Troy was walking through the streets looking for Yuma.
Troy: Is Kite right? Has Yuma been hiding Number 96 from me?
Caswell: Hey Troy. What are you up to?
Troy: Have you seen Yuma?
Caswell: I think he's at the train station with Tori. Why are you looking for him?
Troy: None of your business.
Caswell: I have a bad feeling about this. I'd better warn Yuma.
He pulled out his phone to call his friend.
Yuma: Hello? What is it Caswell?
Caswell: Yuma, Troy is looking for you, and I don't think it's for a good reason.
Yuma: For me? What have I done?
Caswell: I don't know Yuma, but in the end, I suggest you be careful.
Yuma: Why would Troy be mad at me?
Tori: Well don't look now, but here he comes.
Yuma: Hey Troy. What brings you here?
Troy: I guess I just couldn't wait for the finals. Let's duel right now. Don't worry, I won't take your Heart Piece if I win.
Yuma: Alright, sounds fun.
Troy: Good. I'll be able to find out who's telling the truth and who's lying in this duel.
Astral: Be on your guard Yuma. Troy is a skilled duelist.
Yuma: Chill Astral, this duel is just for fun.
Astral: I am not so sure. Troy looks more determined than usual. I fear he has an ulterior motive for this duel.
Augmented Reality Vision Link Established
Yuma and Troy: Let's duel!
Yuma: 4000 LP
Troy: 4000 LP
Troy: I'm going first, and I summon Fusilier Dragon the Dual Mode Beast in attack mode.
Level 7/Dark/Machine
ATK 2800-1400/DEF 2000-1000
Troy: I'll follow that up with the equip spell Overlay Satellite. You see Yuma, a monster equipped with this card counts as two for an xyz summon.
Astral: Here it comes Yuma.
Troy: I overlay my double-counting Fusilier Dragon. With this double monster, I build the overlay network and xyz summon Number 89: Diablosis the Mind Hacker!
Rank 7/Dark/Psychic
ATK 2800/DEF 1200
Yuma: There it is.
Troy: Now Overlay Satellite's other effect activates, turning itself into an overlay unit for Diablosis. However, since I summoned him using Overlay Satellite, he can't attack this turn.
Astral: An impressive move. He took advantage of the fact he can't attack on the first turn to summon a powerful number card. Be careful Yuma.
Yuma: I will.
Troy: I now activate Diablosis' special ability. By using an overlay unit, I can look at your extra deck and banish a card from it face-down.
Yuma: What? Removing a card straight from the extra deck?!
Astral: This is bad Yuma, he will see Dark Mist.
Yuma's cards appeared in front of Troy, and he was enraged when he saw Dark Mist.
Troy: Kite was right! You have been keeping Number 96 from me!
Astral: Did he say Kite?
Yuma: Troy, this isn't what it looks like.
Troy: Save it Yuma. I don't want to hear more lies. Diablosis, banish Volcasaurus with Cerebral Eraser!
Yuma: Oh man, Volcasaurus was one of my best cards.
Troy: I place 4 cards face-down and end my turn.
Astral: Four face-down cards?
Yuma: This duel just got tougher. I draw.
Troy: I activate the trap card All Out Attacks! This card forces any monster that's special summoned into attack mode, while also forcing it to attack the turn it's summoned.
Yuma: Oh great, so I have to battle against Diablosis.
Astral: Yuma be careful. It's clear he's luring you into a trap.
Yuma: Yeah, but if I don't do anything, I'll lose. I summon Gagaga Magician in attack mode.
Level 4/Dark/Spellcaster
ATK 1500/DEF 1000
Yuma: And now I play the spell Gagaga Mirror. With it, I can xyz summon using it as xyz material, and Mirror will be treated as a monster with the same level as my Gagaga Magician.
Astral: If Troy hadn't banished Volcasaurus, you could've used Gagaga Magician's effect to make it level 5, which would've allowed you to summon it and use his special ability, which would've destroyed Diablosis and dealt its attack points as damage to Troy. You could've then attacked Troy directly and won the duel. Troy is clearly playing cautiously, and you should do the same Yuma.
Yuma: I know Astral. I overlay Gagaga Magician and Gagaga Mirror in order to summon Number 39: Utopia!
