Big thank you to Yuka Kuroshiro, Swift4Sweeper, Playerhood18, Ryujomaru15, ScalchopWarrior, AlissonJohns, aqua9597, StrikeDragoon, Yuarc V, Big duels, dvdryms, Citylover96, Leafeon12, Guest, ThePsychoPath96, Lord Yuri, Shadow for reviewing the previous chapter~!
I'm not feeling very well lately, so the schedule for update will be changed quite a bit for the time being. Sorry.
Hope you'll enjoy reading this chapter :D
DUEL PARK – ACADEMIA – FUSION DIMENSION
The Academia soldiers didn't know what to say. Now they were confused as to what to do from now on as any little faith they have left for Academia and the Professor has completely ceased to be. They always believed that making a utopia through ARC Area Project was their purpose in life, and now that purpose was crushed together with their trust.
"We, soldiers, must obey our superior's order. But to be honest…right now we are confused who we must trust…" A male Academia soldier said.
"Trust yourselves." Gongenzaka told them. "Believer in yourself and make your own decision that will never same yourself."
The Academia soldiers were speechless, no one said a word and were only looking at each other, still unsure of what to do. Now that they thought about it, the never really made their own decision. The were simply following orders given to them. Now that their trust in the Professor has shattered, this will be the first time they truly making their own decision.
"The answer is already obvious for me." Edo said while slowly standing up with the help of his subordinates, a hand on his head as he felt quite dizzy that was most likely the after effect of being controlled by the parasite.
"Edo!" Dennis exclaimed.
"Commander-in-Chief!" A female Academia student exclaimed.
Edo looked at his hand with quite a sad face. "Ever since my Duel against Yuya, I actually already realized what I truly wanted to do." He clenched his palm, finally making his decision.
"Both Yusho and Yuya are right. I won't use Dueling like the way Academia has taught me anymore. I will stop ARC Area Project." Edo declared, making his intention very clear to everybody present, which of course, shocked them that they were lost at words.
"I am aware that by doing this I will betray the Professor. But I will follow the path that I believe is right. For that then…" Edo discarded his cloak that was the symbol of the Professor's trust in him, abandoning his post as Commander-in-Chief of Academia.
"I will gladly bear the name of a traitor." Edo knew he won't regret this decision, not later, never he will. He finally remembered his love for Dueling itself, the Dueling that connected him to his precious memories with his father, just like the way Yusho and Yuya does.
"Everyone, listen!" Edo faced his former subordinates. "We were following the ARC Area Project but, instead we were comitting act of invasion. That is in contradiction to our utopia. So I would like to abolish that plan now and stop the Professor."
Edo onestly felt relieved now that he threw away his position as Commander-in-Chief. It felt like all the weight he had carried ever since he stepped foot in Acaemia has been lifted just now. He won't lie to his own heart anymore. He will walk his own path and nothing else, for his own Dueling.
"This is not an order. If you do not agree with my beliefs you may leave this place. This is my own personal request; lend me your strength to right the wrong we have done."
The first step for Edo would be atoning his sins. It won't be easy, and he was sure the people whom he had inflicted suffering upon won't forgive him so easily and he won't ask nor expect them to forgive him as he felt he deserves it, but even so he will do his best to restore their homeland and happiness, and this time create a true peace for everyone.
Everyone stared hard at Edo. Gongenzaka, in particular, was so touched that he nearly has waterfall tears. The former Commander-in-Chief just earned his respect. The Academia soldiers looked at each other before a smile formed on their faces. One by one, each of them, in similar manner as Edo, discarded the Academia jacket they were wearing. They have made the same decision as well.
"Well said, Edo!" Dennis said as he pat Edo's back.
"Yusho-san and Yuya will surely be happy to hear this!" Gongenzaka stated. He couldn't wait to tell everything to Yuya.
Serena clasped her palms to get their attention. "Now that everything is settled, let's go. Take us to where Yuya and the Professor are." She demanded to the former Commander-in-Chief.
Edo nodded, typing his Duel Disk. "Sanders has changed the structure of most of the academy, but I have a map that automatically change in accordance to the structure changes. We won't get lost as long as I have this." Edo showed the entire map of Academia from his Duel Disk screen to the Lancers.
"Changing the structure of Academia? So that's why the floors, ceilings, walls and all were…" Gongenzaka recalled what happened when they were split up from everyone else.
"We don't have much time to waste. Let's split up again. Edo and I will go to where Yuya is imprisoned. Dennis and Gongenzaka, you'll go to the Professor's chamber." Serena told them.
"Got it. Let's stay in contact with each other. You guys, go escort these two to the Professor's place. I have sent the map to all of you." Edo told five former students to guide Dennis and Gongenzaka.
"The six of you will come with me to escort Serena to where Yuya is." Edo told four former students beside him and Serena.
"The rest of you will stay here and keep an eye on Noro. He still has the Parasite in his brain, so make sure not to let him go." Edo told the remaining four students to guard the still unconscious Noro whom they started to tie up.
"Let's go!"
With that, the two groups set off to their respective destination.
PASSAGE – ACADEMIA – FUSION DIMENSION
Yuzu abruptly opened her eyes and gasped, awakened from her strange dream. Or was it really a dream? This wasn't the first time she saw it. Also, the dragons that the boy mentioned, those were Odd-Eyes, Dark Rebellion, Clear Wing, and Starve Venom. They were Yuya and his look-alikes' dragons. Why did he had it? Could it be that these dreams were actually connected to the mysteries behind her, Yuya, and people who shared same faces as them like Yuto and Serena explained before they got here?
"What's wrong? Your face is pale."
