~-Link VRAINS-~
Divine's POV
Divine: 4800 LP (Hand 5)
Grey Akuma: LP 4000 (Hand 0)
The swords came crashing down on Goddess causing an explosion. A wave was sent towards me causing me to sway back and for on my d-board.
"Your ace is now destroyed. What will you do now?" the akuma taunted.
"Look before you taunt," I smirked.
The smoke cleared. The red swords had stopped in front of Goddess and made contact with a transparent Wire Walker.
"What! How?!"
I chuckled," By banishing Noble Powered Wire Walker from the graveyard I can negate a card effect that targets a Noble Powered monster on my field and destroy it."
Wire Walker vanished into data, leaving the red swords behind. They turned around and barreled towards Moralltach. Just like how an explosion shook when they tried to destroy Goddess, the swords pierced the akuma's monster and destroyed it.
"Now that your done, I can start my turn."
I was hoping I could finish him this turn, but with Scythe's effect blocking me from my extra deck...ugh. I hated it when they started to annoy me. Still...I had to keep on fighting no matter what they threw on me. I would keep going if this duel last 100 turns. I looked at my cards. I couldn't deal the damage I wanted to and I needed a way to shut down his strategy, but the akuma still left me room to attack. I was not going to let that opportunity slip by.
"I activate my spell, Recalling Cynet Links. With this spell I can summon a link monster from my graveyard as long as its link rating it equal or lower to the number of Cyberse monsters on my field. With two Cyberse monsters, I can summon Link-1 Noble Powered Life Maker," I yelled as the girl appeared in my right zone.
Life Maker: 500-800-1100 ATK
"I activate Artifact Dagda's effect. When an effect on the field is activated I can send an Artifact monster in my spell and trap zone!" the akuma started the waiver as he set a new card from his deck.
"Next I summon Noble Powered Code Giver from my hand," I continued.
A clear box emerged in my left zone. Inside was a golden ball of light which pulsed with energy.
Code Giver: Cyberse/Effect/Divine/LV 2- ATK:700
Code Giver: ATK: 700-1000-1300
"I activate Code Giver's effect. I draw a card for every Noble Powered Monster on the field, so I draw four." I persisted," the only side effect is that when I use this effect I loose 100 lifepoints per card I drew."
Divine: 4800 LP- 4400 LP (Hand 8)
"I activate Dagda's effect again to set an Artifact monster in my deck onto my field," the akuma interrupted.
"When I have Noble Powered Hyperlink Engine in my hand, I can activate it's effect," I kept on revealing my monster from my hand, "By reveling it and sending it back to my deck I can draw two more cards."
"Come on. Please give me the card I need," I pleaded to my deck.
I felt my hand shake every so slightly as my hand went towards my duel disk. He still had a plan up his sleeves. The akuma let that slip up at the beginning. We was going to play his endgame next turn. I knew it. In the way he acted, looked...how much experience I had with these lackeys only but fortified my feeling. I had to make a plan a counter. It was the only way. I could feel something like acid building up in my throat as I fought to keep my nerves down. I let out a breath. I couldn't think of that right now. I had been in tougher situations before. I just had to focus on what I was fighting for. I glanced at the ring on my left hand.
"Please sis. Fight with me."
I drew the card and with it, I felt some invisible force crush my nerves. As if hit by a lightning bolt I knew, this was it.
"I activate the spell, Noble Overcrowded Hand," I smiled. "When I have six or more cards in my hand and a Noble Powered monster on the field I can revel cards in my hand and send them back to my deck. In return I can banish cards in your graveyard equal to the amount of cards I sent back. I'm sending Noble Powered Link Target, Noble Power Web Spider, and Heavenly Strike from Noble Powered back to my deck," I grinned, " Now I banish Moralith, Achilliesheild, and Aegis from your graveyard."
"Wait! No!" He yelled in a panic as the cards vanished," "I activate Dagda's effect again."
He paused for a moment after setting his third card, like realizing he had made a mistake. I didn't comment on it and kept going.
"Next, I activate Noble Power Change Out from my hand, " I continued. "With it I can have Code Giver come back to my hand and then I am allowed to summon Noble Powered Cyber Combatant in defense position."
Cyber Combatant: Cyberse/Divine/ LV 3- DEF:1700
Cyber Combatant: DEF 1700-2000-2300
"You've filled all your zones even though you can't link summon. Your planning something," my opponent thought aloud.
"A good duelist always plans ahead," I answered, " I set a card and now Maiden of Hope, attack Artifact Dagda!"
Maiden: ATK 2200
Dagda: ATK 1500
700 Damage
Grey Akuma: 4000- 3300 LP
The akuma growled as I continued, "Now get ready to feel Goddess's wrath."
