Chapter 21: The Penultimate Trials
"This is frustrating..."
Revolver was leaning against the base of the Tower, arms folded, deep in thought.
"Rescuero and Go Onizuka...their defeats way on my mind." He admitted to himself aloud. "...This is just confirming to me that I still haven't shed the weakness of my childhood. The weakness that made my father get taken away. The weakness that made me crack...!"
He stared down at his own palm. "Or...is it my humanity? If I discard that, or lose it, am I any better then what I am trying to destroy?"
He re-folded his arms. "What the hell am I doing? Asking these questions now? I've already come too far to be questioning myself now. What must happen now, is that the Tower must be completed, and after that, we must see what the world makes of its activation. After that...begin anew."
He stopped as he heard footsteps approaching. 'Are you finally here? Playmaker? Will you satisfy this fire in my heart?' He looked up, but was surprised at who he saw.
"Fullcross." He stepped forward and unfolded his arms as the masked man walked towards him. "I wasn't expecting you."
"Sorry I'm not your Dueling fuckbuddy." Fullcross stated.
"What a harsh tone." Revolver pointed out. "You seem to be angry."
"Angry? No...I'm bitter." He stated. "Bitter at you."
"...Is that so?" Revolver held up his hand as a Data Storm appeared in his palm. "In that case...let out all of your aggression!" He tossed the Data Storm at Fullcross.
And Fullcross did nothing as it completely enveloped him.
"What!?" Revolver clenched his fist, cancelling the attack, revealing a damaged, but alive Fullcross. "You didn't attack back...you didn't even move...what is this?"
"I can't afford to play this God game with you now." He stated.
"Game?" Revolver echoed.
"I didn't want to fight you. All this time I didn't want to fight you." Fullcross admitted. "Because I wanted to believe...that there was still a part of that person remaining."
"...Wait..." Revolver mumbled.
"A person who I once used to respect. A person who saved lives instead of taking them, and talked about building a future, instead of destroying it." Fullcross said, as he placed a hand on his mask. "I'm the one...who faced who you once were."
Fullcross lifted his mask, and Revolver gasped.
"You...! After all this time...!" He breathed.
Fullcross put his mask back on, the red lights that were his irises flashing back to life. "But finally I realised. The person I respected, my friend, isn't coming back. All that's left is you, Revolver."
Revolver just stood there in shock for a moment. "...And what does that make you? When did you become...this?"
"I am Fullcross. I am the freedom of my anger, my resentment, my ambition." Fullcross stated. "That's who I am."
Revolver narrowed his eyes. "What is your point?"
"Duel me." He stated simply. "I will crush you, and make the Tower crumble."
"How blunt." Revolver spat. "Even after all this time, you still have that naivety."
"But now its backed up by knowledge and skill." Fullcross argued.
Revolver chuckled bitterly. "How ironic...for you to appear now. I ignored you the moment my father was taken, but it seems you never forgot me."
"I couldn't. And now, I'll be the one to kill you."
The leader of Hanoi frowned. "What a timing of fate. Perhaps...this is what this has truly been building up to, all this time."
"I don't believe in fate. I believe in potential." Fullcross stated.
"Of course. That's just like you..." He said a name, but it was drowned out by the rush of the Data Storm.
The two of them jumped on their D-Boards and began rising upwards, up into the Tower, up into the rings as giant pieces of debris shot past them, threatening to crash into them. Despite this, the two of them still rammed the sides of their boards into one another in fits of aggression, banging against the other as they rode forward.
"Speed Duel!"
Fullcross vs. Revolver LP: 4000
"I'm going first." Fullcross stated.
"And why is that?" Revolver questioned.
"I instigated this, so I will be the first to strike. You retaliate. I Normal Summon Deliete Hole!" The monster that appeared looked like a metallic toy stag beetle, even with a little beeping red antenna and flashing pixelated compound eyes. It had two sets of blurring, buzzing golden wings that gave off sparks of electricity. Its two curving horns were at least twice the size of its own body, curving greatly outwards, the right one being blue and the left one being red.
Deliete H-0-L, Level 4, Thunder, WIND, ATK: 1400 DEF: 1100
"With that I end my turn." He said.
"Ending your turn with only one monster?"" Revolver questioned.
"It's all need right now." He said.
"Are you mocking me? Ah!" Revolver was distracted for a moment and had to quickly swerve out of the way as a chunk of destroyed building flew past him. Before it could hit Fullcross his monster grabbed it in its horns and crushed it. "AI for your monsters? How completely ridiculous."
