catching one of them; then another image of him receiving a card from an old man in a bed…)

Što zadnji put mi ukaže san ujutro već zaboravim,

/What the dream has told me last time, I already forget in the morning,/

(… and an image of Enlil cowarding in the corner of her room as she glances to another gloomy card; the last image of Sky helping her get up, smiling;)
Kroz staklo gledam ka nebesima dok ne nađem trag.

/I look through the glass towards the heavens until I find a clue./

(three seperate screens rolling simultaneously: sealed forms of Shining Knighcorn, Galileon and Divine Wind emerge…)

Kroz duge noći se vrte želje da ubrzo se probudim,

/The desires to wake up spin throughout the long nights/

(… as the numbers 59, 41 and 71 flash, they simultaneously begin their transformation…)

Kroz suhe suze u mojim očima

/Through the dry tears in my eyes/

(… and as they take on their true forms, all pose on scene)

Ukristali mi se tren!
/The moment crystalizes upon me!/

(Keira's face in the breeze, concerned…)

Ja vjerujem u snove.

/I believe in dreams/

(… then smikrs vilely towards the screen, as a monstrous head of an enshadowed creature ghosts in behind her)

Želim znati da to nije laž

/I wish to know it's not a lie/
(an image of Enlil with her cute smile, blushing…)

Poraziti ću bol
/I shall defeat the pain/

(… as Flint jumps ahead of her, and transforms…)

Dok putujem

/As I travel/

(… into Sky's Duel Disk, which he puts on, along with a D-Gazer…)

Stazama u srcu mom!

/The roads within my heart!/

(… then takes a bold dueling stance)

(a line-up of Wind-up monsters before Sky; from the front to the back: Kitten, Bat, Dog, Shark, Magician, Warrior, Soldier, Juggler, and Zenmaister;)
Kad uzdignem se i probudim

Osvrnem se,
/When I rise up and wake up, I look around,/

(Rikki sets his Duel Disk; Rosemary draws a card; Pakka plays a card; Sky punches forwards, evoking an attack;)
Zaslijepi me ta istina u svjetlosti.

/That truth in light blinds me/

(screenover of characters: Rikki; Alex; Nico; a small girl in a fancy pink dress; Terry; Toby; a guy in a red jacket with an odd shield/sword…)
Osvrnem se i promatram.

/I look around and observe/

(.. and an old man with a hood, whose glare takes up the background)
Je li ovo jednom bio san?

/Was this all a dream once?/

(Sky skateboarding across the road, leaping high and fisting up, shouting;)

Ovaj hrabri zov srce mi ubrzava,

/This brave call accelerates my heart/

(Enlil embracing a frog-like monster colored in sugar and rainbows; more similarly colored monsters appear around her: a taddy bear that gives up 2 Vs for Victory, a large parrot, and in the background, a large insectoid warrior with a spear;)
Svih tih zvijezda sjaj pjeva mi u grudima.

/The shine of all those stars sings to me in my chest/

(Sky and Flint, confronting an unknown figure…)
Sa zorom sviće novi dan,
/With the dawn, a new day comes/

(… that summons a towering enshaded monster, resembling a humanoid dragon with a massive sword)
Budućnost puna pobjeda.

/A future full of victories./

(in Xyz space, Wind-up monsters perform: Zenmaister punches forward; Zenmaines glides up; Zenmaik slams it's scepter; Zenmaioh drills forward; Zenmails jets up…)
Što davno nam je rek'o san.

/Of all what the dream told us long ago/

(in the same space, Sky lifts up a card, and it flashes…)
Tvojeg oka sjaj meni je dovoljno.

/The luster of your eye is enough to me./

Sutra došlo je na ovaj dan,

/Tommorow came to this day,/

(lightspeed overblending of monsters: Magical Blue Star; Evolsaur Cerato; Big Bang Boom Box; Shadow Dragoon; Thermophilos; a dark wyvern; a gigantic mecha-beetle; Nyctophobia; Ruinvana; a girl in a flower; a dark demon…)

Budućnost je započela

/The future has begun/

(… finally, Shining Knighcorn charging up it's horn… and slashing the screen with it)
Kroz san!

/Through a dream!/

(finish: Sky, Flint, Enlil, Rikki and other staff take a pose with the Numbers and Zenmaister appearing in the back)

Number Wars

Episode 8: Superboss Battle: Vergilian Adventure!


The town center was in a state of perpetual motion this time of day. It was no wonder, the city was at it's highest grade of activity at this point, which presented quite a hazard for people moving about…

… especially when you're a 2 foot tall robot. Flint was leading the way with his head rapidly changing directions, investigating any corner he could get his sights on. His instruments were beeping as he moved, and the sound effect he produced made him the center of attention on a shorter range.

The usual gang followed behind him:

Sky: "Slow down, Flint! Someone might mistake you for a toy robot."

Flint: "My real concern lies in being stomped on, not taken away, Sky-sama. I am perfectly capable of taking care of mys-"

Just as he was about to finish that sentence, he was about to slide down from the pedestrian area onto the concrete road… right in the same moment when a card rushed next to him. If he didn't react on time, the vehicle would have doubtlessly squashed him.

Flint: "AAAAGHHHH! (angry) Watch the road, moron!"

Sky: "See? What did I tell you?"

Flint simply sighed (as far as robots can imitate a sigh), and was then picked up by a boy that walked by. It was Rikki.

Rikki: "I'll carry you, Flint. That way you won't get lost. Just tell me where to go and I'll point there."

Flint: "Thank you, Rikki, that's most kind."

Also next to Sky, there was Enlil, in her casual outgoing outfit, but still recognizable twin-tails.

Enlil: "You have to be careful around here."

Sky: "Serves him right, though, for not listening to me."

Enlil: "(hmpfing) You weren't exactly nice to him, Sky-kun. Not now and not back then when mrs. Bara aksed us to come over."

Sky: "She was having guests, I couldn't stand in the way of that. And Flint detecting a Number seemed a little bit more important at the time."

Enlil: "Still, she was really excited to see you over. I think she was just trying to have you relaxed a bit after all that's happened."

Sky: "(-_-) I can't even write tests without Bara finding out, can I? I'll just send her a fruit basket or something, I can't risk loosing the Number signal once Flint has it pinged on. (wondering) But still, who do you think this 'special someone' was she was talking about?"


Meanwhile, at Bara's house, right next to Sky's residence:

Miss Bara was having a relaxing tea party with a guest of hers, an old aquintance of hers. She just took a sip of the tea as she calmly spoke:

Bara: "It's a real shame Sky couldn't join us, he is such a polite young man. H well, I'm sure he had his business to attend. He's been dueling a lot lately. Do you know what that is like?"

Her guest was… well, I think it's someone you might recognize and does not need an introduction. It was an old lady, pretty much the same age as Bara, and drinking a cup of tea as well. It was:

Haru Tsukumo: "Oh, indeed I do, my grandson has been crazy about dueling as well. He's been practicing day and night. Aiming to become the Dueling Champion, see?"

Bara: "You're the lucky one to have a grandson like that. Sky-kun is too held-back to aiming for competition. To him, it's more like an endless debate on dueling honor. It's a shame to see him ponder about it every day, without any real interaction. I'm so glad he met Enlil, he's never been more active."

Haru: "My Yuma went crazy about the upcomming World Duel Carnival, yes. Perhaps he will meet Sky there as well, and spare a match or two?"

Bara: "Nonsense, Sky is not interested in fame whatsoever. Rather, he threw an eye at a special jewel in his near. He's so lost when it comes to affections, but that's not stopping him by a long shot."

Haru: "I see. Sounds a lot like my grandson. Perhaps we should introduce him to your neighbour one of these days?"

Bara: "Perhaps we should, indeed."

Haru: "Yes, sounds like a splendid idea."

Bara: "But how do we do that?"

Haru: "Oh, we'll figure something out. It'd be a shame for either one to miss the chance."


Back to city central.

Sky: "So anyway, are you sure you sensed a Number around here."

Flint: "Positive. The Number we're looking for should be around this area… give or take 10 miles."

Sky: "(drops) Ghhh!... Whaddaya mean by that!? That range envelops half the city!"

Flint: "Then we better start searching."

Sky: "(-_-) Geez. (rubs eyes) Why can't that sensor of yours be more acurate? I'm already under a lot of stress, with Enlil and Rikki being here and all."

Enlil: "What do you mean?"

Rikki: "Are we in the way, Aniki?"

Sky: "Not that, it's just… well you know, Number hunt is dangerous. There's no telling what kind of enemy we'll be up against next."

Enlil: "It's not like you're telling us anything new."

Rikki: "Yeah, we don't mind escorting you, Aniki. It would be dull if we just sat around the house all day."

Sky: "Well, putting it that way…"

Enlil: "Yes, and… (blushes and looks sideways) I'm not uhm… I mean, I feel safer when Sky-kun is around."

Sky: "What was that? I couldn't hear."

Enlil: "WAAH! (blushes more) B-b-baka! Don't asume things just like that! It's not like I wanted to be held in your arms or protected from bad guys like a damsel!"

Sky: "(?) Where did that come from?"

Disregarding the conversation, Flint kept observing the surrounding area. At one point, his gaze stopped at a certain scene in sight.

Flint: "Hm? Hey, what's all that comotion over there?"

Rikki turned to see where Flint was pointing, and Sky and Enlil looked the same way.

Not too far from them, there was a great crowd gathered around an event. As most of them had D-Gazers, the group concluded it would be wise to put their own on as well. Once they did, they could see a monster in the background.

Sky: "A duel?"

Rikki: "Who'd duel in the middle of a traffic knot?"

Sky: "Let's go check it out."

