Heartland Tower: Hallway, Night…

Kite was pushing Lulu around in a wheelchair as her unique sickness had stripped her of the ability to walk for the time being.

"Kite, where are we going?" Lulu asked as he had just come got her.

Honestly, she was feeling quite bored. There were only so many times you could read the books in your room or go through the deck you practically never used. She had considered going to see Hart when Kite had shown up.

Kite smiled. "We're almost there. Shay and I spent a long time putting this together, and you wouldn't want to ruin the surprise, would you?"

Lulu crossed her arms a little annoyed. "I guess not."

Kite opened a door and pushed her inside to reveal a room outfitted to look like a nice café. It had a single table, machinery expected to be in such a place, and Orbital who stood behind a counter working as a barista.

Lulu smiled. "This is…"

Kite nodded. "It's a recreation of that café you visited when the rules were more relaxed and your sickness more predictable. Shay and I decided that since you couldn't go there, we'd bring it here."

He pushed her up to the table and pulled out one of the two chairs. Lulu, who had more than enough practice, got herself into the chair. Kite then pushed her in and sat across from her as Orbital came over with two lattes.

"Master Kite and Mistress Lulu, welcome to the Tower Café." Orbital set the trey down. "Please, enjoy these lattes."

"Thank you, Orbital." Lulu smiled. "It's sweet you're helping even though Kite ordered you into this."

Orbital said, "It is my pleasure to take orders Mistress Lulu, and I would never refuse an order from Master Kite or Shay."

"That's enough Orbital." Kite declared. "Get started on the pastries."

"Yes, sir Master Kite." Orbital stated diligently before moving to the counter.

"Kite, I wish you'd treat Orbital a little better. He's always doing his best to please you and Shay." Lulu stated.

"I'll keep that in mind." Kite took a drink from the latte. "For now, let's enjoy the atmosphere."

Top of the Tower

Hart Tenjo laid in what he perceived to be a bed outside. He was at a cabin in the middle of a beautiful landscape with a tree close to the cabin that had blossoms falling and a swing hanging from it. Shay sat next to his bed and held out a mug of hot chocolate.

"Hey Hart." Shay stated with a smile. "I made you some hot chocolate."

Hart just continued staring at the sky above. "Where are we?"

"Think back Hart. You and Kite used to live here for a good while before Lulu and I joined your family. We all had fun here." Shay tried to remind him.

"All that happened?" Hart struggled to bring those memories to mind. "I can't remember."

"I guarantee it's true." Shay stated, "You were always so happy. Nothing could bring you down."

At that moment, the augmented reality stopped as Mr. Heartland himself came up through the elevator. "Sorry to interrupt this brotherly moment, but it's time for Hart to get back to work."

"He needs rest." Shay stood up and clenched his fist. "You've been pushing him to hard."

Heartland pushed his glasses up. "I'm sorry, but Dr. Faker insists."

Shay's hand clenched tighter causing his knuckles to turn white.

Before he could speak, Hart was already getting out of bed. "This mission is far too important for me to rest."

Shay looked at his brother concerned. "Hart…"

"Don't worry about me." Hart looked back. "I'm the only one with the power to save our world. I want to do whatever I can to help."

Shay's fist unclenched, and he sighed as Heartland and Hart walked to the elevator. "Before I leave Shay, allow me to make a recommendation. If you want Hart to get better, you and Kite should get searching for those Numbers."

Yuma's Room, Next Night…

Lance and Yuma were ready to go to bed when Astral decided to tell them about the full-sized air ship inside Yuma's pendent.

"That's amazing." Yuma looked at his key. "Man, that must be a tight squeeze to fit a whole air ship in here.

Lance was contemplating it. "So, an airship that is like a puzzle and linked to the Numbers. Curiouser and curiouser."

Warehouse

Kite and Shane entered a room in which they found Orbital working at a computer.

"Get it in gear Orbital. We're going Number hunting again." Kite declared.

"I haven't detected any new Numbers masters, but there is something of interest." Orbital brought up pictures of Yuma and Lance. "I noticed something during Master Kite's duel. These boys are wearing strange pendants, and the analysis was just complete."

"What does it say?" Kite asked.

"Yuma's pendent is not of this world while Lance's, despite being of this world, shares a similar energy." Orbital explained.

Shay looked to Kite. "You think that could have something to do with this Original Number Dr. Faker spoke of?"

