Cipher 056: Enough of a Good Thing

Shins LP: 7300 Subito's LP: 3600

"Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon, attack Number 12!" Subito knew he had to get rid of the Crimson Shadow Armor Ninja's xyz materials. "Both battling monsters are banished." The ninja and dragon were sucked into another dimension. "And I then activate Dimension Wanderers effect!" Subito revealed a monster in his hand. "By discarding it when Galaxy-Eyes banishes another monster, I inlict 3000 damage to my opponent!" The tiny spellcaster channeled the spirit of the dragon within the banished zone. Shin took the full force of the spirits energy.

Shins LP: 4300

"Oh no! ...Is what I would normally say. But.. you won't close the gap that easily!" Shin however discarded a monster from his hand too, to summon it. "When I take effect damage, Damage Mage can summon herself to undo it!" A woman in a cloak(3/600/1200) flew down to the field, she spread her cape wings to absorb the damage. Wanderer had inflicted 3000 points of damage, so she returned 3000 lifepoints. "Even so.." Subito moved on to the second main phase, upon which Crimson Shadow(5/2400/1600) and Galaxy-Eyes(8/4000/2500) were returned to their duelists. "You can not destroy my dragon with your Numbers." Galaxy-Eyes had gained 500 attackpoints for each material that Crimson Shadow had lost when it left the field.

Shins LP: 7300

"Not yet anyway." Shin smirked and started his turn. "I activate the spell, Wonder Wand, and equip it to my Mage." The Damage healer(1100/1200) grabbed the wand of wonders. "And I can sacrifice the spellcaster with that wand, to draw two cards." Shin did so, sending Damage Mage to his cemetery. "Heheh." And he was pleased with the cards his deck gave him next. "Your dragon is history.. First I activate the equip spell, Gagagarevenge, to revive a Gagaga monster in my graveyard!" This spell special summoned and equipped itself to Gagaga Magician(4/1500/1000). "And now that I control a spellcaster, I may use the spell card: Magical Dimension!" Gagaga Magician conjured up a coffin, which trapped Gagaga Gardna. "By tributing a monster, I can special summon a spellcaster from my hand." The coffin opened up again and revealed a Maiden of the Macabre(4/1700/0). "And then I can destroy a monster you control!" The Maiden and Gagaga Magician locked hands to create one massive spell and throw it towards the dragon, removing it from the field.

"Incredible." This was the first time Azar had seen anyone destroy Subito's dragon. Then again he had not seen Darcy's duel. "Without your dragon you are nothing, bro." Shin entered the battle phase. "I declare a triple direct attack!" Crimson Shadow - Armor Ninja, Gagaga Magician and Cerberus fired off their energy. "Kuriphoton!" But Subito used the effect of another monster in his hand. "Huh?" A missile-shaped critter exploded before Subito, the resulting blast deflected all incoming attacks. Though Subito still lost 2000 of his lifepoints. "Now I remember, Kuriphoton. It costs lifepoints, but in turn you take no damage for an entire turn." Further attacks from Shins monsters would be futile. "But a trick like that wont work again, Subito. You only have 2000 lifepoints left now." Shin ended his turn once more

Subito's LP: 1600

Subito looked at his hand, which did not look to good. "Photon Trade." He began this turn with a spell card. "I Banish Photon Sabre Tiger from my hand, to draw 2 cards." Even with that card, his options did not improve. Nor could he attack during a turn in which Photon Trade was used. "I set a monster. And I activate Galaxy Zero!" But Subito was not out of moves yet. "Galaxy Zero revives a Galaxy-monster." His spell special summoned Galaxy-Eyes from the graveyard and equipped itself to the galactic dragon. "Heh. A monster revived by that spell can not attack or use its effects!" Shin had seen that card before as well. "Your deck just holds no surprises to me, brother!" He knew Subito was out of cards to play or set, so Shin took his turn.

Photon Trade, Normal Spell
Banish 1 "Photon" monster from your hand; draw 2 cards
You cannot enter the battle phase during the same turn you activate this card. You can only activate 1 "Photon Trade" per turn.

"I summon Breaker, the Magical Warrior!" The Magical warrior(4/1600/1000) gained its spellcounter upon arrival. "I discard Breakers spellcounter, to destroy Galaxy Zero!" And the counter was immediately drained away, so that a spell card could be destroyed. "But when Galaxy Zero leaves the field, the Galaxy monster remains. Its effects are no longer negated, thought its attackpoints go to zero." Subito explained. He was not worried about the power drain on his dragon(0/2500), as Galaxy-Eyes could now banish itself again if it were to do battle. "I know, Subito. But I am no longer the Shin that made mistakes like that." He revealed a trap card. "That Wacky Alchemy; I can destroy a face-up monster, as I send a spell on the field to the graveyard." Breaker casted a different spell, one which blew the dragon to starry pieces. "Shin.." Subito was being outplayed at every turn. "It is starting to sink in, isn't it? You have lost your touch!" Shins battle phase began once more. "Now let's see what monster you had set." Gagaga Magician struck first.

