A Phoenix with Heart of Ice
Sora ran out of his room was alarms rang through the entire building. The Fusion Duelist looked around, noticing staff running in all directions. Were they under attack? Did Academia come again? Since the Professor probably got information that Yuzu and Serena weren't captured, he might have sent another group to capture them!
Thoughts like these ran through Sora's head until suddenly, an arm grabbed his shoulder and pulled him. The boy snapped out of his thought, seeing an angry Himika Akaba, escorted by a dozen or so bodyguards glaring at him.
"W-what's going on?" Sora tried to ask.
"You answer that!" Himika shouted at him. "An Academia agent has infiltrated the building! Why are there Academia agents in Standard still?"
"I don't know!" Sora protested. "I was the only one they sent! I got no idea when, or why, they could have sent more!"
"If you have anything to do with this, I'll-"
Before the chairman of LDS could finish her threat to the duelist, a green beam melted through the floor, only a few meters away from them. Everyone simply covered their eyes and stepped back from the unbearable heat that came out of the laser-like beam. After a few moments, the blinding light disappeared and what remained was a huge hole through the floor and ceiling. Himika turned pale at the sight of the devastation, while Sora's jaw dropped. He had seen this kind of damage being done before, during the invasion in the Xyz Dimension, but from the standard decks used by Academia, only the Chaos Ancient Gear Golems cards were capable of such destruction.
"Are you alright, Mrs. Akaba?" one of the guards asked.
Himika only nodded. A few meters west and all of them would have been disintegrated by that blast. She stepped back with what little strength remained in her legs. This wasn't a place for her to be, during a crisis like this. She wasn't like Reiji, who would stand and fight. All she could do was give orders, but without any Lancers around, what good was that?
"Sorry about that." A new voice spoke up.
Avon's head showed up from the hole, then his neck, shoulders, and the rest of his body came into full view as the teenage boy was lifted to the floor the rest were standing on through help from Rebellion Phoenix. Jumping down, on the ground, the boy dusted himself and looked at the small group standing in front of him, staring in shock.
"W-who are you?" Sora hissed, glaring at the newcomer.
"Hoo~! You didn't call me a wrong name, like the ones from before?" Avon narrowed his eyes.
Before Sora could respond, one of Himika's bodyguards charged at the boy, throwing a strong right toward his face. Avon didn't move a muscle or say anything, as Rebellion Phoenix fired a ball of fire in front of the bodyguard, stopping him in his tracks, before smacking him away with its metal wings, knocking the man into the rest of Himika's men.
"Allow me to introduce myself." Avon bowed politely. "I'm Avon No-Last-Name. And I'm a member, well, THE member of Academia's Zorc Black Rank. I'm here, and anyone who dares stand before me will meet a swift death."
At these last words, the Zorc Black duelist's crimson eyes turned toward the Akaba and her bodyguards, causing a chill to go up the woman's spine. But before any further moves could be done by Avon to fulfill that promise, someone stepped between them.
"Sora Shiunin," Avon called out the boy's name. "Does that mean that you want to die before them?"
"Leave," Sora told the others.
No further persuasion was required, as everyone else began to quickly retreat, including Himika Akaba. She looked back, unsure on what Sora was going to do, but also unable to do anything to stop him anymore, if he decided to sell them for his own survival.
Once everyone else was out of view, Avon clicked his fingers and Rebellion Phoenix turned into a whirlwind of flames that flew into his Duel Disk. "Just so you know, I wasn't really going to kill any of them."
"I have never heard of Zorc Black before." Sora took a deep breath. "You must be something like the Armityle Purple. Another one of the Professor's secret armies to keep us in check."
"Yes and no." Avon raised his Duel Disk. "Yes, I'm technically working for the Professor and I'm here on his orders, but I'm much, much worse than a babysitter."
"Why are you here?"
"For you, obviously? You don't really think that Academia would turn a blind eye when one of their elite agents decides to bail out and ally with their enemy, do you?"
"So you're just an assassin," Sora growled.
"I guess you can call me that," Avon said, but his tone didn't hide the irritation of being called that. "Let's get this over with. We both have other things to do."
"Don't talk like you know me!" Sora warned before raising his Duel Disk, activating it.
"DUEL!" The two Duelists shouted as Action Cards scattered around the field and began to float around them.
『Avon, LP: 4000 Hand: 5 (VS) Sora, LP: 4000 Hand: 5』
"If it's not a problem for you, I'll take the first turn," Avon said. "I Normal Summon Chroneality Cursed Phantom!"
A robot that resembled a young boy with spiky brown hair and a black eyepatch over its left eye appeared on the field. The machine was wearing a steampunk-like outfit with a brown waistcoat, black pants, and combat boots. It had a big gold belt around the waist and clock gears on the shoulders with one floating over its head like a halo. Finally, a large sword was in its right hand that had two chains connecting it to the monster's belt.
Chroneality Cursed Phantom
LV: 4/DARK/Machine/Pendulum/Effect
P. Scale: 5
ATK: 1500/ DEF: 1300
Pendulum Effect: Once per turn: You can destroy this card, and if you do, place 1 "Chroneality" Pendulum Monster from your Deck in your Pendulum Zone, except "Chroneality Cursed Phantom".
Effect: When this card is Normal Summoned: You can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower "Chroneality" monster from your hand or Graveyard. Once per turn, during either player's turn: You can replace this effect with that of another face-up monster's original effects until the Standby Phase of your next turn.
"Chrono what?" Sora tilted his head slightly to the left.
"Yeah, that was my reaction the first time I tried to pronounce them." Avon chuckled. "I suggested we just name them Prototype because that's all the deck was, but a DARK Machine deck with monsters that can copy other monsters' effects being named Prototype… Yeah, there was no way dodging a lawsuit if we went that route."
"At least your words make as much sense as Evan's…" Sora muttered under his breath.
"I use Chroneality Cursed Phantom's ability! When he is Normal Summoned I can call a Level 4 or lower Chroneality from my hand or Graveyard! Come out, Chroneality Blade Crusher!"
