Chapter 52: Academia Assault!
"Hell yeah! Let's do this shit!"
The shout was carried across the entire ship as it pulled into port, followed by a loud smacking sound.
"Leiko! Will you stop it!?" Ayu scolded him. "We have to be serious about this! We're in enemy territory!"
"Ayu, I'm fine!" Li pouted as he revved up his Duel Runner. "I'm just so ready to beat these guys into the ground and find Rin. Then you, me, Yugo and Rin can all go home together!"
She huffed. "Your heart's in the right place, Li. But your head..."
"He makes a point at least." Greiger spoke up for him, as both he and Kalin had also gotten on their Duel Runners. "These are our true opponent, we must fight them with everything we have."
"Oh geez, I'm getting an awful feeling coming back here." Fubuki admitted.
"You're not getting cold feet now, are you?" Asuka glared.
"N-Not at all!" He countered.
"Our main goal is getting Mr. Sekaki to the Professor." Johan said. "So you guys can do what you want."
"Rightrightright! Let's do this!" Li revved up his engine and shot off, knocking several other passengers over as he sped off.
"Leiko! You moron!" Ayu quickly sped after him.
"We should go too." Kalin spoke up as he and Greiger went off too.
"Let's go as well, then." Johan nodded as he, Yushou, Asuka, Fubuki and Kaito went slowly down the ramp in comparison to the Synchro residents.
Yu-Gi-Oh!
"There it is..." I pointed. "Academia."
Geez...I'd seen it in the episodes that I had watched, but looking at it up close felt pretty menacing with the sharp metal blades suspended in the air around it, and the steep rocky walls encircling it.
"We have an aerial advantage, so we should be able to get in pretty easily." Anna said.
"We'll land in at the port and storm in from the front!" Shark called up to us.
"I'll land us over the east side, so you two can fly around back." Anzel explained.
"Gotcha. Good luck everybody!" I cried out to them as Anna made her cannon circle around to the back of the huge building.
Anzel jumped off of New Future Dragon into a courtyard with Rise quickly following before the monster faded away. "I'm going to go look for Ruri." He told her.
"Whatever, I'm just glad I don't have to take care of you any more." Rise waved him off. "I'll join up with Ryoga and Rio then."
"Rise." She stopped at him saying her name. "...Thanks, for helping me all those times."
She stared at him for a moment before sighing. "You're welcome. Happy?" They then split up.
At the docks, Ryoga helped Rio off of his monster before it faded away.
"Let's do this, Ryoga." Rio nodded.
"Yes." Shark nodded with a determined look. "And I promise, I will protect you this time!"
Rio smirked. "I don't need protecting. But I know you'll be beside me, and that's all the reassurance I need." The siblings then began walking.
Anna found a platform to land on leading into a corridor. We both got off and faced it.
'This is it...I'm about to enter the final frontier...practically. They'll probably be an even bigger badder evil to face by the end of all this, knowing Yu-Gi-Oh.' I thought grimly. 'But it doesn't matter. The things I've experienced, the friends I've made, have all led me here! And I wouldn't change any of it! I will Duel with everything I have!'
"Elliot!" Anna's call snapped me out of my thought just in time to see several Obelisk Force members approaching us, activating their Duel Disks.
"Shit, here already!? I was hoping I'd never see these guys again!" I thought aloud.
Anna stepped in front of me and activated her Duel Disk. "I've got these guys! You go on ahead!"
"But...!" I began.
"Don't worry about me, or yourself! I'll help us both out!" She assured me.
"...Okay." Trusting her, I ran towards them.
"You! Stop!" The one at the front reached out towards me.
"Back off!" Suddenly, Anna aimed her cannon at him. "Let him past, or I'll blow you all to smithereens! Got it!?"
The Obelisk Force members all flinched at the threat, giving me time to run past them.
'That was your plan!? You could've blown me up!' I inadvertently thanked her in my head as I ran down the corridor.
Yu-Gi-Oh!
Leiko and Ayu drove into a courtyard and looked around. "Damn...where is this Professor bitch's lab?" Li wondered aloud.
"You should've thought about that before driving off!" Ayu yelled at him before rubbing her temple.
"That was step 2!" Li argued. "...Except now I don't know what step 2 is supposed to be...um...let's just go through those big double doors!"
He rolled his Dueling bike over to some double doors and pushed them open, only to scream when he found a figure standing there. "The fuck!? Who are you you cheap jumpscare FNAF wannabe!?"
"...Elliot..." The figure spoke.
"Eh!? I'm not Elliot you blind retard!" Li shouted. "Look! My hair and my eyes are completely different! Why does nobody get that!?"
