My beloved readers, you have waited long enough. Now, at last, the moment you have been waiting for is here! Rejoice in the advent of the new chapter!


Part 1: Chapter 14 – Mark of the Daughter (Part 1)

Ruri looked down upon Jack as she hovered in the air, flashes of her disciples fighting their own battles appearing in her mind as she prepared to face this new threat. Jack, meanwhile, was regarding her solemnly, a mixture of pity and grim resolution on his face. Ruri could feel the tension in the air building as neither side made a move.

Finally, Ruri could feel Jatun's patience end.

"Well, Signer!?" She heard Jatun roar through her voice. "What is your reply? Are we going to duel, or did you lose your ferocity after you killed her!?"

Ruri flinched as a flash of Jatun's memory pierced her mind. Helplessly, she watched from the underworld as a ferocious red dragon fired a blast of light and flame at the spectral form of a large hummingbird, destroying it and a young woman dueling alongside it.

"What is this?" Ruri gasped as the world and Jack came back into focus.

"Never forget this!" Jatun whispered back to her. "He will show us no mercy! Show him none in return!"

Ruri focused on Jack, feeling a slight headache as she struggled against the intense emotions coming from Jatun. Jack was still staring at her, analyzing her with a calm and collected expression on his face.

"What is your name?" Jack asked, breaking his silence.

Ruri's eyes widened, somewhat surprised by the question, though supposing that were she in Jack's shoes, she would also want to know the name of her opponent.

"I am Ruri Kurosaki," she began, straightening her posture, "I am a child of-…"

"No." Jack curtly replied, cutting her off. "That is not who you are. Who are you really?"

Ruri felt like she had been slapped in the face. It was enough to know that Jack might very well destroy her if given the chance. Why did he have to be rude on top of it?

"I am Ruri!" Ruri snapped, "I am your opponent and I will-…"

"You do not know who or what you are." Jack interrupted, narrowing his eyes at her. "I can see it in your face. All I see in you is a collection of beliefs, feelings, and abilities you have borrowed from another. Who is it who truly wants to duel me? I know you have come for revenge, and I will not deny you that right. I have known for some time that I would be called upon to answer for my past."

Ruri's eyes widened as she realized what Jack was saying.

"He's not even acknowledging me as his opponent!" She thought to herself. "He's only interested in speaking to Jatun."

"Let him ignore your strength." Jatun growled from within her. "We will fight as one and demonstrate our full power to him! But if he wants to speak with me before then, I shall oblige him!"

Ruri felt Jatun take control again as her mouth began moving to speak the words of the spirit.

"I am Jatun Waqar!" Jatun proclaimed as she spoke through Ruri's mouth. "I am the daughter of Aslla Piscu and the grand-daughter of Wiraquocha Rasca, both of whom you destroyed! My family has not forgotten their deaths, nor has it forgiven you for your murders, Burning Soul!"

Jack dipped his head in acknowledgement. "So it would seem. And like your grandfather and mother, you have decided to use another pawn in your game. Tell me, what is your goal after you obtain your revenge?"

"To undo all that you and the others like you have wrought!" Jatun shrieked through Ruri's mouth. "I will obtain freedom for my kin, and we shall restore this universe to the original order we created!"

"Jatun, what is this?" Ruri thought to her spirit, as images of a vast celestial universe flashed through her mind.

"I told you before, Ruri." Jatun whispered to her, "We will forge a paradise for all the dimensions. The same paradise that was lost when Quetzalcoatl and other gods like him destroyed it."

New images began flashing through Ruri's mind, faster than she could keep track of, images of a great battle between massive godly figures as the entire universe shook and shattered around them. Flashes of men and women with marks similar to Jack's began flashing through Ruri's vision until Jack came back into focus.

"He would see this universe continue to decay. We must defeat him if we want to accomplish our goal. Will you fight with me, Ruri?" Jatun asked, as Ruri felt a sense of deep determination flood her body.

Ruri closed her eyes, thinking about her own friends in the Xyz Dimension, and the people she had recruited in this dimension to aid her in her cause.

"Yes." Ruri replied out loud, activating her Duel Disk before glaring down at Jack. "So, Signer," she heard herself and Jatun say in unison. "do you have a preference for how we duel?"

"You are the one who wants this battle." Jack replied, maintaining a calm expression. "It makes no difference to me how we conduct this duel. Choose."

"I shall!" Ruri and Jatun said in unison, as another memory came to Ruri. Nodding her head, she indicated the ruined track-way where Shun and Crow had conducted their duel. Parts of the runway had been destroyed, but there were connections to other highways they could use for their duel.

"We shall fight in the same manner you and Aslla Piscu fought." Ruri and Jatun declared. "Our deck does not have any Speed Spells, so we will conduct a simple riding duel on this very track-way! The first one to cross that corner," she and Jatun continued, indicating a distant turn where the circular track connected with the city's main highway, "shall take the first turn. If a player crashes, or otherwise fails to continue racing, the duel ends for them!"

"Very well." Jack replied, lowering his visor. "It shall be as you wish. Do you have a duel runner?"

"We can manage with these." Ruri huffed, giving her wings a flap. "To be honest, I think you'll be the one disadvantaged driving that old tin can."

Jack arched an eyebrow, looking just a little nettled by the comment, but said nothing as he revved up the engines of his bike.

"Finally!" Ruri heard Jatun exult through her mouth, "I have been waiting an eternity for this! Let this duel commence!"

Raising her hands, Ruri felt energy surge through the mark on her back and into her veins before feeling herself conjure walls of white flame along the edges of the runway chosen for their duel. Directly in front of Ruri and Jack, a massive wall of white flame rose into the air, creating a barrier.

"When that curtain dissipates." Ruri heard Jatun say through her mouth, "We shall begin!"

Jack replied by revving up his engines, gripping his steering mechanisms as he leaned forward on his bike.

Ruri braced herself in mid-air, counting each flap of her ethereal wings as she waited for the curtain to disappear.

One…

Two…

Three…

Four…

The instant she had finished the fourth flap of her wings, the wall of flame immediately vanished, and Ruri tucked in her wings, diving forward just as Jack slammed down on his bike's accelerator.

Guided by Jatun, Ruri felt herself instinctively reacting to the wind currents around her, using them to propel her forward as she kept the starting line in her mind. She already had a strategy in mind. So long as she could take the first turn, she would be guaranteed control of the duel from the very start.

Despite Ruri's previous comment, she immediately saw that Jack's bike was no joke when it came to sheer speed and power. It took every ounce of her strength to pump her magical wings hard enough to keep up with him. However…

"This race is ours!" Jatun exulted within Ruri as she and the spirit observed the same thing in unison. "While we can fly freely through the air without obstacle, the runway in front of Jack is in disrepair! He will have to slow down to make some careful turns or risk crashing!"

Ruri nodded her head in agreement as she banked to make a turn before rapidly beating her wings again. In front of Jack, there was a gap in the runway, with only a thin bit of track connecting the two pieces. Between that and the other pieces of rubble littering the road, Jack was going to have a very difficult time maintaining control, much less winning the-…

VROOM!

Ruri gasped as, defying all logic, Jack accelerated his bike forward, ramming the pointed nose straight into a large chunk of rubble. Screaming, Ruri barely managed to dodge out of the way as Jack's circular bike flipped into the air, almost slamming right into her, before flipping around like a coin before Jack stuck the landing on the road, landing upside down and backwards so that the single wheel of his bike propelled him forwards while Jack, without the slightest bit of concern, piloted the machine while hanging upside and looking into his rear-view mirrors. Before Ruri could even begin flying forward again, Jack had crossed the starting line, before lowering the tail-end of his bike onto another piece of rubble and using the chunk of debris to flip his bike upright so that he was right-side up and the front was facing forward.

"WHAT!?" Ruri sputtered in disbelief as she crossed the starting line, still trying to process what had just happened as she drew her opening hand.

"Insufferable show-off!" Jatun raved within her. "You may have taken the first turn, but you will NOT win this duel!"

"Ore no turn!" Jack declared as he drew his opening hand before depositing it within a slot on his duel disk. "For my first move, I summon the tuner monster, Force Resonator!"

Through a blue portal, Jack's first monster, a small demon wearing a dark green cloak with a large sphere attached to the back, appeared to Jack's field, lightning crackling from its fingertips as it cackled with malicious glee.

Force Resonator / WATER / Level 2 / Fiend / Tuner / Effect / ATK 500 / DEF 500

"Next!" Jack continued, setting another card on his disk, "Since I control a face-up Resonator tuner, I can Special Summon Red Djinni from my hand! Come forth now!"

In a burst of flame, Jack's second monster, a phantasmal spirit of flame with a red turban on top of its head, appeared to his field, before crossing its arms and bowing towards Jack.

Red Djinni / FIRE / Level 4 / Fiend / Effect / ATK 900 / DEF 1500

"Red Djinni's monster effect!" Jack declared, extending his hand towards his monsters. "Once per turn, I can increase the Level of one Red or Resonator monster I control by up to two! I use this effect on Red Djinni now!"

Bowing its head, Red Djinni began waving its fiery hands in circles before conjuring a pair of golden stars, which it then swallowed.

Red Djinni: Level 6

"So you're already going all-out." Ruri observed, narrowing her eyes at him. "Don't think I'll be intimidated by whatever you're about to summon."

Jack ignored her as he raised his hand into the air.

"Using my Level two Force Resonator and my Level six Red Djinni, I Synchro Summon!" Jack declared as his Force resonator morphed into a pair of green rings which surrounded Red Djinni before the fiery spirit transformed into a set of six glowing white lights as Jack began his summoning chant.

"The heaven and earth shall tremble before the king's might. Let the power of the one and only supreme ruler be carved into your soul! Synchro Shoukan! The savage soul, Red Daemon's Dragon Scarlight!"

In an explosion of flame, Jack Atlas's signature synchro monster, a massive magma-red and black dragon with a burning scar on its right arm, appeared to his field, beating its flaming wings as it kept pace with its master.

Red Daemon's Dragon Scarlight / Level 8 / Dragon / Synchro / Effect / ATK 3000 / DEF 2500

Ruri shielded her eyes as she squinted against the burning light of Jack's monster. Something about the creature's very existence felt repugnant to her, as if it was nothing more than a blight on the universe.

"You…" Jatun murmured from within Ruri, "you were the one who fought both my mother and my grandfather! Know this right now, Scarlight! I will end your rampage once and for all!"

As if in response, Jack's dragon roared in Ruri's direction, bearing its scarred wrist in the air as flames burned against its red-hot body.

"The effect of Scarlight activates!" Jack continued as a card slid from his deck. "Since Red Djinni was used as a Synchro Material, when my Red Demon's Dragon Scarlight is summoned, I can add one Red Trap Card from my deck to my hand! Using this effect, I add Red Burst from my deck to my hand before setting it!"

"So you've called forth your ace monster and you're setting a trap card to protect it?" Ruri observed, tossing back her hair as she beat her wings to keep up with Jack, "Do you really think that will be enough to defeat me?"

"I do not know who you are." Jack replied as he continued driving his bike, not even bothering to look her in the eye, "But whoever you might be, I can see that you have already been defeated. Learn to win for yourself, and I might decide to learn who you are in a duel."

Ruri clenched her jaw in frustration, unable to believe what she was hearing. What the heck did this arrogant Signer think he was saying!? You have already been defeated? Was he honestly that certain of his victory!?

Is if in reply, Jack continued with his turn as if he had never been interrupted.

"Since I Synchro Summoned a DARK Dragon-Type monster this turn, I can discard Gravity Resonator from my hand in order to Special Summon one Resonator Monster from my deck! Using this effect, I call upon Soul Resonator! Come forth now!" Jack ordered as he deposited a card from his hand into the graveyard before removing a card from his deck and setting it on his duel disk.

Appearing briefly, Gravity Resonator, a small fiend similar to Force Resonator, but with gray robes, a black hole in its chest, and a tuning fork in each hand, sank into a black portal leading into the graveyard. Just before disappearing completely from sight, a small white light burst forth from the black hole on its chest before the light coalesced into another small fiend wearing a white robe, a halo resting on top of its head while a pair of burning angel wings fluttered on its back.

Soul Resonator / FIRE / Level 1 / Fiend / Tuner / Effect / ATK 500 / DEF 500

"Soul Resonator's effect!" Jack declared, extending his hand towards his monster. "If it is Special Summoned, I can Special Summon one Red monster from my graveyard! Come forth! Red Djinni!"

Clapping its hands together as if praying, Soul Resonator closed its eyes, conjuring a black portal in the ground through which Jack's Red Djinni reappeared, bowing its head as its body burst to life with renewed flame.

Red Djinni / FIRE / Level 4 / Fiend / Effect / ATK 900 / DEF 1500

"Red Djinni's effect!" Jack continued, "I target my Soul Resonator in order to increase its Level by one!"

Soul Resonator: Level 2

"Another Synchro Summon." Ruri growled, growing more and more frustrated that she did not manage to get the first turn.

"He's building up an army." Jatun mused.

"Then we'll tear it down!" Ruri replied as she thought of the people she needed to save, glancing briefly at the disciples escorting Shun to a safe haven. The Phoenix Guard had already caught up to them, and some of them were beginning to duel.

Ruri's focus snapped back to the duel as Jack began his summoning chant, his two monsters already synchronizing with one another.

"When the burning soul of Hell resonates with the soul of purity, the king's disciple shall be born! Witness the strength of the true king's servant! Synchro Shoukan! Hail the beginning of the King's reign! Level six! Red Drake!"

Racing down onto Jack's field in a spiral of red-hot flame, Jack's new Synchro Monster, a small and slender red dragon with a narrow beak that looked like it was made from black and red magma, fiery yellow eyes, slender flaming wings, and long sharp claws, appeared, descending in order to fly just parallel to Jack's larger Red Daemon's Dragon Scarlight.

Red Drake / DARK / Level 6 / Dragon / Synchro / Effect / ATK 2000 / DEF 2500

"The effect of Red Drake activates since Red Djinni was used as its Material!" Jack continued, drawing another Trap Card from his deck before setting it on his duel disk. "I set Red Dominance face down before setting two more cards face down. Turn end." He finished before revving up his engine, speeding forward, and then turning his bike around to face his opponent as if daring Ruri and Jatun to attack him.

Ruri narrowed her eyes at the four set cards Jack had accumulated. Clearly it would be foolish to just rush in and attack him, even if she managed to summon a stronger monster than his two Synchro Monsters.

"Fortunately." Jatun commented, "We have a card that can deal with this."

Ruri nodded her head in agreement, determined not to let either Jack's army of Synchro Monsters, or the four set cards he had accumulated on his opening turn intimidate her.

"My turn." Ruri declared, placing her hand on top of her deck as she continued to fly forward. "DRAW!"

Looking at the card she just drew, Ruri nodded her head, she had exactly what she needed to deal with Jack's death trap. But first…

"I discard the monster, Fallen Angelic Guide, from my hand in order to activate its effect!" Ruri began, sending a card from her hand to the graveyard as her angel covered in thick black cloth descended into a pitch-black portal. "I add the Field Spell Card, Sanctified Realm, from my deck to my hand! And with that done," she continued, as she added her Field Spell Card from her deck to her hand, "I activate my Field Spell Card! Behold the glory of Sanctified Realm!"

Upon placing her card in the slot reserved for Field Spell Cards, the entire sky above and runway beneath Ruri began to transform as pure white clouds enveloped the city, making it appear as if she and Jack were dueling in the heavens themselves.

Jack looked upon the pure white clouds, eyes narrowed.

"Do you like it?" Ruri asked, unable to resist the chance to tease him, "Well it gets better! Not only does Sanctified Realm protect the life points of any player who controls a monster Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, and who has no monsters in their graveyard, it also protects each of those player's cards from being destroyed once per turn, and enables them to search out one Spell or Trap Card from my deck. I would, of course, have been happy to share these fantastic effects with you, but then again…" she continued as she looked on a patch of the field where the clouds had darkened and the spectral forms of Jack's Force Resonator, Red Djinni, Gravity Resonator, and Soul Resonator writhed within, "I don't think your graveyard is pure enough for that."

"Cease to hide behind your pawn and duel me face to face, Jatun." Jack calmly replied, turning his back to Ruri. "I have little interest in opponents who are not committed."

Ruri felt as if she had been punched in the gut. Shocked, she stared at Jack open-mouthed, unable to comprehend how utterly disrespectful he was being, before she felt rage from both herself and Jatun overwhelm every fiber of her being.

"Commitment!?" Ruri and Jatun roared in unison, "COMMITMENT!? YOU KNOW NOTHING OF COMMITMENT, JACK ATLAS! WHILE YOU HAVE FOUGHT FOR YOUR OWN GLORY, I HAVE FOUGHT TO PROTECT MY COMRADES IN XYZ,

I HAVE FOUGHT FOR MY DIVINE FAMILY AND KIN WHO HAVE BEEN WRONGLY IMPROSONED BECAUSE OF THE EVIL OF YOUR RACE,

I HAVE FOUGHT FOR MY BROTHER AND FRIEND WHO ARE ALSO DEDICATING THEIR LIVES TO PROTECT THE ONES THEY LOVE,

AND WE ARE FIGHTING FOR EVERYONE ELSE WE LOVE! WE HAVE COMMITTED OUR VERY EXISTENCE TO THIS NOBLE CAUSE, AND WE WILL NOT ALLOW UNCLEAN SCUM LIKE YOURSELF TO MOCK THAT DEDICATION!"

"Fools who follow a path chosen for them deserve no honor, Jatun." Jack bluntly replied, turning his head around slightly to regard Ruri with narrowed eyes. "Even to this day, with all the suffering you have endured from your ruler's ambition, the formerly divine gods who have become the Earthbound lack the courage to question her leadership and turn away from the path of destruction."

Ruri felt Jatun quivering with impotent rage within her, feeling the emotion's bleed into her own heart. But as she digested the raw emotion, she discovered, to her growing anxiety, that there was something more to Jatun's feelings. Was she feeling fear?

A memory flashed into her mind, Jatun's memory.

"Wiraqocha Rasca, Uru, Ccapac Apu, Chacu Challhua, Cusillu, Ccarayhua, Aslla Piscu, and Tezcatlipoca, the Crimson Devil himself, have all failed us." A powerful godly voice proclaimed as Jatun looked up at the face of The Great Matriarch, a spectral eight-armed woman with a burning multi-colored spiral mark on her forehead, chest, and mid-riff. To either side of her, Ruri saw the spectral forms of other great spirits, some shaped like animals, some like plants, some like geometrical figures, others vaguely humanoid, all of them so much smaller than The Great Matriarch in comparison, and all of them enraptured by their creator's godly presence as they listened to her next command. "But I have already prepared a contingency. My children, our deliverance is at hand! The eight reincarnations have been born! Soon they shall be ready to bear our power! By them, our curse shall end and a new universe shall be born! Who among you all is worthy to guide the reincarnations on this path!?"

Through Jatun's eyes, Ruri saw herself step forward before coming back to reality.

"No…" Jatun whispered from within her. "I will not be shaken! I will not have my faith tarnished by you, Burning Soul!"

"Jatun…" Ruri breathed, feeling immense pain come over her. "What is this? What aren't you telling me!?"

Jatun was silent.

"We have to focus on the duel!" Jatun begged, sounding desperate. I promise, I will tell you everything! But right now, we have to defeat the Signer! We can't let him divide us! Please trust me!"

Ruri clenched her fist, desperately wanting to understand what Jatun was going through, but was forced to agree with her as she realized that she would reach the time limit of her turn if she continued wasting her time. Looking down at Jack, who was continuing to pilot his bike without even so much as glancing at them, Ruri felt her rage rise up again. Was this his real tactic all along? Was he just trying to keep her off balance so she wouldn't be focused on the duel? Well if that was his game, then she wasn't going to let him win it!

Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, even though her undead body didn't need it, Ruri forced herself to calm down.

"I don't care what you think about me." Ruri breathed, as she pulled a card from her hand. "I know what I am fighting for. I know what I died for. Who are you to judge me?"

Jack remained silent as he piloted his bike, a look of grave concentration etched on his face.

"No words this time?" Ruri asked. "Very well then. I will continue with my turn! I summon the Level three monster, Salvation Seraphim Martyr!"

Appearing to her field, Ruri's bound and chained black-winged angel emerged through a blue portal before hovering next to Ruri.

Salvation Seraphim Martyr / LIGHT / Level 3 / Winged Beast / Effect / ATK 300 / DEF 1800

"Next!" Ruri continued, tearing another card from her hand before placing it on her disk, "Since I control a Salvation Seraphim monster, I Special Summon Salvation Seraphim Apostle from my hand!"

Emerging from the portal, Ruri's brown haired-angel with white-and-gold robes, and raven-black wings decorated with golden tassels, appeared to Ruri's field, chanting in an angelic tongue while reading from a tome she carried in one hand and drawing golden shapes in the air with her other hand.

Salvation Seraphim Apostle / LIGHT / Level 3 / Winged Beast / Effect / ATK 1600 / DEF 100

"Salvation Seraphim Apostle's effect!" Ruri continued, raising her hand into the air. "Since it was Special Summoned, I add Salvation Seraphim Acolyte from my deck to my hand. And now that that's done," she continued, adding the monster to her hand, "I can discard the acolyte I just added to my hand in order to set one Salvation Seraphim Card from my deck!"

Descending into a black portal, a petit angel in a shrine maiden's outfit appeared to Ruri's field. Just before it sank out of sight it raised its hands into the air, conjuring a set card to one of Ruri's Spell/Trap Card zones.

"With that done," Ruri continued, "I next Special Summon Salvation Seraphim Healer with her own effect."

Joining Ruri's other two monsters, a black-winged angel with curly blonde hair decorated with healing herbs, and a poultice of golden paste in one of her hands, joined Ruri and her monsters in flight, wings spreading gold dust wherever she flew.

