Field Effect: Sphere Field
Usur LP: 750
Number 100: Boundless Dragon Apeiros: Dragon-Type/Xyz/DARK/Rank 10/ATK 15600/DEF 100 – 0 OLU
Spell & Trap Zone: Number 85: D.D. Epicentre – Bakushin [equipped to Number 100: Boundless Dragon Apeiros], Number 71: Moonlight Mole [equipped to Number 100: Boundless Dragon Apeiros], 1 set card
Matt LP: 100
Spell & Trap Zone: 2 set cards
Katie LP: 800
Number 91: Flarestormer: Pyro-Type/Xyz/FIRE/Rank 4/ATK 2000/DEF 200 – 2 OLU
Spell & Trap Zone: Crystal Cannon – Zmätok, 1 set card
Leah LP: 250
Chaos Number 17: Passion Aurora Sol Invictus: Fairy-Type/Xyz/LIGHT/Rank 6/ATK 2700/DEF 2000 – 0 OLU
Spell & Trap Zone: 2 set cards
Dan LP: 300
Number 40: Trailblazing Hunter Brutsar: Beast-Warrior-Type/Xyz/FIRE/Rank 8/ATK 3000/DEF 2800 – 2 OLU
Spell & Trap Zone: 1 set card
James LP: 1000
Chaos Number 85: Hypocentral Warplord - Bakushin-chi: Machine-Type/Xyz/EARTH/Rank 2/ATK 0/DEF 2200 – 8 OLU
Chaos Number 64: Bedrock Dragon Tu Shen Long: Dragon-Type/Xyz/EARTH/Rank 6/ATK 2600/DEF 2900 – 2 OLU
"My turn, draw!" Turning over his new card, Matt felt the all-too-familiar pangs of dread coursing through his body. Assassin of Eoseuleum – Shikaku was what he'd drawn, which, combined with the Archer of Eoseuleum – Ite he already held, gave him an almost totally dead hand. Of all the ways to lose a duel, a dead draw was not one he would have chosen. His face-downs were of equal unimportance – an Xyz Reversal which couldn't target Apeiros, and Trap Reborn which had nothing good to copy.
All wasn't hopeless, however. The two monsters in his hand were both Level six. He couldn't Summon them, but he could use the effect of Sphere Field and hope that he got something good out of it.
'My Chaos Number…' he thought furiously. 'Either that, Anomaly Collapse Forme, or Anomaly Biome Forme. Any one of them can either get rid of Apeiros or end the duel now. But that's three of them to nine other Numbers in my Extra Deck… if I get one of the others, that's it.'
"Guess I'll bet everything on that then," he said out loud. "Our last remaining hope!"
Leah glanced at him, a look of wild determination in her expression.
"Here goes! I activate Sphere Field's effect!" Matt declared. "With it, I Overlay the Level six Assassin of Eoseuleum – Shikaku and Archer of Eoseuleum – Ite in my hand!" The two cards darted out of his hand and down into the portal of swirling galactic energy that opened up before him. The portal exploded, and his Extra Deck spat a card into the boy's waiting hand. "Xyz Summon!" Matt refused to look at the card until he'd placed it on his duel disk, until it was already far too late. He hated being powerless before the machinations of fate, and could barely bring himself to look at what chance had granted him. But look he did.
And what he saw made his heart sink.
A black number ninety blazed trails across the field, as from out of the portal arose a great blob of... something. It was some sort of gelatinous substance, but it had no colour of its own. Instead, it seemed to be emanating a faint glow, both from inside its core and from its rippling surface, as though it was producing internal light and reflecting the external light of the Sphere Field at the same time. Then, with deliberate slowness, the ball of goo began to change shape – no, it seemed to be uncurling, as though some huge gelatinous creature had wrapped itself into a tight ball. The seconds dragged on, and with them, the monster slowly became more pronounced, gaining limbs and a bulbous head, completely devoid of any sort of facial features. Slowly, strenuously, the humanoid creature completely uncurled from its tight foetal position, and sleepily stretched its arms wide. It vaguely resembled a tall and thin – almost stick-like – woman, with long flowing hair, strange occult symbols etched onto her body, and a staff that stood almost as big as her, made from the same slimy substance that she was. Her face was perfectly smooth and featureless, lacking in anything resembling eyes or mouth. The pair of bright blue Overlay Units were the only things to provide a splash of colour to the creature, and both were floating in orbit around the very tip of the staff.
