Train Station, Evening…
Yuma had been out dueling at a park and was walking home only for a guy with brown hair and eyes, in a 2nd year uniform, to get in his way. "Yuma Tsukumo, I challenge you to a duel. I will prove that there's no way a useless duelist like you could have beaten Shark."
"If you want to duel, then I'm for it." Yuma smiled. "I'm feeling the flow!"
Astral appeared. "Exercise caution Yuma. He's radiating the power of a Number. His desire to beat you must be strong."
D-pad go
Duel Gazer on
Augmented vision link established
(Yuma 4000/Brown 4000)
"Alright, I summon Achacha Archer(LV 3/1200/600)." An archer in light, yellow armor appeared. "When he's summoned, you take 500 life points (Yuma 4000/Student 3500). I then set one card."
"My move." Brown drew. "I summon Rescue Rabbit(LV 4/300/100)." A white and black rabbit appeared. "I then activate his effect allowing me to banish him and summon two normal monsters from my deck provided they are the same.
Those monsters will be destroyed during the end phase. I choose two Gene-Warped Warwolf(LV 4/2000/100)." Two bipedal white wolves with four arms appeared. "I'll use them to construct the overlay network.
Come forth Number 55:Gogogo Goliath(R 4/O 2/2400/1200)." A colossal golem appeared. "I then activate Monster Reborn allowing me to return a Gene-Warped Warwolf(2000/100) from the grave to the field."
"That isn't good." Yuma stated.
Astral said, "Activate your face down when he attacks."
"Now, I will attack your Archer with Warwolf." Brown declared.
"I activate Battle Break destroying your attacking monster and ending your battle phase." Yuma declared.
"I end my turn." Brown stated.
Yuma drew. "I now summon Gogogo Golem(LV 4/1800/1500)." A green and blue golem appeared. "This allows me to special summon Kagetokage(LV 4/1100/1500) from my hand." The shadow of a lizard appeared in the ground.
"I will them construct the Overlay Network with my two level fours to bring about Number 39: Utopia(R 4/O 2/2500/2000)." A white and gold warrior appeared. "I'll have him destroy Number 55 (Yuma 4000/Brown 3400)."
"No!" Brown sated. "I refuse to lose to you of all people Yuma Tsukumo. I will not lose!" He drew. "I activate Soul Charge. Now I can special summon my two Gene-Warped Warwolf(LV/2000/100) at the cost of 1000 life points apiece (Yuma 4000/Brown 1400)."
This caused the number 85 to appear on his left hand.
"Astral?" Yuma questioned worriedly.
"I see it Yuma." Astral stated. "This one has two numbers."
"Now, I build the overlay network with my two level four monsters to Xyz summon Number 85: Crazy Box(R 4/O 2/3000/300)." A large, light black box with a single eye appeared. "This monster is prohibited from attacking, but I don't need it when I can use his effect.
By detaching an overlay unit, a six-sided dice is rolled." Brown declared. "There is an effect for every number." A die rolled and landed on 1. "A one means your life points are cut in halve (Yuma 2000/Brown 1100).
"That is some Number." Yuma stated.
Astral nodded. "Indeed; however, he has lost this duel. You have what you need in your hand regardless of what you draw."
"You're right Astral." Yuma drew. "Alright, I'm seriously feeling the flow. I'll have Utopia attack your Box only to activate his ability stopping the ATK in its tracks."
Brown laughed. "What a useless move."
"You'd think so until I activate Double or Nothing. Since Utopia's ATK was stopped, he gets to try again at double the strength." Yuma declared. "That means you've lost (Yuma 1500/Brown 0)."
Brown was knocked onto his back as Astral held out his hand collecting both numbers.
"I did it!" Yuma celebrated. "I managed to beat two Numbers!"
Astral looked at Yuma with a hand on his chin. "Observation number 9: Yuma is starting to come into the role of a proper duelist, but he still has some distance to go."
Shark sat in his parked bike a fair distance away having observed the duel. He removed his duel gazer and sped away from the scene.
Streets of Heartland
Hunter waited at the crosswalk for the signal to bike over. Once it turned green, he started pedaling only to notice Shark sitting atop a motorcycle in traffic. They locked eyes until Hunter made it to the other side. That's when the light turned green, and the Shark user sped off.
