Fun Fact: Yuri will jokingly call her Serena "Celery," but that's largely because he forgot her real name.
Chapter Summary: The three-way duel continues on, and Dennis shows off the strength of his new monster.
Deep within the mindscape, Yuri and Yugo had together by a coffee table. They were enjoying tea (for Yuri) and Gatorade (for Yugo), and engaging in their occasional discussions. Today's discussion was a bit more serious than usual, though.
"I don't know, Polymerization," Yuri sighed.
"It's not Polymerization, it's Yugo!" Yugo screeched.
"... I just feel like you're the only one here who likes me."
"You murdered me."
"You're the one I like the most," Yuri said. "Well, you're the one I dislike the least. Yuto is a mean little asshole who sucks at dueling, and Yuya got mad when I told him the truth."
"You get why Yuya's mad, right? You insulted Dad."
"I told Yuya what he needed to hear!" Yuri scoffed. "Honestly, I try to help people and care for others. But when I do, I just get yelled at. It's like, why should I even bother?"
"Maybe if you weren't a dick all the time, people would be nicer to you."
"This is no time for jokes, Fusion Recycling Plant. Sometimes I think, maybe I should just card everyone in the world. Then if I'm alone, Yuya and Yuto are also forced to be alone."
Yugo splurted out some of his drink.
"Y-you know, Yuya wants to be your friend," Yugo said hastily. "Why don't you apologize to him and work things out?"
"I did nothing wrong," Yuri said defensively. "Yuya can't handle the truth, and if he's going to reject my kindness, he doesn't deserve it. I'll never forgive that tomato."
Yugo smirked. "You're an idiot."
"But not an evil idiot," Yuri added.
"Per-may-haps, indeed."
"But if I'm an idiot, wouldn't that mean you're even dumber? You lost to me."
Yugo splurted out his drink. This time, it was entirely on purpose, aiming right at Yuri's face. Yuri only barely managed to duck and avoid the spit.
It was about this time that Yuya appeared at the edge of the mindscape. He waved to his counterparts and started making his way over to them.
"Hey, guys!" Yuya called. "I was thinking, would you guys be up for a duel?"
Yuri pushed his chair out and stood up. Without answering to anyone, he walked off into the fog and disappeared from sight.
"Performage..." Ruri said.
"... Trapeze..." Sawatari said.
"... Arch-Magician?" Yuto concluded.
"Performage Trapeze Arch-Magician," Dennis confirmed. "My time in the Xyz Dimension has taught me a lot of things. Things like climbing up the Ranks and improving my Xyz Summoning skills."
"You could say that you're on a whole 'nother level!" Sawatari replied.
Dennis chuckled once more. "Well, not quite. Xyz monsters don't have Levels!"
Dennis, Sawatari, and the two remaining Shadow Makers burst out laughing. For a little too long for Yuto and Ruri's liking.
"That's-a-that's-" Sawatari cried.
They held onto their stomachs and heaved, nearly gagging on the comedy. Yuto, Dark Requiem and Ruri just looked at each other and cringed.
After a long, long, long moment, the group calmed down. Their laughs started to peter out, and they ended their session with content sighs.
"Ah, we have fun," Dennis said happily. "So, Yuto! If you have anything else left, do you mind ending your turn so I can go."
"My turn's next!" Sawatari snapped.
"Oh, whoops! I, uh, forgot about that."
Sawatari was fuming, probably even more than Yuto. If he wasn't going to get respect naturally, then he'd have to command respect on his turn.
Sawatari drew another card. And to his displeasure, it wasn't a Tuner. He wasn't going to show off his awesome Synchro Summoning Skills this turn, either.
"My turn will be short, but sweet," Sawatari explained. "Superstar's effect: once per turn, I can set an Abyss Script Spell to my field, but it's destroyed at the end of my turn."
A face-down card appeared directly behind Superstar. But just as soon as it was set, the card rose up to reveal itself to the world.
An archway rose from either end of Sawatari's side of the field. Streamers, confetty and balloons poured from the entrance, in all directions. For a brief moment, the sound of a fanfare could be heard.
"Abyss Script - Opening Ceremony!" Sawatari continued. "I gain 500 Life Points for each Abyss Actor monster I control!" (Sawatari: 4000 → 4500)
Cyan and navy fireworks shot out from either side of Superstar. The monster bowed again, and Sawatari applauded for it.
With something as festive as this, even Yuto couldn't focus on his hatred. His eyes were drawn to Sawatari's display.
"And I..." Sawatari started. "... Eeend my turn!"