The event that took place there was indeed a duel. The crowd was very dense, it must have been at least a hundred people gathered there . It was not easy for Sky, Enlil and Rikki to fight through this group of people. Once they did, they saw this:

Guy1: "(sweating) H-how did you…?"

Remember that opressor guy from earlier? He was one of the duelists, and despite his field containing a mighty monster, he did not seem to be at any advantage whatsoever. In fact, the enemy's gameplay terrified him.

Sky managed to breach through the crowd about at this point.

Sky: "Excuse me. What's the score?"

And as soon as he and the others saw the other duelist…

Sky: "Heh? What the-"

It was hard not to notice that kind of person. The eyes. The hair. The ches- err, I mean, shoulder-plates.

The enemy duelist was none other than Nico from earlier. However, this was not the same Nico I introduced. Apparently, she was wearing a Vergilian cosplay, making her look, and act, as her in-game character! The only difference being her shield, which was now serving as a duel-disk, and a D-Gazer whose design matched her outfit. All in all, it looked like a red-haired young Xena stood there instead of Nico. Those were not the eyes and the voice of a frightened gamer girl. Those were the eyes and the voice of a fighter.

Sky: "Eh? Cosplay?"

Other than her opponent, Nico was keeping a higher ground by standing atop of a car's roof. No one seemed to object that the slightest.

Nico: "I cannot forgive people that opress others for their own amusement. How does it feel knowing that thy shalt whrite under the foot of another very soon?"

Guy1: "W-wait a second, I didn't…"

His field contained the mighty Evolzar Solda (ATK: 2600/ R6), a slim dragon-like noble entity with full Overlay units.

Sky: "That outfit, it's… (looks at her field) Huh? Hey, but those are…!"

But Nico's side was even more surprising. Under different names, you might recognize her monsters as: Mattheodeus (ATK: 2800/LV6), Maku (ATK: 1000/LV2) and Kirka (ATK: 1600/LV4) from the same franchize.

Nico: "Your reign of terror ends here! Everyone, attack! Bring his wroth emperor down!"

Mattheodeus (that's not the real card name) swung his mighty axe forward, and with a powerful cry for battle, he smashed the blade into Solda's chest. The brittle body of the tzar was unable to hold down, so it blew up immediately.

Following after him, Maku and Kirka charged forward and made a direct attack. Maku slashed his daggers twice, while Kirka the Redcape performed a single slash with her enchanted rapier.

Both attacks connected, and the enemy duelist was thrown backwards, landing hardly on his back, and his cards scattered all over the ground.

Guy1: LP: 2000… 0

WINNER: Nico

And the crowd cheered like it was the championship of the world. It was without a doubt that Nico's performance moved them all… although her cute cosplay as a Vergilian warrior lady played the most part of it.

Sky: "Amazing…"

Rikki: "She did it in a single turn?"

Soon after, she took her D-Gazer off, and held a speech to the crowd.

Nico: "It is a vain victory, for that was a soul whose heart was tormented by Waldemeg's evil scheme. But stay strong, everyone! (turns to the crowd) Even in despair, we can overcome this curse!"

The crowd cheered again. If it wasn't for all the modern stuff surrounding her, you might indeed think this was a medival hero encouraging her people.

Nico: "The tyrany of this infernal mage has been going on for long enough! For years must you, people of Ovelon, suffer under his rule, take his slings and arrows, starve and age in misery. But now, we finally have the means to strike back: the Sovregnity has been reclaimed once more!"

The crowd cheered again, like it was a scored goal on a football match. Among the crowd:

Man1: "(to Man2) Hey, you know what she's talking about?"

Man2: "No idea, but she looks cute in that cosplay. (resumes cheering)"

Nico: "That's right, stand with me! Stand with the arms of Nico of Terrainbrie! Lend me your strength so we can fight back the opressor! The time to take action has come now!"

I don't have to stress out how weird this all seemed in the eyes of Sky's friends.

Rikki: "What is she talking about?"

Enlil: "I can't remember there being a cosplay convention nearby."

Flint: "And who's Waldemeg?"

Sky: "Nico of Flew incarnates the Soveregnity of Light Gods, so the Dark Mage Waldemeg sends out monsters to-"

Enlil/Flint/Rikki: "(O.O)… (looking at Sky) ... … … …(?)… … (?-?)"

Sky: "(embarrased)… Erhm, I mean, I read something like that. In a magazine, I think."

Sky: "(O.O) S-Sky-kun?"

Sky: "Why are you looking at me like I just ordered a stake on a salad bar?"

Flint: "(O.O) Sky-sama, I didn't know you were into that kind of stuff. What exactly is it?"

Sky: "It's, uhm… an RPG."

Flint: "(-_-) A what? Video game?"

Sky: "Why do you make it sound so negative?"

Rikki: "Aniki, aren't you a bit too old to be playing RPGs?"

Sky: "How can someone be too old to play RPGs?"

Rikki: "But it doesn't seem that grown-up, believing in fairy tales and such."

Sky: "I do it for the story, it's not my fault they could only interpret it in a game. It's too graphic to be a book, and too long to be a movie, it's the ideal medium."

Flint: "Say what you want, but that way of thinking will not bring you any closer to Keira-chan."

Sky: "(!) You keep her out of this, understood! Saying it's a bad thing to be a gamer is the same as saying it's a bad thing to be a duelist, there's not much difference."

Flint: "Actually, there is. You duel in your own way, but RPGs follow a specific scenario you can't influence. And it makes you dumb, in my oppinion"

Sky: "(-_-) You little… I really don't feel like arguing about this here. There's no proof that RPGs turn people into morons."

Next to him:

Pakka: "(in a ridiculus knight cosplay) YAY, Nico-chan! I'll fight for you until the end of time!"

Sky: "Heh? (notices him) WHAT? Pakka's here too!"

Pakka: "(to Sky) Silence, knave! I'm trying to listen to Nico-chan's speech! Hm? Oh, it's you, pupil."

Sky: "(!) I'm not your pupil!"

Enlil: "What are you doing here, Pakka-kun?"

Rikki: "And where'd you get that weird getup?"

Pakka: "What? Did you just call me a baka?"

Enlil/Rikki: "(sweatdrop) No, we did not."

Pakka: "If you must know, I'm here to be recruited into Nico-chan's quest for glory. (kawaii face) Can you imagine me and the wonderful Nico-chan galloping through the planes fighting for the ridgeous cause?"

Sky: "I'm trying my best not to. Since when are you interested in Vergilian Chronicles?"

Pakka: "Heh? The what?"

Sky: "The game her speech comes from. How else will you converse with her?"

Let's disregard that conversation for now, and focus on something that occured in Nico's near. For some reason, she leaned her ear sideways, like there was someone whispering into her ear. What was even wierder, she replied.

Nico: "What is it? (after a while, she looks at Sky in the crowd) Him? Indeed, he does feel special."

She then pointed at Sky and spoke out loud:

Nico: "You there, what is thine name?"

Breaking the conversation between Sky and Pakka, the two were caught off-guard by the beautiful cosplayer. Unfortunately, Nico's pinpoint was not precise enough from that distance, and Pakka may have got the wrong message. I should have mentioned this before, but Nico's cosplay fit perfectly to her appearance, she looked very authentic. Pakka's cosplay, on the other hand, could easily be mistaken for a suit made out of various pots and cauldrons held together by wire and bubblegum. If anything, he'd sooner pass for the tinman than a knight.

Pakka: "(excited) Who, me?"

Nico: "No, not you. Him."

She pointed at Sky again.

Sky: "Me?"

Pakka: "HUH? (gets in front of Sky) Are you sure you don't mean me? I came to volunteer for the quest of honor, to join your side and-"

Nico: "Your behavior is obnoxious, tinman."

Pakka: "What? Why?"

Nico: "The fight against Waldemeg requires bold warriors of pure heart. There's no need nor room for Iron Golems."

Pakka: "(o_o) Heh?"

Sky: "She thinks you're the encountered enemy, Iron Golem?"

Pakka: "(shock-face) WHAAAAAAAT? I'm supposed to be a knight! A knight!"

Sky: "(sweatdrops) Well, what shall I say?"

Nico: "Now to you, paladin."

Sky: "Heh? Paladin?"

For some reason, Nico held a proud smug while directing her voice at Sky.

Nico: "You don't think I'd recognize? I can recognize potential warriors just by looking at them. A paladin is more than welcome to join my quest. What say thee?"

Sky: "(?) Where did she get the idea for a paladin?"

Flint: "Wait a minute! (jumps on Sky's shoulder)"

Flint noticed something quite obscure about Nico. He zoomed in at her and started scanning. His scan detected an obscure sigl on Nico's right shoulder. As soon as all intruments went off and started beeping, he saw it: a Number 98.

Flint: "Number detected! Sky-sama! (into Sky's ear) This girl here, she's a Number holder!"

Sky: "She's a what?"

Enlil: "Numbers? Here?"

Rikki: "She's the one we've been tracking?"

Sky: "Then that means…"

Nico: "What is this chattering among familiars?"

Sky: "Wha'?"

Nico: "Time is short! You're either with me or in the way!"

Sky: "(o_o) Erhm… The thing is… (idea!) Alright, you may lead the way, noble Nico."

Flint/Rikki/Enlil: "(O_O) HEEEEEH?"

Sky: "To the ruins of Andorea, where the mage lies dormant, was it?"

Enlil: "(befuddled) Sky-kun, you're…"

Rikki: "(same as above) … actually playing along?"

Nico: "I see, you are well informed. In that case, we-"

Sky: "Just give us a minute, okay?"

