Yuushi looked at the field. He had one of his personal favorite cards on the field, the Continuous Spell Card, Solidarity. On his mystery opponent's side of the field was the Continuous Trap, Royal Decree which seals all Trap Cards and the giant monster known as Number 16: Ruler of Color- Shock Ruler with 2300 ATK and one Overlay Unit. Ayumi was a spectator of the duel while Yuushi and Ayumi were separated by security bots or litterbots unable to help each other out.

Yuushi- 1700 LP

?- 4000 LP

"It's my turn now! I draw!", Yuushi announced as he drew. He flipped over the card and saw that it was the Spell Card, Dark Core.

"Alright, this is a great spell. All I need to do is..."

As Yuushi thought to himself, he noticed static electricity covering the ground of the battlefield reminding him of another effect in play, namely Number 16's effect as he started to hesitate.

"What's wrong, can't use that card?", his blue-haired opponent taunted.

"That's right, on that guy's turn he used Shock Ruler's effect so that neither of us can use Spell Cards. On the other hard, this lockdown affects him as well as he also can't use any Spell or Trap Cards. If I can't use Dark Core, then I'll just have to beat that Numbers card the old-fashioned way," Yuushi analyzed to himself as he reached for a monster in his hand.

"I summon Crusader of Endymion in ATK mode!", declared the young duelist. A Spellcaster emerged out of the card wearing thin brown robes. However, it cast a spell causing heavy blue armor pieces to levitate and almost attach itself to the monster. Blue rings formed around the Spellcaster's limbs as the armor pieces protected the monster (ATK: 1900, Level 4).

"Time to bust myself out of this situation. Normally, I can't activate Spell Cards thanks to your monster's effect but in this case, I activated Solidarity before that effect took place. This means that I can use Solidarity's effect since I'm not activating it but rather using its effect which will remain until it's destroyed. Since only Spellcasters are in my graveyard, any Spellcaster faceup on my field will gain 800 ATK and what do you know, Crusader of Endymion is a Spellcaster," explained Yuushi.

Both Yuushi's Continuous Spell and monster glowed green as Crusader of Endymion gained strength (Crusader ATK: 1900+800= 2700 ATK).

Ayumi looked on and smiled at the situation, "Great! Yuushi's Crusader has 2700 ATK against that guy's Number monster with only 2300 ATK. Once he announces an attack, that annoying monster will be gone."

Yuushi felt confident in the duel as he pointed to Shock Ruler. "Go, Crusader of Endymion! Attack Number 16 now!"

On the boy's command, his monster started to get into a stance as suddenly a glyph contained in a circle located on the crusader's armor started to glow as runes started to light up all around its armor. With a huge step forward, Yuushi's Spellcaster's right fist started to glow as it pulled back its arm and formed a fist. The glyphs finished lighting up as Crusader of Endymion's fists glowed with a bright light. The monster dashed over to Number 16 and punched it as hard as it could. Despite the Spellcaster's smaller size, the magical power contained in the runes allowed it to punch hard enough to cause an explosion of dust that caused Yuushi, his opponent and Ayumi to cover their eyes as a blinding light emerged afterwards.

Yuushi- 1700 LP

?- 3600 LP

The light subsided and Yuushi looked at his opponent who had a big grin on his face. Yuushi was perplexed when he noticed that something was wrong, namely that Number 16 was still on the field with 2300 ATK.

Ayumi was just as surprised as she whispered to herself, "How did that monster survive?"

Yuushi was thinking the same thing as he tried to rationalize how that happened as his opponent sneered at him. "Did you really think a lowly monster like that could defeat an all-powerful Numbers! Such is the thinking of fools I suppose."

Ignoring his own agitation, Yuushi kept trying to reason this conundrum out, "My monster should have destroyed his monster in battle since mine has higher ATK. He couldn't of used a Spell or Trap Card and I didn't see him use a monster effect either, so just how did that happen?"

The mocking laughter continued from his opponent, "My monster can't be destroyed at all! You see, Numbers are so different and complex compared to the fodder you have. Any Numbers card cannot be destroyed in any way except in battle with or with the effect of another Numbers card."

