Chapter Thirty-Six
"This is bad," Yuito mused when he saw the five monsters that his father had put on the field. Five big Ritual Monsters, each one powered by a Crosspoint.
"As I said," his father replied, "I will bear down on you with all the might of my Crosspoints. But since I already battled this turn, I cannot attack anymore, so I just move the turn to you."
"Very well then," Yuito said, "I draw."
As he added the card to his hand, his father interrupted him: "Whenever a card is added from your Deck to your hand, the effect of Green Cross – Construct is activated, which will increase my Life Points by 1000."
Suito: 1700 LP → 2700 LP
"Whenever, huh?"
"Whenever. Whether you search them or you draw them."
With a groan, Yuito inserted the next card from his hand in his Duel Disk: "I activate my Spell Card Blue for Two. I can discard my Rosetta Scribestone in order to draw two new cards."
Suitos father just chuckled as his Life Points rose, while Yuito examined his two new cards.
Suito: 2700 LP → 4700 LP
Great Excavation and Damage Tether. Those might allow him to live another turn.
"I activate the effect of my Rosetta Scribestone in my Graveyard! By banishing my Force and Rune Sorcerers from my Graveyard, it allows me to Special Summon any Ritual Monster from my hand, but it will be unable to attack until the End Phase."
A stele emerged from the ground behind Yuito as he continued: "Ritual Summon! Offer your guidance to the blind men and lead them towards a brighter future! Level 7, Runecross Diviner!" A female figure emerged from the stele before it took a seat on the floor in front of Yuito. It was clad in loose gowns with glowing runes wrapping all along her arms and legs. A large boulder appeared in front of her, rune engraved in it, which she held her glowing eyes fixed on.
Runecross Diviner: EARTH / Spellcaster / Ritual / Effect / Level 7 / 2300 ATK / 2600 DEF
"You're playing Defense?" Suito laughed, "I'd be surprised if that helped you in any way."
"It might help me last long enough until I figure out how to overcome your monsters."
"I doubt that," his father scorned, "whenever a monster is Special Summon to your field, the effect of Red Cross – Maiden activates and raises my Life Points by either its ATK or DEF, whichever is higher."
Suito: 4700 LP → 6300 LP
Yuito just gritted his teeth at that: "So not only do you gain LP when I draw, but also when I Summon monsters?"
"Oh, at more instances than just that I'm afraid," Suito replied, "you'll see."
"Very well then," Yuito said, "I will Set two cards face-down, then I end my turn."
"During your End Phase, I shall activate the effect of my Blue Cross – Butterfly. During your End Phase, it will raise the ATK of all monsters I control by the amount of which my Life Points are higher than yours."
The glass butterfly spread its wings, engulfing the other monsters on Suitos field in flames.
Yellow Cross – Angel: 2800 ATK → 7000 ATK
Blue Cross – Butterfly: 3050 ATK → 7250 ATK
Red Cross – Maiden: 3000 ATK → 7200 ATK
Orange Cross – Marksman: 3500 ATK → 7700 ATK
Green Cross – Construct: 2300 ATK → 6500 ATK
Yuito just stared in awe as the attack points of his fathers monsters skyrocketed.
"That's not possible," he said, "how can you gain so much power when its not even your turn?"
"My poor son, you have no idea what's possible," Suito said, "my turn begins, but due to the drawback of my Kaleidochaos I cannot draw or Summon anything for the next four turns. But why would I even need to, when I can just use the effect of my Marksman."
He pointed upwards at the monster, which readied its gun and took aim at Yuitos Ritual Monster: "Once per turn, I can choose one monster on the field and gain Life Points equal to its ATK, before destroying all monsters you control with an ATK of less than the Life Points are gained. And my Marksman is currently the strongest monster on the field, so why not just choose him?"
The glass monster loaded its gun with a lightning bolt that rained sparks down onto Yuito, before firing a shot straight onto Runecross Diviner.