A bright golden beam formed in Noble Powered Goddess's left hand.
"Now attack Scythe with Heavenly Radiance!"
The grey akuma flew backwards as his life points took an other hit. He struggled as the data stream bounced him around a little.
Goddess: ATK 2400
Scythe: ATK 2200
200 Damage
Grey Akuma: 3300- 3100 LP
"With no monsters on your field Life Maker is free to attack you directly!" I yelled fiercely.
Grey Akuma: 3100- 1000 LP
"With that I end my turn, " I called.
I did not relish the damage I gave him. He was about to make his move.
"You should've finished me this turn. I'll stop you this turn, "the akuma said gleefully," Now Dagda's effect activates. The cards I set are destroyed,"
My opponent's spell and trap card zone erupted as they went to the graveyard.
"Now rise again Artifact Achilleshield, Caduceus and Mjolnir."
Achilleshield: Fairy/Light/ LV 5-2500 DEF
Caduceus: Fairy/Light/ LV 5-2400 DEF
Mjolnir: Fairy/Light/ LV 5- 2000 DEF
Achilleshield, the purple shield, Caduceus, a black staff with orange wings up top, and Mjolnir, a golden hammer, appeared in his three monster zones. They glowed as they tried to activate their effects.
I studied the card he had out. Achilleshield would've been better to keep in the hand or deck so he could use it to stop my attacks at the beginning of my turn instead of wasting it at the end. Caduceus's effect would allow him to draw a monster for each Artifact he summoned during my next turn. It would allow him to get the card he wanted to stop me from playing my own cards. Mjolnir would've been used to summon an Artifact from the graveyard, but I had already banished the Artifacts he had so he couldn't use that effect.
"Now, I draw," the akuma continued as I finished analyzing.
Divine: 4400 (Hand 4)
Grey Akuma: 1000 LP ( Hand 1)
"First, I'll build the overlay network using Achilleshield and Mjolnir!"
My eyes widened, an XYZ summon! The wind howled around us as the overlay network appeared behind the akuma. A blue X with a red circle around it glowed as it finished forming. Achilleshield and Mjolnir quickly shot into it.
"Come worth the sword that will cut my enemies into pieces. Demolish this duel! Rank 5, Artifact Durendal!"
A silver sword with a golden hilt emerged from the network. A blue and red gem was centered in the hilt as their power flowed through the sword. Two orange orbs circled around the sword as it was set in the extra monster zone.
Artifact Durendal
Fairy/XYZ/Light- Rank 5- ATK: 2500/DEF: 2100
2 Level 5 monsters
Once per turn, during either player's turn, you can activate 1 of these effects.
● When a monster effect is activated on the field OR when a Normal Spell/Trap Card is activated: You can detach 1 XYZ Material from this card; the activated effect becomes "Destroy 1 Spell/Trap Card your opponent controls".
● You can detach 1 XYZ Material from this card; each player with a hand shuffles their entire hand into the Deck, then draws the same number of cards they shuffled into the Deck.
"So, that's your ace?" I asked him just like how he had done to me earlier.
"Yes it is. Durendal was know as a weapon that could cut through stone. I wonder what it will do to you," he crackled.
Going from worry a few minutes ago to crackling at me made me question what this akuma was planning. For all I knew that could have been a trick to throw me off.
"Now I activate my spell, Artifact Dig," the akuma continued," I draw a a card for every Artifact monster that was destroyed in my spell and trap zone during your last turn."
The akuma drew three cards while I kept my alert on high. His Durendal had two effects. More than likely he was going to set his three cards and then use Durendal's overlay units to alter my monster's effects. I silently thanked Seina for changing out my deck. While my alternate deck was made for effect damage, the high attack of the Grey Akuma's Artifacts would have proved troublesome. Especially Durendal's effect would've caused problems. While I mainly used continuous spells and counter traps, changing Fire Princess or Firecracker's effect to the destruction on one of his cards would've stopped my chain and would've thrown the duel into his favor. Something he had been planning to do until I played my Noble Powered deck.
"Now I activate Durendal's effect! By using one overlay unit, we each shuffle our hand into our deck and draw the same number of cards back to our hand," my opponent declared.
One of Durendal's overlays units flew against the arch and into it's hilt. The result was a bright orange glow which soon enveloped both of our hands.
"So you weren't planning on using Durendal's effect later," I gritted my teeth, my thoughts proven wrong.
Though a strategy change wasn't too surprising, Durendal's effect to make me destroy his face down Artifacts was still a highly useful tactic.
"I was, but when you smiled after you said that prayer earlier, I thought it best to get rid of the cards in your hand in case you had plans."
I chastised myself as I sent my cards back. Hiding my emotions was not one of my strong suits. He could clearly read what I was thinking. I needed to work on that.
