Inside a space that borders both the Spirit World and the 'normal' world, Hikaru had been split off from his three friends and was dueling Shiho who was nearly responsible for his descent into ruin. Some parts of his body started to ache and swell but he did not really have time to do anything about it. Hikaru was in rough shape but his duel was in just as much trouble as his physical body.
Hikaru- 150 LP
Shiho- 3750 LP
Shiho had just ended her turn with one card left in her hand and took a massive lead in both Life Points and field presence. She had Nemesis Devastator currently at 2900 ATK and two Overlay Units remaining along with a face-down behind it. On the other side, Hikaru had Laval Gunner at 1800 ATK along with his own face-down but with three cards in his hand which was about to become four as soon as he started his turn. One of the worst parts of this situation was Devastator's piercing effect which meant that any Overlay Unit-powered attack from Shiho's ace would probably be game-ending at this point.
"So you're still standing after that last attack," Shiho commented.
Hikaru panted and chuckled a bit trying to keep his spirits up, "You got that right. Even with your ace on the field, I won't be beaten that easily. You got a good shot on me and I'll get a shot on you. Just you wait. I'll win for sure."
"Still running your mouth like that? Well, I will say one thing though, last time you couldn't even take one shot from this monster and now you're one of the very few who have. I guess that alone must mean something changed," the red-haired girl said with sarcasm in her voice.
Now Hikaru started his turn, "Draw!"
Another card was added to the boy's hand as he could not contain his excitement as he grinned. Shiho was curious but thought that the result would still be the same regardless of what he drew. Hikaru grabbed a card, "Now it's time to turn things up a bit some cards of my own! I summon Hand of Nephthys!"
A blue light formed on the field before a female appeared in its place. She was wearing gold cloth around her chest, wrists, waist and the bottom of her legs with an orange dress and skirt over top. Her hair and face was mostly covered by large golden and red patterned ceremonial helmet. Her entire attire was similar to that of an Egyptian queen (ATK: 600, Level 2).
"Hand of Nephthys...", whispered Shiho as she knew that she had heard about that monster but did not recall when or where.
Hikaru put his arm forward, "Now the time has come! My two monsters will blaze a path to victory! Her special effect lets me Tribute both herself and my Laval Gunner to Special Summon a very special card from my deck."
Hand of Nephthys began to float up as orange flames surrounded her as she chanted. Laval Gunner disappeared into the flames as well before the lone female joined suit as the orange flames flew up taking the shape of a winged creature. Shiho now realized what was coming though she was still in disbelief.
Hikaru called out to the flames, "Ancient avian of death and rebirth. Shine from the burning ashes once more and flare up your blazing soul! Be reborn! Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys!"
The flaming winged creature shrieked as the flames were drawn behind the golden phoenix leaving behind a trail of orange flames. Shiho was starting to sweat, not only from the heat this monster gave off but she could feel something with Hikaru which was different than before. It was a feeling she could not describe but she knew that there was something definitely there (ATK: 2400, Level 8).
Seeing the ATK value though, Shiho yelled, "You think you can get in that good shot with such a weak monster?! With such big talk just a minute ago, don't tell me that's the best you have!"
"Don't worry about that. I still have another card on my field! My trap, Double Tribute!" Hikaru shouted back as the card sprung up and he went into detail about what it would do, "I just summoned a monster so now I can destroy one of your monsters and mine too!"
The Trap Card shot out a red beam of light at Nemesis Devastator howled and roared with pain before exploding as Shiho shielded her face from the blast. Suddenly, the phoenix shrieked out too before a golden column of light from the same card consumed it as it exploded into bits of data.
Hikaru sighed, "Now even if you get your monster back, it can't be at full power unless you Xyz Summon."
Shiho mocked him, "'Can't be at full power'? That's no problem at all. I won't even need need it full power. I activate Puzzle Reborn!"
Her countermeasure revealed itself and began to glow as she explained, "Since Double Tribute just destroyed one of my monsters, I can summon back that monster to the field right now! Show yourself, Nemesis Devastator!"
A purple portal opened underneath as bits of data were collected and once again formed the massive red-black dragon who roared upon its return (ATK: 2000, Rank 5).
Seeing the monster once again, Hikaru was not exactly happy.