Suito: 6300 LP → 14000 LP
As the dust on the field cleared, both Yuito and his monster stood there undaunted.
"Up to two times per turn, my Diviner can negate an instance of destruction by sending a Stone Crypt monster from my Deck to my Graveyard," Yuito explained, as he showed and then discarded his Stone Crypt Shield Sorcerer.
"That is as temporary as it can be," Suito continued, "but not like it matters. I can still just defeat you with just brute force. I activate the second effect of my Butterfly! I can banish one monster from my Graveyard, like my Kaleidocorpus Moment Capture, in order to force all your monsters into Attack Position, before draining them of all their ATK and adding it to my LP!"
The glass monsters wings heated up before it started to blast a gust of wind towards Yuitos monster, which stood up, burned by the heat.
Runecross Diviner: 2300 ATK → 0 ATK
Suito: 14000 LP → 16300 LP
"Now, I use the second effect of my Maiden," Suito went on, "when you control a monster with less ATK than half of my Life Points, I can move that card face-down into my Spell or Trap Card Zone. Think of it as containment."
"I think of it as simulating an Overlay Unit," Yuito intervened, "since that monster is clearly copying Hatsukos ace."
"I cannot deny that my monsters keep some of their traits from their previous owners. But think of it however you want, there is no denying that my move will leave you utterly defenseless."
"Almost defenseless," Yuito replied, "when my Diviner is targeted for an attack or an effect, I can draw one card and Set it to my field, and if it is a Trap Card, I can immediately activate it."
The glass maiden on his fathers field spun faster and faster to create a vortex and suck in Yuitos Ritual Monster, which gave out one final shriek, causing the boulder in front of it to glow with light.
"As if I'd let you do that," Suito continued, "while my Life Points are higher than yours and a monster on your field activates an effect, I can immediately shut that down by paying 1000 LP, due to the second effect of my Green Cross – Construct."
The boulder was engulfed in green light before it crumbled and the woman was sucked up by the vortex, being turned into a glass figurine on Suitos field.
Suito: 16300 LP → 15300 LP
"Took down 1000 of those points, what else to I have to fear?" Yuito said defiantly.
"Don't get too cocky boy. You see, even if you would've had the card to respond to that effect, you couldn't have. Not while I have more than double the points you have," his father threatened him, "now, I activate the second effect of Orange Cross – Marksman. While my Life Points are higher than yours, I can choose one card on each of our sides of the field to destroy. I choose to destroy both the Diviner you gave me and the right one of your Set cards."
"The right one huh?" Yuito said, immediately flipping that card up, "very bad luck there, I immediately activate my Great Excavation!"
"Great Excavation? Yeah, I remember that one. It's a roadblock, but not a too hefty one."
"All I need is enough roadblocks. First of all, Great Excavation lets me place my Stone Crypt Shield Sorcerer face-up in my Spell and Trap Card Zone as a Continuous Spell Card, while simultaneously forcing you to choose a single monster on your field. No other may attack or activate their effects until the End Phase!"
"Fine," Suito chuckled, "I choose my Blue Cross – Butterfly."
Large walls of stone appeared around the two of them, removing all of Suitos monsters from the field of view, except the glass butterfly.
"I have a surplus of power anyways. Butterfly, attack my son directly, Crosspoint Storm!" The glass figurine created a gale with its wings, colorful glass particles being blown by the wind.
"I activate my second Trap Card: Damage Tether!" he said, "this one lets me add one monster from my Graveyard back to my hand, and caps off any Battle Damage I would take this turn at half that monsters ATK."
Yuito knew that if he wanted to have a chance to take these monsters down he needed his End Wizard back. Even though it wasn't nearly strong enough to take them out. Even though he needed to draw a Ritual Spell next turn to even Summon it.
It was his only choice.
He slipped the card out of his Graveyard and showed it to his father, while a purple barrier around him dampened the force of his fathers attack.