"Now I set three cards," the grey akuma continued as his monster's effect ended," Now Durendal, attack Noble Powered Life Maker with Piercing Great Sword!"
"Not so fast!" I yelled as my left set card was flipped up," I activate my trap, Noble Powered Code Shield!" When a Noble Powered monster is attacked I can send one card from the top of my deck to the graveyard to negate the destruction and take half the battle damage."
I braced myself as I saw Noble Powered Cyberse Router being sent to the graveyard.
"That is still going to sting," the akuma said as Noble Powered Life Maker was pierced by Durendal.
Durendal: ATK 2500
Life Maker: ATK: 1100
1400/2 =700 Damage
Divine: 3700 LP (Hand 4)
I quickly regained my balance on my duel board. That was a good counter, getting rid of the cards I had selected to stay in my hand so I couldn't use them next turn.
"I end my turn, but feel free to enjoy your last one."
"Oh, I plan on it," I declared, "I draw."
Divine: 3700 LP (Hand 5)
Akuma: 1000 LP (Hand 1)
"I activate the trap Heavy Storm Duster," my opponent interrupted.
"I don't think so," I interrupted him, " I activate my own trap, Noble Traps of the Powered. When my opponent activates a trap that destroys a card on the field I can negate and destroy it. So, it negates your Heavy Storm Duster," I smirked.
"How did you...?!" the akuma angrily shouted at me.
"You were right about getting the card I wanted. My deck relies on my monster's effects so you thought I had a monster that would change this duel around when I drew my cards. You didn't guess to think that it was the card I had set."
The akuma growled at me. I answered him with an angry glare back.
"Now I activate my trap card's second ability. By banishing it, I can set a trap from my deck onto the field and I am allowed to activate it the turn I set it," I declared.
I quickly picked my trap as it set it's self on the field.
"Now I activate Hyperlink Engine's effect from my hand. By sending it back to my deck, I draw two cards."
I couldn't help but notice the akuma's glare at me.
"You have the annoying ability to be troublesome," the grey akuma scoffed.
"Thank you," I answered a small amount of sincerity."
I kept my emotions controlled this time. If he only knew how happy that made me. Annoying Modicum was my absolute pleasure.
"Now, come forth, the circuit that guides me towards the future!"
My circuit appeared above me again. A great power awakened from my deck as the circuit appeared as if the card I was about to summon was itching to be let out. It didn't surprise me. My two aces didn't like being apart for long. Whatever nerves or terror I had vanished in the circuit's bright light.
"The summoning conditions are two or more Noble Powered monsters," I commanded, " I set Noble Powered Maiden of Hope and Life Maker in the Link Arrows!"
My two link monsters disappeared as they became one with the circuit. Once again the wind picked up and tossed us around a little, as if preparing us for the power about to emerge. I did not back down. This power was fighting with me. It always was.
"Grace and virtue unifies into a powerful might demanding obedience. Appear! Link 3, Noble Powered Princess!"
Noble Powered Princess
Cyberse/Link/Divine- ATK: 2100/ Link-3 (Top left, top right, bottom left)
2+ Noble Powered Monsters
When this card is link summoned, your opponents must discard cards in their hand up to the amount of cyburse monsters linked to this card. Noble Powered monsters linked to this card gain 400 ATK points When co-linked with Noble Powered Goddess all Noble Powered monsters can't be targeted by opponent's card effects.
A woman similar to Goddess came from the circuit. She had black hair pulled into a bun while a golden crown fit perfectly on her forehead. A gold gown dressed the figure. It ruffled at the bottom as it extended to her ankles. The sleeves were made of lace as it stopped at her elbows. Golden flats were barley seen under the dress. My heart leapt and stung at the same time upon seeing Princess. I let all my enjoyment go as my new monster landed on the field next to Goddess's link. I could enjoy this later but now I was serious. A smirk or smile was no longer on my face. All I left myself with the will to fight.
"Together."
Noble Powered Princess: ATK: 2100-2400-2800
Noble Powered Goddess: ATK: 2800-3100
"When Noble Powered Princess is summoned her effect activates!" I declared knowing what my opponent was about to do.
"I activate Durendal's effect. By using one overlay unit your monster effect destroys one of my set spell or trap cards," my opponent shouted.
"I destroy your card on the left," I said answered swiftly.
Princess pulled a sword from her dress and charged at the set card. It split and dispersed as her sword slashed through it.
"Artifact Moralith's effect! It summons it's self to my field and destroys a card on your field!" the akuma gleefully laughed," Say goodbye to Goddess once and for all."
Moralith: Fairy/Light/ LV 5- DEF: 1400
The swords appeared again around Moralith before they shot at Goddess again. Right before the swords struck at Princess raised her hand and the swords vanished.
