Fun Fact: Yugo isn't sure if skunk apes exist, but he likes to keep an open mind.
Chapter Summary: Chronos and Yuya duel for the fate of Sawatari's future.
Chronos and Yuya stood opposite of each other on a stage. They had taken their quarrel to one of the school's stadiums, where they would conduct their duel. Chronos now had some large Duel Disk, which was infused into the front of his coat.
Yuzu, Gongenzaka, Sawatari, and Chronos's entire classroom had assembled in the stands, the former three having front-row seats. The students, wearing various colors, were discussing the turn of events amongst themselves.
The turn of events, of course, were started by our heroes falling through time and space, landing right on Professor Chronos de Medici. Threatening to expel the kids from the school, he and Yuya would engage in a duel to determine if the man's plan would go through.
"This stadium is used for entrance exam duels," Chronos explained to Yuya. "In a way, this duel will decide if you can enter Duel Academia."
"It's like our own entrance exam," Yuya said gravely. "For Sawatari's sake, I can't lose."
"YUYA!" Sawatari called from the stands. "FOR MY SAKE, YOU CAN'T LOSE!"
"OKAY!" Yuya answered. "I won't!"
Chronos scoffed. "Like I'd allow a despicable bambino into this school. We just got you out; we're not going to let you and your miscreant little minions back in."
"I'm not Yuri, sir!" Yuya protested. "Well, I'm not really Yuri, but-"
Chronos's Duel Disk activated, creating an enormous blade. And with a sigh, Yuya reluctantly activated his own Duel Disk in turn.
"You'll be a great example for my students," Chronos told him. "You will show them what happens when a drop-out boy crosses me!"
"Maybe my duels can reach you, professor," Yuya said.
"DUEL!"
"Time for the opening act!" Yuya declared. "I summon Performapal Skullcrobat Joker."
Once Yuya threw a card onto the center of his Disk, a humanoid monster materialized onto the field. The blond man tipped his top hat to the opponent. (ATK 1800)
"When Joker is Normal Summoned, I can add a Performapal, Odd-Eyes or Magician card to my hand. So I'm adding Harmonizing Magician to my hand."
Yuya's deck sputtered, and a card was ejected from near the middle of the deck. Yuya pulled out the card and added it to his hand.
"With my Scale 3 Performapal Medicimian, and my Scale 6 Performapal Splashmammoth, I set the Pendulum Scales."
Yuya set the cards on either end of his Disk's blade. Two columns of light appeared on either side of him, and the Scales floated to the top of the pillars. Their numbers appeares below them: 3 for Medicimian, and 6 for Splashmammoth.
Medicimian was a golden tamarin, hunched over a book in its hand. It wore a yellow-spotted green bowtie, a tuxedo top with a red cross on the back, and a stethoscope used as a headband. Medicimian looked down on the field with a happy little egao on its face.
"This is Pendulum Summoning," Chronos said under his breath. "Are the rumors true, then?"
"Swing, pendulum of the soul! Carve an arc of light across the ether! Pendulum Summon! "
A swirling pendulum swayed circles in the sky. From within the center of that circle, twin balls of light fell to the ground.
"Let's go, my monsters friends!"
One light took the form of Performapal Silver Claw (ATK 1800), while the other became Harmonizing Magician. (DEF 0)
"Medicimian's effect activates: once per turn, when I Pendulum Summon two or more monsters, including a Performapal monster, I gain 500 Life Points. Prescription Shift!"
This effect, of course, was shown as Medicimian opening up its book and tearing out a page. It crumpled up the page into a ball, then threw it out of the column. It fell through the air and bounced off of Yuya's head. (Yuya: 4000 → 4500)
Some of the students in the crowd started to laugh. Yuya simply looked at his opponent and gave him a cheeky egao. This just seemed to frustrated Chronos more, however.
Chronos pointed a finger towards Harmonizing Magician. "You summoned such a weak monster?! Are you really that dense, garzone?"
Do you think he really knows Italian, or is he just pretending? Yugo wondered.
