New Power – The Lords of Elements
"What are these things?" Kusanagi asked.
He, Ai and Yusaku, were watching a recording sent to them through Aqua. It showed Proxy and Silver Star facing off against two giants made from data.
"I'm not sure, but they look frightening." Ai gulped. "Maybe SOL Technology created them."
"Do you think that SOL has the resources to create AIs like these?" Kusanagi asked.
"I'm not sure." Ai shrugged. "In fact, I'm not sure if we could even call these things AIs, they don't look very civilized."
"I feel so powerless right now," Kusanagi admitted. "I'm the guy behind the computer, I've never been able to be of help on the field and though I haven't worried about it before, now…"
"You're worried because its Proxy there fighting these things and not Playmaker, right?" Ai asked.
Yusaku narrowed his eyes. He focused on the picture on the screen and ignored everything else that Ai and Kusanagi asked after.
『Silver Star & Proxy LP: 4000, Hand: 5 (VS) Data Giant 1 & Data Giant 2 LP: 4000, Hand: 5』
"I'm going to take the first turn!" Silver Star took two cards from her hand and flipped them over. "I activate the effect of AstroGear Zweite Klinge from my hand! When there are no monsters on my field, I can Special Summon it along with another AstroGear monster in my hand. Come forth, Zwite Klinge and AstroGear Malnehmen!"
The strange knight-like monster and a small disk-shaped drone appeared before her. Nice! I have seen Malnehmen before and its effect would allow Silver Star to summon many more copies of it directly from her deck!
"Since AstroGear Malnehmen was Special Summoned, I can summon two more copies of it from my deck!" Just as I predicted, two more drones appeared, almost completely filling all of our Main Monster Zones. "Appear, the circuit of the universe!" A large golden halo with eight smaller rings linked to it appeared on the ceiling.
"Arrowhead confirmed! Summoning requirement is a Level Two or lower LIGHT monster! I set AstroGear Zweite Klinge in the Link Marker!" The tiny warrior-like monster turned into a whirlwind and flew inside the ring attached to the bottom center of the halo. "Link Summon! Come forth, AstroGear Link Bergsteiger (ATK: 400, Link-1)!" A white humanoid made from triangles flew through the halo and landed on the Right Extra Monster Zone.
"And for a second time. Appear, the circuit of the universe!" Silver Star clicked her fingers, summoning a second halo. "Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning requirements are two oGear monsters! I set two Malnehmen in the Link Markers!" the two rings on the sides of the halo glowed as Silver Star's monsters became one with them. "Link Summon! The holy machine of destruction! AstroGear Das Unknown (ATK: 1800, Link-2)!
"But I'm not done!" Silver Start winked and gestured toward her Link 1 monster. "I activate Bergsteiger's effect! Once per turn, I can banish an AstroGear monster from my graveyard to summon another oGear from my graveyard. I banish one Malnehmen to Special Summon AstroGear Zweite Klinge (Lv. 2, DEF: 200). Due to Malnehmen's effect, I draw a card whenever it's banished. Now, appear for the third time, the circuit of the universe!"
She was Link Spamming just the same as Playmaker, but her plays felt more wholesome than his.
"Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning requirements are two monsters with a thousand or less attack power! I set my last Malnehmen and Link Bergsteiger in the Link Markers! Link Summon! AstroGear Steigender Kämpfer!"
A humanoid warrior monster appeared out of Silver Star's circuit. The monster had short blond hair and was wearing a white and black demon mask that covered its face, while two pointy ears jutted from the sides of its head. It had a muscular build and its outfit consisted of a sleeveless white bodysuit with black legs and shoulders, with multiple yellow lines running across it. But the worst part of it was its arms. Instead of normal human arms, the monster had four bulky cables coming out of its shoulders and connecting to a metal right which generated two blades of yellow energy.
AstroGear Steigender Kämpfer
Attribute: LIGHT/Type: Warrior/Link/Effect
Link Marker: Bottom, Left
ATK: 1700/Link-2
2 monsters with 1000 or less ATK, except Tokens
Effect: If this card is pointing toward a Link Monster, this card gains ATK equal to that monster's Link Rating x300. If this Link Summoned card is sent to the GY: You can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower "oGear" monster from your GY.
"That's a strange play." Aqua crossed her arms. "Why did you summon Steigender Kämpfer at Unknown's left zone instead of the right?"
"Heh, my dueling is about much more than brute force." Silver Star ran a hand through her hair and smiled. "Proxy, Aqua, watch as I make the step toward dueling's next stage of evolution! When a Link Monster I control points toward a Spell or Trap Zone, I can activate this card in that zone! The Continuous Spell – Elemental Lords of Gear!"
The card showed six hooded individuals standing in a circle around a large construct made of gears. Each of the individuals was wearing a different hood, with the one in the center having a dark purple, then going clockwise the rest were green, brown, yellow, red, blue. The background behind them showed a white hall with large statues of warriors placed at the sides of the pathway.
Elemental Lords of Gear (Spell) Continuous
You can only activate this card in a Spell & Trap Zone a Link Monster points to. Once per turn: If you would Link Summon an "oGear" Link Monster, you can use 1 Link Monster that points at this card as the entire material to Special Summon 1 Link Monster that has the same attribute, but with 1 Link Rating higher than the monster you use as material. Link Monsters that point at this card cannot be destroyed by your opponent's card effects.
"A spell that can be activated only next to a Link Monster's arrow…" Aqua muttered. "For a card to have such requirements, it must have a strong effect."
"Indeed, that's the evolution of oGear as a collective." Silver Star stated and threw her arms into the sky. "Now tremble before the power of the Elemental Lords of Gear! With their blessing, I'm able to evolve my Link Monsters! Appear, the circuit millennia!"
Silver Star threw her arm into the sky and a bolt of yellow electricity slipped past her fingers. Space itself began to tremble and it got torn apart as Silver Star's circuit appeared. But this time, it was completely different, instead of a halo, three golden clock gears appeared in the air. Gears grinded, bolts of electricity danced across the edges of the new 'circuit' and a yellow portal appeared inside the gears, creating a tunnel.
"Cruel light, unchain the mortal body binding my monster and open the gates to heaven through a pure sacrifice!" Silver Star began to chant as AstroGear Steigender Kämpfer turned into a beam of light and flew into the portal. "Link-Up! Spread your wings of purification, the angel sitting on the throne of creation itself! Exotic Sola the Link Seraph (ATK: 2300, Link-3)!"
"A Link-Up?" Aqua blinked while I started with wide eyes. This was the first time I hear of a card that allows you to evolve your Link Monsters. "I have never heard of a card like this before. You, humans, are truly unique creatures, managing to create a card such as this!"
"No joke about it, even I didn't see that coming," I stated. Now, I wasn't very skilled duelist or an expert at card designing, but a card that could allow me to evolve my monsters for free, as long as they point toward it sounded like a sweet and pretty powerful card to have.
"Heh, so much is nothing for my intelligence." Silver Star praised herself. "But now AstroGear Steigender Kämpfer's additional effect activates! Since it was sent to the graveyard, I can revive one of my Malnehmen." She revived the drone again, which meant another Link Summon! "Appear for the final time, the circuit of the universe!"
Another holy halo opened over our heads, as another AstroGear monster was on its way to join Silver Star's formation.
"Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning requirements are two LIGHT monsters! I set Malnehmen and Zweite Klinge in the Link Markers! Link Summon! I call forth, AstroGear Unterstützender Assistant (ATK: 1200, Link-2)!" a female monster with the appearance of a secretary appeared at Sola's left Link Arrow.
"What do you think?" Silver Star asked. "Due to Assitant's effect, I can negate the destruction of a monster once per turn, thanks to Exotic Sola my other monsters can't be destroyed by battle, effect, or be targeted by an effect, also all non-LIGHT monsters in the same column as Assitant and Unknown will have their attack halved and their effects negated."
So that was why she wanted to place Elemental Lords of the Gears in the middle zone because Sola would be located there as well! Thanks to Sola's effect, any monster the opponent summons in either Extra Monster Zone would have its effects negated and its attack power cut in half. Sadly, that included my monsters as well, but I was sure that Aqua would figure a way around that.
"And before I forget, Unknown's effect increases that attack points of all my LIGHT monsters by five hundred points!" The large drone's body glowed, surrounding the rest of Silver Star's monsters.
