Chapter 35: Before Hate and Rage
"Shark?" Yuma murmured as the boy stepped off of his motorcycle.
"Heh," IV chuckled. "Ah, how did I actually forget? You really are my biggest fan if you're willing to chase me down."
Shark growled. "Yeah, and it's about time for me to repay you for what you did to me."
"What I did to you?" IV asked in a mocking tone. "Oh, yes! How's that sister of yours doing?"
"Sister…?" Akane blinked. She couldn't recall Crystal saying that Shark had a sibling.
Shark snarled in rage. "You set everything up," he said as he pointed at him. "My disqualification…the accident…because of you, she…she…!"
The boy seized his Duel Disk and equipped it.
"I'll get revenge on you, here and now!"
"You…you want revenge?" Yuma muttered.
"Excellent," IV said as he held out his arm with the Duel Disk strapped to it. "I like people like you. So full of rage, hoping to beat down those that wronged them…it makes me happy seeing the despairing faces as they watched their so-called "revenge" being destroyed!"
Suddenly, a red object shot at Shark's arm and quickly coiled itself around it.
"Wha - ?"
III smiled, and Akane and Yuma saw that the boy had on a metal wristband.
"It's called a Duel Anchor," he explained. "Unless I choose to or you beat me in a duel, you can't escape."
"III," IV roughly called out. "Ryoga's my prey. You leave out of this."
"Brother, Ryoga's deck isn't equipped with a Number," III responded. "Therefore, it isn't necessary for you to duel. After all, his orders must be obeyed."
IV scoffed. "Fine, I guess this little session's over."
He turned to walk away.
"IV, wait!" Shark shouted. "You're going to run away?"
"Run away?" IV spoke as he pulled out his Heart Container. It was already full. "As you can see, I already finished, so I think I'll be returning to my home for today. Let's duel at the Finals then, and we'll see who's stronger…"
The young man disappeared into the darkness.
"IV!"
"Calm down. Getting angry won't lead you anywhere," III said as he pulled out a crescent-shaped object. "But for now, you'll be my opponent."
"Just who are these people?" Astral wondered. "IV had a tattoo similar to Kaito's, and he wasn't controlled by the Numbers. As for III, he had a Duel Anchor. Are they working alongside him…?"
"Yuma."
Akane and Yuma turned to see Tori and Tetsuo helping up Takashi, who seemed to be unconscious.
"We're taking the Class Rep to the hospital," she said.
"Watch the duel," Tetsuo added. "We'll take care of things from here."
"But…" Yuma began.
"They'll be in good hands once they get out of this place," Akane said. "But for now, Kamishiro…"
Shark ignored what was happening behind him as he pulled out his Duel Gazer.
"Fine. No one's going to stop me from getting to IV. Not even you!"
"Then let's test that," III smiled as the object transformed. The object was split into several large feather-shaped card platforms. An orange mark similar to IV's appeared on the back of his hand as a silver gauntlet materialized on his arm, which he attached the object to. He removed his Duel Gazer, and an orange tattoo appeared in place.
"Duel!"
III: 8000
Shark: 8000
"Alright then, if you don't mind, I'll take the first turn!" III announced as he drew. Looking at what he got, he immediately placed it onto his Duel Disk.
"I play the Field Spell Sunken Kingdom!"
In a flash, the entire world was underwater. They were standing in the ruins of a city, with Akane, Yuma, and Astral at the steps to a giant building while III and Shark are at the pathway that led up to it.
"Huh? The field's underwater?" Yuma blinked before his eyes widen and he hurried to cover his face. "Aw jeez! Where's my oxygen tank?"
The young boy kicked wildly in the air as if trying to get to the surface, at least until Astral said, "Yuma, this isn't real."
The boy stopped and looked down. He was floating in the air for just a second before he pummeled to the ground. Akane, however, wasn't paying attention to this as she watched.
"Next up, I summon Chronomaly Mayan Machine (1500/700)."
The ground in front of III exploded as a silver object resembling some sort of vehicle flew out.
"The heck is that?" Yuma asked as he picked himself up from the ground. "Looks like those artifacts at my house."
