The dust around Yuma faded as the figure of a brown-suited warrior appeared in front of him.

'When I would take Effect damage,' stated Yuma, 'I can Special Summon Achacha Sword Master to negate that damage! Then, you take 400 damage!'

The swordsman threw one of his swords at Black Mist, piercing through him. He cursed in pain, but then began to laugh softly again.

ATK: 1400, LV: 3; NUMBER 96: 3000→2600

'That was a nice trick, Tsukumo,' he said, 'but I think you're almost out! That pathetic monster won't stand a chance against me, and if you were really going to use those set cards of yours, you would have by now! Admit defeat already, Tsukumo!'

'Not a chance!' replied Yuma. 'I'm not going to let you take Astral! And there's no way that his mission is to destroy this world! I end my turn!'

'An impressive speech,' remarked Black Mist. 'Let me take this opportunity, then, to prove you wrong! I draw! Now, I Summon Malicevorous Knife!'

ATK: 600→1200, LV: 2

'And, when Summoned, Malicevorous Knife's effect allows me to Special Summon a Malicevorous monster from my Graveyard! Revive, Malicevorous Whisk!'

ATK: 300→600, LV: 2

'And,' continued Black Mist, 'I activate Whisk's effect! I increase its Level by 1, as I control one Malicevorous Knife, and then make Knife's Level equal to Whisk's!'

LV: 2→3; LV: 2→3

'And now, with these two Level 3 monsters, I once more build the Overlay Network! Xyz Summon!'

Behind Black Mist, a huge black disk appeared. From it, black liquid began to seep and mould itself into an indeterminable, skeletal shape.

'Number 89! Hellform Shadow – Daemon Kaiser!'

The creature formed – a black, skeletal, snake-like creature, but with a set of four arms, its upper two wielding twin black swords, its lower two each holding a half of the huge shield that had been its sealed form, upon one half of which its number shone gold.

ATK: 1800, RK: 3

Yuma paled. 'That… another Number…' he whispered.

'Now,' stated Black Mist, 'the combination is complete! I attack Sword Master with Black Mist, and activate Black Mist's effect! By detaching an Overlay Unit from it, I can halve the Attack Power of your monster and add it to Black Mist! And, due to its effect, Reality's Shadow also gains that Attack Power!'

OU: 2→1, ATK: 1350→2050; ATK: 1400→700; ATK: 1350→2050

'But Achacha Sword Master is in Defence Position!' protested Yuma. 'So I won't take any damage!'

'That's what you think!' replied Black Mist. 'I activate Daemon Kaiser's effect! Once per turn, when another Xyz Monster battles, Daemon Kaiser allows that monster to inflict Piercing damage!'

'Piercing damage?!' yelled Yuma. 'Shit!'

'Yuma, don't worry!' interrupted Astral, as Black Mist's attack converged on Sword Master. 'Use your Trap!'

'My Trap?' replied Yuma, before his eyes widened in comprehension. 'Right, my trap! I activate Clean Barrier – Clear Force! During this Battle Phase, the Attack Power of all monsters my opponent controls returns to normal! And since Black Mist only has 100 Attack Points, its attack fails!'

ATK: 2050→100; ATK: 2050→0

'What?!' yelled Black Mist, as his monster's assault rebounded harmlessly against the warrior's outstretched arm, and the tentacles rebounded into himself.

NUMBER 96: 2600→2300

'Tch,' muttered Black Mist. 'I still have one attack! Go, Daemon Kaiser! Destroy Achacha Sword Master!'

The multi-armed monster swung its twin swords into Yuma's monster, causing it to explode into golden dust.

'Now,' continued Black Mist, 'Daemon Kaiser's effect activates! When it destroys a monster by battle, by detaching an Overlay Unit from it, I can inflict damage to you equal to the destroyed monster's Attack Power! Go, Hell Wave!'

The creature slammed its shield together as one of the glowing violet spheres surrounding it disappeared into it, before opening the shield again to reveal a vivid black sphere of energy spinning towards Yuma.

'Trap activate!' retaliated Yuma. 'Damage Diet! During the turn I activate this card, all Effect Damage I take… is halved!'

The blast slammed into Yuma, throwing him backwards into the ground.

YUMA: 1300→600

'You're such an insolent little human,' stated Black Mist disdainfully. 'I think the first thing I'm going to do in Astral's body is make you watch your friends die. It's the least I could do for someone as persistent as you are. I set a card and end! Now take your last turn, Tsukumo!'

'I draw!' responded Yuma, then grinned at the card he drew. 'I activate Xyz Revenge! This allows me to Special Summon Hope from my Graveyard! Then, I can attach an Overlay Unit from a monster you control to Hope! I choose to take Black Mist's Overlay Unit!'

ATK: 2500, RK: 4, OU: 0→1; OU: 1→0

'You thieving little–' started Black Mist.

'Now then, Hope! Let's do kattobingu! I use Hope as an Overlay Unit to rebuild the Overlay Network! Chaos Xyz Change! Show yourself, Chaos Numbers 39. The power of hope, the messenger that changes chaos into light! Aspiring Emperor – Hope Ray!'

