Chapter 6: Reopened Wounds
"Why are you still following me?" An irritated Shark asked as he almost reached the docks.
"Because," Said a just as irritated Lennox. "You know something about the Numbers and I want to know what that is." Ruby also followed the pair, grumbling at how pointless this was. The trio soon reached the fabled dockyard seven. It served as one of Heartlands most important facilities. Goods constantly coming by boat day in, day out. This afternoon, however, it was quite quiet. All that was there was a few containers stacked on top of each other and a large warehouse that served as the base for someone Shark knew all too well. The three of them just walked past the containers when they were greeted with a surprising sight. Outside the warehouse was a large gang of men. The lot of them stood outside with their motorcycles, smoking and laughing as they chatted. One of them pointed to Shark and him, Lennox and Ruby and they were soon surrounded.
"What's wrong kiddies? Did you lose your mommies?" One of them said as he stepped forward. Lennox and Ruby looked nervous while Shark seemed unfazed. One stepped behind Ruby and grabbed her arm.
"Cute girl you got here" he snickered while staring at her chest. Ruby jumped.
"Let go of me you pervert!" She screamed. The thug tightened his grip.
"Nice rack too. I like the feisty ones" he snickered.
"Ruby!" Lennox began and stepped forward, but was stopped by the knife touching his throat.
"I wouldn't if I were you," the knife's owner said. Lennox just gulped.
"Yeah, heh heh heh! You shouldn't have come here!" The thug holding Ruby said as he went to grab her skirt.
"What's going on here!" A voice bellowed. The thugs stopped and turned towards the voice. They parted to make a path for the person walking up to them. Shark glared.
"Fuma" he growled. Fuma was a gigantic man. He towered over the other thugs and just his sheer presence was enough to strike fear into their hearts. Fuma was muscular with lavender hair with several ebony bangs. He wore a dark grey vest that had a brown collar, black pants, and shoes.
Fuma gave a look of surprise when he saw Shark in front of him.
"Shark? I thought I'd never see the day you'd come crawling back here" his deep voice said. He turned to the two thugs that were harassing Lennox and Ruby with a sharp glare. "You two! Show some respect! Or do you not know who this is?" He bellowed. The two thugs gulped and left Ruby and Lennox alone.
"Shark…do you know this guy?" Lennox finally said.
"We have a…history together. Rio included" Shark said without turning around. Fuma chuckled.
"That's right. Your old pal Shark here used to be a part of my gang along with Rio until he left to go duel in tournaments" Fuma said and looked at Shark. "Back then, he was a ferocious duelist until those posh tournaments softened him up" Fuma continued with a slight hint of anger in his voice. He then gave a mischievous grin. "But I heard you were back to your old self. So, have you come back to the gang?" Shark just glared at him.
"No. I duel for myself and myself only unless the opportunity arises" Shark explained, giving a slight glance back towards Lennox. "Besides, I'm here on different business," Shark said. Fuma raised an eyebrow.
"What business?" He asked.
"Business about Rio" Shark stated. Lennox looked at Shark concerned. What did Rio have to do with anything?
"Oh? And what about darling Rio?" Lennox felt his body shiver slightly. He didn't like the use of the word 'darling'.
"It's just that a street rat told me a small rumor that you knew who started that fire," Shark said, his words becoming angry at the end of the sentence. Lennox and Ruby's eyes widened. It all made sense now. Rio had been horrifically burned during a fire at an abandoned warehouse and Shark was trying to find out what happened. Lennox mentally hit himself for not realizing sooner.
"Ah, yes. I do actually know something" Fuma said. Shark's expression softened, his eyes filled with a glint of hope. "But, as you may know, information doesn't come free these days…" Fuma trailed off.
"Then how about we settle it the old-fashioned way?" Shark suggested as he reached for his D-Pad.
"Deal."
X
A few minutes later, the crowd had parted to make room for the upcoming duel. Lennox and Ruby stood with the thugs but they stayed slightly away. Fuma's earlier words had given them the impression that if they got too close to the kids then they would be on the receiving end of his wrath.
"Are you sure you really want to go through with this?" Fuma asked. Shark just smirked.
"Of course, I'm not the same as I was back then," he said before tossing his D-Pad up. "I'll beat you this time!" He declared.
"Good!" Fuma yelled as he tossed up his own D-Pad. Both D-Pads attached to their owner's wrists as they got their D-Gazers out. "Duel Disk, set!" The pair placed their D-Gazers on their eyes. Lennox and the thugs did the same while Ruby's eye connected with the system.
"D-Gazer, set!"
DUEL!
Shark: 4000
VS
Fuma: 4000
"I'm first!" Fuma yelled as he drew.
TURN: 1
Fuma: 4000
Hand: 6
"I summon Djinn Cycle!" The ground then cracked open to allow a demonic looking motorcycle to speed out. It was black in color with three wheels that were all a bright red. Its front was shaped into the form a demon's head with red glowing eyes.
Djinn Cycle: Level 3/DARK/Machine/400 ATK/400 DEF
"It only has 400 attack points," Ruby said in slight confusion.
