Darkness Spawning Through Ages
Proxy's POV
I felt a new strength and devotion to stopping the Knights of Hanoi after Vermilya sacrificed herself for me. LINK VRAINS was breaking, the ground was starting to disappear, which made running around harder for me. I had to tell you, going through this ghost town on my own was unnerving. And even though I technically wasn't alone, Aqua and Firera weren't able to give the sense of security that being beside another duelist, like Blaze Rose of Playmaker gave me. The AIs were able to help me out during duels with tips and strategies, but it wasn't the same feeling as fighting side by side with someone.
"Stop!" Aqua shouted, prompting me to stop running.
As soon as I did, the space in front of me turned into ripples and someone stepped out of it. Instinctively, I raised my Duel Disk, but then the person revealed themselves to be… a child? A boy to be exact. He was wearing the same uniform that the Knights of Hanoi did, but was he really an enemy? I mean, there were children cosplaying as other users and even Duel Monsters, so maybe he was just a lost child dressed as a Knight of Hanoi? I really didn't want to have to fight against this boy.
"Thanks…" the boy said to me with a low voice, almost whispering.
"What?" I stepped forward, careful not to scare him. "Why are you thanking me?"
"Below…" Ok, I was even more confused by this than the sudden thanking.
"Proxy, watch out!" I heard both Aqua and Firera talk to me.
"What are you-" the ground under me began to shake and large vines covered in thorns shout out, wrapping around to form a cage around me.
"Now we're trapped," Aqua said.
"No joke about it," I muttered and looked back at the boy.
"Don't." he pointed at the vines. "Virus."
I think that I was getting what he was saying. There must be a computer on those vines that would infect me if I tried touching them. How would I break out of this, if I couldn't touch it? Or more importantly, why was I imprisoned here in the first place?
"Why're you doing this kid?" I asked the boy.
"Child." The boy pointed at himself. "Not. Threat. Need. You."
"I don't think that your little companion is going to give you a more detailed explanation." Firera crossed her arms. "I could try to use my bigger body to break out of this, but that would mean getting infected with the virus…"
"We'll find a different way out of this," Aqua said. "No one will be sacrificing themselves. We'll end this together."
"I was just making a suggestion." Firera shrugged. "I guess that we'll just have to wait for someone to come and save us since that appears to be the kid's idea. Judging by his words, he'll use us as hostages to force whoever else comes this way to duel against him. A smart move, but a very annoying one for the ones who're going to be playing the role of victims."
"Why do I always end up being the one needing a rescue?" I sighed.
The boy looked around and then the ripples appeared once again and he moved through them, disappearing. Oh, so you came, put me in this cell and then left? Yes, a very classy move you pulled there! Taking a deep breath, I sat on the ground and wrapped my arms around my legs, waiting for someone to show up and get me out of this cage. Aqua and Firera remained quite, most likely trying to create some sort of anti-virus program and break us out of here. I just hoped that the others had a better time reaching the Tower of Hanoi that me.
3rd POV
Blue Angel was standing inside her cage, glaring furiously at her capturer. Specter, in turn, was standing with his arms crossed behind his back, waiting for the guest of honor to show up.
"I don't get it, who're you waiting to show up?" Blue Angel asked. "If you're waiting for my brother, he's not involved in this in any way!"
"Hush now," Specter placed a finger on his lips. "I don't care about your brother, even if he shows up, there'll be nothing he would be able to do. The person I'm waiting for is one that caused a lot of trouble for us. A powerful individual for sure. Defeating them would no doubt make me very useful for Master Revolver."
Blue Angel narrowed her eyes. "Are you trying to lure Playmaker here? Even if we're working together to stop the Tower of Hanoi, he knows that stopping it is much more important than saving me."
"Don't worry, there's someone else already there to stop him," Specter replied. "My target isn't he, despite how much more interesting it would be to duel against him."
"Then who?" Blue Angel asked. "Who're you after?"
"It's me, isn't it?"
Ripples appeared in the air around the two and a tall familiar clad in black and purple stepped out to face the Knight of Hanoi. Blue Angel felt herself smile a little. She recognized the avatar that was standing there!
"PhantomFire!" She shouted.
"I was sure that if I took Blue Angel hostage you would show up," Specter said. "You did show affection for her during the Another outbreak. It seems that even your actions could be predicted, old man!"
"Give me a break, I turned twenty only two days ago." PhantomFire crossed his arms. "I thought that your kind would realize after I sent you the remains of your allies that the only way to survive against me would be by avoiding me like the plague. But your decision to lure me with a hostage, Blue Angel no less, shows that there really is no limit to stupidity."
"Big talk, old man," Specter smirked. "If you think that you will be able to beat me, then I invite you to come and try your luck."
"I'll, but I thought that Revolver would have wanted his people to focus more on stopping Playmaker." PhantomFire turned toward the Tower of Hanoi. "Not that it matters, really. I'm sure that if you're here, someone else must be there dealing with Playmaker. The only real question I have is, did Revolver dealt with Picaro already?"
"Hmm, but of course," Specter replied. "Master Revolver already exterminated that useless spy of yours, so I came to finish the job by defeating you."
"I see," PhantomFire smiled. "I'll have to thank Dr. Kogami for letting his son deal with that troublemaker of mine. But I'm getting ahead of myself. You wanted a duel, right? Let's not waste any of my time anymore, alright?"
Specter placed his hands together in front of himself. "I'm looking forward to it!"
"DUEL!"
『Specter LP: 4000, Hand: 5 (VS) PhantomFire LP: 4000, Hand: 5』
"Interesting," Specter said, looking around them. "Even after you appeared, the space around us remains warped. Did you do something?"
"There are some annoyances going around LINK VRAINS, broadcasting everything that's going on. As a public figure, I can't allow them to take any recordings of me doing such a lowly work. Fortunately for you, that means that no one's going to see how you're getting defeated by me."
"How kind of you," Specter remarked sarcastically. "In return for your kindness, I'll let you see what deck I'm using first. I Normal Summon Sunseed Genius Loci (Lv.1, ATK: 0)!"
A golden statue holding a brown seed appeared on Specter's field. PhantomFire narrowed his eyes, running Normal Monsters wasn't common unless Specter didn't need more than one monster to get his strategy enacted.
"Appear! The future circuit that lights up our path!" The circuit square appeared on the ground behind Specter. "Summoning condition is one Plant Normal Monster. I set Sunseed Genius Loci in the Link Marker! Link Summon! Appear, Link One, Sunavalon Dryas (ATK: 0, Link-1)!"
PhantomFire took a step back, watching in surprise as the ground behind Specter broke apart and a large tree with a face in the center appeared on the field.
"I set a card and end my turn," Specter finished. "Your move, old man."
Playmaker ran down the bridge. The Tower of Hanoi was getting closer and with it, his destined duel against Revolver for the fate of the Ignis.
"No. More." A voice called.
The Cyberse Duelist stopped and looked ahead, raising his Duel Disk. The air in front of him warped and a 12 years old boy stepped out of it to face Playmaker.
"It appears that Hanoi finally sent someone to try and stop us," Ai commented. "But a child? Revolver's a really nasty person."
"Heliac." The boy pointed at himself. "Playmaker." He then pointed toward the Duelist in front of him. "Duel." Heliac raised his left hand, which had a Duel Disk attached to it.
"I don't have time for that." Playmaker said. "Move out of the way, kid!"
Heliac, instead of doing as he was told, raised his other hand and snapped with his fingers. A hologram appeared next to him showing Proxy sitting inside a cage of vines. The BrioGear Duelist looked up and gasped.
"Playmaker!"
"Proxy!" Playmaker called back. "What happened?"
"That kid caught me in a trap." Proxy explained, pointing at Heliac. "I don't know the full story, but it seems that the only way to get out of here is by beating him."
"That's a dirty way to force someone into a duel!" Ai protested.
"Since the kid went through all of this to force me into dueling against him, I don't have a choice." Playmaker closed his eyes and then opened them again. "I'll be your opponent then."
"Duel!"
『Heliac LP: 4000, Hand: 5 (VS) Playmaker LP: 4000, Hand: 5』
"I'll take the first turn!" Heliac said, his voice suddenly turning more energetic and lively. "I activate the Continuous Spell, Prank-Kids Prank! By discarding Prank-Kids Rocksies, I can Special Summon a Prank-Kids Token (Lv.1, ATK: 0)!" a small red boy in rocker clothes with fire coming out of its head appeared on Heliac's field.
"That deck does look like something that a child would use," Ai commented.
"Don't let your guard down." Playmaker warned his Ignis. "If he was able to control that trap and use it to capture Proxy, he's smarter than his age lets go."
"Well, if we have to be talking honestly, even a toddler would be able to capture Proxy, so that isn't much of an accomplishment," Ai said.
"Hey!" Proxy shouted. "Take that back! I'm not that gullible!"
"I had to talk ill of people, but sadly, this is one time when Ai was able to calculate all of the data correctly." Aqua lowered her head.
"Not you too!" Proxy cried.
"I Normal Summon Prank-Kids Lampsies (Lv.3, ATK: 1500)!" Three more red boys wearing leather clothes with flames coming out of their heads appeared next to the token.
"Appear now, the circuit of eternal laughter!" Heliac raised his hand, summoning a large square over his head. "Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning conditions are two Prank-Kind monsters. I set Prank-Kids Lampsies and Prank-Kid Token in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Prank-Kids Dodo-Doodle-Doo (ATK: 2000, Link-2)!" A large greenish-white sparrow with red eyes and hair appeared in the Extra Monster Zone.
"Do… Dodo… Dododooo…" Ai scratched its head. "How do you pronounce that name without biting your tongue!?"
"Dodo-Doodle's effect activates!" Heliac continued. "When this card is Link Summoned, I add a Prank-Kid Spell or Trap Card from my deck to the hand. I add Prank-Kids Pandemonium. Then Lampsies, effect, since it was sent to the Graveyard as material for the Link Summon of a Prank-Kids monster, you take five hundred points of damage and I Special Summon a different Prank-Kids from my deck!"
The three fire monsters jumped out of the Graveyard and transformed into a fireball that hit Playmaker in the chest. The Cyberse Duelist gritted his teeth in pain and glared at Heliac who was searching through his deck.
『Playmaker LP: 4000 - 500 → 3500』
"I Special Summon Prank-Kids Fansies (Lv.1, DEF: 2000)!" The green boys appeared on Heliac's field. "Next, I activate Prank-Kids Pandemonium to Fusion Summon a Prank-Kids Fusion Monster!" Dodo-Doodle and Fansies jumped next to each other and turned into streams of colored particles gathering together at a singular point.
"Why's suddenly everyone we face against using different summoning methods all of a sudden?" Ai asked. "It's like we missed the memo or something?"
"I must admit that having Cyberse monsters of different summoning methods would benefit my deck." Playmaker commented.
"I'll remember that." Ai nodded before turning back to Heliac, who was chanting.
"Mischievous demons of the elements, gather under the laugh of the bright colors! Fusion Summon! Prank-Kids Weather Washer (Lv.5, ATK: 2000)!"
