Hey guys, I'm back! Apologies for this taking so long, i'm not dead. Me and my partner are currently working to redo the chapters of Zexal and Vrains that I did before as I don't feel satisfied with their quality. Trust me, the new versions will be much better. But anyway, please share and give feedback as always.
It has been roughly one week since the miraculous split between the Zarc and Ray counterparts, and while everybody was out and about, celebrating and enjoying life, Reiji and Leo were hard at work. Reiji was reviewing the footage of his duel with the stranger, trying to break down their strategy and analyze what he could, but he didn't have a lot of success. Namely, because they used very little cards in the end, and the duel didn't last that long in insight, being fairly short.
Another reason is that the person was silent throughout the duel, not uttering a word until the very end of the duel. But then he did get a lead, that being his monster, Uriel. From his searches, he had found that to be the name of an angel in the christian religions, one who is said to embody chastity. Didn't seem like that as it mainly delivered a heavy hit to Reiji at the stranger's very first turn.
Reiji recalled the turn, as he had just finished his starting field with his usual triple summoning, going for his normal Kings; Alexander, Caesar, and Temujin. His face-down was his Dark Contract with the Witch, which can boost his monsters by 1000 attack points during his opponent's turn, effectively making even his weakest a 3000 attack wall that would be hard for the opponent to defeat in battle.
But what followed next surprised Reiji. The stranger activated a spell card, and three of their cards from the top of their deck were banished face-up, allowing them to draw one card, but then he began to summon his monsters. The first monster he summoned resembled a female angel wearing a brown monk-like attire with large, brilliant wings holding her hands in a prayer and look casted down, which was then followed by a smaller, more gentler one that resembled a young angel, female as well, wearing a green dress made of flowers with smaller wings on her back and short, curly blond hair and bright blue eyes, a constant smile on her face.
That was the tuner, and right after summoning them, which he did by shuffling two banished cards back into his deck, Uriel came out. He checked the effect of the Tuner, noticing it could alter another's level. That explains how he brought out a Level 8 Synchro Monster. Afterwards, he revealed a monster to Reiji then special summoned it, only to tribute it to Urial and boost her attack, which was followed by an equip spell, which allowed him to attack all of his Kings and destroy them.
The equipment resembled a whip in shape and form, and Uriel's attack exceeded that of his monsters, standing at 4700. He used his Dark Contract to lessen the damage, but that meant he couldn't use Caesar's effect to resurrect his kings due to the drawback of, which would have cost him the duel.
He didn't see such a strong opening coming, but he still stood at the end of the turn. But that man was forward, and they tried to finish Reiji quickly. They were either in a hurry, or Reiji just got lucky.
And those thoughts had him haunted even now, but at least he managed to identify the cards used by the stranger from the footage. And didn't at the same time. They were in no official database, and he even checked the ones from the other dimensions as well to make sure. There was no deck out there named Paradise.
This only concerned Reiji more as he leaned on his desk, sitting down in his office at the Leo Corporation. His father won't take back his spot as CEO, he made that clear, nor does he seek to take back his company. He sees that as part of his atonement, but he did offer his help regarding technological research.
As far as anyone was concerned, he worked for Reiji and the son gave the father no special treatment compared to the other employees, not even one bit. Everything is fair in the end.
Still, Reiji felt uneasy. Who was this stranger? What was their deck? Were they the ones who meddled with the Arc Reactor? Too many questions needing answers, which is why he said nothing to Yuya and the others for now. He will keep the secret, only letting them know that SOMEONE meddled with the Reactor, and not telling the rest.
They just got back their normal lives and they deserved to live it. Him? All his life he chased after his father's trail and now he caught up with it. His life was never normal to begin with, so he didn't need to back down from it. He will try to find this person, then he will try to get answers from them. He was, after all, Reiji Akaba. Even if he lost, he was still one of the strongest duelists of his age, with a near-perfect record. He will not cast away his pride, but keep going forward.
Whoever this person is, they got his attention. He will find them, he had no doubt about it.
"So boring!" Grace whined as she and sister were at a cafe in the Pendulum Dimension. After Academia fell, the Tyler sisters were officially relieved of their duties and discharged, just like the rest of the forces of Academia. They were not even asked to participate in the reformation efforts led by Edo Phoenix, which was a further bummer.
"Shut up already, would you?" Gloria said, already annoyed with her sister's antics. "There is nothing we can do about it, from this point we are civilians."
"Not that!" Grace said back.
True, both sisters were changed more or less, no longer wearing their uniforms and instead being dressed in simple blue jeans, with grace dotting a sleeveless white shirt with a dark-blue jacket over it and Gloria having a black shirt with white stripes, similar to her sister's, but with a dark-red jacket over it. This was their new lives after Academia let them go.
