Damm, this chapter was horrible to work with because I had to change thousands of things at the beginning. And nothing ended up convincing me, I even had to change several moments because it didn't add up. I do not promise that the next one will last for months, but it will be difficult to leave now.
But i promised it gonna be a Revolver duel.
But something important: thanks to CeleneTheAngel (translation of some parts that could not enter the chapter), Anti Mattering the queen and empress of the chaos (which is translating much of the series now and helping me in the re),and the sky , Haoh Ryu Z-ARC (for helping me with the OC cards and the duel script).
Also:Follow Yugioh Reda, Destiny junction, Yes Professor and Mamith Wrath, Tag Force: Heroes And Villains from BlazePurple, Donjusticia Yu-Gi-Oh Arc-V: Daughters of the Professor.
Thanks to all these people and those who follow me.
Also I publishing this chapter to prosperity, this actually doesn't mean I planing to continue with this story. You all can read the webcomic in webtoon, is the version of this story I currently working. www . web toons en / challenge / lightning - hunter / list ? title _ no = 49 25 21
Chapter 5: Oblivion The knight of the forgotten.
The last preparations were finished to begin the last simulation. Three Knights of Hanoi were behind the screens working on the simulation, it was Baira, Faust and Genome, three of Revolver's commanders, with him watching the test.
The purpose of this test was simple, to observe how Oblivion would react by copying Storm Access' code, with her ability or as she called it "Copy" and the pressure that her body could withstand.
It wasn't the most original name in the world for her ability, but it was better than the one she had suggested the first time, something called "Changeling" or something like that, it didn't make any sense.
"Start of simulation, waiting for security measures for the test subject." Faust said, a screen materialized in front of them all, recording Oblivion in real time, she was in a white isolation room.
"Start the test." Revolver ordered.
Baira responded to the order of the leader of the Knights of Hanoi. "We cannot eliminate security measures, it is too risky for her."
Revolver didn't turn to face her, he gave a cold answer. "She has to prepare herself for the unexpected, the security measures will only reduce the power of her ability. We don't have time for morals, I will take all the blame if something happens. "
"But we don't know the consequence of having to copy so much data! It could effect her forever! Her brain can't handle so much data. We can't leave it to chance. "
Revolver made a gesture to Genome and Faust so that both continue with the tests, ignoring Baira's suggestion. The woman in the group bit her lips regardless she continued her work.
Meanwhile in the room, Oblivion looked at the white wall behind her, bored, she began to fiddle her duel disk, until a screen manifested in front of her with the image of Revolver.
"We're starting the simulation now, there is no going back, do your job or suffer the consequences." Revolver said to her.
Oblivion smiled responding in a defiant tone. "I know my job, Revolver, you don't have to order me like a dog when it is obvious."
"Even when the possibility of death is in front of you, you still behave like a rebel towards me."
Oblivion shrugs her arms, with her carefree attitude. "I'd rather die smiling at death than she see me suffering."
The leader of the Knights of Hanoi answers her. "I hope that's true, start the simulation now!"
The screen de-materialized, leaving her alone while the room changed to a red color. She raised her hand, opened her palm and began to shine in an intense white light. On the other side of the room, a dark hole opened, which generated a stream of data straight to her.
"Started with level one of the simulation." Genome indicates on its screen.
"Go to level 5 immediately." The leader of the Knights of Hanoi responds, Genome nodded and raised the level.
Oblivion noticed the increase in the intensity of the black hole, it was not enough to harass her, she handled it in an easy way but she knew that this does not compare to what the true Storm Access was capable of.
"Increase to the last level, this is not doing anything." Oblivion indicated.
Baira looked at Revolver again. "Revolver can't increase it so drastically, he doesn't know-" She stopped when Revolver gives another answer.
"Do what Oblivion says."
Baira looked at Faust, outraged at him for continuing this insane idea but the man only looked back at the screen once more, he shared the same feeling she had about the whole thing but he also ran the same risk that Revolver would get his attention.
"Always thinking about the safety of others aren't you, Baira?" Genome said with a mocking tone. "What we are doing here is for science and-" The Knight of Hanoi stopped talking, Revolver looked at him sideways when he mentioned that last part, he knew that it was the same cause that led them all to this situation.
Genome coughs. "Of course, these are not the same reasons as 10 years ago, Lord Revolver." Revolver looked back at Oblivion and Genome returns to his screen, biting his lips.
Is truth, all of them were willing to let Oblivion suffer in that way. Baira thought.
Oblivion felt that the pressure increased so drastically in front of her, all the data she began to copy in front of her began to move much faster. She copied at the same speed as the information came out at once, parts of her body began to scratch her avatar from the pressure, but she still stood.
Everyone in the room observed, Baira was preparing for the worst, ready to deactivate the test.
As the pressure increased, The Knight of Hanoi started to be pushed backwards by the force of the hole that became stronger, the wounds that were inflicted against her were more common.
This is nothing, this is nothing, this is nothing. Her thoughts were focused on enduring all this damage.
Even Revolver began to think about the idea of cancelling the program, but looking at how his cousin endured, he couldn't let that sentimentality ruin his mission, not again.
But Baira didn't think like him, she was already preparing to deactivate the entire procedure. Sorry Master Revolver. She thought.
Before squeezing the last button to finish everything, Poison was transported in front of her and stopped her hand.
"Revolver didn't order you to cancel." He said in his cold tone, causing fear to her, not only with the cold that conveyed in his voice, but also the touch of his glove. "So I ask you, keep the rules Miss Baira, we don't want to have another disaster, do we?"
Baira nodded her head in fear, Revolver looked at her, disappointed once again.
Meanwhile for Oblivion, she still kept resisting as much as she could from the great force that fired all that data in front of her. She repeated all of the above in her head once more, but it didn't work.
She was losing strength. Her hand began to tire, her eyes began to close due to all the strength she lost to the point that she heard voices in her head from different people.
The threat we face, we talk about levels of extinction of the species. even worse if we don't stop them.
You have to become strong, for the future of humanity.
I will take care of eliminating every human being on this planet for the future of my species.
She opened her eyes with the strength she had left, she made the palm of her hand shine so brightly that the light began to consume all the data that was not yet thrown at her, she fired energy into the hole, reaching to copy everything that was there and not only that, she closed the data hole.
They all look surprised at Oblivion's success in copying all that data, all but Revolver who had a smile on his face.
(Link Vrains.)
Lightning Hunter had succeeded in defeating another group of Hanoi, they were on top of a roof of a building near the Main square of Link Vrains. They consulted with their SOL Technologies duel disk's AI to check the feed of the drones, and kept a constant watch of the area with them, though none of the drones reported any recent activity of Knight of Hanoi or Hoelle in the area.
Lightning Hunter had a hypothesis that Hoelle operated differently from the Knights of Hanoi, they had different areas where they took refuge, had commanders like Deus, and were more likely to work in droves. Hunter didn't know how to operate the drones without the help of Zero-Q or Miguel, it was difficult to control them but at least Hunter knew where they were thanks to the map of the areas that they were in last time.
"I hate computers." Lightning Hunter said.
Meanwhile, the Knights of Hanoi tended to be different. Apparently there were no high command, and all those that Hunter had faced were mere pawns, idiots, or silly children who once wanted to duel Playmaker or just attack other people.
"It's obvious that they want Zero and that AI Playmaker has, and at the same time to destroy the cyberse cards. But what is the ultimate goal?" Lightning Hunter wondered. "Two years ago they were operating under the assumption of having destroyed all the cyberse cards…A normally arrogant assumption and claim, being able to destroy an entire archetype…though considering they had someone like Lockdown…"
Lighting Hunter stared at the view of the main square of Link Vrains, maybe seeing people going about their lives would help Lightning Hunter to think…although that seemed impossible at this rate.
