Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V re:Scaled
Chapter 4
Back to Life
Entering the room where one of his top students was housed, Leo Akaba, better known as the Professor began to speak, staring intently.
"Feeling better yet?" he asked.
"Better than ever," the other replied, smirking. His amber eyes seemed to illuminate the otherwise dark room around them.
"Good. There's something I need you to take care of. Serena has gone missing, and the Obelisk Force doesn't seem to be up to the task of retrieving her. That's why I need you to track her down and capture her. You can handle a task like that, right?"
"Of course. That's why you gave me this power."
"Excellent. Eliminate anyone who gets in your way. Take no prisoners," he instructed.
"Understood. Tell me where and I'll have her back before anyone notices she's gone. Just one question, though."
"Hm? What's this all about?"
"It's not much. Just wondering why you didn't send the Obelisk Force after her instead of me. That's what you'd normally do."
"The Obelisk Force is beginning its invasion of Standard, and I can't divvy up my forces to send them after her. Besides, they aren't powerful enough to handle her. They try to overwhelm their opponents with brute force, but your new deck is designed around accessing that monster as quickly, and ending the match before things get out of hand."
"So I'm just extra firepower, then? That's fine. I'll be back soon," he claimed, and, as he vanished, the only light in the room was the afterglow from the transport.
"Maybe this will draw him out," Leo mused to himself, glancing at a report on his own Duel Disk, which detailed the career of one of the Academia's most accomplished students. The name was obscured, but his associates could have recognized him anywhere. Unfortunately, he had vanished due to unknown circumstances the previous year. If he had still been around, he would've graduated and been deployed to the front lines a few months ago. "If he knows that Serena could be in danger, he won't hesitate to help her. That heart of his was always both his greatest strength and his greatest weakness," he said. "Are you listening to me? I know you're not dead. You're far too resourceful for that. He taught you well. Too well..." he finished, talking to seemingly no one.
As he exited the room, a hooded figure stepped out from his position, which had been concealed by the shadows.
'So Leo's started to experiment on students? And they're going after Serena? I knew it. He needs her for something, and whatever it is, it can't be good. For now, I need to find Serena and keep her with me until I can glean more information from the restricted archives. And trailing his pet project seems like the best way to do it,' he thought, vanishing. Arriving in the Ruins, he leapt up to the top of one of the pillars, using it as a vantage point. After a few minutes of studying the landscape, he found that in the distance, he could barely make out a mass of darkness. Leaping across the pillars and dilapidated rooftops, he began his trek towards his destination.
This was bad, Serena thought as she backed up. Within moments, both Barrett and herself had been completely wiped out. There was nothing she could do.
'Is this how it ends?' she thought, as the black dragon towering over her opened its mouth, ready to fire its final attack. 'I'm sorry. I wasn't able to find you in time. Please, forgive me.' However, the oblivion she expected never came. Unseen to either of them, a hooded figure suddenly dashed in the path of the dragon's attack, picking her up bridal-style as he managed to make it just far away enough to clear its blast radius.
Opening her eyes, she found that she couldn't make out his face, as it was concealed by his hood. Her heart racing, she reached up towards the fabric. Placing her right hand on the left side, she attempted to peel it back, only for the man to catch her hand in his own. She recognized this feeling. His hold was gentle, but firm. Shaking his head, he reached his free hand into his hood and whispered.
"Not yet. There's something I have to take care of first. It's my job to protect you, so just wait a minute. This shouldn't take too long," he said, a calming tone in his voice.
Smiling wearily, she nodded. "That's all I needed to hear. It really is you. You kept me waiting long enough."
Grinning under the hood, he replied. "Well, what can I say? Heroes are always fashionably late, after all." Turning toward his comrade's assailant, he glared, a chocolate-colored eye visible beneath his disguise, now having assumed an entirely different voice and demeanor.
"Johan Andersen," he began. "You made the rounds in the national leagues ten years ago. You were only a child, but you performed better than many of the country's best duelists at the time. You had such potential. It's a shame that it's being wasted like this."
"Is that how you greet an old friend? I'm disappointed in you, Judai," the latter taunted.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Judai Yuki is dead. I saw his body with my own eyes," the former responded darkly.
"Then who are you?"
"Koyo Hibiki. Former World Champion."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. All official records of you claim you died seven years ago. So either you're lying, or we somehow don't know something about you," he snarked.
"You don't know a lot of things about me," Koyo shot back.
"Well, it's clear that talking isn't going to get us anywhere. There's only one way to prove you are who you say you are, and you know what it is,"
"Of course. Any discrepancies in the deck would be more than enough to disprove my identity, wouldn't they?"
"Bingo. So you'd better hope that that deck is an exact match for his, fake. Otherwise, I won't stop until that hood of yours is ripped off and we know who you really are."