A large blue robot with orange glasses and a huge grin on its face appeared out of the Fusion portal and landed in the Extra Monster Zone, laughing.
"Prank-Kids Fansies' effect activates!" Heliac continued. "I send another Prank-Kids Lampsies from my Deck to the Graveyard in order to Special Summon Prank-Kids Dropsies (Lv.2, DEF: 1000) from my deck!" three blue girls appeared this time. "Next, I'll release Weather Washer to Special Summon Prank-Kids Dodo-Doodle-Doo (ATK: 2000, Link-2) and Prank-Kids Lampsies (Lv.3, ATK: 1500) from my Graveyard!"
"Wait, what!?" Ai's eyes widened.
The Prank-Kids Fusion monster laughed and its body began glowing before it separated into two fragments that then transformed into Dodo-Doodle and Lampsies, landing next to Prank-Kids Dropsies on the field.
"Next, I'll release Dodo-Doodle to return Prank-KidsPandemonium and Prank-Kids Fansies to my hand!" The Link 2 monster disappeared and two cards materialized back into Heliac's hand. "Appear now, the circuit of eternal laugher!"
A second square appeared over Heliac's head. "Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning conditions are two Prank-Kind monsters. I set Lampsies and Dropsies in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Prank-Kids Bow-Wow-Bark (ATK: 2000, Link-2)! A red Cerberus with a wicked grin came out of the circuit and landed in the Right Extra Monster Zone.
"Do you think that he has a plan, or is he just showing off?" Proxy asked the Cyberse Duelist.
"He's a child, but it's hard to say what exactly he has in plan." Playmaker admitted. "Children are unpredictable by nature, and this deck seems to be the same. It's hard to say what he's trying to accomplish by continuously Link and Fusion Summoning different monsters."
"Dropsies's effect activates!" Heliac continued. "I gain a thousand Life Points and Special Summon Prank-Kids Fansies (Lv.1, DEF: 2000) from my deck!" the three blue girls flew out of the Graveyard and turned into a cloud that rained on top of Heliac, while another copy of the three green boys joined the Link Monster on his field.
『Heliac LP: 4000 + 1000 → 5000』
"I activate Prank-Kids Pandemonium to Fusion Summon a Prank-Kids Fusion Monster!" The Fusion Card appeared on Heliac's field once again and this time the Fusion Materials were Bow-Wow Bark and the Fansies in Heliac's hand.
"Again, and again!" Ai grabbed its head. "The kid just doesn't stop summoning new monsters!"
"Mischievous demons of the elements, gather under the laugh of the bright colors! Fusion Summon! Prank-Kids Rocket Ride (Lv.5, ATK: 2000)!"
A large red rocket with arms and an evil grin on its front flew into the air and made a sharp turn, landing in the Left Extra Monster Zone. Of course, Heliac wasn't done, as he raised his hand once again. "I release Rocket Ride to revive Bow-Wow-Bark (ATK: 2000, Link-2) and Dropsies (Lv.3, DEF: 1000)!" The Fusion exploded and out of its remains, the Link and Effect Monsters raised to replace it.
"I activate Bow-Wow-Bark's effect to release itself and add Fansies, as well as Prank-Kids Pandemonium, from my graveyard to the hand!" The Cerberus split into two parts that flew back into Heliac's hand. "I set a card, and during the end of this turn, I activate the second effect of Prank-Kids Prank to return Rocket Ride, Dodo-Doodle-Doo and Weather Washed back into my Extra Deck, then draw a card!"
"He finally stopped summoning monsters." Ai sighed in relief. "What even was the point of going through all those Link and Fusion Summons if the only monsters on his field are two Effect Monsters!"
"Yes, two Effect monsters along with a Graveyard set-up, a set card and five cards in his hand." Playmaker narrowed his eyes. "He hasn't been wasting his time, but rather, was preparing for my turn, while getting an advantage."
"Is that so?" Ai narrowed its eyes.
"Yes." Playmaker stated. "But it's our turn now, and if I play our cards right, we should be able to end this in a single turn."
"A One Turn Kill!" Ai pushed its fist forward. "Let's do it, Playmaker!"
"My turn, Draw!" The Cyberse Duelist declared.
『Turn 2 [Playmaker] LP: 3500 Hand: 6』
"I activate Cynet Mining! By discarding Stack Reviver from my hand, I can add Cyberse Gadget from my deck to the hand!" A card popped from Playmaker's Duel Disk and he showed it before adding it to his hand. "I Normal Summon Cyberse Gadget (Lv.4, ATK: 1400) and activate its effect to revive the Level Two Stack Reviver (Lv.2, DEF: 600)!" The two Cyberse robots appeared on Playmaker's field.
"Appear, the circuit that leads to the future!" Playmaker raised his arms, summoning a square over his head. "Arrowhead confirmed! Summoning condition is one Level Four or lower Cyberse monster! I set Cyberse Gadget in the Link Marker! Link Summon! Link Disciple (ATK: 500, Link-1)!"
A white, black and red robot appeared in the Right Extra Monster Zone with three red triangles floating behind its back.
"When Cyberse Gadget leaves the field, I can Special Summon one Gadget Token (Lv.2, DEF: 0) on my field!" A monster that looked like Cyberse Gadget's head with two arms attached to it appeared to replace its counterpart. "Appear again, the circuit that leads to the future!"
Another square opened over Playmaker's head.
"Arrowhead confirmed! Summoning condition is one Level Four or lower Cyberse monster! I set Gadget Token in the Link Marker! Link Summon! Link Devotee (ATK: 500, Link-1)!" A blue robot appeared behind Link Disciple, co-linking to it.
"During the turn in which Devotee is summoned, I can't summon any Link Three or higher monsters." Playmaker explained. "Now I activate Disciple's effect! By Tributing the Link Devotee that it points to, I draw a card, then place a card from my hand to the bottom of the deck! Now Link Devotee's effect activates! Since it was Tributed while co-linked, I Special Summon two Link Tokens (Lv.1, DEF: 0) on my field!"
"There it comes!" Ai exclaimed. "Playmaker's famous multi-Link Summon!"
"Appear for the third time, the circuit that leads to the future!" yet another square opened in the sky to accompany Playmaker's Link Summoning. "Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning conditions are two Normal Monsters. I set the two Link Tokens in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Binary Blader (ATK: 1800, Link-2)!" A black and yellow monster with blue and red lines running across its body appeared on Playmaker's field carrying two blades attached to the back of its arms.
"When there's a Link Monster on my field, I can Special Summon Link Infra-Flier (Lv.2, DEF: 1800) next to its Link Marker!" Another Cyberse monster appeared on Playmaker's field, landing on the right side of Binary Blader. "And for the fourth time, appear the circuit that leads to the future!"
"That's Playmaker for you!" Proxy cheered on. "He's able to form the perfect Link Monsters line-up to overcome whatever his opponent has in store!"
"Arrowheads confirmed!" Playmaker shouted as Stack Reviver and Link Infra-Flier turned into whirlwinds that flew into the left and right arrows of the circuit. "Summoning conditions are two monsters, except Tokens. I set Stack Reviver and Link Infra-Flier in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Binary Sorceress (ATK: 1600, Link-2)!" A female monster with, white body and giant arms appeared on the left side of Binary Blader.
"Once per Duel, if Stack Reviver is used as Link Material, I can Special Summon one of the other Link Materials from my Graveyard in Defense Position. I revive Link Infra-Flier (Lv.2, DEF: 1800)!" Playmaker clenched his fist. "And for the fifth time, appear the circuit that leads to the future!"
"Another one!?" Heliac gasped in amazement.
"Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning conditions are two Cyberse monsters! I set Link Infra-Flier and Link Disciple in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Multi Sledgehammer (ATK: 1000, Link-2)!" A monster in bulky green armor carrying a sledgehammer appeared on the left side of Binary Sorceress, co-linking with her.
"Now our field is completed!" Ai declared and turned toward Playmaker. "Let's go, Playmaker! The faster we end this, the quicker Proxy and Aqua will be able to get out of that trap!"
"Set card activate, Prank-Kids Pandemonium!" Heliac shouted, activating his set card. "During your Main Phase, I can use this card to Fusion Summon! I use Prank-Kids Lampies and Prank-Kids Dropsies as Fusion Materials!"
"He's Fusion Summoning during our turn!?" Ai threw its arms around frantically.
The two Prank-Kids grabbed each other's hands and turned into particles that combined into a singular beam that shot behind Heliac while the duelist was chanting.
"Mischievous demons of the elements, gather under the laugh of the bright colors! Fusion Summon! Prank-Kids Weather Washer (Lv.5, ATK: 2000)!"
The large blue robot with orange glasses appeared on the field once more, but this time in a battle stance, ready to face against the three Cyberse Link Monsters that were staring back at it.
"The effects of Lampies and Dropsies activate!" The spirits of the two monsters appeared on the field, grinning and laughing. "First, Lampies will burn you for five hundred and I'll Special Summon Prank-Kids Fansies (Lv.1, DEF: 2000) from my deck, then I'll use the effect of Dropsies to gain a thousand Life Points and Special Summon my third Prank-Kids Lampies (Lv.3, DEF: 500) from my deck!"
The red Prank-Kids turned into a fireball that hit Playmaker once more, forcing him to take a step back, while the blue Prank-Kids turned toward Heliac, healing the little boy.
『Playmaker LP: 3500 - 500 → 3000』
『Heliac LP: 5000 + 1000 → 6000』
"Seriously?" Ai asked. "He damaged us during our turn!"
"I'll enter the Battle Phase and attack Prank-Kids Lampies with Binary Sorceress!" The Cyberse created a ball of energy between her arms and aimed it at the Prank-Kids monster.
"I activate Prank-Kids Weather Washer's effect!" Heliac replied. "I release this monster to revive Bow-Wow-Bark (ATK: 2000, Link-2) and Dropsies (Lv.3, DEF: 1000)!" The blue robot split into two pieces that landed down in the Main Monster Zones.
"Why would he do that?" Ai titled its head.
"Weather Washer's effect, when used to revive Prank-Kids gives them protection from battle destruction during this turn." Heliac pointed out.
"Now we can't get rid of these annoying things," Ai said, while Playmaker narrowed his eyes.
"I'll still attack." Binary Sorceress threw her attack at Prank-Kids Lampies, but the three red boys just jumped to the side, avoiding destruction. "Because I attack, Multi Sledgehammer gains a Hammer Counter. Now, I'll use Binary Blader to attack Bow-Wow-Bark and activate Binary Sorceress' effect. By halving Sorceress' attack, my Blader will gain attack equal to the lost!"
Binary Sorceress, 1600/2 → 800
Binary Blader, 1800 + 800 → 2600
"Now battle, Binary Blader, attack Prank-Kids Bow-Wow-Bark!" The Link monster leaped forward and swung its blades, bringing them down onto the Cerberus' head. The Prank-Kids Link Monster howled in pain and Heliac winched, taking a step back.