Salvation Seraphim Healer / LIGHT / Level 3 / Winged Beast / Effect / ATK 100 / DEF 1000

"Healer's effect!" Ruri declared before Healer responded to her command by pouring her golden poultice into a black portal that appeared just beneath her. "I send one card from the top of my deck to the graveyard in order to Special Summon one Salvation Seraphim Monster from my graveyard."

Plucking a card from the top of her deck, she glanced at it before depositing it into her duel disk.

"Since the card I sent to the graveyard was a Salvation Seraphim monster, I will use Healer's effect to Special Summon it! Behold! Salvation Seraphim Priestess!"

Adding to the legion of black-winged angels on Ruri's field, Priestess joined the others in flight before raising her lapis lazuli inlaid staff into the air as the wind blew through her elegant headdress.

Salvation Seraphim Priestess / DARK / Level 3 / Winged Beast / ATK 1200 / DEF 1000

"Priestesses effect!" Ruri declared. "Since it was summoned, I excavate the top three cards of my deck in order to add one excavated Salvation Seraphim Monster to my hand while sending all other excavated cards to the graveyard!"

Plucking the top three cards from her deck, Ruri glanced at them before continuing with her turn.

"The cards I excavated were Fallen Afterlife Caretaker, Fallen Divine Mentor, and Earthbound Genesis. Since none of these are Salvation Seraphim monsters, they are all sent to the graveyard."

Descending into the GY, an angel-like woman covered from head-to-toe in kanji-covered paper, a stooped angel in a black hood and cloak, and a spell card depicting lights bursting forth from the nazca lines appeared in the air before each of them sank into black portals.

"However," Ruri continued, the corners of her mouth rising into a smile. "that can work to my advantage."

"It is almost time." Jatun murmured from within here. "With Earthbound Genesis, my advent will soon come to pass!"

Ruri felt herself nod in agreement as her eyes and her mark began glowing with light.

"I activate the graveyard effect of my Fallen Afterlife Caretaker!" she proclaimed, raising her hand into the air. "If it is in the graveyard, I can banish it and any number of other monsters from my graveyard in order to activate one of its effects! I banish Caretaker and Mentor in order to add my Earthbound Genesis in my graveyard to my hand!"

Appearing in front of Ruri, the ghostly form of Afterlife Caretaker appeared before producing a copy of Earthbound Genesis in one of his thin hands and handing it to Ruri. After shuffling the card into her hand, Ruri next stretched her hand towards the card she had set.

"I next activate my face-down card, which was set by Acolyte's effect! Behold the power of Salvation Seraphim Ascension Force!"

Upon activating her face-down, a pillar of immense white light shot out from the face of the card before the double "S" symbol of the Salvation Seraphim materialized near the top of the pillar.

"The time is now at hand!" Ruri declared raising her hand into the air. "I overlay my Level three Salvation Seraphim Martyr, Apostle, Healer, and Priestess in order to Xyz Summon!"

Transforming into four streams of golden light, all four of Ruri's monsters merged together into a single powerful strand of light, which drained into a swirling Xyz portal as Ruri began her summoning chant.

"Noble heavenly servant, clad in the armor of righteousness," Ruri began, clapping her hands together and bowing her head in a prayer position, "take courage now as you raise your blade to smite the forces of darkness and bring salvation to this world! Xyz Shoukan! Rank three! Salvation Seraphim Brave Crusader!"

Rising from the explosion of the portal, Ruri's blonde-haired Salvation Seraphim Brave Crusader rocketed into the air before unfurling her shining white wings and unsheathing her sword, which had four spheres of glowing light orbiting the blade.

Salvation Seraphim Brave Crusader / LIGHT / Rank 3 / Winged Beast / Xyz / Effect / ATK 1800 / DEF 700

"Ascension Force, Brave Crusader, and Martyr's effects all activate in sequence!" Ruri declared, indicating the clouds to either side of herself, which held the spirits of the monsters in her graveyard. "Since Martyr was used as a Material, I attach my Fallen Angelic Guide to my Brave Crusader as an Xyz Material while Brave Crusader attaches Acolyte to itself as an Xyz Material! Finally, with the power of my Ascension Force, I attach the Rank one Salvation Seraphim Inquisitor in my Extra Deck to my monster as an Xyz Material!"

Approaching the pillar of light, Ruri's hooded Inquisitor, burka wearing Angelic Guide, and petit Acolyte each entered the shining column before shrinking into three spheres of light, the light that was once Inquisitor orbiting the body of Brave Crusader while the other two joined the first four orbiting the blade of the sword.

"Brave Crusader gains one-hundred ATK and DEF for each of its Overlay Units." Ruri explained as Jack continued to pilot his bike, maintaining a lead while driving along the city highway.

Salvation Seraphim Brave Crusader: 1800 + (7 X 100) = 2500 ATK / 700 + (7 X 100) = 1400 DEF / 7 OU

"Furthermore," Ruri continued, "My Crusader Xyz Monsters gain the effects of any of the Salvation Seraphim Xyz Monsters attached to them as Material! So with the power of the attached Inquisitor, so long as I have no monsters in my graveyard, any time you would Special Summon a monster, I can banish three overlay units attached to my monster in order to negate the Special Summon and destroy your monster!"

"A pointless trick." Jack countered, twisting the accelerator and rocketing forward before turning his one-wheeled bike around to face her while the wheel reversed direction so that he continued to progress forward along the runway. "If that is the extent of your power, then you will never lay so much as a scratch upon The King!"

"How is this for a scratch!?" Ruri snarled, feeling her and Jatun's anger swell once again as she and Jatun selected a Spell Card from their hand.

"His confidence comes from his wall of face-downs." Jatun whispered, "So long as he has those, he will no doubt be able to protect himself. But we shall render that a moot point."

Ruri nodded her head in agreement before she and Jatun activated the card they had selected.

"Magic Card activate!" She and Jatun declared in unison as her mark and eyes lit up with white light, "Salvation Seraphim Consecration Force! If we control a Salvation Seraphim monster, we can destroy one Magic or Trap Card our opponent controls! However," they continued as their Spell Card, a card which depicted Salvation Seraphim Glorious Crusader casting a wave of cleansing fire upon the earth, materialized in Ruri's Spell/Trap Card Zone, "If we control a Salvation Seraphim Xyz Monster and have no monsters in our GY, we can instead destroy ALL Magic and Trap Cards our opponent controls AND inflict two-hundred damage to our opponent for each of their cards destroyed with this effect! BURN IN FLAMES NOW, JACK ATLAS! SALVATION SERAPHIM BRAVE CRUSADER, UNLEASH THE POWER OF CONSECRATION FORCE! PURIFYING FLAME!"

Rising into the air, Brave Crusader let out a powerful war cry before stretching her left palm outwards and unleashing an immense wall of flame, which roared towards Jack's field.

"Counter Trap!" Jack shouted back over the sound of the roaring fire, calmly stretching out his hand in order to activate one of his face-downs. "Red Command! If an effect activates that would destroy a Magic or Trap Card I control while I control a DARK Dragon-Type Synchro Monster, I can negate the effect and destroy it!"

Charging into the flames, Jack's Red Daemon's Dragon, Scarlight created a shield with his burning wings, dispersing the heat before unfurling his wings with a roar, displaying absolutely no burn wounds from the effect of Ruri's spell.

Ruri clenched her teeth and fists in anger as she witnessed her spell fail. Jack, meanwhile, was pointing his finger at her, face showing a look of extreme disappointment.

"Your strategy is nothing more than one of self-preservation and cowardice." Jack lectured, causing Ruri to feel herself tremble with rage. "You're attitude is one of a pouting child who tries to rig the game in her favor while being completely unable to accept risk and adapt to failure!"

"Shut up! SHUT UP!" Ruri felt herself and Jatun scream, veins pulsating on her skin. "You are nothing more than an arrogant fool, King, and you shall bleed for your hubris! SALVATION SERAPHIM BRAVE CRUSADER'S EFFECT!" Ruri and Jatun commanded in unison, stretching their hand towards their monster, "Since we have no monsters in our graveyard, we detach all Overlay Units from our monster in order to inflict seven-hundred damage to your life points! GO! DIVINE SLASH!"

Absorbing all its overlay units into her sword, Brave Crusader slashed through the air once with her sword, creating an arc of pure energy, which flew down into Jack's bike, slashing the Signer right in the shoulder and opening up a deep gash, which stained his pristine white suit with a deep crimson.

Jack Atlas: 4000 – 700 = 3300 LP

Ruri felt herself and Jatun smile, feeling immense satisfaction as Jack let out a yelp of pain before managing to regain control of his swerving bike.

"Pride commeth before the fall, Jack Atlas." Ruri purred as she looked Jack in the eye while he shot back a look of immense contempt. "And your fall shall be very great indeed! I next activate Salvation Seraphim Pilgrimage Force! Using my Brave Crusader as the Material, I rank-up my monster two ranks in order to Xyz Summon my Rank five Salvation Seraphim Honored Crusader!"

In the sky above Brave Crusader, the double "S" Symbol of the Salvation Seraphim Appeared. Flying into the center of the mark, Brave Crusader began evolving as Ruri commenced her summoning chant.

"Honorable protector who shines with the light of truth! Spread your wings bathed in the glory of heaven and drive back evil with the fury of your unconquerable spirit! RANK-UP XYZ CHANGE!" She declared as the double "S" symbol exploded in a pillar of light. "Descend now! Rank five! Salvation Seraphim Honored Crusader!"

Roaring forth from the portal, Ruri's red-headed Angel with white wings decorated with golden spheres of light, and a massive golden sword in one of her hands, appeared to Ruri's field.

Salvation Seraphim Honored Crusader / LIGHT / Rank 5 / Winged Beast / Xyz / Effect / ATK 2400 / DEF 1800

"The effect of Ascension Force and my Honored Crusader both activate!" Ruri declared, feeling her power increase, "Ascension Force will attach my Salvation Seraphim Inspired Crusader to my monster as an Xyz Material while Honored Crusader will attach all Salvation Seraphim Monsters in my graveyard to my monster as Xyz Material!"

Raising her golden sword into the air, Honored crusader summoned the spirits of Ruri's Salvation Seraphim monsters to herself before the black-haired angel wearing white armor that was Inspired Crusader joined the other seraphim, who all transformed into spheres of light before orbiting honored Crusader's sword and body.

Honored Crusader: 3200 ATK / 2600 DEF / 8 OU

"Now you're probably thinking," Ruri continued, not failing to catch Jack's subtle glance at the Fallen Angelic Guide floating amongst the clouds, "that since I have a monster in the graveyard, then my monster won't be able to use its other effects. But that's why I can do this! Fallen Angelic Guide's effect! If I control a face-up Field Spell Card, I can Special Summon my monster from my graveyard! Return now!"

Rising from a black portal, Ruri's burka clad angel appeared to her field before holding up a glowing lantern.

Fallen Angelic Guide / LIGHT / Level 1 / Fairy / Effect / ATK 0 / DEF 0 / Defense Position

"And now, since I now have no monsters in my graveyard, and frankly, since I'm still just a little ticked from earlier," Ruri admitted, smirking at Jack before stretching her hand towards him, "I think I'll have Honored Crusader use the inherited effect of Brave Crusader! I detach my Salvation Seraphim Apostle and Martyr from my monster in order to inflict two-hundred more damage to your Life Points! GO! Divine Slash!"

Absorbing two spheres orbiting the blade of her sword, Honored Crusader conjured another arc of light in the air with her sword before sending it into Jack's face, slicing open a nasty cut in his cheek.

Jack Atlas: 3300 – 200 = 3100 LP

Jack calmly wiped the blood from his cheek before staring back up at Ruri.

"Have you finished with your temper tantrum, Jatun?"

Ruri ground her teeth together.

"I'm also here, you know." She growled. "But in case you were wondering, yes. That was just for fun. Playtime is over! Now you will face my full wrath! I banish my Pilgrimage Force from my graveyard in order to reattach my Martyr and Apostle to my Honored Crusader as Xyz Material." She continued as her two Salvation Seraphim Monsters ascended from the GY before transforming back into spheres of white light. "And with that done, I can continue with my original plan! Since I have no monsters in my graveyard, I tribute my Salvation Seraphim Ascension Force in order to rank-up my Honored Crusader into a stronger form! Go my Honored Crusader! Seize your new destiny!"

Nodding her head, Honored Crusader flew to the top of the glowing pillar of light, right between the two wing-shaped S's before undergoing a transformation into a stronger form as Ruri commenced another summoning chant.

"Unyielding guardian whose devotion to the gospel of salvation knows no bounds, unleash your righteous fury upon all the works of the evil one as you commit your heart to a life of consecrated service! RANK-UP XYZ CHANGE!" Ruri and Jatun roared in unison as their new monster burst forth from the pillar of light, which slowly vanished. "Rank six! Salvation Seraphim Zealous Crusader!"

Wild red-and-orange hair billowing in the wind as she descended from the sky, Zealous Crusader bathed the surrounding clouds in a blood-red light as her angelic armor blazed with holy flame. Unsheathing a massive serrated zweihander, Zealous Crusader's eyes and the double S mark on her chest blazed with golden light as she took up position next to her master.

Salvation Seraphim Zealous Crusader / LIGHT / Rank 6 / Winged Beast / Xyz / Effect / ATK 2800 / DEF 2100

"Are you finally impressed, Jack?" Ruri growled, staring down at him. "You should be. My Zealous Crusader bears the power of all the Xyz Materials attached to herself, in addition to her own power, meaning that with her nine Overlay Units, she is now far stronger than your own ace monster."

Salvation Seraphim Zealous Crusader: 2800 + 900 = 3700 ATK

Jack closed his eyes, a weary expression coming over his face before he opened his eyes again.

"While I control Red Demon's Dragon, Scarlight, my Red Drake cannot be targeted for attacks. Come, Jatun! Our champions shall battle just as you desire!"

Ruri stared down at Jack with a cold expression.

"Before I defeat you, I WILL have you acknowledge my existence!" she vowed.

"You must first acknowledge your existence yourself." Jack countered, eyes narrowing as he stared up at her. "As you are now, you have given up everything that gave you your identity in favor of someone else's vision for you!"

"What are you saying!?" Ruri growled, teeth clenched with fury.

"That you are a slave, less even." Jack replied. "When two duelists engage in battle, they come to know one another through their cards, but I have heard nothing from you! These," he continued, pointing at Zealous Crusader, "are not your cards, and this is not your duel! Her voice," he added, pointing at the mark glowing against Ruri's back before his face assumed a more sorrowful expression, "I have heard…one other time, when I was forced to fight another who had lost her own voice."

Ruri stared down at Jack, now astonished by the sudden change that had come over his expression. Was he…weeping?

Angrily, she shook her head, enraged that this signer was able to play with her emotions so easily. No more!

"No more riddles, Jack!" she roared, "I will not be manipulated by you! I will defeat you, and rebuild the universe into a paradise for all the downtrodden!"

"If you will not listen, if you will refuse to understand, then I'm afraid there can be no hope for you." Jack replied, voice heavy with sorrow.

"You are the one who lost all hope when you destroyed my family!" Jatun shrieked from within Ruri before she felt her emotions get overwhelmed by the spirit's presence.

"Salvation Seraphim Zealous Crusader," Ruri and Jatun roared in unison, "destroy Jack's Red Daemon's Dragon, Scarlight! Sword of Conviction!"

Letting out a battle-cry, Zealous Crusader charged towards Jack's Scarlight, wings and sword bursting into flame as she unleashed her power. Roaring back at her, Scarlight charged back, the scar on his right arm blazing with light and fire as he stretched his claws towards the angel. Flying high into the air, the two monsters made several passes at each other, sword and shield clashing against claws and teeth.

"Zealous Crusader's Effect!" Ruri declared, stretching her hand towards her monster, "Thanks to the inherited effect of Inspired Crusader, if it battles a monster while I have no monsters in my graveyard, the monster it is battling has its effects negated and it loses one-hundred ATK and DEF for each of my monster's overlay units!"

"Trap Activate!" Jack countered, stretching his hand towards one of his face-downs, "Red Burst! Using the effect of this Trap Card, I can increase my monster's ATK by one-thousand while enabling it to immediately activate its effect!"

"I won't let you!" Ruri countered. "Salvation Seraphim Zealous Crusader's own effect! If I have no monsters in my graveyard when my opponent activates a card or effect, I can banish three Xyz Materials from my monster in order to negate the activation of that card or effect and destroy it! GO! ZEALOUS SPIRIT!"

Raising her sword into the air, Zealous Crusader pulled three of the overlay units circling her sword out of orbit before arranging them in a triangular pattern just in front of her. Connecting the three overlay units, a golden cross appeared between the three points before firing a blast of golden light into Jack's Trap Card.

Zealous Crusader: 3400 ATK (6 Overlay Units)

"Counter Trap!" Jack replied, stretching his hand towards another of his face-downs. "Red Dominance! Until the end of this turn, Red Daemon's Dragon monsters I control gain one-thousand ATK, cannot have their effects negated, and cannot be destroyed by battle or card effect! Go, Red Daemon's Dragon, Scarlight! COUNTERATTACK!"

"The effects will resolve in order!" Ruri countered, watching the battle taking place between their two monsters, "Even if your monster won't be destroyed this turn, that doesn't mean it will have more power than my Crusader!"

"Neither will your Crusader." Jack replied, pointing up into the sky towards the holographic indicators.

Red Daemon's Dragon, Scarlight: (3000 + 1000) – (100 X 6) = 3400 ATK

Zealous Crusader: 3400 ATK

Ruri clenched her fists as she watched her Zealous Crusader smash her massive sword against the calloused right arm of Scarlight, neither monster giving an inch.

"Sanctified Realm's effect!" She declared. "Once per turn, each card I control cannot be destroyed by battle or card effect!"

Opening its mouth, Scarlight let loose a burst of crimson flame straight into Zealous Crusader, who managed to block the torrent of flame with her red-and-gold shield, but not without getting knocked back. Their battle done, both monsters returned to the fields of their respective masters before Ruri ended her Battle Phase.

"It's not done yet." Ruri growled as she stretched her hand towards the cloudy field. "I activate another effect of my Sanctified Realm! Using its effect, I add Rank-Up-Magic Paragon Force from my deck to my hand."

From the depths of one of the clouds, a card appeared before flying into Ruri's hand.

"With that done," Ruri continued, "I set two cards face-down and end my turn!"

As the two cards materialized into her Spell/Trap Zones, Ruri felt the crushing emotions of both despair and frustration overwhelm her.

"I wasn't trying to go easy on him! But he's managed to outplay me at every turn!"

"Why did I think I could avenge my mother and grandfather when they were both destroyed by him? Did I think I was stronger than either of them?"

"If I don't find a way to survive this next turn then-…"

Ruri's mind drifted towards the disciples who were driving away with her brother.

Current State of Duel

Shun, Hiroto, and Mayumi vs. Adeel and Semal Haddad

Shun:

4000 LP

2 cards in his hand.

Controls Raidraptor – Devil Eagle

Raidraptor – Devil Eagle / DARK / Rank 3 / Winged Beast / Xyz / Effect / ATK 1000 / DEF 0 (0 Overlay Units).

Hiroto:

700 LP

No cards in his hand.

Controls Angel of Zera and Dimensional Fissure

Angel of Zera / LIGHT / Level 8 / Fairy / Synchro / Effect / ATK 2800 / DEF 2300

Mayuri:

700 LP

No cards in her hand.

Controls Chaos Goddess

Chaos Goddess / LIGHT / Level 8 / Spellcaster / Synchro / Effect / ATK 2500 / DEF 1800

Semal Haddad:

4000 LP

No cards in his hand

Controls Celestial Hero Galactic Void and Celestial Hero Superluminal Charger

Celestial Hero Galactic Void / DARK / 10 / Warrior / Synchro / Effect / ATK 3200 / DEF 3000

Celestial Hero Superluminal Charger / LIGHT / Level 8 / Thunder / Synchro / Effect / ATK 2300 / DEF 2400

Adeel Haddad:

2400 LP

1 card in his hand

Controls Amaterasu the Celestial Canine Wolf and Orthrus the Legendary Canine Guardian

Amaterasu the Celestial Canine Wolf / LIGHT / Rank 7/ Beast / Xyz / Effect / ATK 2900 / DEF 2600 / 0 Ink Counters / 0 overlay units
Orthrus the Legendary Canine Guardian / EARTH / Level 6 / Beast / Synchro / Effect / ATK 2600 / DEF 600

Through Mayuri, a short female security officer, she saw the Phoenix Guardsman named Adeel continue his turn.

"I discard the monster, Majestic Gate, in order to enable Amaterasu the Celestial Canine Wolf to attack your life points directly. Go! Direct attack!" Adeel ordered, stretching his hand towards his white wolf.

Letting out a howl, Amaterasu created a wave of sound, which slammed into the bike carrying Mayuri and Shun, damaging Shun's LP.

"Shun!" Ruri heard herself scream.

Shun: 4000 – 2900 = 1100 LP

"This is insane!" Ruri heard Mayuri cry. "How are we supposed to beat them if they keep attacking us directly like this!?"

"Keep driving!" Shun shouted back as he focused on the duel. "They have not defeated us yet!"

"I don't want to have to harm you anymore!" Adeel shouted from his sidecar as Mayuri managed to steady her bike. "Surrender now and we can exorcise the dark energy within you without destroying you!"

"We've got the advantage." Semal agreed, as he continued piloting the bike. "Galactic Void negates the effects of all Spells and Traps on the field and my Superluminal Charger can attack directly and attack twice!"

"Not to mention that I still have an attack from Orthrus." Adeel added.

