Since I don't know how much will actually read the A/N at the end of this chapter and THIS is the most important message I have, I'm going to post it in the beginning.
I plan to make a 'Special Chapter' after the end of this story's first Arc. Those of you who read my other works (Arc-Tracers) will know what a Special Chapter is, but for the new ones, a Special Chapter is sort of a big A/N where I answer questions and talk about the story: Character analysis, Plot analysis, etc.
The thing is, that since the last time I did this for a story of mine, it just ended up being me talking about things with little to no involvement from my audience. To summarize what I'm trying to say, if there's something you don't quite understand or want to ask (as long as it's not a spoiler), you can write it as a review or a PM and I'll answer it in the Special Chapter, if there's no interest, or you just don't have any questions, I won't make a Special Chapter.
Now, thanks for reading this and hope you enjoy today's chapter.
Hero and Sidekick's Hope
Proxy's POV
"If you're here, then where's Playmaker?" I asked.
"So, that was my father's last project?" Revolver ignored me and looked at the AI lying on the ground. "Even after his speech, to find out that my father built this creature, expecting for me to fail him… it hurts."
Revolver opened his palm and something fell off it. A small black cube hit the ground and multiple spikes shot out, piercing through Bullet's body. I watched with my mouth hung open. I wanted to shout at him, but I didn't know what to say. Even Aqua and Firera, who firmly denied Bullet being an Ignis looked pained watching the AI's body dissolving because of the spikes. It's empty yellow eyes staring blankly at the ceiling while it faded away until the only thing that remained from it were two cards that flew into Revolver's deck.
He killed it. Without showing any sight of regret or pain, he killed the only thing that his father left to him! Screw his mission to save the world, screw everything! Revolver was nothing more than a bloody psychopath, a blood lust maniac who only wanted to kill AIs for the fun of it!
"How could you!?" I yelled. "That AI was your father's last invention! It was the only thing he has left for you, and you destroyed it without a second thought!"
"It was an Ignis." Revolver stated. "Even if it didn't have a free will, there was nothing that could stop it from obtaining one in the future. Not that there would be any future left for it once this Tower finishes its countdown."
"You can take everything you are saying about AIs having free will being dangerous and shove it up your ass!" I couldn't believe that I was saying such vulgar things, but the words were out of my mouth without any control. It was like some form of restriction was lifted off me. "You're nothing more than a terrorist, a bloody murder who can't stop killing! Not just Bullet, but everyone else! There are thousands of people trapped inside this Tower and all of them will die once you fire it. How about that, huh? Did you think about it? Did you think about these innocent people, most of whom are children that you got involved in this? Not Playmaker or the Ignis, it was YOU who attacked LINK VRAINS, placed a virus in their Duel Disk and stopped them from leaving ever again!"
"I'm not expecting you to understand." Revolver replied. "Their sacrifice is a necessary one to ensure humanity's survival."
"Fuck off with that bullshit!" I yelled. "Necessary? All those people who are going to die inside the hospitals because the technology needed to keep them alive stopped working, all the people who will die when their planes crash into highly populated cities? Is that what you call a necessary sacrifice? Who are you to play GOD? Who asked you to do that? An insane old man who tortured children, that's who!"
"Don't you dare speak ill of my father!" Revolver roared, but his anger didn't scare me. Not anymore. Something inside me finally felt right… "He was a great man who made mistakes! But to his final breath, he tried to fix his biggest mistake!"
"But since you're still here with us, I take it that he failed." I was probably crossing the line here. Hell, I must have crossed it a long time ago, but it just couldn't stop. The hatred inside me, it was like I was trapped until now like I was trying unconsciously to hold back!
"I was going to eliminate you either way," Revolver snarled. "Your insults toward me mean nothing, but insulting my father. I'll never forgive you for that. You're going to go down! Alongside Playmaker!"
Revolver held up his Duel Disk and it glowed. Everything around us turned blurry and transformed into a mix of colors, but then I saw it. We were moving up, passing through the floors in an instant. A red platform for a field appeared before my eyes with red vines holding it in place. Revolver was still standing before me, glaring angrily, but this time there was one more person next to me.
"Oh, he finally appeared!" Ai shouted. "And wait…" He seemed to notice us. "Why's Proxy here too?"
"Revolver transported us here," Aqua told them. "It seems that in the end, we'll have to join forces to overcome this threat."
"What's the meaning of this?" Playmaker turned toward Revolver. "I thought that this was our final real duel; that it would end with the two of us!"
"I thought that too." Revolver said and looked back at me. "But I was alerted by my father that there was an intruder inside the Tower. Don't think that I'm stupid enough to duel you while your sidekick is destroying everything that my father, and friends, gave their lives for."
"On a positive note, he called me your sidekick." I joked.
"So that's how it's going to end?" Playmaker looked back at me. "This isn't your fight Proxy, you shouldn't be here."
"What're you saying?" I frowned. Did he already forget why I was here? Even if I was scared, this was bigger than me, than any of us. "I know, you've wanted to defeat the Knights of Hanoi with your own arms, but this is bigger than any of us, Playmaker. This isn't just about revenge anymore, didn't you say so yourself?"
"Don't remind him." Ai sighed. "Things happened when our last duel ended in a draw and now it turns out that Revolver saved Playmaker."
"He what!?" I, Aqua and Firera shouted at the same time.
"It's true," Playmaker nodded. "Revolver was the voice that gave me hope during the time I was captured. He was the only thing I had to clench to during those hellish days. This duel, it's not just because of the Tower, but to show him that we can still take a new path."
Revolver, take a new path? I was dumbfounded. Was Playmaker hit by a rock or something, because what he was saying right now was completely different from his usual self? Revolver was a psychopath, a mass soon to be mass murderer and Playmaker wanted to save him? What about logic, are you telling me that logic dictates we should be saving people holding a trigger against the heard of a thousand people simultaneously? I shook my head and turned away from Playmaker. Watching him like this, having hope for a monster like Revolver, it might be worse than the cold look he used to have on his face earlier.
"Come on you two!" Revolver shouted at us. "Destiny has chosen the three of us to be the last ones standing, so come at me!"
"Be careful," Aqua warned Playmaker. "He just killed an AI that Dr. Kogami tried to turn into an Ignis based onto Revolver, and then absorbed something from its remains. He's more dangerous than ever!"
"Dr. Kogami tried to build an Ignis based off his own son?" Now Playmaker was the one who looked at us surprised.
"Revolver killed an Ignis?" For once, Ai was the one concerned about the more important part of the news.
"Yeah, he did." I nodded. "And even though the AI he killed was lacking a free will, he still didn't show any mercy."
"Enough talking! Either fight or disappeared!" Revolver warned us.
"Very well then." Playmaker took a step forward. "I'll take you on, Revolver!"
"And as your sidekick, I'll assist you." I reasoned.
"DUEL!"
『Revolver LP: 4000, Hand: 5 (VS) Playmaker Hand: 5 & Proxy Hand: 5 [LP: 4000]』
"I'm going to take the first turn!" Revolver declared. "I activate the effect of Defrag Dragon from my hand to discard Keeper of the Shrine and Special Summon it from my hand!" Some black and red bird-like monsters with digital green rings appeared on Revolver's field.
"I'll now activate Quick Launch to Special Summon Metalrokket (Lv.4, ATK: 1700) from my deck!" Now a blue dragon with a bullet on its forehead appeared. "And I activate Squib Draw to destroy Metalrokket, then draw two new cards from my deck! At this moment the effect of Keeper of the Shrine activates reviving from my Graveyard!" An old human-dragon hybrid appeared on Revolver's field sitting with 2100 defense. "And finally, I'm going to Normal Summon Triggering Wurm (Lv.2, ATK: 600)."
"He got three monsters on his field, so he won't be able to summon either his Topologic or Borrel monsters," Ai stated.
"You're wrong." Revolver declared. "There's a Topologic monster that I can summon using the monsters presented."
"He's going to call the monster from the recording." Playmaker said.