"Then what?" Gloria asked, looking at her sister.
"Sure, Academia kicked us out-"
"HONORABLY DISCHARGED!" Gloria corrected, not liking the idea of being kicked out.
"-but I hoped we could at least find ourselves something to do afterwards!" Grace finished. "I mean, sure, the entire Fusion Dimension is currently going through some restructuring under Edo Phoenix and other people who think alike, but you'd think they'd allow us to remain there to help."
"Not probable." Gloria said. "Despite our change of hearts, we were still one of Academia's top elites and we have amassed a negative reputation through the Fusion Dimension after we defected."
"True." Grace said with a sigh. "There are also the so-called Lion Pride Movement guys who would see us carded." Gloria sneered.
"Fools." She said, taking a sip of her coffee. "They do not see that the old times are fading."
"Still, they are worrisome. They do believe that the old teachings of Academia are the only just ones and that the professor is brainwashed." Grace said. "I wished they'd at least let us fight them."
"Which is another reason we were honorably discharged; we did our duty." Gloria said, but in reality it was because the Tyler Sisters were prime targets of the LPM, who were seeking to defeat and card them to make an example out of them. Them being active in the restoration of the Fusion Dimension would have stirred them up more into action, so them remaining in the Pendulum Dimension both put them out of their reach and ensured that Edo and his team could focus on rebuilding instead of a civil war.
"But it is boring!" Grace whined again. "At least we could have gone and applied for jobs at You Show's here in the Pendulum Dimension."
"They are not hiring the last time I checked." Gloria remarked with slight sarcasm. "Besides, I heard they already filled up all the spots necessary. Ever since the whole ordeal after the Dimension War, their popularity increased. I even heard rumors that they are going to expand."
"Then what can we do?" Grace asked again. "I mean, not like we can simply start acting our age, right? All our lives had been spent fighting for Academia! What are we supposed to do, get boyfriends?" At that line, Gloria choked on her coffee a bit.
"G-Grace!" Gloria looked at her sister with widened eyes. "This is no place for that kind of talk!"
"Huh? What talk?" Grace asked, seeming a bit confused, but then she figured it out what her sister meant. "Oh, boyfriends!"
"Grace!"
The called out Tyler sister giggled. "Come on Gloria! You have to admit it's time!" Grace looked at her sister, now with a newfound interest in her eyes. "I mean, not like we have anything better to do, right?"
"I...Ugh. Fine, I guess you have a point." Gloria said, relenting. "Still, it's not like we can simply start dating whatever loser comes our way!"
Grace giggled. "Of course not! It'd have to be someone good-looking!"
"And strong!" Gloria added. "There is no way I will date someone weaker than me!"
"Oh! And they must be well off!" Grace added once again. "Wouldn't want a lazy bum for a man!"
"And smart." Gloria added once again. "One can have muscle and money, but not brain! I ask for everything from my man!"
Grace pouted. "A bit of a high demand, don't you think?" She said,
"Not at all!" Gloria replied.
"But I mean, men like that are in pretty high demand and somewhat rare." Grace said, and Gloria had to admit she was right. "I mean, every man that I think of who fits such criteria is taken if I am to be honest."
Gloria scoffed. "There is sure to be someone." She said, but then both sisters remembered something. There was someone who fit all criteria, who was well off, strong, smart, and had pretty good looks. Not to mention they were the son of the professor, one of the people who fought Zarc and apparently dealt more blows and damage than all other Lancers combined, and whose building could be seen from where they sat. "Actually, sister, I think I might have someone in mind." Gloria said.
"Oooohhhh. I think I do too!" Grace said. "Wait, don't say!" She said quickly. "Such things should remain a secret until later~"
Gloria smirked at the prospect of that. "Know what? Very well. Maybe this new life won't be so bad after all. I just hope the man I have in mind is good enough to handle me right."
Somewhere in his building, Reiji felt a sudden dread wash over him, a feeling which had him stop working for a minute at his PC, up on his desk at the top of his building. "What was that?" He asked himself, readjusting his glasses. "Strange, it felt like something was wrong in the world for a moment there. That or someone is having nefarious thoughts about me. I need to hurry up the analysis of those weird Paradise cards."
Back at the You Show Duel School, the place was more lively than before ever since the entire event calmed down. Being the place that produced Yuya Sazaki certainly attracted a lot of attention, and money, which allowed the one small school to expand its services! Thanks to benefactors from the other dimensions as well, they now taught Fusion, Xyz, Synchro, and Pendulum at their institution! They even had Yusho himself teaching the kids about Ritual Summoning.
Shuzo couldn't believe the success their little school was now receiving when not that long ago they were actually struggling to make ends meet. He was currently in the boot for the Solid Vision system as two of his new students were dueling in the arena, trying out their skills. It warmed his heart to see such hot-blooded children trying their best and even made him feel his age a bit.
