Hello and Welcome Back Once Again Ladies and Gentlemen!
After that nasty stunt pulled by Number 43 last chapter, I think it's time to head back to the tournament for another duel, but this time it won't be just any duel. This time, things are about to get...
MISTY!
...
...
Oh Good Lord that pun was Bad! I am sorry! I am so sorry!
I still don't own Zexal, but if I did then Yuma's ZEXAL Mode and the Zexal Weapons would be a power that he would actually have to learn how to control and master in order to use it properly, rather than being the Ass-Pull Deus Ex Machina that made every single final boss duel predictable and boring as hell.
Enjoy!
Chapter 34: The Eye of the Black Storm
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!" Mr. Heartland announced. "Welcome Back to the Finals of Heartland City's very own World Duel Carnival! Our last duel left us with a major upset as Heartland City's resident Ice Queen, Rio Kamishiro, better known by what she calls herself now, Merag, crushed the former National Champion, Thomas Archlight in an intense and death defying duel! Now let's move on to the third round of the quarterfinals!"
"In that corner, hailing from our very own Heartland City! He is a rising star of hope who started from the bottom and rose to the top of this very tower, the young little duelist that could, YUMA TSUKUMO!"
"And in this corner, also hailing from our beloved Heartland City! She rules the skies with the terrifying power of her Demon Birds, and she will clip the wings of any form of competition, presenting to you all, the one and only, KOTORI MIZUKI!"
Kotori's eyes lit up with excitement! The moment she had been waiting for had finally arrived. Soon Yuma would be hers and then Master would be so proud of her for defeating Astral and acquiring the Numbers.
"Ah, Finally! Now I can claim what is rightfully mine! See you up top, Yuma!" She called out to him and sashayed up to the dueling platform, giving exaggerated blow kisses and "thank you" calls to the cameras and the crowd as if she was a famous celebrity addressing her fans.
Yuma on the other hand wasn't as excited. While he did know it would come to this, the possibilities of what might happen during the duel terrified him. What if he couldn't get through to Kotori? What if she was far too corrupted to be brought back to the pure hearted girl who captured his heart, and even if he did bring her back, would Number 96 go quietly without causing more damage? Number 96 might even try to kill Kotori before being taken prisoner again. Such a thought sent a wave of pain inside Yuma as his heart pounded faster. A life without Kotori, even a life where he had accomplished all his dreams, would be empty.
His thoughts were interrupted by a small touch on his shoulder. It was Astral, who placed his hand on his friend's back after sensing Yuma's distress.
"Yuma, I can feel your pain." He told him. "But it is like you taught me. We cannot live in fear of what the future may hold. We must continue onward."
"Thanks Astral! I needed that!" Yuma's spirit was now burning again, and he followed Kotori back onto the duel platform to begin what would likely be the fight of his life.
"So here we are, my love!" Kotori purred. "Just the two of us, and of course that third wheel, Astral, but I can just get rid of him once I have my wicked way with you! Besides, there is no need for us to fight! I know it might be embarrassing for you to forfeit in front of Heartland City's public when your first tournament victory is so close, but think of how much more you will gain from it! You could defeat me and give the Numbers to Astral, or you could give yourself to me, and we can use the power of the Numbers for ourselves! Why settle for living like a duel monsters champion when you could live like a God?!"
"Living the Good Life is not worth it if it means serving that monster who's controlling you!" retorted Yuma. "Kotori, please! Listen to me! This can't be what you really want! That Number is changing you for the worst! You have to get rid of it!"
"Get rid of it? Why? So I can go back to being nothing again? So I can go back to being the worthless little cheerleader who sits on the sidelines and does nothing?!" Kotori's voice turned venomous and violent, catching Yuma by surprise. Was this the inner darkness that Number 96 had used to manipulate Kotori?
"Kotori, that's now how I think of you at all!"
"Isn't it though?" She spat. "I know you are destined for greatness, Yuma! I knew from the moment you amazed me with your confidence, but once you accomplished your goals, what would happen to me? I would just remain in stagnation, watching you from afar as your success takes you away from me, and once you do enter the pro-leagues and have millions of fans adoring you, wealth and power at your disposal, I shall disappear into the background, just one of a million women you could choose from!"
"Kotori..."
"Ever since I met you, I adored you, but at the same time, I always felt so inferior to you, and now I know why! I know why you never took the opportunity to accept my advances or notice all my hints of affection! It wasn't because you were oblivious to them! It was because you thought I was unworthy of you!"
"WHAT?! NO! I would never think that of you!" Yuma answered, his voiced appalled. Kotori had been his first friend, his closest friend, and recently he had been at war with his mind and his heart as to whether Kotori was more than a friend or not. He knew the answer now, and part of his regret stemmed from not knowing sooner. Perhaps if he had come to terms with these new feelings before Number 96 had taken her, she would not be the creature she is now.
"Not intentionally, but what kind of woman would you prefer?" Kotori continued her bitter rant. "A wallflower and a cheerleader who does nothing useful except give you emotional support and stay behind worried sick about you, waiting to give you a hug when you come home, or a powerful equal who is worthy of fighting by your side, the other half that you need to accomplish the impossible with! The answer is obvious of course. It is the latter. The passion generated by knowing that you could never have succeeded without your partner's help and vice versa makes such a romantic bond unbreakable, but I knew that I was not that type of woman! I wouldn't have even learned how to duel if Rio hadn't played matchmaker for me..."
"Even if I did get what I wanted. Even if you did return my feelings, what would I be? What would I have to identify myself as Kotori Mizuki? Nothing! I would just be nothing more than Yuma's little girlfriend, Yuma's little cheerleader, Yuma's little trophy!"
"I needed power in order to earn my rightful place at your side, to be everything I could possibly be, to reach the height of my ambitions!"
Well, Look at me now! Now the roles have reversed, and it is you who needs to earn a place at my side! All you need to do is hand over your Numbers, your Emperor's Key, and embrace me as your queen! Think about it Yuma! You could be more than just a champion! You could be a king of not one, but three worlds! The choice is yours! All you have to do is take my hand!"