"Understood. Ready?"
"You don't even need to ask."
"Duel!"
Koyo Hibiki
VS
Johan Andersen
Duel Start
Turn 1: Johan
Johan LP/Hand: 4000/5
Koyo LP/Hand: 4000/5
"My turn begins. To start, I activate a Field Spell. Advanced Dark!" Johan declared, as the same black void Koyo had seen earlier enveloped them.
'So this is what that was? A Field Spell? But what does it do?' Koyo wondered.
"You don't have time to daydream!" Johan called out to his foe. "For my next move, I summon Advanced Crystal Beast Sapphire Pegasus, and activate its effect, allowing me to place Advanced Crystal Beast Ruby Carbuncle in my Spell & Trap Zone as a Continuous Spell!"
-x-
Advanced Dark
Field Spell
You can swap "Crystal Beast" cards and "Advanced Crystal Beast" cards, treated as the same name, in your hand or on your side of the field. When an "Advanced Crystal Beast" card is destroyed by battle, you can send 1 "Crystal Beast" card from your Deck to the Graveyard to reduce the battle damage to each player to 0. When an "Ultimate Crystal" card attacks, negate the effects of the attack target during the Damage Step only.
-x-
Advanced Crystal Beast Sapphire Pegasus
Level 4
WIND
ATK: 1800
DEF: 1200
[ Beast / Effect ]
This card's name also is treated as "Crystal Beast Sapphire Pegasus". If there is no face-up "Advanced Dark" on the field, destroy this card. When this card is Summoned, you can place 1 "Crystal Beast" monster from your hand, Deck, or Graveyard in your Spell & Trap Card Zone, face-up, as a Continuous Spell Card. If this card is destroyed while it is in a Monster Card Zone, you can place it face-up in your Spell & Trap Card Zone as a Continuous Spell Card, instead of sending it to the Graveyard.
-x-
Advanced Crystal Beast Ruby Carbuncle
Level 3
LIGHT
ATK: 300
DEF: 300
[ Beast / Effect ]
This card's name is also treated as "Crystal Beast Ruby Carbuncle". If there is no face-up "Advanced Dark" on the field, destroy this card. If this card is in your Spell & Trap Card Zone, you can Special Summon it. When this card is Special Summoned, you can Special Summon as many "Crystal Beast" cards as possible from your Spell & Trap Card Zone. If this card is destroyed while it is in a Monster Card Zone, you can place it face-up in your Spell & Trap Card Zone as a Continuous Spell Card, instead of sending it to the Graveyard.
-x-
"Finally, I activate the Equip Spell Golden Rule, which allows me to place two Level 3 Crystal Beasts face-up in my Spell & Trap Zone as Continuous Spells! Advanced Crystal Beasts Amethyst Cat and Emerald Tortoise! I then set one card. Turn end."
-x-
Golden Rule
Equip Spell
Equip only to a "Crystal Beast" monster. When you activate this card, you can place 2 Level 3 or lower "Crystal Beast" monsters from your Deck in your Spell & Trap Card Zone, face-up, as Continuous Spell Cards. Then, you can Special Summon 1 "Crystal Beast" monster from your hand. When a "Crystal Beast" monster placed in the Spell & Trap Card Zone by this card's effect is removed from the field, destroy this card. When this card is removed from the field, destroy the monster Special Summoned by this card's effect.
-x-
Turn 2: Koyo
Johan LP/Hand: 4000/0
Koyo LP/Hand: 4000/5
'He's already assembled four of the seven Crystal Beasts in one turn. This is bad. He has a monster that can only be summoned when he has all seven. Knowing his usual strategies, that face-down card should be Rainbow Path, to negate an attack and add it to his hand. In that case...' Koyo thought to himself.
"I activate Polymerization! I fuse Woodsman and Ocean in my hand! The giant of the forest harmonizes with the crashing waves and awakens the legendary hero standing on solid ground! Fusion Summon! Descend! Level 8! Elemental HERO Terra Firma!" he declared, his ace monster descending in a flash of light.
Elemental HERO Terra Firma
"Elemental HERO Woodsman" + "Elemental HERO Ocean"
Level 8
EARTH
ATK: 2500
ATK: 2000
[ Warrior / Fusion / Effect ]
You can Tribute 1 face-up "Elemental HERO" monster; this card gains ATK equal to the Tributed monster's ATK, until the End Phase.
"I summon Elemental HERO Heat, and activate Terra Firma's effect! Terra Firma Magma! I Tribute another HERO monster to increase its ATK by the ATK of the Tributed monster during this turn only! Terra Firma's ATK rises to 4100 until the End Phase! Battle! Terra Firma attacks Sapphire Pegasus! Terra Firma Magma Slash!" he declared as his ally charged forward, intent on doing enough damage to slightly halt Johan's forward momentum.