The Heroic duelist watched him go. "Shark… I haven't seen him since he accepted Yuma's challenge. Has he not been in school all this time? That would explain why we haven't dueled. Could the duel with Yuma be the only reason? Yuma did say Shark complimented him."
That got Hunter thinking about the fact that he never really learned anything about Shark. They dueled plenty, but Shark wasn't one of those guys who shared. The Heroic duelist basically knew what most people did. Shark was once a national duelist until he wasn't.
As Hunter peddled home, he thought about it some more. "I think it's about time I do a little research. After all, Shark is my rival."
Hunter's Room, Night…
The Heroic user was currently at his deck looking up information on Shark. He had been scanning through news stories of his rival's time in nationals for a while until he came upon an earlier story.
"What's this?" He looked at the story closer. "Reginald and Rio Kastle pronounced dead in a car accident alongside their parents. Shortly after, they miraculously returned to life." He knew what Shark's true name was, but he certainly found this article interesting for multiple reasons.
"So, Shark has a sister. What happened to her?" The Heroic duelist quickly found a follow up story. "Rio Kastle was saved from a bizarre fire thanks to Quatro. That's the Pro-Duelist. The Kastle siblings have experienced great tragedy in their short lives."
The next article he found only hammered that point home. "Disgraced contender, Reginald Kastle, was disqualified in the finals when it was revealed that he had looked at his opponent's deck in violation of tournament rules. That doesn't sound like the Shark I know.
Sure, he once took decks, but he always took care of them. Shark has honor. If this article is true, I'm certain he had a reason to do what he did." He leaned back in his seat. "Man, I had no idea all this stuff happened to Shark."
Come to think of it, I never saw him hang out with anyone. Just because I view him as a rival, doesn't mean I couldn't also view him as a friend." Hunter stood up. "Now more than ever, he may need a friend. I'll ask around tomorrow and see if anyone knows where he is."
Hunter yawned and decided to turn in for the night.
Inside Yuma's Key
Astral looked around at all the various gears moving due to the recovery of the Numbers. "This gear puzzle seems to move one step closer to completion with each Number obtained, but why? Does it have to do with my memory loss? What do Hunter and Yuma have to do with this?"
Streets of Heartland, Morning…
Hunter was peddling himself and Yuma to school when he decided to bring up Shark. "Hey Yuma, I saw Shark briefly yesterday. Do you recall seeing him, at any time, since your duel?"
Yuma blinked. "Now that you mention it, no."
"I'm going to ask around and see if anyone knows where he is. You want to help?" Hunter asked.
"Sounds like a plan." Yuma stated.
Class
Yuma and Hunter entered class only to be confronted by Tori, Yuto, Caswell, and Nelson.
"Hey guys, what's going on?" Hunter questioned.
"Did we not make it on time?" Yuma asked. "I could have sworn Hunter made great time today."
"You two are certainly late." Caswell stated.
He then moved to touch their decks and extra decks only for Hunter to grab his wrists. "Whoa, touching another's deck without permission is not cool."
"I have to agree." Yuto looked at Hunter and Yuma. "I'm sorry. Caswell merely said he wanted to ask you about your Numbers."
"You only had to ask." Hunter let go of Caswell. "Though, it does you no good since Astral isn't here. Without him, there are no Numbers."
"Oh, is that so?" Caswell asked. "What exactly is the deal with these Numbers? I've certainly never heard of them."
"What's with the third-degree Caswell?" Yuma asked.
"I'm not certain that I buy this excuse you two seem to have." He looked at the Heroic duelist. "Hunter, you're off the hook since everyone knows you're skilled enough to duel without Numbers."
He turned his attention to the Syllable duelist. "Yuma, you only started winning matches because of these Numbers. I think the only reason you're hiding them, unlike Hunter, is because you don't want to lose your secret weapons."
"That's not true at all!" Yuma declared. "I may have some good cards, but the reason I win is because I'm a good duelist."
Yuto looked at Yuma. "I don't argue that you can be a great duelist Yuma but using Numbers against those without them is unfair. Even if the duelists you face have ways to work around them, you shouldn't use them unless the opponent wants you to."
"Whose side are you on?" Yuma asked.
"I'm just stating facts." Yuto stated. "Numbers are different from other cards in that there is only one. There's only one Utopia, one Lion Heart, and so on. You've only won duels using Numbers."