Yuito: 2100 LP → 600 LP
"A pathetic attempt. A single Crosspoint on its own cannot stand against five. But you outlasted a turn against me, that is impressive," his father said, "during my End Phase, the effect of my Butterfly activates one more time, letting my monsters gain ATK equal to the difference in our Life Points."
The stone walls disappeared as the turn had ended, allowing Suiots four other Ritual Monsters back onto the battlefield and, almost immediately, the flames that surrounded them flared up in intensity.
Yellow Cross – Angel: 7000 ATK → 21700 ATK
Blue Cross – Butterfly: 7250 ATK → 21950 ATK
Red Cross – Maiden: 7200 ATK → 21900 ATK
Orange Cross – Marksman: 7700 ATK → 22400 ATK
Green Cross – Construct: 6500 ATK → 21200 ATK
Yuito stared at the monsters towering above him in horror. All he had left was his End Wizard in his hand and Shield Sorcerer as a Spell card. Granted, he could use it as the entire tribute for End Wizard should he draw a Ritual Spell Card, but on his own his Wizard wouldn't be able to take the monsters down.
He would use his monsters effect in the Battle Phase, cut all their ATK in half and add it to its own, however, his fathers Green Cross would negate the attempt and prevent him from fighting back with End Wizards own effect.
"Please, draw your card," Suito said, "stalling for time doesn't work right now. I told you what happens if none of us wins."
"The energy discharges in an uncontrolled way, in an explosion that could kill god knows how many people," Yuito replied, "I'm aware."
He put his hand on top of his deck to channel all his luck, but before he could draw, the cathedrals gate swung open.
"This should be it," Keiji said, staggering in, being supported by both Hatsuko and Saburo.
"Of course it…" Hatsuko started what could only be a snarky response, but then she spotted the five monsters on the field, "… shit."
"Damn," Saburo said, "looks like we made it in the nick of time."
"What are you guys doing here?" Yuito asked, attempting to walk over to them, only to be stopped by the faint rainbow forcefield around him.
"I don't know, moral support probably," Keiji replied.
"You belong in a hospital, not in the convergence," Yuito said concerned, "how'd you even get here?"
"I'll have you know I went to the Royal Palace, punched a queen, survived an airship crash and fought a gigantic white beast tonight, so being driven here by car is the least taxing thing on my health I've been through."
"We found him wandering on the street with Jeanie and that Daichi guy we met a while back," Hatsuko explained, "we picked him up because he wanted to get here as well."
"And what do you plan on doing?" Yuito gritted his teeth, "pull out a gun and shoot me in the head?"
"If I had a gun, a lot of the shit I've been through these last few days would've been a lot less troubling," Hatsuko replied, "also, you don't get to give me flak for trying to safe the world."
"So if Ava would've killed me the world would be safe?"
"So I've been told."
"And you believed that?"
"Yes," Hatsuko replied, "because I was trapped in a scheme that was way too big for me, not knowing shit about the what's and the how's of it all."
"So if a crazy bitch like Ava walks up to you and tells you to kill your friend, you just input their address into their GPS?"
"We've known each other for a week. Also, I didn't 'just' do it. That decision wrecked my shit ever since I made it."
"You're telling me you regret it?"
"I don't regret it. In hindsight I'd do the same thing again. If I had known for certain your father was alive back then, I'd regret what I did, because it would've been pointless. If I had known for certain that you would've refused to fight in the convergence, I would regret it as well. But I didn't, so I don't. It may have been wrong to do it, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't do it again."
"I see Ava only gave you half the information girl," Suito chuckled, "honestly with all her actions, I'm questioning if she even knew it. Someone needs to wish to the Crosspoints. If it doesn't all the energy that builds up during the convergence discharges completely out of control. I don't know the full extend, but it could be a potential world ending threat."
"I didn't ask for your opinion," Hatsuko said, "and the way I see it, between you and Ava, anyone could be wrong. All I know is that I trust her more than I trust you."