"I've been hunting the Knights of Hanoi for SOL technologies for three years now, and I still don't understand the supposed "master plan". It's been three years since you told me to come to this city, Black Lotus, and I still haven't found the answers you told me I would find…"
While they thought about all the possibilities of the Hanoi Knights' plan, they got a sudden sense of vertigo since they hadn't earten anything since the day before. Grumpy and quickly getting annoyed, they disconnected from Link Vrains shortly after.
Yuritzi was in one of the hidden cellars that she usually frequented in case of danger, due to the punishment she inflicted on herself she couldn't go to the house with the others.
She reminded herself why she did it. "1:There must be punishment for failures. 2:I don't deserve luxuries that can distract me from the mission. 3-" She stopped before approaching the kitchen and opening the container.
Yuritzi was surprised not only to find an edible bar but also a box of food. Miguel went against her orders and put more food that wasn't just the usual nutrition bars.
Her heart and head began pounding when she saw how delicious those strawberries were, she bit her left lip hard enough to draw blood. She had to endure the temptation to eat luxuries like that.
This whole situation reminded her of her past.
(Ten years earlier…)
During the time she lived in the mountains of Europe she was always referred to by the name of Number 2, because she was the second in everything according to what her mother and father said. She understood why she was number two, always the one that caused problems for number 1 before the other children arrived.
This was one of those moments.
"I don't want to eat it." Two said looking at the lifeless body of the rabbit that the other killed with a stone. "If I hadn't made that mistake in training, right now you would be alive, Mr. rabbit." Just thinking the corpse, her stomach and conscience fluttered.
Number 1 was behind her with a fire prepared to cook the rabbit. She heard what her partner said "It's not your fault, that training was too difficult. I ended up having to take two hours to complete it."
"It shouldn't have suffered for us, I'd rather eat more fruit than eat it." She went into the fetal position, hugging her legs while tucking her head in so that her partner didn't see her cry. "It was all my fault, I should never have failed that test."
"Remember that there's not a lot of fruit left and we have to save it." One was losing her patience because of how Two behaved. "Stop crying, you always do that when you fail. Mom wants the best for us, that's why she gives us these punishments."
"But I don't want to hurt anyone! I don't like it when we have duels and I can't stand the pain when Mom gives us those injections…"
Number one observed her suffering and repeated the oath that their mother always told them. "Three reasons to live, Three reasons to fight, Three reasons to become the hunter. Without them you will die." Not seeing a reaction from her, she returned to the stove.
A while had passed since the word was addressed, number two still not wanting to speak. Number one had finished cooking the rabbit and was serving the food. She left a plate near number two.
"I already told you no-" She was surprised to learn that this dish was not the rabbit, but made of the last fruits and vegetables they had left, the rabbit's body was still there. "But… it's not-"
Number one stopped her from speaking, she didn't even look at her face while eating some of the vegetables she had cooked. "I know. That's why you will go out tomorrow to look for them, first thing in the morning. And if you cry again I will force you to look for next week's provisions for ruining my diet."
Number two smiled and although the tears came out of her eyes, she ducked her head so One wouldn't see her cry.
"Thank you."
(Return to present day)
Yuritzi was again prepared to re-enter Link Vrains, there was garbage on the floor from the protein bar wrappers, and the strawberry box was wide open.
After escaping off the balcony and hiding from her cousin for a while and putting on her outfit consisting of a black blouse, a navy blue jacket with a burgundy trim and inside with a black fur lining the collar and cuffs. She also has black combat boots and black stockings covering her legs.
Huffing at the memory of her abrupt awakening as she tossed her white hair back to get it out of her face. "Ughhh... after I finish this mission Revolver WILL pay for that." She muttered as she walked to the Den City park. "Hehehehhe, I'll spice up his food or something, he hates it that way~" She giggled at the idea and pumped her fist, shouting. "You're going to pay Ryoken!"
She finally arrived at the park where her favorite hotdogs stand was, the so-called Nagi Café that was in the center of the park and where there were what she considered the best hotdogs in this city. Its owner was a person of purple hair and was quite kind to her, his name was Shoichi Kusanagi and Kuro knew him as the friendliest man she'd ever met.
"Hey dude, how have you been?" She greeted him walking to the Hotdog truck. "I hope you have the usual."
Shoichi listened to her and smiled when he saw her. "Look who it is, my favorite client. How have you been and your cousin?"
"He still lives...unfortunately."
Not so accustomed to Kuro's theoretical sense of humor, he didn't know how to take his answer. "I still don't understand why you can't get along better, family should always be first." As he always reminded her of that detail.
She smirked at his obliviousness while trying not to fall over laughing. She and Ryoken getting along? A plane would crash into a skyscraper and kill them all before that happened.
"My dear Shoichi, if that ever happens, it's only because we were both forcefully brainwashed." Kusanagi sighed with the answer Kuro gave him. "I'll finish preparing your meal, but first I want you to guess what arrived by mail last week." He took out a bag from his truck.
Kuro opened her eyes in surprise, smiling brightly to see what was inside the bag. "Ohhhh!, These are magnificent. It is already difficult to find VHS tapes these days and you brought it with the movies that I asked for." He was starting to laugh like a maniac. "I will have a good marathon when I return home."
Kusanagi smiled at seeing her happy. "I don't know what you get out of watching movies the old fashioned way, when you can search them online."
"You can find them online, but it really doesn't have the same nostalgic value that I have for the old way of doing things." Oblivion caught the tapes. "Just collecting them and seeing them on my shelf makes me happy."
"You are the only person I know who enjoys watching movies in an outdated VHS player. I personally do not see the value, but your tastes are your tastes."
She smiled, fingering the tapes. "It's more than nice. When you know how to appreciate what once was, you should never let it go or disappear from your sight no matter what." Kuro claimed.
The purple-haired man was quite surprised when she gave him that answer. "That's pretty deep for you. Where'd that come from?"
Kuro only gave a simple answer with a coy smile. "The internet."
Shoichi blinked, not having an answer. He sighed and then looked at Kuro with a smile. "I'll have your meal finished in a minute. If you want, you can go wait with my friend, Yusaku."
Shoichi pointed to the teenager sitting at one of the tables doing something on his computer.
The white-haired girl raised her eyebrow. "Doesn't he work with you?"
"Yeah, but not today. He just likes to be here once in a while, sometimes to clear his mind when he's distracted." Kusangi mentioned, "Maybe being talked to by a girl as pretty as you can motivate him a little."
"Come on Shoichi, it's your friend. Don't give the poor guy the worst option." Kuro snorted finding it funny that someone would find her attractive, her pessimistic attitude would attract no man quickly, her manners even worse and let's not talk about personal hygiene.
"Who knows? Anything could happen?"
Kuro sat at the table in front of Yusaku, she was pleasantly surprised that he was still just looking at his laptop not realizing her presence. What was up with him? Was he just antisocial? Or maybe one of those people obsessed with computers?
"Hey Yusaku, what are you doing out there?" The girl asked breaking the awkward silence between the two.
He took his eyes off the computer, though didn't stop typing and looked at her with vibrant green eyes. "I'm working on something important for school." It was clear from a different angle that what he was actually working on a program that would help him identify the identities of other users in Link Vrains.
"Studying hard?" Kuro asked.
Yusaku, expressionless, answered the question "Yes."
Kuro noticed how Yusaku was sitting wasn't very healthy, it was in a way that forced his back to bend and his neck to arch downwards just to see the monitor. He could suffer damage to his joints in the future.
She got up from the table and approached him, touching his back with the palm of her hand alerting him immediately to close his laptop.
"What are you doing?" Yusaku wondered, as she lifted him forcefully and held him up.
"You don't know how to sit well, that will cause you to suffer back problems." She told him while resting her head on his shoulder.
"I have work to do." He said trying to get out of the situation but Kuro looked him straight in the eye.
