Heartland: Dr. Faker, Kite has been defeated by Vetrix. Dr, we must stop the tournament right now.
Faker: Don't be ridiculous. The plan is still in place, and it is safe as long as we have the Sphere Field. Prepare for the finals Mr. Heartland.
Heartland: Yes sir.
Meanwhile, Yuma was visiting Troy in the hospital, Astral and Troy's dog Lane beside him. She had been hanging around Yuma's house since Troy lost his duel, and Yuma had been taking care of her.
Yuma: I don't know if you can hear me, Troy, but I'm going to be facing Vetrix soon, and I plan to keep the promise I made to you and defeat him. I just wish you could be there to see it. It just isn't right. All you and Kite wanted to do was protect your siblings, and now you've both lost your souls to Vetrix.
Astral: Yuma, I have been thinking. Vetrix used the power of his crest to take Kite's and Troy's souls. Perhaps if we can defeat him in our upcoming battle, we can save our friends.
Yuma: Alright, then losing isn't an option.
He left the room and found his friends outside waiting for him.
Yuma: Hey guys. What brings you here?
Caswell: We wanted to wish you good luck of course.
Flip: Go get him Yuma.
Yuma: Thanks everyone. I'll do my best. It helps a lot to know my whole team's behind me.
Cathy: And that's why you have to win.
Bronk: Yuma, you represent every duelist like us. Beat Vetrix for all of us.
Yuma: Well guys, this is it. I don't know how, but I'm going to beat Vetrix, no matter what.
They made their way back to the stadium as the finals were getting ready to start and Yuma made his way to the arena.
Tori: Yuma, catch!
He turned around and just barely managed to catch the rice ball she'd tossed him.
Yuma: Thanks Tori.
Tori: Eat it and become champion Yuma.
Yuma: I will.
He put the rice ball in his pocket and raced to the duel field.
Heartland: Well duel fans, it all comes down to this. The battle you've been waiting for, the ultimate throwdown of the first ever World Duel Carnival! A sizzling series of blockbuster battles have eliminated all other challengers, and now only 2 dazzling duelists remain! Now these dueling dynamos will go head to head to determine who will become the very first World Duel Carnival champion! Who will it be? Will it be the tournament's dark horse, the mysterious masked duelist Vetrix? Or will it be feisty fearless boy wonder, Yuma Tsukumo?
Tori: Go Yuma!
Heartland: And now, on with the show! This final battle will take place in the revolutionary new Sphere Field!
Faker: And you can be certain that this Sphere Field will be an out of this world experience. Whenever you use numbers, the Sphere Field will absorb the power they generate.
Four machines came up from the ground before firing beams of light at the center of the field. When the beams struck each other, a yellow energy sphere was created in the air.
Yuma: What is this thing?
He hesitantly touched it, but the moment he did, he was sucked inside of it. Vetrix entered the sphere as well and the two duelists floated up into the middle of it.
Astral: Very interesting.
Yuma: This place is so freaky.
Vetrix: Well, that's Faker for you.
Heartland: Now the Sphere Field will raise our two finalists to the skies!
The platform the Sphere Field was on elevated, carrying Yuma and Vetrix to the very top of the tower.
Vetrix: I'm not surprised you made it this far, Yuma.
Yuma: Yeah, why is that?
Vetrix: Because of the example set for you by your dear deluded father. When I was lost between dimensions, I sometimes gave up hope, and I would think of Kazuma and his belief in friendship and never giving up. You have that same spirit, Yuma. The spirit that had inspired me when I was at my most desperate point. By then, Faker had betrayed me, so I knew your father was wrong. Friendship isn't precious, not by a long shot. In fact, it's pointless. But your father was right about never giving up, and now that revenge is my only reason for living, I promise you I'll never give up until I get it.
Yuma: You're wrong about revenge, and you're wrong about friendship. Trey is my friend, and I promised to battle to save his family. I'm not just here to save them, I'm here to save you.
Vetrix: You're going to save me? From what, might I ask?
Yuma: From revenge! It's like a poison that'll only wind up destroying you. Trey, Quinton, and Quattro, you used them to get your revenge.
Vetrix: Oh please, those boys are just as much trouble as friends are. Now all three of those empty shells are getting just what they deserve.
Yuma: What they deserve?
Vetrix: Exactly. I gave each of them a crest, and those crests were directly connected to their souls and gave them great power. But even with that power, they all lost their battles and their souls, just as I knew they would.
Yuma: You knew that was going to happen but you still-
Vetrix: Yes, and I'd do it again if it means getting my revenge on Faker.
Astral: I did not realize humans could be this heartless.
Yuma: You don't deserve to be called a father! How could you let your sons give up their souls?
