Disclaimer: thank you all for the reviews, happy to see you're all still enjoying this fic, I've twice as many reviews than I have chapters! Let us welcome our new follower Arthur Dewalt, I hope you'll be enjoying this fic just as everyone else. So welcome back, I knew you'd be back, after all who would want to miss Shark vs. Kite?! With that being said, let's begin. Still own nothing or this chapter would be an episode in the anime. Enjoy chapter 9!

Chapter 9: Light in the Abyss

Shark activated his D-Pad and D-Gazer, he then put his deck in its slot and signaled he was ready to duel. He scowled at Kite who hadn't moved a muscle since the former's actions of combat. Kite just looked at him, he smirked again as his aura increased and his eyes changed color. He looked back at Rio who caught a quick glimpse of his eyes and she winced away from that gaze. The Photon duelist turned back to face his captive's older sibling.

"You're challenging me, Shark?" Kite asked sarcastically, "you can't be serious."

"You're possessed by a Number that was owned by a Barian, you stole Yuma's Numbers and you've kidnapped my sister, things just went beyond serious!"

Kite readied himself, "well then, if I have to go through you to get to Yuma then so be it," Kite shifted his gaze to Yuma, he too was looking back at him with a fierce look. He then looked at the other person standing alongside them, Dextra. Kite shifted his focus back to his challenger, "I've defeated you once before so I should accomplish that task a second time, go, Photon Transformation!" His entire attire then changed to a dark purple colored tone, his crescent duel disk and purple D-Gazer tattoo appeared, now, he too was ready.

"I won't hold anything back, you hear me?!" Shark shouted at his possessed friend, "I'll do whatever I can to get my sister back!" The duel has now begun.

Kite: 4000

Shark: 4000

"This whole thing started with Skye and Connor," Rio thought, "there has to be a way to bring Kite back to his normal self, but how?" As she thought about it, the duel went underway.

"I'll make you regret keeping that Number, Kite!" Shark claimed, "I draw!" he looked at his hand and started his turn. "First I summon Spear Shark in attack mode!" A shark with a harpoon as its nose appeared, "next, since I summoned a fish monster to the field I can automatically summon Shark Stickers from my hand!" A new fish appeared and it clung on to the other shark on the field. Kite wasn't surprised that his opponent had two monsters on the field in just a second, he knew what was coming next. What he did know was that Shark was putting so much work in his moves and that would become his downfall.

"I'm actually glad you challenged me," Kite spoke out, "I noticed that I was a few Numbers short, yours will do until I face Yuma for his Utopia."

"Is that what this is about?" Shark asked, "you're trying to collect Numbers again? You don't have any use for them anymore!"

The water duelist was right but Kite had his own reasons, and that was for more power. Shark continued his turn as he knew his opponent wouldn't give him a direct answer for his question. "Since I summoned Spear Shark, his effect kicks in to make all level three monsters on my field into level four, so now my Shark Stickers is a level four."

"Bring it on, I'm waiting."

"You asked for it, I overlay my two level four monsters so I can build the overlay network and XYZ Summon Bahamut Shark!" A giant humanoid sea creature emerged from the card and looked at Kite. He was a little surprised, "I've never seen that monster before," Kite said, "only 2600 attack points, this might be a little harder to take down."

"He's not the only one you should worry about," Shark called out, "I activate Bahamut Shark's special ability, by detaching an overlay unit I can summon a Rank 3 XYZ monster from my extra deck!"

"What?!"

Everyone gasped, "can he do that?" Yuma asked, "yes, he can," Yuma turned to see Dextra speaking, "he can do it but from the looks of it, this type of summoning comes with a heavy price, when that monster is destroyed then it can't be revived from the graveyard nor does it receive its overlay units to activate its effects, he needs to re-summon it under the proper conditions." Yuma was surprised at how such a ruling could be active, he turned back to the duel.

"With Bahamut Shark's effect I summon Number 47: Nightmare Shark!" The shark appeared before Kite, "another Number, you've been holding out on me." "That's right," Shark replied, "except unlike you, I'm not letting it possess me, now that Nightmare Shark is out his effect activates, whenever he's summoned I can attach a level 3 Water monster from my hand to him as an overlay unit." The Number absorbed the card that Shark threw at him. "I set one card face-down and end my turn, it's your move, Kite." Shark waited for whatever Kite had in store for him.

