Chapter 5: Photon Panic

Yuma and Tori were at the mall waiting to hanging out with Shark, Rio, Amber, and their new friend Dumon, but unfortunately there was a crime in progress. Some criminal was holding shoppers hostage until he got some money.

"This is awful!" Tori said.

"Yeah!" Yuma agreed.

"Yuma! Tori!" A voice called out to them.

They both turned around to see Shark and Rio running towards them.

"Shark! Rio!" Tori said.

"Are you two okay? We saw what was going on and hoped that you two were okay!" Rio said.

"Yeah, we're fine!" Yuma said. "Hey, where's Amber and Dumon?"

"Haven't seen them." Shark said.

"I hope they're not held hostage!" Tori worried.

"I called Dumon a few minutes ago and he said he was on his way." Rio informed them.

"So, what about Amber?!" Yuma freaked.

"I haven't heard from her since yesterday." Rio said.

"Same here." Shark said.

"I'll call her." Tori said as she pulled out her phone and called Amber, but went to voicemail.

"Oh no! She could be held hostage!" Yuma panicked.

"Calm down Yuma! She probably couldn't hear her phone because of all the panic." Shark said.

But it was too late. Yuma was already running towards the scene. When he was pushing people up the stairs Astral appeared out of the key and was staring at a screen that was showing live footage of the situation and made a small gasp.

"That man…" He said as he looked at the man on the screen. "…he has a Number." He pointed to the purple 56 on his arm.

"So that's why he's acting all crazy!" Yuma said, seeing the Number markings.

Then all of the sudden everyone around him seemed to freeze. Then the glass ceiling over the hostage situation shattered and something flew in.

"What was that?! And why is everyone frozen?!" Yuma freaked.

"I have no answers for any of those questions, but I do believe they lie with where we were heading." Astral said.

But when they got there all there was to see was shattered glass and the criminal, only he looked like a wrinkly old man with bleached hair.

"Aw man! He looks like an old raisin!" Yuma commented.

Astral then floated above the man and outstretched his hand over the man, but nothing happened. "It seems his Number has been taken." He said, shocked by the fact that the man's Number was taken.

"What do you mean his Number was taken?" Yuma asked.

The man then makes a sound. "Number… hunter." He said in a voice as dry as he looked.

But before Yuma and Astral could ask what he meant, time seemed to start again and everything went crazy. The man went to the hospital under police custody to see why he suddenly aged fifty years. Shark, Rio, and Tori then found Yuma, and Tori got all in his face.

"YUMA TSUKUMO YOU HAD US WORRIED SICK!" She screamed in his face.

But before Yuma could talk they heard a voice. "Tori!" The voice said.

Everyone turned around to see Amber, who was wearing a white tank top with a red sleeveless jacket and a blue skirt with a black belt and black boots, running towards them with Dumon right behind her.

"We could hear you all the way across the mall." Dumon commented on how loud Tori was.

"We heard about the man who was keeping people hostage and hoped that you were alright." Amber said.

"We're okay, but that criminal isn't." Yuma said, showing them a photo he took of the guy as he was carted away.

"What happened to him?" Dumon asked.

"I don't know. All I saw was that he suddenly aged to eighty years old." Yuma left the part out about the Number Hunter.

"Goodness!" Amber said.

"Anyway, let's go to the new Duel Park for some practice!" Yuma said with enthusiasm. "It'll make us forget about this."

A man walked into a room with a small white robot by his side. The man was about 17, his hair was blonde and short, curled upward with three green spikes at the front. He was dressed in a long black trench coat with a high collar over a grey shirt and white pants.

"Well, good afternoon to you Kite!" A voice said. It came from a man in a tall chair wearing a light green formal suit, had orange glasses with a large red v in the center. His green hair was short and combed. It was Mr. Heartland. "I assume that your hunt was a success?"

"Yes, it was." Kite said.

"Good, and how many Numbers does that make?"

The robot then projected a screen from one of its lenses. "Eleven Numbers are now currently in our position." It responded.

"Well prepare to make that twelve, because another Number has been detected in near the new Duel Park!" Heartland said enthusiastically.