"Watch, I don't think he's done yet," Lennox told her.
"He's right!" Fuma yelled, having heard their exchange. "I play the spell Dark Engineering! This lets me summon another copy of my Djinn Cycle from my hand!" Fuma picked out another card from his hand and slammed it onto his duel disk. The ground the cracked open once again to let another one of the demon cycles out.
Djinn Cycle: Level 3/DARK/Machine/400 ATK/400 DEF
"Now he has two monsters!" Exclaimed Ruby. Shark's expression hardened.
"I now overlay my two Djinn Cycles!" Fuma announced as both his monsters shot up into the air as streams of purple energy. "With these two monsters, I build the overlay network!" A spiraling red Xyz portal opened up in front of Fuma and the two monsters sailed in. "Xyz summon! Rise Mechquipped Angineer!" The monster that rose out the portal defiantly took Lennox and Ruby by surprise. They had never seen anything like it before. This monster was purple in color and resembled an engine. Its face was covered by a mask that had two small wings on the side. Attached to the main body was too rectangular pieces of metal with holes that acted like shoulders. Two large wings were also attached to the 'shoulders'. The lower part of the body consisted of two leg-like structures that were attached to the monster's lower body. These acted like legs with smaller wings attached to them also.
Mechquipped Angineer: Rank 3/LIGHT/Fairy/Xyz/1800 ATK/1000 DEF/Overlay Units: 2
"Well,…that's certainly…" Lennox trailed off, unsure of what to say.
"Interesting" Ruby finished for him. Shark just glared at the monster. He had seen it numerous times before back when he was a part of Fuma's gang and knew how many first underestimated it for its low attack points.
"Now the effects of both my Djinn Cycles activate!" Fuma announced. "Since they were used as materials for a Xyz summon, you take 400 points of damage, for each one!" Shark didn't react one bit when Angineer let out a flurry of bullets at him. the bullets hit the ground and caused small explosions which the spectators braced themselves at.
Shark: 4000 – 800 = 3200
"That ought to be enough" Fuma said as he placed another card on his duel disk. "I place one card facedown and end my turn."
Fuma: 4000
Hand: 2
"My turn!" Shark yelled as he drew. I quickly glanced at the card and then his hand, a plan forming in his head.
TURN: 2
Shark: 3200
Hand: 6
"I summon Needle Sunfish!" Shark announced as he placed the card on his duel disk. A large blue sunfish rose onto the field whose mouth revealed dozens of sharp needles ready to be let loose.
Needle Sunfish: Level 3/WATER/Fish/1500 ATK/500 DEF
"Next I play the spell, Aqua Jet! This card will boost Sunfish's attack points by 1000!" Two small turbine engines with wings attached to the sides were then attached to Needle Sunfish which boosted its power.
Needle Sunfish ATK: 1500 + 1000 = 2500
"Nice! His monster is much stronger than Angineer!" Ruby yelled.
"Yeah! And I think Shark's still not done" Lennox said. Shark took another card from his hand. "I now special summon Big Jaws!" A large vortex of water rose from the card and out of it came Shark's main muscle, his steel mouthed Shark whose jaws were still too big to fit in its mouth. As it came out the vortex, it let out a roar to signal its presence.
Big Jaws: Level 3/WATER/Fish/1800 ATK/300 DEF
"When I've activated a normal spell card this turn, I can special summon Big Jaws from my hand" Shark explained.
"I see," Fuma said intrigued. "Are you going to crash and then attack me directly?" He asked. Shark knew Fuma was baiting him. He knew full well what Angineer's effect was and it was an annoying one.
"Better to use up it's overlay units than wait" Shark thought to himself.
"Battle! Needle Sunfish! Attack Angineer!" The turbine jets attached to Sunfish kicked into gear and the monster was propelled forward. After reaching a close enough distance, the monster opened its mouth and fired out several sharp red needles.
"Alright! If Shark destroys Angineer then he can attack Fuma directly!" Lennox cheered.
"As is he'd get the chance!" Fuma scoffed. "I activate Angineer's effect! By using an overlay unit, Angineer switches to defense mod and cannot be destroyed this turn!" Angineer quickly absorbed one of its circling overlay units into his chest and a transparent rainbow barrier encircled it. The needles were helpless against the overwhelming defensive power of the barrier, exploding on contact and leaving Angineer scratch free.
Angineer Overlay Units: 1
Shark just growled in annoyance. This was going to be difficult to deal with. He might even have to bring out his secret weapon.
"Ha ha ha! You of all people should know my Angineer's effect!" Laughed Fuma.
"Not good" mutter Lennox.
"Yeah, If he manages to power up Angineer then thigs could become really difficult for Shark," Ruby said.
"Come on Shark. You've got to power through this. I need to know too now" Lennox thought. He too was now intrigued to know what had happened to one of his closest friends.