"How did they get through the other disciples!?" Ruri thought in panic as she began looking through the eyes of the other disciples who were supposed to escort Shun.

Pyotr vs. Kyosuke Kiryu II

Current State of the Duel

Pyotr:

4000 LP

4 cards in his hand

Controls Mineral Quarry, Mineral Industry, Rock Sentinel Sedimentary, and Rock Sentinel Igneous

Rock Sentinel Sedimentary / WATER / Rank 2 / Rock / Xyz / Effect / ATK 3900 / DEF 2400 / 3 Overlay Units

Rock Sentinel Igneous / FIRE / Level 6 ( + 8 with its own effect) = 14 / Rock / Synchro / Effect / ATK 4200 ATK / DEF 2800

Kiryu:

4000 LP

No cards in his hand

Controls Infernity Des Sharpshooter, Infernity Tomahawk Striker, and 4 face-down cards.

Infernity Des Sharpshooter / DARK / Level 7 / Fiend / Synchro / Effect / ATK 2400 / DEF 1500

Infernity Tomahawk Striker / DARK / Level 7 / Fiend / Synchro / Effect / ATK 2700 / DEF 500

"You did a good job holding me up so that your friends could slip through." Ruri heard Pyotr growl. "But I will not let you get past me! Once I've defeated you, then I will help my comrades defeat the rest of your allies!"

"Come at me then." Kiryu challenged, revving up the engine of his bike.

"Very well!" Pyotr replied. "I activate Fusion from my hand, fusing my Mineral Guardian Tungsten Shield, Magnetite Dagger, and Iron Fist together in order to Fusion Summon! Fearsome Warriors of stone, withstand the test and pressure of time and become hardened into an invincible guardian! Yuugo shoukan! Come forth! Level six! Rock Sentinel Metamorphic!"

Appearing through the Fusion Portal, Pyotr's Fusion Monster, a living feminine statue made of marble, gneiss, slate, schist, and quartzite, hopped onto Pyotr's field before unsheathing a large black sword made of onyx.

Rock Sentinel Metamorphic / EARTH / Level 6 / Rock / Fusion / Effect / ATK ? / DEF 2000

"Rock Sentinel Metamorphic's original ATK is equal to the number of monsters used in its Fusion Summon times three-hundred." Pyotr explained. "Furthermore, when it is summoned, I can return any number of my banished Rock-Type monsters to my graveyard in order to give my Metamorphic three-hundred additional attack for each monster returned with this effect. So by returning all eight of my banished Rock-Type monsters to the graveyard, that's an additional twenty-four hundred ATK!"

Rock Sentinel Metamorphic: 900 + (8 X 300) = 3300 ATK

"Battle!" Pyotr declared. "Rock Sentinel Igneous! Destroy Infernity Des Sharpshooter! Obsidian Blade!"

Rearing up on its magma horse, Rock Sentinel Igneous charged forward, massive obsidian sword raised into the air.

"Infernity Force Activate!" Kiryu countered, "If an Infernity monster I control is selected as an attack target while I have no cards in my hand, I can destroy the attacking monster and Special Summon one Infernity Monster from my GY!"

"Igneous's effect!" Pyotr replied. "If it would be destroyed, I can reduce its Level by three instead!"

Raising a flaming shield made of black rock, Igneous deflected a blast of energy that burst from the face of Kiryu's card, managing to avoid destruction.

Rock Sentinel Igneous: 14 – 3 = Level 11 / 3300 ATK

"Using the second effect of Infernity Force," Kiryu continued, stretching his hand towards a black portal on the ground, "I Special Summon my Infernity Guardian from my graveyard!"

Appearing to Kiryu's field, a flaming gate with a skull at its center appeared.

Infernity Guardian / DARK / Level 4 / Fiend / Effect / ATK 1200 / DEF 1700 / Defense Position

"I will not stop my attack!" Pyotr countered. "Rock Sentinel Igneous, destroy Infernity Des Sharp Shooter!"

"Infernity Break activate!" Kiryu countered, activating another face-down. "I banish the Infernity Force from my graveyard in order to destroy your Rock Sentinel Igneous."

"Igneous's effect can be activated numerous times, so long as its Level remains above three!" Pyotr countered, activating the effect again.

Rock Sentinel Igneous: Level 11 – 3 = 8 / 2400 ATK

"But it still loses ATK." Kiryu replied, a small grin appearing on his face. "Meaning both our monsters are now destroyed."

Pyotr narrowed his eyes as Rock Sentinel Igneous and Infernity Des Sharp Shooter clashed before both ended up destroyed. However, without wavering, he continued his turn.

"Rock Sentinel Metamorphic," he ordered, "attack Infernity Tomahawk Striker!"

"I activate a second Infernity Break!" Kiryu declared, "Banishing my first Infernity Break in order to destroy your Rock Sentinel Metamorphic!"

"This is becoming annoying!" Pyotr grunted. "But it doesn't matter! Because I used Mineral Guardian Iron Fist in its Fusion Summon, Rock Sentinel Metamorphic cannot be destroyed by battle or card effect once per turn! Continue the attack! Onyx Great Sword!"

Rushing forward, Pyotr's second Golem deftly dodged the blast of lightning that shot out from Kiryu's Infernity Break before cleaving Infernity Tomahawk Striker in two with one stroke of its massive blade.

Kiryu: 4000 – 600 = 3400 LP

"Rock Sentinel Metamorphic gains the ATK and DEF of the monsters it destroys by battle!" Pyotr continued stretching his hand towards his golem. "Go! Material Amalgamation!"

Rock Sentinel Metamorphic: 3300 + 2700 = 6000 ATK / 2000 + 500 = 2500 DEF

"That's a pretty big monster." Kiryu whistled. "I've fought bigger, though."

"We'll see if you can keep your confidence after this." Pyotr replied. "I attack your defense position Infernity Guardian with my Rock Sentinel Sedimentary! And since it used both Mineral Guardian Feldspar Spear and Mineral Guardian Diamond Crown as Material, not only does it inflict piercing battle damage against your defense position monsters, but any damage it inflicts is doubled! Go! Slate Claymore!"

"Infernity Guardian's effect!" Kiryu countered, "While I have no cards in my hand, it cannot be destroyed by battle or card effect, and yes, before you say it, I know I'll still take the damage."

"The question is whether or not you'll be stupid enough to stay in the duel after my attack connects!" Pyotr spat as his Rock Sentinel Sedimentary smashed its massive layered stone blade into the skull of Infernity Guardian.

Kiryu: 3400 – (1200 X 2) = 1000 LP

Kiryu's bike began spinning out of control with the force of the attack. However, after making some adjustments, Kiryu managed to regain control and catch up to Pyotr.

"Actually," he replied, brushing himself off, "I should be asking you that question, especially when I'm about to activate this! Counter Trap Card! Infernity Vengeance! If I take more than fifteen-hundred damage, I can Special Summon one Infernity Monster from my deck or graveyard whose ATK is less than or equal to the damage I took! Using this effect, I Special Summon Infernity Deathguard from my deck!"

Appearing in the air in front of Kiryu, a blood-red summoning circle shimmered into existence before a tall demonic creature with large bat wings, a blood-red cloak, and a ram skull for a head, appeared to Kiryu's field.

Infernity Deathguard / DARK / Level 4 / Fiend / Tuner / Effect / ATK 1900 / DEF 1700

"When Infernity Deathguard is Special Summoned," Kiryu explained, "I can immediately Synchro Summon using my Deathguard and another Infernity Monster I control as the Synchro Materials! Furthermore, the monster summoned using my Deathguard as a Material gains the effect of negating the effects of all of your monsters upon being summoned! Using my Level four Infernity Deathguard and my Level four Infernity Guardian as the Materials, I Synchro Summon!" Kiryu proclaimed as his Deathguard morphed into a set of four rings that enveloped his Infernity Guardian in their light.

"Arise from the space between heaven and purgatory!" Kiryu chanted, "Synchro Shoukan! Arawayo! Level Eight! Void Ogre Dragon!"

Bursting forth from the column of light, Kiryu's ace monster soared onto the field before unfurling its wings and roaring at Pyotr's monsters as it used its inherited power to negate their effects.

Void Ogre Dragon / DARK / Level 8 / Dragon / Synchro / Effect / ATK 3000 / DEF 3000

Rock Sentinel Sedimentary: 0 ATK (Effects Negated)

Rock Sentinel Metamorphic: 0 ATK (Effects Negated)

"Turn end." Pyotr groaned, gripping the handles of his bike harder.

"My turn! Draw!" Kiryu declared, ripping a card from the top of his deck. "I set one card face-down and now, battle phase! Void Ogre Dragon attack Rock Sentinel Sedimentary! Void Purge!"

Opening its mouth wide, Void Ogre Dragon let loose a stream of dark flame which engulfed Pyotr's monster before melting the stone golem into ash and liquid rock.

Pyotr: 4000 – 3000 = 1000 LP

"My Void Ogre Dragon can negate the effects of any of your Spell and Trap Cards while I have no cards in my hand." Kiryu explained, "It's over now. Just surrender and we won't hurt you."

"How are all my allies failing me?" Ruri groaned as her gaze wandered over to the last two disciples who she had sent to protect her brother.

Emma Grayson and Shoichi Kazama vs. Mita Takeda and Santiago Guevara

Current State of Duel

Emma Grayson:

2600 LP

1 card in her hand

Controls Stygian Street Vigilante, 3 Stygian Street Marshals, and 1 Stygian Tracker

Stygian Street Vigilante / DARK / Level 3 / Fiend / Synchro / Effect / ATK 1300 (+ 800 with its effect) = 2100 / DEF 800

Stygian Street Marshal / DARK / Level 4 / Fiend / Effect / ATK 1900 / DEF 100

Stygian Street Marshal / DARK / Level 4 / Fiend / Effect / ATK 1900 / DEF 100

Stygian Street Marshal / DARK / Level 4 / Fiend / Effect / ATK 1900 / DEF 100

Stygian Tracker / DARK / Level 1 / Fiend / Effect / ATK 600 / DEF 100 / defense position

Shoichi Kazama:

4000 LP

2 cards in his hand

Controls 2 face-down cards, controls an active Chaos Overlord Barrier and Chaos Overlord Archfiend

Chaos Overlord Barrier / Spell / Continuous / Target 1 Level 7 or higher DARK Fiend-Type Synchro monster you control: While you control that Monster, you take no effect damage less than the ATK of that monster. If that monster leaves the field, destroy this card.

Chaos Overlord Archfiend / DARK / Level 7 / Fiend / Synchro / Effect / ATK 2600 / DEF 2600

Mita Takeda:

4000 LP

3 cards in her hand

Controls a face-down card and Jurrac Titano

Jurrac Titano / FIRE / Level 9 / Dinosaur / Effect / ATK 3000 / DEF 2800

Santiago Guevara:

4000 LP

4 cards in his hand

Controls 2 face-down cards and Underworld Fighter Balmung

Underworld Fighter Balmung / DARK / Level 4 / Warrior / Synchro / Effect / ATK 2100 / DEF 800

"I never thought I'd be dueling you like this, Mita." Emma murmured, looking almost regretful. "You were a Security officer. You've seen what people like Sergey are like. Since when did you think joining a death cult was a good idea?"

"I've already told you, chief." Mita countered, red ponytail fluttering in the wind as she chose to ride her bike without her helmet. "This isn't one of your old ghost stories! This city's become a mess, and I'm not gonna let myself be Roger's puppet anymore!"

"Who are you calling old!?" Emma barked, teeth grinding against each other.

"You and your deck!" Mita smirked. "Get with the times, chief. Dueling's evolved, and I've just learned quite a few new tricks!"

"Funny, because your deck seems to be giving me exactly the same pain in my butt as it did before! Fortunately, I remember beating you during every single one of our training sessions!"

"Your memories leaked out your flabby ears. You beat me five times out of ten, at most!" Mita countered.

"Then let's make it six out of ten!" Emma barked.

"That's not how math works." Mita smirked.

"Whatever!" Emma roared, before slamming a card onto her Duel Disk. "Spell Card activate! Stygian Chains! Even if your Jurrac Titano can't be targeted by the effects of monsters or Trap Cards, I can still use this! So long as I control a Stygian Monster, I can target 1 monster you control in order to negate its effects and make it so that it cannot attack!"

Pulling out a lasso of chain links, Emma's Stygain Street Vigilante twirled the binds around her head before ensnaring Mita's roaring Jurrac Titano.

"And guess what, young lady?" Emma continued, "Now that your Titano's effects are negated, it means I can do this! I activate the effect of my Stygian Street Marshall! Once per turn, I can inflict damage to my opponent's Life Points equal to the Level of my monster times 100, and each time my opponent takes effect damage, I can target 1 monster they control in order to reduce its ATK by the damage taken! Furthermore, with Stygian Tracker on my field, that damage is doubled! Go! The first Stygian Street Marshall!"

In front of Emma, a demonic skeletal bike rider with gray hair and a moustache, a flaming cowboy hat, and a large skull-decorated police bike with a mounted machine gun, began unloading his bikes weapon into Mita and Santiago while Kazama remained shielded from the damage by the effect of his Spell Card.

Mita Takeda: 4000 – (400 X 2) = 3200 LP

Santiago Guevara: 4000 – (400 X 2) = 3200 LP

"Part two of the effect!" Emma declared, "I target your Jurrac Titano in order to reduce its ATK by the total damage you took!

Jurrac Titano: 3000 – 800 = 2200 ATK

"The second Street Marshall!" Emma declared, indicating a second identical biker.

Mita Takeda: 3200 – 800 = 2400 LP

Santiago Guevarra: 3200 – 800 = 2400 LP

Jurrac Titano: 2200 – 800 = 1400 ATK

"And I haven't forgotten about you or your monster, Guevara! It's time for some dessert! Eat this!" Emma barked as her third Stygian Street Marshall unloaded its Machine gun into Guevarra, Mita, and Underworld Fighter Balmung.

Mita Takeda: 2400 – 800 = 1600 LP

Santiago Guevarra: 2400 – 800 = 1600 LP

Underworld Fighter Balmung: 2100 – 800 = 1300 ATK

"I don't think I like that dessert." Mita grunted, as she steadied her bike.

"Were training sessions with Chief Grayson always like this?" Santiago grimaced as he massaged a bruise on his beefy shoulder.

"You louts already had enough?" Emma snarled, "WELL TOO BAD! Now it's time to dish out some real pain! BATTLE PHASE! I attack Jurrac Titano with Stygian Street Vigilante!"

Letting out a whooping battle-cry, Stygian Street Vigilante revved up the engines of her bike and charged forward, ramming her front wheel into Jurrac Titano before causing the monster to explode in a shower of sparks.

Mita: 1600 – 700 = 900 LP

"Trap Activate!" Mita declared, "Branching Evolution! If a Dinosaur-Type monster I control is destroyed, I can Special Summon two Dinosaur or Reptile-Type monsters from my deck whose total levels are equal to or lower than the level of the monster destroyed!"

"Well too bad!" Emma countered, "Because you're not gonna summon anything! The final effect of all three of my Stygian Street Marshalls! When a Level five or lower Fiend Type monster I control destroys a monster by battle, I can inflict damage to the controller's Life Points equal to the Level of the destroyed monster in the graveyard times one-hundred! Your Jurrac Titano had a Level of nine! Multiply that damage by the three Street Marshalls I have and multiply that damage by two with the effect of Stygian Tracker, and that's a total of fifty-four hundred damage!"

"No!" Ruri heard herself scream as she helplessly watched the duel unfold.

"Impossible!" Jatun exclaimed within her, "Are we doomed to suffer total defeat at the hands of Quetzalcoatle's servants!?"

Ruri couldn't take much more. She was about to withdraw, about to find some way to end her duel against Jack so that she could fly to her brother as quickly as possible and save him when…

"Counter Trap Card!" Santiago replied, activating one of his face-downs. "Accel-Light Honor Guard! I pay half my Life Points and Special Summon three Accel-Light monsters from my hand, and for the rest of this turn, players with less than one-thousand Life Points take no damage!"

Santiago: 1600 – 800 = 800 LP

Aiming their mounted machine guns at Mita, all three of Emma's Stygian Street Marshalls unloaded a storm of bullets in her direction, but before any of the rounds could reach her, a burst of golden light flooded the field and three mounted warriors, whose armor and equine mounts were infused with radiant light, appeared in front of her before using their swords to deflect the bullets, arms moving so fast that they left shimmering afterimages. When the attack finished and the light dimmed a little, Ruri was able to see that one of the Knights rode a lightly armored horse with a mane of hair made of light, a second carried a large futuristic lance with a burning tip made entirely of light, and a third rode a horse with glowing hooves, which tread on the air as if it were solid ground.

Accel-Light Charger / LIGHT / Level 4 / Warrior / Effect / ATK 1000 / DEF 1000 / Defense Position

Accel-Light Lancer / LIGHT / Level 4 / Warrior / Effect / ATK 1900 / DEF 1600 / Defense Position

Accel-Light Chaser / LIGHT / Level 4 / Warrior / Effect / ATK 1600 / DEF 1200 / Defense Position

"They survived!" Ruri exclaimed in disbelief, a feeling of relief flooding her.

"Where the heck did these things come from!?" Emma sputtered as she squinted against the monster's bright light.

"Thank you, Santiago." Mita said with a wink, causing Santiago to turn his head away. "Now that that's over with, I'll continue with the effect of my trap card! I Special Summon MatRex Polarity Shifter and MatRex Atom Splitter!"

From the husk that remained of Jurrac Titano, two new monsters burst free from the dissolving skin. MatRex Polarity Shifter looked like a humanoid female Utah Raptor wearing futuristic armor decorated with Tesla coils, while MatRex Atom Splitter was a masked humanoid Ankylosaurus with a clubbed tail that looked like it was decorated with pulsating atoms.

MatRex Polarity Shifter / DARK / Level -4 / Dinosaur / Tuner / Dark Tuner / Effect / ATK 1400 / DEF 700

MatRex Atom Splitter / DARK / Level -4 / Dinosaur / Effect / ATK 1800 / DEF 1600

"Polarity Shifter and Atom Splitter both share the effect of being able to Special Summon one MatRex monster from my hand when they are Special Summoned." Mita explained as she revealed two cards in her hand. "Using each of their effects, I special summon two copies of MatRex Matter Cycler from my hand!"

Next to the first two dinosaurs, two more monsters appeared to Mita's field. The two MatRex Matter Cyclers looked like humanoid Hadrosaurids wearing futuristic helmets and skin-tight bodysuits while riding white motorcycles with wheels that looked like they were made of blue energy.

MatRex Matter Cycler / DARK / Level -4 / Dinosaur / Effect / ATK 1000 / DEF 1000

MatRex Matter Cycler / DARK / Level -4 / Dinosaur / Effect / ATK 1000 / DEF 1000

"If you're trying to throw up a quick defensive wall, then it's not going to work!" Emma growled, "I still have three more attacks with my monsters!"

"What makes you think this is a defensive play?" Mita retorted. "Sorry old-timer, but this is the preliminary to a counterstrike! It's time to show you what I'm made of! MatRex Polarity Shifter's effect! I target my Polarity Shifter and one of my Matter Cyclers in order to Dark Synchro Summon!"

Activating the tesla coils affixed to its back, MatRex Polarity Shifter began sparkling with black electricity before transforming into four black spheres of light, which began orbiting MatRex Matter Cycler. Roaring into the air, Matter Cycler revved up its engines before morphing into four more spheres of black energy, which joined the first four spheres created from Polarity Shifter as they orbited around an area of empty space.

"All realities and all possibilities are revealed when the dark curtain is breached!" Mita chanted, "Resonate with the fabric of the dark universe and adapt into a creature that transcends dimensions! DARK SYNCHRO! Materialize! MatRex Dimension Drifter!"

From the center of the orbiting spheres of black energy, a column of shadow erupted into the air before a new monster phased through the pillar. MatRex Dimension Drifter looked like a transparent humanoid Spinosaurus wearing a grey jumpsuit that sported a spherical regulator on the front and an opening in the back through which it's membranous spines poked out. As it ran alongside Mita's bike, it would occasionally vanish from existence, before instantly reappearing several meters ahead of its previous position with a rapid teleport.

MatRex Dimension Drifter / DARK / Level -8 / Dinosaur / Dark Synchro / Effect / ATK 2400 / DEF 2200

"But that's not all!" Mita continued, "Because I'm also using the effect of my Atom Splitter! During my opponent's turn, I can use the effect of my Atom Splitter to target two monsters I control and multiply their Levels by either one or negative one before using both those targets as Material for a Fusion or Dark Fission Summon!"

"When the heck did you learn either of those summoning techniques!?" Emma sputtered.

"You could say I've had a little inspiration along the way." Mita confidently replied, tapping the side of her head before stretching her hand towards her monsters. "It wasn't like I was content to just use the same old Synchro Summon we've always been using. It's time to evolve! I multiply the level of my Atom Splitter and second Matter Cycler by one before using my Matter Cycler as the Base Material and subtracting Atom Splitter from the Base Material in order to Dark Fission Summon! Primordial Titans of the mind, break down the very materials of the universe and shape reality into new possibilities! DARK FISSION! Materialize! Level Negative Eight! MatRex Reality Bender!"

Transforming into a colorless liquid, Mita's second Matter Cycler melted down and reshaped itself until it looked like an atom made of four protons. Melting down into the same colorless liquid, Atom Splitter transformed into four colorless Neutrons, which attached themselves to the center atom, greatly increasing its mass. Once they attached to the central atom, the atom began to lose stability, until the entire thing exploded in a multi-colored mushroom cloud, knocking back Emma and Kazama and scattering tiny droplets of colorless liquid in all directions before a sudden roar of suction sounded from the center of the mushroom cloud, sucking back the scattered droplets into the center where they coalesced and reshaped themselves into a new monster.

