Chapter 49: League of Legends
Given the fact that Yuma, Kotori, Tetsuo, and Cathy were sitting on the rooftop of Heartland Academy, it wasn't a surprise that the gentle winds of the mid-summer morning were more persistent that usual. After all, the higher the location, the windier the place, and sitting a couple stories above the ground was as high as the four teenagers could have gone.
Yuma threw his arms back and rested his hands on the back of his head as he lied on the roof. His eyes aimlessly stared at the periodic clouds in the sky as he tried to decipher their shapes, to no real avail.
"That Shark," he sighed, closing his eyes and feeling one of his sideburns smack against his cheek. "He's a completely different person than before again."
Astral floated a few feet above Yuma's body. His chin rested on his hand as he immersed himself in thought. Though he didn't know it, he and Yuma were both thinking of the same thing – the aftermath of the first duel that Shark had had against them on the tournament's first day.
Yuma Tsukumo – 0 LP
Shark – 0 LP
Kotori and Tetsuo ran over to Yuma to check his condition. He was a bit banged up, but all in all in one piece. He slowly sat up to see Shark walking toward him slowly. Yuma braced himself for anything that Shark was going to do, but he didn't brace himself for what actually happened.
The previously cruel duelist extended his hand for Yuma to shake. "You're better than I expected."
Yuma stared at Shark's hand, unknowing of what the blue-haired boy's angle was. But he looked back into Shark's eyes and saw nothing but real praise.
"Thanks!" Yuma grinned, shaking Shark's hand as well. "That was a lot of fun!"
"Yeah," Shark replied. He began to walk away slowly before stopping. "Tell you what…When I see you in the finals, we'll duel again then."
"Shark!" Yuma shouted. "Does this mean we're friends?"
Shark stopped his stroll briefly and looked back. "That's for you to decide," he said with a small smile appearing on his face.
Yuma watched as Shark walked away from the scene, but not before he decided his status with Shark.
"Friends," Yuma whispered aloud.
"And even in the tag duel against Kaio and Rikuo," Yuma recalled. He erected his spine long enough to reach down for his deck box. He fanned through the cards in his Main Deck before finding the one he'd been looking for.
Armored Xyz, he gazed, eyes deadlocked on the card. The card that Shark gave me…The proof of our bond. But just now in the restaurant…
"Shark!" Yuma called out again. "What's going on? What is that card you just picked up?"
Shark continued to disregard Yuma, proceeding to make his way to Luna.
"Answer me, Shark!" Yuma repeated. "What are you doing and who is she?"
Shark turned his head to the side partially, his eye sliding to the corner. He frowned, only giving Yuma one sentence.
"Don't get involved with me, Yuma," he warned.
"Tch…" Yuma unconsciously clenched his fists, wrinkling the bottom of the Spell Card in his hand. "He's hunting Numbers again. That means that eventually…"
"It's true that we'll need the Numbers that he has if we're to restore my memory," Astral finally spoke. "But just why is Shark collecting them? What's his goal?"
"Huh?" Yuma had been so worried about dueling against Shark again that he'd overlooked that question. "What's Shark's goal for collecting the Numbers?" he repeated.
"I bet it has something to do with that woman that was near him," Tetsuo added, walking over to Yuma with Cathy and Kotori in tow. "During the duel, I noticed her doing some weird things."
"Weird things?"
"I don't know how to explain it." Tetsuo shook his head. Cathy nodded in agreement as Tetsuo added, "I'm just getting a weird feeling about her. There's something more to her, I'm sure."
"But, Yuma," Kotori interjected, "even if you defeat Shark, you still have to worry about Kaito. Princess Cologne said that his brother was in trouble and if the Numbers are involved with that, he's going to do everything he can to get them."
"I know that much, Kotori," Yuma groaned, scratching at the back of his hair. "I just don't know what I should do. The Numbers are a part of Astral's memories…no, they are Astral's memories, and I want to help him by retrieving them.
"But against Kaito, who's fighting for his brother, and Shark, who I consider to be a close friend, I just don't know what to do!"
He groaned, pulling at his hair as he remembered a previous warning Kaito had given him after they'd dueled inside the Emperor's Key.
"Wait, Kaito!" Yuma shouted. "Hold on!"
Kaito ignored Yuma's request, already upset that he had to relinquish his victory by ending the duel in a draw. At that point, he wanted as little to do with the pink-haired annoyance as possible.
"Kaito!" Yuma yelled, raising his voice as Kaito moved further and further away. "You said that Dr. Faker was the closest thing to the devil than I can imagine, didn't you? I want to know who he is so I can help you!"
That statement was enough to make Kaito stop altogether, even though he didn't want to. He turned around, his head hanging downward. He didn't dare look Yuma in the eyes for fear that his emotions would get the better of him.
"You can't help me escape from the nightmare that he's built for me," Kaito said softly. "I'm trapped in it at least until I fulfill my task…or die trying."
"Kaito…" Yuma said, picking himself up off the ground leisurely.
"That's why…that's why I must hunt the Numbers," he scowled, looking unpleasantly at the floor before turning one last time to Yuma. "And that's why the next time we meet…the outcome of the duel will be different!"
"Damn!" exhaled a stressed Yuma. His spine gave out, dropping him back on the steel roof padding. "This is harder than I thought!"
"Don't worry. You'll figure it out when the time is right," Tetsuo nodded in a sagely manner.
"That's right, darling!" Cathy agreed. "You can do it! You'll just have to use your Cattobingu!"
"Kattobingu," Yuma repeated. He smiled at the involuntary memory of his father that came with the word. "Right! Fuya said my power was making people smile, right? Well then, I'll find a way to make both Kaito and Shark smile through my Kattobingu!"
Yuma threw a victory fist in the air, getting energized with a new resolve. He was going to find a solution to make his two rivals happy someway, somehow.
Astral said nothing as he floated off to the side. His eyes were closed as he weighed in on Yuma's words. If only it could be that simple. He had no problem with Yuma helping Shark or Kaito with their goals, but involving the Numbers in that type of situation…
Still, it was Yuma, and Astral had come to learn that the boy could make almost anything happen. If there truly was a solution to the problem, he knew that Yuma would be the one that could make it happen.
As Yuma rejoiced to himself, his three friends looked down at their Extra Deck boxes. Each of them remembered their own Number monsters as they pondered what would happen when Yuma required them in the near future. Certainly, they had collected the Numbers for Yuma's sake in the first place, but…
"Achoo!" Naturally being Yuma, the animated thirteen-year old failed to cover his mouth as his sneeze particles swayed in the wind. The act earned a glare from Tetsuo, a pair of wide eyes from Cathy, and a half-minute lecture from Kotori about the how unhygienic Yuma's actions always were.
"But now that you mention it," Kotori stopped mid-sentence of her oration as she rubbed her arms with her hands for warmth, "it is getting kind of chilly up here."
"Let's go back downstairs," Tetsuo suggested, leading the group down the flight of stairs they'd traveled fifteen minutes before.
Three minutes later, the four teenagers and the Astral World emissary found themselves on the ground level in the back of the school. It was a spacious area, though that was mostly due to the fact that it contained an empty parking lot.
"Well, we're downstairs," Yuma scoffed. "What should we do now?"
Kotori began, "Well, we could always…"
"Oh, no!" Yuma hastily refuted. "We just took your suggestion to go to the Shamoji restaurant and it ended up with us almost being crushed!"
"What about when you almost got the two of us blown to smithereens by Anna and her rocket launcher?" Kotori countered quickly. She locked eyes with Yuma, a tacit way of declaring that neither would back down from their lover's quarrel.
"How about when you sent us to the House of Dolls with Cologne?" Yuma puffed. "That wasn't much fun, now was it?"
"Well, do you remember when…"
"Well, if it isn't Tsukumo Yuma-kun!" called a voice from the other side of the parking lot.
Tetsuo and Cathy had been so busy listening to Yuma and Kotori that they hadn't heard whoever it was speaking come towards them, and that went double for the bickering lovebirds.
All four teens turned to see not one, but four people walking toward them. The one in the center of the gang, who they presumed to be the speaker from moment before, was a male dressed in a Heartland Academy uniform – although the dark blue tie and light blue shirt fringes implied that he was a third-year student – with a green beret that cover his neatly-coiffed red hair. Despite bearing their school uniform, Neither Yuma nor his friends had ever seen this boy before.
"You're…" Yuma began before his sentence deflated on its own. "Wait, who are you?"
"It's just like someone of his nature not to know," scoffed a second male figure that stood to the right of the beret-wearing boy. He, too, was sporting a third-year school uniform, though his was accessorized with a gold-trimmed sash that was wrapped around his left arm. He grinned, staring at Yuma and his friends with his piercing green eyes. "Such aberrant rule-breakers can't be counted on for much."
"What was that?" Tetsuo growled under his breath.
The green-eyed boy simply shrugged as an older looking, raven-haired girl to his right giggled. She was dressed in a red kimono with floral motifs positioned here and there.
"I hope we weren't intruding on anything," she politely said, though her tone was rather condescending. With a bow of her head, she continued, "We don't want to waste your time, so we'll be swift with introductions. We're here to take all your Numbers."
"What?" Yuma gasped, partly from the comment itself, and partly from its straightforwardness.
"Allow me to introduce us," the beret-wearing third-year commented. He pointed to himself. "My name is Chitaro Ariga, president and founder of the Manga Club here at school!"
"We have a Manga Club?" Yuma heard Kotori whisper to someone behind him.
"I'm Mamoru Jinguji," introduced the second boy with the sash. "Student Council President and keeper of the rules."
"Hey, I remember you!" Yuma suddenly recalled, snapping his fingers together. "You're the kid that got me in an hour-long detention for running in the hallway!"
"Guilty," Mamoru smirked without remorse.
"My name is Aika Hanazoe, esteemed member and creator of the Ikebana Club," smiled the girl to Mamoru's right. She stared at the four teenagers with a hypnotic gaze.
"Who's that?" Kotori bravely questioned, pointing to the robed figure standing to Chitaro's left.
It was a good question, considering the person in question was dressed in a baggy, black cloak with a hood that was large enough to conceal their face. They were noticeably shorter than the other three strangers, around Yuma's height. The visible facial feature was their chin which, suffice to say, wasn't a huge help.
"Don't worry about them for now," Chitaro chuckled. "The four of us are going to duel the four of you for your Numbers…"
Suddenly, all four of the strangers started to laugh. Their eyes momentarily turned red as their voices meshed together as one.
"All for the sake of the Barian World!"
"Barian World!?" Astral repeated fearfully.
"Eh?" Yuma turned around to face the spirit. "Do you know who these Barians are, Astral?"
"There's something about that name." Astral held his head as though he was trying to remember. "It's very familiar to me. Barians…"
"Grr…" Yuma rumbled as he turned to the four. "Fine by me! I'll take you all on if you want my Numbers!"
Chitaro clicked his tongue. "I'm afraid that it doesn't work that way. Since there are four of you and four of us, we'll each be dueling one of you for your Numbers."
"What are you talking about?" Yuma argued. "My friends don't have any Numbers for you to take! There's no point in you guys hurting them! Duel me instead!"
Tetsuo, Kotori, and Cathy exchanged a guilty glance at one another before dropping their eyes to their deck boxes.
Aika giggled from the sidelines as Chitaro smirked. "Your friends don't have any Numbers, huh?" he intoned. "If that's the case, then nothing bad will happen if we defeat them, right?"
"I told you that…"
Yuma's sentence was cut short as three ropes with handcuffs tied to the ends were thrown at his friends' faces. He watched Tetsuo, Kotori, and Cathy instinctively lift their arms to protect themselves, as the Barians had expected. When they did, the cuffs clamped onto their D-Pads.
"Not as effective as Duel Anchors, but they get the job done," Chitaro chortled.