"Fine! If I can't damage you by battle, then I'll use other methods!" Shark declared, getting a confused look from everyone but Fuma. "I enter my main phase 2 and overlay my two monsters!" Shark announced. The turbine jets broke off Needle Sunfish and it and Big Jaws turned fully blue. The two then shot up into the air as streams of energy while a red spiral portal opened beneath them. "With these two monsters, I build the overlay network!" Shark declared as the two monsters flew in. "Xyz summon! Come forth! Submersible Carrier Aero Shark!" Out of the portal rose Shark's familiar ace monster. A pair of sharks that were attached to an orange frame that enabled them to fly. Underneath each wing was a black compartment that held the monster's weapons.
Submersible Carrier Aero Shark: Rank 3/WATER/Fish/Xyz/1900 ATK/1000 DEF/Overlay Units: 2
"Wow! It's Shark's ace!" Ruby cried. Lennox stared at the monster.
"I see. This will be a battle between rank 3's" he thought to himself.
"I use Aero Shark's effect!" Yelled Shark. "By using an overlay unit, I can slam you for 400 points of damage for every card in my hand." Aero Shark was about to absorb one of its overlay units when Fuma revealed his trap.
"Nice try!" He called out. "But I play my trap! Overlay Lock!" A pair of chains shot out the card before wrapping around Aero Shark's overlay units and then Aero Shark itself.
"What the?!" Cried Shark. Fuma chuckled.
"My trap activates when you would detach an overlay unit from a Xyz monster. It gets to keep the overlay unit but the effect is negated and it loses 400 attack points…" Fuma's smile grew wider. "…For each overlay unit." Shark gave a look of distress when he saw the attack meter drop.
Aero Shark ATK: 1900 – 800 = 1100
Shark sighed in annoyance and gave up.
"Fine. I end my turn with a face-down" he said as the set appeared.
Shark: 3200
Hand: 2
"My move then!" Fuma yelled as he drew fiercely.
TURN: 3
Fuma: 4000
Hand: 3
"I play Magic Planter! Now by sending Overlay Lock to the graveyard, I can draw two!" Fuma yelled as he drew again. As he did, the chains attached to Aero Shark shattered and the beast was free.
Aero Shark ATK: 1900
"Huh? Why would he get rid of his trap?" Ruby asked.
"Yeah? Unless he has a card that can boost Angineer's power" Lennox replied.
"Lennox, you don't know how right you are," Shark thought grimly.
"I now play Xyz Unit!" Fuma declared as a purple aura then surrounded Angineer. "This card ups Angineer's attack points by 200 for each of its ranks. With three ranks, that's 600 points!" The aura around Angineer began to flare up more wildly than before.
Angineer ATK: 1800 + 600 = 2400
"No! now its higher than Aero Shark!" Lennox exclaimed. Shark stayed cool as he was leading Fuma directly into a trap. If it worked, then Fuma would be in trouble.
"Now I use Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy your set card!" Shark mentally cursed as he watched his Poseidon Wave get obliterated by a strong tornado.
"His facedown is gone too!" Exclaimed Ruby.
"Now Angineer! Attack his Aero Shark. The strange machine let out another flurry of bullets out of its shoulder attachments. This time, they were aimed at Aero Shark instead of its master. The bullets pierced through Aero Shark's armor, taking chunks of metal with them. The monster silently accepted its fate as it then exploded, its master taking the full force of the explosion.
Shark: 3200 – 500 = 2700
Fuma laughed as he watched Shark struggle to get up. The explosion has knocked the poor boy on the ground hard, leaving him with several cuts and bruises.
"Hahaha! I knew those fancy tournaments make a duelist weak! Just look at you now!" Fuma teased as he went to place a card on his duel disk.
"Not…yet!" Shark said in between breaths.
"Huh?" Fuma said in confusion.
"Needle Sunfish's effect from the graveyard. When its sent there, one monster loses 500 attack points" Shark explained. The graveyard portal opened up and several hundreds of needles shot out. They slammed into Angineer, causing small explosions upon impact. When the smoke cleared, both duelists and spectators could see that Angineer was quite damaged by the assault.
Angineer ATK: 2400 – 500 = 1900
"How annoying" Fuma muttered as he placed the card into his duel disk. "I place a card facedown and end my turn."
Fuma: 4000
Hand: 2
Shark slowly got up, brushing himself off as he did.
"Don't count me out yet Fuma! I still have my secret weapon!" Shark yelled. Fuma looked at him in surprise.
"Secret weapon?" Asked Lennox. Shark looked at him.
"I originally wanted to save this for dueling against Yuma's Number's, but this is a good as time as any to see how well this works," he told Lennox. "I…Draw!" Shark roared as he drew hard.
TURN: 4
Shark: 2700
Hand: 3
"First I activate Card Of Adversity!" Shark declared. "Since I control no monsters and You control a special summoned monster, I can draw two cards!" Shark then drew. "Next, I play Surface!" Shark announced as the card augmented into life. "This lets me summon a level 3 fish, sea serpent or aqua monster back to the field in defense mode!" The graveyard portal then opened up. "So, I summon Needle Sunfish!" The familiar blue sunfish rose back onto Shark's field ready for battle.
