-Within Barian World-
The maniacal Barian Emperor looked on in amusement, circling around Yuma, who was still unconscious and was now trapped in a form of stasis within a Baria Crystal, while the Barian emblem continued to glow on his forehead.
"What's that, Yuma?" Vector then asked his unconscious prisoner, tapping on the Baria Crystal as he did, before he stated in an amused tone. "I'm afraid you'll have to speak up. I can't hear a word you're saying."
It was then Vector laughed at the trapped Number Hunter, how Vector was enjoying the sight of his nemesis helpless before him, only to be interrupted as Heartland flew down and asked. "Begging your pardon Vector, but what are doing?"
"What I'm doing is making the final preparations to my plan to defeat Astral and get his Numbers." Vector replied.
"I see and you're using Yuma as bait." Heartland said, making Vector nod and reply. "Partially. Yuma will start off as the bait but will work his way as a more important aspect in my plan to obtain the Numbers and to destroy Astral World.
Vector then turned to Yuma's unconscious form and said. "Not that you'll remember."
-Back in the Real World-
With the loss of Yuma, Tori had fallen to her knees, crying her eyes out, heartbroken, as she was unable to protect the one she loved.
But Tori stopped and looked up when she felt somebody place their hand on her left shoulder, making her look to see it was Cathy, who had a reassuring look on her face and said. "Tori listen, I'm just as upset to see Yuma gone but crying about it won't save him."
"She's right." Bronk added, before stating. "We saved Yuma once and we can do it again."
"But how?" Tori had to ask. "We don't even know where Vector took him."
"That's not true." Tori heard Astral say, making her look to where Yuma had thrown his key to see Astral floating there, holding his chest as he had sustained some damage from being exposed to the darkness that was Barian's Force.
"Yuma may be gone but I can still track his energy and the energy of the Numbers he has in his possession." Astral told Tori, which filled her with faith, in which Tori picked up Yuma's key and retied it around her neck, until it was returned to its rightful owner.
"Then what are we doing just standing around?" Tori asked, before asking further. "Where is Yuma?"
"Barian World." Astral replied, leaving Tori, Bronk and Cathy in a state of shock.
"Yuma's in Barian World?" Cathy had to ask, in which Astral nodded in reply. "I am certain we will find Yuma there. But we must act, his energy is growing weaker."
With that said, everyone watched in amazement as the Different Dimension Airship descended from the sky, hovering just above the Academy.
But luckily, only Jaden and the other heroes could see it due to being exposed to Astral for so long.
"Now that's some ride." Jaden commented in an impressed tone, before asking. "Think you need any extra hands aboard?"
"Thank you, but this is something only we can manage." Astral replied as he, Tori, Bronk and Cathy approached the airship, ready to board and save their friend, before Bronk said. "Besides, you still have Sartorius to deal with."
Understanding fully, Jaden nodded his head and smiled. "Alright then. Good luck taking down Vector."
"And I wish you the same luck against Sartorius." Astral replied, before he, Bronk, Tori and Cathy were beamed aboard the airship, ready to break through the Real World and into Barian World to confront the devious mastermind that was Vector and save Yuma from the Barian's grasp.
After breaking dimensions, Bronk, Tori and Cathy all gazed in awe at the sight of Barian World.
Red lightning shot down from the blackened skies, red coloured crystals had arisen and formed massive towers, while the dimension was filled with a radiance of evil.
"Man, this place is huge." Bronk commented from behind the helm, before asking. "How are we ever going to find Yuma?"
"Just keep heading forwards. I can sense we are close." Astral replied, making Tori and Cathy place their hands on their chests, hoping Yuma was ok.
"Over there." Astral suddenly called out, pointing to a massive section of Baria Crystals that had taken shape of a colosseum. "That's where we'll find Yuma."
With that said, Bronk parked the airship just above the colosseum, before he and the others teleported down, greeted by Vector, who was glaring at them from a top a throne.
"Welcome to Barian World!" Vector announced, before he got off of the throne, and teleported away for a moment, only to appear microseconds later, several feet away from his enemies.