"You're a fool! You just won the duel for me by leaving your field wide open thanks to your own terrible play just now! My monster didn't even get destroyed! Great move on your part," she openly ridiculed.
Hikaru paused for a moment in frustration before grabbing a two cards, "I'll place two cards face-down and that's it for now."
"You know this would be a lot easier if you would just give up! You've gotten better but you're far from being any good! Do you think you can be a pro like this?!," she taunted.
"Giving up isn't me, you know. It's your turn, you know!", the boy yelled back.
She paused for a moment and looked into Hikaru's eyes and there was something there that she had not seen for a long time, "Duelists I've crushed had lost hope and even Hikaru once did before but this time seems different. In their last moments, that look of fear on their face when they know what's going to happen. In the Iron Curtain and in Underground Duels, I guess I just got used to it after seeing it so many times. But even in his condition and with so few Life Points left, Hikaru's not scared at all...that's not normal. Guess he's just too stupid to realize the situation he's really in."
The Nemesis duelist seemed annoyed, "Fine then! I draw! Now I summon Nemesis Dream Stalker!
A black spectral robed figure suddenly appeared in front of Shiho. Despite the creature being some sort of black vapor-like substance, its red and purple robes covered about everything except the creature's hands, legs and head. On its back was a large spiral of black mist as the monster gazed at Hikaru with its dark eyes (ATK: 900, Level 4).
"I activate Dream Stalker's effect! Since I have a 'Nemesis' Xyz Monster, I can Tribute this card to power that Xyz Monster up. Nemesis Devastator gains this monster as an Overlay Unit but you have much more to fear than that! Devastator gains an extra 900 ATK and cannot be destroyed until the End Phase thanks to the tribute itself!"
Hikaru opened in mouth in shock, "What?!"
Dream Stalker floated upwards as the black mist spiral on its back consumed the monster and transformed it into a dark purple energy that began to circle around Nemesis Devastator. The dragon stomped as the dark purple energy stabilized and was now an Overlay Unit (Devastator ATK: 2000+900= 2900, OU: 1).
"Now you're going to be taken out for good! Nemesis Devastator, attack!"
With Shiho's command, her monster fired off a red and black meteor from its mouth as Hikaru began to stagger back but made a quick motion with his hand as one of his face-downs were revealed, "I'm not out yet! I activate Firewall and by banishing Laval Miller, your direct attacks won't be able to get through that easily!"
After removing Laval Miller from the graveyard slot and sending it off, the Continuous Trap lit up as a wall of flames surrounded and protected Hikaru as the meteor exploded on impact with the wall but the smoke and explosion was successfully defended against. The flaming wall disappeared as Hikaru let out a sigh of relief.
Shiho was still in control of the duel though, "So what was that you said about not having any monsters earlier?! Seems like you're the one with that problem now! Since I'm done for now, which monster will be next to get annihilated!"
"It's my turn now!", Hikaru quickly started his turn, "I can't pay the 500 Life Points it takes for Firewall to stay on the field so I guess it's gone then."
Without much else, the card exploded itself into bits of data but Hikaru chuckled lightly as Shiho was annoyed even with that slight noise, "You think this is funny?!"
The Laval duelist spoke up, "No I don't but I couldn't help it. You see, I actually do still have a monster with me and it's the one that's been a part of my family for a long while."
The ground on Hikaru's side of the battlefield began to glow dark red as a portal surrounded by glyphs started to take shape as the portal was coated in orange flames and began to disappear.
"What's happening?", Shiho said confused.
Hikaru began to clarify, "Last turn if you remember, this card was destroyed by Double Tribute and send to the graveyard. Like the legend states, a phoenix can gain new life by returning from its own ashes. So now! Be reborn! Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys!"
A shriek was heard before the winged golden creature of fire flew out from the portal as small waves of fire descended onto the ground from its fiery wings (ATK: 2400, Level 8).
"Now we're talking and I'm about to turn up the heat even more thanks to my monster's other effect! When it comes back from its own effect I just told you about, it automatically destroys every Spell and Trap Card on the field! Scorching Ascension!", the boy shouted out.
The red-haired girl scanned the field, shook her head and clicked her tongue, "You're the only one with a Spell or Trap on the field! It's about to be burnt to a crisp!"
Hikaru pointed at the card, "I might be a bit crazy sometimes but it's all part of the plan! Before it goes up in flames, I activate and equip Blast with Chain onto my phoenix so my monster gains 500 ATK!"