Kite crossed his arms. "Orbital, dig up all the information you can on those two. I want them located and to know everything about them. Don't make me ask you twice."

He walked away with Shay.

Heartland Academy: Storage Room, Next Day…

Currently, Lance, Yuma, Tori, and Mr. Kay were cleaning a dusty storage room with all kinds of school stuff littered about. Mr. Kay had asked Lance for his help, and since the guy helped him, he agreed. He roped Tori and Yuma into it as well since having them around made it more fun.

It was, but the Syllable duelist wasn't particularly thrilled. "Why am I doing this instead of swim class?" Yuma asked as he set a box on the metal racks. "I really wanted to beat my record for swimming under water."

"Come on Yuma." Lance stated. "We're doing something nice for Mr. Kay." Lance stated.

Tori nodded as she swept. "Yeah, it feels good helping out."

"I appreciate your help." Mr. Kay added, "This old room has needed a cleaning for some time."

Lance opened the recently cleaned windows to air the room out. "If you want to get into it, then think of this as a challenge to overcome. When there's a challenge, you know how to get excited to complete it."

Yuma smiled. "Alright, I'm feeling the flow now."

Second Floor: Outside

Shark was out here thinking about how he's changed since Rio's accident when he noticed something peculiar. An upside-down trash can was moving across the grounds. He decided to check it out and stepped back inside.

With the Trashcan

Orbital lifted the trash can just enough for him to scan the area. He soon locked onto the pendant bearers as they stood beside an open window on the second floor. Yuma and Lance had just finished moving matts nearby and were working to straighten them.

"What luck." Orbital thought.

He moved to the window and extended his arms up to their level before pinching the cords around their necks. They broke, and he kept ahold of them as he quickly retracted his arms. The robot then tied the cords and high tailed it out of there.

Storage Room

"Hey, something just stole our pendants!" Yuma exclaimed.

Lance looked outside only to see the receding trash can. "We need to move now."

Lance and Yuma ran to the door as Tori bowed to Mr. Kay. "Sorry, but something just came up."

She ran after them leaving a bewildered teacher behind.

School Grounds

The three students came out the entrance and frantically looked around; however, they didn't spot anything suspicious.

"Let's split up and track down the key thief." Lance looked at his friends. "If you can get the keys, do. If not, contact the others immediately."

Tori and Yuma nodded. "Right."

The group split up.

Around a Wall

Orbital watched as Yuma, Lance, and Tori scattered. He was all too relieved when the three of them didn't come near his current hiding spot. He thought he was in the clear, so he held both pendants up.

"That was too easy." Orbital declared.

Shark came in and snatched both pendants from him. "These don't belong to you."

"I was just borrowing them from my good buds Yuma and Lance." Orbital began jumping up and down. "Give them back."

"You're a lying piece of garbage." Shark kicked Orbital away.

This was nowhere near enough to put Orbital down. "That was a big mistake." He began to shift into a much larger, deadlier robot. "I may look puny, but I pack many dangerous surprises. Now hand those over shorty."

Shark put the pendants around his neck. "I got another idea tin man. If you want them, try to keep up."

He sprinted away from Orbital causing the robot to give chase.

Heartland Academy

Tori come out from around the corner before spotting Shark as well as both pendants around his neck and the large robot chasing him. "Shark, what's going on!?"

"Just run!" The Shark duelist pushed her getting the girl to move. "That crazy robot is after the pendants. When I give the signal, you break off. He's not after you."

"No, but he might be when I do this." Tori snatched Yuma's pendent and sprinted to the left heading off down a different path.

Shark skid to a halt. "Stupid girl."

Orbital had stopped and was currently looking from Shark to the receding Tori.

Shark removed his shoes and threw them at him. "Hey, tall, ugly, and stupid!" He showed Lance's pendent. "I'm the one you want! What, you can't keep up, so you're going to chase a girl instead?"

Orbital because furious. "I'm going to enjoy drilling into you."

Shark sprinted onward once more as Orbital continued to chase him. The Shark user took a hard right only to realize he'd been caught between a section of the school with the only way out blocked by Orbital.

The robot was down with this. "I want that pendent!"

He thrust the drill at Shark's only for Kite stop him. "That's enough Orbital." The drill stopped inches from the Shark user's face. "Shay and I did not authorize an attack."

Orbital returned to his normal form. "I never get to have any fun."

Kite focused on Shark. "Why don't you do yourself a favor and hand that pendent to me?"