"You will have problems in your spinal column if you continue with that habit, and you won't be able to help Kusanagi make hotdogs for me."
He stared at her, dead-faced. "Is that really important?"
She nodded vigorously. "I don't want Kusanagi to lose you and his hotdogs to start being horrible because he's sad."
Yusaku sighed in annoyance and turned his head.
"Now relax, I'll do all the work." Kuro positioned him in a better way, so that his back would be straighter so that it didn't affect his neck much.
"Are you better now?" Kuro asked him.
He had to agree with her, his back felt better. In hindsight how he'd been was most uncomfortable and embarrassing, although she could have told him from the beginning or, even better, asked permission before invading his private space, but maybe scolding her for that wasn't a good idea. Besides she didn't seem to have bad intentions.
Yusaku coughed before speaking. "Thank you."
Kuro sat back on her side of the table looking satisfied. "Heh, you're welcome. No matter what, it's my duty
There was something about Yusaku's apathy that she sought to decipher. He had always shown himself that way with her, face stiff as a rock. She had to wonder how it was possible that this teenager was a friend of someone as expressive and full of life as Kusanagi. Maybe he hid something that he didn't want anybody to see or maybe she was just overthinking it.
Whatever it was, she wasn't doing any major looking into his life, it would be a waste of time, but maybe he could be an interesting person to talk.
Kuro then wanted to ask a more personal question. "Did I make you nervous when I touched you? I often forget that people tend not to like being touched."
"Yes, although I understand you would like to help me, I don't like people touching me."
Kuro scratched her head, feeling bad for treating him that way. "Sorry, I didn't want to." She apologized, even to someone as cold as Yusaku, her words were sincere. "So every time I try to touch you, you can take you it out on me. For example, you can hit me on the head if I do it."
"I don't think I should do that, but at least you apologized for that."
"You have friends?" Kuro asked, then added, "Someone other than Kusanagi."
"I don't have time to make friends, that's why I don't have them."
"Me neither." Yusaku listened to her. "I don't have much time either and I don't have many people to talk to a lot. I also don't want to have many friends. Like you, I also like to be alone, but sometimes loneliness can be boring and I would like to talk to someone."
"I'm not the best person to talk to, there are better than me."
"Yes, but you're an interesting guy. Not everyone has to be extroverted to talk and you're not the most interesting person in the world. But I think if we keep seeing each other, maybe we'll find you some interesting topic."
"So what you want is just someone to pass the time?" Kuro nodded, Yusaku sighed. "You will get bored of me, you will only waste your time. I have no desire to create a bond with you, I have too many school jobs."
"Wasting time is my last name." She said in all seriousness. "I also have no interest in knowing you better, the only thing I want is someone to talk about the nonsense I follow." The girl raised her hand, hoping he would shake her hand. "What do you say?"
Yusaku, stared at the girl's hand, just thinking that maybe it wasn't the best case to do so. Since his work as Playmaker always required him to be active and leave connections with other people.
"Kuro, I'm done preparing them!" Kusanagi shouted.
Kuro stopped waiting for the squeeze and went straight to Kusanagi "Dude, I'm starving." Yusaku watched her take her food, finish saying goodbye to Kusanagi, before she stopped for a moment and winked at him. "I'll see you later Yusaku, think about today and accept my request."
(Residence O'Hara.)
"One question?" Zero says. "How is this sensation in which you feel that everything you're doing is going badly, being insecure all the time and want to just scream known as? "Zero asks Miguel, who was also working as hard as she was, reflected in the dark circles under his eyes.
Two days without sleep, it was enough to leave someone disoriented. With what he was used to when he revealed himself at night, for Miguel, it was simple since he was a teenager who only spent all his time on the internet.
"I think it's called anxiety and tiredness, or maybe someone broke your head with a bat and you're disoriented."
Zero massaged her chin and then turned to Miguel. "I think it's the first thing, because nobody has hit me with a bat." She said tired. "I have no idea how to decipher this skill, before Yuritzi has another important duel."
"That's hard. I've spent more than forty hours trying to find the whereabouts of Lockdown in blogs. But, it seems as if all activity in recent days has diminished and nobody has seen him. "
"Only diminished?"
"Non-existent traces, as if he didn't want to be found by anyone. Maybe after his defeat last time, he doesn't want to be found again. "He replied, sighed heavily frustrated with the whole thing.
Maria entered the room; she wore the same maid outfit she used to work, she was also hugging a sketchbook.
Her older brother greeted her. * How is my favorite sister? *
She responded with a smile on her face, proudly showing her brother another of her drawings.
Miguel was proud of his sister's talent. "Whoa, is that another Rider?" He asked in amazement.
The teenager shook her head, with sign language she expressed herself. * It's another for Yuritzi. * The drawing was similar to the black armor that Lightning Hunter used in her duel against Lockdown. The difference being this one was blue and white.
"Another one?" Zero asked.
"I think it refers to the armor that Yuritzi uses as an Avatar." Miguel responded to what his sister said. "Oh, now that I remember, Yuritzi did the same drawing when we worked on her avatar, she made two, now that I remember, black and that standard model she always has."
"Yuritzi knows how to draw?" Zero asked.
Miguel laughs. "No, it's one of the things she never was so good at. When she was a child she hated it for not doing as well as Maria."
Maria communicated with her brother again. * Could you show it to Yuritzi, when she comes back? *
Miguel nodded with a smile, then his sister left the room.
Since Yuritzi again entered the point of conversation, Zero took the opportunity to ask Miguel something. "Then when will you call her?"
"What?" Miguel asked.
"When will you talk to Yuritzi? We can't have her running around alone and sad."
The adult sighed, Zero was right, he couldn't keep putting this off any longer. "The feelings are so complicated." Miguel took his phone and called Yuritzi, waiting for her to pick up.
Yuritzi replied, before he could even say hello. "Do you have something new?"
"No, I just wanted to call you to find out how you are?" Miguel said, all afraid of saying something that would offend her.
The teenager replied. "I still haven't found anything on Lockdown, he's not looking for victims to take their best cards. Maybe you know something?"
"Neither do I." Miguel replied.
Zero gestured with her hands, so that he would be honest. "I just wanted to say, it would be good if you came back home, you've already spent too much time outside."
"No, not until I find Lockdown, I owe it to those people, I don't want them to continue paying for my mistakes. It's up to me to fix that and I deserve this punishment. "
Miguel was armed with all the courage he could with the next thing he would say. "It wasn't your fault, you did everything you could to recover the memories of those people, that is the important thing, but you have to give up all this idea of self-sacrifice, you will just end up dying."
Zero impressed by how he was armed with courage. "Well done."
Maybe he was being hard on her, although with how things were he needed her to be straight with him on this matter.
They heard the sound of the phone hang from the other line.
Zero looked at Miguel. "That's not good, is it?"
(Link Vrains)
"This would be the fifth Hanoi we've defeated this week," Ai said to Playmaker as they travelled through the stream of data above the city. They were currently on a mission to track down even more members of the Knights of Hanoi based on locations given to them by Kusanagi. "If we keep going like this we'll be able to get a ton of strong Cyberse cards."
While Playmaker wasn't as excited about all of this as his hostage, he couldn't help but agree that his deck had become powerful. Each new use of Storm Access granted him a new Code Talker monster, further strengthening him for the mission ahead.
Looking to his deck, Playmaker reflected on recent events. In particular, he found himself coming back to the duel against Go Onizuka. It may have been the first time he'd had fun using these cards in his entire life. With that in mind, should he still be using dueling as a tool of revenge? Couldn't he simply give this up to recapture that joy the Charisma Duelist had shown him?
He pushed this aside and looked ahead. There wasn't any time to be worrying about fun right now. He had a mission, so the only thing that mattered was winning. Any fun he might have would just be an accident.
Kusanagi's voice rang through his head after that. "Looks like more activity." He said "Knights of Hanoi near the Link Vrains Main Square. Good luck out there."