Rank 4/Light/Warrior
ATK 2500/DEF 2000
Troy: Not bad Yuma. With Utopia's effect, you can use one of his overlay units to negate an attack, including his own, which will let you counter my trap card. Unless you combine it with Double or Nothing to double Utopia's attack points to try and beat Diablosis, which is exactly what I'm hoping for.
Yuma: Utopia, attack Diablosis with Rising Sun Slash! Now I activate Utopia's special ability, by using an overlay unit, I can negate his attack, go Light Wing Shield!
Troy: Do it Yuma, play Double or Nothing. Once you do, your defeat is assured.
Yuma: I play the spell Double or Nothing! Since Utopia's attack was negated, I can double his attack points and have him attack again. Go Rising Sun Slash!
Troy: I knew you would try this Yuma! I reveal my face-down cards: Dimension Wall, Alchemy Cycle, and Space Cyclone!
Astral: Oh no!
Troy: You're right to be worried Astral. After all, thanks to Yuma, this duel has just been handed to me. Due to Dimension Wall, you take the damage from this attack instead of me.
Yuma: But the damage is only 2200 points, so I'll still have life points left.
Troy: Except due to the effect of Alchemy Cycle, the attack power of my monster becomes 0.
Yuma: But wait, if Double or Nothing doubles Utopia's attack points, and Alchemy Cycle drops Diablosis' attack points to 0,
Astral: We will sustain 5000 points of damage.
Yuma: In that case I'll use Utopia's special ability to negate the attack.
He looked at Utopia, except Utopia didn't have any overlay units left.
Yum: What happened to Utopia's other overlay unit?
Troy: Space Cyclone's effect forcibly removes an overlay unit from an xyz monster, so now you have no ways of stopping this attack.
Yuma: But if we can't stop the attack then that means,
Astral: That we lose.
Troy: Exactly. Now Diablosis, deal Yuma the finishing blow!
Utopia slashed Diablosis across the chest, but Diablosis fired a red blast of energy at Yuma, knocking him over and causing his cards to be scattered.
Yuma: 0 LP
Tori: No way, he lost.
Yuma: Astral, are you okay?
Astral: I am alright.
Troy walked over and picked up Number 96's card.
Troy: Be thankful I'm only taking Number 96. I suggest you avoid me for as long as possible Yuma, because I plan on taking all your number cards the next time we duel.
Yuma: Troy wait! That number card is dangerous! It tried to take over Astral!
Troy: Even if that were true, I won't allow myself to be controlled by anyone, got it?
Tori: Yuma! Are you okay?
Yuma: I'm okay. But I have to get Number 96 back from Troy before something terrible happens to him.
Astral: Yuma wait!
Yuma: Why should I wait? Troy needs my help!
Astral: Yuma, I understand you want to help Troy, but you are not ready to face him again.
Yuma: What are you talking about?
Astral: Troy has clearly been keeping an eye on your duels and has developed a counterstrategy for your normal tactics.
Yuma: What do you mean?
Astral: In our duel, he used Diablosis to seal away Volcasaurus, which would have been your best way to defeat his monster, which would prompt you to use your combo between Utopia and Double or Nothing, which he was prepared to turn against you. Whether or not you understand Troy's strategies, he clearly understands yours. If you duel him again so soon, you will surely face defeat.
Yuma: So what am I supposed to do?
Astral: I am not sure. But I can say for certain that until we come up with a strategy to defeat Troy, we must avoid dueling him at all costs.
Meanwhile Troy was walking through the streets of Heartland City, and he was eager to test the power of his new number, but before he got the chance, he was interrupted by a familiar voice.
Kite: I saw your duel. You really laid that runt out.
Orbital 7: Indeed, he went down faster than a bad wifi connection.
Troy: Thanks. Now that we have the pleasantries out of the way, what do you want from me?
Orbital 7: How rude! How dare you speak to Master Kite that way!
Kite: Quiet Orbital. Straight to the point, I like that. And as for what I want, I wanted to know if you'd thought about my offer. It still stands.