"OOParts," Akane explained. "Short for "out-of-place artifacts", they're a term for artifacts that would make no sense of existing due to the technology that would be needed to create them. Give the Mayan Machine for example; I think it's based on the "Maya Astronaut", in which carved on the lid of the tomb of a Mayan ruler was a spaceship very similar to this one."
"It's my turn now!" Shark shouted as he drew. "I summon Hammer Shark (1700/1500)!"
The literal hammerhead shark appeared.
"Since your Hammer Shark's a Water monster, it gains 300 attack points," III suddenly pointed out. "Unfortunately, you can't attack any of my Chronomaly monsters with monsters that are level four or below."
Hammer Shark: (2000/1500)
"Is that so?" Shark asked before smiling. "Don't think that your Field Spell can shield your monster, because I activate Hammer Shark's effect! I decrease its level by one in order to special summon a level three or lower monster from my hand, such as Big Jaws (1800/0)!"
A mini-whirlpool formed in front of Shark and the massive steel-toothed sea monster flew out.
"Now because of your Sunken Kingdom, Big Jaws powers up by 300 points. But now, I overlay my level three Hammer Shark and Big Jaws to form the Overlay Network!"
The two sharks transformed into energy as a red portal formed in front of him. The two flew into the center, and moments later, Submersible Carrier Aero Shark (1900/1000) flew out.
"Since Xyz Monsters have Ranks instead of levels, they're unaffected by your Sunken Kingdom, but what gets affected is its attack power!"
Submersible Carrier Aero Shark: (2200/1000)
"Now, based on Aero Shark's effect, I could guess…" Akane murmured.
"…He'll use it right away!" Yuma finished.
"Now by detach a Xyz Material, I can inflict 400 points of damage for every card in my hand," Shark declared as one of Aero Shark's orbs flew into the device that connected the two giant sharks together. Each one spat out two rockets that split into four tiny ones as they bombarded III.
III: 6400
Shark: 8000
"Now go, Aero Shark!"
The sharks flew through the water, biting through the ancient machine.
III: 5700
Shark: 8000
"Nice move, Shark!" Yuma cheered. "You're chewing through his Life Points like there's no tomorrow!"
"I activate Stonehenge Methods!" III countered as his set card flipped over. "Now when a Chronomaly monster is destroyed by battle or by card effect, I get to special summon another one in defense mode, and the one I choose is Chronomaly Colossal Head (800/1600)!"
A series of stone pillars rose from the ground and a pillar of light shot out from the center. When the light faded away, sitting there was a massive stone carved to resemble a head.
"Hmph. I think I've done enough damage for this turn. I set a card and end my turn."
"My turn, draw!" III declared. "I summon Chronomaly Golden Jet (1300/1400)!"
Descending from the sky was a small jet made out of gold.
"Now, time to bend the rules of Xyz Summoning for a little bit," the young man smiled as he held out a card. "I play the Continuous Spell Orichalcum Chain, which allows me to Xyz Summon with one less monster required."
"What?" Shark narrowed his eyes, bracing himself for what's coming up next.
"But there's a con to this strong effect," he continued. "If Orichalcum Chain's destroyed, then you get to keep the Xyz Monster. But for now, I overlay my level four Chronomaly Colossal Head and Golden Jet with Orichalcum Chain's effect!"
As a galaxy-like portal opened up, and the two artifacts flew into the center, joining them was a long golden chain.
"With these two monsters and Orichalcum Chain's effect, I build the Overlay Network!" III chanted as a massive dark red object resembling a shark tooth with two "wings" near the bottom. The wings flashed repeatedly as they began to expand and formed into two claws.
"The biggest, most powerful ruler of the sea…"
From underneath and at the back of the shark tooth, actual wings and legs began forming…
"Your sharp fangs shall destroy everything…!"
…And finally, the tip of the shark tooth flashed and it transformed into a shark's head. With its eyes gleaming yellow, it let out a roar as the mark of "32" appeared on its chest.
"…Number 32: Shark Drake (2800/2100)!"
"Another Number…" Akane murmured. "Isn't it…a Water Attribute?"
"If so…" Yuma realized it. "Shark Drake gains a power boost!"
Number 32: Shark Drake: (3100/2100)
"Now go, Shark Drake!" III commanded the massive monster. "Attack and destroy Aero Shark!"
