Chapter 7 - Dragon of Hope Vs the Dark King!
"I draw." Yuma draws for his turn, his eyes glow with a crimson red as his cards start to waver. "I activate the effect of my trap, Rising Mist. I destroy it!" The trap card explodes into a large flood of black fog. The toxic mist clouds the floor before a pillar of it rise. "I can use my trap with counters as material for a single Xyz summon!" The fog starts taking shape. "Made of your viral muck, I command you to take shape and plunge the world into darkness. Xyz summon! Rank 2! Dark Branded 96: The Mist!" The fog turns into a humanoid creature with devil horns, made from black sludge and expelling fire.
[96 Rank 2 Dark Fiend Xyz ATK 100]
"100 attack points?" Shark comments, "That doesn't sound too bad." Yuma wags his fingers, "Now the second part of Rising Mist. I attach the top card of my deck for each counter to Mist as material. I had three counters, so Mist gains three materials." Three cards become materials from Yuma's deck. "Now, I activate Pot of Greed to draw 2 more cards from my deck. And one of them is Zarc Weapon - Tainted Spear. It's a monster that I can equip to Dystopia from my hand." A small warrior turns into a swear-like weapon for Dystopia, however nothing else changes about them.
"Now onto my play. As you've noticed, The Mist only has 100 base attack points. However, by detaching only one material, I can cut your life points in half, and it gains what was lost." The trio are stunned by this revelation. "Watch. I'll detach one now to cut Kaito's life points in half to gain the rest." Tentacles rip out of its body and ensnare Kaito, squeezing his body tight before dropping him. "Best part is, the effect is twice per turn. Your turn Shark!" After taking another material, The Mist traps Shark in its veins and crushes him. The two lay on the ground in pain as The Mist grows in size. At this point, Shun is the only one to notice Dystopia's new spear glowing. "What's happening with your monster?" He asks, in a demanding tone. "Oh, that? When equipped with Tainted Spear, Dystopia gains attack points equal to what life points you lose this turn."
[Kaito LP 4000 - 2000]
[Shark LP 4000 - 2000]
[The Mist ATK 100 - 4100]
[Dystopia ATK 2500 - 6500]
"First, I'll attack Black Ray Lancer with the Mist." The now giant devil charges up a fireball between its torso teeth. Its own body drips sweat at its heat before flinging the attack at Lancer. The attack was direct with nothing to stop it, destroying the monster.
[Shark LP 2000 - 0]
Quick to act, Shun uses his Falcon's effect. "I detach one material from Salvation Falcon. When a player's life points reach zero, this negates their loss, and gives them exactly 100 life points left." Shark is blasted by a ray of light, rejuvenating him.
[Shark LP 0 - 100]
"Oh well, next attack will be on Galaxy-Eyes with Dystopia." The black knight grips their spear and charges at the navy dragon. "When attacking a defense position monster, it conducts piercing damage." Dystopia strikes Galaxy-Eyes, tearing through its body with the spear.
[Kaito LP 2000 - 0]
[Dystopia ATK 6500 - 8500]
"Like before, I detach my second material from Salvation to return Kaito to this duel." Salvation Falcon uses its last material to shine on Kaito, giving him a little more life in the duel to prevent losing.
[Kaito LP 0 - 100]
Despite all three players remaining in the game, and Yuma's attacks seemingly over, Yuma is undeterred. "I activate the quick play spell, Devil's dealer. First, I banish The Mist until my next standby phase." The Mist dissolves on the field in a painless manner, just turning to dust. "Next, Dystopia is given one more attack this turn." Dystopia prepares their spear as they start down the shining Falcon. "I attack Salvation Falcon with Dystopia!" As the dark knight comes charging spear first, Shun stands his ground. "I activate my two trap cards, Raptor - Reverse, and Fallen Valler. First, my monster is switched to attack position, then has its points exchanged, making Salvantions attack points 3000."
[Salvation ATK 100 - 3000]
"Then, with Fallen Valler, Salvation gains attack points equal to the attack of all Xyz monsters in the graveyard." The astral forms of Arsenal Falcon, Galaxy-Eyes, Shark Lancer, and Ray Lancer appear behind Salvation Falcon before being absorbed. "This should give Salvation Falcon more than enough to destroy Dystopia, you, and that tower!" The two monsters clash with Salvation Falcon pushing back without struggling.