Yuushi thought about his statement for a moment as he answered in disbelief, "Wait, you're saying that I can't destroy it by battle or with Spells, Traps or monster effects unless its from another Numbers card? I've never even heard of the Numbers archetype until today..."

On the sidelines, Ayumi was baffled too, "That's a powerful effect. I wonder why I haven't heard of it...no, even stranger, Yuushi has more knowledge in archetypes and available cards so why hasn't he heard of it either..."

"Now do you understand? You realize how this card allows me to rule over any duelist without a Numbers, an unworthy duelist such as yourself?", the mystery opponent shouted with absolute confidence.

"Shut up! You think I'm going to give up that easily," Yuushi argued back a bit frustrated as he tried to maintain his calmness. With a sigh, he got himself ready for his opponent's turn, "I'll end my turn then."

"That's what I wanted to hear! Draw!" his opponent shouted while drawing another card from his deck which started his turn.

"First I use my Shock Ruler's ability again, by detaching an Overlay Unit, I can stop the activation of Spells, Traps or Monster effects until the end of my opponent's end phase. Since you seem to like Spell Counters, I think I'll stop Spell Cards once again!", his opponent shouted.

Once again, Shock Ruler's Overlay Unit was absorbed into a horn located on the monster's forehead (OU: 0). The horn started to glow yellow-white as electricity shot out all over the grounds of the battlefield rendering all Spell Cards unable to be activated until the end of Yuushi's upcoming turn.

Ayumi knew Yuushi's deck needed Spell Cards to work at its fullest as she watched with anxiety seeing what would happen next. On one hand, she was a bit amazed seeing a type of monster that she had never seen before but on the other hand, she could not help feel a bit powerless since she couldn't do anything to help her best friend.

"Time for things to get from bad to worse! I summon Barrier Statue of the Heavens!", the mystery duelist grinned.

A light emerged from above the battlefield as a portal of light opened above. Descending down through the portal was an angelic yellow and white statue encrusted with a few jewels. The statue looked humanoid as the monster had a halo on its back (ATK: 1000, Level 4).

Following the summon, Barrier Statue of the Heavens shot out an orb of light that flew upwards towards the skies as both Yuushi and the blue-haired duelist's Duel Disks were glowing as well.

Yuushi seemed intrigued while his opponent raised up his hands. "Now your king in front of you states that neither of us can special summon any monster except for Light Attribute monsters!", he cried out while looking up.

Looking at his hand, Yuushi didn't like what he heard now, "So I can't use any Trap Cards, Spell Cards and now I can't special summon any monster that's not a Light Attribute...he's affecting the three types of cards in Duel Monsters."

"Battle! Number 16 attacks Crusader of Endymion! Crush him beneath your might!", his opponent cackled maniacally.

As some of the security bots around Ayumi started to close in on her making her feel uncomfortable, she heard that last statement. "Don't worry, Yuushi! Even if that Numbers card can't be destroyed in battle, he's still going to lose life points since your monster has more ATK."

"Naive girl! Did you really think I would let that lowlife get the better of me!," the Numbers duelist said a bit offended as he reached over to the last card in his hand and sent it to the graveyard as his Life Points decreased.

Yuushi- 1700 LP

?- 3100 LP

After that, Yuushi noticed the image of a priest wearing silver robes and a staff turning into a silver ball of light as it infused itself into Shock Ruler causing it to glow silver-white as well. "Right now, since my Shock Ruler is attacking, I can pay 500 Life Points and send Soul Magistrate from my hand to the graveyard and have my attacking monster gain 1000 ATK. Now only that but until the end phase, your monster cannot activate its effect!" (Number 16 ATK: 2300+1000= 3300 ATK).

"What!," Yuushi shouted in surprise.

The now glowing Shock Ruler started to levitate as it picked up speed while flying towards Crusader of Endymion. After a second or two, the huge monster crashed into Yuushi's monster destroying it as it disappeared into pixels. Yuushi braced himself as the resulting shockwave sent Yuushi sliding back as he tried to resist it with all his might. Eventually, Yuushi slid back several feet but managed to stay standing though he was exhausted from the attack as he started to breathe heavily.

