Quick Note: Vetrix's lines in bold signal that he's speaking with Hart's voice.
Kite was visiting Hart in his room before his match with Vetrix, and Orbital was by his side.
Kite: The time has come, Hart. I made it through to the semifinals, so I won't be long until I collect-
He felt a sharp pain run through his body and he dropped to his knees.
Orbital: Master K-Kite! Please, you can't continue hunting numbers. If you do, I'm afraid of what might-
Kite: I'm not about to stop until I make Vetrix pay for what he's done, got that?
Soon, it was time for the duel, and everyone was on the edge of their seats waiting.
Heartland: In the first semifinals duel, the winner was an unexpected one, the underdog duelist, Yuma Tsukumo!
Bronk: Keep it up Yuma!
Heartland: Yuma will take on the winner of the upcoming semifinals duel. Now let's meet the two who will fight in our next face-off! With a past shrouded in mystery, not much is known about him except his dueling skills which leave his dueling opponents speechless. Give it up for the masked dueling marvel, Vetrix!
Many spectators began to cheer for him as he walked into the stadium.
Tori: They wouldn't cheer for him if they knew all the horrible things he's done.
Heartland: And ready to face him, a remarkable young man said to have never lost a match in his life. Put your hands together for Kite Tenjo! Hart and I are counting on you Kite, so I hope you don't lose.
Kite began walking into the arena, but he was stopped by Yuma.
Kite: What do you want?
Yuma: Good luck out there. I hope you win.
Kite: Hello Astral.
Yuma: Wait, you can see him?
Astral: I'm listening.
Kite: I'll see you and Yuma in the finals.
He walked past the two and continued onto the stage.
Heartland: Now that both duelists have arrived, we'll elevate the stakes and take this duel to the next level in our state of the art sky field!
The platform Kite and Vetrix were on began to rise into the air. Yuma then came running out onto the field and up to the platform.
Astral: Yuma, where are you going?
Yuma: To get a front row seat for the duel.
He leapt up and grabbed the edge of the platform but had trouble pulling himself up.
Orbital: Yuma, get lost!
Kite: Help him up Orbital. Let him see how a real champion duels.
Orbital did as ordered and pulled Yuma up.
Heartland: The duel of the century is about to commence, but who will go home the winner? Will it be Vetrix, or Kite? If I had a seat, I'd be on its edge.
Yuma: Go Kite! Let him have it!
Orbital: Yes, let him have it. As cautiously and carefully as you can.
Yuma: What's that mean?
Orbital: Oops.
Vetrix began laughing from across the duel field.
Kite: What's so funny?
Vetrix: I just find it so funny that my nemesis is spying on me right now, but try as he might, he can't manage to cloak his presence. I know you're watching Faker. I do hope that you're enjoying the show.
Faker: Vetrix, or rather Byron. It's hard to believe you returned, even more curious is that your body took on such a peculiar form, but your child-like shape and size are unimportant to me. What is important is seeing you crushed.
Kite: Vetrix, this moment is long overdue. I'm here to avenge what you did my brother Hart, I promise you that. So get ready for some payback!
Vetrix: Now now, you should watch that temper Kite. After all, I have a wonderful surprise waiting for you later.
Kite: Enough of your nonsense. Go, Photon Transformation!
Kite's jacket turned white and his duel tattoo flared to life over his left eye while his duel disk appeared on his arm. Vetrix raised his arm and his duel disk materialized from his sleeve.
Augmented Reality Vision Link Established
Both: Let's duel!
Kite: 4000 LP
Vetrix: 4000 LP
Kite: I'm up first, so I draw! And I summon Photon Crusher in attack mode!
Level 4/Light/Warrior
ATK 2000/DEF 0
Kite: And now I equip it with the spell Photon Spear! Now when I sacrifice Photon Crusher, it counts as two monsters.
Photon Crusher glowed before an exact copy of it was created.
Kite: I sacrifice my two Photon Crushers. The galaxy that lurks in the darkness. Become the light of hope and my very servant. The embodiment of light, now descend! Appear now, Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon!
Level 8/Light/Dragon
ATK 3000/DEF 2500
Galaxy-Eyes appeared and roared out as Kite dropped to his knees again.
Yuma: What's wrong with Kite?
Orbital: I was afraid of this.
Kite: I place one card face-down and end my turn. It's your move.
Vetrix: My, it seems your little Photon Transformation nonsense is quite taxing. You're not in very good shape, are you?
The screen covering Vetrix's eye glowed and he could see numerous cracks in Kite's body.
Vetrix: I'm surprised you're still standing.
Yuma: What's he talking about?
Orbital: No comment.