[Salvation ATK 3000 - 13100]
"I activate a trap from my grave. By destroying Tainted Spear, and reducing Dystopia's attack to 0, I can negate the attack." Tainted Spear cracks and breaks, ending the attack. "Damn it, that must have been sent to the graveyard with The Mist." Shun thinks to himself, still feeling fairly confident. "The downside to my trap is because I used it on my turn, I am forced to attack again."
[Dystopia ATK 8500 - 0]
"Battle. Dystopia attacks Salvation Falcon!" Dystopia, although showing signs of pain and being weakened, still pushes forward with a fist clenched to attack the falcon. "Are you trying to lose now?" Shun remarks, his sense of confidence starting to waver. "I have another trap in my grave, in fact, two more. By banishing one of them, your monster is destroyed instead of mine, and I get to draw a card at the end of the battle phase." Dystopia slams its fist into Salvation Falcon's body. It shrieks in pain as the dark knight's fist pierces the metal armour, and reappears coming through it. "But you still take the damage!" Shun tries to counter, but Yuma's smile returns. "My second trap redirects the damage back onto you but halved. But that should be enough." Salvation Falcon explodes, the force pushes Shun back, knocking him out.
[Shun LP 3000 - 0]
"I at least got one of you." Yuma proclaims softly as his tired hand reaches for his deck. "During the end of the battle phase, I'll now draw." As Yuma draws his card, his eyes widen and become bloodshot. "I activate the spell, Rank-Up-Magic Zarc's Force!" Dystopia is dragged into the overlay network that forms below it. "With this, I rank up my monster to rank 5!" Dystopia reappears out of a stream of black and purple light. "Rank up xyz change! Rank 5! Nightmare Branded 39: Dystopia Ray King!" The new dystopia lands on the field, dawning a new appearance of a muscular build, a cape, and a large sword that pierces the ground. "With this, I end my turn."
[Dystopia Ray King Rank 5 Dark Warrior Xyz ATK 2800]
Kaito pulls himself back on to his feet as he struggles to catch his breath. He looks back at his comrades, Shark struggles to hold himself up against a brick wall, while Shun remains passed out on the ground. He draws from his deck, his body aches from the pain of being smacked into the ground. "By the way, I should warn you. Because I used Zarc's Force on Dystopia, it cannot be targeted by card effects." "Good to know. I activate Galaxy Rebirth to revive Galaxy-Eyes with half his attack points." Through Kaito's tired words, he revives his ace monster to the field.
[Galaxy-Eyes ATK 3000 - 1500]
Taking the card he drew out of his hand, he reveals it. "I activate spell Rank-Up-Magic Cipher's Ascension, with it I'll rank-up Galaxy-Eyes." While still on the field, Galaxy-Eyes begins to grow, and evolve. It grows out two separate heads as its wings grow in size and span. "Xyz change! Rank 9! Neo Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon!"
[Neo Galaxy-Eyes Rank 9 Light Dragon Xyz ATK 4500]
"If I can't target your King with card effects, I can still beat it down with a stronger monster." The three-headed dragon stares down the dark king. "Galaxy stream of destruction!" Kaito calls out his attack on the monster. Neo Galaxy-Eyes prepares its attack. The try-headed dragon attacks with three streams of light from its mouths. Dystopia king grabs its sword out of the ground and uses it to take the attack. "I activate Dystopia Ray Kings effect, by detaching one of his overlay units, when attacked, I can negate and destroy your monster." The king absorbs the dragon's attack into its own sword, making it glow. Its body starts to grow, "Then, after destroying the monster, you take damage equal to its level or rank, and then King gains that damage permanently." Kaito is unable to respond as the stream is broken. With a swipe off the air, it slashes Neo Galaxy-Eyes, destroying it. The dragon explodes, the force rippling the air, knocking Kaito onto his back, but he remains conscious.
