Pre-Chapter Author's Note: I truly must apologize to all of my readers for taking so long with this chapter. A whole two months is quite a while. Let me just say this: vacationing and writer's block do not a good combination make. (Excuses, I know. Forgive me!) Thank you for staying both patient and loyal; I am so grateful for it! It is my hope that this chapter and the soon upcoming ones will make up for the lack of content this summer. Expect the next chapter to come in much, much sooner. Until then, enjoy chapter 50!
Chapter 50: Identity Crisis
Panting, panting, Yuma continued to run. He didn't care that the aching in his legs was starting to grow unbearable. He wasn't bothered by the sticky pools of sweat that were beginning to form underneath his arms. He didn't even mind the burning sensation as his feet clicked across the ground again, the squeaking of his sneakers ricocheting against the walls of the passing buildings.
As long as he kept running, he would eventually have to find them all – his friends.
Everyone…I'll definitely find you all and save you! Wait for me, Tetsuo, Cat-chan…Kotori!
And yet, as Yuma ran further and further away from Heartland Academy, he couldn't help but wonder where his friends actually were. He didn't take time to stop and ponder the myriad possibilities; or rather, he couldn't. After all, time was of the essence.
"Kotori?" he shouted to the empty world around him. He lifted his head to the sky, his exhausted voice cracking as he once more called out, "Oi, Kotori! Tetsuo! Cat-chan!"
He was met with an unfamiliar silence. No one had answered his calls, certainly. But it was more than that…
Yuma glanced around the otherwise vacant sidewalk he was speeding down, noticing the surprising lack of cars and Duel Carnival participants around him. It suddenly occurred to him that there was a surprising lack of people in general. It was as if they all got up and moved the next town over.
"Where is everybody?" he wondered aloud, his voice dropping to no more than a whisper. "I've never seen it so quiet. It's like a ghost town, right, Astral?"
He chuckled at his own musing, only to be met with the same silence as before. Quickly turning his head to the right, Yuma slowly remembered that Astral had receded into the confines of the Emperor's Key only minutes before. The midmorning breeze had now taken the spirit's place.
"Oh, right…"
Without warning, a new feeling pooled inside Yuma. It was a feeling that he hadn't experienced in quite some time...As a matter of fact, now that he thought about it, he hadn't had the feeling, not even once, since he met Astral.
And yet, as he stood there, Yuma couldn't help but feel a stinging loneliness. Kotori, Tetsuo, and Cat-chan hadn't answered their D-Gazers. Shark and Kaito had made it abundantly clear in the Shamoji restaurant that neither would go out of their way to engage Yuma in a two-second conversation, let alone willingly be in the same vicinity as him.
And without Astral, without the one friend that he could talk to at any time…the loneliness was amplified tenfold. Another midmorning zephyr blew wordless whispers of sweet nothing's into Yuma's ears.
"Astral…"
Yuma shakily reached down, squeezing for the Emperor's Key. His hand missed as he tried to clutch it to his chest, instead grazing the bottom of the pendant. The Key sat there, swinging from side to side in the gentle, warm breeze.
Yuma looked down at the Emperor's Key, watching it move back and forth, back and forth. Another thought of Astral entered his mind. He shook his head, attempting to stave it off, to stave off the loneliness. To distract himself, he removed his D-Gazer from his pocket and tried dialing Kotori's D-Gazer identification number again.
She still isn't answering. Yuma grimaced as Kotori's cheerful voice requested that the caller leave a message after the programmed "beep".
He slid the D-Gazer into his pocketed, defeated. He already knew the same thing would happen if he tried calling Tetsuo or Cathy. He thought about calling them anyway but figured that he couldn't bear hearing the silence anymore.
"Kotori!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. "Where are you guys?"
Silence again, not only from Kotori and his friends, but from the world around him.
Again, Yuma glanced back to the spot where Astral should have been. The spirit, too, had been replaced with silence.
Gritting his teeth, Yuma started to run. He had no set destination, he only desired to find somewhere, some place, where the loneliness wouldn't be so unbearable. On and on he trotted, only staring down at sidewalks and alleyways that paved his path.
Perhaps that was the reason that it came as a surprise when Yuma finally did look up, realizing that he had landed himself back in the Heartland City fairgrounds. He vaguely recognized the attraction he was standing in front of as the House of Mirrors, the same place where he had dueled Shark on the first day of the tournament.
The duel was nothing more than a distant relic in memory lane, a silence of its own confined to the past. The thoughts of his friendship with Shark entered his mind, but not even they were enough to insight a smile from the boy.
Yuma's hand dropped once more as he clutched onto the Emperor's Key, successfully this time. He took a step forward, then stared at himself in the mirror outside the House entrance. His eyes became murky, threatening to unleash a torrent of tears, as he stared at his reflection. The shaking, lonely, empty boy in the mirror stared back.
Stretching his hand forward, the pink-haired boy felt the cool glass against his fingers. He rubbed the spot on the mirror that reflected his right cheek, now wet from a lone tear.
Is that…me? He had grown too accustomed to having people around him. He could barely recognize his own self, solitary and scared.
Another single teardrop rolled down his cheek in the mirror. It fell off his chin, just barely missing the Emperor's Key before it fell to the spongy soil below. Silently, the tear burst as it hit the ground.
Wiping his dirty eyes with his equally dirty shirt sleeve, Yuma then shot his arm downward, caressing the red deck box lying on his waist belt. He clicked a trigger on the back of the box, popping it open and revealing a plethora of black-bordered cards inside.
In a lithe swipe, he pinched the tips of the first fourteen cards between his right thumb and index finger before lifting them from the receptacle. His eyes met the title of each cards – each one beginning with the same word: Number.
Yuma thought back to his first duel against Shark, the one that began the whole Number escapade in the first place. Back to the first time he had met Astral…
"Go, Leviathan Dragon!" Shark shouted, a conniving smirk painting his face. His purple jacket crinkled as he punched the air with a fist. "Attack his Gagaga Magician! Vice Stream!"
Leviathan Dragon collected a wave of blue particles in its mouth. They coalesced into a sapphire cyclone of liquid fire, which was then hurdled at Gagaga Magician. The Spellcaster barely had time to react before it was incinerated.
"Aagghh!" Yuma cried. Despite the duel being a manifestation of Alternate Reality, the boy's body reacted quite violently. He was thrown off his feet and sent toppling on his back.
"Yuma!" Kotori called out from the sidelines. Like Tetsuo, she couldn't believe what she was seeing. Just what were these Numbers, she wondered.
"This match appears to be over," presumed Shark. His empty fingers curled into a fist. "It'll be decided in my next strike!"
"T-That hurts…" Yuma groaned, rubbing the apex of his back. He sat up and, frowning, said, "Damn. I guess I really can't…"
"Rise up."
Yuma's eyes widened. Where had that voice come from? It certainly was too high to belong to Tetsuo or Shark, and too masculine for Kotori to be the culprit. He had never heard the voice before, anyway…But where…
Yuma turned on his side to the left, the direction where the sound had come from. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but the only thing that came out was a shocked exclamation.
Standing in front of him was a blue thing – for lack of a better word, Yuma assumed it to be a spirit – that was completely nude, with spiked hair and whose arms were crossed coolly. The heterochromatic spirit looked forward, not bothering to glimpse Yuma's way. When he spoke again, Yuma was sure the mystery voice had been this spirit's.
"Rise up and win."
"W-who the heck are you?" Yuma stammered, his voice becoming a third of what it had been. He bounded to his feet instantly, demanding an answer this time. "J-Just who are you?"
"Astral," the spirit simply replied.
"A-Astral?" Yuma repeated densely. He turned his head to the side and exhaled out of the corner of his mouth. "Jeez…"
The memory was enough to bring a fragmented smile to Yuma's face, if only for a second.
But time was of the essence, and seconds could have been enough to make all the difference.
Yuma looked back down to the fourteen cards in his hands. A final tear fell onto the top card of the stack – Number 39: Utopia - as he squeezed the cards tightly.
"Astral...I'm sorry."
Inside a sizeable, transparent cube – notably used by Astral beings for amplifying and speeding recovery time for injuries – Astral's eyes were closed, but he could still see something. Hundreds of cryptic black sigils and markings danced around his body. Lightning bolts and bisected circles were among the two most popular shapes.
That boy from earlier, he thought, recalling Chitaro perfectly. Though he felt a great deal better, his body had not yet made a full recovery. He wouldn't allow it to be a hindrance, however. That card that he used…
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!"
Rank-Up Magic – Barian's Force…Just where did that boy acquire such a card? Even more, who are these Barians?
Some of the black sigils started to spark with a thunder-like energy. The white halo started to connect each of them to one another.
For some reason, that name sounds familiar. But I can't quite…
As Astral opened his eyes, the halo binding the sigils broke. Ebony emblems broke free, flying unabashedly around the inside of the Emperor's Key. Astral didn't seem to mind. After all, he had what Yuma's sister would call a "lead" in his investigation.
Astral drew his breath before sitting up. To his surprise, the motion was nearly painless. Or at least painless compared to how excruciating it had been before receding into the Emperor's Key. Levitating to a comfortable stance, Astral then reached out his hand, and the cubic sphere encasing his body melted away like ice cream in a desert.
He floated over to a chamber in the Emperor's Key that contained a set of golden fourteen golden pillars, each one labeled with a specific Number. From left to right, Astral read them: 7, 11, 12, 16, 17, 19, 34, two separate ones for 39, 50, 61, 83, 91, and finally, on the very far right, isolated from the others, was 96.
If I can go through each memory that these Number monsters gave me, Astral rationalized, I might be able to find some information on the Barians.
Remembering something suddenly, Astral decided to forgo chronological order. There had been something from his memory of Number 83 that he deemed important. Floating over to that particular pillar, he touched a hand on the stone.
Like it had on the day when Yuma defeated Fuya, Astral recalled something important – his birth. It had been immediately followed by a woman, or rather, her voice. There was no body attached to the voice, but it didn't matter to Astral. What mattered were the words.
"Your name is Astral," she had said. "I entrust the future of this world to you. Your mission is…"
Astral made a grunting noise as the memory ended prematurely. He opened his eyes, reaching out to the tablet again. Knowing that he would have even more questions, ones that were likely to remain unanswered for a while, he brought his arm back to his side.