"And I thought Jurrac Titano was an ugly brute." Kazama muttered to himself as he looked up at the new monster.

MatRex Reality Bender was a large humanoid Carnotaurus wearing an orange-and-black bodysuit with purple orbs on the shoulder blades, knees, elbows, forehead, and chest. Its upper head was covered with a red robotic visor, which obscured its eyes. Cackling madly, Reality Bender crackled with lightning as the surrounding area directly adjacent to his body warped and spun like light wavering in intense heat.

MatRex Reality Bender / EARTH / Level -8 / Dinosaur / Dark Fission / Effect / ATK 2700 / DEF 2300

Emma surveyed Mita's new field before looking at her own monsters.

"As much as I'm disgusted by you using those kinds of dark powers, I am impressed." Emma grunted. "I guess I'll just have to attack your partner directly."

"I WON'T LET YOU!" Mita growled, pulling two cards from her graveyard. "I'm going all out against you, so pay attention! I activate the effects of both the Matter Cyclers in my graveyard! Since both of those monsters were used as Materials for the Special Summon of a MatRex monster, I Special Summon both of them!"

MatRex Matter Cycler / DARK / Level -4 / Dinosaur / Effect / ATK 1000 / DEF 1000

MatRex Matter Cycler / DARK / Level -4 / Dinosaur / Effect / ATK 1000 / DEF 1000

"Don't tell me!" Emma growled, clenching her fist as she looked at Mita's field.

Mita smirked before extending her hand towards her monsters.

"I activate the effect of my MatRex Matter Cycler! By targeting itself and my other MatRex Matter Cycler, I can multiply their levels by either one or negative one before-…"

"I FREAKING SAID TO NOT TELL ME!" Emma barked.

"Dark Xyz Summoning." Mita finished, looking immensely pleased with herself. "I multiply the levels of both Matter Cyclers by one! MatRex Matter Cyclers, OVERLAY!"

Roaring into the air, both of Mita's Matter Cyclers became translucent phantoms before they both collapsed into an invisible singularity as Mita began a third summoning chant.

"Pinnacles of primordial evolution, question all aspects of the universe and open your minds to incomprehensible possibility! DARK XYZ! Materialize! Rank -4! MatRex Mind Blaster!"

Unfolding from the singularity, Mita's new monster, a massive humanoid Allosaurus wearing a skin-tight body suit with tanks of greenish liquid on the back, and a respirator and mask with tubes connected to the tanks of liquid, appeared to her field. The upper head of the monster was cut away, with a clear glass dome resting against the head while showcasing a massive brain, which pulsated with purple energy like a plasma sphere. In the center of its brain and chest, a translucent patch of flesh revealed a tiny black dark overly unit embedded within the monster.

MatRex Mind Blaster / FIRE / Rank -4 / Dinosaur / Dark Xyz / Effect / ATK 2200 / DEF 2800 / Overaly Units: 2

"I don't care if you know every dark summoning technique in existence!" Emma spat, "I'm still beating both of you! Stygian Marshall! Attack Underworld Fighter Balmung!"

"Not gonna happen!" Mita Retorted. "I activate the effect of my Mind Blaster! By detaching one Dark Overlay Unit from my monster, I can target your attacking monster and force it to attack another monster you control, and I choose to make it destroy one of your other Stygian Marshalls!"

"Counter Trap Activate!" Kazama retorted, revealing one of his face-downs as the mark on his arm lit up with light. "Crimson Purification! If I control a monster with a positive Level or Rank that was Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, I can negate the effects of all monsters you control with a Negative Level or Rank while changing their ATK and DEF to zero and making it so that they cannot attack!"

"I activate the effect of my MatRex Reality Bender in response!" Mita retorted.

"You can't activate a monster effect in response to a Counter Trap." Kazama shot back. "Sorry, but it's a little something in the rulebook known as spell speed, and monsters can only get up to spell speed 2 while counter traps sit at the top of the ladder at spell speed 3."

"Better check the rules again, hot shot." Mita retorted, "Because in case you weren't aware, my Extra Deck MatRex monsters all have spell speed 3 effects!"

"What!?" Kazama gasped, eyes widening in disbelief.

"Meaning I can do this!" Mita continued, ignoring Kazama's shock. "Once per turn, when my opponent activates a Spell or Trap Card, my monster can negate the effect of that card and banish it! Go! BENDING TRUTH!"

Cackling madly, the spheres on Reality Bender's body began glowing with bright purple light before shooting out bolts of white energy, which slammed into Kazama's Trap Card before it blurred and vanished from existence.

"The effect of Mind Blaster now kicks in!" Mita continued, light glimmering off her facial piercings. "Go! MIND JACKING!"

Brain pulsating with energy, MatRex Mind Blaster shot a blast of energy from the glass dome on its head, straight into the forehead of Stygian Street Marshall, causing the demonic skeleton to suddenly swerve before madly turning around its bike and charging headlong into another Stygian Street Marshall, destroying both monsters.

"And in case you're wondering," Mita continued, as Emma managed to regain control of her bike after enduring the shockwaves from her monster's destruction, "My MatRex Dimension Drifter has the ability to negate one of your Special Summons once per turn and banish the monster, while also being able to, once per turn, return one monster you normal summon to your hand. Reality Bender, during my turn, can destroy one Spell or Trap Card you control, and as for Mind Blaster, once per turn, if you try to activate a monster effect, I can negate the effect of that monster and banish it!"

"It's like if Jurracs and Evolzars had a baby and fed it coffee." Kazama grumbled as he scanned Mita and Guevarra's field. "Got any amazing powers you've been hiding, Emma?"

"SHUT UP AND LET ME DO MY TURN!" Emma roared, "It's not over yet! I attack Underworld Fighter Balmung with my last Stygian Street Marshall before ending my turn! EAT THIS!"

Riding forward, Emma's last Street Marshall unloaded its mounted machine gun into Santiago's Synchro Monster, obliterating it and spraying the burly Security Officer with bullets.

Santiago Guevara: 800 – 600 = 200 LP

"Sorry, Santiago." Mita apologized as he recovered control of his bike. "I couldn't block all of them."

"You did more than enough." Santiago grunted. "It's my move now, DRAW!"

Without even looking at the card he had drawn, Santiago stretched his hand towards his monsters.

"It's time to show you the true meaning of limitless possibilities!" Santiago declared, "This is the power Ruri-Sama gave us when she freed us from Roger's tyranny! With it, we will free this city! Using my Level four Accel-Light Charger and Accel-Light Chaser, I construct the Overlay Network!"

"So now you use Xyz Summoning." Kazama commented as he watched Santiago's two monsters drain into the Xyz Portal in dual streams of golden light. "Honestly, I'm kind of surprised. You used to be a pro duelist, renowned for his work with the Synchro Summon. I was sort of expecting you to try a Dark Synchro Summon."

"You seem to think that we've been corrupted by dark powers." Santiago replied. "I want to show you that the powers we've obtained from Ruri-Sama can be used for our deliverance!"

"Don't do it!" Kazama warned. "I've seen lots of people join the Earthbound because they thought it was the right thing! It never turned out well for them! Look at what happened to Sergey!"

"I can't convince you with words, so I'll do this instead!" Santiago retorted, raising his hand into the air, "Noble angel of victory, ride forth through the celestial summit at the speed of light and bring forth my triumph! Xyz Shoukan! Come forth! Rank Four! Accel-Light Valkyrie!"

In a flash of light, Santiago's new monster, a mounted Nordic Valkyrie wearing black armor and a winged helmet, charged onto the battlefield, horse galloping through the air as if it were solid ground. Both the rider and the horse were decorated with golden war paint, which glowed with immense light.

Accel-Light Valkyrie / LIGHT / Rank 4 / Warrior / Xyz / Tuner / Effect / ATK 2000 / DEF 2400 / Overlay Units: 2

Kazama narrowed his eyes as he looked at the information on Accel-Light Valkyrie.

"How the heck can an Xyz Monster be a Tuner? They don't have a level."

"I told you!" Santiago replied, "A new era full of brand new possibilities is dawning! With it comes the unification of our own dimension and the Xyz Dimension!"

"What are you talking about?" Kazama asked, gripping the handles of his bike.

"Allow me to show you what I mean!" Santiago invited, stretching his hand towards his two monsters. "First, I use my Accel-Light Valkyrie's effect! By detaching one Xyz Material from my monster, I Special Summon Accel-Light Follower from my hand!"

Accel-Light Valkyrie: Overlay Units: 1

Through a blue portal, Accel-Light Follower, a mounted solider riding a large workhorse, which was pulling a shining metal cart loaded with weapons, appeared to Santiago's field.

Accel-Light Follower / LIGHT / Level 4 / Warrior / Effect / ATK 800 / DEF 2000

Next, using my Accel-Light Valkyrie's second effect I can treat is a Level Zero monster when using it as a Material for a Synchro Summon! Accel-Light Valkyrie, Accel-Light Lancer, commence tuning!"

Raising her sword into the air, Accel-Light Valkyrie let out a loud battle-cry before morphing into a translucent ring, which blasted around the body of Accel-Light Lancer like the burst of a sonic boom, causing Lancer to morph into four spheres of white light, which began to spin in mid-air, forming 4 rings of white light, which were stacked in an even column.

"Xyz Tuning Stable!" Santiago reported, observing the Synchro Summoning process above his head, "Synchronization energy at 50%! Commence Summon Chant! Noble bringer of the light, spread forth the wings of your glorious mount and ride to victory! Crossover Synchro Shoukan! Arawayo! Level 4! Accel-Light Pegasus!"

In a burst of white light, Santiago's new monster, a mounted Knight wearing golden armor while riding a white Pegasus with feathery wings, appeared in the air above Santiago's head. The eyes of both the horse and its rider glowed with intense light, while the armor and sword of the rider burned with light like a glowing star.

Accel-Light Pegasus / LIGHT / Level 4 / Beast / Synchro / Effect / ATK 2400 / DEF 2000

"It's a strong monster," Kazama acknowledged, "But it's not enough to beat my Chaos Overlord."

"That's why I have no intention of attacking your Overlord with this monster." Santiago replied.

"Careful," Mita warned, "He's just trying to distract you. Don't forget that Emma's also here."

"I think I'll leave Emma to you." Santiago grunted.

"What, you scared?" Emma growled.

"I don't like hitting women." Santiago mumbled, causing Emma to grind her teeth while Mita began laughing her head off.

"I am so gonna take advantage of that later on." Mita snickered, cracking her knuckles while looking playfully at Santiago.

"I also believe in self-defense!" Santiago snapped, before continuing with his turn. "Using the effect of my Accel-Light Pegasus, I revive the Accel-Light Valkyrie in my Graveyard!"

Accel-Light Valkyrie / LIGHT / Rank 4 / Warrior / Xyz / Effect / ATK 2000 / DEF 2400 / Overlay Units: 0

"And let me guess…" Kazama mused as he observed Santiago's Xyz Monster rise from a black portal before reappearing to the field.

"You'd be right." Santiago grunted. "Accel-Light Valkyrie! Accel-Light Follower! Commence Tuning!"

Repeating the same process that summoned Accel-Light Pegasus, Valkyrie morphed into a translucent ring of clear light before blasting against Accel-Light Follower, transforming it into a set of four white spheres which began spinning around until they formed four rings of white light in a straight column.

"Second Xyz Tuning is go!" Santiago declared, "Synchronization Energy at 50%! Crossover Synchro Shoukan! Come forth! Level 4! Accel-Light Pegasus!"

In a second explosion of light, a second mounted knight riding a Pegasus appeared to Santiago's field.

Accel-Light Pegasus / LIGHT / Level 4 / Beast / Synchro / Effect / ATK 2400 / DEF 2000

"I see where this is going." Kazama groaned.

"I'm still trying to freaking figure out how any of this works!" Emma complained.

"I activate the effect of my second Accel-Light Pegasus!" Santiago declared as his Valkyrie rose onto the field once more.

Accel-Light Valkyrie / LIGHT / Rank 4 / Warrior / Xyz / Effect / ATK 2000 / DEF 2400 / Overlay Units: 0

"It's now time!" Santiago declared, raising his hand into the air while the mark on his back glowed with white light. "Witness the synchronization of both Xyz and Synchro's power!"

"Here it comes." Kazama mused, calmly stroking his chin.

"Here comes what!?" Emma blustered, completely confused.

"No matter how much stronger our opponent's may be, we will never give up!" Santiago proclaimed.

"Santiago…" Ruri silently thought to herself, amazed by the resolve of her disciples.

"Accel-Light Valkyrie, Accel-Light Pegasus one, and Accel-Light Pegasus two, commence tuning!" Santiago roared as he began accelerating his bike.

Unsheathing their swords in unison, all three of Santiago's monsters rose into the air, flying at light speed before Valkyrie morphed into a single ring of translucent light, which blasted against the two Pegasus Knights, causing them to morph into eight spinning rings of light, which rocketed forward with Santiago.

"Xyz Tuning is go!" Santiago chanted, "Synchronization Energy at 75%! Commencing summoning chant!"

"He's such a dork." Mita sighed, shaking her head as Santiago continued.

"Invincible warrior of the light, surpass the speed of light, crossover between the two dimensions, and bring total triumph! CROSSOVER DELTA ACCEL SYNCHRO! ARAWAYO! DELTA ACCEL-LIGHT CATAPHRACT!"

In a sudden sonic boom, both Santiago and the spinning rings of white light suddenly vanished.

"Where the heck did they-…?" Emma began before Santiago and his new monster suddenly reappeared behind Emma and Kazama in an explosion of sound.

Delta Accel-Light Cataphract / LIGHT / Level 8 / Warrior / Synchro / Effect / ATK 3200 / DEF 3000

"Did you just effing drive your bike around the entire-…!?" Emma sputtered, eyes bugging out of her head.

Through Mita's eyes, Ruri gazed upon Santiago's new monster.

Both mount and rider were clad from head to toe in solid steel, giving them a somewhat robotic appearance. A pair of massive wings clad in white armor rose from the horse's back, and light ran though the mount and rider's body in patterns of circuitry. The rider wielded a massive lance, twice his own length, which glowed with energy, and was tipped with a fine point that looked like it was made entirely of burning light. In the rider's other hand was a massive circular shield with a glowing golden orb in the center. Riding alongside Santiago at full speed, the mounted warrior and mount scattered golden light wherever they rode.

"Delta Accel-Light Cataphract's effect!" Santiago declared, "Once per turn, during either player's turn, I can target one monster on the field in order to negate its effects and reduce its ATK and DEF to 0! Go! Infinity Lance!"

Rearing on its legs, Cataphract's mount let out a loud whinny before flapping its wings and charging into the air, the rider holding on tight by the reigns. Lowering its lance, Delta Accel-Light Cataphract plunged the weapon into Kazama's flaming monster, causing the monster to shriek in pain.

Chaos Overlord Archfiend : 0 ATK (Effects Negated).

"Battle!" Santiago ordered, "Show that we will never be defeated! Light-speed charge!"

With the demon still impaled on the lance, Delta Accel-Light Cataphract charged into the air, moving at faster and faster speeds before plunging its glowing lance into the ground, creating a massive crater while destroying the monster.

Kazama: 4000 – 3200 = 800 LP

"Kazama!" Emma screamed, as her partner struggled to regain control of his bike.

"Thank you, Santiago, Mita." Ruri whispered to herself. "Thank you for not giving up."

"Perhaps our other followers have found similar strength." Jatun mused.

"I think so." Ruri mused as her gaze roamed back to Pyotr.

Pyotr:

1000 LP

No cards in his hand

Controls Rock Sentinel Metamorphic and Rock Sentinel Sedimentary, which both have 0 ATK and their effects negated.

Kiryu:

1000 LP

No cards in his hand

Controls Void Ogre Dragon

"I will not yield!" Pytor vowed. "My turn! Draw!"

Looking at the card he had just drawn, Pyotr smiled.

"Magic Card Activate!" he declared, "Yami no Kakubunretsu! Cards and effects cannot be activated in response to this card, meaning that your Void Ogre Dragon cannot negate its effects!"

Kiryu clenched his teeth, but said nothing.

"Using my Rock Sentinel Metamorphic as the Base Material," Pyotr declared, as his golem melted into an atom made up of six protons, "I subtract my Rock Sentinel Sedimentary, Rock Sentinel Igneous, and all eight of the Mineral Guardian Monsters in my graveyard from the base Material in order to Dark Fission Summon! Valiant Sentinel of hardened rock, imbibe the power of the guardians of stone, burst free from your previous form, and be reborn as a new dark power from the explosion of chaos! DARK FISSION! Become an unconquerable force of destruction and revolution! Level negative eight! Dark Matter Destroyer Golem!"

In a multi-colored nuclear blast, the droplets of colorless liquid scattered before reforming into Pytor's massive black stone golem with a trebuchet affixed to its immense back.

Dark Matter Destroyer Golem / DARK / Level -8 / Rock / Dark Fission / Effect / ATK 500 / DEF 3500

"Dark Matter Destroyer Golem gains five-hundred ATK for each non-base Material used in its Dark Fission Summon." Pyotr explained as he shuffled eight mineral guardian monsters face-up into the deck, while returning Rock Sentinel Igneous and Sedimentary to his Extra Deck face-down."

Dark Matter Destroyer Golem: 500 + (500 X 10) = 5500 ATK

"Holy…" Kiryu breathed as he looked up at the titanic rock monster, which stared down at him with a single glowing white eye in the center of its head.

"You may have driven me into a corner." Pyotr growled. "But now the tables have turned! Now the real battle begins!"

"Yes, now the real battle begins." Ruri agreed as her gaze moved back to where her brother was dueling.

Shun:

1100 LP

3 cards in his hand.

Controls Raidraptor – Devil Eagle

Raidraptor – Devil Eagle / DARK / Rank 3 / Winged Beast / Xyz / Effect / ATK 1000 / DEF 0 (0 Overlay Units).

Hiroto:

700 LP

No cards in his hand.

Controls Angel of Zera and Dimensional Fissure

Angel of Zera / LIGHT / Level 8 / Fairy / Synchro / Effect / ATK 2800 / DEF 2300

Mayuri:

700 LP

No cards in her hand.

Controls Chaos Goddess

Chaos Goddess / LIGHT / Level 8 / Spellcaster / Synchro / Effect / ATK 2500 / DEF 1800

Semal Haddad:

4000 LP

No cards in his hand

Controls Celestial Hero Galactic Void and Celestial Hero Superluminal Charger

Celestial Hero Galactic Void / DARK / 10 / Warrior / Synchro / Effect / ATK 3200 / DEF 3000

Celestial Hero Superluminal Charger / LIGHT / Level 8 / Thunder / Synchro / Effect / ATK 2300 / DEF 2400

Adeel Haddad:

2400 LP

0 cards in his hand

Controls Amaterasu the Celestial Canine Wolf and Orthrus the Legendary Canine Guardian

Amaterasu the Celestial Canine Wolf / LIGHT / Rank 7/ Beast / Xyz / Effect / ATK 2900 / DEF 2600 / 0 Ink Counters / 0 overlay units
Orthrus the Legendary Canine Guardian / EARTH / Level 6 / Beast / Synchro / Effect / ATK 2600 / DEF 600

"Battle!" Adeel declared. "Orthrus the Legendary Canine Guardian, destroy Raidraptor Devil Eagle!"

Opening its gaping twin mouths, Orthrus let out twin streams of fire, preparing to disintegrate Shun's monster. However, yanking a pair of cards from his hand, Shun readied his counter.

"Double hand trap, activate!" Shun declared, revealing a pair of monsters in his hand, "I first activate Raidraptor Booster Strix before chaining the effect of Raidraptor Reload Eagle to my monster's effect! If a Raidraptor Xyz Monster I control with no Overlay Units battles, I can attach Raidraptor Reload Eagle and one other Raidraptor Monster in my graveyard to my monster as an Xyz Material!"

Raidraptor Devil Eagle: 2 OU

From up above, a small robotic eagle with a rotund box-like boy filled with bombs and missiles, and surrounded with belts of ammo, swooped down towards a black portal in the ground, where it retrieved a copy of Raidraptor Pain Lanius before the two monsters morphed into a set of overlay units that attached themselves to Devil Eagle.

"Furthermore," Shun continued as a blue robotic owl with rocket boosters for feet swooped down before affixing itself to Devil Eagle, giving the small robotic bird some extra thrust, "The effect of my Booster Strix is now applied! I detach one Overlay Unit from my monster in order to negate your attack, and a second overlay unit from my monster in order to destroy your monster!"

Raidraptor Devil Eagle: 0 OU

Dodging the stream of flame from Adeel's monster, Devil Eagle managed to evade the attack before kicking its thrusters into overdrive and slamming into the demonic dog, destroying it with its own effect.

Shielding his face against the explosion of golden sparks his monster left behind, Adeel grimaced before grunting, "Turn end."

"My turn!" Shun declared, ripping a card from the top of his deck and adding it to his hand. "DRAW!"

Looking through his hand, Shun nodded before extending his hand towards Devil Eagle.

"Battle!" Shun declared, as Adeel and Semal looked on with shock, "I attack Celestial Hero Galactic Void with Raidraptor – Devil Eagle!"

"Are you insane!?" Semal sputtered as his massive warrior fired a blast of energy from the palm of his hand.

"From my hand," Shun declared, "I activate the effect of my Raidraptor Strike Eagle! If a Raidraptor Xyz Monster I control battles a monster whose original ATK is higher than the original ATK of my monster, I can discard this card to make my monster gain ATK equal to the original ATK of the monster it is battling!"

Raidraptor Devil Eagle: 1000 + 3500 = 4500 ATK

Flying at supersonic speeds, Shun's small devil eagle crashed into Semal's monster, flying straight through the chest and causing the behemoth warrior to implode in on itself.