Shark Drake unleashed a stream of strange fire-like substance that transformed into a giant version of its head. The head bit into Aero Shark, causing it to explode.
III: 5700
Shark: 7100
"I'm afraid I'm not done yet. Now by detaching a Xyz Material, I can forcibly revive your destroyed monster, but its attack points are decreased by 1000, and it must battle again!"
One of Shark Drake's Xyz Materials flew into its head. The beast roared as it unleashed a whirlpool that forcibly sent Aero Shark out, both weakened and powered by its and Sunken Kingdom's effect.
Submersible Carrier Aero Shark: (1200/1000)
But it wasn't enough to save the twin sharks from destruction.
III: 5700
Shark: 5200
"So…you're saying that Shark Drake can attack once more if it destroys Shark's monster?" Yuma asked.
"Not only that, but it's a guaranteed 1000 points of damage," Astral said. "I'm afraid that if Shark doesn't find a way to stop it, he will take another large amount of damage."
"Tch…" Shark grunted as he picked himself up from the last attack. "That's not enough to take me down!" he stated.
"We'll see," III smiled. "I set a card and end my turn."
Shark drew, but Akane could easily tell that he was in trouble.
"Shark Drake has more than 3000 attack points," she said. "If Kamishiro summons a monster in attack mode, he'll take a huge amount of damage. If he summons a monster in defense mode, he'll still take damage once Shark Drake's effect activates."
But unknown to her, Astral spoke up.
"But I could see a way to make a counter," he said. "All he needs to do…"
"…I summon Skull Kraken (600/1600)!"
The skull skeletal squid monster appeared.
"When Skull Kraken's summoned, I can destroy a face-up Spell or Trap on the field. So now, I'll wipe out your Orichalcum Chain!"
The sea monster flipped over and sent a stream of shadowy liquid out of its mouth. It covered Orichalcum Chain's card and it shattered. The exact moment it was destroyed, Shark Drake roared as a ring around its neck appeared and cracks began forming all around it.
Shark watched as it shattered and the Number monster began to head for his side of the field.
'Even if it should possess me…this is the only way out of it…'
Unknown to him, III smiled.
'That's right,' he thought. 'This is the only way to survive. But now, my mission…'
III caught Number 32 as it was thrown to him. The thrower, oddly enough, was a small child with blonde hair, some of it braided to one side of his head. What was a bit unsettling however, was the fact that he had on an iron mask that covered most of his face.
Next to the small child was a tall man with long light blue hair and blue eyes and wore a dark blue coat that reached to his ankles.
"You give that Number to him," the man ordered. "After all, he will appear to you eventually."
"Yes, brother V," III nodded. Behind him, he heard IV scoffed, but ignored him.
"We will take everything away from Dr. Faker…just like what he did to us," the man called V declared.
The small child smiled and spoke in a mature tone. "Don't ever let him know of my existence," he said. "He thinks I am dead, but that false sense of security will be his own undoing."
"Ugh…argh…"
Shark groaned, and everyone saw that a dark aura was starting to cover him…
"No…" Akane gasped.
"Shark!" Yuma shouted in panic.
But Shark couldn't hear anything. He could feel his heart beating as his breathing grew heavy. He balled up his fists as he felt himself grow dizzy, but he saw that on the back of his right hand, the glowing mark of 32 was there. He tried, but he couldn't stay conscious anymore…
"Ugh…aaaaaaaagh…!"
"Yes…come, Ryoga…"
Shark opened his eyes. He couldn't move his body as he found himself floating in darkness.
And then Shark Drake appeared in front of him.
"Yes…come, Ryoga," it repeated. "Let me within your heart and soul. Release the darkness within your soul…"
He tried to move his arms, to try and somehow fight back, but couldn't. All he could do was to barely respond.
"N-no…!"
Shark Drake chuckled, and much to Shark's surprise, it changed. It reappeared, much to his horror, in the appearance of himself. It spoke in his tone, in the same, taunting tone that he had used in the past when he dueled against many of his victims for their decks.
"Why deny me? Didn't it felt good? Didn't it felt good when you allowed the darkness of your heart to take control? Wouldn't you want that rush, that power in your hands once again…?"
"No…I…I refuse to…!"
