VRAINS Hero V.S. Little Newbye!
Inside SOL Technologies' HQ were at least a dozen workers everyday, checking the system, fixing, and overall, working tirelessly to ensure that the users of LINK VRAINS could have as safe and pleasant experience as possible. Today however, the scenery was a lot different from the usual. None of the operatives was working and all of them just stared in awe at a single person. A young man with long white hair tied into a ponytail and wearing an elegant black suit was working on the main computer, his fingers moving across the keyboard faster than a naked eye could process, his crimson orbs completely focused on the large walls of data that quickly rolled before him.
"What is going on here?"
Suddenly all workers turned around to meet the strict expression of their boss - Akira Zaizen. The security manager moved pass his subordinates, all of which returned back to their work at the sight of the young man, and stepped beside the white haired guy, who despite everything continued to work on the code, completely ignoring the new presence.
"Who allowed you to enter this room?" Akira asked suspicious of the white haired man's motives.
"The higher-up asked me to come and make a diagnostic of the system after your big failure yesterday." The man replied, his eyes still remained on the screen. "I have to give it to you, it must take a lot of skill to make such a big mess of the servers' security that the Knights of Hanoi to organize a massive attack."
"Are you questioning my loyalty toward SOL Technologies?" Akira narrowed his eyes as the man's words sounded just like that.
"No, I know that you are going to win the award for most loyal dog of the year." The man sighed and stepped away from the screen to look at the security manager. "I'm just saying that you are utterly incompetent for the job they gave you and that if I were in your shoes, I would start to lick my butt because your future in this company doesn't look so bright anymore, Zaizen."
"Mind your words, if you weren't making security softwares for SOL Technologies, I would have ordered security to kick you out a long time ago." Akira warned him.
"Uh, scary!" The man trembled saw a way to mock Akira even more. "Whatever you say mate." He waved it off and leaned against the computer that he was working on. "I managed to restore some of the accounts before it was too late, but a lot of them were already permanently removed from the system. You were just lucky that Playmaker showed up to stop the Knights of Hanoi before more damage was done."
"Playmaker's as much of a cyber-terrorist as the knights. I'm going to be the one to catch him, and bring him before justice."
"Oh really?" the man narrowed his eyes and looked around. "I would love to continue this conversation, but in a place with less ears."
Akira looked around and nodded. Even though everyone here was a SOL Technologies employer, no one knew if the person next to them was a spy or not. Plus that this was information that only the highest in the company should possess, which is what bothered the Zaizen the most. This man, he wasn't even an employ of their, and yet, he knew everything that was going on around in SOL, their goals, their targets, literally everything.
Akira led the white haired man inside his office and then sat behind his desk, putting his hands on the table over one another. There were so many questions that he needed answers to and as ironic as it was, there was just one person in the entire city better informed than Ghost Girl.
"So, won't you offer me something to drink?" the man asked and sat on the free chair at the other side of the table. "That's just rude."
"Enough fooling around. What do you know?" Akira cut him off.
"Let's see. First, I know that the reason you did the stupid scan was because you wanted to catch an Ignis that hides in LINK Vrains." The man raised one finger and Zaizen already found himself unable to believe his ears.
Someone outside of SOL and the Knights of Hanoi knew about the Ignis, and more, possible about the Cyberse and all the information that was lost after its disappearance. So far he thought that the higher-ups were keeping this man around just to fix the system when things got too bad, but now he understand that there was more around it.
"Second, I know that the reason you are pursuing Playmaker is because he managed to catch the Ignis before your stupid scan could get to it. How ironic." The man raised a second finger and Zaizen had a hard time fighting the natural instinct that would result in his chin dropping.
What's more surprising the man's voice and facial expressions suggested that he wasn't interested in the whole deal with Playmaker and the AI. No, it there was more than disinterest. The man looked as if this chase between Playmaker, SOL, and the Knights was a game of tag played by little children.
"And third, I know that you are searching for information about Playmaker, as well as duelists strong enough to duel him." The man raised a third finger. "Is there anything I missed?"
"How do you know all of this?" Akira demanded.
"Oh please, the security software you currently use is made by me. Didn't you bosses tell you about the small text in the contract when they bought it from me?" the man asked with a smirk. "Or maybe this is why they didn't accept any of the updates that I suggested to them, who knows. Listen, even if I'm not part of SOL, my influence in VRAINS is big enough on its own, after all, who is in charge of the card data bank there?"
"You are spying on us!"
"Oh, come on Zaizen! Everything I have done is completely legal, plus I have nearly as much money as your company, and we both know that Emma sells her info to the person willing to dig deeper into his pocket."
"I expected so much from her." Akira sighed. "Do you know where Playmaker is?"
"I know who he is." The man replied, crossing his arms behind his head.
"But you won't tell me, because?" Akira asked, already getting annoyed with that man.