"What was that, just now? What is intended for me?" he contemplated the words at the end of the memory. "My mission...Just what is it?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
Astral's entire body stiffened as an unfamiliar voice echoed off the Number pillars. Involuntarily, Astral's mind flashed back to the day that Kaito had breached the confines of the Emperor's Key to take the Numbers. But, no…That voice doesn't belong to Kaito…
Then who?
Astral's pupils slid to the corner of his eye as he looked back via peripheral vision. He could barely make out something standing behind him, roughly his own height and size. In fact, it was his own shape, too…The only thing that really stood out was the color of the intruder, pure black with tiny slivers of mint green and burgundy.
"Just who are you?" Astral asked, spinning around to face the unknown being. "How did you get into this place?"
"I'm offended." The ebony being feigned a pout before snickering. "Don't you recognize me, Astral?"
Astral narrowed his eyes as if doing so would help identify this unfamiliar presence.
"Surely," it continued, "you must remember me. I'm sure Yuma certainly knows who I am!"
"How do you know about Yuma? What do you know, and who exactly are you?"
The black spirit, whose legs were temporarily replaced with a wispy, ghostly tail, made its way over to Astral. It stopped when it was a few inches away from him, their faces too close for comfort.
"I'll give you a hand," mocked the ghostly black spirit. He placed his hand atop the final pillar in the lot, Number 96.
"I-it couldn't be…" Astral denied. "You're Number 96?"
The Number in question clapped his hands together, a grin creasing across its dark lips. The grin caused the red markings on Number 96's face to cave in. "Very perceptive, Astral," it praised sarcastically. "That's correct. I am Number 96: Black Mist!"
"But…" Astral's inquiries jumped around in his brain. He didn't know whether to start with the "How's?" or with the "Why's?"
"You're not going to find it in there," Black Mist said, motioning to Galaxy Queen's pillar.
"What?"
"Your true mission, the reason that you've been sent here. You're not going to find the answer in her pillar."
Astral noted the disdain in the word 'her'. That was of the least importance, though.
"What do you mean? Are you saying that you know something about my mission?" His eyes enlarged, then narrowed. "Do you know why I'm here?"
"Maybe," Black Mist shrugged, his grin still alight. "Maybe not. Who's to say when it comes to these things?"
"That's not funny," Astral shot back.
"Of course I know your mission," snapped Number 96. "As do the rest of the Numbers. But, unlike them, you're going to need my help if you're going to complete it."
"Your help?" The inflection in Astral's voice sprinkled the first word of his question.
"But of course. After all, without a heart filled with evil and malice, you won't be able to accomplish what you're destined to do!"
Astral shook his head.
"Those aren't things that I need, nor do I desire to have them. I am certain that my mission will not involve the use of those vices."
"Is that right?" Black Mist shrugged. "Maybe you're right. What do I know about your mission?"
Astral seemed to ponder something for a moment before he began again.
"Why have I been sent here?"
"I'll tell you that shortly," Black Mist promised. "Provided you can do something for me."
Astral raised an eyebrow, prompting Black Mist to proceed.
"You see, when the time comes for you to enact your…our mission, I'll need your help with something to. If you side with me, it will be impossible for our goals to fail."
"What do you mean 'our' mission?"
"It's not just the Numbers, and it's not just me, Astral…You want the same thing that we do."
"What is that?"
Black Mist pointed an index finger upward and twirled it around in loops.
"We're going in circles here," he moaned, unamused. "But I'll make you an offer…
"You and I, Astral, will duel! If you win, I'll tell you about your true mission. But if I win, there's something that you have to do for me…"
"And that is?" Astral warily inquired.
"All in due time," Black Mist chuckled. He scratched his spiky, black hair with his hand. "What do you say, Astral? Do you accept my challenge?"
Astral looked from the Number pillars to Black Mist.
Could he really have the secret to my true destiny? He paused. And can I really afford not to know?
"Very well, Black Mist," Astral nodded. "I will accept your duel."
"I had a feeling you'd see things my way! D-Pad, set!"
A dark arm shot into the air as an upsurge of violet light cloaked it. Modules of the same violet color came together to create a D-Pad that look exactly like Astral's had, save for the change in hue.
Astral lifted his own arm as a tangible, blue D-Pad of the same model strapped to it.
Black Mist and Astral exchanged stares, their otherworldly eyes functioning as D-Pads for the duel. Astral's eyes narrowed in distrust while Black Mist's enlarged in excitement. The two emotions clashed before both beings drew their opening hands.
"Duel!"
Astral – 8000 LP
Black Mist – 8000 LP
"Well then, Astral," Black Mist smirked, "it's time! I'll be taking the first move! Draw!"
Number 96: Black Mist, Astral thought as Black Mist drew his card. The so-called strongest of all the Numbers. What kind of duel will he show me? And will my strength be enough to defeat him?
"Pay attention now, Astral," the Number monster snapped with an apparent twisted grin. It was enough to disrupt Astral's reverie. "You'll need to duel as though your life depends on it..."
Black Mist erupted in a frenzy of laughter as he spluttered out, "Considering your current circumstances, that should be easy enough!"
His laughs shrank into chuckles, though his peculiar smile remained as he slid a card into his Graveyard.
"By discarding another Fiend-Type Monster, I can Special Summon the Malicevorous Fork in my hand!"
As the discard slot consumed Black Mist's said Fiend-Type monster, a violet portal opened in front of him. Bounding through it was a monster that almost looked insectoid in nature. It was a hunched creature similar to a beetle that carried a shiny golden fork in one hand. The red-eyed monstrosity hissed at Astral, the latter of which gave no reaction. (400 ATK)
"He summoned a monster based on cutlery?" Astral was clearly bemused, to say the least. "Could this really be a part of his master scheme?"
"Always so naïve when it comes to plans," Black Mist taunted. "Well, just like with your original mission, in this duel I will force you to come face to face with your greatest nightmare!"
"My…greatest nightmare?"
"Because Malicevorous Fork was a Special Summoned monster, I can still Normal Summon another," Black Mist noncommittally continued. "The pleasure is yours, Malicevorous Knife!"
Another gremlin monster twirled around in a dainty pirouette before landing flawlessly on its two feet. This jagged-toothed demon had black armor that broke off in odd places, revealing its red skin and tail. In the horned demon's hand was a long staffed rod that led to a tip that was in the shape of a half-knife, half-spear. (600 ATK)
"And when Malicevorous Knife is Normal Summoned, I can Special Summon another Malicevorous monster from my Graveyard! I choose the Malicevorous Spoon I discarded through Fork's effect!"
Malicevorous Knife cut a hole in the ground large enough for a third brother in arms to come through. This one was just as impish and devious-looking as the other two, though not as hideous (although that really wasn't saying much). It had pointed ears on its head, one sharp nail for each of its feet, a stubby tail attached to its backside, and a spoon in both hands that didn't exactly scream "threatening". (100 ATK)
"As expected of Black Mist. He was able to assemble three monsters on the first turn," Astral quietly commended. "Not an easy feat. And above that, they're all Level 2."
"Then you must know what that means, eh, Astral?" Black Mist chortled. His dark eyes narrowed delightedly as the words poured from his lips. "Level 2 Malicevorous Knife, Spoon, Fork, overlay! With these three monsters, I'll build the overlay network for an Xyz Summon!"
The three imps hissed as they dropped their cutlery and transformed into three separate balls of dark purple. Each shot up at the same time, intertwining into a dark spiral that fell into a Number overlay network on the ground.
"Rise, my avatar!" chanted Black Mist. "Now is the time to show Astral your true strength!"
True strength? Astral wondered as the blob monster arose from the overlay network.
"Come forth and devour everything in your path, Number 96: Black Mist!"
Black Mist shouted the last words as the blob shook like it had the two times earlier that day. The monster's arms and legs shot from the glob of black, surfacing and flexing their muscles. Black Mist's head popped up from its now-muscular body as it glared at Astral through its obscure eyes. The fire in its stomach looked especially volatile now. (100 ATK)
"What do you think, Astral?" Black Mist said with his arms pompously outstretched. "Pretty powerful, isn't it? And just think of it…you could possess this type of strength, too. All you have to do is align yourself with me!"
"I won't allow that to happen," Astral refused. "Not for myself, and not for Yuma."
"As you wish," Black Mist sighed. "Just remember that it's you who wanted to do this the hard way!"
With that, Astral's doppelganger set a card facedown behind his self-proclaimed avatar before ending his turn.
Astral looked at the facedown, then at the Xyz Monster in front of it, and finally at Black Mist. Whatever the latter was planning, he would stop it at all costs. He had to.
"It's my turn!" Astral shouted with a hand over his – or technically, Yuma's – deck. "Draw!"
Astral's right hand gave a strong tug at the top card. As it slipped from the deck holster, a jolt of pain, like a wave of electricity, stabbed at Astral's arm. He grunted, immediately grabbing his right arm with his left hand.
"Oh, poor Astral," Black Mist insincerely said. "My, my, that looked painful. Well, it seems you still haven't recovered from your little injury, have you?"
"I will still defeat you, regardless," Astral retorted. "I can't afford to lose this duel."
"Useless struggle," mused Black Mist, shrugging off the incident.
Astral's face was impassive as he looked down at the cards in his hand. He hoped that whatever that pain just was, it was an isolated event. If it wasn't, he would need to win quickly.
Black Mist's monster effect will halve the ATK of any monster that it battles, he reminded himself as he considered his choices. With three overlay units, he can do that three times. But if I can force him to expend them as quickly as possible…
"By sending Growing Pinecone to the Graveyard from my hand, I can Special Summon Fallen Cone!"
Astral threw the former monster in his Graveyard as the yellow-booted, yellow-gloved acorn with the mane of scraggly leaf hair poked its head out of its orange shell. (200 ATK)
"Furthermore, because Growing Pinecone was discarded through that effect, I can Special Summon it, too!"
The small child in the hat and skirt made from pinecone seeds appeared next to acorn. He fixed his sleeveless orange vest to look a bit tougher. (400 ATK)
"Then," Astral added, "I will also Normal Summon my Xyz Agent!"