People who sprinkle foreign words like that are usually just pretenders, Yuri told him.
Yuya gave the professor a sly wink. "When Harmonizing Magician is Pendulum Summoned, I can Special Summon a Magician monster from my deck. However, it's banished when it leaves the field."
A monster rose from the ground. Timegazer Magician now stood by Harmonizing Magician's side, its arms crossed. (DEF 600)
"I tune my Level 3 Timgazer Magician with my Level 4 Harmonizing Magician."
Harmonizing Magician floated above the field. Her body dissolved into four green circles, floating and spinning before each other. Timegazer leapt into the circles, and his body became three orbs of light.
"Through the power of unity and harmony, be born as the inferno with dual-colored eyes. Your fire ignite the passions of the world! Synchro Summon"
The rings and orbs joined together, taking the shape of a new form. The form crashed into the field and formed an enormous, spinning tornado of fire.
"Level 7!" Yuya cried. "Odd-Eyes Meteorburst Dragon!"
The flames son faded, revealing a dragon wreathed in flames. It let out a fierce roar and threw its head to the sky. It opened its beak-like mouth, and it breathed a torrent of fire into the air. (DEF 2000)
Chronos raised an eyebrow. He looked at the dragon in silence, seemingly studying the monster. He didn't seem particularly amused or impressed with it, however.
Yuya took a deep breath. He had to think carefully now, and avoid any unnecessary risks. He knew nothing of Chronos's deck; if he was packing a lot of power, not going on the defensive would have been a risk.
We're doing this for Sawatari, he told himself. Don't let him down.
"When Odd-Eyes Meteorburst Dragon is Special Summoned, I can Special Summon one monster from my Pendulum Zone, but Meteorburst can't attack this turn."
Yuya lifted Splashmammoth from his Disk, and slid it onto the field. The column faded out of sight, and Splashmammoth materialized onto the field. (DEF 2300)
"Now I activate Splashmammoth's effect," Yuya declared. "I can Fusion Summon a Dragon-Type monster from myDeck, using monsters I control as Fusion Materials. And I use my Performapal Skullcrobat Joker, and my Performapal Silver Claw as the Materials."
The two monsters were lifted into the air, into a vortex of swirling colors. Their bodies contorted and melded together, taking the shape of a new creation.
"Prideful silver wolf, become one with the wild sorcerer and birth to a new legend! Fusion Summon! Level 8, Starving Venom Fusion Dragon!"
From the swirling vortex came the fearsome dragon. Starving Venom clawed out of the swirls, and the mouths over its body ripped at the vortex until it was shredded into pieces. (ATK 2800)
Chronos's face remained stern. "So you can still Fusion Summon, brat. Do you think I'm terrified of your dragon?"
"I don't want you to be scared," Yuya replied. "Starving Venom loves to fight, but now he fights to show everyone the most exciting battles!"
Chronos groaned.
"I'll end my turn here," Yuya concluded. "The spotlight's on you, professor!"
Yuya ended his turn with three monsters on the field, one card in his hand, and one card in his Pendulum Zone. His Life Points were sitting at 4500.
Chronos drew a card. Now with six cards in his hand, he started to formulate his path to victory.
"I activate the Continuous Spell, Ancient Gear Fortress."
Chronos placed a card on his blade. The card materialized onto the field. Its artwork depicted an ancient, weathered fortress atop of a cliff.
"Attivare, Ancient Gear Catapult!"
He placed another card on his blade. This time, a strange, tank-like contraption appeared on the field. It spun the top of its body around, turning its cannon and aiming it at Ancient Gear Fortress.
"While I control no monsters, I can destroy one face-up card I control. And if I do, I can Special Summon an Ancient Gear monster from my Deck."
The catapult started to hum. A soft, pulsating glow shone fro the tip of the cannon's barel. And then, a stream of light shot out and blasted Ancient Gear Fortress. This lead to the sound of the card shattering, smoke and rubble spreading over Chronos's side of the field.