"What?!"
"Its called Princess's effect," I replied, coldness resting on its edge," Noble Powered monsters on the field can't be targeted by your effects as long as Goddess and Princess are co-linked. Royal Protection!"
My opponent was getting panicked at this point. He no longer held a firm stance and his hand was shaking slightly.
"This was your plan all along."
"Yes. Together Goddess and Princess can stop all harm to each other and those they seek to protect," I answered evenly, "Now, Noble Cyberse Domain's effect. This time I choose to shuffle Noble Powered Pharaohess back into my deck, " I said as I added the card from my graveyard to my deck slot, "Next I activate Noble Powered Divine Companion's effect. Since a Noble Powered link monster was special summoned, I can special summon her from my hand."
Divine Companion: Cyberse/Divine/LV 4- ATK: 1400
Divine Companion: ATK:1400-1700
A female in a white long traveler's cloak appeared. Her face was covered in the shadow's of the cloak.
"If your trying to link summon you can have to use Princess or Goddess to summon since you don't have any link markers pointing to any other zones," the grey akuma tried to declare fiercely.
"I activate my spell Cyberse Renewed Arrow. As long as I have a Cyberse link monster on the field, I can banish cards on my field for the link materials and then summon the link monster if I don't have an open zone. I banish Noble Powered Combatant and Divine Companion to Link summon link-2 Noble Powered Revolution Champion."
A man emerged from the circuit and stood to the right of Noble Powered Princess. He appeared in light weight dark gold armor. A helmet that rested on his head had a face mask set on top while a white feather stuck on top. A sword rested on his left hip as well.
Revolution Champion: Cyberse/Divine/Link 2- ATK: 1500 (Middle left, Top right)
Revolution Champion: ATK: 1500-1800-2100
"Revolution Champion's effect. When he's summoned I send two cards in my hand back to my deck."
"Why would you do that?"
"That won't matter to you. I activate my field spell again. This time I return Wire Walker and Divine Companion from the banished zone back to the graveyard," I said as the sections of my duel disk moved for me to move my cards. " Next, I play Noble Powered Data Sword. I can treat this card as an equip spell if it's equipped to another Noble Powered monster."
A white and gold broad sword with pixels fading around it appeared in Goddess's hand. The akuma stumbled on his duel board as I continued to play my cards without stopping. I let my center shift allowing me to push my anger out a little so it would fuel my next few moves. I let the memories rise to the surface. The pain, the fighting, everything surged through me.
"Battle Phase! Revolution Champion attack Moralith!" I yelled. The blue sword crumbled under Revolution Champion's own sword as it struck. "Now Noble Power Princess destroy Caduceus with Royal Vigor!"
I felt a small sense of pleasure as I saw Princess cut his monster, destroying it instantly. I quickly pushed it back down. After the duel I had to remind myself.
"Noble Powered Goddess! Attack Durendal! Heavenly Radiance!" I yelled fiercely.
"I activate my skill. Artifact Excavation!" the akuma yelled desperately as Goddess started powering up her attack.
The black lining on his cloak and horns began to glow a dark purple.
"During your battle phase and when you battle the only Artifact monster on my field, I can special summon an Artifact from my graveyard and cause you to change the battle target to it," my opponent explain." I summon Achilleshield from the graveyard."
Achilleshield : Fairy/Light/ LV 5-2500 DEF
"So that's why he set Achilleshield. He knew Achilleshield would be better resting in the graveyard and then use his skill to bring it back," I thought.
"Since it was special summoned during your turn, it's effect activates. You can't target Artifact monsters for attacks."
Good thing I had already planned for him to pull something else.
"I activate my trap, Firm Hold of Noble Powered!" I yelled as the card I had set with Noble Traps flipped up." I negate your summoned monster's effect and you aren't allowed to special summon any more monsters for the rest of my turn."
"Wh...what.. No.." the akuma stuttered.
"Goddess still has to attack Achilleshield due to your skill's effect so Durendal is no longer the target," I said.
Goddess raised her hand with Data Sword in her grip. I bright gold beam erupted from the blade. It quickly destroyed Achilleshield, knocking the grey akuma to the side.
"I'm still not done yet!" The akuma shouted at me after he steadied himself on the d-board.
"Neither am I," I said as I pulled aside him with ease," I activate Data Sword's effect that is equipped onto Goddess. The monster equipped can attack twice."
"B...but that still won't finish me off, the akuma stuttered."
"I activate my own skill. Divine Power!" I yelled as the white part of my hair, armor and trail accents began to glow. "I can target one Divine Attribute monster on my field and its gains 500 attack points until the end phase!"