"I'm sorry but I didn't have time to get snacks because I've been very busy lately!" Vector told them in his usual twisted humour.
"Enough talk, Vector!" Bronk snapped at the Barain Emperor before he demanded. "Where's Yuma!?"
"You want to see Yuma? Very well, but you might not like what you see." Vector replied in a sinister tone, before it was then he snapped his fingers, causing the ground to violently shake for a moment, before a Baria Crystal shot out from the ground, beside the Barian Emperor, and to everyone's shock, Yuma was encased inside, with the Barian's Force emblem on his forehead glowing a dark red.
"Yuma!" Tori yelled out in concern, before she was unable to help herself but to run over to see if Yuma was ok.
However, it was then Tori was stopped in her tracks when a Barian suddenly appeared before her, knocking Tori down and blocking her path to Yuma.
Tori then looked up at the unknown Barian, who was dressed in a dark maroon coloured cloak and hood, covering most of his body and face, though Tori and the others could see that this Barian had charcoal coloured skin, dark crimson bracelets and dark red eyes that had green coloured markings beneath them, but there was something off about the Barian, like they had met him before.
"Who... who are you?" Tori questioned in worry to the unknown Barian as she slowly got to her feet.
However, before Tori could receive a reply, Vector held out his right arm, before his hand began to glow a shade of heliotrope and surrounded her in a light aura, before it was then the Barian Emperor threw Tori away with his power.
"Tori!" Bronk and Cathy called out in concern for their friend as she fell before them.
"Tori, are you alright?" Astral then asked in his own concern, as Tori back up.
"I'll be fine." Tori replied reassuringly as she managed to get to her feet, as she had only suffered a few scrapes, nothing serious, which made her friends glad to see she was all right.
But it was then Vector interrupted and told Astral and his friends. "Allow me to introduce Sutoyaru. My teammate for the Duel."
Hearing Vector's statement caused Astral to question. "What Duel?"
"The Duel that will destroy you, Astral." Sutoyaru replied in a dark tone of voice, before Vector exclaimed as he held out his right arm at the Baria Crystal containing their imprisoned friend as an energy ball formed within his hand. "And if you refuse, I'll destroy Yuma instead!"
"How do we know that's the real Yuma and not another one of your tricks?" Astral asked, which, in reply, caused Vector to aim his arm in the direction of Astral, Tori, Bronk and Cathy, before the Barian Emperor fired the sphere at a section of crystals, blasting them to pieces.
"Do you really want to take that risk?" Vector then asked in a wicked tone as the remains of the crystals fell from the sky and landed around their feet.
Seeing he had no choice, as it was the only way to make sure Yuma would be saved from Vector and Sutoyaru, caused Astral to step forward in front of his friends, before it was then Astral's arm was encased in blue coloured energy, before the energy transformed into a Duel Disc.
After seeing Astral's decision, Vector mentally smirked, before it was then his Duel Disc materialized around his left arm in flash of light appeared as he stated. "Prepare yourself, Astral. For this Duel will have some very dark turns."
Lastly, the dark crimson bracelet on Sutoyaru's left arm began to glow bright red, before it transformed into a dark crimson Duel Disk with a sea green outline.
And after the trio had set up and drawn five Cards, there was only one thing left to do before the Duel would start, in which Astral, Vector and Sutoyaru then called out in unison. "Let's Duel!"
Starting Scores:
Sutoyaru: 4000
Astral: 4000
Vector: 4000
"Sutoyaru, I think you should go first." Vector told his teammate, in which the mysterious Barian replied in a loyal tone as he drew the sixth Card from the top of his Deck. "Yes, Lord Vector."
"First, I'll play two Cards face-down. And then I Summon Gogogo Ghost!" (1900/0) Sutoyaru called out, before the Gogogo Zombie and the unknown Spell/Trap Cards appeared on the Field, before it was then Vector's minion went on and announced. "And since I Summoned a Level 4 Monster, I can Special Summon Kagetokage from my hand!"
As the shadow lizard slithered across the ground and appeared before Sutoyaru, Astral, Tori, Bronk and Cathy were all shocked, recognizing the Cards, causing Bronk to demand. "Hey! Those are Yuma's Cards. What do you think you're doing using them!?"