Sky immediately gathered up his friends (not including Pakka) and huddled all their heads together to discuss in whispers:

Enlil: "What are you doing, Sky-kun?"

Rikki: "Yeah, aniki, actually taking her invitation?"

Flint: "I may not know a lot about RPG, but it's clear to me that girl is a wacko!"

Sky: "I know what I'm doing. I think I figured it out. She is not performing like a cosplayer, I think the Number has a hold of her!"

Enlil: "What? The Number?"

Sky: "Yes, remember what the Numbers did to Pakka? Making him impersonate the king of Sparta?"

Flint: "(-_-) For the record, that's not entirely true."

Sky: "Numbers so far infected people on a mental basis. Isn't it possible this one does the same thing?"

Enlil: "So you're saying…"

Flint: "It actually makes sense. The Numbers act to visualize a subconscious desire in people's hearts. If this person's heart is all into that RPG, she might actually think she's a real character warrior lady!"

Rikki: "Is that even possible?"

Sky: "It's the only thing I could think of. If she thinks this whole place is the world of Ovelon, we might have a better shot at capturing the Number by playing by her rules."

Enlil: "How are we going to do that? We don't know anything about that world."

Sky: "Maybe you don't, but I-"

Flint/Enlil/Rikki: "(-_-) …"

Sky: "Err, I mean, I might have heard a bit… Let's just focus on hunting the Number, okay? (rises up, speaks to Nico) Alright, we're all set!"

Nico: "Very well! (unsheats her sword and raises it) Tonight we end the age of Waldemeg for good!"

As this was an iconic pose, the crowd cheered her on, even though they had no idea what the entire performace was about.

Sky: "(sweatdrops) Alright, when in Ovelon… On to Andorea we go!"

Enlil: "(-_-) Eh… Onwards to batle?"

Nico: "But first…"

Sky: "Huh?"

Nico then pointed at Sky again, this time with her sword.

Nico: "I will have you test your might, and your devotion to our goal. Only those with pure hearts may confront Waldemeg, after all. This will be a trial for myself as well!"

Sky: "EH?"

Nico: "We shall leave the decision to the Zenturions and their wisdom! May the gods favor with us!"

Sky: "(dumb face) The Zenturion trials, how could I have forgotten about that…?"

Nico: "Let's ride!"

At that moment, Nico jumped off the car she was standing on, and simply charged in a random direction, like she was about to confront an army of fiends.

Nico: "Gods give us strength!"

Sky: "Hey, wait up! Where are you going?"

Sky ran after her. Soon afterwards, so did Enlil, Flint and Rikki. The crowd just remained back, enjoying the view of seeing Nico run forward.

Guy4: "Awww, cosplayers are always so cute…"

Guy5: "What was all that about, anyway? A comercial, perhaps?"


And now, for the Zenturion Trials… or whatever name Nico picked for this series of scenes. She might have believed she was spreading justice and joy over a fictional world from an RPG game, and she dragged Sky and the others inside of it, but in reality… well, it kinda looked like a serious case of Don Quijotte syndrome.

During these "trials", the bold Nico ended up swinging her sword in the middle of the street, causing a traffic jam…

Nico: "Such fowl beasts have infested the Clearwood! You will be held back by my Bouncer Blade!"

Sky: "(trying to reason her) That's not beasts, you know…"

… then running after a panicking postman…

Nico: "We have to recover those manuscripts from the Gremlin Thief!"

Sky: "(running along) That's a postman, a messanger!"

… investigating a drink vendor…

Nico: "This treasure is locked by tough magic. We have to solve this puzzle first."

Sky: "(embarrassed) It's not that complicated…"

… attacking a fountain statue in the park…

Nico: "Be steady! We'll fight the Orc together!"

Sky: "(sweatdrops) Orcs don't spit water."

… kneeling before a hot-dog salesman…

Nico: "Wise alchemist, will you lend us your Ether and Phoenix Potions?"

Salesman: "(O.O) Heh?"

… assaulting a mime…

Nico: "That witch doctor is manifesting a cursed paling!"

Sky: "I don't think it's cursed, though…"

… and somehow managed to accept a challenge… from a blimp.

Nico: "Thine time is over, fell Gakorutzinakin!"

Sky: "Now you're just making stuff up!"

Anyway, imagine following Nico in her frenzied state all over Sourand completing tasks such as those mentioned above, for the rest of the afternoon.

Finally, they paused the wild goose chase in front of the building where Nico was living in (right now, she was calling it 'Terrainbrie the City in Rock'). Sky was bent down, panting, and complaining to Enlil and the others.

Sky: "(pant… pant… pant) So many trials…some of which I never knew existed…"

Enlil: "It's your fault for playing along."

Rikki: "That's right, you agreed to all this."

Flint: "For someone who is supposed to be obsessed with videogames, she sure can move."

Sky: "Maybe I chose the wrong approach after all. It would have been easier to have simply challenged her to a duel and get it over with."

Nico: "(walks up to them) Well, rested enough?"

Sky: "GH! She's back…"

Nico: "You did well so far, it'd be a shame if you faltered now."

Sky: "No, it's, err… I may need a second Potion or something…"

Enlil: "Sky-kun!"

Flint: "We'll have to tell her, or we'll spend the rest of the day playing quests!"

Sky: "If I take another one of those 'trials', my head will snap… But, if I tell her it's all a lie, it might break her indeffinitely. Sky-High, help! What do I do?"

He held onto his head like there was a debate of a senate going on in there. Then, out of nowhere, things got even more complicated with the arrival of…

Hokyo: "Oi, what's all this racket?"

Before the group, Nico's landlord showed up. Other than his usual grumpy expression he was also wearing bags with groceries. They looked at him with all confusion.

Hokyo: "As if I don't have enough problems with kids today. I don't care what you're playing there, but do it somewhere else!"

Enlil: "We-we're sorry!"

Nico: "Why are you appologizing to him? It's him that's getting in the way of our noble quest!"

Hoyko: "What noble que… Wha'?"

It wasn't until then that he realized whom he was talking to. And when he did, he was so surprised that he almost dropped all the bags in his hands!

Hoyko: "HEEEH? Nico, don't tell me that's you!"

Sky: "Huh? You know him?"

Nico: "I've never seen this man before in my life."

Hokyo: "What the- Whaddaya mean by that? I'm Hokyo, your landlord!"

Sky: "Heh? Her…"

Rikki: "Landlord?"

Hokyo: "What on earth… are you wearing? And what's up with that weird accent? Don't tell me this is all related to those stupid videogames of yours!"

Flint: "Oh-oh, he seems mad."

Nico: "Watch it how you're adressing me, old man! I may be forgiving, but those that show no respect shall receive none in kind."

Hokyo: "I beg your pardon! How dare you talk to me like that! Don't think wearing a cheap cosplay makes you any more important! It's my place, I call the shots!"

Nico: "What?"

Hokyo: "First you make trouble to me by playing those games too loud, now you're running around my neighbourhood in that outfit! I don't need this kind of behavior, I have a reputation to think of!"

Nico: "How dare you…"

Then, Nico heard another whisper. It was a mute one, only she could hear it. Once again, it looked like she was talking to an imaginary friend. The consequences for this time were, however, much more severe. She opened her eyes in shock, then directed them at Hokyo and glared at him like an enraged hawk.

Nico: "What? He is…"

Hokyo: "What do you have to say for yourself?"

Nico: "I remember you now…"

Hokyo: "What?"

Nico: "You were… (grips her sheated sword) That horrible voice in the darkness. The shadow that crawled up and ruined all joy in the world!"

At that time, she unsheated her sword, and poited it at Hokyo, much to everyone's surprise.

Nico: "To think you'll come hide at my own doorstep… Waldemeg!"

Hokyo: "Heh?"

To everyone else, Hokyo looked just like his regular grumpy self. However, in Nico's vision, she saw a little bit more than his usual self, and while her version retained Hokyo's face visage and head shape, she added an outfit to his appearance that consited out of dark silk and golden bones and skulls, holding a massively sharp scepter.

Sky: "Did she just say… Waldemeg?"

Flint's eyes began to flash, displaying a new reading in his scans.

Flint: "Gyah! This is bad, the Number is becoming active!"

Hokyo: "What are you doing now, Nico? Put that thing down, you might poke someone's eye out-"

Nico: "Silence! Your power means nothing to me! This time you fall before me!"

That said, she leaped up (and what an impressive leap that was)…

Hokyo: "What are you doing, Nic-"

… and with a single vertical swing, she slashed and biforcated the grocerie bag in Hoyko's hands. It was a clean cut, there were tin-cans in there that were now severed in two equal halves. Fortunately, Hokyo was missed by this attack, but the act took him by surprise and threw him back, causing him to fall back on the ground.

Sky: "Nico, wait!"

Enlil: "What are you doing?"

Hokyo was at this point quite terrified.

Hokyo: "Oi, oi, oi, that thing's really sharp! What do you think you're doing wit it?"

Nico stood above Hokyo, still but furious, and directed her blade towards him once again.

Nico: "How I've longed for this… The opression, the tyrany, the grief and discord, you're the cause to this all, Waldemeg!"

Hokyo: "N-no, I'm not this Waldemeg you keep on mentio-"

Nico: "I won't hear any more curses comming from your mouth!"

Hokyo: "Hey, Nico, have you completely lost your mind? Stop this!"

Nico: "I would have you beg… But I won't give you the chance for it, it would be too merciful for someone of your filth!"

Things were getting serious. Given the fact her blade was a bit sharper than a usual cosplay prop, another swing could seriously injure Hokyo, and by the looks of Nico, she was so persuaded of his identity as Waldemeg, the main villain of her world, that she would be more than glad to perform the deed. Hokyo had every right to be scared for his life.