Yuzu turned to face Yuya…no, the other Yuya, and it took her quite a surprise that she shuddered. Seeing Yuzu sweating so much, Reira offered her a handkerchief, but she gently refused with a weak smile. When she made an eye contact with Yuya, she quickly looked away.
"N-no… I'm fine…" Yuzu told Yuya and Reira without looking at either of them.
Yuya frowned at her apparent attempt on avoiding him. As he thought, she was still angry at him.
"I guess it has to be Yuya…" Yuya murmured quietly. He sighed softly before closing his eyes and stayed silent in his position before slowly opening his eyes with confused expression.
"Yuzu, what's wrong? Are you okay?" Yuya asked as he gently held Yuzu's shoulder.
"Yuya?! You're back to normal?!" Yuzu quickly turned to him again while covering her mouth. Tears started to form in her eyes. She was relieved that Yuya didn't disappear. He was here now.
Yuya scratched his head. "Yeah. Sorry to make you worry. But never mind me, are you okay?" He asked again in concern.
"…I…I'm…" Yuzu hesitated to tell Yuya. He already has a lot of problem to think, so will it be okay to tell hers? She didn't want to worry him again, even if this dream most likely connected to them.
"I'm okay. Really. Let's just continue our way. We don't have time to waste." Yuzu swiftly changed the subject, standing up from the floor which prompted Yuya and Reira to do the same. However, before they could make a step, Yuya grasped her lef wrist.
"Don't lie to me. I know something is wrong." Yuya told her as he tightened his grip on her wrist and his eyes clearly saying he won't let go until she tell him what's bothering her. "Don't keep it to yourself. Me and Reira are here. You can count on us."
"Yuya…" Yuzu was touched. His honest and kind gaze made her unable to look away. Now that she thought about it, whether in the past or present, she can't say no to those eyes because it always assures her that everything will be all right with Yuya by her side.
"Recently I've been dreaming." Yuzu started, finally relented to Yuya. "I've been dreaming about a girl and a boy. I think they are connected to both of us and the others who have the same face as us."
Listening to Yuzu's story, Yuya frowned as it reminded him of his, Yuto, and Serena's dreams. "By a chance, is the boy in your dream has the four dragons that I, Yuto, Yugo, and Yuri have?" Yuya asked.
"How do you know?" Yuzu blinked in surprise.
"I'm also experiencing the same dream recently. Not just me, but also Yuto and Serena." Yuya revealed, surprising his childhood friend more.
"Yuto and Serena too? Then the two people in our dreams are related to us after all. But what is it…" Yuzu placed her fingers in her chin in wonder.
"I'm wondering the same thing." Yuya shrugged before turning serious again, asking the point. "But this is not what bothering you isn't it?"
"I came face to face with the girl in my dream. I can't really explain it so well but, I felt that she's trying to take over my body… I-I think she's living inside me." Yuzu held herself as her body was trembling with dread.
Yuya and Reira looked at each other with their brows raised. "Living inside you? Are you sure it's not just a dream?" Yuya asked to make sure it wasn't just Yuzu who was being paranoid.
Yuzu shook her head, eyeing Yuya pleadingly. "No. It felt so real. And I also have this strange feeling within me after that dream. You also has that other self inside you, right? So I don't think it can't happen to me…"
"My other self is a different matter." Yuya interjected. "But there is this pitch black darkness inside me that has took over my body several times." He said while placing his hand on his chest.
"Pitch black darkness? It's not your other self?" Yuzu tilted her head a bit.
"No. I'm sure that this darkness is not my other self. In fact my other self has been trying to stop the darkness from taking over my body." Yuya recalled the time when Mieru warned him about the dark shadow inside him that was trying to take control of him and Yuto.
"He does?" Yuzu was purely surprised. She had thought that it was the other Yuya who was responsible for making the real Yuya to Duel so violently. But in reality the other Yuya was doing the opposite, which was strange after his violent display before.
"Yeah. Now enough about me, we're talking about you." Yuya quickly returned to the subject at hand, worrying for Yuzu.
"…I'm scared…" Yuzu's body was trembling even more. "What if I lose myself? What if this girl take over my body and I disappear–"
Yuzu didn't get to finish her words as Yuya grabbed her dainty hand and pulled her to him. While Yuya's left hand let go of her hand, his right hand was holding her head gently. Yuzu's face instantly became almost as red as Yuya's hair and her body stiffened in confusion on what to do. Meanwhile, Reira, who has been watching them, simply stared with passive eyes and an 'O' mouth.
"You idiot." Yuya said.
"I-idot?" Yuzu repeated in surprise by the sudden rough vocabulary.
"Stop thinking and saying stupid things like that. Because that will never happen." Yuya told his scared childhood friend.
"Y-Yuya?" Yuzu stuttered, still taken aback by the sudden intimate movement from her tomato-haired childhood friend. Well, they actually hugged each other when they were finally reunited in City, but this and that was a different situation. Although she was quite happy with this.
Feeling Yuzu's stiff body, Yuya gently pulled away from her and smiled kindly. "Anyway, it's okay. I give you my word. I'll protect you no matter what. Be it Academia, Leo Akaba, or this person inside you, I won't let any of them taking you away."
"Yuya…" Yuzu couldn't help but smile as well. Miraculously her earlier worries disappeared after hearing Yuya's assuring words. "Thanks. I'll be okay now."
Footsteps alerted the three of them. True enough, Academia soldiers appeared from the other side of the passage they were heading to. They activated their Duel Disks, preparing to face another group of their enemies.
"Let's get this over with."