Semal: 4000 – 1000 = 3000 LP

"And now that your monster is destroyed," Shun continued, "Magic and Trap Cards can be used! Quick-Play Magic Card! Rank-Up-Magic Rise Force! During the Battle Phase, if a Raidraptor Xyz Monster I control battled, I can use this card to Rank Up my Xyz Monster into a new Raidraptor 1 Rank Higher, and if I do, I can immediately activate its effect that requires it to detach an Xyz Material! Rank Up Xyz Change!"

Breathing a sigh of immense relief and awe, Ruri watched though the eyes of her disciple as Shun's small skull eagle rose into an Xyz portal in the sky, slowly evolving until it became Shun's ace monster, one that had always given The Resistance hope.

"Obscured falcon, raise your sharpened talons in front of adversity, spread your wings of rebellion! Xyz Shoukan! Appear! Rank four! Raidraptor - Rise Falcon!"

Raidraptor - Rise Falcon / DARK / Rank 4 / Winged Beast / Effect / ATK 100 / DEF 2000

As his massive mechanical bird descended from the sky, Shun leaped onto his monsters back before stretching his hand towards his opponents.

"Rise Falcon effect!" he declared, "I detach an Overlay Unit in order to have my monster gain the combined ATK of all Special Summoned monsters my opponent controls while enabling it to attack each monster my opponent controls, once each!"

Raidraptor Rise Falcon: 100 + 2300 + 2900 + 2800 + 2500 = 10,600 ATK

"BATTLE!" Shun roared as he and his falcon charged towards their first target. "Raidraptor – Rise Falcon! Annihilate all our enemies! Hold nothing back!"

Ruri clenched her fists.

"My followers haven't given up hope! My brother hasn't given up hope! They are fighting with everything they have! And so will I!"

Returning her gaze to the duel, she faced Jack as he began his turn.

"Ore no turn, draw!" Jack declared as he tore a card from his deck and added it to his hand before looking up at Ruri.

"You seemed preoccupied for a moment." He commented. "So I waited. But I suggest you focus on this duel, it is the only one that matters at the moment."

"Do your turn!" Ruri snapped. "I am aware of that. Don't worry, I won't lose my focus again!"

"We shall see." Jack replied, before returning his attention to his turn. "I activate the effect of my Red Daemon's Dragon Scarlight! Once per turn, I can destroy all Special Summoned monsters on the field in order to inflict five-hundred damage to my opponent's life points for each monster destroyed! GO! CRIMSON HELL BURNING!"

"Sanctified Realm's effect!" Ruri countered as Jack's Scarlight unleashed a wave of crimson flame, which consumed the white clouds surrounding the dragon. "While I have no monsters in my graveyard, each card I control cannot be destroyed by battle or card effect once per turn!"

"However, my Red Drake is destroyed by the effect." Jack replied as his smaller dragon exploded into flame, "Meaning you take five-hundred damage from the effect."

"Have you already forgotten the other effect of my Sanctified Realm?" Ruri shot back, stretching out her hand and using her Field Spell Card's power to create a golden barrier in front of herself, which deflected a blast of flame from Jack's ace monster. "While I have no monsters in my graveyard, I take no effect damage!"

"Red Drake's effect activates since it was destroyed!" Jack declared, stretching his hand towards his burning dragon, which let out a loud roar. "If it is destroyed, I can target two Resonator tuner monsters in my graveyard and Special Summon them!"

"Was that your plan all along?" Ruri growled, "Well I won't let you accomplish it! Salvation Seraphim Zealous Crusader's effect! I banish the attached Salvation Seraphim Apostle, Martyr, and Honored Crusader in order to negate the effect of Red Drake! Go! Seraphim Judgement!"

Creating the cross-shaped glyph with the points of the three overlay units, Zealous Crusader struck the glyph with her burning sword, sending a blast of energy into Jack's monster and vaporizing it before its effect could go through.

"Counter Trap Card!" Jack roared in response, "Red Gate! Until the end of my next turn, my opponent cannot activate any effects in response to an effect that would Special Summon a Resonator or Red monster, also, any effect that would negate the Special Summon of a Resonator or Red monster is negated!"

"Did you think I hadn't learned from last time!?" Ruri and Jatun roared in unison, extending their hand towards one of their own face-downs. "Counter Trap Card activate! Salvation Seraphim Judgement Force! If our opponent activates a card or effect or declares an attack while we have no monsters in our graveyard and we control a face-up Salvation Seraphim Xyz Monster, we can activate this card to negate the effect, and if we do, we can attach the top 4 cards of our deck, Salvation Seraphim Angel, Salvation Seraphim Archon, Salvation Seraphim Oracle, and Salvation Seraphim Holy Armor, and one card from our Extra Deck, Salvation Seraphim Wise Hermit, to one Salvation Seraphim Xyz Monster we control! GO! JUDGEMENT FORCE!"

Burning with golden light, Zealous Crusader flew forward in a blaze of power before striking Jack's trap card with her sword, obliterating it.

Salvation Seraphim Zealous Crusader: 8 Overlay Units / 3600 ATK

"Know this, Jack Atlas!" Ruri and Jatun declared in unison. "You may beat me and my followers down, but we will never give up! Our resolve will never waver! You will lose this duel!"

"Your resolve has been wavering since the beginning of this duel." Jack countered, pulling another card from his hand. "One of you has fought with nothing but fear and revenge to motivate her, while the other has hardly been fighting at all. I, however, shall show you a king's duel! A duel that consists of one's entire soul!"

"Entire soul?" Ruri and Jatun asked. "Are you meaning that you wish to reveal your true ace monster? Sorry, but we won't let you. So long as Salvation Seraphim Inquisitor is attached to our Zealous Crusader, we have the ability to negate your Special Summons!"

"One card is all that is needed to break through the obstacles presented by the universe!" Jack countered. "So long as I am willing to pay the cost for it, anything can be accomplished! Quick-Play Magic Card activate!" he declared, slamming down a card from his hand, "Tyrant Synchro! If I control a face-up Red Daemon's Dragon monster, I pay 1000 Life Points!"

Jack Atlas: 3100 – 1000 = 2100 LP

"Next," Jack continued, extending his hand towards his monster, "I banish my Red Daemon's Dragon Scarlight, and Materials from my graveyard whose total Levels equal double the level of a Red Daemon's Dragon monster in my Extra Deck in order to Synchro Summon that monster!"

"Salvation Seraphim Zealous Crusader's effect!" Ruri began before Jack cut her off.

"Cards and effects cannot be activated in response to the activation of Tyrant Synchro or its effects!" Jack countered, swerving to avoid a gap in the tracks before slamming down on the accelerator as the ghostly images of his monsters rose from the clouds. "Using the effect of Tyrant Synchro, I banish Gravity Resonator, Soul Resonator, Red Djinni, and Red Daemon's Dragon Scarlight!"

Linking hands, Jack's monsters began rising into the air, spinning and catching fire until they become engulfed in a swirl of flame that created a burning tornado. Within the depths of flaming cyclone, Ruri could make out the shape of large crimson dragon, which caused her to begin involuntarily trembling with fear.

"Ruler and devil," Jack chanted, "they cross now and here! Touch the soul of the Crimson Dragon and raise up the cry of creation! SYNCHRO SHOUKAN! Appear! Level 10! Red Daemon's Dragon Tyrant!"

In an explosion of flame, Jack's new monster, a large and intimidating demonic dragon very similar to Scarlight, with twisted burning ram horns and larger wings, appeared to Jack's field, letting out an earsplitting roar, as it unfolded its wings, unleashing a wave of flame that forced Ruri to shield her eyes from the blazing light and heat.

Red Daemon's Dragon Tyrant / DARK / Level 10 / Dragon / Synchro / Effect / ATK 3500 / DEF 3000

"What is that thing!?" Ruri exclaimed to Jatun, feeling an intense supernatural power emanate from Jack's new monster.

"Be on guard!" Jatun warned. "We must be focused if we are going to defeat this abomination!"

"The effect Red Daemon's Dragon Tyrant inherited from Red Djinni activates!" Jack declared, drawing a card from his deck. "I set Red Destiny from my deck to my side of the field. Furthermore, the lingering effect of Red Dominance still applies, meaning my Red Daemon's Dragon Tyrant gains one-thousand ATK!"

Red Daemon's Dragon Tyrant: 3500 + 1000 = 4500 ATK

"It's stronger than our monster! Even if I reduced its ATK with Inspired Crusader's effect, it wouldn't be enough!"

"Even if he destroys our monster, we won't be out of the game!" Jatun replied, voice quivering despite an effort to remain calm "We still have plenty of life points!"

"I activate the effect of the Red Dominance in my graveyard!" Jack declared. "Since I Synchro Summoned a Synchro Monster using at least two tuners as Materials, I can banish this card in order to draw two cards."

"And we cannot do anything because it's a counter trap card." Ruri grimaced.

"Stay focused!" Jatun admonished. "He is trying to keep us off balance! We can't let him win!"

"Furthermore!" Jack continued, "Thanks to the effect of Tyrant Synchro, My Red Daemon's Dragon Tyrant gains the effects of each Red Monster used in its Synchro Summon! Thanks to this, it inherits the effect of Red Drake, which prevents you from activating effects in response the activation of my monster's effects!"

"But then that also means…" Ruri gasped, feeling herself pale.

"No! We can't lose!" Jatun exclaimed.

"I activate the inherited effect of Red Daemon's Dragon Scarlight!" Jack declared, extending his hand towards his ace monster. "I destroy all other Special Summoned monsters on the field whose ATK is lower than the ATK of my monster and inflict five-hundred damage to my opponent's life points for each monster destroyed with this effect! And since Sanctified Realm's protection effect was already used, it cannot be used again this turn! GO! CRIMSON HELL BURNING!"

Raising both its clawed hands into the air, Red Daemon's Dragon Tyrant unleashed a massive firestorm, burning away the surrounding clouds and sending a wall of flame careening into Ruri's monsters.

"Zealous Crusader inherits the effect of the attached Wise Hermit!" Ruri countered, extending her hand towards her monster, who raised her shield against the flames. "Since I have no monsters in my graveyard, my monster cannot be removed from the field by a card effect!"

"However!" Jack countered, pointing at Ruri's Angelic Guide, "your other monster will be destroyed."

Ruri's hooded monster let out a shrill demonic shriek as it disintegrated into the flames. With a monster entering Ruri's graveyard, Ruri saw the clouds around her blacken as the Field Spell Card lost its power. Raising her hands to her face, Ruri and Jatun had just enough time to shield their face before the wall of flames slammed into them, knocking them back.

Ruri: 4000 – 500 = 3500 LP

"Red Daemon's Dragon Tyrant's effect!" Jack declared before Ruri and Jatun could even recover. "I destroy all other cards on the field! Furthermore, I chain my Tyrant Synchro's graveyard effect to my Tryant's effect! By banishing this card from my graveyard, I can make it so that none of my Magic or Trap Cards can be destroyed this turn! GO! SCORCHING CRIMSON HELL BURNING!"

"I use the effect of the attached Salvation Seraphim Holy Armor, which was attached to my monster thanks to Judgement Force!" Ruri declared, "If a Salvation Seraphim Monster I control would be destroyed by battle or card effects while this card on the field or attached to a monster as an Xyz Material, I can send this card to the GY instead, and since its effect is an undefined effect that does not technically activate, your Tyrant can't stop me from using the effect!"

Zealous Crusader: 7 Overlay Units / 3500 ATK

Flying into the air with her Zealous Crusader, Ruri and her monster only barely managed to escape the raging firestorm Tyrant unleashed as it destroyed every other card on Ruri's side of the field, causing the clouds of her Sanctified Realm to completely disappear.

"BATTLE!" Jack declared, extending his hand towards his monster, a grim expression on his face as Tyrant threw back its head, preparing to unleash a blast of flame, "I attack Salvation Seraphim Zealous Crusader with Red Daemon's Dragon Tyrant! GO! ABSOLUTE POWER INFERNO!"

"Zealous Crusader's effect!" Ruri declared, as her monster raised her shield into the air to deflect the flame. "I use the inherited effect of Inspired Crusader to reduce your monsters ATK by seven-hundred!"

"Red Burst's graveyard effect!" Jack declared, extending his hand towards a ghostly image of one of the traps in his graveyard, which vanished from existence in a swirl of wind. "I banish my Trap Card in order to send five Red monsters, Red Warg, Red Gargoyle, Red Sprinter, Red Guardna, and Red Mirror from my deck to the GY in order to double my monster's ATK!"

"WHAT!?" Ruri exclaimed as three flaming monsters appeared to Jack's field before merging with Red Daemon's Dragon Tyrant, causing the dragon's flaming attack to increase in size and intensity as Zealous Crusader fought to stave off the flames with her shield.

Tyrant: (4500 X 2) – 700 = 8300 ATK

In a flash of light, Ruri's Zealous Crusader was utterly annihilated, flesh and armor disintegrating into less than dust and ash as the flames slammed into Ruri, sending her flying back.

"No! I can't lose!" Ruri screamed, "Not now! They're still counting on me!"

In less than a second, the duels of dozens of her disciples began flashing before her eyes.

Justin vs. 3 Obelisk Force Soldiers

Current State of the Duel

Justin:

1200 LP

No cards in his hand

Controls Samurai Destroyer

Samurai Destroyer / EARTH / Level 7 / Machine / Synchro / Effect / ATK 2600 / DEF 1400

Obelisk 1:

2400 LP

No cards in his hand

Controls Antique Gear Castle

Obelisk 2:

4000 LP

No cards in his hand

Controls Antique Gear Triple Bite Hound Dog

Antique Gear Triple Bite Hound Dog / EARTH / Level 7 / Machine / Fusion / Effect / ATK 1800 + 300 = 2100 / DEF 1000

Obelisk 3:

4000 LP

No cards in his hand

Controls Antique Gear Triple Bite Hound Dog

Antique Gear Triple Bite Hound Dog / EARTH / Level 7 / Machine / Fusion / Effect / ATK 1800 + 300 = 2100 / DEF 1000

"I'm needing back-up here!" Justin, a tall and burly security officer screamed into his radio, "Send support immediately! Ruri! If you're listening, Academia has begun their invasion! Repeat! Academia has begun their invasion!"

"No!" Ruri breathed, unable to believe that the professor had already made his move.

"Nobody is coming to save you." The third obelisk soldier laughed as he drew a card from his deck. "I normal summon Antique Gear Hound Dog before activating its effect. Hound flame!"

Putting down his radio, Justin barely managed to dodge the blast of flame as it slammed against a dilapidated Common house, setting the structure ablaze.

Justin: 1200 – 600 = 600 LP

"Next," the soldier continued, "I activate my Hound Dog's effect! Since I control Triple Bite Hound Dog, I fuse my two monsters together in order to summon an even greater weapon! Mechanical hounds who carry on the ancient spirits, hunt together and become one with new power! Yuugo shoukan! Appear now! Level nine! Antique Gear Ultimate Hound Dog!"

Rampaging through the fusion portal, a monstrous chimeric machine that looked vaguely like a hound with multiple heads appeared before roaring at Justin as he and his monster backed away.

Antique Gear Ultimate Hound Dog / EARTH / Level 9 / Machine / Effect / ATK 2800 + 300 = 3100 / DEF 2000

"Its effect activates now, halving your life points." The soldier declared. "Go! Decimating Hound Flame!"

Opening its massive central mouth, the monstrous machine let out a stream of fire, knocking Justin on his back.

Justin: 600 / 2 = 300 LP

"And now…BATTLE!" the soldier declared.

The last thing Ruri saw through Justin's eyes was Ultimate Hound Dog as it swiped aside his monster before bringing its fangs down on Justin's face.

Before Ruri could scream, her focus shifted to the view of two other disciples, a young woman Masika, who had storm-grey hair and a man named Gazim, with reddish-brown eyebrows and bright blonde hair. By the look of things, they had just defeated a squadron of Security Officers harassing a group of Commons. Her stomach turned when she saw who came to congratulate them.

"Well done! Well done indeed!" Daichi laughed, clapping his hands with each step he took. "I must say that was an impressive duel, and I must comment highly on that strange but ingenious summoning technique! Dark Synchro Summoning is it? And it created a monster with a negative level? Fascinating! To create something so negative and use it to generate such a positive outcome for the duelist is something I would have never thought possible!"

"You were a fool to come forward, Academia Spy!" Gazim all but snarled.

"Oh don't bother with insults, my dear boy." Freidrich replied, idly adjusting his purple gloves before activating his duel disk. "I've called him worse. I assume you realized we were Academia due to the appearance of our duel disks, correct?"

"Correct!" Gazim answered. "And I don't know who you two are, but you made a serious mistake coming here! This dimension belongs to Ruri-sama and by her divine will, the scum of Academia shall pay with blood for their transgressions!"

"Oooooooh, a little zealous are we, my friend?" Freidrich commented with no effort to hide his sarcasm. "Your Id is very strong! Your instincts to attack me on sight are practically leaking out of your body! Sadly though, you disappoint me by only wishing harm against me because your Dark Signer Queen tells you to, thereby holding your chance at perfection back. Oh well. I suppose we must duel, but I fear it will be terribly one sided."

"Which means that pairs me up with you, young lady." Said Daichi, graciously bowing before taking his position. "Do you two have names?"

"Masika." The woman stoically replied.

"And I am Gazim!" The man growled.

"I see. Well my dear Masika, prepare yourself to duel! Do your best, and I most certainly encourage you to show me that intriguing summoning technique of yours!" Daichi gushed, activating his pitch-black duel disk with a sword-shaped blade.

"Which means you are stuck with me, Gazim!" said Freidrich, drawing his opening hand. "And trust me when I say that you will wish you dueled my partner instead!"

Freidrich:

4000 LP

Gazim:

4000 LP

"DUEL!" Both duelists exclaimed in unison.

"I shall take the first move." said Freidrich, removing a card from his hand. "I summon Spirit of the Subconscious in attack position!"

In front of Friedrich, a large iceberg rose up from a pool of translucent water before the bottom half the iceberg darkened. Bursting free from the ice sheet, a tiny humanoid figure with an enlarged head, eight arms, and a body as black as the night sky.

Spirit of the Subconscious / DARK / Level 4 / Fiend / Effect / ATK 0 / DEF 0

"When Spirit of the Subconscious is normal summoned, I can tribute him to look at the top card of my deck. Then I can special summon one Force Monster from my deck ignoring its summoning conditions depending on the type of card the top card of my deck happens to be, monster, spell, or trap." Friedrich explained, idly reaching for the top card of his deck before pausing.

"I feel like this duel is missing something, a bit of atmosphere." Friedrich mused, hand hovering over the top of his deck. "Some Carmina Burana perhaps? I'm not certain. What opera music do you think would best fit this situation?"

"Why would I care about that!?" Gazim snapped, nostrils flaring.

"And evidently I am dueling against yet another example of uncultured swine." Friedrich sighed. "Ah well, I shall figure out the question on my own."

Freidrich revealed the top card of his deck and smiled.

"As you can see, it is a monster, Spirit of the Unconscious," Friedrich explained, "which means the monster I can summon is the Level six Ido the Supreme Magical Force! Now appear onto the field at once, the embodiment of primordial savage instinct, Ido the Supreme Magical Force!"

Through a blue portal, Friedrich's monster, a massive ghostly beast made up of white and blue energy, snaked onto the field, translucent jaws snapping with rage.

Ido the Supreme Magical Force / DARK / Level 6 / Fiend / Effect / ATK 2200 / DEF 800

"Next, I discard this monster, Spirit of the Conscious!" Friedrich continued, sending a card from his hand to the graveyard. "When Spirit of the Conscious is discarded, I can add one Force Monster from my deck to my hand. The monster I choose is the Level Seven Ego the Supreme Rational Force, and now that he is in my hand, I can tear down the boundaries between instinct and rationality and merge them together as one!"

"What are you talking about?" snapped Gazim.

"I'm talking about a Fusion my dear boy! Magic Card activate! Fusion! With this card, I fuse Ido the Supreme Magical Force with Ego the Supreme Rational Force!"

Backing away, Gazim watched as Friedrich's Ido was joined by another ghostly ape-like monster composed of red energy before the two monsters merged into the center of the Fusion portal in a swirl of red and blue light.

"Spiritual Force of Savage Instinct, become one with the Force of Logic and Reason and ascend to a higher plain of existence! YUUGO SHOUKAN!" Friedrich roared, clamping his gloved hands together, "APPEAR NOW, JUNZI THE PERFECT FORCE!"

Descending from the fusion portal, Friedrich's new monster, a tall humanoid figure made up of white and grey energy, with a long beard affixed to a blank cubic face, flowing scholarly robes over its skeletal body, and enormous arms and talon-tipped hands, disproportionately larger than the rest of its being, which sprouted from its back, appeared to the field, legless body floating over the ground as if in a perpetual meditative pose.

Junzi the Perfect Force / DARK / Level 9 / Fiend / Fusion / Effect / ATK 3500 / DEF 800

"Now under normal circumstances," Friedrich smirked as Gazim looked up at his monster in amazement, "I cannot summon any monsters at all due to the effect of Ido, but Junzi conveniently ignores that effect with his own ability. When ascending to a form of perfection, one ignores all boundaries that society places in front of them, something you and your disciples need to learn if you want to achieve the power you desire! Now to conclude my turn, I shall activate the continuous spell card Psychoanalysis! The ball is in your court now, Gazim. I end my turn!"

"My move now, Spy!" Gazim snarled. "I summon Ancient Sacred Soldier to the field in attack position!"

Through a blue portal, Gazim's monster, a roman gladiator with a long golden spear and white robes draped about his brass armor, appeared to the field.