Nico: "It ends now! I shall-"

Sky: "Stop it, Nico!"

Nico stopped her sword, as Sky suddenly stepped in front of her and stood between her and Hokyo.

Enlil: "Sky-kun! Careful!"

Nico: "Move aside, paladin, I must end this!"

Sky: "I will not move! Can't you see this man is not Waldemeg?"

Nico: "Are you blind? His presence reeks of discomfort, flies and rats are born of his filth alone!"

Sky: "Even if they do, what good will it do in slaying him? That is not the way things should be!"

Nico: "Yes they are! This man has taken away all the joy in people's lives! He is too cruel to be left alive!"

Sky: "Are you sure that's not just you who's holding a grudge against him?"

Nico: "What?"

Sky: "True, he may not have a pure heart, but that doesn't mean he's deserved to die. You'll regret it yourself if you do so."

Nico: "A regret I will proudly bear. Now move aside!"

Sky: "This is useless, she is deeply convinced this old guy is her arch-nemesis. Rust and buckets, think Sky, think! How would they solve this in Vergilian Chronicles… Wat a minute! I declare the right for this man's life!"

Nico: "Huh? What?"

Sky: "We're both arguing over the same thing. There is only one way to solve it: duel me! May the wise… What are they called again? … Sovereigns decide who gets to judge him!"

Enlil: "Of all the geeky stuff he said, this might be the smartest."

Nico: "I see… So that means… You've been deceiving me from the start!"

Sky: "What?"

Nico: "I thought you were pure-hearted, but now I see the truth! You too are under the influence of Waldemeg!"

Sky: "(o_o) Eh? How did this escalate?"

Nico: "People whose hearts are captured by the Evil Mage must be cleansed. Very well, I accept the duel! With the Sovereignity at my side shall your eyes be opened!"

Sky: "(sweatdrops) Why did I have to be the bad guy again?"

Without hesitation, Nico pulled another item: it was a long rope. She threw it at the already spooked-up Hokyo, and almost by magic, the rope tied around the old man and immobilized him like a living snake!

Hokyo: "What is this trickery?"

Nico: "He won't be getting anyway until we've settled this. This is the prize, the winner may claim the life of Waldemeg."

Hokyo: "(angry) What am I, a prized plushie? And stop calling me Waldemeg!"

Sky: "No other choice then… Flint!"

Flint: "Understood! (jumps up) Finally, we're getting to the important part!"

In mid-air, Flint went through his regular transformation, turning into a Duel Disk for Sky, and attaching himself on his wrist.

Sky: "Duel Disk, set!"

Nico prepared her own disk, only her variant was a bit more theatrical.

Nico: "Gods, grant me strength!"

She extended her shield, and on her wrist, the shield's outer rim detached and assembled into a mat-pannel, becoming a specialy designed Duel-Disk.

Sky then took out the gazer and put it on his eye.

Sky: "D-Gazer, set!"

As for Nico, she took the jewel from the center of her shield, and in he rhand it also revealed a headgear design and shifted into a D-Gazer.

Nico: "Godess, give me sight!"

Rikki and Enlil both put on their D-Gazers, and saw the field turn into a bunch of data pixels that signified the duel start.

"AR Vision: link established."

Oh, but before the start:

Hokyo: "Oi, hold on! I can't put a D-Gazer tied like this!"

Enlil: "Oh… right… But I don't think I have a spare one."

Hokyo: "(yelling) There's a D-Gazer in my back pocket, now hurry up! I have the right to see what's going on when my neck's at stake."

Okay, now we can continue.

Sky&Nico: "Duel!"

Nico: LP: 4000

Sky: LP: 4000

Nico: "Challengers come second. I'll go first. My turn, draw! (draws) Prayers of the Sieben Stars shall send me with the most powerful allies! (plays a card) I activate the Field Spell, Andorean Ruins!"

Sky: "Field spell?"

As soon as she played it, the surrounding area around them fell under the magic of AR vision's finest art, terraforming the terrain around them in a matter of seconds, making buildings grow and the sky changing color.

In the end, the surrounding area resembled the level presented at the beginning of this episode: a large complex of cyan-blue marble buildings slightly encased in shimmering white clematis plants. The duel was now taking place in the central plaza of this complex area.

Flint: "What is this place?"

Sky: "(looking around) Is this… Andorea! The area where the last boss battle with Waldemeg takes place! I've never seen it this close before."

Flint: "(-_-) Let me guess: that's what you 'heard'?"

Sky: "Don't judge me yet!"

Sky's attention was caught by a formation in the middle of the plaza, between him and Nico: it was a large formation in the ground, that resemled a large convex plate made of blue tiles of glass. To be more specific, this was the very roof of the Dome Forum that lied beneath them. The entire city was built above the Dome as a rooftop, so you can imagine how massive the whole complex was. For some reason, Sky showed slight signs of panic when he saw that tip of the iceberg, and chills ran down his spine.

Sky: "And that must be the enterance to Dome Forum, where the battle with Ruinvana takes place. I sure hope he doesn't come out."

Flint: "Who's Ruinvana?"

Sky: "I'm not so sure you want to know that."

Nico: "Pay attention already!"

Sky: "AYE! S-sorry!"

Nico: "I shall call upon my first ally! (plays a monster) Vergilian Knight, come forth!"

She Normal summoned a monster. This one fit into her theme perfectly, if anything it's best described as her cosplay's male counterpart: a knight in noble armor and a cape, wielding a large variant of her sword, with the exception of this one being duel-handed. ATK: 1700/ LV4

Sky: "And that's what the main character looks like when chosen to be a man."

Nico: "With a Vergilian ally on my side, I can activate the effect of Andorean Ruins! (discards a card) By sending the Vergilian Viking from my hand to the Graveyard, another Vergilian ally is added to my hand. (adds the card from deck) I choose thee, Vergilian Healer, into my hand. (reveals the card)"

Enlil: "A hand advatage effect!"

Rikki: "With that, she can easily fetch any monster she likes, it's not fair!"

Nico: "Next, by gods blessed, the Magic Card Phoenix Potion! (plays it) With the abilities of the mighty phoenix's lifeblood, the next time I summon an ally, I can revive one Vergilian ally from the Graveyard."

The card she played spawned a large bottle of spirit with a phoenix insignia on it.

Sky: "Another card from Vergilian Chronicles!"

Nico: "As much as I'd desire to, code of chivalry denies attacks ont he first turn, so I'll let you draw thy blade."

Sky: "She has a deck filled with Vergilian monsters? Amazing, I never saw anyone devoted to the story so passionately!"

Flint: "Would you stop admiring her, Sky-sama! We need to extract that Number before it consumes her completely!"

Sky: "Don't worry, i haven't forgotten. (draws) My turn, draw!"

He looked at the card he drew. It was a warrior of his own, Wind-up Knight.

Sky: "Alright, this'll do! I have a monster in shiny armor as well! (plays it) I summon Wind-up Knight!"

And so, the summoned monster materialized, releasing a battlecry and raising it's sword up.

Knight: "Zenmaaai-Mai! (ATK: 1800/ LV4)"

Nico: "You have a Knight under your command as well?"

Sky: "Yeah. Let's see how our knights perform in a duel of blades! Go, Wind-up Knight, attack Vergilian Knight!"

With little delay, Sky's mechanical knight charged at Nico's knight, and both knights slashed forward, eventually clashing blades. Despite the blade of Vergilian Knight being larger, Wind-up Knight managed to take the enemy's moment of uncaution to his advantage, leaning backwards and allowing the enemy to be thrown down by the weight of his own sword. Then he struck his own sword against the enemy, impaling his chest and eventually slying him. Vergilian Knight fell in battle and vanished.

Nico: "My noble ally lost?"

Nico: LP: 3900

Sky: "Next up, I play Wind-up Factory! (activates it) With this card, once per turn, when a Wind-up monster activates it's effect, I can add another Wind-up monster from my deck. See? I can also play with hand advantage. I have a feeling this is going to be a very intense battle. Loking forward to it!"

Nico: "My party will never loose to an army of soulless automats!"

Sky: "(-_-) That ruined the moment. (sets a card) I set one card and end my turn."

Nico: "No mercy from now! My turn, draw! (draws, then plays a card) I call upon thy name, my friend in need! I summon Vergilian Healer! Rauri, I need your power!"

The card's name was Vergilian Healer, but the design of the monster was completely identical to an ally you already met: Rauri, the little girl white mage. She giggled as she swung her oversized wand about. ATK: 800/ LV3

Nico: "Witht that, the power of the Phoenix Potion is unleashed! By sending this card to the Graveyard, I can revive a KO-ed ally from the Graveyard."

That's when the bottle of Phoenix Potion she played cracked and shattered, revealing an aetheric firebird-like entity dwelling inside. The spirit of the phoenix then beat it's wings, and set the ground on fire, allowing a new ally to rise from the ashes.

Nico: "Vergilian Viking! I grant you life, Mattheodeus!"

Same as before, the summoned monster was a well known character: the Grean Viking chief, Mattheodeus, that hailed his arrival by roaring out with an almost metallic scream while banging his axe against his own shield. ATK: 1800/ LV6

Sky: "Rauri! And now Mattheodeus! (sparkle-eyes) So cool, all the heroes stand before me now! And I'm fighting them! … (O_O) Wait, that's not a good thing."

Flint: "I swear, if I could move my hands, this is the point when I slap you."

Nico: "I'm not done yet! I activate Vergilian Healer's effect! By paying 800 Life points, Rauri can revive a fallen Vergilian ally as well."

Nico: LP: 800

Nico felt the payment of Life points as a slight sting in her chest, which she held on tight to.