Goddess: 3100-3600 ATK
"No!" he yelled as I pulled in front of him on my d-board.
"Yes," I growled," Goddess destroy Durendal! HEAVENLY RADIANCE!"
Goddess's this time took a stance and jumped towards Durendal. The swords glowed as the clashed in the middle. A small crack appeared in middle of Durendal's two gems that rested on its hilt. It soon spread, growing wider and faster before shattering into pieces.
Goddess: 3600 ATK
Durendal: 2400 ATK
1200 damage
Grey Akuma: 1000- 0 LP (Hand 1)
Divine: 3700 LP (Hand 1)
DIVINE WINS!
The akuma yelled as the blast knocked him off his d-board. I reacted quickly and chased after him.
"Got you!" I yelled as he desperately clasped to my hand.
"W..why did you save me?" the akuma asked as he gripped my arm, the only support he had.
"One, you have data I need. It is the reason we dueled after all. Two, I cant just have SOL's emergency program log you out, they would get notified of your account and you would escape. I want to keep my secrets from Modicum and SOL Tech alike," I counted," and three, I don't like seeing people hurt or afraid if I can help it."
The grey akuma was speechless at my words, though that may have just been the fear.
"Now. I'll take that data and lock your account down. You won't be working for Modicum any more," I said, my voicing becoming even with every word.
My duel disk glowed, followed by his. A trail of data flowed from his to mine as I collected my prize. Once the transfer was complete I sighed.
"I hope you learn something from this," I said as his account blinked red, logging him out.
I stood on my unmoving d-board and looked over the data I had just won.
"No ignis data," I murmured.
That meant one thing. I suddenly heard an explosion a ways above me. In the distance I could see two figures dueling... and two following them.
"Looks like more people saw what's going on," I harshly said, somehow angry at myself.
I quickly checked my duel disk to see any news from Seina. Her com link was offline and no new data was sent to my duel disk.
"Why had I feel so scared during that duel?" I thought.
I even told myself that I had faced worse things before and it still got to me. I shook my head, trying not to flashback to that time. It was probably because I had played against that deck before, probably multiple times and lost. So many duels I couldn't remember, many more I could. Now that I think about it, I probably did lose to Artifacts.
I started feeling my emotions swirling in my chest. I quickly pushed them down along with those thoughts I had as far as I could. My anger I had let out during the duel, my worry towards Seina and anxiety about what was about what could happen. My emotions were still bubbling, but I was a lot calmer now. Seina could take of herself so I didn't have to try too hard to let that go. My anger, now that I had let some out, I could easily shove back down for the time being. I continued my gaze upwards. My anxiety for what could happen was a lot harder to cleanse from me. I propelled my d-board forward and up. I couldn't leave with that other akuma able to report to Modicum and those two unknowns out and about perhaps targeting Playmaker. I was just hoping stuff didn't get messed up too badly.
~-Link VRAINS-~
Playmaker's POV
"My turn. I draw," I said.
Playmaker: 1000 LP (Hand 2)
Blue Akuma: 1000 LP (Hand 1)
Cyberse Synchron I examined. My options were limited, but I would pull through. For Ai. There was only one thing that could turn this duel around.
"I activate my skill. Neo Storm Access!" I called, "When my life points are 1000 or less I can add a monster to my extra deck from the data storm."
I felt the cyberse pull and collect in the space around me. The wind picked up and soon starting howling. The data storm appeared. The purple and blues blurred together as the data material arranged itself to become something new. Without a second thought I propelled my d-board forward into the storm. The familiarity came crashing in at once as I broke through the eye. After all this time without Ai, it hurt to here him echoing in the background.
"Seize the Wind Playmaker!"
I held onto despite the pain. I would find him. No matter what. I plunged my hand into the data storm, my hand glowed underneath the data as the card formed in it. My link sense pulled around the card. I could feel it the cyberse beneath, before I even clutched the card in my hand. The wind quickly unraveled has my new monster was added to my extra deck. My opponent looked at me in apprehension as I landed back on the data stream.
"Appear the circuit that leads to the future!"
The blue link circuit glowed as it appeared before me.
"I use one spool token to link summon Link Spider," I declared.
The answer was a blue beam that shot down from the circuit, forming link spider in my extra monster zone.
Link Spider: Cyberse/ Earth/ Link-1- ATK 1000 (Bottom Middle)
"Next Grid Sweeper's effect from the graveyard activates. By banishing it and Link Spider from my field your Abyss Actor Superstar is destroyed."
My opponent covered his face as his monster pixelated in front of him.
"Next I summon Cyberse Synchron," I said as a white kuriboh like monster appeared with a white ring around it.