『Heliac LP: 6000 - 600 → 5400』
"Because Sorceress is linked to two monsters, her first effect heals me by the damage my monster inflicted to you." Playmaker stated as his monster turned around and unleashed a bright light with her arms, healing the Cyberse Duelist.
『Playmaker LP: 3000 + 600 → 3600』
"But will you dare to use the second attack, Mr. Playmaker?" Heliac asked.
"Why not?" Ai asked back.
"Playmaker!" Proxy shouted instinctively as the thorns in her cage lengthened.
"The thorns grow when the Knight of Hanoi who used them is damaged," Aqua observed. "In other words, the only way to win would be by sacrificing us."
"That's playing dirty!" Ai protested and pointed at Heliac. "For a kid like you to play using lowly tricks like this…"
"You're getting the wrong idea here, Mr. Ignis." Heliac shrugged. "Because Dr. Kogami was the one who programmed these traps, I have no control over how they function. Don't blame me for this, I only use the resources that are given to me, the same way you would use the resources given to you in order to defeat us. You're just angry because we did it first."
"Because of this attack, Multi Sledgehammer gained another Hammer Counter," Firera observed from Proxy's Duel Disk alongside Aqua. "If Playmaker attacks again, and then used Multi Sledgehammer's effect, he would be able to pull some serious damage while recovering a lot of Life Points."
"There's no way for Playmaker to put another life's in danger to win the duel." Proxy clenched her fist in anger. Only if she was more careful and jumped out of the way when Firera warned her, Playmaker wouldn't be in this position. He wouldn't have to hold back in order to protect her, he would have to give up on himself for her the same way Blaze Rose did.
"I'll place a card face-down." Playmaker said, setting the last card in his hand. "The effects of Binary Sorceress and Blader end, returning their attack points to normal."
Binary Blader, 2600 - 800 → 1800
Binary Sorceress, 800*2 → 1600
"Playmaker is unable to attack an ally," Ai observed, then looked at Aqua. "And I'm unable to forsake one of my own for victory either…"
"It's my turn, I draw!" PhantomFire declared.
『Turn 2 [PhantomFire] LP: 4000 Hand: 6』
"First, I'll activate Treasure of the Six Gears to discard ChronoGear Time Veiler and draw two cards from my Deck!" PhantomFire looked at the cards he got and took one of them, placing it on his Duel Disk. "I Normal Summon ChronoGear Blue Plague (Lv.2, ATK: 400) and activate its effect to Special Summon ChronoGear Berfomet (Lv.4, DEF: 1800) from my hand!"
"Because Berfomet was Special Summoned by the effect of a ChronoGear card, I can add ChronoGear Emergency Launch from my deck to the hand, and then I activate it to Special Summon ChronoGear Steam Ogre (Lv.8, ATK: 2600) from my deck, at the cost that it's unable to attack and returns to the deck at the end of this turn!"
"A Special Summon from the deck?" Specter smirked.
"I'll activate both effects of Steam Ogre," PhantomFire stated. "First, because it was Special Summoned from the Deck, I can destroy your set card and draw a card!" Specter's set card, which was Sunavalon Glorious Growth shattered, leaving the Knight of Hanoi to frown. "Additionally, his second effect lets me Special Summon two ChronoGear monsters from my Deck or Graveyard in Defense Position. Come out, ChronoGear Hellchain (Lv.3, DEF: 1700) and ChronoGear Time Veiler (Lv.2, DEF: 900)!"
"Amazing!" Specter clapped. "You were able to get five monsters out, but only one of them is able to declare an attack, so I take it that your turn isn't over yet?"
"I'm going to end you quickly, plant lover," PhantomFire replied. "Appear circuit of past and future!"
The sky between the two players cracked and a black void opened up, absorbing Time Veiler inside itself.
"Arrowhead confirmed. Summoning condition is one Level Two or lower oGear monster. I set ChronoGear Time Veiler in the Link Market. Link Summon! ChronoGear Time Manipulator!"
A little girl with short red hair and large blue eyes came out of the black vortex, landing in the Extra Monster Zone. The girl had two triangular metal objects on the sides of her head, bending upward to take the form of horns. She was wearing a white uniform with a long coat and sharp clock hands jutting out of her shoulders. A dark grey metal plate was placed over the monster's chest and shoulders. She wore long black leather gloves that reached her elbows and metal boots with clock gears jutting out of the sides. Finally, the monster was holding a long wand with a clock on the top.
ChronoGear Time Manipulator
Attribute: DARK/Type: Psychic/Link/Effect
Link Arrows: Bottom
ATK: 900/Link-1
1 Level 2 or lower "oGear" monster
Effect: Once while this Link Summoned card is on the field, you can target 1 Main Monster Zone on the field: Return any monster on that zone to the bottom of its owner's deck, also, that zone cannot be used while this card is face-up on the field. If this card is co-linked, you can place 1 Synodic Counter on every Link Monster you control without a Synodic Counter. If a monster with Synodic Counter attacks, the effects of all face-up cards your opponent controls are negated until the end of the Battle Phase. You can only use the 2nd effect of "ChronoGear Time Manipulator" once per turn.
"When Time Veiler is used as a material for the summoning of a ChronoGear monster, I draw a card," PhantomFire said, drawing another card from his deck.
"I activate Hellchain's effect!" PhantomFire declared. "Once while this card is face-up on the field, I can revive a DARK monster from my Graveyard with its effects negated. So, raise again, ChronoGear Time Veiler (Lv.2, DEF: 900)!" A black portal opened on the free Monster Zone and the little monster flew out of it.
"Appear circuit of past and future!" The sky fell apart revealing the black abyss once more. "Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning requirements are two oGear monsters! I set ChronoGear Time Veiler and ChronoGear Hellchain in the Link Markers! Link Summon! The wild spirit dancing over fading ages! ChronoGear Time Tamer Kitty (ATK: 1700, Link-2)! the catgirl monster jumped out of the vortex and landed behind Time Manipulator.
"Time Tamer Kitty's effect!" PhantomFire pointed at his monster. "When she's Link Summoned, I revive a DARK monster from my Graveyard! Come back, ChronoGear Hellchain (Lv.3, DEF: 1700)!" The Graveyard portal opened at PhantomFire's field and several chains shot out of it, pulling the fiend back into the game.
"And again! Appear circuit of past and future!" Kitty winked and Steam Ogre fowled as the two of them were sucked into the dark abyss. "Arrowheads confirmed. The Summoning conditions are at least two DARK monsters! I set Steam Ogre and the Link Two Time Tamer Kitty in the Link Markers! Link Summon! My dark soul, Diabolic Phantomus the Link Slayer (ATK: 2300, Link-3)!" PhantomFire's ace jumped out of the abyss and landed behind Time Manipulator, crossing its arms as it observed the field.
"Arrowheads confirmed!" Another portal opened in front of PhantomFire. "Summoning requirements are two DARK monsters! I set ChronoGear Berfomet and ChronoGear Blue Plague in the Link Markers! Link Summon! ChronoGear Timekeeping Succubus (ATK: 1000, Link-2)!" A young teenager demoness landed at the left side of Phantomus and sent him an air kiss.
"Since it was revived, Hellchain's effect can be activated again." PhantomFire pointed out. "I revive ChronoGear Time Veiler (Lv.2, DEF: 900) and then I'll call forth the circuit of past and future for a final time!"
Reality shattered as pieces of the sky fell on the ground and the pulsing black portal appeared for PhantomFire one more time.
"Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning conditions are two DARK Effect monsters. I set Time Veiler and Hellchain in the Link Markers. Link Summon! Come forth, ChronoGear Temporal Driller!"
A humanoid creature with a green-armored body and the general appearance of a machine appeared from the void. Its head was flat with two red bug-like eyes sticking out of the sides and a single small drill resting on the top. The creature had jackhammer parts on its elbows and its arms ended with drills instead of normal hands. Its legs were small with three claws coming out of its feet.
ChronoGear Temporal Driller
Attribute: DARK/Type: Machine/Link/Effect
Link Arrows: Bottom, Right
ATK: 1800/Link-2
2 DARK Effect monsters
Effect: If a monster(s) is Normal or Special Summoned to a zone(s) this card points to (except during the Damage Step): You can add 1 "oGear" card from your GY to your hand, but for the rest of this turn, you cannot Normal Summon/Set or Special Summon or activate the effect of cards with the added card's name. During your Main Phase, if this card is co-linked: Target a number of Spell/Trap Zones on your opponent's field up to the number of monster this card is co-linked to; return all cards in those zones to the bottom of your opponent's deck (if any), also, those zones can't be used until the end of the next turn. You can only use each effect of "ChronoGear Temporal Driller" once per turn.
"What a fancy play," Specter commented. "Getting four co-linked Link Monsters on the field while - still holding six cards in the hand I see. It's starting to get clear to me how you were able to defeat the other Knights of Hanoi, but don't expect me to feel intimidated by you."
"Don't worry, you aren't supposed to feel intimidated," PhantomFire replied. "But you might become a little bit worried after I do this. Time Manipulator's effect activates! I place one Sydonic Counter on every Link Monster on my field, and when a monster with Sydonic Counter attacks, the effects of all face-up cards you control will be negated until the end of the Battle Phase."
"What!?" Specter screamed, taking a step back
The Knight of Hanoi gulped and glanced at Blue Angel on the side. In just a single turn, PhantomFire was able to find all the weak points of his deck and use them against him. Of course, the Knight of Hanoi had expected his opponent to catch on, but not so quickly. He needed to know, how!
"You're wondering how I figured you out, don't you?" PhantomFire asked. He could see it written all across Specter's shocked face. "It was very simple actually. First, everything about your last turn, from the fact that you use Normal Monsters with such low stats, to your Link Summoning of a monster with zero attack points, to the set card. All these things made me realize that your deck doesn't like to place a lot of resources on the field and that based on your monster's lack of attack, your deck must be defensive in nature."
"Second, your reaction when I destroyed that set card of yours." PhantomFire continued. "You were annoyed, but not worried. That was my confirmation that the card you set the last turn was meant to help out Sunavalon Dryas, not protect it."
"Well done, old man," Specter smirked. "But before you go and finish me, I need to warn you. You see Blue Angel over there? Well, as it just happens, the cage she's trapped into is connected to me and my Life Points. If I take any damage, the thorns will become longer and if my Life Points are near zero the thorns will touch her and the virus inside of them will..."
"Infect her." PhantomFire finished. "So that was your last trump card? To use a hostage?"
"It's fun, right?" Specter asked. "So, feel free to deal damage to me."
"Don't let him getting into your head!" Blue Angel shouted. "Don't worry about me! Someone has to stop the Tower of Hanoi, and if that won't be me, then it has to be you!"
"I would say that your cowardly ways are surprising me, but I would be lying." PhantomFire glared at Specter. "There are multiple ways to defeat an opponent, without needing to deal any damage to them. Let's see if you'll be able to defeat me before I defeat you. I'll set two cards face-down and end my turn."