"Evas knowledge of the Crosspoints is the vastest in the world, as well as the most trustworthy. And she told me everything she-," Suito replied, only to be cut of by Keiji.
"You mean the same Eva that tried to kill me in an Airship crash before trying to kill me by squashing me under her monsters giant hand?" he said, "Sorry, but I don't see how she's more trustworthy than the girl that saved me from her."
"You fought Eva and lived to tell the tale?" Suito replied, "that is impressive, but I shouldn't be surprised, given you also survived the damage Tian and Alessia inflicted upon you."
"Tian and… what?" Yuito said, as Keiji just touched the pink transplanted skin in his face, "Tian and Alessia did this to him?"
"He refused to give up the orange Crosspoint. They had no choice."
Yuito thought back to the time in the hospital, when he was watching over Keijis body and Alessia stormed in, seemingly concerned to death over the two of them. It made him want to throw up right on the spot.
"Where is she?" Yuito pressed through his teeth, "I'm gonna fucking kill her."
"She's dead," Hatsuko and Keiji said in unison, before Hatsuko continued explaining, "she took my Crosspoint from me, after which she held two for a brief period of time. Let's just say she clearly didn't have the Elder Blood."
If that message somehow affected Suito, he made a good effort hiding it: "Considering you both are here, I take it Carter also expired?"
"Fucker had his skull split open and died on the sidewalk," Saburo coldly stated.
"Alessia faded, Carter dead, Tian disappeared and Eva… well considering she's not here, I would say she is currently in peril as well," Suito said, "it has been a while since I felt this lonely."
"Do you want my pity?" Yuito snapped, "that would be a cruel idea, wouldn't it?"
"I suppose it would," Suito replied, "but anyhow. No matter what is right, and what is wrong, whoever knows best and who doesn't, nothing of that matters anymore. The convergence is almost over. There is no way you can still turn this around. One Crosspoint cannot stand against five."
"The math holds up," Hatsuko mused, "but what happened to the law of equality behind the Contests of Champions? Five versus one isn't really equal."
"Yeah, she's right," Keiji said, "Yuito, help yourself to the orange one, that one used to be mine. Sounds like the only way you can still win this thing."
"The red one used to be mine," Hatsuko said, "if you and your Elder Blood magic can somehow even the playing field, then those would probably be your best bets."
Yuito just wanted to scoff at that and tell them how it wouldn't work but… how did he know it wouldn't work? When he claimed the purple Crosspoint he did so before he had even won. Maybe he could so something similar.
So he just closed his eyes and tried to focus on the power around him. Back when he fought Officer Cole, it was like a vague vibration in the air, from a single Crosspoint that had been lying dormant over years.
Once he concentrated on it, it felt like an earthquake shaking his brain, she sheer power around him almost made him dizzy. But he also felt something else. A pushing. As if something tried to encourage him. That he should continue with what he was doing.
Was it the magical force behind the Contest of Champions? Was it so eager to even the odds that it wanted him to try?
He zoned in on Red Cross – Maiden and Orange Cross – Marksman and managed to locate the Crosspoints inside their cards. So he just pulled. And pulled. And after a few moments, they nudged. They slowly moved towards him, before they stopped and another force jerked them back. Suito wouldn't give them up without a fight, it seemed.
Hatsuko, Keiji and Saburo meanwhile just stood there, watching Yuito and his father stand there with their eyes closed, breathing heavily, until Saburo noticed a red light coming from Hatsukos Duel Disk.
When she pulled it out, she saw that her Psydame Magi-Veronique card was pulsating with red energy and that the same thing had also happened to Keijis Boltedge Nuclear Gunner.
"Looks like they still have some remnant of the Crosspoint in them," Hatsuko guessed, "whatever Yuitos doing, it seems to be working."
Yuito and his father in the meantime where mentally tugging over the two Crosspoints. Only that Suitos pull was getting gradually weaker, while Yuitos was getting stronger. It must have been… the Convergence? The Contest of Champions? Somehow, that force of energy was on Yuitos side.