The recording… Ah yes, I remember that the recording Evan's AI was able to obtain from Revolver's duel against Ghost Girl, the bastard used a Link 3 Topologic monster. But I didn't think that he would summon that one. I think he was going to use the new one…
"Appear, the future circuit that lights up my path!" A square shot out of Revolver's arms and rested in the sky above him. "Arrowheads confirmed. Summoning conditions are three monsters. I set Keeper of the Shrine, Defrag Dragon and Triggering Wurm in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Come forth, my new power! Topologic Bifrost (ATK: 2500, Link-3)!"
"Where's he pulling all those Topologic monsters out of!?" Ai cried out.
"Bullet," Aqua said simply. "The AI I told you about, the pseudo-Ignis, Kogami used it to create the Topologic cards that Revolver's using. There's one more that you haven't seen yet, a Link Four."
"This is going to end in a train-wreck I can already predict it." Ai lowered its body back into Playmaker's Duel Disk.
"The effect of Triggering Wurm activates." Revolver declared. "Since it was used as Link Material for the Link Summon of a DARK monster, I can revive it. And now Bifrost' effect activates! When a monster is summoned next to its link, I destroy that monster and we'll both be forced to shuffle our hands back into our decks, then draw two cards for everyone we returned!"
"But Playmaker has five cards!" Ai screamed.
"That means I'll still have to draw only two cards." Playmaker muttered, returning the cards in his hand back to the deck, then drawing two.
"Due to Topologic Bifrost's effect, you take three hundred points of damage per card added by this effect." Revolver added, his monster swung its claws, creating an energy slash that our avatars.
『Playmaker & Proxy LP: 4000 – 300*2 → 3400』
"Because of Wurm's effect, I draw a card." Revolver stated, drawing one more card from his deck. "I'll now set a card face-down and activate Boot Sector Launch. Of course, since I don't have any Rokket monsters in my hand, I can't activate its effect, but that won't be a problem. Metalrokket's effect activates at the end of this turn! Since it was destroyed, I can Special Summon Shelrokket Dragon (Lv.2, DEF: 2200 + 300 → 2500) from my deck and now Bifrost' effect activates once more."
The rokket monster that Revolver summoned exploded and Playmaker's cards turned purple. He shuffled them into a deck and drew a single new one. I knew that strategy. Revolver was going to use the Rokkets floating ability to drop Playmaker's hand to zero in a single turn! Because a card was drawn by Bifrost's effect, I and Playmaker took more damage.
『Playmaker & Proxy LP: 3400 – 300 → 3100』
"And now Shelrokket's effect activates Special Summoning Anesthrokket Dragon (Lv.1, DEF: 2000 + 300 → 2300)." This time it was a green dragon that appeared, and it was in the same zone as the previous rokket, which meant… "Bifrost' effect activates shuffling the last card in your hand back into the deck!"
"Now Playmaker will start the turn without a single card!" Ai yelled.
"Playmaker, do you see the power left by my father?" Revolver laughed maniacally. "All of your hope was erased before you could even take your turn!"
"Hope will never disappear until I'm able to draw!" Playmaker declared.
"Then show me what that hope of yours is truly capable of." Revolver challenged us. "Anesthrokket's effect activates, Special Summoning Magnarokket Dragon (Lv.4, DEF: 1200 + 300 → 1500) from my deck." Another blue dragon appeared, but this time it was different in appearance from the previous one.
"I'll show you that there's still a chance to move away from the path you've taken." Playmaker stated and looked at me. "Together with my ally, I'm going to prove you that a bond between a human and AI can exist. My turn, draw!"
『Turn 2 [Playmaker] LP: 3100 Hand: 1』
Playmaker paused for a moment, looking at the card that he drew. He was already at an unfair disadvantage as it was. But if the card that he drew was a useless one, the duel could end here, during the second turn!
"I Normal Summon Lady Debugger (Lv.4, ATK: 1700)." A monster that looked like a humanoid Lady Bug appeared on Playmaker's field. "Her effect activates, adding one Level Three or lower Cyberse monster from my deck to the hand! I add Micro Coder. Appear, the circuit that leads to the future!"
A square appeared over Playmaker's head. I wasn't sure about it, but I believe that if he played his cards right (of course he would do that) he would be able to summon a strong monster.
"Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning conditions are two Effect Monsters. I set Lady Debugger and Micro Coder that's in my hand, in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Come forth, Code Talker (ATK: 1300, Link-2)!" the grey Code Talker he used in our first duel appeared again, this time to help us defeat Revolver!
"A mini Code Talker?" Revolver sneered. "Your deck doesn't have an archetype, but you seem to have grown attached to these."
"Micro Coder's effect activates." Playmaker ignored Revolver's comment. "I add one Cynet card from my deck to the hand. I add Cynet Defrag and use its effect to revive Lady Debugger (Lv.4, DEF: 1400)."
"Now he has the materials to call forth a Link Three monster," Aqua commented. "Amazing, with just a single card, he was able to get so much done!"
"Appear, the circuit that leads to the future!" Another square appeared in front of Playmaker. "Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning conditions are two or more Cyberse monsters. I set Lady Debugger and the Link Two, Code Talker in the Link Markers. Link Summon! Link Three, Encode Talker (ATK: 2300, Link-3)!" A white version of Code Talker appeared carrying a shield.
"Encode Talker is going to be able to protect is for a turn, but what after that?" Ai looked at Playmaker.
He didn't respond to the Ignis' question. He didn't know, there was no way to know when all of his future was already taken away by Revolver. Ripped out of his hand and shuffle back into his deck.
"It's my turn," I stated, turning Ai's attention away from Playmaker. "I draw!"
『Turn 3 [Proxy] LP: 3100 Hand: 6』
"Because you were facing Playmaker when you used your Topologic's ability, I wasn't affected by it!" I pointed out. "It's my turn now, Revolver! I Normal Summon BrioGear Wave Crusader (Lv.4, ATK: 1700)!"
My most loyal knight appeared on the field carrying its sword. The monster glared at Revolver and I could feel the same anger that I had, being present in the monster as well. To punish. It wanted to punish!
"Appear, the circuit of life!" my personal circuit appeared with the eight flowers open to take my monsters and give them a new form. "Arrowhead confirmed! Summoning condition is one Level Four or lower WATER monster! I set BrioGear Wave Crusader in the Link Marker! Link Summon! Come out, BrioGear Damsel Fish (ATK: 500, Link-1)!"
"New Cyberse cards," Revolver hissed at the sight of my monster. "The Ignis inside your Duel Disk seems to have already started to make that place its own home, hasn't it?"
"Will you shut up, like, permanently?" I hated that guy and didn't want to listen to him anymore. "Damsel Fish's effect activates. Since it was Link Summoned, I add a card with oGear in its text to my hand. I'm going to add Elemental Lords of Gear, a Continuous Spell that can only be activated next to the Link of a Link Monster!"
"Only next to the Link?" Ai blinked. "But why would you use a card with such a limitation?"
"Because of the payback," Aqua said. "With the power of this card, we were able to achieve the next level in Link Summoning. Show them, Proxy."
"I'll activate Elemental Lords of Gear to the zone that Damsel Fish points toward!" My Spell Card appeared behind Damsel Fish. "Now I'll activate Elemental Lords of Gears! Effect! Once per turn, I can Link Summon using a monster that points at this card as the sole material, and the monster I summon is one Link Rating higher than it!"
"I plead before the Elemental Lords of Gear to grand me their power! With their blessing, I'm able to evolve my Link Monsters! Appear, the spinning circuit of bonds!" I threw my arm forward and the large blue gear appeared in the sky above.
"Rising tides, unchain the mortal body binding my monster and open the gates of the great ocean through an abysmal sacrifice!" I chanted as Damsel Fish turned into pure energy and flew through the tunnel. "Link-Up! The hidden maiden with the power of purgatory. BrioGear Risen Dunkle!"
