Monster They Called Me
Summary: Zarc wasn't just split into four. Perhaps it was a final gift from Ray, but Zarc found himself reborn in the Standard Dimension, mind intact. Horrified with what he'd done, he made a vow to never play Duel Monsters again. Of course, no plan survives contact with the enemy…
Pairing: Zarc/Serena/Ruri/Rin
Minor CFV Crossover (For Cards and possibly PSYQualia)
Warning: Some cards will have their anime effects, others will have their TCG effects.
I: Destined Encounter
Many years ago, there was a beautiful city with a name lost to time. It was the ultimate culmination of technology and nature, beautiful beyond compare. Birds born from the Solid Vision system soared through the sky, people lived together in harmony and joy.
With such powerful technology it was inevitable that it would be used to make the popular game Duel Monsters even more thrilling.
By utilising the Solid Vision System, solid holograms were created for the sake of Duelling. It allowed the players to not only interact with monsters, but with the field itself as if both existed. It made for thrilling and wonderous duels that always had the crowd cheering.
Amongst those duellists was a young man who loved to put on thrilling duels, calling his style of Duelling 'Entertainment Duelling.' Pulling off miraculous escapes, miracle wins, incredible acrobatics. He was a beloved Duellist by all.
Then, one day… Things changed.
During one of his duels, he accidentally injured one of his opponents.
As expected, the young man was panicked as he hadn't meant to push things that far. But, where he expected to hear booing, he instead heard the crowd cheer for the violence.
Conflict filled him. Yes, the crowd was entertained… But at the cost of someone else's pain.
He'd hoped it was a one-time occurrence but, in his next duel, they booed and demanded more violence. Left with no choice, he resorted to more violent measures to bring entertainment to the crowd.
More and more violent his duels became, more and more pain he put people through, all for the sake of pleasing the crowd.
It tore apart his soul. It broke him, to need to cause pain like this. He hated it, but he endured it and put a fake smile on his face.
But not everyone was content to let him suffer.
The spirits of his cards were furious. Furious of the actions of the humans that were breaking their owner, their partner, and turning him into a vicious savage.
The cards were filled with rage, and anger. And they swore vengeance, and destruction. If they sought violence, then they would bring forth destruction untold and make them regret asking to witness such pain.
And so, they acted.
When their owner won the Ultimate Championship, they struck.
They let their rage, their hate, their malice flow through their owner, driving him to their will, and making him destroy everything out of revenge. Man, woman, child, none were to be spared. They had hurt him, and they would bring forth destruction untold!
To do that… They had to push it further.
They called forth the aid of the great Sorcerer in their master's deck. And, with his almighty power, the Duellist's four almighty dragons merged with their master to become an all mighty and all-powerful beast.
They brought forth destruction and carnage, revenge against those that twisted their master and made him destroy his own soul for the sake of their precious entertainment!
And then, one day, a girl came before him. She pled with him to stop, to let go of his rage, and to give up his hatred.
He wanted to. So desperately, he wanted to. But his dragons wouldn't allow it. They drove him further into madness, and so they battled…
And so, the girl was left with no choice.
Using the power of four cards that utilised the natural powers of nature, she not only stopped him, but she split apart the dimensions… And even split apart the two of them into four, sending the four dragons to different dimensions to assure they would never re-join.
Perhaps that would have been the end of it. But, as the man began to separate from his dragons, the girl saw something on his face.
She saw his despair, and then she understood.
She understood why this man, who had once been so kind and sweet, ended up this way.
It was the rage of his monsters for how the people had treated him.
When they split into four, the girl gave one last gift with the last of her power.
She gave him a new life, with a new family, in the Standard Dimension.
Horrified by what he'd done, the lives he'd taken, the souls he'd reaped, the young man made a solemn vow;
He would never play Duel Monsters again.
He took his deck and locked it in his drawer, determined to never use it again…
It was just a shame that one often finds their Destiny when they try to avoid it.
This is the story of that boy.
The story of Zarc.
… My story.
~~Monster They Called Me~~
It was when I turned eight years old that I finally regained my memories from my past life, when I was the Demon Duellist.
It was horrifying to be a care free child, and then suddenly realise you were responsible for so much death and destruction.
was inconsolable for weeks, if not months. Just looking at Duel Monster cards caused me to start having panic attacks.
As if that wasn't bad enough, that was when my deck reappeared before me.
My deck had always been with me, ever since I was a little boy in my first life.
I spent hours upon hours training with my cards every day, reading through them. I always reworked and changed my deck when I thought of a new strategy to use, a new possibility I could face in a duel.
But looking at the cards in this life… I felt revulsion, and fear.
Fear of what my cards had turned me into.