And when he opened his eyes again, a red and an orange orb of light were floating in circles around him.
He was sweating, breathing heavily. Even though he had barely moved, it felt like he had just ripped the Crosspoints from the monsters hearts with his bare hands and dragged them over to his field. His father was the same, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"It doesn't matter," he said, "my cards still remain in the form that they have, so I still have five Crosspoint-powered monsters. You can barely Summon one monster with the cards you have left, let alone three. There is no way for you to win this game."
"I draw!" Yuito said, ignoring his father, "and from my hand, I activate the Spell Card Ephaphys Scribestone!"
Suito: 15300 LP → 16300 LP
"So you drew a Ritual Spell Card after all," Suito gritted his teeth, "lucky, but it won't matter though. Your End Wizard on his own cannot defeat me. Whatever other monster you may search, you won't be able to Summon."
"That's true, both of it," Yuito replied, "I cannot Summon three monsters this turn to make use of my two newly acquired Crosspoints. But maybe I won't need to do that. I just took a chance with the impossible and I succeeded. How about I do that again?"
"What do you mean?" his father nervously asked.
"Did anyone ever channel three Crosspoints into the same card?"
Without waiting for the answer, Yuito raised his End Wizard card over his head and directed the energy from the other two points into it.
"Ritual Summon!" he declared, as the card slowly morphed, feeling almost like it was burning right there in his hand with how much energy Yuito was forcing into it, "as the new day dawns and the future lies uncertain, open your eyes and forge the path the world will walk on! Level 8, Runecross Sunrise Wizard!"
Author-made cards:
Stone Crypt Shield Sorcerer / EARTH / Spellcaster-Type / Level 4 / 1700 ATK / 1200 DEF
Once per turn, if this card is targeted for an attack: You can negate that attack. If this card is the only monster you control, this effect can be used up to thrice per turn instead. A Ritual Monster that was Ritual Summoned using this card as tribute gains the following effect: ● This card can attack all Special Summoned monsters your opponent controls once each.
Runecross Diviner / EARTH / Spellcaster / Ritual / Effect / Level 7 / 2300 ATK / 2600 DEF
You can Ritual Summon this card with any "Scribestone" Ritual Spell Card. If this card is targeted for a card effect: You can draw 1 card and reveal it, then Set it to your side of the field (if possible). If it is a Trap, it can be activated this turn. If this card would be destroyed (by battle or by a card effect), you can send 1 "Stone Crypt" monster from your Deck to the GY instead.
Runecross End Wizard / EARTH / Spellcaster-Type / Ritual / Effect / Level 8 / 3000 ATK / 2500 DEF
You can Ritual Summon this card with any "Scribestone" Ritual Spell Card. Once per turn: You can half the ATK of all face-up Special Summoned monsters your opponent controls and if you do, this card gains ATK equal to the total ATK lost by this effect. These changes last until the End Phase. If your opponent activates a Special Summoned monsters effect: You can negate the activation and if you do, destroy it, then, this card gains ATK equal to half the destroyed monsters ATK. You can only use this effect of "Runecross End Wizard" once per turn.
Yellow Cross – Angel / LIGHT / Fairy / Ritual / Effect / Level 8 / 2800 ATK / 2800 DEF
Must first be Ritual Summoned. If this card is Special Summoned: Banish all face-up monsters, except Ritual Monsters, then, this card gains 500 ATK for each card banished by this effect. If your opponent takes damage (Battle or effect damage): Gain LP equal to the damage they took. If this card would be destroyed, you can banish 1 card from your Extra Deck instead. There can only be 1 face-up "Yellow Cross – Angel".
