Heartland Academy

Yuma had just lost to Caswell.

"Yuma." Tori stated.

Yuto shrugged. "I mean, he's getting better."

"Heh, I bested you without losing life points." Caswell gloated. "In the end, there was no way an intellectually challenged amateur like you could defeat a brilliant strategist like me."

Hunter came to stand in front of Yuma. "I'm fine with cockiness, but no one insults my friends." He stared Caswell down. "Before you comment, Shark is a different story."

Caswell smirked. "You're quick to step up and lose your tittle as the best in the school, aren't you?"

"Please. My deck's more than a match for your fancy toys." Hunter activated his D-pad. "Allow me to prove it by moping the floor with ya."

Caswell laughed. "I started by taking spot number three from Yuma and immediately move into number one after defeating you. Give a wonderful duel or people won't believe my victory true."

Yuma had moved to stand by Tori and Yuto.

D-pad go

Duel Gazer on

Augmented vision link established

(Hunter 4000/Caswell 4000)

"I'll go first." Hunter declared. "I summon Heroic Challenger-Thousand Blades(1300/1100)." A warrior decked out in silver armor with a thousand blades on his back appeared. "I'll end my turn there."

"Oh, is that the best you got Hunter?" Caswell chuckled. "Looks like the best is already starting to wear himself out."

"Hey, stop mocking him!"

"Yeah, Hunter is the best in the school!"

"You're just some poser."

Several girls had come to Hunter's defense, but he merely held up his hands. "Ladies, I appreciate the effort, but I do not date fan girls. I'd advise you look elsewhere."

"Look, he's attempting to spare our feelings."

Hunter sighed. "Whatever, that was my one attempt to let them down this week, so I'm free to ignore them as usual."

"My victory starts now." Caswell drew. "I summon Wind-Up Soldier(LV 4/1800/1200)." A green and silver wind up, humanoid magnet appeared. "Since I just summoned, I'm allowed to special summon Wind-Up Shark(LV 4/1500/1300) from my hand.

Now, I activate their abilities increasing their levels by one." Wind-Up Shark(LV 5/1500/1300 effect) and Wind-Up Soldier(LV 5/2200/1200 effect). "I build the overlay network with my Shark and Soldier to Xyz summon Wind-Up Arsenal Zenmaioh(R 5/O2/2600/1900)."

A red, blue, and silver machine with a drill on one hand and laser on the other appeared.

"A rank five Xyz monster." Yuma commented impressed.

Caswell smirked. "It doesn't stop there because I'm activating Xyz Unit and equipping it to Wind-Up Arsenal Zenmaioh(R 5/O 2/3600/1900 effect). This grants my monster 200 more ATK for every rank.

With 5 ranks, that's 1000 ATK total. I'll take everything and throw it at your Thousand Blades (Hunter 1700/Caswell 4000). I'll then set one card ending my turn." He grinned cockily. "So, what did you think of my combo Hunter?"

Hunter laughed good naturedly. "I think you're getting a little too full of yourself Caswell." He shrugged. "After all, true cockiness is something you earn; not something you get to display after one duel. I think it's time I knock you back down for everyone's sake."

He drew. "I activate Premature Burial (Hunter 900/Caswell 4000). By paying 800 life points, I'm allowed to special summon Heroic Challenger-Thousand Blades(LV 4/1300/1100) from my grave. I'll then play Inferno Reckless Summon.

Since you control a monster, and I special summoned a monster of my own with 1500 or less ATK, I get to special summon two more Heroic Challenger-Thousand Blades(LV 4/1300/1100) from my deck. You could do the same, but I'm betting that's your only Zenmaioh.

Even still, that is not the end as I normal summon Heroic Challenger-Double Lance(LV 4/1700/900)." A warrior decked out in light blue and white armor wielding two laces appeared. "I now have everything I needed to build multiple overlay networks."

Caswell was suddenly very worried as all his earlier cockiness left him. "This isn't good."

"How right you are." Hunter declared. "First, I build the overlay network with one Thousand Blades and Double Lace which can count as two monsters for the Xyz summon of a Heroic Champion.

Xyz summon Heroic Champion-Kusanagi(R 4/O 2/2500/2400)." A samurai in dark red and orange armor appeared. "I shall then build the overlay network with my remaining Thousand Blades. Xyz summon Heroic Champion-Excalibur(R 4/O 2/2000/2000)."

A warrior decked out in red armor appeared. "I then detach two overlay units from Heroic Champion-Excalibur(R 4/O 0/4000/2000 effect) allowing me to double his ATK until your next end phase. I'll then double his ATK by activating Heroic Chance."