The card was flipped up as a device appeared above the card. It seemed to be a metal chain attached to a spiked anchor wrapped in explosive dynamite. For some reason, the wrappings around the dynamite had some small blue marbles attached as well. The phoenix radiated an orange-red glow as the monster had more offensive power (Phoenix ATK: 2400+500= 2900 ATK).
Despite that explanation, Shiho was sure of her last statement, "Again, what good is that going to do? Our monsters have 2900 ATK each but yours is going to lose the only reason why its that high in the first place!"
As she finished, Hikaru's monster was covered in bright flame and flew upwards spreading its wings. Both the wings and the battlefield lit up and reacted as something was about to occur. A wall of flames flared up and intensified in front of both duelists who were forced to take a step back from the intense heat. The wall of flames had no effect on Shiho's field since she had no cards in the Spell/Trap Zone but Hikaru's Blast with Chain was destroyed as the only thing that could be seen was flames and smoke.
Shiho was not worried despite the display as she lost no cards at all as the smoke began to clear. However, she could see something in the smoke that was not Hikaru which meant that something else was still there. Surprisingly, Blast with Chain was still on the field but its card vanished meaning that it should have been destroyed. Nevertheless, the duel scanners indicated that Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys did lose 500 ATK as the equipment attached onto it was indeed nullified (Phoenix ATK: 2900-500= 2400 ATK).
The girl screamed out, "That's impossible! How did your card remain on the field after that effect?! It should have been wiped out!"
"Well...this card has another effect that only works when it's destroyed by an effect while equipped, he slowly started to reply while panting thanks to the smoke and flames as the fuse on the dynamite was lit up, "Now I can destroy any card I want on the field. Since your monster can be hit by card effects now, your ace is about to get devastated!"
The fuse was completely gone as sparks started to leak out before the dynamite was launched into the air. In an arc-like movement, the device crashed into the dragon's head as a flash of light triggered. Right after, there was a huge explosion that consumed Nemesis Devastator as the monster was blown straight off the field with no trace left behind.
Shiho did not say anything as she scowled and she knew that her field was empty and that there was nothing else she could do to prevent any attacks.
Hikaru stepped forward, "Now Sacred Phoenix, direct attack! Flames of Reckoning!"
In the air, Hikaru's monster shrieked as fire began to consume its body. Since it was a phoenix, the flames caused no damage to the monster and was actually more of a protective coating.
At that moment, Hikaru revealed another card from his hand, "There's one last thing I have to do. I play the Quick-Play Spell, Rush Recklessly! Now my monster's attack gets an 700 ATK boost so that it can deal even more damage!"
Now the monster's incoming dive experienced an accelerated burst of speed (Phoenix ATK: 2400+700= 3100 ATK) as the attack connected and the area around Shiho exploded in a blast of fire. She was sent flying back and slid along the ground as the fire and smoke faded away.
Hikaru- 150 LP
Shiho- 650 LP
Shiho struggled to stand up as she held one of her arms in pain before looking back at her opponent. Though she tried not to show it, Hikaru could tell that she was injured and bruised maybe moreso than him. She was not going to back down from this duel as he looked toward the field, "That wasn't a good use of Rush Recklessly but it does set up this card since she's past this card's safety zone. I don't want to use this but if it really comes down to it, then I guess I have to."
A card materialized on Hikaru's field, "Just setting this card down and it's your turn then."
As Hikaru's turn finished up, the effects of Rush Recklessly wore out which dropped Hikaru's monster back to its Original ATK (Phoenix ATK: 3100-700-2400 ATK).
Shiho shook her head, "Guess we have about the same amount of Life Points now. If Nightfall is to change the world, then I have to do better than this."
Hikaru spoke up, "Change the world...You think you can change the world that easily! I'm sorry for your loss but my world came crashing down when you defeated me. I couldn't remember anything and I was pretty much useless. But thanks to my family and some friends of this world, I regained my passion and spirit and moved to the future. It took a while but I was able to move on and learn from that experience you gave me."
"Family and friends, you say?", muttered Shiho
"If this world can offer an empty person like that a chance, then I'll fight to keep this world the way it is! You think your sister would want to see you like this? It sounded to me like she wanted you to enjoy yourself and not just sink into a pit of emptiness!", yelled Hikaru.