"Because unlike you, I have use from his actions." The man stood up and turned to leave. "Oh also, if you aren't too busy, send my regards to Aoi, and tell her that she has turned into a splendid duelist."
With those words, the door close, leaving Akira alone with his thoughts. The security manager of SOL remained sitting in his chair, looking at the area where the white haired man stood just a moment ago. The emotions that he felt after the conversation were mixed, there was the anger that someone knew what was going around, and then there was worry because that man also knew about Aoi, his dear sister and possible her carrier as Blue Angel…
"You must be the devil reincarnated." Akira finally muttered out, long after the man left.
Roxy's POV
"Excuse me?"
"I-I was just wondering where I could find someone a-and then the hero of LINK VRAINS himself appeared before me!" I exclaimed, unable to believe how lucky and convenient this meeting was. "This is the luckiest day in my li- Mhhh!"
My eyes widened as the boy suddenly put his hand over my mouth, muffling me while he turned his head around cautiously. I tried to fight back, but my body was too weak to resist and no matter how much I tried to scream, no sound came out due to his hand. But then again, there weren't any people around right now so no matter how much I screamed probably no one was going to hear me, expect Kusanagi. Wait, mentioning him, why was he just standing there and not trying to help me!?
"Calm down!" I looked up at the boy as he stared back at me, those green eyes of his looked so cold and menacing up close that I had no choice, but to comply. "Now, how did you find out that I was Playmaker?"
The boy removed his hand and I quickly took a step back to get some distance between us. I mean, that guy almost tried to assault me in public, so there was no saying what he would try next.
"I mean, it was pretty obvious, both of you look almost the same. Identical face, same body build, only your hairstyle is different and even then, it's close enough." If that guy was really trying to keep his identity a secret, then he really should try to make his avatar look less like him.
"Eheheh~ it must be really embarrassing to get recognized so easily, Playma-!" suddenly the boy before me turned around and slammed his Duel Disk against the side of the hot dog stand causing the strange voice to die down.
"There is no point in trying to cover it now Yusaku, we have been found out." Both I and the boy - who apparently was named Yusaku – turned toward Kusanagi when he said that. So those two were allies?!
"Kusanagi…" Yusaku muttered and then turned back to me. I jumped back a little frightened when the boy looked at me with those cold green eyes of this. "Fine then. Now that you have found out my identity this… easily… what are you planning to do next?"
"I, um-! Ah! I'm going to ask you to teach me how to duel!" I declared. Since most of the things in this world were focused around the card game, it would be great to have a mentor as skilled as the hero of VRAINS to teach me. Even more after that embarrassing lost against the tutorial AI.
"Eh? That's a pretty strange reque-!" When the strange voice spoke again Yusaku quickly slapped his Duel Disk against the truck, silencing it again.
"I decline." I don't know why, but it felt like a small part of my heart broke when he declined, even if it was just about teaching me how to duel. I really don't take easy a no when it comes from a boy.
"B-but why!?"
"There are three reasons why I declined your request." I narrowed my eyes at Yusaku as he raised his hand. "First, training you how to duel isn't my mission and I don't have times to follow around with something unrelated to the Knights of Hanoi. Second, if the Knights of Hanoi learn that I'm training you, they might go after you and put your life in danger. Third, I don't even know what your motives to ask me that are, so I can't trust you, for not being a spy."
My head dropped, his three reasons made sense from a certain perspective, he was probably too busy being a hero to help strangers with such unimportant tasks. No, I shouldn't give up because of that, I should try to be more persistent if I want things to go my way!
"Wait!" I exclaimed and then pointed a finger at myself. "W-what if I become your side-kick? Fighting against the Knights of Hanoi must be hard for a single person alone, but if we are two your chances against them will improve! Plus that, every cool superhero has a sidekick, that's like an unwritten rule."
"She is right about the hero part, Playmaker!" the strange voice exclaimed once again and this time Yusaku glared down at his Duel Disk annoyed.
"Be quiet." He ordered it before turning back to me. "Again, I will decline your request."
"Why this time?" I asked him.
"I have to give it to her, fighting against Hanoi on your own is hard." Kusanagi nodded in agreement with my idea. "We could use a few extra hands to help us."
"I still have three reasons why this is a bad idea." We both rolled our eyes as Yusaku raised another three fingers before me, is that like a tic or something? "First, if she is asking to be taught how to duel, she must be a bad duelists, so she won't be useful in the fight against Hanoi." Now, that was a rude way for him to say it… "Second, unlike me and you, she doesn't have a reason to fight against the Knights of Hanoi so how much she would help is questionable. And third, the fight against Hanoi is one of life-or-death, I don't want to involve someone unrelated to the conflict."
"T-then I'm not going to duel them!" I tried to desperately come up with something. He wasn't going to accept, I could feel it, but I couldn't just give up like this, I had a true reason why I want his help! "If you say that it's too dangerous, then I will just patrol for Hanoi activity. If I find something I will tell you and Kusanagi to take care of it and then run away before anyone finds me! I promise!"