"Just make sure that my brother will be okay." Kite said as he left with the robot tailing behind him.

"Oh he will be taken care of." Heartland chuckled to himself.

After a long day of practice, Shark, Rio, Dumon, and Amber left the Duel Park. While Yuma took Tori home he couldn't help but think about what happened at the mall earlier that day. Then he noticed something was wrong, as Tori suddenly stopped walking, as did everyone else. At that moment Astral appeared.

"It seems that time has stopped. Just like at the mall." Astral observed.

Elsewhere, others were noticing the phenomenon.

"This is weird." Girag said as his tv froze.

"This is just like what happened at the mall." Dumon observed.

"Like when that Number holder turned old and lost his Number?" Mizar asked.

"Correct. I think it will do us good to investigate." Dumon said as he lead the other Emperors to the source of the trouble.

Halfway to their apartment, Shark and Rio noticed that time froze.

"What is going on?" Rio asked.

Then a ghostly form of Shark Drake appeared next to Shark. "He's near." It growled.

"Who?" Shark asked the Number.

"That Number Hunter! I can sense that he has many Numbers on him. And he is near your friend who has Numbers. I'll lead you to his location if you let me."

Shark then turned to his sister. "Rio, go home! This is not something you want to get involved in!"

"What?!" Rio exclaimed.

"Trust me! I don't want to see you get hurt again!"

Rio saw the seriousness in his face and took his advice. "Just be careful Reginald." Rio said as she left for home, wondering if it had anything to do with Numbers.

Yuma then heard a whistling sound echoing in the frozen road. Utopia then appeared next to him.

"He's here." Utopia told Yuma.

"Who?" Yuma asked.

"The Number Hunter! And I sense he allies himself with a powerful card. It's even more powerful than the eleven Numbers he has!" Utopia said.

Yuma gasped, but not because of what Utopia just said, but because a glowing red whip like object had been wrapped around his wrist. Yuma turned his head and saw who was attached to the other end.

"If you're thinking about escaping, don't bother. This Duel Anchor keeps you bound to me until our Duel is finished." Kite said.

"What is your name?" Yuma demanded.

"My name is Kite. And prepare to lose both your Number and your soul!" Kite told the frightened Duelist.

"MY SOUL?!"

"Yes. Let's just say my method of taking the Numbers is rather forceful. Number cards attach themselves to people's souls, so when I take them, their soul is taken along with it. Now let's Duel!"

"Fine! If it's a Duel you want, then it's a Duel you get!" Yuma said as he readied his Duel equipment.

"Go Photon Transformation!" Kite shouted as his body began to glow, and the color of his coat transformed from black to white. A white crescent moon shaped Duel disk spun like a boomerang before attaching itself to his wrist. And rather than using a Duel gazer, a blue tattoo surrounded his left eye, and the color of his left eye turned red.

Unaware to either of them or Astral, the three Barian Emperors had found them and were standing on top of a building. All three of their left eyes turned red.

Augmented Reality Vision Online

Yuma: 4000

Kite: 4000

"I'll go first! I draw! And since I control no monsters on my side of the field, I can Special Summon Photon Thrasher from my hand!" A strange humanoid monster appeared on the field. It was a warrior dressed in blue armor with a large orange jewel on its left shoulder. It carried a large sword in its right hand and a single red cyclops-like eye flashed on its helmet, however the strangest thing about it was its limbs. Rather than having actual flesh or skin, this monster's limbs appeared to be made of an eerie blue light.

Photon Thrasher: Level 4/LIGHT/Warrior/2100 Atk/0 Def

"Now I Normal Summon Photon Crusher in attack mode!" A second warrior appeared on the field looking just as strange and alien as Thrasher. Its armor was a combination of silver and green, and its weapon of was a double ended metal club. Like Thrasher, it also had a single eye which flashed a menacing red color.

Photon Crusher: Level 4/LIGHT/Warrior/2000 Atk/0 Def

"I will also activate the quick-play spell, Photon Lead, which lets me Special Summon Photon Goblin!" A small, but impish creature with blue skin and red eyes appeared next to the two warriors.