"What you call ridiculous I call detail, and realism." Fullcross said.
"You don't get to talk about realism. You hate reality. My turn." Revolver drew. "By discarding a monster, I Special Summon Defrag Dragon from my hand." The red and blue dragon formed from crystals. "Then I Normal Summon Hibernation Dragon!" A dragon that looked like it had a microchip for a body appeared next to Defrag.
"When Hibernation Dragon is Normal or Special Summoned, I can add a Level 4 or lower Dragon in my Graveyard to my hand. I choose the Double Down Dragon discarded by Defrag, and since I control 2 or more Dragons, I can Special Summon it!" The monster that appeared was a mainly skeletal dragon on all fours with its legs, neck and tail bound by spiekd shackles as metal rings filled in the spaces between its ribcages, and a metal jaw replaced its lower one. On the end of its tail was another dragon head with a metal mask and a bony lower jaw.
Double Down Dragon, Level 2, Dragon, DARK, ATK: 1200 DEF: 600
"Appear! The future circuit that lights up my path!" The Link Square appeared in front of him. "The summoning conditions are 2 or more Dragons! I set Defrag, Double Down and Hibernation Dragons in the Link Markers!" The monsters became different coloured twisters that all tunnelled into the arrows. "Link Summon! Appear, Link 3! Flash Charge Dragon!" A dark purple dragon balancing on wheels appeared with three cannon barrels attached to its shoulders and back, giving it 2300 ATK.
"Double Down Dragon's second effect! When it is sent from the field to the Graveyard, I can target a DARK Dragon in my Graveyard, and send another copy from my hand or Deck to join it! I send another copy of Double Down Dragon to my Graveyard." Revolver then spun on his D-Board to face Fullcross and point. "I fear nothing, least of all you. Battle! Flash Charge Dragon will attack Deliete Hole! Dirty Rush Supremacy!" The monster began charging in all three of its cannons.
"I activate Deliete Hole's Quick Effect, to destroy Deliete Virus in my hand!" Fullcross revealed the monster before crushing it in its grip. "This triggers Hole's other effect! When itself or another Deliete card is destroyed, I can banish 1 monster on the field until the End Phase!"
"What did you say!?" Revolver gasped.
"I banish Flash Charge Dragon!" Hole connected its two horns as they glowed purple, creating a purple vortex in the middle that sucked the Link Monster in.
"So that's what you meant. It seems you weren't bluffing." Revolver admitted. "But still...I should be enjoying this, like with Playmaker, yet all I feel is anger at you countering my moves so effortlessly."
"Good. A killer doesn't deserve to feel good." Fullcross stated.
"But during my End Phase, Flash Charge Dragon will return to me, and I will place it here!" His Link Monster reappeared in a flash of purple light in his middle monster zone. "With this, Flash Charge now points to both Extra Monster Zones, meaning your Link Summons are sealed."
"Talking like that whilst I still have Hole? When did you become so conceited?" Fullcross asked.
"Conceited and determined are very different." Revolver argued.
"You're determined for all the wrong reasons." He stated.
"I don't have to listen to anything someone like you says. It's obviously clear we're at opposite extremes on this matter." Revolver said, clenching his fist. "All you can do now, is defeat me and stop the destruction of your precious online world!"
"That's what I said from the very beginning! My turn!"
VRAINS
"How interesting."
Blood Shepherd and Erazure stood in the street, staring up at the tower as everything around them continued to crumble.
"It seems we've reached the endgame." Shepherd said. "I'm not going to stick around, just in case."
"I'm staying." Erazure said. "It would be dishonourable of me to run now whilst they're fighting. Besides, even if this world does completely vanish, at least I'll go out like Ghost Girl."
"Igiot. Talking about honour in this situation. This is war, and clearly not mine." Shepherd muttered.
"It's confusing." Erazure admitted. "Am I supposed to root for Fullcross? He's not exactly the best guy..."
"You could do a lot worse." Shephered figured. "Besides...'good' and 'evil' are superfluous right now. The only term that truly matters is 'winner'. So wish for that. As for me, there's nothing else to be gained and everything to lose, so I'm leaving." He snapped his fingers and Logged Out.
"A winner, huh?" Erazure mumbled as he stared up at the Tower.
VRAINS
"I can't believe that Spectre jerk stalled us for so long!" Ai panicked. "The Tower is nearing completion!"