My begging seemed to have some effect on Yusaku. No, I don't mean that he became more compassionate, but his stoic expression, slowly turned to one of confusion as he looked at me, probably wondering if I was crazy… Uh, even though I thought about all of my words, after saying all of this, I felt so embarrassed of myself.
"Why are you so persistent? If you want to learn, you could just ask a friend to teach you or something."
"I… I don't have friends anymore." I dropped my head in defeat. "Not a long time ago, I had a completely normal life with my parents and my best friend, when I got hit by a car or something. Yesterday, when I woke up, I found myself in this city's hospital with this Duel Disk and a deck. My family, my friends, my home, I lost all of this in just a moment! You probably don't understand what that means, I want to get everything back! To find a way back, but I can't do it on my own…"
I felt something warm against my cheeks so I raised a hand and pressed it against my face. Those were tears. I didn't mean to cry, I didn't want to because I felt just that much more embarrassed for crying in front of a guy, but they just wouldn't stop! The stupid tears would continue to run down my cheeks and there was nothing I could do about it. My heart felt like it was shrinking just from the thought that I might have lost my parents forever.
"Great job! You just made a girl cry!" the voice exclaimed again, but this time Yusaku didn't respond to it.
"If you leave her, on her own and the Hanoi learned that she knows your identity, they might target her." Kusanagi pointed out.
"How far are you ready to reach in order to return the things that you lost?" Even filled with tears, my eyes widened and I looked up at the boy as he asked me that.
"I don't care!" I shook my head violently. "I don't care how much I will have to go through, if that means returning back to my parents and Elizabeth!"
"If that's true…" Yusaku paused for a moment and looked over at Kusanagi, the latter of which nodded. "Then, I'm willing to give you a few tips."
My eyes widened at those words. I was so sure that he would turn me down for the third time, but instead Playmaker actually accepted to train me!
"T-thanks! I won't disappoint you!" I exclaimed.
"W-what are you doing?!" My eyes slowly widened as Yusaku suddenly shouted at me.
Then I felt my face going hot as I realized that without controlling myself, I had jumped actually on him and was hugging him tightly. Oh, no, no, no! What am I doing!? And more importantly why did I do it, what if he thought that I was crazy and choose not to train me! I quickly moved away from him and looked at the ground, trying to find my voice to apologize, as well as words that would make up for this great embarrassment.
"I-I-I'm really s-sorry!" I bowed as tears began to fall from my eyes again. "I d-don't know why… I just… b-because you… Please don't change your mind! I-I won't do that again! I promise!"
"It seems we got ourselves a weird one, right Playmaker?" Yusaku's Duel Disk spoke again and he brought it closer to his face.
"I told you to be quiet, don't make me mute you again." Yusaku told his… Duel Disk.
"Welcome aboard then, um…" Kusanagi paused, he probably wanted to call me by name, but I remembered that unlike them, I still hadn't introduced myself.
"I'm Roxana." Well, better late than never, right? "But my friends call me Roxy, so I won't mind if you call me that."
"Then welcome aboard, Roxy." Kusanagi said to me with a warm smile that I returned.
Yusaku moved to the back of the truck and opened it. He gestured for me to follow and we both entered. As we did Kusanagi closed his stand and the back that was filled with hotdogs and ingredients suddenly turned into a table with multiple computer screens.
"A fancy hide-out." I commented, who would expect a hotdog truck to be the secret base of the LINK VRAINS hero and his ally.
"Before we start, what do you know about dueling?" Yusaku asked me and sat down on a chair along with Kusanagi.
"I know the basics." That was pretty much what I was taught by the tutorial. "I just aren't very good at using what I know."
"Then what you need is practice." I nodded in agreement with Yusaku on this one, though there wasn't anyone to practice with. Of course, I would use the tutorial but I would rather not duel that mean A.I. again.
"As I said, I don't have friends to ask for help…" I repeated.
"So, I will have to duel you after all." Yusaku sighed.
Judging by his expression and tone, I could tell that he wasn't fond of the idea. I was really giving him a hard time, it made me feel bad for him…
"I will have to see how much you know, before I start teaching you. Let's log in." Yusaku stood up and opened the door to a secret room, as I followed after him. "What are you doing?"
"Eh?" I titled my head to the side in confusion. "Didn't you say that we would be logging in?"
"You don't need to enter a special room in order to log in." Kusanagi explained to me, though I should already know that… "Yusaku just do it so his motionless body don't get in my way while I'm working. But this right now isn't a crisis so it's ok for you to just sit down."
"I wouldn't mind if you come in with us~" I could swear that I heard the Duel Disk on Yusaku giggling in a weird way.
"N-no. I will be ok on the chair." I waved my arms before my face and then moved to sit down next to Kurasagi as Yusaku closed the door behind himself.