AQUARION – ACADEMIA – FUSION DIMENSION
Yugo, Rin, Sawatari, and Jack were walking in what it seemed to be another harbor as there were many small boats and ships, one even resembled a pirate ship with its skull flag and made from woods as oppose to the other ships. Keyword walking, since Rin has destroyed hers and Yugo's D-Wheel while being brainwashed, Jack decided to leave his D-Wheel until they completed their mission, parking it in a safe place where it won't be easily found. If by a chance the Academia did found it and touched it, the former King swear he will make them see the end of their lives.
Rin didn't talk much throughout their walk despite Yugo and Sawatari's attempt. She was still shocked and guilty for what she had done when she was brainwashed. She carded Asuka who came to save her, she destroyed the D-Wheel that she and Yugo had built together that carried the hope and wishes they put into, and she hurt Yugo. She did understand that kept lamenting over this won't get her nowhere. She must focus on saving Yuya so he can change Asuka back. That was the only thing she can do now for the older girl to atone.
Thinking about Yuya, it reminded her of her own promise. When Yuya saved her she kneed him on his stomach so strong that he crouched in pain and she promised to make it up by doing it right on Yugo next time. Due to everything that happened, she didn't get a chance to do it. This maybe not really the right time, but before she forgets…
"Yugo, come over here for a second. In full speed." Rin asked Yugo after taking several steps back away from him. Yugo didn't ask and just do what she said because she finally talked after being quiet. And so, Yugo ran at her in full speed and received a hard knee on his stomach with Sawatari and Jack gave a sympathetic look to Yugo from the side.
"Wha…what was…that…for…?" Yugo said weakly while holding his stomach.
"With this my debt to Yuya has been repaid." Rin said with satisfaction.
"Debt?" Sawatari sweatdropped.
"Well, you see, when Yuya saved me I mistook him as Yugo and did the same thing to him. When I realized he was not Yugo, I made up my mind to make it right this time." Rin explained. Now that she has made right of her previous mistake, she has no regret regarding Yuya. Yugo, Sawatari, and Jack couldn't help but also felt sorry for Yuya.
"In what…part…this…kind of…thing is…repaying…debt…?" Yugo objected. He complained why he got this after he saved her.
"Besides, Yugo, I heard from Yuya you did reckless things again. I also have a strong feeling that you did something without delicacy to other girls. Really, you always like that! I told you…" Rin started to scold Yugo who was sitting in seiza style. Sawatari and Jack won't make any comment and only wish Yugo good luck on winning over Rin's heart.
"Hey! Look over there!" Sawatari pointed at a four stories rectangular glass-like building at the cliff.
"Maybe it's some kind of storage." Jack commented. The design was very different from the academy.
"Let's go check it out. We might find something there. Come on!" Sawatari suggested. Not waiting for reply, he dashed towards the building.
"Wait! We don't know what's in there!" Jack warned as he chased after Sawatari with Rin and Yugo following in tow (Yugo has recovered).
When they entered, they were surprised to find the whole floor completely empty and there were big holes at the ceilings connected until the top floor.
"What the heck is this? There is nothing here." Sawatari scratched his head, disappointed that nothing seems able to help them in any way.
"Then let's–"
Before they could think to leave, the entrance was suddenly shut tight and the whole building was shaking. For a moment they thought it was an earthquake, but they were quickly proven wrong when the whole building moved down under the sea. Due to the building's transparent walls, they could see various sea creatures and corals like in an aquarium.
"Welcome to Aquarion, Lancers!"
The looked up to see a light brown braided hair man in pirate clothes that consisted of purple jacket, white shirt underneath, red pants, brown boots, and most notably a red pirate hat with skull insignia and two furs.
"Who the hell are you, cosplayer?!" Sawatari questioned the man.
"Who the hell you called cosplayer?! I am the one and only Duel Pirate Captain Solo!" The so-called pirate introduced himself with annoyance at being called a cosplayer.
"I guess even Academia has a Duelist with such peculiar taste…" Rin commented with a sweat drop at Solo's self-introduction.
"That means that pirate ship we saw earlier must be belongs to him." Yugo added, remembering the most stood out ship they saw.
"You called this place Aquarion. Care to explain about it?" Jack questioned Solo, uncaring whether he was a real pirate or not. He just wanted to be done with this.
"To put it simply, this place is a water tank. This will be our Duel Field" Solo gestured his two subordinates, prompting them to press red buttons on the remotes they were holding. As they did so, two small holes opened at the ceilings of the top floor, allowing the sea water to start filling the building.
"W-what do you think you're doing?! Are you planning to drown all of us including yourself?!" Sawatari looked at Solo with eyes saying that he has gone mad.
"This top floor acts like a tank and water kept raining down to the lower floors. When the water rises to a predetermined level, then a ferocious sea beast would be released." Solo pointed at the outside of the wall. Following his hand, the Lancers were greeted with the sight of a huge hungry white shark waiting outside.
"A shark?!" Sawatari stayed away from the wall in fear. His face paled and mouth gaping wide. "S-s-seriously?! Are you saying we're gonna be eaten if we lose this Duel?!"
"That's right! Either you'll be drowned to death or eaten by shark! The only way out is to win this Duel!" Solo said with a laugh while his two underlings staring mockingly at them.
"So you bastards will go this far to stop us!" Yugo glared angrily at Solo and his two underlings. "Bring it on, then! Don't blame us if you're the ones who get eaten!"
"I already expected for a real battlefield to be like this. But you guys who spoke so easily of taking human lives without a care of the burden you will carry, is something that I cannot let slide!" Jack was disgusted by Solo. They were able to act like taking people's life was the same as a game. These guys didn't know nor care how big the burden of life is. The only way to make them understand would be drive them to the edge of their lives.