Ancient Sacred Soldier / LIGHT / Level 4 / Fairy / Effect / ATK 1500 / DEF 1200

"When he is normal summoned," Gazim explained, "I can Special Summon another Ancient Sacred Monster from my hand! I choose to Special Summon the tuner monster known as Ancient Sacred Wizard!"

Appearing next to Gazim's first monster, Ancient Sacred Wizard, a pope-like figure with long white robes, a golden crest on his hat, and a long golden wizard staff with a star at the tip, entered the duel field before raising his staff into the air.

Ancient Sacred Wizard / LIGHT / Level 4 / Fairy / Tuner / Effect / ATK 1000 / DEF 1000

"When he is summoned to the field," Gazim continued, stretching his hand towards his monster, "I can target my Ancient Sacred Warrior and gain Life Points equal to his ATK!"

Gazim: 4000 + 1500 = 5500 LP

Friedrich yawned. "Am I to take it that that's you're opening move?"

"Far from it!" Gazim countered, pulling another card from his hand, "I would be ashamed if I didn't go all out with my new power!"

"By all means, go all out." Friedrich droned, pulling out a pocket watch and glancing at the time. "I have plenty of time…and other duelists…to kill."

"You won't be hurting anyone!" Gazim snarled, "Since I gained Life Points, I can Special Summon this monster! I special summon, Dark Tuner - Ancient Shadow Ghost!"

Through a cold blue portal, Gazim's new monster, a strange abstract spirit that looked like it was pulled directly from a person's nightmare appeared to the field. Ancient Shadow Ghost had a large smiling clown-like face, and wore dark robes through which multiple purplish tentacles with clawed demonic hands poked out.

Dark Tuner - Ancient Shadow Ghost / DARK / Level 12 / Fiend / Dark Tuner / Effect / ATK 0 / DEF 0

"A Dark Tuner?" inquired Friedrich as he studied the new creature. "Perhaps this will be interesting after all. I admit that I am curious about these…rather unique…summoning techniques."

"I'm not going to use it yet!" Gazim declared, "First I tune my Level Three Wizard with my Level Four Warrior for a Synchro Summon!"

Morphing into a trio of three green synchro rings, Ancient Sacred Wizard enveloped Ancient Sacred Warrior in its light, causing Warrior to dissolve into four white spheres as Gazim began his summoning chant.

"Sacred Creature from the times of old, descend from the heavens now and take the form of a mighty beast! SYNCHRO SHOUKAN! Appear now! Ancient Sacred Wyvern!"

Bursting forth from a column of light, Gazim's synchro monster, a long white serpentine dragon with a mane of golden hair and crimson eyebrows appeared to the field.

Ancient Sacred Wyvern / LIGHT / Level 7 / Fairy / Synchro / Effect / ATK 2100 / DEF 2000

"A pity." Freidrich scoffed. "I expected your first Synchro Monster to be far stronger than that."

"My monster will get stronger, spy!" Gazim growled, "Since my Life Points are fifteen hundred points higher than yours, my Ancient Sacred Wyvern gains fifteen hundred attack points!"

Ancient Sacred Wyvern: 2100 + 1500 = 3600 ATK

"Ahhhh, now your Ancient Sacred Wyvern is stronger than Junzi. Well done." Friedrich commented.

"It's not my Wyvern you should be worried about!" Gazim countered, stretching his hand towards his other monster, "Now I Dark Tune my Ancient Sacred Wyvern with my Dark Tuner Ancient Shadow Ghost!"

Laughing, Ancient Shadow Ghost lashed out with its tentacles, wrapping them around Ancient Sacred Wyvern, who struggled against the monster's grip before Ancient Shadow ghost dissolved into twelve white stars, which sank into Wyvern's body, causing the monster to become translucent before exploding into a rink of five black starts, which crackled with black electricity as Gazim began his summoning chant.

"When shadows are devoured by even darker shadows, the curtain pulls back to reveal a world without light! DARK SYNCHRO SHOUKAN! Appear now! Level negative five! Ancient Shadow Serpent!"

A towering column of darkness shot into the sky from the center of the orbiting spheres. With a roar, a massive monster parted the column of darkness before snaking onto the duel field. Ancient Shadow Serpent strongly resembled Ancient Sacred Wyvern, but its color scheme was reversed with its body a deep shade of inky black purple, a pale blue crest on its face, and a long mane of green fur. Its wings were larger than Ancient Sacred Wyvern's and colored the same blue as the crest on its face.

Ancient Shadow Serpent / DARK / Level -5 / Fiend / Dark Synchro / Effect / ATK 2700 / DEF 2500

Friedrich closed his eyes, sniffing the air as if inhaling the aroma of a bouquet of roses.

"Mmmmmm…yes…" Friedrich mused, opening his eyes to examine the monster. "Very fascinating, indeed. This monster is different from the others. Its body language and demeanor suggest that it is in a state of almost perpetual aggression and agony, as if its every inner urge was repressed until they could only manifest in an utterly demented and savage form!"

"If you think it's impressive now, wait till I activate its effect!" Gazim replied.

"I have been waiting." Friedrich dryly replied, once again checking his pocket watch. "If you wouldn't mind moving along, I don't really have all day to waste on you."

"Then I won't keep you waiting." Gazim smirked, "I activate my Shadow Serpent's effect! By paying one thousand life points, my monster gains one thousand ATK, and your monster loses the same amount. And guess what!"

"How about I don't and you just tell me what the surprise is." Friedrich drolly replied.

"I can use this effect twice!" Gazim explained, "So by paying two thousand life points, my monster gains two thousand attack points, and your monster loses two thousand attack points! GO! Shadow Lifesteal!"

Opening its mouth immensely wide like a serpent's, Ancient Shadow Serpent lashed out against Friedrich's monster, clamping down on the monster's ethereal shoulder before sucking in, causing the massive energy creature to begin shriveling up, as if its blood were being drained.

Gazim: 5500 – (1000 + 1000) = 3500 LP

Ancient Shadow Serpent: 2700 + 1000 + 1000 = 4700 ATK

Junzi the Perfect Force: 3500 – (1000 + 1000) = 1500 ATK

"Now Battle!" Gazim ordered as him monster withdrew, leaving Friedrich's monster to clutch at its shoulder, "Ancient Shadow Serpent, attack his Junzi now! BLACK FLAME SMITING!"

Daichi: 4000 LP

Masika: 4000 LP

"I shall begin this duel if you don't mind." said Daichi, gingerly drawing his opening hand before examining it. "I shall start with this monster, the Level one Monster known as Psychic Ink Fig. 1 in attack position!"

Bubbling up from the ground, Daichi's ink monster slowly rose into the air before shaping itself into a bat-like shape.

Psychic Ink Fig. 1 / DARK / Level 1 / Psychic / Effect / ATK ? / DEF ?

"Its effect activates upon being summoned," Daichi explained, "You get to add any monster you want from your deck to your hand, but I should inform you that when you do, my Psychic Ink Fig. 1 will take on the properties of that monster, including that monster's attack, defense, effects, level, type, attribute, and name. So tell me, Masika," Daichi instructed, indicating his quivering ink monster, "what is it you see?"

Masika looked through her deck and picked out her card of choice, silently showing it to Dacihi.

"Ahhhh, Crusader of Endymion." Daichi enthused, "So now Psychic Ink Fig. 1 becomes a Level Four Light Attribute Spellcaster with nineteen hundred ATK and twelve hundred DEF."

Activating its effect, Daichi's monster began reshaping itself into an inky copy of Masika's card, a masked magician wearing immensely thick arm-plates, boots, and chest armor.

Psychic Ink Fig. 1 / DARK / Level 1 / Psychic / Effect / ATK ? / DEF ?

Change to:

Crusader of Endymion / LIGHT / Level 4 / Spellcaster / Effect / ATK 1900 / DEF 1200

"I set these three cards face down and I end my turn." Daichi finished, setting his cards down before looking back at Masika, who was staring at him with a look of immense contempt.

"You don't talk much do you?" Daichi commented, looking a little disappointed.

"I have nothing to say to the likes of someone as horrid as you." Masika replied, not raising her voice despite the anger behind her words. "Ruri-sama told us all about the cruelty the soldiers of Academia unleashed upon her home. You are unworthy of speaking to!"

"So what motivates you is the desire to avenge someone you respect greatly whilst your positive reinforcement would be seeing my life points drop to zero and my body likely mutilated beyond measure?" Daichi deduced, nodding his head. "You are a fascinating subject, Masika, though I'm terribly sorry, but I'm afraid I cannot allow that to happen."

"That's enough!" said Masika. "It's my turn now, and I shall set this card face down. Next I shall summon this monster! Crusader of Endymion!"

Appearing right in front of Daichi's monster, Masika's original copy of crusader of Endymion appeared before glaring down at its inky copy with contempt.

Crusader of Endymion / LIGHT / Level 4 / Spellcaster / Gemini / ATK 1900 / DEF 1200

"Next I activate this field spell card! Magical Citadel of Endymion!" Masika declared as a massive futuristic tower extended into the sky behind her. "This card will allow me to place a spell counter on it every time a spell card is activated, a spell card like this! Spell Power Grasp! With this card, I can add a copy of Spell Power Grasp from my Deck to my hand, and then place a Spell Counter on my Citadel, plus another Spell Counter by my Citadel's own effect!"

Magical Citadel of Endymion: 2 Spell Counters

"Since I placed a spell counter on my citadel, I can special summon this monster! Tempest Apprentice!"

Appearing through a blue portal, a young ten-year-old girl with short grey hair, a golden headband around her head, blue magician robes, and a reaper scythe, appeared to Masika's field.

Tempest Apprentice / DARK / Level 2 / Spellcaster / Tuner / Effect / ATK 800 / DEF 500

"Now the stage is set for a synchro summon, which I shall do now!" Masika declared, raising her hand into the air as her Tempest Apprentice raised its own staff into the air. "I tune my Level two Apprentice with my Level 4 Crusader!"

Spinning around until she created a small tornado, Tempest apprentice morphed into a pair of green rings before encircling Crusader of Endymion, transforming the monster into four spheres of white light as Masika began her summoning chant.

"Mistress of Magical Spells, come to the battlefield now and unleash your magic in the form of a mighty storm! SYNCHRO SHOUKAN! Appear now! Tempest Magician!"

Appearing from a column of white light, Masika's monster, a female magician similar in appearance to Tempest Apprentice, but fully grown, appeared to the field, lowering her staff towards Daichi and his monster as a pair of bat-like creatures flew by her side.

Tempest Magician / DARK / Level 6 / Spellcaster / Synchro / Effect / ATK 2200 / DEF 1400

"Trap card activate!" Daichi announced, extending his hand towards one of his face-downs, which flipped over to reveal a blot of red and black ink shaped vaguely like two humans facing one another. "Psychic Ink Fig. 3! This continuous trap card dictates that you must place the top five cards of your deck face up in your deck and then shuffle your deck. If you choose not to, then you must negate the summon of your monster and destroy that monster!"

"Then there's no real choice." Masika growled. "I choose to shuffle the top five cards of my deck into my deck face up, but now that that's done, Tempest Magician's effect activates! I place one Spell Counter on my monster. Furthermore, I can discard as many cards from my hand as I want in order to place even more spell counters on her. I shall discard two cards from my hand to give her a total of three spell counters!"

Tempest Magician: 3 Spell Counters

"Now I activate my Tempest Magician's effect!" Masika declared, "I remove her three counters and the two spell counters from Magical Citadel of Endymion to inflict five hundred damage to you for each one! I just removed five spell counters so that means you take twenty-five hundred points of damage!"

Twirling her scythe in her hands, Tempest magician conjured an immense storm before raising her weapon into the air, causing lightning to strike the tip of her scythe blade, electrifying the weapon.

"Hmmmm, excellent work!" Daichi clapped, smiling with approval. "Five points for summoning a synchro monster on your first turn and another five points for your strategy in which you might attempt to inflict a nasty amount of burn damage against me! And you haven't even summoned your Dark Synchro Monster yet! I must say I'm quite impressed!"

"Attempt!?" Masika exclaimed, looking miffed. "I'm going to inflict damage to you!"

"On the contrary, I disagree!" replied Daichi, wagging his finger her at her before flipping over another card to reveal another blot of red and black ink, this one shaped vaguely like two humans clapping their hands together. "I activate the continuous trap card, Psychic Ink Fig 2. With this card, if I were to take damage you must choose one of the following effects and activate them! The first effect would be to half the damage I am about to take and then you must show me all cards in your hand, but there is a problem with this choice. You have no cards in your hand to reveal, so therefore you must activate the second effect. The second effect dictates that instead of losing life points from this effect, I gain them instead!"

Daichi: 4000 + 2500 = 6500

"However, I will say again, you are doing quite well." Daichi encouraged. "Me gaining life points doesn't automatically mean I have won."

"It doesn't matter." Masika countered, "For now I can special summon this monster from the Graveyard since I just removed a Spell Counter from the field! I special summon Dark Tuner - Dark Magic Purveyor!"

Ascending to the field through a black portal, a hooded monster with no face and a black top-hat on top of its featureless head appeared to the field, before tipping its hat towards Daichi with a pair of ghostly white gloves, which floated in the air without any hands inside to support them.

Dark Tuner - Dark Magic Purveyor / DARK / Level 12 / Fiend / Dark Tuner / Effect / ATK 0 / DEF 0

"The stage is set for your doom, agent of Academia, as I unleash Ruri-sama's gift! I dark tune my Tempest Magician with my Purveyor for a dark synchro summon!"

Spreading out its ghostly gloved hands, Magic Purveyor exploded into a cloud of twelve white spheres, which merged with Tempest Magician, causing the spellcaster to groan with pain before exploding into six black spheres of energy, which began orbiting a section of empty space as Masika began her summoning chant.

"When shadows are devoured by even darker shadows, the curtain pulls back to reveal a world without light! DARK SYNCHRO SHOUKAN! Appear now! Hurricane Hex Magician!"

Laughing, Masika's new monster, a magician similar to Tempest Magician but with crimson-red robes, blonde hair, and black bat-like demon wings sprouting from her back, appeared to her field. Her scythe had grown and looked like it was made of bleeding flesh, complete with a monstrous yellow eye that connected the staff and pole together. Her skin was deathly pale and covered with blood-red magic crests while her eyes glowed a similar blood-red color.

Hurricane Hex Magician / DARK / Level -6 / Spellcaster / Dark Synchro / Effect / ATK 2900 / DEF 2000

"The effect of Psychic Ink Fig 3. now activates Masika!" Daichi reminded her. "Now you must either negate the summon of your own monster or place the top five cards of your deck face up in your deck and then shuffle them!"

Masika rolled her eyes as she chose to shuffle five cards face up into her deck. Meanwhile, Daichi eyed the cards Masika added to her deck, as if taking careful note of what those cards were.

"Your hoping to figure out my strategy." Masika mused, noticing Daichi's stare.

"Perceptive." Daichi complimented. "I'll give you five additional points for that, along with fifteen more points for such a fascinating dark synchro summon. You truly are doing quite well in this duel, Masika."

"Save your praise for someone who cares!" Masika countered, extending her hand towards her monster, "Hurricane Hex Magician's effect now activates! I can regenerate all five of the spell counters I removed this turn and place them back on my citadel. Additionally, with the effect of my Dark Magic Purveyor, since I used him for a dark synchro summon, I can place three more spell counters on my citadel giving me a total of eight!

Magical Citadel of Endymion: 8 Spell Counters

"Furthermore," Masika continued, "Hurricane Hex Magician will reap the benefits of all eight of those Spell Counters! My Dark Synchro Monster gains three hundred attack points for every spell counter on the field!"

Hurricane Hex Magician ATK: 2900 + 2400 = 5300 ATK

"Now I activate my hex magician's effect!" Masika proclaimed, "By removing two spell counters from my citadel, I can negate the effects of your Psychic Ink Fig 2. Continuous Trap Card, and when I do, you take one thousand points of damage!"

Daichi: 6500 - 1000 = 5500 LP

Hurricane Hex Magician: 5300 - 600 = 4700 ATK

"Now Battle! Hurricane Hex Magician, attack his Psychic Ink Fig. 1!"

"Trap Card Activate! Test Results... Inconclusive!" Daichi countered, showing a man examining a roll of paper displaying blots of ink, "This will cut the battle damage I take in half! After that happens, I can add one Psychic Ink Card from my deck to my hand. Furthermore, this continuous trap card will allow me to normal summon a psychic ink monster one additional time on each of my main phases."

"That won't save you from taking a nasty hit from my Hurricane Hex Magican! GO! ATTACK! BLOOD MAGIC BARRAGE!" Masika ordered as her monster rose into the sky before conjuring a massive storm of wind, lightning, and rain drops made of blood, which struck against Daichi, staining his glasses and clothing.

Daichi: 5500 - 1400 = 4100 LP

"I may not have been able to inflict as hard of a hit on your life points as I wanted to." said Masika. "But it's going to take a lot more than what you've already shown me to defeat my Hurricane Hex Magician."

Over at the other duel, Gazim's Ancient Shadow Serpent let loose a blast of black flame, which completely consumed Friedrich's energy monster, knocking back Friedrich and forcing the older man on his knees.

Friedrich: 4000 - 3200 = 800 LP

"Activate the effect of Psychoanalysis!" Countered Friedrich, coughing into his glove, but looking otherwise unfazed. "I can treat the destruction of Junzi as if it was destroyed by a card effect!"

"What good will that do?" asked Gazim.

"You'll see soon enough!" Friedrich smirked, standing up at his full height before brushing the dust off himself.

"Fine then, keep me in the dark, but with Ancient Shadow Serpent on the field, your defeat is inevitable! I end my turn." Gazim declared before glancing over at Masika's duel. "And judging by the looks of things, it looks like your partner is finished too!"

"Ahhhhh overconfidence. The downfall of many a weak man." muttered Friedrich, straightening his fedora before placing his hand on his deck. "I draw, and now on my Standby Phase of my turn, since Junzi was technically destroyed by a card effect, I can Special Summon him back to my side of the field! Return to me, Junzi the Perfect Force!"

Roaring, Friedrich's massive energy monster rematerialized to the field, as if it had never been destroyed in the first place.

Junzi the Perfect Force / DARK / Level 9 / Fiend / Fusion / Effect / ATK 3500 / DEF 800

"Another thing you should be aware of." Friedrich continued, brushing off his pocket watch before returning it to its pocket. "When Junzi is summoned with this effect, I can destroy one card you control.

Gazim stared at Friedrich, slowly taking in what he had just said.

"I'm assuming you know what that means." Friedrich smirked.

"No…no!" Gazim sputtered, unable to believe what was happening as Friedrich's massive energy monster conjured a sphere of crackling white energy between its palms before aiming it at Ancient Shadow Serpent, "You can't! It's not possible!"

As if in response, Junzi launched its sphere of energy at Ancient Shadow Serpent, obliterating the monster.

"I'm afraid it is most definitely possible, my dear boy, and another thing that is quite possible or rather, quite certain, is your fate! Junzi, attack his life points directly! Absolute Perfection!"

Roaring, Friedrich's monster picked up Gazim with one of its massive energy hands before squeezing him extremely hard. Through Gazim's ears, Ruri could hear the sound of his ribs cracking as Friedrich began singing "Oh Fortuna," from "Carmina Burana," in a deep operatic voice.

"O Fortunaaa…velut lunaaaaaaaaaa…staaatu variabiliiiiiiis…"

Junzi slammed Gazim's face into the pavement.

"Semper crescis, aut decrescis; vita detestabiliiiis…"

Flinging Gazim into the air, Junzi grabbed the doomed disciple in another of its arms before slamming him against a concrete wall.

"Nunc obdurat…et tunc curat…ludo mentis aciem…"

Gazim's vision was blurring, but before he could pass out from unconsciousness, Junzi had grabbed him again.

"Egestatem...potestatem, dissolvit ut glacieeem…"

Ruri heard the sound of an arm crack.

"Sors immanis…et inanis, rota tu volubilis…

Status malus, vana salus, semper dissolubilis…"

Ruri's ears were filled with the roar of Gazim's screaming.

"Obumbrata! Et velata! Michi quoque niteris…

Nunc per ludum! Dorsum nudum! Fero tui sceleris!"

With another roar, Junzi flung Gazim into the air.

"SORS SALUTIS! ET VIRTUTIS! MICHI NUNC CONTRARIA!

EST AFFECTUS! ET DEFECTUS! SEMPER IN ANGARIAAA!

HAC IN HORA, SINE MORA, CORDE PULSUM TANGITEEEE!

QUOD PER SORTEM! STERNIT FORTEM! MECUM OMNES PLANGITEEEEE!

The last thing Ruri saw through Gazim's eyes was pavement and a splash of red before her focus shifted to Masika.

Gazim: 3500 - 3500 = 0 (LOSE)

Winner: Friedrich

"Gazim!" Ruri heard Masika scream as she watched Freidrich card what was left of Gazim's bloody body.

"Well, that was certainly unfortunate." Daichi sighed, glancing at the scene. "At any rate, it was certainly unnecessary, though I suppose Friedrich's behavior in this situation could be easily predicted, what with the reinforcement he receives from seeing blood. He's rather like a shark in that regard, don't you think, Masika?"

"I will kill you!" Masika vowed, "I WILL KILL YOU!"

"Do you wish to do anything more?" Daichi politely asked, not even flinching at Masika's burst of rage.

Ruri heard Masika grind her teeth together.

"I wish I could do something to you, right now." Masika growled. "But my turn's over. Begin your turn!"

"Then it is my turn again, young lady. I draw!" Daichi declared, drawing his card, however, the minute he did, Masika activated her set card.

"On your standby phase, I activate the continuous trap card, Chains of the Netherworld!" Masika declared, "When this card is activated, I can draw one card from my deck."

Masika drew her card, a face-up card she had shuffled into her deck, causing Daichi's eyes to light up.