"You could have ended it all in one turn, but you choose to hold back and wait for another chance." Specter laughed. "That's your biggest weakness. Yours and Playmaker's and everyone else's! You worry too much about others. You can't be cruel. You won't abandon people during a fight, in fact, wasn't that why you took these other weaklings under your wing? Your spirit is weak. In order to save Blue Angel you gave your one and only chance to defeat me, and believe me, I'll make sure that you won't get a second chance at this!"
PhantomFire sighed and looked toward Blue Angle. He ignored Specter's words, blocked it out and focused his mind on more important matters. Winning this duel, with the deck built that he was using at the moment, would be a piece of cake. All he had to do, was wait for the right moment, that one opening when he would be able to end it all.
"You know that even if you defeat me, Playmaker will still be able to reach the Tower, right?" PhantomFire asked. "No matter what you do, it'll be in vain."
"No, that's where you're wrong." Specter shook a finger. "Playmaker is held at bay by another one of use, one who uses your dear apprentice, the little girl with the Ignis, as a hostage. What do you think, would Playmaker forsake her for his revenge? Or will he break and give up his chance for victory to save her, the same way you gave up to protect Blue Angel?"
"Take your turn," PhantomFire growled.
"If you insist," Specter said. "But I won't hold back as you did. I'm going to end you, right here. My turn. Draw!"
『Turn 3 [Specter] LP: 4000 Hand: 4』
"First, I'm going to Normal Summon Sunseed Growth." A green humanoid plant with yellow eyes and pink flowers covering its chest and back appeared on Specter's field. "I activate Growth's effect to return Sunseed Genius Loci back to my hand."
Sunseed Growth
Level: 1/Attribute: EARTH/Type: Plant/Effect
ATK: 0/DEF: 0
Effect: When this card is Normal Summoned, you can target 1 "Sunseed" monster in your GY: Return that target to the hand. During your End Phase, if this card is in your GY: You can target 1 "Sunavalon" or "Sunvine" Spell/Trap Card in your GY; banish this card, and if you do, add that target to your hand. You can only use each effect of "Sunseed Growth" once per turn.
"Appear! The future circuit that lights up our path!" Specter shouted, summoning a circuit under Dryas. "Arrowheads confirmed. Summoning conditions are two Plant monsters. I set Sunseed Growth and Sunavalon Dryas in the Link Markers!" One of Dryas' roots came out of the ground and shot into the Link Arrow alongside Growth. "Link Summon! Grow! Sunavalon Dryades (ATK: 0, Link-2)!"
Instead of disappearing to allow a new monster to take its place, Sunavalon Dryas grew larger with the head of a woman coming out of it. PhantomFire observed the new monster. He was getting new information about Specter's strategy every turn.
"I discard Sunseed Genius Loci from my hand to activate the Continuous Spell, Sunvine Shrine! With this card's effect, I can now revive Sunseed Genius Loci (Lv.1, ATK: 0) from my Graveyard."
"A Continuous Spell that will revive a monster every turn?" PhantomFire wondered. "An endless supply of Link Materials, is that it?"
"Obviously," Specter replied. "And I was able to get it because you allow me to do. So thanks for helping me. Appear! The future circuit that lights up our path!"
A new square opened, but this time it appeared in the sky instead of the ground. A sight that meant he wasn't going to summon a new Sunavalon monster.
"Arrowhead confirmed! Summoning condition is one Plant Normal Monster. I set Sunseed Genius Loci in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Sunvine Thrasher (ATK: 800, Link-1)!" A humanoid monster with light-green skin wearing an outfit made of green leaves with a large sword on its back appeared from the circuit.
"Thrasher's effect!" Specter continued. "While linked to a Sunavalon monster, it gains eight hundred attack points of each of that monster's Link Ratings! Because Dryades has two, Trasher gains sixteen hundred attack points!"
Sunvine Thrasher, ATK: 800 + 800*2 → 2400
"An offensive monster," PhantomFire commented. "But you aren't going to use it, are you?"
"And what's stopping me to do that, old man?" Specter asked intrigued. "One of your set cards?"
"Nope." PhantomFire shook his head and pointed at Timekeeping Succubus. "ChronoGear Timekeeping Succubus will protect my monsters that she's linked to from that battle and damage."
"And did you forget that your Time Manipulator is completely unprotected?" Specter pointed at the Link 1 resting in the Extra Monster Zone.
"Is it?" PhantomFire asked back. "Phantomus' effect! While it's linked to a monster, it gains that monster's effects! Since he's linked to ChronoGear Timekeeping Succubus, he gains her effects, protecting Time Manipulator from destruction. What's more, if you try to attack a monster that Phantomus points to, that monster will be placed next to his free Link Marker, giving me control over your monster!"
"Amazing!" Blue Agnel exclaimed. "Because of that, Specter is now unable to attack as well!"
"You just don't know where to quit, do you?" Specter gritted his teeth. "But you just exposed your field's biggest weakness! Phantomus gains the effects of the monster next to its Link Marker regardless if you want him to, or not! So, I'll attack Timekeeping Succubus with Sunvine Thrasher!"
The Plant charged at the demoness and swung its sword ready to cut her in half.
"I activate Timekeeping Succubus' effect that Phantomus is copying!" PhantomFire shouted back. "When a monster linked to Phantomus battles, I can negate the damage and my monster's destruction, then Sunvine Thrasher is placed next to PhantomFire's free zone!"
The Fiend jumped in front of Timekeeping Succubus and raised its arm, producing a large shield made of black data that took Thrasher's attack instead of the demoness. Afterward, PhantomFire's Link 3 pointed at the Specter's monster and created several chains of black data that trapped Thrasher, pulling him next to the right zone next to Phantomus.
"With this, your impenetrable defense is done for!" Specter laughed. "Since no Sunavalon Link Monster points at it, Thrasher will be destroyed, and because Phantomus copied its effects, your ace will follow my monster to the grave!"
"You really thought that I didn't foresee that?" PhantomFire asked. "Let me show you! I activate my Continuous Trap - Link Restriction! When this card activates, I place one Restrict Counter on it for every Link Monster on our fields and as long as Link Restriction is face-up on the field, our cards can't be destroyed by effects on our own fields!"
A card showing Police Patrol of the Underworld arresting Gouki the Great Ogre and Heavymetalfoes Electrum while pointing to a sign of an explosion with a red X across it.
Link Restriction (Trap) Continuous
Activate this card by placing 1 Restrict Counter on it for every Link Monster on the field. While this card is on the field, cards in the hand and on the field cannot be destroyed by effects activated on the side of the field belonging to the player whose cards would be destroyed. This card cannot be destroyed by card effects. Once per turn, during each End Phase, remove 1 Restrict Counter from this card. When the last Satellite Counter(s) is removed from this card, send it to the GY.
"You even had a card prepared for this?" Specter asked, narrowing his eyes. "Admit it, old man! You've been researching us, spying on us, haven't you?"
"Sorry to disappoint, but the only researching I have done was from Ghost Girl's recording of Revolver's duel against Playmaker inside the Data Storm," PhantomFire replied. "As for Link Restriction. Well, let's just say that once I had a bad match against someone using Fire Kings, which gave me the idea of creating a card with such an overcomplicated effect. I mean, wouldn't it be a bit unfair if I was able to negate all kinds of destruction for as long as Link Restriction is on the field?" PhantomFire turned to the side and looked back at Specter. "I admit that I placed a few of these fun cards inside my deck because I was expecting Revolver himself to come, and I knew that this would be a fun little surprise for his Rokket monsters. What I didn't expect was for every Knight of Hanoi to use a suicidal deck."
"You're just as annoying at defending as you're pathetic for not attacking me!" Specter shouted. "set a card and I end my turn! During the End Phase, the second effect of Sunseed Growth activates! I banish it to set Sunavalon Glorious Growth onto my field!"
"Then it's my-"
"Aoi!"
PhantomFire, who was about to draw a card stopped himself and turned back to see a familiar figure running toward them. It was Akira, just as the ChronoGear Duelist expected, he came for his sister.
"Brother!" Blue Angel shouted back. "Please stand back!"
"It's too late for that!" Specter laughed and snapped his fingers.
PhantomFire's eyes widened, the Duelist quickly realized what was about to happen. "Akira, run!"
"Wha-" Akira stopped all so suddenly, the ground under his shaking. Suddenly, vines shot out of the ground and wrapped around him, creating a cell to keep him from interfering.
"How many of these programs do you have?" PhantomFire asked.
"Oh you know, just copy paste the code," Specter replied, grinning.
"What's happening?" Akira asked, then looked at Blue Angel. "Are you alright, Aoi?"
"She's perfectly fine," Specter replied instead of Blue Angel. "That is until PhantomFire here chooses to attack me, in which case both her and you, will be infected by a not-so-pleasant virus and will join the Tower of Hanoi."
"But then that means..." Akira looked back at PhantomFire. The dark duelist kept his eyes on the field, ignoring the older Zaizen's stare.
"Oh, this is getting better by the second, isn't it?" Specter chuckled. "Go on, PhantomFire! It's your turn, so take your move! Attack me!"
"During the end of your turn, Link Restriction loses one counter," PhantomFire stated.
Link Restriction, Restrict Counter: 6 → 5
"I draw," PhantomFire muttered in a low voice.
『Turn 4 [PhantomFire] LP: 4000 Hand: 5』
"At this moment, I'm going to activate my trap!" Specter shouted. "Sunavalon Poison! While this card is face-up on the field, the effects of all monster you currently control are negated, and every time a Link Monster you control is destroyed, you're going to take three hundred points of damage!"
Sunavalon Poison (Trap) Continuous
Activate this card by negating the effects of all monsters your opponent currently controls. Your opponent cannot target "Suavalon" Link Monsters with card effects. If an opponent's monster is destroyed by battle, after damage calculation: Inflict 300 damage to your opponent. If there are no "Sunavalon" monsters on the field, destroy this card.
"Don't think that I'll let you take my monsters' effects like this!" PhantomFire raised his hand. "I activate Timekeeping Succubus' Quick Effect! When it's co-linked, I can target one monster on my field and gain Life Points equal to its original attack! I target Phantomus and activate the same effect through Phantomus to target Temporal Driller!"
Timekeeping Succubus and Phantomus turned toward Phantomus and washed him with purple light, creasing the Duelist's Life Points by 4100 points in a single move.
『PhantomFire LP: 4000 + 2300 → 6300 + 1800 → 8100』
"Even if you're able to increase your Life Points, due to my trap, your monsters are still going to lose their effects!" Specter pointed out. "What are you going to do now, huh? None of your tricks will work on me anymore!"
"I... End my turn." PhantomFire lowered his head. "Link Restriction loses one more counter."
Link Restriction, Restrict Counter: 5 → 4
"Even though he has five Link Monsters, he's unable to declare an attack..." Akira commented.
"Without even making a move?" Specter chuckled. "I'm disappointed! Fine, if you insist so much, I'll end your suffering! My turn, draw!"