Cyberse Synchron: Cyberse/ Dark/ LV 1- ATK: 100
"Now I can activate Cyberse Synchron's effect. My spool token's level becomes doubled.
Spool Token: LV1- LV2
"Now I'm tuning my level 1 Cyberse Synchron with my level 2 Spool Token."
The world around me turned shades or grey as my monsters disappeared into data. The data they had left behind quickly formed rings and merged together.
"I synchro summon Cyberse Integrator!"
A silver and blue plane like object came from the rings. Two arm like claws stuck out of the bottom.
Cyberse Integrator: Cyberse/ Light/ LV 3- ATK:1000
"I haven't seen you use that card before. It must be the card you pulled using your skill? A little weak if you think about it," the blue akuma said to me, seeming to have a little bit of confidence back.
"You shouldn't underestimate me or my cards because now I can activate Cyberse Integrator's effect. It allows me to summon a tuner monster from my hand for graveyard such as Cyberse Synchron."
Cyberse Synchron: DEF: 100
"Cyberse Synchron's effect activates again doubling Integrator's level to 6.
Cyberse Integrator: LV 3- LV 6
"Now I can tune a monster you may know. Now by using level 1 Cyberse Synchron and level 6 Cyberse Integrator I synchro summon level 7 Cyberse Quantum Dragon!"
Cyberse Quantum Dragon: Cyberse/ Dark/ LV 7- ATK:2500
"Quantum Dragon now attacks your Evil Heel."
"But Evil Heel's attack points are higher," my opponent declared with a smirk, thinking I had forgotten about that.
"Quantum Dragon's effect now activates. Once per turn when it attacks a monster, it is sent back to your hand. Driveback Shot!"
With his smirk now gone the akuma declared," I'll just summon Evil Heel again next turn thanks to my Pendulum Scale."
"You won't get a next turn. When Quantum Dragon's Driveback Shot is successful, it can attack a second time.
The blue oni knew what was coming next. With no monsters on the field he was wide open. He quivered in fear as Quantum Dragon's attack blazed towards him.
"Quantum Encryption!"
Blue Oni: 1000LP- 0 LP (Hand 2)
Playmaker: 1000LP (Hand 1)
PLAYMAKER WINS!
I quickly followed my opponent as he feel onto one of the floating islands. The akuma was struggling to move. I approached silently, felling my own glare I casted on him.
"I...lost," he gritted as lower chunks of his mask started falling off, disappearing into pixels.
"Your data," I demanded in a even tone.
The blue akuma was able to lift himself onto his side as he panted.
"Fi...fine," he was able to breath out.
A purple ball of data formed around the duel disk and slowly made its way towards my own. It sunk and then I felt him. Ai... Before I could go into my thoughts I heard two duel board engines. I looked up to see Revolver and Specter approached and landed beside me.
"Tsk," escaped the akuma's mouth as he tried to move.
"You won't be going anywhere," Revolver sternly said as he studied the person in front of him.
"We can agree on that," a female voice interrupted.
We all looked up to see the mysterious duelist from earlier appeared on my left. I studied my company. Revolver and Specter didn't not seem to have any hostility towards me but towards my former opponent. However, that could change once this duelist was delt with. I had no doubt Revolver and the knights of Hanoi were still after Ai. I could feeling their attention to me though their eyes were on the akuma. The girl and her attention was also aimed at the blue akuma, but she seemed wary of the knights beside me.
She did carry a fierce persona, but it wasn't aggressive. I sensed that she would duel if needed but wouldn't attack unless provoked. I kept my senses on her. I knew what I could expect from the knights not this duelist. Then I felt it. A pulse radiating from her duel disk.
"Cyberse," I muttered.
"Nice to see you again Goddess or was my fellow akuma wrong and it's Princess?" The akuma smirked as he said it," It has been...what six months?"
"That was never my name ," her gaze hardened," and don't act like you know me."
Six months. Right after the incident with Ai.
"But it was your name," the akuma laughed," and I know quite a bit about you."
The girl straightened up as she regained some of her composure. Her eyes were still staring daggers. As her jaw slowly unclenched, a smirk started to form on her lips.
"Doubtful," she said.
"Who are you?" Revolver said, interrupting what the akuma was about to say.
"You should be asking her that," the akuma gestured towards the girl," I think you'll be very interested in who she is."
"Revolver asked you. Not her." Specter spoke up.
The girl's left hand was still clenched. It was hard to see since she hid her left hand behind her back, away from everyone else. The girl's expression was now calm and collected but her eyes were a different story. It was still masked but many emotions, thoughts and feelings swirled around inside her. I quickly realized why. This girl had too many emotions, if something triggered it you could easily read her, but the golden duelist could quickly shove them down just as fast as they arose to keep the situation in her control.
"Very true," the blue akuma laughed.