ATK: 2500, RK: 4

'Hope Ray…' muttered Black Mist weakly. 'This can't be happening…'

'Now, I activate the Spell Card, Gagagarevenge!' continued Yuma. 'This Special Summons Gagaga Magician from my Graveyard! And, I activate Gagaga Magician's effect, making its Level 6 until the End Phase! Additionally, I Summon Dododo Warrior without Releases by making its Attack Power 1800!'

ATK: 1500, LV: 4→6; ATK: 2300→1800, LV: 6

'And with these monsters, I can build the Overlay Network! Xyz Summon, Number 25! Fullmetal Photoglide – Focus Force!'

Behind Yuma, the huge camera appeared, hovering above him dauntingly.

ATK: 2800, RK: 6

'And because of Gagagarevenge's effect, all my Numbers gain 300 Attack points!' declared Yuma. 'Now, I activate Hope Ray's effect, detaching both its Overlay Units to increase its Attack Power by 500 for each, and then reduce Black Mist's by 1000 for each! Overlay Charge!'

ATK: 2800→3100; OU: 2→0, ATK: 2500→2800→3800; ATK: 2050→50

'Now, Focus Force! Destroy Daemon Kaiser! Killing Shot!'

The camera fired a blast of light into Black Mist's monster, shattering it into pieces and throwing the spirit backwards.

NUMBER 96: 2300→1000

'Now, Hope Ray attacks Black Mist!'

'Like I'd let that pass!' responded Black Mist. 'I activate Xyz Soul Release! With this card, I can attach Reality's Shadow and its Overlay Units to Black Mist as Overlay Units!'

OU: 0→3

'And now, I can activate Black Mist's effect! By detaching an Overlay Unit from it, I can halve the Attack Power of Hope Ray and add that Attack Power to Black Mist!'

OU: 3→2, ATK: 50→1950; ATK: 3800→1900

'Is that so?' asked Astral.

'What?!' yelled Black Mist, before turning to face Focus Force. 'That card…' he whispered. 'Focus Force…'

'The pieces for our victory were complete before you even ended your turn!' declared Astral. 'Yuma, end this!'

'Yeah, Astral! Focus Force's effect activates! By detaching an Overlay Unit from it when my opponent activates a monster effect, I can negate that effect! So, Hope Ray's Attack Points return to him! Go, Soul Development!'

OU: 2→1; ATK: 1950→50; ATK: 1900→3800

As the wave of light engulfed Black Mist, he closed his eyes. 'Damn you…' he muttered.

'Go, Hope Ray!' instructed Yuma. 'Destroy Black Mist! Hope Sword Chaos Slash!'

'Damn you Yuma Tsukumo!' roared Black Mist, before his doppelganger and he himself were consumed in a blaze of light, and Taichi's body fell to the ground.

NUMBER 96: 1000→0

'Troublesome creature,' remarked Astral, extending his hand and watching the three cards emerge from Taichi's heart and flow into his hand. 'I need to keep a better eye on you.'

Yuma's legs suddenly buckled, and he collapsed onto the ground, worn out.

'Yuma…' started Astral, before being interrupted by another voice.

'Look at little Yuma here, lying on the ground like the pathetic little worm he is,' said the other voice. 'If you can't survive that, then how do you expect to deal with me?'

'Ail Themal…' whispered Astral, and Ail looked up at him, a mechanical left eye expanding and focusing upon him.

'Don't worry, Astral,' said Ail, smirking. 'I'm just bringing him off to another party. It's very important that he attend, since you see, he's the main event!'

Ail picked up Yuma and, carrying him on her shoulder, walked off, leaving Astral to follow after, helpless.

Anna was walking through the back-alleys of Heartland, looking for the woman "Ail Themal" as per her uncle's instructions.

'She had damn well better be worth it,' she grumbled. 'I could be doing so much else with my time.'

'No, you really couldn't,' called a voice from above her, and she didn't even bother to look up and acknowledge her uncle's presence.

'Yeah I could,' she said. 'I'd be–'

'You'd be chasing after that Tsukumo boy,' he said in a knowing tone, 'whilst cursing yourself for having emotions. Which is why you're actually happy that I came along–'

'Shut up,' muttered Anna.

'–because I'm helping you do something other than that–'

'Shut up.'

'–and you're actually secretly happy that I'm showing any sort of an interest in you at all, after I was gone for so many years.'

'Wrong,' replied Anna. 'I don't "chase after" Tsukumo, I just… watch him. He's interesting. And another thing, I'm not happy you're showing an interest in me, because you're annoying and obnoxious and don't when to stop.'

'That's no way to speak to your uncle.'

'Good thing you're technically my great-uncle, then.' Anna paused, then silently cursed herself.

'I am a great uncle, aren't I?' Anna still wasn't looking up, but she could tell he was grinning.

'You're so stupid,' she muttered.