Yuushi- 1100 LP

?- 3100 LP

"I attack you directly with Barrier Statue of the Heavens! Eat this!"

On his command, the Barrier Statue began to charge up an attack as light gathered above its head. After a bit of charging, a beam of light was shot through Yuushi as he fell to his knees.

Yuushi- 100 LP

?- 3100 LP

"Yuushi! You alright?," shouted the girl who was significantly worried about him.

"That's right! Kneel before your master!", his opponent said while the dark-purple aura around him intensified.

After staggering a bit, Yuushi finally got up as his opponent suggested something, "You should save me some time and just surrender, there's no way you can win!"

The offer did seem decent, Yuushi's hand was alright but nothing to mount any serious offence with since his Spells and Traps were sealed and special summons except for Light monsters were blocked off too. That meant about half his hand and deck wasn't going to do him any good this coming turn.

Yuushi was silent as he suddenly heard Ayumi yell, "What do you think you're doing?"

Looking over, Yuushi noticed a few of the security bots around Ayumi started to ram into her as she kicked a few away but more decided to surround her. With another kick sending one flying back, another litterbot or security bot would take its place. Yuushi noticed his situation was similar as well seeing litterbots starting to get agitated and beeping rapidly.

"Ayumi...," Yuushi muttered to himself before turning to his opponent. "You think I'm going to give up? I'm going to win this duel and stop this!", Yuushi boldly exclaimed.

The blue-haired duelist grinned, "Defiant to the end. Fine, then I'll end my turn with that! Of course that means my Soul Magistrate's effect wears off now and Shock Ruler returns to its original attack but the damage has already been done (Number 16 ATK: 3300-1000= 2300 ATK)."

Before drawing his card, Yuushi addressed all his options especially his Tuner Monster in his hand, "I have my Ace Monster left in my extra deck but I promised Dad and Mom that I wouldn't use it. Dad wanted to analyze it properly before anything...no, damn it, I can't think of that at a time like this. There's only one thing I have to do now, save Ayumi and me from this Numbers nutcase! For that, I'll do anything! Even if the people in the mall, security cameras and bots see this, I have to do it!"

"I draw a card!", Yuushi declared while looking at the Level 5 Monster he drew along with his hand which now consisted of four cards. "I have the Trap Card, Magic Drain but that won't do me any good and neither will Dark Core for now. Next turn, I can play my Spells since he has no Overlay Units to use Number 16's effect."

Yuushi revealed a card to his opponent, "At this moment I summon the Tuner Monster, Frequency Magician!"

A purple caped magician with large purple gauntlets appeared. The gauntlets had wires attached to the monster's armor around its hands. It also had white clothing and a matching helmet too with a yellow emblem hanging from a cloth (ATK: 800, Level 2 Tuner).

"Tuner...," Ayumi whispered to herself looking on now that the bots around her were less aggressive.

"First of all, when I successfully normal summon this card, it gains a Spell Counter!," Yuushi explained (Frequency SC: 1). "Not only that but I can remove its Spell Counter to have any faceup monster I control gain 500 ATK until my end phase. Since I only have this monster faceup, I'll remove a Spell Counter to power it up!"

The magician cast a spell in its hands causing a ripple to emit from itself as it gained strength (Frequency ATK: 800+500= 1300 ATK, SC: 0)

"Like before, since Spellcasters are in my graveyard, this Spellcaster gains 800 ATK thanks to Solidarity."

The ripple around Frequency Magician turned green thanks to the effect of Yuushi's Continuous Spell Card (Frequency ATK 1300+800= 2100 ATK).

With a nod to himself, Yuushi started to battle, "I use Frequency Magician to attack Barrier Statue of the Heavens!"

Frequency Magician raised up both its arms as sound waves started to shoot out from its hands converging onto the statue monster. After a few sound waves collided with the statue, Barrier Statue of the Heavens started to crack and split as the creature was broken into pieces. Its pieces landed on the ground creating a large thud noise as dust picked up on its landing site.

Yuushi- 100 LP

?- 2000 LP

Despite the damage, his opponent didn't seem too worried. "I knew it, that's all someone like you can muster up! I on the other hand, have the Numbers, the cards that will shape and rule the world itself! In front of it's might, all will be dominated by it!"