A monster that resembled a knight in full black armor appeared on the field. A large broad sword was being held with both arms and a pair of black metal horns stuck out of the front of the monster's helmet. Its armor was covered in small blades that made it impossible to touch without hurting yourself.
Chroneality Blade Crusher
LV: 4/DARK/Machine/Pendulum/Effect
P. Scale: 5
ATK: 1600/ DEF: 1600
Pendulum Effect: Once per turn, during either player's turn: You can target 1 monster you control; it gains 500 ATK, and if does, the monster your opponent controls with the highest ATK loses 500 ATK.
Effect: During either player's Damage Step, when a "Chroneality" monster you control battles: You can send this card from your hand to the Graveyard; that monster gains ATK equal to the ATK of the opponent's monster it is battling, until the end of the Damage Step. During either player's, except the turn, this card was sent to the Graveyard, when a "Chroneality" monster you control battles: You can banish this card from your Graveyard; the opponent's battling monster's ATK becomes 0.
"Using my two monsters, I Xyz Summon!" The cosmic portal opened above Avon's head and his two monsters flew through, disappearing as a black bolt of lightning fell behind the boy.
"Devastator of words, bend and break the spirit of rebellion! The flames of war ingrained in its mechanical heart! Xyz Summon! Rank Four! Take upon the battlefield! Chroneality Shell Launcher!"
A large black cube appeared behind Avon. After a moment, the lower part of the cube opened and eight mechanical, spider legs stretched out of the main body, touching the ground. Afterward, the front of the cube opened as well and a spider-like robot head with a red visitor jutted out. Finally, the entire upper portion of the cube split opened, revealing multiple rockets, waiting to be fired.
Chroneality Shell Launcher
RANK: 4/DARK/Machine/Xyz/Effect
ATK: 2000/ DEF: 1100
2 Level 4 DARK Machine monsters
Effect: If a monster you control is targeted for an attack, or by an opponent's card effect: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; negate that attack or effect, and if you do, you can add 1 DARK Machine monster whose ATK is equal to or lower than that monster's ATK from your Deck to the hand. Once per turn: You can detach 1 material from this card; destroy face-up cards your opponent controls, up to the number of "Chroneality" monsters you control.
"Hmm, I seem to have found myself on a bit of a crossroad right now." Avon tapped his chin. "I really don't want to go all out and show you my strategies, but at the same time, I have no doubts that a single Xyz Monster wouldn't be much of an adversary for someone as proficient in eliminating Xyz monsters, as you, right?"
Sora bit his lower lip in anger. Avon was hitting him exactly where it hurts; the memories of his past deeds. But Sora wasn't going to let that bastard play with his emotions. He might have never dueled against Evan, but he knew how the latter dueled, that he used mockery and other verbal attacks to make his opponents lose focus. That was something this Avon now seemed to have in common with his Lancer counterpart.
"I guess that I'll just have to leave it and that and hope that you won't do a One Turn Kill." Avon sighed, looking away from Sora. "My turn is complete. Your move, kid."
Sora remained quiet and just looked at the cards that he had to work with. He could try to push and deal some serious damage to Avon, but he had doubts that this tactic would work. He should try to play it safe, test the waters, so to speak.
"It's my turn. Draw!" Sora announced, drawing his sixth card.
『Turn 2 [Sora] LP: 4000, Hand: 6』
"I activate Toy Vendor, sending a monster from my hand to draw a new one." Sora slipped Fluffal Wing into his Graveyard. "I drew Fluffal Penguin! By the effect of Toy Vendor, I Special Summon it on my field!" A fluffy penguin with a wing-shaped tie around its neck appeared on Sora's field.
"Fluffal Penguin's effect now activates, allowing me to Special Summon another Fluffal from my hand! Come, Fluffal Dog (Lv.4, ATK: 1700)!" a cute dog with fairy wings on its back appeared beside Fluffal Penguin. "When Dog is Summoned by any means, I can search my deck for an Edge Imp. I add Edge Imp Saw to my hand and then I Normal Summon it!"
Avon was taken aback by the next monster that appeared. Instead of a cute animal, it was an almost demonic-looking circular saw with a series of coping saws crisscrossing its main body. A pair of crimson eyes were glaring straight at Avon as well.
"With Edge Imp Saw's effect, I discard a Fluffal Wing to draw two more!" Sora exclaimed as he increased his hand's size to four. "Next I activate the effect of Fluffal Wing from my Graveyard! When I have two of them in my Graveyard, I can banish both to draw to cards! And by releasing a Toy Vendor that's on my field, I can also draw one more card!"
"Seven cards!" Avon gasped. "No wonder Academia was so worried about your stay here! But the number of cards that you can draw doesn't mean anything if you can't put them in use, right?"
"I'll agree with this." Sora narrowed his eyes. "I activate Polymerization to fuse together Fluffal Penguin and Edge Imp Saw!" A whirlwind of various colors appeared behind Sora as his two monsters disappeared from the field.
"Steel blades possessed by demons. Become one with the beast of the north, and show us a new form and power! Fusion Summon! Show yourself! Horrifying beast that sheds all its victims to bits! Frightfur Shark!"
An aqua blue plush toy of a shark appeared on the field. Its body was covered in large cuts, most of which were poorly stitched. Its fins were covered in blades and the inside of its mouth was filled with chainsaw teeth that were constantly spinning. Once the monster came out of the portal, it quickly fell through the floor, like a ghost, leaving only its dorsal fin visible.
Frightfur Shark
Level: 6/WATER/Fiend/Fusion/Effect
ATK: 1800/ DEF: 1600
"Edge Imp Saw" + 1 "Fluffal" monster
Effect: This card can attack your opponent directly while they control a monster, but if it does, all damage your opponent takes from that battle is halved. Your opponent cannot target this Fusion Summoned card you control for an attack, but they can attack you directly. If your opponent declares a direct attack on you, while you control this card: You can change the attack to this card, and if you do, your opponent monster's ATK becomes half its original ATK during the damage step only.
'That was a good Fusion Summon and all, however…' Avon narrowed his eyes. 'Penguins live on the South Pole, not the north.'