"Elliot...Zekaki..." The figure stepped forward, and revealed himself as Katsu. However, he was vastly different. His eyes were wide in constant horror, and his skin was now a pale white as his whole body seemed to slump over in a defeated tone. His hair was messy and unkempt, and he was covered from head to foot in nasty scars, evident by the tares in his Academia uniform. "Elliot Zekaki..."
"What's wrong with this scrub?" Li asked no-one in particular.
"Defeat...I must defeat Elliot Zekaki..." Katsu practically whispered. "Otherwise...Master Hotaru will...punish me again...I don't want to be punished again...!" Hurriedly, as if out of fear, he activated his Duel Disk.
"You wanna Duel! Fine by me!" Leiko cried.
"Hold on, Li! God, rushing into everything!" Ayu scolded him as she sped over. "I'LL Duel this guy! YOU keep going!"
"Huh!? Why, Ayu!?" Li cried.
"Elliot...I must Duel...Elliot!" Katsu gasped.
"Too bad!" Ayu snapped. "Li! You have to rescue Rin!"
"But...I can't save anyone if it means leaving you behind again!" Leiko cried. "I don't want to hurt you like that again!"
Ayu smiled lightly. "You are so dumb...I'll be fine. So, please, get the fuck out of here, will you?"
Li still hesitated, but nodded, before he revved up his Dule Runner and sped past Katsu.
"Elliot...Elliot got away...I'll be punished...it's all your fault!" Katsu turned towards Ayu with anger in his terrified eyes.
"You'll be punished alright...by me! For getting in our way!" Ayu declared.
"DUEL!"
Katsu vs. Ayu LP: 4000
Yu-Gi-Oh!
"Do you think this is the way?" Greiger asked Kalin as the two of them drove down a corridor.
"I don't know." Kalin replied honestly. "But we have to find the Professor however we can. Going blind isn't necessarily bad in this situation."
"Looking for the Professor, are you?"
Kalin and Greiger screeched to a halt as an unknown voice echoed down the corridor, and a figure stood before them.
"Who are you?" Greiger asked.
"I am Barrett. A Duel Warrior of Academia." The burly man told them. "If you want to even get close to the Professor, you must defeat me! I shall crush you for intruding!" He activated his Duel Disk.
"A 'Duel Warrior'? Tch, don't make up noble titles to justify cruel actions." Kalin scoffed. "That makes you our opponent!" The two of them activated their own Duel Disks.
"DUEL!"
Kalin and Greiger vs. Barrett LP: 4000
Yu-Gi-Oh!
I ran down the corridor as fast as I could, but nothing seemed to be changing, except the daylight behind me growing further and further away. 'How long does this stupid corridor go on for anyway!? This is totally impractical!'
I listened carefully to see if I could find any other signs of life, like talking or Dueling, when I heard footsteps coming towards me. I slowed to a halt as someone walked into my vision.
It was a girl wearing a blue Academia uniform, unbuttoned over a plain pink shirt with black shorts, having a pink and white Academia Duel Disk on her left arm. She had very wavy aquamarine hair that became lighter as it trailed to the ends of the strands, until the tips were completely white. She had grey, steely eyes that seemed to be faded.
"Who are...ack!" I clutched my forehead as I stared at the girl. A memory seemed to be flickering in my mind, one that didn't belong to me, but still seemed familiar...so happy...
"...Haruka?" I involuntarily called out to her.
"Elliot Zekaki. You are my opponent." She stated coldly, activating her Duel Disk and causing an orange blade to appear.
"Haruka...no! I can't think about this! She's my opponent!" I pushed the thoughts to the back of my mind before activating my Duel Disk.
"Field Spell: Cross-Over."
"DUEL!"
Elliot vs. Haruka LP: 4000
"I'm going first!" I stated. "I Normal Summon Timestream Blob from my hand!" The little blue monster bounced onto the field. "When Blob is Normal Summoned, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Timestream monster from my hand! Come on, Timestream Acrobat!"
The monster that appeared was female, with pink hair that was tied into a ponytail that had a golden ring on the end of it, with blue heart shaped eyes. She wore a red zipped-up jacket that had a black outline of a clock on the back, with form fitting white jeans that had a little blue clock on the belt, all to cover her very long limbs.
Timestream Acrobat, Level 4, Warrior, WIND, ATK: 1000 DEF: 2000
"I end my turn." I finished.
"My turn." Haruka drew. "I activate my Spell, Raigeki, to destroy all monsters you control!"
"I activate Timestream Acrobat's effect!" I countered. "By tributing another Timestream monster I control, I can double its attack, and also prevent its destruction by battle or card effect, until the End Phase! I choose Timestream Blob!" Blob burst into sparkles as Acrobat's ATK became 2000, and a bubble appeared around it to block the lightning strike.