Needle Sunfish: Level 3/WATER/Fish/1500 ATK/500 DEF
"I then summon Drill Barnacle!" The ground cracked open and a large barnacle rose out of it. if one looked closely, the could see that the barnacle had several purple drills inside it just raring to be let loose.
Drill Barnacle: Level 3/WATER/Aqua/300 ATK/0 DEF
"Shark's got two level 3 monsters again" Ruby noted. Lennox's eyes widened. He couldn't be summoning Savage Shark. That card was useless in this situation. Shark must have got a new monster.
"I overlay Drill Barnacle and Needle Sunfish!" Shark declared as his monsters turned blue and shot into the air as energy streams. "With these two monsters, I build the overlay network!" Shark yelled as a spiraling Xyz portal opened in front of him. The two monsters then flew in. "Xyz summon! Behold my real ace! Black Ray Lancer!" The ground broke apart to allow a purple stream of energy to shoot out. The spectators gave a look of shock before the energy dispersed to reveal Shark's new monster. This monster was a black scaled merman warrior covered in a black armor. It had four large amphibian wings, two on its back, and two in place of legs. Its weapon of choice was a large purple twin bladed spear that it swung around vigorously before aiming it at Fuma, fully intending to defend his king.
Black Ray Lancer: Rank 3/DARK/Beast-Warrior/2100 ATK/600 DEF/Overlay Units: 2
"Woah," Lennox said as he gazed at the monster's impressive form. Shark glanced at Lennox and smiled at the recognition of his monster's greatness, before turning back to his opponent.
"I activate Black Ray Lancer's effect! By using one overlay unit, your monster's effects are negated! Go Paralyzing Lance!" Black Ray Lancer absorbed one if its overlay units into its spear, allowing its wings to crackle with purple electricity.
Black Ray Lancer Overlay Units: 1
"Alright! Now he can get past Angineer's protection effect!" Cheered Ruby. Black Ray Lancer shot the electricity out of its wings which hit Angineer. The already damaged machine groaned as the electricity crackled around it. It was then that Lennox suddenly realized something.
"If it can negate effects! Then it can bypass the Number's immunity effect and destroy it even if it's not a Number!" He thought. Shark was defiantly right about Black Ray being a secret weapon.
"Now I activate Needle Sunfish's effect from the graveyard!" Shark declared as the graveyard portal opened up. "Since it was sent back there your monster loses 500 attack points. Once again, hundreds of needles shot out the portal and hit Angineer. The poor machine was almost falling apart at this point when the needles had finished their assault.
Angineer ATK: 1900 – 500 = 1400
"Now I equip Black Ray with the equip spell, Chaos Armour!" Shark yelled. A magenta colored armor soon appeared and attached itself to Black Ray Lancer. This included a new helmet with spikes on it and a larger chest plate with several red jewels on it. "thanks to his new armor! Black Ray gains 700 attack points!" A magenta aura surrounded Black Ray Lancer as its power rose.
Black Ray Lancer ATK: 2100 + 700 = 2800
"Now Black Ray Lancer! Attack Angineer! Black Spear!" Black Ray Lancer spun its spear around as before letting the aura cover the spear. Black Ray then tossed the aura powered spear, striking Angineer dead in its center. The machine finally died with an almighty explosion, sending its owner flying back.
Fuma: 4000 – 1400 = 2600
"I end my turn there" Shark declared as Black Ray Lancer's spear returned.
Shark: 2700
Hand: 2
"Why you little…" Fuma growled quietly as he rolled over onto his front. He, unfortunately, didn't notice the blank card that landed underneath his hand as he placed it on the ground to help himself get up. "Huh?" Fuma said as he noticed the card before a dark aura, invisible to everyone by him then consumed him.
"Yessss, Let the Number take hold"
Fuma could hear the voice hissing in his ear, its words tempting.
"Let me in, and your wildest desires will become reality"
The offer was too tempting for him, the Number's words sweet like honey but as deadly as poison. He had to give in.
"Yes…" he said weakly.
"Excellent. I see you wish to rule this place, hahaha! I'll grant you your wish!"
Everyone was confused as Fuma had become unusually quiet for a while. Shark and Lennox could both feel a chill in the air with this new atmosphere.
"Something is defiantly wrong," Lennox thought. Shark tensed up as Fuma slowly rose to his feet, his back tuned and head lowered. A dark purple aura that Shark knew all too well began to flare up around Fuma.
"That's...!" Shark began but didn't finish as Fuma swung around with a malicious look on his face and a purple glowing 68 plastered onto his forehead.
"My…Turn!" Fuma roared as he drew.
TURN: 5
Fuma: 2600
Hand: 3
"I activate the trap, Dark Recycling!" Fuma declared as the trap flipped itself up. "Now by banishing Angineer from my graveyard I get to Summon back my Djinn Cycles!" A large graveyard portal opened up and Angineer appeared in it briefly before vanishing. The two demon motorcycles then flew out of the portal at an immense speed before stopping in front of Fuma.