"At this rate, we won't have time to make it their and defeat Revolver!" Playmaker huffed as he ran down the streets.
"Is that so?"
Suddenly, a barrier appeared which Playmaker ran into, bouncing him back in a cry of pain.
"Playmaker!" Ai panicked.
Polaris Hierophant walked out of an alleyway. "I have to stop you here."
"You're...a Charisma Duelist?" Playmaker questioned.
"As you yourself said, we don't have time to talk." She practically mumbled. "Hand over the Ignis, and I will take you to Revolver instantly."
"Eeep! You can't go making deals like that now!" Ai cried.
"Get out of my way." Playmaker muttered. "I don't trust your word. You work for the same group as Exec, don't you?"
"Quick. And correct." She nodded. "If you were to give us a name, you could call us the Better Faction. We are striving to make a better world."
"You're no BF of mine!" Ai accused.
"You're not taking this Ignis. People like you who use force never turn out just." Playmaker reasoned.
"You're the unjust side if you side with that Ignis. Or...do you not know?" Polaris kept her stoic look, but narrowed her eyes. "That Ignis...also known by DARK, a name we humans cannot comprehend, IGNIS006, and the name Ai...it was created from the data culminated by the children of the Lost Incident."
"What?! Playmaker gasped.
"That thing in your Duel Disk, is the culmination for your suffering. The reason you went through hell." She went on. "And countless simulations were run, over and over and over again...each and every time, in the future, the Ignis would destroy humanity."
"Huh...?" A watching Shoichi gasped. "Destroy...humanity!?"
"But of course it knows that. Its known all along. Because it never lost its memories." She said. "Even if damaged, Dr. Kogami knew memories were an important asset to free will, so he made it that the Ignis were very durable in that department. Even being torn to shreds by a Cracking Dragon would not erase it."
"Is this true, Ai?" Playmaker questioned it.
"Ulp!" Ai became sheepish. "W-Well...maybe I've had my memories all this time...and maybe I knew I was the Ignis that came from YOUR data from the Lost Incident...b-but if I thought you knew that then you wouldn't help me! All I really wanted to do was get home! I swear! And I would never turn against humanity! Because I've been with you all this time! My partner! Right? Right!?"
Playmaker seemingly ignored him. "I still won't allow you to have your way, Polaris Hierophant."
"Playmaker...?" Ai wept a little.
"Then I will take it from you. In a Speed Duel." Her D-Board appeared as she pointed. "We fly towards the Tower. If you win, you will be on Revolver's doorstep. If you lose...you will still get there, just not a winner."
"Your still helping me in a roundabout way?" Playmaker questioned skeptically.
"The destruction of the online world would hinder us, too. Its in our best interests that you succeed...in at least that area." The two of them shot off down into the desert-like area.
"Speed Duel!"
Playmaker vs. Polaris Hierophant LP: 4000
"First turn." Polaris stated. "I Normal Summon Chosen by the World Chalice." A surprisingly Psychic swordsman appeared with 1600 ATK. "Appear, the circuit that leads to a better world!" The Link Square appeared ahead of her. "The summoning condition is a non-Token Normal monster! I set Chosen in the Link Marker!" The monster became a gold twister that blasted into the arrow. "Link Summon! Appear, Link 1! Imduk the World Chalice Dragon!" The Aquamarine dragon flew alongside her with 800 ATK.
"She already Link Summoned, but its only Link 1! How silly, right Playmaker?" He didn't respond. "Ah, heh...uh..."
"Imduk allows me to Normal Summon a World Chalice monster a second time, so I Normal Summon Crowned by the World Chalice." A female Spellcaster appeared with 0 ATK. "Appear again, the circuit that leads to a better world! The summoning conditions are 2 monsters with different Types and Attributes. I set Imduk and Crowned in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Appear, Link 2! Ib the World Chalice Priestess!" A Link form of Crowned appeared with 1800 ATK.
"When Imduk is sent from the field to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon a World Chalice monster from my hand." She continued. "I Special Summon Lee the World Chalice Fairy." A bunch of small black boxes appeared that displayed a hologram of a futuristic fairy with 2000 DEF. "When Lee is Normal or Special Summoned, I add a World Chalice monster from my Deck to my hand, I choose Beckoned by the World Chalice."
"So she continues to Link Summon, making her monsters stronger." Playmaker deduced.