"Don't worry. Yusaku might be tough, but he isn't a bad person. If he has promised to train you, he will do it." Kusanagi tried to cheer me up, and it worked in a way. "Just to know, I'm going to program the system so that when you log in, you get transported to Yusaku's location. So don't freak out."
"Ok." I nodded and took out my deck, before putting it inside my Duel Disk. "Into the Vrains!"
As I logged into LINK VRAINS I found myself in a rather dark place. I tried to look around in the dark and managed to make out that I was transported to some sort of underground or worse, the sewers. The walls and ground were all made of metal and there was a large gap in the floor where some sort of data waves floated.
"This is where we will duel."
I jumped and then turned around to see Playmaker approaching me. I had managed to see just a few pictures of him on the internet before they all got deleted (by some reason), so to see the Hero of LINK VRAINS up close was, almost weird. I put a hand over my chest and took a deep breath.
"Don't appear behind me like this." I told him softly. "You scared me."
Playmaker nodded to my request and looked down at the waves of data that were just below us. He raised his Duel Disk slightly and turned toward me again. "Are you ready?"
"Give me your best shot!" I nodded, though I was hoping that he wasn't really going to give me his best because if he did, I wouldn't last even for a turn.
"Let's go then." As Playmaker said that I noticed something coming through the data waves and my eyes widened.
There were two boards floating toward us at full speed with the first one being a flat white one with black-stripped sides. Playmaker jumped on top of it and a second one came through, which I could only guess was mine. It was a lot thicker than the previous, the top part was white and a lot winder, while the bottom was black, weirdly resembling a robot head with two blue orbs in the front like eyes. When I jumped on the board, I momently lost balance and almost felt, but someone managed to get back my balance by putting one leg behind me for support.
"That was close." I sweated and followed after Playmaker who rode ahead without turning back to look if I followed him. "Let's do this! Playmaker!"
Playmaker turned back for a bit and just nodded to me.
"Speed Duel!"
『Proxy LP: 4000 Hand: 4 (VS) Playmaker LP: 4000 Hand: 4』
'A Speed Duel?' I thought after Playmaker's Duel Disk announced and looked at my hand, shouldn't there be five cards instead of four? Wait, I had no information about Speed Duels and what they are!
"You can take the first turn, if you want." I nodded to Playmaker, though I wasn't very sure about it.
"Um…" I looked down at my hand. Most of those weren't cards that I used before and I had only one familiar monster in my hand. Well better than none.
"I summon BrioGear Wave Crusade (Lv.4, ATK: 1700)!" I exclaimed as the familiar warrior appeared beside me, holding a sword.
"She is using a Gear archetype!" Playmaker looked down at his Duel Disk. Was he familiar with my deck?
"Yeah, she is…" So he knows what my deck is?! I shook my head, no, focus on the duel and ask the questions later!
"I activate Wave Crusader's effect! With this I can discard Water monsters to increase his attack by 300! I discard BrioGear Platosteus!"
BrioGear Wave Crusade, ATK: 1700 + 300 = 2000
I looked at my graveyard, Platosteus' effect could be activated when I discarded him, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to do that, because its effect would require me to send cards from my Deck to the graveyard.
"I set a card and end my turn here!" I declared as a card materialized next to me.
"You don't know how to use your deck." Playmaker stated to me and I frowned. "Just by this turn, I could tell that you aren't familiar with it."
"That's why I'm asking for your help!" I reminded him.
"My turn!"
『Turn 2 [Playmaker] LP: 4000 Hand: 5』
"Since only you are controlling a monster, I can Special Summon Linkslayer (Lv.5, ATK: 2000) from my hand!" a man wearing a golden lion armor with a red cape appeared on the field. "Furthermore, I discard a card to destroy your set card!"
Linkslayer activated his blades and swung them at my Trap Card, destroying it at once and I couldn't do anything to stop it from happening. Worse than that, he was able to summon a monster as strong as mine and still had a normal summon remaining!
"I Summon Cyberse Gadget (Lv.4, ATK: 1400) and use its effect to revive Stack Reviver (Lv.2, DEF: 600)!" My eyes widened as Playmaker got three monsters out in an instant.
'If he attacks me now that would be 1400 damage to me.' I thought, but it could get worse if he choose to use an Extra Deck Summon.
"Appear, the circuit that leads to the future!" Crap! "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are two Cyberse monsters! I set Cyberse Gadget and Stack Reviver in the Link Markers! Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear, Link 2 Code Talker (ATK: 1300, LINK-2)! A monster that looked like a black humanoid in grey armor, carrying a large sword flew out of the circuit.
'Bad, that means 1300 damage!' It still wasn't enough to take me out, but it would hurt…
"Next, both Cyberse Gadget's and Stack Reviver's effects activate!" Playmaker continued. "First Cyberse Gadget Special Summons a Gadget Token (Lv.2, DEF: 0) and then Stack Reviver will revive Cyberse Gadget (Lv.4, DEF: 300)!"