A large humanoid creature with grey skin appeared through the circuit. The monster had muscular arms with four fingers, ending with claws and green fins between them. Metal arm and neck braces covered a decent portion of its upper body, while a dark blue loincloth covered the lower part. Its legs had only two toes with claws and with fins between them, these fins were also prominent on the back of its elbows and across its back. Its large head looked like it had armor instead of a skull underneath, a beak was placed inside its mouth, whose lower half was capable to split in two. Two empty looking grey eyes were located on the sides of its head and a golden gear symbol was attached to a black belt used to hold its loincloth.
BrioGear Risen Dunkle
Attribute: WATER/Type: Cyberse/Link/Effect
L-Markers: Top, Bottom
ATK: 1000/Link-2
2 WATER monsters
Effect: If this card is co-linked, you can place 1 Risen Counter on every Link Monster you control without a Risen Counter. You can only use this effect of "BrioGear Risen Dunkle" once per turn. All Link Monsters you control gain 100 ATK for every Risen Counter on the field. While this card is on your field or in your GY: If a monster with a Risen Counter would be destroyed by battle or your opponent's card effect, you can remove 1 Risen Counter from it instead.
"I'll show you the strength of the bond between me and Playmaker!" I declared. "Risen Dunkle's effect activates! I place a Risen Counter on every Link Monster on our field, and for every Risen Counter present, our Link Monsters are going to gain one hundred attack points!"
A bubble badge appeared on Encode Talker and Risen Dunkle while a blue aura surrounded them, creating a protective barrier around each of our monsters.
Encode Talker, 2300 + 100*2 → 2500
BrioGear Risen Dunkle, ATK: 1000 + 100*2 → 1200
"Now Encode Talker's attack is the same as Topologic Bifrost and it also has anti-destruction defense thanks to Risen Dunkle!" Ai exclaimed.
"Because it's my first turn and this is a three-way duel, I'm unable to attack." I sighed, taking two cards from my hand. "I set two cards face-down and end my turn!"
"All of your strugglings are for nothing." Revolver stated. "I'll show it to you during this turn. Draw!"
『Turn 4 [Revolver] LP: 4000 Hand: 1』
Appear, the future circuit that lights up my path!" Are you serious? He was barely started his turn and he's planning to Link Summon already? "Arrowheads confirmed. Summoning conditions are two or more Effect Monsters. I set the Link Three Topologic Bifrost and Magnarokket Dragon in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Come forth, Link Four! Topologic Bomber Dragon (ATK: 3000, Link-4)!"
"At least this time it's a monster we're familiar with." Ai sighed in relief.
"You mean that a Link Four with the ability to destroy all monsters in the Main Monster Zone is better than facing Topologic Bifrost?" Firera raised an eyebrow at that.
"No, I'm just saying that there won't be any surprises when fighting this one." Ai corrected her.
"Your monster might be able to negate destruction, but with only one counter, it would fail easily!" Revolver pointed at me. "I activate the effect of Boot Sector Launch to revive Metalrokket (Lv.4, DEF: 1400 + 300 → 1700)!"
"He summoned his monster next to Topologic Bomber Dragon's Link!" Ai shrieked.
"Now taste the effect of Bomber Dragon!" Revolver shouted. "When a monster is summoned next to a Link Monster's Link, I destroy all monsters in our Main Monster Zones! Full Overlap!"
Topologic Bomber Dragon roared, its wings unleashing a green energy wave that covered my field and caused an explosion that engulfed Risen Dunkle. That would have been dangerous if I didn't have Elemental Lords of Gear, but since that card was on my field, the smoke raised and Risen Dunkle remained on my field with her counter still on.
"You didn't use your monster's effect?" Revolver narrowed his eyes. "How is Risen Dunkle still on the field?"
"Elemental Lords of Gear's effect protects any monster pointing toward it from effect destruction," I explained. "No matter how many times you try to use Topologic's effect, it just won't work!"
"Then I'll go for the damage instead." Revolver said. "Bomber Dragon, attack Encode Talker!"
The Link 4 clenched its fists and fired a pink beam out of its eye, hitting Encode Talker straight on. Both I and Playmaker slid back from the damage, wincing. Revolver has just gotten serious, I could feel it. The smoke from Topologic Bomber Dragon's attack cleared and Encode Talker was still standing, but the badge on its chest was now missing, showing that it no longer hand the Risen Counter to protect it from further harm.
『Playmaker & Proxy LP: 3100 – 500 → 2600』
"By removing the Risen Counter from Encode Talker, I negated its destruction," I explained. "Because of that, all our monsters now lose a hundred attack points."
Encode Talker, 2500 - 100 → 2400
BrioGear Risen Dunkle, ATK: 1200 - 100 → 1100
"You're going to lose much more!" Revolver gave us a sinister smile. "You'll now take Topologic Bomber's effect. You take damage equal to the attacked monster's original attack! Aiming Blast!" Topologic Bomber roared, firing another beam at us.
"I activate the effect of BrioGear Effect Slime from my hand!" I quickly reacted, taking a card from my hand. "I discard this card to negate your monster's effects and halve its attack power! This effect is also permanent, so now your monster will be useless as long as you have it!"
Topologic Bomber Dragon, ATK: 3000/2 → 1500
"To think you had a card like that." Revolver frowned. "But it matters not! I set a card face-down and end my turn! At the End Phase, the effects of my destroyed Rokket monsters activate, so I Special Summon Shelrokket Dragon (Lv.2, DEF: 2200 + 300 → 2500) and Autorokket Dragon (Lv.3, DEF: 1000 + 300 → 1300)!"
His new Rokket monsters appeared to replace the ones that were destroyed because of Topologic Bomber's effect. He was getting more monsters every turn, we would have to go on the offensive on our next turn, or he's going to get the better out of us! It was, once again, all up to Playmaker.
"It's our turn again!" Ai exclaimed, pumping its fist. "Let's go, Playmaker!"
Come on, Playmaker. I was sure that he must have figured it out; what you can do with the cards that I left for him. Given his strategy of Link Spamming, at least one of my set cards would be extremely useful. And of course, he was going to figure it out because he was Playmaker – the Hero of LINK VRAINS!
"It's my turn. Draw!" He declared. Now, it was all up to the card that he would obtain from this draw.
『Turn 5 [Playmaker] LP: 2600 Hand: 1』
"I Normal Summon Cyberse Gadget (Lv.4, ATK: 1400) and activate its effect to revive Micro Coder (Lv.1, DEF: 0) from my Graveyard!" Now he had the materials needed for another Link Summon. "Appear, the circuit that leads to the future!"
"Something powerful is going to appear!" Aqua exclaimed.
"Arrowheads confirmed. Summoning conditions are two or more Effect Monsters. I set the Link Two, BrioGear Risen Dunkle and Micro Coder in the Link Markers!" my and Playmaker's monster flew into the square. "Link Summon! Come forth, Transcode Talker (ATK: 2300, Link-3)!"
Playmaker's new Code Talker, a warrior in orange futuristic armor appeared with a loud roared at the left zone that Encode Talker was pointing toward. This was weird to me since this was Transcode and Encode wouldn't co-link. But if he wasn't going to do it that way, then Playmaker must have thought of another strategy to beat Revolver.
"I activate Micro Coder's effect to add Cynet Codec from my Deck to the hand, and then I activate it!" A Continuous Spell that showed six Code Talkers standing in a circle around a Link Square appeared on Playmaker's field. "I activate Transcode Talker to revive BrioGear Risen Dunkle (ATK: 1000, Link-2)."
"He revived Dunkle so that it's co-linked with Encode Talker again," Firera observed. "Is he planning to use her effect once more to raise the attack of all your monsters by three hundred only?"
"Appear again, the circuit that leads to the future!" I smiled, he was going to go beyond our expectations. "Arrowheads confirmed. Summoning conditions are two or more Cyberse Monsters. I set the Link Two, BrioGear Risen Dunkle and Cyberse Gadget in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Link Three, Excode Talker (ATK: 2300, Link-3)!"
A green Excode Talker raised at the right side of Transcode Talker, co-linking with both it and the Encode Talker that was standing above them.