Turned me from an already broken man into a monster beyond comprehension.
My cards cried out to me as they felt my revulsion, asking to be used again.
I refused.
I'd caused so much pain with this damned game… Caused so much pain and suffering. So, I made a choice. A choice I was determined to stick by.
I locked my deck in a box and hid it under one of my floorboards, making a single vow: to never play Duel Monsters again.
I didn't so much mind watching duels any more as I grew up, though I couldn't watch Entertainment Duels involving Sakaki Yusho, which were often shown on repeat on TV between tournaments.
It caused flashbacks and led to panic attacks. One of them was so bad that my parents had to feed me my medication to deal with panic attacks because I was shaking so bad and not responding to anything.
And, as if they could sense my fear, the cards called out to me.
Begging.
Pleading.
Desperately hoping for another chance to make things right.
A chance I refused to give.
And now…
"Zarc, wake up, it's time for school!"
… I was fourteen.
Six years passed since I regained my memories from my past life, since my deck returned to me. Six years since I swore off playing duel monsters ever again.
I rolled out of bed with a groan, running my hands through my hair. I slipped into my clothes, pausing only for a moment to look at a particular board on my floor.
Even now, I could hear the muffled cries of my cards. For six years, they hadn't given up trying to get me to forgive them, to use them.
With practised ease, I ignored them.
I headed down the stairs, greeting my parents. We made small talk as we spoke over the dinner table.
"By the way, son," my father spoke. "There's a duel going on at the arena after school today. Would you like to go and see it?"
"Depends," I said. "Who's duelling?"
"Strong Ishijima is going to face off against Sakaki Yusho's son: Sakaki Yuya."
I frowned. "… A- Are you sure that's safe for me to go to?" I asked. "He might have taken up the path of an Entertainment Duellist… You know how I react to Yusho's duels."
"I know, son," he said. "But I think you should go with us. You should take your medication before the match; you can't be so afraid of Entertainment Duelling forever."
My parents never understood why I was so afraid of Entertainment Duelling, but I knew that I had nightmares. And I knew, without a doubt, they'd heard some things I said in my sleep, so they had some guesses.
But they never brought it up, instead they just continued to love me. And, for that, I would always love them.
They were right. I couldn't just be afraid of Entertainment Duelling forever. What about when I had children of my own? Was I going to deprive them of Entertainment Duelling, simply because I was afraid?
I couldn't do that.
Even if it caused me to have panic attacks, Entertainment Duelling was something so many people enjoyed. I couldn't deprive anyone of that.
"Alright," I nodded. "I'll… I'll do my best."
My father and mother both gave me a smile, and I couldn't help but smile back.
Maybe it wouldn't be so bad.
~~Monster They Called Me~~
"What do you mean I'm being expelled!?" I exclaimed in shock as I stared at my teacher.
Okay, so maybe I jinxed myself this morning.
"Zarc-san," my teacher sighed. "As I have told you repeatedly, this is first and foremost a Duel School. Duelling is a very important part of the curriculum, and our way of life. And you repeatedly forfeited your duels by not bringing a Duel Disk, or by not bringing your deck. The principle has had enough, and has brought forth an ultimatum: either you participate in a duel in one week, or be expelled."
"But I have a-!"
"We are aware you have a doctor's note pardoning you from duels," he said. "But we are also aware you have not been attending therapy to even try and help you get over whatever your problem is with duelling. As such, we have no choice but to believe you are being lazy about it, and decided to present this ultimatum. I am sorry, Zarc-san, but my hands are tied on this matter."
Fear gripped my heart as I processed his words.
Duelling.
I couldn't duel. Not again, never again.
"Please," I begged them. "Don't… Don't make me…"
"I'm sorry," he repeated. "But, as I said, my hands are time. Either duel next week, or be expelled."
"I…" I looked down at my desk, clenching my hands. "… I understand. I'll duel next week."
"Good," my teacher turned and walked away.
I couldn't believe this…
Well, I could. This was a duel school, after all. It made sense that they would only tolerate my doctor's note and my forfeiting of matches for so long before they had to act.
This sucked.
This sucked so much.
My parents must have noticed how dejected I was when I got home, because they looked at me with concern. "Is something wrong, son?" My dad asked me.
I wanted to say yes.
I wanted to tell them both everything.
Why Entertainment Duelling made me so panicked. Why I didn't want to play Duel Monsters. I wanted to tell them both the truth…
"I'm fine, Dad," I said. "Just a rough day at school."
… But I couldn't.
I was afraid. Afraid of how they'd both react when they learned of the Demon that their son was. Afraid of how they would treat me when they learnt what a monster I was.
"I'm gonna go rest in my room. Could you call me when it's time for us to go to the stadium?"