Kite studied Shark's field one more time, two XYZ monsters in one turn, he wasn't expecting this but he knew how to work around it. "I draw!" The Photon duelist looked over his hand and proceeded with his turn, "since my field is clear I start things off with Photon Thrasher." The warrior appeared and the purple aura wasted no time in surrounding it, "next I summon Photon Circle," as the new monster appeared and the aura overwhelming it, the two began to glow, "I overlay my two level 4 Light monsters so I can build the overlay network and XYZ Summon Constellar Omega!" The monster Kite obtained from Connor appeared and obeyed his command, "Constellar Omega, attack his Nightmare Shark!"

"He won't be destroyed because he's a Number," Shark said, "but I'll still activate my trap card, Poseidon Wave! With this card, not only do I stop your attack but you take 800 points of damage for every Water monster on my field and that's 1600 points inflicted!"

"Nice move but I activate Omega's special ability, by detaching an overlay unit I can make him immune to your Spell and Trap cards for the rest of this turn, because of the immunity, his attack won't be negated therefore I won't be dealt any damage." With that, Constellar Omega rammed through the wave and struck Nightmare Shark but didn't destroy him. Shark winced as the damage was dealt to him.

Shark LP: 3600

"I place one card face-down and that will be it." Kite ended his turn and waited for Shark. "Don't enjoy yourself too much," Shark said, "my life points may be down but I still have the upper hand, I activate the Spell Aqua Jet, this permanently boosts up Bahamut Shark's attack by 1000 points, next I activate Nightmare Shark's special ability, when I detach an overlay unit he can attack you directly!" The shark attacked Kite's life points and he was pushed back from the impact.

Kite LP: 2000

"Be careful, Reginald!" Rio called out to her brother, even though her D-Gazer was totaled she still knew what was going on, "don't hurt him!"

"Don't hurt him? I have to, otherwise he won't stop this madness!" he yelled back to her, seeing her in shackles made him more aggravated, "since I activated Nightmare Shark's effect none of my other monsters can attack this turn, thats why I activated Aqua Jet, to protect Bahamut Shark should you have something to counter it. I place one card facedown, it's your move." Kite got back up, "had enough yet?" Shark called out, "had enough?" Kite asked back, "I've only just begun, I draw!" He readied his hand, "I activate Photon Trade, this allows me to send a Photon Monster to my graveyard so I can draw two cards, so I'll send Photon Satellite away and I draw. Next I summon Galaxy Wizard." A wizard appeared from the card holding a staff and the aura taking control, "I activate its effect and double its level to level 8, because of that I can activate the spell Galaxy Expedition, this will allow me to summon Galaxy Knight from my deck." A giant knight in blue armor appeared alongside Galaxy Wizard and they began to glow, "I overlay my two level 8 monsters so I can build the overlay network and XYZ Summon!"

"Here it comes!" Yuma yelled, "it's Number-"

"Number 40: Gimmick Puppet of Strings!" Kite finished his sentence as the giant mechanical evil-looking machine emerged, "oh I'm sorry, were you expecting someone else?" Shark silently growled at him, he thought Kite was going to summon it but was a little relieved he didn't.

"Where's the fun in ending this duel so soon?" Kite mocked, "besides, aren't you enjoying your reunion with Strings here? Kind of brings back some memories."

"That's in the past and you know that!" Shark snapped, "doesn't sound like it," Kite replied, "doesn't matter now, I activate his effect, I'll detach an overlay unit to place String Counters on Bahamut Shark and Number 47: Nightmare Shark!" The giant puppet launched an overlay unit and placed its counters on Shark's monsters, "at the end of your turn you monsters will not only be destroyed but you'll take 500 points of damage for each one gone, I'm feeling a little impatient so i just attack your Nightmare Shark!" The monster attacked but was halted, "I activate my trap card, Dimensional Prison!" Shark revealed his trap, "when your monster attacks I can banish him from the game!" A portal opened up in front of Shark and the Gimmick Puppet went through it, the portal then vanished. "As I recall," Shark said, "if Strings is no longer on the field then his effect to destroy my monsters goes with him so my monsters are still safe." "I still have one more attack," Kite said, "Constellar Omega, attack his Nightmare Shark!" Shark fell back from the impact.