As for Yuya and Yuzu? The two actually worked with the kids up close, with Yuya teaching them Pendulum summoning and Yuzu offering advice with Fusion summoning. Granted, many of them wanted to ask Yuya more about his Pendulum hybrid cards, namely how to get their own. That was a bit of an awkward question, especially since those cards were created more or less from Zarc's power and when the boys were still fused. Many were disappointed when they learned they cannot get their own hybrids right away, but Yuya encouraged them to keep trying and maybe one day they will develop their own hybrids.
Granted, Yuzu scolded him a bit for that, seeing as hybrid cards would be near-impossible to recreate if you weren't him. Giving false hope to people was not nice, but Yuya countered that they did to know if they were truly unique to him. Yuzu had no counter to that, so she let it slide.
"Alright, everyone!" Yuzu called out to the others. "That concludes our small lesson on Fusion Summoning, which was mostly to explain what NOT to do when trying to use Fusions and don't repeat the same mistakes that I did." She was a bit embarrassed to admit the last part, but she continued. "But remember that it is ok to make mistakes as long as you can learn from them!"
"Can we see Yuya duel?" A kid from the crowd asked, sounding excited. "He can Fusion Summon, right? We could learn by watching him duel?"
"Huh? But why Yuya in particular? I mean, I can Fusion Summon as well!" Yuzu said, feeling a bit ignored.
"Yeah, but Yuya can use other summoning methods as well!" Another kid said. "We wouldn't only be learning more about Fusion, but also about other methods as well!"
"That's-" Yuzu began, but as she looked at them she saw their pleading eyes, and she just resigned with a sigh. "Fine. Hey, Yuya!" She called out to her colleague who was sitting on the side, his goggles drawn over his eyes to hide the fact he was half-asleep. Granted, as soon as she shouted, he jumped awake.
"Huh? What is it?" He asked, looking at Yuzu as he took off his goggles.
"The kids would like to watch you duel." She told him as Yuya went to her, standing in front of the crowd. "They want to learn more about the summoning methods and they think that by watching you they have the best chance to do so."
"Really now?" Yuya asked with a smile as he turned to the crowd, his smirk hiding mischief. "So, who is the brave little one who will try to duel me then?" At those words, many of them looked nervous, mainly because they knew they couldn't exactly hold a candle to him. Yuya snickered. "It's ok to ask me to duel, but I cannot duel myself. One of you will need to step out and-"
"How about we have a rematch then?" Both Yuzu and Yuya raised their heads and looked towards the entrance, seeing a face they haven't seen in a long time. "Impressive progress you made with the place."
"Shijima?!" Yuzu gasped in surprise. "What are you doing here? Weren't you with the LDS?" She asked and the Constellar user stepped forth with a low chuckle.
"I am, but that has nothing to do with the reason for me being here." He said, then he looked at Yuya. "I am here to challenge you to a duel!" He pointed at him. " Rumor has it you lost some of your talents since you and the others split, and I am here to capitalize on that by taking you on!"
"Wait a minute, are you actually going to duel Yuya because he no longer has the other dragons?" Yuzu asked.
"Sounds fine to me-" Yuya's words were interrupted rudely as Yuzu smacked him over the head with her fan.
"That is not the point, Yuya!" Yuzu scolded him. "He knows you cannot use some of your cards, so he is trying to take advantage of that!"
"I don't see why that is an issue." Yuya said, rubbing his head. "Besides, if I win this, doesn't that mean he simply wasted time coming here?" Somehow, his comment drew in the snickers of the kids and made Shijima's eye twitch as well.
"I take it that is a confirmation?" Shijima asked, looking at Yuya.
"You're on!" Yuya replied. "Yuzu, inform your father that we need the arena."
Yuzu sighed. "I am on it." She said, going to her father and letting him know of the situation. Shuzo agreed that Shijima's move was pretty low, but his challenge was true. Besides, he was also curious on how Yuya was after the separation. He has not dueled anyone since, so this was also a chance to see what was more chanced about him. The two duelists showed themselves to the arena where the field spell was activated, being a place named Star-Filled Meadow which materialized as a meadow underneath a star-filled sky with only a few trees here and there. It was not an acrobatic place, needing the use of movement, and more of a relaxed action field compared to the others. But overall, neither had the advantage here, not like last time.
"DUEL!" The two called out at once, starting the duel
Shijima: 4000LP, H: 5 VS Yuya: 4000LP, H: 5
"I will take the first turn!" Shijima declared, picking up a card from his hand. "I first activate the continuous spell card, Constellar Star Chart!" Above the field, the stars seemed to realign into a circle, casting down a dim light onto the field. "Once per turn, when I summon a Constellar Xyz monster, I get to draw one card! So let's bring out the first one! I summon Constellar Algiedi!"