"I just thought since Yuma isn't using them, I didn't want his Deck to go to waste, so I let Sutoyaru borrow it." Vector replied in an amused tone, before he stated, further amused. "And besides, I promise to give it back to its rightful owner when the time is right."
It was then Vector began to laugh in his usual maniacal and amused way, before he then turned to Sutoyaru and asked. "Finished, Sutoyaru?"
"Yes, Lord Vector. I end my turn." Sutoyaru replied.
"I Summon one Monster in Defence mode!" Astral called out, placing his Monster Card on his Duel Disc, knowing that he was safe from Damage as Vector had to wait another turn before he or Sutoyaru could Attack. "I end my turn with a face-down."
After Vector drew the sixth Card from the top of his Deck, he then announced as the Barian Emperor made his move. "I activate my Pillager Spell Card!"
"Now, I can look at your hand and steal one Card from it to use as my own." Vector explained in a wicked tone, causing Astral to let out a small groan of frustration, before he turned his Card around, showing Vector and Sutoyaru he was holding Ganbara Lancer (1000/2000), Plus Star 123, ZeroZerock and Voltage Summon.
"I think I'll take this one and use it right away!" Vector called out, before a dark claw shot out from Vector's Duel Disc, stealing ZeroZerock and adding it to Vector's hand, before it was then the Barian emperor played it.
"I Summon Umbral Horror Ghoul!" (1800/0) Vector announced as a cloud of darkness appeared in front of Vector, before it was then a dark purple claw emerged from the darkness and Vector's Monster revealed itself.
"And with Umbral Horror Ghoul Summoned, I activate its special ability. By making this Card's Attack Points 0, I can Summon any Umbral Horror Monsters in my hand. Come forth, Umbral Horror Will o' the Wisp!" (0/0) Vector commanded, in which a cyan coloured flame appeared on Vector's side of the Field, before a fiendish creature emerged from a void beneath the ball of flame.
"And thanks to ZeroZerock, any Monster with no Attack Points cannot be Attacked. So Will o' the Wisp can't be Destroyed!" Vector declared in amusement and insanity, but that was the least of Astral's problems, as the Barians had three Level 4 Monsters, in which Astral knew what Vector had planned next.
"I now Overlay Umbral Horror Ghoul, Gogogo Ghost and Kagetokage! With these three Monsters I build the Overlay Network and Xyz Summon Number 104: Masquerade!" Vector exclaimed manically as Vector's Umbral Horror Monster and Sutoyaru's two 'borrowed' Monsters were all engulfed in lights of dark purple energy, the darkness shot off into the air, twisting around one another, as another portal opened up, before the forms of dark energy then shot into the portal, creating a massive explosion of energy as Masquerade appeared before Vector.
"But since Masquerade cannot Attack this turn, I'll activate his special ability instead. Now the top Card of your Deck is sent to the Graveyard!" Vector called out, before it was then the top Card of Astral's Deck was forcefully removed and fell into the dark purple void of the Graveyard, but the Barian Emperor wasn't finished just yet.
"I now activate Magical Tomb!" Vector announced as he placed the familiar Spell Card in the first slot of his Spell/Trap Card zone on his Duel Disc and then went on by saying. "I'm sure you remember how this Card works. I select any Card I want and it's then placed inside the Magical Tomb, sealing it away and preventing it from being used."
And to the confusion of Astral and his friends, Vector pointed at Sutoyaru and announced in a wicked tone. "And I choose to seal away your Rank-Up-Magic Barian's Force!"
The Magical Tomb then opened up, revealing a form of pure darkness, which then shot out from the tomb and into Sutoyaru's Deck, stealing away his Rank-Up-Magic Barian's Force Card and sealing it within Vector's Magical Tomb.
'This is most troubling. Why would Vector seal away his teammate's Card?' Astral thought to himself, before the answer suddenly hit him, which caused him to state. "Unless...!"
However, Astral was interrupted when Vector replied wickedly. "That's right, Astral. I plan to remove it!"