This wasn't right. This akuma has been nervous with his dueling, always second guessing. Now he seemed confidant... way too confidant.
"But alas you'll never find out," the akuma smiled.
I, or anybody else, did not realized that the akuma had his hand on his duel disk. It quickly started glowing.
"Glitch!" The girl yelled trying to move in front of us," Get out of the way."
It was too late. The program had already activated. An other bright light erupted causing me to shield my eyes for a moment. Once the light died down I opened my eyes. Nothing had seemed to had happened. The golden duelist was now slightly in front of me and her own duel disk had a dying glow. I caught the girl muttering under her breath. All I caught was 'thank you'.
"How! You little!" The akuma yelled angrily.
He groaned in agony as his outburst had caused him pain. The akuma was seething with anger.
"Nice try," she smirked," Now I know this wasn't part of your deal with Playmaker, but I feel it's good compensation considering that deletion program."
The akuma's duel disk blinked in and out before the avatar became red.
"You won't get away with this! Modicum will win!" he yelled before he disappeared.
"Yea right," the girl challenged the empty space.
She turned to face us. Her smile made it seem like she didn't almost got deleted and her stern stance was now a little more relaxed. Her eyes still trailed to the knights. She only spent a few seconds on them before looking at me.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"I came to make sure nothing happened to you," she said letting off a soft sigh, " Akumas always like having tricks up their sleeves." With a slight shake of her head she continued," I also came to make sure you got your prize. I didn't win the Ignis data."
I looked at my duel disk screen as it started to glitch. Something was there, but it wasn't everything. It wasn't all of him. I felt the tug on my heart as I came to that conclusion. I hadn't truly found Ai yet.
"Do you really think they would put an Ignis up for grabs?" Specter mocked the girl, "Princess... Goddess?"
"Divine," the duelist's expression turned sour," and you'd be surprise what these guys will put up for grabs."
"You've fought these duelist before. Who are they and why do they want Ai," I demanded casting my eyes away from my duel disk.
"I don't know, but I know its not good," she seemed to remise on something painful," but either way I should probably give you this." The corners of her mouth turned upward in a low smile. She pulled up her duel disk and spoke. "Open folder LI and pull up data file A-6."
A familiar pulse of cyberse emerged as a purple ball of data rose from the her golden duel disk. My heart clenched as I slowly recognized what she had. That pulse of cyberse was the same one I felt a few weeks ago.
"That isn't...," Revolve glared.
"The rest of him. The rest of Ai," she said confirming what I felt, "He had been scattered all across Link Vrains in both the public servers and the dark net."
I couldn't speak as she held the ball in her right hand.
"So, that's why you have been collecting Ignis data. To revive him," Revolver fiercely said.
Divine did not react but instead pushed the data over to me. It floated towards me and slowly sank into my duel disk. The ball was slowly consumed by my duel disk. My link sense itched as I felt something Cyberse awakening on my wrist. Then a familiar purple eye faded on the duel disk screen.
"Wha...what's going on?"
Just like that, a breath I hadn't realized I had been holding released. My chest swelled as I realized I had gotten him back.
"Ai," my voice choaked up.
"Hm.." he said.
He was still clearly in a haze from when he was restored. It didn't last long as the eye disappeared and his ignis form solidified on the duel disk.
"Playmaker?! H..h..how?!"
Ai's eyes stared up at me in disbelief. I could feel my throat clenched as I fought back the tears. Even with all my best efforts, I could feel water emerging from the eyes of my avatar. Somewhere inside I could hear myself saying it was a dream, that this was to good to be true. When had life given me something good only to take it away again.
"Do you realize what reviving the Ignis mean? Are you trying..?" Specter tried to say.
"Before you get onto the whole, 'their existence will destroy humanity rant' we don't know that," Divine quickly defended herself.
"NO! You don't understand!" Ai suddenly shouted quickly turned to face her instead of me," My existence as the only Ignis leads to humanity's destruction!" Ai clenched his hands in anger as tears started to well up. "You are clueless on what has been going on with the Ignis!"
"You were created by Dr. Kogami during the Lost Incident also called the Hanoi project ten years ago," Divine interrupted, lowering her head. " There six kids were forced to duel in a long white room with only a VR set and a blanket. Each kid was the origin for one of the six Ignis based on one of the Duel Monsters attributes. For six months they lived on the food they won in the duels and suffered electrical shocks for their losses. All the while, the Ignis were created based on their origin's reaction," she said. Her eyes drifted upwards in a softened sad expression," You, the dark ignis, were based off the sixth kid in the lost incident, Yusaku Fujiki also known as Playmaker."