Vetrix: Like I said, revenge is everything to me now, and I'll do anything to get it. And besides, don't you think your father wants you to get revenge on Faker as well?
Yuma: No I don't. And my father would never want me to battle to get it!
Vetrix: Think again. You don't know Kazuma as well as I do Yuma. See, he's been using you all along to get his revenge. Isn't that right, Astral?
Astral: What are you implying?
Vetrix: As both of you know, numbers have incredible power, enough power in fact to destroy this world.
Yuma: Say what?!
Vetrix: Your father knew that if he could give you the numbers that you would use them to battle and get his vengeance, and he did it by sending your little friend Astral.
Yuma: You're saying my father sent Astral to help me destroy the world?
Vetrix: Yes he did. But luckily you won't have to do it all by yourselves, right Faker?
Suddenly, a giant hologram of Dr. Faker appeared over the duel tower.
Tori: What's Dr. Faker doing here?
Faker: It's been quite a while Byron. Even so, you're looking as young as ever.
Vetrix: I can thank you for that. I'll come do so in person, just as soon as I get Yuma's numbers.
Yuma: I'm sick of talking. I came here to battle. I'm ready to duel, and I'll beat you both!
Faker: We'll see about that, won't we Byron?
His hologram vanished and Yuma and Vetrix set their sights on one another.
Yuma: Let's do it. Let's win this duel, Astral.
Heartland: And now I'll explain the rules for the Sphere Field. This field was designed to maximize the potential of the numbers. With its effect, both players can overlay two monsters in their hand with the same level in order to summon a random number from their extra deck. However, a number summoned this way will be destroyed when it runs out of overlay units. So, feel free to use your numbers to your heart's content. It's duel time!
Yuma & Vetrix: Let's duel!
Vetrix: 4000 LP
Yuma: 4000 LP
Vetrix: I'll start this duel. I draw! And I'll use the Sphere Field's effect right away! From my hand, I overlay Heraldic Beasts Aberconway and Eale!
Yuma: He's summoning a number right away?
Vetrix: Of course, I can't choose the number myself.
His extra deck glowed and a single card slid out of it.
Vetrix: I summon Number 56: Gold Rat in defense mode!
Rank 1/Light/Beast
ATK 500/DEF 600
Vetrix: I end my turn. You're up Yuma.
Yuma: Only 600 defense points? A number like that should be easy to beat.
Astral: Yuma, do you think that number cards actually possess the power to destroy this world?
Yuma: Why are you- Wait, you don't think what Vetrix said is true, do you?
Astral: Without my memories, I have no way of knowing. Perhaps I was sent by your father to exact his revenge.
Yuma: Astral… I don't have a clue why you've been sent to this world. But I've come to know better than anyone you're not a bad person, but if the numbers really do have that kind of power, then we have to make sure Vetrix and Dr. Faker don't get their hands on them. Once we obtain the numbers, I'll hand them to you, because I know you'll do the right thing with them.
Astral: Thank you Yuma. Now, let us focus on the duel at hand.
Yuma: You got it. So what's your plan for beating Vetrix?
Astral: I do not have one.
Yuma: Come again?
Astral: You should not rely on me for dueling advice Yuma. But, as usual, it appears you have failed to make any battle plan.
Yuma: Well what did you expect? Now let's do this! Alright, I draw! Sweet. From my hand, I overlay Gagaga Magician and Gogogo Golem! Alright, come on out, Number 12: Crimson Shadow Armor Ninja!
Rank 5/Earth/Warrior
ATK 2400/DEF 1700
Bronk: Nice draw Yuma!
Caswell: It has more than enough attack points to destroy Gold Rat.
Yuma: Okay Crimson Shadow, destroy Gold Rat with Moon Shadow Crimson Slice!
Crimson Shadow raised his sword and cut Gold Rat down to size.
Yuma: I place one card face-down and end my turn.
Vetrix: My turn. I draw! That's right, keep it up you two. The more power you unleash, the closer you bring yourselves to destruction. I overlay Heraldic Beasts Aberconway and Twin-Headed Eagle! Come forth, Number 10: Illumiknight!
Rank 4/Light/Warrior
ATK & DEF 2400
Yuma: That's Kite's number!
Vetrix: Really? Then I guess Kite wasn't totally useless after all.
Yuma: Vetrix!
Astral: Do not let his words anger you Yuma.
Vetrix: I activate Illumiknight's special ability! By using an overlay unit, I can send a card in my hand to the graveyard in order to draw another card from my deck! And next I activate the effect of the Aberconway that was sent to the graveyard as an overlay unit. By banishing one Aberconway from my graveyard, another one returns to my hand.
Astral: Here it comes.
Vetrix: I overlay Heraldic Beasts Aberconway and Leo! With these two monsters, I build the overlay network. I summon Number 5: Doom Chimera Dragon!