Vetrix: My turn, I draw! And I summon Heraldic Beast Basilisk in attack mode!
Level 4/Earth/Beast
ATK 1000/DEF 1400
Vetrix: And next I'll equip the spell Heraldry Blast onto Galaxy-Eyes.
Yuma: Why would Vetrix equip it onto Galaxy-Eyes?
Vetrix: Now Basilisk, attack Galaxy-Eyes!
His monster cloaked its body in flames and began flying towards Galaxy-Eyes.
Yuma: But that monster has 2000 fewer attack points than Galaxy-Eyes, so why attack it?
Vetrix: Due to Basilisk's effect, when it battles an opponent's monster, it can destroy them both without applying damage calculation, and then due to Heraldry Blast, when Galaxy-Eyes is destroyed, Kite will take half its attack points as damage.
Astral: If this succeeds, Kite will take 1500 points of damage.
Kite: I activate Galaxy-Eyes' special ability! When it battles an opposing monster, it can banish both monsters until the end of the battle phase!
Astral: Not only does that prevent Galaxy-Eyes from being destroyed, but it also eliminates Heraldry Blast without dealing damage to himself. Most impressive, I must admit.
Vetrix: I'll end my battle phase.
Kite: Return, Galaxy-Eyes!
A white portal opened above them and both their monsters descended from it.
Vetrix: I place one card face-down and end my turn. Well done Kite. I admit your dueling is quite impressive. Amazing in fact considering the state your body is in right now. Putting your own health at risk and hunting numbers to save your little brother, how valiant of you Kite. Yours is such a noble goal. I also have a little goal of my own: To get revenge on your father, Dr. Faker. I'm not sure you know this, but it was Faker who betrayed me, leaving me adrift in the limbo between two worlds. As a result, my body took the form you see here today. Byron ceased to be and Vetrix was born. It was at that moment that I was consumed by a single-minded objective: To take my revenge on your father. Revenge is my reason for being and I'll sacrifice anything at my disposal to obtain it.
Kite: You mean anything or anyone. Even your own sons, like Quinton!
Vetrix: Oh don't be so self righteous. In your pursuit of numbers, you've sacrificed countless human souls. Of course you did it all for your dear little brother Hart, but nevertheless my point is clear. Although our goals are different, you and I are alike.
Kite: I'm nothing like you. Being compared to you and even looking at you make me sick, so I'm gonna skip straight to beating you! It's my turn, so I draw! And now I summon Photon Satellite in attack mode!
Level 1/Light/Machine
ATK & DEF 0
Kite: I activate Photon Satellite's special ability, letting me add the level of a photon monster on my field onto Satellite's level, so I'll increase its level by Galaxy-Eyes' level!
Satellite: Level 1-9
Kite: Furthermore, when Photon Satellite is used to xyz summon, it counts as two monsters, so I overlay my two level 9 Photon Satellites! With these two monsters, I build the overlay network! This ironic fate will become the foundation. Turn Quinton's… No, Chris' feelings into an iron hammer! Swing it down on his foolish father! Come forth, Number 9: Dyson Sphere!
Rank 9/Light/Machine
ATK 2800/DEF 3000
Kite: Here I come, Vetrix! I equip Galaxy-Eyes with the spell Photon Wing! And now I activate the effect of Photon Wing! Once each turn, Galaxy-Eyes can absorb the overlay units of an xyz monster on my field, such as my Dyson Sphere!
Dyson Sphere's overlay unit detached itself and was absorbed into the gem on Galaxy-Eyes' chest.
Kite: And now the attack points of my Galaxy-Eyes will increase by 200 points times Dyson Sphere's rank. Since Dyson Sphere is rank 9, Galaxy-Eyes gains 1800 attack points!
Galaxy-Eyes: 3000-4800 ATK
Yuma: But even if he raises Galaxy-Eyes' attack points, he can't attack Vetrix's monster.
Kite: Due to the other effect of Photon Wing, Galaxy-Eyes can attack you directly this turn!
Astral: If this succeeds, Kite will win the duel.
Orbital: Stick it to him Master Kite!
Kite: Galaxy-Eyes, attack Vetrix directly with Photon Stream of Destruction!
Galaxy-Eyes unleashed a stream of energy from its mouth at Vetrix, setting off a massive explosion.
Kite: It's over.
Vetrix: Not quite.
The smoke cleared, revealing Vetrix was just fine.
Vetrix: 3200 LP
Kite: What? You only took 800 points of damage?
Yuma: How is that possible?
Astral: Look at his field.
Yuma and Kite looked at Vetrix's field and saw he had activated a trap card.
Vetrix: When you attacked, I played the trap Heraldry Change, which let me summon a Heraldic Beast from my monster and reduce the damage by 1000 times that monster's level, so I summoned my Heraldic Beast Aberconway.