A short man walked out from behind Astral, taking his time as he traipsed toward the two Cone brothers. Dress shoes clicked against the floor as the man in the smart, black coat and black hat marched on. He looked at Black Mist with a look of solemnity, simultaneously reaching for something inside his coat. He removed said object, displaying an ebony briefcase that was larger than he was. The man bowed and tipped his hat downward, hiding his face from both duelists. (900 ATK)
"Three monsters in one turn, just like me," Black Mist praised as he clapped his hands together sardonically. "I told you that we weren't so different after all, Astral!"
"I'm nothing like you," Astral repudiated. The acrimonious undertone in his words was hard to disguise.
"Oh, is that so?" Black Mist chuckled. "Then I suppose you weren't planning on using those three weak monsters to attack immediately, thus depleting Number 96 of all of its overlay units from the very start?"
Though that was exactly what he had planned to do, Astral kept his poker face intact. He knew Black Mist would prey on any weakness he could find. He would just have to be a step ahead.
"Well, it won't work!" Black Mist proceeded, tapping his disk. "I activate the Continuous Trap, Small Stopper!"
Black Mist's facedown lifted, its artwork depicting an image of Battle Warrior fighting off a legion of Mystery Hands.
"This Trap, for as long as it's face-up, will prevent every monster with an ATK of 1000 or less from attacking."
Astral frowned as he looked at his three monsters. All three were just under the power qualification level.
"Additionally," Black Mist slyly inserted, "during the End Phase of a turn in which the turn player controls an Attack Position monster and didn'tattack, they take 1000 points of damage!"
"So if I don't attack, I'll take damage," noted a hesitant Astral.
"And thanks to Small Stopper, you can't attack!" Black Mist apparently rejoiced in this revelation as evidenced by another fit of laughter. "What will you do against this defense, Astral?"
"I'll break straight through it," Astral announced confidently, plucking another card from his hand. "I equip Wonder Wand onto my Xyz Agent!"
The suited man opened his briefcase, removing the creepy-faced magic wand with the emerald green tip. (900 – 1400 ATK)
"You may avoid Small Stopper's effect by doing that," Black Mist grinned, his smile finally starting to disappear, "but I'll still have my own effect. Try anything and Xyz Agent gets the ax…or in this case, the whip!"
Astral's frown morphed into a scowl. Even if he avoided the 1000 points of damage from Small Stopper, he'd just feel another sting from Black Mist's effect. Certainly, an attack would remove an overlay unit from the monster, but losing Xyz Agent and an Equip at once was a risky play.
"I…activate the effect of Wonder Wand," he finally decided. "By sending Xyz Agent to the Graveyard, I can draw two new cards from my deck."
The wand emitted an odd laugh as Xyz Agent's clothing momentarily turned pink. The monster barely had time to question the mercurial color transition before it vanished completely.
Astral, at the same time, picked up two new cards. The second one in particular stuck out.
There it is!
"I activate a Spell Card! Gagaga Academy Emergency Network!" he shouted with a card lifted over his blue head. He ignored another jolt of pain that crept down his left leg. "With it, I can Special Summon one Gagaga monster from my deck!"
A card immediately protruded from the middle of Astral's deck as he grabbed it and slammed it on his D-Pad. Seconds later, Gagaga Magician arose from his crouched position on the floor. (1500 ATK)
"Then, using Gagaga Magician's effect, I'll change his Level to 1," Astral continued.
Three of the glowing purple stars on the conjurer's belt faded, leaving a solitary star.
"Now, Level 1 Fallen Cone, Growing Pinecone, and Gagaga Magician, overlay! With these three monsters, I'll construct the overlay network for an Xyz Summon! Aid me, Number 83: Galaxy Queen!"
The Cone brothers and Gagaga Magician combined together in three separate swirls as they flew into a starry portal in the sky. The combination created an explosion that showered the field in a blinding pillar of light.
Black Mist covered his eyes, scowling at the luminosity. When it was safe to look again, his eyes fell upon a beautiful woman with a ghostly pale face, red-violet hair that reached her feet, and a rather curvaceous figure. The woman was adorned in a slimming black dress bedazzled with gold jewels and bracelets. The sorrowful looking woman lifted a scepter with a crystalline gem at the tip, as if to protect herself. She quickly shot a dirty look in Black Mist's direction, though the motion was too fast for either duelist to see. (500 DEF)
"Tch…Clever," Black Mist uncannily praised. "By summoning that monster in Defense Position and ridding yourself of all three former Attack Position monsters you summoned, you've saved yourself from taking Small Stopper's additional damage."
"Moreover," Astral supplemented, removing Gagaga Magician from under his new monster, "I'll detach an overlay unit from Galaxy Queen. By doing so, she will protect herself from being destroyed by battle until the end of your next turn."
"So your last solution is to stall me out?" Black Mist scoffed. "Surely you can do better than that!"
"I end my turn with this."
"You can run, Astral," Black Mist cooed as he made his draw, "but you can't hide from me!"
"I wouldn't be so sure of that," Astral corrected. "Due to Galaxy Queen, I'm protected from your monster attacks for at least three turns. Additionally, because Small Stopper is still face-up and Black Mist's ATK score is currently less than 1000, unless you switch it to Defense Position, it's you who will take 1000 points of damage at the end of your turn."
"So you thought I'd be dumb enough to trap myself?"
Astral opened his mouth to speak but the void of silence was intruded by Black Mist's crazed laughter. The spirit remained quiet, only staring Black Mist.
"Idiot!" insulted the latter, reaching for a green-bordered card in his hand. "I activate my Magic Planter! By doing so, I can send one face-up Trap Card I control to the Graveyard…"
An infestation of vines of green ivy crawled around Small Stopper, squeezing it until it burst.
"And in return, I can draw two cards from my deck!"
Black Mist made his two draws. His eyes honed in to the first one in particular.
"There it is!" he laughed, thrusting the card into his D-Pad. "Astral, I'm going to activate another Spell! Go, Overlay Break!"
A Spell Card appeared on Black Mist's field before it elevated itself. On it was a picture of Tiras, Keeper of Genesis losing both of her overlay units.
"Overlay Break?" Astral confusedly recited.
"Overlay Break," continued Black Mist, "detaches all the overlay units from one Xyz Monster on the field. And I'll give you a hint on who the target is…It's not me!"
A dark vortex of wind started to whirl behind Galaxy Queen. She looked back in horror, stabbing her scepter into the ground to remain rooted to her spot. While she succeeded in that, both of her remaining overlay units were dragged into the black abyss. It closed just as soon as it had opened.
Astral's body tensed as his face scrunched into a hard frown, a feature which Black Mist loved to see. It was exploitable.
"One more thing," Black Mist added in a sing-song voice. "If the monster affected by Overlay Break has an effect that would stop it from being destroyed by battle, that's negated, too!"
"What?"
"So sorry, but it looks like your plan fell through too soon!"
"Not yet," Astral countered. "Black Mist still only has 100 ATK. Even if it were to attack Galaxy Queen and use its Shadow Gain ability, it still wouldn't have enough power to defeat my monster."
"I'll change that with this one card!" Black Mist refuted. "I activate the Spell Card, Malignant Favor!"
Black Mist turned the card around in his hand. Suddenly, a dark fog emerged from the card's artwork. It crept slowly across the field, briefly stopping at Galaxy Queen as the remainder of the fog reached Astral's deck.
"See, Malignant Favor has two parts to it," explained Black Mist, rather pensively. "The first of which allows me to declare the name of any Monster Card that I choose…Dododo Warrior should do nicely!"
Uninvited, the fog attacked Astral's deck, passing from card to card, top to bottom, until it came to the antepenultimate card in the stack. Dododo Warrior's card shot out of the deck slot and into the discard slot, only to have the deck reshuffle itself seconds later.
"Part two then sends Dododo Warrior to the Graveyard. In exchange, one monster you control, Astral, will gain ATK equal to that Dododo Warrior until the end of this turn!"
"Then," Astral gasped, "your aim is to…"
"That's right!"
An illusion of the deceased Dododo Warrior formed behind Galaxy Queen. The Viking placed his bulky hands on her shoulders, transferring the brunt of his strength to her. (500 – 2800 ATK)
"Now Black Mist," commanded its owner, "attack Astral's monster! Black Mirage Whip!"
The multitude of tendrils released themselves from behind Black Mist's back, darting forward to wrap around Astral's Number.
"At this moment, Black Mist's effect activates!"
After quick consideration, Black Mist tossed one of the cards under his avatar into the cemetery.
"When it battles another monster, I can detach one overlay unit to halve that monster's ATK and add that decreased amount onto Black Mist! Shadow Gain!"
Black Mist strengthened its grasp, intent to cut off all oxygen to the helpless woman. It succeeded as it shattered her windpipe and caused her to burst into fragmented memories. (100 – 1500 ATK, 2800 – 1400 ATK, respectively)
When Astral opened his eyes again, he saw the emptiness that was now his field. His expression remained neutral, though he was starting to worry. Black Mist's power, both that of the Xyz and that of the real one, was increasing by the minute. If he wasn't able to stop it soon…
"I set one card facedown," Black Mist concluded as the facedown appeared behind his avatar. "My turn's done now. So how will you combat me this time, Astral?"
Astral's and Black Mist's eyes met one another's before the former put a hand on his deck.
"My turn!" he called out. "Draw!"
Astral looked intently at the card he drew. It was a new monster, and much to his relief, quite serendipitous given his situation.
"From my hand I can Special Summon my Swift Hippo Dynatherium!"
A blustering gust whipped around the airship as a new monster came from inside it. Landing on its hind legs was a weird crossbred animal that looked like a fusion between a pig and a hippopotamus. It was clothed in a flashy red superhero suit with fringes of yellow blazing across the edges of its shirt and pants. A cape fluttered in the passing breeze of the wind as the sunglasses-wearing beast snorted. (1600 ATK)
"When Swift Hippo Dynatherium is Special Summoned this way," remarked Astral, "my opponent can then Special Summon a monster from their Graveyard that has the same Level this monster. Dynatherium's Level is 4."
"Tch, I don't have any Level 4 monsters," Black Mist grimaced.
"That's the point," Astral said, offering a tiny smirk. "Continuing on, I summon Gogogo Ghost!"