"Once I have done so" Masika continued. "I can unleash this card's true potential! As long as this card is on the field, I can declare one summoning condition and nullify it, meaning neither player can use that summoning condition as long as this card is on the field. The summoning condition I choose…is fusion summoning! I'm sending you back to where you belong, fusion scum!"

Daichi stared at Masika, the corners of his mouth twitching.

Then he started laughing, covering one of his eyes with his gloved hand as he threw back his head and let out a hearty cackle.

"What's so hilarious?" Masika growled.

"It's just…" Daichi's body shook with laughter, "Oh my dear Masika…I know it's not really your fault…but…well…you see, while I would normally compliment you on your excellent control strategy…it is, nevertheless, based upon a fundamentally flawed premise!"

"What do you mean?" Masika demanded.

"Well…it's just…" Daichi began, looking apologetic, "…I don't really mean to be rude…but…well, you seem to be assuming that I'm from the Fusion Dimension."

"But you are from the Fusion Dimension!" Masika spat.

"But my dear Masika, that is where you are mistaken!" Daichi exclaimed, blue eyes widening. "An understandable mistake, of course, yet it doesn't change the fact that my origins are not based in Fusion! My true home, the very land of my nativity, the place where I lived, worked, and breathed until roughly three years ago, was right here, in this very city of the glorious Synchro Dimension!"

"WHAT?!" Masika sputtered, eyes widening as she shook her head in disbelief.

"I take it that you don't believe me, so allow me to demonstrate!" Daichi enthused, "I am about to summon a Synchro Monster, a very special Synchro Monster."

"Your bluffing!" Masika insisted.

"Psychic Daemon Theorizer no kouka hasudo!" Daichi declared, revealing a card in his extra deck, a white card. "When Synchro Summoning this monster, I can use any Psychic Ink cards I control or in my hand as the Synchro Materials, treating one of them as a Level one Tuner, and all other cards as Level one non-Tuners! Using my Psychic Ink Fig. 2 as the Level one tuner, I next tune my Psychic Ink Fig. 3 I control, along with the Psychic Ink Fig. 4, Psychic Ink Fig. 5, and Psychic Ink Fig. 6 in my hand in order to Synchro Summon!"

Masika's mouth dropped as Daichi's trap card morphed into a single ring of green light before the other Trap on Daichi's side of the field and three cards in his hand morphed into four spheres of white light, which flew into the center of the green ring as Daichi began his summoning chant.

"Psychic Creature who studies the human mind, unleash your power of deductive reasoning to analyze the way to win this battle! SYNCHRO SHOUKAN! Arawayo! Psychic Daemon Theorizer!"

Bubbling out from the column of white light Daichi had conjured from his Synchro Summon, a massive multi-colored ink monster with a long serpentine body, a gaping mouth in the center of its body, and multiple arm-like tentacles branching out from the mouth, slithered onto the field, spreading out its tentacles before multiple sets of massive deep-blue eyes, the same color as Daichi's own eyes, opened up at the tips of the tentacles in order to stare at Masika and her monster.

Psychic Daemon Theorizer / DARK / Level 5 / Psychic / Synchro / Effect / ATK 0 / DEF 0

Masika stared at the creature and its stats.

"Is that it then?" she asked, sounding very unsure.

"More or less." Daichi admitted with a shrug, taking a step forward to pat the beast's neck like he would a horse, "This card is my very ace monster, the card I grew up with and learned to duel with. Later in life, I would employ the power of this card in a certain behavioral re-shaping program for losers in the Underground and unruly psychics whose behaviors were inconvenient for Security executives. But that was before I was approached by an Academia agent three years ago, who offered a very intriguing job proposal."

"You betrayed us." Masika breathed, voice quivering.

"On the contrary," Daichi replied, "I have never obligated myself to maintain any sort of allegiance with anyone. My pursuit has always been the discovery of new truths, by whatever means necessary. A task this card is most adept at doing. In the beginning, it is quite weak, but like with any new behavior, new actions and new ways of behaving can be rewritten over the existing frame, much as one paints over a canvas with new ink."

"What do you mean?" Masika nervously asked, backing away from Daichi.

"The effect of Theorizer now activates." Daichi gently explained, a warm smile caressing his cheeks as he gazed at Masika, "You see, when he is Synchro Summoned, I am allowed to guess the name of each card in your hand, and should I guess correctly the name of each card in your hand, I can activate one of a series of rather powerful effects. It's a difficult effect to pull off, for certain, however, since you took the very generous liberty of revealing a few cards in your deck to me last turn, I have no need to guess, since, thanks to the effect of my trap card, I saw what card you drew. The card in your hand is none other than Endymion the Master Magician!"

Masika's face twisted into a grimace before showing Daichi that the only card in her hand was indeed Endymion the Master Magician.

"Now that I have correctly deduced the identity of what is in your hand, thus revealed the truth behind you, I can activate this effect." Daichi declared, raising his hand into the air, "My Psychic Daemon Theorizer can target your Hurricane Hex Magician in order to gain its name, Attribute, Level, Type, ATK, and DEF while stripping these very same things from your own monster.

"No!" Masika shrieked as Daichi's ink monster lashed out with its tentacles, pulling Hurricane Hex Magician into its mouth before sucking on the monster like a leech. Shriveling up like a prune, Masika's monster became a lifeless husk which Theorizer cast aside before it began shaping itself into an inky copy of Hurricane Hex Magician.

Psychic Daemon Theorizer / DARK / Level 5 / Psychic / Synchro / Effect / ATK 0 / DEF 0

Change to:

Hurricane Hex Magician / DARK / Level -6 / Spellcaster / Synchro / Effect / ATK 4100 / DEF 2000

Hurricane Hex Magician / DARK / Level -6 / Spellcaster / Dark Synchro / Effect / ATK 4100 / DEF 2000

Changes to:

Unknown / Unknown / Level 0 / Unknown / Dark Synchro / Effect / ATK 0 / DEF 0

"I'm afraid this is the part where I congratulate you for a stupendous duel, but ultimately say that your efforts to defeat me were all in vain!" Daichi declared, "Be rest assured, however, that your participation has greatly contributed to the realm of scientific inquiry! I now can look forward to a thrilling duel and experiment with your Dark Signer masters! Hurricane Hex Magician, attack her Unknown now!"

Raising its inky scythe into the air, Daichi's Hurricane Hex copy cleaved Masika's monster in two before annihilating Masika with a single blow.

Masika: 4000 - 4100 = 0 (LOSE)

Winner: Daichi

"Thank you once again for an excellent duel." Daichi enthused, as Masika staggered up from the ground, only to see Daichi press a button on his disk.

"NO!" Ruri heard herself scream, only to find that she was once again far too late as Masika became engulfed in purple light and Ruri's focus was flung into the body of yet another disciple.

Unknown Horakhty Agent vs. Branford, Aiko, Hiraku, Chiyoko, and Midori

Current State of Duel

Beginning of duel.

Turn 1: Unknown Horakhty Agent

"If your master is watching you, I have this to say to her." The masked duelist droned in a robotic voice that disguised his/her voice. "The Agents of Horakhty have dealt with the power of the Earthbound in the past, and we will surely defeat you now and deliver you to the Professor."

"You'll have to beat us all first!" A short female security officer with spikey black hair, Midori, taunted.

"As a representative of Horakhty's own power, it would be dishonorable of me to not defeat you all on my first turn." The Horakhty agent droned, examining his/her opening hand.

"You can't do that, idiot!" another disciple with large brown sideburns, Branford, countered in a deep voice.

The Horakhty agent ignored him.

"Magic card activate, Red-Eyes Fusion!" the agent declared, revealing his opening Spell Card, "I fuse the level seven Red-Eyes Black Dragon in my deck with the Level six Red-Eyes Meteor Dragon in my deck in order to Fusion Summon!"

"What!?" all five of the disciples exclaimed in unison.

"A fusion summon from the deck!?"

"Is that legal!?"

"Dragon of blackness with the burning red eyes," the Horakhty Agent chanted as his two monsters merged together into the center of a fusion portal above his head, "become one with the burning dragon of the cosmos and unleash fire and judgement upon this world! YUUGO SHOUKAN!" he proclaimed, clamping his hands together before a glowing crimson claw-shaped mark blazed to life on his right arm, "Descend now! Level eight! Falling Meteor Black Dragon!"

Falling from the sky in a raging inferno of fire, the agent's monster, a massive burning black dragon with magma-red eyes, crashed onto the duel field, before unfurling its wings and letting out an ear-splitting roar.

Falling Meteor Black Dragon (Treated as "Red-Eyes Black Dragon" with the effect of "Red-Eyes Fusion") / DARK / Level 8 / Dragon / Fusion / Effect / ATK 3500 / DEF 2000

"It's effect now activates!" the agent declared. "I send Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon from my deck to the graveyard in order to inflict damage to your life points equal to half that monster's original ATK! Go! Burning Meteor Flame!"

"I activate the effect of my monster!" one of the disciples, a girl with curly brown hair named Chiyoko countered. "By discarding Hanewata from my hand, any effect damage we take this turn becomes zero! So if you were just hoping to burn away our life points with effect damage, you can forget about it!"

"You think that a Horakhty Agent would not have prepared for such hand traps?" The Agent disdainfully replied, "I chain the effect of Red-Eyes Flare Whelp to the activation of your monster's effect! By discarding this card while I control a monster named "Red-Eyes Black Dragon, I can negate the activation of your card or effect and destroy it!"

A small fuzzy fairy with antennae appeared to the disciple's field, ready to block the damage, but before it could materialize, a small flaming baby dragon with skin as black as coal and burning magma-red eyes, shot out from the agent's hand before slamming into the fairy and obliterating it. Before the other disciples could even react, the agent's monster unleashed a raging inferno of fire, burning all five of them.

Disciples: 4000 – (2800 / 2) = 2600 LP

"The duel is now finished." The Agent declared, "In the name of the Crimson Dragon, I condemn you servants of the Earthbound and sentence you to burn! Inferno Fire Blast activate! In exchange for my Falling Meteor Black Dragon, now treated as Red-Eyes Black Dragon being unable to attack this turn, I inflict damage to my opponent's life points equal to the attack of my monster! GO! INFERNO FIRE BLAST!"

Unleashing a massive gout of red-hot flame, the agent's monster torched all five of the disciples, causing them to burst into flames before the Agent mercifully carded them.

Disciples: 2600 – 3500 = 0 LP (LOSE!)

Unknown Horakhty Agent vs. Youta, Souma, Tomoko, Satomi, and Sakurako

Current State of Duel

Youta:

4000 LP

1 card in his hand

Controls two face-down Spell/Trap Cards and Arcanite Magician

Arcanite Magician / LIGHT / Level 7 / Spellcaster / Synchro / Effect / ATK 400 + 3000 = 3400 ATK / DEF 1800 / Spell Counters: 3

Souma:

4000 LP

No cards in his hand

Controls 4 face-down cards and Vindikite R-Genex

Vindikite R-Genex / WIND / Level 8 / Machine / Synchro / Effect / ATK 2400 / DEF 1000

Tomoko:

4000 LP

3 cards in her hand

Controls 5 set Spell/Trap Cards.

Satomi:

4000 LP
0 cards in her hand

Controls Vylon Omega equipped with Vylon Prism, Vylon Tetra, Vylon Segment, Vylon Component, and Vylon Filament.

Vylon Omega / LIGHT / Level 10 / Fairy / Synchro / Effect / ATK 3200 / DEF 1900

Sakuraki:

4000 LP

0 cards in her hand

Controls 2 set Spell/Trap Cards and 3 copies of Montage Dragon

Montage Dragon / EARTH / Level 8 / Dragon / Effect / ATK 7200 / DEF 0

Montage Dragon / EARTH / Level 8 / Dragon / Effect / ATK 7200 / DEF 0

Montage Dragon / EARTH / Level 8 / Dragon / Effect / ATK 7200 / DEF 0

Unknown Horakhty Agent:

4000 LP

5 cards in his hand

No cards on the field

"Boku no turn…draw!" the agent enthused in a somewhat more upbeat voice, which was still highly distorted by the robotic filter. "You have all done me the honor of showing me your immense power, but I'm afraid that, on my honor as a Horakhty Agent, I must win this duel now!"

"You can't win this duel, especially not now," a tall female security officer with white-and-blonde hair, Satomi, declared. "According to battle royal rules, no player can attack on the first turn, and this is your first turn."

"Must they all lecture me on rules I already know?" the agent sighed. "Oh well, I suppose I shall just have to show them my true power! I activate terraforming in order to add one field spell card from my deck to my hand, which I shall now activate! Behold the beauty of Clear World!"

Surrounding all six of the duelists, multiple translucent crystals materialized onto the field.

"But this is only the beginning!" the agent continued, pulling another card from his hand, "For now it is time to say goodbye to this Field Magic Card as I tribute my Clear World in order to activate an even stronger card! Manifest now! The glorious realm of Clear Universe!"

Above the duelists' heads, multiple spherical crystals materialized in the air above their heads, making it look as if they were battling in the midst of multiple crystalline planets.

"Clear Universe is always treated as Clear World." The agent explained. "Furthermore, this beautiful Magic Card will impose negative effects upon players depending on the attribute of monsters they control! Players who control monsters of the LIGHT attribute cannot set any cards face-down. Players who control DARK monsters must pay one-thousand life points to attack or activate a monster effect. Players with EARTH monsters have the ATK and DEF of their monsters changed to zero during their turns. Player's with WATER monsters must banish one Spell/Trap Card from their hand before activating a Spell/Trap Card. Players with FIRE monsters have their Life Points halved during the end of each of their turns. And finally, players with WIND monsters will be forced to banish any cards sent to their graveyards."

"It's a strong Field Spell." Youta, a medium height male Security Officer with blue hair acknowledged. "But it's negative effects will also hurt you the moment you summon any monster."

"Let's agree to disagree, shall we?" the agent laughed. "My turn continues with this spell card, a card called Nihilistic Annihilation Technique! Cards and effects cannot be activated in response to the activation of this card's effects! Furthermore, if Clear World is on the field, this card enables me to destroy all Spell and Trap Cards on the field other than Clear World for the small price of discarding my entire hand!"

The massive crystals of Clear Universe began glowing with intense light before rainbow-colored lights emanated from the crystals, striking each spell card on the field other than Clear Universe and obliterating them.

"You just lost all your resources!" Sakurako, a short female officer with a bob-cut of brown hair taunted. "Your field is wide open now with just the field spell card to protect you!"

"Then I suppose I ought to call forth a monster to remedy that." The agent snickered, before extending his hand towards his graveyard. "I activate the graveyard effect of the Nihilistic Fusion Technique Magic Card I just sent to the graveyard! By banishing this card, I can Fusion Summon one Clear monster from my extra deck by banishing monsters from my side of the field, hand, deck, or graveyard! Using this effect, I banish Clear Vice Dragon and Clear Greed Kobold from my deck in order to Fusion Summon!"

Above the agent's head, two translucent crystals appeared before swirling together into the center of a Fusion Portal in a swirl of translucent light.

"Nihilistic dragon of empty vice!" the agent chanted, "Nihilistic thief who fills the void in vain! With your combined indifference, merge together in the empty vortex and annihilate the foolish concept of individuality with true nihilism! YUUGO SHOUKAN!" the agent roared, clamping his hands together before a crimson dragon foot shaped mark blazed to life on his right arm. "Arawayo! Soulless dragon with translucent intent! Level eight! Crystal Clear Vice Dragon!"

Floating through the fusion vortex, a massive translucent spherical crystal with thousands of facets floated over the agent's head like a miniature planet. Within the crystal, light began to bend and fluctuate, until the image of a massive grey dragon with overgrown crystal claws, Crystalline horns and spikes on its body, and crystalline tusks in its mouth, appeared in the center of the crystal.

Crystal Clear Vice Dragon / DARK / Level 8 / Dragon / Fusion / Effect / ATK ? / DEF 0

"Crystal Clear Vice Dragon makes it so that I am unaffected by the effects of Clear World." The agent explained, "Furthermore, Crystal Clear Vice Dragon can attack all monsters my opponent controls, once each, but that is not even the best part! You see, whenever my Crystal Clear Vice Dragon battles a monster, its ATK becomes double the combined ATK and DEF of the monster it is battling!"

"But you can't attack this turn!" Satomi countered. "We'll find a way around your monster once our turns come!"

"You're not getting another turn." The agent growled, sounding irritated this time. "I told you already. It would be a stain upon my honor as a Horakhty Agent and as a true Phoenix Guardsman to not defeat servants of the Earthbound like yourselves on my first turn!"

"Then your honor is going to be stained." Youta countered. "Because even you can't just change the rulebook!"

"You severely underestimate my power." The agent sighed, shaking his masked head. "Hopefully your masters won't make the same mistake after they witness your defeat through your eyes! I activate the effect of Clear Kobold! Since my monster was banished, I can add one Nihilistic Magic or Trap Card from my deck or which is currently banished to my hand! The card I choose is Nihilistic Suicide Technique, which I will now activate! When this card is activated, I target one Clear monster I control in order to immediately force all monsters my opponent controls to battle my monster! And since this card does not require me to target any of those monsters for an attack, I'm afraid that Vindikite R-Genex will NOT be protected from this card's effects!"

"Battling outside of the Battle Phase!?" Sakurako yelped.

"And don't think I've forgotten about the one who didn't summon anything." The agent smirked, addressing Tomoko, a female Security officer with black hair draped over her left eye. "I chain the effect of my Nihilistic Generosity Technique Trap Card in my graveyard to the activation of my Nihilistic Suicide Technique! By banishing this card from my graveyard, I Special Summon one Clear Pylon Token to your side of the field in attack position!"

Erupting from the ground in front of the disciple, a large translucent crystal pillar appeared to Tomoko's field.

Clear Pylon Token / DARK / Level 4 / Rock / ATK 0 / DEF 2000

"BATTLE!" the agent roared, "Crystal Clear Vice Dragon, annihilate all my opposition! Begin with Arcanite Magician! Nihilistic Vice Stream!"

Phasing through the massive crystal like a ghost, the agent's monster loomed over the other monsters before unleashing a stream of translucent flame at Youta's monster.

Crystal Clear Vice Dragon: ((3400 + 1800) X 2) = 10,400 ATK

Generating a magical barrier with its staff, Arcanite Magician attempted to protect itself and its master, but it was quickly annihilated in the face of Crystal Clear Vice Dragon's overwhelming power.

Youta: 4000 – 7000 = 0 LP (LOSE)

"The second battle!" the agent declared, "Destroy Vylon Omega! Nihilistic Vice Stream!"

Crystal Clear Vice Dragon: ((3200 + 1900) X 2) = 10,200 ATK

"I'm sorry, Ruri-sama, I have failed you." Satomi apologized, hanging her head down in defeat.

Satomi: 4000 – 7000 = 0 LP (LOSE)

"The third battle!" the agent roared. "Destroy Vindikite R-Genex! Nihilistic Vice Stream!"

Crystal Clear Vice Dragon: ((2400 + 1000) X 2) = 6800 ATK

"You won't win this war." Souma, a green-haired Security Officer with goggles over his eyes vowed before he was engulfed in the clear flame.

Souma: 4000 – 4400 = 0 LP (LOSE)

"THE FOURTH BATTLE!" the agent cackled, "DESTROY MONTAGE DRAGON! NIHILISTIC VICE STREAM!"

Crystal Clear Vice Dragon: ((7200 + 0) X 2) = 14,400 ATK

"Please…someone…help me!" Sakurako whimpered as she and her monsters were consumed by the flame.

"THE FINAL BATTLE!" the agent roared, "LET YOUR MASTERS KNOW THAT THEIR DEFEAT IS INEVITABLE! DESTROY CLEAR PYLON! NIHILISTIC VICE STREAM!"

Crystal Clear Vice Dragon: ((0 + 2000) X 2) = 4000 ATK

Saying nothing, Tomoko closed her eyes, accepting her defeat.

Tomoko: 4000 – 4000 = 0 (LOSE)

Unknown Horakhty Agent vs. Christoff

Current state of duel

Nine other disciples defeated previously.

Christoff:

4000 LP

No cards in his hand

Controls no cards.

Horakhty Agent

4000 LP

6 cards in his hand

Controls 5 set spell/trap cards

Controls Cyber Dragon Infinity, Chimeratech Fortress Dragon, Chimeratech Overdragon, Chimeratech Rampage Dragon, and Cyber Dawn Dragon.

Cyber Dragon Infinity / LIGHT / Rank 6 / Machine / Xyz / Effect / ATK 2100 + (600) + 2100 = 4800 / DEF 1600 / 3 Overlay Units

Chimeratech Fortress Dragon / DARK / Level 8 / Machine / Fusion / Effect / ATK 5000 + 5000 = 10,000 / DEF 0

Chimeratech Overdragon / DARK / Level 9 / Machine / Fusion / Effect / ATK 4000 + 4000 = 8000 / DEF 4000

Chimeratech Rampage Dragon / DARK / Level 5 / Machine / Fusion / Effect / ATK 2100 + 2100 = 4200 / DEF 1600

Cyber Dawn Dragon / LIGHT / Level 10 / Machine / Fusion / Effect / ATK 4000 + 4000 = 8000 / DEF 2800

The Horakhty agent regarded the last standing disciple, a crimson wing-shaped mark glowing against his right arm.

"I can sense the presence of your master." He intoned in a solemn voice. "No doubt she wishes to gain intel on my strategy. However, that is not something I will allow at this time. Begone!"

Extending his marked arm towards the disciple, Ruri felt her consciousness forcible ripped from Christoff before she was forced into the consciousness of another disciple.