Heroic Champion-Excalibur(R 4/O 0/8000/2000 effect). "Of course, activating this spell made it impossible to attack you directly, but who needs that when there's a prime attack target on the field."

"I can't believe it." Caswell stepped back. "A monster with 8000 ATK."

"Allow me to show you it's authenticity." Hunter stated. "Excalibur attack Zenmaioh."

"This isn't over Hunter!" Caswell grit his teeth and stood his ground. "I activate Overwind, and like with Yuma, no matter what you do, your monsters won't be strong enough to defeat me this turn. I'll have a turn to shift things back in my favor."

Hunter smirked. "I detach one overlay unit from Heroic Champion-Kusanagi(R 4/O 2/2500/2400) to activate his ability. Once per turn, I can negate and destroy any trap you play. Not that it matters, but Kusanagi gains 500 ATK. Excalibur end this!"

Excalibur cleaved Zenmaioh (Hunter 900/Caswell 0). The entire class cheered for Hunter's stunning move. A double Xyz summon with one covering the potential weakness of the other and an 8000 ATK monster that won the duel. Truly, it was a spectacular play.

"Way to go Hunter!" Yuma cheered.

Tori added. "Those were some great moves."

Yuto shrugged. "That's only to be expected."

Caswell fell to his butt utterly shocked. "I spent so much time and effort constructing this deck, but in the end, I lost."

Hunter walked forward. "You certainly did; however, I won't deny that you've improved." He offered a hand to his fellow student. "I wouldn't mind kicking your butt again in the future."

Caswell batted the hand away, stood up, and dusted himself off. Before he could walk away, Mr. Kay got involved hoping to bring things to a better resolution.

"You know, dueling is a lot like life." Mr. Kay began. "Sometimes things go as we planned. Other times, we make mistakes and get frustrated." Everyone looked to him as their teacher pulled out a Crashbug. When that happens, feed your frustrations to Crashbug.

You guys know the legend behind this card, right? He's a little, electrical spirit that likes to zap what he calls bugs. Bugs are those things that get in our way. Frustration. Doubt. Give those to Crashbug, and you can move past them. Succeed."

"That's ridiculous Mr. Kay." Caswell was utterly frustrated. "Crashbug doesn't actually exist."

"He exists. I've seen him." Mr. Kay put a hand on The Wind-Up user's shoulder. "So, what if you lost Caswell? The trick is to not let the frustration get to you. Learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward."

Caswell looked at the ground before sighing and walking up to Hunter. "Those were some pretty great moves." He held out his hand. "I'd like to duel you again soon."

Hunter shook the hand. "Any time."

Heartland Streets: After School…

The quartet walked along the sidewalk with the brothers pushing their bikes.

"Isn't Mr. Kay the coolest?" Yuma asked excitedly. "Not only is he the smartest math wiz I've ever met, but he's super nice to."

"I also hear he was quite the dueling wiz back in his day to." Yuto voiced.

"No fooling!?" Yuma asked with stars in his eyes.

"Yeah, it's said he competed as a pro duelist before committing to becoming a math teacher." Yuto smiled. "Though, he never climbed within the top ten, his deck, Mathmech, was said to be powerful, and I hear it's only gotten better with the newer support out there."

"Wow, I got see if he'll let me duel him." Yuma voice.

"Get in line Yuma." Hunter stated. "If my brother had told me this sooner, I'd have already dueled Mr. Kay. Now that I know he's got some skill, I'm taking him on first."

Before Yuma could retaliate, a red car came screeching up to the group, and everyone there recognized it as Kari's.

Said woman rolled down the window and leaned out the window wearing sunglasses which she pulled down a bit to look a Yuma! "Hey doofus, what's up?"

"What do you want sis?" Yuma asked.

"I want to talk to you and your friends here about that computer virus." Kari stated. "Essentially, it could have been much worse than what you saw."

"No kidding." Yuto stated. "Data at the banks could have been erased or rewritten. The hospital could have lost all its data. People would have lashed out in fear."

"Y-You serious?" Yuma questioned nervously.

"Who would try to do such a thing?" Tori mused.

"Someone who needs to be stopped." Yuto stated seriously.

"The Numbers might be involved here." Hunter mentally mused. "I know everyone in school, and no one would try something like this without an outside influence."

"I want the four of you to stake out your school's library." Kari stated. "Since your students, it wouldn't seem suspicious to the one doing this; meanwhile, I'll see what I can do from my systems back home."

"That makes sense." Yuto stated. "After all, the criminal always returns to the scene of the crime especially if they have unfinished business."

"Yuma, I don't want to hear any complaints from you." Kari stated upon seeing her little brother about to speak up. "It's my article that was ruined by this."