"I understand why you still deny me, Yuma! You are afraid of Number 96! It's only natural to fear him! All will fear him eventually, but you don't have to be afraid. Number 96 will never hurt you as long as I am around! I can teach you how to master the power he offers until you learn to adore it just as I have! Take my hand, Yuma, and together we can live deliciously!"
"You won't be a queen or a Goddess if you do this, Kotori!" Yuma warned her.
"You'll just be Number 96's little puppet! Can't you see that he doesn't care about you at all? He is using you!"
"LIAR!" Kotori snapped. "Number 96 is my friend, my only friend! He understands me! He knew what it was like to spend your entire life feeling inferior to someone else! That's why he agreed to help me! He gave me the power to accomplish my dreams, and I shall return the favor helping him accomplish his, so tell me dear Yuma! How is my relationship with Number 96 different from your relationship with Astral?"
"Astral doesn't hurt innocent people, Kotori!"
"Oh does he now? Oh how little you know about your so called friend! If you knew who Astral was before he lost his memory, you would never have agreed to help him!"
"What are you talking about, Kotori?"
"Astral may not remember what his original purpose was, but Number 96 does, and to think you believe Number 96 is the bad guy!" She chuckled to herself as she watched her words have their effect on Yuma. Getting under his skin was so much fun, and the fun was just beginning. Once she obtained victory, everything she ever wanted would be hers.
"I was afraid it would come to this, Yuma, but in an ironic way, I am glad! Now I get to earn you as my reward for being such a good girl to him! Time to duel, Yuma! Time to teach you the power of Number 96! When I am done with you, you will wish you had taken my hand to begin with! I will have you by my side, even if I have to take you by force!"
Kotori activated her duel disk, with Yuma proceeding to do the same, each of them willing to place everything on the line to bring the other back to their side.
"Kotori, I promise!" Yuma whispered to himself. "I'm going to defeat you in this duel and save you from this, or die trying!"
Duel Gazer Set!
Augmented Reality Vision Online
Yuma: 4000
Kotori: 4000
DUEL!
"Ladies First, Handsome! Draw!" She looked at her card with a sinister glint in her eye.
"I shall set these two cards face down, and then I shall activate a spell card known as Pot of Desires!"
"I've never heard of that card! What does it do?" Yuma asked in surprise.
"It is relatively new, but it suits my deck perfectly! You see, it lets me draw two cards from my deck but first I have to banish the top ten cards of my deck!"
Kotori proceeded to get rid of the top ten cards of her deck, and once she drew her cards, her wicked smile twisted upward.
"Oh would you look at that! One of the cards I drew was a second Pot of Desires, so I think I will banish ten more cards to draw two more cards!"
Yuma stared at Kotori in confusion. "I don't get it." He whispered to Astral. "She just sacrificed half her deck, a full twenty cards. Why would she give up so much?"
Astral tensed with nerves as he responded to his friend's question. "She would not do so if they served no purpose. Be on your guard. Number 96 will rear its ugly head soon."
"Next, since I have no monsters on my side of the field, I can special summon Demon Bird - Zombie Hawk from my hand in defense mode!"
Kotori's field clouded with shadows as a large bird with skeletal wings appeared on the field. It let out a loud shriek as streaks of black slime dripped down its bones.
Demon Bird - Zombie Hawk: Level 2/DARK/Winged-Beast/0 ATK/0 DEF
"I think this little birdie is all I need to maintain an advantage over you for now, so I end my turn!"
Yuma raised an eyebrow. "You went to all that trouble and got rid of half your deck just to summon a monster with zero attack and defense?"
"There's more to my little hawk than meets the eye, Yuma. It may be weak but it's invincible! If you were to even try to destroy it by battle or by a card effect, all I need to do is banish 5 more cards from the top of my deck, and it will be completely immune to destruction, and the best part is I can use that over and over again!"
Astral's eyes narrowed. He glared at the possessed girl, knowing Number 96 was in there somewhere, likely laughing from how much Kotori had changed thanks to his corrupted influence, but for all his arrogance and overconfidence, Number 96 was intelligent and dangerous. Astral knew the Dark Number was guiding his host to not only his summoning, but also a deadly strategy to overpower them both. Losing half her deck was only meant to lead to something, but what?
"Kotori has already lost half her deck through her two spell cards, so she most likely wants us to attack so she could fill up her banish zone even more. She did not summon Number 96 yet, so she must be waiting for something. What that might be, I do not know". He explained to Yuma.
Yuma nodded back at his friend as he drew his card. He studied his hand for the right move when Astral spoke up again.
"Yuma, we should summon Hope right away! She hasn't summoned Number 96 yet and we must gain the upper hand immediately."
Yuma shook his head in disagreement, not out of immature defiance like how he was when they first started working together, but out of a new sense of understanding. It was this that brought a small smile to Astral's face. Yuma was growing up into a strong duelist and into an even stronger man. Soon he wouldn't need him anymore.
"No, I have a better idea. We'll use hope if this doesn't work, but I have to try and get Kotori to remember who she really is."
Astral nodded. "Very well, Yuma. Let us see this plan of yours."
Yuma proceeded to do so with his Kattobingu spirit in full force.
"I will start my turn with a spell, Gagaga Academy Emergency Network! Since I control no monsters I can Special Summon one Gagaga Monster from my deck, so come on out, Gagaga Caesar!"
The symbol of Yuma's signature wizard appeared on the field, summoning a humanoid figure clothed in white robes and a red cloak. The man had long, shoulder length blue hair and kept the lower half of his face hidden behind a black mask, and he carried a long scepter as his weapon of choice.
Gagaga Caesar: Level 3/EARTH/Warrior/1800 ATK/400 DEF
"Next I will normal summon an old favorite of mine! Gagaga Magician!"
Joining Caesar was the leader of the Gagaga tribe, Yuma's signature wizard. The chains on his brown robes danced in the wind as the wizard entered the stage.
Gagaga Magician: Level 4/DARK/Spellcaster/1500 ATK/1000 DEF
"And since I normal summoned a Level 4 Monster, I can special summon Kagetokage from my hand!"
One of the shadows in front of the battlefield came to life and joined the other two monsters as a lizard shaped shadow with beady red eyes.