"... That's it?" Ruri asked.
Sawatari rubbed the back of his yeah. "Yeah! Well! I! didn't get a good hand, hahaa...!"
Despite his big show, Sawatari ended his turn without much change. He had two cards in his hand, his Pendulum Scales, Abyss Actor - Superstar, and a face-down on his field. His Life Points sat at a comfortable 4500; higher than everyone else's.
Dennis may not have had the Life Point advantage, but he had a strong field to challenge his opponent. (And Sawatari.) His field consisted of two Shadow Makers (ATK 1300), his Pendulum Scales, and Performage Trapeze Arch-Magician. (ATK 3300) He had one card in his hand, and his Life Points were at 1200.
"I'm sure you'll all dying to see what tricks my magician can do," Dennis said coolly. "And how will I overcome Dark Requiem's awesome might? Can my monster friend pull it off? Give him some motivation, guys!"
Dennis started to clap for his monster. His other two monsters dropped their scissors to applaud their new friend. Sawatari and (much to Yuto's displeasure) Ruri also applauded. Trapeze Arch-Magician waved to the crowd and took a bow.
Dennis snapped his fingers. "Trapeze Arch-Magician's first effect! By detaching one Overlay Unit from this card, I can target two monsters on the field. Their attacks are switched! Hat Trick!"
The magician pulled down its hat and bowed to Dark Requiem. A sea of colors poured from the latter's wings, turning them pale and colorless. The colors were sucked into the hat, which now carried all of the dragon's colors.
"Your anger and rage made you strong," Dennis explained to Yuto. "But now, that strength is mine. And I'm going to use it to wow the crowd!"
"Not so fast!" Yuto retorted. "You activated a monster effect, so I can detach an Overlay Unit from my monster, then negate te activation, and destroy your monster."
Dennis shook his head and tsked. "I'm sorry, Yuto. But I can't let you do that. I activate Trapeze Arch-Magician's second effect, Illusion Trick!"
Arch-Magician swung its hat over to a Shadow Maker. The hat fell to the ground before the monster. The Shadow Maker let out a pained yelp as its body and scissors wre forcibly sucked inside.
"Illusion Trick..." Dennis explained, "If Arch-Magician would be affected or destroyed by battle or effect, I can use an Overlay Unit to apply the effect to another monster I control, instead. So instead, Shadow Maker was destroyed!" (Performage Trapeze Arch-Magician 3300 → 5600) (Dark Requiem Xyz Dragon 5600 → 3300)
Ruri's eyes twinkled in amazement. "Oh wow, that's quick thinking, Dennis!"
Yuto glared at Dennis's monster. Trapeze Arch-Magician greete the boy with a sinister egao, then placed its hat back on its head.
"The other part of Dark Requiem's effect activates," Yuto continued. "Since your onster was destroyed, I can Special Summon an Xyz monster from my Graveyard."
A spot on the field started to glow. Dark Rebellion rose fro the ground and took a spot right beside Dark Requiem. It let out a defiant, proud roar to signal its return. (DEF 2000)
And then it hugged Yuto again.
"Since Shadow Maker can't destroy any of your monsters," Dennis said. "I'm going to switch it to Defense position." (DEF 1000)
"Battle!" Dennis announced. "Performage Trapeze Arch-Magician attacks your Dark Requiem Xyz Dragon!"
Yuto knew he couldn't let this attack hit. With only 1800 Life Points, he'd be a wiped out and lose. He had to be quick, and move for an Action Card before the last Shadow Maker could hold him down.
But as Yuto turned around, he heard Sawatari's voice: "Action Card - Circlet of Magnetism!"
Everyone turned their eyes back on Sawatari. The boy was standing high above everyone, looking down at them with a confident egao.
"I can target one monster I control," Sawatari went on. "My monster loses 500 ATK and DEF, but my opponent can't target any monster for an attack but that one." (Abyss Actor - Superstar ATK 2500 → 2000)
"Sawatari!" Yuto howled. "What are you doing?!"
Sawatari brushed some of his hair back. "You didn't think I'd let you lose like this, right? I can't let the show end like this!"
Dennis shrugged. "Good thinking, Shingo. But that means that Trapeze Arch-Magician will be attacking you, now!"
Trapeze Arch-Magician held out its bar with two hands. From either end, gold strings shot out. They flew up to Sawatari's platform and attached themselves to the bottom, creating a trapeze. The monster jumped into the air, and the wires shortened to accommodate.