"Then I activate Fusion Recovery to return Polymerization and Edge Imp Saw back to my hand!" The two cards popped out of Sora's Duel Disk and the boy quickly collected them. "Next I activate Polymerization again to fuse together Edge Imp Saw and Fluffal Dog!"
Avon bit his lip nervously as the two monsters fell into the whirlwind again. There was no doubt that another monstrosity was about to show up, but what kind of monstrosity, Avon wasn't sure yet.
"Steel blades possessed by demons. Become one with the most loyal of beasts, and show us a new form and power! Fusion Summon! Show yourself! The demon of the abyss that burns all to ash! Frightfur Daredevil (Lv. 8, ATK: 3000)!"
A large red and black monster that resembled the devil itself appeared carrying a trident, while its body was tied to several black chains.
"Now let's battle!" Sora exclaimed, pumping his fist forward. "Frightfur Daredevil attacks Shell Launcher!" Daredevil grabbed Avon's monster with its chains and pulled it toward itself while swinging its trident.
"I activate Shell Launcher's effect! I detach one material from it to negate your attack!" One of the monster's orbs went into its chest and Daredevil's movement stopped. The Fusion Monster was frozen in place, unable to move any further.
After a moment, movement returned to Sora's monster, but in reverse. Instead of pulling in Avon's monster, it began pushing it back, returning it to its original position before retracting its chains, leaving Shell Launcher alone.
"After your effect is negated, I can add one DARK Machine with equal or less attack than Daredevil's to my hand," Avon explained as a card popped out of his Duel Disk. "I add Chroneality Spacebreak Tiger."
"So he managed to stop me in my tracks." Sora narrowed his eyes. "My attack isn't over yet! Frightfur Shark can attack you directly even if you control a monster at the cost of halving the damage! Take this!"
Avon looked at the ground, noticing the fin moving toward him. He prepared himself and put his arms together as the monster jumped out of the solid ground like it was water and slashed at his stomach with one of its fins, knocking the duelist back, before disappearing into the floor once more.
『Avon, LP: 4000 – 900 → 3100, Hand: 4』
"You bypassed my Xyz monster," Avon stated, dusting his jacket. "I should probably get rid of that shark before it takes away too much of my Life Points, right?"
"I set a card. Turn end." Sora finished without saying anything else. The Fusion Duelist noted that, just like Evan himself, Avon didn't go for an Action Card.
"That's strange, I remember you being more talkative than that." Avon snorted. "But I guess it's not that funny when you're the one being hunted down, is it?"
"Stop talking like you know me!" Sora yelled back at him.
"And why should I? I do know you, Sora. I have the memories of your time with You Show, the memories of you acting like a wounded puppy after your defeat by the hand of Nightshroud. Every moment you spent around Evan Greyson, I remember it as my own, kid! So I know all about your façade and tricks! You can't lie to me!"
Sora took a step back; he couldn't tell if this was a bluff or real. "W-what are you? You look like him, act like him, but you're also completely different from him. Even though you're from Academia, you're…"
"Less malicious than your friend." Avon finished the sentence, chuckling lightly. "That's because I'm Darkness, my old friend! I'm True Darkness!"
"True Darkness?" Sora asked out loud. Just saying this made Sora feel a chill down his spine; he was aware that Academia had been doing… strange, experiments as of lately, but… "What's that? What are YOU?"
"I'm but an avatar, my little friend," Avon replied with a cheerful smile. "True Darkness is a force of nature, an entity so ancient that it might as well be a God that was born from the Big Bang. I'm but a drone, a body with no will on my own that exists only to serve. But sadly, I'm incomplete… In a state where the voice of my master, his will, is just a whisper I can barely hear."
Sora's eyes widened. "Is that why you look like Evan?"
Avon chuckled. "It was Darkness will that my body formed to look like this. But I do need him. As long as Phantomus is away from me, I'll never be complete But… as long as Phantomus remains hidden within Evan's own soul, I'll never fall behind."
"You already did," Sora growled.
"Oh, have I?" Avon grinned. "Are you saying this because you think my copy is on your side? Well, let me tell you something, little Sora. True Darkness doesn't have an allegiance. It's a neutral power whose effect depends on the person using it. If it's someone with a pure soul, then the power they have will be pure too, but someone with a dark, twisted and corrupted soul? Oh, then the darkness inside of them will become that too. A twisted and corrupted force that deforms the user's soul even further, resulting in an even further deforming of their powers. A loop of corruption that ends when the user becomes little more than a monster inside human skin."
Avon grinned, placing two fingers on top of his deck. "But there's no need to tell you of all this, Sora. Because you will be a part of it! Very soon, you too will be a servant of Darkness! My turn, I draw!"
『Turn 3 [Avon] LP: 3100, Hand: 5』
"I activate Shell Launcher's effect! By detach its second material, I destroy a card you control for each Chroneality on my field! I choose your Shark!" Avon's monster opened the panels on its shoulders and fired a barrage of explosive shells at Sora's direction.
"Frightfur March, activate! This card negates one effect that targets Frightfur monsters I control!" A barrier formed around Frightfur Shark and the shells crashed with it instead, exploding on impact. "Then, I send the Level Six Frightfur Tiger from my Extra Deck to the Graveyard, to Fusion Summon! Show yourself! Wild ghost-cave beast that bares fangs at all! Frightfur Sabre-Tooth (Lv.8, ATK: 2400)!"
A large, purple and damaged plushie of a saber-toothed cat appeared on Sora's field with large light purple blades sticking out of every part of its massive body.
"When Sabre-Tooth is Fusion Summoned, I Special Summon one Frightfur monster from my Graveyard ignoring its summoning conditions." Sora continued, as a the aqua-blue plushie of a normal tiger appeared. "Rise, Frightfur Tiger (Lv.6, ATK: 1900)."
"Man, I was hoping to destroy one annoying card, but instead two more appeared." Avon sighed, smiling slightly at the sight of the new monsters.
"Due to Tiger's effect, all of my Frightfur monsters gain three hundred attack points for each Frightfur on my field, and because of Sabre-Tooth, they gain another four hundred for each Frightfur on my field!"