Kagetokage: Level 4/DARK/Reptile/1100 ATK/1500 DEF
Kotori shook her head in amusement. "Oh, Yuma, Yuma, Yuma. When will you learn not to be so predictable? Number 39 won't save you here!"
"I'm not summoning Hope, Kotori! I'm going to overlay Gagaga Magician and Kagetokage in order to Xyz Summon, GAGAGA COWBOY!"
The wizard and the lizard vanished into the approaching overlay network, paving the way for Yuma's new monster. At Yuma's command, a warrior dressed in traditional spaghetti western attire rose out of the overlay network. Its face was hidden by a brown sheriff's hat and an orange scarf, and the young westerner whispered a quiet and stoic "Howdy" as his tattered cape billowed in the wind.
Gagaga Cowboy: Rank 4/EARTH/Warrior/1500 ATK/2400 DEF
"What good will that monster do?" Kotori asked in the form of a taunt.
"A lot of good! Since cowboy is in defense mode, he can hit you for 800 points of damage just by detaching an overlay unit, and I think I'll do that right now!"
"Cowboy! DRAW!"
On the command of draw, the seemingly calm cowboy suddenly sprang to life with action. He pulled out two six shooters in the blink of an eye and fired both of them at Kotori, who winced as the bullets grazed her skin.
Kotori: 4000 - 800 = 3200
"So that's it then? You are afraid of battling Number 96, so instead you are just going to hide behind your strong defense and burn me?" She asked her crush.
"Oh I'm not afraid, Kotori, but the burn damage is just going to continue! Since you took effect damage, I can special summon Achacha Chanbara from my hand, and when I do, you take another 400 points of damage!"
A small torrent of flame appeared next to the cowboy, and a masked warrior in a red Japanese tunic and Kabuki makeup emerged from the fire. The warrior brandished twin katanas and threw them like boomerangs at Kotori. The blades struck Kotori's arm, who swatted them both away in annoyance, and the warrior caught them both back in his hands.
Achacha Chanbara: Level 3/FIRE/Warrior/1400 ATK/400 DEF
Kotori: 3200 - 400 = 2800
Yuma's confident grin doubled in size as the stage was now set.
"Now I overlay Gagaga Caesar and Achacha Champion! With these 2 Level 3 Monsters I build the overlay network again!"
"XYZ SUMMON! BRING ME VICTORY ACHACHA CHAMPION!"
As the two monsters vanished, the overlay network erupted with fire as one of Yuma's most prized monsters rocketed out of the portal. It was the same armored silver knight that brought Yuma two impressive victories against the Barian Warrior, Alito, and he could not have done so if Kotori herself had not given this card to him in the first place. The masked knight's gauntlets erupted with flames and he let out a loud battlecry of "ACHACHA!"
Achacha Champion: Rank 3/FIRE/Warrior/2000 ATK/1800 DEF
Kotori's eyes widened at the sight of that monster. She would recognize it anywhere. "That card..."
Yuma saw his chance and took it. The memory of this monster could bring out the real Kotori within her, but would it be enough for her to break free?
"You remember this guy, don't you Kotori?" Yume told her as he pointed to the champion. "This is the Xyz Monster you gave me when I was at my lowest point! I was broken when Kaito defeated me to the point where I lost myself! I forgot who I really was deep down and even though I pushed everyone away, you didn't give up on me! That's why I'm not giving up on you! You used this card to make me remember who I was, so now I am going to use it to make you remember who you really are!"
However, Kotori didn't appear to be affected by Yuma's speech at all. She shook her head as she gave her response, as if she was talking to a misguided child.
"Awww, how sweet of you, Yuma! I'm glad you value all the good times we had together, but I am afraid your attempts at jogging my memory are pointless! I do remember who I was back then, and for the record I despise that sense of kindness that was holding me back! You think a card is going to be a trigger to bring out the old me? Don't make me laugh!"
"Kotori, I'm trying to help you!" Yuma pleaded.
"I don't need your help! What I need is for you to understand that I am under no such possession like the other weak humans you dueled with their inferior Numbers! I hated my old life, so when Number 96 offered me power, I took that chance, and I regret nothing!"
Yuma grimaced and cursed internally from his failed attempt. He would just have to try harder, or simply do things the old fashioned way and win the duel.
"Fine then! I activate the effect of Achacha Champion! By detaching both of its overlay units, you take 600 damage for every Xyz Monster I control, and then he gains attack power equal to the damage inflicted, so that means you take 1200 damage and he gains 1200 attack points!"
The armored warrior pointed both of his enormous gauntlets at the greenette and the flames on his hands erupted like flamethrowers. Kotori growled as the flames engulfed her body, but she stood her ground, unconcerned about the damage.
Kotori: 2800 - 1200 = 1600
Achacha Champion: 2000 + 1200 = 3200 ATK
"There's no point in attacking that Zombie Hawk since it can't be destroyed like you said, so I end my turn!"
The moment Yuma did so, Kotori's sinister grin returned to spoil her beautiful face.
"HA! Just as I planned!" She gloated.
"WHAT?!"
"Why do you think I told you Zombie Hawk's effect?" She explained to Yuma. "I tricked you into not attacking, and even if you did I could have used it to my advantage! Now I activate the trap card, Small Stopper!"
"Small Stopper?" Yuma and Astral parroted back at the same time.
"Yes! This continuous trap card will set the stage in Number 96's favor! Now as long as this card is on the field, monsters with 1500 or less attack points cannot attack. Not only that, but during each of your end phases, if you control a monster that didn't attack this turn, you take 1000 points of damage and since you did not attack at all this turn, you have to pay the price!"
Yuma: 4000 - 1000 = 3000
"Oh No!" Astral gasped as he figured out Kotori's strategy. "Now I understand the purpose of that card. Once she summons Number 96, she will place us in a no win situation"
"What do you mean, Astral?" Yuma whispered to his friend.
"Number 96's effect will allow it to overpower any monster it battles! If we don't attack, then we will continue to take damage from Small Stopper, but if we do attack, then Number 96 will destroy our monsters anyway!"
