Leo Duel School, in an attempt to acquire the power of Pendulum Summoning, challenged You Show to a battle involving three of their students. Yuya, unveiling the power of Synchro, defeated Hokuto Shijima while Sora ended his bout with Masumi Kotsu in a draw. Despite learning Ritual Summoning, the "lost art" of the Standard Dimension, Yuzu was unable to defeat Yaiba Todo. With one victory, one loss and a draw, the battle between the two schools came to a climatic Tag Duel.
Zarc and Yuya, pushed to the brink against the Akaba siblings, who demonstrated not only their own Pendulum Summoning, but also the power to counter Zarc's Supreme King Servant Dragons, managed to obtain victory through not only their Odd-Eyes dragons, but also Yuya's new monster - the legacy of Yusho Sakaki, Entermate Sky Magician.
Though no closer to obtaining the answers to his past, Zarc discovers that he and Ray Akaba share a bond with one another. One that neither truly understands.
As Reiji and Ray depart, they receive word that the Xyz Duelists who have been attacking LDS have been located. Reiji rushes to their location, but what is his intention when he finally stands before them?
Where will the Pendulum swing now…?
A Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc V Story
"Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc V: Pendulum's Fifth Swing"
Scale 11: Confrontation
"Reiji Akaba..."
Though this was their first ever meeting, Yuto recognized the young man standing before him and Shun easily, based on the photographs and newspapers he had researched while investigating the Leo Corporation. In person, Reiji possessed an unnaturally sharp air to him. His eyes were keen, and despite knowing that there was danger present, he was fearless.
Yuto looked at Shun, who looked ready to lunge at Reiji. It was understandable, really. Before them stood one of the few links they had to finding Ruri and Academia. This person was the son of Leo Akaba. Surely, he must know something.
"So, you know my name." Reiji noted. Behind him, Nakajima prepared for the worst case scenario and kept his hand firmly in his coat pocket, fingers curled around his gun. "I suppose that will simplify things for us."
"Why are you here, Akaba?" Shun demanded, eyes dangerous. His Duel Disk was already primed and ready. He was practically itching for a fight. "Come here to surrender?"
"I am not your enemy."
"That remains to be seen." the Xyz Duelist countered. "Why should I trust the word of the son of the man who destroyed our home?!"
'I see.' Reiji thought morosely. 'So, Xyz has indeed fallen. If that is the case, the Sora Shiunin isn't simply just reconnaissance. He's here to hunt down stragglers. These two must be members of a Resistance group of sorts, if that's the case.'
He closed his eyes, his voice completely calm and neutral. "While I may be Leo Akaba's son, that does not define who I am." he retorted. "But, simple words won't settle the matter. In which case, why not a wager?"
"A wager?" Shun raised an eyebrow.
Reiji nodded. "A duel. In battle, one's actions speak louder than words. You may decide for yourself what sort of person I am. If you win, I will surrender to you. However, if I win, you and your friend must return to the Leo Corporation with me."
Yuto looked at his friend. "Shun."
Shun's face was hard. This was his best chance. After so long, he finally had a shot at finding Ruri. And maybe, get one over the bastard who ruined his home and took his sister from him. He glanced back at Yuto, noting the pensive look on his face. He knew why. Based on what they knew, Reiji Akaba was no amateur duelist. He was skilled. And he could easily match them. Granted, the information they had was several years ago, but looking at the man before him told Shun that he had, in no way, slacked off.
There was a thick tension in the air. It was a powder keg, just waiting to go off. And Shun was eager to light it.
"I will accept your terms, Reiji Akaba!" Shun declared, raising his Duel Disk. A hardlight board appeared seconds later, curving around his forearm. Reiji returned the gesture by activating his own Duel Disk. "I will see it for myself, just what kind of person you truly are!"
Reiji pushed his glasses up, meeting Shun's intense glare evenly. "Then let's get started." Together, the two cried out:
DUEL!
Reiji Akaba – LP 4000
Shun Kurosaki – LP 4000
"I'll take the first Turn!" Shun declared.
Turn 1: Shun Kurosaki/Hand: 5
'Be careful, Shun.' Yuto thought, worried for his friend. With a valuable target in front of him, it was likely that Shun might get worked up. It was a bad habit of his. Back before Heartland invaded, he was always rushing headfirst, so eager to clash with others. This time, however, he was up against someone skilled. Someone who could give even a duelist from Academia a challenge. 'Something tells me that there's more to this man than meets the eye.'
"I activate the Spell: Raid Raptors – Swarm! If I have two or more Raid Raptors with the same name in my Hand, I can summon up to two Raid Raptors, so long as they share a name! From my hand, I summon two Raid Raptors – Vanishing Lanius!" Appearing before Shun was a mechanical bird of some sort, large cylinders acting as its bones for its wings and its glowing eyes piercing deep into Reiji's.
[Raid Raptors – Vanishing Lanius / DARK / Level 4 / Winged Beast / Effect / ATK 1300 / DEF 1600]
"Once per turn, when Raid Raptors – Vanishing Lanius is Normal or Special Summoned, I can summon a Level 4 or lower Raid Raptors from my Hand! I summon Raid Raptors – Rudder Strix!" Another mechanical bird appeared, this one slightly smaller than the previous two. It vaguely resembled an owl, its body rotund with its wings stretched out.
[Raid Raptors – Rudder Strix / DARK / Level 4 / Winged Beast / Effect / ATK 0 / DEF 1600]
"That makes three monsters, all Level 4." Reiji noted. He easily knew what Shun Kurosaki had planned, though something told him he wouldn't unveil it just yet. It was still too early.