Nico: "Ghh… My life for the life of an ally, that is the way Vergilian warriors fight evil forces. Rauri, we need a Knight, revive our ally!"

Rauri/Vergilian Healer nodded in response, and deployed her ability in the most perculiar way imaginable: by charging an array of light into her wand, spining it around a little in a dance, like motion, then focusing the energy to the ground where a sigl appeared, opening a portal that allowed Vergilian Knight to pass over. ATK: 1700/ LV4

Sky: "A Viking, a Knight and a Healer… This must be the Rush-on formation, used to-"

Enlil: "(yelling out loud) WOULD YOU STOP THAT AND FOCUS, YOU'RE OUTNUMBERED!"

Indeed, Sky's Wind-up Knight was now facing a trained party of 3 monsters.

Rikki: "No way can aniki's knight withstand them all!"

Nico: "Rush-on! Vergilian Knight, take thy vengeance and attack! (the Knight charges forward) Your Knight bested mine last time, but this time it's me who's attacking. When Vergilian Knight attacks a Warrior-type monster, it gains additional 300 Attack points!"

So, in the middle of his charge…

Vergilian Knight: ATK: 1700… 2000

… It started looking pretty bad for Sky's only monster.

Sky: "If there's one thing I'm good at, it's saving friends! Wind-up Knight's monster effect activates! He can block one attack directed at a Wind-up monster, including himself!"

Knight: "Mai!"

Sky's Knight put his shield forward, and then his key started spinnign insanely, increasing the will by which the Knight decided to intercept the attack. The Vergilian Knight's attack hit the shield, but that's as far as he went. Unable to penetrate the immense defensive force, Nico's Knight retreated, and Sky's Knight's key shattered into pixels.

Sky: "Also, since a Wind-up monster activted it's effect, I can fetch a new Wind-up monster from my deck. (a card slides and he picks it up) I select Wind-up Honeybee."

Nico: "But looks like your Knight is left exposed. Mattheodeus will finish what my Knight has started! Go, my Viking!"

Mattheodeus yelled out like a barbarian, and swung his massive axe towards Sky's knight.

Nico: "Vikings are excellent attackers! When Vergilian Knight attacks a monster, he gains 1000 Attack points!"

Flint: "HEH? That's even more than what the Knight gains, we're doomed!"

Vergilian Viking: ATK: 1800… 2800

And just when the massive Viking came in front of Sky's warrior (who almost wet his pants upon seeing the size of his new enemy)…

Nico: "Dodge this!"

Sky: "Trap, activate! Zenmailstrom! (the card flips) With this card, I release Wind-up Knight before the attack hits him!"

… Sky's Knight was consumed by a tornado-like whirlwind, forcing Mattheodeus to halt his advance.

Nico: "You what?"

Sky: "Now I can Special summon another Wind-up monster from my hand. I summon the added Wind-up Honeybee!"

Sky's new monster was even cuter and more chibi than his Knight: it was a toy-like bee-resembling monster with hands and a weird hive-shaped head, buzzinh on his side.

Honeybee: "Honey-honey-honey! (DEF: 100/ LV1)"

Nico: "What is that enemy? A new encounter!"

Sky: "Also, with Zenmailstrom's other effect, I can Special summon another Wind-up from my deck that has the same Attack points as my Honeybee! (searches his deck, picking a card) I Special summon… a second Honeybee!"

Next to the first bee, a second twin monster appeared, merily buzzing and taking a stance next to the first one. The two bees looked and smiled at each other.

Honeybee2: "Honey-honey! (DEF: 100/ LV1)"

Flint: "It's a Zenmail-swarm!"

Nico: "The enemy is multiplying, but their stats are low. Fine then, change formation, Second Charge! Mattheodeus, attack the honeybee to the left! And Rauri, you attack the right one!"

The massive Mattheodeus, and the not-so-massive Rauri ran forward to attack again. The Honeybees were so frightened by this that they cuddled together.

The first Honeybee was mercilessly turned to dust by a single crash of the Viking's axe.

The second one faced a less lethal enemy, but a single slap with Rauri's wand was more than enough to send the Honeybee flying, but ina more comedic fashion.

Nico: "Battle Clear!"

Sky: "Not entirely. I activate the ability of both my Honeybees!"

As Nico wa scaught off guard by Sky's move again, 2 portals appeared in the ground in front of Sky.

Sky: "When a Honeybee is destroyed in battle, it can Special summon a new Wind-up monster from my deck. Since you destroyed 2, I get to double summon. This is my party of allies: Wind-up Juggler, Wind-up Warrior!"

Two new monsters came out of the portals: to his left the brown armored Warrior, and to his right the green X-headed Juggler.

Warrior: "Zenmai! (ATK: 1200/ LV4)"

Juggler: "Zenmai! (ATK: 1700/ LV4)"

Nico: "Such remarkable comeback. He started out with one ally, and now all the sudden he has two. I was right to have admired your power. But, my blade fights for justice!"

This has nothing to do with her speech, but just like that Mattheodeus kneeled down and put his shield up. DEF: 2500

Nico: "(O.o) Heh?"

Sky: "Vikings are strong, but they get tired very quickly. When Vergilian Viking attacks, he must change to Defense position, you can't change that."

Nico: "(sweatdrops) S… So you can't."

Rikki: "Looks like aniki finaly has the advantage."

Enlil: "Sky-kun trained himself to take on Numbers, this should not be a challenge for him."

Hoyko: "(grumbles) Pih, if he's that strong get it over with already!"

Enlil: "What's with you?"

Hokyo: "He may be on our side but your little pal is almost as obsessed by this childish fantasy world as Nico. If he didn't agree on playing in her little sharade, I wouldn't be tied up right now! (to Sky) You hear that! Knock some sense into her, get her out of that videogame minded state or I'll fetch the lawyers onto ya'!"

Flint and Sky both sweatdropped.

Flint: "That's the way he cheers?"

Sky: "I'm starting to think he might have been the inspiration for Waldemeg after all."

Hokyo: "I'M NOT THIS WALDEMEG, CONFOUND IT! Get your heads out of the clouds and get into the real world! (to Nico) Nico, when I untie myself, the first thing I'll do is todd that console and all those childish toys of yours out on the trash! I've had it up to here with that nonsense!"

Nico simply glared at him, furious like wolf. But she did not reply back.

Sky, on the other hand, felt remorse.

Sky: "Boy, if he treats her that badly, it's no wonder she saw him as the bad guy."

Nico: "I fear not the words comming from the mouth of a tyrant. Without heartful reason, they are nothing but dust in the wind. It's still my turn! I use the effect of Andorean Ruins (discards a monster card) By discarding Vergilian Ninja, I can fetch Vergilian Monk to my hand (picks a card from the shuffled deck). Now I set a card face-down. Turn end. (sets a card)"

Flint: "She still thinks she's doing the right thing, I kinda feel bad for her now."

Sky: "Yeah, it's not the same with the previous Numbers, assumingly a Number is still behind this. (looks at Flint/ his deck) Alright, we need to flush that thing out, fast! I will show it to her! My Sky-High! (draws) My draw!"

Nico: "(hunch) Huh? Wait, what did you just say?"

Sky: "I play the Spell card Zenmailfunction! (plays it) With it, I can revive Wind-up Knight from the Graveyard! It must be placed in Defense position, and it's effect is negated!"

From a portal in front of him, the Wind-up Knight appeared and kneeled down in a defensive stance. (DEF: 1200/ LV4)

Sky: "Next up, I activate the effect of Wind-up Warrior, which means can boost the power and the level of Wind-up Juggler: Attack points plus 600, level plus 1!"

Wind-up Warrior's key span around at great speed, promting the Warrior to gain a powerful aura, which he transferred over to the Juggler, who took on a bold stance.

Wind-up Juggler: ATK: 1700… 2300/ LV4… LV5

Sky: "As Warrior activated his effect, Wind-up factory activates! And I'll fetch to hand… (picks a card from deck) my Wind-up Car. Which I'll summon now!"

A new monster was summoned: it looked in every askepct like a yellow toy beetle-car with a wind-up key, only with eyes instead of lights and with a small antenna on the rear hub. It's only noise upon entering, aside from the engine, was a happy honk-beep. ATK: 1600/ LV4

Sky: "Now it's time to turn the tides! I overlay the level 4 Wind-up Warrior and Wind-up Knight!"

Both monsters turned into Overlay units, opening a portal to the Xyz space…

Sky: "Bridge this space with the antispace: Xyz summon!"

And out of that portal, an entirely different kind of engine noise was heard: it was the heart of a much larger machine.

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

It was Sky's favorite boss monster: the battle robo from the Wind-up clan. 2 overlay units surrounded it. ATK: 1900/ R4

Nico: "(surprised) A Sovereign? You're an Evoker as well?"

Sky: "(-_-') No, let's consider this more of a 'boss battle'. Also, because of it's special ability, for every Overlay Unit supporting him, Zenmaister gains plus 300 Attack points."

Zenmaister put it's fists up and yelled out a cry of power, as it's stats suddenly changed.

Wind-up Zenmaister: ATK: 2500

Sky: "Time for battle! Juggler attacks Vergilian Healer!"

Juggler already formed a fireball in his hand. Rauri fret as soon as she saw this, knowing she was in it's sights.

Nico: "I won't let that! Vergilian Viking's effect activates! When he's in Defense position, the only monster you can attack is him!"

Mattheodeus then stepped forward and put his shield in front, guarding Rauri from Juggler's approach.

Sky: "I knew that, Vikings make excelent defenders. Juggler will attack him instead!"

Enlil: "You're okay with it?"