"Understood." Yusaku replied.
It didn't take long to arrive at the Main Square. As he jumped from his board onto the ground, no one seemed to pay much attention to Playmaker despite his fame. "Aren't you supposed to be a celebrity?" Ai noted, placing a finger to his non-existent chin in confusion.
Playmaker shared these feelings. Looking around, no one seemed to have even acknowledge the two of them as they landed. Normally, there would be at least one person pointing and shouting his name wherever he showed up. Something was amiss here.
"Let me know if we're near the location." Playmaker told Kusanagi. In response, all he heard was static. At the same time, he began to feel almost dizzy, like something in the air was beginning to affect him.
"Did he say anything?" Ai asked, seemingly unfazed by whatever was causing all of this. "What's happening?"
Seemingly to confirm that this was a trap, the people seen earlier walking about disappeared entirely, leaving behind a single figure in a hooded cloak.
"Wah! A ghost!" Ai screamed. As usual, it was hard to tell whether he was trying to be funny or was genuinely terrified.
"Doesn't look as smart as the others, but he's similar enough." The figure muttered. Tearing off the hood, she revealed herself as Oblivion. "You must be the one causing so many problems for us."
"Who are you?" Playmaker demanded, taking note of the colors and patterns on this person's avatar. "Are you with the Hanoi?"
"Did you figure that out by looking at me?" She asked. "Fair enough, but I was never really partial to these colors. If I could, I think I'd rather have something in black, but that might be a little too goth for my tastes. But if we're going to go around judging other people, why don't we talk about that hideous green on your suit? And don't even get me started on that hair." This was all just a big joke to her it seemed.
"Hey! I'm the only one who gets to criticize how Playmaker looks!" Ai shouted, shaking his fist in the air.
"Enough." Playmaker interrupted the both of them. "Get to the point. Tell me what the Knights of Hanoi are doing here."
Oblivion cracked a sinister smile, snapping her fingers. Instantly, the ground beneath the two disappeared, a data stream flowing beneath them. To save themselves, the both of them materialized their boards and began to ride it.
"Looks like you survived the fall." She noted. "Not bad. You're not a total amateur after all."
"Why are you doing this?" Playmaker demanded.
"It's part of the plan. When you came to this part of Link Vrains, you fell into my virtual trap." Oblivion explained the full scope of this scheme. "I call it the Zone of Oblivion. It's a nested network inside Link Vrains, so no one gets in or out without my say so and as far dueling, we have a few more rules than normal."
"What kind of rules?" Ai asked.
"For one, we start each duel with 8000 Life Points."
"Just that?" He asked with Oblivion nodding to confirm. "Well, there's nothing wrong. All that means is a duel's going to take longer. Right, Playmaker?"
"I should also mention there are some physical effects, too. For example, you can amplify the pain that we suffer from attacks. The fog can affect our bodies, as well, and if we fall, our avatars will be erased and the winner takes all of the loser's data."
Playmaker narrowed his eyes. It would be a duel almost like any other, but the stakes were just raised. He couldn't take this lightly, both for his sake and the foolish Hanoi who set all this up.
"Don't look at it as just a duel, but more like a measure of your own determination. Or...the determination to complete your mission, or...something." Oblivion scratched her head. "Damn, I forgot the line halfway through. Now I don't remember how I was supposed to end this whole thing."
Ai gestured to Playmaker and pointed to the Knight of Hanoi. "Hey, she seems pretty bad at her job."
Playmaker wasn't in the mood to listen to more nonsense. As his opponent mentioned before, the fog was already affecting his sight. He had to leave this place before too long. There was no telling what would happen if he stayed for much longer. "Let's stop wasting time and start the duel." He called.
"Of course, Mr. Hero of Link Vrains!" She said mockingly. Despite her superior tone, it was clear that the fog wasn't a one-sided thing, Oblivion already beginning to sway as he had upon arrival.
"Speed Duel."
Playmaker LP: 8000: hand: 4 Vs Oblivion LP: 8000: Hand: 4
"I activate Cybenet Mining." Playmaker inserted the card into his duel disk as he said this, its image appearing beside him as the green treasures on its artwork began to glow. "I can discard a card from my hand to add a Cyberse monster from my deck. I'll use Dotscaper to add Cyberse Gadget." [Hand 4-3]
"Now, the effect of Dotscaper in my graveyard is activated, letting me summon it to the field." As quickly as it had been discarded, the monster appeared on the field, forming itself from an array of white and green bits.
Dotscaper 0 ATK / 2100 DEF / Earth / Level 1 / Cyberse / Effect
"I summon Flame Bufferlo," he continued, the burning metal monster rising from underneath him.
Flame-Bufferlo 1400 ATK / 200 DEF / Fire / Level 4 / Cyberse / Effect
It was clear what he'd do now, confirmed as he lifted his hand to the sky. Appear, the circuit that leads to the future!" The link portal appeared in front of the duelists, both Dotscaper and Flame Bufferlo flying towards it as their forms fell apart. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are two monsters. I set Flame Bufferlo and Dotscapper in the Link Markers. Circuit combine! Link Summon!"
New power exploded, a Link Monster forming from the materials. "Appear, Link-2! Trackblack!" The winged monster emerged from the portal after that, taking its position in the Extra Monster Zone on the right.
Trackblack 1200 ATK / Light / Arrows: Top Left, Bottom Right / Cyberse / Effect / Link 2
"A Link Summon on the first turn," Oblivion noted. "As expected of a Cyberse duelist."
"Have you faced any other Cyberse duelists?" Ai asked, curiosity piqued.
"Who knows?" she replied. "I'm not supposed to say. All you need to worry about is the fact that stronger duelists than you have fallen before me." She hoped to get some kind of reaction from Playmaker with this taunt, finding that it bounced off him like anything else. It was almost intriguing. Finally, an opponent that might pose an actual challenge.
Completely ignoring her words, Playmaker proceeded with his turn. "When it leaves the field, Flame Bufferlo's effect activates. I discard a monster to draw two more cards." He chose Stack Reviver as the cost, then played another card. "Continuous Magic, Cybenet Optimize!"
Clearly, his turn wouldn't be done any time soon. "I activate its effect, letting me Normal Summon Cyberse Gadget from my hand." The card began to shine, allowing the small metallic creature to emerge onto the field. [Hand 3-1]
Cyberse Gadget 1400 ATK / 300 DEF / Earth / Level 4 / Cyberse / Effect
"When Cyberse Gadget is Normal Summoned to the field, I can summon a Cyberse monster from my Graveyard. My choice is Stack Reviver." Beside his other monsters, a miniature white robot rose from the Graveyard.
Stack Reviver 100 ATK / 600 DEF / Earth / Level 2 / Cyberse / Effect
"Appear once again, the circuit that leads to the future!" For the second time this turn, the link portal opened again. This time, it was Stack Reviver and Cyberse Gadget that were used as materials. "Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear, Flame Administrator!" The blazing red monster came out into the zone highlighted by Trackblack's.
Flame Administrator 1200 ATK / Fire / Arrows: Left, Bottom right / Cyberse / Link 2
Both of Playmaker's cards became engulfed in a fiery aura. "With Flame Administrator on my field, my Link Monsters all gain 800 ATK.
Flame Administrator ATK: 1200 + 800 = 2000
Trackblack ATK: 1200 + 800 = 2000
Co-linked with Flame Administrator, it ensured the other's safety and its own ATK increase. He was far from finished. "From my hand, I summon Cross Debugger with its own effect."
Cross Debugger 900 ATK / 600 DEF / Dark / Level 2 / Cyberse / Effect
"Appear, the circuit the leads to the future! Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are two effect monsters. I set Cross Debugger and Trackblack in the Link Markers. Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear, Decode Talker!"