Shun was far from finished, however. "When Rudder Strix is Special Summoned by a Raid Raptors from my Hand or when Normal Summoned, you take 600 damage!" he revealed. "Spice Dust!" Red particles flew out from the metal owl. It proceeded to flap its wings, blowing the particles over to Reiji, who winced slightly as he felt a burning sensation crawl over his skin.
Reiji Akaba – LP 4000 – 600 = 3400
"Then I activate the Continuous Spell: Raid Raptors – Nest! When I control two or more Raid Raptors on the field, I can add a new Raid Raptors monster to my Hand. I will end my Turn here." Shun's face hardened as he glared at his opponent. He purposely chose not to Xyz Summon, not because he wanted to be play cautiously, but because he wanted to test Reiji Akaba's intentions. He felt no sense of tension or animosity from this man, despite the fact that he had attacked members of his personnel sometime after they had arrived. "Now then, Reiji Akaba... Show me what kind of person you are! I will decide for myself whether or not you are an enemy of mine!"
Reiji nodded. "Impressive. I'm curious to know why you haven't brought out your Xyz Monster, but I believe you'll show it to me, sooner or later. It's my Turn now. DRAW!"
Turn 2: Reiji Akaba/Hand: 6
Reiji looked at the card he drew. Almost immediately, a plan came to mind. This duel wasn't just simply to prove that he was not an enemy to the Xyz Duelists. It was also to test the strength and adversity of potential allies. They shared the same goal, but did they have the power necessary to fight back? Just as his mother had orchestrated the duels with You Show to test Yuya Sakaki and Zarc's skills, this duel was meant to test Shun Kurosaki.
And he had just the means to test him.
"I activate the effect of DD Swirlal Slime from my Hand. I can Fusion Summon a DDD Fusion Monster by using the cards in my hands as materials."
Yuto narrowed his eyes. Reiji's words elicited a dangerous reaction from Shun. His face grew twisted, his eyes narrowed and his fangs bared. Yuto knew immediately that Reiji purposely decided to perform a Fusion Summon in the hopes of getting a rise out of Shun. Clearly, it worked. 'Calm down, Shun.' he thought, doing his best not to intervene. This was Shun's fight, after all. 'Don't lose your cool!'
Behind Reiji, a whirlpool of colors swirled together. Two creatures, slimes infesting a cone and a circuit board respectively, appeared on either side of the Duelist before they fell into the whirlpool, losing shape and creating something new. "Formless necroplasm of fear, digital spectre of the wastes! Fall into the whirlpool of light and darkness, and give rise to a new king! FUSION SUMMONING!" The swirling mass exploded, and from it came a greater beast. A towering creature clad in armor, a red tower shield in one hand and a long crimson blade in the other. "Be born! DDD Flame King Temujin!"
[DDD Flame King Temujin / FIRE / Level 6 / Fiend / Fusion / Effect / ATK: 2000 / DEF :1500]
Shun snarled. "If you think I'm going to fall for a taunt like that, Reiji Akaba, you're solely mistaken!"
"I would certainly hope not." Reiji smiled. "Though I do beg your forgiveness for bringing up any bad memories. For what it is worth, Temujin will not be staying on the field for very long. One of Temujin's materials was DD Wired Slime. When Wired Slime is used as a material to summon a monster, it grants that monster an effect. Specifically, it changes the Level of a DD monster on my field to match its own."
Shun frowned. "But you don't have any other monsters besides your Temujin!" he pointed out, before he paused. "Wait, change Levels to match its own? Could he…?"
"I activate the effect of DD Wired Slime from the Graveyard." Reiji continued. "While it's in the Graveyard, I can perform a Synchro Summon by using the monsters in my Graveyard, along with DD Wired Slime, as materials. Afterwards, however, the cards are banished. I should also inform you that D/D Wired Slime is a Tuner Monster."
Yuto frowned. "A Synchro Summon, in the Graveyard? That's possible?"
"I Tune my Level 2 DD Swirlal Slime with my level 5 D/D Wired Slime!" Green rings shot upward into the air, five in all. The green-colored slime from before leaped up, its body becoming transparent before revealing two lights in its body, lined up. The lights exploded into a pillar. "Haunting power that possesses even the digital world. Become the gale that will give rise to a new king! SYNCHRO SUMMONING!" From the pillar came a silver-armored warrior cloaked in churning winds, sword in hand. It descended onto the field and stood beside its fellow king proudly as it challenged the metal birds before it. "Be born! Level 7! DDD Gust King Alexander!"
[DDD Gust King Alexander / WIND / Level 7 / Fiend / Synchro / Effect / ATK: 2500 / DEF: 2000]
Shun furrowed his brow. "Fusion, then Synchro..." he murmured. "He also mentioned that his DDD Flame King Temujin had an Effect that could make a monster on his field match its Level." It didn't take long for him to realize what Reiji's next plan was. "You… Are you going to Xyz Summon?!"
"Indeed, I am." Reiji confirmed. "I activate the Effect that DD Wired Slime gifted to DDD Flame King Temujin and change DDD Gust King Alexander's Level from 7 to 6! And now, I use the Level 6 DDD Flame King Temujin and DDD Gust King Alexander to construct the Overlay Network!"
A nebula opened up at Reiji's feet. His two monsters became bodies of light, one red and one green, before they fell into the swirling nebula, promptly releasing a powerful light that signaled the beginnings of a new monster. "The grand power born from the arc of light awakens at long last. With the power of kings at your command, dominate the mortal plane! XYZ SUMMONING!" From the light came a creature unlike any other. It sat atop a floating platform of some kind, its body entirely made of dark purple crystal while metal adorned its body like armor. A metal mask was set over where the face would be, revealing mismatched eyes. Surrounding this imposing being were two orbs of light. Behind its figure was a ring made from an assortment of crystals, each radiating power. "Descend! Rank 6! DDD Admin Limbo!"