AstroGear Unterstützender Assistant, ATK: 1200 + 500 →1700
AstroGear Das Unknown, ATK: 1800 + 500 →2300
Exotic Sola the Link Seraph, ATK: 2300 + 500 →2800
"I set a card and end my turn." Silver Star finished.
One of the creatures raised its arm and five cards appeared in front of it, after which a sixth one joined. These things weren't the most talkative bunch, or maybe they just didn't have the ability to talk. I didn't know, but their presence was sending a chill down my spine, something about these creatures was familiar, I just couldn't put my finger on it.
『Turn 2 [Data Giant 1] LP: 4000 Hand: 6』
The creature pressed one of the cards in its hand and suddenly a warrior wearing yellow and blue armor with a pair of glowing swords in its hands appeared in the center monster zone. I looked up information about it through my Duel Disk: Mekk-Knight Blue Sky (Lv.5, DEF: 2500) and a novel of an effect that I didn't have enough time to read right now.
"And of course they use a LIGHT based deck as well." I heard Silver Star sigh. Right, her deck didn't affect monsters with the same attribute as her AstroGears.
Once the warrior appeared on the field, the giant that summoned it gained two more monsters in its hand. Most likely due to Mekk-Knight Blue Sky's effect. Afterward, the monster duelist played a spell card called World Legacy's Memory which summoned another monster, but this time directly from the deck. The new monster had a silver body with blue crystals and an arc over its head. Its name was: Mekk-Knight Indigo Eclipse (Lv. 8, DEF: 2400) and its effect allowed the player to move a Mekk-Knight to another zone.
Blue Sky stepped to the left, freeing the middle zone, and immediately a large, bulky knight in white and red armor appeared in its place wielding an ax. The new monster's name was Mekk-Knight Red Moon (Lv.7, DEF: 2600) and by overlaying its effects with the other Mekk-Knights I noticed that all of them had the ability to be Special Summoned from the hand if the opponent controlled two or more cards in the same column. Then each of them had its personal effect, with Blue Sky's allowing it to search a number of Mekk-Knight monsters, up to the number of cards that Silver Star controlled in the same column. Since Sola and the Spell were in the same column. That meant the giant got to search two cards! Yep, I was starting to understand things now!
Afterward, the Giant activated a Field Spell called World Legacy Scars, whose effect rose the ATK and DEF of all Mekk-Knights by 300 and also allowed him to discard a Mekk-Knight to draw a new card. Also, did I say that Red Moon's effect allowed it to banish a Mekk-Knight from the grave in order to destroy a monster? 'Cause when the Giant discarded Mekk-Knight Green Horizon, it immediately banished it to try and destroy Sola.
"Did you really think that I would fall for such an obvious trick?" Silver Star asked before pointing at her Assistant. "While Sola points at Elemental Lords of Gear, she can't be destroyed by your card effects!" A digital barrier formed around the monster and blocked Red Moon's effect.
"A solid defense." Aqua crossed her arms. "Thanks to her three Link Monsters, your friend was able to build an impenetrable wall. Well, almost impenetrable."
The Giant threw its arms in the air and a normal Link Square appeared over it. All three of its Mekk-Knights flew into the bottom arrows and a giant, weirdly beautiful abomination of a monster flew through the square. Its name was Mekk-Knight Spectrum Supreme (ATK: 3000, Link-3) and let's just say that it was a very powerful monster to face.
Mekk-Knight Spectrum Supreme, ATK: 3000 + 300 →3300
"A Cyberse monster?" Aqua looked at the giant Link 3 in confusion. "Who created this thing and gave it this card?"
"If they use Cyberse cards, we should be extra careful." I heard Silver Star warm me. "These things are not native to LINK VRAINS."
"Yeah." I nodded in agreement.
After getting rid of its Mekk-Knights, the Giant summoned a new one with white, black and orange armor carrying two shields in the left zone, under Spectrum Supreme. Its name was Mekk-Knight Orange Sunset (Lv.6, DEF: 3000 + 300 →3300) and its appearance meant more trouble for us. The giant then gestured toward Exotic Sola one more time and his Link Monster flew over her, firing a rainbow ray at Silver Star's ace.
"I activate Assistant's effect to negate Sola's destruction!" Silver Star's Link 2 threw her digital book in front of Sola, blocking the ray.
『Silver Star & Proxy LP: 4000 – 500 →3500』
"You stopped the attack from destroying your monster!" I gasped.
Silver Star's field was seriously impenetrable with all of her cards protecting each other. Watching the Giant trying to destroy her monsters was like watching someone trying to destroy a caste with their bare hands.
"So that's the point of the AstroGear deck?" Aqua pondered.
"Huh?" I looked at Aqua. "The point of her deck? Could you please try to explain it a bit better? I don't think that I'm understanding what you're trying to say."
"I'm talking about how her deck plays." Aqua turned toward me. "Just like how your BrioGear deck discarding to activate effect symbolizes the rain that gives life to the world, Silver Star's AstroGear deck symbolizes eternal life. Divinity."
"I… don't understand what you're saying, but I'm going to roll with it." I sweated.
The Giant gestured toward Spectrum Supreme activate its effect, which allowed the Link Monster to send a Mekk-Knight in the same column as itself to Special Summon a Mekk-Knight monster from the Deck. Orange Sunset disappeared and in its place appeared a white and yellow knight with wings instead of arms. Its name was Mekk-Knight Yellow Star (Lv.7, DEF: 2800 + 300 →3100) and its effect allowed it to banish a Mekk-Knight from the graveyard to destroy a Spell/Trap Card in the same column as itself.
"Tch, tricky bastard." Silver Star cursed. "He's aiming to get rid of my set card."
"Huh?" I looked at the field, and indeed, Yellow Star was located in the most right zone, along with Silver Star's set card!
The Giant held out its arm and a Mekk-Knight Blue Sky appeared in it before shattering. The remains of the card flew into Yellow Star's wings, which then fired an array of lasers, all of which cut Silver Star's card into pieces, destroying it. Before it disappeared, I got a glimpse of the card that Silver Star was saving for later.
AstroGear Hinter der Sense (Trap) Continuous
If you control an "AstroGear" monster, you can target 1 "oGear" monster in your GY or banished zone; Special Summon it. (Quick Effect): Target 1 "oGear" monster in your GY or banished zone: Shuffle this banished card into the Deck; Special Summon it. You can only use 1 effect of "AstroGear Hinter der Sense" per turn, and only once that turn.
A face-down card materialized in front of the Giant and a text appeared on the screen of my Duel Disk, informing me that it was my turn. I didn't want to screw up Silver Star's field, so I thought carefully about the move which I was about to make. Using the Extra Monster Zone was a big no-no, while Exotic Sola's effect was affecting that column.
The only other zone I had to Link Summon to was next to Unknown's right Link Arrow, so I'm not going to be summoning Serene – that was for sure.
"Don't worry so much about it." Firera popped out of my Duel Disk. "I'm a Duel Monster and Aqua's personal tactician, follow my guide and we will score a flawless victory!" That did make me feel a little better… "Now go, take your turn and draw a card!"
"There's no need to say that." I at least knew how to play the game, even if it wasn't my strong suit. "Draw!"
『Turn 3 [Proxy] LP: 3500 Hand: 6』
"This is a good card that I drew, right?" I asked Firera and she nodded in agreement. "Good, I know which combo to deploy right now! First, I activate the card that I just drew - BrioGear Ark of Silence!"
The sewers flashed for a moment to show that my Field Spell was activated. Now every time that I discarded a card, my monsters would grow a little stronger, while also giving my Field Spell new effects to apply.
"Now I discard a monster from my hand to Special Summon BrioGear Sailflying!" A humanoid monster with aqua blue skin, spiky crimson hair and glassy pink eyes appeared on the field. A weird think about these new Cyberse BrioGear monsters was that all of them were humans or humanoid with cute appearances. And Sailflying wasn't an exception. She wore a short bluish-white dress which reached just below her private regions and had long fins attached to the back of her arms and legs.
BrioGear Sailflying
Level: 3/Attribute: WATER/Type: Cyberse/Effect
ATK: 200/DEF: 1400
Effect: You can discard 1 other WATER monster; Special Summon this card from your hand. If a WATER monster(s) is Special Summoned from your GY: you can Special Summon this card (from your GY), but banish it when it leaves the field.