Number 90: Shiki Summoner: Aqua-Type/Xyz/WATER/Rank 4/ATK 2400/DEF 2800 – 2 OLU
Had he been standing, Matt felt he certainly would have fallen to his knees. As it was, he went limp in mid-air, staring in utter horror at the card on his duel disk.
Shiki Summoner? Could he have possibly been given a worse card? This Number's only effect was to provide its Overlay Units in place of Tributes during Ritual Summons, a Summoning technique his Deck didn't even use. He couldn't even use Xyz Reversal to trade it for Apeiros, since Apeiros was immune to targeting through Spells and Traps... and besides, the moment he activated the card, Apeiros' other effect would make it immune to all Traps, full stop.
He could barely hear Usur's derisive laughter, or his teammate's calls of concern, or Skyler and Lithon's angry shouts telling him to get his head together. What was the point? Usur had been right all along – he was no leader. He couldn't inspire or command anyone; he was too young, too inexperienced, and far too weak. And he was sure as hell no duelist. That last move had been proof enough of that.
No, he'd had enough. He'd lead his friends to their slaughter at Usur's hands, and there was nothing he could do about it. Protecting his friends had been his main driving motivation ever since he'd found himself a part of their circle, and now that he could do no more, he found himself feeling strangely empty. He closed his eyes, blotting out Number 90; the embodiment of his accursed luck. He'd had enough. He was done fighting. All he could do now was wait for the end...
"I activate the Trap Card, Greed Pact!"
Matt's eyes snapped open, and he turned to the source of the voice.
"With this card," Leah was saying, "I can make each player draw one card!"
"Hmph, are you really that desperate?" Usur chuckled, drawing his card. 'Excellent!' he thought, noticing that he'd drawn Spark Breaker. Above him, Apeiros' eyes flashed bright violet.
"Leah..." Matt breathed. "What're you-"
"You're such an idiot Matt," Leah replied, grinning as she drew her own card. "Haven't you learnt anything from our adventures? There's no such thing as a last hope. If you look hard enough, and if you try hard enough, there's always a reason to keep on believing." She took a quick glance at her drawn card: Ausos, Goddess of Borealis.
"She's right you know." Katie nodded, drawing as well. Her card was Rekindling, and she smiled the moment she saw it. "I've never had you pegged as the giving up type, Matt. A real leader wouldn't give up, and nor would a true friend."
"Who cares what Usur thinks?" Dan added, drawing Cold Feet, and grinning in memory of the stupid combo he'd pulled off with it once. "So what if he thinks you're a terrible leader? If I were you, I'd take my leadership advice from someone who actually is a good leader, and not from that madman."
"For the record, you're still not my favourite person in the world," James said gruffly, seeing Hadronic Fusion as his drawn card. "And I actually agree with Usur. But if it's any consolation... I definitely like you as a leader more than him."
Matt stared for a moment. "You guys..." Suddenly fiercely determined, he turned back to Usur and drew his card with valour in his eyes.
"Oh?" Usur raised an eyebrow. "Even now you wish to continue? I mean, as heart-warming as your friends' little speeches were, they hardly-"
"I activate Monster Reborn!"
Usur fell silent in an instant.
"With it, I can revive a monster from my Graveyard," Matt said. Never had he felt more alive, more confident of winning a duel, than now. "Be revived once more! Number 51: Dark Excalibur!" A purple resurrection circle opened up on his field, and the dark knight rose up from it, taking its spot on Matt's field for the last time.
Number 51: Dark Excalibur: Warrior-Type/Xyz/DARK/Rank 6/ATK 2800/DEF 2000 – 0 OLU
Without pause, his Number immediately resheathed its sword and crossed its arms over its chest. Its body flashed a deep red colour, and all at once its armour began to change, expanding to cover the warrior's limbs, altering its shape to fit together like puzzle pieces, and slowly swallowing the Number up until only a perfectly smooth, black sphere of metal remained, with lethal-looking spikes protruding from its surface – Number 51's sealed form. Directly beneath the wicked-looking structure, a black galaxy portal opened up. "I use Number 51: Dark Excalibur to reconstruct the Overlay Network! Chaos Xyz Change!" The spikey sphere sank into the portal, which exploded with light and sound. "Appear! Chaos Number 51: Dark Excalibur Reita!"