"It doesn't matter. All I needed was a monster in your Graveyard." She stated. "I Normal Summon Aleister the Invoker." A magician carrying a book and staff appeared with 1000 ATK. "When Aleister is Normal Summoned, I can add the Spell, Invocation, from my Deck to my hand, and activate it!"
Upon the Spell's usage, a giant blue portal appeared above her. "With this, I can Fusion Summon a monster, but as I am Summoning an 'Invoked' monster, I can banish monsters from my field, and either players Graveyard as Fusion Materials. I banish my Aleister, and the LIGHT Attribute Timestream Blob in your Graveyard."
"Fusion Summoning by banishing MY monsters!?" I gasped as both Blob and Aleister disappeared.
"I offer up the eternal light to the creature beyond the portal!" Haruka chanted. "Invocation Summon! Appear! Level 9! Invoked Mechaba!" A giant robotic chariot-like monster with blindingly white armour appeared wielding 2500 ATK.
"Battle! Invoked Mechaba will attack Timestream Acrobat!" The front portion of the monster roared before charging at my own.
"No you don't!" I quickly jumped up the platforms and grabbed a card. "Action Spell, Single Distraction! As you control only one monster, I can target that monster and destroy it!"
"I activate Invoked Mechaba's effect." Haruka replied. "Once per turn, when my opponent activates a card effect, I can discard a card of the same type to negate its activation and banish it. I discard the Spell, Polymerization, to negate Single Distraction and banish it!" The front part of the monster opened up its mask and fired a beam of light that destroyed the Spell. "The battle will continue!"
"Due to Acrobat's effect, she cannot be destroyed this turn!" I reminded her.
"But you will take damage!" She cried as the monster swung its sword, forcing Acrobat to block it with her arms, the shockwaves reverberating against me.
Elliot's LP: 3500
"I activate the effect of Invocation in my Graveyard." Haruka continued. "As I control a banished Aleister the Invoker, I can shuffle this card from my Graveyard into my Deck, then add the banished Aleister to my hand."
'She can recover it as easily as that!?' I thought. 'Now she can summon it again next turn!'
"I end my turn." She finished.
"Haruka..." I clutched my head as thoughts invaded it. "Why do you feel...so important? Why do I feel sad fighting you? Is...is this what Hotaru would be feeling right now?...My turn!"
"I, using the Scale 1 Lunar Knight, and the Scale 8 Solar Knight, set the Pendulum Scale!" The two monster rose up either side of me. "With this, I can summon monsters Levels 2 to 7 simultaneously! Infinite power of unknown origin, bestow upon me the chance to shape my own future! Pendulum Summon! Come forth, my monster partners!" Two streams of light fell from the portal.
"Level 3! Timestream Trickster! And the chained heart of my resolve! Level 7! Yavix the Imprisoned Warrior!" The two monsters appeared on the field in ATK Position. "Yavix the Imprisoned Warrior's effect activates as it was Special Summoned! I'll reduce the attack and defence of Invoked Mechaba by 500!" Yavix's chains extended out towards the monster.
"I activate Mechaba's effect. By discarding Wind Effigy, I negate its effect and banish it!" The monster fired a beam of light that made Yavix burst into sparkles.
"I thought that would happen..." I admitted. "However, Timestream Trickster's effect also activates when it's summoned! Once per turn, I can roll a dice, then Special Summon a Timestream monster from my Deck with the same Level as the dice roll!" Trickster cackled as it crated a red dice and tossed it.
"I won't allow that either." She stated. "I activate the effect of Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring in my hand. By discarding it, I can negate any effect that would move a monster from the Main Deck anywhere else!" The image of the monster appeared and charged into the dice, making both burst into sparkles.
"Shit, she stopped both my plays..." I muttered. "I change Timestream Acrobat to defence position and end my turn!"
"My turn." Haruka drew.
"During your Standby Phase, I activate Acrobat's effect!" I cried out. "I tribute Trickster to double its attack, and prevent its destruction, for the rest of this turn!" Trickster became sparkles that covered Acrobat.
'That was risky, but she didn't use Mechaba's effect, so now I have a guard against her attacks!' I thought.
"I Normal Summon Aleister the Invoker." The wizard appeared on the field once again. "And with his effect, I add Invocation from my Deck to my hand, and activate it! I banish the Aleister on my field and the FIRE Attribute Ash Blossom in my Graveyard!" The portal glowed red as the monsters vanished.
"I offer up the blazing fire to the creature beyond the portal! Invocation Summon! Emerge! Level 7! Invoked Purgatrio!" Three different monsters all joined as one crawled out of the portal, each looking demonic as dark purple flames burned around them.
"Invoked Purgatrio gains 200 attack for every card you control. With the two monsters you have up there, and the one on your field, you have three, so it gains 600 attack." The three monsters laughed maniacally as their ATK rose to 2900.