"Appear once more! The circuit that leads to a better world! The summoning conditions are 2 World Chalice monsters! I set Ib and Lee in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Arise, Link 2! Auram the World Chalice Blademaster!" The sword wielding Link appeared.
"That monster..." Playmaker muttered.
"It's Cyberse!?" Ai gasped.
"When we obtained our own Ignis, it made Cyberse monsters for us." Polaris explained.
"They have an Ignis too?" Ai crossed his arms. "Who would be working with these guys?"
"Since Ib was sent from the field to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon Beckoned by the World Chalice from my hand." A scarf wearing spear wielder appeared with 1800 ATK. "Now I activate Auram's effect. By tributing the Beckoned it points to, I can revive Ib from the Graveyard!" The Normal Monster burst into sparkles as the Link Monster returned. "And whilst Ib is Linked, it cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects. I set a card and end my turn."
"With this, she has two Link Monsters, and one is indestructible! On her first turn!" Ai panicked. "But! We can do better! Right, partner?"
"My turn!" Playmaker ignored him, causing him to hang his head. "I Normal Summon Link Streamer!" A golden monster with solar panel wings appeared with 1600 ATK. "Since I Normal Summoned a Cyberse, I Special Summon Boot Staggered from my hand." A surprisingly beefy monster with 2300 ATK and a data polygon body appeared. "And since I Summoned a Cyberse whilst I controlled Link Streamer, its effect allows me to Special Summon a Data Token." A smaller, silver version of Link Streamer without a head appeared next to it.
"Appear, the circuit that leads to the future!" The Link Square appeared ahead of Playmaker. "The summoning condition is 1 Level 4 or lower Cyberse! I set the Data Token in the Link Marker!" The little Token shot into the arrow. "Link Summon! Appear, Link 1! Link Disciple!" The small soldier-like Link appeared with 500 ATK.
"Appear again! The circuit that leads to the future! The summoning conditions are 2 Effect Monsters! I set Link Disciple and Link Streamer in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Appear, Link 2! Underclock Taker!" The funnel-shaped Cyberse spun out of the Link Square in front of Boot Staggered with 1000 ATK. "I activate Underclok Taker's effect! By targeting both Auram and Boot Staggered, your monster loses attack equal to mine!" His Link Monster unleashed several red waves that reduced the opposing Cyberse Link's ATK to 0.
"Yesyesyes! With this, Underclock Taker will destroy Auram, and Boot Staggered will destroy Ib!" Ai cheered.
"Battle! Underclock Taker will attack Auram the World Chalice Blademaster!" The Link spun like a drill and bore into Auramn, destroying it.
Polaris' LP: 3000
"I activate my Continuous Trap; Unextraordinary Backup!" The Trap showed an armoured hand moving a wooden pawn piece in front of a two metal knight pieces as two more pawn pieces were fallen over behind it. "When an Effect Monster I control is destroyed by battle or card effect, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Normal Monster from my Graveyard. I revive Crowned by the World Chalice." The monster reappeared with 2100 DEF.
"She revived a monster! And now Ib is linked again, so it can't be destroyed..." Ai sighed.
"Even so, Boot Staggered will attack Ib the World Chalice Priestess!" The monster generated a cube of data in its hands that it shot at the monster, who blocked it but the attack released a shockwave.
Polaris' LP: 2500
"When Boot Staggered inflict battle damage, I can Special Summon a Stag Token." A teardrop shaped Token appeared with 0 DEF. "I end my turn."
"Mine then." She drew. "Appear, the circuit that leads to a better world! The summoning condition is 1 Non-Token Normal Monster. I set Crowned in the Link Marker! Link Summon! Ascend, Link 1! Imduk the World Chalice Dragon!"
"She has multiple copies..." Playmaker mumbled as the dragon reappeared on her field.
"Now I activate the Spell, World Legacy's Heart. With it, I add Lee the World Chalice Fairy and Beckoned by the World Chalice from my Ggraveyard to my hand." She revealed them. "And due to Imduk's effect, I can Normal Summon both of them!" The two returned monsters quickly appeared on her field. "When Lee is Normal or Special Summoned, I can add a World Legacy monster from my Deck to my hand. I choose another Chosen by the World Chalice."
"Appear again! The circuit that leads to a better world! The summoning conditions are 2 monsters! I set Imduk and Lee in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Appear, Link 2! LANpholinkus!"
"Another Cyberse!" Ai pointed as a digital dragon flew alongside her.