『Turn 5 [Specter] LP: 4000 Hand: 3』
"I Normal Summon a second Sunseed Genius Loci (Lv.1, ATK: 0) and Special Summon Sunseed Shadow (Lv.1, ATK: 0) by its own effect!" Genius Loci appeared on Specter's field alongside a monster that looked almost the same but it was a brown cell with a small plant inside of it.
"Appear! The future circuit that lights up our path!"A square opened underneath Specter's tree monster. "Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning conditions are two or more Plant monsters. I set Sunseed Shadow Link Two Sunavalon Dryades in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Grown, my beautiful mother tree! Appear, Sunavalon Dryanome (ATK: 0, Link-3)!"
The giant tree on Specter's field grew once more, revealing a bit more of the woman inside of it.
"I activate Sunvine Shrine' effect to revive Sunseed Genius Loci (Lv.1, ATK: 0) from my Graveyard." the Normal Monster raised from Specter's Graveyard for a second time. "Again, appear, the future circuit that lights up our path!"
Two squares appeared in the air as Specter raised his hands upward and the two copies of Genius Loci shot upward, each one flying into the bottom arrow of its circuit.
"Arrowhead confirmed! Summoning condition is one Plant Normal Monster. I set Sunseed Genius Loci in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Sunvine Thrasher (ATK: 800, Link-1)!" Two new copies of said warrior flew out of the circuits and landed at the left and right zones that Dryanome was pointing toward.
"Thrasher's effect!" Specter continued. "While linked to a Sunavalon monster, it gains eight hundred attack points of each of that monster's Link Ratings! Because Dryanome has three, Trasher gains twenty-four hundred attack points!"
Sunvine Thrasher, ATK: 800 + 800*3 → 3200
"Now let's battle!" Specter declared. "Thrasher, attack Phantomus!"
The Thrasher on the left leaped forward and cut PhantomFire's Link Three monster into two. PhantomFire winched as his Life Points went down.
『PhantomFire LP: 8100 - 900 → 7200』
"Thrasher's effect!" Specter laughed. "When it destroys a monster by battle, that monster is Special Summoned next to the link of a Sunavalon monster I control!" A portal opened leading to Specter's Graveyard and it pulled PhantomFire's ace out, placing it behind Dryanome.
"Also, don't forget that because of Poison, you're going to take three hundred more damage." PhantomFire winched at Specter's words, sensing his Life Points falling even further.
『PhantomFire LP: 7200 - 300 → 6900』
"And of course, let's not forget about your ace's effect," Specter stated, pointing at the Phantomus that he stole. "Since it gains the effects of the monsters it's linked to, it also gains Thrasher's effect!"
Diabolic Phantomus the Link Slayer, ATK: 2300 + 800*3 → 4700
"And again!" Specter laughed. "Diabolic Phantomus the Link Slayer, attack Time Manipulator!"
The Link 3 Fiend raised its arm forward and summoned a scythe of dark data that it then swung at the Link 1, cutting it in half.
"I activate a Continuous Trap! ChronoGear Defense!" PhantomFire shouted, activating a card that showed Time Tamer Kitty and Timekeeper Succubus creating a protective barrier. "While this card is face-up on the field and I control a Link Monster, any damage I take from battles involving a Link Monster whose Link Rating is higher than the highest Link Rating on my field, I halve the damage!"
ChronoGear Defense (Trap) Continuous
While you control at least 2"oGear" Link Monsters, any battle damage you take from battles involving a Link Monster is halved. You can send this card from your field to the GY: Target 1 Link-3 or lower DARK Link Monster in your GY; Special Summon it.
『PhantomFire LP: 6900 - 3800 → 3100』
"Huh?" Specter blinked in confusion. "It says that the damage would be halved, but it's still the same?"
"If Diabolic Phantomus is co-linked, any damage your linked monsters inflict will be doubled," PhantomFire explained. "Because of that, when I halved it, I halved the doubled value of seventy-six hundred."
"Woah!" Specter said in surprise. "That ace of your is truly a powerful beast. Because of my trap, you're going to take three hundred points of damage once more."
『PhantomFire LP: 3100 - 300 → 2800』
"Battle!" Specter pointed at the Sunvine Thrasher that PhantomFire controlled. "Thrasher, attack that one too."
The swordsman leaped in the air and swung its blade, cutting its copy's head off. Akira and Blue Angel looked away instinctively while PhantomFire took a step back, pushed by the strength of that attack.
『PhantomFire LP: 2800 - 2400 → 400』
"And now the effect of Sunavalon Poison will inflict three hundred more damage to you," Specter stated.
『PhantomFire LP: 400 - 300 → 100』
"You were lucky," Specter stated. "But one more attack and you'll be done for! Of course, I won't leave my field like this! Appear, the future circuit that lights up our path!"
Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning conditions are two Plant Monsters. I set two Sunvine Thrasher in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Sunavalon Daphne (ATK: 0, Link-2)!" A large humanoid plant that resembled a woman appeared at the left side of Phantomus.
"I activate Daphne's effect," Specter said. "By releasing your Diabolic Phantomus, I target two copies of Sunvine Thrasher in my Graveyard and return them to the Extra Deck. And now, I'm going to activate my Spell Card - Sunvine Renew! When a monster leaves my field, except as a Link Material, I can destroy one monster on your field, and if the monster I destroy is a Link Monster, then I'll be able to Special Summon a Sunvine Link Monster from my Graveyard with the same or lower Link Rating! I choose to destroy that Temporal Driller you control!"
PhantomFire watched blankly as the ChronoGear Temporal Driller he controlled exploded into pieces of data that then disappeared.
Sunvine Renew (Spell) Normal
If a monster that a "Sunavalon" Link Monster points to left the field this turn, except as a Link Material for the Link Summon of a Plant monster: You can target 1 monster your opponent controls; destroy it. If the monster destroyed by this effect is a Link Monster, you can Special Summon 1 "Sunvine" Link Monster from your GY, whose Link Rating is equal to, or lower than, the destroyed monster's Link Rating. You can only activate 1 "Sunvine Renew" per turn.
"And now, because I destroyed a Link Monster, I can bring back the Link One, Sunvine Thrasher (ATK: 800, Link-1)!" The Thrasher that Specter destroyed earlier returned back to his field.
"Thrasher's effect!" Specter continued. "While linked to a Sunavalon monster, it gains eight hundred attack points of each of that monster's Link Ratings! Because Dryanome has three, Trasher gains twenty-four hundred attack points!"
Sunvine Thrasher, ATK: 800 + 800*3 → 3200
"It's over!" Specter laughed maniacally. "Your Life Points at just a hundred, the only monster you control is too weak to do anything! Even though your hand is full, there's nothing you can do with it, without hurting your dear friends! I won!"
Blue Angel lowered her head and Akira looked away. PhantomFire was going to lose trying to defend them, and there was nothing they could do to help him out. Or so Akira thought, but Blue Angel clenched her fists as new determination rose inside her chest.
"What a waste." Heliac sighed. "It's no fun beating someone who isn't fighting back, but I can't turn off this program on my own, so I guess that I'll have to beat you like this, Mr. Playmaker. It's my turn, draw!"
『Turn 3 [Heliac] LP: 5400, Hand: 6』
"I release Prank-Kids Bow-Wow-Bark to add Prank-Kids Pandemonium and Prank-Kids Rocksies from my Graveyard to the hand." The young Knight of Hanoi held out his hands as two more cards appeared in it, raising his hand to eight. "Next, I'll activate Prank-Kids Pandemonium to fuse together the Prank-Kids Rocksies in my hand with Dropsies, Lampsies, and Fansies on my field!"
The four trios of kids, one red, one green, one blue, and one yellow turned into particles of the same colors and shot up, connecting into a single beam of multiple colors.
"Mischievous demons of the four elements, gather under the laugh of the final prank! Fusion Summon! Prank-Kids Battle Butler (Lv.10, ATK: 3000)!"
A giant purple monster that looked like a combination of various kitchen equipment formed out of the particles and laughed loudly, breaking the glass of all the buildings around the two Duelists.
"A Fusion Summon with four materials!?" Ai shouted. "Be careful Playmaker! Be very, very careful!"
"The effects of Lampsies, Fansies, and Rocksies activate!" Heliac raised his hands as the spirits of the four monsters appeared over him. "With Rocksies, I banish a card from my hand to draw a new card, then Special Summon another copy of Dropsies (Lv.3, DEF: 1000) from my Deck, with Fansies I send Prank-Kids Plan from my Deck to the Graveyard and Special Summon the second copy of Rocksies (Lv.4, DEF: 1500) from my deck, and with Lampsies, I inflict five hundred points of damage to you and Special Summon my third Rocksies (Lv.4, DEF: 1500) from my deck."
Another Fireball hit Playmaker head-on, pushing the Cyberse Duelist back with flames burning on the back of his hands. The older Duelist looked at his hands, the flames slowly dying down, then turned back to the duel.
『Playmaker LP: 3600 - 500 → 3100』
"And now, I activate the effect of Battle Butler! I release this card to destroy all monsters you control!" The giant Fusion Monster looked at the puny Cyberse Monsters in front of it and chuckled before exploding, wiping all of Playmaker's Links off the field with one move.
"Such a powerful effect." Ai gulped. What was about to come next surely wasn't going to be pretty.
"I activate the Field Spell, Prank-Kids Place and use its effect to add the third copy of Dropsies to my hand, then I discard it to activate the effect of Prank-Kids Pranks and Special Summon one Prank-Kids Token (Lv.1, ATK: 0) on my field."
"Did he forget that he still had a Normal Summon?" Ai asked, curiously.
"He's fooling around as a child would." Playmaker stated. "Since he used four Prank-Kids as Fusion Materials, he could have used the other Dropsies' effect to increase his Life Points by a thousand once more, but he didn't."
"I still can't believe that we're being used as playthings by him." Ai sighed. "It hurts my pride as an Ignis to be tricked like that."
"Appear now, the circuit of eternal laughter!" Heliac raised his hand, summoning a large square over his head. "Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning conditions are two Prank-Kind monsters. I set Prank-Kids Rocksies and Prank-Kid Token in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Prank-Kids Bow-Wow-Bark (ATK: 2000, Link-2)!" The red two-headed dog appeared in the Extra Monster Zone.
"And once more! Appear, the circuit of eternal laughter!" another circuit opened over Heliac. "Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning conditions are two Prank-Kind monsters. I set Prank-Kids Rocksies and Prank-Kids Dropsies in the Link Markers. Link Summon! Prank-Kids Dodo-Doodle-Doo (ATK: 2000, Link-2)!" The Link Two sparrow appeared on the field once more, landing behind the dog.
"When Dodo-Doodle-Doo is Link Summoned, I add a Prank-Kids Spell or Trap from the deck to my hand," Heliac explained. "I add the second copy of Prank-Kids Plan." The card materialized in Heliac's hand. "I'll set a card, then go to battle! Due to Bow-Wow-Bark's effect, a Prank-Kid monster it points to gains a thousand attack points!"
Prank-Kids Dodo-Doodle-Doo, ATK: 2000 + 1000 → 3000
"Dodo-Doodle-Doo, attack Playmaker directly!" the sparrow nodded and flew forward, charging at the Cyberse Duelist.