"Not a chance." Shark did not remove the pendant from around his neck. "This isn't yours, and it won't be if I have anything to say about it."

"I'm well aware who owns both pendants." Kite declared. "These Number cards have drawn interest from my brother and I."

"So, you're one of those Number Hunters I've heard about." Shark stated. "If you want a Number, I have one, so let's settle this with a duel. I win, you leave. You win, I give up my Number and pendent."

"Exactly what I was thinking." Kite stated. "Photon Transformation go!"

Shark looked at the pendent. "I was heading for serious trouble before Lance pulled me back. He also saved my sister from that Dark Magic. Winning this duel will be a start to paying him back." He stared Kite down. "Bring it on Number Hunter!"

With Tori

Tori had put Yuma's pendant around her neck and stopped to take a breather at the sports field only for a red tether to ensnare her wrist and disappear.

She was looked forward and saw Shay standing before her. "In my experience, people who run like you did aren't inclined to give up what I'm looking for without a fight, so I decided to get down to business. I'll be taking that pendant, any Number you may have, and your soul."

Tori stared the Number Hunter down. "That's a rude way to treat a lady, but you are right." She pointed to the pendant. "If it's a duel you want, I'll give it to you."

"If anything, I can respect your bravery." Shay declared. "Photon Transformation go!"

Tori took a calming breath. "Yuma, I'm not backing down from this duel. I'm going to protect this pendant for you because I know how much it means to you." She was determined to win. "Let's do this!"

Kite vs Shark

D-pad go

Duel Gazer on

Augmented vision link established

(Shark 4000/Kite 4000)

"I got to say Hunter, your appearance is fortunate because now I can test my new deck." Shark declared. "I summon Big Jaws(LV 4/1800/300)." A blue shark with a big jaw filled with teeth appeared.

"Since a Fish monster was summoned, I can special summon Shark Stickers(LV 3/200/1000)." A long, blue fish with suctions cups on its head appeared. "Now I overlay my two level three monsters to build the overlay network.

Xyz summon Submersible Carrier Aero Shark(R 3/O 2/1900/1000)." Two sharks bound by an orange piece of equipment appeared. "I then activate Overlay Reward. I choose an Xyz monster on the field and get to draw cards equal to its overlays.

My shark is the only Xyz on the field meaning I get two more cards. I'll now detach one of his overlay units to deal you 400 life points per cards in my hand. With 4 cards, that's 1600 damage. (Shark 4000/Kite 2400). I'll then set one card."

"Master Kite, are you alright?" Orbital asked worriedly.

"I'm fine you bucket of bolts." Kite stared Shark down. "Thanks to that turn, I now know I can't underestimate this opponent." He drew. "Since you control a monster summoned from the extra deck, I can special summon Cipher Twin Raptor(LV 4/1600/800)."

A machine raptor appeared on Kite's field. "If I control a Cipher monster, I can special summon Cipher Wing(LV 4/1400/1200)x2. In fact, I do so twice." A gold circle with six wings appeared. "By tributing one, I can increase the level of the remaining Cipher monsters by four.

Before I go any further, I activate Galaxy Wave. Now, every time I Xyz summon, you take 500 life points. I overly my two level eight monsters. Xyz summon Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon(R 8/O 2/3000/2500)." A colorful Galaxy-Eyes appeared (Shark 3500/Kite 2400).

"That's not good." Shark stated.

"It's about to get worse." Kite declared. "I reconstruct the overlay network with my Cipher dragon to Xyz summon Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Blade Dragon(R 9/O 3/3200/2800)." A more menacing dragon with red on it appeared (Shark 3000/Kite 2400)

"I'll be taking a page from your book by activating Overlay Reward allowing me to draw three cards thanks to Cipher Dragon. I then detaching an overlay from Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Blade Dragon(R 9/O 2/3200/2800) to destroy a card on your field. I'll pick that face down." There went Full Armored Xyz. "Blade Dragon will destroy Aero Shark (Shark 1700/Kite 2400)."

"This duel is far from over." Shark drew. "I summon Royal Swamp Eel(LV 4/1700/1200)." A long, white eel with jewels in its body appeared. "Since I control a Water monster, I can special summon Silent Angler(LV 4/800/1400)."

A brown and white angler fish appeared. "I use my Eel to tune my Angler and synchro for 8. Synchro summon White Aura Whale(LV 8/2800/2000)." A large, white whale appeared. "When he is synchro summoned, I can destroy all your ATK position monsters."