Mamoru, Aika, and the hooded figure each smirked as they pulled on the ropes, causing Tetsuo, Cathy, and Kotori, respectively, to move in accordance like puppets.
"They're called Deathmatch Duel Ropes," explained Chitaro. "They're almost nonexistent nowadays – for good reason. They don't come off until the duel's finished, and the loser of the duel has their D-Pad destroyed! In fact, legend has it that the fabled Yusei Fudo used these at one time in his life.
"But I digress. The point is, Yuma-kun, that if you want to escape this, you're going to have to duel me! As you can see, your friends have no choice but to duel against mine!"
"Damn," Yuma shouted. "That's playing dirty!"
Chitaro shrugged his shoulders. "Be thankful that I'm not using one against you. Unless you don't want to comply, anyway…"
"Fine," spat Yuma. "I'll accept your challenge!"
"Yuma, are you sure this is an opponent we can defeat?" Astral cautioned. "I'm still uncertain about the extent of the power of these…Barians."
"I need to duel against him for my friends, Astral," Yuma asserted. "There's no way I'll back down when they're on the line!"
"Very well," Astral nodded. "I'll try to remember anything that I can about the Barians."
"Thank you," Yuma smiled. He grabbed his D-Pad and strapped it onto his arm before applying his D-Gazer.
"Good luck, you guys!" Yuma called out to his friends.
They all nodded in his direction, prepared to duel against their Barian-possessed opponents.
"Oh, and one more proviso," Chitaro remembered.
Yuma eyes shut quickly as three flashes of white hot light shot down to his sides. When it was safe to look again, he saw that the parking lot was once again empty. Only he and Chitaro remained.
"Kotori! Tetsuo! Cat-chan!" he called out, receiving no answer. "What did you do to them?"
"They'd be such a distraction to you if we continued with them present, so they're each going to be dueling in separate locations now. It's better for focusing, don't you think so, Yuma-kun?"
Chills ran down Yuma's spine at Chitaro's honorific. He remembered the last time someone had referred to him as Yuma-kun. He shook his head quickly to ward off the memories of Rei.
"You jerk!" Yuma shouted. "I swear that I'll get them back after this duel!"
"You can try," Chitaro laughed, putting his D-Pad on his arm. "But it's already written that this duel will end in my favor. There's no use in trying to fight it."
"Written?" Yuma parroted.
"Well, let's duel, Yuma-kun!" Chitaro grinned as he drew his five cards, seemingly ignoring Yuma's inquiry.
Though it made him unhappy, Yuma drew his opening hand also. He supposed he'd always have time to ask questions after he won the match.
"Duel!" they shouted.
Yuma Tsukumo – 8000 LP
Chitaro Ariga – 8000 LP
Wait for me, Kotori, you guys, Yuma begged in his mind. I'll finish this duel quickly and then I'll definitely come for you!
"The first move is mine!" Yuma demanded. "My turn! Draw!"
He added a sixth card to his set before dropping the number back down to five.
"From my hand I summon Goblindbergh!"
The three goblin-operated biplanes dropped down from the skies, armed with their usual steel canister. (1400 ATK)
"Then," he continued, taking a card in between his thumb and index finger, "through Goblindbergh's effect, I'll Special Summon my Gogogo Golem!"
The red-eyed monolith of a monster rose from the cramped canister. It put its turquoise arms across its chest as if to defend Yuma. (1800 ATK)
At the same time, Goblindbergh's planes came in for a landing on the ground. (0 DEF)
Chitaro smirked as a sickly aura started to color his body.
"Two Level 4 monsters," he laughed, licking his lips. "Come on and summon it, Yuma-kun…"
Astral watched the possessed third-year intently as a shudder passed through his body. There was something different about this enemy.
He said that he was working under the control of the Barians? Just who are they exactly…What are they, these Barians?
"Level 4 Goblindbergh and Gogogo Golem, overlay!" intoned Yuma with a hand over his spiked hair. "With these two monsters, I'll open the overlay network! Xyz Summon!"
The overlay network swallowed the ingredients before spitting out Yuma's ace monster. Number 39: Utopia appeared with its chest puffed out and a perturbed look was in its eye. (2500 ATK)
"So it came after all." Chitaro's tone seemed quite pleased. "The hero of the production! Number 39: Utopia…"
With two overlay units, Utopia can block two attacks, Yuma reminded himself. I should be safe like this.
"I end my turn," he called out stoically.
Chitaro reached down to draw his card before his body shook unexpectedly.
Yuma tensed intuitively, though he relaxed when the source of the shaking turned out to be something far less intimidating than he'd expected – laughter.
"You don't get it, do you?" taunted Chitaro through breaths. "That you and your friends and your Numbers are doomed! The Barian world will reap the rewards you've worked so hard to sew!"
"Enough of that nonsense!" Yuma heatedly clashed. "I won't let you hurt Kotori and the others! And I definitely won't allow you to take the Numbers away! I'll thwart your ambitions at all costs!"
"Yuma…" Astral whispered.
"I'm afraid you can't," Chitaro argued. "It's already been written that this duel will end in my favor! There's no way that you can save yourself, let alone you're precious friends!"
"You're wrong! Nothing is ever set in stone!" Yuma's hands balled into fists and his eyebrows dropped in anger. "As long as you have hope, you always have the power to create your own future!"
"Naïve." Chitaro shook his head. "If you still believe you have a chance, then I'll knock that courage out of you now! My turn! Draw!"
He drew once and turned the card over for Yuma to see. It was a monster he'd never heard of.
"I summon Tristan, Knight of Tragic Love in Attack Position!"
The monster that appeared was the best example of the 'knight in shining armor' cliché. Strapped in a glistening white-plated bodysuit was a heroic looking man with blond hair dipping down to the middle of his back. Attached to his back were six metallic wings, allowing flight. A bronze-hilted longsword dropped from above. Without looking, the monster caught it. (1400 ATK)
"Moreover, I activate the magic of Sword Oath," he shouted, revealing a Spell Card. "Since I control a Warrior, I'm allowed to Special Summon another low-Level one from my hand!"
He decided quickly without a need to second guess the choice.
"Come now! Lancelot, Knight of the Lake!"
Tristan slashed the earth to the right of him, creating a crevasse just big enough for a man to leap through. No sooner had that happened than a man did leap from the trench. He was the antithesis of Tristan, coated in almost all black. Even his blade was a charcoal tint, though the sun made it hard to tell. The back of its helmet sported a mane of ruffled orange feathers. (1500 ATK)
"All at once, he assembled two Level 4 monsters," gasped Yuma.
"Be mindful," Astral warned. "Other than the influence that this boy is currently under, I sense something else that's different within him."
"I got it," nodded Yuma.
"Now that I have two Level 4 monsters, it's time to make an Xyz Summon of my own! Level 4 Lancelot and Tristan, overlay! With these two monsters, I'll build the overlay network!"
A swirling red portal twisted in front of the third-year as his two monsters fell through. In a burst of light, a new monster graced the field. The land shook as a ten feet mass fell atop it. Covered in head to toe with shimmering silver mail was a knight that resembled an older, stronger, and more skilled Tristan. With golden motifs on his shoulders and wrists, and the hair to match, this new man opened its hands. Particles zapped around them as an enormous broadsword pixilated. The man swung the object around wildly like a baseball player practicing swings. (2400 ATK)
"Come forth," recited Chitaro. "Comic Hero King Arthur!"
"It isn't a Number," Yuma stared. "Even then, it's still weaker than Utopia is. Why would he choose to summon that monster?"
"At this moment, Tristan and Lancelot have their effects triggered!" Chitaro partially answered.
"Tristan and Lancelot?" Astral mused. "But those monsters were used for his Xyz Summon."
"What gives?" Yuma barked. "How can they use their effects when you Xyz Summoned with them?"
"They can employ them because they were used for the Xyz Summon!" Chitaro snapped. "When that happens, through Tristan's effect, the DEF of an opposing monster decreases by 1000!"
King Arthur aimed its blade at Yuma's monster. With a grunt, he expelled the remainder of Tristan's energy in the form of a hot, white flame that coated Utopia and melted the whites of its armor. (2000 – 1000 DEF)
"Furthermore, the Tristan who was used as an overlay unit will decrease the ATK of an opponent's monster by 800!"
"What?" Yuma screamed.
Chitaro only laughed as a dark aura swathed Arthur's blade. With another grunt, a black whirlwind of fire ensnared Utopia, corroding the monster's weaponry and wings. Puddles of gold dripped onto the ground as the Number dropped to its knees helplessly. (2500 – 1700 ATK)
"Please hang in there, Utopia!" Yuma pleaded. "I'm counting on you!"
"Now do you believe?" Chitaro grinned deviously. "There's no way that you can defeat the power of destiny! You'll lose this duel!"
Yuma's mouth dried before he could speak. Fear started to control his joints, unwillingly stiffening his body.
"Go, King Arthur!" Chitaro pointed at Utopia. "Attack Number 39 now! Hero's Justice Sword!"
King Arthur jumped into the air, both hands gripping the hilt of its sword for dear life. As it came down, its body came closer to Utopia's with every passing second.
"Hold on a minute!" Yuma interposed, discarding Gogogo Golem. "When an attack is declared, by using one of its overlay units, Utopia can negate that attack! Moon Barrier!"
Utopia immediately responded to his request, making a sharp 180 degree turn. The motion caused its liquefied wings to expand into a shielding that was surprisingly strong enough to stop King Arthur's sword right as it hit.
"Ugh," Chitaro groaned. "It seems that you want to prolong your loss for as long as possible, huh?"
Yuma kept quiet, only opting to glower at his cocky opponent.
"I suppose it can't be helped," Chitaro shrugged, brushing it off with a wave of his hand. "It wouldn't be interesting if you simply surrendered.
"My turn is over."
"My turn!" Yuma declared, picking up his card. "Draw!"
His fingers grazed the top of the card he'd just drawn. His mind briefly wandered back to Yamikawa's present from earlier that day – the stack of cards he'd received.
"Thank you, Yamikawa," he acknowledged under his breath, the card slipping from his fingers as he threw it in his D-Pad. "I activate the Spell Card called Overlay Capture!"
One of King Arthur's two overlay units stopped in place before synchronizing with Utopia's gravitation, becoming a tool for the Number monster.
"That card…" Chitaro growled as he watched the overlay unit transfer.
"Overlay Capture, when activated," Yuma responded, "takes away an Xyz Material from an opponent's monster while simultaneously transferring it to an Xyz Monster I control!"
"Now I see," Astral nodded. "With Overlay Capture and another Xyz Material on Utopia, you can negate one more attack. It seems that you're planning ahead to ensure that this boy's so-called predetermined future is stopped."
"That's right," Yuma said, his voice suddenly somber. "I can't afford to lose this duel, Astral. Not just for myself, but for you and Kotori, too."
"I understand," the entity replied.
Yuma looked back at Utopia, giving a nod in the monster's direction.
"Here goes…I send Number 39: Utopia to attack Comic Hero King Arthur now!"
Despite the odd request, Utopia did not hesitate to fulfill Yuma's expectations. His wings spread as he beat them, gliding hastily to Chitaro's awaiting monster.
"Idiot!" sneered the boy with the red ponytail. "Did you forget that through Lancelot's effect, your Number monster is still 700 ATK points weaker than King Arthur?"
"Not on your life," frowned Yuma as he gestured to his monster. "At this moment, I activate Utopia's effect to negate its own attack! Moon Barrier!"
Another overlay unit, the one formerly belonging to Chitaro's monster, was absorbed through Utopia's spherical chest emerald.
"What a waste," came Chitaro's smug response. "All of that for nothing!"
"It was for 'nothing,' alright," grinned Yuma. "I activate my Quick-Play! Double or Nothing!"