The monster let out a menacing laugh as it lunged at Superstar. Its foot connected to Superstar's face, causing the Abyss Actor to shatter. (Sawatari: 4500 → 900)
"I hope this was worth it, Shingo," Dennis called out.
Sawatari nodded. "You can't push the show's star out of the spotlight!"
"Dennis! Sawatari!" Ruri shouted. "You're both doing great! This is one of the best show's I've seen in a long time!"
"Please, Ruri," Yuto said quietly. "I need you to root for me."
Yuto had so much he wanted to say now. Looking at Ruri, his feelings were an unreadable mess. He knew how he should feel (angry), but he couldn't get those feelings straightened out when he looked at her.
He wanted to break down and talk to her, to share his misery with her. But spilling his feelings wasn't his thing.
His gaze drifted back to Dennis. Now he felt anger. And he was reminded why he was so angry, and how bad he had felt. Right then, anger was the only thing in his mind that made sense to him.
He couldn't just talk about it. It wasn't anyone's burden to bear but his.
"End your turn!" Yuto yelled. "I'm going to kick your ass, Dennis!"
"Eh?" Dennis wondered. "Eh, okay, then... I end my turn. You're up, Yuto."
Yuto drew a card, giving him four cards in his hand. He may not have had the strongest monsters, but he had the card advantage and Life Points. He was already calculating a plan to use what he had to defeat Dennis in a few turns.
He looked to Ruri, who was staring back at him. Right now, he was the one who had her attention.
"I banish the Phantom Knights of Silent Boots from my Graveyard," he stated. "This lets me add one Phantom Knights Spell or Trap Card from my Deck to my hand."
The top card of Yuto's Deck was ejected. Yuto grabbed the card and presented it to his opponent. It was Phantom Knights' Fog Blade.
"I set the card on my field," Yuto continued. "Dark Rebellion, Dark Requiem, hold off Dennis."
The dragons complied. They flew over to Dennis's side of the field, much to Dennis's surprise. Arch-Magician grabbed hold of Dark Requiem and attempted to keep it away from its master, but Dark Rebellion flew past it and headed right at Dennis.
With that, Yuto took off running down the lot. He had one thing on his mind now: grab an Action Card, and hope it'll be enough to gain an advantage. Even if it was a minor ATK boost, or something that could even destroy Trapeze Arch-Magician, any help he could get would be a blessing.
Yuto came up to a large slag heap, near his end of the lot. There, resting on the surface of the pile, was an Action Card. "Yes!"
It was walled off my a small chain-link fence, but Yuto had no trouble grabbing hold of the chains and climbing up. He hopped over the fence and jumped into the heap.
"Dark Requiem Xyz Dragon attacks Performage Shadow Maker!" Yuto announced.
Yuto hopped over the fence. The moment his feet touched the ground, he placed a card on the field. "At this time, I activate the Action Spell - Haunted Lance! It increases my monster's ATK by 500 and inflicts piercing damage!"
Dark Requiem pulled itself away from Arch-Magician and flew above the ground. Twin black lances appeared in its claws.
"Action Card - No Action!"
It was Sawatari again. Everyone followed the voice to the boy, who was now on another platform.
"Your Action Card's negated!" Sawatari informed him.
"Why'd you do that?!"
"Don't underestimate me, Yuto. I'm your enemy, just like Dennis."
Yuto ran towards the field, while Dark Requiem blasted Shadow Maker with lightning. Dennis's monster let out a pained scream as it was destroyed.
Sawatari jumped back down to his side of the field, just as Yuto came onto the scene. As their eyes met, Yuto gave him a small nod.
"I switch Dark Rebellion into Defense," Yuto said. "Then I end my turn here." (Dark Rebellion DEF 2000)
Sawatari raised an eyebrow. "You're not going to attack me? Not that I'm complaining, but I don't want you underestimating me."
Yuto nodded again. "You still saved me from losing last turn. I shouldn't have counted you out."
"I'd say we're even now!" Sawatari said proudly. "I saved you, you don't wipe me out. Just make sure you never underestimate me again!"
Yuto ended his turn with his two dragons on the field, a face-down Trap, and 4 cards in his hand. He had 1800 Life Points.
Sawatari drew another card. And to his annoyance, it wasn't a Tuner. He was really regretting not taking course on proper deckbuilding now.
"Pendulum Summon!" Sawatari announced.
Twin lights fell from the swinging pendulum above, bringing two monsters to the field. Abyss Actor - Superstar (ATK 2500) bowed once more to its audience, while Abyss Actor - Wild Hope (DEF 1200) cocked its gun and looked to the side.