"I activate Emergency Provisions!" Vector called out as he played the aforementioned Spell Card, before explaining in an arrogant and amused tone. "Now, I gain 1000 Life Points by Destroying my Magical Tomb and Rank-Up-Magic Barian's Force is returned to Sutoyaru!"
Vector then let out an amused laugh as lightning struck the Magical Tomb, shattering it to pieces, to which his Life Points were increased to 5000 and Rank-Up-Magic Barian's Force was in Sutoyaru's possession, before Vector ceased his laughter and then said. "Your move, Astral."
Current Scores:
Sutoyaru: 4000
Astral: 4000
Vector: 5000
"I Sacrifice my face-down Monster to Summon Ganbara Lancer!" Astral announced, before he went on and said, as he knew he had to end the Duel quickly, not only to stop Masquerade from evolving into a Chaos Number, but more importantly, to save Yuma. "Next, I activate Ganbara Lancer's special ability! When Ganbara Lancer is used in an Xyz Summon, it is treated as two Monsters."
Ganbara Lancer split from one to two; now the stage was set for Astral to deal some serious Damage to the Barian Emperor with an Xyz Summon.
"I Overlay both of my Ganbara Lancers in order to build the Overlay network and Xyz Summon Number Number 61: Volcasaurus!" Astral then exclaimed as Ganbara Lancer and his duplicate were each engulfed in light yellow energy, before the pair shot off into the air, twisting around each other, as a portal opened up in front of Astral, before both lights then shot into the portal, creating a massive explosion of energy as the volcanic tyrannosaurus appeared on the Field.
"I now activate Volcasaurus' special ability!" Astral called out, before Astral announced in a determined tone as he pointed at Vector. "By using one Overlay unit, Masquerade is Destroyed and you take Damage equal to the Attack of the Monster Destroyed!"
It was then Volcasaurus devoured the single Overlay unit floating around it, before unleashing a wave of intense flames right at Vector and Masquerade.
However, as the flames drew closer and closer to Vector's Monster, Sutoyaru suddenly called out. "Not so fast, enemy of Barian World! I protect Lord Vector with my Trap: Memory Loss!"
"Now Volcasaurus' special ability is negated and your Monster is forced into Defense Mode!" Sutoyaru explained, before Astral could only watch as Number 61's flames were dispersed and the volcanic behemoth was encased in chains.
Seeing that, Astral said as there was nothing he could do now. "I end my turn."
After Sutoyaru drew the top Card from his Deck, his eyes turned a shade of heliotrope for a moment, before the Barian held a familiar Card directly into the air and exclaimed. "I activate Rank-Up-Magic Barian's Force! I Rank-Up Lord Vector's Masquerade! Go Chaos Xyz Evolution! I Summon Chaos Number 104: Umbral Horror Masquerade!" (3000/1500)
With the power of Rank-Up-Magic Barian's Force, Masquerade transformed into a form of dark red energy, which shot into the sky and into a vortex, creating a massive explosion of Barian energy, while more lightning shot down violently throughout the colosseum, before Vector's Monster returned to the Field, only now it was under Sutoyaru's control.
"I now activate Umbral Horror Masquerade's special ability! I Can Destroy any one of your Spell or Trap Cards!" Sutoyaru explained, before he commanded. "Umbral Horror Masquerade, use Destroy Staff!"
Following his Summoner's command, Umbral Horror Masquerade unleashed a wave of flames from the clawed sphere at the end of his staff, Destroying Astral's face-down Card.
And seeing Astral vulnerable, unable to protect Volcasaurus, Sutoyaru then exclaimed. "Now go, Umbral Horror Masquerade and Attack Volcasaurus!"
Umbral Horror Masquerade then fired flames of dark energy at Volcasaurus, Destroying Astral Monster and leaving his side void of Monsters, Spells or Trap Cards.
"Excellent work, Sutoyaru. Keep this up and Astral's defeat will be an inevitable torment." Vector commented wickedly.
"Thank you, Lord Vector." Sutoyaru replied in a loyal tone, before he said to Astral. "It's your move."