"Excode Talker's effect activates, Cyberse Gadget and Cynet Codec chains to it!" Playmaker exclaimed, activating three effects at once. "Through Cynet Codec's effect I add one Cyberse monster from my Deck with the same attribute as the Code Talker I just summoned. I add Link Infra-Flier, then Cyberse Gadget's effect Special Summons one Gadget Token (Lv.2, DEF: 0) on my field, and lastly, Excode Talker's effect allows me to block one of your Main Monster Zones for every monster in the Extra Monster Zone! Grasp Zone!"
Excode Talker created a ball of green energy in its arm and threw it to Revolver's field, hitting the center and the most left zones, since Revolver's Autorokket monster was covering the Monster Zone under Topologic Bomber's center Link Arrow. But that didn't matter since Topologic Bomber's effects were sealed away and its attack points weren't enough to stop our monsters.
"Because of Transcode Talker's effect, if it's co-linked, it and the monster it's linked to gain five hundred attack points." Playmaker stated. "Also, due to Excode Talker's effect, all monsters that it points go gain five hundred attack points!"
Transcode Talker, ATK: 2300 + 500*2 → 3300
Excode Talker, ATK: 2300 + 500 → 2800
Encode Talker, ATK: 2300 + 500 → 2800
"I Special Summon Link Infra-Flier (Lv.2, DEF: 1800) to the zone Excode Talker points to!" a monster whose appearance I didn't completely understand appeared next to the Code Talker. "Appear again, the circuit that leads to the future!"
"A third Link Summon," Aqua said while she looked at Playmaker with interest.
"Arrowheads confirmed. Summoning conditions are two Cyberse Monsters. I set Gadget Token and Link Infra-Flier in the Link Markers. Link Summon! Come forth, Flame Administrator (ATK: 1200, Link-2)! A bulky looking red and orange robot fell from the circuit and landed to Excode Talker's link, co-linking with the WIND monster.
"And because of Flame Administrator's effect, all of our Link Monsters will gain eight more attack points!" Ai shouted.
Transcode Talker, ATK: 3300 + 800 → 4100
Excode Talker, ATK: 2800 + 800 → 3600
Encode Talker, ATK: 2800 + 800 → 3600
Flame Administrator, ATK: 1200 + 800 → 2000
"That was great! You were able to turn a single draw into three powerful Link Monsters!" I shouted. Transcode, Excode, and Flame Administrator were all summoned after Playmaker drew a single card. "But as your sidekick, I can't let you do all of the work, Playmaker! Trap activate - BrioGear Deep Beacon!" The card showed a dark figure with glowing blue eyes swimming through the dark deeps of an ocean, trying to reach a sphere of light.
BrioGear Deep Beacon (Trap) Normal
Target 1 Link Monster in your GY that was sent there as Link Material: Special Summon that target, also it cannot be destroyed by card effects while its face-up on the field. You can only activate 1 "BrioGear Deep Beacon" per turn.
"Rise from the deep, BrioGear Risen Dunkle (ATK: 1000, Link-2)!" My monster raised to accompany Playmaker's. It landed in front of Topologic Bomber, co-linking with it. "And now, Risen Dunkle's effect activates! I place one Risen counter on all of our Link Monsters, increasing their attack points by a hundred for every counter!"
Transcode Talker, ATK: 4100 + 100*5 → 4600
Excode Talker, ATK: 3600 + 100*5 → 4100
Encode Talker, ATK: 3600 + 100*5 → 4100
Flame Administrator, ATK: 2000 + 100*5 → 2500
BrioGear Risen Dunkle, ATK: 1000 + 800 + 100*5 → 2300
"Five Link Monsters…" Revolver muttered. "Impressive. You were able to rise past the devastation caused by my new Topologic's effect and created a field like this. But it wouldn't be worth to duel you, Playmaker, if you weren't able to raise from the worst of situations.
"I'll end it this turn." Playmaker declared. "Battle! Encode Talker, attack Topologic Bomber Dragon! Final Encode!"
The LIGHT Code Talker raised its shield and a blade came out of it, after which it swung the blade down to cut Topologic Bomber Dragon in half. If this attack went through, Revolver would take huge damage, and Playmaker's remaining monsters would be able to seal our victory. It was over!
"Despite how good of a duelist you are, you still fail to anticipate my plans, Playmaker!" Revolver shouted. ""
"And it wouldn't be me if I haven't prepared a counter for it. Trap Activate! Link Short negates the effects of all co-linked monster you control and take away their ability to attack for the rest of the turn!"
A bolt of electricity hit all of Playmaker's and my Link Monsters, causing them to scream in pain as the life faded from their eyes and their bodies leaned forward. The bolt knocked Encode Talker away from Topologic Bomber Dragon.
Transcode Talker, ATK: 4600 → 2300
Excode Talker, ATK: 4100 → 2300
Encode Talker, ATK: 4100 → 2300
Flame Administrator, ATK: 2500 → 1200
BrioGear Risen Dunkle, ATK: 2300 → 1000
"Our chance to seize victory has been…" Ai reached a hand weakly toward our monsters.
"His dueling doesn't have any openings," Aqua commented. "He has built his deck to counter Playmaker's perfectly."
"Exactly." I agreed. Revolver must have expected this rematch with Playmaker, so he built a deck meant to counter his, but he never expected me to enter in the equations, so my deck is the wild-card of this entire situation. If I played the cards right, I would be able to aid Playmaker in his fight. "During the end of this turn, the effects of our monsters return and their attack raises once more!"
Transcode Talker, ATK: 2300 → 4600
Excode Talker, ATK: 2300 → 4100
Encode Talker, ATK: 2300 → 4100
Flame Administrator, ATK: 1200 → 2500
BrioGear Risen Dunkle, ATK: 1000 → 2300
"I draw!" Please, give me a good card!
『Turn 6 [Proxy] LP: 2600 Hand: 3』
"That one will do." It wasn't what I wanted, but it didn't matter since I have five powerful Link Monsters on my side. "Battle! Transcode Talker, attack Topologic Bomber Dragon! Transcode Finish!"
"I activate my trap, Mirror Force Exposure!" Revolver's set card flipped face-up showing the shadow of a dragon being burned by a beam of light shot through a mirror barrier. "This card negates the effects of all face-up monsters you control until the end of this turn and sets a Mirror Force directly from my deck!"
Mirror Force Exposure (Trap) Normal
Activate this card when a monster you control is targeted for an attack, while your opponent controls more monsters than you do: Negate that attack, then negate the effects of all face-up monsters your opponent controls, and if you do, set 1 "Mirror Force" card from your deck. You can activate that card the turn it was set.
"So that's where his Mirror Force card was," Ai commented.
"Because of his trap, the attack of all our monsters will now return to normal." Firera grumped. Even so, thanks to my Effect Slime, Topologic Bomber's attack was cut in half, which was less than Playmaker's Code Talkers current attack points. Revolver would still lose a lot of Life Points if we attacked him.
"Your monster will still go down!" I declared and raised my hand, "Encode Talker, go! Attack Topolo-"
"STOP!" I paused and looked down. Aqua, Firera and even Ai have raised their arms trying to stop me from attacking.
"What is it?" I looked at the Ignis and Firera.
"He used Mirror Exposure to set Mirror Force on his field," Aqua spoke up first. "If you attack again with another monster, he'll be able to activate the card and use its effect to destroy all of our monsters! Excode Talker and Risen Dunkle can't negate the destruction when their effects are negated. Please, be careful with what you're doing during this duel."
"Oh…" That would have been catastrophically if I didn't listen. I looked back at the cards in my hand; two trap cards and one spell, I couldn't Link Summon with these cards, but for now, I'm going to just set the traps face-down and wait to see what he got in store for us, during the next turn. "I'll set a card face-down and end my turn."
"That certainly was a close one, wasn't it, Playmaker?" Revolver turned toward Yusaku and laughed. "Your so-called 'sidekick' almost gave me the edge in this duel! But no matter if she chooses to attack or not, I've already assembled the pieces needed for my ultimate formation! My turn, draw!"
