DISCLAIMER: I do not own the new OC that appears in this Chapter. Rights go to that Author for him.
Chapter 20: Inventor's Experiment
The cold feeling that Akane had while in the rain slowly disappeared as she is in darkness. Instead, she began to feel warm all around her body. In fact, she felt herself lying on something comfortable as well as hearing the faint sound of something hitting something else. She started to awake…
"…Huh?"
Akane is lying on a large bed in between two more beds of the same size. One of them was empty, but the other had Yuma snoring away.
"Yuma?" Akane wondered, holding her head lightly. And then…
"Incarnation of Light, descend now!"
"Appear, Galaxy Eyes Photon Dragon!"
"Make sure you extract every last soul that these two people have!"
Memories began filling back inside Akane's head with the duel between her, Yuma, and Kaito Tenjo. And then the visions…the possible visions of the future.
'What…what just happened?' Akane groaned as her head began to pound again. 'I took control of Galaxy Eyes Photon Dragon, but I couldn't remember the rest…did we lose? But if that's the case…'
"Yuma! Akane!" Tori's voice cried out.
"Ah, it looks like they're starting to come around," an unfamiliar male voice spoke.
Yuma started to stir awake at the sound of the voices as well. "Huh? Whuzz…?"
Akane quickly allowed her eyes to look around the room they are in before finding the source of the voice. The room design seems to be styled to be steampunk. All the common things, such as the clock above their heads, or the small chandelier that is the source of light, even the table in the middle of the room and the large glass cabinet are designed very uniquely and have several parts that are made out of shiny metal.
Standing in front of the doorway is Tori, whose clothes seem damp from the rain. Standing behind her, however, is a young man who is slightly taller than her. The young man has short pitch black hair with thin red highlights. He had on clothes all of the same color: an olive jacket with pants and oddly enough, tap shoes.
"I saw you three lying on the ground while looking out of the window," the young man explained. "Normally, I would leave matters to others, but since no one seems to be around at that time, I have to take action."
"I see…thank you," Akane nodded. Yuma, however, remained silent.
"Speaking of which, why were you three lying on the ground?"
"Oh, about that…" Tori looked at Yuma.
"I…don't wanna talk about it," Yuma spoke sadly.
The young man blinked. "Very well then…it's getting very late now. Do you want to stay here or should I contact your relatives?"
"Yeah, we should get going…" Yuma said as he stood up. "Granny and Kari are probably worried about us…"
The young man stepped out of the way as Yuma silently passed him and Tori. Tori, with a worried look on her face, hurried to follow him along with the young man.
"It's a drizzle now, though I think it'd be best to give you an umbrella," the young man's voice carried off.
Akane is now alone in the room to think back on what happened. But when she tried thinking back on the visions, she suddenly let out a cry as her head pounded again. A new vision is seen…
Akane is sitting down in class. Nature, Crystal, Mark, and Theo are sitting around her as well. It seems to be Spring, as there are blossom trees outside. Mr. Adams wasn't in the room, so various classmates are talking to each other; including the small group of friends.
"Jeez, that was one crazy tournament," Nature sighed.
"But it did give us free time away from school," Theo pointed out.
"Yet after what happened, I miss school. A lot," herself said as she yawned. "The spring air makes me so sleepy…"
"Well, you better stay awake, Akane," Mark replied. "We've been outta school for a while. The teachers will probably make up with the missing work by piling it up with our current homework."
There was a pause. Then the group sighed.
"Way to ruin it, Mark," Nature said.
At that moment, the door opened and Mr. Adams walked in. At once, the entire class quieted down as he sat down on his desk.
"Welcome back to school, class," Mr. Adams spoke. "I'm pretty sure you all enjoyed the small break from the previous tournament, but now we're back in school."
He stood up with a stack of paper in his hands. Passing a stack to the first person of each row, they passed it down. When Akane received hers, she saw that it is a slip for a school trip.
"Another one…?" she muttered as she continued reading it.
"As you know, school ends next month," Mr. Adams explained. "So our end year celebration will be a three day trip for all first years."
Akane looked down at the name of the city that they are visiting. It was…
New Domino City.
"…Hey, are you okay?"
Akane suddenly opened her eyes. The young man is back and is standing in front of her.
"Y…yes," Akane said quietly.
"Do you have someone you know live here?" he asked.
"Yes, though he lives quite a distance away, I think."
"Alright. If he has a Duel Gazer, tell me and I'll contact him or her through their ID."
Akane told the young man Mr. Daisuke's ID. A few minutes later, he came back with a Duel Gazer in his hand.