"From my Extra Deck, Abyss Actor - Superstar! And from my hand, Wild Hope!"
"You have our attention, Sawatari!" Dennis called out. "I won't be forgetting you so soon."
Yuto nodded again. "Show us what you can do. We're all watching."
"Superstar's effect!" Sawatari announced. "Once per turn, I can set an Abyss Script Spell to my field!"
A face-down card appeared directly behind Superstar. But just as soon as it was set, the card rose up to reveal itself to the world.
An archway rose from either end of Sawatari's side of the field. Streamers, confetty and balloons poured from the entrance, in all directions. And once again, another trumpet fanfare came from an unknown source.
"Abyss Script - Opening Ceremony!" Sawatari continued. "I gain 500 Life Points for each Abyss Actor monster I control!" (Sawatari: 900 → 1900)
Confetti rained down on Sawatari and his monsters. They held their hands to the sky and soaked in the praise.
"Can he turn this around though?" Ruri wondered. "Sawatari, good luck!"
Yuto grumbled.
"Battle phase!" Sawatari declared. "Superstar attacks Yuto's Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon!"
Yuto wasn't going to let Sawatari succeed. Now that he knew Sawatari was in the game seriously, he couldn't afford to lose any advantage. He quickly took off running, this time in Ruri's direction.
Following close behind him was Dark Requiem. The dragon scooped him up into his arms and rose into the air.
Ruri waved up at Yuto. "Good luck, Yuto!"
Yuto didn't hear her, or even see her wave to him. He was focused on searching the lot for an Action Card. Dark Requiem circled around the area in search of a card.
"Come on, come on..." Yuto grumbled. "Wait..."
He spotted a card, right at the edge of the lot, just before the street. Dark Requiem dove closer to the ground and made a mad dash towards it.
Before they could even reach the card, they could hear an explosion. Yuto turned around to the field.
No Dark Rebellion.
Dark Requiem landed on the ground. Yuto immediately hopped out of its grasp and ran to pick the Action Card up. Too little, too late. But it was better than having nothing. Once again, he was going to have to settle.
Yuto and Dark Requiem made the slow walk over to the others. He could see them talking, hear them laughing as he walked. They were having a lot more fun with this duel than he was.
Because I'm fighting for a reason, Yuto told himself.
He finally reached the group as Dennis finished up a small quip, leading Ruri to laugh. That just made Yuto's blood boil even more.
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, buddy," Sawatari grumbled. "But this next card I'm setting will blow you away."
Sawatari set another Spell or Trap card on his field. "My Abyss Script Spells are deadly. If you try and mess with me, you'll lose. You should totally destroy them if you can."
"Wow, this is a predicament..." Dennis said nervously. "Both of my opponent's have face-downs, and I don't have any cards in my hand to remove them."
"It'll understand if you want to give up, instead of facing me. Many people leave in the middle of dueling me."
Dennis turned to Ruri and winked. "Can I really get out of it, though? Ruri?"
"I think you can, Dennis," Ruri replied. "I know you can. Show the others how strong you are!"
"Ruri, stop!" Yuto screamed.
Ruri's ears perked up. She looked over to Yuto and took a few steps towards him.
"What was that, Yuto?" she asked.
An uncomfortable quiet fell over the group. Yuto hesitated for a moment, unsure if he wanted to continue.
It took a moment for him to finally speak. "I need you to root for me. Please, just take my side in this duel."
"What? But Dennis and Sawatari are our friends-"
"Please!" Yuto barked. "Forget about Dennis, about Sawatari! I need... I..."
The other three people looked to him. Ruri continued to move closer to him, but all of them were silent.
A/N: The official effect for Dark Requiem: "During either player's turn, when your opponent activates a monster effect: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; negate the activation, and if you do, destroy that card, then you can Special Summon 1 Xyz Monster from your Graveyard."
I couldn't find any rulings that said the monster had to have its effect negated to summon another Xyz monster. I took the "destroy that card, then..." part as destruction being the key trigger for the latter part of the effect.
Ultimately, since Dark Rebellion's revival amounted to nothing big here, aside from showing how Yuto plays defensively and strategically. If its revival turns out to be impossible via rulings, then its revival can easily be ignored. Maybe I could even go back and edit the story to remove it.
Next time: In the heat of battle, the root of Yuto's issues are revealed. Dennis unveils his ultimate weapon. Sawatari is there. Who will ultimately come out victorious in this duel? Besides Ruri, who is loving the fact that guys are fighting over her. Someone has A Date with Pain.