A golden aura lightly drenched Utopia's body as its swords doubled in size. (1700 – 3400 ATK)
"Because my monster's attack was negated, it can attack again with double the power during the Damage Step only! However, that's long enough to take King Arthur down! Do it, Utopia!"
The Number monster, who hadn't yet strayed from King Arthur's side, quickly turned on his heels, delivering a fatal slice to the knight's heart. The unsuspecting King Arthur fell to one knee before an explosive cloud of smoke poured from his chest.
"That takes care of that problem," huffed Yuma as Utopia returned to him. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, though the gesticulation was ephemeral.
"Heh," came the snarky reply from the other side. "Did you really believe it was going to be that simple?"
"What?"
"I activate Comic Hero King Arthur's effect! When he would be destroyed by battle, by offering an overlay unit instead, I can keep him around!"
"So it's still here," Yuma muttered, staring down King Arthur as the smoke vanished.
"Correspondingly," Chitaro added with a cunning look, "whenever I use this effect of King Arthur, he gains more 500 ATK and my opponent loses 500 of their Life Points!"
A haunting red aura moved across Yuma's body, sluggishly draining his life force. He gritted his teeth to get through the pain.
Elsewhere, King Arthur retrieved its sword from the ground. The blade was now infused with a curious blue electricity that bounced through it like lightning. (2400 – 2900 ATK)
"Damn," cursed Yuma as Utopia's ATK dropped back down to 1700. "He's a tougher opponent than I gave him credit for."
He looked down at his three cards, selecting one. A horizontal monster appeared beside Utopia.
"I'll set that monster facedown to conclude my turn."
Yuma – 7500 LP
Chitaro – 7000 LP
Even with King Arthur being stronger than Utopia, I can still negate one more attack, Yuma assessed. Then I can hopefully start a counterattack during my next turn.
"My turn!" Chitaro's voice interrupted Yuma's planning. "Draw!"
He made his draw as a grin crept upon his face, immediately followed by an eerie laugh.
"Does this look familiar?" he questioned, turning the card around. "I activate Overlay Capture!"
Chitaro played the card and a flashback happened in reverse. Instead of losing an Xyz Material, King Arthur regained Utopia's final overlay unit.
"Y-you have a copy of that card too?" Yuma gawked.
"Ha! It's not that rare," scoffed Chitaro. "Now King Arthur, slay Utopia! Flash Sword!"
The fabled warrior dashed over to Yuma's field, sword grasped firmly. With a swing to the side, he attempted to hit Utopia. However, before the attack landed, the Number monster self-destructed in a blaze.
"What the…"
"When it's targeted for an attack when it has no overlay units," Yuma simplified, "Number 39 will destroy itself instantly. That means that I'm spared from any damage that I would take."
"Fine," Chitaro sneered. "That means that the number of monsters on the field changed before the attack landed. As such, a replay allows me to attack your facedown monster!"
As compensation, King Arthur slashed Yuma's facedown monster in twain. Unfortunately, the boy had already strategized ahead for it.
"I thought you might," smirked Yuma as the corners of his mouth curved upward in delight. "Just once when Mogmole is destroyed while on the field, I can resummon it from my Graveyard in Defense Position! Come back to me, Mogmole!"
A cracking noise came from below as the terrain began to wear away. Soon there was a spiraling drill that poked from the entrance, eroding the earth enough for a monster to break through. The creature in question turned out to be a tiny brown mole with green eyes. It wore an unbuttoned orange construction worker's vest and a pair of oversized safety goggles. (800 DEF)
"Against King Arthur, it's futile," laughed Chitaro. "Thanks to Overlay Capture he regained his second overlay unit. If you try to destroy him in battle again, you'll face the same outcome!"
He took a card and set it facedown on his D-Pad. It materialized underneath King Arthur.
"But just in case, I'll end my turn by placing that down."
"It's my turn then!" Yuma boomed. "Draw!"
He turned the card over to see what it was. Gogogo Giant stared back at him.
"Alright!" he cheered, quite enthusiastic about his draw. "I summon Gogogo Giant from my hand, and through his effect, I can Special Summon the Gogogo Golem in my Graveyard, too!"
Gogogo Giant digitalized before Yuma, towering over the cowering Mogmole as it motioned to its left side with one hand. A dark gateway of purple energy marked the ground as Gogogo Golem shot out from Yuma's Graveyard. It, as well as Gogogo Giant, dropped to its knees, crossing its arms over its chest warily. (1500 and 0 DEF, respectively)
"Two Level 4 monsters again," Chitaro noted.
"Not for long," Yuma corrected, grabbing one of his two remaining cards. "I activate the Spell Card, Plus Star 123!"
A rainbow hued swirl of light wrapped around Mogmole. The goggle-wearing animal looked to its sides in rapt curiosity.
"Plus Star 123 activates by targeting a low-Level monster. After that, I can increase its Level by 1, 2, or 3. As such, I'll add 2 Levels to Mogmole so it becomes Level 4 like my other monsters!"
The swirl left Mogmole with two imprints on its body, one on each arm, which resembled kisses.
"Three Level 4 monsters?" Astral commented. "What are you planning to summon?"
Yuma simply offered a small smile as the memory of a dear friend crossed his mind.
Wherever you are, please watch this, he prayed, hoping his friend could hear his plea.
"I overlay my Level 4 Mogmole, Gogogo Giant, and Gogogo Golem! With these three monsters, I'm gonna open the overlay network once again!"
The three monsters were swallowed up by the darkness of the Number overlay network as another monster came in their place. Even before it became visible, Chitaro heard the low hum of something, like…electricity? Sure enough, the serpent-like monster that emerged was an electric blue dragon with thin wings of gold. It roared, flashing its small, incisive teeth. Its sparky tail jolted with threatening blue light as a purple numerical symbol on its head flashed just as bright. (2400 ATK)
"Impose a jolt of fear into the hearts of those who dare utter your name! Shock the world with your mighty power! Xyz Summon! Come forth, Number 91: Thunder Spark Dragon!"
"Another Number…Well, enjoy them while you have the chance," taunted Chitaro. "The Barian World will collect them once I vanquish you, as the story goes! Your efforts will be for naught!"
"Shut your mouth, you bastard!" Yuma screamed at the top of his lungs. "Do you know just what I had to do to get this Number? I…"
His eyes dropped as he remembered Thunder Spark disintegrating before his very eyes. It was an unforgettable memory.
"Yuma! Don't let your rage consume you!" Astral implored. "You can still bring about a future of your own, just like you said!"
"I know that much, but…"
He clenched his fists, upset. After taking a deep breath, Yuma returned to his semi-pacified state.
"Thunder Spark's effect is, when I detach three overlay units from it, I can destroy all other face-up monsters on the field," Yuma explained calmly. "With this effect, I'll take down your King Arthur without the need for battle!"
Thunder Spark Dragon's three blue orbs melded into its tail. Traveling from the bottom of the creature to its head was a seeable blue energy that seemed to build the closer it got to the mouth.
"Go, Thunder Spark Dragon!" Yuma directed. "Thunder Burst!"
Thunder Spark Dragon opened its jaws instinctively, allowing a stream of neon blue motes to build before it fired the blast at King Arthur, consuming the monster whole.
"It's finished," Yuma presumptuously declared.
Another bout of laughter from Chitaro's side of the field proved the boy's statement wrong.
"It's finished, you say? Take a closer look!"
As the smoke evaporated, King Arthur was still standing before the third-year, now with a triangular shield colored black and red attached to its right wrist.
"What?"
"The Trap Card, Hero's Reflection," he said, pointing to the now-face-up card behind King Arthur, "equips onto a Warrior-Type monster, and once per turn, that monster is unable to be destroyed by battle."
"But I was using a card effect!" contended Yuma.
"However," tsked Chitaro, head shaking from side to side, "if the equipped monster would be destroyed by a card effect, I can send Hero's Reflection to the Graveyard as a substitute!"
The checkerboard shield latched on King Arthur slid off effortlessly before dissolving.
"He countered my move again," Yuma frowned. "These Barians…"
Astral wordlessly looked at Yuma for a moment, his expression reticent.
Yuma glanced down at the final card in his hand. It wouldn't directly deal with King Arthur, but it would potentially save him for a while.
"I activate a Spell Card! Swords of Revealing Light!"
A rush of white glowing swords dropped from the blue sky above. Three plasma-based energy weapons pierced the ground, providing a circular barrier that separated Yuma from Chitaro.
"With this card in play," Astral recognized, "the opponent is unable to declare an attack for three of his turns."
"I know it won't destroy his monster," conceded Yuma, "but I need some more time to figure out how to combat him. He's tougher than I expected, to be honest."
Yuma flexed his empty fingers. He could only hope that his defenses would hold long enough for a counterattack.
"I end my turn like this, Chitaro!"
The beret-wearing boy nodded, uttering, "Draw," before he picked up his card.
"How long do you expect to delay your defeat, Yuma-kun?" He cocked his head to the side. "The story is already written. The ending is unalterable."
"Make your move," Yuma spat, getting tired of his broken record of an opponent.
"Since I'm unable to attack, I'll pass this turn," Chitaro shrugged, shoulders raised high.
As he did, one of three prominent swords separating the duel humans vanished. Only two remained.
"My turn!" Yuma called out. "Draw!"
He drew a card and managed a tiny smile. It was a good start to his hopeful counterstrike.
"I will now summon Cardcar D!"
The Ford Thunderbird raced onto the field at a breakneck pace, skidding to a stop in front of Yuma. (800 ATK)
"And by releasing it and skipping to my End Phase, I get to draw twice!"
The stock car disappeared suddenly as the top two cards of Yuma's deck adopted a golden glow. He picked them both up quickly and nodded to his opponent.
"Draw!" Chitaro announced, picking up another card. His expression soured even more. "I'll pass my turn again."
As another one of the swords vanished, Yuma made a draw of his own, looking at his hand of three.
Still nothing that can stop King Arthur, he sulked. At this rate…No, I can't give up hope yet! I have to rescue Kotori!
"Tch…I end my turn."
Chitaro drew his card, looking at the last remaining sword on the field.
"Your time is drawing near, Yuma-kun…It won't be long now!"
As much as I hate to admit it, Yuma thought with a crease in between his eyebrows, he's right. If I don't draw something good next turn…
"I end my turn with this facedown," Chitaro claimed, setting a card behind King Arthur again.
As he did, the final sword evaporated. Yuma could clearly see his opponent again.
"Here I come, Chitaro!" Yuma gulped, hand atop his deck. "I'm going to defeat you now! Kattobingu, draw!"
Yuma made another draw which was, much to his chagrin, unable to be used to immediately destroy King Arthur. However…
"Firstly, I'll switch Thunder Spark Dragon to Defense Position!"
The dragon's body coiled up like a neatly wound rope string as its golden wings covered its upper body. (2000 DEF)
"And then I'll set one card facedown and end my turn," he concluded, positioning a card behind the Number on his D-Pad.
"So in the end, all you could do was wait for your monster to be destroyed…Pathetic."
Chitaro drew his card.
"I'll put it out of its misery before I do the same to you!"
He took a card from his hand and put it in the slot next to King Arthur.
"I summon Gawain, Knight of Steadfast Loyalty from my hand!"
Dropping to the ground on one knee was a new man coated in a unique scarlet armor. The breastplate of the suit was flashily emblazoned with flaming motifs and it matched the red blade of the longsword he wielded. His face was concealed behind a crimson helmet, two shades deeper in color than the rest of his suit. Strapped to his right leg was something that resembled a scimitar. (1600 ATK)
"Now, King Arthur, is the time to slay the dragon! Attack Yuma's monster!"
King Arthur agreed, running over to Thunder Spark. It lifted its sword in the air, only to bring it down just as quickly with a slash that cleaved Thunder Spark Dragon in two equal pieces.