Decode Talker 2300 ATK / Dark / Arrows: Bottom Right, bottom Left, top / Cyberse / Link / Effect / Link-3
Decode Talker ATK: 2300 + 800 + 500 = 3600
Emerging from the portal, the cybernetic warrior swung its jagged sword over its shoulder, taking the left Extra Monster Zone. "Decode Talker is linked with Flame Administrator, meaning it gains 500 ATK on top of the 800 from Flame Administrator's own effect." Decode Talker began to glow, pushing past every other monster on the field in terms of power. "I set a card face-down and end my turn." [Hand 1-0]
"What do you think of that?" Ai shouted. "Playmaker's defense is impenetrable now! You can't defeat this formation!"
Showing the first sign of irritation since the game began, Oblivion scoffed at his words. "Annoying rat." She spat. She'd silence him soon enough though, so it didn't much matter what he said.
She began her turn by drawing a card, smile returning at the sight of it as she ignored Ai's ranting about not being a small, scurrying mammal. [Hand 4-5] "I activate the Field Magic, Abyss of the Exiles." The card appeared next to her, showing several knights in rusted armor futilely trying to escape the pull of a black hole underneath them. "As long as I have this, all DARK monsters are banished instead of being sent to the Graveyard, and all of my DARK monsters gain 200 ATK and DEF."
Playmaker narrowed his eyes as he parsed the effect. "Banished..." he said.
"I've already grabbed my shield." She said out of nowhere.
"Shield?" Ai repeated. "What does that mean? Think she went crazy?
"Just keep your mouth shut and watch," she ordered. "When I have no monsters on my field, I can summon Exile Knight Andros, the Rusty Knight with its own effect." From her hand, a mechanical knight carrying an axe materialized in front of her. Like its weapon, the monster was covered in rust.
Exile Knight Andros, The Rusty Knight 2240 ATK / 0 DEF / Dark / Level 5 / Warrior /
Effect Exile Knight Andros, The Rusty Knight ATK: 2240 + 200 = 2440
"As a trade off, every Magic Card I use this turn will be banished," she continued. "Since a DARK monster was Special Summoned to my field, I activate the effect of Exile Knight Galahad, the Steam Knight. I can summon it from my hand by cutting my first monster's ATK by 500." The second Exile Knight appeared. Outside of the aged spear it carried, it was nearly identical in design to the first.
Exile Knight Galahad, The Steam Knight 960 ATK / 0 DEF / Dark / Level 2 / Warrior / Tuner
Exile Knight Andros, The Rusty Knight ATK: 2440-500 = 1940
Exile Knight Galahad, the steam knight ATK: 960 + 200 = 1160
"Next, I use the card Link Miracle and target Decode Talker. Now, both players can draw cards equal to its Link Markers." At a Link-3, both Oblivion and Playmaker were able to draw three new cards. [Hand 2-5]. "I'm feeling generous though, so this also increases your monster's ATK by 100 for each card we draw from this effect."
Decode Talker ATK: 3600 + 600 = 4200
"She just hurt her monsters while helping ours, plus we got to draw more cards," Ai pointed out. "What's this leading to?"
"It's obviously a plan," Playmaker responded. "Just like this field and the conditions of the duel. Something is going on."
"Next, I summon Exile Knight Brom, the Broken Knight," Oblivion declared, her newest monster sporting a dagger while also missing an arm.
Exile Knight Brom, the Broken Knight 1360 ATK / 0 DEF / Dark / Level 3 / Warrior /
Effect Exile Knight Brom, the Broken Knight ATK: 200 + 1360 = 1560
Raising her hand, she shouted, "Appear, the circuit that leads to oblivion!" The link portal appeared, Andros and Galahad flying towards it in a whirlwind of darkness. "The summoning conditions are two DARK monsters." They hit the border, lighting the left and bottom arrows. "Circuit combine! Link Summon!"
She clenched her hand into a fist and pulled it down on front of her. "Link-2, Exile Knight Yvonus, the Soldier!" This new monster emerged from the portal. A centaur decorated in purple and gold with polished armor, it held a bright metal shield in its left hand and a sleek flamethrower in the right.
Exile Knight Yvonus, the Soldier 2135 ATK / Light / Arrows: Down, Left / Dark / Link-2
Exile Knight Yvonus, the Soldier ATK: 200 + 2135 = 2335
She threw her hand forward. "Now, my monster's effects activate! Brom lets me draw a card when it's used as Link Material. If it's not a Warrior monster though I have to discard it." She took the card, revealing it as the Warrior-Type Exile Knight Percival, the Wooden Knight. [Hand 3-4]
"Next, its second effect happens when it's banished. That lets me target a monster on both our fields and change your monster's ATK to match mine." The cards selected were Galahad and Decode Talker, eliminating all of the pluses Playmaker's card had made since it was summoned.
Decode Talker ATK: 1160
"Decode Talker!" Ai exclaimed. "This can't be happening!"
"There's more!" Oblivion said. "I activate the effect of Percival in my hand, letting me destroy Galahad to summon itself." Galahad crumbled to dust, the remains whipping up into a spiral before blowing away to reveal Percival. The creature wore a full suit of old, gnarled wood armor, taking its position beneath Vyonus' arrow.
Exile-Knight Percival, the Wooden Knight 450 ATK / 0 DEF / Dark / Level 7 / Warrior / Effect
Exile-Knight Percival, the Wooden Knight ATK: 200 + 450 = 650
"Now Galahad's effect activates. When this card is banished, I target a monster in my Extra Monster Zone and draw cards equal to its Link Rating. For Yvonus, that would be two." She draw. "Next, I set two cards and move to my Battle Phase!" [Hand 5-3]
"Here it comes!" Ai wailed. "Decode Talker's going to be destroyed for sure!"
"All in due time," Oblivion said. "First, I activate Yvonus' effect to destroy a monster it points to, then increase its own ATK by 200 times that monster's Level." Percival was engulfed by black flames, balling together and loading itself into the weapon in Yvonus' hand.
Exile Knight Yvonus, the Soldier ATK: 2335 + 1400 = 3735
"Now, Yvonus, attack Decode Talker! Hell Barrage!" Aiming the weapon, Oblivion's monster let loose a spray of bullets directly towards Decode Talker.
"We're dead!" Ai screamed, spinning around in circles.
Playmaker reacted immediately by activating the card he'd set last turn. A glowing barrier formed around Decode Talker at the last moment, the bullets deflecting off it. "Security Block!" He declared. "My Cyberse monster can't be destroyed and neither of us take damage from this battle." Despite its weakened state, it had survived.
"You're a terrible actor," Oblivion said, having figured something like this would happen based on the AI's dramatics. "From my hand, I use the Magic Card Retaliation of the Forgotten!" She placed the card into her duel disk, the image of two robotic soldiers engaged in some battle appearing next to her. "When I fail to destroy a Link Monster in battle, I can inflict 200 damage to you for each Link Monster on the field."
Four rusty swords fell from the sky, set to fall directly on top of Playmaker.
"Hey, look out!" Ai shouted, giving Playmaker just enough time to dodge out of the way or half the attack. The other two swords, however, dug into his back. The pain far outclassed what one would normally expect from a duel, nearly toppling him from his board.
Playmaker LP: 8000 – 800 = 7200.
"My card has another effect, too. I'm allowed to summon a monster from my deck with ATK equal or less than the damage you just took. My choice is Dark Knight of Honor in Defense Mode." An empty suit of armor appeared on Oblivion's field crouching behind a shield nearly bigger than itself.
Dark Knight of Honor 600 ATK / 0 DEF / Dark / Level 5 / Warrior / Effect
Satisfied with what she'd accomplished, she decided to end her turn with that. "I'd tell you to take your turn, but can you even continue playing after that? Does it only take one hit to finish the famous Playmaker?"