Photon Goblin: Level 4/LIGHT/Fiend/1000 Atk/600 Def

Astral observer the situation. "I think I know what's coming next."

"Now with these 3 Level 4 Monsters I can build the Overlay Network!"

"I XYZ SUMMON NUMBER 10: ILLUMIKNIGHT!"

From the gold Overlay Network arose the Number's sealed form, a white, claw shaped diamond with a green jewel in the center, which transformed into a majestic medieval knight. It was clothed in shiny silver armor, and it was riding a large horse that was the same color, which whinnied loudly. An orange 10 pulsed brightly on the right shoulder plate of its armor.

Number 10 Illumiknight: Rank 4/LIGHT/Warrior/2400 Atk/2400 Def

"Wow! He summoned a Number on his first turn!" Yuma exclaimed.

"Oh but I'm not done yet! I use one of Illumiknight's Overlay Units to send one card in my hand to the Graveyard! And then I get to draw one new card!" Kite then discarded a card from his hand and drew a card from his deck. "And since I sent Photon Goblin to that Graveyard as an Overlay Unit, its special ability activates! I can banish it to summon another Goblin the field!" A second Goblin the appeared on the field.

Photon Goblin: Level 4/LIGHT/Fiend/1000 Atk/600 Def

"And since the card I discarded was Photon Mirror Sage, if I Special Summoned a Photon monster when it's in the Graveyard, I can summon it to my field!" Out of the Graveyard portal was a small man with dark blue robes that had a large mirror instead of a head.

Photon Mirror Sage: Level 3/LIGHT/Spellcaster/1000 Atk/0 Def

"And when Mirror Sage is Summoned, I can make Goblin's Level 3!"

Photon Goblin: Level 3

"Are you kidding me? He's going for another one already?" Yuma exclaimed in disbelief.

"Now with these 2 monsters I build the Overlay Network once again! I XYZ SUMMON! NUMBER 20: GIGA–BRILLIANT!"

This Number's sealed form was a large cylinder with a pink jewel in the center that resembled an ant hill. It quickly transformed, revealing an enormous bipedal black and purple ant. Its arms and jaws resembled shiny silver sickle blades, and a yellow 20 was glowing brightly on one of the sickle arms.

Number 20 Giga–Brilliant: Rank 3/LIGHT/Insect/1800 Atk/1800 Def

"Now I activate Brilliant's effect. By detaching an Overlay Unit, all my monsters gain 300 attack points!"

Illumiknight Atk: 2400 + 300 = 2700

Giga–Brilliant Atk: 1800 + 300 = 2100

"I end my turn with a face down." Kite said.

Astral grew uneasy. Like Shark, Kite was not possessed by the Numbers he had. But a thought ran by him. As far as he knew, Shark had won three Numbers in addition to his starter Number, making a total of four. And according to Utopia, Kite had eleven Numbers, but it did not appear that Kite could see him, but yet Shark could. But before he could think any more Yuma began his turn.

"I draw! Okay, so this guy has two Numbers out already, and one of them is more powerful than Utopia. So I probably shouldn't bring him out." Yuma said to himself.

"But don't forget that Utopia's ability will stop any attack, so summoning him now would be the best idea." Astral reminded him.

"Okay, then I summon Goblindbergh in attack mode, and then by changing it to defense mode, I can special summon one Level 4 monster from my hand! I choose Gogogo Golem!" A red toy airplane zoomed out of the sky, with what appeared to be a shaggy grey goblin piloting it. The goblin gave a signal and four more planes airlifting a large crate came into view. The planes lowered the crate to the ground and pulled off the top of it, revealing Gogogo Golem underneath.

Goblindbergh: Level 4/EARTH/Warrior/1400 Atk/0 Def

Gogogo Golem: Level 4/EARTH/Rock/1800 Atk/1500 Def

"Now I Overlay Level 4 Gogogo Golem and Goblindbergh! I XYZ SUMMON NUMBER 39: UTOPIA!"

Yuma's signature monster bursted out of the golden portal ready to fight by his master's side.