A female monster clad in silver armor appeared on the field, a blue cape on her back and a scepter in hand shining with its blue gems; 1600/1400, Level 4, Spellcaster, LIGHT. "Furthermore, using her effect, I special summon Constellar Kaus from my hand!" A centaur-like monster clad in similar silver armor wielding a bow appeared on the field next to Algiedi; 1800/700, Level 4, Beast-Warrior, LIGHT
Yuya chuckled. "I see you are using your usual strategy from last time, Shijima." He commented, but that was when he noticed Shijima's smirk.
"Am I now? You are not the only one who evolved, Yuya!" He declared, then he pointed at Kaus. "Kaus' effect allows me to either increase or decrease the level of a Constellar on the field up to twice per turn! And right now? I choose to decrease both his and Algiedi's levels by one!" This move had Yuya confused as Kaus aimed its bow at the sky and shot, the arrows breaking into particles and showering both him and Algiedi.
Algiedi: 4 - 3
Kaus: 4 - 3
"Now, I use my two level three monsters to build the overlay network!" Shijima declared as his monsters turned into streams of light and entered a large galaxy-like portal that emerged in the middle of the field. "Descend! Constellar Taurus!" A loud roar was heard from the portal, then out leapt a massive monster easily towering over the boys and landing behind Shijima, the monster being seemingly made of metal with a rougher look than the other Constellars with red gems embedded into the joints of its bronze-like armor and wielding a large battle ax. However, the biggest detail that caught his eye was its head, which resembled that of a bull with two glowing red eyes and a ring in its nose; 2000/1200, Rank 3, Machine, LIGHT, OU: 2.
"With my spell's effect, I draw one card!" Shijima said, drawing his new card. "I set one card face-down, ending my turn!"
Shijima: H: 2
"Alright, alright, I admit that the new monster is impressive and intimidating, but can it really turn the tide in your favour?" Yuya asked.
"How about you try and find out." Shijima said, challenging Yuya.
"In that case there is no use in dragging this on." Yuya said, then he placed his hand on his deck. "My turn! I draw!" He drew his card, then he placed it with the other cards in his hand, looking over his options. He smiled as he saw a move he could do. "Using the Scale 2, Performapal Sellshell Crab and the scale 5, Performapal Fireflux, I set my pendulum scale!"
Two pillars of light erupted behind Yuya where two monsters appeared. On his left, a monster resembling the blue shell of a hermit crab with its little blueish occupant appeared and on the right a monster resembling a firefly with an orange suit vest and a bowtie appeared. "With this scale I can summon multiple monsters with levels ranging from 3 to 4!"
"Huh? Why go for such a small scale though?" Shijima asked himself, finding the move a little odd.
"Pendulum Summon!" Yuya declared, then the pendulum above swayed, the portal opening. "Give a warm round of applause to Performapal Odd-Eyes Viper!" The horned viper with mismatched eyes and a tie alongside a hat on its head appeared on the field, coiling up; 1000/200, Level 4, Beast, DARK. "In defense mode!"
"Why summon him without any other Performapal?" Shijima asked. "If I remember right, when that guy is Pendulum Summoned from the hand you can choose another Performapal monster and have him gain attack!"
"Good memory, Shijima!" Yuya said, praising him. "However, this wouldn't be a good show under the stars if we both went full throttle from the start, now would it? Besides, I think my monster feels at home around here."
"At home? Wait, you don't mean-" As Shijima looked he noticed how Yuya's slithered through the grass of the meadow they were in, then returned to Yuya, having an action card in its fangs. "Of course, snakes like meadows."
"Yup! And my friend here has made quite the nice gift! However, I cannot use this now, so instead I will set one card face-down and end my turn!"
Yuya: H: 3
"My turn! I draw!" Shijima declared, drawing his card. He then looked over his options, making sure not to mess up. Last time he got too cocky and that cost him the entire duel, but not this time. He learned his lesson. "I activate the effect of my Constellar Taurus!" Shijima declared, then his monster absorbed the overlay unit. "For the rest of the turn, until the End Phase, my monster gains 500 attack points for each monster you control!"
Taurus: 2000 - 2500
"Furthermore, you cannot activate any trap cards until the end of the Battle Phase!" Shijima said, then Yuya gasped a bit.
"It can cancel out my trap cards?!" He gasped a bit, putting on a face of fake worry.
"Taurus, attack Viper!" Shijima declared, his monster going forth and striking the ground with its axe, kicking up an action card which Shijima quickly rushed to, using his monster's knee as a springboard. "Nice! I also activate the Action-Spell, Star Shower! Now when my monster destroys yours you will take damage equal to your monster's level times 200!"