"Of course," my father nodded. "You just rest up, okay?"
I gave a nod and headed up to my room, closing the door behind me and flopping on my bed. I covered my eyes with my arm… And cried.
I was afraid of duelling.
So afraid of turning back into that monster again.
I didn't want to turn into the Supreme King. I didn't want to be the Demon Duellist. I wanted to just be Zarc, someone unimportant and not special. If I duelled again, there was a chance that I would revert and become that violent duellist once again.
I didn't want to become that monster ever again.
I wiped my tears, looking to the floorboards of my room, where the cries of my cards could be heard.
For the first time in six years, I walked over to that floorboard and lifted it, pulling out the locked box.
I opened my drawer, spending a good ten minutes looking for the key, before I unlocked the box and pushed it open.
Sitting there, untouched by anything for six years, was my deck.
The cries and pleading stopped, and instead I felt their surprise that I finally listened.
"… For six years, I locked you away," I said softly. "It was penance. Penance for driving me into that monster, for forcing me to destroy everything like that… But now, I need your help… I…" I trembled. "I'm still afraid of duelling… I'm still afraid that you'll turn me back into that monster… But I'm willing to try and give you another chance… Just please… Don't turn me into that monster again…"
There was silence… And then a single voice spoke from my deck.
"We swear. Just please… Let us fight alongside you once more."
"… Okay…" I took a deep breath and fanned out my cards in front of me, before my eyes widened as I took in the differences in many of them… The strange green transition that now affected some of my monsters, and some of my spells and traps now had different effects.
"… Pendulum…?"
"Zarc!" I heard my father's voice call. "It's time for us to go!"
"Ah, right!" I quickly straightened up my deck, putting it in a pouch and placing the pouch on my waist. I grabbed my wallet, phone, and keys, and headed downstairs.
The trip to the stadium managed to uplift my spirits a bit, and I made sure to take my medication before we headed inside. By the time the duel started, it should be circulating through me and keep me calm if there was any sort of Entertainment Duelling on Yuya's part.
I sat with my parents, staring anxiously at the battlefield as I waited for the Duel.
Strangely, when Yuya's name was called out… He didn't show up.
"Where is he?" I muttered to myself… Before I noticed a clown sneaking up behind Strong Ishijima, playing a small prank on him.
My eyes widened as he removed his mask and hat, unveiling his face, and I heard my parents gasp on either side of me.
"Zarc…" My father whispered. "His face…"
"Is the same as mine…" I said in shock, staring down at the arena.
This… This must have been the answer Ray had arrived at.
To split me into four, between dimensions… If I was right, then since this was the Standard Dimension…
I watched with Duel with rapt attention…
"Now, everyone!" I heard Yuya declare as he sacrificed his Hip Hippo. "Please welcome our guest with your applause! Today's leading actor!"
I heard a familiar roar, and I ran out of my seat, despite my parent's protests, and ran straight to the railing, staring out at the battlefield.
"The rare dragon with two different-coloured eyes! Odd-Eyes Dragon!"
I felt my body trembling as I lay my eyes upon one of my four partners. My deck cried out, and I saw Odd-Eyes look at me as Yuya mounted him.
"Zarc… Sama…"
"Odd-Eyes…" I breathed out, unable to believe it.
I watched, body trembling as I witnessed the duel…
My eyes widen as Yuya's strategy failed, and Odd-Eyes was destroyed on Ishijima's turn, sending Odd-Eyes back to his hand. I saw Yuya look dejected… I saw myself look dejected… And I couldn't stop myself.
"Don't despair!" I yelled from my place in the stands, causing everyone to look at me as my voice echoed through the arena.
I saw Yuya look at me, eyes widening as he saw my face that was so much like his.
"Don't despair!" I yelled again. "A duel isn't over until you run out of life points! Your chance at victory isn't lost until you've run out of cards to draw! So long as you believe, so long as you hope… So long as you keep pushing forwards, there will always be a way to win! Stand up, Sakaki Yuya! Stand up, and Duel!"
Everyone stared at me… Before I watched his eyes become determined as he stood up.
"That's right!" He exclaimed, causing everyone to look at him. "If I get scared and cringe, I can't do anything…! If I want to win, then I need to have courage and step forward!"
My eyes widen as I felt a surge of energy coming from my cards, going towards Yuya.
"Swing, Pendulum!" He yelled as he drew a card. "More! Swing more!"
I couldn't stop staring as I saw his necklace glowing with a blue light, shining light a star in the daytime.
His eyes gained a resolute look as he grabbed two cards. "Using the Scale 1 Stargazer Magician, and the Scale 8 Timegazer Magician, I set the Pendulum Scale!" He declared, placing the cards at the edges of his Duel Disk, the world 'PENDULUM' flashing on his disk.