Blue Cross – Butterfly / FIRE / Insect / Ritual / Effect / Level 8 / 3050 ATK / 0 DEF
Must first be Ritual Summoned. Once per turn: You can banish 1 monster from your GY; Change all monsters your opponent controls to Attack Position and if you do, their ATK becomes 0, then, gain LP equal to the amount of ATK lost by this effect. During the End Phase, if your LP are higher than your opponents: Face-up Ritual Monsters you control gain ATK equal to your surplus. If this card would be destroyed, you can banish 1 card from your Extra Deck instead. There can only be 1 face-up "Blue Cross - Butterfly".
Red Cross – Maiden / LIGHT / Psychic / Ritual / Effect / Level 8 / 3000 ATK / 3000 DEF
Must first be Ritual Summoned. If your opponent Special Summons a monster: Gain LP equal to its ATK or DEF, whichever is higher. Once per turn: You can target 1 monster your opponent controls, with an ATK equal to or lower than half your LP; Place it face-up in your Spell/Trap Zone. If this card would be destroyed, you can banish 1 card from your Extra Deck instead. There can only be 1 face-up "Red Cross - Maiden".
Orange Cross – Marksman: LIGHT / Thunder / Ritual / Effect / Level 8 / 3500 ATK / 3300 DEF
Must first be Ritual Summoned. Once per turn: You can target 1 face-up monster your opponent controls; Gain LP equal to its ATK and if you do, destroy all face-up monsters your opponent controls with ATK less than the LP you gained. Once per turn, if your LP are higher than your opponents: You can target 1 card you control and 1 card your opponent controls; Destroy both targets. If this card would be destroyed, you can banish 1 card from your Extra Deck instead. There can only be 1 face-up "Orange Cross - Marksman".
Green Cross – Construct: WIND / Fairy / Ritual / Effect / Level 7 / 2300 ATK / 2000 DEF
Must first be Ritual Summoned. If your opponent adds a card(s) from their Deck to their hand (including by drawing it): Gain 1000 LP for each. If your opponent activates a monster effect: You can pay 1000 LP; Negate the activation. If your opponents LP are less than half of your LP when this effect is activated, your opponent cannot activate monster effects in response to this effects. If this card would be destroyed, you can banish 1 card from your Extra Deck instead. There can only be 1 face-up "Green Cross - Construct".
Blue for Two / Normal Spell Card
Discard 1 Ritual Spell Card or 1 Ritual Monster; Draw 2 cards.
Rosetta Scribestone / Ritual Spell Card
You can use this card to Ritual Summon any "Runecross" Ritual Monsters. You must also tribute monsters from your hand or side of the field whose combined Level(s) equal or exceed the Level of the monster you are attempting to Ritual Summon. If this card is in your GY: You can banish 2 EARTH Monsters from your GY; Special Summon 1 EARTH Ritual Monster from your hand, but it cannot attack during this turn. (This Special Summon is treated as a Ritual Summon.) You can only use this effect of "Rosetta Scribestone" once per duel.
Ephaphys Scribestone / Ritual Spell Card
You can use this card to Ritual Summon any "Runecross" Ritual from your hand or GY. You must also tribute monsters from your hand or side of the field whose combined Level(s) equal or exceed the Level of the monster you are attempting to Ritual Summon, then, you can add 1 Ritual Monster from your deck to your hand with a Level less than the Summone Monsters d monster.
Great Excavation / Normal Trap Card
If you control no monsters: Target 1 Spellcaster monster in your GY; Place it in your Spell/Trap Zone as a Continuous Spell Card with the following effect, then, if it was a "Stone Crypt" monster, your opponent chooses 1 face-up monster they currently control. Until the End Phase, other monsters your opponent controls cannot attack or activate their effects. ● If you would Ritual Summon (exactly) 1 Ritual Monster with a card effect that requires use of monsters, you can tribute this card as the entire requirement.
Damage Tether / Normal Trap Card
During your opponents Battle Phase: Target 1 monster in your GY; Add it to your hand, then apply the following effect until the End Phase. ● Until the End Phase, if you would take Battle Damage that is higher than half the ATK of the monster added with this cards effect, you instead take damage equal to half the ATK of the monster added with this cards effect.