"Now I activate Invocation's effect in the Graveyard to shuffle it into my Deck, and add the banished Aleister to my hand." She repeated. "Then, I activate the Spell, Double Summon, allowing me to Normal Summon Aleister again, allowing me to add Invocation from my Deck to my hand, and activate it, banishing the Aleister on my field with the Wind Effigy in my Graveyard!" This time, the portal that appeared was green.
"I offer up the great wind to the creature beyond the portal! Invocation Summon! Emerge! Invoked Raidjin!" This time a knight wielding a sword enveloped in lightning emerged from the portal, lining up next to the other two monsters.
"Battle! Invoked Purgatrio will attack Timestream Acrobat!" Haruka pointed.
"Due to Acrobat's effect, she can't be destroyed!" I reminded her.
"Purgatrio has the ability to attack all monsters you control, and inflict piercing battle damage!" She pointed.
'Crud!' I quickly grabbed a card from the ground. "Action Spell, Damage Vanish reduces the damage to 0!"
However, Haruka jumped and grabbed a card as well. "I'll discard Action Spell, Tenacity to activate Mechaba's effect, to negate and banish Damage Vanish." Once again the monster destroyed my Spell, just as the three monsters clashed with Acrobat with such force that I was knocked onto my back.
Elliot's LP: 2600
"I set a card and end my turn." Haruka finished.
I pushed myself back up onto my feet. "She has three Fusion Monsters on her field...I'm in trouble..."
Yu-Gi-Oh!
Meanwhile, Yushou, Asuka, Fubuki and Johan were running into an empty classroom.
"Which way is Leo's room from here?" Yushou asked.
"A few more corridors away, but we're getting close!" Fubuki assured him.
"Well, isn't this a...pleasant surprise."
Fubuki silently shrieked as a familiar figure stepped down the stairs from the top of the room. "Ryo!"
The other Death Duo member was indeed said figure. "Hmph. I would've thought you'd want to stay far away from here, traitor."
"That's none of your concern! I'm helping my little sister now!" Fubuki argued.
"How lovely." He sneered. "You were always the weak one, Fubuki. I'll card you all, a nice happy family!" He activated his Duel Disk.
Fubuki grit his teeth. "Fine then, Ryo. You want a Duel I'll-"
"Hold on!" Johan stopped him. "Leave this to me! You're the one guiding Sensei and Asuka, aren't you? You can't waste time around here!"
"Johan..." Yushou breathed.
"I'll be fine. I'm gonna use everything you taught me to win!" Johan nodded with a smile.
"...Okay then, I believe in you, Johan." Yushou agreed. "Fubuki."
"R-Right. This way!" He led them out of the room as Johan turned to face him.
"You're supposed to be my opponent?" Ryo grunted. "I'll crush you easily."
"Geez, you use such harsh words." Johan huffed, activating his own Duel Disk. "I'm gonna open your heart with a little bit of Entertainment Dueling!"
"DUEL!"
Ryo vs. Johan LP: 4000
"I'm going first." Ryo demanded. "By sending two Hyper Dragon monsters from my hand or field to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon this card from my hand. I'll discard Hyper Dragon Original and Hyper Dragon Prototype to Special Summon Hyper Dragon Barrier from my hand in defence position!"
The machine snake that appeared was similar to the other Hyper Dragons, only it was mainly emerald green in colour, as a holographic neone green shield surrounded its neck, making it look like a cobra.
Hyper Dragon Barrier, Level 6, Machine, DARK, ATK: 1200 DEF: 2300
"I end my turn. Go on, show me how strong you are." Ryo challenged.
"Why, thank you!" Johan bowed. "Get ready! Because I'm about to dazzle you with an amazing Duel!"
"Ladies and Gentlemen!" He spoke as if the crowd was filled with people. "It's my turn! Draw!" He looked at his card and smiled. "In order to begin my show, first we need some pretty lights! I activate the Spell, Crystal Gift, from my hand!" The card showed a ruby and a sapphire grafted into diamond shapes, shining out of a gift box. "With this, I can place any number of Crystal Beasts in my hand face-up in my Spell and Trap Zone, then draw an equal number of cards. I'll activate Crystal Beast Emerald Tortoise and Crystal Beast Amethyst Cat as Continuous Spells, then draw 2 cards!" A pink gem and a green gem appeared in front of him.
"Alright! Time for our first trick, and turn these dazzling lights into a magnificent dragon!" Johan announced. "Now, by revealing the Spell, Crystal Fusion, and discarding it, I can activate its effect to fuse the two Crystal Beasts treated as Spells together!" The two gems turned into a red and blue whirlpool.
"Mysterious amethyst of the night, combine with the rugged emerald from the stone, and form the shining star across the earth and stars! Fusion Summon! Behold! Level 6! Crystal Dragon Quartz Scultone!" The dragon appeared with a roar and 2300 ATK, illuminating the entire room like a disco ball.