The crimson number fifty-one on the back of his hand shattered, only to reform as a darker, pulsating version of the symbol. From out of the residue a new sphere arose, identical in every way to the first one besides the colour – whereas the original form had a dull black sealed form, this one seemed to be made of glass, as though staring into a crystal ball. But the glass was certainly not transparent – instead, a curtain of black and purple shadows seemed to shift and writhe within the sphere, as though the glass was merely a window into a dimension of pure darkness. Just like the previous form, however, this crystal structure began to separate and segment, taking on the appearance of various armoured plates as a humanoid figure began to uncurl itself from inside. As the monster stretched its arms, the shadowy crystal armour settled into place, leaving only the monsters hands, head, and midriff uncovered, the rest of it being encompassed in a robe of restlessly shifting shadows encased by glass. The warrior's sword was still as archaic as ever, and had the same split at the handle, leaving two separate blades extending away from it. A single, deep purple Overlay Unit circled it.
Chaos Number 51: Dark Excalibur Reita: Warrior-Type/Xyz/DARK/Rank 6/ATK 2800/DEF 2000 – 1 OLU
"Again with these Chaos Numbers," Usur growled.
"Battle!" Matt shouted. "Dark Excalibur Reita, attack Passion Aurora Sol Invictus!"
Usur's eyes widened. "Attacking your teammate? Have you completely lost it, boy?!"
"Matt, what the hell are you doing?" James shouted.
Leah, however, had worked out exactly what was going on. "Yes!" she squealed as the Chaos Number leapt high into the air, its sword raised above its head. "Go for it Matt!"
"I activate Reita's effect," Matt declared. "By detaching one of its Overlay Units, I can negate this attack." The warrior, which had been about to take a wild slash at Sol Invictus, came to a sudden halt right in front of it and lowered its sword. Its sole purple Overlay Unit was absorbed into its blade, which flared with violet light along its entire length.
Chaos Number 51: Dark Excalibur Reita: 1 → 0 OLU
Chaos Number 85: Hypocentral Warplord - Bakushin-chi: 8 → 9 OLU
"This is nonsensical!" Usur cried. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Let me finish and you'll see!" Matt snapped. "Once the attack is negated, my opponent takes damage equal to the ATK of the monster Reita was attacking."
"Ah..." Usur let out a breath as comprehension dawned on him. "So you believe it kinder to wipe out your teammate's Life Points yourself rather than let Apeiros have them. How very gallant of you. Maybe you have the makings of a leader after all-"
"I'm not dealing the damage to Leah," Matt said calmly. "I'm dealing it to you."
"You can't!" Usur snarled, how brow furrowing. "The girl controls the monster you attacked, so she takes the damage!"
"Oh?" Matt raised an eyebrow. "I think you should learn to read, Professor. My Chaos Number's effect doesn't say to inflict the damage to 'the controller of that monster', it just says to inflict it to 'your opponent'. And in a Battle Royal duel, 'your opponent' means anyone who isn't me. Which means, even though I attacked Leah's monster, I can still inflict the 2700 damage to you!"
"You..." Usur looked practically livid. "You're just exploiting a technical loophole!"
"Call it what you like," Matt replied. "All I'm doing is selecting a different available target. Go, Reita! Finish him off!" The shadowy Chaos Number tore its hate-filled gaze away from Sol Invictus and turned to face Usur. It tensed its knees, ready to surge forwards and strike.
"You won't win that way, young Matthew!" Usur shouted. "I won't allow it! I activate the Trap Card, Xyz Overwhelm!" His sole face-down card flipped up. "When my opponent activates a card or effect during their own attack, this card negates that effect, then forces the attacking monster to do battle with the Xyz Monster I control with the highest Rank!" The Trap released a stream of bright yellow energy, and Reita, who had been about to charge, suddenly found itself being pushed back by the force of it.
"No!" Katie cried.