Shark LP: 3200

"Reginald!" Rio called out to him, she almost felt that impact. Shark got back up, "I've had enough of your games," he said, he was almost worn out yet still had most of his life points intact, but he wouldn't give up, "I draw!" He carefully chose his cards and laid down his strategy, "I activate the spell called Surface, this lets me summon a level 3 Water monster from my graveyard and I bring back Shark Stickers." A wave of water splashed onto the field with Shark Stickers emerging from it, "next I summon Double Shark," another shark appeared, this one had two heads sharing the one mouth it already had. "Since he was summoned, his effect activates, he becomes a level three," Shark continued, "now I overlay my two level three Water monsters so I can build the overlay network and XYZ Summon Black Ray Lancer!" A brand new sea creature appeared with its own staff, "but I'm not done yet, I activate the effect of XYZ Remora from my hand, I can summon him at the cost of detaching two overlay units from my Black Ray Lancer." Shark summoned XYZ Remora while the others saw his XYZ monster's overlay units being sent to the graveyard.

Kite watched him, "you're only setting yourself up for failure," he said, "there's nothing you can do to change that."

"Just watch me, I activate XYZ Remora's other effect, when he's summoned this way, I can summon two level 4 Water monsters from my graveyard but their effects will be negated, so I'll summon Spear Shark and Double Shark!" The other two sharks were revived and placed alongside XYZ Remora. "Now I'll overlay my three level 4 monsters, with these three I can build the overlay network and XYZ Summon Number 32: Shark Drake!" The giant sea serpent appeared and roared in triumph in front of Shark while everyone was amazed at his impressive summoning. "Now Shark Drake," commanded Shark, "attack his Constellar Omega!" The monster obeyed and struck Constellar Omega, destroying it in the process. "Since Shark Drake destroyed your monster in battle I can detach an overlay unit to revive your Omega with 1000 points weaker and attack it again, that should be enough to finish you off!" Shark Drake revived Constellar Omega and attacked it again. A big explosion was made and smoke filled the abandoned building, Rio clearly saw Kite still standing due to her not having her D-Gazer, "Reginald, he's-,

"It's over, Kite," Shark interrupted his sister, "now it's time to-what the…?"

Kite LP: 1000

"How could you still be standing?!" Shark couldn't believe it, Kite was still in the duel, that last attack should've ended it. Kite revealed his reason of his survival, "when you launched your attack," he started, "I activated the trap, Mirror Shade, I took no battle damage this turn and all I had to do was pay half of my life points, it's not over yet." Shark was ready to throw his D-Pad on the ground out of annoyance, he was so close yet came up so short. But Kite had nothing on his field while his was full, he remained confident.

"It's my move, I draw! I activate the spell Photon Sanctuary, this brings out two Photon Tokens in defense mode and they are unable to switch battle modes or attack." Everyone, except Rio, noticed that the tokens had 2000 attack each, "here it comes," Shark said, "since I have two Light monsters on the field," said Kite, "I can automatically summon from my hand Guardian of Order!" A golden knight emerged above them, it immediately switched color. This was another card given to him by Dr. Faker when he was working on his deck. "I'm not stopping there," Kite continued, "with the power of Light and Victory in the galaxies above I summon the scourge most feared, I sacrifice my tokens to summon Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon!" The magnificent dragon appeared before all except Rio, but just like before, the dragon struggled against the aura surrounding him. Shark was surprised at this, he didn't know that Galaxy-Eyes was in pain because of it.

"Kite, do you see what you're doing?!" Shark yelled, "you're hurting your own monster!"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Kite replied, "he's fine."

"Don't you see? You're hurting him, if you keep this up you might even lose yourself to the Number!"

"I'm not losing myself to the Number, in fact, it's actually helping me win, it gives me what I desire, and I know it's also what Rio wants." He turned around to see Rio still shackled up behind him, Shark growled, "you leave her out of this," he warned him, "and that's another thing, ever since Skye and Connor, all I've been hearing about you was how much you want power and victory and for some reason you think that getting all of Yuma and Astral's Numbers are the way to get it. Even the actions you've been doing won't get you there."

"We're your friends, Kite," the Photon duelist turned around to see Rio talking, "we're your power and whatever we accomplish together should be victory enough, don't you want that?" Kite looked at her, Rio pled to him not to let the Number take full control of him, he then shifted his focus on Yuma and Dextra, he then turned back to Shark.

Rio's words began to repeat in his mind, he quickly shook them off and continued his turn, "enough, I'm in control now and there's nothing you or anyone or anything you can do that will stop me!"