"When my Fortress is destroyed, I can Special Summon an Ancient Gear Monster from my hand or Graveyard."
The smoke started to clear. Now, standing before Chronos were two robotic monsters: Ancient Gear Wyvern (ATK 1700), and a tall, gangly humanoid known as Ancient Gear Doctorate. (ATK 1500)
"When Ancient Gear Wyvern is summoned, I can add an Ancient Gear card to my hand," Chronos explained. "I add Ancient Gear Golem - Ultimate Pound."
Crowler's deck ejected the card at the top of his deck. Chronos snatched it up and presented it to the crowd of students. This was followed by some awes and murmurs from the audience.
Yuri, what's that card? Yuya asked.
Yuri didn't answer. No one did.
Hmm...
"I tribute my two monsters to Tribute Summon!" Chronos went on. "Arise from the past and bring your destructive powers down on your enemies! Arise, grande mostro! Ancient Gear Golem - Ultimate Pound!"
The two robotic monsters vanished from the field. Now, rising from the ground, was an enormous, hulking behemoth. It clawed its way out of the floor and dragged itself onto the field. Then, with the sound of juttering gears accompanying its movements, the monster slowly rose into a standing position. (ATK 3000)
Yuya's eyes dropped down to his Duel Disk's screen. He studied the monster's card thoroughly, reading every bit of information he could. And as he read its effects, looked at its ATK and DEF, and looked back to the monster himself, he knew that the monster was going to be dangerous.
But why didn't he just summon it with Catapult's effect?
"Doctorate's effect attiva," Chronos announced to the audience. "When this monster is tributed for the Tribute Summon of an Ancient Gear monster, I gain 500 Life Points." (Chronos: 4000 → 4500)
Yuya closed his eyes. What do you guys think?
That can't be it, Yugo told him. He was talking about conserving resources before we showed up.
Maybe he's also playing defensively, like us, Yuto added. Keep his Life Points high to make a One Turn Kill more difficult.
Let's wait and see how his turn goes.
"Fase di battaglia!" Chronos declared. "Ancient Gear Golem - Ultimate Pound attacks Odd-Eyes Meteorburst Dragon."
Golem sauntered towards Yuya's side of the field. As it moved closer to him, it raised its right arm and pulled it back. It threw its fist down onto Odd-Eyes Meteorburst Dragon, shattering it. (Yuya: 4500 → 3500)
"My monster inflicts piercing damage when it attacks a Defense position monster," Chronos explained. "So you still take the damage!"
"Piercing damage?" Yuya asked. "So playing defensively won't work, then."
"Sais non fini! When this card destroys an opponent's monster in battle, I can discard a Machine-type monster; Ultimate Pound can attack again!"
Yuya gulped. Ancient Gear Golem once again towered over him, pulling its mechanized fist back. It brought its fist down on Starving Venom, who threw its hands up to try and hold off the fist. But the weight was too much, and the hand ploughed through Starving Venom's body. (Yuya: 3500 → 3300)
"Starving Venom's effect!" Yuya declared. "If this card is destroyed, I can destroy as many... Special... Summoned monsters..."
Well, this was awkward. He briefly forgot that Chronos's monster wasn't Special Summoned. He cringed and slapped his forehead.
"That's why I Tribute Summoned my Golem!" Chronos laughed. "I won't fall for your tricks again, Yuri!"
"But I'm not Yuri," Yuya replied. "I'm Yuya."
"Don't you lie to me! I would recognize the bambino who carded me!"
Yuya's eyes bulged from his head. He frantically dub deep into his mind, hoping to feel Yuri's presence. Some sort of answer or explanation for this revelation. But unfortunately, Yuri wasn't answering him.
"I didn't card you!" Yuy pleaded. "Please, that wasn't... exactly me!"
"I still remember you laughing at me when I lost," Chronos went on. "You knew it was against the rules, but you did it anyway! And why did you do it?"
"I don't know! I didn't do it!"
"Do you know why?!" Chronos screamed.