Frightfur Shark, ATK: 1800 + 700*4 → ATK: 4600
Frightfur Daredevil, ATK: 3000 + 700*4 → ATK: 5800
Frightfur Tiger, ATK: 1900 + 700*4 → ATK: 4700
Frightfur, Sabre-Tooth, ATK: 2400 + 700*4 → ATK: 5200
"No wonder that you were chosen to infiltrate Standard Dimension." Avon clapped. "But I can make a comeback as well! I tribute Shell Launcher to Tribute Summon Chroneality Berserk Fighter!"
The ground shook as the metal titan stepped out of the portal. The machine was wearing a black armor that covered the gears which made its body. The only color on it other than black were the glowing crimson eyes. Large spikes were coming from the waist and shoulders of its armor and four giant horns sticking from the sides of its helmet. Three enormous clock gears were working on its back and it was holding a large black ax with a clock emblem in its arms.
Chroneality Berserk Fighter
LV: 8/DARK/Machine/Effect
ATK: 2800/ DEF: 2400
Effect: You can Tribute Summon this card, by Tributing 1 "Chroneality" monster. When this card is Summoned: You can Special Summon up to 2 "Chroneality" monsters from your hand or deck, whose levels are less or equal to this monster. Once per turn, if another "Chroneality" monster is targeted for an attack: Banish two "Chroneality" cards from your Graveyard, or face-up in your Extra Deck, then change the attack target to this card, and if you do, the attacking monster's ATK becomes half its current ATK.
"When Berserk Fighter is summoned, I get to Special Summon two Chroneality monsters from my hand or deck whose levels are less than his! I Special Summon, from my hand Chroneality Spacebreaker Tiger (Lv.6, ATK: 2500) and, from my deck, Chroneality Rush Tuner (Lv.1, DEF: 200)!"
The giant robot slammed its ax on the ground, the clock gear on its back working at an abnormal speed. Two more gears appeared on Avon's field and transformed into another set of monsters.
First, came Chroneality Spacebreaker Tiger - a humanoid robotic animal made of yellow armor with red stripes over it. The beast's had a humanoid face with yellow eyes and a helmed that represented a tiger's head. Its shoulders and knees had small clock gears connected to them with a large array of clock gears ticking on its chest and a long tail hanging from its back. The beast's hands were giant palms with clock gears on the back of them. Next to it, rolled the small ball that was Rush Tuner.
"Spacebreaker Tiger's effect activates!" Avon raised his arm. "When this card is Special Summoned: All other Special Summoned monsters, except for Chroneality, are shuffled into the deck and we each take four hundred points of damage for each of our monsters returned!"
"Not so fast!" Sora shouted, jumping on Frightfur Tiger's arm. The Fusion Monster instinctively threw him into the air, allowing the Fusion Duelist to grab an Action Card. floating above them. "I activate Invincibility to make one monster on my field unaffected by all other cards effect for the turn! I choose Frightfur Shark!"
Sora's chosen monster disappeared fully under the ground as Spacebreaker Tiger fired a yellow beam that erased all of Sora's monsters and knocked the Duelist back.
『Sora, LP: 4000 – 400*3 → 2800, Hand: 4』
"Because of Shark's effect, you can't target it for an attack," Sora muttered, getting back onto his feet.
"So, you wanted to end it quickly too?" Avon sighed. "If I attack you with Berserk Fighter, it would be exact damage. Well, that's if it goes through. I will tell you in advance, I know that you have a plan lying in preparation. So instead, I'm going to activate Chroneality Fusion to fuse together my three monsters!" All three DARK Machines fell into a black vortex with flames of multiple colors igniting inside.
"Soulless warriors from the grim dark future, awaken from the illusion of this world and burn through its limitation! Fusion Summon! Beast with wings blazing for uprising across time and space! Chroneality Rebellion Phoenix (Lv.7, ATK: 2500)!"
Flames burst from around Avon as another one of his ace monsters took the field with a loud scream.
"If Rush Tuner leaves the field, I draw a card," Avon stated. "Now let's battle! Rebellion Phoenix attacks you directly!" Rebellion Phoenix spread out its wings wide, unleashing a massive wall of green flames toward Sora.
"I activate Frightfur Shark's effect!" Sora exclaimed. "When you attack me directly, I can change the attack to Frightfur Shark and halve your monster's attack points!"
The toy shark appeared out of the ground and placed itself between Sora and Avon's Rebellion Phoenix, whose flames burned out.
"I activate Rebellion Phoenix's effect!" Avon exclaimed. "By banishing a Trap Card from my hand, I can make Rebellion Phoenix's effect become the trap's effect, and it also increases its own attack by five hundred points! The card I banish is Chroneality Time Fix."
Chroneality Rebellion Phoenix, ATK: 2500 + 500 → ATK: 3000
"You might try increasing its attack power to reduce damage, but Frightfur Shark's ability will make your monsters attack always half the original," Sora explained to his opponent.
Chroneality Rebellion Phoenix, ATK: 3000 → ATK: 1250
Despite Avon's effort, Phoenix's attack still fell and Frightfur Shark jumped onto the charging bird, its large jaws starting to rotate as it hit Rebellion Phoenix and began to cut through its body.
"Sadly, Due to Time Fix's effect, my Chroneality monsters are immune to destruction by battle." Avon pointed out. "And the damage that I take is halved as well."
At these words, Rebellion Phoenix's wings caught fire once more and the beast blasted Sora's own Fusion Monster back.
Chroneality Rebellion Phoenix, ATK: 1250 → ATK: 3000
『Avon, LP: 3100 – 275 → 2825, Hand: 2』
"That's quite the annoying monster you got there." Avon frowned. "Not only can it take large bites from my Life Points, but I can't destroy it through battle either unless I somehow manage to summon something with thirty-six hundred or more original attack points. For now, I'll set two cards and at the end of this turn, my Phoenix loses its attack boost."
Chroneality Rebellion Phoenix, ATK: 3000 → ATK: 2500
"It's my turn!" Sora shouted, drawing another card.