『Turn 7 [Revolver] LP: 4000 Hand: 1』
"I should thank you." Revolver turned toward me. "I have expected from Playmaker to pull out a card which would negate my Topologic Bomber Dragon, but now you. Of course, thanks to your card, now I'm able to bring out my most powerful monsters. Appear, the future circuit that lights up my path!"
He's about to start his turn with another Link Summon? But the only monsters in his field were Topologic Bomber and the two Rokket monsters, the best he could bring out with them is a Link 3, which wouldn't cause that much damage!
"Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning conditions are two Rokket monsters! I setShelrokket Dragon and Autorokket Dragon in the Link Markers. Link Summon! Miniborrel Dragon (ATK: 800, Link-2)!" A dragon-like monster with a gun on the left side and a gun on the right side of its upper body appeared out of the circuit. Now, if that was his most powerful monster, it would be a bit embarrassing.
"I'll now activate Link Coin to release Topologic Dragon and flip the top four cards of my deck face-up. I add Squib Draw to my hand and return the rest of the cards to the top of my deck in any order." He got that card which allowed him to draw two new cards, but he didn't have any Rokket monsters to destroy for its effect.
"And now, the effect of Boot Sector Launch to revive Rokket monsters from my Graveyard equal to the difference in the number of monsters we control. Come out, Anesthrokket Dragon (Lv.1, DEF: 2000 + 300 → 2300), Magnarokket Dragon (Lv.4, DEF: 1200 + 300 → 1500), Metalrokket (Lv.4, DEF: 1400 + 300 → 1700), and Shelrokket Dragon (Lv.2, DEF: 2200 + 300 → 2500)!" Me and my big mouth…
"I activate Squib Draw to destroy Anesthrokket Dragon and draw two cards." I gulped and turned toward Playmaker who remained unfazed despite what Revolver has done so far. "Now appear again, the future circuit that lights up my path!"
"Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning conditions are three or more Effect Monsters! I set the Link Two Miniborrel Dragon along with Shelrokket and Magnarokket in the Link Markers. Link Summon! Link Four, Borreload Dragon (ATK: 3000, Link-4)!" a giant red dragon with green wings and gun parts all across its body appeared on the field.
"Let's battle! I attack Transcode Talker with Borreload Dragon!" Huh? Why wouldn't he attack one of our weaker monsters like my BrioGear? "And now I activate Borreload Dragon's effect! Once per turn, I reduce the attack and defense points of one monster on the field by five hundred, and you can't activate any cards or effects in response! I target Metalrokket, and his effect now activates, destroying itself to destroy all cards in the same column as itself!"
Metal turned into a bullet that flew into Borreload's chest and it began to spin as the dragon opened his mouth and a turret came out of it, aiming at Encode Talker, Excode Talker and Elemental Lords of Gear. It then fired, destroy all three of our cards in one go!
"All of our cards were erased!" Ai panicked.
"And now Borreload's other effect activates!" Revolver continued. "When my monster battles, yours, I can take control of your monster and place it next to Borreload's link! Strange Trigger!"
Revolver's monster fired a second bullet at Transcode, but this time its color began to change mid-air until it hit the Link 3, turning into yellow go that covered Playmaker's monster and made it glitch out before reappearing behind Borreload Dragon. "Battle! Transcode Talker, attack BrioGear Risen Dunkle!"
"Then I'm going to activate my trap! Diamond Dust! I destroy all WATER monsters on the field to inflict five hundred points of damage for each!" BrioGear Risen Dunkle exploded and turned into blades of ice that flew at Revolver, damaging him for the first time in this duel.
『Revolver LP: 4000 – 500 → 3500』
"Then I'm going to attack Flame Administrator instead!" Transcode Talker turned around and pulled out its rifle, firing a shot straight between the Link 2's eyes, destroying it. Both I and Playmaker winched from the pain, but it could have been worse if he had destroyed BrioGear Risen Dunkle instead.
『Playmaker & Proxy LP: 2600 – 1100 → 1500』
"It's still too early for you to relax." Revolver told us. "I Normal Summon Mirror Dragon."
A bipedal dragon with dark purple skin appeared on the field. The monster had large sharp crystals penetrating through its skin and jutting outward, with a large portion of them being located on its back.
Mirror Dragon
Level: 2/Attribute: DARK/Type: Dragon/Effect
ATK: 0/DEF: 800
Effect: If this card is used as Link Material for the Link Summon of a DARK Link Monster, you banish this card from your GY and target 1 "Mirror Force" card on your field, hand, or in your GY; Special Summon 1 Fusion Monster from your deck that lists "Mirror Force" in its card text by ignoring its Summoning conditions, and if you do, equip that card to that monster with the following effect.
A monster equipped with this card cannot be destroyed by card effects.
"Now appear again, the future circuit that lights up my path!" The Link Square appeared over Revolver's head once again. "Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning conditions are two or more Effect Monsters! I set the Link Three Transcode Talker and Mirror Dragon in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Topologic Blackmal Dragon (ATK: 3000, Link-4)!"
I took a step back as that other Topologic I had to face appeared once again. Ah, just great! Thankfully, I didn't have to witness that monster's effects when I battled it, but I don't think that Revolver would be so clumsy and unable of foresight to let its effect be negated the same was as Bomber Dragon's effect was.
"Mirror Dragon's effect activates!" Revolver continued. "I banish this card and target Mirror Force Exposure in my Graveyard. Now, I summon a monster from my Extra Deck that lists Mirror Force in its card text and equip Mirror Force Exposure to it! Come out, Mirror Force Dragon (Lv.8, ATK: 2800)!"
"This is…" Playmaker muttered.
"A Fusion Monster?!" Ai finished.
"This is my new strength!" Revolver declared. "Topologic Blackmal Dragon's effect activates! When a monster is summoned to zone a Link Monster points to, I destroy it and then we both will have to banish all monsters in our Graveyards! Due to Mirror Force Exposure's effect, Mirror Force Dragon isn't destroyed, but our cards will still be banished!"
The monster swung its tail and slammed it against the ground, creating a crack. Holograms of all our monsters flew out of the crack and then turned into a purple mist that flew through our field. My entire body was burning. No, it wasn't just a feeling, but a real burning! There was smoke coming out of my wrists with the skin falling off to reveal the data underneath it – I was trapped inside an acid cloud, losing Life Points in agonizing pain.
『Playmaker & Proxy LP: 1500 – 1300 → 200』
"Finally, I activate the effect of Link Defragment to return my banished Topologic Bomber Dragon to the Extra Deck and Special Summon a new Link Monster from my Extra Deck with the same Link Rating!" A beam of light shot behind Revolver turning into a bullet before transforming into a circuit.
Link Defragment (Spell) Normal
Activate this card by returning of your banished 1 DARK Link Monster to your Extra Deck; Special Summon 1 DARK Dragon Link Monster from your Extra Deck with the same Link Rating as that monster, but with a different name. You can only activate 1 "Link Defragment" per turn.
"Where are you going to summon that monster?" I asked him. "Borreload Dragon's zones are already filled and Topologic Blackmal doesn't point toward your field?"
"No, it does," Firera told me. "He's doing something that only the LIGHT Ignis has ever been able to achieve."
"It seems that your AI is already familiar with the technique I'm about to use." Revolver sneered, throwing his arms to the side. "Usually, a player is allowed to use only one Extra Monster Zone, but when two Extra Monster Zones are mutually linked, a monster can be Special Summoned in the other Extra Monster Zone! From here on, the two of you will enter a completely new world of dueling! Manifest! Link Four, Borrelguard Dragon (ATK: 3000, Link-4)!"
I instinctively took a step back. Such power, there was nothing about a technique like that one in the tutorial I was given and Evan never told me about it. Could it be… Has Revolver done something that even the Greysons didn't know about!?
"Extra Link!" Revolver roared as his new Borrelguard Dragon monster appeared in the other Extra Monster Zone, co-linking with Topologic Blackmal Dragon. "Usually, Blackmal would destroy the monster that was summoned next to its link, but Borrelguard Dragon's effect protects it from effect destruction."
"Borrelguard protects from destruction, albeit only itself," Aqua muttered.
"Borreload protects itself from being targeted by monster effects," Firera added.