Yuya felt a flash of a memory in his mind. A fuzzy, hard-to-see memory. He wasn't sure what it was. But he could hear a familiar laugh, and see the horrible panic on Chronos's face before he vanished from sight.
"... Because it was funny," Yuya said quietly. "And no one would have dared to stand up against Yuri."
"That's right," Chronos said gravely. "I was gone for nearly a year. That part of my life is gone forever. Because you stole it from me!"
Yuya looked at his opponent wih sad eyes. He could feel the sorrow from each and every word he said. And to make it worse, the vision in his head was becoming clearer. Yuri's cruel laughter continued to echo on.
He could also hear Yuri, the actual Yuri, giggle away.
"I now attivare the Spell, Ancient Gear Scrapping!" Chronos shouted. "I can destroy one card I control, then Special Summon an Ancient Gear Token to my field!"
The enormous golem hunched over Yuya' side of the field. Its body let out a long, ominous groan. Bolts and wires started to fall from its body. Its arm detatched from its shoulder, falling down on the field. Its head slid off its body and fell towards Yuya. it would have crushed him, had it (and the rest of the body) not shattered.
A small, lonely gear now materialized onto Chronos's side of the field. (DEF 0)
"But why would he destroy his own monster?" Sawatari wondered. "After all that talk about resources, you'd think he wouldn't waste his best card."
"It's probably part of a bigger strategy," Gongenzaka explained. "Honestly, this sort of thing should be expected; Duel Monsters is built around weird moves."
The audience was now talking amongst themselves. Many of them were excited for the next move their teacher would make, while other, younger students expressed confuion. Chronos cleared his throat to silence the crowd.
"When Ultimate Pound is destroyed by battle or card effect:, I can add Polymerization to my hand, along with adding another Ancient Gear monster from my Graveyard to hand."
A card was ejected from the middle of Chronos's deck, while Ancient Gear Doctorate was ejected from the Graveyard slot. Chronos pulled these two cards up and presented them to his opponent.
"Now, I fuse my Ancient Gear Token with my Ancient Gear Golem - Mechanized Mele!"
The two monsters were lifted above the professor, into a vortex of swirling colors. Their metal forms contorted and melded together, taking the shape of a new creation.
"Mechanical soldiers inheriting ancient anima. Now, forma an allegiance and unire, and be reborn together as a nuovo anatra! Fusion Summon!"
The combined creation now became an evil-looking creature. I was like a humanoid figure with dragon-like feet and wings, but the head of a serpent. Its glowing red eyes pierced through Yuya's heart.
"Level 8! Ancient Gear Howitzer!" (DEF 1800)
Yuya pushed some hair from his eyes. "Okay, I think I know your strategy now."
"Attivare, Howitzer's effect!" Chronos went on. "During my Main Phase, I can inflict 1000 points of damage to my opponent!"
Howitzer's eyes glowed. Red laser beams shot out from its eyes, crossing the field and hitting the ground before Yuya. (Yuya: 3300 → 2300)
Yuya could feel memories floating through his mind. He remembered this. He remembered being hit with this very same effect, as Yuri.
"I end my turn here. Your move, bambino."
Chronos ended his turn with with Ancient Gear Howitzer on his field, and one card in his hand. He had 4500 Life Points.
Yuzu watched Yuya as he drew his next card. Even if she couldn't help him now, she could still give his show all the attention it deserved.
No one respects that man as a teacher, but as a duelist, he's the master of Ancient Gear deck, Serena said quietly. Obelisk Force was trained under him.
Yuzu sighed. He's fighting Professor Chronos for Sawatari's sake. He won't allow himself to lose now.
Typical Yuya.
... So, how do you think Yuya would look in tighter pants? Ruri asked. Like, something more flattering than his regular baggy pants.
Stop talking, Rin told her.
I think about that a lot, too, Serena agreed.
Stop talking, Rin told her.
"With my Scale 8 Performapal Odd-Eyes Stack Bonuser, I set the Pendulum Scale!"