Djinn Cycle: Level 3/DARK/Machine/400 ATK/400 DEF (x2)
"Now I summon a third Djinn Cycle!" A third demon cycle burst out of the ground, coming to a stop next to its comrades. All three revved their engines at Black Ray who just stood there silently.
Djinn Cycle: Level 3/DARK/Machine/400 ATK/400 DEF
"He's got three monsters with the same level now!" Ruby yelled. Lennox looked in fear. The only Xyz monsters he knew that needed three materials were his mothers, and they were powerful. If a Number required three materials, then things could get ugly.
"Ha ha ha! It's over!" Fuma laughed as he raised his hand. "I overlay my three Djinn Cycles!" The three monsters in question turned purple and shot into the air as streams of energy. "With these three monsters, I build the overlay network!" Fuma announced as a golden galactic portal opened up and the monsters flew in, followed by a burst of golden light. "Xyz summon! Appear! Number 68: Mechquipped Djinn Bombgineer!" The number 68 appeared and flashed purple while overlay network shook as the huge behemoth rose out the portal. The monsters sealed form appeared to be that of an engine that blood red in color. The engine then began to change shape as parts began to extend out of it and transform. The monster seemed to still retain its engine shape, with a few additions. Four small cannons extended out of Bombgineer's back with two larger ones on its shoulders. Its center engine was now protected by a thick layer of armor with spikes on it. It had a set of four wings that had extended out of its shoulders with its leg wings being enlarged and had spikes on them too. Lastly, the number 68 was in its center, where its mechanical heart would be.
Number 68: Mechquipped Djinn Bombgineer: Rank 3/LIGHT/Fairy/Xyz/2500 ATK/1800 DEF/Overlay Units: 3
"No way! He's got a Number!" Ruby exclaimed. Shark took a step back as the monster glared at him.
"Ha ha ha! Nobody can stop me!" Fuma laughed as he thrust his hand forward. "I activate the effects of my Djinn Cycles! Since they were used as materials, you take 400 points of damage for each one!" The two large cannons on Bombgineers shoulders aimed down at Shark with the intent to wipe him off the face of the earth. "With three Cycles that's 1200 points!" It was if a nuclear bomb had exploded when the cannons fired, generating enough force to knock the spectators and some containers over. Shark only looked in horror as he was consumed by the blast.
X
Yuma was walking home after dueling Tetsuo in the park earlier. Astral had retreated into the key, something which Yuma was thankful for. The stupid blue alien had continued to pester him all day and had finally given up and retreated inside the key to think. Yuma was happy to have a break. Suddenly, he saw a pillar of smoke rising from the docks. As if on cue, Astral materialized out of the key.
"Astral? What's up?" Yuma asked concerned.
"Hmm…I am not entirely sure, but I do have this nagging feeling inside my head, however" Astral explained. He then looked at the pillar of smoke. "Maybe that is the source of this feeling," he said to himself.
"What? The smoke?" Yuma asked. "You think a Number is involved?"
"Perhaps." Without any hesitation, Yuma began to run off in the direction of the smoke.
X
Lennox's head buzzed, and his ears were ringing as he slowly got up. He looked and surveyed the damage around him and gasped at what he saw. One of the containers behind him had been blown away, and a large crater had appeared in the ground that traveled where Shark was currently lying on the floor motionless.
"Shark!" Lennox yelled in concern. He then breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Shark's body twitch. "Thank god" he breathed. Then, Shark screamed. It was a horrible blood curling scream that you would only ever hear in a horror movie, and those didn't even compare to Sharks. Shark's whole body burned as waves of pain shot through him one after another. "Shark!" Lennox called as he went rush over to his friend. Lennox stopped as he felt a sharp pain go through his leg. It was so bad he couldn't move it at all.
Lennox thumped back onto the ground as he then heard someone getting up behind him.
"Unnngggh" Ruby groaned as she got up. "What happened?" She asked dazed.
"World War 3" Lennox muttered as he was now trying to find his D-Gazer that had fallen off him in the explosion. He soon found it and flipped it back on, displaying the scores and the monster's stats.
Shark: 1500
Shark, by now, had rolled over and was now sitting on the ground, looking up at Black Ray Lancer who was glaring at Bombgineer. Fuma chuckled darkly as the aura surged around him.
"Yes! The power…its incredible!"
"You're mad!" Shark yelled. "That power is no good for you! It's clouding your judgment!"
"Bah! What do you know!" Fuma retorted.
"A lot actually!" Shark shot back. "I was possessed by a Number too. I know how the power feels." Shark lowered his head and held his fist it his chest. "But then Yuma woke me up," he said suddenly, catching the attention of Lennox and Ruby. "He saved me from the Numbers darkness" Shark continued as he slowly got up. "Even after I was horrible to him." Shark was now on his feet. "So the least I can do is pay him back!" He yelled boldly. Fuma looked on in disgust. "I refuse to give up! A duel isn't over until the last card is played!"
Fuma began to laugh at this.