"Magnificent! We've really got an amazing light show now!" Johan approved. "Let's continue being dazzling! I activate Quartz Scultone's effect! By activating Crystal Beast Topaz Tiger from my hand in my Spell and Trap Zone, I can destroy a card you control!" A yellow gem appeared in front of him. "I'll destroy our only option; Hyper Dragon Barrier!" Scultone fired a beam of white light from its forehead.
"Stop joking around!" Ryo countered. "Hyper Dragon Barrier cannot be destroyed by card effects!" The green barrier expanded to shield the monster from the attack.
"That was a good counter! Then we'll just have to be even more brilliant!" Johan cheered. "I activate the Spell, Crystal Sharpen!" The card showed sparks flying around a purple diamond as violet light was emitted from its very sharp point. "By targeting a Crystal monster I control, I can place a Crystal Beast directly from my Deck into my Spell and Trap Zone, and then that monster gains attack equal to the placed monsters attack, and it can inflict piercing damage, until the End Phase! I'll activate Crystal Beast Sapphire Pegasus from my Deck, to give Quartz Scultone 1800 attack!" A blue gem lined up next to the yellow one as the dragons ATK rose to 4100.
"Battle! Crystal Dragon Quartz Scultone will attack Hyper Dragon Barrier! Blinding Dive!" The dragon became a white comet that shot towards the dragon.
"I activate Hyper Dragon Barrier's other effect!" Ryo cried. "Once per turn, I can negate its destruction by battle!" The barrier once again appeared.
"Then I'LL activate my monsters other effect!" Johan responded. "When a card or effect is activated, I can destroy a Crystal Beast in my Spell and Trap Zone to negate its activation! I'll use the power of Topaz Tiger!" The yellow gem shattered as a golden beam hit the green barrier, causing it to shatter. "The battle will continue! Go, Quartz Scultone!" The dragon smashed into the machine, causing it to explode and making Ryo shield himself.
Ryo's LP: 2200
"That concludes our first act! I set a card and end my turn!" Johan finished. "How was it? Did you enjoy it?"
"You...little bastard. How dare you hurt me!" Ryo yelled. "That cocky attitude of yours...it reminds me of that other one..."
"Awwww, you shouldn't be making such an angry face." Johan pouted.
"Shut up! My turn!" Ryo drew. "I activate the Spell, Hyper Repairs!" The card showed two Original's and a Max getting repaired by little blue droids. "I Special Summon a Hyper Dragon from my Graveyard with its effects negated! Revive, Hyper Dragon Barrier!" The dragon reappeared on the field, though without the green barrier around its neck.
"Next I Normal Summon the third Hyper Dragon Original. Then I shall release it, in order to Special Summon Hyper Dragon Laser from my hand!" The little dragon appeared on the field only to burst into sparkles as it was replaced by its laser counterpart. "I activate Laser's effect! Once per turn, I can destroy a card my opponent controls! I'll destroy Crystal Dragon Quartz Scultone!" The dragon fired a strong blue laser from the end of its tail.
"I'll activate Quartz Scultone's effect!" Johan pointed. "I'll use the power of Sapphire Pegasus to negate your monsters effect activation!" The gem turned into a blue beam that countered with the other one, cancelling both out.
"It was obvious you would do that." Ryo figured. "But I will go further! I fuse my Hyper Dragon Barrier and Hyper Dragon Laser together!"
"Huh!? Fusing them without Polymerization!?" Johan gasped as the two machines became a green and blue whirlpool.
"Metal dragons of ultimate defence and offense! Combine your mighty powers and destroy all in your way! Fusion Summon! Be born! Level 9! Hyper Dragon Security!"
A giant black snake robotic dragon appeared, roaring loudly as two analytical red eyes surveyed everything around it, as its neck opened up to reveal several more red eyes, whilst small, black dragon head drones floated around it.
Hyper Dragon Security, Level 9, Machine, DARK, ATK: 2600 DEF: 2400
"I activate the effect of Hyper Dragon Security!" Ryo yelled. "Once per turn, I can destroy all monsters on the field! Final Punishment!" The dragon heads all screeched before wildly firing lasers from their mouths whilst all of the eyes on the monster also began firing the same red lasers, obliterating the classroom in blasts of fire and smoke as Quartz Scultone was also hit.
"But if it destroys all monsters, that means yours is too!" But as the smoke cleared, Johan could see that Security remained on the field.
"Hyper Dragon Security is unaffected by card effects." Ryo stated grimly. "Battle! Hyper Dragon Security shall attack you directly! Red Scream!" The monsters main jaw opened before firing a giant crimson laser that enveloped Johan, knocking him onto his back.