Yuya placed the card on the far end of his disk. Rising up in a column of light was Odd-Eyes Stack Bonuser, a gorilla with the lower half of a centaur. Once it reached the top of the column, the number 8 appeared below it.
"With this, I can now Pendulum Summon monsters with Levels between 4 and 7. Pendulum Summon!"
A swirling pendulum swayed circles in the sky. From within the center of that circle, twin balls of light fell to the ground. They became Silver Claw (ATK 1800) and Skullcrobat Joker. (ATK 1800)
"Medicimian's effect activates-"
A ball of paper already hit Yuya's head, much to his shock. This just caused more laughter from the audience. (Yuya: 2300 → 2800)
"Young man, take this battle more seriously!" Chronos barked. "You do not make a mockery of this situation!"
"But sir, I am taking this match seriously!" Yuya responded, egao-ing. "That doesn't mean we can't have fun though, right?"
Chronos rubbed his own chin. "... I suppose that's true. I'm enjoying my inevitable victory, oui."
"Now let's keep the fun going!" Yuya announced. "Silver Claw attacks your Ancient Gear Howitzer! And at this time, the ATK of all Performapals I control is increased by 300 when it attacks." (ATK 1800 → 2100)
The prideful silver wolf dashed across the field, baring its fangs. It jumped onto Howitzer's chest and knocked it to the ground. Then, its claws ripped through the monster's metal exterior, causing it to crackle and shatter.
"Attivare, Howitzer's effect!" said Chronos. "When it's destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon an Ancient Gear monster from my Deck, ignoring its Summoning conditions."
Now, rising from the ground, was an enormous, hulking behemoth. It clawed its way out of the floor and dragged itself onto the field, while Silver Claw retreated to Yuya's side. Now Ancient Gear Golem rose into a standing position again, towering over the field. (ATK 3000)
This time, Yuya wasn't so worried. "I overlay my Level 4 Performapal Silver Claw and Performapal Skullcrobat Joker!"
A black hole opened in the center of the field. The two monsters became balls of light, then allowed themselves to be sucked into the center of the hole.
"Formed from pitch-black darkness, to fight those foolish enough to oppose it with its treacherous fangs!" Yuya cried. "Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon!"
The hole exploded into wave of light, and a black dragon rose in front Yuya. Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon let out a defiant roar as a threat to the enemy. (ATK 2500)
"Dark Rebellion's effect! I can detach an Overlay Unit to target one of your monsters; it loses half of its ATK, and Dark Rebellion gains that amount. Treason Discharge!"
An Overlay Unit disappeared into Dark Rebellion's mouth. The dragon emitted a purple lighting, which smashed against the enormous golem's chest. (ATK 3000 → 1500) (Dark Rebellion ATK 2500 → 4000)
"Again! Treason Discharge!"
(ATK 1500 → 750) (Dark Rebellion ATK 4000 → 4750)
"A strong monster that will be hard to overcome!" declared Yuya. "And due to Stack Bonuser's effect, Dark Rebellion's ATK won't return to normal after my turn ends. I set a card and end my turn. Over to you, professor!"
Yuya ended his turn with Dark Rebellion and Splashmammoth on the field, his two Pendulum Scales, a face-down Spell of Trap, and no cards in his hand. His Life Points were at a comfy 2800.
Yuya kept on egao-ing. He had Yuri's memories in his mind, showing him Chronos's strongest cards. And as he looked down at Chronos's field, he was beginning to work out the combination of cards that could bring them out.
If Chronos had a bit of luck (and, let's face it, everyone does in duels), he'd bring out that monster. And if Yuya had a bit of luck, he'd be able to beat it.
The audience immediately went into discussion. Words and whispers were exchanged amongst the students, all expressing awe over the turn of events. Within an instant, this strange new kid created a power monster, and their teacher's own creation was reduced to a weakling.
As he drew his neck card, Chronos raised an eyebrow at Yuya. He knew that this would be too strong for his monsters to defeat on their own. The situation wasn't as bad as before, but...