"Then I Normal Summon BrioGear Wave Crusade (Lv.4, ATK: 1700)." My warrior joined up, by appearing in the most left monster zone. "And because I discarded a card for Sailflying's effect, BrioGear Ark of Silence will gain a Life Counter, while the attack and defense of all my monster raise by two hundred points."
BrioGear Sailflying, ATK: 200 + 200 →400, DEF: 1400 + 200 →1600
BrioGear Wave Crusade, ATK: 1700 + 200 →1900, DEF: 100 + 300 →400
"Come forth, the circuit of life!" A white circular mirror frame formed in place of the square. "Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning requirements are two BrioGear monsters! I set BrioGear Saiflying and BrioGear Wave Crusader in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Link Two, BrioGear Enhance Mermail (ATK: 1700 + 200 →1900, Link-2)!"
It was then, that the Giant raised its arm and its set card activate. It was a Continuous Trap called World Legacy's Secret and it had two effects, the first allowed the Giant to Special Summon a Level Five or higher monster from their graveyard – which the AI used to call back Mekk-Knight Indigo Eclipse (Lv. 8, DEF: 2400 + 300 →2700) and a second effect which stopped all monsters in the same column as a Mekk-Knight from activating its effect. Since the Mekk-Knights were in the same zones as Assistant, Unknown and Enhance Mermail, only Sola Exotic had the ability to user her effects right now!
"That's a bad turn of events," Firera admitted. "But it's nothing we can't push through."
"You must prioritize targets." Silver Star stated.
"Prioritize, what now?" I raised an eyebrow. "Can't you speak in English?"
"Dear Ra…" She shook her head. "Take a careful look at the field. The way our and their cards are placed. Be smart, attack the cards that are most important for your opponent and protect the ones most important for us. Keep the pressure and protect your advantage."
"I…see…" The Giant used powerful monsters, but their weakness was that the effects each one had could only affect a single column at once. Due to World Legacy's Secret three of our monsters were no longer able to activate their effects, but due to Exotic Sola two of their monster zones were lost as well.
There was a large difference in the way you had to play when dueling with a teammate. We had to utilize the cards left behind by our teammates! I had to use the three Link Monsters that Silver Star summoned, but which monsters should I target? The Mekk-Knights in the main monster zones or the big boss monster? Since Spectrum Supreme's presence in the Extra Monster Zone blocked Assistant from activating her effect to protect monsters from destruction, I should destroy it first!
"Firera, any idea how to destroy Spectrum Supreme in one turn?" I asked the Duel Spirit.
"That was what I was thinking about." Firera shook her head. "How about this? Use the effect of the monster you discarded with Sailflying?"
"That monster negates attacks." Aqua showed up. "I think she should save it for when it's seriously needed."
"Sorry to say that, but this is a flawed way of thinking." Firera pouted. "The card works only if a WATER monster is battling and its effect is meant to be used offensively, despite it negating an attack. I suggest you use it right now."
Which one should I be listening to right now? I had to carefully time this. If I listened to Aqua and kept my monster's effect in reserve, next turn all three Mekk-Knights would attack us and if I use the effect then, my monster's effect will funiculate for only one turn. I had to do as Firera told me!
"Battle! Enhance Mermaid attack Spectrum Supreme!" My Link Monster smiled and flew forward, throwing a bubble of water toward Spectrum Supreme. "Now I activate the effect of BrioGear Cluster Crab from my graveyard! I banish it to negate the attack!" The bubble burst in midair, leaving my monster and Spectrum Supreme to stare at each other.
BrioGear Cluster Crab
Level: 2/Attribute: WATER/Type: Cyberse/Effect
ATK: 1200/DEF: 0
Effect: You can Special Summon this card (from your hand) to a Zone an "oGear" Link Monster points to in face-up Defense Position. When a WATER monster you control attacks or is attacked, you can banish this card from your GY: Negate that attack, then the opponent monster's ATK becomes equal to your monster's original ATK until the end of its turn, and it's unaffected by other card effects, except its own.
"And now, because the battle was negated through Cluster Crab's effect, your monster's attack becomes the same as Enhance Mermaid's original attack power until the end of this turn!" Firera crossed her arms triumphantly.
Mekk-Knight Spectrum Supreme, ATK: 3300 →1700
"Clever move!" Silver Star smiled. "Because Spectrum Supreme wasn't linked to a monster it had protection from card effects and because of the trap, most of our monsters on the field were rendered useless. But since Cluster Crab's effect activates from the graveyard and it doesn't target, you were able to weaken their monster!"
"And now I'm going to score some damage!" I threw my arm forward. "Battle! Exotic Sola the Link Seraph attack Spectrum Supreme! Photon Pulse!"
The golden bolts attached to Sola's dress shot out and positioned themselves in a straight line before the monster. Sola fired a bolt of lightning that moved through the golden bolts and came out of the other side as a large beam of light that washed through Spectrum Supreme, melting the Link Monster away.
『Giant 1 & Giant 2 LP: 4000 – 1100 →2900』
"With this, I end my turn!" I finished. There wasn't anything more I could do with the cards that were currently on my field and in my hand.
The second Giant stepped forward and six cards materialized in its arm. What sort of deck would this one use? Whatever it was, I had to stay on guard. As long as these Mekk-Knights were on the field, our monsters would be unable to break through and deal real damage to our opponents.
『Turn 4 [Data Giant 2] LP: 2900 Hand: 6』
The giant pressed a card in their hand and it appeared on the field. The name was World Legacy Survival and its effect allowed the Giant look at the top cards of its deck, add one Krawler or World Legacy card to its hand, then send the remaining ones to the graveyard. Several cards appeared in front of the Giant and it pressed a trap, adding it to its hand while the rest were sent to the grave.
"Self-milling." I heard Silver Star muttered under her breath.
"Remain focused." Firera reminded me. "Your friend might need support, and you won't be able to deliver if you're not reading carefully your opponent's cards."
"Sorry." I apologized. I'll try to do better from here on!
The creature pressed another card in their hand and some red insect-like creature with six wings and a red eye in the center of its head appeared on the field. The monster was Krawler Receptor (Lv.2, ATK: 900) and there was no way I would read all of the words written on its effect. After the insect materialized, the creature activated another Spell Card called Worm Bait. Two worms with empty eye sockets and mouths covered in blood appeared on the Giant's field. It then gestured at the ceiling and a Link Square opened up.
The two worms flew through and another insect-like monster called Krawler Neurogos (ATK: 1900, Link-2) appeared on the right Extra Monster Zone. Luckily, because the monster didn't have the LIGHT attribute, it was affected by Exotic Sola's effect, losing its effects and half of its attack points!
Krawler Neurogos, ATK: 1900/2 →950
The Giant then pointed at the two Mekk-Knight monsters that its partner left behind. First, it used the effect of Mekk-Knight Indigo Eclipse to move Mekk-Knight Yellow Star in the middle zone, then used Yellow Star's effect to banish Spectrum Supreme and destroy a Spell/Trap Card in the same column as itself.
"If this effect goes through, you're going to lose Elemental Lords of Gear." Aqua popped out of the Duel Disk.
"This is the most important and vulnerable card we have out," Firera stated. "Proxy, use Assisstant's effect to protect the Spell Card from destruction!"
"Right away sir!" I nodded and pressed on Assistant's card. "I activate AstroGear Unterstützender Assistant's effect! Once per turn, I can target a face-up card on the field and negate its first destruction during that turn!" The Link 2 threw her digital book in front of Elemental Lords of Gear and stopped Yellow Star's lasers from touching it.
The Giant paused for a moment, taking a few moments to understand what happened. It then pointed at us and Mekk-Knight Indigo Eclipse turned from Defense to Attack Position, carrying 2700 attack points! It then threw the arc attached to its back, cutting through my Enhance Mermaid, destroying her.
『Silver Star & Proxy LP: 3500 – 800 →2700』
"They couldn't destroy my Spell, so they went for your unprotected monster." Silver Star said. "You're doing well prioritizing your targets!"
"Thanks!" It wasn't actually as hard when I thought about what I wanted and didn't want to allow my opponent from doing. And as much as it hurt me to get rid of my own monster, I had to protect Silver Star's cards!