"F-four monsters!" I exclaimed in disbelieve at the amount of monsters Playmaker had on his side.
"Appear, the circuit that leads to the future!" Another one?! "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions is one Level 4 or lower Cyberse monster! Further, when I use a Link Monster for a Link Summon, its Link Markers count as Link Materials! I set the Gadget Token in the Link Marker! Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear, Link 1 Link Disciple (ATK: 500, LINK-1)!"
I narrowed my eyes as a second Link Monster appeared on Playmaker's field, this time with just 500 attack.
"And for the third time! Appear, the circuit that leads to the future!" Ugh, how many Link monsters does that guy have? "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are two or more monsters except Tokens! I set the Link 1 Link Disciple, Linkslayer,and Cyberse Gadget in the Link Markers! Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear, Link 3 Tri-Gate Wizard (ATK: 2200, LINK-3)!
"You have a Link 3 monster?!" And the strongest one that I had was just Link 2, Playmaker was far beyond me with his dueling and while I expected it, this is beyond my imagination.
"There is more!" Of course there is… "Code Talker gains 500 attack for each monster linked to it! I have the Tri-Gate Wizard so its attack raises!"
Code Talker, ATK: 1300 + 500 = 1800
"I set a card. Now, battle!" Playmaker exclaimed and pointed at my monster. "Tri-Gate Wizard attack BrioGear Wave Crusade! Triangular Circuit!" his spellcaster-like monster looked at mine and pointed its wand toward it, deleting its body from the field
『Proxy LP: 4000 – 200 = 3800』
"I'm not done yet!" Of course, there was still one monster to declare an attack. "I attack you directly with Code Talker!"
The monster charged at me and swung its sharp claws and tore through my skin. I yelped in pain and took a step back, not knowing that there wasn't much space on my board and found myself right on the edge. Bad, bad, bad! I fell on my knees and grabbed on my board.
『Proxy LP: 3800 – 1800 = 2000』
"You almost knocked her off the D-Board!" I heard the Duel Disk on Playmaker's arm to speak again.
"I end my turn."
I stood back up and looked at my arm, the one that Linkslayer tore, there was data that slowly began to disappear as my skin reappeared on its place. It still hurt, I just hoped that it wouldn't affect me in the real world.
"My turn then. Draw!" I exclaimed as I drew a card.
『Turn 3 [Proxy] LP: 2000 Hand: 2』
I looked at the card I just drew, it was a monster, but its stats were too weak for me to make a comeback with it. I needed something far stronger and though its effects might help, I needed to either have more monsters, or something to discard it with. Actually, I had Monster Reincarnation in my hand and I could use it to…
"Thank you, Elizabeth!" I smiled and then played my cards. "I play Monster Reincarnation and discard BrioGear Octobat to return BrioGear Wave Crusade back to my hand! Then when Octobat is discarded I can Special Summon one BrioGear Bat Token (Lv. 1, DEF: 100)!"
A purple fish with small bat wings appeared on my field. Instead of a tail it had four tentacles and its belly was light blue and there was a single golden gear in the middle of its head that protected its large eye.
"Hehe~! Even if she summons her fish knight back on the field, its attack would be too low to take out either one of our monsters!" So now even Playmaker's A.I. was mocking me? That's so mean!
"Come forth, circuit of life!" I cried out and opened the portal, flying in with my monster. "Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning requirements is a WATER monster! I set BrioGear Bat Token in the Link Marker! Link Summon! Link 1, BrioGear Lotaxol!
Out of the glowing portal flew a combination between a fish and a lizard with white body and four small legs. Several golden clock gears were attached to its back, its belly was covered in metallic armor and six clock arms sticked out of the side of its head like horns. The really cute part of its appearance were the two small dot-like eyes at the sides of its head than made its face look like a sock puppet.
BrioGear Lotaxol
Attribute: WATER/Type: Sea Serpent/Link/Effect
L-Markers: B
ATK: 600/Link-1
1 WATER monster with a Level
Effect: When this card is Link Summon: You can target 1 Level 2 or lower WATER monster in your GY; Special Summon it to your zone this card points to.
"I activate Lotaxol's effect to Specical Summon BrioGear Platosteus from my Graveyard!" I announced as a fish covered in armor and spinning gears appeared next to Lotaxol.
BrioGear Platosteus
Level: 2/Attribute: WATER/Type: Fish/Effect
ATK: 300/DEF: 100
Effect: If this card is discarded to the GY: You can send 1 "BrioGear" monster from your Deck to the GY; Discard 1 random card from your opponent's hand. If this card is Special Summoned, you can add 1 WATER monster with 2000 or more ATK from your Deck to the hand.