Level 4/Wind/Dragon
ATK 1800/DEF 600
Kite: So you decreased the damage by 4000.
Vetrix: Yes. Are you shocked? Because I assure you that you haven't seen anything yet. You see Kite, I've been saving a little surprise for you all this time.
He reached up and removed his mask, and everyone couldn't believe what they saw.
Yuma: No way.
Kite: That's impossible.
Underneath Vetrix's mask, a holographic image of Hart's face was stretched across Vetrix's face. He then started speaking in Hart's voice.
Vetrix: Why do you keep attacking me? It hurts Kite. This is all your fault big brother. You promised you'd help me get better, but I've only gotten worse.
Yuma: What's going on?
Astral: I have no idea.
Faker: What madness is this?
Kite: Vetrix, I knew you were low, but I didn't know how much lower you could sink, but by hiding behind my brother, you've hit rock bottom. I won't stand for this mockery anymore!
Vetrix: Are you angry?
Kite: Vetrix, stop playing games.
Vetrix: I'm not playing games. It's me, your brother Hart.
Kite: Liar! Stop pretending to be Hart!
Vetrix: No, you've got it wrong. I'm really Hart, and Hart is me. Remember when I kidnapped Hart? I absorbed his power and his memories.
Hart: Impossible.
Vetrix: It's true. In that moment, our hollow hearts joined as one. I'll prove it, just look at this.
He waved his hand and a video screen showing Hart appeared in the air above him.
Kite: Hart!
Vetrix: Save your breath, he can't hear you. Now, say I gave myself a little pinch, Hart can feel it too, see?
He pinched himself on the face and Hart groaned in pain.
Kite: Stop it!
Faker: My dear boy. Someone get to his room now!
Worker: We're trying sir, but the system's not working, and the door won't open.
Faker: He's gone too far this time. Vetrix must be stopped.
Vetrix: It hurts Kite. Can't you make it stop, please?
Kite: Stop it now! This duel is over!
Vetrix: Sorry Kite, but we've only just begun.
Kite tried to run and get to his brother, but Vetrix launched a duel anchor at him, grabbing his wrist.
Vetrix: Didn't you hear me? I wish I didn't have to force you to duel, but you've simply left me no other choice.
Yuma: Kite, you worry about the duel and I'll do what I can to help Hart.
Kite: Orbital, get him to Hart.
Orbital: You got it boss!
Orbital attached himself to Yuma's back and took off for Heartland Tower.
Vetrix: Yuma is such a pest. Now, where were we? Oh yes, it's my turn. I draw! And now I overlay Heraldic Beast Basilisk and Aberconway! With these two monsters, I build the overlay network and xyz summon Number 8: Heraldic King Genom-Heritage!
Rank 4/Light/Psychic
ATK 2400/DEF 1800
Kite: Vetrix has a number?
Vetrix: Now I activate Heraldic King's special ability! By using an overlay unit, I can use one of its three special abilities! I choose its first effect, so if Heraldic King battles a monster this turn, that monster will have its attack power become 0 and King's attack power will become that monster's original attack power!
Kite: But that ability doesn't matter. If you attack Galaxy-Eyes, both monsters will be banished, so your monster will lose its remaining overlay unit, and due to Dyson Sphere's effect, when he's attacked when he has no overlay units, two monsters in my graveyard will become his overlay units, and then your attack will be negated.
Vetrix: Which is why I'm activating using another overlay unit to activate another one of Genom-Heritage's special abilities! With it, Dyson Sphere's effects are negated this turn and Heritage gains those effects this turn!
Kite: It took away all of Dyson Sphere's power?
Vetrix: That's right. Now Genom-Heritage, attack Dyson Sphere with Flash Impact!
Genom-Heritage fired an energy blast from its mask into the core of Dyson Sphere, causing the whole structure to be destroyed.
Kite: 1200 LP
Vetrix: I place one card face-down and end my turn. That was fun, but it doesn't stop there. Wait until you see what I have in store next. You see, now we'll begin to feel each attack, so the stakes have just gotten more interesting. So when you attack me, you strike at poor defenseless little Hart as well.
Kite: Now what can I do?
Vetrix: The question you really need to be asking yourself is are you really willing to hurt Hart to beat me.
Kite: I won't do it. I will never hurt Hart.
Vetrix: Well it looks like you'll have to. Just go easy on me, okay Kite?
Yuma: Hang in there Hart, I'm coming to help you.
Faker: Vetrix!
Vetrix: Enjoying the show Faker? You're about to watch both your sons get crushed in the same duel. And I won't go easy on them either.
To be continued…