Two pillars of light shot into the sky, and I stared at the monsters that rose up in those pillars of light.
"Astrograph…?" I whispered, able to see just who they were originally meant to be.
"With this, I am able to summon monsters from Level 2 to 7 simultaneously!"
My eyes widened in shock, and I stared at the sky as an intricate and beautiful pattern filled the sky.
"Swing now, Pendulum of the soul! Draw an arc of light across the ether! Pendulum Summon! Come out, my monsters!"
A portal opened up, shooting out three beams of light.
The first revealed a snake wearing a top hat.
The second revealed a fish with a pompadour.
And the third…
Odd-Eyes was different! Two huge spikes with orbs protruding from his back, and spikes coming out the sides of his neck…
"Odd-Eyes' card… Evolved in the middle of battle…!?"
I heard a cry from my cards, and pulled out my deck, quickly sifting through my cards… Before my eyes landed on a card that had not been in my deck earlier that day.
"Supreme King Dragon Odd-Eyes…?"
~~Monster They Called Me~~
"I wasn't expecting you to get so fired up about that duel, Zarc," my father said to me over the dinner table.
"Yeah… Neither did I…"
The ride back home was a quiet one, my parents still in shock from the sudden reveal of a new summoning method. I was shocked too, but more about Odd-Eyes suddenly re-appearing in my deck.
Or rather, the form he took once we all merged and became Zarc.
Why did he re-appear now? More importantly, how did Odd-Eyes evolve in the middle of the duel like that?
I heard my deck cry out, and then Yuya busted out a new summoning method and a new form of Odd-Eyes.
I knew every Odd-Eyes card there was, and Pendulum Dragon was not amongst them.
'Is it possible… That Pendulum has opened the path to evolve cards even further…?'
"How are you feeling?" My mother asked me with concern.
"I'm fine," I told her. "I guess my medication worked. I don't feel panicked or anything, just… A bit emotionally and mentally drained from my outburst."
"Quite an outburst it was," my father chuckled. "I've never seen you so passionate about duelling… Still, that boy…"
"I know," I nodded. "He had the same face as me. I was shocked too."
"I wonder why that is," my mother hummed softly.
"It must just be a coincidence," I told them. "You know the saying: every person has a doppelganger. I guess he's mine."
My parents nodded, not seeing any other explanation on how we could both look so similar to one another.
I finished eating quickly, heading to my room and closing the door behind me as I looked over my deck closely.
A lot of my cards had become 'Pendulum' cards, and some effects of my spells and traps had changed to aid those new cards.
"Based on how Yuya used them…" I mumbled to myself. "It looks like there needs to be a gap in the Pendulum Scale, and you can summon monsters whose levels are between the two scales… In my case…" I looked at two cards in particular.
Supreme King Gate Zero. Pendulum Scale: 0.
Supreme King Gate Infinity. Pendulum Scale: 13.
"It doesn't look like I'll have too much of an issue with that," I chuckled softly, before I grew serious again.
If I was going to be duelling in a week, I needed to know everything I could about my deck. I hadn't used it in too long, and it had changed in the time I'd locked it away…
I read through each and every card but, when I got to Odd-Eyes, I noticed the card was glowing.
"Odd-Eyes…?" I stared at the card, straightening up my deck and focusing on him. "What's going on with you…?"
My answer was a bright flash of light that forced me to cover my face.
When the light faded, I found myself in another place. Some run-down slums of a city, they didn't look very well maintained either.
"Where am…?" I clenched my deck tightly and looked at Odd-Eyes. "Why did you bring me here…? No, how did you bring me-?"
"Now!" I heard a voice yell. "Starving Venom Fusion Dragon! Attack Wind Witch – Winter Bell! Ravenous Poison Flare!"
I heard a feminine scream. I ran over, turning the corner. My eyes widened at the sight of Starving Venom attacking and destroying a monster, a girl being flung back by the explosion.
"Another target, down," the boy said, before I ran over, getting between him and the girl.
"You stop right there!" I yelled at him, before I saw his face and my eyes widened.
It was the same face as mine… My Fusion Counterpart, no doubt in my mind about it.
"Hoh…?" He raised an eyebrow. "And who are you?"
"You don't need to know my name," I said to him. "I don't know what your plans are with this girl, but I won't let you take her for whatever twisted plan you have."
He laughed. "Well then, if you want to stop me, then you'll need to duel!"
I clenched my fist, taking a deep breath. "Fine!" I walked over to the girl, crouching down and removing her Duel Disk and getting a good look at her face, before my eyes widened.