Yuma's let out a surprised gasp of his own as he understood Astral's explanation. Just when he thought he had gained the upper hand, he had actually played right into Kotori and Number 96's hands, and to make matters worse, Kotori wasn't done yet!
"Now for my second trap card, Painful Banishment! I can use this card since I took damage this turn, and for every five cards that I banished, the trap card gains one of the four following effects, and since I banished a total of twenty cards thanks to my Pot of Desires, I can use all of them!"
Astral could practically hear Number 96 laughing from within the safety of his host as Kotori explained the effects of her trap card.
"First, I gain lifepoints equal to the amount of damage I took this turn, placing me back at full health!"
Kotori: 1600 + 2400 = 4000
"Second, I get to special summon a Level 4 or Lower Dark Monster from my deck for every 1000 points of damage I took this turn. So I special summon these two monsters! Demon Bird - Shadow Falcon, and Demon Bird - Plague Vulture!"
Two portals opened beside Kotori's Zombie Hawk, conjuring a large transparent bird with a ghostly tail, and a vulture with a human skull for a face.
Demon Bird - Shadow Falcon: Level 2/DARK/Winged-Beast/800 ATK/200 DEF
Demon Bird - Plague Vulture: Level 2/DARK/Winged-Beast/900 ATK/900 DEF
"Next, I get to banish one of the monsters that inflicted damage to me, so your Cowboy has to hit the old dusty trail!"
The cowboy's single visible eye suddenly shot open out of intense pain as a clawed arm grabbed him from behind and pulled him down into the abyss.
"My Monster!" Yuma cried out, much to Kotori's pleasure.
"And Finally... well, I will surprise you with the final effect once I begin my turn, which I will do so now! Draw!"
She grinned as she saw the fear in Yuma's eyes. She adored him when he got like this, especially against her. She would have to thank Number 96 later for teaching her how much fun it was to play with her food.
"I activate Allure of Darkness! By banishing Demon Bird - Dark Eagle from my hand I can draw two cards, and this activates my eagle's effect! When he is banished I can send one Dark Attribute Monster from my deck to the Graveyard!"
Demon Bird - Dark Eagle: Level 2/DARK/Winged-Beast/400 ATK/1400 DEF
"The monster I choose is Dark Simorgh, and by banishing the wind attribute normal Simorgh from my hand along with the Dark Attribute D.D Crow, I can special summon Dark Simorgh directly from my Graveyard!"
The Graveyard portal burst open from the ground, and an enormous avian monster flew out of it and touch down on the ground. It towered over Yuma, and it revealed itself to be the same dark counterpart to Kotori's signature monster. The beast unfolded its wings and shrieked a shrill cry.
Dark Simorgh: Level 7/DARK/Winged-Beast/2700 ATK/1000 DEF
"As long as this card is on the field, you cannot set any cards face down! That means no setting traps and no playing defense, which leaves you wide open for my dear master's wrath!"
Her mention of Number 96 was answered by a soothing voice in her head.
"Well done, Kotori! Everything is going as we planned it! Now allow me to take to the stage so I can hand Yuma to you on a silver platter! After that, Astral is mine!"
Kotori nodded. She loved it when Number 96 praised her. It made her feel so special, and now she would once again bask in his presence.
"Get Ready My Love! You never had the pleasure of facing the one responsible for my beautiful transformation in battle yet, well now you finally get the chance!"
"I overlay Zombie Hawk, Shadow Falcon, and Plague Vulture! With these 3 Level 2 Monsters, I shall construct the overlay network!"
"XYZ SUMMON! ARISE! THE STRONGEST NUMBER! NUMBER 96: BLACK MIST!"
The three birds screamed in pain as they were pulled into the overlay network by force, the portal turning from gold to a deep black. The network expelled the sealed form of the demon, a small bubbling mass of black slime. The mass contorted before their eyes, sprouting long clawed arms, a pair of legs, and finally the bulk of the mass morphed into the gaping maw of the Number, its face on its chest with eyes bathed in hellish flames.
Number 96: Black Mist: Rank 2/DARK/Fiend/100 ATK/1000 DEF
Merag observed the duel with her traditional icy glare, which only intensified as she witnessed the summoning of Kotori's Dark Number.
"So that is the Number responsible for Gilag and Alito's defeat. If it is as powerful as Yuma claimed it to be, then he may be in over his head this time. However, while I would enjoy seeing Astral finally fall, Kotori's condition is a fate I would wish on no one. For her sake, I pray that Yuma defeats this monstrosity and sets her free. Besides, no one destroys Astral except for me. That right is mine and mine alone."
"Isn't he just a master at making an entrance?" Kotori mused as she marveled over Number 96's appearance. "And now here comes that surprise I promised you! The final effect of Painful Banishment increases the attack power of Number 96 by the amount of damage I took last turn, giving him 2400 additional attack points!"
Number 96: 100 + 2400 = 2500 ATK
"If you remember when I had the pleasure of Dueling Master, then you will remember this! When Number 96 attacks, I can detach one overlay unit from him, and when I do, the attack of your monster is cut in half, and then he gains attack power equal to the amount your monster lost! GO! SHADOW GAIN!"
Achacha Champion: 3200 X 1/2 = 1600
Number 96: 2500 + 1600 = 4100
"Your champion is nothing compared to absolute power in the flesh! Number 96: Black Mist, attack his Achacha Champion with WHIPLASH WHIRLWIND!"
The demon unleashed a flurry of black tentacles towards the champion, which pierced through its armor with ease causing it to explode. Yuma felt the full force of the attack and was forced backwards from the painful shock.
Yuma: 3000 - 2500 = 500
"It's over Yuma! You're mine at last! Dark Simorgh, attack him directly with DARK HURRICANE!"
The black bird king took to the skies and flapped its wings, conjuring a purple colored tornado, but this time, Yuma was ready to stop it.
"Kotori! I told you I'm not giving up on you, and that means I'm not giving up this duel! I activate the effect of Ganbara Gate Keeper in my hand! By discarding him, I can Special Summon one Warrior Type Monster from my deck in defense mode and make him the new target of the attack, so now my monster opens the gate to pave the way for Swordsman of Revealing Light!