"Playmaker!" Proxy shouted.
"Quick-Play activate!" The Cyberse Duelist pressed a button on his Duel Disk and his set card turned face-up. "Spool Code's effect! When there are three or more Cyberse Monsters in the Graveyard, I can negate your attack and Special Summon three Spool Tokens (Lv.1, DEF: 0)!"
Dodo-Doodle-Doo turned upward, avoiding Playmaker as three disks appeared on his field to protect his Life Points.
"You're still fighting?" Heliac tilted his head to the side. "Oh well, you won't be fighting for long. I attack one of your Spool Tokens with Bow-Wow-Bark!"
The two-headed dog jumped in front of one of the disks and opened its mouth, firing flames that melt away the Token.
"That one was close." Ai sighed.
"Don't calm down, Mr. Ignis." Heliac wavered his finger. "During the End Phase of this turn, the effect of Prank-Kids Pranks returns Rocksies and two copies of Lampsies back into my deck, then I draw a card."
"It's my turn then." Playmaker stated. "I draw!"
『Turn 4 [Playmaker] LP: 3100 Hand: 3』
"I Normal Summon Lady Debugger (Lv.4, ATK: 1700) and activate its effect to add one Level Three or lower Cyberse from my Deck to the hand. I choose Micro Coder!" Playmaker added the monster to his hand and then threw his arms upward. "Appear, the circuit that leads to the future!"
"What's he going to do?" Aqua asked. "He won't attack, so what else's there for him to do?"
"He must have a plan." Proxy gave a reassuring smile to the Ignis. "I'm sure he does."
"Arrowheads confirmed!" Playmaker declared. "Summoning conditions are at least two Cyberse Monsters! I set Lady Debugger, Spool Token and Micro Coder from my hand in the Link Markers!"
"From your hand?" Heliac narrowed his eyes. "That's the first time I hear of this..."
"Link Summon!" a green core appeared inside the circuit and a body began to materialize around it. "Link Three! Excode Talker (ATK: 2300, Link-3)!"
The green Code Talker flew out of the circuit and landed at the free Extra Monster Zone, holding its claws in front of itself.
"Excode Talker's effect! When it's Link Summoned, I choose Monster Zones up to the number of monsters in the Extra Monster Zones, and while Excode is on the field, those zones can't be used!" Two balls of dark energy formed in the Code Talker's arms and it threw them forward, blocking the Zone in front of itself and the one to the left of it.
"Since Micro Coder was sent to the Graveyard as Link Material, I can add one Cynet Spell or Trap Card from my Deck to the hand. I choose Cynet Universe." a card appeared in Playmaker's hand. "Appear again, the circuit that leads to the future!"
Another square opened above Playmaker's head.
"Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning conditions are two or more monsters! I set my last Spool Token and the Link Three, Excode Talker, in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Firewall Dragon (ATK: 2500, Link-4)!" The Link 4 monster Playmaker had, flew through the circuit and landed in front of him, roaring.
"I activate a Spell Card - Link Back! By moving Firewall Dragon to the Main Monster zone it points to, I send the top four cards of my deck to the graveyard!" Firewall Dragon flew back and Playmaker took four cards from his deck, sending all of them to the grave. "I'll now activate Cynet Universe. Through its effect, Link Monster I control gain three hundred attack points."
Firewall Dragon, ATK: 2500 + 300 → 2800
"I activate Cynet Universe's other effect to return Link Disciple back into my Extra Deck, and set a card, turn e-"
"Wait!" Heliac shouted. "While it's still your Main Phase, I activate my Continuous Trap, Prank-Kids Plan! During the Main Phase, this card allows me to Link Summon!"
A square opened behind Heliac who pointed at his two Link Monsters. "Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning conditions are at least two Prank-Kind monsters. I set the Link Two, Dodo-Doodle-Doo and the Link Two Bow-Wow-Bark, in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Link Four! Prank-Kids Rip-Roarin-Roaster (ATK: 3000, Link-4)!" A long blue dragon with crimson eyes and an evil grin on its face appeared out of the circuit.
"What kind of naming pattern do these monsters have?" Ai asked.
"Prank-Kids Place's effect activates," Heliac said. "When I Link Summon, all monsters you control lose five hundred attack points."
Firewall Dragon lowered its head and wings as its attack power dropped down.
Firewall Dragon, ATK: 2800 - 500 → 2300
"And now I activate the effect of Rip-Roaring-Roaster!" Heliac continued. "I release this card to destroy all Spell and Trap Cards you control!"
"W-wait, wait, wait!" Ai waved its arms, but the Knight of Hanoi ignored it. The blue dragon roared and turned into a large wave that fell on top of Playmaker's field, destroying Cynet Universe and his set card.
"With Cynet Universe removed, Firewall Dragon's attack points will drop by three hundred." Playmaker stated, turning toward his Link 4, which roared.
Firewall Dragon, ATK: 2300 - 300 → 2000
"Is that it?" Heliac frowned. "You're so weak, dueling you really is no fun. My turn, draw!"
『Turn 5 [Heliac] LP: 5400, Hand: 7』
"At this moment, I activate the effect of Transaction Rollback from my Graveyard!" Playmaker shouted. "I banish this card and pay half of my Life Points to activate the effect of Three Strikes Barrier, and to be precise, I activate the second effect, reducing all battle damage I would take to zero for the rest of this turn!"
『Playmaker LP: 3100/2 → 1550』
"How boring." Heliac sighed. "First, I activate Monster Reborn to revive Prank-Kids Weather Washer (Lv.5, ATK: 2000), then I activate Weather Washer's effect. By releasing this card, I can Special Summon two Prank-Kids from my Graveyard. Come back, Prank-Kids Battle Butler (Lv.10, ATK: 3000) and Prank-Kids Rip-Roarin-Roaster (ATK: 3000, Link-4)!"
"Now that's bad," Ai said.
"I'll then activate Monster Reincarnation and discard a card from my hand to return one Lampsies from my Graveyard back to my hand! Then I discard a copy of Prank-Kids Pranks to Special Summon one Prank-Kids Token (Lv.1, DEF: 0), then I activate my second Prankids Pandemonium to Fusion Summon using the Prank-Kids Token on my field and the Prank-Kids Lampsies in my hand as Fusion Materials!"
"There it goes again." Ai sighed.
"Another Fusion Summon..." Playmaker stated.
"Mischievous demons of the elements, gather under the laugh of the bright colors! Fusion Summon! Prank-Kids Rocket Ride (Lv.5, ATK: 2000)!"
A second copy of the red rocket monster flew over Heliac's head before finally landing down on the field.
"Due to the effect of Prank-Kids Lampsies, you take five hundred points of damage, and I Special Summon Rocksies (Lv.4, DEF: 1500) from my deck!"
Another fireball hit Playmaker head-on, but the Cyberse Duelist stood strong.
『Playmaker LP: 1550 - 500 → 1050』
"Also, because of Prank-Kids Place's effect, all my Prank-Kids monsters gain five hundred attack points." Heliac's monsters glowed as their attack power increased once more.
Prank-Kids Rip-Roarin-Roaster, ATK: 3000 + 500 → 3500
Prank-Kids Battle Butler, ATK: 3000 + 500 → 3500
Prank-Kids Rocket Ride, ATK: 2000 + 500 → 2500
"I'll now release Rocket Ride to revive Prank-Kids Bow-Wow-Bark (ATK: 2000, Link-2) and Prank-Kids Lampsies (Lv.3, DEF: 500)!" the rocket exploded and two new Prank-Kids jumped out of the remains to take its place. "Also, due to Bow-Wow-Bark's effect, the Rip-Roaring Boaster linked to it gains a thousand attack points."
Prank-Kids Rip-Roarin-Roaster, ATK: 3500 + 1000 → 4500
"He got five Prank-Kid monsters on his field!" Ai exclaimed.
"Battle! I attack Firewall Dragon with Prank-Kids Rip-Roarin Roaster!" The blue dragon flew around Playmaker's Link 4 and fired a multi-colored beam from its mouth, destroying the Cyberse monster.
"Firewall Dragon was destroyed!" Proxy shouted.
"It's not important," Aqua stated. "Luckily, Playmaker activated the effect of his trap when he did, or this turn would have ended with his defeat."
"Wait, what's happening with us?" Firera asked. Proxy looked down and saw her avatar fizzled.
"That must be Kusanagi's program!" Ai cheered.
"You'll only hurt her more," Heliac replied.
And indeed, as the young Knight of Hanoi stated, electricity shot into the cake making Proxy scream as her avatar returned to normal.
"It's impossible to destroy this system." Heliac pointed out. "In other words, it's impossible to get her out of there until the duel is over."
Playmaker and Ai clenched their fists in anger while Proxy and Aqua looked from inside the cage. They tried everything already, but no matter what program Aqua or Firera tried to use, it just wouldn't make the cage disappear. It seemed that whoever designed these traps was planning to capture an Ignis holder.
"I end my turn," Heliac stated. "Now, the effect of Prank-Kids Pranks activate and I return Rocket Ride, Bow-Wow-Bark and Dodo-Doodle-Doo from my Graveyard into the Extra Deck, then draw a card."
"It's our turn again, Playmaker." Ai turned toward his partner.
Playmaker breather heavily and looked at Proxy. He could sacrifice her, even for his revenge, he could sacrifice others. He had to find an alternative. He knew something had to be inside his deck, able to help him out in this situation!
PhantomFire and Specter were staring at each other. One one side of the field was the Knight of Hanoi with 4000 Life Points, three monsters on his field and several Spell and Trap Cards, while on the other one was PhantomFire with only ChronoGear Timekeeping Succubus, who had her effects negated and two Continuous Traps, which were useless in this situation.
"During the end of your turn, the effect of. Link Restriction removes one Restrict Counter." PhantomFire said,
Link Restriction, Restrict Counter: 4 → 3
"It's pointless," Specter said. "Whatever you do from here on, it's all pointless! You can't attack, you can't defend, just accept your defeat and let's move on!"
"PhantomFire!"
A small smirk appeared on PhantomFire's face as he turned toward the one who called him; it was Blue Angel.
"Don't let yourself be manipulated by him!" the idol shouted. "If you fall to move forward, then..." she shook her head, stopping that thought from reaching her mouth. Blue Angel looked up at the dark Duelist and smiled. "I know, that as long as you and Playmaker are here, fighting for LINK VRAINS, we're sure to win!"
"Aoi..." Akira muttered.
"It's the truth, brother!" Blue Angel shouted. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for making you worry so much, for always causing trouble and for getting you involved in this."
"Aoi... You can't!" Akira shouted, realizing what his sister was about to do.
"It has to be done," she replied and turned back to PhantomFire. "I won't let myself be used against the one person who showed me kindness where I was young. The person who taught me how to duel and gave me my deck. This is the least I can do for you."
PhantomFire watched the siblings silently. Waiting to see what Blue Angel was about to do.