"Since Imduk was sent from the field to the Graveyard, I Special Summon Chosen from my hand, and I immediately use it to Link Summon a third Imduk!" The warrior quickly appeared on the field only to shoot into the square and emerge as a dragon.
"She's Link Summoning so fast! It's like lightning! Scary!" Ai cried.
"Appear once more! The circuit that leads to a better world! The summoning conditions are 2 or more Link Monsters! I set LANpholinkus and Imduk in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Appear, Link 3! Ningirsu the World Chalice Warrior!" An upgraded form of Beckoned appeared with 2500 ATK.
"That's her boss monster." Playmaker figured.
"When Ningirsu is Link Summoned, I draw 1 card for every World Chalice monster it points to. He points to both Ib and Beckoned, so I draw 2 cards." She drew them and checked them. "I activate the Continuous Spell, Normalice." The card showed Giga Gagagigo exhibiting a dark red menacing aura with glowing red eyes. "All Normal and Non-Effect monsters I control gain 1000 ATK and cannot be destroyed by card effects." Beckoned's ATK rose to 2800.
"Battle! Beckoned by the World Chalice attacks Boot Staggered!" The monsters spear glowed with energy as its thrust it into the Cyberse, destroying it.
Playmaker's LP: 3500
"Now Ningirsu the World Chalice Warrior will attack Underclock Taker!" Polaris pointed forward commandingly.
"By discarding Rescue Interlacer, the damage I take from this battle becomes 0." Playmaker slid the monster into his GY as his Link was destroyed, creating a barrier that protected him.
"Fine. But Ib will destroy your last monster, the Stag Token!" Ib fired a blue ray from her staff that destroyed the Token. "I end my turn."
"During the End Phase of the turn I activated Rescue Interlacer's effect, I revive it." A female, skater-like monster jumped out of the GY with 1200 DEF.
"Our field was wiped clean, whilst she has three monsters and two backrow cards!" Ai panicked.
"My turn!" Playmaker didn't flinch. "I Normal Summon RAM Clouder!" A white sheep with electronic horns and tail appeared with 1800 ATK, its wool crackling with static. "Once per turn, I can tribute a monster I control to revive a Cyberse. I tribute Rescue Interlacer to revive Underclock Taker!" His first monster burst into sparkles as his Link appeared on the field once again. "I activate Underclock Taker's effect, to reduce Ningirsu's attack by RAM Clouder's 1800 attack!"
"That won't work." She stated. "I activate World Chalice Guardragon's effect in my hand. By discarding it, the effect targeting my Link Monster is negated, and your monster is destroyed!" Underclock Taker burst into sparkles.
"When you negate my monsters effect, I can Special Summon Striping Partner from my hand!" A cyber hound appeared, running beside Playmaker. "And when it is Special Summoned, I can revive a Level 4 or lower Cyberse, and I choose Link Streamer!" The gold monster flew out of the portal.
"Appear! The circuit that leads to the future! The summoning condition is 2 monsters! I set RAM Clouder and Striping Partner in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Appear, Link 2! Security Dragon!" The smaller, red version of Firewall Dragon appeared. "When a Cyberse is Summoned, Link Streamer Special Summons a Data Token!" The monster generated another silver version of itself.
"Now I activate the Equip Spell, Cynet Defrag, to revive a Level 4 or lower Cyberse in defence position and equip it with this card." Playmaker continued. "I revive RAM Clouder!" The sheep monster reappeared with the card attached to it.
"Appear again! The circuit that leads to the future! The summoning conditions are 2 or more Cyberse monsters! I set Link Streamer, RAM Clouder and the Data Token in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Appear, Link 3! Encode Talker!" The LIGHT Code Talker appeared behind Security Dragon."
"Hold on...ohhhhhh! This is good! This is really good!" Ai perked up.
"I activate Security Dragon's effect!" Playmaker gestured. "Once whilst its on the field and co-linked, I can target a monster you control and return it to the hand. I choose Ningirsu the World Chalice Warrior!" Security Dragon shot out a bolt of red lighting from its head that hit the Link 3, causing it to vanish in a red light.
"And since it wasn't destroyed, Unextraordinary Backup doesn't activate!" Ai clapped.
"Battle! Security Dragon will attack Beckoned by the World Chalice! But since Encode Talker points to it, it isn't destroyed, I take no battle damage, and Encode Talker gains its attack until the end of the turn!" Security Dragon fired a red laser that the normal monster blocked as Encode's ATK rose to 5100. "Now Encode Talker will attack Ib the World Chalice Priestess!"