『Turn 4 [Sora] LP: 2800, Hand: 5』
"Using Scale One, Edge Imp Cotton Eater, and Scale Eight, Fluffal Angel, I set the Pendulum Scale!" The columns appeared behind Sora as a little angel and some other demonic creature raised in the corners of his field.
"Can't believe they actually trusted you enough to print those." Avon sighed. "That's another annoying factor that I didn't take into account, I suppose."
"I activate Fluffal Angel's effect!" Sora exclaimed. "I Special Summon Fluffal Dog (Lv.4, ATK: 1700) from my Graveyard and its effect then activates, adding Edge Imp Sabres to my hand! Then I activate Frightfur Factory! By banishing Fusion Recovery from my Graveyard, I can Fusion Summon!"
Fluffal Dog, Edge Imp Sabres, along with two other cards named Fluffal Rabbit and Fluffal Leo all fell into a multi-colored vortex as Sora pressed his arms together and began chanting.
"Demonic claws, sharp fangs! Become one in the mystic vortex and show us a new form and power! Fusion summon! Show yourself! Mystical jungle beast that rips everything to shreds! Frightfur Tiger (ATK: 1900)!"
The aqua blue tiger from before showed itself on Sora's field for a second time. But this time, it was there to stay!
"Fluffal Rabbit's effect returns Fluffal Dog to my hand when it's used as Fusion Material. Then Frightfur Tiger's effect. For every Fusion Material, I destroy one card you control! I destroy all of your cards!"
"Trap Activate – Chroneality Phoenix Chronicle! This card negates an effect that would destroy cards I control!" A golden medallion appeared in front of Rebellion Phoenix and created a barrier in front of Avon's field, blocking Frightfur Tiger's scissors.
Chroneality Phoenix Chronicle (Trap) Normal
If a card or effect is activated that would destroy "Chroneality" card(s) you control, including a "Chroneality" monster: You can negate the effect, and if you do, equip this card to a DARK Machine monster you control. A monster equipped with this card gains 200 ATK for each DARK Machine monster you control. During the End Phase, if this card is in the Graveyard, and was sent there this turn because the monster it was equipped to left the field, you can target 1 DARK Machine monster in your Graveyard: Special Summon that target, and if you do, its original ATK becomes double the ATK it had while in the Graveyard.
"Next, Phoenix Chronicle equips itself to Rebellion Phoenix," Avon stated as the medallion locked itself around the Fusion's core. "Rebellion Phoenix gains two hundred attack points for every DARK Machine monster on my field."
Chroneality Rebellion Phoenix, ATK: 2500 + 200 → ATK: 2700
"Edge Imp Cotton Eater's effect lets me draw a card when a Fightfur monster is Fusion Summoned." Sora looked over the card he got and nodded. "I activate Frightfur Fusion! By banishing Edge Imp Sabres, Fluffal Leo, Fluffal Rabbit and Fluffal Penguin from my Graveyard, I Fusion Summon!"
The four monsters' spirits appeared around Sora and merged together in a flash of bright light.
"Demonic claws, sharp fangs! Become one in the mystic vortex and show us a new form and power! Fusion summon! Show yourself! The hunter no prey can escape from! Frightfur Wolf (Lv.6, ATK: 2000)!"
A large blue plush wolf with scissors coming out of its stomach and front palms howled as it landed beside all of Sora's other Fusion Monsters.
"Due to Frightfur Tiger's effect, all of my monsters gain three hundred attack points for each Frightfur monster I control!" Sora exclaimed as a red aura surrounded his monsters. "Additionally, Edge Imp Cotton Eater's Pendulum Effect grans all my Fusion Monsters three hundred more attack points."
Frightfur Shark, ATK: 1800 + 300*4 → ATK: 3000
Frightfur Tiger, ATK: 1900 + 300*4 → ATK: 3100
Frightfur Wolf, ATK: 2000 + 300*4 → ATK: 3200
"Battle!" Sora pushed his fist forward. "Frightfur Wolf attacks Rebellion Phoenix!" The large Fusion Monster charged toward Avon's own Fusion.
"I activate Rebellion Phoenix's effect!" Avon countered. "I banish Frightfur March from your Graveyard to increase Rebellion Phoenix's attack by five hundred points!"
Chroneality Rebellion Phoenix, ATK: 2700 + 500 → ATK: 3200
"I'm not done yet!" Sora jumped on Frightfur Wolf's back and grabbed a floating Action Card. "I activate High Dribble! This Action Card increases the attack power of all my monsters by six hundred points!"
High Dribble (Spell) Normal
All monsters you control gain 600 ATK until the end of this turn.
A golden aura surrounded Sora's monster this time as all of them jumped at Rebellion Phoenix together, their bodies becoming bigger as they did.
Frightfur Shark, ATK: 3000 + 600 → ATK: 3600
Frightfur Tiger, ATK: 3100 + 600 → ATK: 3700
Frightfur Wolf, ATK: 3200 + 600 → ATK: 3800
"I activate Blade Crusher's effect from my Graveyard." Avon raised his arm. "I can banish this card from my Graveyard to change your battling monster's attack to zero! This is over, Sora!"
"Action Card – Show On!" Sora exclaimed, having grabbed another Action Card. "This card negates an effect activated from the Graveyard! The attack goes on!"
Show On! (Spell) Normal
Negate the activation of 1 card or effect that activates in the Graveyard, then banish that card.
Frightfur Wolf slammed its claws into Rebellion Phoenix's chest, knocking the monster back, and causing Avon to wince in pain, as his Life Points were reduced once more.
『Avon, LP: 2825 – 300 → 2525, Hand: 0』
"Because Rebellion Phoenix absorbed the effect of Time Fix, its destruction is negated, and the damage I take is halved!" Avon smirked.
"I know, but your card can only negate battle destruction once." Sora pointed out. "Frightfur Wolf can attack a number of times, equal to the number of materials I used to summon it! In order words, I got three more attacks left! Go!"
Frightfur Wolf charged at Rebellion Phoenix again, throwing its claws forward to try and cut the machine's head off.
"Trap activates – Chroneality Reality Barrier!" A card showing Chroneality Timerush Dragon being defended from an oncoming missile by a portal that absorbed said missile appeared on Avon's field. "I activate this card by targeting a Chroneality monster that got Special Summon from the Extra Deck, and while I control this card, it can't be destroyed by battle!"