"Next, Platosteus adds a monster with 2000 or more attack from the deck to my hand." A screen appeared beside me showing the number of cards I had with those requirements. There were several high attack monsters in my Deck, but I choose the one with the most ATK. "I summon BrioGear Wave Crusade (Lv.4, ATK: 1700), and activate its effect!"
I discarded the monster that I just added to my hand and raised Crusader's attack back to 2000. Playmaker turned his attention to me, his stoic figure was worrying me a lot, but he didn't know what I was going to do next!
"Come forth, circuit of life!" I cried out and opened the portal for a second time, flying in with my monster. "Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning requirements are two BrioGear monsters! I set BrioGear Lotaxol and BrioGear Platosteus in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Link 2, BrioGear Enhance Mermail!
A little mermaid with blue skin and long pink hair appeared on my field with a wink. Her pupils were bright green and large. She had golden armor on her arms and chest with colorful pearls decorating the edges. Her shoulders and neck were mostly exposed with just a single gear put on her neck like a choker. A belt made from white pearls decorated her waist, and a blue crystal was in place of her belly button.
BrioGear Enhance Mermail
Attribute: WATER/Type: Aqua/Link/Effect
L-Markers: B, R
ATK: 1700/Link-2
2 "BrioGear" monsters
Effect: Once per turn (Quick Effect): You can halve the ATK of 1 monster linked to this card, and if you do, increase the ATK of 1 "BrioGear" monster you control by the same amount, except the monster whose ATK was halved. During the End Phase of the turn, you activated this effect, the ATK of all monsters you control becomes their original ATK.
"I'm not done yet!" I exclaimed before Playmaker of his A.I. could say anything. "I banish BrioGear Lotaxol and BrioGear Platosteus from my Graveyard to revive BrioGear LeviathanDragon!"
A blue serpent with a purple belly raised from the data we were riding. It had gears and large artificial membranes that served as wings to keep it over the data. Its forked tail was made out from two sharp metal rods. Its head was massive, with two pairs of eyes and large metal jaws with an underbite. One large, metal mandibles was protrude underneath the bottom jaw. The head and back were coated with a yellow carapace that produces large spikes which covered most of its back.
BrioGear Leviathan Dragon
Level: 7/Attribute: WATER/Type: Sea Serpent/Effect
ATK: 2600/DEF: 2100
Effect: If this card is in your GY: You can banish 2 other WATER monsters from your GY; Special Summon this card. Once per turn: You can target 1 "BrioGear" monster in your GY; Special Summon it.
"Woah, that's one big monster Playmaker!" I smirked a little hearing the A.I. say that.
"If you think its ATK is great then wait to see its effect!" I exclaimed and turned my attention toward the dragon. "While Leviathan Dragon is on the field, I can revive a BrioGear during each of my turns! Come, BrioGear Octobat!"
Leviathan Dragon raised its head and roared, the data around us shot upward like geysers, from which came my monster. It was purple fish with large bat wings, similar to the Bat Token from before. Instead of four tentacles, it had eight and its belly was multiple clock gears connected to it, spinning and working. In the middle of its head was a large purple eye that stared at Playmaker and his monsters.
BrioGear Octobat
Level: 1/Attribute: WATER/Type: Fish/Effect
ATK: 0/DEF: 200
Effect: If this card is send from the hand or Deck to the GY: Special Summon 1 "BrioGear Bat Token" (Fish-Type/WATER/Level 1/ATK: 100/DEF: 100). When this card is Summoned: Reduce the ATK of all monster your opponent controls by 200 for each face-up WATER monster currently on the field, until the end of this turn.
"Octobat will now reduce the attack of all monsters you control by 200 for each of my monsters!" the pupil of its eyes widened and released several waves of purple energy at Playmaker's monsters. They all groaned and dropped their weapons to which Playmaker just narrowed his eyes.
Code Talker, ATK: 1300 - 800 = 1000
Tri-Gate Wizard, ATK: 2200 - 800 = 1400
I took a moment to observe the board. If I destroy Tri-Gate Wizard, Code Talker's attack would drop further and that should be win the duel. In other words, I'm going to defeat Playmaker!
"You are careless." Playmaker commented and suddenly Code Talker's attack value raised to 1500!
"But how!?" My Duel Disk doesn't show that Playmaker had activated an effect, so how did his monster's attack suddenly raised?
"Code Talker gains attack for each monster linked to it, yours as well." My eyes widened at that statement and I looked at the current board again, only to see that Octobat was right against Code Talker's Link Market. Damn it!
"Still, I will attack Tri-Gate Wizard with BrioGear Enhance Mermail!" My monster created a bubble of water and threw it at the wizard.
"I activate Security Block!" Playmaker played a spell card. "I target Tri-Gate Wizard so this turn it cannot be destroyed. Also, I take no damage from battles involving it!"
"That's bad." I muttered. "Then I will attack Code Talker with Leviathan Dragon!"
"While Code Talker is linked to another monster it cannot be destroyed by battle." the A.I. pointed out, but that didn't stop the damage!