Rikki: "But aniki, Viking's Defense points are…"

Vergilian Viking: DEF: 2500

Juggler disregarded this, and charged forward nontheless, eventually slamming his flaming fist against Viking's shield. Mattheodeus tilt backwards a little, but no real damage was done.

Except for this:

Sky: LP: 4000… 3800

Sky: "I don't mind. Wind-up Juggler's effect activates!When he battles a monster, he can instantly destroy it by winding up once!"

As the key on Juggler's back spun, the he spawned more gear-shaped fireballs and started juggling with them, eventually throwing them all in Mattheodeus' direction. The thrown gers acted like bomb coctails that first blew his shield to bits, then pushed him backwards and ultimately destroyed him in a cloud of smoke.

Nico: "Mattheodeus, no!"

Sky: "Now Wind-up Car's effect activates: when a Wind-up monster's effect resolves, I can draw a card. (draws) Now that I cracked the defenses, Wind-up Car, attack the Healer!"

By winding up it's key, the Wind-up equivalent to the infamous Herbie drove forward, ramming Rauri and tossing her aside. She cried as her image was shattered in pixels.

Nico: LP: 2300

Nico: "No, not Rauri as well! I activate Healer's effect: when destroyed in battle, I can restore 800 Life points!"

A shimmering aura surrounded Nico and her Life point bar sprang up.

Nico: LP: 3100

Sky: "And least, but certainly not least, Wind-up Zenmaister, attack Vergilian Knight with Spring-up Knuckle!"

Zenmaister responded, and punched forward, his fist carried away by a long spiral spring. It impaled the Knight, and sent him away for the second time.

Nico: LP: 2300

Nico: "My entire formation, destroyed… I can't allow this! I activate the Trap, Leader Change! (the card flips) When you destroy all my Vergilian allies, I can use this card to Special summon a new Vergilian ally from my hand. You're up, Moriales. I summon Vergilian Monk!"

Her new monster was yet another character from Vergilian Chronicles: a tan, bare-chested fist fighter with a large scar over his chest whose dark hair was so pointy it was almost razor-sharp. ATK: 1800/LV4

Enlil: "Do all her monsters have names?"

Nico: "Also, by the effect of Leader Change, I gain Life points equal to Moriales Attack points."

Nico: LP: 4100

Flint: "She keeps on stocking Life!"

Sky: "That's good, we're leaving her an opening. I activate the effect of Wind-up Zenmaister! By detaching an Overlay unit, one of my monsters are changed to face-down mode, but it is returned to Attack mode during the End phase. By doing this on a Wind-up monster that used it's effect once, it means it can use it again. I select to rewind Wind-up Juggler!"

Zenmaister absorbed one of it's Overlay units through his chest, then pointed his arm towards Juggler, spraying him with a lightbeam that created a new key after his first one broke, then both him and the key were veiled over by a large card, setting them.

Sky: "However, by using up an Overlay unit, Zenmaister lost 300 Attack points as well, due to it's effect."

Wind-up Zenmaister: ATK: 2200

Sky: "I set a card down. (sets) Turn end!"

Because of the turn end, Juggler's Attack points were also restored:

Wind-up Juggler: ATK: 1700/ LV4

Nico: "To think my enemy would be this skilled. No, it's as if gods favor him. How else would he be able to summon a Sovereign of his own…"

Sky: "I already said, it's just an Xyz su-"

Nico: "You, what did you say your name was?"

Sky: "Eh? I'm Sky Galen."

Nico: "No, that was not it…"

Sky: "What does that mean, it is my name!"

Nico: "You said something before… Something familiar…"

Sky: "Huh?"

Nico: "Nevermind, I'll recall it sooner or later. It's my turn! (draws) Draw! I play the Spell card Vergilian Regen! (reveals the card) Since there's 5 Vergilian allies on the field and the Graveyard, we can both draw 3 cards."

Sky: "That means I get to draw too, right?"

So they both did. They each drew 3 cards from their decks. Sky's hand was alread getting crowded at this point, but Nico's was just beginning to grow. Still, she felt confident.

Nico: "You may be an Evoker, but the Sovereigns favor my side as well! (plays a card) I play the Spell card Monster Reborn, allowing me to revive an ally from my Graveyard: I select to revive Vergilian Ninja! Come and aid me, Kageshi!"

A dark portal opened up in front of Nico, and another monster jumped out of it. Vergilian Ninja, or Kageshi as Nico referred to it, was a classic Ninja character, dressed in full body black jumpsuit, and even covering his eyes with a large golden vizor. Aside from all the ninja gear he stocked up on his belt and back, the most notable feature on him was the long and waving golden belt. Upon arising from the Graveyard, he landed gracefully, like he was hanging by a wire, and did a pose involving classic ninja-signs. ATK: 1400/ LV4

Sky: "She now has 2 level 4 monsters."

Nico: "I need your aid, everyone! I overlay the level 4 Kageshi and Moriales!"

Both her monsters turned into Overlay units, and opened up a portal beneath her.

Nico: "For the price of 2, a new greater life will evoke! Xyz summon!"

Same as Zenmaister, she summoned her trusted Xyz monster, and it emerged out with a cloud of shimmering smoke.

Nico: "Appear, Vergilian Sovereign – Daevan!"

The summoned creature looked like a sort of enchanted construct. Daevan resembled a tall, floating chess-figure with long hands and a pair of rudimental, but finely decorated wings meant to resemble angelic ones. It also had a tiny head almost hidden by the collar decorations. The entire body was decorated with enjeweled runes and effigies. ATK: 1800/ R4

Flint: "That's not the Number. And it's not strong enough to counter Zenmaister. What exactly is she planning?"

Nico: "Next, I summon Living Wand Kurame!"

Her next monster was not really a member of her Vergilian party, but a tool instead: it was the enchanted one-eyed sentient wand used by Fangrim earlier. ATK: 800/ LV2

Sky: "Kurame too! That's an awfully rare weapon, where did she get that?"

Nico: "Kurame's monster effect activates: by switching it to Defense position, one Vergilian ally gains 800 Attack points! Kurame, charge!"

Kurame: "(eyeflash) Charge! (DEF: 800)"

A powerful sigl was produced by Kurame and surrounded Daevan like an orbiting ring. This magic power instantly raised his power.

Vergilian Sovereign Daevan: ATK: 1800… 2600

Enlil: "It's stronger than Zenmaister now!"

Nico: "Now Daevan's effect activates: by detaching an Overlay unit, it can Special summon a Vergilian ally from my hand or deck."

Daevan absorbed an Overlay unit through his chest, and created a sigl of his own, which grew into a portal in front of Nico. Another figure came along:

Nico: "I Special summon the Vergilian Warlock Fangrim!"

It was none other than Fangrim, the dark mage from Vergilian Chronicles. He exposed his appearance by tossing his cape aside. ATK: 1500/ LV4

Nico: "When Vergilian Warlock is Special summoned, I can switch Kurame to Attack position. Then I use it's Charge ability again, changing it to Defense position. This time to charge up Fangrim."

Fangrim called Kurame into his hands by magic. The next events occured almost instantly: Kurame switched positions twice, spawning a new sigl, which surrounded Fangrim.

Kurame: "(ATK: 800) Charge! (DEF: 800)"

Vergilian Warlock: ATK: 1500… 2300

Rikki: "What just happened?"

Flint: "Yeiks! She already has a better front than us! That's so…"

Sky: "Amazing!"

Flint: "Wha'?"

Sky: "Such a clean combo, it required precise timing and deployment. If she used Daevan's effect as soon as he was summoned, then Kurame would not have been able to use it's effect twice. You're an amazing duelist, Nico!"

Nico blushed, but only a little. She turned her head sideways, pretending not to care.

Nico: "D-don't say such random stuff, this is still a duel! Now I engage Battle phase, and attack Zenmaister with Daevan!"

Daevan already rushed forward, preparing to strike enmaister down with his fist…

Sky: "I play the Trap: Xyz Willpower! (the card activates) Because of that, Zenmaister cannot be destroyed by this battle!"

Zenmaister did not just stand there and wait for the attack to happen. Instead, he rushed at Daevan himself and prepared his own punch.

The two fists clashed, and as the two Xyz monsters collided in strength, neither one seemed to wither down.

Nico: "But, you still take the difference as damage."

The impact of force made both monsters back down. The blowback of force was still greater on Sky's side, dealing damage to him.

Sky: LP: 3400

Sky: "I can bear that. I activate the other effect of Xyz Willpower: once the battle ends, it becomes an Overlay Unit for Zenmaister."

Nico: "What?"

Sky's Trap card turned into pure energy, and started orbiting around Zenmaister, successfully turning itself into an Overlay unit.

Sky: "And with a new Overlay unit, Zenmaister's effect gives him more Attack points."

Wind-up Zenmaister: ATK: 2200… 2500

Enlil: "Amazing!"

Rikki: "Keep it up, aniki!"

Hokyo: "Pih…"

Nico: "He turned the tides again. I will be left too vulnerable the next turn if I don't lower his offenses. Zenmaister is too strong for Fangrim now. And that Juggler can destroy any monster it battles with… That only leaves one target. Fangrim, attack his Wind-up Car!"

Fangrim put Kurame up, who opened it's eye and shot a devastating dark beam at Sky's beetle-like car. The car honked in panic before the beam hit him, when it exploded and was no more. Sky covered his face from the incomming debris.

Sky: LP: 2700

Nico: "Now, I play the Spell card Optional Quest! (reveals the card) That means that until my next turn, I take no battle damage from battles involving my Vergilian allies. And in the End phase, Kurame's charge ability fades, so I'll end my turn like this."

Kurame closed it's eye, and all the sigls it produced faded away.