A transparent barrier formed around Rebellion Phoenix, covering it up as Frightfur Wolf's connected with the aforementioned monster, knocking it on the ground, and causing Avon to grip his chest in pain.
Chroneality Reality Barrier (Trap) Continuous
Activate this card by targeting 1 "Chroneality" monster you control that was Special Summoned from the Extra Deck: For the rest of this turn, that monster cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects. If this card is in your Graveyard: You can banish this card and 1 card from your hand: Until the end of this turn, neither player can activate cards or effects of cards that are the same time as the card banished by this effect (Spell/Trap/Monster), but all damage your opponent takes for the rest of this turn is halved.
『Avon, LP: 2525 – 300 → 2225, Hand: 0』
"Continue, Frightfur Wolf!" the Fusion Monster growled, charging at the Phoenix again, and again, knocking and throwing it around, breaking off pieces of its armor and revealing cracked gears with each attack.
『Avon, LP: 2225 – 300 → 2225 1925 – 300 → 1625, Hand: 0』
"Frightfur Tiger, attack Rebellion Phoenix!" Sora's next monster jumped into the air, swinging its left palm and pushing Rebellion Phoenix in the face, cracking one of the lenses that helped it see.
『Avon, LP: 1625 – 250 → 1375, Hand: 0』
"You… really are stubborn." Sora sighed. "If I attack you with Shark, it's over. Your Life Points are too low because you didn't try using any Action Card to save yourself."
"Heh, low on Life Points you say?" Avon chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "I'm not sure. I mean, it seems to me that I still got some Life Points to spare."
Sora narrowed his eyes. He wasn't liking Avon's confidence and calm approach. Did he have a card to turn the damage he would take into Life Points? There was only one way for him to find out. "Frightfur Shark, attack the opponent directly!"
Avon glanced to the side, noticing the Fusion Monster's fin moving through the ground. His lips turned into a slight smile as he raised his arm toward Rebellion Phoenix.
"I use the second ability of Time Fix that Rebellion Phoenix absorbed! I destroy this card to negate the damage I would have taken from a direct attack!" Rebellion Phoenix burst into flames, surrounding Avon with a ring of fire that pushed Sora's Frightfur Shark back.
"Chroneality Fusion's effect activates." Avon continued, taking the card from his Graveyard. "When my Fusion Monster leaves the field, I can add this card back to my hand."
Sora clenched his fist. "I… End my turn."
"If… I haven't absorbed Time Fix's effect, I would have lost a long time ago." Avon sighed. "I'm still not powerful enough, but this duel, it's over. You fought with all of your strength. I understand now why the Professor had so much faith in you, but like an overconfident chess player, blinded by his desire to win, you pushed your King far into my side of the board."
Sora gulped. It was coming. Avon was going to try and end the duel in his next turn! The formed Academia Duelist observed the area around them, looking for the Action Cards that were available for him.
"Phoenix Chronicle's effect activates! During the End Phase, if this card and the monster that was equipped to it are in the Graveyard, I can revive Rebellion Phoenix with double its original attack power!" Blue flames burst behind Avon as his monster raised once more covered in the same blue fire.
Chroneality Rebellion Phoenix, ATK: 2500 → ATK: 5000
"In addition, the effect of your Action Spells expire and your monsters' attack power drops by six hundred, each!" Sora's monsters began smaller, losing their strength.
Frightfur Shark, ATK: 3600 - 600 → ATK: 3000
Frightfur Tiger, ATK: 3700 - 600 → ATK: 3100
Frightfur Wolf, ATK: 3800 - 600 → ATK: 3200
"And now, it's time for the checkmate! My turn, draw!" Avon glanced at the card that he got and smiled. It was a good card!
『Turn 5 [Avon] LP: 1375, Hand: 2』
"I activate Magic Planter to send Reality Barrier to the Graveyard and draw two new cards!" Avon's Trap Card burst into pieces and the duelist drew two new ones to replace it. "First off, I activate Chroneality Unit Returning to return Cursed Phantom back to my hand. Then I Normal Summon it!" The small robot appeared before Avon for a second time.
"When Cursed Phantom is Normal Summoned, I can Special Summon another Chroneality from my hand! Come, Chroneality Ranger Nedcor!"
A large yellow metal ball spun through the field before jumping up. Its body split open and the ball landed on for crab legs. A single blue eye pocked through the monster's armor shell, as it leaned forward, covering its face with the armor of its front legs to show that it was in Defense Position.
Chroneality Ranger Nedcor
LV: 3/DAKR/Machine/Tuner/Effect
ATK: 1000/ DEF: 1800
Effect: If this card is Special Summoned: You can add 1 "Chroneality" Spell/Trap Card from your Deck to the hand. If this card leaves the field, you can target 1 monster on the field: It loses 700 ATK until the end of this turn.
"Ranger Nedcor's effect! When this card is Special Summoned, I can search my deck for one Chroneality Spell or Trap Card. I add Chroneality Interdimensional Warriors to my hand!"
Chroneality Interdimensional Warriors (Trap) Normal
Up to two twice per turn, when a monster destroys another monster by battle, tribute 1 "Chroneality" monster on the field, that monster can attack once again in a row. During the End Phase of the turn this effect was activated, add face-up "Chroneality" monsters from your Extra Deck to the hand, up to the number of "Chroneality" monster you Tributed this turn. When an opponent activates a Spell or Trap, while this card is in the Graveyard: Banish 1 "Chroneality" in your Graveyard; negate the activation, and if you do, banish it, then Special Summon this card as a Normal Monster (Machine-Type/Wind/Level 2/ATK 0/DEF 400). (This card is NOT treated as a Trap Card.)
"Finally, I activate the effect of Reality Barrier from my Graveyard!" Avon exclaimed. "By banishing both it and Chroneality Fusion from my hand, neither of us can use Spell Cards for the rest of this turn!"
"W-what!?" Sora exclaimed, looking around, he noticed all the Action Cards around them starting to vanish.