[DDD Admin Limbo / DARK / Rank 6 / Pendulum Scale: 3 / Fiend / Xyz / Pendulum / Effect / ATK: 2500 / DEF: 1700]
Yuto stared at the monster in a mixture of apprehension and awe. 'Fusion, Synchro, and now Xyz...' he thought warily. 'That's all three unique Summoning Methods, barring the Pendulum Summoning I've been hearing about. Still, something about that Xyz Monster feels off to me.' At his side, Dark Rebellion let out a small noise. Its yellow eyes were locked on to the monster, showing an interest. 'You too, huh? If Dark Rebellion can sense something's up with it, then there must be some kind of unique power to it.'
"Is this your true power, Reiji Akaba?" Shun asked warily. He had expected this man to be proficient in the summoning arts, but he wasn't expecting him to pull off all three unique summonings at once. Much less use two of the three to bring out the third. He could tell that this monster was going to be a dangerous foe indeed.
Reiji waved a hand. "Hardly. The best has yet to come. For now, however, I will end my Turn here by setting two cards face-down and setting the scales of the Pendulum with the Scale 4 DDD Ultimate Wisdom King Chaos Apocalypse and the Scale 10 DD Magical Savant Newton." Two columns of light shined on either side of Reiji. In one pillar, an intimidating creature took up residence inside it, its core body made of crystal and the rest of it encased in wicked-looking metal. In the other column, what looked to be a curved, mechanical horn appeared within, lights dangling from its tip and a core sitting at what looked to be the joint.
Shun frowned. "He's not going to attack?" he questioned. "And what does he mean by the scales of the Pendulum?"
"It's Standard's newest Summoning Method!" Yuto called out from the side. "From what I know, it allows the player to summon monsters of any Level from their Hand or Extra Deck, so long as they're within the Scales!"
"Correct." Reiji nodded. "With my current scales, I can summon monsters between Levels 5 and 9 simultaneously."
'But he used the last of his cards just now. Which means on his next Turn, he'll be summoning monsters from his Extra Deck!' One thing was for sure. Pendulum sounded like it could let him perform various summonings easily. He was going to have end this, and fast. "It's my Turn again! DRAW!"
Turn 3: Shun Kurosaki/Hand: 2
"Prepare yourself, Reiji Akaba!" Shun called out as he tore the card out from his deck, not even bothering to look at it. "I will show you the power of the Resistance! I use my Level 4 Raid Raptors – Vanishing Lanius and Rudder Strix to construct the Overlay Network!" Finally, Shun summoned his own nebula. His monsters, without being needed to be told, took to the air and dived straight inside, letting themselves become lost in the gathering power so a greater power could be born. One that would allow Shun to overcome his adversary. "Obscured falcon, raise your sharpened talons in front of adversity, spread your wings of rebellion! XYZ SUMMONING!" Emerging from the nebula and kicking up a small gale of wind that blew away dust and trash alike was a giant metal bird, its head small in comparison to its large body. Its wings were its eye-defining feature as it sailed around the room before coming to a stop, hovering above Shun while three black orbs danced around its body. "Appear! Rank 4! Raid Raptors – Rise Falcon!"
[Raid Raptors – Rise Falcon / DARK / Rank 4 / Winged Beast / Xyz / Effect / ATK: 100 / DEF: 2000]
Reiji looked at the creature, gauging it before he adjusted his glasses. "I see… So, this is the native Xyz Summoning in action. It is impressive." he remarked before he looked up, revealing an intensity in his eyes. Shun recoiled, sensing danger approaching. "But, I'm afraid you will have to do much more than that. When DDD Admin Limbo is Xyz Summoned by using Fusion and Synchro Monsters, it gains a new Effect."
"What did you say?!"
'An Effect that requires being summoned using Fusion and Synchro Monsters as materials?!' Yuto thought in shock. 'There's an Xyz Monster like that in this dimension?!'
"When my opponent summons an Xyz Monster, I use one Overlay Unit and destroy your Xyz Monster's own Overlay Units!" Reiji revealed, shocking the two duelists into silence and horror. "Furthermore, until the end of the Turn, your monster's effects are negated! Void Lock!" Reiji's monster crushed one of the floating orbs in its hand before the ring of crystals behind it released a radiant glow that washed over Shun's own Xyz Monster. It let out a weakened cry as it slumped to the ground while the orbs that danced around it were suddenly destroyed.
"I-Impossible..." Shun whispered in disbelief. This couldn't possibly be happening. How in the world could an Xyz Monster have such an effect? Was this the power of one of Standard's best duelists? No, was this Reiji Akaba's own power?
"Xyz Monsters have an advantage, and disadvantage." Reiji said as he stared at Shun, waiting for his next move. "Because they possess Ranks, not Levels, they ignore effects that involve Levels, such as decreasing or increasing ATK. However, Xyz Monsters can overcome those disadvantages and make use of them. Therefore, the only good counter against an Xyz Monster is another Xyz Monster."
'I see now… That's why he Fusion and Synchro Summoned first, instead of using his Pendulum cards!' Shun realized. 'He was waiting for me to Xyz Summon, so he could use his monster to prevent Rise Falcon from activating its Effect!' Shun's hand curled into a fist, biting the inside of his cheek. This was not looking good for him. Even so, he wasn't about to give up. Not when he could get answers! "I summon Raid Raptors – Vanishing Lanius from my Hand." he got out, calling on his third and final copy of one of his more useful normal monsters. "Then I activate Raid Raptors – Nest's effect and add a new Raid Raptors to my Hand!"
