Welcome to Chapter 26! I've managed to post much earlier this time than the others, so hurrah! We're nearing the end of the Battle Royale segment of the Standard Arc, so let's not dilly dally any longer and jump right into the story!
I think you guys are going to love it.
Ch. 26: Merciless Duels
"STOP IT!" Yuya yelled, watching as one of his friends was engulfed into a purple beam, and came out as nothing more than a lifeless card. His scarlet eyes widened, and shook at the sight. "M-Michio…" The Pendulum user breathed.
"Y-Yuzu is in trouble!" Gongenzaka forced himself to return to reality after seeing such a traumatizing event, and quickly began to make his way up towards where Yuzu, Shun and the others are. His stone sandals clinking against the ground loudly, but through the chaos of all the duels it was completely muffled out after a couple feet.
Yuya bit the inside of his cheek as he reined in his emotions, and focused his attention back onto Sora. "Sora! Please stop this already! Why are you doing something this horribl-!"
"Jeez, you're annoying!" Sora spat back before Yuya could finish. The Frightfur duelist's back still turned from Yuya as he back talked who was once his friend.
Yuya's scarlet red eyes widened in shock at Sora's blatantly obvious disregard when it came to the lives of the people around him. At the show of pure carelessness when it came to the fragile existence called life. The tomato haired teen's eyes narrowed, and his pupils began to glow a fierce blood red once more. The soft green and red hair spiking around him began to wave softly due to a dark purple, shadowy energy.
Yuto himself was running around to look for an Action Card when he felt a sudden burning sensation from within his chest. The Xyz user stumbled to a clumsy stop after it felt like his heart was going to either explode or turn to ash. Yuto's eyes widened into pennies at the realization of what was happening to him once again. Without even realizing it, his own eyes began to glow a bright, lightning mixed blue violet from within his pupils.
Phantom Knight Break Sword's horse began to neigh and buck wildly as Yuto fell onto his knees. The Xyz monster's master hunching over himself and trying to quell the server quaking in his hands.
Yuto struggled to gather a proper breath of air as it felt like his lungs were being constricted or withering up and turning to dust. Black specs appeared in his glowing violet eyed vision as Yuto's mouth fell open. Words failing to form out of his mouth.
. . .
"STOP IT!"
Zero stopped running and barely managed to dodge one of Yuri's attacks coming from his monster. His Guren F.E.V coming in at the last second to protect him with its own life as Starving Venom was once again revived and powered up to defeat his mechanical Knightmare Frame. The masked man's cape flickering in the wind wildly as he turned his masked head to look down at the scene that brought about such a strained scream from none other than his secret friend Yuya Sakaki.
Zero's hidden violet eyes widened at the sight of an orange haired teen being captured in a purple beam, and turning into a flimsy, easily bendable and breakable monster trading card.
"Michio…" Zero breathed for a moment as he realized what had happened, and watched for a split second longer as another Obelisk Force member began to advance on the cook's partner, Teppei. Unable to see the sight any longer, violet eyes shied away from the scene depicting death, and instead turned to focus on Yuri and his Starving Venom.
ZERO LP- 4000 = 3800
Yuri gave a sleazy smile. The light in his pink eyes replaced with sharpened darkness. "I see that some of your comrades have been defeated in battle." That slick smile grew by just a fraction. "It was only a matter of time, but you shouldn't be worried, because you'll join them soon enough… After a visit with the Professor that is." Yuri continued his turn like what he said was harmless. "I set one card and end my turn."
"Like that'll ever happen." Zero spat, only taking one step back due to proximity. "I'd rather die than be forced to kneel before that degenerate of a dictator." It reminded him too much of his own bastard of a father. The teen in disguise placed one black gloved hand onto his deck. "Now if you don't mind, it's my turn!" With that, Zero proceeded to draw a card. "Even though some of us may fall. There will be others who will carry on the burdens and wills of those lost in the battle, and I will be one of them." Zero narrowed his masked eyes. "I'll be sure to avenge him along with all the others, starting with your defeat right here, Yuri!" Zero raised one palm up towards the sky where another portal was beginning to appear.
"Swing once more my Pendulum!" The masked revolutionary bellowed. "Grant me the blessings of a powerful Summoning Method once more! Lend me your strength in order to triumph!" Zero continued as his cape waved from the harsh winds. "I Pendulum Summon! Appear from within your Graves to aid me in battle once again, my monsters!" This time, three machines appeared from the portal and stood at attention.
BLACK KNIGHT GLASGOW LV.4 ATK:1200 DEF:900
BLACK KNIGHT COMMANDER BURAI LV.4 ATK:1100 DEF:1000
BLACK KNIGHT GLASGOW LV.4 ATK:1200 DEF:900
Yuri raised an eyebrow. "I thought those machines were sent to the Graveyard?"
"Wrong." Zero hunched over slightly, his injuries reminding him to at least try and take it slow and steady for just a moment. "When Pendulum monsters are destroyed they're sent to the Extra Deck instead of the Graveyard."
Yuri's face morphed into a smile that held shocked amazement. "So then, that means you can resummon your monsters over and over again! Almost as if your monsters are immortal."
Hearing the word immortal caused Zero to blink his violet eyes for a moment, before looking down to the side in glum contemplation. "Immortality may sound like a blessing to us mortals, but I know for a fact that it is nothing more than a curse thinly veiled behind empty promises and deceiving disguises." He had C.C to thank for coming to such a realization. A witch she might have been, but she taught him much more than either had realized.
Its seems that his time in this Dimension has made him grow rather thankful, and much more wiser than he was before.
Seeing Yuri's suddenly perplexed and intrigued expression brought Zero back into the presence called reality, and he quickly shook his head. "Back to the duel at hand however." With that, the revolutionary threw one black gloved hand over to his third Black Knight Glasgow. "I'll use my Glasgow's effect to Special Summon another one from within my deck." The card he needed ejected itself from its slot in the deck, and Zero quickly summoned it onto the field.
BLACK KNIGHT GLASGOW LV.4 ATK:1200 DEF:900
"My oh my." Yuri spoke lightly as he looked over the array of monsters Zero had acquired. "It's certainly getting crowded over there."
"That'll change soon enough." Zero narrowed his eyes once more, and even though Yuri couldn't see it, he could feel it. The masked man looked up to his Pendulum Zones once more. "I'll first use my Angelic Vi Britannia's Pendulum Effect to perform another Summoning Method, but this time I will perform a Fusion Summon!"
"What!?"
Zero threw his arm to the side and gestured to two of his Knightmares. "For the Fusion Materials, I'll be using two of my Black Knight Glasgows!" The two machines began to fuse together behind Zero in an array of lights, casting the masked man in shadows. However, dark stormy clouds quickly consumed the light, and a huge mech began to descend from the clouds like an angered Titan coming down to unleash its wrath. "Come down from your pillar in the clouds! Descend from the dark, emotionless heavens that you reside in!" Zero enacted crushing a wine glass in his left fist. "I Fusion Summon!" The dark pink goliath of a Knightmare Frame finally began to reveal itself. "Level 8! Knightmare Mordred!"
KNIGHTMARE MORDRED LV.8 ATK:3000 DEF:2800
"You can Fusion Summon as well…" Yuri looked up at the enormous Knightmare that even towered his Starving Venom, and the dragon itself was huge in comparison to Yuri.
"I'm not finished." At this declaration, Yuri turned his head to look over at Zero once more. The glint in his eyes showing that he was eager to see what else the masked man had in store. In response, Zero swept both of his arms to the side, making his cape rise up behind him like a pair of wings. "I overlay my remaining Black Knight Glasgow with my Black Knight Commander Burai to build the Overlay Network!" Both sides watched as the two meches leaped into the golden vortex that had appeared on the ground. Sparks flew out from within the Xyz monster's domain, and a sleek Knightmare painted mostly gold and silver leaped out from its confines. "Leap from the prison which you were forced to call home and come to my side! Aid me in my time of need in this battle!" Zero raised each hand up to form an X, before throwing them on either side of himself. "I Xyz Summon! Come forth! Rank 4! Knightmare Frame Vincent!"
The Knightmare looked like a refurbished product of the Lancelot with a few adjustments. The machine held two MVS swords in each hand, and those swords were currently crossed in an X formation before the Vincent drew them out to each side. The force of sliding the MVS blades together caused sparks and flames to fly momentarily, and a fierce gust of wind to rush past Yuri whilst carrying those burning embers.
KNIGHTMARE FRAME VINCENT RNK.4 ORB.2 ATK:2500 DEF:2000
"A Pendulum Summon right into a Fusion Summon, and even an Xyz Summon all on the same turn." Yuri breathed, before giving an excited and crazed laugh along with a round of applause. "Oh you've gone and outdone yourself this time Zero! Pendulum Summoning certainly is a very dangerous Summoning Method indeed!" Yuri calmed his laughter, and casually dipped his head down just a tad. "Perhaps I'll have to get some of these Pendulum Cards myself. I'll have to have some manufactured back in Academia once we return. I wouldn't want to be swept up and left behind by this change."
"I'm afraid that's where you're wrong Yuri. You see, I'm not coming back with you to Academia." Zero held one hand out in front of himself and hovering over Yuri's figure, before promptly making a fist and reenact crushing the Predaplant duelist. "The only way you're going to get me over there is by dragging my cold dead corpse."
This time, Yuri raised two amused eyebrows along with a twitch of his lips. "You really are one for the dramatics and theatrics, aren't you?"
"So I've been told." Zero shook his head side to side slowly. The masked duelist whipped his left arm towards his Vincent. "I activate Knightmare Frame Vincent's effect! By discarding one Orbital, it cuts its Attack Points in half and can attack you directly! Steal Time!" One of the glowing yellow orbs circling the Xyz machine was promptly cut in half by one of the Vincent's MVS blades. Once finished, the Vincent quickly crossed its swords into an X formation once more.
KNIGHTMARE FRAME VINCENT ORB.2 = 1
KNIGHTMARE FRAME VINCENT ATK:2500 = 1250
It happened in a split second, and even with his eyes open Yuri still couldn't see what exactly had happened. One second the Vincent was standing their with its arms crossed, and the next it was right in front of Yuri. The machine having passed a surprised and caught off guard Starving Venom, which the dragon was just now turning around to catch a glimpse of the machine's sleek golden paint job. The Vincent had one MVS blade raised into the air and coming down towards Academia's strongest duelist.
The strike just missed cutting skin, but it did make a big long slash mark in Yuri's purple military uniform. The purple and pink haired duelist was sent flying head over heels backwards from the wind and force of the aftermath in the attack. Seeing his master in mortal danger, Starving Venom quickly leaped upon the Vincent in retaliation. However, the machine must have sensed it, because in that next second it seemed to have teleported right back to where it was first stationed before attacking Yuri. Disregarding the urge for revenge, Starving Venom jumped up into the air, and carefully caught Yuri in both of its giant, green claws. All of this happening in the span of mere seconds.
YURI LP- 4000 = 2750
Once the Fusion dragon safely landed onto the ground, Starving Venom knelt down and released a rather upset Yuri from its cradling hold. The Fusion user himself giving a childish whine, before wiping his shoulders and checking his ruined purple uniform.
"Why you!" Yuri yelled, actually seeming to show his anger shortly. "I only have a spare few of these uniforms!" Pink eyes glared over at the Vincent and Zero. "I'll make sure you pay for this!"
"Once the Vincent has activated its Special Ability, it cannot attack during the turn it was used." Zero revealed, ignoring Yuri's agitated remarks and continuing on with the duel. The revolutionary continued without mercy, and threw his right gloved hand over towards his Fusion monster. "Next, I'll activate the Special Ability of the Mordred!" The Mordred began to shift, and charge up its central hadron cannon. "Once per turn, the Mordred can destroy a monster on my opponent's side of the field. Then, you'll take halve of the monster's Attack as damage!" Zero pointed to Starving Venom. "I'll choose to destroy your Starving Venom Fusion Dragon! Go, my Mordred! Stark Hadron Cannon!"
The dark ruby and blood red energy twisted and mixed together in a deadly, volatile state that just finished charging. A humongous blast of chaotic energy was sent straight towards Starving Venom. The dragon himself crouching down in front of Yuri in preparation of taking the attack full force.
Sadly, Yuri had other plans. "If you think I'd allow you to gain such a measly pathetic victory over me, then you're mistaken!" Yuri lifted one arm towards the sky. "I play the Trap Card Poisonous Lily!" The card quickly revealed itself, and suddenly purple lilies of varying stages of life started to surround both Starving Venom, and Yuri. "This card protects my monster from destruction due to an effect, and cuts any damage I would take in half, and throws one half of it at you!" Yuri grinned. "So we'll BOTH be taking damage!"
The dark red energy from the hadron cannon was suddenly blocked by an immense wall of lively purple lilies that only seemed to be getting brighter and more healthy the more energy they consumed. Bright little white dots quickly travelled down the plants' stems, Starving Venom watching the process pass by him with intrigue, and over towards Yuri. The flowers beside Yuri were less lively, and proceed to constrict the purple and pink haired teen tightly as he lost Life Points.
YURI LP- 2750 = 2050
However, once all of the energy from the hadron cannon was consumed, and Yuri's pain finished, the lilies turned their flowered heads and vines over to Zero. The green foliage of the vines lashing out and whipping towards the masked man, while the flowers discharged a vicious, purply acidic substance close to Starving Venom's miasma.
Instinctively, Zero crossed his arms above his masked face to protect himself. The vines whipped at his arms, and thankfully the acid missed him by inches. Instead, it seemed to eat away at the bottom of his carefully designed, expensive, and heavy fabriced cape. Another blessing in disguise was the fact that Zero only sported a few bleeding scratches and tiny bruises from the vines' harsh whipping, all of which would heal in a day or two.
Zero growled through the pain, his teeth tightly shut and his eyes scrunched up as he lost Life Points.
ZERO LP- 3800 = 3100
Once the onslaught was finished, Zero cautiously lowered his arms and stared over at Yuri. "Impressive how you managed to protect Starving Venom, and deal me damage while at the same time halving your own." The masked man had to begrudgingly give Yuri respect for that move, and for being a talented duelist in general.
Yuri said nothing in reply for a moment, and only gave a huff while looking down at his left hand. "I told you I would get revenge for what you did to my military uniform, and now that I've gotten it we can proceed with the duel itself."