"He'll be coming in a few minutes," he said. "Is there anything I can get you, Miss?"
"Nothing, really," Akane shook. "Is this your home?"
"Yes," the young man nodded. "I shut myself away in this dear house, but I assure you, it's in very good condition. My name is Torikku Torito, but the acquaintances that sometimes visit this place call me Touri for short."
"Touri, then?" Akane asked quietly. "My name is Akane Kuroyuki. Please to meet you…"
Touri nodded. "Since it will take a while, I noticed that you have a Duel Disk on your arm when I carried you and the other two kids in."
He pointed at the table, which Akane's Heartland Duel Disk laid along with her Duel Gazer.
As if pulling it out in thin air, Touri is now holding his own Duel Disk in front of Akane.
"I only play Duel Monsters a few times, but I know how to play well," Touri said. "So how about it? One quick round?"
Akane thought about it. Of course, dueling can take her mind off of what happened, but…
"…Alright," Akane agreed as she got off the bed to wear her dueling equipment.
"Excellent," Touri smiled. "Let's step outside."
The two left the room and into a long hallway. There are many lights on, each one sending out golden lights that bathed the hallway. The two tapped their lenses and they flashed once.
"Connection between A and B confirmed. AR Vision confirmed. Augmented Duel Reality is now in session."
"Duel!" The two shouted, though Touri's tone was real while Akane's way fakes enthusiasm.
Akane: 4000
Torikku 'Touri' Torito: 4000
"Ladies first, Miss Akane," Touri pointed out.
Akane nodded and drew. In her hand are Battle Golem, Key Man the Key Warrior, Polymerization, Bye Bye Damage, Battle Mania and Tune Warrior.
Just as she began thinking of a move, a flashback suddenly distracted her mind of thought.
"I overlay my level three Daybreakers!" Kaito declared as he removed them from his Duel Disk. The three knights turned into white energy and shot up into the air as the galaxy portal opened up.
"I construct an Overlay Network with these three monsters! Personification of the Shining Knight, lend help to those in need! Xyz Summon! Appear, Number 10: IllumiKnight (2400/2400)!"
Emerging from the portal is a large, snow white object that resembles armor in the shape of a jagged spider with four legs and a green jewel in the center. Suddenly, the surface shattered apart, and the legs hit the ground. The green jewel suddenly flew into the air and materialized around it is a knight in white armor and wielding a sword. The white object began to reshape into a horse, and the knight landed on it. On its shoulder pad is the number '10.'
"…My turn then!" Touri suddenly shouted. Akane nearly jumped when she realized that her body acted on its own without her realizing it. She had summoned Battle Golem in attack mode and set Battle Mania facedown.
"Let us start with the summoning of Cocoon Maiden (0/2000) in attack mode!" A pill-like object materialized into the air. Suddenly, it began to expand and shape into a woman-like creature wearing armor that looks like bronze robes.
"But why summon a monster with no attack points?" Akane asked.
"A simple question that can be easily solved," Touri replied. "I play the Spell card Shield and Swords! With this card, the stats of all our monsters are switched."
Battle Golem: (500/1500)
Cocoon Maiden: (2000/0)
"Go, Cocoon Maiden! Attack with Rapid Fire Flare!" The creature's head suddenly opened into two, revealing a cannon underneath that fired multiple blasts of fire at Battle Golem, causing it to erupt.
Akane: 2500
Touri: 4000
"Next, I place a card facedown and end my turn," Touri ended as Shield and Sword's effect ended as well.
Akane drew again and added it to her hand. "I activate the Spell Double Summon," she began. "With this card, I can summon twice this turn. I now summon Key Man the Key Warrior (1000/500) and Tuner monster Tune Warrior (1600/200)."
Both the bronze armored knight and the red robot appeared. She then activated Key Man's effect, changing its level to three.
'Good,' Akane thought. 'With this I can-'
Suddenly, another painful flashback appeared in her head…
"I overlay level three Plasma Ball and Light Serpent!" Kaito continued as the two Light monsters turned into energy and flew into another portal…
"I construct an Overlay Network with these two monsters! Personification of Increasing Power, Overwhelm my enemies with the rising power that you hold! Xyz Summon! Appear, Number 20: Giga- Brilliant (1800/1800)!"
Emerging this time is a massive red cocoon-like object. Suddenly, several legs tore right through the cocoon and in no time were ripped to shreds. Now standing over the ruined cocoon is a massive red ant with wings; the mark of 20 is on one of them.
"Are you okay, Miss Akane?" Touri asked.