I immediately guarded myself. My thoughts started analyzing the situation. She knew who I was. I quickly remembered the akuma saying she was someone the Knights should be investigating. The akuma also knew her. It seemed like she had been apart of Modicum but split up with them or was forced to do so before breaking away.
"You have been hunted by the Knights of Hanoi since," she continued," Playmaker captured you, used you as a hostage to get revenge on the Knights of Hanoi. Soon after they were defeated, Lighting, the light ignis declared war on humanity. The result was the loss of the other five ignis leaving you the only survivor."
It seemed like Divine wanted to continued but she stopped. I knew why. Ai had never wanted to hurt anyone. All he wanted to do was prevent humanity's destruction.
"How do you know that?" I asked evenly.
"Be assured, I mean no ill will towards that Lost Incident Victims," Divine calmly said, holding her hands up in surrender," I only hope to help you move on."
"They would've moved one," Revolver interrupted bring her eyes from us to him," The resurrection of the Ignis only arises more problems than it solves. You say we don't know if the Ignis will cause humanity's end but we have had to fight for humanity's survival due to an Ignis twice."
"Ai only declared war to save humanity. Something you probably didn't know," Divine took a firmer stance," and while Lightning did mean to destroy all of us, that is only one Ignis. Just for the actions of one does not mean all Ignis are evil or need to be wiped out. There are plenty of evil humans in the world but does that mean all of humanity needs to be destroyed?" Divine argued.
"Are you comparing the Ignis to humans?" Specter said," we are two difference species."
"But the Ignis were based off of humans and in turn feel, act and live somewhat like we do. In a sense they are part human too," Divine argued with the knights. She opened her mouth to continue but stopped herself. " There is no point in arguing with you right now," she sighed, " Now if you excuse me. I have some data that needs de-zephyring."
With that she turned on her heel and started to walk away.
"Wait!" Ai yelled," Why are you so sure my existence won't lead to humanities end?! Every simulation I ran says..."
"I am going to stop you right there," Divine paused for a moment. "Playmaker and Revolver are stuck on three reasons so why don't I share mine." She raised her hand with her back still turned to us and put up one finger. " You based all this on simulations. You even said once that humans are impossible to predict. We often go against all logic making simulations unreliable. Second, There are infinite possibilities to everyone's choices. You can't run enough simulations to follow all of them," she said continuing her reasons off with her hand. "And third, you simply didn't have all the data."
"What do you mean?" Ai questioned.
"Something you don't need to know right now," she replied softly as she put her hand down and tossed us a quick glance, "SOL Tech will probably dispatching someone to this area. I would leave and cover your tracks before they get here. Oh, and don't come looking for me. I'll find you if I need something."
Her pace continued, before her avatar disappeared in blue data. We were left there wondering what exactly happened.
"Playmaker," Ai's shaky voice called me back from the mysterious girl," I'm...I'm sorry for everything."
I smiled at him," I know why you did what you did and I understand. Just don't do anything like that again Ai."
Ai looked down solemnly as he disappeared into my duel disk. I had the thought to activate Ai's old prison program, but seeing as he hadn't left yet, he either couldn't or wouldn't until we talked. It also worried me that didn't say anything back to me.
"Playmaker, the Ignis are not to be trusted," Revolver called to me.
I turned myself to face my old voice of hope squarely, "Divine was right that Ai thought his existence meant our death and only declared war to stop what he thought was going to happen. I still trust him with my life Revolver."
Revolver's glare did not soften at my words but only hardened.
"I will let the dark Ignis live today, but tomorrow I will find you and delete him once and for all."
Both me and Specter were taken back by Revolver's words.
"I don't mean to question you Revolver, but..."
"You heard me Specter," Revolver's voice answered his follower," Until tomorrow Playmaker."
Revolver's own avatar disappeared into blue quickly followed by Specter. I paused for a second, trying to reel in everything that had happened. I would analyze it later but I had something to do first.
"Lets go home Ai."
I am so, so sorry it took so long to get this out. NEVER take 20 hours of college unless you absolutely have too. Even then don't procrastinate, work extra shifts at work or get addicted to a new game. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Next chapter will be more of a plot developing one before we head into an other duel. At least, that is the plan right now. I have been doing to re-designing and thinking over the year or so since I post the first file I made for Season 4 Files. Divine and Seina will be getting a makeover (in later chapters when I get to it) along with Mystery and Tempest having new designs when they finally come out.
I would also like to through a big shout out to HunterHQ again who wrote the Playmaker vs Blue Oni duel and has been a huge support and idea bouncer as I've put this fanfiction together.
I have also been doing so (awful) drawings of my girls in the old designs so if you want to check those out, here is my DeviantArt karniaqueen. I will be posting on some drawing I've had done for a while on there hopefully soon too. Until next time.
~Karnia Queen.