She looked just like Ray! But her hair was different, and I had no doubt that her eyes were also different…
Considering this kid had Starving Venom and he'd attacked her; it didn't take a genius to realise she was meant to watch over my Synchro Counterpart.
"Oi, oi, you don't have your Duel Disk?" He asked. "What kind of Duellist are you?"
"A retired one," I said to him, putting her deck in her pocket and slotting my deck into place as I activated the Duel Disk. "I don't know who you are, but I won't let you hurt this girl! No matter what!"
He just grinned. "Good! I love it when my prey fights back!" He activated his Duel Disk.
"DUEL!"
Zarc: 4000 LP/Hand: 5
Yuri: 4000LP/Hand: 5
"His name is Yuri, huh," I muttered softly.
"Oi, oi, hesitation will cause you to lose!" Yuri said. "My turn! I Summon Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio!"
My eyes narrowed at the monster that appeared: a plant-like creature in the form of a scorpion.
Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio (DARK/Plant/Effect/ATK: 1200/DEF: 800/LV: 3)
"When Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio is Summoned to my field, I can discard a monster from my hand to Special Summon a Predaplant Monster from my Deck!"
My eyes narrowed at him as Yuri grinned.
"I'll discard Predaplant Lilyzard and…" A card slid out of his deck. "Special Summon Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra!"
Another monster appeared, looking like a two headed snake with venomous teeth and bulbs that opened and close where there should have been heads.
Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra (DARK/Plant/Effect/ATK: 1000/Def: 1500/LV: 3)
"Darlingtonia Cobra's effect activates!" He told me. "When Darlingtonia Cobra is Special Summoned to my field, I can add one 'Polymerization' Spell Card from my Deck to my hand!"
Another card slotted out of his deck, and he grinned at me. "And I think I'll use it!" He slotted it into place. "I fuse together Orphrys Scorpio and Darlingtonia Cobra!"
The two monsters turned into blue and red lights, floating up above him and beginning to spin together.
"Scorpion with a deadly stinger! Become one with the venomous cobra, and bring forth the ravenous plant that devours all! Fusion Summon! Appear, Level 7! Predaplant Chimerafflesia!"
Predaplant Chimerafflesia (DARK/Plant/Fusion/Effect/ATK: 2500/DEF: 2000/LV: 7)
I only stared as the monster appeared on the field, a disgusting looking plant with teeth that snapped at everything.
"Isn't it beautiful?" He smirked at me.
"Terrifying is more like it."
He laughed. "Everyone else says the same thing! I set two cards face down and end my turn!"
Yuri's Hand: 1
"My turn," I placed a hand on top of my deck, taking a deep breath. "I draw!" I tugged a card from my deck, looking down at my hand.
'Come on, Zarc. Just like riding a bike.'
"I summon Supreme King Dragon Darkwurm!" I yelled out, letting my monster appear on the field.
Supreme King Dragon Darkwurm (DARK/Dragon/Pendulum/Effect/ATK: 1800/DEF: 1200/LV: 4/PS: 5)
"Supreme King?" Yuri mused. "That's a new one to me."
"Then you'll be surprised," I said to him. "I activate Darkwurm's Effect! When it's summoned to my field, I can add a Supreme King Gate to my hand! I add "Supreme King Gate Zero" to my hand!" The card slid out of my deck and I revealed it, sliding it into my hand. "Now then, are you ready?"
"Hm?"
I grabbed two cards from my hand. "Using my Scale 0 Supreme King Gate Zero, and my Scale 13 Supreme King Gate Infinity, I set the Pendulum Scale!" I slammed the cards down, pillars of light appearing on either side of me as my monsters rose into the sky.
Supreme King Gate Zero (DARK/Fiend/Pendulum/Effect/ATK: 0/DEF: 0/LV: 7/PS: 0)
Supreme King Gate Infinity (DARK/Fiend/Pendulum/Effect/ATK: 0/DEF: 0/LV: 7/PS: 13)
Yuri's eyes widened as my monsters rose into sky, an intricate pattern appearing in the sky. "What is…?"
"Unfortunately, I'm unable to show you Pendulum summoning right now," I told him. "But that doesn't mean I'll stop here! I activate the Spell Card: Supreme King Cloning! Here's how it works! I target a face-up "Supreme King" monster on my field, and Special Summon a copy of it from my deck! Come, Darkwurm!"
A card slid out of my deck and I summoned it in defence mode.
"Then," I continued. "While I control two face-up "Supreme King" monsters, I can Special Summon the Tuner Monster, Supreme King Dragon Darkwhelp!"
I slammed the card into place, revealing a dragon with four wings, and smaller hands and legs than a normal dragon would have.