Troy: Before I decide, I want to know something. Why do you hunt number cards? Yuma claims to hunt numbers to help Astral, I hunt numbers for answers about why I have these visions, but what about you? What are you hoping to gain?
Orbital 7: That's none of your business.
Kite: I told you to be quiet Orbital. Or do you want me to short your audio circuit?
Orbital 7: I'm sorry Master Kite.
Kite: If you really wanna know why I hunt numbers, then follow me. Just know that if you decide you won't work with me, then I'll be taking your numbers and your soul.
Troy: Noted.
Kite lead Troy to Heartland Tower. The door opened and they were met by Mr. Heartland himself.
Heartland: Welcome back Kite. Who's this you've brought with you?
Kite: A potential ally.
Heartland: I see.
Kite lead Troy to an elevator and pressed a button for the top floor.
Troy: Okay Kite, for real, where are you taking me?
Kite: The truth is I hunt numbers for my little brother. He's sick, and Mr. Heartland promised to cure him if I collected the number cards for him.
Troy: I'm sorry to hear that.
Kite: I don't need your sympathy.
They arrived at the floor and Troy looked around. It was filled with toys and there was a bed in the middle of the room and there was a small child on said bed.
Troy: So that's Kite's brother?
Kite: Hey Hart.
Hart: Kite! I missed you. Who is he?
Kite: His name is Troy.
Troy: I'm a friend of your brother's. I'm going to help him collect number cards so you can get better.
Hart: Thanks Mr.
Kite: I'd love to stay, but Troy and I have some business to tend to.
Hart: Alright. Be careful big bro.
Kite: Don't worry, I will.
They got back on the elevator and descended.
Troy: I see why you want to help him so badly. You kind of remind me of my older sister.
Kite: How is that?
Troy: After our parents died, my sister did everything she could to make sure I was okay. She's even the one who taught me how to duel.
Kite: Well, she must be pretty good then.
Troy: Thanks, and I promise I'll do everything I can to help save Hart.
Kite: Thank you.
Heartland: Well, glad to have another talented young duelist on our team. So you're ready to join us then?
Troy: Yes.
Heartland: Wonderful. There's just a few things we need to give you first, if you'll just follow me.
Troy: Okay.
An hour later, Troy had been outfitted with a new silver and black duel disk that was shaped like an extended bat's wing and had a duel tattoo like Kite used, except rather than a design like Kite's, Troy's was the Kanji symbol for "Demon".
Kite: Why'd you choose that?
Troy: My last name and a nickname I picked up at my old school. People started calling me the 'Dueling Demon' for my last name and the fact I can be ruthless in a duel.
Kite: I see. Well, there's two more people I want you to meet.
He lead Troy to another part of the facility where they met a man with spiky red hair and a woman with long violet hair.
Nistro: Who's the kid?
Kite: Relax Nistro, he's a new recruit who's going to help us hunt number cards. He's a skilled duelist, and I'm sure he'll be a valuable ally.
Dextra: Well, for Kite to praise you, you must be good. I'm Dextra, and he's Nistro.
Troy: I'm Troy. I'd love to stick around, but I'd better get home before my sister gets worried.
Dextra: What about your parents?
Troy turned away and angled his head to the floor.
Troy: They're dead. It's just me and my sister.
Dextra barely caught it, but she could swear she saw a tear run down the side of Troy's face.
Dextra: I'm sorry.
Troy turned back to them and gave a forced smile.
Troy: It's fine, you didn't know. I'll see you all tomorrow.
Nistro: Poor kid. It must be rough for him, loosing his parents at such a young age.
Troy arrived home and his sister met him at the door.
Emma: You're fifteen minutes late Troy! Where have you been?
Troy: Sorry. But I have some good news. I was hired by Mr. Heartland to be part of security for the World Duel Carnival.
He wasn't lying. In addition to hunting number cards, he'd be working with Nistro and Dextra to enforce the rules and ensure the safety of the other participants.
Emma: That's great! But won't you have to drop out of the carnival?
Troy: Nope. I still get to compete like everyone else.
Emma: I'm glad. Just make sure you call me the next time you're going to be late, okay? You know I worry about you.
Troy: Right, I promise.
Emma: Alright, now go wash up for dinner.
Troy: Yes ma'am.