"You're right." Akira finally admitted. "If we let it end like this, everything you did would be for nothing. And PhantomFire..." the Zaizen turned toward his old friend. "I know that you'll be able to see this through. Make sure of it, for me, and Aoi... Defeat the Knights of Hanoi!"
The two siblings looked at each other once more and smiled before both of them grabbed the bars of their cells simultaneously. They screamed in pain as the virus infected their avatars and minds.
"No way!" Specter was shocked, while PhantomFire only stared at them with an emotionless expression.
As the pain began to finally decrease, and the two Zaizens' bodies began to flicker, they smiled. It was over. Their fight was over and was time to go. It was all now in the hands of PhantomFire. Closing their eyes, the siblings, along with the cages that held them disintegrated.
"Hahahaha! HahahaHAHAHAhahahaha! WHAHAHAHAHA!"
A burst of loud laughter pierced the silence. Specter took a step back, shocked, confused and terrified as his opponent began to suddenly laugh. It a reaction he never saw coming. He wasn't very familiar with it, but usually, in a situation like this one, a person would cry or yell, not laugh.
"W-what's so funny?" Specter tried to smile himself. "Did you realize how hopeless this is and fell into madness?"
"Oh, no." PhantomFire shook his head, the laughter died down, and he looked at Specter.
The Knight of Hanoi felt a chill run down his spine. The dark duelist's eyes were glowing an ominous purple color and black aura was coming out of his avatar.
"I must thank you," PhantomFire said. "This place was too dangers and I knew that neither Blue Angel or her brother would willingly leave once they came inside. I honestly would have attacked you back then, ended it all with a single swing, but I didn't want it to look like I don't care about their lives, so..."
"You waited for this..." Specter realized. "You're..."
"What? Crazy?" PhantomFire frowned. "That's my line, boy. No, you're not even that. Getting hostages to try and use against me and Playmaker, to force us into a position where we would have to lose in order to protect the people we care about. It's an underhanded move, but it would have been pretty useful if it wasn't me you were fighting."
"What are you saying?" Specter took a step back. Every part of his body was telling him that he should run, but he didn't want to listen. There was no way he would lose this!
"I'm saying, that it's time to end this," PhantomFire stated. "I''m the one bound to royalty and morality? Then you're nothing more than Revolver's dog, a pitiful dog trying to act like a lion! You're pathetic, and I'm going to end you in an instance! My turn!"
『Turn 6 [PhantomFire] LP: 100 Hand: 6』
"I activate the Spell Card, Left Arm Offering! I banish all cards in my hand and add one Spell Card from my Deck!" PhantomFire threw his hand in the air and it burst into flames. "I Spell that I add is Arrows of Elemental Lords and I activate it!"
PhantomFire showed a card whose artwork depicted a circle with six Link Arrows, each glowing a different color, and a shadowy monster coming out of the circle, reaching for the surface.
Arrows of Elemental Lords (Spell) Normal
Tribute 1 "oGear" Link Monster: Add 1 monster of the same Attribute as the Tributed monster, and with Level equal to, or lower than that monster's Link Rating from your Deck to the hand. You can only activate 1 "Arrows of Elemental Lords" per turn.
"I release Timekeeping Succubus to add Knightmare Corruptor Iblee to my hand, and then I Normal Summon it!" A girl in black robes with long dark hair and eyeshadows under her eyes appeared before PhantomFire with a wicked grin.
"A Cyberse monster?" Specter said, surprised. "To think you would get your hands on one..."
"Iblee's effect!" PhantomFire shouted. "When this card is Normal Summoned, I revive one Link Monster from my Graveyard so it points toward her, but its effects are negated and its attack power becomes zero. Come back, old friend, Diabolic Phantomus the Link Slayer (ATK: 2300 → 0, Link-3)!"
"When my Life Points are at a thousand or less, I'm able to call forth this monster using only Diabolic Phantomus the Link Slayer as Link Material! Appear, the circuit of the past and future!" The space over PhantomFire's head fell apart revealing a black vortex. "Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning conditions are two or more DARK monsters! I set the Link Three, Diabolic Phantomus the Link Slayer in the Link Markers! Link Change Summon! Rise, Diabolic Phantomus the Hollow Slayer (ATK: 2300, Link-3)!"
The lighter version of Phantomus flew through the portal and landed in the Extra Monster Zone, growling.
"And now, Diabolic Phantomus the Hollow Slayer's effect revive a Link Three or lower DARK monster from my grave, so come back, Diabolic Phantomus the Link Slayer (ATK: 2300, Link-3)!" A portal appeared behind Hollow Slayer and the original Phantomus raised on the field.
"Due to Hollow Slayer's effect all monster it points at gain five hundred attack points, but Link Slayer gains the effects of all monster it points at, so Hollow Slayer gains attack as well!"
Diabolic Phantomus the Hollow Slayer, ATK: 2300 + 500 → 2800
Diabolic Phantomus the Link Slayer, ATK: 2300 + 500 → 2800
"Now I'll activate Link Slayer's new effect to revive ChronoGear Time Timer Kitty (ATK: 1700, Link-2) from my grave!" the female monster raised from the ground and licked her arm playfully. "Now I shall call forth the demonic ruler of time itself! Appear, the circuit of true darkness!"
Electricity shot out of PhantomFire's arms and into a black vortex before him. Red energy began to swirl inside the portal and purple bolts of lightning fell from it, striking everything around PhantomFire.
"Supreme Being masqueraded in the shadows, follow my guidance!" PhantomFire chanted. His outfit's colors changing, the black and purple burning away to reveal white and red underneath, his hair changed to snow white with crimson bangs and his sclera turned black. "Our resurrection is imminent! I set Time Tamer Kitty and Diabolic Phantomus the Link Slayer in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Link Five! Transcendent Devil Emperor Satanel – The Absolute Paradox (ATK: 3200, Link-5)!"
"A Link Five monster!?" Specter cried out.
"This is Phantomus," PhantomFire stated, gesturing toward the nightmarish demon standing behind him. "You see, Phantomus' humanoid appearance is nothing more than a chain, one used to keep his true powers, his true potential locked away. He's like me, holding back until he gets pushed too far. And now, we're going to be your nightmare! Satanel, activate your power! Emperor's Rule!"
Satanel's Link Arrows glowed and the top arrow shot out red electricity that connected to Diabolic Phantomus the Hollow Slayer's bottom arrow, linking the two monsters together.
"Emperor's Rule gives all of my co-linked monsters the effects of all co-linked monsters on my side of the field! Now go, I activate Hollow Slayer's effect through Satanel to revive Diabolic Phantomus the Link Slayer (ATK: 2300. Link-3), then I use the effect through Diabolic Phantomus the Link Slayer to revive ChronoGear Time Manipulator (ATK: 900, Link-1)!
"All the monsters that I destroyed..." Specter watched in horror. That wasn't supposed to happen! He wasn't supposed to react that way!
"I activate Hollow Slayer's effect and target Time Manipulator. Through Hollow's effect, Time Manipulator's effects are negated and Hollow gains those effects. so I activate Time Manipulator's effect through Diabolic Phantomus the Hollow Slayer, placing one Sydonic Counter on every Link Monster on my field!" Hollow Slayer growled again and send a purple aura that engulfed all of PhantomFire's monsters.
"And because of Hollow Slayer's boosting effect, all of my monsters gain five hundred attack power by every monster that points toward them!"
Diabolic Phantomus the Link Slayer, ATK: 2800 + 500 → 3300
ChronoGear Time Manipulator, ATK: 900 + 500 → 1400
Transcendent Devil Emperor Satanel – The Absolute Paradox, ATK: 3200 + 500*2 → 4200
"No way!" Specter yelled.
"You remember, right?" PhantomFire asked. "When a monster with Sydonic Counter attacks, all of your effects are negated until the end of the Battle Phase! Battle! Satanel, attack Thrasher! End of Time!"
Satanel roared and clenched its arm into a fist before smalling it into the ground. What followed was an explosion of dark energy that was felt through the entire network, draining away all of the colors inside LINK VRAINS.
"This can't be..." Aqua muttered,
"What's happening?" Proxy asked, looking around. All the colors have faded away, the whole world was like it had stopped moving completely.
"It was here all along..." Ai muttered.
"What are you talking about?" Playmaker asked.
"The Cyberse that stands over all other Cyberse," Ai stated. "Its name, appearance, and its very effect can change, to fit the one who was able to tame its enormous power."
Proxy touched one of the thorns in her cell and nothing happened. She then grabbed the bars, and still nothing. The virus wasn't working!
"The time inside the entire server was stopped." Ai realized. "Because of that, the virus isn't responding! Now, Playmaker! Let's end this!"
"Right!" Playmaker nodded. "My turn, draw!"
『Turn 6 [Playmaker] LP: 1050 Hand: 1』
"I Normal Summon RAM Clouder (Lv.4, ATK: 1800) and activate its effect! By releasing this card, I can Special Summon Firewall Dragon (ATK: 2400, Link-4) from my Graveyard!"
The Cyberse Dragon flew out of the Graveyard and landed at below the right Extra Monster Zone.
"Foolish!" Heliac shouted. "I activate the effect of Prank-Kids Battle Butler, tributing it to destroy all monsters you control!" the Fusion monster exploded, sending a rain of fireballs at Playmaker's monster.
"Oh, no!" Ai cried out. "If Firewall Dragon falls right now..."
"I activate the effect of Garbage Recycler from my Graveyard!" Playmaker retorted. "When a monster's effect is activated that would destroy monsters I control, I can banish that card from my Graveyard to negate your effect, and then, I Special Summon a monster from my Graveyard whose attack points are less than the monster whose effects I just negated!"
The spirit of a green monster with two wheels in place of legs, three long and slender arms coming out of its belly and a red visor covering its face appeared before Firewall Dragon, protecting it from the shower of fire.
Garbage Recycler
Level: 5/Attribute: WIND/Type: Cyberse/Effect
ATK: 1000/DEF: 2000
Effect: If a Cyberse monster is Special Summoned from your Deck, you can Special Summon this card from your hand in Attack Position. During either player's turn, when a monster's effect is activated that would destroy a Cyberse monster(s) on the field: You can banish this card from your GY; negate that monster's effect, and if you do, Special Summon 1 Cyberse Monster from your Gy, whose ATK is less than the monster whose effects you negated.
"I revive Excode Talker (ATK: 2300, Link-3)!" The green Code Talker appeared at the left side of Firewall Dragon, co-linking with it.
"Since now Firewall Dragon is linked to Excode Talker, it gains five hundred attack points," Ai exclaimed, waving its arms.
Firewall Dragon, ATK: 2500 + 500 → 3000
"I now activate the effect of Cynet Defrag from my Graveyard! I pay half of my Life Points to revive Lady Debugger (Lv.4, DEF: 1400)!" The humanoid ladybug monster raised at Firewall Dragon's right zone.
『Playmaker LP: 1050/2 → 525』
"The effect of Lady Debugger activates, adding Swap Cleric from my deck to the hand!" A card popped out of Playmaker's Duel Disk and he drew it.