Current Scores:
Sutoyaru: 4000
Astral: 4000
Vector: 5000
"I Summon Kurivolt!" Astral announced, before the Kuriboh look-a-like appeared before its Summoner, causing Vector to stare momentarily at Astral's Monster, before pointing and bursting into laughter.
When Vector stopped laughing, he questioned in amusement upon seeing Astral Summon a Monster with little to no Attack power. "Please, Astral, tell me this is some kind of joke or have you given up? What can that pitiful insect do?"
"I'll show you by activating Kurivolt's special ability! Now, Kurivolt absorbs the Overlay units attached to your Monster and Summons a Kurivolt Token on my side of the Field for every Overlay unit taken!" Astral replied as Kurivolt unleashed a wave of electricity at Umbral Horror Masquerade, striking Vector's Monster, before the Chaos Overlay units were forcefully removed and pulled towards Astral, momentarily transforming back into Masquerade, Umbral Horror Ghoul, Gogogo Ghost and Kagetokage, before they transformed into Kurivolt Tokens and landed on Astral's side of the Field.
However, even though Astral now had five Monsters to protect him, Sutoyaru stated. "You may've stopped Lord Vector's Monster from using its special ability. But now your Kurivolts are lined for us to crush one by one. Nothing you do can stop us!"
"We'll see about that. I activate Voltage Summon!" Astral replied as he placed the aforementioned Spell Card in the first slot of his Spell/Trap Card zone on his Duel Disc, causing the Kurivolt Tokens to spark wildly.
"With Voltage Summon, I Tribute my four Kurivolt Tokens to Summon Ganbara Knight, Gogogo Golem, Gagaga Magician and Gagaga Girl from my Deck! But by doing so, their Attack and Defence Points are reduced to 0." Astral explained as the Kurivolt Tokens shattered to pieces and were replaced by Astral's latest Monsters.
"But that doesn't matter, as I first I activate Gagaga Girl's special ability and change her to a Level 4 Monster." Astral said, before he announced. "And now I Overlay Gagaga Girl, Gagaga Magician and Gogogo Golem in order to Build the Overlay Network and Xyz Summon Number 69: Heraldry Crest!" (2600/1400)
Both Gagaga Girl and Gagaga Magician were then engulfed in dark purple lights, while Gogogo Golem was engulfed in a light of dark brown energy, before the trio shot off into the air, twisted around each other, as a portal opened up in the sky, before all three lights then shot into the portal, creating a massive explosion of energy as the Psychic Type Monster emerged from the portal and appeared on the Field, letting out a massive roar of power and pride.
"And I'm not done. I activate the Spell Card: Plus Star 123! With this Card, I can add 1, 2 or 3 Levels to a Level 4 or below Monster on my side of the Field. And I choose to make Kurivolt a Level 4 Monster."
After 3 Stars were added to Kurivolt's Level, Astral exclaimed in a strong and determined tone. "I now Overlay Ganbara Knight and Kurivolt! With these two Monsters I build the Overlay network and Xyz Summon Number 39: Utopia!"
Ganbara Knight was then engulfed in a bright brown light, while Kurivolt was engulfed in a bright yellow, before the pair shot off into the air, twisting around each other, as a portal opened up in front of Astral, before both lights then shot into the portal, creating a massive explosion of energy as the signature Monster of Yuma and Astral appeared on the Field.
'Utopia?' Sutoyaru questioned himself as something deep inside him felt off upon seeing that Card.
But Vector then commented in an arrogant tone. "So what? Even with two Number Monsters they won't be able to save you or Yuma."
"Well see about that, Vector. First off, I activate Xyz Treasure. And for every face-up Xyz Monster on the Field, I get to draw one Card." Astral told Vector, before he drew three Cards from the top of his Deck.
"Next, I activate Heraldry Crest's special ability! Umbral Horror Masquerade's abilities are now negated and Heraldry Crest absorbs them! Go, Heraldry Crest and strike with Whipping Lash!" Astral exclaimed, which Heraldry Crest obeyed, unleashing a red-violet coloured claw of energy that struck into Umbral Horror Masquerade's chest, draining not only the Effects but the colour of Sutoyaru's Monster, until Umbral Horror Masquerade was a colourless husk of his former self.