"Now, not only do I take no damage," Usur said, breathing heavily, "but your attack is not negated, so it continues unabated. And due to the other effect of Xyz Overwhelm, that attack is now targeting none other than Boundless Dragon Apeiros!" The Chaos Number, freed from the waves of energy, now looked up at the colossal dragon hovering above it. Their gazes met, each mirroring the other's ferocity, but with Reita unable to compare to the sheer power in the dragon's eyes.
Matt couldn't believe it. To be able to taste victory, yet still face defeat because of a stupid Trap Card – even after his friends' help and encouragement – was more infuriating than even the prospect of losing to Usur. Furious with himself, Matt clenched his teeth. "No... not like this," he muttered. "It can't end like-"
"Matt, what're your face-downs!" Leah called.
Matt stared at her. "Huh? What're you-"
"Just trust me! What are they?"
Briefly, Matt's memory flashed back to the three-way duel against Skyler, where Leah had asked him to do the exact same thing: reveal the identity of one of his face-downs in order to plan her move. It had worked then – sort of – so it could work now. Either way, Reita was preparing to strike, and he could see no other way out of this. He sighed heavily.
"Xyz Reversal and Trap Reborn."
As Usur's hysterical laughter rang out once more, Leah looked at each of her teammates in turn and said, "You got that guys?"
Dan nodded. "Yeah. Don't worry, we've got your back Matt."
Matt quite literally didn't know where to look. "What're you talking about? What-"
"I activate the Trap Card, Quick Xyz!" Katie declared, triggering her set card. "This card lets me perform an Xyz Summon during my opponent's Battle Phase, using monsters I control as the Materials!" With no visible prompting from Katie, Flarestormer crossed its arms over its chest and seemed to fold in on itself, shrinking down, covering itself in a molten layer of rock which completely encased its body. Within seconds, nothing remained but a molten, pulsating piece of rock in the shape of a V. Its sealed form. Beneath the now-sealed Number, a large, galaxy-shaped portal opened up. "I use Flarestormer to reconstruct the Overlay Network! Chaos Xyz Change!" With deceptive serenity, the volcanic lump of rock descended into the portal, which exploded upwards like a volcano. "Arise, Chaos Number 91: Flarestorm Charger!"
The bright red number ninety-one on the back of her hand shattered, then reformed in a darker, pulsating form. Likewise, the piece of volcanic rock that rose out of the portal was a much darker red, even tinged with purple, with tiny blue flames flickering over its surface like candles. With a sound like a mountain being ripped asunder, the giant V-shaped boulder shattered, showering the field with embers and charred rocks. The centaur that emerged from the molten prison had undergone a similar change. Its armour, originally insubstantial, now covered a far larger portion of its body, and was a deep pitch-black colour as opposed to the rusty silver from before – it was like staring into pure obsidian. The body itself was still constructed from lava, but the appearance it had assumed seemed to be more muscular in the chest, arms, and all four legs. It was also pulsating – dimming slightly and then glowing with molten radiance – as if in time to a heartbeat. Its wings, bat-like and leathery, were now huge; each one was larger than the centaur's entire body. The Chaos Number was still weaponless, but its gauntlets were now coated with spikes around the knuckles, and along the top of the arm right up to the shoulder, meaning the monster could deliver much more deadly charges. Three red orbs traced circles around the monster's substantially larger physique.
Chaos Number 91: Flarestorm Charger: Pyro-Type/Xyz/FIRE/Rank 4/ATK 2000/DEF 200 – 3 OLU
Matt was totally confused. Flarestorm Charger was strong, but in this scenario, its effect would cripple Reita just as much as Apeiros, since both he and Usur were classed as Katie's opponents.
"Alright!" Dan grinned, before turning to James. "Go for it man. Use all of Bakushin-chi's Overlay Units for its effect!"
Weirdly, James seemed just as bewildered as Matt. In the hopes of attaining victory, however, he went along with it. "I activate Bakushin-chi's effect! By detaching all nine of its Overlay Units, it gains 9000 ATK!" Each of the nine diamond-shaped crystals shattered and were absorbed.
Chaos Number 85: Hypocentral Warplord - Bakushin-chi: 9 → 0 OLU
Chaos Number 85: Hypocentral Warplord - Bakushin-chi: ATK 0 → 9000
"Perfect, thanks!" Dan called, before pointing a finger at his own face-down. "Now I activate the Trap Card, Compliance!" The card flipped up. "When the ATK of an opponent's monster changes during the Battle Phase, one of my monsters gains an equivalent amount of ATK. I'll give a 9000 boost to Brutsar!"