A card popped out for Shun to take. As he drew it from his deck, he looked at it and closed his eyes, sucking in a deep breath.
(Flashback – One Month Ago)
"Oi oi, Yuto… Is this a joke?"
Though Shun stared at the card in his hand with some hostility, his words were not filled with malice. Yuto, for his part, did seem a little nervous. He knew that his friend wouldn't react very well to the card he had just been given for obvious reasons. "It's not. If it were, it would be very tasteless. However, I still think you should use it."
Shun sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "While I appreciate having a new card, Yuto, you can't expect me to use it."
"I'm not exactly too keen on the idea either, Shun, but we have to think smart about this." Yuto said calmly, arms folded. "Academia most likely already has an idea on how to counter Xyz Monsters' Effects, given how long it's been since they started occupying Heartland. Whether we like it or not, we have to adapt. Even if it means using the same power as our enemy."
The young man frowned greatly. "Even so..."
Shun knew his old friend had a point. If Academia knew how to fight against Xyz Summoning properly, it would be troublesome to deal with them. In which case, they needed to adapt. They couldn't stick to the old ways forever. That said, he still had reservations. Fusion Summoning had been the means by which Heartland had been scarred. It was foreign and alien to them as much as the invaders were. In honesty, Shun was frightened by the idea that he may have to use the same skills as his enemies.
He stared at the card in his hand with a mixture of contempt and fear, dreading that he might one day lose sight of himself. There was also this burning anger in his chest that he couldn't quell at all. This intense, burning hatred. He wanted to tear apart anything even remotely Fusion, from the monsters to the foes before him. Even the cards that related to fusion. Holding a card like this in his hand made him sick.
"Try to think about it this way, Shun." Yuto said as he placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "If you can learn to overcome this, then you'll be a step closer to finding Ruri."
Shun's eyes widened at that. Finding Ruri… That had always been his main objective since he joined the Resistance, along with the idea of defending the little boys and girls who were caught in this disaster. His sister was the most important person to him in the whole world. When she disappeared and Yuto told her that she had been taken by someone from Fusion, he was dead set on finding her. Even if he had to tear through every last Academia solder that stood in his way.
He stared at the card again. He closed his eyes, then sighed before he opened them again.
For Ruri's sake...he would learn how to use this power.
'Ruri… Guide me.'
Shun opened his eyes, resolve burning deep in his chest. Reiji noticed this and grew curious, wondering what could have elicited such a change before watching his opponent continue with his Turn. "I activate Vanishing Lanius' Effect! Once per turn, I can summon a Level 4 or lower Raid Raptors from my Hand! I summon Raid Raptors – Armatus Vulcan!" The monster that appeared was unique, compared to the others. It's body was not made of metal. Instead, what looked to be feathers looked like glass, flames burning at the tips and at the end of its tail while its beak looked as if it was carved from solid rock.
[Raid Raptors – Armatus Vulcan / DARK / Level 4 / Winged Beast / Effect / ATK: 100 / DEF: 100]
"That monster looks different compared to the others..." Reiji hummed thoughtfully. "What are you planning, Shun Kurosaki?"
The young man gave a small scoff. "Something I hate. To be perfectly frank, I would prefer not to use this unless I had any choice in the matter." he confessed before he held a hand in front of him, slowly curling his fingers into forming a fist. "But… To save my sister, I will do what I must. Even if it means using this power! I activate Raid Raptors – Armatus Vulcan's Effect! When it's Special Summoned through an Effect, I can use it and any Raid Raptors monsters on my Field as materials to summon a Fusion Monster!"
Reiji's eyes widened considerably. "Fusion?!" he gasped.
A blistering heat suddenly exploded behind Shun as a myriad swirling vortex appeared behind him. There was an intense heat emanating from within. A sign of the monster that was waiting to be unleashed. His two monsters, his Xyz ace and his Armatus Vulcan, fell into the swirling vortex and lost their shape, giving form to a new, more powerful breed of beast. "Falcon of the rebellion, herald of the forbidden ruler of the sky! Offer yourselves up to create the dreaded wings of perdition!" Shun slammed his hands together as the vortex exploded. Not into a burst of light, but into a twister of flame. "FUSION SUMMONING!" A towering creature emerged from the flames. It's head was avian, an elongated beak serving as its mouth from which flames leaked between its thin, razor sharp teeth. Its torso was vaguely human, possessing sharp talons for fingers while its lower body was a ring that encompassed a burning purple sphere of flames. Stretching out from its back were four fiery wings. "The infernal winged demon that serves the God of the Sun! Be born now! Raid Raptors – Ra Armatus!"
[Raid Raptors – Ra Armatus / DARK / Level 8 / Winged Beast / Fusion / Effect / ATK: 2700 / DEF: 2500]
Ra Armatus reared its head and released a primal cry that shook the air. It stood proudly behind Shun, arms folded and ready to combat Reiji Akaba, who stared at it in a mixture of fascination and awe.
'Despite the feelings of animosity and anger they have, they would use the same summoning method that ravaged their homeland.' he thought, finding a newfound sense of respect towards these two duelists. Unknown to either of them, Reiji had developed a small smile that was hidden beneath his scarf. 'It seems I haven't given this man enough credit. It's a bit rough around the edges, but the skill he's demonstrated to me...'
Without a doubt, Standard would benefit from their help. All that was left now was to answer Shun Kurosaki's challenge and demonstrate to him his own willingness to fight back.