"My Trap activates," Johan droned lazily, before his expression suddenly intensified. "Dark Crystal Magic! When a Crystal Beast I control is attacked, I send seven Crystal Beasts from my hand, Deck, or field to the Graveyard to negate the attack and Special Summon and my ultimate monster from my Deck, ignoring its Summoning conditions! When the seven earthly gems fade away, the draconic wicked god that curses the world is reborn! Appear! Level 10! Rainbow Dark Dragon!"
-x-
Dark Crystal Magic
Trap Card
When your "Crystal Beast" monster targeted for an attack: You can send 7 "Crystal Beast" cards with different names from your hand, Deck, and/or face-up field to the Graveyard; negate that attack, and if you do, Special Summon 1 "Rainbow Dark Dragon" from your hand, Deck or Graveyard, ignoring its Summoning conditions. You can banish this card from your Graveyard, place as many "Crystal Beast" monsters from your Graveyard as possible on your side of the field, either as monsters or as Continuous Spells in your Spell & Trap Zone.
-x-
Rainbow Dark Dragon
Level 10
DARK
ATK: 4000
DEF: 0
[ Dragon / Effect ]
(This card is always treated as an "Ultimate Crystal" card.)
This card cannot be Normal Summoned/Set. This card cannot be Special Summoned, except from your hand while you have 7 "Advanced Crystal Beast" cards with different names on the field or in your Graveyard. If you do not 7 "Advanced Crystal Beast" cards with different names on the field or in your Graveyard, banish this card. This card cannot activate its effects the turn it is Special Summoned. ● Send all "Crystal Beast" cards you control to the Graveyard; this card gains 1000 ATK for each card sent. You can activate this effect during either player's turn. ● When this card would be destroyed, you can send 1 "Crystal Beast" card in your Spell & Trap Card Zone to the Graveyard, and if you do, it is not destroyed.
-x-
'Dark Crystal Magic?! So it wasn't Rainbow Path?' Koyo thought. 'Could it be an alternate version of Ultimate Crystal Magic?' Thoughts of a bright white dragon flooded his mind as he recalled the hundreds, if not thousands of times they'd dueled one another. He knew Johan's deck inside and out, and knew that both Dark Crystal Magic and Rainbow Dark Dragon had to have come from Leo, as he'd never had those two cards before.
"Tch. I set two cards and end my turn," Koyo scoffed.
Turn 3: Johan
Johan LP/Hand: 4000/0
Koyo LP/Hand: 4000/0
"Draw! I activate the Graveyard effect of Dark Crystal Magic! I banish this card and place all of my Advanced Crystal Beasts onto my field from the Graveyard! I then activate the effect of Rainbow Dark Dragon! I send all of my Crystal Beast cards to the Graveyard to increase its ATK by 1000 for each card sent! Rainbow Void!"
Rainbow Dark Dragon ATK: 4000 + 1000 (x7) = 11000
"Rainbow Dark Dragon attacks Terra Firma! Rainbow Reflection!" Johan shouted, convinced he had struck the final blow. "And now it's over. That was even easier than I expected it would be. Now we find out who you really are, imposter."
"You'll have to do better than that. I'm not going down so easily. I activate my two Traps! Soul Union and Hero's Guard! Soul Union increases Terra Firma's ATK by Heat's, then Hero's Guard halves the damage I take, banishes Heat, and lets me draw one card! Additionally, Terra Firma can't be destroyed by this battle!"
Elemental HERO Terra Firma ATK: 2500 + 1600 = 4100
Koyo LP: 4000 – 6900 (/2) = 550
Koyo Hand: 0 - 1
Slowly clapping his hands, Johan began to chuckle. "Color me impressed, imposter. At this rate, you just might prove that you're the real Koyo Hibiki, but... you only have one turn left to win now. So let's see just how well you do under pressure. I end my turn."
Turn 4: Koyo
Johan LP/Hand: 4000/1
Koyo LP/Hand: 550/1
'This isn't good. Terra Firma can't beat that thing, unless... That's it! I know how to win here. The only problem is that my only chance is whatever this next card is. I drew Parallel World Fusion from the effect of Hero's Guard, but it's not helpful right now. My only chance is to bank on this last card. Time for a miracle, or it's lights out for me!'
"I Draw!" Glancing at the card he drew, a full-blown smirk spread across Koyo's face. "What was it you said before? 'It's over now'? I couldn't agree more. I activate Miracle Fusion! I use this card to Fusion Summon by banishing Woodsman and Ocean from the Graveyard, then I follow that up with Parallel World Fusion, to use the monsters banished by this effect for a second Fusion Summon! The raging tides catalyze the immovable earth! Awaken the heroes that protect the purity of nature's elements! Double Fusion Summon! Elemental HERO Gaia and Absolute Zero!"