『Playmaker LP: 4000 – 1100 = 2900』
"Next, an attack from BrioGear Wave Crusade!" I declared and gestured toward my mermaid. "At this moment I activate BrioGear Enhance Mermail's effect to halve Leviathan Dragon's attack and give that amount to BrioGear Wave Crusade."
BrioGear Wave Crusade, ATK: 2000 + 1300 = 3300
"Those are a lot of attack points Playmaker!" the A.I. exclaimed again, but it was too late to do anything as my monster slashed at his, knocking it back.
『Playmaker LP: 2900 – 1800 = 1100』
"Woah, she almost reduced our Life Points to below 1000, Playmaker!" I winked and speeded forward.
"Oh shi-!" My eyes suddenly bulged as I saw some sort of data waterfall right before me, I was surfing too fast to notice it sooner ad couldn't turn around or stop in time. All I was able to do was to scream as I went down, my speed increasing with every second as I had to control my board vertically.
"Yeeehoo!" I turned to my left, hearing the A.I. scream in joy as Playmaker speeded past me and moved in front. He was going to save me!
"My turn!" He exclaimed and drew a card. He wasn't going to save me!
『Turn 4 [Playmaker] LP: 1100 Hand: 2』
"I Normal Summon Balancer Lord (Lv.4, ATK: 1700)!" a white cybernetic knight with a sword and a shield appeared on Playmaker's field. "I pay 1000 Life Points to activate Balance Lord's effect!"
『Playmaker LP: 1100 - 1000= 100』
I looked at a screen that popped from my Duel Disk. Hmmm, according to this Balance Lord lets the player Normal Summon twice per turn. Uh oh.
"I Normal Summon Launcher Commander (Lv.4, ATK: 1700)!" Another green humanoid armed to the teeth with rocket launchers and other guns came to Playmaker's field.
"Next, with Launcher Commander's effect, all other monsters on my field gain 300 ATK!"
Code Talker, ATK: 2300 + 300 = 2600
Tri-Gate Wizard, ATK: 2200 + 300 = 2500
Balancer Lord ATK: 1700 + 300 = 2000
I stopped paying attention to Playmaker's moves and just fell on my knees, grabbing my board for support as we were falling down a waterfall of data. I just barely managed to collect enough courage to look in front of me and the thing that came into also made my eyes jumped out of their sockets. A giant cyclone of data was coming toward us! There was no space to avoid a collision with it, so following what my instincts told me to do I closed my eyes tightly and let my screams come out naturally as the wind slammed into my body.
"A Data Storm would tear a normal duelist apart, Playmaker!" I screamed louder and hugged my shaking board tightly.
"Stay with me, Proxy!" There was a feeling of something touching my arm and I opened my eyes, only to see Playmaker holding me.
I completely regained my sense and raised my head. We were no longer surfing down the waterfall, instead both of us were inside some blue space with data rolling around us. I couldn't believe how beautiful the place looked, with the colors running together and merging. This place made all of my previous fears disappear, drown into the abyss of my own mind. Data Storm – it looked so comforting and warm from the inside, yet it's so dangerous for whoever dares to try and look inside its beauty.
"Now! Seize the Wind Playmaker!" I looked up to the hero as he reached out with a hand into the data that surrounded us. As he did so, silhouettes of what I could only guess were different monsters flew pass us and the light that formed within Playmaker's arm.
"Storm Acess!" a glowing card formed within Playmaker's hand and projected the silhouette of a warrior-like monster which pushed the Data Storm, tearing it apart and allowing for us to jump out of it.
"T-that was awesome!" I exclaimed and looked back at the Data Storm that we just went through.
"The duel isn't over yet." Playmaker reminded me.
"Yeah." I nodded and then smiled at him. "Thanks for saving me back there."
"I was obligated to." I kept my smiles because this time around, there was no hostility or coldness in his voice.
"So, are you going to finish this duel?" I asked.
I had never really hoped to win this duel against Playmaker, the two of us were just in completely different leagues; I just wanted to show how much I was capable to do and possible learn something new that could be of use for me in the future.
"Appear, the circuit that leads to the future!" I sighed as the portal appeared on Playmaker's field once again. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are two or more monsters! I set Balancer Lord and Link-2 Code Talker in the Link Markers! Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear, Link 3, Cyberse Accelerator (ATK: 2000 + 300 = 2300, LINK-3)!
"Battle! Tri-Gate Wizard attack BrioGear Enhance Mermail! Triangular Circuit!" I gritted my teeth, having no cards to counter this attack with. "Cyberse Accelerator's effect activates! During the Battle Phase, I can increase the attack of a monster it's linked to by 2000!"
"Woah!" I looked at his monster as its body began to glow.