A thin deposit of hazy purple mist rolled across Astral's field as a disembodied suit of blood red samurai armor rose from the ground. The mist wrapped around the pieces of metal, melding them together. A bluish light poured from the creature in the form of a ghostly entity that the armor compressed around. From out of nowhere, a sword, not unlike one a samurai might use, fell into the creature's ethereal hands. (1900 ATK)
"Two Level 4 monsters," Black Mist squealed in delight. "Are you going to summon it, Astral? Your ace monster?"
If I summon Utopia now, Black Mist will undoubtedly use Shadow Gain again to weaken it into submission, Astral reasoned. No, I have another plan in mind.
"Level 4 Gogogo Ghost and Swift Hippo Dynatherium, overlay!" he chanted. "With these two monsters, I'll construct the overlay network! Xyz Summon!"
Two overlay orbs lunged into the Numbers portal on the ground as an explosion shook the terrain. Rising from underneath the platform was a frigid-looking pirate ship with a tattered sail and broken boarding. The hull of the boat was fashioned in the shape what appeared to be corn. The ghostly shipped emerged completely, its sail partially flapping as the numerical symbol on it flashed bright red. (2100 ATK)
"Appear before me, Number 50: Black Corn!"
Black Mist's smile faltered, though the change couldn't have lasted more than a second or two. Looking up at the monster, he wondered aloud, "What do we have here?"
Astral tossed Gogogo Ghost into his Graveyard before elucidating, "Once per turn, by detaching an overlay unit, Black Corn can send one monster with less ATK than it to the Graveyard. Then, 1000 damage is inflicted to my opponent!"
"I see," Black Mist chuckled. "So you're planning on sending my Black Mist, with a current ATK of 1300, to the Graveyard instead of battling it."
"That's correct," Astral verified. "With this, I won't be victimized by the threat of your Shadow Gain."
"Heh…How foolish!" Black Mist vehemently argued. "I activate my facedown Continuous Trap, Fiendish Chain!"
Two black chains shot from the Trap Card. They wrapped around Black Corn's wooden deck, preventing it from accessing the two cannons on its main deck.
"What?" gasped Astral.
"Fiendish Chain equips to a monster my opponent controls," Black Mist said. "Furthermore, for as long as it remains face-up, it will negate the effect of the equipped monster and inhibit it from attacking as well. Now Black Corn can do nothing but become another sacrifice!"
"Are you sure about that?" Astral wittily responded. He took one of the two cards in his hand and turned it over. "By Tributing Black Corn, I can activate Seven Store!"
A golden glow swathed around Black Corn as it started to shrink in size. The chains binding it fell to the ground as Black Corn exploded into nothing more than a pool of glossy motes.
"I can use this card by Tributing an Xyz Monster in my possession. After that, I draw one card for that Xyz Monster and one card for each overlay unit it had when Tributed!"
The top two cards on Astral's D-Pad started to shine as he plucked them one at a time.
"I end my turn," he halfheartedly announced after a moment of staring at them both.
"Leaving yourself wide open?" Black Mist gawked. "That doesn't seem like you, Astral. But perhaps, deep down, you want to lose this duel. Perhaps you want my help in completing your mission after all…"
My mission again, Astral frowned. "And just what is my mission?"
"Heh…It's my turn again!" Black Mist called out, picking up a new card. "Draw!
"Now I'll summon another Malicevorous Knife, and using its effect, I'll revive the first Malicevorous Knife that was detached earlier!"
The two small demons wielding the larger knives rose side by side, fiendishly grinning and nodding to one another. (600 ATK x 2)
"And because you're wide open," Black Mist recalled, "I can send both Malicevorous Knife monsters, as well as my avatar, Black Mist, to attack you directly!"
Both copies of Malicevorous Knife darted over to Astral on their short legs. The one on the right made an abrupt curve to the left and the one on the left mirrored its motion, creating an "X" shaped slash that pierced Astral's chest.
Before he had time to recover from the blow, the weakened spirit found his breathing become thinner and thinner as Black Mist's tentacles started to coil around his waist. They squeezed with an enormous force, and combined with another jolt of pain stemming from Astral's chest, Astral screamed out in excruciating agony.
"Your screams are so satisfying to my ears," Black Mist beamed with open arms, basking in the sound. "You have no idea just how much I love it!"
Astral weakly pushed himself off the ground, panting hard through his opened mouth. He looked at Black Mist with a glaze of fury in his eyes. His fingers came closer, balling into fists.
"That's right," insisted the Number. "Release your anger. Give into it!"
"Hurry up and finish your turn."
"So impatient." Black Mist offered a fake pout before snickering. "Very well…I overlay my two Level 2 Malicevorous Knives! With these two monsters, I'll create the overlay network!"
The twin monsters twisted into a spiral of deep purple as they fell into a red portal. Propping up from the gateway was a little impish demon, only a hair taller than the previous three Malicevorous monsters, that was completely black. It had a C-shaped tail, along with thin arms and legs that ended in talon-like nails. Its mouth was missing a few teeth, though the ones that it bore were extremely jagged. In each of the red-eyed monsters hands were two massive butcher knives with chains at the ends that were larger than the monster itself by a foot. (1000 ATK)
"Now is the time to show your potency! Remove your mask of evil to unveil a future of despair! Xyz Summon! Malicevorous Cleaver!"
With a smug look, Black Mist nodded to Astral to signal the end of his turn.
Astral – 5300 LP
Black Mist – 8000 LP
Astral, on the other hand, gave this new Malicevorous monster a quizzical look. Although he was relieved that it wasn't another Number that he had to deal with, he knew all too well the taxing upshot of handling an unknown monster. Nevertheless…
"It's my turn!" he shouted. "I draw!"
He looked at his four cards, then back to the new Malicevorous creature, and finally to the two Black Mists standing before him – or rather floating, in the case of the one dueling.
This one is strong enough to defeat Malicevorous Cleaver, Astral thought, looking at his new Monster Card. However, if I leave it unprotected, Black Mist can take advantage of that during this next turn. His frown visibly deepened. Additionally, attacking that Cleaver might activate whatever effect it might have…
"What's that matter, Astral?" Black Mist smirked, reading Astral's body language. "I didn't peg you as one to wear your heart on your sleeve."
Shaking his head and raising his hand, Astral triumphantly announced, "I summon Gogogo Giant in Attack Position!"
A small cyclone whirled around the blue spirit as Gogogo Giant hopped from the bottom of it. The monster landed on its rocky feet as the impact of the crash shook the ground. (2000 ATK)
"Then…" he continued more hesitantly, "then I'll use its effect, switching it into Defense Position in order to revive the Gogogo Ghost in my Graveyard!"
Gogogo Giant dropped to one knee (0 DEF) as an orange-brown light shot from Astral's Graveyard. Gogogo Ghost made a reappearance as it crossed its armed appendages over its chest. (0 DEF)
"Again it's 2 Level 4 monsters," Black Mist nodded with a glint in his eyes. "Well, Astral, are you going to call it out this time? Number 39?"
Astral glanced at the two Gogogo monsters before him. Both Level 4, as Black Mist had said.
Certainly, I can overlay both of my monsters to summon Utopia, but with Black Mist still present, it's better if…
"I activate the Continuous Spell, Gogogo Gofu!" Astral exclaimed, jamming the card into the slot underneath Gogogo Giant.
A red barrier circled around the two Gogogo monsters before it became transparent. In its place were two identical amulets, one on each of the Gogogos' chests.
"As long as this Spell remains active," said the ethereal blue being. "Gogogo Gofu will, once per turn, prevent a Gogogo monster from being destroyed when involved in battle."
"So it'll take two attacks just to bypass each one, will it?" Black Mist sneered.
I should be safe like this, thought Astral as he took a finalizing glance down toward his hand.
"I'm ending my turn like this."
"Playing defensively like that won't work against me," Black Mist grinned as he made his draw. "Especially since both of your Gogogo monsters have 0 DEF each. That means that I can do…this!"
He pointed to his Malicevorous Cleaver and the monster ran forward. Raising one of its namesake cleavers, the demon swung the weapon at Gogogo Giant's chest.
"Gogogo Gofu's effect activates!" Astral interjected. "Gogogo Giant can't be destroyed by this battle!"
In response, Gogogo Giant grunted and withstood the weight of the attack, although its amulet shattered into sharp fragments on the ground.
"I attack with Number 96: Black Mist," claimed the astral form of said Number monster, "and detach an overlay unit to use its special ability! Shadow Gain, and then Black Mirage Whip!"
A sticky black cord of sludge shot from Black Mist's chest at Gogogo Giant's chest. The rock monster grunted, uselessly flailing as the majority of its power vanished from its body. (1500 – 2500 ATK, 2000 – 1000 ATK, respectively)
Without warning, the coiled whip pushed its way deeper into Gogogo Giant, making its way into the monster's body. Gogogo Giant's blinked its golden eye once before dropping to its knees. Moments later, the whip shot out of the statue's back, completely shattering what was left of the fallen warrior.
"Well then," grinned Black Mist, "only one of your monsters remains. Next turn, Gogogo Ghost will meet the same fate as Gogogo Giant. That is, of course, unless you summon it.
"My turn is finished, and soon, you will be too!"
Though his external poker face remained, Astral was starting to worry on the inside. He tilted his head downward, glancing at the two cards he had left as a reminder.
Ganbara Lancer and Blustering Winds. Ganbara Lancer needs a Tribute to summon, and while Gogogo Ghost can fulfill that position, without another Lancer in my hand or Graveyard, I can't make much use out of it.
I can use Blustering Winds to increase Gogogo Ghost's DEF to 1000, which, combined with Gogogo Gofu, can save it from Malicevorous Cleaver's attack. However, even if I do, Number 96 will gain even more strength by attacking it.
Unfortunately, Black Mist seems to be correct. I can't avoid it any longer. I must summon Utopia. But as it is now, without another Level 4 monster…
He clenched his fists subconsciously.
No, I haven't given up hope yet, and I can't now. Yuma wouldn't give up if he were fighting for me, so I'll do the same for his sake. It's time…
"I'll show you it now, Number 96…" Astral finally said with a tone of resolve that mirrored his fearsome look of determination.
"What?"
"What Yuma taught me…That I must duel by looking forward, that the past does not represent the future! I'll keep advancing! So what I'll show you now is…My true Kattobingu!"