"I hope you're prepared, Reiji Akaba!" Shun declared. "As of this moment, I will show you the power of this forbidden monster! When Raid Raptors – Ra Armatus is Fusion Summoned, I target an Xyz Monster in my Graveyard! For every Rank it has, Ra Armatus gains 300 ATK!"
'The only Xyz Monster Shun has in his Graveyard is Raid Raptors – Rise Falcon, a Rank 4 Xyz Monster.' Yuto thought. 'That means-'
Reiji readied himself, realizing that his opponent was about to begin his attack. "-Ra Armatus gains 1200 ATK."
"Infernal Charge!" The phantom image of Rise Falcon hovered above Ra Armatus before its flames grew even more intense, growing in intensity.
[Raid Raptors – Ra Armatus – ATK: 2700 + 1200 = 3900]
"3900 ATK?!" Nakajima cried out in dismay, having been watching the duel proceed in silence. Up until now, he had faith that Reiji would emerge victorious and persuade these two men into joining the Lancers. Now, however, he had become concerned. "That's higher than any of Reiji-sama's monsters!"
"I'm not finished yet!" Shun proclaimed. "I activate Ra Armatus' second Effect! Until the end of the end of this Turn, I reduce one of your monster's ATK by 700!" Reiji narrowed his eyes. It was obvious who the target was. "Burnout Bind!" The large avian monster created a ball of flame in its hands before sending it flying at DDD Admin Limbo, who recoiled upon being struck. Its body was slightly burned, smoke rising off of it, posture slacking.
[DDD Admin Limbo – ATK: 2500 – 700 = 1800]
"Battle!" Shun roared, swinging his arm out. "I attack your DDD Admin Limbo with Raid Raptors – Ra Armatus! Cruel Sun!"
The large avian monster held its hands above its head. A sphere of flame grew in its grasp, expanding until it was the size of a wrecking ball. With an unearthly screech, it threw the ball of flame straight at Reiji and his sole monster. The man stood his ground, glaring back in defiance. With a thunderous crash, the miniature sun exploded straight on top of DDD Admin Limbo. The ground trembled beneath the explosive might of the blast. The ground cracked. Flames scattered across the area. Nakajima let out a cry as he was forced to back away from the flames, lest he be set on fire.
A large cloud of smoke obscured Reiji's form. Shun was unsure whether or not he had delivered the final blow, but he was certain that he had defeated Reiji's monster. Patiently, he waited for the smoke to clear.
Eventually, the dark cloud parted. Yuto gasped when he saw the crystal monster still present on the field, completely unscathed. "It survived?!" he exclaimed in shock. "But how?!"
"DDD Pendulum Paradigm." Reiji's voice broke through the tension. His form was revealed, relatively unscathed aside from the smudges of soot across his body. "The Trap I had set face-down last Turn. By sending any monsters I had set in the Pendulum Zone to the Graveyard, I prevented DDD Admin Limbo's destruction. Of course, that doesn't mean I didn't take any damage from that attack just now."
Reiji Akaba – LP 3400 – 2100 = 1300
Shun stared at Reiji. His face was unflinching. Not a trace of emotion aside from a cool visage. He was hardly perturbed by the ferocity behind his attack. Very few duelists could brag about how they could have withstood such a blow. He was amazed by Reiji's integrity. 'Through out this duel, I've felt no hostility towards him, not even when he showed Fusion Summoning to me.' Shun recalled. 'Reiji Akaba has an 'edge,' but there's no ill-intent. Is he really not part of Academia?' He supposed he would have his answer once this Duel was over. Still, how could this man remain so calm, even after he had just lost a huge chunk of his Life Points? "I set one card face-down and end my Turn."
"Reiji-sama, are you alright?!" Nakajima asked in concern.
Reiji waved a hand. "I'm fine, Nakajima." he assured his assistant. "In fact, this Duel has provided me with much needed insight." He removed his glasses and took out a small cloth from his pants pocket, wiping them clean of the soot before placing them back on his face. "It's my Turn. DRAW!"
Turn 4: Reiji Akaba/Hand: 1
"I activate my second face-down, the Trap: DDD Call to Darkness. If I have two or more Pendulum monsters in my Graveyard, I can resurrect up to two of them to my Field, but their effects are sealed. I summon DDD Ultimate Wisdom King Chaos Apocalypse and DD Magical Savant Newton from the Graveyard!" On cue, the two odd monsters appeared, standing on either side of Admin Limbo.
[DDD Ultimate Wisdom King Chaos Apocalypse / DARK / Level 7 / Pendulum Scale: 4 / Fiend / Pendulum / Effect / ATK: 2700 / DEF: 2000]
[DD Magical Savant Newton / DARK / Level 7 / Pendulum Scale: 10 / Fiend / Pendulum / Effect / ATK: 0 / DEF: 0]
"Then I activate the card I drew. The Spell: Pot of Greed. This lets me draw two new cards." Sending the used card to his graveyard pile, Reiji took two new cards from the top of his deck. Looking at them, he knew the outcome of the Duel. "Shun Kurosaki. It is time we finished this Duel."
"Hoh?" Shun raised an eyebrow. "What bold words! But you forget, my Raid Raptors – Ra Armatus' ATK is still at 3900! None of your monsters can hope to match it!"
"Perhaps, but the power of a monster is not always what will decide victory." Reiji reminded him. "And I intend to prove that statement. I activate the Spell: Berserk Mode! This switches any monsters currently in Defense Position to Attack Position. However, neither of us have any monsters in Defense, thus this effect serves no purpose. Rather, Berserk Mode's second effect is my aim as it forces all monsters on the field to battle!"
Shun's eyes widened. "What?!"