Tri-Gate Wizard, ATK: 2500 + 2000 = 4500
The attack collided and all of my monsters ended up getting whipped out alongside Enhance Mermail. I screamed and covered my eyes as the power was so much that it threw me off my board, which was even worse because we were surfing vertically!
『Proxy LP: 2000 – 2800 = 0』
『Winner: Playmaker』
I feel face first on the ground below and groaned. Even in virtual reality, falling hurt a lot and I just felt at least two stories. I groaned and slowly stood up as Playmaker landed before me and looked down on me with a hand on his hips. Judging by his expression, I didn't do all that well, did I?
"Did I pass the test?" I asked with an innocent smile.
"I noticed three big weaknesses in your dueling." I narrowed my eyes as the three things counting came into play again. "First, you don't know what you deck does. I noticed that there were several times during the duel in which you were just lost at what to do and took a lot of time to think about your moves."
Well, in my defense I thought that I knew my deck fairly well after all those duels with the A.I. from yesterday, but I guess practice alone isn't enough then…
"Second, you don't believe in your deck." What's that supposed to mean? "You don't thrust in the capabilities that your deck has and that usually leads to you making mistakes while trying to play safer."
"Third, you don't trust in your own skills as a duelist, so even if you had the skills of a professional duelist, you wouldn't be able to go far without confidence."
My head dropped. Those words hurt me quite a bit, and even though I wanted to say something back, my mouth remained closed because there wasn't much for me to respond with. I could fix the first two points, by reading my cards more carefully and studying them, but confidence… that wasn't something I could just gain out of nowhere.
"So when are we going to start the actual teaching?" I finally asked.
"We already did." Playmaker crossed his hands. "This is all the help I had to give you."
"B-but you said…" I can't believe it, he was going to turn back on his word now!
"You must learn how to be a duelist on your own." Playmaker replied. "I don't have time to duel you every day, but I'm going to do what I can."
Right, Playmaker was the hero of VRAINS, he had a duty to uphold, I shouldn't take him away and risk people getting hurt because of my own problems. It still stings to accept that, but I could find a way to accept it.
"Then that means that I will have to duel in the LINK VRAINS' tutorial again." I sighed, within seconds Playmaker's expression turned to a confused one. "Did I say something weird again?" Please tell me that I didn't mess up something again!
"LINK VRAINS doesn't have a tutorial." What?
"Nope, I remember dueling in it yesterday." I surely wouldn't mistake a real game for its tutorial. "Maybe you just overlooked it."
Playmaker raised a hand and I shut up. He brought his Duel Disk closer and ordered it to check the network for something. After a few moments he looked back at me.
"We are logging out."
New Cards that appeared but went unused!
BrioGear Entranced (Trap) Normal
If a face-up WATER monster you control is targeted for an attack: Destroy the attacking monster, then send 1 "BrioGear" monster from your Deck to the GY. If your opponent Special Summons a monster while this card is in your GY; You can discard 1 monster from your hand: Set this card, but banish it when it leaves the field.
A/N: LMAO Every time I tried to have Yusaku do something emotional or good in this chaoter, I felt like I'm breaking his character. Why must you have the most aesthetically pleasing deck of all the protagonists, yet you are as blank in the personality department as Yusei! Also, while I'm talking about the anime, why the fuck did you do this episode 34!? WHY?! I wanted a waifu now a genderbent Akiza, or Yuri (I mean, the character Yuri... I REALLY want the other kind of Yuri...)
Moving from that, Roxy has joined the hacker/hotdog-loving group this chapter (but for how long?) One thing I want to point out is that the man with the white hair is not the unknown guy from the VRAINS anime, he is my OC, telling that just to avoid confusions as to why he works with SOL. Also, if someone here wonders why Yusaku didn't use Decode Talker in the duel, it's to keep the continuity in check. This duel is supposed to take place before the one with Go and in the episode we see that it was Kurosaki who gave him the card before the duel, therefor it would be weird for him to use it now, but forget it against Hanoi.
This time around I'm going to respond to a few reviews, because, I believe there are things that deserve to be said.
First to Envoy of Torrask: Thanks, I'm happy that people actually like Roxanna, writting a main lead that is a noob is something completely new for me, so I was worried that she would end up sucking (as a character I mean, she obvious is a bad duelist).
ScalchopWarrior: No sweetie, this is karma. You use an idea before me, I use another one before you. Your points as to why others don't believe that Yusaku is Playmaker makes a lot of sense and I guess that this is why Roxanna manage to figure it out, because she know neither Yusaku or Playmaker, so she connected them by their look and said "This shit is legitimate!"
Xander1996: Wow, you guy believe more in my shitty writings that I would ever do. Don't worry, the next chapter for my Arc-V story is already in work (as slow as it might be going).
Well, that's all for today. Thanks to everyone who favorited and/or followed this story. To those who haven't, please favorite/follow/review. Constructive criticism is welcome and even if you want to swear into my face, I don't care enough to block you.
Diabolic Tracer out!