The Giant set one card facedown and it was back to Silver Star once more. She looked at me and gave me a wink before drawing.
『Turn 5 [Silver Star] LP: 2700 Hand: 3』
"I think that this was enough fooling around." Silver Star stated. "It's time to end this! I activate AstroGear Link Bergsteiger's effect from my Graveyard! I banish it to send an oGear card from my deck to the grave. I send AstroGear Auslöser Tiger, then I activate its effect! If it's in the graveyard, I can banish another AstroGear to revive it! I choose to banish Malnehmen!" The white armored beast leaped through a black portal and landed on the field with a roar.
"Due to Malnehmen's effect I get to draw a card and AstroGear Auslöser Tiger's effect lets me banish a card on the field when its Special Summoned! I choose to banish Yellow Star!" The beast opened its jaw and fired a beam that pierced through the knight's body and disintegrated it.
"And due to Unknown's effect, AstroGear Auslöser Tiger is going to gain five hundred extra attack and defense points!" A yellow aura surrounded the beast as its points gained a boost.
AstroGear Auslöser Tiger, ATK: 2400 + 500 →2900, DEF: 1600 + 500 →2100
"Let's battle now!" Silver Star ordered. "Auslöser Tiger, attack Krawler Neurogos!" The mecha-beast leaped forward and landed on top of the insect, smashing its head without a problem.
『Giant 1 & Giant 2 LP: 2900 – 1950 →950』
But that wasn't it. Instead of disappearing, the remains of the Krawler moved in and began to rebuild themselves into two smaller forms, but before I could see what these creatures looked like, they were placed face-down on the field.
"So, when a Link Krawler gets destroyed the Main Deck ones can be revived from the graveyard?" Silver Star raised an eyebrow. "Like that matters! Now, Exotic Sola attack Krawler Receptor and end this! Photon Pulse!"
We won!
Or so I wanted to think. But instead, the Giant's set card flipped face-up. It was another Continuous Trap – World Legacy's Puppet, and this time, by shuffling Krawler Neurogos back into the deck, the card allowed them to set Krawler Receptor face-down! That, of course, didn't stop Silver Star's attack from going through, annihilating the insect, but because it was face-down, the opponent wasn't going to take any damage!
"Tch, its flip effects are going to now activate." Silver Star muttered.
"Flip Effect?" I scratched the back of my head. "Um, what was that again?"
"It's an effect that activates only when the monster is flipped," Aqua informed me. "And yes, if the monster gets destroyed, the effect still resolves. In Receptor's case, its Flip Effect allowed the user to search a new Krawler card from the deck."
"But it's not over," Firera warned me. "When a Krawler is destroyed, two new ones are summoned directly from the deck!"
"I'm not done yet!" Silver Star clenched her fist. "Assistant, attack the face-down card at your column!" Assistant threw her digital book at the face-down card and it exploded, destroying the monsters, while simultaneously negating its effects with Exotic Sola's effect, so its Flip Effect wouldn't activate
"The monster that you just destroyed was called Krawler Glial." Firera informed her. "And when Glial is Flipped, it summons another Krawler straight from the grave or hand. Good work negating its effect."
"And now Unknown will destroy the face-down in its own column!" Silver Star's other Link Monster flew over the Giant's set card and dropped a plasma bomb, blowing up the set card.
"The card you destroyed was Krawler Dendrite." Aqua informed Silver Star. "Because it was destroyed, the monster's effect can activate from the graveyard, summoning two more Krawlers from the field face-down."
"No matter how many I destroy, they will just duplicate and come back." Silver Star said annoyed and took two cards from her hand. "I set two cards, turn end!"
As she finished, Silver Star gave me a nod. She had gotten rid of most Mekk-Knights for me and reduced the opponent's Life Points to below a thousand, all that I had to do was finish it on my next turn. I couldn't fail and disappoint both her and the two AIs living inside my Duel Disk. The first Giant then held out its arm again and four cards materialized in it. Another round of Mekk-Knight was coming up…
『Turn 6 [Data Giant 1] LP: 950 Hand: 4』
The giant held out its arm and one of the set monsters on his field flipped face-up. Its name was Krawler Spine (Lv.2, ATK: 300) and upon its flipping, the creature fired a red laser beam at AstroGear Auslöser Tiger. Silver Star's monster roared and exploded, sending flying debris in all sides. Apparently, Spine's effect was to destroy a monster when it got flipped, but why didn't Silver Star use Assistant's effect to negate it?
Just as I was wondering that; another face-down monster turned face-up. This time its name was Krawler Axon (Lv.2, ATK: 500) and its effect was to destroy a Spell or Trap Card. Aha, so that's why Silver Star saved her monster's effect.
"I activate Assistant's effect to negate Elemental Lords of Gear's destruction." Silver Star clicked her fingers and Assistant's digital book flew in front of the Spell, protecting it from the insect.
The giant threw its arms up and a square opened above its head. Mekk-Knight Indigo Eclipse and Krawler Spine turned into whirlwinds that flew into the bottom arrows of the Link Square. Out of the circuit appeared a mecha-like monster with flame swords attached to its wrists. Its name was Mekk-Knight of the Morning Star (ATK: 2000 + 300 →2300, Link-2). After that monster appeared on the field, the Giant Summoned Mekk-Knight Green Horizond (Lv. 6, ATK: 2100 + 300 →2400) and a second Link Square appeared.
"It seems that your enemy is starting to go all out." Aqua pointed out.
No joke. Green Horizond and Axon were the monsters that flew into the arrows this time and the second copy of Mekk-Knight of the Morning Star (ATK: 2000 + 300 →2300, Link-2) appeared behind the first. And just when I thought that they were planning to attack with these monsters, the Gaint raised its arm forward. The data in the pool next to us began to raise and it turned into a mini typhoon. I recognize that program, it was,
"They can use Storm Access!?" Firera yelled.
The Giant roared and pushed its claws into the data, pulling a card out of it. The Data Monster summoned its third square and sent both of its Link Monsters into it. This time, four of the Square's arrows were lighted up and a new monster came out. A human warrior clad in glowing blue armor with a large broadsword in its right arm. Its name was Mekk-Knight Crusadia Astram (ATK: 3000, Link-4) and its type was Cyberse as well!?
"Another Cyberse monster!" Firera pointed at their new ace.
"And both of them are part of the deck as well." Aqua narrowed her eyes. "That's not a random Link Monster these creatures found, it was made for them!"
"You can think about this later." Silver Star interrupted them. "Because of the Field Spell, his monster will gain three hundred extra attack points."
Mekk-Knight Crusadia Astram, ATK: 3000 + 300 →3300
The creature pressed a card in their palm and it appeared on the field as a Continous Spell – World Legacy Key, and according to its effect, the Giant could bring out any of its banished Mekk-Knight monsters, which included…
The ground began to tremble and the walls around us cracked, with the data in the pool becoming unstable. A moment later, a monster wearing a tattered cloak raised from the data. Its body was made from the weapons of all the Mekk-Knights we fought so far. Its name was Mekk-Knight Spectrum Supreme (ATK: 3000 + 300 →3300, Link-3), the now ex-boss of the Mekk-Knight archetype.
"I really hate when they get the big guns out." Silver Star sighed.
"Be careful!" Aqua cried out.
"Raaawwwwrrrrrrhhhhh!" The skin that made the Giant's face tore apart and it roared at us. Or was that more of a scream that a roar? I couldn't tell!
The data that made up our enemies turned red, and they completely lost it starting to tear off the skin of their faces. One of them smashed the ground, cracking it, while the other tore a hole into the wall with its bare fist. My body instinctively took a step back as those AIs, no, those animals continued to tear apart the place.
"Maybe now is the time to run," I suggested.
"Sounds like a good idea." Silver Star nodded.
But the creatures heard us. They glared at us with their eyeless, torn faces and the first giant slammed its fist into the ground. Like it was some order, Astram swung its blade at Sola Exotic and unleashed a wave of blue energy that tore through the ground.
"Astram's effect allows it to gain the same attack points as the monster it battles!" Firera shouted. "If you take this attack, it's over!"
"Because Spectrum is in the same column as my set card, I'll have to use the other one." Silver Star muttered. "Trap Open! Barrier of Gears! This card halves all the damage I would take from battles involving a LIGHT monster!"