Ganbara Gate Keeper: Level 4/LIGHT/Warrior/Level 4/1000 ATK/1200 DEF
A large doorway magically appeared in between Dark Simorgh and Yuma, and when it opened, a tall samurai clothed in blue and white armor emerged from the gate, brandishing multiple glowing blades in a defensive stance.
Swordsman of Revealing Light: Level 8/LIGHT/Warrior/0 ATK/2400 DEF
"That's fine!" said Kotori. "Dark Simorgh will just destroy that monster instead and I'll have so much more time to play with you!"
"He won't be destroying it!" Yuma explained to her. "My swordsman gains 1000 Defense when he is special summoned by the effect of my Gate Keeper, which means your attack backfires and you take damage instead!"
"WHAT?!"
The tornado came thundering towards the swordsman, but instead of being caught in its funnel, the samurai caught the tornado in its blades and began absorbing its power. The swordsman spun the winds with his blades and fired it back at Dark Simorgh, who recoiled from the force of the blow. Kotori didn't appeared to be bothered by the fact that her attack backfired. If anything, she appeared to be enjoying herself even more. She licked her lips in a sultry manner.
Swordsman of Revealing Light: 2400 + 1000 = 3400 DEF
Kotori: 4000 - 700 = 3300
"Mmmmmmmmmm, Yuma. You never cease to amaze me with that luck of yours, but luck runs out eventually. I end my turn."
"My turn again." Yuma announced. "Draw!" He looked at his card and then turned to Astral. "OK, old friend. Now I think it's time to go with your plan and summon Hope."
"Then let us waste no time with that." Astral responded.
"I use the second effect of my Ganbara Gate Keeper! By banishing it from my Graveyard, I can change the level of my swordsman from eight down to four!"
Swordsman of Revealing Light: Level 4
"Next, I normal summon Gogogo Golem in attack mode!"
Another one of Yuma's signature monsters, the green and blue robot of earth, burrowed out of the ground to join the swordsman in battle.
Gogogo Golem: Level 4/EARTH/Rock/1800 ATK/1500 DEF
"Now to overlay them both! If you want to depend on your Number to win, then I will depend on mine! With these 2 Level 4 Monsters I build the overlay network!"
"XYZ SUMMON! RISE UP, NUMBER 39: ASPIRING EMPEROR HOPE!"
The golem and the swordsman vanished into the overlay network, and after three pulses of power, the golden portal unleashed Yuma's ace monster. The armored knight unfolded his metallic wings and let out his signature battle cry of "HOPE!" Yuma looked onward at the sight of his best monster. He knew he would need hope if he wanted to regain the Kotori he knew, and he didn't just mean the Number Monster.
Number 39: Aspiring Emperor Hope: Rank 4/LIGHT/2500 ATK/2000 DEF
After Number 39's entrance, the spirit form of Number 96 appeared behind Kotori, his face dripping with malicious intent as his doppelganger appearance mirrored Astral's.
"Oh, so the goody goody two shoes of a Number comes out to play! He taunted Hope.
"How does it feel to be a disgrace to your own kind? How does it feel to only exist to be used, when you could have overtaken the boy's mind and claimed the power of the Emperor's Key for yourself! You remember what that key does, don't you? That power is a few inches away from you and you deny it! Pathetic!"
Neither Astral nor Yuma understood what Number 96 was referring to. As far as Yuma knew, the only thing the Key had done was serve as a home for Astral and a containment unit for all the Numbers they had captured so far. If it could do more, then it may be the literal key to ending the war. Was that why Number 43 attempted to manipulate Yuma into giving his key over to him during the time he had taken over III?
Number 39 shook his head solemnly, almost as if he pitied the Dark Number instead of hating him for what he did to his master's loved one.
"You truly have no idea how low you can sink, do you Mist?" He spoke to him in a tone reminiscent of a disappointed older brother. "You know of our origins and you know why we were given to Astral in the first place. You believe our only purpose is to destroy, and while that is partially true, that is not what we were originally designed for! We were supposed to protect, to maintain balance between the worlds of order and chaos, but you threw it all away because you weren't satisfied with your own purpose. You think you have risen to the status of a God like the Dragon who gave us life? All I see is a coward who hides behind young human females because he is too scared to face his adversaries by himself."
"Don't you DARE call me that!" Number 96 shrieked. It was just like when Kotori challenged him back when she had her purity intact. No one called Number 96 a coward and lived to tell the tale.
"Aren't you though?" Hope continued. "I know there is another just like you, Mist, and you are just as content to hide behind him as you hide behind Kotori. You think you can use the other to accomplish your goals, but I wonder something, Number 96. Who is using who?"
Yuma wasn't so sure, but he wondered if Hope was referring to Number 43.
"Please! Numbers have always been used! That is all we were supposed to be since the day we were created, tools to be used! Perhaps you are too incompetent or self-righteous to realize this, Hope, but do you realize how infuriating it is to be given the gift of life only to realize the only reason the one who gave you life did so was so that he could use you as a tool to keep the precious worlds he created intact and in a state of balance? Well now it is my turn! I will no longer be the puppet! I will be the master of my own fate, and my fate is to bring all three worlds to their knees!"
Number 43 huffed as he listened to Number 96's speech from the shadows, almost tempted to laugh at the irony. Number 39 practically spelled it out for him, and Number 96 still couldn't figure it out. "I could not have said it better myself, Black Mist. How unfortunate that you fail to realize that you are one of the many unfortunate souls who can never escape his puppet strings. You didn't cut them, you gave them to me. You may not be the pawn of the Numeron Dragon any longer, but you are my pawn, and that is all you will ever be, even if you don't know it yet!"
"Goody two shoes or not! Yuma exclaimed. "Number 39 is going to take you down, Black Mist! Here's why! I equip Number 39 with the spell card, Enchanted Treasure Sword! This gives Hope 500 additional attack points!"
Number 39's normal sword disappeared from his hands and was replaced by a much larger sword made of pure gold.
Number 39: 2500 + 500 = 3000
"HA! That won't do you any good!" Kotori scoffed. "Number 96 is leagues above you in terms of power and even if you do attack it, its effect will make the attack backfire!"