'Someone's nearby,' he said suddenly. 'I'll leave you to it.'

'Wait what?' cried Anna. 'Hey, don't tell me nothing then leave me alone!'

Silence.

'I know you can hear me, goddammit!'

There was a sudden rushing noise, and a man flew backwards through the air right in front of her. She ducked into an alcove, and hid, watching.

'Worthless, all of you,' came a voice, a cold voice filled with condescension. 'It was hardly worth the effort.'

A short, blue-haired figure walked in front of her alcove, facing away from it. She pushed herself further into the darkness, and almost slipped when she fell into a smaller niche built into the side of the main alcove. She moved into the smaller alcove, poking her head out slightly and watching carefully.

'How do you expect to ever be able to take over Heartland's underground if you're behaving like this?' continued the figure. 'You're all worthless scum!'

'Ryoga-sama…' started another voice, but it was silenced as soon as it began. Anna couldn't see how.

'I am not pleased with your conviction in this work!' Ryoga continued. 'As it is, I've almost given up on the lot of you.'

'Ryoga!' yelled another voice from further away. 'I'm not letting you continue this!'

'A challenger, hmm?' answered Ryoga, throwing out his hand. On it, a glittering mark shone violet. There was a flash of light, and Anna looked away. When she looked back, Ryoga's hand was glowing violet, and he frowned at it.

'I still don't have control,' he muttered under his breath.

'Pathetic, isn't he,' muttered a voice from beside Anna, and she turned to see that in her alcove, a doorway had opened.

'What?' replied Anna, possibly too loudly, as Ryoga turned slightly.

'Get in,' muttered the voice. 'Before he notices you, get in.'

'Okay, jeez!' replied Anna, walking back into the doorway, which the person within instantly slammed shut.

She looked around. They were in a small room with several doorways leading off into other, similar rooms. Behind her, the man sighed. He was about her height, and looked her age too, but with smooth white hair and piercing red eyes, whilst dressed in black.

'So you're watching Ryoga too?' asked the man.

'I'm not,' replied Anna defensively. 'I'm looking for a woman named "Ail Themal".'

The man raised an eyebrow. 'Really now?' he mused, before pausing and holding out a hand. 'Oh, right, I haven't introduced myself. I'm Victor. I've been watching Ryoga for a few weeks now, he's quite entertaining.'

'Not really,' replied Anna sceptically. 'He seems fairly deranged, actually.'

'Oh, he certainly is,' replied Victor. 'I'm trying to stop him from going too far.'

'By watching him from the shadows?' said Anna sceptically. 'Good luck with that.'

'Yuma Tsukumo has just been kidnapped by Ail Themal,' stated Victor suddenly. 'She is taking Tsukumo to an abandoned warehouse three blocks from here. When he awakens, she will force him to take part in a ritual that will risk both their lives and, if successful, the lives of everyone in this city. In order to overcome this challenge, Tsukumo will need your support, as well as the support of his other friends. However, there is another person you're going to need to find in order for Tsukumo to win this.'

'…can you see the future?' stuttered Anna.

'No,' replied Victor coolly, 'but I can wager a serious guess as for what Ail Themal is attempting based on the equipment she's been moving into that place. Anyway, you need to locate Kaito Tenjo. He's currently staying here,' he handed her a piece of paper with an address on it, 'and when you find him, tell him to give Yuma his Numbers. Otherwise, he won't have enough power to overcome Themal. As for her address,' he handed Anna a second piece of paper, 'she's here.'

'He won't believe me,' stated Anna. 'I don't believe you either, to be fair.'

'But you're going to do it anyway,' replied Victor, smirking. 'Because you want to help Tsukumo, as much as you want to hide it. And Kaito's going to do it because he doesn't want to owe Tsukumo anything, and he's got no reason to keep the Numbers that are currently in his possession.'

'Goddammit, you're just like my frigging uncle!' she yelled.

'I hope not,' murmured Victor. 'I've never wanted to be like anybody's uncle. Anyway, you can leave through that passage,' he pointed to one of the doorways leading out of the room, 'just make sure to get there soon. Once the ritual is in motion, it can only end with a death.'

Anna nodded slowly, and walked out. Victor sighed, before walking into another room, on one wall of which were several computers screens arrayed around one another. He began typing on them, smirking softly. Beside the desk, his cards shone in the light of the computer.

'Now then, Ryoga,' he whispered, crimson eyes narrowing. 'Let's see what you've been up to.'

Number 89: Hellform Shadow - Daemon Kaiser
Rank 3
1800/1400
Dark/Fiend
2 Level 3 monsters
Cannot be destroyed by battle except with "Number" monsters. Once per turn, when an Xyz Monster you control attacks a Defense Position monster: You can activate this effect. If you do, that monster inflicts piercing Battle Damage to your opponent whilst it remains face-up. Once per turn, when this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle and sends it to the Graveyard: You can detach 1 Xyz Materials from this card; inflict damage to your opponent equal to the destroyed monster's ATK in their Graveyard.