Barrier of Gears (Trap) Continuous
While you control an "oGear" monster(s), all damage you take from battles involving a monster with the same attribute as the "oGear" monster(s) you control is halved. During the damage step: You can banish this face-up card you control and 1 "oGear" card from your GY: You take no battle damage from this battle.
Though Silver Star activated her trap to reduce the damage, her card wouldn't deal with the monster itself. Astram's attack reached Sola Exotic and cut the monster in half.
Mekk-Knight Crusadia Astram, ATK: 3300 + 2800 →6100
『Silver Star & Proxy LP: 2700 – 1650 →1050』
I screamed, my body was flung back from the power of the attack, crashing into the ground. I felt like a bolt of electricity surged out of my chest. This feeling, it was so painful, but it was so different from being pierced, cut, or crushed. It was as if my heart suddenly stopped beating!
"Get up!" I heard Aqua shout at me.
I turned my head to the side and saw Silver Star there, fallen do on her knees while panting. Our eyes met for a moment and the edges of her mouth raised into a smile. How? How could she still be able to smile despite the dire situation we were in?
"There things, they're something else." She told me between her pants. "To be able to use Skills during duel… they'll be so much fun to beat!"
"How can you say that?" How could she be so calm? "They still got another thirty-three thousand attack points monster to attack us with, and you're smiling?"
"Heh, what're you expecting me to do?" she looked at me. "Tell me Proxy, what use would be to let despair and fear control you?"
"Another attack is coming!" Firera warned us.
We turned toward the Giant. The monster gestured toward one of the Trap Cards on its field - World Legacy's Puppet. The card glowed and the monster set in the same column as Unknown flipped face-up, transforming into a giant golden insect with a red core and some black matter coming out of its body. Deus X-Krawler (Lv.9, ATK: 2000)… that must be the Krawler archetype's true ace.
The insect glared at our monsters and scanned them with its red core. Instantly, Assistant and Unknown dropped on the ground, the glowing lights across their bodies dying down.
AstroGear Unterstützender Assistant, ATK: 1700 - 500 →1200
AstroGear Das Unknown, ATK: 2300 - 500 →1800
"Dexu X-Krawler's ability negates the effects of all monsters we control when it's flipped face-up." Aqua pointed out.
"That means Das Unknown's boost was canceled out." Silver Star narrowed her eyes. "Just great."
"Raaaawwwwrrrgggghhhh!" The Giant roared and Spectrum Supreme flew over us, unleashing a rainbow-colored beam of energy at Unterstützender Assistant.
"I activate Barrier of Gears' second effect!" Silver Star threw her arm forward. "I banish both it and AstroGear Hinter der Sense from my graveyard to negate the damage from this battle!" Assistant moved in front of us and threw her digital book in front of us, creating a barrier to protect us while Silver Star's monster vanished.
"Raaaawwwwrrrgggghhhh!" The Giant roared again and Deus-X Krawler fired a beam out of its core, cutting Das Unknown in half. The Link 2 exploded and its remains flew at us, burning our avatars. It hurt, but it was nowhere near the last amount of damage that I was forced to take.
『Silver Star & Proxy LP: 1050 – 200 →850』
"And we're still alive!" Fifera jumped out of my Duel Disk. "All thanks to my strategic thinking!"
"I don't think that Silver Star agrees with that." I looked over my partner. I believe it goes without saying that she carried me through the duel.
The monster roared once more and set the two cards in its hand. Well… Crap.
"It's our turn now." Firera cracked her knuckles (should an AI be able to do that!?). "Let's go, draw!" I obeyed, drawing.
『Turn 7 [Proxy] LP: 850 Hand: 3』
"Now, unleashed the horror of the oGear series!" Firera ordered. "Activate AstroGear Auslöser Tiger's effect!"
"I activate AstroGear Auslöser Tiger's effect!" I shouted. "I banish the last Malnehmen in our graveyard to Special Summon it!" The white mecha-beast raised before me with a loud cry. "Then, I banish a card you control! I choose Mekk-Knight Spectrum Supreme!"
This way, I would remove the effect of World Legacy's Key that negated Silver Star's Trap Card.
Sadly, I was wrong. Immediately after I declared my move, the Giant activated its Counter Trap – Link Regroup. The card showed Gaia Saber the Lightning Shadow dodging a harmful effect by jumping to the side, and I already knew what the effect was by the artwork alone.
Link Regroup (Trap) Counter
When a Link Monster you control would leave the field because of an opponent's card effect: You can move that monster to a different Main Monster Zone; negate that card's effect, and if you do, destroy it.
Mekk-Knight Spectrum Supreme moved to the center Monster Zone, avoiding AstroGear Auslöser Tiger's effect, then fired a rainbow ray that incinerated our monster. Also, I believe that since it was a Counter Trap, Malnehmen's effect missed timing or something: I wasn't all that well informed about how things such as timing worked in this game.
"What a disappointment." Firera shook their head. "This won't be a challenge at all with the new Cyberse Update we made for your deck. Now, Summon BrioGear Drifting Bichir!"
"I summon BrioGear Drifting Bichir!" A young woman with blonde hair and aqua blue eyes appeared on my field. She was wearing a long swamp-green dress with a series of around 18 small fins covering her back from the top to the bottom in a straight line. She also had golden gear-shaped accessories across her body, with two bracelets attached to her arms and legs, and a collar of the same color and shape wrapped around her neck. "And now I activate Drifting Bichir's effect! When it's summoned, I can target a WATER monster in my graveyard and Special Summon it with its effects negated and its attack points halved! Come back, BrioGear Enhance Mermaid (ATK: 1700 →850, Link-2)!"
BrioGear Drifting Bichir
Level: 1/Attribute: WATER/Type: Cyberse/Tuner/Effect
ATK: 0/DEF: 0
Effect: When this card is Normal or Special Summoned, you can target 1 WATER monster in your GY: Special Summon that target in Attack Position with its effects negated and its original ATK halved. Sent that monster to the GY if this card leaves the field. If this card is discarded for the effect of a "BrioGear" card: You can draw 1 card.
"Rrrrraaaahhhhhhh!" The second Giant roared, and the first one pointed at World Legacy's Puppet. The card glowed and their last set monster turned face-up. It was another Spine and this time it fired its beam at Bichir, blowing it up, while also sending Enhance Mermaid back to the grave.
"It failed!" I yelped. Even that play was countered…
"At the contrary, it worked just like I hoped it would," Firera stated and pointed at the center monster zone. "Use the effect of BrioGear Crimson Stargirl!"
"Right." I nodded, no pressure. Firera wasn't worried, so I shouldn't worry either. "I discard BrioGear Crimson Stargirl to activate her effect! Since a BrioGear on my field left the field, I can discard this card to revive it! Come back once more, BrioGear Enhance Mermaid (ATK: 1700, Link-2)!"
A female monster with pink skin, crimson hair and dark blue eyes appeared on my field. She was wearing a sharp triangular red had over on her head and red dress with long shelves that split to the sides at the ends. Her legs were covered by black tights, which began red around the end and split to the sides, leaving her bare food. She winked and threw her arms to the side, summoning a black portal underneath herself. A stream of water shot out, washing Crimson Stargirl away as Enhance Mermaid came out of the water and landed on my field.
BrioGear Crimson Stargirl
Level: 2/Attribute: WATER/Type: Cyberse/Effect
ATK: 400/DEF: 800
Effect: If a "BrioGear" monster(s) is sent from the field to the GY because of an opponent's card effect: You can discard this card; Special Summon as many monsters that were sent to the GY by that effect as possible. During damage calculation, if your "BrioGear" monster battles an opponent's monster while this card is in your GY (Quick Effect): You can banish this card from your GY, return a number of WATER Link Monsters from your GY to the Extra Deck to reduce the damage you would have taken from that battle equal to the total number of monsters returned x1000.
"And since another card was discarded, BrioGear Ark of Silence will gain a Life Counter." Aqua joined in. "Now your monster will be stronger, Proxy!"
BrioGear Enhance Mermaid, ATK: 1700 + 400 →2100
"Also, since a monster was revived from my graveyard, the effect of BrioGear Sailflying can now be activated." Firera pointed at another zone. "Summon it there."