"Fine." Yuma grumbled.

"Just to make it clear, Yuto and I are doing this for the more serious problems this caused and could have caused."

"Agreed." Yuto crossed his arms. "We will not have our names tied to a petty reason when you can always just redo an article."

"Yeah, yeah." Kari waved it off. "So long as you catch the guy, I don't care what reasons you use to justify it."

School Library: Hours Later…

The quartet kept a look out, but the culprit had yet to show up. Now, the library was cleared out of everyone except them.

"It's almost closing time." Tori informed.

"Maybe he's just not coming today." Yuma voiced.

"We'll give it ten more minutes before calling it a day." Hunter declared.

Tori gasped in surprise. "Yuma, Yuto, Hunter, look. Isn't that…"

They all looked out and spotted Caswell trying to sneakily make his way over to the library computers.

"It's Caswell." Yuto stated. "Why is he acting suspicious?" Yuma ran out to intercept him. "Yuma!"

"That's a flash drive!" Tori commented.

Caswell was in fact holding up a flash drive and plugged it into computer which caused Crashbugs to go wild on the computer systems. "Ah, I didn't mean to launch anything!"

"Caught you!" Yuma yelled while grabbing Caswell. "So, you were the culprit behind the incident!"

"No Yuma." Hunter proclaimed as the others joined them. "His shock at the virus appearing was genuine. If anything, he's a victim of circumstance."

"H-Hunter's right." Caswell stuttered out as he now worked furiously at the computer. "I was just being used."

"You're lying!" Yuma yelled out. "We just saw you input the virus."

"No!" Yuto slapped Yuma on the back of the head making him yelp in pain. "Remember Yuma, innocent until proven guilty."

Tori looked at Caswell. "What are you doing now then?"

"Intervening and trying to find the source location." Caswell informed. "Without knowing it, I activated the installation files and launched the virus. Now, I got it!" He let everyone look at a map of the city with one, glowing red dot. "Our culprit should be there."

Tower under Construction, Night…

The quartet, joined by Caswell, had run to the tower with Yuma informing Kari of what was happening. The group then entered the tower only for the doors to seal shut behind them.

It was quickly followed by Mr. Kay's voice. "You finally put the pieces together. Honestly, it took you a lot longer than I thought it would."

"What are you doing here Mr. Kay?" Yuma asked.

"Don't you get it?" Caswell asked. "In the end, Mr. Kay created the virus."

"That's one way of putting it." Mr. Kay stated.

"But, I was saying early how awesome you were." Yuma stated hurt. "I wanted to be just like you when I grew up."

Mr. Kay scoffed. "Someone like you could never be like me."

"I have to say sir, this is disappointing." Caswell stated.

"Sorry students, but I wanted you here to witness the virus going viral." Mr. Kay then started laughing as a purple 34 appeared on his neck.

Yuma went wide eyed at this. "A Number!"

At this moment, Astral decided to appear as he stared at Mr. Kay. "That human bears the mark of a Number."

Yuma reacted with shock. "I thought you went back to Saturn or something."

"That is incorrect." Astral simply stated.

That started Yuma off on Astral.

Caswell looked to Tori and Yuto. "Why is he talking to himself like that?"

Tori smiled. "Yuma and Hunter's invisible duelist friend must have appeared to help them out."

Astral looked to the Syllable and Heroic duelist. "Yuma or Hunter, one of you must take Mr. Kay on in a duel. The only way to reason with him is to break the Number's hold."

"I got this." Hunter looked to Mr. Kay. "I challenge you to a duel. If I win, you put a stop to this virus of yours."

Mr. Kay happily said, "I'll take that challenge Hunter, but I think you'll find I'm a tougher challenge than young Yuto, Caswell, or Shark ever were."

"We'll see." Hunter stated.

D-pad go

Duel Gazer on

Augmented vision link established

(Hunter 4000/Darren(Mr. Kay) 4000)

"We know you got this bro!" Yuto declared.

"No doubt about it!" Yuma declared.

"I know you can win!" Tori cheered.

"Hunter has to win, or everyone else will think I'm some kind of criminal." Caswell pleaded to whoever would listen.

"Alright, I'll start things off by summoning Heroic Challenger-Spartan(LV4/1600/DEF 1000)." A warrior in roman metal armor appeared. "I'll finish this turn by setting two face down cards. Your move, Mr. Kay!"

"Thanks." Mr. Kay drew. "First, I activate Cynet Mining. By sending one card from my hand to the grave, I can add a Cyberse monster from my deck to my hand. Then, by sending a Mathmech monster from my deck to the grave, I special summon Mathmech Circular(LV 4/1500/1500)."