"And in addition to this, if a monster is targeted for either attack or card effect, Mirror Force Dragon will destroy all cards on our field." The two said in unison. "The perfect formation!"
"Playmaker." Revolver called out. "You said that my words saved you." I wasn't sure what he was talking about, but I still listened intently. "But now I'm giving you three things to make you despair! One: Your life is over in a few turns! Two" During these turns, I'll seal away all your moves! Three: The Tower of Hanoi will be completed and everything will end! With this, I end my turn!"
Was this entire situation as hopeless as Revolver said it was? Both I and Playmaker were barely standing after we got infected with Topologic Blackmal's acid, my Trap Cards were the only cards we had left on the field, all of our monsters were banished from the Graveyard and we barely had any card in our hands. But even then, what would we be able to do? The moment we target one of their monsters, Mirror Force Dragon is going to destroy our field, if we try to summon an Extra Deck monster next to Borrelguard's link, Topologic Blackmal's effect will destroy our monsters and banish them, inflicting a hundred more damage to us for each card banished. And any strong monster we called out would just be weakened by Borreload Dragon. I didn't want to believe it, but there was no hope anymore.
"Now it's your turn, Playmaker!" Revolver pointed at him.
Yusaku was struggling to stand, let alone fight. He took a step forward and then fell down on his knee. We were both in pain and at our limits, at least I was. Ai was worried, calling out toward his partner, I would have called out too if I had the strength to speak. He then collapsed on the ground and I averted my eyes. I couldn't go there and help him up, I couldn't encourage him because this situation was so hopeless, and it took all of my willpower just to remain standing.
"Please, Playmaker! Don't lose now! I don't want to vanish!" Ai's voice ran alone through the arena while Aqua and Firera looked at me with worried looks on their faces. "I, we, have friends waiting somewhere within the network! I don't want all of that to be gone."
"Neither do I," Aqua spoke up and looked at me. "Please, give us your strength to protect our friends waiting for our return! To go back and rebuild what has been destroyed!"
"What kind of place was the Cyberse World?" Playmaker asked his Ignis.
"It was a good place," Ai replied. "It was our paradise. Created by the six Ignis. We created a lot of Cyberse monsters and gave the place a new life. We all divided our responsibilities and lived as we liked."
"Ahem." Aqua cleared her throat (?).
"Well, I wasn't the most responsible out of them." Ai rubbed the back of its head.
"Ahem." Aqua made that sound again, glancing at Ai from the corner of her eyes.
"Ok, I was just lazy and fooled around instead of working with the others!" Ai finally admitted. "I was a nuisance that always caused trouble for the rest of the Ignis. But we were never thinking of doing back things to the humans as Revolver suggested."
"All we wanted was a peaceful life." Aqua continued. "We just wanted to be left in the Cyberse World and live in harmony with the Cyberse monsters that we created. Even after Revolver and the Knights of Hanoi attacked, the Ignis weren't willing to enter a fight with the humans. We wanted to help humans, share our technology and findings with you and the rest of the world, and make Earth, a better place where humans and Ignis would be able to co-exist."
"Is that why you're using and manipulating them to fight for you?" Revolver sneered; I swear, I'm hating this bastard so much… "You can try and manipulate them, but I won't fall for your lies."
"I admit that I did use you." Ai continued to talk to Playmaker, ignoring Revolver. "But I only wanted to go home and return to my friends! But even now, when my own world is no more, I'm still here, standing beside you! Playmaker! Proxy! Please, stand up!"
"Three things, Playmaker." I reminded Yusaku. "Three things to keep us fighting against the enemy. One: We still have Life Points and cards in our decks to fight!"
"Two: There's still time until the Tower of Hanoi is completed." Playmaker said.
"Three: We are the last line of defense that can stop Hanoi's plan from succeeding. So we must win!" We declared in unison, standing back up.
"Revolver!" Playmaker raised his hand and clenched it into a fist. "There's still hope! Our paths, or destinies, can still be changed! We'll prove it to you!"
"Let's go!" I encouraged him.
"My turn, draw!" Playmaker declared, drawing a new card.
『Turn 8 [Playmaker] LP: 200 Hand: 1』
"I activate Arrow Charge! Since there are two Link Monsters with the same Link Rating in the Extra Monster Zones, I draw two cards and reveal them!" A screen opened in front of me to show that the cards Playmaker drew were Security Block and Recoded Alive.
"I set two cards and end my turn." Our Spell and Trap Zones were now completely used up.
"It's my turn then." Since Playmaker played cards in the last Spell and Trap Zones, I could no longer use the Spell that was in my hand. But I wasn't worried about it. We would find a way to win! For Kusanagi's brother, for Playmaker's past, for Ai and Aqua's friends, so I can move on and go back to my family!
"Draw!" I shouted.
『Turn 9 [Proxy] LP: 200 Hand: 2』
"I discard a card from my hand to Special Summon BrioGear Cryomage (Lv.5, DEF: 1800)!" the female magician appeared on our field and landed in front of me in a defensive stance.
"You didn't draw a Cyberse monster this turn," Aqua stated, looking back at me. "But even so, BrioGear Cryomage should protect us."
"My turn is over, Revolver!" I declared.
"No matter how much you struggle, destiny has already forsaken both of you." Revolver said. "I'll end you this turn. Draw!"
『Turn 10 [Revolver] LP: 3500 Hand: 1』
"I Normal Summon Magnarokket Dragon (Lv.4, ATK: 1800 + 300 → 2100) and activate Borreload's effect to reduce Magnarokket's attack and defense by five hundred. At this point, Magnarokket's effect activates. I send both itself and BrioGear Cryomage to the Graveyard!" the blue dragon turned into a bullet that flew into Borreload's chest and the large red dragon fired it at my monster destroying her.
"Now you no longer have anything to protect you!" Revolver pointed toward our field. "Battle! Borreload Dragon attack them directly!"
"Playmaker!" Ai cried out.
"Right!" He looked at me and I nodded before we activated one of our set cards together.
"Quick-Play Spell – Security Block!" We shouted in unison. "We target one Cyberse monster and protect it from destruction for the rest of this turn, we choose Topologic Blackmal Dragon!"
"Useless!" Revolver roared. "I activate the effect of Mirror Force Dragon to destroy all cards you control!'
The large black dragon spread out its crystal wings and they began to grow blue after which a brilliant light exploded outward, cutting through our cards like a knife through butter. The last cards we had were all gone, but Security Block's effect wasn't negated and as Borreload Dragon fired its bullet at us, a shield of data appeared before us, redirecting the attack somewhere else.
"Why didn't you take the damage?" Revolver asked us.
"Because of Security Block's effect, neither player takes battle damage on the turn it's activated." Playmaker stated.
"So you used my Topologic Blackmal Dragon to protect yourselves?" Revolver frowned. "What a desperate move! I end my turn. At this moment Magnarokket's effect Special Summons Autorokket Dragon (Lv.3, DEF: 1000 + 300 → 1300) from my Deck."
"We were able to survive for a turn, but at the cost of our entire field," Firera said.
"We won't be able to continue like this!" Ai reasoned.
"Playmaker." I turned to him. "You must end in this turn!"
"Right!" Playmaker nodded. "My turn, draw!"
『Turn 11 [Playmaker] LP: 200 Hand: 1』
"I activate the effect of Recoded Alive from my Graveyard to banish it and Special Summon Excode Talker (ATK: 2300, Link-3)!" The WIND Code Talker raised to the field once more, landing in the middle monster zone. "Next I activate the effect of BrioGear Cold Wave from my Graveyard! I banish that card and BrioGear Cryomage from my Graveyard to return Recoded Alive back to my hand, then I activate the effect of BrioGear Miracle Dive to discard Recoded Alive and add Miracle Dive back to my hand!"
BrioGear Cold Wave (Trap) Normal
If an opponent monster's effect activates, you can discard 1 card from your hand: Negate the activation, and if you do, target 1 monster on their field, its ATK becomes 0 until the end of this turn. If this card is in your GY, except during the turn it was sent there: You can banish this card and 1 "BrioGear" monster from your GY to target 1 banished Spell or Trap Card; return it to your hand.