"Wow, I can't believe you tried to give me the whole friendship speech. What a joke!" He laughed.
"It wasn't for you" Shark simply said, giving a lightning fast glance at Lennox. Fuma stopped laughing and looked at Shark in confusion before shrugging.
"Who cares? You're still a long shot from winning this" he said.
"Are you sure about that?" Shark asked. "My monster is stronger." Fuma raised an eyebrow.
"He's right," Ruby said. "Black Ray Lancer still has that Chaos Armour, so it's the strongest monster in play. That Number's got nothing on Shark!"
"On the contrary my dear!" Fuma said to her. "I'm afraid Shark has nothing on me." Fuma then raised his hand again. "I activate Bombgineers second effect! Each time you take effect damage, Bombgineer can wipe out one of your spell cards!" The cannons on Bombgineer then took aim at Black Ray Lancer before firing. The four energy beams hit Black Ray Lancer, not damaging the monster itself, but shattering its armor completely.
Black Ray Lancer ATK: 2800 – 700 = 2100
Shark chuckled as he watched the scraps of the armor fall onto the ground with a massive crash.
"Fuma, what a fool you are," he said with a smile. "I activate the effect of my armor! When it's destroyed, my opponent takes 700 points of damage!" What remained of the armor then flew towards Fuma, slamming into him.
Fuma: 2600 – 700 = 1900
"You'll pay for that!" Fuma growled as the aura around him intensified. "Bombgineer! Attack Black Ray Lancer! Full Fire Blast!" Every available cannon on bombgineer then took aim at Black Ray Lancer before firing. Shark braced himself as Black Ray Lancer took the full brunt of the explosion, crying out as he perished.
Shark: 1500 – 400 = 1100
"Now for Bombgineers effect!" Fuma declared as the war machine absorbed one of its overlay units.
Bombgineer Overlay Units: 2
"When it destroys an opponent's monster by battle, I can detach one overlay unit to hit you with 1000 points of damage!" Shark had no time to brace himself as the cannons on Bombgineer rained down all hell on him. Shark cried out in pain as he was thrown back.
Shark: 1100 – 1000 = 100
"Shark!" Ruby called out while Lennox just looked on.
"This is getting ridiculous. I had no idea that Numbers could inflict this much damage!" He finally said.
"Yeah! If Shark doesn't do something soon then things are going to get pretty ugly" Ruby added. When the smoke cleared, Fuma could see the body of Shark lying on the floor. He laughed at his achievement.
"Ha! I told you that you wouldn't win" he laughed. Shark slowly got up.
"Don't count me out yet Fuma" he said. This caused another round of laughter from Fuma.
"Are you kidding? You've got no cards on your field and have only 100 life points! How do you possibly think you can win?!"
"Because I still have life left and cards to play!" Shark retorted. Fuma frowned.
"Hmph! Whatever. Since you have so spell or traps, Bombgineer's effect doesn't activate. I end my turn."
Fuma: 1900
Hand: 2
Shark placed his hand on his deck and let out a deep breath.
"This is it. I've set up for this moment" he thought as he glanced at Skull Kraken and Monster Reborn in his hand. "I just need that one card! One card! And it will all be over." Unbeknownst to Shark, he was about to have a visitor. A gust of wind blew across the duel field, carrying a certain card.
"My turn! Draw!" Shark yelled as he drew his card hard. As he did, the card in the wind landed in his hair. Shark flipped over the card he drew and grinned, he had drawn his trump card. On the sidelines, Dawn Sword materialized next to Lennox.
"Well you've been quiet" commented Lennox.
"Apologies Master, but I'm afraid there is a Number here," Dawn Sword said.
"Really? You don't say?" Lennox said sarcastically as he motioned towards Bombgineer. "A bit late now."
"No, the source is coming from your friend."
Shark felt weird. There was something uncomfortable in his hair and he didn't like it. he reached up and pulled out whatever it was, only to discover it was a blank card. His eyes widened.
"No…!" He breathed before a dark aura enveloped him.
X
When Shark opened his eyes again he was in a dark space with purple mist hanging by his feet.
"No…no, no, no! Not again! I can't be possessed again!" He yelled. There was a loud roar in the distance and Shark could then see a Silhouette of a dragon with glowing red eyes and six enormous wings.
"Let me take hold" the Number hissed.
Shark took a step back.
"No! I've already been controlled by your kind before and don't intend to be again!" Shark yelled at the dragon. The dragon growled at him. "Go on! Growl at me!" Shark yelled defiantly. "I'm not afraid of you!"
"As if you had any choice in the matter" the Number spoke. "Let me feed on your emotions and then your desires become reality. Just let me in."
"No!" Shark yelled. "I already said no and that's that! Maybe I should control you instead!" The Number now growled angrily at Shark.
"You insolent human!" It thundered. "You know not whom you speak to! I am one of the strongest of the 100 weapons and I will not be stopped by a simple human!"
"I don't care!" Shark fought back. "All you're going to end up doing is brainwashing me like the rest of your kind!" The Number then roared angrily.