"Shining Angel huh?" The mage destroyed a Shining Angel(4/1400/800). "You can special summon a light monster with 1500 or less attackpoints, when this monster is destroyed in battle." The dying angel replaced himself with a second Shining Angel(4/1400/800). "But.. they must be summoned in attack position." Breaker blasted the second to pieces, inflicting minor battle damage to Subito. A third angel(4/1400/800) was summoned, only for it to be killed by the Crimson Shadow Ninja. "It is over, brother!" Whatever the angel summoned next, it would be destroyed by the Macabre one. "You lack the lifepoints to survive another attack!" Shin knew Subito's deck held no summonable monsters with high enough attackpoints, any hit from the Maiden would reduce 400 lifepoints or more. "So admit it. I have surpassed you! I always would have. in fact I deserved this Photon deck more than you! And I certainly deserve to the hunt the Numbers more than you!"

Shins words paralyzed Subito. He did not know what to do..

Subito's LP: 400

"Don't tell me you are giving up? Again!?" Someone else had a few suggestions though. "Just what is going on to make you this depressing to look at?" Ruby and the Masked Raider had reached the floor and walked into the chinese wall holo-field. "Who..are you?" 'Dusk' asked. Azar had to act as if he had never met them before after all. "Just someone with a message fromyour new pal. But that can wait." She pointed at Subito and Shin. "Why are you two dueling?" The latter glared at her. "Because he finally has hit his limit as a duelist, he just can't cut it in this Number hunting world." Was Shins answer. "That is bull!" Which she refused to accept. "The Subito I saw duel would never give up. You said that as well, didn't you?" She turned to Subito next. "I know you, you always think of a way out, you plan for everything. Just like that time!"

"That time. The day of the fire." Subito remembered her story, though he still did not remember her.

"One year ago?" This was the first time Azar heard about Ruby's story, but not about Subito's story. "Last year, you quit dueling for the league. You mean that day." Because he had looked things up, Azar knew why Subito had quit. "The virtual system went overboard during the finals you played in; ever since that tragedy you could not play anymore. That is what the public knows. But is that truly what happened?" The helmeted duelist looked at Ruby and Subito. The former looked like she was about to snap. "I am not talking about your dealings with fires, Irant. The fact is, the Numbers have been around for a year. So perhaps one of you, if you were there, could tell me if those events were connected?" He was insinuating that it was more than a glitch in the virtual grid. "The official cause was never discovered." Subito admitted. "Right before it happened, my opponent said he would summon his new ace card. However the fire broke out as he tried to do so. And nobody has seen of that duelist since. They believed he perished in the fire. I do not know if that was his doing, nor can I rule out your theory." For all he knew, his opponent had planned to summon a Number there and then and paid for it with his life.

"No small wonder you quit after that.. And you?" Dusk turned to the other witness.

"Well I was also at the stadium... But I lost early on, I did not even duel Subito directly. I did not see how it all started.." Ruby spoke up and started rubbing her hand. "I was stuck in the hallway, with other people. The security doors closed us in. Nobody came to help us, when the chaos broke out. And we were about to suffocate." A smile crossed her face. "But that was when Subito showed up! He did not leave the stadium until he was sure everyone had been rescued. He found us and opened the door." She clenched her hand. "After that, it was no wonder a Number came to me. I heard those things are drawn to our feelings. It must have sensed my fear. Ever since then it acted like a guardian, always telling me if there was smoke anywhere before the fire started. Figuratively and literally." She shook her head. "But you were the original guardian, Subito! You would never give up! You stayed 'til the last soul was saved!"

"Yes and now he needs to be saved, how touching!" Shin was still waiting to finish his attacking spree with Crimson Shadow - Armor Ninja.

"The last Soul... Shining Angel summons Photon Circle!" And at last Subito presented him a target, the photonic mage(4/1000/1000). "Circle?" The Crimson Ninja killed it, but did not inflict the maximum amount of damage, as Photon Circle halved all damage it took during battle. The attack left Subito with just 50 lifepoints. "A last minute resistance? It's too late to make a comeback now!" Shin piled his three spellcasters cards; Macabre Maiden, Gagaga Magician and Breaker, on top of each other. "I XYZ-summon Alchemic Magician!" The mages were overlayed, and the witch of alchemy(4/1500/1500). "Alchemic Magician gains 200 attackpoints for each spell card in my graveyard. Also when a monster equipped with Gagagarevenge is used as an xyz material, all xyz monsters gain 300 attackpoints!" Both Crimson Shadow(5/2800/100) and the Alchemist(4/2800/1500) powered up. "This is the way to end it, Subito. No surrender, we duel 'til the end!"