Vergilian Warlock: ATK: 1400

Vergilian Sovereign Daevan: ATK: 1800

Sky: "Then it's my move then. I draw! (draws, looks at the card and plays it) I summon Wind-up Rabbit!"

Before Sky, a new monster appeared: the red humanoid bunny leaped onto his side. ATK: 1400/ LV3

Sky: "I may not be able to damage your Life points, but I can still destroy your monsters. I attack Daevan with Zenmaister! Spring-up Knuckle!"

Zenmaister swung his fist forward, and delivered a devastating punch into the Sovereign's torso. Daevan's armor cracked open, and when it leaned backwards, falling in defeat, it turned to a bunch pixels.

Nico: "When the Sovereign Daevan is destroyed, I can draw a card. (draws)"

Sky: "I still have attacks left! Juggler, Rabbit, attack Fangrim and Kurame with combined forces!"

Both his Juggler and the Rabbit jumped forward, forming fists of fire, aiming for Fangrim. He anticipated them with a shocking expression, then both monsters slammed him simultaneously in the chest, destroying him and the wand Kurame he was holding.

The total damage was zero, but Nico was still blown back by the impact, ultimately kneeling down with a scream.

Sky: "I set two cards down, and end my turn! (sets) Every time I get beat down, I rise back up, stronger than ever! That's my…"

Nico: "Sky-High."

Sky: "Heh?"

Here's a funny fact: not only did Nico complete Sky's sentence for him, but she did that in her usual voice. The calm and innocent tune, not the bold and agressive one she uses as a cosplayer.

Then, she lifted her head. Her eyes also returned to her usual self, the round and cute ones, all that was missing were the glasses.

Nico: "I know where I heard it now."

Sky: "You do?"

Enlil: "How does she know about Sky-High?"

Rikki: "Right, I tought it was only exclusive for aniki."

Flint: "Sky-sama, something's not right. I can barely read the Number signal anymore."

Sky: "You mean, the curse is fading?"

Nico kept looking around, like a lost child, with her arms close to her face, almost like she was frightened by something.

Nico: "What happened? I can't remember any of this… (gasp) But… I remember… Sky-High, yes. He always said it to me."

Sky: "He?"

Nico: "Yes, him. Only I see now… It was you on the other side, wasn't it?"

She looked at Sky.

Sky: "What, me?"

Nico: "Are you… Zenmaniac59?"

Sky: "Huh? That's my username, but how do you… HEEEEEEEH? (freaks out) YOU'RE ScarletCrow?"

Sky was beside himself. He finally recognized the person he was dueling, even though he never met her before. You might have figured this out by yourself, but back when Nico was chatting with someone in the park, it was Sky that was using the username zenmaniac59.

The others, however, had no idea what was occuring.

Flint: "Sky-sama, what do you mean?"

Enlil: "You know her?"

Sky: "Th…Th… That's a bit complicated… (embarrassed) I was trying to find clues and tips for Vergilian Chronicles- EH! For a… research that is. And I kinda met someone with great experience, I never thought it would be the same person as…"

Nico: "As me? (looks aside) Yes, I am that gamer. ScarletCrow."

Sky shivered a bit while pointing at Nico, partially out of embarrassment, but mostly out of sheer fright. Not just because of what Nico said, but also for the conversation that would follow:

Enlil: "(jealously) You were chatting with another girl online!"

Sky: "I didn't know, honestly! I was just looking for advice from elite players…"

Nico: "So it was you. You like Vergilian Chronicles too?"

Sky: "(O.O) Ehhh… (nods) Yeah, I do. I play every once in a while."

Flint: "AHA! I knew it!"

Sky: "Don't make it sound like a bad thing! Games are stories as well. As long as they keep the spirit alive, it's all that matters. It's no different than dueling, you play it to remember what the important things in life are, the courage and dreams that can't wither. That's why I grew to like them as well."

Flint: "(-_-) How do you manage it to make every little thing sound important?"

Nico: "(smiles) I'm glad… I knew it, someone that likes Vergilian Chronicles like that can't possibly be a bad person. Thank you for saying all those things to me."

Enlil: "(jealously angry) WHAT DID YOU SAY TO HER?"

Sky: "(sweatdrops) How did it come to this? I was just commenting on how great her gameplay was, that's all."

Nico: "(sudden breath) You think… I'm a great player?"

Sky: "If what you told me was true, you're the greatest gamer I've met. It's no wonder your dueling skills are honed as well."

The conversation touched Nico deep. She almost cried tears of joy, it was as if that dangerous warrior part of her died completely. It seemed like everything was going to work out…

Up to the following part:

Hokyo: "Would you just CUT the BULL!"

The touchy atmosphere was cut short by Hokyo's sudden outburts. No one could ignore that one.

Hokyo: "You were supposed to get her head out of the clouds, but now you're sinking her deeper into that nonsense!"

Enlil: "What's your problem?"

Hokyo: "I'll tell you what the problem is: you're all morons! Games that keep spirit alive? Gamers being great people? It's all a loud of scrap! Gamers have no lives, and no sense of what the real world is like because they keep believing there's some magic world with faries and dragons in it!"

Sky: "Hey, what's goten into you?"

Hokyo: "I've had it with that, Nico! Time to grow up! Do you have any idea how much trouble I've got into because of your obsession with that? Gamers are not great, they're trash! Your whole belief is trash!"

Nico closed her eyes and grint her teeth tight, and gripped her hands even tighter. She was aggregating a large amoung of grudge that she did not want to burst out.

Hokyo: "There's no magic that can make your life better, no miracles that will save you, there's just you and the harsh world that you're closing yourself out of!"

She could have hold onto that feeling for a lot longer. She could bear the pain over and over…

But this time, something was different.

Deep in the Andorean Ruin's Dome Forum, the grudge took form. And it overtook her…

98!

Nico: "SHUUUUUT UUUUUUUUPPPPPPPP!"

The scream was horrifying, but this was only the trigger event to what else followed.

The nearby crystal seal, the one that Sky noted contained a secret dungeon, cracked and shattered, and an awful aura that surrounded Nico at that time consumed her entirely, bursting out like a geyzer. The force was powerful enough to force Sky to take a stance against it, and it felt like a powerful gale.

Sky: "What the…!?"

Flint: "Beep-beep… WAAAH! These readings are off the charts! It's the Number!"

Out of the cracked seal, a series of dark appendages resembling tentacles shot out, and they wrapped around Hoyko like living ropes, lifting him up.

Hoyko: "Hey-hey-HEY! What is this?"

He was picked up and left hanging upside down above the cracked seal. Rest assured, he was strugling to break free, and panicking to find out what was going on.

Hokyo: "What kind of AR is this? I can't move! Nico!"

Nico's eyes returned to her battle-esque narrow expression, and so did her voice become bolder and darker.

Nico: "In order to seal off the great evil, an evil of different kind must be comitted! Now I break this seal to unleash your punishment!"

Sky: "Nico, wait!"

Nico: "I use the effect of Optional Quest! Instead of conducting my usual draw, I can draw one card for each Vergilian card destroyed in battle, and since Daevan and Fangrim are the only ones that count, I can draw two cards!"

She drew her cards, and looked at them. She smiled, only this time it was not a happy smile, but an evil grin.

Nico: "I activate Vergilian Ninja's effect in my Graveyard! By banishing him, along with a Trap card from the Graveyard, I can play another Trap from my hand."

As the two cards were drawn into the void, the Ninja Kageshi appeared from a portal in the ground, performed a series of ninja hand-signs, and created a sigl of magic on Nico's side before vanishing.

Nico: "I activate this Trap: Revival of Dark Sovereign! (plays it)"

Upon activation, more of those dark tendrils were shot out of the dar veil in the Andorean Ruins, and they opened up a dark portal in the ground and pulled smething out of it.

Nico: "With this card, I can revive one Vergilian sovereign from my Graveyard, which means I can ressurect Daevan!"

The item that the tendrills pulled out was the Xyz monster Daevan, only he was entirely bound by the tendrills and left hanging, almost lifeless, like a prisoner bound by chains. All in all, it did not look healthy. ATK: 1800/ R4

Nico: "The Xyz monster summoned in this way cannot attack. Also, it's rank is turned into a level, which becomes twice as high as it's original rank!"

Vergilian Sovereign Daevan: R4… LV8

Sky: "The Xyz monster gained a level?"

Nico: "Finally, I summon the Vergilian Redcape!"

The next summoned monster was Kirka, the female member of the Redcape Brigade. She pulled her cape sideways and revealed her rapier. ATK: 1600/ LV4

Nico: "Redcapes like her can imitate abilities of their alies, hence her ability: when a Redcape is played, it copies the level of another Vergilian monster on my side!"

Vergilian Redcape: LV4… LV8

Enlil: "Now she has 2 level 8 monsters!"

Rikki: "Does this mean she'll be summoning a rank 8 Number? There's no telling what it'll do!"

Hokyo: "That's it! Nico, you are officially OUT of the appartment! That's right, you're thrown out on the street! Take your toys and other garbage somewhere else, you are no longer welcome in my-"

Nico: "You think any of that will matter now?"

Hokyo: "What?"

Nico: "To defeat the great evil, a greater evil must be comitted. You will become witness of this ultimate evokation."

An evil flash occured inside of her eyes. This sight was enough to silence even the ever-complaining Hokyo.

Sky: "Nico, stop it!"

Nico: "You all pushed me into this! I now see there is no other way but to fall back to the Fallen One!"

Sky: "Fallen One? Wait, no!"

Nico: "I overlay the level 8 Daevan and Kirka!"