"I won't let you get away with this!" Rin has steeled her resolve.
{FIELD SPELL: CROSS OVER}
[DUEL!]
"My Turn! From my hand I activate Magic Card: Fusion! I Fuse Pirate Ship Skullblood and Skull Knight! O Ship with red skull of the Demon world! Knight of skull lurking in the darkness! Now become one, and call forth the legendary pirate! Fusion Summon! Come forth! Captain Lock (ATK: 0 / DEF: 0 / LV: 6)!" Solo immediately summoned his ace Monster.
"A Monster with 0 ATK and DEF? What is he thinking summoning that kind of Monster?" Sawatari raised his brows in wonder.
"As long as Captain Lock is on the Field, neither player can Summon or Set Monsters from hand." Solo revealed his Monster's Effect.
"What?! We can't summon Monsters from our hands?!" Sawatari exclaimed in dismay, having planned to perform his usual Pendulum Summon in his Turn.
"Now you can't even perform the Pendulum Summon you're so pride of!" Solo laughed arrogantly with his underlings. "But I'll tell you this, if there's a Monster with 1000 or more ATK on the Field, Captain Lock will be destroyed. If you can that is."
"Damn it! How the hell can we summon a Monster not from hand?!" Sawatari protested. There are ways to summon Monsters other than from hand, but doing that itself was no easy feat as they usually requires either Monster Effects or Spell or Trap Cards.
"Good luck on finding out!" Solo jumped to a platform and picked an Action Card.
"Action Magic: Power Crystal! I increase Captain Lock's ATK to 800!" Solo added an ATK to his Monster, making its current ATK 800. "I Set 1 card and end my Turn. Show me what you can do in this situation, Lancers!"
"My Turn! During either player's Turn, I can send Red Gardna (ATK: 0 / DEF: 2000 / LV: 4) from my hand to the Graveyard." Jack sent Red Gardna to his Graveyard.
"I activate Magic Card: Red Reborn! I can Special Summon 1 Red Monster in my Graveyard!" Jack Special Summoned Red Gardna that he just sent to the Graveyard. Since it was summoned from the Graveyard, Captain Lock's Effect didn't work.
"Next I activate Equip-Spell: Engrave Soul Light! I can make all Monsters my opponent controls with ATK higher than the equipped Monster becomes equal to the equipped Monster's ATK until the end of this Turn!" Jack equipped the card to Red Gardna, making Captain Lock's ATK reduced to its original 0 ATK.
"I Set 1 card and end my Turn." Jack finished his Turn.
"Tsk. So you have that kind of trick under your sleeve. Not bad, but you're just delaying your defeat!" Solo told Jack while jumping to another platform.
"Action Magic: Fire Crystal! I inflict 600 damage to you!" Solo pointed at Sawatari. "This is your punishment for calling me cosplayer!"
Sawatari quickly jumped to his side, barely dodging the flame coming at him. He splashed into the water that slowly filling the floor, causing his body to become all wet.
SAWATARI LP: 4000 = 3400
"What's wrong with calling a cosplayer, cosplayer!" Sawatari retorted.
"Action Magic: Flame Crystal! I inflict 600 damage to you!"
Everyone turned to see Rin activating the same Action Card that Solo just used. She gave the effect at Solo as her target, inflicting the same damage as the Duel Pirate did to Sawatari.
CAPTAIN SOLO LP: 4000 = 3400
"Way to go, Rin!" Yugo cheered.
"I've wanted to use this Action Card I've heard about. It does come in handy." Rin said with amazement.
"Why you little girl…!" Solo grumbled as the flame hit him. He turned to his two underlings. "What are you two doing just standing over there?! Do as we planned!"
"Roger, Captain!" Solo's two underlings said together, returning to their post.
"I'm gonna make you into the shark feed, cosplayer!" Sawatari decreed as he started his Draw Phase. He did say that and meant every word of it, but he really has nothing that can help him to summon any Monster not from his hand.
"Damn! I Set 2 cards!" After setting two cards Sawatari jumped to a platform to take an Action Card. However before he could reach it, he was pushed away by water coming from above. When he looked up, Solo's underlings were holding what looked like a fire hose.
"Heheheh…You can try to get Action Card, but we'll stop you." The underling with eyepatch on his left eye said.
"And you better hurry if you don't want to drown. But that is if you can." The underling with bandana said, pointing at the rising water level in the floor the Lancers were at.
"Ugh…! I end my Turn…!" Sawatari reluctantly ended his Turn.
"This is bad. We have to jump to the upper floor." Rin remarked as the water started reaching her thighs. Before starting her Draw Phase, she prayed that the card she drew will help them getting out of this situation.
"My Turn!" Rin looked at the card she drew and sighed in relief.
"I activate Magic Card: Wind Witch Flow! I send two Wind Witch Monsters in my hand to Special Summon Wind Witch – Flake Bell (ATK: 500 / DEF: 500 / LV: 4)!" Rin summoned a female witch-like Monster wearing the same outfit as Ice Bell but it has long braided hair and carried a crystal staff instead of a wand.
"Such a puny Monster. Still nothing against my Captain Lock!" Solo gloated as he saw Rin's Monster.
"I activate Flake Bell's Effect! I can inflict damage to my opponent equal to the total ATKs of Wind Witch Monsters in my Graveyard!" She has sent Ice Bell with 1000 ATK and Snow Bell with 100 ATK, making the total damage that Solo will receive is 1100 damage. Similarly as Ice Bell, Flake Bell twirled its staff to create a tornado of wind that inflicts damage to the Duel Pirate.