"This is it." Avon sighed. "I use Rebellion Phoenix's effect! I banish Interdimensional Warriors to increase its attack by five hundred and give it the trap's effects!"
Chroneality Rebellion Phoenix, ATK: 5000 + 500 → ATK: 5500
"Rebellion Phoenix, attack Frightfur Wolf!" Rebellion Phoenix fired a blast of blue flames at Frightfur Wolf, melting the sinister machine away and dropping Sora's life Points significantly.
『Sora, LP: 2800 – 1150 → 1650, Hand: 1』
"Because a monster left the field, my remaining Frightfur monsters lose three hundred attack points," Sora muttered as his monsters' attack values dropped even more.
Frightfur Shark, ATK: 3000 - 300 → ATK: 2700
Frightfur Tiger, ATK: 3100 - 300 → ATK: 2800
"I activate Interdimensional Warriors' effect! By releasing Cursed Phantomus, Rebellion Phoenix can attack again! Battle! Rebellion Phoenix, destroy Frightfur Tiger!" Rebellion Phoenix flapped with its wings, firing several rings of fire that hit Frightfur Tiger and blew it up, sending Sora flying back into a wall.
『Sora, LP: 1650 – 1350 → 300, Hand: 1』
"And with Tiger gone, Shark's attack drops even further!" Avon pointed out as Frightfur Shark shrunk back to almost its original size.
Frightfur Shark, ATK: 2700 - 600 → ATK: 2100
"I tribute Chroneality Ranger Nedcor to give Rebellion Phoenix another attack!" Avon announced, as his second monster burst into flames and was absorbed by Rebellion Phoenix. "In addition, Ranger Nedcor's effect reduces the attack of one monster you control by seven hundred when it leaves the field."
Frightfur Shark, ATK: 2100 - 700 → ATK: 1400
"Battle! Rebellion Phoenix, attack Sora directly and end this duel!" Rebellion Phoenix spread out its wings and flipped in the air before descending toward Sora.
"I activate Frightfur Shark's effect!" Sora exclaimed. "I change the attack target to it, and your monster's attack becomes half its original attack!"
"That's what I was expecting," Avon replied. "Due to Phoenix Chronicles, my Rebellion Phoenix's original attack is five thousand! Half of that is still enough to end you!"
Chroneality Rebellion Phoenix, ATK: 5500 → ATK: 2500
Rebellion Phoenix's flames increased, doubling, then tripling the monster's size as it descended on the shark and the Fusion Duelist that controlled it. Sora gritted his teeth and looked down as the flames engulfed his monster, leaving behind only its mechanical cries as its body disappeared completely, and then, the flames engulfed Sora too.
『Sora, LP: 300 – 550 → 0, Hand: 1』
『Winner: Avon』
Sora collapsed on the ground. He couldn't move his body, he wasn't even sure if there was anything left to move, all he knew was that it hurt. His whole body was in agonizing pain that was only getting worse with time. Using the last of his strength, the Fusion Duelist looked toward the approaching doppelganger.
"I didn't expect that to actually work out." Avon lied, kneeling down beside Sora. "Tell me, what made you betray Academia so much earlier than you were supposed to? Do you even know, the flapping of which small butterfly's wings caused this typhoon?"
Sora didn't respond. The smaller boy closed his eyes and just let his consciousness drift off. Avon sighed, standing back up, he pointed his Duel Disk at Sora and a flash of light later, and the boy was there no more. Avon took a deep breath and turned away from the spot, moving toward the staircase. Since he was already there, he could as well look through the data collected by LDS and figure how much they already knew.
Evan's POV
Man, getting my sisters' and that female Yusei stand-in's attention off me for long enough to sneak out of that shithole we had to temporarily call our home was such a pain in the ass! Roget had asked me to meet in his office, so I went to Security's HQ. Unlike last time, none of these little puppets tried to act big, so going through the secretary and all of that wasn't as fun as the last time I entered the building. But I must admit that I'm amazed by how quickly they managed to fix everything that my monsters broke during their rampage.
But oops, I'm getting carried away, aren't I? Sorry, sorry. Anyway, I walked into Roget's office. The man was talking to somebody on a screen, I couldn't see who it was, but it sounded like a female. However, as soon as he noticed my presence, he immediately turned off the screen and turned toward me.
"You're late." He told me. "I was expecting you to arrive half an hour earlier."
"I don't have a D-Wheel." I shrugged it off. "Let's skip the boring parts and get to the point. I know that you're probably pissed off at me for beating the crap out of your Special Units, but I gave you the coordinates, didn't I?"
"At the house that you lead us to, we found three Lancers, along with the people that helped them hide." Roget nodded. "But the second call. We only got two of the five duelists that my men were after."
"The others are part of my crew, I sort of need their services right now," I told him. Of course, I avoided telling him that they were my sisters because if I did, I would be just handing him something to blackmail me with. It would be best for me, and my sisters if he thought that they were just puppets I had working for me and didn't care about. "Is that all you called me about?"
"You directed us straight to their hideous, and gave us an idea on where the rest of these Lancers couldn't be hiding." Roget took the knight chess piece and knocked down a pawn, before looking me directly in the eyes. "You're showing promise. That's why I want you to handle an important mission. I don't want anyone to connect it to Sector Security, so I can't send normal officers or even my own elite troops without alerting the High Council."
"Sounds like you want someone to disappear, hmm?" I raised an eyebrow.
"You could say that." Roget agreed with me; at least he wasn't hiding it. "A few years ago, there was an organization, it was called the Arcadia Movement. It was said that the movement was for Psychic Duelists. Their history was shady at best, and their founder, a man called Divine tied to multiple disappearances and attacks on high ranked city officials. Security never managed to get enough evidence to get him behind bars, but luckily, during one of the previous Friendship Cup Tournaments, he tried to participate and got defeated by Jack Atlas."
I remember all of these names from the 5D's anime. I probably shouldn't be all that surprised, but wow. Characters from past series haven't made an appearance in the new series, ever since GX's so I felt something... I couldn't tell what. But it wasn't nostalgia.
"That's not where the story ends, right?" I guessed.