He reached down and closed his eyes, silently uttering a prayer to himself. His fingers glided to the right as he removed the card from the D-Pad.
"Well?" Black Mist barked, growing tired of Astral's waiting.
The blue spirit exhaled deeply and turned the card over. A small twinkle illuminated his eye.
"I summon my Level 4 A/D Demon in Attack Position!"
A dark vortex with hellish red flames expanded in the center of the field as a hand rose from it. Pulling itself up from the underworld was the same six-winged, four-armed monster Astral had used against Kaito. The blood red creature with the matching bloodshot eyes opened its mouth, expelling a satanically inhuman screech. (1600 ATK)
"Even far away, there's a bond between friends that can't be severed," Astral chanted. "The name of that bond…is hope! It's what connects me to Yuma, even when we're far apart. And it's our combined hope that can craft any future we desire!
"Level 4 A/D Demon and Gogogo Ghost, overlay! With these two Level 4 monsters, I'll construct the overlay network to Xyz Summon Number 39: Utopia!"
Rising from a portal in the ground was the sealed form of Astral's main Number monster, its white wings cloaking the Emperor's Key-looking figure inside. The monster expanded quickly, manifesting itself into Number 39: Utopia, who seized the moment and struck a heroic pose with its sword in one hand and fist as the other. (2500 ATK)
"'Hope', you say?" Black Mist asked. Then, much to Astral's surprise, he began to snicker. It was quiet at first, but it only took a few seconds for it to explode into a full frenzy of guffaws.
"You honestly still believe that hope exists, much less that you're able to find it within Yuma?"
"Why wouldn't I be able to put my hope into Yuma?" Astral retorted flatly.
"Face the facts, Astral. You should know better than me the answer to this…How did he win his last two battles?"
Astral swiftly remembered fragments of Yuma's most recent duel against Chitaro. Utopia, Barian's Force, the Chaos Xyz, Armored Xyz, and…
And it hit him. The card that he had won with hadn't been Utopia. It couldn't have been, not after Yuma had thrown it away with Armored Xyz's effect…
It had been Number 96.
He shook his head, thinking back to the duel before that against III.
Yuma hadn't even used Utopia for that one, he recalled. It was nothing but Gauntlet Shooter until the moment when…when he had to use Black Mist…
"Even so…" Astral began, his voice beginning to shrink.
"Hope is an illusion that the weak concern themselves with," Black Mist informed the quieting Astral. "And bonds are as fragile as those hopeless enough to wield them. Naturally, Yuma is vulnerable to the allure of power and the tastes of evil and malice, just like every other human. He would willingly throw away his 'bond' with you if it meant attaining his own goal."
"That's not…true," Astral murmured. And yet, somehow...Somehow as Astral thought back to Yuma using Black Mist's card, his own words weren't as convinced as he had thought they would be, somehow they didn't sound as honest. "Yuma is…"
"Just like the others in that pitiful world," Black Mist scoffed. "Accept reality. His heart, his seemingly undying loyalty, is starting to falter. Haven't you noticed it?"
"Noticed it?"
"From inside this key I've been watching him for a while now. Surely, you've noticed it, too…Yuma using more of the Number monsters ever since his loss against that Shingetsu kid."
Astral's mount involuntarily flashbacked to Crimson Shadow, Thunder Spark Dragon, Leviathan Dragon, and, much to his chagrin, Black Mist.
"He doesn't want to lose again. That's why he's doing everything he can to increase his own power, his own strength. Utopia just isn't working like it used to."
Astral looked down at the sole monster on his D-Pad. Number 39: Utopia.
"He's using you and your Numbers for his own gain, Astral! Wake up and see it!"
"Yuma is…"
"Isn't there any doubt in your heart?" Black Mist growled. "Deep down, don't you bear some sort of resentment to Yuma for throwing away Utopia, your so-called bond, so easily in his last duel? Don't you feel some sort of anger for it…a sense of hatred, even?"
A sharp jolt passed through Astral's heart as he remembered the feeling of pain, the misery he endured from the sight. Certainly, it was excruciating to see, but…
"I…"
"Embrace those feelings, Astral," urged Black Mist. "Those are the alleged 'bonds' that you share with me. That's why you need me just as much as I need you. We can help each other in ways that Yuma could only dream of.
"With my assistance, your mission will definitely be carried out. We can achieve it together if you just align yourself with me!"
Astral stood silently, his head abuzz with thought. He would never hate Yuma – he didn't even know if he could. However, Black Mist hadn't been entirely wrong about the feelings of resentment and anger. Seeing Yuma discard Utopia so easily, even if it was for the sake of victory…it had physically hurt.
My mission again. Whatever it is, Black Mist seems to know about it. Perhaps…Perhaps…
"Well, Astral?" Black Mist was unable to contain the excitement in his voice.
"I..." Astral's voice was much quieter than it had been before. "I…"
In the darkness of Astral's mind, as he was only moments away from a response to Black Mist's proposal, a lone memory started to shine through. Astral recalled the event clearly – it had only been a few days ago.
The pale moonlight crept into the attic of the Tsukumo household. Yuma sat on floor of the room underneath his hammock, rearranging the cards that were resting on the mahogany hope chest near the window. The soft sounds of chirping crickets and maybe an occasional car created a harmonious backdrop to the starlit night. Yuma lifted two cards, side by side, closely comparing them to one another. He sighed.
"Astral. Oi, Astral!"
The spirit, who had positioned himself above the boy's hammock, wordlessly turned to Yuma.
"Which do you think I should use?" he wondered, showing Astral the two cards that he was holding.
"Those two men, Tron and Dr. Faker, they will undoubtedly be trying their best to oppose us when we're in the finals," Astral recognized. "We don't get know their dueling styles, however, so I'm not certain which would be better."
"I guess I shouldn't have hoped for an actual answer from you, huh?" Yuma teased playfully, looking back to the two cards again.
Astral's facial expression remained neutral. "Alright," he gave in tiredly. He pointed to the card in Yuma's right hand. "I suggest that you keep that one."
"A/D Demon?" Yuma read aloud. "Alright, if you think it's a good idea, I'll stick with it."
"I remember that you weren't always so willing to take my advice," Astral said. The memories of his early squabbles with Yuma were short-lived, though they were enough to bring a fragmented smile to his face.
"Yeah," Yuma laughed, recalling his former stubbornness. His face lit up only for a moment before he became serious once again. "But Tron and that Dr. Faker, whoever they are…they've hurt enough people as it is. Kaito, who's still supposedly aligned with Faker, and V, who asked us to stop Tron's ambitions…We can't let them continue to harm innocent people anymore!"
"That's right," Astral sullenly accepted with a nod. He cupped a finger to his chin as though he was pondering something. "But I'm certain that when the time arrives, you'll be able to take them down."
"Of course…"
Yuma paused, replaying Astral's words in his head.
"Wait a minute. What do you mean by 'you'll' be able to take them down? As in…me, alone?" Yuma questioned, pointing a finger to his face.
"That's correct. Should anything happen to me…"
"What are you going on about?" barked Yuma, a little louder than he had expected. He slammed both cards on the hope chest before facing Astral. There was a fire, a burning passion, gleaming in his eyes that the spirit hadn't expected. "You and I will always be a team, no matter what! Even…" Yuma's voice sank an octave. "Even if you leave, even if you're far away, there's a bond that can't be severed!"
"A bond that can't be severed?" Astral repeated softly.
Yuma's face softened. He put a hand over his heart as he smiled, "It's hope! Even if we're far apart, it's with us. And with it, we have the power to craft our futures...
"That's why I won't let anything happen to you, Astral! If I keep my hope, if I keep my Kattobingu, then I can protect you with all my strength!"
"Yuma…"
A warm, reassuring feeling surfaced over Astral. His eyes narrowed as his smile lengthened.
"The World Duel Carnival…Yuma, let's win it…Together."
"Yeah!" Yuma energetically agreed. He lifted his hand up, his palm toward Astral's face. "High-five!"
Like a confused animal, Astral mirrored Yuma's hand motion, raising his own hand. He extended it towards Yuma and their hands connected…somewhat. It was truthfully more of a case of Astral's intangible hand passing through Yuma's, however the effort alone was enough to satisfy the boy.
"With our combined hope, there's no way we can lose!" Yuma asserted.
That's right, Astral recollected. Yuma would never give up his faith in me, even if I gave up…I know that the only reason he used Black Mist's card is because he needed to save me…
Perhaps Yuma isn't incapable of malice or hatred. But if that's the case…I'll be there to protect him from those vices with everything that I have!
"I refuse your offer!" Astral called out to Black Mist, visibly upsetting the latter. "Even if Yuma's done something that I don't want, I have to allow him to make choices on his own. At the end of it, all I can do is put my complete trust and hope into him! I will believe in him until the very end!"
"You'll realize eventually the true strength that I can lend you, Astral," Black Mist hissed. "Not even you are immune to evil, and I intend to make you understand that during this duel!"
"It won't go as smoothly as you think," Astral reassured. "A/D Demon's effect activates when it's used for an Xyz Summon, allowing me to draw another card from my deck!"
Astral did just that, smirking at his new draw.
"Now I activate Xyz Treasure!" he continued. "It enables me to draw one card per Xyz Monster on the field. Counting Utopia, Black Mist, and Malicevorous Cleaver, that's three new cards!"
The top three cards of the deck glowed a shimmering white as Astral plucked each one, one at a time. He gave two-second glimpses to each of the cards before proceeding.
"Number 39 and 96 have the same ATK score," he restated. "However, Malicevorous Cleaver's ATK is severely lower! Attack it now, Utopia! Hope Sword Slash!"
The gold-armored warrior nodded, gliding over to the three-foot demon. It reached behind its back, slowly removing the sword from its sheath. Before the motion was complete, however, Malicevorous Cleaver threw both of its weapons into the ground, tearing the terrain asunder.
"I knew that you would try to find any out that you could to my plan," Black Mist chuckled lowly. "It was only a matter of time before you attacked Malicevorous Cleaver…And now that you did, its effect is triggered!"
Malicevorous Cleaver put its hands over its ears and began to shriek obnoxiously. It jumped up and down as its weapons dipped further into the ground.
"What's this?" Astral gasped.