Supreme King Dragon Darkwhelp (DARK/Pendulum/Tuner/ATK: 1400/DEF: 900/LV: 4/PS: 2)
"Tuner Monster?" He raised an eye. "So, you're going to Synchro Summon too?"
"No, I'm not," I told him. "Instead, I activate Darkwhelp's effect! If I control this and another Supreme King monster, I can perform a Fusion Summon!"
His eyes widened. "Fusion!?"
I only raised a hand to the sky as my two monsters rose into the sky, turning into red and blue lights that began to spiral together.
"Dragon serving the great king! Unleash the power of thunder, and spread your heavenly wings! Fusion Summon! Descend, Level 8! Supreme King Dragon Kaiser Vermillion!"
Supreme King Dragon Kaiser Vermillion (LIGHT/Dragon/Fusion/Pendulum/Effect/ATK: 3000/Def: 2400/LV: 8/PS: 3)
A roar echoed through the area as my dragon descended, wielding weapons of lightning and glaring at Yuri's monster.
"Next I activate the Spell: Supreme Roar! By sacrificing a "Supreme King" monster on my field, I can add its attack points to another Supreme King monster on my field! I tribute Darkwurm, and add its attack to Kaiser Vermillion!"
Darkwurm dispersed into light, and its particles surrounded Vermillion, who let out a roar as his power increased.
(3000 →4800)
"Then I activate another Spell: Supreme Draw! When I play this card, I can draw a card for every face-up Pendulum Monster in my Extra Deck!"
"Extra Deck!?"
"That's right," I nodded. "When Pendulum Monsters leave the field, they go to the Extra Deck instead of being destroyed! I have 3 Pendulum Monsters in the Extra Deck! So, I draw three cards!"
I drew the cards from my deck, before I pointed forwards. "Now, Kaiser Vermillion! Attack Chimerafflesia! Voltic Kaiser Thunderbolt!"
Vermillion let out a roar as it swung down its sword, unleashing a bolt of lightning at Yuri's monster.
"Not so fast," Yuri yelled. "I activate Chimerafflesia's ability! When an attack is declared involving Chimerafflesia, I can lower your monsters attack by 1000, and add it to Chimerafflesia until the end phase!"
(Supreme King Dragon Kaiser Vermillion ATK: 4800→3800)
(Predaplant Chimerafflesia ATK: 2500→3500)
"That's not enough!" I told him as the lightning struck Chimerafflesia, destroying the monster and dealing damage to him, though not as much as I'd hoped.
Yuri LP: 4000→3700
"Chimerafflesia's effect activates!" Yuri declared. "On the Standby Phase after it's sent to the Graveyard, I can add a Polymerisation or Fusion Spell Card to my hand! Furthermore, I activate my trap! Predaplant Reborn!"
My eyes widened as a card flipped over.
"With this card, I can Special Summon a Predaplant Monster from my Graveyard! I summon Orphrys Scorpio!" The monster appeared on the field. "And then, his effect activates! I discard Stapeliaworm, and Special Summon Predaplant Squid Drosera!"
I felt disgust fill me as a wilted tree with eyes all over its body and poisonous leaves.
Predaplant Squid Drossera (DARK/Planet/Effect/ATK: 800/DEF: 400/LV: 2)
My eyes narrowed at the monster. "I place two cards face down and end my turn."
(Kaiser Vermillion ATK: 3800→3000)
Zarc Hand: 1
"My turn, draw!" Yuri declared with a sadistic grin. "During my standby phase, I add the Spell Card Polymerisation to my hand!" The card slid out of his deck, and into his hand. "Then I summon Predaplant Chlamydosundew!"
Predaplant Chlamydosundew (DARK/Plant/Effect/ATK: 600/DEF: 200)
A lizard appeared on his side of the field, this one having distinct spores of sorts coming from its tail and around its neck.
"I activate Chlamydosundew's Effect!" He declared. "I can Fusion Summon a Dark Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck using this card and monsters from my hand and field! I use Chlamydosundew with Squid Droserra!"
The two rose into the sky, and I felt my cards pulse.
'It's coming!'
Yuri gave a dark smile. "Two beautiful flowers with an insect-alluring fragrance! Now become one, and from the hell beneath your petals, give birth to a new terror! Fusion Summon! Appear! Poisonous dragon with hungry fangs. Level 8! Starving Venom Fusion Dragon!"
Starving Venom Fusion Dragon (DARK/Dragon/Fusion/Effect/ATK: 2800/DEF: 2000/LV: 8)
I stared at the dragon as it roared, its eyes locking onto me.
Lord… Zarc…
"Starving Venom…" I whispered softly.
"Squid Drossera's effect activates!" Yuri declared. "When it leaves the field, all of your monsters get a Predator Counter! Any monster Level 2 or higher becomes Level 1!"