"That...that's not how it should be! I...I...," Ayumi started to argue back from her location.

Yuushi closed his eyes trying to focus, "Ayumi, let me handle this. That Numbers is good and I have no idea what it is or what it can do...but I'm glad you showed it to me. In return, I'll show you something a bit special too."

With those words, his opponent stayed silent as he started to wonder if it was just a bluff.

"During my second main phase, I'll discard Magic Drain from my hand in order to special summon The Tricky from my hand!," announced Yuushi after sending the Counter Trap to the graveyard.

A jester-like creature emerged out of the materialized card. It was wearing yellow and black checkered clothing and jester's hat as its mask and clothing had a question mark on its face and chest. Furthermore, the monster had a dark blue cape as it was ready to fight (ATK: 2000+800, Level 5).

"I couldn't special summon this monster earlier thanks to your Barrier Statue but now that's it's off the field, I can special summon this Level 5 Wind attribute monster."

The blue-haired opponent looked at Yuushi's monster, "A tuner and a non-tuner...don't tell me..."

"Here goes! I'm going to tune my Level 2 Frequency Magician with my Level 5 The Tricky!"

On Yuushi's command, Frequency Magician emitted another sound wave affecting both monsters as Frequency Magician turned into two green rings as The Tricky turned into five spheres of light. The two rings arranged themselves parallel to each other as the five lights went in between the two rings.

"A magician matched only in the mythic era! The illuminating force from the cosmic legends! Synchro Summon! Appear, Arcanite Magician!"

A bright white light engulfed the rings as a blue armored magician with a blue horned helmet showed itself. In its hands was a dark green staff with a light green orb at its tip. The magician itself also had matching blue hair, skin and gloves as well (ATK: 400, Level 7).

With the arrival of this magician, Ayumi and even a few spectators in the mall looked on with wonder. "So that's Yuushi's Ace Monster," Ayumi said in awe.

His opponent was not as impressed however and smirked, "What could you do with a mere 400 ATK?"

Yuushi ignored him and continued, "When this monster is Synchro Summoned, it gains two Spell Counters. Not only that, but for every Spell Counter on it, it gains 1000 ATK."

"That means it's stronger than my Numbers monster," his opponent realized in disbelief.

Arcanite's Magician's staff started to radiate a green light as it looked on at the Numbers monster (Arcanite ATK: 400+1000+1000= 2400 ATK, SC: 2)

Looking at Royal Decree, Yuushi wanted to get rid of it but then started to contemplate a counterpoint, "If I get rid of Royal Decree, both of us can use Trap Cards. I only have Dark Core in my hand so I don't have any traps I need to use. Not only that but this way, he can't use any Trap Cards. At worst it's just going to sit there harmlessly and at best it'll seal his own Trap Cards."

"Not only that but Solidarity gives it another 800 ATK. My turn's over now! (Arcanite ATK: 2400+800= 3200 ATK)", Yuushi announced.

The mystery duelist nervously drew a card as the static on the field wore out. Though he had no more Overlay Units, he started to grin a bit crazily, "Excellent, I just drew Marshmallon. Not only can this card not be destroyed in battle, but if that stupid kid attacks this card while its facedown, right afterwards he'll take 1000 points of damage, giving me the win! It's his only choice, after all, my Shock Ruler can't be destroyed either."

"I'll set a monster in facedown defence position and switch Number 16 into defence mode and I end my turn with that! Now how will you inflict battle damage, boy! Turn end!"

Shock Ruler put up a barrier as the card below it went from a vertical to a horizontal position (DEF: 1600). In addition, another facedown horizontal card materialized beside it.

"Now it's my turn! I draw!", Yuushi shouted as he looked at the cards in his hand, Dark Core and Damage Polarizer.

"He's got a point, even with Arcanite Magician's effect, I can't destroy that Numbers monster. No, rather, there's not a card in my deck that can destroy it. I suppose I can burn down his Life Points but that might take a while, decking him isn't feasible either so what else can I do...", Yuushi thought to himself while trying to deduce an answer.