"When Malicevorous Cleaver is attacked, I can detach one overlay unit from it…"
Black Mist threw one copy of Malicevorous Knife into his Graveyard.
"Following that, your monster's attack is then redirected at another Fiend-Type monster I control! Guess who?"
The chains on the ends of the monster's titular cleavers lunged forward, wrapping around Utopia's wings. Utopia struggled to break free, only to be turned in Black Mist's direction. Closer and closer, the two Number monsters began to creep toward one another.
"And when Black Mist is engaged in a battle…"
"I activate Utopia's effect!" Astral desperately blurted out. "By detaching Gogogo Ghost, I can negate my own monster's attack! Moon Barrier!"
Utopia gave one more powerful push to the right and its wings expanded, breaking the cleaver chains in twain. The monster spun around quickly, creating an aureate barrier that shielded it from Black Mist's oncoming wrath.
"Hmph," Black Mist glowered. His demeanor altered as a smile crossed his face. "That may be, but with only one more overlay unit left, you can't save yourself against both of my monster's attacks next turn. Once Number 39 runs out of overlay units…"
"I'm well aware of what happens," Astral snapped, looking back down to his hand. "But for now, I'll set these two cards and end my turn."
Two facedown cards materialized on either side of his otherwise useless Gogogo Gofu.
Astral – 5300 LP
Black Mist – 8000 LP
"You're getting desperate," Black Mist taunted. "Against my power, Utopia is powerless!"
Black Mist drew a card for his turn.
"But if you're in that much need of a demonstration…Show him, Black Mist!"
Again, a number of black tentacles wriggled from the Number's back. Once ten of them had formed, they all shot forward to Number 39 at a breakneck pace. Black Mist grinned, already anticipating Astral's reaction. However, he couldn't have prepared for what actually happened.
"Utopia's effect," Astral quietly said, "Moon Barrier…I won't use it."
Black Mist's eyes bulged ever so slight as he made a small gasping noise, obviously confused. When he regained his composure, he remembered something.
"W-well then, despite your foolishness, Astral, I can still use my own effect against you! Therefore, I'll detach Black Mist's final overlay unit to drain Utopia of half its ATK and add it onto my score! Shadow Gain!"
Utopia looked over its shoulder, back at Astral. The blue spirit only gave a pleading nod, which Utopia promptly returned. Before the Number monster could turn its head back fully, it groaned as Black Mist's tentacles thrust themselves into its jeweled chest. The green gem flashed brightly before Utopia dropped to its knees. Billows of smoke poured from the now-open gape in its chest before it exploded completely. (2500 – 1250 ATK, and 2500 – 3750 ATK, respectively)
"Aaagh!" Astral shouted out as his body flipped over. He landed a couple feet behind where he had been on the cold floor, head first. As his fading arms tried their best to lift his body, two separate jolts of electricity coursed through them. Astral cried out again, falling back on his face.
My body is…Astral understood well enough to know that he didn't need to complete his thought.
"Now that you're once again defenseless," Black Mist continued, clearly unfazed by the display before him, "Malicevorous Cleaver!"
The maniacal demon, its two cleavers held high like two trophies, scurried forward. Low, guttural snarls and twisted hisses and howls escaped the creature's jowls as it neared. The bloodlust in its eyes was unmistakable.
Astral's shaking fingers crept forward as he opened his hands, palms faced towards Black Mist. Taking a deep breath, he garnered enough strength to shout, "Trap, activate! Xyz Reborn!"
A blue medallion covered in pink wings, drooping beads of red, and liquid gold holsters shot forward. The object bended in a circle at the top before the rest of it became cross-like. The medallion, now in the shape of an ankh, delivered a sea of light powerful enough to blind Black Mist.
"Tch, what is…?" he began. His words trailed off when he saw it.
Standing there before Astral was Number 39: Utopia, the same monster that he had just gone through the trouble of destroying. The ankh was now a necklace that fell around Utopia's chest. The warrior lifted a hand and touched it, only for it to transform into a pink overlay unit. (2500 ATK)
"I-Impossible!" Black Mist denied. "There's no way that Utopia can be back!"
"Y-You're wrong," Astral coughed out. "When activated, Xyz Reborn has the effect to resurrect an Xyz Monster in my Graveyard. After that, through its additional effect, Xyz Reborn is attached to that resurrected monster as an overlay unit. As I've told you, the bond that Yuma and I share is not one that can be so easily severed!"
"What a waste that was. Malicevorous Cleaver, cancel your attack…"
The monster in question dropped its weapons, retreating to Black Mist at lightning quick speed.
"Since I can't cause you anymore suffering this turn," Black Mist sighed through his scowl, "I'll set this card facedown."
A facedown card appeared next to the still-face-up-but-ultimately-useless Fiendish Chain Trap.
"If you can still stand up, Astral, then it's your turn!"
Astral – 2800 LP
Black Mist – 8000 LP
Astral's weak arms tried to push again, only to have another jolt shock them into submission. He dropped back on the ground, his breaths becoming more and more labored.
Over and over, he mentally replayed the mantra that Yuma had taught him. I won't give up…I won't give up…The words were easier to say than to wholly believe in.
What can I do? Astral wondered, his thoughts veering off course. Against Number 96 whose power continues to increase with every attack, and against Malicevorous Cleaver who can redirect my attacks toward Black Mist…
He groaned, looking from one of Black Mist's Xyz Monsters to the other. Hope was fading quickly...
And yet, through the corner of his eye, Astral saw something else. He careened his neck to the side, angling it just left enough to get a glimpse at what had been in his peripheral field of vision.
Number 39: Utopia stood before him, its single overlay unit spinning around its waist. Its arms held to its sides, at ease, though Astral's knew it could easily protect him if need be. A smile crossed the spirit's lips as he took a moment to think about Utopia. It was a Number, yes, but more than that, it signified his bond…no, his relationship with Yuma. Utopia would fight to protect that which it deemed precious…
It would protect its bond with me, Astral realized, just as Yuma would…And now…
Astral took a sharp inhale of breath and pushed against the ground again. He ignored the stinging and the aching that now flowed through his body like water to a river. He forced himself to fight past the pain as he made his way to his knees, then to his feet, never once taking his eyes of Utopia.
"And now…" he huffed through shallow breaths. "Now I'm going to repay the favor to both of them!"
"So you're still able to fight," Black Mist commented, more as a statement than a question.
"I'll continue to fight if it means protecting the ones that I care the most about," Astral answered. "Besides…"
He smirked, pointing to Number 96.
"The formula for defeating your Black Mist is already completed!"
Before Black Mist could say anything, Astral spoke self-assuredly.
"It's my turn! Draw!"
He did just that. Afterwards, he reached into Graveyard, grabbing the bottom-most card and flipping it around.
"At this time, I activate the effect of Xyz Agent! Once, while in it's the Graveyard, I can attach Xyz Agent as an additional overlay unit to Number 39: Utopia!"
Astral slid the card beneath his monster while a second Xyz Material orb appeared to complement that of Xyz Reborn.
"Don't you realize that the same thing will happen if you try to attack?" Black Mist scoffed. "Malicevorous Cleaver will send the target to Black Mist. You'll be forced to use an overlay unit instead of continuing the attack, and next turn I can finish off your Number!"
"Are you sure about that?"
"What did you say?"
"I activate my second facedown Trap Card!" Astral shouted. "Superior Overlay!"
The card turned over, revealing the surprising artwork image of Number 39 himself on it.
"This Trap is activated when the number of overlay units I control on a single Xyz Monster is more than the total number of overlay units your Xyz Monsters control! Through Xyz Reborn and Xyz Agent, Utopia has two overlay units!"
"Damn it," cursed Black Mist acidly. "I used Black Mist's final overlay unit last turn…That means that I have…"
"Just one overlay unit on Malicevorous Cleaver, just as I had planned," Astral finished in a rightly smug tone. "Since that's the case, all Xyz Monsters you control are destroyed!"
Black Mist's eyes widened as he barely stuttered, "My monsters are…"
"However," added Astral, "each Xyz Monster is able to avoid destruction if you detach one overlay unit from them. As it is, though, the only monster you can save is Malicevorous Cleaver! Black Mist is…"
"I won't let you end it like this!" Black Mist screamed, wild and crazed. "Trap, activate! Overlay Connection!"
A thin, stringy cord made of light blue plasma appeared in the center of Malicevorous Cleaver's chest. The cord then jutted outward, flying over to the Number monster on its right and hooking onto its chest. Suddenly, Malicevorous Cleaver started to howl bloodcurdlingly, writhing in intense agony before its body burst into black particles. The otherwise light blue cord turned black as well.
"Through Overlay Connection, I was able to sacrifice Malicevorous Cleaver…"
Black Mist took the Malicevorous Xyz's card and slid it and Malicevorous Spoon underneath Number 96's card.
"And after that, Cleaver and the overlay unit it had attached to it are transferred over to another Xyz Monster I control, namely my Black Mist! And now that it has overlay units of its own, I can pay one to prevent its destruction at the hands of Superior Overlay!"
Malicevorous Spoon was thrown into the Graveyard as Astral's Trap burst into shards.
"It seems that the only thing your Trap did was accelerate your defeat!" boasted a confident Black Mist. "Black Mist has a new overlay unit now, one that I can use to…"
Astral, growing weary of the Black Mist's record-player type monologues, continued, "I wouldn't be so sure of that, either…I summon Overlay Owl!"
A light whirlwind started to pick up, carrying with it a strange flapping noise. As the wind died down, the source of the sound appeared to be no more than a red cape tied to a fully-buttoned, mustard-yellow vest, both of which belonged to the anthropomorphic snowy owl now standing there. As its name suggested, the golden-eyed bird had immaculate snow white feathers covering its entirety, save for its taloned feet. In its right hand lay a thin, brown walking stick, at the top of which resided a sculpted brown hand with an emerald eye in the middle of its palm. (800 ATK)
Black Mist opened his mouth as if to speak, but all that escaped were haughty chortles and wheezes.
"That's your last line of defense then?" he questioned. And again, he repeated, "Surely, you can do better than that!"
"I will now…Overlay Owl's effect activates!"
With a "hoot," Overlay Owl's baggy eyes started to shine a pure gold. Its neck twisted around to meet Astral's body while a similar golden aura enveloped the spirit.