Shark Drake laughed maniacally as one of its arms turned into its claw and stabbed him through the chest.
Shark screamed in pain, but couldn't. He couldn't breathe, as if the claws pierced right through his heart for real. He was starting to lose his vision, but he could hear Shark Drake continue speaking in his own voice…
"You need me, Ryoga," it said as he saw his own eyes glowed. "With me as your ally, you can have unimaginable power. With me as your partner, you will no longer need the help of those so-called "friends"…"
"You want to avenge Rio and defeat IV, correct? Then you will need the ruthlessness that you had possessed…and I can help you…"
Shark's will to fight back was fading away…
'Maybe…maybe…'
"C'mon Shark, let's duel again sometime!"
Another voice spoke in the darkness. But it wasn't his voice. The voice was much happier, someone he knew too well…
Yuma.
"Aw, c'mon! I thought we were friends!"
He remembered that one when Shark had joined a gang of thugs after he quit dueling. When Yuma found out, he chased Shark all over the city for a duel…
He heard himself growl and ask, "We're NOT friends, you got that!? Why'd you even think that anyway?"
"Because we are!" Yuma's voice countered. "Why? Because we dueled!"
Shark's vision was starting to return. He could feel his heart beating once again, and he could feel himself breathe.
"I am all that you need…"
"DON'T LAUGH AT HIM!"
Shark opened his eyes. Yuma shouted at the two men, which is kind of strange since Shark and his partner are teenagers while the two are criminals.
"What's so funny?" he asked. "What's so funny about being afraid to lose? I'm afraid of losing as well, you know! When I thought I'd lose, I became scared."
He turned to Shark. "That's why I used the Numbers on you!"
Shark silently stared as he continued speaking. "Yeah, I said that it's for Shark's sake, the real reason's because I was scared of losing! I lied!"
Yuma looked down at the floor, which is scattered with debris from the fierce duel.
"Because of that, I don't want to lie in a duel ever again. And I'm sure Shark feels the same way! This duel is real!"
Shark could feel his limbs moving…
"Ryoga…"
"Don't say anymore."
He remembered it as well. When he was disqualified from the National Duel Circuit, the only person who met up with him was Crystal.
"What…what're you going to do now?"
"I'll figure it out," he heard himself sigh. "But for you…take this."
He heard Crystal gasped.
"Take this card."
"Ryoga, this is…!"
"Yeah. The card that helped me win and will now serve you."
"But is this okay?" Crystal's voice asked.
"My days in the Nation Duel Circuit are over, Crystal. But this is the beginning of yours. I hope Leviair will make good use. And besides…"
"…If we meet again, let's have a rematch."
"Ryoga…it's a promise!"
"I'm all that you need in this world…"
"…No."
"What?"
"I said no."
Shark opened his eyes with a determined look on his face. He grasped Shark Drake's claw.
"W-what…!?"
"I'm not myself from the past anymore!" Shark declared. "I don't need you, and I never will! You're not in control of me, because I'm in control of myself! GET THE HELL OUT OF MY SIGHT!"
With a defiant roar, he pulled the claw away from his chest. At the same time, Shark Drake roared in pain as it returned to its original form and faded away…
Shark opened his eyes and with a shout, "LET'S GO!"
Akane sighed in relief and Yuma cheered. "Yes! He's not possessed!"
'What's going on?' III wondered, now concerned about the situation before him. 'It should've possessed him!'
"Looks like you're plan backfired," Shark said as the mark on his hand disappeared. "Go get him, Shark Drake!"
The controlled Number monster roared as it unleashed another blast at the boy.
"If this works, he's going to take massive damage!" Yuma said.
"I won't let that happen!" III shouted as his set card flipped over. "With Antikythera Gear, if you have two or more monsters in attack mode when you declare a direct attack, I can forcibly take one of your other monsters and switch it to defense mode, such as your Skull Kraken!"
An ancient gear appeared. Several ropes shot out from its back and raced straight for the skeletal sea monster.
"Dream on!" Shark countered as his own set card flipped over. "With Extreme Pressure Power, it destroys one of my monsters while letting me draw a card!"
Skull Kraken was crushed and the ropes ended up missing it. Shark drew, and III was sent flying as Shark Drake's attack connected.