Number 40: Trailblazing Hunter Brutsar: ATK 3000 → 12000
"That's it," Dan nodded in satisfaction. "Floor's all yours Matt."
And suddenly, Matt understood.
How could he have been so stupid? This wasn't a random collection of moves. Katie's Chaos Number, Dan's Trap Card, the ATK boost... they were all parts of a giant puzzle that Matt had the last two pieces for. His friends really did have his back, just as they'd said. He grinned.
Now the pathway to victory was clear.
"Usur!" he called.
The Professor turned his bemused gaze on the young man. "Hmm?"
"Just to let you know, you're completely right."
"About what, may I ask?"
"What you said..." Matt glanced at James. "And what you said too... I agree with you both. I am, and always have been, a lousy leader."
Leah looked at him, startled. "Matt, don't say-"
"No, it's the truth," Matt said, his voice perfectly calm. "I'm no commander. I can't inspire people into following me, or maintain a chain of command. Hell, it would be weird if I could – I'm a teenager, for goodness sake. Even with that excuse though..." He looked at each of his teammates in turn. "Let's face it, any one of you guys could have done a better job of leading this team than me. There's only one thing I ever did to hold this team together."
"And that is?" Usur sneered.
Matt closed his eyes. "My best. I did everything I could to lead us through the roughest of times. I made mistakes, and plenty of them – which probably contributed to some of our failings. I was selfish with my feelings at times," he opened his eyes and glanced at Leah, who held his gaze unflinchingly, "and that jeopardised us as well. I even managed to let one of us get hurt in the worst way possible, which nearly destroyed this whole team."
"Did it ever..." Dan muttered.
"But you know what? I've learnt from all that. I'm not standing here trying to command my friends anymore, or pretend that I have any more authority than you, Professor. I'm not fighting as their superior anymore. I'm standing alongside them, as their equal... and we're going to take you down! Not as soldiers in some stupid command structure, but as a ragtag bunch of friends doing the only thing they can: their absolute best!" Having said all he'd needed to, he pointed at one of his face-downs, which flipped up instantly. "I activate Trap Reborn! With it, by paying half my Life Points, I can copy the effect of any Normal Trap Card in my opponent's Graveyard."
Matt LP: 100 → 50
"I banish Compliance from Dan's Graveyard, to activate its effect as my own!" he declared. Dan, still grinning, obligingly held up his duel disk and allowed the card to be extracted from it. "Due to its effect, when the ATK of an opponent's monster changes during the Battle Phase, one of my monsters gains an equivalent amount of ATK. Brutsar just gained 9000 ATK, so Reita gains that much too!"
Chaos Number 51: Dark Excalibur Reita: ATK 2800 → 11800
"Hmph, very impressive," Usur said. "But all for naught! Your monsters still doesn't match up to Apeiros, and now your Life Points are even lower!"
"I'm not finished," Matt said. He was still calm, in total control of his moves. "I activate my other Trap Card, Xyz Reversal! With it, I can swap an Xyz Monster on my field for an Xyz Monster on my opponent's field." He paused and turned to Katie. "Do you mind?"
Katie grinned and shook her head. "What's mine is yours, Matt."
Matt nodded. "Alright. In that case, I'll exchange my Shiki Summoner for Katie's Flarestorm Charger!" Both Xyz Monsters burst into a shower of particles, which swarmed past each other and reformed on each other's sides of the field.
"Nonsensical rubbish!" Usur snarled. "My servant is getting impatient, boy! Stop wasting my-" He suddenly stopped, blinking hard as though trying to clear his eyes of water.
"Wasting your what, Professor?" Matt asked. He had a feeling he knew what this was about now.
"Wasting-" Usur gave a sharp intake of breath through gritted teeth, and shook his head violently. "No..." he growled. "Stop that! You have no right to be doing this-"
"That Number's too strong for you, Professor," Matt observed. "It doesn't like being called your servant, and it's overpowering you."
"Shut up!"
"The Stranger was right – you were too ambitious trying to control a Number like that. I'm guessing you've got a band like ours somewhere on you, but I don't think it works too well against Apeiros."