"Alright then, fine." Zero agreed casually. After a second of silence though, Zero pointed over towards Starving Venom and Yuri. "But I'm afraid that trick won't save you now! Battle! I attack Starving Venom Fusion Dragon with my Knightmare Frame Modred!" Multiple, tiny hadron missiles of sorts ejected from all over the Mordred, and instantly made their way towards the ferocious Fusion dragon. "Hadron Missile Attack!"
. . .
"I also activate the Continuous Trap Cards Gear Reborn, Gear Booster, and use the previously set Spark Shot!" Obelisk yellow revealed his own set combo, and directed his hand towards Teppei with a sadistic smile of his own.
TRIPLE BITE HOUND DOG LV.7 ATK:1800 DEF:1000
TRIPLE BITE HOUND DOG LV.7 ATK:1800 = 2000
"You'll have the same fate as your partner soon enough!" Teppei looked away from the card that contained Michio to grit his teeth over at Obelisk yellow, a dot of sweat gliding down his face. "Take this! Antique Revive Howling!"
Yellow's own Triple Bite Hound Dog unleashed its triple flamethrower that blew Teppei away just as harshly as Green's did with Michio. The fisherman unleashed a suffering scream, before collapsing onto the ground facedown in his defeat.
TEPPEI LP- 2000 = 0 LOSER
Struggling immensely, Teppei's body shook with effort as he slowly pushed off of the ground. The fisherman's brown eyes drifting up to once again meet the sight of a carded Michio.
Teppei's eyes grew hazy as his entire body trembled with effort to remain conscious. "What're you doing as a card?" The partner to the deceased cooking star muttered lightly, yet disheartenedly. "Aren't we supposed to be the strongest combination?"
Those were the man's last words as that familiar, horrible purple light appeared once more and turned Teppei into a card. He reached out towards Michio's card, but turned into a bunch of purple particles just before his fingers could brush the cardboard. The last thing the fisherman saw was the downed and pained look on Michio's face while he was a card, but the man at least went down giving a small smile.
Obelisk yellow put a hand on his face, covering his right eye as he gave a roar of laughter. The man picked up Teppei's card, before carelessly discarding it beside Michio's own. "Go then. Be a combo as cards for eternity!"
. . .
Shadows spread from the wild waves of green and red hair to envelope all of Yuya's body. The tomato haired teen's fists tightening until his knuckles turned white and gave loud, multiple pops from the strain.
Hikage took one last step, before he felt some of the ground beneath him give way. The sun themed ninja turned his head around to see that small bit of ground melt away into the lava he was cornered behind. The older brother to Tsukikage turned back around to look over at Sora. While he was afraid of what was going to happen next, as a duelist from the Fuma Clan, he would face death head on with honor.
Hearing Hikage's distress finally caused Yuto the ability to gain some air back into his lungs. His warring grey and glowing violet eyes shakily looked up to see Hikage pinned and Sora about to grant the finishing blow with his Frightfur Wheel Saw Lion. Yuto grit his teeth in a nasty frown and clenched his fist.
That wasn't going to happen, not on his watch.
As if by God himself, Yuto's eyes then strayed over to an Action Card poking out from a jut in the rocky floor just feet away from him. If he didn't run to it fast enough, Hikage would be lost, but he had a better plan than just running on his own two feet.
The Xyz user turned his head and gave a shrill whistle by putting two fingers between his lips. "Break Sword!"
The Phantom Knight monster jerked its head over to Yuto, and instantly understood what it's master wanted. With a loud neigh from its steed, the horse began to gallop on all fours as swiftly as it could. It was only a matter of moments until the monster was nearly on top of Yuto.
Timing his jump just right, Yuto let out a grunt as he jumped onto the back of Break Sword's horse while it was still galloping. "Get me to that Action Card as fast as possible!" The eggplant haired duelist pointed the way for his monster, and the Knight quickened its pace even faster than a normal horse could run. The armor of the spectral horse rattled dangerously as it threatened to fall apart from the speed which it was maddly dashing over to the Action Card. Vaguely, Yuto could feel Yuya's hopeful, if slightly possessed, eyes boring into the back of his head, into his very soul, his being.
"We're done here too. Aren't we Mr. Ninja?" Sora spoke happily at finally cornering his prey, and finally finishing up this small yet amusing game. Sora threw his hand out towards Hikage and his trapped monster. "I activate Wheel Saw Lion's effect!"
Yuto used one hand to grab ahold of Break Sword's Knight while he carefully slid to the side slightly. The other resistance fighter's hand reaching out towards the quickly incoming Action Card before him. "Almost there." He could hear Sora speaking down on Hikage, and the whirring sounds of Wheel Saw Lion's many saws rapidly spinning in preparation to launch.
"Once per turn, it can destroy an opponent's monster and deal damage equal to its Attack to my opponent!"
"Come on!" Yuto yelled, extending his reach towards the Action Card as far as he could go without falling off of the phantom horse.
Time seemed to slow to a torturous snail's pace, as if time wanted this moment to be burned into everyone's minds. Wheel Saw Lion gave a loud demonic cackle, and unleashed all of the buzz saws surrounding its head to slice and dice Hikage's ace ninja.
Phantom Knight Break Sword just passed the Action Card, Yuto's fingers brushing over the smooth cardboard, and gripping ahold of the material like his life depended on it. Almost as fast as Dark Rebellion's lighting. Yuto straightened himself out on his horse, and looked at his Action Card.
.
.
.
Fire Crystal.
.
Yuto's eyes stopped glowing as his grey eyes widened in mounting horror. The Phantom Knights user slumping down against the galloping horse like a lifeless puppet. He began to slide off of the spectral horse, and would have fallen off of his makeshift steed to take a fatal fall if it wasn't for the ghostly Break Sword Knight catching him in time.
"No." Yuto muttered, widened eyes still staring at the Action Card he drew. He couldn't do anything with this, nothing that would save Hikage at least. It could only deal 600 points of damage to his opponent.
He had failed.
Failed. Again!
Yuto grit his teeth as he heard Hikage give a loud, tortuous scream before it was abruptly cut off. Erriely blank grey eyes looked up to see a purple light fading away, and leaving behind a carded Hikage.
It's not FAIR!
HIKAGE LP- 2300 = 0 LOSER
As if some invisible string inside his mind had been cut, Yuto snapped. Break Sword having no choice but to stop and safely deposit his master onto the floor in fear of accidentally harming him as Yuto knelt to the ground and screamed madly. Everything had turned into inverted colors. Shadows and purple colors dancing over his vision like in a sick, twisted ball. While whites, blues, and greens flickered and wisped past his eyes like the wind itself. They grew close enough to blurrily discern, but then ran out of his comprehending reach like a man teasing an animal with some fresh meat. It was so close he could smell and taste it, but they pulled it back out of his grasp at the very last moment.
Those glowing violet eyes returning with a dreaded, heartfelt vengeance. A vengeance which its thirst could only be quenched by targeting and destroying the person most responsible for all of this madness that was closest to him.
Someone else was screaming to, but Yuto couldn't process who it was through his pain riddled mind. Actually, it might have been his own imagination, but where they're two other people screaming like the Devil was killing them besides himself?
It didn't matter. That wasn't important right now anyway. What did he care about the suffering of others when he needed to focus on himself more?
No. What was the most important thing right now was the intense urge, the NEED, to dispose of that small blue haired pest walking towards him. The pompous teen's hands casually in his uniform jacket's pockets.
"Sora!"
The sound of boots thudding onto the ground caused Yuto to blink. The swirling colors vanishing completely to give an eerily silent sense of clarity. Glowing violet blue met the blood red eyes that was once scarlet. The two stared each other down, and deep within something primal scream at him to tear that string pole of a person to SHREDS.
But they had more important things to tend to than mundane squabbles such as that, like revenge. The other person seemed to have been frightened by something around Yuto though, because his eyes quickly widened and diverted back towards Sora. This also caused Yuto's eyes to be glued towards the candy addict himself.
Yes, right now defeating that person was all that mattered.
All that mattered was victory.
THEN they could clash and quarrel against each other, until one of them was no longer standing. No longer breathing.
A corpse.
That's what each wanted. No. Needed. They needed a corpse to look down upon once the battle was over, and it didn't matter which one it was. It just had to be one of them.
That was all that mattered.
. . .
YURI LP- 2050
ZERO LP- 2700
KNIGHTMARE MORDRED LV.8 ATK:3000 DEF:2800
KNIGHTMARE FRAME VINCENT RNK.4 ORB.1 ATK:2500 DEF:2000
STARVING VENOM FUSION DRAGON LV.8 ATK:2800 DEF:2000
PREDAPLANT TOKEN LV.1 ATK:0 DEF:0
PREDAPLANT TOKEN LV.1 ATK:0 DEF:0
Zero didn't have a single clue as to what was going on or what was happening.
All he knew was that Yuri was laughing maniacally with all of his heart as they literally dueled to the death.
Then the next second he had collapsed onto his knees and was suddenly screaming.
Zero looked down at the pained form of Yuri as he screamed his throat raw. The Fusion user grabbing ahold of his hair and giving a vicious tug in one hand. While the other was shakily brushing against the left side of his face beside his eye. It almost looked like he was contemplating plunging his own thumb into his eye socket and ripping his own eye out. Starving Venom looked down at his master with extreme concern, yet at the same time it seemed to be thrilled as it watched Yuri suffer through such agonizing torment.
It wasn't until Zero felt the familiar oppressing air surround him, and saw as a dark, all consuming purple began to surface and outline Yuri's body that he really knew what was going on.
"Shit." Zero swore automatically, and turned his head to the side to overlook the ongoing situation between his other comrades. It wasn't looking too good. Teppei and Michio were turned into cards, alongside the one red ninja that was fighting beside Yuto. The latter of which looked extremely distraught over, and if the huge dark shadow hunching over his form was any indication, Yuto was struggling and failing to stop being possessed once again.
Yuto's own anger and sorrow seemed to mix and add with Yuya's pure rage towards Sora and Academia as a whole. The two's emotions smothering and overpowering their own wills and allowing them to be taken over.
Those same oppressive emotions coming from both Yuto and Yuya seemed to have even gotten to Yuri.
Speaking of which, Zero just now realized that Yuri was no longer screaming. In fact, the masked revolutionary could hear the small chime of laughter bubbling from between Yuri's lips. The masked man straightened carefully, and slowly, painstakingly craned his head back to look at Yuri.
Serpent pink eyes stared back at him through the shadows and hair blocking his face. Yuri's eyes almost seemed to have an otherworldly glow to them as his pupils dilated to mere slits. The teen's form slouched and relaxed unlike before, and his soft laughter shaking the Fusion user's entire frame. The shadows seemed to be different as well. They were even thicker and more blotching than he had ever seen. Zero vaguely compared it to a thick, viscous purple ink that almost seemed to caress Yuri instead of stab and erratically jab around the air surrounding Yuto and Yuya.
Speaking of them, it looked like he really needed to get to them before they tried to kill Sora in cold blood. That, or they started to fight each other or attack their comrades on accident.
Zero turned to face the edge he was beside that overlooked everyone's duels. The masked man prepared to jump off and have his Vincent help him, but all of a sudden, something had grabbed a tight hold of his torso and lifted him off of the ground.
"Ah!" Zero hissed. All of the air escaping his lungs from the pressure. He didn't even hear anyone coming before he was scooped up like a rag doll. Zero's blank reflective mask looked down to see one of Starving Venom's clawed hands give a threateningly tighter grip before slacking slightly.
The warning was clear. Don't try to escape this match, or face the fatal consequences.
With the message properly delivered, the Fusion dragon quickly threw Zero off to the side, and away from the edge watching over his friends' duels. Thankfully, the Vincent had arrived just in time to safely catch its master, and softly place him onto the ground. Unfortunately, Yuri began to slowly stand up as his laughter fizzled out, and his serpent like eyes once again drilled into Zero's faceless mask.
"I don't know what just happened." Yuri spoke. A darker, more demonic edge buried underneath Yuri's usual personality simmering to the surface just a small tad to were even Zero could barely notice it, and he was the master of masks and personas. "I don't know how you did it, or if you even did it, Zero." Yuri purred the name mocking and childishly. Dilated eyes glazing over as his eyebrows drooped and his mouth opened a bit into the smallest of smiles. "But this power." The Fusion user balled both of his hands into fists so tightly they shook frantically. "This power feels amazing!" He quickly unclenched his fists to lift them both up to chest level in a half hearted shrug of sorts. "I've never felt such an addicting power. Such an awe inspiring energy in my entire life!" Yuri suddenly leaned forward towards Zero as if he was going to literally lunge at him. "It makes me want to defeat you even faster! No! It has to be harsher, more soul breaking, and as painfully slow and agonizing as possible! I'm just dying to peel back that mask and take a peek at your real face!" He leaned back and gave a wicked cackle that belonged more to a deranged witch or warlock than a human teenager. It certainly rivaled the Devil's and it certainly rivaled Zero's own insane laughs. "I expect to give nothing but the best AND worst to the best duelist I've encountered as of yet!"
Zero didn't even get a chance to respond to Yuri's maddened, power high rambling before he was taking his turn. "My turn! I draw!" The shadows around Yuri shifted in excitement. In a thirst for red, hot, REAL blood to spill across the ground, and both realized it. Yuri grinned as he showed Zero a familiar card. "First, I'll play the Spell Card Polymerization!"
"Again?!" Zero took one step back as hurling winds and shadows started to rough up the field. The masked man raised one arm up to protect his masked face, and watched as boulders and rocks crumbled under the razing winds beating against them and scarring the ground. The masked revolutionary even had to go so far as to crouch slightly so that he didn't get swept away. His cape rising up and acting like spread wings flying in the wind. It almost did sweep him away if it wasn't for the holes in the bottom of his cape coming from Yuri's trap.
"I'll use one of my Predaplant Tokens, and my Starving Venom Fusion Dragon to give birth to another hellish terror that's veiled behind an intoxicating aroma!" Yuri looked over at his ace in excitement. His glowing serpent eyes sharpening as Starving Venom roared. Together, the two Predaplant monsters began to fuse together behind Yuri in an array of lights and lightning.