"Oh yeah, well I'll prove you all wrong." Yuma became determined. "I'll beat anyone without using my Numbers. Just name an opponent."
"Yuma." Tori worriedly stated.
"Maybe we shouldn't push things guys." Nelson added.
"Really?" Caswell smirked ignoring him. "Alright, then take on your old foe, Shark."
"No problem. I promise I'll beat Shark without Numbers." Yuma walked off. "I'm going to start asking around until I find out where he is."
Somewhere in Heartland, After School…
Hunter walked with Yuma to the supposed location where they could find Shark. "Why can't anyone understand that it's the duelist who makes the card. Not the other way around."
"Yuma, I get it, but Yuto does have a point." Hunter stated. "Plus, you're starting to become too reliant on them. I'm not saying that because I want you to use Zubaba General. Get more Xyz monsters. Expand the arsenal."
Astral appeared. "Hunter does make some good points."
"No, he doesn't." Yuma looked at Astral. "Since you're here, I don't want you helping in this duel against Shark. I'll take him down myself."
They descended some stairs into an old, run-down arcade.
Inside
The inside was about what one would expect when entering a decaying arcade. Barely functioning machines and glowing lights coming from the machines that still worked. It was also rather filthy. Hunter heard rustling chains.
The Heroic duelist pushed the Syllable duelist behind him. "Yuma stay behind me."
"Hey, what was…" Yuma began before noticing the muscular guy who had tried to grab him.
The guy was of a slightly darker complexion with a black tank top and matching pants as well as crazy black hair. "What are you pipsqueaks doing here? Don't you know this is our territory?"
He was joined by a man with short black hair and white causal suit. "We should teach them that lesson."
Hunter looked around as more members came out of the shadows.
Before he could say anything, Shark appeared. "Leave the brats."
The muscular guy looked at him. "You know these two?"
"Sure do." Shark replied.
The suited man said, "Guess it's your lucky day."
Once the gang was gone, Shark walked past them. "You two shouldn't have come here."
"I came because I have business with you Shark." Yuma declared. "I'm here to duel."
The Shark user laughed. "I can't duel you because I quit." That shocked both Hunter and Yuma. "I've moved on."
He walked outside, but Hunter was determined not to let him go that easy.
Outside
"Shark!" Hunter called out.
"You don't need to shout." Shark stopped and turned to him. "I'm right here."
"You can't have quit dueling." Hunter stated. "You just couldn't have."
"Really? I was under the impression that it was my choice. Not yours." Shark stated.
Yuma joined them while Hunter continued. "Shark, I've dueled you more than enough to know you love to duel. Your deck means the world to you as any true duelist's deck should." He pointed back at the building. "This place isn't the place for you.
You have honor and pride as a duelist. These guys don't. They've destroyed any deck they claim and don't use themselves. You never did Shark. You took care of every deck and returned them after your duel with Yuma."
"What makes you think you have the right to lecture me? What makes you think you're even right? After all, you're just some guy I dueled. You don't understand anything." Shark stated.
Yuma chimed in. "Shark, it's only naturally he'd say these things. I'd say something similar. It's because Hunter and I are your friends."
"We are not friends." Shark became angry. "What would make you think that anyways?"
"We dueled Shark. That's why Hunter could say what he said earlier, and it's why I can say you should dump these thugs you're hanging around."
Shark had gained some control. "It's none of your business who I hang out with."
"I'll make it my business." Yuma declared. "I beat you in a duel, and you leave these losers."
"What do I get if I beat you?" Shark questioned.
Yuma grabbed the key around his neck. "You can have this."
"You have yourself a deal." Shark walked away. "Meet me at the harbor in an hour."
Harbor
Hunter stood off to the side as Tori, Yuto, and Caswell joined him. Yuma wanted Caswell there to prove he'd won without Numbers and had thought to call Tori and Yuto as well. The four of them watched as Yuma and Shark faced off.
Astral looked at him. "Yuma are you absolutely sure about this?"
"I told you Astral." Yuma hadn't taken his eyes off Shark. "I don't want your help during this duel. That goes for all those Number cards as well."
"What do you mean?" Astral questioned.
Yuma firmly said, "I want to prove that the duelist makes the cards. Not the other way around." He looked at Yuto. "Plus, it's not fair to use Numbers against Shark." He turned back to the Shark user. "My opponent doesn't have any." He smiled. "Hey, now I've even got a noble cause. Shark shouldn't be hanging with those jerks."