'Forces them to battle?!' Yuto couldn't believe what he was hearing. 'Has he lost it?! None of his monsters have a high enough ATK to overpower or even destroy Shun's monster! Even if one of his Pendulum monsters did have an effect, DDD Call to Darkness locked those abilities away! What is he thinking?!'
"I'll force your Raid Raptors – Ra Armatus to attack my DDD Ultimate Wisdom King Chaos Apocalypse!" Reiji ordered. The result was to be expected. Despite the immense power Reiji's DDD monster conjured as it released a kinetic dark purple blast at the avian monster, Ra Armatus easily overpowered the blast with its flames and incinerated the monster, reducing it to ashes.
Reiji Akaba – LP 1300 – 1200 = 100
"What purpose was there for forcing my monster to destroy yours?" Shun questioned. "Your Life Points are practically at zero now!"
"In order to obtain victory, there must be sacrifices." Reiji replied. "And through Chaos Apocalypse's sacrifice, my victory is assured. I activate the Quick-Play Spell: Ultima Conflict! This card can be activated when two conditions have been met! First, I must have fewer than 1000 Life Points, and second, I must control only one DDD monster on my field! My Life Points are at 100, and the only DDD monster on my field is DDD Admin Limbo! Thus, Ultima Conflict can activate! It's first effect activates when my opponent destroys a monster on my field through battle, the monster who attacked has its ATK reduced to zero until the end of the Battle Phase!"
Shun's eyes widened in realization as the fiery bird behind him suddenly let out a weakened cry, slumping to the ground and forced to remain upright by pressing a hand against the ground.
[Raid Raptors – Ra Armatus – ATK: 3900 – 3900 = 0]
'That's why he forced my monster to attack his Chaos Apocalypse… He was aiming to reduce his Life Points and have only one DDD monster left so he could activate its Effect!' He had to admit, it was a brilliant plan. High risk, high reward. Unfortunately for Reiji Akaba, Shun was more than prepared for this assault. 'Even if he manages to attack me with his DDD Admin Limbo, I have two ways of countering him. First, I can use my Adversity face-down to prevent Ra Armatus from being destroyed and negate any damage I take. Plus, my monster will gain 1000 ATK. The second way I could counter is with Ra Armatus' effect and banish one of my Raid Raptors in my Graveyard. Not only will Ra Armatus' destruction be negated, but the battle damage will be zero as well.' A small smirk formed on his face. 'So then, Reiji Akaba...how are you going to break through this defense?!'
As Shun was about to find out, Reiji had more than enough power to break through his so-called defenses. "The second effect of Ultima Conflict! When I declare my next attack, I can prevent you from activating any effects!" Shun's face fell into shock, practically recoiling. "And the third and final effect! A DDD Monster on my Field can attack a second time!"
"A second time…?" Shun whispered, now realizing what was about to happen. "Ra Armatus' ATK is at zero… I can't activate any effects… And if it can attack again, then…!"
Reiji's eyes turned cold. "Let's end this. I attack Raid Raptors – Ra Armatus with DDD Admin Limbo! Dual Verdict Obliteration!"
The crystal ring glowed, radiating a myriad of different colors. The body of DDD Admin Limbo began to glow in tandem as it raised its hands, sparks dancing between its palms. Energy gathered in the center of the chain of sparks. It grew in size, power increasing until, finally, it was set loose and tore through the concrete, aiming straight at the avian monster. It couldn't offer any resistance and was obliterated in an instant. Shun, being at ground zero of the blast that destroyed his monster, let out a scream as he was sent flying through the air, soaring before he came crashing back down to the earth, landing flat on his back and groaning in pain.
Shun Kurosaki – LP 4000 – 4000 = 0
WINNER: Reiji Akaba!
Reiji let out a small sigh as he dusted himself off, removing the soot from his person. He was slightly miffed that the scarf he received from Reira had been dirtied, but it wasn't anything a quick wash in the washer couldn't fix. Removing his Duel Disk and handing it over to Nakajima, who was visibly relieved to see Reiji emerge victorious when things looked quite bleak. He then turned his attention to Shun Kurosaki, who was currently in the middle of trying to get over the massive headache was suffering from.
Yuto walked over to Shun and knelt down, checking him over for any injuries. "Are you okay, Shun?"
"I'm fine..." he said, nursing his forehead. "Just nursing my wounded pride. Tch. I went so far as to use Fusion, and I still lost."
"You shouldn't feel ashamed about using Fusion, despite the grief it has caused you, Kurosaki." Reiji told him as he approached, his hands slipping into his pockets. "Everything has worth to it, regardless of what it was used for. Also, the power itself isn't necessarily evil. It is those who use that power that can be called evil or good. In the hands of Academia, Fusion is a tool of evil. But in the hands of another..."
Reiji trailed off, letting those words sink in. Shun fell quiet, absorbing those words before looking up at Reiji, his previous hostility gone. "...you really aren't with Academia, are you?" he asked. Reiji nodded in confirmation. This led the man to sigh and rub the back of his neck. "Well, isn't that fantastic. One of the only leads we had turned out to be a bust." He shook his head and stood up, albeit a little shaky as he was still reeling from the finishing blow. He staggered and nearly fell, but managed to catch himself in time, waving a hand at a concerned Yuto who was about to catch him. He took a deep breath, letting the tension in his body fade. "If you aren't with Academia, then you are not my enemy. For the moment, anyway." After saying those words, Nakajima's eyes narrowed beneath his sunglasses and was about to reproach the young man, only for the President to stop him again. "But answer me this, Reiji Akaba. Do you honestly think this dimension stands a chance against Academia?"