Taurus charged in, then it tried to swing its axe at Viper, but the monster stood still and eventually, it disappeared in an explosion of balloons. "WHAT?!" Shijima gasped, seeing Yuya's monster vanish. "But how?! You cannot use traps!"
"However, I can still use Pendulum effects and spells!" Yuya revealed, then he raised his hand to his right." Thanks to the effect of my Performapal Fireflux, when you attack I can tribute a Performapal monster to negate the attack and end the battle! But wait, there is more! As I tributed Viper I also activated my Quick-Play spell, Mirage Balloons!"
No sooner had Yuya said that, the entire field became covered in multiple colored balloons of all shapes and sizes, some even being animal shaped. "Thanks to its effect, when a Performapal leaves the field because of a card effect, I can add one Magician, Performapal, or Odd-Eyes card from my deck to my hand, then if it is a monster I am adding and I have a set Pendulum Scale, I can Special Summon it!"
"Damn it, I should have paid more attention to the Pendulum Scales. Oh well, I think this is as good of a time as any to reveal my own aces." Shijima said, confusing Yuya a bit. "At this moment I activate my trap, Far Away Stars! Thanks to its effect I can send the last overlay unit of Taurus to the grave in order to set two LIGHT attribute Pendulum Monsters from my deck or hand into my Pendulum Zones!"
"No way, you got Pendulum Summoning as well!" Yuya said in mild amazement.
"But of course! I cannot afford to be left in the stellar dust, after all." Shijima replied. "I take my Scale 7, Constellar Hydrana and my Scale 2, Constellar Nemeus to set my Pendulum Scale!" As Shinji said that two columns of light appeared besides him, each holding a different monster in them. The left column held a female monster clad in golden armor with green gems embedded into the joins with a spear in its hand and a cape coming from the back colored in black and having another spear resting on their shoulders. The other monster was clad in silver armor with yellow gems at the joints, but this one's main feature was its large club-like weapon and the helmet which resembled a lion's head.
"So cool!" Yuya said. "But now the chain continues! Due to my spell, I now special summon my Performapal Longphone Bull!" A monster resembling a dark-blue bull with a phone receptor instead of horns and wearing a small red suit appeared on the field; 1600/1200, Level 4, Beast, EARTH. "Then, since he was Special Summoned, I can add another Performapal monster to my hand! I choose my Permapal Skullcrobat Joker!"
"Now, during my Main Phase two, I will use the Pendulum Effect of Nemeus!" Shijima declared, his right monster starting to emanate a golden glow. "Thanks to his pendulum effect I can tribute one LIGHT Xyz monster I control to special summon two Constellar monsters from my graveyard!" Algiedi and Kaus returned to the field after Taurus vanished. "Then, using those two monsters, I build the overlay network once again!" Shijima declared as the galaxy-like portal emerged again, his two monsters turning into streams of light that went in it. "Descend, Constellar Omega!"
A large, centaur-like monster emerged on the field, covered in silver armor with golden details and having his face covered by a helmet, a shield made of light in his hand and two protrusions from its back which resembled a night sky filled with stars; 2400/500, Rank 4, Beast-Warrior, LIGHT, OU:2
"Due to the effect of Star Chart, I draw one card!" Shijima declared, drawing his new card and smirking as he saw it. "Looks like I get to use some other new tricks later on. I end my turn!"
Shijima: 4
"My turn! Draw!" Yuya drew his own card, then he looked at his pendulum scales. "Since a revelation was brought to me, I cannot afford to hold back. So Shijima, be ready! I am coming at you with all I have!"
"Bring it, Yuya!"
"First, I activate the spell card, Pendulum Discord!" Suddenly, Yuya's pendulum scales darkened, the monster vanishing. "Thanks to its effect, I can return the cards in my Pendulum Zones to my hand then draw 1 card, but I cannot use monsters with the same names as those I returned to reset my pendulum scale or summon them for the rest of the turn." Yuya drew his card, smiling at it. He managed to draw his Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon, his ace monster. "Now, I activate my Action Spell, Starry Gaze!" Yuya declared, then Shijima's pendulum scales began to glow.
"What is going on?" Shijima asked, to which Yuya simply laughed.
"Due to this Action Spell's effect, I can summon one monster from my hand with a level equal or lower than the combined value of your scales!" Yuya explained, then he pulled a card from his hand. "Since your combined value stands at 9, I think I will summon this monster. Everyone, please give a warm round of applause for my trusted companion! Come, Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon!"