Johan's LP: 1400
"How is that?" Ryo grunted. "You done acting so idiotic now?"
There was a pause. But then Johan jumped to his feet. "You kidding? This won't get me down so easily! I activate my Trap! Crystal Reaction!" The Trap showed several multicoloured shards exploding out of a chemical tube. "When I take damage, I can activate a number of Crystal Beasts in my Deck as Continuous Spells up to the number of times I took 800 points of damage! Since I took 2600 damage, I can activate three from my Deck! I activate Ruby Carbuncle, Cobalt Eagle, and Amber Mammoth!" A red, blue and orange gem appeared on his field.
Ryo maintained his glare. "You...I end my turn!"
"Then it's time for our second act! My turn!" Johan drew. "I activate the Spell, Magical Convergence!" The card showed several beams of light rising up in a barren wasteland and all converging, leaving a trail of greenery and flowers in their wake. "As I control three or more face-up Continuous Spells, I can add a Spell Card in my Graveyard to my hand. I'll add Crystal Fusion, and activate it to fuse my three Crystals together!" The three gems became a whirlpool of red, blue and yellow.
"Crimson ruby of the day! Clear cobalt of the sky! Hardened amber of the earth! Combine your powers and give birth to a glorious array of colour and power! Fusion Summon! Be born! Level 8! Crystal Dragon Diamond Quetzalcoatl!"
The dragon that appeared this time was long and serpentine, its thin scaly body covered in arrowhead shaped diamonds reflecting colours that changed every second, with a large fan of bright red, blue and green feathers formed at the tail end of its long body. Near the head end were two giant feathered wings that stretched far out, the feathers mostly being a pure white, except for the ends which were multiple alternating colours of yellow, purple and red. It had two arms with three fingered black claws, in each one it carried a crystal ball that reflected rays of light in all directions, similar to disco balls. It had a giant head with two curved brown horns that had red and blue gems embedded in them, as a brilliant diamond sparkled on its forehead, just above its fierce red eyes and jaw filled with brilliant white fangs.
Crystal Dragon Diamond Quetzalcoatl, Level 8, Dragon, LIGHT, ATK: 2800 DEF: 2500
"I activate Crystal Dragon Diamond Quetzalcoatl's effect!" Johan continued. "Once per turn, I can activate a Crystal Beast from my hand or Graveyard as Continuous Spell, and my dragon gains 1000 attack until the End Phase! I'll activate the Ruby Carbuncle in my Graveyard!" The red gem reappeared on the field as his new dragons ATK rose to 3800.
"Battle! Crystal Dragon Diamond Quetzacoatl will attack Hyper Dragon Security! Pure Stream!" The dragon roared as a blinding white light was unleashed from its jaw and orbs, obliterating the metal monster.
Ryo's LP: 1000
"Did you enjoy the magnificent pure lights?" Johan asked. "I set a card and end my turn!"
"What is...THE MATTER WITH ALL OF YOU!?" Ryo suddenly screamed. "Treating Dueling like a game! Like a joke! Dueling is war! Don't make a mockery of it!"
"Dueling isn't war." Johan replied simply. "Well, I guess it can, but that's only because you Academia guys made it like that. Dueling can be anything you want it to be, what you want to convey. And I don't want to use my Dueling for war! I want to use my Dueling to make people happy, to make them smile and cheer, to dazzle them! I want to make a happy world, and Mr. Yushou showed me a way how, through Entertainment Dueling. That's what I believe in!"
Ryo visibly flinched, and clenched his fist. "Entertainment Dueling...Unity Dueling...you all keep saying such stupid things! I won't accept them! At all! My turn!" He looked at the card he drew and grew an evil smirk on his face. "Yes...with this, I'll destroy you, and your worthless ideals! I activate the effect of the Hyper Dragon in my Extra Deck!"
"Activating an effect from the Extra Deck!?" Johan gasped.
"By discarding a Polymerization or Fusion card, I can Fusion Summon this monster by banishing five Hyper Dragons on my field or in my Graveyard!" He slid the Polymerization in his hand into the Graveyard. "From my Graveyard, I banish the two Hyper Dragon Original's, Hyper Dragon Barrier, Hyper Dragon Laser, and Hyper Dragon Security!" The five cards appeared and swirled together in a purple and black whirlpool as dark lightning crackled around them.
"Dragons of machinery and lightning! Merge all your anger, rage and hatred into the ultimate embodiment of destruction! Fusion Summon! Come forth! Level 12! Hyper Dragon Zero!"
The monster that appeared looked somewhat similar to the other hyper dragons with its obsidian black body and multicoloured energy, but many black spears spiked off of its armoured body, and at its head was a giant hexagonal sphere, out of several holes in which came several Hyper Dragon heads all roaring in anger as black lightning crackled around them.