III: 2600
Shark: 5200
"Now I'll set a card down and end my turn."
III groaned as he slowly got up. 'I was told to simply give Ryoga Shark Drake,' he thought. 'I was then told to lose, but…'
With a determined look on his face, he drew.
"I activate Chronomaly Technology, and with it, I banish my Chronomaly Mayan Machine from my graveyard to draw two cards," he announced. "However, I must then discard a card."
He drew and sent one of them to the graveyard.
"Now that you control a monster and I don't, I can special summon Chronomaly Crystal Bones (1300/400)!"
A headless skeleton made out of pure crystal appeared.
"Next up, I can special summon a Chronomaly monster from my hand or graveyard, such as the Crystal Skull (900/600) that I just sent due to Chronomaly Technology's effect."
A large skull made out of crystal appeared.
"And now, I overlay my level three Chronomaly Crystal Skull and Crystal Bones to build the Overlay Network!" III declared as both monsters transformed and flew into the forming red portal.
"I Xyz Summon Chronomaly Crystal Chrononaut (2100/1200)!"
Rising out of the portal was a strange purple creature with two large orange eyes and wings. It held its arms out, making it look like a "T".
"If I detach a Xyz Material from Chrononaut, it can't be destroyed by battle this turn, and all the damage that I would've taken is redirected to you," III explained as one of the alien's Xyz Materials flew into a mirror on its chest.
"Say what!?" Shark gasped.
"To put it simply, your Shark Drake sure has a lot of attack points…which I'll take advantage of, I'm afraid! Crystal Chrononaut, attack it now!"
The mirror on its chest flashed and a "ghostly" version of it flew out.
"Not good!" Yuma yelped.
Shark Drake stabbed the ghostly Chrononaut with its claws and it dispersed into sparks that flew back into its mirror. A large tornado flew out seconds later, hitting Shark.
III: 2600
Shark: 4200
'I could just let Ryoga win,' III thought as he gazed at his last card. 'But then again, I still have my pride!'
"I activate the Spell Chronomaly Discovery. By banishing a Chronomaly monster from my graveyard, I can draw cards equal to its level, but I have to skip my next draw phase. So now, I banish my Crystal Skull in order to draw three cards."
Once he looked at them, he picked up two.
"I set two cards and end my turn."
"My turn now!" Shark declared as he drew. "I activate the Spell Fish Spawn. By paying 1000 of my Life Points, I can special summon two Fish Spawn Tokens (0/0)!"
III: 2600
Shark: 3200
Two tiny fish appeared.
"Now, I'm sacrificing one of them in order to summon Eagle Shark (1000/1800)."
A red shark with the head of an eagle appeared.
Eagle Shark: (1300/1800)
"And since I control a face-up Eagle Shark, I'm allowed to special summon Panther Shark (1100/2000)!"
A yellow shark with the head of a panther appeared.
Panther Shark: (1400/2000)
Shark smiled as he removed the two monsters and placed them together at another spot.
"I overlay my level five Sharks!" he declared as the two sea monsters flew into a giant portal above his head.
"No way!" Yuma breathed.
"Kamishiro has a Rank five Xyz Monster…?" Akane murmured.
"Come to me, Shark Fortress (2400/1800)!"
Slowly descending from the portal was a massive war machine. It was an aircraft shaped like a shark, with a massive "mouth" at the front as if it was some sort of hangar.
"Furthermore, I detach a Xyz Material from Shark Fortress. Shark Drake, finish off Crystal Chrononaut!"
However, III smiled. "I got you now, Ryoga!" he declared. "I activate my Trap, Mirror Force!"
"What?" Shark grunted as a colorful barrier formed around III's field.
"Fortunately, I haven't underestimated you one bit," III responded. "With this Trap, it will wipe out all of your monsters, and so…this victory will belong to me!"
"Then lucky for me I haven't underestimated you as well."
Shark suddenly grinned, and III gasped as his own set card flipped over.
"I activate Sea King's Verdict!" he declared. "With this, your Trap is negated and destroyed!"
A giant trident suddenly shot out from the building behind Shark. It pierced through the barrier and shattered it.
"N-no!" III cried. "How can this be?"
"Continue the attack!"