CAPTAIN SOLO LP: 3400 = 2300
"This puny Monster has a wonderful Effect." Rin told Solo with a smile. She sat on the back of Flake Bell's broom and then flew to the next floor. "I Set 1 card and end my Turn."
Rin looked down at the boys below her. "Hang on everyone! I'll have Flake Bell to carry you one by one! Just be careful!" She told them as she told her Flake Bell to first carry her childhood friend to her side.
"Thanks Rin! My Turn! I Set 1 card." Yugo set a card in Spell-Trap Zone.
"Starting your Turn by Setting a card?" Solo looked at Yugo with confusion.
"I activate Magic Card: Speedraw! If I control no cards, I can Draw 2 cards and then send 1 Speedroid Monster from my hand to Graveyard!" Yugo drew 2 cards and sent Speedroid Red-Eyed Dice to his Graveyard.
"I activate another Magic Card: Speed Rebirth! I Special Summon a Speedroid Monster in my Graveyard!" Yugo summoned Red-Eyed Dice he just sent to the Graveyard, doing the same thing as Jack.
"I end my Turn." Yugo concluded.
"I won't let you get to the upper floors!" Solo told Yugo and the others as he started his Turn. He picked an Action Card. "I activate Action Magic: Power Crystal! I increase Captain Lock's ATK by 800!" Solo powered up Captain Lock's ATK to 1600.
"I activate Continuous Magic Card: Grand Naval Battle! Any Battle Damage inflict by WATER-Element Monster I control will be doubled! Go! I attack Red Gardna with Captain Lock!" Solo targeted Jack's Monster. Captain Lock jumped down, its blade pointed at Red Gardna that moved to shield Jack.
"Trap Card: King Scarlet! If a Red Monster I control would be destroyed by Battle, my Monster cannot be destroyed by that Battle!" Jack opened his face-down card. Scarlet flames covered Jack and Red Gardna, protecting them though Jack still took damage.
JACK LP: 4000 = 800
"After damage calculation I can Special Summon King Scarlet as a Normal Monster (ATK: 0 / DEF: 0 / LV: 1)." Jack Special summoned King Scarlet to his Field though still treated as a Trap Card.
"Don't think I'm finished!" Solo picked an Action Card and activated it.
"Action Magic: Wonder Chance! I can attack one more time! This is the end for you!" Solo directed Captain Lock to attack Red Gardna again.
"Not so fast! Action Magic: Evasion! I negate the attack!" Sawatari said after emerging from the water. Following this, Red Gardna evaded Captain Lock's sword.
Solo angrily looked at his subordinates. "You! Didn't I tell you to stop them from getting any Action Card!" He yelled at the two flinching crews.
"B-but we didn't see him jumping or running to take an Action Card!" The underling with eyepatch said in defense.
Sawatari laughed quietly. "I took it from under the water. Figured you can't stop me with that fire hose of yours if I went underwater." He explained while pointing down at the water that now has reached his waist.
"It's only a matter of time before you guys drown! I Set 2 cards and end my Turn!" Solo concluded.
"Wait a second Sawatari! I'll carry you now!" Rin directed her Flake Bell to carry Sawatari now. The Wind Witch Monster was about to do so, but water shots from Solo's underlings' fire hose got in her way, which followed by Captain Lock standing between the witch and the two Lancers below.
"As if we'll just let you!" Solo told Rin and Yugo.
"Don't worry about us, Rin!" Jack told the girl. "I'll destroy his Monster in this Turn!"
"Getting rid of my Captain Lock? What a funny bluff you say there! You maybe able to summon your Monsters by sending and then summoning them from Graveyard, but my Captain Lock is still stronger!" Solo said as he activated another Action Card that he just pick to increase Captain Lock's ATK again by 800, making its current ATK 2400.
Jack narrowed his eyes at Solo, glaring so intensely that Solo flinched from his glare. "As I thought. Someone like you who treat life like a bottles on a shelf has no right to call yourself a Duelist!"
"I activate Magic Card: Red Support! When I have 2 or more Red Monsters on my Field, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Red Monster from my Deck!" Jack Special summoned Brutal Red (ATK: 1000 / DEF: 1000 / LV: 3) from his Deck.
"I Tune Red Gardna and Brutal Red with King Scarlet! The heaven and earth shall tremble before the king's might. Let the power of the one and only supreme ruler be carved into your soul! Synchro Summon! The savage soul, Red Daemon's Dragon Scarlight (ATK: 3000 / DEF: 2500 / LV: 8)!" Jack finally summoned his ace Monster.
"Due to Captain Lock's Effect! It will be destroyed since I summoned a Monster with ATK higher than 1000!" Jack pointed at the Fusion Monster that destroyed itself as Jack summoned his dragon.
"Sorry to say but I already have anticipation for this! Trap Card: Deadman Pirates! I can Special Summon Captain Lock from my Graveyard with its Effect negated!" Solo summoned back his Monster.
"And then due to Deadman Pirates' Effect, I can equip a Monster from my Graveyard and add its ATK to Captain Lock!" Solo equipped Pirate Ship Skullblood, making the Fusion Monster's ATK 1600. He then jumped for Action Card.
"I activate Action Card: Bi-Attack! I double Captain Lock's ATK!" Solo increased his ace Monster's ATK to 3200. "Now my Monster is stronger than yours!"
Jack simply smiled, undeterred. He hopped onto Scarlight's hand, directing his dragon to take Sawatari as well with them. The dragon brought its master his friends to the top floor where Solo and his underlings were with Rin and Yugo in tow. On their way up, Jack grabbed an Action Card and activate it.