"Poisonous dragon with hungry fangs! Sweet smelling flowers that invite the abyss! Become one and indulge in whatever pleases you!" Two deadly yellow glowing eyes emerged from the bright white light and dark shadows cast upon the new dragon. A yellow orb glowing in the center of its head along with glowing white teeth attached to even bigger mandibles than Starving Venom's. Vines and other foliage began to swiftly grow, and fanged flowers soon blossomed and spat out saliva that made the ground hiss from its acidic and poisonous properties. What really took the cake though for this monstrosity, was the giant gaping maw within this dragon's chest. An endless pit of saliva, serrated fangs, and darkness visible as the sections hiding it seemed to try and engulf Zero even from his current distance.
It almost felt like it could if it tried hard enough.
Yuri leaned forward, and clapped his hands together. His eyes glowing a bright magenta, and even going past his pupils to consume his entire eyes. "I Fusion Summon!" Multiple red and yellow orbs came to life and glowed as one. This new purple and white dragon stalked onto the field with an aggressive, starving stance. The dragon's aura flaring with dangerous and deadly intent, along with a mind set on consuming and killing only. "Come forth! Level 10!" Small blue orbs lined up its white scaly neck and body as the dragon swung its tail around before coming full circle to outright roar and snarl at Zero. Spittle flying from its mandible and jaws. "Greedy Venom Fusion Dragon!"
GREEDY VENOM FUSION DRAGON LV.10 ATK:3300 DEF:2500
"A level 10 Fusion monster." Zero sunk lowerer to the ground as he stared up at the colossal Fusion dragon that had gotten a major upgrade.
"I activate Greedy Venom Fusion Dragon's effect!" Yuri pointed over towards the Modred. "Once per turn, I can target one face up monster on the field." Yuri grinned cynically. "Until the end of this turn, your monster's Attack Points will drop to 0, and its effect is also negated!"
"What! No way!" Zero snapped his head up towards his Fusion monster, and watched as Greedy Venom's wicked vines with fangs at the end warp around it. Those vicious serrated fangs quickly went to work and punctured their teeth through the very thick metal that made the Modred. The very energy keeping the machine running seemed to drain before his masked eyes, and Zero continued to watch as the Modred powered down. The lights in its eyes flickering out, and sounds of a power plant powering down echoed across the duel field.
Its pitch humming lower until nothing could be heard.
KNIGHTMARE MORDRED ATK:3000 = 0
"If he attacks my Modred right now in this state." Zero bit his lip harshly to silence himself, as his masked eyes quickly wandered around the field in wonder on what to do now. He couldn't afford to lose this battle, because he would either end up a card or be taken to Academia. However, if worse came to pass. Then Zero would have absolutely no choice other than to use his geass. Even in its chaotic and overwhelming state, and even if it made his geass run away.
That's when his eyes fell on an Action Card. It was lying on the side of one of the many tall buildings in Miami City. It almost looked to be taped or glued to the side, but it worked in Zero's favor either way.
The only problem was he couldn't reach it.
"Battle!" Yuri yelled. Zero sprang into action and started sprinting towards the building. His blank mask looking for any way to make it up towards the Action Card yet not finding any convenient method. It looked like had to make a way. "I attack Knightmare Frame Mordred with my Greedy Venom Fusion Dragon! Animalistic Purge!"
"Vincent!" Zero yelled, and the swift golden machine quickly turned to acknowledge the masked man. "Throw me!"
Understanding the plan instantaneously, the Vincent obliged like the machine it was. One of the MVS blades the Vincent held was quickly sheathed, and that steel cold palm lowered down in front of Zero. The caped revolutionary quickly jumped onto the metal hand, and the Vincent immediately threw Zero as hard as it could up into the air and closer to the building and Action Card.
Zero went up like a rocket. His dark purple and red cape straightening out from the force and hugging his body. Once the timing was right and the Action Card zoomed into reach, Zero grabbed ahold of it with one black gloved hand and whipped around to face Yuri and his advancing dragon. His cape smacked the side of the building with a loud whip-like crack as he did so, and gathered Yuri's surprised attention. The Predaplant user certainly didn't expect Zero to pull something like that.
"I activate the Action Card Miracle!" Zero yelled out over the rushing winds as he began to quickly descend towards the ground due to gravity. The Action Card being slammed onto Zero's duel disk before the wind could pluck it out of his gloved fingers. "My monster cannot be destroyed by battle, and the Battle Damage is cut in half!"
Greedy Venom tackled the Mordred to the ground, and gouged deep grooves into the heavy metal surrounding and protecting the frame. The steel itself groaned loudly in protest, but the Mordred suddenly powered up once again, and the lights in its eyes flickered on once more. The Titan like machine grabbed ahold of both of Greedy Venom's claws and began to crush them under its metal.
Thinking quickly for only being a monster trading card. Starving Venom clamped its fanged vines down on the Mordred's wrists, forcing the machine to release his claws and allow him a chance to retreat. The Fusion dragon quickly slipped away from the slower Mordred's grasp like a snake, and returned to Yuri's side whilst rubbing its wrists in irritation.
The now freed Mordred rose up and activated its Float System and flew up into the air. One giant black steeled hand reached up and carefully caught the falling revolutionary before he could hit the ground painfully. That one hand also engulfed Zero's own rather small and skinny frame as both flew and landed onto the ground cautiously. The Vincent sped over to cover the view of the Mordred as the bigger Knightmare lowered its hand and released Zero onto the ground safe and sound despite that rather suicidal stunt. The masked man himself stood regally, and walked off of the giant Knightmare's hand like he was the king of the world to once again face Yuri.
ZERO LP- 2700 = 1050
Yuri blinked, and tilted his head to the side once again. "Action Cards." He muttered, yet another new concept to dueling he had yet to be introduced to. Just the thought made Yuri give an irritated frown. "It seems this Dimension just keeps making something new every day." That sleazy smile soon returned though, and it seemed to be an even more entertained smile than before. "This has been a very amusing duel Zero. I'm glad you've managed to last this long against me. It would have been disappointing to have it all end so soon." Yuri looked down flexed one of his hands.
"Unlike you Yuri, I'm not very eager to continue this duel for much longer." Zero looked down at his duel blade that was shaped into the mark of geass. "It's been postponed for long enough, and has lost its finer edge." The man narrowed his eyes over at the possibly possessed Yuri. Was the Fusion user really possessed though? Or did he somehow manage to control and rein that devastating power in.
Yuri frowned, and narrowed his glowing serpent pink eyes at the masked resistance fighter before him. "Alright then. I set one card and end my turn."
KNIGHTMARE FRAME MORDRED ATK:0 = 3000
Zero put a hand on his deck and drew. "My turn!" That blank mask looked down at the card, and seemed to be startled for a moment. However, the Xyz leader soon relaxed his posture as a slightly demented smile snaked its way onto Zero's masked face. "Well then."
. . .
"I activate the Continuous Trap Antique Gear Reborn!" Obelisk Red activated the Trap card from his duel disk, and pointed over towards Tsukikage. "You'll be the next one to go." The blue ninja sucked in a breath through his scarf at the declaration, but otherwise gave no other reaction away. "I Special Summon Triple Bite Hound Dog with 200 more Attack Points from my Graveyard!
TRIPLE BITE HOUND DOG LV.7 ATK:1800 DEF:1000
TRIPLE BITE HOUND DOG ATK:1800 = 2000
"Then I activate the Continuous Trap Antique Gear Spark Shot!" Obelisk green stepped forward and took the reins of the duel once more.
"Take this!" Red threw his palm out towards the silent ninja. "My Hound Dog's Antique Revive Howling!" The enormous flamethrower began to quickly make its way towards Tsukikage. The ground underneath the fire crumbling and making a small trench in the concrete. Tsukikage himself just watched the flames advance towards him, his blue scarf whipped behind him wildly, and closed his eyes in prepared acceptance.
"Hold it right there!"
Everyone blinked as once again another person intervened and disrupted the fight. All eyes turning to look upon the elevated form of a teenager dressed in a high school uniform with brown hair and blonde bangs. Some raised a confused eyebrow at recognizing the person before them, and wondered why he made his way into the tournament. Others like Serena and Obelisk Force just stared up at the teen with either agitation or confusion.
"I activate the Action Card Flame Guard!" Sylvio Sawatari dramatically raised his hand with the Action Card up high, before playing it on his duel disk. "I negate any effect damage!"
Just as the fair was on top of Tsukikage, the fire was instantly extinguished. The moon themed ninja uncrossed his arms in surprise, before looking over at Sylvio with shock. It's seems that Reiji decided that some more reinforcements were required to finish off the last of the Obelisk Force members and Academia's invasion.
Everyone's eyes were still drawn towards Sylvio, who took a small bow at all of the attention his theatrics had received. "Now that I'm here, we'll have the strength of a hundred more people." The burnette straightened up once again to address his allies directly this time. Sylvio's greyish blue eyes narrowing as he gave an arrogant smirk. "Reiji Akaba filled me in on the situation, and I have come here to dispose the rest of these nuisances to the tournament!"
His rather cool entrance and strong confidence soon gave way to confusion and was ruined by a familiar mechanical voice speaking up from Sylvio's duel disk. A loud beep calling out from the teen's device.
"Intrusion Penalty. 2000 Life Points!"
"Huh?" You could literally see the small question mark that appeared beside Sylvio's head as the teen tilted his head like a confused puppy. Suddenly, Sylvio's duel disk began to spark with electricity that instantly travelled up to Sylvio's body and administered him an extreme shock. Sylvio cried out, his voice stuttering as the energy coursed through his veins. "H-He d-d-d-didn't-t fi-fill me in ab-bout th-this!"
SYLVIO LP- 4000 = 2000
The poor teen's knees wobbled before he promptly collapsed onto the dusty volcanic floor. However, the burnette was instantly up and kicking once again despite that shocking surprise. Sylvio jumped up to his feet like nothing happened, and quickly began to dust himself off of the ash, dirt, and grim that covered his clothes whilst falling onto the floor. "I'll show you why I'm the greatest man from L.D.S! This duel is as good as over now that it's my turn!"
Shun blinked one more time while watching that entire display, before promptly rubbing his eyes with one hand and giving a heavily frustrated sigh. "We're doomed."
. . .
"It's your turn now, Xyz scum." Sora stopped walking to look down upon Yuto's hunched form on the floor where he belonged. The Frightfur duelist's emerald eyes narrowed down upon his next victim's form. "It would be best for you to stand up and face me head on. At least try to die with some dignity." Sora cracked a grin. "Although, it's not like you had any in the first place."
"It won't be me who dies without dignity." Yuto spoke. His voice strangely monotone for a guy who was so full of emotions just minutes ago. When his normally grey eyes looked up at Sora to reveal his glowing violet pupils though, the Fusion user began to see something had changed in the Phantom Knights duelist. What was with his eyes?
The sound of footsteps coming from behind him caught Sora's attention, and the Academia soldier quickly turned around to see who was interrupting his duel this time. The sight of Yuya Sakaki greeted him, but he too seemed to look different and act different than how he usually did. His pupils were also glowing, but they were a blood red color instead, and a nasty snarl was just barely held back and twitching against his lips.
The two supposed friends stared at each other in silence. In that time, Yuto quickly gathered himself to his feet and took a few steps away from Sora while raising his duel disk.
"You." Yuya spoke darkly, glowing red eyes glaring from Yuto then over to Sora. "You, Sora, are wrong." Instead of giving Yuya an excuse or any form of reaction, Sora instead just looked at the Pendulum user and did nothing. His blank face waiting and telling Yuya to get to the point already.
"Heartland was overflowing with people's smiles."
Those words reverberated through Yuya's entire being, and made the Entertainment duelist pause in his quest for revenge and anger. His glowing red eyes blinked, and for a moment they returned to what they usually were, a nice scarlet red.
"Our duels were there to make everyone smile and have fun!"
Steadily, Yuya's anger began to dissipate as these words and memories came flooding back to him. The tomato haired teen didn't even know why or how he was remembering the conversation he had with Yuto and Zero that night in the park now. It wasn't until his vision was clear enough and he saw Yuto that he figured out why.
He looked so angry, so ENRAGED. His face, a face that looked like Yuya's own, was scrunched up and twisted into a near demonic picture. The sharp teeth visible in the nasty frown the Xyz user sported. Those steel cold eyes that closed the gates towards his normally warm heart froze over and turned it black and as cold as cooled obsidian. The tears, scratches, and bruises dotting his body. The scuff marks smearing his face and skin, ruined bandages barely clinging to his frame and stretched to their limit.
The clear frustration, despair, and misery as a single tear quickly ran down Yuto's cheek and evaporated into the hot air that Yuya just barely caught.
The mirror image of what he looked like as those negative emotions chained him, took control of him, and possessed him. Never before in his entire life was Yuya more afraid than being possessed by those chains of darkness once again.
"I activate the Action Card Flame Crystal!" Yuto quickly continued seemingly no longer deterred by Hikage death. "I deal 600 Points of damage to my opponent!" Sroa winced by the sudden heat wrapping around his smaller frame, but soon threw the pain off like it was nothing.
SORA LP- 3200 = 2600
Then how did Yuto's pain feel when compared to his? Yuto's entire homeland was destroyed, and his life ripped apart before his eyes. His homeland that dueled for smiles and happiness alone torn and corrupted into an animalistic, enraged urge for survival and stone cold vengeance.
"I need to have a duel that the players and audience can enjoy like the one I had with Sylvio."
That was what he swore he would do when he entered the Third Round of the tournament, wasn't it? To give a duel that would make Yuto's trust in him founded, and give his counterpart a reason to smile when it came to dueling once again. If Yuya went and dueled Sora with only his anger, that would only serve to break this vow, this promise he had given.
So instead Yuya took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and relaxed.
The breathing tactic did wonders as the shadows began to die down and vanish to wherever they came. His tomato colored hair stopped waving in the wind, and a sense of clarity finally washed over his closed eyes like cold ice water being dumped over him.
Once his possessed rage was completely gone, Yuya carefully opened his normal scarlet eyes to once again stare Sora down. This time however, his gaze held a fiery passion and determination within their endless, swirling depths. "Please step aside, Sora."