Both the bound Sovereign and the Redcape turned into Overlay units, and opened up a portal in front of her. This time, it was not a usual smooth portal to the Xyz space, but a spiraling one, and it was placed directly above the broken veil of darkness.

Nico: "For the price of 2 lives, a new greater life will evoke! Xyz summon!"

The veil erupted, and the sky turned red. The burst of power almost hit the nearby hanging Hokyo, causing him to freak out even more.

Sky: "I know that scene… It's… The superboss!"

98!

Something peeked through that dark eruption, and whatever it was, it did not appear friendly. Sky was terrified by the fight…

Nico: "Appear, Number 98!"

For before him, he saw the visage of the Fallen Sovereign…

Nico: "Ruinvana!"

(to be continued)


(BONUS)

Flint&Enlil: "Numbers Math Trivia!"

Enlil: "It's the part of the episode where we learn where Numbers get their numbers. Today, we'll discuss the meaning of…"

(Divine Wind's card appears )

Enlil: "Number 71: Divine Wind! What do you think the 71 stans for?"

Flint: "Here's some basic information on the card."

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.

Flint: "Both numbers 7 and 10 are considered to be extremely important, and a multiple of those two signifies an angelic power, hence the Divine part."

Sky: "Also, the number might indicate July 1st, or first day of the 7th month, which signifies the half-point of the year, taking the same number of days backwards and forwards from new Year and Old Year. This might explain it's ability, as it does not specifically increases or decreases Attack points, but fixates them at one specific point."

Flint: "Also perculiar, the term Divine Wind was also used commonly to describe- wait a minute, we didn't meet Divine Wind in this episode!"

Enlil: "That's because the true Number is yet to be revealed in the next episode."

Flint: "Why do they have to be so enigmatic about it?"


/ending song: "Treasure!" by Emiri Kato ("Ben-to", 2011)/

(instrumental opening: a dandylion is swinging sith the breeze on a green meadow; Enlil picks it up, observing it, blushing… she is about to blow the seed away, but a strong gust of wind beats her to it;)

(one of the seeds, carried by the wind, ends up flying around the town of Sourand…)

Kirameku yakei toka
Zeitaku DINNER toka
(… bypassing the figures of Rikki, Rosemary, and Pakka…)
Sonna mono nanka ni kyoumi wa nai

(… until it ultimately lands on Sky's shoulder)
H
arapeko yuuhizaka
(he picks it up, wondering…)
I
tsumo no ano basho e
(then smiles and blows it into the wind, and it is once again carried away…)
H
orane hajimari no nioi kanjita(it reached Keira, and is floating in front of her face)
M
ezasu mono ga soko ni
(… but it suddenly vanishes before touching her face; Keira sadly observes it as a shadow of a monster appears behind her)
A
rukagiri tachimukau
(Wind-up Zenmaister's summoning)
Tada no FAIR LADY
(Then the arrival of Shining Knighcorn and Galileon)
Nanka janai
(they turn to cards, and Sky catches them…)
Miseteageru wa
(Sky is running in a rush next to a wall made entirely of huge Xyz monster cards, all Numbers, flipping up, and down as he keeps on running, like a tunnel of shifting mirrors…)
Ima kakedashite
Kono chi o kette

Te o nobase yo sakebe
WE ARE NOT DOGS!

Keshite dakyou wa yurusarenai
Aite ga daredemo onaji yo
(… Enlil joins him in the run, also like she's running away…)
Z
enshinzenrei
Butsukariatte
(…then Flint drives next to them, in the same kind of rush…)
Kizuna ga fukamaru no
WE ARE THE BRAVE!
(… then Rikki, then Rosemary, and soon after that Pakka, all panickingly fleeing from something unseen, except for Rosemary who is stern)
Sore koso ookami no PRIDE
Nerae HELL-BENT ON WINNING!
(this last part is sung by Nico-chan)
Nico: "Tsukame TREASURE OF MY LIFE!"

(last scene: Sky and the cast greeting the audience… Flint jums up front and takes up the entire screen)


(next time)

Sky: "This next Number is the Superboss enemy!"

Flint: "What does it mean to be a 'superboss', anyway?"

Sky: "It basically means it's a lot tougher than a usual boss enemy."

Flint: "Then what is a 'boss'?"

Sky: "An enemy tougher than the usual enemy in games."

Flint: "So we're fighting something that's stronger than something that's already stronger than something I never- HEH? No one has ever defeated him?"

Enlil: "Who creates a game where the enemy cannot be defeated?"

Sky: "Wait, is that Pakka? Why is HE present?"

Enlil: "Look, Sky, our Numbers are…"

(episode preview:

In a smite of rage, Nico has called upon the Fallen Sovereign Ruinvana, revived as a Number, to confront Sky. Sky recognizes the enemy, but shocks everyone with the relevation that no one has EVER defeated Ruinvana in the game, and the new Number seems to be as good as invincible in this new form. With both Zenmaister and Shining Knighcorn defeated, Sky must resolve to a surprising trump card…)

Sky: "Next time on Number Wars: 'The Invincible faces the Undefeated! The Ultimate Fantasy Clash!' Spirit rising, Sky-High!"


Card intel:

Vergilian Knight (EARTH/ level 4/ Warrior-type/ ATK: 1700/ DEF: 1200)- If this card attacks a Warrior-type monster, it gains 300 ATK during Damage step only. If this card is destroyed by battle: Your opponent cannot attack your Life points directly for the rest of the turn.

Andorean Ruins (Spell, Field)- Once per turn, if you control a "Vergilian" monster: you can discard 1 card to add 1 "Vergilian" monster or "Living Wand Kurame" from your deck to your hand.

Vergilian Viking (EARTH/ level 6/ Beast-Warrior-type/ ATK: 1800/ DEF: 2500)- If this card attacks while you control another "Vergilian" monster, except "Vergilian Viking": this card gains 1000 ATK during Damage step only. If this card attacked, it is changed to Defense position at the end of the Battle phase, and if it does, your opponent cannot select another "Vergilian" monster as an attack target during their next turn, except "Vergilian Viking".

Vergilian Healer (LIGHT/ level 3/ Spellcaster-type/ ATK: 800/ DEF: 1200)- Once per turn, you can pay 800 Life points: Special summon 1 Warrior or Beast-Warrior-type "Vergilian" monster from your Graveyard; Destroy it during your next Standby phase. When this card is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard: gain 800 Life points.

Phoenix Potion (Spell, Continous)- You can only activate this card if you control a "Vergilian" monster. When activated, target 1 "Vergilian" monster in your Graveyard. When you Normal summon a monster, if this card is face-up on the field, destroy this card and Special summon the targeted monster from your Graveyard.

Vergilian Ninja (DARK/ level 4/ Warrior-type/ ATK: 1400/ DEF: 1800)- You can banish this card and 1 Trap card from your Graveyard; Activate 1 Trap card from your hand. The effect of "Vergilian Ninja" can only be used once, during either player's turn.

Wind-up Car (EARTH/ level 3/ Machine-type/ ATK: 1600/ DEF: 0)- When the effect of a "Wind-up" monster resolves, except "Wind-up Car": draw 1 card. This effect can only be used once while this card is face-up on the field.

Leader Switch (Trap, Normal)- Activate when a "Vergilian" monster you control is destroyed by battle. Special summon 1 level 4 or lower "Vergilian" monster from your hand, then gain Life points equal to it's ATK.

Vergilian Monk (EARTH/ level 4/ Warrior-type/ ATK: 1800/ DEF: 1400)- When this card attacks a Defense position monster: you can have that monster loose 500 DEF during damage calculation only. If this card destroys a monster by battle: it gains 200 ATK after damage calculation.

Vergilian Regen (Spell, Normal)- Activate if you have a total of 5 or more "Vergilian" monsters on your side of the field and/or in your Graveyard. Both players draw 3 cards.

Vergilian Sovereign Daevan (Xyz/ EARTH/ rank 4/ Fairy-type/ ATK: 1800/ DEF: 2500)- 2 level 4 monsters
- You can only control 1 "Vergilian Sovereign" monster at the time. Once per turn, you can detach 1 Xyz material from this card; Special summon 1 level 4 or lower "Vergilian" monster from your hand or deck. When this card is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard: draw 1 card.

Living Wand Kurame (DARK/ level 2/ Fiend-type/ ATK: 800/ DEF: 800)- You can change this card from Attack position to face-up Defense position; If you do, target 1 "Vergilian" monster you control and increase it's ATK by 800 until the End phase.

Vergilian Warlock (DARK/ level 4/ Spellcaster-type/ ATK: 1500/ DEF: 1500)- When this card is Special summoned, you can change the battle position of 1 face-up monster you control.

Xyz Willpower (Trap, Normal)- When an Xyz monster you control battles: it is not destroyed by that battle. Then, after damage calculation, attach this card to that monster as an Xyz material.

Optional Quest (Spell, Normal)- Until your next Standby phase, neither player takes Battle damage from battles involving "Vergilian" monsters you control, and if one of those monsters are destroyed by battle, during End phase, you can draw 1 card for each monster destroyed. If you do, skip your next Draw phase. Only 1 "Optional Quest" can be activated per turn.

Revival of Dark Sovereign (Trap, Continous)- Special summon 1 "Vergilian Sovereign" Xyz monster from your Graveyard. It cannot attack, and it's rank is treated as it's level instead, then double it's level. When it's destroyed, destroy this card.

Vergilian Redcape (FIRE/ level 4/ Warrior-type/ ATK: 1600/ DEF: 300)- When this card is Normal summoned, by selecting 1 other "Vergilian" monster you control, activate one of the following effects: ● The selected monster's level becomes the same as this card's level; ● This card's level becomes the same as the selected monster's level.