Number 39 Utopia: Rank 4/LIGHT/Warrior/2500 Atk/2000 Def

Kite smirked. "So the Number finally shows itself. I'm going to enjoy taking it from you!"

"That's not going to happen! Utopia, destroy Giga–Brilliant! RISING SUN SLASH!"

"I activate a trap! Silent Light! This card negates your monster's attack!" Kite said as his trap created a burst of light that stopped Utopia's attack, which is what the artwork showed, only it was a different attacking monster.

Yuma groaned. "I end my turn with a face down."

"Then it's my turn! Draw!" Kite drew his card and smiled at what it was. "Now I sacrifice both Giga-Brilliant and Illumiknight!"

"WHAT?" Yuma cried out, completely confused. "Why would you get rid of your Numbers?"

Kite simply smirked. "You are about to find out!" The two Numbers exploded into particles of blue energy, and the energy began to mold together until it transformed into a red, crescent moon shaped spear. Kite caught the spear and threw it in the air, and once airborne, the spear spun and began to gather more energy, until it started growing claws, wings, a long tail, and a ferocious looking dragon head. The spear became the dragon's chest, and the dragon's new body glowed with bright blue photon light as it gave a mighty roar that shook the very ground.

"I SUMMON GALAXY EYES PHOTON DRAGON!"

Galaxy Eyes Photon Dragon: Level 8/LIGHT/Dragon/3000 Atk/2500 Def

On top of the three Barians were in complete shock from what they just saw. Mizar was most furious about it too.

"Another Galaxy Eyes?! Impossible! This will not stand!" Mizar thought to himself.

"What on Earth is that?!" Yuma screamed as he shook with fear.

"It's the ultimate beast that lives to destroy Numbers! Now Galaxy Eyes, attack Utopia! PHOTON STREAM OF DESRTUCTION!" Kite ordered his monster as its mouth gathered light and shot it at Utopia.

"Not so fast! I activate Utopia's abil-"

"That won't work because Galaxy Eyes's special ability activates! When it battles, both monsters are banished!" Kite said as both his dragon and Utopia vanished into light.

"UTOPIA NO!" Yuma screamed.

"I now end my turn with a face down. And now both our monsters return to the field. But when they do, Galaxy Eyes steals your Number's Overlay Units! Also did I mention that when Galaxy Eyes does this, he gains 500 attack points for each one!" Both monsters reappeared, but instead of orbiting around Utopia, his Overlay Units traveled to Galaxy Eyes, who absorbed it in the jewel on its chest.

Galaxy Eyes Atk: 3000 + 1000 = 4000

"Wow, that thing just got mega powerful!" Yuma said as Galaxy Eyes got even more powerful.

"I agree. That ability proves that this dragon was made for the destruction of Numbers." Astral said.

"I still won't lose! I draw!" Yuma saw the card he drew. "Alright! First I summon Gogogo Giant!" A large giant made out of stone appeared on the field.

Gogogo Giant: Level 4/EARTH/Rock/2000 Atk/0 Def

"When Giant is normal summoned, he can revive Gogogo Golem from my Graveyard in defense mode, but then Giant is changed to defense mode as well!" The Graveyard portal opened next to Gogogo Giant, and Gogogo Golem rose out of it in a defensive posture. Then, Gogogo Giant dropped down on one knee and took a defensive stance too. "Next I activate Gogogo Up! This card raises all my Gogogo monsters by one Level!" A spell showing Gogogo Golem holding a Level star, then that star transferred to both Golem and Giant.

Gogogo Giant and Golem: Level 5

"Now I Overlay both my Gogogo monsters!" The golden portal appeared and both rock monsters disappeared into it.

"I XYZ SUMMON NUMBER 61: VOLCASAURUS!"

A sphere of lava rose from the gold portal and transformed into the very first Number that Yuma encountered ever won, a giant red and orange Tyrannosaurus whose body was glowing with heat energy. It knew its master was in need of it and roared with excitement as it finally saw battle.

Number 61 Volcasaurus: Rank 5/FIRE/Dinosaur/2500 Atk/1000 Def

"Please. That Number can't hurt me." Kite said, not worried that this kid had a second Number.