Sora stared at Yuya for a silent moment, his face morphed into one of consideration. The Fusion user looked back towards Yuto's angered form, who was hunched over once more. Then Sora's emerald eyes went back to Yuya, and surprisingly he obliged by taking a single step back. "It's not like I expect you to walk away and not duel me to try and get me to 'see the light' or some other bullshit excuse." Sora looked over to the side. "So hurry up and say your emotional spiel so that we can get back to the important thing at hand, which is me finally carding this Xyz scum." Sora looked down at the Xyz user with clear disdain and disgust in his expression.
Not wasting a single second, Yuya quickly and bravely made his way forward. The Pendulum user turning his back to his enemy, who could card him at any moment now, and swiftly bent down to Yuto's level.
The tomato haired teen gently tapped the side of Yuto's face with two fingers, and guided it towards his own normal red eyes. One hand was firmly planted on Yuto's shoulder while the other one held onto his own pendulum and shirt. That familiar burning in Yuya's chest and heart ebbing through the shock, fear, emotions, and general numb that had taken its place just moments ago.
"Yuto, you know what you're thinking isn't right." Yuya began to reason with the enticed individual before him. The temptation of giving in and throwing away his morals sounding very good at the moment. "The idea may sound good in the moment, but once it's done you'll have nothing left but regret and guilt." Seeing as this did nothing to persuade Yuto to NOT kill Sora, Yuya's scarlet eyes narrowed in slight frustration. "You said Heartland was a place where people dueled for smiles." Mentioning Yuto's hometown may have been a bad suggestion, because those shadows suddenly got bigger and thicker, like oily tar. "Heartland was the hometown that you loved deeply, and I know you still believe in the idea of duels meant for smiles! You wouldn't be so tired and exhausted in battling and hurting everyone, even your enemies, if you weren't!" This caused Yuto to look unsure, his eyebrows furrowing. "You said you didn't want to hurt anyone anymore!" That hand on Yuto's shoulder tightened. "Then prove it. Prove that my trust in you, that the promise I made to show you a duel that would make you smile again is not unfounded! With your powers, use it to give everyone smiles instead of fear!" Nails dug into Yuto's caped shoulders as Yuya shook him. "Wake up, Yuto!"
"You need to remember all of the good times you had. About all of the memories you made, and that power. Contain that anger and convert it into something that can be used for good, for smiles as you said. Like the smiles that once lived in Heartland before the invasion." Zero...
"Don't be afraid." Shun... "You wouldn't allow that. No matter what, you would do everything within your power to keep us safe. You would never hurt your friends." His best friend.
"No matter what demons we are hiding." His leader. "I believe in you, and I believe in Yuya… I believe that none of us will lose control, and that we can contain this 'demon' within."
"My father always told me that when I let fear get ahold of me, I won't be able to do anything… That if I want to win, I have to gather up my courage and press forward!" Yuya.
Yuya.
Yuto blinked, and instantly the shadows died down as if they had been thrown into the spotlight. The Phantom Knights user's eyes had returned to their nice cloudy grey, and even his Xyz monster Break Sword had calmed. The resistance fighter's cape lowering to the floor now that the shadows were gone. "Yuya?"
The teen himself breathed a sigh of relief, and dipped his head down towards the ground. "Thank God that worked." Yuya let go of Yuto and quickly rubbed the back of his neck in slight embarrassment. "Are you feeling better?"
Yuto blinked once again, before the realization hit him and a dismayed expression showed on his face. "I went berserk again, didn't I?"
"Are we going to duel or not?" A third party voice spat, and both counterparts suddenly remembered the situation they were in and turned serious. "I'm getting sick of waiting and doing nothing other than listening to you communicate with this filthy trash Yuya."
Both boys turned to look at Sora, before looking back at each other and giving a single, unified nod. "No, we're perfectly fine now Sora." Scarlet eyes narrowed towards slightly acidic green. "However, you're going to duel both of us now whether you like it or not." With that, Yuya quickly activated his duel disk and entered the duel regardless of the consequences.
"Intrusion Penalty! 2000 Life Points!"
YUYA LP- 4000 = 2000
Yuya closed one eye as he winced, but otherwise gave no other indication away that he was in pain. Seeing this, Sora gave one swift nod in slight approval, and quickly turned around with his back to them. "Good. I don't like the idea of having a losing record against you anyways. However, we'll be dueling in a place where no one else will interfere, not again." Sora turned his sky blue head to face the two lookalikes, and casually walked into the entrance of a volcanic cave.
Undeterred by Sora's actions and now recomposed, both Yuto and Yuya followed without hesitation.
The three stopped walking and faced each other off by an interior river of lava. Multiple floating stepping stones that had some Action Cards scattered about littered the entire interior of the cave and even over some of the boy's heads. When looking left and right the cave would expand so far it would fade into darkness.
"I'll bring back both of your smiles with this duel." Yuya declared boldy, looking over at both Yuto and Sora sternly.
While Yuto did soften his scowl at Yuya's words, his battle stance remained unhindered. "I'd really hate to say this Yuya, but it'd be difficult to help someone who doesn't want it." Grey eyes narrowed once more. "It'd be better off for all of us if he was just turned into a card."
"Hmph." Sora snorted. "You're right on one thing, I don't need to be saved or want any of your help. However, I'll be the one turning you BOTH into cards in the end."
All three looked at each other in silence, before the duel began once more with Yuya's turn since he interrupted the duel.
YUTO LP- 2700
SORA LP- 2600
YUYA LP- 2000
"DUEL!"
. . .
"Let's go!" Sylvio yelled out excitedly, and showed everyone two cards from between his fingers. "I'll start off with the newest addition to Dueling! With Scale 1 Abyss Actor Devil Heel and Scale 8 Abyss Actor Funky Comedian, I'll set the Pendulum Scale!"
The two new monsters that were from Sylvio's changed deck rose up into their separate pillars of blue ethereal light. One monster had dark blue, practically black skin along with one disproportionately big and a disproportionately small arm. Two little wings were on the monster's shoulders, and it was wearing a mask.
The second monster had four arms instead of the regular two along with yellowish tan skin. The monster had a rodeo vest of sorts on along with a bowler hat at the top like one would see in the theater.
"With this, I am able to simultaneously Summon monsters from Levels 2 through 7!" With flourish, Sylvio pointed a finger up towards the opening portal above him. "I Pendulum Summon! Come forth! Level 7! Abyss Actor Big Star!
This new Level 7 monster had skinny arms and legs that would probably only have bones if it wasn't for the black leather covering every part of its body except for its arms and some of its face. The monster wore a maroon vest and hat, and had a strange contraption covering its left eye, making it glow yellow in the darkness. The other eye of the monster seemed to either be sealed shut or didn't exist at all, but no one was able to truly tell because its hat blocked the way. This new strong monster gave one magnificent twirl, before coming to a stop and giving a deep, theatrical bow.
ABYSS ACTOR BIG STAR LV.7 ATK:2500 DEF:1800
"You changed your deck again?" Ruri looked at the new monsters before her with disbelief. That would make it the third time since she's seen Sylvio duel, and she's only met him three times.
Sylvio's eye twitched imperceptibly, and the brunette continued with his turn by raising his palm into the air once again. "Once per turn, Big Star can add an Abyss Actor Script Spell card to my hand!" Big Star raised one hand as well, and a giant book filled with worn yellow pages and a royal purple and gold cover appeared in its hand. Sylvio revealed the card he chose with one hand. "I activate the Abyss Actor Script Fantasy Magic that I added to my hand!" Big Star opened the book it held, and quickly skimmed through the pages of the entire thing before closing it with a loud snap. "After reading his script, Big Star will act out his role!"
Suddenly, the skinny Level 7 Pendulum monster was surrounded by blue fire, and once the flames extinguished the Abyss Actor wore a wizard's cloak and hat. The cloak had a purple interior and a dark blue exterior. While the hat was like a typical witch's hat that had two green eyes and a purple mark just above them.
Everyone blinked at this turn of events. To Shun and Ruri, this new Deck seemed to match Sylvio perfectly. Though the others were unfamiliar with Sylvio, they also had a feeling that this was a match made by destiny as well.
It was slightly disturbing.
"Battle!" Now the L.D.S student turned his open palm towards Obelisk Force. "I attack Triple Bite Hound Dog with Abyss Actor Big Star!" The newly formed wizard made a blue sphere from within its hands, and a blue fire blew out from that sphere towards the Triple Bite Hound Dog belonging to Obelisk yellow. The mechanical pooch had no time to cry out in pain before it was disintegrated into yellow dust particles.
OBELISK YELLOW LP- 2000 = 1500
Obelisk yellow did nothing but give an arrogantly bemused smirk towards Sylvio. "Weren't you watching, intruder? Even if you destroy our monsters, you'll just eat our Antique Revival Howling combo in response!"
This time it was Sylvio's turn to give an arrogant smile. He even went so far as to close his eyes and shrug nonchalantly. "I didn't destroy them though." Obelisk yellow blinked at that accusation, and waited for the teen to explain. In that time, Sylvio reopened his greyish blue eyes to look over at the Academia soldiers. "During the turn I activate Fantasy Magic, any of my opponent's monsters destroyed in battle return to the hand instead!" Sylvio made a fist, and narrowed his eyes ever so slightly at his three enemies condescending. "But Fusion monsters go to your Extra Deck, not your hand."
"Or so you think." Yellow smiled at Sylvio's surprised expression, and interrupted the brunette from exclaiming a 'what' from his lips. "I activate the Trap card Ancient Gear Reverse Fusion! When an Ancient Gear monster I control leaves the field by my opponent's card effect, I can Special Summon a Fusion monster that lists that monster as Fusion Material!" Triple Bite Hound Dog revived once more, and began to fuse itself together in a whirl of lights. "Come forth! Level 9! Ancient Gear Ultimate Hound Dog!" Obelisk yellow threw his arm out to the side as the purple mechanical dog leaped onto the field in front of its master and gave an automatic howl.
ANCIENT GEAR ULTIMATE HOUND DOG LV.9 ATK:2800 DEF:2000
"Damn, these people just don't give in do they?" Shun grit his teeth in extreme agitation. The Raidraptor was just about fed up with all of this and wanted to one shot all of the Obelisk Force soldiers. "Always have to have something hiding up their sleeves like a snake."
"We'll see if you continue to talk so big after this!" Yellow threatened over at Shun. "When this card is Fusion Summoned, it halves the Life Points of all of my opponents!" The Academia soldier threw his arm out to the side once more, and the Fusion monster he controlled breathed fire from its three mechanical heads and the one hiding in its torso. The deadly flames came barrelling towards the allied fighters, and just barely missed hitting them dead on. The blasts instead hitting just in front of them, and temporarily blinding them from the bright light and heat that blew into their faces.
"What the hell is that?!" Sylvio cried out, outraged at the way Obelisk Force turned his cool move into something beneficial for them.
TSUKIKAGE LP- 500 = 250
SERENA LP- 2400 = 1200
RURI LP- 3900 = 1950
SHUN LP- 4000 = 2000
SYLVIO LP- 2000 = 1000
"Damn it!" Sylvio grumbled angrily.
"You should have just stayed out of this! You're only putting yourself in danger!" Shun spat aggressively, and stepped forward to finally take his turn. The Raidraptor's hand on his deck and just starting to draw a card. Unfortunately, the dark haired teen suddenly flinched from his injuries, and his entire body began to tremble from the lack of rest and strain. Sylvio looked down at the sweating Xyz user with a hint of concern flickering through his usually egotistical gaze. Ruri coming over to his other side to check up on him worriedly.
"You should take you own advice from time to time, Shun." A deep voice rumbled from behind both boys, and the two looked over to see Gongenzaka calmly making his way between them.
"You're Yuya's friend, Gongenzaka." Ruri looked around the field. "If you're here, then where's Yuya?"
"He's a bit preoccupied with something else at the moment." Gongenzaka answered vaguely before preparing to take his turn.
One yellow eye opened to peak up at the taller Steadfast duelist through his dark navy blue hair and cyan bangs. He can't be serious. He's risking himself and his friends all for our sake, my sake? Both yellow eyes looked over at Gongenzaka with shock evident on his face. Yet, this isn't any of their concern.
"My turn!" Gongenzaka drew his card, and the duel was interrupted once again. Shun just now realizing that his turn was once again stolen by someone else. However, that fleeting thought was soon abandoned at the sheer winds the sturdy duelist had generated from just drawing his card.
"Intrusion Penalty! 2000 Life Points!" That familiar robotic voice spoke up in Gongenzaka's duel disk, but the administered shock didn't even seem to faze the bigger teen.
GONGENZAKA LP- 4000 = 2000
He's really doing this. Shun looked over at Gongenzaka's form. He's really helping us? From Tsukikage and Sylvio, he could understand. The two worked for Reiji, for L.D.S, and were somewhat required to be here and help. Serena only seemed to be helping for answers, but it looked to be a quickly changing statement as Obelisk Force and Academia continued to reveal their true ugly colors. The Academia runaway was lending him and Ruri a helping hand out of a necessity of their survival for her answers.
What he didn't understand was why Gongenzaka was helping them. He held no stake in this Interdimensional war between the Xyz Dimension and Academia. He had friends and family here that would be devastated to hear of his lose if he lost this duel and was turned into a card right beside the rest of them. Hell, Yuya was around he somewhere since the Steadfast duelist was here, and Shun just knew the Pendulum user would lose it if he lost two of his childhood friends in one day.
Shun wasn't an idiot, and it was obvious that Yuzu was no longer in the Battle Royale, or in this Dimension in general. If no one had found her. Then that meant what Yuri had said about Yuzu was true, and that it was too late. The Raidraptor himself would know the feeling since Yuto was being hunted like a rabid dog alongside Zero and his sister Ruri.
So why was Gongenzaka willingly helping them if he could gain so little, yet lose so much?
. . .
"It's my turn!" Yuya yelled as he drew his card in that classical dramatic fashion that just seemed to suit him.