"I said shut up!" Usur shouted, seemingly regaining control of his facilities. "And stop wasting my time with this tarrying! Hurry up and get your attack over with!"
He'd spoken too soon. At that moment, as if it could hold back no longer, Reita launched itself high into the air, through the wall of the Sphere Field that opened to release it, and shot up towards Apeiros. Its blade trailed shadowy energy like a comet. The great beast looked down at it, an air of smug superiority in those hate-filled eyes.
Yet still Matt didn't panic, nor did he rush his move. He was still in control.
"I activate Flarestorm Charger's effect!" he declared.
Usur's brows met in a thunderous scowl. "Oh, what now?!"
"By detaching one of its Overlay Units, Flarestorm Charger will gain 200 ATK for each monster in my Graveyard. I have five, so it gains 1000 ATK." The centaur took a single lethal slash at its Overlay Unit, cleaving it in two. An inferno of raging flames surrounded it, upping its ATK.
Chaos Number 91: Flarestorm Charger: 3 → 2 OLU
Chaos Number 91: Flarestorm Charger: ATK 2000 → 3000
"What's the point?!" Usur snapped. "It's not even attacking!"
"It doesn't have to be," Matt said. "You see, this effect has a second part to it. In addition to the ATK boost, it also decreases the ATK of all monsters my opponent controls by 200 multiplied by the total number of monsters in my opponent's Graveyard."
"The total number of..." Usur's voice trailed away, and a horror-struck expression replaced his earlier irritation.
"Looks like you're catching on," Dan grinned. "All of us are Matt's opponents, not just you."
"Which means all of our Graveyards get counted for Flarestorm Charger's effect," Katie said.
"There are forty-one monsters total in the Graveyards that aren't mine," Matt was saying. "Which means all opposing monsters lose 8200 ATK!" A set of almost-identical veils of shimmering flames enveloped Shiki Summoner, Sol Invictus, Brutsar, Bakushin-chi, Tu Shen Long, and Apeiros. Rather than basking in their increasing power, however, the monsters thrashed about as their strength was sapped away by the intense heat. In Apeiros' case, its frenzied flapping produced yet more alarming quakes in the building below.
Number 90: Shiki Summoner: ATK 2400 → 0
Chaos Number 17: Passion Aurora Sol Invictus: ATK 2700 → 0
Number 40: Trailblazing Hunter Brutsar: ATK 12000 → 3800
Chaos Number 85: Hypocentral Warplord - Bakushin-chi: ATK 9000 → 800
Chaos Number 64: Bedrock Dragon Tu Shen Long: ATK 2600 → 0
Number 100: Boundless Dragon Apeiros: ATK 15600 → 7200
"This can't be happening..." Usur breathed, unable to take it all in. "Not like this... Apeiros can't lose to such underhanded trickery! It can't be!"
"I disagree," Matt said simply. "Do it, Dark Excalibur Reita! End this!"
High above them, the Chaos Number was finally within striking distance of its target, which had just been released from the clutches of the wicked flames. Sensing the danger, Apeiros whipped its head around and loosed a stream of brilliant white flames at Reita, even as Hellcry Xiaolong had done before it. The Chaos Number span in mid-air, but was nearly too slow to avoid this much more powerful dragon's retaliation. It dodged the flames, but one of the dragon's great, leathery wings came whistling around to meet instead – clearly, Apeiros was intent on knocking the warrior out of the sky. Noticing the two-pronged attack and unable to alter its flight path a second time, Reita raised its sword and, using the momentum of its spin to provide force to the swing, slashed at the wing as it approached.
The super-honed blade passed through the leathery, sinuous tissue as easily as a knife slicing through butter.
Both Apeiros and Usur howled with pain, their shared agony mingling in a cacophony of sound. Without hesitation, Reita landed on the severed wing as it fell and, using it as a stepping stone, immediately launched itself up towards the roaring dragon. Lifting its runic blade, it lashed out one more time...
... and plunged the sword hilt-deep into the crystal on Apeiros' chest.