"You're about to eat those words because once a turn, Volcasaurus can destroy a monster on the field and you take damage equal to its attack points! GO MAGMA MAX!" Yuma said as his monster absorbed an Overlay Unit and prepared to destroy Galaxy Eyes.

"I activate Xyz Doom! With this, your Number is destroyed and you take damage equal to its attack points!" Kite said as his trap, which showed an Xyz monster blowing up, blasted Volcasaurus and blew up into tiny pieces.

Yuma: 4000 – 2500 = 1500

"Man, I thought Volcasaurus could beat this guy!"

"As did I. And we don't have any other means of Xyz Summoning this turn. But we do have a way to survive. That trap Mirror Mail you put down will make Utopia and Galaxy Eyes have the same attack points, but Utopia will survive because it's a Number." Astral told Yuma.

"But what if he destroys that card? We will be totally defenseless! Unless…" Yuma then took a card from his hand. "I end my turn with a face down!"

Astral smiled at Yuma. The card he set was Half Unbreak, making Utopia indestructible to any attack. But he was still worried about haw this Duel will end.

"I draw!" Kite announced. "I summon Photon Cerberus in attack mode!" A large three headed dog whose body was covered in photon light appeared on the field and three heads were covered in robotic red helmets with yellow jewels glowing on their foreheads.

Photon Cerberus: Level 3/LIGHT/Beast/1300 Atk/600 Def

"When Photon Cerberus is Summoned, you cannot activate any trap cards for the rest of the turn!"

Both Yuma and Astral were paralyzed as they saw chains form around their two traps.

"If his attack works, then I'm done for." Astral said.

"I'm sorry Astral. I'm so sorry I couldn't win." Yuma said to Astral, preparing to say goodbye.

Kite smiled as he was about to make the final blow. "Galaxy Eyes Photon Dragon, attack with PHOTON STREAM OF DESTRU-"

"MASTER KITE!" Orbital 7 yelled, interrupting him. "Incoming message!"

The robot projected an image where his master could see it, and what Kite saw made his heart stop. His brother was unconscious and appeared to be in a very bad way.

"HART!" Kite yelled. He then disconnected the Duel Anchor and looked straight at Yuma. "We'll settle this later! Orbital, let's go!"

"Roger!" The robot then transformed into what resembled a white motorcycle. Kite immediately hopped on, and they dashed away in hyper drive speed.

Once they left, time started up again. Tori then saw Yuma looking into space.

"Yuma!" A voice called.

Both Yuma and Tori turned to see Shark running towards them.

"Yuma, what happened?" Shark asked. But Yuma said nothing. He then looked at Astral, who was also staring at nothing.

On the building, Mizar was furious. "I cannot believe that a pathetic human has a Galaxy Eyes! I will crush him!"

"Calm down Mizar. We don't want to rush things. You can Duel him when the time comes, but first we need to take care of Yuma. I think that will be easier now that he seems to be broken." Dumon said.

"I know just what to do." Girag said as he opened a portal and went through it.

Fanfic cards:

Photon Goblin: Level 4/LIGHT/Fiend/1000 Atk/600 Def

If this card is sent to the Graveyard as Xyz Material, Special Summon 1 "Photon Goblin" from your deck. You can only use the effect of "Photon Goblin" once per turn.

Photon Mirror Sage: Level 3/LIGHT/Spellcaster/1000 Atk/0 Def

When this card is Summoned, make the Level of 1 "Photon" monster you control Level 3. If this card is in your Graveyard and you Summoned a "Photon" monster, Special Summon this card from your Graveyard. You can only use this effect of "Photon Mirror Sage" once per turn.

Gogogo Up: Normal Spell

All face up "Gogogo" monsters you control gain 1 Level.

Silent Light: Normal Trap

When a LIGHT monster you control is targeted for an attack, negate the attack.

Xyz Doom: Normal Trap

When an opponent's Xyz Monster effect activates, destroy that monster, and your opponent takes damage equal to the destroyed monster's Atk.

Author's notes:

Wow! So Kite finally made his debut! But don't worry. He'll come back soon.