"When Cipher Blade Dragon is destroyed, I can target a Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon(R 8/O 2/3000/2500) from my grave and special summon him." Kite declared.

"Then, I'll activate the spell Aqua Jet granting my White Aura Whale(LV 8/3800/2000 effect) a 1000 ATK boost." He'll destroy your dragon (Shark 1700/Kite 1600)."

"It's time to put an end to this duel." Kite drew. "I summon Photon Chargeman(LV 4/1000/1000)." A blue body suited warrior with silver armor over top appeared. "Once per turn, I can double his ATK until my next stand-by phase.

Since a Photon monster is on the field, I can special summon Photon Advancer(LV 4/1000/1000)." A warrior decked out in white, gold, and red armor appeared. "When another Photon monster is on the field, he gains 1000 ATK.

This gives me the two monsters with at least 2000 ATK needed to special summon Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon(LV 8/3000/2500)." A purple and galaxy blue dragon appeared. "With him on the field, I can activate Photon Stream of Destruction to banish your monster."

Shark opened his eyes wide because his face down was useless as was his Synchro's ability to return from the grave.

He took a step back in shock. "Oh no."

With Lance

Lance suddenly stopped as he noticed a certain dragon descending from the sky before being obscured by the building. "Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon!? Kites here!"

He took off running towards the direction of the dragon. His pendant had been completely shoved from his mind for the time being.

Back with Shark vs Kite

"Think. There must be some way to survive. Think." Shark stated while frantically thinking.

"This duel is over." Kite smirked. "Your Number and Lance's pendant belong to me now. Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon attack him directly (Shark 0/Kite 1600)!"

Shark was flung back as the white pendant with the design of the Emperors Key imprinted on it clattered to the ground. "Rio, I'm sorry." He was panting. "Lance, forgive me."

Kite approached him having returned to normal. "I'll take that Number now." He held out his hand. "Along with your soul."

The Photon Hand shot forward and entered Shark's chest causing him to scream out in pain. Shark's soul was extracted leaving him with soulless eyes and silver hair.

Kite tried squeezing the soul to get the Number, but it wasn't budging. "There never was a Number."

Lance had arrived and saw Shark on the ground. "Shark!" He looked at Kite angrily. "You bastard. Give him back his soul."

"If it isn't Lance." Kite absorbed the soul for transport.

Orbital rolled forward. "Master Kite. Photon…"

"Bastard!" Lance rushed forward and punched Kite in the face. "I told you to give Shark back his soul!"

Kite wiped his face before flipping Lance into the ground. Without missing a beat, he reached down and picked Lance's pendant up. The Heroic Duelist sprung to his feet only for Orbital to slam him into the wall of the school.

"Leave him be Orbital." Kite turned. "We're going to meet up with Shay."

Orbital let Lance fall to the ground. "Right."

The robot became Kite's wings, and the Galaxy user flew off.

Tori vs Shay

D-pad go

Duel Gazer on

Augmented vision link established

(Tori 4000/Shay 4000)

"I will go first." Shay declared. "I summon Raidraptor-Stinging Lanius(LV 4/100/100)." A small, gold and dark blue armored raptor appeared. "I then activate Raidraptor-Pain Lanius(LV 4/100/100 effect) from my hand (Tori 4000/Shay 3900)."

A green armored, small raptor appeared. "I can special summon him to the field by choosing a monster I control and taking damage equal to whichever stat, ATK/DEF, is the lowest of a monster I control. Their level then becomes the same.

I will now construct the overlay network with my two level 4 monsters to Xyz summon Raidraptor-Force Strix(R 4/O 2/100/2000) in defense mode." A blue and light brown raptor appeared. "I detach one unit to add a dark, Winged-Beast to my hand before setting three cards."

"I can't underestimate this opponent." Tori thought. "He defeated Lance after all. I just need to stay calm." Tori drew. "I activate Card Destruction forcing us to discard our hands and draw a new hand equal to the number of cards we sent to the grave."

She drew her new hand of five. "One of the cards sent to the grave was Gusto Griffon. This allows me to special summon a Gusto monster from my deck. I choose Pilica, Descendant of Gusto(LV 3/1000/1500)." A girl in green with green and red hair appeared.

"Her ability, upon being summoned, allows me to special summon a wind monster from my grave provided I do so in defense mode. I'll choose Gusto Griffin(LV 2/800/300)." A green griffin in armor appeared. "I'll then use Griffin to tune Pilica and Synchro for 5.