From Shijima's pendulums two rays of light erupted, going to Yuya's field and creating a sphere of light which then began to shine in a rainbow of colors before Odd-Eyes emerged from it, letting out a powerful roar; 2500/2000, Level 7, Dragon, DARK. "Furthermore, I will-"
"There it is!" Shijima suddenly said, a smirk on his face. "I use the Pendulum Effect of my Constellar Hydrana! Since my opponent special summoned a monster I can destroy one card on my field and one card on my opponent's field! I destroy Constellar Star Chart to destroy your Odd-Eyes!" A green beam of light erupted from the sky as Star Chart vanished, going for Odd-Eyes. But Yuya was not about to lose his dragon so easily.
"Longphone!" He called out, his monster searching and quickly fishing out another Action Spell, giving him to Yuya who grabbed it. He didn't want to use this, but he knew he had no choice. "I use the Action-Spell, Shift! When an effect that destroys a monster on my field is activated, I can decide which monster it destroys! Sorry, Longphone!"
Longphone Bull bowed its head in understanding as the beam struck him, destroying him. "Damn!" Shijima said in frustration, Yuya having saved Odd-Eyes, but not for long. "Since a card on my field was destroyed, Hydrana's second Pendulum effect activates, increasing my monster's attack by 1000 until the End Phase!"
Omega: 2400-3400
Yuya frowned, seeing the monster's attack surpass that of Odd-Eyes, and looked at his hand, trying to come up with a solution. He did have a face-down card left, but it was not yet time to use it. "I end my turn."
Omega: 3400-2400
Shijima smirked, knowing that he likely had the advantage now. "My turn! I draw!" Shijima said, drawing his new card and placing it with the others. "Now, using my pendulum scale, I will pendulum summon those two monsters from my hand! Come forth, Constellars Antares and Alrescha!" A golden beam of light shot down from the sky, revealing two new monsters on the field. One resembled a somewhat thin mechanical creature with red detailing on its silver armor and wielding a strange weapon that ended with a sickle on one end and a spear with a tipi made of red light on the other; 2400/900, Level 6, Machine, LIGHT. The second monster looked way more bulkier, being covered in a heavy armor and with two small wings on its helmet, wielding two twin-bladed swords connected by a chain of blue light; 2200/1200, Level 6, Warrior, LIGHT
"When Antares is normal or special summoned I can add a Constellar from my grave back to my hand, and I think I will get my Taurus, which returns to my extra deck." Shijima said, recovering his Xyz monster. "Now, I overlay my two Level 6 monsters!" Another galaxy-like portal opened above the field, the two monsters going within. "Rain down your dazzling light! Xyz Summon! Appear! Rank 6! Sacred Ptolemys Messier 7!"
From above the field Shijima's ace monster emerged, the monster resembling a dragon, but being mechanical in composition with brilliant and dazzling armor made with gold and silver, its wings looking a starry night filled with stars; 2700/2000, Rank 6, Machine, LIGHT, OU:2
Yuya gulped seeing the monster, knowing what was coming. "I use Ptolemys' effect! By using one overlay unit I will return Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon to your hand!" The dragon bit down on one of its units, then shot at Odd-Eyes.
"I activate my trap card, Odd-Eyes Howl!" As if on cue, Odd-Eyes dragon howled out, the shot being thrown aside. "By discarding two cards from my hand when you target an Odd-Eyes card on my field I can negate that effect, then I can destroy one card on your field!"
"Don't be so sure! I use Omega's effect! During either turn I can detach an overlay unit to make my Constellars immune to spell and trap card effects!" Shijima replied, Omage absorbing his unit and going before Ptolemy, using his shield to protect it as a beam shot from Yuya's card. "Nice try, Yuya, but I won't let my monster go down so easily! Not to mention that you fell for it!"
"Huh?"
"I know you are familiar with my old strategy of constantly sending your cards to your hand, but that changed!" Shijima said as he took another card from his hand. "I got myself a new monster. I activate the spell card, Rank-Up Star Shine!" Yuya gasped hearing that, but then the overlay network activated again. "I use this and my Ptolemy to Xyz summon a new Xyz monster that is one rank higher than my ace!"
As the Xyz monster entered the galaxy-like portal, Shjima threw his arms around. "From the depths of the night sky you make yourself known, transcending light years! Come forth!" Suddenly, a powerful ray of light emerged on the field, revealing the new monster which came out of it. The monster in question was not hiding its face behind armor like other Constellars, allowing Yuya to notice the female face beneath with pale skin that nearly resembled her silver armor, having multiple black and red gems embedded into the joins and having a crimson cape behind herself, her helmet resembling the head of Ptolemy and holding a large broadsword in her hand; 2900/2400, Rank 7, Warrior, LIGHT, OU: 3.