"You blame us for that?! Excuse me! It's not our fault that our powers amplify your emotions! No wonder the Crinoan's hated you lot!" The Number fumed. "All I want to do is complete my mission!"
Shark then looked at the Number and an idea popped into his head.
"Your mission is to collect the Numbers right? Then I have an idea" he said. The Number looked at him intrigued.
"Go on…"
"How about we form a partnership? I beat Number holders etc. And you do your part in beating them, deal?
The Number thought for a moment and then sighed.
"If it beats wasting my time here arguing with you then I agree."
"Excellent" Shark said as his vision became white.
X
Shark blinked once, then twice. He was back in the real world. He looked at the card in his hand to see the blank card had transformed. He skimmed over the card text and smiled.
TURN: 6
Shark: 100
Hand: 3
"It's game over Fuma!" Shark declared as he placed a card onto his duel disk. "I summon Skull Kraken!" Shark's monster was a human skull that was black and upside down. Sprouting from it were several long bony tentacles.
Skull Kraken: Level 3/DARK/Aqua/600 ATK/1600 DEF
"Please tell me your joking. You're going to beat me with that?" Fuma said.
"Not exactly" Replied Shark as he picked out another card. "I play Monster Reborn to bring back Needle Sunfish!" The graveyard portal opened up and out rose Shark's all too familiar monster, the blue sunfish armed to the teeth literally with red needles.
Needle Sunfish: Level 3/WATER/Fish/1500 ATK/500 DEF
"Two level 3 monsters again," Ruby said. Shark raised his hand up.
"I overlay my level 3 Needle Sunfish and Skull Kraken!" He ordered a Needle Sunfish turned fully blue and Skull Kraken purple, the two monsters then shot up into the air as streams of energy. "With these three monsters, I build the overlay network!" Shark yelled as a golden galactic portal opened up at Shark's feet, much to the shock of Lennox and Ruby. The two monsters then swirled in, followed by a burst of golden light. "Xyz summon! Come! Number 17: Leviathan Dragon!" The number 17 appeared and flashed yellow as the Numbers sealed form rose out of the portal in a cloud of purple fog. This was a strange red jewel that was encased in several coil wires running around it and six large scythe blades on top. The coil then began to unwind and transformed into the dragon's serpent-like body. The six scythes had now become six large wings that went along its serpent-like body. The red jewel itself had become the monsters crocodile-like head, with large crocodile jaws and six horns with the number 17 on one of them. It gave out a high-pitched cry as it took its place on the battlefield.
Number 17: Leviathan Dragon: Rank 3/WATER/Dragon/Xyz/2000 ATK/0 DEF/Overlay Units: 2
"No way…" Lennox trailed off as he looked at the newcomer. "Shark has a Number now."
"Ah! It feels good to have a body again!" Leviathan Dragon said as it stretched its wings.
"Number 17, it's been a while," Bombgineer said.
"Yes, it has 68, I see your destructive as ever" Leviathan Dragon said as he observed the damage. "I'm only going to ask this once, surrender to me now." Bombgineer let out a small laugh.
"And what makes me think I would surrender to you?" Bombgineer hissed. "I'm free now, and I intend to stay free! You can't beat me."
"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure" Leviathan Dragon said sisterly. Fuma then laughed.
"Bombgineers right, how's that going to help you?" Fuma said to Shark. "Granted you summoned a Number, its attack power is still lower than Bombgineer's." Shark then chuckled.
"Not for long," he said as he raised his hand. "I activate Leviathan Dragon's effect! By using one overlay unit it gains 500 attack points!" Leviathan Dragon chomped down on one of its overlay units, letting a blue glow run across its body.
Leviathan Dragon Overlay Units: 1
Leviathan Dragon ATK: 2000 + 500 = 2500
"Next I activate Needle Sunfish's effect from the graveyard!" Declared Shark as the graveyard portal opened. "Since he was sent there your monster loses 500 attack points!" A flurry of red pointed needles flew out the portal and hit Bombgineer, causing small explosions on contact.
Bombgineer ATK: 2500 – 500
"Alright!" Cheered Ruby. "Now Leviathan Dragon can defeat Bombgineer!"
"But you still can't beat me! I'll have plenty of life points left over!" Fuma yelled.
"Actually, you won't," Shark said smugly as he revealed the last card in his hand. "I activate Hyper Armoured Xyz!" Shark yelled as the graveyard portal then opened. "Now I can take one Xyz monster from my graveyard and equip it onto another one I control! I choose Black Ray Lancer!" Black Ray Lancer appeared briefly before turning into purple energy which flew towards Leviathan Dragon. There was a bright purple flash as the two monsters combined. When the light died down, both duelists and spectators could see that Leviathan Dragon was now covered in a black armor that went down its body. Its horns had been replaced by Black Ray Lancer's face mask that had been reshaped to fit Leviathan Dragon. Attached to the sides of Leviathan Dragon's jaws were the two ends of Black Ray Lancer's spear. Leviathan Dragon gave a mighty roar as its power-up was complete. "Now Leviathan Dragon gains attack points equal to the equipped monster!"
