Troy had gotten better and returned to school, but was none the wiser that Yuma had found Number 96. Everyone in school was abuzz with excitement. Why you ask? Because the World Duel Carnival was coming up.
Bronk: So you're entering the tournament Troy?
Troy: Yep. Sounds like it'll be fun, not to mention it'll make it easier for me to collect some number cards.
Bronk: Well good luck. I just hope you and I don't have to duel anytime soon.
Troy: Just so long as you don't have a number card.
Yuma: I can't wait for the chance to duel against you in the tournament Troy.
Troy: Think you have what it takes to beat me? After all, I've gotten a few new number cards myself.
Yuma: Well, we'll see who's the better duelist.
Troy: I guess we will.
The days passed and the day of the tournament arrived. Yuma and everyone else attended the opening ceremony. Once the rules had been explained, everyone began to separate.
Bronk: It's every duelist for himself now.
Flip: See you in the finals.
Troy: Good luck Yuma. I hope we get to face off against each other in the finals.
He walked around for a little bit until he heard Diablosis' voice in his head.
Diablosis: Duel the number holder.
Troy looked around and saw a boy with a dark aura like the one that had surrounded Chris.
Troy: Hey!
Boy: What?
Troy: You taking part in the World Duel Carnival?
Boy: Yeah.
Troy: In that case, I challenge you to a duel. Winner gets the loser's Heart Piece and their number card.
Boy: Fine by me, and my name is Jason.
Augmented Reality Vision Link Established
Both: "Let's duel!"
Troy: 4000 LP
Jason: 4000 LP
Jason: I'll go first, and I summon Pinch Hopper in attack mode.
Level 4/Earth/Insect
ATK 1000/DEF 1200
Jason: Next I activate the spell card Eradicating Aerosol, which will destroy my Pinch Hopper.
Troy: What did that move accomplish?
Jason: Plenty. When Pinch Hopper goes to my graveyard, his effect lets me summon an insect type monster from my hand, like my Jirai Gumo.
Level 4/Earth/Insect
ATK 2200/DEF 100
Jason: Next I remove the Pinch Hopper in my graveyard from the game in order to summon Aztekipede, the Worm Warrior.
Level 4/Earth/Insect
ATK 1900/DEF 400
Jason: And now I overlay my level 4 Jirai Gumo and Aztekipede. With these two monsters, I build the overlay network and xyz summon Number 70: Malevolent Sin!
Rank 4/Dark/Insect
ATK 2400/DEF 1200
Jason: I place one card face-down and end my turn. My set card is Mirror Force, so if he attacks, he'll lose all his monsters. And with Pump Up in my hand, my monster's attack will double on my next turn, letting me win the duel.
Troy: I draw. And I special summon Vice Dragon in defense mode. This card can be special summoned when there are monsters on your field but none on mine, but its attack and defense is halved.
Level 5/Dark/Dragon
ATK 2000-1000/DEF 2400-1200
Troy: And now I special summon my Red Hared Hasty Horse in attack mode. You see, this card can special summoned from my hand to a column that has no cards in it.
Level 5/Wind/Beast
ATK 2000/DEF 1800
Troy: Now since I control a monster with 2000 or more attack, I can special summon Overlay Booster from my hand.
Level 5/Light/Warrior
ATK 2000/DEF 0
Troy: Next, I play my Mist Archfiend in attack mode. I can summon this monster without a sacrifice, but if I do, it goes to my graveyard at the end of this turn and I take 1000 points of damage.
Level 5/Dark/Fiend
ATK 2400/DEF 0
Jason: Four monsters at once?!
Troy: I overlay level 5 Vice Dragon, Mist Archfiend, Overlay Booster, and Hasty Horse. With these four monsters, I build the overlay network and xyz summon Number 5: Doom Chimera Dragon!
Rank 5/Dark/Dragon
ATK&DEF 0
Jason: You summoned a monster with no attack or defense points?
Troy: You sure about that?
Doom Chimera Dragon: 0-4000 ATK
Jason: What?! It has 4000 attack points?!