Playmaker could feel the searing pain from the swords still in his back. The sensation hadn't subsided in the least since it happened. While he was aware that there weren't any real injuries on his body, that didn't stop his mind from processing the attacks as if they were real.
He had to end the duel as quickly as possible. Drawing a card, he realized Decode Talker's ATK hadn't returned to normal despite the fact the effect used on it should only work for a single turn.
Noticing his confusion, Oblivion explained. "Dark Knight of Honor's effect makes it so that anything in the Extra Monster Zone can't have its ATK changed until your turn ends." For effect, the armor's shield opened up to reveal a pulsing eye, paralyzing Decode Talker and preventing its stats from increasing.
"This is getting bad," Ai groaned. "Now we can't use Decode Talker."
Ignoring these remarks, Playmaker pushed through. "Field Magic, Cybenet Storm. As long as this card is on the field, linked monsters gain 500 ATK and DEF." [Hand 4-3]
Honeybot ATK: 2700 + 500 = 3200
Flame Administrator ATK: 2000 + 500 = 2500
"Next, I banish Stack Reviver and Cyberse Gadget from my Graveyard to summon Degrenade Buster to the field." [Hand 3-2]
Degrenade Buster 2500 ATK / 2500 DEF / Fire / Level 7 / Cyberse / Effect
As his monster took to the field, it began charging an attack between its hands. "Now, I activate my monster's effect. Degrenade Buster can banish a monster with higher ATK than itself until the End Phase." He pointed to Yvonus, his monster launching a burst of flames towards the enemy.
"Counter Trap, Sacred Veto!" Oblivion announced as her card flipped up, depicting a demonic figure recoiling in front of a wizard. "This negates the effect of your card targeting my DARK Warrior monster, then makes it unable to be affected by any other card effects besides its own until the end of this turn."
A shockwave blew past Yvonus, dispersing the flames of Degrenade's effect.
Ai snapped his fingers in frustration. "It didn't work," he said.
Already changing gears, Playmaker continued to duel. "I equip Cyberse Annihilation to Flame Administrator." [Hand 2-1] With this, he'd be able to match Yvonus in battle. With a little something else, he'd be able to overtake it
"I set a card, then enter my Battle Phase!" he declared. [Hand 1-0]
"Continuous Trap, Honor in Battle!" Oblivion responded. "This makes it so we can only attack the monster our opponent controls with the highest ATK."
"Like that's going to stop us!" Ai called. "Let's go!"
For once, Playmaker almost seemed to share Ai's sentiment, ordering his monsters forward. "Flame Administrator attacks!" The only target could be Yvonus. "With Cyberse Annihilation, my monster's ATK becomes equal to yours during Damage Calculation."
Flame Administrator ATK: 3735
"Mutual destruction?" Oblivion mused. "How mundane."
What he said next shocked her, however. "From my Graveyard, I activate the effect of Cross Debugger!" The image of his used card appeared. "When our Link Monsters do battle while I have another Link Monster in my Graveyard, I can banish this card to add my Link Monsters' ATK together." His target was Trackblack with 1200 ATK.
Flame Administrator ATK: 4935
"Impossible!" Oblivion exclaimed. Playmaker's monster was stronger than hers now. With the Equip Magic's effect, she'd get hit with the full force of its ATK. With Decode Talker taking out Dark Knight, that would leave her open to Honeybot's direct attack, making for over 8000 damage in a single turn.
"It's possible!" Ai replied. "This is what you get for underestimating our teamwork!"
Oblivion ground her teeth before her smile returned. "Just kidding," she said cheekily, waving her hand in front of her. "I use the effect of my Percival, the Wooden Knight. During either the turn it's banished or the turn after it, I can target a Link Monster I control and prevent its destruction by battle once."
"You'll still take the damage," Playmaker said, though he was obviously displeased with this. The spirit of Percival came to shield Yvonus from Flame Administrator's blow, Oblivion doing her best to brace against the 1200 damage that resulted in.
Oblivion LP: 8000 – 1200 = 6800
"Even when we manage to get a hit, she's still countering our moves," Ai sulked. He was right, of course. With that attack blocked, Playmaker couldn't do anything else. He was forced to end his turn there, his only solace being that both Yvonus and Decode Talker's ATK would return to what they should be.
Oblivion drew a card to start her turn. [Hand 2-3] "Our monsters can have their ATK change now that your turn is finally over," she said.
Decode Talker ATK: 3600
Yvonus ATK: 2335.
"I activate Allure of Darkness," she declared. "I'll draw two cards before banishing a DARK monster in my hand. A small price to pay." She banished another of the Exile Knights, its effect activating immediately after Allure resolve. "Now, Exile Knight Bruticus, the Knight of Violence activates. When it's banished, I gain 400 Life Points for every Link Monster on the field."
Oblivion LP: 6800 + 1600 = 8400.
"She managed to recover after that attack!" Ai shouted. "That's just not fair!" It was truly dishertening. After all the resources he'd used, there wasn't even any damage left for his trouble. Who was this person and how was she so strong?
Oblivion's demeanor changed. "Surrender and hand over the AI," she suddenly demanded. "There's no reason for you to keep trying. You've lost, so I'll let you go if you just do as I ask."
Playmaker's brow furrowed. He didn't like being talked down to like this, especially from someone who was part of the Hanoi. "Continue your turn," he told her. Strong as she was, he wasn't about to give up.
Oblivion sighed, though she secretly reveled the chance to continue the duel. Brave or stupid as he was, Playmaker was proving to be an interesting opponent. "Then I'll just use all my power to crush you," she sneered.
"First, I'm going to summon Exile Knight Brom, the Broken Knight." Another copy of the monster appeared on the field beside Dark Knight. "Appear, the circuit that leads to oblivion!" she called, raising her hand to the sky. All three of her monsters flew towards the link portal as it appeared, four of the arrows lighting up. "Great traitorous dragon, appear and lead us down the path to oblivion!"
"Hey, this doesn't seem like before," Ai commented. "What do you think she's going to make, Playmaker?" He didn't get a response.
"Link Summon! Link-4, Cyberse Jaeger: Eraser Dragon!" The link portal itself began to break apart, destabilizing into a black hole swirling in the middle of the field. From out of the vortex emerged the dragon itself, first as a shadow before its scales brightened to a near-blinding white. It stood upright, the tops of what looked like wings positioning themselves over each shoulder before pink, gem-like data exploded out of them in jagged bursts. Opening a pair of gleaming red eyes, it let out a shrieking roar that slightly disrupted the Data Storm the duelists road atop.
Cyberse-Jaeger: Eraser-Dragon 3000 ATK / Dark / Arrows: Top, Bottom Left, Bottom Right, Down / Cyberse / Link-4
"A Cyberse monster," Playmaker noticed. To call it rare would be an understatement. As far as he was aware, only he and potentially a few others even had access to cards of that type. Where could this monster have come from?
Ai on the other hand just seemed terrified. Whatever curiosity he might have had about this creature's origin took a back seat to its ferocious demeanor. That said, he still couldn't help but think about the possibility another Ignis may have made this thing only for it to be stolen by the Knights of Hanoi. If that was the case, what might have happened to the creator?
Oblivion gazed up at her dragon, thinking back to the way it used to inspire fear in the hearts of old friends. This time, she only wished to do that to who she considered the right people. In this case, it would be anyone who would stand against the Hanoi's goal.
"Both Brom and Yvonus activate their effects," she called. "First, Yvonus allows me to summon Exile Knight Percival, the Wooden Knight from my deck with its effects negated." The monster materialized in the center of Oblivion's field. "Next, Brom allows me to draw a card, but I have to discard it if it isn't a Warrior." Her card was revealed to be another copy of Galahad, allowing it to stay in her hand. [Hand 2-3]
"I set one card face-down and move to the Battle Phase," Oblivion declared. [Hand 3-2] The dragon was already gearing up for battle, its wings spread wide as a swirling mass of darkness charged above its head. "But first, I'll activate the Magic Card Cyclone from my hand to destroy your Field Magic."