Akane suddenly snapped back into reality and said the opposite of her plan.
"I…y-yes! I-I ov…tune level three Tune Warrior and Key Man the Key Warrior!"
But before Akane can correct her mistake, it was too late. Tune Warrior exploded into three rings and Key Man the Key Warrior flew into them, turning into three stars. A burst of light followed, and Akane have no choice…
"Urgh…Synchro Summon! Appear now, Gaia Knight, the Force of the Earth (2600/800)!" The neighing sound came and the knight appeared.
Another thought came up in her head. 'I…If I didn't say that, I would've Xyz Summon for Grenosaurus. With it, I could've attacked Cocoon Maiden with it and activate its effect to do 1000 more points of damage, making the total 3000!'
Touri noticed Akane's hesitation again.
"Again," he asked. "If there is something wrong, we can end this duel for today."
"No…I'm alright," Akane responded. "Gaia Knight, attack Cocoon Maiden!" The knight towards the creature and stabbed right through it, turning it into pixels.
However, Touri smirked. "Sorry, but I am afraid this won't be acceptable at all. I activate my facedown, Cell Throw Up!"
Touri's facedown card flipped over and glowed.
"With this Trap, when one of my monsters is destroyed by battle, I do not take any damage, plus, I can special summon a monster whose level is the same as the monster that is destroyed, but I have to pay Life Points," he explained. "I summon Ogretail (1000/1200) in defense mode."
Another cell appeared. Around it materialized a two legged beast with brown fur, a white tail, and a snarling white head with two tusks on its face.
Akane: 2500
Touri: 3000
"I…end my turn," Akane said.
Touri drew again. "I set a monster facedown," he simply said. "I end my turn just like that."
'Two defensive monsters that I can't hurt,' Akane thought. 'I need to think of something quick…'
Akane drew and an answer immediately got to her.
"I play the Spell De-Synchro!" Akane declared. "With this card, I can select a Synchro Monster and it returns to the Extra Deck. Meanwhile, I can special summon the monsters used for that summoning: Key Man the Key Warrior and Tune Warrior!"
Gaia Knight dispersed into pixels before they formed into the two monsters.
"Now, I activate Key Man's effect to change it to level three and overlay it with Tune Warrior!" The two humanoid monsters turned into bronze energy…
"I construct an Overlay Network with these two monsters!" Akane chanted. "Xyz Summon! Appear, Grenosaurus (2000/1900)!"
The floor under the red portal exploded as the massive red dinosaur moved its way onto the field. Smoke clouds are forming quickly everywhere.
"Ah, a Xyz Monster, I presume?"
'Now's my chance! I have to focus…!' Akane thought.
"Go, Grenosaurus, attack Ogretail!" Roaring loudly, the dinosaur took two steps and stomped on the strange creature, shattering it into pixels and whipping violent winds that Touri resisted.
"Next, by detaching a Xyz Material when my monster destroys a monster, you take 1000 points of damage!" Swallowing a floating orb, it breathed fire at Touri…
Akane: 2500
Touri: 2000
"Impressive," Touri coughed as he waved away the bits of fire around him.
Akane nodded. "I set a card facedown and end my turn."
Touri drew again and smiled. "I activate the effect of Ogretail!" he declared. "When an Ogretail is destroyed, I can return it to my deck and gain 500 Life Points. I apologize, Miss Akane, but your assault is ineffective!"
A cell emerged from the debris that Grenosaurus caused. It flew straight into his deck and shone brightly.
Akane: 2500
Touri: 2500
"Next, when I do so, I can special summon a level three or below monster in my graveyard, such as Cocoon Butterfly (0/2000)!" The female creature appeared.
"However, it will have to say goodbye as I tribute it to summon Quadriga (2000/2500)!" Cocoon Maiden crumbled away until the cell-like object is floating. An even bigger one swallowed it up, and materializing over it this time is a massive creature that barely resembles a centaur. It had a skeletal body with a giant bronze device with wings over its back. Below it is a mechanical body, with four tank legs.
"A 2000 attack point monster," Akane said. "If you try attacking it, it'll be suicide."
"Then how about I activate its effect?" Touri suggested as he held out a hand, which a die materialized in it. "Once a turn, I can roll a die. If it is a 1 or a 2, nothing happens. If it is a 3 or a 4, its attack and defense increases by 500. But even better; if it is a 5 or a 6, I can sacrifice it to summon a powerful monster!"
"A powerful monster?" Akane gulped.