"Kite, don't!" Rio yelled but it was to no avail, Yuma, Dextra and Shark awaited what they feared, "I overlay Level 8 Guardian of Order and Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon!" Once again, Galaxy-Eyes struggled to avoid the summoning. They all saw it happen, Rio knew what was happening and even though she couldn't see the dragon, she could still feel its pain. "I won't have this happening again, now overlay, damn it!" Kite's command finally strengthened the aura and took Galaxy-Eyes under its control. "With these two lords of light, I build the overlay network and XYZ Summon the almighty and powerful Number 107: Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon!" The dragon landed before all, even Rio felt its presence. Shark saw the dragon, it's been a while since he's seen it up close, "you should've let that card stayed buried with the other over-hundred cards like I originally planned," Shark said, but he remembered that Kite earned it and keeping it from him would rob him the honor of his victory over Mizael.

Just then, the building started to shake and rubble started falling from the ceiling, the building was being destroyed! Yuma ran to the window and saw the construction crew already out and getting started on demolishing the neighborhood, starting with the house they were in.

"We have to get out of here!" Dextra ordered everyone but everyone was hesitant, they couldn't leave.

"I'll attack Shark Drake with my dragon," Kite ordered, "and as I'm doing so I activate my dragon's special ability, I'll detach an overlay unit to negate all of your monsters effects as long as they remain on the field, now attack!"

"Since you won't listen to reason then I'll have to deliver it to you the hard way," Shark countered, "from the graveyard I activate the effect of Friller Rabca!"

"How did he end up there?"

"Remember Number 47: Nightmare Shark? This was the monster I attached to him, and since you're attacking Shark Drake I can banish Friller Rabca from the game to not only stop your attack but your dragon also loses 500 attack points!" The dragon's attack was decreased and the attack was halted.

More debris started coming down hard, "c'mon!" yelled Yuma, "we've gotta' get outta' here or we'll be crushed!" Dextra was shielding her face while Rio tried to struggle out of her shackles, "OW!" Rio yelled, "Rio!" Shark called out to her, "are you alright?!"

"Yeah I'm okay, a rock just fell on my head, nothing serious," she turned to see the rock not far from her, she got an idea.

"You'll be done next turn," Shark said back to Kite through the mess, "your dragon is now weaker and he'll be easier to destroy next turn."

"There won't be a next turn because I activate Number 107's other effect, when you activated Friller Rabca's effect during the turn I detached an overlay unit from him, I can increase his attack by 1000 extra attack points and have him attack again, this time with the help of the monster in my hand called Honest." An angel in bright light appeared from above, it was another card given to him by Dr. Faker. "He will increase my dragon's attack by the same amount as your Shark Drake's attack, add that to his current attack and what do you get?"

"That's-"

"Enough to claim your Numbers, it's over, Shark! Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon, attack Number 32: Shark Drake!" As the dragon made its way for the final attack more debris started falling and the alternate reality became unlinked. The three began to call for Rio as they tried to make it out of the building alive. Kite turned around and saw Rio breaking her shackles with a rock from the debris. She freed herself but didn't see Kite run up to her.

"Ohhh," he startled her, he held her close to him, his focus was on Shark, "give her back!" Shark yelled.

"This isn't over!" Kite yelled to him, he looked back at Rio, she unfortunately met his gaze and to her shock he threw her to Shark. Luckily he caught her, "are you alright?" he asked but Kite interrupted Rio's answer, "think about my offer," he said, "I'll be expecting your answer soon." His portal opened up behind him and he walked right through it and disappeared. "What was he talking about?!" Shark demanded but the rubble and debris interrupted him as they all ran out to safety.

From a close distance, a figure showed his face in the light, "he's getting stronger," Hart said, "but now I know what his weakness is, or who." He turned around to face his ride home, "let's go, Orbital." "Y-yes Master Hart."

Rio rested the whole copter ride home while Shark tended to her just in case. Everyone stayed silent, each planning their own way on how to defeat the Number's influence on Kite.

To Be Continued…

A/N: I'm going to be giving you all a heads-up, my work schedule has changed and lately I've been coming home tired and almost never in the mood to start the new chapter. But seeing as how I don't want to abandon this story I've decided to stretch out the schedule for here. I'll still upload weekly chapters but just not on Wednesdays anymore, but instead either on Thursdays or Fridays. Seems like the better option, don't you think? Anyway I hope you enjoyed this update and I'll be back next week with another. Keep the reviews coming and new followers are always welcome, until next time!