"In the Friendship Cup, anyone who loses gets send to the Underground Labor Facility," Roget explained. "After Divine got dragged there, the Arcadia Movement tried to break him out on multiple occasions. They all failed, thankfully, and without Divine to lead them, the organization quickly felt apart. He had cut off the head of the snake and the body died, but the head was still pretty much alive."
Heh, now I imagine Divine's head rolling around, hissing like a snake. I don't know why, but it's funny... Man, am I messed up in the head.
"Being imprisoned in the Underground Labor Facility didn't stop Divine from causing trouble for us." Man, that guy survived falling some fifty floors and had to be eaten by a Dark God to finally shut up. I can't see why a few bars wouldn't be able to do the same. "We got him transferred to Satellite, to rot the rest of his life there, but lately, his people began to cause trouble to us once again. One of his old followers, the Black Rose Witch had also become more active in the lower levels of the city. Destroying entire streets."
"So, you want of me to sneak into Satellite, kill Divine and make it all without leaving anything that could tie the assassination to you?" I'll be honest, that sounds like a lot more fun that saving the world!
"I also want you to learn what exactly he knows, and how he managed to continue communications with his followers after we threw him in the Satellite," Roget told me. "That's why I want you to first locate the Black Rose Witch, and if possible... eliminate her."
Wait, that's Aki! Fuck off dude, I'm not going to kill Akiza. But if I decline, then Roget will probably just hire someone else, so maybe I should accept the request? I mean, I know that there aren't many Duelists who could beat Akiza, but better safe than sorry, right?
"Can you give me more detail about this Black Rose Witch?" I asked.
"Her name is Aki Izayoi, daughter of Hideo Izayoi, a senator. She has a track record of causing serious disasters when dueling but has been getting away with it because of her father's position. She had apparently ran off and joined the Arcadia Movement, even managed to become Divine's right hand." So basically the same story as in 5D's got it.
"If she's the daughter of a senator, wouldn't she be more valuable alive." I crossed my arms. The idea I had would at least keep her alive... "In fact, if we manage to turn her against Divine and get her back to her parents, don't you think that Mr. Izayoi is going to be very... grateful to you for managing to bring his daughter back to him?"
Roget raised an eyebrow. He rubbed his chin and leaned back. "Having the backing of a senator would be useful for my plans. Yes, let's try to do that instead. Get Ms. Izayoi on your side, then hunt down Divine."
"It would be my pleasure." I bowed. "However, I'd like to ask of something in return for the work I did so far."
"Ah, your payment?" Roget raised an eyebrow.
"Not exactly." I chuckled, raising my Duel Disk. "I want to have an Adblock installed for free!"
T.M.Y.K
Zorc Black: An unofficial Rank of Academia that has, like its Holactie White, counterpart been granted only to one person so far - Avon. Despite its status as 'unofficial', the Zorc Black member is accepted as a separated sub-group of the Armityle Purple rank. The members of this group wear a black uniform and they are in command of a group called "Zorc's Servants" which consist of duelists who have been defeated by Avon, but recognized as valuable assents and therefore reprogrammed to be royal to their new commanders. Because most servants come from outside Academia, it's unknown what their official rank is, but they all wear a black version of the official uniform. Unlike with the ruling of for Holactie's Servants, Zorc's Servants can be Armityle Purple.
Chapter 54: Secret of the Dragons
Summary: Secretly betrayed by the Greysons, Yuzu and Yugo are captured by Sector Security and sent to the Facility. After Yuzu's separation from her friend, Yugo is sent to Yuya and the other Lancers, all of which have been captured. At that moment, however, something happens, causing the two look-alikes to fall into a fit of uncontrollable rage. The rest of the Lancers choose to use the ensued chaos to escape, but Ventus declines to leave anyone behind and goes to face the two dimensional counterparts on his own.
Chapter 55: Inside The Witch's Lair
Summary: After the Lancers' failed jailbreak, the group is captured, but thanks to Reiji and the High Council, the Lancers are given a chance to prove that they have come to form an alliance by participating in the Friendship Cup. Meanwhile, the Greysons are on the trail of the Black Rose Witch. Their searches lead them to her hideout, but she's less than thrilled by the newcomers' approach. But Evan, familiar with the girl's past and loneliness decides to duel her in order to open her heart.
Chapter 56: The Dragon's Cry
Summary: The duel between Evan and Aki continues as ChronoDevil Mystic-Flare Dragon and Black Rose Garden Dragon crash against each other. Despite the pain, Evan pushes on, determined to save her from both her own sorrow and Roget's plans.
A/N: And another chapter has been completed! Also that Frightfur Shark... Funny enough, I got the idea for the monster from a dream I had when Evan was dueling Sora with a shark-like kicking the former's ass around. It hasn't been a long time since the last chapter and I don't think there's anything more to add. Next chapter we will have more focus on the Lancers and you might have noticed that this time, I have put up less previews. That's because I want to stick to my word of focusing less on the Greysons and more on the rest of the cast, and I haven't completely figured out what I want the others to be doing.
Also, as I said before, there will be much less focus on the Friendship Cup in this story, so most of the "canon" cast won't appear a lot, but that doesn't mean that only the Tracers and other OCs will be sharing the stage. I can speak all day about who else you should expect to appear, but let's keep that a surprise for now...
Oh, also about Frightfur Tiger getting Special Summoned from the Graveyard without getting properly Fusion Summoned first: I decided to let the original cast use the anime rules that allow them to revive monsters which didn't get properly summoned. But ONLY the cast that originates from the anime will use these rules. The Greysons and all other OCs will use the proper rules. So... feel free to call me out of it, when I forget about this rule!
I want to thank MysteryShadow1896 for the follow and favorite!
Response to Insertname: Now that you explained it, yes, the same Special Forces probably won't appear again. Or maybe at least 1 will because there aren't that many of them. As for Avon. Yes, he's definitely weaker than the Greysons right now, but he's being nice because that's who he is. As for using side characters better than the actual show... I can't really promise anything, but I'm going to try my hardest, for sure!
And that's all! Thanks to everyone for reading, and until next time!
Diabolic Tracer out!