"Am I just an extension for you?" I asked, but I wouldn't have a place to argue if we were going to win with her combo. "When a WATER monster is revived from my graveyard, I can also revive BrioGear Sailflying (Lv. 3, DEF: 1400), but it's going to be banished when it leaves the field!"
"Raarrrrr!" The Giant roared and activate its final set card – The Continuous Trap, World Legacy Whispers, which increased the attack and defense of a Level 5 or higher monster by 1000, while also negating the effects of all Spell Cards in the same column as a Mekk-Knight. Deus-X Krawler roared as its ATK was increased and red electricity shot out of Elemental Lords of Gears, surrounding my card.
Deus-X Krawler, ATK: 2000 + 1000 →3000, DEF: 3000 + 1000 →4000
"Tch, they looked down the card knowing that I'll try to use it." Firera shook her head.
"But you're not done yet, right?" Silver Star crossed her arm.
"Indeed, I'm not." Firera nodded and looked up at me. "Tell me Proxy, do you know what you must do now?"
"Um, no?" I had only one card left in my hand. I'm not sure how much of a difference it would make.
"You didn't even try to think about it, did you?" Aqua sounded… disappointed. "Please, focus."
"No, it's alright." Firera raised her hand. "She'll learn eventually, for now, we must win. Proxy, use the effect of the last card in your hand – BrioGear Amphibiana! By discarding it while you have three or more BrioGear cards in your graveyard, you can destroy a single Spell/Trap Card on the field! Target World Legacy Whispers!"
"Ah, right!" If I destroyed the trap, then Elemental Lords of Gears' effect would be able to activate. "Ok, let's do this! I discard BrioGear Amphibiana to destroy your trap!" A female monster with light blue skin, dark blue glassy eyes, and short white hair appeared in front of me.
She was wearing a long blue dress with white swipes, resembling lightning streaks. It was segmented into three, skirt-like parts, around its chest, abdomen, and knees. Below the dress, she was wearing white tights and there were six tendrils coming out of her back. The monster looked back at me and smiled before firing a charge of electricity out of her tendrils, destroying the annoying trap card, before fading away as well.
BrioGear Amphibiana
Level: 3/Attribute: WATER/Type: Cyberse/Effect
ATK: 1200/DEF: 500
Effect: If you have 3 or more "BrioGear" monsters in your GY: You can discard this card; destroy 1 Spell/Trap Card your opponent controls. If a Set card you control is destroyed, you can target 1 Link Monster in your GY: Return this card to the bottom of your deck, and if you do, Special Summon that target with its effects negated.
"With this, our field spell is going to gain its third counter." Firera noted.
"But more importantly that than, you can now use the symbol of the bond between us at its full capability!" Aqua turned toward me and put her hands on her chest. "Please, Proxy, you know what you must do."
"The new power that you made for me." I realized what Aqua was talking about. "I plead before the Elemental Lords of Gear to grand me their power! With their blessing, I'm able to evolve my Link Monsters! Appear, the spinning circuit of bonds!"
I threw my arm into the sky, the same way that Silver Star did and a bolt of blue electricity slipped past my fingers. Space itself began to tremble and it got torn apart as my new circuit appeared. Three aqua blue clock gears appeared in the air. Gears grinded, bolts of electricity danced across the edges of the new 'circuit' and a deep blue portal appeared inside the gears, creating a tunnel.
"Rising tides, unchain the mortal body binding my monster and open the gates of the great ocean through an abysmal sacrifice!" Enhance Mermaid turned into pure energy and flew through the tunnel. "Link-Up! Aim careful your bow of justice, the huntress overseeing the balance of the world! Storm Serene the BrioGear Ranger!"
A bolt of blue lightning fell from the gear-shaped portal and landed in front of me, transforming into a monster. My new Serene appeared in white armor. She had a dragon-shaped helmet without a mouth, two blue orbs glowed behind it and its back stretched out the sides and upward, covering her long blue hair that flowed freely out of the helmet. The rest of her armor was slimmer and for fitting with small shoulder plates and the gauntlets no longer resembling claws. A blue clock gear was attached to the middle of her back with two large dark blue blades jutting from its sides. Each of these blades had eight long aqua blue blades hanging from them in a way that formed two wings.
Storm Serene the BrioGear Ranger
Attribute: WATER/Type: Cyberse/Link/Effect
Link Marker: Bottom Left, Top, Bottom Right
ATK: 2300/Link-3
2+ WATER Effect Monsters
Effect: If this card is Link Summoned: Your opponent must shuffle cards from their field into their deck, up to the total Link Rating of Link Monster(s) used as materials for this card's summon. When this card inflicts damage to your opponent, you can destroy 1 monster this card points to: Inflict half that monster's ATK to your opponent as damage, and if you do, this card can attack again.
"A new Serene!?" Silver Star gasped.
"This is the symbol of my affliction with the Cyberse World!" I stated. "Let's go Serene! When my monster is Link Summoned, you must shuffle cards from your field to the deck, equal to the total Link Rating of Link Monsters used as materials for Storm Serene's debut! Torrential Tune!"
Since Enhance Mermaid was Link 2. Serene raised her head and hummed a soft tune that forced the Giant to return World Legacy's Secrets, and World Legacy Key back into their deck. No more bothersome effects to disturb my plays.
"Since BrioGear Ark of Silence has three Life Counters, our monster gains six hundred attack points!" Firera pointed out.
Storm Serene the BrioGear Ranger, ATK: 2300 + 600 →2900
BrioGear Sailflying, ATK: 200 + 600 →800
"It's still weaker than their monsters." I bit my lips. Damn, if only I had two hundred more attack points…
"Use my Trap!" Silver Star called out. "Its effect is no longer locked down, you can activate it!"
"Thanks!" I pressed the card on my Duel Disk for more info: It was just what I needed to win! "I activate my Continuous Trap, AstroGear Paradiesisch Erfindung! Through this card's effect, I target a Link Monster on my field, and until the end of this turn, all monsters with higher Link Rating will have its effects negated!"
AstroGear Paradiesisch Erfindung (Trap) Continuous
Activate this card by targeting 1 Link Monster you control; negate the effects of all monsters with Link Rating higher than that target until the end of this turn. All "oGear" Link Monsters on the field gain 400 ATK while this card is face-up on the field.
Mekk-Knight Crusadia Astram dropped down on one knee, a yellow aura restraining its body. Now its effect could no longer steal my monsters' attack points and as a bonus, Storm Serene gained some extra attack power!
Storm Serene the BrioGear Ranger, ATK: 2900 + 400 →3300
"Now AstroGear Hinter der Sense's effect activate!" Silver Star stepped in. "By shuffling this banished card into the deck, we can revive a Link Monster from the graveyard. Come back, BrioGear Enhance Mermaid (ATK: 1700, Link-2)!"
"And due to BrioGear Ark of Silence having three Life Counters, she gains six hundred more attack points!" Firera stated as a matter-of-factly.
BrioGear Enhance Mermaid, ATK: 1700 + 600 →2300
"I'll now activate Enhance Mermaid's effect! By halving the attack points of Sailflying, I can give the lost attack points to Storm Serene!" My Link 2 raised her hands to gesture at both of my monsters. Sailfying flew over to Serene and tapped her on the shoulder, smiling.
BrioGear Sailflying, ATK: 800/2 →400
Storm Serene the BrioGear Ranger, ATK: 3300 + 400 →3700
"Time to battle!" I threw my fist forward. "Storm Serene the BrioGear Ranger, attack Mekk-Knight Crusadia Astram!" The gear that held Serene's wings split open and a handle came out. She grabbed the gear and detached the wings from her back, holding them in front of herself. The blades that made her feathers, closed, giving her wings the form of a bow and a string of blue energy connected the two ends.
"Lamenting Arrow!" A blue energy arrowed appeared in Serene's bow as she let go of the string and the projectile pierced right through Mekk-Knight Crusadia Astram's chest, destroying him.
『Giant 1 & Giant 2 LP: 950 - 400 →550』
"And now Storm Serene's effect activates!" I made a finger pistol and aimed it between the two Giant monsters. "When Storm Serene destroys a monster by battle, I can destroy a monster that's next to her arrow and inflict half of its attack power as damage to you! Be gone, Deus X-Krawler! Soul Blast of Deus X!"
A second arrow appeared in Serene's bow and she fired it through Deus X-Krawler's core, blowing up the monster.