BrioGear Miracle Dive (Spell) Normal
Target 1 Link Monster in your GY or that's banished: Special Summon that target, and if you do, immediately after this effect resolves Link Summon using that target as Link Material. If you can't Link Summoned, banish all monsters you control, then take damage equal to their combined ATK. You can discard 1 card: Add this card to your hand. You can only activate each effect of "BrioGear Miracle Dive" once per turn.
"And again, I banish Recoded Alive to reviving Transcode Talker (ATK: 2300, Link-3)!" the EARTH Code Talker raised to the field next, co-linking with Excode Talker.
"Useless!" Revolver declared. "Due to Topologic Blackmal Dragon's effect, your monster is destroyed!" the Link 4 roared and slammed its tails, unleashing a deadly gas that surrounded Transcode Talker.
"Due to Excode Talker's effect, my monster isn't destroyed!" Excode Talker slammed its claws into one another and unleashed a bright light that pushed the poisonous toxin away. "Excode Talker's effect increases the attack of all my monsters by five hundred and Transcode Talker's effect, when co-linked, increase the attack of both itself and the monster it's co-linked with by five hundred."
Exode Talker, ATK: 2300 + 500 → 2800
Transcode Talker, ATK: 2300 + 500*2 → 3300
"I'll now Normal Summon Swap Cleric (Lv.2, ATK: 500) and activate BrioGear Miracle Dive to revive Encode Talker (ATK: 2300, Link-3), then I Link Summon using Encode Talker and Swap Cleric as the materials! Appear, the circuit that leads me to the future!"
"Arrowheads confirmed!" A square appeared in the sky above Playmaker's head as his monsters turned into four whirlwinds and flew inside the arrows. "Summoning conditions are two or more monsters! I set the Link Three Encode Talker and Swap Cleric in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Firewall Dragon (ATK: 2500, Link-4)!"
"Firewall Dragon has finally appeared!" I grinned at the sight of the majestic dragon.
"Topologic Blackmal's effect!" Revolver pointed as his own Link 4 Cyberse monster. "Since Firewall Dragon was summoned next to the Link Markers' of both Excode Talker and Borrelguard Dragon, it's destroyed, then all of your monsters are going to be banished and you'll take a hundred points of damage for each!"
"No, we won't!" I shouted. "The last trap that I set activates from the Graveyard! BrioGear Corral Armor! By banishing this card and one Link Monster from my Graveyard, I'm able to negate the effects of your monster and destroy all Spell/Trap Cards on the field, then we Special Summon a Link Monster from our Extra Deck with equal or fewer Link Ratings!"
"Topologic!" Revolver growled as Encode Talker's spirit appeared in front of the Link 4 and held out its shield, turning on a bright light that made Topologic Blackmal roar in pain while all of Revolver's remaining Spell and Trap Cards were destroyed.
BrioGear Corral Armor (Trap) Normal
Target 1 Link Monster you control; equip it with this card. A monster equipped with this card cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects once per turn. If an opponent's Link Monster activate its effect while this card is in your GY: You can banish this card and 1 Link Monster from your GY; negate that monster's effects and destroy all Spell/Trap Cards on the field, then Special Summon 1 Link Monster from your Extra Deck whose Link Markers' are less than, or equal to the banished monster's. You can only activate this effect of "BrioGear Corral Armor" once per Duel.
"Due to Corral Armor's effect, I Special Summon Powercode Talker (ATK: 2300, Link-3) from my Extra Deck." The FIRE Code Talker showed up, co-linking with Firewall Dragon. "Also due to Swap Cleric, I reduce Firewall Dragon's attack by five hundred to draw a new card."
Playmaker drew his last card, OUR destiny card. Then we looked at the field in front of us. Revolver's Extra Link and Mirror Force Dragon where still present, glaring back at us with hatred in their eyes.
"Firewall Dragon's effect!" I and Playmaker declared together. "For every monster co-linked with it, we return one monster on your field to the hand! Emergency Escape!" Firewall Dragon roared and fired three bolts of light from its wings, trapping Mirror Force Dragon, Topologic Blackmal Dragon, and Borrelguard Dragon.
"So that's your last pathetic try?" Revolver frowned. "I activate the effect of Mirror Force Dragon! When my monsters are targeted, I destroy all cards on your field!"
"The effect of Excode Talker activates! Transcode Talker and Firewall Dragon aren't destroyed!" The light washed over Excode Talker and Powercode Talker, destroying them while our other monsters remained on the field. Mirror Force Dragon, Topologic Blackmal Dragon, and Borrelguard Dragon, in turn, disappeared in a flash of light, leaving only Borreload Dragon on Revolver's field.
"Transcode Talker's effect!" I and Playmaker were in complete harmony, acting like a single person! "We revive Excode Talker and co-link it to Transcode Talker."
"I activate the effect of Borreload Dragon to reduce Transcode Talker's attack points by five hundred!" A bullet hit Transcode Talker, knocking him back and dropping his ATK to just 1800, after which Excode Talker raised between Transcode and Firewall, powering them up once more.
Exode Talker, ATK: 2300 + 500 → 2800
Transcode Talker, ATK: 1800 + 500*2 → 2800
Firewall Dragon, ATK: 2000 + 500 → 2500
"In the end, you failed!" Revolver laughed. "None of your monsters is strong enough to defeat Borreload Dragon, and your Life Points are just a candle in the wind. Next turn, I'll attack Firewall Dragon with Borreload Dragon and end this duel."
"There won't be a next turn!" There was still hope on our field. "The effect of Cynet Defrag activates from the Graveyard! By paying half our Life Points, we equip it to Swap Cleric, who is Special Summoned to our field!"
『Playmaker & Proxy LP: 200/2 → 100』
"We can do this!" Ai cheered.
"We can win!" Aqua added.
"We will win!" I declared.
"Appear, the circuit that leads us to the future!" Another square appeared in the sky above us "Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning condition are two Cyberse monsters! I set Transcode Talker and Swap Cleric in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Restoration Point Guard (ATK: 1000, Link-2)!" One green and yellow robot with big arms appeared floating next to Firewall Dragon.
"Why would you do that?" Revolver laughed. "Because Transcode Talker no longer points to Excode Talker, his attack points drop to normal."
"Appear, the circuit that leads us to the future!" Ignoring Revolver, I and Playmaker summoned the Link Square once more. One final push to end this war. "Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning condition are two or more Effect Monsters!" Firewall Dragon turned into a while whirlwind that flew into the top arrow while Restoration Point Guard turned into two yellow ones that hit the bottom left and bottom right markers. "We set Firewall Dragon and the Link Two Restoration Point Guard in the Link Markers! Link Summon! The dark knight protecting Cyberse! Link Three! Decode Talker (ATK: 2300, Link-3)!"
Playmaker's ace, the DARK Code Talker formed inside the circuit and landed on our field with its eyes glowing brightly. It raised its sword as it came face to face with Borreload Dragon, who was linked to it.
"Due to its effect, Decode Talker gains five hundred attack points for every monster it points to!" Ai declared proudly.
"Power Integration!" I and Playmaker shouted as a golden aura surrounded his monster, increasing its attack power.
Decode Talker, ATK: 2300 + 500 → 2800
"I activate Link Atrocity!" Playmaker said. "I release Excode Talker and give its attack power to Decode Talker!"
Decode Talker, ATK: 2800 + 2300 → 5100
"Its attack power is higher than Borreload's!" Revolver cried out.
"Battle! Decode Talker, attack Borreload Dragon!" Decode Talker roared, energy bursting out of its body as it swung its sword at Revolver.
"And now the second effect of Link Atrocity!" Ai threw its arms to the side, its eyes narrowing into a smile. "For every Link Monster in either of our Graveyards, Borreload Dragon loses four hundred attack points until the end of the damage step!"
"N-no way!" Revolver gasped. The spirits of Powercode Talker, Transcode Talker, Excode Talker, Firewall Dragon and Restoration Point Guard all appeared in front of Decode Talker and flew at Borreload Dragon, reducing its attack points.