Cybenet Storm's card materialized moments before being swept up in a typhoon and dispersing into particles. While the loss of ATK was an issue, the other benefits it could provide were a more devastating occurrence.
Honeybot ATK: 2800 Flame
Administrator ATK: 2000
"Now, battle! Eraser Dragon attacks Decode Talker!" However, her monster didn't seem to obey. Instead, it roared into the air, the attack above it growing more and more massive. "When Eraser Dragon attacks, I'm allowed to banish all monsters on the field until my next Standby Phase!"
"No way!" Ai shouted.
Gritting his teeth, Playmaker did what he could to mitigate the damage and activated his card. "Cybenet Backdoor! I banish a monster on my field until my next Standby Phase and add a Cyberse monster from my deck to my hand with less original ATK than the one banished." His choice was Decode Talker, the monster dematerializing as he added a new monster to his hand. [Hand 0-1]
"That's not going to save you!" she shouted. "Omega Eraser!" The attack charged above the dragon's head let loose, sending waves of energy shooting across the field. Flame Administrator, Degrenade Buster, Honeybot, and Percival were all struck, disappearing as the attack swept them up and cleared the field of everything but Eraser Dragon.
"Now I activate my Skill, Souls of the Exiled!" Her armor began to glow with bright blue lines across it, Eraser Dragon letting out a roar. "When an effect banishes monsters on the field, I can select a DARK monster I control to gain 1000 ATK for each one.
"1000 for each?" Ai exclaimed. "That's...that's..." He began counting on his fingers.
"4000," Playmaker finished, Ai screaming in terror at his words.
Cyberse Jaeger: Eraser Dragon ATK: 3000 + 4000 = 7000
"Now, let's end this. Omega Destroyer!" Since Playmaker's monster count changed, Eraser Dragon was allowed a replay. This sent a devastating 7000 damage straight towards him. The monster blasted a wave of inky black data from its maw, striking Playmaker directly and exploding on contact.
Playmaker LP: 7200 - 7000 = 200
Once the smoke cleared, Playmaker was nowhere to be found. Oblivion peered around the area to try and spot him to no avail. It made sense given how strong that blast had been. In all likelihood, he'd been knocked from his board and plummeted to certain death in the void.
That would be too easy, though.
Through the fog, she finally caught sight of him hanging on for dear life at the edge of his board. Playmaker dangled above the board, avatar scraped and bloodied from the impact of Eraser Dragon's strike. Even with only a sliver of Life Points remaining, he still struggled to get back up. He was something of a survivor, Oblivion reasoned.
From the other side, Playmaker simply repeated the same thing in his head: Three reasons. Three reasons to live, three reasons to return home, three reasons to win. No matter how much his body ached, he wouldn't give up so long as he had those three reasons. He had to fulfill his revenge and find the answers that would allow his life to move forward.
"I'm not going to lose here," he said, wrenching his body back on top of his board with Ai's encouragement. "I'll still defeat you.
Oblivion smiled, relieved to find that she'd actually get to finish the duel. "Then I end my turn," she spoke.
Cyberse Jaeger: Eraser Dragon ATK: 3000
Playmaker began his turn by drawing a card, after which Decode Talker returned to the field in the open space beneath his Extra Monster Zone. [Hand 1-2] Backed into a corner with his options dwindling, he had only one option left. Reaching out his hand, the markings along his jumpsuit began to glow.
"With my Life Points below 1000, I activate my Skill!" Playmaker declared. Off to the side of where the two duelists raced was a swirling vortex of data. "I can add a random monster from the Data Storm to my Extra Deck," he continued, flying directly into the whirlwind.
Realizing what was about to happen, Oblivion lifted her hand towards Playmaker. "Copy!" she shouted, a bolt of energy discharging from her palm.
"Storm Access!" Playmaker yelled, hand gliding through the Data Storm. As usual, it felt like his whole arm might be torn off at any second, but he soldiered on. Fighting against the data, he waited for the moment of truth.
Meanwhile, Oblivion shared this struggle in a way, straining to download the data put off by the activation of Storm Access. The Ignis Algorithm was no laughing matter, making her question whether she could even handle this much information at one time.
Despite how long it felt for the two, it only took a moment for it to end. Feeling the card materialize in his hand, Playmaker grasped it and pulled his new monster from the storm. Exiting the vortex, he returned to the route they were using for the duel. While he was ignorant of what was going on outside, he did notice how Oblivion seemed to be shaking and buzzing with some sort of static, brushing it off as something he'd think over at some later point.
For now, he had a duel to win. "I summon RAM Clouder," he declared, the white sheep creature bouncing onto his field from out of its card.
RAM Clouder 1800 ATK / 1000 DEF / Dark / Level 4 / Cyberse / Effect
"With the effect of Cybenet Optimize, I'm allowed to Normal Summon a Cyberse once per turn. Come out, External Transmitter!" Another Cyberse appeared beside RAM Clouder, this one a small robot with a transmitting device embedded in its chest.
External Transmiter 1400 ATK / 400 DEF / Light / Level 4 / Cyberse / Effect
I set External Transmitter in the Link Marker," he said, his monster flying to the link portal. "Come forth, Link-1! Link Disciple!" The monster appeared, striking a triumphant pose as it co-linked with Decode Talker.
Link Disciple 500 ATK / Light / Arrows: Down / Cyberse / Effect / Link-1
"External Transmitter's effect activates, summoning itself from the Graveyard after being sent there." This return wouldn't last long given RAM Clouder's effect activated moments later. "By sacrificing External Transmitter, I summon a Cyberse monster from my Graveyard."
Transmitter was banished due to its own effect, Flame Bufferlo appearing in its place. "When Transmitter is banished, I also get to draw a card." [Hand 0-1]
Flame Bufferlo 1400 ATK / 200 DEF / Fire / Level 4 / Cyberse / Effect
"Appear, the circuit that leads to the future!" Both Link Disciple and RAM Clouder moved to the link portal, Restoration Point Guard appearing from out of it in the Extra Monster Zone.
Restoration Point Guard 1000 ATK / Earth / Arrows: Bottom, left / Cyberse / Effect / Link
"Appear again, the circuit that leads to the future!" Flame Bufferlo and the newly summoned Restoration Point Guard were set into the Markers, three of them lighting up. "Link Summon! Link-3, Transcode Talker!" An orange-armored counterpart to Decode Talker leaped onto the field, swinging its rifle into a readied position.
"I set in the link markers to Bufferlo, Restoration point guard in the link markers." The monsters were sent to the designated arrows. "Come forth Link 3, Transcode Talker." An orange Armor robot appeared in the field, he had a rifle weapon in his hands.
Transcode Talker 2300 ATK / Earth / Arrows: Bottom, Right, top / Cyberse / Effect / Link
"What a surprise, another Cyberse," Oblivion mused. Despite her jokes, she was most certainly feeling the strain of this area. Such a prolonged duel was taking a toll on her strength, her legs beginning to tremble as her breathing grew more labored.
Though he was far more injured, Playmaker continued to ignore the pain, pushing forward with his turn. "Flame Bufferlo's effect allows me to discard a Cyberse monster to draw two more cards," he explained, doing just that. [Hand 1-2]
"Additionally, Transcode Talker's effect increases the ATK of itself and a monster co-linked to it by 500 on top of Decode Talker's ATK increase for having a monster it's linked to."
Transcode Talker ATK: 2800
Decode Talker ATK: 3300
"Now, I activate Transcode Talker's effect! I summon a Link-3 or lower Cyberse monster from my Graveyard. He chose to go with Restoration Point Guard, the monster popping back up next to Decode Talker on his field.
The link portal appeared again. "I set the Link Markers with Transcode Talker and the Micro Coder and Code Exporter in my hand."