"As it stands, it isn't." he confessed sadly. "However, it is my duty to prepare everyone for what is to come. It's also what the Maiami Championship Tournament is for. To put it simply, it's more or less an exam to determine who has the skills we require, and the aptitude to fight, against the Fusion Dimension. Or rather, the leader of Academia, Leo Akaba."
Yuto furrowed his brow, folding his arms. "With all due respect, Akaba-san, the duelists in this dimension, while skilled in their own right, haven't seen what those of us in the Resistance have. They won't last ten minutes against Academia. And even if they are exceptionally skilled, they'll just treat their battles as duels and nothing more. They will lose."
"That is why I came here to ask you for your help." Reiji said simply, surprising the two. "You know the threat Academia poses. You've experienced what they're capable of, first-hand. If you would lend us your strength and offer what you can to Standard, then perhaps we stand even the slightest chance."
Shun narrowed his eyes at Reiji. "Is that why you came here, Reiji Akaba?"
"Yes."
Silence hanged in the warehouse. Shun was deep in thought, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. As for Yuto, he felt more inclined to agree with Reiji's offer. From a logical standpoint, having him and Shun act as instructors, however feasible the idea was, would grant the Standard's best duelists a fighting chance. That said, he did have some reservations. As much as he wanted to help the people in this dimension, he felt apprehensive about fighting in general. He never admitted this to Shun, but he didn't like dueling like this. Fighting to survive. To win. To crush your opponent. He was longing for the day when he could duel like how he used to. Duel for fun and make friends along the way.
Yet so long as Academia remained hostile, that would never happen. They made it clear that they wouldn't stop their advance until all the dimensions were under their heel. When he thought back to those horrible times, watching as friends and family alike were turned into cards and the city demolished right in front of him, his soul trembled with sadness and anger.
Part of him wanted to make Academia pay for destroying his once normal life and bringing so much pain and sadness into the world.
A soft whine came at his side. He smiled thinly. 'Thanks, Dark Rebellion.' he thought as he felt his dragon nudge its head against him.
After a period of silence, Shun made his decision. "...I'll make this clear, Reiji Akaba." he said firmly. "I don't trust you. You may have proven that you are no ally to Fusion, but I still have my reservations. Yuto and I won't just work for you because it's the right thing to do."
Reiji smiled wryly. He had expected him to make demands. "Very well. What can we offer you?"
"First of all, someplace with an actual bed and a fridge." Shun snorted. "It ain't exactly easy living in a warehouse and going to some hotdog stand for food every freaking day. Secondly, we want access to all of the Leo Corporation's resources. And finally, we want to be kept in the loop. No hiding secrets from us. Especially if it concerns Academia!"
"I agree to those terms." Reiji said, nodding his head before he extended a hand. "Do we have a deal, Kurosaki?"
Shun stared at his hand, then with a bit of wariness, accepted it into his own.
Somehow, Yuto knew that they were going to be in for a very long haul.
The excitement of the battle between Leo Duel School and You Show had long since vanished, and everyone was just exhausted. Shuzo and Yuzu had long since retired to their rooms, leaving Zarc by himself in the guest room and alone in his thoughts. He was lying on his back, staring at the ceiling. He honestly had no idea why he was looking up at the ceiling. He had even counted all the cracks he found.
Zarc stared and stared before he eventually sighed. He pulled himself up from his bed and hopped off, walking over to the desk sitting below the window. He retrieved his pouch and opened it up, revealing his Supreme King deck. The only link to his past besides his name. Or, so he had thought at the time.
'Ray Akaba...' Zarc remembered the girl's name. He could never possibly forget that woman, not when he knew for certain that she was connected to him. 'The two of us don't remember anything about our pasts, but somehow, Ray knows something about me. She's the only person who can tell me what I want to know.' His face turned bitter as if he swallowed a lemon. 'At least, that's what I thought during our duel.'
She knew how to counter his dragons. No matter what dragon he called on – Odd-Eyes, Dark Rebellion, Clear Wing or Starving Venom, she still managed to find a way to counter them. It was as if her deck was designed with the sole purpose of barring his progress. That, and her cryptic words during their duel struck a cord in him. She knew about this destructive impulse in his heart. This desire to brutally defeat his foes.
And yet, she couldn't remember anything about herself. All she knew was that her father was Leo Akaba. And that she was supposed to save him.
"What does that even mean?" Zarc wondered to himself. "Why was Ray supposed to save me? And what from?"
To that, there were no answers. Zarc could only sigh again and stare out the window, noting how beautiful the moon looked. And somehow, familiar to him.
"Maybe some sleep will do me some good..."
.
.
.
.
.
Fire.
Flames.
Destruction.
As far as the eye could see, the city was destroyed. Buildings crumbled into piles of debris. Flames exploded and destroyed everything in their path. Smoke clouded the night sky. Bodies laid flat on the streets, cards surrounding their unconscious forms.
In the far distance, a beast could be seen, form hidden behind the veil of smoke. It's shape was uncertain, but through the dense ash and smoke, the faint glow of green markings etched into its body could be seen along with its piercing red eyes, which glared down at the one who dared to oppose it.
"Damn you! You accursed bastard!"
A distorted, warped voice cursed them. It made him weep and clasp his hands over his ears. He felt like his head was about to explode. It sounded so wrong, like nails on a chalkboard. He felt his ears bleeding.
"Unforgivable! You're unforgivable!"
A brilliant light began to shine, piercing the veil of smoke. The beast's body began to crack. The air shook. An unearthly scream pierced the air.
Zarc screamed.
"W...bec...ne…!"
The warped, distorted and muffled cry was swallowed by static. All he saw was Ray's face, distraught and tear-stricken as her body and the beast's faded into white light that consumed the world.