YUTO LP- 2700
SORA LP- 2600
YUYA LP- 2000
"I promise to bring back your true smile, and I'll start with this move!" Yuya vowed, and showed two cards from between his fingers. "Using Scale 1 Stargazer Magician and Scale 8 Timegazer Magician, I set the Pendulum Scale!" Yuya's go to Pendulum Zone monsters rose up into their familiar blue pillars of light, and the portal appeared from in between them. "With this, I am able to simultaneously Summon monsters from Levels 2 to 7!" Yuya clutched his pendulum with one hand. "Sway, Pendulum of the soul! Draw an arc of light across the ether!" Yuya threw his other hand up towards the portal, his red eyes looking up at it as well. "I Pendulum Summon! Come forth!" A single beam of red light bore down in front of Yuya, and the tomato haired teen's ace monster showed itself once more with a swish of its tail and a mighty roar from its beak like jaws. "With your wondrous and beautiful dichromatic eyes! Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon!"
ODD-EYES PENDULUM DRAGON LV.7 ATK:2500 DEF:2000
Both Yuya and Yuto suddenly hunched over with their eyes scrunched shut as that familiar darkness began to envelope and appear over their forms. Odd-Eyes gave a loud, shrill roar up towards the blocked out sky, and the sound reverberated throughout the never ending cave, making all three teens' ears ring.
Yuya opened one scarlet red eye, dark bags beginning to appear underneath them showing just how exhausted he really was. "Remember the first time we dueled!"
Sora rubbed his ears with one finger and simply shrugged at Yuya's words. "That was just me playing around." He reasoned simply. "I had to fit into this society someway, and you were the most interesting and perfect opportunity." His emerald green eyes looked up at Yuya directly, for once completely disregarding Yuto. "But I won't be so soft anymore!"
"Your smile back then was genuine!" Yuya rebuteled stubbornly, making a fist in a show of how he felt. Both counterparts shook the feeling of fear and dread off and returned to their normal selves. Yuya soon threw that fist forward. "I attack Frightfur Wheel Saw Lion with Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon!" The dichromatic eyed dragon quickly lunged forward towards Wheel Saw Lion.
Seeing this, Sora did a rapid somersault, and sprung onto one of the floating rocks to lunge towards an Action Card. Once the card was in his hand, Sora did another somersault in mid air to land on another floating stone. Seeing Sora run around to grab an Action Card spurred Yuto into searching for an Action Card of his own. The Phantom Knights duelist jumping and crouching down onto the platforms himself with his cape pooling behind him.
"I activate the Action Card Flame Chain! I decrease the Attack of one of my opponent's monsters by 400!" Sora activated his Action Card, but it was quickly thwarted by Yuya as he looked up to his Stargazer Magician.
"I activate Stargazer Magician's Pendulum effect! Once per turn, when one of my Pendulum monsters attack, I can negate the activation of a Spell Card!" The magician lifted its giant weapon in front of himself as small constellations appeared above it. "Horoscope Divination!" Sora grit his teeth, and watched as his Action Card was cancelled out on his duel disk, before running over to get another Action Card.
Yuya himself started jumping onto the stone platforms, and now all three duelists were focused on one thing. Finding an Action Card.
Yuto found one first. The Phantom Knights user below both Sora and Yuya finding it underneath the stone bridge connecting the gap between the lava river below them. "Action Card! Flame Power!" Yuto stopped jumping around to look up at Yuya and then over to his ace Pendulum monster with an understanding nod. Seeing Yuto's silent idea, Yuya also nodded along to the hidden meaning between them. Sora looking down at the Xyz rebel fighter with anger as he jumped back towards the stone bridge while Yuya landed on a platform near the ceiling of the cave. "I chose to increase the Attack Points of Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon by 400 for the rest of this turn!"
ODD-EYES PENDULUM DRAGON ATK:2500 = 2900
Odd-Eyes roared in what seemed like thanks as it charged over towards Frightfur Wheel Saw Lion like a stampeding buffalo.
Sora skid to a halt back where he first was before looking for an Action Card and slammed his hand onto his duel disk. "I play the Quick Play Spell De-Fusion!" Sora looked up at his Fusion monster. "Frightfur Wheel Saw Lion is returned to my Extra Deck and its Materials are Special Summoned in Defense Mode!" The giant cackling lion burst into two separate beams of light that soon formed Fluffal Leo and Edge Imp Saw.
FLUFFAL LEO LV.4 ATK:1600 DEF:1200
EDGE IMP SAW LV.3 ATK:500 DEF:1000
Yuya knelt down onto the solid ground of the stone bridge and directed his hand towards Sora's more frightening monster. "Odd-Eyes! Attack Edge Imp Saw!" Seeing that its original target was gone, Odd-Eyes quickly obeyed and swung its tail around to swat the mechanical saw monster out of existence.
This time, Yuto also dropped down onto the stone bridge with one hand on the ground before standing up to his full height. "If the monster affected by Flame Power destroys a Defense Position monster in battle. It deals that monster's Defense as damage!" Yuto threw his hand forward, and little balls of fire sped past Sora. The Academia spy held one hand over his face as his uniform was burnt and charred on the edges.
SORA LP- 2600 = 1600
Sora growled over at Yuto, acidic eyes burning in rage. "Why you- I'll make sure you pay for that tenfold, Xyz scum! Taking a shot at me any chance you get, you're all the same!"
Yuto said nothing in response to Sora's hate, and that only seemed to anger him more. Yuya himself flinched a tad at the pure venom in Sora's words, before continuing on with the duel. "I end my turn." His scarlet eyes flickered up towards his ace monster Odd-Eyes. "At this moment, Flame Power's effect ends and Odd-Eyes' Attack returns to normal."
ODD-EYES PENDULUM DRAGON ATK:2900 = 2500
A tense silence filled the air.
Yuya blinked. His scarlet eyes softening as he looked over at Sora. "Back then." Yuya's voice dipped down to a whisper that travelled over the air into everyone's ears. "We became friends just like this, didn't we!?" Yuya held an arm out to the side as he looked over to Sora pleadingly. "Let's continue to be friends by ending this duel with a smile!"
Sora raised one sky blue eyebrow before looking off to the side. "Making friends by dueling?" The Fusion users eyes were averted from Yuya specifically as he spoke, instead either looking at the landscape, his monster, or glaring at Yuto. The Phantom Knights user glaring down at the shorter teen with strong steeled defiance in return. "I'm telling you that's too soft!"
Yuya flinched back harsher this time, almost as if he had been slapped. Yuto skimmed his eyes over to Yuya as he noticed the obvious hurt on the Pendulum user's face.
Grey eyes glared over at Sora with even more anger, but just as the darkness began to overwhelm him Yuto remembered what his friends had said. To convert that power to smiles, and to remember the fond moments he had and would never forget with everyone he cared for. Just like that, the darkness seeped away as if running down a drain. "If you refuse to understand then there's no saving you." Yuto glanced over at Yuya's form one more time, before giving a big tired huff and looking back to Sora once again. "However, if Yuya believes that he can help you see the error of your ways… Then perhaps it would be better to help him try than to hinder his efforts! My turn!"
The look of elation on Yuya's face at Yuto's words made the Xyz user firmly believe that the decision he had just made was ultimately the correct one.
. . .
"Using Scale 1 Red Devil and Scale 12 Black Sun, I set the Pendulum Scale!" The two monsters acquired from the Junior Youth Tournament rose up into their pillars of ethereal light. "With this, I am able to Summon monsters between Levels 2 through 11 simultaneously!" Gongenzaka narrowed his grey eyes in steadfast determination. "I Pendulum Summon! Come forth!" Three monsters appeared from the portal to Gongenzaka's side of the field. "Two Superheavy Samurai Thieves, and Superheavy Samurai Transporter!" The three robots lowered themselves onto the field carefully. They were all much smaller than Gongnenzaka's usual monsters like Big Benkei. While the Thieves were painted mostly green, silver, and occasionally bronze and just a tad gold. The Transporter was mostly painted a light red and silver.
SUPERHEAVY SAMURAI THIEF LV.10 ATK:1000 DEF:1000
SUPERHEAVY SAMURAI TRANSPORTER LV.5 ATK:1200 DEF:1800
SUPERHEAVY SAMURAI THIEF LV.10 ATK:1000 DEF:1000
"Superheavy Samurai Thief's effect!" Gongenzaka threw one huge hand towards his first Samurai monster. "I can tribute this card to add a previously activated Spell or Trap card to my hand!" The robotic monster then turned into a bright light that proceeded to sntach Sylvio's Devil Heel out from its Pendulum Zone. "I add Devil Heel, that's currently being treated as a Spell Card in Sylvio's Pendulum Zone, to my hand!" The owner of said card gaping at the mere sight, not able to process what had just happened for a moment.
It was a few seconds later that Sylvio began to glare at Gongenzaka, who held his hand out waiting for Sylvio's card. "What the hell?! Aren't you using that effect wrong? You're supposed to use it on them not me!" The burnette pointed over at Obelisk Force before looking back at the Synchro user. "You can break down their combo with that effect!"
Regardless, Sylvio tossed his card over to Gongenzaka, who caught it between two of his fingers. "No, this is fine. Besides, consider it punishment for stealing Yuya's Pendulum cards back when you two first met." At the reminder of his not so nice introduction, the Abyss Actor duelist shrunk down a little in shame. "I tribute the other Samurai Thief to also add Funky Comedian to my hand!" The same process as to what happened to Devil Heel then repeated itself.
Sylvio himself grit his teeth, but said nothing as he begrudgingly tossed his other Pendulum card towards Gongenzaka.
"Finally, by tributing Superheavy Samurai Transporter, I add Devil Heel and Funky Comedian to Shun Kurosaki's hand!"
"What?!"
Shun blinked as he heard his name, and reflexively caught the two Pendulum cards being flung his way. For once, the Raidraptor user could really say that he was speechless, and this wasn't because of one of Zero's speeches or miraculously devilish or shitty luck. His yellow eyes went from the Pendulum cards over to the man who had given them to him in uncertainty. "Why are you giving me Pendulum cards?"
"You're finishing this." The Steadfast duelist stated like it was the most obvious thing in the world, which honestly it might as well have been. His Raidraptors were made to take on duelists like Obelisk Force. "I end my turn." Gongenzaka's statement snapped Shun out of his musings, and the teen looked down at the news cards he received in hesitation.
He didn't even know how to Pendulum Summon. Well, to be more precise, he wasn't familiar with it and it would be his first time even trying. He's only ever watched other people perform Pendulum Summoning. The Xyz rebel looked around the field, at his struggling allies, the overwhelming Fusion monsters on Obelisk Force's side of the field, at all of it.
. . .
"Dueling is a fight! In the end, it's win or get beaten!"
Yuya shook his head at Sora's words. "Are you saying we're not friends anymore?!"
"We're not." Sora reaffirmed. "I have something more important to me than friendship!"
. . .
"In a world like this! Only the strongest deserve to survive!" Yuri cackled as he and Greedy Venom were weaving between and above buildings, volcanic rubble, and platforms. Academia's top soldier sprinted forward towards the platforms hovering above the rest of the entire field and closer towards the giant volcano itself.
Yuri leaped from the edge with disregard for his own life, and twisted himself to do a double back handspring to push himself off the platforms he landed on and high into the air. Yuri's body twisting and contorting in ways only a skilled acrobat or professional could do before doing one back somersault and sticking the landing on the center platform high in the air. Greedy Venom flew over to float beside him.
Zero ran over towards the edge of the building roof he stood on while chasing Yuri. The Mordred and the Vincent coming to a stop beside him as the masked man looked down at the very nauseating height which they were at. I didn't realize we had grown so far away from the others, nor this high… He's been leading me away, clever.
Zero turned his attention back towards Yuri as the somewhat possessed teen spoke with his arms gesturing around himself in a wild manner. "It's survival of the fittest when it comes to Academia, to Dueling, and I'll be the last one standing on this world if it means to prove how strong I truly am over everyone beneath me." Yuri's glowing magenta eyes looked down towards the huge Battle Royale going on below him for emphasize. "No one is going to get in my way."
"You believe in such things like Social Darwinism even though we are above such primitive brutality like other wild animals." Zero narrowed his eyes over at Yuri in distaste. Having this conversation about survival of the fittest wasn't doing any wonders for his frayed mood, nor his opinion on Yuri himself.
Yuri huffed a small laugh before looking back at Zero with one eye while the other was closed. "That's just the way it's meant to be. Life. Social Darwinism. Where the strongest triumph over the weak in hopes of a better chance at survival." That smile grew more sly as Yuri's magenta eye softened its glowing hue as if it was glazed. "Life is never meant to be kind or fortunate, its merciless and bloodthirsty."
"Hmph." Zero snorted in derision, and began to very carefully jump his way across the stone platforms to meet Yuri. The masked man forcing himself to keep eye contact with the Fusion user lest he look down. "While fate may be a very cruel and heartless mistress. I believe that it's our job as human beings to keep our humanity and try to assist those that need help or are less fortunate. To help those that need justice or saving."
"But that's what you believe." Yuri cracked a grin. "Isn't it?"
. . .
Shun could hear his Raidraptors screech in the thirst of battle, in the desire of finally getting some action in the Duel and taking a turn. With wide, steeled and molten yellow eyes, Shun yelled at the top of his lungs and drew a card. "My turn!" The action stealing more breath from the Xyz rebel, and making Shun stop to pant for a moment.
His yellow eyes drifted over to Ruri, and his resolve grew harder than diamonds itself. "I will end this!" Shun raised the two Pendulum cards from between his fingers. "With this act, I'll crush the rest of Obelisk Force and eventually Academia itself! Using Scale 1 Devil Heel and Scale 8 Funky Comedian, I set the Pendulum Scale!"
Sylvio's two Pendulum monsters rose up in their pillars of light once more. "With this, I am able to simultaneously summon monsters from Levels 2 through 7!"
"Come on Shun! Let's go!" Ruri cheered, making a fist pump in her enthusiasm at watching her older brother Pendulum Summon before her eyes.
"I Pendulum Summon!" Shun threw his one arm up towards the portal palm up. "Flock to me! My monsters!" Three identical Raidraptors appeared from the portal and surrounded Shun's field. They were painted orange and green, and had the Raidraptor symbol emblazoned on their left wings. "Raidraptors Wild Vulture!"
RAIDRAPTOR WILD VULTURE LV.6 ATK:1600 DEF:2000
RAIDRAPTOR WILD VULTURE LV.6 ATK:1600 DEF:2000
RAIDRAPTOR WILD VULTURE LV.6 ATK:1600 DEF:2000
"Next, I Overlay all three of my Level 6 Wild Vultures to build the Overlay Network!" The three vultures all gave a shrill caw, before turning into a purple light and merging together in the golden vortex made into the ground. Out of that vortex, a blinding white light erupted from its depths, and a single falcon flew up from within the Overlay Network and through the white light high into the sky.