A small spore with teeth came out, latching onto Kaiser Vermillion's ankle.
Kaiser Vermillion Level: 8→1.
"Now Starving Venom's effect," he grinned. "If Starving Venom is Fusion Summoned using monsters on the field as Fusion Materials, Starving Venom gains attack points equal to the combined attack of all other Special Summoned Monsters you control until the end of my turn! Your Kaiser Vermillion has 3000 ATK! That means my Starving Venom gains 3000 ATK!"
"As if I'd let that happen!" I told him. "I activate my Trap, Supreme King's Declaration! I declare a Monster Type and, until the End Phase, all monsters currently on the field with that typing have their effects negated! I declare Dragon-Type!"
A dark aura surrounded mine and Yuri's monsters as their effects were suppressed.
"Do you think that will stop me?" He asked me. "Not a chance! I activate the Spell: Polymerisation!" He slotted the card into place. "I fuse together Starving Venom Fusion Dragon with Predaplant Orphrys Scorpio!"
My eyes widened as the two monsters rose up into the air again, turning into orbs of light that spun as one.
Poisonous dragon with hungry fangs! Sweet smelling flower that invites the abyss! Now become one, and indulge in whatever pleases you! Fusion Summon! Come forth! Level 10! Greedy Venom Fusion Dragon!"
Greedy Venom Fusion Dragon (DARK/Dragon/Fusion/Effect: ATK: 3300/DEF: 2500/LV: 10)
I stared in shock at the monster before me, I could feel the viciousness coming off of it.
Yuri grinned. "Be honoured, I don't usually bring this one out except for Special occasions! Now, I activate-!"
"Nothing, because I play my face-down card! De-Fusion!" A card flipped up on my field, and I watched as Yuri's eyes widened. "I can tell you already know how it works! I target one Fusion Monster on the field and send it back to the Extra Deck! Then the materials used to summon it are returned to the field!"
Greedy Venom let out a roar as it broke apart, returning to being Starving Venom and Orphrys Scorpio.
"Since Starving Venom was summoned from the Grave, he won't be gaining my attack points," I told him.
"You…!" Yuri's eyes twitched with rage. "Trap Card: Predaplant Poison! I sacrifice a Predaplant on my field to lower the attack of one monster you control by its attack or defence points! Ophrys Scorpio has 1200 ATK! So, Kaiser Vermillion loses 1200 points!"
Ophrys Scorpio turned into a dark purple that splattered on Vermillion, making it roar in pain.
Kaiser Vermillion ATK: 3000→1800
"Battle!" He roared. "Starving Venom attacks! Ravenous Poison Flare!"
I braced myself as a bolt of energy slammed into Vermillion, destroying him and sending me skidding back.
Zarc's LP: 4000→3000
"I end my turn," Yuri said. "Next turn, I'm going to destroy you!"
Yuri's Hand: 0
"Unfortunately for you…" I lowered my arms. "You aren't getting a next turn!"
"What?"
"I draw!" I tugged a card from my deck. "And I start by activating the Spell: Supreme King's Second Chance! I take all the Pendulum Monsters that are face-up in my Extra Deck, shuffle, and then draw two cards!"
I took my three monsters and Kaiser Vermillion, sliding them into my deck and flipping him face-down in my Extra Deck, which shuffled, before placing my hand on top of my deck. "Here goes…!" I took a deep breath… And drew, looking at the cards.
"Are you ready, Yuri?"
His eyes narrowed at me.
"Earlier, I set the Pendulum Scale, now let me show you why!" An intricate pattern formed in the sky. "With the already set Pendulum Scale, I'm able to simultaneously summon monsters Levelled 1 to 12 at the same time!"
Yuri's eyes widened. "What did you say!?"
"Grand power which makes my soul tremble! Shine forth through the darkness, and bring forth a new path! Pendulum Summon!"
I slammed a card onto my duel disk.
"Appear now! Level 8! Kin with wondrous dichromatic eyes! Supreme King Dragon Odd-Eyes!"
Supreme King Dragon Odd-Eyes(DARK/Dragon/Pendulum/Effect/ATK: 2500/DEF: 2000/LV: 8/PS: 4)
Odd-Eyes materialised on the field, letting out a roar, which was shared by Starving Venom as the two resonated.
"Hoh… That's an interesting dragon," Yuri said. "But it's too weak to defeat my Starving Venom."
"I know that," I said to him. "And I really must thank you for going out of your way to Summon Starving Venom for our Duel."
His eyes widened. "Huh?"
I slot a card. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell: Super Polymerisation!"
Yuri's eyes widened and he took a step back. "What!? How can you have that card!?"