"Forgive me, Thunder Spark," Yuma apologized as the wind brushed his hair to the side. "I promise your loss won't be in vain…"
His facedown lifted.
"I activate my set Trap Card, Reverse Wall! With it, since a monster with at least 2000 DEF was just destroyed, Reverse Wall will destroy all your monsters in return!"
A large, black bomb dropped from the Trap, rolling over to Chitaro's two monsters. The fuse on top of it hissed annoyingly as it grew shorter and shorter, threatening to explode at any moment.
"Don't count on it!" Chitaro grunted. "Counter Trap, open! Destruction Jammer!"
He lifted a Trap Card called Hero Ring to show to Yuma before transporting it to his Graveyard.
"Destruction Jammer, by discarding a card from my hand, negates the effect of any card that would destroy monsters on the field, and then it destroys that card!"
Destruction Jammer shone for a moment as a force field of sorts was released. The transparent barrier pushed the bomb back to Yuma's side of the field. The fuse vanished and the bomb detonated seconds later, taking down Reverse Wall.
"Reverse Wall was…" Yuma blurted in shock.
"Continuing on," Chitaro said, not missing a beat, "I'll send Gawain to attack you directly, Yuma-kun!"
Gawain nimbly snatched his scimitar from its strapped casing in a movement so quick that Yuma had not seen it happen. He then threw the serrated weapon at the boy, slicing his right arm excruciatingly.
"Agh!" Yuma cried out, clutching his injury with his left hand.
"Yuma!" Astral gasped.
"Heh," Chitaro chuckled demonically. "How does it feel, Yuma-kun? The pain, the despair!"
"Why, you…" Yuma growled under his breath.
"I end my turn! If you're still unwilling to believe that you've lost, then by all means, continue your beat down!"
Yuma – 5900 LP
Chitaro – 7000 LP
Yuma rose back to his feet, refusing to be bested. He took a couple of breaths to regulate his breathing patterns.
"As long as I have Life Points remaining, I'll keep getting up!" he asserted. "I won't back down to the likes of you!"
Chitaro shook his head but said nothing.
"Here I go!" Yuma proclaimed, still holding onto his arm. With his free hand, he touched his deck. "Draw!"
Here she is! he thought joyously, looking at the monster he'd hoped to draw. Right on time, too!
"I summon Gagaga Girl!" he said, throwing the card on his disk.
Gagaga Girl jumped from her card, hips swaying seductively. She gave a "Gagaga" war cry before dropping to the ground. (1000 ATK)
"Congratulations," Chitaro muttered flatly. "You managed to summon a monster that was weaker than both of mine."
"For a reason!" Yuma huffed. "Because I have a Gagaga monster in my control, I can activate the Spell known as Gagaga X Gagaga!"
Gagaga Girl closed her eyes as a purple light enveloped her voluptuous body.
"This Spell Card will target one Gagaga monster. After that, that Spell becomes the same Level, Type, and Attribute as the targeted monster, has the same stats, and shares the same name!"
The purple energy relocated to the spot next to Gagaga Girl as a flawless carbon copy digitalized. (1000 ATK)
"I overlay my two Gagaga Girls now!" Yuma chanted as a starry gateway widened before him. "With these two Level 3 monsters, I'm gonna open the overlay network!"
An amethyst sphere with six blue half-sickles drooping from it started to uncoil before Yuma. The upper sickles became wings, three on each side of the unwinding blue body of the monster. Scales ran from its head to tail, coating every place except its black horns. In that particular spot, a numerical value blazed in the form of a golden "17". (2000 ATK)
"Xyz Summon! Appear before us, Number 17: Leviathan Dragon!"
Chitaro looked from Leviathan Dragon to Gawain with a "So what?" face.
"Don't misunderstand, Chitaro," Yuma rectified. "Gawain isn't my intent…King Arthur is!"
"What?"
"When Gagaga Girl is used for an Xyz Summoning, I can choose one monster and permanently drop its ATK to 0!" Yuma pointed at King Arthur. "Go, Gagaga Girl! Zero Zero Call!"
Gagaga Girl's spirit floated behind Leviathan Dragon, cell phone in hand. She tapped four numbers and pointed the cellular phone at King Arthur. A pink wave of plasma burst forward, chipping away at the knight's armor. (2900 – 0 ATK)
"King Arthur!" Chitaro shouted, fear evident in his voice. It sounded quite unlike the voice that Yuma had become accustomed to since the duel's beginning.
"Chitaro?" Yuma called. "Chitaro!"
A silence filled the battleground. The quiet was truly unsettling, at least for Yuma.
"Continue with your turn, Yuma-kun," droned Chitaro's possessed voice. "Continue so I can crush you under with the Barian strength bestowed upon me!"
Yuma made a grunting noise as he slowly resumed the duel. So he is in there somewhere. I just have to get him back. Unfortunate, the only way seems to be…
"By detaching Gagaga Girl from Leviathan Dragon," he said, doing just that, "I can power it up by 500 more ATK!"
A blue stream of power coursed through its scales as the monster howled in what could best be described as delight. (2000 – 2500 ATK)
"Leviathan Dragon, attack King Arthur now!" declared the younger boy. "Vice Stream!"
A water tempest of liquid erupted from the jowls of the Number monster as the blast came King Arthur's way. The knight stood still, letting the beam smash through the armor coating his chest.
"There we go!" Yuma grinned. "I was able to give him some big damage!"
"However, King Arthur's effect is still possible," Astral reminded.
"King Arthur's effect activates!" Chitaro shouted as if in direct sync with Astral. "I detach an overlay unit to give it 500 more ATK and decrease my opponent's Life Points by that amount!"
The enfeebled King Arthur diagonally sliced the air with his sword. The motion created a real boomerang-shaped object of pure blue energy that hit Yuma's gut.
As Yuma groaned and hit the floor, King Arthur's sword granted him the spoils of war – Yuma's life force. (0 – 500 ATK)
"Guh," Yuma spat, rubbing his tender body. "In that case, I'll set this card facedown."
Behind Leviathan Dragon came a card for Yuma's Spell/Trap Zone.
"And lastly, I'll activate this Spell Card! Unfair Dealer!"
Much like when he dueled against Shark, Yuma's field momentarily turned into a casino filled with slot machines and blackjack tables. At the same time, he eagerly held a hand over his deck.
"Due to this, when my opponent's hand contains three or less cards, I can draw until I'm holding the same amount as they are!"
Yuma picked up three cards quickly. He winced as visible red jolts zapped his body.
"However, for each card I drew, I take 300 points of damage. Additionally, I can't use any of the cards this turn."
He nodded weakly to Chitaro to indicate a change in turns.
Yuma – 4500 LP
Chitaro – 4500 LP
"How dare you do that to King Arthur!" Chitaro screamed. "I won't allow you to break my story! I won't allow you to win!"
Yuma frowned as his body started to strain. He could feel himself getting weaker.
I just have to hold out a little longer, he reminded himself. Then I can win this duel and rescue…
"You still believe you can win?" laughed Chitaro, masterfully interpreting Yuma's facial expressions. "That's what you were thinking, wasn't it?"
"Maybe," Yuma truthfully replied after a bit of hesitation.
"Think again."
With that, Chitaro drew a card from his deck. As he turned it around, a malicious expression plagued his face. It was best described as a cross between evil and satisfaction.
"It's here…"
"What?"
A sickly glow spread across the third-year's body as he lifted the card above his head. Yuma, who had to squint to see it, could barely make out the image of what looked like a blue emblem, almost like a mask. In the middle was a red jewel in the shape of a diamond.
"What is this presence?" Astral gasped, his body shaking. "That card is emanating a power unlike anything I've experienced before."
"No way," Yuma gawked from Astral to Chitaro. His knees were starting to reflexively buckle.
"It's time for your end, Tsukumo Yuma-kun!" Chitaro declared. The same mask-like marking on the artwork of his Spell Card suddenly appeared on his forehead. The boy's eyes turned red instantaneously. "I activate this Spell! Rank-Up Magic – Barian's Force!"
The school courtyard was quiet, save for the sounds of Tetsuo and Mamoru unfolding their gray D-Pads. That was a given, however, what with summer vacation.
Tetsuo sighed. School had been a pain to go to on normal days, and now he was here on his time off. Life had a way of being exceptionally unfair, he realized as he placed his D-Gazer over his eye.
This is for Yuma, he had to remind himself, looking down to his Extra Deck box and sucking up his blues. I can't allow these Barians, whoever they are, to get my Number. I have to keep it safe for Yuma and Astral.
"Let's duel already!" Tetsuo groaned, getting impatiently of waiting for Mamoru.
The third-year straightened his tie and brushed through his hair with a hand.
"Patience, criminal," he muttered. "I have to make sure that my appearance is in accordance with the regulations of the school."
"What's with this kid?" Tetsuo griped under his breath. "We're not even inside the school! And who are you calling a criminal?"
"I call people like you how I see them," replied Mamoru. "As rule-breakers, criminals…scum. And you will be exterminated here!"
"Don't bet on it!" Tetsuo fought back.
With that, the two boys threw their D-Pads in the air, catching them on their left wrists. They drew five cards apiece and glared at one another nastily. The time for talk was over.
"Duel!" they shouted.
Tetsuo Takeda – 8000 LP
Mamoru Jinguji – 8000 LP
"I'm first! Draw!" Tetsuo drew.
"I summon Aye-Iron in Attack Position!"
In a flash of light, the cymbal-crashing aye-aye bounced onto the field. It backflipped twice before clanking its instruments with a chorus of "Aye Aye!" (1600 ATK)
"Then, I equip him with Spring Punch, and I'll use Aye-Iron's effect to give him 400 more ATK!"
The spring-connected boxing glove plopped onto Aye-Iron's head as its ATK increased. (1600 – 2000 ATK)
At the same time, Mamoru was sent to the ground abruptly when Aye-Iron's new glove suddenly socked the boy in the face.
Alright, I was able to hit him on my first turn already, Tetsuo thought confidently. Now I just need to continue like this and I'll have defeated this guy.
"I'll set this card facedown and end my turn," Tetsuo completed.
A card materialized behind the cymbal-holding aye-aye.
"It's just like a delinquent of your sort to use dirty tricks to inflict damage," Mamoru scowled, rubbing the cheek of his face that Aye-Iron had punched a moment earlier.
"Delinquent?" Tetsuo huffed. "Who are you calling…"
"Oh, please." Mamoru shook his head. "I've seen your personal record, Tetsuo Takeda. Bullying, tardiness, truancies, and a list of detentions so long, it would give the Great Wall of China a run for its money.
"All of which, might I remind you, is banned by school rules."
"Well this isn't school," Tetsuo retorted, forgetting his actual location for a moment. "Well…it is, but we're dueling!"
"Ignorant," scowled the third-year. "I think it's time I teach you a lesson in dueling you won't soon forget!"
He drew his card, quickly placing it on his D-Pad.
"By making her ATK equal to 0, I can Normal Summon Tamagushi, the Exemplary Priestess from my hand without the need for a Tribute!"
Flower petals fluttered as a pale woman sprang onto the field. She was dressed in a red hakama that was partially concealed by the pink robe slung neatly on her shoulders. Her raven-hair blew gently in the breeze as her hakama started to shrink. Tetsuo flushed as the woman's trousers transformed into a mini mini-skirt. (1000 – 0 ATK)
"Then," continued Mamoru, "when I control a Priestess monster, I can Special Summon Sakaki, the Honor-Student Priest from my hand!"
A poof of smoke exploded, immediately followed by the form of a blond man in baggy white robes. Like the Priestess, he wore a hakama, though this one was colored baby blue. A laurel wreath was wrapped around his head and he wielded a spear in his left hand. (1600 ATK)
"Two Level 6 monsters on his first turn," Tetsuo gulped, his red-faced antics ceasing instantly.