『Giant 1 & Giant 2 LP: 550 - 1500 →0』
『Winner: Silver Star & Proxy』
The Giants' bodies turned black and they collapsed on the ground, unmoving. I can't believe it. I won! I beat them! I feel so powerful!
"It seems that you've been growing much faster with the Ignis by your side." Silver Star commented and threw something at me. I caught it, of course.
"Elemental Lords of Gear? Why're you giving the card to me?" Not that I was ungrateful, but it was surprising for me that Silver Star would give me one of her most powerful cards.
"It's a prototype." Silver Star stated. "I put it in my deck for a test run, but it seems that your deck would be able to make good use of that card as well. Take it as a gift for your growth as a duelist."
"Thank you!" I would be sure to treasure this card, the same way I treasure everything that Aqua and Firera made for me.
"Can we move on?" Aqua asked. "I don't like this place."
"We should check those creatures first." Firera pointed at our fallen enemies. "Cyberse Monsters and the ability to use the same Skill program as an Ignis, those things aren't something that SOL could create."
Beep!
What the…?
Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!
"They're going to blow up!" Silver Star yelled, pulling me by the arm.
I followed after her, but then there was a loud explosion behind us and something hit me from behind with the force of a train. I gasped, falling face-first on the shaking ground. What was happening? There was so much noise and moving, I caught a glimpse of Silver Star lying next to me before everything began to turn darker. Before I realized what was happening, something fell on top of me and everything turned black.
"Roxy!" Kusanagi shouted, slamming his fist against the table.
"Oh no!" Ai screeched and began to quickly look at the screens before them. "We lost signal with them, what's going on?"
"I don't know. Something disrupted the signal and I can't get it back online!" Kusanagi couldn't believe that this was happening. First Yusaku, now Roxy too.
"I can't get a signal from Aqua either." Ai gulped. "Something bad must have happened! I knew it, I knew that it would be dangerous to go there!"
Kusanagi closed his eyes, thinking about Roxy, about the mission. He had devoted his life to avenging his brother, but he has always been too weak to do it on his own. He felt so useless right now. He and Playmaker were supposed to be a team, to help each other out, but he was unable to do anything except watch as his most trusted friend was toyed with and defeated by PhantomFire. He was the one who first accepted Roxy to join their team and who talked Yusaku into it, only for everything to go downhill.
Why did hope forsake him? To lose all of his allies like this, what crimes was he atoning for? Playmaker, Roxy, he was about to lose all of them and none of the hacking skills that he learned through years of researching could change that. His goal to stop the Knights of Hanoi and tell the truth to his brother was so close, yet so far away.
"Yusaku."
The teen, who was staring at the screens, turned his eyes to glance at his partner.
"I know you said that it's over, but one last time." Kusanagi turned toward the Cyberse Duelist. "Please, be Playmaker for one last time!"
If he would give up on this quest for vengeance, if he would forsake Jin and everyone else who was hurt by the Hanoi Project, Kusanagi won't try to stop him. He didn't have the right to push Yusaku back into that nightmare he was trying to escape. But Roxy, she was innocent. It was them that pulled her into this, they didn't have the right to forsake her.
"I…" Yusaku paused for a moment, then shook his head. "I'm sorry, Kusanagi."
"Sorry?!" Kusanagi snapped. "You'll just leave and abandon everyone because of a single lost?!"
"It's not just a lost…" Yusaku gritted his teeth. Out of all the people in the world, Kusanagi should understand the best what it meant for him to lose.
"I know that it's far more than a loss!" Kusanagi yelled. "But do you even listen what you're saying? Can you really walk away, leaving Roxy there? Can you let these nightmares of the past get in the way of doing what's right?"
"No, he can't," Ai commented.
"Shut up." Yusaku glared at the Ignis, but the AI remained unfazed by the boy's threatening look. "You don't know anything about me!"
"I do." Ai corrected him. "In fact, I know more about you than you might think. You and I, we're one and the same. Yes, I know that this might sound like an insult to you, the great Playmaker, being compared to a useless AI such as myself, but when I was born, there was one thing from you that I inherited. It's your sense of justice."
"You don't know what I've gone through." Yusaku retorted.
"You're right." Ai agreed. "I'll never relate to your pain, but I want you to hear me out. My life in the Cyberse World was all fooling around and getting on the others' nerves. None of them liked me, and I can't say that I'm very fond of the other Ignis either, but when Hanoi attacked us and imprisoned everyone else, I stepped in to save them. I risked my life for them, and do you know why I did it?"
"I don't care." Yusaku grabbed his bag and jacket. He wouldn't listen anymore!
"It's because something in me told me that I had to!" Ai shouted. "It was something uncharacteristic for me, a feeling that turned all of my cowardliness into braveness! A feeling powerful enough to overwrite the programming of an Ignis – it was your sense to protect others, Playmaker!"
"…" Yusaku reached to open the door of the truck, but his hand stopped once it grabbed the handle.
"Despite how irrational, how foolish and dangerous for you and your mission it was, you never turned your back to those who needed help, did you?" Ai kept going. "What caused this, huh? Was it just to stroke your own ego as Playmaker, was it for the publicity? No, you did it because it was the right thing to do because deep inside your heart, there was still a piece of your past big enough to pull you toward those too weak to fight for themselves!"
"…"
Yusaku dropped his jacket and bag on the ground. With one swift movement, the Cyberse Duelist grabbed the Duel Disk and opened the door at the back of the van, slamming it behind himself.
"I can't believe it," Kusanagi muttered under his breath and turned back to the screens with a smile. "Maybe Ai really is the past that Yusaku was fighting so hard to obtain."
"Final Vulnerable Code!"
"Hyyyyyyyaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!"
O.N.I stared unfazed as Ghost Girl was flung off her D-Board and slammed in the wall before falling on the ground in front of the AI. The Artificial Intellect's duty was to record and report to her master what was happening, Ghost Girl's safety wasn't a priority.
『Ghost Girl LP: 2500 - 2500 →0』
『Winner: Revolver』
"It appears that your opponent's deck has been drastically altered after their fight with Playmaker." O.N.I stated.
"Y-you figured that out now?" Ghost Girl turned toward the AI. "It's over for me, isn't it? But importantly for that, make sure that Evan gains this. This is the most incredible treasure I've acquired."
The screen of Ghost Girl's Duel Disk glowed and a single firefly flew out of it, landing on O.N.I's palm. The AI absorbed all of the data and looked back at the human, nodding.
"Take this data out of here as fast as you can." Ghost Girl warned her. "Let the rest know, that something is happening in LINK VRAINS."
"All of the data has been sent over to our base." O.N.I stated. "Thanks for the help."
"Heh, getting important data for you really is the only thing I'm good for, isn't it?" Ghost Girl chuckled. Her body slowly turning into red data as it began to fade away. "You recorded the Duel, right?"
"Indeed, now master will know about the terrifying card." O.N.I. nodded.
Ghost Girl smiled behind her mask and closed her eyes. In just a few moments, all of her senses were cut off and the remaining of her avatar was confused by the dark core, leaving no trace of the treasure hunter.
"To think that an AI of all things wouldn't show up here." Revolver commented, jumping off his D-Board. "You appear too advanced to be made by SOL."
"You don't truly care, do you?" O.N.I took a step back. "What did you do with the human?"
"She became the foundation to save the world from your kind." Revolver replied. "She won't come back."
"The Tower of Hanoi, is that what you call it?" O.N.I titled her head to the side.
"You…" Revolver's empty yellow eyes narrowed. Now it was his turn to be cautious. "How do you know that name?"
"I know it because my master installed that information inside of me." O.N.I stated. "You should know, a user going by the username PhantomFire. Or maybe, you should do your research better next time, Mr. Kogami."
Revolver clenched his fist. How could a stupid AI know his true identity?
Tendrils emerged from the core behind the Knight of Hanoi and shot out upward, breaking through the walls, tearing the processing center apart. Angered, but not having time to deal with the AI, Revolver jumped off the ledge and onto his D-Board.
O.N.I closed its eyes. "I did as you ordered." The AI transmitted. "Picaro'll no longer be an obstacle in your plan, master."
"That must be the right place!" Ai exclaimed.