"I activate the effect of Prank-Kids Plan!" Heliac responded. "I use Rocksies and Lampsies to Link Summon!" A circuit opened in front of the boy. "Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning conditions are two Prank-Kids monsters! I set Rocksies and Lampsies in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Prank-Kids Bow-Wow-Bark (ATK: 2000, Link-2)!" The second copy of the FIRE Link Monster appeared in the Extra Monster Zone, co-linking with Rip-Roarin-Roaster.
"Now the effect of Rocksies and Lampsies activate!" Heliac continued. "I banish a card and draw a new one to Special Summon another copy of Lampsies (Lv.3, DEF: 500) from my Deck, then I inflict five hundred points of damage to you to Special Summon another copy of Rocksies (Lv.4, DEF: 1500)!"
Playmaker winched as his Life Points feel even lower.
『Playmaker LP: 525 - 500 → 25』
"Our Life Points are almost gone!" Ai panicked.
"Indeed, they are, Mr. Ignis." Heliac agreed. "But now, the effects of Prank-Kid Place and Bow-Wow-Bark activate! First, because of my Field Spell, all of your monsters lose five hundred attack points, then because Bow-Wow is linked to Rip-Roarin, my dragon gains give hundred attack points!"
Prank-Kids Rip-Roarin-Roaster, ATK: 4500 + 1000 → 5500
Firewall Dragon, ATK: 3000 - 500 → 2500
Excode Talker, ATK: 2300 - 500 → 1800
"I'm not done yet." Playmaker muttered. "Appear, the circuit that leads to the future!" The Cyberse Duelist raised his arms, summoning a square over his head. "Arrowhead confirmed! Summoning condition is one Level Four or lower Cyberse monster! I set Lady Debugger in the Link Marker! Link Summon! Link Disciple (ATK: 500, Link-1)!" the Link 1 monster returned to Playmaker's field.
"Firewall Dragon's effect activates!" Playmaker continued. "Since a monster left the zone next to Firewall Dragon, I can Special Summon Swap Cleric (Lv.2, DEF: 1000) from my hand! Next, I banish Binary Sorceress and Binary Blader from Graveyard to revive Dual Assembwurm (Lv.8, ATK: 2800/2 → 1400) from my Graveyard with its attack halved!" A half blue, half red dragon raised from the Graveyard.
"Appear, the circuit that leads to the future!" a second portal opened in the sky. "Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning conditions are two Cyberse monsters! I set Swap Cleric and Dual Assembwurm in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Flame Administrator (ATK: 1200, Link-2)!" The red and orange robot landed from the circuit at the free zone next to Firewall Dragon, co-linking with the beast.
"Due to Flame Administrator's effect, all of our Link Monsters gain eight hundred attack points," Ai noted.
Firewall Dragon, ATK: 2500 + 800→ 3300
Excode Talker, ATK: 1800 + 800 → 2600
Link Disciple, 500 + 800 → 1300
Flame Administrator, ATK: 1200 + 800 → 2000
"Swap Cleric's effect." Playmaker added. "I reduce Flame Administrator's attack points by five hundred to draw a card."
Flame Administrator, ATK: 2000 - 500 → 1500
Playmaker looked at the card in his hand, then closed his eyes for a moment. "I activate Firewall Dragon's effect! For every monster co-linked with it, I return a monster from our field or Graveyard to the hand! I return Rocksies and Lampsies to your hand and Micro Coder to my hand! Emergency Escape!"
Firewall Dragon roared and fired three blue bolts of electricity, two of which surrounded the Prank-Kids, while the third flew through a portal into the Graveyard and pulled Micro Coder out of it.
"Why would you go after the Effect Monsters instead of the Link Monsters?" Heliac asked.
"It means that our strategy isn't finished yet, kid," Ai stated. "Right, Playmaker?"
"Appear, the circuit that leads to the future." The Link Portal appeared in front of the Cyberse Duelist once more as Link Disciple and Flame Administrator flew into it. "Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning conditions are two or more Cyberse monsters! I set the Link Two Flame Administrator and Link Disciple in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Encode Talker (ATK: 2300, Link-3)!" The white Code Talker landed in front of Firewall Dragon holding its shield.
Firewall Dragon, ATK: 3300 - 800→ 2500
Excode Talker, ATK: 2600 - 800 → 1800
"When a monster leaves the zone linked to Firewall Dragon, I Special Summon a monster from my hand." Playmaker continued. "I Special Summon Datacorn (Lv.1, DEF: 0) and activate its effect! When Datacorn is Special Summoned, I can Special Summon one Data Acorn Token (Lv.1, DEF: 0)!"
"Appear once more, the circuit that leads the future!" Another Link Portal opened, awaiting the materials that Playmaker would offer. "Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning conditions are three monsters. I set Datacorn, Data Acorn Token and Micro Coder from my hand in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Link Three! Powercode Talker (ATK: 2300, Link-3)!" the red Code Talker appeared, co-linking with Firewall Dragon.
"Micro Coder's effect." Playmaker continued. "I add Cynet Storm from my deck to the hand, then I activate Powercode Talker's effect to negate Rip-Roarin's effects!"
The FIRE Code Talker fired a wire that tied itself around the Link 4's body, trapping it. Heliac looked in confusion, unable to understand what Playmaker was trying to achieve with this. Yet, the answer was in front of his eyes.
"I activate Cynet Storm." Playmaker continued, activating his Field Spell. "While Cynet Storm is on the field, all linked monsters gain five hundred attack and defense points!"
Firewall Dragon, ATK: 2500 + 500→ 3000
Excode Talker, ATK: 1800 + 500 → 2300
Encode Talker, ATK: 2300 + 500 → 2800
Powercode Talker, ATK: 2300 + 500 → 2800
Prank-Kids Rip-Roarin-Roaster, ATK: 5500 + 500 → 6000
Prank-Kids Bow-Wow-Bark, ATK: 2000 + 500 → 2500 (x2)
"Battle!" Playmaker shouted. "Excode Talker, attack Rip-Roarin-Roaster!"
"Are you trying to lose?" Heliac asked. The WIND Code Talker charged forward, swinging its claws at the blue dragon, which flew back and opened its mouth, releasing a multi-colored beam toward the Code Talker.
"Encode Talker's effect now activates!" Ai pointed at the LIGHT Code Talker.
"When a monster Encode Talker points to battles a monster with more attack points, I can negate Excode Talker's destruction and all of the damage!" Excode Talker placed its claws in front of its body and blocked the beam with them. "Then, I give Rip-Roarin-Roaster's attack points to another monster on the field! I choose Firewall Dragon!"
Encode Talker turned around and pointed its shield at the Cyberse Dragon, illuminating the beast's body.
Firewall Dragon, ATK: 3000 + 6000→ 9000
"An attack power of nine thousand!?" Heliac stepped back, losing balance and falling down onto his butt.
"Firewall Dragon, attack Prank-Kids Bow-Wow-Bark!" Playmaker ordered his Link 4. The beast roared, its body turning from blue to red and then it fired a red bolt of electricity from its mouth toward the Link 2 on Heliac's field.
The young Knight of Hanoi looked around, desperately trying to find something to do, but it was useless. If he used the effects of his two Bow-Wow-Barks to remove them from the field and add cards from his Graveyard to the hand. Rip-Roarin would lose 2500 attack points, making it an easy target for Firewall Dragon. Even if he was to banish the Prank-Kids Plan in his Graveyard and activate its effect, Playmaker's monsters were just too powerful.
Prank-Kids Bow-Wow-Bark cried out as its body was incinerated and Firewall Dragon's attack washed over Heliac. The young Knight of Hanoi closed his eyes, falling down as his body began to crumble away.
『Heliac LP: 5400 - 7000 → 0』
『Winner: Playmaker』
"What are you crying about?"
It was a few months since he heard those words, but the boy remembered them as if they were yesterday. He remembered when Takuma sat next to him in the hospital and asked him why he was so sad.
"My brother hasn't awakened yet." the boy said.
The doctors were saying things, something that the boy couldn't understand, but the faces that his mother and father would make every time they talked with the doctors told the boy what it needed to know. His brother wasn't going to wake up again.
"He was hit by a car on his way back from school." the boy then added. "The doctors say, he won't play with me again."
"I see," Takuma closed his eyes. "There might be a way for him to play with you again?"
"R-really?" the boy turned toward the young man next to him with sparkling eyes. "What is it? What is it?"
"With the help of a special place," Takuma said. "One that I knew where to find, but there's a big metal door, tied with chains and locks by a big bad guy, who doesn't want to let people know about the happiness hiding behind that door. That place is one where nothing bad happens, where everyone lives happily and in harmony. If we find the five keys, we'll be able to use that place to give your brother a second chance. That will be a place where you'll be able to play with your brother forever."
"Is that true?" the boy asked.
"Mhm." Takuma nodded and stood up. "Will you help me find it?"
"Sorry brother," Heliac said as his body turned into red data.
"It's over." Playmaker said. His four Link Monsters burst into flames before disappearing.
The cell that held Proxy captive broke into pieces, allowing the girl to move once again. Wasting no time at all, the BrioGear Duelist ran over to Playmaker and hugged him tightly.
"I'm sorry!" She apologized. "I'm sorry that I get you in trouble! I'm sorry, sorry, sorry!"
Playmaker didn't respond. Placing a hand on the girl's back, the Cyberse Duelist raised his head to look at the digital sky. The color has returned and everything was moving normally once again. But he wondered, what was the creature which caused this miracle to happen.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Specter screamed as he was thrown all the way out of the city and fell face-first into the ground.
『Specter LP: 4000 - 7200 → 0』
『Winner: PhantomFire』
"Haa..." The dark duelist took deep breaths. "That... took too much... energy."
To freeze the entire network for long enough Playmaker to save Proxy wasn't an easy task. Even though Transcendent Devil Emperor Satanel – The Absolute Paradox had unlimited powers, to use them it needed to absorb PhantomFire's own energy.
"There's no longer anything to get in our way..." PhantomFire muttered and looked up at the Tower of Hanoi. "I'm coming, Dr. Kogami. And I'll get my reward!"
Originally, I was planning to add some more things, like PhantomFire explaining to Specter why the Lost Childs are all inferior to their oGear counterparts, but I choose to scratch that part due to it not being all that important. I must say, even though writing Playmaker vs Heliac was more interesting to watch because it made me use almost exclusively RL cards, Specter vs PhantomFire was a lot more hilarious due to it pretty much being a fragile flower with a hostage going up against a Leopard 2A5. I had to make SEVERAL new cards for Specter just because PhantomFire's Link 1 and 2 are enough to kick that little asshole to the Moon and back. So, even though I was planning to let the duel last longer, I had to cut it short to give Specter an edge and an actual chance of winning.
Anyway, this is the last set of two chapters that I'm going to post. Since the next ones are pretty important (The Final of this long season bois and gals!) I'll be publishing them one at a time. And for those who might be worried, no, PhantomFire won't be dueling in the remaining fight against the Knights of Hanoi.
That's all and thanks to everyone for reading! See you next time!
Diabolic Tracer Out!