"Lord Vector, what do we do?" Sutoyaru questioned, before the Barian stated. "Since Heraldry Crest now contains Umbral Horror Masquerade's abilities, our Cards will be Destroyed automatically if we play them and our Life Points will be halved!"
"I'm aware of that." Vector replied, before he thought to himself cunningly. 'But something tells me once Astral learns the truth behind you, he won't have it in him to Destroy us.'
Back to Astral, his turn wasn't over as he then announced. "I now activate Heraldry Crest's latest abilities! By using all three Overlay units, you both lose one Card in your hands, half your Life Points and one Card on your side of the Field is Destroyed!"
It was then Heraldry Crest devoured upon the three Overlay units floating around it, before Number 69 roared out again, only this time, its roar contained a blast of dark red energy, which shot out at Vector and Sutoyaru, knocking the Barians down, discarding Vector's Umbral Horror Retaliation Spell and Sutoyaru's Rivals Unite Trap Card, Destroying Sutoyaru's face-down Spell/Trap Card and cutting their Life Points in half. (5000 → 2500) (4000 → 2000)
"Next, I activate the special ability of Gagaga Girl! Since I used Gagaga Girl to Xyz Summon your Monster's Attack is reduced to 0. Go, Cell Phone Subtraction!" Astral commanded, before it was then Gagaga Girl emerged from out from Heraldry Crest, began to punch a code into her cell phone, before the female Spellcaster held her phone towards Umbral Horror Masquerade and unleashed a shining light of purple energy, consuming Sutoyaru's Monster and reducing Umbral Horror Masquerade's Attack from 3000 to 0.
"Utopia, Attack Umbral Horror Masquerade!" Astral then called out, before it was then Utopia withdrew the blade from his right sheath and charged at forward, only for Sutoyaru to suddenly call out as he got back to his feet. "Hold it, Astral! Thanks to Lord Vector's ZeroZerorc Spell, Umbral Horror Masquerade cannot be affected by your Attacks."
"That's where you're wrong." Astral replied, before he placed a Card within in the first slot of his Spell/Trap Card zone on his Duel Disc and announced. "I activate Ego Boost! Now, I can select any Monster on the Field and increase its Attack Points by 1000 until the end of the turn. And I choose Umbral Horror Masquerade!" (0 → 1000)
"What!?" Sutoyaru questioned in a mixture of shock and disbelief, seeing that his Monster and his Life Points were now vulnerable.
"Now, Utopia, Attack Umbral Horror Masquerade with Rising Sun Slash!" Astral exclaimed, before it was then Utopia sliced through Umbral Horror Masquerade, Destroying Vector's Monster in a massive explosion and inflicting 1500 Points of Damage to Sutoyaru's Life Points.
"Now to finish you off!" Astral told Sutoyaru in a determined tone, before he exclaimed. "Heraldry Crest, Attack Sutoyaru directly with Dark Matter Demolition!"
Heraldry Crest followed Astral's command, unleashing a stream of red energy from its being into the sky, clashing with the negative energy of Barian World, before the energy transformed into a more powerful form and then shot down at Sutoyaru.
Sutoyaru's Life Points were about to be wiped out, however, it was then to everyone's confusion that Vector, who had gotten back to his feet, began to laugh in amusement, causing Astral to ask. "What's so funny, Vector?"
"What's funny is you came all this way to save your little friend, only to wind up destroying him." Vector replied.
Everyone was confused by Vector's words until the smoke from the explosion surrounding Sutoyaru died down, revealing the Barian, his cloak and hood badly torn from the destructive blast of Utopia's Attack, allowing Astral and the others to see more of Sutoyaru's form, including several familiar sea green markings on his chest, a dark crimson belt, which had an emblem in the shape similar to that of Yuma's key, and a pair of gold coloured leggings, fitted with two large gems.
But it was then to everyone's shock, and Vector's amusement, that the remains of cloak and hood fell off, revealing all of Sutoyaru, showing off Yuma's hair style, causing Tori to say as tears began to fall down her cheeks. "No... It... It can't be..."