"Prideful falcon. Spread your wings dyed in the blood of heroes!" Shun narrowed his yellow eyes to glare at the Obelisk Force members. "I Xyz Summon! Come forth! Rank 6! Raidraptor Revolution Falcon!" The huge falcon flew down just behind Shun to give both a very intimidating look to everyone else. The mechanical falcon giving a loud shriek from its robotic throat.
RAIDRAPTOR REVOLUTION FALCON RNK.6 ORB.3 ATK:2000 DEF:3000
"I activate Revolution Falcon's effect!" Shun continued, easily ignoring Obelisk Force's intimidated looks. "By using one Orbital, it can attack all of my opponent's monsters once each!" The mechanical flacon ate its Orbital, and beat its wings to fly up high into the air.
RAIDRAPTOR REVOLUTION FALCON ORB.3 = 2
The Raidraptor gave another screech as it flew up past a teen with glowing magenta eyes and masked man. Once it had gained enough altitude, the falcon swooped back down just underneath them and their own battle. The two duelists having to drop down and hold onto their stone platforms to stay on, and not get blown away by the sheer winds Revolution Falcon generated.
"Even if you can attack them all, our combo will send you taking a one way trip to death!" Green regained his composure first, but it was a thin veil hiding his true emotions. These three were frightened by the Xyz rebels.
They had heard the rumors of what had happened to other Obelisk Force members, to other Academia soldiers that fought against these Xyz rebels, against Zero. They had returned completely changed.
And that terrified them.
"When this card battles a Special Summoned monster. That monster's Attack and Defense become zero!" Fire erupted from the flying Falcon's wings, generating even more force as two compartments opened from underneath its wings.
"N-No way!"
"Battle!" Shun yelled up towards his Xyz monster. "Revolution Falcon!" The flames rained down onto Obelisk Force's Fusion monsters, and powered them all down to zero.
TRIPLE BITE HOUND DOG ATK:1800 = 0
TRIPLE BITE HOUND DOG ATK:1800 = 0
ANCIENT GEAR ULTIMATE HOUND DOG ATK:2800 = 0
"Go Shun! Finish this duel!" Ruri ran over to her brother and enveloped him into a one armed hug.
"Yeah! Let's go Shun!" Sylvio cheered, and jumped into the air with a fist pump.
"Carry on the will of the broken, and eradicate all of our enemies!" Shun continued yelling up to his falcon. Wrapping one arm around Ruri's neck, and keeping his sister close. "Revolutionary Air Raid!"
Those two compartments of the falcon's rained down a frenzy of bombs that exploded on impact. Completely wiping out Obelisk Force.
OBELISK RED LP- 2000 = 0 LOSER
OBELISK GREEN LP- 2000 = 0 LOSER
OBELISK YELLOW LP- 1500 = 0 LOSER
TSUKIKAGE LP- 250 WINNER
SERENA LP- 1200 WINNER
RURI LP- 1950 WINNER
SHUN LP- 2000 WINNER
SYLVIO LP- 1000 WINNER
GONGENZAKA LP- 2000 WINNER
"YEAH!" Sylvio jumped back and forth on the balls of his feet in excitement. "How do you like that Obelisk Freaks? You see that's how dueling is really done! With teamwork like ours! Oh yeah!" It should be noted that Sylvio was actually against giving away his Pendulum Cards in the first place.
Gongenzaka looked over to Shun, and gave a single nod of approval. However, the Raidraptor was too preoccupied with hugging Ruri like she would disappear.
All of the cheering was quickly interrupted however, as a loud pain filled scream filled the air above them. Acting quickly, everyone spread out and activated their duel disks once again in preparations of another fight. Their heads all snapping up towards the sky as one with narrowed eyes and aggressive stances.
Everyone looked up to see what looked like a white and purple version of Starving Venom fighting with a grounded red and orange painted Knightmare Frame that had a wicked silver claw. Just a few feet away from that fight was Yuri and the masked man himself Zero jumping around on the stone platforms in a frenzied manner.
Shun glared his yellow eyes up towards Yuri, the Raidraptor's demeanor once again serious. "We still have a job to do. Let's go reunite with our leader, find Yuto and Yuya, and finally finish this madness."
The sudden sounds of a boom, and harsh winds flying out of a cavern close by directed the group's attention to where Yuto and Yuya most certainly where.
"Yuya and Yuto are closer by, and Zero can take care of himself." Serena reasoned strongly, and stepped forward towards where the others were. "Let's go help them first."
"I can agree to that, Yuzu." Gongenzaka agreed to the Fusion user, and his stone sandals clicked against the ground loudly as he and the rest of the group made their way towards Yuya and Yuto's position. Serena herself ignoring Gongenzaka's comment as she made her way towards the cave's entrance.
"Hey wait up!" The group turned their eyes towards a curly orange haired teen running up to them with a short unconscious girl in his arms. "Wait for us!"
Gongenzaka blinked at the sight. "Dennis? And is that Aura?!"
. . .
Zero ignored Yuri's comment and focused more on his turn. The masked man's cape flaring up into the wind that billowed past them both. Treacherously reminding them of the harsh deaths they could recieve if one should slip from such a height.
"At this moment in time, I activate my Scale 9 Knightmare Pilot Kallen Kozuki's Pendulum effect!" The female monster gave an excited grin as she turned into pure red energy that began to coil and condense onto the field to Zero's very left. "I can remove this monster from my Pendulum Zone and Special Summon my Level 7 Guren to the field in Attack Mode regardless of its summoning conditions!"
"You're breaking your Pendulum Zone?" Yuri blinked and watched the show with rapt amusement. The masked man always seemed to be an interesting subject to him, especially when they dueled.
That familiar signature silver claw burst from the red energy, before the rest of the machine began to tear itself out of its temporary cage. This knightmare had no flight pack on, and instead had to rely on its nimble reflexes and abilities to stay upright without taking a long fall towards solid ground. That silver claw once again moving to the side to grip onto another platform. The metal crushing into the old stone, and almost crumbling it as the metal fingers imprinted into the platform.
GRUEN LV.7 ATK:2500 DEF:2200
"Another version of the Gruen?" Yuri raised his eyebrows. "I've never seen a monster have so many versions of itself in a single Summoning Method. Perhaps you're too shy to reveal any other monster's to me, and end up running out of tricks hiding within that cape of yours?"
"The Guren cannot be destroyed in battle, and my opponent must attack the Guren first before targeting any other monster on my side of the field." Zero revealed the oldest Guren's effects. "However, when the Guren is summoned onto the field this way it gains an extra 1000 Attack Points!"
GUREN ATK:2500 = 3500
Just as Yuri was smiling over at the Guren it instantly turned into a frown. "Of course it does."
Zero then pointed over towards the Vincent. "I activate the Vincent's effect! By discarding its last Orbital, it's halves its Attack and attacks you directly! Making you lose another 1250 Life Points! Steal Time!"
KNIGHTMARE FRAME VINCENT ORB.1 = 0
KNIGHTMARE FRAME VINCENT ATK:2500 = 1250
The Vincent flew forward in front of Zero and brandished one of its MVS blades towards Yuri and Greedy Venom. Remembering what this swift machine did last time, Greedy Venom wasted no time in rushing forward and whipping its tail down towards Zero's Xyz monster.
It was too late however, as the Vincent vanished just as it did last time and mysteriously appeared right in front of Yuri. The Fusion dragon still went forward with its attack though, and forced Zero to vault over to another platform. A sudden burst of wind knocked the revolutionary off course, and the teen missed his mark of a scuff of his black glove. Just as Zero thought he was doomed, the Guren came to the rescue once again. It extended its silver claw forward to catch its leader in its safe mechanical grasp.
Zero wasn't the only one forced to move however. Excepting the Knightmare Frame to break through somehow, Yuri tensed up and hurled himself over to another stone platform. The platform he was previously on being cut down and destroyed by the Vincent's MVS blade, and the separate pieces falling towards the Earth. Once the dust had settled the Vincent somehow returned to Zero's side of the field at seemingly light speed. Yuri grit his teeth in anger as he saw his current state of Life Points.
YURI LP- 2050 = 800
"Well then, that was a thrilling spectacle." Yuri spoke up. His demeanor returning to its usual cool and collected one. If with a hint of sadistic excitement. The teen once again readjusted his ruined purple uniform and brushed the dust off of his shoulders, though the heavy winds surrounding him did most of the work.
"This is going to end Yuri." Zero stated firmly. The masked man stepping onto another stone platform from the Guren 's silver claw. "This turn, it's all in or nothing."
Yuri gave a villainous smile. "I don't mind those terms, but we both know that I'm going to win."
"I sincerely doubt that, but let's finally find out for sure!" Zero pointed over towards Greedy Venom with one black gloved finger. The royal purple mark of geass being directed over to Yuri with that same arm. The messiah's cape blowing out to the side in an extravagant manner and completely showing off Zero's entire outfit. "Battle! I attack Greedy Venom Fusion Dragon with the Guren ! Rebellious Radiation Surge!"
The Guren leaped forward carefully on its nimble frame over towards the Fusion dragon. Zero turning around and jumping over to another platform, and then another, and another. Realizing what Zero was looking for, Yuri also sprung into action, and quickly jumped onto Greedy Venom before the dragon took off farther away from the Guren.
After a good distance, Yuri hopped off of his dragon and free fell onto a seperate platform that was closer to Zero. "I'm afraid I can't let you go after another one of those Action Cards, Zero." With that, the Academia soldier jumped onto the same platform Zero was on and swiped at him with his sword styled duel blade. Recognizing that this duel had also turned physical, Zero took one step back and lifted his own duel blade up to block the attack. Room was desperately lacking, and it was rather cramped on the floating stone with two almost fully grown teens on it.
Just as Yuri's blade was beginning to scratch Zero's mask, the revolutionary himself leaped backwards and into the waiting arms of the Mordred before speeding off. The Vincent coming in and blocking Yuri from intercepting Zero again, and stalling the Fusion user in moving to another stone platform at all.
Meanwhile, the Guren just barely missed grabbing ahold of Yuri's ace monster. One silver claw gouging and making a long deep tear into one of the dragon's legs. While Greedy Venom Fusion Dragon did screech in pain, the dragon kept its wits and stayed in the air where the Guren couldn't reach it. However, with each attempt and jump the Guren grew extremely closer and was quickly gaining ground.
"I activate the Action Card Flame Chain!" Zero yelled as he swiped a card stubbornly sticking onto the side of one of the stone platforms whilst being lowered from the Mordred. "Your monster loses 400 Attack Points!"
GREEDY VENOM FUSION DRAGON ATK:3300 = 2900
Greedy Venom's malicious glowing yellow eyes looked up and saw Yuri trapped by the sleek golden Knightmare Vincent. The Fusion dragon felt the power draining from him, and it was noticeable by the way the dragon slowly floated down towards the Guren's awaiting grasp. The red Devil of a machine leaped to a fro from different platforms in eager anticipation. The dragon roared down at the red painted Knightmare, before flying over towards his master, and sending multiple vines over towards the Vincent in retaliation. The Guren jumping up and swiping at Greedy Venom, but once again missing by a thread.
The fanged vines sunk their teeth into the Xyz monster's metal, and viciously tugged and threw the Vincent away from Yuri and farther away from the battle itself. Seeing his opportunity granted, Yuri jumped away from his platform towards another that had an Action Card stuck in the stone.
"Action Card Fire Crystal!" Yuri threw his arm forward towards Zero's moving frame. "You lose 600 Life Points!"
Fire suddenly ignited in a thin circle surrounding Zero's current platform. The masked vigilante almost running into the flames, and had to accidentally trip himself up and fall onto his side to prevent from being burned alive. The action damaging and making Zero's injured ankle once again flare to life with pain.
ZERO LP- 1050 = 450
Once the flames died down, both sides glared at each other before returning to the hunt. Greedy Venom no longer being able to fly high enough to escape the Guren, and the Devil's Right Hand was soon upon its weakened prey. It's main weapon, the silver claw, charged with dark red energy fluctuating wildly around the sleek metal.
Thinking quickly, Greedy Venom backed away and a bright pinkish purple light erupted behind the Fusion dragon's back to almost represent wings. The dragon threw its makeshift wings in front of itself like a shield, and the claw of the Guren slammed into the bright energy. The radiation crackled and popped loudly, but at the moment was temporarily stalled by the sheer energy being thrown into the pinkish light of Greedy Venom's wings.
However, it was clear that this stalemate wouldn't last forever as the Guren's claw began to sink into the energy unharmed slowly but surely.
Seeing this, Zero acted quickly and grabbed another Action Card that lay a few platforms ahead of where he first was. "Action Card! Flame Surge! My Guren gains 400 Atta-"
"Not quite Zero!" Yuri yelled, interrupting the masked man. Looking over his shoulder and to the right showed Yuri only two platforms away, and activating an Action Card of his own. "I activate the Action Card No Action! Your Action Card's effect is negated, and destroyed!" Zero watched as his Action Card burst into yellow particles right in his black gloved fingers.
"Damn." Zero swore with a click of his tongue, and looked left and right for another Action Card. The Guren about halfway through in penetrating Greedy Venom's makeshift shields.
His luck was taking a sour turn however, as Yuri found another Action Card before Zero could. The Fusion user doing a small roll on his platform before coming to a skidding stop in a crouch. "Next I activate the Action Card Flame Ball!" A giant fireball appeared beside Yuri, and the glowing magenta eyed teen directed its fury over towards Zero himself. "You take 200 Points of damage!"
Zero slipped on his injured ankle, but was able to quickly gather himself and bodily throw himself onto another stone platform just before the fire ball hit. The burning ball of flames obliterating the platform Zero was on just moments prior.
ZERO LP- 450 = 250
Not wasting a single second with banter and taunts, Zero gathered himself to his feet and continued searching for another Action Card. His breathing beginning to become rather labored as his body shook from exhaustion due to this 24 hour Battle Royale.