Troy: Doom Chimera Dragon's special ability gives it 1000 attack points for each of its overlay units.
Jason: I'll still have life points, and I'll beat you next turn!
Troy: There isn't going to be a next turn. I activate the spell card Riryoku. This will halve the attack power of your monster until the end of this turn and give the power it lost to mine.
Malevolent Sin: 2400-1200 ATK
Chimera Dragon: 4000-5200 ATK
Jason: N-no way!
Troy: And now I'll enter my battle phase, but before I attack, I play the spell card Anti-Magic Arrows. This card seals the activation of all spells and traps for the rest of this turn, and cards and effects can't be activated against it. Now, Chimera Dragon, attack with Shadow Stream!
His monster fired a black beam of energy from its mouth at Malevolent Sin, destroying it and knocking Jason out.
Jason: 0 LP
Winner: Troy
Troy: That was too easy.
Little did he know that he was being watched. By whom? The infamous number hunter Kite Tenjo.
Kite: Interesting. It looks like there's another person hunting number cards.
He noticed that Troy wasn't being controlled by the number cards.
Kite: Orbital, I'm following a duelist collecting number cards, can you give me an ID on him?
Orbital: I'm locking onto your location and accessing security cameras in the area. Okay, I found some information. His name is Troy Diablo. He just moved to the city and his sister works at the hospital.
Kite: Hmm, why is he collecting number cards?
Orbital: I don't know, but I do know he's been doing a good job. According to my information, he's collected 8 number cards in just a couple of weeks, and he's a pretty skilled duelist.
Kite: Very interesting indeed.
Orbital: Master Kite, I've found something else! He's a friend of Yuma Tsukomo's, but Yuma has been lying to him.
Kite: What are you talking about Orbital?
Orbital: I hacked the school's security cameras, and Troy asked Yuma to inform him if he found the number card 96. Yuma found the card about a week ago, but apparently, he never told Troy and kept it for himself. He told his other friends it was to try and keep Troy safe.
Kite: This could work to my advantage. Orbital, send me footage so I can turn Troy against Yuma. I think he'd make a valuable ally.
Orbital: You got it boss! Okay, you now have enough footage to show Troy that Yuma has the number card, but will make him think he's just keeping it for himself.
Kite: Good. Now to get Troy alone so I can meet with him.
Once Troy was alone on an isolated street, Kite jumped down to street level and used his Duel Anchor to grab Troy's wrist.
Troy: What in the world?
He turned around and saw Kite standing behind him.
Troy: Who are you?
Kite: My name is Kite, and I'm a number hunter.
Troy: So you're the number hunter Yuma told me about. So I take it you wanna duel me? Cause if so, then bring it.
Kite: While I admire your bravery, I didn't come here to duel you. I wanted to make you an offer.
Troy: I'm listening.
Kite: I want you to help me hunt the number cards. I'd hate to have to take the soul of a skilled duelist like yourself, and I believe you would be of great help to me.
Troy: Thanks, but I'd rather not be associated with someone who goes around turning people into walking zombies.
Kite: Is it any worse than being associated with a liar?
Troy: What are you talking about?
Kite: Your little pal Yuma has been lying to you for some time now.
Troy: Yuma would never lie to me, and how do I know you're not just trying to trick me?
Kite: A while ago, you asked Yuma to help you track down a particular number card. Number 96, right?
Troy: How do you know about that?
Kite: Let's just say I know the right people. In any case, about a week ago, your pal Yuma found the card you asked him to help you find, but rather than tell you, he kept it for himself.
Troy: You're lying to me!
Kite: If you don't believe me, then watch this.
He pressed a button on his duel disk, showing Troy the footage Orbital sent him.
Troy: What?!
Kite: Do you believe me now? I know I may seem like a bad guy, but at least I'm honest. I'll see you around. Let me know when you've made up your mind about who you can trust.
Troy: Could Yuma really be lying to me? Did he find Number 96 and just keep it for himself and not tell me? There's only way to find out.