Hyper Dragon Zero, Level 12, Machine, DARK, ATK: ? DEF: ?
"Hyper Dragon Zero's attack and defence is equal to the total attack of all its Fusion Materials halved!" Ryo cried. "The total attack of the banished Hyper Dragon's is 9000, therefore, Zero's attack and defence is 4500!" The dragon heads screeched as its power rose.
"This is the end! Battle! Hyper Dragon Zero will attack Crystal Dragon Diamond Quetzalcoatl! All Zero!" The dragon heads roared as black lightning began crackling in their jaws.
"I activate Diamond Quetzacoatl's effect!" Johan countered. "During either players turn, I can destroy a Crystal Beast in my Spell and Trap Zone to make it unaffected by card effects, and increase its attack by 500, until the End Phase!" The ruby burst into sparkles that covered the dragon, making its ATK 3300 before it was obliterated by the multiple beams.
Johan's LP: 200
"Damn you! Just lose already!" Ryo cried out in anger.
"I...won't." Johan struggled to his feet. "Not until I show you there's another way of Dueling! Trap card, open! Crystal Ray!" The card showed a tiny rainbow crystal shard unleashing a beam of light into a dark sky. "When a Crystal monster I control is destroyed, I can add a Crystal Beast, or a certain other monster, from my Deck to my hand!" He took a card out and showed it to Ryo. "I'll add this one."
Ryo glared at the card. "I end my turn."
"My turn then. I draw!" Johan drew. "Ryo, I understand. You've known nothing but Dueling as a tool of war, you've never been able to experience anything else. I'm going to change that, right now!" He held a card up. "As I have seven Crystal Beasts in my Graveyard with different names, I can Special Summon this card!" Seven rays of light all shot out of the ground and combined together.
"Come forth! The embodiment of colour, light and hope! Rainbow Dragon!"
The dragon appeared with a magnificent roar as rainbow lights reflected off of its body, revealing its grand 4000 ATK.
"Ryo, this dragon is the embodiment of my Entertainment Dueling! And I'm going to face you with it!" Johan declared as his dragon floated behind him. ""I set a card and end my turn!"
"...You dare talk like that, when your monster is weaker then mine!?" Ryo growled. "I will not accept this! I will not accpet you! Or any of your stupid ways! I will end it all! RIGHT NOW! MY TURN! Battle! Hyper Dragon Zero, obliterate that dragon! ALL ZERO!" The dragon roared as it charged up once again.
"Trap Card, open! Crystal Haven!" The card showed a glowing golden sanctuary as the souls of the crystal Beasts appeared in the shadows of their gem forms. "When this card is activated, I can Special Summon any number of Crystal Beasts in my Graveyard to my field with their effects negated, but I also have to Special Summon an equal number to your field with their effects negated too! To my field, I Special Summon Crystal Beasts Ruby Carbuncle, Amethyst Cat and Emerald Tortoise! And to your field, I Special Summon Topaz Tiger, Sapphire Pegasus, and Cobalt Eagle!"
Three Crystal Beasts appeared on both players sides of the fields, the room becoming aglow tih colours as all their gems shined together.
"What good will that do!? You will still lose!" Ryo screamed.
"I activate Rainbow Dragon's effect!" Johan pointed. "By releasing any number of Crystal Beasts I control, I can increase its ATK by 1000 for each one! I'll release Ruby Carbuncle, Amethyst Cat and Emerald Tortoise!" The three monsters became lights that were absorbed into the dragon, boosting its ATK to 7000.
"Don't joke with me! You will not defeat me!" Ryo roared. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell, Limiter Removal! This will double the attack of Zero until the End Phase!" The giant monster roared as its ATK became 9000. "This is...THE END!"
"It is!" Johan agreed. "I activate the other effect of Crystal Haven in my Graveyard! As I control no Crystal monsters, I can banish it to take control of all Crystal Beast monsters you control!" The three Crystal Beasts returned to Johan's field. "Now, I will activate Rainbow Dragon's effect again, to release these three!"
The three monsters became lights that Rainbow Dragon absorbed, upon which it spread out its wingas and unleashed a burst of beautiful colours that lit up the entire room as its ATK became 10000.
Ryo could only stare in shock at the dazzling sight. "You..." He looked like he was going to say something, but then just smiled. "You win." And so the light enveloped both his monster and him.
Ryo's LP: 0
Johan: WIN!
As the light faded, Johan and Ryo faced each other, neither moving.
"...Heh." Ryo finally spoke. "I still don't fully understand what you all talk about, but...I enjoyed that Duel. In a different way then usual."
Johan smiled. "Then that means you understand it perfectly."
Ryo chuckled lightly, before stumbling forward only for Johan to catch him. "...Thanks."
"No problem." Johan beamed.