"This is the punishment for rule-breakers like you, Takeda!" Mamoru declared. "Level 6 Sakaki and Tamagushi, overlay! With these Level 6 monsters, I'll create the overlay network! Protector of rules, descend! Norito the Moral Leader!"
The clapping of a fan opening and closing echoed throughout the field as a new monster took form. Dressed in a black hakama that was hidden under onyx-colored robes was a rather ill-looking man with olive green skin. An Eboshi hat covered his matted red locks. The honorable man bowed to Tetsuo, revealing a repertoire of white appendages on his back. (2700 ATK)
"An attacking power of 2700," growled Tetsuo. "However…"
He smugly looked to his facedown card.
"Attack, Norito!" Mamoru commanded. "Absolute Punishment!"
Norito opened his fan slowly, letting each blade absorb the sunrays. The fan, soaked in the sun, turned a bright gold. Without warning, a light beam shot at Aye-Iron's chest.
"I don't think so!" countered Tetsuo. "My facedown, Widespread Ruin, activates, destroying the strongest monster on your side of the field! Disappear, Norito!"
Mamoru only laughed in response.
"Not this time, Takeda!" he replied. "Using that against Norito is against the rules! In short, that's banned!"
"What?"
"Once per turn, Norito can negate the activation of a Spell or Trap my opponent controls, and then destroy it! In other words, you're not allowed to break any rules that I don't approve of!"
Widespread Ruin shattered. Aye-Iron followed suit seconds after, leaving a dusty trail of memories in front of Tetsuo.
"That's the end of my turn."
Tetsuo – 7300 LP
Mamoru – 7000 LP
"So that's the strength of the Student Council President," Tetsuo muttered to himself. He drew a card. "But I won't let it get to me!"
If Norito can disable one more of my Spells, then I'll just do this!
"I summon Tinplate Goldfish! And using its effect allows me to Special Summon another one from my hand!"
Two pools of liquid splashed in front of Tetsuo as the mechanical fish bounded. (800 ATK x 2)
"Next, I'll activate Iron Call to Special Summon the Aye-Iron in my Graveyard!"
"Didn't I tell you that your rule-breaking would be banned?" Mamoru snarled. "Norito, confiscate his privileges!"
Norito's second overlay unit was absorbed by its fan, causing a gust of wind to howl around Tetsuo. The boy covered his ears as the fierce gales tore through Iron Call.
"No more resistance from you," Mamoru grinned.
"That's where you're wrong," Tetsuo chuckled.
"What do you mean?"
"I activated Iron Call as a trick," he explained. "Norito has the ability to negate one of my Spells each turn. But without any overlay units left, it can't do a thing. That's why I baited you out early so I could use the Spell that I really needed now!"
He turned the final card in his hand around, revealing Iron Draw. Mamoru's eyes opened slightly as Tetsuo picked up two new cards.
"Alright!" he cheered, turning another over. "Since I control two Tinplate monsters, I can Special Summon Tinplate Soldier now!"
The toy soldier in the crimson vest and bearskin hat leapt forward. He lifted his rusty musket in the air and fired a warning shot. (1000 ATK)
"Three Level 4 monsters," Mamoru commented.
"With these three Tinplate monsters, I'll construct the overlay network!" yelled Tetsuo. "Xyz Summon! Tinplate Archduke!"
Tetsuo's ace monster crashed down on the field, feet-first. The impact shook the ground, but Mamoru refused to give in. He stood firmly, glaring at the monster. (2200 ATK)
"I suppose you've skipped too many of your math classes, too," taunted the older boy. "Tinplate Archduke's ATK score doesn't compare to Norito's!"
"And you call me uneducated," Tetsuo frowned, throwing a Tinplate Goldfish into his Graveyard. "By detaching an overlay unit, Tinplate Archduke can change the position of a monster my opponent controls. Take a seat, Norito!"
Mamoru gasped as Norito crouched down on one bended knee, covering his shameful face with his fan. (2000 DEF)
"Tinplate Archduke's ATK might be weaker than Norito's ATK, but it sure is higher than his DEF!" Tetsuo laughed. "Go, Tinplate! Attack now with Strike of the Archdukes!"
Tinplate Archduke took its sword in one hand and slowly walked over to Norito. The priest looked up, eyes devoid of emotion. Equally as dispassionate, Tinplate Archduke brought its sword down, cleaving the priest in two.
"That's the way!" nodded Tetsuo. "With that, I end my turn!"
"I won't allow you to violate the rules with loopholes!" Mamoru snapped. "My turn! Draw!"
He drew once, wildly grinning when he saw what the card was.
"It's here…" he said in the same eerie manner as Chitaro had. He put the card to the side momentarily.
"I activate Monster Reborn first," he stated. "Doing this enables me to revive the Norito in my Graveyard!"
A portal of purple appeared in front of Mamoru as Norito ascended from below. (2700 ATK)
"But what's the point?" Tetsuo wondered. "Tinplate Archduke can use its effect two more times to switch Norito again."
"Wrong," Mamoru grinned, lifting a Spell Card over his head. At the same time, an identical blue emblem with a red jeweled center formed on his forehead, much like with Chitaro. "I activate this Spell! Rank-Up Magic – Barian's Force!"
In the school's gymnasium, another duel was just starting to take place. Cathy removed her glasses in exchange for her pink D-Gazer with the purple lens. Her opponent, on the other hand, touched her left eye with her index and middle finger, turning it from blue-green to red in a flash.
It seems that this is unavoidable, Cathy realized. I just have to beat her quickly for Yuma…
"Your Numbers will be taken once I defeat you," Aika said, breaking the silence. "I hope you don't mind that too much."
"I don't," Cathy responded, "because I won't allow it to happen! How do you like cat?"
"Are you ready?" Aika politely asked, ignoring Cathy's bravado.
The cat girl bobbed her head, drawing her starting hand as Aika did the same.
"Duel!" they shouted.
Cathy – 8000 LP
Aika Hanazoe – 8000 LP
"I'll take the first move," Cathy announced, her tone somber. "My turn! Draw!"
She strategically weighed her options before making her move.
"I summon Cat Girl in Attack Position!"
The jingling of bells rang out, clanking with each shake of the summoned cat girl's hips. She meowed loudly, pawing the air before cleaning her hands with her tongue. (1200 ATK)
"With that, my turn is over," Cathy finished.
"That's it?" Aika giggled at the feline monster. "It's quite a wonder that the Barian World wanted to hunt you down with those types of tactics."
"Cat did you just say?" Cathy hissed under her breath.
"Nevertheless, I'll defeat you swiftly," Aika continued. "This duel should be over before long."
She drew a card and immediately followed her promise. With a lithe movement of his wrist, a monster was already on her D-Pad.
"I summon my Artillery Flower!"
The ground broke and gave way to a weird-looking green flower that resembled a garden balsam. The top of the flower was covered in miniature, red cannons. It sat in a plant potter with spikes on the bottom and matching red cannons up top. (1000 ATK)
"Then I'll activate Double Summon," she proclaimed. "With this, I can play another monster from my hand. Come out, Firearms Flower!"
A red spider lily flower was the next to appear. Its stigma was in the shape of a red octagon with tiny sprouts padding the sides. The bottom of the floret was in the shape of a grenade. (800 ATK)
"Two Level 3 monsters," Cathy murmured.
"My duel is far beyond your level of expectation," Aika responded. "Don't expect such basic tricks from me."
She grabbed another card from her hand.
"When I have two Plant monsters gathered together, I can also Special Summon my Cosmos!"
Another flower appeared, this pink-petal one perhaps based on the Achillea flower. Three growths shot from the sides of its stems in the form of missiles. (600 ATK)
To assemble three monsters so quickly, Cathy mused nervously. I guess she's got a point about not underestimating her.
"My power transcends that which you can imagine," Aika shouted. "I'll show it to you now! I overlay my Level 3 Artillery Flower, Cosmos, and Firearms Flower now! With these three monsters, I'll create the overlay network!"
All three plants meshed together to create an entirely new being. Cathy gasped as a large figure cast a shadow large enough to encompass her whole body.
"Bloom proudly, Raging-Flower Gunboat Nadeshiko!"
Tens of loose black tendrils dripped down from the monster's five pink petals as the giant half-flower, half-airship hovered above the ground. Its body was made up of a large gray seed that held four red-dotted engines aloft. The head of the monster, which carried the pink petals, was lined with six black holes, presumably for laser-firing capabilities. (2100 ATK)
"That monster," Cathy whispered.
"Lovely, isn't it?" Aika clapped. "And it possesses a lovely effect, too! Show her, Nadeshiko!"
One of the overlay units traveled into the middle black hole of the monster's "mouth".
"Once per turn, Nadeshiko can use an overlay unit to inflict 300 damage to my opponent for each card in their hand! Since you made the mistake of only playing Cat Girl last turn…"
"1500 damage, cat!" shrieked the girl with gray hair.
"Go, Nadeshiko! Big Cannon!"
Nadeshiko lit up a bright magenta color as it's the pink from its five petals seeped into all five of the outer black holes. A charging sound was heard before Nadeshiko fired five beams of green plasma at Cathy.
The cat girl held her ground for the first three, but they soon became too overwhelming. When the fourth one hit the ground in front of her, she flipped backwards and skidded across the gym's linoleum flooring.
"I'm not done just yet," Aika proceeded. "I'm going to send Nadeshiko to attack Cat Girl also!"
The middle hole fired a similar plasma blast at Cat Girl, though this one was colored flamingo pink.
"Once per turn, Cat Girl can negate the attack of an opponent's monster!" Cathy refused from on the ground.
Cat Girl twirled around quickly, batting the plasma ball with her tail. The blast flew upward, crashing into the ceiling instead.
"I suppose you might be an interesting duelist after all," conceded the flower lover as Cathy arose. "I end my turn."
Cathy – 6500 LP
Aika – 8000 LP
"I'm going to show you what type of duelist I really am!" Cathy announced. "Cattobingu! Draw!
"I summon Stray Catgirl!" she decided.
The young girl in the yellow raincoat pounced from her card, shaking the liquid off of her outfit. She closed her parasol, though she wouldn't set it down. (600 ATK)
"Now I'll overlay my Level 4 Cat Girl and Stray Catgirl to create the overlay network!" chanted Cathy. "Xyz Summon! Cat Girl Magician!"
Flying down on her makeshift broomstick was the feline woman with the blue-ponytail covered by her red sombrero that had cat ears glued to it. The red-booted woman jumped off her wand, picked it up in one hand, and started to twirl it while flashing a peace sign to Aika. (2000 ATK)
"It seems that that monster is still too weak to do anything about Nadeshiko," giggled Aika. "What a shame that is."
"It's true that I can't defeat Nadeshiko," Cathy groused, "but I can still deplete your Life Points!"
"What?"
"Cat Girl Magician can halve her ATK to attack directly for one overlay unit!" Cathy shouted as Cat Girl Magician's score fell to 1000. "Additionally, I'll equip her with Catnip Turbine to give her 1200 more ATK for the remainder of the turn!"
Cat Girl Magician's wand turned into a turbine generator, one that was still capable of flight at that. (1000 – 2200 ATK)
"Now go, Cat Girl Magician!" Cathy shouted. "Attack her directly with Cat's Eye Magic!"
The woman flew over to Aika's field, bypassing Nadeshiko by just a hair. When she reached the robed girl, she did a quick spin, knocking the girl down with the back of her turbine.
Cathy wiped her brow as she waited for Aika to get up.
Nadeshiko, she remembered, has the ability to inflict damage to me equal to my hand size. Right now my hand contains four cards. To minimize the damage as much as possible…
"To end my turn, I'll set three cards facedown!"
Behind Cat Girl Magician (2200 – 3200 ATK) appeared three new cards.