Borreload Dragon, ATK: 3000 – 2000 → 1000
"Decode End!" We all shouted in unison as Decode Talker brought its sword down, slicing Borreload's chest open. The Link 4 roared in pain and its body exploded. Revolver screamed as he was knocked back by the power.
『Revolver LP: 3500 – 4100 → 0』
『Winner: Playmaker & Roxy』
The battlefield was silent. The Tower of Hanoi stopped moving and as the cloud of dust settled down from that last attack, Decode Talker swung its sword around before placing it on its shoulder and disappeared. We did it. We actually did it! Despite the impossible odds, we defeated Revolver, together! For the first time, I felt like I wasn't holding others back.
"I lose, Playmaker." As the dust settled down completely, we saw Revolver lying on the ground. But he began to slowly get up. "Since I lost, the Tower of Hanoi stops. But remember this: As long as the Ignis are a threat of humanity, I won't run from my destiny!"
His data began to turn green and his avatar faded away, no doubt logging out. I still hated him, maybe a lot more than I did before. Even after all of this, he still sees the Ignis as a threat to humanity. Oh, well, I was never interested in changing his mind. My objective was to protect LINK VRAINS and save everyone whose consciousness was stolen. And it seemed that I succeeded.
"Thank you."
"Huh?" I blinked in surprise and looked at Playmaker.
He was smiling. For the first time since I became his ally since we began to fight against Hanoi together- I finally saw him smile. And the feeling I got from it, I felt my heart beating faster just from seeing him being happy.
"To the end, you fought beside me." Playmaker told me and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Thank you, for not giving up on me. Now… I finally realized what that felt like, to have a person you want to fight for."
"For you, every time," I replied; as his sidekick, it was my duty to help out, right? "I know that this is a bad time to say it, but we might not get to see each other again."
"Why's that?" Ai popped out of the Duel Disk. Well, now the mood wasn't the same as before.
"I… I think I found a way to reach my family," I told them with a smile.
"That's why you first joined forces with Playmaker, wasn't it?" Ai asked me again. "To get back your family."
"Exactly." I nodded. "I'm not a hundred percent sure, but I found information that might help me. Thanks for everything you did for me, and if we don't see each other again, thank you for putting up with me for so long."
"Wait, something's wrong." Aqua popped out and pointed toward the distance.
We looked at the spot she was pointing at. It was the Tower of Hanoi, the rings continued moving and the core passed through the sixth one. Defeating Revolver didn't disable it. Worse than that, I spent so much time in the duel that I could no longer go back and disable it in time.
We stared at it. Dread rising inside my chest as a red beam shot out of the top of the Tower and pushed a hole through the sky. The data that made the sky was falling down and the ground underneath us was shaking, tearing apart with the data disappearing. Finally, the entire Tower exploded into a red beam that moved toward us, washing over us.
No. No! NO!
"Roxy!" A familiar voice called out for me and I opened my eyes, looking at the ceiling of my bedroom. Taking deep breaths, I turned toward my arm, where Aqua and Firera were looking at me with worried expressions on their faces.
"What happened? WHAT HAPPENED!?" I shouted. Or cried. I couldn't tell anymore. Everything I did, all of it was for nothing! Despite giving my best, I wasn't able to stop the damn tower from destroying everything
"I don't know." Aqua shook her head. "I and Ai, we were barely able to log you out before the shockwave destroyed your avatars and consciousness!"
Damn it! Trying to stabilize myself onto my trembling legs, I began to walk toward the door, pushing it open I stumbled onto the floor. Why did I expect Revolver to keep his word? Why was I foolish enough to accept his Duel instead of running off to deactivate the core?
"Please calm down! You're under extreme stress!" I heard Aqua cry out, but ignored it. I needed answers. And I needed them now.
I walked down the stairs and jumped down onto the first ground, where Avice was still staring at the screens, but all of them showed nothing more than static. She was typing on her keyboard, but nothing was happening.
"What happened?" I asked her. "Why did the Tower of Hanoi explode despite Revolver's lose?"
"The Tower must have not been connected to his Duel Disk!" Avice slammed her fist against the side of the desk.
"And the victims that were trapped inside?" I know, I know what must have happened, but I wanted to believe.
"They're gone." Avice leaned back. "When the Tower of Hanoi erased LINK VRAINS, it also erased their consciousness. I'm sorry."
Sorry? It was my fault. All of these lives, these voices, gone in an instant because of me. Yeah, I could blame Revolver, blame the Knight of Hanoi for coming with this sickening plan, but deep down, I knew that it was because of me. I was the one too weak to protect everyone. This feeling, the anger and despite, they were gnawing away at me. Such a horrible feeling, but I deserved it, I deserved all of this because it was my fault. Only my fault.
"But why didn't Tower of Hanoi destroy any of us?" Firera crossed her arms. "Wasn't that all that the Knights of Hanoi were looking for?"
"The blast has been contained to only inside LINK VRAINS." Avice turned one of the screens to show us some data that I couldn't read. "LINK VRAINS was erased, but the rest of the network remains untouched."
"Roxy." I felt Aqua's cold, metallic hand touch mine and looked her in the eyes. "It's time for me to leave you. But before I go, I want to tell you something, so listen to me, please."
"I know that what happened today was a tragedy, I won't deny that. But you did what you could, you gave your best, fought for what you believed was right and never looked back." No, I was a coward who wanted to run away but didn't have the guts to even do that. "But even if the Tower of Hanoi didn't erase us, I could sense it through the network. For just a moment, I felt that powerful devastating pulse, like a jolt, before it all died down. And I'm sure that the other Ignis heard it as well."
So, they knew what happened here. I stifled a sob and kept listening to her. To what she had to tell me before disappearing.
"There's no doubt, the LIGHT Ignis will use this as an excuse to declare war, and most of the others must already agree with him." I couldn't look her in the eyes. Knowing that so much more was in the line and I failed to do anything hurt me, it hurt my heart and soul.
"At the end of this, I thought that I would be able to go back and tell them that we saved the world together, but I failed. I failed you. I want you to remember, there will be hard times in front of us, the struggles we overcame until now, will feel like nothing compared to what we'll have to go through in the future. We'll no longer be able to work together, instead, each of us will have to go back to our world and deal with the aftermath of our actions. I don't want you to lose hope, Roxy. Even in the worst days, remember to have hope."
"So, that's your goodbye?" I tried to smile, but I just couldn't force myself to do that. Not after today's event.
"I know that you'll overcome your struggles," Aqua told me. "You have an extraordinary will, even among humans. I sensed your fear the entire time, but despite how afraid you were, you never turned back and run. The world might try to push you down, but don't give up. Stand up and try again. I know that you can. I believe that you will."
Stand up and try again… But what should I try to do again after a failure like this? I didn't fail to get a cat off a tree, or something simple like that, I failed to save lives, thousands of human lives that wouldn't come back. What hope should I hold onto now?
"You won't be alone," Aqua told me as Firera raised from the Duel Disk to stand next to the Ignis.
"Although Aqua will have to go and find the other Ignis, I can remain behind," Firera said. "You and I. Together, we'll continue this fight."
There wasn't anything else I could do now, was there? To go off and try to find a way back to my family, while leaving this place in chaos would be cowardly. My guilt was pulling me back, keeping me from going home. Many questions were cycling through my head at that point, but I knew one thing for sure.
I wasn't going to run away. I'll get to the bottom of this and fix my mistakes. I might not be able to bring back the lives that were lost, but I'll make sure that no other would have to suffer the same way as the victims of the Tower of Hanoi did.
Definitely not the kind of ending that you expected, huh? The Tower of Hanoi went off, LINK VRAIN is destroyed and everyone who was absorbed by it is dead. Well, almost everyone. To be honest, I'm very worried about how this and the next two chapters will hold up because this is where Roxy's story will change Canon. Not completely change it, but there will be important differences.
Thanks to electriuser and shadowsharkds for the follow and favorite on this story!
See you all next time!
Diabolic Tracer out!