Yu-Gi-Oh!
Leiko screeched to a halt at what he saw. After driving for who knows how long, he had ended up in a wider room, with pillars lining along either side as a blood-red carpet stretched out before him.
"Fuck. Where's this?" Li groaned. "Awwww, how hard is it to find Rin in this stupid place!? It's making my head hurt!"
"What's the matter? Lost, are you?"
Leiko snapped to attention at the voice and turned towards the source, walking out of the darkness that was the other end of the room.
"Hey, who the hell are you!?" Li demanded, pointing at the figure.
The figure walked into the light, as he finished chewing on a cookie, and set a very disturbing look on Leiko.
"I'm the Duel Reaper, little Leiko." Hotaru grinned.
Timestream Acrobat: Once per turn, during either players turn, you can tribute 1 other 'Timestream' monster you control to double this cards ATK, and prevent it from being destroyed by battle or card effects, until the End Phase.
Hyper Dragon Barrier: You can Special Summon this card from your hand by sending 2 'Hyper Dragon' monsters from your hand and/or field to the Graveyard. This card cannot be destroyed by card effects. Once per turn, if this card would be destroyed by battle, you can negate its destruction.
Crystal Gift: Place any number of 'Crystal Beast' monsters in your hand face-up in your Spell and Trap Zone as Continuous Spells, then draw an equal number of cards placed in the Spell and Trap Zone by this cards effect.
Crystal Sharpen: Target 1 'Crystal' monster you control, place 1 'Crystal Beast' monster from your Deck face-up in your Spell and Trap Zone as a Continuous Spell, then increase the targeted monsters ATK by the placed monsters ATK, also the targeted monster inflicts piercing Battle Damage. These effects last until the End Phase.
Hyper Repairs: Special Summon 1 'Hyper Dragon' monster in your Graveyard with its effects negated.
Hyper Dragon Security: 'Hyper Dragon Barrier' + 'Hyper Dragon Laser'. You can Fusion Summon this monster by sending the above Materials from your field to your Graveyard (You do not use Polymerization). Once per turn, you can destroy all monsters on the field. This card is unaffected by card effects.
Crystal Reaction: When you take damage, place 1 'Crystal Beast' monster from your Deck face-up in your Spell and Trap Zone as a Continuous Spell for every 800 points of damage you took.
Magical Convergence: If you control 3 or more face-up Continuous Spells, add 1 Spell Card in your Graveyard to your hand.
Crystal Dragon Diamond Quetzalcoatl: 3 'Crystal Beast' monsters. Once per turn, you place 1 'Crystal Beast' monster from your Deck or your Graveyard face-up in your Spell and Trap Zone as a Continuous Spell, then increase this cards ATK by 1000 until the End Phase. During either players turn, you can destroy 1 'Crystal Beast' Continuous Spell you control; this card is unaffected by your opponents card effects, and gains 500 ATK, until the End Phase.
Hyper Dragon Zero: 5 'Hyper Dragon' monsters. This card can only be Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, and only by this effect: You can discard 1 'Polymerization' or 'Fusion' Spell card, and banish 5 'Hyper Dragon' monsters from your field or Graveyard to Special Summon this card treating it as a Fusion Summon using those 5 monsters. This cards ATK and DEF are equal to the combined ATK of its Fusion Materials halved. When this card leaves the field, you can Special Summon 1 of your banished 'Hyper Dragon' monsters, except for 'Hyper Dragon Zero', ignoring its Summoning conditions.
Crystal Ray: When a 'Crystal' monster you control is destroyed by battle or card effect, you can add 1 'Crystal Beast' monster or 'Rainbow Dragon' from your Deck to your hand.
Crystal Haven: Special Summon any number of 'Crystal Beast' monsters from your Graveyard with their effects negated to your opponents side of the field, then Special Summon an equal number of 'Crystal Beast' monsters from your Graveyard to your side of the field with their effects negated. If you control no 'Crystal Beast' monsters, you can banish this card from your Graveyard, then take control of all 'Crystal Beast' monsters your opponent controls.
Okay! New chapter! And stuff sure is going down huh?
Sorry this chapter was a bit all over the place, but we've got a lot of characters here, and its all for the sake of development! Development I say! Good stuff, I promise.
But anyway, you're not here for me, right? You're here for the question!
QOTC: Out of all the characters presented in this chapter, which ones are your favourite and why?
So, that's from: Elliot, Leiko, Anzel, Hotaru, Ayu, Kalin, Greiger, Yushou, Asuka, Kaito, Fubuki, Barrett, Katsu, Haruka, Ryoga, Rio, Rise, Ryo, and Johan.
I hope you're excited for the Academia Arc of Arc-VOC! I sure am! As always, thank you all for reading, and I shall see you in the next chapter!