A bulky, white monster appeared wielding a scythe. "Now, I normal summon Mathmech Diameter(LV 4/1000/1500)." A bulky, white monster appeared wielding a circle blade. "When he's normal summon, I can special summon a level four Cyberse monster from my grave.

I choose Mathmech Sigma(LV 4/1000/1500)." A lithe beige and red monster appeared wielding a blade. "Now I'm activating the effects of two monsters in my hand. I'm increasing Sigma's ATK by one thousand before decreasing it by one thousand."

"Why would he do that?" Yuma asked.

"Given he's already summoned three monsters, I'd wager he's attempting to fill his board." Astral guessed.

"Here, let me show you Yuma!" Mr. Kay declared obviously not seeing Astral. "By using those effects of my two monsters, I'm allowed to special summon them. Welcome to the field Mathmech Addition(LV 4/1000/1000) and Mathmech Subtraction(LV 4/1000/1000)."

A bulky red armored monster and lithe armored monster appeared on the field taking there place among the lineup of Mathmech monsters.

"Mr. Kay just summoned five monsters in one turn." Tori stated shocked yet impressed.

"I've only ever seen those in the pros and Hunter able to do that." Yuto added.

"Oh no." Caswell realized what this could mean. "Be careful Hunter! I think Mr. Kay is going to attempt to end this duel in one turn!"

"A one turn knockout!?" Yuma exclaimed.

"Like Yuto said Caswell, I'm pretty familiar with this strategy." Hunter smirked at Mr. Kay. "Let's see if you can actually execute it sir."

"Careful what you ask for Hunter." Mr. Kay countered. "I now overlay Mathmech Diameter, Subtraction, and Addition to construct the overlay network. Xyz summon Number 34:Terror-Byte(R4/O3/0/2900) in defense mode." A blue and yellow monster appeared.

"He Xyz summoned using three monsters." Yuma commented impressed.

"Now, I'm activating its special ability." Mr. Kay stated. "By removing one overlay unit from Number 34:Terror-Byte(R4/O2/0/2900) you Spartan becomes my monster until the end of the turn." Spartan was dematerialized and rematerialized on Mr. Kay's field.

"If you think you have game, then I invite you to just try attacking me." Hunter declared confidently.

"Please, I won't fall for that." Mr. Kay smirked. "You see, what Caswell said might have been true for most duelist, but you're a duelist deserving of something more than attempting to end you this turn. Observe as Diameter gives Spartan and Circular a tune up!"

"A tune up?" Tori/Yuma questioned.

"That means he's going to Synchro Summon." Caswell stated. "Synchro summons, like Xyz's, can have requirements for summoning. How they differ is that you need a Tuner monster and at least one non-Tuner monster to pull it off. In the end, the total levels must add up to the level of the monster you wish to summon."

"He's using three monsters with four levels meaning he's summoning a level 12 monster!" Tori exclaimed.

"That's bad." Yuma stated.

"No kidding." Yuto stated. "Hunter's never dueled against someone with a level 12 monster of any kind. Let alone an extra deck monster with that kind of power."

"Mathmech of raging inferno, appear now and bathe all who oppose you in brilliant flames! Synchro Summon Geomathmech Final Sigma(LV 12/3000/0)." A colossal white and red monster appeared.

"Okay, that's a problem." Hunter thought genuinely.

"That monster is huge!" Yuma exclaimed.

"Not to mention quite powerful." Astral stated. "Hopefully, Hunter can stop it from lowering his life points."

"Final Sigma, attack Hunter directly with Inferno Slasher!" Mr. Kay exclaimed.

"Not so fast." Hunter declared. "I activate my face down Karma Cut. By discarding one card from my hand, I can target one face-up monster you control and banish it." He discarded and pointed at Sigma. "Say good-bye to final Sigma!"

"That won't work!" Mr. Kay exclaimed. "Final Sigma is unaffected by all card effects except Mathmechs!"

"Then I activate my Undying Heroic Sprit." Hunter began.

"No, you won't." Mr. Kay retorted. "By paying half my life points, I can activate the trap Red Reboot from my hand (Hunter 4000/Darren 2000). This trap negates the activation of your trap and makes it impossible for you to use traps this turn meaning my attack goes through."

(Hunter 1000/Darren 2000)

"Whoa, not even Shark could get Hunter that low." Yuma stated in shock.

"Yeah, the only one who's gotten him that low, and beyond, is Yuto." Tori stated.

"Mr. Kay really isn't playing around here." Yuto stated.

"Oh no!" Caswell was freaking out. "It's all over! I'll be labeled a criminal and carted off!"