"Alright." Astral floated back a bit. "Consider me a spectator."
Shark was staring Yuma down. "I haven't forgotten our last duel, Yuma. If I'm going to come out of retirement, I can think of no better reason than to beat you."
D-pad go
Duel Gazer on
Augmented vision link established
(Yuma 4000/Shark 4000)
"You're going down Yuma." Shark declared. "I summon Hammer Shark(LV 4/1700/1500)." A blue shark with a hammer for a face appeared. "I then activate his ability allowing me to decrease his level by one to special summon a level 3 or lower monster from my hand.
I choose Big Jaws(LV 3/1800/300)." A blue shark with lots of teeth appeared. "Now I overlay LV 3 Big Jaws and Hammer Shark to Xyz summoner Submersible Carrier Aero Shark(R 3/O 2/1900/1000)." Two Sharks bound by an orange piece of equipment appeared.
Yuma was shocked as he remembered that monster. "This isn't good."
"How right you are Yuma." Shark declared. "I activate Aero Shark's ability. By removing an overlay unit, you take 400 life points for every card in my hand. Three cards equals1200 damage (Yuma 2800/Shark 4000). I then set one card."
"Unbelievable." Caswell stated. "Shark almost wiped-out half of Yuma's life points before he even gets a turn."
"Next to Yuto, Shark is one of the best duelists I know." Hunter stated.
Yuma drew. "I summon Goblindbergh(LV 4/1400/0)." A goblin in a red airplane appeared. "He doesn't come alone because his ability allows me to special summon Gogogo Golem(LV 4/1800/1500)." A green and blue golem appeared.
"The only question is, are you bringing out that Number or General?" Shark thought.
"I now build the overlay network with my level four monsters to Xyz summon Zubaba General(R 4/O 2/2000/1000)." The gold and white warrior with a black blade appeared. "By detaching one unit, I can equip him with a warrior in my hand. I choose Zubaba Knight." Zubaba General(R 4/O 1/3600/1000 effect). "Now, General will destroy Aero Shark."
(Yuma 2800/Shark 2300).
"I activate Torrential Reborn. Since you just destroyed Submersible Carrier Aero Shark(R 3/O 0/1900/1000), I can resummon it to my field. You then take 500 points of damage (Yuma 2300/Shark 2300)."
Yuma grit his teeth. "I end my turn with a face down."
"If you won't use your Number, I'll force it out." Shark drew. "I activate Underwater Snow Prison. I target a monster on the field and banish it. Your General is the prime target. A plus to me is that your monster isn't a water type, so I take no backlash damage."
Yuma shouted, "No way!"
"It doesn't stop there because Aero Shark will attack you directly (Yuma 400/Shark 2300). I'll then set one card, but before you go, I want to say something." Yuma looked at Shark. "Use your Number."
That shocked everyone.
"Has Shark lost his mind!?" Caswell shouted.
"Numbers are insanely difficult to beat." Tori added.
"Difficult but not impossible." Hunter stated. "There are always ways to work around them."
"Don't do it Yuma." Yuto thought internally. "Hold true to your word."
"We're all waiting Yuma. You know playing it is the only way you'll be able to beat me. Then again, maybe that Number isn't enough. Maybe the only reason I agreed to a duel was to prove I could take it down." Shark declared.
Astral decided to speak up. "Yuma, if the duelist really makes the card, then it should not matter if the card in question is weak or strong. Besides all that, what you have really set out to do is not boost your ego but to help your friend."
"I almost forgot. I got to beat him, so he'll lose those loser friends of his." Yuma drew. "To make that happen, I'll do whatever it takes." He looked at Shark. "Alright, first I'm activating my face down Secret Barrel.
This deals you 200 damage for each card in your hand and in your control. With three cards, that's 600 damage (Yuma 400/Shark 1700). Next, I'm summoning Gagaga Magician(LV 4/1500/1000)." The spellcaster in brown and blue robes appeared.
"With his summon, I'm allowed to bring out Kagetokage(LV 4/1100/1500)." The shadow of a lizard appeared in the ground. "I overlay my two level fours to summon Number 39: Utopia(R 4/O 2/2500/2000)." A gold and white warrior appeared.