"High Constellar, Ptolemy Comet!" Shijima finished, introducing the monster. "Here I come, Yuya! Due to my Rank-Up's effect, it has been added to Ptolemy Comet as an Overlay Unit, giving me three units to use! But first, let's go through my monster's effect!" Comet put her sword up, then the stars above the two began to swirl strangely, as if the monster commadet them. "When Comet is summoned using Ptolemy M7 as material, all cards in my opponent's hand and field are sent to the graveyard! Furthermore, even if we are talking about pendulum cards, they still go to the grave instead of the Extra Deck"
"What?!" Yuya gasped as his hand and monster vanished, leaving him without anything.
"However, you get to draw a card for each monster sent to the graveyard from the field." Shijima continued, but it didn't help much considering Yuya only lost Odd-Eyes. "But this part of the effect only kicks in during the End Phase, so this gives me free reign to use my monster's second effect! By using one Overlay Unit and targeting another Constellar Xyz monster on my field, in exchange for that monster's ability to attack this turn, Comet gains all of its attack points!" Shijima's monster put her blade up again, but this time a stream of energy flowed from Omega to her blade, allowing the blade to open up and catch ablaze, the burning sword being pointed at Yuya.
Ptolemy Comet: 2900 + 24000 = 5300
"Now, Ptolemy Comet, attack Yuya directly and end this duel in one strike!" Shijima ordered his monster, the she-warrior, to attack and swing her sword down at Yuya, knowing full well that this will erase all his life points as a result. However, Yuya still had an ace up his sleeve.
"I banish Odd-Eyes Howl from my graveyard to use its effect!" He quickly said, then two pillars of light erupted behind him. "During my opponent's turn, by banishing this card while I have no cards in my pendulum zones, I can place two pendulum monsters from my graveyard in my pendulum zones and half all damage for the rest of the turn! I place Performapal Skullcrobat Joker and Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon in my pendulum zones!"
"Still going to take damage, Yuya!" Shijima pointed out, then his monster struck the ground, sending a wave of fire all around that scorched away the grass, turning the meadow into a wasteland and sending a shockwave that knocked Yuya off his feet.
5300/2=2650.
Yuya: LP: 4000-2650=1350
"So close." Shijima clicked his tongue in annoyance, forgetting how resourceful Yuya could be. "I end my turn! At this time, Ptolemy Comet's effect ends and her attack returns to normal."
Comet: 5300 - 2900
"And you also get your extra card." Shijima added, then Yuya slowly got up, drawing his free card. "Now, what do you think about my progress? I went over to the Xyz dimension to pick up a few new tricks and actually met some of the old resistance members! They agreed to teach me some stuff about Rank-Up Xyz summoning."
"I must say, it was surprising." Yuya commented. "I never expected you to develop this quickly as soon as the dimensions opened up."
"It is not just me!" Shijima added. "Everyone is doing their best to improve, even traveling to the other dimensions to learn from them! Of course, it is no one-sided exchange, we also decided to teach them a few tricks as well!"
"Good." Yuya smiled. "It warms my heart to hear the dimensions seem to be getting along." He placed his hand on his deck. "My turn! I draw!" He declared, then he drew his card, looking at it and widening his eyes when he saw what it was. He didn't remember this card being in his deck, so how did it get there? More importantly, when did it manifest? Was it a result of Zarc's power? No, not possible. But then why-
"Earth to Yuya Sakaki!" Shijima taunted slightly, bringing Yuya back down to earth. "Are you going to keep me waiting or duel?"
"Oh, right, sorry." Yuya quickly apologized, then he looked at the card. He let out a deep breath, then he looked at Odd-Eyes in his pendulum zone, silently asking for guidance or some sign. His monster looked at him, and for a second, Yuya could swear he saw something else. It looked like Odd-Eyes, but different. One of his fusion forms? No, it was different, yet similar. "Only one way to find out…" Yuya muttered. "Ladies and Gentleman!" And so he began his usual act. "As you can see I am at quite the disadvantage! Although I have my pendulum scales I was mostly crippled by my original resources and my plans had to change, but that doesn't mean I give up!"
"That's the spirit." Shijima said softly, smiling at the display. However, he felt a bit left out. "Ha! I'd like to see you pull victory from this, Yuya!" He taunted slightly, looking to challenge him further.
"Oh, but I will!" Yuya said in response. "Using my Scale 8, Skullcrobat Joker, and Scale 4, Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon, I can pendulum summon monsters with levels ranging from 5 to 7! But I do not need them for a summon now!" Shijima seemed confused, but then Yuya smiled at him, pulling a card from his hand, the one he drew using his monster's effect. "I activate my field spell, Sky Iris!" Yuya exclaimed, then the sky above them changed as Yuya's pendulum began to swing as if something was being summoned, but in exchange it drew a beautiful rainbow above them, illuminating the meadow. "With its effect I destroy Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon in my pendulum zone to add one Odd-Eyes card from my deck to my hand, namely my Odd-Eyes Cross Magician!"
"Why destroy your scales like that?" Shijima asked in confusion.