Cathy – 6500 LP
Aika – 5800 LP
"Not bad," Aika praised as she returned to an upright position. "You were able to get a hit on me…"
She drew her card and her eyes turned completely red. Her gentle voice became quite solemn.
"But I assure you that that's the only attack you'll be able to get!"
She lifted a Spell Card over her head as a blue emblem with a red jewel in the center appeared on her forehead.
"I activate this Spell! Rank-Up Magic – Barian's Force!"
Yuma – 4500 LP
Chitaro – 4500 LP
"Rank-Up Magic – Barian's Force!?" Yuma repeated, straining the final two words. His voice was nearly an octave higher than usual.
"A Barian-exclusive card?" Astral gasped. "Could this be the source of their true power?"
"Watch closely, Tsukumo Yuma-kun," Chitaro said, wagging a finger around. "This is the testament to the Barian empire, as well as one of the last cards that you'll ever see! I will defeat you here and now for the sake of the Barian World!"
"Tch…"
"This card will rank up my monster into a Chaos Xyz that's one Rank higher! Now, Yuma-kun, through the power of Rank-Up Magic – Barian's Force, I overlay my Rank 4 Comic Hero King Arthur! With this monster, I'll rebuild the overlay network!"
Rank up? Rebuild? Chaos Xyz? Yuma's brain could barely process the flurry of information.
And yet there it was, before his very eyes. Yuma could only watch as Comic Hero King Arthur compressed into a large overlay ball of light and flew into upward toward the darkened squalls.
"Chaos Xyz Change!" Chitaro shouted, his eyes beginning to glaze.
King Arthur's bright orb shone through the dark clouds, allowing Yuma to see what occurred behind the clouds. The original orb was swallowed by a dark sphere three times its size. Gravitating around that sphere were three rings of black cards that wrapped around it. They each flashed brightly when they touched the sphere before the union broke, revealing the true monster.
"Now is the time!" Chitaro kept on. "Show yourself, the symbol of the great Barian power!"
Coming down from the clouds was an incredibly menacing monster whose presence matched that of a Numbers. When it was in full view, Yuma had to have guessed that it was at least thirty- or forty-something feet tall. Oddly enough, the monster appeared to be at least somewhat human with a fifteen-foot mane of fair hair. He was adorned in a black suit that resembled a stronghold, much like a castle, even fitted with turrets for shoulder pads. His weapon of choice was a broadsword that was roughly half his size in length. Perhaps the most off-putting feature was the overlay units which glowed a sickening pink hue and were outlined as diamonds. (3000 ATK)
"Enter this world and overwhelm all with your might! I summon you now, Chaos Xyz: Comic Hero Legend Arthur!"
"Chaos Xyz!" Astral whispered, completely in awe.
"I-Impossible! That's a lie!" Yuma refuted. He whipped around to face Astral. "I thought we were the only ones who could perform Xyz Changes!"
Astral was speechless. He could only stare at the Chaos Xyz monster, paralyzed from shock – or perhaps from fear.
"To think that you're the only one with this kind of power, that you're somehow more special than the rest," Chitaro derided. "Idiot! Only a fool of a duelist would believe such a thing!"
Yuma's eyes looked up at the towering figure before him. Against it, his chances of hope seemed to crumble with each passing moment.
"Well, I think you've taken enough time to say your goodbyes." Chitaro smirk widened as his red pupils flashed. "It's time to show you the true power of Barian's Force!"
Yuma mutely watched as Leviathan Dragon's azure body turned a dark cerise. It began wriggling in pain, affected by something unseen. The monster roared as its final overlay unit left.
"What?" Astral said from behind Yuma.
"Rank-Up Magic – Barian's Force, when activated successfully," Chitaro elucidated as another overlay unit appeared to Legend Arthur's right, "takes an overlay unit from my opponent's monster and transfers it to my Chaos Xyz! Numbers are powerless against the Barian invasion!"
He grabbed one of his three cards and continued.
"Next, I'm going to equip my Gawain, Knight of Steadfast Loyalty with the Miraculous Longsword Equip Spell!"
Gawain's blade was replaced with a maroon longsword that glinted in the sunlight. He gripped the hilt with both hands as the blade doubled in size. (1600 – 2100 ATK)
"As you can see, it gives him 500 more ATK. It isn't enough to defeat Leviathan Dragon, but…"
Chitaro looked to Legend Arthur.
"I have another way of dealing with that! Go, Legend Arthur! Attack Yuma-kun's Leviathan Dragon with Chaos Blast!"
Legend Arthur effortlessly lifted its sword with one hand. Yuma watched, paralyzed in fear like Astral, as his monster dragon was slayed via decapitation. It was icing on Chitaro's cake to watch Legend Arthur disassemble the remaining parts of the dragon, piece by piece.
Finally, a sound came out of Yuma's mouth. He screamed as the real impact forced its way onto his body. It was as though a car had hit him.
He screamed as his body smacked against the pavement. His exposed arms suffered the most, obtaining cuts and scrapes, some of which produced tiny puddles of red.
"Get up!" Chitaro begged. "Legend Arthur isn't done with you yet!"
"W-What?" Yuma barely managed to squeeze out of his throat.
"When Legend Arthur destroys a monster by battle, it can detach an overlay unit to banish that monster from your Graveyard to inflict damage to you equal to that monster's original ATK!"
As he sent the stolen Gagaga Girl unit to the Graveyard, Chitaro took a moment to insert a fit of maniacal laughter before adding, "That means that you'll take 2000 points of damage here!"
A purple circular portal with markings on the sides appeared as Leviathan Dragon's illusory form floated upward into obscurity. At the same time, two pink blasts were shot from Legend Arthur's turret-esque shoulder pads. Yuma hadn't even gotten up when they hit him head-on.
"Yuma!" Astral cried out, watching as his partner's body once more took to the air. He winced when he saw Yuma land ten feet from where he'd been a moment ago.
Yuma – 2000 LP
Chitaro – 4500 LP
"Well, well," Chitaro chuckled. "Your Life is but a mere 2000. Gawain, with its new Miraculous Longsword, has an attacking power of 2100. I wonder what will happen if I do…
"This!" He pointed a finger and Yuma and nodded his head.
Gawain held the Miraculous Longsword over his head and charged at Yuma. The strident young knight's footsteps started to clamor as he neared.
"Yuma!" Astral shouted, desperately hoping to gain the attention of the boy. "Yuma, wake up! Yuma!"
"A-Astral?" Yuma whispered, his eyes beginning to open.
"Watch out!"
Yuma mustered enough strength to tilt his head upward. His eyes enlarged instinctively when he saw Gawain hovering over his resting body, sword pointed at the spot in between his eyes.
"Any last words, Yuma-kun?" Chitaro asked from his side of the field.
"Four of 'em," Yuma coughed out, tapping his D-Pad. "Burial Mayhem – Bury Panic!"
Gawain, who had been prepared to strike, started to step back as a legion of zombies ascended from the ground. Among the horde were a deceased looking Gagaga Girl and Leviathan Dragon.
"What?" spat Chitaro.
"Because two monsters were sent to the Graveyard this turn," Yuma weakly educated, "you lose 200 Life Points, and a monster you control loses 200 ATK points. I choose Gawain!"
Gawain sliced through the zombies one at a time, eventually making his way back to Yuma. (2100 – 1900 ATK)
Though he didn't have enough strength to end the fight, the swordsman gave a potent slash to the boy's chest. Yuma grunted, clutching at his heart, though he was thankful to still be in the duel.
"Damn it," cursed the third-year as Gawain returned. "Didn't I tell you that the ending to the story was unavoidable? Why do you continue to resist?"
"The future is in anyone's hands," Yuma repeated. "I won't accept someone creating a future for me. I strive to make my own path every day! I sure as heck won't stop now!"
"Fine," Chitaro puffed. "With no cards on the field, there isn't much that you can do to reverse the situation anyway. I end my turn like this."
Yuma – 100 LP
Chitaro – 4300 LP
"Yuma…"
The boy looked back to see Astral calling him.
"I'm glad that you're alright," Astral finished. He hid his smile well.
"I definitely wouldn't be defeated here," Yuma feebly chuckled, rising to his feet. They threatened to give way at any moment. "And especially not to a Barian!"
You've grown since I've met you, Yuma, the spirit noticed as he stared at the boy.
Suddenly, Astral's poker face wavered. He grinned, "Yuma, let's win."
"Sure!" he nodded before looking at his opponent. "Get ready, Chitaro! I'm gonna bring it to ya! Draw!"
Yuma turned over the card he'd drawn, gasping when he saw what it was.
This is…he said, looking at the card, remembering its origin. Thank you, Shark…
He put it aside for a moment before grunting. He had one option left, and it was the one he feared the most. However, it had to be done once more.
"I activate Monster Reborn!" he shouted as the ankh took form on his field. "With this, I can resurrect the Mogmole that's resting in my Graveyard!"
The drill-carrying insectivore leapt back onto the field, good as new. (800 ATK)
"Furthermore," he continued, "I'm going to Normal Summon my Tasukerton!"
The fat black pig oinked once as it jumped from its card. Saliva dripped from its mouth as it donned a goofy, open-mouthed look. (700 ATK)
"And finally," he gulped, motioning to Tasukerton, "when I control a DARK Attribute monster, I can Special Summon Kuro Kuro Kuro from my hand, too!"
The half-lidded crow squawked, swooping down on its darkened feathers and perching beside Tasukerton. Its tongue escaped its beak as it look hungrily towards the helpless oinker. (900 ATK)
"Again?" Astral uncertainly inquired, trepidation evident in his voice. He wouldn't stop Yuma from playing the monster, though using it twice in one day…
"I have to use its power, Astral," Yuma reasoned. "It's the only way that I'm going to win this duel. It's one of the strongest Numbers that we have."
"I know, but Yuma, that Number is unlike the others. It works in different ways. I don't think that we should be excessively relying on it like we do with Utopia. After all…"
"You worry too much," Yuma coolly swatted, trying to justify his diminishing set of options. "I'll just use it this one last time and then I'll be done. Is that ok?"
"I won't say anything about it," Astral cryptically replied. He closed his eyes, hoping that Yuma would understand his sentiment. But for now…
"Thanks. Now then, Level 2 Mogmole, Kuro Kuro Kuro, and Tasukerton, overlay! With these three monsters, I'll build the overlay network! Xyz Summon!"
The three animals came together as one single unit that emerged from a sidereal Numbers portal. Like before, the entity that came before Yuma was a blob of pure darkness that started to shake. Its arms and legs jutted out, followed by its devilish head. The flame inside its chest roared monstrously as Black Mist stood up, taking its true form. (100 ATK)
"Be born and serve me, hell spawn of darkness and harbinger of death! Come forth now, Number 96: Black Mist!"
"Three monsters and the best that thing has to show for it is 100 ATK?" Chitaro erupted into a frenzy of taunting. "You'll be defeated at the hands of the Barians for sure!"
"You're wrong," Yuma denied. "And this is why!"
He turned the final card in his hand around.
"I activate Armored Xyz, and by doing so, I can equip an Xyz Monster from my Graveyard to Black Mist and have his name, stats, and effect treated as those of the equipped monster!"
It didn't take long before Yuma chose the equip target.
"Return to me, Utopia!"
A light shot out from Yuma's Graveyard and hit Blast Mist's back. The monster of darkness growled as the mouth on its chest turned gold and the fires turned emerald green. Two white wings emerged from its back, enabling the creature to fly. One of Black Mist's eyes turned a deep red color and its body turned from a complete black to a gun-metal gray. (100 – 2500 ATK)
"Aid me in this fight, Number 96: Black Utopia!"
Utopia and Black Mist…fused? Astral watched silently. Yu…
His thought was prematurely stopped as a pain filled his chest. He grunted loudly, falling to the ground. He felt a sudden, unexplainable weakness flow through him, something that was entirely new.