"What's wrong? Come on and hurry up so I end this! You don't have any method to destroy my Numbers and now you can't even inflict battle damage to it!," his opponent taunted.

"Don't listen to a word he says! You can do it!", Ayumi shouted enthusiastically as she looked around seeing a few security bots trying to close in on her as she got ready to kick them back again.

With a silent nod to Ayumi, Yuushi started to deeply analyze his options. "My trap that I just drew won't be any good but...wait, that's it...that's how I can win this! I was so flustered that I didn't see it, I didn't see the cards to victory!"

He looked to his opponent while reaching for a card from his hand, "It's true that I don't have any way to destroy Number 16 in my whole deck or by using any combination in it. But destroying it isn't the only way to win duels, I could drop your Life Points to 0 with the Numbers card on the field or deck you out and still win. Since I can't do either of those...," Yuushi explained while revealing a card in his hand, "Since Spell Cards can be played now, I play the Spell Card, Dark Core. By discarding Damage Polarizer from my hand to the graveyard, I can remove from play a monster, more specifically that Numbers card!"

"Remove from play...great job, Yuushi!," the girl shouted out realizing what her friend was trying to do.

His opponent took a step back, "Remove from play...don't tell me, no I don't believe it...!"

"By the effect of Dark Core, even if I can't destroy a Numbers card, I can remove it off the field!"

After sending his Trap Card to the graveyard, Yuushi's Spell Card activated as a black sphere engulfed the Numbers monster. The sphere expanded as blue and black lightning shot out from the sphere until the dark sphere collapsed in on itself, disappearing in the blink of an eye as Number 16 disappeared along with it.

"This peasant...no, I can't believe it, I won't!", the duelist said thrashing around.

With a stern look, Yuushi continued his turn, "I also activate the effect of my Arcanite Magician. I can destroy a card such as your monster with its effect by removing a Spell Counter from a card I control like Arcanite Magician! Go, Pulsar Wave!"

The staff of Yuushi's Ace Monster glowed green as the magician finished charging a spell and raised the staff up. Green waves of light shot out around the battlefield as the waves sliced through the facedown monster, revealing a strange marshmallow creature disappearing in pixels of light (Arcanite ATK: 3200-1000= 2200 ATK, SC: 1)

Despite his last monster being destroyed, his opponent didn't seem to mind that much as he seemed completely zoned out of the duel after Shock Ruler was removed from play.

Ayumi smiled which made Yuushi pretty happy on the inside, "Go, Yuushi! Show him what you're made of!"

"I attack you directly with Arcanite Magician! Starlight Horizon!", Yuushi ordered.

Arcanite Magician raised up its staff with both hands as a white light surrounded the magician. The light intensified so much that the opponent shook his head and only now realized what was happening. With a powerful thrust, the staff shot out a half blue-green burst of light at the opponent which exploded on contact as his opponent was blasted onto his back several feet away in defeat.

Yuushi- 100 LP- WIN

?- 0 LP

The alarm signalling the end of the duel was heard as the AR Vision disappeared returning everyone back to the mall. The litterbots and security bots suddenly slumped over as they ceased all activity and functioning as Ayumi ran over to Yuushi.

"Alright, I did it," Yuushi said to himself with a sigh of relief after seeing all the bots not moving anymore.

His opponent was just laying there in disbelief before finally getting up and staring furiously at Yuushi, "I can't, I won't, I'll never accept that a Numbers was defeated by someone without one!That's not..."

Yuushi stared at his opponent who just got up. Ayumi could feel the tension between the two as there was a brief moment of silence between the three of them. Without a word, the blue-haired duelist suddenly made a run for it as he hopped down the escalator. Yuushi and Ayumi went to chase him but after he dropped from the escalator, he was nowhere in sight. For a moment both of them paused as they heard a few whispers and talk amongst the few spectators who watched. Suddenly, they heard sirens as people started to move once more.

"You think that's the police?", Ayumi asked.

Yuushi nodded, "Probably and if we don't get out of here, we might be the main suspects. After all, the only thing people saw was a duel and a few strange cards. We might be pinned as the criminals while all the electronics in the area are down," Yuushi explained as the two ran.

The girl nodded while running, "Yeah, the earlier evidence of that blue-haired guy might have been deleted thanks to that guy."