The dragon screeched again, but there was a note of utter agony and fury in its voice now. From where the crystal had broken, cracks began to spread across the monsters body, and white smoke began pouring from the wounds as they grew larger. Its job done, Reita yanked its sword free with the sound of metal scraping along glass, and freefell back to earth as the dragon broke down. As pieces of the crystal structure fell away, the duelists saw the ghostly figures of Moonlight Mole and Bakushin, suspended inside the gemstone by tendons of ghostly white fog. They were only visible for a second, as just then, Apeiros gave one final desperate howl before exploding, the force of the detonating gemstone ripping the beast apart.
A section of the Sphere Field opened up once more and, before he realised what was happening, Usur was struck by the shockwaves of the almighty explosion, being hurled into the electrified wall behind him. His screams echoed over the rooftops for miles around.
Usur LP: 750 → 0
Author-made cards:
Number 100: Boundless Dragon Apeiros
Dragon-Type/Xyz/DARK/Rank 10/ATK 100/DEF 100
5 Level 10 monsters
This card cannot be destroyed by battle, except by a "Number" monster. This card cannot be targeted by your opponent's Spell/Trap effects. Once per turn, when an opponent's card or effect is activated: This card becomes unaffected by effects of that card type (Monster, Spell, Trap, etc.) until the End Phase. Once per turn, during either player's turn: You can detach 1 Overlay Unit from this card, then target 1 "Number" monster in either Graveyard; equip it to this card, but banish it when it leaves the field. While equipped with a monster(s) this way, this card's ATK becomes the sum of the numbers in the names of all "Number" monsters equipped to it this way x 100. If this card is destroyed by battle or a monster effect: You can Special Summon this card from your Graveyard and attach all other cards you control (min. 1) to this card as Overlay Units, then destroy the monster that destroyed it, and if you do, inflict damage to your opponent equal to its ATK on the field. You can only use this effect of "Number 100: Boundless Dragon Apeiros" once per turn. When an attack is declared involving this card and a face-up "Number 1: Terminal Sorcerer Miden" your opponent controls: All player's LP become 0.
Number 91: Flarestormer
Pyro-Type/Xyz/FIRE/Rank 4/ATK 2000/DEF 200
2 Level 4 monsters
This card cannot be destroyed by battle, except by a "Number" monster. Once per turn, during either player's Damage Step, when a face-up monster(s) on the field battles: You can detach 1 Overlay Unit from this card, then target 1 of the battling monsters; that target gains 100 ATK for each monster in your Graveyard until the end of the Damage Step.
Chaos Number 17: Passion Aurora Sol Invictus
Fairy-Type/Xyz/LIGHT/Rank 6/ATK 2700/DEF 2000
3 Level 6 monsters
This card cannot be destroyed by battle, except by a "Number" monster. Neither player can Special Summon monsters. If this card is Xyz Summoned by Ranking Up "Number 17: Passion Aurora", it gains these effects. ●When your opponent Normal Summons/Sets a monster: Inflict 500 damage to your opponent. ●Once per turn, during either player's turn: You can detach 1 Overlay Unit from this card, then target 1 face-up monster your opponent controls; that target cannot be used or be targeted for an attack (but does not prevent you from attacking directly).
Number 40: Trailblazing Hunter Brutsar
Beast-Warrior-Type/Xyz/FIRE/Rank 8/ATK 3000/DEF 2800
3 Level 8 Beast-Warrior-Type monsters
This card cannot be destroyed by battle, except by a "Number" monster. When this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle and sends it to the Graveyard: You can detach 1 Overlay Unit from this card; Special Summon as many Beast-Warrior-Type monsters as possible from your Graveyard in face-up Defence Position.
Chaos Number 85: Hypocentral Warplord - Bakushin-chi
Machine-Type/Xyz/EARTH/Rank 2/ATK 0/DEF 2200
4 Level 2 monsters
This card cannot be destroyed by battle. After damage calculation, when this card battles an opponent's monster: You can destroy that monster, and if you do, banish it instead of sending it to the Graveyard. If this card is Xyz Summoned by Ranking Up "Number 85: D.D. Epicentre - Bakushin", it gains these effects. ●Each time a face-up Xyz Monster (except this card) detaches its own Overlay Unit(s) to activate its effect, attach the detached Overlay Unit(s) to this card. ●Once per turn, during either player's turn: You can detach 1 or more Overlay Units from this card; this card gains 1000 ATK for each one until the end of this turn.