Both Zero and Yuri came to a screeching halt as their eyes slide to see a single Action Card in the middle of a stone platform. The card tauntingly showing itself in between the two fiercely clashing rivals, and only about two jumps away from both teens.
Masked violet eyes looked up to meet glowing magenta.
Zero and Yuri jumped towards the card with the same ferocious determination at the same time.
The Mordred and Vincent rushed over on their flight packs to try and block Yuri, but it would be too late.
The Guren was almost through Greedy Venom's defense. The dragon giving a low groan in tired, dizzying pain.
One black gloved hand reached out as far as it could reach, mimicking the other's own bare hand.
A hand brushed against the cardboard, feeling the texture in great detail, and keeping a steel grip on it. Even bending the card itself.
.
.
.
It was instantly met with opposition.
. . .
"I attack Fuffal Leo with Phantom Knights Break Sword!" Yuto's Xyz monster barreled down the the stone bridge, and rammed its broken sword into the cute stuffed lion. The lion was sadly in Defense Mode, and Sora took no damage from the attack.
Although judging from Sora's look, he wasn't too pleased with the outcome either way.
"I set one card and end my turn." Yuto finished. Grey eyes looked back over to scarlet. "I really hope you know what you're doing Yuya, because I sure don't… But I'll trust you and follow your lead."
Yuya gave a smile at Yuto's words. "Thanks Yuto. Really, I appreciate this."
Sora stuck out his tongue and made a gagging noise at the scene. "You just don't realize that dueling isn't meant for fun, do you?" The sky blue haired duelist put a hand on his deck. "Then I'll make you realize that winning is more important than friendship! My turn!" Sora drew his card. "Now then, I'll first activate the Continuous Spell Toy Vendor!" The teen raised one eyebrow towards Yuya. "I'm sure you remember this little card, because once per turn I can send a card from my hand to my Graveyard to draw one card! If that card is a Level 4 or below monster I get to summon it."
Sora raised one of the cards he held in his hand in the air. "With Toy Vendor's effect, I'll send the Fluffal Wings from my hand to the Graveyard to draw one card!" Sora drew another card, and looked at it with a smile as the Toy Vendor's arm cranked back to summon a monster. "The card I drew was Level 2 Fluffal Owl, and so I get to Special Summon it!" A single green and white ball rolled out of the machine, and popped open to release Fluffal Owl. The owl was small, and mostly yellow and brown while also having a pair of librarian glasses perched on its beck.
FLUFFAL OWL LV.2 ATK:1000 DEF:1000
"When this card is summoned or Special Summoned from my hand I can add the Spell Card Polymerization from my Deck to my hand!" Yuto grit his teeth at the familiar looking Fusion card. Sora once again looked up at his Toy Vendor. "Since I control Toy Vendor, I can activate Fluffal Wing's effect from my Graveyard! By Banishing two Fluffal Wings from my Graveyard, I can draw two cards!" Sora drew the two cards. "Then, by tributing Toy Vendor, I can draw one more!" The funky looking machine vanished in an array of yellow particles as Sora drew another card.
"Drawing three cards in one go?!" Yuya exclaimed at the move.
"Next I activate the Continuous Spell Edge Nightmare!" The card revealed itself and began to glow. "Once per turn, I can Special Summon one Level 4 or lower Edge Imp monster from my Graveyard!" A dark purple portal opened, and Edge Imp Saw returned to the field once again. "I summon Edge Imp Saw to the field once again!"
EDGE IMP SAW LV.3 ATK:500 DEF:1000
"Finally, I activate the Spell Card Polymerization!" The two figures on the field began to merge with an extra one from Sora's hand. "I fuse Edge Imp Saw, Fluffal Owl, and the Fluffal Bear from my hand!"
Yuto crouched down as the winds began to pick up in the cavern they were dueling in. "This is going to be a powerful Fusion Summon."
"Steel blades possessed by demons! Fangs of a beast! Eyes of the void! Become one in the mystic whirlpool and reveal to us your new form!" Sora chanted, and threw his arms together in front of himself in a fist. "I Fusion Summon!" A dark cyan and black striped beast began to appear on the field. Multiple metal scissors and sharp objects impaling and deforming the stuffed animal. "Come forth! Mystical beast of the jungle who tears all to shreds! Frightfur Tiger!" The wild green eyes of Frightfur Tiger rolled around in their sockets as the monster gave a wicked laugh.
FRIGHTFUR TIGER LV.6 ATK:1900 DEF:1200
"Oh, and Yuto." The Phantom Knights user blinked at Sora actually calling him by his real name, and successfully caught his attention. "This was the monster that beat your precious friend Shun Kurosaki." Sora grinned widely, and Firghtfur Tiger gave another round of cackles to solidify the statement.
"Snap out of it, Sora!" Yuya yelled. Watching as Yuto's stance stiffened and his aura shift dangerously from the corner of his scarlet red eyes at the news. "Didn't you teach Yuzu how to Fusion Summon out of friendship?" The reminder of Yuzu being in danger hurt the Pendulum user, but Yuya soon remembered that Gongenzaka ran to assist her alongside the Xyz rebels.
She was safe.
"That was unnecessary." Sora spoke calmly. Glad at finally getting a better rise out of Yuto. Who was gnashing at the bit to destroy Frightfur Tiger and avenge Shun's loss. Sora raised a hand up to his giggling monster. "Fusion Summoning is much more precious than that!" His acidic green eyes and crazed gaze focused on Yuya. The voice that spoke so reverently about Fusion Summoning becoming tainted with malice. "It has the power to make worlds one!"
Yuya shook his head. "Making the world's one through sheer power and force is wrong!"
"It's NOT WRONG!" Sora yelled back instantly. Denying what Yuya was saying almost before it left his lips. "I won't let you disrespect our goals and dreams so blatantly!"
"You say it's 'our' goals and dreams." Yuto pointed out. "So are they not your goals and dreams?" Sora snapped his mouth shut with a click, and unleashed a full glare in Yuto's direction.
"Just because it's what Academia wants doesn't mean they have to be your goals and dreams as well! You don't have to be forced into doing what Academia, what the Professor wants! You can finally try and be your own self, your own person!"
"Shut up already!" Sora yelled again and shook his head side to side frantically. "Stop trying to 'save me' and 'help me' when I obviously don't want it!" Sora pointed up to his new Fusion monster once more. "Frightfur Tiger can destroy one card my opponent controls for each Fusion Material used in this card's Fusion Summon!" Sora swerved his eyes over towards Yuya's Pendulum Zones. "I'll take out your Pendulum Zones and that damned Xyz monster of Yuto's!"
Frightfur Tiger gave a full blown maniacal laugh as the giant scissors in its chest extended to engulf those said monsters. Break Sword's horse bucked onto its hind legs and gave one last neigh, before it was brutally cut in half alongside Yuya's Pendulum Zone magicians.
"Frightfur Tiger's Attack is also increased by 300 for every Fluffal or Frightfur monster I control!" The stuffed tiger brandished its claws and continued to laugh.
FRIGHTFUR TIGER ATK:1900 = 2200
Both Yuto and Yuya's eyes widened as Sora's scorn and wrath turned to Yuto's empty field. "Battle! I attack Yuto directly with Frightfur Tiger!"
The tiger lunged with its clawed paws outstretched, but thankfully Yuto had a back up plan. "I activate Break Sword's effect!" Yuto threw a hand forward and braved Frightfur Tiger's incoming attack. "When Break Sword leaves the field I can Special Summon its Xyz Materials as Level 4 monsters!" The two Phantom Knights rose from the shadowy depths of the Graveyard to protect their master.
PHANTOM KNIGHTS DUSTY ROBES LV.3 ATK:800 DEF:1000
PHANTOM KNIGHTS SILENT BOOTS LV.3 ATK:200 DEF:1200
PHANTOM KNIGHTS DUSTY ROBES LV.3 = 4
PHANTOM KNIGHTS SILENT BOOTS LV.3 = 4
Sora scowled, before pointing towards Silent Boots. "Then I'll just destroy Silent Boots! Go Frightfur Tiger!" The animalistic monster veered sharply towards Silent Boots, and engulfed Yuto's monster in one whole bite. The act sending Yuto flying onto his back from the force and making a pained scream escape his lips.
"Yuto!"
YUTO LP- 2700 = 700
"There we go." Sora spoke, much calmer than he was moments prior. "I set two cards and end my turn."
"Yuto! Are you alright!" yuya asked frantically.
Yuto sat up, one eye closed at the pain, but it wasn't so bad. "I'm fine."
"Was that a clear enough answer for you both?" Sora answered rhetorically. A happy smile on his face once more as he popped another sucker in his mouth and disposed of the leftover stick from the other one.
"Why did you change this much?!" Yuya asked, bewildered. "You used to be so straightforward and light hearted! What would everyone think if they saw you like this! What about Principal Shuzo!? Allie, Tate, and Frederick? What about Yuzu and Gongenzaka? What do you think Lelouch would think of this!? This isn't the real you!"" Yuya's eyebrows furrowed as he spoke emotionally.
"This is what Academia does to its people. To those that come in contact with such a poison." Yuto growled as he stood up and lifted his duel disk.
"This is who I really am!" Sora yelled back at Yuto's words. "Academia is my home! I became who I am now from my own decisions and actions! I'm a Dueling Warrior of Academia!"
"To hell with Academia!" Yuya spat irritably. The times of being with Sora flashing through his mind. That was the real Sora he knew was still there. "My turn!" Yuya drew, and began his turn. "I Summon Performapal Skeeter Skimmer in Attack Mode!" A water spider of sorts that was blue and orange drifted onto the field.
PERFORMAPAL SKEETER SKIMMER LV.4 ATK:500 DEF:1600
Yuya slammed a card down onto his duel blade. "I play the Spell card Monster Mirage! This allows me to change the Levels and attributes of one of my monsters to match another on the field." Yuya looked over to his most recently summoned monster. "I choose to change Skeeter Skimmer's Level from 4 to 7, and his attribute is changed into a Dragon type."
"What's this?" Sora raised an eyebrow.
"Now I use my Level 7 Sketter Skimmer and Level 7 Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon to build the Overlay Network!" Both Yuto's and Sora's eyes widened at the move, and watched as the two monsters began to merge together to form one beast. That familiar demonic beast that looked nothing like Yuya's normally happy and energetic monsters. "Awaken from the depths of your apocalyptic Underworld in which you reside in. Burn your opponent's with your fire!" Yuya hollered. "I Xyz Summon! Come forth! Rank 7! Odd-Eyes Hellfire Dragon!"
Yuya's newest most rose from its vortex to give a deep toned roar once more. It's barbed tail swinging to and fro in an erratic manner that peppered the ground with small amounts of acid. The heat within the cavern growing twice as intense, and the lava below them bubbled and shifting faster than before.
ODD-EYES HELLFIRE DRAGON RNK.7 ORB.2 ATK:3000 DEF:2800
"T-This monster." Yuto gaped at the sheer monstrosity of Yuya's new Xyz monster. To be frank, Yuto didn't even realize Yuya HAD a monster like this in his Deck. It just looked so dark, and much too aggressive and frightening for Yuya's Deck other monsters.
Yet, Yuto almost seemed to remember this monster from somewhere… Was this the dragon that made him almost go berserk back in the hotel?
It certainly had a familiar oppressive air to it.
Yuya zeroed his scarlet eyes from Hellfire Dragon towards Sora. "Don't you know what Academia did to the Xyz Dimension?" Yuto blinked once again at where Yuya was going with this conversation. "Heartland. A peaceful city, one overflowing with smiles." Yuya's scarlet red eyes widened as if he had seen Heartland's atrocious state himself. "Your people trampled over it!"
Odd-Eyes Hellfire Dragon roared at Yuya's words. Sora throwing a hand out to the side carelessly at Yuya and his monster's actions. "It had to be done." Sora reasoned. "It's all for making the worlds one!"
"What's the point of trying to make this paradise you preach about if there's no one left in the world to enjoy it!" Yuto yelled back, taking a threatening step forward in his anger. "No this paradise you people want will be made for only you and you people alone! You don't give a damn about the rest of the Dimensions!" Yuto ground his teeth harshly. "You people don't have that authority." He hissed.
"I activate Odd-Eyes Hellfire Dragon's effect!" Yuya continued with the duel and threw his arm up towards his new dragon. Hellfire smacking his tail on a stone platform and bringing it down in his excitement. "By using one Orbital, Hellfire can destroy one monster on my opponent's side of the field, and gain that monster's Attack Points! Go! Acidic Punishment!" The Odd-Eyes variant gobbled up its Orbital, and quickly sprayed a wave of acid from its tail over to Frightfur Tiger.
ODD-EYES HELLFIRE DRAGON ORB.2 = 1
"Remember Sora! Remember who you really were!" Yuya yelled as the acid was about to make its mark.
"You stubborn idiot!" Sora spat. "I keep telling you that this is the real me!" Sora activated one of his facedowns. "I activate the Trap Card Frightfur March!" A light blue, hexagonal shield formed around Sora and his Fusion monster, protecting both from Hellfire's acid. "When a Frightfur Fusion monster is targeted by an opponent's monster effect, I can negate that effect. Then, I can send a Frightfur monster with the same Level as the targeted monster from my Extra Deck to my Graveyard!" Sora choose Frightfur Bear, and sent it to the Graveyard.
Frightfur Tiger pushed back against the barrier, and threw the acid over into the lava river. Odd-Eyes Hellfire Dragon crying out at its lost kill in anger, and roared over at the Fusion monster angrily.
"Finally, I can Special Summon a Frightfur monster from my Extra Deck that lists the targeted monster as Fusion Material, treating it as a Fusion Summon!" Frightfur Tiger suddenly duplicated itself, but this monster's color turned darker, and it began to transform into another beast. This Frightfur monster's color turning a deep purple with black stripes, and stood on all four of its deformed legs.
"Damn!" Yuya and Yuto swore together at the gruesome sight.
"Come forth!" Sora continued. "Wild beast of the Devil's nest. Bare your fangs at all! Frightfur Saber Tiger!" This Fusion monster had multiple knives stabbing into its body and pointing out. The monster had wild pinkish eyes that bobbled around in their sockets with every movement, and large teeth barred towards Yuya and Yuto threateningly.