"I activate Action Magic: Power Crystal! Increase Scarlight's ATK by 800!" Jack changed Scarlight's ATK to 3800. "I activate Scarlight's Effect! Once per Turn I can destroy as many Special Summoned Monsters on the Field with ATK lower than or equal to its ATK and inflict 500 damage to my opponents for each Monster destroyed! Absolute Power Flame!"
Red Daemon's Dragon Scarlight crushed the ground with its fist of flames, burning the entire floor and destroyed Captain Lock, Flake Bell, and Red-Eyed Dice. Three Monsters destroyed, the dragon inflicted 1500 damage to Solo, and consequently also to Rin, Yugo, and Sawatari. In addition, the attack also caused most parts of the floor to crumble, forcing them to ride on Scarlight while Solo and his crew's side still have save floor to stand on.
SAWATARI LP: 3400 = 1900
RIN LP: 4000 = 2500
YUGO LP: 4000 = 2500
CAPTAIN SOLO LP: 2300 = 800
"Good! He has no Monster on his Field now! Finish them off, Jack!" Sawatari cheered as he felt victory right on the palm of their hands.
"You don't need to tell me! I attack directly with–"
"No you don't!" Solo interjected as he opened his other face-down card.
"Trap Card: Parley! I can Special Summon Captain Lock from my Graveyard with the same condition as the last time it was destroyed and the Battle Phase is skip!" Solo revived his ace Monster again and stopped Scarlight before it could attack.
"As stubborn as a cockroach. I end my Turn." Jack commented, causing the Duel Pirate to fuming.
"Who are you calling cockroach?! That's it! I will finish you, all of you on my next Turn!" Solo yelled, reaching the limit of his patience.
"You think I'm gonna let you get another Turn? Now that your Captain Lock's Effect has been negated, I can show my super ultra strong Duel!" Sawatari began his Turn again, taking out his Pendulum Cards.
"With Scale 1 Devil Heel and Scale 8 Funky Comedian, I Set the Pendulum Scale! With this I can simultaneously Summon Level 2 to 7 Monsters! Pendulum Summon! Appear!" Sawatari summoned Big Star (ATK: 2500 / DEF: 1800 / LV: 7) and Wild Hope (ATK: 1600 / DEF: 1200 / LV: 4) both in Attack Position.
"So this is the infamous Pendulum Summon. But I'll say this again, it still doesn't match with my Captain Lock!" Solo reminded his Monster's more superior ATK.
"You'll see." Sawatari grinned smugly. "I activate Equip-Spell: Abyss Costume – Sword of Valiant! I increase Big Star's ATK by 300!" Sawatari increased Big Star's ATK to 2800.
"Next I activate Funky Comedian's Pendulum Effect! I can add an Abyss Actor Monster into the Extra Deck and add that Monster's ATK to the Monster that I control until the end of Turn!" Sawatari sent Wild Hope into Extra Deck and added its ATK into Big Star, making its current ATK 4400.
"Battle! I attack Captain Lock with Big Star!" Sawatari declared Battle Phase, sending Big Star at the Fusion Monster.
"I activate Parley's Effect! I banish it from my Graveyard to negate destruction and any Battle Damage is reduced to 0 for the rest of this Turn!" Solo banished his Trap Card, allowing Captain Lock to block Big Star's sword with its own and deflected it.
"Urgh! I was so close!" Sawatari cursed.
They were interrupted when a loud sound came from below with a shake. They looked to the lower floors and found the earlier white shark has broken through the wall from a crack caused by Scarlight's appearance. Not to forget the water level will soon reach the top floor they were standing. They needed to end this Duel fast before the shark has the chance to jump at them.
"I have to end this quickly. We will get out of here, save Yuya, and go back home together!" Rin started her Draw Phase, drawing a card. However, the card she drew surprised her.
"Fusion?!" Rin shouted in her mind. "Why do I– No, that's right, I've only checked my Graveyard and Extra Deck. I didn't check my Main Deck…so they also put this card inside my Deck…"
Rin was confused now. She couldn't do anything with this card. Even if she can, using the enemy's Summoning Method was just…
"I can't be so narrow-minded."
Rin abruptly widened her eyes as she started recalling her conversation with Yuya. It happened before the Tyler Sisters came into the room. They shared a little bit about their Decks, and one of the cards that Yuya showed her was a Fusion Monster.
"Why do you use your enemies' Summoning Method?" Rin couldn't help but ask.
"When I first performed Fusion Summon, I didn't know about the other dimensions." Yuya answered.
"But even after knowing that you still using it?" She asked again, curious.
"I can't be so narrow-minded. Just because the enemies are using Fusion, then I mustn't use Fusion because that will make me the same as them. That kind of thinking is not right. Don't you think so?" Yuya asked Rin back about her opinion in this matter.
"If you say it that way, you're not wrong. We can't just judge people by the Summoning Methods they are using." Rin voiced her agreement.
"Besides, the ones who are wrong are the Duelists who are misusing Fusion. The Fusion Summoning itself it's not bad. Not just Fusion, all Summoning Methods, they are not wrong or bad. We are the ones who must use them properly."
Rin's eyes softened at the Fusion card in her hand. Yuya was right. The Fusion Summon itself wasn't bad or wrong. Using it won't make her a bad person or anything. For what purpose and the way she use the Summoning Method are what determine the kind of person she is. As long as she's using this without hurting anyone, everything will be all right.
"Thank you…Yuya…" Rin murmured. Without anyone realizing, her bracelet was glowing dim and light came out from her Extra Deck.
"I activate Wind Witch Flow's Effect! If the Wind Witch Monster that was summoned using this card's Effect was destroyed, I can Special Summon the Wind Witch Monsters that I sent to Graveyard due to this card's Effect!" Rin Special Summoned Ice Bell and Snow Bell in Attack Position.