Yuma smirked. "Who said I was going to attack Number 96? I'm aiming for Dark Simorgh! Number 39, attack that overgrown chicken! RISING SUN SLASH!"
Number 39 took flight into the sky and through his new treasure sword like a boomerang, piercing the thick hide of Dark Simorgh and destroying it.
Kotori: 3300 - 300 = 3000
"Just a scratch, Yuma!" Kotori hissed. "You haven't changed anything!"
"Maybe so, but now I can set trap cards on the field again, and now my treasure sword gives me an extra chance! Since Number 39 destroyed a monster by battle, I can look at the top five cards of my deck and add one of those cards to my hand. The rest are shuffled into your deck!"
Yuma placed his hand on top of his deck and prayed. "Come on... I need a break here... Just one chance..." and Yuma drew...
"YES! THAT'S IT! Rei's card, Rank Up Magic Limited Barian's Force! Chaos Number 39: Hope Ray V is exactly what I need right now! If I summon him now, then I can use his effect to destroy Number 96 and then Kotori will take damage equal to its attack points! She will lose and then I can finally free her from this nightmare!"
"Oh Thank You Rei Shingetsu! I choose to add this card!" He showed it to Kotori.
"Rank Up Magic Limited Barian's Force?" she questioned him.
Astral noted that she didn't seem worried at all about the card, which put him on edge. Something was wrong.
"That's right, and I am activating it right now! I'm going to save you Kotori if it's the last thing I do! KATTOBINGU DAZE ORE! RANK UP MAGIC LIMITED BARIAN'S FORCE!"
"With this card, I rebuild the overlay network to turn Number 39 into a Chaos Number! GO CHAOS XYZ EVOLUTION! I SUMMON CHAOS NUMBER 39: HOPE RAY V!"
The overlay network appeared again, pouring waves of chaos energy into Number 39's body, changing the color scheme of his armor from white and gold to purple and red. His mechanical wings and the spikes on his crown doubled in size, and he let out a louder, deeper cry of "HOPE" as he took the mantle of his evolved form.
Number C39: Hope Ray V: Rank 5/LIGHT/Warrior/2600 ATK/2000 DEF
Yuma was certain that his Chaos Number would win him the duel right now, but his happiness was short lived when Kotori smiled, as if Yuma had done exactly what she wanted him to do.
"Sorry, dearest, but I am going to have to stop you right there! I have been waiting for you to use that Rank Up Magic Spell Card, so that way I could have the pleasure of stopping it in its tracks! I use the effect of Demon Bird - Skull Macaw in my hand! By banishing it, I can place a curse on your monster!"
Demon Bird - Skull Macaw: Level 2/DARK/Winged-Beast/100 ATK/100 DEF
"Curse? What curse?" Yuma questioned her.
"Simple, if your Chaos Number attacks or if it activates its effect, you will take damage equal to its Rank multiplied by 300! Your monster is Rank 5 so that's 1500 points of damage, and judging by how much pain I've inflicted on you already, you can't afford to take a hit like that!"
"OH NO!"
"Yes, my Yuma! Yes!" Kotori cooed. "Now if you do attack or if you try to destroy Number 96 with your monster's effect, you will lose the duel, but if you don't then on the end of your turn, Small Stopper will take away the rest of your lifepoints anyway since you control a monster that didn't attack this turn! Either way, it is over for you! I had this planned ever since I found out about that little Rank Up Magic card you have!"
"H-H-How?" Yuma stuttered. "How did you know about Limited Barian's Force? How did you know I was planning to Rank Up my Monster?"
"Awwww, don't cry sweetie. I have my ways of knowing things. Let's just say a little birdie told me. As you can see, I have made friends in very dark places. Perhaps you should consider which of your friends are actually your friends! Maybe you have a little mole in your backyard, Yuma."
From his hiding spot, Vector tried to signal Kotori by waving his hands in a frantic and exaggerated manner out of panic in order to silently scream No to her.
"SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!" Vector screamed inside his own head. "You're giving away too much information! He can't know I'm Rei yet! NO SPOILERS!"
"Open your eyes, Yuma!" Kotori shrieked with delight. "You can't win now! No matter what you do, you and your little blue friend are finished!" Then her tone grew calm again, and she extended her hand in a come hither fashion as she whispered soothing words to Yuma.
"Unless..."
"Unless what?" asked Yuma, nervous about what would follow.
"Unless you reconsider my offer! Yuma, I don't want to fight you! I love you! I just want to make you understand! What do you think is going to happen when Astral gains all the Numbers? Are you going to get any form of reward for what you did, or even a thank you? No! Astral will go on his merry way leaving you behind exactly where you were before, a hyperactive adolescent who sets impossible goals for himself and is constantly laughed at for trying them, and that doesn't even matter anyway because by that time The Barian World will be destroyed and then this world will fall apart since one of the dimensions keeping it intact no longer exists!
"Wait? WHAT?!" shouted Yuma. "What do you mean the Barian World will be destroyed?"
"Oh! So Astral hasn't told you what his real mission was, has he? Well this will make for an interesting conversation between the two of you! Astral may not remember what his true mission was, but Number 96 remembers! Astral was supposed to use the power of the Numbers for an act of total annihilation and genocide! He was going to destroy the Barian World and everyone in it!"
"What?! No! Astral would never do anything like that! That's not true!" protested Yuma. He could never in his wildest imagination picture Astral as one who would support the idea of destroying an entire world, let alone be the one assigned to carry it out.
Astral remained silent, stunned by Kotori's words. If Number 96 was lying just to scare him and make him and Yuma lose focus then it was working. What terrified him about such a concept was that due to his amnesia, he had no way of knowing what kind of person he was before he came to Earth. His mind was a blank slate wiped clean, so did the amnesia wipe away the ugliness of a monster?
Yuma shook off the shock of the question and used his confidence to stand back up to the supposed lie.
"I don't know what Number 96 is trying to pull, Kotori, but Astral is my friend and I know from the bottom of my heart that he would never do something like that! It's not true!"
"It's true!" a voice filled bitter cold and ice answered. Yuma felt dry in his throat as he discovered who said those words. He looked down from the platform to the stands and saw that Merag had stood up from her seat and walked directly next to the platform.