"Oh, but it can. And it is." Vector interrupted, before the maniacal Barian Emperor exclaimed. "Sutoyaru is Yuma Tsukumo!"
"And to think, all this time you've been fighting so hard to save Yuma when you've actually been attacking him. Some friend you are." Vector stated in wicked amusement, before it was then the Baria Crystal shattered to pieces, revealing that the Yuma inside had been another one of Vector's deceptive tricks all along.
"And now say good bye to Yuma once and for all!" Vector exclaimed as Heraldry Crest's blast devastated Yuma's side of the Field, causing Tori to scream out in concern and horror. "Yuma!"
But as the blast faded, his friends were amazed to see Yuma's Life Points were still on 500, confusing Vector and causing him to ask in confusion. "What's going on? How did he survive that?"
"I activated the Effect of Xyz Agent in my Graveyard." Astral explained, before he said. "By Banishing it, I was able to activate the special ability of Utopia and put a stop to Heraldry Crest's Attack."
"And just in time." Bronk added.
"What!? But when did you send that Card to the Graveyard?" Vector demanded in question.
"I didn't, you did." Astral replied, confusing Vector, before Astral explained. "Thanks to the Effect of your Masquerade, it was placed within the Graveyard last turn."
"Way to go Astral!" Tori cheered, a little happy that Astral had saved Yuma from destruction, the only problem now was how they would get the old Yuma back from Vector's evil.
Hearing this caused Vector to groan out in frustration, infuriated that his plan for Astral to destroy Yuma had failed, before he regained his composure and told Astral. "You think this changes anything? You are wrong. I will crush you!"
"But how is this possible? How is Yuma a Barian?" Astral questioned Vector, still in shock that his friend was now revealed to be working under Vector's command.
"It was all possible thanks to the power of the Baria Crystal and Yuma's negative emotions giving into the darkness." Vector replied, before he told Astral and his friends darkly. "Poor little Yuma, playing the role as the hero, so desperate to keep all of his friends out of danger that he'd do anything to make sure they were safe. So I used his weakness to my advantage in our last Duel."
Hearing Vector's words caused Bronk to shout out. "You snake! You rigged your Deck against Yuma so he'd be forced to play Barian's Force!"
"You catch on quick, too bad it's far too late." Vector replied, before he exclaimed victoriously, before laughing. "Yuma Tsukumo no longer exists!"
"No." Tori said, shaking her head as she continued to cry.
"What will you do now, Astral? Continue your Attack? Go ahead, I won't stop you." Vector told Astral, even though Astral knew that with Vector's Will o' the Wisp and Zerozeroc, Yuma would be safe, but was taunting him into harming his friend.
But just as Vector anticipated, as he knew Astral would be too weak, Astral said in a defeated tone. "I end my turn."
Current Scores:
Sutoyaru: 500
Astral: 4000
Vector: 2500
"I don't know why you didn't Attack, but you'll regret it." Sutoyaru stated, before he asked. "Right, Lord Vector?"
"How right you are, Sutoyaru." Vector replied, before he drew the top Card from his Deck and called out "I draw!"
"I activate Card of Sanctity!" Vector announced, before he went on and explained. "Now we all draw until we have six Cards in our hand."
Vector then drew six Cards, Sutoyaru drew five, while Astral drew four, before it was then the Barian Emperor continued his turn and exclaimed. "Next, I activate Glorious Numbers! When there are no Monsters on my Field, this Card allows me to Summon a Number from the Graveyard! And I Chose Number 104: Masquerade!"
Masquerade then emerged from the depth of the Graveyard before his Summoner, before Vector told Astral, drawing the top Card from his Deck. "And now, Glorious Numbers allows me to draw a Card."
"Next, I'll activate Masquerade's special ability again!" Vector called out, as the top Card of Astral's Deck was then forcefully removed and sent to the Graveyard, before it was then the maniacal Barian Emperor then said. "To end my turn, I play three Cards face-down and I follow that up by activating Exchange with Sutoyaru."