[Kaito LP 100 - 0]
[King ATK 2800 - 3700]
"That's two down, now I only have to deal with," Yuma turns to look at Shark, "You." Shark wipes his mouth on his sleeve. "I can't tell if you like me or not, seeing how you saved me for last." Yuma can barely keep one of his eyes open, "Not without trying to beat you before. But if this is how it will be, then so be it." Shark starts his turn, and draws. "Tsk." He says looking at the bare minimal cards in his hand. "What's wrong? Can't play anything to get you out of this ordeal?" Shark looks up, "Not really. I was just hoping I didn't need to use my face down. Shark Draw!" The trap card flips up as it's called out. "I discard my entire hand, then draw one more card from my deck. And unless it's a Shark, I take 1000 damage."
Kaito pushes himself to sit up as he watches Shark dump his hand into the graveyard. Looking towards him on the ground, Shun starts to regain his composure as he sees Shark make the gamble. "That's a gutsy move. I like it. Let's see it pay off for you." Shark puts his fingers on his deck. With gritted teeth and eyes like a predator, he draws his card. There's a moment of silence as he slowly reveals it, "The card I pulled was a monster, called Overlay Eater Shark." He proudly presents it to Yuma. "I actuate its effect. By detaching a material from a monster on the field, I can special summon it." From the ground, a small shark bursts out and eats the only overlay unit left on Dystopia Ray King.
[Overlay Eater Shark Level 4 Water Fish ATK 800]
"So now you've removed my monster's ability to burn you. No big deal. During my Standby phase, The Mist will return, and you'll take damage equal to his attack. Either way, this is your last turn." Shark smiles, "Exactly. This is…the last turn. I activate the trap, Shark Squad. When a shark is special summoned, I can special summon up to two more from the grave with the same level. I use my trap to revive Lantern Shark and Buzzsaw Shark!" From the ground, they leap out like the sea to join the field. "Now with three level 4 monsters I build the overlay network." Three sharks come together in the network, coming out of the spiral in a torrent of water is a pair of red eyes. Cutting through the pillar is a shark-like creature with white scales and a dragon-like appearance. "Xyz summon! Rank 4! Hope Shark Drake Revise!"
[Drake Revise Rank 4 Water Fish Xyz ATK 2800]
"It doesn't matter what you summon! With only 2800 attack points, it can never harm Dystopia Ray King!" Yuma shouts, his tone coming off as frustrated more than angry. "Then I'll have to tear your king from his from. I activate Shark Drake Revise's effect. I can detach a material to banish a monster from the graveyard, then my monster tears away 1500 attack from your monster." Yuma's eyes become more bloodshot as he steps back. "I detach all three materials from Revise, then I banish Black Ray Lancer, Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon, and Raidraptor - Salvation Falcon from the graveyard." Shark Drake Revise catches each material in its mouth. Before it comes a spirit form of the monsters declared. First is Black Ray Lancer. Revise takes the monster and unleashes it as a wave of strong water at Dystopia King. Next comes Galaxy-Eyes. Once again, the King is pushed back, its armour becoming torn. Finally, Salvation Falcon is used to crack the King's sword and tear away its cape.
[Dystopia Ray King ATK 3700 - 0]
Shark Drake Revise lunges at Dystopia Ray King. The king tries to defend itself by swinging its sword. Shark Drake grabs the sword by the edge in its teeth, and chomps down, shattering the dark steel. With their armoured fins, they strike the king through the chest, mirroring what Dystopia did to Salvation Falcon, and pierces through all the way. Dystopia Ray King explodes from the attack. Yuma is sent flying off the ground and hits his back against the tower. His body is shocked the instant he touches the tower. He screams out in pain as his body is turned to black ash, and disappears.
[Yuma LP 10 - 0]
After Yuma disappears from the duel, the world once again falls silent. Shark tries to approach the other duellists, stumbling along the way. Kaito drags himself on the ground towards Shun. Shark gets to Shun first, and falls onto his knees. "I suppose this makes us even now?" Shark asks. Before any more words can be shared, the tower starts to creak. They turn to see the tower leaning on its side before falling down completely, crumbling into pieces of useless metal. As the pieces crash into the ground, the impact causes a wave of dust to come over the duelists, blanketing them in the city remains.
To be continued...