Shark Drake opened its mouth and sank its teeth into the strange being's chest.
III: 1600
Shark: 3200
"Now, I'm detaching a Xyz Material to bring back your Chrononaut and decrease its power!"
Shark Drake, after reducing Chrononaut's chest to tiny purple bits, it threw it away and swallowed its last Xyz Material.
Chronomaly Crystal Chrononaut: (1100/1200)
"Finish him off, Shark Drake!"
Shark Drake unleashed the fire-like substance at the torn being…
"I activate Colossal Head's effect from the graveyard!" III declared. "I banish it to switch Chrononaut to defense mode!"
It was still now use, Chrononaut held up a hand, but it exploded as it came into contact with the substance.
"But by doing so, III did not take any damage as Chrononaut was in defense mode," Astral said.
"Yeah, but what - ?"
"Even with that, you would lose either way, from either Shark Drake or Shark Fortress," Shark said. "Before this battle, I detached a Xyz Material from Shark Fortress, which would allow Shark Drake to attack again."
"S – so…that means…!"
"I still have one more attack," Shark concluded. "Go, finish this!"
Roaring, Shark Drake sent a blast of fire at III. Struck, the boy cried out as he was sent flying…
III: 0
Shark: *WINNER*
"Yes!" Yuma cheered.
Akane sighed. "It's over…"
"I see…" III softly spoke as he stood up. The tattoo and mark disappeared from his body. "You really are good. Good for what comes next…"
"What do you mean?" Shark asked.
III pulled several objects out of his pocket. He tossed Shark both a card and a Mini-Heart Piece, which the boy caught.
"Keep Shark Drake," III said. "Both it and the Heart Piece are a reward for your victory. I might have lost to you, but…"
He showed the group the other object in his hand: a full Heart Container.
"I already completed mine as well," he said. "When we meet once more, I won't be this easy."
The crest on the back of his hand appeared as a portal opened up right next to him.
"W – wait!" Yuma shouted. "That tattoo thing – where'd you get it? Are you Number Hunters along with Kaito?"
"Kaito…?" III's face hardened. "I don't know anyone of that name."
Akane knew he was lying, but he stepped through the portal and disappeared.
"Hmph."
Shark placed the objects into his pocket and he started for his motorcycle.
"Shark, wait!" Yuma spoke once more. "What did IV mean? What did he mean by a sister?"
"Don't get involved with me anymore. It's my own business," Shark simply said before turning to Akane. "You're Crystal's friend as well, right? Don't tell her what had happened."
And before anyone else could say anything, Shark drove away…
"Before, Shark mentioned about revenge…" Akane heard Yuma murmured. "Something…about…revenge…"
"He acquired another Number again," Astral said. "When the time comes, we may need to take it from him…"
Akane could only wonder what had happened before all this. Yuma, Shark, Numbers, the two mystery people, and Kaito Tenjo…
Antikythera Gear
Trap
If your opponent controls 2 or more face-up monsters when an opponent's monster declares a direct attack: Target 1 Attack Position monster your opponent controls, except the attacking monster; take control of that target and change it to Defense Position.
Orichalcum Chain
Continuous Spell
Once, if you would Xyz Summon an Xyz Monster while this card is face-up on the field, you can use 1 less Xyz Material than required, and if you do, target that Xyz Monster when it is Summoned. When this face-up card is destroyed, your opponent gains control of that target (if any). When that target leaves the field, destroy this card.
Sunken Kingdom
Field Spell
All face-up WATER monsters gain 300 ATK. Level 4 or lower monsters cannot target "Chronomaly" monsters for attacks.
(The above 3 cards are used by III/Trey in Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL Episode 34. All credit goes to the creators.)
Chronomaly Discovery
Spell
Banish 1 "Chronomaly" monster in your Graveyard: Draw cards equal to its Level, but you must skip your next Draw Phase.
(The above card is created by me.)
Chapter 36: Alone in this World Part 1: Before the State of Melancholy
In the aftermath of the duel, a misunderstanding caused Akane and Tori to separate from Yuma. A meeting with a photographer spells out trouble as Akane and Yuma duels against him for the sake of the lives of many. All the while, Akane is forced to deal with herself as a forgotten part of her past slowly reveals itself.