"And then from my hand, I activate Magic Card: Fusion!" Rin revealed the Fusion card in her hand before placing it on the zone, shocking everyone.
"Rin is using Fusion again?!" Yugo exclaimed in shock and disbelief.
"I thought she's not brainwashed anymore!" Sawatari added, equally surprised.
"I Fuse Ice Bell and Snow Bell! Winds of winter, snow and ice! Become one and intensify the ringing bells that blow everything away! Fusion Summon! Level 5, Wind Witch – Blizzard Bell (ATK: 2000 / DEF: 900 / LV: 5)!" Rin summoned a Monster that resembles Crystal Bell but the floral purple crystal under its body was replaced with pure white snowflakes-shaped crystal and the three antennas behind its head were replaced with wings made of ice. The purple colored motives on its body became green colored.
"T-this is not Crystal Bell. It's a brand new Monster…!" Yugo was astonished and mesmerized by the new Fusion Monster. It was nothing like the sinister Crystal Bell. This Monster only by its look felt representing a part of Rin.
"Academia is your enemy but yet you Fusion. Don't you have any shame?" Solo said with mocking tone.
Rin looked sharply at Solo. "Fusion doesn't solely belong to Academia. Also, the one who should be ashamed is you, who use this wonderful Summoning Method, for hurting and trampling on people's hearts!" She said firmly.
"Yuya taught me, that the Fusion Summoning itself is not wrong. The one who is wrong is the person who misuses it for his own gain and hurt people in the process." Rin jumped onto her Blizzard Bell. She then pointed her finger at Solo and his underlings.
"I will teach you guys the right way to use Fusion Summon!" Rin decreed with confident smile. She then turned to Yugo.
"Sorry Yugo. But I'm going to end this now. You don't mind, right?" Rin gave Yugo an apologetic smile.
Yugo smiled wide, proud at her. "No problem! Show him you power, Rin!" Yugo whole-heartedly gave his support.
"Battle! I attack Captain Lock with Blizzard Bell!" Rin declared Battle Phase, prompting Blizzard Bell to chime, unleashing blizzard from the snowflakes crystal towards Captain Lock.
"Fool! Captain Lock's ATK is higher!" Solo reminded.
"I activate Blizzard Bell's Effect! I can lower the ATK of my opponent's Monster equal to the total ATKs of the Wind Witch Monsters used as Blizzard Bell's Fusion Materials!" Rin decreased Captain Lock's ATK from 3200 to 2000. Knowing it's still a tie, Rin jumped to a nearest platform, barely grabbed the Action Card before holding onto Blizzard Bell again.
"Action Magic: Power Crystal! I increase Blizzard Bell's ATK by 800!" Rin increased Crystal Bell's ATK to 2800.
"This is the end!" Rin declared as Blizzard Bell's attack hit Captain Lock, freezing its body until it became an ice statue before it shattered into pieces.
CAPTAIN SOLO LP: 800 = 0
The floor where Solo and his underlings were standing cracked and finally fell apart from the attack. They fell while crying for their lives as the shark was opening its mouth, ready to swallow them whole. Before it could, however, Yugo and Sawatari caught Solo's underlings by their legs while riding on Scarlight while Rin caught Solo by his wrist. Scarlight opened a path for them by destroying the top ceiling. Everyone held their grip tight until they finally came out from the sea.
"I-I thought I'm gonna die…" Solo said in fear as he looked down.
"We'll give you times for introspection." Rin told him as she has Blizzard Bell to stop at Solo's pirate ship and dropped him there, which Yugo and Sawatari did the same to his underlings. Scarlight then broke the anchor attaching it to the harbour, making it set sail. To stop them from chasing after them again for a while, Rin ordered Blizzard Bell to freeze the ship's wheel, leaving them to sail indefinitely. Solo and his underlings' protests was the last thing they heard before landing back to the ground.
"Land! Land!" Sawatari kissed the ground dramatically. He didn't want to go to the sea for a while.
"You did a great job, Rin." Jack praised the girl.
"It was only thanks to Yuya that I can do this. I have to thank him later." Rin responded with a tinge of pink out of embarrassment.
"That Fusion Monster is definitely better than the bug freak's. It's so like you!" Yugo commented, earning a chuckle from Rin.
"So like me? What does that even mean?" Rin giggled at Yugo's random praise.
"You have a fine girlfriend, Yugo." Jack commented, causing Yugo to stutter and his face getting all red.
"W-what?! I-I told you Rin is not–" Before Yugo could answer properly, Rin beat him to it.
"No, we're not dating at all. He is just childhood friend." Rin said straightforwardly without any problem or a hint of hitch. Yugo felt an arrow stabbed through him so painfully, causing him to have imaginary blood puke and waterfall tears. He has expected it, but it still hurt to hear it.
Sawatari pulled Yugo away from Rin and whispered. "You need to do some action! You hear me? Action!"
"Yeah…I know… I'll do my best!" Yugo said while trying to stop his tears.
PASSAGE – ACADEMIA – FUSION DIMENSION
"Battle! I attack Antique Gear Ultimate Hound Dog with Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon! Spiral Strike Burst!"
"I attack Antique Gear Triple Bite Hound Dog with Bloom Diva! Reflect Shout!"
"I attack Antique Gear Double Bite Hound Dog with CCC – Rock Armor!"
Following their masters' commands, the three Monsters delivered their finishing blows, defeating the Obelisk Force getting in their way. Once they were taken down, Yuya, Yuzu, and Reira ran passed them. They ran and ran until they were sure no enemy was ahead or following behind them. They made a stop when Reira has reached his limit of stamina, panting for air.