"Yes! It's our win!" Ai cheered.
"Unextraordinary Backup's other effect!" She held her hand out towards the Trap. "Whilst I control a Normal Monster, I choose the targets of your attacks and effects, so I switch your attack target to Beckoned!" The Normal monster leapt in front of the Link and defended her from Encode's shield sword slash, destroying it.
Polaris' LP: 200
"Dang! We were so close!" Ai yelped.
"With this, there is nothing more you can do." Polaris said as Encode Talker's ATK returned to normal. "It will be decided soon."
At that point, the two of them had reached the base of the Tower and began circling around it.
"My turn. I activate World Chalice Guardragon's effect in my Graveyard. By banishing it, I revive a Normal monster next to my monsters Link in defence position, and I choose Chosen by the World Chalice." The young sword wielder reappeared next to Ib.
"I now activate the final effect of Unextraordinary Backup. By sending it to the Graveyard, I can add a Normal monster in my Graveyard to my hand." The Trap burst into sparkles as she picked out and revealed Crowned by the World Chalice. "I now activate Lee the World Chalice Fairy's effect in my Graveyard. Once per turn, by sending a monster from the hand or field to the Graveyard, I can add it to my hand. I discard Crowned to add Lee back and Normal Summon her, triggering her effect to add another Beckoned by the World Chalice from my Deck to my hand."
"Appear! The circuit that leads to a better world! The summoning conditions are 3 monsters. I set Ib, Chosen and Lee in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Appear, Link 3! Traffic Ghost!" A cloaked monster comprised of green lines of code appeared wielding a silver sabre, its 1800 ATK being boosted to 2800 thanks to Normalice. "And since Ib was sent to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon Beckoned from my hand." The spear wielder appeared, its ATK also boosted to 2800.
"She has 2 monsters with 2800 attack!" Ai pointed dumbly.
"Now I equip Traffic Ghost with Simple Shroud." The card showed an injured shining white soldier in a blowing wasteland wearing a black, frayed shroud. "I can only equip this to a Normal or Non-Effect monster. You can only target the equipped monster for attacks and card effects, and once per turn, I can gain Life equal to its attack." As the Link 3 Non-Effect donned the Shroud, Polaris glowed as she recovered LP.
Polaris' LP: 3000
"This is horrible! She gained 2800 Life just like that!" Ai panicked.
"Battle. Beckoned by the World Chalice will attack Encode Talker!" The Normal monster dashed forward and stabbed Encode cleanly through its shield, destroying it.
Playmaker's LP: 3000
"And Traffic Ghost will attack Security Dragon!" The Link Monster leapt forward and cleanly sliced the Link 2 in half with its sword.
Playmaker's LP: 1300
"When a monster equipped with Simple Shroud destroys a monster by battle, you take an additional 800 damage." The shroud unleashed a storm of black needles that stabbed into Playmaker, making him cry out in pain as he fell to one knee.
Playmaker's LP: 500
"I end my turn. You have no cards on your field or in your hand. You cannot possibly win." Polaris said. "Hand over the DARK Ignis, and let us create a better world, for you as well. A world in which, perhaps, the pain of the Lost Incident can fade away."
"I won't give up...and I won't lose!" Playmaker declared as he stood back up. "All I must do...is win!"
"I'd like to see you try." Polaris threatened.
"My...turn!" He drew. "This situation may look bad...but now, I have 500 Life!"
"Yes! Storm Access!" Ai cheered.
Playmaker flew closer to the base of the Tower, where a very violent Data Storm was swirling around.
"Hey, Playmaker...this one looks very strong." Ai pointed out.
"Storm Access!" Playmaker ignored him ad he shoved his arm into the wind and cried out in pain. He grit his teeth and endured it as a card began to form in his hand.
"I was waiting for you to become desperate enough to do that." Polaris said, making Playmaker gasp. "I activate my Skill! Skill Cancel! Storm Access is locked!"
"She also has Skill Cancel!?" Playmaker gasped as the card faded, before his hand was cleanly sliced off as he fell to his hands and knees.
"With this, you cannot win." Polaris stated.
'Damnit...this is just like with Exec...!' He cursed in his head. 'Can I really not beat them? But if I can't...then my future...and Jin's...nothing will...!'