"What? Rio, I mean Merag! What are you saying?"
"I am saying he started this war!" She spat at the boy. "We Barians did our best to keep our own world from falling apart, but apparently the people of the Astral World blamed us for the same decay that was happening to their own world! They viewed us with hatred, thought of us as monsters, parasites who deserved to be exterminated, so the ruler, the so called will of the Astral World sent his most valuable soldier to the Barian World with the intent of wiping us out, but something went wrong and he ended up here instead! You think of us as the villains, Yuma? Well why don't you take a look at the so called friend of yours standing next to you! He is more of a monster than the Number you are dueling against!"
"But... I don't remember!" Astral responded, his words reeked of devastation and self-loathing. "Why would I even agree to do such a thing?"
"Ask the man that you called the will of the Astral World! Return to the Astral World and ask him yourself!"
Astral went silent again. Merag's words had rattled the very core of his being. It couldn't be. He couldn't have agreed to such a monstrous war tactic, and what was Merag referring to when she told him to ask "The Will of the Astral World?" How could he understand what would drive him to mass murder if he had no idea who that was? If his home was filled with people who would agree to such sinful practices, then did he even want to return there?
"Now you see, Yuma? You see that the heart of your so called best friend is just as black as mine!" Kotori relished the anguish of her master's arch enemy.
"I may have been a bad girl in the past few days, but what I have done pales in comparison to what Astral was going to do! Now you know he was never your friend! You don't need him anymore! You need me, and only me!"
Yuma finally found his voice, and with it, his courage. He didn't know what to think of Astral now. He would have to learn the truth of his origins and why he would agree to destroying the Barian world from this "Will of the Astral World", but he knew one thing was still true. Astral was not that person anymore. This Astral was his friend, a friend who learned kindness and peace from him, and together they would use the Numbers for the peace they both dreamed of.
"That wasn't the same Astral, Kotori. I don't know what he was like before I met him, but I suppose it took some memory loss to knock some sense into him! He's a new person now, a better person that the one he was before, and I believe in him!"
Astral gasped. His friend's words snapped him out of his mental paralysis and replaced his sorrow with the emotion reflected in his signature Number, Hope. Even if his own people rejected him for changing his ways into one that stood for peace, he would still have Yuma, his best friend and partner to the ends of the earth.
"Yuma... Thank you... for everything... I could not ask for a better friend..."
Merag narrowed her eyes as she walked back to her seat. Peace? What a ridiculous idea. She was way past the point of agreeing to any form of peace. The only end result she pictured was the destruction of Astral's home, the restoration of her home, and the heads of Tron, Vector, and Astral on spikes. By all the power she had within her, Astral World would freeze!
"Hmph! That loyalty of yours is pointless Yuma!" gloated Kotori. "Even if you do stand by Astral until the very end, it doesn't matter because this is the end! You lose, Yuma! Just end your turn so that small stopper can take the rest of your lifepoints! End your turn and take your place at my side! Surrender yourself to the mist and taste its delicious power!"
Yuma sighed as he made the final move of his turn.
"I end my turn... but not before doing this! My enchanted treasure sword has one more effect! Since it's in the Graveyard now, I can banish it from my Graveyard to destroy one Spell or Trap card on the field, so in order to keep myself in the game, I think I will destroy Small Stopper!"
"NO!" Kotori screamed. Her eye twitched and her temper reached nuclear levels of fury as she watched Yuma's sword reappear on the field and impale her trap card.
"Kotori, I said it once and I will say it again! I will not give up on you! I know the person you used to be is still in there, and I am going to fight tooth and nail to get Number 96 out of you and to get you back to the person you used to be! I'm not stopping until I do! Knock me down, and I will just get back up again to continue fighting! I'm not just fighting to stop Number 96! I'm fighting for you, Kotori, the real you! I set one card face down and end my turn."
Kotori grew angry again, angrier than she had ever been before. She was certain she could get Yuma to come to her side, and she still had no idea why he continued to refuse her. She was offering him everything he could ever want, power, respect, and the woman of his dreams, and yet his stubbornness and his stuck up sense of morality kept him from accepting her.
"I warned you that this would happen, Kotori." Number 96 spoke to her in her mind. "I told you he would never accept my power. It appears that maybe he does not feel the same way about you after all. Perhaps he never loved you, and he was toying with your feelings this whole time. You know what must be done now! He must be punished!"
Kotori felt her master's soothing words ease her broken heart. Yes, this was what she needed to do. If Yuma refused to love her, if Yuma refused to accept the truth that the path she had taken was the only way, then she would make him see, and in order to make him see, she would need to break him, destroy that pathetic Kattobingu spirit until there was nothing left but submissiveness and obedience. She could see her future in her grasp. In a matter of minutes he would be on his knees professing his devotion to her and calling her mistress.
"Fine then!" She said to Yuma. If that is the way you feel! If you refuse to accept me for who I am, If you refuse to stand by my side, then I will have to take you by force! You have no idea how big of a mistake you just made right now! You broke my heart, and now I am going to make you suffer for it! I draw!"
Kotori drew her card, and she immediately revealed it to her opponent. It was Rank Up Magic Barian's Force.
"I activate my own Rank Up Magic Spell Card, and unlike yours, there is no limit to it's power! I activate Rank Up Magic Barian's Force!"
"What?! Where did you get that card?!"
"Didn't you hear? They're giving these cards away like handouts to the poor! Now my lord and savior, Number 96! Feel the power of chaos course through your veins as you evolve into a Chaos Number and grant me the victory I deserve! Stop this infidel from taking this delicious power away from me!"
A new overlay network opened up in the sky directly above Kotori, and the abominable form of Black Mist rose from the tower into the portal. The portal pulsed with dark power, but when Kotori looked upward to see her evolved monster, all she could see was the blackness of the pit above. The clouds in the sky surrounded the portal, and lightning crackled in the air, but this lighting was as black as Number 96's body and carried the same aura of his cruelty.
"Well done, Kotori! I knew you would fulfill your usefulness to me! Now that I am finally at the peak of my strength once again, it is time you receive your reward!"