"In your hand?" Oblivion asked, surprised by this development. She'd never seen a Link Summon conducted with monsters in the hand before.
All three monsters traveled to three separate Link Markers, lighting the arrows. "Link Summon! Link-3, Encode Talker!" A white-clad warrior appeared in the middle of Playmaker's field, hoisting a glowing shield in front of it.
Encode Talker 2300 ATK / Light / Arrows: Bottom, Bottom Right, top / Cyberse / Effect / Link
"By using both Micro Coder and Code Exporter for the Link Summon of a Code Talker, I can add a new Cybenet card to my hand from my deck and retrieve a Cyberse monster from my Graveyard. [Hand 0-2]
Decode Talker ATK: 2800
Setting a card, Playmaker moved to the Battle Phase [Hand 2-1] "I attack first with Restoration Point Guard!"
"So much for winning," Oblivion mocked. "If you're so quick to die, why not just surrender?" As Eraser Dragon charged a counterattack, a thought occurred to her. Eyes moving to Encode Talker, her fears were confirmed after it moved in front of Restoration Point Guard to block her monster's blast.
"Encode Talker can prevent a monster it points to from being destroyed in battle and reduces the damage I take to 0," Playmaker explained. "That's not all. After the battle, I can increase the ATK of Encode Talker or a monster it points to by your monster's ATK."
"Damn!" she cursed, watching Decode Talker's strength shoot up.
Decode Talker ATK: 2800 + 3000 = 5800
"With Cybenet Backdoor's effect, Decode Talker can attack directly this turn," he added, his monster preparing to launch forward.
"Incredible," Oblivion said. "I can't remember the last time I fought someone like this guy."
"Decode Slash!" Playmaker called out, Decode Talker leaping forward to swipe across Oblivion, damaging her mask in the process.
Oblivion LP: 8400 – 5800 = 2600
As much as he'd like to finish things now, Playmaker had run out of options. "I end my turn," he said, struggling to stay on his feet. The damage he'd taken was piling up now and threatening to have him collapse right there when he was so close to victory.
Oblivion felt the same, still reeling from the last attack. Between the use of the Copy ability, that last devastating blow by Decode Talker, and the environment they fought in, she didn't seem to have the strength left to end this.
The world reverted to the standard Link Vrains. Finally freed from that evil place, they'd be free to fall to the pavement without fear of losing their data to the other. Neither would be doing much falling despite a lack of consciousness, however.
From a login portal emerged Baira, flying out to grab Oblivion in midair. From where she floated, she noticed another person doing the same for Playmaker, cursing at the lost opportunity to steal the Ignis. All in due time, she thought. Ensuring Oblivion made it back in one piece was the priority for right now.
Baira moved the two of them through another portal, emerging at the Hanoi base within the network. "Don't log out until we're able to retrieve the code stored inside her," Revolver's voice echoed through the dark space.
"Wait," Oblivion muttered, the last of her willpower quickly fading. Lifting her hand, she produced a glowing green orb of rotating information. "I won't let you steal my glory. Remember who got this."
Stepping forward, Revolver himself was there to accept the transfer of data. As soon as it was complete, Oblivion lost consciousness with a smile, satisfied with a job well done.
Yusaku OC Card:
External Transmitter
Attribute: Light
Level: 4
Type: Cyberse/Effect
ATK/DEF: 1400/400
Effect:
If this card is sent to the GY: You can Special Summon it, but banish it when it leaves the field. If this card is banished: You can draw 1 card. You can only activate each effect of "External Transmitter" once per turn. by Haoh Ryu Z-ARC
Oblivion OC card:
Exile Knight: Andros, The Rusty Knight
Attribute: Dark
Level: 5
Type: Warrior/Effect
ATK/DEF: 2240/0
Effect:
If you control no monsters: You can Special Summon this card (from your hand), but for the rest of this turn Spell Cards you activate are banished instead of going to the GY. When this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle, that monster is banished.
Exile Knight: Brom, The Knight in the Broken Armor
Attribute: Dark
Level: 3
Type: Warrior/Effect
ATK/DEF: 1360/0
Effect:
If this card is banished: You can target 1 monster you control with less ATK than 1 monster your opponent controls; make the ATK of that opponent's monster equal to that of your monster. If this card is used as Link Material: You can draw 1 card, if it is a Warrior-Type monster, you can discard it; if it is not, discard it.
Exile Knight: Release, The Knight from the Rusty Spear
Attribute: Dark
Level: 3
Type: Warrior/Effect
ATK/DEF: 1420/0
Effect:
If you Link Summon a DARK Link Monster with this card as Link Material, all DARK monsters that are used as Link Material for that Link Monster are banished. {Quick Effect) If this card is banished: You can target 1 monster you control; it cannot attack during this turn, also Special Summon this banished card.
Exile-Knight: Galahad, The Steam Knight
Attribute: Dark
Level: 2
Type: Warrior/Tuner/Effect
ATK/DEF: 960/0
Effect:
If a DARK monster is Special Summoned to your field: You can Special Summon this card (from your hand), and if you do, all monsters you control lose 500 ATK. If this card is banished: You can target 1 Link Monster in your Extra Monster Zone; draw cards equal to its Link Rating.
Exile-Knight: Bruticus, the Knight of Violence 125 ATK / 0 DEF / Dark / Level 9 / Warrior / Effect. Monster Effect: (1) Once per turn when this card is sent to the banished Zone; Earn 400 life points for each link monster in your field (This card cannot return to the banished zone the same turn). When you summon a Link monster in your Main monster zone, summon this card to the field.
Exile-Knight: Percival, The Wooden Knight
Attribute: Dark
Level: 7
Type: Warrior/Effect
ATK/DEF: 450/0
Effect:
You can destroy 1 DARK monster you control, and if you do, Special Summon this card (from your hand). During the turn this card leaves the field or the next one, if it is currently banished (Quick Effect): You can target 1Dark Link Monster in your field; it prevent his destruction by battle once during each turn.
Exile-Knight: Yvonus, The Soldier
Attribute: Light
Link Rating: 2 (Left, Bottom)
Type: Cyberse/Link/Effect
ATK: 2135
Effect:
(Quick Effect): Banish 1 DARK monster this card points to, and if you do, you can increase this card's ATK by 200 ATK for each Level or Link Rating that banished monster has, until your opponent's next End Phase. If this card is banished: You can Special Summon 1 "Exile-Knight" monster from your Deck, but negate its effects until the end of this turn.
Cyberse-Jaeger: Eraser-Dragon 3000 ATK / Light / Arrows: Top ,Bottom Left, Bottom Right, Down / Cyberse / Link 4.
Materials: 3+ Effect Monsters
Monster Effect:At the start of the Damage Step, if this card attacked an opponent's monster: Banish all other monsters on the field until your next Standby Phase. If this card or a monster it points to would be destroyed, you can return 1 of your banished monsters to the GY for each card instead. Link Monsters cannot be summoned to a Main Monster Zone this card points to unless they would co-link with another Link Monster.
Dark Interception
Card Type: Spell card
Effect:
Special Summon 1 of your banished "Exile-Knight" monsters and equip it with this card. If the monster equipped with this card is used as Link Material, you can also use this card as Link Material by treating it as a DARK Effect Monster. If this card is destroyed, destroy the equipped monster.
Sacred Veto
Counter Trap Card
Card effect:When your opponent activates an effect that targets a DARK Warrior you control: Negate the activation, and if you do, that monster is unaffected by card effects besides its own until the End Phase.
Retaliation of the forgotten.
Quick Spell
Card Effect: (Quick Effect) When a Link monster is not destroyed in battle by an attack, you can cause damage to your opponent by 200 for each Link monster in the field, then summon a dark attribute monster from your deck; that has an attack equal to or less than the damage you caused in defense mode.