But nothing. Chronos had to admit that this duel was grabbing at his attention. This time, he wasn't facing an impossible obstacle. This duel was testing his skills, but it wasn't a hopeless battle like the last time.
He egao'd. He could do this. He knew he could. And as he looked down at the card he drew, he could see hope for his victory.
"I attivare the Spell Card, Jar of Avarice!" he declared. "I can return five monsters from my Graveyard to my Deck, then draw two cards!"
When Chronos placed the card on his blade, the image of an enormous, grinning pot appeared on the field. Five cards floated from the ground around it, lifting themselsed up and falling inside the pot. And once every card was placed inside, the pot licked its lips and shattered.
Chronos egao'd smugly, then drew two cards. His hand now held three cards.
"I summon Ancient Gear Hunting Hound," Chronos went on. "When it's Normal Summoned, I can inflict 600 points of damage to my opponent."
A robotic dog-machine materialized onto the field. (ATK 1000) It growled at Yuya, then opened its mouth, letting a blast of fire cross the field. It slipped through Yuya's monsters and hit him directly. (Yuya: 2800 → 2200)
"Attivare, Hunting Hound's second effect: I can Fusion Summon an Ancient Gear Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck, using monsters from my hand and field as the Materials."
"Here it comes..." Yuya told himself.
"Mechanized hounds! Robotic behemoth! Become one now and demonstrate your tremendous power!"
Hunting Hound leapt into the air. Another Hunting Hound, and an Ancient Gear Golem, materialized on either side of the monster, and the three melded together.
"Fusion Summon! Bonjour! Level 10, Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem!"
The melded creation became an even bigger, hulking monster, a centaur Ancient Gear Golem. It descended to the field and towered over everyone on the field. (ATK 4400)
"That's not enough to beat Dark Rebellion," Yuya told him. "But I believe you can figure it out sir!"
Chronos egao'd. "Your approval means nothing Yuri... Although it is appreciated, I suppose."
He held up a card and revealed it to Yuya. "I play this molto bene Spell card, Ancient Gear Castle!"
A card rose up on the field. This time, the art depicted an ancient castle, armed with large gears, tanks, and other weaponry. The castle that was hidden in the Ancient Gear Fortress.
"All Ancient Gear monsters gain 300 ATK, making my monster that much stronger." (ATK 4400 → 4700)
"But that's not enough to destroy Dark Rebellion," Yuya countered.
"Dark Rebellion's not my target, bambino," Chronos responded, wagging a finger at him. "My target is Performapal Splashmamoth!"
The audience murmured. Sawatari pulled at his hair, while Yuzu clenched her fists. Gongenzaka started to sweat, but tried to maintain his composure for the time being.
"Now you'll know what it's like to lose everything!" Chronos cackled. "Any last words, Yuri?"
Chronos pointed a finger at Yuya. Yuya egao'd, much to the surprise of his opponent.
"This duel's been a lot of fun!" Yuya told him. "I just hope you're entertained, too."
Chronos lowered his finger. The sneer on his face dropped, and his eyes became softer. Looking at the innocent, happy boy before him, he finally realized something: this boy was nothing like the monster that carded him.
"... Admittedly, I am," he confessed. "But it's over now. When my Golem attacks, you can't activate Spell or Trap cards to save you. You can't defeat me now."
"I wouldn't be so sure of that!" Yuya said confidently.
"Que?"
"I'm going to activate my face-down before you begin the Battle Phase!" Yuya declared. "Trap, activate! Mysterious Hats!"
The face-down Trap rose up, displaying the image of three top hats: one red, one green, and one yellow.
"When I control two or more monsters, I can flip them into face-down Defense position," Yuya explained. "Then, I can place one Spell or Trap card from my Deck in Defense Position."
Three large hats, each with a different color, materialized on the field. A red hat materialized around Dark Rebellion, hiding it from sight. A yellow hat did the same for Splashmammoth. And a third, green hat simply appeared beside the other two. The three hats then started to change between multiple colors, and they started to shuffle around the field. (DEF 0)
"These three cards are treated as monsters with 0 ATK and DEF," he went on. "But piercing damage will always be calculated. This means that I'd be taking a lot of damage!"