"With that, I'll end my turn." Mr. Kay announced. "Your move Hunter."

"Well, I'll make it a good one." Hunter drew and smiled. "With this card, I have everything to summon one heck of a monster. I first activate Heroic Call allowing me to special summon a warrior from my hand or grave. I choose Heroic Challenger-Ambush Soldier(LV 1/0/0)."

A hero wearing light armor and a green trench coat appeared. "Next, I activate Inferno Reckless Summon. Since you control a monster, and I special summoned a monster of my own with 1500 or less ATK, I get to special summon two more Heroic Challenger-Ambush Soldier(LV 1/0/0).

You could do the same with a monster on your field, but this card excludes the extra deck. Now, I'll use my three level one monsters to construct the overlay network. Xyz summon Number 54: Lion Heart(R1/O3/100/100)."

"A rank one Number monster." Mr. Kay stated wearily. "It must have one powerful effect."

"You bet it does, and I'm about to display it through attacking your Final Sigma." Hunter declared.

"I was worried you'd attack Number 34." Mr. Kay laughed. "Don't you remember? Final Sigma is unaffected by all card effects save Mathmechs. What's more, he has another ability that activates in battle with a monster doubling the battle damage you'll receive. It's over!"

"You're right." Hunter smiled. "It is over… for you. Number 54's special ability deals both of us the battle damage from any battle involving him, and even if he were facing a Number monster, he can't be destroyed by battle."

"Then, all you'll do is tie with me!" Mr. Kay exclaimed.

"I would if not for Lion Heart's ability." Hunter declared. "By detaching one overlay unit, all battle damage I'd take from a battle is transferred to my opponent keeping me safe. Lion Heart end this with Pouncing Punch (Hunter 1000/Mr. Kay 0) Winner: Hunter!"

Mr. Kay screamed out in pain as the 34 began to vanish from his neck, but just before he collapsed, he pressed a button in his pocket. No one noticed it as they were focusing on Hunter. Number 34 floated away from Mr. Kay and entered his pendent.

Astral got hit with a memory. "I remember the place I came from. A different galaxy. Astral World. That is where I'm from."

Everyone ran to Hunter until the countdown suddenly accelerated.

"That's not good!" Caswell shouted worriedly.

Tori tried shaking the teacher awake. "Mr. Kay! Mr. Kay wake up!"

Their teacher opened his eyes groggily. "Uh, what are you kids doing here?"

"Mr. Kay, there isn't time." Hunter quickly stated. "You said if I beat you, you'd stop the viral countdown. Now, it's accelerated."

"The viral countdown? I can't. I only had a switch to accelerate it if I lost. A back up plan just in case." Mr. Kay informed.

"Are you serious?" Yuma asked. "The city's doomed!"

The countdown reached 0 frightening everyone involved as they moved to look out over the city.

"It's all over!" Tori shouted.

Mr. Kay joined them. "What are you all worried about?"

Yuma turned to him. "Your virus. Weren't you trying to crash the city's systems?"

"Why would you think I'd do something like that?" Mr. Kay was surprised. "I'll admit that during my preparations I accidently caused some problems, but it was never my intention."

"What was your intention then?" Caswell asked.

Just then, the museum light turned on causing Mr. Kay to smile. "There it is. If you want to know what I did, then put on your duel gazers and look to the sky." They saw a certain monster in the sky. "I was looking at the patterns in the city's lights.

Through that, I noticed they seemed to make an incredibly complex code. With my gazer, I scanned the pattern and realized it was just one fragment away from making a replica of the Crashbug QR code."

"So, all of this was you trying to turn on that light to make a giant Crashbug appear?" Yuma asked.

Yuma, Caswell, Yuto, and Tori fell to the ground exasperated, but Hunter smiled as he looked at the monster in the sky.

"What's got you so happy Hunter?" Yuto asked.

"It's Mr. Kay." Hunter chuckled. "He was never malicious. He just wanted everyone to have good luck because if you see a Crashbug on a full moon, you're blessed with it. At least, that's how the card description goes."

With that revelation, the others joined him in staring at the monster.

"Observation number 4: Number cards affect people. Change them. They seem to amplify their individual wants and desires. Almost to the point that they take over." Astral thought as he stared at the group. "I need to remember that."


In this story, only four people native to the Xyz Dimension will use other summoning methods before the Fusion Dimension Invasion. Mr. Kay is one of these people but be aware that anyone else who uses them before that point does not break this rule because they won't be native to the Xyz dimension. In this chapter, the Mathmech archetype was used but has been changed to fit with pre-Link rules. Basically, everyone is operating under Master Rule 3.