"Yuma just summoned a Number card!" Tori exclaimed shocked.
Yuto grit his teeth angrily. "Damn it, Yuma!"
"It's just as I said." Caswell stated. "Yuma needs Numbers to win. I knew I was right."
Shark grinned. "I activate Full Armored Xyz. Since Aero Shark was special summoned, I'm allowed to summon another Xyz monster from my extra deck and equip Aero Shark to him. I choose Black Ray Lancer(R 3/O 0/4000/600)." A black Beast-Warrior appeared.
"Utopia attack Black Ray Lancer; however, I will activate his ability by detaching an overlay to negate the attack." Number 39: Utopia(R 4/O 1/2500/2000). "Since Utopia's attack was stopped, I can activate Double or Nothing.
This gives Utopia another chance to ATK at double his ATK." Number 39: Utopia(R 4/O 1/5000/2000 effect). "You're Lancer is done (Yuma 400/Shark 700)." He was shocked to find that Black Ray Lancer(R 3/O 0/2100/600) survived. "What gives? I destroyed your monster."
Shark smirked. "You don't think I planned for that move Yuma. Full Armored Xyz was more than a buff. Any time the Xyz is threatened, I can send the equipped monster to the grave sparing my monster."
"I end my turn." Yuma declared reluctantly.
Shark drew. "I activate Xyz Crown and equip it to my Black Ray Lancer(LV 3/O 0/2100/600 effect). This causes his rank to be treated as a level, and for the purposes of an Xyz summon, he can count as two materials.
I overlay my monster to Xyz summon Shark Caesar(R 3/O 1/1800/2000)." A purple, menacing shark appeared. "By detaching his overlay unit, I can place a shark counter on this card." Shark Caesar(R 3/O 0/1800/2000 SC: 1).
"I'm lost." Yuma admitted. "What does all that achieve when my Utopia is stronger?"
"It's only natural that you'd be lost Yuma, so allow me to enlighten you." Shark stated. "I activate Armored Xyz which allows me to target Black Ray Lancer in my grave and equip it to Shark Caesar." Black Ray Lancer(R 3/O 0/2100/2000 SC: 1)."
"Whoa, what just happened to your monster?" Yuma questioned.
"It's the effect of Armored Xyz." Shark declared. "This not only changed Shark Caesar's name to Black Ray Lancer, but it also grants him the ATK of Lancer as well. Now, Black Ray Lancer will attack, and during the damage step he gains 1000 ATK for every Shark Counter on him."
Black Ray Lancer(R 3/O 0/3100/2000 SC: 1)
"Since I let it get to the damage step, I can't stop the attack with Utopia's effect." Yuma's eyes went wide. "Utopia!" Shark Caesar tore through Utopia (Yuma 0/Shark 700).
"I suppose now I can tell you the reason that I stopped dueling Yuma." Shark walked up to the Syllable duelist. "I was crushed after you beat me, but I feel better now." He took the key. "This is the cherry on top."
After a moment, he threw it to Yuma. "Then again, keep it as a reminder of today." He then looked at Hunter firmly. "Now it's your turn Hunter. It's time we settle the score. Get over here and duel me."
"If it's a duel you want, I'm willing to oblige." Hunter stated firmly.
"Hold on Hunter." Yuto took out his dragon. "Use this to help you bring Shark back to his senses."
Hunter nodded as he accepted the card and slid it into his extra deck before stepping up to face Shark. The two stared each other down while Yuma joined Caswell, Tori, and Yuto with the latter not even looking at him.
"Are you ready to lose Hunter?" Shark asked.
"Losing now is not an option." Hunter declared. "I refuse to let you return to those thugs when I know you're better than that. They don't care about you and are only using you."
"How do you know I'm not using them?" Shark smirked. "Either way, I'm where I belong."
"Shark… no, Reginald." Hunter firmly stated causing Shark to react with shock. "I owe you an apology. We've dueled a lot ever since I entered Heartland Academy, yet I never once got to know you. I never once stopped to think that you were alone.
For what it may be worth, I'm sorry. The truth is that you are my rival and always have been. You're also my friend, yet I never acted as such. That's why I'm going to make up for the mistakes of the past and defeat you."
For once, Shark was calm. "Prove it."
Hunter nodded. "I will."
3bodyjaa: Thank you.