"Just who do you think you are?" a stocky male Security officer named Zolaf, with thick black stubble and an equally thick Swiss accent interrogated, addressing a tall woman with blonde hair and a single streak of black hair, a strange black-and-white mask over her face, and a glowing multi-colored spiral mark on her chest.

"I don't think you really need to know that." The woman purred, slowly stepping towards the officer. "All you need to be concerned with right now is answering my questions. Who turned you into a disciple, and where can I find them?"

"I'm sure I have no idea what your talking about." Zolaf replied, activating his duel disk.

"I'm sure you know exactly what I'm talking about." The masked duelist replied, "Either way though, it doesn't matter. I will find your master anyway. I just might make your death quicker if you talk and save me some time."

"Nice incentive." Zolaf sarcastically replied. "How about this? You stop pissing me off and I won't kick your butt in a duel!"

"Your kind murdered me once." The duelist whispered, activating her own duel disk, which projected a blade whose surface looked like a shimmering galaxy of stars, "I won't let that happen again. And I won't let your master destroy this universe."

"Ruri-sama is working to liberate us from tyranny!" Zolaf countered.

"Oh, so that's her name, is it?" the masked duelist purred. "Ruri. I shall be sure to pay her a visit. Thank you for telling me that much."

Zolaf blushed, but quickly drew his opening hand.

"DUEL!" Zolaf and the masked duelist declared in unison.

"I'll start things off!" Zolaf declared, pulling two cards from his hand. "I'll start by normal summoning Phantom King Hydride!"

Through a blue portal, Zolaf's first monster, a mounted knight riding a black horse, appeared to his field.

Phantom King Hydride / DARK / Level 3 / Fiend / Tuner / Effect / ATK 1500 / DEF 300

"Next!" Zolaf continued, "I will use the effect of my Wandering King Wild Wind in order to Special Summon itself from my hand!"

Appearing next to his first monster, a large warrior with green cape and loincloth, and a panther head entered the duel field.

Wandering King Wild Wind / DARK / Level 4 / Fiend / Effect / ATK 1700 / DEF 1300

"And now it is time for a Synchro Summon!" Zolaf declared as his Phantom King Hydride began synchronizing with his Wandering King Wild Wind, "Dark King of the Highlands, lay claim to what is rightfully yours and rule with supremacy! SYNCHRO SHOUKAN! Come forth! Dark Highlander!"

Appearing from the column of light of the Synchro Summon, Zolaf's monster, a tall demonic warrior with thick armor, and an intimidating scythe loomed over the masked duelist before letting out a mighty war cry.

Dark Highlander / DARK / Level 7 / Fiend / Synchro / Effect / ATK 2800 / DEF 2300

The masked duelist didn't even look at the synchro monster looming over her. Far from looking the least bit intimidated, she looked exceedingly bored.

"Not impressed?" Zolaf asked, "Well how about this? Since you apparently already know that I'm a disciple, why don't I show you my full power!? Since I control a Synchro Monster, I can Special Summon the Dark Tuner monster, Shadow King Andorf, to my field!"

Appearing to Zolaf's field, a burly warrior with black skin and orange hair entered the duel field. Shadow King Andorf / DARK / Level 10 / Dark Tuner / Effect / ATK 1400 / DEF 1100

"Andorf's effect activates when it is Special Summoned!" Zolaf declared. "I can add one Equip Spell Card from my deck to my hand and Special Summon two Dark Informant Tokens to your side of the field!"

Adding a card from his deck to his hand, Zolaf next stretched his hand towards the masked duelist, creating two shadowy hooded tokens, whose faces were completely concealed by the hoods they wore. Far from looking perturbed, the masked duelist seemed to be ignoring the monsters on her side of the field.

Dark Informant Token / DARK / Level 1 / Fiend / ATK 0 / DEF 0

Dark Informant Token / DARK / Level 1 / Fiend / ATK 0 / DEF 0

"My Dark Informant tokens cannot be tributed, destroyed by battle, used as a Material for a Special Summon, or have their battle positions changed." Zolaf explained. "But the best part about having those tokens is the fact that I can now effectively use Andorf's effect! Once per turn, I can target 1 monster I control in order to reduce its level by 1 for each card on the field. I target my Dark Highlander with this effect in order to reduce its Level to three!"

Dark Highlander: Level 7 – 4 = 3
"However," Zolaf continued, "I'm not going to Dark Synchro Summon just yet. You'll have to patiently wait to be beaten, young lady. Instead, I will show you the effect of my Dark Highlander! I equip two copies of black pendant onto one of your own Dark Informant tokens!"

Dark Informant Token: 0 + 500 + 500 = 1000 ATK
"But I'm afraid that wasn't just a generous gift." Zolaf smirked, "Because now I activate the effect of my Dark Highlander! I destroy all of the tokens equipped to your monster in order to inflict four-hundred damage to your life points for each token destroyed, plus an additional one-thousand damage with the effects of each Black Pendant sent to the graveyard!"

Swinging its scythe through the air, Dark Highlander cut the two equip cards from the masked duelist's monster before striking at her with its scythe.

Masked Duelist: 4000 – (400 + 400 + 500 + 500) = 2200 LP
"I set one card face-down and end my turn." Zolaf finished. "Now it is your turn!"
"My turn…draw." The masked duelist quietly replied, drawing a card from the top of her deck.
"During your standby phase," Zolaf declared, "I activate my face-down card, Swift Dark Synchro! This card enables me to Dark Synchro Summon using monsters I control! Furthermore, if I activate this card during my opponent's turn, not only can you not activate any cards or effects in response to the activation of this card or its effects, but I can inflict 1000 damage to your Life Points! Using my card's effect, I Dark Tune my Shadow King Andorf with my Dark Highlander in order to Dark Synchro!"

Exploding into a cloud of ten white stars, which merged with the body of Dark Highlander, Shadow King Andorf caused Dark Highlander to fade into a transparent ghost before the monster exploded into seven black stars.

"When shadows are devoured by darker shadows, the curtain pulls back to reveal a world without light!" the disciple chanted, "DARK SYNCHRO! Claim your inheritance now! Level negative seven! Shadow Highlander!"

Marching onto the field, a taller monster that looked very similar to Dark Highlander, save for the fact that it was greatly obscured by thick shadows, appeared to Zolaf's field.

Shadow Highlander / DARK / Level -7 / Fiend / Dark Synchro / Effect / ATK 3000 / DEF 2500
"The second effect of Swift Dark Synchro activates!" Zolaf declared. "Take one-thousand damage!"

From the trap card, a burst of dark energy shot out before slamming into the masked duelist's chest, knocking her back a few feet. However, brushing herself off, the masked duelist strolled forward before continuing with her turn.

Masked Duelist: 2200 – 1000 = 1200 LP

"Magic Card activate," the masked duelist declared, "Fallen Star Descent. This card enables me to Special Summon one Fallen Star monster from my hand or deck. Come forth! The Dark Tuner Monster! Fallen Star Knight – Gaia!"

Appearing to the masked duelist's field was a tall female knight with short brown hair and broken dark-green armor. In her right hand was a short sword with a jagged edge.

Fallen Star Knight - Gaia / DARK / Level 12 / Warrior / Dark Tuner / Effect / ATK 1900 / DEF 1000
"A dark tuner!?" Zolaf exclaimed, surprise evident in his voice, then you're…"

The masked duelist said nothing as she silently regarded him.

"It makes no matter!" Zolaf decided, "I activate the effect of Shadow Highlander! Any monster you Special Summoned has its ATK halved! Go! Shadow Scythe!"

Silent as a shadow, Shadow Highlander swung his massive scythe through the air, opening up a big gash in the masked duelist's monster.

Fallen Star Knight – Gaia: 1900 / 2 = 950 ATK

"I next normal summon the monster, Fallen Star Knight – Cronus." The masked duelist continued, gently placing another card on her starry duel disk, seemingly unconcerned with everything else happening around her.

Lumbering onto the field, a gigantic titan of a man wearing dark yellow armor over his arms and torso and a short loin cloth over his extremities, entered the duel field, swinging a large scythe in his hands. Fallen Star Knight - Cronus / DARK / Level 4 / Warrior / Effect / ATK 2000 / DEF 1000
"So you can now Dark Synchro Summon a Level negative eight monster." Zolaf mused. "Go ahead, call it out. I'm ready for it!"

"Quick-Play Magic Card activate." The masked duelist calmly countered, "Fallen Star-Light. If I control a Fallen Star Monster, I can negate the effects of all monsters my opponent controls until the end of this turn.
The entire field began to be illuminated by a dark starlight as the masked duelist activated her card, acting fast, Zolaf responded to the new development.

"Your card may negate my monster's effects, but I can still activate Shadow Highlander's effect in response!" Zolaf declared, "By banishing my two equip spell cards from my graveyard, I can target two monsters you control in order to banish them and inflict five-hundred damage to your life points for each monster banished with this effect! GO! REAPER OF HORRORS!"

Charging through the surge of light, Shadow Highlander swung its scythe through the air, cleaving Fallen Star Knight - Gaia and Fallen Star Knight – Cronus in two before striking at the duelist's chest, sending her falling to the ground before the effect of her card negated the Dark Synchro Monster's effects.

Masked Duelist: 1200 – (500 + 500) = 200 LP
"You have only two-hundred life points left and nothing but those two zero ATK tokens!" Zolaf growled. "I don't want to have to hurt you, so just surrender! You've already lost!"

The masked duelist gracefully lifted herself from the ground, dusting the dirt from her clothing before regarding Zolaf, seeming to smile behind her mask.

"Sore wa dou kana?" the masked duelist teased. "Because frankly, I think it is you who should give up. Surrender now and tell me where your master is."

"Do you think I'm an idiot to fall for such a bluff?" Zolaf growled. "Of course I'm not going to surrender!"

"Then you leave me no choice." The masked duelist sighed. "Magic card activate. Fallen Star Retroglyph. I special summon as many of my banished Fallen Star monsters as possible in defense position with their effects negated.

Eyes widening, Zolaf watched as both of the masked duelist's monsters reappeared to her field.
"It is now time." The masked duelist purred, "I dark tune my Level negative twelve Fallen Star Knight – Gaia with my Level four Fallen Star Night – Cronus."

Transforming into twelve spheres of black energy, what was left of Gaia flew towards Cronus, who swallowed the twelve stars whole before clutching at his stomach in pain and exploding into a cloud of eight black stars as the masked duelist began her summoning chant.

"The light of my hopes and dreams has faded, now I pull back the curtain of unbelief and accept the cruel reality of the universe! Servant of my damned soul, arise from the ashes of the fallen star and fulfill my dark purpose! DARK SYNCHRO! Come forth now! Level negative eight! Fallen Nova Dragon!"

Appearing to the duelist's field, a large slender female dragon with pitch-black scales and violet wings entered the field, gazing down at Zolaf and his monster. The monster's body was covered with silver scars, and her frame, while muscular, was extremely emaciated.

Fallen Nova Dragon / DARK / Level -8 / Dragon / Dark Synchro / Effect / ATK 3000 / DEF 2000

Zolaf began shrinking back from the massive dark dragon before glancing at his own powerful monster.

"It's a strong card." He observed, "But even it doesn't have enough ATK to completely defeat Shadow Highlander. Our monsters would just end up destroying each other."
Silently, the disciple removed her mask, showing her face, a face marked with a hideous scar over her left eye, which was black as coal, while her right eye was a deep blue.

"I can sense the presence of your master watching this duel." The masked duelist intoned looking directly into Zolaf's eyes. "Know this, Ruri. I don't care what Yuu said to trick you into becoming his slave, but I am coming for you, and I will not stop until you and every one of your kind are eradicated from this universe!"

Ruri felt as if she ought to reply, but after witnessing her followers be destroyed again and again and again in the midst of her own impending defeat against Jack Atlas…she felt completely helpless. She wanted to immediately withdraw from Zolaf's consciousness, but something held her in place."

"My name is Miku, and I am your executioner!" the duelist named Miku declared before extending her hand towards her dragon.

"Fallen Nova Dragon's effect!" Miku declared, "I destroy Shadow Highlander and inflict its ATK as damage to your Life Points!"

Opening its mouth, Fallen Nova Dragon unleashed a gout of black flame against Shadow Highlander, obliterating Zolaf's monster, and knocking the disciple back.

Zolaf: 4000 – 3000 = 1000 LP
"Last chance." Miku warned, walking over to where Zolaf lay heavily injured. "Tell me where Ruri is and I will make your death quick."

"N-never!" Zolaf spat.

Fallen Nova Dragon, feed." Miku commanded, walking away as her dragon descended on the disciple with its teeth bared.

"Where is Shun!?" Ruri thought in panic. "Tell me Shun is safe!"

Skimming through the consciousness of her other disciples, she breathed a small sigh of relief as Mita, Santiago, and Pyotr each defeated the Guardsmen they were dueling before driving off.

However, when she saw Shun's duel…

"Majestic Gate's effect!" Adeel declared as Shun's Rise Falcon prepared to destroy his Amaterasu. "By paying half my Life Points and banishing this card and one Fusion, Synchro, or Xyz Monster from my graveyard, I can Special Summon 1 Majestic Monster from my Extra Deck of the same type as the monster banished with this effect, treating it as if it were properly Fusion, Synchro, or Xyz Summoned!"

Adeel: 2400 / 2 = 1200 LP

"I banish Orthrus in for this effect!" Adeel roared, a crimson dragon mark blazing to life on his back. "COME FORTH! Fenrir the Majestic Legendary Canine World-Devourer!"

Appearing above his head, a massive crimson dragon mark identical to the mark on Adeel's back, but with a circular doorway attached to the center of the mark, materialized before the doors opened, and Adeel's new monster, a gigantic white wolf with icicles adorning its fur and teeth, charged onto the field.

Fenrir the Majestic Legendary Canine World-Devourer/ WATER / Level 10 / Beast / Synchro / Effect /ATK 4000 / DEF 3500

"FENRIR'S EFFECT!" Adeel roared, sweat gleaming on his forhead as he grabbed the neck of his seeing-eye dog, Fluffals, "If it is Synchro Summoned successfully, all other cards on the field are banished and all players take five-hundred damage for each card banished with this effect! Brace for impact! ROAR OF RAGNAROK!"

Letting out a colossal roar, Adeel's massive wolf, blew apart the other monsters participating in the duel, including Shun's Rise Falcon. The shock of the roar was so great, that Adeel and his dog where blown out of their seat, along with Shun, who fell from the back of Rise Falcon.

"SHUN!" Ruri screamed as she saw her brother fly off the trackway through Mayuri's eyes, while Mayuri just barely managed to grab onto the edge of the runway and Hiroto lost control of his bike not far ahead.

Shun: 0 LP (LOSE!)

Hiroto: 0 LP (LOSE!)

Mayuri: 0 LP (LOSE!)

Adeel: 0 LP (LOSE!)

Semal: 4000 – (500 X 7) = 500 LP (WIN!)

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Ruri screamed again as she regained her focus just in time to extend her wings and avoid hitting the ground.

"I WILL NOT LOSE! I WILL NOT LOSE MY BROTHER! I WILL NOT LOSE MY FAMILY! I WILL NOT LOSE THIS WAR!" Ruri and Jatun roared in unison as she felt the spirit take control. "EARTHBOUND GENESIS'S GRAVEYARD EFFECT, ACTIVATE!"
Feeling energy surge through her body as her eyes and mark lit up with intense white light, Ruri felt Jatun speaking through her mouth as her consciousness melded with the spirit's and they launched themselves into the sky.

"If Earthbound Genesis is in our graveyard when we would take two-thousand or more damage, we can halve the damage, and if we do, we can add one Field Spell Card and one Earthbound God monster from our deck or graveyard to our hand! YOU WILL NOT DEFEAT US, SIGNER! BEHOLD THE BEGINNING OF OUR ADVENT INTO THIS WORLD! WE ADD SANCTIFIED REALM FROM OUR GRAVEYARD TO OUR HAND AND ADD EARTHBOUND GOD JATUN WAQAR FROM OUR DECK TO OUR HAND!"

Black shadows oozing from her body, Ruri repaired the damage Jack Atlas's monster had left on her skin and clothing when its attack had hit her, leaving her with enough life points to continue the duel.

Ruri 3500 – (4800 / 2) = 1100 LP

"FURTHERMORE!" Ruri and Jatun continued, godly voice echoing across the city, "OUR MAGIC CARD HAS ANOTHER EFFECT! IN PREPARATION FOR MY ADVENT, TWO CEREMONIAL TOKENS ARE SUMMONED TO MY SIDE OF THE FIELD! COME FORTH, THE ANCIENT AND SACRED OFFERINGS!"

Through two black portals, a pair of weathered stone states appeared, styled after the fashion of ancient Mayan stone-cutters.

Ceremonial Token / EARTH / Level 1 / Rock / ATK 0 / DEF 0

Ceremonial Token / EARTH / Level 1 / Rock / ATK 0 / DEF 0

From below, Jack looked up at Ruri.

"I will not let you carry out your vengeance." Jack growled, narrowing his eyes at Ruri. "I set two cards face down. Turn end!"

Red Demon's Dragon Tyrant: 3500 ATK

"NOTHING CAN STAND IN MY WAY NOW!" Ruri heard Jatun speak through her mouth, "PREPARE THYSELF, SIGNER! FOR MY ADVENT IS AT HAND! ORE-SAMA NO TURN! DRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAW!"

Yanking a card from the top of their deck and adding it to their hand, Ruri and Jatun grinned as they saw what they had drawn.

"Wait for me, Shun!" Ruri thought to herself. "I will save you!"

"Witness me, father, mother, grandfather, matriarch!" Jatun cried, "I will defeat Burning Soul and pave the way towards our bright future!"

"Field Magic activate!" Ruri and Jatun declared in unison, "Sanctified Realm!"

Manifesting once again, Ruri's field spell card bathed the field in clouds. But instead of the usual calm white clouds, the clouds of her new Sanctified Realm had darkened and grown restless, as if a storm was about to break out.

"Look at the city around you, Burning Soul!" Ruri heard Jatun proclaim as she stretched her arms out to indicate the massive metropolis. "To winners such as yourself, the city is a paradise on earth. But we, the Earthbound, know the truth of this world! The paradise you have created is built upon the bones of the poor and downtrodden! Their spirits cry for vengeance against you and now, they shall have their opportunity to exact their revenge!"

Feeling her power growing by the second, Ruri could barely remain conscious as Jatun continued to exercise her power through her. In the sky above her, a massive bird-shaped mark, identical to the mark on her back, but over a mile long, illuminated the heavens as she felt herself commence a summon chant.

"DAUGHTER OF THE GREAT SKY LORD, I OFFER THEE THE MATERIAL TRIBUTE OF MY MONSTERS, AND THE SPIRITUAL DARK SACRIFICE OF THE SOULS OF THIS CITY WHO CRY FROM THE DEPTHS OF THEIR GRAVES FOR REVENGE AGAINST THEIR TOPS OVERLORDS!"

Melding together into a multi-colored sphere, what was once Ruri's two Ceremonial tokens rose into the sky before transforming into a massive stone heart, which floated in the center of the colossal white bird mark. From every corner of the city, tens of thousands of lights began flying into the sky, entering the stony veins and arteries of the heart…

…and causing both the stone heart and Ruri's own dead heart to begin beating.

"ABSORB THEIR STRENGTH INTO THY BEING!" Ruri chanted, feeling the words come to her as she felt a rush of ice-cold blood pump through her veins and her energy surge to even greater levels. "BREAK THE MAGIC OF THE ANCIENT AND CURSED SEAL THAT BINDS THEE, AND RISE FORTH INTO THE HEAVENS TO CLAIM THIS UNIVERSE AS THINE OWN! EARTHBOUND ADVENT! RISE UP AS A TRUE GOD! JIBAKUSHIN! JATUN WAQAR!

The beating of the stone heart and Ruri's own heart intensified, making Ruri feel more alive than she had ever felt in her existence, despite being undead. When her heartrate accelerated to the point where it felt like it would burst from the surge of blood and energy, the gigantic stone heart exploded in a massive column of light.

And the Earthbound God came forth.

Unfurling a pair of massive black wings with white markings, Jatun Waqar entered the field, letting out a high-pitched cry as she swept aside some dark clouds to unveil her full glory.

Over three-hundred meters in height, Jatun Waqar's phantasmal crane body was a deep night black, with blazing white lines of energy adorning her body, wings, neck, and head in elegant primordial patterns. Her long neck was the length of her body, and ended in a massive crane head with white markings adorning her face, and running over the massive glowing spherical white orbs that were her eyes. Her long beak was pitch-black and pointed at the tip like an immense spear. Her long and elegant wings were decorated at the bottom edges with rectangular feathers while four long rectangular feathers spread out from the end of each wing like fans. Her tail consisted of three even longer rectangular feathers, and her long legs stretched out from her body, the massive talons of her feet raking the surface of the clouds.

Earthbound God Jatun Waqar / DARK / Level 10 / Winged Beast / Effect / ATK 2800 / DEF 1800

"BEHOLD MY GLORY!" Jatun Waqar roared through Ruri's mouth. "AT LONG LAST, FOR THE SAKE OF THOSE YOU MURDERED, I SHALL DISPENSE HOLY JUDGEMENT UPON THEE, SIGNER!"


Featured fan cards and characters coming in the next chapter

Ending A/N: Special thanks goes to my friend, fellow author, and mad genius, Nox Descious, for creating Friedrich and Daichi's duels, and to my beloved kindred spirit and fellow "5 D's" fan, Shimmering Sky, for her editing work. And to all other readers who have contributed to this work, I extend another heartfelt "thank you." This story would not be possible without your continued support and patience. Fear not. I intend to make full use of this vacation time, so much more "Signs of Renewal" will be posted. Anticipate the conclusion of this chapter coming by the end of next week! Until that time, I bid you all, my beloved readers, adieu!