After a few minutes, the two of them were outside as they started to walk away from the mall now. Police sirens and cars were making their way to the mall, likely to examine the scenario of what just happened. Not only the police, but even the two highschoolers were wondering about the duel and that mystery duelist with a Numbers as well. A few minutes later, they passed several streets on their way back to the monorail station.

"Today was some day," Yuushi commented trying to relax with the remainder of the day left. "At least like you said, we needed something to do and today we got more than what either of us had wanted."

Ayumi nodded, "Yeah, but...you did great Yuushi. Who knows what could have happened if things had gone on any longer or in a worse scenario. But did you know anything about the Numbers cards when he played it?"

With that curious question, Yuushi started to get a bit worried, "Well, to be honest, no I didn't. I've never heard of anything like them. I just got really lucky in that duel. None of my textbooks have anything on the Numbers and neither does any research I've encountered. I was actually going to ask you the same question."

The girl shook her head, "But it's strange isn't it. Those cards seem to be powerful and they gave off a strange vibe to them. Also, that guy said at the start that he was looking for another person with Numbers, so does that mean there's more out there?"

Yuushi recalled the '16' appearing on the back of the duelist's hand and a dark purple aura surrounding him as he nodded, "It was definitely not ordinary. Well at least not normal that's for sure. That card and that duelist was different, I can't tell exactly what it was but I got the same strange feeling too. If there really are other Numbers out there, did he hear about it through the media or something? Hmmm, I wonder if Hikaru knows anything about it?"

After thinking a bit they looked to each other as Ayumi said to Yuushi, "Well, he's probably going to be too busy preparing for the Delta Duel Monsters Tournament tomorrow."

"Good point," Yuushi said suddenly, "I have to prepare for that myself."

"Speaking of preparing, are you going to use Arcanite Magician at the tournament?", Ayumi asked with intrigue.

Yuushi sighed and answered back, "I'm still not sure. I mean I know my dad said not to use it and this time was a special one-time deal since we were in danger but...well, I'll tell him what happened and we'll see."

After getting a bit nervous the girl blushed a bit and replied, "Thanks by the way...thanks for saving me. It means a lot to me..."

This time Yuushi got a bit flustered, "Well, no problem...I...I'm sure you would have done the same for me."

Both of them continued to talk as they eventually reached the monorail station after several more minutes.


Later that night, Yuushi finished eating dinner as he looked outside. It was dark now as he heard the sounds of a few nocturnal creatures like owls through his room's window. Picking up the phone, he decided to tell his dad what happened.

"I guess I owe dad an explanation, I played the card he said not to play in a public area where people saw me. Arcanite Magician did end up getting us out of that situation but still...," the boy said to himself as the phone started to ring.

After a few more rings, a black-haired man with slightly longer hair than Yuushi picked up the phone. He was still in a lab coat as he smiled upon seeing his son. "Hey, Yuushi. How are you doing? This is a nice surprise."

"How's your work going?", Yuushi answered back.

"Not bad. We're taking a bit of a research break. I was planning to talk with the others but since you called I think I'll talk to them later," his father said. "How are things on your end?"

With a bit of a pause, the boy responded, "Well you see..."

After several minutes explaining today's events with Ayumi including the strange fortune teller, the reaction to the duelist that Arcanite Magician had, the Numbers duelist himself at the mall and him using Arcanite Magician, he stopped for a brief moment to let his father take all the information in.

As he finished his explanation Yuushi apologized, "Sorry for using Arcanite Magician but I felt like I had no other options in that scenario to keep the two of us safe."

Yuushi's father was taken aback by his son's story and started to ponder, "No, you made the right call there. Both Ayumi and you are far more important than that secret. What concerns me though is how that fortune teller knew about Arcanite Magician and this whole Numbers thing. I heard a few cards with numbers on them appearing in Heartland City recently. I read about it in a newspaper article and a few pieces i found online but I thought that those were just rare cards."

His father started mumbling to himself as Yuushi seemed confused, "So what do you think I should do now?"