"Forgive me… Zarc."
.
.
.
.
.
A pair of hazel eyes opened. Sunlight was breaking through the curtains. Slowly, Zarc pulled himself from his bed, groaning. "That dream again..." he muttered as he rubbed his eyes, only to pause. His cheeks felt...wet? He pulled his hand away. There was a clear liquid smeared against his fingers. He could feel something streaking down his cheeks.
It took him a moment to realize what it was.
"I'm...crying?"
-Chapter: END-
Yuya: The Maiami Championship's almost here!
Zarc: Yuzu? No, you're… Who are you?!
Reiji: Another Academia agent?
Yuzu: Wh-what the… First that Ray girl, now her too?!
? ? ?: You're part of the Resistance, aren't you?!
Next Scale: The Girl with the Bracelet
Card Information
Raid Raptors - Swarm / Spell / Normal / If you have two or more Raid Raptor monsters with the same name in your Hand: Special Summon up to two Raid Raptors with the same name to your Field. (You can only activate 1 "Raid Raptors - Swarm" per Turn).
D/D Wired Slime / DARK / Level 5 / Fiend / Tuner / Effect / ATK 100 / DEF 100 / If this card is in your GY: You can Synchro Summon 1 "D/D/D" Synchro Monster from your Extra Deck by banishing Materials from your GY, including this card. You can only use this effect of "D/D Wired Slime" once per turn. A Monster Summoned using this card as a Material gains this effect.
● If it is summoned, you can target 1 D/D monster you control: This card's Level becomes the Level of that target.
D/D/D Admin Limbo / DARK / Rank 6 / Pendulum Scale: 3 / Fiend / Xyz / Pendulum / Effect / ATK 2500 / DEF 1700 / 2 Level 6 "D/D/D" Monsters
Pendulum Effect / Once per turn, if your opponent controls two or more Effect monsters and you have no cards on your Field: You can add up to three D/D cards from your deck to your Hand. / Monster Effect / If this card battles: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; Increase the ATK of this card by 1000. If this card was Xyz Summoned using a Fusion and Synchro Monster as Material, this card gains the following Effect:
● If your opponent Xyz Summons an Xyz Monster: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card: Detach all Xyz Materials from that monster and negate its effects until the End Phase of this turn.
Raid Raptors - Armatus Vulcan / DARK / Level 4 / Winged Beast / Effect / If you Special Summon this card through an Effect: You can Fusion Summon 1 "Raid Raptors" Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck using any "Raid Raptors" monsters you have on the field as materials, including this card. Once per turn, if this card is in your GY; If you would take damage during the Battle Phase: Banish this card and reduce any damage you would take to zero until the End of the Battle Phase.
Raid Raptors - Ra Armatus / DARK / Level 8 / Winged Beast / Fusion / Effect / ATK 2700 / DEF 2500 / 1 Xyz "Raid Raptors" Monster + "Raid Raptors - Armatus Vulcan"
When this card is successfully Fusion Summoned: You can target 1 "Raid Raptor" Xyz Monster in your GY; Increase the ATK of this card by 300 X the Rank of that monster. Once per Turn: You can target 1 monster your opponent controls: Reduce the ATK of that monster by 700 until the end of this turn. Once per Turn: If this card would be destroyed as a result of battle: You can banish 1 "Raid Raptors" monster from your GY; Negate the destruction of this card and reduce any battle damage to 0.
DDD Pendulum Paradigm / Trap / Counter / If a "DDD" Pendulum Monster would be destroyed in battle: send any Pendulum Monster(s) you have set in the Pendulum Zone to the GY: negate that card's destruction.
DDD Call to Darkness / Trap / Normal / If you have two or more Pendulum Monsters in your GY: Special Summon up to two Pendulum Monsters from your GY with their effects negated.
Ultima Conflict / Spell / Quick-Play / Activate only if you have fewer than 1000 LP and you control exactly one "DDD" monster. If your opponent destroyed a monster you control in battle: reduce that card's ATK to zero until the end of the Battle Phase. When you declare your next attack, negate the activation of card effects. Target 1 "DDD" monster you control: that card can declare an additional attack, but during the End Phase, you must banish that card.
AN: So, fun fact. This chapter was actually written before the Tag Duel with Yuya, Zarc, Ray and Reiji.
With this chapter, canon has officially been changed up quite a bit. I bet you didn't expect Shun to bust out with Fusion Summoning, did ya? To be honest, I was hesitant on having him use it, namely because of all the shit the denizens of Heartland had to go through, but when you think about it, it does kind of make sense for Yuto to suggest he should learn it. True, Xyz Monsters have some advantages against monsters with Levels, but as the Xyz Dimension Arc showed, it won't take long for your opponent to take advantage of that one weakness.
Shun makes it clear that he'd rather not have to use Fusion Summoning, but it proves invaluable to him nonetheless.
Also, "Berserk Mode" is an actual card. It is, however, a manga-exclusive card. Speaking of which, I'm intending on including some of the manga cards, a few of which have already been released as actual cards. So people expecting new upgrade forms to the dragons, be on the lookout for Anthelion, Fast and Venemy. I can say that Odd-Eyes "upgrade" form won't be Phantom dragon. But I'm not gonna spoil it.
It won't be for a long while before those cards get shown off, though.
Special thanks go to Donjusticia, who gave the necessary card edits. And yes, this is yet another Starlight's Poet original! My second actual duel with no outside help! Go me!
That's it for now. Friendly reminder that this story has a TV Tropes page, so be sure to check it out and add to it! Let me know what you guys think about this chapter in the reviews, and I'll catch you in the next one!
See You~