Now Shiho was really mad, "Shut up! You have no idea what it's like. You still have your family with you to support you! Don't patronize me by pretending that you understand!"
On one hand Hikaru wanted to yell back but after thinking about it for a moment, he calmed down a bit, "You're right. I can't really say I do understand since my family and friends have always been a part of me, even right now in this moment. The only thing I can do is share things that I was luckier than you to have, things like advice. A friend with a pirate deck told me that life won't always work the way you want but you have to do what you can to move forward and learn from that experience. If you're in a pit of emptiness, then you have to get out and do something to move on! It might be hard but...you don't just sit there and take it! Karina probably wouldn't..."
It took some time for Shiho to think but she ultimately blew that notion off, "You want me to do something! What do you think I'm doing?! If you think you're so right about all this, then let's see who's right!"
She drew her card and Hikaru could feel something change as she grabbed the last two cards in her hand, "I'm setting both these cards face-down and that'll be it! Only one of us will survive the next turn!"
The blue-black haired boy figured that it was a fast turn as he started his turn, "I draw!"
Now Shiho was about to make her move as she revealed one of her face-downs which was a Trap Card. The card had the image of bunch of angry students about to fight each other with various auras around them as she started to call out, "Let's see if you can back up that big talk! Battle Mania can only be activated during your Standby Phase and it forces then locks all monsters you control in ATK mode and then your monsters must attack this turn."
Hikaru scoffed for a moment, "I was planning to attack this turn anyways...unless your other card..."
The girl nodded, "Now the end is here! I activate Rage Return! Since I have four 'Nemesis' monsters in my graveyard, I can channel their fury and summon back my Nemesis Devastator from my graveyard! Return to me, dragon of darkness!"
After hearing the screams of several monsters that momentarily caused Hikaru to jump up, a dark purple haze quickly formed in front of Shiho before becoming the red-black dragon once more (ATK: 2000, Rank 5, OU: 0). However, the dark purple aura still persisted from the monster as it leaked out of the Trap Card.
Still though, the Laval duelist was not too worried, "My Sacred Phoenix still has more ATK, so..."
Shiho cut her opponent off, "That doesn't matter at all. My Rage Return equips onto my monster and when this monster takes battle damage and is sent to the graveyard, you take the same amount of damage I do from that battle. And now for the finishing strike!"
Thanks to Battle Mania, both monsters started to power up and emit their own magical auras as the two ace monsters were drawn into battle. Hikaru's Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys consumed its body in flames in the air while Shiho's Nemesis Devastator opened its mouth as a large meteor started to form.
"If we both take 400 points of damage, I'll lose for sure...Now or never!", Hikaru thought before making his last move.
Suddenly, a small golden orb attached itself to Hikaru's monster as the orb turned into a black and gold ring with a small golden bomb crafted into the ring. The female duelist took a quick glance trying to figure out what it was when the ring began to glow as the golden bomb detonated. For such a small bomb, the explosion produced was massive as the resulting blast shattered the screens of the nearby computers in the room and caused a minor quake. Both duelists tried to endure the blast but in the end, both were blown back as they slid across the floor on their backs as the dust settled.
Hikaru- 0 LP- DRAW
Shiho- 0 LP- DRAW
After a few moments, both duelists opened their eyes as Shiho slightly made it to her feet before Hikaru who soon followed. Both were panting and injured with wounds and bruises all over. There was one thing that surprised both duelists as the other one was still conscious.
However, Shiho was the most surprised, "Just how? You should have no Life Points left and I should still have 250."
Her opponent opened his eyes slowly and panted trying to remember what exactly just happened, "That's...that's...Destruction Ring. We both take 1000 points of damage after I destroy one of my monsters on the field. I didn't want to do it but there really wasn't anything else I could have done." Hikaru tried to get up but he was too exhausted as one of his legs were still numb as he dropped back down on one knee, "Wait for me, everyone...!"
As the duel ended as a draw with no winner or loser, nobody lost any spirit or energy but that did not necessarily mean that either duelist would stand down.
Shiho scoffed, "Wait for you, you say?"