Astral watched as Vector and Sutoyaru's eyes glowed heliotrope for a moment, before the middle Card in Vector's hand and the Card second from the right broke apart, only to materialize in the other Barian's hand, causing Vector to smirk as he Set it alongside his other Spells/Traps, allowing Astral to draw and make his move.
Current Scores:
Sutoyaru: 500
Astral: 4000
Vector: 2500
After drawing and making the Card total in his hand 7, Astral looked at his Cards, which consisted of Goblinbergh, Mirror Mail, Magnum Shield, Tatakawa Knight (1500/0), Gagaga Gardner (1500/2000), Power Charge Barrier and Achacha Archer, before it was then Astral made his move, one that would hopefully defeat Vector and break his control over Yuma.
"I Summon Goblinbergh. And with its ability, I can Summon a Level 4 or below Monster from my hand. And I choose to Summon Tatakawa Knight!" Astral announced, the bi-plane gobin trio then appearing before Astral, followed by a large steel container, which opened up as it landed before Astral, in which Tatakawa Knight stood proudly before its Summoner, before it was then Astral announced. "With these two Monsters I build the Overlay network. I Xyz Summon Heroic Champion – Excablibur!"
Both Goblinbergh and Tatakawa Knight were then engulfed in a bright yellow light, before the pair shot off into the air, twisting around each other, as a portal opened up in front of Astral, before both lights then shot into the portal, creating a massive explosion of energy as the Monster, which once belonged to Nistro, appeared on the Field.
"Next I Equip Magnum Shield onto Excablibur. And with Magnum Shield, Excablibur gains Attack Points equal to its Defence Points!" Astral announced, before it was then the Magnum Shield materialized onto Excablibur's left arm and its Attack was brought up to 4000.
"You may have the strongest Monster on the Field now, but it's still not nearly enough to take me down." Vector stated arrogantly, in which Astral replied in a strong and determined tone. "I know. So now I'm activating Excablibur's special ability! And by using both of its Overlay units, Excablibur's Attack is doubled until my next turn!" (4000 → 8000)
"Alright! Even though Astral can't take down Vector's Numbers, his Life Points will take a serious beating!" Bronk stated, in which Tori commented. "And Yuma will be safe."
However, Astral could sense it wasn't that simple, as Vector seemed to show no worry or fear of the chance he'd lose the Duel, if anything, it looked like he wanted Astral to Attack.
'Something's wrong. Does Vector want me to Attack him?' Astral questioned himself, wondering if Vector's face-downs would wind up turning all of Excablibur's power against him, or was there something else the Barian Emperor had up his sleeve?
"What's wrong, Astral?" Vector asked teasingly, interrupting Astral's thoughts, before he taunted. "Go on and Attack me if you dare."
"C'mon, Astral, Attack Vector and save Yuma!" Cathy called out in a mixture of faith and a plea, in which Astral nodded in agreement with the Cat Duelist, before he exclaimed. "Heroic Champion – Excablibur, Attack Umbral Horror Masquerade!"
As the Heroic Champion withdrew his blade and charged forward, preparing to strike the Chaos Number and reduce vector's Life Points to 0, Vector suddenly said, amused. "What are you doing? I thought you wanted to save Yuma."
Hearing Vector's words confused Astral and the others, causing Astral to question. "What are you talking about?"
"With my power I created Sutoyaru. And if I go down than I'm taking him with me!" Vector replied maniacally, shocking Astral and the others, before Tori yelled out in concern. "Yuma!"
But knowing Yuma would do the same to save him, Astral suddenly called out. "I activate Utopia's special ability! Light Wing Shield!"
Everyone watched as Utopia absorbed one of the two Overlay units into his chest and appeared in front if Umbral Horror Masquerade, before Excablibur's sword struck Utopia's shield-like wing, failing to break through it, protecting Vector's Monster.
Astral was conflicted, he was concerned that he had wasted Excablibur's ability and one of Utopia's Overlay units, though he was glad that Yuma was protected, however, he still needed to find a way of saving his friend from the manipulative and down right underhanded snake, Vector.
But for now all Astral could do was end his turn, but not before Setting his two Trap Cards, hoping he'd soon find a way to reach his friend and free him from Vector's twisted head games.