"I set Cross Magician in my pendulum scale to replace Odd-Eyes!" Yuya said, continuing as the scale 1 of his monster appeared on the column and the monster itself rose inside it. The monster resembled a bald man with mismatched eyes of blue and red wearing a black robe with a cross drawn on the front of it, half it green and the other yellow, holding a staff in his hand with a large white stone on top of it.
Yuya took a breath, looking at his hand and the card in it. It was time. "I use Cross Magician's Pendulum Effect!" Yuya declared, the magician raising his staff. "By destroying all cards in the pendulum zones I control, all damage involving an Odd-Eyes monster is doubled for the rest of the turn!" Yuya's scales vanished.
"Now you ruin your scales entirely?!" Shijima gasped in further confusion. "What are you playing at?"
Yuya put up his last card, knowing what was going to happen. He could hear it, the heartbeat of a new being in his Extra Deck. "I activate the spell card, Odd-Eyes Fusion!" He declared.
"What?" Shijima gasped hearing him. Yuya never played a card like that! As far as Shijimia knew, some archetypes had their own fusion cards, but so far he was certain that Odd-Eyes had none! However, something caught his eye. "But what are you fusioning? Your hand and field are bare!"
"Nice observation, but not my extra deck!" Yuya pointed out, then two cards emerged from his Extra Deck, those being Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon and Odd-Eyes Cross Magician. "Since you control two monsters and I control none, I can use two Odd-Eyes monsters in my Extra Deck as materials!"
"Are you telling me you are using monsters straight from your Extra Deck to summon something?!" Shijima gaped in shock, then the pendulum portal above grew wider as two spectral images of Yuya's monster went inside of it.
"Beautiful dragon with dual-colored eyes! Become one with the arcane follower of your might and become a new force within the vortex of power! Fusion Summon!" Yuya shouted, then a powerful tornado descended onto the field, followed by a mighty roar. When the wind died down it revealed the monster within. It resembled Odd-Eyes very strongly, but the differences were clear. Its armor was green in color with golden detailings and the gem within its chest blue, with its eyes being a mismatch of red and blue. Furthermore, it was effectively levitating above the field with two pairs of white wings with a golden outline on its back. Its main body was dark blue and around it the monster seemed to generate a wind current and electricity as it flew around;2500/3000, Level 7, Dragon, WIND.
"A new Odd-Eyes monster?!" Shijima gasped in shock, a reaction shared by Yuzu in the audience as she gasped seeing the monster. Yuya never played or had that dragon before and worry overtook her that it may be Zarc's power. But when she looked at Yuya, he was looking at the new dragon with awe and being smitten with its majesty.
Thankfully, Yuya seemed to recover. "I present to you my newest companion! Odd-Eyes Vortex Dragon!" The dragon roared out, making its presence known.
"Although I admit I did not expect this, I am afraid this new dragon will do you little good, Yuya!" Shijima exclaimed. "Since you special summoned I can use Hydrana's effect!"
"I am afraid my partner won't be leaving so soon!" Yuya said. "When an effect is activated I can return one pendulum monster in my extra deck to the deck to negate the effect's activation and destroy it! I shuffle back my Viper!" Vortex Dragon roared out, sending a shock wave that destroyed Shijima's pendulum scale. "Furthermore, before I was rudely interrupted, when my Vortex Dragon is summoned I get to target one of your attack position monsters and send it back to your hand! Goodbye, Omeg." Yuya said as his Vortex Dragon charged at Omega, who placed his shield up to counter the beast.
The two clashed, creating another shock wave as Vortex Dragon's claws met Omega's shield, but then a whirling began underneath them, picking up Omega and taking him up into the sky where it disappeared. Shijima clicked his tongue in annoyance once again because of that. "Furthermore, since Cross Magician was sent to the graveyard as material for an Odd-Eyes fusion monster, I get to use his effect! All monsters my opponent currently controls have their attack points reduced to 0!"
Shijima panicked as Comet collapsed on its knees, dropping her blade.
Comet: 2400 - 0.
"Tch. Even if you attack now I will still have life points! Next turn I will-"
"Oh? Do you forget the effect of Cross Magician already? The pendulum one?" Yuya reminded him, then Shijima realized what was going to happen. "Indeed! Now all battle damage from attacks involving my Odd-Eyes is doubled!" Yuya exclaimed as he jumped on Vortex's back, holding on tightly as he knew a bumpy ride was ahead. "Go, Vortex Dragon! Vortex Charge!" Yuya yelled out as his dragon began to spin around in the air, creating a vortex of air and electricity around it as it charged into Comet, going through the monster's mid-section and causing it to explode.
Shijima: LP: 4000 - 0.
Bloody: There! Now if you'd excuse me, I want to get some sleep in. Today has been a busy day for me.
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