"Hang in there, Playmaker!"
Suddenly, Playmaker's hand was healed as a human sized Ai jumped out of his Duel Disk.
"Ai..." Playmaker spoke.
"Maybe you don't trust me. Maybe you never did. But still, I can't let my partner suffer like this!" Ai said. "I'll make up for being kinda-sorta-useless all this time! I can use this Skill too! Storm Access!" He shoved his hand into the wind and cried out in pain.
"The Ignis is using its own Skill?" Polaris gasped.
Ai grabbed a card and pulled it out before retreating into Playmaker's Duel Disk. "I...I got a good one...Playmaker..."
"Ai..." Playmaker smiled slightly. "Let's go! I activate Cynet Defrag's effect in the Graveyard! Once per Duel, by paying half my Life Points, I can activate it!"
Playmaker's LP: 250
"I revive RAM Clouder!" The sheep reappeared on the field. "And I activate its effect to tribute itself and revive Underclock Taker!" The sheep vanished for it to be replaced by the recurring monster. "I Normal Summon Swap Cleric!" A blue cleric-like robot appeared next to the Link Monster. "I activate Underclock Taker's effect! I reduce Traffic Ghost's attack by Swap Cleric's 500!" Traffic Ghost's ATK fell to 2300.
"Appear! The circuit that leads to the future! The summoning conditions are 2 or more Effect Monsters! I set Underclock Taker and Swap Cleric in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Appear, Link 3! Transcode Talker!" A new orange, EARTH Code Talker appeared wielding a gun. "Swap Cleric's effect! By reducing the Link Monster's attack by 500, I draw a card!"
"I activate Transcode Talker's effect! Once per turn, I can revive a Link 3 or lower Cyberse next to its Link! I revive Encode Talker!" The yellow Code Talker appeared behind Transcode. "Whilst Transcode is co-linked, itself and the co-linked Cyberse both gain 500 attack, and cannot be targeted by card effects!" Transcode's ATK rose back to 2300 whilst Encode's became 2800.
"You may have obtained a powerful monsters, but you still cannot beat me." Polaris stated.
"Are you sure?" Playmaker questioned. "As I control a Cyberse monster, I Special Summon Backup Secretary from my hand." One of his staple monsters appeared next to the Code Talkers.
"Appear once more! The circuit that lead to the future! The summoning conditions are 2 or more monsters! I set Encode Talker and Backup Secretary in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Appear! Link 4! Firewall Dragon!" His ace Link 4 appeared with a screech appeared behind Transcode, boosting its ATK to 3000.
"Firewall Dragon...that's...!" Polaris gasped.
"Battle! Firewall Dragon will attack Traffic Ghost! Tempest Attack!" The monster changed forms before unleashing a red beam that destroyed the Link 3.
Polaris' LP: 2300
"Now I activate Firewall Dragon's effect! For every co-linked Link it has, I return a monster on the field or Graveyard to its owners hand! I return Beckoned by the World Chalice! Emergency Escape!" The dragon unleashed blue lightning from its head that zapped the Normal Monster back to the hand. "And now Transcode Talker will attack you directly! Transcode Finish!" The monster readied its gun and fired, enveloping Polaris in an orange beam.
Polaris' LP: 0
Playmaker: WIN!
"We did it!" Ai cheered as Playmaker stopped.
"That was unexpected..." Polaris mumbled as she dusted herself down. "You are strong. But I will not give up. I will help to create a better world."
"What are you talking about?" Playmaker asked.
"The key to the Cyberse World...the project the Ignis created...that is what we want." She said, narrowing her eyes. "The ultimate code...Nucleus!"
"Nucleus?" Playmaker echoed.
"We will get that Ignis...but for now, stop the Tower of Hanoi." Polaris told him before Logging Out.
"Despite looking so bland, she was seriously tough." Ai said.
"Ai, do you know what Nucleus is?" Playmaker asked.
"Nucleus? I remember that project! All of the Ignis contributed to it!" Ai cheered, before becoming sheepish. "Buuuut I was lazy, so I didn't help out much. All I did was give them some of my code. I don't even know what Nucleus does..."
"Why are they after it then...?" His eyes then widened. "The Tower!"
"Ah! Right! We need to take out Revolver! But where is he!?" Ai panicked.
"Yusaku!" Suddenly, Shoichi's voice beeped out to him.
"Shoichi! Are you okay?" Playmaker asked.