This feeling, this pain. Where is it coming from? He looked forward at Yuma's new Xyz combination. Could it be…?
"Astral?" Yuma looked over his shoulder to the injured spirit. "Astral! Are you alright?"
"I'll be fine," Astral half-heartedly promised. "Don't worry about me. For now, you have to focus on winning the duel. If we lose against these Barians…"
"But…"
"I'll fine be," repeated Astral, more forceful this time. "We can't allow the Barians to win if you want to rescue your…our friends."
"Yeah, I know," Yuma solemnly understood. "I won't lose, Astral. I'll save you."
"Thank you, Yuma," Astral weakly forced a half-smile.
I guess Astral is feeling weaker, too. These Barians inflict real damage...Maybe he's also feeling the effects, Yuma misunderstood. Then I'll just have to end this duel before Astral suffers even more!
"Go, Black Utopia! Attack Chitaro's Gawain with Black Hope Whip!"
The gray monster under Yuma's possession stretched its arms out to the side, allowing six tentacles to flow freely from underneath its wings. They each shot forward, wrapping around Gawain's waist and neck. With a sadistic look, Black Utopia kept squeezing until the monster was completely devoid of oxygen. Gawain fell limply to the ground before fading into dust.
"Armored Xyz's additional effect now activates!" Yuma explained. "After the equipped monster attacks, I can send Utopia to the Graveyard to allow Black Mist a second attack this turn!"
Chitaro simply hooted as Utopia's features wore off from the formerly gray Black Mist. (2500 – 100 ATK)
Another round of pain was inflicted unto Astral as he watched Utopia, the card that solidified his bond to Yuma, vanish. The pain was less merciful this time, spanning from his feet to his head.
"Agh!" Astral whimpered, struggling to move. He closed his eyes, though it didn't help.
"What a moronic play," mocked the third-year. "You exchanged a monster with 2500 ATK for one with 100! And what's more, you just said that you were going to attack Legend Arthur with Black Mist!"
"I am," Yuma barked. "When Black Mist battles, I can detach an overlay unit to halve your monster's ATK and give that same amount of power to Black Mist!"
"W-What!?" Chitaro's normal voice resurfaced.
Black Mist's tentacles make a reappearance as it threw them over to Legend Arthur. The warrior sliced two of them, but the other four were too powerful. They wrapped around Legend Arthur's turrets, causing them to crumble under the weight. (1600 ATK and 1500 ATK, respectively)
"However," Chitaro groaned as he took the ensuing damage, "once per turn, Legend Arthur cannot be destroyed by battle! That means that he survives Black Mist's assault!"
"Damn," Yuma swore. "I just can't catch a break today."
"I take it by the emptiness of your hand, your turn is over," presumed Chitaro, drawing a card.
Yuma – 100 LP
Chitaro – 3600 LP
"Heh," he chuckled. "The final chapter of the story is here, Tsukumo! The climax begins with this! I activate the mighty Equip Spell Card known as…Excalibur!"
Legend Arthur lifted his sword in the air, but nothing appeared to happen.
"What?" Yuma muttered. "Where's your Equip Spell?"
"Foolish." Chitaro shook his head. "Legend Arthur was already wielding Excalibur. This is just the Spell form of it."
"Then why play it?"
"The Equip Spell Excalibur is so mighty that I'm forced to skip my Draw Phases for as long as it remains on the field. However, in exchange for that, Legend Arthur's original ATK is doubled!"
Excalibur's turret shoulder pads were instantly restored. (1500 – 6000 ATK)
"It looks like Black Mist's efforts did nothing after all!"
"That's not true," Yuma debated, throwing a hand to his side. "Even if you attack me with Legend Arthur again, I can use Black Mist's effect to use your monster's strength against you!"
"I wonder if things will go your way," Chitaro pondered. "I summon Percival, Knight of Trials!"
Yuma put a hand over his eyes as an opulent figure dressed in golden armor bedazzled with rubies, sapphires, and emeralds stepped forward. He had a blindfold over his eyes, and spiky black hair that seemed to be gelled. A shield sat in his right hand, a sparkling grail in his left. An alcoholic-looking red fluid rippled inside the grail. (1200 ATK)
"During the turn that it's summoned, by Tributing Percival, I can negate the effect of one monster my opponent controls!"
Yuma gasped as Percival disappeared, but not before sloshing the liquid inside the grail back and forth. With a finalizing toss, the knight threw the chalice forward, splashing Black Mist with claret liquid that stuck to its tentacles, restricting the monster's ability to move.
"You have no more facedown cards, Yuma-kun! Likewise, the effect of your Black Mist is negated!" Chitaro snorted hardheartedly. "What can you possibly do now?"
"I…" Yuma spluttered. He bowed his head, seemingly in defeat.
"Legend Arthur, show him our might! Finish this story with Excalibur's Final Judgment!"
Excalibur was lifted high into the air, piercing the clouds above the two duelists. The blade, which stretched to the heavens, came down in slow-motion. Black Mist looked up, trying its best to untangle itself from the sticky substance binding it, but to no avail.
"It's over, Yuma Tsukumo!"
"I…I…" Yuma's head elevated as he revealed to Chitaro a wild look in his eyes. It was narrowly on the borderline of wicked sadism. "I activate the effect of Tasukerton from my Graveyard!"
The weight of Excalibur came crashing down on the ebony pig that appeared in front of Black Mist. The animal squealed loudly as the sword wiped its skin clean off, leaving only the skeleton of the monster. The bare bones monster fought against the sword, surprisingly fending it off.
"What the hell just happened!?"
"The Tasukerton that was detached from Black Mist last turn just saved me," Yuma answered with a twisted smirk. "By banishing it from my Graveyard, I was able to negate your attack."
"T-That can't be," stuttered Chitaro. "I didn't write that kind of move! That wasn't in the story!"
"This is real," Yuma shook his head. "I'm going to write my own ending here!"
Shit…Chitaro thought to himself. Next turn, he'll be able to use Black Mist's effect again. Combined with the fact that I can't draw anymore from Excalibur…No! I won't let him defeat me! I can't!
Grinding his teeth, the boy realized the only option that he had left. He grabbed the final card in his hand.
"I set one card facedown and end my turn!"
As the card formed behind Legend Arthur, the residue coating Black Mist dispelled.
Yuma looked over his shoulder again to see Astral still lying on the ground.
"I'll finish this quickly, I promise," he quietly vowed. "I'll make him pay for what he did to you…I'll make him suffer!
"My turn! Draw!"
He blinked twice when he saw the card he'd drawn. It seemed that luck was on his side. The question was, would it stay?
"I activate Xyz Treasure," Yuma called out. "By doing so, I can draw two new cards now!"
He did just that, looking at the Spell Card and the Monster Card he'd received. At least one of them would be handy.
"Now I'll send my Black Mist to attack your Legend Arthur again! Go, Black Mirage Whip!"
Black Mist's newly unharmed tentacles stretched out once more, traveling over to Chitaro's field.
"I activate my facedown Trap!" Chitaro intercepted, clicking a button. "Through the power of the Nightmare Wheel Trap, I can prevent one monster from attacking! In addition, during each of my Standby Phases, the controller of that monster will lose 500 Life Points!"
"Yuma…" Astral weakly pleaded.
"Such pitiful tricks," Yuma chuckled, looking from Black Mist to Chitaro. A strange aura started to mold around his body, much like what had happened against III earlier. "However…"
He turned a card in his hand over. As he did, a shaggy chow chow breed dog wearing an Eboshi hat like Norito's, as well as loose orange and blue clerical robes, appeared. The bipedal animal raced over to Chitaro's field, seizing Nightmare Wheel's card from the third-year's possession.
"I can use the effect of Chauchow-chan when my opponent uses a Trap Card! After that, I can not only negate the activation of that card, but I can use it against them!"
"I-impossible!" a fearful Chitaro tried to deny.
"It's not," Yuma said. He grinned slyly and added, "The story was just written this way – with your loss!"
A torture-like device based on a St. Catherine wheel materialized behind Legend Arthur. The warrior was forced to drop Excalibur as the torture rack expelled three steel chains that bound the hero's arms and legs. They pulled him onto the wheel, stretching his limbs out as far as possible.
"L-Legend Arthur…" It was the real Chitaro again. Only this time, Yuma couldn't have cared less.
"Because your Trap was rendered useless, I can resume my attack with Black Mist!"
The figure of darkness continued its assault, its tentacles punching the chained chevalier in the stomach, face, and chest. Legend Arthur groaned in pain, but had to endure the suffering. (4600 ATK and 3000 ATK, respectively)
Yuma – 100 LP
Chitaro – 2000 LP
"Once per turn, Legend Arthur isn't destroyed by battle," Yuma recalled, turning around his last card. "Meaning I can use the Revenge Attack Quick-Play to increase Black Mist's power by 1000 and give him one more attack this turn!"
Black Mist puffed its chest out, gaining Yuma's blessing. (4600 – 5600 ATK)
These tactics, Astral thought, staring at Yuma. Yuma would never prolong his opponent's misery like this. Then why…
He then looked at Black Mist, already knowing the answer. He closed his eyes, unable – or perhaps unwilling – to accept.
"Destroy him, my avatar!" Yuma commanded. "Black Mirage…Whip!"
For a final time Black Mist's tentacles lunged forward. Nightmare Wheel's steel chains vanished, replaced with the sliminess of Black Mist's appendages, which wrapped around Legend Arthur's limbs. The fiendish Number started to yank, partway up, partway down. Chitaro's monster yelled as Black Mist pulled harder, causing the man's arms and legs to drift even further apart. The gore ended when Legend Arthur's limbs ripped off.
Yuma – 100 LP
Chitaro – 0 LP
A horn blared in the backdrop as the defeated Legend Arthur dropped to the ground before Chitaro, dissolving into a cloud of cerise specks. Chitaro fell to his knees when that happened, right as the Barian-bestowed emblem adorning his forehead shattered.
On the opposite side of the field, Black Mist remained for a while longer, savoring its victory. It looked back at Yuma, then towards the spot where Astral was resting. With a twisted smile, it started to break apart in a rough fog of darkness. The swirling fog spiraled around Yuma's body for a few seconds, like it had done after his duel against III, before it blew away in the wind.
Yuma looked over his shoulder at the unconscious Chitaro before darting toward Astral.
"Are you ok?" he asked in a low voice as he crouched down to meet the spirit at eye level.
"I'll be fine in a while," Astral promised, though it wasn't wholehearted. "I just need to rest for a little bit. I'm going to leave the rest up to you for now, Yuma."
"Astral…"
"Use what I taught you well, Yuma. I believe that you can…"
Another painful pang shot through his transparent joints. Astral, unable to finish his sentence, could only scream as his body began to fade away slowly.
"Astral!" Yuma screamed.
"Save your friends, Yuma," he begged. "Don't worry about me. Your friends are what's important right now."
"You are my friend! I have to worry about you! I don't want to lose…"
Yuma stopped his sentence when he felt tears beginning to well in his eyes. A maelstrom of 'what ifs' popped into his mind as he sat there pondering them all. Each one was more horrifying than the last.
"Please remember your promise," Astral whispered as the last of his body diminished. His whisper was carried on by the wind as it came into Yuma's ears.
Yuma watched through blurry eyes as Astral left him. He reached out, touching the ground where Astral had just been. His fingers met only air as he tried to touch something that he could never seem to reach.
"Astral…"
A solitary tear hit the ground, staining the parking lot pavement. It was the only one that Yuma would allow to be shed as he rubbed the rest from his eyes. He had to be strong, more for Astral than for himself.
"My promise?" he repeated, suddenly remembering the words. His face scrunched in confusion as he tried to remember what Astral could have meant. But alas, the contemplation came up fruitless.