"We're sorry Reira. Let's take a little bit break." Yuzu told the boy, urging him to sit down until he recovered, not listening to his insistance to continue their way.
"I…I'm o-okay…" Reira said between his panting.
"You're still a kid, it's normal to be tired this easily. If we keep running while you're like this it will only slowing us down. So rest." Yuya told the younger boy who finally relented.
While Reira was regaining his stamina, Yuzu pulled Yuya quite away from the boy so she could talk to him alone.
"Yuya, if I'm wrong, I'm sorry. But…" Yuzu placed her hands behind her and fidgeting for a while. "You're the other Yuya, right?"
As the words left her mouth, Yuya couldn't hide his surprise, with those widened eyes, half-opened mouth, and a step back, it wasn't difficult to know that he was surprised. Yuzu chuckled at his reaction. So the other Yuya could make that kind of expression too.
"I'm sory for being so mad at you and said all those horrible things. You probably hate me for that." Yuzu sincerely apologized.
She was so angry that she didn't consider that this Yuya was only trying to protect them, albeit in too extreme way. She must have hurt him very much when she told him he is not Yuya and to get lost. She was supposed to be his childhood friend who had been by his side for years, but she didn't realize this side of him. Some childhood friend she was.
"But even so you still tried to cheer me up and protect me. More than anything, you actually just want to protect Yuya…just like I do. Thank you." She thanked him. This Yuya, even after what she said, still concerned about her, even went as far as pretending to be the normal Yuya and held back from hurting their opponents. He was as considerate as the normal Yuya.
"You really are as nice as the real Yuya. No, I said it wrong, you really are Yuya." Yuzu has decided that she will try to understand this Yuya. If he goes too far again, she'll remind and stop him.
Yuya's cheeks became a tinge of pink seeing Yuzu's smile, prompting him to turn back from her. "I-Idiot, you got it all wrong. I was just sick of you getting all mad and distracted that it may hinder us. That's all. It's not like I'm doing it for you…"
Yuzu noted in her mind that this Yuya was quite a coy. "You're right. I'm sorry. So you stop saying careless things about other people's lives too, okay? Let's become better together."
Yuzu patted Yuya's back before ushering Reira who was waiting for them to proceed their way. Yuya, however, stayed still on the spot while staring at Yuzu.
"I'm not nice or anything." He murmured to himself. "I prefer seeing you smiling. That's all…"
Feeling a heartbeat, Yuya closed his eyes, returning to the mindscape where his normal self was waiting for him while sitting the bed with a big smile on his face.
"Thank you for what you did for Yuzu." The normal Yuya expressed his gratitude to his other self.
"…Don't mention it…" The other Yuya told his normal self while sitting on his study chair.
"You're okay? Your face is quite red there." Yuya pointed out, which his other-self tried desperately to wipe.
"You…you really need to realize your feelings for Yuzu." He told his normal self while covering his face.
"My feelings for Yuzu? What do you mean?" Yuya tilted his head in confusion, compleely oblivious of what his other-self meant.
"Never mind. Just go back already. I want to rest for a while. If you're in trouble I'll take over again." The other Yuya brushed off Yuya's confusion, ushering him to just take back his body.
"Okay. Once again, thank you." Yuya told his other self before disappearing from the mindscape, leaving his other self alone.
"…Just how dense he can be? I was born from your deepest inner feelings, so I feel the same way as you do about Yuzu…"
NEXT CHAPTER PREVIEW:
Two Kindred Souls – Tsukikage, Crow, and Kachidoki are forced into a Survival Duel by Sanders and Battle Beast. Sensing Battle Beast's inner struggle is quite similar to his own, Kachidoki resolves to free Battle Beast like Yuya had done to him. Meanwhile, Yuya, Yuzu, and Reira are reunited with Gongenzaka and Dennis.
FANFIC ORIGINAL CARD MEMO:
WIND WITCH FLOW: Send 2 Wind Witch Monsters in your hand to the Graveyard to Special Summon one Level 4 Wind Witch Monster from your Deck. (Magic Card)
WIND WITCH – FLAKE BELL: (SPELLCASTER / WIND / ATK: 500 / DEF: 1000 / LV: 4) When this card is normal or Special Summoned you can inflict damage to your opponent equal to the total ATKs of all Wind Witch Monsters you have in your Graveyard.
RED SUPPORT: When you control 2 or more Red Monsters, you can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower Red Monsters from your Deck.
PARLEY: You can Special Summon Captain Lock from your Graveyard with its ATK and DEF the same as the last time it was destroyed and the Battle Phase is skipped. When this card is in Graveyard, you can banish it; your Monster won't be destroyed by Battle and any Battle Damage is reduced to 0 until End Phase.
WIND WITCH - BLIZZARD BELL: (MAGICIAN / WIND / ATK: 2000 / DEF: 900 / LV: 5), (2 Wind Witch Monsters) During Battle Phase this card can decrease the ATK of opponent's Monster equal to the total ATKs of its Fusion Materials. This card can copy the Effect of a Wind Witch Monster in Graveyard.
THERE ARE SOME CHANGES IN OCG/TCG/ANIME EFFECTS FOR THE SAKE OF CONVENIENCE
Hello everyone. Sorry for the late update. Turns out I'm not feeling so well, so from now on the update schedule will be changed a bit for the time being. Also, sorry it didn't focus so much on Yugo and the others. We promise to give them more focus in the later chapters. By the way, to make this clear: the bracelets all have abilities to create new cards similarly as Yuya's pendant.
Please review this chapter :D