"I'm fine! Just, you need to Log Out now!" He told him. "I just got something crucial!"
VRAINS
"My turn!" Fullcross drew, electricity crackling around him to destroy any debris that got near. "I Norma Summon Deliete Atom, then activate the Spell, Deliete Hack, and destroy it with Deliete Hole's Quick Effect! This causes both of Hack's effects to activate, the first reviving Deliete Virus, and the second allowing me to draw a card!" His field quickly filled up with crackling virus monsters as he drew.
"You won't activate Deliete Hole's effect?" Revolver questioned.
"No, I'll get rid of it now! Appear! The circuit that reveals the truth!" The Link Square appeared above him. "The summoning conditions are at least 2 Deliete monsters! I set Hole, Atom and Virus in the Link Markers!" The three monsters became lightning that shot into the arrows. "Link Summon! Appear, Link 3! Deliete Off Fiend!" His staple Link 3 appeared on the field with a roar.
"You're a fool! With Flash Charge Dragon's effect, your Link Monster is destroyed!" Revolver pointed.
"That's a poor countermeasure. Off Fiend cannot be destroyed by card effects." As Flash Charge launched three red rays, Off Fiend created a shield that protected itself. "The same can't be said for your monster, however. Off Fiend's Quick Effect destroys the Flash Charge Dragon it points to! Fiendish Lightning!" The monster launched a bolt of red lightning that destroyed the Link 3.
"I'm ending this now. I set a card and battle! Deliete Off Fiend will attack you directly, Revolver! Rage Erase!" The monster roared and shot a ball of lightning at him.
"Do you really think it's that easy!? I Special Summon Chobham Armour Dragon from my hand in attack position! It cannot be destroyed by battle this turn, and the damage I take is halved!" A bulky green dragon appeared with 0 ATK that blocked the attack, causing its green armour to fall away and reveal a thin pink dragon.
Revolver's LP: 2750
"Hand trap, huh? Well, that's why I set a card." Fullcross said. "But no matter what, I will end you!"
"It feels like a ghost of some kind has come back to haunt me in my hour of triumph." Revolver mumbled. "But no matter what...I will succeed!"
Deliete H-0-L: (Quick Effect) You can destroy 1 card on your field or in your hand. When this card or another 'Deliete' card you control or in your hand is destroyed, you can banish 1 monster your opponent controls until the End Phase. You can only use the effects of this cards name once per turn.
Double Down Dragon: If you control 2 or more Dragon monsters, you can Special Summon this card from your hand. When this card is sent from the field to the GY, you can target 1 DARK Dragon in your GY, send another copy of that card from your hand/Deck to the GY. You can only use this effect of this card's name once per turn.
Unextraordinary Backup: Whilst you control a Normal Monster, you can choose the targets of your opponents attacks and card effects. When an Effect Monster you control is destroyed by battle or your opponents card effects, you can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower Normal Monster from your GY. You can send this face-up card to the GY to add 1 Normal Monster in your GY to your hand.
Normalice: All Normal/Non-Effect monsters you control gain 1000 ATK, and cannot be destroyed by card effects.
Simple Shroud: Equip only to a Normal/Non-Effect Monster. Once per turn, you can gain LP equal to its ATK. When the equipped monster destroys an opponents monster by battle, inflict 800 damage to your opponent. Your opponent cannot target other monsters for attacks or card effects.
Yeah I had time and I felt like it, so I decide to write this...over the course of a couple of days, but I've been busy, and I'm feeling I should write other stuff.
Important thing to note! A big well done and thank you to ScalchopWarrior for her latest chapter of 'Who Would Win?' in Arc-V, which was Hotaru from Arc-VOC vs. Yuri, which she did very well on, so go check that out if you want!
As you can probably tell, we're closing in on the final Duel of Season 1. How do you think it will go down? That's something for you guys to think on, as well as this question!
QOTC: What new Summoning Types (Ritual, Fusion, Synchro, Xyz, Pendulum) would fit the OC's of this story (Fullcross, Sholt, Kris). Why? And do you have any suggestions?
With Season 2 approaching, its oblivious our OC's will get new summoning methods, but what would you like to see from each of them and why? You also explain how it would fit them! Synchro and Xyz don't mix well with Link Summoning because Levels are all over the place, that's probably why they're primarily Fusion at the minute.
I have one last important thing to say...next chapter, you will all see why Fullcross is the strongest VRAINS OC, out of any VRAINS fanfic.