Putting the thought in the back of his mind for a moment, Yuma stood back up and walked over to Chitaro. The third-year was still unconscious, though he was still breathing. For the moment, that alone was good enough for Yuma.
The thirteen-year old boy reached into Chitaro's Graveyard, searching. He needed a clue, closure, anything that could help Astral in remembering who the Barians were. And it would start, he figured, with that weird Spell Card that Chitaro had used.
Yuma pulled out the stack of cards from the discard slot, hurriedly moving his fingers from card to card. His eyes widened as he double checked, and even triple checked, the stack of cards.
"Not here," he gasped. "It's gone…The Barian card is gone!"
His head swirled with misunderstanding. How could that have been possible? He clearly saw Chitaro use the Rank-Up card, whatever it was. Naturally, it'd have to be in the Graveyard. But as he looked over the contents for a fourth and final time, he still came up empty.
A shiver ran up his spine as he looked at the third-year student beside him. Given how peaceful the beret-wearing boy looked, it was hard to believe that he had been recently under the possession of an evil entity. An unknown one at that.
Yuma shook his head, removing his D-Gazer from over his eye. He pressed a button on it labeled "Call" and tapped the first number on the long list below.
"Pick up, Kotori…Pick up!"
After five rings, Kotori's voicemail informed Yuma that she couldn't answer the call, much to the boy's chagrin. It certainly didn't make his worrying any less bothersome.
He swore under his breath and decided to call Tetsuo next, only to be met with the same voicemail result.
Yuma gulped, realizing that it could only mean one thing. His spine shot up as he rose back to his feet and dashed from the duel site. He needed to find his friends. Fast.
A muscular figure standing on the roof of the school watched Yuma flee. Like the Barian-possessed boys, he was wearing a third year outfit, although his had to have been custom-tailored to suit his burly physique. The figure had been there watching ever since the duel began, hoping for the opposite conclusion to occur.
He heaved a heavy sigh as he replayed the duel in his head. If it hadn't been for that Number, Black Mist…
He grimaced. "Perhaps these humans are too frail to put up an adequate fight."
The man opened his hand as a single card dropped down from a portal in the sky. He looked at the card. Rank-Up Magic – Barian's Force, it read.
"Fine then," he decided. "Next time, I'll be the one to crush Yuma Tsukumo with the weight of my own strength…"
He turned his back on the school, on Chitaro, and on Yuma. He placed the Rank-Up Magic card in the pocket of his jeans before a portal appeared before him. He walked halfway through it before he looked over his shoulder at Yuma's blurring body.
"Prepare yourself, Tsukumo…Yuma. The real fight is only just beginning!"
Without another word, the man in the uniform walked through the gateway.
From behind the very staircase that Yuma and his friends had ambled down earlier, another spectator had seen the entire duel firsthand. He waited until Yuma had left before he stepped out from his hiding spot. His orange hair shone in the sun as he walked over to Chitaro.
The third-year Heartland Academy student was just beginning to wake up. He pushed a stray lock of hair from his face and rubbed his eyes gently to readjust his vision. At the sound of footsteps he turned to his right.
"What? Where am I?" Chitaro asked. "Who are you?"
The footsteps grew louder, but no voice came. The orange-haired figured continued treading forward with a warped grin plastered on his face.
"W-Who are you?" Chitaro repeated louder, wondering if the boy moving closer to him had heard. He held his throbbing head, feeling a migraine coming on. "How did I get here?" he asked himself.
"I don't know that," the orange-haired figure finally spoke. "But I can tell you where you're going…"
An earsplitting scream filled the vacant parking lot before a hushed stillness befell the school. The gentle winds died down, unwilling to carry on Chitaro's last cries.
New/Anime Cards Shown In This Chapter –
Comic Hero King Arthur (Xyz Monster)
Warrior/Xyz/Rank 4/Effect/EARTH
2400 ATK/1200 DEF
Effect: 2 Level 4 Warrior-Type monsters
If this card would be destroyed by battle, you can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card instead. When you do: It gains 500 ATK, and if it does, inflict 500 damage to your opponent.
Chaos Xyz: Comic Hero Legend Arthur (Xyz Monster)
Warrior/Xyz/Rank 5/Effect/EARTH
3000 ATK/2400 DEF
Effect: 3 Level 5 monsters
Once per turn, this card cannot be destroyed by battle. If this card has "Comic Hero King Arthur" as an Xyz Material, it gains this effect.
When this card destroys a monster by battle and sends it to the Graveyard: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; banish the destroyed monster, and if you do, inflict damage to your opponent equal to its original ATK.
Norito the Moral Leader (Xyz Monster)
Spellcaster/Xyz/Rank 6/Effect/LIGHT
2700 ATK/2000 DEF
Effect: 2 Level 6 Spellcaster-Type monsters
Once per turn, during either player's turn, when your opponent activates a Spell/Trap Card: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; negate the activation, and if you do, destroy it.
Raging-Flower Gunboat Nadeshiko (Xyz Monster)
Plant/Xyz/Rank 3/Effect/EARTH
2100 ATK/1800 DEF
Effect: 3 Level 3 monsters
You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; inflict 300 damage to your opponent for each card in their hand. You can only use the effect of "Raging-Flower Gunboat Nadeshiko" once per turn.
Overlay Capture (Spell)
Normal Spell
Image: Sword Breaker trying to steal an overlay unit from Gagagigo the Risen in order to combat it properly.
Effect: Target 1 Xyz Monster your opponent controls; detach 1 Xyz Material from that target and attach it to an Xyz Monster you control as an Xyz Material.
Note: The above five cards can be found in the Number Hunters booster pack. It is slated for release in the United States in July, 2013.
Excalibur (Spell)
Equip Spell
Image: The mighty sword Excalibur having just been pulled from its stone binding.
Effect: Double the equipped monster's original ATK. You must skip your Draw Phase each turn. If you draw a card(s), destroy this card.
Note: This card was first used by Yugi Muto/Mutou in Episode 164 of "Yu-Gi-Oh!". Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.
Plus Star 123 (Spell)
Normal Spell
Image: Three level stars emerging from their submerged locations underneath a rainbow of colors.
Effect: Target 1 face-up Level 4 or lower monster you control; increase its Level by 1, 2, or 3.
Note: This card was first used by Yuma Tsukumo in Episode 74 of "Yu-Gi-Oh! ZeXal." Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.
Gagaga X Gagaga (Spell)
Continuous Spell
Image: Gagaga Magician splitting into a negative version of himself.
Effect: Target 1 "Gagaga" monster you control; Special Summon this card as a Normal Monster with the same name, Type, Attribute, Level, ATK, and DEF as that target. (This card is also still a Spell Card.) When that target leaves the field, destroy this card.
Note: This card was first used by Yuma Tsukumo in Episode 76 of "Yu-Gi-Oh! ZeXal." Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.
Sakaki, the Honor-Student Priest (Monster)
Spellcaster/Level 6/Effect/LIGHT
1600 ATK/1200 DEF
Effect: If you control a Priestess monster, you can Special Summon this card (from your hand), but it cannot attack this turn.
Tamagushi, the Exemplary Priestess (Monster)
Spellcaster/Level 6/Effect/LIGHT
1000 ATK/2200 DEF
Effect: You can Normal Summon this card without Tributing, but its ATK becomes 0.
Note: The above two cards were first used by Mamoru Jinguji in Episode 77 of "Yu-Gi-Oh! ZeXal". Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.
Lancelot, Knight of the Lake (Monster)
Warrior/Level 4/Effect/EARTH
1500 ATK/1700 DEF
Effect: An Xyz Monster that was summoned using this card as an Xyz Material gains this effect.
When it is Xyz Summoned: Target 1 face-up monster your opponent controls; it loses 800 ATK.
Tristan, Knight of Tragic Love (Monster)
Warrior/Level 4/Effect/EARTH
1400 ATK/1800 DEF
Effect: An Xyz Monster that was summoned using this card as an Xyz Material gains this effect.
When it is Xyz Summoned: Target 1 face-up monsters your opponent controls; it loses 1000 DEF.
Miraculous Longsword (Spell)
Equip Spell
Image: A maroon longsword shimmering in the daylight before a battle.
Effect: The equipped monster gains 500 ATK. If it battles an opponent's monster, and that monster is still on the field at the end of the Damage Step: You can send this face-up card to the Graveyard; activate 1 Spell Card from your hand.
Sword Oath (Spell)
Normal Spell
Image: Lancelot and Tristan raising their swords high and clanking them together victoriously.
Effect: If you control a face-up Warrior-Type monster: Special Summon 1 Level 4 Warrior-Type monster from your hand.
Note: The above four cards were first used by Chitaro Ariga in Episode 78 of "Yu-Gi-Oh! ZeXal." Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.
Artillery Flower (Monster)
Plant/Level 3/Effect/FIRE
1000 ATK/500 DEF
Effect: When this card attacks or is attacked by an opponent's monster: That monster loses 800 ATK.
Cosmos (Monster)
Plant/Level 3/Effect/DARK
600 ATK/900 DEF
Effect: If you control 2 or more face-up Plant-Type monsters, you can Special Summon this card (from your hand).
Firearms Flower (Monster)
Plant/Level 3/Effect/FIRE
800 ATK/800 DEF
Effect: When this face-up Attack Position card you control is targeted for an attack: Inflict 800 damage to your opponent.
Note: The above three cards were first used by Aika Hanazoe in Episode 79 of "Yu-Gi-Oh! ZeXal". Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.
Chauchow-chan (Monster)
Beast/Level 2/Effect/EARTH
800 ATK/800 DEF
Effect: When an opponent's Trap Card is activated: You can send this card from your hand to the Graveyard; negate the activation, then you can use the effect of the negated Trap Card as if you had used it yourself.
Note: This card was first used by Yuma Tsukumo in Episode 107 of "Yu-Gi-Oh! ZeXal". Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.
Reverse Wall (Trap)
Normal Trap
Image: An enemy monster breaking down a defensive wall only to realize that there's a bomb awaiting him on the other side.
Effect: When a monster with 2000 or more DEF you control is destroyed: Destroy all monsters your opponent controls.
Note: This card was first used by Yuma Tsukumo in Chapter 17 of the "Yu-Gi-Oh! ZeXal" Manga. Creative credit goes to the writers of that chapter.
Gawain, Knight of Steadfast Loyalty (Monster)
Warrior/Level 4/Effect/EARTH
1600 ATK/1600 DEF
Effect: An Xyz Monster that was summoned using this card as an Xyz Material gains this effect.
When this card is Xyz Summoned, it gains 500 ATK.
Percival, Knight of Trials (Monster)
Warrior/Level 4/Effect/EARTH
1200 ATK/1800 DEF
Effect: During the turn this card is Summoned: You can Tribute this card to target 1 monster your opponent controls; its effect(s) is negated until the end of the turn.
Hero's Reflection (Trap)
Normal Trap
Image: King Arthur staring intently at his reflection in a desert mirage puddle of water.
Effect: Target 1 monster you control; equip this card to that target. Once per turn, that monster cannot be destroyed by battle. If the equipped monster would be destroyed by a card effect, you can send this card to the Graveyard instead.
Note: The above three cards first debuted in this chapter.
Author's Note: With the duel finished, Yuma begins his frantic search for Kotori and his friends. Elsewhere, inside the Emperor's Key, a recovering Astral begins to remember something about the so-called Barians. Unfortunately, his healing process is interrupted when Black Mist himself appears before him, claiming to possess vital information about Astral's mission. In exchange for this information, Black Mist asks for Astral's help in return. However, when Astral declines, Black Mist makes an offer that Astral seemingly can't refuse. Will the injured Astral be enough to defeat Black Mist on his own, or will the self-proclaimed "strongest Number" be able to counterattack? Find out next time!