Playmaker nodded. The Cyberse Duelist ran through the sewers, following the Ignis' instructions. He only stopped, once he came across a large pile of debris blocking his path. Pausing for a moment, Playmaker looked around the place, there were traces of something cutting through and slamming the ground.\, the walls and the remains of the ceiling had cracks all over them.
"Wah!" Ai screeched, catching Playmaker's attention. "That's the place, Playmaker. That's where Aqua and Roxy's signal disappeared!"
"If that's the place then…" Playmaker's expression hardened.
The Cyberse Duelist walked over the pile of debris and began to pull off the pieces, throwing them into the poll of data. Not letting his partner do all the work, Ai turned into its monster form and began to eat away through the debris, throwing away the pieces that were too big to fit in its mouth. Piece after piece, eventually a hand appeared from underneath all the debris – unmoving.
Trying to hold back any negative thoughts, Playmaker continued to remove the debris, digging out two bodies. Both belonging to girls. Even though LINK VRAINS didn't allow for damage to affect an avatar's appearance, their outfits were torn and their bodies were covered in bruises. But why was neither of them reacting? Playmaker felt his heart sinking at the sight of Proxy, lying motionless in the debris. Reaching out with trembling arms, the Cyberse Duelist wrapped them around his sidekick, pulling her into a hug.
He was too late.
He allowed his own hurt ego to get in the way of his rational thought and because of that Proxy paid the price. It was his duty to go to possible dangerous places, he had the experience to deal with it, but he declined to do it, forcing the girl to walk into her own demise.
It was his fault!
Cough!
Eyes open wide, Playmaker looked at Proxy. The girl coughed a few more times and slowly opened her eyes, to look at him. Playmaker prepared himself mentally for what was to come, the insults, the anger, and the crying.
But instead, he was met with a warm smile.
"What took you… so long?" Proxy tried to saying something teasing, despite how much she was hurting.
"I'm sorry." Playmaker looked away. He couldn't bear watching her smile at him like this; he didn't deserve such warm words.
"It's… not a problem." Proxy replied. "You… came… that's… what matters."
"My head…" Silver Star groaned, standing back up. "Why weren't we logged out from the damage?"
"It must be this place that messed up with the system." Aqua popped out of Proxy's Duel Disk.
"You're alive!" Ai shouted and leaped off Playmaker's Duel Disk with open arms.
Only for the WATER Ignis to quickly return back into the Duel Disk, causing the DARK Ignis to miss his target and fall face-first on the ground.
"No hugging," Aqua stated. "You took too long to come."
"I'm sorry!" Ai fell on his knees. "But it took me time to make my stubborn partner to agree!"
"Ha, excuses!" Firera joined in, crossing her arms.
"I'm being honest!"
Proxy chuckled at the AIs behavior and turned back to Playmaker. She didn't expect him to come and save her. His behavior was puzzling her, who forced him to log back into LINK VRAINS?
"What made you change your mind, Playmaker?" She finally asked, unable to hold back her curiosity.
"A realization." Playmaker stated. He looked down at his sidekick and smiled a bit. "I realized that there was more to why I became Playmaker than revenge. Now I've got a new goal before me, to stop the Knights of Hanoi, so that no one else would be hurt by their actions ever again."
"Then, let's work together to achieve your goal, Playmaker!" Proxy held out her arm.
"Yeah…" Playmaker nodded and took his sidekick's hand. "Let's do it, together."
"I see that everyone else has come here as well."
O.N.I jumped through a crack in the ceiling and landed next to the group.
"Another AI?" Firera raised an eyebrow, while Ai flew over to Playmaker and landed inside his Duel Disk.
"Is that an enemy?" Playmaker asked.
"An ally." Silver Star corrected, steepening between O.N.I and the rest. "Her name is O.N.I, she's our new AI helper."
"What about Masou?" Proxy asked. "Wasn't he a helper AI as well?"
"Masou was destroyed when the Knights of Hanoi attacked our server." Silver Star shrugged. "He didn't tell you because we didn't want to make you or Blaze Rose worry about it."
"That sounds like a piece of important information to hide!" Proxy protested.
"I'm sorry for interrupting you, but it's best to log out right now." O.N.I interjected. "The Knights of Hanoi have activated a dangerous device inside the processing center. Ghost Girl was defeated by Revolver himself when she tried to get more information about it."
"Revolver is here!?" Playmaker gritted his teeth.
"He already left." O.N.I shook its head. "I suggest you do the same if you don't plan to follow Ghost Girl's demise."
The three duelists looked at each other and nodded before pressing the log out button on their Duel Disks, disappearing.
"So, it's finally here?" Evan asked from his office.
The DARK Duelist watched on his computer screen as the buildings in LINK VRAINS began to fall apart, and the entire city server got destroyed. Afterward, a beam of light shot out of the ground and into the sky with purple tendrils wrapping themselves around it.
It was Hanoi's ultimate plan, a device which would put an end of the world the way humanity knew it.
Evan closed the window and looked out of the window, smiling.
"It took you a while to get that Tower running, didn't it?" Evan spoke to no one in particular. "Checkmate. I win."
I know that posting two chapters at once is breaking my style but I felt that putting these two together was the best decision, so Ta-da! Now, I know that people would probably critique me for giving Playmaker's trauma back only to deal with it two chapters later, but really... He seems to be mature enough to be able to deal with his problems. The only thing that truly held him back from moving on was his quest for revenge, a plot-point that I feel was dropped all to suddenly during the Tower of Hanoi Arc. So instead of the Revolver nonsense, I believe that having Ai, the past that was "stolen" from him give Yusaku a reality check was a better choice.
Anyway, with this, we're officially going to the Tower of Hanoi Arc, with which, we'll end this first season of Destiny Gears. What's going to happen, you might wonder? Well, fear not, as I've got Chapter Previews for most of the arc.
Chapter 35: Court of Betrayal
Summary: The ominous Tower of Hanoi appears above a devastated LINK VRAINS and begins to convert the remaining users into data. In this moment of crisis, Playmaker, the Gear Duelists, and the Charisma Duelists all join forces against the Knights of Hanoi. With their secrets compromised, Revolver began to dwell into PhantomFire's data and finds a link between him and Picaro. Determined to destroy anything standing before his father's plan, the leader of Hanoi comes face to face with Picaro and a duel ensues.
Chapter 36: Puppets' Last Dance
Summary: Going through the ruins of LINK VRAINS, Proxy and Blaze Rose are first to come across one of Hanoi's last activate members – MetalX. Using the new tactics and capabilities of his updated Six Samurai deck, the warrior drives both of his opponents into a corner. At the same time, Blue Angel comes across an old acquaintance. Determined to end all of their differences once and for all, Nulline launch a merciless assault on the idol.
Chapter 37: Darkness Spawning Through Ages
Summary: Interested in the mysterious duelist that took down ten of Hanoi's strongest members, Specter appears in front of PhantomFire holding one of his allies as a hostage. Meanwhile, in order to save LINK VRAINS from destruction, Playmaker heads to the Tower of Hanoi, however standing in his way is the last of Picaro's teammates – Heliac. Using a strategy similar to that of Specter, the young Knight of Hanoi uses Proxy as a shield. Unable to attack, Playmaker and PhantomFire are slowly driven into a corner by their opponents, but then a sinister laugh echoes through the air…
Chapter 38: The Seventh Bullet
Summary: The Tower of Hanoi is getting closer to completion, gradually absorbing everything in LINK VRAINS. Having been freed, Proxy joins PhantomFire as the two infiltrate the demonic fortress. In there, they find Dr. Kogami's final secret weapon meant to ensure Tower of Hanoi's success, which is…
Chapter 39: Hero and Sidekick's Hope
Summary: Having overcome and the last defense standing between her and the Tower's control center, Proxy makes her way toward it, but Revolver appears to stop her. With no choice but to fight, Proxy and Playmaker join forces against Revolver, who, having accepted the last gift left behind by his father, is now more powerful than ever!
This Arc will go up to chapter 41, but I'm not going to post previews for the last two parts, for obvious reasons. I can say is, except something that you've never witnessed in a VRAINS fanfic. Or maybe you have, I'm not familiar with EVERY fanfiction that was written on the internet.
Thanks to Zaconator and Zackis, and SoulMatter for favoriting this story.
Thanks to everyone else for reading this story and 'Till next time!
Diabolic Tracer out!