Subito's LP: 50

Subito drew his next card "Shin... I was like you once, desperate to excel. I know what it is like to live in the shadows of others." He activated a spell card. "Message in a Bottle! I revive three monsters with different levels!" The spell card special summoned Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon, Photon Crusher and Photon Cerberus(3/1300/600) from the graveyard. "I know that card as well, Shin. And now you will take 4000 damage during the endphase!" A spell of great power had a great cost as well. "Unless I use all these monsters as xyz materials." Subito replied. "But their levels are not equal!" Shin retorted. "No. That was the flaw in my deck. Up until now Message in a Bottle used to be a last resort. But.." He played a spell card he had set down since the first turn. "This morning, I met someone who knew me. Someone who wanted to honor the work my father had done. He told me what it was like to be possessed by a Number. And he gave me his help; a card he had designed, for both our decks." Only Azar realized that Subito was talking about John Smith. That became crystal clear as soon as Subito activated his new spell. "Galaxy Queens Light! All my monsters levels become the same as the highest level!" The spell made it so that Cerberus(8/1300/600) and Crusher(8/2000/0) had the same level as Galaxy-Eyes.

"What? No!" Fear gripped Shin. "Not that card!"

"I Overlay my three monsters!" A massive black hole opened up in the skies. "To xyz-summon Neo-Galaxy Eyes Photon Dragon!" The portal turned bright red like a supernova. "Its.. It's his ultimate card!" Ruby remembered this too, this was the monster he played that day to win the league. "There is something even beyond Galaxy-Eyes?" Azar could not believe his eyes, an immensely powerful three-headed dragon(8/4500/3000) erupted from the nova.

"Neo-Galaxy Eyes.." Shin knew this card and feared it, Subito only ever summoned it when he had no choice. "Because Galaxy-Eyes was used as a material, Neo-Galaxy Eyes negates all my cards effects." Crimson Shadow could now be killed by non-Number monsters, and Alchemic Magician(4/1800/1500) lost her magic boosts. "And then, it can detach a material, to detach all materials from other xyz monsters." The dragon devoured one of its attached monsters, and in turn destroyed the three materials surrounding Alchemic Magician. "It gains 500 attackpoints and an attack for each material it removed." Shin had seen it all before, but never from this position. "I am sorry, brother." Subito entered the battle phase. "It will be over soon... I attack!" The three heads of the Neo Dragon(8/6000/3000) could all fire one shot. But Subito only needed two. One to destroy Number 12, and one to destroy the Alchemist. At that time Shin lost his remaining lifepoints. He did not need to attack Shin directly, but the two blasts still sent his little brother flying.

Shins LP: 0

"Shin!" Subito had under-estimated how much power his dragon would have in a Numbers duel. "I got him!" But the Masked Raider caught Shin before he could be flung against the wall. "...Thank you." Afterwards the dragon disappeared with the rest of the holograms, the fight was over at last. "Bro.. I.." Shin felt weak, the Numbers had left him. "No. Don't talk. You need to rest." Subito could clearly see the strain on his body. "But I am.. sorry.." Shin managed to say one last thing, before his eyes closed. "Easy there friend." The Masked one gently put him down. "How is he?" Dusk asked, as he tried to not sound as concerned as he really felt. "He is just exhausted. I have seen it happen to a lot of Number wielders." The Raider explained. "He will be fine.."

"Good. There is not much time to waste." Azar still had bigger priorities. "Ruby Irant. What did Andre want you to tell me?" He did not forget about what else she had to say. "Oh. He wanted you to go to the floor only you could see, whatever that meant." She also told him in exact detail how her duel with Andre and Korose had gone. The message was clear. "A challenge. You can leave him to me. But I have something to ask you too." He turned to the Raider. "These addresses show where duelists are held and how you can help free them." He passed a note to the masked one. "I tried to break them out, but I could not save them all. See what you can do." The Raider took the note and saluted Azar. "Yes, my inspiration. I shall assist you!" He said with joy and dashed away, taking the elevator to the ground floor. "Inspiration? That explains.. something." Ruby said, slightly amused herself. "And now.." Azar was about to issue another order.

"No." But Subito had something to say first. "Dusk." He placed his brother against the wall and got up. "Before you do anything, you have to do this.. You have to duel me."

"What?"

...

"Yeah we checked every corner. Sky Chism is not here." Rita along with Claud and enforcers finished searching the empty hotel room. "And you are certain this was his room?" The call they made to Morgana did not satisfy her. "His friend, Azar Helder, was apprehended here. He and Ariel Serin made contact with Dusk. And it is obvious that Ion sent the stolen data to him." Once they had heard Dantes' story, they had immediately sent a squad here. They knew that Sky was the only one of that group of friends who did not enter the tower. But he was not here either. "Was Sky warned maybe?" Claud wondered. "No.. the network is undergoing repairs, so to speak. He can not contact them or the mainland." Morgana had made sure to shut down any communication networks. "There are only two ways out of my city. If he wants to bring this info to the outside world, he will have to take those." Morgana looked out her window, staring at the harbor. "Agent C and D. You can step down. I will take care of this, in person."

(To be Continued in Cipher 057: A Long way from Home)

New Cards used by Shin Artega
Damage Mage
Maiden of Macabre

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Gagagarevenge

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That Wacky Alchemy

New Cards used by Subito Artega
Dimension Wanderer
Kuriphoton
Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon

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Photon Trade (+)
Galaxy Zero
Message in a Bottle
Galaxy Queens Light

(+ Based on the Spell Card used by Kaito in YGO Zexal II)