In that moment, Kotori was stuck by the black lightning, causing her to scream in agony as the power of chaos began to alter her body and further corrupt her mind. Her scream turned into a demonic roar as her voice deepened with each passing second. Her black dress rippled and soon changed shape, covering her entire body and transforming into body armor. Her teeth elongated into fangs and her nails turned the same chaotic red and extended into foot long claws. Small Barian jewels began to decorate across her new body as her arms and legs gained an incredible amount of muscle mass, and a pair of black bat wings sprouted out of her back. Finally, the eye of Number 96, bathed in fire, sprouted on her stomach, with a now blood red 96 shining with power and darkness on her left shoulder.
The newly transformed Kotori stared at her clawed hands in shock, speechless about her new form, but then to Yuma's confusion, she covered her face with her hands and started to cry.
"Kotori? Kotori is that really you? Come on! You can break free! I know you can!"
Yuma was hoping that this sudden emotional outburst meant that the real Kotori was fighting from within, but his hope turned to horror when a sudden change in pitch and tone revealed that she wasn't crying at all. She was laughing. It wasn't a maniacal cackle like he had heard before, but a playful and sinister giggle, like she was way too happy, which in context, was far more terrifying.
"Yuuuuuuuumaaaaaa... Yuuuuuumaaaa... Why do you deny me, Yuma?"
Her new deeper voice was soothing and alluring, but also coursing with darkness and poison, as if a cobra had been taught how to speak.
""K...K...K...Kotori?" Yuma stuttered.
Kotori grinned and removed her hands from her face. She let out a powerful cry of delight as she flexed her muscular arms and unfolded her wings, completely intoxicated by her master's gift.
"Kotori isn't here anymore, Yuma! Neither is Number 96! Now we are one! Now the power of the Barian World is ours to control! We are like a hurricane that destroys anything and anyone who gets in our way, and that's why we call ourselves CHAOS NUMBER 96: BLACK STORM!
The invocation of her new name conjured another lightning strike. The overlay network appeared again and Number 96 leaped out onto the battlefield on all fours. His own evolution had changed him into a quadrupedal creature with an elongated face, almost like a black crocodile's, with two curved red horns on either side. The two horns that used to make up the top of his previous body were now positioned on his back as a pair of crude, malformed wings. His whip-like tail struck the ground and his magenta claws dug into the earth. Two flickering embers of flame creeped open on his face, and two more much larger balls of fire burst open on each of his back knees, revealing his hellish eyes, the eyes of true evil.
Number C96: Black Storm: Rank 3/DARK/Fiend/1000 ATK/1000 DEF
"I warned you what would happen if you continued to reject me, Yuma Tsukumo! If you refuse to rule by my side as my love, then you can spend the rest of your days as my little toy! The only future you have is a future where I play with you every day until one day I break you! I will be denied what is rightfully mine no longer!"
"Now you see what I can truly accomplish with the Power of Number 96, and I will use that power to make you quiver in fear like a worm on a hook!"
"Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha! AH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!"
Author Made Cards:
Achacha Champion: Rank 3/FIRE/Warrior/2000 ATK/1800 DEF
2 Level 3 Monsters
Effect: Once per turn, you can detach 2 Xyz Materials from this card. Inflict 600 damage to your opponent for every Xyz Monster on the field. Then this card gains ATK equal to the damage inflicted until the End Phase of your opponent's next turn.
Demon Bird - Dark Eagle: Level 2/DARK/Winged-Beast/400 ATK/1400 DEF
Effect: When this card is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, banish this card and the monster that destroyed it. When this card is banished, you can banish one DARK Monster from your deck or send that monster from your deck to the Graveyard.
Demon Bird - Skull Macaw: Level 2/DARK/Winged-Beast/100 ATK/100 DEF
Effect: When your opponent Special Summons a monster from the Extra Deck, you can send this card from your hand to the Graveyard. Target that monster. If it attacks or activates its effect this turn, inflict damage to your opponent equal to its Level/Rank x 300
Ganbara Gate Keeper: Level 4/LIGHT/Warrior/1000 ATK/1200 DEF
Effect: When an opponent's monster declares an attack, you can discard this card from your hand. Special Summon one Warrior Type Monster from your deck in face up defense position. When you do, that monster gains 1000 DEF and it becomes the new target of the attack. You can banish this card from your Graveyard and if you do, you can Target one Warrior Type Monster you control. Declare a Level from 1-5. That monster becomes that Level.
Enchanted Treasure Sword: Equip Spell Card
Effect: Equip this card to one Warrior Type Monster you control. The equipped monster gains 500 ATK. When the equipped monster destroys an opponent's monster by battle, you can look at the top five cards of your deck. Add one of those cards to your hand and then shuffle the rest into your deck. If this card is in your Graveyard, you can banish this card. Target one Spell/Trap card your opponent controls. Destroy it.
Painful Banishment: Normal Trap Card
Effect: During your End Phase, if you took Damage this turn, activate the following effects in order depending on the Number of your Banished Cards.
5 or More: Gain Lifepoints Equal to the amount of Damage you took this turn
10 or More: You can Special Summon a Level 4 or Lower DARK Monster from your deck for every 1000 damage you took this turn.
15 or More: If you Special Summon a Monster from the Extra Deck using any of the monsters Special Summoned by this card's effect, it gains ATK equal to the amount of lifepoints you gained from this effect.
20 or More: Banish one Monster your opponent controls.
Authors Notes:
AND CLIFFHANGER!
Yuma... Kotori just went full Yandere! You should run for your life!
I was feeling really evil when I wrote this chapter, so when I remembered what Barian's Force did to Number 96 in the original anime, I was curious as to how that would work if Number 96 was possessing a host when he evolved into his chaos form, and the end result was what I just did to Kotori.
And... well... I may have drawn some inspiration from Venom from Spiderman when designing her new appearance in my head...
So what did you think of the chapter? Did you like it? Did you not like it? Are you excited for the conclusion to the duel which will be finished very soon? Whatever your opinion is, I would really like to hear it so leave a review and let me know!
Until Next Time, this is Nox Descious Signing Out!