"Why would you do this?" Chronos asked, incredulous. "Now you'll take even more damage!"
Now it was Yuya's turn to wag his finger at his opponent. "Because if you attack the Spell card, battle damage isn't calculated, and the Battle Phase ends."
"I see," said Chronos. "So this whole match comes to a gamble, then."
"Yep! You have a two-in-three chance of attacking a monster and winning. The odds are against me, but the rewards can save me."
Chronos egao'd. "Alright. I'll play your little game, bambino."
The three hats stopped their shuffling. They aligned themselves in a horizontal lin before Yuya. The colors eventually stopped changing, and the hats each took a unique color once more.
Chronos stared at the cards, then spoke under his breath. His eyes looked to each hat, studying any of them for some sort of tell.
A silence fell over the crowd. Everyone was focused on the duel, waiting to see what would happen next. Some kids were literally on the edges of their seat. This could have been one of the greatest turn-arounds they had ever seen, or the biggest mistake.
After a moment of contemplation, Chronos raised a finger. He pointed a hand at the red hat, right in the center. "Attack, Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem!"
The centaur monster ran towards the hats. It raised both fists above its head, then slammed them right down on the red hat. The resulting impact created smoke that obscured that part of the field.
All eyes were on the field. As the smoke started to clear away, the audience collectively rose from their seats and congregated towards the edge of the stands.
The smoke cleared. Rising up from the tattered remains of the hat were faces. The smiling, happy faces created from Smile World spread from the ground and spread through the field.
"You hit Smile World, my Spell!" Yuya happily explained. "So luckily, I survive another turn."
Chronos stood there, stunned by the outcome. His eyes were practically locked on the hats as they faded from sight, revealing the two monsters. But he could hear the cheers, groans, gasps, screams, laughter, clapping. He heard every sound the audience made. His students were going wild.
"Because Dark Rebellion was flipped face-down, and back up, its ATK boosts are removed," Yuya explained. "So, its ATK returns to its original state." (Dark Rebellion ATK 4750 → 2500)
"You have a lot of work cut out for you, mio amico," Chronos told him. "Even if you overcome my Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem, its effect will summon another Ancient Gear Golem to protect me. And when my next turn comes, I'll defeat you."
Yuya winked. "We'll see, professor."
Chronos ended his turn with Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem and Ancient Gear Castle on his field, and 4500 Life Points. He had no cards in his hand.
Yuya looked to the card in his hands, to his field, to his opponent's field, and to his opponent. Surviving the last turn was a miracle in itself. To pull off the strategy he wanted wouldn't be too helpful, because he had to deal with the inevitable Ancient Gear Golem. Maybe he'd survive Chronos's next turn, if he was lucky. But from where he stood right now, he decided that a swift victory was needed to ensure Sawatari's future at the school.
While members of the audience returned to their seats, Yuzu, Sawatari and Gongenzaka stayed up. The three of them started to slap slowly, but loudly for Yuya.
Soon, more students started to join in. To Yuya's surprise, the rhythm of the clapping grew stronger and stronger as more people joined. The stomping of Splashmammoth's foot joined in on the beat, and Dark Rebellion's own claps almost dwarfed the sound of everyone else.
Looking across the field, he could even see Chronos joining in on the clapping. He had a big egao on his face. He was also waiting to see where this match would take them.
Yuya placed a hand on his deck. He could feel the presence of Yuto, Yugo, and even Yuri join him. Together, they drew a card.
Yuya looked at the card in his hand. The perfect Spell Card to turn this all around.
"I activate The Phantom Knights' Rank-Up-Magic Launch!" Yuya announced. "I can target a DARK Xyz monster I control without any Overlay Units; I can Xyz Summon an Xyz monster that's one Rank higher, from my Extra Deck, using that monster and this Spell Card as material."