Come forth, Daigusto Guldos(LV 5/2200/800)." A large Guldo with a female rider appeared. "I activate his effect. By shuffling two Gusto monsters from my grave into the deck, I can destroy a face up monster on your field. Strix is out of here."

"Interesting, so you can Synchro summon." Shay stated. "Unfortunately, that won't help you. I chain Icarus Attack. By destroying Strix, I can destroy up to two cards on your field. So, Gulldos is going to the grave with him. I'll then use Xyz Reborn to return Raidraptor-Force Strix(R 4/O 1/100/2000) to the field in defense mode, and Xyz Reborn becomes a unit on Strix."

"Everything's starting to fall into place." Tori thought. "I activate Contract with Gusto. I now target two Gusto monsters in my grave, and one monster on your field. I reshuffle the two Gusto into my deck and destroy Force Strix.I now normal summon Gusto Thunbolt(LV 4/1500/1500)." A green wolf in armor appeared. "Thunbolt will attack you directly (Tori 4000/Shay 2400). I set two cards."

Shay drew. "I activate Rank-Up-Magic Soul Shave Force. By paying half my life points (Tori 4000/Shay 1200) I can return Raidraptor-Force Strix(R 4/O 2/100/2000) to the field before using it to Xyz summon a monster two ranks higher.

I rebuild the overlay network with Raidraptor-Force Strix to Xyz summon Raidraptor-Revolution Falcon(R 6/O 1/2000/3000)." A raptor decked out in steel gray armor appeared on Shay's field.

"I activate Spiritual Wind Art – Miyabi. By tributing Thunbolt, you must place your Falcon at the bottom of the deck. In this case, the extra deck." Tori declared.

"I activate the Quick-Play Rank-Up-Magic Revolution Force allowing me to rebuild the overlay network with Revolution Falcon and Xyz summon Raidraptor-Arsenal Falcon(R 7/O 2/2500/2000)." A huge, black metal raptor appeared.

With Yuma

Yuma was back at the entrance of the school when he noticed Arsenal Falcon at the field. "Isn't that… That looks like how Lance described those Raidraptor monster which means a Number Hunter is here!"

Yuma ran off to the field all thoughts of his pendant out of his mind.

Back with Shay vs Tori

"I activate Lost Wind allowing me to target one special summoned monster." Tori declared. "That monster's ATK is then cut in half and their effects are negated. I choose Arsenal Falcon."

"I still have one more card face down." Shay stated. "I activate Xyz Reflect. When an Xyz monster I control is targeted by an effect, I can negate and destroy the offending card. You are then dealt 800 life points (Tori 3200/Shay 1200)."

Tori stared at the monster before her. "Stay calm Tori. This duel isn't over yet. You have a chance to turn everything around next turn so long as you draw a monster. You can then activate Creature Swap in your hand, and win. I'll just need a low ATK monster."

"I can see your mind processing a winning strategy, but this is the end. Arsenal Flacon is allowed attacks equal to the number of overlay units currently attached to him. With two units, he can attack twice this turn." Shay declared.

Tori looked at the monster and gulped. "No…"

Shay pointed at Tori. "Arsenal Falcon attack her twice directly (Shay 1200/Tori 0)."

Tori was blow onto her back as Yuma's pendant fell into the grass. "I'm sorry you had such a weak student as I, Zeera. Please Yuma, forgive me for I couldn't even do this one thing for you."

Shay approached her and outstretched his hand without a word. The Photon Hand shot forward entering Tori's chest and causing her to scream out in pain. Her soul was extracted making her eyes soulless and hair silver. Shay squeezed the soul, but no Number came out.

"Damn it!" Shay shouted angrily. "This girl should have told me she didn't have a Number."

Yuma arrived and saw his friend. "Tori!"

Shay looked at him. "You must be Yuma Tsukumo."

"You must be Shay Obsidian. Lance told me about you." Yuma declared before looking at his friend. "You took Tori's soul, didn't you?"

Shay closed his eyes before absorbing the soul for transport. He didn't pay Yuma any more heed as he grabbed the young man's pendant off the ground.

Yuma's eyes went wide. "Leave that alone. It's mine."

Shay started running and Yuma followed. He soon became unable to do so as the Raidraptor user deployed his wings and soared into the sky.

"He's got Astral and Tori's soul." Yuma yelled after him. "Get back here Shay!"

1: Sorry, but I changed it to make him an inside agent for Academia. Reiji is still around.