FRIGHTFUR SABER TIGER LV.8 ATK:2400 DEF:2000
"When this card is Fusion Summoned. I can Special Summon one Frightfur monster from my Graveyard, ignoring its Summoning conditions!" That familiar pink fur rose from Sora's Graveyard to brandish the huge scissors imbedded in its chest. "Come forth! Horrifying beast that shreds all! Frightfur Bear!"
FRIGHTFUR BEAR LV.6 ATK:2200 DEF:1800
Both counterparts watched as Sora's field increased from one Frightfur monster to three almost instantaneously. "As long as Frightfur Tiger is face up. The Attack Points of all Frightfur monsters is increased by 300 for each Fluffal or Frightfur monster on the field!" All three Fusion monsters gave a loud, deafening cackle together at the same time. The sound reverberating off of the cavern walls and seemingly coming from every direction.
FRIGHTFUR TIGER ATK:2200 = 2800
FRIGHTFUR SABER TIGER ATK:2400 = 3300
FRIGHTFUR BEAR ATK:2200 = 3100
"Then, as long as Frightfur Saber Tiger is face up. The Attack Points of all Frightfur monsters is increased by 400 for each Fluffal or Frightfur monster on the field!" Yuto and Yuya had to cover their ears as the loud wicked cackles and laughter deafened their sense of hearing.
FRIGHTFUR TIGER ATK:2800 = 4000
FRIGHTFUR SABER TIGER ATK:3300 = 4500
FRIGHTFUR BEAR ATK:3100 = 4300
Yuto jumped up and grabbed an Action Card hiding on the side of a stalactite. "Damn it!" Yuto swore once again as he saw the Action Card would do him no good at the moment. "Not with this!"
Yuya stayed where he was, and showed two Pendulum Cards from between his fingers. "Fine then, I guess I will-" The tomato haired teen cut himself off and took a deep breath, and continued. His inner demons trying to push forward, but failed to overwhelm the Pendulum user. "Using Scale 3 Destruction Magician and Scale 8 Creation Magician, I set the Pendulum Scale!" Yuya's two Pendulum monsters he used during his time going berserk against Obelisk Force rose up into their separate pillars. "With this, I am able to simultaneously summon monsters between Levels 4 and 7!" Yuya raised one hand up towards the opening portal. "Sway, Pendulum of my soul! Draw an arc of light across the ether! I Pendulum Summon!" Yuya's ace dragon dropped down from the portal with a loud boom and roar. A second monster also dropping down from the portal. "Come forth! Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon!"
ODD-EYES PENDULUM DRAGON LV.7 ATK:2500 DEF:2000
"And Performapal Secondonkey!" This new Pendulum monster had dark lavender fur and a saddle tied around its back.
PERFORMAPAL SECONDONKEY LV.4 ATK:1000 DEF:2000
"Odd-Eyes again?" Sora grumbled, puzzled by Yuya's actions before tipping his head to the side. "Pendulum monsters are sent to the Extra Deck instead of the Graveyard when destroyed." Sora smiled. "I got done in by that last time!"
Yuya ignored Sora's comments and looked over to Yuto. "I set one card down and end my turn."
Yuto's eyes widened at Yuya's statement, not understanding what he was wanting. "Yuya, what are you doing?"
"I'm giving you a chance to help finish this." Yuya responded, and nudged his head over to Secondonkey and the now Level 4 Phantom Knights Dusty Robes.
Yuto's grey eyes flickered with understanding. "I get it… Alright then." With his mouth set in a firm scowl, Yuto took his turn and drew a card. "My turn!" Yuto then threw his arm towards the two Level 4 monsters. "I use the now Level 4 Phantom Knights Dusty Robes and Level 4 Secondonkey to build the Overlay Network!" Yuto's own ace monster crawled through the Xyz vortex, and began to stretch its wings and flew its claws. "Fangs of pitch black darkness! Rise up against the foolish oppression! I Xyz Summon!" Dark Rebellion flapped its electrified wings once, and gave a loud hiss that match Odd-Eyes' own intense roar. "Come forth! Rank 4! Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon!"
The two dragons roared together as one, and Yuto had to scrunch his eyes up and shake his head to get rid of the looming darkness hovering over his soul.
Yuya wasn't much different, but he was able to break out of the darkness faster. "I activate Destruction Magician's Pendulum effect! Once per turn, I can target one Xyz monster to have it gain a Level equal to its Rank!" Bright fiery lights swirled together in front of Destruction Magician to form a pentagram of sorts, before the fire redirected its aim at Dark Rebellion. The blue fire shadowing the dark dragon in even more darkness and making it look much more intimidating. "I grant the Rank 4 Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon a Level of 4!"
DARK REBELLION XYZ DRAGON RNK. = LV.
Dark Rebellion hissed in gratitude, and beat its purple electrified wings once. "Giving an Xyz monster a Level?!" The sucker in Sora's mouth fell out and into the lava from the Academia soldier's jaw dropped expression.
Yuya continued. "Next, I activate Creation Magician's Pendulum effect!" The female magician notched an arrow into her bow, and aimed towards Dark Rebellion. "Once per turn, I can target a monster to make it the same Level as another monster!" Creation Magician fired her arrow, and a huge pink field engulfed both Dark Rebellion and Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon. "I make Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon's Level the Same as Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon's! Level 7!"
DARK REBELLION XYZ DRAGON LV.4 = 7
"Now he has two Level 7 monsters…." Sora's green eyes widened in shock, and a drop of sweat ran down the side of his face.
Yuya turned his scarlet eyes back to Yuto, and gave one firm nod. "Do it, Yuto! I believe in you! The you who spoke of duels with smiles to me! I trust you to finish this!"
"Right." Yuto nodded, and looked over at Sora. "I'll prove to you my friendship and promise by bringing back Sora's smile with this duel!" Yuto threw a card onto his duel disk. "I activate the Spell Card Xyz Repeat! This allows me to perform another Xyz Summon!" Yuto held onto his chest, and took a deep, relaxing breath. Once he finished calming down, Yuto then threw his arm into the air. "I Overlay my Level 7 Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon and Yuya's Level 7 Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon to build the Overlay Network!"
The two dragon's roared as one, and leaped into the golden swirling vortex waiting for them above the molten lava river. An even bigger dragon that rivaled Hellfire's size burst free from the gates restricting it in the Xyz world. The beast looping around the duel with its erratic purple lightning and dual colored eyes.
"Dragon of dual colored eyes. Eradicate all enemies who oppose you with your scale of wrath!" Yuto's hair waved in the powerful winds that brushed up stray rocks, dust, and even stirred the lava bellow. "I Xyz Summon!" Yuya's Pendulum shined as brightly as a star while this dragon's purple orbs glowed like a supernova. The crackling electricity making all three teen's ears pop from the sheer ferocity. "Rank 7! Dragon with eyes of rage!" The Xyz dragon did one last spin, before spreading its mechanical wings widely and stopping in front of Yuto and Yuya. A wave of purple lightning lashing out in multiple directions and a loud boom sounding out from the cavern at this monster's strength "Odd-Eyes Rebellion Dragon!" Rebellion Dragon's roar was loud and booming enough to make multiple stone platforms and stalactites fall into the sloshing lava.
ODD-EYES REBELLION DRAGON RNK.7 ORB.2 ATK:3000 DEF:2500
Pictures of a battle he didn't remember flashed before his eyes, and suddenly Yuto instinctively knew what to do. "When Odd-Eyes Rebellion Dragon is Summoned using Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon being treated as a Level 7. It can destroy all of my opponent's Level 7 and under monsters, and deal damage equal to their Attack!" The purple orb on Rebellion's forehead glowed, and Odd-Eyes Rebellion Dragon gave a deep howl that sent purple soundwaves over to Sora's monsters. Frightfur Bear and Frightfur Tiger gave maddening laughs till the bitter end as they were destroyed. However, Frightfur Saber Tiger still remained strong and steadfast.
Sora held one arm above his head at the fierce winds directed his way. "I activate the Continuous Trap Card Fusion Front Base!" Smoke erupted from Sora's position, and the wild energy that threatened to cause Sora's defeat dissipated in the air. "As long as I control a Fusion monster I negate all effect damage!" The smoke thinned enough to show a blue sphere surrounding Sora. "Since Frightfur Tiger has left the field, its effect ends, and Saber Tiger's Attack decreases due to fewer Frightfur monsters on the field.
FRIGHTFUR SABER TIGER ATK:4500 = 2800
"Yuya!"
"Yuto!"
The two boys looked up and to the side to see the rest of their friends and allies making their way into the cave. Gongenzaka calling out for Yuya, while Ruri and Shun called for Yuto.
Gongenzaka's eyes widened at the sight of Yuto's dragon. "That dragon-!"
Serena's eyes went over towards Sora, and noticed the teen's crazed and disheveled appearance. Meanwhile, Sylvio was watching the duel with amazed and awe inspired eyes whie Yuya pondered how he got here in the first place.
All pondering thoughts were thrown out of the metaphorical window as Sora began to laugh. His acidic emerald green eyes looking at Odd-Eyes Rebellion Dragon. "This is fun! This is really fun, Yuya! Yuto! An Xyz Pendulum monster?!" Sora threw himself into a fit of laughter and shrugged one arm. His eyes never leaving the dragon or the two people responsible for creating said beast. "THIS is why Duels with you are always so exciting!"
"That's right!"
Sora blinked, his insane demeanor coming down a notch as Yuya spoke. "Duels are fun! So… Please!" Yuya looked over at Sora one last time, emotional scarlet eyes flickering and pooling in the rush of energy and feelings. "Please stop fighting!"
Sora's face soured with a frown, and receiving no reply was Yuya's final response. However, Sora's emerald eyes flickered with something that Yuya couldn't identify.
Yuto heaved a tired sigh with closed eyes. "This is it then…" Grey eyes snapped open to look right at Sora while raising one arm up to Odd-Eyes Rebellion Dragon. "I activate Odd-Eyes Rebellion Dragon's effect!" Rebellion Dragon razed the Orbital with its sharp mandibles, and gave a loud roar once again that affected everyone's hearing. "By using one Orbital, it can attack as many times as the amount of monsters destroyed this turn!"
Purple lightning sprouted from the four sections of its mechanical wings, and made an intricate pattern with the bright light. Lightning, sounds, thunder, and fire hot energy scattered everywhere in the winds of the cavern as Odd-Eyes Rebellion Dragon flapped its wings.
"Battle!" Yuto yelled, and pointed over towards Sora and his sole remaining Fusion monster. The Xyz rebel's cape rippling in the wind in a wild, savage manner alongside his hair. "I attack Saber Tiger with Odd-Eyes Rebellion Dragon!"
As soon as Odd-Eyes Rebellion Dragon began to fly forwards, Sora made his move. "I activate the Action Card Flame Chain! I decrease the Attack of your monster by 400!"
ODD-EYES REBELLION DRAGON ATK:3000 = 2600
Odd-Eyes Rebellion Dragon began to tear up the stone ceiling and stalactites with its steel mandibles. Headless of anything that stood in its way. The only thing on its determined mind was the destruction of Frightfur Saber Tiger.
Yuto responded in kind. "Not quite! I activate the Action Card Flame Power! I increase the Attack Points of Odd-Eyes Rebellion Dragon by 400 for the rest of this turn!" Said dragon beat its wings to fly faster as it gained power. Electricity cackling at the motion.
ODD-EYES REBELLION DRAGON ATK:2600 = 3000
Sora grit his teeth, and jumped onto a stone platform. Yuto and Yuya following the action and splitting up. Odd-Eyes Rebellion Dragon was surging forward, and quickly coming towards Frightfur Saber like an incoming missile or bomb.
All three boys set their sights on a single Action Card hanging from a single stalactite. The Xyz rebel, Fusion soldier, and Pendulum duelist all jumping up and extending their arms towards the Action Card for all their worth.
"I got it!"
"That's mine!"
"Almost there!"
Odd-Eyes Rebellion Dragon slashed its mandibles. Purple light streaking behind them-
'BRIIIIINNNNNGGG!'
The Action Card burst into white particles, and slipped through all three's grasp.
"What?!"
"Not now!"
"No way!"
Yuya and Yuto did a quick roll onto the ground to ease their fall, and turned back towards Sora instantly. Sora himself twisted his body to land on his own two feet while facing his two opponents and skidding to a halt.
Everyone gaped down at the bright white light shining from underneath their feet, and watched as the field began to dissipate into yellow particles.
The Action Field was vanishing, and instead being replaced with Miami City once more.
"The Battle Royale is over!" The voice of Nico Smiley echoed out from around the entire city.
IT IS DONE! The Battle Royale is OVER! Yeahhahahahha~!
This entire chapter is approximately 53 pages long and 22,000 words! That's the most I've done throughout this entire story! Yes! Man I feel so proud of myself, and I've certainly come an outstanding ways when it came to Zero and Yuri's duel! The only thing I'm really worried about is if I strayed from Yuri's character. Zero himself is much more emotional than he is in Code Geass. But oh well, I'm happy having him like this. From the one in Chapter 6 to this one now. Such a major improvement that I smile upon.
Then again there's also the fact that I enjoyed writing Yuri and Zero having their duel in the sky.
The sky… The Battle Royale is over… Oh boy.
Yuto, Yuya, and Sora dueled underground, everyone else and Obelisk Force dueled above ground, and so Zero and Yuri dueled above them. It's like three different levels of combat all happening at the same time! What details! What scenarios! What great excitement and fun!
Onto other things though, one being Sora. His Dueling combos are scary! I rewatched some of the episodes and I literally felt chills down my spine when he summoned two more Frightfur monsters and increased their attack to over 4000! That's freaking terrifying man! Remind me to never get on his bad side.
Also, if you see any mistakes in the story please tell me. Spelling, grammer, all of the above! I spell check this entire story and reread it at least twice and I STILL miss some things, but that's probably because I'm only human. So if you guys see something, review or PM me and tell where it generally is so that I can find and fix it. If you just tell me there are mistakes and I reread the entire chapter, I'll probably skip over it again since it's managed to elude me for so long and make it into the post. Also, once the entire story is done I'll go through it again and reread it myself.
But otherwise that's it for Chapter 26! Leave a REVIEW, favorite, or follow!
Chapter 27 will be dealing with the dreaded aftermath of the Battle Royale. Until then! -MoonlightWright