The black hole ripped through the ground, and it extended its black tendrils around Dark Rebellion. Dark Rebellion was immediately wrapped up in a sea of ever-rising tendrils, blanketing in black until it was completely covered.
"From the depths of purgatory, dedicate to the unsinking souls your song of rebellion!" Yuya chanted. "Appear and echo forevermore! Rank-Up Xyz Change! Rank 5, Dark Requiem Xyz Dragon!"
The monster let out a roar. It clawed through the tendrils, ripping apart the darkness that engulfed it. It now sported a new, armored body and wings that displayed a wide array of beautiful colors. (ATK 3000)
"Now swing, pendulum of the soul!" he shouted. "Pendulum Summon! From my hand, I call on the dragon with dichromatic eyes!"
A swirling pendulum swayed circles in the sky. From within the center of that circle, a light fell andc crashed before Yuya. His ace and closest card, Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon stood before him. (ATK 2500)
"Dark Requiem's effect! By detaching an Overlay Unit, I can reduce one of your monster's ATK to 0, and Dark Requiem gains that ATK."
Dark Requiem flew into the air. It spread its glorious wings. The flrescent lighting's rays were caught in them, casting beautiful lights across the entire stadium. Everyone was left gasping in amazement over the beautiful display of colors.
The light fell on Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem, now crackling and pulsating light lightning. (Golem ATK 4400 → 0) (Dark Requiem ATK 3000 → 7400)
The rhythmic clapping stopped. Now, the audience burst into their own varying applause the cheers. Even Chronos was left awe-struck by the monster before him.
"Your heart and soul will battle mine," Yuya declared. "Battle! Odd-Eyes attacks your Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem! Spiral Flame Strike!"
Odd-Eyes pulled its head back and opened its mouth. A spiraling red flame shot out and swirled, smashing against the Golem. Smoke poured from the monster's body, before its body came tumbling down.
Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem was now on its knees. It fell to its side with a groan, then vanished from sight.
"Gotcha!" Yuya cheered.
(Chronos: 4500 → 0)
The Solid Visions cards faded into sparkles, then fading away entirely. All that was left were Chronos and Yuya, who now met each other at the center of the stage.
"That was a great duel, professor!" Yuya exclaimed. He held out a hand to the man.
Chronos took the hand in his own and shook it. "You really aren't anything like that Yuri boy, are you?"
"Yes and no," Yuya admitted. "But I'm Yuya. Yuya Sakaki."
"Mr. Sakaki, I think you and your friends earned a place at this school. After we register you all and hold exams for your friends, I'll be escorting you to your dorms.
"Wha? Dorms?" Yuya questioned. "But only Sawatari is stayi-"
"Nonsense!" Chronos exclaimed. "Consider that duel your entrance exam. As far as I'm concerned, you earned your place in this school."
Chronos put his hands on Yuya's shoulders and turned him around. Then, he forcefully lead the boy towards one of the exit doors.
"With your skill, you'll definitely be placed in Ra!" he happily explained. "But I'll work on getting you into Obelisk immediately, so you can stay close to me and learn as much as you can!"
"That's... great," Yuya mumbled.
From the corner of his eye, Yuya noticed the crowd. In the nosebleeds section of the stands, staring right back at him, was Reiji Akaba.
A/N: I gave Chronos a few OC cards to help his deck, and to make it more personalized to his style. (Scrapping can make use of his Golem's destruction effect and set up a Fusion play, Doctorate provides a bonus when Tributed.) A lot of people use Ancient Gears in ARC-V, but I wanted to make his version of the deck feel different. And because Yuya would have otherwise steamrolled through him.
EDIT: HunteHQ pointed out an error: Dark Rebellion's effect only lasts until the end of the turn it was used. I changed Odd-Eyes Unicorn to Stack Bonuser to allow the bonus to stay. I could have easily written this out and changed things, but I feel like creating a wall for Chronos to overcome would have shown his resolve and skill.
Next time: Yuya and Sora enjoy the school's hot springs. Serena's curiosity gets the better of her.