Rank 5/Dark/Dragon
ATK & DEF 0
Yuma: He summoned a number with no attack or defense points?
Vetrix: Not quite. Chimera Dragon gains 1000 attack points for each overlay unit it has, so since it has 2, it gains 2000 attack points.
Chimera: 0-2000 ATK
Yuma: He's got two numbers out.
Vetrix: And I'm not finished yet. Finally, I overlay two Heraldic Beast Unicorns! Come forth, Number 8: Heraldic King Genom-Heritage!
Rank 4/Light/Psychic
ATK 2400/DEF 1800
Astral: Not an encouraging development.
Yuma: Now he has three numbers!
Vetrix: Genom-Heritage has many special abilities. I use one overlay unit to activate his first effect. During this turn, when he battles your monster, your monster's attack points become 0 and Genom-Heritage's attack points become your monster's original attack points.
Yuma: Not good.
Vetrix: Genom-Heritage, attack Crimson Shadow Armor Ninja!
Genom-Heritage's hair wrapped around Crimson Shadow's arms and legs, draining his power before Genom-Heritage changed into a copy of Crimson Shadow.
Shadow: 2400-0 ATK
Yuma: I'll use Crimson Shadow's special ability.
Astral: Wait Yuma, use your trap. Even though Crimson Shadow will not be destroyed in battle with his effect, we will still take damage. If he attacks again-
Yuma: Understood. I activate the trap Half Guard! This keeps Crimson Shadow from being destroyed by your attack and then changes him to defense mode after the battle ends!
Genom-Heritage slashed Crimson Shadow with his sword, and while it didn't affect Crimson Shadow, the shockwave from the attack pushed Yuma and Astral back.
Yuma: 1600 LP
Yuma: Thanks for stepping in Astral. Now we can survive his attacks.
Vetrix: Maybe, but your monster won't. Chimera Dragon, attack Crimson Shadow with Shadow Stream!
Yuma: I activate Crimson Shadow's special ability! By using one overlay unit, it won't be destroyed by your attack!
Chimera Dragon fired a stream of black energy at Crimson Shadow, but he crossed his arms and stood his ground, pushing back the attack.
Vetrix: I'm not done attacking. Illumiknight, attack Crimson Shadow!
Yuma: I activate Crimson Shadow's special ability one more time, so he won't be destroyed by your attack!
Illumiknight charged forth and tried to slash Crimson Shadow with his sword, but Crimson Shadow intercepted the strike with his own blade and pushed Illumiknight back.
Yuma: We saved Crimson Shadow.
Vetrix: Did you? In case you hadn't noticed, Crimson Shadow is out of overlay units, which means he's destroyed by the effect of the Sphere Field.
Beams of energy fired from the walls of the Sphere Field, striking Yuma's monster and destroying him.
Cathy: Yuma.
Caswell: That was too close. If Yuma hadn't had that trap card, Vetrix would've just won the duel.
Vetrix: I'm not done yet. Due to the effect of Chimera Dragon, at the end of a battle phase it battled in, I can take a monster from my graveyard and turn it into an overlay unit for Chimera Dragon, so I attach Heraldic Beast Eale from my graveyard!
Yuma: Oh man. With another overlay unit, that dragon gains another 1000 attack points!
Chimera: 2000-3000 ATK
Vetrix: It's your turn now, Yuma.
Yuma: I'll show you.
Astral: Stay focused Yuma. If you can feel the flow, you can do this.
Yuma: You're right. I draw! Sweet. I overlay Bacon Saver and Flelf! Come on out, Number 34: Terrorbyte!
Rank 3/Dark/Machine
ATK 0/DEF 2900
Astral: Yuma, activate your spell card!
Yuma: You got it. I activate Xyz Treasure! Now I can draw 1 card for every xyz monster on the field, and right now there are 4! Here we go! I overlay Amarylease and Stinging Swordsman from my hand! Come on out, Number 17: Leviathan Dragon!
Rank 3/Water/Dragon
ATK 2000/DEF 0
Yuma: Now, I overlay Rai Rider and Zubaba Knight! Alright, I've been waiting for this guy. Come out, Number 39: Utopia!
Rank 4/Light/Warrior
ATK 2500/DEF 2000
Bronk: We're counting on you Utopia.
Cathy: Now they both have three numbers.
Tori: Yuma, you've got to win.
Heartland: Now each duelist has summoned three powerful numbers. Who will fortune smile upon? It's down to the wire, and these duelists are on fire!
Astral: Yuma, the real battle begins right now.
Yuma: Then let's get the party started.
Vetrix: Believe me Yuma, this will be a party, but not for you.
Yuma: Yeah? Well I'm here to prove how wrong you are.
To be continued…