"That is correct. Here I go!" Touri threw the die into the air and it magically grew larger. When it hit the ground, it ended up at…
The result is five.
Suddenly, cracks of light began escaping Quadriga and it blew up, leaving its giant cell behind that got swallowed with a blue one.
"Appear, Poseidon (2000/3500)!" Touri yelled out.
Materializing over it is a massive lion-like war machine. Like Quadriga, its legs are tank wheels and got a large cannon on its back. But instead of a lion's head, there is a human face on it. It let out a roar as it reared its legs, and Akane could see a lion's face painted on its underside.
"But it still has the same attack points!" Akane pointed out.
"Miss Akane, don't underestimate the power of this deck!" Touri said. "When it is in the graveyard, I can equip Quadriga to a monster and have it gain the effects and stats of this card!"
The remains of Quadriga appeared floating in the air. Suddenly, the tank legs attached themselves to Poseidon and the shield and skeletal body went on top of the cannon.
Poseidon: (4000/6000)
"W…what…?" Akane gasped.
"Since Poseidon inherits Quadriga's effects, I will use it!" Touri continued, throwing another dice. This time, it landed on three and the massive behemoth roared as its body glowed.
Poseidon: (4500/6000)
"What's even better, Quadriga has another effect," Touri said. "I can rearrange the digits of any monsters on the field!"
"Digits?" Akane wondered. "What do you mean by- WHAT IN THE WORLD?"
Akane suddenly yelled as she watched Grenosaurus' attack and defense points are being rearranged as well as Poseidon's…
Grenosaurus: (0002/0019)
Poseidon: (5400/6000)
I know," Touri nodded. "Isn't this card extremely powerful? Now then…Poseidon, attack Grenosaurus with Howling Flare Strike!"
Poseidon let out a roar as its cannon spat out a giant missile at the dinosaur…
"…No!" Akane shouted. "I activate the Trap Bye Bye Damage! This card protects a monster from being attacked. Next, my opponent takes double the damage I take!"
"Say what now?" Touri asked. A veil covered Grenosaurus, protecting it from the explosion that sent Akane and Touri flying into the air…
Akane: *TIE*
Touri: *TIE*
All damages faded away as the two slowly got up.
"Well…" Touri groaned as he took off his Duel Gazer. "That ended rather in a bang."
Akane silently removed her Duel Gazer as well. But just as the lenses are off of her eyes, her head suddenly pounded and she groaned. Two visions flashed in her head…
Akane is standing in front of a goofy-looking boy. He wore clothes of a stereotypical nerd or geek in a TV show, though he wore a Duel Disk on his arm. He is also standing in a mountain pile of cards of different types.
"Who are you?" Akane heard herself shout at the boy.
The boy gave a giggle. "You don't know ME?" he asked. "I'M the number one collector in this entire city! I'm Ho-"
But before the boy can finish his name, Akane found herself in another vision.
Akane saw herself inside what seems to be a parlor room. No lights are on, yet the room is enveloped in a shade of purple. Akane is sitting down on a table with a cloaked figure. His face is hidden under a hood.
"So…what was your name again?" Akane asked to the man.
The man chuckled. "So you're another new customer, I presume?" he asked. "Please…call me Jin."
"…Miss Akane!"
Touri's voice suddenly snapped Akane back into reality again. The young man's voice is concerned.
"You seem to be spacing out a lot. And just a few seconds ago, you seem to be suffering from a headache," he said. "What happened when you and the other two were outside?"
Akane lowered her head. How can she explain a boy that can steal souls, a robot that can stop time, and all three of them possessing supernatural cards?
Akane didn't say anything after several seconds, in which Touri sighed.
"You're just like me when I don't want to discuss…my interests," he said.
Akane looked at Touri. "Interests?" she asked.
Touri scratched his head. "Well, if you promise not to tell anyone, follow me."
Touri lead Akane to another door a few feet from the duel area. The room that they stepped into seems to be a Study, with all the walls covered with bookshelves. Touri approached the left bookcase and pulled on a particularly dull blue book called 'Doors for Dummies.'
To Akane's astonishment, the bookcase actually fell under the floor, revealing a hidden room on the other side. It is a large hidden room that stank high of something that Akane couldn't identify. There is a large table in the middle of the room, the surface covered with containers and testing tubes filled with curious liquids. Set along the walls are transparent containers holding strange devices. One of them seems to be a sword-like object, yet its blade looks like a pair of jaws and is seem to be moving.
"Welcome to my Testing Zone, Miss Akane," Touri said as he stepped inside. "You see, I have quite a talent of creating unique things. Some products bizarre. Some bad. But some good as well."