"Once per turn, by sacrificing 600 of my Life Points," Astral went on to explain, pointing to the opposing Number monster, "I'm able to detach an overlay unit from one Xyz Monster on the field! My target is none other than your Number 96: Black Mist!"
Overlay Owl thrust its walking stick forward, and the green eye opened. It radiated a surreal, mystical energy before an emerald blast shot forward at Black Mist's Number, sending its final overlay unit into an ensuing purple portal.
"Hmph," muttered Black Mist.
"Continuing on, I activate a Spell Card from my hand, Last Hope, to discard all of the cards in my hand!"
Astral discarded the Ganbara Lancer and Blustering Winds from earlier.
"Then I draw a number of cards equal to the amount I just discarded," he said, replacing his hand with two new cards.
"I see now," Black Mist understood, his smirk returning. "Those two cards that you were holding wouldn't have helped you defeat my avatar, right? That's why you sent them away, in the hopes that you'd get something better?"
Blocking out the vocal distraction, Astral looked down at his two new cards. Much to his chagrin, they were as unhelpful as the previous two in destroying Black Mist. However…
"I set one card facedown..."
One lone card digitalized behind Overlay Owl.
"And at the end of my turn, for every card discarded by the effect of Last Hope, I lose 1000 Life Points…"
Two separate bolts of red lightning sank from the murky heavens, both hitting Astral in unison. Grunting paved the way for screaming as Astral cried out while the crimson static passed through him. He fell to one knee, battered but still refusing defeat.
Astral – 200 LP
Black Mist – 8000 LP
"So close to exhaustion," noted Black Mist. "You still have the option to surrender, Astral!"
"I refuse it. I won't lose after coming so far!"
"I'm afraid," Black Mist said as he drew his card, "that you don't have much of a choice in the matter.
"Strike now, my avatar! Attack Astral's Number 39: Utopia! Black Mirage Whip!"
Once more, Black Mist's slimy tentacles darted forward. They parted on either side of Utopia, narrowing the margin and threatening to squeeze the Number to death at an alarming pace.
And once more, "I activate Utopia's effect to negate your attack! Moon Barrier!"
The same golden shielding wrapped around the warrior's otherwise vulnerable body, masterfully fending off both of the assaults.
"That same trick won't work on me twice!" Black Mist assured. "I hope you don't mind that I borrowed this trick from you, Astral! I activate my Quick-Play, Double or Nothing!"
Black Mist slid the Spell into his D-Pad. Much to Astral's surprise, the flames in the middle of Black Mist's stomach suddenly grew large enough to be able to change Black Mist's titular skin color to a blood red. The now-sanguine Number's muscles bulged as it doubled in size. (3750 – 7500 ATK)
"Now attack Utopia again this time! Make him suffer! Blood Mirage Whip!"
Pools of blood surfaced on the ground, coalescing into a single sphere-shaped entity. The ball remolded, taking on the appearance of a second Black Mist that lunged forward, its dripping red claws staining the pristine ground.
"It was only a matter of time…"
Black Mist looked up and frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"As I expected, when your plan to destroy Utopia failed, you turned to a counterstrategy to wage another attack, in this case using Double or Nothing. However, in doing so, you've walked right into my trap!"
Astral's facedown lifted.
"Battle Rush activates when two monsters are engaged in battle! During that battle, my monster cannot be destroyed…"
Black Mist's bloody clone scraped its filthy, grime-covered claws at Utopia's armor. The warrior stood perfectly still, enduring all of the blows until the clone started to surrender.
"Moreover," Astral added, "the damage that I would have received from that battle is dealt to you instead! The ATK of Utopia is 2500 while Black Mist's ATK, under the conditions of Double or Nothing, was 7500! Therefore you'll take…"
"5000 damage!" Black Mist practically screamed the words.
Giving one more attempt, the Black Mist clone charged head first at Utopia. The warrior, quick on the draw, reached behind its back and grabbed its sword. Flipping it around in one hand, it smacked the clone with the brunt of the hilt. Apparently, the counterattack had been strong enough to knock the creature back, as it came toppling on the real Black Mist. The massive weight strained Black Mist's back before the creature evaporated into air particles.
"Now we're just about even," said Astral, taking in his work.
"We're 'even,' you said?" Black Mist growled. "You're only at 200 Life Points! We're not even close! In fact – Hmm…" He took a moment to contemplate before continuing with a twisted smirk. "Instead of helping you….When I win this, I'll simply destroy your body and take your position with Yuma as my own!"
"Don't make jokes like that…"
"Did I hit a nerve?" scowled Astral's evil doppelganger. Clearly, it seemed that he had dropped his joking mood entirely. "If I did, good. I'm going to set this card facedown and end my turn."
As the effect of Double or Nothing started to simmer down (7500 – 3750 ATK), a facedown card appeared behind Black Mist's Number; no more, no less.
Astral – 200 LP
Black Mist – 3000 LP
"It's true," Astral piped up, "that I may be at 200 Life Points. However…"
He drew his card, smirking as he saw what it was.
"I couldn't have done this without first reducing my own Life Points!" Astral threw his hand above his head. "Number 39: Utopia, I overlay you for a Chaos Xyz Change!"
"A-an Xyz Summon…" Black Mist gawked. True, he had seen Yuma perform this so-called "Chaos Xyz Change" before through the Key. Being on the receiving end of it, however, was quite different than simply watching it happen…
"The power of hope, the messenger that changes chaos into light! Show yourself, my Chaos Number!"
Utopia's wings retracted, then its whole body followed suit until it devolved into its sealed form. The result sunk into the portal on the ground before a dark light burst from below. Floating up on its streamlined black and yellow wings was none other than the proof of Yuma's and Astral's evolution itself, Utopia Ray. (2500 ATK)
"When my Life Points are under 1000, I can detach an overlay unit from Utopia Ray to increase its ATK by 500 and decrease Black Mist's ATK by 1000 until the End Phase! I use both units for this! Go, Overlay Charge!"
Astral slid Xyz Agent and Number 39: Utopia to his Graveyard as his monster's black armor immediately became a shimmering white. (2500 – 3500 ATK)
In response, Black Mist shrunk to a third of its size, roaring and spewing harmless flames every which way. (3750 – 1750 ATK)
"Lastly," Astral said with a tone of finality, "I'll equip Chaos Number 39: Utopia Ray with this! Double Buster Swords!"
The Chaos Number monster unstrapped the sword from its back and held it in its right hand. With a firm squeeze on the black hilt of the weapon, an identical copy of the sword suddenly materialized in its right hand.
"While equipped with the magic of Double Buster Swords, Utopia Ray is destroyed at the end of this turn. However, before that, it can attack twice during this Battle Phase.
"With this it's over, Black Mist," Astral proclaimed, his voice surprisingly devoid of emotion. "And with these two attacks, my victory is unshakable."
Black Mist's eyes slid quickly from Astral to Utopia Ray and back again.
"Go forward, Chaos Number 39! Attack Number 96 now with Hope Sword Chaos Slash!"
The warrior nodded once before it started to levitate, now a foot above the ground. While moving ever closer to Black Mist, the Chaos Number held the sword in its right hand up high. Mustering a burst of strength, it turned the blade a dazzling white color. As it brought the weapon down on the enemy Number…
"N-no," Black Mist whispered. Then, like a wild animal being hunted, his cries became desperate, frenzied screams. "I won't let you defeat me, Astral! I won't allow you to win this!"
He clicked a button on his D-Pad and his final gambit of a Trap Card reversed its position.
"I activate my Trap Card, Hate Buster," he explained frantically. "With it, both Black Mist and Utopia Ray are destroyed, and then you'll take damage equal to your attacking monster's strength! Astral, your Life Points are a mere 200 and your monster's ATK is 2500! Once this damage lands, it will be all over for you!"
Astral didn't react, however. He only stared blankly ahead at Black Mist before he asked, "You said you've been watching Yuma's duels through the Emperor's Key, correct?"
"What of it?"
"If that's true, then you must know what happened on the final turn of his duel against Chitaro."
"Naturally," smirked Black Mist. "He used my card to completely destroy that fool of an opponent he was up against!"
Astral shook his head. "I wasn't referring to that part."
He turned the final card in his hand over.
"I activate the effect of Chauchow-chan from my hand. By discarding it, I can negate the activation of a Trap Card used by the opponent!"
Astral discarded the monster, and like before the Chow Chow dog, adorned in its baggy garments, ran onto the field on its four paws. Speeding towards Hate Buster, the canine sank its teeth into all four corners of the Trap. The card burst into pixels as a now-silent Black Mist could only watch.
"I-Impossible!" Black Mist gasped. He looked down to the only card left in his hand, a second copy of Malicevorous Fork. "I-It can't be…I'm going to lose!?"
"Resume your attack, Chaos Number 39!" Astral only proceeded. "Hope Sword…Chaos Slash!"
With Black Mist's Trap Card in shambles, nothing stopped the Chaos Number from coming at it head-on. Despite being horrendously outmatched, Black Mist's Number threw its tentacles forward, refusing to die without a fight. Each tentacle was slashed away by Utopia's sword, however. Before long, the steel blade weighed down on the creature's body, separating the Number in to two exploding parts.
Astral – 200 LP
Black Mist – 1250 LP
"Double Buster Swords enables the equipped monster to attack twice!" reminded Astral. "I'll attack you once more with Chaos Number 39! Hope Sword Buster Slash!"
The Chaos Number looked at its twin swords, formulating an idea. It brought its hands close together until it was able to smash the two separate swords into each other, creating one massive super sword. Taking its base in both hands, the Chaos Number stepped in front of Black Mist. Its red eyes gleamed once as the sword dropped, the force of the weapon sending Black Mist's body ten feet back.
Astral – 200 LP
Black Mist – 0 LP
Collecting his breath, Astral limply moved his arm to his side. The D-Pad that had been there only seconds before now dissipated into scattered particles that adorned the air.
"I-Impossible…" Black Mist murmured from the opposite side of the field. "T-To think that I was defeated by..."
He lifted his head, noticing a bright blue blur floating toward him. Trembling, Black Mist opened his mouth, and with malice coating every syllable, he shouted, "Astral…ASTRAL!"