Chaos Number 64: Bedrock Dragon Tu Shen Long
Dragon-Type/Xyz/EARTH/Rank 6/ATK 2600/DEF 2900
4 Level 6 monsters
This card cannot be destroyed by battle, except by a WIND "Number" monster. If this face-up card would be destroyed, you can detach 1 Overlay Unit from this card instead. If this card is Xyz Summoned by Ranking Up "Number 64: Bedrock Dragon Tu Long", it gains these effects. ●At the end of the Damage Step, if this card battles an opponent's monster: That monster loses 1000 ATK. ●Once per turn: You can detach 2 Overlay Units from this card; all other face-up monsters currently on the field lose ATK equal to their DEF.
Number 90: Shiki Summoner (credit to Superjad)
Aqua-Type/Xyz/WATER/Rank 4/ATK 2400/DEF 2800
3 Level 4 monsters
This card cannot be destroyed by battle, except by a "Number" monster. Once per turn, when the effect of a Ritual Spell Card that you activated resolves, you can use 1 Overlay Unit attached to this card as the entire Tribute (it is treated as a face-up monster you control).
Number 51: Dark Excalibur
Warrior-Type/Xyz/DARK/Rank 6/ATK 2800/DEF 2000
2 Level 6 monsters
This card cannot be destroyed by battle, except by a "Number" monster. This card is unaffected by Spell effects. If this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle: You can detach 1 Overlay Unit from this card; this card can make a second attack in a row. While this card has no Overlay Units attached to it, you cannot activate Spell Cards.
Chaos Number 51: Dark Excalibur Reita
3 Level 6 DARK monsters OR 1 "Number 51: Dark Excalibur" (Overlay Units attached to that monster are also attached to this card)
This card cannot be destroyed by battle, except by a "Number" monster. If you have 1000 or more LP, destroy this card. Once per turn, at the start of your Battle Phase: You can detach 1 Overlay Unit from this card; during this Battle Phase, this card can attack all monsters your opponent controls once each. When this card targets a face-up monster for an attack: You can detach 1 Overlay Unit from this card; negate that attack, and if you do, inflict damage to your opponent equal to that monster's original ATK. You can only use this effect of "Chaos Number 51: Dark Excalibur Reita" once per turn.
Chaos Number 91: Flarestorm Charger
Pyro-Type/Xyz/FIRE/Rank 4/ATK 2000/DEF 200
3 Level 4 FIRE monsters OR 1 "Number 91: Flarestormer" (Overlay Units attached to that monster are also attached to this card)
This card cannot be destroyed by battle, except by a "Number" monster. If you have 1000 or more LP, destroy this card. Once per turn, during either player's turn: You can detach 1 Overlay Unit from this card; until the end of this turn, this card gains 200 ATK for each monster in your Graveyard, also all face-up monsters your opponent currently controls lose 200 ATK for each monster in your opponent's Graveyard.
Crystal Cannon - Zmätok
Continuous Spell Card
Activate this card by paying any multiple of 800 LP. When this card is destroyed by an opponent's card effect and sent to the Graveyard: Destroy cards on the field, up to the number of multiples of 800 LP paid to activate this card. You can only control 1 face-up "Crystal Cannon - Zmätok".
Xyz Overwhelm
Trap Card
During your opponent's Battle Step, when a card or effect is activated while an opponent's monster is attacking: Negate that effect, also change the attack target to the face-up Xyz Monster you control with the highest Rank. You must control a face-up Xyz Monster(s) to activate and resolve this effect.
Fun Fact #125: Alrighty, duel done. That was the last proper duel of Yu-Gi-Oh! Delta. I hope you enjoyed it.
Fun Fact #126: Next Chapter, we'll reveal the role that the Barian Lords were truly playing in this story. Also, Usur will do a thing. A big thing.
Fun Fact #127: No, we're not counting off the names of all forty-one monsters in the Graveyard like we normally do. Just trust us. There's forty-one. Really. Honest.
Fun Fact #128: Damn, Yuya's going to receive all the Summoning Dragons isn't he...? Shame, I was really looking forward to a Battle Royal duel with the four of them, or maybe Yuya, Yuto, Yugo and Yuri teaming up against the big bad and evolving their Dragons, just like Yuma, Nasch and Kaito did against Faker. That's what I'm hoping for, but it's looking increasingly unlikely now...