Akane noticed a vial on the table filled with bubbling purple liquid. But just before she can touch it, Touri noticed and quickly slid it out of reach.
"Sorry, but that is still underdevelopment," he said.
Akane nodded. "I've never seen things like this," she said as she looked at the objects in the containers. "Why don't you show this to others? People might like them."
Touri shrugged. "I did a few years back," he said. "Unfortunately, there are people who want objects like that (he pointed to the sword) and demanded me to create them. I refused, of course, fearing that they might do damage, but…"
He trailed off and Akane could guess what their reaction is. "…Where they crooks?" she asked.
Touri nodded. "After someone tried raiding my home, I swore never to let anyone catch sight of what I create. At least all of them except for this…"
He walked over to one of the containers and opened it, pulling out a large black box. On one side is a projector and the other a keyboard.
"I've been developing this for quite a long time," he said. "This machine uses the technology used for Augmented Duel Reality and Solid Vision during duels."
Touri typed several keys in the keyboard and pressed a button. The projector suddenly lit up and to Akane's astonishment, a realistic-looking Cocoon Maiden appeared. Its head opened up to reveal the cannon and it fired a blast at the wall. However, the projectile quickly disappeared once it went a few feet away from it. Moments later, the Cocoon Maiden vanished as well.
"Like the last one, this is also under development," Touri said. "What I hope for this machine to do is to create interactive AIs outside of Augmented Duel Reality. There are a group of scientists who took interest with my work and have been visiting me from time to time to help me test this."
Just then, there came a sound of a car honking outside.
"Ah, that must be your caretaker," Touri said as he placed it back into its container. "Well then…it's been nice meeting you."
"You too," Akane nodded as Touri lead her to the door. Mr. Daisuke's old car is there, waiting for her.
Oddly enough, now that Akane thought about it, her mind felt considerably lighter after talking with Touri. In fact, just as she passed the door, she didn't even felt her head pound when one last image flashed in her mind…
Akane saw herself, Crystal, a boy with grayish hair, and a girl with long black hair that's white near the ends holding onto a tall boy with long blue hair that went down his waist. His blue eyes were focused as he is pulling on his fishing rod desperately to drag in what seems to be a fish in a giant lake…
Cocoon Maiden
EARTH/Fiend/3/0/2000
When this card is face-up on the field, negate all Spells and Traps your opponent controls only during the Battle Phase. When this card is in the graveyard, you may equip this card to any face up monster on your side of the field. Equipped monster gains all stats and effects of this card.
Ogretail
DARK/Beast/3/1000/1200
When 1 Ogretail monster that you control is destroyed, you can return it to your deck to gain 500 Life Points and Special Summon 1 level 3 or below monster from the graveyard. When this card is in the graveyard, you may equip this card to any face-up monster on your side of the field. The equipped monster gains all stats and effects of this card.
Quadriga
DARK/Machine/5/2000/2500
When this card is face-up on the field, you can rearrange the digits of the ATK and DEF of any monster on the field. Roll a Die every turn. If the result is 1-2, there is no effect. If the result is 3-4, this card gains 500 ATK and DEF until the End phase. If the result is 5-6, Tribute this card to Special Summon 1 Poseidon from your deck. When this card is in the graveyard, you may equip this card to any face up monster on your side of the field. Equipped monster gains all stats and effects of this card.
Poseidon
WATER/Machine/7/2000/3500
This card cannot be Normal Summoned or set. This card cannot be Special Summoned except for the effect of Quadriga. This card can attack while in Defensive Position. When this card battles, Special Summon 1 Quadriga from your graveyard and destroy it at the End Phase. When this card is destroyed, Special Summon as many Quadriga monster in your graveyard as possible.
(These cards are created by Storm Dryu. All rights go to that Author.)
Cell Throw Up
Trap
Activate only when 1 of your monsters is destroyed by battle. You do not take Battle Damage and you can Special Summon 1 monster whose level is the same as that destroyed monster from your hand as well as paying Life Points equal to its ATK.
Well, I hope I had Touri acted like what his creator, Storm Dryu, thought. Now here's the preview!
Chapter 21: The Collector from the Stars!
While staying in Heartland City, Akane finds a local card shop. Going inside the shop, she leaves it with a handful of cards, some of them Xyz Monsters! However, all of her cards but one were snatched away from her. Chasing down the thief, she eventually finds him in a warehouse filled with mountains of cards! A thief collector that possesses a high variety of cards; can Akane beat him and retrieve what she had lost?