I didn't answer. "By discarding one card in my hand, I can fuse monsters on the field together! I fuse Supreme King Dragon Odd-Eyes with Starving Venom Fusion Dragon!" I discarded the last card in my hand as a swirling and violent portal appeared between our monsters.
"You can't!" He exclaimed.
"I just did!" I lifted a hand as the two monsters shot into the vortex.
"Dragon with ravenous fangs! Obtain vicious dichromatic eyes! Devour everything on the path to Supremacy! Fusion Summon! Come out! Level 10! Dragon with eyes that burn with hunger! The Supreme King Ravenous Dragon – Staring Venom Iris Dragon!"
Starving Venom Iris Dragon (DARK/Dragon/Fusion/Pendulum/Effect/ATK: 3800/DEF: 2000/LV: 10/PS: 1)
The monster descended onto the field, carrying the appearance of Greedy Venom, but the blue light on its body was now a bloody red, its eyes a mismatched red and green, with spikes protruding from its back, crimson orbs tipped on his back.
Yuri took a step back again. "Starving Venom… Iris Dragon?"
"Battle!" I roared. "Starving Venom Iris Dragon attacks you directly! Ravenous Spiral Flare!"
My monster reared its head back, sucking in a deep breath, prepared to attack, when…
"Rin!" A voice came, a young man turning the corner, carrying the same face as Yuri and I.
I looked at him. "Eh?"
I barely had time to say that as the girl's bracelet glowed behind me. I let out a yell as my world was covered in light…
And passed out with a weight on top of me moments later.
Original Cards:
Supreme King Dragon Darkwhelp
(DARK/Dragon/Pendulum/Tuner/ATK: 1400/Def: 900/LV:4/PS: 6)
Pendulum Effect: Once per turn, during your Battle Phase: You perform one Fusion, Synchro, or Xyz Summon using face-up monsters you control as Material.
While you control two or more face-up "Supreme King" monsters: you may Special Summon this card from your hand. If you control at least two other "Supreme King" monsters (Quick Effect): You may Fusion, Synchro, or Xyz Summon using this card and any other face-up "Supreme King" monsters you control as material.
Supreme King Dragon Kaiser Vermillion
(LIGHT/Dragon/Fusion/Pendulum/Effect/ATK: 3000/Def: 2400/LV: 8/PS: 3)
Pendulum Effect: During either player's turn, you may target any Face-Up Monster on the field: negate its effects until the end of the turn. You may only use this effect of "Supreme King Dragon Kaiser Vermillion" once per turn.
2 DARK or LIGHT Attribute Monsters.
This Monster can be Special Summoned from your Extra Deck by tributing two "Supreme King" Monsters you control. Once per turn, you may send up to five cards from the top of your deck to your GY: if you do, this Monster may attack that many monsters on your opponent's field at the same time. If this card is destroyed, you may place it in your Pendulum Zone.
Supreme Roar
Spell
Tribute a face-up "Supreme King" monster you control: Increase the ATK of another face-up "Supreme King" monster by the ATK of the Tributed Monster until the End Phase.
Supreme Draw
Spell
Draw 1 card for every face-up Pendulum Monster in your Extra Deck (Max. 3).
Supreme King's Declaration
Trap
Declare a Monster Type: All Monsters with that typing currently on the field have their effects negated until the End Phase of this turn.
Predaplant Poison
Trap
Tribute 1 face-up "Predaplant" monster on your field, and target 1 face-up monster your opponent controls: the targeted monster loses ATK equal to the ATK of the tributed monster until the end phase of this turn.
Supreme King's Second Chance
Spell
Shuffle all face-up Pendulum Monsters in your Extra Deck back into your Deck, and draw two cards from your deck (face-up Fusion, Synchro, or Xyz Pendulum Monsters in your Extra Deck are turned face-down).
Starving Venom Iris Dragon
(DARK/Dragon/Fusion/Pendulum/Effect/ATK: 3800/Def: 2000/LV: 10/PS: 1)
Pendulum Effect: Once per turn: you can target 1 Fusion Monster you control; it can attack each monster your opponent controls once each, until the end phase of this turn.
1 "Starving Venom" Monster + 1 "Odd-Eyes" Monster
Must be Fusion Summoned, and can then be Pendulum Summoned. Once per turn: You can target 1 face-up monster your opponent controls; negate that monster's effects, and if you do, this card's name becomes that monster's original name, and give this card that monster's original effects. If this card battles a monster with the same name, this card gains ATK equal to the ATK of the monster it is battling until the end of the Battle Phase. If this card in the Monster Zone is destroyed: you can Special Summon 1 monster from your Pendulum Zone, and if you do, place this card in your Pendulum Zone.