-x-
Miracle Fusion
Spell Card
Fusion Summon 1 "Elemental HERO" Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck, by banishing Fusion Materials listed on it from your field or your GY.
-x-
Parallel World Fusion
Spell Card
Fusion Summon 1 Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck, by using banished monsters as its Fusion Materials.
-x-
Elemental HERO Gaia
1 "Elemental HERO" monster + 1 EARTH monster
Level 6
EARTH
ATK: 2200
DEF: 2600
[ Warrior / Fusion / Effect ]
When this card is Fusion Summoned: Target 1 face-up monster your opponent controls; its ATK is halved and this card gains the same amount of ATK.
-x-
Elemental HERO Absolute Zero
1 "Elemental HERO" monster + 1 WATER monster
Level 7
WATER
ATK: 2500
DEF: 2000
[ Warrior / Fusion / Effect ]
Gains 500 ATK for each WATER monster on the field, except "Elemental HERO Absolute Zero".
-x-
"Gaia's effect! The ATK of Rainbow Dark Dragon is halved and this card gains that ATK! Trembling Earth!"
Rainbow Dark Dragon ATK: 11000 / 2 = 5500
Gaia ATK: 2200 + 5500 = 7700
"Rainbow Dark Dragon! Grr... You'll pay for this!" Johan cried.
"Too late. I've won. Terra Firma Magma! I Tribute Gaia and Absolute Zero to increase Terra Firma's ATK by theirs! I attack Rainbow Dark Dragon! Go, Terra Firma! Finish it! Terra Firma Absolution Gaia Slash!"
Terra Firma ATK: 2500 + 7700 + 2500 = 12700
Johan LP: 4000 – 7200 = 0
WINNER
Koyo Hibiki (550 LP)
As the dust settled, it became clear that the impact from the last attack had knocked Johan out cold, and left Koyo severely winded. Approaching his defeated opponent, he began mumbling to himself.
"That's what's going on? Are you sure?" he asked. "If you say so." Taking Rainbow Dark Dragon off the board of the Duel Disk, he stared at it for a moment, before continuing. "I usually don't like to destroy cards, but... a card like this is nothing but trouble." he claimed, placing one hand on either end of it, ripping it to shreds. Turning to the recently-awoken Barrett, he addressed the soldier.
"Return to Academia at once. I'll take it from here. Knowing the Professor, this was only the beginning. He's likely to send more assassins after her, so I'll be assuming guard duties. This one stays with me as well."
"On whose authority? You're not affiliated with Academia to begin with. You have no place ordering me around."
"I didn't want to have to do this, but..." he sighed. Reaching his hand into his hood again, he spoke in his original voice. "Recognize me now?"
"Y... you're! But that can't be!" the latter stammered.
"Yeah, it's me. And you should know that she's safer with me more than anyone else. You are not to speak a word of what you saw here. If anyone asks, you were forcibly transported back."
"How do you know that I won't say anything?"
"That's simple. Because I know that your loyalty to her outweighs your loyalty to Academia."
"... One last question, then. Why did you leave? You were a year away from graduation."
"I saw something back then... Leo's up to something horrible, and I can't sit around in class while he's enacting his plans. So just leave the rest to me. Please."
"... Yes... I see," And with that remark, Barrett vanished in a flash of light. Walking over to Serena, he picked her up once again. Placing a hand on her forehead, he noticed immediately that it was warm, and her face was flushed.
"You're sick. Running a fever. My estimate is around 38 degrees. Come on, let's get you out of here," he commented. As they were leaping between the pillars, she began to speak.
"I knew you'd come back for me," she whispered.
"I did, but you're lucky that she told me about you running off on your own like that, or I wouldn't have been able to save you earlier," he reprimanded. As they approached the area where he had arrived at, he took off his overcoat, revealing his modified Osiris Red uniform beneath. While retaining many of the design elements of the standard version, this one had a larger collar, and was a darker shade of red. Reaching into the travelling bag he had left there earlier, he removed some of the water he carried with him and handed it to her.
"Drink up," he commanded moreso than asked. "When you're done, get some rest. It's almost nightfall, and we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow. Can't have you falling out while we're trying to evade whatever Leo throws at us," he explained, throwing her his coat for use as a blanket. "We're in a highly secluded area, so we shouldn't have to worry about being ambushed overnight."
However, despite those words, he chose to stay awake and keep watch while she slept. As the sun rose, he watched her sleeping form, lightly snoring, and a smile spread across his face.
'My baby sister is so adorable when she's sleeping,' he thought to himself, leaning against one of the pillars.