The hostility was enough to stop Astral from coming any closer. He hovered in the middle of the former battleground, impassively looking at Black Mist. It was not, however, enough to stop him from speaking.
"Number 96: Black Mist," he addressed. "Tell me what it is that you know about my mission. What am I destined for? Why have I been sent here?" He remembered the disembodied voice of the woman in from Number 83's memory, quickly adding, "Who sent me here?" to his list.
Black Mist and Astral locked eyes. The quiet grew maddeningly unbearable, just as it had outside of the Key.
"Answer me!"
A low mumbling came from the charcoal spirit. It sounded like a growl at first, but it quickly evolved into another frenzy of laughs.
"Your mission is the same as my mission, Astral," he answered cryptically. His body began to break away into dark molecules of light, starting with his feet and working his way up.
Astral's body tensed. He needed more answers, and it seemed that his time with Black Mist was running shorter than he had anticipated.
"Why am I here?" he quickly repeated.
Black Mist's feet were gone, as well as half of his legs. He spoke softly, so much so that Astral had to strain to hear him.
"Destruction…"
"Destruction?" Astral parroted, almost unsure he had heard right.
Black Mist's stomach started to disappear. "You've been sent here…To destroy the world, Astral!"
Silence again.
"That's why your bonds are so meaningless. No matter what you do, no matter how much hope or trust that you put into Yuma, he's destined to perish at your hand!"
"N-no," Astral tony clearly mirrored his disbelief. "I don't believe you. That can't be the destiny that I've been sent for."
Black Mist's eyes slid to his own Number pillar. "Take a look into that memory. It's all there for you.
"Try as you might, Astral…It is you who will bring about the destruction of the world!"
Black Mist's mouth vanished, leaving another eerie silence. His spiky black hair and the red face markings were the last parts of him to break away. Dirty air sat where the self-proclaimed strongest Number had.
Astral turned his head to the side. Though it hadn't been there before, Number 96's pillar was now right in front of him, longing for the touch of Astral's fingers. He had never seen Number 96's memory before. Shark had given the card to Yuma instead of Astral absorbing it, so he hadn't had the luxury of seeing what it held.
Until now.
Astral held his breath as he reached out. Inch by inch, his fingers neared the pillar. It beckoned him, calling out like a siren to a sailor. Temptation rang in Astral's ears, reverberating through his head like a symphony. Closer and closer, until…
Until his fingers finally touched the pillar.
It was as though he took was looking at the Earth from space, or perhaps from another planet. The first thing he noticed was a burning, red line being cut horizontally through the center of the earth. It faintly resembled lava crevasse, or maybe what it would look like if an earthquake split apart an area of land.
Then another lava crevasse cut through the Earth, vertical this time. Then another horizontal crevasse, and another vertical crevasse. As the seconds passed, more and more crevasses formed, and more and more of the Earth was torn asunder, until finally…
The Earth grew red, hot and scorched from the weight of the magma. It rumbled, giving a literal meaning to the word "earthquake" before the lava stopped altogether. The shaking stopped. Everything stopped.
And then every came, fast. In the blink of an eye, the pressure became too mighty. The Earth simply burst into tiny, ungainly fragments. Shards of hopes, dreams, land, places…People.
Gone. And in the blink of an eye, everything changed.
Astral blinked his own eyes, returning him to the safety of inside the Emperor's Key. He was shuddering now, horrified by what he saw.
"This memory…What is it trying to tell me?"
As he returned to his Astral cube to regain the rest of his energy, he couldn't help but ruminate about what Black Mist had said.
Am I the cause of that explosion? Will I truly lead the destruction of the human world?
Astral wondered if the memory of Black Mist's pillar had been a memory at all. Perhaps it was a vision of the future, instead.
New/Anime Cards Shown In This Chapter –
Malicevorous Fork (Monster)
Fiend/Level 2/Effect/DARK
400 ATK/400 DEF
Effect: You can send 1 other Fiend-Type monster from your hand to the Graveyard; Special Summon this card from your hand.
Malicevorous Knife (Monster)
Fiend/Level 2/Effect/DARK
600 ATK/100 DEF
Effect: When this card is Normal Summoned: You can target 1 "Malicevorous" monster in your Graveyard, except "Malicevorous Knife"; Special Summon that target.
Malicevorous Spoon (Monster)
Fiend/Level 2/Effect/DARK
100 ATK/500 DEF
Effect: When a "Malicevorous" monster is Normal or Special Summoned to your side of the field, except "Malicevorous Spoon": You can target 1 Level 2 Fiend-Type monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon that target. Its effects are negated. You can only use the effect of "Malicevorous Spoon" once per turn.
Note: The above three cards can be found in the Shadow Specters booster pack. It is currently slated for release in the United States in November, 2013.
Gogogo Gofu (Spell)
Continuous Spell
Image: A mustard yellow amulet with a brick square of reddish brown layering in the center being thrown into a spherical black vortex.
Effect: If you control 2 or more "Gogogo" monsters, you take no effect damage. Once per turn, when a "Gogogo" monster you control attacks or is attacked: That monster cannot be destroyed by battle.
Note: This card can be found in the Duelist Pack: Yuma 2: Gogogo and Dododo. It is currently slated for release in Japan in September, 2013.
Overlay Break (Spell)
Normal Spell
Image: Two overlay units flying from Tiras, Keeper of Genesis into a vortex of darkness above her.
Effect: Target 1 Xyz Monster on the field; send all Xyz Material attached to that Xyz Monster to the Graveyard. During this turn, if that target has an effect which prevents it from being destroyed by battle, negate that effect.
Note: This card was first used by Kaito Tenjo in Episode 56 of "Yu-Gi-Oh! ZeXal". Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.
Battle Rush (Trap)
Normal Trap
Image: Drillago rapidly firing nine golden drills toward an unknown purple warrior.
Effect: When a monster you control battles an opponent's monster: Your monster cannot be destroyed by this battle, and your opponent takes any Battle Damage you would have taken.
Note: This card was first used by Yuma Tsukumo in Episode 80 of "Yu-Gi-Oh! ZeXal". Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.
Small Stopper (Trap)
Continuous Trap
Image: Battle Warrior roaming a cemetery and fending off multiple attacks from Mystery Hand.
Effect: Face-up monsters with 1000 or less ATK cannot declare an attack. During the End Phase, if the turn player controls an Attack Position monster and that player did not declare an attack this turn: That player takes 1000 damage.
Note: This card was first used by Black Mist in Episode 101 of "Yu-Gi-Oh! ZeXal". Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.
Superior Overlay (Trap)
Normal Trap
Image: Number 39: Utopia converting two of its overlay units into makeshift bombs and sending them forward to destroy an unknown Xyz Monster in a billow of smoke.
Effect: If the Number of Xyz Materials of 1 Xyz Monster you control outnumbers the combined Xyz Materials of all Xyz Monsters your opponent controls: Your opponent can detach 1 Xyz Material from each of their Xyz Monsters, otherwise destroy all Xyz Monsters your opponent controls that did not detach an Xyz Material.
Note: This card was first used by Astral in Episode 102 of "Yu-Gi-Oh! ZeXal". Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.
Gagaga Academy Emergency Network (Spell)
Normal Spell
Image: Bolts of lightning shooting from the Gagaga crest.
Effect: Special Summon 1 "Gagaga" monster from your deck.
Note: This card was first used by Yuma Tsukumo in Rank 23 of the "Yu-Gi-Oh! ZeXal" Manga. Creative credit goes to the writers of that chapter.
Double Buster Swords (Spell)
Equip Spell
Image: The shimmering silhouette of Number 39: Utopia brandishing two glisteningly white swords.
Effect: Equip only to a Warrior-Type monster. It can attack twice during each Battle Phase, and if it attacks a Defense Position monster, inflict piercing Battle Damage to your opponent. Destroy the equipped monster during the End Phase.
Note: This card was first used by Yuma Tsukumo in Rank 24 of the "Yu-Gi-Oh! ZeXal" Manga. Creative credit goes to the writers of that chapter.
Swift Hippo Dynatherium (Monster)
Beast/Level 4/Effect/EARTH
1600 ATK/1000 DEF
Effect: You can Special Summon this card (from your hand). When you do: Your opponent can target 1 card in their Graveyard with the same Level as this card; Special Summon that target to their side of the field.
Note: This card was first used by Yuma Tsukumo in Rank 31 of the "Yu-Gi-Oh! ZeXal" Manga. Creative credit goes to the writers of that chapter.
Note 2: The Attribute, Type, and DEF are based on speculation and subject to change if and when the real statistics are released. Until further notice, they will appear as such for the time being.
Malicevorous Cleaver (Xyz Monster)
Fiend/Xyz/Rank 2/Effect/DARK
1000 ATK/800 DEF
Effect: If a face-up Fiend-Type monster you control is targeted by a card effect: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; this card becomes the new target. If this card is selected as an attack target: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card to target another Fiend-Type monster you control; that monster becomes the new attack target.
Malignant Favor (Spell)
Normal Spell
Image: A dark energy being emitted by Skull Servant's outstretched hand as it slowly walks toward a cowering Ojama Yellow.
Effect: Declare 1 Monster Card name. If the declared card is in your opponent's Deck, send it to the Graveyard, then target 1 monster your opponent controls; it gains ATK equal to the original ATK of the declared monster, until the End Phase.
Overlay Connection (Trap)
Normal Trap
Image: Wind-Up Carrier Zenmaity firing an overlay unit from one of its carriers to a Wind-Up Zenmaines that's drowning in the middle of the ocean.
Effect: Target 1 face-up Xyz Monster you control and 1 face-up Xyz Monster with no Xyz Materials; attach that first target to the second target as an Xyz Material. (Xyz Materials attached to that first target also become Xyz Materials on the second target.)
Note: The above three cards first debuted in this chapter.
Author's Note: Back at the Tsukumo house, Kaito is still hospitalized in Yuma's bed under Akari's watch. However, at the first moment when the opportunity arrives, he is able to sneak out of the house. When he is out on the streets, he runs into another Numbers Hunter. Like Astral, he is in no condition to duel; however, he is forced into the situation when a threat concerning Haruto's safety is made. Against a fearsome opponent, and with his body's health rapidly declining, can Kaito hold out until the duel's end? Find out next time!