The person in the lab coat muttered but started to answer, "Hmm...well, that fortune teller definitely sounds strange. Yuushi, the reason I didn't want you to use that card was because I didn't want you to be in danger because of something either your mother, yourself or I knew nothing about. Even modern technology and research can't figure your Synchro Monster out yet for that fortune teller you described...

Yuushi quickly added on, "Ayumi and I talked about that too and how that now, if these Numbers are in the newspaper, how long will it be until Arcanite Magician is there too."

"That's a good point," his father pondered out loud, "What do you think Yuushi? Be honest now, that card is yours so you should know it best. What was it like playing that card and why did you do it?"

Yuushi pulled out the Synchro Monster, looked at it and took a deep breath, "To play that card was...well, fun to be honest. I really liked to used it. It's my favorite card. The reason I used it was to get Ayumi and me out of that dangerous situation and I'd do it again if I had to."

His father sighed but then smiled, "If it wasn't that dangerous to use and since it's only a matter of time now before it gets known to the public...then why not. Yuushi, play that card to your heart's desire. Who knows, you might even duel someone one day who knows about Arcanite Magician or those Numbers cards you spoke of. Just be careful and remember that your friends and family will be cheering you on."

Yuushi was deeply moved as he smiled warmly, "Dad..."

His father looked to the side, "Well, if that's the case, tell your mother I said 'Hi' and remember to take care of those you care about."

As his father hung up, Yuushi took another look at his Arcanite Magician card and smiled. He put the card back into his extra deck and looked outside seeing the starry night skies.


Wandering Heartland City about 30 minutes after Yuushi's call, the other blue-haired duelist involved at the mall started to wander the streets. He barely escaped and was staggering in disbelief over what happened.

"That stupid kid, this has to be a joke! This Numbers can't..., just what was that card!", the blue-haired duelist yelled while kicking over a garbage can.

He heard a chuckle and a voice, "So it seems that you were defeated by someone with a mysterious card. Let me see, I see it, I see it clearly, a Spellcaster, no a Spellcaster Synchro Monster by the name Arcanite Magician!"

The fortune teller stepped out from the shadows and smirked as the blue-haired duelist turned to him, "Just how did you know?", he demanded.

With a smug grin, the fortune teller continued, "The boy with that card was in my mansion earlier with a girl at his side...and I also know that you hold a Numbers yourself."

A dark purple aura started to surround the fortune teller as the blue-haired duelist seemed angry, "Don't mess with me!"

"Do you want to know the real power of the Numbers?", the fortune teller asked before turning his back to the duelist while heading to his mansion, "Then I can tell you all you need to know to rule the Numbers...but first you must prove yourself worthy in a duel in front of Master Kaito against me, his servant!"

The blue-haired opponent was goaded by this stranger but his words were of great interest to him, "Then tell me who you are!"

The fortune teller stopped at the door of his mansion and opened the door, "I am the All-Seeing One. I am Jin, Master Kaito's humble servant!"

The fortune teller known as Jin and the blue-haired duelist entered the mansion as the two got ready for a duel, a duel far greater than anything the blue-haired duelist had expected.


Original Cards

Soul Magistrate

Level 3

Light Attribute

Fairy/Effect

ATK: 1000, DEF: 500

During your damage step, when a faceup Fairy Monster you control battles, you can pay 500 Life Points and send this card from your hand to the graveyard to have that monster gain 1000 ATK and any monster that card battles cannot activate its effect until the end phase.

Note: Thanks to SandMan29331 for giving me advice on how to format Original Cards so it is easier for people to read them.


Chapter 9 Preview

Yuushi: Cards that are unknown, the pros and cons of playing them.

Ryoko: Hey, what are you whispering about Yuushi?

Hikaru: I bet I know, he's thinking about the Delta Duel Monsters Tournament! Yeah!

Ayumi: Good luck to everyone. Chapter 9: Delta's Tournament Commences

Hikaru: I'm going to win for sure! Wish me luck out there!

Ryoko: Not unless I win it all!


Note: The first arc (the Intro arc) is over. If anyone could write me some reviews or comments on things they liked or didn't like about writing style, format, character, dueling, etc so that I can improve in the future, I would appreciate it. Thanks to everyone for taking the time to read this fanfic.