She got up and Hikaru soon followed. The boy was worried though that since the duel had no clear outcome thus he was not exactly sure what would happen next as he shouted, "So you want another duel or something? Well, duels are great and all but...I'm not good with words but what you're doing just isn't right! If you want though, I will duel and you won't get through me."
"'Isn't right?' Aren't you acting all high and mighty! If you're think I'm that weak that I can't protect what I want then spit it out!," she yelled back furiously.
"I'm not saying that at all and you're actually one of the best duelists I've ever seen. I'm just saying that maybe you need to clear your head a bit. After being in the Underground for so long, maybe you need to see what's changed and what's really out there in the world. I'm still learning from the world every day, not just me but everyone. Do you really think Karina let herself go like that just so you could live like this?," Hikaru questioned while chuckling once out loud, "Me, giving advice? That's weird."
Shiho didn't answer which was good in one sense yet bad in another.
"So are you going to stop me?," Hikaru slowly mentioned as he wearily prepared for another duel.
She looked to no one in particular and started to walk off, "You've already been stalled long enough. Even if you or I head to the main room right now, we wouldn't make it in time to have any impact on Nightfall's ultimate plan. Let me tell you that it will change the world one way or another. If I were you, I'd start making my way out."
Hikaru was shocked, "What...what do you mean? Then what are you going to do?"
"When this plan is over, this building will truly become a ruin and be destroyed as a result. But...I might have to discover for myself what is really best and from there, I'll see," she plainly said back.
Hikaru was even more confused, "What? Why will it be destroyed?!"
The girl was almost out the door but stopped for a moment with her back facing Hikaru though she ignored his last statement and continued, "If you want to leave, go to the end of the long northern hallway and take a right and go to the room straight at the end of the corridor. Say hello to Natsumi for me and let her know that her brother is a good but idiotic person."
With that she quickly took off leaving Hikaru alone. He was not sure if that last part was a compliment but he assumed that it was though he had other problems to worry about. Now he had some clue where the exit was but there was also a plan that needed to be stopped or else at the very least it would "change the world" in Shiho's own words. That last part really bothered him as he knew what he would do. He shook his head and hoped that his words somewhat got through to Shiho as he focused on another task.
The first thing he did was contact Ryoko on his D-Pad as her image popped up and Hikaru began to talk, "Ryoko, I think I know where the exit is. I'm a floor below you in some large room with shattered computers in it. It's one of the bigger rooms."
Ryoko was running, "I'm almost down a floor. I'll just find of the bigger rooms on the map and go there...", the brown-hair girl paused after noticing the condition her friend was in, "...What happened?!"
Hikaru chuckled lightly and slightly smiled, "I'll explain everything and we'll think of something when we meet up. Let's just say a duel here isn't exactly a normal duel back at home."
"You should probably call Yuushi or Ayumi while I make my way over and tell them that you might know where an exit is," she answered a bit concerned.
"Yeah, I will. See you soon."
The call ended as Hikaru sat down to rest, "Then it's up to Yuushi and Ayumi now. Those two better be alright."
Original Cards
Nemesis Dream Stalker
Level 4
Dark Attribute
Spellcaster/Effect
ATK: 900, DEF: 1000
When you control a "Nemesis" Xyz Monster, this card can be Tributed to attach itself to a "Nemesis" Xyz Monster as an Overlay Unit. When this card is attached as an Overlay Unit using this effect, the Xyz Monster gains the following effects
it gains 900 ATK
it cannot be destroyed by cards effects until the End Phase
Rage Return
Trap Card
This card can only be activated when you have 4 or more "Nemesis" monsters with difference names in your graveyard. Target 1 "Nemesis" monster in your graveyard and Special Summon that target in face-up Attack Position and equip it with this card. When the targeted monster takes battle damage and is sent to the graveyard, inflict damage to your opponent equal to the amount of battle damage you took. When this card is removed from the field, destroy that monster. When that monster is removed from the field, destroy this card.
Chapter 29 Preview
Ayumi: There, we're at the bottom floor at last.
Yuushi: Yeah but these readings are stronger than ever. There's something nearby for sure.
Ayumi: We're close but now...I guess it's my turn. Arcanite Magician can lead you better than any map I have.
Yuushi: You'll probably fare better than I did but especially you Ayumi...You have to be alright afterwards. Please.
Ayumi: Chapter 29: Machine Princess Descends. If I don't take this seriously, we might all pay for it.