"Say what?!" Both Lennox and Fuma gasped.
"Wait, 2100 plus 2500 equals…" Ruby began.
"4600," Fuma said fearfully as he watched Leviathan Dragon growl at him.
Leviathan Dragon ATK: 2500 + 2100 = 4600
"Leviathan Dragon! End this! Vice Stream!" Leviathan Dragon then began charge up a blue energy beam in its jaws as the two spears at the sides of its jaws crackled with electricity. Leviathan Dragon then let loose the beam as the two spears fired twin energy beams that combined into one huge energy wave. Purple electricity crackled around the wave as it slammed into Bombgineer, erasing it completely.
Fuma: 1900 – 2600 = 0
Fuma: LOSE
"Hmph! That showed him" Leviathan Dragon huffed as it disappeared. Shark sighed heavily as he took off his D-Gazer, thankful that the duel was now over. He then looked over to see Lennox and Ruby walking over.
"Shark…you won, and you have a Number now," Lennox said concerned. "Are you ok? You're not possessed, are you?"
"No, I feel fine" Shark told them. Lennox sighed with relief.
"Thank goodness, I didn't want to end up in another high-stakes duel. I'm done with dueling for now" Lennox said.
"Lennox" Shark began, but the stopped as Ruby spoke up.
"I'm a little confused why the Number didn't possess you this time," she said.
"Maybe it has something to do with me already being possessed previously," Shark said. He didn't really want to tell them about his vision. "Now let's see what our friend has to say." The trio then walked up to Fuma who was unconscious on the floor. The could see the purple 68 on his forehead. Shark reached down and picked up Bombgineer's card which was lying next to Fuma. As he did the 68 on Fuma shattered and the man started to wake up. Unbeknownst to the others, Shark could have sworn he saw his hand glow red as he picked up Number 68.
"Uggh…I…lost?" Fuma asked as he sat up.
"Afraid so," Shark said.
"But…how?" Fuma said in disbelief.
"Simple, I was better than you," Shark told him sternly. "Now spill! Who burned Rio?!" Shark yelled. Fuma chuckled.
"It was The Pack." Shark's body tensed, and he hit his leg with his hand.
"Those bastards" he growled furiously. He then turned around swiftly and strode away.
"Shark! Wait!" Lennox called, but Shark ignored him. As Shark reached the end of the warehouse, Yuma passed him.
"Huh? Shark?!" Yuma said in surprise as he turned around. "Where have you been?" he asked but Shark kept on walking. Yuma then turned to see Lennox and Ruby with Fuma. He then noticed the wrecked dockyard and the tungs cowering in fear. "Yo Lennox! What happened?" Yuma called over.
"This is going to take quite the explanation" Ruby whispered. Lennox could only silently agree.
Author Made Cards
Overlay Lock
Continuous Trap
Effect: Activate only when an opponent's Xyz monster activates its effect that would detach a Xyz material from it. Negate that effect and the Xyz material is not attached, then that monster loses 400 ATK for each Xyz Material it has, also, it cannot activate its effects. These effects last while this card is face-up on the field.
Chaos Armour
Equip Spell
Effect: Equip only to a rank 3 or lower Xyz monster. The equipped monster gains 700 ATK. When this face-up card is sent from the field to the graveyard, inflict 700 points of damage to your opponent.
Dark Recycling
Trap
Effect: Banish one rank 3 Xyz monster from your graveyard, special summon 2 Djinn Cycles from your graveyard in attack mode. You can only activate one Dark Cycling per turn.
Number 68: Mechquipped Djinn Bombgineer: Rank 3/LIGHT/Fairy/Xyz/2500 ATK/1800 DEF
Effect: 3 level 3 monsters
Must first be Xyz summoned and cannot be summoned by other ways. Once per turn this card cannot be destroyed by battle. Each time your opponent takes damage from a card effect, destroy one face-up spell card your opponent controls. When this card destroys an opponent' s monster by battle, you can detach one Xyz Material from this card to inflict 1000 points of damage to your opponent.
Hyper Armoured Xyz
Spell
Effect: Target one Xyz monster in your Graveyard and equip it to one Xyz monster you control. The equipped monster gains ATK equal to the monster equipped by this effect. During the end phase, destroy the equipped monster.
X
Finalllllllly! I am so happy to get this chapter out the way! I wrote this a long time back but projects, the recent passing of a very close family member (Rest In Peace) and looking for a job on top of that. I've hardly found time to write. Just expect long gaps in between updates, I'm really trying. But I've finished most of my projects (Only have 2 left to do) and my search for work will be completed soon. Another huge delay was the fact I went to comic con the other weekend and spent the whole day there. I almost got to meet Yugi and Kaiba's voice actors but was too late to join the queue :'(. Anyways, I'm happy that this is finally done, and I can get started on the next chapter XD. I've got until the end of the WDC all planned out, so the problem is just writing itself. Anyways, if you enjoyed this chapter then leave a review why and I'll see you in the next update!
Bye!